US Vice-President JD Vance shared a light-hearted glimpse into his marriage, revealing the “best and worst” dishes he has ever cooked for his wife, Usha Vance — and admitting that his first attempt was “actually inedible”.Speaking in an interview on Fox News with Lara Trump, Vance was asked about his culinary skills after Usha previously suggested he “did not know how to cook much” before they met.

“The worst is very easy,” Vance replied. “Usha’s a vegetarian and I am not. So I’m like thinking to myself, what does a vegetarian eat…So I went to the grocery store. I got those crescent rolls. I rolled them out like into a pizza shape…It was disgusting. Like it was actually inedible.”Reflecting on the early days of their relationship, he added: “It’s amazing that the relationship lasted because that was the first time that I ever cooked for her.”Over the years, however, the Vice-President says he has improved significantly in the kitchen. “The best thing that I’ve ever cooked? I’m pretty good at cooking now. But I can make a pretty good brioche bread.”Usha Vance, who joined the conversation, offered a more recent example of his efforts. “Most recently it’s been Shokupan, which is the Japanese milk bread…he’s been working on it for a while and he does it really well.”The exchange offered a rare personal insight into the couple’s life at home. Married since meeting at Yale Law School in 2010, the pair have three young children — Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel — and are expecting their fourth child, a boy, later this year.Vance has frequently credited his wife as a steady presence throughout his rapid political rise. “I know her most of all as a great mom and a great wife, as a person who supports me, who’s so good to the kids, who makes it possible for them to grow up as normal kids,” he said.He also described her as someone uninterested in public attention. “This is a person who doesn’t really care about the limelight, who’s not trying to sort of get out there in front of the crowds all the time, who just wants to give her kids a good life and who wants to be as good of a public servant as possible.”“I think that’s what we should want out of our public leaders and certainly they have it in our second lady.”

In the aftermath of India’s crushing 76-run defeat against South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium, one question dominated post-match discussions: why was vice-captain Axar Patel left out in favour of Washington Sundar?

India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate fronted the media to provide a detailed explanation of the tactical thinking behind the controversial selection call that backfired spectacularly.

Axar Patel vs Washington Sundar: Powerplay bowling, match-ups and the Rinku Singh factor

Ten Doeschate revealed that the team management spent considerable time deliberating over the playing XI in the lead-up to the match, with the final decision centered on specific match-up considerations against South Africa’s left-handed batters .

“A key part of today’s strategy was how well he (Washington) has bowled in the powerplay in T20 cricket,” ten Doeschate explained at the post-match press conference. “The idea was to go in with three frontline bowlers plus Washington, with two others sharing the fifth-bowler’s role. Winning the powerplay was going to be crucial. We had envisaged Washington bowling two overs up front, not necessarily being 30 for 3. That early position then gives you flexibility with the bat as well.” 

The coaching staff identified Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton and David Miller as the primary threats, leading them to prefer an off-spinner over left-arm spinner Axar Patel for better match-ups against the left-handers.

Ten Doeschate emphasized that the decision was also influenced by the desire to maintain batting depth. “In hindsight, you could argue that leaving out a batter and playing an extra frontline bowler looks like the right decision. But, making decisions at that time, we felt we needed Rinku as an eighth batsman, so to speak. And the decision was based on that.” 

He stressed that Axar’s omission was in no way a reflection on his abilities or importance to the team. “It’s certainly not a reflection on Axar – his leadership and importance to the team are unquestioned. But this is the challenge we face almost every week: fitting 11 players into a squad of 15. It’s not easy, and we have to make sure we get it right for the next two Super Eight games.” 

“In hindsight, it looked like the wrong decision”: Ryan ten Doeschate

Perhaps most significantly, ten Doeschate candidly admitted that the selection call had not paid off. “We spent so much time in deliberating. We were looking at match-ups. Hindsight, it looked like the wrong decision. Take nothing away from Axar. Very disappointed,” he told reporters .

He elaborated on the thought process: “On balance, given that we expected most of the threat to come from left-handers, and that we wanted the extra batter, it came down to a straight choice between Washington and Axar. And we went with Washington.” 

Despite the clear tactical reasoning, the plan fell apart in execution. Sundar bowled just two overs, conceding 17 runs without taking a wicket, and was never utilized during the powerplay – the very phase for which he was supposedly selected .

