New Delhi: The Left Front on Monday announced its first list of candidates for the upcoming assembly elections, which includes leaders such as outgoing Lok Sabha member Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya and CPI(M) central committee member Minakshi Mukherjee.Out of 192 seats, CPI(M) will contest 142 seats, Forward Bloc (21), RSP (13), CPI (14), RCPI (1) and MCP (1).Bhattacharya will contest from Jadavpur constituency in south Kolkata, while Mukherjee, the youth representative of the Left Front, will contest from Uttapara in Hooghly district.Mukherjee emerged from Nandigram in the 2021 elections, finishing third behind the BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.The Left Front has also fielded Sabina Yasmin from Kaliganj.Yasmeen’s 6-year-old daughter Tamanna was killed in an improvised bomb blast at a victory rally during the counting of votes in June last year’s by-election, which was won by the TMC.Left Front president Biman Bose said candidates for the remaining seats will be finalized and announced in three to four days.“This fight is against the neo-fascist forces in the country, the authoritarian activities in our country and the suffering that the people face as a result,” Bose said at a press conference announcing the 192 candidates.“We will also work to revive left politics and strengthen the left in the state,” he added.Bose said 28 constituencies have fielded women candidates and more women candidates will be appointed in the remaining seats.Bose said the CPI(ML) and the Indian Secular Front (ISF) will field candidates as prospective candidates, adding that apart from this, some independents and important figures will also be on the Left Front’s list.The ISF contested the 2021 assembly elections under a seat-sharing arrangement with the Left Front and won one seat – Bhangar in South 24 Parganas. PTIThe upcoming elections are seen as a battle for survival for the CPI(M)-led West Bengal Front, which ruled the state uninterrupted for 34 years until 2011 but failed to win a single seat in the 2021 assembly elections.The state assembly polls will be held from April 23 to 29 and counting of votes will take place on May 4.
Megyn Kelly vs. Mark Levin: MAGA feud over Iran war and Trump’s 300+ word truth-telling social post
President Donald Trump’s 300+ word “Truth Society” post defending Fox News’ Mark Levin surprised the MAGA world because it exposed the intense infighting MAGA is experiencing over the Iran War. President Trump has hundreds of tricky occasions to attend, and he had to swoop in to save pro-war Mark Levine from a heated and uncivilized attack by MAGA commentator Megyn Kelly. President Trump called Levine a patriot and said those who say bad things about Mark Levine (like Megyn Kelly) are not MAGA. “Those who speak ill of Mark are quickly brushed aside, as are those with unsound ideas, policies and positions. They are not ‘great’, they are me, and ‘great’ includes not allowing the sick, insane and violent terrorist regime of Iran to have nuclear weapons to blow up America, the Middle East, and ultimately the rest of the world. ‘Great’ is about stopping them, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.” God bless our great military, which I have rebuilt since my first term to achieve lasting peace through strength,” Trump wrote after a lengthy tribute to Levine.
what is Megyn Kelly VS Mark Levine all about
The dispute revolves around U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran. Megyn Kelly represents the anti-war wing of MAGA, while Mark Levin cheers for war. Mark Levin calls Megyn Kelly insane, and Megyn Kelly questions Mark Levin’s masculinity as war of words turns uncivilized. Several MAGA commentators, including Kelly, Meghan McCain and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, advocated against the war and asked war cheerleaders to send their children to fight.
“MAGA IS DEAD”: WHAT’S THE CONCLUSION?
After Donald Trump sided with Mark Levin and ditched Megyn Kelly, MAGA became more divided than ever. Many MAGA commentators accuse Trump of handing MAGA to neoconservatives.“MAGA is completely, 100 percent, completely dead. MAGA is now just a zombie straightjacket worn by Mark Levin, Bill Ackman, Bari Weiss, Jared Kushner, Captive Dreamer, Ben Shapiro, Douglas Murray, Chris Rufo, Mark Dubowitz, Shabbos Kestenbaum, Eyal Yakoby, John Podhoretz and Batya Ungar-Sargon,” former contributing editor Chris Brunet of The American Conservative wrote. “Tel Aviv Levin should be the voice of the Republican Party in the midterm elections,” commented Grace Chung, chief operating officer of former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon’s show “The War Room.” Infowars host Harrison H Smith wrote: “A hysterical Mark Levin ordered Trump to rebuke those who were mean to him, and the president dutifully did so. It’s truly humiliating.”
