Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (ANI photo)

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of having “betrayed the country” by entering into a trade agreement with the United States, claiming the deal would adversely affect farmers and small businesses in India.Gandhi made the remarks while inaugurating the valedictory function of the state-wide “Puthuyuga Yatra” led by Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, VD Satheesan.

“PM has let the country down. He betrayed the country. I believe the Prime Minister betrayed the country by signing the US deal,” Gandhi said.He alleged that ordinary citizens, particularly farmers and small business owners, would ultimately bear the burden of the agreement.“No Prime Minister before him opened Indian agriculture to US agriculture,” he said.Rahul said the entry of large and mechanised American agricultural corporations into the Indian market would put small farmers under severe pressure and could lead to “devastation” in the agricultural sector.He further alleged that the country’s energy sector had been compromised and claimed that US President Donald Trump had obtained Indian data through the agreement.The Congress leader also alleged that Modi was controlled by Trump, adding that the chief minister of Kerala was similarly controlled by Modi.During his address, Gandhi briefly referred to cricketer Sanju Samson, saying it was encouraging to know that the star wicketkeeper-batsman who featured in the T20 World Cup quarter-final comes from Thiruvananthapuram.The yatra, which began a month ago as part of the party’s campaign ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, travelled across all districts of Kerala.Several leaders attended the event, including KPCC and AICC members such as Sachin Pilot and Deepa Dasmunshi, along with other leaders from the UDF alliance.Addressing the gathering, Satheesan described the yatra as the most meaningful experience of his political life.He said the UDF had presented a “charge sheet” against the LDF government during the course of the march.“Wherever the LDF government failed, the UDF will elevate the state,” he said.Satheesan added that the yatra helped the alliance gather public feedback from across the state, which would be used in shaping policies for Kerala’s future development.He said the UDF intended to introduce a “neo-Kerala model” focused on good governance and solutions to the problems faced by ordinary citizens.“The Kerala government secretariat will be made the most efficient in the country,” he said.Satheesan also promised greater accountability in governance and reforms in key sectors including health, education and employment.He added that specific initiatives would be undertaken to address the challenges faced by poorer sections of society.Expressing confidence about the upcoming Assembly elections, Satheesan said the UDF would return to power.“UDF will come to power winning more than 100 seats,” he said.

BlackRock has restricted investor withdrawals from its $26 billion HPS Corporate Lending Fund (HLEND) after redemption requests surged beyond the usual threshold, underscoring mounting pressure in the $2 trillion global private credit market, Reuters reported.The move came after investors sought to withdraw $1.2 billion in the first quarter, equivalent to roughly 9.3% of the fund’s net asset value. The fund said it would distribute $620 million in the quarterly redemption cycle, reaching the 5% limit, which allows managers of such vehicles to restrict further withdrawals.The development comes as investors grow increasingly cautious about private credit funds that invest in loans to companies that cannot be quickly sold if redemption requests spike.“It should serve as a warning sign for the industry and the rulemakers about the downside of illiquid funds for retail investors,” said Greggory Warren, senior stock analyst at Morningstar.Market pressure has also hit BlackRock’s stock. Shares of the world’s largest asset manager fell 6.7% on the New York Stock Exchange, amid a broader selloff triggered by weaker-than-expected US jobs data and escalating US-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Rising pressure across private credit funds

HLEND, structured as a business development company (BDC), was acquired by BlackRock along with its manager HPS Investment Partners in a $12 billion expansion into private credit in 2024. BDCs primarily raise money from retail investors and lend it to mid-sized companies.Because these loans are typically illiquid, large redemption requests can create liquidity challenges.HLEND said the redemption cap helps prevent “a structural mismatch between investor capital and the expected duration of the private credit loans in which HLEND invests.”“By preventing redemptions through gates, fund managers can avoid being forced sellers of assets, which would negatively impact investment returns for the remaining fund investors, given the opacity and illiquidity of the holdings in these funds,” Warren said.Investor pressure is being seen across the sector. Earlier this week, Blackstone raised the redemption limit on one of its $82 billion funds to 7% from the usual 5%, while the firm and its employees injected $400 million to meet withdrawal requests. Blue Owl also repurchased 15.4% of one of its funds in January.

Loan defaults and sector exposure concerns

Concerns about lending quality have also risen after bankruptcies of a US auto parts supplier and a subprime auto lender last year, along with the collapse of a UK mortgage lender last week.HLEND said its lending portfolio focuses mainly on mature private companies with stable cash flows, with loan structures designed to ensure repayment priority in the event of bankruptcy.Company documents show that about 19% of the fund’s portfolio is exposed to the software sector, which has faced aggressive selling as investors worry about disruption from AI-driven startups.Subscriptions to the fund reached $840 million in the first quarter, below the $1.2 billion investors requested to withdraw.Amid heightened volatility linked to Middle East tensions, potential economic slowdown, and rising loan defaults, investors have increasingly shifted toward safer assets.HPS said in a statement that it sees an opportunity to lean into the current volatility, according to Reuters.

