Month: March 2025

Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated the UK’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and security during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at 10 Downing Street.

Following their discussions, Starmer shared a post on X, where he emphasised the UK’s unwavering stance against Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

“It was an honour to welcome @ZelenskyyUa to Downing Street and reiterate my unwavering support for Ukraine,” he wrote on X.

“I am determined to find a path that ends Russia’s illegal war and ensures a just and lasting peace that secures Ukraine’s future sovereignty and security,” he added.

Starmer also shared a video where he hugged him and ushered him inside, and wrote, “Action, not just words. Britain stands with Ukraine today and always.”

The meeting comes ahead of a European leaders’ summit, where discussions will focus on shoring up support for “securing a just and enduring peace” in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy, who was greeted by crowds of supporters outside Downing Street, expressed gratitude and stated, “London. A meaningful and warm meeting with the Prime Minister.”

Notably, the meeting came a day after Zelenskyy’s tense exchange with former US President Donald Trump at the White House. (ANI)

Stand-up comedian and actor Vir Das, who has never shied away from talking about social issues, recently took a dig at Mumbai’s worsening air pollution while humorously comparing breathing in the city to “smoking a cigarette.”

Das took to his Instagram account to share a post that read, “I’ll smoke a cigarette socially, maybe fifteen days a year. The remaining days, I’m a breathing Mumbaikar. Same taste. Today Mumbai was a Marlboro Light.”

However, this is not the first time the stand-up comedian has raised concerns about the city’s Air Quality Index.

Just last month, Das shared a long note about how pollution is becoming a major issue for everyone and pointed out that if strict action is not taken soon, future generations will suffer.

“Unless something drastic is done, the legacy of each government is going to be the pollution they let us live in. This point will probably be taken up when we realise the long-term effects it had on the generation just born, and those in old age too. Right now, it feels like new pollution, doesn’t it? And if we think it’s unrealistic, they’d let us live like that for a decade,” read his Instagram post.

“Some drastic policy decisions need to happen. Goes without saying that the decisions will make us hugely unhappy in the interim. We will moan like we did when we got new airports and new bridges, but it will eventually be worth it. I’m just saying it’s 7:30 a.m., and the AQI is 170. At this time, there are kids going to school and old people on walks. Air isn’t political, air doesn’t care about your income status, air isn’t religious, air isn’t patriotic, air doesn’t vote. If there’s one thing worth fixing, it’s the air,” he added. (ANI)

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has welcomed his 14th child, this time with partner Shivon Zilis, as they celebrate the arrival of their fourth child together.

Zilis took to her X account to announce the birth of their fourth child, ‘Seldon Lycurgus’. However, she did not reveal when the baby was born.

In her post, she wrote, “Discussed with Elon, and in light of beautiful Arcadia’s birthday, we felt it was better to also just share directly about our wonderful and incredible son, Seldon Lycurgus. Built like a juggernaut, with a solid heart of gold. Love him so much.”

Musk responded to her post with a simple red heart emoji.

The two also share twins, Strider and Azure, 3, and daughter Arcadia, 1.

According to People, the announcement comes just days after writer Ashley St. Clair alleged that she and Musk had a son together “five months ago”. She also shared that she had kept it private to protect her child’s safety but felt compelled to speak out after reports surfaced in the media.

“Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father. I have not previously disclosed this to protect our child’s privacy and safety, but in recent days it has become clear that tabloid media intends to do so, regardless of the harm it will cause,” she wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Musk is now the father of 14 kids. According to People, he first became a dad in 2002 with his ex-wife, Justine Wilson. Their first son, Nevada Alexander, passed away at just 10 weeks old. The couple later had twins, Vivian and Griffin, now 20, and triplets, Kai, Saxon, and Damian, now 19. (ANI)

Following the public spat with US President Donald Trump regarding the ceasefire in the ongoing war with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasised that his country wants peace but stressed that a “just and lasting peace” is not possible without Kyiv being provided with security guarantees.

In a long thread of posts on X, the Ukrainian President expressed his gratitude to the US government and the American people for its support in the war against Russia but also urged for a “strong US position” on its side.

Blaming Russia, whom he called the “enemy”, for bringing the war into Ukrainian territory, Zelenskyy expressed fear that Moscow might again violate ceasefire like it did “25 times in last 10 years”.

