Times of India

A Nihang Sikh, Nihang Ramandeep Singh 'Mangumath', was arrested for killing an unidentified person at Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi in Phagwara. The man claimed to have been sent by Sukhi to commit sacrilege, but denied doing so. The police denied the sacrilege claim and are investigating the case.

Stock market today: BSE Sensex plunged as much as 1100 points in opening trade on Wednesday. The broader 50 share index, Nifty50, was also down almost 400 points in early morning trade.

The focal point of this three-game series revolves around the comeback of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to T20 Internationals after a 14-month hiatus, suggesting their potential inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad. Amidst all the attention on these seasoned players, Mumbai all-rounder Shivam Dube has emerged as the standout performer, registering consecutive unbeaten half-centuries for a team dealing with injuries and the strategic resting of key pacers. India lead the three-match series 2-0.

Canada's issuance of study permits to Indian students saw a significant drop in the latter part of the previous year, primarily due to diplomatic tensions following the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Immigration Minister Marc Miller indicated that the permit numbers are unlikely to recover soon, citing the strained diplomatic relations with India. The tensions led to an 86% decrease in study permits issued to Indian students in the last quarter compared to the previous one.

Sumit Nagal returned to the big stage in grand style, pulling off one of the biggest victories of his career by stunning world number 27 Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in straight sets to breeze into the Australian Open second round on Tuesday. The 26-year-old will next play China's Juncheng Shang, ranked 140, on Thursday. If he happens to win the second round, there is potential third round clash with world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reached Guruvayur Temple in Kerala, and offered prayers. The Prime Minister is on a two-day visit to Kerala. He is also scheduled to inaugurate projects worth more than Rs 4,000 crore in Kochi on Wednesday that will focus on transforming India's ports, shipping, and waterways sectors, an official statement said. Three major projects worth Rs 4,000 crores, the New Dry Dock (NDD) and the International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) of Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) and LPG Import Terminal of Indian Oil Corporation Limited are set to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Zimbabwe secured their first T20 international victory against Sri Lanka in a dramatic match in Colombo. With a target of 174, Zimbabwe required 20 runs off the last over, bowled by Angelo Mathews. They ultimately triumphed by four wickets with a ball to spare. Match-winner Luke Jongwe smashed three sixes, guiding his team to a remarkable victory. Jongwe was named man of the match for his outstanding all-round performance.

Former US President Donald Trump hinted at a potential collaboration with his former GOP adversary Vivek Ramaswamy, following the latter's withdrawal from the presidential race after the Iowa caucuses. Ramaswamy, who had just suspended his campaign, joined Trump at a rally in New Hampshire, endorsing the GOP frontrunner. When questioned about the possibility of serving as vice president, Ramaswamy expressed his dedication to serving the country in any capacity, saying, "I want to serve this country any way I can."

Goldman Sachs predicts accelerated foreign inflows into India's stock market after national elections. Hesitation due to elections and lofty stock valuations have kept some investors away, but earnings growth should address concerns. Global mutual funds, including those from North Asia, South Korea, and Brazil, are underweight India but may increase exposure post-elections.

Invisible to motorists in the dense fog that had descended on NCR on Monday night, a hit-and-run victim was run over by several cars on NH9. By the time police received information, the body was mangled beyond recognition, even the fingers were severed from the palm. The police are yet to identify the victim and are scanning over 16-hour footage from CCTV cameras installed near the Wave City area of the speedway to ascertain the chain of events.

New Zealand opener Finn Allen set a new record by striking a 137 off 62 deliveries in the third Twenty20 international against Pakistan. His innings surpassed the previous highest score by a New Zealander in a T20 international, Brendon McCullum's 123, and equaled the world record for the most sixes in an innings, held by Afghanistan's Hazratullah Zazai. Haris Rauf leaked 27 runs off a single over.

China experienced a decline in its population for the second consecutive year. The total population decreased by 2.08 million to 1.4097 billion. Factors contributing to this decline include a significant reduction in childbirths, the highest death toll since 1949, and the relaxation of strict health measures. In 2023, India surpassed China as the most populous nation, according to United Nations projections. Experts caution that China, the world's second-largest economy, is poised to confront several challenges due to this demographic shift.

Apple surpasses Samsung, becoming the top smartphone manufacturer in 2023, according to IDC and Canalys reports. The US Supreme Court rejects Epic Games' and Apple's appeals, ending the legal battle over Apple's control of its App Store. Epic Games CEO looks to government intervention and praises the European Union's Digital Markets Act.

The construction workers are preparing a temporary shikhar atop the garbha griha and a Gudh mandap, which will house top dignitaries during the pran pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya. Scaffolding made of bamboo is being used, and the structures will be covered with sturdy cloth material similar to Durga puja pandals.

A 55-year-old man in Madhyamgram, Kolkata, chopped his wife into six pieces, packed them in a jute bag, and dumped them in a canal. He filed a missing person report, but inconsistencies in his statements led to suspicion. The murder seems to be the result of a property dispute.

Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu are the best states for startups, according to the latest rankings. Himachal Pradesh topped among Union territories and smaller states. Bihar and Haryana are considered "aspiring leaders". The rankings are based on various factors including institutional support and funding.