"Who's Responsible Then?" A Owaisi's Poser After Malegaon Accused Acquitted

Justice has not been done in the Malegaon blast case and the Central and the state governments should appeal immediately - preferably within 24 hours as they did in the railway blasts case, AIMIM ( All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul. Muslimeen) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said today - hours after a special court gave a clean chit to the seven accused saying there was no material evidence against them.  

The blast occurred on the night of September 29 2008, near Bhikku Chowk in the communally tense town, located about 200 km from Mumbai, during the holy month of Ramzan. A powerful bomb tore through an area near a mosque, killing six people and injuring more than a hundred.

Today, all seven accused in the case, including former BJP MP Pragya Thakur and former army officer Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit, were acquitted.

Mr Owaisi pointed out that the release made the case inconclusive and it becomes unclear who was responsible for the blasts.  

"What are we going to tell the families who lost their loved ones? A young girl died in Malegaon in 2008. What do we tell her family? Who were these people who used RDX? RDX is a plastic explosive. So if we do not catch these people and send them to jail, they will roam scot-free,' he told NDTV in an exclusive interview.

"It was not justice. I hope the Narendra Modi government and the Maharashtra government will go to the Supreme Court within 24 hours, the way they did in the railway blasts case. I appeal to them... There has been no justice or closure. it is important for the families," he said. 

Recalling the events after the 2006 blast some Muslim men were picked up and beaten and were later discharged. 

The handling of the cases in the courtroom left much to be desired, he said. "The prosecutor in the case had never prosecuted anyone. Never worked in a criminal prosecution," he said, marking him as "completely incompetent". 

"I also want to ask the NIA -- if the witnesses were becoming hostile how were you conducting the trial then? Is there any additional responsibility on them?" he said.

"The NIA also accused an ex-MP, who was a terror accused when he became an MP -- you said that there can be no prosecution against him. So, the evidence that was found, the confession that was found as evidence, that is gone. So, all these things, there are so many shortcomings in this," Mr Owaisi said. 

Asked if he was differentiating between the investigations by ATS and the NIA, he said the ATS investigation was done by Hemant Karkare, who died in Delhi's Batla house encounter and was given a posthumous Ashok Chakra.

"Hemant Karkare Sir had taken out CDs in which there was audio, video evidence, in which how the conspiracy was done. He had taken out so much documentary evidence for all those things... If Hemant Karkare was alive, then this case would have had a different outcome," he said.

Donald Trump's Tariff

Mr Owaisi started fuming when asked about the fresh 25 per cent tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump. 

"India is not a vassal state.  We are standing in the court of a wannabe emperor.  We have broken the slavery of 200 years of the British. Our ancestors broke the chains with their sacrifices.  Not for this day," Mr Owaisi said.

Recalling President Trump's comment that "India is a dead economy", he said, "How can we be dead economy?  It is a country of 133 crores.  You do not want India's market. Thank you very much.  We do not need you... We will put a penalty.  We are a sovereign state.  Who are you to dictate to us?

"They are saying that we will buy oil from Pakistan.  Why will we buy oil from Pakistan? The country on our land.  Our people's blood has come out.  We will buy oil from them. The one who is setting fire.  We will buy oil from them. These western countries.  There is a chip in their brains. That we are a third world country. We are not a third world country.  As much as they are proud of their country.  We are also proud of our country," he added.

President Trump had announced a 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports and an unspecified "penalty" because of the country's energy purchases from Russia.

Earlier today, in a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump wrote, "I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India, their tariffs are too high, among the highest in the world. Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together. Let's keep it that way." 

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal told parliament that the Centre is studying the implications of the move and will take all necessary steps to safeguard India's national interest. 

 

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BJP Leader's Takedown Of Rahul Gandhi, Silent Thumbs Up For Shashi Tharoor

The number of Shashi Tharoor's sympathisers and admirers in the BJP shows an uptick as his disagreements with senior Congress leadership pile up. His latest supporter is Tamil Nadu leader K Annamalai, who in a post on X today, drew a comparison between him and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over their comments on trade with the US and Donald Trump's imposition of 25 per cent tariff. 

While Mr Gandhi asserted that the Indian economy is "dead", Mr Tharoor's response was nuanced. Mr Annamalai, while being vociferous in his takedown of Mr Gandhi, made his approval of Mr Tharoor's comments clear.

"I came across remarks by two Congress leaders on the same topic today. One spoke for India's Interest, and the other spoke in a tone that would please his offshore masters," read Mr Annamalai's post on the issue. 

"When the world acknowledges India as the only bright spot on an otherwise dark horizon, here is the leader of the opposition who feels otherwise. LoP Thiru Rahul Gandhi avl continues to wear ignorance like a badge of honour. He is blind to India's rise, yet ever eager to echo foreign voices that undermine it," he added.

I came across remarks by two Congress leaders on the same topic today. One spoke for India's Interest, and the other spoke in a tone that would please his offshore masters.

When the world acknowledges India as the only bright spot on an otherwise dark horizon, here is the… pic.twitter.com/qejp39fAFF

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) July 31, 2025

Mr Tharoor said India has other options besides the US. "If we can't compete in America, we may have to diversify our markets outside of America. We are not out of options. If America is completely unreasonable with its demands, we have to move elsewhere. That is the strength of India; we are not a totally export-dependent economy like China," he said.

On the trade negotiations between the US and India, he said, "It is a challenging negotiation. We are negotiating with many countries. The US is not the only negotiation. We have ongoing negotiations with the EU, we already concluded a deal with the UK, and we are talking with other countries also... If a good deal is not possible, we may have to walk away". 

What had initially started as Shashi Tharoor's rift with the Kerala Congress has spread and a strong message came from Delhi when the career diplomat who had worked with the UN was not picked for the Centre's all-party delegations for the international outreach on Operation Sindoor. 

It did not help when Mr Tharoor, in the run-up to the visit and after, was vocal with his support for Operation Sindoor. 

While the Congress did not stop him from leading a team to the US, there have been criticism, there was speculation that the party was less than pleased after he was not picked to speak in the special debate in parliament about the operation. Sources, though, had said that Mr Tharoor was asked if he would speak and he had declined. 

But earlier this week, BJP leader Baijayant Jay Panda took a dig at the Congress, saying the party is not allowing its own member and the noted orator to speak in Lok Sabha.

Even PM Modi took a dig at the Congress over this during his response to the discussion, speaking of "some (being) stopped from speaking in parliament" and "those who consider themselves the sons of Congress become unhappy if you praise India".

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No Pakistan Cricket Team In '28 Olympics: Report. India To Qualify Due To...

In a major blow, Pakistan men's cricket team is likely to not qualify for the upcoming Olympics that is set to take place in 2028 in Los Angeles. As per a report, the International Cricket Council, the apex ruling body of the sport, has decided to go with the regional qualifying format, which will see teams like Pakistan and New Zealand missing out on the event as cricket makes it return to Olympics after a long gap of 128 years.

As per the report, number 1 ranked men's team in Asia, Oceania, Europe and Africa will earn an automatic qualification for the tournament along with hosts USA, who would represent the Americas.

"India and Australia to be awarded spots from Asia and Oceania respectively based on the ICC rankings. The International Olympic Committee favours regional qualifying to ensure all parts of the world are represented at the Games so it is a truly global event," said The Guardian in a report.

With USA set to qualify on the basis of being the hosts, West Indies' chances are also dim. "That would have implications for West Indian islands hoping to compete," the report further stated.

A total of six teams will be selected for the event. While qualification for five spots has been finalised, the process for the sixth team is yet to be determined, said the report.

Cricket's much-hyped return to the Olympics at LA Games will take shape at the Fairgrounds Stadium in the city of Pomena -- about 50km from Los Angeles -- from July 12 with the medal matches scheduled on July 20 and 29, 2028.

A total of six teams each in men's and women's sections and 180 players will compete in the T20 format in the quadrennial showpiece, which hosted cricket for the first and only time in 1900.

There are no matches scheduled on July 14 and 21 and most of the the matchdays will be double headers, according to the competition schedule released by the organisers.

The only time the gentleman's game was played at the Olympics was in Paris way back in 1900. Only two teams, Great Britain and France, competed in a two-day match with the former winning the gold medal.

With a total of 90 athlete quotas allocated in the men's and women's sections, the 12 competing teams can name 15-member squads.

