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Israel’s defence minister Katz has claimed that Iran’s top security official Ali Larijani was killed in an overnight airstrike, but Iran has not confirmed the claim and his fate remains unclear. Reports said Iranian state media released a handwritten message attributed to Larijani for the funeral of sailors killed in a recent US strike. In the note, Larijani described the sailors’ deaths as part of the sacrifices of the Iranian nation. However, according to The Times of Israel, the message does not disprove Israel’s claim that Larijani was killed in an Israeli strike overnight. Follow live updates
The Centre has said that India’s energy situation remains a concern amid the ongoing Middle East conflict but assured that LPG supplies for domestic consumers are continuing without disruption and no distributor is facing a shortage. During an inter-ministerial briefing, petroleum ministry official Sujata Sharma advised judicious LPG use and consumers to not panic, while encouraging a shift to PNG, especially for commercial consumers. She also noted that petrol and diesel are sufficiently available. She said online LPG bookings have reached about 94% and delivery authentication has improved to 76%, with commercial LPG supplies partially restored after an initial halt. The government also warned against hoarding and black marketing, reporting thousands of raids across states, seizures of cylinders, and arrests to ensure smooth distribution. Read full story
India strongly condemned Pakistan’s alleged airstrike on a Kabul hospital that Afghanistan says killed over 400 people and injured around 250, calling it a “massacre dressed as a military operation” and an unjustifiable attack on civilians. Afghanistan said the strike destroyed the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital and largely affected patients, while Pakistan denied the allegation, maintaining that its operations targeted only military and “terrorist” infrastructure. Afghan authorities termed the attack a violation of sovereignty and an inhumane act, as Pakistan rejected the claims as false and linked its actions to cross-border militant threats. Read full story
The All India Trinamool Congress, led by West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, announced its candidates for the West Bengal Assembly elections, stating it will contest 291 of the 294 seats, while the remaining three in the Darjeeling hills will be fought by ally Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha led by Anit Thapa. Banerjee will contest from Bhabanipur against BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, while the party has fielded Pabitra Kar against Adhikari in Nandigram. Other key candidates include Chandrima Bhattacharya, Madan Mitra, Firhad Hakim, Kunal Ghosh, and Shashi Panja. Read full story
The Supreme Court has ruled that Section 60(4) of the Code on Social Security, 2020, which limited 12 weeks of maternity leave for adoptive mothers to those adopting children under three months of age, is “contentious,” unconstitutional, and violates the Right to Equality. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan held that there is no rational basis for restricting leave based on the child’s age, describing the provision as contentious. The Apex court observed that maternity benefits are inherently linked to motherhood and that adoptive mothers, regardless of the child’s age, require time for bonding, caregiving, and adjustment. Read full story
NEW DELHI: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Tuesday said all that the people of Ladakh primarily wanted was to “start a dialogue or to resume talks” with the Centre. In his first public remarks two days after being released from Jodhpur Central Jail, Wangchuk termed the revocation of his detention under NSA a “win-win” development.Wangchuk further said the Centre’s outreach for a “constructive, meaningful dialogue” could help build trust and address the concerns of Ladakh.Addressing a press conference alongside his wife Gitanjali J Angmo, he said, “As I said, they (Centre) have offered constructive, meaningful dialogue. This is all that we were struggling for, to start a dialogue. We had to struggle so much, walk from Leh to Delhi, go on anshans, go to jail, to exactly get that. If you see all the movements in Ladakh, they are appealing for starting the talks and dialogue process.”“Usually, you see people picking up guns and the government appealing for dialogue. Here, people are urging the government to start a dialogue,” he added.Wangchuk, who spent nearly six months in detention, said he had prepared himself for a longer stay and was ready to speak about his experiences. “I was waiting to come out (of the jail) either as we win in the court or after 12 months. I was very well prepared to spend 12 months and come out and share the horror stories of all the wrongs that happened to me and to her (Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo). Right from how abruptly from my home I was, you know, bundled up and thrown into this jail, without any opportunity even to call my family or my lawyers for days, more than a week. Or of her, who could not even meet journalists to voice her anguish with heavy security positioning around the campus and how she slipped out into Delhi to knock on the doors of the court and how for two or three weeks there was a kind of cat and mouse chase on the streets of Delhi with her cars followed by people in cars and motorcycles. It was all a filmy scene…” he said.