South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has disclosed that India’s Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah personally apologised to him following remarks made in their native language during the opening Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Bavuma, who led South Africa to a historic 2-0 Test series victory in India, said that while such comments are not easily forgotten, he does not hold any grudges. During the opening day of the first Test, stump microphones picked up Bumrah and Pant referring to Bavuma as ‘bauna’ while appealing for an lbw decision in the 14th over. The term is commonly associated with dwarfism and can be considered offensive when directed at individuals of short stature.

“A series against India is always going to be intense, and when it’s heated, it makes it even more of a spectacle and motivates the players further,” Bavuma was quoted as saying by espncricinfo on Wednesday.

“As long as the respect is still intact between players, it’s all good with whatever happens on the field. I know from my side there was an incident where they said something in their language about me. At the end of the day two senior players, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah, came and apologised.

“When the apology was made, I was in the dark about what it was about, I hadn’t heard it at the time and I needed to check in with our media manager about it. What happens on the field, stays on the field but you don’t forget what is said. You use it as fuel and motivation, but there are no grudges per se.”

Bavuma also addressed comments made by South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad during the second Test in Guwahati, acknowledging that the choice of words could have been better.

“Shukri also took some heat for his ‘grovel’ remark. I was put under pressure by the media on that side, asking me to clarify the comments that were made.

“I thought Shukri was the man best positioned to give context to it all. The first time I heard about it, it had that unsavoury taste to it, but I think it just reminded me how tough and competitive the Test series was and what it meant to certain individuals within the group. Shukri spoke after the ODI series and put that issue to bed. In hindsight, he said he could have chosen a better word and I agree with him,” Bavuma added.

South Africa’s triumph marked their first Test series win in India since 2000, when the side was led by Hansie Cronje. Bavuma explained that the success was the result of months of planning between himself and Conrad, aimed at overcoming failures from previous tours in 2015 and 2019.

“In terms of coach Shukri getting the best out of us as players, that groundwork has been in play since we started. Shuks instils confidence in the players and makes them believe that they are the best. The premise is that if we play at our best, no one can stand near us.

“We have always wanted to prepare ourselves for these types of encounters. Between the two of us, there were months on end speaking about India. What type of team and players did we want? And what did we need to do to be successful? It wasn’t a case of getting to India and saying, ‘Okay, how are we going to do things?’

“The seed was planted long before the Test series. The fact that we did it two and a half decades later speaks to the magnitude of our performance and overall achievement. It’s another feather in our cap as a side, and we’re growing very well as a Test team,” he concluded.

The Uttar Pradesh Rural Population Bill, 2025, also known as the Gharouni Act, was passed in the Legislative Assembly during the ongoing winter session.

Once this law is notified, villagers will be able to obtain bank loans for building houses. Amendments to ownership records on residential land will also be possible.

This bill is crucial for simplifying processes such as the purchase, sale, and transfer of residential land in rural areas and for securing ownership rights. The Gharouni document will now be considered the official document. The process of changing and correcting names in the Gharouni due to inheritance, sale, or other reasons has been made easier.

Furthermore, provisions have been made for correcting errors in the Gharouni and updating mobile numbers and addresses.

According to officials here on Wednesday, the Uttar Pradesh government has taken this step to provide legal recognition to the ownership records of rural residential areas prepared using drone technology under the Government of India’s SVAMITVA scheme.

State Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh stated that the implementation of this law will enable the preservation of Gharouni records, the recording of new records from time to time, and legally mandated management.

He said that the objective of the SVAMITVA scheme is to conduct accurate surveys in villages and prepare proper documents for people’s residential properties. This will enable rural residents to obtain bank loans and other financial facilities based on their land and houses. This scheme will help in maintaining accurate land records, determining property tax, creating GIS maps, and better planning of development schemes for Gram Panchayats (village councils).

He informed that an MoU has been signed between the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government regarding this scheme. Approximately 110,344 villages in the state have been notified under the scheme. Excluding uninhabited villages, drone surveys have been completed in 90,573 villages. By May 9, 2025, more than 1.06 crore Gharounis had been prepared. Of these, more than 1.01 crore Gharounis have been distributed to the villagers.

The Tourism and Culture Minister said that after the Gharouni is created, changes and amendments are needed over time due to reasons such as inheritance, succession, and sale, but until now, there were no clear rules for this. To address this deficiency, this bill has been introduced based on a proposal from the Revenue Council.

The bill stipulates that the record of rural properties will be called “Gharauni,” which will contain the owner’s name and address, plot details, area, sketch, and spatial information. A compilation of all Gharaunis of a village will constitute the Gharauni register, and a separate village map will also be prepared. A clear procedure has been established for the appointment of survey and record officers and for issuing notifications for the survey and preparation of records. Under this law, the District Magistrate (DM) will be designated as the record officer in each district.

