New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC), which holds Lok Sabha and state assembly elections, and the State Election Commission (SEC), which holds Panchayat and municipal polls, on Wednesday reached a broad agreement to synchronize laws related to Panchayat and municipal body elections with those related to Assembly and state polls. The National Declaration 2026 adopted by the EC and SEC National Roundtable held here after a gap of 27 years emphasized their consensus that pure electoral rolls and transparent electoral conduct are the cornerstones of democracy. The EC recommended that all SECs develop acceptable mechanisms and legally feasible frameworks to coordinate the electoral process in the “constitutional and national interest”, including sharing ECINET, EVMs, electoral rolls and training resources.A team of legal and technical officials led by senior EC officials will study all the recommendations made by the SEC and will submit the way forward from the state/UT side to the EC within three months “to take the best decision”.Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are conducted under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act and the Electoral Conduct Rules, while panchayat and municipal elections are conducted under the laws and rules framed by the relevant states/Union Territories. Therefore, the processes related to preparation of electoral rolls, conduct of polls and polling methods for Assembly/Assembly polls may differ from those used for Panchayat and Urban Body polls within the same State/Union Territory, although the number of State/Union Territory officials participating is the same. “Synchronizing the legal framework will ensure logistical ease and pure electoral rolls,” an official told TOI. Sources said the SECs of the BJP-run states/Union Territories on Wednesday unanimously supported the proposal. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, addressing the SEC meeting, called on the EC and SEC to engage in institutional coordination within their respective constitutional mandates. He advocates a unified approach to electoral roll management, adoption of technology and sharing of best practices to make the electoral process more efficient.
‘Online harassment and repeated attacks by Pakistanis’: Indian-origin restaurateur closes ‘Rangrez’ in London after 16 years
An Indian-origin restaurateur in London has announced he will close his restaurant after 16 years in business, citing mounting challenges including rising costs, online harassment, repeated riots he blames on Pakistani groups and what he says is insufficient support from the Metropolitan Police. Rangrez restaurant in Hammersmith will close next month after “16 unforgettable years”, owner Harman Singh Kapoor said on X. He said in the post that the accumulated pressure had made it impossible to continue operating.“After 16 unforgettable years, I have made the difficult decision to close Rangrez restaurant Hammersmith next month. Rising costs, ongoing online harassment, repeated harassment and assault by Pakistanis and a lack of appropriate support from the Metropolitan Police have made the plan untenable. Now is the time for me to immerse myself in action and focus on everything,” he said in a post on X. Kapoor added that he now planned to focus entirely on activism and said attempts to disrupt his business would not weaken his resolve. He thanked the customers who have supported the restaurant over the years.“Activists should remember this: You can disrupt my business, but not my will. I will come after you stronger now, with no strings attached. Thank you to every sincere customer who has supported us over the years,” he added. In 2023, Kapoor claimed the restaurant was targeted after he posted videos on TikTok criticizing the Khalistan movement and figures associated with the movement, including preacher and parliamentarian Amritpal Singh.
Will Indian venue ticket holders get refunds if Pakistan reaches T20 World Cup semi-finals and final? |cricket news
New Delhi: Tickets for the T20 World Cup semi-finals and final went on sale on Tuesday but the ICC has announced special conditions that may affect the venue depending on which teams advance, especially Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Fans can purchase tickets for the first semi-final on March 4, the second semi-final on March 5 and the final on March 8.
The first semi-final has been reserved as a “floating venue”, meaning it could be played in Colombo or Kolkata. The final venue will depend on the teams that advance to the knockout stages. However, the second semi-final has been confirmed to be held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The final is currently scheduled to be held in Ahmedabad, but this could change.If Pakistan advances to the semi-finals, they will play the first semi-final in Colombo on March 4. In this case, any tickets purchased for the Kolkata match will be refunded. Likewise, if Sri Lanka advance and are drawn to play a team other than India in the first semi-final, that match will also be moved to Colombo and Kolkata ticket holders will be refunded. If neither Pakistan nor Sri Lanka qualify, or India draws with Sri Lanka, the first semi-final will be played in Kolkata as planned.For the final, Ahmedabad will host the tournament unless Pakistan reaches the final. If Pakistan does qualify for the summit, the final will be moved to Colombo and fans who bought tickets to Ahmedabad will be refunded.The International Cricket Ground has assured fans that any tickets purchased at the venue that ultimately does not host the match will be fully refunded, ensuring that buyers will not suffer losses due to the change of venue.
