India

Saurashtra gained a crucial first-innings lead over Hyderabad in the Vijay Merchant Trophy Under-16 second-round match at Mulapadu. Hyderabad managed 142 in reply to Saurashtra’s 245, while Saurashtra reached 195/6 at stumps on the second day

Credicon Mavericks clinched the inaugural Hyderabad Pickleball League title with a 4-3 tie-breaker win over All Stars. The finale also honoured standout players, with Sameer Varma named MVP, marking a milestone for pickleball’s growth in Hyderabad

The iconic promise that ‘even a person in Hawai chappal can fly’, transformed Indian Aviation. IndiGo’s meltdown now lays bare the fragility of that dream

The Union Cabinet approved the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhikshan Bill to set up a single higher education regulator, replacing UGC, AICTE, and NCTE. The Commission will oversee regulation, accreditation, and professional standards while promoting institutional autonomy

Lionel Messi’s Kolkata visit turned chaotic at Salt Lake Stadium as poor crowd management left fans frustrated. Bottles were hurled, seats vandalised and organisers criticised, overshadowing the Argentine star’s brief appearance during his GOAT Tour in India

Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju has urged Indian Muslims planning to undertake Hajj in 2026 to complete bookings by January 15, 2026, and choose only authorised Hajj Group Organisers or Private Tour Operators. An official circular highlighted Saudi Arabia’s deadline of February 1, 2026, for finalising housing and service contracts.

Lionel Messi’s Kolkata event at Salt Lake Stadium ended in chaos, with police detaining the organiser for mismanagement. Fans vandalised the venue after failing to see Messi clearly. CM Mamata Banerjee apologised and ordered a judicial probe into the incident

The Rajasthan government has signed an Rs 8.5 crore MoU with IIT Hyderabad during Pravasi Rajasthani Divas 2025 to develop AI- and ML-based predictive systems for identifying critical minerals. Executed in four phases over 18 months, the project aims to strengthen Rajasthan’s mineral intelligence and position India as a leader in exploration technologies.

Delhi Police have busted an organised traffic fraud and extortion racket, arresting three persons, including the mastermind, for selling fake ‘no-entry’ stickers to commercial vehicle operators to bypass restrictions. Cash, documents and hundreds of fake stickers were seized

Andhra Pradesh has won the National Energy Conservation Award 2025 for the fourth consecutive year, recognised for its efforts in energy efficiency across sectors. The award will be presented by President Droupadi Murmu on December 14 in New Delhi

A 21-year-old man has been arrested in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district for allegedly kidnapping a 17-year-old girl and raping her multiple times during a 25-day period in Mumbai and Pune. Charges under BNS and the POCSO Act have been invoked

Mass surrenders by Maoist cadres in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region highlight a steady decline in Left Wing Extremism, driven by sustained security operations, improved governance, and credible rehabilitation policies offering insurgents an alternative path to civilian life

The Ernakulam sessions court has ruled that the prosecution “miserably failed” to prove conspiracy charges against actor Dileep in the 2017 actress sexual assault case, citing inconsistencies, delayed allegations, and unreliable testimony while acquitting him of the charge

The Bastar Olympics witnessed participation from over 3,500 athletes, including surrendered Maoists and victims of insurgent violence, highlighting social inclusion and rehabilitation efforts as the region transitions from conflict towards peace and mainstream integration

A hospital employee in Gorakhpur has been booked for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman during an ultrasound test at a district women’s hospital. The victim claimed her complaints were ignored internally, prompting police action and a departmental inquiry

Chaos erupted at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium after fans failed to get a clear glimpse of football icon Lionel Messi during a ticketed event. Police resorted to baton charge as protests escalated, prompting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to order a high-level inquiry and issue an apology

The last rites of veteran Congress leader and former Union minister Shivraj Patil were performed with full state honours in Latur on Saturday. Leaders across parties attended the funeral, held as per Lingayat traditions, honouring his decades-long public service

Police in Noida have booked 28 villagers for unauthorised construction on land notified for the second phase of the Noida International Airport at Jewar. Officials said the activity violated acquisition norms despite repeated administrative warnings

Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated Kolkata appearance descended into chaos after crowd surges cut short his lap of honour at Salt Lake Stadium. Angry fans vandalised seats and banners, raising concerns over crowd management during the football icon’s India tour.

The Andhra Pradesh government has announced that the Godavari Pushkarams will commence on June 26, 2027, and continue for 12 days till July 7. The dates were finalised based on the opinion of a TTD priest.

An IndiGo flight from Bhubaneswar suffered a tail strike while landing at Ranchi airport with about 70 passengers on board. All passengers were safe, but the aircraft was grounded and its return flight cancelled.

Chaos broke out at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium after fans protested over not getting a clear glimpse of Lionel Messi despite buying expensive tickets. Angry spectators damaged property and hurled objects as police struggled to contain the unrest.

Actors Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal have supported a ban on social media for children in India, citing Australia’s move. They stressed the need to protect kids until they can distinguish right from wrong, while also advocating parental monitoring.

Speaking at the Air Force Academy’s graduation parade, CDS General Anil Chauhan said Operation Sindoor continues. Highlighting India’s robust institutions, joint operations, Atma Nirbharta, and innovation, he urged new officers to prepare for the evolving, technology-driven future of warfare