US President Donald Trump introduced the US visa scheme aimed at wealthy foreigners willing to pay at least $1 million to gain permanent residency in the country. The programme is called the Trump Gold Card, and it is designed for high-level professionals who can prove they will provide a “substantial benefit” to the United States.Speaking as he revealed the card, Trump described it as “the green card on steroids. It is a pathway, it is an amazing thing.” He criticised the Biden administration, claiming that around 25 million people had entered the US during its tenure, including “drug dealers and all sorts of people… from jails all over the world: Venezuela, the Congo, everywhere.”Trump said the Gold Card scheme would prioritise talent over mass migration. “Now, when people come in, they have to pay $1 million. And we’ve seen a tremendous surge,” he said. The MAGA chief added that the programme would allow graduates of top US universities to remain and work for American companies. “Someone graduates top of their class at the best school, wants to work for a great American company and now they can. The company will pay a little bit, but that’s okay. They’ll be able to keep the talent.”Under the scheme, companies sponsoring workers must pay $2 million, plus additional charges. A higher-tier “platinum” option offering preferential tax treatment will also be available for $5 million. All applicants must first pay a non-refundable $15,000 processing fee, with further payments to the government potentially required depending on individual circumstances.Trump compared the Gold Card to a standard green card, which allows immigrants of all income levels to live and work permanently in the United States, often leading to citizenship after five years. He suggested that the new programme was targeted at “high-level” professionals who are “productive,” rather than low-skilled migrants.The announcement comes alongside Trump’s hardline immigration stance, which included a crackdown on illegal migration and measures discouraging legal immigration. According to the POTUS, the Gold Card programme would generate revenue for the US Treasury while ensuring that top talent can remain in the country to contribute to American businesses.

KOLKATA: A 78-year-old retired central govt employee, who was an established hockey player and served as a senior functionary at Food Corporation of India (FCI), reportedly lost his life after being hit by a luxury sedan, a BMW, on Thursday morning near Eden Gardens.The accused driver fled immediately, turning it into a classic hit-and-run case, only to abandon the vehicle a little way ahead and flee. Cops from Maidan Police and the Fatal Squad of the Traffic Police department are yet to nab the driver, though details of car ownership have been processed by them.

According to police, victim Subhendu Hazra, a descendant of the Rani Rashmoni family who lived at 13, Rashmoni Road, was a regular at Maidan all his life. Even when he hung up his boots as a hockey player, he had been going for his morning walk for the past 35 years.“It was around 7.55 am when Hazra was trying to cross Indira Gandhi Road towards the Eden Gardens side. The BMW appeared from the CR Das statue end. The driver noticed Hazra and tried to swerve, hoping that he would not cross. However, Hazra suddenly tried to sprint away from the car, and was hit by the BMW in the process. By the time we took him to hospital, he had died,” said an officer.The police said they have studied the CCTV footage that shows the exact sequence of events. “Hazra used to go with a lot of others from the area. He took a neighbour’s car or even the bus. Our neighbour said he would not go on Thursday as his car had broken down. However, Hazra insisted on going there and said he would take a bus. He got off at Akashvani Bhavan and then met with this accident,” said a family member.Cops said the BMW driver realised he might be lynched, and stopped the car near Babughat, where he abandoned it. The right right of the car bore dents. “We have progressed in the probe and we are on the verge of carrying out the arrest,” said an officer. Though the case has been registered at Maidan PS, the case has been taken over by the Fatal Squad of the Traffic wing.Barely eight days ago, at least three persons were injured, two of them seriously, after a Ferrari spiralled out of control, hit a lamp post, and then a roadside tree in the middle of Hospital Road. That incident was reported around 7.40 am. The car had broken apart into two under the impact.Just like the Ferrari accident, Kolkata Police has decided to seek help of engineers from BMW in order to study the exact reasons that led to one of their cars getting involved in this accident.

