Times of India

Chennai Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay visited Puzhal Central Prison on Friday. He urged authorities to provide inmates with rehabilitation and vocational training opportunities. The Chief Minister stressed the importance of reading and ensuring prisoners receive adequate books. He inspected prison facilities, including the kitchen and medical areas. The visit followed assembly discussions on prison department grant demands.

It was an emotional reunion at Chennai the airport as relatives waited anxiously to receive their loved ones, breaking into hugs and tears on seeing them return safely.

India's spirited hockey fightback concluded with heartbreak against Belgium. The teams played to a thrilling 3-3 draw in regulation time. Belgium ultimately prevailed in a tense penalty shootout after the match. India had initially taken the lead through Abhishek's early field goal. Harmanpreet Singh scored twice to force the shootout, but Belgium won.

The State Bank of India (SBI) has declared the Probationary Officer (PO) Prelims Result 2026 for candidates who appeared in the August 1 and 2 examination. The result is available on the official SBI Careers portal. Candidates shortlisted through the preliminary stage can now proceed to the Mains examination for recruitment against 1,500 PO vacancies.

In a remarkable achievement, Hockey India has granted fifty lakh rupees to the women's team following their impressive fifth-place finish in the World Cup, their best in fifty-two years. The team successfully defeated Germany in their concluding match and only faced one defeat during the tournament. This honor not only rewards their dedication but also motivates them for future challenges.

The successful careers of Shohei Ohtani and his wife Mamiko Tanaka in the industry of professional sports have led to them amassing a fortune. The lion’s share of the couple’s estimated fortune stems from Ohtani’s record-breaking contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB earnings and international endorsements, with Tanaka’s basketball career completing their financial profile. Their combined wealth also represents long-term business opportunities, investments and financial security.

A significant controversy arose when five Booth Level Officers were suspended after voter enumeration forms were found in a photocopy shop. This event ignited tensions between Shiv Sena (UBT) and BJP activists in Navi Mumbai. Authorities seized numerous printed Special Intensive Revision forms from the premises, and a case was filed against an individual for illegal possession. The opposition has since questioned the validity of the voter roll revision efforts.

The Bangladeshi national accused in the Saif Ali Khan stabbing case has approached the court. Mohammad Shariful Islam expressed his willingness to plead guilty and sought leniency. The court has asked the prosecution to file its reply and adjourned the hearing. Charges were framed against Islam under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Saif Ali Khan was repeatedly stabbed by an intruder inside his Bandra residence.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has established a new Business Advisory Council. This group includes fifteen prominent business leaders from various sectors. Some major corporate executives declined to join the new council. The council will meet quarterly to offer strategic guidance to the mayor. This initiative aims to foster collaboration between city hall and business leaders.

In a thrilling opening match, Namibia triumphed over South Africa by an eighteen-run margin. Although the hosts set a target of 163 runs, they successfully defended it as their bowlers limited the Proteas to just 145 runs. Dewald Brevis fought valiantly with a score of 75, but it fell short.

India's foreign exchange reserves reached an all-time high of $729.328 billion. This surge marks eight consecutive weeks of significant increases in reserves. Foreign currency assets and gold holdings were the primary drivers of this substantial rise. Measures to attract overseas dollar inflows contributed to the record accumulation of reserves. The Reserve Bank of India's interventions also played a role in managing these inflows.

Delhi Police arrested a couple for allegedly working with Pakistan's ISI since 2024. They procured Indian SIM cards and sent them to Pakistan via Dubai. The couple provided logistical support and recruited people for espionage activities. Their Pakistani handlers paid them for the SIM cards and sensitive information. Investigations continue to identify more members of this alleged espionage network.

Anaya Bangar's comeback in cricket reignites discussions on transgender athletes worldwide. The involvement of Laurel Hubbard in the Olympics represented a historic moment for diversity in sports. Lia Thomas's NCAA victory sparked intense conversations about eligibility in collegiate athletics. Meanwhile, the case of Emily Bridges in cycling has catalyzed shifts in international policies.

China's central bank and financial regulator unveiled new property sector guidelines. These measures aim to reduce developer reliance on presale funds significantly. Mortgages will now be issued only after housing projects are fully completed. Local governments will promote the sale of completed homes to prevent delivery risks. Financial institutions will take a greater role in project financing and monitoring.

Washington State University researchers used artificial intelligence to find better printing methods. This advance significantly reduces the cost and time for printing a critical metal alloy. The AI strategy successfully identified printable configurations for the GRCop-42 alloy. This innovation makes the alloy accessible for use on common commercial 3D printers. The AI approach could also accelerate discoveries in other scientific fields.