NEW DELHI: India has moved closer to inking deals to export BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to Vietnam and Indonesia, which collectively will be worth over Rs 4,000 crore ($450 million).Russia, the joint developer of BrahMos missiles that fly at almost three times the speed of sound (Mach 2.8), has assured India that it has no objection to the precision-strike weapon being sold to Vietnam and Indonesia, defence sources said.

With the assurance being given during the delegation-level meeting between defence minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov on Dec 4, a formal no-objection certificate is now awaited from Moscow. “Both Vietnam and Indonesia, after agreeing to the initial deals, may go for more orders in the future,” a source said.Once the deals are inked, Vietnam and Indonesia will become the other Asean countries after the Philippines to buy the air-breathing missiles. India had inked a $375 million contract to supply three anti-ship BrahMos coastal batteries to the Philippines in Jan 2022. “Manila, too, is likely to order more BrahMos missiles,” the source said.All three countries, incidentally, have major concerns over China’s strong-arm tactics and expansionism in the South China Sea, with confrontations escalating, especially between Manila and Beijing, over the last couple of years.India, on its part, had successfully deployed the BrahMos missiles, whose range has been increased to 450 km from the original 290 km, from Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets for targeted strikes deep into Pakistan during Operation Sindoor in May.Over the years, Indian armed forces have inked deals worth around Rs 60,000 crore with Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace, with the missiles becoming the prime conventional (non-nuclear) precision-strike weapons for IAF, Navy and Army.India also plans to begin inducting the new 800-km BrahMos from 2028 onwards, with tests currently underway for the extended-range missiles with a modified ramjet engine and other upgrades, as was earlier reported by TOI.Apart from Brahmos missiles, India wants to sell the indigenous Akash air defence missile systems, which can intercept hostile aircraft, helicopters, drones and subsonic cruise missiles at a 25-km range, and Pinaka multi-launch rocket systems to the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam as well as other “friendly countries” like the UAE and Brazil.While India is still in the strategically vulnerable position of being among the top three arms importers in the world, it exported a wide range of arms, ammunition, defence sub-systems and components, worth nearly Rs 24,000 crore, to around 80 countries in the 2024-25 fiscal.In this, Armenia is one of India’s biggest clients of ‘finished’ weapon systems like Akash air defence missile systems, Pinaka rocket systems and 155mm artillery guns, as was reported by TOI earlier.

The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 kicks off on December 24 as India’s premier domestic List A competition featuring 38 teams divided into elite and plate divisions. This edition gains massive attention with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma making rare comebacks after over a decade marking their return to domestic white-ball cricket. Karnataka enter as defending champions while centrally-contracted players face BCCI mandates to participate in at least two matches boosting the tournament’s prestige.​

Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26: Tournament format and star players

Organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) the tournament runs until January 18 2026 across venues in Ahmedabad Bengaluru Alur Jaipur and Rajkot. The elite category includes 32 teams split into four groups of eight where each plays a round-robin with top two per group advancing to quarterfinals followed by semifinals and final; the plate group has six teams with its winner promoted next season.​ All matches start at 9:00 AM IST (3:30 AM GMT) under a points system awarding four for wins two for no results and zero for losses factoring net run rate for ties.​

Star attractions headline the squads with Kohli representing Delhi in Group D after his last appearance in 2010 targeting his 16000th List A run against Andhra Pradesh. Rohit too joins Mumbai in Group C for openers versus Sikkim and Uttarakhand in Jaipur fulfilling BCCI’s participation rule.​

Rishabh Pant will also play for Delhi alongside Kohli aiming to revive white-ball form post his August 2024 international hiatus while Shubman Gill captains Punjab in Group C with Arshdeep Singh and Abhishek Sharma. Suryakumar Yadav features for Mumbai KL Rahul bolsters Karnataka and young talents like 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi vice-captains Bihar in plate.​

