Australia tightened their grip on the third Ashes Test in Adelaide on a scorching Day 2, with Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon delivering a decisive spell that left England on the ropes and the hosts firmly on top of the Ashes 2025/26 series.

After being dismissed for 371 in their first innings, Australia needed early breakthroughs – and their captain led from the front. Cummins struck quickly to disrupt England’s plans, setting the tone for a day that steadily swung Australia’s way as the surface began to show signs of grip and turn.

Pat Cummins strikes early to break England’s resistance

England’s reply suffered an immediate setback when Pat Cummins removed Zak Crawley for 9, drawing a thick outside edge that was safely taken by wicketkeeper Alex Carey. The dismissal halted England’s opening stand and injected urgency into the batting side.

The breakthrough proved pivotal. What began as a cautious start soon unraveled as England slipped from relative stability into trouble, with Australia sensing an opportunity to press their advantage in the heat.

Nathan Lyon’s double blow turns the Test

Introduced before lunch, Nathan Lyon produced a match-shaping over that dramatically altered the course of England’s innings. First, he forced Ollie Pope into a mistimed shot to midwicket, dismissing him for 3. Just moments later, Lyon delivered a drifting off-break that turned sharply to bowl Ben Duckett for 29, clipping the top of off stump.

The double strike left England reeling at 59/3 at the interval, handing Australia full control as conditions increasingly favoured spin.

England’s middle order resists briefly

England attempted to rebuild through Harry Brook and Jamie Smith, who counter-attacked with intent to keep Australia at bay. Brook looked particularly fluent, scoring 45 off 63 balls, while Smith added a brisk 22 off 26.

Despite their efforts, Australia’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure, refusing to allow England to escape. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, ensuring the visitors never truly recovered from the early damage.

Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer stand tall at stumps

By stumps on Day 2, England were 213/8, with captain Ben Stokes battling hard on 45 not out alongside tailender Jofra Archer, who contributed an enterprising 30. The pair added 45 runs for the ninth wicket, offering England a glimmer of hope.

However, the reality remains daunting. England still trail Australia by 158 runs in their first innings, facing another uphill struggle to stay alive in the Test and the series.

Also WATCH: Pat Cummins bowls a jaffa to dismiss Joe Root for the record 12th time on Day 2 of Adelaide Test

Historic milestone for Nathan Lyon

Beyond the immediate match impact, Day 2 marked a landmark moment in Lyon’s career. His wickets took him to 564 Test dismissals, moving him past Glenn McGrath into second place on Australia’s all-time wicket list and sixth overall in Test cricket history.

With Cummins returning from injury and Lyon restored after missing the Brisbane pink-ball Test, Australia’s full-strength bowling attack has once again exposed England’s batting vulnerabilities at a critical stage of the Ashes.

Also WATCH: Glenn McGrath’s reaction breaks the internet as Nathan Lyon surpasses him on Australia’s all-time wicket-taker list | Adelaide Test, Day 2

Trump sees the Gold Card as a tool to attract and retain outstanding talent while also creating income for the US government. (AI image)

US President Donald Trump has launched his $1 million Gold Card, but Indians it seems are not too keen to shell out the amount, especially given the lack of clarity on permanent residency. Almost a week after the Trump administration launched its Gold Card visa program, it seems to have garnered little interest. Instead, the EB-5 category of visas seems to be the go-to route for the American dream.The US issues 10,000 EB-5 visas each year, with a limit of 7% or 700 visas per country, including dependents. The EB-5 investor visa program remains in high demand, especially among applicants from India and China, who make up the majority of those seeking this visa. Trump sees the Gold Card as a tool to attract and retain outstanding talent while also creating income for the US government. This new initiative is a permanent residency program, akin to a green card, offering a route to citizenship.“Basically, it’s a green card but much better,” Trump said at the launch. “Much more powerful, a much stronger path.” But are there any takers?

