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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin dubbed the National Education Policy (NEP) a “Hindutva policy” aimed at promoting Hindi, rather than focusing on India’s overall development.

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin terms NEP a Hindutva policy

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Abhay Kumar Singh, Patna-born Deputat (MLA) in Kursk, has called for strong India Russia ties, something he pointed out would continue to grow. Speaking to WION's Sidhant Sibal, he said, "After the independence of India and in Russia, after the Second World War. Our relationship is growing and growing....People of India love Russian; Russians also love Indian people".&nbsp;
Singh, who speaks Russian, English, Hindi , moved to Russia in 1991 to study medicine at Kursk State Medical University. In 2015, he joined President Vladimir Putin's party United Russia, and won provincial election in Kursk in 2018, becoming the first Indian-origin lawmaker in Russia.
He was re-elected in 2022. He also spoke about the Russia-Ukraine conflict and situation in his state Kursk. WION: How do you see India-Russia ties? Abhay Kumar Singh: For Russia, India is a very important friend. And in the list of friendly countries, India is at the top. I think this is not only a relation, but it is now already a tradition. After the independence of India and in Russia, after the Second World War. Our relationship is growing and growing. So I think till now, both are heads of our countries, they are very good friends, the whole world knows this. So I think this is a small symbol of our friendship. People of India love Russians; Russians also love Indian people.&nbsp;
WION: This year, the Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to travel to India. How do you see this visit helping firm up the relationship? Last year we saw the Indian Prime Minister visiting Russia twice. Abhay Kumar Singh: Yes, you know, what is the problem for our president to go to any country, not only India, but if he is coming to India, that is a very big thing. I think that is a very good thing. It will become more of a symbol for our friendship.
WION: What is the current situation in Kursk? Abhay Kumar Singh: In my state, we have got problems. We have Ukrainian soldiers. But as you know, in the last two, three days, our army has been doing very good. They passed through the pipeline, and we are getting very good, good results today. Approximately only 10 per cent of our area which was captured by Ukrainian, is with them. I think two, three days more, everything will come back to us. Our territory will come to us. In just 2-3 days.&nbsp;
WION: Your assessment of the war. Peace this year? Abhay Kumar Singh: We are waiting for peace, and we are waiting for permanent peace, not a temporary peace, for one month, for one week. We will think, we will give our condition. We will study the condition, what Ukraine wants, and we want a permanent peace and permanent line. It should be finished.&nbsp;
WION: You essentially are a symbol of the relationship between India and Russia. You're a Russian MLA. &nbsp;You were born in Bihar. So how do you see yourself? Abhay Kumar Singh: I'm very thankful to the people who support me. I was born in India, from Bihar, now I am from Russia. So everybody who likes me, supports me. Due to them only, I am in this position.
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India news :  Abhay Kumar Singh, Patna-born Deputat (MLA) in Kursk, has called for strong India Russia ties, something he pointed would continue to grow.

Abhay Kumar Singh, Patna-born Deputat (MLA) in Kursk, has called for strong India Russia ties, something he pointed out would continue to grow. Speaking to WION's Sidhant Sibal, he said, "After the independence of India and in Russia, after the Second World War. Our relationship is growing and growing....People of India love Russian; Russians also love Indian people". Singh, who speaks Russian, English, Hindi , moved to Russia in 1991 to study medicine at Kursk State Medical University. In 2015, he joined President Vladimir Putin's party United Russia, and won provincial election in Kursk in 2018, becoming the first Indian-origin lawmaker in Russia. He was re-elected in 2022. He also spoke about the Russia-Ukraine conflict and situation in his state Kursk. WION: How do you see India-Russia ties? Abhay Kumar Singh: For Russia, India is a very important friend. And in the list of friendly countries, India is at the top. I think this is not only a relation, but it is now already a tradition. After the independence of India and in Russia, after the Second World War. Our relationship is growing and growing. So I think till now, both are heads of our countries, they are very good friends, the whole world knows this. So I think this is a small symbol of our friendship. People of India love Russians; Russians also love Indian people. WION: This year, the Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to travel to India. How do you see this visit helping firm up the relationship? Last year we saw the Indian Prime Minister visiting Russia twice. Abhay Kumar Singh: Yes, you know, what is the problem for our president to go to any country, not only India, but if he is coming to India, that is a very big thing. I think that is a very good thing. It will become more of a symbol for our friendship. WION: What is the current situation in Kursk? Abhay Kumar Singh: In my state, we have got problems. We have Ukrainian soldiers. But as you know, in the last two, three days, our army has been doing very good. They passed through the pipeline, and we are getting very good, good results today. Approximately only 10 per cent of our area which was captured by Ukrainian, is with them. I think two, three days more, everything will come back to us. Our territory will come to us. In just 2-3 days. WION: Your assessment of the war. Peace this year? Abhay Kumar Singh: We are waiting for peace, and we are waiting for permanent peace, not a temporary peace, for one month, for one week. We will think, we will give our condition. We will study the condition, what Ukraine wants, and we want a permanent peace and permanent line. It should be finished. WION: You essentially are a symbol of the relationship between India and Russia. You're a Russian MLA. You were born in Bihar. So how do you see yourself? Abhay Kumar Singh: I'm very thankful to the people who support me. I was born in India, from Bihar, now I am from Russia. So everybody who likes me, supports me. Due to them only, I am in this position.

Patna-born Russian MLA Abhay Singh bats for strong India-Russia ties

Nine Indian universities and institutions are among world's top 50 in the QS subject-wise rankings even as some of the top institutions on the list including three IITs, two IIMs and JNU saw a drop in their positions.
According to the 15th edition of the World University Rankings by Subject, announced on Wednesday by London-based Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), India celebrates 12 top-50 positions across the subject rankings and the broad faculty areas, earned by nine institutions.
Leading the way is the Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad, which ranks 20th globally for Engineering-Mineral and Mining, making it the country's highest-performing subject area. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and Kharagpur have been ranked at 28th and 45th spot for Engineering-Mineral and Mining. However, both institutions have seen a drop in their positions.
IIT Delhi and Bombay which shared the 45th rank for Engineering and Technology have improved their position to bag the 26th and 28th spot, respectively.
The two institutions have also improved their rank for Engineering-Electrical and Electronic to enter the top 50 list. Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad and Bangalore continued to be among world's top 50 for Business and Management Studies but their ranking has dropped since previous year. While IIM Ahmedabad's ranking dropped to 27 from 22, that of IIM Bangalore slipped to 40 from 32.
IIT Madras (Petroleum Engineering) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) (Development Studies) continued to be among world's top 50 but their ranks also dropped by few spots.
"A total of 79 Indian universities &ndash; 10 more than last year &ndash; feature 533 times across this year's rankings, marking a 25.7 per cent increase compared to the previous edition. This includes 454 entries in individual subjects and 79 appearances across the five broad faculty areas," QS said in a statement.
In the latest edition of the QS subject-specific rankings, India has the fifth highest number of new entries behind China, the US, the UK and Korea, and ranks 12th for the number of overall entries.
"The high number of the new entries featured in the rankings is a continuation of a trend of the country's growing higher education ecosystem, both in terms of size and quality," QS added.
The new entrants from India in top 100 include IIT Madras and Vellore Institute of Technology for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and IISc Bangalore and IIT Kanpur for Engineering-Mineral and Mining.
Jessica Turner, CEO at QS, flagged that while India shows exceptional strength in areas like AI, green and digital skills, critical gaps remain in sustainability and entrepreneurial capabilities.
"Closing these gaps through higher education reform and skills alignment is essential for ensuring India's graduates remain competitive in the global economy and are equipped to lead the industries of tomorrow," Turner said.
The 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject include 533 entries from 79 Indian universities, up from 424 entries last year. Of these, 156 entries improved, 101 declined, and 154 remained stable, while 122 new entries made their debut in this edition.
Computer Science &amp; Information Systems remains India's most represented subject, with ranked entries increasing from 28 last year to 42 this year &mdash; placing India fourth globally for this discipline, behind only the US (119 entries), the United Kingdom (62) and China (58).
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Indian Universities shine in the QS World Rankings, securing top positions in multiple disciplines, highlighting their global academic influence.

Nine Indian universities and institutions are among world's top 50 in the QS subject-wise rankings even as some of the top institutions on the list including three IITs, two IIMs and JNU saw a drop in their positions. According to the 15th edition of the World University Rankings by Subject, announced on Wednesday by London-based Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), India celebrates 12 top-50 positions across the subject rankings and the broad faculty areas, earned by nine institutions. Leading the way is the Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad, which ranks 20th globally for Engineering-Mineral and Mining, making it the country's highest-performing subject area. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and Kharagpur have been ranked at 28th and 45th spot for Engineering-Mineral and Mining. However, both institutions have seen a drop in their positions. IIT Delhi and Bombay which shared the 45th rank for Engineering and Technology have improved their position to bag the 26th and 28th spot, respectively. The two institutions have also improved their rank for Engineering-Electrical and Electronic to enter the top 50 list. Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad and Bangalore continued to be among world's top 50 for Business and Management Studies but their ranking has dropped since previous year. While IIM Ahmedabad's ranking dropped to 27 from 22, that of IIM Bangalore slipped to 40 from 32. IIT Madras (Petroleum Engineering) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) (Development Studies) continued to be among world's top 50 but their ranks also dropped by few spots. "A total of 79 Indian universities – 10 more than last year – feature 533 times across this year's rankings, marking a 25.7 per cent increase compared to the previous edition. This includes 454 entries in individual subjects and 79 appearances across the five broad faculty areas," QS said in a statement. In the latest edition of the QS subject-specific rankings, India has the fifth highest number of new entries behind China, the US, the UK and Korea, and ranks 12th for the number of overall entries. "The high number of the new entries featured in the rankings is a continuation of a trend of the country's growing higher education ecosystem, both in terms of size and quality," QS added. The new entrants from India in top 100 include IIT Madras and Vellore Institute of Technology for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and IISc Bangalore and IIT Kanpur for Engineering-Mineral and Mining. Jessica Turner, CEO at QS, flagged that while India shows exceptional strength in areas like AI, green and digital skills, critical gaps remain in sustainability and entrepreneurial capabilities. "Closing these gaps through higher education reform and skills alignment is essential for ensuring India's graduates remain competitive in the global economy and are equipped to lead the industries of tomorrow," Turner said. The 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject include 533 entries from 79 Indian universities, up from 424 entries last year. Of these, 156 entries improved, 101 declined, and 154 remained stable, while 122 new entries made their debut in this edition. Computer Science & Information Systems remains India's most represented subject, with ranked entries increasing from 28 last year to 42 this year — placing India fourth globally for this discipline, behind only the US (119 entries), the United Kingdom (62) and China (58). Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Indian universities secure top spots in QS World University Rankings 2025

A man in the south Indian state of Telangana killed his wife on Tuesday night as he was allegedly upset about a dispute over cooking. Media reports mentioned that she refused to cook mutton curry for him.&nbsp;
The incident took place in Manjathanda, located in Upparigudem village of Seerole Mandal in Mahbubabad district. As per the media reports, the victim, Maloth Kalavati (35), was beaten to death by M Balu, her mother claimed. Balu is an agricultural labourer.&nbsp;
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Initial reports claimed that Balu had purchased mutton on Tuesday night and asked Kalavathi to cook it, but she refused.&nbsp;
She reportedly said that she would cook it the next morning, which led to a fierce argument between the two. Balu then struck her with a wooden stick in a fit of rage, causing severe injury. This eventually caused her death.&nbsp;
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As quoted in media reports, Seerole Sub-Inspector (SI) Ch Nagesh said, "We received information of a domestic disturbance and immediately dispatched officers to the scene. Upon arrival, we found the deceased body of Kalavathi. The suspect was absconding."&nbsp;
The police official further said that Kalavathi's body was shifted to the Mahabubabad Government Hospital for postmortem. He said that a case was registered and the probe was on.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

India News | The suspect, M Balu, absconded after the incident, leaving the police to investigate the case. Authorities have registered a case and are actively probing the matter.

A man in the south Indian state of Telangana killed his wife on Tuesday night as he was allegedly upset about a dispute over cooking. Media reports mentioned that she refused to cook mutton curry for him. The incident took place in Manjathanda, located in Upparigudem village of Seerole Mandal in Mahbubabad district. As per the media reports, the victim, Maloth Kalavati (35), was beaten to death by M Balu, her mother claimed. Balu is an agricultural labourer. Also read: Daniel Craig eyed for lead role in Greta Gerwig’s Narnia movie Initial reports claimed that Balu had purchased mutton on Tuesday night and asked Kalavathi to cook it, but she refused. She reportedly said that she would cook it the next morning, which led to a fierce argument between the two. Balu then struck her with a wooden stick in a fit of rage, causing severe injury. This eventually caused her death. Also read: Dupatta Killer: True-crime documentary drops trailer of Goa’s infamous serial killer As quoted in media reports, Seerole Sub-Inspector (SI) Ch Nagesh said, "We received information of a domestic disturbance and immediately dispatched officers to the scene. Upon arrival, we found the deceased body of Kalavathi. The suspect was absconding." The police official further said that Kalavathi's body was shifted to the Mahabubabad Government Hospital for postmortem. He said that a case was registered and the probe was on. (With inputs from agencies)

Man kills wife in India's Telangana for refusing to cook mutton curry: Report

The first edition of the Bodhipath Film Festival organised by the International Buddhist Confederation in collaboration with The Vivekananda International Foundation. The festival was held at the India International Centre, New Delhi. Watch this report for more update.

