Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has censured the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for not processing ‘exit permit’ of US national, James Watson, booked for allegedly attempting religious conversion, despite a sessions court order.Watson moved the HC after the FRRO refused to process his exit permit. Justice N J Jamadar said a government agency cannot “dilute” or nullify the effect of a court order through indirect means, and directed the FRRO to process petitioner’s application immediately. Watson was booked by Thane police for allegedly attempting religious conversion. He was granted bail by additional sessions court in Oct 2025. PTI
Mumbai: The presence of mind shown by a resident stopped a man from kidnapping two minor girls from a housing society in Vikhroli.Mohammad Zakaria Qamar Naeem Shamsi (21), who helped police arrest Suraj Prasad Banwasi, told police that on Wednesday at around 9 pm, he noticed an unknown man holding the hand of a 7-year-old girl and attempting to take her away. He also saw the same man trying to lure another minor girl. Shamsi raised an alarm, prompting the accused to try to flee. With the help of two acquaintances, he managed to apprehend the suspect.
Mumbai: Customs at Mumbai airport have busted a major drug smuggling racket and have seized 64 kgs of hydroponic weed worth Rs 64 crore and arrested four passengers including a foreign national arriving from Bangkok under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Further investigation is underway to identify the source, supply chain, and possible international links involved in the operation.
Most higher reaches of Kashmir received moderate to heavy snowfall, while the plains were lashed by rains, disrupting vehicular movement in some stretches. (PTI Photo)
SRINAGAR: Wet weather has brought the chill back to the Kashmir Valley, lowering temperatures across the region and prompting people to turn to warm clothing and traditional and electric hamams for relief. Srinagar had recorded a maximum temperature of 14.9°C Tuesday. Gulmarg and Sonamarg received fresh snowfall Wednesday, further contributing to the dip in mercury.The meteorological department, in its Wednesday evening forecast, predicted “erratic weather” till March 20.Snowfall at Pir Ki Gali along Mughal Road led to the route’s closure. The plains, including Srinagar, were lashed by rain, which continued till Wednesday evening. Historian Khalid Bashir described the weather as “serenity unveiled along the course of the Jhelum, a wet Wednesday’s gentle gift”.Scores of tourists were spotted taking selfies in Gulmarg, many expressing surprise at the March snowfall. “We were not expecting snowfall at this time. In one trip, we got to see the Tulip Garden in Srinagar plus snowfall,” a tourist said.The plunge in mercury contrasts with last month’s dry spell in Kashmir, which had raised concerns. Srinagar, the summer capital, recorded its warmest Feb on record, with the maximum temperature rising 10°C above normal on Feb 22 at 21°C. A day later, CM Omar Abdullah had called for the introduction of artificial snow at Gulmarg to sustain tourism activity.In Feb, independent forecaster Faizan Arif had stated that the previous all-time Feb record for Srinagar was 20.6°C, which was observed on Feb 24, 2016. He had said that the Feb 22 reading officially made it the warmest Feb day ever recorded in the city.The current weather is expected to remain cloudy, with intermittent light to moderate rain or snowfall at many places, the Met department stated Wednesday. A few higher reaches of Chenab Valley in Jammu division and south Kashmir may receive moderate to heavy snowfall. Weather conditions are likely to improve between March 21 and 25, with generally dry conditions expected. However, a brief spell of rain or snow at isolated places cannot be ruled out on March 23.The department advised travellers planning to move through higher reaches and key passes to plan accordingly between March 18 and 20, as there is a possibility of heavy rain and snowfall at some places, accompanied by thunder and gusty winds (40–50 kmph) and isolated hailstorms. The department urged farmers to suspend operations during this period.
Australia all-rounder Cameron Green, who will play for KKR in IPL 2026, was involved in a tense exchange with a reporter after Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales in Sydney, as per a report in The Age.The incident took place outside Western Australia’s dressing room after the third day of the match on Monday. A report in The Age detailed the interaction with ‘visibly annoyed’ Green, stating that the interview began with a question about Green’s recent century for Western Australia against New South Wales.
