Ex-envoy Sandhu named Delhi LG, Tamil Nadu Governor Ravi moved to Bengal

NEW DELHI/KOLKATA: Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi has replaced C V Ananda Bose as the new governor of West Bengal, while former ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu will be the new L-G of Delhi as part of a larger gubernatorial reshuffle. The move to appoint Ravi as Bengal governor immediately came under fire from the CM of the poll-bound state, Mamata Banerjee. The appointment of Ravi, a former IPS officer who had frequent run-ins with the DMK govt, comes days ahead of the announcement of poll dates for Bengal and other states. As part of the changes announced by Rashtrapati Bhavan, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, the governor of Kerala, has been given additional charge of TN, while Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd), a well-known security expert, has substituted Arif Mohammad Khan as governor of Bihar, and Jishnu Dev Varma, governor of Telangana, has been appointed as Maharashtra governor.

Other changes include UT of Ladakh L-G Kavinder Gupta being elevated to governor of Himachal Pradesh in place of Shiv Pratap Shukla, who has been shifted to Telangana. Current Delhi L-G Vinai Kumar Saxena has been moved to Ladakh as the new L-G. BJP politician and former Bihar Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav is the new Nagaland governor.Bose, whose tenure was marked by his repeated confrontations with the Mamata-led TMC govt, announced his resignation from Delhi.Didi: Shah didn’t consult me over change of guardMamata said Shah did not consult her over the change of guard “as per established convention”. Ravi has been at odds with the Tamil Nadu govt over a host of issues and his expected transfer to Bengal assumes significance due to Mamata’s vehement protest against the EC’s SIR exercise in the state with polls set to be conducted with the new voters’ list. The suddenness of Ananda Bose’s decision was borne out by the fact that a Raj Bhavan social media channel posted his key official engagements on Friday till a few hours before he made the announcement. The engagements included his “presence” at the “first-of-its-kind” Darjeeling Hill Festival, where President Droupadi Murmu would be the chief guest. The election-eve choice of Ravi as Bengal’s 24th governor also prompted the CM to claim that “such actions undermine the spirit of the Constitution of India and strike at the very foundation of our federal structure”. Ravi, known for his confrontations with the Stalin administration, will be stepping into Raj Bhavan just ahead of the assembly election. Bose, as many noted, had been lying low, uncharacteristically, for the last few months, avoiding any fresh tussle with the Bengal government. Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said, “They (TMC) should stop whining on ethics and morality in a state where the assembly opposition leader has to move the high court 124 times just to hold public meetings.” Raj Bhavan insiders gave a couple of “reasons” for Bose’s decision: ill health and frustration over not being allowed to work by the state administration. It was also becoming increasingly clear in Bengal’s political circles that Bose’s recent non-confrontational approach was not entirely to the liking of the local BJP brass. “He was stymied not by the state administration but by his own actions and inaction,” a BJP senior told TOI.

India’s Sanju Samson (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil)

NEW DELHI: India sealed a thrilling seven-run win over England in the T20 World Cup semi-final on Thursday at Wankhede Stadium to book a place in the final against New Zealand. It was a high-scoring contest with 499 runs and 34 sixes in total, as both teams entertained the packed crowd with aggressive batting.India first posted a massive 253/7, the fourth-highest total in T20 World Cup history. Sanju Samson led the charge with a brilliant 89 off 42 balls after being dropped early in his innings.

England fought back strongly in the chase, mainly through Jacob Bethell, who smashed a career-best 105 off 48 balls and kept his team in the contest until the final over.However, India managed to hold their nerve at crucial moments. Jasprit Bumrah delivered a controlled spell of 1/33 in four overs, while Axar Patel impressed in the field with two stunning catches and another key contribution. England eventually finished on 246/7, falling just short of the huge target.After the match, Samson, awarded the Player of the Match for his knock, praised the team effort but especially credited Bumrah for making the difference with the ball in the death overs.“As I told before, I think you need to assess the conditions. We have played a lot of cricket here in Wankhede, as I said before, chasing becomes a bit easier here. They won the toss, put us into bat, so we knew after the way we batted, the way myself and Ishaan batted, the partnership which we had for after Abhishek got out, I thought that I think 250 should be, I think, possible here,” Samson said in the post-match presentation.Adding that the Player of the Match award should be given to Bumrah, Samson further noted, “So yeah, very happy how the team turned up today, and all credit goes to Jasprit Bumrah. I think the world-class bowler, once in a generation bowler, I think that’s what he delivered today. I think this should go to him, actually.“If we didn’t bowl that way in the death overs, I think I would not be standing here. All credit goes to the bowlers, how they backed themselves in the tough conditions.”