Why Trump’s Gold Card Is Not Getting Traction

Immigration experts told ET that the Gold Card’s application guidelines are vague. It also lacks legal clarity, and does not offer a clear path to permanent residency or citizenship – a combination of issues that makes it unappealing even to wealthy Indians! These experts are advising applicants to consider the EB-5 category instead.“The instructions for the Gold Card are loosely worded, and there is no clearly defined pathway to permanent residency or citizenship,” Keshav Singhania, Head of Private Client at Singhania & Co was quoted as saying.

Trump Gold card

To qualify for an EB-5 visa, investors must invest $800,000 in a targeted employment area or $1.05 million elsewhere, and this investment must create at least 10 full-time jobs. This investment covers the entire family, unlike the Gold Card, where each family member must pay $1 million plus a $15,000 processing fee, resulting in a minimum cost of $4 million for a family of four, not including legal fees.Poorvi Chothani, a prominent immigration lawyer, notes that not a single query on the Gold Card has been received till now. “You will get stuck in the EB-1 and EB-2 queues anyway. At this point, I don’t see this (Gold Card) as an attractive option given the legal and practical uncertainties.”“We have seen significant inbound curiosity, particularly from high-net-worth individuals and global founders. However, this has translated into very limited concrete follow-through,” said Shilpa Malik, Managing Attorney at US-based VisaLaw Nation. “We have not yet started processing any formal applications under the program.”“The most likely potential takers, at least in theory, would be ultra-high-net-worth individuals who value long-term US access, optionality, and brand association more than immediate immigration outcomes. That said, this is a very narrow audience,” she explained.There is also skepticism about the Gold Card in US prediction markets. On Polymarket, about 91% of participants predict that the Trump administration will not sell any Gold Cards in 2025, with over $7 million bet on this outcome.Experts have noted that the Gold Card is not a separate immigration category. “It does not have its own visa allocation,” Rajneesh Pathak, founder & CEO of Global North Residency & Citizenship told ET. “The executive order places it within the EB-1 and EB-2 categories, both of which already have significant backlogs. Even if a Gold Card application were submitted today, it would face delays due to the limited availability of visas in these categories, which could discourage potential applicants.”Pathak is of the view that unlike the EB-5 program, which is safeguarded by US law, the Gold Card would need Congressional approval to be enacted. “Currently, it has been bypassed by Congress. In contrast, EB-5 has explicit grandfathering provisions and is not anticipated to face disruptions,” he said.Meanwhile, due to stricter H1B visa regulations and other immigration-related changes, there has been a significant increase in demand for EB-5 visas. From January to November 2025, Global North Residency processed over 100 EB-5 applications. Additionally, more than 60 petitions are being filed in just the two months of December 2025 and January 2026.Arindam Sengupta, co-founder of Edufund, emphasized that price sensitivity and certainty are crucial. “EB-5 has been around for nearly three decades and has a proven track record. The Gold Card lacks both clarity and proof of concept,” he remarked. “At a million-dollar price point, people want something tried and tested.”

Snickometer controversy erupts in Adelaide. (ANI Photo)

The snickometer debate refused to die at the third Ashes Test as fresh flashpoints on Day 2 prompted Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc to deliver a brutal verdict on the technology, branding it “the worst technology ever” after another series of baffling decisions.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Snicko had already dominated discussion on the opening day following the controversial not-out call on Alex Carey, who went on to make his maiden Ashes century. Despite a visible spike on the audio graph during England’s caught-behind appeal, TV umpire Chris Gaffaney ruled that the noise came “before the bat” and that the ball had passed well underneath, adjudging Carey not out. England paid dearly for that decision.

The controversy deepened on Day 2 with England wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith at the centre of two key moments that again raised questions over the reliability of Snicko. In the 44th over, Pat Cummins induced what appeared to be a glove from Smith, with the ball ending up in Usman Khawaja’s hands at slip. Unsure whether the catch carried cleanly, Khawaja deferred to the umpires, and on-field official Nitin Menon sent it upstairs.Replays showed Smith’s glove moving as the ball passed, but Snicko failed to register any spike. The third umpire ruled that the ball had missed the glove and instead deflected off the helmet, giving Smith a reprieve. It was at this point that Starc’s frustration boiled over, with stump microphones capturing him saying, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo: “Snicko needs to be sacked. It’s the worst technology ever.”

