A smartphone thief experienced a sudden change of heart upon unlocking the stolen device and seeing a spiritual leader’s image on the wallpaper. Overcome by the image, the man returned the phone and apologized, a moment captured and shared widely online, sparking discussions about conscience and faith.

What was meant to be a quick snatch-and-run turned into something straight out of a spiritual storybook — and now the internet can’t stop replaying it.In a video that’s been bouncing around Instagram and X, a man who had just stolen a smartphone suddenly slows down. No sirens. No one chasing him. Just… a pause.Why?Because the moment he unlocked the phone, he was staring straight at the calm, serious face of spiritual guruPremanand Ji Maharaj on the wallpaper.And somehow, that was enough.You can actually see the shift happen. He looks at the screen. Then again. The swagger disappears. The confidence drains. And instead of powering off the phone and vanishing into the crowd, he does something no one saw coming — he tracks down the owner, hands the phone back, and says sorry.Yes. The thief returned the phone. On his own. With an apology.The clip was caught by someone nearby and uploaded online, where it took off within hours. Lakhs of views, thousands of comments, and a comment section filled with “Radhe Radhe” and folded-hands emojis.“Maharaj ji ki nazar hi kaafi hai,” one person wrote.Another said, “This is not luck. This is bhakti at work.”So who exactly is Premanand Ji Maharaj, and why did one photo hit so hard?Premanand Ji Maharaj is a well-known spiritual teacher and bhakti saint, deeply devoted to Radha and Krishna. Based in Vrindavan, he’s followed by millions who listen to his satsangs for their simple language, emotional honesty, and focus on living clean — no shortcuts, no wrongdoing, no ego.His talks often go viral because they’re gentle but sharp. About controlling the mind. About choosing the right path even when no one is watching. About how one wrong step can quietly change everything.Many devotees say just seeing his image brings a strange calm. And sometimes, a strange sense of guilt.Which is exactly what this moment looked like.No drama. No shouting. No police. Just a phone, a saint’s face, and a sudden realisation.For a lot of people watching online, this wasn’t just a feel-good clip about a returned phone. It felt like proof that conscience can wake up at the weirdest times. That faith — or fear, or respect — can still cut through impulse.And in a feed full of fights, scams and disasters, this one hit differently.As one user put it best:“Sometimes you don’t need CCTV or cops. You just need the right wallpaper.”And just like that, a thief didn’t walk away richer.He walked away… a little wiser.

MUMBAI: A CCTV footage showed a man panicking and fleeing across a foot overbridge at Malad railway station shortly after a college teacher was stabbed to death inside a crowded local train on Saturday evening.The Government Railway Police (GRP) arrested the accused, identified as Omkar Eknath Shinde (27), a daily-wage labourer, within 12 hours of the crime. He was apprehended from the Kurar area in Mumbai’s western suburbs, officials said on Sunday.Police said the victim, Alok Kumar Singh (33), a professor at Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics, was attacked following a minor argument while alighting from a Borivali-bound local train at Malad station around 6 pm.According to investigators, the argument escalated suddenly, following which Shinde allegedly stabbed Singh in the stomach with a sharp object on platform number 1. The accused then took advantage of the rush at the station and fled, leaving Singh bleeding on the platform.Singh was rushed to Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital in Kandivali, where doctors declared him brought dead.“CCTV footage showed a man panicking, wearing a white shirt and blue jeans, fleeing across a foot overbridge shortly after the attack. Based on the footage and witness accounts, we identified and tracked the accused,” a GRP official said.Police said several commuters who were present in the train compartment witnessed the argument and the assault. Their statements are being recorded as part of the investigation. CCTV footage from Malad station and previous stations on the route is also being examined.Shinde, who works as a metal polisher, has been arrested under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police are also trying to ascertain the exact weapon used in the attack.Singh lived in Malad East with his wife and had been teaching mathematics and statistics in the junior college section since 2024. Colleagues described him as calm and soft-spoken and said the incident had left the college community in shock.