Madras High Court judge: Those who mock people for treating gurus as gods are fools and barbarians India News
NEW DELHI: In a striking assertion, a sitting judge of the Madras High Court has said that those who do not accept the sanctity of their spiritual masters are “barbaric”.According to LiveLaw, Justice GR Swaminathan declared that those who are considered unworthy of ayogya, muttal and kaattumurandi are actually the real barbarians.“In Tamil Nadu, there are rationalists who call us unworthy (Ayogya), fools (muttal) and barbarians (kaattumurandi) because we regard the Guru as God. But I would say those who say this are the real unworthy (Ayogya), fools (muttal) and barbarians (kaattumurandi),” he said.The remarks, made in Tamil during the ‘Guru Vandanam Utsavam’ organized by the Hosur Satsangh, were based on anecdotes of the judge’s personal spiritual experiences, which, according to him, changed his understanding of faith.Recalling an incident during his daughter’s graduation trip to Punjab, he said he and his wife were warned not to travel at night, but they continued the journey anyway. “There was fog on the road, visibility was bad, and then – the car’s tire got punctured,” he said.His wife knew how to change a tire; so she worked with the driver in the freezing fog to fix it while the driver sang “Gurunatha” for about 30 minutes.“That song gave me strength,” he said, describing it as a helpless moment that brought him closer to his faith in the guiding power of his guru.Justice Swaminathan then made a larger spiritual point based on this experience. “God is abstract,” he said. “But the Guru is the living presence of God. You cannot touch the feet of God, but you can touch the feet of your Guru.”It was after this reflection that the judge took aim at what he described as self-styled rationalists in Tamil Nadu, claiming that they were barbaric, worthless and stupid people.The judge recently made headlines for another statement – that he would “keep Sanatana Dharma in his mind” for the rest of his tenure.
‘Overstayed in India’: Reddit user says H-1B visa canceled during pre-clearance in Abu Dhabi
A Reddit user who holds an H-1B visa claimed that her passport was stamped “cancelled and withdrawn” during pre-clearance in Abu Dhabi while she was returning to the United States with her husband. Explaining her situation, she said she traveled to India in November to celebrate her daughter’s first birthday and had no issues with H-1B stamping delays because their appointment date was before December 15, 2025, before the visa chaos began. The Reddit user said she and her husband got their visas stamped on December 12, and dates began to be rescheduled en masse. They got tickets to fly to the United States in January and her case was flagged when they arrived in Abu Dhabi for pre-clearance. Her husband was cleared without any questions. The woman recounted the questions she was asked during pre-screening and the possible reasons why she was not allowed to travel further into the United States. The woman was asked how long she had been in India and whether she worked in India. The Reddit user said she spent two months in India for work and vacation. She gets paid time off but works part-time.She was sent for secondary inspection and asked to produce proof that her labor conditions application did not mention working in India. The woman was told she had “overstayed” her stay in India and that it was against U.S. law to be paid while working there for a U.S. company. “They canceled my visa and stamped ‘Cancellation and Withdrawal’ on my passport. I was told that I needed to get my visa stamped again. However, there are currently no visa appointment slots available,” the woman wrote. “My company’s immigration attorney said there is no such provision prohibiting remote working in India while employed by a U.S. company and advised me to stamp it again. But since there are no vacancies, I’m stressed out and don’t know what to do next,” the woman wrote in asking for advice. Hundreds of H-1B workers have been stranded in India since December 2025 when the U.S. State Department began social media censorship, leading to massive rescheduling of visa appointments. Those with appointments in December were rescheduled to April or May 2026. Then all the dates got confused and now the consulate has no date for visa stamping in 2026. While some companies allow Indian H-1B employees to work remotely in India as long as they are stuck in their home country, the legal part of it remains a gray area for most companies and employees.
Savannah Guthrie admits mom Nancy ‘might be gone’ but still offers $1 million reward to bring her home
Savannah Guthrie Her family is offering an additional reward of up to $1 million for any information that may lead to her mother’s whereabouts. Nancy Guthrie. The “Today” show co-host shared the news on social media on Tuesday.
Savannah Guthrie admits mom may not be alive, but says ‘we still believe in miracles’
In a recent video shared on Instagram, Savannah Expressing her hope that her mother would be found, she also realized that she “could go missing.”
“Hello everyone. What I want to say is that it is day 24 since our mom was taken from her bed in the dark night and every moment and every long night since then has been filled with pain because I worry about her, fear her, ache for her and most of all miss her,” she continued.
“She may be gone. She may have returned to the Lord she loved and is dancing in heaven with her mom and dad, her beloved brother Pierce and our dad,” she said.
Addressing her followers, Savannah “We know millions of you have been praying, and many of you have been praying for people of all faiths and no faith at all. We feel these prayers,” he said.
“Please continue to pray without ceasing. We still believe. We still believe in miracles. We still believe she can come home. … We are blowing out the embers of hope.”
Also read: Who is Mark Taylor Bullock? All about his mother and fiancée being invited to SOTU
Savannah Guthrie and family offer up to $1 million in reward for mother’s recovery
Savannah is further asking for help in locating her missing mother and is urging people to contact her with any available information about the case.
“Someone knows how to find our mom and bring her home. Please call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) – you can remain anonymous – or find a way to contact me,” the American journalist wrote in the post.