Ironically, Snicko came into play again just two overs later — and this time worked against Smith. Attempting a pull shot off Cummins in the 46th over, Smith was caught behind by Carey. Menon sent the decision upstairs without an on-field verdict, and although the audio spike appeared a frame after the ball passed the bat, it was deemed sufficient evidence to give Smith out.The Snicko storm traces back to Day 1, when Carey himself admitted post-play that he heard “a bit of a feather or noise” when the ball passed his bat but chose not to walk, citing the unclear Snicko evidence. “Snicko obviously didn’t line up… you have a bit of luck, and maybe it went my way,” Carey said.Adding fuel to the controversy, BBG Sports founder Warren Brennan later acknowledged that an incorrect stump mic may have been selected during Carey’s review, with the company taking full responsibility for the error.

Counterpoint Research indicates that over 70% of iPhones sold in the US are manufactured in India. (AI image)

The Tata group seems to be betting big on iPhones, with its latest regulatory filing with the Registrar of Companies indicating that it has injected an additional Rs 1,500 crore into Tata Electronics. This company manufactures iPhones under contract for Apple.This funding underscores the parent company’s ongoing support for expanding Tata Electronics’ capacity, which has become one of Apple’s largest iPhone manufacturers in India. A significant portion of the iPhones manufactured at Tata Electronics are exported to the US and Europe.

Tata bets on Apple iPhones

This equity investment in October has increased the total capital infusion by Tata Sons, the group’s holding company, into Tata Electronics to Rs 4,500 crore over the past year, according to an ET report. The filing also reveals that the company has doubled its authorized share capital to Rs 20,000 crore, suggesting the possibility of further financial support from the parent company.Tata Electronics did not specify the reason for the capital infusion, but the filing mentioned that to continue its operations, the company will need “additional long-term finance by issue of securities/equity shares.”

Growth Strategy At Play

Tata Electronics recently raised funds at a price of Rs 62 per share, according to Mohit Yadav, the founder of the business intelligence firm AltInfo. He told ET, “This will fund capex for electronics manufacturing and semiconductor expansion, with profitability timeline remaining uncertain amid heavy growth investments.”According to its regulatory filings, Tata Electronics reported a consolidated operating income of Rs 66,206 crore for 2024-25, up from Rs 3,752 crore in 2023-24. Despite this, the company is still operating at a loss. However, the net loss has decreased to Rs 69 crore in FY25 from Rs 825 crore the previous year.Yadav told ET that even with assets of around Rs 48,000 crore and a big consolidated revenue, the net loss in FY25 suggests that costs related to capacity expansions and integration are still impacting profitability.Counterpoint Research indicates that over 70% of iPhones sold in the US are manufactured in India, with Foxconn being the largest producer of iPhones in the country.During Apple’s earnings call in August, CEO Tim Cook mentioned that the “vast majority” of iPhones sold in the United States were manufactured in India, while most other products like the Mac, iPad, and Watch were produced in Vietnam.In addition to producing smartphones and high-tech components for Apple, Tata Electronics is making a significant move into the semiconductor industry. They are investing approximately $14 billion to establish a semiconductor fabrication plant in Gujarat and a chip assembly and testing facility in Assam.Earlier this month, Tata Group and Intel signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the manufacturing and packaging of Intel products for local markets at Tata Electronics’ forthcoming facilities. They also plan to collaborate on advanced packaging in India and look into the potential for rapidly expanding customized AI PC solutions for both consumer and enterprise markets in the country.

US President Donald Trump said that America is headed for an “economic boom” in the upcoming year. Speaking at the White House on Wednesday (local time), Trump highlighted his achievements of during the second term and outlined the administration’s plans for the economy, border security and the United States’ role on the global stage.For the upcoming year, Trump made a range of promises, ranging from lower mortage for Americans to expanding the country’s energy resources.

