"Who's Responsible Then?" A Owaisi's Poser After Malegaon Accused Acquitted

Justice has not been done in the Malegaon blast case and the Central and the state governments should appeal immediately - preferably within 24 hours as they did in the railway blasts case, AIMIM ( All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul. Muslimeen) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said today - hours after a special court gave a clean chit to the seven accused saying there was no material evidence against them.  

The blast occurred on the night of September 29 2008, near Bhikku Chowk in the communally tense town, located about 200 km from Mumbai, during the holy month of Ramzan. A powerful bomb tore through an area near a mosque, killing six people and injuring more than a hundred.

Today, all seven accused in the case, including former BJP MP Pragya Thakur and former army officer Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit, were acquitted.

Mr Owaisi pointed out that the release made the case inconclusive and it becomes unclear who was responsible for the blasts.  

"What are we going to tell the families who lost their loved ones? A young girl died in Malegaon in 2008. What do we tell her family? Who were these people who used RDX? RDX is a plastic explosive. So if we do not catch these people and send them to jail, they will roam scot-free,' he told NDTV in an exclusive interview.

"It was not justice. I hope the Narendra Modi government and the Maharashtra government will go to the Supreme Court within 24 hours, the way they did in the railway blasts case. I appeal to them... There has been no justice or closure. it is important for the families," he said. 

Recalling the events after the 2006 blast some Muslim men were picked up and beaten and were later discharged. 

The handling of the cases in the courtroom left much to be desired, he said. "The prosecutor in the case had never prosecuted anyone. Never worked in a criminal prosecution," he said, marking him as "completely incompetent". 

"I also want to ask the NIA -- if the witnesses were becoming hostile how were you conducting the trial then? Is there any additional responsibility on them?" he said.

"The NIA also accused an ex-MP, who was a terror accused when he became an MP -- you said that there can be no prosecution against him. So, the evidence that was found, the confession that was found as evidence, that is gone. So, all these things, there are so many shortcomings in this," Mr Owaisi said. 

Asked if he was differentiating between the investigations by ATS and the NIA, he said the ATS investigation was done by Hemant Karkare, who died in Delhi's Batla house encounter and was given a posthumous Ashok Chakra.

"Hemant Karkare Sir had taken out CDs in which there was audio, video evidence, in which how the conspiracy was done. He had taken out so much documentary evidence for all those things... If Hemant Karkare was alive, then this case would have had a different outcome," he said.

Donald Trump's Tariff

Mr Owaisi started fuming when asked about the fresh 25 per cent tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump. 

"India is not a vassal state.  We are standing in the court of a wannabe emperor.  We have broken the slavery of 200 years of the British. Our ancestors broke the chains with their sacrifices.  Not for this day," Mr Owaisi said.

Recalling President Trump's comment that "India is a dead economy", he said, "How can we be dead economy?  It is a country of 133 crores.  You do not want India's market. Thank you very much.  We do not need you... We will put a penalty.  We are a sovereign state.  Who are you to dictate to us?

"They are saying that we will buy oil from Pakistan.  Why will we buy oil from Pakistan? The country on our land.  Our people's blood has come out.  We will buy oil from them. The one who is setting fire.  We will buy oil from them. These western countries.  There is a chip in their brains. That we are a third world country. We are not a third world country.  As much as they are proud of their country.  We are also proud of our country," he added.

President Trump had announced a 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports and an unspecified "penalty" because of the country's energy purchases from Russia.

Earlier today, in a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump wrote, "I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India, their tariffs are too high, among the highest in the world. Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together. Let's keep it that way." 

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal told parliament that the Centre is studying the implications of the move and will take all necessary steps to safeguard India's national interest. 

 

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BJP Leader's Takedown Of Rahul Gandhi, Silent Thumbs Up For Shashi Tharoor

The number of Shashi Tharoor's sympathisers and admirers in the BJP shows an uptick as his disagreements with senior Congress leadership pile up. His latest supporter is Tamil Nadu leader K Annamalai, who in a post on X today, drew a comparison between him and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over their comments on trade with the US and Donald Trump's imposition of 25 per cent tariff. 

While Mr Gandhi asserted that the Indian economy is "dead", Mr Tharoor's response was nuanced. Mr Annamalai, while being vociferous in his takedown of Mr Gandhi, made his approval of Mr Tharoor's comments clear.

"I came across remarks by two Congress leaders on the same topic today. One spoke for India's Interest, and the other spoke in a tone that would please his offshore masters," read Mr Annamalai's post on the issue. 

"When the world acknowledges India as the only bright spot on an otherwise dark horizon, here is the leader of the opposition who feels otherwise. LoP Thiru Rahul Gandhi avl continues to wear ignorance like a badge of honour. He is blind to India's rise, yet ever eager to echo foreign voices that undermine it," he added.

I came across remarks by two Congress leaders on the same topic today. One spoke for India's Interest, and the other spoke in a tone that would please his offshore masters.

When the world acknowledges India as the only bright spot on an otherwise dark horizon, here is the… pic.twitter.com/qejp39fAFF

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) July 31, 2025

Mr Tharoor said India has other options besides the US. "If we can't compete in America, we may have to diversify our markets outside of America. We are not out of options. If America is completely unreasonable with its demands, we have to move elsewhere. That is the strength of India; we are not a totally export-dependent economy like China," he said.

On the trade negotiations between the US and India, he said, "It is a challenging negotiation. We are negotiating with many countries. The US is not the only negotiation. We have ongoing negotiations with the EU, we already concluded a deal with the UK, and we are talking with other countries also... If a good deal is not possible, we may have to walk away". 

What had initially started as Shashi Tharoor's rift with the Kerala Congress has spread and a strong message came from Delhi when the career diplomat who had worked with the UN was not picked for the Centre's all-party delegations for the international outreach on Operation Sindoor. 

It did not help when Mr Tharoor, in the run-up to the visit and after, was vocal with his support for Operation Sindoor. 

While the Congress did not stop him from leading a team to the US, there have been criticism, there was speculation that the party was less than pleased after he was not picked to speak in the special debate in parliament about the operation. Sources, though, had said that Mr Tharoor was asked if he would speak and he had declined. 

But earlier this week, BJP leader Baijayant Jay Panda took a dig at the Congress, saying the party is not allowing its own member and the noted orator to speak in Lok Sabha.

Even PM Modi took a dig at the Congress over this during his response to the discussion, speaking of "some (being) stopped from speaking in parliament" and "those who consider themselves the sons of Congress become unhappy if you praise India".

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Indus Tap To Pak Turned Off, India Invites Tenders For Hydro Project In J&K

The Centre set in motion plans to build the 1,856 MW Sawalkote Hydro Project on Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. Tenders were invited for the project, which is expected to add to the challenges being faced by Pakistan following India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

The new project will come up near Sidhu village in Ramban district of the Union Territory.The last date for online submission of bids is September 10.

Though conceived in the 1960s, this project, along with several others, had been in the freezer. After the suspension of the Indus water treaty, the government planned to push ahead with the construction of six stalled projects in the region. 

Besides the 1,856 MW project in Sawalkot, there are the Kirthai I and I facilities that will generate a combined 1,320 MW, and a 1,000 MW facility in Pakal Dul, as well as three others making a total of 2,224 MW.

Once these six are completed, Jammu and Kashmir could generate up to 10,000 MW of electricity, and there could be more water for irrigation and domestic consumption in the plains.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the point in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday while responding to the special discussion on Operation Sindoor.

"The Indus Water Treaty was one-sided and the farmers of India also have the right over the water, and now in a short time, drinking water will reach Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi from river Indus," he had told Rajya Sabha.

The Indus Water Treaty was put on hold after the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, in which 26 people were killed. The decision has not been revoked despite appeals from Pakistan. 

Speaking in Rajya Sabha earlier in the day, foreign minister S Jaishankar said, "The Indus Water Treaty will be held in abeyance until Pakistan irrevocably gives up its support of terrorism. We have warned that Blood and water will not flow together".

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No Pakistan Cricket Team In '28 Olympics: Report. India To Qualify Due To...

In a major blow, Pakistan men's cricket team is likely to not qualify for the upcoming Olympics that is set to take place in 2028 in Los Angeles. As per a report, the International Cricket Council, the apex ruling body of the sport, has decided to go with the regional qualifying format, which will see teams like Pakistan and New Zealand missing out on the event as cricket makes it return to Olympics after a long gap of 128 years.

As per the report, number 1 ranked men's team in Asia, Oceania, Europe and Africa will earn an automatic qualification for the tournament along with hosts USA, who would represent the Americas.

