NEW DELHI: Govt is likely to extend subsidies for electric two-wheelers under the PM e-Drive scheme until June, while subsidies for e-rickshaws may continue for two years or so. The scheme, initially notified in Sept 2024, is valid till March 31.“We are looking at extending the incentive for these two categories of electric vehicles. Since we have budget under this head, we want that more people get the benefit of the scheme,” a person aware of the development said. Under the scheme, e-two-wheeler and e-rickshaw buyers get subsidy of Rs 2,500 per kWh. Official data shows that out of Rs 1,772 crore subsidy earmarked for electric two-wheelers, about Rs 1,260 crore has been utilised. For electric three-wheelers, Rs 737 crore has been spent out of the Rs 907 crore allocation.Industry sources said e-rickshaw manufacturers have struggled to meet localisation norms under the Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP), making it difficult for many players to qualify for subsidies. “In the e-rickshaw segment, localisation remains a challenge as several key components such as traction battery packs, motors and instrument clusters are still largely imported. This has limited eligibility for incentives and slowed fund utilisation,” an industry executive said. The Rs 10,900-crore PM E-Drive scheme aims to accelerate EV adoption and build charging infrastructure across the country. Incentives are offered as upfront price reductions for buyers, which are later reimbursed to manufacturers, while localisation norms are aimed at strengthening domestic EV manufacturing.The scheme has been extended by two years, from March 2026, to March 2028, to support the adoption of electric buses, trucks, and ambulances. The scheme aims to boost local manufacturing, requiring e-bus makers to localise traction motors, but so far, no electric buses or trucks have hit the road, according to department of heavy industry data. Officials said that trucks are in the process of getting tested before sales start.

NEW DELHI: Amid disruption in supply chains, including inputs for medicines to glass, sulphur, solvents and polymers, industry has approached govt with multiple suggestions, ranging from relief in loans for small businesses staring at turning to non-performing assets due to lack of gas availability to operationalising a “green corridor” for goods flow to ports such as Sohar, Jeddah and Khorfakkan.It has also called for restricting the use of certain inputs, such as helium, and developing a domestic war risk insurance market. The lack of gas for industries has affected several sectors, be it ceramic or dyeing units, steel, aluminium or plastics.While freight rates have gone up, reflecting in a 20% jump in Drewry World Container index between Feb 26 and Thursday ($2,279 for a 40-feet container), availability is becoming a challenge, which is hurting supply chains as ships take a longer route and go around the Cape of Good Hope to reach Europe or the US. Going forward, a container supply crunch is widely expected.TOI spoke to industry representatives and one of the suggestions in their proposals to govt is a time-bound freight support mechanism to offset the impact, especially for smaller businesses.The supply disruptions from West Asia are prompting Chinese companies to jack up active pharma ingredient rates, including for blood pressure and sugar medicines.There are suggestions to tap alternate markets for fertilisers (Canada for potash, Russia and Egypt for urea). And, same for sulphur where export curbs have been proposed, apart from sourcing from Russia, the US and Kazakhstan. When it comes to helium used for MRI, industry has suggested restricting non-essential use, sourcing from Russia and also recovery from geo-thermal sources.Some of the industrial clusters are also seeking access to alternate fuel, such as furnace oil, diesel and cooking to gas and permission for a quick switchover. In addition, like households, there is a suggestion to let industrial and commercial users, with dual fuel capability, prioritise piped gas over LPG.“There is a need to establish a technical priority, with 80-90% continuity of LNG supply on an average for industries, such as glass, speciality chemicals and ceramics for next four-six weeks,” said an industry executive. With furnaces shut due to unavailability of gas, food and pharma packaging as well as containers for vaccines may be hit.There are demands from industries, such as chemicals and petrochem, to suspend or reduce tariffs for three-six months due to a surge in costs.Besides, there are proposals for a Covid-like loan relief for sectors hit by gas supply woes. One of the suggestions is a sector-specific advisory by RBI, allowing banks to treat gas-dependent manufacturing clusters as a temporary event and allowing asset classification standstill for 90 days.There are also some medium- to long-term solutions with developing a permanent domestic war-risk insurance framework on conflict-related maritime disruption being flagged. Similarly, there have been calls for bilateral air freight agreements, with alternate routing countries in central Asia, east Africa and southeast Asia, apart from creating a hedging framework for ATF.But, it isn’t just airlines and shipping lines that have been hit. The impact is felt on export-import rail cargo, where volumes are said to be up to 40% lower in certain areas, forcing operators to stable around 50 rakes and empty wagon movement has risen to 15-20% compared with under 5% in normal times. Some relief has been sought from railways too.Further, road developers have suggested that the current situation should be a force majeure-line event and the project timelines should be extended due to the 30-40% rise in bitumen cost.

