Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, on Monday, met and conveyed her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of the 26-year-old man who was allegedly killed in Uttam Nagar on Holi, assuring them that the Delhi government stands by them firmly.

During the meeting, Rekha Gupta stated that the sorrow of the bereaved family is extremely profound and unbearable and ensuring justice for them is the government’s top priority. She said clear instructions have been issued to ensure strict and swift legal action against all those involved in the heinous crime.

The CM said that the Delhi government would provide the family with every possible assistance, support, and necessary aid, and at the same time, all required steps are being taken to ensure the family’s security and protection.

She made it clear that such inhuman and violent incidents in Delhi will not be tolerated at any cost. Strict action will be taken against the perpetrators to send a clear message to society that there is no place for crime in the national capital.

Earlier, the chief minister had condemned the brutal murder of the innocent youth in the Uttam Nagar area that took place on the day of Holi calling it very painful, which had shaken the conscience of the entire society.

She said her government has a zero-tolerance policy towards such heinous criminal and violent acts, and such brutality won’t be tolerated under any circumstances.

The CM had issued clear and strict directions to the administration to ensure that all those involved in this crime are immediately arrested and that the harshest and swiftest legal action is taken against them in accordance with the law. “I will personally ensure that Tarun’s family receives every possible support and that justice is delivered,” she had stated.

On Sunday, The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had sent a team to demolish a portion of the property of the accused identified as illegal.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police have arrested seven individuals, including a minor, in connection with the case, while the probe is underway.

Centre is unlikely to hike petrol and diesel prices in India unless crude oil prices breach USD 130 per barrel, the government sources said on Monday. The sources said that the crude prices are expected to be around USD 100 per barrel and reaffirmed that the country has enough stock.

“We expect crude oil prices to be around USD 100 per barrel,” ANI quoted one of the sources as saying. “No problem of shortage of petrol and diesel at any pump in the country.”

The US and Israeli attacks on Iran and the latter’s retaliation paralysed the energy supply route from Qatar, as the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping corridor, has been severely impacted. Iran had warned that it would target any ships that pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

On Monday, the crude oil surged over 10 per cent to reach nearly USD 120 per barrel at one point in time before falling back to around USD 104.

Meanwhile, the sources have said that the government has accelerated sourcing crude other than the Strait of Hormuz route. They also sought to dismiss the concerns regarding the shortage of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), saying, “India is a producer and exporter of ATF, no need to panic about ATF.”

LPG booking period increased to 25 days to stop hoarding and black marketing

The sources further informed that the booking period for LPG gas has been increased from 21 to 25 days to stop hoarding and black marketing.

“There were instances that people who were earlier booking LPG cylinders in 55 Days have started booking cylinders in 15 days,” they said.

The government has ordered refineries to boost LPG output and also ordered them to prioritise domestic LPG over commercial connections.

“Domestic consumers will always be a priority,” the sources reaffirmed, as New Delhi scouts for more LPG partners. Countries like Algeria, Australia, Canada, and Norway have approached to sell LPG to India, they added.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva on Monday welcomed the Delhi High Court decision to admit a petition challenging the discharge of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and other accused by a lower Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in the alleged liquor scam case.

Sachdeva said that the life of falsehood and deception is never very long. “Judicial processes may take time at times, but ultimately the truth prevails. Whether the Kejriwal government was involved in the alleged liquor scam in Delhi will now soon be determined in the High Court after proper arguments,” he said.

Sachdeva further said that senior lawyers have pointed out several shortcomings in the lower court’s decision. Among the examples being discussed, he said, are the Delhi government’s alleged disregard for the report of the Ranjan Gogoi Committee and attempts by an accused to influence public opinion through fake emails.

He also stated that by allowing the judicial proceedings being pursued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to continue, the High Court has strengthened the judicial process.

The Delhi BJP chief added that Kejriwal’s discharge by a lower court is not an unusual development. In the past as well, several leaders accused in scams had been discharged by lower courts, but many were later convicted and given significant punishments.

While celebrations are still underway after India’s historic triumph, some fans on social media have found a reason to roast captain Suryakumar Yadav.

India scripted history by winning the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, successfully defending their title on home soil and lifting the trophy for the third time, a feat no team had achieved before.

The final at the Narendra Modi Stadium saw India dominate proceedings with the bat, thanks to explosive knocks from Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, and Abhishek Sharma.

However, when captain Suryakumar Yadav walked in to add some late runs to the total, the moment did not go as planned. Yadav was dismissed for a golden duck, falling on the very first ball he faced during the 17th over bowled by James Neesham.

