Category: India

The 39-member panel is examining the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill and is scheduled to complete its report by the first day of the last week of the 2025 budget session.

Senior advocate Harish Salve on Monday backed the Union government’s proposal to hold simultaneous state and national elections but warned against the unrestricted power of the Election Commission as proposed in the Constitution amendment bill, people aware of developments said.

Salve interacted with the joint parliamentary committee looking into the two bills that aim to usher in simultaneous elections. Former Delhi high court chief justice, justice AP Shah, however, opposed the idea of simultaneous elections and called it an attack on India’s federal structure, the people cited above added.

Salve argued that things change with time and cited the example of how eminent jurist Nani Palkhiwala was opposed to the idea of the anti-defection law, but over time, it was proved that the law was required.

But the eminent lawyer expressed serious concern over the power given in the proposed law to ECI, under the new, proposed Article 82A that allows the poll body to decide whether elections can be conducted or not, and also suggest President’s Rule.

Salve, according to functionaries aware of the details, questioned how ECI could be given power to decide against conducting an election. On March 11, former CJI Ranjan Gogoi had voiced similar concerns, and said ECI was given “excessive power” through the contentious new article.

In the Constitutional amendment bill, a new Article 82A was added, and clause (5) of that article said, “If the Election Commission is of the opinion that the elections to any legislative assembly cannot be conducted along with the general election to the House of the People, it may make a recommendation to the President, to declare by an order, that the election to that legislative assembly may be conducted at a later date.”

The 39-member panel is examining the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill – which aim to usher in simultaneous polls in India – and is scheduled to complete its report by the first day of the last week of the 2025 budget session.

According to functionaries present in the meeting, justice Shah was a vocal critic of the proposal – colloquially called one nation, one election – and said it would be difficult to pin accountability for a government that gets elected for the remainder of the term. As per the proposal, if a government does not complete a full five years and elections have to be held again, then the term of the new government will be for the remainder of the five years and not for the full five years. Justice Shah was opposed to this provision and said there was no precedent in any country in the world where the government gets elected only for the remainder of the term.

Justice Shah maintained that the proposed amendment was a violation of the basic structure of the Constitution and that the bill will not stand the scrutiny of law, said the functionaries cited above. Shah also argued that cutting short the tenure of an assembly went against the spirit of the Kesavananda Bharati verdict that outlined the basic structure of the Constitution.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/eminent-jurists-remain-split-on-onop-proposal-101742239210612.html

A shocking video of a man from Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar consuming poison after alleged torture and blackmail from his wife and in-laws has gone viral on social media.

The man identified as Rahul is seen teary-eyed in the video. In the video the man is heard saying, “My in-laws are harassing me. My father is 80-85 year-old and mother is 60-65 year-old.”

In the start of the video the man says, “Aaj mera akhri time hai, main nahi jeena chahta.” Which roughly translates to “This is my last time and i do not want to live.”

He further says, “I have no connections with my brother but still my in-laws are troubling him.”

“My wife Jyoti along with my in-laws are implicating me in a false case and demanding 12 Lakh rupees.”

He further says in the video, “I do not have money to fight a case. I do not know where to go and cannot see a way out.”

Rahul in the video repeatedly says that his in-laws are torturing him. He further claims, “If i am only not alive then what will be the point of the case.”

Rahul then allegedly brings a packet of poison and mixes it in a glass of water and consumes it in front of the camera.

Rahul in the video also claims that there has been physical assaults on him as well.

Police Action

There has been no reports of any police action in the matter.

Atul Subash Case

In December 2024, Benguluru based techie Atul Subhash left a detailed 24-page suicide note and an 81-minute video in which he blamed the trouble in his marriage and divorce proceedings as the reason for his death.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/main-nahi-jeena-chahta-man-consumes-poison-on-camera-claims-torture-from-wife-in-laws-in-ups-muzaffarnagar-video

Ministry of Railways allocated Rs 8.34 crore to IIT Madras in May 2022 to drive indigenous Hyperloop development. Vaishnaw expressed confidence in India’s readiness for the technology, citing promising test results.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw paid a visit to the Hyperloop testing facility at IIT Madras and announced that the Hyperloop tube that is being developed will be the world’s longest, having a length of 410 meters.

At present, the test tube at IIT Madras is Asia’s longest Hyperloop test facility.

The Hyperloop, first conceptualised by Elon Musk in 2013, is a cutting-edge high-speed transportation system designed to propel pods through vacuum-sealed tubes at speeds exceeding 1,000 km/h. This revolutionary technology promises to transform travel by significantly reducing transit times, enhancing efficiency, and offering a more sustainable alternative to conventional transport methods.

During his visit, the Minister also announced plans to develop electronic components for Hyperloop at Integral Coach Factory in Chennai.

“Longest Hyperloop tube in Asia (410 m)… soon to be the world’s longest,” Vaishnaw wrote on X.

The Ministry of Railways allocated Rs 8.34 crore to IIT Madras in May 2022 to drive indigenous Hyperloop development. Vaishnaw expressed confidence in India’s readiness for the technology, citing promising test results.

He praised IIT Madras for its innovations, highlighting the use of indigenous technology in the testing system. “This place is brimming with energy. Young engineers are pushing boundaries, and this initiative will lead to groundbreaking solutions for India and beyond,” he said.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/soon-to-be-worlds-longest-ashwini-vaishnaw-shares-video-of-hyperloop-tube-at-iit-madras-9264873.html

“We have filed a case in the HC and submitted 54 questions. It is with the court to bring us those answers so that my daughter gets justice. Many men are involved in my daughter’s rape and murder,” said the father of Kolkata RG Kar Rape And Murder victim.

The father of the Kolkata RG Kar rape and murder victim questioned the handling of his daughter’s case and claimed that multiple men were involved in the crime. The victim’s father revealed that his family has filed a petition in the High Court, submitting 54 questions in hopes of obtaining justice for his daughter.
The father also accused West Bengal’s Chief Minister of orchestrating the evidence tampering and noted that, despite the police involving dog squads in the investigation, they have not received any report yet.
“We have filed a case in the HC and submitted 54 questions. It is with the court to bring us those answers so that my daughter gets justice. Many men are involved in my daughter’s rape and murder. And there are many hands involved in evidence tampering. West Bengal CM is leading the process of evidence tampering. Police had brought dog squads for investigation, but we have received no report of that so far. We have faith in the courts and the courts are working fairly, as per our wishes,” the victim’s father told ANI.

RG Kar victim’s lawyer, Karuna Nundy said, “Today was extremely urgent and the reason is that it has been 180 days since the accused Abhijit Mondol, the in charge of Tala Police Station, and Sandeep Ghosh, the Principal of RG Kar Medical College, they were arrested, and 90 days after that, Abhijit Mondol, who was accused of tampering evidence was given default bail with a Rs 2000 sureity and without any strict bail conditions.”

She added that they filed a petition before the High Court, requesting the Calcutta High Court to oversee the CBI’s investigation.
“Because it is a combination of our courts and the CBI that will result in the robust chargesheet. We made an application before the Supreme Court and the CJI has now allowed our application. We can now proceed with the petition in the Calcutta High Court. There were false reports that we had asked for a fresh investigation and that our plea was rejected,” Karuna Nundy said.
The Supreme Court on Monday granted the parents of the victim in the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case the liberty to approach the Calcutta High Court, where their plea is already filed.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/many-hands-were-involved-father-of-rg-kar-rape-murder-victim-appeals-to-calcutta-high-court-article-119126190

On March 15, 2025, an FIR was lodged by the Katra police against eight individuals, including socialite and influencer Orhan Awatramani, popularly known as Orry, for allegedly consuming alcohol within a hotel in Katra, near the revered Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. The accused also include Darshan Singh, Parth Raina, Ritick Singh, Rashi Dutta, Rakshita Bhogal, Shagun Kohli, and Russian national Anastasila Arzamaskina. This incident has sparked significant reactions from local authorities and community leaders.

The consumption of alcohol and non-vegetarian food is strictly prohibited in Katra to uphold the sanctity of the pilgrimage site. Despite being informed of these restrictions, the accused allegedly violated them within the hotel premises. In response, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have emphasized their commitment to enforcing these regulations rigorously. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Reasi, Paramvir Singh, underscored a zero-tolerance policy towards such infractions, stating that those who disrespect the law and disrupt peace, especially through activities like alcohol consumption at religious sites, will face stringent action.

Rakesh Wazir, President of the Hotel and Restaurant Association in Katra, also addressed the incident, highlighting the community’s dedication to preserving the area’s sanctity. He noted that even ingredients like garlic and onion are avoided in local cuisine to maintain religious purity. Wazir emphasized that visitors should respect these traditions, regardless of their private actions, to honor the sentiments associated with Mata Vaishno Devi.

The police have formed a special team, supervised by senior officers, to investigate the matter thoroughly. Notices will be issued to all accused individuals, including Orry, instructing them to participate in the investigation. This incident serves as a stern reminder that violations of established norms, particularly in sacred areas, will not be tolerated, and authorities are prepared to take decisive measures to uphold the community’s values and legal standards.

Source : https://www.spotboye.com/trending/trending-news/orry-and-7-others-booked-for-allegedly-consuming-alcohol-near-vaishno-devi-shrine-in-katra-jammu-and-kashmir-reports/67d8e5e9e4cc4f51c19867ea

The Vatican released the first photo of Pope Francis since his admission to hospital last month with pneumonia in both his lungs. The pope cast a somber figure; seated in a wheelchair and taken from his right side, only a portion of the 88-year-old’s face is visible as he celebrates Holy Mass in the chapel on the tenth floor of the Gemelli hospital, in Rome, where he is continuing his treatment. “This morning, Pope Francis concelebrated the Holy Mass in the chapel of the apartment on the tenth floor of the Gemelli polyclinic,” the Vatican wrote. Concelebration is the gathering of multiple priests to celebrate mass. It added the image is the first since his hospitalization on February 14. Vatican News added his condition remained stable after weeks of concerns about the Pope’s health. Francis was reportedly struggling to breathe when admitted, and was diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection, pneumonia in both lungs and mild kidney failure. The Vatican confirmed Saturday that while his condition was improving, “the Holy Father still requires hospital medical care, as well as physiotherapy and respiratory physiotherapy.” In an Angelus message on Sunday, the Pope described himself as “fragile” and “weak.” “I am sharing these thoughts with you while I am facing a period of trial, and I join with so many brothers and sisters who are sick: fragile, at this time, like me,” Francis wrote. “Our bodies are weak but, even like this, nothing can prevent us from loving, praying, giving ourselves, being for each other, in faith, shining signs of hope.”

Source: https://www.thedailybeast.com/vatican-releases-first-photo-of-pope-francis-since-his-hospitalization/

PM Narendra Modi discussed the 2002 Godhra train burning and subsequent Gujarat riots with Lex Fridman, detailing the tense atmosphere due to prior terrorist attacks and the 2001 Gujarat earthquake

Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened up about the tragic 2002 Godhra train burning incident and the subsequent riots in Gujarat during an interview with US-based AI researcher and podcast host Lex Fridman. He listed the events leading up to the riots and talked about the atmosphere in the country at that time.

“I’d like to paint you a clearer picture of the 12 to 15 months leading up to that, so you can fully understand the atmosphere of that time. For instance, take December 24, 1999, roughly three years earlier, an Indian flight from Kathmandu to Delhi was hijacked, redirected to Afghanistan, and landed in Kandahar. Hundreds of Indian passengers were held hostage. It caused massive turmoil across India as people faced life and death uncertainty,” PM Modi said.

“Then, in the year 2000, the Red Fort in Delhi was attacked by terrorists. Yet another crisis struck the nation, intensifying fear and turmoil. On September 11th, 2001, the Twin Towers in America faced a devastating terror attack, once again shocking the entire world. Because ultimately, the people behind these attacks are driven by a similar mindset. Then in October 2001, terrorists attacked the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. Soon after, on December 13th, 2001, India’s parliament was targeted,” he said.

PM Modi explained that within just eight to 10 months, major global terrorist attacks took place that led to bloodshed and the loss of innocent lives.

“In such a tense environment, even the smallest spark can ignite unrest. The situation had already become extremely volatile. In such times, suddenly, on October 7th, 2001, I was given the responsibility of becoming chief minister of Gujarat. This was an enormous challenge,” he said.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/pm-modi-narrates-events-leading-up-to-gujarat-riots-major-terrorist-attacks-within-8-10-months-9263699.html

The accident occurred around 12:30 am on Friday when a car, driven by Chaurasia, crashed into multiple two-wheelers. Police arrested Chaurasia following the crash.

Three days after the Vadodara accident that killed one woman and injured others, CCTV footage has emerged showing the moments leading up to the accident. The footage reveals that accused Rakshit Chaurasiya and his friend visited another friend’s residence before the accident and also captured the car involved in the crash.

Chaurasiya, a 20-year-old law student rammed his car into five people, killing a woman and seriously injuring others in Gujarat’s Vadodara.

The CCTV video captures Rakshit Chaurasiya and a friend arriving at a residence on a scooter, where they pause to converse before entering. Notably, Rakshit is seen drinking from a bottle, although the contents remain unidentified.

In another clip, a black sedan can be seen crossing the road in front of the house before parking nearby from the same location. Rakshit’s friend Pranshu, who was in the car during the accident, is seen walking into the house.

Both the friends, Rakshit and Pranshu reportedly spent around 45 minutes there before leaving in the car.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/vadodara-car-crash-accused-friend-seen-in-new-cctv-footage-moments-before-fatal-accident-9263927.html

PM Modi urged people not to waste time worrying but to channel their energy into enriching their lives and contributing positively to the world. The prime minister stressed that since life is uncertain, every moment should be spent with purpose, learning and making a difference.

Death is inevitable and what truly matters is how life is lived, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said in a podcast with Lex Fridman released on Sunday. PM Modi said one must embrace life instead of fretting over death.
Asked about whether he fears death, PM Modi said, “We know for a fact that life itself is a whispered promise of death and yet life is also destined to flourish.” “So again, in the dance of life and death, only death is certain, so why fear what is certain? That is why you must embrace life instead of fretting over death. That is how life will evolve and flourish, for it is uncertain,” he said.
PM Modi urged people not to waste time worrying but to channel their energy into enriching their lives and contributing positively to the world. The prime minister stressed that since life is uncertain, every moment should be spent with purpose, learning and making a difference.

“You must commit to enriching, refining and elevating your life so you can live fully and with a purpose before death comes knocking… you must let go of the fear of death.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/pm-was-modi-asked-if-he-fears-deathheres-how-he-responded-article-119082474

This milestone not only marks a new chapter for the villagers but also opens the door to improved communication and access to vital services in an area.

In a groundbreaking development, a remote village in the Naxal-affected Sukma district of Chhattisgarh received its very first mobile phone tower. Installed on the festive occasion of Holi inside a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Tekulagudem village, this tower promises to bring much-needed cellular connectivity to several villages in the region. This milestone not only marks a new chapter for the villagers but also opens the door to improved communication and access to vital services in an area. Tekulagudem had been a hotbed of Naxal violence.
“A BSNL mobile tower was erected on March 13 inside the Tekulagudem forward operating base of the CRPF, which is operated by its 150th battalion. This is the first such facility in this area,” a senior CRPF official told PTI.
“The village is located in the interiors of the Naxal violence-hit Sukma district, and shares a border with Bijapur, another LWE-affected village in the Bastar region,” he added.

Mobile tower installed on Holi
BSNL officials travelled around 600 kilometres from Sukma district headquarters to the state capital Raipur to operationalise the mobile tower where villagers were also invited to the event, which came on the eve of Holi. A special camp was also held to distribute SIM cards to the locals and activate them.

According to another official, the mobile tower will provide the much-needed cellular connectivity to villagers and security personnel in Tekulagudem and the adjoining hamlets of Timmapuram, Jonaguda and Puvarti. Puvarti is the village of Hidma, the wanted Maoist commander of the first battalion of People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/naxal-hit-village-in-chhattisgarhs-sukma-gets-its-first-mobile-tower-article-119071943

Located about 100 km from Keeladi, the Sangam-era site which is at least 2,600 years old, Vembakottai in Virudhunagar district is emerging as a one of the prime archaeological sites in Tamil Nadu.

Vembakottai: When archaeologists from the Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) began digging at Vembakottai on the north banks of Vaippar River in 2022, they were expecting to unearth raw materials, tools, and artefacts from the Microlithic Age onwards.

But what they chanced upon in the last three years is overwhelming evidence of the existence of an industrial unit that manufactured shell bangles and glass beads, at least 2,000 years ago.

Not just that, antiquities unearthed in the three phases of excavation so far reveal the workmanship of the ancient Tamil who excelled in the art of engraving and decorating shell bangles and ornaments with unique designs.

Located about 100 km from Keeladi, the Sangam-era site which is at least 2,600 years old, Vembakottai in Virudhunagar district is emerging as a one of the prime archaeological sites in Tamil Nadu. It has been scientifically proven iron started being used as early as 3345 BCE (5,300 years ago).

Located about 100 km from Keeladi, the Sangam-era site which is at least 2,600 years old, Vembakottai in Virudhunagar district is emerging as a one of the prime archaeological sites in Tamil Nadu. It has been scientifically proven iron started being used as early as 3345 BCE (5,300 years ago).

Though the site hasn’t been dated yet, archaeologists believed it could be at least 2,000 years old and have sent samples for scientific analyses.

Glass and shell manufacturing

“Vembakottai continues to bewilder us. We did find core Microlithic materials like chert as expected but what is clear now is the presence of a thriving unit that made glass beads and shell bangles,” excavation director Pon Baskar said as he took the DH correspondent around the trenches to explain the meticulous nature of the craftsmanship of the inhabitants.

Believed to be part of the famed Pandya Kingdom, Vembakottai has yielded a rich collection of antiquities with the total number reaching about 12,000. While 3,254 antiquities were unearthed in the first phase, the number rose to 4,660 in the second phase, and the figure is 4,056 so far in the third phase, which will end in a few weeks. In total, 56 trenches were dug.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/tamil-nadu/shell-bangles-beads-vembakottai-reveals-ancient-tamil-expertise-3449124

Delivering the Gen Bipin Rawat memorial lecture in Delhi, he also said that in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarion call for ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, lies an ‘opportunity for us to seek our rightful place in the emerging global security scenario’.

New Delhi: The rise of China as a dominant economic and strategic force adds complexity, creates competition, and “hampers” India’s efforts to be a natural leader for the Global South, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi said on Sunday.

