Month: March 2026

Delhi Police on Sunday arrested the eighth accused, 38-year-old Imran alias Bunty, in connection with a murder in Uttam Nagar, where a youth was allegedly beaten to death during Holi.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Kushal Pal Singh said, “In continuation of the arrests earlier made in the case, the eighth accused – Imran @ Bunty, aged 38 years, has also been arrested. Also, as per the statements of deceased Tarun’s family, stringent provisions of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act have been invoked.”

Earlier, while speaking to ANI, Singh confirmed that provisions under the SC/ST Act have been applied, and further arrests may be made as the probe continues.

“The investigation of the Tarun murder case is ongoing. A total of seven individuals have been arrested, including a minor apprehended earlier and one additional suspect taken into custody today, all of whom are local residents. Based on statements from the victim’s family and available witnesses, the case has been unfolded to include provisions under the SC/ST Act,” Singh told ANI.

“The investigation is still active, with efforts focused on maintaining peace in the area. The most recent arrest was made after verifying the family’s statements and witness accounts. The investigation will continue, and any further suspects identified will also be arrested,” he said.

Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) carried out a bulldozer action against the property of an accused. According to officials, action is being taken against the property linked to the accused Nizamuddin.

The incident dates back to Holi, which was on March 4, when a dispute reportedly broke out over a balloon, which later escalated into a violent altercation.

During the clash, a youth was allegedly beaten to death.

So far, the police have apprehended seven people in connection with the case, including a minor.

Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked International Women’s Day by launching a Rs 18,000 crore expansion of the Delhi Metro on Sunday.

As a part of the expansion scheme, the Majlis Park to Maujpur (12 km) and Majlis Park to Deepali Chowk (9 km) routes have now been made active.

Additionally, areas like Wazirabad and Bhajanpura finally have Metro access, while the work has started on three additional corridors to further link the city.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta thanked the Prime Minister, calling the expansion a “huge gift” for the safety of women. She further highlighted that over the past year, “70,000 girls have received financial aid under the Ladli Scheme, 7,000 smart classrooms and 100 digital libraries were built, and free cervical cancer vaccines are now available for girls aged 14-15.”

Beyond transport, the Chief Minister noted that 70 Atal Canteens are serving daily meals to the poor, and a new 50-year drainage plan has been launched to stop city flooding and pollution.

Earlier today, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth approximately Rs 33,500 crore in New Delhi, including three metro lines and over 6,500 residential units, marking an important day for the national capital on International Women’s Day.

Addressing the event, Khattar said today’s date is truly an important day as it marks International Women’s Day, and also a significant day for Delhi due to the inauguration of major projects.

“Today is 8th March, International Women’s Day, on this day we salute our women power. Congratulations to all. Today is also an important day for Delhi because today the PM has inaugurated very big projects. Like in Sarojini Nagar also, many government residences have been decided to be dedicated to the public. And along with this, over 6,500 more houses will be built,” Khattar said.

He added that three metro lines were inaugurated today, with multiple development projects worth approximately Rs 33,500 crore being dedicated to the public.

Khattar recalled that the first metro in Delhi was inaugurated by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee 24 years ago, who had said that the metro would become a symbol of modern India and development.

“The first metro in Delhi was inaugurated by our PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Today, 24 years ago. He had said that the metro would become a symbol of modern India and development. Today, I believe that is becoming true,” he said.

He noted the significant expansion of metro networks under PM Modi’s leadership. (ANI)

Pete Docter, chief creative officer at Pixar, has revealed why the studio removed an LGBTQ storyline from its 2025 animated film Elio during a major overhaul of the project.

In an interview, Docter said the studio decided to scale back elements of the story that it felt might be difficult for younger audiences to process without parental guidance, as per Variety.

“We’re making a movie, not hundreds of millions of dollars of therapy,” Docter said, explaining the studio’s approach to storytelling for children and families, as per Variety.

‘Elio,’ which premiered in June 2025, follows a lonely boy who looks to the stars for companionship after being rejected as an outsider by his peers.

Despite its imaginative premise, early test screenings reportedly produced weak audience responses, with many viewers indicating they would not pay to watch the film in theatres.

Following the results, Docter ordered a substantial reworking of the project even though much of the animation had already been completed.

The overhaul led to the departure of the film’s original director, Adrian Molina. Directors Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi later stepped in and made extensive changes to the story and character details.

