NASA Crew-9 astronauts Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore and Nick Hague spoke to the press today about the future of NASA's human space flight programme, after their recent return from the International Space Station (ISS).
Mr Wilmore said they will carefully study and rectify all the issues they have faced before going to space in another Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
The language battle from Tamil Nadu has found resonance in Maharashtra, with Raj Thackeray, the chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, saying the state ought to learn from the southern states about opposing the three-language structure of the National Education Policy and the alleged imposition of Hindi.
"Have you seen the southern states? Have you seen Tamil Nadu? See how they have opposed Hindi language,' said Mr Thackeray., whose party had long stood for Maratha pride and advocated the use of the language across the state.
"What is going on in Maharashtra? We are the ones who do not react... Every state's language should be respected," he said, urging his party workers to ensure that Marathi is spoken in Mumbai.
Recently, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin had claimed that 25 Indian languages, including Marathi, had suffered because several states adopted Hindi.
His son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, had even given a list of languages that are on the verge of dying out for lack of use.
The DMK insists that its opposition to the three-language policy is based on this. The National Education Policy, the party has alleged, is meant to enforce a cultural homogenization that will rob India of its diversity and the southern states of their distinct cultural identity.
The state has argued that its current two-language formula - Tamil and English -- serves it well and underscored that it is the second-largest contributor to the country's economy.
The BJP has also argued the National Education Policy has a bouquet of languages other than Hindi for the third option and insisted that it does not force a student to study Hindi. The party has also maintained that the third language will help people travelling to other states.
Madhya Pradesh, another BJP-ruled state, meanwhile plans to offer additional optional languages including Bengali, Marathi, Telegu, Tamil Gujarati and Punjabi in colleges.
While it is an ambitious plan, there is no word on faculty recruitment or on minimum enrolment required to roll this out.
Inder Singh Parmar, the Higher Education Minister of Madhya Pradesh, said this will bring about "a hub of linguistic diversity".
The DMK has kept up the pressure on the Central government, demanding the release of funds withheld for not accepting the National Education Policy.
The education system in Tamil Nadu is number one in India. But they want to kill Macaulay model of education and go back to the Vedic system of education, said DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan.
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore thanked US President Donald Trump and SpaceX owner Elon Musk for their help in bringing them back from the International Space Station (ISS), where they stayed on for nine months after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft malfunctioned, turning a mission that was supposed to be short into a long one.
The two astronauts in an interview to Fox News said space flight is hard, and using new technology to try to further and better themselves is harder.
To a question on whether Boeing "screwed this up", Mr Wilmore said he does not want to point fingers at anyone.
"... In certain respects, we were stuck. In certain respects, maybe we were stranded. But based on how they were couching this, that we were left and forgotten and all that, we were nowhere near any of that at all. So stuck, okay, we didn't get to come home the way we planned. So in one definition, we're stuck. But in the big scheme of things, we weren't stuck. We planned and trained," Mr Wilmore said.
Ms Williams said they prepped as if they were going to stay long while planning for the short mission.
"Our focus was on the mission, the Starliner portion of the mission, first flights, test flight. And that was our focus, but we trained for everything. Maintenance on station, science on station, spacewalks on station, robotics, arm work on station. We trained for it all. And we were prepared to do anything that we were asked of for a long duration," the Indian-origin astronaut said.
"Again, planning for one thing, preparing for other. And that's not unique to us. This is what a human space flight programme does. This is what each individual, the army that supports human space flight... that is passionate about human space flight... do. We plan for as many contingencies as we can dream up because this is a hard business. It's tough," Ms Williams said.
Mr Wilmore indicated it would be absolutely wrong to pin blame on anyone for what happened with their mission.
"... There are many questions that as the commander of CFT (crew flight test), I didn't ask. So I'm culpable. I'll admit that to the nation. There's things that I did not ask that I should have asked. I didn't know at the time I needed to ask them. But in hindsight, the signal, some of the signals were there. Is Boeing to blame? Are they culpable? Sure.
"Is NASA to blame? Are they culpable? Sure. Everybody has a piece in this because it did not come off. There were some shortcomings in tests, shortcomings in preparation that we did not foresee. So yeah, are there, could you point fingers? I don't want to point fingers. I hope nobody wants to point fingers. We don't want to look back and say, shame, shame, shame.
"We want to look forward and say, let's rectify what we've learned and let's make the future even more productive and better. That's the way that I look at it. I think the way the nation should look at it," Mr Wilmore said.
The two NASA Crew-9 astronauts returned to Earth on SpaceX's Dragon capsule on March 18.
President Trump alleged his predecessor Joe Biden abandoned the astronauts in space. On March 7, he announced he gave permission to Mr Musk to bring back the two American astronauts.
MS Dhoni was dismissed on the first ball of the final over as Chennai Super Kings slumped to a 6-run loss against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025 on Sunday. Dhoni looked in good touch as he scored 16 off 11 balls with the help of one four and one six. With 20 runs needed off the final over, all eyes were on Dhoni but the veteran India wicket-keeper batter was caught in the deep as the fans were left disappointed. It was a low wide full toss from Sandeep Sharma and Dhoni went for the big one but the ball went straight to Shimron Hetmyer at deep mid-wicket who made no mistake.
Wanindu Hasaranga's brilliance derailed Chennai Super Kings' chase as Rajasthan Royals sealed a six-run win in an IPL match on Sunday.
Shimron Hethmayr today you silenced the realm of MS Dhoni.#cskvsRR #msdhoni #CSKvsRR pic.twitter.com/hlwuaFuKKm
— Immanuel Rudhrakshan (@immanrudhra9066) March 30, 2025
Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad led CSK's fightback with a 44-ball 63 (7x4, 1x6), but Hasaranga's (4/35) relentless strikes kept the chase in check, restricting them to 176/6. This is CSK's second successive defeat.
Ravindra Jadeja (32 not out from 22 balls) and MS Dhoni (16; 11b), who came in at No 7, provided late fireworks, but the target proved beyond reach.
Dhoni gave CSK hope with a six and a four in the 19th over, where Tushar Deshpande leaked 19 runs, with Jadeja finishing it off with a six.
However, with 20 needed off the final over, Sandeep Sharma held his nerves to concede just 13 and dismissed Dhoni, courtesy of a stunning catch by Shimron Hetmyer, sealing RR's win.
Earlier, Nitish Rana's explosive 81 off 36 balls, laced with 10 fours and five sixes, had set RR on course for a 200-plus total.
However, CSK pulled things back in the final overs, with Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, and Khaleel Ahmed taking two wickets each, limiting RR to 182/9.
(With PTI inputs)
An armed resistance movement against Myanmar's military-run government criticised the junta on Sunday for conducting airstrikes on villages even as the country reels from an earthquake that has killed around 1,700 people.
The Karen National Union, one of Myanmar's oldest ethnic armies, said in a statement that the junta "continues to carry out airstrikes targeting civilian areas, even as the population suffers tremendously from the earthquake".
The group said that under normal circumstances, the military would be prioritising relief efforts, but instead is focused on "deploying forces to attack its people".
A spokesman for the junta did not reply to queries from Reuters about the criticism.
Myanmar has been locked in civil war with multiple armed opposition groups since a 2021 coup, when the military seized power from the elected government of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Shortly after Friday's devastating earthquake, military jets launched airstrikes and drone attacks in Karen state, near the KNU headquarters, according to the Free Burma Rangers, a relief organisation.
The epicentre of the 7.7-magnitude quake was in an area held by junta forces, but the devastation is widespread and also affected some territory held by armed resistance movements.
On Sunday, the opposition National Unity Government, which includes remnants of the government ousted in 2021, said anti-junta militias under its command would pause all offensive military action for two weeks.
