Times of India

CM Eknath Shinde's cabinet has decided to permanently waive tolls for LMVs, state transport, and school buses at Mumbai's five entry points, with the loss of Rs 800 crore to be paid to the contractor upfront. Over 3.5 lakh vehicles cross these toll booths every day.

Bangladesh's interim government criticized India's assertions about attacks on Hindus and temple desecration, labeling them as baseless and exaggerated. Authorities assured prompt corrective measures in reported cases and highlighted the peaceful observance of Durga Puja at over 32,000 venues. Investigations continue regarding the theft of a gold-plated crown.

The Supreme Court upheld the decision by the UP BJP government to cancel the 2012 land lease to Maulana Mohd Ali Jauhar Trust, calling it a misuse of power by founder trustee Azam Khan. The court noted the education department should ensure students' rights are protected.

RBI governor Shaktikanta Das has warned of risks associated with excessive reliance on AI and machine learning in banking, highlighting potential market concentration, systemic instability, and increased cyber vulnerabilities. He urged banks to implement adequate risk mitigation measures. Das also proposed expanding India's real-time gross settlement system to include major trade currencies like the dollar, euro, and pound.

Power, a two-year-old doberman, significantly aided police by leading them to a crucial piece of evidence in a gang-rape investigation near Surat. Her tracking abilities pinpointed a motorcycle connected to the suspects, resulting in the arrest of three individuals involved in the crime.

After a thriving post-Covid period, the Indian car industry faces a downturn as wholesales to dealerships drop by 2% in Q2 FY25. Despite hefty discounts, buyers remain cautious, and the festive period fails to boost volumes significantly. Industry growth is now predicted to remain below 5% for the year, reflecting a market slowdown.

Nearly a third of positions at the National Company Law Tribunal remain unfilled, impacting the government's insolvency reform initiative. This shortage has led to operational inefficiencies, delaying insolvency resolutions significantly. The average resolution time has surged to 716 days, far exceeding the 270-day deadline, posing challenges for corporate insolvency processes.

New Zealand's 54-run win over Pakistan in Dubai secured their spot in the Women's T20 World Cup semifinals and knocked India out of the tournament. Despite Pakistan's efforts to contain New Zealand to 110 for six, their batting collapsed, getting all out for 56. New Zealand secured their first semi-final spot since 2016.

India's investigative team is visiting the US to discuss allegations of a plot to assassinate a Khalistani separatist in New York. The US State Department has issued a statement on the case, and India's enquiry committee will probe further linkages. India's embassy has not commented on the team's arrival amid tense US-Canada relations.

Wipro unveiled its new hybrid work policy, expecting employees to work from the office three days a week with an option for remote work on certain days. Chief HR Officer Saurabh Govil described this as a modern and inclusive approach, emphasizing collaboration, flexibility, and support for special needs while maintaining a high-performance culture.

India summoned Canada's charge d'affaires, Stewart Wheeler, challenging Canada's decision to probe Indian diplomats over links to a Khalistani terrorist's assassination. India labeled Trudeau's allegations as baseless and politically motivated, accusing him of exploiting anti-India rhetoric for domestic political gains.

Salman Khan tightens security following Baba Siddique's assassination by Lawrence Bishnoi's gang. Ram Gopal Varma's tweets about the incident spark online debates. Ranbir Kapoor shares wedding insights, while Kriti Sanon's 'Do Patti' trailer impresses. Adah Sharma moves into Sushant Singh Rajput's flat, defending her decision amid criticism.

Brad Hogg criticized the comparison between Babar Azam’s current slump and Virat Kohli’s past struggles, labeling it as 'baseless.' Hogg highlighted differences in team performance during their respective slumps, while Fakhar Zaman emphasized supporting star players. Babar was dropped after poor performances, failing to score above fifty in his last 18 Test innings.

Congress has condemned the honoring of two men accused of murdering journalist Gauri Lankesh in 2017, who were released on bail. The Congress party stated that saffron symbolizes courage and sacrifice, while the right-wing group responsible said the men were unfairly imprisoned.

Protesting doctors in New Delhi met with Bengal chief secretary Manoj Pant, expressing dissatisfaction as their 'fast-onto-death' strike entered its 10th day. Pant assured that the state government was addressing seven out of ten demands, but couldn't provide a timeline for the remaining three.

Dr S Somanath, secretary of India's Department of Space and Isro chairman, received the 2024 IAF World Space Award for the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission. The International Astronautical Federation acknowledged India's advancements in lunar exploration, marking the first landing near the lunar South Pole. Celebrations for the achievement were held in Milan.

In Surajpur district, Chhattisgarh, a history-sheeter killed the wife and daughter of police head constable Talib Sheikh after a failed attempt to run him over. The bodies were found with sharp weapon injuries. The incident sparked local unrest, with angry residents vandalising the suspect's home.

India's head coach Gautam Gambhir supports a 'high risk, high reward' strategy in Test cricket, emphasizing aggressive play despite potential low scores. He stresses adaptability and growth, indicating a focus on aggressive yet flexible tactics. The immediate challenge is the Test series against New Zealand, with respect but no fear for the opponents.