With an eight-wicket victory over Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 of the 2025 edition, Royal Challengers Bengaluru entered to their 4th Indian Premier League (IPL) final. Captain Rajat Patidar stated that the team only needs one more match to celebrate their victory with the team’s ardent supporters.

Suyash Sharma and Josh Hazlewood‘s three-fers at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium assisted RCB in dismissing PBKS for 101 in 14.1 overs. In precisely 10 overs, RCB would chase down the mark thanks to an undefeated 56 from Phil Salt, securing their place in the June 3 title match at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

During the post-match presentation ceremony, Rajat Patidar stated, “Let’s celebrate together after one more game. One day of not practicing won’t hurt you because we’ve had a lot of practice sessions during the competition. I constantly give thanks to the RCB supporters because we feel like we’re at home everywhere we go, not just in Chinnaswamy. Please continue to support us because we adore you”.

Everything went RCB’s way from the start on a surface with plenty of stitching and extra bounce. Leg-spinner Suyash and a returning Hazlewood took 3-17 and 3-21, respectively, to destroy the PBKS’ potent batting lineup and dismiss them for only 101 in 14.1 overs. The trio, who took four wickets between them to lay the groundwork for an overwhelming RCB victory, were also assisted by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, and Romario Shepherd.

With 10 overs remaining, RCB won the chase because to a brilliant display of stroke play by opener Phil Salt, who made his quickest half-century in the IPL 2025 at 23 balls and went undefeated at 56 off 27.

As Shreyas Iyer tried for a powerful hoick off Hazlewood and gave the keeper a thick edge behind, RCB’s too-hot-to-handle bowling made PBKS’ problems worse. With Josh Inglis caught at deep fine leg in the final over of the power play, the pacer struck once more, and PBKS ended the six-over period at 48/4.

As Shashank Singh was castled through the gate off a googly from Suyash, and Nehal Wadhera flattened his leg stump after chopping on off Dayal’s bowling, PBKS’ downhill procession continued unabated. Musheer Khan, an impact substitution, was trapped leg before wicket by Suyash after he swiped past him across the line. He was out of the game after just three balls.

Stoinis attempted to fight back, but Suyash put an end to his efforts by castleing him through the gate with a googly once more. PBKS reached the three-figure mark thanks to a boundary from Kyle Jamieson and fours and sixes from Azmatullah Omarzai off Suyash. Hazlewood completed his three-fer when Jitesh Sharma leaped full-stretch to his right and made an incredible grab.

Virat Kohli, who was chasing a meager 102, got off to a fast start by pulling Arshdeep Singh before looking at Jamieson for another boundary. Salt hammered Arshdeep for four and six, respectively, taking full advantage of the additional bounce. However, when Jamieson got a ball around the sixth stump to curve away from him and grab his outside edge, Kohli left in a wicket-maiden fourth over.

Jamieson beat Mayank Agarwal three times with the ball moving about before the batter reviewed for the fourth time and overturned the on-field out call. Through flaying and guiding off Omarzai for a brace of fours, Salt was able to ease RCB’s anxiety.

21 runs came from the last power-play over, which began with an on-drive from Agarwal, followed by Salt stroking a drive through cover before pulling and lofting Jamieson to select two fours and a six. Agarwal lofted and drove Musheer for six and four runs, respectively, after Salt cleared his front leg to bludgeon Harpreet Brar for six after RCB concluded their power-play at 61/1.

However, Musheer ended the 54-run partnership when Agarwal was caught at slip after getting a feather edge on the flick. However, Salt celebrated by cutting Brar for four as he strode forward to reach his fiftieth.

After skipper Rajat Patidar struck Musheer for four and then hit the winning runs with a spectacular slog-sweep to give his side a couple days break before playing in the crucial title match on June 3, RCB’s victory was all but certain.

“We simply couldn’t carry it out on the pitch. The bowlers cannot even be held accountable because it was a low total to defend. We need to improve our batting, particularly with this wicket. Every game we’ve played here has had some variation in bounce. We cannot provide such excuses since, at the end of the day, we are professionals who must act appropriately and fulfill their obligations”. The captain of PBKS, Shreyas Iyer, said, “We have lost the battle, but not the war.”

Brief scores:

Punjab Kings 101 all out in 14.1 overs (Marcus Stoinis 26, Prabhsimran Singh 18; Suyash Sharma 3-17, Josh Hazlewood 3-21) lost to
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 106/2 in 10 overs (Phil Salt 56 not out, Mayank Agarwal 19; Kyle Jamieson 1-27, Musheer Khan 1-27) by eight wickets

The government has ordered all e-commerce businesses to perform self-audits in order to identify and eliminate dark patterns in accordance with consumer protection laws, in response to the growing concern over these patterns in digital commerce.

Pralhad Joshi, the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, emphasized the significance of ethical business practices and said that the recommendations on dark patterns were the outcome of extensive discussions with a range of stakeholders, including prominent e-commerce firms and trade associations.

The minister urged all businesses to completely adhere to the rules and incorporate them into their internal governance and consumer protection procedures now that a mutual agreement has been reached.

While presiding over a high-level stakeholder gathering here, Joshi declared, “Today’s consumers are alert, knowledgeable, and more conscious of their rights — they will not tolerate deceit.”

Key leaders from significant e-commerce corporations, industry groups, volunteer consumer organizations, and national law universities came together for a concentrated discussion on ending deceptive online activities, which was organized by the Department of Consumer Affairs.

Also Read: The Myths And Realities Of Starting A Successful Ecommerce Business

Joshi emphasized recent changes, pointing to a notable increase in dark pattern-related consumer complaints on the National Consumer Helpline (NCH).

“Businesses shouldn’t wait for the CCPA (Central Consumer Protection Authority) to step in. Prior to issuing notifications, they ought to proactively identify and eliminate these dishonest behaviors. Building consumer trust is more important than merely adhering to regulations”, he said.

He added that the Department, working with IIT BHU, was able to create three potent consumer protection tools: the Jagriti App, Jago Grahak Jago App, and the Jagriti Dashboard, thanks in large part to the innovative concepts and technological solutions produced during the “Dark Patterns Buster Hackathon 2023.”

“These tools are a testament to our resolve in combating deceptive design practices that mislead consumers online,” stated the minister.

In addition to outlining the Department’s multifaceted efforts to address this urgent issue, Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, gave an enlightening introduction to the matter.

She drew attention to the concerning increase in dark patterns, which are design cues employed on websites and applications to trick or pressure users into making undesirable decisions.

She pointed out that these tactics damage customer welfare and trust while undermining consumer autonomy and controlling purchasing behavior. She emphasized that protecting consumer rights and guaranteeing fair digital trade depend on addressing dark tendencies.

Projects totaling more than Rs 62,000 crore were examined at the PRAGATI conference, which was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and involved the Centre and state governments. PRAGATI is an ICT-based multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.

In his post on Thursday, PM Modi shared information about the meeting, stating that it covered a variety of topics, including semiconductors, water resources, power, and highways.

“Today, I chaired a PRAGATI meeting whereover Rs. 62,000 crore worth of projects covering a variety of sectors like roads, power, water resources, semiconductors, and more were reviewed,” he stated.

Making sure all infrastructure projects are finished on schedule has been emphasized by the prime minister. He emphasized the need of completing all infrastructure projects on schedule and discussed complaints pertaining to RERA as well. “Ensuring justice for homebuyers is a top priority for our government,” the prime minister stated in the statement.

Throughout the discussion, the Prime Minister examined three significant infrastructure projects in the areas of water resources, power, and road transportation that totaled more than Rs 62,000 crore and were spread across several States and Union Territories.

According to a government press release, “he called for concerted efforts to overcome implementation bottlenecks and ensure their timely completion, emphasizing the strategic importance of these projects.”

The Prime Minister emphasized the negative effects of project delays and restated that they not only raise prices but also deny citizens access to infrastructure and vital services.

He emphasized that timely delivery is essential to maximizing socioeconomic outcomes and asked all stakeholders to place a high priority on efficiency and accountability.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need to enhance the caliber and promptness of grievance resolution in order to guarantee justice and equity for purchasers during a review of public complaints related to the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA).

He requested that state governments make sure that all qualified real estate developments are required to register under the RERA Act. Restoring confidence in the housing market depends on rigorous adherence to RERA regulations, the prime minister said.

PM Modi looked at noteworthy best practices pertaining to the growth of India’s semiconductor ecosystem. The National Semiconductor Mission may be strengthened, he said, by encouraging wider adoption across states and union territories and acting as a model for others.

The government claims that 373 projects totaling around Rs 20.64 lakh crore have been reviewed up to the current PRAGATI meetings.

With effect from May 29, Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran will step down as Director and Chairman of Tata Chemicals, the company told stock exchanges on Wednesday.

