The Sudanese military recaptured a key city in Sudan’s breadbasket region on Saturday, chasing out a paramilitary group that the United States accused last week of genocide. Sudan’s information minister said the army had “liberated” the city, Wad Madani, while the military said that its troops were working to “clear the remnants of the rebels” from the area. If the army can hold on to the city, it would be its most significant victory since the war started nearly two years ago.

The Tamil romantic drama Miss You, featuring Siddharth and Ashika Ranganath in lead roles, is now available for streaming. Directed by N Rajasekar, the film delves into themes of love, rejection, and rediscovery, as it follows an aspiring filmmaker who confesses his love to a woman, only to be rejected and later realise a shared past. Initially released in December, the movie has now made its way to Prime Video in Tamil and Telugu, catering to audiences across languages.

The extinction of many kangaroo species in Australia around 40,000 years ago might have been caused more by human activities than climatic changes. Fossil evidence from ancient kangaroo teeth suggests that these animals adapted well to changing climates due to their flexible diets. This raises the likelihood that human hunting practices played a greater role in their disappearance than previously assumed.

Astronomers have analysed the atmosphere of WASP-166 b, a hot super-Neptune exoplanet, revealing the presence of water and carbon dioxide. Using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the observations also detected ammonia in smaller quantities. WASP-166 b is situated approximately 368 light-years away and is about seven times larger and 32 times heavier than Earth. The planet, orbiting its host star every 5.44 days at a distance of 0.067 AU, has an estimated equilibrium temperature of 1,270 K, placing it within the hot Neptune desert.

Young drag-flicker Amandeep Lakra scored a crucial equaliser, and goalkeeper Dominic Dixon made some vital saves in the penalty shootout as Hyderabad Toofans edged out JSW Soorma Club via sudden death in a cliff-hanger in the Hockey India League at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium here on Saturday. Following a 1-1 draw in the regulation period, Toofans held their nerve to win the shootouts 4-3 and claim an important bonus point from their third win.

A newly identified form of cartilage, distinct from the three commonly recognised types, has been described by scientists. This tissue, termed "lipocartilage," stands out due to its unique composition. Unlike typical cartilage, which features thick fibre matrices, lipocartilage contains balloon-like cells filled with oils. These cells are uniform and closely packed, forming a springy yet durable structure. Found in areas such as the ear and nose, this tissue combines elasticity with resistance to deformation, according to reports.

India will be looking to seal the series when it takes on Ireland in the second ODI on January 12 in Rajkot. India registered a comprehensive victory in the first ODI, winning by six wickets courtesy of impressive knocks by Pratika Rawal and Tejal Hasabnis, as well as an explosive innings by stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana. Mandhana is currently captaining India as full-time captain Harmanpreet Kaur is resting for the series.

Scientists have discovered a unique link between ferroelectric domain walls and superconductivity in two-dimensional van der Waals materials. This breakthrough, credited to research by Gaurav Chaudhary from the University of Cambridge and Ivar Martin from Argonne National Laboratory, sheds light on how specific structural features in these materials enable strong electron interactions. The findings are expected to pave the way for new superconducting devices and innovative applications in the field of condensed matter physics.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) held a long meeting with India captain Rohit Sharma, head coach Gautam Gambhir and chairman of the national selection committee Ajit Agarkar on Saturday to discuss the road ahead, following India’s embarrassing 1-3 defeat in the recently-concluded Test series against Australia. The meeting that continued for nearly three hours at a plush South Mumbai hotel saw the BCCI’s secretary-in-waiting Devajit Saikia and former secretary Jay Shah engaging in conversation with the team management to figure out what went wrong on tour, where India went on to concede the five-match Test series despite going one-up in Perth.

The launch of Blue Origin's highly anticipated New Glenn rocket has been delayed due to adverse weather conditions. Initially planned for Friday, January 10, the liftoff was rescheduled to Sunday, January 12, at 1:00 a.m. EST (0600 GMT). This decision was taken because rough seas in the Atlantic Ocean could jeopardise the landing of the rocket's reusable first stage. The launch will proceed from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, with the same three-hour launch window.

Jupiter's atmospheric composition has been called into question through observations made using an old technique by an amateur astronomer, Steve Hill. The findings have indicated that the planet's iconic swirling clouds may not be composed of ammonia ice, as previously assumed. This revelation stems from data collected with commercial telescopes and spectral filters, presenting new perspectives on the gas giant's atmospheric dynamics and chemistry.

Love Island UK Season 11 has been made available for streaming on LionsGate Play. Reports indicate that the latest season of the popular reality show, known for its dramatic twists and romantic entanglements, is now accessible to viewers across multiple regions. The programme, which has gained a massive following over the years, invites singles to a villa where they couple up, face challenges, and navigate relationships in the hope of winning the coveted prize.