Delivering the Gen Bipin Rawat memorial lecture in Delhi, he also said that in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarion call for ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, lies an “opportunity for us to seek our rightful place in the emerging global security scenario”.

In his address, the Army chief also made a veiled reference to the proximity between China and Pakistan, and said that today the “near absolute collusivity” has “further compounded the threat”.

On March 8, Gen Dwivedi, in a veiled reference to China and Pakistan, had said there is a “high degree of collusivity,” which must be accepted.

“What it means, as far as I am concerned, is that the two-front threat is a reality,” he had said in response to a question on the proximity between China and Pakistan.

“Can we as a nation with compelling requirements in the social sector afford to be drawn into this trap? At the same time, can we overlook the fact that we live in an extremely volatile neighbourhood? “As Gen Rawat said when you have unsettled borders to your north and west, you don’t know which side the battle will commence and where it will end. So, you should be prepared for both fronts. Today, the near absolute collusivity has further compounded the threat,” he said.

General Dwivedi said that while looking for strategic guidance for solutions in the military field, “my thoughts gravitate towards his (Gen Rawat’s) thoughts”.

The Army chief described India’s first CDS, who died in a chopper crash in 2021, as a scholar soldier and a military reformer who had an exceptional ability to envision the future.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/chinas-rise-adds-complexity-hampers-indias-efforts-to-be-natural-lead-for-global-south-coas-3448919

State Director General of Police Kailash Makwana flew to neighbouring Rewa district to assess the situation on directions of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav who ordered strict action against perpetrators.

Bhopal/Mauganj: A day after an Assistant Sub-Inspector was killed and other officials were injured in a violent attack on a police team by tribals in Madhya Pradesh’s Mauganj district, police on Sunday arrested six persons and extended efforts to identify other attackers.

State Director General of Police Kailash Makwana flew to neighbouring Rewa district to assess the situation on directions of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav who ordered strict action against perpetrators.

Police launched a combing operation in Gadra village, located about 25 km from Mauganj where the violent clash unfolded on Saturday, leading to the arrest of six persons.

A group of tribals allegedly abducted and killed a man, and then attacked a police team that attempted to rescue him, resulting in the death of assistant sub-inspector (AS) Ramcharan Gautam.

The chief minister on Sunday announced a financial assistance of Rs 1 crore for the family of Gautam.

He said Gautam would be accorded the status of a martyr as he was killed in the line of duty. One of his family members will get a government job.

The situation in Gadra is under control amid heavy deployment of police personnel. Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, relating to maintaining public order and preventing disturbances, was already imposed in the area.

The violence unfolded when members of the Kol tribe abducted Sunny Dwivedi, accusing him of being responsible for the death of a tribal man, Ashok Kumar, several months ago. Police records indicate that Kumar had died in a road accident, but the Kol tribe believed Dwivedi was involved.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/madhya-pradesh/madhya-pradesh-govt-announces-rs-1-crore-aid-to-kin-of-cop-killed-in-clash-with-tribals-six-held-3448898

Luxon will be the chief guest and keynote speaker in the Raisina Dialogue, which will take place in New Delhi from March 17-19.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon in New Delhi on Sunday. PM Luxon is on an official visit to India from March 16-20.

In a post on X, the EAM expressed appreciation towards PM Luxon for further deepening the longstanding ties between India and New Zealand. He also shared that he is looking forward towards PM Luxon’s participation as the Chief Guest for Raisina Dialogue 2025.

The medical education department has issued a show cause notice to a doctor from Victoria Hospital for allegedly assaulting her elderly in-laws and harassing them along with her children, officials said on Sunday.

The medical education department has issued a show cause notice to a doctor from Victoria Hospital for allegedly assaulting her elderly in-laws and harassing them along with her children, officials said on Sunday.

About The Case

According to an official statement, a video of Dr Priyadarshini, an emergency medical officer at Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI), allegedly assaulting her elderly in-laws along with her children recently went viral.

“Reports indicate that she has been harassing them for the past ten years. She had already filed for divorce but allegedly went to her in-laws’ residence and physically attacked them. A case has been registered at a Bengaluru police station in connection with this incident,” it stated.

A fashion show held last week in a picturesque, snow-clad town in Indian-administered Kashmir has sparked a major controversy that is still simmering.

The show, by the well-known fashion brand Shivan & Narresh, was held last Friday at a ski resort in Gulmarg to display their skiwear collection. The label is the first big, non-local brand to hold a fashion show in Kashmir, a scenic Himalayan region which has seen decades of violence.

But it soon sparked outrage among locals, politicians and religious leaders in Muslim-majority Kashmir after fashion publisher Elle India posted a video on social media which showed some models wearing underwear or bikinis. Locals were also angry over another video – shared by online magazine Lifestyle Asia – of a party held after the show, which showed people drinking alcohol outdoors.

Many took offence with the show being held in the holy month of Ramadan – a time of fasting and prayer for Muslims – and accused the designers of “mocking their faith” and “disregarding local culture and sentiments”. Some clerics called the show “obscene” and said it was like “soft porn”.

Some others explained that the outrage had arisen not only from religious conservatism, but also from a fear of cultural imposition from “outsiders”. Kashmir has witnessed decades of armed separatist insurgency against Indian rule since the late 1980s.

The backlash prompted Elle India and Lifestyle Asia to delete their videos. Shivan Bhatiya and Narresh Kukreja, the designers behind the label, also apologised, saying that their “sole intention was to celebrate creativity” and that they didn’t intend to offend religious sentiments.

Kashmir – known as the land of saints and Sufism (Islamic mysticism) – has a rich tradition of spirituality which influences many aspects of peoples’ lives. The traditional attire is modest, with locals – both men and women – often wearing the pheran, a long, loose cloak.

The row also moved off social media and a discussion about the show and the after-party caused a ruckus in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly.

The opposition criticised the government, accusing it of giving permission for the event despite being aware of local sensitivities. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah distanced his government from the event, saying it had been organised by private entities, and asking local authorities to investigate the matter and submit a report.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clynd24rnngo

A Bengaluru man’s X post went viral on social media, which was about some bizarre rules that were displayed at a public park. As per the viral post, the park visitors were being asked to not jog, and to only walk ‘clockwise’. Here’s how the internet reacted…

Forget beginners- based on how most of the netizens react to some of the most bizarre incidents- it seems like Bengaluru is not even for the experts! Social media is full of incidents that can be considered rather ‘normal’ for the IT Hub of India, but can turn out to be truly shocking for the rest of the country. With that in mind, it makes sense that phrases like ‘Only in Bangalore’, ‘peak Bangalore moments’, and ‘just Bengaluru things’ are popular on the internet. Exemplifying something similar, a post was recently shared online, which was basically about some park rules that left a Bengaluru man confused. As per a picture shared on the post, the rules asked the park visitors to NOT jog, only walk in a clockwise direction, and not engage in gaming activities. Expressing his frustration, the man raised questions against the rules and their needs.
The post went viral in an instant, whereas, Times Now could not confirm the exact date and location of the incident. Most people called the rules bizarre and impractical, while some sided with the idea and shared multiple explanations for the rules.
“You have got to be joking right? No jogging in Indiranagar Park?What’s next, no Western clothes in parks? What have joggers ever done to parks?” the post read.

“The lack of public spaces is one problem in Bangalore but another one no one speaks about is the policing of the existing public spaces against certain kinds of users. And it’s either done by the govt or the groups that claim artificial ownership of these spaces via ‘maintenance’ work,” the post further read.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/viral/bangalore-park-no-jogging-walk-clockwise-rules-spark-confusion-only-in-bengaluru-viral-x-post-article-119064743

Rakshit Ravish Chaurasia, the prime accused in the Vadodara car crash, was taken to the accident site for crime scene recreation, where he was seen limping and holding his ears. The March 14 crash killed a woman and injured eight others. Vadodara Police revealed that multiple vehicles were involved, and forensic teams are gathering evidence.

The prime accused, Rakshit Ravish Chaurasia, in the Vadodara car crash, was brought to the accident site on Saturday to recreate the crime scene. However, the accused was seen limping and holding his ears during the recreations.
In a video shared by ANI, Rakshit was limping uncomfortably and holding his ears as he was being escorted by police. The accident that occurred on March 14 led to the death of one woman and injured eight as Rakshit, driving a four-wheeler at full speed, rammed into a two-wheeler.

While Rakshit remains in police custody, Vadodara Police Commissioner Narasimha Komar revealed that the incident involved more than three vehicles, including two active vehicles and an electric vehicle (EV).

Efforts are being made to collect forensic evidence to determine the sequence of events that led to the accident.

Gujarat police have registered a case against Chaurasia under the Motor Vehicle Act, in addition to charging him with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Police and forensic teams are actively compiling both physical and material evidence to build the case.
“We have collected forensic samples and compiled substantial evidence,” an official statement from the police read. “At the time of the accident, another individual, Pranshu Chauhan, was present in the car with the accused. To determine if they were under the influence of alcohol or any intoxicants, blood samples have been collected. The police are conducting a thorough investigation, ensuring that the accused will be prosecuted with all available physical, scientific, and forensic proof.”

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/vadodara-car-crash-accused-rakshit-ravish-chaurasia-limps-holds-his-ears-during-crime-scene-recreation-watch-article-119044376

PM Modi mentioned that he had shared a “fascinating conversation” with AI researcher and US-based podcaster Lex Fridman. The podcast is expected to be out today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s podcast with AI researcher and US-based podcaster Lex Fridman will be out on Sunday. The official announcement had been made by Fridman in January when he had taken to social media platform X to share that he would be hosting the Indian Prime Minister. On Saturday, Fridman confirmed the release of the three-hour long podcast, stating that it would be available on March 16 at 5:30 PM IST.
Taking to X, PM Modi mentioned that the two had shared a “fascinating conversation” in which he covered diverse topics, including reminiscing about his childhood. Fridman on the other hand called it “one of the most powerful conversations” of his life.

Who is Lex Fridman?
Lex Fridman is a computer scientist and artificial intelligence (AI) researcher associated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge. He is the host of the Lex Fridman Podcast, where he interviews notable figures from various fields such as science, technology, sports, and politics. He has a significant social media presence, with over 4.5 million subscribers on YouTube, 1.4 million followers on Instagram, and 4.2 million followers on X.

Born in 1983 in what is now Tajikistan, Fridman was raised in Moscow during the final years of the Soviet Union. His family immigrated to the United States when he was a child. Fridman pursued his undergraduate studies at Drexel University in Philadelphia, earning a BSc in Computer Science where his passion for AI and machine learning began to take shape.

He later completed his Master’s and PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Drexel, focusing on human-centered AI and machine learning applications and joined MIT, where he became deeply involved in exploring how AI can understand and predict human behavior. He has worked on cutting-edge projects at the intersection of AI, robotics, and human behaviour and his research focuses on developing systems capable of understanding and predicting human actions, particularly in the context of self-driving cars.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/who-is-lex-fridman-ai-researcher-to-drop-epic-podcast-with-pm-modi-today-article-119062016

A police team had gone to rescue a hostage in a village in Madhya Pradesh’s Mauganj. However, the team was attacked by a mob of tribals which also locked a few in a room and then beat the officials leading to a cop’s death.

A police officer died after a mob of tribals attacked a police team he was part of, that had gone to rescue a man in Madhya Pradesh’s Mauganj district, some 600 km from capital Bhopal. The group of tribals allegedly kidnapped and killed a man, then attacked the police team which were trying to rescue the deceased in Gadra village. The cops have taken five persons into custody in connection with the case.
“Two persons including an ASI (assistant sub-inspector) have been killed and other policemen have sustained minor injuries,” Rewa Range Deputy Inspector General of Police Saket Pandey told PTI. The news agency cited sources and added that the cops had to fire in the air when the mob surrounded them.

SDPO Ankita Sulya, who led the rescue operation, recounted how the tribals trapped her inside a room with the dead hostage. As per TOI, she said that an enraged crowd rioted outside and she came to know about ASI Ramcharan Gautam’s death after her rescue.

The incident comes day after an ASI rank officer was killed by a mob of villagers in Bihar where he had gone to investigate a case. Before this, the villagers in Araria beat a cop to death and freed a criminal.

What Happened – The Incident
A group of Kol tribe members kidnapped a man named Sunny Dwivedi on Saturday suspecting he had killed another tribal, Ashok Kumar, a few months ago. Police records stated Kumar died in a road accident. The cops got input about Dwivedi’s abduction, and a team headed by Shahpur police station house officer Sandeep Bhartiya rushed to Gadra village to rescue him, the PTI report added.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/mauganj-cop-and-hostage-lynched-asi-ramcharan-gautam-police-team-gone-rescue-man-tribals-ambushed-in-mp-article-119063767

Kannada actor Ranya Rao’s stepfather, DGP Ramachandra Rao, was sent on “compulsory leave”, officials said on Saturday.

Rao is being investigated in the gold smuggling case in which his stepdaughter, Ranya, was arrested at Bengaluru Airport earlier this month.

“Sri KV Sharath Chandra, IPS (KN-1997)) Additional Director General of Police, Recruitment is placed in Concurrent Charge of the post of Chairman & Managing Director, Karnataka State Police Housing & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, Bengaluru with immediate effect and until further orders, vice Dr. K. Ramachandra Rao, IPS sent on compulsory leave,” an official order read.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/ranya-raos-father-dgp-ramachandra-rao-sent-on-compulsory-leave-amid-gold-smuggling-probe-9262834.html

Internet and voice-over-internet telephony services were suspended in at least five Gram Panchayat areas of Sainthia town in West Bengal’s Birbhum.

Tensions escalated in West Bengal’s Birbhum on Saturday after violent clashes between two groups led to the suspension of the internet in parts of town. The state government also deployed a huge contingent of security forces to maintain law and order.

According to officials, internet and voice-over-internet telephony services were suspended in at least five Gram Panchayat areas of Sainthia town in West Bengal’s Birbhum district to prevent the spread of rumours and unlawful activities.

The shutdown is in effect from March 14 to March 17.

The order further states that no restriction is being placed on voice calls or SMS. Similarly, no restrictions on newspapers have been placed, adding “Hence communication and dissemination of knowledge and information is not stopped in any way.”

Slamming the state government for the internet suspension, the leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari termed it as “evidence of deterioration” in the law and order situation.

Taking to social media platform X, Adhikari alleged that the move was an “acceptance of incapability” on the part of the administration to control the situation.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, he argued that the suspension was a clear indication of the administration’s failure to manage the crisis.

“The West Bengal Government are trying their best to hide the events of communal flare-ups to save their face. I urge @HMOIndia and His Excellency, the Hon’ble @BengalGovernor, to seek a report from the Chief Secretary (@chief_west) of WB regarding the deterioration of the law and order situation in the state,” he posted.

What exactly happened in Birbhum?
As per media reports, a verbal altercation allegedly occurred between a group and some intoxicated individuals broke out in West Bengal’s Sainthia town on Friday, on the occasion of Holi.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/violence-in-west-bengals-birbhum-after-holi-clash-internet-suspended-bjp-slams-tmc-101742030092277.html

The man was arrested from Nalasopara East, on the outskirts of Mumbai, after police launched a probe following the discovery of a skull in a travel bag in Virar on Friday.

Police in Maharashtra’s Palghar district have arrested a 49-year-old man for allegedly killing his wife two months ago and disposing of the body, an official said on Saturday.

Harish Hippargi was arrested from Nalasopara East, on the outskirts of Mumbai, after police launched a probe following the discovery of a skull in a travel bag in Virar on Friday.

Police said Hippargi, who worked in the imitation jewellery industry, used to live with his wife Utpala (51) and their 22-year-old son. Utpala also had a son from her previous marriage which often led to disputes between the couple.

During one such fight on January 8, Hippargi strangled the woman. He took the body to Virar East, detached the head with a machete and dumped the torso in a drain. He put Utpala’s severed head in a travel bag and abandoned it in a secluded spot near Pirkunda Dargah, said police.

The accused told his son that Utpala had left her hometown in West Bengal, the official said.

After the discovery of a woman’s skull in a travel bag in Virar on Friday, police found a pouch with the name of a jewellery store in Bengal’s 24 Parganas district. Utpala figured in the shop’s list of customers but police found her number had been switched off for the past two months, the official said.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/skull-in-travel-bag-jewellery-pouch-how-maharashtra-police-caught-man-who-killed-wife-7930904

The affected wards are located in Buxar, Bhojpur, Patna, Saran, Vaishali, Lakhisarai, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagara, Munger, Katihar, Bhagalpur, Sitamarhi, Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Gaya, Nalanda, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Jamui, Banka, Supaul, Madhepura, Saharsa, Araria and Kishanganj districts.

Patna: Bihar is grappling with severe groundwater contamination, with 30,207 rural wards exposed to “unsafe” drinking water that poses serious health risks, according to a new report.

The report, which was recently tabled in the assembly as part of the Bihar Economic Survey (2024-25), highlighted the presence of arsenic in groundwater in 4,709 such wards, fluoride in 3,789 wards and iron in 21,709 wards.

“Around 26 per cent of the rural wards in 31 districts, out of a total of 38, have groundwater sources affected by arsenic, fluoride and iron contamination beyond permissible limits,” the state’s Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) said in the study.

The affected wards are located in Buxar, Bhojpur, Patna, Saran, Vaishali, Lakhisarai, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagara, Munger, Katihar, Bhagalpur, Sitamarhi, Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Gaya, Nalanda, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Jamui, Banka, Supaul, Madhepura, Saharsa, Araria and Kishanganj districts.

“We are aware of the fact… sensing the gravity of the situation, the state government has decided to make rural Bihar ‘hand pump-free’ and provide safe drinking water to people in the rural areas under the ‘Har Ghar Nal ka Jal’ scheme,” PHED Minister Niraj Kumar Singh told

The government is also implementing multi-village schemes (MVS) to improve water quality in the state, he said.

Under the ‘Har Ghar Nal ka Jal’ scheme, PHED is providing safe drinking water to 83.76 lakh families in rural areas, he said, adding, potable water is also being made available to families in the 30,207 rural wards where the contamination is high.

“The state government is already working on a plan to use river water for drinking purposes. In September 2024, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar laid the foundation stone of a Rs 1,347-crore project for the supply of water from Sone river for drinking purposes in Aurangabad, Dehri and Sasaram cities after necessary treatment,” the minister said.

The scheme will use the water of Son river, ending the dependence of these cities on groundwater, he said. The project is likely to be completed in two years.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/bihar/severe-groundwater-contamination-detected-in-over-30000-rural-wards-in-bihar-report-3447634

The incident occurred when the truck was crossing a closed railway crossing.

