New Delhi: England started their T20 World Cup campaign with a narrow four-match win over Nepal on Sunday at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, but the result did not hide how close the team came to pulling off a landmark upset.To chase down 185, Nepal needed 10 more runs in the final over, but Sam Curran failed to concede even a single boundary to set-taker Lokesh Bam in the last six balls. The Nepal team persisted until the end of the game, pushing England to the edge of the cliff, and ultimately lost.Chasing 185 runs to win, Nepal ended at 180 for 6 with Lokesh making 39 not out off 20 balls with the help of 4 boundaries and 2 sixes.Dipendra Singh Airee scored 29 off 44 balls and captain Rohit Paudel scored 39 off 34 balls.Earlier, England scored 184 for 7 against Nepal in the first match of the T20 World Cup.England, who batted first, saw Jacob Bethell (55 off 35 balls) and Harry Brooke (53 off 32 balls) make significant contributions with the bat after opener Phil Salt was dismissed early at the Wankhede Stadium.Will Jacks scored 39 not out off 18 balls.
‘Bharat Ratna’s popularity will grow’: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat backs award to VD Savarkar, Congress hits back | India News
New Delhi: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat The prestige of Hindu thinker Vinayak Damodar Savarkar will be enhanced if the Bharat Ratna Award, India’s highest civilian award, is awarded to him, he said on Sunday.The remarks prompted an immediate and strong response from Congress, which questioned the merits of the requirement and the intent behind it.
Bhagwat, while addressing a function to mark the RSS centenary in Mumbai, said the long-pending demand to commemorate Savarkar deserves serious consideration.“Bharat Ratna’s popularity will increase if this award is given to Savarkar,” he said, reiterating a stance echoed by sections of the Sangh Parivar and the BJP over the years.Bhagwat made the comments while responding to a question on a range of issues, including the Uniform Civil Code, nationalism and the role of the RSS in public life. The show was attended by several well-known figures from the world of film and culture.
‘On what grounds should he be awarded Bharat Ratna?: Congress launches stinging attack
Congress reacted strongly to Bhagwat’s statement. Party MP Imran Masood questioned the basis on which Savarkar was awarded the Bharat Ratna and accused him of contributing to the idea of partition of India.Masood told reporters in Varanasi: “On what grounds should he be awarded the Bharat Ratna? For what merit? Because he caused the division of India and Pakistan?” “Sawarkar first promoted the two-nation concept in the country and laid the ideological foundation for the division between India and Pakistan,” he added.The latest exchange comes against the backdrop of a long-running and politically charged debate over Savarkar’s legacy. While the BJP and its ideological affiliates view him as a freedom fighter and a leading ideologue of Hindutva who was imprisoned under British rule, the Congress party has always opposed any move to award him with the Bharat Ratna, citing his controversial views and alleged links to the conspiracy to assassinate Mahatma Gandhi.The issue first gained significant political attention in 2019, when the Maharashtra unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party promised to win a Bharat Ratna for Savarkar in its election manifesto. The Congress party later lashed out, with senior leader Manish Tewari saying it was highly inappropriate to award the award to Savarkar, especially around the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. At the time, the BJP defended the demand, arguing that Savarkar was a freedom fighter who had spent years of grueling imprisonment in the Andaman Cell Jail, while many national leaders, including BR Ambedkar and Sardar Patel, had received the Bharat Ratna long after independence.The demand resurfaced in 2024 too, when Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray questioned why the BJP-led Center had not yet paid tribute to Savarkar despite repeated assurances and letters from the BJP leader himself. Thackeray said the ruling party had no right to lecture others on the Savarkar issue if it failed to fulfill its promises.