Richard Horsey, the senior Myanmar adviser at Crisis Group, said some anti-junta forces have halted their offensives but fighting continues elsewhere.
"The regime also continues to launch airstrikes, including in affected areas. That needs to stop," he said.
He added that the regime was not providing much visible support in quake-hit areas.
"Local fire brigades, ambulance crews, and community organisations have mobilised, but the military - who would normally be mobilised to support in such a crisis - are nowhere to be seen," Horsey said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
A 21-year-old student preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions has died by suicide near Chennai.
Police officials said the student, Devadharshini, was attending coaching classes and preparing for NEET - which is scheduled to be held on May 4 - and was stressed because she had failed to crack the exam in her last four attempts.
Her father, Selvaraj, runs a bakery in Kilambakkam, about 40 km from Chennai. The family had moved there from the Tamil Nadu capital because their earlier bakery in the city had not done well.
Devadharshini had told her parents that she was stressed about the exam and they had reassured her, saying she had no reason to worry, an official said. The 21-year-old spent most of Friday at her father's bakery and then told him she was going home and would return. Her mother found her hanging at home some time later.
Opposition Attack
At least 20 NEET aspirants have died by suicide in Tamil Nadu in the past eight years. The MK Stalin-led DMK government and the AIADMK government in the past have opposed the Central exam and want admissions to be done based on Class 12 marks. The parties have argued that arguing that NEET favours students from affluent families and ensures an uneven playing field.
In 2021, the Tamil Nadu Assembly had passed a bill seeking exemption from NEET.
After Devadharshini's suicide, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami hit out at Mr Stalin and his party, accusing them of deceiving students by promising that NEET would not be held in Tamil Nadu if the DMK came to power.
"The DMK lied and deceived students by saying there would be no NEET in Tamil Nadu if it came to power. Are the continuing deaths because of NEET not a cause for concern for the DMK?" Mr Palaniswami wrote in Tamil on X.
"How are you going to wipe away the bloodstains that keep accumulating on your hands from the big lie you told for electoral gains," he asked.
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The Centre has approved Odisha cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Sujata R Karthikeyan's request to be relieved from service.
Known for her influence in policy and interventions in higher education and sports during the erstwhile BJD government in Odisha, Ms Karthikeyan opted for voluntary retirement (VRS) two weeks ago. She is married to former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik's associate VK Pandian.
A graduate in Political Science from Lady Shri Ram College and Delhi University topper, Ms Karthikeyan is a 2000-batch IAS officer. She also has a Masters degree in International Politics from the Jawaharlal Nehru University. She is also a gold medallist in the IAS Academy.
Ms Karthikeyan served as a collector in Maoist-affected Sundargarh district. She is known to have started the cycle scheme for highschool students through sponsorships offered through a bank, under the motto, "Mobility is Empowerment".
This initiative that improved the enrolment of girls in schools was taken up by the state government for all schools across Odisha. She is known to have used sports such as football to wean away young people from Maoist influence in violence-prone districts of the state, and later setting up hostels for girls and boys interested in pursuing hockey.
In 2006, she introduced eggs in the midday meals scheme in all government schools of Sundergarh. Inaugurated by Mr Patnaik, this too was later scaled up across the state.
Ms Karthikeyan was the first woman collector of Cuttack district. She then joined as Director of Social Welfare in the state government. She steered the flagship initiative of Mr Patnaik's 'Mission Shakti' for years, connecting 70 lakh women.
Centred around credit linkages to women-run self-help groups (SHGs), this scheme is believed to have pushed women's enterprises across the state. The thrust of Mission Shakti was identity and empowerment.
Women SHG members were routinely taken on exposure visits to Dubai and Singapore. To encourage marketing of SHG products, 'Mission Shakti' bazaars were set up across Odisha. An iconic boutique store was also set up in Bhubaneswar. This scheme came under the spotlight when Microsoft founder Bill Gates visited one of the stores and appreciated the marketing of agricultural products to an urban consumer base.
Ms Karthikeyan also served as Culture Secretary, a post she held for a brief period of five months. It was during her time in office that the state hosted the first world Odia language conference in Bhubaneswar. It was attended by language enthusiasts from across the world, Odia diaspora and thousands of college students and was a big success.
During the election last year, Ms Karthikeyan was transferred to a less influential post following the direction of the Election Commission (EC). The transfer was initiated after the BJP filed a complaint accusing her of being a "BJD agent". The BJP came to power in the state, defeating the BJD that had governed the state for two decades.
Following this, Mr Pandian quit active politics. Ms Karthikeyan first took child care leave for six months, and rejoined duty at the end of last year after the state government run by the BJP declined her application to extend her leave by six more months.
She was serving as the special secretary in the state finance department at the time of her retirement.
Bollywood actor Amrita Arora Ladak on Saturday deposed as a witness before a court here in the case concerning Saif Ali Khan, who was accused of attacking an NRI businessman and his father-in-law at a five-star hotel in 2012.
The actor was part of the group that had gone for dinner with Khan at the hotel when the alleged incident took place on February 22, 2012.
She told the court that the hotel had allotted a separate enclosure to them, and they were dining there and having a good time.
In the meantime, the complainant came there and began shouting and abusing them, she said.
"We saw someone barging into our enclosure and, in a very loud, aggressive voice, told us to shut up and keep quiet. We all got shocked at what was happening," she said, adding that actor Khan immediately stood up and apologised.
The man then left and they continued with their dinner, she said.
After a while, when Khan excused himself to go to the washroom, they heard loud voices, one of them being that of the Bollywood actor, Ladak told the court.
Moments later, they saw the man barging into their enclosure and hitting Khan, Ladak deposed.
Everyone then intervened and separated the two. That's when the man started abusing them and threatening them with "dire consequences", she added.
Khan was with Kareena Kapoor, her sister Karishma, Malaika Arora Khan, Amrita Arora Ladak and a few male friends at the hotel when the brawl broke out with NRI businessman Iqbal Sharma.
According to police, when Sharma protested the raucous chatter of the actor and his friends, Saif allegedly threatened him and subsequently punched Sharma in the nose, fracturing it.
The NRI businessman also accused Saif and his friends of hitting his father-in-law Raman Patel.
However, Saif had maintained that Sharma made provocative statements or rather used abusive language against women with him and this led to the ruckus.
Saif and his two friends - Shakeel Ladak and Bilal Amrohi - have been charge-sheeted under section 325 (assault) of the Indian Penal Code.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
A day after a woman's decomposed body was found in a box bed in a flat in Delhi's Shahdara, police said they have cracked the case with the arrest of the house's owner and one of his accomplices.
Officials said they got a call on Friday informing them about a foul smell emanating from a flat in Satyam Enclave in Vivek Vihar. When a police team reached the spot, they found the house locked and blood marks near the back door. After opening the door, the decomposed body of a 35-year-old woman was found in a bag inside the storage area of a bed.
A team formed to investigate the murder began looking for the owner of the house, 65-year-old Vivekanand Mishra. He was caught near Surajmal Park, Anand Vihar.
Officials said Mishra confessed to murdering the woman, Anju aka Anjali, who was from Ludhiana, and revealed the names of his two accomplices, Abhay Kumar Jha alias Sonu and Ashish Kumar.
After Mishra was arrested, Sonu, who had come to Delhi to dispose of the body and was staying in a hotel in Paharganj, tried to flee to Bihar. The police team found out he was travelling on the Magadh Express and arrested him at the Aligarh station with the help of the Government Railway Police (GRP).
Murder Plan
Interrogation and call details revealed that the plan to kill Anjali was hatched by Mishra and Sonu. On March 21, Sonu and the other accomplice, Ashish, brought Anjali from Ludhiana to Delhi, where she was murdered.