A truck collided with the Mumbai-Amravati Express at Bodwad Railway station between Bhusawal and Badnera sections of the Bhusawal division on Friday.
The incident occurred when the truck was crossing a closed railway crossing.
There is no injury to the truck driver or any other passenger, as reported by ANI.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/truck-collides-with-mumbai-amravati-express-in-maharashtras-bodwad-railway-station-tragic-visuals-emerge-article-119004451

In December last year the national Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), a unit within the Union Home Ministry, identified and blocked nearly 60,000 WhatsApp accounts used for fraud.

Send Rs 1.95 crore to this account’, the accounts officer of a Hyderabad firm was told via WhatsApp. It seemed from a perfectly legitimate source – the company’s Chairman and Managing Director – for a perfectly legitimate reason, as advance payment for a new project.

And so Rs 1.95 crore was duly transferred.

Only, it was not a perfectly legitimate message.

The message seemed to come from the MD’s WhatsApp account. His photo was in the display section, but it was actually a fraudster who conned the officer into transferring nearly Rs 2 crore.

Fortunately for the MD and his company (and the accounts officer), the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau stopped this ‘high-value cyber fraud’ and recovered the entire amount.

Received earlier today, the transfer was completed at 1.02 pm.

Shortly after that the real Managing Director received a bank notification and, understandably worried, immediately contacted his accounts officer.

On being told about the ‘WhatsApp message’, the MD confirmed he made no such request, and the company promptly filed a complaint on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, or NCRP.

The NCRP then swung into action, first to confirm the transaction had occurred and then to track down the money. It was difficult, initially, because certain details were missing.

However, working with the company and the MD, and the bank’s nodal officers, the money was eventually located and, miraculously, the entire Rs 1.95 crore was recovered.

Fortunately the criminals had not yet withdrawn any of the cash.

This is far from the first such instance of cybercrime. A large number of men and women, including private individuals and companies, have been duped out of hard-earned money by fake messages and calls, prompting repeated warnings from the government to be careful.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/hyderabad-company-cyber-fraud-rs-1-95-crore-boss-message-whatsapp-whatsapp-message-from-boss-how-hyderabad-firm-nearly-lost-rs-1-95-crore-7923420

The YouTube channel run by Manipur’s Paotinmang Chongloi is not alone in brandishing firearms and dog-whistling on social media to keep tensions alive, sources who contacted the cyber cell in the Centre said

A YouTuber from Manipur who challenged the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to arrest him last year appeared in a fresh video, shouting at the security forces during recent protests in the border state.

Sources said details of the YouTuber who identifies himself as Pt Marvin Kuki and runs a YouTube channel of the same name under the handle @PaotinmangChongloi have been flagged to the cyber cell.

On March 8, the Kuki tribes in Manipur tried to stop public transport and clashed with the security forces who were trying to enforce the Centre’s order to ensure free movement of people in the violence-hit state that is under the President’s rule.

A protester was killed and many others including security force personnel were injured.

Paotinmang uploaded a video of the March 8 protest in which he was seen shouting at the security forces to “go back”.

“If the central forces can’t keep neutral in both communities, please leave us alone. We will fight them,” he said.

The central forces escorting trucks carrying oil and cooking gas faced no problem while going towards southern Manipur’s Churachandpur on March 8. However, they ran into a wall of protests on the highway towards Kangpokpi.

Last year, Paotinmang uploaded a video on his YouTube channel wearing a camouflage battledress and holding an AK series assault rifle.

“… Catch me if you can, I don’t care. L**** NIA,” he said in the video using a swear word in Hindi before cocking the assault rifle. He deleted the video later.

In another video, which he addressed to the valley-dominant Meitei community after the violence in Jiribam in November 2024, Paotinmang said, “Whether it is your child or your dog, they will die. You have no choice. We can do anything we want. If CRPF doesn’t behave, they won’t even get food. You killed our volunteers in Jiribam with central forces’ help. We will do what we have to do; we don’t care whether they are central forces or not.”

The “volunteers” Paotinmang referred to were shot dead by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in an encounter in Jiribam district in November 2024. While Kuki groups say they were “volunteers”, the then Manipur government in a cabinet statement called them “militants”. The same day, an infant, two children, and three women from the Meitei community were kidnapped by suspected “Kuki militants” and killed in Jiribam, the government said.

Over two months ago, the journalist of a local news channel was hit by a bullet in his leg while covering a skirmish in the foothills. Paotinmang posted a video on this too.

“… That Impact TV reporter was lucky that he survived. Don’t come back. Next time it’s your head. Pray to your god, sprinkle some water on your tulsi plant…” he said in the video.

Paotinmang claimed to a news agency that Kuki militants never took part in the Manipur violence and would return to studies “if this war ends”.

The Manipur Police, however, in a statement said they identified the bodies of three militants of the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) who were killed in a gunfight in Jiribam on September 6, 2024. A member of the Meitei insurgent group United National Liberation Front (Pambei), or UNLF(P), was also killed in the gunfight, the police said.

The KLA has two factions, one each with the two umbrella Kuki-Zo groups that have signed the controversial tripatriate Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the state government and the Centre.

Firearms Show On Social Media

Paotinmang is not alone in brandishing firearms and dog-whistling on social media to keep tensions alive, sources who contacted the cyber cell in the Centre said.

Many members of the Arambai Tenggol and Meitei militant groups that returned from neighbouring Myanmar had been regularly seen holding firearms and roaming around Imphal valley since May 2023 until recently, when Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla ordered the handover of looted and illegally held firearms after the Centre imposed President’s rule.

Any civilian found keeping looted or illegal firearms under the name of “volunteers” won’t be tolerated, sources said on March 6, the day the firearms handover deadline set by the Governor ended.

In 2023 and early 2024, Arambai Tenggol (AT) men were seen with grenade-launchers and assault rifles, standing on SUVs and cruising across towns in the valley areas. Recently, the Arambai Tenggol said it handed over all weapons as instructed by the Governor and placed full trust on the security forces that they would demolish bunkers on the hilltops and stop suspected Kuki militants from firing towards Meitei villages in the foothills.

The AT gave statements supporting Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Governor Bhalla’s decisions on bringing peace in Manipur, after the President’s rule came. AT chief Korounganba Khuman faces a case being probed by the NIA.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/manipur-kuki-youtuber-paotinmang-chongloi-who-challenged-nia-tells-central-forces-to-go-back-7923964

Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy said several “normal, ordinary programmes” are touted as AI.

Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy has said it has “become a fashion” in India to talk about artificial intelligence (AI) for everything, emphasising that most “so-called AI things are silly, odd programmes”.

Speaking at a TiEcon Mumbai 2025 event on Wednesday, Mr Murthy said, “I think somehow it has become a fashion in India to talk of AI for everything. I have seen several normal, ordinary programmes being touted as AI.”

Mr Murthy shared two fundamental principles of AI – machine learning and deep learning. Explaining machine learning, he said, it is “nothing but a large-scale correlation. Based on a large amount of data, it helps you predict.”

Deep learning, he said, imitates human brain functioning.

While machine learning handles supervised algorithms, deep learning takes care of unsupervised algorithms.

“Deep learning, using the data it has, creates new branches of programmes or new conditions and then it will be able to take decisions. Unsupervised algorithms, which use deep learning and neural networks are the ones that have much greater potential to do things that will mimic human beings better and better,” Mr Murthy said.

“However, I find, that most of the so-called AI things available are silly, old programmes,” he said.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/fashion-in-india-to-talk-about-ai-for-everything-narayana-murthy-7923690

Andhra Dy CM’s comments come after Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin accused the Centre of trying to impose Hindi through its three-language formula under the New Education Policy.

Amid the ongoing language row, Janasena Party chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan has backed the BJP and called out Tamil Nadu politician’s “hypocrisy”. The actor-politician said that white Tamil leaders are against Hindi, they allow Tamil movies to earn profit from Hindi dubbed versions.
“I do not understand why some criticize Sanskrit. Why do Tamil Nadu politicians oppose Hindi while allowing their movies to be dubbed in Hindi for financial gain? They want money from Bollywood but refuse to accept Hindi–what kind of logic is that?” Kalyan said while addressing the party’s 12th foundation day at Pithampuram in Kakinada.
He added that India is a country with diversity in languages, and hence needs multiple languages not just two. “India needs multiple languages, including Tamil, not just two. We must embrace linguistic diversity – not only to maintain the integrity of our nation but also to foster love and unity among its people,” he added.

Andhra Dy CM’s comments come after Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin accused the Centre of trying to impose Hindi through its three-language formula under the New Education Policy. He alleged the BJP-led Union Government is implementing a “saffronized policy” to promote Hindi.

Recently, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had slammed Stalin for “running the future of Tamil Nadu students”, after which, the Tamil Nadu CM warned Pradhan to be cautious of what he says.
“National Education Policy is not education policy, it is saffronise policy. The policy was not created to develop India but to develop Hindi. We are opposing the Policy as that would destroy the Tamil Nadu education system completely,” Stalin had said in Tiruvallur.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/why-earn-profits-from-hindi-dubbed-films-pawan-kalyan-asks-tamil-nadu-leaders-mk-stalin-nep-row-article-119030449

NASA and Elon Musk’s SpaceX on Friday launched a much-awaited Crew-10 Mission to bring back US astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS), where they have been stranded for nine months.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Elon Musk’s SpaceX on Friday launched a much-awaited Crew-10 Mission to bring back US astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station (ISS), where they have been stranded for nine months. Falcon 9 rocket carrying a Dragon spacecraft on the Crew-10 mission lifted off at 7:03 ET on Friday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Four astronauts boarded SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket to replace Williams and Wilmore at the ISS.. These four astronauts are – NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA ) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov.

Visuals Of The Launch:

Notably, Crew-10 is the 10th crew rotation mission under SpaceX’s human space transportation system and the 11th flight with a crew aboard to the ISS station, including the Demo-2 test flight. The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

In several states, there are plans to reconstitute DCCs and appoint new district presidents, including in Kerala and Karnataka. In states like Haryana, there have been no district and block committees for over a decade.

New Delhi: After almost 15 years, the Congress is planning to hold a national conference of its district presidents in the capital city soon, ahead of the anticipated organisational and structural changes in the party.

Sources said the conference is a part of the Congress national leadership’s plan to empower District Congress Committees, known as DCCs in party vocabulary, and make it the “real hub” of party activities. The conference of DCC presidents is seen as a first step to decentralise the decision-making structure in the party, they said.

The plan was to hold the conference—that last took place in 2009 ahead of Lok Sabha elections which Block Presidents had also attended—before the AICC Session in Ahmedabad on April 8 and 9. However, the paucity of time as well as the pending reshuffle in various districts appeared to have prompted a rethink on the schedule.

In several states, there are plans to reconstitute DCCs and appoint new district presidents, including in Kerala and Karnataka. In states like Haryana, there have been no district and block committees for over a decade.

A senior leader said the last such conference of district and block presidents had yielded good results as it motivated the grassroots-level leaders to ensure that the UPA returned to power.

The meetings of the Congress Working Committee in Belagavi and General Secretaries and state in-charges had resolved to strengthen district units and make it the prominent unit in the organisational structure like in the 1950s and 1960s.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/delhi/in-a-first-since-2009-congress-mulls-district-presidents-conference-aims-to-decentralise-decision-making-3446389

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma met EU Ambassador Hervé Delphin in Delhi, discussing collaboration on clean energy, education, and the EU’s plans to open a Programme Management Office in Guwahati.

Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday met European Union Ambassador to India, Hervé Delphin at the latter’s official residence here on Wednesday. In course of the interaction, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the EU Ambassador to India, Delphin and through him to other Heads of the Mission of Member countries for extending their support to the recently concluded Advantage Assam Summit 2.0 in Guwahati.

The Chief Minister and the EU Ambassador had a fruitful and meaningful discussion on opportunities for collaboration on clean energy, semiconductors, higher education, skill development, and in the aromatics and fragrances industry.

The top diplomat informed the Chief Minister that the European Union is exploring the possibility of opening a EU Programme Management Office in Guwahati. While welcoming the development, Dr. Sarma assured Government of Assam’s full support to it under the aegis of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

Later, taking to the micro-blogging platform X (formerly twitter), Chief Minister Dr Sarma posted, “Today in New Delhi, I conveyed my deepest gratitude to @EUAmbIndia H.E Hervé Delphin and also through him, to the other Heads of the Mission of Member countries for their support at #AdvantageAssam2 Had a good discussion on opportunities for collaboration on clean energy, semiconductors, higher education, skill development, and in the aromatics and fragrances industry. Glad to learn that EU is also exploring the possibility of opening a EU Programme Management Office in Guwahati. Assam will fully support it under the guidance of MEA, GoI.”

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/assam-cm-meets-eu-ambassador-to-india-discusses-opportunities-for-collaboration-in-different-sectors-article-118983336

The incident was reported from Ralwas village on Wednesday evening when Ashok, Bablu and Kaluram reached a local library to apply colour on Hansraj, who was preparing for competitive exams there, officials said.

A 25-year-old man was allegedly strangled to death in Rajasthan’s Dausa district for trying to stop three men from applying colour on him ahead of Holi, police said on Thursday.

The incident was reported from Ralwas village on Wednesday evening when Ashok, Bablu and Kaluram reached a local library to apply colour on Hansraj, who was preparing for competitive exams there, officials said.

As Hansraj refused to be smeared with colours, the trio kicked him and thrashed him with belts, before one of them strangled him to death, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Dinesh Agarwal said.

The angry family members and villagers later staged a protest with Hansraj’s body, blocking a national highway in the area that continued till 1 am on Thursday.

The protesters demanded a compensation of Rs 50 lakh to Hansraj’s family, a government job to one member of the family, and immediate arrest of the accused trio.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/25-year-old-man-opposes-holi-colours-gets-strangled-to-death-in-rajasthan-article-118984084

News18 spoke to two of the youths, Irshad and Faraz, who revealed startling details about the nefarious agenda of these scammers with the involvement of Chinese and Pakistani operatives

Eleven youths from Jammu and Kashmir were rescued from a cyber fraud hub in Myawaddy, Myanmar, after falling victim to a job scam. The group, originally promised employment in Thailand, was trafficked to Myanmar via Thailand’s Mae Sot. According to sources, the incident reveals a larger network involving Pakistani and Chinese operatives that aims to dent the Indian economy.

CNN-News18 spoke to two of the youths, Irshad and Faraz, who revealed startling details about the nefarious agenda of these scammers.

“We were offered a job in Thailand. The moment we reached there, we were put in the Myanmar army’s custody. They said that money was paid to their agents and that we would be released if the money is returned. They asked for Rs 10 lakh. When we refused, they started hitting us,” said Irshad.

The Jammu and Kashmir police, in collaboration with Interpol and CBI, have successfully repatriated 280 individuals from across India who were trapped in similar scams. The rescued youths from Jammu and Kashmir, including one woman, revealed the modus operandi of the network during interrogation. They recounted being lured under false pretenses of employment and trafficked to Myanmar.

“Like Irshad said, we wanted to leave. I called up my agent to rescue us from the trap. My agent blocked my number. They asked us to pay Rs 10 lakh. They cited expenses on us and payment to agents. We would be released if we paid up,” said Faraz. “I was connected to this via Facebook and Telegram. They promise high salaries. We get to know the truth on reaching there.”

Irshad said they realised this was a conspiracy after they were put in the custody of the Myanmar army. “We thought we would be killed. They asked us to trap Indians in the US and Canada. To lay a ‘love trap’ for them. We urge everyone not to fall into this trap,” he said.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/jk-youths-rescued-from-cybercrime-hub-in-myanmar-reveal-conspiracy-to-dent-indian-economy-exclusive-9261173.html

IISER Scientist Abhishek Swarnkar Dies: Dr Abhishek Swarnkar had an altercation with neighbour during which the latter allegedly pushed him to the ground and punched him.

The Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) expressed grief over the death of its scientist Dr. Abhishek Swarnkar. Dr. Abhishek Swarnkar was involved in a parking dispute in Mohali which turned fatal.

In a statement, the IISER mourned the loss of “a brilliant mind” and called for swift and strong action against those responsible.

“We have lost a brilliant mind. Such an act of violence is unacceptable, and strict action should be taken against the accused,” it said, as per news agency IANS.

The institute highlighted Dr. Abhishek Swarnkar’s achievements, including his selection by the Department of Science and Technology to meet Nobel Laureates in 2017 and the recent publication of his research paper in the Journal of Science.

Dr. Abhishek Swarnkar, a 39-year-old scientist originally from Jharkhand’s Dhanbad passed away Tuesday night following an altercation with his neighbor in Mohali’s Sector 67. Dr. Abhishek Swarnkar, who had recently returned to India from Switzerland to join IISER as a project scientist, was involved in a dispute over a parking issue with his neighbor.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/lost-a-brilliant-mind-iiser-on-scientists-death-after-parking-fight-in-mohali-9261304.html

Udaya Kumar Dharmalingam, IIT Guwahati professor and son of a former DMK MLA, designed the Indian rupee symbol 15 years ago in 2010.

The Tamil Nadu government’s decision to introduce a new rupee logo has triggered a major political controversy after chief minister MK Stalin released a video unveiling the Budget 2025-26 logo.

In this new design, the national rupee symbol has been replaced with the Tamil alphabet ‘Ru’. The Tamil Nadu Budget 2025-26 is scheduled to be presented in the state assembly on March 14. This move has drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition, with Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party president K Annamalai calling CM Stalin’s decision both condemnable and laughable.

‘ ₹’ symbol was designed by Udaya Kumar Dharmalingam, a Tamilian, that was officially introduced in 2010 during the UPA government at the Centre.

Who is Udaya Kumar Dharmalingam?

• Udaya Kumar Dharmalingam, currently serving as a professor at IIT Guwahati, designed the Indian rupee symbol 15 years ago, in 2010. He hails from a political background, as his father, N Dharmalingam, was a former DMK MLA who represented the Rishivandiyam constituency in Tamil Nadu.
• The Indian rupee symbol represents India’s global identity in financial transactions and economic strength. Udaya Kumar, a design postgraduate from IIT Bombay, conceptualised the symbol, which was selected from thousands of entries submitted in an open competition conducted by the ministry of finance.
• “I don’t have complete information behind the reasons of this change; probably, the state government has their own ways, views, and reasons to make the changes. I designed this 15 years ago when the Central government floated a competition, and I won it, after which they implemented it, and it’s being widely used. I am really happy about being the designer of this symbol, but I never expected such a debate to ever occur,” Dharmalingam told news agency ANI amid the latest controversy.
• The winning design was selected from 3,300 entries submitted nationwide. The symbol is a fusion of the Devanagari letter “Ra” and the Roman letter “R”, and has now become a significant part of India’s currency and identity.
• The Indian rupee sign reflects Indian ethos, integrating the Devanagari “Ra” and the Roman “R” along with two horizontal stripes at the top, symbolising the national flag and the “equal to” sign. The Government of India officially adopted the rupee symbol on July 15, 2010.