"India and Australia to be awarded spots from Asia and Oceania respectively based on the ICC rankings. The International Olympic Committee favours regional qualifying to ensure all parts of the world are represented at the Games so it is a truly global event," said The Guardian in a report.

With USA set to qualify on the basis of being the hosts, West Indies' chances are also dim. "That would have implications for West Indian islands hoping to compete," the report further stated.

A total of six teams will be selected for the event. While qualification for five spots has been finalised, the process for the sixth team is yet to be determined, said the report.

Cricket's much-hyped return to the Olympics at LA Games will take shape at the Fairgrounds Stadium in the city of Pomena -- about 50km from Los Angeles -- from July 12 with the medal matches scheduled on July 20 and 29, 2028.

A total of six teams each in men's and women's sections and 180 players will compete in the T20 format in the quadrennial showpiece, which hosted cricket for the first and only time in 1900.

There are no matches scheduled on July 14 and 21 and most of the the matchdays will be double headers, according to the competition schedule released by the organisers.

The only time the gentleman's game was played at the Olympics was in Paris way back in 1900. Only two teams, Great Britain and France, competed in a two-day match with the former winning the gold medal.

With a total of 90 athlete quotas allocated in the men's and women's sections, the 12 competing teams can name 15-member squads.

Cricket's growing popularity can be gauged from the fact that three venues in the United States -- Grand Prairie, Lauderhill, and New York -- organised several matches of the 2024 T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by USA and the West Indies.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had approved cricket, baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash as five new sports to feature at the 2028 Games.

(With PTI Inputs)

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"Ridiculously High": Hyderabad School's Rs 2.5 Lakh Fee For Nursery Goes Viral

A photo showing the fee structure of a private school in Hyderabad went viral on social media as it mentions that the annual fee for the nursery is Rs 2,51,000. Anuradha Tiwari, founder of the Dharma Party of India, shared the fee structure in a post on X (formerly Twitter), which sparked debate over educational affordability and transparency for middle-income families in India.

Class- Nursery
Fees - Rs 2,51,000/-

Now, learning ABCD will cost you Rs 21,000 per month.

What are these schools even teaching to justify such a ridiculously high fee? pic.twitter.com/DkWOVC28Qs

— Anuradha Tiwari (@talk2anuradha) July 30, 2025

"Now, learning ABCD will cost you Rs 21,000 per month. What are these schools even teaching to justify such a ridiculously high fee," she wrote in the caption.

Also Read | How Much Does It Cost To Study MBBS In Russia, Philippines, Kazakhstan

As per the school's fee structure, the fee for pre-primary I and II is Rs 2,42,700 annually. Meanwhile, the fee for classes 1 and 2 is Rs 2,91,460 annually.

Some netizens have expressed frustration over the high fees, questioning the logic behind such charges for early education. Meanwhile, some suggested simply avoiding such institutions.

"If one cannot afford the fees, don't send your kids to this school. Simple and straight," a user said.

"This entire process has become a sort of scam. Certain things need to be regulated effectively," another said.

"India needs to reform its education policy because the Board exams are easy, and competitive exams are hard, so then comes private coaching, and because of the private coaching, India's education fees and inflation are very high. A large number of people go to private coaching institutes, and private coaching institutes do as they want and increase the fees as per their own wish," a third user commented.

Nasr School hasn't responded to the online criticism.

Also Read | Maharashtra Woman Duped For Rs 1 Lakh In Currency Exchange Fraud: Cops

Recently, Ashish Singhal, co-founder of CoinSwitch and Lemonn, discussed a similar issue of rising school fees for primary classes as he highlighted a report which stated that the fees are increasing by 10-30% every year, outpacing middle-class income growth.

In a LinkedIn post, Mr Singhal claimed that school expenses now consume nearly 19% of household income, and parents are even taking EMIs for kindergarten fees.

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Bengaluru Man, 70, Out For Walk, Mauled To Death By Stray Dogs Outside Home

A 70-year-old man, Seethappa, died after being allegedly mauled by a pack of stray dogs just outside his house in Kodigehalli, Karnataka, during the early hours of Sunday. According to his family members, the elderly man had stepped out for a walk around midnight as he was unable to sleep, when a group of at least eight strays allegedly attacked him. 

Seethappa suffered serious injuries to his hands, legs, and face, with portions of flesh torn off in the attack. His family members, who rushed out upon hearing the commotion, claim they witnessed the pack of dogs attacking him. He was declared dead at the hospital. 

The Kodigehalli Police have registered a case and launched an investigation. An Unnatural Death Report (UDR) has been filed in the matter.  Cops are examining CCTV footage and speaking to residents to establish the sequence of events.

This incident is the latest in a disturbing rise in stray dog attacks across the country. A couple of weeks ago, a three-year-old girl was viciously attacked in Shimla Nagar of Old Hubballi in Karnataka. The child, who was walking towards a shop, was attacked by a group of stray dogs in the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation area. CCTV footage of the attack showed the dogs biting her shoulder, back, legs, and arms, dragging her to the ground. She was rushed to KIMS Hospital with serious injuries.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Municipal Parishad (BBMP) recently launched a project worth Rs 2.9 crore to feed 4,000-5,000 stray dogs daily across Bengaluru. Through the scheme, BBMP planned to provide cooked meals of chicken, rice, and other meals to stray dogs. The aim was to reduce dog aggression, among other things. 

The move sparked public debate, with many questioning the move to feed stray dogs. 

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram has expressed concern over increasing dog bite incidents across the country and said it's a "health and safety issue".

The Congress MP told NDTV that the Centre's data, shared in the Parliament, showed that over 37 lakh dog bite cases were reported last year, but "does not give a full picture because of the reporting mechanism."

The Congress MP has raised the issue of stray dogs, their rehabilitation, and incidents of dog bites in the past. Mr Chidambaram said he even met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the concern.

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3 Reasons Why Bihar Roll Revision Can't Be Discussed In Parliament: Sources

There will be no discussion on Bihar voter list revision in Parliament despite the Opposition's demand, the government has indicated, underscoring a reason cited by former Speaker Balaram Jakhar, sources have said. 

The Opposition, which has been sticking to its demand for a discussion on Bihar's SIR, had raised the issue again today, and the row had delayed the discussion on Operation Sindoor.

The Opposition wanted a concrete assurance from the government that it would discuss the Special Intensive Revision of Bihar's electoral rolls immediately after the special discussion on Operation Sindoor ends. 

At the time, the government had accused the Opposition of cheating. 

Later, at 2 pm, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said if the rules allow and the Speaker is ready and it is decided in the Business Advisory Committee, the government was ready to discuss any topic. 

Because the government did not directly say it would discuss the issue of Bihar SIR, or refuse it, the Opposition found the assurance sufficient and the discussion on Operation Sindoor started in the Lok Sabha.

Government sources, however, made it clear that the voter list revision -- being run by the Election Commission in Bihar -- cannot be discussed in Parliament. 

About this, three arguments are being considered by the government, sources said.

The first is that the campaign being run by the Central Election Commission is not an election reform. Rather, it is an administrative step and the Election Commission has been taking such steps from time to time.

The second reason is that even if a discussion is held in both the houses of Parliament on the intensive revision of the voter list, there is no one to answer the questions that the Opposition could raise. 

The Election Commission cannot come to the House to present its side, sources pointed out. And although the Law Ministry is the nodal ministry for the Election Commission, it generally looks after only administrative work, and does not interfere in policy matters.

The third reason the government gave is that there are many such institutions which do not have a mechanism to present their side before the Parliament. In such situations, there cannot be a discussion about those institutions, sources said.

Government sources recounted an earlier instance when there had been a demand to discuss the functioning of the Election Commission. 

In 1986, then Speaker Balram Jakhar had said comprehensive election reforms can be discussed in Parliament, but it is not possible to discuss administrative processes and decisions.

The government is now of the view that the Bihar voter list revision cannot be discussed due to these reasons.

The Opposition, however, is very aggressive on this issue and wait is on for the government's formal arguments.

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All You Need To Know About UPI Changes Effective From August 1

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is set to implement a set of changes to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) from August 1, 2025. The changes, including balance check and transaction status, are aimed at making the interface stable and efficient. In a circular dated April 26, 2025, NPCI stated that they are working to reduce the response time of UPI transactions to improve the performance. It added that the adjustments will benefit remitter banks, beneficiary banks and Payment Service Providers (PSPs), such as PhonePe, Google Pay and Paytm.

