India

A special POCSO court in Thane sentenced Sandesh Ganpat Kharpade to life imprisonment and a Rs 5,000 fine for sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl in Palghar in 2018. The court described the crime as "heinous" and upheld victim testimony

BJP MP Kangana Ranaut’s remarks comparing Rahul Gandhi to his sister Priyanka sparked controversy. Opposition leaders dismissed her comments as attention-seeking, while BJP accused Gandhi of undermining his role as LoP, intensifying the political row in Parliament

Congress MPs Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari defended India’s cautious stance amid the Iran-Israel-US conflict, describing the government’s measured diplomacy as responsible statecraft. They emphasized strategic autonomy, non-alignment principles, and prioritizing India’s national interests over taking sides in West Asia.

The Supreme Court quashed the FIR and proceedings against YouTuber Elvish Yadav in the 2023 snake venom case, ruling the complaint under the Wildlife (Protection) Act was invalid and no narcotics or psychotropic substances were involved

Tata Group Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran was conferred an honorary KBE by the British government for strengthening UK-India business ties. The award recognizes his leadership in Tata’s investments, employment, and innovation across technology, automotive, steel, and consumer sectors.

Indian agencies report that Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar appears weak and ill in his latest Eid message. Internal bickering and leadership dilemmas suggest a potential change, while Lashkar-e-Taiba emerges more active in PoK amid JeM’s visible lull

President Droupadi Murmu visited the Ram Temple to install a 150-kg gold-plated Shri Ram Yantra. The yantra, based on Vedic mathematics, symbolizes divine energy, with heightened security and ceremonial rituals marking the occasion

Atanu Chakraborty resigned as part-time chairman of HDFC Bank citing ethical concerns, marking an unprecedented mid-term exit. Keki Mistry was appointed interim chairman as the RBI approved leadership transition

Mumbai markets plunged early Thursday as Sensex and Nifty fell sharply, ending a three-day rally amid surging crude oil prices, weak global cues, and heavy FII outflows. Banking and financial stocks led losses, while energy shares showed limited resilience

The Supreme Court will hear petitions challenging the validity of unilateral talaq practices, raising concerns over Muslim women’s rights, while examining constitutional issues and broader questions including electronic divorce and safeguards for affected individuals.

The Election Commission cancelled alternative postings of 15 IPS officers in West Bengal and deputed them to other poll-bound states ahead of Assembly elections. The move follows Opposition demands to prevent barred officials from influencing the electoral process within the state

Ishan Kishan has been appointed as the interim captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad for the first few matches of IPL 2026, replacing Pat Cummins, who is recovering from a back injury. Abhishek Sharma will serve as his vice-captain

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin criticised AIADMK leaders over alleged derogatory remarks against women, accusing them of lowering political discourse. The controversy has intensified political tensions ahead of Assembly elections, drawing condemnation from leaders across parties

Consumption is not merely market behaviour — it reflects deeper economic resilience and vulnerability

The makers of "Dhurandhar: The Revenge" have delayed its Malayalam and Kannada shows due to technical issues, while other versions will release as scheduled. Viewers can opt for refunds or watch the Hindi version with subtitles, the team said

The system faces critical challenges, including satellite failures, faulty atomic clocks, and poor smartphone integration

Actor-politician Vijay and senior TVK leaders are set to contest from Chennai constituencies in the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, targeting the DMK stronghold, with Vijay likely to enter the fray from Perambur as the party prepares its candidate list

TVK chief Vijay dismissed claims of alliance talks with the NDA ahead of Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, calling them a false campaign. He stressed that his party would uphold secular and social justice principles and aim to form the government independently

The Indian Navy has increased warship deployment near the Gulf of Oman and is escorting Indian-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions in West Asia, ensuring maritime security and safe passage of ships in sensitive routes

Amid an LPG crisis in Bihar, police and civil authorities have intensified action against hoarding and black marketing, seizing 419 cylinders and arresting 21 people. Raids are ongoing across districts to prevent artificial scarcity and ensure smooth supply

A man allegedly killed his younger brother in Mathura following accusations of inappropriate behaviour with his wife. The accused fled with his spouse after the attack, while their mother was injured trying to intervene. Police have launched a manhunt.

The government has directed airlines to provide at least 60 per cent seats free of charge on domestic flights and ensure passengers on the same PNR are seated together, aiming to improve passenger rights and curb additional service charges.

Nine family members, including three children, were killed in a massive fire at a residential building in Delhi’s Palam. The blaze, suspected to have spread due to flammable materials, left three injured and triggered a large-scale rescue operation.

Eight family members died in a fire triggered by an EV charging explosion in Indore. The Madhya Pradesh government ordered a probe and SOP for EV charging, while PM Modi announced ex gratia. The incident raises safety concerns.