Spain vs Argentina ‘Finalissima’ match in Qatar canceled due to tensions in the Middle East
The 2026 Qatar Football Festival, which includes the planned Finalissima match between Argentina and Spain, has been canceled due to ongoing travel disruption and airspace closures, organizers said.In a statement, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and UEFA and CONMEBOL confirmed that the planned event in Qatar will no longer go ahead as planned. The 2026 Qatar final was originally scheduled to be held at the Lusail Stadium in Doha.“The local organizing committee, together with UEFA and CONMEBOL, have decided to cancel the 2026 Qatar Football Festival. As a result, the original program of events in Qatar, including the 2026 Qatar Final match between Argentina and Spain at the Lusail Stadium, will no longer be held in Doha as originally planned,” the Qatari team said in a statement.Organizers said the decision was made due to airspace disruptions and travel restrictions impacting the ability of fans, players and officials to travel.“With airspace disruptions and travel restrictions still affecting the ability of many fans, players and officials to travel, it was agreed that rescheduling the games is the most appropriate course of action at this time. The LOC welcomes the opportunity to host UEFA and CONMEBOL events in the future.”Organizers also said fans who purchased tickets for the Qatar Football Festival will automatically receive refunds.“All fans who purchased tickets for the Qatar Football Festival will automatically receive a full refund within 30 days to the original method of payment.”International fans who purchased travel packages through travel agencies will be contacted directly regarding refunds, the statement added.“We will be contacting international fans who purchased travel packages through travel agents directly to inquire about refunds.”
Delhi-NCR lifts all restrictions under GRAP as air quality improves significantly
All restrictions imposed under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the National Capital Region of Delhi have been lifted after significant improvement in air quality, officials said on Monday.The Council of Air Quality Management (CAQM) said Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) was 119 on Monday due to favorable meteorological conditions.“Moreover, forecasts from IMD and IITM indicate that AQI is likely to remain at moderate levels in the coming days,” an official said.GRAP-1 restrictions are in effect by order issued on October 14, 2025.The lifting of restrictions means restrictions such as a ban on the use of coal and firewood as fuel in tandoors in hotels, restaurants and open-air eateries and the use of diesel generators only in emergency or necessary situations will no longer be in place.GRAP has four stages, each related to the AQI at that time.The first stage GRAP-1 is started when the AQI is between 201 and 300; when the AQI is between 301 and 400, the second stage GRAP-2 is called; GRAP-3 is started between 401 and 500; when the AQI is greater than 450, GRAP-4 is called.This year, GRAP-4 restrictions were implemented on January 17. Thereafter, as air quality improves, the lower phases of GRAP kick in.GRAP-4 was withdrawn on January 20. Two days later, restrictions under GRAP-3 were lifted and GRAP-2 measures were lifted on February 18. PTI
America’s war with Iran: Donald Trump backs Mark Levin in internal MAGA conflict with Megyn Kelly
A war of words between conservative commentators Megyn Kelly and Mark Levin over U.S. and Israeli air strikes on Iran escalated on Sunday, with Kelly accusing Levin of “micromanaging.”Levine, described as a longtime Tehran hawk, appeared to kick off the latest exchange by expressing displeasure with Kelly’s statements against the conflict, The Independent reported.“Poor Megyn Kelly,” he wrote on X (Twitter). “She was an emotionally disturbed, lustful, willful person. She completely exposed and destroyed herself.“She was everything people said she was but worse. Never had an intelligent, thoughtful or substantive comment. Totally toxic.”Kelly responded: “Mark Levin thinks he has a monopoly on obscenity. He uses the rudest, most obscene terms about me on Twitter.”“More than some stalkers I’ve arrested. He doesn’t like it when women like me fight back. His micro-p****.”Levine responded: “Sunday morning was busy for Megyn Kelly. She woke up and had ‘micro-pee’ on her mind.”“All I’m saying is, if it talks like a whore, posts like a whore, then it’s… well, you know the rest. Shalom!”President Donald Trump later intervened in support of Levine on his platform, The Truth Society.“Mark Levin, a truly great American patriot, is somewhat under siege by others who have far less intelligence, ability and love for our country than he does,” the president said. He praised Levin as “tough, strong and brilliant” and noted that fellow Fox host Sean Hannity gave him the nickname “The Great One.”Trump continued: “He is a true conservative and intellectual, much smarter than those who criticize him, but most importantly, he is a man of wisdom and common sense who truly loves our country.