“We are very grateful to the United States for all the support. I’m thankful to President Trump, Congress for their bipartisan support, and American people. Ukrainians have always appreciated this support, especially during these three years of full-scale invasion. America’s help has been vital in helping us survive, and I want to acknowledge that. Despite the tough dialogue, we remain strategic partners. But we need to be honest and direct with each other to truly understand our shared goals,” Zelenskyy stated.

Quoting Former US President Ronald Reagan, Zelenskyy stressed the need for peace. Zelenskyy also said that ceasefires are not a plausible solution for the conflict and claimed that Russia has already broken it “25 times”. He further added that the ongoing war is a question of their freedom and survival.

“As President Reagan once said, “Peace is not just the absence of war.” We’re talking about just and lasting peace–freedom, justice, and human rights for everyone. A ceasefire won’t work with Putin. He has broken ceasefires 25 times over the last ten years. A real peace is the only solution. It’s crucial for us to have President Trump’s support. He wants to end the war, but no one wants peace more than we do. We are the ones living this war in Ukraine,” he said.

“It’s a fight for our freedom, for our very survival,” he added.

Zelenskyy said that he is ready to sign the bone of contention between Ukraine and the US- the minerals agreement in exchange for security; however, he needs the guarantee that Washington is on Kyiv’s side.

“We are ready to sign the minerals agreement, and it will be the first step toward security guarantees. But it’s not enough, and we need more than just that. A ceasefire without security guarantees is dangerous for Ukraine. We’ve been fighting for 3 years, and Ukrainian people need to know that America is on our side,” he said.

“Ukraine wants peace,” he further said, adding that “Russia was the enemy”. He said that Ukraine and its allies need to be strong at the negotiation table.

“I cannot change Ukraine’s position on Russia. The Russians are killing us. Russia is the enemy, and that’s the reality we face. Ukraine wants peace, but it must be a just and lasting peace. For that, we need to be strong at the negotiation table. Peace can only come when we know we have security guarantees, when our army is strong, and our partners are with us,” he said.

“We want peace. That’s why I came to the United States, and visited President Trump. The deal on minerals is just a first step toward security guarantees and getting closer to peace. Our situation is tough, but we can’t just stop fighting and not having guarantees that Putin will not return tomorrow,” he added.

Zelenskyy stressed that it would be difficult for Ukraine to sustain in the war without Trump’s support, but they need to remain strong.

“It will be difficult without the U.S. support. But we can’t lose our will, our freedom, or our people. We’ve seen how Russians came to our homes and killed many people. Nobody wants another wave of occupation. If we cannot be accepted to NATO, we need some clear structure of security guarantees from our allies in the US,” he said.

Zelenskyy said that although Europe was ready to fund their large army, they do not have enough weapons to keep Russia at bay.

“Europe is ready for contingencies and to help fund our large army. We also need the U.S. role in defining security guarantees–what kind, what volume, and when. Once these guarantees are in place, we can talk with Russia, Europe, and the U.S. about diplomacy. War alone is too long, and we don’t have enough weapons to push them out entirely,” he said.

Zelenskyy also said that the life of every Ukrainian matters, and he needs the US to stand more firmly in their support. Zelenskyy also added that Russia is a culprit as they invaded Ukraine and disrespected their territorial integrity.

“When someone talks about losses, every single life matters. Russia invaded our homes, killed our people, and tried to erase us. This isn’t just about territories or numbers–it’s about real lives. That’s what we need everyone to understand. I want the U.S. to stand more firmly on our side. This is not just a war between our two countries; Russia brought this war onto our territory and into our homes. They are wrong because they disrespected our territorial integrity,” he said.

Zelenskyy, adding on his appeal, said that as the US has always advocated for peace, and that Ukraine’s relations with the US dates back in history.

“All Ukrainians want to hear a strong U.S. position on our side. It’s understandable the U.S. might look for dialogue with Putin. But the U.S. has always spoken about ‘peace through strength.’ And together we can take strong steps against Putin. Our relationship with the American President is more than just two leaders; it’s a historic and solid bond between our peoples. That’s why I always begin with words of gratitude from our nation to the American nation,” he said.

Zelenskyy said that the US always helped Ukraine, and that hoped that it would continue in the times to come.

“American people helped save our people. Humans and human rights come first. We’re truly thankful. We want only strong relations with America, and I really hope we will have them,” he said.

This is followed by Zelenskyy’s verbal sparring with US President Donald Trump and Vice President Vance at the White House’s Oval Office on Friday (local time). This shouting match between the leaders was witnessed by White House officials, mediapersons and other Ukrainian officials.