“It was a huge horror story of how it was made so difficult to send anything to my lawyers,” he added.The activist said that the jail, the staff, and the people there were very upright and very kind despite keeping to their laws and disciplines and so on. “I’m happy that I won’t have to go into those things, But now with this hand extended from the government, I’m spared from having to do any of those. I really hope that the dialogue process will go on. And only if they fail and we are compelled to again, appeal in other ways will we need to share those…” he said.Further reflecting on the broader outcome, Wangchuk said he was not looking for a personal victory but for a “win-win” situation for Ladakh.“I feel wonderful today after these two days of regaining my voice and unfurling my little wings and reorienting myself… I’m a little greedy person. A win was not enough for me. I was always looking for a win-win. A win would be just Sonam Wangchuk’s win,” he said.“What good is Sonam Wangchuk winning if Ladakh and the Himalayas and the causes he represents do not win? Therefore, we were looking for a win-win for the causes. Now, with the recent extension of hands by the government to build trust, as they have said, and to facilitate meaningful constructive dialogue. This is a great thing because this way Ladakh will also win and our cause will also win. So it will be truly a win-win. It will be a win-win-win also, because the government will come out looking better and our image in the world will be a little better and it will be even better win-win-win, if the Court also records a judgment in this case apart from revocation of the order itself so that it guides future executives and future policy makers about how to use and specially how not to use such laws as National Security Act…” he added.Wangchuk, 59, was detained on September 26 last year under the National Security Act following protests in Ladakh demanding statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The protests were led by groups including the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance.The Centre revoked his detention with immediate effect, saying the move was aimed at fostering “peace, stability and mutual trust” in Ladakh and enabling dialogue with stakeholders. His release came just ahead of a protest call by the Leh Apex Body on March 16 and days before a scheduled hearing in the Supreme Court of India on a habeas corpus petition filed by his wife challenging his detention.Angmo also shared an emotional message on X after his release, describing the moment she informed him he would be free. She wrote about “writing the final letter to the jail superintendent” to seek permission to meet him and said she was relieved that his “ordeal of being inside the jail for 170 days” had finally ended.
NEW DELHI: KL Rahul is all set to open for the Delhi Capitals in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). The 33-year-old will also don the gloves for the Delhi-based franchise. In the previous season, the experienced batter initially featured in the middle order, but poor returns from the big buy Jake Fraser-McGurk forced the think tank to promote him to the top in search of more stable starts.Rahul batted at No. 4, a position decided before the season started, in most games last season, but a course correction occurred after 11 league matches. The change in position reaped instant rewards as Rahul hit an unbeaten 65-ball 112 against the Gujarat Titans. However, it came in a losing cause as the Shubman Gill-led unit overhauled the 200-run target with ten wickets in hand, and an over to spare.Rahul was the Delhi Capitals’ leading run-getter last year, scoring 539 runs in 13 games. Rahul’s strike rate was 149.72, which marked his best since the 2018 edition. Delhi Capitals have started preparations for the upcoming season, and the multiple preparatory camps featuring Indian players have already happened in Delhi and Hyderabad. The coaching staff, led by head coach Hemang Badani and Director of Cricket Venugopal Rao, has shifted focus to the IPL after fulfilling their commitments for The Hundred. More clarity on roles will emerge when captain Axar Patel links up with the squad.Delhi Capitals had made some smart purchases in the auction. They managed to acquire David Miller and Ben Duckett at their base prices. They also strengthened their bowling attack by adding Auqib Nabi, Lungi Ngidi and Kyle Jamieson.The Axar Patel-led unit had a strong start in the last season but lost steam after losing to the Mumbai Indians at home. The defeat derailed their momentum and some ordinary back-to-back performances pushed them out of the playoff race. Capitals finished No.5 when the league stage of the tournament ended.A strong Indian core, quality overseas picks and two world-class spinners in Axar and Kuldeep Yadav make the Delhi unit the team to watch this season. They will hope their strong performance ends their long wait for a maiden IPL title.
