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NEW DELHI: Sunrisers Hyderabad star pacer Pat Cummins has returned home to undergo a scan on his injured back, as reported by ESPNcricinfo on Saturday. Cummins, who was ruled out of the T20 World Cup due to a lumbar bone stress injury, had briefly joined the SRH camp for light training but has now travelled back for a final assessment.According to ESPNcricinfo, the scan is a pre-scheduled one and will be conducted under the supervision of Cricket Australia (CA). Ishan Kishan, who was appointed captain in Cummins’ absence, will continue to lead the side.
Cummins left for Australia at the end of SRH’s last game. The Australian speedster could rejoin the team on April 17.This means he is set to miss three matches during this period – against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 5, Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 11, and Rajasthan Royals (RR) on April 13.Cummins had earlier indicated that he expects to be fit for the second half of the IPL if his recovery stays on track.“I’m still recovering from a back injury, but it’s good. I’m back bowling in the nets. The IPL is starting soon. I won’t make the start of that, but it shouldn’t be too long before I’m back out there playing,” Cummins had said on the Business of Sports podcast before joining the SRH camp last month.“I’m back bowling. I’m bowling basically every third day at the moment. We’ve mapped out a plan to get me right by [the] middle of the tournament.”Sunrisers Hyderabad have played two matches in the tournament so far, winning one and losing one.They went down to Royal Challengers Bengaluru by six wickets in their opening game but bounced back strongly to defeat Kolkata Knight Riders by 65 runs.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Saturday said that India has “solidly come through” a the ongoing turbulent geopolitical situation amid the Middle East conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war, adding that the country has been “managing domestic and external challenges successfully.”Speaking at the 15th Annual Convocation Ceremony of IIM Raipur, he said countries today must focus on “hedging, de-risking and diversifying” as the global order changes rapidly.
He said the world is going through a “structural” shift, adding, “The global order is changing before our very eyes with visible shifts in the relative power and influence of countries. The politics of some societies find it difficult to come to terms with these changes.”Jaishankar also said, “New developments in technology, in energy, military capabilities, in connectivity and in resources have encouraged risk-taking in an increasingly competitive environment. Everything today is being leveraged, if not actually weaponised. The world is then confronted with the prospect of securing itself in an increasingly volatile and unpredictable environment. This has necessitated the need to hedge, de-risk and diversify.”He said India has reasons for optimism compared to many other countries. “There is an optimism in our society that is lacking in many other parts of the world,” he said, adding that India is now among the top five economies and has handled recent global shocks well.He further stated, “No one can dispute that the multiple global shocks that have recently tested our resilience, and that India has come through that solidly. We have managed both domestic and external challenges fairly successfully.”The minister said building national capabilities is key for India’s goal of Viksit Bharat 2047. He also praised “inclusive growth, representative politics, and decisive leadership.”He said, “Building national capabilities has become more critical in the light of the global trends that I have mentioned… We must endeavour to build and secure within our control as many capacities as we can.”On foreign policy, Jaishankar said India is focusing on expanding market access, securing resources and technology, and supporting Indians abroad, while promoting “Brand India.”“Our foreign policy is today focused on expanding market access for Indian producers. It is also focused on helping to secure resources, technologies and essential goods. It looks after Indians… And it promotes Brand India,” he said.These remarks come at a time when the Middle East tensions that began on February 28 with US-Israel strikes on Iran have stretched beyond the 1 month mark. The crisis has since intensified with Iran’s chokehold over the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz, sending ripples to oil baskets across the globe.
NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday formally commissioned the indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine INS Aridaman into the Indian Navy.The induction of INS Aridaman comes as India sharpens its focus on boosting its underwater nuclear prowess, even as it has already proven air and land-launched nuclear capabilities.
INS Aridaman is the third vessel of the Arihant-class nuclear submarines being built for the Indian Navy under Project ATV at Vishakhapatnam. The induction of the nuclear submarine is going to further strengthen the capability of the forces.
India’s nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) programme is a closely guarded project. INS Arihant was the first boat under the SSBN project and was followed by another boat, INS Arighaat.INS Arihant is India’s first home-made nuclear submarine. It was launched in July 2009 and was quietly commissioned in 2016. The Navy commissioned its second indigenous SSBN, INS Arighaat, in August 2024.
