Launching a broadside against the BJP, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin on Saturday charged the saffron party with indulging in a hate campaign to tarnish the image of the state so as to reap electoral dividends in the northern states.

“Unable to digest the rapid strides Tamil Nadu has made in development, the BJP is indulging in a hate campaign against the state with the sole intention of reaping electoral dividends in the northern states. Union Ministers themselves are engaging in spreading this hatred with vehemence. However, this has boomeranged, with YouTubers coming to our defence on learning the great strides that Tamil Nadu and the south is making in growth and development. They are posting videos on Tamil Nadu being distinct and the south leapfrogging in the economic development of the country,” he said at a government function to inaugurate completed projects and lay the foundation for new ones in Tiruvannamalai district.

“The Dravidian Model government has earned the goodwill of even those who have not voted for the DMK. On the contrary, the tyrannical BJP-led Union government is being trashed even by its diehard supporters for ethanol-mixed petrol, toxic air pollution in the national capital Delhi, the rupee’s downward slide, statues and bridges built by BJP governments collapsing in a few days,” he said, adding, “The BJP-led Union government seldom considers any demands and disregards fair criticism.”

Turning his ire at the Modi government, he accused it of erasing the name of Gandhiji from the MGNREGA scheme and dismantling it altogether.

“Tiruvannamalai is a district with more villages than any other district, and agriculture is the only occupation. It is these people who understand the importance of the 100-day work programme. But the Union BJP government is scripting the epitaph for it. The MGNREGA has succeeded in eradicating poverty and in enhancing monetary circulation. Not only has Gandhiji’s name been erased, but the programme as people’s right has been taken away. Having gradually wrecked it over the last 10 years, they have finally put an end card. We are opposing it both in Parliament and in the people’s fora,” he said, and accused AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami of supporting the VB-G RAMG act that replaced the MGNREGA even though he claims to be hailing from a farmer’s family. The AIADMK had voted in favour of the legislation in the Rajya Sabha, he pointed out.

The Chief Minister also lashed out at Governor RN Ravi, terming him a person working against the Tamils and the state. “He (Ravi) has been sent here with the sole purpose of giving trouble and placing stumbling blocks. And there are also traitors of Tamil Nadu and slaves who have surrendered themselves. Overcoming these challenges, the Dravidian Model has succeeded,” Stalin said.

Recalling that Tiruvannamalai has given the DMK its first MP, he expressed confidence that with the support of the people, Dravidian Model government 2.0 will come to power in the coming assembly election.

England captain Ben Stokes labelled the Boxing Day Test win at the MCG a “pretty special feeling” after his side finally brought an end to a 15-year wait for a Test victory on Australian soil.

England held their nerve to chase down a challenging fourth-innings target on a difficult surface, though Stokes admitted the final stretch was anything but easy. “Yeah, amazing feeling. 10 runs has never felt so far away, when I got out. I didn’t want to come back into the dressing room and watch the TV on the delay. So yeah, awesome feeling.

“Been on a couple of tours before where it has not gone too well, so to end up on the right side of the result after a long period of time is a pretty special feeling.”

The magnitude of the moment was evident when the entire squad walked out of the dressing room to savour the closing stages together, marking the end of a long and frustrating drought.

“We, at the end there when all the boys came out of the dressing room and had a little hug there and we’re like, finally, finally we’ve won one. So, yeah, good feeling,” Stokes said.

On a pitch that kept bowlers interested throughout the match, England opted for an aggressive approach in the chase, a call Stokes felt was unavoidable against Australia’s attack. “There was only one way of going about, chasing that, that tally down which was to, to go out there and, and try and put the pressure on from ball one.”

Stokes credited openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett for laying the platform, describing their 51-run stand as central to the successful pursuit. “When Zak and Ben started building a partnership the field started to go back and then we were able to rotate (the strike).

“It wasn’t just the boundaries that were allowing us to take that total down. It was the ones and twos and the running between the wickets,” he explained.

England’s adaptability was further highlighted by the decision to promote Brydon Carse to No.3, a move aimed at countering the threat of the new ball on a testing surface. “That wicket was very tricky, especially with a newer ball… we went with the idea of sending someone who’s got talent with a bat. Even if he gets a quick 20-30, that’s massive in a very small run chase.”

Although the plan did not fully pay off, Stokes felt it helped ease the pressure on Jacob Bethell, whose brisk 40 off 26 balls proved vital. “I was very impressed watching him construct that innings in the way that he did.”