The controversy surrounding ‘Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke’ from the upcoming film ‘KD: The Devil’, featuring Nora Fatehi and Sanjay Dutt, has escalated further as the Government has reportedly stepped in amid allegations that the track contains vulgar and sexually suggestive lyrics and visuals. Ever since the song was released, it has been facing backlash across social media for its obscene lyrics and visuals. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice regarding the matter post which, the Hindi version of the song was removed from Youtube. Meanwhile, now, as per the latest update, the Government of India has also told the censor board to remove the song from all platforms. According to sources quoted by India Today, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has instructed the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to take strict action if the claims are verified. The ministry has reportedly asked the board to ensure that the song is removed from all media platforms should the allegations prove to be true. Officials have also indicated that authorities may intensify monitoring of obscene or objectionable material in films and music videos. If necessary, changes to film certification rules could be considered to curb the circulation of content that is seen as indecent or harmful to public morality.The track, which which Sanjay Dutt alongside Nora Fatehi, has drawn criticism from several quarters. Critics argue that the song’s lyrics, visuals and dance moves promote vulgarity and objectify women, sparking concerns about the possible influence such content may have on younger audiences.Lyricist Raqueeb Alam who has been credited for the Hindi version of the song has now denied writing these controversial lines. He told HT City, “Yeh lyrics maine nahi likhe hain, they were written by the film’s director Prem in Kannada. When I was asked to write all this, I refused, saying such songs won’t work, and will be censored too. They told me to only literally translate the Kannada version and give it to them, they will set it to the song’s meter. Words like ‘Choosega’, ‘chaatega’ are all there in the original version only.”
The Pakistan national cricket team have reportedly filed a complaint with match referee Neeyamur Rashid following a controversial Decision Review System (DRS) incident during the final over of the third ODI against the Bangladesh national cricket team. The dramatic moment occurred during the closing stages of the match, which Bangladesh eventually won by 11 runs to clinch the three-match ODI series 2-1.
Pakistan’s complaint revolves around a decision made by on-field umpire Kumar Dharmasena, who allowed Bangladesh to take a review on the penultimate delivery of the match.
According to reports by Cricbuzz, the Pakistan team management believes Bangladesh opted for the review after watching a replay on the stadium’s big screen, which they feel goes against the standard DRS protocol.“The Pakistan team management believe Bangladesh took the review after a replay of the delivery flashed up on the big screen and raised the issue with the match referee after the game,” a source said.Pakistan also felt the review was taken outside the 15-second window permitted for teams to signal a DRS challenge.
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Do you think the DRS system needs clearer rules to avoid controversies?
Following the match, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson met with match referee Neeyamur Rashid to formally register the team’s concerns regarding the incident. While the exact outcome Pakistan are seeking from the complaint remains unclear, sources suggest the referee spoke with Hesson and attempted to clarify the situation, indicating that the Bangladesh team did not gain any unfair advantage.What happened in the final over The incident unfolded when Pakistan were chasing 291 runs and required 12 runs from the final two balls with captain Shaheen Shah Afridi at the crease. Bangladesh spinner Rishad Hossain bowled a delivery down the leg side, which Dharmasena initially called a wide. Bangladesh then appealed for LBW, prompting the decision to be reviewed. Although teams cannot directly review a wide call, the LBW review allowed the third umpire to re-examine the delivery.Replays showed a spike on UltraEdge, indicating contact between bat and ball. As a result, the original wide call was overturned. Although Bangladesh ultimately lost the review, the overturned wide significantly reduced Pakistan’s chances of completing the chase.
On the final delivery, Shaheen Afridi was stumped, confirming Bangladesh’s 11-run victory and sealing a 2–1 ODI series win. The triumph marked Bangladesh’s first ODI series victory over Pakistan in 11 years.