The Telugu action-drama Bachhala Malli, directed by Subbu Mangadevvi, is now available for streaming on multiple OTT platforms. Released in theatres on December 20, 2024, the film, starring Allari Naresh and Amritha Aiyer, received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. Set against a rural backdrop, the story delves into themes of love, family, and resilience. Fans who missed the theatrical release can now catch the movie from the comfort of their homes.

Netflix has introduced a new French action thriller, Ad Vitam, which brings an intense tale of danger, resilience, and personal stakes to the screen. Centred around Franck Lazareff, a former elite intervention agent with a haunting past, the movie unravels as he finds himself racing against time after a violent attack disrupts his life. Directed by Rodolphe Lauga, the film offers a tightly paced narrative filled with high-octane action and emotional depth, catering to fans of gripping thrillers.

Delhi SG Pipers will play Odisha Warriors in the opening match of the women’s Hockey India League on Sunday at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Hockey Stadium in Ranchi. The venue has hosted top world events such as the FIH Olympic Qualifiers and the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy. Navneet Kaur, captain of Delhi SG Pipers said, “We are very excited that the Women’s HIL is finally starting and we (Delhi SG Pipers) are getting to play the first match.

On Saturday morning, reports were abuzz with news of Tiku Talsania suffering a stroke. While some claimed that the actor suffered a cardiac arrest while attending a movie premiere on Friday night, his wife went on to clarify to the media that the actor had a brain stroke. However, she did not share much details on his health condition. However, now actress Rashami Desai has opened up about the same and have assured fans that the actor is recovering.

It kills more people each year than car crashes, war or drugs do. This invisible killer is the air pollution from sources like cars and trucks or factory smokestacks. But as wildfires intensify and grow more frequent in a warming world, the smoke from these fires is emerging as a new and deadly pollution source, health experts say. By some estimates, wildfire smoke — which contains a mixture of hazardous air pollutants like particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, ozone and lead — already causes as many as 675,000 premature deaths a year worldwide, as well as a range of respiratory, heart and other diseases.

Mohammed Shami has finally made a comeback to the India squad with his selection for the five T20Is against England starting on January 22 in Kolkata. He returns after last playing for India in the ODI World Cup final in November 2023, after which he had ankle surgery and also suffered from knee-related niggles. The T20I squad, led by Suryakumar Yadav, was picked by the selectors on Saturday but they are yet to announce India's ODI squad for the three matches against England in February as well as the provisional 15 for the Champions Trophy, the deadline for which is January 12.

Devdutt Padikkal kicked off the new year in style by slamming a breezy 102 (99b, 15x4, 2x6) and headlined Karnataka’s five-run win over Baroda in a closely fought quarterfinal match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy here at the Motibaug Cricket ground on Saturday.
 Asked to bat first, Karnataka managed 281 for eight after Padikkal and K.V. Aneesh (52) laid the foundation for a good total through their 133-run second-wicket partnership.

The trailer of Loveyapa, featuring the exciting new pairing of Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor, has finally been unveiled amid the presence of cast and of course, the producer and Junaid’s father Aamir Khan. Promising to feature the fun and vibrant quirks of today’s youth, the trailer highlights the chemistry between the two debutants, offering a glimpse into what seems to be a breezy and heartfelt romantic comedy.

Sanju Samson has been named in India’s T20I squad against England as the five-member national selection committee decided to leave out Rishabh Pant. Suryakumar Yadav will continue to lead the side while pacer Mohammed Shami makes a return to international cricket following a prolonged injury break. Dhruv Jurel will be the second wicketkeeper-batter, while Nitish Kumar Reddy has been rewarded for his remarkable performances in Australia with a spot in the T20I side.

The Ukrainian authorities on Saturday announced the capture of two North Korean soldiers in Russia, saying they were the first to be taken alive since Pyongyang sent troops to assist Moscow’s war effort. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said the two soldiers, who were wounded, were captured in the Kursk region of western Russia, where Ukrainian troops have been fighting to hold on to territory seized during a surprise cross-border incursion last summer.

Mohammed Shami is set to return to international cricket after a year when India takes on England in a five-match T20I series later this month. Though an official announcement is awaited, Sportstar understands that the five members of the selection committee met here on Saturday and decided to include Shami. He has been out of action in international cricket since November 2023 due to an ankle injury.

Maharashtra 275 for 6 (Kulkarni 107, Bawne 60, Arshdeep 3-56) beat Punjab 205 (Arshdeep 49, Mukesh 3-44) by 70 runs Arshin Kulkarni, Maharashtra's 19-year-old allrounder, scored a century on List A debut to lead his side to victory against Punjab and into the semifinals of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Kulkarni top-scored with 107 off 137 balls as Maharashtra overcame a top-order wobble to post 275 for 6, which was 70 too many for Punjab.

Actor Aaman Devgan is all set to make his big Bollywood debut with Abhishekh Kapoor’s action-adventure Azaad. We got a glimpse of the young actor playing the role of a village lad in the trailer of the movie, followed by which there is ample excitement to see what the actor has in store for his fans in this action adventure.