Cricket's growing popularity can be gauged from the fact that three venues in the United States -- Grand Prairie, Lauderhill, and New York -- organised several matches of the 2024 T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by USA and the West Indies.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had approved cricket, baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash as five new sports to feature at the 2028 Games.

(With PTI Inputs)

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Why Trump's Tariff Tactic Is A Case Study To Understand Game Theory

In most negotiations, people assume success comes from persuasion or compromise at the table. But those who understand game theory know the real strategy starts long before the first conversation. Game theory is the study of strategic decision-making that helps you anticipate your counterpart's likely responses, limit their choices, and frame the game in your favour from the start.

Trump's Strategy: Setting the Rules Before the Game Starts

One of the clearest real-world examples of game theory in action was Donald Trump's aggressive use of tariffs during his presidency and campaign trail. He didn't wait to negotiate; he imposed tariffs first and then invited trade partners to the table, often under high pressure.

For instance, Trump recently announced:

• A 25 per cent tariff on India, plus a 'penalty' because it buys a large amount of oil from Russia
• A 35 per cent tariff on Canadian goods
• A 30 per cent tariff on imports from Mexico and the European Union
• And floated a 15-20 per cent blanket tariff on most major trading partners

These bold, headline-making moves are not random or reactionary; they're tactical. By acting first and going public, Trump changes the entire dynamic of the negotiation. He forces other countries into a defensive position where reacting becomes the priority and not bargaining from strength.

This tactic fits the game theory principle of limiting the other side's options - they must either concede or escalate.

Structuring the Game Before It Starts

A fundamental game theory principle is to shape the process before anyone enters the room. Trump mastered this by forcing urgency with public declarations. His team would often signal intentions through media interviews, tweets, or formal letters, effectively locking in their stance before talks began.

This is similar to what the European Union did during Brexit negotiations. The EU refused to move forward on future trade until the UK finalised the withdrawal agreement. By sequencing the discussion strategically, they prevented the UK from leveraging major issues early in the process.

Trump used a similar sequencing trick. For example, by threatening auto tariffs, he created enough pressure on countries like Japan, Germany, and South Korea to fast-track bilateral talks. The structure itself becomes a pressure tool.

Why Limiting Choices Creates Leverage

In game theory, power comes from reducing the other party's freedom to manoeuvre. Trump's announcements typically cornered countries with few alternatives: either accept tariffs and damage exports, or come to the table and negotiate.

This strategy is high-risk and often seen as unconventional in diplomacy. But for Trump, it worked because it appeared credible. He rarely gave himself an easy exit that forced counterparts to believe he would follow through.

When he sent a letter to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announcing 30% tariffs on goods, on top of existing tariffs, the EU immediately responded. Though they opposed the tariffs, they expressed a desire to keep negotiating. That quick response, even without agreement, achieved Trump's goal: Move them into reaction mode and back to the table.

How Trump Uses Loss Aversion

Another tactic Trump consistently taps into-consciously or not, is loss aversion. People are more motivated to avoid losses than to achieve gains. Trump often frames negotiations in terms of what the other party will lose if they don't act.

This showed up when he gave companies or countries limited windows to respond to US demands or risk being hit by penalties. 

Creating a ticking clock flips the mindset of a negotiation from opportunity to a crisis control state, where counterparts are more likely to concede.

By doing this repeatedly, Trump trained others to treat every offer as time-sensitive and high-stakes. That kind of psychological pressure, especially in public view, boosts leverage exponentially.

Power Comes From Options and Commitment

Game theory defines power in two key ways:

Having credible alternatives - When Trump talked about diversifying supply chains or sourcing goods domestically, even if not immediately realistic, it signalled fallback options. That alone gave him more room to demand concessions.

Committing to your course of action - Trump rarely left room for doubt. When he said he would impose tariffs, he followed through. This made threats feel real and made foreign leaders more cautious in opposing him.

A powerful negotiation move is combining clear commitment with credible alternatives. Businesses do this by preparing substitute suppliers. Trump did it through executive orders, tariffs, and strategic messaging.

Avoiding Deadlock Through Preparation

In complex negotiations, deadlock is a common risk. Trump's strategy often avoided this by creating pressure points early and making the cost of inaction appear high. He didn't rely on last-minute appeals; he structured the negotiation to force movement. If you notice, Trump is using the same tactic on Putin - pressuring with high tariffs to get Putin to stop the Russia-Ukraine war. 

From a game theory perspective, this is a smart strategy. If the other party believes stalling leads to worse outcomes, they're more likely to make concessions early. Trump's public tactics, such as tweeting upcoming deadlines or threatening new penalties, were all designed to force decisions quickly.

Trump's tariffs, if fully implemented, would no doubt cause short-term chaos and disrupt multiple economies. But viewed through the lens of negotiation and game theory, they are not simply trade policies; they're a strategic tool. A high-stakes move designed to force engagement, reset leverage, and ultimately bring countries onto an equal playing field. And it has worked. Countries have come to the table...and are paying attention to Trump's threat. It's even resulted in some deals already made. 

Trump's strategy isn't about endless dialogue....nor is it about enforcing tariffs unless the other country takes no heed, which has so far not happened. Then, Trump's tariff strategy seems to be more about setting the terms early, projecting strength and compelling action.

Bottom line? Whether in diplomacy or business, these tactics shift power toward the person who shapes the game itself, not just how it's played. Trump understood that perception of power is power. And so far, it's working.

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"Ridiculously High": Hyderabad School's Rs 2.5 Lakh Fee For Nursery Goes Viral

A photo showing the fee structure of a private school in Hyderabad went viral on social media as it mentions that the annual fee for the nursery is Rs 2,51,000. Anuradha Tiwari, founder of the Dharma Party of India, shared the fee structure in a post on X (formerly Twitter), which sparked debate over educational affordability and transparency for middle-income families in India.

Class- Nursery
Fees - Rs 2,51,000/-

Now, learning ABCD will cost you Rs 21,000 per month.

What are these schools even teaching to justify such a ridiculously high fee? pic.twitter.com/DkWOVC28Qs

— Anuradha Tiwari (@talk2anuradha) July 30, 2025

"Now, learning ABCD will cost you Rs 21,000 per month. What are these schools even teaching to justify such a ridiculously high fee," she wrote in the caption.

Also Read | How Much Does It Cost To Study MBBS In Russia, Philippines, Kazakhstan

As per the school's fee structure, the fee for pre-primary I and II is Rs 2,42,700 annually. Meanwhile, the fee for classes 1 and 2 is Rs 2,91,460 annually.

Some netizens have expressed frustration over the high fees, questioning the logic behind such charges for early education. Meanwhile, some suggested simply avoiding such institutions.

"If one cannot afford the fees, don't send your kids to this school. Simple and straight," a user said.

"This entire process has become a sort of scam. Certain things need to be regulated effectively," another said.

"India needs to reform its education policy because the Board exams are easy, and competitive exams are hard, so then comes private coaching, and because of the private coaching, India's education fees and inflation are very high. A large number of people go to private coaching institutes, and private coaching institutes do as they want and increase the fees as per their own wish," a third user commented.

Nasr School hasn't responded to the online criticism.

Also Read | Maharashtra Woman Duped For Rs 1 Lakh In Currency Exchange Fraud: Cops

Recently, Ashish Singhal, co-founder of CoinSwitch and Lemonn, discussed a similar issue of rising school fees for primary classes as he highlighted a report which stated that the fees are increasing by 10-30% every year, outpacing middle-class income growth.

In a LinkedIn post, Mr Singhal claimed that school expenses now consume nearly 19% of household income, and parents are even taking EMIs for kindergarten fees.

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Bengaluru Man, 70, Out For Walk, Mauled To Death By Stray Dogs Outside Home

A 70-year-old man, Seethappa, died after being allegedly mauled by a pack of stray dogs just outside his house in Kodigehalli, Karnataka, during the early hours of Sunday. According to his family members, the elderly man had stepped out for a walk around midnight as he was unable to sleep, when a group of at least eight strays allegedly attacked him. 

Seethappa suffered serious injuries to his hands, legs, and face, with portions of flesh torn off in the attack. His family members, who rushed out upon hearing the commotion, claim they witnessed the pack of dogs attacking him. He was declared dead at the hospital. 