With the bat, Sundar was promoted to No. 5 during India’s collapse but managed only 11 runs off 11 balls, failing to stabilize the innings . Ten Doeschate defended the promotion, explaining that Axar would have faced the same situation had he played. “If Axar had played in that team today, he would have walked in the same position at whatever we were, 20 for 3.”

India’s heavy left-handed batting order an area of concern

The defeat exposed deeper structural issues in India’s batting approach. Ten Doeschate acknowledged that teams have consistently exploited India’s left-handed heavy top order by opening with part-time off-spin.

Also READ: Fans react as South Africa crush India in the Super 8 clash at T20 World Cup 2026

“Four times now teams have opened with part-time spin against us and taken a wicket… that’s obviously something we have to look at,” he said. This has led to discussions about potentially bringing in Sanju Samson as a right-handed option at the top. “Do you stick with the guys who have performed over the last 18 months and are just short of runs now, or do you twist and bring in a right-hander at the top? That’s a discussion we’ll have over the next few days.”

Gautam Gambhir faces scrutiny

Head coach Gautam Gambhir faced significant criticism from fans and experts following the failed experiment. With India now needing to win both remaining Super 8 matches against Zimbabwe and the West Indies to keep their semifinal hopes alive, the team management must quickly resolve the selection dilemmas that contributed to their biggest-ever T20 World Cup defeat.

Also READ: Top 3 biggest run defeats for India in the T20 World Cup history

Kuldeep Yadav (R) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav. (ANI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India’s heavy defeat to South Africa in the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has triggered a blunt reality check, with former batter Sanjay Manjrekar urging the side to “be humble” and quickly address key flaws to stay in title contention.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!A dominant South Africa piled up 187/7 before bundling India out for just 111. The crushing loss not only dented India’s momentum but also exposed glaring tactical and technical weaknesses.

Reflecting on the defeat, Manjrekar said on his Instagram post, “A big defeat to India against South Africa. So, the first strong team that India has played, and they have not really coped well against that team. But the good news is that India is not out of the tournament.”He added that the loss could serve as a blessing in disguise if India respond correctly.“So what South Africa have done – and we have to be humble and respect the opposition and in a way thank them – is that they have shown us three areas of improvement that we can still work on and end up getting into the final rounds and hopefully win the title,” he said.Manjrekar identified India’s struggles against spin as the most pressing concern and called for a batting order reshuffle.“The first area of concern is an obvious one: India is struggling against spin. So how do you solve that? Try to rearrange the batting order in a way that naturally good players of spin are batting up the order, and people like Tilak Varma, who is struggling a little bit, can come down the order,” he said. He also flagged the team’s vulnerability against pace-off deliveries, including from captain Suryakumar Yadav.“The other thing which was glaring in this game against South Africa was even the pace bowlers, when they take the pace off, Indian batters are struggling. The captain seemed like the one who struggled most now when the pace is taken off.”Manjrekar further stressed the need to strengthen the bowling attack rather than adding extra batting depth.“The third is an easily solvable problem. When the batting is uncertain, not firing, very often you try and get more batting depth. There’s another way to cover that weakness, and that is by having a stronger bowling attack. So get Kuldeep Yadav in.”“So yes, try and make a change that is possible and immediately effective, and then work on the more complex problems… If done quickly, India still have a great chance of getting into the final rounds,” he concluded.

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Most people are aware that sparrows have seen a sharp decline in population across India. The reasons are many — rapid urbanisation, loss of nesting spaces, pollution, and changing food habits. But have we ever thought of doing anything about it? Panna Lal Mahto who lives in a small village in Jharkhand’s Ramgarh district is quietly building homes for sparrows and helping in their nesting.“Last year, I made nests for sparrows in every home in my village, and we saw nearly 80% habitation. Today, I’ve just finished installing nests in the last house for this year. This time, we expanded to other villages as well. You won’t believe it — by the time we completed the work, sparrows had already started settling in three to four houses,” he says with pride.

His enthusiasm and love for birds are truly infectious.His nephew, Om Prakash Mahto who lives in Delhi and is preparing for the UPSC examination, manages Pannalal’s Instagram account and often accompanies him on birding expeditions. He says that Pannalal has dedicated his life to birds. “Whatever time he finds in between work, he spends it improving the lives of these fellow creatures. He knows them, and they seem to know him,” Om Prakash says.There is no official support or funding from anywhere — Panna Lal manages all these initiatives from his own pocket, driven purely by passion and commitment. He is popularly known as “Birdman” in the region. He is not just a lover of birds, but a naturalist at heart. He can mimic the calls of almost every bird you have ever heard. His knowledge of different species is deep and impressive, and his talent is so remarkable that he can accurately reproduce the distinct calls of doves, sparrows, and many other birds.

