NEW DELHI: Indian carriers have begun progressively resuming long-haul and ultra-long-haul operations by rerouting flights to avoid restricted airspace. In addition, special arrangements are being made to assist stranded passengers abroad.The ministry of civil aviation announced that a total of 24 flights are being operated by Indian carriers today, while Emirates and Etihad have operated nine flights from the Gulf in the last 24 hours.According to the ministry, Indian airlines have planned 58 flights on Wednesday, including 30 services by IndiGo and 23 by Air India and Air India Express. The carriers are deploying additional capacity where required and are working in coordination with foreign aviation authorities and Indian missions abroad to ensure “safe and orderly passenger movement.”Foreign airlines operating between India and the Gulf are also continuing limited services, subject to operational constraints and airspace restrictions.Ensuring passenger safety remains the top priority, the ministry said, adding that all airlines have been instructed to maintain transparent communication.“Passenger safety remains paramount. All airlines have been advised to maintain transparent communication with passengers and ensure adherence to regulatory requirements concerning refunds, rescheduling, and passenger assistance,” it said.The civil aviation ministry has also intensified monitoring of airfares to prevent any “undue surge in ticket prices” during this period of route adjustments.“Passengers are advised to check the latest flight status directly with their respective airlines before proceeding to the airport and to rely only on official sources for updates,” the ministry said.It added that it remains in continuous coordination with airlines, airport operators, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Ministry of External Affairs to restore normal operations smoothly and facilitate affected passengers. “Further updates will be issued as necessary,” the statement concluded.Till date, 1,221 flights by Indian carriers and 388 flights by foreign carriers have been cancelled due to the ongoing situation.

GUWAHATI: In a sudden move, with the opposition alliance still not fully formed, the AICC on Tuesday released its first list of 42 candidates for Assam assembly elections. The announcement has put Congress on a collision course with the regional party Raijor Dal, led by Akhil Gogoi, which had been hoping to secure some of these seats from Congress once the alliance is finalized.Among the most prominent names in the 42-candidate list are Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi (Jorhat), leader of opposition Debabrata Saikia (Nazira), and Congress MLAs Nandita Das (Hajo-Sualkuchi) and Diganta Barman (Barkhetri).

Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress president Mira Borthakur Goswami has been nominated from the Dispur constituency in Guwahati. Youth ledeaders Tanzil Hussain and Prateek Bordoloi, sons of Congress MPs Rakibul Hussain and Pradyut Bordoloi, have received tickets from Samaguri and Margherita, respectively.Congress’s decision to field former Assam PCC president Ripun Bora from Barchalla, and contest from Demow and Gauripur, has upset Raijor Dal, even as alliance discussions between the two were in an advanced stage.Gaurav Gogoi, the sitting Lok Sabha MP from Jorhat, expressed gratitude to AICC leaders and the Central Election Committee for nominating him from the Jorhat assembly seat.“I am grateful to the people of Jorhat Lok Sabha without whom I would not have reached this position. I am thankful to my late father Tarun Gogoi who taught me what it means to be an Assamese and a Congressman,” Gaurav write on X.“I am also thankful to my family, my mother, sister, wife and two little kids who have endured a lot but always with grace, joy and dignity. To my fellow Congress brothers, sisters, colleagues and elders , the time is now to take Assam in a new and bold direction,” he wrote, urging people to dream again of a Natun Bor Axom ( new greater Assam).Congress’s alliance plans with AJP, APHLC and the Left are close to being finalized, but talks with Raijor Dal remain stalled.Raijor Dal said on Monday that an alliance with Congress could be sealed if Congress agrees to give the party five preferred seats out of a list of 13.“Raijor Dal has strong candidates for the Barchalla and Demow seats. Most importantly, in 2021 by-election we got much more votes than Congress in Demow. Our party workers were highly enthusiastic this time. So this first list of Congress is a major disappointment for our party” Raijor Dal spokesperson Rasel Hussain told TOI.

As the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 reaches its fever pitch, the narrative surrounding the Indian cricket team has shifted from triumph to intense scrutiny. Following a record-breaking victory over the West Indies at Eden Gardens, India secured their spot in a high-stakes semi-final against England, scheduled for March 5 at the Wankhede Stadium. However, the celebrations were quickly met with a cold splash of reality from former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir. Known for his unfiltered takes, Amir has once again stirred the pot, claiming that despite the ‘Samson storm,’ the Men in Blue are far from a complete unit and are destined to fall short of the final.

From doubt to defiance: Mohammad Amir’s tracking narrative against India

This isn’t the first time Amir has bet against the Indian side during this tournament. Before the Super 8 stage reached its climax, Amir had confidently predicted that India would not even make the semi-finals. He pointed toward a lack of cohesion and a heavy reliance on individual brilliance rather than collective effort.