Later on May 21, 2025, NPCI noted: "PSP banks and/or acquiring banks shall ensure all the API requests (in terms of velocity and TPS - transactions per second limitations) sent to UPI are monitored and moderated in terms of appropriate usage (customer-initiated and PSP system-initiated)."

Also Read | How India's UPI Is Revolutionising Global Digital Payments, Explained Simply

Here are the key changes:

Daily Balance Check Limit: The users can check their account balance only 50 times a day per UPI app. If they use multiple apps, the limit applies to each app separately.

Transaction Status Check Limit: They can check the status of a pending transaction only three times, with a minimum gap of 90 seconds between each check.

AutoPay Timings: AutoPay transactions will be processed in specific time slots: Before 10 AM, Between 1 PM and 5 PM and After 9:30 PM.

Linked Bank Account View Limit: The users can view their linked bank accounts only 25 times a day.

Payment Reversal Cap: They can raise a maximum of 10 payment reversal requests in 30 days, with a cap of 5 per sender.

Beneficiary Name Display: The recipient's registered bank name will be visible before confirming payment, reducing errors and fraud.

Stricter Rules for Banks and UPI Apps: NPCI will monitor API usage, and non-compliant banks and apps may face penalties or restricted access.

"Members are requested to take note of this compliance requirement and communicate it to relevant stakeholders and their respective partners for implementation by 31st July 2025," the circular added.

Also Read | PayPal Partners With NPCI, Others to Build Cross-Border Payments Platform Focused on Interoperability

IMF praises India's UPI

Recently, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) praised India, saying that the nation makes faster payments than any other country with the quick growth of UPI. The usage of other instruments, including debit and credit cards, is on the decline.

"India now makes faster payments than any other country. At the same time, proxies for cash usage have fallen," the note said.

"Since its launch in 2016, UPI has grown quickly, while some proxies for cash usage have begun to decline. UPI now processes more than 18 billion transactions per month and dominates other electronic retail payments in India," the fintech note said.

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WCL Live: India Eye Solid Start After Bopara Helps Eng Set 224-Run Target

India Champions vs England Champions, WCL 2025 Live Updates: Desperate for a win, both India Champions and England Champions are playing against each other in the 13th game of World Championship of Legends in Leeds. India Champions captain Yuvraj Singh won the toss and opted to bowl first against England Champions. Varun Aaron dismissed Phil Mustard to provide India Champions an early wicket but Ian Bell and Ravi Bopara played solid knocks to put England in control. Bopara even went on to smash his century (110 in 55 balls), helping England post 223 for 3. India Champions eye a solid start in the chase of 224 runs. (Live Scorecard)

India Champions vs England Champions, World Championship of Legends match Live Updates -

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Andy Byron To Sue Coldplay For "Emotional Distress" Over Viral Kiss-Cam Video

Former Astronomer CEO Andy Byron is reportedly considering legal action against Coldplay following the controversy that erupted after a viral kiss cam moment at the band's recent concert. 

What's Happening

• According to several reports, Andy Byron is planning to file a lawsuit against Coldplay and the event organisers, citing "emotional distress" and "invasion of privacy." 
• A source close to Byron told Page Six, "He didn't consent to being filmed or publicly humiliated. He thinks Coldplay made him a meme."
• Attorney Camron Dowlatshahi of MSD Lawyers weighed in on the legal prospects of such a case. "If we are getting creative, a possible claim would be for defamation, specifically as it relates to Chris Martin characterising the two as having an 'affair,'" Dowlatshahi told Page Six.
• Dowlatshahi explained that Byron would need to demonstrate "that there wasn't an affair" to prove defamation. 
• Coldplay, for their part, has not officially responded. However, Rob Shuter's ShuterScoop quoted insiders claiming Chris Martin "laughed out loud" at the idea of being sued over a kiss cam moment.
• Legal experts say the lawsuit would be a "long shot." One attorney told Page Six, "At a public concert with cameras and 70,000 people, your expectation of privacy is near zero. It sounds like he's trying to shift blame."

The Controversy

During Coldplay's show in Massachusetts, the kiss-cam captured ex-Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and the company's HR head, Kristin Cabot, in a PDA-filled moment. As soon as the kiss-cam showed their glimpse, they hid their faces and turned their backs towards the camera.

At the time, Martin had commented, "Either they're having an affair, or they are really shy." The clip quickly went viral on social media, with fans sharing multiple videos of the two hugging and kissing throughout the concert, resulting in backlash online.

Following the incident, both Byron and Cabot, who are married to separate partners, were placed on administrative leave by Astronomer. 

On Saturday, the company's Board of Directors confirmed Byron's resignation through an official statement.

Kristin Cabot also resigned. Meanwhile, sources suggest that Byron's personal life has also taken a hit, with his wife Megan Kerrigan reportedly moving out of their home.

Megan Kerrigan, an educator at the Bancroft School, removed her husband's surname from her Facebook profile before deactivating her account. Kristin Cabot is married to Andrew Cabot, CEO of Privateer Rum.

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Ancient Humans Ate Children 850,000 Years Ago, New Discovery Reveals

In a remarkable scientific discovery, Spanish archaeologists have found evidence that human ancestors ate children, some 850,000 years ago. Digging at the Gran Dolina cave site in Atapuerca, northern Spain, the researchers discovered a human neck bone belonging to a child aged between two and four years old, with clear butchery marks, suggesting that the small children may have been devoured clean.

The team from the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES) stated that the site of the marks on the neck bone suggests the youngster was decapitated. Notably, the body parts of the child belong to Homo antecessor, believed to be the last common ancestor of both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals.

"This case is particularly striking, not only because of the child's age, but also due to the precision of the cut marks," said Dr Palmira Saladie, the co-director of the excavation.

"The vertebra presents clear incisions at key anatomical points for disarticulating the head. It is direct evidence that the child was processed like any other prey."

Although cannibalism is well documented in early humans, it is unusual to find evidence of a child being eaten. If the discovery stands verified, it could mark the earliest evidence of the practice found to date.

“What we are documenting now is the continuity of that behaviour: the treatment of the dead was not exceptional, but repeated,” said Ms Saladie.

Also Read | 'I Love India But...': American Woman Reveals Truth About Living In India

Stockier and shorter on average than modern humans, the Homo antecessor lived between 1.2 million and 800,000 years ago. Their brain size was roughly between 1,000 and 1,150 cubic centimetres, which is smaller than the average 1,350 cubic centimetres brain size of people today.

"The new find reinforces the hypothesis that these early humans exploited their congeners as a food resource," the researchers stated.

“Every year we uncover new evidence that forces us to rethink how our ancestors lived, how they died, and how the dead were treated nearly a million years ago.”

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Tanushree Dutta To NDTV: "I Was Supposed To Do A Film With Sushant"

Actor Tanushree Dutta, who became the face of India's #MeToo movement back in 2018, on Friday said the recent disturbing video of her breaking down into tears was the result of "an emotional outburst" stemming from a long and painful experience of being harassed in Mumbai, a city where she is unsafe.

The actor told NDTV how she finds parallels in life with Sushant Singh Rajput. She also said that she was supposed to feature in a film with the late star who was found dead at his Mumbai apartment in 2020.

"I have been harassed for the past five years, and that video was simply an emotional outburst stemming from that long, painful experience. My building's security was replaced without my consent, the locks of my house were broken into, and a maid was deliberately planted in my home - she was mixing unknown substances into my food. All of this began after the #MeToo movement," Tanushree Dutta told NDTV in the interview.

"I was supposed to do a film with Sushant Singh Rajput, and it gave me hope that an A-lister was willing to work with me. But even he died by suicide - and I believe there is a deeper connection between his death and the kind of harassment I've been facing. His case and mine are not entirely disconnected," she added.

The former Miss India Universe also alleged that on a recent spiritual trip to Ujjain, someone tampered with the brakes of her autorickshaw "with an attempt to kill me". "I strongly believe there is a deliberate effort to mentally torture me to the point that I either end up like Sushant Singh Rajput - forced into suicide - or go insane like Pooja Mishra," she claimed.

Tanushree Dutta also levelled fresh allegations against actor Nana Patekar, whom she accused of sexual harassment and abuse in 2018 under the #MeToo wave in India.

"I had raised questions regarding Nana Patekar's foundation, and ever since then, people have been after me. A contract worth Rs 5 crore was given to the underworld to eliminate me. The underworld still exists - earlier it was figures like Dawood Ibrahim, but now it operates in new, subtler forms. I am constantly being followed."

