Mumbai: Forest minister Ganesh Naik on Wednesday told the Legislative Assembly that the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, does not provide for deliberately releasing domestic animals into the habitat of wild animals and providing them with food. Naik said there is no scientific or legal basis that simply providing artificial food will completely stop human-wildlife conflict. Naik said there are provisions regarding the protection, management and habitat conservation of wild animals under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Naik was replying to questions raised by MLA Shirish Kumar Naik. In Dec 2205, Naik had announced a plan to address the rise in leopard attacks on humans in the state: releasing goats into forests to prevent the animals from entering human settlements in search of prey. Naik had made the statement during a calling attention motion on leopard attacks, which was discussed at the legislature’s Winter Session in Nagpur. Shirish Kumar Naik had asked if forest department officials have been ordered to release 1 crore goats and sheep in leopard-dominated areas in the state to prevent leopards from entering human settlements and if a scheme of buying goats and sheep and releasing them into the forest is permanently viable. “Section 9 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 prohibits hunting of scheduled wild animals. Also, artificial interference with the natural behavior of wild animals is not in keeping with the basic principles..The behavior of wild animals depends on many factors. Habitat disturbance, prey availability, human interference, etc. There is no scientific or legal basis that simply providing artificial food will completely stop human-wildlife conflict,” Ganesh Naik said. “Under Section 11, if there is a serious threat to human life, capture/relocation may be ordered by the competent authorities. Capturing leopards through trained teams and releasing them into their natural habitats as appropriate. Habitat improvement, natural prey enhancement. Public awareness, emergency response teams..Procedures for providing immediate financial assistance to victims, etc. All the above measures are implemented within the framework of the law and in accordance with the guidelines of the central govt,” Ganesh Naik said in his written reply.“If four people are killed in leopard attacks, the state govt has to pay Rs 1 crore in compensation. So, instead of paying compensation after deaths, I told officials to release goats worth Rs 1 crore into the forest so that leopards do not venture into human habitats,” Naik said.

The United States has eased sanctions on Venezuela’s state-owned oil sector, allowing American companies to resume limited business with Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), as the Donald Trump administration seeks to expand global oil supplies during the ongoing Iran conflict, AP reported.The US Treasury Department on Wednesday issued a broad licence permitting PDVSA to sell Venezuelan crude directly to US companies and in global markets, marking a major policy shift after years of restrictions on dealings with Venezuela’s government and energy industry.Separately, the White House said Trump would waive, for 60 days, requirements under the Jones Act that goods shipped between US ports be transported on US-flagged vessels. The law, introduced in the 1920s to support domestic shipbuilding, has often been criticised for contributing to higher fuel costs.The twin moves underline mounting pressure on the administration to contain rising oil prices as the United States, alongside Israel, continues military operations against Iran with no clear end in sight. Global energy markets have tightened after Tehran halted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply typically passes.According to a Treasury official cited by The Associated Press, the licence is intended to encourage new investment in Venezuela’s energy sector while increasing worldwide crude availability. The official spoke on condition of anonymity.Since the ouster and arrest of Nicolás Maduro during a US military operation in January, Trump has said Washington would effectively “run” Venezuela and sell its oil output.The targeted relief does not fully remove sanctions. The licence allows companies that were operational before January 29, 2025, to purchase Venezuelan crude and conduct transactions otherwise barred under US restrictions, effectively reopening trade channels for a major oil producer.However, payments cannot be made directly to sanctioned Venezuelan entities such as PDVSA. Instead, proceeds must be routed to a US-controlled account, meaning oil trade can resume but financial flows will remain under American oversight.The licence also prohibits transactions involving Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and certain Chinese entities, as well as dealings related to Venezuelan sovereign debt or bonds. Payments in gold or cryptocurrency, including the petro token issued by Caracas in 2018, are not permitted.Analysts expect the measure to provide a significant boost to Venezuela’s oil-dependent economy and reassure companies wary of investing. The decision forms part of what officials describe as a phased plan by the Trump administration to stabilise Venezuela.Critics argue the policy risks benefiting political leaders aligned with Maduro despite ongoing concerns over repression, corruption and human rights abuses. Economic conditions in the country remain strained, with many public-sector workers earning roughly $160 a month and private-sector wages averaging about $237 last year, according to Venezuela’s central bank. Inflation surged to 475%, pushing food costs beyond the reach of many households.Venezuela possesses the world’s largest proven oil reserves and once relied on them to sustain one of Latin America’s strongest economies. However, corruption, policy missteps and US sanctions led output to plunge from about 3.5 million barrels per day in 1999 to less than 400,000 barrels per day in 2020.Earlier sanctions under Trump’s first administration had forced Caracas to sell crude at steep discounts — about 40% below market rates — to buyers including China and other Asian markets, often accepting alternative forms of payment such as rubles, barter or digital assets.Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the temporary Jones Act waiver would help “mitigate the short-term disruptions to the oil market” during the Iran conflict and “allow vital resources like oil, natural gas, fertilizer, and coal to flow freely to U.S. ports.”

CHENNAI: A gang of at least 10 men harassed a Class X girl when she was returning home after her public examination, threatened her brother when he stood up to them, followed the girl till her home and ransacked the house and damaged vehicles in Tiruttani on Monday.The gang, armed with hammers and logs, smashed window panes of the victim’s house and also other houses in Veeraganallur village. They pelted stones, damaged ceiling fans in several houses, and damaged motorcycles and autorickshaws parked in front of homes, creating panic among residents. Before the villagers could catch them, the miscreants escaped. The unruly group, which came on bikes, also performed dangerous stunts, alarming bystanders.Based on a complaint from residents, Tiruttani police registered a case and arrested five youths—Kishore, 22, Arunkumar, 19, Vijay, 26, Pargunam, 19, and Meganathan, 26, all from VCR Kandigai village. Efforts are underway to trace the remaining five, who are currently absconding. According to police, the Class X student from a govt high school in Amirthapuram travelled by bus to Veeraganallur on Monday afternoon. Her brother later picked her up on a motorcycle to take her home. While they were crossing a forested stretch, some youths made inappropriate comments and made a ruckus. The girl’s brother warned them before taking her away.

