Month: March 2025

Jama Masjid Sadar Chief and Shahi Mosque Committee head, Zafar Ali, was brought to Chandausi Court on Sunday in connection with the November 24 Sambhal violence.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Sambhal Police took him into custody earlier today for questioning regarding the incident. He was also taken for a medical examination in Chandausi.

In a statement to the media, Zafar categorically denied any involvement in inciting violence, emphasising, “I did not incite violence.”

Following his detention, a group of his supporters staged a protest demanding his immediate release. The police have yet to issue an official statement regarding Zafar Ali’s role in the case.

Earlier today, Zafar Ali and his son were summoned to the Sambhal Police Station for questioning. Security has been tightened outside the Chandausi Court, where both are to be presented as part of the legal proceedings in the case.

Circle Officer Anuj Chaudhary said, “There are no new arrangements made… Forces have been deployed to maintain peace… There is peace in the area…”

The violence had resulted in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to several others, including officials and locals.

As local Muslims gathered outside the mosque and tensions escalated, police resorted to force and opened fire on the protesters, killing at least four men and several injured, including officials and locals.

The Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) had earlier filed a chargesheet of over 4,000 pages in six of the 12 cases in the November 24 Sambhal violence that erupted during the ASI’s examination of the Mughal-era mosque.

The violence resulted in 12 FIRs and 80 arrests for allegedly pelting stones at police from rooftops.

According to the charge sheet, there were 159 total accused in the case. It also mentioned that the weapons recovered from the site of violence and other places were manufactured in the United Kingdom, USA, Germany, and Czechoslovakia.

Since November last year, no further incidents of violence have been reported in the area. During Holi celebrations, the police maintained tight security, conducting flag marches to ensure peace. To protect the mosque from any colours or vandalism, a tarpaulin sheet was also placed over the Jama Masjid at that time. (ANI)

The Budget session of the Eighth Delhi Legislative Assembly will commence on Monday, at 11:00 AM, and the first budget of the newly elected Delhi government will be presented a day later.

Delhi Legislative Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta said that the session will commence tomorrow in the Assembly Hall, Old Secretariat in the national capital.

“Tomorrow is the first day of the Budget Session. The budget will be presented on March 25. The CAG report will also be tabled during the budget session,” Vijender Gupta told media here on Sunday.

The Budget Session is a crucial period in the legislative calendar, during which key financial and policy matters will be discussed and decided upon. The session is tentatively scheduled to run from March 24 to March 28, 2025, with provisions for extension if required.

Notably, in the Budget session, the CAG report on the functioning of DTC will be tabled in the House, the Delhi Assembly Secretariat said in a statement. This would be third CAG report which will be tabled on Monday in the House

The key highlights of the session will include the presentation of the annual budget on March 25, which will outline the government’s financial priorities and development agenda for the year.

It will hold a general discussion on the budget, wherein lawmakers will engage in a detailed discussion on the budget on March 26 (Wednesday) to analyze financial allocations and policy initiatives.

It will also include consideration and passing of the budget, where the assembly will deliberate and vote on the proposed budget on March 27 (Thursday).

Additionally, March 28 (Friday) has been designated for private members’ business, allowing legislators to introduce and debate resolutions and bills.

The Assembly sittings will commence daily at 11:00 AM, with a lunch break from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM.

The Question Hour, an essential platform for legislative scrutiny and accountability, will be held on March 24, 26, 27, and 28, 2025. Ministers will respond to queries related to various departments as per the allotted schedule.

Members wishing to raise matters of public importance under Rule-280 must submit their notices by 5:00 P.M. on the working day before the sitting.

The balloting process will determine the first ten notices for discussion each day. Private Members’ Resolutions will be taken up on March 28, 2025, with notices required 12 days in advance.

The Speaker has issued directions to ensure decorum and efficiency during the session.