The Kodigehalli Police have registered a case and launched an investigation. An Unnatural Death Report (UDR) has been filed in the matter.  Cops are examining CCTV footage and speaking to residents to establish the sequence of events.

This incident is the latest in a disturbing rise in stray dog attacks across the country. A couple of weeks ago, a three-year-old girl was viciously attacked in Shimla Nagar of Old Hubballi in Karnataka. The child, who was walking towards a shop, was attacked by a group of stray dogs in the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation area. CCTV footage of the attack showed the dogs biting her shoulder, back, legs, and arms, dragging her to the ground. She was rushed to KIMS Hospital with serious injuries.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Municipal Parishad (BBMP) recently launched a project worth Rs 2.9 crore to feed 4,000-5,000 stray dogs daily across Bengaluru. Through the scheme, BBMP planned to provide cooked meals of chicken, rice, and other meals to stray dogs. The aim was to reduce dog aggression, among other things. 

The move sparked public debate, with many questioning the move to feed stray dogs. 

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram has expressed concern over increasing dog bite incidents across the country and said it's a "health and safety issue".

The Congress MP told NDTV that the Centre's data, shared in the Parliament, showed that over 37 lakh dog bite cases were reported last year, but "does not give a full picture because of the reporting mechanism."

The Congress MP has raised the issue of stray dogs, their rehabilitation, and incidents of dog bites in the past. Mr Chidambaram said he even met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the concern.

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चंडीगढ़ में 52 लोगों से ठगी: कनाडा, लक्जमबर्ग और यूके के दिखाए हसीन सपने, 29 लाख रुपये लेकर नहीं भेजा विदेश

पंजाब और हरियाणा की राजधानी चंडीगढ़ में लोगों के साथ ठगी की घटनाएं बढ़ती जा रही हैं। विदेश भेजने के नाम पर इमिग्रेशन कंपनियों लोगों की खून पसीने की कमाई लूट रही हैं।

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3 Reasons Why Bihar Roll Revision Can't Be Discussed In Parliament: Sources

There will be no discussion on Bihar voter list revision in Parliament despite the Opposition's demand, the government has indicated, underscoring a reason cited by former Speaker Balaram Jakhar, sources have said. 

The Opposition, which has been sticking to its demand for a discussion on Bihar's SIR, had raised the issue again today, and the row had delayed the discussion on Operation Sindoor.

The Opposition wanted a concrete assurance from the government that it would discuss the Special Intensive Revision of Bihar's electoral rolls immediately after the special discussion on Operation Sindoor ends. 

At the time, the government had accused the Opposition of cheating. 

Later, at 2 pm, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said if the rules allow and the Speaker is ready and it is decided in the Business Advisory Committee, the government was ready to discuss any topic. 

Because the government did not directly say it would discuss the issue of Bihar SIR, or refuse it, the Opposition found the assurance sufficient and the discussion on Operation Sindoor started in the Lok Sabha.

Government sources, however, made it clear that the voter list revision -- being run by the Election Commission in Bihar -- cannot be discussed in Parliament. 

About this, three arguments are being considered by the government, sources said.

The first is that the campaign being run by the Central Election Commission is not an election reform. Rather, it is an administrative step and the Election Commission has been taking such steps from time to time.

The second reason is that even if a discussion is held in both the houses of Parliament on the intensive revision of the voter list, there is no one to answer the questions that the Opposition could raise. 

The Election Commission cannot come to the House to present its side, sources pointed out. And although the Law Ministry is the nodal ministry for the Election Commission, it generally looks after only administrative work, and does not interfere in policy matters.

The third reason the government gave is that there are many such institutions which do not have a mechanism to present their side before the Parliament. In such situations, there cannot be a discussion about those institutions, sources said.

Government sources recounted an earlier instance when there had been a demand to discuss the functioning of the Election Commission. 

In 1986, then Speaker Balram Jakhar had said comprehensive election reforms can be discussed in Parliament, but it is not possible to discuss administrative processes and decisions.

The government is now of the view that the Bihar voter list revision cannot be discussed due to these reasons.

The Opposition, however, is very aggressive on this issue and wait is on for the government's formal arguments.

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All You Need To Know About UPI Changes Effective From August 1

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is set to implement a set of changes to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) from August 1, 2025. The changes, including balance check and transaction status, are aimed at making the interface stable and efficient. In a circular dated April 26, 2025, NPCI stated that they are working to reduce the response time of UPI transactions to improve the performance. It added that the adjustments will benefit remitter banks, beneficiary banks and Payment Service Providers (PSPs), such as PhonePe, Google Pay and Paytm.

Later on May 21, 2025, NPCI noted: "PSP banks and/or acquiring banks shall ensure all the API requests (in terms of velocity and TPS - transactions per second limitations) sent to UPI are monitored and moderated in terms of appropriate usage (customer-initiated and PSP system-initiated)."

Also Read | How India's UPI Is Revolutionising Global Digital Payments, Explained Simply

Here are the key changes:

Daily Balance Check Limit: The users can check their account balance only 50 times a day per UPI app. If they use multiple apps, the limit applies to each app separately.

Transaction Status Check Limit: They can check the status of a pending transaction only three times, with a minimum gap of 90 seconds between each check.

AutoPay Timings: AutoPay transactions will be processed in specific time slots: Before 10 AM, Between 1 PM and 5 PM and After 9:30 PM.

Linked Bank Account View Limit: The users can view their linked bank accounts only 25 times a day.

Payment Reversal Cap: They can raise a maximum of 10 payment reversal requests in 30 days, with a cap of 5 per sender.

Beneficiary Name Display: The recipient's registered bank name will be visible before confirming payment, reducing errors and fraud.

Stricter Rules for Banks and UPI Apps: NPCI will monitor API usage, and non-compliant banks and apps may face penalties or restricted access.

"Members are requested to take note of this compliance requirement and communicate it to relevant stakeholders and their respective partners for implementation by 31st July 2025," the circular added.

Also Read | PayPal Partners With NPCI, Others to Build Cross-Border Payments Platform Focused on Interoperability

IMF praises India's UPI

Recently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) praised India, saying that the nation makes faster payments than any other country with the quick growth of UPI. The usage of other instruments, including debit and credit cards, is on the decline.

"India now makes faster payments than any other country. At the same time, proxies for cash usage have fallen," the note said.

"Since its launch in 2016, UPI has grown quickly, while some proxies for cash usage have begun to decline. UPI now processes more than 18 billion transactions per month and dominates other electronic retail payments in India," the fintech note said.

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WTC Table After India vs England 4th Test: Shubman Gill And Co At...

India pulled off a gritty draw against England in the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Sunday after a superb rearguard action. The Shubman Gill and Co., who had been 0-2 in their second innings, finished on 425 for 4 in reply to England's first-innings 669, with Gill, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar all making hundreds before the teams shook hands in the final session on the last day. The result of the match, however, didn't impact the positions of India and England in the World Test Championship points table. The hosts remained at the third position while the visitors too held the fourth spot.

England still lead this five-match series 2-1 ahead of next week's finale at the Oval.

The Indian batters, including KL Rahul (90 off 230), Gill (103 off 238), Ravindra Jadeja (107 not out off 185) and Washington Sundar (101 not out off 206), showed terrific resilience to save the game for the side. This happened after England took a first-innings lead of 311 runs and then sent Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan back to the hut with India having zero runs on the board.

This match was a personal triumph for England captain Ben Stokes as he became just the fourth England cricketer to score a hundred and take five wickets in the same Test, his 141 on Saturday following a haul of 5-72 in India's first-innings 358.

Stokes is now only the third cricketer in Test history to have both scored 7,000 Test runs and taken 200 wickets after outstanding West Indies all-rounder Garfield Sobers and South Africa's Jacques Kallis.

But he appeared to be in pain while bowling Sunday, repeatedly clutching the top of his leg -- a worrying sign for England given the all-rounder's history of hamstring trouble.

England's Joe Root, meanwhile, leapfrogged former Australia captain Ricky Ponting into second place in Test cricket's list of all-time leading run-scorers while making 150 -- his 38th hundred at this level.

