NEW DELHI: Centre on Saturday revoked the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk with immediate effect by exercising powers under the National Security Act, the ministry of home affairs said.In a statement released, the ministry said that the “government remains committed to fostering an environment of peace, stability, and mutual trust in Ladakh so as to facilitate constructive and meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders.”“In furtherance of this objective, and after due consideration, the Government has decided to revoke the detention of Shri Sonam Wangchuk with immediate effect by exercising the powers available under the National Security Act,” it added.“Wangchuk has already undergone nearly half of the period of detention under the said Act,” the ministry noted announcing his immediate release.The government said that it has been actively engaging with stakeholders and community leaders in Ladakh to address the aspirations and concerns of people in the region.“The Government has been actively engaging with various stakeholders and community leaders in Ladakh with a view to addressing the aspirations and concerns of the people of the region. However, the prevailing atmosphere of bandhs and protests has been detrimental to the peace-loving character of the society and has adversely affected various sections of the community, including students, job aspirants, businesses, tour operators and tourists and overall economy,” the statement added.The government’s decision comes days after the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing on a petition challenging the detention of Sonam Wangchuk to March 17. A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P. B. Varale made it clear that no further arguments would be heard beyond that date.The court had also asked the Centre whether it could reconsider or review the activist’s detention, noting that “his medical condition is not that good.”During the proceedings, government authorities told the court that Wangchuk’s remarks had encouraged young people to organise protests similar to movements seen in Nepal and Bangladesh, and had even referenced an uprising similar to the Arab Spring.The government argued that such statements could trigger instability in the strategically sensitive border region. Officials also linked him to violence in Leh on September 24 last year that left four people dead and more than 160 injured.Wangchuk was detained on September 26, 2025 under the provisions of the National Security Act following an order issued by the District Magistrate of Leh, two days after violent protests erupted in the city over demands for statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.He was taken into preventive custody under the NSA to “maintain public order” and was later transferred to a prison in Jodhpur.His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, had approached the Supreme Court challenging the detention. The court first took up the petition on October 6 last year and issued a notice to the authorities.

Craving that dosa cooked to a perfect crisp? Off the menu. Those freshly fried canteen samosas? Gone as well. Ongoing tensions in the Middle East have begun to ripple into everyday industrial activity in India, as shortages of commercial LPG start to disrupt factory operations. Manufacturers said that tightening supply is creating hurdles not only for production processes but also for routine worker facilities such as factory canteens. “Every day has become a new challenge now,” Satish NS, president of Haier India, a maker of refrigerators and televisions, told ET. “Component suppliers are facing challenges with low LPG supplies, which will impact final production. Brazing operations in factories are getting affected. And even running factory canteens has become difficult, which is why we are now electrifying all equipment.”

India Inc redesigns menu

The strain is being felt in staff kitchens, where menus are being pared back as dishes that require significant gas consumption are removed. Meals that require little or no cooking, including packaged foods and sandwiches, are increasingly being served to workers, while in a few plants even the supply of tea has been reduced. Items such as dosa, samosa and non-vegetarian dishes are gradually disappearing from factory canteens. In many plants, they are being replaced with simpler options that require minimal cooking. Executives described the situation as “hand-to-mouth,” saying that some facilities now have LPG stocks that may last only until the weekend.The impact is visible across several large manufacturers. Parle Products, the country’s biggest packaged food company, has scaled down the variety of food served at its 10 company-run factories and 125 third-party plants. The canteen menu, which earlier included multiple items, has now been restricted to only a few dishes. Foods such as chapati, dosa and fried snacks are being replaced by simpler preparations like sandwiches. The company employs close to 4,500 people across these plants. “Workers understand the problem at hand,” said Mayank Shah, vice president at Parle Products. “Even production is being impacted in plants that run on fuels such as LPG, propane, and butane, with some shifts or lines not operating. We are trying to balance overall production with the plants that are least impacted.”

It’s not just food industry!

Other companies have also begun adjusting their operations. At Mahindra & Mahindra, canteens have removed live counters and fried foods to reduce gas consumption. Tata Motors similarly warned participants attending a supplier event at its Pune plant that the food menu would be restricted. Manufacturing facilities in the country generally employ between 3,000 and 5,000 workers, including contract and indirect staff, while the management of canteens is usually outsourced to external vendors.Kamal Nandi, head of the appliances business at Godrej Enterprises, said the shortage has severely affected brazing work involved in sheet metal operations. “It has become a hand-to-mouth situation,” he said. “We are trying alternatives to LPG as we have supplies only until Saturday. This is when demand for cooling appliances such as air-conditioners and refrigerators is peaking.”

Chulhas make a comeback as India Inc turns to alternatives

To ensure workers continue to receive meals, the company has revived the use of firewood stoves in its canteens. To cope with the shortage, factories are introducing electric alternatives including induction cooktops, electric rice cookers and electric roti makers. In some locations, firewood chulhas have also returned. GK Sharma, India region chairperson at French auto parts maker OP Mobility, said the company has been exploring alternatives such as electricity and solar power. However, LPG shortages are still affecting certain operations. “We are navigating a tough phase,” he said, referring to the impact on paint shop processes.However, not all factories have faced disruptions as many had already switched to alternatives. At Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, which manufactures trucks and buses under the Bharat Benz brand, canteen operations have continued normally. The facility’s kitchen runs entirely on electricity after the plant switched to 100% solar power, shielding it from the current LPG shortage.