Sitharaman slams DMK: ‘Why did not they protest in 2010?’

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman slammed the DMK government in Tamil Nadu over the rupee symbol row, questioning why they did not oppose it back in 2010, when it was officially introduced under the Congress-led UPA government.

She pointed out that the DMK government has allegedly removed the official rupee symbol (‘Rs’) from the Tamil Nadu Budget 2025-26 documents, which are set to be presented on Friday.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/meet-udaya-kumar-the-designer-of-symbol-and-son-of-a-former-dmk-mla-101741909477134.html

The vehicle took a sharp turn, leading many to flee, but some were unable to escape in time. The reckless driving resulted in one fatality on the spot and left four to five people seriously injured. Three two-wheelers were also damaged in the crash.

A horrific accident in the Karelibagh area of Gujarat’s Vadodara claimed the life of a woman and left several others injured after a high-speed car ploughed into multiple vehicles on Thursday. According to reports quoting police, the driver, identified as Rakshit Ravish Chaurasia, a law student at MS University, was under the influence of alcohol when he lost control of the vehicle.

Accident Caught On CCTV

The shocking accident, which was caught on CCTV near Amrapali Complex, showed the car moving at an estimated speed of over 100 kmph. Eyewitnesses reported that the vehicle took a sharp turn, leading many to flee, but some were unable to escape in time. The reckless driving resulted in one fatality on the spot and left four to five people seriously injured. Three two-wheelers were also damaged in the crash. The injured were rushed to the hospital for treatment, reported Times Now.

The perpetrator’s accomplice was arrested on charges of molestation.

A man in Delhi was arrested for raping a British woman in a Mahipalpur hotel in the city, ANI reported on Thursday.

His accomplice was arrested on charges of molestation, the Delhi police said.

The woman, who was friends with the perpetrator on social media, had come from the UK to Delhi to meet him, cops said, adding that the information about the incident had been forwarded to the British High Commission.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/delhi/british-woman-raped-in-delhi-hotel-2-held-3444773

JD Vance will arrive in Delhi later this month, while Tulsi Gabbard and Mike Waltz will be in India around March 15-18.

US Vice President JD Vance will visit India this month as well as his two top officials — National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz — sources said, bringing hope of strengthening ties in terms of security, trade and strategic ties.

JD Vance will arrive in Delhi later this month, while Tulsi Gabbard and Mike Waltz will be in India around March 15-18.

Mr Waltz is likely to participate in the Raisina Dialogue, one of India’s premier geopolitical summits.

“Both sides would expand their collaboration in multiple sectors, so the visits are going to be very significant for both,” said an official in charge of charting programmes for visiting dignitaries.

With India-US information sharing going up, it is expected that the visit of Ms Gabbard, the US Director of National Intelligence and NSA Waltz, the strategic partnership will deepen.

“The US has continuously been sharing intelligence on China and Pakistan with India. We hope that our bonds would deepen further,” an official said.

The US, he added, regularly shares inputs regarding ISKP and terror related groups as far as Pakistan is concerned. “In terms of China also, they share crucial information,” he added.

The visits gain in significance after the recent NATO meeting in Paris was held minus the US.

Sudiksha Konanki was last seen on March 6 amid a power outage at Riu República Hotel in Punta Cana, a well-known beach resort town in the Dominican Republic.

Authorities intensified their search for Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student originally from India who went missing earlier this month while on a spring break trip to the Dominican Republic with five others. Both the Dominican police and the FBI are involved in the investigation.

Konanki was last seen on March 6 during a power outage at the Riu República Hotel in Punta Cana, a popular beach resort town. Dominican police have been re-interviewing individuals who were with her in the early hours of that morning at the beach in front of the hotel.

The hotel said that her disappearance coincided with the power outage, which led several guests to head toward the beach.

What are the facts about her disappearance?

Sudiksha Konanki disappeared before dawn at a beach near her hotel after she and other guests went outside during a power outage, according to authorities, quoted by Associated Press.

Aleksej Besciokov Arrested: Aleksej Besciokov’s arrest comes after the US Department of Justice accused him of personally approving transactions on Garantex linked to North Korea-government hackers.

The co-founder of Garantex, a Russian cryptocurrency exchange sanctioned by the European Union and the US, was arrested in India. Police arrested Lithuanian national Aleksej Besciokov in Varkala.

Aleksej Besciokov’s arrest comes after the US Department of Justice accused him of personally approving transactions on Garantex linked to North Korea-government hackers and other cybercriminals. The charges against him include facilitating money laundering on the crypto exchange.

US Justice Department spokesperson Nicole Oxman confirmed that Aleksej Besciokov was “arrested in India at the request of the United States”, TechCrunch reported.

Who Is Aleksej Besciokov?

Aleksej Besciokov was indicted along with Russian national Aleksandr Mira Serda, who co-founded Garantex and lives in the United Arab Emirates. The two administrators “redesigned Garantex’s operations to evade and violate US sanctions and induce US businesses to unwittingly transact with Garantex in violation of the sanctions”, as per the US Justice Department.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/aleksej-besciokov-arrested-at-us-request-india-arrests-cryptocurrency-administrator-accused-of-money-laundering-9259967.html

The employee, who tagged Indian bosses as “toxic”, stated that they are set to join one of the FAANG companies. However, their current employer is refusing an early release without imposing conditions and is not even open to a buyout.

An employee serving their notice period took to Reddit to expose what they described as a toxic work culture at their company. The Reddit user, who goes by the username “life_rolla_costa”, vented their frustration over the company’s refusal to grant an early release and accused their manager of piling on extra work as a condition for shortening the notice period.

The employee, who is set to join one of the FAANG companies – Facebook (now Meta), Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google (now Alphabet), tagged “Indian managers shit”. They went as far as saying, “Even shit is better than these f**kers.”

An employee serving their notice period took to Reddit to expose what they described as a toxic work culture at their company. The Reddit user, who goes by the username “life_rolla_costa”, vented their frustration over the company’s refusal to grant an early release and accused their manager of piling on extra work as a condition for shortening the notice period.

The employee, who is set to join one of the FAANG companies – Facebook (now Meta), Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google (now Alphabet), tagged “Indian managers shit”. They went as far as saying, “Even shit is better than these f**kers.”

They further revealed that their employer was imposing unreasonable conditions for an early exit. “They are even making terms and conditions like, if you want 30 days, do this work and that work.”

“How can I commit anything on my notice period?” they asked.

The Redditor concluded their post with the words: “I am so frustrated now. It’s getting on my nerves. I am literally crying while writing this.”

The post was shared in the “IndianWorkplace” community, a space where employees engage in candid “Office Canteen Conversations” – free from the ears of bosses or HR.

A Reddit user, who faced a similar situation, said, “Do enough to not burn bridges, but if you don’t want to return, then ignore and watch movies while sitting in AC. I did that and the manager let me go in 15 days.”

“Just faced a similar situation where my NP was unnecessarily extended along with illogical project demands,” another joined.

A few suggested buying out the notice period. “It’s all about priorities. Every company has a buyout option where you can walk out without a notice period, but they won’t give you F&F settlement. If joining the FAANG company means more to you, then go for a buyout. Not a big deal,” suggested a third Internet user.

The Redditor informed that their present company is not agreeing to a buyout.

Source: https://www.news18.com/viral/indian-managers-are-st-employee-calls-out-toxic-work-culture-in-fiery-notice-period-rant-9260000.html

Breaking News : Get the latest updates on major events, breaking news, and trending stories from India and across the globe for March 13, 2025. Stay informed with real-time developments in politics, business, technology, and more.

Rajasthan News : Massive Fire Breaks Out At Rubber Warehouse In Jaipur’s Harmada

Hyderabad News : Liquor Shops To Remain Closed On Holi
In view of Holi celebrations, Hyderabad police on Wednesday, March 12, announced the closure of all liquor and toddy shops, along with bars attached to restaurants. Liquor shops across Hyderabad, Rachakonda, and Cyberabad commissionerates will remain closed from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM on March 14. However, the directive does not apply to bars in star hotels and registered clubs, a Siasat Daily report said.
Delhi News : Man arrested for raping British woman in Mahipalpur
A man was arrested on charges of raping a British woman in a Mahipalpur hotel in Delhi, the Delhi Police said. His accomplice was arrested on charges of molestation. The woman who was friends with the man through social media had come to Delhi from the UK to meet him. The information about the incident has been given by the Delhi Police to the British High Commission.

“Counterfeiting of medical devices is not merely a case of trade mark infringement, it is a grave offence that endangers lives,” the Court added.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday ruled in favor of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) in a case involving the counterfeiting of its medical products, awarding the healthcare giant ₹3.34 crore in damages against the defendants.

Justice Amit Bansal, who passed the judgment, noted that counterfeit medical products not only amounted to trademark infringement but also posed grave public health risks.

“The counterfeit medical products sold by the defendants pose a significant threat to public health. Counterfeiting of medical devices is not merely a case of trade mark infringement, it is a grave offence that endangers the lives of people. The defendants’ conduct demonstrates a deliberate effort to mislead the public, jeopardize the consumer safety and exploit consumer trust for financial gain,” the judgment said.

Counterfeiting of medical devices is not merely a case of trade mark infringement, it is a grave offence that endangers lives.
Delhi High Court
The Court added that the defendants had also caused irreparable harm to J&J’s good will and reputation.

“The defendants’ deliberate and fraudulent acts have also caused irreparable harm to the plaintiff’s goodwill and market reputation. By selling substandard counterfeit products under the plaintiff’s trade marks, the defendants have misled consumers and associated the plaintiff’s name with the counterfeit goods,” the Court said.

The lawsuit, filed in 2019, alleged that the defendants were involved in the production, distribution, and sale of counterfeit surgical products under J&J’s registered trademarks, including SURGICEL, ETHICON, and LIGACLIP.

These products, used in critical surgical procedures, were found to be non-sterile, contaminated, and inadequately oxidized, posing significant risks to patient safety.

The case came to light after a neurosurgeon at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in the United States reported irregularities in SURGICEL products during a brain surgery. Investigations revealed that the counterfeit products had entered the supply chain through a complex network of distributors, including entities in the UAE and the United States, ultimately tracing back to M/s Medserve in New Delhi.

Justice Amit Bansal noted that the defendants had engaged in a deliberate, conscious, and wilful infringement of J&J’s intellectual property rights.

The Court found that the defendants had manufactured and sold counterfeit medical devices, repackaged expired products with falsified expiration dates, and distributed them internationally, earning substantial profits in the process.

Evidence presented during the trial included seized documents, electronic communications, and testimony from J&J’s witnesses. Local Commissioners appointed by the Court recovered counterfeit products, invoices, and financial records from the defendants’ premises, further substantiating J&J’s claims.

“The evidence presented before the Court, including invoices, bank receipts, and chat extracts, establishes without a doubt that defendant no. 1 has received substantial financial gains in the course of carrying out the infringing and counterfeiting activities,” the Court said.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/delhi-high-court-awards-johnson-and-johnson-334-crore-compensation-in-counterfeit-medical-products-case

“These are ten things India does that I wish we had in America”, she wrote while running down her list with digital money transfers, transport services in Indian cities, convenience of delivery apps, doctor availability, waste management, vegetarian food options, and much more.

Kristen Fischer, an American woman living in India, shared factors she felt India were better in India than in the US. It ranged from healthcare to transport. She commented that India had better facilities for its people than what America provided to its citizens. In her recent video, she listed down ten things she wished America had like India. Her video impressed many from her 133K follower family and went viral with more than two million views.

“These are ten things India does that I wish we had in America”, she wrote while running down her list with digital money transfers, transport services in Indian cities, convenience of delivery apps, doctor availability, waste management, vegetarian food options, and much more.

Take a look at the video below:

Digital India

As the woman’s neighbours rushed to her house after hearing her screams, the accused, Umesh (28), tried to escape by jumping from the terrace but sustained severe injuries, police said.

Mathura (UP): A man disguised as a woman set his married lover on fire inside her house here on Tuesday afternoon after she refused to leave with him, police said.

As the woman’s neighbours rushed to her house after hearing her screams, the accused, Umesh (28), tried to escape by jumping from the terrace but sustained severe injuries, police said.

Both Rekha (30), who suffered over 70 per cent burns, and Umesh are undergoing treatment at SN Medical College in Agra, they said.

Rekha, a resident of Koh village, was alone at home watching TV when the incident occurred. Her children, aged seven and five, were at school and her husband Sanju, a farm labourer, was away at work, Farah police station in-charge Sanjay Kumar Pandey said.

Around noon, Umesh, a resident of Hasanpur village in Haryana and the brother of Rekha’s elder sister-in-law, reached her house with a bottle of petrol, the police official said.

“Umesh was wearing a lehenga to disguise himself as a woman and was dropped off near the village by a friend on a motorcycle. He entered Rekha’s house from the terrace, walked into her room and pressured her to leave with him. When she refused, he poured petrol on her and set her on fire,” Pandey said.

Alerted by Rekha’s screams, her neighbours rushed to her help while Umesh tried to escape by jumping from the terrace. However, he was seriously injured, the official said.

After reaching the spot, police took Rekha and Umesh to the Farah community health centre. Due to their critical condition, they were later referred to SN Medical College in Agra, police said.

“Umesh was a regular visitor to Rekha’s house and their relationship developed over time. On August 31 last year, Rekha left home with him. Her family filed a police complaint and she was brought back from Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh on February 10,” Pandey said.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/uttar-pradesh/up-disguised-as-a-woman-man-sets-married-lover-on-fire-after-she-refuses-to-leave-with-him-3442635

The gold was being transported illegally from Chennai to a trader in Nellore without proper documentation, police added.

Nellore (Andhra Pradesh): A total of 4.2 kg of ‘smuggled’ gold worth Rs 3.38 crore were seized by vigilance officials at the Venkatachalam toll gate in Nellore district, police said on Tuesday.

The gold was being transported illegally from Chennai to a trader in Nellore without proper documentation, police added.

“Suspects were tracked, and we deployed a team of vigilance officials at Venkatachalam Toll Plaza, where they were caught carrying 4.2 kg of gold ornaments. The accused had transported the gold from Chennai to jewellery shops in Nellore for hallmarking and were returning with it without proper documentation,” police told PTI.

A car travelling from Chennai was stopped and thoroughly checked at the toll gate, leading to the discovery of the gold, police said.

Three individuals—Harsha Jain, Anna Ram, and Ranjit Kumar—were arrested in connection with the case.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/andhra-pradesh/42-kg-of-gold-worth-over-rs-3-cr-seized-in-andhras-nellore-3442535

A man from Uttar Pradesh narrowly escaped death after slipping from a moving train while performing a dangerous stunt for an Instagram reel. The incident occurred on the Kasganj-Kanpur train.
The video of the incident, shared by a Reddit user, went viral on social media.
Originally posted on the Reddit account ‘r/indianrailways,’ the video has drawn massive condemnation from social media users. Many criticised the man’s reckless behaviour and warned against such life-threatening stunts.

In the video, the man is seen dangerously hanging from a train window, clinging to the edge as the train moves. Unfortunately, moments later, he lost his balance and fell onto the tracks as the train abruptly stopped.

However, he managed to stand up and reboarded the train, escaping what could have been a fatal accident.

As the video gained traction on X, the Uttar Pradesh Police took note of the incident and urged authorities to take action.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/watch-man-falls-from-moving-train-while-filming-instagram-reel-article-118896231

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday saw heated exchange from Congress members after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sambit Patra made a remark about Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. During a debate on supplementary demands for grants, excess grants, and the Manipur budget, BJP MP Sambit Patra compared cricket captain Rohit Sharma to Rahul Gandhi, citing a comment by Congress leader Shama Mohamed about Sharma’s fitness. The remark triggered strong objections from Congress MPs, according to news agency PTI.
Presiding over the session, Sandhya Rai assured that the remarks would be expunged, but the protests persisted. Speaker Om Birla later intervened, calling on both treasury and opposition members to maintain the dignity of the House. As Congress members stood firm in their protest, Birla briefly adjourned the proceedings for 10 minutes.
When the House resumed, Speaker Om Birla rebuked opposition members for questioning the Chair’s authority. Following this, Sambit Patra stated that if his remarks had offended Rahul Gandhi or any other member, he had no objection to withdrawing them.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/congress-protests-in-lok-sabha-over-sambit-patras-rohit-sharma-jibe-on-rahul-gandhi-article-118911964

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that Mauritius is at the heart of India’s SAGAR vision while addressing a diaspora event in Port Louis.

“Mauritius is at the heart of India’s SAGAR vision,” PM Modi said, referring to SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision, introduced by PM Narendra Modi in 2015, is a strategic framework aimed at enhancing maritime security, economic cooperation and sustainable development in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), adding that the Indian Ocean needs to be secured.

It aims to act as a counter to predatory Chinese investments in the region which has attracted countries with infrastructural projects but then traps them in bad debt.

In his address, he also recalled that first visit to the island nation a decade ago and noted that his previous trip, which took place on the same date 10 years ago, was shortly after Holi.

He said that he had brought with him the spirit of ‘Fagwa’—the Bhojpuri term for the festival.

“This time, I will take the colours of Holi with me to India,” PM Modi said in an address to the diaspora at an event held in capital Port Louis.

Recalling historical ties between India and the island-nation, PM Modi said that Indian freedom fighters were brought to the island to face torture at the hands of British colonialists.

“Indian freedom fighters were brought here by deceit, they were tortured, but in those tough times, Lord Ram and Ramcharitmanas gave them strength and inspiration… I came here in 1998 to attend the International Ramayan Conference… I can still experience that faith today, which I experienced years ago,” PM Modi said.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/taking-the-colours-of-holi-with-me-to-india-pm-modi-to-indian-diaspora-in-mauritius-9258302.html

When scientists from Ahmedabad’s Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) sat down to analyse the crucial data from Chandrayaan-3, they noticed large, yet highly localised variations in the surface temperatures on the Moon. This sparked another intriguing finding from India’s historic mission to the Moon launched in 2023.

