Times of India

Maharashtra's opposition INDIA bloc will challenge the recent assembly election results in the Supreme Court, alleging EVM manipulation. Following a meeting with Arvind Kejriwal and Abhishek Singhvi, NCP leader Prashant Jagtap announced the decision. This comes after over 20 losing opposition candidates questioned the EVMs' integrity, citing discrepancies between polled votes and declared results.

Home Minister Amit Shah is pushing for full implementation of the new criminal laws in Haryana by March 31, 2025. He chaired a review meeting, emphasizing the use of technology for scientific evidence and higher conviction rates. Shah set a deadline and instructed officials to monitor progress, ensuring timely justice and adherence to timelines for case investigations.

BEST's wet lease bus system in Mumbai, implemented in 2018 to cut costs, faces criticism. Four contractors operate over 1,800 buses, including electric AC ones. However, past operator withdrawals, low driver salaries, and occasional strikes disrupt service, impacting commuters with long waits and highlighting the system's unreliability.

India has sought extradition of 178 fugitives from various countries over the past five years, with 23 successfully extradited since January 2019. Sixty-five requests, including those for individuals accused of terrorism, are pending with US authorities. India has extradition treaties with 48 countries and arrangements with 12 others, and continues to pursue diplomatic efforts to bring fugitives to justice.

Legendary West Indian fast bowler Andy Roberts has advised Virat Kohli to concentrate on Test cricket to rediscover his form. Kohli, currently facing a challenging phase in his career, recently broke a 16-month century drought in Perth. Roberts emphasised the importance of red-ball cricket for Kohli's resurgence and the overall improvement of top batter's performance in the longer format.

A major Microsoft 365 outage disrupted access to Outlook, OneDrive, and Teams for users globally, including India, where complaints peaked around 3:19 pm IST. Microsoft confirmed the issue, suggesting desktop applications as a temporary workaround while investigating the root cause. This marks the second Microsoft 365 outage in two weeks, raising concerns about service reliability.

The Indian Coast Guard apprehended two Bangladeshi fishing trawlers with 78 fishermen aboard for illegally fishing in Indian waters. The trawlers, Laila-2 and Meghna-5, were intercepted near the international maritime boundary line and escorted to Paradip for investigation. This action follows increased Coast Guard patrols and aerial surveillance since August, aimed at preventing illegal migration and safeguarding maritime security.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju dismissed the opposition's no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, citing the NDA's majority and Dhankhar's commitment to public welfare. Rijiju condemned the motion, filed by 60 INDIA bloc MPs, who accuse Dhankhar of partisan conduct. The motion is unlikely to succeed due to the opposition's lack of numbers in the Rajya Sabha.

The UGC announced major changes to the 2025 CUET-UG exam, including reducing subjects to 37, shifting to exclusively computer-based testing, and standardizing exam duration to 60 minutes. Candidates can now choose subjects not studied in Class 12, but are limited to five choices. These revisions aim to streamline the process and address past logistical challenges.

Following a crushing defeat in the pink-ball Test, India's cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, engaged in rigorous red-ball practice in Adelaide. Their training focused on bolstering defensive techniques and shot selection ahead of the crucial third Test in Brisbane. Kohli, despite a recent century, worked on his form after two edged dismissals.

China announced visa restrictions on US personnel accused of interfering in Hong Kong's affairs. This retaliatory move follows US sanctions against Chinese officials linked to Hong Kong's national security law. Beijing condemned US actions as interference, while Washington criticized the jailing of Hong Kong opposition figures. This escalating tension reflects ongoing disputes over Hong Kong's legal landscape and autonomy.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced that a mandatory count of Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips from the Maharashtra assembly elections revealed no discrepancies with the electronic voting machine (EVM) results. This follows opposition parties' boycott of the assembly's special session, citing concerns about EVM integrity and alleged discrepancies between polled votes and declared results.

President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Harmeet K. Dhillon as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights has sparked controversy, particularly in New Delhi. Dhillon, a prominent Republican of Indian descent, has faced criticism for past social media posts allegedly supporting pro-Khalistani views, including unverified claims of India operating "death squads" targeting Sikh diaspora critics. Her remarks sharply contrast Trump’s efforts to strengthen ties with India and court Indian-American voters. While Trump has elevated several Indian-Americans to prominent roles, Dhillon’s nomination may alienate sections of the Indian-American community, whose support for Trump grew modestly in the 2024 election, particularly among men.

Virat Kohli is diligently honing his back-foot technique in preparation for the extra bounce expected at the Gabba pitch in Brisbane, venue of the third Test against Australia. Harbhajan Singh observed Kohli's extensive net practice, focusing on playing off the back foot, recognizing its importance for success on the bouncy Brisbane track.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) revealed their rationale for releasing Faf du Plessis, citing fan input favoring him as an opener and a desire for a more explosive foreign opener. Dinesh Karthik emphasized the need for a batter with a high strike rate against spin, highlighting Phil Salt's impressive boundary percentage and run-scoring ability as key factors in their decision.

Allahabad High Court Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav's endorsement of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) at a Vishva Hindu Parishad event sparked controversy and a Supreme Court intervention. Critics, including Prashant Bhushan and Asaduddin Owaisi, questioned the judge's attendance and remarks, raising concerns about impartiality. The Supreme Court has requested a detailed report from the Allahabad High Court regarding the incident.

The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) has shaped the lives of notable alumni like Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Luigi Mangione, whose paths diverged significantly. Trump, Wharton Class of 1968, focused on real estate and finance, paving the way for his business and political career. Musk, graduating in 1997 with degrees in Economics and Physics, applied his interdisciplinary expertise to revolutionize technology. Mangione, an engineering graduate (2020), initially excelled in computer science and innovation but shocked the world with his recent arrest for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. His actions highlight a tragic turn from promise to notoriety.

Mohammed Siraj, fined by the ICC for his send-off to Travis Head during the Adelaide Test, responded with a brief 'it's all good' when questioned. He then excused himself to head to the gym. Both Siraj and Bumrah skipped Tuesday's practice. The incident stemmed from Siraj's dismissal of Head, with conflicting accounts of their post-wicket exchange later resolved.