Month: March 2025

Protesters across the United States and Europe have gathered outside Tesla dealerships to express their opposition to billionaire Elon Musk’s involvement in the US government, Al Jazeera reported.

Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has faced criticism for his efforts to cut government spending and access sensitive data.

The protests, organised by a group including disgruntled Tesla owners, celebrities, and a Democratic lawmaker, aim to pressure Musk to resign from his government position. Saturday’s demonstrations marked the first coordinated effort to target all 277 Tesla locations in the US, as per Al Jazeera.

In New York City, hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Manhattan Tesla store, demanding Musk’s resignation. These demonstrations coincide with a decline in Tesla sales, which the organizers hope to exacerbate further.

The protesters were gathered at the call of environmentalists from Planet Over Profit, who believe that “stopping Musk will save lives and protect our democracy.”

According to Al Jazeera, for Amy Neifeld, a 70-year-old American psychologist who had not taken to the streets since the anti-Vietnam War protests in the 1970s, Elon Musk is leading the United States towards “fascism.”

“I’m Jewish, and I grew up with a deep awareness of what fascism is. And it’s only gotten worse since the election” of Donald Trump,” she told the AFP news agency.

“We have to do something very quickly because he’s moving very quickly,” Neifeld added.

In London, about two dozen protesters held signs lambasting Musk outside a Tesla dealership as passing cars and trucks tooted horns in support.

One of the signs displayed at the London protest showed a photo of Musk next to an image of Adolf Hitler making the Nazi salute — a gesture that Musk has been accused of reprising shortly after Trump’s January 20 inauguration.

Some people opposed to Musk have gone beyond protests and set Tesla vehicles on fire and committed other acts of vandalism that US Attorney General Pam Bondi has decried as “domestic terrorism”. Musk indicated he was dumbfounded by the attacks during a March 20 company meeting and said the vandals should “stop acting psycho”. (ANI)

As part of India’s commitment to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, a specialised rescue team from the 50 (I) Para Brigade was deployed to Myanmar under Operation Brahma on Saturday after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck the country on Friday.

A 118-member team comprising medical and communication units air-landed at Naypyitaw International Airport in Myanmar on Saturday. The operation is being led by the Commander of the 50 (I) Para Brigade, according to the Indian Army.

Upon arrival, the contingent was welcomed by the Indian Ambassador to Myanmar, alongside the Defence Attache and Naval Attache of Myanmar.

Following the unloading of critical supplies and equipment, the team then relocated to a harbour area 45 minutes from the airport.

The expansion of the operation began on Sunday morning with the reconnaissance party, consisting of one officer and one Junior Commissioned Officer, inducted into Mandalay, 160 miles north of the current base.

Mandalay has been designated the primary operational hub, with the full team set to move there late in the morning. While aerial insertion remains the mainstay, road-based deployment is also under consideration to swiftly establish the Operation Theatre (OT) there.

Earlier, a C-130 aircraft landed in Naypyitaw with 38 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 10 tonnes of relief material under Operation Brahma.

The Indian Army stated that as part of the operation, it will establish a 60-bed Medical Treatment Centre to provide immediate care to those injured in the calamity.

It added that the facility will be capable of handling trauma cases, emergency surgeries, and essential medical services to support the local healthcare system, which has been severely strained by the disaster.

Earlier in the day, India dispatched the first tranche of urgent humanitarian aid for the people of Myanmar from the Hindon Air Force Station.

The death toll from the magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Myanmar has jumped to more than 1600, and even more have been injured, the country’s military junta said on Saturday, CNN reported.

The figures were only for the Mandalay region in the center of the country and near the epicentre of the earthquake. The death toll from the earthquake that struck central Myanmar could exceed 10,000, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimated according to their early modelling on Friday. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited Deekshbhoomi in Nagpur, the place where the architect of the Indian Constitution Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar converted to Buddhism with thousands of his followers in 1956.

The Prime Minister also offered prayers at the Buddha statue in Deekshbhoomi.

The monks of Deekshbhoomi presented a flower bouquet and shawl to the Prime Minister.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other leaders are also present with PM Modi.

PM Modi will address a public meeting shortly.

Earlier, PM Modi paid floral tribute to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at Smruti Mandir in Reshimbagh in Nagpur.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed the visitor’s book after paying tribute to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar at RSS’ Smruti Mandir in Nagpur.

The signed text reads, “My heartfelt regards to the most revered Hedgewar Ji and revered Guruji. I am overwhelmed to be here in this Smruti Mandir, cherishing their memories. This place dedicated to Indian culture, nationalism and the values of the organization inspires us to move ahead in the service of the nation. This place of these two strong pillars of the Sangh is a source of energy for lakhs of volunteers dedicated to the service of the country. May the glory of Maa Aarti always increase with our efforts.”

During his visit to Smruti Mandir, PM Modi was accompanied by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other leaders.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also paid tribute to RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar.

At around 12:30 pm, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Loitering Munition Testing Range and Runway facility for UAVs at Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited in Nagpur.

“Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stone of Madhav Netralaya Premium Centre, a new extension building of Madhav Netralaya Eye Institute & Research Centre. Established in 2014, it is a premier super-speciality ophthalmic care facility located in Nagpur,” the PMO said.

RSS ideologue Ashutosh Adoni described Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Nagpur on March 30 as “very important and historic.” He expressed that the PM’s visit to the Smruti Mandir and his stay in Nagpur would mark a historic moment.

Speaking to ANI, Adoni said, “This is a very important and historic visit. It is historic because a volunteer, who is today in the post of Prime Minister of India, is coming to Smriti Mandir on such a special day, which is considered an important day in the entire journey of the Sangh.”

RSS member Seshadri Chari said this would be the first time PM Modi visited Smruti Mandir after becoming the Prime Minister.

“This will be the first time he will be going there after becoming the PM, and this is a very important and historic visit. This is a celebration of 100 years of RSS. There will be a lot of programs on it. Sangh also has a lot of opinions on the issues of the country, and on those, the PM will take those issues forward, as he has been doing before too. The government’s job is to make India a strong country, make it a Viksit Bharat,” RSS’ Chari said.

Prime Minister Modi will visit the Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited’s ammunition facility in Nagpur. He will inaugurate the newly built 1250m long and 25m wide airstrip for Unarmed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and the live munition and warhead testing facility to test the Loitering Munition and other guided munitions.

The Prime Minister will also visit Chhattisgarh today to lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects.

“In Chhattisgarh, Prime Minister Modi will lay the foundation stone, initiate commencement of work and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects related to power, oil and gas, rail, road, education and housing sectors worth over Rs 33,700 crore in Bilaspur,” the release read. (ANI)

The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has announced the results for the Class 10 (matric) board examinations, with Sakshi Kumari, the daughter of a laborer, being one of three students to jointly secure the top rank in the state.

Speaking to ANI, Sakshi expressed her surprise over securing the first rank, saying that she had hoped to be in the top 10 but never imagined that she would secure the top position.

“I’ve just cleared my 10th standard, now I’ll clear my 12th and aim to achieve the highest positions. My father is a laborer. Right from the beginning, I had decided to study hard to be among the top ten, but I never imagined that I would secure the first rank,” she said.

Sakshi, along with Anshi Kumari and Ranjan Verma, jointly achieved the first position with an impressive 489 out of 500 marks, which equates to 97.8 percent.

Another standout performer, Punit Kumar Singh, secured the second rank in the state. He achieved this feat by studying in a government school. Speaking to ANI, he said that government schools also have good teachers and urged students to work hard and attend school daily. He aspires to become an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.

“We should always work hard. We should set our goals high and keep aiming higher. We should attend school daily, listen attentively to our teachers, and work hard. Government schools have very good teachers. I want to become an IAS officer,” he said.

A total of 123 students have made it to the top 10 ranks this year, including 63 boys and 60 girls, showcasing a nearly equal representation of both genders among the high achievers.

The results reflect the hard work of students across the state and mark another milestone for the Bihar board in conducting smooth and transparent examinations.

Further details on the overall pass percentage, district-wise performance, and next steps for students seeking revaluation or further education options are expected to be released soon on the BSEB’s official website.

The Bihar School Examination Board’s (BSEB) class 10 Matric final examinations began on February 17 and continued till February 25.

The matriculation exam took place in two sessions, beginning at 9:30 am and 2 pm. The first shift ran from 9:30 am to 12:45 pm, while the second shift ran from 2 pm to 5:15 pm.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday extended hearty congratulations to all the candidates who passed the Matriculation examination.

In a post on X, CM Nitish Kumar said, “Hearty congratulations and best wishes to all the candidates who have passed the Matriculation examination. This time, a total of 15 lakh 58 thousand 77 candidates had appeared in the Matriculation examination, out of which 12 lakh 79 thousand 294 candidates have passed in the examination results declared today.”

He wished for the bright future of all successful students and congratulated the Bihar School Examination Board and the Education Department for publishing the examination results in a very short time.

“Two girl students and one boy student have jointly become toppers. Along with the children, their parents also deserve congratulations for this success. The confidence of girls has also increased and they are making continuous progress in every field. I wish a bright future for all the successful students. Congratulations to the Bihar School Examination Board and the Education Department for publishing the examination results in a very short time,” CM Nitish Kumar said. (ANI)

President Droupadi Murmu has conveyed her greetings to her fellow citizens on the eve of Chaitra Sukladi, Ugadi, Gudi Padava, Cheti Chand, Navreh and Sajibu Cheiraoba, according to an official statement from the President’s Secretariat.

In a message, the President has said, “On the auspicious occasion of Chaitra Sukladi, Ugadi,Gudi Padava, Cheti Chand, Navreh and Sajibu Cheiraoba, I extend my greetings and good wishes to all fellow citizens”

“These festivals, celebrated at the onset of spring season, symbolize the beginning of Indian New Year. These festivals showcase our cultural diversity and promote social cohesion. During these festivals, we celebrate the joy of new harvest and express our gratitude to nature,” Murmu said.

“On these pious occasions, let us strengthen the spirit of harmony and unity and work with renewed energy to take our nation to new heights,” Murmu added. (ANI)

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated Saturday that terrorism should be controlled in such a way that the mourning ends forever in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

He also said that incidents of terrorism have been witnessed in many areas of Jammu for the last few years, remarks coming in the wake of the Kathua encounter.

Four Jammu and Kashmir police personnel lost their lives in the operation, while two terrorists were gunned down. The operation is still ongoing as security forces continue to engage with the remaining terrorists.

After paying tribute to Selection Grade Constable (SgCT) Jaswant Singh, who lost his life in an anti-terrorist operation, ‘Safiyan’, in Kathua, CM Abdullah told reporters, “… We should try to prevent such incidents. We should control terrorism in such a way that such mourning in Jammu and Kashmir ends forever… Our four brave police personnel sacrificed their lives, but many innocent lives were saved… For the last 3-4 years, everyone has seen such incidents in many areas of Jammu…”

Earlier in the day, CM Omar Abdullah laid a wreath and paid tribute to Head Constable Jagbir.

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Saturday condemned those responsible for the Kathua encounter, especially those from across the border, and said their actions will not weaken the bond of brotherhood in Jammu and Kashmir or India.

Speaking to the media, Choudhary said, “Jammu and Kashmir has been facing this challenge for the past thirty years. Whether it’s the Army, CRPF, or BSF, all forces are watching closely. No government, whether Delhi or Jammu and Kashmir, wants to see our children martyred. Those responsible for martyring our children, especially those from across the border, should understand that their actions are in vain. They will not weaken Jammu and Kashmir or India. Our unity cannot be broken by their violence. The sacrifices made by our youth, whether Hindu, Muslim, or from any community, show our strong bond and brotherhood in Jammu and Kashmir and India.”

On Friday, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat laid a wreath and paid tribute to police personnel who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty during the Kathua anti-terrorist operation.

The other three police personnel who lost their lives are Selection Grade Constable (SgCT) Balvinder Singh, SGCT Jaswant Singh, and SGCT Tariq Ahmed lost their lives in the Kathua anti-terrorist operation.

The operation began on March 23, when locals reported the sighting of suspected Pakistani infiltrators in Sanyal. Security forces, including the J&K Police, Army, BSF, and CRPF, launched a search operation, leading to an initial exchange of fire. (ANI)

On the fourth day of Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai, actor Ishaan Khatter caught everyone’s attention with his hot showstopper look.

He walked the ramp for Lakme Sun Expert x Saaksha & Kinni, leaving the audience surprised as he removed his shirt and stood half-naked, flaunting his chiselled abs.

Here are some of the pictures of Ishaan from the moment when he set the runway on fire.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Ishan was last seen in ‘The Perfect Couple’, which also starred Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman.

In The Perfect Couple, Khatter plays shooter Dival, the best man and childhood friend of the groom, despite the character being originally white in the book by Elin Hilderbrand.

The series also stars Dakota Fanning, Eve Hewson, Billy Howle, Jack Reynor, Ishaan Khatter, Liev Schreiber, and Isabelle Adjani.

The actor will be next seen in the series The ‘Royals’ where he will be seen playing Prince Charming.

Directed by Priyanka Ghose and Nupur Asthana, the eight-episode modern-day Indian royalty rom-com series will provide a glimpse into the glitter and romance of royal life.

The series stars Zeenat Aman, Bhumi Pednekar, Sakshi Tanwar, Nora Fatehi, Milind Soman, and Dino Morea. (ANI)

Superstar Ram Charan turned 40 on March 27. He celebrated his birthday with a close-knit group of attendees in an intimate ceremony, including only close family and friends.

Ram Charan’s wife, Upasana Konidela, shared a series of pictures from the birthday bash on Saturday. The pictures included adorable snaps of the ‘Game Changer’ actor with Padma Vibhushan Chiranjeevi and actor Nagarjuna, who attended the event.

In one of the pictures, Ram is seen posing with his wife Upasana and actor Chiranjeevi at a special photobooth. Surekha Konidela is also in the frame.

The actor sported a long beard and was seen in a deep blue shirt at his birthday bash, whereas Upasana donned a beautiful pink dress for the event.

While sharing the pictures, Upasana wrote, “March 27th – Forever grateful. Thank u all for making it so special.”

Meanwhile, on the work front, Ram Charan will be next seen in the film Peddi. The makers revealed its title on the actor’s 40th birthday. The movie is directed by Buchi Babu Sana.

In the first-look posters of the movie, Ram Charan embraces a raw and intense persona. His piercing gaze, untamed beard, messy hair, and nose ring give him a menacing aura.

Charan’s character emanates a fierce and earthy vibe, wearing a striped red shirt and smoking a cigar.

The second poster provides a deeper look into his role. It shows Charan holding an old cricket bat in a rustic village stadium lit by floodlights, hinting at the film’s rural setting and intense themes.

The director shared the posters on social media, writing a heartfelt message to Charan, “Happy Birthday my Dear @AlwaysRamCharan Sir..In one word you are Gold Sir. Thank you for everything Sir.”

The film stars Janhvi Kapoor, Kannada superstar Shiva Raj Kumar and Jagapathi Babu in prominent roles. The movie will also star ‘Mirzapur’ fame Divyenndu in a prominent role. The makers have earlier unveiled the actor’s first look from the upcoming movie.

‘Peddi’ is bankrolled by director Sukumar’s home banner, Sukumar Writings, and the music is composed by Oscar-winning musician AR Rahman.

Meanwhile, Ram Charan was last seen in the much-discussed film Game Changer, directed by S Shankar, which also starred Kiara Advani in the lead role. (ANI)

With his latest Instagram post, Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan showcased his fatherly side.

As his firstborn Hrehaan turned 19 recently, Hrithik poured out his heart in a heartfelt and inspiring social media post.

Wishing “Ray” love and success, Hrithik wrote, “I love you not because you are so amazing , which you are by the way in every way Ray, But I love you because you exist.I have met many humans in my life. Never met anyone as interesting a soul as you.”

He added, “As you take your next steps into the real world my son, know that there is nothing you could ever do that could make me love you more than I already do . No amount of success and no amount of errors could ever affect your worth in my eyes. So go forth and be yourself with complete abandon , ease and effortlessness , your depth will take you far and high. Happy 19th birthday Hrehaan (red heart emoji).”

This gesture of Hrithik touched many hearts.

Reacting to the post, actor Ayushmann Khurrana commented, “This is so wholesome.”

Hrithik’s former wife Sussanne Khan wrote, “so beautifuly expressed.”

Sussanne and Hrithik may have parted ways, but they continue to set parenting goals.

On Friday, Sussanne also penned a beautiful wish for Hrehaan, uploading a couple of pictures with her eldest child. One of the snap shows Sussanne looking at her son while he stands tall with his father.

“Happppy Happppiestttttt birthday my Raystar… the minute you came into my life you empowered me to be my strongest self.. you are my WORLD… your soul your heart your mind… is the most resilient strong soul and your journey towards all that you do will light up everything and everyone around you.. that is your super power…I love you my SonShine… you are the Best friend that I have.. my truth mirror n I am so so proud to be your mama… love you beyond words and expressions,” she captioned the post.

Hrithik and Sussanne parted ways in 2013. They got married in 2000 but after 13 years of living together, the duo announced their separation. They continue to co-parent their two sons, Hrehaan Roshan and Hridhaan Roshan.

While Hrithik is currently dating actor-singer Saba Azad, Sussanne is in a relationship with Arslan. They all are friends with each other and often spotted hanging out together. (ANI)

Taiwan detected one sortie of Chinese aircraft, eight Chinese vessels and one official ship until 6 am (local time) on Saturday, a statement by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence said.

As per the MND, the sortie crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s eastern ADIZ (Air Defence Identification Zone).

In a post on X, the Taiwanese MND said, “1 sortie of PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 sortie entered Taiwan’s eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly.”

Earlier on Friday, Taiwan detected 30 Chinese aircraft, eight naval vessels and one official ship around itself.

“30 PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 20 out of 30 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored situation and responded.”

On Thursday, Taiwan detected 28 sorties of various types until 9:20hr (local time). 20 out of 28 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the northern, central, southwestern and southeastern ADIZ.

On March 26, China sent 27 sortie of PLA aircraft, six PLAN vessels and two official ships around Taiwan.

In light of recent incursions by China, Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang military exercises will focus on China’s increasing use of “gray zone” tactics and the possibility of an invasion by 2027, the Ministry of National Defence announced, Taipei Times reported.

The decision comes as security experts and military officials worldwide continue to cite 2027 as a key deadline for Taiwan’s defence strategy.

Amid this backdrop, Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications is considering amendments which will require vessels of all sizes to install automatic identification systems (AIS) in a bid to track ships near Taiwan’s shores as well as prevent Chinese incursions, the Taipei Times reported. (ANI)