According to the team, ice may be present a few centimetres below the Moon’s surface, in more areas of the lunar polar regions than previously thought. The findings are crucial because they help us understand the availability of water on the Moon, better than before. This is also the key to future long-term exploration of the Moon which depends on the availability of ice to provide water.

So far, global scientists have only relied on previous remote sensing data. Direct measurements of the lunar surface temperatures are only available from the Apollo missions of the 1970s. However, these missions landed near the equator, several thousand kilometres from the proposed landing sites for future manned missions, and where terrain slope has little effect on temperature. But ISRO’s mission landed at a high-altitude site near to the South Pole of the moon on August 23, 2023.

WHAT CLUES LED TO THE DISCOVERY?

The team of scientists from PRL Ahmedabad led by Durga Prasad analysed temperature readings taken at the lunar surface by Chandra’s Surface Thermophysical Experiment (ChaSTE) – a thermal probe experiment on Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander, which touched down at the edge of the south polar region. Its arm went to a depth of 10 centimetres below the lunar regolith (soil) collecting data on temperature changes.

Scientists noticed that the temperatures at the landing site, a Sun-facing slope angled at 6℃ peaked at 355 Kelvin – almost 82℃ and dropped to 105 Kelvin (-168℃) during the lunar night. However, a lower peak temperature of 332 Kelvin (59℃) was measured on a flat region approximately a metre from the Lander.

They derived a model using this data to show how the slope angle affects surface temperature at high lunar latitudes. The model indicated that for slopes facing away from the Sun, and towards the nearest pole, a slope with greater than 14℃ angles may be cool enough for ice to accumulate close to the surface. This led scientists to conclude that local topography of the Moon can affect temperatures, especially at high-altitudes, unlike in equatorial regions.

So, the larger slopes facing the pole at high altitudes may contain water ice, making them promising sites for future lunar exploration and habitation, they concluded. This is similar to conditions at the lunar poles, including those at the proposed landing sites for NASA’s manned Artemis missions near the lunar south pole.

CRUCIAL FOR FUTURE LUNAR EXPLORATION

It led the team to suggest that areas on the Moon where ice can form may be more numerous and easier to access than previously thought. The latest findings have been published in Nature’s peer-reviewed journal Communications Earth and Environment.

The discovery follows ISRO’s major breakthrough in 2008, when the first mission to the Moon provided evidence of water on the moon. Last year, the Chandrayaan-3 data also provided evidence of an ocean of magma which once existed on the Moon’s southern highlands – confirming scientists’ long-standing hypothesis of the Moon’s origin and evolution from a giant ocean of magma which later cooled down.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/how-chandrayaan-3-uncovered-ice-beneath-moons-surface-in-more-polar-areas-than-expected-ws-b-9257278.html

The Embassy of India in the United States has issued an advisory on fraud calls, saying that some fraudsters are “spoofing” the telephone lines of the Embassy to make calls aimed at “cheating” people.

The advisory also said that some of such fraud calls were shown as being from the telephone numbers of the Embassy.

Cautioning the people against such fraudsters and their modus operandi, the advisory said that they seek personal information such as credit card details. They sometimes even try to extort money from Indian nationals by claiming that there are errors in their important documents such as passports, visa form, immigration forms or more, which could be rectified by paying money, the advisory warned.

To fuel anxiety among people in order to cheat them, the fraudsters also claim that not rectifying the “so called error” poses risk of deportation back to India or imprisonment in the US, the Embassy said.

“In some cases, these fraudsters have also falsely claimed that they received such privileged information from the Embassy or other authorities in India,” the advisory read.

Visa applicants also receiving fraud calls

Apart from Indian nationals in the US, some visa applicants have also received such fraud calls purporting to be from the Embassy.

Clarifying that no such calls are made by the Embassy, the advisory said that no officials call any Indian or foreign national seeking their personal information. Even if any additional documentation is required from an applicant, it is only sought through official email accounts with domain “@mea.gov.in”.

The Embassy has advised people to not entertain any suspicious calls made in their name and to not reveal any personal information or send money to such fraudsters. In case someone receives such calls, they can be reported to the Embassy at this email id – cons1.washington[at]mea.gov.in.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indian-embassy-in-us-issues-advisory-on-fraud-calls-101741743117386.html

Discussions on the implications of the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict in the Middle East are the two key agendas of top intelligence officials, who are scheduled to meet for a security conclave in the national capital this weekend.

The conclave, chaired by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, will be attended by officials of 20 nations, including US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) Director Daniel Rogers and Britain’s MI6 boss Richard Moore.

Interestingly, Mr Rogers’s visit to New Delhi will be at a time India and Canada are engaged in a diplomatic row over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver in 2023. Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had alleged the role of Indian “agents” in the murder.

“The security and intelligence chiefs are likely to discuss ways to deal with terror financing as well as crimes in the digital space,” a senior official said, seeking anonymity.

Deliberations on ways to enhance intelligence-sharing to combat terrorism and various transnational crimes are also on the agenda, the official added.

The security and intelligence chiefs are also expected to bring together heads and deputy heads of their respective nations’ intelligence and security organisations.

On the sidelines of the conclave, NSA Doval is expected to hold one-on-one meetings with his counterparts from several leading countries.

As per information available, intelligence chiefs of Australia, Germany and New Zealand are among those who will join the deliberations.

Sources said Ms Gabbard will arrive in India on Saturday, as part of a multi-nation tour to the Indo-Pacific. She is also expected to visit Japan, Thailand and France. It will be the first high-level visit to India by a top official of the Donald Trump administration.

Besides attending the intelligence chiefs’ conclave, Ms Gabbard is likely to address the Raisina Dialogue and hold a one-on-one meeting with NSA Doval.

During her meetings with Indian interlocutors, Ms Gabbard is likely to raise the need for India and the US to expand cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, with an overall focus on dealing with China’s increasing muscle-flexing in the region.

It will be interesting to see whether the two sides would discuss the case relating to an alleged foiled plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.

In November 2023, US federal prosecutors charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Mr Pannun in New York. A probe ordered by the Indian government later recommended legal action against an individual.

Last month, Ms Gabbard met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Washington DC.

Officials said India would likely use the conclave as an opportunity to clear its tabs both on Mr Pannun and Nijjar.

Relations between India and Canada came under severe strain following Mr Trudeau’s allegations in September 2023 of the “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar on Canadian soil.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/delhi-to-host-20-nation-security-meet-ukraine-russia-israel-gaza-wars-to-top-agenda-us-canada-7902913

In an unusual turn of events, police in Madhya Pradesh’s Dewas district allegedly punished a group of youngsters for their “exuberant” celebrations following Team India’s Champions Trophy victory on Sunday night.

The stringent National Security Act (NSA) has been invoked against two of the men after the matter turned violent and they attacked the police. A person can be detained for up to 12 months under the NSA.

The police reportedly shaved their heads and paraded them through the streets as a supposed reenactment of their late-night revelry.

Videos of the incident, showing the tonsured youths being escorted by the police on Monday, quickly went viral. The controversy prompted BJP MLA Gayatri Raje Puar to meet with Dewas Superintendent of Police (SP) Punit Gehlot on Tuesday.

“These young men were celebrating India’s victory just like the rest of the country. They are not habitual offenders, and the act of publicly parading them in such a manner is completely unjustified. Their families accompanied me to the SP’s office, where we strongly condemned this disproportionate punishment. The SP has assured a thorough inquiry into the matter,” the MLA said.

Mr Gehlot said an investigation has been launched into both the Sunday night celebrations and Monday’s events.

“The probe will examine all aspects, including whether those detained were actually involved. Additional SP Jaiveer Singh Bhadoria has been tasked with conducting a time-bound inquiry, which will be completed within seven days. Those found responsible will face appropriate action,” he said.

The controversy stemmed from the large-scale celebrations in Dewas after India’s triumph in Dubai.

According to reports, when the police led by station in-charge Ajay Singh Gurjar attempted to stop some youths from dangerously bursting crackers near Sayaji Gate, a confrontation ensued.

Video footage showed a group of youths misbehaving with the officers, forcing them to retreat. Some individuals were even seen chasing the police vehicle and pelting stones at it.

Based on this footage, police charged 10 youths in connection with the incident. The following evening, videos surfaced showing some of them being marched from the police station to Sayaji Gate after having their heads forcibly shaved.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/madhya-pradesh-men-dangerously-celebrate-champions-trophy-india-win-cops-shave-their-heads-parade-them-7901645

Three Naxalites, including two women, with a cumulative bounty of Rs 15 lakh on their heads surrendered in Gariaband district in Chhattisgarh on Monday.

An official identified them as Dileep alias Santu, Manjula alias Lakhmi and Sunita alias Junki, who carried rewards of Rs 5 lakh each.

“Dileep, who surrendered with an automatic weapon, was active as deputy commander of Sonabeda-Dharambandha-Kholibatar (SDK) area committee of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist). Manjula was part of the area committee, while Sunita was a member of the outlawed outfit’s Bargarh area committee,” he said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/chhattisgarh/three-naxalites-with-total-bounty-of-rs-15-lakh-surrender-in-chhattisgarhs-gariaband-3440772

Thirteen of the world’s top 20 most polluted cities are in India, with Byrnihat in Assam topping the list, according to a new report published on Tuesday.

The World Air Quality Report 2024 by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir said Delhi remains the most polluted capital city globally, while India ranked as the world’s fifth most polluted country in 2024, down from third in 2023.

The report said India saw a 7 per cent decline in PM2.5 concentrations in 2024, averaging 50.6 micrograms per cubic metre, compared to 54.4 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023. Yet, six of the world’s 10 most polluted cities are in India.

Delhi recorded consistently high pollution levels, with an annual average PM2.5 concentration of 91.6 micrograms per cubic metre, nearly unchanged from 92.7 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023.

The 13 Indian cities in the world’s top 20 most polluted cities are Byrnihat, Delhi, Mullanpur (Punjab), Faridabad, Loni, New Delhi, Gurugram, Ganganagar, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi, Muzaffarnagar, Hanumangarh and Noida.

Overall, 35 per cent of the Indian cities reported annual PM2.5 levels exceeding 10 times the WHO limit of 5 micrograms per cubic metre.

Air pollution remains a serious health risk in India, reducing life expectancy by an estimated 5.2 years.

According to a Lancet Planetary Health study published last year, about 1.5 million deaths in India every year from 2009 to 2019 were potentially linked to long-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution.

PM2.5 refers to tiny air pollution particles smaller than 2.5 microns, which can enter the lungs and bloodstream, leading to breathing problems, heart disease and even cancer. Sources include vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions and the burning of wood or crop waste.

Former WHO chief scientist and health ministry advisor Soumya Swaminathan said India has made progress in air quality data collection but lacks sufficient action.

“We have the data; now we need action. Some solutions are easy like replacing biomass with LPG. India already has a scheme for this, but we must further subsidize additional cylinders. The first cylinder is free, but the poorest families, especially women, should receive higher subsidies. This will improve their health and reduce outdoor air pollution,” she told PTI in an interview.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/byrnihat-tops-global-pollution-list-delhi-most-polluted-capital-report-3441107

India told the UN Security Council that it has discussed with the Taliban regime various issues pertaining to bilateral relations and the “special” people-to-people ties has been the “foundation” of Delhi’s present day engagement with the country.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, said Monday at the UN Security meeting on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) that in the beginning of this year, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai.

“The two sides discussed various issues pertaining to bilateral relations as well as regional developments. The Afghan side appreciated and thanked Indian leadership for continuing to engage and support the people of Afghanistan,” Mr Harish said in the Council.

“It was decided that India would consider engaging in development projects in the near future in addition to the ongoing humanitarian assistance programmes,” he said.

The January meeting between Misri and Muttaqi was the highest-level contact so far between Delhi and the Taliban since the regime took over Kabul in 2021.

Mr Harish underscored that India and Afghanistan share a relationship which has spanned centuries and as its contiguous neighbour, India and Afghanistan share a special people to people relationship which has been the “foundation of our present day engagement with the country.” Mr Harish said that India is closely monitoring the situation in Afghanistan and has been actively engaged in regional and international efforts to maintain stability and peace in the country.

“Our broad approach remains to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and create an international consensus under the UN framework to resolve various issues between the de-facto authorities in Afghanistan and the international community,” the Indian envoy said.

He added that India’s participation in the UN meetings in Doha, Moscow Format and other fora are a “reflection of our efforts to secure peace, stability and development in Afghanistan.” India told the UN body that it has been working with various UN agencies for providing assistance to the Afghan people in areas of health, food security, education, sports and capacity building.

Since 2001, India has been committed towards rebuilding and reconstruction of Afghanistan.

“Our development partnership includes more than 500 projects spread across all provinces in Afghanistan,” he said.

Since August 2021, India has delivered 27 tonnes of relief material, 50,000 tonnes of wheat, 40,000 litres of pesticides and more than 300 tonnes of medicines and medical equipment to the country.

India has also partnered with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Afghanistan to provide assistance for the welfare of Afghan drug user population, especially women.

Under this partnership, India has, since 2022, supplied 11,000 units of hygiene kits, baby food, clothing, medical aid and more than 30 tons of social support items to UNODC, Kabul.

Underlining India’s historic relationship with the people of Afghanistan, Harish stressed Delhi’s “readiness” to respond to the needs of the Afghan people.

“At the same time, we remain committed to continue our close interaction with all relevant stakeholders on Afghanistan and support the international community’s efforts towards a stable, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan,” he said.

UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, told the Council it is the responsibility of the de facto authorities to indicate whether they want Afghanistan to be reintegrated into the international system and, if so, whether they are willing to take the necessary steps.

“The de facto authorities have so far treated their international obligations selectively, rejecting some on the basis they allegedly impinge on the country’s sovereignty or violate their traditions.” “But to be very clear, these international obligations affect not only the possibility of progress along the political pathway but, most crucially, the well-being of Afghanistan’s entire population, whose voices must be included in the political pathway.” She further said the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, as documented in the recent 1267 sanctions monitoring team report, demonstrate that the international community continues to have legitimate questions about the de facto authorities’ ability or commitment to uphold their own guarantees that Afghanistan will not become a threat to other countries.

Following the meeting in January between Misri and Muttaqi, a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said that the two sides evaluated the ongoing Indian humanitarian assistance programmes.

The Afghan Minister appreciated and thanked the Indian leadership for continuing to engage and support the people of Afghanistan.

The MEA statement had added that in response to the request from the Afghan side, India would provide further material support in the first instance to the health sector and for the rehabilitation of refugees.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/monitoring-situation-in-afghanistan-held-discussions-with-taliban-india-at-un-7896296

Former Indian Premier League (IPL) founder Lalit Modi took to social media to share a photo from Vanuatu after the country’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat ordered the authorities to cancel the passport issued to Modi, saying that the fugitive was attempting to avoid his extradition.
In a praise for the island nation, Lalit Modi said that one must visit Vanuatu as it a “heavenly country.” “Vanuatu a beautiful country. You must put on your bucket list. Away from all the pollution and noise. Truly heavenly country,” Modi posted on X.
Lalit Modi left India in 2010 and is learnt to have been living in London since then, as per reports.

Earlier in the day, Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat directed the Citizenship Commission to cancel the passport issued to Lalit Modi on Monday.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided properties belonging to former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and AICC General Secretary Bhupesh Baghel and his son, Chaitanya, on Monday. The 10-hour raid, which began at 8 am, reportedly seized Rs 33 lakh in cash, jewellery, and investment documents.

According to sources, the ED team arrived at the Baghel residence in Bhilai-3 Padumnagar in four vehicles and used a currency counting machine on the site.

Baghel has denounced the raid as a politically motivated attack on opposition leaders intended to silence him. He asserted that the Congress party would not be intimidated. He linked the raid to his recent questioning of BJP Deputy CM Vijay Sharma in the state assembly.

Baghel stated he and his large joint family, who are involved in farming and dairy businesses and possess 140 acres of land, had been anticipating the ED’s arrival. He claimed the seized cash included Rs 33 lakh, jewlery, documents including stridhan, which was deposited in the house from various family members.

Baghel announced that Congress would hold statewide protests against the raids, vowing defiance in Chhattisgarh and across the country.

The ED also conducted raids at 14 locations, including properties connected to Chaitanya Baghel, who is alleged to have benefited from a Rs 2100 crore liquor scam.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/chhattisgarh-news-ed-raids-ex-cm-bhupesh-baghels-properties-seizes-33-lakh-cash-congress-calls-it-political-vendetta

The Bikaner police in Rajasthan arrested six individuals, including four from Punjab’s Muktsar district, for allegedly hunting a deer, firing at the police team and attacking some locals while trying to escape. Their arrest came after a dramatic 60-kilometer chase, aided by local residents. A shocking video of the incident has gone viral, showing policemen and locals chasing and beating the suspects after catching them.

Video Viral On Instagram

The video was shared on the animal activist account “streetdogsofbombay” on Instagram with the details of the incident. It stated, “Six hunters from Punjab were recently arrested for illegally hunting deer in Rajasthan’s Bikaner after a dramatic 60-kilometer chase. A shocking viral video shows the accused even firing at the police before being restrained.”

It further stated, “The Bishnoi community, known for their deep love and protection of wildlife, has strongly condemned this act and is demanding strict action against the poachers. Protesters in Bikaner even surrounded the police station, calling for justice and accountability.”

The post further read, “Illegal hunting is a crime against nature, and those responsible must face the harshest punishment to set an example. The forest belongs to its rightful inhabitants, not those who seek to destroy it! We stand with the Bishnoi community in their fight to protect our wildlife.”

Details About The Viral Video

The video shows that the police finally catches the accused who are seen trying to escape in an open Jeep and in a Fortuner SUV. However, the police stops them after a long chase and thrashes the two accused with sticks as they are seen sitting in the Jeep after being stopped.

Other accused are also seen receiving treatment from a team of few police personnel. They are seen thrashing them while they are trying to flee by running in the open ground. The police then arrested them and took them to the police station, where the people belonging to the Bishnoi community protested at the police station demanding strict action against all the accused.

Weapons Recovered and Criminal Cases Filed

The police have registered four criminal cases against the accused at Bajju, Ranjeetpura and Hadan police stations. Additionally, the Forest Department has filed a case for illegal hunting. During the arrest, the police recovered a 12-bore double-barrel gun, a .22 rifle, a pistol, 189 live cartridges and one empty shell from the suspects. The incident reportedly occurred on March 1.

