Times of India

Boatman Pintu Mahara and his family from Prayagraj expanded their fleet in anticipation of the Maha Kumbh influx, significantly increasing their income. The family credits their financial transformation to the strategic organization of the event by PM Narendra Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath, which attracted millions of devotees.

A massive fire ignited at a dumpsite in Noida's Sector 32, fueled by dry waste and strong winds. The blaze, which started due to a discarded bidi, is being battled by 15 fire tenders and 75 firefighters. The accused, a drunken man attempting suicide, has been taken into custody.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attributed the pollution in the Ganga river to the British era. While addressing the Legislative Council, he mentioned that despite the pollution, the river remains sacred to the people.

Indian children with expiring dependent visas face uncertainty as recent US immigration changes affect their ability to stay legally. Green card backlogs and policy shifts may force them to leave the US, despite having lived there most of their lives, leading to potential financial burdens and emotional distress.

A 27-year-old student from Rangareddy district, Gampa Praveen, was shot dead during a suspected robbery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Praveen was close to completing his MS in data science at the University of Wisconsin and worked part-time at a local store. His family is devastated and struggling with limited information about the incident.

A gang stole 830 kg of human hair worth nearly Rs 1 crore from a godown in Lakshmipura Cross, Bengaluru. The hair, stored in 27 bags, was taken in an SUV. A passerby alerted the police. Venkataswamy, the owner, suspects involvement of someone in the hair business. Police are investigating with CCTV footage.

The cabinet has approved two ropeway projects in Uttarakhand, reducing travel time significantly. These projects, Sonprayag to Kedarnath and Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib, will be implemented on a public-private partnership basis, costing around Rs 6,811 crore. The ropeways will provide fast, eco-friendly connectivity and are expected to boost pilgrimage and tourism.

Delhi Jal Board has reported rising ammonia levels in the Yamuna, attributed to industrial activities in Haryana. The fluctuating ammonia levels, reaching up to 8.4ppm, could disrupt Delhi's water supply. A proposed ammonia treatment plant at Wazirabad has faced delays. These fluctuations have created operational difficulties, occasionally halting water treatment plants. Despite challenges, water supply remained unaffected on Wednesday.

A disturbing incident in Palnadu district saw Mappalla Anji Babu die after being forced to consume poison over unpaid debt. Accused Sheikh Mahboob Subhani and his associates coerced him when he couldn't repay Rs 2.50 lakh. The victim eventually succumbed to poisoning despite seeking medical help. Police are investigating and seeking to apprehend the suspects.

Delhi Police has opposed the registration of an FIR against minister Kapil Mishra, claiming he was being framed for the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. Prosecution argues that a plan was hatched to blame Mishra, and the police investigation revealed that chakka jams were planned in advance.

In the Champions Trophy semifinal, New Zealand beat South Africa by 50 runs, advancing to the final against India. Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson scored centuries, leading New Zealand to 362/6. South Africa's chase fell short at 312/9 despite David Miller's unbeaten 100. Mitchell Santner took 3 wickets for New Zealand.

​The meetings were held in secrecy between US presidential envoy for hostage affairs Adam Boehler and Hamas officials. Israel was not informed of what was discussed at these direct meetings as the Axios report said that Israel learnt "about aspects of the talks through other channels". However, the Trump administration consulted with Israel about the possibility of engaging with Hamas, the report added.

The US justice department has charged ten Chinese hackers and two law enforcement officers for orchestrating a cyberespionage campaign targeting dissidents, news organizations, and federal agencies, including the US treasury. Directed by China's Ministry of Public Security, the scheme involved stealing data through private hacking contractors selling information to the Chinese government.

US President Trump announced reciprocal tariffs, citing high tariffs from countries like India and China. He criticized allies and partners for unfavorably high tariffs and attributed opioid issues to China, Mexico, and Canada. The International Chamber of Commerce warned the move could lead to a 1930s-style Great Depression. Trump's claims included purported rising crime due to undocumented immigrants, despite studies showing otherwise.

A mysterious illness has claimed 13 lives in a month in Sukma's Dhanikorta village, Chhattisgarh. Sukma's health officials attribute the deaths to dehydration caused by weather changes during mahua harvesting. Health teams are conducting door-to-door surveys and giving ORS to affected villagers to prevent further casualties.