Selectors eye pacers such as Gurjapneet Singh (Tamil Nadu) Gurnoor Brar (Punjab) Yudhvir Singh (J&K) Anuj Thakral (Haryana) and emerging allrounders amid no major fast-bowling breakthroughs recently.​

Elite Group Teams

Plate: Nagaland, Bihar, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh.​

Also READ: KL Rahul, Prasidh Krishna bolster Karnataka squad for Vijay Hazare Trophy defense

Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26: December 24 and 26 Schedule

The Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite 2025-26 features 119 List A matches from December 24, 2025, to January 18, 2026, across multiple venues in India. All games start at 9:00 AM IST (3:30 AM GMT). Below is the schedule matchdays December 24 and 26.​

December 24 Matches

December 26 Matches

Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26: Broadcast and Live streaming details

Live telecast airs select matches on Star Sports Network with streaming on JioHotstar app & website and WB Suite. This star-infused edition spotlights India’s white-ball depth ahead of international commitments blending experience with youth in high-stakes 50-over battles.

Also WATCH: Virat Kohli elevates training intensity ahead of his historic Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 return

SG Pipers clinch GCL season 3 title (GCL Photo)

NEW DELHI: SG Pipers pulled off a stunning upset to win the third edition of the Global Chess League (GCL) on Tuesday, defeating two-time defending champions Continental Kings in the final.The Pipers had barely made it to the final, edging past Ganges Grandmasters by just one game point.

But once they reached the title clash, they looked confident and in control. They won the first rapid match 4-2 while playing with the black pieces and followed it up with an even stronger 4.5-1.5 victory with white to seal the championship. Alaskan Knights finished third after winning a dramatic tie-break against Ganges Grandmasters.Continental Kings entered the final as favourites, but the momentum was clearly with the Pipers, who had hit form late in the league stage. Key contributions came from Nino Batsiashvili and young Indian talent Leon Luke Mendonca. Batsiashvili defeated Alexandra Kosteniuk in a long bishop-knight endgame, while Mendonca forced Marc’Andria Maurizzi to resign after 52 moves.Although Continental Kings’ star Alireza Firouzja beat Fabiano Caruana on the icon board, Anish Giri’s win over Wei Yi ensured the Pipers took the first match. In the second match, R Praggnanandhaa gave the Pipers an early edge by defeating Vidit Gujrathi. Giri then beat Wei Yi again, putting the result beyond doubt.“Yesterday I had mixed feelings because I had a terrible match, but the team reached the final. But today there is no mixed feeling,” said Giri after being named Player of the Match.Caruana later beat Firouzja, who ran out of time. Firouzja was named Male Player of the Tournament, while Hou Yifan was praised for her crucial role in helping the Pipers reach the final.“It feels great. The last two times, we were quite close to making the final. This time, we barely made it. But in the final, everyone showed up with their best gam,e and it is a great feeling,” said Praggnanandhaa.Earlier, PBG Alaskan Knights secured third place in a thrilling playoff. World champion D Gukesh defeated Viswanathan Anand when it mattered most, winning in 49 moves and sealing the third-place trophy for his team after a tense blitz tie-break.

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Kolkata: A day after minority community members in Bangladesh met the family of Dipu Das, the Hindu man who was lynched at Mymensingh, donations from India and countries across the world started pouring in for the impoverished family, now pushed to the brink after Das’s death. Among the benefactors are strangers from countries, including India, the US and Singapore.By Monday, minority community members in Bangladesh opened a bank account for the Dases after receiving queries from netizens on social media about how to provide financial help to the family. Donations started coming in by evening. “We have shared the bank account number on our social media handles with a plea to help the family. We are not keeping track of donations now. However, we heard that lakhs have already been donated from people across the world,” said Kushal Baran Chakraborty, a Sanskrit professor at Chittagong University. Chakraborty, along with other representatives from Bangladesh, met the family.