When he demonstrates his skill, it feels as if the sounds of the forest come alive — like a travelling minstrel of nature, blending human voice with the music of the wild.“In my village one can spot at least 100 varieties of birds. My love for birds goes a long way back. It was around 1995-96 that my uncle rescued two birds- a grey partridge and a parakeet. I used to feed these two birds. When I would go to them with their food, they would show their love and gratitude by flapping their wings, and it filled my heart with love. These are very expressive creatures, and they communicate with us if we are ready to listen,” says Panna Lal.Panna Lal can mimic the voice of almost any bird. He has the ability to summon 50-60 crows with ease. He knows the names and behaviors of hundreds of birds by simply observing and reading about them. He has not gone to fancy schools or taken expensive degrees in ornithology; he is completely self-taught and has debunked several myths around birds by sheer observation and experience.

In addition to his work, he also runs awareness programs in schools and colleges to teach kids how important it is to protect birds and their natural habitats. His mission is not about making money; it’s about following his heart. As Om says, “We don’t charge anything; we do it for free. Being an ornithologist is an expensive affair. You need to have a high quality camera and an expensive lense. Our Birdman is self taught and has been managing it all with whatever little income he has” Their dedication shows that they really want to raise awareness and get other people to care about the environment.

Panna Lal says that birds are very smart and have interesting ways of staying alive. “You might not believe it, but birds can even act,” he says. For instance, the Ashy-crowned Sparrow-Lark acts like a helpless baby bird to keep predators or people away from its nest and chicks. It flaps its wings and flies in a clumsy way, like a young bird, to get your mind off of its little ones. This smart behavior shows that birds have an instinctive intelligence that helps them keep their families safe.The Birdman’s expertise goes far beyond ordinary observation. While most naturalists can identify a bird by spotting it and describing its features, he has developed an extraordinary skill. “Most naturalists will see a bird and then tell you about it,” he says with confidence. “But I can simply hear a bird’s call and tell you everything about it.” His remarkable ability to recognize birds by their sounds alone demonstrates years of dedication, careful listening, and a deep connection with nature.Birdman’s love for birds isn’t just a hobby; it’s something he’ll do for the rest of his life. He is happy to spend any free time he has, and even the little money he makes, to make their lives easier. He is fully committed to their health and well-being, whether that means getting them food and water, keeping their nesting areas safe, or saving injured birds.The birds seem to know and appreciate his kindness in return. They talk to him in their special way. When he is there, they gather around him, flap their wings, and chirp softly, as if they are saying thank you. Some hover close by, while others fly around him in a playful way. It seems like they know he’s there and completely trust him. Birdman and the birds have a beautiful connection. They understand that he cares, and he knows that they care too. Their relationship is a beautiful example of how man and nature can coexist together and create a better and more symbiotic world.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday wrote a letter to the voters of West Bengal ahead of the Assembly elections in the state, saying he was “heartbroken” about what he described as the state’s present condition.In his letter, the Prime Minister accused the Mamata Banerjee-led government of “extreme non-cooperation” and said the state’s destiny would be decided in a few months.Beginning the letter with “Joy Maa Kali,” PM Modi wrote: “Just a few months remain, after which the destiny of West Bengal will be decided. The responsibility of determining the path of the next generation’s future rests upon your thoughtful decision. The people of my dream ‘Sonar Bangla,’ young and old alike, are today victims of deep deprivation. My heart is heavy with their suffering. Therefore, from the depths of my being, I have taken one resolve — the resolve to make West Bengal developed and prosperous.”“Just a few months remain, after which the destiny of West Bengal will be decided. The responsibility of determining the path of the next generation’s future rests upon your thoughtful decision. The people of my dream, “Sonar Bangla,” young and old alike, are today victims of deep deprivation. My heart is heavy with their suffering. Therefore, from the depths of my being, I have taken one resolve — the resolve to make West Bengal developed and prosperous,” he added.“Despite the state government’s extreme non-cooperation and hostility, today 50 million people in West Bengal have been brought into the banking system through the Jan-Dhan Yojana. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, we have enabled the construction of 8.5 million toilets in the state. While the ruling party deprives the poor of their basic sustenance, we have extended a helping hand to small traders and entrepreneurs through loans worth Rs 2.82 lakh crore. Through the Atal Pension Yojana, we have helped 5.6 million senior citizens achieve financial security in old age. Under the Ujjwala Yojana, we have delivered cooking gas connections to more than 10 million families, freeing mothers and sisters from the hardships of smoke-filled kitchens. At a time when the very providers of food struggle for survival, we consider ourselves fortunate to have supported more than 5.2 million farmers directly through the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme,” the letter further read.If the Bharatiya Janata Party comes to power in West Bengal, PM Modi claimed it would build a state where women feel secure, where young people need not leave home for work, and where Bengali culture regains its glory.“My humble appeal to the people of West Bengal: join this journey of development. I eagerly await an opportunity to serve you — an opportunity to build a state where, in Gurudev’s words, ‘the mind is without fear and the head is held high.’ A West Bengal free from corruption and misrule,” the letter said.“A West Bengal where women feel secure, where young people need not leave home for work, where Bengali culture regains its glory. Our refugee brothers and sisters, victims of religious persecution, will gain citizenship through the CAA, and a governance free from illegal infiltration will be established,” he added.

