Vishwam Shukla

What began as a dream Antarctic expedition turned into a global health scare after a rare hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius went undetected for weeks, leaving three passengers dead and others critically ill even while nearly 150 people, including two Indian crew members, remain on the ship

Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar is concerned about the game's increasing tilt towards batters, especially in T20s. He highlights shorter boundaries, fielding restrictions, and powerful bats as key issues. Gavaskar specifically advocates for a more lenient wide bouncer rule, arguing bowlers are unfairly penalized. He urges the ICC Cricket Committee to consider measures to restore balance for the bowling fraternity.

Actor-politician Vijay's TVK party emerged as the single-largest force in Tamil Nadu, winning 108 seats. Despite this, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has paused an invitation to form the government, citing an "unestablished majority." This has triggered a constitutional showdown, with legal experts debating the governor's discretionary powers and the necessity of a floor test before an invitation.

The BJP, either on its own or in alliance, is in power in around 22 states, covering roughly 78% of India’s population. According to psephologist Sanjay Kumar, these figures reflect the party’s firm establishment of dominance in national politics

A US-based businessman, Graham Walker, gifted his 540 employees a staggering $240 million from the $1.7 billion sale of his family's company, Fibrebond Corp. This generous act, where workers received an average of $443,000, stemmed from a condition Walker imposed before the sale to power-management giant Eaton.

Cricket legend AB de Villiers has drawn a striking parallel between England's Jacob Bethell and India's 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, predicting both left-handers will become future superstars. While Sooryavanshi is dazzling in IPL 2026 with Rajasthan Royals, Bethell, now with RCB, is showing immense potential. De Villiers believes their natural talent, coupled with experience, will make them unstoppable.

Indian equity markets experienced a downturn Friday, with both Sensex and Nifty closing lower. Renewed military tensions near the Strait of Hormuz dampened investor sentiment, leading to profit-booking across various sectors. While IT stocks showed resilience, PSU banks were significantly impacted. Global markets also reflected cautious sentiment.