"But since no one is chasing me with a knife right now, I'm not in a rush. I want to document every incident from the past five years thoroughly so that I can present it to the police in a proper and structured manner. The police hasn't done anything so far - in fact, I place more trust in the media than in law enforcement," she further said.

Earlier in the day, Tanushree Dutta said she is overwhelmed with media requests as she continues to speak out about the harassment she is facing.

"I'm swamped with interviews and haven't been keeping well either. I've lived a slow, low-key sadhana lifestyle last few years. I'm trying the best I can. Please bear with me. I'll talk to everyone slowly, slowly," she wrote on her Instagram Story.

In her previous interview to NDTV, the actor talked about her past experience with the police during the #MeToo movement in 2018. "My experience with the Mumbai Police during the 2018 #MeToo movement left a very bitter taste in my mouth," she said.

"They encouraged me to file an FIR back then. I spent four to five hours at the station, gave a detailed statement, and kept following up and nothing came of it. In Maharashtra, these molesters and harassers are often hobnobbing with politicians. They're protected. So, there's no real scope of justice," she added.

Tanushree Dutta had accused actor Nana Patekar of sexually harassing her during the shoot of a special song in the film Horn Ok Pleassss in 2009. She made these allegations in a Zoom interview in 2018. Nana Patekar, however, denied all the claims.

Also Read | Tanushree Dutta, Who Called For #MeToo In Bollywood, Breaks Down In Video: "I'm Being Harassed At My Own Home"

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Student Takes Raj Thackeray's Name, Asks Others To Speak In Marathi, Thrashed

A student was allegedly beaten up outside a college in Navi Mumbai for - in a semi-threatening tone - asking others to speak in Marathi in a WhatsApp group.

Police sources said the students were all part of a college WhatsApp group and some of them were writing messages in Hindi on Monday. Another student then replied in Marathi, "Speak in Marathi, otherwise Raj Thackeray will come." 

Raj Thackeray is the chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), whose workers have assaulted several people in the state for what they termed "insults" to Marathi. The attacks include one on a shopkeeper in Thane and, more recently, on a man working in a public toilet in Nanded. 

The student's comment sparked an argument on the WhatsApp group, which kept escalating.  Around 10.30 am the next day, four students, including one Faizan Naik, attacked the student who asked them to speak in Marathi outside their college in Vashi. Naik also hit the 20-year-old on the head with a hockey stick, leaving him severely injured. 

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Vashi) Adinath Budhwant said a case has been registered. 

"A First Information Report has been registered at the Vashi police station in connection with a dispute that arose between two groups. The dispute was a result of an argument between two individuals over comments on the group," Mr Budhwant said. 

"The complainant was also reportedly beaten with a stick. An investigation is on and action will be taken against the accused," he added.

MNS Spokesperson Gajanan Kale and other MNS workers also met police officials and asked for strict action against the attacking students at the earliest. 

"We have met the student and his family as well," Mr Kale said. 

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Pant Surpasses Rohit For Historic Feats But India Struggle vs England

Rishabh Pant continues to break records and win hearts, this time, with the bat in hand even while limping. On Thursday, during Day 2 of the Manchester Test against England, the wicket-keeper batter matched the legendary Virender Sehwag's record for the most sixes by an Indian in Test cricket. Both now have 90 sixes to their name in the longest format. Pant, known for his fearless strokeplay, is now tied at the top with Sehwag, while India captain Rohit Sharma follows closely behind with 88 sixes. MS Dhoni has 78, and Ravindra Jadeja sits fifth on the list with 74 sixes.

If that wasn't enough, Pant also leapfrogged Rohit Sharma to become India's leading run-scorer in the World Test Championship (WTC) era. The southpaw now has 2731 runs from just 38 Test matches, which includes six centuries and sixteen fifties. Rohit, on the other hand, has 2719 WTC runs.

Despite the heroic effort, India finised the day on backfoot as England played Bazball brand of cricket. England were comfortably placed at 225 for two at stumps after bowling out India for 358 on the second day of the fourth Test on Thursday. Openers Ben Duckett (94 off 100 balls) and Zak Crawley (84 off 113 balls) led England's strong response with a brisk 166-run partnership, as the home team trailed India by 133 runs in their first innings at close of play. Ollie Pope (20) and Joe Root (11) were at the crease at stumps. 

What makes Pant's achievement even more special is the context, he returned to bat on Thursday despite suffering a painful toe injury on Day 1 and still made a solid impact.

After Pant's fifty in Manchester in the fourth Test, now he has 14 fifty-plus scores, while Dhoni has thirteen fifties. The left-hander has six hundreds and eight fifties.

Pant smashed 54 off 75 balls, laced with three boundaries and two maximums.

The BCCI has confirmed earlier that Rishabh Pant will not keep wickets for the remainder of the Manchester Test after suffering a toe injury, but he will be available to bat if required.

Team India suffered a setback on Day 1 after Pant was forced to leave the field when a toe-crushing yorker from England pacer Chris Woakes struck him on the right foot. The left-hander was in visible pain and could not continue batting, raised concerns over his participation in the rest of the match.

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Centre In Huddle To Regain Lost Ground On Judge's Impeachment: Sources

Two days after the resignation of Jagdish Dhankhar from the post of the Vice President, the government is brainstorming ways to undo the damage he caused by accepting the Opposition notice for the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma - the judge at the centre of the cash-at-home scandal.

While the procedure of impeachment is complicated at best, Mr Dhankhar's move has made the government's job more difficult.

Earlier, sources had said that the government had wanted to take the lead in the impeachment - introducing the issue from the Lok Sabha - to send a message about its stance on corruption in judiciary. It was also a crucial matter of optics, given its earlier efforts to tweak the judges' appointment system.

The Centre had even readied a motion for Justice Varma's removal, taken signatures from Opposition MPs from the Lok Sabha as well.

Following Mr Dhankhar's acceptance of the Opposition notice in the Upper House, a flurry of meetings had started within the government. 

One of these meetings was attended by the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Deputy Chairman of RS Harivansh and the Secretary Generals of both the Houses.

The government has concluded that the notice moved by the Opposition and read out by Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday was technically flawed. There were discussions on whether the motion should be withdrawn or necessary amendments should be made to it to conform to procedure, sources have said.

Sources said it has now been decided to withdraw the Opposition proposal from the Rajya Sabha, so the Lok Sabha Speaker can recommend the formation of a three-member committee to look into the allegations against the judge.

It has also been argued that the Deputy Speaker can reverse Mr Dhankhar's move.

Jagdeep Dhankhar's Resignation

On Monday, after Mr Dhankhar accepted the Opposition's proposal for impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma without apprising the government, it was caught completely by surprise. "If the government had been informed, MPs from the ruling party would have also signed the motion," said a source. 

A series of meetings were held - one of them between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior ministers. BJP MPs were called and asked to sign a significant motion about which they were asked to stay silent.

Getting wind of the government's displeasure, Mr Dhankhar had opted to step down, sources said.
 

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Indian Railways Tweaks Emergency Quota Rules, Big Relief For Passengers

Indian Railways has revised the rules for booking tickets under the Emergency Quota (EQ), making it mandatory for passengers to send their requests earlier than before. This change follows the Railway Ministry's recent decision to prepare reservation charts 8 hours before train departure to improve operational efficiency.

Emergency quota seats are reserved for VIPs, railway staff, and passengers with medical emergencies. However, misuse of this facility and last-minute requests often delayed chart preparation, affecting the confirmation of waiting list tickets and causing inconvenience to passengers.

Under the new rule, passengers seeking an EQ ticket must now submit their request at least a day in advance. 

"Emergency quota request for all the trains leaving between 0000 hours and 1400 hours should reach EQ cell up to 1200 hours on the previous day of journey," said a circular issued by the ministry on Tuesday.

"Emergency quota request for all the remaining trains leaving between 14.01 hours and 23.59 hours should reach EQ cell up to 1600 hours on the previous day of journey," it added.

The ministry has clarified that the requests received on the same day of the scheduled departure of a train will not be entertained.

Regarding Sundays or any other public holidays, the ministry has said the requests for the release of accommodation in trains, for which the emergency quota is to be released on Sundays or clubbed holidays after Sundays, should be given during office hours on the previous working day.

The circular said the reservation cell of the Railway Board receives a large number of requests from VIPs, railway officers, senior officers and other departments.

"All efforts are made to allot the quota judiciously and with common prudence," it said.

