Inside the hushed, hallowed hall of Mumbai’s Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, a curious and quietly courageous thing occurred. A newspaper — that daily dispenser of declarations — invited its readers not merely to believe it, but to think with it. Not simply to consume truth, but to chase it. Tesseract: The Geometry of Truth arrived with the promise of spectacle, and spectacle it delivered — dancers dazzling, music mounting, light leaping across the stage like lightning in a philosophical storm. But what lingered long after the applause subsided was not simply the splendour. It was the suggestion beneath the shimmer: Truth is not a trophy handed down. Truth is a task taken up.

I went to the theatre with Joyce Arora, who for years worked in the marketing and sales team of the Indian Express — someone who understands the ecosystem of newspapers from the inside, the delicate dance between editorial ambition and the practical machinery that keeps a newsroom alive. Joyce is also the mother of two women who have become forces of nature in their own right — Malaika Arora and Amrita Arora.

Yet the Joyce I know is not one drawn to flashbulbs and fanfare. She, like me, prefers the anonymity of the audience — the quiet privilege of sitting unseen while ideas take the stage. The truth is we went for a friend. Our scribe friend from the Times of India, Vinay Mishra, had invited us. And insisted. And reminded. The sort of gentle persistence only journalists possess — the belief that a story matters enough to pursue. Joyce and I finally said yes because we trusted him. How lucky we are that we did. Because what Vinay brought us to witness was not merely a performance. It was a provocation. The evening opened with grace. Meera Jain stepped onto the stage to welcome the audience, her voice calm, composed, quietly compelling. Behind her stood Samir Jain, not rushing to speak but choosing instead to defer to the voice that carried the room. In a world where power so often clamours for centre stage, the moment felt quietly radical.Meera spoke of travel and theatre, of Broadway evenings and family journeys, of curiosity kindled across continents. It became clear that the inspiration for this ambitious production was born from experiences shared by the Jain family — the simple joy of watching stories unfold on stages across the world and the desire to bring that wonder home. And here is where the conversation becomes interesting. We live in an age addicted to accusation. Labels leap from lips faster than understanding. Someone is dismissed as elitist, someone else derided as entitled, another declared woke, another condemned as fascist. We fling these words like stones and call it discourse. But sitting in that theatre, listening to Meera Jain speak, something else came into focus. Yes, travel is privilege. Yes, exposure to global theatre is advantage. But what matters — what always matters — is what one chooses to do with privilege.The Jain family could have kept those experiences to themselves. They could have continued travelling, watching theatre abroad, enjoying it privately, quietly, comfortably. Instead, they chose to build something here. They chose to bring that inspiration back to Mumbai and share it with thousands of strangers. That decision transforms privilege into something rarer. It becomes a gift. And what a gift it was.

When the lights dimmed and the stage awakened, the theatre seemed to inhale collectively. Nearly a hundred dancers surged into motion — bodies blazing with purpose, patterns pulsing with precision. Screens shimmered like celestial windows, colours cascaded like cosmic confetti, and music rose with a rhythm that felt both ancient and urgent. At one electrifying moment, the chorus lifted a line into the hall: “Seek the light beyond the noise.” The lyric landed like a lighthouse beam cutting through fog. In an era overwhelmed by information — opinions, algorithms, accusations — clarity feels like a rare and radical act. Then the tempo softened. A quieter refrain floated through the theatre: “Listen to the silence between the seconds.” And suddenly the room stilled. The choreography throughout the performance was astonishing — dancers darting, dissolving, and reassembling like living constellations. At times they resembled philosophers circling each other in debate. At others, they became journalists wrestling with the restless roar of modern information. Technology amplified the vision — vast LED environments unfolding like digital galaxies, immersive soundscapes swelling and subsiding like philosophical tides. Yet the beating heart of the production remained unmistakably human.Breath. Bone. Body.Experience “Tesseract: The Geometry of Truth”, running from 16 to 22 March 2026 at NCPA Mumbai. Book here