(With AFP Inputs)

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WCL Live: India Eye Solid Start After Bopara Helps Eng Set 224-Run Target

India Champions vs England Champions, WCL 2025 Live Updates: Desperate for a win, both India Champions and England Champions are playing against each other in the 13th game of World Championship of Legends in Leeds. India Champions captain Yuvraj Singh won the toss and opted to bowl first against England Champions. Varun Aaron dismissed Phil Mustard to provide India Champions an early wicket but Ian Bell and Ravi Bopara played solid knocks to put England in control. Bopara even went on to smash his century (110 in 55 balls), helping England post 223 for 3. India Champions eye a solid start in the chase of 224 runs. (Live Scorecard)

India Champions vs England Champions, World Championship of Legends match Live Updates -

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Ancient Humans Ate Children 850,000 Years Ago, New Discovery Reveals

In a remarkable scientific discovery, Spanish archaeologists have found evidence that human ancestors ate children, some 850,000 years ago. Digging at the Gran Dolina cave site in Atapuerca, northern Spain, the researchers discovered a human neck bone belonging to a child aged between two and four years old, with clear butchery marks, suggesting that the small children may have been devoured clean.

The team from the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES) stated that the site of the marks on the neck bone suggests the youngster was decapitated. Notably, the body parts of the child belong to Homo antecessor, believed to be the last common ancestor of both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals.

"This case is particularly striking, not only because of the child's age, but also due to the precision of the cut marks," said Dr Palmira Saladie, the co-director of the excavation.

"The vertebra presents clear incisions at key anatomical points for disarticulating the head. It is direct evidence that the child was processed like any other prey."

Although cannibalism is well documented in early humans, it is unusual to find evidence of a child being eaten. If the discovery stands verified, it could mark the earliest evidence of the practice found to date.

“What we are documenting now is the continuity of that behaviour: the treatment of the dead was not exceptional, but repeated,” said Ms Saladie.

Also Read | 'I Love India But...': American Woman Reveals Truth About Living In India

Stockier and shorter on average than modern humans, the Homo antecessor lived between 1.2 million and 800,000 years ago. Their brain size was roughly between 1,000 and 1,150 cubic centimetres, which is smaller than the average 1,350 cubic centimetres brain size of people today.

"The new find reinforces the hypothesis that these early humans exploited their congeners as a food resource," the researchers stated.

“Every year we uncover new evidence that forces us to rethink how our ancestors lived, how they died, and how the dead were treated nearly a million years ago.”

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Tanushree Dutta To NDTV: "I Was Supposed To Do A Film With Sushant"

Actor Tanushree Dutta, who became the face of India's #MeToo movement back in 2018, on Friday said the recent disturbing video of her breaking down into tears was the result of "an emotional outburst" stemming from a long and painful experience of being harassed in Mumbai, a city where she is unsafe.

The actor told NDTV how she finds parallels in life with Sushant Singh Rajput. She also said that she was supposed to feature in a film with the late star who was found dead at his Mumbai apartment in 2020.

"I have been harassed for the past five years, and that video was simply an emotional outburst stemming from that long, painful experience. My building's security was replaced without my consent, the locks of my house were broken into, and a maid was deliberately planted in my home - she was mixing unknown substances into my food. All of this began after the #MeToo movement," Tanushree Dutta told NDTV in the interview.

"I was supposed to do a film with Sushant Singh Rajput, and it gave me hope that an A-lister was willing to work with me. But even he died by suicide - and I believe there is a deeper connection between his death and the kind of harassment I've been facing. His case and mine are not entirely disconnected," she added.

The former Miss India Universe also alleged that on a recent spiritual trip to Ujjain, someone tampered with the brakes of her autorickshaw "with an attempt to kill me". "I strongly believe there is a deliberate effort to mentally torture me to the point that I either end up like Sushant Singh Rajput - forced into suicide - or go insane like Pooja Mishra," she claimed.

Tanushree Dutta also levelled fresh allegations against actor Nana Patekar, whom she accused of sexual harassment and abuse in 2018 under the #MeToo wave in India.

"I had raised questions regarding Nana Patekar's foundation, and ever since then, people have been after me. A contract worth Rs 5 crore was given to the underworld to eliminate me. The underworld still exists - earlier it was figures like Dawood Ibrahim, but now it operates in new, subtler forms. I am constantly being followed."

"But since no one is chasing me with a knife right now, I'm not in a rush. I want to document every incident from the past five years thoroughly so that I can present it to the police in a proper and structured manner. The police hasn't done anything so far - in fact, I place more trust in the media than in law enforcement," she further said.

Earlier in the day, Tanushree Dutta said she is overwhelmed with media requests as she continues to speak out about the harassment she is facing.

"I'm swamped with interviews and haven't been keeping well either. I've lived a slow, low-key sadhana lifestyle last few years. I'm trying the best I can. Please bear with me. I'll talk to everyone slowly, slowly," she wrote on her Instagram Story.

In her previous interview to NDTV, the actor talked about her past experience with the police during the #MeToo movement in 2018. "My experience with the Mumbai Police during the 2018 #MeToo movement left a very bitter taste in my mouth," she said.

"They encouraged me to file an FIR back then. I spent four to five hours at the station, gave a detailed statement, and kept following up and nothing came of it. In Maharashtra, these molesters and harassers are often hobnobbing with politicians. They're protected. So, there's no real scope of justice," she added.

Tanushree Dutta had accused actor Nana Patekar of sexually harassing her during the shoot of a special song in the film Horn Ok Pleassss in 2009. She made these allegations in a Zoom interview in 2018. Nana Patekar, however, denied all the claims.

Also Read | Tanushree Dutta, Who Called For #MeToo In Bollywood, Breaks Down In Video: "I'm Being Harassed At My Own Home"

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Student Takes Raj Thackeray's Name, Asks Others To Speak In Marathi, Thrashed

A student was allegedly beaten up outside a college in Navi Mumbai for - in a semi-threatening tone - asking others to speak in Marathi in a WhatsApp group.

Police sources said the students were all part of a college WhatsApp group and some of them were writing messages in Hindi on Monday. Another student then replied in Marathi, "Speak in Marathi, otherwise Raj Thackeray will come." 

Raj Thackeray is the chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), whose workers have assaulted several people in the state for what they termed "insults" to Marathi. The attacks include one on a shopkeeper in Thane and, more recently, on a man working in a public toilet in Nanded. 

The student's comment sparked an argument on the WhatsApp group, which kept escalating.  Around 10.30 am the next day, four students, including one Faizan Naik, attacked the student who asked them to speak in Marathi outside their college in Vashi. Naik also hit the 20-year-old on the head with a hockey stick, leaving him severely injured. 

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Vashi) Adinath Budhwant said a case has been registered. 

"A First Information Report has been registered at the Vashi police station in connection with a dispute that arose between two groups. The dispute was a result of an argument between two individuals over comments on the group," Mr Budhwant said. 

"The complainant was also reportedly beaten with a stick. An investigation is on and action will be taken against the accused," he added.

MNS Spokesperson Gajanan Kale and other MNS workers also met police officials and asked for strict action against the attacking students at the earliest. 

"We have met the student and his family as well," Mr Kale said. 

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Watch: Archer Targets Pant's Fractured Toes, Next Ball India Star Does This

If heroism had a synonymn, Rishabh Pant would be the most apt after what the India wicketkeeper-batter on Thursday. England might have thought it had seen the last of Rishabh Pant in this Test series against India. Pant had other ideas. After retiring early on day one of the fourth test at Old Trafford with a foot injury, Pant returned Thursday, albeit with a limp, and posted a half century as India reached 358 all out. England was 77-0 at tea in reply, with Ben Duckett hitting 43 off 41 balls with seven fours. Zak Crawley was 33 off 44. It was a gutsy display from Pant, who was hurt a day earlier when his showmanship got the better of him, and an attempted reverse sweep off Chris Woakes saw the ball deflect onto his right foot. He lay on the field in pain and had to leave on a cart, with his foot badly swollen.

Reports suggested he'd sustained a fracture and India said he would be replaced by Dhruv Jurel as wicketkeeper for the rest of the match. But he was back at the crease after the visitors lost two wickets in the opening session.

Walking slowly and uncomfortably, Pant was cheered as he came out to replace Shardul Thakur (41).

He resumed on 37 and went on to reach 54 before being bowled by Jofra Archer, who sent the stumps crashing with India on 349-9. Between those two scores, Pant displayed extreme grit. He was target on the toe by Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer too. In fact, in one of the overs, Archer almost struck Pant on the toe, and the next ball he was hit for a boundary. 