Mumbai: Bombay high court has directed the state govt to extend the benefit of Rs 50 lakh compensation to the family of a zilla parishad frontline worker from Kolhapur who died of Covid in July 2021, saying the cutoff date under such a welfare scheme cannot be sacrosanct.A bench of Justices M S Karnik and Ajit B Kadethankar, while allowing a writ petition filed by the legal heirs of Yashwant Khandu Jadhav, an extension officer with Karveer Panchayat Samiti, ordered the authorities to grant the benefit within four weeks. Jadhav contracted Covid during the second wave of the pandemic on June 16, 2021. He had served as a frontline worker in the first wave, too. He was hospitalised from June 16 till his death on July 11. His wife, son and mother approached the court after the state rejected their claim on the grounds that his death occurred after June 30, 2021—the cutoff date for seeking compensation prescribed under an April 25, 2022, govt resolution. The state contended that the scheme clearly applied only to employees who died on or before June 30, 2021, and that a cutoff date was necessary for implementation of welfare measures. Rejecting the state’s narrow and technical approach, HC noted that there was no dispute that Jadhav was a frontline worker who contracted Covid in the course of his official duties. The court said the insurance scheme was welfare-oriented, meant to honour the sacrifice of frontline workers, who faced exceptional risks during the pandemic. The bench observed that Jadhav had been admitted to the hospital before June 30, 2021, his health had worsened prior to the cutoff date, and his death on July 11, 2021, was a direct continuation of the same illness. In such circumstances, the cutoff date could not be treated as “sacrosanct”, it held. “Many of these bravehearts made the ultimate sacrifice; their own lives fell victim in their courageous efforts to save others,” HC said. The court ruled that denying relief to Jadhav’s family would amount to injustice and would undermine the very purpose of the scheme.

In a blistering display of power-hitting at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Hardik Pandya has etched his name into the record books during the fifth T20I against South Africa on December 19, 2025.

Hardik Pandya’s destructive innings breaks records in 5th T20I vs South Africa

Entering the fray at number five, Pandya wasted no time, dispatching his very first delivery over long-off to signal his intent. His assault reached a crescendo against George Linde and Corbin Bosch, as he raced to a 16-ball fifty, decorated with four boundaries and five towering sixes. This whirlwind knock played a pivotal role in propelling India toward a massive total in the series decider, proving once again why he is considered one of the most dangerous finishers in world cricket.  By reaching the milestone in just 16 deliveries, Pandya has officially claim the second spot on the list of fastest T20I half-centuries by an Indian. He now sits only behind the legendary Yuvraj Singh, further solidifying his status as a modern-day great in the shortest format of the game.

Top 5 fastest T20I fifties for India

The hierarchy of India’s fastest T20I run-scorers has been reshuffled following Pandya’s Ahmedabad heroics. Here is the breakdown of the top five quickest half-centuries in Indian history:

5. Suryakumar Yadav (18 Balls)

The current Indian captain and 360-degree specialist, Suryakumar Yadav, occupies the fifth spot with an 18-ball blitz. Known for his unorthodox wrist-work and ability to find gaps in the fine-leg and third-man regions, Surya’s 18-ball fifty (achieved against South Africa in 2022) remains a masterclass in modern T20 innovation.

4. KL Rahul (18 Balls)

Matching Surya’s timing is KL Rahul, who also recorded an 18-ball half-century during the 2021 T20 World Cup against Scotland. Rahul’s knock was a display of pure technical elegance combined with brute force, as he helped India chase down a small target in record time to boost their net run rate.

3. Abhishek Sharma (17 Balls)

The young left-handed opener, Abhishek Sharma, occupies the third spot with a brutal 17-ball half-century against England at the Wankhede Stadium on February 2, 2025. Abhishek’s knock featured an incredible assault on bowlers like Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, where he scored 58 runs within the powerplay itself.

Also WATCH: Jasprit Bumrah gives a shocking response after a fan disregards his request for ‘space’

2. Hardik Pandya (16 Balls)

Hardik Pandya moved into the second spot today, December 19, 2025, with his 16-ball demolition of the South African attack. His innings was characterized by immense physical power and a clear tactical focus on targeting the cow-corner and long-on boundaries. Reaching his fifty with a flat six off Corbin Bosch, he now holds the record for the fastest fifty by an Indian on home soil.

1. Yuvraj Singh (12 Balls)

The undisputed king of this list remains Yuvraj Singh, whose 12-ball fifty against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup is arguably the most iconic moment in the format’s history. This was the same innings where he famously hit Stuart Broad for six sixes in an over. Nearly two decades later, Yuvraj’s world-record effort remains untouched by any Indian batter.