NEW DELHI: Airlines will now have to offer at least 60% seats “on any flight” without any selection charge and passengers travelling on the same PNR — who are usually family members or the travelling in a group — will need to be seated together, “preferably on adjacent seats,” The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Wednesday issued these passenger-friendly directives, in a bid to address one of the biggest grouses of air travellers.Now, airlines have been asked to make available “minimum 60% of seats on any flight to be allocated free of charge to ensure fair access” and that “passengers travelling on the same PNR to be seated together, preferably on adjacent seats.How this is implemented remains to be seen as pre-booked seats can affect availability of passengers travelling on same PNR being seated together. The issue of people travelling in groups being seated separately if they do not pay extra for seat selection has been irking travellers across the world and not just in India. The US, for instance, has been grappling with this issue for years.Then US President Joe Biden had on February 5, 2023, said on X (former Twitter): “Some airlines charge extra to pick your seat, including for parents who want to sit next to their child on a plane. Congress should pass the Junk Fee Protection Act so we can crack down on these fees and give hard-working Americans just a little bit more breathing room.” In April 2024, the DGCA had mandated that airlines will have to ensure that young children are seated with at least one of their parents or guardians on flights without being required to pay extra for seat selection charge if travelling on the same PNR (booking reference). Following numerous complaints from passengers travelling in groups about being seated separately — especially from their children — if they choose not to pay extra for seat selection, the DGCA had two years back issued this directive to airlines: “Airlines shall ensure that children upto the age of 12 years are allocated seats with at least one of their parents/guardians, who are travelling on the same PNR and a record of the same shall be maintained.”Going a step ahead for protecting consumer rights, the regulator has now directed that “carriage of sports equipment and musical instruments (should) be facilitated in a transparent and passenger-friendly manner, subject to applicable safety and operational regulations. Airlines shall also bring out clear, transparent policies for carriage of pets.” The DGCA has called for “strict adherence to passenger rights framework, particularly in cases of delays, cancellations and denied boarding; prominent display of passenger rights across airline websites, mobile applications, booking platforms, and airport counters; and clear communication of passenger entitlements in regional languages to ensure wider accessibility and awareness.”In a statement issued Wednesday, the aviation ministry said it “remains committed to enhancing passenger experience, ensuring transparency, reducing grievances and upholding the highest standards of safety across the aviation ecosystem.”

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has shared a message on social media thanking software engineers who built complex systems before the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), while also highlighting how AI is changing the way coding is done. “I have so much gratitude to people who wrote extremely complex software character-by-character. It already feels difficult to remember how much effort it really took,” Sam Altman wrote in an X post, further adding “Thank you for getting us to this point”. The post has sparked discussion about the future of software engineers. While Altman did not directly say that AI will replace engineers, his comments underline a broader shift where automation is expected to take over parts of coding work. Many users called out the irony in Altman’s post, stating how he was thanking software engineers for their work while building AI tools that could ‘take away’ their jobs.

What users commented on Sam Altman’s post

Commenting on Sam Altman’s post, one user wrote: “Nothing says “you’re being replaced” quite like a heartfelt thank you from the guy doing the replacing.”“You’re welcome. Nice to know that our reward is our jobs being taken away,” commented a second user“As a geeky engineer, coding through trial and error was both my job and my hobby—and something I actually enjoyed. Thank you for destroying my joy. Thank you for spreading the idea that coding is hell and evil,” wrote a third.“Dear devs, You will lose your jobs forever and be forced to work in the coal mines. But you can rest easy knowing sam Altman is grateful,” said a fourth.

Workforce changes linked to AI

Last month, Block Inc. said it plans to cut nearly half of its workforce as more work becomes automated. Earlier this week, software company Atlassian announced job cuts affecting about 10% of its employees while increasing investments in AI. Industry analysts say AI tools are beginning to affect many white-collar jobs, including roles in software development and marketing, allowing companies to increase productivity while hiring fewer workers.Leaders at other companies have also discussed using AI to change workforce structures. Alex Karp previously said he wants to increase revenue significantly while reducing headcount, while Andy Jassy said the company expects its corporate workforce to shrink as AI tools become more widely used.

In what promises to be a nostalgic and electrifying curtain-raiser to the new IPL season, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are gearing up for a grand reunion event titled Roar ’26 at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on March 22. Known for their deep connection with fans and a legacy built on consistency, CSK are taking things up a notch this year by bringing together legends and current stars under one roof.

‘OG Super Kings’ to reunite for grand fan engagement

The event is scheduled from 4 pm to 9 pm IST and is being billed as much more than just a fan meet. It’s a celebration of CSK’s journey, a tribute to its loyal Yellow Army, and a rare opportunity to see different generations of players share the same stage again. From iconic match-winners to present-day heroes, the evening will blend cricket, entertainment and pure emotion.