INS Aridaman features several upgrades over its predecessors, INS Arihant and INS Arighaat. Built with a larger hull, the submarine is designed for greater endurance and improved stealth on extended patrols. It can also carry a higher number of long-range nuclear-capable K-4 missiles, enhancing India’s strike reach. A fourth SSBN currently under construction is expected to add further strength to India’s nuclear deterrence triad.The SSBN stands for ship submersible ballistic nuclear or nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines.INS Aridaman has been commissioned after months of sea trials. It is learnt that defence minister Rajnath Singh attended the commissioning ceremony at a naval base in Kerala.“It’s not words but power, ‘Aridman’,” Singh said in a cryptic social media post in Hindi this morning.India is among a select group of countries that possess nuclear-powered submarines. The countries that have such assets are the US, Russia, the UK, France and China.The defence minister also inducted the frigate Taragiri in the city.The induction of Taragiri comes at a time when the strategic and maritime importance of India’s eastern seaboard continues to grow, driven by evolving regional security dynamics and India’s deepening engagement in the Indo-Pacific.
iThe commissioning of Taragiri highlights the Navy’s sustained focus on strengthening its combat readiness and operational might through its ambitious fleet augmentation programme.As the fourth potent platform of the Project 17A class, Taragiri is not merely a ship; it is a 6,670-tonne embodiment of the ‘Make in India’ spirit and the sophisticated engineering capabilities of India’s indigenous shipyards.Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, the frigate represents a generational leap over earlier designs, offering a sleeker form and a significantly reduced Radar Cross-Section that allows it to operate with lethal stealth.With indigenous content exceeding 75 per cent, the ship highlights the maturity of a domestic industrial ecosystem that now spans over 200 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), contributing to the government’s Aatmanirbharta initiatives and supporting thousands of Indian jobs.Driven by a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion plant, Taragiri is designed for ‘High-Speed – High Endurance’ versatility and multi-dimensional maritime operations.The ship’s weapon suite includes supersonic Surface-to-Surface Missiles, Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles, and a specialised Anti-Submarine Warfare suite.These systems are seamlessly integrated through a state-of-the-art Combat Management System, ensuring that the crew can respond to threats with split-second precision.Beyond its role as a premier hunter of the seas, Taragiri is built for the complexities of modern diplomacy and humanitarian crises.Its flexible mission profile makes it ideal for everything from high-intensity combat to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).The Indian Navy continues to grow as a combat-ready, cohesive, credible, Aatmanirbhar force, safeguarding the seas for a Viksit, Samriddha Bharat guarded by ships designed by Indians, built by Indians and operated by Indians.
Rajasthan Royals are set to take on Gujarat Titans in their second match of IPL 2026 at their home venue in Ahmedabad. The clash marks the ninth game of the season. Ahead of the fixture, former Rajasthan Royals star and now Gujarat Titans’ explosive batter Jos Buttler was seen sharing a heartwarming moment with 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.In a video shared by Rajasthan Royals on social media, Buttler was spotted interacting with the youngster and heaped massive praise on him, calling him the best batter he has seen at that age.
“I said don’t get him too excited, but he’s the best player I’ve ever seen at this age. Imagine where he’ll be at 21 or 25, the world at his feet. He’s so good to watch. You broke English hearts in the U19 World Cup. It’s awesome. You’re playing so well, keep it up. That freedom is amazing to watch,” Buttler said in a video shared by RR.Buttler shares a strong connection with Rajasthan Royals, having represented the franchise from 2018 to 2024. During his stint, he became one of their greatest players, holding records for the most centuries and the highest individual score for the team. However, ahead of the 2025 season, the Royals chose not to retain him, and he was subsequently picked up by Gujarat Titans for Rs 15.75 crore.Meanwhile, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been turning heads since his IPL debut, breaking records and showcasing immense potential. Buttler’s glowing endorsement only underlines the belief that the young prodigy could become a major star in the years to come.
Rajasthan Royals, led by Riyan Parag, started their IPL 2026 campaign strongly with an eight-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings and will aim to continue their momentum. Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, are looking to bounce back after losing to Punjab Kings in their opener.A key battle to watch is between Jofra Archer and Shubman Gill, with Archer having dominated the matchup in T20s, dismissing Gill three times in 19 balls. Archer also impressed against CSK with figures of 2/19. Gill, however, showed good form with a 39-run knock in the last game.Another exciting contest will be Kagiso Rabada vs Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who stunned CSK with a rapid 15-ball fifty. Gill is also nearing a milestone, needing just 95 runs to reach 4,000 IPL runs.
NEW DELHI: Out of 294 candidates contesting the upcoming Puducherry assembly elections, 66 contestants (23%) have declared criminal cases, including 38 (13%) facing serious charges, according to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
Criminal facing criminal cases in Puducherry
The analysis is based on affidavits filed by the candidates with the Election Commission of India (ECI), a mandatory disclosure required for contesting an election.
In the 2021 Puducherry assembly elections, 323 candidates contested, of whom 54 (17%) had declared criminal cases.
The newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-politician Vijay, has fielded 28 candidates, of whom 10—the highest among political parties—face criminal charges. Among these, five have declared serious charges, and five have other criminal cases.Among other major parties, 3 of 21 Congress nominees, 4 of 16 from the ruling All India NR Congress (AINRC), 6 of 12 from the DMK, and 5 of 10 from the BJP have declared criminal cases in their affidavits. The Congress initially announced all 30 candidates after failing to reach an agreement with its ally, the DMK. The two parties finalised the seat-sharing deal on the last day of nomination filing, with Congress set to contest 16 seats and the DMK 14.Meanwhile, there are 117 independents, of whom 19 face criminal cases, including 11 with serious charges.The 294 candidates include 34 from national parties, 63 from state parties, 80 from registered unrecognised parties, and the independents.
According to the ADR report, Puducherry has 11 “red alert” assembly constituencies—seats with at least three candidates facing criminal cases. Of these, eight are in the Puducherry district, and three are in the Karaikal district.
Over 9.4 lakh voters will decide the fate of the candidates when the polls are held on April 9. The counting of votes in the Union territory will take place on May 4, alongside the counting in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
Puducherry assembly polls 2026
How parties fared in Puducherry assembly polls 2021
The Puducherry legislative assembly has 33 seats, of which elections are held for 30. The remaining three members are nominated by the central government.
NEW DELHI: Raghav Chadha on Saturday hit back at the Aam Aadmi Party after being removed as the party’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha and replaced by Ashok Kumar Mittal, rejecting the allegations cited against him. Terming the move part of a “scripted campaign”, Chadha alleged that it was a “coordinated attack” aimed at targeting him. In a video shared on X, he said he would expose “every lie” and responded to each charge levelled by the party, ending with a popular line from Dhurandhar: “Ghayal hoon isliye ghatak hoon” (I may be wounded, but I am also stronger because of it).“The Aam Aadmi Party made three allegations and said that because of these, Raghav Chadha should not be allowed to speak in Parliament. I would like to address all three,” he said.“The first allegation is that when the opposition walks out of Parliament, I remain seated and do not join them. This is completely false — a blatant lie. I challenge anyone to show even a single instance where the opposition walked out and I did not join them. Parliament has CCTV cameras everywhere — bring out the footage and the truth will be clear,” he added.He further rejected the claim that he refused to sign the impeachment motion against the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.“The second allegation is that I refused to sign the impeachment motion against the Chief Election Commissioner. This too is false. No leader from the party ever asked me — formally or informally — to sign it. In fact, several Rajya Sabha MPs from the party themselves did not sign the motion. So why is the blame being placed solely on me? Moreover, such a motion requires 50 signatures in the Rajya Sabha, and that number could easily have been met. So why the noise?” he said.Tearing into the third allegations of raising “trivial issues” in the Parliament, Chadha said: “The third allegation is that I am afraid and therefore raise trivial issues. Let me clarify — I did not go to Parliament to shout, create chaos, or break microphones. I went there to raise public issues. I have spoken on GST, income tax, Punjab’s water, Delhi’s air pollution, the condition of government schools, strengthening public healthcare, and problems faced by passengers in Indian Railways. I have even raised issues like menstrual health, which people often hesitate to discuss, along with unemployment and inflation. You can check my four-year parliamentary record — I went there to create impact, not disruption.”AAP on Thursday informed the Rajya Sabha secretariat that Ashok Kumar Mittal has been appointed as its new deputy leader in the Upper House, replacing Raghav Chadha.Chadha, who has been a Member of Parliament since April 2022, has frequently drawn attention for raising key issues in Parliament. Recently, he flagged concerns over the practice of “sarpanch pati” or “panchayat pati,” where women elected to reserved local body seats often remain nominal representatives while actual authority is exercised by male family members.He urged the government to take steps to ensure that women elected to Panchayati Raj institutions are able to exercise real power, in line with the intent of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment.
The Delhi government has introduced new conditions for the supply of commercial LPG cylinders, making eligibility contingent on steps taken towards adopting piped natural gas (PNG) in areas where the network is available. The changes were notified through an order issued by the Food, Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, which amends a provision of the policy on commercial LPG distribution announced earlier.As per the revised framework, commercial and industrial users will now receive LPG supplies only if they are registered with the concerned oil marketing company (OMC) and have applied for a PNG connection wherever such infrastructure exists. In areas yet to be connected, consumers must submit a formal declaration indicating their intent to shift to PNG once it becomes available.
