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The Employees' Provident Fund is a retirement savings scheme run by EPFO, where salary contributions build up for workers. Accounts that stay inactive for years can be left unclaimed, so small balances may be settled automatically.

Context: India is building data centres and computing capacity to support AI, and Gulf countries have large state investment funds looking for markets beyond oil. Foreign money into Indian tech has been uneven, so investors are watching closely.

Context: The CAA, passed in 2019, offers a path to citizenship for some migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who belong to certain non-Muslim groups and arrived before 2015. The law remains debated, and West Bengal is one of the states where it matters most.

Context: Garments are Bangladesh's biggest export earner and a major employer, with many workers being women. Wage talks and cost-of-living pressure have sparked unrest in the industry before.

Context: NASA runs isolation studies like this to learn how crews cope with long trips, since real Mars missions could take many months each way. Communication delays are a key problem because radio signals take minutes to reach Earth from Mars.

Political clashes have been a recurring concern in West Bengal, and compensation or jobs for families are one way states respond. The 2001 cut-off means the rule looks back over a quarter century.

Context: Big tech firms have spent heavily on AI computing since 2023, and some investors fear that spending may outrun the profits it brings. Data centres are the large computer buildings that run AI tools, and they are often financed with borrowed money.

Context: Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund is a state investor that has backed many large projects as the country diversifies its economy away from oil. Aramco is the state-owned oil giant; Humain is a Saudi AI company, part of a wider Gulf race for AI leadership.

Social Security is the US government's retirement programme, funded mainly by payroll taxes paid by workers today. Many older Americans depend on it for a large share of their income, so projected shortfalls draw wide attention.

Cyclones form over warm seas in the Bay of Bengal and often bring heavy rain and strong winds to the east coast. Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are hit often, and back-to-back storms can slow down relief and repair work.

Context: 3I/ATLAS is one of only a few known objects to visit our solar system from interstellar space, after 'Oumuamua and Borisov. Such visitors give scientists a rare sample of material from other star systems.

Context: Dual-screen phones use hinges and large flexible displays, which makes them harder to build than standard phones. Early versions of new device types often face such faults, and buyers usually wait for fixes.

Context: WhatsApp keeps automatic backups in Google Drive on Android and iCloud on iPhone, so deleted chats are usually restorable only from the most recent backup saved before deletion.

Context: Airfares in India often rise sharply during festivals and holiday peaks, and fares have long been a common complaint of travellers. The new rules set out when officials will and will not step in.

Context: Decent work means fair pay, job security and social protection such as health cover and pensions. Counting jobs alone does not show whether people are better off, which is why economists also track job quality.

Context: The RBI has long been cautious about digital assets, and the Financial Intelligence Unit tracks suspicious money flows. Card providers may face tighter checks as a result.

Context: Garments are the backbone of Bangladesh's export economy, mostly clothes sold abroad. A wage board is a panel that studies and recommends pay levels for a sector.

Context: A world model is an AI system that learns how an environment behaves so it can predict what happens next, which helps machines plan actions. Google has released earlier Genie models as research previews, so Genie 4 continues that line of work.

Context: Gaia is an ESA space telescope that has been mapping the positions and movements of more than a billion stars in the Milky Way since 2013. Its long-running survey lets astronomers study how stars and our galaxy change over time.

Context: Group I and Group II are state-level recruitment exams in Tamil Nadu for many government posts. Age limits often differ by category, so an age relaxation can open the door for applicants who would otherwise be too old to apply.

Penny stocks are shares of small companies priced very low, which are often volatile and hard to verify. Sebi is the regulator that oversees India's stock market, and delisting means a company's shares stop trading on an exchange.

Context: Google has put a first data-centre satellite in orbit, so this test checks whether AI can work beyond Earth. A haiku is a short three-line poem, often about nature.

Context: Cyclones often bring strong winds that bring down power lines and poles, leaving homes and water pumps without electricity for long stretches. Utilities prepare crews and spare equipment in advance to shorten those outages.

Context: The World Bank is an international lender that publishes poverty estimates for countries, and India's poverty numbers are often debated by economists and politicians.