US Vice President JD Vance accused Zelenskyy of “litigating” in front of the world’s press, criticized him for taking part in photo-ops with Democrats during the 2024 campaign, and said his remarks were “disrespectful” to the administration.

Following the Oval Office meeting, Trump said that the Ukrainian president was not willing to pursue an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with Russia. Zelenskyy left the White House earlier than planned without signing a much-anticipated minerals agreement or attending a scheduled press conference with Trump. (ANI)

The father of Shahzadi Khan, the UP woman facing a death sentence in the UAE, approached the Delhi High Court on Saturday seeking a directive to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and authorities to issue a bulletin and ascertain information regarding the exact current legal status and well-being of his daughter.

Shahzadi Khan, a 33-year-old woman from the Banda district in Uttar Pradesh, is facing execution in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Shahzadi Khan, currently imprisoned in Abu Dhabi’s Al Wathba jail, has been sentenced to death by a court for the death of a child who was under her care.

Plea moved through advocate Ali Md Maaz stated that in December 2021, Shabbir Khan’s daughter obtained a visa and traveled to Abu Dhabi, with a transit in Dubai. In August 2022, her employer, gave birth to a son for whom Shabbir’s daughter was employed as a caregiver. On December 7, 2022, the infant received routine vaccinations and tragically passed away that evening.

The hospital recommended a postmortem, but the infant’s parents refused and signed a consent letter waiving further investigation, as stated in the plea.

It further stated that in February 2023, a video recording allegedly showed Shabbir’s daughter confessing to the infant’s homicide, a confession she claims was extracted through torture and abuse by her employer and family. On February 10, 2023, she was handed over to the Abu Dhabi police, and on July 31, 2023, she was sentenced to death for the infant’s homicide.

Although legal counsel was provided by the Indian Embassy, it reportedly pressured her to confess, denying her adequate representation. Her appeal in September 2023 was dismissed, and the death penalty was upheld on February 28, 2024.

Following the dismissal, Shabbir Khan sought clemency proceedings through the Indian Embassy but received a reply concerning an unrelated case. He filed a new mercy petition in May 2024. On July 11, 2024, he forwarded a mercy petition to the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi but received no response. On February 14, 2025, Shabbir Khan received a call from his incarcerated daughter, suggesting imminent execution. He then filed a formal request with the Ministry of External Affairs on February 20, 2025, seeking an inquiry into her legal status and wellbeing, but received no update. (ANI)

The Delhi government’s decision to ban refueling for vehicles older than 15 years after March 31 has sparked mixed reactions. While some residents see it as a necessary step to combat pollution, others question its fairness, arguing, “If a vehicle is well-maintained, why ban it?”

Many residents believe roadworthiness should be based on a vehicle’s condition rather than its age.

A cab driver backed the decision, telling ANI, “The government is right. Vehicles expire after 15 years, so they should not be driven on the roads. Such vehicles should be sent to the scrapyard.”

However, a resident opposed the move, arguing that the focus should be on vehicles that contribute to pollution. “This government decision is wrong. If the condition of the vehicle is good, then its validity should be increased. Only those vehicles should be stopped that are spreading pollution. We maintain our vehicles from time to time, so the decision should be taken only after seeing the condition of the vehicle…” he said while speaking to ANI.

Another local supported the measure, saying that it would help reduce air pollution. “Considering the pollution levels in Delhi, I think this decision is appropriate. It will help curb pollution in the city,” he said.

Meanwhile, a vehicle owner criticized the decision, saying, “This decision is not right. Vehicles are responsible for pollution in Delhi to a certain extent. Most of the pollution is from dust and factories, so more focus should be on this front…”

A petrol pump manager explained the implementation process, stating, “A system is being put in place. A machine has been installed at the pump, and speakers and cameras will also be installed.”

“Announcements will be made for vehicles whose registration has expired, and our staff will not provide fuel to those vehicles,” he said.

He added, “This system has not started yet. Our staff will check the vehicle’s registration certificate before providing fuel.”

To combat air pollution in the national capital, Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced the new fuel restriction for vehicles older than 15 years after a meeting with officials here on Saturday.

The Minister for Environment, Forest, and Wildlife also said that a special team would be formed to identify and restrict the movement of such vehicles in and out of the city.

He added that Delhi Airport, high-rise buildings, large office complexes, and hotels would be required to install anti-smog guns to help control pollution.

“After March 31, fuel will not be provided to vehicles older than 15 years. There are some big hotels, office complexes, the Delhi airport, and construction sites in Delhi. We are going to make it mandatory for all of them to immediately install anti-smog guns to control pollution at their places. We are going to make it mandatory for all the high-rise buildings in Delhi to install smog guns. We are going to make it mandatory for all the hotels in Delhi to install smog guns,” Sirsa told reporters.

The Delhi government is also exploring artificial rain through cloud seeding as an additional measure to reduce pollution.

“We are going to make it mandatory for all the commercial complexes…We have decided today that we will take whatever permission we need for cloud seeding, and we will ensure that when there is severe pollution in Delhi, rain can be caused through cloud seeding, and pollution can be controlled,” Sirsa added.

Air quality in the national capital and surrounding areas typically worsens with the onset of winter, prompting authorities to take urgent action. (ANI)

Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi interacted with the porters at the New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday.

Dipesh Meena, a porter at the New Delhi Railway Station, opened up about his experience of meeting Rahul Gandhi. He stated that the Rae Bareli MP was there for around 40 minutes and listened to all their problems.

“We are happy that Rahul Gandhi came to meet us. He listened to all our problems, and we hope that he will solve them. He stayed here for about 40 minutes and listened to us,” porter Dipesh Meena told ANI after Rahul Gandhi’s visit to New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday.

Another porter said he was happy to meet Rahul and said that he affirmed hope that the Congress MP will be solving all the problems.

“Rahul Gandhi stayed here for 40 minutes. We told him all our demands, including Group D and medical facilities. We are happy that he came here”, the porter said to ANI on Saturday.

This is not the first time Rahul Gandhi has visited a railway station and interacted with the local porters. Earlier in 2023, the Congress MP paid a visit to the Anand Vihar Railway Station. What made his visit special was that he wore a porter’s uniform and carried a load on his head.

Last week, Rahul Gandhi met with local students and residents of his Lok Sabha constituency, Raebareli, and discussed their studies, jobs, issues, and the development of the community.

Earlier in 2023 also, the Congress MP paid a visit to the Anand Vihar Railway Station. During his visit, he wore a porter’s uniform and carried a baggage on his head.

Earlier on Friday, Rahul Gandhi slammed the Centre for two key posts in NCSC lying vacant for over a year and accused the BJP of harboring an “anti-Dalit mentality”.

In a social media post on X, the LoP wrote, “See another proof of the anti-Dalit mentality of the BJP government! The National Commission for Scheduled Castes, which protects the rights of Dalits, has been deliberately neglected – two of its key posts have been lying vacant for the last one year.”

“This commission is a constitutional institution – weakening it is a direct attack on the constitutional and social rights of Dalits. If not the commission, then who will listen to the voice of Dalits in the government? Who will take action on their complaints?” he added.

He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fill the vacant posts to restore the Commission’s strength and uphold the rights of Dalits.”Prime Minister, all the posts of the Commission should be filled as soon as possible so that it can effectively fulfill its responsibility of protecting the rights and interests of Dalits!” added Rahul Gandhi. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took a pointed dig a the ‘Lutyens’ Jamaat’ and ‘Khan Market Gang’, questioning their silence on certain British-era laws,including one in which police could arrest the groom and others if 10 people danced together at a wedding.

“I am surprised by the ‘Lutyens’ Jamaat’ and ‘Khan Market Gang’ that they have been silent for this many years. The people who are the ‘thekedaar’ of PIL, those who visit Courts every now and then, why they weren’t worried about the Liberty back then,” PM Modi said at NXT Conclave 2025 in the national capital.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the Britishers brought the law 150 years ago and it stayed for 75 years after independence. “Even a wedding dance could lead to arrests. Our government abolished it,” the Prime Minister said.

“Britishers brought a law–the Dramatic Performance Act–150 years back… This act was there even after 75 years of independence. It means if more than 10 people are dancing during a wedding, the police could arrest them along with the groom. Our government abolished that law. I have nothing to say to the government of that time and the leaders.

The PM stated that the same people would have “pulled out his hair” if he was the one who brought such a law..

“Had Modi brought such a law (Dramatic Performances Act), just think what would have happened. Even if trolls on social media spread any such false information – ‘yeh log aag laga dete, Modi ke baal noch lete’ (they would have set fire, would have pulled out my hair). But, it’s our government which has abolished this law from the era of Colonialism,” he asked.

He further said that within a decade the Union government abolished approximately 1,500 laws that had lost their relevance, many of which were from the British era.

Further, in his address at the conclave, PM Modi said that there was even a law that jailed people for cutting bamboo, because previous governments failed to recognise that bamboo is not a tree.

“…Earlier, people used to be jailed for cutting bamboo because we had this law in our country that used to consider bamboo as a tree, and our earlier governments failed to understand that bamboo is not a tree… It’s our govt that changed the law.” says PM Narendra Modi

“Bamboo is an essential part of the lives of tribal communities in the Northeast. Earlier, people were jailed for cutting bamboo, as it was considered a tree, and tree-related laws applied to it. We abolished such colonial-era laws. Now, even processes like filing Income Tax return (ITR) are completed within minutes, and refunds are issued within days,” he added.

The Prime Minister said that the National Education Policy has provided opportunities to think beyond textbooks.

“From middle school, children are learning coding to prepare for fields like AI and data science. Atal Tinkering Labs are offering hands-on experiences with emerging technologies. In this year’s Budget, we have announced plans to launch 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs,” he said.

PM Modi mentioned that in the past decade, more than 2.5 crore households had received electricity for the first time.

This increase in electricity demand and production led to a higher demand for electronic equipment. Cheaper data further boosted the demand for mobile phones, which in turn led to a rise in the consumption of digital devices. By turning this demand into an opportunity, we introduced programs like the PLI scheme, and India has now become a major exporter of electronics,” he added.

PM Modi said that India is becoming a reliable partner in global supply chain and it is due to the planned and systematic policy decision of the Union government.

“For decades, the world referred to India as their back office. Now, India is becoming the new factory of the world. We are no longer just a workforce but instead becoming world force. Previously, the goods we used to import are now being produced locally, and the country is emerging as an export hub for those products. Farmers, once limited to local markets, are now seeing their crops reach global markets,” he said.

He further said that products like Pulwama snow peas, Maharashtra’s Purandar figs, and Kashmir’s cricket bats are in demand worldwide. (ANI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs to review the security situation in Manipur on Saturday in the national capital.

Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and other key officials also attended the meeting.

This review meeting follows the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh on February 9 amid escalating violence and political instability that has plagued the state for nearly two years.

On February 13, the President’s rule was imposed in Manipur after receiving a report from the state governor.

The proclamation, published in the Gazette of India issued by the Union Home Ministry, states that the powers of the Manipur Legislative Assembly will be transferred to Parliament, effectively suspending the state government’s authority.

In November last year, Amit Shah convened a detailed high-level review meeting with senior officials in the national capital to assess the current security situation in Manipur.

The discussions focused on recent developments in the state, with top officials providing a comprehensive assessment of ongoing challenges and response measures. The meeting underscores the central government’s commitment to stabilizing the region and ensuring public safety.

Amit Shah reviewed security deployment in Manipur during the meeting, directing Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and state police officials to maintain peace and order in the region.

Violence erupted in the northeastern state on May 3 last year following clashes during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the demand for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category. (ANI)

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday said that the Pune rape accused was hiding in a sugarcane farm and was caught using a drone. He assured that a thorough investigation is underway to ensure justice.

“Till day before yesterday, people were raising questions about why he was not arrested. He was hiding in a sugarcane farm. We used a drone to catch him. His situation was such that he tried to die by suicide. I am firm on the point that such incidents shall not happen anywhere. Now, efforts are being made to get the case investigated properly. Let the facts come out after a detailed investigation. Action will be taken against those who are vandalising public property,” Pawar said.

The accused Dattatray Ramdas Gade was absconding since the incident happened on Tuesday, when the rape survivor, a working woman, was waiting for a bus to return home to Phaltan, which is located around 100 km away.

The accused allegedly approached her, falsely claiming that the bus to her destination was parked elsewhere. He led her to a MSRTC Shivsahi bus parked in the depot, where he allegedly raped her.

A Pune court on Friday remanded Dattatray Ramdas Gade, the accused in the Pune bus rape case, to 12 days of police custody till March 12.

Meanwhile, speaking on Maharashtra politics, Pawar commented on Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s statement about expanding the Shiv Sena’s influence across the state.

“Everyone has the right to expand their party. Wherever Eknath Shinde goes in the state, he can say that he wants to saffronise the district. In the same way, CM Fadnavis can say he wants to see the BJP’s flag in the whole district. Similarly, I can also say that I want to see NCP’s flag everywhere in the state. But there is nothing special about it. We have decided to be united. It’s the people who decide who gets the mandate. We keep the interest of the state ahead while working,” he added. (ANI)