‘More money in your wallets’

Trump said that the country would begin to see tangible financial benefits from his policies. He told viewers, “You will see in your wallets and bank accounts in the new year, after years of record-setting falling incomes, our policies are boosting take-home pay at a historic pace.”

Impact of tax cuts

Looking ahead, Trump pointed to tax policy as a central pillar of his economic agenda. He said the next year would reflect the impact of what he called “the largest tax cuts in American history”, delivered through “our great, big, beautiful bill — perhaps the most sweeping legislation ever passed in Congress”.

Electricity prices to fall

On energy, Trump said his administration was preparing for an unprecedented expansion in electricity production. He claimed that “within the next 12 months, we will have opened 1,600 new electrical generating plants”, describing it as a record unlikely to be surpassed soon. According to Trump, “prices on electricity and everything else” will also “fall dramatically”.

Lower interest and housing reforms

The President also focused on interest rates and housing, saying he would soon announce a new chair of the Federal Reserve who supported significantly lower borrowing costs. “And I’ll soon announce our next chairman of the Federal Reserve, someone who believes in lower interest rates by a lot,” he said, adding that mortgage payments would continue to come down. He further promised major policy changes in the property sector, saying that early in the new year he would unveil “some of the most aggressive housing reform plans in American history”. Turning to America’s standing abroad, Trump said the country had regained respect under his leadership. “America is respected. And our country is back, stronger than ever before,” he said, claiming the US was on the brink of an economic expansion “the likes of which the world has never seen”.

MUMBAI: With a focus on protecting iconic heritage sites in Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday cleared the formation of a state-level committee to make state-protected monuments encroachment-free and preserve their historical character.Headed by the minister for cultural affairs, the committee will include ministers from the revenue, rural development, tourism, public works, forests and ports development departments, along with senior secretaries from finance, planning, cultural affairs, urban development, home, revenue, rural development, tourism, public works, forests and ports development departments.The decision is aimed at safeguarding key Mumbai monuments such as August Kranti Maidan, Dharavi Fort and St George Fort, besides heritage sites in neighbouring Thane district like the Khandeshwari Caves. Officials said removal of encroachments and unauthorised constructions is crucial for conservation, public access and the long-term preservation of these historically significant locations.An earlier government resolution issued on January 20, 2025, had primarily focused on removing encroachments from forts—whether centrally protected, state-protected or unprotected—and led to the creation of district-level committees. The revised decision expands the scope to cover all state-protected monuments, not just forts, bringing several non-fort heritage structures in Mumbai and across the state under its ambit.Under the new framework, the state-level committee will supervise district-level committees, take policy decisions and issue guidelines to ensure uniform implementation. The planning department has been empowered to release funds directly to district collectors for conservation works and encroachment removal.Maharashtra has 390 state-protected monuments, many of them located in urban and semi-urban areas facing development pressure. In addition to Mumbai and Thane, the list includes sites such as Vasudev Balwant Phadke’s birthplace in Raigad, rock carvings in Ratnagiri, Buddhist caves at Khed, and memorials in Nashik, Sangli and Kolhapur.The state also has 145 state-protected temples, including prominent shrines such as the Tuljabhavani temple and the Khandoba temple at Jejuri. The government said the initiative would help preserve Mumbai’s fast-disappearing heritage while boosting cultural tourism in the city and the wider region.

The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) has released the list of examination centres for 2026 High School and Intermediate examinations. Students appearing for their UP board class 10 or class 12 board exams can now check the complete list of centres by visiting the board’s website, upmsp.edu.in. The board has also opened an objection window for students who are not satisfied with the allocation of examination centres. Students can submit their objections online before December 22, 2025. In case a student is unable to submit the objection online, they can inform their respective school authorities. Students/schools have to submit reasonable evidence to support their objections.

