NEW DELHI: A QR code reportedly printed on the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) Class 12 mathematics question paper has triggered a wave of online speculation after students claimed that scanning it led to the music video of “Never Gonna Give You Up” by British singer Rick Astley, a classic internet prank known as “rickrolling”. The mathematics board examination was held on March 9 from 10.30am to 1.30pm. Soon after the test, images of the question paper began circulating on social media, with several students alleging that the QR code printed on it redirected them to the 1987 hit song’s video on YouTube. QR codes are typically included on board exam papers for authentication and security verification. However, according to claims shared by students online, scanning the code instead opened the music video associated with the long-running internet joke in which unsuspecting users are tricked into clicking a link that leads to the song.Videos and screenshots posted ‘X’ quickly went viral. In one widely shared clip, a student scans the QR code from the paper and shows that it leads to the music video. As the posts spread, social media users responded with a mix of amusement and disbelief. One user joked, “When the paper setter is a part-time admin of a meme page.” Another wrote, “I don’t see a problem with it, kinda funny ngl.” Others questioned whether the claim pointed to a larger issue. Some users pointed out that QR codes on official examination documents are meant to be secure verification tools and wondered how a link to unrelated online content could appear on them.Responding to the controversy, CBSE issued a statement on Tuesday clarifying that the question papers were genuine and that their security had not been compromised. The board said QR codes are included on question papers as a security feature to verify authenticity in case of suspected breaches. CBSE acknowledged that in a few question paper sets, scanning one of the QR codes appeared to link to a YouTube video, which raised concerns among students and parents. However, it emphasised that the authenticity of the question papers remained intact and that the matter was being taken seriously. “The question papers are genuine. The security of the question papers remains uncompromised,” the board said, adding that necessary steps are being taken to ensure such issues do not recur.

The cricketing world is gearing up for an exciting start to the Legends League Cricket (LLC) 2026, as Mumbai Spartans (MSP) take on India Captains (ICN) in the tournament’s opening match. This clash marks the beginning of the fourth season of the popular league, which brings together some of the most celebrated retired cricketers from around the world.

Mumbai Spartans, led by the dependable Suresh Raina, appear to have a strong and balanced squad. Their batting lineup includes powerful hitters like Chadwick Walton, while experienced all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite is expected to play the role of finisher. On the bowling front, the team will rely on the experience of S Sreesanth, along with the clever spin variations of KC Cariappa. Meanwhile, the India Captains, under the leadership of Irfan Pathan, also boast a formidable lineup. Their top order features classy batter Hashim Amla and the aggressive Hamilton Masakadza, both capable of setting a strong foundation. The team’s bowling attack is strengthened by the left-arm spin of Iqbal Abdullah and the pace of Parvinder Awana, making them a tough opponent in the tournament opener.

Mumbai Spartans vs India Captains: Match Details

• Date and Time: March 11; 1:00 pm GMT/ 6:30 pm IST
• Venue: Indira Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Haldwani

Mumbai Spartans vs India Captains Head to Head Record

Matches played: 03 | Mumbai Spartans won: 02 | India Captains won: 01

Indira Gandhi International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report

The pitch at the Indira Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Haldwani is expected to provide a balanced contest between bat and ball. Early in the innings, fast bowlers are likely to get some assistance from the surface, especially with the new ball, as there could be a bit of movement and bounce on offer. Batters, however, should find it easier to score once they settle at the crease. The consistent bounce on the pitch will allow stroke-makers to play their shots with confidence and build big innings. As the match progresses, the conditions are likely to change slightly, bringing spinners into the game. The surface may start offering some turn, making it more challenging for batters in the later stages. Overall, the venue promises an exciting contest where both bowlers and batters can have a significant impact depending on how well they adapt to the conditions.

Squads

Mumbai Spartans: Chadwick Walton (wk), Faiz Fazal, Suresh Raina (c), Amit Verma, Bharath Chipli, Carlos Brathwaite, Isuru Udana, Bipul Sharma, KC Cariappa, S Sreesanth, Ishwar Chaudhary, Jaykishan Kolsawala, Shoaib Khan, Suboth Bhati, Asad Pathan

India Captains: Hashim Amla, Lahiru Thirimanne, Priyank Panchal, Sheldon Jackson, Hamilton Masakadza, Shreevats Goswami (wk), Irfan Pathan (c), Asela Gunaratne, Iqbal Abdulla, Parvinder Awana, Baltej Singh, Abhishek Sakuja, Diwesh Pathania, Robin Bist, Rajesh Bishnoi

Also READ: Date and venue details of Kuldeep Yadav’s marriage with childhood friend Vanshika Chadha

Mumbai Spartans vs India Captains: Today’s match prediction

Case 1:

• Mumbai Spartans wins the toss and bats first
• Mumbai Spartans’ powerplay score: 50-60 (6 overs)
• Mumbai Spartans’ total score: 180-190

Case 2:

• India Captains wins the toss and bats first
• India Captains’ powerplay score: 40-50 (6 overs)
• India Captains’ total score: 170-180

Match result: Mumbai Spartans to win the contest.