Union home minister Amit Shah

NEW DELHI: Union home and cooperation minister Amit Shah on Saturday dedicated the newly commissioned Sulphuric Acid Plant–3 (SAP–III) at the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) unit in Paradeep, Odisha, to the nation. Shah said the Ministry of Cooperation and the Odisha government would work together to improve rural life in the state. He noted that this is the third stream of the sulphuric acid plant at IFFCO’s Paradeep unit. “In 2005, IFFCO bought this plant for Rs 2,577 crore and at that time its production capacity was 7.5 lakh metric tonnes. Today the capacity has increased to about 22 lakh metric tonnes,” he stated. According to Shah, IFFCO benefits nearly five crore farmers across the country.“Wherever IFFCO’s factories are located, their real owners are the five crore farmers of India. Its turnover of over Rs 41,000 crore, profit exceeding Rs 3,800 crore and net worth of more than Rs 28,000 crore belong to these farmers. This is the true strength of the cooperative model,” he said. “The Government of India is committed to strengthening the cooperative movement so that farmers can become economically stronger and agriculture can move towards greater self-reliance. Expanding fertiliser infrastructure using modern technology will ensure timely availability of agricultural inputs to farmers and help improve productivity,” he added. The new sulphuric acid plant has been established at an estimated cost of around Rs 700 crore and has a production capacity of about 2,000 metric tonnes per day. The facility is expected to enhance the operational capability of the Paradeep complex, one of India’s largest integrated phosphatic fertiliser production units.Besides Shah, the dedication ceremony was attended by Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, IFFCO chairman Dilip Sanghani, IFFCO managing director KJ Patel, Members of Parliament, state ministers, and senior officials.

India vs New Zealand (Agency Image)

The spotlight shifts to Ahmedabad as the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final between the India national cricket team and the New Zealand national cricket team is set to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. With anticipation building for the title clash, the Indian Railways has stepped in to help fans reach the venue by introducing a special train service from New Delhi to Ahmedabad.On Saturday, the official handle of Northern Railway announced that the train had been arranged to assist supporters eager to witness the final in person. The move comes amid soaring flight fares and limited ticket availability for travel to Ahmedabad.

The special train is scheduled to depart from New Delhi at 11:45 PM on Saturday. Fans have been encouraged to secure their seats quickly to avoid missing the opportunity to travel.“A Special Gift from Indian Railways for Cricket Lovers! Considering the increased flight ticket prices and unavailability of tickets, Indian Railways has announced a special train from New Delhi to Sabarmati for passengers’ convenience, departing today, March 7, 2026, at 11:45 PM. Book your seat in this 19-coach train featuring 3rd AC and 2nd AC coaches.”Earlier, Western Railway had also revealed plans to run another special train for the final. This service will operate between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, offering fans an affordable and convenient way to travel for the highly anticipated contest.The Narendra Modi Stadium is expected to witness a packed house for the tournament decider. India sealed their place in the final after edging past the England cricket team by seven runs in the semi-final, while New Zealand secured their berth by comfortably defeating the South Africa national cricket team.Before the first ball of the final is bowled, spectators will also be treated to a vibrant closing ceremony. Puerto Rican Grammy-winning star Ricky Martin will headline the event alongside renowned Gujarati folk singer Falguni Pathak and Bollywood playback singer Sukhwinder Singh.The International Cricket Council has also planned a musical entertainment segment before the toss, where the crowd of nearly 1,32,000 spectators is expected to dance to Martin’s iconic hit Un Dos Tres (Maria).This will mark the second time that Ahmedabad hosts India in a World Cup final. The previous instance came during the 2023 Cricket World Cup, when Australia national cricket team stunned the hosts to lift the 50-over title.

