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2 Masked Visitors, 30 Minutes: Probe Into Delhi Professor's Murder

Debosmita Paul was an Assistant Professor at Shivaji College, University of Delhi.

Surat lift horror: Six, including child, rescued after 45-minute ordeal

Surat lift horror: Six, including child, rescued after 45-minute ordeal

Yellow Line Metro adds 10-15 minutes of daily exercise for Bengaluru commuters: IISc study

Metro users gain 10-15 minutes of extra physical activity a day; reduced stress, lower pollution exposure and improved work-life balance among key benefits

How FIFA is turning World Cup into an NBA, NFL-style made-for-TV event

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature mandatory three-minute hydration breaks midway through each half, effectively splitting matches into four quarters regardless of weather conditions. The change gives coaches extra tactical time and allows broadcasters to air commercials, adding over 10 hours of stoppage time across the tournament. While some coaches support the move, others fear it could disrupt football’s traditional flow and rhythm.

CBSE clarifies re-evaluation payments

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Wednesday clarified that students applying for verification and re-evaluation of Class XII answer sheets do not need to have accounts with State Bank of India, Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda or Indian Bank to make payments on its online portal, addressing confusion that emerged after the system was launched earlier this week, Times of India reported.The clarification came after several students claimed on social media that the portal appeared to restrict payments to customers of the four public sector banks. In a statement posted on X, CBSE said the portal only uses payment gateways operated by these banks and does not require applicants to hold accounts with them.Also Read: Claude, other AI tools used to breach CBSE portals: IIT Panel“Candidates may use the available online payment options — UPI, net banking, credit card and debit card — through the designated gateways,” the board said.CBSE also said the portal continued to function smoothly despite a major cyberattack attempt on Tuesday, shortly after it went live. According to the board, the platform came under a barrage of denial-of-service attacks within minutes of its launch, receiving nearly 1.5 million hits in two minutes along with more than one lakh attempts at unauthorised file access.The board said its technical teams worked continuously to maintain the stability and security of the platform.“The portal has accepted 4,924 applications for verification and 39,056 applications for re-evaluation (total of 43,980) as of 12 noon today,” CBSE said.The board urged students to rely only on official CBSE communication for updates related to the process.Also Read: CBSE re-evaluation portal keeps lakhs of students guessingThe verification and re-evaluation window opened on June 2 for Class XII students who had earlier obtained scanned copies of their answer books evaluated under the board’s new digital On-Screen Marking (OMS) system.

ENG vs NZ: Why England players are wearing black armbands at Lord’s

England players wore black armbands and observed a moment of silence before the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s to honour former England cricketers who have died since the team’s last home international. The pre-match tributes also marked 10 years since New Zealand great Martin Crowe’s passing, with his daughter Emma ringing the traditional five-minute bell.

ICU Monitor Emitted Smoke, Then AC Unit Exploded: How Bihar Hospital Fire Turned Deadly Within Minutes

Forensic teams are probing the Muzaffarpur hospital fire that killed four people, as fresh details raise concerns over ICU staffing and emergency response.

Audio book platform Kuku files confidential papers for up to Rs 3,500-cr IPO

Kuku Technologies Ltd, which operates vernacular audio platform Kuku FM and short-video streaming app Kuku TV, has filed confidential draft papers with Sebi for an IPO to raise up to Rs 3,000 crore, according to sources. The company is planning to raise between Rs 2,500-Rs 3,500 crore and is targeting a valuation of up to Rs 15,000 crore (about USD 1.8 billion) through the proposed public issue, people familiar with the development said on Thursday. The initial public offering (IPO), expected in the later part of this financial year, will comprise a mix of fresh issue of shares and an offer-for-sale (OFS) by existing investors. Proceeds from the fresh issue will be utilised for strengthening technology and AI infrastructure, content creation and expansion into new geographies. When contacted, Kuku Technologies declined to comment on the proposed offering. Kuku's revenue surged nearly seven-fold to more than Rs 1,400 crore in FY26 from about Rs 240 crore in the previous fiscal, while the company remained close to achieving operational break-even. The company has leveraged artificial intelligence tools to accelerate content production, improve content recommendations and reduce customer acquisition costs. Founded in 2018 by IIT alumni Lal Chand Bisu, Vinod Kumar and Vikas Goyal, Kuku has built a portfolio spanning audio content, microdrama entertainment and edutainment. Its latest offering, Kuku TV, launched in late 2024, focuses on micro dramas -- short-form mobile-first video series with episodes typically lasting two to three minutes. The platform is currently releasing over 150 original shows every month and has crossed 200 million downloads. Industry estimates suggest that India's Hindi and vernacular micro-drama segment is expanding at around 60 per cent annually, driven by rising smartphone penetration and increasing consumption of short-form video content. Across its platforms, including Kuku FM, Kuku TV and Guru, the company has over 10 million active paying subscribers and more than 400 million cumulative downloads. Its content library comprises over 60,000 hours of programming across seven to eight Indian languages. The company has also initiated plans to expand into overseas markets, including the United States. Kuku has raised more than USD 150 million from investors such as Fundamentum Partnership, Krafton, Vertex Ventures, Granite Asia, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Paramark Ventures, India Quotient and 3one4 Capital. Former India cricket captain MS Dhoni is also among its investors. Kotak Mahindra Capital, Jefferies, JM Financial and Axis Capital are acting as the book-running lead managers to the issue.