Officials said Mishra searched online for methods of disposing of a body using chemicals. He had also looked for open manholes and drains of the Delhi Jal Board, indicating that the killers had already planned to destroy the evidence after the murder.
The police are now looking for the third accomplice, Ashish, and are trying to figure out the motive for the murder.
MS Dhoni came out to bat at No. 9 for Chennai Super Kings but it was a case of too little too late as his side slumped to a 50-run loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday. Chasing 197, CSK kept losing wickets at regular intervals and Shivam Dube was dismissed in the 13th over, the expectation was that Dhoni will come out to bat. However, it was R Ashwin who joined Ravindra Jadeja out in the middle and by the time Dhoni came out in the 16th over, the match was almost out of CSK's hands. The ex-India captain remained unbeaten on 30 off 16 balls but it made no difference to his team's fortunes. The fans were not happy with Dhoni coming out to bat so late and they took to social media to express their views.
Dhoni coming at no 9 is lowest point in his career. He should retire gracefully than this embarrassment. #IPL2025 #RCBvCSK
— kirat.13_ (@kirat8513) March 28, 2025
Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Chennai Super Kings by 50 runs in their Indian Premier League match on Friday.
What's the point of #Dhoni batting at No. 9 in a 197-run chase when CSK is struggling at 100? CSK's tactics today showed they had given up.
— Amit Kumar (@AmitMaithil7) March 28, 2025
Dhoni at No. 9—just for a couple of sixes and PR? A few sixes for the fans won't change the bigger picture. Maybe it's time to ask—has… pic.twitter.com/TLekj4Qy1B
Chasing a target of 197, CSK ended up at 146 for 8 in 20 overs, their first defeat to RCB at Chepauk since 2008.
Opener Rachin Ravindra top-scored for CSK with 41 while the next best batter was former captain MS Dhoni who remained not out on 30 off 16 balls.
Josh Hazlewood (3/21), Yash Dayal (2/18) and Liam Livingstone (2/28) were the main wicket takers for RCB.
Earlier, RCB posted 196 for 7 after being put in to bat at the Chepauk.
Captain Rajat Patidar top-scored with 51 off 32 deliveries while openers Phil Salt (32 off 16 balls), Virat Kohli (31 off 30 balls) and Tim David (22 not out off 8 balls) were the other notable contributors.
For CSK, Noor Ahmad (3/36) was the pick of the bowlers while Matheesha Pathirana (2/36), veteran Ravichandran Ashwin (1/22) and pacer Khaleel Ahmed (1/28) chipped in with wickets.
(With PTI inputs)
The Arctic is heating up, not just in terms of Climate Change, but also in terms of geopolitics. With US President Donald Trump pressing to annex Greenland and Canada, Russia isn't to be left behind. President Putin today visited Murmansk - the largest city north of the Arctic circle where he pledged to "strengthen Russia's global leadership in the Arctic".
The Russian President however, did not make any territorial claims, nor spoke of expansionism. What came as a surprise though, was President Putin's no-objection to President Trump's plan to annex Greenland and make it a US territory.
"Geopolitical competition in the Arctic region is intensifying," President Putin said, giving Donald Trump's plan to take over Greenland as a primary example of it.
Speaking about the significant shift in US foreign policy, President Putin said, "America's plans in relation to Greenland are serious. These plans have deep historical roots. And it is clear that the US will continue to systematically pursue its geo-strategic, military, political, and economic interests in the Arctic region."
But instead of criticizing or condemning Trump's expansionist agenda, Putin left Greenland to its fate. "As for Greenland this is a matter for two specific countries (US and Denmark). It has nothing to do with us," President Putin said at Russia's Arctic Forum in Murmansk.
Putin's statement, distancing Moscow from the Greenland matter entirely, has raised eyebrows globally. Geopolitical and military experts read this as Moscow's go-ahead to Washington to pursue its plans. The timing of Putin's statement is also interesting as the Kremlin and the White House are putting efforts to foster closer ties.
Since returning to office in January this year, Donald Trump too, has completely changed Washington's outlook and stance towards Moscow, leaving Europe, especially Ukraine, in the lurch. Anxious and worried, leaders across Europe are frequently huddling up in France, frantically seeking an alternative to Washington.
Putin's stand on US' intent to 'takeover' of Greenland may have repercussions for Ukraine too, where Russia has gained control of vast swathes of Ukrainian territory, which Moscow has no plans to returning.
Far from criticizing each other, which was the norm till January this year, Russia and the US are now increasingly soft on each other, sometimes even agreeing on certain matters - like President Zelensky's behaviour, which Trump and his deputy JD Vance have severely criticized since the very-public showdown at the White House. Russian leaders echoing the US leadership's sentiments.
With President Putin's visit to the Arctic today, Moscow is promoting the idea that Russia and the US can cooperate in the region, which is rich in mineral and natural resources, as well as rare earth materials.
President Putin's special envoy for foreign investment and economic cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, said today that "We are open to considering different investment opportunities that we can do jointly with the US, in certain sectors approved by the Russian government."
"We are open for investment cooperation in the Arctic. That could be in logistics, or other areas beneficial to Russia and to the US," he said, adding that "before such deals can be done the war in Ukraine needs to end."
"We (Russia and the US) now have a very good dialogue, and I think it is very important that the US is trying to understand Russia's position," Mr Dmitriev said in an interview to the BBC.
Meanwhile, Greenland has made it clear that it is "not for sale". Denmark too has rejected Washington's proposal and subsequent pressure to buyout Greenland, an autonomous territory under the Kingdom of Denmark.
Massive Protests - reportedly Greenland's largest in history - broke out across the Arctic island rejecting America's pressure tactics as anti-American sentiment has gripped the Danish territory.
"Until recently, we could trust the Americans, who were our allies and friends, and with whom we enjoyed working very closely, but that time is over," Greenland's prime minister Mute Egede said.
A man married two women at the same time in Telangana's Komaram Bheem Asifabad district recently.
Suryadev, a resident of Gumnoor village in Lingapur mandal, said he was in love with Lal Devi and Jhalkari Devi and decided to marry them in a single ceremony.
The groom even printed the names of both the brides on a single wedding invitation card and organised a grand celebration.
A video of the wedding shows the two women holding the man's hand, as the trio conduct the rituals in the presence of families, relatives and villagers. The sound of 'dhol' can be heard in the background.
Sources said after Suryadev fell in love with Lal Devi and Jhalkari Devi, the trio decided to live together. The village elders were initially reluctant but eventually came around and helped them to get married.
It is illegal for Hindus to practice polygamy in India.
It is not the first time that such an incident has taken place. In 2021, another man in Telangana's Adilabad district married two women in one 'mandap'. The ceremony, in Utnoor Mandal, took place with the consent of all three families, reports said.
Likewise in 2022, a man married both his girlfriends in Jharkhand's Lohardaga.
Bihar Board 10th Result 2025: The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) will announce the results of the matric annual Examination 2025 on March 29 at 12 noon. The results will be declared by Education Minister Sunil Kumar at the BSEB headquarters in Patna.
Where to Check Bihar Board 10th Result 2025
Students can access their results online through the official websites:
matricresult2025.com
matricbiharboard.com
NDTV has launched a dedicated result page for students who appeared for the Bihar board exams this year.
How To Check Bihar Board Exam Results on NDTV's Results Page?
Steps to check the results:
Candidates are advised to keep their roll number and roll code ready to check their results as soon as they are published.
The Class 10 board exams were conducted between February 17 and February 25, 2025. This year, approximately 15.68 lakh students appeared for the examination.
Like previous years, the BSEB is expected to announce rewards for the top-performing students. Last year, the top ranker received Rs 1 lakh and a laptop, while the second and third rankers were awarded Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000, respectively, along with laptops.
To pass the Class 10th examination, students must secure at least 33% marks in each subject.