Also READ: Sanjay Bangar names his playing XI of Punjab Kings for IPL 2026

Iran on Wednesday warned American tech companies that their offices and infrastructure could become targets as the conflict in the region widens.The IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency has published a list of offices and infrastructure run by major US technology companies that it claims are linked to Israel and used for military purposes.The report described these locations as “Iran’s new targets”. It said the list includes infrastructure used for cloud-based services operated by companies such as Google, Microsoft, Palantir Technologies, IBM, Nvidia and Oracle Corporation.According to the report, the listed offices and infrastructure are located in several Israeli cities as well as in some Gulf countries.Tasnim said the targets were identified because their technology had allegedly been used for military applications. “As the scope of the regional war expands to infrastructure war, the scope of Iran’s legitimate targets expands,” it said.

Separately, Iran also warned that it could target economic centres and banks linked to US and Israeli entities across the region.A spokesperson for Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, which the United Nations has described as owned by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said the warning came after what Iran called an attack on one of its banks.“The enemy left our hands open to targeting economic centres and banks belonging to the United States and the Zionist regime in the region,” the spokesperson said.The official also warned civilians to stay away from such locations. “People of the region should not be within a one-kilometre radius of banks,” the spokesperson said.Meanwhile, the war between the United States, Israel and Iran entered its 12th day on Wednesday. Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes killed at least seven people across southern Lebanon early Wednesday, including five in the town of Qana. Residents of Tehran also reported some of the war’s “heaviest bombardment” overnight, with powerful explosions shaking neighborhoods and causing electricity outages across parts of the capital.

Iran shipped millions of barrels of crude oil, all to China, through the Strait of Hormuz despite escalating tensions in the region following the outbreak of the US-Israel war with Iran on February 28, which has disrupted broader maritime traffic through the key energy corridor.At least 11.7 million barrels of Iranian crude have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began, all destined for China, Samir Madani, co-founder of TankerTrackers, told CNBC on Tuesday.TankerTrackers monitors tanker movements using satellite imagery, enabling it to track ships even when onboard tracking systems are switched off. According to Madani, several vessels have “gone dark” after Tehran warned it could attack ships attempting to move through the strait.Shipping intelligence firm Kpler estimated that roughly 12 million barrels of crude have transited the waterway since the war began, as quoted by CNBC. “Given that China has been the primary buyer of Iranian crude in recent years, a significant share of these barrels could ultimately head there,” said Nhway Khin Soe, crude analyst at Kpler. However, she added that confirming the final destinations of vessels has become increasingly difficult.Formally, Iran or China have not acknowledged any of these reportsThe Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime passage that handles about one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments, has seen traffic drop sharply since hostilities escalated last month, with many tankers avoiding the route amid security concerns.According to the International Maritime Organisation, ten vessels operating in or near the Strait of Hormuz were attacked by Tehran less than two weeks after the conflict began, leaving at least seven seafarers dead.Oil tankers navigating the strait “must be very careful,” a spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an interview with CNBC earlier this week.Madani also noted that three of the six tankers observed leaving Iran since Feb. 28 were flying the Iranian flag.Amid rising oil prices driven by fears of supply disruptions, US President Donald Trump urged ships waiting near the strait to resume their passage. Speaking to Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade, Trump said vessels stranded near the waterway should “show some guts” and move forward. “There’s nothing to be afraid of, they have no Navy, we sunk all their ships,” he said.Meanwhile, Iran appears to be exploring alternative export routes.The Kharg Island terminal, about 15 miles off Iran’s mainland coast, has historically handled around 90 per cent of the country’s crude exports before shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz.However, Iran has also resumed loading tankers at the Jask oil and gas terminal on the Gulf of Oman, located south of the Strait of Hormuz.Satellite imagery captured an Iranian vessel loading 2 million barrels of crude at the facility, only the fifth such loading recorded there in the past five years, according to TankerTrackers.The renewed activity suggests Tehran is attempting to diversify its export routes beyond the Strait of Hormuz, though analysts remain uncertain about how viable the alternative is.Jask is Iran’s only crude export terminal on the Sea of Oman that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz entirely. However, it has seen limited use in the past, partly due to operational inefficiencies.Loading a single Very Large Crude Carrier, a supertanker designed for long-distance oil transport, can take up to 10 days at Jask, Madani said. “It has good domestic propaganda value, but not much in terms of a logistical advantage.”By comparison, loading a VLCC at Kharg Island typically takes just one to two days.