Bodhipath Film Festival: Festival showcase Buddhist culture through films

New Delhi: The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), a global Buddhist umbrella organization headquartered in Delhi organised a unique Buddha film festival "The Bodhipath Film Festival" earlier this week, from 10th to 11th March, in the Indian National capital.
The event featured screenings of 10 carefully selected films from around the world over two days. These films were chosen to reflect Buddhist practices and values such as compassion, mindfulness, and impermanence, offering insights into the relevance of Buddhist teachings in contemporary life.
The Director General of IBC, Abhijit Halder, explained the concept of the festival and the range of films that were screened. He said, &ldquo;The list included a collection of classical films for the younger generation to catch up on and some from modern directors of India. Notable films included classics like The Cup and modern works such as Geshe Ma is Born, Kung Fu Nuns, Path of Compassion, and Guru Padmasambhava.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Until Space Remains", a film that explores the remarkable relationship between the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan community, and India, was also screened at the festival. In fact, the film festival took place on a day when the Tibetan community in Delhi was marking &ldquo;Tibet Uprising Day&rdquo;. This year also marks the 90th birthday of the Dalai Lama, and many films linked to him were also shown.
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The director of the Tibet House was the special guest at the inauguration, explaining that cinema was an extremely powerful tool to influence the public. &ldquo;Cinema depicts the level of thinking of the public. Films will be made in accordance with the current thinking in society,&rdquo; he said. Hollywood actor and a practicing Buddhist, Richard Gere, said in a video message at the Buddhist Film Festival that it is one of the ways to spread the teachings of the Buddha. &ldquo;The festival provided an exciting moment. It is a great opportunity to follow the path to Buddhism,&rdquo; he added.
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The film festival screened 10 global films with addresses by well-known film actor Adil Hussain, best known for his work in Life of Pi and the voice behind &ldquo;Dooba Dooba&rdquo; and &ldquo;Tum Se Hi&rdquo; Mohit Chauhan. In his address, playback singer Mohit Chauhan explained how he practised compassion and Ahimsa in his personal life, while Adil Hussain talked about the larger role of cinema in shaping views.&nbsp;
IBC Secretary General Shartse Khensur Rinpoche Jangchup Choeden, while blessing the festival with invocation, reflected that films were a powerful medium for diffusing information and widening horizons.
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India News: The event featured screenings of 10 carefully selected films, chosen to reflect Buddhist practices and values such as compassion, mindfulness, and impermanence, offering insights into the relevance of Buddhist teachings in contemporary life.

New Delhi: The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), a global Buddhist umbrella organization headquartered in Delhi organised a unique Buddha film festival "The Bodhipath Film Festival" earlier this week, from 10th to 11th March, in the Indian National capital. The event featured screenings of 10 carefully selected films from around the world over two days. These films were chosen to reflect Buddhist practices and values such as compassion, mindfulness, and impermanence, offering insights into the relevance of Buddhist teachings in contemporary life. The Director General of IBC, Abhijit Halder, explained the concept of the festival and the range of films that were screened. He said, “The list included a collection of classical films for the younger generation to catch up on and some from modern directors of India. Notable films included classics like The Cup and modern works such as Geshe Ma is Born, Kung Fu Nuns, Path of Compassion, and Guru Padmasambhava.” “Until Space Remains", a film that explores the remarkable relationship between the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan community, and India, was also screened at the festival. In fact, the film festival took place on a day when the Tibetan community in Delhi was marking “Tibet Uprising Day”. This year also marks the 90th birthday of the Dalai Lama, and many films linked to him were also shown. Also read: Ukraine backs US proposal for 30-day ceasefire, Washington restores military aid, intel sharing The director of the Tibet House was the special guest at the inauguration, explaining that cinema was an extremely powerful tool to influence the public. “Cinema depicts the level of thinking of the public. Films will be made in accordance with the current thinking in society,” he said. Hollywood actor and a practicing Buddhist, Richard Gere, said in a video message at the Buddhist Film Festival that it is one of the ways to spread the teachings of the Buddha. “The festival provided an exciting moment. It is a great opportunity to follow the path to Buddhism,” he added. Also read: Video: Justin Trudeau bursts into tears at farewell address, says he 'put Canadians first' amid trade war with Trump The film festival screened 10 global films with addresses by well-known film actor Adil Hussain, best known for his work in Life of Pi and the voice behind “Dooba Dooba” and “Tum Se Hi” Mohit Chauhan. In his address, playback singer Mohit Chauhan explained how he practised compassion and Ahimsa in his personal life, while Adil Hussain talked about the larger role of cinema in shaping views. IBC Secretary General Shartse Khensur Rinpoche Jangchup Choeden, while blessing the festival with invocation, reflected that films were a powerful medium for diffusing information and widening horizons. Also read: ‘Bad for business, worse for consumers’: EU slaps tariffs on $28.3bn US goods after Trump’s metal duties

Unique Buddha Film Festival organised in India

Indian Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar was discharged from AIIMS-Delhi on Wednesday after making a satisfactory recovery, the premier hospital said.
He was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on March 9 following cardiac-related ailments, it said in a statement.
"After receiving necessary care from the medical team at AIIMS, he made a satisfactory recovery and was discharged on March 12," AIIMS-Delhi said.
He has been advised to take adequate rest for the next few days.
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In a post on X, Dhankhar thanked the medical team of the AIIMS.
"Deeply appreciate the exemplary care and professionalism of the medical team at AIIMS, New Delhi, from my admission on March 9 to discharge on March 12. Their dedication and meticulous attention ensured a smooth recovery," he said.
"Grateful for the concern and good wishes from well-wishers across India and beyond. Your thoughtful gestures have been truly heartening," the Vice President added in the X post.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

India news | Vice President Dhankhar was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on March 9 following cardiac-related ailments, it said in a statement.

Indian Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar was discharged from AIIMS-Delhi on Wednesday after making a satisfactory recovery, the premier hospital said. He was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on March 9 following cardiac-related ailments, it said in a statement. "After receiving necessary care from the medical team at AIIMS, he made a satisfactory recovery and was discharged on March 12," AIIMS-Delhi said. He has been advised to take adequate rest for the next few days. Also read | RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav questions Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s mental state after his... In a post on X, Dhankhar thanked the medical team of the AIIMS. "Deeply appreciate the exemplary care and professionalism of the medical team at AIIMS, New Delhi, from my admission on March 9 to discharge on March 12. Their dedication and meticulous attention ensured a smooth recovery," he said. "Grateful for the concern and good wishes from well-wishers across India and beyond. Your thoughtful gestures have been truly heartening," the Vice President added in the X post. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar discharged from AIIMS after satisfactory recovery

Some parts of India are already experiencing heatwave-like conditions in the second week of March, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).&nbsp;
In Gujarat, the weather department has forecast maximum temperatures reaching 40-42 degrees Celsius and a red alert has been issued in some parts of the state. Regions of Odisha, Vidarbha, Konkan and Goa are also experiencing hot winds. Heatwave is predicted in Vidarbha on March 13 and 14, while similar conditions are expected in Odisha between March 13 and 15.
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Similar heatwave conditions are also being witnessed in Mumbai, which had its first near-40 degrees Celsius temperature on Tuesday (Mar 11). The Met Department has issued a heatwave warning for the city and nearby locations.
According to the IMD, India recorded 536 heatwave days in last summer, the highest in 14 years. Last month was the hottest February in 125 years for India.
A study conducted in ten big cities in the country has highlighted an average death count of 1116 every year due to the heatwave, raising health concerns for the coming days.
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<h2>Heatwaves hit economy</h2>
A BBC report highlighted that severe weather conditions in the country are affecting businesses, farms, factories, and cropping patterns as winter is getting shorter.&nbsp;
Heatwaves have impacted the country&rsquo;s Alphonso mango orchards.
&ldquo;Production this year would be only around 30% of the normal yield,&rdquo; said Vidyadhar Joshi, a farmer who owns 1,500 trees, according to BBC. &ldquo;We might make losses this year,&rdquo; he added, as he will have to spend more than usual on fertilisers and irrigation to ensure crops survive.
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Scorching heat is also threatening crops such as wheat, chickpea, and rapeseed, which are winter staples. Although India is the world&rsquo;s second-largest producer of wheat, it will have to rely on expensive imports due to poor yields amid hot weather.
Heatwaves have also dropped water levels in the reservoirs in northern India by 28 per cent, according to think tank Ceew. This could significantly impact fruit and vegetable yields and the dairy sector due to water shortages, raising food prices in India in turn.
Primarily an agrarian country, India is particularly vulnerable to climate change. According to Ceew, urgent measures are needed to mitigate the impact of frequent heatwaves in the country to reduce risks and improve yields.
(With inputs from agencies)

India news | According to the IMD, India recorded 536 heatwave days in last summer, the highest in 14 years. Last month was the hottest February in 125 years for India.

Some parts of India are already experiencing heatwave-like conditions in the second week of March, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). In Gujarat, the weather department has forecast maximum temperatures reaching 40-42 degrees Celsius and a red alert has been issued in some parts of the state. Regions of Odisha, Vidarbha, Konkan and Goa are also experiencing hot winds. Heatwave is predicted in Vidarbha on March 13 and 14, while similar conditions are expected in Odisha between March 13 and 15. Also read | IMD issues orange alert for Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi; heavy rains hit salt production Similar heatwave conditions are also being witnessed in Mumbai, which had its first near-40 degrees Celsius temperature on Tuesday (Mar 11). The Met Department has issued a heatwave warning for the city and nearby locations. According to the IMD, India recorded 536 heatwave days in last summer, the highest in 14 years. Last month was the hottest February in 125 years for India. A study conducted in ten big cities in the country has highlighted an average death count of 1116 every year due to the heatwave, raising health concerns for the coming days. Also read | India: MP cops face probe for shaving heads of men who celebrated India's Champions Trophy win | Watch Heatwaves hit economy A BBC report highlighted that severe weather conditions in the country are affecting businesses, farms, factories, and cropping patterns as winter is getting shorter. Heatwaves have impacted the country’s Alphonso mango orchards. “Production this year would be only around 30% of the normal yield,” said Vidyadhar Joshi, a farmer who owns 1,500 trees, according to BBC. “We might make losses this year,” he added, as he will have to spend more than usual on fertilisers and irrigation to ensure crops survive. Also read | Mayor in India’s Bihar calls for pausing of Holi celebration during Friday prayers, gets labelled ‘traitor’ Scorching heat is also threatening crops such as wheat, chickpea, and rapeseed, which are winter staples. Although India is the world’s second-largest producer of wheat, it will have to rely on expensive imports due to poor yields amid hot weather. Heatwaves have also dropped water levels in the reservoirs in northern India by 28 per cent, according to think tank Ceew. This could significantly impact fruit and vegetable yields and the dairy sector due to water shortages, raising food prices in India in turn. Primarily an agrarian country, India is particularly vulnerable to climate change. According to Ceew, urgent measures are needed to mitigate the impact of frequent heatwaves in the country to reduce risks and improve yields. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Hottest February in 125 years’: Parts of India face early heatwaves threatening economy and lives

