Evening news wrap: 400 smartphones intensified Kurnool bus blaze, Canada sees surge in visa refusals & more

Latest probe into the Kurnool bus fire found that a consignment of 400 smartphones may have worsened the blaze that killed 20, with a bike fuel tank explosion reported as the trigger.

Canada’s immigration system faces a sharp rise in visa and permit refusals, with temporary resident rates crossing 50% and new study permits falling nearly 60% in 2025, driving a wave of judicial recourse.In Indore, two Australian women cricketers were allegedly stalked and molested while returning to their hotel. The accused was arrested after a bystander noted his motorcycle number. In Bihar, union home minister Amit Shah slammed Rahul Gandhi over his “Ghuspetiya Bachao Yatra,” taking a swipe at Tejashwi Yadav’s crime remarks with “Sau chuhe kha kar, billi haj ko chali,” and pitched the assembly polls as a choice between “Jungle Raj” and “Vikas Raj.” Former coach Ravi Shastri praised Rohit Sharma and

Virat Kohli

, saying, “You two old dogs still have a sting in the tail" after they guided India to a nine-wicket victory over Australia in the third ODI at Sydney.

As investigation continues, a new development has emerged in the Kurnool bus fire case, with forensic experts saying a consignment of 400 smartphones may have intensified the blaze that killed 20 passengers. Initial reports suggest the fire broke out after a bike’s fuel tank exploded, while the phones’ lithium-ion batteries worsened the flames. Read full story

A sharp surge in visa and permit refusals is rattling Canada’s immigration system, with temporary resident refusal rates crossing 50%.

Experts say automated tools and tighter policies are replacing case-by-case assessments, driving a wave of judicial reviews. International students are among the hardest hit, with new study permits falling nearly 60% in 2025. Read full story

Two Australian women cricketers were allegedly stalked and molested by a man while returning to their hotel after visiting a café on Ring Road in Indore on Thursday morning around 11 am. The accused, identified as Akil Khan, was arrested after a bystander noted his motorcycle number. Read full story

Union home minister Amit Shah slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying he “cannot protect infiltrators by taking out a ‘Ghuspetiya Bachao Yatra’” at an election rally in Khagaria, Bihar. Referring to Tejashwi Yadav’s remarks on crime in Bihar, Shah said, “Sau chuhe kha kar, billi haj ko chali,” while highlighting a 20% decline in murder cases during Nitish Kumar’s 20-year tenure. He pitched the Bihar polls as a choice between “Jungle Raj” and “Vikas Raj,” saying only PM Modi and Nitish Kumar, “who are not accused of corruption,” can develop the state.

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Former coach Ravi Shastri praised Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, saying, “You two old dogs still have a sting in the tail" after the duo guided India to a nine-wicket victory over Australia in the third ODI at Sydney, despite losing the three-match series 1-2. Australia were restricted to 236, with Harshit Rana taking 4/39, while Rohit scored 121* and Kohli 74* in an unbroken 168-run stand. Read full story