With effect from May 30, S Padmanabhan, an existing Director, was named the new Chairman after the Board accepted his resignation. Modan Saha has also been named an Additional Director, with effect from May 28.

“I am writing to formally inform you of my decision to step down from my position as a director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tata Chemicals Limited w.e.f. May 29, 2025,” Chandrasekaran wrote in his letter to the Board.

“After careful evaluation my current and future commitments, I have decided to step down from the Board. It has been a privilege to chair the Tata Chemicals board and I sincerely appreciate the support and collaboration during my tenure,” he further added.

During a time of strategic change and realignment within the Tata Group, Chandrasekaran served as Chairman of Tata Chemicals.

“The company has taken on record the request received from Mr. N Chandrasekaran via his letter dated May 28, 2025 conveying his intention to step down from the position of Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company with effect from May 29, 2025,” the company stated in a stock exchange filing.

With effect from May 28, Saha has been appointed as an Additional Director (Non-Executive, Non-Independent) in accordance with the Nomination and Remuneration Committee’s recommendations.

At Tata Sons, Saha is now in charge of a few strategic initiatives. He formerly served as Tata Digital’s founding director and CEO of financial services.

He served as the CEO of the Tata Strategic Management Group, which assists the Tata Group Chairman’s Office and Tata Group enterprises with strategy and transformation projects, before joining Tata Digital.

Saha had a variety of positions in the financial services industry with organizations such as ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, and UBS Singapore.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present at Rashtrapati Bhavan for the “Civil Investiture Ceremony-II,” where 69 people received Padma Awards.

“Attended the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II, where the Padma Awards were presented. The Padma awardees have made notable contributions to our society. The life journeys of those who were conferred the Padma are deeply motivating,” the Prime Minister wrote on X.

Earlier, 69 people who have made outstanding achievements in a variety of sectors, including art, literature, education, public affairs, medicine, social work, science, sports, and industry, were given Padma Awards by President Droupadi Murmu.

Along with other dignitaries, Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attended the ceremony. The Padma Awards ceremony for 2025 entered its second phase with this event.

One of India’s highest civilian honors, the Padma Awards are given out in three different categories: Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan. On the eve of Republic Day this year, the government revealed 139 Padma winners.

Three Padma Vibhushan, nine Padma Bhushan, and fifty-seven Padma Shri recipients were among those honored in this phase. Thirteen posthumous recognitions, honoring heroes who made a lasting impact in their industries, gave the ceremony extra meaning.

The posthumous awarding of the Padma Vibhushan to the late Bhojpuri and folk singer Dr. Sharda Sinha, whose music struck a profound chord with the Indian heartland, was one of the event’s most poignant moments.

The Padma Vibhushan was also given to classical dancer Kumudini Lakhia (posthumous) and former Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar.

Among the Padma Bhushan recipients were renowned journalist and novelist A. Surya Prakash, actor-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna, and social activist Sadhvi Ritambhara, who was well-known for her involvement in the Ram Janmabhoomi campaign.

Legendary musician Pankaj Udhas, seasoned politician Manohar Joshi, and economist Bibek Debroy were among the posthumous Padma Bhushan awardees. renowned Malayalam author M.T. Vasudevan Nair and Japanese businessman Osamu Suzuki, who was instrumental in Suzuki’s collaboration with India.

The Padma Shri category received the most honors, with 57 people honored for their innovative and grassroots work throughout the nation.

Notably, 23 of the recipients are female, demonstrating the increasing acknowledgement of female excellence across a range of fields.

The philosophy of “nation first, people first” is reaffirmed during this year’s ceremony, where the recipients represent the diversity of Indian culture, science, and humanitarianism. The Padma Awards are now a true people’s honor, honoring not only celebrity but also significant service, thanks to the government’s efforts to democratize the ceremony.

After retiring from tennis last year after a decades-long career, tennis icon and Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal was honored over the weekend at the French Open.

At a farewell ceremony in Paris on Sunday, Rafael Nadal, who won 14 French Open titles over the years, beginning with his tournament debut in 2005 at the age of 19, was given a standing ovation at Roland-Garros’ renowned Court Philippe-Chatrier while wearing a dark suit and matching shirt.

Longtime rivals and friends Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray joined him on the court. He thanked them for their “amazing rivalries” and respect, even though they were “tough” opponents.

“After all these years fighting for everything, you know, it’s unbelievable how the time changed the perspective of everything … all these nerves, pressure, strange feelings that you feel when you see each other when you are rivals, it’s completely different when you finish your career,” Nadal said while addressing his former rivals. In the end, it all comes down to being content with what we accomplished. We all succeeded in realizing our aspirations in the end.