According to Variety, earlier versions of the film included moments suggesting the title character might be gay. One version reportedly featured Elio riding a pink bike and imagining a future with a male crush. Those elements were removed during the revision process.

The changes sparked criticism within the Pixar workforce. The internal reaction was intensified by another creative decision at parent company The Walt Disney Company, which also cut a transgender character from Pixar’s animated series Win or Lose, as per Variety.

‘Elio’ eventually released worldwide and grossed about USD 150 million globally by the end of its theatrical run. While that figure can be considered strong for some animated releases, the film reportedly carried a production budget of approximately USD 150 million, excluding global marketing expenses.

Docter, known for directing acclaimed Pixar titles such as Monsters, Inc., Up and Inside Out, continues to oversee the studio’s creative direction as it navigates evolving audience expectations and storytelling choices. (ANI)

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has alleged that President Droupadi Murmu was “parroting” the BJP’s words and was making untrue allegatins of the State, which heads into Assembly elections over the next couple of months. The Lok Sabha member’s remarks came in the wake of President Murmu’s remarks on a Santal Conference held last week.

Addressing a gathering in Kolkata on March 6, along with West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee during demonstration against the alleged arbitrary deletions from the electoral roll in the State, Mitra had said, “Today I am telling everyone that anyone who is not with Mamata Banerjee is not a Bengali, and does not have the right to live in Bengal. Because Mamata Banerjee is fighting this battle for the people of Bengal.”

In a video posted on X on Saturday, Moitra said the state government was not responsible for the private event and the President chose to make unfounded allegations despite being informed about the arrangements.

“Dear @rashtrapatibhvn courtesy begets courtesy. We respect your chair but do NOT, for one minute, think you can abuse your office to make untrue & unfounded allegations about our state & our people. @MamataOfficial,” Moitra wrote.

In her video, Moitra said President Murmu came to Bengal not for a programme organized by the state government but for a private program organized by a private body.

“Madam president, you came to Bengal today and you chose to parrot the words of BJP in time of election. Today you came to Bengal not to a programme organised by state government. You came for a private program organised by a private organization. The West Bengal government was not responsible for this project,” Moitra said.

She stated that despite this, the West Bengal government did the security briefing with the President’s office three days ago.

“Inspite of that your office and you deemed it fit to come to Bengal. And now you found the arrangements were not up to your standards. We didn’t invite you for the program so we’re not responsible for the arrangements yet after this program you choose to stand on soil of Bengal and make completely unwarranted, untrue allegations about Bengal and about how Adivasi and tribals live here,” she added.

Moitra said that ever since she became the first adivasi tribal president, the number of atrocities on tribals, especially tribal women, has increased under BJP rule, yet she chose to remain silent.

“May I remind you ever since you’ve become the 1st lady adivasi tribal president, the number of atrocities of BJP on tribals especially tribal women has increased. You have said nothing on all of that. When tribal women were raped and left naked, and paraded in the streets of Manipur, you didn’t say anything. When tribal people were urinated on in Madhya Pradesh you didn’t say anything,” Moitra said.

She accused the President of coming to Bengal and “parroting” what BJP had said.

“Today you come to Bengal, parroting what BJP says three weeks before an election. We respect you and We respect your chair. But madam president, courtesy begets courtesy. Don’t come to our soil to insult our people and lie about our government’s doing. Look within yourself and do your chair proud. Do not parrot the words of BJP,” Moitra concluded.

The strong remarks come amid a major political row after President Murmu expressed disappointment over arrangements at the 9th International Santal Conference in Darjeeling and noted the absence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The BJP has accused the TMC government of insulting the President, while TMC has rejected allegations of protocol violation. (ANI)

Former India cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has described New Zealand openers Finn Allen and Tim Seifert as the most explosive and consistent opening pair in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Chopra said that their aggressive approach could pose a serious challenge for Indian bowlers during the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

Speaking on JioHotstar, Chopra praised the New Zealand duo for their destructive performances at the top of the order, particularly against teams like South Africa and the UAE, where they dominated opposition bowling attacks with attacking strokeplay.

