Sarvesh Kushare ends four-year pursuit of crossing 2.31m high jump barrier

Upasana Konidela, entrepreneur and wife of actor Ram Charan with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.Actor Ram Charan’s wife and entrepreneur Upasana Konidela recently drew a comparison between the Hindu goddess of wealth Lakshmi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while urging people, particularly women, to take more ownership of their personal finances. “Lakshmi Devi is the symbol of wealth and prosperity. An inspiring woman, @nsitharaman garu, manages the finances of Bharat. I’m a huge fan,” she wrote, referring to Sitharaman, who has served as India’s Finance Minister since 2019 and remains the first woman to hold the post on a full-time basis. Building on the thought, Upasana posed a question to her followers. “Just imagine if we became the Chief Financial Officers of our own life. It’s a great power that we silently give away without notice. Let’s start the journey of financial literacy with humility and respect for one another,” she added. Lakshmi Devi is the symbol of wealth & prosperity An inspiring woman @nsitharaman garu – manages the finances of Bharat. (I’m a huge fan 🙌) Just Imagine if we became the Chief Financial Officers of our own life! It’s a great power that we silently give away without notice.… pic.twitter.com/9fRK1Gj7PI — Upasana Konidela (@upasanakonidela) June 25, 2026 The post fits a pattern in Upasana Konidela’s public messaging, where she has frequently used her platform to speak about wellness, self sufficiency and personal empowerment, often framing everyday habits, financial or otherwise, as forms of quiet power that people underestimate. She has built a public profile over the years around organic living, mental health awareness and women centric initiatives, including her work with the SHE charitable foundation. The latest post also comes during an eventful period in Upasana’s personal life. On June 20, she and Ram Charan shared their daughter Klin Kaara’s face publicly for the first time, after having kept her almost entirely out of the public eye since she was born in 2023. Upasana posted the image with the caption, “Happy Birthday, KlinKaara, our precious little one,” along with a clip of Klin Kaara saying, “Nanna, this is for you. Nanna, I love you so much.” Also Read: Ram Charan reveals daughter Klin Kaara now calls him ‘Peddi’, not ‘Nanna’ The same week also saw Ram Charan’s film Peddi continue its strong run at the box office, with the film crossing Rs 300 crore mark worldwide and Megastar Chiranjeevi publicly praising his son’s performance at the film’s success event.

Updated: Jun 23, 2026 07:21 AM IST Mbappe, at age 27 had reached 16 by the time France defeated Iraq 3-0, scoring his first two on either side of lightning and rain. (AP Photo)‘A heavy thunderstorm is approaching’ – read the giant scoreboard at the Lincoln Financial in Philadelphia as fat raindrops pelted down in the France-Iraq game. For those football-inclined, it was on ominous warning of Kylian Mbappé chasing down the all-time scoring record that was claimed by Lionel Messi only a couple of hours ago, as he went past Miroslav Klose’s 16 to reach 18. Mbappé, at age 27 had reached 16 by the time France defeated Iraq 3-0, scoring his first two on either side of lightning and rain that forced fans onto the concourses, when it was evident a flimsy poncho was not going to be enough. Messi turns 39 and will celebrate it with 5 goals from his 2026 games. But a thunderstorm is indeed approaching, as the fluid, feisty, full of flair, fearsome French forwardline led by Mbappé are blasting off bangers of their own, come rain or storm. His first came off the supposed wrong foot in the 14th minute. That smooth, silent deliverer of doom for opponents, Michael Olise, twice found space from his far right perch for a 1-2 with buddy Mbappé who after moving laterally with one touch, cannoned a 20 yard drive from outside the box that beat Ahmed Basil to put France 1-0 ahead. Didier Deschamps had warned his team of two Iraqi Goliaths – ‘grunts’ as compact centre backs – in a team talk that was widely shared by Iraqi social media as a validation of their team’s improvement. Coach Graham Arnold had made blueprints to stop the French goal-machine too. But Basil would not have expected Olise to choreograph from the periphery and to be bombarded with a powerful howitzer from Mbappé’s lesser preferred foot. When the match resumed after a swamped outfield was drained and no threat of lightening striking humans, Mbappé resumed his destruction with both feet on the ground. Within 10 minutes of restart, after a hyper-hydrated halftime, Mbappé struck with his right this time – an easy tap-in from a pass from Ousmane Dembele in the 54th to prove he is ambi-pedalled. The second-half hydration break was cancelled after the downpour. It hadn’t quite stopped raining and the ball wasn’t bouncing off the pitch, but none of it mattered as Mbappé scored past a changed goalkeeper.Story continues below this ad Then scored twice. Argentina are through It is easy to forget in a World Cup of Messis and Ronaldos, Mbappés and Haalands and Harry Kanes, that the reigning Ballon d’Or holder is the unassuming Frenchman, Dembele. In fact the French attack is oozing with such class that even before Desire Doue and Ryan Cherki sauntered in, in the 68th, the ginormously talented Gauls – Mbappé, Olise, Dembele and Barcola with Jules Kounde lurking, were forming a buzzing ring around Iraq’s 5-4 fortification, and causing havoc, dismantling a usually disciplined dedensive shape. The first 10 minutes the attacks came from the left, and then the right flanks lit up. Olise is the heartbeat of this pack, and his second assist of the long game went off in the 66th minute, this time helping Dembele score from the centre of the box to set up a 3-0 win.Story continues below this ad The thunderstorm at Philly had passed. Mbappé was poised to hit Boston and Norway next on 27th. Two goals adrift of Messi’s 18.

