Good morning,The Indian Express just got a glow-up! A redesigned newspaper would have dropped at your doorstep (or on the app, whichever you prefer) this morning. We have hit refresh, all thanks to — you! What’s new? Well, the paper is cleaner and clearer, and makes space for a lot more. As our Editor-In-Chief, Raj Kamal Jha, writes: “The new design respects your time. It makes it easier to find and follow the journalism you value.”Missing out on the brand-new newspaper? Subscribe and access our epaper here. We have got a lot happening today, let’s jump in Express InvestigationFree speech is the cornerstone of any academic space. And Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) was once its staunch defender, always at the forefront of campus activism. Its protests defined national debates, and its student leaders became voices and faces of a spectrum of political parties.Today, that campus’s promise of free speech appears to be broken. An investigation by The Indian Express has found that JNU is mired in a mountain of legal cases. Since 2011, JNU has featured in the Delhi High Court in over 600 cases filed by various stakeholders, including the administration, staff, faculty, students, cleaning personnel, etc, spanning the tenures of three Vice-Chancellors. Litigation peaked under M Jagadesh Kumar’s tenure (2016-2022) with 118 cases — most of them tied to protests, disciplinary action and questions of free speech.Take a closer look at these cases, and what they reveal about the fraying relationships between the administration and the students and faculty: Read our investigation.Story continues below this adUnder the current V-C, Santishree Pandit, Kumar’s successor, protests have largely fallen silent at JNU. But that may have to do with the mounting disciplinary penalties. Since 2016, fines collected by the university have totalled over Rs 30 lakh. Read.⚡Big StoryJamtara, a city in Jharkhand, has earned a notorious reputation as India’s biggest cybercrime hub. Young men here pull off the most audacious crimes through a sleight of SIM cards. But for many of the city dwellers, this has meant living under the shadow of crime, fear and stigma.Since 2022, a quiet movement has been sweeping through these parts, promising new beginnings and reform. Many men and women have found an escape and a viable career option: hockey. Read Mihir Vasavda’s detailed report on how Jamtara is turning over a new leaf.Story continues below this ad From the Front Page‘I quit’: Mehli Mistry, who was voted out of Tata Trusts by other trustees last week, has decided to part ways with the Tata group. The move will likely put the organisational tussle to bed. His letter to Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata read: “my commitment to Ratan N Tata’s vision includes a responsibility to ensure that the Tata Trusts are not plunged into controversy.” Read on.Best college? The 2026 edition of the QS World University Rankings: Asia is out. All but one of the top 10 Indian institutions saw their ranks fall sharply this year. For instance, IIT Bombay, which saw the sharpest fall in rankings, dropped from 48th to 71st. IIT Delhi, the country’s top-ranked institution, stood at the 59th position, down from last year’s 44. Must ReadDecision 2025: Bihar is geared up for the first phase of Assembly elections due tomorrow. Campaigning ended yesterday. The incumbent NDA government has rallied behind Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Despite his health concerns and political volte-face, Nitish still enjoys overwhelming support from his voters, led by women. Liz Mathew decodes why Nitish remains NDA’s best bet.NYC’s coolest mayor: New York has voted for its first Muslim mayor, and among the youngest: Zohran Mamdani. The Democrat had the entire world obsessed with a city’s municipal election, captivating the internet with his solid social media game. He found appeal among the struggling youth and immigrants as he campaigned for taxes on the rich and lower rents. C Raja Mohan writes about Mamdani’s politics of hope.Story continues below this adAlarm bells: Meghalaya’s Umngot River is famed for its picturesque, crystal-clear water, bringing hordes of tourists to Dawki and Shnongpdeng in the winter. But this year, the water has turned murky, threatening the tourist-dependent local economy. Locals blame road construction activities by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.⏳ And Finally…Yesterday, this newsletter touched upon the unravelling of a private cricket league, which even roped in international stars, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar. More than 50 players were not paid by the organisers — but they weren’t allowed to leave either, as the hotel awaited clearance of its Rs 51-lakh bill. The organisers, Yuva Society Mohali, had allegedly left the city without making any payments to anyone. What exactly happened? Read our detailed report.That’s all for today, folks! Until tomorrow,Sonal Gupta Business As Usual by EP Unny