Difficult and sensitive issues in the relationship ought to be addressed forthright in all sincerity and candour, be in trade, security or sharing natural resources, said Bangladesh high commissioner Riaz Hamidullah on Thursday. Speaking on Bangladesh’s 56th independence and national day, Hamidullah said that the future of the 2 countries rests firmly on the people’s shared belief in democracy and common developmental aspirations. “Such should be our shared future, where none would prosper as others around lag behind or stay constrained. Our shared values should call for appreciating others’ needs, endowment and expectations.” said Hamidullah, adding it’s possible for the 2 sides to chart a pathway towards inter-dependent relations for generations, beyond all differences. The national day event was attended by MoS (MEA) Kirti Vardhan Singh and foreign secretary Vikram Misri.The high commissioner said PM Tarique Rahman had reiterated commitment to maintaining a pragmatic, mutually respectful and beneficial partnership with India, for shared prosperity. “As we speak, both our countries navigate complexities and uncertainties in the global order. While we foresee tumultuous times ahead, Bangladesh looks forward to walk and work together to preserve the values and principles of open regionalism and multilateralism, for both as responsive and responsible nations,” he said. Recalling the 1971 War of Liberation, Hamidullah said Bangladesh remembers the women and men who withstood a “genocide, for standing against the Pakistani occupying forces, merely to uphold their identity and dignity, their yearning for freedom and sovereignty”. “We remember so many across India who stood by us – emotionally, physically, materially – in West Bengal, Tripura, other parts of the North-East, and beyond. We remember so much of support and succour provided to the young Mukti Bahini Force Commanders in India,” said Hamidullah. Rahman had on Wednesday called for the establishment of the Liberation War’s spirit of “equality, human dignity and social justice”, as the nation observed Genocide Day on Wednesday. The Pakistani army had launched Operation Searchlight on the same day to suppress the Bengali people’s calls for self-determination in erstwhile East Pakistan, killing over 20,000 people in Dhaka alone.

White House Official Page Posts Strange Videos Amid US‑Iran Conflict/ X

As tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate, a pair of unexplained videos posted by the White House late on March 25 has triggered widespread confusion online, with viewers trying to connect the timing to ongoing military operations, diplomatic signals and even potential announcements. The posts, brief and without context, appeared just hours after a forceful White House briefing on the war and fresh remarks from Donald Trump, amplifying speculation about what, if anything, might be “launching”.

Two short videos, one deleted, and no clear explanation

While the administration has gained a track record of posting bizarre videos in recent days, including clips mixing real war footage with memes, Hollywood action scenes and video‑game or anime imagery related to the Iran conflict, this latest clip stands out. Unlike previous posts that had a visible narrative or theme, this one lacks any clear context, making it feel peculiar and vague, giving the impression it might have been accidental or even hacked.The first video was posted at around 9:15 p.m. EST on the White House’s official X account. Shot on what appears to be a phone camera pointed towards the ground, it shows a woman’s black boots and part of a dress.A female voice is heard asking, “It’s so cool. It’s launching soon, right?” while an off-camera male voice replies “‘yes’.” The only on-screen text reads: “sound on.” The clip was deleted roughly 90 minutes later, but had already begun circulating widely across social media. A second video followed at around 10 p.m. EST and remains online. Lasting about four seconds, it shows a blank, dark screen interrupted by a phone notification sound. Static briefly flickers across the frame, and for a moment an American flag appears before fading out again. One detail drew particular attention: the flag’s red and white stripes appeared vertical rather than horizontal, prompting further speculation that the imagery might carry some coded or symbolic meaning.The post, captioned with only a phone and speaker emoji, offered no explanation. Together, the two clips amassed millions of views within hours, with the second video alone crossing tens of millions of impressions.

White House response adds to the mystery

When asked for clarification, a White House spokesperson told People: “I wonder what’s launching soon!,”offering no real answers and leaving the question unresolved. There was no indication that the accounts had been compromised, and officials did not suggest the posts were accidental. The lack of explanation, combined with the deletion of the first clip, has left the posts open to interpretation.

Online theories range from apps to military strikes

The absence of context quickly turned the clips into a blank canvas for speculation. Some users suggested the posts could be teasing a new government app or communications platform. Others believed the videos might be linked to a space launch, pointing to Artemis II, which is expected to send astronauts deeper into space and could launch as early as April. More alarmed interpretations connected the phrase “launching soon” to the ongoing conflict, with some users asking whether it referred to a missile strike or escalation in the war. “What’s launching??? A missile? An app? A mission??” one user wrote.Several users also posted slowed-down versions and screenshots, trying to decipher blurred flashes on the screen, interpreting them as possible numbers, letters, or cryptic codes. Many tried hard to figure out what was seen, analyzing frames frame by frame in search of hidden meaning. Others dismissed the posts as overdramatic or poorly timed, with one comment suggesting the White House communications team had been “binge too many spy thrillers” and calling the posts “unnecessary drama” during an active conflict. More outlandish theories, including references to nuclear weapons or even extraterrestrial activity, also surfaced, though largely in jest.

Posted against the backdrop of a widening conflict

The timing of the posts has been central to the reaction. Earlier on March 25, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered a forceful briefing, describing the scale of US military action against Iran. “The United States military continues to decimate the terrorist Iranian regime’s offensive and defensive capabilities,” she said. Leavitt claimed US forces had struck 9,000 targets and destroyed 140 naval vessels, calling it “the largest elimination of a navy over a three-week period since World War 2”. She also issued a warning tied to ongoing negotiations: “There does not have to be any more death and destruction. But if Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, if they fail to understand that they have been defeated militarily and will continue to be, President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have been hit before. “President Trump does not bluff and is prepared to unleash hell.” The briefing came amid reports that Iran had rejected a 15-point proposal from Washington aimed at ending the war.