“When you hear others unfairly attack Mark, please remember that they are jealous and angry human beings whose ‘influence’ is much less than the public understands, and, now that they know where I stand, their influence quickly diminishes.”Levine and Kelly have a history of bitter feuds on the platform, with Levin calling Kelly an “evil, narcissistic lunatic” earlier this month.Late last year, Levin attacked her after she defended MAGA activist Jack Posobiec, who he accused of having ties to anti-Semites and called Posobiec, Kelly and right-wing influencer Candace Owens “very sinister liars.”Kelly retaliated by calling him an “old, angry anti-Christian lunatic,” before Levin dismissed the trio as “woke empire lunatics and bigoted bigots.”As the feud continued, Levine referenced an earlier culture war controversy involving Kelly: “Meg Kelly, whose ratings were so bad at NBC that she became the butt of jokes, was fired for promoting blackface on Halloween.“You see, she’s always been a depraved bigot. That’s why she’s friendly with Candace Owens and Jake Posobiek. That’s why she’s drooling over Cattelson [Tucker Carlson]”.Kelly responded: “You are just upset because I am not afraid of you or your baseless slander. You are an old, irrelevant, bitter, angry person who will never be on prime time on Fox News.”“We used to laugh at you for getting red-faced and throwing a tantrum over something.”
Brampton man Udayveer Dhillon arrested over fraud scheme targeting South Asians with temporary immigration status
A 21-year-old Brampton man has been arrested after police uncovered an alleged fraud scheme targeting members of the South Asian community with temporary immigration status.Investigators with the Peel Regional Police Fraud Bureau said defendant Udayveer Dhillon was taken into custody on March 9 following an investigation that began in the summer of 2025.According to police, the central allegation in the case is that Dillon recruited individuals with temporary immigration status in Canada and encouraged them to participate in fraudulent activities involving banks and car dealers in the Peel Region.The recruits were led to apply for a variety of credit products, including high-value car loans, with no intention of repaying the money they borrowed, police said.“Investigators believe the defendant intended to use others to obtain credit products, including high-value auto loans, with no intention of repaying them,” police said in a news release.Authorities further allege that funds and vehicles obtained through the program were used for unauthorized use, resale, or export.“The funds and vehicles allegedly obtained were intended for unauthorized use, resale or export,” they said.Following the investigation, Dhillon was charged with attempting to commit a criminal offence. Police have not released further details about possible additional suspects or charges.Peel Regional Police said the arrest was made during March, Fraud Prevention Month. Officials urge residents to be alert to potential scams and to report suspicious activity.Police remind the public to stay aware of common fraud tactics, trust their instincts and stay away from situations that feel suspicious. We encourage anyone who believes they may have been the target of fraud to contact their local police department or report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
IndiGo issued Rs 163.9 crore in travel vouchers, Aviation Minister tells Rajya Sabha
New Delhi: Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Monday informed the Indian Parliament that Rs 163.92 crore in travel voucher compensation has been provided to passengers affected by IndiGo’s massive flight cancellations in early December.Replying to a supplementary query during Question Hour, he said that more than 3.6 lakh customers were affected by the incident and Rs 43.8 crore has been allocated so far as compensation after the ticket verification process. Nader assured that the government is taking a number of necessary measures to ensure that such incidents will not happen again. Hundreds of flights operated by IndiGo were canceled in the first week of December due to pilot shortage after the expiry of the Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) deadline. The government accused the airline of a lack of adequate planning in implementing the second phase of F-FDTL regulations. It granted the airline a one-time exemption from enforcement of the norms. Replying to a specific query on the IndiGo crisis, the minister said the civil aviation ministry was holding daily consultations with airlines before implementing the new norms. “But even after that is done, we will now be more careful so that this doesn’t happen again,” he asserted.Nader said the ministry was working with airlines to ensure more compensation to passengers, adding that as a show of concern, airlines were also issuing coupons or travel vouchers of Rs 10,000. “Rs 163.9 crore has been allocated to passengers for this. If they can verify their travel time at a specific time, they can get more,” Naidu said.Regarding the IndiGo incident, the minister said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has been in constant contact with the airline. “This is a concrete example where the new F-FDTL regulations have been implemented and the airlines have to look into their internal operations and say how many more pilots we need if F-FDTL is implemented and how we schedule the crew so that there is no impact on operations,” Naidoo said. “IndiGo has employed over 246 pilots during these three months… We have also brought 10 per cent operations to Indigo. Therefore, we have taken several necessary steps so that such an incident does not happen again,” Naidu said.