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Vijay Kumar and Meenu Dogra

An early Friday morning at a household in Georgia, US, saw a heated argument between an Indian-origin couple that escalated into a deadly shooting. The husband, Vijay Kumar, allegedly killed his wife and three other relatives, while the three children present at the residence, hid in a closet. The children reportedly heard their father arguing, and one of them called 911 as shots rang out.Gwinnett County police responded to the emergency call and arrived at the home, where they found four adults fatally shot. The children were physically unharmed. Police confirmed that the incident was domestic in nature.According to Fox5 Atlanta, Vijay Kumar, 51, has been taken into custody and charged with four counts of aggravated assault and four counts of felony murder.In addition to these charges, authorities have also invoked four counts of malice murder, one count of first-degree cruelty to children, and two counts of third-degree cruelty to children.Police identification states that the victims are Kumar’s wife, Meenu Dogra, 43, of Atlanta, and Gourav Cumar, 33, Nidhi Chander, 37, and Harish Chander, 38, all residents of Lawrenceville.According to investigators, an argument broke out between Dogra and Kumar at their home in Atlanta, after which they travelled to a residence on Brook Ivy Court with their 12-year-old child. Gourav Cumar, Nidhi Chander and Harish Chander, relatives of Dogra and Kumar, lived at the Brook Ivy Court home, where the incident took place, along with two juveniles aged seven and ten. Following the incident, it was the 12-year-old who called 911.However, investigators have not yet determined what sparked the argument, why the individuals went to the residence, or what led up to the incident.The Consulate General of India in Atlanta expressed grief over the shooting, stating that the alleged shooter has been arrested and that all possible assistance is being extended to the bereaved family.“We are deeply grieved by a tragic shooting incident linked to an alleged family dispute, in which an Indian national was among the victims. The alleged shooter has been arrested, and all possible assistance is being extended to the bereaved family,” the consulate said in a post on X.

KALYAN: At a time when academic pressure and emotional stress are taking a heavy toll on young minds, a remarkable life-saving innovation has emerged from a school classroom in Kalyan. Anuska Nandi, a 15-year-old Class 10 student of B. K. Birla Public School, has invented the “Suicide Saviour Fan”, a specially designed ceiling fan system aimed at preventing suicides among students living in hostels and paying guest accommodations, particularly in high-pressure institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), and coaching centres like Kota.India has witnessed a disturbing rise in student suicides, especially among engineering aspirants and college students facing intense competition, academic pressure, and emotional isolation. Hostel rooms, often fitted with ceiling fans, have tragically become the setting for many such incidents. Deeply affected by frequent newspaper reports, Anuska decided to channel her scientific curiosity and social concern into a practical solution that could help save lives.Anuska, who dreams of becoming a scientist, says she regularly read news about students dying by suicide in IITs and coaching institutes like Kota. Observing that ceiling fans were commonly used in such incidents, she felt the need to create a device that could interrupt an impulsive moment and give students a chance to survive. With this thought, she conceptualized the Suicide Saviour Fan.The fan functions like a regular ceiling fan under normal conditions and does not interfere with daily usage. However, it is equipped with a smart safety mechanism that detects abnormal or sudden excess weight. The system uses a shock-up spring for weight detection and a limit switch that gets activated when unusual load is applied. Once triggered, the limit switch sends a signal to an alarm system, and a contactor holds the switch continuously until it is manually reset.For automated communication and emergency alerts, the device uses Arduino Uno and a GSM module. As soon as the Arduino receives a signal from the limit switch, the GSM module immediately sends an alert message to pre-authorized phone numbers and then places repeated phone calls at every five-second interval. This ensures that wardens, parents, or concerned authorities are informed without delay. Importantly, the system works without alerting other students and does not break or damage the fan.The Suicide Saviour Fan is designed to be compatible with existing hostel infrastructure, making it suitable for mass installation. It is cost-effective, requires minimal maintenance, and operates silently, appearing no different from a normal ceiling fan while serving as a life-saving device in moments of crisis.Anuska has submitted her invention for patent registration to Intellectual Property India, which, after verification, has officially published the application. This recognition marks a significant achievement for a school student innovator.She comes from a family with a strong academic and scientific background. Her father, Dr. Shyam Sundar Nandi, is a scientist, while her mother, Sanchita Nandi, was earlier a lecturer at a Central Railway Junior college and has currently taken a break from work to focus on her daughter’s education. Both parents have expressed immense pride in Anuska’s work. Dr. Nandi says his daughter has always wanted to do something different and has consistently participated in school-level and international science competitions, winning several awards.Her mother Sanchita says she feels proud that Anuska has created an invention that could help prevent suicides among young and intelligent students in premier institutions like IITs and other leading institutes across the country.The entire device was developed within the school premises with support from the physics faculty. Anuska independently developed the idea and technology, while the school provided continuous encouragement. She has especially acknowledged the help of assistant lab assistant Prakash Mahajan, who supported her by arranging the required materials for building the device. Anuska also said that the B. K. Birla Public School management, especially Principal Ranjana Jangra and her teacher Suman Iyer, constantly inspires students to think innovatively and do something new, and she credited their encouragement and support as an important factor behind her innovation.Educators, parents, and social activists during recent science exhibition at school when Anushka revealed about her innovation welcomed the Suicide Saviour Fan and have called upon educational authorities, hostel administrators, and coaching institutes to consider piloting and adopting the innovation. If implemented on a larger scale, the device could become a standard safety feature in student accommodations.From a school laboratory in Kalyan, Anuska Nandi’s innovation stands as a powerful reminder that age is no barrier to meaningful change. As India continues to face serious student mental health challenges, the Suicide Saviour Fan offers a ray of hope, showing how empathy and science together can help save lives.