Context: Cement is one of the most widely used building materials, and making it releases large amounts of carbon dioxide. Glass waste is common and often ends up in landfill, so reusing it in construction helps cut both waste and emissions.

Context: Fodder is feed for cattle, and a shortage hits dairy and small farm households hard. Rabi is the winter sowing season, and Mahabeej is Maharashtra's state seed corporation, while jowar and bajra are hardy millets that need less water.

Context: NITI Aayog is the government's policy think tank, which advises on long-term plans and reforms. The Union Budget sets spending and taxes for each financial year, so early planning like this shapes what the government funds later.

Context: Commercial cylinders are priced separately from the subsidised household ones used at home. Restaurants, hotels and small eateries rely on them heavily, so higher costs can reach customers' bills.

Nandini is the milk brand run by the Karnataka Milk Federation, a cooperative owned by dairy farmers. Milk prices in the state are revised from time to time, and farm costs such as feed often play a part.

Context: Quantum computing uses the rules of quantum physics to process information in ways ordinary computers cannot. India's National Quantum Mission, approved by the central government in 2023, is the national programme that state-level efforts like this one can build on.

Tesla makes electric cars and SpaceX builds rockets and the Starlink satellite internet service, and both are run by Musk. He already leads several companies, so investors often watch closely how linked firms share money, staff and decisions.

Context: GSLV is India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, a rocket used to place heavier satellites into orbit. ISRO, the national space agency, runs India's satellite and launch programmes, so its resources affect many future missions.

Context: Pensioners under the EPFO scheme must prove each year that they are alive to keep receiving their monthly pension, and a life certificate is the usual proof. Doing it online saves trips to offices, which matters most for older people.

Context: Dearness allowance is a payment added to basic salary and pension to offset rising prices, and states revise it periodically. The central government also revises its own DA rate twice a year, so state hikes are often watched by staff elsewhere.

Context: COP is the UN's yearly climate summit, where countries negotiate action on warming. The 1.5°C goal comes from the 2015 Paris Agreement, which aimed to keep warming near that level above pre-industrial times.

Context: Fungi live in soil and form partnerships with plant roots, and many plants depend on them for nutrients and water. Scientists have long studied these underground networks, which some call a wood wide web, though that label is debated.

Context: Power distributors buy electricity from generators, and when purchase costs rise, they can recover the extra money by adding a surcharge to customer bills. Power prices and surcharges can therefore change from one billing cycle to the next.

Context: NoRKA is the Non-Resident Keralites' Affairs department, which runs welfare schemes for Keralites working abroad and their families. Kerala relies heavily on money sent home by its large Gulf diaspora, so changes to these schemes affect many families.

Context: Methane is a greenhouse gas that traps far more heat than carbon dioxide over short periods, and wetlands and ponds are among its natural sources, so understanding it helps with climate planning.

Context: A takeover offer to take a listed company private means buying all its shares so it no longer trades on the stock market. Activist investors like Trian often push for changes to how a company runs its business.

Meteorites are rocks from space that land on Earth, and many Martian ones are found in deserts like the Sahara, where they are easier to spot. Studying them helps scientists learn about Mars without sending a probe there.

The RBI is the central bank that regulates India's banks and sets banking rules. Banks now hold large amounts of digital customer data and run online payments, so breaches can put ordinary people's savings and accounts at risk.

Context: Space dust is tiny particles floating between planets and stars, and studying it helps scientists understand how the solar system formed. Nasa is the United States space agency that runs many international science missions and projects.

Context: Destroyers are large warships that protect fleets and sea routes, and stealth designs make them harder to detect. The Defence Acquisition Council is the government body that clears major defence purchases before contracts are signed.

Context: The National Conference is a regional party that runs the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir. Threats to topple a government from within the ruling party's own ranks matter because they can affect whether it keeps a majority in the assembly.

Context: BS-VI is the latest emission standard for vehicles in India, and older vehicles that fall below it release more pollution. Delhi's air typically worsens in winter as cold air traps smoke and dust, so these curbs return every year.