Who Are the Accused?

The arrested individuals have been identified as:

Snehbeer Singh (Ramnagar village, near Malout), a close relative of a former SAD MLA from Kotkapura

Harjit Singh (Killianwali village)

Sahil Kataria (Malout)

Sukhwant Singh (Malout)

Sukhjeet Singh and Gurkirat Singh (Gharsana, Rajasthan)

The seventh suspect is a minor

Public Outrage and Bishnoi Community’s Protest

The Bishnoi community, known for its commitment to wildlife protection, has strongly condemned this act. Following the incident, locals staged a violent protest outside the Bajju police station and shut down their businesses, demanding strict action against the poachers.

Team India captain and Mumbai Indians star Rohit Sharma returned to the Indian shores on March 10, Monday from Dubai, having led the Men in Blue to Champions Trophy 2025 victory. The 37-year-old was escorted by several policemen and fans could hardly keep calm before he entered into his car to leave for home.

Rohit added yet another ICC title to his arsenal as India thoroughly outplayed New Zealand on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium. The right-handed batter also stepped up as a batter, earning the Player of the Match award as he smashed 76 to break the back of the run-chase. Having captained the Asian Giants to the T20 World Cup last year undefeated, Team India yet again won the trophy without being defeated by any other side.

Mumbai Indians had replaced Rohit Sharma with Hardik Pandya as captain ahead of IPL 2024

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Indians had triggered a lot of backlash before the start of IPL 2024 as they had replaced Rohit as the captain of the franchise, with Hardik Pandya replacing him. The seam-bowling all-rounder had a forgettable time on all fronts as the five-time champions finished at the bottom of the table with four wins and ten losses.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/video-rohit-sharma-heavily-escorted-by-police-as-he-lands-in-mumbai-after-team-indias-champions-trophy-2025-win

Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat has ordered the Citizenship Commission to cancel Indian Premier League (IPL) founder Lalit Modi’s passport, citing the rejection of Indian authorities’ request for an Interpol alert due to insufficient evidence.

“I have instructed the Citizenship Commission to immediately begin proceedings to cancel Mr. Modi’s Vanuatu passport,” Napat said in a statement.

He said that while background checks showed no criminal convictions, he was recently informed that Interpol had rejected Indian requests for an alert on Lalit Modi due to insufficient evidence, which would have led to the rejection of his citizenship application.

“While all standard background checks, including Interpol screenings, conducted during his application showed no criminal convictions, I have been made aware in the past 24 hours that Interpol twice rejected Indian authorities’ requests to issue an alert notice on Mr. Modi due to lack of substantive judicial evidence. Any such alert would have triggered an automatic rejection of Mr. Modi’s citizenship application,” the statement issued by PM Napat reads.

He clarified that a Vanuatu passport is a privilege, not a right, and applicants must provide legitimate reasons for citizenship.

“None of those legitimate reasons include attempting to avoid extradition, which the recent facts brought to light clearly indicate was Mr. Modi’s intention,” Napat added.

PM Napat said that in recent years, the Vanuatu government has strengthened the due diligence process for its citizenship by investment programme, resulting in more applications failing enhanced scrutiny by the Vanuatu financial intelligence unit.

The updated process includes triple-agency checks, including Interpol verification, the statement added.

Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising an archipelago of 83 islands, of which 65 are inhabited.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/vanuatu-prime-minister-orders-cancellation-of-lalit-modis-passport-101741575236950.html

Kannada actor Ranya Rao is reportedly overcome with regret after getting caught allegedly smuggling gold into the country. She was caught with 14.2 kg of gold worth ₹12.56 crore at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru earlier last week. A new report says she is facing mental trauma amid all the investigation into her case.

Emotional Ranya Rao talks about mental trauma in court

Ranya was remanded to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) custody until March 10. As per an Indian Express report, on Friday, when she was produced in court, Ranya had large dark circles around her eyes, photos of which have surfaced online. She broke down while talking to her lawyers in the courtroom.

Ranya told her lawyers through tears, “I keep thinking why did I get into it. My mind keeps going back to the day at the airport. I cannot sleep…I am having mental trauma.

Ranya, known for her roles in Kannada films like Maanikya and Pataki, was detained earlier this week by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) after returning from Dubai on March 3 in connection with an alleged gold smuggling case.

Authorities allege that Ranya was carrying 14.8 kilograms of gold, which she intended to smuggle into the country.

On March 4, Ranya Rao was produced before a special court for financial offences and was remanded to judicial custody until March 18. Prior to her transfer to custody, she underwent a medical examination at Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru.

During her questioning, Rao claimed that her trip to Dubai was for business purposes. However, authorities suspect that her visit was linked to the illegal importation of gold.

What happened to Ranya Rao’s eyes?

Meanwhile, soon after the Kannada actress was arrested at Bengaluru International Airport, an image of her with swollen eyes and bruises began circulating on social media, leading to speculation that the actress might have been allegedly assaulted during or after her arrest at the airport.

The Chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Women, Nagalakshmi Chaudhary, responded to the viral image while speaking to ANI on Firday and stated that the commission cannot conduct an investigation unless a formal complaint is filed.

“Actually, someone has to file a complaint with us. The Women’s Commission is not an authority to conduct an investigation,” she said.

Condemning any act of violence against Ranya, Chaudhary stated, “Whoever has committed the assault should not have done so. That’s for sure. No one should take the law into their hands. We must allow the investigation, and the law will take its own course. No one has the right to assault anybody, whether it’s a woman or anyone else, but I’m totally against that.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/others/tearful-ranya-rao-tells-lawyers-about-her-mental-trauma-i-keep-thinking-why-did-i-get-into-it-101741515400428.html

The Congress on Sunday hailed Indian cricket team’s ICC Champions Trophy win, with Rahul Gandhi saying the team’s phenomenal run in the tournament has been truly inspiring.

Skipper Rohit Sharma led from the front with an excellent half-century as a resolute India held their nerve to win an unprecedented third Champions Trophy title with a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the final in Dubai.

In a post on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, “A phenomenal team effort culminated in a glorious victory for the Indian cricket team as they lift the #ChampionsTrophy!” He added, “Brilliant performance by the skipper Rohit Sharma and everyone in the team! Your achievement fills 140 Crore hearts with utmost pride,” the Congress chief said.

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the win won billions of Indians’ hearts.

What started as a celebration of India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 victory turned chaotic in Hyderabad on Sunday night, forcing the police to resort to a lathi charge to control unruly crowds. Jubilant cricket fans flooded the streets after India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the final in Dubai, but traffic disruptions and reckless behaviour led to police intervention.

The biggest gathering was in Dilsukh Nagar’s Chaitanyapuri area, where hundreds of young fans, including hostel students, came out in large numbers to celebrate. Many climbed onto vehicles, blocked roads, and burst crackers, creating a massive traffic jam near the Metro station. Despite repeated warnings from the police, the celebrations continued for hours, bringing vehicular movement to a halt.

Lathi-Charge to Disperse Crowd

As the crowd refused to budge, the Hyderabad police initiated a mild lathi charge to disperse the gathering. Officers first used microphones to request fans to clear the roads, but when some continued dancing atop vehicles and blocking traffic, the police took stern action. Videos of the lathi charge soon went viral, showing fans running as the police tried to restore order.

Traffic police officials confirmed that the situation became unmanageable when some individuals refused to cooperate and continued blocking roads. “We had no option but to use force to disperse the crowd and restore normalcy,” said a senior police official, according to a OneIndia Telugu report.

Nationwide Celebrations Amid Chaos in Hyderabad

While the lathi charge grabbed headlines in Hyderabad, celebrations erupted across the country after Team India’s historic win. Fans in Mumbai, Delhi and several other cities danced, burst crackers and distributed sweets.

The victory marked India’s third ICC Champions Trophy title, making it the most successful team in the tournament’s history. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the players, calling the win “exceptional game.” President Droupadi Murmu and several political leaders also praised the team’s achievement.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/hyderabad-cops-lathi-charge-fans-who-took-to-streets-in-dilsukh-nagar-after-team-indias-victory-in-champions-trophy-final-video-viral

Union Home Minister Amit Shah promised a grand temple for Mata Sita in Bihar while addressing ‘Shashwat Mithila Mahotsav 2025’ in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad on Sunday. The Home Minister praised the people of Mithilanchal and Bihar for their immense contribution to the development of Gujarat and said the area had a history of empowering democracy and philosophy from ancient times.
He also said that a grand temple for Mata Sita will be built in Bihar. “When I went to Bihar during the Lok Sabha elections, I had said Ram Mandir has been built, now it is the turn to build a grand temple of Sita Mata. The temple will give a message of woman power to the whole world and how life should be ideal in every way,” he said.
“The people from Mithilanchal and Bihar who have settled in Gujarat have contributed significantly to its growth,” the Home Minister said adding that they were safe, respected and welcome in the state. He said the land of Mithila has been a land of intellectuals from the times of Ramayan and Mahabharat. Bihar is set to go to polls this year and the BJP-led NDA is eyeing for a big victory against RJD and other opposition parties.

Talking of the land’s importance. he said, “Mahatma Buddha had said many times that as long as the people of Videha live together, no one can defeat them. Mithilanchal proved to be a strong force of democracy, which kept giving its message to the whole country for years. Mithilanchal was also a land of Shastrartha,” he said.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on Monday raided the premises linked to the son of former Chhattisgarh chief minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel and others in connection with an alleged money laundering case linked to liquor scam. The agency stated the premises of Chaitanya Baghel in Bhillai and others in the state are being searched under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
ED had earlier said the Chhattisgarh liquor “scam” resulted in a “massive loss” to the state exchequer and the liquor syndicate earned over Rs 2,161 crore of proceeds of crime. Earlier, the probe agency had arrested a number of persons, including state government bureaucrats and businessmen, in this case.

According to a statement of the agency, the searche of premises is related to ex-CM Bhupesh Baghel including the residence of his son Chaitanya Baghel and also close associates of Chaitanya Baghel s/o Bhupesh Baghel and Laxmi Narayan Bansal@Pappu Bansal.

ED has made a sensational claim Chaitnya Baghel is recipient of proceeds of crime generated from liquor scam wherein total proceeds of crime is around Rs 2, 161 crores and searches were being conducted at 14 premises linked to him and others.

Remember Kairan Quazi, the prodigy who joined Elon Musk’s SpaceX as a software engineer at just 14? Well, he’s back on LinkedIn! The platform had deleted his account for being underage in 2023, but now, the US-based company has allowed him to access the platform.

“Now that I’m 16, LinkedIn has let me back on the platform,” wrote Quazi in a post on Instagram. Welcoming him back, one social media user commented, “Welcome back! We missed you.” Another added, “Back where he belongs.”

An Internet user had a rather unexpected request, saying, “Please start posting videos on YouTube again.”

Quazi has been working as a software engineer at SpaceX since 2023, contributing to the Starlink project. His role involves data-oriented design for optimisation problems, specifically in beam planning. It requires a deep understanding of low-latency, high-performance computing, and real-time programming.

He previously spent four years as an intern at Intel Labs, where he became the first undergraduate intern to collaborate with the Human AI Lab on advancing open-source predictive speech generation platforms. In addition to his work at Intel, he served as a keynote speaker at the Linux Foundation North America Summit and the SHIFT AI Global Conference.

Quazi graduated with a BS in Computer Science from Santa Clara University in 2023, making history as the college’s youngest graduate in its 170-year existence. During his time there, he also served as an Elected Senator in the Associated Student Government from 2021 to 2023.

At just 11 years old, in 2020, he earned an AS in Mathematics from Las Positas College.

What happened back in 2023?

In 2023, Kairan Quazi took to Instagram to announce that LinkedIn had deleted his account, citing their minimum age requirement of 16. “LinkedIn just sent me this notice that they are deleting my account because I’m not 16,” he wrote.

Calling the platform’s decision “illogical” and “primitive nonsense”, Quazi expressed his frustration, “This is the illogical, primitive nonsense that I face constantly. I can be qualified enough to land one of the most coveted engineering jobs in the world, but not qualified enough to have access to a professional social media platform? LinkedIn showing everyone how regressive some tech company policies are.”

He then urged his followers to help him reconnect with his LinkedIn contacts on Instagram. “Can people please share this screenshot on their LinkedIn for me and ask people to connect with me on Instagram?”

Source : https://www.news18.com/viral/linkedin-restores-access-to-kairan-quazi-software-engineer-who-joined-elon-musks-spacex-at-14-9255616.html

Seven persons were killed and 14 others injured in a collision between a truck and a sports utility vehicle (SUV) in Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi district early on Monday, police said.

The incident took place at around 2.30 am near Upni petrol pump on Sidhi-Bahri Road, Deputy Superintendent of Police Gayatri Tiwari said.

The vehicles collided head-on when the SUV (a taxi service) carrying members of a family was going towards Maihar, while the truck was heading to Bahri from Sidhi, she said.

Seven persons travelling in the SUV were killed and 14 other occupants were injured in the accident, the official said.

Nine injured persons were referred to neighbouring Rewa for further treatment and the others were being treated at the Sidhi district hospital, she said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sidhi-madhya-pradesh-accident-7-killed-14-injured-in-truck-suv-collision-in-madhya-pradeshs-sidhi-district-7888155

Kolkata: A priest of the Jagannath Temple in Puri on Sunday said he is setting up a 300-room luxury resort with a strong spiritual focus in the holy town.

The beachside project would be a pure vegetarian and non-liquor retreat, aiming to offer a “satvik” experience to pilgrims and travellers seeking spiritual serenity with modern comforts, the priest said in a press conference here.

The current valuation is Rs 200 crore, an official from his team said.

“Puri is not just a destination. It is a sacred abode where divinity meets the ocean. The resort will offer a blend of spiritual tranquillity and luxury hospitality,” Sevayat Daitapati Bhabani Das said.

The construction cost of the ‘Jagannatham’ project is estimated at Rs 110 crore, excluding land, he said.

The project, under Meridian Mist Hotel & Resort, is being built on a seven-acre beachfront plot along the Puri-Konark marine drive, about 8 km from the Jagannath Temple in Puri.

“I own the land and there is no conflict of interest with Jagannath Temple,” he said.

Set to open in 14-16 months, before the Rath Yatra of 2026, the resort is expected to redefine spiritual tourism in Puri, attracting both pilgrims and high-end travellers, Das said.

Das and his family own 100 per cent of the resort but are open to diluting equity based on the response to the project’s membership programme.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/west-bengal/jagannath-temple-priest-to-develop-rs-200cr-spiritual-luxury-resort-project-in-puri-3439021

Film stars Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff have been served notices by the district consumer disputes redressal forum, Jaipur-II, asking them to appear on March 19 for an alleged “misleading” advertisement of the Vimal Pan Masala. The chairman of JB Industries (manufacturer of Vimal Gutkha brand) has also been served a notice to appear before the forum for their ad that claims each grain of pan masala contains ‘saffron’.
The notice is over their tage line “”dane dane mein hai kesar ka dum” (each grain has strength of saffron). As per the TOI Report, Commission Chairman Gyarsilal Meena and member Hemlata Agarwal issued the order while reviewing a complaint filed by Jaipur resident Yogendra Singh Badiyal. The complainant alleged that JB Industries produces Vimal Pan Masala and distributes it nationwide for sale.
“The three actors, including Shahrukh Khan, Ajay Devgan and Tiger Shroff, advertise it to increase its sales. It is claimed in the advertisement that it contains saffron. However, the truth is that the price of saffron is around 4 lakh rupees per kg and their Pan Masala with Tobacco pouch comes in at Rs 5. In such a situation, forget about adding saffron, even its fragrance cannot be added to it,” the petitioner said.

The complaint alleged that the misleading advertisement encourages more people to purchase the pan masala and tobacco combo, ultimately benefiting the manufacturer. It further stated that the actors promote false claims by implying that every grain of the pan masala contains saffron.

“The manufacturing company is doing business worth crores of rupees and, on the other hand, the common people are inviting diseases like cancer by consuming the harmful and fatal combo of Pan Masala with tobacco known as gutkha. This mix, known as gutkha, is harmful to health, and the manufacturing company is also aware of this. In such a situation, it is deliberately advertising it by claiming that it contains saffron to mislead the common people. In such a situation, its advertisement should be banned,” the petitioner said.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/kesar-ka-dum-or-marketing-gimmick-srk-ajay-devgn-and-tiger-shroff-served-notice-over-vimal-pan-masala-ad-article-118798540

Mother of the RG Kar hospital medic who was raped and murdered on Saturday said she and her husband would like to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek justice for their daughter.

Speaking on International Women’s Day, the bereaved mother also raised a question over the safety and security of women in West Bengal.

“I would like to meet the PM and appeal to him to intervene in the matter and look into our appeal for justice for our deceased doctor,” she said.

The 31-year-old junior doctor was raped-killed at the state-run hospital in Kolkata on August 9 last year, triggering national outrage.

“Our daughter had dreamt big, and we never thought that she would have to die such a death. It’s been seven months since she left us, but where is justice? We do not even have the death certificate,” she claimed.

“If a woman doctor is unsafe at her workplace, then where is the security?” she questioned.

Reacting to the mother’s wish to meet the PM, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul said, “There is a process to seek an appointment with the PM. I am sure that our Prime Minister will give them (the parents) some time and listen to their appeal.” When contacted, Trinamool Congress leader and state finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said, “Anybody in this country has the right to seek an appointment with the PM and meet him. But we must not forget that it was our leader Mamata Banerjee had taken the first step and the culprit was arrested. Even the probe agency could not differ from their findings.”

A sessions court in the city on January 20 sentenced Kolkata Police civic volunteer Sanjay Roy, the convict in the rape-and-murder case, to life imprisonment till death.

Both the CBI and the state government had filed appeals before the Calcutta High Court seeking capital punishment for Roy.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rg-kar-victims-mother-seeks-to-meet-pm-modi-appeal-for-justice-7881502

Two days after three civilians went missing from Jammu & Kashmir’s Kathua district, their bodies were recovered on Saturday, officials said. According to the sources, all three of them were on their way to attend a marriage function in Kathua when they allegedly went missing on March 6 around 8 pm.
Following this, the security forces launched a massive search operation under a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP). Their bodies were recovered after a long 60-hour operation.
This incident led to the suspicion of the terror link in this particular case, with BJP MLA Satesh Sharma raising the issue in the state assembly.

Sharma said, I want to inform you about the three missing civilians. We want to seek answers from the government.”

