Month: March 2025

The Donald Trump administration is considering imposing a new travel ban that could affect citizens from as many as 43 countries, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Russia, The New York Times reported, quoting anonymous officials.

A draft list of recommendations by security officials proposes categorising countries into three groups–Red, Orange, and Yellow–to restrict travel. Being placed on the Red List would mean a complete ban on entering the United States.

Pakistan and Russia are included in the “Orange List,” which consists of 10 countries facing restricted travel rather than an outright ban. Affluent business travelers might be allowed to enter, but immigrant and tourist visa applicants would face restrictions. Citizens on that list would also be subjected to mandatory in-person interviews in order to receive a visa, as reported by The New York Times.

Other countries in the “Orange List” include Myanmar, Belarus, Haiti, Laos, Eritrea, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan.

The draft also places 10 countries, including Afghanistan and Bhutan, on the Red List, meaning their citizens could face a full visa suspension.

The other countries on the Red List are Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen, The New York Times reported.

The proposal also includes a draft “yellow” list of 22 countries that would be given 60 days to clear up perceived deficiencies, with the threat of being moved onto one of the other lists if they did not comply.

As reported by The New York Times, the issues could include failing to share with the United States information about incoming travelers, purportedly inadequate security practices for issuing passports, or the selling of citizenship to people from banned countries, which could serve as a loophole around the restrictions.

That list includes Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Vanuatu and Zimbabwe.

Notably, this will be the second time that Donald Trump would impose a travel ban, after having done so in his first term when he restricted the citizens from seven Muslim-majority nations, a policy that went through several iterations before it was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. That ban targeted citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)

In a ground-breaking move, Delhi Police is introducing a merit-based examination for the appointment of Station House Officers (SHOs)–a first in its history. Until now, SHO postings were based on seniority and experience, but this new system aims to enhance transparency and efficiency in the selection process.

As a part of this initiative, Delhi Police is conducting an exam specifically for Cyber Police Stations, which have been at the forefront of tackling digital crimes in the capital. A total of 122 police inspectors have applied for just 15 available Cyber SHO positions, making this a fiercely competitive process. The exam is scheduled to take place on March 18 at the Delhi Police Academy in Wazirabad.

With cyber threats on the rise, the Delhi Police is looking for the best minds to lead its fight against digital crime. Officers selected through this exam will be entrusted with managing cybercrime investigations, digital forensics, and cybersecurity enforcement.

“The competition is tough–only 15 will make it,” said an inspector from West Delhi. “Balancing daily police duties with exam preparation is exhausting, but we know the importance of this role,” he said.

The exam will test candidates on a broad syllabus, covering critical laws and policing acts, including – Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), Cybercrime and IT Skills, NDPS Act, POCSO Act, JJ Act, Arms Act, Delhi Police Act, Delhi Excise Act, Companies Act, etc.

A combination of multiple-choice and descriptive questions will challenge candidates on legal knowledge, investigative skills, and decision-making.

This move is being hailed as a game-changer for the Delhi Police. Senior officials believe this merit-based system will ensure that only the most qualified officers are given leadership roles.

“This step will sharpen investigation skills and raise policing standards,” said a senior officer on the condition of anonymity. “It’s a transparent, fair, and competitive way to appoint SHOs–something that was long overdue.”

With the exam date fast approaching, police stations across Delhi are abuzz with anticipation and last-minute revisions. Inspectors are burning the midnight oil, sipping endless cups of chai, and discussing strategies with colleagues.

“We’ve put in our best efforts–now, it’s all in God’s hands,” said an inspector from Rohini.

The government is considering conducting exams for SHO appointments in all police stations in the future to ensure transparency.

As the Delhi Police embark on this historic transformation, all eyes are on March 18. Will this exam set a new standard for future SHO appointments? Only time will tell. (ANI)

The Budget Session of Parliament will resume on Monday, with both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha set to meet. Both Houses were adjourned last Wednesday till March 17 on account of Holi.

According to the list of business, the Lok Sabha will reconvene at 11.00 am to take up key legislative matters, including the presentation and discussion of multiple reports from standing committees.

BJP MP Radha Mohan Singh and SP MP Virendra Singh will present reports of the Standing Committee on Defence.

Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor and BJP MP Arun Govil will present the fifth report of the Standing Committee on External Affairs on the ‘Demands for Grants of the Ministry of External Affairs for 2025-26.’

Lok Sabha members PC Mohan and Godam Nagesh will present reports of the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will move a motion for the election of two members to the court of the University of Delhi.

The session will also take up the discussion and voting on the Demands for Grants under the Ministry of Railways for 2025-26.

The second part of the budget session of Parliament began on March 10 and will continue till April 4.

On March 12, the Upper House of the Parliament was in a massive uproar over the LoP (Rajya Sabha) and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s ‘thokenge’ remark.

Kharge’s statement came while he was speaking about Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after his remark against the Tamil Nadu government about the issue of the three-language policy. “…I request you (Deputy Chairman) with folded hands to allow me (to speak)…’aapko kya kya thokna hai thik se thokenge, sarkar ko bhi thokenge’….”, he said in the Upper House of the Parliament on Tuesday.

BJP strongly opposed Kharge’s statement, stating that it was disrespectful to the chair. Union Health Minister JP Nadda said that the Congress president should apologise for his statement and expunge his words from the footage of the Parliament proceedings.

“The language used by him and the attack on the Chair is condemnable. He should condemn it and apologize for using this language for the Chair. He should take back his words or it should be expunged,” Nadda said.

Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh also expressed dissatisfaction over Kharge’s remark, noting his seniority in the House. Kharge immediately apologised for his remark, clarifying that his remark was not aimed at the chair but towards the government and its policy.”I apologize to you (Deputy Chairman), I have not used these words for you. I have said that ‘hum sarkar ki policies ko thokenge’. I apologise to you and not to the government…” Kharge said.

Other than the outrage over Mallikarjun Kharge’s ‘thokenge’ remark, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan once again cleared the government’s stance on the National Education Policy and replied to DMK’s allegations of imposing the Hindi language onto the state.

Pradhan lashed out at the opposition for claiming that the government wants to divide society while using languages and said that the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will never use language to do such a “sin.”

“There are certain things going on; let me first clarify in my Odia society. Lord Jagganath is everybody. The king of Puri is not a king but a philosopher. He is a living deity to everyone. My king married to the Queen of Kanchi. My mother is from Tamil Nadu. I am the son of a Tamil Nadu lady. Another House yesterday. In my society, mothers and sisters are above everything. If I hurt anybody if any of my words, I beg an apology. PM Modi has always mentioned that Tamil is an ancient language. The Tamil language is nobody’s monopoly. We are committed to the Tamil language. Truth is always painful,” Pradhan said in the Rajya Sabha. (ANI)

Ever since their wedding, actors Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal have never missed an opportunity to entertain their fans with fun videos, and their latest post is proof that the two are enjoying their married life to the fullest.

On Sunday, Sonakshi took to her Instagram account to share a video of herself quietly getting ready in her makeup room. Later in the video, Zaheer enters the room and suddenly shouts, making the ‘Lootera’ actress scream in surprise and fear.

Along with the video, Sonakshi added the caption, “The secret to my glowing skin.”

Take a look

Sonakshi married Zaheer on June 23 last year in the presence of their loved ones at their residence in Mumbai. It was an intimate wedding. The wedding was followed by a bash at Bastian, a popular Mumbai restaurant and event venue, which saw numerous Bollywood celebrities in attendance.

Sonakshi and Zaheer dated for seven years before solemnizing their relationship. The couple recently marked their presence on The Great Indian Kapil Show, where they spilled the beans on their dating life.

The two starred together in the film Double XL in 2022.

Meanwhile, on the work front, the actress will next be seen in Jatadhara, which marks her debut in the Telugu film industry. (ANI)

Interacting with renowned podcaster Lex Fridman, Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened up about his decision-making process. PM Modi stated that his extensive travelling, governance perspective and the mantra of keeping “My country first” guides him.

PM Modi also invoked one of the mantras of Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings to determine his decision making process especially in testing times.

“There are many factors to my decision making. First, I’m perhaps the only politician in India who has stayed overnight in around 85 to 90 per cent of the districts across the country. This was before my current role. I used to travel extensively. I learned a lot from those experiences. They gave me firsthand knowledge of the ground realities and grassroots level issues, not something asked or heard or learned merely from books. Secondly, from a governance perspective, I carry no baggage of any kind. I don’t carry any baggage that weighs me down or forces me to act a certain way. Thirdly, I have a simple yardstick for decisions. My country first. I always question if what I’m doing harms my nation in any way. Additionally, Mahatma Gandhi once said that, if you’re ever unsure when making a decision, think of the poorest person’s face. Remember them and ask yourself, ‘Will this help them?’ Then your decision will be right. That wisdom always guides me, remembering ordinary citizens and considering how my actions affect them, “PM Modi said.

PM Modi stated that he is “very well-connected” in his administration, and always equipped with multiple perspectives as his information channels are “numerous and are very active.”

“Another factor in my approach is that I’m very well-connected in my administration. My officials know this well and probably feel overwhelmed by it, by the fact that my information channels are numerous and are very active. Because of that, I receive lots of insights from various sources. So when someone comes to brief me, that’s not my only source of information. I always have additional perspectives available to me,” PM Modi added.

PM Modi said that he does not hesitate to seek knowledge about any issue and discuss it with like-minded people to know their reactions.

“Another thing, I maintain a learner’s mindset. Suppose I’m not familiar with something and an official explains it to me. I approach them like a student and ask, ‘Can you clarify this? How does it work? Then what happens next and how?’ Whenever I have different information, I deliberately play devil’s advocate and ask challenging questions. I thoroughly analyze the issue from multiple angles, hoping that careful evaluation will yield something valuable. Then once I converge toward a decision or action that is worth taking, I share the idea informally with like-minded people just to gauge their reactions and see how they respond, gathering insights and feedback before moving forward, until finally, I have a strong conviction that my decision is right,” PM Modi said.

He also opened up how he took decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic. PM Modi said he took the decision based on the unique conditions of the country. He also shared how he was flooded with suggestions from political parties to pump lot of money into the economy during the crisis.

“This entire decision-making process doesn’t actually take much time. My speed is very fast. Let me share an example. How did I make decisions during COVID? I had Nobel Prize winners advising me, giving countless economic examples from around the world. They’d say, ‘This country is doing this, that country did that. You should do it too.’ Renowned economists constantly bombarded me with suggestions. Political parties pressured me relentlessly, urging me to spend huge amounts of money, but I didn’t act immediately. I paused and reflected. What exactly should I do? Then considering the unique conditions of my own country, I made a clear decision. I wouldn’t let the poor sleep hungry. I wouldn’t allow social tensions to arise over basic daily needs,” PM Modi said.

“These core principles guided my approach. The entire world was in lockdown. Global economies were collapsing. Everyone pressured me to empty the treasury, print more currency and flood money everywhere, but I decided that this was not the right economic route to follow. And so instead, the path I chose, after carefully listening to experts, understanding their opinions without opposing them and combining their advice with my own country’s situation and my personal experiences, created a system that worked effectively. As a result, when the whole world suffered from severe inflation immediately after COVID, India did not,” PM Modi added.

PM Modi also highlighted India’s economic growth during his three-hour interaction with Lex Fridman.

“Today, my country is steadily advancing at a rapid pace, emerging as one of the fastest growing major economies in the world. The main reason is that during that crisis, with patience and discipline, I resisted the temptation to apply every global theory blindly. We didn’t worry about what newspapers would say, whether they’d praise or criticize. Ignoring all that, I stayed focused on basic fundamentals, and by doing so, we succeeded and kept moving ahead. So ultimately, my economy benefited as well. My approach has always been to stay focused on these fundamentals,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi said his another strenghth is “risk-taking capacity”, as he is ready to take risks for the sake of his country. He said he takes decisions, owns them and stands behind them irrespective of the outcome. He also said that he acts always with the best intentions for the people of his country.

“Another strength is my risk-taking capacity. I don’t worry about potential losses for myself. If something is right for my country, for the people, I’m always prepared to take the risk. Secondly, I take ownership of my decisions. If something goes wrong, I don’t ship blame to others. I stand up, take responsibility, and own the outcome. When you take ownership, your team also becomes deeply committed. They know this person won’t let us down, won’t abandon us. He’ll always stand with us because they see I’m making honest decisions, not for myself, but for the nation. I’ve openly told the country from the start, I’m human. I can make mistakes, but I won’t act with bad intentions. People remember those words clearly. Even if something doesn’t go as planned, they trust that Modi’s intentions were right. They think he probably meant to do something good even if it didn’t work out. So society sees and accepts me just as I am,” PM Modi added. (ANI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday attended a meeting with Chief Ministers of Northeastern states at a hotel in Guwahati.

This comes during Amit Shah’s visit to the northeast, where he attended a public gathering on the fourth and final day of the 57th Annual Conference of the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) at Bodofa Fwthar, Dotma, in Assam’s Kokrajhar.

Addressing the 57th annual conference of ABSU, Shah reflected on the peace established in Bodoland since the signing of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) Peace Agreement in 2020 and assured that the Central government would implement 100 per cent conditions of the agreement to establish peace in the region.

Shah stated that despite initial scepticism from the Congress party, the Assam government and the Centre have implemented approximately 82 per cent of the agreement’s conditions.

“This event is the message of the peace established in Bodoland. I still remember January 27, 2020, when the BTR (Bodoland Territorial Region) Peace Agreement was signed. Congress party used to mock me that there would never be peace in Bodoland and that the agreement would become a joke, but, today, the Assam government and Centre has implemented almost 82 per cent conditions of this agreement,” Shah said.

“The Modi government will implement 100 per cent of the agreement conditions in the next two years. After that, there will be a long-lasting peace in the BTR area,” he added.

The Home Minister further stated that under the provisions of the agreement, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA Act) was removed from the entire Bodoland region on April 1, 2022. Shah highlighted the progress and development the region has made since the signing of the peace accord.

The four-day conference, concluded today, has remained a crucial platform for fostering academic excellence, leadership, and cultural identity. (ANI)

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held a meeting with Tulsi Gabbard, who is America’s Director of National Intelligence here in New Delhi on Sunday.

According to sources, Tulsi Gabbard met NSA Doval earlier this evening in New Delhi and they had a detailed discussion on several facets of the Indo-US relationship.

Tulsi Gabbard is visiting India as a part of her multi-nation visit.

Calling herself a ‘child of the Pacific’, Gabbard said she will be going to Japan, Thailand, and India, with a brief stop in France.

This is Gabbard’s second international trip as a top Trump administration official. Immediately after she was confirmed a month ago, she travelled to Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference, as per the New York Times.

The Asia leg of Gabbard’s trip will culminate in an address on March 18 at the Raisina Dialogue, a multinational gathering of security officials in Delhi, to which she was invited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There, Gabbard will hold bilateral meetings with Indian officials and officials from other countries, a senior Trump administration official said.

The Raisina Dialogue is India’s premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics committed to addressing the most challenging issues facing the global community. It is scheduled to be held in Delhi from March 17-19.

As per the official website of Raisina Dialogue, Gabbard will participate in a keynote conversation with Samir Saran, President, ORF.

The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs. This effort is supported by a number of institutions, organisations and individuals, who are committed to the mission of the conference.

In a statement, ORF stated, “Every year, leaders in politics, business, media, and civil society converge in New Delhi to discuss the state of the world and explore opportunities for cooperation on a wide range of contemporary matters.”

“The Dialogue is structured as a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral discussion, involving heads of state, cabinet ministers and local government officials, who are joined by thought leaders from the private sector, media and academia,” it added. (ANI)

Kiara Advani’s weekend is all about ‘Sunday glow’ as she enjoys her pregnancy days.

The actress, who recently announced that she and her husband, Sidharth Malhotra, are expecting their first child, shared a stunning new video on Instagram, and fans couldn’t help but notice her radiant glow.

In the video, the ‘Shershaah’ actress is seen wearing makeup and looking as beautiful as ever.

On the occasion of Holi, Kiara also gave fans a glimpse of her celebration. She started the day with a sweet message, wishing everyone a happy Holi.

Recently, the actress and her husband, Sidharth, were spotted at the Mumbai airport, walking hand in hand as they made their way to their car.

The couple announced their pregnancy with an adorable post featuring tiny white knitted baby socks.

The caption read, “The greatest gift of our lives.” Since then, they have been keeping a low profile, making only a few public appearances.

The couple tied the knot in an intimate yet grand ceremony in Rajasthan in February 2023. Their love story blossomed on the sets of the war drama Shershaah.

On the professional front, Sidharth was last seen in Yodha, starring alongside Raashii Khanna and Disha Patani, while Kiara recently appeared in Game Changer with Ram Charan.

Both have exciting projects ahead, with Sidharth set to feature in Param Sundari and Kiara joining Don 3. (ANI)

Aam Aadmi Party National Convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that Bhagwant Mann will complete his five-year tenure as Chief Minister of Punjab.

“Three years ago, Bhagwant Mann took oath as Chief Minister. Today, the biggest problem of Punjab is drugs and corruption. We will take up a war against drugs and corruption… This is a fight for justice… Bhagwant Mann will complete his five years as the Chief Minister, and he will also complete the next 5 years,” Kejriwal said addressing a press conference in Amritsar.

Earlier today, Arvind Kejriwal and his wife Sunita Kejriwal offered prayers at the Golden Temple in Amritsar in Punjab. Kejriwal was also accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

The AAP National Convenor arrived in Amritsar after a 10-day Vipassana meditation session in Hoshiarpur

Today marks the completion of three years of the chief minister Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government in Punjab.

Punjab Health Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Balbir Singh also extended greetings to Mann on the occassion.

“Three years of good governance, Arvind Kejriwal model, 3 years of change! Better schools, revolutionised primary health care via mohalla clinics, upgraded hospitals, free power, and corruption-free governance. AAP continues to put people first. A journey of progress, transparency, and transformation led by CM Bhagwant Mann,” Balbir Singh’s ‘X’ post read.

Mann took over as 17th Chief Minister of Punjab on March 16, 2022, when the Aam Aadmi Party secured a more than two-third majority in the previous assembly elections. The party went on to win 92 seats out of 117 and dethroned Congress from power.

AAP had secured a majority in Patiala and Jalandhar in the December municipal elections.

In Delhi Assembly elections held last month, BJP’s Parvesh Verma emerged as a giant-killer in the assembly election with a decisive win of over 4,000 votes over Arvind Kejriwal in the New Delhi seat. Congress’ Sandeep Dikshit came third getting over 4500 votes.

Bharatiya Janata Party won 48 seats in a historic mandate, returning to power in the national capital after 27 years. (ANI)

Congress leader Pawan Khera on Sunday lashed out at the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government in Assam, over the arrest of a party spokesperson in Guwahati, and asserted that CM Sarma should remember that his days on the Chief Minister’s chair are “limited”.

He also alleged that Himanta is ‘scared’ of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi. Drawing a comparison, Khera said that even “10,000 Himanta can’t scare one Gaurav Gogoi”.

Speaking over the arrest of a Congress spokesperson in Assam, Pawan Khera said, “This reminds us of the way various Congress leaders have suffered at the hands of Assam police, myself included. The CM should not forget that his days are numbered as the Chief Minister and one day, he will also sit in the opposition.”

“How will he protect his own rights if he violates ours? It shows how scared Himanta Sarma is of Gaurav Gogoi. He is trying to scare Gaurav Gogoi. Gogoi is a blue-blooded Congressman, he can never get scared of him. Ten thousand Himanta Biswa Sarma cannot scare one Gaurav Gogoi,” said Khera.

Earlier, the arrest of Assam Congress spokesperson Reetam Singh by Lakhimpur police in Guwahati triggered a heated exchange between Congress General Secretary in-charge of Communications Jairam Ramesh and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on X.

While Jairam Ramesh condemned the arrest as an “abuse of police powers,” CM Sarma defended the arrest, saying that it was related to a caste-based insult directed at a Dalit woman.

Jairam Ramesh raised the issue on X, linking a media report about Singh’s arrest and tagging Sarma.”The arrest of my young colleague Reetam Singh (@SinghReetam) for a perfectly reasonable social media post is worse than atrocious Mr Chief Minister @himantabiswa,” Ramesh wrote.

The Assam CM hit back, questioning Congress’s stance and accusing Ramesh of justifying offensive remarks against a Dalit woman’s husband. He also warned of an impending “big revelation” linking a senior Congress leader, Gaurav Gogoi, to ISI and Pakistan.

“Sir, this case pertains to a caste-based insult directed at a Dalit woman. If you justify calling the husband of a Dalit woman a rapist as a ‘perfectly reasonable’ social media post, it speaks volumes about the direction in which you people have taken the Congress party. But, just wait–the big revelation is yet to come- The nexus of your senior leader with ISI and Pakistan will be exposed by September,” Sarma replied.

Jairam Ramesh responded sharply, calling Sarma an “outgoing CM” and accusing him of using the police for political vendetta.

“Mr Outgoing CM, stop diverting from the real issue – which is the abuse and misuse of police powers by you personally to favour your associates and fix your opponents,” he wrote.

Reetam Singh was reportedly arrested on Saturday by Lakhimpur police from his residence in Guwahati on the basis of a complaint about a social media post.

On the delimitation issue, Pawan Khera said, “Our stand is clear, states that have done well in social indicators and controlling their population should not be punished for doing so (by reducing seats in Lok Sabha).”

Congress leader Pawan Khera defended the Telangana government’s reported inclusion of foreign experts in its caste survey panel, arguing that geographical boundaries should not limit the exchange of expertise.

“We live in a global environment. I don’t think geographical boundaries matter when borrowing expertise from other countries,” Khera said.

He further challenged the BJP-led central government to declare that it had never sought the services of foreign experts during its three terms in power.

“I challenge the BJP government to claim that they have not taken services of any foreign national during NDA 1, NDA 2, or NDA 3. They should also give us a commitment that they will never do so,” he added.

The BJP has slammed the Telangana government for reportedly involving international experts in its caste survey panel, questioning the need for foreign involvement in a matter of domestic policy. (ANI)