Times of India

Sudarsan Pattnaik, a renowned sand sculptor from Odisha, received the first Fred Darrington award for his 10-feet sand sculpture of Lord Ganesha at SandWorld in Dorset, England. The sculpture promotes the message of 'World Peace.' The award commemorates 100 years since Darrington began professional sand sculptures on Weymouth beach.

Heatwave conditions are expected to impact New Delhi with temperatures likely to exceed 40 degrees Celsius, predicted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). A 'yellow' alert indicates awareness of increased temperatures from Monday to Wednesday. The city's maximum temperature on Sunday reached 38.2 degrees Celsius, with rising trends forecasted for the coming days.

A film and television director, reportedly driving drunk, crashed into a crowded market in Thakurpukur, Kolkata. This incident resulted in the death of one person and critically injured at least eight others. Residents of the area attacked the driver and vandalized his car. Police arrested the driver and took another woman into custody.

Gujarat Titans secured a seven-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League on Sunday, led by Shubman Gill's unbeaten 61 and Mohammed Siraj's four-wicket haul. Gill and Washington Sundar's crucial partnership anchored the run-chase despite early dismissals, and Sherfane Rutherford finished the match with a quickfire 35 not out.

Hindu devotees with saffron flags returning from a Ram Navami procession were allegedly attacked in Kolkata's Park Circus area, according to West Bengal BJP. Union minister Sukanta Majumdar criticized the police for their inaction, labeling it as targeted violence influenced by political motives.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy demands a rapid response from US President Trump as Russia refuses an unconditional ceasefire amid ongoing war. Zelenskyy cites increased Russian attacks, urging for greater pressure. French President Macron also calls for immediate action. Trump seeks a partial truce while Putin remains open to dialogue.

Nine individuals are in custody for allegedly abusing a 17-year-old boy in Astapanahalli village, Channagiri. The victim was subjected to severe torture including having red ants placed in his undergarments and being tied to a tree. The incident, recorded on video, led to widespread public outrage and legal action.

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MS Dhoni, once renowned as Indian cricket's top 'finisher', is facing scrutiny in IPL 2025 after failing to deliver with the bat for three consecutive matches. Despite his sharp wicket-keeping skills, Dhoni's declining performance and strike rate are major concerns for the Chennai Super Kings, now at ninth place. Although Dhoni continues to be sharp behind the stumps, his strike rate has seen a significant dip — down to 138.18 from a remarkable 220.55 in the previous season. His inability to find boundaries consistently has been a cause of concern, especially in high-pressure chases.

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head faltered early in their IPL 2025 match against Gujarat Titans, with both falling to Mohammed Siraj. Despite a 50-run stand between Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen, Hyderabad struggled and ended with 152/8. Siraj's outstanding 4-17 helped restrict them, while Cummins and Shami added late runs.

A rift within the INDIA bloc emerged as newly elected CPM general secretary MA Baby criticized Congress for attacking Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan. Baby urged Rahul Gandhi to act responsibly, highlighting tensions in the alliance. Despite these issues, Baby expressed hope for overcoming differences and emphasized the need for unity to strengthen the CPI(M).

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar's district guardian minister, Sanjay Shirsat, announced the renaming of Khultabad to Ratnapur, highlighting its historical name before Aurangzeb's alteration. Shirsat also mentioned considering memorials for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Sambhaji Maharaj at Khultabad, amid opposition and concerns about the renaming process.

Rahul Gandhi will join the Congress's 'Palayan Roko, Naukari Do' padyatra in Begusarai, led by Kanhaiya Kumar, to support Bihar's youth against unemployment and privatisation. He will also attend a Constitution safeguarding conference in Patna, aiming to energize the state's youth for political change.

Microsoft's 50th anniversary event at its Redmond headquarters faced disruption twice by Pro-Palestine supporters who are women employees. They criticized the company's alleged role in aiding violence in Gaza through its technology, demanding Microsoft to cut ties with Israel.

Ex-Finance Minister P Chidambaram challenges PM Modi's claim of increased funding to Tamil Nadu under NDA, explaining that economic metrics naturally rise over time. PM Modi states more funds allocated to the state, but DMK's MK Stalin criticizes the Center for neglecting Tamil Nadu's financial needs.

Mohammed Siraj reached the milestone of 100 wickets in the IPL during Gujarat Titans vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad match in 2025, becoming the 26th bowler in IPL history to do so. He now has 100 wickets in 97 matches, with 42 taken in powerplay, emphasizing his new-ball impact. Yuzvendra Chahal, who is currently playing for Punjab Kings, tops the list with 206 wickets under his belt.

Young spinner Digvesh Singh Rathi impresses in IPL 2025 with his performance and unique action resembling Sunil Narine. His economical bowling for Lucknow Super Giants earned him the Player of the Match award in a win over Mumbai Indians. Rishabh Pant helped Rathi meet his idol Narine in Kolkata. Emulating Narine, Rathi transformed his bowling style to prioritize accuracy and control, aiming to prevent boundaries and earn recognition for his disciplined approach.