The ministry has urged all officers to adhere to these timings so that the allotments are given in time and chart preparation is not delayed, which not only results in extreme difficulties to the travelling public but can also lead to a delay in the departure of trains.

It has also requested the forwarding authority to ensure the genuineness of the person under reference and also ensure strict compliance to existing guidelines regarding the allotment of the emergency quota.

The move is aimed at streamlining the ticketing process, ensuring charts are prepared on time, and improving punctuality. For common passengers, this change means they will know the confirmation status of their waiting list tickets earlier, reducing uncertainty before travel. 

(With inputs from PTI)

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In Big Win For Homebuyers, Top Court Okays 22 Police Cases Against Builders

The Central Bureau of Investigation has received green signal from the Supreme Court to file 22 cases involving the nexus between the banks and developers to dupe homebuyers in National Capital region. The cases can involve prominent builders in the zone. The agency has also sought more time to investigate builders of other cities.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for CBI, told the bench of Justices Suryakant and N Koteshwar Singh that more time is needed to complete the investigation. The bench gave it six weeks, expressing satisfaction over the investigation done by CBI.

The court was hearing a batch of petitions filed by over 1,200 homebuyers, who booked flats under subvention plans in various housing projects in the NCR. They have alleged that the banks are forcing them to pay EMIs even though they have not received possession of flats.

Under the subvention scheme, banks disburse the sanctioned amount directly to the accounts of builders. They pay EMIs until the flats are handed over to homebuyers. But the builders have defaulted on EMIs, and in line with the tripartite agreement, banks are now demanding that the homebuyers pay the EMIs.

In July last year, the Supreme Court had directed that no coercive action can be taken against homebuyers by banks or builders over non-payment of EMIs and no complaint against them will be entertained in cases of cheque bounce. But a group of lawyers told the court that lower courts, especially in Gurgaon, were still passing harsh orders against homebuyers.

The court has asked the District and Sessions Judge of Gurgaon to investigate and submit a report within 10 days.
 

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"Apologise": Court As Cop Gets Husband, Father-In-Law Jailed In False Cases

An IPS officer has been asked to issue an unconditional public apology to her former husband and in-laws for the "physical and mental agony" they underwent after she filed multiple criminal cases against them during a marital dispute. While ordering this, the Supreme Court also cancelled all the ongoing cases. 

The Bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih also dissolved the marriage since the couple were separated since 2018. The court ordered that their daughter will stay with her mother and the husband and family members will be able to meet her.

In its verdict, the court said the husband had to spend 109 days and his father 103 days in jail due to criminal cases filed by the wife. "What they have suffered cannot be compensated in any way," the court said, ordering the officer to tender a public apology.

"The woman and her parents shall tender an unconditional apology to her husband and his family members, which shall be published in the national edition of a well-known English and a Hindi newspaper," said the judges.

This apology shall also be published and circulated on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and other similar social media platforms within 3 days of the order, the judges said. It would not be construed as an admission of liability and shall have no effect on the legal rights, obligations or consequences arising under the law. 

The court also asked the woman "not to use her position and power" or that of her colleagues to initiate any proceedings against the husband and his family. The husband was warned not to use her apology in any manner either.

The woman had filed separate criminal cases against the husband and his family and a parallel one in the family court for divorce and maintenance. Her husband too, had filed tit-for-tat cases. Besides, there were cases filed by third parties. 

Both husband and wife had filed an application in the Supreme Court to transfer the cases to their respective jurisdiction.

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Indian Techie Claims Boss Made Work Life A "Mess" For Rejecting His Proposal

An Indian tech professional has alleged that her European manager, who is married, began targeting her professionally after she rejected his romantic advances. In a viral Reddit post, the woman claimed that her married boss started delaying her salary and micromanaging her, turning her professional life "a mess." The employee, who works remotely for a small 10-employee company, alleged that her European manager confessed to having romantic feelings during a one-on-one call earlier this year. After she rejected him, he reportedly began throwing tantrums, negatively impacting her work life.

"Turns out he got hurt & told somebody, and that somebody moulded his mind or something, that he should let me go, that now this boss is throwing all sorts of tantrums at me, questioning my every move, work, etc. He even remarked, she doesn't work, just clocks in on time. I don't know if the person suggested letting me go emotionally, or if this boss just doesn't have enough balloons to own his feelings & is trying all sorts to get me out of the job because I broke his heart. I just want to keep things professional," the post read. 

See the post here:

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The woman further alleged that her manager displays jealous behaviour, particularly when she interacts with male colleagues. He frequently checks in on her when she's offline, questioning her well-being. Professionally, she has faced challenges, including delayed salaries, tasks outside her role, and public reprimands for mistakes she didn't make, suggesting that he's using work-related issues to express personal resentment.

"Apparently, he may have developed feelings as early as December, and instead of handling it maturely, he's now making things difficult for me professionally. Earlier, he had given me a couple of days off without deducting leave — I thought it was because of my performance and loyalty, but now I wonder if it was something else," he added.

Due to her current role's flexibility, which allows her to spend more time with her family, she's unable to consider switching jobs despite the toxic work environment. "I've held on to this job mainly because it's remote, gives me flexibility with family responsibilities, and is financially efficient (lower taxes, etc.). But this emotional back-and-forth is becoming unbearable. The job market is not great right now, so switching is tough," she added.

Many expressed solidarity with her and criticised the company's handling of the situation. One user said, "The best thing for you to do would perhaps be to prepare for packing your bags from here and joining somewhere else. Since he is your boss, even POSH will not be taken seriously because HRs work for companies and not for employees. I know what I am suggesting sounds like running, but we are just bunnies in this world, and we gotta act in our interests. Start preparing and switch if possible."

Another commented, "Pick up your stuff and leave the company, now it will become more toxic than ever with this in, protect your mental wellbeing."

A third added, "Job switch is the only option. That is the sad reality."

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Why Was India vs Pakistan WCL 2025 Match Cancelled - Explained

A veterans' cricket match in Birmingham involving India and Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends was cancelled after Indian players, including Shikhar Dhawan, refused to be a part of it citing the Pahalgam terror attack in April. The second edition of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) tournament, which is co-owned by Bollywood star Ajay Devgn, started on June 18 at Edgbaston here and is scheduled for an August 2 final. World Cup winner Yuvraj Singh is the captain of the India Champions, while the squad also features the likes of Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa and Varun Aaron among others.

The WCL organisers shared a statement on their X account, detailing the decision of cancellation and said their intention while conducting the match was to recreate some "happy memories." "After hearing the news that the Pakistan hockey team will be coming to India this year, and seeing the recent India vs Pakistan volleyball match along with a few other fixtures between the two nations in different sports, we thought of continuing with the India vs Pakistan match at WCL, just to create some happy memories for people around the globe.

"But maybe in the process, we ended up hurting the feelings of many and stirring emotions," the WCL statement read.

The Pakistan team has in its ranks captain Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, Kamran Akmal among a host of yesteryear players.

The organisers also apologised for "unintentionally causing discomfort" to Indian legends.

"Hence, we have decided to call off the India-Pakistan match. We sincerely apologise again for hurting the sentiments and hope people will understand that all we ever wanted was to bring a few happy moments to the fans," it read.

Former India opener Dhawan also shared a statement on X, announcing his stand not to participate in the match against Pakistan.

"This is to formally reiterate and confirm that Mr. Shikhar Dhawan will not be participating in any matches against the Pakistan team in the upcoming WCL League. This decision was communicated earlier during our discussion on call and WhatsApp dated 11th May 2025," read his statement.

Dhawan made it clear that he has taken the call in view of the current "geopolitical" situation between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack and the ensuing Operation Sindoor carried out by the country.

Operation Sindoor had led to a brief military showdown between the two arch foes before India agreed to halt its operations on Pakistan's request for a cease fire. "In view of the current geopolitical situation and the prevailing tensions between India and Pakistan, Mr. Dhawan and his team have taken this position after due consideration.

"We respectfully request the league's understanding and cooperation on this matter," he said in the statement.

Off-spin legend Harbhajan, a sitting Rajya Sabha MP, Yusuf, who is also a Member of Parliament, and Irfan too have conveyed their decision to boycott the match against Pakistan, though they are yet to issue a statement in this regard.

The players received a lot of flak on social media for agreeing to the play against the Pakistan team.

India had defeated Pakistan by five wickets to win the inaugural edition of the six-team legends tournament last year in Edgbaston.

While India does not engage with Pakistan in any bilateral sporting activities because of the existing geopolitical scenario, the two nations often meet each other at various levels of competitions featuring Olympic sports.