Benchmark stock indices Sensex and Nifty extended gains for the second straight session on Tuesday, ending higher by nearly 1 per cent amid buying in metal and automobile shares and firm global cues.The 30-share BSE Sensex rose 567.99 points, or 0.75 per cent, to close at 76,070.84. During the session, the index had climbed as much as 801.41 points, or 1.06 per cent, to hit 76,304.26. The NSE Nifty advanced 172.35 points, or 0.74 per cent, to settle at 23,581.15.
In Asian markets, South Korea’s Kospi jumped 1.63 per cent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index ended marginally higher. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Shanghai’s SSE Composite closed in the negative. European markets were trading higher, and the US market had ended in positive territory on Monday.“Indian equities extended their recovery for a second consecutive session, supported by easing volatility and selective sectoral strength, although underlying caution continues to shape market behaviour. A key positive was the sharp decline in India VIX, which dropped 8 per cent to sub-20 levels,” said Hariprasad K, Research Analyst and Founder, Livelong Wealth.Sector-wise, the rebound was led by automobile stocks, with the Nifty Auto index gaining about 2 per cent, he added.Meanwhile, Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose 2.44 per cent to USD 102.7 per barrel. Foreign Institutional Investors sold equities worth Rs 9,365.52 crore on Monday, while Domestic Institutional Investors bought shares worth Rs 12,593.36 crore, according to exchange data.On Monday, the Sensex had jumped 938.93 points, or 1.26 per cent, to close at 75,502.85, and the Nifty had climbed 257.70 points, or 1.11 per cent, to settle at 23,408.80.
The landscape of global cricket is currently witnessing a massive ideological collision between corporate expansion and national sentiment. Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has sparked a nationwide debate by sharply criticizing the acquisition of Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed by SunRisers Leeds, a franchise owned by the same Indian entity behind the IPL’s SunRisers Hyderabad.
The controversy erupted during the inaugural men’s draft for The Hundred in London, where Ahmed was secured for £190,000. While the signing took place in a UK-based league, Gavaskar argues that the origin of the capital, the pockets of Indian owners carries a moral and patriotic weight that cannot be ignored.
In a scathing column, Gavaskar did not mince words, articulating a perspective held by many since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. His primary contention is that any financial transaction involving Pakistani athletes indirectly funds the Pakistani state via income tax. This revenue, he argues, is ultimately diverted toward military expenditures that result in Indian casualties.
“Whether it is an Indian entity or an overseas subsidiary… if the owner is Indian, then he or she is contributing to Indian casualties. It’s as simple as that,” Gavaskar stated. He further questioned the priorities of the SunRisers management, headed by Kavya Maran, asking if winning a trophy in a niche format like The Hundred is “more important than Indian lives.”
The backlash has been swift and digital. The SunRisers Leeds social media accounts faced temporary suspension following a deluge of protests. Gavaskar suggested that the international coaching staff, led by New Zealander Daniel Vettori, might lack the historical context of the Indo-Pak geopolitical tension, but he maintained that the Indian owners should have exercised “wiser counsel” to prevent the purchase.
The implications of this signing extend far beyond the cricket pitch. Gavaskar warned that the franchise could face a total PR nightmare, predicting that Indian fans globally might boycott matches or hold massive demonstrations wherever the team plays. This sentiment taps into the long-standing policy of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which has barred Pakistani players since the inaugural 2008 season.
Despite the public outcry, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has maintained a distance from the controversy. Vice-President Rajeev Shukla recently clarified that the Board has no legal jurisdiction to intervene in signings related to foreign leagues. This leaves the moral and financial responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the private franchise owners.
As the debate intensifies, the following key points remain at the center of the storm:
With the tournament approaching, the pressure is mounting on the SunRisers management to address the wrong as described by Gavaskar.