When India faced the West Indies in a ‘do-or-die’ encounter, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. The Caribbean side posted a formidable 195/4, fueled by a late-inning surge from Jason Holder and Rovman Powell. While the world watched in awe as Sanju Samson played the innings of a lifetime—an unbeaten 97 off 50 balls, Amir remained unimpressed by the broader team dynamics. India’s chase was statistically historic, marking the highest score by an Indian in a successful T20 World Cup chase, surpassing Virat Kohli’s iconic knocks. Yet, for Amir, the victory was a mask covering deeper systemic issues within the squad.

Also READ: Fact check: Did actress Urvashi Rautela cheer for Team India at Eden Gardens in LSG jersey during T20 World Cup match against West Indies?

Amir sparks debate with fresh prediction before India’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final against England

Speaking shortly after India’s qualification was confirmed, Amir doubled down on his skepticism, sparking a heated debate across social media. His critique focused on two primary pillars: a ‘collapsing’ batting order and a one-man bowling attack.

“India complete cricket nahi khel rha. India final nahi kehelega (India are not playing complete cricket. India will not play the final),” Amir stated bluntly.

While he was quick to acknowledge the brilliance of Samson, calling the knock special, he argued that India’s habit of losing early wickets, evidenced by the shaky 41/2 start against the Windies—would be their undoing against a clinical England side. “Just look at their batting, in almost every match, they keep suffering collapses,” he noted.

Amir’s most stinging observation, however, was reserved for the bowling department. He claimed that apart from the ever-reliable Jasprit Bumrah, who returned figures of 2/36 in the last game, the rest of the attack is struggling for form. With England’s batting lineup currently firing on all cylinders, Amir believes the discrepancy between Bumrah and his peers will be the deciding factor in Mumbai. As the Wankhede prepares for a repeat of the 2024 semi-final, the cricketing world is left wondering.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Glenn McGrath explains why Jasprit Bumrah will sizzle in India’s semi-final clash against England

Mumbai: Traffic police registered FIRs against 159 drunk drivers in Mumbai on Holi as part of a special drive on Tuesday. Besides, police issued 16,700 challans against motorists for various traffic violations such as jumping signals, riding without helmets, speeding, among others, and sent 20 offenders to court for driving on the wrong side. Total fines worth Rs 1.99 crore were charged.The special drive was carried out between 12 am and 7 pm. Breathalysers were used for identifying drunk drivers. They will face legal action before court and their driving licences have been sent to the RTO for suspension. The highest number of challans issued were for speeding (4,486), followed by riding without helmets (4,317). Other offences included obstructing traffic (2,532), jumping signals (610), riding triple seat (530), driving without licence (431), violating no entry (278) and honking (2). Police appealed to citizens to celebrate responsibly. Meanwhile, in Thane, as many as 196 revellers were caught driving under the influence of alcohol during a special Holi and Dhulivandan enforcement drive carried out by the Thane police commissionerate, which booked a total of 1,681 traffic violators across 5 divisions of the city.Traffic officers said the crackdown was conducted under the guidance of police commissioner Ashutosh Dumbre, with around 450 traffic police officers and personnel deployed at multiple naka-bandi points to prevent accidents and ensure public safety during the festive period.According to DCP (traffic) Pankaj Shirsat, apart from the 196 drunk drivers, 836 two-wheeler riders were penalised for riding without helmets, while 408 were booked for triple-seat riding.As many as 227 motorists were fined for allowing passengers to occupy the front seat in autorickshaws in violation of norms, and 14 drivers were caught driving on the wrong side.Officials said the focused enforcement drive was aimed at curbing drunken driving, rash riding and other violations commonly reported during Holi celebrations, thereby ensuring safer roads and smoother traffic movement across Thane city.

A sharp escalation in the Middle East conflict has choked India’s basmati rice shipments, leaving nearly 400,000 metric tons stranded at ports and in transit, while new export deals have come to a halt as freight rates have more than doubled since the US and Israel attacked Iran over the weekend, trade officials told Reuters.India, the largest global exporter of premium aromatic basmati, depends heavily on West Asian markets, with buyers in Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates accounting for more than half of total shipments.“Around 200,000 tons of basmati rice are stuck in transit, and an equal amount is stranded at Indian ports as the war has disrupted shipping routes across the Middle East,” Satish Goel, president of the All India Rice Exporters’ Association (AIREA), said.According to Goel, exporters had already positioned consignments at ports, but escalating container freight costs have made shipments to the Middle East unviable. He added that no alternative market is capable of absorbing such large volumes at short notice.The US and Israeli air campaign against Iran widened on Monday, with Israel striking Lebanon and Iran retaliating by targeting energy infrastructure in Gulf countries and tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, tankers and container vessels are steering clear of the waterway after insurers withdrew coverage, sending global shipping rates sharply higher.With cargo lying idle, AIREA has approached the commerce ministry for support, citing mounting storage costs at ports and exposure to higher freight charges, Goel said.A New Delhi-based dealer with a global trading house told Reuters that exporters are avoiding fresh orders from the Middle East and focusing only on fulfilling existing contracts. Both buyers and sellers recognise the situation as unprecedented, he said, adding that if disruptions persist, some exporters may invoke force majeure.The trade shock follows a record basmati harvest in India this year. However, the abrupt export slowdown has dragged prices down by nearly 6 per cent.India and Pakistan are the only countries that widely cultivate basmati, a long-grain variety used in biryani, pilafs and other dishes and sold at a premium in global markets.“Basmati rice is a staple in the Middle East, and there’s really no substitute for Indian supplies,” a Mumbai-based trader said. “Once the war is over, these countries will start stocking up again.”

