Times of India

Rahul Gandhi emphasizes unity within the Congress party in Kerala amidst internal discord following Shashi Tharoor's controversial remarks. In a high-level meeting, leaders stress discipline and a united front ahead of upcoming elections, with firm plans to challenge both LDF and BJP.

Israel has halted the entry of all goods and supplies into the Gaza Strip, following a warning from PM Netanyahu about further consequences if Hamas does not agree to a US-backed ceasefire extension proposal. Hamas accused Israel of extortion and undermining the ceasefire, calling the aid halt a blatant attack and war crime.

Six Indian cricketers have played 300 or more ODIs with Virat Kohli joining that club on Sunday, when he faces New Zealand in the Champions Trophy. Sachin Tendulkar leads the list with 463 matches. All players have had significant impacts on India's success in ODI cricket, showcasing remarkable performances throughout their careers.

Himani Narwal, a 22-year-old Congress worker, was found murdered, leading her family to suspect political rivalry as a motive. Her mother refuses to perform last rites until justice is served. Senior Congress leaders condemned the incident, calling for a high-level probe and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ensure the perpetrators are swiftly punished.

Elon Musk addressed recent anti-DOGE protests at Tesla stores, where demonstrators called for a boycott over Musk's proposed government spending cuts. Mass arrests followed disruptions at various locations, with further protests planned in Europe.

Sergey Brin, Google's co-founder, has urged employees to adopt 60-hour workweeks and daily office presence to accelerate the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI). Emphasizing the intensified competition following the launch of ChatGPT, Brin believes that increasing productivity and leveraging Google's AI for coding could help the company achieve a significant milestone where machines surpass human intelligence.

India and New Zealand have secured their spots in the Champions Trophy semifinals from Group A, while South Africa and Australia advanced from Group B. The final group match between India and New Zealand will determine the semifinal match-ups. A win for India means they face Australia, while New Zealand will play South Africa.

A major outage disrupted Microsoft services, including Outlook, Microsoft 365, Teams, and Azure, mainly in cities like New York and Los Angeles, early in the morning.

John Cena emerged victorious in the Men's Elimination Chamber match, overcoming strong competition from Drew McIntyre, Seth Rollins, Damian Priest, Logan Paul, and CM Punk. The match witnessed intense action, shocking eliminations, and an unexpected alliance between Cena and Punk. Cena's grit and determination led him to secure the win in the climactic battle.

Israeli PM Netanyahu's office dismisses a video release by Hamas as propaganda. The footage shows Israeli hostages, with appeals to the Israeli government for the completion of the ceasefire deal. Netanyahu's office remains firm on their stance against Hamas’s tactics, while families of hostages demand urgent action for their release.

South Africa defeated England by seven wickets to reach the Champions Trophy semifinals, with Marco Jansen playing a crucial role. South Africa now wait to know their semifinal opponent, which will be either India or New Zealand. Despite the Proteas' poor history in ICC knockouts, Jansen remains confident about his team's chances.

India faces a tight schedule with only a day's rest between their final league match and the semifinal, posing recovery concerns for their bowlers. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate emphasises balancing player rest and maintaining match readiness. Potential adjustments may include limiting bowlers' overs against New Zealand to ensure top performance in the semifinal.

In Kolkata, brothers Pranay and Prasun Dey, overwhelmed by financial troubles and losses in their family business, planned a suicide pact. Following a car accident that was intended to be fatal, police discovered that the brothers had killed their wives and Prasun's daughter, with Pratip, Pranay's son, surviving the ordeal.

South Africa secured a semi-final spot in the Champions Trophy after a seven-wicket win over England, aided by Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen's bowling. India and New Zealand will face off to determine the semi-final fixtures. Despite Jofra Archer's early impact, England’s poor form continues, culminating in Jos Buttler's resignation as captain.

Anti DOGE protests took place at Tesla stores across the US, with demonstrators opposing Elon Musk's influence in Washington and urging Tesla boycotts. The protests addressed concerns about government spending cuts and potential conflicts of interest due to Musk’s business ties. Some protests involved vandalism and resulted in arrests.

England's head coach Brendon McCullum discussed their poor performance in the Champions Trophy, admitting disappointment and the need for improvements. He mentioned meeting ECB officials to plan future strategies and rebuild player confidence. McCullum also indicated upcoming decisions on leadership positions and emphasised learning lessons to enhance England's white ball cricket.

Vicky Kaushal's 'Chhaava' continues to dominate the box office, achieving an impressive collection of Rs 433.50 crore in just 16 days. The film's captivating storyline and stellar performances have driven its success, with the potential for further growth, particularly on weekends and holidays.

The Australian cricket team has left for Dubai, while South Africa plan to leave soon for the Champions Trophy semifinals. Matches are scheduled in Dubai and Lahore, but the exact fixtures depend on India's match against New Zealand. Australia and South Africa aim to maximize training time by traveling early, possibly returning within 24 hours based on final standings.