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“Yeah, it’s obviously a great feeling. We’ve had a really good start the first three days, so hopefully we can get a win tomorrow,” Green said.He was then asked about his form leading up to that innings.“I’m not answering that question. Next question,” Green responded.The reporter then chose to end the interaction. According to the report, as the journalist was leaving, Green said, “waste of time.” The reporter engaged with him, claiming that he had been waiting all day for the interview, but Green hit back with, ‘Why are you out to get me?’Western Australia assistant coach Beau Casson later apologised on behalf of the player, the report said.The development comes shortly before IPL 2026, where KKR have invested heavily in Green. The franchise signed him for Rs 25.20 crore at the auction, the highest fee paid for an overseas player in IPL history, as part of a squad rebuild.Green’s recent numbers have been modest. He scored 171 runs in five matches during the 2025/26 Ashes, with a highest score of 45. In the recently concluded T20 World Cup, the Australian all-rounder scored a mere 24 runs.The three-time champions KKR will kickstart their IPL 2026 campaign against five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) in a clash of heavyweights at Mumbai on March 29.Ahead of the tournament, the main talking points are the role, batting position and expectations from the franchise’s big-ticket signing Green, on whom the team splurged Rs 25.20 crores last year in the action.
Punjab Kings spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has opened up about the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) loss against his former side, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), in the 2025 edition. The spinner identified the reason for their loss in the final against RCB.
Yuzi Chahal stated that things would have been different if South Africa pacer Marco Jansen was in the team in the final. The Proteas pacer had to return to South Africa and was unavailable due to the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia.
In the final, we missed Jansen- Yuzvendra Chahal
Chahal discussed the IPL 2025 final on AB de Villiers’ YouTube channel ahead of RCB’s opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). PBKS qualified for the final after more than a decade; however, their search for a maiden IPL title continues.
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Yuzvendra Chahal said, “In the final, we missed Jansen as he was not there. If he was there, we would have definitely won the championship. The way he bowled throughout the tournament was brilliant, and batting too, he was capable of hitting two to three sixes in the end. We are even more confident now because of the way he is bowling. It’s not going to be easy for the opposition openers.”
Chahal also opened up about his poor performance in the IPL after he returned from the rib injury. He said, “I was a bit disappointed with myself. After the KKR game, I had a rib fracture, and later, my knuckle got fractured. So in the semifinal and final, I wasn’t able to bowl my proper leg-spin. This year, I want to take care of my body first.”
I’ve stopped drinking alcohol- Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal also stated that he is eager to enhance his quality as a senior player and his level of fitness. He claims that one of the more significant benefits he has been seeing in his body after staying away from alcohol.
“I’ve stopped drinking alcohol, and it’s been more than six months. I am now 35, so I want to be more active and give my 150% for my team. As a senior player, I want people in the IPL to learn something from me.”
Yuzvendra Chahal to give PBKS their first title
Yuzvendra Chahal is the most successful bowler in IPL history, with 221 wickets in 172 matches since 2013. He is also leading the chart with the number of wickets taken in the competition. He has been recognised for courage and attacking bowling ability even in smaller grounds like M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where he has played the most matches of his IPL career.
The IPL is set to begin from March 28, with RCB taking on SRH in the opening day at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. All the teams have joined their respective camps for the training sessions ahead of the tournament.
The IPL committee and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have announced the first 20 matches of the toughest T20 league in the world due to the Assembly Election.
NEW DELHI: On Wednesday, road transport minister Nitin Gadkari had surprise visitors at his chamber in the Lok Sabha. Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, accompanied by a delegation of small truck and bus body builders from Rajasthan reached his office seeking relaxations in the Bus Body Code as they flagged new standards and excessive fees could drive many small manufacturers out of business.Officials said Gadkari, in response, said that the decision to tighten safety norms was taken following a spate of bus fire incidents which have claimed lives. “The minister said relaxing any norms that would pose risk to passengers can’t be allowed and there is a need for professionalism in building bus and truck bodies in the country. However, he said that govt will take steps to make the process of getting approval easy,” one of them said.People who were present in the chamber during Gandhis meeting with Gadkari said that the minister highlighted the need to shift from using “hammers” (hathoda) in building bus bodies to improve the system so that there are no compromises made in safety parameters. “Rahul said that the people engaged in bus body building using hammers have skill and talent. All this happened on a lighter note,” said one of them.During the discussion, the minister pointed out that authorities had issued notices to manufacturers on seven occasions, but the lack of corrective action forced govt to take strict measures.Following the meeting with Gadkari, Priyanka Gandhi told reporters, “The truck and bus body builders faced the problem that they have to incur significant expenses to obtain licenses, and the process is also extremely time-consuming. Gadkari has assured us that he will resolve their issues expeditiously.”