Also WATCH: Ishan Kishan breaks into iconic ‘Dhurandhar dance’ after Jharkhand wins SMAT 2025

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi Friday put traditional medicine at the centre of global health conversation, flagging launch of Traditional Medicine Global Library (TMGL) as a shared international platform to anchor ayurveda, yoga & other ancient systems in research, policy and evidence-based care.Addressing the closing ceremony of the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine at Bharat Mandapam, Modi said the digital library fulfils a commitment made during India’s G20 presidency and will bring together scientific data, research and policy documents related to traditional medicine on a single global platform. “This will ensure equal access to authentic information for every country,” he said.The TMGL hosts content from 194 countries and marks a shift from fragmented, region-specific knowledge to a shared global repository, enabling evidence-based research, regulation and safer integration of traditional medicine into national health systems.The PM said the three-day summit reflected a new convergence of tradition and technology, with deliberations on research, digital tools, AI, global standards and investment. He said these discussions have culminated in the Delhi Declaration, which will serve as a common roadmap for cooperation on safety, standards and training.Highlighting India’s leadership, he said it was a matter of pride that WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine is based in Jamnagar. He also inaugurated the new WHO South-East Asia Regional Office Complex in Delhi, describing it as a global hub for research, regulation and capacity building.Linking traditional medicine to modern health challenges, he said lifestyle imbalances are driving diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, depression and cancer. “Restoring balance is not just a global cause but a global urgency,” he said. The PM announced steps to strengthen integrative cancer care, combining traditional systems with modern treatment, and highlighted ongoing clinical studies on anaemia, arthritis and diabetes, alongside growing innovation by Indian start-ups.During the event, Modi launched key Ayush initiatives, including the My Ayush Integrated Services Portal and the Ayush Mark as a global quality benchmark, and released a WHO technical report on yoga training. He also felicitated the recipients of Prime Minister’s Awards for Outstanding Contribution to the Promotion and Development of Yoga, recognising their sustained efforts in taking yoga to a global audience.

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NEW DELHI: Raising the battle stakes over MGNREGA with the BJP, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Friday said Congress will force the Modi govt to withdraw the disbanding of the job guarantee scheme, with the party warning that farmers’ protest forced the Centre to roll back the “three black farm laws”. ‘Congress also warned that after MGNREGA, the BJP will target the acts on forest rights, food security and land acquisition, while RTI has already been hollowed out.In comments issued while abroad, Rahul said MGNREGA provided the vulnerable sections with “leverage” and “bargaining power” which brought down “exploitation” and distress migration, while improving wages and working conditions.“That leverage is precisely what this govt wants to break … Prime Minister Modi’s targets are clear: weaken labour, weaken the leverage of rural India, especially Dalits, OBCs and adivasis,” he said, adding the VB-G RAM G will enfeeble the job guarantee that was “rural poor’s last line of defence”, and is “anti-state and anti-village”.Rahul’s statement of intent – he did not participate in the LS debate as he is in Germany for an international political meeting – came as the Congress Working Committee is set to meet on Dec 27, likely to discuss an action plan for a nationwide stir. Congress MPs Jairam Ramesh and Manickam Tagore warned, “Farmers protested and forced the PM to roll back the three farm laws. The CWC will hopefully come out with an action plan on how to raise the issue.”The leader of opposition in Lok Sabha added, “We will stand with workers, panchayats and states to defeat this move and build a nationwide front to ensure this law is withdrawn.”With a joint protest inside the Parliament chambers, the opposition believes the issue can serve as an important outreach to the weaker sections while papering over the divisions that mar the anti-BJP bloc. The opposition members have in recent days spoken about the protests against the land acquisition bill and the farm laws, to argue that weakening of the job scheme structure will have resonance with the poor who have come to depend on MGNREGA. Jairam Ramesh said, “Like the three black farm laws were to impact the farmers, this G Ram G law will hurt the vulnerable sections.”That advocacy groups and NGOs will complement their effort in taking the message to target groups has only bolstered their hope of an effective agitation.