New Delhi: The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has procured 405 air purifiers in the past four years. The supplies have been provided to offices, conference halls, VIP lounges, restaurants, courts, ministerial chambers and the Constitution Club of India, the government told the Lok Sabha on Thursday.In a written reply, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development said that CPWD procured 300 air purifiers between 2023-24 and 2024-25. “The equipment was distributed to offices, conference halls, VVIP lounges, judges’ mess and Supreme Court Registrar, Tribunals, Ministers, Constitution Club of India, LS/RS Secretariat at Parliament House and departments of ministries, Nirman Bhavan, Sewa Bhavan, Vigyan Bhavan and CPWD offices in Jodhpur and Varanasi,” the statement said.Considering that departments purchase air purifiers through the government’s online marketplace GeM, the total number of air purifiers installed across all government departments is much higher.
India faced England in the U-19 World Cup final in Harare in a calm mood that seemed almost defiant in its restraint. In a tournament often tinged with hype and talk of fate, the team, led by skipper Ayush Mhatre, has opted for a different style: neutral, clear and confident.If Aaron George’s words are any indication, this isn’t a team obsessed with grand schemes or running high on emotions. “There are no grand sermons and speeches. Under coach (Hrishikesh) Kanitkar sir, we believe in staying neutral and making our roles clear,” Aaron, a centurion in Wednesday’s semi-finals, told TOI.
Why is the number of participants in this T20 World Cup expected to exceed 300? Will India make history?
Friday will be India’s sixth consecutive U-19 World Cup final, a streak that started in 2016. This will be their tenth final at this level, four more than second-placed Australia. “There’s pressure, but I don’t think it’s a burden,” he noted.Aaron’s impressive 115 in the semi-final against Afghanistan became the third-highest score by a batsman in the knockout stages of the U-19 World Cup, after Nicholas Pooran’s 143 in 2014 and Cheteshwar Pujara’s 129 in 2006.“He refused to see it as anything other than the next ball he needed to hit,” he said of the game-winning knock.“There’s no detailed blueprint for the finals,” Aaron said. The situation is already familiar, but India are happy to let the pitch “show itself”. Preparation is based on repetition rather than prediction to build muscle memory. George acknowledged that the summit conflict presented challenges you can’t rehearse.“You can prepare for hours at the net, but the game presents unique challenges that you can’t prepare for. This is where the calm, instinctive and honest process comes into play,” explains Aaron.Beyond the tactical level discussion, the base impact is also telling. “I listen to R&B and hip-hop to relax,” he said. Faith, prayer and daily life help him stay focused. “I don’t fear God, I love God.” There is also ambition. Aaron talks about wanting to be a three-format player for India.Aaron admits the pressure never goes away. “The difference is learning to coexist. This final is not seen as an extraordinary event but another game that requires discipline and composure. We will give 100 per cent,” he added.England will test that composure through high-intensity games.
The release of more than three million documents linked to late sex offender financier Jeffrey Epstein has sparked a wave of lurid accusations online, including accusations of cannibalism and “ritual sacrifices.”
Jeffrey Epstein with his partner and ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell (AFP)
The documents were made public after US President Donald Trump allowed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to declassify material related to Epstein. Epstein died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
On January 30, the Department of Justice released a trove of records related to Epstein. Soon after, social media posts began circulating claiming the documents accused Epstein or people in his social circle of eating babies, cannibalizing people and engaging in ritual killings.
The accusations quickly gained traction, with users selectively citing excerpts from emails and interview excerpts included in the document.
“cream cheese” reference
One message attributed to Epstein that was widely shared online read: “Millions of babies but few good vegetables” [vegetable] Cream cheese. “
Another line on the same exchange said: “Haha I don’t know if cream cheese and babies are on the same level.”
In a subsequent version of the exchange, another participant was identified as “Nadia.” While the full identity is unknown, Epstein’s former pilot was Nadia Marcinko, also known as Nada Marcinkova, who has been reported missing since early 2024.
The documents did not clarify the context of the conversation, but the juxtaposition of the words “baby” and “cream cheese” fueled claims of cannibalism online.
“Cream cheese” is mentioned several times in the DOJ document. However, in most cases the context is mundane and has to do with food or activity planning.
There is no indication in the record that the term was used as a metaphor for violence or cannibalism.
The saying “elites eat people”
Furthering speculation, a 2009 video resurfaced online showing then-21-year-old model Gabriela Rico Jiménez being detained in Guadalajara while shouting about elite cannibalism, rituals and sacrifices at elite gatherings.
The video, combined with newly released Epstein documents, further amplifies the conspiracy-driven narrative across platforms.
Fact-checking cannibalism claims
Fueled by widespread claims online, fact-checking website Snopescensored The Justice Department documented and addressed the viral allegations. Snopes said that while the documents did mention cannibalism and ritual sacrifices, the legitimacy of those claims could not be proven.
According to the fact-checking website, “cannibalism” appears 52 times in Epstein’s files, while “cannibalism” is mentioned six times. However, none directly support the claim of virality.
“In short, the assertion that the Epstein files contain such allegations and references is true and based on snopes Review of federal records,” the report states.
But the site reportedly doesn’t stop there Snopesthe allegations date back to a 2019 interview between FBI officials and an anonymous person.