He laughed and went on, “You gave me some hard times on the court, honestly.” “But I really enjoyed it a lot, pushing myself to the limit every single day to compete with all of you.”

Nadal is regarded as one of the best clay court players of all time and has a 112-4 French Open record. He announced in October that he would be retiring the following month following the Davis Cup Finals in his native Spain, Málaga, after more than 20 years in the sport, which included 92 ATP-level singles titles and a Career Golden Slam, which included all four major titles and an Olympic gold medal.

In a video announcement posted on social media at the time, he stated, “The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially.” I doubt I’ve been able to play without any restrictions. Clearly, this is a tough choice, and I’ve been considering it for a while. and I believe that this is the right moment to terminate a lengthy and far more prosperous career than I ever could have dreamed.”

At Sunday’s farewell ceremony, Nadal’s family sat amidst a sea of rust-colored T-shirts that read “MERCI RAFA” and were the exact same hue as the renowned Philippe-Chatrier clay. At one point, the tennis legend waved to the applauding crowd while holding his toddler son Rafael Jr. down into the court.

He included the statement, “At the end, tennis is just a game,” in his address. “Sometimes we feel a little bit more, but I think we understand that at the end of the day, it’s really only a game.”

He went on to address his old rivals, saying, “For me, it means the world that you are all present. We can be wonderful friends even if we have the greatest rivalries, which is a beautiful message to the rest of the world. I sincerely hope, and I have no doubt, that we will keep doing good things for our sport in the future. Our legacy is undeniable, but we must continue to improve tennis in order for it to continue to flourish. I have no doubt that we will create wonderful things collectively.

At the conclusion of Sunday’s ceremony, French Tennis Federation President Gilles Moretton and French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo unveiled a courtside plaque. The plaque featured a white rectangle with Rafael Nadal’s name and footprint, the number 14 (a record of Nadal’s French Open victories), and an image of the Coupe des Mousquetaires, the trophy given to the winner of the annual tournament.

The announcer’s words, “Your footprints will stay here forever,”

COVID-19 Dr. Rajiv Bahl, the director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research, stated on Monday that although the number of 19 infections in India is rising, there is no need for concern because they are not serious.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare‘s most recent data, there are 1,009 Covid instances across India, with the biggest numbers reported in Kerala (430), Maharashtra (209), and Delhi (104). Additionally, there have been seven recorded deaths from Karnataka (1), Kerala (2), and Maharashtra (4).

According to the Director General, “how transmissible the virus is — that is, how quickly the cases are increasing” determines how serious the situation is. This situation doesn’t appear to be the same as the ones that used to double in a day or less.

However, “the number of infections has increased.” Speaking to reporters, Bahl stated, “And we are keeping a close eye on it.”

“There is nothing to worry about, as so far the percentage of severe cases, among all Covid cases, is generally low,” he said, despite the fact that the numbers are increasing.

According to the most recent data from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), which was established under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the country’s increase in SARS-CoV-2 cases is caused by NB.1.8.1 and LF.7, which are offspring of the JN.1 Covid variant.

According to Bahl, these subvariants have the ability to “evade previous immunity whether natural or vaccine-induced”. According to him, their potential is lower than that of the earlier Omicron and other variations.

He also emphasized the necessity of “increasing vigilance, and to be prepared” in the event that the number of instances increases.

He reported that a meeting was held to discuss the Covid situation by Punya Salila Srivastava, the Union Health Secretary. “We are and will continue to monitor the situation very closely,” the DGHS and ICMR said during the event.

Rekha Gupta, the chief minister of Delhi, stated earlier on Monday that the government is keeping a careful eye on COVID cases and that directives have been sent to all hospitals.

“We have analysed the scenario and there is no panic situation,” stated Chief Minister Gupta.

The Delhi government released a Covid-19 illness notice last week, requesting that hospitals in the nation’s capital make sure that beds, oxygen, medications, and vaccines are available.

All medical facilities are required to submit all positive Covid-19 samples to Lok Nayak Hospital for genome sequencing.

“The hospitals need to make sure that there are enough beds, oxygen, antibiotics, other medications, and vaccines available. According to the advise, all equipment, including oxygen concentrators, ventilators, Bi-PAP, and PSAs, must be in working order.

Union ministers and BJP leaders celebrated the achievement as a sign of national pride and a tribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and vision for a rising India after India formally surpassed Japan to become the fourth-largest economy in the world.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) stated on Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong leadership and visionary leadership are directly responsible for India’s ascent to the status of the world’s fourth-largest economy.