At the time, India was already in a commanding position at 203/1. Neesham had just removed Samson (89) and Kishan (54) earlier in the over, briefly slowing India’s momentum.

Coming in for the final delivery of the over, Suryakumar attempted his trademark slog sweep against a short delivery. However, he failed to get enough distance on the shot, and Rachin Ravindra completed a diving catch at deep backward square leg to send the Indian skipper back to the pavilion for 0 (1).

Social media erupts with memes over Suryakumar’s golden duck

Despite India going on to post a massive 255/5, the highest total ever in a T20 World Cup final, fans quickly turned the moment into meme material online.

Many users joked that the captain had “tested the pitch for a few seconds and left,” while others compared his brief stay at the crease to viral clips showing someone arriving and leaving instantly.

Some reactions included:

“Suryakumar Yadav ,” one user wrote bluntly.

Surya Kumar Yadav pic.twitter.com/9kF7XwWRgI

— (@Alreadysad__) March 8, 2026

Another joked with a video captioned: “Suryakumar Yadav in press conference after winning T20 2026 World Cup as captain.”

Surya Kumar Yadav in press conference after winning T20 2026 World Cup as Captain #INDvsNZpic.twitter.com/TX0S2PQYmE

— Shiv (@mr_Tubun) March 8, 2026

Another meme compared his innings to a fighter jet touching a runway for a moment before immediately taking off again, writing “Surya Kumar Yadav in Finals”.

Surya Kumar Yadav in Finals pic.twitter.com/o2LlAUFQOF

— Godman Chikna (@Madan_Chikna) March 8, 2026

“Suryakumar Yadav ;)” another fan wrote while sharing a clip showing someone entering a room and quickly leaving.

Surya Kumar Yadav 😉 pic.twitter.com/NAetAsjtKt

— Prof cheems ॐ (@Prof_Cheems) March 8, 2026

Surya Kumar Yadav performance in today’s match. #NZvsIND #INDvsNZ#T20WorldCupFinalpic.twitter.com/4yQFnxyCNC

— Neetu Khandelwal (@T_Investor_) March 8, 2026

The trolling also revived an old criticism often directed at the batter — that he performs brilliantly in bilateral series or franchise cricket but struggles to make big contributions in ICC knockout matches.

Strong captaincy despite the duck

Despite the dismissal, Suryakumar’s role in India’s title-winning campaign went far beyond that single moment.

As captain, he was widely praised for his aggressive leadership and tactical decisions during the final. His smart use of spinners and pace rotations helped dismantle New Zealand’s batting line-up as India sealed a comfortable victory.

Throughout the 2026 T20 World Cup, Suryakumar also delivered key performances with the bat in earlier matches, helping India build momentum on their way to lifting the trophy.

In the end, while social media may have had its fun with memes, the bigger picture remains clear – Suryakumar Yadav captained India to a historic back-to-back T20 World Cup triumph, cementing his place in the team’s successful era.

The Indian Army launched a massive search operation on Monday after a soldier went missing during a river crossing training exercise in the Sunderbani sector near the Line of Control (LoC) in the Rajouri district.

The White Knight Corps wrote on X: “During a river crossing training exercise conducted in the general area of Sundarbani, Sepoy Akshit Sharma was reported missing at around 12 pm today”.

“Extensive search operations are underway with all available resources of the Indian Army and civil agencies being employed to locate the soldier”, the Army said.

Eminent historian, academic and public intellectual Kandiyoor Narayana Panikkar, popularly known as K N Panikkar, widely regarded as one of India’s foremost Marxist historians, passed away in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. He breathed his last at SUT hospital here after undergoing treatment for age-related ailments at the age of 89.

Panikkar served as vice-chancellor of Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, vice- hairman of the Kerala State Higher Education Council, and founding president of the Kerala History Congress.

The Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR), which he once chaired, had been preparing to mark his 90th birthday in April when his end came.

A sharp critique of communalism and a firm defender of secularism, Panikkar was a fearless voice in public debates on education, culture, and politics.

An influential academic, Panikkar taught for many years at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, from 1972 where he mentored generations of students and scholars. He also went on to serve in several key academic roles, including professor, head of the department and dean of the School of Social Sciences. Beyond academia, he played a significant role as a cultural activist and educationist, actively engaging in debates on history, culture and public policy.

A prolific writer, his works include, A Concerned Indian’s Guide to Communalism, Towards Freedom, 1940: A Documentary History of the Freedom Struggle, Against Lord and State: Religion and Peasant Uprisings in Malabar, Culture and Consciousness in Modern India, Culture, Ideology and Hegemony – Intellectuals and Social Consciousness in Colonial India, and Before the Night Falls.