The US government is set to acquire a 10% stake in Oklahoma-based USA Rare Earth, as part of Trump administration’s $1.6 billion investment. The package is aimed towards supporting the firm to develop a local mine and magnet production facility, according to two sources familiar with the deal.In addition to this government-backed investment, USA Rare Earth is also securing a separate $1 billion private funding round, which, along with the public announcement, is expected on Monday, Reuters reported. The company will also host a morning conference call with investors to discuss the terms.

America’s push for rare earths

Rare earth minerals, a group of 17 elements critical for electronics and military equipment, are largely processed by China. The output from United States, however, remains limited, prompting Washington to make efforts to expand domestic production.Under the investment terms, the US government will receive 16.1 million shares in USA Rare Earth, along with warrants for an additional 17.6 million shares. Both are priced at $17.17 per share, close to the company’s trading level earlier this month.For fundraising support, USA Rare Earth has enlisted Cantor Fitzgerald, chaired by Brandon Lutnick, the son of US secretary of commerce Howard Lutnick, a source was quoted as saying by Reuters.At present, USA Rare Earth is developing a mine in Sierra Blanca, Texas, in collaboration with Texas Mineral Resources, expected to begin operations by 2028. Its magnet manufacturing facility in Stillwater, Oklahoma, is scheduled to start later this year.This latest investment follows previous equity stakes taken by the Trump administration in MP Materials , Lithium Americas , and Trilogy Metals. A senior Trump official told Reuters last month that more “historic deals” with the US mining sector are planned to increase production of lithium, rare earths, and other critical minerals vital to national defence, artificial intelligence, and related industries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (File photo/PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended greetings to citizens on National Voters’ Day and urged people to honour the spirit of democracy by consistently participating in the electoral process, calling it essential for strengthening the resolve towards a Viksit Bharat.National Voters’ Day is observed annually on January 25 to mark the foundation day of the Election Commission of India (ECI), established in 1950. The day aims to recognise voters, encourage youth participation, reinforce democratic values, and promote universal adult suffrage.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said National Voters’ Day is about “further deepening our faith in the democratic values of our nation”.“My compliments to all those associated with the Election Commission of India for their efforts to strengthen our democratic processes,” he said.“Being a voter is not just a constitutional privilege, but an important duty that gives every citizen a voice in shaping India’s future. Let us honour the spirit of our democracy by always taking part in democratic processes, thereby strengthening the foundations of a Viksit Bharat,” Modi added.“To be a voter is the greatest privilege and responsibility in a democracy,” the Prime Minister said, adding that voting is a “sacred constitutional right and a mark of participation in Bharat’s future.” He described voters as the “Bhagya Vidhata of our development journey” and said the indelible ink on a voter’s finger is a “badge of honour that ensures our democracy remains vibrant and purposeful.”Union home minister Amit Shah also conveyed his wishes on the occasion through a social media post.“This day reminds us that our constitution has given every voter equal power, and the right vote can show our nation the right direction. It is our moral responsibility to safeguard our voting system and ensure that no external factor can pollute it,” Shah said.“May on this day we recommit ourselves to the pledge to align the power of our votes to build a developed and powerful India,” he added.Union minister of health and family welfare JP Nadda extended greetings to citizens, saying, “This day reminds us of the strength of our democracy and the power of every single vote. Voting is not only a democratic right but also a fundamental duty of every citizen.”“National Voters’ Day encourages greater awareness about the importance of voting and celebrates universal adult franchise, which strengthens the foundation of an inclusive and participatory democratic system,” Nadda said in a post on X.Union defence minister Rajnath Singh also marked the occasion, stating, “On National Voters Day, we reflect on the strength of India’s democracy, rooted in free, fair and inclusive elections. I commend the Election Commission of India for its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the sanctity of the electoral process.”“Let us inspire wider participation, especially among the youth, and uphold the power of the vote with responsibility and pride,” he added.Meanwhile, the theme for National Voters’ Day 2026 is ‘My India, My Vote’, with the tagline ‘Citizen at the Heart of Indian Democracy’.The Election Commission of India is the constitutional authority responsible for the supervision, direction and conduct of elections in the country. It has conducted 18 general elections and more than 400 State Legislative Assembly elections so far.The Commission also oversees elections to the Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Councils, the Union Territories of Puducherry and the National Capital Territory of Delhi, as well as elections to the offices of the President and Vice President of India.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape will take on Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 final