To enforce compliance, OMCs have been tasked with verifying consumer records. They are required to collect documentation at least once to confirm registration status and ensure that the consumer has either applied for PNG or expressed intent to do so. Details of such consumers will also be shared with Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) for further processing.“When supplying to commercial gas consumers, the OMCs shall at least once collect documentation records to ensure that the consumer is registered with the OMC and has either applied for a PNG connection or has submitted an application indicating the intent to obtain a PNG connection upon its availability,” the order stated.The order, however, leaves room for operational flexibility. Businesses that require both LPG and PNG can approach the additional commissioner of the department with a request explaining their needs. These applications may also be collected by OMCs and forwarded for consideration, with decisions to be taken in consultation with the three OMCs.“The OMCs could also collect such applications and submit to the Additional Commissioner for a prompt decision. The Additional Commissioner shall promptly dispose of the same in consultation with the three Oil Marketing Companies,” the order stated.The revised norms come in the backdrop of the government’s recent measures aimed at easing pressure on LPG supplies. Speaking earlier, additional commissioner Arun Kumar Jha had said that Delhi has around 56 lakh domestic LPG connections and urged residents to ensure their connections are registered correctly to prevent misuse and diversion.He had also emphasised the expansion of PNG infrastructure, stating, “Wherever PNG connections are available, residents should shift from LPG to PNG,” and noted that the pipeline network has reached “every village”.The department has also set up a control room to monitor developments and gather complaints and inputs. Residents were previously asked to report suspicious activities through helpline numbers 011-23379836 and 8383824659 between 9 am and 7 pm, with assurances of prompt action on verified complaints.
Iranian state-linked media has claimed that a US helicopter sent to search for a downed American fighter jet was itself struck by a projectile, adding further uncertainty to an already tense situation. The report, carried by Mehr news agency, has not been independently verified, and there has been no immediate response from US officials.The claim follows Iranian state television reports that an American fighter jet went down over southwestern Iran, with at least one crew member ejecting. In response, the United States launched a search and rescue operation, with an Israeli military officer saying Israel was assisting in the mission. Social media footage appeared to show US drones, aircraft and helicopters flying over a mountainous area where the jet was believed to have come down.
If confirmed, it would mark the first known instance of a US aircraft being lost inside Iranian territory during the ongoing conflict, now in its fifth week. It remains unclear whether the jet was shot down or crashed due to a technical fault, and the number of personnel on board has not been confirmed.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump had been briefed on the situation, but did not provide further details. The Pentagon and US Central Command have not commented.Iranian television escalated its messaging, with an anchor urging residents to report or hand over any “enemy pilot” to authorities, promising a reward. Broadcasts in Kohkilouyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province and nearby regions called on civilians to assist in locating the pilot. Earlier, an on-screen message reportedly urged people to shoot at suspected US personnel, referring to unverified footage circulating online.The claims come amid a wider surge in regional hostilities. Iran has been accused of targeting key infrastructure across the Gulf, including a desalination plant in Kuwait and energy facilities. Air defences were activated in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, while Israel reported incoming missiles.The conflict, which began on February 28, has led to rising casualties across multiple countries and increased global concern, particularly over the Strait of Hormuz, where disruptions have pushed oil prices sharply higher.
MUMBAI: Over 2,000 candidates in the state are awaiting clear directives from the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) for permanent registration after the National Medical Commission (NMC) clarified guidelines allowing foreign medical graduates (FMGs) who attended online classes during Covid to register in India. The FMGs studied in Georgia, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, China and the Philippines, among others.MMC has stated that each case is different and not all graduates have completed the compensatory internship as prescribed by NMC, which is why NMC guidelines need to be implemented with care.Some of the graduates who completed their compulsory rotating medical internship (CRMI) are trying to repeat their internship in India, waiting to hear from MMC. “We cleared the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE). We have completed our mandatory one-year internship in our country of degree completion. We… ensured that all our online classes were supported by offline classes and practical hours. Still we are not getting registration to practice here,” said Rachita Kurmi, who completed her MBBS in China.Candidates alleged that while states such as Kerala, Maharashtra and Rajasthan have been reluctant to grant permanent registration, others like UP had been allowing FMGs to practice, and J&K issued a directive following the NMC guidelines.Another candidate, said, “Countries like the UK and the USA also faced the pandemic, India wasn’t the only one. However, those countries granted registration to students who had studied abroad after they cleared the screening exam. We are concerned that the MMC may require us to undergo an additional one or two years of internship here as well.”The candidates have approached RTI activist Faisal Shaikh, who has approached MMC and the medical education minister seeking relief for the affected ones. “Given that these doctors have already lost significant time, we demand a fast-track redressal mechanism,” he said. MMC administrator Vinki Rughwani said there are over 2,000 FMGs from the state who have been seeking permanent registration in the last year. “We will have to deal with this on a case-by-case basis. We will have to implement the NMC guidelines with care, to ensure there is no deviation from their policy,” he said. “The state council will take a student-friendly decision.”
