India’s women’s cricket team made history by winning their first-ever World Cup at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur took the final catch as India beat South Africa, sealing a victory years in the making. The triumph comes three years after the BCCI introduced equal pay for men and women cricketers. “Equality is not charity, it’s the way forward,” BCCI Secretary Jay Shah said after the win. He praised the team’s grit and the board’s long-term investment in women’s cricket. The victory proves how belief, support, and equal pay can transform Indian sport. (PC: X)

British tourists Emma and Alex Wanders experienced an unexpected history lesson during their Kerala visit when a local woman confronted them about colonial-era looting. The casual roadside conversation turned pointed after the couple revealed their English nationality. The woman directly referenced Britain's colonial exploitation, mentioning looted treasures, spices, and specifically demanding the return of the Kohinoor diamond. When Alex defended Britain by mentioning railway infrastructure, the woman remained focused on historical injustices. The tourists responded with nervous humor, promising to "speak to King Charles" and suggesting she "talk to their ancestors." The viral video highlights lingering sentiments about colonial history, with ordinary citizens voicing demands for restitution of culturally significant artifacts taken during British rule.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur created an emotional moment by handing the World Cup trophy to legends Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami during the victory lap following India's maiden triumph. The veterans, who represented India for nearly two decades, suffered heartbreaking final defeats in 2005 and 2017. An overwhelmed Mithali could only express gratitude, while Jhulan tearfully embraced Harmanpreet. The captain credited Jhulan as her biggest support during her early career, alongside Anjum Chopra's mentorship. India defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the final, scoring 298-7, with Shafali Verma's 87 and Deepti Sharma's 58 leading the charge against Laura Wolvaardt's valiant century.

At least 24 people were killed and several others injured after a truck carrying gravel hit a Telangana RTC bus head-on in Ranga Reddy district on Monday morning. The bus, with 70 passengers, was travelling from Tandur to Hyderabad when the speeding truck lost control and fell onto it near Mirzaguda village. The impact trapped many passengers under the debris. Both drivers died on the spot. Rescue teams used JCBs to pull out victims, while the injured were taken to nearby hospitals. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy ordered urgent relief and medical help for the survivors. (PC: X/ @tirishreddy)

US President Donald Trump defended resuming nuclear testing, stating America cannot remain alone in showing restraint while Russia, China, and North Korea continue weapons programs. Despite acknowledging the US possesses enough nuclear arsenal "to blow up the world 150 times," Trump told CBS's 60 Minutes that Washington shouldn't be the only nation refraining from tests. He directed the Department of Defense to begin testing immediately, citing Russia's Burevestnik missile test and North Korea's constant testing. Trump discussed denuclearization with Presidents Putin and Xi Jinping. However, his nominee for US Strategic Command, Vice Admiral Richard Correll, contradicted claims, stating neither China nor Russia recently conducted nuclear explosive tests, drawing Capitol Hill skepticism.

A devastating 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near Mazar-e Sharif in northern Afghanistan early Monday, killing at least 10 people and injuring approximately 260, with casualties expected to rise. The US Geological Survey reported the quake occurred at 28km depth near the city of 523,000 residents. Balkh and Samangan provinces suffered most severely, with the historic Blue Mosque partially destroyed. Afghan Taliban defense ministry deployed military rescue teams immediately, while health facilities were placed on standby. The USGS issued an orange alert, warning of widespread disaster and significant casualties. Afghanistan's vulnerability stems from two active fault lines; over 2,200 died in August's southeastern earthquake. Rescue operations continue extracting victims from rubble.

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia credited Jay Shah's leadership for transforming women's cricket in India. Since assuming BCCI charge, Shah implemented significant reforms including pay parity between male and female cricketers. As ICC Chairman last month, Shah dramatically increased women's prize money by 300%, raising it from $2.88 million to $14 million. Saikia emphasized these measures have substantially promoted women's cricket development. Following India's historic World Cup victory, BCCI announced a reward of Rs 51 crores for the entire contingent, encompassing players, coaches, and support staff. These financial commitments and structural changes demonstrate cricket administration's dedication to elevating women's cricket status and recognizing the team's exceptional achievement.

Political leaders across India celebrated the women's cricket team's maiden ICC World Cup victory, hailing it as a historic national achievement. Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and numerous others praised Harmanpreet Kaur's team for their courage and determination. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi commended the squad's inspiring performance, highlighting how their courage and grace motivated millions nationwide. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lauded the team's commanding display, describing the triumph as a moment of immense national pride. The political fraternity united in recognizing this breakthrough victory as a significant milestone for Indian sports, with leaders from diverse backgrounds joining the nation in celebrating the women cricketers' remarkable accomplishment. (PC: X & BCCI) 

ISRO successfully launched India's heaviest communication satellite, CMS-03, aboard the LVM3-M5 rocket from Sriharikota's Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 5:35 pm today. Weighing approximately 4,400 kilograms, CMS-03 represents the fifth operational flight of the LVM3 launcher. Deployed into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, the satellite will deliver multi-band communication services spanning India and surrounding ocean regions, enhancing secure data, voice, and video transmission for civilian and strategic applications. ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan commended the achievement, highlighting India's capability in heavy satellite development and deployment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO scientists via X, emphasizing the mission as testament to India's space sector excellence and innovation, further strengthening the nation's communication infrastructure.

India clinched their maiden Women's World Cup title, with Jemimah Rodrigues sharing celebratory images of teammates sleeping alongside the trophy. The historic victory saw Rodrigues, Smriti Mandhana, Arundhati Reddy, and Radha Yadav celebrating together. Rodrigues' match-winning unbeaten 127 against Australia in the semi-finals powered India to a record-breaking 339-run chase, the highest successful chase in World Cup knockout history. A crucial 150-run partnership between Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur (89) rescued India from 59/2. India subsequently defeated South Africa in Mumbai's final, ending their 52-year wait after previous runner-up finishes in 2005 and 2017. This breakthrough triumph is expected to significantly boost women's cricket participation across cricket-obsessed India. (PC: Instagram/@Jemimah Rodrigues)