TimesofIndia.com in Cape Town: Tristan Stubbs was full of jokes on the eve of the fourth SA20 final against Pretoria Capitals. That is not just the fourth final of South Africa’s T20 competition, but also for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC). No team has had a more jaw-droppingly good record in franchise cricket than the SEC. They’ve now been to all four finals and won the silverware twice.With Capitals skipper Keshav Maharaj joining him for media duties, Stubbs joked he would reveal their strategy only after the final at Newlands. He also elicited a chuckle upon revealing he had far too many requests for tickets. (Alas, Newlands is sold out for the SA20 final!)

The 25-year-old was casual and calm even as his team took the longer route to their ‘usual’ place in the SA20 calendar. Having finished top of the league table, they lost to the Capitals in the first qualifier. During the second chance, they romped past Paarl Royals at the Wanderers.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!A few hours later, they were in the Western Cape, back in their usual territory — preparing for the final, the skipper posing next to the trophy and taking questions at a swanky five-star hotel.And the skipper here, Tristan Stubbs, has plenty to prove going into the final. As the only new leader in the SA20 Season 4, Stubbs had giant Aiden Markram-shaped shoes to fill. So far, he’s learnt the pressures of the job as things go along but hasn’t shied away from seeking help from seniors like Quinton de Kock when stumped.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape captain Tristan Stubbs (SA20)

“The most challenging has been some days you feel like you know exactly what needs to be done and then other days I’m like I have no clue what to do,” Stubbs said.“But I’ve had good senior players. We’ve pretty much bounced everything off each other, but it’s just when some days you’re so decisive and you know what you want to do and other days you get a gut feeling and some days it doesn’t rock up,” continued Stubbs who has contributed 129 runs from 11 matches this season at an average of 43 and produced a best score of an unbeaten 47.Therein lies the problem with most cricketers who take on captaincy duties – their free-flowing cricket goes for a toss. Having come into South Africa’s T20 World Cup squad as an injury replacement for Donovan Ferreira, the pressure is on Stubbs to find form.

Tristan Stubbs has been added into the South Africa’s T20 World Cup squad as an injury replacement for Donovan Ferreira. (SA20)

Having been acquired by the SEC in 2022 for R9.2 million, Stubbs has been part of the franchise since the very beginning. He, alongside Marco Jansen and Jordan Hermann, have been to all finals now. Except the 2023/24 season, where Stubbs scored 301 runs at an average of 60.20 and strike rate of 168.15, the Knysna-born batter has not fulfilled his promise. Not yet at least.Stubbs, who is scoring at a disappointing strike rate of 119.44, is a shadow of the player who reached the highs of 378 runs in 14 innings in IPL 2024. The fall also cost him his place in the Proteas setup, which he regained only due to injuries.“He’s got the experience and we do know that he’s got the power game and the touch game and the complete package when he’s firing,” South Africa coach Shukri Conrad had said this week of Stubbs.“I think it’s up to us to be able to unlock all of that again. And it might just be one little switch somewhere.”Both Stubbs and SEC would be hopeful that the switch gets flicked on Sunday evening — when it all matters.

Revenge on the mind?