Chakraborty said he found the members emotionally shattered. “The family does not have the financial strength to survive even a week. Dipu was the sole earning member of the family. He worked in a garment manufacturing company and earned a meagre amount. But happy with his performance, his company promoted him. This enraged some colleagues. He was accused of spreading provocative messages on social media while he did not even have a smartphone,” said Chakraborty.Das’s family, which stays in a makeshift house behind a warehouse under Tarakandi Police Station in Mymensingh, was reportedly stopped from bringing his body home. “He got married a couple of years ago and has a small child. It will not be possible for the family to survive. We decided to open a bank account for the family first,” Chakraborty said.After the professor posted the interactions with the family members on Facebook, his social media handle was flooded with comments, condemning Dipu’s killing. On Monday morning, he posted a plea on Facebook, seeking financial assistance for the family. “Soon after, people started to send money to the account and shared the screenshots of the payment. We were overwhelmed,” said Chakraborty.

India Women produced a clinical performance in all departments to register a dominant seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka Women in the second T20I at Visakhapatnam. After winning the toss and opting to field, India dictated terms right from the powerplay. Sri Lanka struggled to build momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals. The Indian bowlers combined discipline with sharp fielding to keep the visitors under pressure. In response, India’s batters made light work of the chase with aggressive intent. The result pushed India to a 2–0 lead in the five-match series, underlining their control.

India’s disciplined bowling effort restricts Sri Lanka to 128/9

Sri Lanka never truly recovered after losing Vishmi Gunaratne in the very first over, setting the tone for a difficult innings. Captain Chamari Athapaththu provided brief resistance with a brisk 31 off 24 balls, striking three fours and two sixes, but her dismissal stalled the momentum. Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama attempted to rebuild, with Harshitha top-scoring with a composed 33, yet the scoring rate remained under check. India’s bowling unit operated with clarity, particularly through the middle overs, where Sneh Rana delivered a superb spell of 1/11 to choke the run flow.

Shree Charani supported well, claiming two important wickets and maintaining pressure. Vaishnavi Sharma enjoyed a memorable outing, picking up her maiden international wicket and finishing with two scalps despite being targeted. Sharp run-outs and alert fielding further dented Sri Lanka’s innings, as they lost their last five wickets for just 24 runs. The visitors eventually limped to 128/9, a total that felt well below par on a batting-friendly surface.

Also WATCH: IND-W vs SL-W: Vaishnavi Sharma removes Nilakshika Silva to bags her maiden international wicket during 2nd T20I

Shafali Verma blitz powers India to comfortable chase in 2nd T20I

India’s reply was headlined by a breathtaking display of fearless batting from Shafali Verma, who dismantled the Sri Lankan bowling attack with an unbeaten 69 off just 34 balls. Even after Smriti Mandhana fell early, Shafali ensured there was no slowdown, attacking from the outset and capitalizing on anything loose.

Her partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues effectively ended the contest inside the first half of the innings, as the duo raced to 87 in just 7.4 overs. Jemimah played the perfect supporting role, scoring a fluent 26 off 15 deliveries with crisp strokeplay. Shafali reached her fifty in just 27 balls, striking 11 boundaries and maintaining relentless pressure. Harmanpreet Kaur added stability before departing late, with the result already sealed. India cruised to the target in just 11.5 overs, finishing with 49 balls to spare and asserting their dominance. The emphatic chase reflected the gulf between the sides and reinforced India’s authority in the series.

Here’s how fans reacted: 

Shafali – 69* (34).
Jemimah – 26 (15).

INDIA BEAT SRI LANKA IN THE 2ND T20I AND LEADING THE SERIES 2-0. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/cCrGxvO5QK

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 23, 2025

Second ODI, second win at home – and Shafali Verma lit up the chase with fearless flair. Turns out, #Vizag isn’t just scenic… it’s a winning habit . Congrats #TeamIndia!@BCCIWomen pic.twitter.com/hMpk1J66Iy

— Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) December 23, 2025

Shafali Verma, the X factor. She’s gained a lot of confidence from final’s performance.