After the ruckus created by the gang, more than 100 villagers gathered and held a road blockade on the Tiruttani-RK Pet state highway, demanding the immediate arrest of the miscreants. Traffic was disrupted for nearly an hour due to the protest.After receiving information, a police team rushed to the spot and held talks with the protesters. Following negotiations, the villagers withdrew the blockade.

As the countdown to IPL 2026 begins, the excitement surrounding the Delhi Capitals (DC) have reached a fever pitch. Following a busy auction where the franchise made strategic moves to fix their middle-order woes, former India cricketers Mohammad Kaif and Cheteshwar Pujara have weighed in with their predicted playing XIs. While both experts agree that the inclusion of KL Rahul provides a massive boost, they remain divided on the ideal opening partner and the structure of the bowling attack.

DC are set to kick off their campaign against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Stadium on Wednesday, April 1. After a rollercoaster 2025 season where they narrowly missed the playoffs, the pressure is on captain Axar Patel to lead a revamped side to their maiden title.

Cheteshwar Pujara banks on an all-Indian opening duo and David Miller’s finisher role

Pujara’s vision for DC revolves around stability at the top and explosive power in the middle. He has advocated for an all-Indian opening pair consisting of Rahul and the retained youngster Abishek Porel. Interestingly, Pujara has slotted the versatile Tristan Stubbs at No. 3 , a position the South African hasn’t traditionally occupied in the IPL but one that could allow him to dictate the tempo of the game.

The highlight of Pujara’s XI is the confidence he has shown in David Miller. DC secured the veteran South African for a bargain price of ₹2 crore during the December auction. Miller, who struggled with LSG in 2025, is seen by Pujara as the X-factor who can resolve Delhi’s historical middle-order collapses.

“He will be a very important player for them. He can change the game at any time. If 70-80 runs are needed off 30 deliveries, Miller can do that on Delhi’s home ground,” Pujara noted during his analysis on Star Sports.

Pujara’s predicted DC XI: KL Rahul, Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Nitish Rana, Axar Patel, Ashutosh Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi, Mitchell Starc, Mukesh Kumar/T Natarajan.

Also READ: IPL 2026: KL Rahul set for clear role as Delhi Capitals look for stability

Mohammad Kaif favours international firepower with Pathum Nissanka

Mohammad Kaif, a former DC assistant coach, took a different tactical route. He believes the franchise should capitalize on the red-hot form of Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka, who was bought for ₹4 crore. Kaif envisions a formidable opening partnership between Nissanka and Rahul, which would force the Indian domestic talents further down the order.

Kaif’s lineup also finds room for the hard-hitting Sameer Rizvi at No. 4, prioritizing youth and aggressive intent. Unlike Pujara, Kaif opted to leave out Ashutosh Sharma to maintain a balance of left-handers in the lower-middle order with Miller and Axar Patel. In the bowling department, Kaif expects T Natarajan and Mitchell Starc to lead the pace battery alongside Mukesh Kumar, creating a lethal death-bowling combination.

Kaif’s predicted DC XI: KL Rahul, Pathum Nissanka, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mitchell Starc, Mukesh Kumar.

With a well-rounded squad and the strategic trade-in of Nitish Rana, the Delhi Capitals appear to have the most balanced roster they have fielded in years. Whether they stick to Pujara’s local stability or Kaif’s international flair, the quest for the 2026 trophy starts under the lights in Lucknow.

Also READ: Delhi Capitals rope in England legend as assistant coach ahead of IPL 2026

Senegal’s Sadio Mane (AP Photo/Youssef Loulidi, File)

NEW DELHI: Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph has been thrown into controversy after the Confederation of African Football overturned the final result and awarded the title to Morocco months after the match.The decision has sparked outrage in Senegal, with the government rejecting the ruling and demanding accountability.The original final saw Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 after extra time, despite chaotic scenes late in normal time when Senegal players briefly walked off the pitch to protest a penalty decision. Although they returned and went on to win, CAF later ruled that their temporary exit violated competition rules.

Explaining the reversal, CAF cited regulations stating that any team that leaves the field without permission should forfeit the match 3-0. However, Senegal strongly disagreed. Government spokesperson Marie Rose Khady Fatou Faye said, “By calling into question a result achieved at the end of a match that was properly played and won in accordance with the rules of the game, the CAF seriously undermines its own credibility”. She added, “Senegal unequivocally rejects this unjustified attempt at dispossession” and called for “an independent international investigation into suspected corruption within the CAF’s governing bodies”.

What happens next

Senegal’s football authorities have confirmed they will challenge the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The federation stated, “The Senegalese Football Federation condemns this unjust, unprecedented and unacceptable decision, which brings African football into disrepute”.Meanwhile, Morocco’s football body maintained that its appeal was only about enforcing rules, saying it “was never intended to contest the sporting performance” but to ensure regulations were followed.The controversy stems from a tense ending to the match, including a late penalty awarded after a VAR check and crowd trouble that disrupted play. Sadio Mane had helped calm the situation before the game resumed.With both sides standing firm, the final outcome of the tournament now depends on legal proceedings, leaving one of Africa’s biggest football events under a cloud.