Applications for unemployment benefits in the United States rose slightly last week, signalling continued labour market resilience even as hiring momentum has slowed over the past year.New filings for jobless aid increased by 5,000 to 210,000 for the week ended March 21, up from 205,000 in the previous week, the US Labour Department said on Thursday, according to AP. The figure was in line with expectations of analysts surveyed by FactSet.Weekly jobless claims are widely viewed as a near real-time gauge of layoffs. Though layoffs have largely remained within a historically healthy range of 200,000–250,000 in recent years, several major companies — including Morgan Stanley, Block, UPS and Amazon — have recently announced job cuts.Earlier this month, the Labour Department reported that US employers unexpectedly shed 92,000 jobs in February. Payroll data for December and January were also revised lower by a combined 69,000 jobs, pushing the unemployment rate up to 4.4%.The weaker employment picture has added to economic uncertainty amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, which has driven oil prices more than 40% higher and increased cost pressures for businesses and households. Inflation was already elevated before the conflict, with the Commerce Department noting that the Federal Reserve’s preferred price gauge rose 2.8% year-on-year in January, above the central bank’s 2% target.Against this backdrop, the Federal Reserve left its benchmark lending rate unchanged at its latest policy meeting. Policymakers had earlier voted to raise rates three times towards the end of 2025, citing concerns about a softening job market.Economists say the labour market remains in a “low-hire, low-fire” phase — keeping unemployment historically low but making it harder for jobseekers to find new work.The report also showed that the four-week moving average of jobless claims dipped by 250 to 210,500. Meanwhile, the number of Americans continuing to receive unemployment benefits for the week ended March 14 declined by 32,000 to 1.82 million.

With excitement building for the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League, predictions from former cricketers have started pouring in. Among the latest voices are two ex-England captains — Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook — who have picked different favourites to lift the coveted trophy. While both acknowledged the competitiveness of the league, their choices reflect contrasting beliefs about experience versus momentum.

Michael Vaughan backs comeback of 5-time champions

Vaughan has tipped Mumbai Indians to reclaim glory and secure their sixth IPL title. The five-time champions have not won the tournament since 2020, when they defeated Delhi Capitals in a dominant final performance. The former England skipper believes that Mumbai’s squad depth and winning pedigree make them strong contenders to end their title drought. He pointed out that despite a few underwhelming seasons, the franchise still possesses a balanced mix of experienced stars and emerging talents.

According to Vaughan, Mumbai’s ability to handle pressure in crunch moments could prove decisive over the course of a long and demanding tournament. He suggested that teams with a history of success often find ways to bounce back, and MI might be primed for exactly that in 2026.

“Mumbai Indians are winning it this year. They haven’t won it in a few [years] but they have got an incredible team,” Vaughan said on The Overlap Cricket YouTube channel.

Alastair Cook goes with star-studded side to repeat the history

In contrast, Cook has backed Royal Challengers Bengaluru to defend their title successfully. The Bengaluru-based side enters the season as defending champions and will be aiming to become only the third team in IPL history to win consecutive titles. Cook expressed confidence in the team’s leadership and structure, particularly highlighting the influence of head coach Andy Flower. He believes that RCB’s recent success has instilled a winning mentality within the squad, something that could carry them through another successful campaign.

If RCB manage to win again, they would join an elite list alongside Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians — the only teams to have previously achieved back-to-back titles.

Also READ: IPL 2026: Who is Aryaman Birla? Meet the new chairman of RCB

Season opener sets the tone

The IPL’s 18-year history has seen a handful of teams dominate the competition. Apart from Mumbai and Chennai, Kolkata Knight Riders have also established themselves as a successful unit with multiple titles. However, every new season brings fresh challenges and surprises, making predictions far from certain. RCB’s recent rise has added a new dimension to the competition, while traditional powerhouses like Mumbai will be eager to reassert their dominance. With several teams strengthening their squads, IPL 2026 is expected to be one of the most competitive editions yet.

The tournament is set to kick off with an exciting clash between RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28. Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians will begin their campaign a day later against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium.

Also READ: Pat Cummins reveals when he will be available to play for SRH in IPL 2026

NEW DELHI: With less than a week left for the Centre’s March 31 deadline to end left wing extremism, security forces have launched a series of intensified operations across key Maoist-affected regions to track down remaining armed cadres and force surrenders.“The plan is to ensure 100 per cent neutralisation of armed Naxals by March 31, a deadline announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This would either by engaging in encounters or getting effected surrenders. Some large operations are being undertaken in these last 5-6 days of the countdown,” a top CAPF commander told PTI.Security forces are still tracking about 130-150 armed cadres, including two central committee members of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) and some other divisional-rank operatives.Official sources told PTI that the Centre is also preparing an “operations and development” blueprint, which is expected to include the withdrawal of about five Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) battalions from these regions and the launch of multiple welfare schemes.As part of the operations, about three to four CoBRA units of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are being moved from Chhattisgarh to Jharkhand for a special operation in the Saranda forests of West Singhbhum district, sources said.Misir Besra alias Bhaskar is stated to be based in Jharkhand and CoBRA teams are searching for him and his associates.In Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, teams from the CRPF, BSF and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) are also being “re-located” with the specific aim of engaging armed Maoist cadres in gunbattles or forcing their surrender, the sources said.A cross-border operation involving Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Odisha is also in the works, according to the sources.Rammanna, also known as Ganapathi or Laxman Rao, is reportedly in touch with Telangana Police and may surrender by March 31, according to officials.Another officer said that about three battalions of the Border Security Force (BSF), along with a sector office headed by a DIG-rank officer, are expected to withdraw from Koraput district and adjoining areas of Odisha.The sector office could relocate to Kandhamal district in the state and the three battalions will either move for border guarding duties or to Manipur, as the situation may warrant.Some CAPF battalions from Chhattisgarh will also be withdrawn, with an announcement expected on March 31. The state police and the Chhattisgarh DRG will take over the CAPF camps, the officer added.Chhattisgarh Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma declared in Jagdalpur on Wednesday that nearly 96 per cent of Bastar’s vast geographical area is now free from Naxal influence.Sources said the CAPFs and state police forces have also been asked to undertake a joint “de-mining” exercise to look for hidden Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and bombs in Naxal violence-affected regions.In February, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) conducted a fresh review of Naxal violence-affected regions and notified that the number of left wing extremism (LWE)-hit districts in the country is seven.These seven districts are Bijapur, Narayanpur, Sukma, Kanker and Dantewada in Chhattisgarh, West Singhbhum in Jharkhand and Kandhamal in Odisha.The nine LWE-affected states, under various categories, are Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana and West Bengal.According to official data, during 2005-06, a total of 76 districts in nine states were hit by LWE.Home Minister Shah has repeatedly asserted that the LWE menace, once called the biggest internal security challenge for India in 2010, will see its end by this March.He describes Naxal violence as a challenge to democracy, saying it has claimed around 17,000 lives of civilians and security personnel so far.The Naxalite movement emerged in India in 1967 at Naxalbari, a village in West Bengal located at the tri-junction of India, Nepal and Bangladesh.