Shubman Gill returns to No.1 in ICC ODI batting rankings

A Ghanaian court has sentenced senior opposition politician Bernard Antwi Boasiako to 20 years in prison with hard labour after finding him guilty of illegal mining related offences, triggering a strong political reaction and renewed debate over the country’s fight against unlawful mining. Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, is the Ashanti regional chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party and the first high profile politician to be convicted since Ghana launched a nationwide crackdown on illegal mining in 2017. In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered him to pay fines exceeding 10,000 dollars. Reports from the courtroom said Boasiako appeared visibly stunned as the verdict and sentence were announced. He had denied all charges throughout the trial. The court found him guilty of transferring mineral rights without official approval and facilitating unlicensed mining operations through his company, Akonta Mining. Prosecutors argued that the company allowed two individuals to carry out mining activities on its concession without the required authorisation from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. The ruling has sparked anger within the New Patriotic Party, which described the conviction as politically motivated. Party officials accused the government of selectively targeting opposition figures while ignoring evidence they believe would have cleared Boasiako of wrongdoing. NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong criticised the judgement and said the campaign against illegal mining would lose credibility if it focused only on political opponents. He confirmed that the party’s legal team has already started the appeal process in an effort to overturn the conviction. Illegal mining, commonly known in Ghana as galamsey, has remained one of the country’s biggest environmental challenges for years. The activity has polluted rivers, damaged forests and destroyed large areas of farmland despite repeated government efforts to stop it. As Africa’s largest gold producer, Ghana has struggled to balance economic interests with environmental protection. Successive governments have launched military operations and stricter enforcement measures to curb illegal mining, but the practice continues to spread in many parts of the country. Environmental activists welcomed the court’s decision, describing it as a major step towards greater accountability. They argued that the conviction sends a clear message that politicians and influential business figures are not above the law when it comes to environmental crimes. Adib Saani, Executive Director of the Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Peace Building, said the verdict demonstrates the importance of holding powerful individuals accountable if Ghana hopes to protect its forests, rivers and natural resources from further destruction. The case is expected to remain politically sensitive as Boasiako’s legal appeal moves forward. It also places renewed attention on Ghana’s campaign against illegal mining, with many observers watching closely to see whether similar cases involving influential figures will be pursued in the future.

Indian environmentalist and social activist Sonam Wangchuk has ended his 26-day hunger strike after holding discussions over the ongoing nationwide protests against alleged examination paper leaks. However, demonstrations demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan are continuing across India. Wangchuk announced his decision through a post on social media, saying he ended the fast after lengthy negotiations and concerns that the situation could lead to further violence. He said he would soon explain the conditions that led to his decision in a separate video message. The 59-year-old activist had been fasting since June 28 in support of a youth-led protest movement that accuses the government of failing to prevent repeated examination paper leaks. Protesters have demanded the resignation of the education minister after alleged leaks in medical college entrance examinations forced millions of students to retake the tests. Shortly before Wangchuk’s announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation and pledged stronger legal action against those responsible for examination fraud. He described the paper leak scandal as a serious issue affecting the future of hundreds of thousands of students and said the government would introduce tougher legislation to combat such crimes. Modi also announced plans to speed up court proceedings against those involved in examination fraud, adding that the issue would be discussed by the federal cabinet. While outlining the government’s response, he did not comment on demands for the education minister’s resignation. Despite Wangchuk ending his fast, thousands of protesters continue to gather at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and in several other cities. Demonstrators say they will maintain their peaceful campaign until the education minister steps down and comprehensive reforms are introduced to restore transparency and fairness in India’s examination system. The protests have become one of the biggest public challenges faced by Prime Minister Modi’s government since beginning its third term. Tensions have risen in recent days after clashes between police and protesters. Security forces used tear gas and batons to stop demonstrators attempting to march towards parliament, leading to widespread criticism from rights organisations over the handling of the protests.

Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche has issued an official order rescinding the controversial $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponisation Fund”, resolving a key point of friction ahead of his confirmation vote before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The action follows extended negotiations with Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who had withheld support for the nomination pending written assurances that the initiative would be permanently discarded. Although Blanche previously indicated in Congressional testimony that the department would not move forward with the program, lawmakers sought a formal rescission to prevent its potential revival. The directive also clarifies terms surrounding a related legal settlement, stipulating that provisions concerning tax audit protections apply exclusively on a retroactive basis to open claims active at the time of the agreement and do not extend to future tax filings.

China has strongly opposed a US decision to place several Chinese research institutions on a sanctions list. Beijing criticised the move on Wednesday. It accused Washington of using national security concerns to restrict scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries. A spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Commerce said Beijing would take necessary steps to protect the legitimate rights and interests of its research institutions. The spokesperson also said China wanted to maintain a stable environment for normal scientific exchanges and cooperation with international partners. Beijing accused the United States of repeatedly expanding the definition of national security. It said Washington had created discriminatory barriers against Chinese institutions. China also criticised what it described as the politicisation and weaponisation of scientific research. According to Beijing, such policies could damage cooperation between researchers and universities in both countries. The Chinese government said the US measures were against the broader global trend of international cooperation in science and technological innovation. Beijing urged Washington to withdraw what it called unjustified accusations against Chinese research institutions. China also called on the United States to correct its policies as soon as possible. It demanded fair, just and non-discriminatory treatment for Chinese research organisations. The dispute comes amid wider tensions between Washington and Beijing over technology, trade and national security. The United States has increasingly tightened restrictions on Chinese access to advanced technologies. Semiconductor manufacturing has become a major area of competition between the two countries. China is also working to expand its domestic semiconductor industry. Beijing aims to reduce its dependence on advanced foreign chips affected by US export restrictions. Last week, the US Department of Defence updated a list of foreign institutions it considers involved in “problematic activities”. The updated list included Chinese defence-related academies and several universities. Shanghai-based Fudan University was also among the institutions added to the list. The latest move is likely to add another point of tension to already strained US-China relations. Beijing has repeatedly opposed US measures targeting Chinese companies, universities and research organisations. Washington, meanwhile, has maintained that its restrictions are linked to national security and technology concerns.