Big T20I World Cup coming in June. 💪

— Bhawana (@cricbhawana) December 23, 2025

#INDvSL

78m six. Hello, Shafali Verma. 👌🏽 pic.twitter.com/At2thn7h4X

— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) December 23, 2025

Shafali Verma continuing her sublime run of form

50 off just 27 balls with 9 boundaries #INDvSL

— Mohit Shah (@mohit_shah17) December 23, 2025

Shafali is showing the temperament of that final in today’s match.. I love when she does that..i hope you continue this way 🔥

— Archer (@poserarcher) December 23, 2025

FINALLY, Vaishnavi has her maiden international wicket and the very fielder who denied this moment for her two days ago, comes good today!

Some scripts write themselves! Must be a slight weight lifted for Charani too. #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/iq5lx3C94v

— Lavanya 🎙️🎥👩🏻‍💻 (@lav_narayanan) December 23, 2025

Shafali Verma is our lady version of Sehwag. She takes the attack to the opposition, a complete gamechanger, fearless.

We can proudly say she is our go to trumpcard in crunch situation as she has proved it in the mega event as well. Keep firing girl🔥 pic.twitter.com/TFEPcjM14y

— Akshat (@Akshatgoel1408) December 23, 2025

Shafali Verma is breathing the fire. 😍🌟 27-ball fifty in a 129-run chase!

Unreal power. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/mGGNyF1Bs3

— Pratika’s Poetry (@RRoyal_Reaper) December 23, 2025

Dominating victory for Team India in the 2nd #INDvSL T20I 🔥#ShafaliVerma #IndianCricket pic.twitter.com/n0yJtwkgnN

— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) December 23, 2025

Also READ: IND-W vs SL-W, 2nd T20I: Here’s why Deepti Sharma is not playing today’s match

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

What allegation did Giorgina Uzcategui raise as Ilia Topuria divorce case reached police? Details explored (Image Via Getty)

Ilia Topuria is known to fans for his rise in the UFC and his recent title success. But away from the octagon, a serious personal issue is unfolding. His ongoing divorce has now moved into a more serious phase after his ex-wife took legal action in Spain.Just days before Christmas, the private family matter entered the public eye. Giorgina Uzcategui, Ilia Topuria’s ex-wife, formally approached the police after claiming she received threats and abusive messages online linked to the divorce.

Giorgina Uzcategui reports online threats to Spanish police amid Ilia Topuria divorce

On December 22, 2024, Giorgina Uzcategui appeared at Spain’s National Police headquarters in Madrid. According to journalist Ani Moro from ¡HOLA!, she filed an official complaint over online threats and harassment she says began during the divorce proceedings with Ilia Topuria.The complaint reportedly included screenshots and records of messages. After her statement, the case was forwarded to the Civil Guard, which handles matters in the area where she lives. Authorities have not shared details of the messages, and no criminal charges or protective orders have been made public so far.Giorgina Uzcategui has stayed quiet since the separation became public. In earlier remarks through her team, she said the divorce is a private family issue, especially because a child is involved. The couple shares a daughter born in 2024. Ilia Topuria also has a son from a previous relationship.Her silence, she explained, was not avoidance. It was a choice made to protect her child and respect the legal process. Filing the police complaint marked the first time authorities were formally involved in the matter.Ilia Topuria has not directly addressed the complaint. However, earlier this month, he confirmed that personal and legal problems played a role in his temporary break from competition. He did not name Giorgina Uzcategui but admitted the situation was serious.A few days after the police filing, Giorgina Uzcategui’s legal team released a short public statement. Her lawyer, Cristina Corell Cortina, described the divorce as a “strictly private legal process” involving a minor.The statement asked media and the public to avoid speculation. It rejected what it called harmful interpretations spreading online. The lawyer did not answer Ilia Topuria’s claims point by point and avoided emotional language.Instead, the message focused on restraint. “Respect for the courts and for the child comes first,” the statement said. The legal team also confirmed that no further public comments would be made outside formal legal channels.Because a minor is involved, Spanish law limits what can be shared publicly. Court hearings, rulings, and possible next steps remain confidential. At present, the police filing is regarded as a procedural step rather than as a final result.As Ilia Topuria’s fighting future draws attention, this situation continues quietly in the background, handled through lawyers and authorities rather than public arguments.Also Read: Khabib Nurmagomedov And Patimat Nurmagomedova Combined Net Worth In 2025: Undefeated UFC Career, Earnings, Private Love Story, Family And More

