Mid Day

From Harry Potter fans forcing a 430-million power cable route to be changed to protect Dobbys unofficial grave, to a 500-kg wedding cake and a fake NASA gravity shutdown claim, these bizarre stories offer a mix of internet hoaxes, unusual creations and curious discoveries

It explains his origins. And in doing so, it places him firmly below the Tirthankara and the Kshatriya.

As various powders were handed to me, and as I gently spread all over the white sheet and rubbed sandalwood on her face and forehead, her eyes opened.

Cockroach Janta Party convenor Abhijeet Dipke launched the School Thik Karo campaign in Hingoli, alleging poor facilities in government-run schools. Dipke said a Zilla Parishad school in Santuk Pimpri lacked water in toilets and had broken windows and inadequate benches

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that government doctors will not retire until March 31, 2027. He also announced Rs 20,000 salary arrears for Class IV employees, a Rs 1,000 hike in ASHA worker incentives and revised remuneration for NHM healthcare staff

The Student Bar Council of NALSAR University of Law has condemned the Bar Council of India over its withdrawn order barring state bar councils from enrolling the universitys 2026 graduates as advocates. The student body also sought an apology from BCI Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra over his remarks

An ADNOC-owned tanker was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with the UAE blaming Iran for the incident. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes killed at least nine people in southern Lebanon, while Houthi missile attacks on Yemen raised fears of a wider conflict

Luigi Mangione, 28, pleaded guilty to federal stalking charges in the 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York. Mangione admitted tracking Thompson to an investor conference and shooting him. Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence, with sentencing scheduled for December 18

The new generation has developed skills that the older generation never had to learn reverse sweeps, scoops, switch hits and the ability to score at extraordinary speed. That is also courage. But Test cricket asks different questions can you do it when the ball is moving, when the pitch is helping fast bowlers?

The Indian team seems to be beset with injury problems and are without the spearhead of their attack Jasprit Bumrah. While Bumrah has a knee injury, it is seen that most players suffer from hamstring injuries. Clearly theres something wrong with their training and thats why these recurring hamstring injuries

Taliban marked five years in power at Afghanistans traditional Loya Jirga assembly hall on Saturday, while UN special rapporteur Richard Bennett warned that the country is facing a deepening human rights crisis, particularly affecting women and girls

Authorities issued a tsunami warning and urged coastal residents to move to higher ground, but later lifted the warning when Indonesia's meteorological agency said monitoring showed no significant sea-level changes that would pose a threat to coastal communities

Albanese reflected on the significance of the occasion for the Indian-Australian community, highlighting the enduring bonds between the two countries and the communitys contribution to strengthening bilateral ties

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that Iran has made no decision yet on the resumption of negotiations with the United States, the state-run IRIB news agency reported Saturday

Police said the three girls were travelling on a two-wheeler when a private bus allegedly hit them from behind. The impact caused the accident, resulting in the deaths of all three girls

Hilly districts of Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, Ramban and Udhampur are notorious for deadly road accidents.Experts attribute these road accidents to bad road conditions, over-speeding, overloading, road rage and other rash and negligent driving behaviours

Russian Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, also extended his warm wishes on India's 80th Independence Day, highlighting the countrys remarkable development journey and reaffirming Moscow's steadfast support for its progress

A flash flood swept away two shelters at the 5th Grenadiers Pasu Pani Army Camp in Dibang Valley, according to officials from the State Emergency Operations Centre, the news agency reported

In the video shared by Kejriwal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is speaking about the progress made in India's bioeconomy sector. Kejriwal shared this part of the video to allege that the Prime Minister's demeanour was under-confident, nervous and shaky during his speech

The meeting is scheduled to consider several matters, including the directorship of Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, who has decided not to seek another term when his current tenure ends in February 2027

I want to assure the people that we are for you, we will continue to represent you and work to bring Jammu and Kashmir to the level envisioned by the people who fought for freedom and were martyred, Abdullah said in his Independence speech at Bakshi Stadium here

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 13th consecutive Independence Day address, urged political parties to support the early implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies

PM Narendra Modi delivered his 13th consecutive Independence Day address from the Red Fort as India marked its 80th Independence Day

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi extended Independence Day greetings to citizens on Saturday, saying freedom is not merely a gift from the countrys freedom fighters but also a responsibility. He called on people to follow truth and non-violence, uphold constitutional values and protect democracy