Born in 1936 in Guruvayoor, Panikkar, known for his work on the intellectual and cultural history of colonial India, consistently challenged Hindutva nationalism, questioning jingoism and sectarian hatred. His contribution to modern Indian history considerably enriched Indian Marxist historiography

He graduated from Victoria College, Palakkad, pursued post graduation at Rajasthan University in Jaipur, and earned his doctorate from the same institution. He went on to teach at Delhi University’s Hansraj College before joining Jawaharlal Nehru University, where he served as Professor and Dean of Social Sciences, and later as Chairman of the Centre for Historical Studies, one of the most influential positions in Indian academic historiography.

He is survived by his wife Usha Bhargava, and two daughtes , Ragini and Shalini.

Ashutosh Brahmachari has filed a petition in the Prayagraj POCSO court, demanding that Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati be prevented from fleeing abroad and that his Gau Pratishtha Dharma Yudh Yatra be stopped.

The POCSO court reserved its judgment on Monday after hearing Ashutosh Brahmachari’s side.

According to Brahmachari, he also informed the POCSO court about the life-threatening attack on him yesterday on a running train in Kaushambi.

He demanded that Swami Avimukteshwarananda could flee Lucknow under the pretext of the Gau Prerana Dharma Yudh Yatra. Therefore, the court should immediately issue an order to confiscate his passport and visa and prevent him from fleeing abroad.

He also described Shankaracharya’s “so-called” Gau Yatra as a major threat to the safety of the minor victims. He said Swami Avimukteshwarananda has left his place under the pretext of the Gau Yatra and is also violating the court’s order. The cow slaughter he is talking about stopping through the Gau Pratishtha Dharma Yudh Yatra is the first cow slaughter in Uttar Pradesh. It is banned from the state. If they must organize such a yatra, they should go to Kerala or other states where Congress and other governments are in power and cow slaughter is taking place.

Ashutosh Brahmachari alleged that the Gau Pratishtha Dharma Yudh Yatra is being conducted under police protection, which is completely illegal, and no permission has been obtained for this yatra. He alleged that this yatra is being organized to put pressure on the government and police so that the cases filed against him are withdrawn.

He stated that there is solid evidence against Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati, which will prevent him from escaping.

Ashutosh Brahmachari will also file his response in the Allahabad High Court and provide information related to this case to the High Court.

Regarding Swati Aghori’s post after the deadly attack on him on a train, he said that Swati Aghori herself has taken responsibility for the attack by posting. Swami Avimukteshwarananda claims that he does not know Swati Aghori, while she is directly connected to his disciple Mukundanand Giri.

He said that the call details will reveal the truth.

The Supreme Court will hear on Tuesday two petitions challenging the exclusion of names from the final electoral rolls published on February 28, despite the petitioners stating that their names figured in the electoral rolls prior to the SIR and that they had submitted all the required documents in support of their inclusion and continuation as voters.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi agreed to hear the petitions on Tuesday — March 10 — along with the main West Bengal SIR matter, after Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy mentioned the issue and urged the Bench to take up the petitions together with the main matter listed for hearing tomorrow (on Tuesday).

Before agreeing to hear the petitions tomorrow, Chief Justice Surya Kant asked the senior advocate whether the Supreme Court could directly entertain the pleas against the decisions of the authorities while bypassing the statutory remedies. However, the senior advocate responded saying that the orders had not been served on the affected petitioners and therefore they could not take recourse to the statutory remedies.

By its February 24 order, while permitting the Election Commission of India (ECI) to publish the final electoral roll on February 28, the Supreme Court had said that supplementary voter lists to be published later, after adjudication of claims and objections relating to persons in the “logical discrepancy” and “unmapped” categories, would be treated as part of the final electoral roll published on February 28, 2026.

The Court passed the order in exercise of its plenary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution after receiving a communication dated February 22 from the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court. The communication stated that given the enormity of the exercise of deciding claims and objections relating to nearly 50 lakh names in the “logical discrepancy” and “unmapped” categories, it would take around 80 days to complete the task.

Following this communication, the Supreme Court on February 24 relaxed its earlier order of February 20 and permitted the additional deployment of Civil Judges (Senior Division) and Civil Judges (Junior Division) with at least three years’ experience to assist in adjudicating claims and objections relating to voters placed in the “logical discrepancies” and “unmapped” categories.

The Court further directed that if the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court required more judicial officers, he could approach the Chief Justices of the High Courts of Orissa and Jharkhand to request serving or retired judicial officers of similar rank to assist in the SIR exercise. It requested the Chief Justices of the two High Courts to sympathetically and urgently consider such requests.

