NEW DELHI: Security agencies in Meghalaya on Sunday rejected claims by the Bangladesh Police that the killers of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi had entered the state. They termed the allegations as unfounded and misleading.“There is no evidence to suggest that any individual crossed the international border from the Haluaghat sector into Meghalaya. The BSF has neither detected nor received any report of such an incident,” BSF chief in Meghalaya, Inspector General O P Opadhyay was quoted as saying by PTI.A senior Meghalaya police officer said there was “no input or intelligence to corroborate” claims that the suspects were present in the Garo Hills region, adding that local police units had detected no such movement and that coordination with central agencies was ongoing.Border Security Force (BSF) officials said personnel deployed along the international border remain on high alert to prevent any untoward incident, especially in view of the unrest and volatile situation in the neighbouring country. The force added that the border in the sector is under constant surveillance and that any attempt at illegal cross-border movement would be swiftly detected and dealt with.The Garo Hills region lies in Meghalaya’s western sector, which shares an international border with Bangladesh and is guarded by the Border Security Force.Earlier in the day, Bangladesh Police claimed that two prime suspects in the murder of Inquilab Moncho leader Osman Hadi had fled the country and entered India through the Meghalaya border.Addressing a media briefing in Dhaka, the Additional Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police said Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Sheikh crossed into India via the Haluaghat border in Mymensingh with the assistance of local associates.Bangladesh Police said the suspects crossed into India through the Haluaghat border, were received by a local contact, and were later taken by taxi to Tura in Meghalaya, according to a report in the Daily Star.He added that Bangladeshi police had received informal reports indicating that Indian security agencies had detained those who assisted the suspects, and said the Bangladesh government is actively working to secure their return.Sharif Osman Hadi, 32, was shot in the head on December 12 during an election campaign in Dhaka. He was airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment but succumbed to his injuries on December 18.Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Moncho, was a prominent youth leader during the mass street protests in July–August 2024 that contributed to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government. He was also a parliamentary candidate for the upcoming elections scheduled on February 12.

BENGALURU: What began as a tattoo of “another woman” on the husband’s forearm ended in the murder of his wife and a sentence of life imprisonment for him.Earlier this week, a city court convicted 33-year-old Vinay Kumar, a resident of A Narayanapura in Mahadevapura, of killing his wife Ashwini D, 29, inside their home in April 2021. Since his arrest, Kumar had remained lodged in Bengaluru Central Prison at Parappana Agrahara, with his attempt to secure bail failing.

Kumar and Ashwini, an engineer and his younger sister’s classmate, met at a family wedding, fell in love, and married in 2018. But the marriage began to unravel three years later when Kumar returned home with a tattoo reading “Roopa” inked on his right forearm. When Ashwini questioned him about the tattoo and demanded to know who Roopa was, Kumar gave evasive answers. She later discovered that he was having an affair. According to the prosecution, Kumar feared she might take legal or personal action against him. Unwilling to end the relationship with Roopa, he decided to eliminate his wife. Public prosecutor Satyavati HR told TOI the murder was planned carefully. On the night of April 16, 2021, Kumar purchased a can of beer and a strip of 10 sleeping tablets before returning home. After having chicken biryani for dinner, he forced Ashwini to drink the beer, secretly mixed with the tablets. She soon slipped into a deep sleep. Kumar believed the overdose would be fatal. When he found Ashwini still breathing early the next morning, Kumar strangled her using her dupatta. “Afterwards, he stepped out of the house and raised the alarm, claiming his wife was lying motionless,” Satyavati said. With a neighbour’s help, he took Ashwini to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead. Kumar initially managed to convince Ashwini’s parents and relatives that it was a natural death. However, Mahadevapura police ordered an autopsy, while viscera samples were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory. The autopsy revealed the death was due to strangulation, leading to Kumar’s arrest. Subsequent FSL reports confirmed the presence of alcohol and sleeping tablets in Ashwini’s system. During the trial, circumstantial evidence sealed Kumar’s fate. Testimonies from a wine shop cashier and a medical store assistant, backed by CCTV footage, established that Kumar had purchased the beer and sleeping tablets on the night of the murder. After police filed the charge-sheet, Kumar filed his bail application. Police, however, discovered that the surety documents submitted were fake and informed the court that his family had distanced themselves from him after the crime. The bail plea was rejected, forcing him to spend time in prison.

