Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah questioned the handling of explosives after the Nowgam police station blast that killed nine people. He said, “This is our mistake… those who understand these explosives better should have spoken to them.” Abdullah also asked why the doctors in the Haryana terror module chose this path, saying, “There is a need for a thorough investigation.” He warned against another Operation Sindoor, stating, “Nothing came out of it.” BJP leader Tarun Chugh accused him of being soft on terrorists. Police said the blast happened during a “mandated forensic procedure.” (PC: X)

Rohini Acharya gave her first reaction after quitting politics, saying, “I have no family.” Speaking at Patna airport, she claimed that Sanjay Yadav and Rameez pressured her to “disown” her family and that Tejashwi Yadav did not stop it. Rohini said, “They asked me to cut ties. I am taking all the blame.” She alleged that anyone who questions them is “abused” and even threatened with being “beaten with slippers.” Her remarks came a day after the RJD’s big election defeat in Bihar. Rohini’s statement has exposed deep rifts inside the Lalu Yadav family and the RJD. (PC: India Today)

Nine people were killed when an accidental blast ripped through Nowgam police station in Srinagar on Friday night. The explosion happened while a forensic team was handling seized explosive material stored at the station. Those killed included police officers, a lab assistant, a naib tehsildar, two photographers, a chowkidar and a local tailor brought in to stitch storage bags. Each victim was at the site for official duty or support work. Families of the victims have been left devastated. Police said the blast occurred during routine sample collection. A full investigation is underway to find how the material triggered the explosion. (PC: X)

The US Justice Department will investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s possible links with Bill Clinton, JPMorgan, and other Democrat figures after President Donald Trump asked for a probe. The move comes days after thousands of Epstein-related documents were released, raising new political pressure on Trump. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Jay Clayton will lead the inquiry. Critics say Trump is using federal agencies to target his political rivals. The Justice Department earlier said there was no evidence to start such a probe. Clinton, Larry Summers, and Reid Hoffman deny any wrongdoing. The issue continues to cause political tension in Washington. (PC: NDTV)

India captain Shubman Gill was taken off the field in an ambulance after a neck injury during Day 2 of the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata. Gill hurt his neck while playing a slog-sweep against Simon Harmer and retired hurt after scoring four runs. Hours later, he was seen on a stretcher with a neck brace and was moved to Woodlands Hospital for tests. The BCCI said he has a neck spasm and is under close watch. Assistant coach Morne Morkel said it may have started earlier due to fatigue. India now wait for updates on their captain’s condition.

Madhya Pradesh Higher Education Minister Inder Singh Parmar has caused a major controversy by calling 19th-century reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy a “British agent.” He made the remark at a Birsa Munda Jayanti event, claiming Roy helped the British divide Indian society and push conversions through English education. The Congress strongly criticised the statement and called it “shameful.” This is not Parmar’s first dispute. He earlier said India was not discovered by Vasco da Gama and accused historians of teaching “wrong history.” He also faced questions for asking colleges to add books linked to RSS authors. (PC: X)

Day 2 of the Kolkata Test turned into a dustbowl drama as 16 wickets fell on a dry and turning Eden Gardens pitch. India were bowled out for 189, with Simon Harmer taking 4 for 30 for South Africa. But the match changed fast when Ravindra Jadeja produced a brilliant spell, taking 4 for 29 and breaking South Africa’s middle order. By stumps, South Africa were 93 for 7, leading by only 63 runs. Temba Bavuma fought hard with an unbeaten 29, but India finished the day stronger. The pitch stayed uneven, sharp and unpredictable, giving spinners full control. (PC: India Today)

US President Donald Trump says he will file a multi-billion dollar lawsuit against the BBC next week. He claims an edited clip of his 6 January 2021 speech on Panorama wrongly made it seem he urged violence. The BBC apologised and said the edit gave a “mistaken impression,” but it refused to offer compensation. Trump says the edit “cheated” him and he must act to stop it happening again. The BBC argues the short clip was not meant to mislead and caused no harm. The controversy has already led to the resignations of the BBC director general and the head of news. (PC: X)

Storm Claudia has caused severe flooding across South Wales in the United Kingdom, leading officials to declare a major incident in Monmouth. Streets, homes and shops were left underwater as emergency crews carried out rescue operations through the day. People have been asked to avoid the area and not use drones, as they could disrupt rescue work. The Environment Agency said 58 flood warnings and 150 flood alerts are still in place across England. Heavy rain has also hit parts of Ireland, with power cuts and travel disruption reported. Officials have urged people to follow safety advice and check on vulnerable neighbours. (PC: Sky News)

All 10 IPL teams announced their retained and released players ahead of the 2026 mini auction. Kolkata Knight Riders made the biggest move by releasing Venkatesh Iyer and Andre Russell. Chennai Super Kings let go of 10 players, including Devon Conway and Matheesha Pathirana. Mumbai Indians released nine players, while Delhi Capitals, RCB, SRH, PBKS, GT, LSG and RR also made major cuts. Several players, including Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Mohammed Shami and Mayank Markande, were traded. KKR now enter the auction with the highest purse of ₹64.3 crore. The auction will take place next month. (PC: PTI)