FEATURE STORY
The SuvenduAdhikari government on Monday passed two landmark legislations aimed at curbing riots, vandalism and organised crime, which have stringent provisions like allowing preventive detention for 12 months without trial. The ‘West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2026’ and the ‘West Bengal Public…
Jai Moondra, a software engineer from Rajasthan’s Tonk, rocked a star-studded batting line-up filled with IPL stars as Ireland did the unthinkable, shocking reigning T20 World Champions India by one-run to complete a historic 2-0 series win here on Sunday.It is easily the greatest moment in Irish cricket since Kevin O’Brien’s epochal century when they beat England in the 2011 ODI World Cup.
The Congress will hold press conferences across the country on Thursday as part of its nationwide campaign “Chhatron Ki Goonj” (Students’ Echo), aimed at highlighting issues faced by students, including alleged examination irregularities, rising education costs and concerns over India’s education system.
A massive ideological and statutory controversy has erupted across Maharashtra’s political spectrum following the online leak of a viral video showing the newly appointed Nagpur Police Commissioner, Vishwas Nangare Patil, publicly praising the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The 45-second clip—recorded during a high-profile Hindu Sammelan organized by the Sakal Hindu Samaj—features the decorated 26/11 gallantry award-winning IPS officer describing RSS founder Dr. K. B. Hedgewar as a “farsighted nationalist” while applauding the internal discipline of the right-wing cadre. Coming mere days after Patil took charge of the law-and-order apparatus in the state’s winter capital, the explicit endorsement drew swift, aggressive condemnation from opposition forces. The Maharashtra Congress launched a formal statutory offensive, petitioning the state Home Department to clarify if the commissioner secured mandatory prior approvals, asserting that the public adulation represents a flagrant violation of political impartiality under the All India Services (Conduct) Rules. Adding significant momentum to the backlash, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray launched a blistering personal attack, accusing the high-profile bureaucrat of harboring compromised “dual loyalties” and mockingly challenging Patil to shed his uniform to formally enlist as a political worker for the BJP. Defending his stance amid the escalating uproar, Patil issued a comprehensive clarification, emphasizing that his routine attendance at socio-cultural and interfaith assemblies functions as community outreach under the legal parameters of the Indian Constitution, while ruling party leaders unified to shield the top cop from demands for disciplinary suspension
Aggressive panic surrounding rural consumption patterns forced Indian equity benchmarks to snap their longest winning streak of 2026, closing the final trading session of June deeply in the red on Monday, June 29, 2026. The NSE Nifty 50 shed 109.75 points, or 0.46 percent, to break its key psychological barrier and settle at 23,946.25, while the BSE Sensex capitulated by 372.10 points to finish at 76,728.37. The primary downward trigger stems from severe macroeconomic climate anxiety, as official data locked in a punishing 43% monsoon rainfall deficit for June, sparking immediate downgrades across the Nifty Auto index (-2.1%) with tractor and two-wheeler giants Eicher Motors, M&M, and TVS Motors bearing the brunt of anticipated rural income erosion. Counter-balancing the broader market slide, the Nifty Pharma index surged 2% behind explosive trading volumes, pushing Dr. Reddy’s Labs to a 52-week high of ₹1,403.30 despite recent U.S. FDA facility observations. However, idiosyncratic tech friction heavily dragged down the IT index, where Persistent Systems plummeted 11.2% as the Street reacted nervously to the valuation metrics of its acquisition of Munich-based Nagarro SE. Despite the headline correction, macro-analysts noted that localized distress was heavily cushioned by a stabilizing global energy front, with Brent crude easing back to $73 a barrel following an emergency U.S.-Iran maritime de-escalation accord in the Strait of Hormuz, alongside strong currency support as Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal signaled that a long-awaited India-U.S. bilateral trade deal is entering its final conclusive stages.
Brazil secured champions endured a difficult first half as Japan produced a disciplined defensive performance and stunned Brazil by taking the lead in the 29th minute. Kaishu Sano capitalised on Japan’s quick attacking move to put the Asian side ahead, leaving Brazil struggling to find their rhythm before the break.