Times of India

Punjab Kings secured their star pacer Arshdeep Singh for a whopping Rs 18 crore using their Right to Match (RTM) card at the IPL 2025 mega auction. Intense bidding saw Sunrisers Hyderabad pushing the price up, but Punjab strategically utilized the newly modified RTM rules to retain their key player.

Star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant on Sunday shattered IPL auction records, fetching a historic Rs 27 crore from Lucknow Super Giants. Shreyas Iyer also commanded a hefty sum, joining Punjab Kings for Rs 26.75 crore. The IPL 2025 mega auction witnessed intense bidding wars, with teams vying for top Indian and international talent in Jeddah.

Virat Kohli ended his century drought with a magnificent hundred against Australia on the third day of the first Test in Perth, blowing kisses to his wife, Anushka Sharma, after reaching the milestone. India declared their second innings at 487/6, setting Australia a target of 534 runs.

Newly elected independent MLA Shivaji Patil narrowly escaped injury after vermilion powder ignited upon contact with a ceremonial lamp in Mahagaon village. The incident occurred during a victory celebration, resulting in minor burns for some supporters. Patil confirmed his safety and assured medical assistance for those affected.

KL Rahul was acquired by Delhi Capitals for a hefty Rs 14 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction held in Jeddah. The 32-year-old star batsman, previously with Lucknow Super Giants, entered the auction pool after being released. Rahul's impressive T20 record, including over 7,500 runs, made him a sought-after player.

Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh was fiercely pursued at the IPL 2025 auction, with Sunrisers Hyderabad bidding a hefty Rs 18 crore. However, Punjab Kings exercised their Right to Match, retaining the left-arm seame.

Rajatalab police station in-charge, Ajit Kumar Verma, was attacked by a crowd near Harahua crossing after his car collided with an auto-rickshaw, injuring the driver. Verma was rescued by police and FIRs were filed against both Verma and the unidentified assailants. The injured auto driver is currently receiving treatment at BHU's trauma center.

Shreyas Iyer was acquired by Punjab Kings for a record Rs 26.75 crore at the IPL 2025 auction, making him the second most expensive player in IPL history. Released by KKR, the former captain led them to victory in 2024. Iyer's impressive recent form in domestic cricket and his history of strong performances in the IPL contributed to his high valuation.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has admitted that the company needs a culture change to prioritize security. This comes after several cybersecurity incidents impacted Microsoft. A faulty update caused a global IT outage. A Chinese hacking group exploited vulnerabilities in Microsoft's systems. Microsoft President Brad Smith has taken responsibility for these security lapses.

Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was acquired by Punjab Kings for Rs 18 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. The highest wicket-taker in IPL history previously played for Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Rajasthan Royals. Chahal is the first Indian bowler to claim 350 T20 wickets and 200 IPL wickets.

Rishabh Pant etched his name in IPL history books, becoming the priciest player ever as Lucknow Super Giants splurged an unprecedented sum at the Jeddah auction. Leaving his long-time franchise Delhi Capitals, Pant's aggressive batting prowess and leadership experience ignited a bidding frenzy, ultimately making him the tournament's most expensive acquisition.

The Gujarat Titans entered the IPL auction with Rs 69 crore remaining in their purse after retaining key players like Rashid Khan and Shubman Gill. They have already made significant additions to their squad, securing Kagiso Rabada, Jos Buttler and Mohammed Siraj for a combined Rs 38.75 crore.

Stone-pelting erupted at Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal as a court-ordered survey team arrived, prompting police to use tear gas for crowd control. The survey stems from claims that the mosque was built on a former temple site. Heavy security measures are in place due to the region's history of communal tensions.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, in his first match in Australia, scored his maiden century against Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy opener in Perth. Jaiswal, who was dismissed for a duck in the first innings, resumed his innings on Sunday morning at 90 and reached his century off 205 balls. It's also his third Test century in this calendar year.

Riding high on its performance in the 2024 general elections, the Congress party faced a crushing defeat in the Maharashtra and Haryana assembly polls. Despite a vigorous campaign echoing national issues, the party failed to secure victory in these crucial states, raising questions about its strategy and ability to challenge the ruling BJP effectively.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul forged an unbeaten 201-run opening partnership on Day 3 of the first Test against Australia in Perth, setting a new record for India's highest opening stand in Australia. Their remarkable performance guided India to a commanding position after a shaky start in the first innings.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, the young Indian batsman, scored his fourth Test century in the first Test against Australia in Perth. This is his first century on Australian soil and his third of 2024. Jaiswal reached the milestone with a six, smashing eight fours and three sixes in his innings.

Developing nations have criticized the $300 billion annual climate finance commitment from wealthy countries as insufficient at the Cop29 summit in Baku. While a deal was reached, establishing a $1.3 trillion target with significant reliance on private funding, developing nations argued for a greater commitment from historical emitters to address the disproportionate impact of climate change on poorer countries.

The BJP's resounding victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections has re-established Prime Minister Modi's political dominance. This win, following close on the heels of their Haryana victory, empowers the BJP to aggressively pursue its core agenda, including the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code and the 'One Nation, One Election' policy.