CHENNAI: Glass façades, retail arcades and office blocks may soon line the city’s Phase-II metro corridors. To achieve this, the Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) will develop 73.4lakh sqft of commercial property across at least 37 locations.The large-scale property push is aimed at monetising land parcels to boost non-fare box revenue and improve financial sustainability of the expanding metro network. Officials say several of the proposed buildings will either be integrated with station entry structures or located a few metres away, creating commercial clusters around transit nodes and potentially increasing daily footfall.

Among the prominent sites identified are the posh locality of Boat Club, the heritage stretch of Kutchery Road, Sholinganallur along the IT corridor, and key transport nodes such as Mandaveli, Vadapalani and Alandur.Within walking distance of Kapaleeshwarar Temple, an integrated four-storey building is planned at Kutchery Road, on a nearly 22,000 sqft plot with more than 43,000 sqft of built-up area at an estimated cost of ₹16.47 crore. The structure is designed to connect directly with the underground station.In the periphery of Boat Club residential area, a standalone fourstorey commercial building with a basement is proposed on an 8,200 sqft plot, offering more than 17,000 sqft of built-up space at a cost of ₹6.59 crore. Two additional integrated buildings are planned nearby.

“In Phase-II, we will start construction first in Mandaveli terminus-cum-bus depot. We will also initiate work soon in Vadapalani and Alandur. We plan to issue a designand-build contract for each of the properties,” a CMRL official said.In Phase-I, CMRL began work on a 27-storey ‘central tower’ near Central Station and an eight-storey multimodal complex at Broadway, while also leasing commercial spaces within stations. However, Phase-II marks the first time the agency is undertaking large-scale development outside station footprints, like metros in Delhi and Bengaluru.Delhi metro developed integrated residential complexes in several locations and IT parks with blocks each comprising eight floors, and planned a 29-storey residential property in Janakpuri West. It has a wellentrenched property-development programme to monetise station-area land. Bangalore metro is catching up. It has planned multiple projects, such as an 11-storey mall in KR Puram.

R Ramanathan, former CMRL director and adviser to Nagpur Metro, said non-fare revenue is crucial for metro viability. “No metro service can function with just revenue from ticket fares because these are highcost projects… the transit is planned with properties and space for commercial exploitation to generate as much non-fare box revenue as possible, as long as it doesn’t affect operations,” he said, adding that integration and parking access will determine market success.

Sivasubramaniam Jayaraman of ITDP said such projects can strengthen ridership if mobility remains central. “Easy and safe access to the station is critical. If people have to negotiate traffic, unsafe crossings or poor pedestrian infrastructure, the whole purpose of transit-oriented development is defeated,” he said.Urban planner Karthikeyan Baskar said denser development within 500m of stations could reshape commute patterns. “The major point of transit-oriented development is to boost public transport. Commute patterns will change, and the number of private vehicles on road will reduce. But pedestrian infrastructure around these areas must improve. Otherwise, people will come in their personal vehicles.”

Despite Iran’s critical economic reliance on China, Beijing’s response to strikes on its leader was limited to verbal condemnation and calls for de-escalation. China prioritizes its broader economic interests and balanced regional ties over defending Tehran militarily, demonstrating a strategic calculus that favors diplomacy and deniability over direct intervention or security guarantees.

When American and Israeli strikes killed Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Beijing responded with ritual condemnation. Chinese officials denounced violations of sovereignty. State media warned against escalation. The foreign ministry urged restraint and called for stability in the Strait of Hormuz.But what China did not do was more telling. It did not mobilize. It did not airlift weapons. It did not pledge security guarantees. It did not threaten retaliation.Driving the newsChina is Iran’s single most important economic backer – yet Beijing is showing few signs it will materially defend Tehran after US and Israeli strikes escalated into a wider regional war.Beijing has condemned the attacks and called for de-escalation. But it has largely stayed inside a familiar lane: Statements, diplomatic calls, and warnings about spillover risks like the Strait of Hormuz.That restraint is striking because China is widely seen as Iran’s great-power hedge against US pressure – a perception reinforced by years of discounted oil sales, sanctions workarounds and frequent talk of “strategic partnership.”