A man was sentenced to death by a POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) court in Kolkata on Tuesday for raping a seven-month-old girl in November last year.

The accused, Rajiv Ghosh, 34, was convicted by the POCSO court on Monday. He was convicted under Section 137 (2) (punishment for kidnapping), Section 65 (2) (punishment for rape of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 6 (punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the POCSO Act, 2012.

During the hearing, the judge of the special court Oindrila Mukhopadhyay observed that although this particular case did not result in the death of the victim, it should be considered as the rarest of the rare crimes considering the manner in which a seven-month-old girl was subjected to rape.

The ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 commences on Wednesday with the winners of the 2017 edition, Pakistan, taking on New Zealand in the opening match of the tournament at the National Stadium in Karachi.

Pakistan enter the tournament as the defending champions, having beaten India in the final of the 2017 edition, led by Sarfaraz Ahmed. Fakhar Zaman was the Player of the Final for his imperious 114 off 106 deliveries, while Hasan Ali was named the Player of the Tournament for his tally of 13 wickets in five games.

However, Pakistan will not be getting overconfident in the build-up to the first ICC tournament taking place in the country since 1996 as they suffered two consecutive losses against New Zealand in the Tri-nation ODI Series in Pakistan in the build-up to the tournament.

Sakshi Rana scored an impressive goal on her senior international debut but India went down fighting 4-3 against Spain in the Women's FIH Hockey Pro League 2024/25 at the Kalinga Stadium on Tuesday. Besides Sakshi (38’), Baljeet Kaur (19’) and Rutaja Dadaso Pisal (45’) scored for India, while Estel Petchame (25’, 49’), Sofia Rogoski (21’), and Captain Lucia Jimenez (52’) netted goals for Spain.

Sakshi and Jyoti Singh received their maiden senior international caps in the match, with the former scoring an impressive goal on her debut.

The first quarter was tightly contested. India had an early chance when Rutaja passed the ball to Sharmila Devi from the left, but her shot narrowly missed the post. Spain attempted to play their signature free-flowing hockey but struggled against India’s defensive press.

The Jharkhand government has announced a complete ban on the production, distribution, sale, and storage of gutkha and paan masala containing nicotine and tobacco within the state.

The state’s health department has issued a notification that this ban will be effective for the next year, starting from the notification date.

The authorities have stated that the ban period may be extended further based on a review of the situation.

In 2020, Jharkhand banned 11 brands of gutkha and paan masala, effective until June 2023. The ban lapsed for about one and a half years. This time, all types of paan masala containing nicotine and tobacco, in addition to gutkha, have been prohibited in the state.

According to the notification signed by Additional Chief Secretary of the Health Department and State Food Safety Commissioner Ajay Kumar Singh, this ban is imposed under Section 30(2)(A) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Regulations 2, 3, and 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulation, 2011.

The government has directed the concerned department to disseminate this information through the media.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), Shyamal Misra chaired a meeting with different departments to discuss various projects, to further resolve any on-ground hindrances, improve the civic services and accelerate the ongoing infrastructure development works being undertaken in the city.

The matter of incomplete connectivity of surface drains under NHAI with the master stormwater drains of GMDA was raised in the meeting.

GMDA officials said that storm water drains laid by NHAI along Iffco Chowk, Signature Tower, Jharsa Chowk, Manesar Bus Stand, and Hero Honda Chowk among other key locations are yet to be linked with the master drain of GMDA, in the absence of which waterlogging occurs during the monsoon season.

The Karnataka Cybercrime police have cracked a law exam question paper leak racket and arrested a three-member gang, including the Vice Principal of a law college. The accused have confessed to committing the crime for monetary gains.

The exams were being conducted in law colleges affiliated with the Karnataka State Law University (KSLU). On January 23, question papers scheduled for that day were leaked on Telegram and WhatsApp groups, causing distress among students.

Following this development, an associate professor from SJM Law Maha Vidyalaya and the Chairman of KSLU’s Vigilance Committee-2 filed a complaint at the Cybercrime, Economic Offences, and Narcotics (CEN) police station.

After registering the complaint, the police used technical analysis and intelligence gathering to trace the leak of the Contract Law-1 question paper to a Telegram group. One of the accused, a law student, was picked up from his residence in Anekal, on the outskirts of Bengaluru, on January 30.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) in J&K’s Sopore town on Tuesday sentenced a notorious paedophile to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs one lakh.

Mir Wajahat, CJM Sopore passed a conviction order on self-styled spiritual healer, Aijaz Sheikh on Tuesday sentencing him to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 Lakh for repeatedly sexually abusing two victims over a decade.

Advocate Ayshia Zahgeer for the victims told reporters that the accused had been convicted yesterday.

The matter was reserved for arguments today on the quantum of the sentence.

The CJM Sopore sentenced the accused to seven years of rigorous imprisonment each for two victims in this case. The sentences will run consecutively, he will be in rigorous imprisonment for 14 years and a fine of Rs 50,000 for each of the victims. Rs 45,000 has been directed to be deposited as compensation and the CJM has also said that the victims are at liberty to approach appropriate forums for their compensation in their capacities.

Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh had been impersonating as a faith healer and victimised minor girls by exploiting the credulous parents. There was widespread joy and firecrack celebration in Mundji village of Sopore sub-division when the conviction of the paedophile was announced yesterday.

Bhutan's Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Employment Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji on Tuesday inaugurated a project funded by India that will further strengthen energy security and distribution in the land-locked country.

The development of Garmani Eastern Petroleum Oil Lubricants Depot (POL) in Monggar, which was inaugurated by Dorji, was taken up as an India-Bhutan friendship project under Trade Facility Support (TFS), the India Embassy in Thimphu posted on X.

The milestone project, which cost 324.684 million Bhutanese Ngultrum, reflects meticulous planning, dedicated efforts, and a significant step forward in ensuring reliable fuel supply to Bhutan.

The newly-built residential and emergency infrastructure will significantly improve the capacity to storage and distribution of fuel and LPG, ensuring preparedness for natural disasters and emergencies, detailed Bhutan's Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment.

Telangana’s Anti-Corruption Bureau has caught three policemen and two forest officers red-handed while taking bribes in two separate incidents in the state on Tuesday.

A Circle Inspector of Police and two police constables were caught while accepting the bribe in the Narayanpet district.

According to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Gundemoni Chandra Shekar, Circle Inspector of Police, Makthal Police Station and police constables Singasani Shiva and Kurva Narsimhulu of the same police station were caught while taking a bribe to do an official favour.

The police officials had demanded Rs 40,000 for reducing the gravity of the crime while filing a charge sheet in a case registered against the complainant at the Makthal Police Station. They were caught while accepting Rs 20,000 from the complainant to do an official favour.

In a significant operation on Tuesday, the Patna police arrested four individuals involved in a land dispute that escalated into violence in the Kankarbagh area.

The incident of an encounter occurred on Ram Lakhan Path, where the suspects opened fire outside a residence over a property disagreement.

Upon arrival, law enforcement officers found that the assailants had taken refuge inside a house owned by Upendra Singh.

The police promptly cordoned off the area and called in the Special Task Force (STF) to assist in apprehending the suspects