Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement on Thursday following disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024. Phogat, who was disqualified from the 50 Kg freestyle final for exceeding the weight limit, shared an emotional message on X: “Maa kushti jeet gayi, main haar gayi” (Wrestling has defeated me, I have lost). In response, Congress paid tribute on Instagram, stating, “Thank you for giving wrestling new dimensions and making the sport beautiful for all of us. You never gave up, whether in public life or in wrestling. The entire country salutes your spirit and courage.”

Former Chief Minister of Bengal, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, passed away at 80 in Kolkata's Ballygunge. He battled age-related ailments and had been in declining health, occasionally hospitalized in recent years. Bhattacharjee served as CM from 2000 to 2011, succeeding Jyoti Basu and marking the end of the Left's longstanding rule in Bengal after losing to Mamata Banerjee's TMC in 2011. Survived by wife Mira and daughter Suchetana, he was a prominent figure in the Communist Party of India (Marxist). His tenure was marked by significant political shifts and contentious land acquisition protests.

Tens of thousands of anti-racism protesters took to the streets in UK cities, including Liverpool, London, and Bristol, after anticipated far-right protests failed to materialize. In Liverpool, chants of “Refugees are welcomed here” echoed as protesters surrounded an asylum seeker support centre. Patrick, a local journalist, emphasized, "We can't allow people to attack and destroy the refuge for the most vulnerable." Hashem, a protester, praised the turnout, stating, “The far-right hate is not welcomed in Liverpool.” The government's strong stance, including 400 arrests, is believed to have deterred the far-right protests.

Defending Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra defended Indian athletes at the Paris Olympics, urging not to compare their medal tally to Tokyo. He emphasized that 4th place finishes are significant, as reaching the finals is a major achievement. “We cannot ignore 4th place finishes because it is the Olympics. Every condition is different,” he said. Neeraj highlighted the dedication of Indian athletes and expressed optimism about future improvements. He qualified for the men's javelin final with a season-best throw of 89.34m, underscoring his message of perseverance and progress.

Thousands of counter-protesters gathered in UK cities as over 100 far-right marches were planned. Demonstrations took place in Bristol, London, Liverpool, Birmingham, and Brighton, with anti-racism signs like “Love migrants, hate racism” and “No place for hate.” Over 6,000 police were mobilized, but far-right groups largely failed to materialize. Stand Up To Racism tweeted, “This is what a mass movement looks like.” Businesses closed early in anticipation, but the night remained peaceful. In Birmingham, hundreds marched, while in Liverpool, chants of “Migrants are welcome” were heard as police kept a low profile.

Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement after being disqualified from the Olympics for missing weight by 100 grams. In an emotional message on X, she said, “Maa kushti jeet gayi, main haar gayi” (Wrestling has defeated me, I have lost). Phogat apologized to her fans, stating, "My courage has crumbled, and I can no longer continue." Expressing gratitude to her supporters, she concluded, “Alvida, kushti.” Her retirement marks the end of a distinguished career spanning from 2001 to 2024. Phogat has appealed her disqualification, seeking to be awarded the silver medal.

Indian visa centres in Bangladesh are indefinitely closed due to violent protests that led Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee to India. An interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is being formed. India has evacuated non-essential staff from its High Commission and consulates, while diplomats remain. Nearly 19,000 Indian nationals, including 9,000 students, are in Bangladesh. The Indian government is in close contact with its community and monitoring the situation. The Indian visa portal has updated its message to inform applicants of the closures.

Thousands of anti-racism protesters gathered across England on Wednesday to counter over 100 far-right rallies. People formed human shields to protect asylum centers, holding signs like “refugees welcome” and “reject racism, try therapy.” Despite fears of violence, the protests remained mostly peaceful. In Liverpool, hundreds formed a human shield outside a church hosting an immigration advice center. Police deployed 6,000 officers to manage potential unrest, the largest mobilization since the 2011 riots. Some skirmishes occurred, leading to arrests, but overall, the counter-protesters outnumbered the far-right supporters, maintaining peace.

Vinesh Phogat announced her retirement on Thursday after being disqualified from the 50 kg women's wrestling final at the 2024 Paris Olympics for being 100 grams overweight. In a post on X, Vinesh wrote, "Ma Kusti (Wrestling) won against me, I lost. Forgive me, your dream and my courage has been broken." She also said, "Goodbye Wrestling 2001-2024." Vinesh, 29, was the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final. She had won her semi-final bout 5-0. Vinesh is appealing for the Silver medal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. A three-time Olympian, Vinesh competed in different weight categories in 2016, 2020, and 2024. She has three Commonwealth Games Gold medals (2014, 2018, 2022) and two World Championship bronzes (2019, 2022). Reflecting on her career, Vinesh said, "I don't have any more strength now."

As the UK faces increasing tensions, a map highlights potential far-right demonstration sites across major cities today. Key locations under scrutiny include London, Birmingham, and Liverpool, where authorities anticipate possible violent unrest. The Home Office has issued stern warnings about severe penalties for anyone engaging in rioting. In response, over 6,000 officers are being deployed to manage the situation and ensure public safety. The government is providing additional resources to police forces to handle the crisis and prevent further disturbances as reports of planned protests continue to surface.