Meningitis outbreak at Kent University: 2 dead, students queuing for antibiotics – what we know so far
An outbreak of meningitis in the Canterbury area of Kent has killed two young people and left several others seriously ill, prompting a massive public health response and emergency distribution of antibiotics to students and close contacts.Health officials said at least 13 cases of invasive meningococcal disease, a serious bacterial infection that can cause meningitis and blood poisoning, have been detected between Friday and Sunday, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).Authorities urged students and residents to be alert for symptoms, warning the illness could develop rapidly and become life-threatening within hours.
Two people confirmed dead
One of the victims was a student at the University of Kent and the second victim was a Year 13 student at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Faversham.Both are believed to be between the ages of 18 and 21.The deaths have shocked the local education community, with schools and colleges offering support to affected students and families. Several other young people were reportedly hospitalized with severe symptoms.
There is a long queue to get antibiotics
Hundreds of people have lined up in Canterbury after health authorities began offering preventive antibiotics to students and others who may have been exposed to the infection.England’s Health and Safety Executive is identifying close contacts of infected people and advising them to take antibiotics to reduce the risk of further transmission.Reports show more than 30,000 students, staff and family members in the district have received guidance on symptoms and safety measures.The outbreak has also been linked to a night at a popular student nightclub in Canterbury in early March, but investigations are ongoing.
What does the University of Kent say?
The University of Kent said it was “deeply saddened” by the death of one of its students.A spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with the student’s family, friends and the wider university community at this extremely difficult time.”The university added that it is working closely with public health teams to ensure students and staff receive the advice and support they need.Officials said the safety of students and staff remains the institution’s top priority.
Exam canceled
The University of Kent has canceled all in-person exams as a precaution while authorities continue to monitor the outbreak.Campuses remain open, but this move was taken to reduce gatherings and allow health teams to focus on controlling the spread of infection.
what is meningitis
Meningitis is a serious infection that causes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.It can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites, but bacterial meningitis is the most dangerous form.In severe cases, the infection may spread into the bloodstream, causing a life-threatening condition called sepsis.Symptoms to watch out forHealth authorities say people should seek emergency medical help if they notice the following symptoms:
- sudden high fever
- severe headache
- stiff neck
- Vomiting or nausea
- Sensitive to bright light
- cold hands and feet
- muscle and joint pain
- Confusion or extreme drowsiness
- epileptic seizure
- Rash that does not fade when pressed
Experts warn that the disease can worsen quickly, so early treatment is crucial.
Why students may be at higher risk
Public health experts say college students and young adults are among those most at risk.Bacteria are spread through close contact such as coughing, sneezing, kissing or sharing drinks, which are common situations where people live, study and socialize in close proximity.