Stokes also singled out Bethell’s bravery, particularly his intent to disrupt the bowlers, noting the impact of his strokeplay straight after the Tea break. “You have got to be brave and courageous in the way that you play the game, especially on a wicket like that.

“You don’t underestimate the impact that a certain shot or a certain intent has on a bowler.”

Beyond the result itself, Stokes said the victory carried special meaning for a squad that blends senior players such as Joe Root with younger faces like Josh Tongue and Bethell. “We will all share that same satisfaction, of winning a game out here and adding to it that it was a Boxing Day Test match which is a very, very big sporting event that we’re lucky enough to be able to play in.

“We’re very proud and bosomed that we have managed to get this (win),” he added.

Stokes also praised the efforts of England’s bowling unit, which has continued to adapt despite the absence of experienced quicks at different stages of the tour. “I have been very pleased with the moments in games where different bowlers have been able to stand up. I thought this week we (bowling attack) were very, very good.”

Josh Tongue, who claimed seven wickets across the match and was named player of the match, earned particular praise from the skipper. “He’s just got that natural wicket-taking ability that is so hard to come by. He should be very, very proud of the way that he’s operated this game. Bowled some long, big spells, and he’s also backed it up.”

Despite the historic nature of the triumph, Stokes stressed that England’s focus would quickly shift to the final Test in Sydney.

“We’re not going to let the feeling of this victory flow on further than it needs to. We’ll be going into Sydney with the exact same mindset that we had towards this game, which is to win another game of cricket,” he said.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma reassured that not even a single new mining lease would be granted to any one in the Aravallis, reaffirming his government’s full commitment to protecting and conserving the oldest mountain range of India.

Presiding over a high-level joint review meeting of the officers of the Environment, Forests, Mining and the Police Departments, Sharma said, “Any activity, including illegal mining, that might harm Aravallis, ecology, environment, fauna or flora to even slightest extent, would not be tolerated or allowed.”

The chief minister had directed officials to carry out a joint campaign by joint teams of all the concerned departments for curbing and preventing bid of illegal mining or other prohibited and harmful activities along the entire mountain range in the state.

The state government has also prepared a Green Aravallis Development Project of Rs 250 crore that would work on the massive afforestation (plantation) in 3200 hectares in 15 Aravallis districts of the state.

Despite categorically repeated assurances from the Chief Minister Sharma, NGOs and activists and leaders of non BJP opposition parties were apprehensive in the aftermath of the November 20 Supreme Court verdict that allowed mining in mountains with peak height of less than 100-mtr.

The worries grow further in the wake of allegations by experts from different walks of life, including ex-CM Ashok Gehlot, Waterman of India Dr Rajendra Singh and PUCL president Kavita Srivastava about the process or grant of new leases in November-December 2025.

The PUCL on Friday claimed, quoting an order, that around 50 mines were in the process of auction. “There is the list of 50 mines now put up for auction by the mining department of the GoR on 2nd December. Despite SC orders saying a NO to all mining leases till the sustainable management action plan is not made”, the NGO stated.

Accordingly, agitations by various groups are continuing in different districts.

The vandalism of Christmas-themed decorations at a prominent mall in Raipur on December 24 has triggered a sharp law-and-order and political debate in Chhattisgarh, with police arresting seven accused amid heightened communal sensitivity in the state.

Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma said action against those involved is ongoing and warned that any attempt to disturb public order would be dealt with firmly.

According to the police, a group of more than two dozen youths entered the mall on Christmas Eve and targeted decorations put up to mark the festival, damaging property and creating panic among visitors.

Telibandha police arrested seven accused on the third day after the incident; they have been sent to jail or a juvenile home, depending on their age.

Raipur Deputy Inspector General and Senior Superintendent of Police Lal Umed Singh said the accused have been booked under non-bailable provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for offences including unlawful entry, verbal abuse, and vandalism.

“Preliminary investigation suggests there was no external instigation or directive. The accused acted collectively,” he said, adding that CCTV footage from the mall had captured the entire episode. The mall is located less than a kilometre from the nearest police station and along the Raipur–Kolkata national highway.

Viral videos from the incident showed more than 20 youths, some carrying sticks, prompting fear among shoppers, particularly women, while security staff were outnumbered and unable to intervene effectively. Witnesses were seen seeking help on their mobile phones as the vandalism unfolded.