Google has intensified its battle for AI talent by bringing back former employees, with 20% of its AI software engineer hires in 2025 being so-called boomerang workers—a notable increase from previous years, CNBC has learned. The tech giant confirmed the statistic remains accurate as of December and reported a surge in AI researchers joining from major competitors compared to 2024.The company’s aggressive rehiring strategy comes as it competes with OpenAI, Meta, and Anthropic in the heated AI talent wars. Google’s head of compensation John Casey told employees that AI-focused engineers are attracted to the company’s substantial financial resources and computational infrastructure needed for advanced AI work, according to audio reviewed by CNBC.

Google taps large pool of ex-employees following 2023 layoffs

Google has a large pool of former employees to recruit from, particularly after its largest-ever layoff round in early 2023 when parent company Alphabet cut 12,000 jobs—a 6% workforce reduction. The company has since continued with rolling layoffs and buyouts as part of ongoing efficiency measures.The boomerang trend extends beyond Google, with ADP Research data showing increased employee returns across the industry, particularly in the information sector. Among notable returns, Google brought back AI pioneer Noam Shazeer in late 2024. Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas had left Google in 2021 to start Character.AI after the company reportedly rebuffed their chatbot development efforts, but rejoined DeepMind in August 2024 under a licensing deal.

Competitors also aggressively pursuing AI engineering talent

The competition for AI talent remains fierce across the industry. Microsoft hired around two dozen employees from Google’s DeepMind earlier this year, while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed in June that Meta had been offering $100 million signing bonuses. Google co-founder Sergey Brin, who came out of retirement in 2023, has personally reached out to prospective candidates, according to people familiar with the matter.Despite the competitive landscape, Google has made progress in its AI efforts. The company announced its latest Gemini 3 model last month, and Alphabet’s stock price has risen more than 60% this year, outperforming all megacap peers.

Haris Rauf‘s three-for and Joe Clarke‘s fiery innings powered Melbourne Stars to a commanding win over Sydney Thunder. In the 14th match of the Big Bash League 2025-26 at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Sunday, table-toppers Melbourne Stars crushed Sydney Thunder by nine wickets with 36 balls to spare, chasing down 129 in just 14 overs.​

Haris Rauf dismantles Sydney Thunder with brilliant bowling

Sydney Thunder’s batting collapsed on a good Canberra surface as they were bundled out for just 128 in their full quota of 20 overs after Melbourne Stars skipper Marcus Stoinis won the toss and chose to bowl first. Despite the pitch offering plenty for stroke-making, Thunder failed to build momentum after a promising start.

Openers Sam Konstas and Matthew Gilkes began positively and took the score to 33 inside the powerplay. Gilkes looked particularly aggressive, striking a boundary and two sixes, but the early spark was snuffed out when Rauf used his slower ball cleverly to have him chipped to mid-off. Konstas soon followed, bowled by Mitchell Swepson, triggering a steady slide for the Thunder.

The pressure mounted as David Warner couldn’t convert his start and was caught in the deep off Stoinis, while Cameron Bancroft’s scratchy stay ended lbw to Swepson after an unsuccessful review. At 63 for four, Thunder were in trouble and desperately needed a partnership.

Sam Billings and Shadab Khan attempted a recovery, adding some stability and taking the total close to 90. However, Rauf returned during the power surge and turned the game decisively in the Stars’ favour, removing Billings and later Chris Green with well-disguised variations. With the middle order undone, the lower order offered little resistance. Tom Curran and Peter Siddle cleaned up the tail as Thunder lost their final five wickets cheaply, slipping from a position of hope to another batting disappointment. Rauf’s incisive spell stood out as the defining factor in the collapse.​

Also READ: Sam Harper’s explosive ton powers Melbourne Stars to a dominant win over Sydney Sixers in BBL|15