Students are advised to keep checking the BSEB's official website for the latest updates.
Shardul Thakur continued his dream comeback with a four-wicket haul to help Lucknow Super Giants restrict a power-packed Sunrisers Hyderabad to 190 for nine in an IPL match on Thursday. Opting to bowl, Shardul (4/34) gave LSG a fiery start, removing Abishek Sharma and last match centurion Ishan Kishan in consecutive balls in the third over. Shardul sent packing Sharma with a short delivery before getting Ishan Kishan caught behind off an innocuous delivery down the leg side. Travis Head (47 off 28), however, looked in ominous form as he took the attack to the opposition and used his brute power to deal in boundaries and sixes.
Shardul Thakur, after the innings ended, opened up on not getting picked up by any team in the IPL 2025 mega auction. Thakur only joined LSG after Mohsin Khan was ruled out due to injury.
"I feel all these things happen in cricket. It was a bad day for me in the auction (I didn't get picked by any franchise.) LSG was the one who approached me first due to the injuries to their bowlers, so it was always on the cards. I had to accept it with Zaheer Khan around. You have to go through such things (ups and downs) in cricket. Winning in the game is important for me. I don't look at the wickets or runs column. I want to create an impact and a match winning performance. The batters are coming hard at the bowlers, why not the bowlers go hard at them, that was our plan against SRH. They have been scoring heavily on flat pitches. It fell in our pockets initially (earlier today).
Head was particularly brutal against Avesh, who sprayed the ball on both sides, with the Australian hitting him for two sixes and one four to pick up 18 runs in the fourth over.
Head, however, was lucky as he got two reprieves.
Head skied Ravi Bishnoi's first ball down the ground, and Pooran stationed at long-on had all the time in the world to get under the ball and take a simple catch but the West Indian put it down.
The missed chance proved costly as Head slammed Bishnoi over covers for a maximum.
Bishnoi had another chance to claim the wicket of Head in the fifth ball of the sixth over but he failed to latch on to a difficult return catch.
But Head's luck finally ran out when fast bowler Prince Yadav disturbed his timbers to pick up his first IPL wicket.
Henrich Klaasen (26 off 17) was looking dangerous but got out in a bizarre fashion, run out by Yadav off his own bowling as a straight drive from Nitish Reddy ricocheted on to the sumps from the bowlers follow through.
Young Aniket Verma played a 13-ball 36-run cameo that included five sixes but fell to leg-spinner Disvesh Rathi, caught by David Miller.
SRH skipper Pat Cummins (18 off 4) hit three sixes of his first three balls before departing.
Three police personnel have been killed in action during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, sources said on Thursday. Two of the terrorists have also been shot dead while three to four terrorists are still holed up.
Five security personnel have also been injured and are undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Teams from the Army, the National Security Guard, the Border Security Force, Police, the Special Operations Group, and the Central Reserve Police Force had been carrying out searches in the area for the past four days. There was an exchange of fire on Sunday and a local resident had informed the police on Tuesday that two men in army uniform had asked her for water while they were having food in the area.
"Contact has been re-established with militants in the forest area of Juthana under police station Rajbagh in Kathua," an official told news agency IANS, adding that there had been no exchange of fire since Sunday.
The operation was supported by helicopters, drones, bulletproof vehicles, and sniffer dogs and security agencies had questioned several people and picked up three suspects. On Tuesday, the forces had recovered two grenades among other material.
The tracksuits found among a large cache of ammunition and other materials in the Sanyal forests were identical to those worn by the four Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) terrorists killed in the Assar forests and Doda in June and August last year, the IANS report said.
Sunday's Gunfight
The operation, led by Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, was launched on Sunday evening in the Hiranagar sector. The Special Operations Group of the J&K Police had received intelligence about terrorists hiding inside a ''dhok'' (enclosure) in a nursery in Sanyal village, roughly 5 km from the International Border with Pakistan, officials said.
The hiding terrorists opened fire and a gunfight followed, lasting over half an hour.
The terrorists are believed to have inflitrated into India on Saturday.
British-American novelist Salman Rushdie will publish his first major work of fiction since the brutal stabbing that blinded him in one eye, his publisher said on Thursday.
"The Eleventh Hour" is a collection of short stories examining themes and places of interest to Rushdie,who narrowly escaped death during the 2022 attack. It will be released on November 4, 2025.
The would-be assassin, Hadi Matar, was convicted of attempted murder at a trial in upstate New York at which Rushdie gave vivid testimony about the incident.
"The three novellas in this volume, all written in the last twelve months, explore themes and places that have been much on my mind -- mortality, Bombay, farewells, England (especially Cambridge), anger, peace, America," he said in a statement released by Penguin publishing.
"I'm happy that the stories, very different from one another in setting, story and technique, nevertheless manage to be in conversation with one another, and with the two stories that serve as prologue and epilogue to this threesome."
During the trial of Rushdie's attacker, Matar's legal team sought to prevent witnesses from characterizing Rushdie as a victim of persecution following Iran's 1989 fatwa calling for his murder over supposed blasphemy in "The Satanic Verses."
Rushdie told jurors of Matar "stabbing and slashing" him during an event at an upscale cultural center in rural New York.
Matar was found guilty of stabbing Rushdie about 10 times with a six-inch blade that was shown to witnesses and the court.
At the trial, Rushdie discussed his book "Knife" which he wrote after the attack, describing the violent attempt on his life and his recovery from a variety of injuries.
The defendant shouted pro-Palestinian slogans on several occasions during the trial.
Matar, from New Jersey, previously told media he had only read two pages of "The Satanic Verses" but believed the author had "attacked Islam."
After the novel was published in 1988, Rushdie became the center of a fierce tug-of-war between free speech advocates and those who insisted that insulting religion, particularly Islam, was unacceptable in any circumstance.
Rushdie, who was born in Mumbai but moved to England as a boy, was propelled into the spotlight with his second novel "Midnight's Children" (1981), which won Britain's prestigious Booker Prize for its portrayal of post-independence India.
But "The Satanic Verses" brought him far greater, mostly unwelcome, attention."
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
In a significant move, the apex body for chartered accountants, ICAI, has announced that the CA Final examinations will now be conducted three times a year, instead of the current biannual schedule.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), in an official release on Thursday, termed the decision historic and stated that it aligns with global best practices, offering students better job prospects.
Last year, it was announced that the Intermediate and Foundation course examinations would be held thrice a year. Now, it has been decided to extend this schedule to the CA Final examination as well.
According to the official release, these examinations will be held in January, May, and September.
Additionally, the assessment test for the post-qualification course in Information Systems Audit will also be conducted three times a year—in February, June, and October. At present, this test is held biannually.
As China and India push to mend ties, strained for nearly half a decade, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said that "what happened in 2020 was not the way to address issues". The minister's remarks recalled the way China had unilaterally tried to change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control or LAC.
Mr Jaishankar also acknowledged that India and China will continue to have issues in the "foreseeable future", but said that "there are ways of addressing them" without getting into a conflict.
"We know that, between India and China, at least in the foreseeable future, there will be issues, but there are ways of addressing those issues, and what happened in 2020 was not the way," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in a conversation with non-profit Asia Society.
The minister was speaking about the way ties between India and China have evolved over the years. After China's unilateral decision to alter the status quo is eastern Ladakh, which led to a military clash followed by a standoff in 2020, ties between the two Asian giants went into a deep freeze for nearly five years.
"We feel that from October, 2024, the relationship has seen some improvement. What we are trying, step by step, is to see if we can rebuild, undo some of the damage which happened as a result of the actions in 2020," Mr Jaishankar said.
China's actions and the subsequent military standoff led to a feeling of betrayal and severe distrust in New Delhi. Anti-China sentiment surged across the nation, impacting everything from people-to-people ties, business and bilateral ties, trade, technology, visas, and even air travel.