The incident drew a strong reaction from Leader of the Opposition Charandas Mahant, who said Chhattisgarh has a long tradition of celebrating festivals together and demanded swift arrests and exemplary punishment to deter similar acts. While arrests did not take place within 24 hours, police action on the third day was cited by the Opposition as a step in the right direction, with more arrests expected.

The Congress also linked the Raipur mall incident to violence earlier this month in Amabeda village of Kanker district. State Congress president Deepak Baij alleged that recent incidents reflected governance failures and growing political polarisation, claiming that law and order had broken down for several days in Kanker.

He also questioned why a proposed law against religious conversion, repeatedly described as ready, was not introduced during the winter session of the Assembly.

On the administrative front, Kanker Superintendent of Police Nikhil Rakhecha said two FIRs have been registered in connection with the Amabeda violence and that a memorandum submitted by local representatives is under examination.

“All allegations will be investigated and legal action will be taken after due verification,” he said.

BJP spokesperson Devlal Thakur said the bandh linked to the protests was called by “Sarva Samaj” organisations and argued that tribal communities were asserting their constitutionally guaranteed rights.

Police said investigations are continuing to determine whether the mall vandalism was an isolated incident or part of a wider pattern linked to recent unrest.

Authorities stressed that maintaining public order and protecting citizens’ right to celebrate festivals peacefully would remain a top priority as the state navigates a sensitive period.

Uttar Pradesh BJP President Pankaj Chaudhary paid his respects at the world-famous Thakur Banke Bihari Temple and performed prayers according to religious rituals on Saturday.

This was the first visit of the state BJP president to Mathura-Vrindavan after assuming the new charge.

After the darshan (viewing of the deity), Choudhury, who is also the Union minister of state for finance addressed the media and gave a strong reaction to the upcoming assembly elections and the statements of Opposition leaders.

Speaking to reporters outside the temple premises, Chaudhary expressed confidence, saying the blessings of the people are with the Bharatiya Janata Party. He claimed that “in the 2027 assembly elections, the BJP will once again form its government in Uttar Pradesh with a massive majority.”

He cited the development work and law and order as the main basis for his victory.

The BJP state president took a exception to the recent separate meeting of Brahmins and the issues raised by them. He clearly stated that such caste-based meetings and activities are against the party’s Constitution. He said in a stern tone, “No one is above party discipline, and a clear warning has been given to those participating in such meetings.”

His indication was that no factionalism or caste-based mobilization within the party would be tolerated.

Dismissing SP leader Shivpal Yadav’s statement about bringing Brahmins into his party, he said, “Everyone knows how many Brahmins Shivpal Yadav gave tickets to in the 2022 elections.”

As regards the SIR process or other election-related technical questions, he briefly stated that all this is part of a fixed process of the Election Commission and the party is working within the rules.

In the light of the recent devastating natural calamities in J&K, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday urged the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) to prioritise research into advanced early-warning systems for cloudbursts, landslides, and flash floods.

Addressing the 11th Convocation Ceremony of SMVDU, the Lieutenant Governor entrusted the university to provide scientific solutions for the challenges being faced by the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir.

The LG spoke about the necessity of shifting from the outdated, rote learning system to a more modern and skill-based learning approach to meet the demands of an evolving world.

“Our endeavour should be to reduce the curriculum load and develop adaptable skills for future jobs. Even if a single student from any higher education institution is unemployed or has not set up his or her enterprise, it clearly indicates that the educational institution and its teachers have not fulfilled their responsibilities honestly,” he said.

He called upon the students to create new paths in life, give new direction to life, explore new aspects, and suggest new ways for the prosperity of the nation.

The Lieutenant Governor outlined five solutions to keep pace with technological change and the demands of the 21st-century workforce.

“Integrate artificial intelligence into teaching, learning, and university operations, and adopt new technological tools on a priority basis. Shift from rote learning to a lifelong, flexible, and skill-focused learning model. Develop strong partnerships with industry and other institutions. The focus must be on experiential learning. Humanities students, in particular, need to understand that in a world dominated by artificial intelligence, the importance of things that machines cannot provide will increase. Focus should be on innovation, research, and social service, cutting-edge research, and to offer solutions to local problems,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

He highlighted the responsibility of the teaching community to study and analyse the impact of rapid advancements in science, humanities, and technology on human civilisation. He stressed that classroom methodologies must evolve to synchronise with these shifts, ensuring they drive both economic development and social progress.