Gold prices traded with a mixed bias on Wednesday as futures slipped on the domestic bourse even as retail bullion rates in major cities edged higher. Market participants largely remained cautious amid mild profit-taking at elevated levels.As of 14:54, gold futures on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) showed a softer trend. The April 2026 contract was trading at Rs 1,62,279 per 10 grams, down Rs 1,024 or 0.63% from the previous close. The June contract was quoted at Rs 1,66,552 per 10 grams, lower by Rs 920 or 0.55%, indicating subdued momentum in futures trade.Here is how gold prices stand across major Indian cities today:

Gold price in Delhi today

Gold prices in the national capital moved higher, with 24K gold quoted at Rs 16,346 per gram, up Rs 93, while 22K gold rose Rs 85 to Rs 14,985 per gram.

Gold price in Mumbai today

Mumbai bullion markets recorded firm retail rates as 24K gold was priced at Rs 16,331 per gram, up Rs 93, and 22K gold advanced Rs 85 to Rs 14,970 per gram.

Gold price in Chennai today

Chennai saw comparatively stronger levels, with 24K gold selling at Rs 16,495 per gram, higher by Rs 77, while 22K gold climbed Rs 70 to Rs 15,120 per gram.

Gold price in Kolkata today

In Kolkata, bullion traders quoted 24K gold at Rs 16,331 per gram, up Rs 93, while 22K gold stood at Rs 14,970 per gram, higher by Rs 85.

Gold price in Hyderabad today

Hyderabad markets reflected a similar trend, with 24K gold priced at Rs 16,331 per gram, up Rs 93, and 22K gold at Rs 14,970 per gram, gaining Rs 85.

Gold price in Bangalore today

In Bangalore, 24K gold was quoted at Rs 16,331 per gram, rising Rs 93, while 22K gold was selling at Rs 14,970 per gram, up Rs 85.

Gold price in Ahmedabad today

Ahmedabad bullion markets showed modest gains as 24K gold stood at Rs 16,336 per gram, higher by Rs 93, while 22K gold rose Rs 85 to Rs 14,975 per gram.

Gold price in Lucknow today

In Lucknow, 24K gold was priced at Rs 16,346 per gram, up Rs 93, while 22K gold moved up Rs 85 to Rs 14,985 per gram.

Gold price in Patna today

Patna markets also recorded firm rates, with 24K gold quoted at Rs 16,336 per gram, higher by Rs 93, and 22K gold at Rs 14,975 per gram, up Rs 85.

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Santosh Patole who worked as senior manager in a multinational company went for a mandatory health check up organised by his organisation in May 2025. His reports were haywire and when he consulted the doctor, he got the shock of his life-he had thyroid cancer. The tumour had been silently building up in his body since last one-and a half years. His treatment began and he went for an immediate surgery. Thankfully, his treatment was covered by the company’s medical insurance policy.However, while Santosh was processing the diagnosis and was undergoing a difficult line of treatment, he was accosted with another sock. His employer asked him to leave in July 2025. “It came as a shock to me! I did not know what went wrong as I had a strong professional track record with consistent outstanding performance, multiple promotions, bonuses, and recognition awards during my tenure.”

Santosh, who was already struggling with the shock of his cancer diagnosis, was devastated by this new development. After taking three to four days to process everything, he finally wrote an email to the company asking them to state the reasons for his termination. When he did not receive any reply for almost a month, he sent a legal notice. “I was then called to the office and told that there were some anomalies in my work, but they were not able to give any concrete evidence or explanation. My question was: why was I not informed about it earlier, and was I the signing or approving authority? They did not have any concrete answers.”“All I wanted was for the company to take me back because I really needed the job at that point, and I was in a position to work. But despite my several pleas, they did not budge. When I posted on my LinkedIn that I intended to go on a hunger strike, they contacted me again—but only to stop the strike from happening. They were not willing to give me any written assurance.”

“There seemed to be no end to my miseries. I went on the hunger strike, but on the third day I had to forcibly end it because of my deteriorating health.”However, his protest gained public attention and media coverage, and it highlighted a serious gap in workplace protection laws in India concerning medical discrimination against employees suffering from critical illnesses such as cancer.“It reflects a systemic gap in Indian labour and employment laws, where there is no clear statutory mechanism addressing discrimination against employees undergoing serious medical conditions such as cancer or other critical illnesses. While India has enacted the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 which created an internal complaint mechanism (POSH) to address workplace harassment, no similar institutional mechanism exists to address medical discrimination at workplaces.” says Santosh.