West Indies players (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

NEW DELHI: The West Indies cricket team has finally received an update regarding their delayed return home after being stuck in India following their exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Head coach Daren Sammy shared the development on social media, writing, “Got an update. that’s all wi wanted,” after days of uncertainty surrounding the team’s travel plans.

The squad had been unable to leave India because several airlines cancelled or rerouted flights due to restricted airspace in the Gulf region. The restrictions came amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, which affected multiple international flight routes.Earlier, Sammy had openly expressed his frustration online as the team waited for information. In one post he wrote, “I just wanna go home,” and later added, “At least an update, tell us something. Today tmw, next week. It’s been 5 days,” highlighting the growing anxiety within the squad and support staff.Cricket West Indies (CWI) had earlier confirmed that the team’s travel plans were postponed because airlines were avoiding the affected airspace for safety reasons. The board explained the situation in a statement, saying, “These restrictions are a direct result of the security threats posed by military action in the Gulf Region, which has impacted several international flight routes and required airlines to adjust scheduled services for safety reasons.”The board also assured fans that the safety of players and staff remains the top priority and that it is coordinating with several authorities to arrange a safe journey back. “CWI is working closely with the International Cricket Council (ICC), relevant governmental authorities, and airline partners to secure the earliest possible safe travel arrangements for the squad and support staff,” the statement added.The West Indies were knocked out of the tournament after losing to India at Eden Gardens, where India chased down 195 with an unbeaten 97 from Sanju Samson.

Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav (Screengrab)

India faced England in the T20 World Cup semi-final at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, with an interesting moment before the toss as Rohit Sharma, India’s T20 World Cup 2024-winning captain, was seen chatting with current skipper Suryakumar Yadav. The conversation caught the attention of fans and cameras just before the crucial match began.At the toss, England captain Harry Brook won and chose to bowl first. India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav said his team would have preferred to bat as well, believing the pitch looked good and conditions were suitable for batting.“We were looking to bat first. Semifinal, big game, and there’s wind around too. Don’t think there will be much dew. Looks a good one (the pitch). The best one. Credit to all the curators and groundsmen. Same team,” Surya said at the toss.Watch Rohit Sharma attending IND vs ENG T20 World Cup semi-final:Brook explained England’s decision and admitted India had more experience at the venue.“We’re going to have a bowl. Looks like a good wicket, hopefully we can get off to a good start with the ball. They’ve obviously got a lot more experience on this ground than us. T20 cricket is such a fickle game, you never know what’s going to happen. Hopefully we can keep them quiet (the crowd). Overton comes in for Rehan.”Looking at their journey to the semi-finals, India had a mixed campaign. They started with a narrow win over USA, followed by victories against other teams in the group stage. However, they suffered a heavy loss to South Africa in the Super-8 round before bouncing back with important wins against Zimbabwe and West Indies to secure a place in the last four.England’s path was also uneven at first. They scraped past Nepal, lost to West Indies, and struggled in wins over Scotland and Italy. But their form improved in the Super-8 stage with strong victories against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and New Zealand, which helped them become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals.At Wankhede, England had played two earlier matches with a 1–1 record, while India had won their only game at the venue against USA by 29 runs. Historically, the two sides are evenly matched at this ground, with England winning in 2012 and India returning the favour in 2025.

Fragments of Iranian weapons, shattered in flight or rendered useless by electronic disruption, have been falling from the skies across the Middle East. Behind many of these failures is a network of advanced technology developed in the US, including heat-tracking satellites, cyber warfare tools and cutting-edge laser systems designed to neutralise aerial threats.Military observers believe some of these capabilities are being used in Operation Epic Fury, a campaign that began on 28 February. One of the most closely watched developments is the suspected deployment of a ship-mounted laser weapon aboard a US Navy destroyer operating off the Middle Eastern coast.Videos released by US Central Command appear to show a vessel equipped with the High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance system, commonly known as HELIOS. The system features a steerable laser that can focus a powerful beam of energy on aerial targets, enabling it to disable drones and other threats within seconds.Laser-based defence is not limited to US forces. Footage circulating from the skies near the Israel–Lebanon border shows rockets being launched only to explode seconds later. Analysts widely believe these interceptions may involve Israel’s experimental Iron Beam system, an advanced laser defence designed to destroy rockets before they reach their targets.Neither the US Navy nor the Israeli military has officially confirmed the use of laser weapons in the current operation. However, the Navy acknowledged earlier in February that HELIOS successfully destroyed four drones during testing, suggesting that the technology is already operational.The opening phase of the campaign has been intense. Within the first 72 hours, US forces reportedly struck around 1,700 targets. More than 200 Iranian ballistic missile launchers, roughly half of the country’s inventory, were destroyed while dozens more were rendered inoperable. Hundreds of missiles were eliminated before they could be launched.Much of this precision has been enabled by assets operating far above the battlefield. The US Space Force, established in 2019, plays a crucial role in providing real-time intelligence for air and naval operations.According to Brent David Ziarnick, a former US Air Force officer and past lecturer in the Space Force programme at Johns Hopkins University, satellites equipped with infrared sensors detect the heat signatures produced when missiles launch.“These sensors can immediately identify where rockets are fired from,” he explained. “Once the launch point is located, missile defence systems can intercept the projectile and field units receive early warnings to take shelter.”The detection happens within seconds. Infrared sensors track the intense heat generated by missiles, allowing defence networks to calculate their trajectory and likely destination almost instantly. Reports suggest this system has already helped destroy hundreds of Iranian missiles during the conflict.Although the fighting is taking place in the Middle East, much of the monitoring work is carried out thousands of kilometres away. Personnel in the United States operate from facilities housing large radar domes known as radomes. These spherical structures resemble giant golf balls and collect satellite data in real time. Analysts use the information to determine missile trajectories and likely targets.Sam Eckhome, host of the YouTube programme Access Granted, describes the arrangement as a layered defence system combining satellites, radar installations and command centres.“The network is designed so that if a missile is ever launched, the United States will know first,” he said.Another important dimension of the operation is cyber warfare. Working alongside Space Force units is US Cyber Command, which focuses on disrupting enemy systems before missiles or aircraft are launched.Ziarnick said that once surveillance systems identify key radar installations, cyber teams attempt to disable them digitally.“They infiltrate the systems and shut them down,” he said. “In some cases they can even take control of the software, essentially turning the enemy’s equipment into a useless piece of hardware.”Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Dan Caine confirmed that cyber operations began even before the first missiles were fired. Cyber Command targeted communications networks and sensor systems across Iran to “disrupt, disorient and confuse the enemy”.Israeli intelligence operations appear to have played a role as well. Reports suggest cyber operatives spent years quietly accessing traffic cameras across Tehran, allowing them to monitor the movements of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and identify members of his security detail.By analysing footage from these cameras, intelligence agencies were reportedly able to map the guards’ routines, their vehicles and even their home addresses.One unusual aspect of the conflict involves Iran’s own response to the attacks. As soon as the operation began, Iranian authorities shut down internet access across much of the country. The tactic has previously been used during domestic protests to prevent citizens from organising demonstrations.While the shutdown may limit public communication, experts believe Iranian leadership continues to operate through secure internal networks. Such systems would likely become prime targets for cyber infiltration.“Cyber Command can reach out and touch systems anywhere,” Ziarnick warned. “It has become a formidable force.”The relatively low number of casualties among US and allied forces reflects the technological nature of the campaign. Former Space Force officer Bree Fram believes modern warfare increasingly relies on sophisticated systems rather than large ground armies.“The absence of mass formations of troops on the battlefield shows how advanced the technology has become,” she said. “It is a combination of powerful systems and the expertise required to operate them.”Together, satellites, lasers, cyber weapons and precision intelligence illustrate how modern conflict is increasingly fought across invisible domains far beyond the traditional battlefield.

Gautam Gambhir and Tendulkar family at Arjun Tendulkar’s wedding celebrations (Agency Image)

Gautam Gambhir was spotted attending the wedding celebrations of Arjun Tendulkar in Mumbai just hours before India’s crucial semifinal against England cricket team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The Indian head coach arrived at the ceremony dressed in traditional attire, drawing attention ahead of the high-pressure knockout fixture.India, under Gambhir’s guidance, had earlier faced a tense moment during their Super 8 encounter but managed to rise to the challenge and eliminate the two-time champions to secure a place in the last four of the tournament. With the semifinal clash approaching, Gambhir was seen making a brief appearance at the wedding event.

According to reports, a few members of the Indian squad were also present at the function. The timing made it possible because the ceremony was being held at the same hotel where the Indian team was staying before the semifinal match.The wedding attracted several well-known personalities from across the country who gathered to celebrate the occasion.Arjun married Saaniya Chandhok, with the couple having announced their engagement in August last year. Saaniya comes from a prominent business family and is the granddaughter of Ravi Ghai, chairman of the Graviss Group. She has also shared a close friendship with the Tendulkar family for years, especially with Arjun’s sister Sara Tendulkar.The 26-year-old Arjun has had limited appearances in the Indian Premier League so far. Playing for Mumbai Indians, he has featured in five matches, taking three wickets while conceding 114 runs and scoring 13 runs with the bat.At the domestic level, Arjun currently represents Goa cricket team after making his debut for the Mumbai cricket team in 2021.Ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction, Arjun was traded from Mumbai Indians to Lucknow Super Giants and is set to turn out for the franchise in the upcoming season.He was originally bought by Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2021 mini-auction for ₹20 lakh, although he did not get a chance to feature in a match during that season.

JALANDHAR: Mother of Punjabi social media influencer Nancy Grewal, 45, who was murdered in LaSalle, Ontario, Canada, alleged that three persons could be involved in her murder, and named them. Speaking to the media at her Deol Nagar residence in Jalandhar, her mother, Shinderpal Kaur, said that she regularly received threats and she informed the police there. She said that her house also burnt a few months back.Nancy regularly spoke on different issues, often using acrimonious language. While she spoke against Khalistanis, both living in India and in other countries, and political leaders, she often commented on current issues. In recent weeks, she posted videos against Radha Soami Satsang Beas chief Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon, after he called on Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia in Nabha jail a few weeks back. Like other videos, she used some strong epithets against the dera chief as well. Some time back, she also spoke against Akal Takht jathedar.Shinderpal alleged that the main conspirator, an old man, was involved in a local gurdwara in Windsor, Ontario. She alleged that one of the three came to her house earlier with his face covered for the purpose of recce. “She had CCTV cameras in and outside her house. Once Nancy spotted him, he was badly frightened. If there were no CCTV cameras, she could have been killed on that day also,” she alleged.“Lately, she was raising an issue of gold belonging to a man who died there and hailed from Phagwara. She was threatened that she should stop raising the issue, but she remained firm on helping that man’s family. She also insisted that the particular gurdwara there should have CCTV cameras, to which some people objected,” Shinderpal alleged.She said that Nancy worked as a caregiver, with two shifts a day, with 2 companies. “She shared with me everything, from her experience with patients to the threats she faced and complaints she made to the police. That is the reason I am fully aware of those who nursed grudges against her,” she said.“She was keen to speak the truth on different issues and often tried to help the poor or those seeking justice. I said that if she got satisfaction from speaking the truth, she should carry on,” she said.“When I got up, I checked her CCTV cameras to see if she was back. She did not take my calls on March 3, and then we contacted the police there and came to know what happened to her. She was stabbed repeatedly and very badly. The woman, to whose house she went, spotted that she was being attacked and she informed the police,” Shinderpal said.She said that Nancy went to Canada after her marriage to a singer who lived there. She wanted a career in singing but could not make it and anchored stage shows. “Though it was the boy who sought her hand in marriage, after reaching there they fell out after some time and she had to fend for herself,” she said.LaSalle Police service had on Wednesday evening posted, “Shortly before 9:30 p.m. on March 3, 2026, emergency services responded to the 2400 block of Todd Lane for a report of a stabbing. A 45-year-old female was located with injuries. She was transported by Essex-Windsor Emergency Medical Services to the hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries. Her identity is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.”On Thursday morning, the police confirmed her identity. “To ease public concern, we are sharing that investigators are viewing this as an isolated incident,” the police said while urging people for tips, information and video survelliance.

The United States on Tuesday tested its nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile Minuteman III off the California coast amid the ongoing strikes in the Middle East.Referred to as “doomsday missile,” Minuteman III is capable of carrying nuclear warheads up to 20 times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.The test launch was conducted from Vandenberg Space Force Base near Santa Barbara at 11 pm.According to US Space Force, the unarmed rocket – GT 254 – hit its intended target near the Marshall Islands in the west-central Pacific Ocean. According to the press release, the missile was fired to “verify the effectiveness, readiness and accuracy,” according to the Air Force Global Strike Command.“It allowed us to assess the performance of individual components of the missile system,” Lt. Col. Karrie Wray, commander of the 576th Flight Test Squadron said in a statement.“By continually assessing varying mission profiles, we are able to enhance the performance of the entire [Intercontinental Ballistic Missile] fleet, ensuring the maximum level of readiness for the land-based leg of the nation’s nuclear triad,” it added.What is Minuteman III missile?The Minuteman III missile is one part of America’s nuclear triad, which include the ability to launch world-destroying weapons from the land, sea and air. The missiles are stored in silos scattered across the American west — and designed to deter nuclear armageddon, but ensuring that the US will be able to strike back if it is ever hit with an atomic attack.A Minuteman III missile was also launched in November after President Trump called for restarting the nuclear weapons tests.The missile can travel 6,000 miles at speeds of more than 15,000 mph and strike anywhere in the world.The test comes amid the ongoing escalation in the Middle East after the joint forces of US and Israel launched an airstrike on Iran, killing the nation’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.