He further emphasised the importance of sustainable infrastructure and called for dedicated research on the recycling and reuse of road and construction materials.

The Lieutenant Governor asked the university to redesign the courses for Dogri and Vedic studies to make these subjects more engaging and contemporary to attract more students.

He praised the Board’s ongoing commitment to cultural preservation through its support to institutions dedicated to Sanskrit and Vedic education.

During the convocation, 821 degrees were awarded, including 228 Master’s, 26 Doctorates, and 567 Undergraduate degrees. Medals were also conferred on 25 (7 male and 18 female) meritorious students. A total of 10 students (4 male and 6 female) received the Infosys Foundation Prize for Excellence, while Certificates of Distinction were awarded to 11 students.

Prof. (Dr.) Pragati Kumar, Vice Chancellor of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, also presented the university report on the occasion.

Jharkhand BJP president and Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi on Friday mounted a fresh attack on the Hemant Soren government, demanding that the Cabinet proposal related to the Panchayat Provisions (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act be made public without delay.

Addressing reporters, Marandi questioned why the Hemant Soren government was hesitant to place the Cabinet-approved proposal in the public domain. He said the reluctance raised doubts about whether certain provisions were being withheld from the people. According to him, while the government was projecting the Cabinet approval as a major achievement and facilitating public celebrations, it had failed to clearly explain the contents of the proposal.

He argued that PESA directly concerns tribal communities, their traditional institutions, customs and systems of self-governance. Yet the very communities for whom the law is meant remained unaware of its actual provisions. At present, both the public and elected representatives were relying largely on media reports for information, he added. He urged the government to release the full text of the proposal to avoid confusion and misinformation.

Raising a separate issue, the BJP leader reiterated his party’s demand that urban local body elections be conducted on a party basis. He maintained that party-based elections encourage accountability and allow committed workers of political parties to serve people more effectively within the constitutional framework. Non-party elections, he alleged, tend to promote muscle and money power, which is unhealthy for democracy.

Commenting on the party’s internal deliberations, BJP Jharkhand in-charge and MP Laxmikant Vajpayee said the meeting held earlier in the day was purely organisational in nature. He said discussions focused on organisational matters and upcoming programmes, adding that senior leaders regularly meet to review party policies and activities.

Former chief minister Arjun Munda also criticised the government for not making the Cabinet decision public even after approving the PESA-related proposal. He described the delay as unfortunate and stressed that the PESA framework is rooted in customary traditions and governance systems of Scheduled Areas. Munda said the Act seeks to protect and promote ancient traditions of self-rule and should therefore be transparently placed before the people. He, too, called for the Cabinet-approved proposal to be released in the public domain at the earliest.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for replacing Mahatma Gandhi NREGA with the VB-G Ram G scheme, calling it a “devastating attack” on the states and the poor people of the country.

Addressing a press conference in Delhi after the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, he claimed that Prime Minister Modi single-handedly destroyed the MGNREGA scheme without consulting his Cabinet. “This has been destroyed single-handedly by the Prime Minister without asking his Cabinet, without studying the matter. This is an attack on the states of India because they are simply taking away money that belongs to the state, decision-making power that belongs to the state,” he said.

Equating the VB-G RAM G scheme with the demonetisation, the Congress leader said scrapping the UPA-era rural employment guarantee scheme was an attack on the infrastructure of the states. He said Congress would launch a nationwide mass movement from January 5 to defend the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who accompanied Rahul Gandhi during the presser, said MGNREGA was “not just a welfare programme but a right to work granted by the Constitution of India”.

He added that the party would “democratically oppose every conspiracy to remove Mahatma Gandhi’s name from MGNREGA”.

Kharge accused the Narendra Modi government of weakening and effectively dismantling MGNREGA, describing it as a “deliberate and cruel assault” on the poor.

He alleged that the government had scrapped the law without consultation or evaluation, leaving crores of vulnerable people without employment support. Kharge said the move amounted to an attack on the constitutional right to work under Article 41 of the Directive Principles of State Policy and an insult to Mahatma Gandhi.

The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh has been completed, revealing that the names of nearly 28.9 million voters were either unresponsive or failed to submit their enumeration forms.

The exercise has triggered strong political reactions, with the opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) claiming that the large-scale deletion of voter names would severely impact the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2027 Assembly elections.