Employees suffering from serious illnesses often face sudden termination, forced resignations, lack of grievance redressal mechanisms in private organizations which often arbitrarily take action. A serious legislative intervention is required to ensure job and social security for employees working in private sector.Santosh, despite struggling with joblessness and cancer is fighting another battle. He is putting in all his efforts to introduce a Private Member Bill addressing medical discrimination at workplaces in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and Parliament of India. He sincerely feels that legislators should raise the issue through a Zero Hour question to highlight the urgent need for policy reform. The proposed legislative approach seeks to establish a POSH-like institutional mechanism to: Prevent discrimination against employees undergoing serious medical treatment provide a structured grievance redressal process Ensure fair employment practices and protection of livelihood during medical crises dignity and health protection.

Santosh Patole’s story highlights the misery of many white-collar professionals who spend years strengthening the backbone of corporations, only to be treated with ruthless indifference when they are no longer considered convenient. In many cases, employees are pushed out for cheaper replacements or at moments when they are most vulnerable—such as during serious medical emergencies. It is a troubling narrative that exposes the imbalance of power between corporations and their workers. Stories like Santosh’s raise important questions about accountability, employee protection, and corporate ethics—issues that policymakers and governments must address to ensure that dignity and security at the workplace are not just promises, but realities.

The wedding bells are ringing for actress Kritika Kamra and popular host Gaurav Kapur, as the couple prepares for an intimate Mumbai wedding on March 11 and 12, 2026. In contrast to the growing trend of lavish destination ceremonies, the duo has opted for a modern and minimal celebration. Ahead of the big day, an after-party invitation surfaced online, teasing a relaxed, “unhurried” evening in South Mumbai.

Kritika Kamra and Gaurav Kapur’s wedding after-party invite surfaces online

Kritika Kamra and Gaurav Kapur will tie the knot on March 11 and 12 in Mumbai. Amid this, an after-party invitation video is now circulating online. According to Pinkvilla, the sweet invite reveals the kind of celebration it will be. From the invite, it is clear the couple wants a relaxed, unhurried celebration. It read, “The Party, After. We’d love to celebrate our wedding with you. Easy. Unhurried. Come early. Stay as long as the night allows.” The celebration will start at 7:30 pm on Thursday, March 12, 2026. According to reports, the venue is in South Mumbai.

Kritika Kamra and Gaurav Gupta opt for a minimal wedding

According to the report, Kritika Kamra and Gaurav Kapur’s wedding ceremony will be an intimate affair. The report stated that for the couple, “it was never about the scale but about meaning.” Reportedly, they opted for a modern, minimal, and intimate celebration in Mumbai over a destination wedding.

The report added that the couple is ensuring that “they embrace this new chapter and begin it with a celebration that feels authentic to them.” The duo was reportedly involved in choosing everything, from decor to styling.

More about Kritika Kamra and Gaurav Kapur

According to reports, Kritika Kamra recently completed shooting for an independent project, a series titled ‘Matka King’, co-starring Vijay Varma, Sai Tamhankar, and Sammy Jonas Heaney. On the other hand, Gaurav Kapur has been busy with his hosting commitments and will resume work post March.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday assured that the Centre would extend all possible assistance to Indian citizens stranded in the Gulf region amid the ongoing Middle East crisis, saying the government was closely monitoring the situation and taking steps to support Indians in West Asia.Addressing a rally in Kochi, Kerala, the prime minister said India would not abandon its citizens abroad during a crisis.“India of today does not leave its citizens stranded elsewhere. We are working to ensure that every possible help is provided to Indians in West Asia,” PM Modi said.His remarks come as tensions in the Middle East continue to disrupt energy supplies and raise concerns for thousands of Indians working in the region.Using the occasion to push for self-reliance, the prime minister said the ongoing crisis underlined the importance of India becoming energy secure and economically independent.“The Middle East crisis and the resulting energy shortage show how important it is for a nation to be atmanirbhar,” he said.PM Modi also launched a sharp attack on the Congress, accusing the opposition party of making irresponsible statements during a time of international conflict.“Congress is inciting and being irresponsible in war,” he said.Taking a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi without naming him directly, the prime minister said the opposition was unaware of the progress made by India’s youth in emerging technologies.“The people of Kerala have seen that the Congress prince is unaware of the remarkable achievements of India’s youth in drone manufacturing. The Congress leader is unaware that numerous companies in India are manufacturing drones. He also doesn’t know that the youth of Kerala have startups to develop drones. Someone who is confined to his narrow thinking will never be able to see the country’s progress,” Modi said.The prime minister also criticised Kerala’s alternating political leadership between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF), alleging that the cycle had slowed the state’s development.“Despite Kerala’s immense potential, it hasn’t developed at the pace it should have. The pattern of one LDF government, another UDF government, has caused significant damage to Kerala. These two groups believe their turn will come in five to ten years. Therefore, they don’t work hard for Kerala’s development. This pattern is the reason for Kerala’s corruption,” PM Modi said.