The deceased have been identified as Varun Singh (15), Yogesh Singh, and Darshan Singh.
Earlier, the investigation was focusing on a possible terror link, with a terrorist outfit already hinting at its involvement in the abduction.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/bodies-of-3-civilians-missing-since-2-days-recovered-from-jks-kathua-article-118805602

In Goa’s biggest drug haul, the Crime Branch officials allegedly arrested a man with hydroponic weed worth Rs 11.67 crore. The officials said it was the biggest seizure of drugs in the history of the coastal state. The man was arrested from Guirim village located between Panaji and Mapusa cities, a policeman said.
“We seized 11.672 kilograms of hydroponic weed worth Rs 11.67 crore from him. This is the biggest seizure of drugs in Goa’s history. He has been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act,” the spokesperson said, stated PTI.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawan hailed the Crime Branch for the accomplishment and called it a testament to the state’s efforts against the drug menace.

“Congratulations to the Crime Branch Goa Police for Goa’s Biggest-Ever Drug Bust! In a major breakthrough, the Crime Branch has successfully busted a drug racket, arresting an individual in possession of 11.672 kg of hydroponic weed worth ‘Rs 11.67 crores. This is a testament to the relentless efforts of our law enforcement agencies in keeping our state drug-free,” the Chief Minister said in an X post.

“The Goa government remains committed to a zero-tolerance policy on drugs, he said, adding that intelligence networks will be strengthened and surveillance enhanced to crack down on such crimes to safeguard youth and society,” he added.
“We will continue to strengthen intelligence networks, enhance surveillance, and crack down on drug-related crimes to safeguard our youth and society,” the CM further said, adding “Kudos to the @Goa_Police, Crime Branch and all officials involved in this successful operation. Let us all stand together in the fight against drugs and work towards a safer, healthier, and drug-free Goa!”

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/goas-biggest-ever-drug-bust-man-arrested-with-rs-11-67-cr-worth-hydroponic-weed-article-118813808

Predicting Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s (PoK) assimilation into India in the near future, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday batted strongly for healthy relations with neighbours like Bangladesh and reflected upon the gains from one nation, one poll and delimitation.

Also, the BJP is the only party which has delivered on its promises under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and addressed the crisis of credibility created in politics, the Defence Minister told Gaurav Mishra, Ankit Paliwal and Rahul Chhabra of IANS.

Excerpts from the interview:

IANS: You have always said that PoK was, is and will remain a part of India? In your opinion, what is the future of PoK?

Rajnath Singh: In my opinion, Pakistan would never let go of PoK voluntarily. The rate at which economic development has taken place and the way India’s stature has grown on the world stage, people of PoK have started feeling that their development lies in joining a country like India.

The people of the region will force Pakistan to its assimilation into India… I believe the people of that region may not even need Pakistan’s consent for it.

IANS: How do you see the concerns raised by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin over the proposed delimitation exercise in 2026?

Rajnath Singh: I think Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin should not create hurdles in delimitation. If there is any objection, he can raise it before a suitable forum.

It is unfair to claim that delimitation would lead to an increase in the number of seats only in North India. People should be assured that, whether for the Legislative Assembly or the Lok Sabha, the number of seats will naturally increase after delimitation in every state. I firmly believe that Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala will also see an increase in the number of seats.

IANS: What is your opinion on the developments in Bangladesh since the fall of Awami League government and India’s interaction with the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government?

Rajnath Singh: India always wants to maintain good relations with its neighbours and Bangladesh is also our neighbouring country. We always try to maintain good relations with our neighbours because (former Prime Minister) Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to say that we can change friends but not our neighbours. So, we would like to maintain good relations with Bangladesh.

IANS: Is One Nation, One Election (ONOE) likely to become a reality in the near future?

Rajnath Singh: This should have been done a long time ago. I believe there has been a significant delay in this matter. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi truly deserves appreciation for introducing this bill. The process of One Nation, One Election should begin in India. The government will save an enormous amount of money — running into lakhs of crores. While I cannot provide an exact figure off-hand, the savings will be substantial.

Another major aspect is the saving in terms of time and the boost for governance. Currently, elections are held throughout the year — sometimes for panchayats, sometimes for municipal bodies, sometimes for MLAs, MPs, district boards, or district panchayats. If a fixed schedule ensures that Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections are conducted simultaneously, along with local body elections, it will not only save a significant amount of money but also a considerable amount of time.

IANS: The Delhi government has launched the Mahila Samriddhi Yojana of giving Rs 2,500 monthly assistance to poor women. In your view, what is the significance of the development?

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/people-of-pak-occupied-kashmir-will-push-for-joining-india-rajnath-singh-7880204

A man from Kerala was shot dead at the Jordan-Israel border by security forces while he was trying to cross into Israel illegally The deceased, 47-year-old Ani Thomas Gabriel Perera was reportedly a victim of a job scam.
As per reports, Perera and his brother-in-law Edison Charles had tried to enter Israel after arriving in Jordan on a visitor visa. Both were lured on the promise of a blue-collar job, reported BBC.
The agent had promised them a salary of Rs 3,50,000 a month, the report said. They paid Rs 2,10,000 to the agent before they left India and gave an additional Rs 52,289 ($600) after reaching Jordan.

However, as they arrived in Jordon, the agent said that there were no jobs available there and the duo should try for opportunities in the neighbouring country of Israel.

Believing the agent, the two tried to cross the border on February 10 when they were shot by Jordanian secuity forces. While Perera died on the sport, Charles survived and was repatriated to India after treatment.
Gabriel was a native of Thumba and his family said that they received an email from the Indian Embassy on March 1 confirming his death. The Indian Embassy in Jordan said it had learnt of the “sad demise of an Indian national in unfortunate circumstances.”
“The Embassy is in touch with the family of the deceased and is working closely with Jordanian authorities for transportation of mortal remains of the deceased,” it said in a post on X.

A 28-year-old man in Kerala died on Saturday after swallowing three packets of synthetic drug on spotting a police enforcement squad.

The deceased, identified as Iyyadan Shanid of Thamarassery, was initially taken into custody on suspicion of possessing MDMA for local distribution. According to police sources, he swallowed two plastic packets containing the drug in an attempt to evade arrest and attempted to flee.

Shanid was first rushed to the Thamarassery Taluk Hospital and then shifted to Kozhikode Medical College for specialised treatment, where a CT scan and endoscopy revealed two plastic packets inside his stomach.

Doctors also detected a white substance inside the packets. Despite medical intervention, he was declared dead at around 11 am.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/kerala-news-28-year-old-man-dies-after-swallowing-synthetic-drug-packets-to-evade-police-arrest

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday seized a Hawker 800A jet (N935H) at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA). Officials said the jet was allegedly owned by Amardeep Kumar, the prime accused in an alleged Rs 850 crore ‘Falcon scam’.

According to officials privy to the ED’s action, Kumar and an accomplice used the aircraft to flee to Dubai on January 22. Investigators confirmed Kumar as the beneficial owner of the jet, which was purchased in 2024 for USD 1.6 million (Rs 14 crore) via Prestige Jets Inc.

The ED claims that proceeds from the Falcon Group’s Ponzi scheme were diverted to purchase the jet. Upon landing in Shamshabad, officials said, the jet was seized, crew members were questioned, and the ED team recorded a close associate’s statement.

The Falcon group allegedly collected Rs 1,700 crore from investors, promising high returns through a fraudulent invoice discounting investment scheme. Out of the total funds collected, Rs 850 crore was repaid, but 6,979 investors were left unpaid.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/ed-seizes-hawker-800a-private-jet-in-connection-with-850-crore-falcon-scam-at-hyderabad-airport

About 15 years ago, an Indian rapper of humble origins broke onto the country’s then-infertile hip-hop music scene and transformed it forever.

He teased, cajoled and vexed his listeners, daring them to explore the “devilish” contours of his mind, as he sang rash rhymes about parties, drugs and “seducing” women. His songs played in clubs and weddings, blaring from stereos at big parties and roadside tea stalls alike.

Then, at the peak of his career, he vanished. Seven years later, Yo Yo Honey Singh is back – with a new album and an ongoing music tour, claiming to be a changed man after a prolonged battle with drug abuse and mental health struggles.

The 41-year-old singer and producer was once one of India’s biggest music stars, a figure who “moved the cultural gravity of hip-hop music”, says music journalist Bhanuj Kappal in Famous, a recent Netflix documentary on Singh.

But he was also deeply controversial – and, by his own admission, an “aggressive and reckless man”, routinely accused of promoting vulgarity, debauchery and violence through his music.

Many criticised Singh’s lyrics for depicting violence against women and rape, an image that gained further traction in the press after his former wife and childhood sweetheart accused him of domestic violence in her divorce filing. Singh has denied the charge.

Seven years later, the singer is no longer the defiant hitmaker who once ruled the charts with his provocative, foot-tapping anthems.

A lot has changed in the intervening years, including Indian hip-hop, which has evolved into a thriving, dynamic space. Artists once inspired by his sound have now surpassed him as the genre’s leading voices.

Singh also seems different. From someone who described himself as “the all-knowing master of the universe”, he now identifies as a God-fearing man who believes in good energies, the cyclic nature of life and “scientific astrologers”.

He claims his music is now more conscious, moving beyond drugs to something deeper. But loyal fans say it’s lost its edge and his latest tracks haven’t left a mark.

“He has a core audience that will stick with him forever… but his vision is old now. It’s outdated,” Kappal says.

But Singh is not ready to be written off, yet.

Instead of trying to conceal or defend his personal struggles with fame and drugs, he has made it the centrepiece of his comeback.

Since his return, Singh has candidly admitted his struggles with addiction and mental health. “Drugs destroyed me completely,” he told Lallantop, a digital news platform. “I lost myself to fame, money and women. I was like a devil, completely satanic.”

In interviews, he is witty and relaxed, speaking with the clarity of a tormented artist who, after battling his inner demons, seems to have unlocked a spiritual truth

“What goes around comes around, I really believe that,” he said recently. “It took a lot of time for me to get out from where I was stuck. But I am back now.”

Born Hridesh Singh in Punjab state, he grew up in a cramped Delhi neighbourhood. Those tough early years shaped his music and still echo in his work today.

“This ghetto was my home, my hood, always will be,” he’s often heard saying.

Singh always knew he wanted a career in music. He started as a college DJ, later moving into production full-time. “I wanted to make beats and produce music, not sing or write,” he says.

But after years as a small-time producer in Punjab, he realised it wouldn’t be enough. “My sounds were too urban for the place. People didn’t understand it. For that, I had to go beyond the state.”

So he went solo. In 2011, Singh released The International Villager, his breakout album. Blending Punjabi folk – its dhol beats and string melodies – with global hip-hop, he created something entirely new.

For three months, it seemed the formula had failed. Then everything changed. Overnight, the songs went viral, topped charts, won awards – and catapulted Singh into Bollywood.

Brown Rang, a song about a brown man’s global ambition, became YouTube’s most-watched video in 2012. Shot in Dubai on a million-dollar budget, it introduced many Indians to the bling of hip-hop – fast cars, baggy clothes, gem-studded watches and gold chains – set to slick, thumping beats.

Despite mounting criticism over his misogynistic lyrics, Singh packed stadiums and churned out hits, breaking into Bollywood with songs for stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar.

“A lot of times, my lyrics were trash, even I knew that. But people were still listening to it because the sound was so good and fresh,” he told Lallantop.

But Singh’s ascent to fame coincided with his personal downfall.

“I was drowning in drugs and alcohol, smoking 12-15 joints and downing bottles. I abandoned my family, lost control. This one time, I got so high I bit a friend on his stomach eight times,” he told Lallantop.

In 2017, Singh broke down mid-tour – a moment that shook him. He quit music and substances, returned to Delhi and began recovery with a global team of doctors and therapists. “I told my family I was mentally unwell. I can’t do anything till I get better.”

Singh says he’s been sober for seven years, except for the occasional beer.

“I have been to hell and back,” he says in Famous. “Even now, I wake up hazy because of the medicines.”

Fans, however, appreciate Singh’s raw honesty about his self-destructive tendencies – and his effort to overcome them.

“No-one’s perfect. But at least Singh tries to be better. He may have left the scene briefly but his music never stopped playing,” says Nandini Gupta, a Delhi-based student.

Others see his transformation as performative, noting his new music remains problematic. “Though toned down, he is still objectifying women and talking only about money and fame,” says listener Bushra Neyazi.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czdn0zq7n0zo

Christian Michel James, an alleged middleman in AgustaWestland case, on Friday offered to “finish his sentence” and leave India instead of walking out on bail owing to “security risks”.

James was addressing special judge Sanjeev Aggarwal when he made the plea.

Following the reprieve in the CBI and ED cases against him, the special court imposed the necessary bail conditions for releasing him on bail.

While the Delhi High Court on March 4 granted him bail in the ED case and directed for saddling Michel with the necessary bail riders, the Supreme Court on February 18 granted the relief in the CBI case subject to the trial court’s conditions.

On Friday, the judge asked James, “How are you now? God has been kind to you in the last two months. You have got bail in both cases.” James, however, said, “Delhi is just a larger prison. My family cannot come to me…My security is at risk. I would rather complete my sentence and leave the country.” The judge asked Michel how could he continue to be incarcerated when bail had been granted to him.

“I cannot accept the bail. It’s unsafe. Every time I step out of Tihar (prison), something happens,” Michel said.

On the aspect of furnishing a surety bond, he said, “How can a person who has been in jail for six years produce local sureties?” After Michel stressed he did not want to be released on bail because of security reasons, the judge asked, “Can’t you find a safehouse in Delhi?” Michel then offered to “narrate in private the incident” he faced when he was admitted to AIIMS.

“The problem I have is with the police. I would rather talk to you in private,” he said.

The judge then asked the media persons and the police personnel to wait outside for some time.

At around 4.30 pm, the court passed its order, laying down the conditions for bail.

The conditions include James marking his attendance physically before the investigating officers once every 15 days, providing his cellphone number, email and residential address to the probe agencies aside from not leaving the country without the court’s permission and not tampering with the evidence or attempting to influence the witnesses.

“The accused shall not interact with respect to the present case with the media nor shall communicate regarding this case at any forum, during the trial of this case,” the court’s order said.

The court also directed James to furnish a personal bond and surety of Rs 10 lakh in both cases and surrender his passport.

James was extradited from Dubai in December 2018 and was arrested by the CBI and the ED later.

He is among the three alleged middlemen being probed in the case and the other two are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/cant-accept-its-unsafe-christian-michel-to-delhi-court-on-bail-in-agustawestland-case-7875122

Indian chess Grandmaster R Vaishali, and scientists Elina Mishra and Shilpi Soni were among the women achievers who took over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s X handle on the occasion of International Women’s Day on Saturday.

In a post from his handle, they said they were “thrilled” to take over his social media account and shared their messages to inspire other women.

“Vanakkam! I am Vaishali, and I am thrilled to be taking over our PM Thiru Narendra Modi Ji’s social media properties and that too on Women’s Day. As many of you would know, I play chess and I feel very proud to be representing our beloved country in many tournaments,” the 23-year-old wrote.

She said she has been playing chess since the age of 6 and that playing the game has been a “learning, thrilling and rewarding journey” for her.

In her message to all the women, “especially the young girls”, she told them to “follow their dreams, no matter the hurdles”.

“Your passion will power your success. I want to encourage women to follow their dreams and break barriers in any field they choose because I know they can,” Ms Vaishali, one of the top-ranked women chess players in the world, said.

“I’ve also got a message for parents and siblings – SUPPORT GIRLS. Trust their abilities, and they’ll do wonders. In my life, I have been blessed with supportive parents, Thiru Rameshbabu and Thirumathi Nagalakshmi,” she added.

Ms Mishra and Ms Soni, both from Odisha, also shared their messages and said that India is the “most vibrant place” for science, and called upon more women to pursue it.

“Both of us, Elina and Shilpi are seeing the wide range of opportunities opening up in our respective sectors. It was unimaginable that a sector like nuclear technology would offer so many opportunities for women in India. Similarly, the increasing participation of women and the private sector in the world of space makes India the most happening place to innovate and grow! Indian women surely have the talent and India surely has the right platform,” they wrote.

This is not the first time that women achievers have taken over PM Modi’s social media accounts. On International Women’s Day in 2020, his social media accounts were operated by seven women achievers, which provided them a global platform to inspire others.

Earlier today, the Prime Minister paid tributes to ‘Nari Shakti’ on International Women’s Day and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to women’s empowerment through various schemes and programmes.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/international-womens-day-vanakkam-im-vaishali-chess-grandmaster-takes-over-pm-narendra-modis-x-handle-7875201

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Friday invoked all actions under Stage-I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect in Delhi and surrounding National Capital Region (NCR), to mitigate the effects of ‘poor’ air quality.

The decision was taken after the Sub-Committee on GRAP, in its meeting on Friday, further reviewed the air quality scenario in the region, the IMD and IITM forecasts, and the Delhi air quality index.

“AQI of Delhi has shown an increasing trend due to calm winds and unfavorable meteorological conditions in Delhi-NCR. The AQI of Delhi has been recorded as 2O2 for 07.03.2025 (in the ‘Poor’ category),” the observation mentioned in the meeting.

Actions under Stage-l of the extant GRAP shall be implemented, monitored and reviewed by all the agencies concerned in the entire NCR to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip further, the statement from CAQM mentioned.

All implementing agencies have been asked to keep strict vigil and intensify measures regarding the extant GRAP schedule. Citizens have also been requested to strictly adhere to the citizen charter under the GRAP Stage plan.

Notably, over the past couple of days, Delhi-NCR has been witnessing a steady improvement in air quality following strong winds that helped clear the pollutants.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/grap-1-invoked-in-delhi-to-mitigate-effects-of-poor-air-quality-7873158

The Gauhati High Court on Friday granted anticipatory bail to YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani in connection with a case lodged by the city police following the outrage over the ‘India’s Got Latent’ show. The high court had on February 18 granted interim bail to Chanchlani in the case.

“After going through the case diary, the high court granted anticipatory bail to the petitioner,” his advocate Joyraj Borah told PTI.

Along with Borah, Chanchlani’s counsels Hiranya Kumar Nath, Apoorv Srivastava and Avinash Lalwani argued that their client appeared before the investigating officer and cooperated in the case as per the previous directions of the HC.

The bench of Justice Mridul Kumar Kalita pronounced the anticipatory bail by turning the interim relief absolute.

The FIR was registered by the city police on February 10 under the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhtia (BNS), IT Act, Cinematograph Act and Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act.