The FIFA World Cup transit test

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest tournament in soccer history, spread across 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. For millions of fans, getting to the games may prove almost as challenging as the matches themselves.With airfares climbing, gasoline prices rising and airport security lines stretching patience to the limit, North America's rail and bus operators see the month-long tournament as a rare opportunity: a chance to persuade travelers to swap planes and cars for trains, buses and public transit.For transportation providers, the World Cup is more than a sporting spectacle. It is a high-stakes audition before a global audience."We want you to be able to use our system seamlessly from the minute you decide to come to the World Cup, all the way into the games, and after that to get home," said Conan Cheung, chief operations officer for LA Metro, the public transportation authority serving the Los Angeles region.Los Angeles, which will host eight matches including the U.S. team's opening game, hopes the tournament will help reshape perceptions of a city often synonymous with traffic jams and sprawling freeways.For Cheung, the objective extends beyond impressing foreign visitors. The World Cup is also an opportunity to convince more Angelenos to embrace a public transportation system that has expanded significantly in recent years.That challenge resonates across much of the United States and Canada, where public transit networks are often less extensive than those found in Europe or Asia and where private vehicles remain the preferred mode of transport."Transit providers have an opportunity to provide service to a group of people who do not typically use transit on a day-to-day basis," said Yonah Freemark, a principal research associate at the Washington-based Urban Institute."Many of the World Cup fans coming from the U.S. or Canada do not necessarily use transit services regularly."The impressions those travelers form during the tournament could have lasting consequences."They should be making sure that the services they provide are high quality and not too expensive, because the people who are riding them are going to form an impression of those transit agencies — and there's a chance to really prove that they can provide a good service," Freemark said.Opportunity meets realityYet attracting new riders may prove easier than accommodating them.The World Cup's 104 matches will unfold across four time zones and thousands of miles, placing enormous demands on transportation networks already operating close to capacity.Ground transportation companies are eager to capitalize on soaring airline costs, but many are also wrestling with higher operating expenses of their own, particularly fuel prices.That leaves operators balancing competing priorities: attracting new customers while avoiding disruptions or price increases that could alienate the commuters who rely on them every day.For intercity bus giant FlixBus, the tournament represents a significant growth opportunity.Together with sister brand Greyhound, the company operates one of North America's largest transportation networks and says demand between host cities is already accelerating, with some departures sold out and others filling rapidly.Ahead of the tournament, the company has invested heavily in new buses and technology while placing renewed emphasis on punctuality."What is critical here is every Flix experience needs to be a happy one. That's how we actually grow our business. And this is a great opportunity," said Flix North America CEO Kai Boysan."We will welcome all the new customers and we want them to see what a change we've done and what a great experience they're going to have."Boysan believes buses are well-positioned to benefit from frustrations increasingly associated with air travel."Airports are congested and the costs are rising. And clearly travelers are naturally looking for alternatives. And there we come into effect," he said.The price problemWhile operators hope to lure travelers away from planes, some transit agencies have faced criticism for sharply increasing fares during the tournament.Few examples generated more backlash than New Jersey Transit, whose train service between Manhattan and MetLife Stadium — venue for eight matches including the July 19 final — initially carried a round-trip fare of $150 for a journey that normally costs less than $13.NJ Transit argued that the increase was necessary to cover approximately $48 million in additional costs related to security, crowd management and World Cup operations.Public criticism forced a rethink.The agency subsequently lowered the fare to $98 after securing additional advertising revenue, while shuttle bus prices on the same route were cut to $20 from the originally proposed $80 after organizers arranged additional capacity through local school buses.Boston has also announced higher event-day transportation prices. Round-trip rail tickets between downtown Boston and the stadium hosting seven World Cup matches will cost $80, compared with the usual $20 to $30, while a bus ride will cost $95.The fare hikes have drawn criticism from politicians, including U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer."Charging more than 11 times the normal fare for a train ride is a ripoff, plain and simple. FIFA is making billions from this World Cup," Schumer said after the original New Jersey fare was announced."FIFA should cover the ride, not stick New York fans with the bill."FIFA has countered that high transit costs could encourage fans to seek alternative ways to reach stadiums and noted that comparable international sporting events have generally not required organizers to fund transportation impacts.Different approachesNot every city has opted for higher prices.In Los Angeles, riders heading to World Cup matches will pay standard fares."Our regular fare is $1.75, so people will be able to pay that," said Cheung. "We will honor all of the discounts we have."Philadelphia is going a step further.Fans attending matches in the city will pay just $2.90 to travel to the stadium by train and receive a free ride home, courtesy of tournament sponsor Airbnb.National rail operator Amtrak is also preparing for increased demand as supporters move between host cities throughout the month-long competition."We are fully committed to running a world-class railroad ... and ensuring our infrastructure is ready to accommodate new and returning guests," said W. Kyle Anderson, Amtrak's director of communications.For transportation providers across North America, the World Cup offers a fleeting but valuable chance to showcase what their systems can do.The tournament will crown a world champion on the field. Away from the stadiums, trains, buses and transit networks will be competing in a contest of their own — to convince millions of travelers that public transportation can be fast, reliable and worth returning to long after the final whistle.

