From MS Dhoni’s troubled IPL return to Trump’s ambitious Golden Dome plan, the past 24 hours brought major headlines across politics, sports, and global defence. CSK’s playoff hopes all but ended as fans questioned Dhoni’s future, while Donald Trump unveiled a $175 billion anti-missile Golden Dome project inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome.Meanwhile, Banu Mushtaq became the first Kannada author to win the International Booker Prize, Lashkar’s propaganda chief Hamza was critically injured in Lahore under mysterious circumstances, and teen star Vaibhav Suryavanshi powered Rajasthan Royals to another win in IPL 2025.
Trump unveils $175 billion ‘Golden Dome’ defence shield, says it will be operational by end of term
US President Donald Trump announced plans for a sweeping missile defence system called the Golden Dome, inspired in part by Israel’s Iron Dome. Projected to cost $175 billion, the system will use land, sea, and space-based technologies to counter advanced threats like hypersonic missiles and orbital weapons. Trump said the project would be completed within three years, with Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein overseeing it.He added that Canada has expressed interest in participating, but “will have to pay.” Trump claimed the dome would have a “100% success rate” and framed it as a modern fulfilment of Reagan-era defence ambitions.Read full story
IPL 2025: Dhoni faces heat as CSK stare at wooden spoon finish after horror season
Chennai Super Kings’ dismal IPL 2025 campaign has triggered a storm of criticism, especially targeting veteran captain MS Dhoni. Returning mid-season after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury, Dhoni has failed to revive CSK’s fortunes, with the team losing all five matches when batting first. Their latest loss to Rajasthan Royals has left them on the brink of a last-place finish for the first time in franchise history. Despite scoring 196 runs at a strike rate of 135.17, Dhoni’s impact has been limited.As fans flood social media demanding change, questions swirl over whether this marks the end of an era.Read full story
Muslim side urges SC to stay Waqf Amendment Act , calls it a move to capture waqf properties
Appearing for the Muslim petitioners, senior advocate Kapil Sibal urged the Supreme Courtto stay the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, calling it an unconstitutional attempt by the Centre to expropriate waqf properties through executive means. Sibal told the bench led by CJI B R Gavai that the Act discriminates against Muslims by requiring a waqif to be a practising Muslim for five years and allowing non-Muslims to be nominated to waqf boards. He argued this violates Articles 15, 25 and 26 of the Constitution. Sibal said the law also excludes ancient monuments like the Taj Mahal and Jama Masjid in Sambhal from waqf protection, overriding past laws and Supreme Court rulings.Senior advocates Rajeev Dhavan and A M Singhvi supported the plea, citing the Ayodhya verdict and the SC’s earlier stay on the farm laws to argue thatunconstitutional laws can be stayed even if passed by Parliament. Read full story
Top LeT ideologue and magazine editor Amir Hamza critically injured in Lahore
Amir Hamza, co-founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba and a US-designated global terrorist, was suddenly hospitalised in Lahore on Tuesday under tight ISI security, triggering speculation among intelligence circles. Hamza, 66, was reportedly critically injured at his residence. The incident comes just days after the assassination of Abu Saifullah, a senior LeT recruiter, in Pakistan’s Sindh province. Pro-Lashkar Telegram channels termed Hamza’s condition an “accident” and urged followers to “stay strong”.A close aide of Hafiz Saeed, Hamza is known as Lashkar’s chief ideologue and propaganda head. He previously operated in India and was linked to the 2005 IISc Bengaluru attack.Read full story
Kannada writer Banu Mushtaq wins 2025 International Booker Prize for ‘Heart Lamp’
Hassan-based writer Banu Mushtaq has become the first Kannada author — and the first short story writer — to win the International Booker Prize, bagging the 2025 award for her collection Heart Lamp. Translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, the work explores themes of womanhood, caste, faith, and resistance. The prize jury, led by Max Porter, hailed the stories as “radical” and “uplifting,” offering something “genuinely new” to English readers.Speaking to TOI, Banu said the award was a tribute to Kannada literature and collective effort, adding that despite the international acclaim, her writing would remain grounded.Read full story