Trump’s latest remarks and stalled negotiations

On the morning following the videos, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, intensifying his rhetoric around the negotiations. “The Iranian negotiators are very different and ‘strange’. They are ‘begging’ us to make a deal… and yet they publicly state that they are only ‘looking at our proposal’. WRONG!!!” he wrote. “They better get serious soon, before it is too late, because once that happens, there is NO TURNING BACK, and it won’t be pretty!”

Truth Social @Donald J. Trump

According to Iranian state media, Tehran has rejected the US proposal and instead issued its own five-point framework, reportedly including demands for guarantees against renewed hostilities, reparations, and control over the Strait of Hormuz.

ShnaggyHose (Image Via Getty)

A new online controversy is building after streamer ShnaggyHose made serious claims about fellow creator Cheesur during a livestream. The moment, which is now being widely shared, comes from a recent “Just Chatting” session. On March 25, 2026, an X user posted a short clip showing part of the exchange, and it quickly started gaining attention.In that clip, ShnaggyHose accused Cheesur of harming his girlfriend, Kaelyn. The claims were made while he was reacting to Cheesur’s ongoing stream. So far, Cheesur has not responded publicly. Because of the serious nature of the accusations, the situation is now being closely followed by viewers across streaming platforms.

ShnaggyHose alleges Cheesur “put his hands” on Kaelyn during livestream as heated exchange unfolds

During the livestream, ShnaggyHose spoke directly about the situation and did not hold back. He said, “I can’t wait till all the Cheesur Files come out. I can’t wait till Kaelyn exposes him for who he is. The reason she won’t leave is because he put his hands on her. She’s scared to leave him.”These are strong claims, and there is no confirmed proof shared publicly at this time. The comments came in the middle of a back-and-forth moment between the two streamers.At one point, Cheesur also made remarks during his own stream, which added to the tension. While reacting to that, ShnaggyHose responded by questioning why such comments were being made publicly. He said, “He has to say things like that to get attention. That’s the only way his chat moves.”Before making the allegations, ShnaggyHose also confronted Cheesur in a frustrated tone. He said, “I’m tired of people putting my name in their mouth. I just checked his stream, and now he’s saying things about me.”The situation quickly turned into a wider discussion online. Many viewers began sharing opinions, while others asked for clarity and proof. Cheesur has not yet released any official statement to respond to these accusations against him.Since the livestream comments still require verification, they have not been demonstrated to be accurate. Right now, the public is unaware of any formal complaints or legal actions now ongoing. While the number of people engaging in the debate keeps growing, the clip keeps circulating throughout several sites. With both creators having active audiences, many are now waiting to see if Cheesur responds or if more details come out in the coming days.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran effectively offered what he described as a “gift” of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, saying as many as 10 Pakistan-flagged tankers passed through the crucial route in recent days.Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Trump recounted a conversation in which he was told Tehran would make a gesture. “They said to show you the fact that we’re real and solid and we’re there, we’re going to let you have eight boats of oil. Eight boats. Eight big boats of oil,” he said. “This was two days ago… and I didn’t think much about it.”He then described watching television coverage that appeared to confirm the movement. “I watched the news… and he said, something’s unusual happening. There are eight boats that are going right up the middle of the Hormo Strait. Eight big tankers are going, loaded up with oil right through,” Trump said, adding: “I said, well, I guess they were right. And they were. They were real, and I think they were Pakistani flagged.”Trump went further, suggesting the number of vessels increased after an apparent follow-up move from Tehran. “They then apologised for something. They said, and they said, we’re going to send two more boats. And it ended up being ten boats,” he said. “I said, well, I guess we’re dealing with the right people.”Just a day earlier, Trump said Iran had made a significant energy-related concession to the United States, describing it as a positive development without offering details. He hinted the move might involve the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil shipments. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump called it a valuable “gift” tied to oil and gas rather than nuclear issues. The remarks come amid an intensifying conflict between the United States and Iran, now nearing a month in duration. Trump insisted Tehran is under pressure to negotiate, saying: “They are begging to make a deal, not me. They’re begging to make a deal.” At the same time, he warned that Washington could escalate further if Iran does not abandon its nuclear ambitions. “If they don’t, we’re their worst nightmare… we’ll just keep blowing them away,” he said.Trump also indicated that taking control of Iran’s oil resources remained under consideration. “It’s an option,” he said, drawing comparisons with US actions in Venezuela.The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the talks with roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passing through the narrow corridor. Iran has in recent weeks restricted or scrutinised vessels linked to the US and its allies, while allowing limited traffic to continue, contributing to volatility in global energy markets.As fighting continues, the humanitarian toll has mounted sharply, with thousands reported dead across Iran and Lebanon and millions displaced. Despite ongoing diplomatic contacts, Iranian officials have described US proposals as “one-sided and unfair,” leaving uncertainty over whether negotiations can halt the conflict.