When the SEC and Capitals met in the first qualifier, played at Kingsmead, the Sunrisers looked to be ahead at one point before Capitals got the job done with ease. That broke the SEC’s three-match winning run over the Capitals, which stretched back to the previous season.Is revenge on his, and the team’s, mind going into the final? Stubbs smiled slightly before saying, “No no! There’s no revenge! We start nought-for-nought, We’ll plan like we do for most games,” he explained.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape captain Tristan Stubbs with Pretoria Capitals captain Keshav Maharaj (SA20)

“The important thing I guess is not getting too far ahead of yourselves. I think that’s the key in a final.“You don’t look too far ahead. You play the current or in the moment. You never really try and put your foot off the pedal. If you’ve got a team on top, you try and, as best as you can, keep the pressure on as much as possible,” stated Stubbs.

Ganguly, Pollock-coached Capitals target maiden title

In their second SA20 final appearance, Pretoria Capitals chase their maiden success. In the 2023 season, Capitals had finished runners-up at the Wanderers. In the two seasons that followed, they didn’t even qualify for the playoffs. A much-changed squad later, with Keshav Maharaj at the helm, and a legendary combination of Sourav Ganguly and Shaun Pollock running the show from the sidelines, they’d be keen on turning the tide this time.Speaking ahead of the final, Ganguly revealed he had met Dewald Brevis and Maharaj when the South African team were in India. He continued to stay in constant touch with the unit, as much as a month before start in late December.“It’s been good in the last 40 days. So, it’s been a good relationship. It’s not about the coach, it’s about the players. I’ve always tried to help these young boys, but it’s their intensity and their want to become better that is the reason that we’ve played so well,” he said during the JioStar Press Room.

The likes of Brevis, Bryce Parsons and Sherfane Rutherford have benefitted from Ganguly and Pollock’s presence in the dugout.“Ganguly is very excited. It’s his first assignment as coach. He has been a captain who has won on many big occasions for India. Having someone of his stature in our dressing room has brought that sense of calm to the changing room. He is very positive, he is very accessible because he wants the best out of his players. He gives everyone the same equal love that everyone deserves,” said Maharaj, who is Capitals’ highest wicket-taker this season.“It’s not easy carrying drinks and doing all the other stuff. But he has made it very clear that all members of the squad have a hand in getting the team up as a unit. Fingers crossed we can go all the way, and hopefully it unlocks a lot of opportunities for him.”

SA20 final livestreaming details

*SA20 FINAL LIVE: Watch Pretoria Capitals vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape on JioStar (Star Sports on TV and JioHotstar on OTT) at 7PM IST*

MUMBAI: Nearly a week after two bullets were fired at two separate flats of an Andheri-based housing society, Oshiwara Police arrested actor Kamaal R Khan in the case on Saturday. Police recovered a German-made pistol and 21 rounds from the actor’s bungalow in Versova.The motive is still being probed. Police said Khan was checking the pistol believing that one round was left behind in it. However, Khan’s lawyer, Nagesh Mishra, told mediapersons that the actor has not made any admission before the police.

The bullets were found inside the apartments of writer Neeraj Mishra and model Prateek Baid on the second and fourth floor of Nalanda society in Lokhandwala on Jan 18. Impact marks were found on a plywood cabinet and walls. Nobody was injured. After the police were informed, they studied CCTV footage but nobody was found entering or leaving the society. The guard said he hadn’t heard sounds of gunfire. Police then took the help of forensic experts to find out what type of firearm did the bullets belong to. They then found out the firing range of such a weapon and checked which of the residents from the area had registered similar weapons. The police team, supervised by additional commissioner Paramjeet Dahiya and DCP Dikshitkumar Gedam, and comprising senior inspector Sanjay Chavan and inspector Sachin Patil, took Khan into custody after confirming that the bullets came from his 7.65 mm Mauser. Police said Khan has a prior crime record. Around 1pm on Saturday, Khan was produced before a magistrate court in Bandra and remanded to police custody till Jan 27. Adv Mishra argued that Khan had no intention of firing. “The actor is not acquainted with either of the people (in whose houses the bullets were found). He has a licensed pistol that he has kept at home for self-defence,” said advocate Mishra. The lawyer added that the range of a pistol is 20 metres but the bullets were found 400 metres away. Between Khan’s bungalow and Nalanda society, there are mangroves, roads and an under-construction structure. Advocate Mishra has also claimed that the actor was not served a notice as required under Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, nor were the grounds of arrest disclosed to him.