It was only in October 2024, after dozens of rounds of talks, both at the diplomatic and military levels, that the two countries reached an agreement - to return to the status quo in place before 2020. It was only on the basis of this understanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia.
India and Tibet (China) share an over 4,400 km border in two parts known as the Line of Actual Control and the MacMohan Line respectively. The LAC stretches across Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim, while the MacMohan Line stretches across Arunachal Pradesh.
India's former world champion boxer Saweety Boora is in news after a video of her went viral on social media where she can be seen attacking her husband Kabaddi player Deepak Niwas Hooda amid divorce proceedings. The incident reportedly took place on March 15 inside a police station in Haryana's Hisar. Boora previously filed for a divorce alleging harassment and assault over dowry. In the video that has surfaced on social media, Boora was seen lunging towards Hooda during a conversation and holding him by his throat. The family members had to intervene as they separated them but the heated arguments continued between the two parties inside the police station.
Now, in a video, Boora said: "I don't want to talk about such things. He has interest in boys. I have seen the videos. I was shocked. I will prove everything in court. I will give all the evidence. I will prove what all things he made me do. I wanted a simple divorce. I can't even talk about such things with my parents. But this person has done such things, which has made me speak on social media."
‘मेरे पति को लड़कों में इंटरेस्ट है...'
— NDTV India (@ndtvindia) March 26, 2025
. .#SweetyBoora । #DeepakHooda pic.twitter.com/NC57fpkMZn
Earlier, Boora lodged an FIR against her Asiad bronze-winning kabaddi player husband Deepak Hooda, accusing him and his family of assaulting her for dowry.
Boxer Sweety Bora beat up her husband Deepak Hooda in the police station!
— Megh Updates (@MeghUpdates) March 24, 2025
The viral video is of Hisar police station where both the parties had reached for the hearing.
Sweety Bora has filed a divorce case against Deepak Hooda accusing him of assault and dowry harassment. pic.twitter.com/gHdqgyZzvg
The two got married in 2022. Boora lodged the FIR against Hooda, also an Arjuna awardee, in Haryana's Hisar.
"An FIR dated February 25 has been lodged based on the complaint given by Saweety Boora against her husband Deepak Hooda," Seema, SHO of women police station, Hisar, said.
When asked if Hooda has been asked to present his side, the SHO said, "We gave him notice 2-3 times, but he did not turn up." When PTI reached out to Hooda, he defended his absence by citing his health that has "taken a beating due to the trauma." "I have submitted a medical certificate and requested a later date. I will certainly go there (to the police station) but I won't make a negative comment against my wife. I have not been allowed to meet her," he said.
When asked about the allegations levelled by her against Hooda, the SHO of the women police station torture and assault "for more dowry" is among the charges levelled.
"A demand for a luxury car was made and met, but her husband beats her, also raises monetary demand," the SHO said referring to the allegations made by Boora.
A case was registered under Section 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita which pertains to a husband or relative of the husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty.
Hooda had unsuccessfully contested the 2024 Haryana assembly polls as BJP nominee from Meham constituency in Rohtak district.
He was a part of the Indian kabaddi team which won the gold medal at the South Asian Games in 2016 and the bronze in the 2014 Asian Games. He has also competed in Pro Kabaddi League.
With PTI inputs
India is expected to add 130-150 million new room air conditioners (ACs) over the next decade which could increase the country's peak power demand by more than 180 gigawatts (GW) by 2035, straining the power system, according to a new study published on Wednesday.
The study by the India Energy and Climate Center (IECC) at the University of California (UC) in Berkeley said the fastest-developing major economy can avoid severe power shortages and save consumers up to Rs 2.2 lakh crore (USD 26 billion) by doubling the energy efficiency of room ACs over the next 10 years.
India adds 10-15 million new ACs annually, with another 130-150 million expected over the next decade. Without policy intervention, ACs alone could drive 120 GW of peak power demand by 2030 and 180 GW by 2035, nearly 30 per cent of the projected totals, the study said.
"This growth is outpacing India's power supply and could lead to serious electricity shortages as early as 2026," said Nikit Abhyankar, the study's lead author and UC Berkeley faculty.
"ACs are becoming one of the biggest drivers of peak demand, and without intervention, we risk blackouts or costly emergency fixes. But with smart policy, we can turn this into a win for consumers, manufacturers and the grid," he said.
PTI reported on Monday that India is likely to experience a nine to 10 per cent growth in peak electricity demand this summer with the country expected to experience more heat waves.
Last year, the all-India peak electricity demand crossed 250 GW on May 30, which was 6.3 per cent higher than the projections. Climate change-induced heat stress is one of the key factors driving electricity demand.
The share of the household sector in India's total electricity consumption increased from 22 per cent in 2012-13 to 25 per cent in 2022-23. Much of this rise can be attributed to economic growth and the increasing need for cooling due to rising temperatures, experts say.
In the summer of 2024, room air conditioner sales surged by 40 to 50 per cent year-on-year amid record-breaking temperatures.
According to an ongoing research at the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development at the University of Oxford, the largest cooling demand, in terms of the total population, will come from India, followed by China, Nigeria, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, the Philippines and the US in a world two degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial times.
The study by the University of California recommends updating India's Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), beginning with a 2027 revision that raises the 1-star label to ISEER 5.0 -- equivalent to today's 5-star level -- and tightening standards every three years.
This alone could avoid 10 GW of shortages by 2028, 23 GW by 2030 and 60 GW by 2035, equivalent to 120 large power plants.
"This is not just about long-term energy savings; it's an immediate grid reliability solution," Abhyankar added.
Efficient ACs also offer massive consumer benefits. Even with slightly higher upfront prices, they could deliver net savings of Rs 66,000 to Rs 2,25,000 crore (USD 8-26 billion) by 2035, paying for themselves within two to three years through lower electricity bills.
"A common concern with efficient ACs is that they might be more expensive," said Amol Phadke, co-author and UC Berkeley faculty.
"But our analysis of global markets, including India, shows that efficiency is not the main factor driving retail prices. With the right policy support, higher efficiency often goes hand in hand with lower costs, thanks to economies of scale, better supply chains and competitive markets," he added.
Over 600 AC models -- 20 per cent of all offerings -- already exceed India's top efficiency threshold, the 5-star level, with many produced by domestic manufacturers.
"This is a chance for Indian manufacturers to lead," said Jose Dominguez, co-author and IECC researcher.
"With the right policy signal, they can scale under Make in India and PLI (Production Linked Incentive) schemes, positioning India as a global hub for sustainable and affordable cooling," he said.
The report also calls for updating AC test procedures to better reflect India's humid climate, where comfort depends not just on cooling but on moisture removal.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Two planes of the French air force's acrobatics team "apparently collided" near an air base in northeastern France on Tuesday and three people were found unconscious, officials said.
The Alpha jet planes collided near an air base west of Saint-Dizier in northeastern France, the French air and space force told news agency AFP. One of the planes hit a silo, causing a fire.
Two pilots and a passenger ejected from the aircraft and were "found conscious", it said. AFP reported that one person suffered multiple injuries and there were no civilian casualties.
The planes were from the Patrouille de France, which is the precision aerobatics demonstration unit of the French Air and Space Force.
Videos show six planes with different coloured contrails (condensation trails) carrying out a maneuver involving a dive. While four of the aircraft continue on their trajectory, two on the left appear to collide and enter into a free-fall.
Watch MOMENT French jets collide during training session
— RT (@RT_com) March 25, 2025
Pilots and passenger ‘found unconscious' pic.twitter.com/SR49r6ymUX
Images showed flames leaping out and smoke billowing from a silo that was hit by one of the planes.