Jaiveer Singh stated that the implementation of this bill will lead to a reduction in property disputes in rural areas, increased transparency in records, a better taxation system, and strengthened planned development. This law will prove to be a historic and far-reaching step for rural populated areas.

Following complaints over the government’s move to set up a cement plant near a wildlife sanctuary and allegations of industrial units discharging effluents into water bodies in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, a high-level team has been constituted to probe the matter and submit a comprehensive report within fifteen days.

The team, led by the Chairman of the Pollution Control Committee, along with the Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, and other concerned officers, has been constituted by the Committee on Environment of the J&K Legislative Assembly, headed by CPI(M) MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, which visited the area on Tuesday.

The Committee visited the SIDCO Industrial Estate, Ghatti Complex, Kathua, to interact with stakeholders and take stock of environmental concerns related to industrial activities in the area.

The Committee has been mandated to assess the impact of industrial waste on human health, flora, fauna and agricultural land, besides reviewing the status of measures taken to maintain ecological balance and ensure environmental protection.

During the visit, MLAs Mustaq Guroo, Zafar Ali Khatana, Khurshied Ahmad, Rajiv Jasrotia and Darshan Kumar, members of the Committee, were present.

Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, Vikramjeet Singh; Chairman, Pollution Control Committee, Vasu Yadav; Director, Industries and Commerce Jammu, Arun Kumar Manhas; Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, Rajesh Sharma; President, Industrial Association Kathua; and deputations from different areas also attended the interaction.

The Committee took a first-hand appraisal of the issues and concerns raised by various deputations and held detailed discussions on the prevailing ground situation, environmental implications and apprehensions of the local population.

A delegation raised objections to the proposed acquisition of land for the establishment of a cement industry near Kaalna–Bhatodi villages, stating that the area is agro-dependent and falls under the red category zone. The delegation maintained that such an industry should be set up in an uninhabited area to safeguard agriculture and the environment.

Another deputation, led by a former PRI member, alleged that certain industrial units are discharging effluents into local water bodies in violation of prescribed safety norms.

A deputation from Jhang village informed the Committee that wastewater from some industrial units contains chemical concentrations that have adversely affected crops in the area.

MLA Rajiv Jasrotia also pointed out that the proposed site for the cement unit is surrounded by a wildlife sanctuary, raising serious ecological concerns.

The deputations also submitted water and crop samples to the Committee for examination.

The Committee further enquired into the functioning of Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) and the extent of local employment being provided by the industrial units.

In his concluding remarks, the Chairman assured the people that after submission of the report by the high-level team, the Committee on Environment would re-examine the emerging situation in detail and assess the findings in consultation with feedback received from local residents.

He reiterated that the Committee is committed to protecting public health and environmental safety and categorically assured that no industrial activity would be allowed or encouraged at the cost of the lives, livelihoods and well-being of the people.

Christmas Eve usually brings soft wishes and warm memories. But this year, it also brought another dramatic letter from alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar addressed to actor Jacqueline Fernandez. In it, Sukesh greeted her for Christmas and spoke at length about his feelings, his memories, and a gift that sounded more like a movie plot than a holiday surprise.

The letter, which has now gone public, once again places Jacqueline at the centre of a story she has repeatedly tried to move away from.

Also Read: Sukesh Chandrasekhar’s jail letter to Jacqueline Fernandez: ‘Our love will set an example’

A festive greeting with emotional words

In the letter, Sukesh wished Jacqueline a Merry Christmas in a deeply personal tone. He described Christmas as a festival that reminds him of “special moments” and what he called his “crazy love” for her.

He wrote about missing her smile and said the festival made him think only of her.

The gift that grabbed attention: A house in Beverly Hills

What truly caught public attention was Sukesh’s claim about a grand Christmas gift. In the letter, he said he was gifting Jacqueline a mansion in Beverly Hills. He even claimed to have named the house “The Love Nest.”

According to Sukesh, this house was something they had once planned together. He wrote that Jacqueline had doubted whether it would ever be completed. Now he claimed, the house was not only finished but “bigger and better” than originally planned.

He also mentioned a private 19-hole golf course around the property calling it unique in all of America. He even compared it to former US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, suggesting that his “Love Nest” could make it look ordinary.

A pattern of public letters

This is not the first time Sukesh has written publicly to Jacqueline. Over the past few years, he has sent letters to her on various occasions like Holi, Easter, Christmas, and even his own birthday.

Each letter has followed a similar pattern. Emotional language, grand promises, public declarations of affection. These letters have often surfaced online sparking debate about why they continue despite legal restrictions.

Jacqueline on her part has earlier objected strongly to these letters. She has approached a Delhi court raising concerns about Sukesh repeatedly writing to her and making these letters public.