In fact, the Indian government has given its approval for Pakistan's participation in several major events to be hosted in India this year, including the Hockey Asia Cup (August), Junior Hockey World Cup (November–December), Junior Shooting World Cup (September), and the World Para Athletics Championships (October).

The reason being that any move to block Pakistan, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists, would have been a violation of the Olympic charter, which is like a constitution for the Olympic Movement.

Rule 44 of the Charter specifically prohibits National Olympic Committees from excluding athletes based on "racial, religious or political reasons". Failure to grant visas can lead to "international isolation and loss of hosting rights for future events." In cricket, India and Pakistan do not engage in bilateral series, limiting their face-offs to global ICC events such as the World Cup and Champions Trophy.

A hybrid hosting model was introduced during this year's Champions Trophy, under which India played its matches at a neutral venue — Dubai — while the rest of the tournament was held in Pakistan.

Following that precedent, Pakistan will play all its matches in Colombo during the Women's ODI World Cup this year. The tournament is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

However, the men's Asia Cup, tentatively set for September in the T20 format, remains in uncertainty as venue for the India-Pakistan clash is yet to be identified.

The BCCI has said unequivocally that it will not attend the Asian Cricket Council meeting, intended to thrash out a working model, if it is held in Dhaka.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Big Blow For India: Pacer Unlikely To Be Fit For 4th Test. Reason Is...

Injured Indian left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who is yet to play in the ongoing Test series against England, is unlikely to be available for selection for the fourth Test beginning in Manchester from July 23. Arshdeep, who is yet to play Test cricket, injured his left hand while trying to stop a shot from Sai Sudharsan's on his follow through during the net session in Beckenham on Thursday. The Indian team on Saturday arrived in Manchester in their bid to level the five match series following the heartbreak of Lord's. Following the training session in Beckenham, Arshdeep was walking around with his bowling hand bandaged. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, in as many words, had hinted that Arshdeep would be racing against time to get fit for the Manchester Test even though he had not found a playing eleven spot in the first three games.

“We'll take a call on the combination we play, particularly given the Arshdeep situation as well, we'll make that call closer to Manchester,” said Doeschate referring to the left-arm pacer getting injured during training.

“He took a ball while he was bowling there, Sai had a ball and he tried to stop it and it's just a cut, so we have to see how bad the cut is. Obviously the medical team has taken him off to see a doctor and obviously if he needs stitches or doesn't need stitches that's going to be important to our planning for the next few days,” he had said post training in Beckenham.

The left-arm pacer was only likely to get a shot if one of two senior pacers --- Jasprit Bumrah or Mohammed Siraj happen to be rested due to workload management. Bumrah, Siraj and Akash Deep formed the pace trio at Lord's.

It remains to be seen if Bumrah decides to play the Manchester Test or the fifth one at The Oval with the series on the line already.

There is no clarity over the availability of Akash Deep, who is dealing with a groin niggle.

Siraj has featured in all the games so far and is due for some rest.

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England vs Pakistan Live Streaming WCL 2025: When And Where To Watch

England Champions vs Pakistan Champions Live Streaming WCL 2025: England Champions take on Pakistan Champions in the opening match of World Championship of Legends 2025 at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Friday. Sanctioned by the England & Wales Cricket Board, the WCL is more than just a tournament - it's a tribute to the game's golden era. Each team is composed of revered former international players - true cricket legends who carry their nation's legacy into this elite league. India won the inaugural edition of WCL last year, beating arch-rivals Pakistan in the final.

When will the England Champions vs Pakistan Champions WCL 2025 match be played?

The England Champions vs Pakistan Champions WCL 2025 match will be played on Friday, July 18.

Where will the England Champions vs Pakistan Champions WCL 2025 match be played?

The England Champions vs Pakistan Champions WCL 2025 match will be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

What time will the England Champions vs Pakistan Champions WCL 2025 match start?

The England Champions vs Pakistan Champions WCL 2025 match will start at 9 PM IST.

Which TV channels will broadcast the England Champions vs Pakistan Champions WCL 2025 match?

The England Champions vs Pakistan Champions WCL 2025 match will be broadcast live on Star Sports.

Where to follow the live streaming of the England Champions vs Pakistan Champions WCL 2025 match?

The England Champions vs Pakistan Champions WCL 2025 match will be streamed live on FanCode.

(All the details are as per the information provided by the broadcaster)

(With IANS Inputs)

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For 1st Time Since Covid, More Than Half Of Top US Companies Junk WFH

For the first time since the pandemic upended work life five years ago, more than half the companies in the Fortune 100 have their employees fully back in the office, according to a report from real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. 

Hybrid schedules, which two years ago were offered by 78% of the 100 largest US companies by revenue, are now available at just 41% of them, while the share of Fortune 100 firms requiring full-time office attendance has jumped to 54% from 5%.

The shift to an in-office majority is helping to reshape the commercial real estate market. Office attendance in April and May was up 1.3% versus the same period last year, and the most desirable buildings are commanding record prices. JLL notes that "trophy buildings across Miami, New York City, San Francisco and other markets captured all-time high rents," with new construction asking $92.38 per square foot, the highest on record. 

At the same time, with vacancies hovering above 22%, developers are pulling older buildings off the market. According to JLL, national office inventory declined by 700,000 square feet last quarter, as demolitions and conversions, mainly to residential, industrial or mixed-use developments, outpaced new construction. 

The return of employees helps justify costly office leases in premium buildings. Among the 10 largest Fortune 100 companies, seven now require at least four days a week in-person, with the other three demanding full-time attendance, JLL found. According to the report, the average in-office requirement of the Fortune 100 rose to 3.8 days per week in the second quarter of 2025 from 2.6 days in the second quarter of 2023. 

Amazon.com Inc. started prepping corporate staff in 2024 to return fully to in-person work by January. JPMorgan Chase & Co. announced on Jan. 10 that it was ending its hybrid-work option, too. More recently, Starbucks Corp. announced it will require corporate employees to work in the office four days a week starting Sept. 29, and remote managers were told they must relocate to Seattle or Toronto within a year. Workers who opt to leave will be given a one-time cash exit offer, based on documents seen by Bloomberg News.

The office mandates haven't been without their ups and downs for big employers, several of which had to regroup after running out of space for all of their returning workers. The trend is clear, though. After years of uncertainty, companies are tightening expectations and reasserting control over where work happens, and the era of hybrid work being the dominant option has come to a close. Executives are calling people back - and this time, they mean it.

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"These Are Not 2 People On Tinder Date": Expert Defends Dreamliner Pilots

Serious pilots in India who are closely watching the unfolding events linked to the investigation into the crash of Air India's Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner are upset about the whole situation due to a perceived slant towards blaming the pilots, a top aviation expert and a pilot himself told NDTV on Thursday.

Captain Sam Thomas, who heads the Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA India), said two things are bothering serious experts who have been tracking the investigation - speculation, and alleged absence of any qualified expert in the report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

"As far as speculation is concerned, we are okay with the media speculating. We believe speculation is a good part of investigative journalism. However, we object to pilots or so-called pilots or so-called experts who came on board and speculate," Mr Thomas told NDTV.

"On day one, they said it's a bird hit. On day two, they said it's an overloaded airplane. On day three, they said something else. What we are objecting to is why did you call them on day four? You called them on day five, six, till such time that they insinuated this is something the captain has done with a motive to end his own life, which is farthest from the truth," Mr Thomas said.

He said they don't believe the report "is completely Indian controlled", that it seemed like "a dictated sort of letter".

"And you released that in the middle of the night. You cannot even get the full form of FADEC correctly. And you cannot get the issue date of [pilot] Sumit's licence correct. How do I expect you to go through the entire report? I don't want to see past those three lines. And you have released one line selectively at the order of somebody. Now, we don't know who said to whom. And there is a tonality to a conversation. These are not two people on a Tinder date. So please be responsible," Mr Thomas said.

He said they would like to go through the entire report or the digital flight data recorder (DFDR) to throw better light, rather than using people who are non-technical and from a non-civilian background.

On a report by the Wall Street Journal that appeared to question the pilot's actions, Mr Thomas said it is likely the American newspaper has been "fed that information".

"... And it's our fault. It's not their fault. If I were to be heading this committee, I would have sat there and given a piece of paper to each of those NTSB and Boeing investigators and said, 'sign this, whatever goes out of this room goes out through me and not through anybody else. If you cannot maintain that confidentiality, get out of here'," Mr Thomas said.

