Tucker Carlson's claims that Jeffrey Epstein was a Mossad agent have reignited a controversial conspiracy theory, prompting strong denials from former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. The theory, fueled by Epstein's wealth and ties to Israeli leaders, is seen by some as a demand for accountability, while others warn against antisemitic tropes and baseless accusations.
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England's cricket team, led by Ben Stokes, faced a two-point deduction and a 10% match fee fine for a slow over-rate in their Lord's Test victory against India. This penalty dropped them to third in the World Test Championship standings. Michael Vaughan criticized the ICC, questioning why only England was penalized despite both teams' slow over-rates.
India's wealthiest investors are increasingly allocating capital to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, driven by less than desirable returns from traditional assets and renewed confidence following favorable global signals, including pro-crypto stances from US political figures.
The Punjab government, led by Bhagwant Mann, has drafted a strict anti-sacrilege law, the 'Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scripture(s) Act, 2025'. It proposes life imprisonment for desecrating holy scriptures like the Guru Granth Sahib, Gita, Quran, and Bible. Guardians could be liable if juveniles or differently-abled individuals under their care commit sacrilege.
In Odisha's Balasore, a college student self-immolated after alleging inaction on her sexual harassment complaint against a department head. Suffering 90% burns, she's now in critical condition at AIIMS Bhubaneswar. A student who tried to help was also injured. Prior to the incident, she protested for a week, and the college principal stated an internal inquiry was underway.
The US Drug Enforcement Agency dismantled an international drug cartel with ties to the ISI, China, and Canada, arresting Opinder Singh Sian, also known as Thanos. Sian operated a global fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking ring from British Columbia.
Donald Trump has defended Attorney General Pam Bondi amidst attacks from his supporters, urging unity within the MAGA movement. He dismissed the renewed controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's files as a political distraction orchestrated by his opponents. Trump called on his allies to focus on investigating voter fraud and political corruption, emphasizing Bondi's vital role in these efforts and downplaying the significance of the Epstein issue.
Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the Indian equity benchmark indices, opened in red on Friday. While Nifty50 was below 25,100, BSE Sensex was down over 100 points.
Brazilian President Lula da Silva criticized Donald Trump's tariff threats against the Brics nations, asserting the world desires alternatives to American dominance. Trump's warning of a 10% tariff if the bloc adopts "anti-American" positions sparked resistance. Brics members expressed concerns about rising tariffs and emphasized cooperation, while downplaying ambitions for a common currency amid the trade tensions.
Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav led a "chakka jam" in Bihar, protesting the Election Commission's electoral roll revision ahead of assembly elections. The Grand Alliance march faced opposition from the BJP, who accused them of hooliganism and defended the EC's standard procedure.
Donald Trump claimed B-2 pilots involved in Operation Midnight Hammer told him no previous president dared order such a mission in Iran. He lauded the strike, aimed at eliminating Iranian nuclear weapons, as an overwhelming success, rating it a '15' out of 10.