The Competition Commission of India on Tuesday approved US-based private equity firm Blackstone’s proposal to acquire up to 9.99 per cent stake in Federal Bank through warrants, clearing the way for the global investor’s entry into the private sector lender.In a release, the fair trade regulator said the proposed transaction involves Asia II Topco XIII Pte Ltd, an arm of Blackstone, acquiring warrants that carry the right to subscribe to equity shares of Federal Bank, PTI reported.“The proposed combination envisages acquisition of certain warrants by Asia II Topco XIII Pte Ltd (acquirer), each carrying a right to subscribe to one fully paid-up equity share of Federal Bank Ltd (target),” the regulator said.Upon full exercise of the warrants, the acquirer will hold 9.99 per cent of the paid-up share capital of Federal Bank on a fully diluted basis, according to the CCI. Blackstone will also have the right to nominate a director on the bank’s board as long as it holds at least a 5 per cent stake.Federal Bank is a private sector commercial lender offering a range of banking products and services, including deposits, loans and payment solutions.In a separate approval, the CCI also cleared Tata Steel Ltd’s proposal to acquire sole control of Tata BlueScope Steel by purchasing the remaining 50 per cent equity stake held by BlueScope Steel Asia Holdings Pty Ltd.“Commission approves Tata Steel Limited’s proposed acquisition of sole control in Tata BlueScope Steel Pvt. Ltd. by purchasing the remaining 50 per cent equity shareholding currently held by BlueScope Steel Asia Holdings Pty Ltd,” the watchdog said in a post on X.Tata BlueScope Steel is currently a 50:50 joint venture between BlueScope Steel Ltd of Australia and Tata Steel Downstream Products Ltd. Tata Steel is engaged in iron ore mining and steel production, while Tata Steel Downstream Products operates in the coated steel segment, offering surface-coated steel products and related solutions.Transactions crossing specified thresholds require clearance from the competition regulator, which is mandated to prevent unfair business practices and ensure fair competition in the market.

Pakistan government on Tuesday sold its national airline, PIA, for Rs 135 billion to a consortium led by Arif Habib investment firm on Tuesday. The sale, organised through a bidding process in Islamabad, marks the largest transaction in Pakistan’s history. It aims to revive the once-prestigious carrier that had been struggling due to years of mismanagement, as reported by PTI.There were three companies bidding for this auction, namely Arif Habib, Lucky Cement, and Airblue. Arif Habib won this auction after an aggressive bidding process against Lucky Cement. The successful auction cost of Rs 135 billion was much higher than the government’s reference price of Rs 100 billion. Airblue has quoted the lowest amount, Rs 26.5 billion.The sale will involve 75% of the shares of PIA at this stage, and the successful bidder will have 90 days to purchase the rest 25%. A greater portion of the money accruing from the sale of the national carrier, 92.5%, will be invested in the airline, while the remaining 7.5% will be paid to the government.The deal requires Arif Habib to invest an additional Rs 80 billion in PIA over the next five years. This comes after the government took over the airline’s massive debt of Rs 654 billion last year to make the sale more attractive.Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the transparent nature of the sale. “It will be the largest transaction ever in Pakistan’s history,” he stated during a federal cabinet meeting.The entire bidding process was broadcast live on local TV channels. This successful sale came after a failed attempt last year when the airline didn’t attract the desired price.PIA’s privatization marks the end of an era for what was once a prominent airline. Years of poor management had severely impacted its service quality and reputation, ultimately forcing the government to sell it to private investors.