Chanchlani on February 27 appeared before the Guwahati Police, which quizzed him for several hours.

Earlier in the day, the city police questioned Ranveer Allahbadia, popularly known as BeerBiceps, in the case.

Apart from Allahbadia and Chanchlani, others named in the case are comics Samay Raina, Jaspreet Singh and Apoorva Makhija. The owner of the place where the shooting of the show took place has also been named in the FIR.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/youtuber-ashish-chanchlani-gets-anticipatory-bail-in-obscenity-case-indias-got-latent-row-ranveer-allahbadia-samay-raina-7872590

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday stressed on the need to reduce weight as he cited a report which claimed that nearly 44 crore people in India may be obese by 2050, and described the figure as “huge and scary”.
On the first day of his two-day tour of Gujarat and its adjoining Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu, the PM inaugurated as well as performed ground-breaking ceremony for projects worth Rs 2,587 crore for the UT, and launched a food security saturation campaign in Surat.
He addressed gatherings in Silvassa, the administrative headquarters of Dadra and Nagar Haveli district, and later at Surat.

Speaking at the rally in Silvassa, Modi called obesity the root cause of many diseases and urged people to fight the chronic health condition characterized by excessive body fat by doing regular physical exercises and reducing edible oil consumption by 10 per cent.

“Diseases linked to our lifestyle are posing a huge risk to our health today. Obesity is one of them because it is the root cause of many diseases. According to a recent report, nearly 44 crore people in India may be obese by 2050. This figure is huge and it is equally scary,” Modi emphasised.
He said one in every three people in the country may be suffering from obesity by 2050 if the findings of the report turns out to be true.
Modi warned obesity will prove dangerous for people’s health and everyone must start trying to overcome this situation.
“I have already made an appeal that people should reduce their edible oil consumption by 10 per cent. I want all of you to take a pledge that you will buy 10 per cent less oil. Regular exercises and cycling will also help you in reducing obesity,” Modi told the gathering.
The PM informed the audience that his government is planning to open 25,000 new Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country as part of its endeavour to make medicines available at affordable prices. Middle class and poor citizens have saved nearly Rs 30,000 crore so far by purchasing medicines from these government-run subsidised medicine shops, he noted.
The PM sought the cooperation of local residents to turn the Union Territory into a developed enclave on the lines of Singapore.
“There was a time when Singapore was just a small village of fishermen. But, thanks to the determination of its people, Singapore became what it is today. If people of this UT are ready to show similar commitment, I am ready to stand with you in your endeavour,” declared the PM.
Some of the projects launched by the PM included inauguration of a 450-bed hospital in Silvassa, two circuit houses in Diu, a toy train in Daman and inauguration of anganwadis (child care centres) and schools for the Union Territory.
From Silvassa, the PM travelled to Surat, where he launched a food security saturation campaign and addressed a gathering on the occasion.
In his address, Modi took a swipe at the Congress, saying those who have zero seats may not be able to count the zeros in Rs 32 lakh crore loans disbursed by the Centre under the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana targeted at micro enterprises.
Notably, the Congress failed to open its account in the February 5 assembly polls in Delhi, where the BJP emerged victorious. In the process, the Grand Old Party earned the dubious distinction of scoring a hat-trick of zeros in Delhi assembly polls.
The PM noted there was a time when the poor were not even allowed to enter a bank if he wanted to take a loan for his small business.
“Banks used to ask for a guarantee against loans. From where a poor person would arrange his guarantee? Thus, a poor mother’s son, Modi, decided to become the guarantor of every poor,” said the PM.
“We have disbursed Rs 32 lakh crore to poor citizens under MUDRA so far. Those who abuse us, those with zero seats may not be able to count the zeros in Rs 32 lakh crore,” said the BJP stalwart, taking potshots at the Congress.
He said the Surat Food Security Saturation Campaign will serve as an inspiration for other districts to achieve the goal of 100 per cent saturation of various government schemes.
“No one will be unhappy when no one is left behind (in journey of growth). We want to leave behind the system of appeasement and achieve satisfaction. In Surat, nearly 2.25 lakh new beneficiaries have been identified by the administration. Now, they will get free ration under the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana,” averred Modi.
The PM said he can very well understand the pain of the poor when it comes to securing food. Modi pointed out his government has streamlined the public distribution system (PDS) by weeding out five crore bogus ration cards.
Targeting past Congress governments, the PM asserted the people of India were tired of hearing the “garibi hatao (remove poverty)” slogan for nearly 50 years.
“People were tired of hearing garibi hatao slogan for nearly 50 years. This slogan was raised in every election campaign, but no one was able to remove poverty. My government succeeded in lifting 25 crore people out of poverty in the last 10 years,” he highlighted.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/why-pm-modi-asked-indians-to-reduce-oil-consumption-by-10-article-118796677

Two women—a 27-year-old female Israeli tourist and a 29-year-old female operator of a homestay—were allegedly gang-raped by three men on the banks of the popular Sanapur Lake, near Hampi in Karnataka, on Thursday night.

The incident occurred around 11:30 pm while the women were stargazing at the site. The accused also attacked three other travellers, who were with the women, pushing them into the canal before committing the crime.

One of them, Daniel, was from the United States. Another tourist from Odisha, who was with the two women during the crime, is missing after being thrown into the Tungabhadra left bank canal. A Maharashtra traveller, accompanying the women, was also injured.

The 29-year-old homestay owner reported in her complaint that she and four other guests went stargazing near the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal after dinner late that night, reported NDTV.

Three men on a motorcycle approached them and asked where they could get petrol. When the homestay owner informed them that there was no nearby petrol pump, the men demanded Rs 100.

When the travellers refused, an argument broke out. The accused then attacked the travellers and the women, according to the complaint. They fled on their motorcycle after the crime.

A case has been registered at the Gangavathi rural police station under sections 309(6) (theft or extortion), 311 (robbery or dacoity with the intent to cause death or grievous hurt), 64 (rape), 70(1) (gang-rape), 109 (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/two-women-including-israeli-tourist-gang-raped-their-male-friends-attacked-in-karnataka-9253679.html

An 82-year-old woman was allegedly denied a wheelchair at Delhi Airport by Air India due to which she fell and suffered serious injuries. Parul Kanwar, the granddaughter of the elderly woman, alleged in an X post that a wheelchair was pre-booked with the airline. The woman is the widow of a Lieutenant General.

Kanwar alleged that her grandmother had to walk for some distance inside the airport with the help of a family member and she collapsed near a counter of the airline. She reportedly suffered severe injuries. Kanwar further claimed that even first aid was not provided and she boarded the plane with injuries to her head and nose and bleeding lips.

The elderly woman is reportedly in the intensive care unit (ICU). In response to Kanwar’s post Air India said that “it was “concerned to note” the incident. The airline also wished for the speedy recovery of the woman.

“I post this because I have no choice, and because it infuriates me that there is such little value for human life and wellbeing. @airindia , you treated my grandmother so poorly, and with such little regard. You should be ashamed,” Kanwar said in her X post.

The incident took place on March 4 when the family was travelling back to Bengaluru from Delhi. She also highlighted that other airline, IndiGo had a free wheelchair but it did not share. Due to this, the elderly woman had to cross three parking lanes at T3 New Delhi.

“For our travel back from Delhi to Bangalore on 4th March 2025, we booked a wheelchair for my 82 year old grandmother (widow of a decorated Lt General, who has fought for India in several wars) well in advance – confirmed by the airline. Upon reaching the airport, she was not allocated one. We tried for almost an hour, requesting airline staff, airport help desk, alternate airline staff from @indigo (who incidentally had a free wheelchair but won’t share). With no other option, this old lady slowly made her way across 3 parking lanes at T3 New Delhi, on foot with assistance from a family member. She managed to enter the airport on foot, still no wheelchair or assistance was provided. Ultimately, her legs gave way, and she fell – she fell in front of the Air India premium economy counter,” Kanwar added.

The woman’s granddaughter also alleged that when her grandmother fell not a single person came forward for help. ” Not one person stepped in to help. We requested someone to help get first aid – no help. Expectation from Air India staff was for the family member to go to the MI room and get medical aid. Finally, the wheelchair arrived, and she was promptly boarded without a proper checkup with a bleeding lip and injury to her head and nose. On flight crew did help with ice packs and called ahead to Bangalore airport for medical aid, where she was seen by a doctor and given 2 stitches.,” she stated.

“Today, I sit here typing this from the ICU. She has been here 2 days under observation for potential brain bleeds. My mother and father watch as doctors pump her with medication, and her left side loses strength. From where we stand, it’s a long road ahead of pain and recovery which she did not deserve,” Kanwar highlighted.

A complaint has been lodged with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). “We have lodged complaints at DGCA, and with Air India and await action. Attaching pictures of my grandmother, at her grandson’s wedding on 3rd March, followed by her condition on 4th and 5th March. Please share for broader reach,” Kanwar posted.

Air India’s response:

Replying to Kanwar’s post, Air India said, “Dear Ms. Kanwar, we are concerned to note this and wish Ms. Pasricha a speedy recovery. We’d like to connect with you over a call in this regard and request you share your contact number and a convenient time via DM.”

Responding to Air India’s reply, Kanwar said that she was not interested in excuses and also demanded a thorough investigation into the matter.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/82-year-old-woman-falls-at-delhi-airport-after-air-india-allegedly-denies-pre-booked-wheel-chair-hospitalised-airline-responds

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to ‘Nari Shakti’ on International Women’s Day on Saturday and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to women’s empowerment through various schemes and programmes.

He also reiterated that women achievers from various fields would be taking over his social media accounts for the day.

PM Modi’s Tweet

“We bow to our Nari Shakti on #WomensDay! Our government has always worked for empowering women, reflecting in our schemes and programmes. Today, as promised, my social media properties will be taken over by women who are making a mark in diverse fields,” Modi said in a post on X.

This is not the first time that women achievers will be taking over the PM’s social media accounts.

A wildfire has engulfed About 50 hectares of area of Sajjangarh Sanctuary of Udaipur. 14 fire tenders have been working to control the fire as it continues to rage for the fourth day on Friday.

The fire had erupted on March 4 and was concentrated in Bhairu Bagh and its surrounding areas near the Sanctuary but now, the flames have reached near the hills of Sajjangarh Monsoon Palace and animal cages in the sanctuary, No casualty had been reported until Friday afternoon.

Looking at the fire, the entry of tourists has been stopped in Monsoon Palace, situated on a hill near the Sanctuary and Biological Park, while more than 10 families adjacent to this Sanctuary were evacuated.

The officials said that the sanctuary houses several wild animals, including leopards and foxes, however no casualties have been reported so far. Foresters have been stationed around the park for 24-hour monitoring, Additional labourers have been deployed to ensure the safety of the animals.

As per official, the fire is flaring up due to wind and dry grass. Fire Officer Shivram Meena said that due to change in wind direction, this fire is moving upwards. More than 150 employees are deployed on the spot. This includes employees of forest, fire brigade and police department.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/rajasthan-massive-wildfire-rages-in-udaipurs-sajjangarh-sanctuary-for-fourth-day-no-casualties-reported

A software developer, with a cumulative work experience of nine years in the US, said in a Reddit post that he is unable to find a job in India. He added that he returned to the country to look after his aging parents.

The techie, who was living in the US for the past 12 years, also mentioned that he has a degree from University of Michigan and has experience in full-stack development too.

“Returning to India and can’t get a single interview call!” he asserted.

Talking about his work experience, he added,“I have since worked at 2 universities as a Full Stack S/W Developer in US. (9 years – still working). My primary skillset is Python, Django (along with Django REST), JavaScript, Vue.js, Postgres. I have built web applications, data pipelines, and data visualizations.”

“I am coming back to India in May as I need to support my aging parents (mother has developed a disability and father is 78). I have applied to several jobs in India in the last 6 months but I have gotten just 1 interview call (recruiter screening – hiring manager reject).I am looking for some career advice. I HAVE TO COME BACK as I can’t leave my parents by themselves and there is still a 15+ year wait till I get my green card,” the software developer said.

Talking about the problems he faced, he further explained, “I have never worked with cloud computing or docker or kubernetes or message queues and I see these technologies listed in almost every job posting. Most devs in India already have this skill set (I am assuming). I have realized that not knowing key technologies that a senior developer like me should already know puts me at a significant disadvantage.”

Seeking advice over social media, the techie wrote, “Should I just upgrade my skillset first in the next 6 months and then try for jobs? Any advice/guidance is appreciated.”

Several other users replied to his post, wherein one user said, “Its cut throat competition in India with horrible wlb (work-life balance) unless you have contacts who can refer you.”

Another user replied, “Has your entire career been spent working at Universities? Such a work history would be considered a bit unusual in India, so that could be a factor.”

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/cant-get-a-single-interview-call-says-techie-with-9-years-of-work-experience-in-us-after-returning-to-india-3435006

US President Donald Trump had some words of appreciation for NASA’s Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams’ hair as he told a pair of stranded astronauts aboard the International Space Station that “we’re coming up to get you.”

Trump, 78, mused Thursday about the possibility of personally launching a rescue team into orbit to help bring astronauts Butch Wilmore and Williams back to Earth — and blasted former President Joe Biden for their eight-day mission stretching to nine months and counting.

“Biden left them up there,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

“We have two astronauts that are stuck in space. I have asked Elon (Musk), I said, ‘Do me a favour. Can you get them out?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ He is preparing to go up, I think in two weeks.” He added that Musk is “right now preparing a ship to go up” and get them.

“And I see the woman with the wild hair, good, solid head of hair she’s got. There’s no kidding, there’s no games with her hair,” Trump said during remarks in the Oval Office Thursday while talking about Williams.

Trump was responding to a question about Williams and Wilmore, who have been stranded on the International Space Station for the past nine months.

When asked what his message is for the two astronauts, Trump said “We love you, and we’re coming up to get you. And you shouldn’t have been up there so long.” Describing Biden as the “most incompetent president in our history”, Trump said he “allowed that to happen to you, but this president won’t let it happen.

“We’re going to get them out. We’re coming up to get you,” Trump said, lifting his head and looking up, as if sending the message to the astronauts.

“They’ve been left up there. I hope they like each other, but they’ve been… maybe they’ll love each other, I don’t know, but they’ve been left up there. Think of it. There’s a danger up there too. It can have some failures up there. That would be very bad. You got to get them out,” Trump said.

“So I’ve authorised Elon. A week ago, I said, we have two people up there that Biden and Kamala (Harris) left up there, and he knows it very well. I said, ‘Are you equipped to get them?’ He said, ‘Yeah.’ He’s got a starship, and they’re preparing it right now, and so Elon is going to go up and get them.

“Should I go on that journey just to be on the ship,” Trump said amid laughter from the reporters present in the Oval Office.

Musk said in a post on X that “the astronauts were only supposed to be up there for 8 days and now have been there for 8 months.

“SpaceX could have sent up another Dragon and brought them home 6 months ago, but the Biden White House (not NASA) refused to allow it. President Trump asked to bring them back as soon as possible and we are doing so,” he said.

Williams, 59, and Wilmore went on what was meant to be an eight-day mission to the ISS aboard Boeing’s Starliner in June 2024. However, technical issues including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions meant that the Starliner was unsafe for their return.

In January this year, Williams broke the record for total spacewalking time by a woman by logging 62 hours and 6 minutes of spacewalk when she and Wilmore had conducted a spacewalk that month.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/donald-trump-on-stranded-astronaut-sunita-williams-solid-head-of-hair-shes-got-7867049

Pintu Mahra, a boatman from the Arail area, whom Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath commended for earning ₹30 crore in 45 days, expanded his fleet from 60 to 130 boats ahead of the 2025 Mahakumbh by selling family jewellery and mortgaging land, the ANI reported.

Mahra’s family, traditionally in the boating business, initially hesitated due to the financial risk, the agency said. However, the surge of devotees at the event led to high demand for boat services, securing their financial stability.

‘Life was tough. We had to borrow money and mortgage gold to get the boats. My father used to earn, then he passed away. It took a lot of effort to build this, it took six months to get the boats ready,” Mahra told ANI.

The story gained national attention after Uttar Pradesh CM Adityanath cited Mahra’s journey as an example of the economic opportunities created by the Mahakumbh. Speaking in the Assembly, the CM highlighted how the festival injected an estimated ₹3.5 lakh crore into the state’s economy, benefitting local businesses, hoteliers, and transport operators.

“A boatman’s family that owned 130 boats earned ₹30 crore in just 45 days,” Yogi Adityanath said. “This is the power of faith and hard work. The Mahakumbh has changed lives.”

Source : https://indianexpress.com/article/india/boatman-mahakumbh-family-jewellery-expand-fleet-9872057/

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the tariffs being planned by US will have an impact on India, but Piyush Goyal is currently holding discussions with the Trump administration on the matter, reports news agency ANI. Speaking at a post-budget event in Vishakapatnam, Sitharaman said India is engaging with the US to protect its exports.

She said that India will take a call only after the outcome of the ongoing negotiations is clear.

“Tariff is something the US President has been speaking about. The Commerce Minister (Piyush Goyal) has already gone to the US (to) engage with US officials, including the United States Trade Representative (USTR),” Sitharaman said at a post-budget interaction at Visakhapatnam.

“We will have to see how the Commerce Ministry handles negotiations with the US to ensure that India’s interests are well-represented,” she added.

Trump’s reciprocal tariffs

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday reiterated that reciprocal tariffs would come into effect from April 2 against all countries that charge high taxes from the country. But Indian officials held out hope for a resolution that could help India escape the tariffs, and eventually culminate in a trade deal by this fall.

Trump said that the strategy aims to address unfair trade practices, including non-monetary barriers, subsidies, and VAT systems. The approach is designed to encourage foreign nations to either lower or eliminate tariffs on US products or establish manufacturing operations in the US, ultimately contributing to its economic growth.

But his tariffs on Canada and Mexico roiled financial markets, lowered consumer confidence, and enveloped many businesses in an uncertain atmosphere that could delay hiring and investment. The tariffs came into effect on Tuesday, but Trump rolled some of them back as soon as the markets tanked.

The halt – which will last until April 2 – offers relief to automakers.

Trump has referred to tariffs as a source of US government revenue and a way to remedy trade imbalances.

The US trade deficit surged to a new record in January, ballooning 34 percent to $131.4 billion as imports rose.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/trump-tariffs-will-impact-india-working-to-protect-its-exports-amid-us-tariffs-threat-nirmala-sitharaman-101741308048564.html