Swing and seam friendly conditions, a lack of truly scary Australian bowlers and New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum's retirement are all themes that will resonate when the first Test gets underway in Wellington on Friday.
The incident took place as residents and visiting soccer fans from around the world thronged the centre of Moscow on a balmy summer evening.
The hits and misses of the week.
A 13-year-old boy was abused and assaulted in a government-run home in Bangalore for allegedly refusing to clean toilets and police have launched a manhunt for three persons, including head of the home, in connection with the incident.
Austria's Dominic Thiem strained every sinew trying to cling on to the 32-year-old Spaniard and at times even gained a precarious foothold in his first Grand Slam final. But it ultimately proved a futile mission as, just like in all but two of Nadal's previous 87 matches here, the relentless Spaniard proved insurmountable, winning 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.
A gunman fired a shot through the front window of a crowded Indian restaurant at Harris Park in Sydney's west, the second such incident in last four months in the area.
'The signals were clear. December 6 would not witness another show of "Hindu" strength staged periodically in Ayodhya. Something grave was afoot.' Radhika Ramaseshan's personal recollection of the events of December 6, 1992.
Slamming the Aam Aadmi Party for making "unrealistic promises" during elections in Delhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday challenged it to form a government with Congress support instead of avoiding power and fulfil its "exaggerated and unimplementable" manifesto.
Lewis Hamilton looked forward to more success with Mercedes after collecting his fifth Formula One world champion's trophy at the governing FIA's gala awards on Friday.
'People are getting admitted to hospital two to three days before their death in a very serious respiratory compromise state and they are passing away within 48 hours.' 'Those who are coming early in the disease, the minute they are suspicious that they have COVID-19, the recovery rate has been much, much, higher.' 'The moral of the story is: We must destigmatise COVID-19.' 'People should be told: 'Look, if you have anything like this, please come immediately'.'
Twins Zahra and Salma Halane fled to marry IS fighters posted pics of themselves on Twitter
'I am not actively searching for a film; I leave it up to the universe.'
How? It really can curdle your blood, says a new research.
'I felt a constant gag in my throat, and emerged from the movie somewhat mugged,' confesses Sreehari Nair.
In the aftermath of the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks, allegations have been made that the Muslim militants in Sri Lanka draw sustenance from India. An overarching impression is being created that the ISIS is gaining ground in India, points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
The Haider star enters holy matrimony for real on July 7.
The hits and misses of the week.
Sreehari Nair could not put up with turgid and self-serious ones like Super Deluxe and Gully Boy. His list of favourite Indian movies of 2019 contains just five names.
There has been a steady rise in the number of youth taking up arms in the Valley since 2014 onwards as compared to 2011, 2012, and 2013.
'If this is the India you're talking about, where there is no space for minorities, where you have hate, where people can enter universities and beat students up, let me be anti-national.' 'I'll carry that as a badge of honour.'
From the political maelstrom in Washington to the humanitarian disaster in Yemen to the deadly unrest along the Israel-Gaza border, photographers captured a world in turbulent transition.
'Shraddha tries hard to rescue the film, but the script totters so badly in the second half that any salvage seems impossible,' says Syed Firdaus Ashraf.
Why Tista Sengupta wants Lopa and Manu to be disqualified...
An unexpected devaluation of yuan saw it plunge the most in 20 years.
China is on the lookout for investment pastures where its money is welcome, safe and earns a decent return. India also needs vast investment - about $1 trillion over the next 10-15 years - in infrastructure, green energy, transportation and heavy industry, says Ravi Bhoothalingam.
'Predators will always try, but I'm sure there will be less. We need one or two big examples like this.'
Long before he became a superstar, long before he summoned the courage to tell his father Rakesh Roshan that he wanted to become an actor, Hrithik Roshan was seized by self doubt.
'One remembers Professor Rao with fondness as the man who gave the space programme a very professional front face, a very different appearance from the raw energy of a Vikram Sarabhai or the polished passion of a Dr Satish Dhawan.'
There is a certain wackiness to the narrative and the absurd characters that makes Jackson Durai a tolerable watch, says S Saraswathi.
Bollywood's half-yearly report: The BAD STUFF!
He was nearly within striking distance of Nassar before court guards tackled him roughly to the ground in front of his shocked daughters.
Australian batsman David Warner expressed apprehension about Test cricket's survival should the proposed 'rebel' league to be bankrolled by Indian business tycoon Subhash Chandra takes flight but added that the vast sums of money on offer could not be easily rejected by players.
When Meenakshi Arvind and Mookambika Rathinam took an epic car journey from Coimbatore to London, they encountered a world that was more good than bad. In the cry for freedom in a dark corner of the globe, they discovered that The Mahatma remained India's greatest icon.
'I would never celebrate the success of my songs, be it with Baar Baar Dekho or Dear Zindagi. With Jahan Tu Chala, I made it a point to enjoy its success.'
'Stree's allegorical approach doesn't interfere with its need to endear and entertain.' 'Important ideas of empowerment and item songs as well as chills and chuckle coexist to fulfil its objective of thoda hasao, thoda darao,' says Sukanya Verma.
Colonel Sonam Wangchuk was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest honour for courage, for wresting the first victory of the Kargil War. Leading 40 men, his unit evicted 135 Pakistani troops in a three day battle fought in two feet snow and minus 6 degrees.
Logan Lucky and It have many chuckle-worthy moments.
Take a cue from our desi divas on how to nail your first date fashion.
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