“Note: The family award of up to $1 million will be paid only if Nancy Guthrie recovers, which is the same as FBI Reward payment standards in this case: https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/nancy-guthrie. Support other families of the missing: @ncmec,” she added.
Supported by Savannah Guthrie’s colleagues
The video, which also aired on Tuesday’s “Today” show, drew strong reactions from colleagues in Savannah.
“Our dear friend and colleague Savannah Guthrie, who just posted this video on social media, said they still believe in miracles, and now the family is offering a million-dollar reward for any information that leads to Nancy Guthrie’s return,” said Craig Melvin.
Hoda “I think it’s painful to live in this uncertainty, and it’s a plea for anybody to know that someone does know something,” said Kotb, who has temporarily replaced Savannah.
Nancy was last seen on January 31, when her daughter Anne and her son-in-law Tommaso Cioni dropped her off at their home in Tucson after a usual dinner.
Authorities were alerted to her absence the next morning when she failed to show up for a church service.
During the investigation into her disappearance, officials discovered a blood trail on Nancy’s front porch.
Earlier this month, the FBI released disturbing home security camera images showing an armed, masked man outside Nancy’s home the night she disappeared.
Several people have been detained during the investigation. However, they were later released after proving they had nothing to do with Nancy’s disappearance.
All of Nancy’s descendants and her partner were exonerated as suspects in her disappearance.
‘Root out enemies and traitors’: Sasikala forms new party ahead of Tamil Nadu elections India News
New Delhi: Expelled AIADMK leader VK Sasikala on Tuesday announced that she will form a new political party in Tamil Nadu. She made the announcement at a public meeting in Ramanathapuram to mark the birth anniversary of former chief minister Jayalalithaa.“We are about to witness a new political chapter. We will form a new political party,” Sasikala said. She added that the party will follow the Dravidian movement and follow the path of Perarinya Anna, Prachithalaivar MGR and Prachithalaivi Amma.She further said the party would serve the “poor, downtrodden and common people” and would “root out enemies and traitors”. Sasikala also introduced the party flag at the event. The flag is in black, white and red colors and features images of Perarignar Anna, MGR and Jayalalithaa. The name of the party will be announced soon.Recalling the events after Jayalalithaa’s death in 2016, Sasikala said ministers and MLAs had requested her to become the chief minister. “They told me, ‘Chinnamma, you have to become chief minister,'” she said. She added that she refused then, saying she had personal duties to fulfill and Paneselvam should continue as chief minister.Sasikala was expelled from the AIADMK after being charged in the disproportionate assets case. Tamil Nadu is scheduled to hold assembly elections in the first half of this year.
Donald Trump says hospital ship ‘en route’ to Greenland – Navy says no orders have been issued
The Pentagon has reportedly not received any orders to send a hospital ship to Greenland, despite President Donald Trump claiming over the weekend that a hospital ship was “en route.”The military has not received orders to deploy any Navy ships, and both Navy hospital ships are reportedly docked at a shipyard in Alabama, according to the Wall Street Journal.The Independent has contacted the Navy, Pentagon and White House for comment.On Saturday, President Trump claimed a mission was en route to the autonomous territory of Denmark and posted photos of the Navy’s USS Mercy hospital ship.“We will be working with the wonderful Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, to send a great hospital ship to Greenland to take care of the many people who are sick and not getting care there,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Already on the way!!!”The president’s remarks came on the same day that the Danish military conducted an emergency medical evacuation of a crew member aboard a U.S. submarine near Greenland, flying them via helicopter to a hospital in the island’s capital, Nuuk, for treatment.The leaders of Greenland and Denmark have dismissed suggestions that a hospital ship is needed.“This would be our ‘no,'” Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen wrote on Facebook on Sunday.“President Trump’s idea of sending a U.S. hospital ship to Greenland has received appropriate attention,” he added. “But we have a public health system that provides free care to citizens.”“It’s great to live in a country where everyone has free and equal access to health,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen wrote in a separate statement. “It’s not insurance and wealth that determine whether you get appropriate treatment. It’s the same way in Greenland.”Landry, who also serves as the U.S. envoy to Greenland, reacted angrily to the officials’ condemnation.“Shame on Chancellor Jens Frederik Nielsen!” he wrote on X on Sunday.“After speaking with many Greenlanders about the day-to-day problems they face, one issue stands out – healthcare,” he added. “Many villages and small towns lack basic services that Americans often take for granted.”The confusion over the hospital ship mission comes as tensions rise between the United States and its northern neighbor, as President Trump has repeatedly hinted that he wants to take over or potentially invade Greenland, despite the objections of local officials and European partners.In January, Trump vowed not to use military force in Greenland and walked back his threat to impose tariffs on U.S. allies who opposed the move.He said the United States and NATO allies had reached a “framework for a future agreement” on Arctic island territories.
