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At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progress—from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
At IndiaVerve, we go beyond the noise to bring you meaningful stories of change, resilience and progress—from India to the world stage. Our mission is to bring readers credible, wide-ranging coverage across politics, business, sports, culture, society and more.
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Day: December 9, 2025

Hardik Leads India’s commanding win as Proteas collapse in Cuttack opener

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Cuttak: India kicked off their T20 World Cup build-up with a commanding victory on Tuesday night, thrashing South Africa by 101 runs in the opening T20I match at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. Hardik Pandya’s explosive unbeaten 59 and a ruthless bowling display bundled out the visitors for just 74 — their lowest-ever total in the format.

Sent in to bat under challenging evening conditions, India initially struggled as the surface offered movement and grip to South Africa’s bowlers. But Pandya changed the momentum with a blistering unbeaten 59 from just 28 balls, smashing boundaries at will to lift India from a modest start to a competitive 175 for 6.

In reply, South Africa never recovered from early blows. Arshdeep Singh struck off the second delivery of his first over with the wicket of Quinton de Kock. Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel struck inside the PowerPlay, while Varun Chakravarthy’s variations derailed any hopes of a rebuild. Dewald Brevis managed 22, but he found little support as wickets fell in a heap.

What followed was a collapse of stunning severity. India’s bowlers hunted in pairs, using pace, turn and bounce to dismantle the South African lineup in just 15.4 overs. Axar Patel’s 2 for 7, Chakravarthy’s tight spell of 2 for 19 and Bumrah’s 2 for 17 highlighted a disciplined all-round effort, while fielders stayed sharp despite the dew. Pandya was declared player of the match.

Microsoft to invest USD17.5bln in India to boost AI infrastructure

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New Delhi: American tech major Microsoft will invest USD17.5 billion in India’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem over the next four years, CEO Satya Nadella announced on Tuesday.

“Thank you, PM Narendra Modi, for an inspiring conversation on India’s AI opportunity. To support the country’s ambitions, Microsoft is committing USD17.5 billion – our largest investment ever in Asia – to help build the infrastructure, skills, and sovereign capabilities needed for India’s AI first future,” Nadella wrote on X while sharing a photo with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Nadella said the investment will strengthen cloud and AI infrastructure, skilling efforts, and ongoing operations across India. Microsoft currently employs more than 22,000 people across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Gurugram, Noida, and other cities.

Modi welcomed the announcement and expressed confidence in India’s rising influence in the global AI landscape.

Responding to Nadella’s post, the PM wrote on X: “When it comes to AI, the world is optimistic about India! Had a very productive discussion with Mr. Satya Nadella. Happy to see India being the place where Microsoft will make its largest-ever investment in Asia.”

Unrest grips Malkangiri after killing of tribal woman; Internet shut down across district

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Malkangiri (Odisha): Tension continues to simmer in Malkangiri district after violent clashes between tribal residents and Bengali settlers prompted the administration to suspend internet services for 24 hours and curb public gatherings. The violence erupted a day after the discovery of a 51-year-old Koya tribal woman’s headless body, a killing that has deeply shaken communities in the region.

The district administration moved swiftly after unrest broke out on Sunday when nearly 5,000 tribal residents from Rakhelguda marched to MV-26 village under Korkunda Sadar Police Station limits. Many in the group carried traditional weapons such as bows, arrows and axes. The mob went from house to house, torching at least four structures, damaging several others, and vandalising vehicles belonging to around Bengali settler families. A number of residents reportedly fled the village in fear as the clashes escalated.

District Collector Somesh Upadhyay ordered an immediate suspension of mobile and broadband internet networks across Malkangiri to prevent rumours and inflammatory content from spreading. Local sources indicated that police have detained two individuals in connection with the violence. However, anger within the tribal community remains high, with demands for swift action against all those suspected of involvement in the murder.
The killing of Lake Padiami, the tribal woman at the centre of the unrest, appears to stem from a prolonged land dispute. Investigations suggest that she had allowed a Bengali settler, Sukumar Mandal, to cultivate her land as a sharecropper for about a decade after her husband’s death. With her son now an adult, Padiami reportedly sought to reclaim the land last year, leading to mounting tension between the two families.

Padiami was last seen on December 1 when she went to her field for harvesting. When she did not return home, her son lodged a missing persons report, expressing suspicion that she might have been abducted and killed. His fears were confirmed when her headless body was recovered near the Poteru river on December 4. The search for the missing head is still underway.

Police arrested Subharanjan Mondal, a resident of MV-26, on Sunday in connection with the murder, but the action failed to calm the agitated tribal community. A large gathering led by Adivasi leaders assembled at MV-26 on December 5, demanding immediate arrests of all suspects and recovery of the missing body part. Officials described the gathering as emotionally charged and potentially volatile.

Authorities are maintaining a strong security presence as investigations continue, hoping to prevent further violence and restore peace in the district.

Odisha inks strategic clean-energy partnerships at GELS 2025

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Puri: Four knowledge-partnership Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed to expedite research, pilot projects, and clean-energy deployment across Odisha during the recently concluded Global Energy Leaders’ Summit (GELS) 2025, which brought together industry leaders, innovators, policymakers, and global experts.

The summit, held in Puri, focused on strengthening clean energy generation, particularly solar power.

One MoU was signed between GRIDCO, the Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, and Avaada Group to establish a Centre of Excellence for Green Hydrogen research and innovation in Odisha, according to an official release.

Another MoU was inked among Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, GRIDCO, and IIT Bhubaneswar to advance renewable energy pilot projects and applied research.

A tripartite MoU was also formalised between NLC India Renewables Ltd, OREDA, and GEDCOL.

Additionally, a multi-agency MoU was signed between the Solar Energy Corporation of India, Odisha Hydro Power Corporation, Green Energy Development Corporation of Odisha, and the Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency to accelerate renewable-energy expansion and integrated planning.

Addressing the gathering, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said the three-day summit had strengthened Odisha’s shared vision toward a secure, balanced, and innovative energy ecosystem where sustainability aligns with progress.

“Sharing Odisha’s vision for sustainable energy, I highlighted the key takeaways and reaffirmed our commitment to innovation, resilience, and collective progress. Proud that Odisha has set the stage for India’s energy future while passing the baton to the next host state,” he said in a post on X.

Speaking at the same venue, Minister of New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi announced that 1.5 lakh rooftop solar ULA model would benefit up to eight lakh residents of Odisha.

He said in a post on X: “Underscored the country’s remarkable solar capacity growth, which surged from 2.8 GW to approximately 130 GW in just 11 years.”

Praggnanandhaa wins FIDE Circuit 2025

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New Delhi: India’s Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu has won the FIDE Circuit 2025, officially earning a place in the 2026 Candidates Tournament.

The young Indian grandmaster took the lead in May after surpassing Ding Liren and held a steady advantage through the season. By late November, his closest competitors – Anish Giri, Fabiano Caruana, Matthias Bluebaum, and Javokhir Sindarov – had already qualified for the Candidates through other routes, while Vincent Keymer was no longer scheduled to play classical events. This left only Nodirbek Abdusattorov with a mathematical chance to overtake him.

To secure his qualification, Praggnanandhaa made a last-minute decision to play the London Chess Classic Open. He performed strongly, scoring 7/9, tying for first place, and earning 8.17 FIDE Circuit points – enough to confirm his position regardless of the upcoming Rapid and Blitz events.