KALYAN: Amid rapid urban expansion and rising commuter stress across Thane district’s satellite cities, the state government recently has unveiled a substantial funding allocation to accelerate metro and road infrastructure works in the Kalyan–Badlapur corridor. The investment, channelled through the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), is aimed at decongesting overcrowded suburban rail routes and strengthening regional connectivity.The ₹4,897.19 crore provision was announced during the presentation of MMRDA’s 2026–27 budget at a meeting chaired by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. Officials said the allocation reflects the urgent need for long-term mobility solutions as population growth, industrial development, and vehicular traffic continue to strain existing infrastructure.According to authorities, a major portion of the funds will support the expansion of the metro network. The budget outlines funds allocated for major projects: Metro Line 5 (Thane–Bhiwandi–Kalyan): ₹1,309.30 crore; Metro Line 5A (Durgadi–Ulhasnagar extension): ₹183.35 crore; Metro Line 12 (Kalyan–Taloja): ₹1,054.54 crore; Metro Line 14 (Kanjurmarg–Badlapur): ₹500 crore; Kalyan–Shilphata Junction to Bhiwandi flyover: ₹150 crore; Kalyan Ring Road: ₹600 crore; Vitthalwadi–Kalyan Ahilyanagar elevated road: ₹200 crore; and Airoli–Katai Freeway (Phase 3): ₹900 crore.Among the most significant announcements is the ₹500 crore sanction for Metro Line 14 (Kanjurmarg–Badlapur). The corridor is expected to provide relief to lakhs of daily railway commuters travelling to Mumbai and Thane from Badlapur, Ambernath, Kalyan and Dombivli, many of whom currently endure packed suburban trains.Transport planners believe the line will emerge as a crucial alternative mode, offering faster and more comfortable connectivity across the Badlapur to Thane and Mumbai belt.Similarly, the Metro Line 5A extension up to Ulhasnagar is being viewed as another potential game changer. By linking Ulhasnagar more directly with Metro Line 5 (Kalyan Bhiwandi-Thane) and further to Mumbai, the project is expected to improve last-mile connectivity, reduce road congestion, and strengthen integration with the broader metro network.MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde, who represents the Kalyan Lok Sabha constituency, welcomed the allocation and credited sustained follow-up with the state government and MMRDA for securing the funds. He expressed gratitude to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, stating that multiple projects are already underway and the fresh funding will help ensure their timely completion.Urban development experts say the combined metro and road investments mark a pivotal step towards structured urbanisation in the Kalyan–Badlapur belt. Once operational, the projects are expected to reshape commuting patterns, enhance economic activity, and significantly improve quality of life for residents across one of the fastest-growing suburban corridors in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.The citizens also welcome state government decisions saying it will bring major relief to commutters who in these region primary depends upon rail network for transport and travels in packed train risking their life.

BHOPAL: More than 50,000 women and girls, of 2,69,500 who went missing across Madhya Pradesh over the last six years, continue to remain untraceable, the state government revealed in the Assembly, adding that the cases are listed as ‘pending’ as no information has been received on their whereabouts.In a written reply to a question posed by Congress MLA Vikrant Bhuria in the House on Feb 18, the government quoted figures stating that over 2.06 lakh women and 63,500 girls went missing across the state between 2020 and 2026. However, it informed the Assembly that 1.58 lakh missing women and 61,000 girls have been rescued, adding that the remaining missing cases should not be considered closed till there is no information on whereabouts or fates.