SP president Akhilesh Yadav, while targeting the ruling party, said, “The Chief Minister himself claims that 85–90 per cent of his own voters have been cut. If 85 per cent are removed, it means a loss of around 61,000 votes in each assembly constituency. In such a situation, how can the BJP form a government? It will not even be able to reach double digits. The BJP leadership has dug a pit for itself and fallen into it.”

Although there were rumours that the deadline for submitting enumeration forms would be extended for a third time, the Election Commission of India (ECI) did not grant any further extension.

According to the official schedule, the draft electoral roll will be published on December 31. The period for filing claims and objections will run from December 31, 2025, to January 30, 2026. The disposal of claims and objections will take place between December 31, 2025, and February 21, 2026. The final electoral roll for Uttar Pradesh will be published on February 28, 2026.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa stated on Saturday, “Before the implementation of the SIR, there were a total of 154.4 million registered voters in the state. The first phase of enumeration and digitization was completed on December 26, and so far, 28.9 million voters have been found unresponsive. The final figures and draft list will be released on December 31.”

According to official sources, out of the total unresponsive voters, 12.6 million have permanently migrated outside Uttar Pradesh, 4.595 million have passed away, 2.332 million are duplicate entries, 8.42 million are untraceable, and 9.37 million voters did not submit their forms.

Sources further revealed that the 15-day extension granted for submitting enumeration forms resulted in the addition of approximately two lakh voters across the state.

Meanwhile, in the state capital Lucknow, prior to the SIR exercise, the district had around 39.85 lakh registered voters. After the revision, nearly 11 lakh names were excluded, leaving approximately 28.85 lakh voters currently listed in the electoral rolls.

The BJP on Saturday accused the Congress of aligning with what it described as “anti-India” forces, citing recent comments made by Indian Overseas Congress Chairman Sam Pitroda regarding the party’s association with the Global Progressive Alliance, making yet another attack on Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi after his Germany visit.

Addressing the media, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi referred to Pitroda’s remarks about Rahul Gandhi’s participation in a Global Progressive Alliance conference during his recent visit to Germany. Describing Pitroda as “long-time adviser to Rahul Gandhi and a key influence on his political thinking” who also advised his late father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Trivedi said Pitroda had “unintentionally revealed” Congress’s true ideological position.
According to the BJP leader, Pitroda disclosed that Rahul Gandhi was part of the alliance’s presidium, while he himself was a member. Alleging that the GPA promotes narratives harmful to India’s interests, Trivedi questioned whether the Congress had become part of what he termed a larger “anti-India global conspiracy,” asking it to clarify its position and explain its association with international groups “critical of India”.

“After Sam Pitroda’s statement, I want to ask the Congress party: Have they become a member of the anti-India global conspiracy? Have they become a member of the nefarious nexus of anti-India global forces?” he added.

Pitroda made the remarks during an interview while explaining Rahul Gandhi’s absence from the winter session of Parliament. He said Gandhi had prior commitments to attend the Progressive Alliance conference, which had been scheduled months in advance.

The GPA is described as an international network of progressive, social democratic, socialist, and labour-oriented political parties and organisations from around the world.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that sustained efforts by the state police over the last seven and a half years have significantly changed people’s perception about the state, establishing Uttar Pradesh as a strong example of the rule of law.

He said the work of the Uttar Pradesh Police is being appreciated not only across the country but also internationally.

The chief minister was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the two-day ‘Police Manthan’: Senior Police Officers Conference–2025’ at the Police Headquarters in Lucknow.

On the occasion, he also launched the ‘Yaksh’ app, aimed at improving beat policing and enhancing technological capabilities. Earlier, the chief minister was accorded a Guard of Honour.

Addressing senior police officers, CM Yogi said real achievements are reflected not through self-praise, but when the impact of work is visible on the ground and acknowledged by others. He noted that before 2017, law and order was a major challenge in the state, police training infrastructure was inadequate, and public perception about Uttar Pradesh was largely negative. However, sustained reforms have transformed the state into a new centre of competitiveness.

He highlighted that police training capacity has increased manifold due to infrastructure development, with training of over 60,000 police personnel currently underway at the state’s own training centres. He also pointed out major reforms such as the implementation of the police commissionerate system in seven districts, expansion of cyber policing, and strengthening of forensic infrastructure.

The chief minister said while there were only two cyber police stations in the state before 2017, cyber police stations have now been established in every district, along with cyber help desks in all police stations. He added that the number of Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs) has increased from four to twelve, with six more under construction. The Uttar Pradesh State Institute of Forensic Science, Lucknow, has emerged as a modern training hub at the national level.