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has accused Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of making lewd gestures in the House. Yadav says his attitude towards women is concerning; this time around, he says Kumar targeted his mother, Rabri Devi, making remarks on her bindi. He added, this isn't the first time that the Chief Minister of Bihar has indulged in such behaviour. Earlier, he made similar remarks towards Sheela Mandal in the House.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/mayor-in-india-bihar-darbhanga-calls-for-pausing-of-holi-celebration-during-friday-prayers-gets-labelled-a-traitor-8846939">Mayor in India's Bihar calls for pausing of Holi celebration during Friday prayers, gets labelled 'a traitor'</a>
The RJD leader told news agency ANI, "Nitish Kumar should resign by himself; he makes remarks on women and their bindis in the House. He has made such remarks about Sheela Mandal in the past and now on Rabri Devi as well. Nitish Kumar's days are over; he should retreat to religious discourse."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m85x4tsi-ypq6uq7n-0fx7t6p4">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Patna, Bihar | LoP Tejashwi Yadav says, "... Nitish Kumar should resign himself... Even before Nitish Kumar, my father (Lalu Yadav) became MP... He could not have become CM without us giving the 'Samarthan Patra'... He should go to ashram as he is not capable of running&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/r16iowUhHo">pic.twitter.com/r16iowUhHo</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1899740605988896937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
He added, "There is a sanctity in the chief minister's position; the future of 14 crore people vests in your hands, and look how he is running the state. I don't think the situation is normal."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-emerges-as-worlds-second-largest-arms-importer-after-war-torn-ukraine-sipri-data-reveals-8842548">India emerges as world&rsquo;s second-largest arms importer after war-torn Ukraine, SIPRI data reveals</a>
Former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi says she has been humiliated in the House way too many times. Speaking to news agency ANI, she said, "Nitish Kumar consumes 'bhaang' and comes to the Assembly. He disrespects the women, which includes me. He should see the kind of work we did when we were in power. What the people around him say, he speaks the same. His own party members and some of the BJP leaders are asking him to say such things."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m85x57ef-bxk0z2i5-5sjassxs">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Patna | Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD leader Rabri Devi says, "Nitish Kumar consumes 'bhaang' and comes to the Assembly. He disrespects the women, including me... He should see the kind of work we did when we were in power... What the people around him say, he speaks&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/9TrHl3ub3l">https://t.co/9TrHl3ub3l</a> <a href="https://t.co/VYZ48uBYDn">pic.twitter.com/VYZ48uBYDn</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1899723973073809624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
"He should give up disrespecting women; we've made it clear in the House and staged a boycott," she added.
Her son Tejashwi Yadav urged the media to ask Kumar, "What about women irks him?"
&nbsp;

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has accused Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of making lewd gestures in the House. Yadav says his attitude towards women is concerning. India news

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has accused Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of making lewd gestures in the House. Yadav says his attitude towards women is concerning; this time around, he says Kumar targeted his mother, Rabri Devi, making remarks on her bindi. He added, this isn't the first time that the Chief Minister of Bihar has indulged in such behaviour. Earlier, he made similar remarks towards Sheela Mandal in the House. Also read: Mayor in India's Bihar calls for pausing of Holi celebration during Friday prayers, gets labelled 'a traitor' The RJD leader told news agency ANI, "Nitish Kumar should resign by himself; he makes remarks on women and their bindis in the House. He has made such remarks about Sheela Mandal in the past and now on Rabri Devi as well. Nitish Kumar's days are over; he should retreat to religious discourse." #WATCH | Patna, Bihar | LoP Tejashwi Yadav says, "... Nitish Kumar should resign himself... Even before Nitish Kumar, my father (Lalu Yadav) became MP... He could not have become CM without us giving the 'Samarthan Patra'... He should go to ashram as he is not capable of running… pic.twitter.com/r16iowUhHo — ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2025 He added, "There is a sanctity in the chief minister's position; the future of 14 crore people vests in your hands, and look how he is running the state. I don't think the situation is normal." Also read: India emerges as world’s second-largest arms importer after war-torn Ukraine, SIPRI data reveals Former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi says she has been humiliated in the House way too many times. Speaking to news agency ANI, she said, "Nitish Kumar consumes 'bhaang' and comes to the Assembly. He disrespects the women, which includes me. He should see the kind of work we did when we were in power. What the people around him say, he speaks the same. His own party members and some of the BJP leaders are asking him to say such things." #WATCH Patna | Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD leader Rabri Devi says, "Nitish Kumar consumes 'bhaang' and comes to the Assembly. He disrespects the women, including me... He should see the kind of work we did when we were in power... What the people around him say, he speaks… https://t.co/9TrHl3ub3l pic.twitter.com/VYZ48uBYDn — ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2025 "He should give up disrespecting women; we've made it clear in the House and staged a boycott," she added. Her son Tejashwi Yadav urged the media to ask Kumar, "What about women irks him?"

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav questions Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s mental state after his...

In a bid to avoid disruption of Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramzan, the mayor of Bihar's Darbhanga issued a statement to pause the Holi celebrations. This statement by Anjum Ara has stirred a controversy among politicians in the state.
Ara said, "Holi celebrations should be paused for 2 hours in between 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM as the Friday prayer timing cannot be altered."
She said this as a measure to avoid overcrowding near mosques and other religious places.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-emerges-as-worlds-second-largest-arms-importer-after-war-torn-ukraine-sipri-data-reveals-8842548">India emerges as world&rsquo;s second-largest arms importer after war-torn Ukraine, SIPRI data reveals</a>
Distancing himself from the mayor's statement, Bihar Minister Ashok Chaudhary told media, "We have nothing to do with her statement; it's a wrong statement. The fabric of Bihar is woven with love and brotherhood. My leader's slogan is 'poora Bihar, mera parivar'. People make such statements just to be in the media; I think such people should be removed from the party."
"People should respect all religions. Sanatan Dharma gives the message of love, affection, and brotherhood. This statement is not appropriate at all, and this mentality is also not right. Such mentality should change, and this statement is not acceptable under any circumstances," said another minister, Sanjay Saraogi.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-commitments-india-responds-to-trumps-tariff-cut-claims-8843495">&lsquo;No commitments&rsquo;; India responds to Trump&rsquo;s tariff cut claims</a>
Mayor Ara received backlash for the statement, after which she issued an apology. "I regret my earlier statement, and since morning, I have received various kinds of responses. Some people called me Bangladeshi; some called me a traitor. I would like to request the media to investigate thoroughly about me, and if any convincing evidence is found, I welcome any strict action that should be taken against me," she told news agency ANI.
"People are free to think what they want, but my only intention was to ensure that Darbhanga remains peaceful. In this context, I made my statement, but if anyone's feelings were hurt, I apologise for that," Ara added.
&nbsp;

In a bid to avoid disruption of Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramzan, the mayor of Bihar's Darbhanga issued a statement to pause the Holi celebrations. This statement by Anjum Ara has stirred controversy. India news

In a bid to avoid disruption of Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramzan, the mayor of Bihar's Darbhanga issued a statement to pause the Holi celebrations. This statement by Anjum Ara has stirred a controversy among politicians in the state. Ara said, "Holi celebrations should be paused for 2 hours in between 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM as the Friday prayer timing cannot be altered." She said this as a measure to avoid overcrowding near mosques and other religious places. Also read: India emerges as world’s second-largest arms importer after war-torn Ukraine, SIPRI data reveals Distancing himself from the mayor's statement, Bihar Minister Ashok Chaudhary told media, "We have nothing to do with her statement; it's a wrong statement. The fabric of Bihar is woven with love and brotherhood. My leader's slogan is 'poora Bihar, mera parivar'. People make such statements just to be in the media; I think such people should be removed from the party." "People should respect all religions. Sanatan Dharma gives the message of love, affection, and brotherhood. This statement is not appropriate at all, and this mentality is also not right. Such mentality should change, and this statement is not acceptable under any circumstances," said another minister, Sanjay Saraogi. Also read: ‘No commitments’; India responds to Trump’s tariff cut claims Mayor Ara received backlash for the statement, after which she issued an apology. "I regret my earlier statement, and since morning, I have received various kinds of responses. Some people called me Bangladeshi; some called me a traitor. I would like to request the media to investigate thoroughly about me, and if any convincing evidence is found, I welcome any strict action that should be taken against me," she told news agency ANI. "People are free to think what they want, but my only intention was to ensure that Darbhanga remains peaceful. In this context, I made my statement, but if anyone's feelings were hurt, I apologise for that," Ara added.

Mayor in India’s Bihar calls for pausing of Holi celebration during Friday prayers, gets labelled ‘traitor’

Delegations of the BJP, TMC and the BJD approached the Election Commission (EC) separately on Tuesday raising issues of discrepancies in the voter rolls and demanding that the poll panel take steps to rectify them.
While the BJP urged the EC to audit and revise the voter rolls in West Bengal, claiming that more than 13 lakh duplicate voters have been added to the list during the Trinamool Congress rule, the latter alleged cloning of Aadhaar cards for fake voter registration.
The ruling party in West Bengal also demanded that the poll panel issue a separate list of voter deletions, new additions, and modifications with every new revised electoral roll.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) suggested an independent audit of the poll process and monitoring by citizens in the wake of the allegations of irregularities levelled by the opposition parties.
The issue came into focus after the TMC, the Congress and other opposition parties raised it in both Houses of Parliament on Monday and demanded a discussion on it.
In separate posts on X, the EC said it welcomed the delegations of the BJP and the TMC. "Updation of electoral roll is a participative process with all political parties, including established mechanisms of appeal under Section 24 of the RPA (Representation of the People Act) 1950," the EC wrote on X after meeting the BJP delegation.
In another post on X, the poll panel said it apprised the TMC delegation that all the concerns, including duplicate EPIC numbers, duplicate, shifted, and dead voters and illegal migrants, will be resolved by each Booth Level Officer and concerned Electoral Registration Officer with active participation of Booth Level Agents appointed by all political parties.
Amid allegations of fudging of electoral rolls, the Election Commission on Tuesday invited political parties for an interaction to strengthen the electoral process.
In a statement, the EC said it has invited suggestions from all national and state political parties by April 30 for "any unresolved issues" at the level of electoral registration officers, district election officers, and chief electoral officers.
"Today, a delegation of BJP West Bengal met the Election Commission. We apprised (the EC) on the need for an audit and voter roll revision," BJP co-observer for the state Amit Malviya told reporters outside the poll panel's headquarters here.
"We have apprised the Election Commission that there are 13,03,065 duplicate voters in West Bengal... We have also pointed out to the Election Commission that there are about 8,414 voters with similar EPIC numbers," he added.
The BJP West Bengal unit delegation comprised its state president Sukanta Majumdar, also a Union minister.
Malviya alleged that over the last 14 years, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her government have "systematically infiltrated" the voter rolls with illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas.
"We have impressed upon the Election Commission to look at the cleaning of the voter rolls and identify these illegal voters so that our democratic process is not compromised," he said.
The TMC delegation met the EC and raised the issue of duplicate voter ID numbers and alleged that Aadhaar cards were being cloned, which may lead to the possibility of these being used for fake voter registration.
"This is an extremely serious issue. Ever since West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee flagged the issue, all parties have realised it's a serious issue that poses a threat to electoral democracy," TMC Rajya Sabha deputy leader Sagarika Ghose told reporters after the meeting.
"The EC says it will resolve the issue in three months... We are asking, if you don't even know the number, how are you giving the deadline?," she said.
Amid allegations of a cover-up over duplicate voter identity card numbers, the Election Commission said on Friday that it will address the "decades-long" matter in the next three months.
In a four-page memorandum submitted to the poll panel, the TMC said EPIC numbers consist of an alphanumeric sequence of three letters known as the "Functional Unique Serial Number (FUSN)" which is different for every Assembly constituency in India, and seven digits are supposed to be unique.
"How were EPICs with the same number issued to voters in multiple Assembly constituencies across various states in the country?" the TMC said.
It said similar concerns have been expressed over the recently concluded elections in Maharashtra and Delhi, where opposition parties have alleged discrepancies in the electoral rolls, including the inclusion of disproportionate numbers of new voters through the online mechanism.
The memorandum said that field visits conducted across West Bengal reveal that there has been an addition of several fake voters to the electoral roll through the online portal, due to a lack of a proper verification system for uploaded documents, particularly address proofs, voters are being fraudulently registered.&nbsp;
It said there are cases of such "fake" voter registration applications being approved by electoral officials through their apps (BLOapp &amp; ERONET).
In their memorandum to the EC, the BJD delegation suggested an independent audit of the poll process and monitoring by citizens in the wake of allegations of irregularities levelled by the opposition parties.
They said the EC should conduct a periodic "process audit" of the entire election exercise by independent auditors or the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) and make its report public, as is being done in several countries where democratic elections are held.
They also urged the poll panel to develop a mechanism for involving citizen groups to co-monitor the election process from inception to the end and to formulate a mechanism for conducting a concurrent audit during polling at the booth level as well as during counting to ensure trust in the election process.
The BJD, which suffered defeat in the last elections, also suggested tallying all VVPAT slips with the EVM count in every booth using advanced counting machines.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

India News: Discover how the EPIC duplication issue has united opposition parties Congress, TMC, and BJD in the Rajya Sabha, challenging electoral roll discrepancies.

