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T20 WC: Italy beat Nepal by 10 wickets!

Brothers Justin and Anthony Mosca produced a polished performance to script an upset of sorts as debutants Italy thrashed Nepal by 10 wickets to notch their maiden T20 World Cup win on Thursday.

Justin struck an unbeaten 60 off 44 balls, while Anthony contributed 62 not out from 32 deliveries, the duo stitching together a match-winning -run partnership as Italy overhauled the opponents' score of 123 in just 12.4 overs.

Earlier, Italy's spinners delivered a disciplined performance, maintaining tight lines and lengths to dismiss Nepal for 123 in 19.3 overs.

Their bowlers, especially spinners Ben Manenti (2/9) and Crishan Kalugamage (3/18), applied the brakes effectively, playing a key role in strangling the opposition.

Nepal, who had come close to stunning England in their previous match before eventually losing by four runs, never quite found momentum. They struggled to score freely and lost wickets at regular intervals, preventing them from building any substantial partnerships.

Brief scores: Nepal 123 all out in 19.3 overs (Rohit Paudel 23, Aarif Sheikh 27; Ben Manenti 2/9, Crishan Kalugamage 3/18).

Italy 124 for no loss in 12.4 overs (Justin Mosca 60 not out, Anthony Mosca 62 not out). 

Sitharaman cites EPS on Tamil Nadu debt, faces Opposition protests

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman quoted former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisamy, who claimed that successive governments in the state accumulated Rs 5 lakh crore in debt over 73 years, while the DMK government added Rs 4.46 lakh crore in just four years since 2021.

She remarked that if Tamil Nadu’s borrowing can rise sharply, questions should not be raised when the Centre’s borrowing increases.

Her speech was interrupted by Opposition members, with Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge asking whether she was speaking about the Tamil Nadu Budget or the Union Budget.

Sitharaman rejects claim that middle class is squeezed

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman dismissed the Congress’ claim that the middle class has been “sandwiched,” saying there is no evidence to support the charge.

She said the number of income taxpayers has risen from 5.26 crore to 12.13 crore in the last 11 years, more than doubling at a CAGR of 7.9 per cent. “Suppression cannot happen if more people are coming forward to pay taxes,” she said, adding that the income tax exemption limit has been raised to Rs 12 lakh.

She further argued that the middle class consumption basket is widening and that such expansion would not be possible if the middle class were truly under stress. With inflation at historic lows, she questioned the basis of the Opposition’s claims.

Sitharaman counters Congress charge on budget allocations

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman rejected the Congress’ criticism that schemes were announced without proper budgetary backing.

She said the government has introduced 16 new schemes with allocations and provided top-ups to four existing ones, taking the total to 20 schemes with dedicated funding. She alleged that during the UPA regime, schemes were often announced without allocations but did not attract similar criticism.

Sitharaman accuses Congress of shedding crocodile tears

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday accused the Congress of “shedding crocodile tears,” saying the party is focused only on how much funds are allocated to states, not how they are utilised.

She asserted that the BJP-led government prioritises accountability and will not spend public money without ensuring proper oversight and outcomes.

High-powered panel to prepare youth for services sector

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Centre will set up a high-powered education-to-employment and enterprise committee to prepare youth for the services sector, aiming to secure a 10% global market share by 2047.

The panel will focus on IT, fintech, logistics, healthcare, tourism and creative services, and address skill gaps, infrastructure and credit access while suggesting reforms in standards, accreditation and digital regulation.

She also announced a target to create 1 lakh allied health professionals over five years, backed by a Rs 1,000 crore allocation this year.

Sitharaman lauds Budget a ‘Goldilocks’ moment

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said in Rajya Sabha that the current Budget has been presented at an unusual point for the Indian economy, marked by steady growth and contained inflation.

She described it as a rare alignment where GDP expansion remains strong while price pressures stay moderate. Referring to it as a “Goldilocks moment,” she said the situation was not accidental but the outcome of sustained policy work.

According to the minister, the balance between growth and inflation reflects careful planning, close monitoring of economic indicators and timely interventions by the government. She emphasised that detailed groundwork and calibrated decisions over time have helped India maintain momentum even amid global economic uncertainties.

Sitharaman argued that this combination of high growth and relatively low inflation provides a stable foundation for advancing reforms and sustaining economic expansion.

Kanpur Lamborghini case: Key accused gets bail

Shivam Mishra, son of local tobacco baron K K Mishra, got bail from a Kanour court on Thursday, hours after his arrest in connection with the high-profile Lamborghini crash that left several people injured on the VIP Road earlier this week. After his arrest, the police produced him before the court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate around 10 am, seeking 14 days' judicial custody.

Anant Sharma, counsel for the accused, said the court did not allow it and instead granted him bail on a personal bond of Rs 20,000. 

Centre aims to mainstream J&K youth: Govt tells Rajya Sabha

The Centre is focused on integrating the youth of Jammu and Kashmir into the national mainstream and steering them away from unrest, Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

Replying during Question Hour, she said the situation in the Union Territory has shifted from street violence to job creation. “For the first time in the country, in the last seven years, new EPFO subscribers have joined, and in Jammu and Kashmir, 1.6 lakh new subscribers have joined. This is a very big thing in Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.

“We are working under the leadership of the Prime Minister in bringing people of Jammu and Kashmir into the national mainstream and to ensure that they do not go on the wrong path,” she added, accusing the Opposition of creating obstacles. “But our purpose is to save the youth of Jammu and Kashmir and provide them with new employment.”

Karandlaje cited credit and entrepreneurship schemes, noting, “For the first time, Jammu and Kashmir Bank has given nearly Rs 14,490 crore under the credit guarantee scheme. This is the highest in the country.” She also pointed to industrial clusters and skill initiatives.

In a written reply, Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said PLFS data show unemployment in J&K fell from 6.7 per cent in 2019-20 to 6.1 per cent in 2023-24, while the worker population ratio rose to 60.4 per cent.

ndustrial Relations Code Amendment Bill, 2026 passed in Lok Sabha

The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Industrial Relations Code Amendment Bill, 2026.