JAMMU: Security forces launched cordon-and-search operations in three J&K districts — Rajouri, Doda, and Poonch — following inputs about suspected terrorist movement, officials said Wednesday. Meanwhile, GOC Rising Star Corps (also known as IX Corps) Lt Gen Rajan Sharawat reviewed the operational preparedness of troops in Machhedi sector in Kathua district.Late Tuesday, forces began combing Khandli and its adjoining areas, near Palma, in Rajouri after locals reported sighting two terror suspects moving through a rivulet (nallah) towards a nearby forest, officials said. Similar search operations were launched in several villages in Doda’s Marmat and Dandi Dhara, and Ari Sarooti in Poonch, after residents alerted officials about suspicious movement.Sources said Kathua’s Bani-Macchedi belt — which Lt Gen Sharawat visited Wednesday — has witnessed several terror attacks and encounters in the past two years. The region lies on the traditional infiltration route used by ultras on their way to the upper reaches of Doda, Kishtwar, and Udhampur.On Tuesday, GOC White Knight Corps Lt Gen P K Mishra had visited forward areas in Akhnoor in Jammu district to review operational readiness along the Line of Control in Jammu division. The GOC interacted with troops deployed along the LoC and was briefed on measures undertaken to strengthen defences and enhance operational effectiveness.In a separate development, DIG (Udhampur-Reasi range) Sarah Rizvi reviewed security arrangements at the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi and along the pilgrimage route ahead of Navratri, which begins Thursday. The DIG directed enhanced foot patrolling, deployment at high points, activation of village defence guards, continuous area domination exercises and long-range patrols as a part of security exercises in the area.
US Federal Reserve policy: Jerome Powell-led Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) on Wednesday kept interest rates unchanged within the 3.50%-3.75% band. “In support of its goals, the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 3‑1/2 to 3‑3/4 percent. In considering the extent and timing of additional adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks. The Committee is strongly committed to supporting maximum employment and returning inflation to its 2 percent objective,” the FOMC statement said.“Available indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding at a solid pace. Job gains have remained low, and the unemployment rate has been little changed in recent months. Inflation remains somewhat elevated,” the policy statement said.The policy statement flagged ‘uncertainty’ related to the US-Iran conflict. “Uncertainty about the economic outlook remains elevated. The implications of developments in the Middle East for the US economy are uncertain. The Committee is attentive to the risks to both sides of its dual mandate,” it said.Experts had said that fears of oil prices stoking inflation were unlikely to push the Federal Reserve toward raising interest rates at this week’s meeting. While markets and economists had earlier anticipated that the next move would be a rate cut, that conviction has weakened since the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on February 28.US President Donald Trump has consistently urged Fed Chair Jerome Powell to lower borrowing costs. Trump has nominated former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh—seen as supportive of rate cuts—to succeed Powell when his term ends in mid-May, although challenges to that transition remain.The US economy currency faces persistent inflation, softening labour demand, and an “uncertain” outlook shaped by the conflict in Iran.In an 11–1 decision, policymakers held the benchmark rate within the 3.50% to 3.75% range, while indicating that one rate reduction is expected before the end of the year.With inflation, as measured by the Fed’s preferred gauge, staying above its 2% target for five consecutive years, some policymakers had already been considering keeping the option of a rate hike open even before the Iran conflict drove crude oil prices up by about 50% and pushed US gasoline prices sharply higher.Earlier today, US wholesale inflation data exceeded expectations in February. Data released by the Labor Department on Wednesday showed that the producer price index (PPI) – which tracks price changes before they reach consumers – rose 0.7% compared to January and increased 3.4% from February 2025. The annual rise marked the strongest pace since February 2025.The uptick, partly fueled by a notable jump in food prices between January and February, was higher than economists had anticipated. Notably, these increases occurred before the US and Israel’s strike on Iran led to a sharp surge in energy costs.
NEW DELHI: Former world chess champion Ding Liren has dropped out of the FIDE ratings list after playing too few games, but he seems completely at peace with the situation. Once at the top of the chess world, he is now taking a step back and enjoying a quieter phase in his career.Ding, who lost his world title to D Gukesh, said he is happy being away from the pressure of elite tournaments.
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“I quite enjoy my current situation. What I mean is, being a player with an inactive rating, who seldom participates in elite invitationals. I’m enjoying this rare moment of leisure,” he said.Instead of intense preparation, he now prefers casual online games. Explaining his current approach, Ding added: “I keep up playing the occasional game online: it doesn’t require arduous pre-game preparation, just undivided concentration in the moment. The process itself is rewarding.”Ding became world champion in 2023 after defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi, but his reign was followed by a dip in form and eventual defeat. Despite that, he pushed Gukesh to the final game of the 2024 championship before losing.Looking back, Ding shared a personal reflection: “I wish my younger self had studied more and persisted in academics a bit longer, not letting it fall to the wayside. That way, later years of life might be richer. People always dwell on the things they didn’t do (or paths they didn’t take).”For now, Ding appears content stepping away from the spotlight and focusing on a more relaxed relationship with the game.