"An accident involving two Alpha Jets from the Patrouille de France during rehearsals has just occurred in eastern France, emergency services have been mobilised," French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu posted on X.
France has been using the light Alpha twin-engined aircraft to train Ukrainian pilots after Russia invaded the country.
In August last year, two French Rafale jets had collided mid-air in eastern France, leading to the death of two pilots. France has sold the Rafale "multi-role" fighter to India, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Croatia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi - believed to be residing in Antigua - is currently in Belgium, the European nation has confirmed to NDTV. In a communication, the Belgian foreign ministry confirmed that they are aware of his presence and "attaches great importance and attention to it".
The 65-year-old wanted for his alleged involvement in Rs 13,500-crore loan fraud in Punjab National Bank along with Nirav Modi, has been living in Antwerp with his wife Preeti Choksi, who is a Belgian citizen.
Unconfirmed reports had said they acquired an 'F Residency Card'.
A 30-year-old Indian-origin man was found dead in Princeton, Texas, on Sunday in what local authorities suspect to be a case of suicide but investigations are ongoing.
Abhishek Kolli, from Gudivada in Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district, had been reported missing a day earlier, prompting a search operation involving law enforcement and community members.
His body was discovered the following day, leaving his family and loved ones devastated.
Kolli, who had been married for just a year, had previously lived with his wife in Phoenix, Texas, before relocating to Princeton.
His twin brother, Aravind Kolli, revealed that Abhishek had been unemployed for the past six months and was struggling with financial difficulties.
"His sudden passing is an unbearable loss for us," Aravind shared. "We want to honour his memory with dignity, without the shadow of financial worry hanging over us." To cover funeral expenses and transport his body back to India, Aravind launched a GoFundMe campaign, which has already raised over USD 59,000 in less than 24 hours.
The outpouring of support highlights the strong sense of community among Indian-Americans, and the Telugu community in the US has stepped in to assist with financial and logistical support.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has announced the Class 12 results for 2025. Raushani Kumari, the daughter of an auto driver, has secured the top position in the Commerce stream. She scored 95% marks, showcasing an inspiring journey of perseverance and dedication.
Raushani attended Kashipur Chakbibi School for her primary education, completed her matriculation at Chandpura High School, and pursued her intermediate studies at Jamunilal College, Hajipur.
Speaking about her journey, she said: "Everyone wants to become something, but financial circumstances often dictate our choices. My family's financial condition is not good-my father is an auto driver. You know the struggles of an auto driver. For us, even having one meal a day is enough."
"Sometimes, I faced financial difficulties during my studies. I told my coaching teacher that I couldn't afford the fees. In response, he allowed me to work for an hour at his computer coaching center, where I earned Rs 500. That's how I managed to pay my coaching fees," she added.
Talking about her future, she said: "Initially, I considered pursuing Chartered Accountancy (CA) because of its promising career prospects. However, I realized that CA requires a significant financial investment. So, I decided to study Computer Science (CS) instead."
Raushani's father, Sudhir Kumar, shared his happiness: "Even when Raushani was very young, her dedication to studies made it clear that she would achieve something big one day."
Meanwhile, in the Science stream, Priya Jaiswal secured the top position, while Ankita Kumari and Shakib Sah emerged as joint toppers in the Arts stream.
This year, 5,05,884 students passed out of 6,11,365 who took the BSEB Inter Exams 2025, with 1,05,481 failing, resulting in a pass percentage of 86.56%. Compared to last year's pass percentage of 87.21%, the success rate has seen a slight decline.
Ashutosh Sharma did the unthinkable for Delhi Capitals against Lucknow Super Giants on Monday. At a time when even the most passionate of DC fans would have thought that it was not possible for their team to chase down a 210-run target, Ashutosh Sharma thought otherwise. Impact sub Ashutosh Sharma played the most defining knock of his IPL career to guide Delhi Capitals to a thrilling one wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants here on Monday.
Ashutosh smashed 66 not out off 31 balls and finished it with a huge six off Shahbaz Ahmed as DC chased down a target of 210 with three balls to spare. The right-hander hit five fours and five sixes in all. Ashutsh Sharma's celebration after the win went viral.
And he does it in
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 24, 2025
Ashutosh Sharma, take a bow!
A #TATAIPL classic in Vizag
Updates https://t.co/aHUCFODDQL#DCvLSG | @DelhiCapitals pic.twitter.com/rVAfJMqfm7
DC were 7 for 3 at one stage and then 113 for 6 but Ashutosh and unheralded Vipraj Nigam (39 off 15 balls) added 55 runs in quick time before the Railways man finished it off in style despite wickets falling at the other end.
LSG were 20 short during batting and paid the price for not having any of their frontline pacers on the park due to injury. It didn't help that Ravi Bishnoi was hit for 53 runs. Earlier, Delhi Capitals bowlers did well at the back-end to restrict Lucknow Super Giants to 209 for 8 on a batting paradise, despite attractive fifties from Mitchell Marsh (72) and Nicholas Pooran (75).
Kuldeep Yadav was easily the most impactful bowler with figures of 2 for 20 while Mitchell Starc used his variations to end with best figures 3 for 42 in four overs.
Brief Scores: Lucknow Super Giants: 209 for 8 in 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 75, Mitchell Marsh 72; Kuldeep Yadav 2/20, Mitchell Starc 3/42).
Delhi Capitals: 211 for 9 in 19.3 overs (Ashutosh Sharma 66 not out; Shardul Thakur 2/19).
Comedian Samay Raina on Monday expressed regret over a series of remarks that were made on his now-deleted web show "India's Got Latent", and promised to be more careful in ensuring that such incidents are not repeated, sources said.
In a statement to the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, Mr Raina, who got into trouble over Podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia's remarks in February that led to a massive furore, "admitted his mistake" and "apologised for whatever happened during the show".
The comedian also said that "everything happened in a flow during the show and that he did not intend to say what he said", the sources added.
He promised to be more careful and ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
Besides, the comedian said the entire controversy surrounding his show has taken a toll on his mental well-being. "He said that his Canada tour did not go well. He apologised and said he knew he was wrong," one of the sources said.
Mr Raina, who recently returned from abroad, appeared before the probe agency at its headquarters in Mhape, where he recorded his statement for over five hours, another source said. The agency had earlier summoned him several times in the case.
In February, Mr Allahbadia's remarks about parents and sex on the "India's Got Latent" show kicked up a political storm in the Maharashtra political circle, with many calling out for a ban on his podcast. Politicians, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and opposition leaders of the state, criticised him for exploiting freedom of speech.
The issue echoed in Parliament where Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske called for a law to regulate social media. Multiple FIRs were filed against Mr Allahbadia, Mr Raina and others linked to the show. They were also summoned by the National Commission for Women (NCW).
Mr Allahbadia has apologised twice for his remarks and Mr Raina - who deleted his show - earlier this month rescheduled his India comedy tour in the aftermath.
Mr Raina's shows in Gujarat were also reportedly cancelled in February following the outrage.
Last month, the Supreme Court granted interim protection from arrest to Mr Allahbadia while calling his comments "vulgar", and saying he had "dirty mind" which put the society to shame.
Besides Mr Raina and Mr Allahbadia, YouTuber Ashish Chanchlani and comics Jaspreet Singh and Apoorva Makhija were also charged in cases registered by the Guwahati Police and the Maharashtra Police's Cyber Cell.
A massive row over history is brewing in Rajasthan after a Samajwadi Party leader made a remark about Rana Sanga, the 16th Century ruler of Mewar, that riled up the leaders in Rajasthan, where Rana Sanga and his grandson Rana Pratap are revered. Samjawadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman alleged that Rana Sanga brought Babur into India to defeat the Lodhi kings, a view that historians say is a misconception.