Joe Clarke’s blistering knock seals a commanding win for Melbourne Stars

Joe Clarke produced a blistering opening act to set up a comfortable victory for the Melbourne Stars, showcasing his attacking intent from the very start of the chase. Clarke raced to a scintillating 60 from just 37 deliveries, peppering the boundary with eight crisp fours and a towering six. Alongside Sam Harper, he ensured the Stars flew out of the blocks, bringing up their fifty in a mere 3.6 overs during the power play. Clarke reached his half-century in only 29 balls, confidently dispatching Ryan Hadley with elegant flicks and forceful cuts through point, as the opening pair stitched together a commanding 86-run stand. The breakthrough eventually came when Chris Green dismissed Clarke at 86 for 1 in the 9.4th over, but by then the damage had been done.

With the platform firmly established, Harper and Glenn Maxwell calmly guided the Stars home without any hiccups. Harper remained unbeaten on 29 from 27 balls, while Maxwell added the finishing touches with an aggressive 39 not out off 20 deliveries, striking five boundaries and clearing the ropes twice. Maxwell took a particular liking to Shadab and Tanveer Sangha, ensuring the chase never drifted off course. The Stars reached 100 in just 11.1 overs and were never under pressure, as Thunder bowlers Daniel Sams and Ryan Hadley struggled to contain the flow of runs. This emphatic win keeps Melbourne Stars unbeaten with four victories from four matches, sitting comfortably at the top of the BBL|15 standings, while Sydney Thunder’s campaign continues to lose momentum.

Four wins. Zero losses.

These @StarsBBL are shining in #BBL15 🌟 pic.twitter.com/axshOfR4Lh

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 28, 2025

Also WATCH: Tom Curran knocks over Jason Sangha’s stumps with an absolute ripper in BBL|15

The government has notified detailed guidelines for two major shipbuilding initiatives with a combined outlay of over Rs 44,700 crore, aimed at strengthening India’s domestic shipbuilding ecosystem and enhancing global competitiveness.The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) said the two schemes — the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS) and the Shipbuilding Development Scheme (SbDS) — are designed to revive domestic shipbuilding, deepen industrial linkages and create long-term capacity, PTI reported.Under SBFAS, which has a total corpus of Rs 24,736 crore, the government will provide financial assistance ranging from 15 per cent to 25 per cent per vessel, depending on the category. The scheme introduces graded support for small normal, large normal and specialised vessels, with stage-wise disbursement linked to defined milestones and backed by security instruments. Incentives for series orders have also been built in.The SbDS, with a budgetary outlay of Rs 19,989 crore, focuses on long-term capacity and capability creation across the shipbuilding value chain. According to the official statement, the scheme provides for the development of greenfield shipbuilding clusters, expansion and modernisation of existing brownfield shipyards, and the setting up of an India Ship Technology Centre under the Indian Maritime University to support research, design, innovation and skills development.Union minister for ports, shipping and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said the guidelines create a stable and transparent framework to revive domestic shipbuilding and strengthen both forward and backward linkages, the statement said.The schemes also provide for the establishment of a National Shipbuilding Mission to ensure coordinated planning and execution of shipbuilding initiatives. In addition, a shipbreaking credit note has been introduced, under which ship owners scrapping vessels at Indian yards will receive a credit equivalent to 40 per cent of the scrap value, linking ship recycling with new ship construction and supporting a circular economy approach.To strengthen governance and ensure efficient use of public funds, independent valuation and milestone-based assessments have been made mandatory, the ministry said.Over the next decade, SBFAS is expected to support shipbuilding projects worth about Rs 96,000 crore, stimulate domestic manufacturing and generate employment across the maritime value chain.Under SbDS, greenfield shipbuilding clusters will receive 100 per cent capital support for common maritime and internal infrastructure through a 50:50 Centre–state special purpose vehicle. Existing shipyards will be eligible for 25 per cent capital assistance for brownfield expansion of critical infrastructure such as dry docks, shiplifts, fabrication facilities and automation systems.With the creation of modern infrastructure and a skilled workforce, commercial shipbuilding capacity is projected to rise to about 4.5 million gross tonnage per annum by 2047, according to the statement.Both SBFAS and SbDS will remain valid until March 31, 2036, with an in-principle extension envisaged up to 2047, the statement noted. Together, the schemes are expected to generate employment, promote indigenous technology development and strengthen India’s maritime security and economic resilience.

