NEW DELHI: On June 17, 2023, Hardeep Singh Nijjar — a Khalistani separatist designated as a terrorist by India — reportedly called his close associate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun to warn of what he described as a “serious threat” to his life. The conversation would later draw attention as investigators pieced together the final hours before his killing.The following day, Nijjar was shot dead by assailants in the parking lot of a gurdwara on the outskirts of Vancouver. Witness accounts cited in media reports said a white sedan pulled up, after which assailants approached and opened fire, discharging dozens of rounds before fleeing. The brazen nature of the attack quickly pushed the case beyond a local criminal investigation and into the realm of international scrutiny.In the weeks that followed, diplomatic ties between New Delhi and Ottawa came under strain after former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said authorities were examining allegations of a possible Indian link to the killing — a claim India rejected. Around the same period, US authorities disclosed they had disrupted what they described as a separate plot targeting Pannun. Acting on intelligence inputs, Czech police arrested Indian national Nikhil Gupta at Prague airport roughly a week after Nijjar’s death, setting off a parallel legal and diplomatic track.The US department of justice claimed that Gupta was involved in an alleged plot, directed by an employee of the Indian government, to target and assassinate Pannun. The DoJ also said that Gupta had links to international narcotics and weapons trafficking and was connected to Nijjar’s murder.India’s external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing, came into the spotlight after authorities in both countries linked it to the alleged killing plots targeting Hardeep Singh Nijjar and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.But what really happened? Was this a poorly executed covert operation, the act of a rogue operative, or an entirely different case with a third party at play?To understand this, the list of characters in the play must be known.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun (“the Victim”)

Nikhil Gupta

Vikas Yadav

CS (Credible Source)

UC (Under Cover Agent)

How Gupta was caughtAccording to the US Department of Justice, Nikhil Gupta plotted the assassination of Pannun at the direction and coordination of Vikas Yadav — whom US authorities identified as an Indian government employee.“At the direction and coordination of an Indian government employee, Nikhil Gupta plotted to assassinate a United States citizen on American soil,” FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C Barnacle Jr said.According to the Second Superseding Indictment and statements made in court, Yadav was employed by the government of India’s Cabinet Secretariat, which houses India’s foreign intelligence service, the Research and Analysis Wing.“In or about May 2023, Yadav recruited Gupta to orchestrate the assassination of ‘the Victim’ in the United States,” the justice department said.At Yadav’s direction, Gupta contacted an individual he believed to be a criminal associate. That individual was, in fact, a confidential source working with the Drug Enforcement Administration.The confidential source introduced Gupta to a purported hitman who was actually a DEA undercover officer.“Yadav subsequently agreed, in dealings brokered by Gupta, to pay the UC $100,000 to murder the Victim,” the release said.“On or about June 9, 2023, Yadav and Gupta arranged for an associate to deliver $15,000 in cash to the UC as an advance payment for the murder,” it added.Gupta pleaded guilty on February 14 to federal charges and admitted to three counts: murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.India’s stanceA high-powered panel set up by the Centre in 2023 – formed after the US flagged activities of some organised criminal groups, terrorist organisations, and drug peddlers “who undermine the security interests of both India and the US” -claimed that Vikas Yadav had “criminal links” but insisted the episode was a “rogue” operation, denying state-sponsored intent.The ministry of external affairs has also reiterated that Yadav, who had served in the CRPF in the past, is no longer in government service.Did Vikas Yadav go rogue?Serving and retired officials at security agencies feel that the whole affair seemed to brazenly violate every rule in the book that even rookie interns at any agency across the globe wouldn’t.“Forget a senior – any mid-level officer in an agency in the know would have shut it down instantly given the number of red flags the whole thing generated,” a retired government officer told The Times of India.

“Handlers never communicate directly with low-level criminal middlemen using traceable electronics. Yet, DoJ documents reveal that Yadav and Gupta exchanged routine messages on encrypted platforms that were clearly compromised,” the officer added.“In a real operation, a handler is a ghost; here, Yadav comes across as a digital pen pal. The ‘trap’ was not just visible; it was screaming.”On June 9, 2023, the conspirators arranged for an associate to hand over $15,000 in cash to the undercover agent in Manhattan. This, according to officials, was a “financial Op-Sec suicide.”Rather than going “dark” after Nijjar’s killing, Yadav allegedly sent Gupta a video of Nijjar’s bloodied body and a message stating that the New York target was now a “priority.”“By discussing an assassination so casually and explicitly linking the two hits, they surrendered all deniability and handed the DoJ the narrative of a transnational repression plot,” an official said.What now?Gupta is scheduled to be sentenced by US District Judge Victor Marrero on May 29, 2026, according to a joint statement by the FBI and DEA.By admitting to murder-for-hire and money laundering charges, Nikhil Gupta may have secured a reduction in the 40-year maximum sentence through an “acceptance of responsibility” credit.While the combined charges carry a maximum statutory punishment of 40 years in prison, a guilty plea typically triggers a reduction under federal sentencing guidelines.Gupta (54) may still have to serve around 80% of the awarded jail time. Under US law, if he receives a sentence longer than 12 months, he would be eligible for up to a 15% reduction for good behaviour while incarcerated.

Demand for rare earth permanent magnets in India is projected to double by 2030.

Stressing on the importance of self-reliance, Union Minister of Mines and Coal G Kishan Reddy on Thursday said that India aims to begin domestic production of rare earth permanent magnets by year-end through collaboration with private industry.Reddy stressed on the strategic significance of critical minerals for India’s economic progress and geopolitical standing, urging coordinated efforts to safeguard supply chains.Reddy said the ministry, along with a state-owned enterprise, has developed the required technology to manufacture the magnets. Plans are underway to establish four processing facilities for critical minerals across four different states.According to data from the US Geological Survey, India holds the world’s third-largest rare earth reserves, estimated at 6.9 million tonnes. However, extraction remains limited, largely due to modest private-sector participation and investment.

Importance of critical minerals

Emphasising the broad spectrum of industries reliant on these resources, he pointed out that sectors such as solar power, electric mobility, defence, healthcare, agriculture, aerospace, electronics, medical imaging and nuclear energy all depend fundamentally on minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements. He added that ensuring sufficient supplies of materials such as copper presents a significant challenge, not just for India but worldwide, as nations increasingly depend on these inputs.Reddy further observed that India currently imports about 95% of its critical mineral requirements. He acknowledged that addressing this vulnerability is essential for the country’s development, noting that the global value chain for these minerals remains heavily concentrated in a limited number of countries.Some countries have taken over them. Some countries have monopolized them. We will have to work together on such critical minerals, on such critical topics, at such critical times,” he said.Describing the issue as a matter of geopolitical significance, he said critical minerals now feature prominently on the global strategic agenda. According to him, this is a period when the country can emerge as a compelling destination in the global critical minerals ecosystem.He emphasised that achieving this will require collective effort to position India as an attractive hub. The Union Budget 2026-27 proposed the creation of dedicated rare earth corridors in Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to support mining, processing, research and the manufacturing of Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPMs).In November 2025, the government approved a Rs 7,280 crore scheme for REPM manufacturing, aiming to establish an integrated capacity of 6,000 metric tonnes per annum. The programme includes Rs 6,450 crore in sales-linked incentives over five years and Rs 750 crore as capital support for advanced production facilities.Demand for rare earth permanent magnets in India is projected to double by 2030, yet the country currently relies predominantly on imports to meet its requirements.China dominates nearly 90% of global processing capacity for these magnets and curtailed exports last year, creating supply challenges for automobile manufacturers.

Gold prices moved up on Thursday, with the April futures contract advancing by Rs 365 to Rs 1,56,126 per 10 grams, supported by fresh buying from speculators amid firm spot demand. On the Multi Commodity Exchange, the contract rose 0.23% in a business turnover of 1,071 lots. Analysts said the build-up of new positions lifted prices, while in the global market, gold futures in New York gained 0.48% to $5,001.54 per ounce.How much gold costs in your city today?

Gold price in Ahmedabad today

Gold prices in Ahmedabad today stand at Rs 11,742 per gram for 18K, Rs 14,350 per gram for 22K, and Rs 15,654 per gram for 24K gold.

Gold price in Bangalore today

Gold in Bangalore today is priced at Rs 11,737 per gram for 18K, Rs 14,345 per gram for 22K, and Rs 15,649 per gram for 24K gold.

Gold price in Bhubaneswar today

Bhubaneswar markets today see 18K gold costing at Rs 11,737 per gram, Rs 14,345 per gram for 22K, and Rs 15,649 per gram for 24K gold.

Gold price in Chennai today

Gold prices in Chennai today stand at Rs 12,400 per gram for 18K, Rs 14,500 per gram for 22K, and Rs 15,818 per gram for 24K gold.

Gold price in Delhi today

18K gold prices in Delhi stands at Rs 11,752 per gram, 22K at Rs 14,360 per gram, and 24K is priced at Rs 15,664 per gram.

Gold price in Hyderabad today

In Hyderabad too gold prices inched higher, costing Rs 11,737 per gram for 18K, Rs 14,345 per gram for 22K, and Rs 15,649 per gram for 24K gold.

Gold price in Jaipur today

Gold prices in Jaipur today stand at Rs 11,752 per gram for 18K, Rs 14,360 per gram for 22K, and Rs 15,664 per gram for 24K gold.

Gold price in Kanpur today

Gold prices in Kanpur today stand at Rs 11,752 per gram for 18K, Rs 14,360 per gram for 22K, and Rs 15,664 per gram for 24K gold.

Gold price in Kolkata today

Gold prices in Kolkata today stand at Rs 11,737 per gram for 18K, Rs 14,345 per gram for 22K, and Rs 15,649 per gram for 24K gold.

Gold price in Mumbai today

Gold prices in Mumbai today stand at Rs 11,737 per gram for 18K, Rs 14,345 per gram for 22K, and Rs 15,649 per gram for 24K gold.

You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/shirtless-blindfolded-disturbing-video-emerges-of-2024-hazing-session-11063346” on this server.

Reference #18.3fa21ab8.1771497463.f07864e

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.3fa21ab8.1771497463.f07864e

At a buzzing Eden Gardens, West Indies delivered a clinical all-round performance to defeat Italy by 42 runs in the 37th Match of Group C in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. After being asked to bat first, the Caribbean side posted a competitive 165/6 in their 20 overs before bundling Italy out for 123 in 18 overs. Shai Hope’s elegant 75 earned him the Player of the Match award, while Shamar Joseph’s fiery four-wicket haul ensured there was no late twist in the tale.

Shai Hope guides West Indies to competitive total

Put into bat after Italy elected to bowl, West Indies had a shaky start as Brandon King fell early for just four runs. Shimron Hetmyer also failed to make an impact, departing for a solitary run, leaving the innings in need of stability.

Hope stepped up beautifully to the occasion. Calm under pressure, he stitched together crucial partnerships and paced his innings to perfection. His 75 off 46 balls, studded with six boundaries and four towering sixes, was a blend of composure and calculated aggression. He found able support in Roston Chase, who contributed a steady 24 off 25 deliveries.

Although Rovman Powell couldn’t convert his start, Sherfane Rutherford injected momentum into the innings with a brisk 24 off just 15 balls. The late flourish came from Matthew Forde, whose 16 off eight balls, including three crisp boundaries, pushed the total beyond the 160-mark.

For Italy, Ben Manenti and Crishan Kalugamage impressed with two wickets apiece, while Ali Hasan and Thomas Jack Draca chipped in with one each. Despite their disciplined spells at various stages, they struggled to contain Hope during his dominant knock.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: India vs South Africa Super 8 Ticket Prices, Booking Details

Shamar Joseph-led West Indies bowling attack dismantle Italy’s chase

Chasing 166 on a surface offering some assistance to spinners and pacers alike, Italy never truly found momentum. Justin Mosca was dismissed cheaply, and although Anthony Mosca counter-attacked with 19 off 12 balls, the West Indies bowlers kept striking at regular intervals.

JJ Smuts tried to anchor the innings with 24 off 27 deliveries, but the required rate kept climbing. Manenti played a fighting knock of 26 from 21 balls, and Grant Stewart’s cameo of 12 off seven briefly raised hopes, yet Italy lacked sustained partnerships.

Shamar Joseph was the standout performer with the ball. His express pace and sharp variations fetched him four wickets for 30 runs in four overs, breaking the backbone of Italy’s middle and lower order. Matthew Forde complemented him brilliantly, claiming three wickets for just 19 runs. Gudakesh Motie also made vital inroads with two scalps, while Akeal Hosein chipped in with one. Italy were eventually bowled out for 123 in the 18th over, falling well short of the target.

West Indies beat Italy by 42 runs and maintain their 100% winning record in the 2026 T20 WC 🏏#WIvsITA #T20WorldCup2026 #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/6kCIqEE46g

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 19, 2026

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Rashid Khan pays heartfelt tribute to outgoing coach Jonathan Trott

Canada’s immigration minister – Lena Metlege Diab, last night announced new Express Entry immigration categories for 2026. The writing on the wall is clear: the focus is on ‘bringing in the right people to help build a stronger future’. In this backdrop, immigration experts expect that Express Entry draws (the point-based pathway to enable skilled applicants to gain permanent residency) will focus on ‘category-based’ draws. With Canada’s continued emphasis on boosting Francophone immigration, several French-language proficiency draws are also likely to be held this year.The first Express Entry category draw for foreign medical doctors with Canadian work experience, will be held in the coming days. Diab also announced the addition of targeted Express Entry pathways for researchers and senior managers with Canadian experience, transport-sector workers such as pilots and aircraft mechanics, and skilled foreign military recruits for specialised roles (such as doctors, nurses and pilots).“By providing a clear path to permanent residence, we’re supporting the broader federal efforts to drive innovation and growth, including a $1.7 billion initiative announced in Dec by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada to attract world-leading researchers to Canada,” said Diab.At the same time, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), will continue category-based draws for candidates with strong French-language skills and for workers in existing priority sectors, including healthcare and social services professions (such as nurse practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists and chiropractors) and skilled ‘trades’ such as carpenters, plumbers and machinists and STEM-related occupations.“We’ll support education occupations: science, technology, engineering, and math. The STEM categories include engineers and cybersecurity specialists. Tomorrow’s economy will be driven by innovation and technologies like artificial intelligence. Growing these industries creates jobs and opportunities for the future,” said the Minister.For Indians aspirants from the tech sector, the continued encouragement to candidates in the STEM field is good news, however immigration experts are quick to point out that cooks no longer fall in the ‘trade’ category.However, in 2025, only one ‘trade’ occupation draw was held in September. Further, several cooks from India have been successful under the Canadian Experience Class draws. The route was: study in the hospitality stream in Canada, work as a cook under the post graduate work program, gain a year’s experience and qualify as eligible for CEC draws. This option remains open, but today such draws are subject to high cut-off scores.Under updated rules, the minimum work-experience requirement for occupational categories has been raised to one year within the past three years, compared with the earlier six-month requirement, though the experience no longer needs to be continuous.Also read: A guide to Canadian permanent residenceDiab stressed that, “IRCC’s effort to attract talent is part of our government’s International Talent Attraction Strategy. We’re not waiting for the right people to find us. We’re going out into the world to recruit the people our country needs, connect them with Canadian employers, and highlight why Canada is the best place in the world to build their careers and lives.”“Employers can plan, hire and invest with confidence, with an Express Entry program that functions effectively for them,” she added.The announcement comes as Canada recalibrates immigration levels following high inflows a few years ago, while this helped address labour shortages – especially during the pandemic – it also added pressure on housing, infrastructure and social services. The government has since moved to stabilise the system and reduce immigrant intakes.As of Jan 1, Canada had paused its start-up visa program. When asked about it, Diab mentioned that consultations are ongoing to determine how it should function, going forward.

South Africa’s Dewald Brevis (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: India and South Africa are bracing up for a mouth-watering Super 8 clash in the T20 World Cup in Ahmedabad on Sunday. With both sides having quite a few match winners, the game offers plenty of match-ups. One of them could possibly involve India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy and South Africa’s rising batting star Dewald Brevis.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Asked about the tantalising battle ahead after his team’s six-wicket win over the UAE here, Brevis, who usually bats at No.4, sounded dismissive of the threat posed by Chakravarthy. “He is a spin bowler, so I will play him like a spinner. Watch the ball and react to it,” he said.

Though Brevis didn’t have an impressive run during South African team’s limited overs tour of India last year — scoring just 69 runs at an average of 17 — he never got out to Chakravarthy in the four T20I games.Ever since he burst on to the scene with his exploits in the U-19 World Cup in 2022, where he finished as the tournament’s leading run-getter (506 runs from six games), Brevis has had to live with the moniker of ‘Baby AB’, as he is often compared to Proteas great AB de Villiers. It’s a tag he enjoys. “It’s always been a very big privilege for me to be compared with AB. But it’s never been any pressure for me. It’s always been an honour,” said Brevis.

Against India, Brevis will hope to summon the experience of playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. The South African team’s special consultant, Albie Morkel, has labelled the 22-year-old as the team’s “X-factor” ahead of the highly-anticipated Super 8 clash.After scores of 6, 23 and 21 in the first three matches of the T20 World Cup, Brevis showed glimpses of his potential with a brief, entertaining innings of 36 off 25 balls, studded with three glorious sixes, against UAE on Wednesday. While he got out with his side seven runs short of the target, Brevis was unfazed.“It’s just about being myself and enjoying the game, and usually, the best things happen after that. Being consistent in that performance is not always guaranteed. We all go through ups and downs. It’s just about being positive and backing your style of play,” he said.

When a four-legged robot named “Orion” trotted onto the floor of the India AI Impact Summit, it was meant to showcase cutting-edge innovation from Greater Noida. Instead, within hours, it triggered a storm that forced Galgotias University to vacate its stall and issue a public apology — after social media users identified the machine as a Chinese-made product.

From ‘Orion’ to Unitree: How the controversy erupted

The row began when Professor Neha Singh, representing the university at the summit, introduced a robotic dog branded as “Orion” during a media interaction. In a clip aired by DD News, she said the robot “has been developed by the Centre of Excellence at Galgotias University” and described its surveillance and monitoring capabilities.

However, online users quickly pointed out that the robot appeared identical to the Unitree Go2, a commercially available quadruped manufactured by Unitree Robotics. The model is widely used in research and education globally and is available in India for roughly Rs 2–3 lakh.What followed was swift ridicule and political criticism. Critics alleged that an imported Chinese product had been presented as an in-house innovation at a summit designed to spotlight domestic AI capability.As scrutiny intensified, sources said that authorities asked the university to vacate its stall. Power supply to the pavilion was reportedly cut before the team cleared the premises.The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology made its position clear. Secretary S Krishnan said the government wanted “genuine and actual work” to be reflected at expos and that “misinformation cannot be encouraged”. Without directly assigning blame, he added that organisers did not want controversy surrounding exhibits and that a code of conduct was essential.Additional Secretary Abhishek Singh said the intention was not to stifle innovation but that displays should not be misleading, and the episode should not overshadow the efforts of other participants.

Damage control and shifting explanations

Faced with mounting backlash, the university’s response evolved over the course of the day.In an initial statement, it maintained that it had not claimed to have built the robot, arguing that exposure to global technologies was central to student learning. It described criticism as a “propaganda campaign” and said robotic programming formed part of its effort to help students develop real-world AI skills using globally available tools.Registrar Nitin Kumar Gaur later sought to clarify what he called a “jumble” between the words “develop” and “development”. Speaking to ANI, he said the university did not develop the robot but had “worked on its development” for academic and research purposes. The machine, he said, had been purchased to support student research.Professor Singh also issued a clarification, saying there had been a “misinterpretation” and that the university never claimed the robot was manufactured by it. She accepted that she may not have conveyed her point clearly in the flow of the interaction.By evening, the tone shifted decisively. In a formal apology, the university said the representative manning the pavilion had been “ill-informed” about the technical origins of the product and had given “factually incorrect information” in her enthusiasm on camera, despite not being authorised to speak to the press.The statement insisted there was “no institutional intent to misrepresent this innovation” and said the university had vacated the premises in line with the organiser’s sentiment.Meanwhile, opposition leaders seized on the episode. Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi described the summit as a “disorganised PR spectacle”, questioning why Chinese products were being showcased at an event meant to project India’s AI ambitions.