NEW DELHI: The All India Trinamool Congress on Tuesday announced its list of candidates for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. Party supremo and chief minister Mamata Banerjee declared that the party will contest 291 of the 294 seats in the state. The remaining three seats in the Darjeeling hills will be contested by Anit Thapa-led Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM).Mamata has decided to contest the election from Bhabanipur against BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari. Meanwhile, the TMC has also fielded Adhikari’s former loyalist Pabitra Kar against him in Nandigram.Additionally, Chandrima Bhattacharya has been fielded from the Dum Dum Uttar seat, Madan Mitra from the Kamarhati seat, Firhad Hakim from the Kolkata Port seat, Kunal Ghosh from the Beleghata seat, and Dr Shashi Panja from the Shyampukur seat.“We will contest 291 of the 294 seats. The remaining three seats will be contested by our ally, Anit Thapa-led BGPM, in the Darjeeling hills,” Banerjee said while announcing the names of candidates, flanked by the party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and state president Subrata Bakshi.Among the TMC’s 291 candidates for the West Bengal polls, 52 are women, 95 are from SC/ST communities, and 47 are minorities.See full listMamata expressed confidence that the TMC would retain power with a comfortable majority in the 2026 Assembly elections.“We will win more than 226 seats in the 2026 Assembly polls,” she asserted.The chief minister also sought to reassure party leaders and workers who could not find a place in the candidate list, saying they would be accommodated in the organisation.Earlier on Sunday, the Election Commission announced that the Assembly polls in West Bengal will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29.While announcing the poll schedule for four states and one Union Territory, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar said that reducing the number of phases was necessary to make elections convenient for everyone.The counting of votes for the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 will take place on May 4, along with that of Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu. In the 2021 Bengal elections, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress secured 215 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party became the official opposition with 77 seats.
A Parliamentary panel has recommended an urgent and comprehensive review of the Rs 1,000 minimum monthly pension under the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995, saying the amount is no longer sufficient to meet the basic needs of beneficiaries amid rising living costs, reported PTI.The recommendation assumes significance as pensioners have been demanding that the minimum pension be raised to Rs 7,500 per month. Beneficiaries under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS-95), administered by retirement fund body EPFO, had staged a three-day protest at Jantar Mantar from March 9 pressing for the hike.In its 15th report on ‘Demands for Grants (2026-27)’ of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour, Textiles and Skill Development observed that the minimum pension has remained unchanged for a considerable period despite increasing inflation and healthcare expenses.The panel noted that it had received numerous representations from pensioners seeking an upward revision, particularly in view of the financial hardships faced by elderly and economically vulnerable beneficiaries.
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What is your opinion on the protest by pensioners for better pension rates?
The Committee also took note of the Ministry’s submission that the government is extending financial support to the scheme, including a contribution of 1.16 per cent for currently serving EPFO members and budgetary support to ensure the Rs 1,000 minimum pension.However, it said the existing pension amount is inadequate even to meet basic needs in the current economic environment and recommended that the Ministry undertake an urgent review to enhance the payout to a “more realistic and dignified level”.The panel further suggested exploring the possibility of increased budgetary support to ensure a reasonable minimum pension commensurate with present-day living costs, thereby strengthening social security and financial stability for lakhs of retired workers.Besides pension reforms, the Committee welcomed implementation of the Labour Codes and recommended setting up a Permanent Co-ordination and Interaction Board with representatives from the Centre and states to monitor rollout of labour schemes.It also flagged delays in relief and compensation for contractual labourers after workplace accidents and urged timely inclusion of such workers under social security schemes like Employees’ State Insurance and Provident Fund.Highlighting the growing role of gig workers in urban supply chains, the panel recommended mandatory registration of such workers by aggregators on the e-Shram portal, with continued access to benefits such as insurance and accident coverage.The Committee also called for realistic, evidence-based budgeting by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, systematic provisioning for awareness and IT infrastructure under the Labour Codes, faster filling of vacancies in DGMS, and stricter action against illegal mining to safeguard worker safety.It further recommended expediting revision of the wage ceiling under the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation to expand coverage while ensuring the financial sustainability of the ESI fund.