Rishabh-Panti Max!

They tried to hit him where it hurts... Pant responds by hitting it out of the park!

Toughness has a new name @RishabhPant17 #ENGvIND 4th TEST, DAY 2 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar https://t.co/Y3btplYguV pic.twitter.com/6a2zPCQsr5

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 24, 2025

England captain Ben Stokes made it five wickets in the first innings as the hosts took control after lunch, removing Washington Sundar (27) and Anshul Kamboj (0).

When Pant went, it was only a matter of time before the innings was wrapped up, with Jasprit Bumrah (4) caught by Jamie Smith off Archer, who ended the innings with three wickets.

England leads the five-match series 2-1.

With AP inputs 

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Pant Surpasses Rohit For Historic Feats But India Struggle vs England

Rishabh Pant continues to break records and win hearts, this time, with the bat in hand even while limping. On Thursday, during Day 2 of the Manchester Test against England, the wicket-keeper batter matched the legendary Virender Sehwag's record for the most sixes by an Indian in Test cricket. Both now have 90 sixes to their name in the longest format. Pant, known for his fearless strokeplay, is now tied at the top with Sehwag, while India captain Rohit Sharma follows closely behind with 88 sixes. MS Dhoni has 78, and Ravindra Jadeja sits fifth on the list with 74 sixes.

If that wasn't enough, Pant also leapfrogged Rohit Sharma to become India's leading run-scorer in the World Test Championship (WTC) era. The southpaw now has 2731 runs from just 38 Test matches, which includes six centuries and sixteen fifties. Rohit, on the other hand, has 2719 WTC runs.

Despite the heroic effort, India finised the day on backfoot as England played Bazball brand of cricket. England were comfortably placed at 225 for two at stumps after bowling out India for 358 on the second day of the fourth Test on Thursday. Openers Ben Duckett (94 off 100 balls) and Zak Crawley (84 off 113 balls) led England's strong response with a brisk 166-run partnership, as the home team trailed India by 133 runs in their first innings at close of play. Ollie Pope (20) and Joe Root (11) were at the crease at stumps. 

What makes Pant's achievement even more special is the context, he returned to bat on Thursday despite suffering a painful toe injury on Day 1 and still made a solid impact.

After Pant's fifty in Manchester in the fourth Test, now he has 14 fifty-plus scores, while Dhoni has thirteen fifties. The left-hander has six hundreds and eight fifties.

Pant smashed 54 off 75 balls, laced with three boundaries and two maximums.

The BCCI has confirmed earlier that Rishabh Pant will not keep wickets for the remainder of the Manchester Test after suffering a toe injury, but he will be available to bat if required.

Team India suffered a setback on Day 1 after Pant was forced to leave the field when a toe-crushing yorker from England pacer Chris Woakes struck him on the right foot. The left-hander was in visible pain and could not continue batting, raised concerns over his participation in the rest of the match.

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Centre In Huddle To Regain Lost Ground On Judge's Impeachment: Sources

Two days after the resignation of Jagdish Dhankhar from the post of the Vice President, the government is brainstorming ways to undo the damage he caused by accepting the Opposition notice for the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma - the judge at the centre of the cash-at-home scandal.

While the procedure of impeachment is complicated at best, Mr Dhankhar's move has made the government's job more difficult.

Earlier, sources had said that the government had wanted to take the lead in the impeachment - introducing the issue from the Lok Sabha - to send a message about its stance on corruption in judiciary. It was also a crucial matter of optics, given its earlier efforts to tweak the judges' appointment system.

The Centre had even readied a motion for Justice Varma's removal, taken signatures from Opposition MPs from the Lok Sabha as well.

Following Mr Dhankhar's acceptance of the Opposition notice in the Upper House, a flurry of meetings had started within the government. 

One of these meetings was attended by the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Deputy Chairman of RS Harivansh and the Secretary Generals of both the Houses.

The government has concluded that the notice moved by the Opposition and read out by Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday was technically flawed. There were discussions on whether the motion should be withdrawn or necessary amendments should be made to it to conform to procedure, sources have said.

Sources said it has now been decided to withdraw the Opposition proposal from the Rajya Sabha, so the Lok Sabha Speaker can recommend the formation of a three-member committee to look into the allegations against the judge.

It has also been argued that the Deputy Speaker can reverse Mr Dhankhar's move.

Jagdeep Dhankhar's Resignation

On Monday, after Mr Dhankhar accepted the Opposition's proposal for impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma without apprising the government, it was caught completely by surprise. "If the government had been informed, MPs from the ruling party would have also signed the motion," said a source. 

A series of meetings were held - one of them between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior ministers. BJP MPs were called and asked to sign a significant motion about which they were asked to stay silent.

Getting wind of the government's displeasure, Mr Dhankhar had opted to step down, sources said.
 

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Rishabh Pant Scripts World Record Before Injury Forces Him To Retire Hurt

Sai Sudharsan made the opportunity count in his comeback game with a fifty while Rishabh Pant suffered another injury as India played the old-fashioned way to reach 264 for four at stumps on day one of the fourth Test in Manchester on Wednesday. Before being retired hurt, Pant scripted a world record. He became the first-ever wicketkeeper to score 1000-plus Test runs in an away country. The player broke his own record of most Test runs as a wicketkeeper-batter in an away country (879 in Australia) for the new milestone.

At stumps, Ravindra Jadeja (19 batting off 37) and Shardul Thakur (19 batting off 36) were holding fort in fading light.

Put in to bat in overcast conditions, Indian openers KL Rahul (46 off 98 balls) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (58 off 107) put on 94 runs for their highest stand of the series before Sudharsan (61 off 151) produced a dogged knock under pressure to justify his selection over Karun Nair.

Batting alongside Sudharsan, Pant (37 retired hurt off 48) had just started flexing his muscles before missing a reverse hit off a full ball from Chris Woakes.

The impact of the ball was on Pant's right foot, leaving him in a lot of pain and eventually he had to be taken off the field in a golf cart.

There were also blood stains on the foot, enough to unsettle the Indian fans and the dressing room. Pant had come into this must-win game after recovering from a finger injury he suffered while keeping during the Lord's Test.

The sun stayed away for the majority of the day but the slow nature of the pitch gave the batters enough time to tackle the extra pace of Jofra Archer.

While Sudharsan was at the crease, he looked comfortable and also had luck going his way, having been dropped down the leg side on 20 by keeper Jamie Smith off Ben Stokes.

He rode that luck to play a couple of pull shots off Archer before playing a crisp back foot punch off Stokes.

The England captain, however, kept dragging an odd ball down the leg side in his effort to induce an edge off Sudharsan's bat before resorting to the short ball tactic.

Sudharsan was up to the task until he pulled one straight into the hands of Brydon Carse at fine leg.

The young Indian batter was watchful at the start of the innings, scoring only off balls pitched on middle and leg. He flicked Archer for his first four before cover driving Liam Dawson.

Until his injury, Pant played his usual way, successfully sweeping Archer before dispatching Carse for a six down the ground.

In the afternoon session, England removed a well set Rahul and Jaiswal before sending back Shubman Gill to leave India at 149 for three at tea.

Having failed to land a wicket in the morning session, England broke through shortly after lunch with Woakes finally rewarded for relentlessly bowling in the off-stump channel. He had Rahul caught at third slip with a ball that seamed away from length.

The second wicket of the session came via left-arm spinner Dawson, who took just seven balls to strike in his first Test in eight years.

Jaiswal played for the spin but the ball did not turn that match, taking a thick outside edge on way to the first slip.

India captain Gill (12) did not last long as he misjudged an incoming ball from Stokes to not offer a shot, trapping him in front.

In the morning session, Jaiswal survived a probing spell from Woakes while Rahul looked solid as ever to steer India to 78 for no loss at lunch.

No team opting to bowl first has ever won at Old Trafford but Stokes ignored that piece of statistics on an overcast morning.

The ball did seam around but lack of pace allowed the Indian openers to play the pull shot with relative ease.

Gill thought it was a good toss to lose and that seems to be the case considering the dry and slow nature of the surface.

Woakes made it most difficult for the batters, especially Jaiswal who was beaten on a number of occasions by the England pacer.