Starting with Chief Minister Bhajan Lal -- who said the remarks are against the sentiments of the state's people - his remarks have been criticized by many. Protests have been held in Udaipur, the former Kingdom of Sanga and Rana Pratap, where there is still a repository of collective memories. The matter had ripples in the state assembly today and a right-wing Rajput group, Karni Sena, has threatened that they will "chop off the tongue" of the Samajwadi Party leader.
His remarks came in the backdrop of the comments by another leader of his party, Abu Azmi, who had praised Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. BJP leaders and Hindu groups have been protesting against what they called attempts to glorify Aurangzeb, alleging that he had unleashed atrocities on Hindus.
WHAT SAMAJWADI PARTY MP SAID
A purported video of the Rajya Sabha MP Ramji Lal Suman's had surfaced recently in which he is heard saying that Rana Sanga was a "traitor" who brought Babur to defeat Ibrahim Lodi. Then, during a debate on the functioning of the Home Ministry in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, Mr Suman doubled down on his comments linking d Rana Sanga to Babur's invasion of India.
"BJP leaders often claim that Muslims have the DNA of Babur. But who invited Babur to India? It was Rana Sanga who brought him to defeat Ibrahim Lodi. By that logic, if Muslims are Babur's descendants, you are also the descendants of Rana Sanga -- a traitor," he was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.
Muslims in India do not idolise any Mughal emperor, he said. "They consider Mohammed Sahab and Sufi saints' traditions as their ideals," he added.
TROUBLE IN ASSEMBLY
In Rajasthan Assembly today, BJP MLA Shrichand Kriplani opposed this statement through Point of Information and demanded parliamentary action. As soon as he raised the issue, Congress MLA Harimohan Sharma objected and said that this topic cannot be discussed in the House. At this, BJP MLAs registered strong protest and targeted Congress.
Raising slogans against the Congress, the BJP MLAs questioned why the insult of Rana Sanga cannot be discussed in the house.
Vishwaraj Mewar, an erstwhile royal from Mewar, has slammed SP leader over remarks on Rana Sanga. He said they are misleading the people by giving misinformation in the upper house, they are trying to create divide in the society by making such comments they have not only hurt the sentiments of Rajasthanis but of India too.
ROW REACHES DELHI
"These days, discussions are happening on historical figures. While someone crticises the great and glorious king like Rana Sanga saying he betrayed the country, others are busy advocating Aurangzeb," said senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has called it a distortion of history. "The spirit of independence that Maharana Sanga ignited not only saved India from being enslaved but also gave a huge contribution in keeping the culture of India eternal," said Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Only people with "trivial intellect" and "small heart" make such statements, he added.
"Rana Sanga has been the identity of Bharat. Throughout his life, he fought against Babar and other invaders. Glorifying an invader instead of the one who protected the country is quite indecent and inappropriate," said BJP Rajya Sabha MP and former Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma.
BJP MP Shashank Mani termed the SP MP's remarks as "condemnable" and said the people should salute great men like Rana Sanga instead of making such "inappropriate" comments.
AKHILESH YADAV'S GALILEO JIBE
Sanajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has attacked the BJP, asking it not to dig up historical events selectively.
"If BJP continues to flip through history, people will also remember that during Chhatrapati Shivaji's coronation, no one anointed him by hand. It is said that he was anointed using the toe of a left foot. Will the BJP condemn this today?" he said.
Drawing an analogy, Yadav referred to Galileo's persecution for his claim that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
"Galileo was punished for his scientific assertion, and centuries later, the Church apologised for its mistake. If the BJP respects Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, will they apologise for the fact that he was anointed with a left foot toe?" he said.
WHO WAS RANA SANGA
Rana Sanga or Sangram Singh I, the grandfather of Maharana Pratap, is one of the most beloved kings of Rajasthan, who ruled Mewar from 1508 to 1528. In a culture that prizes valour, he had an illustrious military career, defeating the Sultans of Delhi, Malwa and Gujarat in 18 pitched battles.
Against Babar, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, he fought two decisive battles against- decisively winning the one in Bayana in 1527.
Rana Sanga had decimated the Mughal army, over-running Babar's camp and carrying away as the spoils of war everything from arms and ammunition, musical instruments and even tents. Some of these items are on display in the museums of Udaipur.
The Rana, though, lost the battle of Khandwa two months later, when Babar brought in his cannons. After the battle, he had died of his wounds.
DID RANA SANGA INVITE BABAR TO DELHI
There is no historical evidence that Rana Sanga invited Babar.
Documentary sources say Babar, who was eyeing India after losing Samarkand, was invited by Daulat khan Lodhi, a relative then Delhi Sultan Ibrahim Lodhi.
Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526 and founded the Mughal Empire, which ruled for the next 200 years.
"Rana Sanga had already defeated Ibrahim Lodhi once, so why would he need Babur's help, and in fact Rana Sanga had fought against Babur in Bayana," pointed out historian Chandraprakash Sharma.
BAYANA TODAY
Despite the identity politics being played out over the contribution of Rana Sanga, Bayana, 30 km from Bharatpur where his great battle with Babur took place, lies neglected, forgotten and forlorn.
The historical fortress that Rana Sanga beseiged and over-ran is falling to ruins. There is but one signboard pointing visitors to the historic battlefield of Bayana where the war was fought.
Mumbai Indians spinner Vignesh Puthur impressed everyone on his IPL debut as he took the wickets of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube during the IPL 2025 match against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday. The left-arm wrist spinner was the impact player for MI as he replaced Rohit Sharma. In his very first over, he took the massive wicket of CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad who was caught by Will Jacks in the deep. He continued to bowl brilliantly as Shivam Dube completely miscued a shot off his bowling and was caught by Tilak Varma at long-on to cap off a sensational debut for the youngster.
He impressed some more as he also dismissed Deepak Hooda for 3.
Puthur, the 24-year-old spinner from Malappuram in Kerala, was signed by MI for the base price of Rs 30 lakh. The youngster has not played for Kerala at senior level till now but he has played at the U-14 and U-19 levels. He currently plays for Alleppey Ripples in the Kerala Cricket League.
The young spinner has also played in the Tamil Nadu Premier League.
Puthur, the son of an autorickshaw driver and a homemaker, used to bowl medium pace before he was asked to try leg spin by local cricketer Mohammed Sherif. That changed the course of his career as he moved to Thrissur and became a big star in Kerala College Premier T20 league for St. Thomas College.
Earlier this year, he was sent to South Africa for SA20, where he was a net bowler for MI Cape Town.
Coming to the match, fifties by Rachin Ravindra (65 not out) and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad (53) helped Chennai Super Kings kickstart their IPL 2025 campaign with a four-wicket win over Mumbai Indians.
After Noor Ahmad's 4-18 and Khaleel Ahmed's 3-29 helped CSK restrict MI to 155/9, Gaikwad mixed aggression and timing to hit six fours and three sixes while bringing up his fifty in 22 balls, his fastest half-century in the tournament.
Despite wickets falling from the other end, Ravindra held one end firm to hit an unbeaten 45-ball 65, laced with two fours and four sixes, as CSK completed a nervy win. For MI, who have not won their first match of an IPL season since 2012, debutant Puthur's spell of 3-32 would be the biggest positive.
(With IANS inputs)
Many universities in the US are offering free education, providing opportunities for students from economically weaker sections who aspire to study abroad and secure high-paying jobs. In line with other top institutions, Harvard University has expanded its financial aid programme, now offering free education to students from families earning less than $200,000 annually. Previously, this benefit was available only to families with an annual income of up to $85,000.
Growing Financial Aid Initiatives In US Universities
Alongside Harvard, institutions like the University of Texas System, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the University of Pennsylvania have also introduced tuition-free or highly subsidised education programmes. Instead of relying on student loans, these universities provide financial support through grants and scholarships. Each institution has its own eligibility criteria, primarily based on family income and assets. Some colleges do not consider home equity as part of a family's financial assets, making it easier for middle-income families to qualify for aid.