Exam centres allotted by UPMSP

Students who are preparing to appear for the UP board class 10 or class 12 board examinations in 2026 can check the list of centres allotted by visiting the official website. The same can be downloaded by clicking on the link provided below:UPMSP board exam centre list 2026.The final list issued by the board includes 7,448 exam centres across the state where the annual board exams will be conducted. Students are advised to verify the list specific to their district as published on the official portal.

What’s next for UP board students?

The UP board exams 2026 are scheduled to commence February 18, 2026 onwards. The exams will be concluded on March 12, 2026. Ahead of the theory examinations, UP board will conduct practical exams for class 12 students. As per the official schedule released by the board, the UPMSP class 12 practical exams will be conducted in two phases. Phase 1 will be conducted from January 24 to February 1, 2026, while phase 2 will be held on January 29 and 30, 2026.

When will UP board hall tickets be issued?

The UP board authorities will issue hall tickets for classes 10 and 12 students soon. Based on past years’ trends, it is expected that the admit cards will be released a few weeks before the examinations commence. Registered students can expect the UP board admit cards to be released by late January or early February.Once issued, students will be able to download their hall tickets by following the steps given below:

If students spot any discrepancy or error in their admit card, they should immediately inform their respective school authorities. The admit card serves as an entry ticket to the examination centre. Therefore, students should ensure that all the details mentioned in their hall tickets are accurate. For more information and updates about UP board exams 2026, students are advised to keep checking the official website regularly.

Veteran actor Dharmendra’s demise plunged the country into deep grief. The legendary star passed away at the age of 89, just days before his birthday. Following his death, the family performed his last rites in a private ceremony and later organised prayer meetings in his memory. While his first wife and sons, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, hosted a prayer meet at Taj Lands End, his second wife, Hema Malini, chose to hold a separate one at her Mumbai residence.Now, theatre owner of the iconic Gaeity Galaxy, Manoj Desai has spoken about the two prayer meets and explained why he felt Hema Malini made a sensible decision. In a conversation with Vickey Lalwani, Manoj said, “I was not surprised that Hemaji didn’t turn up. Before any controversy or any such talk would have happened, she organised a separate prayer meet for him. It was good that she didn’t come. Hema and Dharmendra ji were very close, but if somebody would have said something to her, the whole prayer meet would have been messed up. So, it was good that she organised a prayer meet separately.”

Talking about Dharmendra’s on-screen bonds, he added, “I think he had maximum chemistry with Hemaji. However, he had chemistry with all his heroines, including Mumtaz and Meena Kumari.”Recalling the overwhelming turnout at the prayer meet, Manoj shared, “There was a huge line of cars. My car was standing at the 86th spot. Before me and behind me, there were big cars. They performed bhajans at the prayer meet, and the whole world was there. Everybody turned up at the prayer meet. I met Sunny Deol and I told him that many people are coming, so I will leave from the front gate, and he told me ‘thanks for coming’. I stood for 45 minutes outside, waiting for my car because there was such a huge queue outside.”He further said, “I have gone to so many prayer meets of so many artistes, including Rajesh Khanna’s, in which I was sitting next to Amitabh Bachchan. I had also gone to the prayer meet of Yash Chopra, but I had never seen a prayer meet like that of Dharamji’s. It felt like the whole nation was there. There was no one who didn’t want to come.”Dharmendra passed away on November 24. He had been admitted to Breach Candy Hospital in South Mumbai due to health issues. Although he was discharged and showed signs of recovery, reports stated that he later faced breathing problems and was placed on a ventilator. His last rites were held on the same day and were attended by several prominent film personalities, including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan.During the finale of ‘Bigg Boss 19’, Salman Khan had also spoken about Dharmendra’s prayer meet. He had said, “There were two funerals which got the most respect. One was of Sooraj Barjatya’s mother and another of Dharam ji. Their prayer meeting was conducted with so much of dignity, honour. Ro toh sab hi rahe the but ek joh respect honi chahiye. Ek celebration of life honi chahiye. Hats of to Sunny, Bobby and whole family. Every ceremony, funeral should be conducted in this dignified manner.”