Former British Prince Andrew Arrested in Epstein-Linked Investigation
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former British prince and brother of King Charles III, has been arrested by Thames Valley Police on suspicion of misconduct in public office. This marks the first detention of a senior British royal in modern history, occurring amid renewed scrutiny connected to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
The arrest followed the release of emails linked to the Epstein investigation by the US Justice Department, prompting coordinated searches at properties in Berkshire and the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that "nobody is above the law" as police conducted raids on Andrew's 66th birthday, representing a dramatic escalation in the ongoing investigation into his alleged connections to the Epstein files.
Indian Stock Markets Experience Sharp Sell-Off
Indian equity markets witnessed a severe downturn on Thursday, with the BSE Sensex plunging 1,236 points to close at 82,498.14 and the Nifty50 falling 365 points to end below the 25,500 level. This decline followed three consecutive sessions of gains, with heavy intraday losses reflecting broad-based selling pressure across sectors.
The market crash wiped out nearly Rs 7.55 lakh crore in investor wealth, dragging the overall market capitalisation of the Bombay Stock Exchange to approximately Rs 464 lakh crore. The sharp correction has raised fresh concerns about increased volatility in the near term as investors reassess market fundamentals and global economic conditions.
Supreme Court Expresses Concern Over Freebies Culture
The Supreme Court of India has issued a strong warning to states regarding the growing culture of distributing indiscriminate freebies, cautioning that extending universal benefits without proper targeting of the needy could severely strain state finances and undermine long-term development goals.
The court's remarks came during a hearing on a plea involving free electricity for all consumers in Tamil Nadu. While acknowledging that welfare measures are justified for impoverished populations, the court observed that blanket giveaways may transform into "appeasing policies" that weaken economic discipline and fiscal responsibility.
Chhattisgarh School Incident Prompts Investigation
Authorities in Chhattisgarh have ordered a comprehensive probe after at least 35 students from classes 6 to 8 at a government middle school in Dhamtari district were discovered with healed cut marks on their wrists. The injuries, believed to be 20-25 days old, came to light following a parent's complaint to the school principal.
Education department officials are investigating how numerous students sustained similar injuries without earlier detection, with the discovery sparking significant concern among parents and local authorities about student welfare and school monitoring systems.
Shivam Dube Attributes Success to MS Dhoni's Guidance
Indian cricketer Shivam Dube has credited former captain MS Dhoni for guiding his batting approach following his match-winning 67-run innings against the Netherlands in the T20 World Cup. Dube revealed that Dhoni's advice helped him refine his technique, particularly against pace bowling.
The all-rounder explained that Dhoni emphasized strike rotation and intelligent shot selection over constant aggressive hitting, which significantly improved his confidence and performance under pressure. Dube acknowledged that this mentorship played a crucial role in developing his maturity as a batter at the international level.