Legal trouble looming large

Behind the flowery words and luxury claims lies a very serious legal case. Sukesh Chandrasekhar is facing multiple criminal charges including high-profile money laundering case.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has named Jacqueline Fernandez as co-accused in this case. The agency has alleged that she received expensive gifts from Sukesh including jewellery, clothes, luxury vehicles and other items worth around ₹7 crore.

According to the ED, these gifts were received even after she was aware of his criminal activities.

Jacqueline has firmly denied these allegations. She has stated that she had no knowledge of Sukesh’s criminal background at the time and that she never knowingly benefited from illegal money.

Years of investigation and court battles

Since December 2021, Jacqueline has been under investigation in a money laundering case involving around ₹2 billion. She was questioned by the ED for nearly 10 hours in December that year.

A lookout circular was issued against her, restricting her from travelling abroad. Her request to downgrade this restriction was rejected. Around the same time, she was removed from a film project.

In August 2022, when ED officially named her as an accused in the case linked to Sukesh, Jacqueline responded by stating that her financial deposits were made before any connection with him and that all her income was legal, taxed, accounted for.

In September 2022, the court granted her interim bail on a bond of ₹50,000.

The rape and murder of a ten-year-old girl in Odisha’s Bhadran district has sparked massive outrage across the State with agitated locals laying siege to a police station in the district, while the Opposition BJD hit the streets on Wednesday, registering noisy protests in Bhubaneswar.

Expressing deep anguish over the incident, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh to the bereaved family.

The arrested accused will be duly punished in accordance with the law, and police will act accordingly in submitting the medico-legal evidence before the Court for expeditious trial and conviction of the wrongdoer, CM Majhi said.

The sexual abuse and murder of the victim occurred in Baligaon village under the Chandbali Police Station jurisdiction in Bhadrak district, as the locals spotted the body lying in a pool of blood at a deserted place in the village yesterday.

While police have taken into custody the perpetrator of the dastardly crime, hundreds of protesters, including homemakers, cordoned off the Chandaballi police station, giving vent to the anger over the rape and murder of the minor, alleged rising lawlessness, and growing alcoholism in the region.

The angry mob later ransacked the house of the accused in the village as tension continued to prevail in the village.

“The situation is tense but under control. Adequate police deployment has been made to avert a possible breach of peace in the region. Police will deal with the case in all seriousness and frame a charge sheet at the earliest. Locals have alleged an illicit liquor trade in the area. Police have taken immediate steps to nab those involved in the illicit liquor trade,” said Sub Divisional Police Officer Trilochan Sethi

In a related development, Biju Yuba Chatra Janata Dal, the youth wing of the regional party, staged a demonstration in front of the Chief Minister of Odisha’s residence in protest against the Chandballi rape-murder case.

Normal life was disrupted across large parts of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday following a statewide bandh called by several social organisations to protest violence in Kanker district’s Amabeda area and alleged administrative bias in handling cases linked to religious conversion. The shutdown had a significant impact in major urban centres, even as fresh tension was reported from parts of southern Chhattisgarh.

The bandh, supported by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the Chhattisgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and several trade, social and religious organisations, was observed widely in Raipur, Durg, Jagdalpur, Bilaspur and Ambikapur. Schools, markets, shops and private commercial establishments remained closed from morning, while hospitals, medical stores and emergency services continued to function. In contrast, the bandh had limited impact in districts such as Balrampur and Ramanujganj.

Protestors, accompanied by representatives of trader bodies, took to the streets to ensure compliance, urging shopkeepers to keep establishments shut in Raipur. Police were deployed in strength as some protesters were seen carrying sticks. Incidents of violence and vandalism were reported during the bandh, including an assault inside a Blinkit office, where CCTV footage allegedly showed an employee being beaten, and damage to property at the city’s Magneto Mall.

The bandh was triggered by a series of violent incidents that began on December 17 in Amabeda and the nearby Bade Tevda village of Kanker district in South Chhattisgarh. The unrest erupted over the burial of a person who had converted to Christianity, leading to clashes between members of the tribal community and the converted group. The situation escalated into arson, with churches set on fire, property vandalised and large crowds assembling in the area. Police resorted to baton charge to prevent further violence, during which several villagers, journalists covering the events and at least 20 police personnel, including an Assistant Superintendent of Police, were injured.

Following days of tension, the administration exhumed the body and removed it from the village to restore order, while issuing alerts across multiple districts, including Kanker, Kondagaon and Dhamtari. Security has since been intensified, and officials have warned of strict action in cases of unauthorised burials or attempts to disturb public order.

Amid the bandh, fresh tension was reported from the Amabeda region, where villagers allegedly demolished the house of a converted woman after she refused to return to her previous faith. Police said the situation remained sensitive and was being closely monitored.

Addressing the media, Chhattisgarh Chamber of Commerce executive president Jaspreet Singh Saluja said the shutdown reflected unprecedented unity among traders. Protest organisers under the banner of “Sarva Samaj Chhattisgarh” placed five key demands before the government, including strict enforcement of laws regulating religious conversion, action against officials accused of bias, withdrawal of cases against villagers, compensation for those affected, and firm action against groups allegedly involved in the violence.