The accomplishment, according to Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi, is the result of ten years of steady economic growth. “Prime Minister Modi’s leadership has steadily advanced India over the past ten years. During the UPA era, India was ranked eleventh, then it rose to fifth, and now it is in fourth place. This means Prime Minister Modi’s goal of becoming the third-largest economy is underway,” she stated.

Praveen Khandelwal, the Secretary General of CAIT and an MP from Chandni Chowk in Delhi, called it a happy time for all Indians, saying that PM Modi’s inclusive development plans, digital transformation projects, and economic reforms have all been successful. “India’s economic rise is a story of reform, resilience, and resurgence,” he said, adding that pro-business policies, prudent fiscal management, and people-centric government have made India the world’s growth engine.

Major programs like Make in India, Digital India, Startup India, Gati Shakti, and the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, according to Khandelwal, have been instrumental in improving infrastructure, drawing in record amounts of foreign investment, and fortifying important economic sectors.

He added that small firms will have more options to grow and quickly adopt digital technology as a result of this milestone. Khandelwal stated, “India’s increased international prominence will also boost investor confidence, leading to more FDI, capital inflows, and deeper integration with global value chains.”

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh praised India’s most recent economic achievement on Sunday said the country has taken “a rapid stride, a giant leap …towards #ViksitBharat” under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

His comments followed official confirmation that India’s GDP has overtaken Japan as the fourth largest in the world. Singh celebrated India’s rise in the world economy by writing on the social media site X, “Thanks PM @narendramodi for making this happen.”

B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, the CEO of NITI Aayog, stated earlier in the day that India’s economy has overtaken Japan to become the fourth largest in the world and is on track to overtake Germany as the third largest in the next two to three years.

“As I write this, our economy is the fourth largest. This is not my statistics, but as of right now, our economy is worth USD 4 trillion. These are IMF statistics. At a press conference for the 10th NITI Aayog Governing Council Meeting, Subrahmanyam declared, “India is bigger than Japan today.” According to Subrahmanyam, “only the United States, China, and Germany are larger, and if we stick to, you know, what is being planned, what is being thought through, it’s a matter of another 2, 2.5, or 3 years; we would become the third largest economy.“

On Sunday, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad’s seventh group of an all-party delegation left for France. The parliamentary representatives will travel to France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Denmark, and the European Union.

As part of its diplomatic outreach after Operation Sindoor, the Modi administration has dispatched seven multi-party delegations to tell countries about Pakistan’s ties to terrorism and India’s resolute stance against terrorism in all of its forms.

Randhir Jaiswal, an official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), wrote on X, “Together in the fight against terrorism. The seventh group of All Party delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad @rsprasad has departed for 6-country visit. The delegation will be visiting UK, France, Germany, EU, Italy and Denmark.”

Under the leadership of Ravi Shankar Prasad, the delegation consists of former diplomat Pankaj Saran, Congress MP Amar Singh, Shiv Sena (UBT) Priyanka Chaturvedi, and BJP MPs Daggubati Purandeswari, M J Akbar, Ghulam Ali Khatana, and Samik Bhattacharya.

While interacting with leaders in France, the United Kingdom, Germany, the European Union, Italy, and Denmark, the team hopes to inform its international allies on India’s response to the Pahalgam terror assault on April 22 and its larger war against cross-border terrorism.

Ravi Shankar Prasad emphasized earlier in the day that while India will take tough action against terrorism, it believes in peace and harmony. He emphasized that the government’s primary concern is ensuring the safety of every Indian citizen. He went on to say that Pakistan is a significant center for terrorist activity and that terrorism is a worldwide problem.

“I am going to present India’s strong side in European countries,” Prasad told ANI. Together, we will effectively communicate two points: Operation Sindoor will be implemented in the event of a terrorist attack against Indians from across the border, but we also believe in peace and harmony. This government is in charge of ensuring the safety of every Indian person, and terrorism is currently a global problem, with Pakistan serving as a major hub.

The BJP leader further said that the group spoke for the entire nation and that everyone, from Kashmir to Kanniyakumari, was using the same language in their opposition to terrorism.

In reaction to the Pahalgam terror incident on April 22 by terrorists backed by Pakistan, which claimed 26 lives, Operation Sindoor was initiated on May 7 as a forceful military response. More than 100 terrorists connected to groups like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen were killed as the Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI)