Times of India

West Bengal is on high alert before counting day due to Supreme Court moves, a 15-seat repoll order, and EVM tampering allegations. The TMC has challenged a high court order, while the Election Commission assures security at strongrooms amidst post-poll violence and transport disruptions.

Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has impressed in IPL 2026, scoring 400 runs at a strike rate of 238.10 against top bowlers. He now faces a new challenge against Mitchell Starc, who has recovered from injury and joined Delhi Capitals. The duel between the fearless youngster and the experienced Australian quick is anticipated to be a key contest.

The Allahabad high court has dismissed a plea demanding an FIR against Rahul Gandhi for allegedly calling the "Indian State" an opponent. A petitioner claimed Gandhi's remark during an AICC office inauguration in 2025 was seditious and anti-national, hurting public sentiment. Justice Vikram D Chauhan rejected the challenge to a lower court's decision.

AWS CEO Matt Garman says Amazon is hiring 11,000 software development engineer interns and early-career hires in 2026, pushing back on fears that AI is eliminating software engineering jobs. His comments come after Amazon's two biggest layoff rounds in six months—30,000-plus corporate cuts in total—and amid warnings from other tech leaders that AI coding tools are fundamentally disrupting the profession. Garman acknowledges the role is changing, but insists demand for developers is accelerating.

Rahul Gandhi has sharply criticized the Centre over rising inflation, highlighting a significant Rs 993 jump in commercial LPG cylinder prices in a single day. He warned that this surge, amounting to an 81% increase over three months, will heavily impact small businesses and household expenses, predicting further hikes in petrol and diesel prices.

Rajasthan Royals' 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is on the verge of a major T20 milestone, needing just one six to reach 100 career sixes. He has already achieved several remarkable records this IPL season, including the fastest 400 runs and youngest to 1,000 T20 runs.

Minecraft Bedrock 26.30.25/26 beta and preview is now available, featuring content from the upcoming Chaos Cubed update, including Sulfur Cube Archetypes and Geysers. This beta allows players to test new features before their official release. The article details how to download and install the beta on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Android, and iOS devices.

An Indian-origin student from Andhra Pradesh, Chandu Iraganaboyina, studying in Chicago, has allegedly died by suicide. Police are investigating how he obtained a firearm on a non-immigrant visa, with friends and family citing severe financial stress as a potential cause. The Telugu community in the US has initiated a fundraiser to repatriate his body.

While India's workforce participation has increased, a deeper look reveals significant disparities. More people are working, but many are in self-employment or informal roles with uncertain incomes. Gender and location heavily influence access to stable, well-paying jobs, highlighting a critical imbalance in job quality and opportunity.

NCP MP Supriya Sule faced significant traffic jams while traveling to Pune. She was stuck for nearly two hours, highlighting the daily struggles of commuters. Earlier, she experienced a long wait for a cab in Mumbai, facing refusals and limited availability. These incidents underscore persistent issues with last-mile connectivity and ride availability in the city.

Russia's space program achieved a significant milestone with the successful maiden launch of its new Soyuz-5 rocket from Baikonur. This next-generation vehicle boasts powerful liquid-fuel engines, capable of carrying substantial payloads and promising reduced costs. Roscosmos hails it as a crucial step in modernizing Russia's space capabilities and maintaining global competitiveness.

Ernakulam Central police have registered a case against a film director under the Pocso Act following a complaint from the 'viral Kumbh Mela girl'. She alleges the director misbehaved with her when she was a minor, exploiting her for acting opportunities. The alleged incident occurred outside Kerala and the case will be transferred.

‘Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge’ is rewriting the record books as it nears the end of its seventh week. Having already become the first Hindi film to join the Rs. 1,000 crore net club in India, the film’s total domestic net now stands at a staggering Rs. 1,135.25 crore. On Day 44 of its theatrical run, live tracking shows the film maintaining a steady grip on the audience despite a reduced screen count. With a current worldwide gross of Rs. 1,783.90 crore, the Ranveer Singh-starrer is just steps away from overtaking the lifetime global collections of Baahubali 2.

An Iranian official dismissed U.S. claims about Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's health, stating he is in perfect health and actively managing state affairs. The official confirmed Khamenei survived a bombing, sustaining injuries but being preserved by divine will. This contradicts U.S. media reports alleging critical medical challenges and limited engagement following the attack.

Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag was fined and received a demerit point for vaping in the dressing room during an IPL match. The incident drew criticism, with former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin advising Parag to maintain personal space for his actions due to his leadership role.

Apple announces leadership changes. Tim Cook will transition to executive chairman of the board. John Ternus, senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer. This transition is effective September 1. Steve Jobs' 2011 resignation letter has resurfaced. Cook expressed confidence in Ternus's leadership. Ternus is grateful for the opportunity to lead Apple forward.