“Finn Allen and Tim Seifert are the most explosive openers in this tournament thus far, and also the most consistent. They annihilated South Africa and decimated the UAE. I feel Finn Allen has a bit more in terms of pure class because if you give him width, it is almost impossible to stop him. If you keep bowling in that outside off channel, he will keep hammering you. The good thing is that he also plays with a straight bat, so he has more arrows in his quiver. He has a slightly wider range, and he is dangerous,” Chopra said.

Chopra also suggested a possible strategy for bowlers to counter Allen’s attacking style. According to the former India opener, bowlers should avoid offering width outside the off stump and instead keep their deliveries tighter around the stumps.

“The way to stop him is probably by trying to finish everything within the stumps. Axar Patel, and maybe Varun Chakaravarthy a little later, should just keep finishing within the stumps. Because he is a very wristy player, that approach works for faster bowlers, but against spin, you could possibly deceive him a little,” Chopra added.

On his advice to Varun Chakaravarthy, the cricketer-turned-commentator said, “Just look at his speeds in general, mid-90s is still okay. That is Varun Chakaravarthy’s operating pace, finishing within the stumps and bowling a little fuller means that if you miss, he is definitely hitting. In fact, over the last year and a half, he has gone a lot slower as well.”

Chopra further added, “He has been in the late 80s a few times. But in this World Cup, especially in the last game, I remember that out of the 24 balls he bowled, I think nine were above 100, and one was around 111. That is like Hardik Pandya’s slower one. That tells you that he is feeling the pressure a bit right now. There is just one more game left, and one night can actually change your fortunes. I would still back him, but he needs to bowl a little slower. He is going too fast.”

Coming to both teams’ T20 WC 2026 campaigns, India and New Zealand took different routes to the T20 World Cup 2026 final.

New Zealand recovered from group-stage losses to South Africa and England to dominate the semifinals, chasing down 170 against South Africa with a nine-wicket win in 12.5 overs, highlighted by Finn Allen’s 33-ball century–the fastest in T20 World Cup history.

India, unbeaten in the group stage except for a Super 8s loss to South Africa, secured a thrilling seven-run semi-final win over England, after posting 253/7 in the first innings of the match.

While New Zealand have historically never lost to India in T20 World Cups (2007, 2016, 2021), India’s recent 4-1 T20I series win over the Black Caps in India gives the hosts the momentum heading into the final. (ANI)

The Indian Embassy in Doha on Sunday released a form for Indian nationals who are stuck in Qatar to ascertain the number of those stuck there.

The embassy said that the form is only for those who are stranded in Qatar as tourists or Hayya A1 visa holders.

In a post on X, the embassy said, “Advisory: Indian Nationals who are currently stranded in Qatar as Tourists/Short Term Visitors (holding Hayya A1 visa) due to cancellation of flights out of Qatar between 28 February to 7 March 2026, are encouraged to fill in their details at the link provided herewith. Please note that this is only for the purpose of ascertaining the exact number and details of stranded Indian Nationals who are not residents of Qatar. Link has been restored: https://indianembassyqatar.gov.in/hayya_visitors (Those who have already submitted the details through our earlier link need not submit it again).”

Meanwhile, Gulf Air in its statement said, “Gulf Air flights remain temporarily suspended as closure of Bahrain airspace continues. Services will resume once BCAA confirms safe reopening. Next update: 11:00 BHT (08:00 UTC) on March 9. For the latest flight info, visit gulfair.com or the Gulf Air app.”

Meanwhile, all six scheduled Qatar Airways flights landed safely in Doha from Paris, Madrid, London, Frankfurt, Rome and Bangkok. It was the first group of inbound flights since Qatar closed its airspace over the war in Iran that affected the country, as per Al Jazeera.

The airline reiterated on Sunday that these flights do not constitute a confirmation of resumption of scheduled commercial operations.

It also said the airline completed repatriation flights today from Doha to Amsterdam, Berlin, Frankfurt, London and Zurich, Al Jazeera reported.

On Tuesday, it plans to bring passengers whose final destination is Doha from Amsterdam, Berlin, Frankfurt, London, Zurich and Muscat. (ANI)

The US and Israel have held discussions regarding the potential deployment of special forces into Iran to secure the country’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, as reported by Axios.

According to four sources with knowledge of the discussions cited by Axios, such an operation would be considered at a later stage of the ongoing war. The move highlights the critical focus on Iranian nuclear assets as hostilities continue to escalate.

Reinforcing this strategic objective, United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has issued a new threat via social media, warning of lethal consequences for any entities that target American citizens.