The Congress MLA sought data on the number of reports of missing women and girls registered across all police station areas of the state between 2020 and 2026. He also sought to know how many of those missing were traced and rescued and those still untraceable. He also demanded that the state revert with details of the action plan by the department concerned with regard to women and girls still missing and the budget to ensure women’s safety.The state, in its written reply, stated that cases involving close to 48,000 missing women and 2,200 girls were still tagged as ‘pending’, for lack of any information yet on their whereabouts.Among the four main cities — Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior and Jabalpur — the state’s industrial capital reported 4,449 women and 135 girls as missing in the last six years, topping the charts, while Bhopal (urban) reported 1,685 and 56 missing women and girls in the same period of time. Further, the written reply detailed that Gwalior accounted for 1,188 missing women and 14 girls over the past six years, with Jabalpur reporting 2,296 women and 86 girls missing within the same time span.The government said 52 women’s police stations have been established in the state to ensure prompt hearing and disposal of all complaints and cases related to women. In addition, instructions are issued from time to time to other police stations as well for the prevention of crimes against women and for effective investigation, the government stated in its reply.To prevent crimes committed against women, a total of 987 women’s helpdesks are operational in the state, the reply read further, adding that a year-long campaign is underway to trace missing minor girls and boys.A special campaign, ‘Operation Helping Hand’, was also underway to enable prompt execution of warrants issued by courts for the maintenance and support of women, the state informed the House, adding that both campaigns were being continuously reviewed at the headquarters level by the women safety branch of the state police.To create awareness about crimes against women, the ‘Sraja’ programme for adolescent girls, ‘Abhimanyu’ for boys, and ‘Samman’ campaign for all women were being conducted, under an integrated campaign since January, this year, the reply read, adding that for fiscal 2025–26, a budget allocation of Rs 41,88,54,200 was made for women’s safety.

IDFC First bank has filed police complaints, informed regulators and statutory auditors, and begun recovery measures.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday reacted to the IDFC First Bank fraud case that came to light over the weekend. “We are watching the development, there is no systemic issue,” RBI governor Sanjay Malhotra said.The Rs 590 crore fraud linked to Haryana government accounts stemmed from collusion between certain IDFC First Bank employees and outside entities, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer V. Vaidyanathan said on Monday.Speaking during a special call with investors and analysts before the equity market opened, Vaidyanathan said the bank would make provisions in accordance with its policy of recognising stress at an early stage. He added that the financial impact is not expected to significantly dent profitability, noting that improved net interest margins and lower credit costs would provide support.“So, on a standalone basis, we were expecting a very solid Q4 in terms of profitability,” Vaidyanathan said.Following the disclosure of the fraud involving Haryana government accounts, the state government removed IDFC First Bank and AU Small Finance Bank from its empanelled list for handling government business. AU Small Finance Bank has denied any involvement in wrongdoing.Vaidyanathan said the independent forensic review being conducted by advisory firm KPMG is likely to be completed within four to five weeks. “We appointed KPMG only yesterday (Sunday)… typically, to the best of my understanding, these processes could take about 4-5 weeks to conclude,” he said.The discrepancy has been estimated at about Rs 590 crore, which includes Rs 490 crore identified through reconciliation and an additional Rs 100 crore detected internally. Vaidyanathan indicated that the figure is unlikely to rise further. “We have put out this number as we could have assessed at this point of time — we don’t anticipate this to broadly move from here on,” he said.He added that recoveries, along with an “employee dishonesty insurance” cover of Rs 35 crore, could help mitigate the financial impact.Describing the matter as a case of collusion involving staff and external parties through forged physical cheque transactions, Vaidyanathan said the irregularities were restricted to a single branch and one group of clients. He maintained that there was no flaw in the bank’s reporting systems.The bank has filed police complaints, informed regulators and statutory auditors, and begun recovery measures including lien-marking actions across the banking network, he said.According to Vaidyanathan, deposits linked to the Haryana government account for around 0.5 percent of the bank’s total deposits. Overall government deposits, including those from central and state entities, make up between 8 and 10 percent of the deposit base.