10-year-old Kerala girl with Down syndrome breaks barriers in music

She secures entries in International Book of World Records, India Book of Records, Worldwide Book of Records, Universal Record Book and Nobel World Records for performing the National Anthem on the keyboard in 1 minute and 25 seconds

As screens shrink, Tamil entertainment finds new ways to tell stories

KadhaiShorts, a micro drama platform launched recently, aims to bring vertical story telling packaged into snackable two-minute episodic content to the Tamil audience across the world

Techie says foreign MNC tracks every minute at work

As screens shrink, Tamil entertainment finds new ways to tell stories

KadhaiShorts, a micro drama platform launched recently, aims to bring vertical story telling packaged into snackable two-minute episodic content to the Tamil audience across the world

Sonam Wangchuk joins Cockroach Janta Party's protest call amid NEET, CBSE rows

Minutes before the announcement, Dipke took to X saying, “the wait is over.”

Tamil Nadu BJP leader K. Annamalai meets Amit Shah

According to sources, Mr. Annamalai's meeting with Mr. Shah lasted for about 30 minutes

No sick leaves, 10% pay cut per personal day: Viral HR call leaves Internet stunned — ‘How is this even allowed?’

During a shocking 10-minute call, the company said it had a “flexible” policy that did not allow any sick or personal leave

Last-minute parleys? Karnataka CM-designate DKS, Sidda meet Rahul & Kharge

Congress leaders met in Delhi to finalise the Karnataka Cabinet. DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah discussed ministerial berths and deputy chief minister posts. The swearing-in ceremony for the new Chief Minister is scheduled for Wednesday. The party aims to form a stable government. Discussions are ongoing to finalize the complete list of ministers.

CBSE portal faces 1.5M-hit cyberattack in 2 minutes

'15 lakh hits within 2 mins': CBSE re-evaluation portal faces massive cyberattack

CBSE reported that its re-evaluation portal faced multiple cyberattack attempts while processing over 16,000 student submissions for verification and re-evaluation of Class 12 answer sheets. The board said a denial-of-service attack generated nearly 1.5 million hits within two minutes, along with over one lakh unauthorized access attempts. Despite the disruptions, the platform remained operational. The portal, delayed for infrastructure upgrades, will stay open until June 6 with extended session limits and improved stability for applicants.

Coca-Cola announces plans to list its largest bottler Hindustan Coca-Cola Holdings

Coca‑Cola Company is exploring a public listing in India for Hindustan Coca‑Cola Holdings Pvt Ltd (HCCH), parent company of its largest bottler in India Hindustan Coca‑Cola Beverages (HCCB), the Atlanta-based beverages maker announced early Tuesday. The maker of Coke and Sprite sparkling drinks and Minute Maid juices said in a statement that the potential listing is expected in 2027, with the sale of a portion of its shareholding in HCCH in connection with the listing.Coca-Cola currently owns 60% of HCCH after selling a 40% stake to the Jubilant Bhartia Group in July 2025.“Initial preparations are underway for a potential listing on the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange of India, subject to market conditions and applicable regulatory and other approvals,” the statement said.The company said the potential listing “will be a significant milestone, completing the refranchising of HCCH and positioning it well to capitalise on the opportunities in the Indian market.”Sanket Ray, president, India and Southwest Asia and Emerging Large Markets Lead for The Coca‑Cola Company, called the move “another important step for HCCB. Following the listing, the bottler will be well placed to continue to pursue growth.”HCCH, and its operating subsidiary HCCB, established in 1997, operated a network of over 2,000 distributors and reached over 1.7 million customers, as on March 31, 2026. The company has an employee base of 5,000, and operates 14 bottling plants in addition to eight co-packers.The Coca‑Cola Company has retained Rothschild & Co to advise on the listing, it said, adding that “further details about the potential listing will be announced at a later date.”Rival PepsiCo’s bottling operator Varun Beverages Ltd (VBL) had made its listing debut in November 2016.