Shaheen Shah Afridi (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Shaheen Afridi’s difficult stint with Brisbane Heat showed no sign of easing on Saturday night, as another expensive spell and an untimely injury deepened concerns around the Pakistan fast bowler’s form and fitness in the Big Bash League. Facing Adelaide Strikers at the Gabba, Afridi endured a bruising 12th over in which Australian-born Italian batter Harry Manenti took him apart, conceding 19 runs in a single burst. The night worsened later when Afridi picked up a knee injury while fielding, forcing him to limp off and take no further part in the contest, a worrying sight for Pakistan with the T20 World Cup now only six weeks away.

Afridi was unable to complete his full allocation of overs and finished with figures of 3 overs for 26 runs without a wicket. Those numbers, however, masked a promising start. He was sharp and disciplined with the new ball, giving away just seven runs across his first two overs and briefly hinting at a turnaround. The momentum shifted when he returned in the middle overs. Matthew Short set the tone by pulling a short delivery through backward square leg for four before nudging singles to keep the strike moving. Manenti then seized control, launching three successive boundaries as Afridi struggled to regain his rhythm, the over unraveling rapidly. The injury incident followed shortly after. During the 14th over of the Strikers’ chase, Jamie Overton drove a yorker-length ball from Xavier Bartlett straight back past the bowler. Afridi, positioned at mid-on, chased hard but appeared to twist or jar his knee while running. He was clearly uncomfortable, completed the over, then limped from the field and did not return. With Pakistan still searching for their first ICC trophy since the 2017 Champions Trophy, Afridi remains central to their T20 plans, making any injury a major concern. Team management and fans alike will be hoping the setback proves minor. The broader picture has been equally troubling. Afridi’s BBL campaign has yielded just two wickets from four matches, with an average of 76.50 and an economy rate of 11.19. Earlier in the tournament, during his debut outing for Brisbane Heat against Melbourne Renegades in Geelong on December 15, he was even removed from the attack for bowling dangerously. In the match itself, Brisbane Heat defended a competitive total of 179 after being sent in to bat. Max Bryant provided the impetus with a blistering 63 off 32 balls. Adelaide’s chase was anchored by skipper Matthew Short, who scored 63 from 39 deliveries, while Jerrssais Wadia threatened late with a rapid 34 off 16. In the end, Heat held their nerve, bowling the Strikers out for 172 with one ball to spare to seal a narrow win.

Unrest in Bangladesh’s Dhaka

The US state department on Sunday denounced the recent communal violence in Bangladesh as “horrific,” condemning the mob killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment worker, and urging an unequivocal stand against religious hatred.Responding to IANS, a state department spokesperson said, “The United States supports religious freedom and freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.” The spokesperson added, “The United States unequivocally condemns religious violence in all its forms, and we welcome measures the Bangladeshi interim government is taking to ensure the safety and security for all communities in Bangladesh.“The statement comes amid growing concern in Washington and among advocacy groups over the killing of Hindu worker Das and what they describe as a broader pattern of attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh.US lawmakers have also spoken out. Congressman Ro Khanna called the killing “horrific” and urged clear condemnation of religious hatred. “The killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old Hindu garment worker in Bangladesh, is horrific, and my thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family,” Khanna wrote on X. “We must unequivocally condemn and speak out against these vile acts of hatred and bigotry,” he added.Dipu Chandra Das, a garment worker from Bhaluka, was killed on December 18 after a mob accused him of blasphemy. He was beaten to death and his body set ablaze.The incident has intensified scrutiny of the situation facing religious minorities in Bangladesh, particularly Hindus, amid political upheaval in the country. Advocacy groups report a rise in attacks, citing incidents of mob violence, vandalism, and intimidation across several regions.While the State Department did not provide details on diplomatic engagements with Dhaka, its response emphasised Washington’s condemnation of religious violence and welcomed steps by Bangladesh’s interim authorities to strengthen security for all communities.

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