Meanwhile, the administration has appealed for restraint, urging citizens to maintain peace and respect local traditions while following legal procedures. Senior officials said law and order remained under control but acknowledged that the situation continued to be delicate, with authorities on high alert to prevent further escalation.

Samajwadi Party National President Akhilesh Yadav has accused the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh of concealing its role in the deadly codeine cough syrup scam.

He said that announcing a “token reward” of a few thousand rupees for a scammer involved in a multi-billion rupee scam raises questions about the government’s seriousness and is a mockery of the public.

Posting on his social media account, Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the dispensation that distributed crores of rupees worth of vehicles as “rewards” to those involved in this racket, whose details have not been made public despite repeated demands, can spend any amount of money to suppress news about itself.

He sarcastically asked whether those same vehicles had been seized by bulldozers.

The SP president alleged that the BJP is continuously lying about this “mega-scam” related to children’s deaths and drug addiction. He alleged that even during a major religious event like the ‘Prayagraj Mahakumbh’, false statements were made about the death toll, so ”how can one expect the truth about the deaths related to the fake and adulterated syrup racket operating during their rule?”

Akhilesh Yadav clearly stated that the claim that “no one died from the syrup” is an outright lie and the BJP government has become a “government of falsehoods”. He demanded an impartial investigation into the entire matter, strict action against those responsible for the deaths, and that all documents related to the distribution of rewards and vehicles be made public.

The “codeine syrup scandal” refers to two primary issues: the abuse and illicit trafficking of codeine-based cough syrups as narcotics and a series of international mass poisonings involving contaminated cough syrups (which do not necessarily contain codeine but have become linked to the scandal due to regulatory failures in the same industry).

A husband and wife duo committed suicide by immolating themselves in protest against an anti-encroachment drive being carried out by the administration in the Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday.

The couple poured some inflammable liquid on their bodies before setting themselves ablaze and sustained serious burns when a part of their under construction house was about to be demolished.

According to the police, the incident occurred in Satwas under the Khategaon tehsil. Santosh Vyas and Jaishree Vyas run a stationery and photocopy shop at the Satwas bus stand. They are building a house in a colony in the area. However, a complaint was lodged against them alleging that part of the house was being built on an encroached land. Hence, a team of the district administration led by the area’s Tehsildar, along with police and a JCB machine, reached the spot and ordered the demolition of the said part.

When the couple objected to the demolition, claiming that they had all the necessary building permissions from the administration and no government land had been encroached upon, an argument ensued between them and the authorities. Following an altercation, both Santosh and Jaishree poured an inflammable liquid, suspected to be petrol, on their bodies and set themselves ablaze. Amid panic and commotion, people rushed to douse the flames but by then they had already suffered grievous burns and were rushed to the hospital at Satwas.

Since the condition of the couple was serious, doctors at the facility referred them to an Indore hospital for advanced treatment.

Meanwhile, family members of the couple and residents of the area staged a protest blocking the road, raising slogans against the district administration.

The family members accused the administration of unduly taking action even though the couple had all the required permissions for construction of the house.

Cameron Green’s Ashes campaign has been a subdued one, with the tall all-rounder struggling to make a decisive impact in a series Australia have already wrapped up after the first three Tests. Across those matches, Green has scored just 76 runs and claimed two wickets, having had limited opportunities with the ball.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting admitted that, despite Green’s growing experience at the highest level, assessing his overall impact in Test cricket remains a challenge.

“It’s actually quite hard to get a gauge on him yet as an international player,” Ponting told The ICC Review.

“He averages under 30 in Australia now. His career averages just over 30. He’s made two Test match hundreds in 30-odd Test matches. He’s had back surgery, and his bowling pace is probably not quite what it was 12 months ago,” Ponting added.

Green has now featured in 35 Tests since making his debut against India in Adelaide five years ago. His numbers are respectable rather than outstanding, with 1641 runs at an average close to 33, alongside 37 wickets.

Still, Ponting stressed that Green’s all-round skill set continues to make him a valuable asset, pointing to flashes of brilliance that underline his potential in the Baggy Green.

“But there is a very complete package there if it all comes together. And we’ve seen him play some pretty remarkable innings,” Ponting said.

“He made an incredible 100 in New Zealand last year. He’s got 100 in India as well, albeit on a very, very flat pitch.”

Green registered his maiden Test century in Ahmedabad, scoring 114 in difficult circumstances against India, before producing his finest knock a year later, an unbeaten 174 in Wellington in March 2024 that powered Australia to a commanding 172-run victory.

Beyond individual performances, Ponting highlighted the value Green brings inside the Australian dressing room, while identifying consistency of method as the key area he must address.