CM Yogi further stated that specialized units like SDRF and UPSSF are functioning effectively. Model police stations with improved facilities have been developed. He also noted that the response time of UP PRV 112 has been reduced from 65 minutes to just 6–7 minutes, reflecting improved efficiency.
Emphasizing citizen-centric policing, the Chief Minister said that criminals now fear the police, but this fear must remain limited to criminals alone. Ordinary citizens should feel safe and develop respect and trust towards the police. He highlighted the success of the Safe City initiative, which has been implemented in 17 municipal corporations.

Earlier, Principal Secretary (Home) Sanjay Prasad said that under the chief minister’s leadership, a zero-tolerance policy against crime has been effectively implemented. He noted that police reforms have followed a multi-dimensional approach, including transparent and timely recruitment, infrastructure development, women beat policing, reservation for Agniveers in the police force, and strengthening preparedness against challenges like drugs, terrorism, and human trafficking.

Director General of Police Rajeev Krishna said on the occasion that unprecedented reforms have taken place in the police system since 2017.

Senior officers including Directors General, Additional Directors General, Inspectors General, and other senior police officials attended the event, while officers from various districts participated through virtual mode.

Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg admitted to a sleepless night after a dramatic opening day of the Boxing Day Test that saw 20 wickets tumble, even as a record crowd packed the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Despite 94,199 fans turning up on day one and another sell-out expected on day two, Greenberg acknowledged the growing concern within Cricket Australia over the financial impact of Tests that end too quickly. The anxiety stems from CA’s recent experience in Perth, where a two-day Test resulted in losses of around AUD 5 million, and the fear that a similarly shortened contest at the MCG could trigger another significant hit.

“I didn’t sleep well last night, put it that way,” Greenberg said while speaking to SEN ahead of Day 2 of the Test.

“It was an amazing day of Test cricket, so for that record number of people who were here, boy, they’ve had an experience. But our challenge is to make sure we can continue those experiences day after day. That’s the challenge for all of us,” he added.

Greenberg was candid when asked whether such a wicket-heavy day was problematic for the game. “The short answer for that in my opinion is yes.”

“As mesmerising and fascinating and enjoyable as it was to watch as a fan, we want Test cricket clearly to go for longer. A simple phrase I’d use is short Tests are bad for business. I can’t be much more blunt than that.

“So I would like to see a slightly broader balance between the bat and the ball. I thought yesterday slightly favoured the ball. The batters have some ownership in some of that, it’s not all around the pitch, but we’ve got some challenges,” he added.

While the spectacle thrilled those in attendance, the broader concern for administrators is sustainability. CA had hoped to capitalise on unprecedented demand across the Ashes series, with strong pre-sales across the first three days of the MCG Test despite the series already being decided. A match wrapped up inside six sessions, however, threatens to undermine those projections.

MCG pitch under scrutiny

The MCG surface has also come under scrutiny, with several former players-turned-pundits criticising the pitch for offering excessive assistance to seam bowlers. That criticism has sharpened focus on whether Cricket Australia should become more involved in pitch preparation to avoid ultra-short Tests.

“Historically, we have taken a hands-off approach in all of our wicket preparation and allowed the staff and the conditions and those characteristics to be presented,” Greenberg said. “But it’s hard not to get more involved when you see the impact on the sport, particularly commercially.

“I’m not suggesting we’re going to go around talking to groundstaff, but we do have to have a careful eye on what our expectations are over the course of a summer,” he added.

Not ideal: Ben Stokes

England captain Ben Stokes was blunt in his assessment of the MCG pitch, despite his team ending on the winning side. “Being brutally honest, that’s not really what you want,” Stokes said.

“Boxing Day Test match. You don’t want a game finishing in less than two days. Not ideal. But you can’t change it once you start the game and you’ve just got to play what’s in front of you.

“But I’m pretty sure if that was somewhere else in the world, there’d be hell on. Not the best thing for games that should be played over five days. But we played a type of cricket that ended up getting the job done,” he added.

On being asked if he was referring to what the reaction would be if a two-day Test had been played on a subcontinent pitch, Stokes did not give a direct response. However, when probed about his feedback of the pitch to the match referee, he said, “It won’t be the best.”

Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith offered a more diplomatic response on the nature of the wicket at the MCG, saying, “Obviously, it was a tricky one. Thirty-six wickets over two days, it probably offered just a little bit too much. It’s tough as a groundsman. I think he’s always looking for the right sort of balance, I suppose. Last year’s wicket was an outstanding one, it went to day five last session.”

“In an ideal world, every wicket does that and it’s exciting for everyone. But yeah, maybe if you took it from 10 [millimetres] to eight, it would have been a nice, challenging wicket, maybe a little bit more even, I suppose. But groundsmen are always learning and yeah, he’ll probably take something from that, no doubt,” he added.

Local police have filed another chargesheet in connection with the violence that broke out in the city on September 26, officials confirmed on Saturday.

A police officer said that the chargesheet was submitted on Friday before the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM).

According to the police, the latest chargesheet names 38 accused, including Maulana Tauqeer Raza, chief of the Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC), who has been described as the main accused in the case. The chargesheet alleges that during the violence, some people attacked a police team on the instructions of Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan and raised provocative slogans. It also states that one of the accused is a minor and two others are residents of Shahjahanpur.

Senior Superintendent of Police (City) Manush Parekh told the media that chargesheets have already been filed in 10 cases related to the violence in the city. An FIR registered at Baradari police station named Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan along with Mohammad Azam, Farhat Khan, Moeen Khan, Umed, Mustakeem, Arwaz, Nazim Raza Khan, Mohsin, and others among the 38 accused.

Parekh said on September 26, a total of 10 FIRs were registered at Baradari, Kotwali, Prem Nagar, Qila, and Cantt police stations, and two more cases were added later. “So far, chargesheets have been filed against more than 100 accused in 10 main cases. Of these, 87 are currently in jail, while investigations in two cases are still ongoing,” he added.

The violence reportedly erupted after Baradari police station inspector Dhananjay Pandey informed senior officers that a police team was attacked near Shahdana Road during a patrol. The police said following a call by Maulana Tauqeer Raza, a crowd attempted to march towards Islamia Ground and raised provocative slogans.

According to Parekh, when police personnel reached Shyamatganj bridge with additional force, around 200–250 people, including the named accused, allegedly attacked the police team again. The Crime Branch, led by Inspector Sanjay Dheer, investigated the case, resulting in the filing of the latest chargesheet. During the investigation, nine additional accused were identified and included, he added.

As many as 53 tribal labourers from Rajasthan’s Pratapgarh district were rescued from sugarcane fields in Maharashtra’s Solapur district, where they were allegedly working under bonded labour-like conditions.

Acting on a tip-off, a special team of the Pratapgarh police raided several places in Solapur to rescue the migrants, who were held captive and forced to work on sugarcane farms in prolonged and irregular shifts, Pratapgarh Superintendent of Police B. Aaditya said.

Speaking to media persons late on Friday night, the SP said the labourers were taken by middlemen on the assurance of higher wages. However, contrary to those assurances, they were taken to Maharashtra and subjected to atrocious working conditions, without wages and with inadequate and irregular food, the SP said.

After being informed of their plight, the police planned a special operation — “Operation Vishwas” — under which a team was sent to Solapur to free the labourers. All 53 labourers — 40 men and 13 women, along with two accompanying toddlers — have been brought back to Pratapgarh, the officer said, adding that “they are being escorted to their respective villages”.

It is alleged that the middleman took a substantial amount of money from the employers but did not pay wages to the labourers. A case of human trafficking and criminal conspiracy has been lodged against the perpetrators, SP Aditya added.

The Delhi Customs Zone has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting ease of doing business and advancing trade facilitation within the framework of law during the Customs Clearance Facilitation Committee (CCFC) meeting which was held in the national capital.

The CCFC meeting was convened by Delhi Customs here under the chairmanship of the Chief Commissioner of Customs, Delhi Zone.

The meeting brought together partner government agencies, including FSSAI, Plant Quarantine, and the Drug Controller, alongside trade associations such as the Customs Broker Fraternity, ASSOCHAM, and GJEPC.

Custodians, importers, exporters, and departmental officers also participated, reflecting the broad spectrum of stakeholders engaged in the Customs clearance ecosystem.

“During the deliberations, recent policy and digital initiatives introduced by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) were highlighted, with particular focus on their implementation framework within the Delhi Customs Zone,” the Ministry of Finance said on Saturday.

Stakeholders raised key operational issues which were constructively discussed, leading to actionable outcomes that will strengthen facilitation and improve efficiency.