Context: FASTag is the electronic tag on vehicles that lets them pay tolls automatically at highway plazas without stopping. India's toll plazas are moving to barrier-free electronic collection, so many vehicles now rely on tags linked to bank accounts.

Context: Ebola is a rare, serious virus spread through contact with blood or other bodily fluids. The 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak killed more than 11,000 people, and DR Congo has had several Ebola outbreaks before this one.

Context: Vande Bharat is India's family of fast, modern trains, and the sleeper version adds overnight travel for longer journeys. Rail links between southern and western India are a key part of the government's wider push to upgrade the network.

Context: Apple has long sold Macs with trackpads and keyboards rather than touchscreens, while many Windows laptops already use touch. Touchscreen laptops have been debated for years, so this launch tests whether users want them.

Context: The December 2025 shooting at Bondi Beach during a Jewish Hanukkah event led to a national debate on security and gun laws in Australia, and rising concern about antisemitism.

Context: Avarekai, also called hyacinth bean, is a winter pulse widely grown in Karnataka, and Kolar is one of the state's dry districts where farmers often depend on rain.

Context: Electoral rolls list who can vote, and the Election Commission's online ECINET system lets authorised staff add and update those records. Misuse of login details matters because wrong entries can affect who gets to vote.

Context: POCSO stands for the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, and NDPS stands for the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Special courts are set up so that cases under these laws can be heard faster than in regular courts.

Context: Voter rolls are the official lists of people allowed to vote in each state, and keeping them accurate is a long-running debate in US elections. Noncitizens cannot vote in federal elections, so checks on these lists are a sensitive political issue.

Context: Alphabet owns Google, along with YouTube and Android. Big tech firms are spending heavily on AI chips and data centres, and investors keep asking when those bets will earn money. Sharp swings like this often reflect that wider debate, not one quarter alone.

Swift was launched in 2004 to study gamma-ray bursts, which are powerful flashes of light from distant space. Most spacecraft burn up on re-entry, but larger parts can survive and reach the ground.

Context: Delhi's air quality often worsens in the winter months, and authorities then bring in graded anti-pollution restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Checks at entry points are one way these restrictions are enforced.

Context: Food safety in India is set by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and enforced by state food safety departments, so state bodies such as Maharashtra's FDA handle local enforcement.

Context: Many cold storage units are now run by computer controllers connected to the internet, which makes them open to hackers. Attacks on operational technology like this have become a growing worry for food, medicine and utility companies.

Context: Rafale-M is the navy version of France's Rafale jet, built to land on aircraft carriers. INS Vikrant is India's first indigenously built aircraft carrier, so this landing shows the ship can host modern fighters.

Context: Las Vegas sits in a desert where rain is rare, so even moderate storms can cause flash floods on dry ground. Flood Watches warn that flooding is possible, while Flood Advisories point to flooding that is happening or expected.

Context: Oil marketing companies set these prices, which are revised by the month, and their changes flow into costs for restaurants, transport and airlines. Such moves often pass on to customers through bills and fares, so small rises add up for businesses.

Jal Jeevan Mission is a central government scheme that aims to bring piped tap water to rural homes, carried out with the states. Its timelines often depend on funding, so delays in money can push completion dates back.

Context: The Election Commission of India updates voter rolls, and a national revision can add or remove names. Opposition parties have been challenging the process, so the rally is part of a longer fight over how elections are run.

Context: World rankings place players by points from recent events, so a player ranked 287th is far below the top of the sport. Young players often gain experience by playing long matches against more senior opponents.

Ladakh is a cold, high-altitude region where farming is hard because of short growing seasons and poor soil. Saffron is traditionally grown in Kashmir, so the project shows an effort to expand it to new land.

Context: Apple Macs have never had touchscreens, while iPads and most phones use touch, so a touch Mac would be a clear design change. The M7 name follows earlier Apple chips, the M1 to M4 line, which power its Mac laptops.

Context: Pensioners usually need to prove each year that they are alive to keep receiving their pension, and the life certificate is the usual proof. Face authentication lets pensioners verify their identity using a camera instead of visiting a bank or pension office in person.