"[But] they have set the narrative in such a calculated manner that no matter what proof I give you, they will still nail the pilot. They have already done that. Half the world thinks that, and half the world thinks Indian pilots are morons. This has happened because of the shoddy investigation and the shoddy way things have proceeded in India."

He referred to the Boeing 737 MAX controversy over the MCAS-linked crashes.

"... With the 737 Max crash, what about the first crash? If you had woken up at that time and had a conscience, you would have said, hey, I need something to set my airplane. All right. You kept quiet. Unfortunately, the Ethiopian accident happened.

"Luckily, the Ethiopians were much more intelligent than all of us. They did their in-house investigation and that's when it came out that you could not avoid the existence of MCAS, which is a renegade system that crashes your airplane. So there are many, many vested interests, not just one. Let's not just look at the OEM or some investigating body. Everybody who is not telling the truth has something to gain. And this is the narrative that is being told," the veteran pilot told NDTV.

The Air India Boeing 787 crashed seconds after take-off from Ahmedabad airport, killing 260 people.

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ICC Punishes England For Slow Over-rate vs India, Shastri Says: "Focus On..."

With England being docked two points in the WTC rankings for slow over rate during their thrilling win at Lord's, former India head coach Ravi Shastri said the Ben Stokes-led side can make up for their points deduction if their focus remains on winning matches. On Wednesday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said two points have been cut from England's World Test Championship (WTC) tally and have been fined 10 per cent of their match fee. Subsequently, England's tally in the WTC standings has dropped from 24 to 22 out of 36 points, with their points percentage going from 66.67 per cent to 61.11 per cent.

As a result, England has slipped from second to third position in the WTC points table, with Sri Lanka now overtaking them to claim the second spot, and be just behind table toppers Australia.

In context of this, Shastri also pointed how in 2019-21 WTC cycle, Australia were docked four points for their ordinary over rate against India in the 2020 Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

“It hurts as Australia found out in the first cycle of the World Test Championship. They had a slow over rate against India and it cost them the second place and Zealand qualified for that final. So you've got to be fully aware about all this. There'll be certain games where they'll probably make up for it,” said Shastri in a video posted on ICC's Instagram account on Wednesday.

With this still happening at the nascent stage of their WTC cycle 2025-27, Shastri feels England will have a lot of chances to win games and get points which can offset the loss of those two points – starting from the fourth Test against India, which begins on July 23 in Manchester.

"But I think more than the over rate, you have to think of winning. If you focus on winning, then come the last six months, you can probably try and adjust, see how you can get those two points back or something of that sort. But you've got to win, that's more important. Because if you keep winning, that won't matter," he added.

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"Won't Keep A Single Rupee" Singer On Radhika Yadav's Music Video

Independent artiste Inaam Ul Haq, who featured in a music video with tennis player Radhika Yadav, today shared a post on Instagram about the backlash he has been receiving after her death. Ms Yadav was allegedly killed by her father, and as per one of the many theories around the motive of the murder, she was killed over the music video, 'Karwaan'. The claim was earlier rejected by Inaam, who said the 25-year-old told him that her father liked the music video.

Today, he shared that many people were saying that he is "gaining fame because of what happened to Radhika. That my song Karwaan is trending, and I'll earn from it."

The video went viral after Radhika Yadav's murder.

The singer said that he "will not keep a single rupee" from the money he would be earning from the song: "Whatever I receive from Karwaan - whether monthly royalties from or revenue, I won't keep a single rupee".

The video is by Inaam, produced by Zeeshan Ahmad and released under the LLF Records label a year ago.

He said every payment for the song will "go towards helping the poor, feeding the hungry, supporting the helpless, and doing something meaningful".

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"If even one sincere prayer comes from someone I've helped, and it brings peace to her soul, that's more than enough for me. This isn't about numbers. Not about fame. Just a small gesture in someone's memory," he said.

"I've always worked with honesty and respect. I never wanted attention this way. And I never will. Rest in peace, Radhika. You'll always be remembered," he added.

Earlier, Inam-ul-Haq, had said that he had no connection to her murder and had not been in touch with her after the video shoot.

Radhika Yadav was allegedly shot dead at point-blank range by her father Deepak Yadav at the family's double-storey home at Sushant Lok area in Sector 57, Gurugram on July 10.

He reportedly confessed to the police that he shot her because he was often taunted for living off her income.

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Blue Ink, White Trousers: UP Man Dies By Suicide, Leaves Note On His Pants

Disappointed and enraged by the actions of his wife's relatives and two police constables, who allegedly thrashed him and demanded money, a man in Uttar Pradesh died by suicide and left a note in an unusual place - written in blue ink on the white trousers he was wearing. 

On Monday, a woman from Farrukhabad's Chheda Nagla area complained to the police that her husband, Dilip Rajput, had thrashed her after getting drunk. According to the suicide note and a police complaint, when Dilip reached the police station with his father, constable Yashwant Yadav allegedly asked him to pay Rs 50,000 to "settle" the matter. Dilip refused and was thrashed. 

Following the beating, another constable, Mahesh Upadhyay, reduced the amount to Rs 40,000 and let Dilip go after he coughed it up.

On reaching home, Dilip wrote a note on the trousers he was wearing, detailing harassment by his wife's father Vanwari Lala, her brother, Raju, and his brother-in-law Rajnesh Rajput, as well as the two constables and their demand for money. He then hanged himself in his room.

When the family discovered Dilip's body and the suicide note on Tuesday morning, there was an uproar. They also tried to prevent the police from taking the body and demanded action against the constables.

Dilip and his wife, his uncle Jitendra said, had fought on Tuesday, and he had taken his wife to her maternal home. "His wife and relatives filed a complaint and he was picked up by the police. He was asked for a bribe of Rs 50,000 and beaten up by the police. They let him off only after Rs 40,000 was paid. He has detailed everything in the suicide note on his trousers"

In his complaint, Dilip's father said the constables thrashed him at the behest of his wife's family. 

Superintendent of Police Arti  Singh said, "A complaint about a husband beating up a wife was submitted yesterday and the wife's relatives also reached the police station. We helped both sides arrive at a compromise. The man reached his house and died by suicide. In the post-mortem report, no injuries have been found on his body. In a complaint, the man's family has named three of his wife's relatives and two constables. An FIR has been filed. An investigation is underway and strict action will be taken."

(With inputs by Shiv Kumar Mishra)

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Dravid's Son Samit Goes Unsold In T20 League Auction, Padikkal Top Buy At...

The fourth edition of the Maharaja Trophy KSCA (Karnataka State Cricket Association) T20 auction saw Indian international batter Devdutt Padikkal lead the charts as the most expensive player of the day, picked up by the Hubli Tigers for Rs 13.20 lakh. Abhinav Manohar and Manish Pandey followed closely behind, attracting bids of Rs 12.20 lakh each from the Hubli Tigers and Mysuru Warriors, respectively. Among the bowlers, Shivamogga Lions went big for pacer Vidwath Kaverappa at Rs 10.80 lakh, while Bengaluru Blasters shelled out Rs 8.30 lakh for strike bowler Vidyadhar Patil, underlining the premium on wicket-takers this season, as per a press release from KSCA.

Earlier, it was reported that Rahul Dravid's son Samit was part of Category C, designated for junior state players, in the auction. However, in the final list of sold players he was absent.

pic.twitter.com/XlGFlFIJ1X

— Karnataka Sports Fans (@karnataka_sport) July 15, 2025

Mysuru Warriors placed a strong emphasis on all-rounders with the addition of K Gowtham for 4.40 lakh, while Yashovardhan Parantap was roped in for 2.00 lakh. The Warriors further bolstered their bowling with the signing of last season's joint leading wicket-taker Kumar LR (1.50 lakh), left-arm spinner Shikhar Shetty for a hefty 4.70 lakh, pacer Venkatesh M (2.00 lakh), and Gowtham Mishra (2.25 lakh) as well. They further reinforced the top order with promising wicketkeeper-batter Harshil Dharmani (3.20 lakh).

Bengaluru Blasters had a slow start with no signings in Category A. Their first move came with the acquisition of Chethan LR for 5.10 lakh, a notable pick, having fetched the highest price in last season's auction. They secured strike bowler Vidyadhar Patil for 8.30 lakh. They continued to stack their batting with the fluent Rohan Patil (2.70 lakh) and spent big on spin by securing Rohan Naveen for 4.25 lakh, followed by the exciting 16-year-old Madhav Prakash Bajaj for 3.15 lakh.