One of the biggest highlights of the event will be a unique exhibition contest featuring the “OG Super Kings” squad against the current CSK lineup. Fans can expect high-energy moments as legends like Matthew Hayden, Dwayne Bravo, Suresh Raina, Muttiah Muralitharan, Murali Vijay and Subramaniam Badrinath return to Chepauk, a ground where they created countless unforgettable memories.

Interestingly, what adds an extra layer of intrigue is the fact that several of these legends are currently associated with rival franchises. Bravo is mentoring Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Hayden has taken up a role with Gujarat Titans (GT), while Muttiah Muralitharan is part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) setup. Despite these professional commitments, CSK have reportedly coordinated with franchises to ensure their participation, underlining the emotional pull of the franchise.

While early buzz hinted at a major announcement during the event, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan has played down such speculation. “It is just a pre-launch for the season and an exercise in fan engagement. There is nothing more to read into it,” he clarified, while also revealing that nearly 19-20 former players are expected to be part of the celebration.

However, not every familiar face will be present. Veteran off-spinner R Ashwin, who started his IPL career with CSK, is likely to miss the event due to prior commitments.

Also READ: Sanjay Bangar picks the ideal batting order of CSK for IPL 2026

Star power, music and fan experience to define Roar ’26

Beyond cricket, Roar ’26 is shaping up to be a full-blown entertainment spectacle. Adding a cultural and musical dimension to the evening, Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman will deliver a special live performance, ensuring the atmosphere at Chepauk reaches a whole new level.

CSK have described the event in grand terms, emphasizing its immersive nature and emotional appeal. “The evening will witness the legendary Oscar award-winning music director AR Rahman delivering a special live performance, turning Chepauk into a pulsating arena of music and lights, filling it with celebration and immersive fan experiences, creating memories that last a lifetime,” read an official CSK statement.

With such a lineup, fans can expect a seamless blend of cricket nostalgia and world-class entertainment, making it one of the most unique pre-season events in IPL history.

Tickets for the event went live on March 15 and are available through multiple official platforms, including the CSK app, the franchises official website and District. The franchise has also issued a clear warning to fans, urging them to avoid unauthorized sellers and unofficial platforms to prevent any inconvenience.

Meanwhile, preparations for the IPL season are already in full swing. By the time the event takes place, new signings like Sanju Samson and Sarfaraz Khan have joined the CSK camp in Chennai. Samson’s arrival, in particular, has sparked conversations about the team’s future leadership, with MS Dhoni expected to play a mentoring role as the franchise plans ahead.

CSK will kick off their IPL 2026 campaign with an away match against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on March 30, before returning home to face Punjab Kings on April 3. With only the initial set of fixtures announced so far due to upcoming elections, anticipation around the season continues to build.

Also READ: Mohit Sharma reveals his all-time CSK playing XI ahead of IPL 2026

File pic: Fans celebrate the Senegalese team’s victory in the Africa Cup of Nations. (AP Photo)

In a stunning development that has rocked the football world, Senegal have been stripped of their Africa Cup of Nations title, with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) declaring Morocco champions following a dramatic review of the chaotic final.The decision comes nearly two months after Senegal’s 1-0 extra-time victory in Rabat, with CAF ruling that the match be recorded as a 3-0 forfeit win for Morocco after upholding an appeal by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!CAF stated that Senegal had effectively forfeited the match after players walked off the pitch in protest during the closing stages of regulation time. The ruling was based on Articles 82 and 84 of AFCON regulations, which mandate that a team leaving the field without the referee’s permission is deemed to have lost the match 3-0.Senegal’s football authorities have reacted furiously, calling the decision “unjust, unprecedented and unacceptable,” and confirmed they will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. “The Senegalese Football Federation condemns this decision, which brings African football into disrepute,” the federation said.Morocco, meanwhile, maintained that their appeal was strictly procedural. “It was never intended to contest sporting performance, but solely to request the application of the competition regulations,” the federation said.

