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FirstUp: IND vs ENG 5th Test, verdict in Malegaon bombing case… Top news today
Team India will face England in the final match of their five-Test series. Reuters/File Photo
It is a busy Thursday.
Team India and England are set to play the final match of their five-Test series at The Oval in London, beginning today.
Nearly 17 years after a blast killed six people and injured over 100, a special NIA court is expected to announce its verdict in the Malegaon bombing case.
After public outrage, Ukraine's parliament is due to vote on a bill from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to bring back powers to two anti-corruption bodies.
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SpaceX is preparing to launch its Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
The Delhi High Court will hear a petition from Lok Sabha MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh alias Engineer Rashid, who is requesting an exemption from paying for his travel and security arrangements to attend Parliament.
Let's take a look at the events:
India vs England 5th Test match
Team India will face England in the final match of their five-Test series at The Oval in London starting today. Notably, India still has the chance to draw the series level.
It has been an exciting contest, with momentum shifting between the two teams. England currently leads 2-1, but India has fought hard throughout.
India still has the chance to draw the series level. AP/File Photo
Weather forecasts suggest overcast skies, high humidity, and possible afternoon showers at the start of the match on Thursday. Cloudy conditions are likely over the next couple of days, with rain expected again during the final stages of the Test.
The match will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network and will also stream on the JioHotstar app and website.
India is expected to take confidence into this must-win game. A win here would level the series 2-2.
Malegaon bombing verdict likely to be delivered
Nearly 17 years after a blast killed six people and injured over 100 in the communally sensitive town of Malegaon in Maharashtra, a special NIA court is likely to announce its verdict today.
Seven people, including BJP leader and former MP Pragya Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit, stood trial under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code.
The trial began in 2018 and concluded on April 19, 2025. The court reserved its judgment after the final hearings.
The explosion took place on September 29, 2008, when a bomb strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, about 200 km from Mumbai.
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Ukraine to vote on restoration of power of anti-corruption agencies
Ukraine's parliament is expected to vote today on a bill from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to restore the powers of two anti-corruption bodies, following criticism from both the public and the country's international partners.
After pressure from wartime street protests and rare criticism from European allies, Zelenskyy promised to maintain the independence of the country's anti-corruption institutions.
Ukraine's parliament is due to vote on a bill from Zelenskyy to bring back powers to two anti-corruption bodies. Reuters/File Photo
The proposed law faced strong objections from both agency heads and a senior European Union official. It also led to the largest public protests since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
In the first major protests during the war, young people, civil society activists and war veterans gathered, shouting slogans like 'Shame' and 'Veto the Law'. Critics say the legislation could be an attempt to curb these agencies in order to shield officials from scrutiny.
SpaceX Crew-11 set for launch to ISS
SpaceX is scheduled to launch its Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) today.
The mission will carry four astronauts aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. It marks the 11th operational flight under Nasa's Commercial Crew Program and the 12th human spaceflight as part of the initiative.
Weather officials predict an 85% chance of favorable weather conditions at Launch Complex 39A for the liftoff of @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft carrying #Crew11 to the @Space_Station on July 31.
Follow along for updates: https://t.co/9yc2MJYZDy pic.twitter.com/lbpaBx0a4v — NASA's Kennedy Space Center (@NASAKennedy) July 29, 2025
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Crew-11 will include Nasa astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. They will head to the ISS for a six-month science mission.
These astronauts will take over from Crew-10, who are currently onboard the space station, as part of the regular crew rotation to ensure continuous presence on the ISS.
Hearing of Engineer Rashid's plea in Delhi HC
The Delhi High Court will hear a plea by Lok Sabha MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh alias Engineer Rashid who is requesting exemption from covering the costs of his travel and security arrangements to attend Parliament.
A bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Mini Pushkarna confirmed that the matter would be heard on July 31.
Last week, a trial court in Delhi granted custody parole to Rashid, the Independent MP from Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir, from July 24 to August 4 for the Monsoon Session. The court directed that he would have to bear the expenses for his travel and security.
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Notably, Rashid has been held in Tihar Jail since 2019 in connection with a terror funding case.
With inputs from agencies
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