Hubli Tigers, holding the biggest purse going into the day, made big moves with the signings of Padikkal and Abhinav Manohar. The experienced Mohammad Taha was brought in to strengthen the top order for 4.60 lakh, while young pacer Samarth Nagaraj joined the ranks for 3.20 lakh.

Gulbarga Mystics targeted key roles with precision. They brought in wicketkeeper-batter KV Siddharth for 6.10 lakh to shore up the middle order and added right-arm fast bowler Monish Reddy for 4.65 lakh, giving their pace unit a boost. The Mystics were the most active in the final phase of the auction, scooping up last season's top wicket-taker, Lavish Kaushal, for 7.75 lakh and Nikin Jose for 1 Lakh.

Shivamogga Lions also made a significant investment in young all-rounder Aneeshwar Gautam for 8.20 lakh. They reinforced their squad with the addition of experienced Anirudha Joshi (3.60 lakh), and leg-spinner Deepak Devadiga (1.20 lakhs).

Mangaluru Dragons were active from the outset, leading their haul with the high-profile signing of Shreyas Gopal for 8.60 lakh. They showed faith in Melu Kranthi Kumar, splashing 5.60 lakh on the all-rounder. They reinforced their bowling with seasoned pacer Ronit More (3.40 lakh) and Abhishek Prabhakar for 3.07 lakh and also added batting options in Sharath BR (2.20 lakh) and Shivraj S (6.55 lakh). They brought in wicketkeeper Adarsh Prajwal for 3.25 lakh, rounding off their haul.

Each team will make two more additions to their squads with players from their respective catchment areas. The players marked with (*) are retained players.

Mysore Warriors Squad: Karthik S U* (0.50 lakh), Karthik CA* (4.20 lakh), Prasidh Krishna* (2.00 lakh), Karun Nair* (6.80 lakh), Manish Pandey (12.20 lakh), Gowtham K (4.40 lakh), Yashovardhan Parantap (2.00 lakh), Venkatesh M (2.00 lakh), Harshil Dharmani (3.20 lakh), Lankesh KS (0.50 lakh), Kumar LR (1.50 lakh), Goutham Mishra (2.25 lakh), Shikhar Shetty (4.70 lakh), Sumit Kumar (1.00 lakh), Dhanush Gowda (0.50 lakh), Kushaal M Wadhwani (0.50 lakh), Sharath Srinivas (1.00 lakh), Shamanth SM (0.50 lakh)

Bengaluru Blasters Squad: Mayank Agarawal* (14.00 lakh), Shubhang Hegde* (4.30 lakh), Suraj Ahuja* (1.00 lakh), Naveen MG* (2.30 lakh), A Rohan Patil (2.70 lakh), Chetan L R (5.10 lakh), Mohsin Khan (1.00 lakh), Vidyadhar Patil (8.30 lakh), Siddharth Akhil (0.50 lakh), Madhav Prakash Bajaj (3.15 lakh), Rohan Naveen (4.25 lakh), Kruthik Krishna (0.50 lakh), Advith M Shetty (0.25 lakh), Bhuvan Mohan Raju (0.25 lakh), Rohan M Raju (0.25 lakh), Niranjan Naik (0.25 lakh), Prateek Jain (1.00 lakh), Ishaan S (0.50 lakh)

Gulbarga Mystics: Luvnith Sisodia* (7.20 lakh), Pravin Dubey* (6.80 lakh), Vyshak V* (8.80 lakh), Smaran R* (3.15 lakh), Siddharth KV (6.10 lakh), Monish Reddy (4.65 lakh), Lavish Kaushal (7.75 lakh), Prithviraj (0.69 lakh), Harsha Wardhan Khuba (0.25 lakh), Sheetal Kumar (0.25 lakh), Jasper EJ (0.50 lakh), Mohith BA (0.50 lakh), Faizan Raiz (0.25 lakh), Sourab M Muttur (0.25 lakh), SJ Nikin Jose (1.00 lakh), Prajwal Pavan (0.50 lakh), Younus Ali Baig (0.25 lakh), Likhit M Bannur (0.80 lakh)

Hubli Tigers Squad: Manvanth Kumar L* (1.00 lakh), Shrijith KL* (2.10 lakh), KC Cariappa * (4.20 lakh), Karthikeya KP* (1.20 lakh), Abhinav Manohar (12.20 lakh), Devdutt Padikkal (13.20 lakh), Mohammed Taha (4.60 lakh), Vijayaraj B (0.50 lakh), Prakhar Chaturvedi (0.50 lakh), Sankalp SS (0.50 lakh), Samarth Nagaraj (3.20 lakh), Rakshith S (0.50 lakh), Nithin Shanthaveri Nagaraja (0.25 lakh), Yash Raj Punja (0.25 lakh), Ritesh L Bhatkal (1.00 lakh), Shreesha S Achar (1.05 lakh), Nathan Joachim Francis Dmello (0.25 lakh), Nischith Pai (0.50 lakh)

Shivamogga Lions Squad: Vasuki Koushik * (5.90 lakh), Nihal Ullal* (2.10 lakh), Hardik Raj* (5.80 lakh), Avinash D* (5.40 lakh), Vidwath Kaverappa (10.80 lakh), Anirudha Joshi (3.60 lakh), Aneeshwar Gautam (8.20 lakh), Dhruv Prabhakar (0.50 lakh), Sanjay Ashwin C (0.50 lakh), Anand Doddamani (0.50 lakh), Sahil Sharma (0.25 lakh), Deepak Devadiga (1.20 lakh), Bharath Dhuri (0.25 lakh), Rohit Kumar K (0.25 lakh), Tushar Singh (1.05 lakh), Darshan MB (1.10 lakh), Maribasava Chandrashekhar Gowda (0.25 lakh), Sireesh Balgaar (0.25 lakh)

Mangaluru Dragons Squad: Paras Gurbax Arya* (0.50 lakh), Macneil Hadley Noronha* (5.00 lakh), Lochan S Gowda* (0.55 lakh), Abhilash Shetty* (6.30 lakh), Sharath BR (2.20 lakh), Ronit More (3.40 lakh), Shreyas Gopal (8.60 lakh), Melu Kranthi Kumar (5.60 lakh), Sachin Shinde (1.00 lakh), Aneesh KV (1.00 lakh), Thippa Reddy (0.80 lakh), Aaditya Nair (1.10 lakh), Aadarsh Prajwal (3.25 lakh), Abhishek Prabhakar (3.07 lakh), Shivaraj S (6.55 lakh), Pallav Kumar Das (1.00 lakh).

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Five Reasons Why India Lost To England In The Third Test At Lord's

Ravindra Jadeja raised India's hopes at Lord's in the third Test on Monday after the team went eight down. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj gave him brave support but England had the last laugh. Ben Stokes' men trumped India after five days of gripping and absorbing Test cricket. England were put on course for a memorable win on Day 5 when Stokes and Archer picked three wickets, including of Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul, in the first hour, before Woakes took out Nitish Kumar Reddy at the stroke of lunch.

Then Jadeja launched a gritty fight back. But, England survived the onslaught to seal a stunning 22-run win over India at Lord's and take a 2-1 lead in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series.

Here are five reasond where the match was lost by India:

1.    Approach towards chasing 193

India had to chase 193 in the final innings, on the final day, but they came out with a defensive approach. Their shot selection had the English bowlers dominate. Archer and Stokes picked up three wickets each in the second innings. While Jadeja gave India a push for a win at the other end, and KL Rahul displayed intent by scoring 39, none of the other batters survived against the relentlessness of the English pace battery. 

2.    Pant Rahul mix up
Vice Captain Rishabh Pant has had a great series. He scored 74 in the first innings. But a moment of madness saw him involved in a totally unnecessary run out. KL Rahul had admitted that momentum had shifted at that moment when Pant was gone, India 248/4. 

3.    India's top order & Nightwatchman fail to impress

India's opener and No.3 failed to give India a good start. Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 13 and 0, while Karun Nair got starts but failed to convert them into big scores. Nair is yet to impress in the series. India's strategy of sending Akash Deep as the nightwatchman backfired.   

4.    Jamie Smith's drop in 1st innings

When Jamie Smith was dropped by KL Rahul in the first innings, Md Siraj was stunned. The English wicket-keeper added 51 runs from 56 balls as England went from 265/5 to 355/7 

5.    Extras Conceded:
The Indian bowlers conceded 31 extras in the first innings and 32 in the second. A total of 63 extras were gifted, that hurt India in the end 
 

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