Earlier on February 20, noting a “trust deficit” and lack of cooperation between the West Bengal government and the Election Commission of India (ECI), and terming the situation surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as “extraordinary”, the Supreme Court had directed deployment of serving as well as former District or Additional District Judges to oversee adjudication of claims and objections relating to voters placed in the “logical discrepancies” category.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday told the Parliament that Iran sought permission for docking three ships in Indian ports, claiming that an approval was granted the very next day.

Briefing the Parliament on the ongoing US-Iran conflict, Jaishankar said, “The Iranian side has requested permission on February 28 for three ships in the region to dock at our ports. This was accorded on March 1.”

His remarks came amid criticism of the government’s alleged silence on the sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena. The frigate was returning from India after participating in MILAN-2026, a multilateral naval exercise hosted by New Delhi in Visakhapatnam, when it was torpedoed by a US submarine near Sri Lanka, killing at least 87 sailors.

The vessel was reportedly “unarmed” as the exercise required it to follow “peace protocol”. The fact that the ship was targeted in the Indian Ocean, which is an area of India’s influence, and that too when it was an Indian guest, prompted massive criticism.

Amid global disruption in energy supply, Iran continues to send large amounts of crude oil via the Strait of Hormuz

However, the minister set the record straight and said that Iran was granted permission for docking three ships before IRIS Dena’s sinking, but the country actually docked another vessel, IRIS LAVAN, on March 4 in Kochi. The crew members of the Iranian ship are currently residing in Indian naval facilities, he added.

Jaishankar further asserted that India allowed the Iranian ship to dock in its port as it was the “right thing to do”.

“We believe that this was the right thing to do, and the Iranian foreign minister has expressed his country’s thanks for this humane gesture,” he added.

India’s pace spearhead Arshdeep Singh seems to have found a perfect side hustle apart from winning the World Cup – making viral reels.

India sealed their second consecutive ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium, creating history by defending the trophy and lifting it on home soil for the first time. The triumph also took India’s overall tally to three T20 World Cup titles.

But while the team celebrated the historic win, Arshdeep ensured the festivities continued online as well.

During the post-match celebrations, while several players were busy with interviews, Arshdeep casually revealed to the commentators that fans could expect some social media entertainment soon.

“I’ve already saved 15–20 reels in my drafts. They’ll be out soon,” he said.

As it turned out, he wasn’t joking at all.

Within hours of India’s victory, Arshdeep began dropping a series of hilarious Instagram reels featuring several teammates and members of the support staff. Known for his playful social media presence, the left-arm pacer turned the celebrations into a full-fledged “reel fest”.

ALSO SEE: WATCH: Rohit Sharma’s ‘heated discussion’ with wife Ritika Sajdeh during the T20 WC final sparks meme fest

Arshdeep Singh’s viral reel fest

One of the most talked-about clips featured India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir.

In the reel, Arshdeep jokingly told the usually serious Gambhir:

“Paaji, kade has vi leya karo yaar”
(Brother, you should smile sometimes.)

Instagram Reel of Arshdeep Singh with Gautam Gambhir

Arshdeep Singh – “Pajji, Kadi hass vi liya karo”

Gautam Gambhir – “Singh is King “#t20worldcup2026 | #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/33bNOlLNvq

— Indian Cricket (@IPL2025Auction) March 9, 2026

The line drew laughter from Gambhir himself, making the moment an instant fan favourite.

He also posted a reel with Player of the Tournament Sanju Samson, referencing a viral social media trend.

“Justice mil gaya,” Arshdeep told Samson, a playful nod to fans who had long demanded more opportunities for the wicketkeeper-batter.

Banger reels ft. Unfiltered Arshdeep Singh

A Thread

1. Arshdeep Singh to Sanju Samson : “pajjji justice mil Gaya.” pic.twitter.com/45GUm2GLAj

— Indian Cricket (@IPL2025Auction) March 9, 2026

Another clip featured Ishan Kishan, where the duo used a famous Bihari catchphrase.

Together they shouted:
“Ek Bihari, sab pe bhari!”

Arshdeep Singh Reel With Ishan
Ek Bihari sab pe Bhari #INDvsNZ,#T20WorldCupFinal #IshanKishan#T20WorldCup2026final pic.twitter.com/UJtECI8Xsm

— SKMEMES (@Skmemes15) March 8, 2026

Arshdeep also had a humorous moment with Axar Patel, affectionately nicknamed “Bapu.”

The reel’s caption read:
“Ek Bapu ne azadi dilayi, dusre ne trophy.”