“Talking to the players, talking to the coaching staff, they absolutely love what he brings to the group,” Ponting noted.

“The biggest challenge he has is, he’s just got to find out the right way and right style for him to play, work out what’s going to work for him, and then commit to that and stick to it for a long period of time.”

Ponting suggested that Green’s tendency to overthink his game may be holding him back, offering some simple advice.

“Apparently, he’s a very deep thinker about his own game and likes to tinker with things a lot,” Ponting said.

“But if I had some advice for him, it’d be just keep things as simple as you can, think about what you’ve done at domestic cricket and take your domestic game to the Test match and back it in for a while.”

Despite the ongoing debate, Ponting made it clear he expects Australia to remain patient with Green.

“I think they will persist with him. I think they like the package too much,” Ponting said.

“I think that they’ve almost come too far with Cameron Green now.

“Thirty-odd Test matches. I think they’ll stick with him and try to find a way to get the best out of him… I think it’s about him being exposed at the highest level and finding a way to make it work at Test level that’s going to make him a better player,” he added.

The fourth Ashes Test gets underway in Melbourne on December 26.

Uttarakhand’s sensational Ankita Bhandari murder case of 2022 has once again come to light as the wife of a former BJP MLA, Suresh Rathore, said that the party’s national general secretary, Dushyant Gautam, visited the Vanantara Resort the night before the 19-year-old receptionist was killed.

The opposition, Congress, has demanded a CBI probe in the matter, while Rathore denied the allegation as an attempt to malign his political and social image.

Rathore’s wife, Urmila Sanawar, who claimed to have married him in Nepal four years ago, alleged in a video gone viral on social media that her husband had, during an argument between them in November, claimed that BJP national general secretary and Uttarakhand in-charge Dushyant Gautam, alias “Gattu”, had gone to Vanantara Resort in Rishikesh a night before the murder of Ankita Bhandari, who worked there as a receptionist.

“I have no hesitation in naming Dushyant Gautam, as an audio recording of my husband has gone viral in which he has taken his name. I will tell you the story of the night in which my husband and I had an intense quarrel. There was no other topic in the argument. It was pertaining to Dushyant Gautam, whom he calls Gattu,” said Urmila in a video she has uploaded on her Facebook page.

“Go and ask that ‘Gattu’, your brother! Whom you praise highly, why was he there on the night when Ankita Bhandari’s murder took place? Suresh Rathore said Dushyant Kumar Gautam, whom you call your rakhi brother, went there that night. The one who uploaded his video of bathing in the Ganga the next morning went there. My husband said this about Dushyant Kumar, calling him ‘Gattu’. Gattu was not the only name in audio recording. He spoke about many others,” said Urmila in the video.

A portion of recorded audio, referred to by Urmila, has also gone viral on social media, which was denied by Rathore.

Urmila refused to reveal other names in her claimed recorded conversation with Suresh Rathore. “There are names of several other prominent persons. I will not name them now.”

She said that if Dushyant Kumar is the real person in question, then his CDR must be taken out, and Suresh Kumar must come out in public to clarify it. Urmila has uploaded several of her photographs with Rathore on the Facebook page “Actress Urmila Suresh Rathore.”

Rathore, who was expelled by the BJP state leadership for his alleged immoral conduct six months back, has denied the charges levelled against him by Urmila.

“An AI-generated audio clip relating to our daughter, Ankita Bhandari, is being circulated on social media to tarnish the image of the BJP’s central and state leaders. It’s an illegally AI-generated audio to demean me and the image of the BJP. She had been doing this for nearly one and a half years with the agenda to tarnish my social and political reputation. Her mobile must be confiscated, and a forensic probe should be ordered. I don’t have any audio recording as claimed by her,” said Rathore, speaking to media on Tuesday night after Urmila posted her video on social media, which went viral.

Rathore, who himself was seen in one of Urmila’s facebook videos, introducing her as his wife, was expelled from the BJP in June 2025 by the party state president, Mahendra Bhatt, for his alleged immoral act.

Rathore, who was already married to Ravinder Kaur, had allegedly tied the nuptial knot with Urmila without divorcing his first wife. As Urmila revealed their marriage on social media, the state BJP leadership dashed a showcase notice for his alleged immoral conduct. Following this, Rathore was expelled by the party for the want of a satisfactory reply to the notice. Rathore was twice a BJP MLA from the Jwalapur assembly seat in Haridwar between 2012 and 2022.

Meanwhile, the main opposition Congress party has threatened to launch statewide nonstop protests if the government fails to order a judicial probe by a sitting or retired High Court judge.