In the first over of the match bowled by Woakes, two edges of Jaiswal's bat did not carry, signalling there was not enough carry off the pitch.

In his eight-over spell, Woakes was pulled twice with Rahul and Jaiswal dispatching him in front of the square.

A streaky drive from Rahul off Woakes brought the Indian opener's 1000 runs in England, a testament to his stellar work at the top of the order even in this series.

Jaiswal, who was removed by Archer twice at Lord's, made a conscious effort to leave balls. The southpaw was also forced to change his bat when a ball from Woakes seamed back sharply from round the wicket to hit high on his bat, breaking the handle.

The openers somehow managed to survive the first hour of play, taking India to 42 for no loss in 14 overs.

Despite backing Nair on the eve of the game, Gill dropped the number three batter for Sudharsan .

The other two were forced changes with uncapped Anshul Kamboj and Shardul Thakur making way for the injured Akash Deep and Nitish Reddy respectively.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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'Hottest In The Room': Trump Praises Gabbard Over Election Rigging Report

At a recent White House event, US President Donald Trump caused fresh controversy by praising Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard as "the hottest one in the room". He commended her newly released report that alleges former President Barack Obama orchestrated a plot to rig the 2016 election.

"Oh, where's Tulsi? She's, like, hotter than everybody," Trump said. "She has all the documents. She found out that Barack Hussein Obama led a group of people and they cheated in the elections." He added, "They cheated without question. It's not even a quote."

"She told me, 'You've seen nothing yet,'" he continued. "We're very proud of you, Tulsi. They cheated so badly... and it shouldn't have been a loss. It was a big victory."

The report which was recently made public, claims to uncover Obama-era communications that show attempts to manipulate the outcome of 2016 elections. The report proves that there was no manipulation of vote totals. However, it implies that the absence of vote tampering undermines the broader finding of Russian interference in the 2016 election, something several bipartisan investigations have long upheld.

Trump applauded Gabbard and said, "Tulsi, great job, and I know you have a lot more coming."

Trump accused Obama of 'treason' and blamed him of efforts to tie him to Russia and undermine his 2016 presidential campaign.

The report claimed that the officials in the Obama administration had been a part of a "treasonous conspiracy", and said that the intelligence claiming Trump had taken the help of Russian election interference was manufactured, a "groundwork" for a years-long coup against President Donald Trump.

Four watchdog probes issued between 2019-2023 concluded that Russia did intervene in the 2016 election. Trump had gone on to label the probes as "hoax".

However, Obama's spokesperson responded to the allegations. "Out of respect for the office of the presidency, our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response," Patrick Rodenbush said in a statement. "But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction."

It is worth noting that the timing of the report's release coincides with the focus around the Jeffrey Epstein case.

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Indian Railways Tweaks Emergency Quota Rules, Big Relief For Passengers

Indian Railways has revised the rules for booking tickets under the Emergency Quota (EQ), making it mandatory for passengers to send their requests earlier than before. This change follows the Railway Ministry's recent decision to prepare reservation charts 8 hours before train departure to improve operational efficiency.

Emergency quota seats are reserved for VIPs, railway staff, and passengers with medical emergencies. However, misuse of this facility and last-minute requests often delayed chart preparation, affecting the confirmation of waiting list tickets and causing inconvenience to passengers.

Under the new rule, passengers seeking an EQ ticket must now submit their request at least a day in advance. 

"Emergency quota request for all the trains leaving between 0000 hours and 1400 hours should reach EQ cell up to 1200 hours on the previous day of journey," said a circular issued by the ministry on Tuesday.

"Emergency quota request for all the remaining trains leaving between 14.01 hours and 23.59 hours should reach EQ cell up to 1600 hours on the previous day of journey," it added.

The ministry has clarified that the requests received on the same day of the scheduled departure of a train will not be entertained.

Regarding Sundays or any other public holidays, the ministry has said the requests for the release of accommodation in trains, for which the emergency quota is to be released on Sundays or clubbed holidays after Sundays, should be given during office hours on the previous working day.

The circular said the reservation cell of the Railway Board receives a large number of requests from VIPs, railway officers, senior officers and other departments.

"All efforts are made to allot the quota judiciously and with common prudence," it said.

The ministry has urged all officers to adhere to these timings so that the allotments are given in time and chart preparation is not delayed, which not only results in extreme difficulties to the travelling public but can also lead to a delay in the departure of trains.

It has also requested the forwarding authority to ensure the genuineness of the person under reference and also ensure strict compliance to existing guidelines regarding the allotment of the emergency quota.

The move is aimed at streamlining the ticketing process, ensuring charts are prepared on time, and improving punctuality. For common passengers, this change means they will know the confirmation status of their waiting list tickets earlier, reducing uncertainty before travel. 

(With inputs from PTI)

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"Apologise": Court As Cop Gets Husband, Father-In-Law Jailed In False Cases

An IPS officer has been asked to issue an unconditional public apology to her former husband and in-laws for the "physical and mental agony" they underwent after she filed multiple criminal cases against them during a marital dispute. While ordering this, the Supreme Court also cancelled all the ongoing cases. 

The Bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih also dissolved the marriage since the couple were separated since 2018. The court ordered that their daughter will stay with her mother and the husband and family members will be able to meet her.

In its verdict, the court said the husband had to spend 109 days and his father 103 days in jail due to criminal cases filed by the wife. "What they have suffered cannot be compensated in any way," the court said, ordering the officer to tender a public apology.

"The woman and her parents shall tender an unconditional apology to her husband and his family members, which shall be published in the national edition of a well-known English and a Hindi newspaper," said the judges.

This apology shall also be published and circulated on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and other similar social media platforms within 3 days of the order, the judges said. It would not be construed as an admission of liability and shall have no effect on the legal rights, obligations or consequences arising under the law. 

The court also asked the woman "not to use her position and power" or that of her colleagues to initiate any proceedings against the husband and his family. The husband was warned not to use her apology in any manner either.

The woman had filed separate criminal cases against the husband and his family and a parallel one in the family court for divorce and maintenance. Her husband too, had filed tit-for-tat cases. Besides, there were cases filed by third parties. 

Both husband and wife had filed an application in the Supreme Court to transfer the cases to their respective jurisdiction.

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Indian Techie Claims Boss Made Work Life A "Mess" For Rejecting His Proposal

An Indian tech professional has alleged that her European manager, who is married, began targeting her professionally after she rejected his romantic advances. In a viral Reddit post, the woman claimed that her married boss started delaying her salary and micromanaging her, turning her professional life "a mess." The employee, who works remotely for a small 10-employee company, alleged that her European manager confessed to having romantic feelings during a one-on-one call earlier this year. After she rejected him, he reportedly began throwing tantrums, negatively impacting her work life.

"Turns out he got hurt & told somebody, and that somebody moulded his mind or something, that he should let me go, that now this boss is throwing all sorts of tantrums at me, questioning my every move, work, etc. He even remarked, she doesn't work, just clocks in on time. I don't know if the person suggested letting me go emotionally, or if this boss just doesn't have enough balloons to own his feelings & is trying all sorts to get me out of the job because I broke his heart. I just want to keep things professional," the post read. 

See the post here:

Posts from the indianworkplace
community on Reddit

The woman further alleged that her manager displays jealous behaviour, particularly when she interacts with male colleagues. He frequently checks in on her when she's offline, questioning her well-being. Professionally, she has faced challenges, including delayed salaries, tasks outside her role, and public reprimands for mistakes she didn't make, suggesting that he's using work-related issues to express personal resentment.

"Apparently, he may have developed feelings as early as December, and instead of handling it maturely, he's now making things difficult for me professionally. Earlier, he had given me a couple of days off without deducting leave — I thought it was because of my performance and loyalty, but now I wonder if it was something else," he added.

Due to her current role's flexibility, which allows her to spend more time with her family, she's unable to consider switching jobs despite the toxic work environment. "I've held on to this job mainly because it's remote, gives me flexibility with family responsibilities, and is financially efficient (lower taxes, etc.). But this emotional back-and-forth is becoming unbearable. The job market is not great right now, so switching is tough," she added.