Arshdeep Reel With Axar #INDvsNZ,#T20WorldCupFinal #AxarPatel #T20WorldCup26final pic.twitter.com/JND8NUZDMm

— SKMEMES (@Skmemes15) March 8, 2026

The line jokingly compared Axar to Mahatma Gandhi, crediting him for helping India win the trophy.

In another viral reel, Arshdeep teamed up with fellow pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.

Together, Arshdeep and Siraj delivered the iconic line:

“I only believe in Jassi bhai.”

Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj with jasprit bumrah with siraj’s iconic line “I only believe in Jassi bhai because he is game Changer”❤️ pic.twitter.com/zpKzcL2eF3

— ⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) March 8, 2026

The dialogue was a humorous reference to Siraj’s emotional interview after the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final, where he had famously praised Bumrah as the ultimate game-changer.

Perhaps the most viral reel of the night involved India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav.

In the clip, Surya humorously questioned the team’s over-the-top celebrations.

Looking at the camera with a straight face, he asked:

“Kya kar rahe hain hum log? Aisa acting kyun kar rahe hain jaise hum log World Cup jeet gaye?”
(What are we doing? Why are we acting like we just won the World Cup?)

Suryakumar Yadav and Arshdeep Singh❤️ pic.twitter.com/h0nZu1Ngy2

— ⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) March 8, 2026

Arshdeep even posted a solo celebratory reel with the caption:

“First time it was so nice, we had to do it twice.”

First time was so nice we had to do it twice pic.twitter.com/g3psECIQCI

— Indian Cricket (@IPL2025Auction) March 9, 2026

ALSO SEE: Photo Story | Tricolours, cheers, and patriotic songs: India Gate turns into giant party after India’s T20 World Cup win

Arshdeep’s impact at the 2026 T20 World Cup

Beyond the viral reels, Arshdeep played a key role in India’s title defence at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. He finished the tournament with nine wickets in eight innings, continuing his reputation as a dependable death-overs specialist alongside Jasprit Bumrah.

During the Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe, Arshdeep briefly became India’s highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history, surpassing Bumrah’s previous tally before the senior pacer reclaimed the record later in the final.

A little village positioned in Hormuz in trouble-torn Iran that has it’s deep-routed bond over the centuries with Bengal by it’s nomenclature has surprised even the researchers, the organs dealing with the Indo-Aryan progenitors in the wake of ensuing warfare conflicts there.

The hamlet, incredibly named as Bangali still confuse many, both in India, Bangladesh, and also even some Iranian researchers.

The tiny Bangali village is situated just beside the Strait of Hormuz – currently a channel fuming during the warfare. It’s just on the bank of the Strait within the southern part of Qeshm County and Ramkan Rural district of the Hormozgan province. Like the other Iranian provinces and localities there, Bangali village, too has consistently been bearing the brunt of frequent missile attacks these days due to it’s spot-linked geopolitical factors.

Apart from it’s multiple medium and short-range ballistic and cruise missiles, as G D Bakshi, former Major General of the Indian Army told media recently, Iran has explored underwater tunnels to block the 21 km wide Hormuz Strait as part of it’s war strategy to cause severe inconvenience to the wider world that depends on Gulf oil. Bangali village, incidentally is situated at the tactical and vulnerable point of the underwater threat perception especially after Iran hardened its resistance posture to survive the US-Israel hostility.

Bangali, according to the data exhibited by the Iranian National Committee for Standardization of Geographical Names, and the National Cartographic Centre of Iran, is inhibited by a meagre 109 persons in 23 families and mostly from the fishermen community. “They, as of today, hardly can speak in Bengali as Bengali seems to be a dying language in whole Iran,” stated Emilia Nercissian of Tehran University. She’s a researcher on the ‘Decline and Death of Migrants’ Language’ together with Shaolee Mehboob of Jagannath University, Dhaka. The researchers documented linguistic flexibility of 19 Bengali-Persian-originated children aged between 5 to 35 years to see the trajectory of Bengali among and around them.

Their research revealed that couples like Bina Sheikh (a Bengali by birth) and Mahmud Bukhs (a colonel of the Iranian Army) still practice Bengali for private conversations, but their 35 year-old fashion designer daughter and 28 year-old engineer don’t want to get cozy with Bengali, instead, are comfortable with Persian.