File Pic: Senegal supporters protest after a controversial penalty was awarded to Morocco during the final. (AP Photo)

What happened in the chaotic final in RabatThe controversy stems from extraordinary scenes at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on January 18. With the final still goalless deep into stoppage time, referee Jean-Jacques Ndala awarded Morocco a late penalty following a VAR review for a challenge on Brahim Diaz.The decision sparked chaos. Senegal players walked off the pitch in protest, halting the game for nearly 20 minutes, while some supporters attempted a pitch invasion. Captain Sadio Mane eventually persuaded his teammates to return.When play resumed, Morocco failed to capitalise as Edouard Mendy comfortably saved Diaz’s attempted Panenka. The match went to extra time, where Pape Gueye scored what appeared to be the winning goal.However, CAF’s retrospective ruling has now wiped that result from the record books.Fallout, sanctions and global reactionThe aftermath has been explosive. Several Senegal players reacted angrily on social media, with defender Moussa Niakhate posting a photo with the trophy captioned “they’re mad.”FIFA president Gianni Infantino had earlier condemned the “unacceptable scenes,” stating that leaving the field and any form of violence “cannot be tolerated.”CAF had already imposed heavy fines on both federations for misconduct, while legal proceedings involving Senegalese supporters accused of hooliganism are ongoing.With Senegal now heading to sport’s highest legal body, the controversy is far from over, as one of African football’s most dramatic finals continues to spark debate across the globe.

Asian equities mostly inched higher on Wednesday, tracking a pause in the recent rally in oil prices, even as investors remained cautious amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and awaited signals from the US Federal Reserve on interest rates.As of 9:15 am, Japan’s Nikkei was up 1,245.87 points or 2.32% to 54,946. South Korean Kospi was also trading in green, up 219.51 points or 3.39% at 5,859.99. Meanwhile, Shanghai was down 0.4% and Hong Kong’s HSI dropped 46 points. Shenzhen also gained 7 points.The geopolitical situation remained volatile. Israel escalated its offensive by killing Iran’s security chief, while Iran launched fresh strikes on oil facilities in the United Arab Emirates. A senior Iranian official said the new supreme leader rejected de-escalation offers conveyed by intermediaries, signalling no quick end to a war that has unleashed a global oil shock.Despite the ongoing conflict, oil prices pulled back from recent highs. Brent crude slipped 1% to $102.28 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate dropped 1.6%. The decline came even as the Strait of Hormuz continued to remain largely shut.According to Natasha Kaneva, head of global commodities research at JPMorgan, the relative steadiness in Brent and WTI prices points to a temporary cushion created by regional inventory overhangs, benchmark composition and policy interventions.In the US, stock futures edged higher after a positive session on Wall Street. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures both rose 0.2%, supported by expectations of strong earnings from chipmaker Micron Technology. Markets are also awaiting its results later in the day for commentary on chip shortages and pricing trends.Attention is now centred on the Federal Reserve’s policy decision due later on Wednesday. Investors will closely watch the central bank’s updated economic projections, particularly the “dot plot”, amid concerns it may no longer indicate any rate cuts this year.The Reserve Bank of Australia has already begun a busy week for central banks with a rate hike, while the Bank of Canada is also scheduled to meet later in the day. No policy change is expected there, though markets are pricing in a rate increase by year-end.In currency markets, the US dollar weakened, with the euro steady at $1.1539 after gaining 0.3% overnight. The Japanese yen held at 159 per dollar, having strengthened over the past two sessions and moved away from the 160 level that has previously triggered official intervention.Meanwhile, US Treasuries saw some support following a strong auction of 20-year bonds. Yields on 10-year Treasury notes were flat at 4.2024%, after declining 2 basis points in the previous session.

Stock market today (AI image)

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex continued their upward trend for the third day on Wednesday. While Nifty50 went above 23,650, BSE Sensex was up over 300 points. At 9:16 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 23,683.15, up 102 points or 0.43%. BSE Sensex was at 76,389.62, up or 319 points or 0.42%.Indian benchmark indices ended Tuesday’s session on a positive note, aided by stronger buying interest in key stocks.Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited says, “Despite the uncertainty regarding the war markets have staged a bounce back. One factor that enabled this bounce back is crude remaining around the $ 102 level and fears of spiking above $120 not materialising. The near-term scenario will be one of markets responding mildly positively to some good news and negatively to bad news.” “Despite being sustained sellers in the market, FIIs have been selectively buying in some sectors like telecom. This partly explains the resilience in telecom stocks. Also, there is a portfolio churn happening away from IT and highly valued FMCG stocks towards telecom, pharmaceuticals, defense and select financials. Market leaders and fancied stocks in these segments will continue to be resilient even in a choppy market.“In the US, markets closed higher, led by gains in Delta Air Lines and other travel-related stocks, even as the Federal Reserve commenced its two-day policy meeting against the backdrop of concerns over elevated oil prices and the ongoing Middle East tensions.Asian markets also traded higher, while crude oil prices edged lower, signalling that investors are attempting to move beyond short-term geopolitical risks and seek some stability in financial markets.Oil prices eased slightly on Wednesday morning after data cited from the American Petroleum Institute indicated a rise in US crude inventories.Meanwhile, gold prices remained largely unchanged as investors stayed cautious, assessing the potential economic impact of the Middle East conflict ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s policy outcome.Foreign portfolio investors were net sellers of equities worth Rs 4,741 crore on Tuesday, whereas domestic institutional investors were net buyers, investing Rs 5,225 crore during the session.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