Context: Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and the Kherson region has been a key front since then. Humanitarian ceasefires are short, agreed pauses that let civilians leave areas where fighting is happening.

Context: Covid-19 first emerged in Wuhan, China, in late 2019 and spread worldwide, leading to lockdowns and travel rules. India and China have had a tense relationship since their 2020 military standoff on the Ladakh border.

Pattaya is a popular beach resort in Thailand that draws many Indian visitors. Overcharges on tourist purchases are a common warning, so travellers are often advised to check the bill and the amount before approving any card payment.

Context: Kannada is the language of Karnataka, and Kannada groups have long pushed for more local hiring in the state's IT hubs such as Bengaluru. The flag rule adds a state-identity question to that jobs debate.

Context: The US has maintained an economic embargo on Cuba since the early 1960s, and the UN General Assembly has voted for years calling for it to be lifted. Views on the embargo are divided, so readers may want to check several sources.

Context: Independent legislators are elected without a party ticket, and anti-defection rules in India can disqualify members who formally join another party. The question here is whether supporting a party counts as joining it, which the opposition and the MLCs see differently.

Wales runs its own health service, separate from England, and cancer care depends on scans read by radiologists, so a shortage slows diagnosis and treatment. Consultants are senior specialist doctors, and the UK has long reported staff gaps across the NHS.

Buy now, pay later lets shoppers split a purchase into instalments, often with no interest if paid on time. Missed payments can bring fees, so it's worth checking terms before using it.

Lucy launched in 2021 to study Jupiter's Trojan asteroids, groups of rocky bodies that share the giant planet's orbit. Scientists think these asteroids may be leftovers from the early solar system, which helps explain how the planets formed.

Context: The Quad is an informal partnership of India, the US, Japan and Australia, formed to work together on the Indo-Pacific. Economic coercion means pressure through trade or money, and the grouping has been widening its work on AI and critical minerals.

Context: Nandini is a cooperative milk brand in Karnataka, and families buy it daily, so price changes affect household budgets. Milk price decisions often spark debate about farmers' earnings versus what consumers can afford.

Context: Court fees are paid when a case is filed, and courts have debated whether settling late should earn a refund. When higher court rulings differ, lower courts must choose which one to follow.

Context: The Light Combat Aircraft Tejas and the planned AMCA are India's home-built fighter programmes, meant to reduce reliance on imported jets. The Air Chief Marshal is the head of the IAF, and each new chief sets the direction for these projects.

Context: Digi Yatra is a government scheme that uses face recognition and digital IDs so passengers can move through airport checkpoints faster. Until now it has mainly served domestic flyers, so this trial tests whether the same system works for foreign travellers.

Context: Maruti Suzuki is India's largest carmaker, so its monthly figures are often read as a signal of demand across the auto market. Sales usually rise around Diwali and the festive season, when many buyers make big purchases.

Context: KMF, or Karnataka Milk Federation, is the state's large dairy cooperative and sells milk under the Nandini brand. Dairy price revisions like this often reflect rising costs for farmers and transport, so households feel the change in their monthly budget.

Context: The University Grants Commission (UGC) is the national body that sets standards for universities and funds many of them in India, so its rules affect campuses across the country. Equity rules are often debated because they shape how students and staff are treated.

Context: Kashmir's Pampore area is known for saffron, a spice made from crocus flowers that is among the costliest in the world by weight. Iran is one of the largest saffron producers, so supply trouble there affects buyers elsewhere.

Context: The World Bank is a global lender that publishes poverty estimates for countries, often using an international line of about $2.15 a day. Extreme poverty figures are updated as new household surveys come in, so changes are often debated.

Context: AI data centres on Earth use large amounts of electricity and cooling, which is a growing concern for tech firms. Putting computing in orbit is an untested idea that companies are exploring as a possible alternative.

Context: The New York City Marathon is one of the six World Marathon Majors, so winning on debut is rare and draws wide attention. Almgren had earlier worked as a financial analyst and data scientist before turning to running full time.