“It’s nothing to get surprised, but of course a tragedy,” said 70 year-old Ghulam Hussaine Irani, the Sardar of ‘mini Iran’ comprising two localities – Dalurbandh and Mohal in Pandaveswar block near Durgapur town where 2000 odd descendants of Iranian origin are staying officially since 1920. The Iranian Embassy had purchased land for our permanent settlements in 1994. Ghulam Hussaine said: “Here, our children are still fluent in Farsi, Hindi, English and Bengali as well. Equally they could have nourished their mother tongue well there to preserve their root.” Nazneen Khatun, preparing for MBBS in Pandaveswar’s mini Iran said in Persian: “It’s really sad and unacceptable that they neglected Bengali.” The Sardar, meanwhile still has got some ancestral links in Qeshm County. He said: “What I have gathered, there’s hardly anyone can speak in Bengali at the Bangali village.”

Around 2,000 Bangladeshi migrants residing across Iran, with nearly 400 staying in war ravaged Tehran, as of today, the Statistical Centre of Iran stated.

But, how this village was named as Bangali – a million dollar question that still remains unanswered properly. So remained a question – why some shops in the Iranian port city of Abadan still display signs reading “Our Goods Come from Calcutta”, until the former Iranian Ambassador to India Dr Ali Chegeni, while bringing forth a deep, historic trade connection between Iran and Kolkata mentioned in 2021 that Kolkata was the cultural and business epicenter of South Asia over the centuries and the Abadan port city used to convince the buyers about the genuinity of the imported goods.

About the ‘Bangali’ village’s nomenclature, Dr Fuad Halim, Council Member, Iran Society in Kolkata told The Statesman: “Our linguistic experts are still busy in search of the actual root behind such a naming of the little village. It might be the proper noun of a Persian word has evolved like this, or could be due to a settlement of migrant Bengalis there.” The inhabitants of the Qeshm County primarily speaks a dialect of Farsi that’s heavily influenced by Arabic and even Hindi.

The 50th National Convention of the Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI) will return to the national capital after more than two decades, with the Delhi Sports Journalists Association (DSJA) hosting the landmark event from March 13-16. Marking the Golden Jubilee celebrations of SJFI, the four-day convention is set to be one of the most significant editions in its history.

India’s leading two-wheeler manufacturer Hero MotoCorp has come on board as the title sponsor, reflecting strong corporate confidence in the country’s premier gathering of sports journalists.

“At Hero MotoCorp, promoting sporting excellence across disciplines has been an integral part of our journey and we remain deeply committed to it. In this regard, we are delighted to be the Title Sponsor of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Sports Journalists Federation of India this year,” said Sanjay Bhan, Executive Vice President, Global Business & Product Planning, Hero MotoCorp.

The Golden Jubilee edition has also attracted 23 partner organisations, including Sony Sports Network, Punjab Kings, Red Bull, Delhi Capitals, Archery Association of India and Delhi & District Cricket Association among others. The event has also received strong institutional support from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Indian Olympic Association and International Sports Press Association.

DSJA secretary Sabi Hussain said hosting the milestone edition was a matter of pride, highlighting the growing influence of India’s sports media ecosystem.

The convention will feature a Grand Sports Conclave hosted by TCM Sports, alongside sporting competitions such as the JK Bose Inter-Zonal T20 Cricket Tournament and the AC Bali Table Tennis Tournament. Additional activities include basketball, futsal and golf putting contests, as well as fan engagement zones like the Modern Pythian Games and Red Bull gaming station, making the Golden Jubilee celebration a vibrant blend of dialogue, sport and networking.

The internet loves a dramatic headline. And in the past few days, many news portals from big international outlets to several Indian websites have been buzzing with one catchy claim that Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, is set to become Nepal’s youngest prime minister.

It sounds exciting. A young rapper-turned-politician leading a country at just 35? That’s the kind of story that spreads fast online. But when you slow down and check the facts, the story is not exactly what it seems.

Let’s break it down.

Also Read: The bell rings, the sun sets: After years of easy victories in Jhapa, KP Sharma Oli faces defeat at the hands of Balen Shah

The viral claim about Balen

Several reports circulating online claim that Balendra Shah (Balen) could become Nepal’s youngest prime minister following recent political developments.

Balen was born on 27 April 1990, which means he is currently 35 years old. If he were to become prime minister now, he would indeed be one of the youngest leaders in Nepal’s history.

Because of this age factor, many portals quickly labelled him as “the youngest prime minister Nepal will ever have.”

But there’s one problem with that claim.

History says otherwise.

Nepal already had a younger Prime Minister

Long before Balen entered politics, Nepal had already seen a prime minister who was even younger.

Tulsi Giri, a well-known political figure in Nepal’s history, was born on 26 September 1926. He went on to serve as the country’s prime minister three different times.

Here is where the numbers become important.

Giri first became prime minister on 2 April 1960, and he held the post until 23 December 1963. At that time, he was just 34 years old.

That means he was younger than Balen is today.

So even if Balen became prime minister at 35, he would not break the record for being Nepal’s youngest PM.

Tulsi Giri’s three terms in power

Tulsi Giri’s political career included multiple stints as Nepal’s prime minister.

His first term lasted from 2 April 1960 to 23 December 1963, when he was only 34.

He returned to power for a second term from 26 February 1964 to 26 January 1965.

Later, he served again during a third term from 1 December 1975 to 12 September 1977.

Because of his first appointment at age 34, he still holds the distinction of being one of the youngest leaders to hold the office in Nepal’s history.

The final verdict

So, what’s the truth?

If Balendra Shah ever becomes Nepal’s prime minister at age 35, he would certainly be among the youngest leaders the country has seen. However, the viral claim that he would be the youngest prime minister in Nepal’s history is incorrect.

That title already belongs to Tulsi Giri, who entered the office at 34 years old.

In short, the internet’s headline may sound exciting, but the history books tell a slightly different story.

Abhishek Sharma endured a difficult run through much of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, but the left-handed opener rose to the occasion in the final with a blistering 18-ball fifty to help India secure a record third title. Abhishek credited the unwavering backing of head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav for helping him stay confident before delivering on the biggest stage.

Abhishek smashed 52 off just 21 balls to lay the platform for India’s emphatic 96-run victory over New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

“The one thing was very clear, I wanted to share it before as well, but today is the best day. The captain and coach had faith in me. Even I was doubting myself. I had never experienced this before, it was a tough tournament. I was just doing my process, trying to take it one game after another, but it wasn’t easy. But I love this team because of the way they backed me. It wasn’t easy for me because going through the whole year i was doing well for the team, but in the big tournament I wasn’t able to,” Abhishek said during the post-match celebrations.

“But the faith the team and management showed in me. I got emotional in the middle of the tournament and wanted to talk to the coach and captain and they said you’ll win us the big games. The crowd has supported us a lot even through tough times.”

The opener also revealed that he used a bat belonging to teammate Shivam Dube during his explosive knock, a small change that he felt helped him rediscover his rhythm.

“I batted with Shivam Dube’s bat, so thank you, Dube. In the morning, I felt like trying something different. Shubman (Gill) was not around, so I walked up to Dube and picked his bat,” said Abhishek told reporters later.

Prior to the final, Abhishek had endured a difficult tournament, managing just 89 runs while also dealing with a stomach infection and its aftereffects. However, his match-winning half century, set the tone for India’s third Men’s T20 World Cup title.

Reflecting on his challenging phase over the past month, the opener said the support and belief from his teammates played a crucial role in helping him overcome the slump. “I have been dealing with this phase for the last month after having a dream run for about a year and a half. One thing matters a lot in such situations – the company you keep.

“If the people around you want to help you become better, it makes a big difference. When I was not contributing with the bat, everyone in the team still believed in me. They kept saying, ‘He will do it’. I never doubted my teammates, coaches or the support staff.

“The only question I had was why things were not working for me. I believe the environment around you matters a lot. The people around you should motivate you. Everyone goes through tough phases in life, not just in cricket. At that time, the company you keep becomes very important,” he elaborated.

The faith shown by the team eventually helped Abhishek rediscover his touch in the tournament’s biggest match. “The first thing is to trust yourself, no matter how bad the phase is. When you start doubting yourself, it creates pressure, and you cannot play your natural game.

“That doesn’t help the team either. Self-confidence, hard work and helping others are very important. When you help others, it eventually comes back to you,” he concluded.

India’s T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav described the past month as “a wonderful journey” after leading his side to a commanding 96-run victory over New Zealand in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

India’s triumph on home soil capped a memorable campaign, with the skipper already setting his sights on the next major targets, including a gold medal at the 2028 Summer Olympics and defending the T20 World Cup title in 2028.

Reflecting on the campaign, Yadav admitted the tournament did not begin smoothly for the team but said their resilience and collective effort helped turn things around.

“Obviously, it has been a wonderful journey in the last one month. Though it didn’t start the way we wanted it to start, but then it’s part of the sport. Throughout the journey till today, it has been very special. And collectively as a team, what we’ve achieved, I think it’s right in front of you. So very happy with that,” Surya told the media at the press conference.

Looking ahead, the India captain made it clear that the team is already focused on the next big challenges. “So very happy with that. And as you rightly said, definitely the next goal is the Olympics, Olympic Gold, and also the 2028 World Cup. Don’t forget!”

The Mumbai batter also spoke about the importance of mental resilience and learning from failures, stressing that setbacks are an inevitable part of sport.

