Times of India

Sukhbir Singh Badal has been re-elected as the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). The party announced this on social media, expressing hopes that he will protect the rights of the Panth and Punjab. Badal, son of the late Parkash Singh Badal, previously served as Deputy Chief Minister and is seen as a key strategist within the party.

Chennai Super Kings faced another setback in IPL 2025, suffering their fifth consecutive defeat and recording their lowest-ever total at Chepauk against Kolkata Knight Riders. Despite the return of MS Dhoni as captain, CSK's batting faltered against KKR's spin attack.

The Supreme Court has ruled that neither the President nor the governor has absolute veto power over state bills. They must provide reasons for withholding assent. The court set timelines for decisions on bills. Governors have one month for assent or three months to refer the bill. The President also has three months to decide.

Pakistan's white-ball captain, Mohammad Rizwan, has responded to criticism regarding his English-speaking skills, asserting that his priority is cricket, not language proficiency. He expressed pride in his heartfelt communication and acknowledged his educational shortcomings. Rizwan also addressed the team's recent struggles and welcomed constructive criticism, highlighting the importance of enjoying the Pakistan Super League.

During a pre-season press conference for the Pakistan Super League, Shaheen Afridi defended teammates Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan when questioned about Pakistan's struggles chasing high scores in T20 cricket. Afridi emphasised that responsibility for winning games falls on both the batting and bowling units. He stressed team unity and the collective goal of restoring Pakistan's cricket success.

Chennai Super Kings faced a crushing 8-wicket defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025, recording their lowest-ever total at Chepauk Stadium. Kris Srikkanth criticised CSK's performance, suggesting they consider unsold players like Prithvi Shaw. Sunil Narine's all-round brilliance led KKR to victory, while CSK suffered their fifth consecutive loss, leaving them at ninth position in the points table.

Israeli PM Netanyahu criticized Canadian PM Mark Carney for seemingly acknowledging "genocide in Gaza," calling out to him to retract the statement. Carney later clarified he misheard the protestor and was referencing Gaza broadly. Israeli officials denied a full arms embargo, stating only limited export permit suspensions exist, not a declaration of genocide.

Chennai Super Kings, reeling from five consecutive losses after an initial win, face mounting pressure in IPL 2025. Their recent defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday saw a record low score at their home ground. Sitting in ninth place with just two points from six matches, is it all over for CSK and their playoff chances?

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee declared that her state would not implement the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, following violent protests in areas like Jangipur and Murshidabad. She appealed for peace and harmony, emphasizing that the law was enacted by the central government. Banerjee cautioned against political misuse of religion and warned of legal action against those inciting riots.

Following violent unrest in Jalangi, Murshidabad, BJP leaders have launched sharp attacks on West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of inaction after a BDO office was vandalized during protests against the Waqf Amendment Act. Suvendu Adhikari condemned the violence, blaming "radical elements" for undermining the Constitution. BJP leaders are alleging appeasement politics and failure to protect Hindus.

Rahul Gandhi met with textile design workers, highlighting the lack of OBC representation at the top of the industry. He shared the story of Vicky, a talented entrepreneur, and his hardworking factory workers, emphasizing the undervaluation of skill and the systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities in accessing education and networks.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Shri Anandpur Dham in Madhya Pradesh, a spiritually significant site known for its peace and devotion. During his visit, he offered prayers at the Shri Paramhans Advait Mandir and the Guruji Maharaj Temple, praising the community's dedication to service and the spiritual tradition nurtured there.

What should have been a normal Wednesday turned into a nationwide digital crisis last month. People were unable to make payments or even log into their payment apps, causing widespread frustration. Whether you were trying to buy groceries, pay for a ride, or send money to a friend, the failure of UPI was causing problems everywhere

A moderate 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck Pakistan, with tremors felt in Jammu and Kashmir. The earthquake, occurring at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, raised concerns about potential aftershocks. Pakistan's location on the boundary of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates makes it highly susceptible to earthquakes. Earlier, Tajikistan, Pakistan’s neighbor, was also jolted by a 4.2 magnitude earthquake.

UPI faced another widespread outage, disrupting payment and fund transfer services for thousands. Downdetector reported over 2,200 complaints, highlighting transaction failures across major platforms like Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, and banking apps including SBI, ICICI and HDFC. This marks the third UPI disruption in approximately three weeks, raising concerns about the reliability of the digital payment system.

Virender Sehwag criticised MS Dhoni's brief innings during Chennai Super Kings' crushing defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders, dismissing any notion that Dhoni's presence could have salvaged the innings. CSK suffered a historic loss, their first three consecutive defeats at Chepauk, managing a paltry 103/9.

China is standing firm in its trade dispute with the US, asserting its economic resilience and denouncing what it views as American bullying. Despite retaliatory tariffs and efforts to diversify trade, the US-China trade relationship remains substantial, though the trade deficit has widened. The tariffs are causing disruptions for businesses, with some facing increased costs and supply chain challenges.

Mayawati has questioned the silence of the leader of opposition on the Waqf Amendment Bill. She says both Congress and BJP have failed the Dalit community. She also criticizes the growing trend of privatization. Mayawati had earlier urged the Centre to review the Waqf law. The Waqf Amendment Act, 2025 received presidential assent recently.

Gujarat Titans have been dealt another injury setback as Glenn Phillips is out of IPL 2025 with a groin issue sustained while fielding against Sunrisers Hyderabad. This follows Kagiso Rabada's departure earlier. Phillips, yet to debut for GT in IPL 2025, was anticipated to bring his fielding and batting prowess to the team.

Member states of the International Maritime Organization have voted in favour of a global pricing system to help curb maritime carbon emissions, the UN shipping body announced Friday. A majority of members -- 63 states -- voted for the carbon pricing system, including the European Union, Brazil, China, India and Japan.