The warning, shared in a post by United States Central Command (CENTCOM) on X, underlined the administration’s uncompromising stance on national security. “If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation, and we will kill you,” US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was quoted as saying.

Accompanying this stern message, a 21-second video clip was released, providing a visual demonstration of the military’s current reach. The footage showcased a series of “unclassified” images of vehicles and structures being bombed and destroyed by US forces during recent operations.

Hegseth’s remarks align with recent claims made by US President Donald Trump, who asserted on Saturday that the United States has successfully neutralised the entire Iranian leadership. The President characterised these military operations as the removal of a significant “cancer” from the global stage.

Reflecting on the week-old hostilities while travelling to Miami aboard Air Force One, the President maintained a confident outlook on the progress of the campaign. “We’re winning the war by a lot. We’ve decimated their whole evil empire. It’ll continue, I’m sure, for a little while. The war itself is going unbelievably. It’s as good as it can be,” Trump asserted.

During his briefing, the President provided a detailed list of the strategic military gains achieved by American forces, stating that the offensive had effectively dismantled Iran’s maritime and aerial capabilities. “We’ve wiped out their (Iranian) navy, 44 ships. We’ve wiped out their air force, every plane. We’ve wiped out most of their missiles,” he noted.

Trump further suggested that the capability of the Iranian regime to launch offensive strikes has been severely curtailed. “You see the missiles aren’t coming much anymore. We’ve also hit their manufacturing areas where they make the missiles very hard. Their drone capacity is way down, and we’ve hurt them where it hurts, including about every form of leadership you can have; we’ve wiped out,” the President added.

Amidst the military successes, the President addressed reports concerning the bombing of an elementary girls’ school in Iran. He categorically dismissed allegations of American responsibility, instead attributing the incident to the failure of Iranian hardware and the “inaccuracy” of their military assets.

“No, I don’t believe so. Based on what I’ve seen, that was done by Iran. We think it was done by Iran because they’re very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever. It was done by Iran,” Trump said.

When questioned about the initial six-week projection for the military mission, the President declined to provide a specific end date, though he emphasised that the Iranian armed forces were on the verge of collapse. “I never project time, whatever it takes. But the (Iranian) military is almost nonexistent. We could hit their military itself very hard, but maybe we will, maybe we won’t. We haven’t made that determination,” the US President said.

The President also highlighted the extensive damage dealt to the industrial infrastructure supporting the Iranian military. “We’ve hit the manufacturing very hard. They’re at about nine per cent of what they sent out in the first two days, and we think that’s because they don’t have that much. We’ve also knocked out about 70 per cent of the rockets, of the launchers. The launchers are a big deal, very hard to get, very expensive,” he explained.

Speaking alongside the President, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff indicated that a diplomatic breakthrough remained a possibility, though the decision ultimately rests with the White House. “I think there is. I think that’s going to be up to the President, that’s what I think,” Witkoff said.

However, the envoy noted that past discussions had been hindered by Tehran’s refusal to compromise. “But they didn’t seem to be very amenable in that first set of negotiations. You heard what I said. They said we have the inalienable right to enrich. They bragged about having 60 per cent enriched fuel, enough for 11 bombs. And they told me and Jared, we’re not going to give you diplomatically what you couldn’t take militarily. So you know, I think they’re going to need a change of attitude,” he added.

These significant developments are the result of a joint US-Israel military operation on 28 February, which led to the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several other high-ranking officials.

In the aftermath of that strike, Tehran initiated a major retaliatory campaign, launching drones and ballistic missiles at US assets and regional partners, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. This escalation has notably increased the danger to both local civilians and the expatriate population across West Asia.

Simultaneously, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have announced that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) conducted targeted strikes against multiple Iranian military assets in the capital city. In a post on X, the military official account stated: “STRUCK: Several Fuel Storage Complexes Belonging to the IRGC in Tehran.”

The operation, which was “Guided by IDF intelligence,” targeted specific locations that the military identified as hubs for the distribution of resources to various armed units. The IDF noted that the “IAF struck these complexes, where the Iranian terrorist regime would distribute fuel to multiple military entities in Iran.”