Addressing a gathering at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur after hoisting the Tricolour on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day, Bhagwat urged people to strengthen the nation without compromising on its core principles and to confront challenges facing the country

A US federal judge has rejected the Tohono Oodham Nations request to halt the Trump administrations plans to build 62 miles of border wall along its Arizona reservation

Delhi has been placed on high alert ahead of Independence Day, with more than 25,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel deployed across the capital. A multi-layered security grid has been established around the Red Fort

A Maryland state tax court has struck down the state's digital advertising tax, ruling that it violates federal and constitutional provisions. The court ordered officials to refund taxes already collected from companies including Apple, Google and Peacock TV. The first-of-its-kind tax was introduced in 2021 to raise funds for education

The initial quake was followed by several aftershocks.

The Delhi government plans to redesign the Okhla Barrage on the Yamuna to reduce recurring frothing at Kalindi Kunj. The plan includes relocating polluting dhobi ghats, stopping garbage dumping, clearing solid waste and removing water hyacinth

According to the survey issued on Thursday, Sri Lanka stands out as Indias strongest supporter among the countries surveyed, with 79 per cent expressing a favourable opinion of India.

The Centre has notified 40 questions for the population enumeration phase of Census 2026, including caste details for the first time. Enumeration will begin on September 1 in Ladakh and snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, while the exercise will be conducted digitally across the country

The Jharkhand Crime Investigation Department has conducted raids at multiple locations across the state in connection with alleged irregularities in competitive examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission. The action comes as student protests over recruitment exam irregularities entered their 21st day

Record-breaking rainfall in Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo, flooded roads, homes and railway tracks, causing power outages and leaving at least five people dead and one missing

A University of Michigan study has uncovered a diverse fungal ecosystem nearly 1,640 feet below Michigans surface. Researchers identified 689 fungal species in water from gas wells, including 13 previously unknown species

Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 80th Independence Day, Modi said India's development journey was being driven by a new resolve and that the country had set itself an ambitious target for the coming decades

UK residents are experiencing an unusually wasp-free summer following extreme heat and dry conditions, but researchers warn the relief may be temporary. Wasps play an important role in controlling flies, aphids, caterpillars and other insects, meaning their decline could lead to a rise in pest populations later this season

An Army band played the tune of Vande Mataram as guests present at the venue joined in the rendering of the national song. This was followed by the Prime Minister hoisting the national flag and the national anthem being rendered

When disruption of the nations supreme legislative body is routine, taxpayers have the right to ask why they should keep paying for an institution where so much time is spent not working

The civic authorities need to undertake checks and thorough maintenance of the gardens they are looking after

US War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday warned that the US Navy could maintain its naval blockade of Iranian ports indefinitely, saying ships would continue to be rotated in and out to sustain the operation. Hegseth made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Panama City

PM Modi paired his white kurta with a chocolate brown vest and the traditional turban, which is commonly associated with the cultural traditions of Rajasthan and Gujarat

Rubio placed the relationship between Trump and Modi at the centre of the growing partnership between the United States and India, describing their personal ties as an important factor in strengthening bilateral relations

In a post on X, PM Modi said the sacrifices of the freedom fighters continue to inspire India's efforts to build a developed nation. He also highlighted the country's progress across different sectors and credited its citizens for driving the development journey

According to preliminary reports, a tremor measuring 3.2 magnitude was felt at 4.52 pm in Gonde, Borvat, Devgaon and Bhaygaon areas of Peth taluka in Nashik

In his first interview since Operation Sindoor, Doval shared insights in the docuseries Declassified: Operation Sindoor, which chronicles the intense 88-hour military conflict that followed the Pahalgam terror attack, including its high-stakes battles and aftermath

Ghosh is accused of being one of three principal masterminds behind the hurried cremation of the victims body at a crematorium in Panihati. The prosecution alleges that cremation-related protocols were breached to eliminate the possibility of a second post-mortem

The assistance underscores India's role as a first responder during global natural disasters. India sent the assistance after an earthquake of magnitude 7.3 struck Colombia on Monday, claiming the lives of 281 people, injuring 3,971 people, while 391 remain missing

MEA's reaction came on the back of Rahul Gandhi taking a swipe at the country's foreign policy during an event held in New Delhi on Thursday where he also mocked PM Modi's public embraces with foreign leaders by staging a hug with Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit

Germany is one of Indias most important partners in Europe. India was one of the first nations to establish diplomatic ties with Germany after the Second World War in 1951. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries