Ronda Rousey announces MMA comeback against Gina Carano as Netflix streams first ever live featherweight fight (Image via Getty)

Ronda Rousey is stepping back into the MMA cage after almost ten years away, and she will face Gina Carano in a featherweight fight on May 16. The event will take place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. It will stream live on Netflix. This will be Netflix’s first live MMA event. The fight will be held at 145 pounds and will have five rounds, each lasting five minutes, with 4-ounce gloves. Ronda Rousey is now 39 years old. She holds a 12-2 record, with nine wins by submission and three by knockout. She last fought in MMA in 2016. After two straight losses, she stepped away from the sport. She later joined World Wrestling Entertainment and became a big name there too. Now, she is ready to return to the sport where she once became one of the biggest stars. She shared her excitement in a public statement. “Been waiting so long to announce this: Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest super fight in women’s combat sport history! And we’re partnering with the fighter-first promotion MVP as well as the biggest and baddest streamer on the planet Netflix. This is for all MMA fans past, present and future. More to come… much more.”

Gina Carano, 43, has a 7-1 record, with one submission and three knockouts. She stopped fighting after losing to Cris Cyborg in 2019. After that, she moved into acting. She appeared in films like The Expendables 3, Furious 7, and the series The Mandalorian on Disney+. In 2021, she was removed from The Mandalorian after controversial social media posts. She later filed a lawsuit against Disney for wrongful termination, and the case ended in a settlement.Carano said the fight means a lot to her. “Ronda came to me and said there is only one person she would make a comeback for and it has been her dream to make this fight happen between us. She thanked me for opening up doors for her in her career and was respectful in asking for this fight to happen. This is an honor. I believe I will walk out of this fight with the win and I anticipate it will not come easy, which I welcome. This is as much for Ronda and me as it is for the fans and mixed martial arts community. What a time to be alive.”This fight brings together two of the most known names in women’s MMA. One is coming back after years away. The other returns after time spent in Hollywood. On May 16, fans will finally see them face each other inside the cage.

File photo: Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Picture credit: PTI)

Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said the India-US interim trade deal was finalised after careful consideration, asserting that the government has ensured that no decision harms the farming community.Speaking at a programme, the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister said, “I am speaking with full responsibility as the agriculture minister of India. In the trade agreement, we have taken complete care of the interests of Indian farmers. There will be no losses for India’s farming community,” he said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

‘Imports needed where India is not self-sufficient’

Addressing concerns around agricultural imports, Chouhan said India must import commodities where domestic production falls short.“We are not self-sufficient when it comes to pulses even today. If something that we need comes from another country, what is the objection?” he asked.He noted that India imports around 5.5 lakh metric tonnes of apples annually.“They come from countries like Turkey and Iran. If one lakh metric tonnes (of apple) come from the United States, after ensuring that it does not affect our farmers, what is the problem?” he asked.On cotton, the minister said the textile industry faces shortages when domestic output declines. “When cotton production falls short, we have to import,” he said, as per PTI.His remarks come amid political criticism of the trade agreement’s potential impact on farmers and sensitive crops.

Rahul Gandhi’s allegations rejected

Without naming him directly, Chouhan took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of making false allegations.“There is one leader who is a part-time politician and a full-time dramatist. He neither understands trade nor tradition. Those who have never seen villages and farms are making allegations every day,” he claimed.Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had raised concerns over the India-US trade pact, asking whether provisions in the interim deal could open the door to more agricultural imports in the future, including pulses and grains, and whether genetically modified (GM) products could impact Indian farmers.He had also questioned the fate of soya farmers in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan if India were to import GM soya oil from the US, and whether farmers could survive “another price shock”.

MSP, sugar and edible oil policies under UPA

Chouhan also targeted the erstwhile UPA government over its handling of agricultural policy decisions.Referring to the Swaminathan Committee recommendations, he asked why the UPA government had refused to implement the proposal to fix the minimum support price (MSP) at 50 per cent above the cost of production.“The UPA government filed an affidavit saying that it (fixing MSP) would distort the market. It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who decided that MSP will be given at 50 per cent above production cost,” he said.Chouhan also questioned why no buffer stock was created during record sugar production in 2006-07.“When prices fell, why were farmers not protected? What kind of trade was it to import sugar at Rs 36 per kg and export it at Rs 12.50?” he asked.He further claimed that India was self-reliant in edible oils until 1993-94, but the Congress government placed them under open general licence, increasing import dependence.“Thousands of tonnes of foodgrain were lying in the warehouses. Even the Supreme Court said they should be distributed to the poor. But the UPA government said the court should not interfere,” he alleged, adding that Rahul Gandhi should respond to these questions.

NDA’s welfare measures and focus on technology

Chouhan said the NDA government is providing free foodgrain to 80 crore poor people across the country.“Farmers are ‘annadatas’. The government is working to promote the interests of farmers and empower them with technology.“We must move towards natural farming. We must link agriculture with animal husbandry and other activities so that farmers’ incomes increase,” he said.“Our effort is to reduce and eliminate the difficulties faced by the farmers. Their welfare is the top priority for the NDA,” Chouhan added, as per PTI.

Bharat-VISTAAR platform launched

On the occasion, the agriculture minister launched an artificial intelligence-based digital platform, Bharat-VISTAAR, aimed at providing end-to-end support to farmers.Describing it as the beginning of a digital revolution in agriculture, Chouhan said the multi-layered platform would provide real-time, integrated information and services.Through Bharat-VISTAAR, farmers will receive AI-based, timely advice on cultivation through a unified digital interface, enhancing transparency and self-reliance, he said.Initially rolled out in Hindi and English, the platform will be expanded to other Indian languages. It will provide mandi prices, farming practices, details of central welfare schemes, crop-specific scientific advice, weather forecasts, agricultural loans, scheme eligibility and application processes on a single platform.Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma said the initiative would boost farmers’ prosperity by delivering information directly to their phones.Earlier, Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal accused Rahul Gandhi of “fearmongering” and attempting to mislead farmers and exporters.As the debate continues, the government has maintained that the interim pact balances trade expansion with protection of domestic agricultural interests.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has purchased government securities equivalent to 47 per cent of the Centre’s total bond issuances so far in FY26 to support liquidity in the banking system, according to public data.According to news agency PTI , the data compiled from RBI showed that the Centre raised Rs 13,65,000 crore between April 4, 2025 and February 13, 2026 through issuance of government securities as part of its gross borrowing programme.During the same period, the RBI conducted Open Market Operation (OMO) purchase auctions amounting to Rs 6,39,203 crore, injecting durable liquidity into the banking system.

Cushioning liquidity amid heavy borrowing

The large-scale OMO purchases came amid sustained government borrowing, which typically absorbs liquidity from the banking system and puts upward pressure on bond yields.By purchasing bonds from the secondary market, the central bank infused liquidity and helped maintain orderly market conditions, experts said, as per PTI.The move helped cushion the banking system from liquidity tightness and prevented excessive hardening of yields despite the heavy supply of government securities. It also ensured adequate funds in the system to support credit growth.“RBI’s OMO purchases have been actively deployed to ensure adequate core liquidity, amid RBI’s USD sales at a time of capital outflows and INR depreciation pressures,” said Brijesh Shah, senior vice president, Fixed Income at Bandhan AMC.“Various tools deployed by RBI including OMO purchases have thus provided durable liquidity and, in the process, mitigated upward pressure from global market forces,” he added.He further noted that potential positive sentiment around capital flows following the recent India-US trade deal, which could reduce the need for foreign exchange intervention, along with deployment of tools like FX swaps, may imply a lesser need for OMOs going ahead.

Liquidity swings and market conditions

Liquidity remained in surplus mode for much of FY26, barring a few episodes when it slipped into deficit, according to PTI. OMO purchase operations intensified from December 2025, when liquidity tightened and fell into deficit mode.The RBI’s liquidity infusion also helped keep money market rates contained, with overnight rates trading close to the repo rate.Since January 2025, bond yields have remained volatile due to geopolitical tensions pushing up crude oil prices, expectations around the end of the rate cut cycle, and higher-than-expected gross borrowing numbers for FY27 announced in the Union Budget, reported PTI.The 10-year benchmark government bond yield moved in the 6.30–6.70 per cent range between January 2025 and February 2026.

FY27 borrowing plan and yield impact

The government has planned to borrow Rs 17.2 lakh crore in FY27, significantly higher than market projections of Rs 16.5–17 lakh crore, which led to a sharp rise in government bond yields.However, net borrowing is pegged at Rs 11.73 lakh crore, compared with Rs 11.53 lakh crore earlier, an increase of Rs 20,000 crore.RBI data also showed that government securities worth Rs 5.47 lakh crore are scheduled to mature.Government borrowing is a key determinant of interest rates in the economy. A higher supply of bonds typically exerts pressure on yields unless matched by strong demand from banks, insurance companies and foreign investors.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday met Bangladesh’s newly sworn-in prime minister Tarique Rahman and handed over a personal congratulatory letter by PM Narendra Modi.In a post on X, Bangladesh high commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah said, “PM Tarique Rahman, conveyed his greetings to India and PM Narendra Modi, at a courtesy meet following the swearing-in of the news government.” He added that Birla conveyed wishes from India and extended an invitation to the country. “Both leaders expressed optimism to work together for the well-being of the people of Bangladesh & India pursuing a people-centric menu of cooperation,” the post said.Birla accompanied by foreign secretary Vikram Misri attended the swearing-in ceremony of Rahman on behalf of PM Modi and the Indian government. Earlier, Bangladesh’s interim government chief Md Yunus had extended an invitation to PM Modi to attend Rahman’s swearing-in. However, citing the visit of French president Emmanuel Macron to Mumbai and the Artificial Intelligence Summit in Delhi this week, the PM declined the invitation.BNP leader and son of former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia and president Ziaur Rahman, Tarique Rahman was on Tuesday sworn in as Bangladesh’s new prime minister, marking a new beginning for the country after a nearly 18-month period of political uncertainty and lawlessness under the rule of the interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.In a break from tradition, President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to 60-year-old Rahman at the South Plaza instead of the customary venue of Bangabhaban.Rahman returned to Bangladesh in December after 17 years in self-imposed exile in London. This marks his first term as prime minister. He succeeds interim government chief Yunus, who had assumed office in August 2024 following the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina led Awami League administration. Relations between Dhaka and New Delhi cooled during Yunus’s tenure.Earlier in the day, BNP lawmakers elected Rahman as leader of their parliamentary party.At the ceremony, President Shahabuddin also administered the oath to 25 cabinet ministers and 24 state ministers. The event was attended by representatives from neighbouring countries, including India and Pakistan.The new cabinet features two members from minority communities – BNP vice president Nitai Roy Chowdhury, a Hindu, and Dipen Dewan, a Buddhist. In an unexpected move, outgoing interim regime’s security adviser Khalilur Rahman was inducted as a technocrat minister, while some senior BNP leaders were excluded.In the February 12 general elections, the BNP won 209 of 297 seats, while Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 seats. The Awami League did not contest the polls. The elections followed a prolonged period of political uncertainty and instability after nationwide student-led protests in August 2024 led to the fall of the Awami League government.

Ashwini Vaishnaw

NEW DELHI: Union IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday apologised for the inconvenience faced by organisers, exhibitors and visitors during the opening day of the India AI Impact Summit, assuring that all issues would be addressed and smoother arrangements ensured in the coming days.His remarks came amid reports of long queues, heavy crowds and logistical challenges at Bharat Mandapam, where the five-day summit began on Monday.

Addressing a briefing, Vaishnaw said that the government was open to feedback and had set up a dedicated system to resolve complaints quickly.“Whatever feedback you have, please share with us. We are open-minded. We have a war room operating right now any issue which is there, please report to us. We definitely will take efforts to make it smoother and make it more enjoyable for all of you,” he said.The minister also issued a direct apology to those who faced difficulties on the first day. “If anybody has faced any problems yesterday, my apologies for that. We are working very hard. The entire team is working day and night to organise this world’s biggest AI Summit, and we’ll make all efforts to make sure it is enjoyable for all of you,” Vaishnaw added.In a separate statement, he said, “If any issue or inconvenience has come to exhibitors at AI Summit, we apologise for that. All issues will be addressed.”Earlier, Congress had accused the Centre of mismanagement. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge termed the situation “utter chaos” and described the government as “PR hungry”, alleging that founders, exhibitors and visitors faced distress due to lack of basic facilities.He listed complaints such as shortage of food and water, alleged theft of products, failure of Digi Yatra, restrictions on laptops and personal electronic devices, acceptance of only cash payments instead of digital modes, and high participation costs without adequate facilities.The AI Impact Summit, being described as the world’s largest artificial intelligence gathering, is being held from February 16 to 20 in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event, which has drawn thousands of participants, including policymakers, industry leaders, startup founders and global technology executives.More than 20 heads of state and government, including France’s Emmanuel Macron and Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, are expected to participate. Technology leaders such as OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Google’s Sundar Pichai are also scheduled to attend.The summit aims to shape a “shared roadmap for global AI governance and collaboration” under the themes of “People, Planet and Progress”. India is positioning itself as a global hub for digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence, with a focus on expanding access to AI technologies and building consensus on responsible AI development.PTI reporters at the venue observed long queues outside session halls due to high demand and packed schedules. Organisers said registrations had exceeded expectations, reflecting strong global interest in AI infrastructure, enterprise adoption and governance.