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Railways suggests changes to private partnership policy
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Railways suggests changes to private partnership policy


Railways suggests changes to private partnership policy

NEW DELHI: Railways has proposed two major amendments to its over a decade-old public private partnership (PPP) policy to bring greater certainty in recovery of private investment and reduce risk. The changes will include offering a 50-year concession period and railways taking the entire responsibility of land acquisition.Officials said the revised policy is crucial, considering railways has identified 15 projects worth Rs 35,800 crore for PPP, including laying of new lines, doubling of tracks and redevelopment of stations by March 2028. At present, in most cases the concession period ranges between 20 to 35 years.“We have forwarded some projects under PPP for final approval and more will be added to the list. The two critical changes will take care of all risks any project faces,” said a railway official.

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At present, PPP projects in railways are executed under a 2012 policy and till Dec 2025, only 18 such projects of Rs 16,686 crore have been completed through the route. Seven projects of Rs 16,362 crore are under implementation, including coal connectivity and port connectivity projects.Officials said under the current policy, the cost of land acquisition is borne by the private player or the special purpose vehicle (SPV) formed for a particular project, with railways acquiring land. One of them said, “In the proposed changes, railways will have the entire responsibility of land acquisition cost and the process for getting land.” Land acquisition has often resulted in project delays and govt is learning from the experience of building highways.Officials said a beginning has been made with railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently announcing 50-year concession period for Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminals (GCTs) as a part of a broader policy.



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T20 World Cup final: India bury ghost of November 19; pummel New Zealand by 96 runs | Cricket News
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T20 World Cup final: India bury ghost of November 19; pummel New Zealand by 96 runs | Cricket News


T20 World Cup final: India bury ghost of November 19; pummel New Zealand by 96 runs
India’s players and support staff celebrate with the trophy after winning the T20 World Cup final match against New Zealand, in Ahmedabad, India, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (AP)

TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: Since that emotional night on November 19, 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, India have won the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy but the feeling of incompleteness persisted due to the heartbreak in the 50-over World Cup final. In the build-up to the 2026 title clash at the same venue, the unforgettable past was remembered. Even though Suryakumar Yadav hadn’t lost a single series since taking charge in 2024, the hype of the World Cup was approached with caution. In the final, the team carrying the burden of a billion hopes in 2026 and the billion heartbreaks of 2023, delivered. And delivered with aplomb!A dominant India completely outplayed New Zealand to seal an emphatic win and become the only T20I side in history to lift back-to-back World Cup titles, and also became the first side win the trophy at home. The much-anticipated title clash turned out to be a no-contest with Suryakumar Yadav and Co. clinically owning the night, occasion and match to add another ICC trophy to their cabinet. This was coach Gautam Gambhir’s second title in as many outings in command, completing a thoroughly entertaining, and dominating, two-year cycle leading up to the big night in Ahmedabad.Chasing a mammoth 256 runs, New Zealand never really got going. Maybe it was the noise. Maybe it was the Indian bowling but bar Tim Seifert (52) and skipper Mitchell Santner (43), none of the other batters worked for the BlackCaps. Santner had wished to replicate Pat Cummins & Co. from three years ago, but in the end it was an insipid showing.For India, Jasprit Bumrah took 4/15 and stood on the cusp of taking a hat-trick at one stage. Axar Patel took three; Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakaravarthy and Abhishek Sharma plucked one each. Only Arshdeep Singh, who would take headlines for his needless go at Daryl Mitchell, went wicketless.Sometimes one shot brings a player back into form but for India, Lockie Ferguson’s over in the powerplay opened the floodgates and set the tone for the remainder of the innings. Edges flew in unintended directions but achieved the desired result. The New Zealand speedster tried to overcompensate by erring in length and was dealt with disdain. Control was not his strongest suit in the fourth over, which went for 24 runs and also brought up the first 50-run opening stand in a T20 World Cup final since the 2009 edition.India openers Sanju Samson (89 off 46 balls) and Abhishek Sharma (52 off 21 balls) put on 98 runs in just 43 balls after New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to field at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The opening stand set the tone for India as they posted 255 for 5.Abhishek Sharma was not in complete control but rode his luck to either make enough connection or find the right placement. There were a couple of chances for the fielders but “just enough” remained for the powerplay. Just one over of off-spin in the powerplay proved a tactical blunder from the Black Caps as both Sanju Samson and Abhishek feasted on some very ordinary bowling to post 92/0, the highest powerplay score in the tournament’s history. Although the two had different control percentages, they easily found and cleared the boundaries, giving the side an ominous start.The first two overs, when the fielding restrictions were on, were the only time India seemed happy to block a few deliveries as absolute carnage unfolded the moment Jacob Duffy was introduced into the attack. After 12/0 at the end of the second over, the openers added 80 runs in the next four overs. Abhishek kept batting in the same gear, the way he had longed for in the games preceding the title clash, and reached the fastest half-century of the tournament off only 18 balls. The warm hug from coach Gautam Gambhir during the drinks interval showed how the dressing room had always stood behind him and celebrated what was a superb knock under pressure.While Abhishek departed shortly after scoring his half-century, Samson continued business as usual, looking in pristine form and completing his third consecutive half-century in the tournament. The shot selection, clean connections and effortless ability to time the ball sweetly made the New Zealand bowlers duck for cover. Both Samson and the next batter, Ishan Kishan (54 off 25 balls), did not let the momentum slip as together they added 105 runs off just 48 balls to put the Kiwis on the mat.Right from the moment he walked out to bat, Ishan looked a man possessed and instantly found his spots, just as he has been doing for the last couple of months. There was muscle, there was grace and there were plenty of runs as India produced yet another daunting display with the bat. It was something expected from this dangerous unit before the start of the tournament and something that finally happened when it mattered the most, in the Super 8s, the semi-final and now the final.Samson’s 46-ball 89 and Kishan’s 25-ball 54 were exactly the contributions India needed from their top order on this batting paradise, which was aided by listless bowling. James Neesham briefly applied the brakes with a tight third over but Shivam Dube (26 not out off 8 balls) was ready to play another impactful hand to push the total beyond 250 and well beyond the Kiwis’ reach.The 256-run chase required the Kiwis not just to fly but to soar. They had the firepower in the ranks but a big match, a well-rounded Indian bowling attack and over 85,000 fans behind the defending champions meant it was going to be anything but a repeat of the domination seen in the Eden Gardens semi-final. The powerplay holds the key in these mammoth chases and India aced the first six overs to break the opposition’s back before they could gain momentum in the run chase.It could have been much worse had Shivam Dube not interrupted Arshdeep Singh’s celebration by dropping a sitter off his bowling but the combined brilliance of the left-armer, Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel reduced the opponents to just 52/3.Brief Scores:India: 255 for 5 in 20 overs. (Sanju Samson 89, Ishan Kishan 54, Abhishek Sharma 52; James Neesham 3/46).New Zealand: 159 all out in 19 overs. (Tim Seifert 52, J Bumrah 4/15, Axar Patel 3/23).



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Sailor of sunken Iranian warship phoned dad to tell about US warnings before torpedo attack: Report
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Sailor of sunken Iranian warship phoned dad to tell about US warnings before torpedo attack: Report


Sailor of sunken Iranian warship phoned dad to tell about US warnings before torpedo attack: Report

A sailor of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena, which was sunk by a US submarine in Indian Ocean off the Sri Lankan coast on March 4, had called his father over phone minutes before the frigate was struck by a torpedo, saying American forces had twice ordered the crew to abandon the warship, according to a report by Iran International, a Persian-language satellite TV channel and news network.Despite the twin US warnings, IRIS Dena’s commander refused to allow the crew to abandon the ship, the report said, quoting a source close to the family of the sailor. The sailor’s father said some crew members had argued with the commander, and the 32 sailors who survived the attack were basically those who managed to escape on lifeboats after the warning, according to the source.As per initial reports, there were 180 crew members on board IRIS Dena. Later, Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote on X that there were 130 sailors on the frigate. By the time the Sri Lankan navy reached the spot after getting a distress signal from the Iranian warship, it found the frigate had sunk and 32 crew members were floating on lifeboats on high seas. The Lankan navy rescued the 32 sailors and took them ashore. Later, another Iranian naval vessel, IRIS Bushehr, with 208 crew members took refuge in the island nation.In another development, Jayne Howell, the charge d’affaires at US embassy in Colombo, has urged Sri Lanka not to repatriate the 32 survivors of IRIS Dena as well as the 208 crew members of IRIS Bushehr, currently in Sri Lankan custody, according to an internal US State Department cable dated March 6 seen by Reuters. “Sri Lankan authorities should minimise Iranian attempts to use the detainees for propaganda,” it said. Howell also told the Israeli ambassador to India and Sri Lanka that there was no plan to repatriate the crew to Iran. The envoy asked Howell whether there had been any engagement with the crew to encourage “defection”, the cable said.



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District domestic product estimation to be better
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District domestic product estimation to be better


District domestic product estimation to be better

NEW DELHI: India’s official statistical machinery is set to better its estimation of district domestic products (DDP), with the availability of more granular data in the new GDP series, statistics secretary Saurabh Garg told TOI.“We have given more focus on having more granular data in this series, so that state domestic products are captured much more effectively. We are also moving towards better estimations of district domestic products, which we hope to work with the state govt in the coming months,” Garg said.At present, DDP is estimated by relying on top-down allocation methods, proportionately distributing state GDP to districts based on demographic indicators like population. This results in ‘near-identical’ growth rates for districts, masking true inter-district disparities, the vast informal sector and local shocks to the economy.Accurate DDP estimates can enable targeted policy interventions by identifying laggard districts and better assessment of regional inequality and employment trends. The responsibility for calculating DDP lies with the directorates of economics and statistics (DES) of the respective state govts, under the technical guidance of the National Statistical Office (NSO).“We want to do this in conjunction with the states because that’s where the real policy decisions are, and they have also shown great enthusiasm for this. We will continue to bring out national and state level GDP figures, but we are also working with the states to replace the top-down allocation-based approach with a bottom-up approach,” Garg said.The availability and integration of new data sources like annual survey on unincorporated sector enterprises (ASUSE) which covers the vast informal manufacturing and services sector and periodic labour force survey (PLFS) in the new GDP series will better capture data on the labour side and the activities of all households, micro, nano and small enterprises which at the district level are the main establishments.



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Former NBA legend Dwight Howard’s wife Amy Luciani makes shocking revelation about her marriage involving kids and CPS | NBA News
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Former NBA legend Dwight Howard’s wife Amy Luciani makes shocking revelation about her marriage involving kids and CPS | NBA News


Amy Luciani and Dwight Howard (Images via Getty)

Former NBA star Dwight Howard’s wife made a shocking revelation on Instagram. On March 7, Amy Luciani, also known as Amber Rose Howard, uploaded several clips on Instagram where she was seen narrating the situation at her home. This involved her children and the Child Protective Services. Amber explained how the CPS visited their home three times and even their daughter was taken away. All of these stemmed from Dwight’s alleged drug addiction problem. In the post, Amber also claimed that Dwight made their son lie in front of the police. She made a separate post highlighting this.This is not the first time Dwight has faced such allegations. In 2025, the former athlete was accused of using drugs to spike Amber’s drink. Dwight and Amber were married for 6 months before the latter filed for a divorce.

Dwight Howard’s wife Amy Luciani breaks down talking about her kids and CPS

Amber Rose Howard filed for a divorce in the month of July, 2025. She believed that her marriage with Dwight Howard was beyond repair and had no reconciliation. Since then, the duo have been facing several ups and downs. But Amber’s recent Instagram post revealed a very different story that has been going on in her house. In the clip, she explained how she had done everything in order to protect her husband. But now things have gotten stretched far enough and have involved the kids. In the caption, she wrote, “My Husband put himself in a position that resulted in CPS being called to our house 3X in less than two months but three days ago, they were called again and they left with our daughter.” Amber stated how she came even after filing for divorce as she listened to other married couples. However, it turned worse. She further added, “My stepson is only 12 years old. When CPS and police came to take our daughter, my husband needed an alibi to collaborate a lie. I told him I want no parts. In return, he coached my stepson to lie. I recorded me talking to my stepson.”When Amber confronted the kid, he stated how he felt guilty about following Dwight’s rule. Towards the end, she wrote, “I could say so much about the pain I’ve personally endured, but it’s about these children. I am deeply heartbroken right now to have to advocate for minors’ voices and in return lose a marriage that I was so happy to be in.” Amber uploaded separate videos on Instagram that featured their son lying. This is the first time Amber has posted publicly about their marriage and situation at home. In one of these posts, she wrote how it was because of fear and protection.

Are Dwight Howard and Amber Rose Howard separated?

Dwight Howard and Amber Rose Howard got married in January 2025. However, just 6 months after they tied the knot, Amber filed for a divorce. She stated that the marriage was irretrievably broken. Later, she claimed that the former NBA athlete had a drug issue. While initially, Amber was confident about the separation, social media posts towards the end of the year suggested that the couple might be trying to work out the issues. For now, the couple is not officially separated.



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Fans erupt in celebration as India defends T20 World Cup 2026 crown against New Zealand in Ahmedabad
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Fans erupt in celebration as India defends T20 World Cup 2026 crown against New Zealand in Ahmedabad



The Narendra Modi Stadium transformed into a sea of blue tonight as India etched its name into the history books, defeating New Zealand by 96 runs to defend their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup crown. In a high-stakes final that lived up to every bit of the pre-match hype, the defending champions displayed a masterclass in modern T20 cricket, blending aggressive power-hitting with a clinical bowling performance to lift their second consecutive trophy.

The atmosphere in Ahmedabad was electric, with 86,824 fans witnessing a dominant Indian side that refused to buckle under the pressure of a home final. From the first ball, it was evident that India intended to bat the Black Caps out of the game, setting a monumental target that proved insurmountable for the visitors.

Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan help India put up a record breaking total in the grand finale

After being asked to bat, India’s openers unleashed a breathtaking assault during the Powerplay. Abhishek Sharma was the primary aggressor, scorching a half-century in just 18 deliveries. His 52 off 21 balls (3 fours, 6 sixes) set a ferocious tempo, guiding India to a staggering 92/0 within the first six overs. Even after Abhishek fell, there was no respite for the Kiwi bowlers.

Sanju Samson anchored the innings with a sublime 89 off 46 balls, finding the boundary at will with seven fours and five towering maximums. He found an equally destructive partner in Ishan Kishan, who bludgeoned 54 off 25 balls. The duo’s 100-run partnership for the second wicket came in just 45 deliveries, pushing India past the 200-mark in the 15th over. Despite a late triple-strike by James Neesham, which briefly stalled the momentum, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube ensured a grand finish. India closed their innings at a massive 255/5, the highest-ever total in a T20 World Cup Final, leaving New Zealand with a mountain to climb.

Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel dismantle New Zealand’s chase as India lifts their 3rd T20 World Cup title

New Zealand’s pursuit of 256 began with a flurry of boundaries from Tim Seifert, who played a lone hand with a rapid 52 off 26 balls. However, the scoreboard pressure and the guile of the Indian bowling attack soon took its toll. The chase derailed early in the Powerplay as Axar Patel removed Finn Allen and Glenn Phillips in quick succession, while the world’s premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, accounted for Rachin Ravindra.

The middle overs saw New Zealand ‘submit’ to the relentless discipline of the Indian spinners. Axar finished with figures of 3/27, effectively breaking the back of the Kiwi middle order. As the required run rate climbed toward 20, the lower order stood no chance against a returning Bumrah.

Bumrah delivered a legendary spell of death bowling, cleaning up the tail to finish with 4/15 at an economy of 3.75. New Zealand was eventually bundled out for 159 in the 19th over. As Tilak took the final catch to dismiss Jacob Duffy, the fireworks erupted over the Sabarmati River. India’s 96-run victory confirms their status as the undisputed kings of the shortest format, sparking nationwide celebrations that are expected to last long into the night.

Also WATCH: Ishan Kishan pulls off a stunning catch to dismiss Rachin Ravindra in T20 World Cup 2026 Final

Here’s how fans reacted :

Also WATCH: Rachin Ravindra’s brilliant grab sends Suryakumar Yadav back for a duck in T20 World Cup 2026 final





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West Asia conflict: Centre keeping close tabs to ensure supplies stay steady
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West Asia conflict: Centre keeping close tabs to ensure supplies stay steady


West Asia conflict: Centre keeping close tabs to ensure supplies stay steady

NEW DELHI: The price situation in the country remains comfortable and it is unlikely to see any significant surge against the backdrop of the West Asia conflict, top officials said, asserting that the Centre is keeping a close watch and working to ensure steady supplies.Key ministries are tracking the situation daily and the Prime minister’s office (PMO) is keeping a close tab and has mounted efforts at the “highest levels” with several countries to secure supplies ranging from energy to fertilisers, officials said. Review meetings are being held on a regular basis at the PMO to identify any stress points and take immediate remedial action.The assessment is that the impact on inflation due to surge in global crude oil prices for now would be within the “tolerable limits” as pump prices for diesel and petrol have not been raised. The price of Brent crude crossed the $92 a barrel mark on Friday and expectations are that it could soar higher, depending on the extent and duration of the conflict but measures announced by the US on Russian oil could help ease supplies to some extent.A latest finance ministry report said that scenario building exercises on the macroeconomic impact of higher oil prices suggest that crude oil prices must remain above $100 per barrel for a sustained period for macroeconomic aggregates to reflect the strain.

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Officials said the Centre has also taken note of comments that the conflict could be “long drawn” and has charted plans accordingly to deal with the situation. “Discussions are on at the highest levels for tapping alternate sources of supplies of gas and oil,” said an official, stating that these supplies could arrive in 35-40 days.Latest data shows that retail inflation was at 2.8% in Jan, the first print under the new data series which was released in Feb, with several new additions and weightage of food being reduced. The number is within the “comfort level” of RBI.On the fertiliser stock situation, the official said that they remain “manageable” for the next sowing season, pointing out that urea stocks in March this year were higher than last March. “There are discussions to secure supplies and ensure that there is no strain,” said the official. The only worry for now is the country’s exports, with shipments affected by the ongoing conflict. Officials said the commerce ministry is taking steps to ease the pain for exporters as well as chalking out alternate markets as part of the diversification plan.



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Vande mandate: Stir intensifies in Nagaland, Meghalaya | India News
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Vande mandate: Stir intensifies in Nagaland, Meghalaya | India News


Vande mandate: Stir intensifies in Nagaland, Meghalaya

DIMAPUR/SHILLONG: Opposition to Union home ministry’s directive on singing full six-stanza version of Vande Mataram has intensified in Christian-majority Nagaland and Meghalaya, triggering student protests, political objections and appeals to state govts.Several students and research scholars at Nagaland University boycotted singing the national song during the 8th convocation Friday. Videos on social media showed many seated while Vande Mataram played at the beginning and end of the ceremony attended by Vice President C P Radhakrishnan.Naga Students’ Federation, CM Neiphiu Rio’s Naga People’s Front and church groups have opposed MHA’s directive mandating singing or playing Vande Mataram before the national anthem at official programmes and educational institutions, requiring attendees to stand at attention. NSF said the directive ignores Naga cultural sensitivities, religious beliefs and constitutional safeguards under Article 371(A).Meghalaya has also seen pushback. Voice of People Party legislator Adelbert Nongrum submitted a petition to the chief secretary, protesting the directive.



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The women who kept two Metro-3 stations running | Mumbai News
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The women who kept two Metro-3 stations running | Mumbai News


MMRC marked International Women’s Day by running two major Metro-3 (Aqua line) stations—Marol Naka and CSMT—entirely with women staffers on Sunday, underscoring its focus on women’s empowerment in public transport. Across multiple shifts, 85 women handled end-to-end station operations, including station control, ticketing, passenger assistance, security, maintenance support and housekeeping. The all-women deployment ensured seamless functioning while showcasing the growing presence of women in roles traditionally dominated by men. MMRC said it currently has 27 women train operators on the Aqua line and 1,388 women in all in different positions



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Cheetahs’ shift backs corridor plan: NTCA | India News
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Cheetahs’ shift backs corridor plan: NTCA | India News


Cheetahs’ shift backs corridor plan: NTCA

NEW DELHI: Amid reports of two cheetahs from Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park (KNP) moving into Rajasthan’s Baran district, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Sunday said this movement reinforces the strategic rationale for the proposed 17,000 sqkm Kuno–Gandhi Sagar inter-state wildlife corridor spanning seven districts of Rajasthan and eight of MP.Calling the inter-state movement a success story of India’s Project Cheetah, NTCA said it has been actively coordinating with state forest departments and the cheetahs are under 24×7 GPS and radio-collar monitoring by an inter-state team.Sharing updates on movement of cheetahs KP-2 and KP-3, the authority said KP-2 has been tracked in the Mangrol range of Baran, while KP-3 entered the Banjh Amli Conservation Reserve after travelling 60–70 km from KNP.“Both animals are positioned approximately 6 km apart on either bank of the Parvati river,” it said while noting field teams deployed from Kishanganj and Anta ranges have been tracking them continuously.“Long-distance dispersal across landscape boundaries is a well-documented, natural territorial behaviour in cheetahs. The Project Cheetah Action Plan explicitly anticipates and provides for inter-state movement within the Kuno–Gandhi Sagar metapopulation landscape,” said NTCA in its report to the environment ministry on the cheetahs’ movement.India currently has a thriving population of 48 cheetahs, including 28 India-born cubs. Nine adult cheetahs (six females and three males), received from Botswana, were released into quarantine enclosures at KNP on Feb 28. They were the third batch of cheetahs flown into India.



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