Over 100 Colleges Offering Free Tuition
Currently, more than 100 public and private universities in the US provide tuition-free education to eligible students. MIT and the University of Pennsylvania recently raised their income eligibility threshold to $ 200,000. Meanwhile, Carnegie Mellon University and Brandeis University now offer free tuition for students from families earning up to $75,000 annually. Institutions like the University of Texas System, Brandeis University, and the University of Massachusetts (UMass) System also have similar financial aid programs in place.
How To Apply For Free Education In US Colleges?
Students seeking tuition-free education must begin by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Some colleges and states may require additional forms or pre-enrollment in specific financial aid programmes. Additionally, certain universities offer financial assistance to undocumented students, though eligibility depends on the institution and state policies.
There are several videos that showcase foreigners learning about Indian culture. It could be through art, dance, food or even learning various Indian languages. Now, a video of a German woman effortlessly conversing in Malayalam with a cab driver, leaving him completely surprised, has gone viral on social media. The clip, shared on Instagram, features Klara, a German teacher currently living in India. It shows her stepping into the cab and greeting the driver in Malayalam, instantly catching him off guard.
"You never have seen anyone speaking in Malayalam?" Klara asks the driver. To this, the cabbie, caught off guard, admits he hasn't. Then, without missing a beat, she starts conversing with him in perfect Malayalam, leading to a friendly, effortless exchange.
"Talking in Malayalam to Uber drivers always gets me a curious reaction, so I thought I'll film the interaction once," Klara wrote in the caption of the post.
Watch the video below:
The video quickly went viral online, with users praising Klara's dedication to learning the language and the cab driver's priceless reaction.
"Oh wow, you picked up the language and you speak it so smoothly," wrote one user. "Man, I'm jealous. She speaks better than me," humorously confessed another.
"Your Malayalam is much better than my daughter's. Congratulations and proud of you," expressed a third user. "I need to jump in front of a cycle and die!! You speak more fluently than me!!" jokingly commented a fourth user.
"Damn, she is speaking well! Even the pronunciations are good!" added another.
"That's an incredible effort indeed, and to have learned this difficult language..." commented one user.
Also Read | US Man Who Moved To India 9 Years Ago Shares How His Life Changed For Good. See Post
In her Instagram bio, Klara mentions that she's still learning the language. She regularly shares videos showcasing her Malayalam skills. In one of the videos, she appeared alongside Aparna Mulberry, another German teacher, engaging in a conversation in Malayalam.
Praising Klara's dedication, Mulberry said, "KLARA IN THE HOUSE!!! She learnt Malayalam during the pandemic for the love of it! I'm in AWE of her pronunciation and 'Mallu vibes.'"
Klara has over 171,000 followers on Instagram.
David Warner is longer part of the IPL and he isn't part of international cricket either after having retired. However, his impact in the IPL and international cricket is not forgotten. On Sunday, however, David Warner was an unhappy man for reasons not related to cricket but had an Indian connection. He blasted Air India for causing him discomfort. "@airindia we've boarded a plane with no pilots and waiting on the plane for hours. Why would you board passengers knowing that you have no pilots for the flight?" David Warner posted on X.
Warner did not specify where he was going.
@airindia we've boarded a plane with no pilots and waiting on the plane for hours. Why would you board passengers knowing that you have no pilots for the flight?
— David Warner (@davidwarner31) March 22, 2025
Recently, Indian-Canadian actor Lisa Ray has, in a social media post, slammed Air India for denying a medical waiver for a ticket she had to cancel. She said she had to cancel her travel since her 92-year-old father was unwell, but her cancellation fee was not waived based on a doctor's letter. The Tata-owned carrier said it is looking into the matter.
The 52-year-old actor, who had booked her ticket through a third-party travel agent, shared a response from them saying no waiver was available. Airline sources say she had a non-refundable ticket due to which the agent had refused her the waiver, and not the airline.
"Here we go again @airindia. My father is 92, unwell and I have to cancel travel due to his ailing condition. Submitted doctors' letter and the waiver was denied? How is that possible? Where is the empathy from an airline that is claiming to care about passengers?" asked Ms Ray.
In response to the query, Air India asked Ms Ray to share her email address and wished a speedy recovery to her father.
"Dear Ms Ray, we empathize with your concern and wish your father a speedy recovery. Please help us with the email address from which you've written to us or the case ID (if any) via DM. We'll look into it," said Air India.
CUET UG 2025 Registration: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has extended the last date for submitting online applications for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET (UG) 2025). The decision comes in response to multiple requests from candidates seeking an extension. Those who have not yet registered can submit their applications until March 24 (11.50pm) by visiting the official website.
Previous Deadline Revised Deadline
Application Submission March 22 March 24 (11.50pm)
Fee Payment March 23 March 25 (11.50pm)
Application Correction March 24-26 March 26-28
Candidates can complete the application process and make corrections, if needed, through the official website cuet.nta.nic.in within the deadline.
The CUET UG 2025 is tentatively scheduled to be held between May 8 and June 1, 2025, in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. The exam will be conducted across multiple centers in India and 15 cities abroad, providing a single-window opportunity for admission to various central, state, deemed, and private universities.
Just 11 days after killing her husband, chopping up his body and leaving it to rot in a cement-lined drum, Muskaan Rastogi was playing Holi with her lover Sahil Shukla in Manali, laughing and posing for a video as if nothing had happened.
In the video from Holi, which was celebrated on March 14, Muskaan and Sahil can be seen smiling at the camera with their faces covered in colour. They sway lightly, their cheeks pressed against each other while Sahil, who appears to be high, makes some happy gestures with his right hand. Music can be heard in the background and other people can also be seen, indicating that they were celebrating the festival with a group.
The couple had visited Shimla and Manali after the murder and another video from their Himachal Pradesh trip has surfaced in which Muskaan is seen feeding Sahil a piece of cake before saying "happy birthday" and kissing him. Some photos from the trip also show Muskaan walking in the snow.
Muskaan and Sahil have been arrested for killing her husband - and Sahil's friend - former Merchant Navy officer Saurabh Rajput in Meerut on March 3 after drugging him. After killing Saurabh, they chopped up his body into 15 pieces and then dumped it in a drum which they sealed with cement with the intention of disposing of it in a place where it couldn't be found. Police said they have confessed to the murder.
Multiple Attempts
Muskaan and Saurabh had a love marriage in 2016 and she began an affair with his friend, Sahil, some time later. Saurabh found out about the affair in 2021, after their landlord had spotted Muskaan and Sahil in an "objectionable" position and had also filed for a divorce, but was convinced by his family to stay with his wife.
Saurabh, who had been working at a bakery in London since 2023, had returned to Meerut on February 24 to celebrate the sixth birthday of his and Muskaan's daughter. Muskaan had been planning his murder for months and had already purchased two knives, telling the shopkeeper she would use them to cut chicken. She had also pretended to have anxiety so she could visit a doctor and access the pills she would need to make him unconscious before killing him.
Muskaan had also created a Snapchat account and made Sahil, who was into drugs, believe that his dead mother was speaking to him from beyond the grave. She later used this method to convince Sahil that they needed to kill Saurabh.
Superintendent of Police (Meerut City) Ayush Vikram Singh said Muskaan and Sahil attempted to kill Saurabh on February 25 but failed to do so. They then drugged him and stabbed him to death on March 3.
The murder had come to light after Muskaan and Sahil returned from their trip. Muskaan had told her mother that she and Sahil had killed Saurabh because they thought he would "stop their drug sessions".
(With inputs from Shyam Parmar)
