IPL 2026: Unchanged KKR elect to bowl first against DC, Mukesh, Vipraj included

IANS | May 8, 2026 7:26 PM

New Delhi, May 8 (IANS) Three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have won the toss and elected to bowl first against Delhi Capitals (DC), who have brought in pacer Mukesh Kumar and leg-spin bowling all-rounder in match 51 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Friday.

Chhattisgarh: ‘Lakhpati Didi’ Purnima Basin’s journey paints picture of transforming rural households​

IANS | May 8, 2026 7:09 PM

Raipur, May 8 (IANS) The story of Purnima Basin, from Chhattisgarh's Balrampur district, is that of an ordinary woman with extraordinary achievements. From facing daily hardships of making both ends meet to becoming a beacon of inspiration for fellow villagers, she has come a long way. She credits the Centre’s Lakhpati Didi yojana for the transformative change in her life and in the lives of a hundred others like her.​

Sabalenka, Medvedev to continue as neutral athletes despite IOC policy shift: ITF

IANS | May 8, 2026 7:05 PM

New Delhi, May 8 (IANS) Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka and former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev will keep competing under neutral status. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) confirmed that its stance on the suspension of Belarus and Russia remains unchanged, even after a recent policy shift by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Terror group JNIM's expansion in Mali sparks bigger fears: Report

IANS | May 8, 2026 7:01 PM

Bamako, May 8 (IANS) As terror group Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), closely linked to Al-Qaeda (AQ), rapidly tightens its grip over Mali, experts reckon that the threat is no longer limited to Africa and similar patterns are appearing in different regions. It is like a "waterbed" - pressure in one area causes it to resurface in another, a report highlighted on Friday.

Suvendu Adhikari promises collective leadership as Bengal CM​

IANS | May 8, 2026 6:52 PM

Kolkata, May 8 (IANS) In his first speech after his name was announced as the leader of the BJP’s legislative party and Chief Minister of the first BJP-ruled government in West Bengal since Independence, Suvendu Adhikari stressed running the new state administration on a collective leadership basis instead of monopolising the decision-making process of the state Cabinet.​