The Congress matriarch breaks her silence as Indian cricket faces a bidding problem
Today at a glance
Sonia Gandhi's memoir promises rare insights into India's most scrutinized political dynasty, while the BCCI confronts a media rights dilemma with JioStar as the sole serious bidder. Meanwhile, Nepal earthquake survivors sift through rubble, Colorado battles record bear encounters, flash floods trap hikers at the Grand Canyon, and Scottie Scheffler claims a massive FedEx Cup payday.
1
Sonia Gandhi's memoir: What will she reveal?
India1 min read
After decades of public silence, Sonia Gandhi is writing a memoir that could reshape India's understanding of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. The book will likely address her unexpected rise to Congress leadership after Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, her decision to reject the prime minister's post in 2004, and the internal power dynamics that defined two decades of Indian politics. For a family that has governed India for much of its independent history yet remained intensely private, Gandhi's account promises rare personal insights into decisions that shaped the nation. The timing, as Congress struggles for relevance, adds political intrigue.
Survivors of Nepal's recent earthquake are returning to destroyed homes to recover whatever they can from the rubble. Families are sifting through collapsed structures, searching for photographs, documents, and personal belongings that represent irreplaceable connections to their past. The disaster has displaced thousands across the Himalayan nation, with many now living in temporary shelters. Relief efforts continue as international aid organizations work alongside local authorities to provide immediate assistance. The quake's impact extends beyond physical destruction, leaving communities grappling with trauma and uncertainty about rebuilding their lives in earthquake-prone zones.
Colorado has recorded over 7,000 bear sightings in 2026, breaking previous full-year records as severe drought across the American West forces malnourished bears into towns and cities. With natural vegetation withering, hungry bears are scavenging through trash cans, breaking into homes, and wandering through shops in search of food. Wildlife officials say most encounters begin with preventable issues like unsecured garbage bins or unattended bird feeders. The crisis reflects a broader challenge as human populations expand into wildlife habitats. For India, this mirrors concerns in Himalayan states where leopard-human conflicts have surged due to shrinking forest cover and climate pressures.
Fifteen hikers are feared missing after sudden flash flooding struck the Grand Canyon, transforming a peaceful day into a rescue emergency. Witnesses described a terrifying transformation as clear skies gave way to torrential water rushing through narrow canyon passages. "It was a beautiful day — and then people were screaming," one hiker who was airlifted to safety told the BBC. Rescue teams are searching the rugged terrain, complicated by the canyon's depth and limited access points. Flash floods are particularly dangerous in desert canyons where distant rainfall can create sudden walls of water with little warning, a phenomenon Indian trekkers also face in Ladakh's gorges.
The BCCI faces an uncomfortable reality as JioStar emerges as the only serious bidder for upcoming IPL media rights, raising concerns that Indian cricket could leave significant money on the table. The previous rights auction in 2022 generated a record ₹48,390 crore over five years, driven by fierce competition between multiple bidders. Now, with Disney-Star and Reliance Jio having merged into JioStar, that competitive tension has evaporated. The BCCI's challenge: how to extract maximum value when there's essentially no bidding war. Industry insiders suggest exploring regional unbundling or digital-only packages to attract new players, but time is running short.
Scottie Scheffler claimed the FedEx Cup title and its eye-watering $25 million prize, capping a dominant season on the PGA Tour. The world number one's victory also means a substantial payday for caddie Ted Scott, who typically earns 10% of tournament winnings — translating to roughly $2.5 million from this single event. Scheffler's 2026 season has been exceptional, with multiple major victories and consistent performances that have separated him from the field. The FedEx Cup playoffs represent golf's richest prize, designed to create a season-ending championship that rivals other sports' drama and financial stakes.