Speaking to the media in Delhi, Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Ganesh Godilyal said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks a lot when he comes to Uttarakhand, a few words in Garhwali and some in Kumaoni before returning to Delhi. After the killing of Ankita Bhandari, we had been persistently reminding him to arrest the VIP who had been visiting the Vanamtara resort before his return to Delhi. Sadly, this never happened. Now I allege that the state government and the BJP leadership used power, given to them by the people, to suppress this case and protect the criminals. ”

He alleged that the SIT constituted to probe the case was strange. ”It tried to coerce witnesses instead of digging out evidence against the accused and bringing all involved in the case to justice,” charged Ganesh Godiyal.

The Uttarakhand Congress president demanded a CBI investigation into the Ankita Bhandari killing and said that it must be led by a sitting or retired High Court judge.

The 19-year-old receptionist was killed on September 18, 2022, by the main accused and resort owner Pulkit Arya, son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya, and his two associates Saurav Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta. The three were sentenced to life imprisonment by the local court in Kotdwar on May 30, 2025, after nearly one and a half years of trial.

Delivering the verdict, the judge held the three accused guilty of murder, outraging the modesty of a woman, molestation, immoral trafficking, and suppression of evidence. Earlier, the prosecution and the police had charged that she was killed for refusing “extra service” (sexual favour) to a VIP guest at Vanantara Resort at Rishikesh on the night she went missing from her room. Ankita’s body was retrieved from Chilla Barrage on the Ganga River Canal after a massive search was launched by the SDRF and the police.

A staggering over 127 teams from across India have applied to compete for the title in the second edition of Harish Sharma 3 on 3 All India Basketball Championship (Men & Women) on December 27-28 at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex, New Delhi, according to a press release.

“87 teams will be finally selected, including 63 men’s and 24 women’s teams. This time, Arjuna Awardees and a Padma Shri Awardee player would be there to grace the occasion along with other eminent guests,” said Roopam Harish Sharma, Chairperson of the organising committee of the Championship named after the legendary international basketball player and iconic sports administrator, late Harish Sharma.

Teams from states, universities, clubs and institutions have registered for the Championship. The Championship’s mascot, “Titu Hoops”, was unveiled alongside the tournament’s theme song. Named after the late Harish Sharma’s nickname “Titu”, the mascot, an elephant, symbolises wisdom, strength and teamwork.

“The winning teams in both the men and women categories would get Rs 1 Lakh as a cash prize, while the second and third position teams will get Rs 50 K and 30 K respectively,” said Roopam Harish Sharma.

Sudhanshu Mittal, Co-Chairperson of the Organising Committee, said, “The format of the championship is the future format of basketball. Speed, stamina and thrill are experienced in a limited time, and the format has emerged as an entertaining format globally.”
Mukesh Kalia, the current DBA, informed that the Senior National Basketball Championship 3-on-3 is scheduled for the last week of January 2026, and that the Harish Sharma Championship is a prelude to it.

Also present in the Press Conference was the Guest of Honour, former Union Minister Vijay Goel; Ashok Rangeen, Secretary General, DBA; Harsharan Singh, Chairman, Selection Committee, DBA; M.S. Tyagi, Chairman, Administration & Organisation, Kho Kho Federation of India (KKFI); Former Secretary of TRAI, Harshvardhan and others.

Vijay Goel said, “In India, the game of Basketball is now rising fast, and I wish this Championship, named after Harish Sharma, will take basketball to new heights.”

Harshvardhan said, “I wish the Championship named after Shri Harish Sharma scales to a new height and popularity. The contribution of late Shri Sharma to basketball and sports is profound.”

The championship will be played on three basketball courts simultaneously, offering an action-packed experience for players and spectators alike.

The event is being organised by the Prithvi Nath Club (PNC), affiliated with the Delhi Basketball Association (DBA), which is the official host under the aegis of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI).

The tournament also has endorsement from FIBA 3×3. It continues PNC’s legacy of promoting basketball through premier tournaments, such as the Master Prithvi Nath All India Basketball Championship, a tribute to Shri Harish Sharma’s father.

Director Census Operations (DCO) & Director Citizen Registration (DCR) for the UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Amit Sharma, has termed the upcoming Digital Census 2027 to be the real ‘game changer’ for the nation.

Sharma said that the Government of India shall be conducting its first-ever paperless digital census since its inception in India, which shall be backed by innovation and technology and it shall have a far-reaching impact upon the Indian economy, demography, politics and even the exports and imports happening in the nation.

Sharma was also invited this week as a subject-specialist to speak at the national event, namely, Arohana 2025 – Growth with Impact, Government Summit, organized in New Delhi.

Sharma said that the maiden Digital Census shall help in fast processing of information, primarily based on Artificial Intelligence tools and automatic updating of data through an application developed for both Android and iOS platforms, which shall help in faster and efficient policy making, corporate decisions, global economy boosting, etc.

He also said that the Data Centres of the Office of Registrar General of India set-up in different geographical locations like Bengaluru, Lucknow and Delhi are fully geared-up for this humongous data processing, after successful culmination of both the rounds of HLO and PE.