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta approves grant of Rs 1,200 cr for DTC salary, pension and transport modernization | India News
Was Jeffrey Epstein trying to curry favor with Russian President Vladimir Putin? What the documents reveal
Jeffrey Epstein Repeatedly sought to establish contacts with Russia’s top leadership, including the president Vladimir PutinNewly released documents from the U.S. Department of Justice show that this was despite no evidence that he ever succeeded.The most obvious example dates back to June 2018, a year after the sudden death of Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s former ambassador to the United Nations. According to CNN, Epstein frequently met with Churkin in New York and even offered to help Churkin’s son, Maxim, find a job at a wealth management firm. After Churkin’s death, Epstein sought new avenues to Moscow. On June 24, 2018, he emailed Thorbjørn Jagland, a Norwegian politician who was then Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, asking him to convey a message to the Kremlin. “I thought you might suggest that Putin, Lavrov, could gain insight by talking to me. Vitaliy Churkin was (but) he’s dead.?!” Epstein wrote. Yagran responded that he would meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s assistant and convey the proposal.The communications were part of a broader pattern revealed in the documents, which included emails between Epstein and international political figures over the years. The report shows that Epstein made multiple attempts to meet or speak with Putin, but there is no evidence that he was successful. Letters from earlier 2013 indicate that Epstein wanted to meet Putin in Sochi and claimed he could advise Russia on attracting Western investment. He said in an email that Putin needed to allow “real time and privacy” to meet with him. Other emails indicate that Epstein believed he had, or was close to, having contact with the Russian leader, although the documents do not confirm that any such meeting took place. The revelations sparked speculation in Europe. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland would investigate Epstein’s possible links to Russian intelligence, calling the allegations a serious security concern. The Kremlin dismissed the claims, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying claims that Epstein had ties to Russian intelligence “should not be taken seriously.”Epstein maintained ties with several Russians with ties to the state, including Sergei Belyakov, a former official with ties to Russia’s FSB and Russia’s sovereign wealth fund. Epstein also attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and offered to help Russian officials and investors, CNN reported. While Epstein did not travel to Russia until 2019 and seek a visa, analysts warn that the documents largely paint a picture of a man eager to exert influence and curry favor with powerful figures and do not prove he gained real influence in Moscow.
Police arrest ride operator, staff in Surajkund swing collapse case | India News
New Delhi: After a huge ‘Tsunami’ ride suddenly crashed mid-air at Faridabad’s Surajkund Chowk, killing an inspector on duty and injuring 12 others, police on Sunday arrested the swing operator and one of his staff. The incident took place during the 39th Surajkund International Crafts Festival on Saturday night. About 19 people were on the ride, which suddenly tilted and fell to the ground. Inspector Jagdish Prasad, 58, died while trying to rescue people trapped on a swing, officials said. He joined the Haryana Armed Police in 1989 and is scheduled to retire in March after 36 years of service. His body was handed over to his family on Sunday after a post-mortem examination. “one special investigative unit The investigation team formed to investigate the incident arrested two accused: Mohammad Shakir, a resident of Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmur district and owner of Himachal Fun Care, which operates giant swings; and Nitesh, from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, who worked under Shakir. The role of others is under review,” Faridabad police spokesperson Yash Pal told news agency PTI. The 12 injured include female assistant sub-inspector Neelam, female police officer Sharmila, special constable Rajesh and civilians Harsh Prakash, Prashant, Amisha, Parvinder, Sunil, Shivani, Balbir, Anuj and Pooja. Yashpal said five of them were discharged after treatment. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday directed officials to ensure strict compliance with safety norms at fairs and other public events. Saini said, “The government stands firmly with the family of Jagdish Prasad during this difficult time. Those seriously injured in the accident will get financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh each from the state government.” The regional government said the market would continue on Sunday, but the area around the swings had been cordoned off pending an investigation. On Saturday night, Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) Ajay Singhal announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore to Prasad’s family and a government job to one of his relatives. He also said the inspector would be awarded martyr status. “Inspector Jagdish Prasad made commendable efforts in rescuing the injured while on duty. His death is a profound tragedy for the police department. “The department will provide financial assistance to the family wherever possible and will provide employment opportunities to eligible members under the compassionate leave policy,” the DGP said. Deputy Attorney General Singhal and Faridabad Commissioner Satendra Kumar Gupta met Prasad’s family on Sunday to express their condolences and later went to the hospital to inquire about the injured. Director Tourism Parth Gupta and Faridabad Deputy Commissioner Ayush Sinha also visited the exhibition venue to review security arrangements. Just an hour after the incident, the venue’s gate collapsed, injuring two people, including a child, officials said. The police had earlier formed a four-member special investigation team, headed by DCP (Crime) Mukesh Kumar. The team includes ACP (Crime) Varun Dahiya and Sub-Inspector Sanjay Kumar of Surajkund police station. The SIT is tasked with conducting a detailed investigation to determine whether there was negligence and to check compliance with safety norms. According to the complaint filed by Assistant Sub-Inspector Sunny, he and Inspector Prasad were on duty at the fair when they noticed several people playing on the “Tsunami” swing. Prasad tried to rescue the trapped people when the ride suddenly broke apart in mid-air. The swing then broke off one side and fell, causing serious injuries. Prasad later died in hospital. “The death of the inspector was caused by the failure of Himachal Amusement Park owner Mohammad Shakir and his employees to deliberately endanger people’s lives by not adhering to safety standards,” the ASI said in the complaint. Separately, the district administration has also constituted a commission of inquiry headed by Deputy Commissioner and Mela Administrator Satbir Singh. The team members include DCP Maqsood Ahmed, YMCA University Head of Mechanical Department Arvind Gupta, Executive Engineer (Mechanical) Hitesh Kumar and Executive Engineer (Electrical) Ashwini Gaur.
