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- Mumbai civic polls: BJP–Shiv Sena-led Mahayuti alliance dominated Maharashtra’s local body elections, leading in major cities while Congress, NCP, and Shiv Sena (UBT) lagged.
- US peace plan for Gaza: Trump announced a Gaza ‘board of peace’ as part of a US-backed plan to end the Palestinian conflict.
- Maharasthra polls: BJP hit back at Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the EC over marker pen use, accusing him of conceding defeat early.
- Delhi horror: Police apprehended a relative for sexually abusing a minor, months after her murder, based on a diary detailing the abuse under the POCSO Act.
- Mustafizur row: Bangladesh cricket chief Mohammad Mithun received death threats after defending players amid a dispute over relocating T20 World Cup matches.
Here are your top stories of the day
BJP–Shiv Sena alliance leads big in Maharashtra civic polls
The BJP–Shiv Sena alliance delivered a strong performance in Maharashtra’s local body elections across 28 municipal corporations. The Mahayuti alliance is leading in major cities including Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nashik, Nagpur, and Thane. Shiv Sena (UBT) lagged far behind with a lackluster showing. The much-anticipated reunion of both NCP factions failed to make an impact, while Congress also struggled to secure a foothold across municipal corporations. Follow live updates
Donald Trump announces Gaza ‘board of peace’ as part of US-backed plan
US President Donald Trump announced the creation of a Gaza board of peace, calling it a major step in the second phase of a US-backed plan to end the conflict in the Palestinian territory. In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the board as the “greatest and most prestigious board ever assembled” but did not provide further details.
Election Results
The announcement follows the formation of a 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee. Read full story
Maharashtra polls: BJP counters Rahul Gandhi’s ‘gaslighting citizens’ claim with ‘khandani chor’
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the EC of “gaslighting citizens” after reports emerged that marker pens were used to mark voters’ fingers during Maharashtra civic polls, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla hit back at Gandhi’s criticism, suggesting he was “accepting defeat” even before the votes were counted while calling him a “khandani chor.” Read full story
Diary reveals sexual abuse of minor; accused relative apprehended in Delhi
Months after an 18-year-old girl was murdered in a forest in south Delhi, police have traced a relative, now in his 20s, for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was a minor. The case, POCSO Act last November, was prompted by a diary found by the girl’s mother in which the teenage had detailed that she was sexually abused between the ages of six and 12 by the relative, who was also a minor at the time. Since the crime occurred when he was a minor, he has been apprehended rather than formally arrested, officials said. Read full story
‘Only spoke for interest of players’: Bangladesh Cricket chief receives death threats amid World Cup row
Bangladesh Cricketers’ Welfare Association president Mohammad Mithun said he received death threats after defending players criticized by a senior BCB official. The row comes amid Bangladesh’s request to move four T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka over security concerns. Players boycotted activities after BCB threatened no compensation if the matches were relocated. Read full story Go to Source