Many expressed solidarity with her and criticised the company's handling of the situation. One user said, "The best thing for you to do would perhaps be to prepare for packing your bags from here and joining somewhere else. Since he is your boss, even POSH will not be taken seriously because HRs work for companies and not for employees. I know what I am suggesting sounds like running, but we are just bunnies in this world, and we gotta act in our interests. Start preparing and switch if possible."

Another commented, "Pick up your stuff and leave the company, now it will become more toxic than ever with this in, protect your mental wellbeing."

A third added, "Job switch is the only option. That is the sad reality."

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Why Was India vs Pakistan WCL 2025 Match Cancelled - Explained

A veterans' cricket match in Birmingham involving India and Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends was cancelled after Indian players, including Shikhar Dhawan, refused to be a part of it citing the Pahalgam terror attack in April. The second edition of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) tournament, which is co-owned by Bollywood star Ajay Devgn, started on June 18 at Edgbaston here and is scheduled for an August 2 final. World Cup winner Yuvraj Singh is the captain of the India Champions, while the squad also features the likes of Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa and Varun Aaron among others.

The WCL organisers shared a statement on their X account, detailing the decision of cancellation and said their intention while conducting the match was to recreate some "happy memories." "After hearing the news that the Pakistan hockey team will be coming to India this year, and seeing the recent India vs Pakistan volleyball match along with a few other fixtures between the two nations in different sports, we thought of continuing with the India vs Pakistan match at WCL, just to create some happy memories for people around the globe.

"But maybe in the process, we ended up hurting the feelings of many and stirring emotions," the WCL statement read.

The Pakistan team has in its ranks captain Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, Kamran Akmal among a host of yesteryear players.

The organisers also apologised for "unintentionally causing discomfort" to Indian legends.

"Hence, we have decided to call off the India-Pakistan match. We sincerely apologise again for hurting the sentiments and hope people will understand that all we ever wanted was to bring a few happy moments to the fans," it read.

Former India opener Dhawan also shared a statement on X, announcing his stand not to participate in the match against Pakistan.

"This is to formally reiterate and confirm that Mr. Shikhar Dhawan will not be participating in any matches against the Pakistan team in the upcoming WCL League. This decision was communicated earlier during our discussion on call and WhatsApp dated 11th May 2025," read his statement.

Dhawan made it clear that he has taken the call in view of the current "geopolitical" situation between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack and the ensuing Operation Sindoor carried out by the country.

Operation Sindoor had led to a brief military showdown between the two arch foes before India agreed to halt its operations on Pakistan's request for a cease fire. "In view of the current geopolitical situation and the prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan, Mr. Dhawan and his team have taken this position after due consideration.

"We respectfully request the league's understanding and cooperation on this matter," he said in the statement.

Off-spin legend Harbhajan, a sitting Rajya Sabha MP, Yusuf, who is also a Member of Parliament, and Irfan too have conveyed their decision to boycott the match against Pakistan, though they are yet to issue a statement in this regard.

The players received a lot of flak on social media for agreeing to the play against the Pakistan team.

India had defeated Pakistan by five wickets to win the inaugural edition of the six-team legends tournament last year in Edgbaston.

While India does not engage with Pakistan in any bilateral sporting activities because of the existing geopolitical scenario, the two nations often meet each other at various levels of competitions featuring Olympic sports.

In fact, the Indian government has given its approval for Pakistan's participation in several major events to be hosted in India this year, including the Hockey Asia Cup (August), Junior Hockey World Cup (November–December), Junior Shooting World Cup (September), and the World Para Athletics Championships (October).

The reason being that any move to block Pakistan, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists, would have been a violation of the Olympic charter, which is like a constitution for the Olympic Movement.

Rule 44 of the Charter specifically prohibits National Olympic Committees from excluding athletes based on "racial, religious or political reasons". Failure to grant visas can lead to "international isolation and loss of hosting rights for future events." In cricket, India and Pakistan do not engage in bilateral series, limiting their face-offs to global ICC events such as the World Cup and Champions Trophy.

A hybrid hosting model was introduced during this year's Champions Trophy, under which India played its matches at a neutral venue — Dubai — while the rest of the tournament was held in Pakistan.

Following that precedent, Pakistan will play all its matches in Colombo during the Women's ODI World Cup this year. The tournament is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

However, the men's Asia Cup, tentatively set for September in the T20 format, remains in uncertainty as venue for the India-Pakistan clash is yet to be identified.

The BCCI has said unequivocally that it will not attend the Asian Cricket Council meeting, intended to thrash out a working model, if it is held in Dhaka.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Big Blow For India: Pacer Unlikely To Be Fit For 4th Test. Reason Is...

Injured Indian left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who is yet to play in the ongoing Test series against England, is unlikely to be available for selection for the fourth Test beginning in Manchester from July 23. Arshdeep, who is yet to play Test cricket, injured his left hand while trying to stop a shot from Sai Sudharsan's on his follow through during the net session in Beckenham on Thursday. The Indian team on Saturday arrived in Manchester in their bid to level the five match series following the heartbreak of Lord's. Following the training session in Beckenham, Arshdeep was walking around with his bowling hand bandaged. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, in as many words, had hinted that Arshdeep would be racing against time to get fit for the Manchester Test even though he had not found a playing eleven spot in the first three games.

“We'll take a call on the combination we play, particularly given the Arshdeep situation as well, we'll make that call closer to Manchester,” said Doeschate referring to the left-arm pacer getting injured during training.

“He took a ball while he was bowling there, Sai had a ball and he tried to stop it and it's just a cut, so we have to see how bad the cut is. Obviously the medical team has taken him off to see a doctor and obviously if he needs stitches or doesn't need stitches that's going to be important to our planning for the next few days,” he had said post training in Beckenham.

The left-arm pacer was only likely to get a shot if one of two senior pacers --- Jasprit Bumrah or Mohammed Siraj happen to be rested due to workload management. Bumrah, Siraj and Akash Deep formed the pace trio at Lord's.

It remains to be seen if Bumrah decides to play the Manchester Test or the fifth one at The Oval with the series on the line already.

There is no clarity over the availability of Akash Deep, who is dealing with a groin niggle.

Siraj has featured in all the games so far and is due for some rest.

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On CCTV, 2 People Tossed Into Air As Speeding Car Hits Them In Delhi

Two people were flung into the air after they were rammed by a speeding car in Delhi this evening. The pedestrians were crossing the road when the sedan hit them from behind. The disturbing moment was captured on CCTV in the national capital's Rohini area.

The victims were thrown several metres away due to the impact. Moments later, one of them was seen trying to get up as passersby ran to catch the driver of the car, which had vanished before it could be caught.

The video shows the car slowing down for a second before speeding away, leaving the injured behind.

The victims sustained serious injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital. Their current condition is not known yet.

The Delhi Police has taken note of the CCTV footage and launched a hunt for the driver. Authorities have also appealed to the public for any leads that could help in identifying the vehicle and the person behind the wheel.

This incident highlights the growing concern over rash driving and the urgent need for stricter enforcement of traffic laws in the national capital.

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WCL Live: Mustard, Bell Keep Two-Down England Champions Going In Chase

Pakistan Champions vs England Champions Live Updates, World Championship of Legends 2025: Phil Mustard and Ian Bell aim to keep two-down England Champions going in the chase of 161 runs against Pakistan Champions at at Edgbaston, Birmingham. James Vince and Alastair Cook are back to the hut. Earlier, Pakistan Champions posted 160 for 9 in 20 overs. Mohammad Hafeez scored 54 and Aamer Yamin slammed 27 not out off 13 but other Pakistan batters failed to impress. Liam Plunkett and Chris Tremlett were pick of the bowlers with two wickets each. England Champions captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and opted to bowl first. (Live Scorecard)

Here are the Live Score and Updates from Pakistan Champions vs England Champions, World Championship of Legends 2025 game -

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Video: Workers Of BJP, Sharad Pawar's NCP Clash In Maharashtra Assembly Lobby

A violent clash broke out between the supporters of BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar and NCP (Sharad Pawar group) MLA Jitendra Awhad in the lobby of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today. Shocking videos of the two groups pummeling each other and having to be dragged back by security personel are now doing the rounds of social media. 

The altercation had started with a verbal spat outside the assembly building yesterday, during which both MLAs and their supporters had exchanged expletives. 

A few days ago, Mr Awhad was caught on camera walking on the red carpet in the Vidhan Bhavan premises, saying "Mangalsutra thief". 

The jibe was widely seen as directed at Padalkar, although no one was named. The video was widely circulated, sparking a debate between supporters of the two leaders.

Today, the situation escalated into full-blown physical violence. 

Mr Awhad later posted on X about receiving abusive and threatening messages.  

Mr Padalkar, who later met the Speaker and senior party leaders said that the whole incident was unfortunate and has apologised.

The matter then snowballed, with Mr Awhad's party colleague Rohit Pawar raising the issue in the assembly, demanding action. Speaker Rahul Narwekar has sought a report on the incident and promised a thorough investigation and subsequent action.

The incident has been condemned by all sides. While Sharad Pawar faction MLA Sana Malik and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray expressed strong disapproval, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and minister Ashish Shelar made their displeasure felt. 

"Such incidents on the premises of assembly are unacceptable and bring shame to our name," Mr Fadnavis said.

"It comes under the jurisdiction of Assembly Speaker and Legislative Council Chairman. Both have taken serious cognizance of the incident which took place today. They will take strictest action against those who are found guilty," he added.

"Who gave these goons passes to enter the asembly premises?" said Uddhav Thackeray.

"Such incidents in the assembly premises are unacceptable and the Speaker should take action against whoever gave them passes... necessary action in this regard should be initiated... the Speaker, the Chief Minister and the Home Department should take cognizance of it... ultimately it is about safety and security of the MLAs," said Uddhav Thackeray.

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For 1st Time Since Covid, More Than Half Of Top US Companies Junk WFH

For the first time since the pandemic upended work life five years ago, more than half the companies in the Fortune 100 have their employees fully back in the office, according to a report from real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. 

Hybrid schedules, which two years ago were offered by 78% of the 100 largest US companies by revenue, are now available at just 41% of them, while the share of Fortune 100 firms requiring full-time office attendance has jumped to 54% from 5%.

The shift to an in-office majority is helping to reshape the commercial real estate market. Office attendance in April and May was up 1.3% versus the same period last year, and the most desirable buildings are commanding record prices. JLL notes that "trophy buildings across Miami, New York City, San Francisco and other markets captured all-time high rents," with new construction asking $92.38 per square foot, the highest on record. 

At the same time, with vacancies hovering above 22%, developers are pulling older buildings off the market. According to JLL, national office inventory declined by 700,000 square feet last quarter, as demolitions and conversions, mainly to residential, industrial or mixed-use developments, outpaced new construction. 

The return of employees helps justify costly office leases in premium buildings. Among the 10 largest Fortune 100 companies, seven now require at least four days a week in-person, with the other three demanding full-time attendance, JLL found. According to the report, the average in-office requirement of the Fortune 100 rose to 3.8 days per week in the second quarter of 2025 from 2.6 days in the second quarter of 2023. 

Amazon.com Inc. started prepping corporate staff in 2024 to return fully to in-person work by January. JPMorgan Chase & Co. announced on Jan. 10 that it was ending its hybrid-work option, too. More recently, Starbucks Corp. announced it will require corporate employees to work in the office four days a week starting Sept. 29, and remote managers were told they must relocate to Seattle or Toronto within a year. Workers who opt to leave will be given a one-time cash exit offer, based on documents seen by Bloomberg News.

The office mandates haven't been without their ups and downs for big employers, several of which had to regroup after running out of space for all of their returning workers. The trend is clear, though. After years of uncertainty, companies are tightening expectations and reasserting control over where work happens, and the era of hybrid work being the dominant option has come to a close. Executives are calling people back - and this time, they mean it.

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"These Are Not 2 People On Tinder Date": Expert Defends Dreamliner Pilots

Serious pilots in India who are closely watching the unfolding events linked to the investigation into the crash of Air India's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner are upset about the whole situation due to a perceived slant towards blaming the pilots, a top aviation expert and a pilot himself told NDTV on Thursday.

Captain Sam Thomas, who heads the Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA India), said two things are bothering serious experts who have been tracking the investigation - speculation, and alleged absence of any qualified expert in the report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

"As far as speculation is concerned, we are okay with the media speculating. We believe speculation is a good part of investigative journalism. However, we object to pilots or so-called pilots or so-called experts who came on board and speculate," Mr Thomas told NDTV.

"On day one, they said it's a bird hit. On day two, they said it's an overloaded airplane. On day three, they said something else. What we are objecting to is why did you call them on day four? You called them on day five, six, till such time that they insinuated this is something the captain has done with a motive to end his own life, which is farthest from the truth," Mr Thomas said.

He said they don't believe the report "is completely Indian controlled", that it seemed like "a dictated sort of letter".

"And you released that in the middle of the night. You cannot even get the full form of FADEC correctly. And you cannot get the issue date of [pilot] Sumit's licence correct. How do I expect you to go through the entire report? I don't want to see past those three lines. And you have released one line selectively at the order of somebody. Now, we don't know who said to whom. And there is a tonality to a conversation. These are not two people on a Tinder date. So please be responsible," Mr Thomas said.

He said they would like to go through the entire report or the digital flight data recorder (DFDR) to throw better light, rather than using people who are non-technical and from a non-civilian background.

On a report by the Wall Street Journal that appeared to question the pilot's actions, Mr Thomas said it is likely the American newspaper has been "fed that information".

"... And it's our fault. It's not their fault. If I were to be heading this committee, I would have sat there and given a piece of paper to each of those NTSB and Boeing investigators and said, 'sign this, whatever goes out of this room goes out through me and not through anybody else. If you cannot maintain that confidentiality, get out of here'," Mr Thomas said.

"[But] they have set the narrative in such a calculated manner that no matter what proof I give you, they will still nail the pilot. They have already done that. Half the world thinks that, and half the world thinks Indian pilots are morons. This has happened because of the shoddy investigation and the shoddy way things have proceeded in India."

He referred to the Boeing 737 MAX controversy over the MCAS-linked crashes.

"... With the 737 Max crash, what about the first crash? If you had woken up at that time and had a conscience, you would have said, hey, I need something to set my airplane. All right. You kept quiet. Unfortunately, the Ethiopian accident happened.

"Luckily, the Ethiopians were much more intelligent than all of us. They did their in-house investigation and that's when it came out that you could not avoid the existence of MCAS, which is a renegade system that crashes your airplane. So there are many, many vested interests, not just one. Let's not just look at the OEM or some investigating body. Everybody who is not telling the truth has something to gain. And this is the narrative that is being told," the veteran pilot told NDTV.

The Air India Boeing 787 crashed seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad airport, killing 260 people.

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"Won't Keep A Single Rupee" Singer On Radhika Yadav's Music Video

Independent artiste Inaam Ul Haq, who featured in a music video with tennis player Radhika Yadav, today shared a post on Instagram about the backlash he has been receiving after her death. Ms Yadav was allegedly killed by her father, and as per one of the many theories around the motive of the murder, she was killed over the music video, 'Karwaan'. The claim was earlier rejected by Inaam, who said the 25-year-old told him that her father liked the music video.

Today, he shared that many people were saying that he is "gaining fame because of what happened to Radhika. That my song Karwaan is trending, and I'll earn from it."

The video went viral after Radhika Yadav's murder.

The singer said that he "will not keep a single rupee" from the money he would be earning from the song: "Whatever I receive from Karwaan - whether monthly royalties from or revenue, I won't keep a single rupee".

The video is by Inaam, produced by Zeeshan Ahmad and released under the LLF Records label a year ago.

He said every payment for the song will "go towards helping the poor, feeding the hungry, supporting the helpless, and doing something meaningful".

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by INAAM UL HAQ (@aapka_inaam)

"If even one sincere prayer comes from someone I've helped, and it brings peace to her soul, that's more than enough for me. This isn't about numbers. Not about fame. Just a small gesture in someone's memory," he said.

"I've always worked with honesty and respect. I never wanted attention this way. And I never will. Rest in peace, Radhika. You'll always be remembered," he added.

Earlier, Inam-ul-Haq, had said that he had no connection to her murder and had not been in touch with her after the video shoot.

Radhika Yadav was allegedly shot dead at point-blank range by her father Deepak Yadav at the family's double-storey home at Sushant Lok area in Sector 57, Gurugram on July 10.

He reportedly confessed to the police that he shot her because he was often taunted for living off her income.

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