Japan snap election: Takaichi-led LDP expected to return to power – the most important developments
‘Nazism will be eradicated by March 31’, Amit Shah says after Raipur security review India News
xQc sparks controversy by saying MrBeast doesn’t deserve to be on YouTube’s Mount Rushmore
Felix “xQc” Lengyel has never been shy about sharing his opinions, and this time he’s setting his sights on one Youtubeof big names. During a February 5 Kick Live broadcast, the popular streamer reacted to a video of FaZe Rug and JasonTheWeen discussing which creators deserve a spot on the so-called YouTubers’ Mount Rushmore. xQc quickly retorted when MrBeast’s name came up.At issue is legacy. Who really shapes this platform? Who laid the foundation upon which others now stand? For xQc, this distinction is more important than subscriber counts or virality. His reaction sparked new discussions in the streaming community about what it really means to be a pioneer.
xQc challenges modern creator rankings
As soon as JasonTheWeen mentioned MrBeast, xQc interrupted him directly. He said, “Yo, yo, Mr. Beast can’t be on Mount Rushmore. Guys, there’s nothing, there’s nothing, there’s nothing [for] Jimmy stood up. Everything in the early days of YouTube was garbage, no funding, no ads, no, nothing, no virality. You can make the hottest shit and it’ll get fucking like, it’ll get like ten million views like you have to walk on it.“His argument focuses on time and circumstances. According to xQc, early YouTube creators worked without brand deals, powerful algorithms, or reliable monetization. They build audiences from scratch, often with limited tools and uncertain returns. In his mind, this fight defines what the Mount Rushmore character should represent.The conversation didn’t stop there. When IShowSpeed’s name came into the discussion, FaZe Rug said, “I low-key think he’s at a Michael Jackson level or on his way to that level, which is crazy, I know it’s a hot take, but…” xQc questioned the broader understanding of the metaphor.He responded: “Guys, guys, people need to stop talking about Mount Rushmore. I don’t think they understand. I don’t think they understand what Mount Rushmore is. Guys, it’s like the Founding Fathers. These are the people who created America.”For xQc, that title belongs to trailblazers, not just trendsetters. His comments have reignited debates about influence, originality and the evolving history of online content creation.
Private plane crashes in Karnataka: Two injured after plane crash | India News
New Delhi: A private training aircraft operated by Red Bird Flying Training Academy Limited crashed in an open field in Karnataka’s Vijayapura district on Sunday afternoon, police said. Video from the scene showed the wreckage.Belagavi police said a two-seater Red Bird aircraft crashed in Mangaluru village of Babaleshwar taluk. Both passengers, including the pilot, survived the crash and were taken to hospital with injuries.The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated that the aircraft involved was a Cessna 172 (registration number VT-EUC) and was conducting a training flight at the time. According to the regulator, the plane made an emergency landing in an open field near Bagalkot, about 100 kilometers east of Belagavi airport.Sources said the plane broke into multiple parts after the crash. The condition of the injured is currently unclear.Video from the scene showed the plane breaking into multiple pieces. Preliminary information showed that the trainer aircraft was flying from Kalaburagi to Belagavi when the accident occurred.This is a development story. More details await..