Congress Party Chairman Haq raised the LPG crisis in the House of Commons, and the government fought back due to “shortage politics”
New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Union House Malikajun Haq on Monday raised the issue of the LPG crisis triggered by the conflict in West Asia, asking why the government did not plan in advance for LPG imports or make alternative arrangements despite being aware of regional tensions. “If the government was aware of regional tensions, why didn’t it make alternative arrangements? Why didn’t the opposition get involved and mount a coordinated response to public anxieties.” Why didn’t the government do anything to curb the hoarding and black-marketing of LPG? This crisis has exposed not only our mismanagement but also our weak domestic and foreign policies. “Haq’s submission, which went well beyond the 3 minutes allowed to each MP at zero hour to speak, drew a strong reaction from Leader of the House JP Nadda, who accused the Opposition of spreading anarchy and engaging in politics over the LPG shortage issue instead of standing with the government, which was dealing with a situation that was not of India’s own making but purely due to international developments. Nadda reminded Haq of Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri’s earlier statement on the LPG situation on LS but recalled that the MPs did not even hear him. Nadda claimed that a Congress leader was arrested for hoarding LPG. Haq earlier said the LPG crisis has triggered panic across the country and has adversely affected poor, middle-class families besides restaurants, hotels and commercial establishments. He recalled that India imports LPG to meet 60 per cent of its domestic needs, adding that 90 per cent of its imports come from the Strait of Hormuz. “The supply and price stability of LPG have become matters of serious concern...MSMEs and commercial users are facing problems in ensuring LPG refills. What is worrying is that some businesses have stopped operations while others are paying up to Rs 5,000 per bottle,” he claimed.Reacting to Puri’s claim that there is no shortage of LPG, Haq claimed that the reality is different. “When India issues a warning to its citizens in Iran about the deteriorating situation, it should also warn of the adverse impact on critical sea lanes and energy supplies. We should prepare accordingly. The government is aware of the impending situation in the Strait of Hormuz. Therefore, if LPG imports had been planned in advance and alternative arrangements had been made, we would not have faced this crisis,” he noted.
Mr. Beast Oscar cameo explained as Conan O’Brien’s closing sketch leaves viewers confused
Closing moment Academy Awards Something happened this year that viewers didn’t expect. Just as the awards ceremony was coming to an end, a strange post-credits joke appeared in the broadcast, which left the audience thinking about it endlessly. It involves comedian and host Conan O’Brien, fictional office promotions, and the bizarre nameplate that suddenly transforms into Mr. Beast. Within minutes, social media was abuzz with questions. Is the internet’s biggest creator about to take over Hollywood’s most prestigious stage?
A joke in the end credits points out Oscar ‘ Youtube future
The moment feels like a parody of a Hollywood drama. Throughout the evening, O’Brien mocked the film industry while jokingly discussing the future of awards shows. At one point, he even referred to himself as “the last human host of the Academy Awards,” hinting at the changing media landscape. The final sketch took the idea further. In a dark comedic twist, inspired by a Sean PennO’Brien’s fictional “promotion” character “Lockjaw” quickly turns into a deadly office trap filled with green gas. When the smoke clears, cameras show a creepy replacement on the door panel. The new name is “Mr. Beast.”The joke works because it taps into the real transformation happening behind the scenes. The Oscars are gearing up for major broadcast changes. Starting in 2029, the awards show will reportedly be hosted exclusively on YouTube, ending a long-standing relationship with traditional television networks. The joke about Mr. Beast getting the job suddenly feels less casual. If the awards move to YouTube, who better to embody the power of the platform than its biggest creators?At the beginning of the show’s broadcast, the show had already ridiculed Internet culture. actor Jane Lynch Appears in a parody ad that looks like a confusing YouTube pre-roll. She marketed a tactical torch that was said to be “the same as the ‘Kill Bin Laden’ torch,” only to return soon after as an attorney involved in a bogus class action lawsuit against the product.Put together, these sketches form a clear message. Hollywood knows it must compete for attention in an online world shaped by creators and viral videos. References to MrBeast are an easy punchline, and his big stunts on YouTube often rival TV productions.Now, fans can rest easy. The plaque exchange is just a joke. Mr. Beast won’t actually host the Oscars next year. Still, the moment revealed a larger truth. The film industry is looking toward a digital future, and creators like him represent a new force in entertainment.