He said a unique novel initiative of the upcoming Digital Census is ‘Self Enumeration’, which simply means that the public shall be given the facility of filling-up their information directly through the requisite application made for it, which shall be verified during the visit of enumerators and supervisors at their respective households.

Star batter Virat Kohli reached another milestone in his illustrious career on Wednesday, becoming just the second Indian cricketer to cross 16,000 runs in List A cricket during his return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy. On the same day, Rohit made a sensational comeback to domestic cricket, scoring a century in what was his first Vijay Hazare outing in seven years for Mumbai.

Chasing Sikkim’s 236 runs in Jaipur, Rohit slammed a series of sixes and fours that made the target seem easy to reach. Approaching 14,000 runs in the 50-over format, this century marked the former India skipper’s 37th in List A cricket, adding to his tally of 33 international centuries for India.

Earlier in the day, Kohli, turning out for Delhi against Andhra Pradesh at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, reached the milestone off the very first run of a 299-run chase. The moment underlined both his longevity and his enduring dominance in the 50-over game.

With this achievement, Kohli joins an elite group of batters to breach the 16,000-run mark in List A cricket. He is only the ninth player overall to do so, following legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Kumar Sangakkara and Sir Vivian Richards. Among Indians, only Tendulkar has previously reached the milestone.

The 37-year-old’s appearance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy marked his first in the competition since the 2010–11 season, when he captained Delhi. Although he featured in the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy in 2013–14, Kohli had stayed away from India’s premier domestic 50-over tournament for nearly a decade, making his return one of the highlights of this year’s edition.

While the 16,000-run mark reflects his consistency across List A cricket, Kohli’s ODI record remains the cornerstone of his legacy. He is currently the second-highest run-scorer in ODI history, trailing only Tendulkar. Kohli has amassed 14,557 runs from 308 matches at an average of 58.46, reached 14,000 runs faster than any other player, and holds the record for the most ODI centuries with 53.

Kohli has also accumulated 57 centuries across all List A cricket and is now within sight of Tendulkar’s all-time record of 60 in the format.

Since making his List A debut for Delhi in 2006 in the Ranji One-Day Tournament, Kohli’s rise has been marked by sustained excellence. Nearly two decades on, his return to domestic cricket offered a timely reminder of his lasting impact on the game.

Suryavanshi becomes youngest List A centurion

Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi continued his remarkable rise by producing another record-shattering innings in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Wednesday, hammering a 36-ball century for Bihar in their Plate league opener against Arunachal Pradesh at the JSCA Oval Ground.

The blistering hundred made Suryavanshi the second-fastest Indian to a List A century, bettered only by Anmolpreet Singh’s 35-ball effort against the same opponents in last season’s tournament. On the global list, the knock stands as the joint fourth-fastest century ever recorded in List A cricket.

The teenager showed no signs of slowing down after reaching three figures. He brought up 150 from just 54 balls and went on to score a stunning 190 off 84 deliveries before being dismissed, powering Bihar to 379 for 2 in just 39 overs at the time of reporting.

Suryavanshi’s latest display has further cemented his reputation as one of the most exciting young batting prospects in the domestic circuit.

In the same match, Bihar captain Sakibul Gani became the fastest Indian to score a List A century in just 32 balls. Gani finished not out with 128 off 40 balls, just ahead of Jharkhand wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who on the same day scored a 33-ball century against Karnataka in the same tournament. Gani’s record-breaking century included 10 fours and 12 sixes.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said that Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Raj Thackarey’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have joined hands to save their identity.

Fadnavis said that a hype was being created in such a way as if Russia and Ukraine have come together.

“The hype is being created in such a way as if Russia and Ukraine have come together… and Zelenskyy and Putin are talking,” the Maharashtra CM told reporters when asked about the Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS alliance.

Fadnavis said that both parties have lost their identity and vote bank by indulging in the politics of appeasement.

“The alliance is between two parties that have lost their identity. People don’t trust them. They have lost their vote bank by doing politics of appeasement. Coming together of these two parties will have no impact. Both the parties have joined hands to save their identity,” he remarked.

The Maharashtra CM also expressed confidence that the BJP-led Mahayuti will win the BMC elections.

‘We have come together to stay together’: Uddhav and Raj Thackeray confirm ‘reunion’ for BMC polls

“People of Mumbai have seen development work done by us and that is why Mumbai is with us and will remain so. Mahayuti will win Mumbai,” he added.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath  Shinde also took a dig at the Thackeray cousins, asking, “Those who could not take care of their own children, how will they manage Mumbai or Maharashtra?”

Fadnavis’ remarks came shortly after Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray announced their alliance for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

The Thackeray brothers shared the stage on Wednesday at a joint press conference in Mumbai. “We have come together to stay together,” Uddhav said with Raj sitting beside him.

Both parties will contest the BMC elections together. A total of 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra are going to elections on January 15, with results due to be announced on January 16.