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Here are the top 5 stories of the day

EAM Jaishankar on India’s rescue of Iranian ships

External affairs minister S Jaishankar, in India’s first official response to the US Navy’s sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena, said Tehran had sought permission for another vessel to dock in Kochi due to technical issues. The request was approved on March 1, while the IRIS Dena, near Sri Lanka, was caught “on the wrong side of events.”Read the full story

Why US ‘agreed to let’ India resume buying Russian oil temporarily

The US has temporarily allowed India to purchase Russian oil stranded at sea to stabilise global supply amid West Asia tensions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, “The Indians had been very good actors. We had asked them to stop buying sanctioned Russian oil this fall. They did. They were going to substitute it with US oil,” he said.He added Washington might consider lifting restrictions on additional Russian oil if market conditions remain strained.Read the full story

Flight operations disrupted as Iranian drone strikes Dubai International Airport’s runway

Flight operations at Dubai International Airport were suspended after an aerial interception linked to Iranian attacks, with witnesses reporting a loud explosion and smoke near a terminal. Authorities said debris from a successful interception caused only a minor incident and no injuries, but planes were held in the air and Emirates halted all flights to and from Dubai, urging passengers to avoid the airport.Read the full story

UP headmistress suspended after getting foot massage from students

Madhu Rai, headmistress of a government primary school in Naya Bazar, Karbi, Chitrakoot, was suspended after a 23‑second video surfaced showing her lying on a classroom floor while a Class V student massaged her feet during school hours. Basic Siksha Adhikari BK Sharma ordered action after students alleged such massages were routine, though Rai, nearing retirement, says the video was AI‑manipulated.Read the full story

Ex-India batter urges India to drop Abhishek Sharma for T20 World Cup final

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Ever since Deepika Padukone‘s exit from ‘Spirit’ and ‘Kalki 2’, there’s been a debate around the working hours for actors. Reportedly, one of the demands made by the actress was an eight-hour shift. Since then, several celebs have weighed in on it. In a recent interview, Kunal Kemmu and Saif Ali Khan also have spoken about it. The discussion explored the realities of show business and why professionals must understand the expectations attached to the careers they choose.Kunal said in an interview with Soha Ali Khan on her podcast, where he was accompanied by Saif. “As adults, when we grow up, we also choose what we want to become in life. Once you sign up for something, you need to understand that it comes with certain expectations. Sometimes people say they want to work only for a limited number of hours and spend the rest of the time elsewhere, but then you should choose a job that allows that,” he said.

According to the actor, problems arise when people seek the benefits of a profession but hesitate to meet its requirements. “You can’t say in the middle of it that you want to get paid more and work less because now you feel like doing something else. If you want to be a bigger superstar and work in many films a year, you have to accept the effort that comes with it.”He also spoke about generational expectations and the contradictions that sometimes accompany them. “Even when we talk about Gen Z and say they don’t want to work as much as millennials did, it’s also about expectations. People want the lifestyle, time to relax, go on exploration trips — but then they also complain if someone who works 12 hours earns more. If someone is not going on holidays, that’s also criticised. You want to travel but you also want a higher salary. These things don’t always go together.”Saif Ali Khan agreed that maintaining a work-life balance is achievable, though it often depends on how individuals organise their careers and schedules. “It is possible, and it helps when you are successful. I can name a few colleagues in this industry who have balanced it well. They start work early, maybe at seven and the camera rolls at nine in the morning. You can get a lot of work done and still see your children in the evening,” he said.Kunal Kemmu further pointed out that actors who want more control over their working hours can take on additional responsibilities, such as producing their own films.“You can work for eight hours or even four hours if you want, but then become the producer, put in your own money, and take that decision yourself. If you are the boss and decide to work for two hours a day, you’ll realise that the film won’t finish on time and the project will cost much more. You might end up losing money. It’s very easy to make these choices with someone else’s money.”He added that professionals should aim to reach a position where they can make independent decisions about their work.Kunal said, “Reach a position where you can do exactly what you want. But you can’t say, ‘Give me a job, I’ll decide how much you pay me, when I’ll show up, and how the work will be done.’ Then people will ask why they should suffer the consequences of working with you. I’m saying this in general.” The conversation also touched upon the challenges many actors face when starting families during the peak of their careers. When Soha Ali Khan pointed out that this is often a dilemma for women whose careers are thriving when they choose to become mothers, Kunal said such decisions usually require careful planning and come with certain consequences.Kunal said, “But motherhood is usually something you plan, unless you become an accidental mother. That’s a different story. You have to plan it right, your plan can’t affect the way the world is working.”He clarified that the point should not be seen as a gender-specific issue. “This applies to men as well. If you take a decision in life, there will be repercussions. It’s like training in the gym. If you want to build your body, you have to show up every day. When your muscles hurt, you can’t complain about the pain, that’s how it works.”For Kunal Kemmu, the distinction lies in how people view the effort required to succeed in the industry. He said, “It’s not a sacrifice; it’s a commitment to the job you want to excel at. You can’t sit and complain about the nature of the business. Either you become sellable or you find ways to make yourself sellable so people want to work with you. It’s not a man-versus-woman issue.”