A local court on Monday remanded former Panchkula municipal corporation commissioner Ram Kumar Singh in judicial custody in connection with the Rs 79.46-crore fraud linked to the larger Rs 590-crore IDFC First Bank scam after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) submitted that he did not cooperate with the inquiry and that some digital evidence and proceeds of crime were yet to be recovered.Singh and former development and panchayats department superintendent Prince Sharma were produced before the court of Amit Sharma, Additional Sessions Judge-cum-Vacation Judge, Panchkula, upon completion of their three-day remand. The former civic body commissioner was arrested on June 18 in connection with the alleged misappropriation of government funds worth Rs 79.46 crore from the Panchkula civic body’s account maintained at the Sector 32 branch of IDFC First Bank in Chandigarh. The central agency informed the court that Singh — the first Haryana-cadre IAS officer arrested in the case — was confronted during custodial interrogation with a series of digital and documentary evidence linked to the alleged diversion of government funds, including opening an IDFC First Bank account, fixed deposit transactions, communications with co-accused persons, and routing money through shell entities. In its application for the 14-day judicial custody of the accused, the CBI informed the court that its investigation had revealed the IAS officer’s role in the fraud when he was the municipal corporation commissioner and the commissioner of the Kalka municipal council. According to the application, CBI investigators confronted the accused with evidence relating to opening a new account in IDFC First Bank Panchkula’s Sector 32 branch, the process of calling quotations for fixed deposits, and SMS alerts received on registered mobile numbers linked to the accounts. The accused were also questioned about the steps allegedly taken after learning of the fraudulent transactions and account statements received on registered mobile numbers. The agency further claimed that digital evidence indicated that money was delivered by carriers, and sought explanations regarding where the alleged ill-gotten funds were ultimately parked. Both accused were questioned about their communications with co-accused people and, significantly, the deletion of related data from their mobile devices. The CBI also confronted them regarding handing over cheques to other co-accused to allegedly siphon off funds, when they became aware of the fraud, and whether any advantages were received in return for favours extended to other accused people.Story continues below this ad Details regarding other bank officials, government functionaries, and private individuals who may have facilitated the alleged fraud were sought from the two accused. The CBI sleuths also questioned them as to why funds were allegedly transferred to shell companies and subsequently routed back to government accounts without any apparent justification. Another issue raised during interrogation was why cheques were issued for the creation of fixed deposits in the same bank when a letter would have sufficed. In its application, the agency described the matter as a “large-scale, multi-layered fraud by way of fraudulent banking operations and fictitious transactions to divert government funds in shell entities in connivance with public servants”. Funds trail still being traced: CBI The probe agency said unauthorised transactions in bank accounts opened by various Haryana government departments had been identified and that the role of other accused people, including public servants, was still under investigation.Story continues below this ad The CBI informed the court that it was scrutinising documents recovered during searches conducted at the residences of Singh and Sharma. It further submitted that investigators were still tracing the trail of misappropriated government funds and had yet to ascertain the involvement of

NewsWorldKing Charles to be first monarch to disclose personal tax bill The publication will cover Charles's tax payments for the 2024-25 financial year. 3 min readJun 22, 2026 01:58 PM IST First published on: Jun 22, 2026 at 01:58 PM IST Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive on day five of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, England. (Photo: AP) King Charles will become the first reigning British monarch to make public his personal tax bill, Buckingham Palace confirmed this week. The disclosure, due on Thursday, will form part of a broader set of annual royal financial accounts, according to reports by the BBC. The decision, described by Palace sources as a personal one by the King, is part of what Buckingham Palace called a drive to modernise and increase public accountability. A Palace spokesperson said the aim was to “explain all elements of royal finances in a way that further enhances clarity and accessibility”, adding: “To put it simply, we continue to modernise and evolve.” What will be revealed? The publication will cover Charles’s tax payments for the 2024-25 financial year. This will include tax on income from the Duchy of Lancaster, a private portfolio of land and property that generated around £26.8 million for the King last year, as well as earnings from his private estates of Sandringham and Balmoral, personal investments, and any other private income. Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla react as they follow a race on the first day of the Royal Ascot horse race meeting in Ascot, England. (Photo: AP) British monarchs are not legally required to pay income tax or capital gains tax, but Charles does so voluntarily. The total amount paid will be made public for the first time. His 2025-26 tax details will follow next year once the audit is complete.Story continues below this ad Why now? The move follows public and parliamentary pressure for greater transparency over royal finances, partly in the wake of controversies surrounding Prince Andrew. MPs had called for more openness about the financial dealings of the royal family, and the Palace said the King had chosen to go further than required, the BBC reported. Britain’s King Charles III salutes the troops outside Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour, the King’s annual birthday parade, in London. (Photo: AP) Charles had previously disclosed his tax payments when he was Prince of Wales. His son William, now heir to the throne, has not done so since taking on that role. William received nearly £23 million from the Duchy of Cornwall last year and voluntarily pays the highest rate of income tax, though the actual sum he pays remains undisclosed. The tax disclosure will be published alongside the annual Sovereign Grant accounts. The grant, which funds the official duties of the royal family, has risen to a record £137.9 million, though a reduction is expected to be announced shortly as part of a review by the Treasury, The Guardian reported. (With inputs from agencies) The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources