When the remains of 757 Ukrainian military casualties were exchanged in a frozen forest in February, Red Cross officials noted a disturbing anomaly: body number 757 was recorded as “NM SPAS”, an unidentified male, cause of death listed as heart failure.
Weeks later, forensic experts identified the corpse: it was Viktoriia Roshchyna, a 27-year-old Ukrainian journalist, not a soldier, who had been missing since July 2023.
A chilling report has alleged that Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna was subjected to severe torture while in Russian custody, including the removal of her brain, broken bones, electrocution, drugging, starvation, and other degrading acts.
As per the reports by Guardian, Roshchyna was not just another victim of war. She was one of Ukraine’s most fearless civilian reporters, venturing deep into occupied territories to document crimes the Russian state wanted hidden. Her final journey was a mission to uncover secret detention sites and expose the use of torture on civilians. Instead, she became one of their victims.
Abduction, knife scars, electric shocks, and starvation
On July 25, 2023, Roshchyna crossed into Russia through Latvia under her own name, taking a circuitous route to reach Melitopol in the occupied Zaporizhzhia region. Her phone went dark soon after.
Witness accounts now help reconstruct the horror that followed.
She was first detained in Enerhodar after allegedly being spotted by a drone. After a brief holding at the local police station, she was moved to a torture site in Melitopol known as “the garages”, controlled by the FSB.
According to a former cellmate, interrogators subjected Roshchyna to repeated electric shocks, evidenced by burn marks found on her feet during autopsy, and stabbed her in the arms and legs, including a 3cm deep puncture in her forearm. A gaping 5cm wound above her heel appeared to have caused her particular agony.
Roshchyna reportedly begged her torturers not to reopen an older wound on her heel. They didn’t listen. “She said: ‘I begged them not to touch that wound,’” the witness recalled. Her captors ignored her pleas, according to the report. “She said one guy, she called him a jerk … was brutal, unhinged,” the witness said.
Drugged and broken in Russia
Later, Roshchyna was transferred to SIZO-2, a notorious pre-trial detention facility in Taganrog, Russia. Detainees there recall she arrived drugged and disoriented. “She basically started to go crazy,” said one witness. She was kept in isolation, food-deprived, and deteriorated rapidly.
Weighing barely 30kg, she was unable to lift her head without help. “I would prop her up and she would grab the top bunk to pull herself up,” said her former cellmate.
Her hair was shaved, ribs broken, and abrasions covered her body. Witnesses said she stayed curled up on the floor, hidden behind a curtain, afraid and barely responsive. “Her eyes were terrified. She didn’t speak. She stopped eating,” said another inmate.
Taganrog is infamous for its methods: prisoners are routinely electrocuted, waterboarded, and forced into prolonged stress positions. Food portions were rationed to four and a half spoonfuls per plate. It was in these conditions that Roshchyna slowly starved.
Signs of strangulation, missing organs
When her body was finally returned, it bore unmistakable signs of prolonged torture. The hyoid bone in her neck — often broken in cases of strangulation — was fractured. Crucially, her brain, eyes, and larynx were missing, making it nearly impossible to confirm the exact cause of death.
Ukrainian prosecutors say the mutilation suggests an attempt to hide the extent of neurological or asphyxiation injuries.
She had made only one call during her detention — four minutes to her parents, nearly a year after her disappearance. That was the last time anyone heard her voice.
Authorities have opened a war crimes investigation, but prosecution may be elusive. Still, over 50 interviews with survivors and insiders have helped paint a horrifying portrait of systemic abuse.
“She died trying to expose exactly what happened to her,” Sevhil Musaieva, her editor at Ukrainska Pravda was quoted as saying. “Viktoriia had no personal life. Her entire world was her mission.”

NEW DELHI: US Secretary of State Rubio spoke with external affairs minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif on late Wednesday, urging them to “de-escalate tensions” between the two nations. He asked Sharif to condemn the Pahalgama attack that has soured the relations between the two nations.
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Indian external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar today. The Secretary expressed his sorrow for the lives lost in the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism. He also encouraged India to work with Pakistan to de-escalate tensions and maintain peace and security in South Asia,” US state department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.
During his conversation with Sharif, Rubio emphasized the importance of condemning the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and called on Pakistani authorities to cooperate fully in the investigation of what he described as a “this unconscionable attack.”
He further urged Pakistan to engage with India in efforts to de-escalate tensions, restore direct communication channels, and uphold regional peace and stability in South Asia.
However, Sharif accused India of engaging in “escalatory and provocative behavior,” according to a statement from Islamabad.
“India’s provocations would only serve to distract Pakistan from its ongoing efforts to defeat terrorism, particularly from militant groups,” Sharif said, according to the statement released by his office.
In the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians—mostly tourists—and left many injured, ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir have seen a sharp uptick. The attack, carried out by Pakistan-backed terrorists, has triggered a series of strong countermeasures from India.
In response, government has taken several diplomatic and strategic steps, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, shutting down the Integrated Check Post at Attari, and moving to reduce the strength of high commissions. Additionally, the armed forces have been granted full operational freedom to determine the nature and timing of a suitable response.

NEW DELHI: The use of long-range weapons for limited punitive strikes against Pakistan, without crossing the LoC, is currently being considered the preferred military option. This comes amid a review of the situation by the PM-led cabinet committee on security, even as firing exchanges between the rival armies have now spilled over to the international boundary in J&K.
Indian Army warned Pakistan Army to desist from “unprovoked” small arms firings being initiated by its troops all along the 778-km LoC, from Kupwara, Baramulla and Uri to Naushera, Sunderbani, Akhnoor and Poonch, over the DGMO hotline on Tuesday afternoon.
“But later in the night, Pak Army escalated the situation by opening fire in Pargwal sector of the 198-km IB in Jammu region. Our troops are effectively responding in double measure to all ceasefire violations,” an officer told TOI.
The CCS meeting Wednesday, the second since the Pahalgam massacre on April 22, came a day after PM Modi told the military chiefs they had “complete operational freedom” to decide on the “mode, targets and timing” of the country’s response to crush terrorism.
Consequently, it is no longer a question if kinetic military options will be exercised but when, while the public messaging was also clearly meant to keep Pakistan on tenterhooks. “The plans for punitive strikes and the graded dynamic response strategy are already in place. It won’t be a knee-jerk response but a calculated, credible and calibrated one under the threshold of a full-fledged conflict,” a senior officer told TOI.
With Pakistan already on guard and mobilising its forces as well as activating its entire air defence machinery, there is however no element of surprise left. A feasible immediate step is for the Indian Army to launch concentrated fire assaults by 155 mm artillery guns, 120 mm mortars and anti-tank guided missiles against Pak Army posts and positions as well as “terror launch pads” located near them.
“Without crossing the LoC, use of other long-range vectors can also impose serious costs on Pak Army and their infrastructure along the frontier. There are reports Pak Army is facing major shortages of 155 mm artillery shells, with its reserves being sent to Ukraine through third-party channels to make money,” he said.
Then, there are shallow cross-border ground raids that can be carried out by Army Para-Special Forces like the “surgical strikes” conducted in Sept 2016 against terror launch pads in four different locations in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir after 19 Indian soldiers were killed in a suicide attack at Uri.
Calibrated air strikes also remain an effective though escalatory step, much like the one conducted against the JeM terror facility at Balakot in Pakistan in Feb 2019. “The IAF did not have the 4.5-generation Rafale fighters during the Balakot air strikes. This time the targets can be the headquarters of JeM at Bahawalpur or LeT at Muridke,” another officer said.
This will involve jets like Rafales, Mirage-2000s and Sukhoi-30MKIs, armed with long-range weapons like the French ‘Scalp’ air-to-ground cruise missiles, Israeli Crystal Maze missiles and Spice-2000 precision guided penetration bombs, hitting pre-designated targets, as reported by TOI earlier.
The military options are being contemplated after a raft of retaliatory diplomatic measures against Pakistan were announced when the CCS met on April 23, which ranged from the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty to downsizing of the Pakistani high commission and revocation of visas of all Pakistani nationals in India.

Yuzvendra Chahal once again proved why he is considered one of the Indian Premier League’s all-time great spinners, delivering a sensational hat-trick to derail Chennai Super Kings‘ innings and set multiple milestones in the process.
Playing for Punjab Kings, Chahal’s brilliance came in the 19th over of CSK’s innings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday, as he picked up four wickets in just six balls to bowl out the hosts for 190 in 19.2 overs.
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Chahal’s spell came at a time when CSK were cruising at 177 for 5, courtesy of Sam Curran’s blistering 88 off 47 balls – the highest individual score for CSK this season. With Curran dismissed in the 18th over, MS Dhoni walked in to a deafening roar and began his innings in vintage style with a four off Marco Jansen, before hitting a six off Chahal.
Who’s that IPL player?
However, what followed was pure magic. Chahal dismissed Dhoni on the very next ball, caught by Nehal Wadhera at long-off. He then removed Deepak Hooda two balls later and bowled Anshul Kamboj for a golden duck. Off the final ball of the over, Noor Ahmad also fell for a first-ball duck, completing Chahal’s second IPL hat-trick.
His final figures stood at 4 for 32 in three overs, having started the over with none for 23.
WATCH:
Chahal not only delivered the first hat-trick of the 2025 IPL season but also became just the third bowler in IPL history to take four wickets in an over. More significantly, it marked his ninth four-wicket haul in the league, making him the bowler with the most 4-plus wicket hauls in IPL history.

Speaking at the mid-innings break, a visibly elated Chahal said, “Feeling very good, it was the 19th over and in front of me was Mahi bhai, felt it could go either way, but the plan was to go for wickets. Five fielders were inside and the plan was to bowl on the stumps and also to bowl wide, not bowl easy balls and play with the batter’s mind. It came from the memes and I had planned to do this celebration if I take a five-fer or a hat-trick.”
Most 4-plus wicket hauls in the IPL

Reflecting on CSK’s total, he added, “It is not easy, 190 is a good score. When the ball is old, it turns. Still, it’s a good total to chase. Yes, we can do it.”
Chahal’s game-changing over not only rewrote the record books but also gave Punjab Kings a massive psychological edge as they looked to chase down the target in Chennai.
Four wickets in an over for a bowler in IPL

NEW DELHI: In a surreal twist during Chennai Super Kings’ innings against Punjab Kings in IPL 2025, MS Dhoni hit a massive six, only for it to land in the hands of Ravindra Jadeja, who was stationed just outside the boundary rope as a substitute fielder.
The bizarre moment, which sparked laughter among fans, came during the 19th over bowled by Yuzvendra Chahal, and quickly became a talking point across social media.
It was a classic Dhoni shot, advancing down the pitch and launching the ball high over long-on.
While the ball cleared the boundary comfortably, it was Jadeja, Dhoni’s long-time teammate, who nonchalantly caught it beyond the ropes.
Watch
Chahal, who had been noteworthy all evening, produced an extraordinary final over that completely dismantled CSK’s lower order.
After dismissing Dhoni for 11, he went on to take a stunning hat-trick, removing Deepak Hooda, Anshul Kamboj, and Noor Ahmad in the space of three balls. CSK, cruising at 172/5 just minutes earlier, were suddenly bowled out for 190 in 19.2 overs.
Sam Curran top-scored with a blistering 84 off 47 balls, while young opener Ayush Mhatre impressed again with a steady 76.
But aside from those two, CSK’s lineup once again faltered under pressure.
Shivam Dube held his end for a gritty 66 but fell as the final wicket, capping a dramatic collapse where CSK lost five wickets for just 18 runs in the last 10 deliveries.
While Dhoni’s six gave fans a moment to cherish, it was Chahal’s brilliance and CSK’s lack of depth that defined the innings and possibly their fading IPL 2025 campaign.

By Chethan Shenoy
Gold buying on Akshaya Tritiya: Traditionally, Gold has always been considered a safe haven asset for investors, offering protection during times of uncertainty. But it is important to understand that it a sentiment driven asset.The price of gold is not driven by underlying fundamental metrics, but by demand and supply.
Gold has a tendency to perform in cycles and its recent performance has come in the last 5 years due to global uncertainty, rising inflation, geopolitical tensions, and strong central bank demand. Investors tend to purchase based on recent performance, exhibiting recency bias, which often leads them to buy at the peak.
They should avoid investing in Gold purely based on its recent performance.
We analysed the different probabilities of CAGR of Nifty vs. Gold over different time frames:

Gold’s ability to deliver high long-term returns significantly declines over time. The chance of earning over 12% CAGR from gold is just 0.58% over 10 years and drops to 0% over 15 years. Despite similar volatility to equity, its long-term upside is limited, making it less rewarding on a risk-adjusted basis.
In comparison, Nifty delivers more than 12% CAGR in 38% of 10-year cases and 24% of 15-year cases, making it a more dependable choice. It is far more consistent across 5, 7, 10, and 15 years.
Also Read | India has the world’s 7th highest gold reserves! Why is RBI buying gold and how does it help the Indian economy?
When considering long-term wealth creation, Nifty maintains a much stronger probability of beating inflation and compounding wealth versus Gold, which becomes highly unreliable over time.
Therefore, while gold can help hedge risks, over-reliance may limit growth. We recommend a portfolio with 80:20 in equity to debt.
Thus, investing in Gold this Akshaya Tritya is not recommended. If you still wish to invest in gold, invest only via Gold ETFs, and not FoFs or any other mode, and keep exposure to 5-10% of your total portfolio.
(Chethan Shenoy is Executive Director & Head – Product & Research, Anand Rathi Wealth Limited)
(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market and other asset classes given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

Pakistan hosted executives from World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency firm majority-owned by the Trump family. The DeFi platform, 60% owned by a Trump family entity, signed a letter of intent with the Pakistan Crypto Council to accelerate blockchain innovation and stablecoin adoption across the country. The agreement was signed during high-level meetings where World Liberty executives met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir.
Pakistan Crypto Council, with backing from World Liberty and Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, aims to establish the country as the “crypto capital of South Asia.” The council has criticized India’s 30% tax on crypto trades, suggesting Pakistan will take a more liberal approach. “We’ve seen this mistake before. India putting 30% tax on their crypto trades drastically reduced the exchange volume, our approach will be different,” Council chief Bin Sagib told Bloomberg.

Trump family’s deep involvement

The Trump connection to World Liberty is substantial. An entity called DT Marks DEFI LLC owns approximately 60% of the holding company and is entitled to 75% of certain revenues from coin sales. President Trump serves as “Chief Crypto Advocate,” while sons Eric and Donald Jr. hold the title of “Web3 Ambassador” and youngest son Barron is listed as “DeFi Visionary.”
The company raised approximately $300 million in October 2024 by selling tokens and plans to launch a stablecoin called USD1.

Deal Signed amid regional tensions between India and Pakistan

The timing of the deal is crucial, coming just five days after terrorists attacked tourists in Pahalgam, killing 26 and sparking a sharp escalation in India-Pakistan tensions. India has said two of the three attackers were Pakistani, while Pakistan has denied any involvement.
Indian policy advisers have expressed concerns that cost-effective exchanges in Pakistan could shift trading activity away from India, potentially creating national security risks if Indian financial data falls into Pakistani hands.
The New York Times has raised questions about potential conflicts between Trump’s policy pronouncements and his crypto business interests, noting that the firm has “erased centuries-old presidential norms, eviscerating the boundary between private enterprise and government policy.”

Amid tussle between the two countries, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday congratulated Mark Carney on victory in the Canadian national elections.
The Canadian Prime Minister’s Office in a statement said that the two leaders also “agreed to meet in person in the near future.”
“Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, spoke with the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. President Trump congratulated Prime Minister Carney on his recent election,” the statement read.
“The leaders agreed on the importance of Canada and the United States working together – as independent, sovereign nations – for their mutual betterment. To that end, the leaders agreed to meet in person in the near future,” it added.
This comes amid sour relations between US and Canada after Trump targeted its neighbour with tariff and sovereignty threats
The threats, subsequently, galvanised Canadian opposition. His social media post about making Canada the 51st state on election day proved particularly controversial.
Soon after the results, Carney claimed that Trump is trying to break the country so that America can own them.
“As I’ve been warning for months, America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country. Never. But these are not idle threats. President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us. That will never, ever happen,” Carney had said.
The Liberal Party, led by Mark Carney, secured an improbable fourth consecutive term. While they fell short of a majority, winning approximately 168 seats in the expanded 343-seat House of Commons, it was a clear mandate against populism, external interference, and political instability.
The Conservatives finished second with around 143 seats, while the Bloc Québécois fell to about 23, and the New Democratic Party (NDP) was reduced to just 7 seats. Voter turnout surged, fuelled largely by concerns over Canadian sovereignty and an unusually intense focus on domestic unity in the face of global uncertainties.