Context: The INDIA bloc is a group of opposition parties formed in 2023 to contest national elections together against the BJP-led NDA. JD(U) is a Bihar-based party that was part of the INDIA bloc before later returning to the NDA.

Context: The NMMS scholarship is a central government scheme that gives financial support to students from low-income families who do well in school, helping them continue their studies.

Context: Bay of Bengal cyclones often form in the autumn months and can bring strong winds and flooding to coastal India. Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have both faced major storms in recent years, so early warnings and evacuations are standard steps.

Context: Personalised cancer vaccines are designed around a patient's own tumour, and most are still in research or early trials rather than routine treatment. Claims from startups should be read alongside peer-reviewed evidence.

Context: AI models are trained on large amounts of web content, and news sites have long complained about bots copying their work. Robots.txt, the standard file that tells bots what not to crawl, is the common tool publishers use today.

Context: El Niño is a natural warming of the central and eastern Pacific that shifts rain and heat patterns worldwide. It often weakens the Indian monsoon, so farmers and water planners watch it closely.

Context: Water scarcity is a recurring concern in many Indian cities, and water tankers are a common way to supply water during dry spells when pipelines fall short.

Context: BE FAST stands for balance, eyes, face, arms, speech and time, a memory aid for a stroke's common signs. Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in India, and early treatment can limit lasting damage.

Tax devolution is the share of the Union's tax income that the Centre passes on to state governments, which they use for schools, roads and health. The Centre typically pays it in regular monthly instalments, with extra payments added at times.

Context: KYC, or Know Your Customer, is the process banks follow to confirm who their customers are. Mule accounts are often opened with stolen or borrowed identities, and online fraud has been rising in India, so the court's review could change how accounts are opened.

Context: Karim Abdul-Jabbar was a six-time NBA champion and one of the league's all-time leading scorers, so matching his record is notable. The 76ers and Knicks are both Eastern Conference teams, so the game also matters in the standings.

Context: Namibia is an associate nation, not a full Test-playing country, and its cricket has grown through matches against teams like Ireland. A first bilateral ODI series win shows steady progress as it builds toward bigger tournaments.

Context: Sindhu is a two-time Olympic medallist, with silver at Rio 2016 and bronze at Tokyo 2020. The World Tour Finals is the season-ending event for the top players, so each ranking point matters for qualification.

Context: Kerala relies heavily on hydroelectric dams and on buying power from other states, so shortfalls during high demand have been a recurring problem. Power cuts affect households, hospitals and small businesses alike.

Context: Russia has been at war with Ukraine since its full-scale invasion in February 2022, and both sides have repeatedly hit each other's energy systems. Power grids matter because winter heating, water supply and hospitals depend on them.

Context: GST is India's goods and services tax, a single tax that replaced many state and central levies in 2017. Each state where a business sells can require its own registration, so easier rules can matter a lot to small online sellers.

Context: Many women do farm work but are often not counted as farmers in official records, because land ownership usually decides recognition. Recognition can affect access to farm schemes, loans and benefits.

Context: YouTube has age settings and content rules, but AI tools let anyone make songs and videos quickly, so filters struggle to keep pace. Bhojpuri and Punjabi music are hugely popular across India, so such content can reach large family audiences.

Job fairs like this bring many employers and job seekers together in one place, so candidates can be interviewed on the spot. Candidates who clear the second round usually face further interviews before any final hiring decision.

Context: Canada and the US are close trading partners, and tariffs are taxes on imports that raise prices for buyers. Trade ties between the two neighbours have become a major issue since Trump returned to office in 2025 and began new tariffs.

Raam is an Arab party in Israel's Knesset, and Qatar is a Gulf state that has long mediated in Gaza talks. Foreign money in campaigns is a sensitive issue, so this probe draws attention.

Context: The Ballon d'Or is football's yearly award for the best player in the world, voted on by journalists. Real Madrid is one of Spain's biggest clubs and a regular contender for major titles.

Automatic emergency braking systems use sensors to spot a possible crash and brake if the driver does not react in time. India has some of the highest road death tolls in the world, so vehicle safety rules are a steady policy focus.