US President Donald Trump’s aggressive push on Iran has triggered rare dissent within his own camp, with a senior counterterrorism official and prominent MAGA figure stepping down over the policy, citing concerns over the rationale behind the war.Joe Kent, who headed the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned on Tuesday, marking the most high-profile exit from the administration since the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on February 28. In his resignation letter, Kent said he could not support the conflict, arguing that Tehran posed no immediate threat to the United States.“I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran,” Kent wrote in a letter posted on X. “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”The resignation comes even as Trump has publicly defended the military campaign, describing it as successful and asserting that the damage inflicted on Iran could take years to rebuild. However, Kent’s departure highlights growing unease within sections of the administration and the broader MAGA base over the direction of US foreign policy.

‘Echo chamber’ and no imminent threat

In his letter, Kent alleged that the decision to go to war was shaped by what he described as an “echo chamber” involving sections of the media, Israeli officials and lobby groups.“This echo chamber was used to deceive you into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States, and that if you struck now, there was a clear path to a swift victory,” he wrote.He further drew parallels with past US interventions in the Middle East, warning against repeating mistakes. “This was a lie and is the same tactic the Israelis used to draw us into the disastrous Iraq war… We cannot make this mistake again.”Kent, a former US Army special forces soldier with multiple combat deployments, also cited personal costs of prolonged conflicts, referring to the death of his wife, Shannon Kent, in a 2019 bombing in Syria.

A MAGA insider breaks ranks

Kent’s criticism carries weight within Trump’s political base. A former Republican congressional candidate backed by Trump, he had strong credentials within the MAGA movement and served less than eight months in his intelligence role after Senate confirmation.He was also seen as part of a more non-interventionist faction within the administration, alongside figures like vice president JD Vance and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, though the latter distanced herself from his resignation and reiterated support for Trump’s decisions.Kent’s exit is not an isolated case. Other conservative commentators, including Tucker Carlson, have raised concerns about the Iran conflict, signalling potential fractures within Trump’s support base.“Joe is the bravest man I know, and he can’t be dismissed as a nut,” Carlson said in a New York Times interview. “He’s leaving a job that gave him access to the highest-level relevant intelligence. The neo-cons will try to destroy him for that.”

Trump, White House push back

Trump dismissed Kent’s criticism, questioning his judgement on national security. “It’s a good thing that he’s out because he said that Iran was not a threat,” the president said, calling him “a nice guy” who was “very weak on security.”White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt likewise dismissed Kent’s claims as “both insulting and laughable”.Meanwhile, in Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson called Kent “clearly wrong” in his assessment that Iran posed no imminent threat to the US. That was a rationale Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas echoed.“Kent and his family have sacrificed greatly for our nation, and I thank him for his service,” Cotton wrote in a statement. “But I disagree with his misguided assessment.”Representative Don Bacon, a former US Air Force brigadier general who serves on the House armed services committee, was among the critics who took up the line of argument that Kent’s letter and pinning the blame on Israel was anti-Semitic. “Anti-Semitism is an evil I detest, and we surely don’t want it in our government,” Bacon wrote in response to Kent’s departure on social media.Other Republican leaders also rejected Kent’s claims. Several lawmakers argued that Iran posed a credible threat, while the White House termed his remarks “insulting and laughable,” according to inputs.

Political and policy implications

Analysts say Kent’s resignation may not immediately alter US strategy but could have political consequences ahead of upcoming elections. His stance is seen as reflective of a broader debate within the Republican base over foreign interventions.According to expert commentary cited by Al Jazeera, such a high-level resignation would typically pose a challenge to a president’s narrative, though its actual impact will depend on whether more insiders publicly dissent.For now, the Trump administration continues to press ahead with its military campaign, even as internal criticism adds to scrutiny over the justification and long-term goals of the Iran conflict.(With inputs from agencies)