“It’s really important to understand that you’ll definitely fail more times than you succeed in sports. I mean, he must have seen it in his career. I have seen it last year, 2025. Whole year, I couldn’t get a 50. It took me 400 plus days to get a 50 for India. But that’s what I told the boys, the same thing. Ups and downs will definitely keep on coming in sport,” he said.

According to Suryakumar, building a successful team culture goes beyond technical ability and requires character, discipline and trust within the squad.

“You have to understand, you have to respect the game. You have to try and spend time with all good people around you. That’s more important. Be true to yourself. You can’t cheat the man in the mirror when you get up in the morning or you’re going to sleep,” he said.

The India skipper also highlighted the value of understanding teammates as individuals, their personalities, strengths and weaknesses, and said that creating a supportive environment helps players express themselves freely.

“So, those small, small things which you do off the field, I think when we come on the field, that actually gives you a lot of confidence, that gives them a lot of composure. Also, I feel you need to understand each character on the team. Everyone is different. They bring a different skill to the table. So, you need to speak to them, their temperaments, and understand them. That is actually very important and that’s what we did throughout the last one and a half years, two years,” the skipper stated.

He added that while representing the national team brings a different level of emotion, players should continue to rely on the strengths that helped them succeed in domestic and franchise cricket.

“Yes, the jersey colour changes, brings in a lot of emotion, the dry colour, but at the same time, what has given them success, they shouldn’t be running away from it,” he noted.

In a significant development amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with Indian interests also at stake, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday held a key meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan in Parliament.

While the exact details of the discussions were not released, they are understood to have reviewed the situation in West Asia and deliberated on ways to navigate the crisis while ensuring minimal impact on the country.

The meeting also comes days after a US submarine torpedoed an Iranian naval frigate in the Indian Ocean. The frigate IRIS Dena was reportedly “unarmed” when it was struck by the US submarine near Sri Lanka. The vessel was returning to Iran after participating in Milan 2026, the International Fleet Review and multilateral exercise organised by India in the Bay of Bengal.

Following the strike, India allowed another Iranian vessel to dock at its ports after Tehran’s request.

Earlier in the day, EAM Jaishankar addressed the Rajya Sabha and informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally monitoring the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

Father’s gatekeeper, now Iran’s Supreme Leader: Mojtaba Khamenei steps out of the shadows in rare power shift in Tehran

The minister also confirmed that the government has issued formal advisories to Indian nationals residing in Iran and emphasised that the safety of citizens remains the administration’s primary concern.

“The Prime Minister continues to closely monitor the emerging developments, and relevant ministries are coordinating to ensure effective responses,” Jaishankar stated.

Detailing the broader geopolitical and economic implications, the Union Minister said, “This ongoing conflict is of particular concern to India. We are a neighbouring region, and have obvious stakes that West Asia remains stable.”

He informed the House that the hostilities have now “spread to other countries with mounting destruction,” resulting in a situation where “normal life and activities are visibly affected.”

Reaffirming India’s diplomatic position, Jaishankar reiterated that “dialogue and diplomacy are the ways forward for all sides to de-escalate.”

In a significant decision, the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday declared void the 2024 by-poll win of Congress MLA Mukesh Malhotra from the Vijaypur Assembly seat of Sheopur district.

The decision was announced by the Gwalior Bench of the High Court while hearing a petition submitted by loosing BJP candidate and former minister Ram Niwas Rawat.

In his petition, Rawat had alleged that Malhotra deliberately provided false information in his election affidavit and mentioned only two criminal cases against him, whereas six criminal cases are registered against him.

According to Rawat’s advocate M P S Raghuvanshi, the bench of Justice G S Ahluwalia found the complaint valid, and cancelled Malhotra’s MLA win. Raghuvanshi added that the court has consequently declared Rawat the MLA from Sheopur, as he was on second position in the by-poll.

The court has granted Malhotra 15 days’ time to appeal in a higher court.

Interestingly, Mukesh Malhotra was in the BJP till 2023, but joined the Congress in 2024 after he was disgruntled with the saffron party for not giving him a ticket in the 2023 State Assembly polls.

Similarly, Rawat had resigned from the Congress, and joined the BJP, despite winning the 2023 Assembly polls on a Congress ticket.

MP CM Dr Mohan Yadav had subsequently appointed Rawat the State’s forest minister. However, as per electoral rules, Rawat had to contest a by-poll, and secure victory in it, to continue being a BJP MLA, and retain his ministerial post.

But he lost to Malhotra in the by-election held in 2024.

Reacting to today’s court decision, MP Congress Chief Jitu Patwari said they would challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.