Context: The Ranji Trophy is India's top first-class cricket tournament for domestic teams, and points from each match decide who reaches the knockout stage. Mumbai has won the title more times than any other team.

Midterms are held about halfway through a US president's four-year term and decide which party controls Congress for the next two years. Control of each chamber shapes how easily a president can pass laws and approve appointments.

Cyclones form over warm seas and bring strong winds and heavy rain, and India's east coast gets several each season. A red alert is the highest warning level, used when officials expect severe damage.

Context: Char Dham is a major pilgrimage circuit in the Himalayas, where helicopters carry pilgrims and cover difficult terrain. India's aviation regulator, the DGCA, sets flight safety rules, and staffing changes like this often bring cost concerns from operators.

Context: Punjab has been widely reported as a state struggling with drug abuse, especially among young people, and the issue has been a major campaign topic there. Shah is the Union Home Minister, who oversees the central government's internal security and policing.

Context: Many homebuyers have waited years for flats when a builder defaulted on loans and stalled work. Under India's insolvency law, a developer's failure can freeze all its projects, so the new rules offer a narrower route for sound ones.

Context: 1984 refers to the anti-Sikh violence in Delhi and other places after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination, and the INDIA bloc is an alliance of opposition parties formed in 2023.

Context: The US and Iran have been at odds for years, over Iran's nuclear programme and its influence in the Middle East. Tensions in the Gulf can also affect oil prices and shipping routes that matter to India.

Context: FSSAI is the national regulator that sets and enforces food safety rules for restaurants and packaged food across India. Licence suspension is one of its strongest actions, and show-cause notices give a business a chance to respond before any final decision.

Context: GST is the goods and services tax, a single tax on most sales in India that replaced many older state and central taxes in 2017. Gross figures are collected before refunds, so they show money flowing in, not what the government finally keeps.

Context: Fuel prices in India are set in a daily revision system, and rates differ between cities because of local taxes and transport costs. CNG is a cleaner gas used by many cars and autos, so its price changes hit daily commuters directly.

Context: The Hylo Open is an international badminton tournament held in Germany and is part of the BWF World Tour circuit. Lakshya Sen is an Indian shuttler who has long been among the country's top men's singles players.

Context: Qatar's capital Doha has become a meeting point for indirect talks between Washington and Tehran. Diplomats watch US politics closely, since a change in policy after the midterms could shift how the talks proceed.

Context: GST is India's single goods and services tax, decided by a council of Centre and state finance ministers. Many businesses say rules spread across several agencies slow down projects, which is why approval reform keeps coming up.

Context: These demonstrations are part of the Gen Z protest wave that has spread across Germany, which we covered earlier across 34 cities. Protests are legal in Germany, but clashes with police raise questions about how the protests are handled.

Context: Tensions between the US and Iran are long-running, and the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for much of the world's oil, has been a flashpoint. India imports much of its crude oil, so fighting there can push up fuel costs at home.

Context: Iran's leader holds final authority over the country, and the US and Iran have been in a long standoff over Iran's nuclear programme. The Strait of Hormuz, a key oil route, matters to India because much of its crude oil passes through it.

The census counts the population once every ten years, and its data helps guide how government plans services and resources. Enumerators are the field staff who visit homes to collect the answers.

Context: Indraprastha Gas is the city gas distributor for much of Delhi, and Northern Railway is one of the zones of Indian Railways. Piped natural gas, which flows through pipelines, is increasingly used in place of LPG cylinders and diesel as cities push for cleaner fuel.

Context: Lula is a veteran Brazilian leader who was also president from 2003 to 2010. Bolsa Familia is a cash-transfer programme for poorer families, launched in 2003 and widely known across Brazil.

Context: Chemotherapy often causes nausea and vomiting, and doctors have commonly used steroids such as dexamethasone to control it. Steroids can have side effects, so a non-steroid option that works as well could matter for patients.

Context: India has long had rules on research using animals, and regulators update them from time to time. Animal welfare groups and scientists often clash over how strict such safeguards should be.

Context: The Krishna and Bhima are major rivers in the Deccan, and Karnataka and Maharashtra share their waters, so diversion plans often lead to disputes between the states.

Context: The Centre collects most big taxes but shares a fixed portion with states, which spend it on schools, hospitals and roads. Extra instalments like this one are released on top of the regular transfers.

Context: Nepal's mountain and trekking areas attract many Indian travellers every year. Rescues there can be slow because of weather, terrain and remote locations, and guides and local warnings are usually part of trip planning.

Context: Haryana has produced many of India's top wrestlers, and village akhadas, or wrestling pits, are a common route into the sport. A senior world title is among the sport's highest honours, so this win is a major milestone.

Context: The Cook Islands is a group of small islands in the South Pacific, linked to New Zealand, and a transit visa is permission to pass through a country on the way to another destination.

Ranji Trophy is played in groups, and teams near the top of the table are best placed to reach the knockout rounds. Each team represents a state cricket association, so local fans follow these results closely.

Katchatheevu is a small islet in the Palk Strait that India ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974, and fishermen from Tamil Nadu often face detention when they cross the maritime boundary while fishing.

Context: The WTA is the women's professional tennis tour, and Chennai has hosted this event for several years. Rain or heat can delay or shorten matches, so organisers often plan for weather changes.

Context: Nandan Nilekani is a well-known Indian tech entrepreneur and Infosys co-founder. Paper leaks in school and recruitment exams have been a recurring worry in India, which is why this panel's work matters to students and parents.

Context: France's yellow vest protests of 2018 also began over living costs and spread across the country, so similar anger has a history there. Paris is the capital and a common site of large street protests.

Context: Big tech firms are spending huge sums on AI data centres and chips, so investors are worried whether those costs will pay off; the Nasdaq is the US index heavy in technology shares.

Context: Ocalan was captured in Kenya in 1999 and has been held on an island prison in Turkey since then. The PKK fought the Turkish state for decades, and peace talks began in 2024 with his input.

Context: Google Cloud rents computing power and software to businesses, and the AI race has pushed big tech firms to spend heavily on data centres. Search ads bring in most of Alphabet's money, so changes there matter.

Context: Permafrost is ground that stays frozen year-round, and in the Himalayas it helps keep slopes stable. Warming temperatures have been a growing concern for the mountain region, which feeds major rivers such as the Ganga.

Honda makes motorcycles and cars in India. Plant decisions by carmakers are closely watched because they bring jobs and supplier business, and Karnataka is one of India's major manufacturing states.

Context: The Asian Champions Trophy is a hockey tournament for Asia's top teams, and results in it show how strong each country is ahead of bigger events.

Context: North Korea and South Korea are still technically at war, since the 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty. Pyongyang has tested missiles and weapons for years, and the heavily fortified border between them is one of the most tense places in the world.

Ranji Trophy points come from match results, so a team with few wins can fall behind quickly. Andhra is a southern state side, and home form matters because these matches are played at the home team's ground.

Context: T20 Internationals are the shortest format of international cricket, with each side batting for 20 overs in a match. Suryakumar Yadav is one of India's best-known T20 batters, so passing his mark is a notable achievement.

Context: Nandan Nilekani is an Infosys co-founder and the architect of Aadhaar, and the panel was set up to review how India's national exams are run after the 2024 NEET paper-leak row.

Context: Farmers in Punjab often burn paddy stubble after harvest to clear fields quickly, and the smoke worsens air quality in Delhi and nearby areas each autumn. Delhi has announced winter anti-pollution curbs, so this is part of the same seasonal fight.

Context: The H-1B is a US work visa that many Indian software engineers and other skilled workers use, and a green card grants permanent residence. Each new Congress and administration can change these rules, so election results matter for applicants.

Context: Many households in Indian cities hire maids and cooks through private agencies, which often operate with little public oversight. Police verification is meant to check a worker's background before they enter a home.

Context: Lava is an Indian smartphone brand known for budget phones, and this rise lands in the segment where buyers are most price-sensitive. Mid-range phones sit just above that tier, so their buyers may also watch prices closely.