Regarding the impact of the mission, the military asserted that “The strike significantly deepens the damage to the military infrastructure of the Iranian terrorist regime.” Accompanying the announcement was an illustrative graphic identifying a “fuel storage facility in Tehran used by the military forces of the Iranian terror regime,” highlighting the strategic nature of the targets selected during the operation. (ANI)

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant Kumar on Sunday formally joined the JD(U), marking an unprecedented shift in Bihar politics.

After joining the party, Kumar addressed the party workers and heaped praise on his father, Nitish Kumar, for serving the state for 20 years.

“I thank everyone. I will try to live up to the trust you all have placed in me. I, the entire Bihar and the entire country are proud of what my father has done in the last 20 years.”

Nishant Kumar greeted the party workers as soon as he arrived at the Janata Dal (United) office in Patna. Janata Dal (United) National Working President Sanjay Kumar Jha was also present on the occasion.

Union Minister and NDA’s Rajya Sabha candidate Ram Nath Thakur told ANI that Nishant Kumar is joining the party to remain connected with the people.

“It was the decision of JDU workers and the common people that Nishant Kumar (son of CM Nitish Kumar) join the JDU and listen to the voice of the people… It is for the same reason that he is taking JDU membership today… It was his (Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s) wish to go to the Rajya Sabha…”

Bihar minister Ratnesh Sada called Nishant Kumar the “future of Bihar”.

“This is Bihar’s future, and we will complete and demonstrate the work that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has left unfinished,” Sada told ANI.

Congress leader Akhilesh Prasad Singh extended “best wishes” to Nishant Kumar in his political journey.

Meanwhile, Nishant Kumar, on Saturday, also held a meeting with senior party leaders and young MLAs at the residence of Sanjay Kumar Jha.

The meeting discussed the party’s future strategy and how to best move forward after party chief Nitish Kumar, in a historic move, is set to move back to the Centre with a seat in the Rajya Sabha.

The timing of Nishant’s entry into the party is directly linked to a major transition made by his father.

On Thursday, March 5, Nitish Kumar filed his nomination for the Rajya Sabha, signalling the end of his record-breaking tenure as Chief Minister.

“I am going to the Rajya Sabha. There won’t be a problem for you all. I will remain in Bihar as well; all work will continue. Work hard for the development of Bihar. I will keep an eye on everything; do not worry,” Kumar said earlier. (ANI)

Telugu actor Naga Chaitanya and his wife, actor Sobhita Dhulipala, recently visited the revered Shree Jagannath Temple.

The visit comes three months after the couple celebrated their first wedding anniversary following their December 2024 marriage.

The couple navigated through dense crowds at the temple complex in Puri, accompanied by security personnel. Amid the chants and movement of devotees, Chaitanya can be heard chanting “Jai Jagannath.”

The temple is one of India’s most prominent Hindu pilgrimage destinations that attracts millions of devotees every year despite long waiting queues.

For the temple visit, Chaitanya opted for traditional attire, wearing a white kurta and pyjama paired with an orange and yellow stole draped around his neck. The actor sported a neatly trimmed beard, short hair and a tilak mark on his forehead.

Dhulipala appeared in a vibrant red saree featuring golden borders and embroidery. Her hair was tied back in a simple bun, and she too wore a tilak on her forehead.

Chaitanya and Dhulipala marked their first wedding anniversary on December 4.

In 2024, the actors tied the knot in Hyderabad, in the presence of close friends and family members.

The ceremony was rooted in Telugu traditions, with rituals conducted under the guidance of elders and attended by relatives and well-wishers. Chaitanya’s father, veteran actor Nagarjuna, confirmed the wedding with photographs from the ceremony.

For the wedding, Dhulipala wore a gold Kanjivaram silk saree featuring real gold zari and temple jewellery, while Chaitanya chose a traditional white outfit.

On the professional front, Dhulipala will next be seen in the film ‘Cheekatilo’, where she plays Sandhya, a true-crime podcaster who investigates the secrets of a long-dormant serial killer. The film also stars Viswadev Rachakonda along with Chaitanya Visalakshmi, Esha Chawla, Jhansi, Aamani and Vadlamani Srinivas in key roles.

Meanwhile, Chaitanya is set to appear in the upcoming film ‘Vrushakarma’, directed by Karthik Dandu and produced by Sukumar Writings and Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra. The film’s poster presents the actor in a rugged, battle-worn look, hinting at an action-driven role set against a dramatic and mythical backdrop. (ANI)