New Zealand on Tuesday named its squads for the upcoming white-ball tour of India, featuring a five-match T20I series followed by three ODIs. The series is seen as a crucial warm-up for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to begin on February 7 across India and Sri Lanka.

The T20I Squad vs India includes a mix of both youth and experience: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ish Sodhi. Jamieson will be featuring in both formats after recovering from injury with young talents like Bevon Jacobs and Tim Robinson have been included following their impressive domestic performances.

Similarly, the ODI Squad vs India has a mix of fresh faces and seasoned players: Michael Bracewell (c), Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Will Young. Jayden Lennox, a left-arm spinner, has earned his maiden international call-up after consistent performances for New Zealand A, while Kristian Clarke, another uncapped player, reflects the selectors’ focus on long-term team development.

According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), Mitchell Santner will lead the T20I side as captain while he continues to heal from his injury, while Michael Bracewell has been handed captaincy duties for the ODI series.

Several senior players, including Jacob Duffy, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Will O’Rourke, and Blair Tickner, have been rested or ruled out due to injuries and workload management, as the team carefully balances its packed schedule, which includes the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27.

The T20I squad is expected to be better and stronger later in the series as players complete franchise commitments, allowing New Zealand to field a near full-strength squad ahead of finalising their T20 World Cup team in mid-January.

Head coach Rob Walter underlined the importance of the tour saying, “Playing in the sub-continent is very different from New Zealand, so any opportunity to expose our players to these conditions is valuable, especially ahead of a T20 World Cup in the region.”

England have made a couple of changes in their playing XI for the fourth Ashes Test against Australia at Melbourne. Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the remainder of the series due to a side strain, while Ollie Pope has been left out of the squad for the Boxing Day clash.

Left-handed batting all-rounder Jacob Bethell has been drafted into the side and will slot in at No.3, while fast bowler Gus Atkinson returns after missing the previous Test. The fourth Test of the Ashes will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), with the contest set to begin on December 26.

Confirming the changes, the England and Wales Cricket Board said, “England have made two changes to the XI that played in the third Test in Adelaide. Fast bowler Jofra Archer has been ruled out for the remainder of the tour with a left side strain, and Surrey batter Ollie Pope misses out. Warwickshire’s Jacob Bethell comes into the side and will bat at number three. Surrey seamer Gus Atkinson returns after missing the third Test.”

England are already out of contention for the Ashes after Australia sealed an unassailable 3-0 lead by winning the opening three Tests of the series. The visitors suffered an eight-wicket defeat in the series opener in Perth, followed by an identical margin loss at the Gabba, allowing Australia to retain the urn.

Although England showed greater resistance in the third Test at the Adelaide Oval, pushing the match into the fifth day, they were unable to sustain momentum in the final innings. Australia’s bowlers, requiring four wickets on the last day, quickly wrapped up the chase to secure another victory.

England’s XI for the fourth Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue.

Bihar scripted history as they registered the highest team total ever in List A cricket during their Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025-26 Plate League fixture against Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.

Bihar smashed 574/6 in 50 overs, surpassing Tamil Nadu’s previous 506-2 record against Arunachal Pradesh in Bengaluru in 2022.
Additonally, Bihar also became the first side to hit 550 or more runs in List A. Overall, they are just the second side after Tamil Nadu to hit 500 runs in List A cricket, according to ESPNcricinfo.

It is Vaibhav’s first non-T20I ton in senior cricket, which came in just 36 deliveries. This was the teenager’s seventh List A game, after debuting against Madhya Pradesh in December 2025.

The 14-year-old Suryvanshi slammed reached the 150-run mark in 59 deliveries, surpassing de Villiers’ 64-ball milestone against the West Indies in 2015.

Suryvanshi departed after scoring 190 runs off 84 deliveries with the help of 16 fours and 15 sixes at an astounding strike rate of 226.19, which set the tone for Bihar for the rest of the match.

Bihar captain also Sakibul Gani created history by hammering the fastest List A century by an Indian cricketer. Gani reached the landmark in just 32-ball deliveries.

Gani shattered the previous Indian record of a 35-ball century held by Anmolpreet Singh. The Bihar captain also went past Suryavanshi’s 36-ball hundred, which had come earlier on the same day.

Gani played an outstanding knock of 128 runs off 40 deliveries, with the help of 10 fours and 12 sixes.

Wicketkeeper-batter Ayush Loharuka also slammed a hundred. The keeper-batter hit 116 runs off 56 deliveries, including 11 fours and eight sixes. Piyush Singh played a fantastic knock of 77 runs off 66 balls, with the help of nine boundaries, as Bihar posted a monstrous total of 574/6.

Arunachal Pradesh bowlers had a disappointing performance with Mibom Mosu (0/116), Suryansh Singh (0/98), Tadakamalla Mohith (2/99), Dheeraj Antin (1/81), Techi Neri (2/83).