Here’s what the government is doing to cushion the impact:

The government has moved to prioritise LPG supply for households as the energy crunch deepens amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Earlier on Thursday, Centre announced a 20% cap on the average monthly supply of commercial LPG by oil marketing companies, which will coordinate the distribution with state governments. Refineries have also been asked to maximise LPG production. Some have already increased output by diverting propane and butane streams towards LPG production. Manufacturing companies will receive up to 80% of the average supply they had received during the previous six months.

Hours after claiming that US forces “totally obliterated” Iran’s key oil hub at Kharg Island, US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) shared an aerial video showing bombs being dropped on ground targets.Sharing a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump released “unclassified” footage of US strikes on Iran. The black-and-white clip, carried an “unclassified” watermark and showed multiple explosions and thick smoke rising from several locations after bombs were dropped.However, Trump did not provide a caption with the video, making it unclear whether the footage specifically showed the strikes on Kharg Island.According to RT news, the video shared by Trump included footage of the strike on Kharg Island Iran’s main oil export hub located about 30 kilometres off the mainland. The island handles nearly 90% of Iran’s crude exports, according to a recent note by JPMorgan.

Trump claims major bombing raid

Earlier, Trump announced the attack in a post on Truth Social saying US forces had carried out a major operation against Iranian targets.“Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,” he wrote.However, Trump said the United States had deliberately avoided striking the island’s oil infrastructure. “Our Weapons are the most powerful and sophisticated that the World has ever known but, for reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island. However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision,” he said.

Trump also warned Iran against escalating the conflict stating, “Iran has NO ability to defend anything that we want to attack . There is nothing they can do about it! Iran will NEVER have a nuclear weapon, nor will it have the ability to threaten the United States of America, the Middle East or, for that matter, the World! Iran’s Military, and all others involved with this Terrorist Regime, would be wise to lay down their arms, and save what’s left of their country, which isn’t much! Thank you for your attention to this matter.“Trump had even earlier threatened to target Kharg Island’s oil infrastructure if Iran blocked shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route through which about a fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes.

Iran confirms strikes but denies oil damage

Iranian media also confirmed that Kharg Island had been targeted in airstrikes earlier on Friday. Local sources said more than 15 explosions were heard across the island, with thick smoke rising from several areas.However, Iranian reports said that “despite the intensity of the blasts, none of the island’s oil infrastructure was damaged.” No further details about casualties or additional damage were released.Earlier, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said the scale of strikes carried out since the war began had been significant. He said more than 15,000 enemy targets had been hit so far, averaging over 1,000 strikes per day.Hegseth also downplayed concerns about potential disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz saying that, “We have been dealing with it and don’t need to worry about it.”

NEW DELHI: The joint opposition on Friday moved Parliament for removal of Gyanesh Kumar as chief election commissioner (CEC), a critical step that takes the anti-BJP camp’s protest against the nationwide SIR and conduct of elections to the extreme limit that would further widen its already yawning chasm with the NDA. The removal notice comes just before EC announces schedule for assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry, where key INDIA bloc members are pitted against BJP, as also against each other. Opposition MPs submitted removal notices in both Houses of Parliament, with 130 Lok Sabha members and 63 from Rajya Sabha signing the petitions. The notices include not just INDIA bloc parties but also some Independent MPs and AAP which has been waging its own battle against EC, with grave allegations about Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Delhi. AAP had walked out of the bloc after the 2024 LS polls. Sources in the INDIA bloc said the petitions have seven charges against Kumar, chiefly alleged “partisan and discriminatory conduct in office”, “deliberate obstruction of investigation of electoral fraud”, “mass disenfranchisement of voters”, and “misbehaviour”. The opposition has also raised the issue over the SIR that was conducted for the 2025 Bihar polls and the forthcoming elections in states like West Bengal, and CEC’s partial conduct towards a political party, they said. The opposition has been accusing the EC of seeking to help BJP through SIR. CEC’s removal notice is a TMC initiative, with West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee having first made the demand during the Budget session in Feb. The move came to fruition after Mamata led a bellicose multiple-day protest in Kolkata. Process for removing CEC is similar to that of a Supreme Court judge – incumbent can be removed only on “grounds of proven misbehaviour or incapacity”. As per Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, once motion to remove a judge is admitted in LS or RS, speaker or chairman will constitute a three-member panel to probe the grounds. Once it submits its report, it will be tabled in the House and discussions will follow. The motion has to be passed by both Houses by majority of total membership and two-thirds majority of MPs present and voting. Given that NDA has majority in LS and RS, it makes the opposition’s move a non-starter. There was a quid pro quo of sorts that ensured an early submission of the notices in LS and RS. TMC did not sign the removal notice against Speaker Om Birla that was backed by other opposition parties, but it supported the notice when it came up in LS this week, after an understanding within the INDIA bloc to jointly sponsor the notice against the CEC.

Dallas Edwards, a wrestling referee working an OVW match in Kentucky, suddenly collapsed in the ring after taking a heavy hit during a live match on Thursday night. The scary moment happened during a “Four Corners of Chaos” match when wrestler Brendan Balling climbed to the top rope to perform a move on opponent Tony Evans. In a shocking turn, Tony Evans grabbed referee Dallas Edwards and pushed him into the path of the move.The impact sent Dallas Edwards crashing hard to the mat, and he appeared to hit his head during the fall. Wrestler Brendan Balling quickly checked on him, but the match did not stop immediately. For several tense moments, Dallas Edwards remained on the mat while the match continued around him.Soon after, the situation grew more serious when Dallas Edwards began showing signs of a medical emergency inside the ring. The frightening moment left wrestlers and fans inside the arena deeply concerned.

Dallas Edwards suffers medical emergency during OVW match after Tony Evans pushes referee into Brendan Balling’s top rope move

The dangerous moment happened during an OVW wrestling show in Kentucky. The match involved Brendan Balling and Tony Evans in a chaotic multi-corner contest.As the match picked up pace, Brendan Balling climbed to the top rope to deliver a high-impact move. However, Tony Evans suddenly pulled referee Dallas Edwards in front of him and pushed him toward Balling’s jump. Instead of hitting Tony Evans, Brendan Balling collided with the referee.Dallas Edwards hit the mat hard, and the fall appeared to be serious. Brendan Balling immediately looked concerned and checked on him, but the match briefly continued despite the referee staying down.Soon the situation became even more alarming. Dallas Edwards remained on the mat and at one point appeared to convulse, creating a very tense moment inside the ring. Fans and wrestlers realized something was seriously wrong.Tony Evans then dragged Dallas Edwards toward the corner of the ring so the match could continue safely. Not long after that, officials finally stopped the match as the medical situation became clear.Later, Dallas Edwards’ girlfriend shared an update about his condition on Facebook. She explained that doctors were monitoring him in the hospital after he suffered a brain injury during the incident.She wrote on Facebook, “I am not going to provide much more information at this time except to the parties who already know, but last night resulted in a brain injury that is being monitored and will continue to be monitored by doctors here.”Brendan Balling also spoke about the incident and expressed how shaken he felt. In a message shared online, he said Dallas Edwards is someone he respects deeply.Brendan Balling wrote, “Obvious accident, but can’t help but feel horrible about everything. Dallas will be back and better than ever and so will I. He’s one of the best guys I’ve been able to meet during my time at OVW.”As of now, OVW is still scheduled to return with another show on Sunday while Dallas Edwards continues to recover under medical supervision.

Olympic gymnast Suni Lee marked her 23rd birthday with a sunny vacation that quickly caught fans’ attention online. The American star shared short dance clips and photos from a tropical trip with friends, and the posts spread fast across social media. In videos posted on TikTok, Lee can be seen enjoying time by a pool at a luxury oceanfront property while celebrating with close friends. One of the friends in the clips was popular content creator Erica Ha. Lee also posted several pictures from the trip on Instagram and wrote a short caption that read, “staying forever.”The birthday posts come at a time when Lee’s popularity continues to grow after her strong performance at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Since those Games, the gymnast has stepped further into modeling, media appearances, and social media work while still thinking about her athletic future.

Olympic gymnast Suni Lee celebrates birthday trip with Erica Ha as Paris Olympics medalist opens up about career, life, and future plans

The birthday celebration videos show a relaxed side of Suni Lee away from the pressure of elite gymnastics. In the clips, she laughs, dances by the pool, and spends time with friends during the tropical getaway. Fans quickly shared the posts across social media, helping them go viral within hours.Lee’s profile has grown a lot since the Paris Games. At the 2024 Summer Olympics, she won two individual bronze medals and also helped the United States win a team gold medal. The strong Olympic showing pushed her even further into the spotlight.Soon after the Games, Lee stepped into new opportunities in fashion and media. She appeared as a model for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and later walked the runway during the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York. The appearance placed her alongside many well-known names from the fashion world.Lee later moved to New York City after the Olympics. Since then, she has focused more on influencer projects, brand partnerships, and modeling work while still staying connected to gymnastics.During an episode of the HAHA Podcast last November, Lee also shared a rare look into her personal life and dating preferences. She said, “I feel like my type is, like… athletes. I like a very emotionally intelligent man.”She continued by explaining that maturity matters a lot to her. “I feel like a lot of the guys that I’ve talked to or come across, they always just end up being so immature,” Lee said on the podcast. “And I’m like, you’re five, six years older than me and you act like that. I act older than you.”Even with her busy life outside the gym, fans still wonder if Lee will compete again at the Olympics. The next Summer Games will take place at the 2028 Summer Olympics.Speaking on Today recently, Lee explained that the decision is still personal and depends on how she feels mentally. She said, “I think it’s just a matter of where my mental health is. If I come back, it will really just have to be for me. I don’t want to do it for anyone else and have that pressure on me.”For now, Suni Lee appears to be enjoying life, celebrating milestones, and exploring new paths while keeping the door open for whatever comes next.