Times of India

Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif criticized the decision to make Indian veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli play domestic cricket ahead of significant white-ball fixtures. He believes they should focus on upcoming international assignments, citing their past success in major tournaments without needing domestic matches. Latif expressed that Rohit and Kohli should focus on their upcoming white-ball assignments against England and next month’s Champions Trophy in Dubai.

Veteran cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara celebrated his 37th birthday with a touching tribute from his wife, Puja. Despite not being in the Indian national team since June 2023, Pujara's impressive career continues at the domestic level. The BCCI also honored his contributions to cricket. Pujara remains a source of inspiration both on and off the field.

Noman Ali became Pakistan’s first spinner to claim a Test hat-trick, achieving this during the second Test against the West Indies at Multan. Dismissing Justin Greaves, Tevin Imlach, and Kevin Sinclair in consecutive deliveries, he joins an elite group of Pakistani bowlers who have previously achieved Test hat tricks. The last Pakistani to claim a Test hat trick before Noman was Naseem Shah, who achieved the feat against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in February 2020.

BJP candidate Parvesh Verma criticised AAP's Arvind Kejriwal over the unfulfilled promise of cleaning the Yamuna River. During a rally, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also accused AAP of developing illegal settlements and failing to improve the river's condition.

Sanju Samson's exclusion from India's ICC Champions Trophy squad has sparked surprise, with Harbhajan Singh criticising the decision due to Samson's impressive ODI average. Singh also questioned the omission of leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and voiced concerns over Yashasvi Jaiswal's role in the team. Key players like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli lead the squad.

West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite chose to bat first against Pakistan in the second Test match in Multan. West Indies made two roster changes, introducing Kemar Roach and debutant Amir Jangoo. Pakistan, who lead the series 1-0, brought in debutant Kashif Ali. This series is part of the World Test Championship's third cycle.

In response to Prime Minister Modi's commendation of the Election Commission on National Voter's Day, Congress criticised the PM-HM duo for allegedly compromising the Commission’s independence and professionalism. They cited Supreme Court challenges and concerns from recent Haryana and Maharashtra assembly elections as examples.

Pakistan head coach Aaqib Javed cited the lack of domestic four-day cricket as the reason for Shaheen Shah Afridi's absence from the Test lineup. Javed emphasised the need for fast bowlers to balance league and four-day matches to maintain their stamina for Test cricket. He also defended Pakistan's use of spin-friendly pitches to secure home victories.

US President Trump made several inaccurate and misleading statements during his recent appearances. He exaggerated his election victory margin, falsely claimed a significant youth vote win, misrepresented California's water policies and wildfire management, downplayed the January 6th Capitol riot violence, and overstated immigration numbers. He also incorrectly stated that FEMA ended housing assistance for hurricane survivors.

Indian cricketer Kuldeep Yadav's humorous comment about Royal Challengers Bengaluru needing a trophy instead of a goalkeeper sparked a social media uproar. The remark, referencing RCB's elusive IPL title, entertained many but irked RCB fans. Kuldeep, known for his vital contributions to India's team, later clarified on Twitter, urging fans to relax.

A rare 'corpse flower' bloom in Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens has attracted over 20,000 visitors. The flower, which emits a scent resembling decaying meat, is blooming for the first time in 15 years. Efforts are being made to hand-pollinate it to ensure reproduction.

A 5-year-old child was allegedly harassed at a Rewa district kindergarten after soiling his uniform. School caretakers reportedly forced the child to clean himself and kept him unclothed. Following a complaint by the child's parents, the caretaker was terminated, and an investigation was launched by the district education officer.

A 46-year-old woman from Magadi Town accused a man of forcing her to sell her kidney for Rs 2.5 lakh to repay microfinance debts and is now pressuring her to get her daughters to sell their kidneys. The man, known to her, continues to harass her for repayment.

The US has halted foreign aid for several countries, including Ukraine, but exempted Israel and Turkey. Secretary of State Rubio's directive mandates this freeze, with exceptions for emergency food and military funding for allies. This impacts various aid programs, including PEPFAR, affecting over 20 million people needing HIV/AIDS treatment.

Miguel Arruda, a Portuguese far-right lawmaker, faces allegations of stealing suitcases from airport baggage carousels. Expelled from his Chega party, Arruda denies wrongdoing and claims innocence. Police reportedly found missing suitcases at his home and cited surveillance footage as evidence. Arruda remains in parliament as an independent while the investigation continues, amid widespread public and political backlash.

The US Supreme Court has approved the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, accused in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, to India. Rana's lawyer argued against his extradition based on the interpretation of 'offense' in the US-India extradition treaty. However, the US Government supported India's request, and the Ninth Circuit also ruled that the treaty permits Rana's extradition.

President Trump has mandated the termination of diversity, equity, and inclusion employees within 60 days, continuing his pivot away from progressive policies. This directive also includes ending affirmative action in federal contracts, and seeks to minimize recognition and support for transgender individuals and DEI initiatives.

US President Trump criticized Ukraine's Zelenskyy for engaging in the war with Russia, suggesting the conflict could have been avoided with a deal. Trump claimed he could have easily struck an agreement. Meanwhile, Putin endorsed Trump's assertion, while Zelenskyy accused Putin of trying to manipulate Trump's peace aspirations. Despite Trump's claims, hostilities continue.

Al Jazeera aired unseen footage of late Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar directing operations in Gaza, shown in Rafah with a military outfit and in a residential apartment over a map. Sinwar, a key figure in the October 7 attacks on Israel, was killed on October 16. The Gaza conflict resulted in 46,000 deaths.