Delegations of the BJP, TMC and the BJD approached the Election Commission (EC) separately on Tuesday raising issues of discrepancies in the voter rolls and demanding that the poll panel take steps to rectify them. While the BJP urged the EC to audit and revise the voter rolls in West Bengal, claiming that more than 13 lakh duplicate voters have been added to the list during the Trinamool Congress rule, the latter alleged cloning of Aadhaar cards for fake voter registration. The ruling party in West Bengal also demanded that the poll panel issue a separate list of voter deletions, new additions, and modifications with every new revised electoral roll. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) suggested an independent audit of the poll process and monitoring by citizens in the wake of the allegations of irregularities levelled by the opposition parties. The issue came into focus after the TMC, the Congress and other opposition parties raised it in both Houses of Parliament on Monday and demanded a discussion on it. In separate posts on X, the EC said it welcomed the delegations of the BJP and the TMC. "Updation of electoral roll is a participative process with all political parties, including established mechanisms of appeal under Section 24 of the RPA (Representation of the People Act) 1950," the EC wrote on X after meeting the BJP delegation. In another post on X, the poll panel said it apprised the TMC delegation that all the concerns, including duplicate EPIC numbers, duplicate, shifted, and dead voters and illegal migrants, will be resolved by each Booth Level Officer and concerned Electoral Registration Officer with active participation of Booth Level Agents appointed by all political parties. Amid allegations of fudging of electoral rolls, the Election Commission on Tuesday invited political parties for an interaction to strengthen the electoral process. In a statement, the EC said it has invited suggestions from all national and state political parties by April 30 for "any unresolved issues" at the level of electoral registration officers, district election officers, and chief electoral officers. "Today, a delegation of BJP West Bengal met the Election Commission. We apprised (the EC) on the need for an audit and voter roll revision," BJP co-observer for the state Amit Malviya told reporters outside the poll panel's headquarters here. "We have apprised the Election Commission that there are 13,03,065 duplicate voters in West Bengal... We have also pointed out to the Election Commission that there are about 8,414 voters with similar EPIC numbers," he added. The BJP West Bengal unit delegation comprised its state president Sukanta Majumdar, also a Union minister. Malviya alleged that over the last 14 years, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her government have "systematically infiltrated" the voter rolls with illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas. "We have impressed upon the Election Commission to look at the cleaning of the voter rolls and identify these illegal voters so that our democratic process is not compromised," he said. The TMC delegation met the EC and raised the issue of duplicate voter ID numbers and alleged that Aadhaar cards were being cloned, which may lead to the possibility of these being used for fake voter registration. "This is an extremely serious issue. Ever since West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee flagged the issue, all parties have realised it's a serious issue that poses a threat to electoral democracy," TMC Rajya Sabha deputy leader Sagarika Ghose told reporters after the meeting. "The EC says it will resolve the issue in three months... We are asking, if you don't even know the number, how are you giving the deadline?," she said. Amid allegations of a cover-up over duplicate voter identity card numbers, the Election Commission said on Friday that it will address the "decades-long" matter in the next three months. In a four-page memorandum submitted to the poll panel, the TMC said EPIC numbers consist of an alphanumeric sequence of three letters known as the "Functional Unique Serial Number (FUSN)" which is different for every Assembly constituency in India, and seven digits are supposed to be unique. "How were EPICs with the same number issued to voters in multiple Assembly constituencies across various states in the country?" the TMC said. It said similar concerns have been expressed over the recently concluded elections in Maharashtra and Delhi, where opposition parties have alleged discrepancies in the electoral rolls, including the inclusion of disproportionate numbers of new voters through the online mechanism. The memorandum said that field visits conducted across West Bengal reveal that there has been an addition of several fake voters to the electoral roll through the online portal, due to a lack of a proper verification system for uploaded documents, particularly address proofs, voters are being fraudulently registered. It said there are cases of such "fake" voter registration applications being approved by electoral officials through their apps (BLOapp & ERONET). In their memorandum to the EC, the BJD delegation suggested an independent audit of the poll process and monitoring by citizens in the wake of allegations of irregularities levelled by the opposition parties. They said the EC should conduct a periodic "process audit" of the entire election exercise by independent auditors or the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) and make its report public, as is being done in several countries where democratic elections are held. They also urged the poll panel to develop a mechanism for involving citizen groups to co-monitor the election process from inception to the end and to formulate a mechanism for conducting a concurrent audit during polling at the booth level as well as during counting to ensure trust in the election process. The BJD, which suffered defeat in the last elections, also suggested tallying all VVPAT slips with the EVM count in every booth using advanced counting machines. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Congress, TMC and BJD unite in Rajya Sabha over EPIC duplication, EC seeks suggestions by April 30

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an &lsquo;orange alert&rsquo; for heavy rainfall in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu on March 12 amid downpours over the last few days.
The unseasonal showers have severely impacted the salt production in the region, which had resumed only a few days ago. Incessant rainfall over the past two days has brought the operations to a halt, impacting local producers.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tamil-nadu-cm-stalin-urges-newlywed-couples-to-give-birth-immediately-amid-delimitation-concerns-8774235">Tamil Nadu CM Stalin urges newlywed couples to &lsquo;give birth immediately&rsquo; amid delimitation concerns</a>
The fishing boats have also been docked as a precautionary measure amid the heavy rainfall warnings. The IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in several districts, including Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, Madurai, Theni, Erode, Salem, and Namakkal.
Authorities have warned about waterlogging and slippery roads in some areas. Traffic may also be affected in several regions due to rainfall.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/narcotics-worth-38mn-seized-on-way-to-maldives-from-tamil-nadu-8834198">Narcotics worth $3.8mn seized on way to Maldives from Tamil Nadu</a>
<h2>Fishermen warning</h2>
The IMD has also advised fishermen not to venture into the affected places. &ldquo;Squally weather with wind speed 35 kmph to 45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph likely to prevail over along and off south Kerala coast and adjoining Lakshadweep, Maldives; Comorin areas,&rdquo; said IMD.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/karnataka-gold-smuggling-dri-arrests-bengaluru-hoteliers-grandson-as-ranya-rao-remains-in-custody-8843602">Ranya Rao gold smuggling case: DRI arrests Bengaluru hotelier's grandson</a>
<h2>Forecast for other regions</h2>
According to the weather department, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim are likely to witness thunderstorms today. Similar weather conditions have also been predicted for Assam and Meghalaya from March 12 to 15. The IMD further said Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura are likely to experience rain from March 12 to 16.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/argentina-port-city-destroyed-by-massive-rainstorm-13-dead-8835403">Argentina port city 'destroyed' by massive rainstorm, 13 dead</a>
The IMD predicted a partly cloudy sky, with mist in the morning and surface winds throughout the day for New Delhi. The maximum temperature is expected to remain between 32 and 34 degrees Celsius, while the minimum may hover between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius in the national capital.
(With inputs from agencies)

India news | The unseasonal showers have severely impacted the salt production in the region, which had resumed only a few days ago, affecting local producers.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an ‘orange alert’ for heavy rainfall in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu on March 12 amid downpours over the last few days. The unseasonal showers have severely impacted the salt production in the region, which had resumed only a few days ago. Incessant rainfall over the past two days has brought the operations to a halt, impacting local producers. Also read | Tamil Nadu CM Stalin urges newlywed couples to ‘give birth immediately’ amid delimitation concerns The fishing boats have also been docked as a precautionary measure amid the heavy rainfall warnings. The IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in several districts, including Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, Madurai, Theni, Erode, Salem, and Namakkal. Authorities have warned about waterlogging and slippery roads in some areas. Traffic may also be affected in several regions due to rainfall. Also read | Narcotics worth $3.8mn seized on way to Maldives from Tamil Nadu Fishermen warning The IMD has also advised fishermen not to venture into the affected places. “Squally weather with wind speed 35 kmph to 45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph likely to prevail over along and off south Kerala coast and adjoining Lakshadweep, Maldives; Comorin areas,” said IMD. Also read | Ranya Rao gold smuggling case: DRI arrests Bengaluru hotelier's grandson Forecast for other regions According to the weather department, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim are likely to witness thunderstorms today. Similar weather conditions have also been predicted for Assam and Meghalaya from March 12 to 15. The IMD further said Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura are likely to experience rain from March 12 to 16. Also read | Argentina port city 'destroyed' by massive rainstorm, 13 dead The IMD predicted a partly cloudy sky, with mist in the morning and surface winds throughout the day for New Delhi. The maximum temperature is expected to remain between 32 and 34 degrees Celsius, while the minimum may hover between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius in the national capital. (With inputs from agencies)

IMD issues orange alert for Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi; heavy rains hit salt production

Some police officers in India's Madhya Pradesh state are now facing an investigation after videos of them "teaching a lesson" to some Indian cricket fans went viral. On Sunday (Mar 9) night, these cops in the district were allegedly seen punishing a group of young men for creating a ruckus while celebrating Team India's Champions Trophy win.&nbsp;
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-police-beefs-up-security-ahead-of-holi-ramzan-friday-prayers-8844162">Delhi Police beef up security ahead of Holi, Ramzan Friday prayers</a>
<h2>Viral Video</h2>
Videos of the incident have gone viral, showing the group of cricket fans with shaved heads being paraded around by the police.
Watch it here:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
VIDEO | Madhya Pradesh: Police shave heads and parade those accused of creating ruckus in Dewas after India's ICC Champions Trophy victory on the night of March 9. (Full video available on PTI Videos - <a href="https://t.co/dv5TRAShcC">https://t.co/dv5TRAShcC</a>) <a href="https://t.co/PqCIvX4p0y">pic.twitter.com/PqCIvX4p0y</a>
&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1899380894433206675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2>Investigation underway</h2>
Apart from policemen facing investigation, another probe on the cricket fans is underway. Under the National Security Act (NSA), action will be taken against two men who were allegedly engaged in the criminal activity of turning their celebration into a violent act. They reportedly attacked the police. Under NSA, an individual can be apprehended for up to 12 months.&nbsp;
Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-air-forces-mirage-2000-aircraft-crashes-near-shivpuri-in-madhya-pradesh-8695981"> Indian Air Force's Mirage 2000 aircraft crashes near Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh</a>
Punit Gehlot, Dewas Superintendent of Police (SP), said an investigation has been started into both the actions of the youth and the cops.
He said, "The probe will examine all aspects, including whether those detained were actually involved. Additional SP Jaiveer Singh Bhadoria has been tasked with conducting a time-bound inquiry, which will be completed within seven days. Those found responsible will face appropriate action."
Local legislator Gayatri Raje Puar of the Bharatiya Janata Party met with Gehlot over the punishment meted out to the youth.&nbsp;
"These young men were celebrating India's victory just like the rest of the country. They are not habitual offenders, and the act of publicly parading them in such a manner is completely unjustified."
"Their families accompanied me to the SP's office, where we strongly condemned this disproportionate punishment. The SP has assured a thorough inquiry into the matter," said the BJP MLA.&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1899380894433206675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"></a>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

(With inputs from agencies)

Trending India news: Viral videos show the police parading young men with shaved heads, prompting public outcry and a promise of a thorough investigation

Some police officers in India's Madhya Pradesh state are now facing an investigation after videos of them "teaching a lesson" to some Indian cricket fans went viral. On Sunday (Mar 9) night, these cops in the district were allegedly seen punishing a group of young men for creating a ruckus while celebrating Team India's Champions Trophy win. Also read | Delhi Police beef up security ahead of Holi, Ramzan Friday prayers Viral Video Videos of the incident have gone viral, showing the group of cricket fans with shaved heads being paraded around by the police. Watch it here: VIDEO | Madhya Pradesh: Police shave heads and parade those accused of creating ruckus in Dewas after India's ICC Champions Trophy victory on the night of March 9. (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/dv5TRAShcC) pic.twitter.com/PqCIvX4p0y — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 11, 2025 Investigation underway Apart from policemen facing investigation, another probe on the cricket fans is underway. Under the National Security Act (NSA), action will be taken against two men who were allegedly engaged in the criminal activity of turning their celebration into a violent act. They reportedly attacked the police. Under NSA, an individual can be apprehended for up to 12 months. Also read | Indian Air Force's Mirage 2000 aircraft crashes near Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh Punit Gehlot, Dewas Superintendent of Police (SP), said an investigation has been started into both the actions of the youth and the cops. He said, "The probe will examine all aspects, including whether those detained were actually involved. Additional SP Jaiveer Singh Bhadoria has been tasked with conducting a time-bound inquiry, which will be completed within seven days. Those found responsible will face appropriate action." Local legislator Gayatri Raje Puar of the Bharatiya Janata Party met with Gehlot over the punishment meted out to the youth. "These young men were celebrating India's victory just like the rest of the country. They are not habitual offenders, and the act of publicly parading them in such a manner is completely unjustified." "Their families accompanied me to the SP's office, where we strongly condemned this disproportionate punishment. The SP has assured a thorough inquiry into the matter," said the BJP MLA. (With inputs from agencies)

India: MP cops face probe for shaving heads of men who celebrated India's Champions Trophy win | Watch

Delhi is witnessing a surge in Influenza B and H1N1 cases across all age groups, leading to increased hospitalisations. Watch this report for more details!

Delhi sees surge in Influenza B and H1N1 cases

DMK MP Kanimozhi on Wednesday hit back at Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over his remarks on Tamil Nadu's consent for PM SHRI Schools, asserting that the state government has not accepted the National Education Policy (NEP) or the three-language policy in its entirety.
Taking to X, Kanmozhi responded to Pradhan's remark on Tamil Nadu's consent letter to PM SHRI schools, saying, "This letter clearly states that Tamil Nadu will accept PM SHRI schools only based on our State Government-led committee's recommendations and not on your Union Government's recommendation. Nowhere have we mentioned accepting the three-language policy or NEP in its entirety. Whatever is acceptable for Tamil Nadu, we will accept--nothing more, nothing less. Stop twisting facts."
Earlier, Pradhan had shared a letter dated March 15, 2024, from the Tamil Nadu School Education Department, stating that the state had given its consent for the establishment of PM SHRI Schools.
"Yesterday, DMK MPs and Hon'ble CM Stalin accused me of misleading the Parliament regarding Tamil Nadu's consent for the establishment of PM-SHRI Schools. I stand by my statement and am sharing the consent letter," he posted on X on Tuesday.
Hitting out at the DMK, Pradhan accused the ruling party of using the language issue as a "diversionary tactic."
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/dare-say-this-on-record-i-would-lok-sabha-speaker-om-birla-warns-dmk-mp-dayanidhi-maran-amid-ruckus-8840015">&lsquo;Dare say this on record, I would&hellip;&rsquo;: Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla warns DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran amid ruckus</a>
He said, "DMK MPs and Hon'ble CM can stack lies as high as they want, but the truth doesn't bother knocking when it comes crashing down. The DMK dispensation led by Hon'ble CM Stalin has a lot to answer to the people of Tamil Nadu. Raking the language issue as a diversionary tactic and denying facts as per their convenience will not shield their governance and welfare deficit. Why this sudden change of stance on NEP? Definitely for political brownies and reviving DMK's political fortunes."
He added, "This retrograde politics of DMK is a great disservice to the bright future of Tamil Nadu and its students."
Meanwhile, on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's statement on three-language policy, MDMK MP Durai Vaiko said, "Periyar never demeaned Tamil language... nobody can question Periyar's love and sacrifice for Tamil society...our Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is a senior politician...she is well aware of this fact, but she is trying to politicise the issue...Tamil Nadu and India expect much more from a senior leader like her..."
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday lashed out at Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) over its opposition to the three-language policy, accusing the Stalin government of creating a "political mess" in Tamil Nadu and denying children their "right to learn."
Speaking in Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said, "The New Education Policy actually says learn in your mother tongue until class 5th, if possible till 8th, even better till intermediate. That's what the NEP says, but they (DMK) want to imagine it is imposing Hindi."
"Wrongly, they have created a political mess in Tamil Nadu, denying children their right to learn." Sitharaman backed Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's Monday's remark, clarifying that the minister "probably" meant the protest of DMK is "uncivilised".
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

India news | Earlier, Pradhan had shared a letter dated March 15, 2024, from the Tamil Nadu School Education Department, stating that the state had given its consent for the establishment of PM SHRI Schools.

DMK MP Kanimozhi on Wednesday hit back at Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over his remarks on Tamil Nadu's consent for PM SHRI Schools, asserting that the state government has not accepted the National Education Policy (NEP) or the three-language policy in its entirety. Taking to X, Kanmozhi responded to Pradhan's remark on Tamil Nadu's consent letter to PM SHRI schools, saying, "This letter clearly states that Tamil Nadu will accept PM SHRI schools only based on our State Government-led committee's recommendations and not on your Union Government's recommendation. Nowhere have we mentioned accepting the three-language policy or NEP in its entirety. Whatever is acceptable for Tamil Nadu, we will accept--nothing more, nothing less. Stop twisting facts." Earlier, Pradhan had shared a letter dated March 15, 2024, from the Tamil Nadu School Education Department, stating that the state had given its consent for the establishment of PM SHRI Schools. "Yesterday, DMK MPs and Hon'ble CM Stalin accused me of misleading the Parliament regarding Tamil Nadu's consent for the establishment of PM-SHRI Schools. I stand by my statement and am sharing the consent letter," he posted on X on Tuesday. Hitting out at the DMK, Pradhan accused the ruling party of using the language issue as a "diversionary tactic." Also read | ‘Dare say this on record, I would…’: Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla warns DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran amid ruckus He said, "DMK MPs and Hon'ble CM can stack lies as high as they want, but the truth doesn't bother knocking when it comes crashing down. The DMK dispensation led by Hon'ble CM Stalin has a lot to answer to the people of Tamil Nadu. Raking the language issue as a diversionary tactic and denying facts as per their convenience will not shield their governance and welfare deficit. Why this sudden change of stance on NEP? Definitely for political brownies and reviving DMK's political fortunes." He added, "This retrograde politics of DMK is a great disservice to the bright future of Tamil Nadu and its students." Meanwhile, on Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's statement on three-language policy, MDMK MP Durai Vaiko said, "Periyar never demeaned Tamil language... nobody can question Periyar's love and sacrifice for Tamil society...our Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is a senior politician...she is well aware of this fact, but she is trying to politicise the issue...Tamil Nadu and India expect much more from a senior leader like her..." Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday lashed out at Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) over its opposition to the three-language policy, accusing the Stalin government of creating a "political mess" in Tamil Nadu and denying children their "right to learn." Speaking in Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said, "The New Education Policy actually says learn in your mother tongue until class 5th, if possible till 8th, even better till intermediate. That's what the NEP says, but they (DMK) want to imagine it is imposing Hindi." "Wrongly, they have created a political mess in Tamil Nadu, denying children their right to learn." Sitharaman backed Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's Monday's remark, clarifying that the minister "probably" meant the protest of DMK is "uncivilised". Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

‘TN consent to PM SHRI schools, not Union Govt’: DMK MP Kanimozhi slams Union minister amid language policy row

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday (Mar 11) announced financial assistance of Rs 500 crore ($57,310,827) for violence-hit Manipur to bolster its economy. The move will help the war-torn state to establish a contingency fund.
The allocation was announced in the Lok Sabha as her response to the discussion on Supplementary Demands for Grants for the year 2024-25, Demands for Additional Grants for the year 2021-22 and Budget of Manipur for the year 2025-26.
&ldquo;We are providing all possible financial assistance for the faster recovery of the Manipur economy,&rdquo; she said.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/manipur-violence-at-least-12-militants-arrested-by-police-in-two-days-8839368">Manipur violence: At least 12 militants arrested by police in two days</a>
&ldquo;(Manipur) never had a contingency fund till now...They will have a contingency fund now kept every year; if necessary, more can be added to it,&rdquo; she said.
A supplementary demand for grants amounting to Rs 1,861 crore ($213,310,898) for 2024-25 of Manipur was also placed on the table.
Following her speech, Lok Sabha passed The Manipur Appropriation Bill, 2025, The Manipur Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2025, The Appropriation Bill, 2025 and The Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2025.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/manipur-violence-at-least-1-killed-dozens-injured-locals-defy-free-movement-directive-8835440">Manipur violence: At least 1 killed, dozens injured; locals defy free movement directive</a>
Sitharaman added that steps have been taken to restore normalcy in the northeastern state, where ethnic tensions have persisted for over two years now.
<h2>Finance minister slams Opposition</h2>
During the Budget session of Parliament on Tuesday (Mar 11), Nirmala Sitharaman also hit back at the Opposition for criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting Manipur amid violence.
She said that when 750 people died in the northeastern state in 1993, the then Congress prime minister PV Narsimha Rao and his home minister did not visit the state.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cherry-picking-of-situations-india-slams-un-rights-chiefs-baseless-remarks-on-manipur-kashmir-8778260">&lsquo;Cherry picking of situations&rsquo;: India slams UN rights chief&rsquo;s &lsquo;baseless&rsquo; remarks on Manipur, Kashmir</a>
She said, &ldquo;In 1993, When Rajkumar Dorendra Singh of the Congress was the chief minister of Manipur, a major flare up between Kukis and Nagas happened between April and December 1993, resulting in&hellip; 750 deaths and destruction of 350 villages in Manipur&hellip;. At that time the Prime Minister was P V Narsimha Rao and the Home Minister was Shankarrao Chavan. They did not even participate in the parliamentary debates&hellip; So, where was the Congress at that time? Did they ask them to come and speak? Did they ask them to go to Manipur? No.&rdquo;
She added that it was the Minister of State for Home P M Sayeed who responded when a motion for President&rsquo;s Rule was put forward in Rajya Sabha for the state in February 1994,
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-union-minister-amit-shah-directs-security-forces-to-ensure-free-movement-in-manipur-from-march-8-8769503">India: Union Minister Amit Shah directs security forces to ensure free movement in Manipur from March 8</a>
&ldquo;Even at the peak of the violence in August 1993, it was a Minister of State for Home Rajesh Pilot, who addressed the Parliament,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;&hellip; I hope Congress doesn&rsquo;t speak about Manipur as who is going and who is not.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

India news | Sitharaman added that steps have been taken to restore normalcy in the northeastern state, where ethnic tensions have persisted for over two years now.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday (Mar 11) announced financial assistance of Rs 500 crore ($57,310,827) for violence-hit Manipur to bolster its economy. The move will help the war-torn state to establish a contingency fund. The allocation was announced in the Lok Sabha as her response to the discussion on Supplementary Demands for Grants for the year 2024-25, Demands for Additional Grants for the year 2021-22 and Budget of Manipur for the year 2025-26. “We are providing all possible financial assistance for the faster recovery of the Manipur economy,” she said. Also read | Manipur violence: At least 12 militants arrested by police in two days “(Manipur) never had a contingency fund till now...They will have a contingency fund now kept every year; if necessary, more can be added to it,” she said. A supplementary demand for grants amounting to Rs 1,861 crore ($213,310,898) for 2024-25 of Manipur was also placed on the table. Following her speech, Lok Sabha passed The Manipur Appropriation Bill, 2025, The Manipur Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2025, The Appropriation Bill, 2025 and The Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2025. Also read | Manipur violence: At least 1 killed, dozens injured; locals defy free movement directive Sitharaman added that steps have been taken to restore normalcy in the northeastern state, where ethnic tensions have persisted for over two years now. Finance minister slams Opposition During the Budget session of Parliament on Tuesday (Mar 11), Nirmala Sitharaman also hit back at the Opposition for criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting Manipur amid violence. She said that when 750 people died in the northeastern state in 1993, the then Congress prime minister PV Narsimha Rao and his home minister did not visit the state. Also read | ‘Cherry picking of situations’: India slams UN rights chief’s ‘baseless’ remarks on Manipur, Kashmir She said, “In 1993, When Rajkumar Dorendra Singh of the Congress was the chief minister of Manipur, a major flare up between Kukis and Nagas happened between April and December 1993, resulting in… 750 deaths and destruction of 350 villages in Manipur…. At that time the Prime Minister was P V Narsimha Rao and the Home Minister was Shankarrao Chavan. They did not even participate in the parliamentary debates… So, where was the Congress at that time? Did they ask them to come and speak? Did they ask them to go to Manipur? No.” She added that it was the Minister of State for Home P M Sayeed who responded when a motion for President’s Rule was put forward in Rajya Sabha for the state in February 1994, Also read | India: Union Minister Amit Shah directs security forces to ensure free movement in Manipur from March 8 “Even at the peak of the violence in August 1993, it was a Minister of State for Home Rajesh Pilot, who addressed the Parliament,” she said. “… I hope Congress doesn’t speak about Manipur as who is going and who is not.” (With inputs from agencies)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announces $57mn corpus for Manipur

Picture this! As soon as the plane lands, passengers start standing up to take out their luggage from overhead bins even before the aircraft comes to a complete halt. This is a common scene on most flights, especially in India. The topic has long become a subject of mockery as others don't seem to understand the hurry.&nbsp;
US filmmaker and reporter Adam Ellick is equally amused by it. After witnessing Indian passengers do the same several times, he shared a video clip from inside a flight he recently undertook to India.
With the description "Classic landing in India", the clip shows passengers ignoring multiple requests by the crew to wait till the seat belt signs go off.&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/spaceplane-secretly-launched-by-spacex-returns-after-434-days-8833742" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Spaceplane secretly launched by SpaceX returns after 434 days. What did it do?</a>
First, a female crew member asks passengers to return to their seats, but the plea seems to be falling on deaf ears as several passengers continue to pull out their luggage from the overhead bin.
Then a male staff member, described as a "male magic voice" in the video does the same, and surprisingly everyone listens.
Social media users were quick to identify the irony in it.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHASfDSswNK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Adam Ellick (@adamellick)</a>
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After the umpteenth request, they go back to their seats.
<h2>'Not only in India, US, Canada too,' people tell Ellick&nbsp;</h2>
Ellick's video has invited mixed responses from social media users, some of whom are particularly angry with him labelling it "a Classic landing in India", thus attacking only Indians.&nbsp;
A user wrote, "You haven&rsquo;t been to Germany then. It has nothing to do with race. Even Italians do. Indian society is very competitive&hellip; Coming from NYC, you should understand it better."
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/woman-strips-naked-on-plane-parades-down-the-aisle-demanding-to-get-off-8829935" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Woman strips naked on plane, parades down the aisle demanding to get off</a>
Another wrote, &ldquo;Literally happens in Canada and US too."
Another comment read, "Have been to the US 13 times and have always found Americans doing the same atleast 8 to 10 times so please let's not generalise a single incident."
However, most people are annoyed by the practice and want the authorities to take some strict steps.
A user wrote, "Need to be fined on being identified. We are fond of learning through experiments. And this time such experiments should prove costly."
One of them joked, "The pilot should apply the brakes for a millisecond and then see the pileup in the aisles."

Passengers standing up to get their bags from overhead bins is a common sight on planes. An American filmmaker has mocked Indians for it, angering quite a few. India News Trending

Picture this! As soon as the plane lands, passengers start standing up to take out their luggage from overhead bins even before the aircraft comes to a complete halt. This is a common scene on most flights, especially in India. The topic has long become a subject of mockery as others don't seem to understand the hurry. US filmmaker and reporter Adam Ellick is equally amused by it. After witnessing Indian passengers do the same several times, he shared a video clip from inside a flight he recently undertook to India. With the description "Classic landing in India", the clip shows passengers ignoring multiple requests by the crew to wait till the seat belt signs go off. Also Read: Spaceplane secretly launched by SpaceX returns after 434 days. What did it do? First, a female crew member asks passengers to return to their seats, but the plea seems to be falling on deaf ears as several passengers continue to pull out their luggage from the overhead bin. Then a male staff member, described as a "male magic voice" in the video does the same, and surprisingly everyone listens. Social media users were quick to identify the irony in it. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Adam Ellick (@adamellick) After the umpteenth request, they go back to their seats. 'Not only in India, US, Canada too,' people tell Ellick Ellick's video has invited mixed responses from social media users, some of whom are particularly angry with him labelling it "a Classic landing in India", thus attacking only Indians. A user wrote, "You haven’t been to Germany then. It has nothing to do with race. Even Italians do. Indian society is very competitive… Coming from NYC, you should understand it better." Also Read: Woman strips naked on plane, parades down the aisle demanding to get off Another wrote, “Literally happens in Canada and US too." Another comment read, "Have been to the US 13 times and have always found Americans doing the same atleast 8 to 10 times so please let's not generalise a single incident." However, most people are annoyed by the practice and want the authorities to take some strict steps. A user wrote, "Need to be fined on being identified. We are fond of learning through experiments. And this time such experiments should prove costly." One of them joked, "The pilot should apply the brakes for a millisecond and then see the pileup in the aisles."

American mocks Indians rushing to fetch bags in moving flights. People say, 'Canada and US too'

India saw a seven per cent decline in PM2.5 levels in 2024, but six of the world's ten most polluted cities were still in the country, according to the IQAir 2024 World Air Quality Report.
India's annual PM2.5 average fell to 50.6 ug/m3 from 54.4 ug/m3 in 2023, yet it remained the fifth most polluted country globally.
New Delhi continued to record extreme pollution, with an annual PM2.5 average of 91.6 ug/ m3 in 2024, almost unchanged from 92.7 ug/m3 in 2023.
Severe pollution episodes persisted, especially in northern states, with Baddi in Himachal Pradesh recording a January PM2.5 average of 165 ug/m3 (2024).
October saw air quality worsen in Manipur, while November witnessed extreme pollution in Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, mainly due to stubble burning, which contributed 60 per cent of PM2.5 levels during peak periods.
"Air pollution remains a significant health burden in India, reducing life expectancy by an estimated 5.2 years. Severe pollution episodes persisted in 2024, particularly in northern states," the report stated.
The report found that 35 per cent of Indian cities recorded PM2.5 levels, exceeding WHO guidelines by over ten times. The major sources of pollution include vehicular emissions, industrial discharges, construction dust, and crop burning. While vehicular emissions remain a key driver in urban centers, stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana continues to push pollution levels to hazardous levels each winter.
"Seasonal agricultural practices, particularly the burning of crop residues in states like Punjab and Haryana, further deteriorate air quality during winter months. Industrial emissions and construction activities also contribute significantly to pollution levels," the report mentioned.Despite governmental measures, such as the National Clean Air Programme aiming to reduce pollution levels, challenges persist due to inconsistent policy implementation and inadequate infrastructure, the report noted.
In October 2024, the Supreme Court of India reaffirmed that breathing clean air is a fundamental right, ordering Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to take stronger measures against pollution. However, in a November hearing, the Court sharply criticised Delhi officials for "serious lapses" in implementing the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), a multi-stage strategy for reducing pollution on hazardous air quality days.
The IQAir report warned that air pollution remains the greatest environmental threat to human health, with 99 per cent of the global population living in areas that fail to meet WHO air quality standards.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 8.1 million deaths in 2021 were linked to air pollution, with 58 per cent attributed to PM2.5 exposure. The United Nations has declared clean air a universal human right, highlighting the urgent need for stronger policies and enforcement to tackle India's air pollution crisis.&nbsp;
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Explore India's slight air quality improvement in 2024, even as six cities remain among the world's most polluted. Discover the ongoing challenges and pollution sources.

India saw a seven per cent decline in PM2.5 levels in 2024, but six of the world's ten most polluted cities were still in the country, according to the IQAir 2024 World Air Quality Report. India's annual PM2.5 average fell to 50.6 ug/m3 from 54.4 ug/m3 in 2023, yet it remained the fifth most polluted country globally. New Delhi continued to record extreme pollution, with an annual PM2.5 average of 91.6 ug/ m3 in 2024, almost unchanged from 92.7 ug/m3 in 2023. Severe pollution episodes persisted, especially in northern states, with Baddi in Himachal Pradesh recording a January PM2.5 average of 165 ug/m3 (2024). October saw air quality worsen in Manipur, while November witnessed extreme pollution in Delhi, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh, mainly due to stubble burning, which contributed 60 per cent of PM2.5 levels during peak periods. "Air pollution remains a significant health burden in India, reducing life expectancy by an estimated 5.2 years. Severe pollution episodes persisted in 2024, particularly in northern states," the report stated. The report found that 35 per cent of Indian cities recorded PM2.5 levels, exceeding WHO guidelines by over ten times. The major sources of pollution include vehicular emissions, industrial discharges, construction dust, and crop burning. While vehicular emissions remain a key driver in urban centers, stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana continues to push pollution levels to hazardous levels each winter. "Seasonal agricultural practices, particularly the burning of crop residues in states like Punjab and Haryana, further deteriorate air quality during winter months. Industrial emissions and construction activities also contribute significantly to pollution levels," the report mentioned.Despite governmental measures, such as the National Clean Air Programme aiming to reduce pollution levels, challenges persist due to inconsistent policy implementation and inadequate infrastructure, the report noted. In October 2024, the Supreme Court of India reaffirmed that breathing clean air is a fundamental right, ordering Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to take stronger measures against pollution. However, in a November hearing, the Court sharply criticised Delhi officials for "serious lapses" in implementing the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), a multi-stage strategy for reducing pollution on hazardous air quality days. The IQAir report warned that air pollution remains the greatest environmental threat to human health, with 99 per cent of the global population living in areas that fail to meet WHO air quality standards. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 8.1 million deaths in 2021 were linked to air pollution, with 58 per cent attributed to PM2.5 exposure. The United Nations has declared clean air a universal human right, highlighting the urgent need for stronger policies and enforcement to tackle India's air pollution crisis. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

India's air quality improves slightly in 2024, yet six cities remain among world's worst polluted

The Delhi Police authorities have stepped up security at over 100 locations across the national capital ahead of the Holi festival and Ramzan&rsquo;s Friday prayers on March 14, an official said on Monday (Mar 10).
This year, the Hindu festival of Holi is coinciding with the Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramzan, which is observed by Muslims all across the world.
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/holi-comes-once-a-year-friday-namaz-52-times-up-cop-stirs-row-says-if-any-muslim-8830254">'Holi comes once a year, Friday namaz 52 times,' UP cop stirs row, says if any Muslim...</a>
&ldquo;No one will be allowed to breach law and order situation for the upcoming Holi and Friday prayers,&rdquo; a senior police officer said.
The officer added that they have identified over 100 locations in the national capital where additional police personnel will be deployed along with the paramilitary forces.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/kashmir-fashion-show-row-designers-shivan-narresh-apologise-after-backlash-over-show-during-ramzan-8841662">Kashmir fashion show row: Designers Shivan &amp; Narresh apologise after backlash over show during Ramzan</a>
<h2>Additional personnel in vulnerable locations</h2>
According to the ANI report, the police sources suspect some antisocial elements may attempt to create unrest amid the celebrations. Consequently, additional police personnel will be deployed in vulnerable areas.
&ldquo;We have identified Bhajanpura, Dilshad Garden, Jagatpuri, Khajuri Khas, Jafrabad, Jahangirpuri, Azadpur, Seelampur, Okhla, Chand Bagh, Khajuri, Mustafabad, Shiv Vihar, Jafrabad, Maujpur, Brahmpuri, Trilokpuri and Jamia Nagar among the areas identified as sensitive,&rdquo; a source said, as per ANI.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/health-and-wellness/can-people-with-thyroid-disorders-fast-during-ramzan-expert-answers-8830428">Can people with thyroid disorders fast during Ramzan? Expert answers</a>
Ahead of the coinciding festivals, senior police officials will also conduct meetings with the local peace committees to discourage the spread of rumours and maintain communal harmony.
<h2>Extra surveillance, strict action</h2>
The police said that strict action will be taken against those who try to incite communal or religious tensions during the occasion. The police will also use drones for surveillance.
Officers in plain clothes will also be deployed for additional monitoring to identify any suspicious activities and ensure timely intervention, said another official.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/karnataka-police-arrests-third-accused-in-hampi-rape-case-8841108">Karnataka Police arrests third accused in Hampi gang rape case</a>
&ldquo;Delhi Police will take strict action against those attempting to disrupt peace. Special attention will be given to college and hostel areas, where incidents of water balloons and colour-throwing in public spaces have been reported in previous years. If any hooliganism causes distress to public, police intervention will follow immediately,&rdquo; he added.
(With inputs from agencies)

India news | This year, the Hindu festival of Holi is coinciding with the Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramzan, which is observed by Muslims all across the world.

The Delhi Police authorities have stepped up security at over 100 locations across the national capital ahead of the Holi festival and Ramzan’s Friday prayers on March 14, an official said on Monday (Mar 10). This year, the Hindu festival of Holi is coinciding with the Friday prayers during the holy month of Ramzan, which is observed by Muslims all across the world. Also read | 'Holi comes once a year, Friday namaz 52 times,' UP cop stirs row, says if any Muslim... “No one will be allowed to breach law and order situation for the upcoming Holi and Friday prayers,” a senior police officer said. The officer added that they have identified over 100 locations in the national capital where additional police personnel will be deployed along with the paramilitary forces. Also read | Kashmir fashion show row: Designers Shivan & Narresh apologise after backlash over show during Ramzan Additional personnel in vulnerable locations According to the ANI report, the police sources suspect some antisocial elements may attempt to create unrest amid the celebrations. Consequently, additional police personnel will be deployed in vulnerable areas. “We have identified Bhajanpura, Dilshad Garden, Jagatpuri, Khajuri Khas, Jafrabad, Jahangirpuri, Azadpur, Seelampur, Okhla, Chand Bagh, Khajuri, Mustafabad, Shiv Vihar, Jafrabad, Maujpur, Brahmpuri, Trilokpuri and Jamia Nagar among the areas identified as sensitive,” a source said, as per ANI. Also read | Can people with thyroid disorders fast during Ramzan? Expert answers Ahead of the coinciding festivals, senior police officials will also conduct meetings with the local peace committees to discourage the spread of rumours and maintain communal harmony. Extra surveillance, strict action The police said that strict action will be taken against those who try to incite communal or religious tensions during the occasion. The police will also use drones for surveillance. Officers in plain clothes will also be deployed for additional monitoring to identify any suspicious activities and ensure timely intervention, said another official. Also read | Karnataka Police arrests third accused in Hampi gang rape case “Delhi Police will take strict action against those attempting to disrupt peace. Special attention will be given to college and hostel areas, where incidents of water balloons and colour-throwing in public spaces have been reported in previous years. If any hooliganism causes distress to public, police intervention will follow immediately,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Delhi Police beef up security ahead of Holi, Ramzan Friday prayers

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Monday said she will visit India as part a &ldquo;multi-nation&rdquo; trip to the Indo-Pacific she is undertaking with the aim of building strong relationships and open lines of communication to achieve President Donald Trump's objectives of peace and freedom.
&ldquo;I am #WheelsUp on a multi-nation trip to the Indo-Pacific, a region I know very well having grown up as a child of the Pacific. I'll be going to Japan, Thailand, and India, with a brief stop in France enroute back to DC,&rdquo; Gabbard said in a post on X, with a photograph of her boarding an airplane.
&ldquo;Building strong relationships, understanding, and open lines of communication are vital to achieving President Trump's objectives of peace, freedom and prosperity,&rdquo; she said.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tulsi-gabbard-revokes-security-clearances-of-top-biden-administration-officials-8842468">Tulsi Gabbard revokes security clearances of top Biden administration officials</a>
Her first stop will be Honolulu where she will visit "IC partners and INDOPACOM" (US Indo-Pacific Command) leaders, and &ldquo;our troops engaging in training.&rdquo; This will be Gabbard's first trip to India after taking over as the eighth Senate-confirmed and first female combat veteran Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in the second Trump administration.
Gabbard had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in February during his visit to Washington DC for the bilateral meeting with Trump in the White House. She was the first US official to meet Modi at Blair House on February 12, shortly after the Indian leader arrived in the US capital.
&ldquo;Met USA's Director of National Intelligence, @TulsiGabbard in Washington DC. Congratulated her on her confirmation. Discussed various aspects of the India-USA friendship, of which she's always been a strong votary,&rdquo; Modi had said in a post on X.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

India news | World | Gabbard had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in February during his visit to Washington DC for the bilateral meeting with Trump in the White House.

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Monday said she will visit India as part a “multi-nation” trip to the Indo-Pacific she is undertaking with the aim of building strong relationships and open lines of communication to achieve President Donald Trump's objectives of peace and freedom. “I am #WheelsUp on a multi-nation trip to the Indo-Pacific, a region I know very well having grown up as a child of the Pacific. I'll be going to Japan, Thailand, and India, with a brief stop in France enroute back to DC,” Gabbard said in a post on X, with a photograph of her boarding an airplane. “Building strong relationships, understanding, and open lines of communication are vital to achieving President Trump's objectives of peace, freedom and prosperity,” she said. Also read | Tulsi Gabbard revokes security clearances of top Biden administration officials Her first stop will be Honolulu where she will visit "IC partners and INDOPACOM" (US Indo-Pacific Command) leaders, and “our troops engaging in training.” This will be Gabbard's first trip to India after taking over as the eighth Senate-confirmed and first female combat veteran Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in the second Trump administration. Gabbard had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in February during his visit to Washington DC for the bilateral meeting with Trump in the White House. She was the first US official to meet Modi at Blair House on February 12, shortly after the Indian leader arrived in the US capital. “Met USA's Director of National Intelligence, @TulsiGabbard in Washington DC. Congratulated her on her confirmation. Discussed various aspects of the India-USA friendship, of which she's always been a strong votary,” Modi had said in a post on X. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

US National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard to visit India

India, on Tuesday (Mar 11), denied US President Donald Trump's claims of committing to bring import duties "way down" on the American products, The Times of India reported.
The Centre told a Parliamentary panel on Tuesday that it had made &ldquo;no commitments to the US on the issue", stated the report.
The government &ldquo;has sought time until September to address the issue that is being repeatedly flagged by the American president,&rdquo; it said.
Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said that India and the US are collaboratively developing a bilateral trade agreement, as he appeared before the Parliamentary standing committee on external affairs, it further stated.&nbsp;
The agreement prioritises long-term cooperation over immediate tariff adjustments, aiming for mutual benefits.
The US president, on Friday, said that India agreed to slash tariffs on US goods as finally someone was "exposing them for what they have done".
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tariff-terrorism-baba-ramdev-accuses-trump-of-ripping-off-democracy-by-threatening-poor-nations-8837248">Also read: &lsquo;Tariff terrorism&rsquo;: Baba Ramdev condemns reciprocal tax proposed by Trump, accuses him of ripping off democracy</a>
&ldquo;India charges us massive tariffs. Massive. You can't even sell anything in India. They have agreed, by the way; they want to cut their tariffs way down now because somebody is finally exposing them for what they have done,&rdquo; ANI quoted Trump as saying.
<h2>&lsquo;Trump has made tariffs household name&rsquo;: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh</h2>
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that Trump has made tariffs a household name across the world.
&ldquo;Till the mid-1910s tariffs were the main source of revenue for the US government. In 1913, the US Constitution was amended to introduce a federal income tax for the first time,&rdquo; Ramesh said in a post on X.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m84gtwpg-cv9djoji-pd051wj1">
The Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is in Washington DC to talk trade with the Americans. Meanwhile President Trump says this. What has the Modi Government agreed to? Are the interests of Indian farmers and of Indian manufacturing being compromised? The PM must take Parliament&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/K625e8vGrM">pic.twitter.com/K625e8vGrM</a>
&mdash; Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/1898243555229155841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
&ldquo;One of the most influential economists who championed and campaigned for the federal income tax was Edwin Seligman, a Professor of Public Finance at Columbia University,&rdquo; he added.
(With inputs from agencies)

India news: The US president, on Friday, said that India agreed to slash tariffs on US goods as finally someone was "exposing them for what they have done".

India, on Tuesday (Mar 11), denied US President Donald Trump's claims of committing to bring import duties "way down" on the American products, The Times of India reported. The Centre told a Parliamentary panel on Tuesday that it had made “no commitments to the US on the issue", stated the report. The government “has sought time until September to address the issue that is being repeatedly flagged by the American president,” it said. Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said that India and the US are collaboratively developing a bilateral trade agreement, as he appeared before the Parliamentary standing committee on external affairs, it further stated. The agreement prioritises long-term cooperation over immediate tariff adjustments, aiming for mutual benefits. The US president, on Friday, said that India agreed to slash tariffs on US goods as finally someone was "exposing them for what they have done". Also read: ‘Tariff terrorism’: Baba Ramdev condemns reciprocal tax proposed by Trump, accuses him of ripping off democracy “India charges us massive tariffs. Massive. You can't even sell anything in India. They have agreed, by the way; they want to cut their tariffs way down now because somebody is finally exposing them for what they have done,” ANI quoted Trump as saying. ‘Trump has made tariffs household name’: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that Trump has made tariffs a household name across the world. “Till the mid-1910s tariffs were the main source of revenue for the US government. In 1913, the US Constitution was amended to introduce a federal income tax for the first time,” Ramesh said in a post on X. The Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is in Washington DC to talk trade with the Americans. Meanwhile President Trump says this. What has the Modi Government agreed to? Are the interests of Indian farmers and of Indian manufacturing being compromised? The PM must take Parliament… pic.twitter.com/K625e8vGrM — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) March 8, 2025 “One of the most influential economists who championed and campaigned for the federal income tax was Edwin Seligman, a Professor of Public Finance at Columbia University,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

‘No commitments’; India responds to Trump’s tariff cut claims

A girl from Kerala passed away on Sunday after she decided to survive only on a hot water diet for months. She was an 18-year-old teenager. Thalassery hospital doctors said that the teen was going through the eating disorder anorexia. When she died, she weighed just 24 kg.
The girl's official name was Sree Nanda. She was inspired by the online weight loss trend and was living on water. She had paused eating solid food for almost six months and was undergoing treatment for anorexia. A physician, Dr Nagesh Manohar Prabhu at&nbsp;Thalassery Co-operative Hospital, told ANI news agency that when the girl came to the hospital 12 days ago, she had to be admitted to the ICU.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kerala-mass-murder-youth-admits-to-killing-family-uses-hammer-to-shatter-skull-8758787">Kerala mass murder: Youth admits to killing family, using hammer to &lsquo;shatter&rsquo; skulls</a>
He added, &ldquo;She was hardly 24 kg, bedridden. Her sugar levels, sodium, and BP were low. She was on ventilator support. But her condition did not improve, and she succumbed.&rdquo;&nbsp;
<h2>Anorexia and water fasting</h2>
Anorexia is a kind of eating disorder, making people preoccupied with their weight and food eating habits. Influenced by this disorder, people can do anything to lose their weight, even when it becomes risky for their lives.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/life-fun/health-and-wellness/what-is-water-fasting-its-potential-health-benefits-and-dangers-1711459645235">What is Water Fasting? Its Potential Health Benefits and Dangers</a>
The girl was on a water fasting diet. Water fasting is an online myth. People think this helps in autophagy, when cells recycle and renew themselves, and thus regain their health. There is no scientific literature to prove this routine, which is not good for healthy weight loss.
<h2>Girl's family's remarks</h2>
The teen's family claims that her condition had been stable for the last five to six months and she ate nothing. She used to hide food from her family and ignore eating it; she decided only to drink water.&nbsp;
When she started becoming frail, her family took her to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital where doctors advised her family to get a psychiatric consultation for her.
Two months before her death, she was taken to the hospital for her weak condition. When she was admitted to the hospital, her blood sugar level had dropped; she had breathing problems and was admitted to the ICU.
(With inputs from agencies)

India news | Trending | A Kerala teenager girl, namely Sree Nanda, died on Sunday. She was inspired by the online weight loss trend and was living on water.

A girl from Kerala passed away on Sunday after she decided to survive only on a hot water diet for months. She was an 18-year-old teenager. Thalassery hospital doctors said that the teen was going through the eating disorder anorexia. When she died, she weighed just 24 kg. The girl's official name was Sree Nanda. She was inspired by the online weight loss trend and was living on water. She had paused eating solid food for almost six months and was undergoing treatment for anorexia. A physician, Dr Nagesh Manohar Prabhu at Thalassery Co-operative Hospital, told ANI news agency that when the girl came to the hospital 12 days ago, she had to be admitted to the ICU. Also read | Kerala mass murder: Youth admits to killing family, using hammer to ‘shatter’ skulls He added, “She was hardly 24 kg, bedridden. Her sugar levels, sodium, and BP were low. She was on ventilator support. But her condition did not improve, and she succumbed.” Anorexia and water fasting Anorexia is a kind of eating disorder, making people preoccupied with their weight and food eating habits. Influenced by this disorder, people can do anything to lose their weight, even when it becomes risky for their lives. Also read | What is Water Fasting? Its Potential Health Benefits and Dangers The girl was on a water fasting diet. Water fasting is an online myth. People think this helps in autophagy, when cells recycle and renew themselves, and thus regain their health. There is no scientific literature to prove this routine, which is not good for healthy weight loss. Girl's family's remarks The teen's family claims that her condition had been stable for the last five to six months and she ate nothing. She used to hide food from her family and ignore eating it; she decided only to drink water. When she started becoming frail, her family took her to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital where doctors advised her family to get a psychiatric consultation for her. Two months before her death, she was taken to the hospital for her weak condition. When she was admitted to the hospital, her blood sugar level had dropped; she had breathing problems and was admitted to the ICU. (With inputs from agencies)

‘She was hardly 24 kg...’: Kerala teen passes away after excessive hot water diet

Former Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Kumar Modi on Tuesday (Mar 11) denied the claims of extradition notice against him, calling it &ldquo;fake news&rdquo;.
&ldquo;What&rsquo;s this so called extradition notice on me the media keeps falsely claiming. I have been out of India for 15 years travelling globally to all the countries that India has an extradition treaty with. Would I not know if there was an extradition notice out there firstly. Secondly would I risk going to such countries ? Thirdly if I went would not those countries take action.,&rdquo; he said in an X post.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/vanuatu-cancels-passport-of-indian-fugutive-ipl-founder-lalit-modi-8838261">Vanuatu cancels passport of Indian fugitive Lalit Modi</a>
&ldquo;This is called #fakenews. Keep shouting in your false news channels and media what u like as u know I alone can garner u more viewership. Go for it,&rdquo; he added.
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What&rsquo;s this so called extradition notice on me the media keeps falsely claiming. I have been out of India for 15 years travelling globally to all the countries that India has an extradition treaty with. Would I not know if there was an extradition notice out there firstly.&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/ubhCX3BR5w">pic.twitter.com/ubhCX3BR5w</a>
&mdash; Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) <a href="https://twitter.com/LalitKModi/status/1899344718506443091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
Modi also posted a copy of a March 2017 report by Interpol that had denied India&rsquo;s request for issuing a Red Corner notice against him.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-pm-modi-greeted-with-bhojpuri-folk-song-in-mauritius-8842905">Indian PM Modi greeted with Bhojpuri folk song in Mauritius</a>
<h2>Vanuatu&rsquo;s PM cancels Lalit Modi&rsquo;s passport</h2>
Earlier on Monday (Mar 10), he shared pictures of him in Vanuatu after the island country&rsquo;s prime minister ordered his passport to be cancelled.
Modi shared the pictures on X with the caption, &ldquo;Vanuatu a beautiful country. You must put on your bucket list. Away from all the pollution and noise. Truly heavenly country.&rdquo;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m84ehv2g-iy29om7t-msknk2wn">
Vanuatu a beautiful country. You must put on your bucket list. Away from all the pollution and noise. Truly heavenly country. 🏝️🇻🇺🐋🐳🐠🐟🐬🦀🦞🦑🐙🪼🐬<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/vanuatu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#vanuatu</a> <a href="https://t.co/GTBZmHnkuL">pic.twitter.com/GTBZmHnkuL</a>
&mdash; Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) <a href="https://twitter.com/LalitKModi/status/1899068783307698424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/was-sudiksha-konanki-kidnapped-heres-what-her-family-says-8842147">Sudiksha Konanki: Was Indian-origin US student kidnapped? Here's what her family says</a>
Last week on Friday (Mar 7), he filed an application to surrender his Indian passport in the High Commission of India, London. He left India in 2010 and is known to have been living in London. Reportedly, he acquired the citizenship of the South Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu.
In an official media statement released by his office, Vanuatu&rsquo;s Prime Minister Jotham Napat said, &ldquo;I have instructed the Citizenship Commission to cancel the Vanuatu passport issued to Lalit Modi following recent revelations in international media."
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-happened-to-sudiksha-konanki-indian-origin-us-student-missing-in-dominican-republic-8838031">Sudiksha Konanki: Indian-origin US student reportedly drowned in Dominican Republic. What happened?</a>
&ldquo;While all standard background checks, including Interpol screenings, conducted during his application showed no criminal convictions, I have been made aware in the past 24 hours that Interpol twice rejected Indian authorities' requests to issue an alert notice on Lalit Modi due to lack of substantive judicial evidence,&rdquo; he said in the statement.
(With inputs from agencies)

India news | Trending | Last week on Friday (Mar 7), Lalit Modi filed an application to surrender his Indian passport in the High Commission of India, London. He left India in 2010 and is known to have been living in London.

Former Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Kumar Modi on Tuesday (Mar 11) denied the claims of extradition notice against him, calling it “fake news”. “What’s this so called extradition notice on me the media keeps falsely claiming. I have been out of India for 15 years travelling globally to all the countries that India has an extradition treaty with. Would I not know if there was an extradition notice out there firstly. Secondly would I risk going to such countries ? Thirdly if I went would not those countries take action.,” he said in an X post. Also read | Vanuatu cancels passport of Indian fugitive Lalit Modi “This is called #fakenews. Keep shouting in your false news channels and media what u like as u know I alone can garner u more viewership. Go for it,” he added. What’s this so called extradition notice on me the media keeps falsely claiming. I have been out of India for 15 years travelling globally to all the countries that India has an extradition treaty with. Would I not know if there was an extradition notice out there firstly.… pic.twitter.com/ubhCX3BR5w — Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) March 11, 2025 Modi also posted a copy of a March 2017 report by Interpol that had denied India’s request for issuing a Red Corner notice against him. Also read | Indian PM Modi greeted with Bhojpuri folk song in Mauritius Vanuatu’s PM cancels Lalit Modi’s passport Earlier on Monday (Mar 10), he shared pictures of him in Vanuatu after the island country’s prime minister ordered his passport to be cancelled. Modi shared the pictures on X with the caption, “Vanuatu a beautiful country. You must put on your bucket list. Away from all the pollution and noise. Truly heavenly country.” Vanuatu a beautiful country. You must put on your bucket list. Away from all the pollution and noise. Truly heavenly country. 🏝️🇻🇺🐋🐳🐠🐟🐬🦀🦞🦑🐙🪼🐬#vanuatu pic.twitter.com/GTBZmHnkuL — Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) March 10, 2025 Also read | Sudiksha Konanki: Was Indian-origin US student kidnapped? Here's what her family says Last week on Friday (Mar 7), he filed an application to surrender his Indian passport in the High Commission of India, London. He left India in 2010 and is known to have been living in London. Reportedly, he acquired the citizenship of the South Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu. In an official media statement released by his office, Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat said, “I have instructed the Citizenship Commission to cancel the Vanuatu passport issued to Lalit Modi following recent revelations in international media." Also read | Sudiksha Konanki: Indian-origin US student reportedly drowned in Dominican Republic. What happened? “While all standard background checks, including Interpol screenings, conducted during his application showed no criminal convictions, I have been made aware in the past 24 hours that Interpol twice rejected Indian authorities' requests to issue an alert notice on Lalit Modi due to lack of substantive judicial evidence,” he said in the statement. (With inputs from agencies)

Lalit Modi denies ‘false’ extradition claims after Vanuatu’s PM cancels his passport

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has initiated a workforce reduction, leading to the closure of several key offices, including the Office of the Chief Scientist and the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy.
The decision, outlined in an internal email viewed by ANI, aligns with an executive order issued by President Donald Trump aimed at streamlining federal agencies. The agency's restructuring efforts are being carried out in coordination with the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
In an email sent to NASA employees, acting administrator Janet Petro acknowledged the challenging nature of these changes but described them as necessary to align with administration priorities while maintaining operational efficiency.
She noted that all federal agencies had been directed to submit plans for reductions in force (RIF) and restructuring, with NASA actively working alongside OPM to ensure compliance. While recognising the difficulties ahead, Petro emphasised that the process would be approached thoughtfully, balancing statutory responsibilities with the goal of delivering an effective and efficient agency for the American public.
As part of this phased reduction, NASA officially began implementing workforce adjustments today, ahead of the agency's broader reorganisation plan. The changes include the closure of the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy, the Office of the Chief Scientist, and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility branch within the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity. These offices have played critical roles in shaping NASA's policies and scientific initiatives, and their elimination marks a significant shift in the agency's structure.
In the email, Petro acknowledged the contributions of the employees impacted by these closures, recognising their role in advancing NASA's goals in recent years. She expressed gratitude for their dedication and assured them that the agency remains committed to providing support during the transition.
While details of the reorganisation are still being finalised, she reiterated NASA's intention to maintain transparency throughout the process. Employees affected by the reductions have been encouraged to utilise available resources, including the Employee Assistance Program, as they navigate the changes.
In her message, Petro recognised the uncertainty such a transition may bring, urging employees to remain resilient and support one another.
She reaffirmed NASA's dedication to its core mission and its workforce, emphasising that despite the challenges, the agency's strength lies in its shared commitment to exploration and innovation.&nbsp;
<div class="post-content">
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.
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India News: NASA has initiated a workforce reduction, leading to the closure of several key offices, including the Office of the Chief Scientist and the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has initiated a workforce reduction, leading to the closure of several key offices, including the Office of the Chief Scientist and the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy. The decision, outlined in an internal email viewed by ANI, aligns with an executive order issued by President Donald Trump aimed at streamlining federal agencies. The agency's restructuring efforts are being carried out in coordination with the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). In an email sent to NASA employees, acting administrator Janet Petro acknowledged the challenging nature of these changes but described them as necessary to align with administration priorities while maintaining operational efficiency. She noted that all federal agencies had been directed to submit plans for reductions in force (RIF) and restructuring, with NASA actively working alongside OPM to ensure compliance. While recognising the difficulties ahead, Petro emphasised that the process would be approached thoughtfully, balancing statutory responsibilities with the goal of delivering an effective and efficient agency for the American public. As part of this phased reduction, NASA officially began implementing workforce adjustments today, ahead of the agency's broader reorganisation plan. The changes include the closure of the Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy, the Office of the Chief Scientist, and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility branch within the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity. These offices have played critical roles in shaping NASA's policies and scientific initiatives, and their elimination marks a significant shift in the agency's structure. In the email, Petro acknowledged the contributions of the employees impacted by these closures, recognising their role in advancing NASA's goals in recent years. She expressed gratitude for their dedication and assured them that the agency remains committed to providing support during the transition. While details of the reorganisation are still being finalised, she reiterated NASA's intention to maintain transparency throughout the process. Employees affected by the reductions have been encouraged to utilise available resources, including the Employee Assistance Program, as they navigate the changes. In her message, Petro recognised the uncertainty such a transition may bring, urging employees to remain resilient and support one another. She reaffirmed NASA's dedication to its core mission and its workforce, emphasising that despite the challenges, the agency's strength lies in its shared commitment to exploration and innovation. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

NASA initiates workforce reduction, closes several key offices after Trump’s executive order

Congress legislators on Tuesday staged a protest with plastic snakes in the Madhya Pradesh assembly complex, accusing the BJP-led state government of sitting on government job vacancies like a serpent.
Congress MLAs, led by Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar, gathered in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue with plastic snakes in baskets and raised slogans, accusing the state government of failing to provide jobs to the youth of the state.
Singhar claimed youngsters were running from pillar to post for jobs, while the government has stopped recruitment in the police, education, irrigation, and health departments.
"The BJP government is biting the unemployed youth of the state like a snake. This government is sitting like a serpent on job vacancies. Hence, we held this symbolic protest to awaken the government on the issue of unemployment," he said.
The Congress leader claimed that more than 70,000 posts are lying vacant in the education department alone, but the government has not paid attention.
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Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.
</div>

INDIA NEWS | Congress legislators on Tuesday staged a protest with plastic snakes in the Madhya Pradesh assembly complex, accusing the BJP-led state government of sitting on government job vacancies like a serpent.

Congress legislators on Tuesday staged a protest with plastic snakes in the Madhya Pradesh assembly complex, accusing the BJP-led state government of sitting on government job vacancies like a serpent. Congress MLAs, led by Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar, gathered in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue with plastic snakes in baskets and raised slogans, accusing the state government of failing to provide jobs to the youth of the state. Singhar claimed youngsters were running from pillar to post for jobs, while the government has stopped recruitment in the police, education, irrigation, and health departments. "The BJP government is biting the unemployed youth of the state like a snake. This government is sitting like a serpent on job vacancies. Hence, we held this symbolic protest to awaken the government on the issue of unemployment," he said. The Congress leader claimed that more than 70,000 posts are lying vacant in the education department alone, but the government has not paid attention. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

‘Government sitting like a serpent’: Congress MLAs protest against BJP with plastic snakes

India has emerged as the world's second-largest importer of major arms in the period from 2020 to 2024, with war-torn Ukraine bagging the first spot.
Latest data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows that India imported 8.3 per cent of all major arms exports in the period.
Meanwhile, Ukraine imported 8.8 per cent of all major arms exports in 2020-24 period, as its imports increased nearly 100 times over (+9627 per cent) compared to 2015&ndash;19.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/werewolf-syndrome-indian-boy-secures-guinness-world-record-for-hairiest-face-8842441">&lsquo;Werewolf Syndrome&rsquo;: Indian boy secures Guinness World Record for 'hairiest face'</a>
<h2>India&rsquo;s arms imports</h2>
India&rsquo;s large arms imports, as per the SIPRI report, were largely driven by tensions with its neighbours Pakistan and China.
Even though between 2020 and 2024 India emerged as the second-largest arms importer globally, it actually decreased its imports by 9.3 per cent from 2015 to 2019. This drop, as per the report, &ldquo;At least partly the result of India&rsquo;s increasing ability to design and produce its own weapons, making it less reliant on imports.&rdquo;
For both Russia and France, India was the biggest export destination, even though imports from Moscow have reduced significantly from 72 per cent in 2015-19 to 55 per cent during 2020-24.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/was-sudiksha-konanki-kidnapped-heres-what-her-family-says-8842147">Sudiksha Konanki: Was Indian-origin US student kidnapped? Here's what her family says</a>
Between 2020-24, the largest share of India&rsquo;s arms imports&mdash;36 per cent&mdash;came from Russia.&nbsp;
&ldquo;India is shifting its arms supply relations towards Western suppliers, most notably France, Israel, and the USA. Despite recent public declarations from the two sides that relations between India and Russia remain friendly, the shift is also visible in India&rsquo;s new and planned orders for major arms, most of which will come from Western suppliers,&rdquo; notes the report.
(With inputs from agencies)
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India News | World: Uncover the SIPRI report's findings on how India's defence strategies and arms imports are shaped by its complex relationships with Pakistan and China.

India has emerged as the world's second-largest importer of major arms in the period from 2020 to 2024, with war-torn Ukraine bagging the first spot. Latest data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows that India imported 8.3 per cent of all major arms exports in the period. Meanwhile, Ukraine imported 8.8 per cent of all major arms exports in 2020-24 period, as its imports increased nearly 100 times over (+9627 per cent) compared to 2015–19. Also read | ‘Werewolf Syndrome’: Indian boy secures Guinness World Record for 'hairiest face' India’s arms imports India’s large arms imports, as per the SIPRI report, were largely driven by tensions with its neighbours Pakistan and China. Even though between 2020 and 2024 India emerged as the second-largest arms importer globally, it actually decreased its imports by 9.3 per cent from 2015 to 2019. This drop, as per the report, “At least partly the result of India’s increasing ability to design and produce its own weapons, making it less reliant on imports.” For both Russia and France, India was the biggest export destination, even though imports from Moscow have reduced significantly from 72 per cent in 2015-19 to 55 per cent during 2020-24. Also read | Sudiksha Konanki: Was Indian-origin US student kidnapped? Here's what her family says Between 2020-24, the largest share of India’s arms imports—36 per cent—came from Russia. “India is shifting its arms supply relations towards Western suppliers, most notably France, Israel, and the USA. Despite recent public declarations from the two sides that relations between India and Russia remain friendly, the shift is also visible in India’s new and planned orders for major arms, most of which will come from Western suppliers,” notes the report. (With inputs from agencies)

India emerges as world’s second-largest arms importer after war-torn Ukraine, SIPRI data reveals

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