The transparent and collaborative conduct of the meeting was widely appreciated, reinforcing confidence in Customs processes and enhancing coordination across the EXIM community.

The Delhi Customs Zone emphasised that the guiding motto of the Zone rests on the principles of Transparency, Accessibility, and Efficiency.

These values are not only central to the functioning of Customs but also serve as a foundation for building trust and ensuring that stakeholders feel empowered to engage openly with the administration.

Looking ahead, the Delhi Customs Zone underscored that ease of doing business is a continuous journey requiring sustained collaboration between Customs, partner agencies, custodians, and the trading community.

By embedding the principles of transparency in decision-making, accessibility in processes, and an open-door policy for dialogue and problem-solving, Delhi Customs aims to foster a culture of trust, efficiency, and shared responsibility.

The outcomes of the CCFC meeting mark another step forward in institutionalising these values and ensuring that the EXIM community remains confident in the facilitation framework.

Dhaka Capitals assistant coach Mahbub Ali Zaki passed away on Saturday after collapsing suddenly at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, minutes before his side’s opening Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match against Rajshahi Warriors.

Zaki, 59, fell to the ground during the team’s pre-match preparations. Medical staff and team officials immediately administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before he was rushed by ambulance to a hospital. He was later declared dead.

Despite the tragic incident, the match proceeded as scheduled, with players, coaches and match officials observing a minute’s silence in Zaki’s memory. The Bangladesh Cricket Board expressed its grief in an official statement.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board deeply mourns the passing of Mahbub Ali Zaki (59), specialist pace bowling coach of the BCB Game Development Department and assistant coach of Dhaka Capitals in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 2026,” a BCB statement read.

“He passed away today, December 27, in Sylhet at around 1:00 PM (afternoon). Mahbub Ali Zaki’s dedication and invaluable contribution to the development of fast bowling and Bangladesh cricket will be remembered with profound respect and gratitude.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board extends its deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and the entire cricketing fraternity at this time of immense loss,” the statement further read.

Zaki’s sudden collapse left those present at the ground in shock. Team officials revealed that he had not reported any health issues prior to the incident. As news spread through Bangladesh’s cricketing circles, players and officials from several BPL teams, including Sylhet Titans, Noakhali Express and Chattogram Royals, visited the hospital to pay their respects.

Zaki was a well-regarded figure in Bangladesh cricket, gaining wider recognition for his work with fast bowler Taskin Ahmed after the paceman’s bowling action came under scrutiny during the Men’s T20 World Cup in India in 2016.

A former fast bowler himself, Zaki represented Comilla district in the National Cricket Championship and also turned out for Abahani Limited, Bangladesh’s most successful club, in the Dhaka Premier League.

The Hyderabad Police have filed a chargesheet in the ‘Pushpa 2’ movie stampede case naming 23 individuals, including Telugu film star Allu Arjun. While the owners of the Sandhya Cinema were named as prime accused, the actor was named as accused number 11 in the chargesheet.

Last year, the stampede on the night of the release of Pushpa 2 led to the death of a woman and left her young son critically injured.

According to Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar, the investigation into the Sandhya 70mm Theatre stampede case was completed and a detailed chargesheet was filed before the court on 24 December. During investigations, the police found serious lapses in planning, crowd management, security arrangements on the part of the theatre management, private security personnel, and the event managers who failed to coordinate among themselves.

The police used the testimonies of eye-witnesses and CCTV footage during investigations. A total of 23 people were named in the case. Among them, 14 had been arrested, including Allu Arjun, while nine others obtained anticipatory bail and were served notices.

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Apart from Allu Arjun, his personal staff, like managers, security guards, and the five bouncers, were also named in the chargesheet. The partners of the Sandhya Theatre, the manager, the gatekeeper of the lower balcony, the event manager, and the in-charge of the Allu Arjun Fan Association were all named in the chargesheet.

The stampede occurred on the night of 4 December last year, during the special screening of Pushpa 2 at Sandhya Theatre. With Allu Arjun reaching the venue in an open vehicle, the fans went berserk, surging inside the theatre to catch a glimpse of their favourite star. A 39-year-old woman, Revathi, who was accompanying her nine-year-old son Sritej, died despite the attempt by police to resuscitate her. Sritej was critically injured. Later, the actor was arrested by police on 13 December and spent a night in jail before getting an interim bail from the court.