AHMEDABAD: A student’s suicide, the emotional note he left behind and the alleged circumstances leading up to the incident have rocked Nadiad. Jay Vijaykumar Patil, 21, a first-year nursing student of Dinsha Patel Nursing College in Nadiad, was found hanging at his residence in the town’s Manjipura area on Monday. In his suicide note addressed to his mother, Jay wrote he had never body-shamed any female professor as alleged and that he was being wrongly framed.Jay had enrolled for the nursing course just three months ago, in Oct. In the note, now in police custody as part of the investigations, he expressed deep distress over being misunderstood and humiliated, writing that he was being blamed without proof and that he was not the kind who would not accept punishment for any mistake. His father, Vijay Patil, has levelled serious allegations against the college administration, claiming that his son was deliberately isolated and placed under pressure. He told police that he was called to the college a few days before the incident and warned that his son’s conduct was “under watch”, and that authorities threatened to issue a leaving certificate if there was no “improvement”“The teachers isolated my son. He was under extreme pressure for the last three days and had slipped into depression,” Vijay said, demanding strict legal action against those responsible for pushing his son to take the extreme step.College authorities denied any wrongdoing, saying there had been complaints about Jay and teachers intervened when “boundaries were crossed.” Virendra Jain, principal of the nursing college, said the college management has constituted a high-level internal inquiry committee after the suicide and has recorded statements of all teaching staff, including those of three female professors who regularly handled the class. The college claimed that had been complaints regarding Jay’s discipline and that he submitted written apologies on three occasions for alleged misconduct. “Two days before the incident, the college held a meeting with the student’s mother. We tried to counsel the student and resolve the issue amicably,” Jain said, adding, “When boundaries are crossed in student-teacher interactions, teachers intervene. Whether this amounted to corrective action or mental harassment will be determined by the inquiry committee.” Nadiad town police are investigating the case as an accidental death. Mobile phone records are being examined, and statements of family members and college staff are being recorded.

Bangladesh cricket fan waves their national flag (Reuters Photo)

Bangladesh women’s team cricketer Rabeya Khan (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

Bangladesh cricket fan waves their national flag (Reuters Photo)

Bangladesh women’s team cricketer Rabeya Khan (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

Bangladesh cricket fan waves their national flag (Reuters Photo)

NEW DELHI: The Bangladesh High Court has raised serious questions over the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s handling of women players’ safety, especially in cases linked to sexual harassment. On Monday, the court issued a rule asking why the failure of the BCB and concerned authorities to provide a safe and gender-sensitive environment for women cricketers should not be declared “unlawful, without lawful authority, and against public interest.”

According to a report from Bangladesh-based media outlet Daily Star, the court also ordered the BCB to immediately follow its anti-sexual harassment policy in line with earlier court guidelines. Until the case is decided, the board must submit a report explaining what steps it has taken to implement these measures.The order came after a writ petition filed by former national shooter Sabrina Sultana. The High Court bench of Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar passed the directive after hearing the petition.According to the petitioner’s lawyer, Barrister Nasiruddin Ahmed Asim, allegations of sexual harassment were raised involving Jahanara Alam, the former captain of the Bangladesh women’s cricket team. Following the complaint, the BCB formed a three-member independent inquiry committee, which was later expanded to five members. However, no report has been made public so far.The BCB reportedly delayed submitting the committee’s findings twice. The report was due on January 31, but there is still no clarity on whether it has been submitted at all. This delay and lack of transparency led to dissatisfaction over how the matter was handled.Because of these concerns, Sabrina Sultana approached the High Court, seeking firm directions to protect women athletes and ensure accountability. After an initial hearing, the court issued both the rule and the interim order.

Site where Ajit Pawar’s plane crashed

MUMBAI: India’s charter aviation sector has grown steadily, filling a crucial gap left by airlines by connecting smaller towns & airports. But industry insiders say safety compliance across non-scheduled operators is uneven and often weaker than airline standards. Implementation of pilots’ flight duty time limits, maintenance standards & weather-related decision-making vary widely between operatorsCharter flying offers speed, flexibility and access to places far beyond an airline’s scheduled network, making it the fastest way to reach remote destinations. But this convenience, which is the very core that defines charter operations, also exposes a fundamental difference in how safety is prioritised. Unlike in airline operations, decisions on whether to operate or land are often taken closer to the cockpit, where passenger urgency and convenience can weigh heavily, sometimes pushing safety to the second place.“Non-scheduled flights carry high-net-worth passengers with a fixed objective, an event, a meeting, a function. That creates immense pressure on pilots to land at the intended destination at all costs, even when diversion would be the safer option,” said Capt Manoj Hathi, former senior flight operations inspector at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Parliament panel on Ajit Pawar’s death

Capt R K Bali of the Business Aircraft Operators Association said India’s non-scheduled aircraft operators have a fleet of about 300 aircraft. “The need of the hour is a pre-flight open, clear communication between pilot and the passenger. The pilot should carry out an objective assessment of the risk involved for a given flight and brief the passenger especially when flying into a small uncontrolled airport with no landing aids in marginal weather conditions. The pilot should be under no duress from anyone to make the landing, because ultimately the buck stops at the pilot”.But that is often not the case. A senior pilot spoke about the pressure the crew comes under. “When a politician travels by road, traffic is stopped, junctions sealed and inconvenience is imposed on everyone else in the name of the VIP safety. When the same politician travels by air, the inconvenience quietly shifts to rest solely on the pilot. A chartered aircraft is expected to get in and get out, often to small airfields and on tight timelines because a meeting, a rally or a public appearance cannot be missed.”Then there are other aspects that influence the safety standards in charter aircraft operations. Unlike scheduled airlines, where pilot flight duty time limitations are tightly monitored and crew can be replaced at short notice, charter operations operate with limited manpower. “There is an expectation that you should be able to fly whenever you want. Passengers are frequently late, and replacement crew are rarely available except at the main base,” said Capt Hathi. Irregular schedules also impact pilot proficiency. Charter pilots often lack the consistency that airline crew benefit from, affecting skill retention and operational discipline. The sector also struggles to retain experienced flight crew. “Many first officers and captains see charter flying as a steppingstone to airlines. Attrition is high. Many captains are older, retired from airlines, or were not selected elsewhere,” said an operator.Capt Hathi said, “Training infrastructure is another weak point. Most non-scheduled operators do not have dedicated training departments comparable to airlines, largely due to cost constraints. Refresher training and procedural updates are often left to self-study. The problem is compounded when operators maintain multiple aircraft types within small fleets, making standardisation of procedures difficult.”Short-notice flights such as medical evacuations or emergency travel add another layer of complexity. “There is often insufficient time for proper briefing or preparation,” said a source. Compounding this, pilots in charter operations are responsible for tasks that airlines distribute across multiple departments. Flight preparation, loading calculations, technical documentation and coordination are often handled solely by pilots, meaning their effective duty begins hours before the recorded reporting time. These factors create a system where compliance depends heavily on individual operators and pilots rather than institutional safeguards as is the case with airlines.

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India-US trade deal announced: US President Donald Trump on Monday announced that India and the US have finalised a trade deal. Ahead of the announcement, Trump spoke to PM Modi. The deal comes after several months of negotiations, in between which the Donald Trump administration levied a steep 50% tariff on Indian exports to the US. 25% of these tariffs were for India’s crude oil trade with Russia, which the US claimed was indirectly financing Russia’s war against Ukraine.The India-US trade deal was confirmed by PM Modi who posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Wonderful to speak with my dear friend President Trump today. Delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18%. Big thanks to President Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India for this wonderful announcement. When two large economies and the world’s largest democracies work together, it benefits our people and unlocks immense opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation. President Trump’s leadership is vital for global peace, stability, and prosperity. India fully supports his efforts for peace. I look forward to working closely with him to take our partnership to unprecedented heights.”

Also Read | India-US trade deal: 25% penal tariffs linked to Russian oil gone? Here’s what we knowThe deal was first announced by Trump on social media platform Truth Social, “It was an Honor to speak with Prime Minister Modi, of India, this morning. He is one of my greatest friends and, a Powerful and Respected Leader of his Country. We spoke about many things, including Trade, and ending the War with Russia and Ukraine. He agreed to stop buying Russian Oil, and to buy much more from the United States and, potentially, Venezuela. This will help END THE WAR in Ukraine, which is taking place right now, with thousands of people dying each and every week! Out of friendship and respect for Prime Minister Modi and, as per his request, effective immediately, we agreed to a Trade Deal between the United States and India, whereby the United States will charge a reduced Reciprocal Tariff, lowering it from 25% to 18%. They will likewise move forward to reduce their Tariffs and Non Tariff Barriers against the United States, to ZERO. The Prime Minister also committed to “BUY AMERICAN,” at a much higher level, in addition to over $500 BILLION DOLLARS of U.S. Energy, Technology, Agricultural, Coal, and many other products. Our amazing relationship with India will be even stronger going forward. Prime Minister Modi and I are two people that GET THINGS DONE, something that cannot be said for most. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”Earlier today, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor shared on X (formerly Twitter): President Trump just spoke with Prime Minister Modi. STAY TUNED…

India-US Trade Deal: Top Highlights From Trump’s Announcement

The deal comes days after India and the EU announced what both sides called the ‘mother of all’ trade deals. While European Union is India’s largest trading partner as an economic bloc, US continues to be the single largest trading partner.On Saturday, Trump claimed that India would begin purchasing crude from Venezuela, a move he said would help substitute part of the Russian oil supplies. India is the world’s third-largest importer of crude oil. Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One, Trump said, “We’ve already made that deal, the concept of the deal.” India had stopped oil imports from Venezuela last year after the Trump administration imposed a 25% tariff in March on nations purchasing Venezuelan crude.During the same interaction, Trump also indicated that India would source Venezuelan oil in place of Iranian supplies. However, India had already stopped importing Iranian crude in 2019 following US sanctions linked to Tehran’s nuclear programme. To offset the loss of Iranian oil, Indian refiners initially increased purchases from the US, before later scaling those back and emerging as the largest buyer of discounted Russian seaborne crude after Western countries sanctioned Moscow over its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.A few weeks back, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had hinted that Washington may eventually roll back the 25% punitive tariff imposed on India over its purchases of Russian crude, arguing that the measure has delivered results. He framed the outcome as a victory for US pressure tactics, while also expressing apparent discomfort with the European Union’s engagement with New Delhi as it moves closer to finalising a free trade agreement.Speaking at Davos, Bessent said the tariff was introduced after India continued importing Russian oil and claimed that refinery purchases from Russia have since dropped sharply. “We put 25% tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, and the Indian purchases by their refineries of Russian oil have collapsed. So that is a success. The tariffs are still on. I would imagine there is a path to take them off, so that’s a check and a huge success,” he said.

As the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 approaches, the Australian cricket team find themselves navigating a complex web of injury management and tactical reshuffling. With the tournament set to take place across India and Sri Lanka starting February 7, the biggest question on fans’ minds is the availability of veteran pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood. Known for his metronomic precision and ability to squeeze batters in the powerplay, Hazlewood’s presence is vital for a team already missing key leadership figures.

Josh Hazelwood’s availability for T20 World Cup 2026

The latest reports from the Australian camp suggest a cautious start for the ‘Bendemeer Bullet.’ Hazlewood is likely to miss the opening matches of Australia’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. While he has been included in the official 15-man squad, he remains in Sydney to continue his rehabilitation for a persistent Achilles injury. This injury was a secondary setback that occurred while he was recovering from a previous hamstring strain.

National selector Tony Dodemaide confirmed that the medical staff decided it was “more practical and beneficial” for Hazlewood to rehab in a familiar environment rather than enduring the rigors of early-tournament travel. While there is no definitive date for his arrival in Sri Lanka, the hope is that he will join the squad for the latter half of the group stages. To mitigate the risk, the experienced Sean Abbott has been named as a traveling reserve. Abbott provides a versatile option, fresh off the recent Pakistan tour, ensuring the pace battery isn’t left short-handed when Australia begin its quest against Ireland on February 11.

“We felt with Josh it was more practical and beneficial for him to continue his rehabilitation at home in a familiar environment before travelling to Sri Lanka. With Nathan also completing his return to play we decided to bring Sean with us as fast bowling cover should anything come up at short notice. Sean is an accomplished and versatile international player who has experienced numerous World Cup campaigns. It made sense for him to stay with the group following the Pakistan tour.” Dodemaide was quoted as saying ESPNcricinfo. 

Also READ: IND A vs USA T20 World Cup 2026 Live Streaming: Where to watch today’s warm up match in India

Australia’s finalized squad for T20 World Cup 2026 and injury concerns

The road to the 2026 trophy has been rocky for the 2021 champions. In a major blow to their aspirations, star pacer Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the entire tournament due to a lingering back injury. Selectors have turned to left-armer Ben Dwarshuis as his replacement, citing his clever variations as a key asset for subcontinental pitches. Additionally, the squad has seen a shift in the batting order, with Matthew Renshaw replacing Matthew Short to provide more middle-order stability and a left-handed point of difference.

The squad remains a mix of high-stakes gambling on fitness and tactical spin depth. While Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Ellis, and Tim David have arrived in Colombo to link up with the team, all three have been managing their own injury scares—ranging from Maxwell’s ankle recovery to David’s hamstring issues. Under the captaincy of Mitchell Marsh, Australia is leaning heavily on a ‘spin-heavy’ strategy, including the likes of Adam Zampa, Matthew Kuhnemann, and Cooper Connolly to navigate the turning tracks of Sri Lanka.

Australia squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa

Also WATCH: Mitchell Marsh breaks silence on Pakistan’s boycott of India game and Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup 2026 withdrawal

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama earned a Grammy in the best audiobook narration category on Sunday. He is 90.American singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright received the award on his behalf. Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan is among those who composed music for the work titled, “Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama”.“I receive this recognition with gratitude and humility. I don’t see it as something personal, but as a recognition of our shared universal responsibility. I truly believe that peace, compassion, care for our environment, and an understanding of oneness of humanity are essential for collective well-being of all eight billion human beings. I’m grateful that this recognition can help spread these messages more widely,” the Dalai Lama posted on X.

The unusual winners

Dalai Lama using Grammy award for political manipulation: ChinaThe Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), which is headquartered at McLeod Ganj in Dharamshala, said the award is a profound honour for Tibetan society. Although the Grammy spread cheer in this hill town, celebrations are on hold as the Dalai Lama is in Karnataka.Predictably, China is incensed. According to Associated Press, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said, “It is well known that the 14th Dalai Lama is not merely a religious figure but a political exile engaged in anti-China separatist activities under the guise of religion.” “We oppose the relevant party using the award as a tool for anti-China political manipulation,” he added.The audio book, with gentle background music, is divided into sections named: “Heart”, “Oneness”, “Harmony”, “Kindness”, “Water”, “Mind”, “Health”, “Peace”, “Essence” and “Journey”. They represent the Dalai Lama’s philosophical view in his own voice. “Heart” starts with the words, “Warm heartedness really brings inner peace.” Kabir Sehgal, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash are the other musicians involved with the project.

Pakistani fans holding a large flag cheer during the match (Photo by AP)

NEW DELHI: Some will call it ruckus. Some will call it a mess. Others will simply call it chaos. The words may change, but the situation remains the same. Cricket, once again, finds itself caught between politics, security fears and unfinished business.On Sunday, the Pakistan government confirmed that its cricket team will take part in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. But there was a major catch. Pakistan will not play its league match against India. The announcement came through the government’s official X handle.

It said, “The government … grants approval to the Pakistan cricket team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026, however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India.”The reason is not new. Pakistan has maintained a long-standing policy of not touring India due to geopolitical tensions. Because of this, Pakistan’s Group A matches have been scheduled in Sri Lanka. But refusing to play a single match in a global tournament has raised serious questions about the spirit of competition.The International Cricket Council (ICC) reacted firmly. In a statement, it said, “The ICC notes the statement that the government of Pakistan has made regarding the decision to instruct its national team to selectively participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.” The governing body made its discomfort clear, adding, “This position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms per the event schedule.”

Players of Pakistan unveil ICC T20 World Cup 2026 jersey (Photo by Sameer Ali/Getty Images)

While it is rare for Pakistan to be the side raising questions, history shows it has more often been the team affected by others refusing to tour. Over the years, several international sides have cancelled or declined tours to Pakistan, mostly due to security concerns.One of the earliest major setbacks came in 2008, when New Zealand cancelled a scheduled tour to Pakistan. Political instability and safety concerns made the visitors uncomfortable. That cancellation was an early sign that touring Pakistan was becoming increasingly difficult.Australia followed the same path in 2008. The Australians decided not to tour Pakistan, citing serious security concerns. Instead, parts of the series were moved to neutral venues.For Pakistan cricket, this was another blow. Hosting matches at home was becoming impossible, and fans were being denied the chance to see top teams play on their soil.After the their 2008 tour, India stopped travelling to Pakistan for bilateral cricket due to worsening political relations and security concerns, especially following the Mumbai terror attacks later that year.

Family members light candles as they pay tribute to martyrs of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, at the Gateway of India, in Mumbai, Maharashtra. (PTI Photo)

Since then, India and Pakistan have only faced each other in ICC tournaments or Asia Cups, mostly at neutral venues, with bilateral series remaining suspended.The situation worsened dramatically in 2009. The Sri Lankan team was attacked in Lahore while travelling to a Test match. Several people were injured, and lives were lost. That incident changed everything. After the attack, international teams stayed away from Pakistan for years. Home series were shifted to the UAE. Pakistan became a team without a home.Bangladesh also refused to tour Pakistan in 2012. Once again, security fears were the reason. While Bangladesh later returned for limited tours, the refusal added to Pakistan’s growing list of cancelled series.Even when things seemed to improve, trouble returned. In 2021, New Zealand abandoned its tour to Pakistan just minutes before the first match. The decision came after what was described as “security advice”. The sudden withdrawal shocked players, fans and officials. Stadiums were ready. Crowds were waiting. But cricket never happened.England followed soon after. In 2021, both the men’s and women’s England teams cancelled their tours of Pakistan.

Pakistan beat Australia in T20Is 3-0 (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Player safety was cited as the main reason. For Pakistan, it was a painful reminder that trust takes years to build and seconds to lose.These incidents show a clear pattern, with major international teams declining or cancelling tours to Pakistan. Most of these decisions were linked to security concerns. The long absence of international cricket forced Pakistan to rebuild its image slowly. Over time, teams like Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, South Africa, and also Australia returned, helping Pakistan inch back into the global cricket map.But the situation has changed now.ALSO READ: Pakistan boycotts India T20 World Cup clash: Why teams skipped selective ICC matches beforePakistan once pleaded for teams to tour its country. Now, it is choosing not to play its most high-profile match in a global event. The context is different.Whether this standoff ends in compromise or conflict remains to be seen. For now, the ruckus continues. And once again, cricket waits on the sidelines.