“Members are advised to adhere to the rules for submitting questions, resolutions, and special mentions. Seating arrangements must be followed, and the quorum bell will ring at 10:55 A.M. each day,” the direction stated.

“It is also informed that for any further information and details, members are encouraged to refer to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business or contact the Legislative Assembly Secretariat,” it added. (ANI)

New Delhi’s towering Bhalswa landfill, standing over 62 meters tall, has long been a symbol of the city’s waste management struggles. Established in 1994 and declared overfilled in 2006, the site continues to receive fresh waste, worsening environmental and health challenges for the surrounding community.

In a significant step toward rehabilitation, a green initiative was launched this month. Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inaugurated a bamboo plantation drive at the landfill, with the vision of transforming the reclaimed land into a green zone.

With 200 bamboo plants planted so far, the officials plan to add 54,000 more in the coming months. Bamboo was chosen for its eco-friendly properties, producing 30 per cent more oxygen than most other plants and requiring minimal water. This makes it a sustainable choice for enhancing air quality and curbing pollution in the area.

Lallan Prasad, a caretaker at the Bhalswa landfill for the past 19 years, shared insights into the landfill’s daily operations.

“Every day, around 350 to 400 trucks bring waste here. Large trucks carry 10-12 tons, while smaller ones carry 3-5 tons. Over the years, I’ve seen about 50 percent of the waste reduced, and the enormous piles of garbage have gone down considerably,” he said.

For the residents living near the landfill, life remains difficult, as exposure to toxic air and hazardous waste has led to widespread health issues.

“People here suffer from many diseases, but they stay because they have no other option. They have to earn a living,” Prasad said.

He expressed hope that the newly formed Delhi government would address their concerns, noting that previous administrations had done little for their welfare.

While Prasad welcomed the bamboo plantation drive, he highlighted a major challenge — the toxic soil.

“The ground is contaminated, and growing anything here is difficult. But if the bamboo plants survive, it will provide much-needed shade and improve air quality,” he added.

Bamboo plantations can play a crucial role in managing landfills by stabilizing soil, absorbing excess moisture, and reducing erosion, which helps prevent landslides. Its deep root system can also filter contaminants from leachate, mitigating groundwater pollution.

Additionally, bamboo acts as a natural carbon sink, absorbing significant amounts of carbon dioxide from decomposing waste while improving air quality. Its ability to thrive in degraded soil makes it ideal for rehabilitating closed landfill sites, transforming them into green spaces. With its fast growth and environmental benefits, bamboo offers a sustainable solution for landfill management and ecological restoration.

The initiative marks a step toward environmental restoration, but the road ahead remains long. Residents and workers at Bhalswa hope that this effort will not only reduce pollution but also bring tangible improvements to their quality of life. (ANI)

A delegation of Supreme Court judges, which is on a visit in Manipur attended the duodecennial celebrations in Imphal on Sunday.

Supreme Court Judge Justice BR Gavai inaugurated the Secretariat of Chief Justice of High Court of Manipur and other Court buildings and projects.

At the event, the delegation of the judges met and interacted with the officials present.

On Saturday, a five-member Supreme Court Judges’ delegation, led by Justice BR Gavai, arrived in Imphal, Manipur. The delegation comprising Justices BR Gavai, Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, MM Sundresh, KV Viswanathan and N Kotishwar arrived in Manipur.

The delegation of Supreme Court Judges also visited a relief camp in Churachandpur, Manipur.

Justice BR Gavai, the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), on Saturday inaugurated legal services camps and medical camps across all districts of Manipur, as well as new legal aid clinics in Imphal East, Imphal West and Ukhrul districts.

After the inauguration, Justice Gavai said that the delegation was here for this event and would transform the legal aid for the benefit.

“For the principle of justice and also access to the health care is important. I along with the team assure you that we stand with you. It’s our responsibility to work together for the society. The whole nation will come together so that this problem will be sorted,” he said.

President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13 under Article 356 of the Constitution, five days after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh resigned from his post.

The violence in Manipur between the Hindu Meiteis and the tribal Kuki, who are Christians, erupted after a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3, 2023.

Violence had gripped the entire State and the Central government had to deploy paramilitary forces to bring the situation under control. (ANI)

Pop star Justin Bieber got candid with his fans about his struggles with authenticity and personal growth.

The 31-year-old Grammy winner took to his Instagram account on Saturday to share a video along with a note where he admitted that he “hates himself” when he feels himself start to “become inauthentic.”

In the video he posted, Bieber was seen jamming on a keyboard with fellow musicians, appearing happy and energetic.

“I think I hate myself sometimes when I feel myself start to become inauthentic. Then I remember we’re all being made to think we’re not enough, but I still hate when I change myself to please people,” read the caption of his post.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHgjHisJlLl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Earlier the same day, the ‘Believe’ singer shared another personal post in which he spoke about his desire to work on his “anger issues.”

He wrote, “I got anger issues too, but I wanna grow and not react so much. smh.”

Bieber also posted three pictures alongside the message. The first one showed him hiding his face under a hoodie. The second one was a childhood picture of himself.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DHgOd64Rqzi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

This isn’t the first time Bieber has shared his inner struggles.

On March 13, he spoke about his feelings of self-doubt and unworthiness. He wrote, “People told me my whole life ‘wow, Justin, you deserve that,’ but I personally have always felt unworthy. Like I was a fraud. Like when people told me I deserved something, it made me feel sneaky, like, damn, if only they knew my thoughts.”

“How judgmental I am, how selfish I really am, they wouldn’t be saying this. I say all this to say, if you feel sneaky, welcome to the club. I definitely feel unequipped and unqualified most days,” he continued. (ANI)

Two 17-year-olds, a boy and a girl were found hanging on a tree branch in the Hauz Khas areaunder the SJ Enclave Police Stationon Sunday, Delhi police officials said.

According to officials, a 35-year-old security guard working in the area called the police around 6:30 AM regarding the hanging of a boy and girl.

“At 06:31 AM, a PCR call was made by Baljit Singh, R/o Hauz Khas Village, Delhi, age 35 years, working as security guard in district park, Deer Park, Hauz Khas, Delhi, regarding a boy and a girl hanging on the branch of a tree,” read a statement from Delhi Police.

The police team, reaching the spot immediately found the two hanging. The police suspected death by suicide, however, further proceedings are underway.

“On receipt of the call, police staff immediately reached the spot and found that a boy age about 17 years, wearing a black T-shirt, and blue jeans and a girl is about 17 years, wearing a green dress hanged themselves with the common nylon rope on a branch of a tree,” read the statement.

“Someone said that an incident has happened, so I came here and saw this. If someone has done this to them they should be punished, so that this type of incident does not happen again. This is condemnable and scary, we people also come to this park, we are of age but sometimes people come in here and do things, so we are scared,” Ashok told ANI, a regular visitor of the park.

Another visitor, however, has claimed that it is not possible to die by suicide from the tree the two people were found on, “We asked the police, they said that it looks like a suicide, there was a rope kept there. The way they are saying, it doesn’t seem possible–suicide by hanging from this, one can see the shape of the tree.”

The crime team was called for an inspection and the bodies of the two have been shifted to the mortuary. (ANI)

Josh Hazlewood set the tone for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 opener with a masterful spell that put Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on the back foot. Leading RCB’s pace attack, he struck in the first and final overs, finishing with an impressive 2/22, as per ESPNcricinfo.

Beyond just taking wickets, removing Quinton de Kock early and Harshit Rana at the death, Hazlewood’s control over line and length was the key differentiator. He delivered 16 dot balls, maintained an economy of just 5.50, and emerged as the standout fast bowler on the night. His success came from disciplined bowling, sticking mostly to short and short-of-good-length deliveries while rarely pitching it up.

After the match, Hazlewood revealed that his decision to favour shorter lengths was influenced by the conditions. With the pitch under covers for nearly two days, he knew there would be moisture, which suited his style. His approach ensured that KKR struggled early, managing only nine runs in the first three overs.

“It was more based on pitch and conditions,” Hazlewood said in the post-match press conference, as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

“The full ball probably wasn’t gonna do as much unless you were searching for swing. I found that it was sort of sticking in the wicket a little and the bounce was quite good. I like bowling here at Eden Gardens. And yeah, we just sort of stuck to our lengths,” he added.

“I’ve bowled quite a lot to Quinton de Kock in all formats. He is a very dangerous player, so better to keep it simple and really tight. I know I went a little wide to him and he hit me for four. The plan was not trying to go too full or too short, really sticking to those hard lengths. If he makes something off that length for four or six, then that’s just a good shot. So yeah, sticking to my strengths, definitely,” he said.

“When it comes to Narine, when the wicket has got some good bounce in it, that’s helpful for the bowers. He’s very much a powerful powerplay batter, and he is always up to take on the bowling and score quickly. So to keep him quiet was very handy,” he noted.

Despite aggressive knocks from Ajinkya Rahane and Sunil Narine at the top, KKR failed to post a competitive total, finishing on 174. Hazlewood credited RCB’s well-coordinated bowling effort for restricting them, highlighting Krunal Pandya’s three-wicket burst and Suyash Sharma’s crucial dismissal of Andre Russell as turning points. KKR’s collapse in the final overs adding just 23 runs in the last four proved costly.

“We would have had to bowl a little bit differently at the end if we didn’t take those wickets through the middle,” Hazlewood said, as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

“But KP [Krunal] bowled beautifully through the middle. Luckily, I got to bowl to sort of the tail towards the end, but I think the hard lengths work best here most of the time,” he added.

“In our bowlers’ meetings, there’s typically someone in the room who has played a lot of cricket at those grounds. So [they] stand up in those moments and talk about their experiences on that ground and what works well for them. So it’s very much a discussion among the bowling group with the coaches, with specific planning for the grounds,” he noted.

Having missed the 2024 IPL season, Hazlewood returned to RCB this year as their most expensive auction pick at INR 12.50 crore (approximately USD 1.49 million). He noted that despite RCB’s four-match losing streak against KKR before this game, the team, featuring six new faces in the XI, wasn’t weighed down by past results. He also praised the 95-run opening partnership between Phil Salt and Virat Kohli, which set the foundation for RCB’s comfortable chase.

“It’s a positive influence – fresh people, fresh mindset, I think it’s big,” Hazlewood said, as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

“You mention the last four losses to KKR but I don’t think anyone in the room would have known that because we gave about six caps before the game started. That’s like a fresh start almost,” he added.

“It’s a new cycle in the IPL, but those fresh players – Salt being one of those – played outstandingly. Tonight, the opening partnership really set up the chase for us. It was not a huge score, but still a decent total, so to get us off to that start was crucial,” he noted.

Addressing concerns about his fitness following a calf injury, Hazlewood assured that bowling four T20 overs doesn’t put too much strain on his body. He expects to grow stronger as the tournament progresses.

“I feel like I got through the game very well. I know the intensity is through the roof, but it’s only four overs. I feel I’ll just keep building throughout the tournament and this is probably the freshest I’ve been in a long time. I’ve done a lot of work off the field to get back to this point, which was tough, but I think I am mentally and physically refreshed,” he said. (ANI)

Three people were killed and 15 were injured during a shooting at a park in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on Friday night (local time), CNN reported, citing local police.

Two 19-year-olds and one 16-year-old were killed in the shooting, which occurred around 10 pm (local time), according to a Facebook post from Las Cruces Police.

The victims’ identities remain unknown.

The people injured range in age from 16 to 36 years old, according to police.

No one has been arrested yet in connection with the shooting, but police are “actively following multiple leads,” read the post.

An altercation between two groups at an “unsanctioned car show” in Young Park escalated to gunfire, Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story said at a Saturday news conference.

He added that police have collected handgun-caliber casings from the scene. Story updated the number of people injured to 15, from an original count of 14 in the Facebook post.

Seven of the people injured have been sent from local hospitals to El Paso for further treatment, Las Cruces Fire Chief Michael Daniels said at the news conference. Four patients have been treated and released. The status of the other four patients is unknown, he said.

“This is a sad day for our community,” Las Cruces Mayor Eric Enriquez said at the news conference.

“I want to ask the community to gather together, to stand strong and united as we try to heal and face this tragic event that took place in our city,” he said.

In a Saturday Instagram post, Las Cruces City Councilor and Mayor Pro Tem Johana Bencomo described the shooting as “a heinous act of violence that will leave our city mourning.”

“My heart is broken for the victims and families impacted,” she wrote.

Las Cruces is located on the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert, around 41 miles north of the US-Mexico border. (ANI)

Actor Deepika Padukone recently took a trip down memory lane as she graced the Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2025 show during Paris Fashion Week earlier this month.

Louis Vuitton, on Saturday, took to its Instagram account on Saturday to share a video where the 39-year-old star, who made history as the first Indian to be signed as a global ambassador for the luxury fashion brand, can be seen revealing that she was quite fluent in French during her school days.

In the clip, Deepika said, “I was very good at French. I studied French in 11th and 12th grade, and I was really good.”

She even went on to flaunt her French-speaking skills, saying phrases like “Je m’appelle Deepika” (My name is Deepika) and “Le monde est a nous” (The world is ours). Correcting herself, she added, “It’s not ‘la,’ it’s ‘le!'”

While in Paris, Deepika didn’t just walk the Fashion Week red carpet but also indulged in fun activities. The video showed the ‘Chennai Express’ actress taking a scooter ride, enjoying the city like a true tourist.

Towards the end of her video, Deepika shared a couple of BTS moments from Paris Fashion Week, giving fans a glimpse into the excitement and chaos of the event.

Take a look

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHgKokQSV_M/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Deepika made heads turn with her fashionable look at the event. She wore a white oversized blazer, a matching hat, and black leggings paired with heels. Completing the look, she accessorized with black leather gloves, a scarf, and classic red lipstick, making her one of the best-dressed stars at the event.

On the work front, Deepika was last seen with husband Ranveer Singh in Rohit Shetty’s cop drama Singham Again, where Deepika played the fierce Shakti Shetty, aka Lady Singham. (ANI)

Bollywood star Salman Khan marked his presence at TB Mukt Bharat Awareness Cricket Match in Mumbai on Saturday evening.

In the visuals doing the rounds on the internet, Khan could be seen watching the ‘Neta XI Vs Abhineta XI’ match along with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

“Leaders and actors have come together on one platform for fulfilling PM Modi’s vision for a TB-free India…I congratulate Anurag Thakur, who is the captain of the leaders’ team, and Suniel Shetty, who is the captain of the actors’ team. This is a great initiative to raise awareness for a crucial social cause…” Shinde said while speaking to the media.

BJP MP and former union minister Anurag Thakur’s team locked horns against Suniel Shetty’s team, with over 50 celebrities in attendance.

On the Neta XI vs Abhineta XI match under the TB-Free India movement, Thakur said, “Neta XI vs Abhineta XI match is being held for awareness. We will play matches in every corner of the country for TB Free India in 2025.”

He added, “I thank the actors, along with Suniel Shetty, who have joined this initiative. To take the resolution of TB Free India and forward the message to the public…. we will play against each other irrespective of political parties, region, and languages as the country comes first for everyone… ‘TB haarega Bhaarat jeetega’.”

In December 2024, parliamentarians under Rajya Sabha Chairman XI and Lok Sabha Speaker XI played a friendly cricket match at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium to raise awareness about TB. (ANI)