“The baby was dismembered and his intestines removed”
According to records cited by the Justice Department SnopesThe anonymous man claimed he witnessed extreme abuse on Epstein’s yacht in 2000.
In an email to FBI officials, the man claimed that he “was the victim of a sacrificial ritual in which his feet were severed with a machete but left no scar. On the yacht, he witnessed babies being dismembered, their intestines removed, and their feces being eaten.”
The man also accused Epstein and other high-profile figures of sexually assaulting him during the same incident.
However, Justice Department records show he provided no evidence to support his claims.
Snopes noted that the anonymous man was not specifically accused of cannibalism, but of consuming human feces.
Mural at the Ruble Nagi Art Foundation in Dhobighat, Mumbai; (right) Educator and artist Ruble Nagi receives the 2026 Global Teacher Award.
MUMBAI: For years, teacher and artist Ruble Nagi has been using slum walls to create murals to provide education to children who rarely go to school. That work was recognized on the global stage Thursday when she won the 2026 Global Teacher Prize, the world’s largest award for educators, with a $1 million prize.It was presented at the World Government Summit in Dubai, an annual gathering of leaders and policymakers. The award is supported by the Varkey Foundation and UNESCO — Honoring teachers whose work has reshaped learning outcomes and communities.Najib developed a pedagogy around art and began her work in the slums of Mumbai about a decade ago. In accepting the award, she said recognition for work rooted in “education, compassion, consistency and service” strengthened her determination to continue working with marginalized children.Through the Ruble Nagi Arts Foundation, she has established more than 800 learning centers across India, reaching children who have never been to school as well as those who are enrolled but struggling to keep up. The focus is on basic literacy, numeracy and basic conceptual understanding in communities where formal schooling often fails to sustain them.Nagi is perhaps best known for her murals, which use color, symbols, and stories to teach lessons. Neglected spaces in the settlements were turned into open-air classrooms teaching languages, science, mathematics and history. Art is vital to her as a vehicle for instilling confidence, healing, and self-expression.Starting from small-scale practical actions among families living in fragile living conditions, the Nagi Art Foundation has now expanded to villages and various urban centres. She said the underlying belief is that inequality is not destiny and that a dignified education can bridge the gap between exclusion and opportunity. Nagi, an educator inspired by the legacy of Savitribai Phule, said she remains committed to education without discrimination.Under her Misaal India initiative, Najib has also set up skill centers for women to help them become financially independent and become entrepreneurs.Global Teacher Award and GEMS Education founder Sunny Varkey said Najib represents “the best of teaching – courage, creativity and compassion”. Francis Joseph, CEO of GEMS Education, said Najib’s influence extends beyond the traditional classroom. Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO, said the award reaffirmed a “simple truth: teachers matter”.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (PTI Photo)
NEW DELHI: Railways expects passenger transport revenue at Rs 87,300 crore in 2026-27, a little more than 9 per cent higher than the revised estimate (RE) for the current fiscal, as it continues to launch more new-age Vande Bharat soft-seat and sleeper trains and Amrit Bharat trains besides adding other conventional trains.However, with people likely to travel less kilometers by nearly 10.6% by March 2026, the company has revised down its passenger revenue this year to a budget estimate (BE) of Rs 92,800 crore.Similarly, in the freight segment, the ministry expects revenue of around Rs 188 crore in FY27, which is the same as the osf BE in FY26 and 6% higher than the RE in the current fiscal. The data also showed that the Railways may end up generating revenue of about Rs 1.78 billion by March, about 5.5% below the target set for this year.It is worth noting that although the railway has not lowered its freight target of 1.7 billion this year, freight transportation revenue will still be below the target. The drop in revenue was due to about 1% less distance traveled by rail to move goods, meaning distances may be shorter than rail initially estimated, the data showed.Replying to a question on the national transporter’s revenue, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday said the company continues to increase passenger and freight revenue. Passenger revenue increased from Rs 70,693 crore in FY24, he added to Rs 75,368 crore RE of Rs 80,000 crore in 2024-25 and Rs 80,000 crore in FY26. Similarly, in the freight segment, revenue increased from Rs 168 crore in FY24 to Rs 171 crore in 2024-25 and RE for the current fiscal was pegged at Rs 178 crore.On why Railways is unlikely to meet the BE target, Vaishnaw said the government always sets an “ambitious” target so that everyone works hard and performs better than before. He added that the Railways has continued to record net income for the past three years, which indicates that the day-to-day operations of the national transporter are sound.As revenue rises, the railways expects to improve its operating ratio (OR) from 98.82 per cent in the current financial year to 98.4 per cent in FY27, according to budget documents. OR means money spent for every 100 rupees earned. Railways aims to end the next financial year with a net income of Rs 3,000 crore, about 35% higher than the forecast of Rs 1,957 crore in FY26.
An annual study by Square Circle Clinic, a criminal justice initiative at NALSAR Law School in Hyderabad, found that trial courts across the country continued to impose a large number of death sentences in 2025 despite appeals courts quashing or modifying most of the sentences, raising “serious concerns about the reliability of convictions in death penalty cases”.According to the “Death Penalty in India: Annual Statistical Report 2025” released on February 4, from 2016 to 2025, trial courts imposed 1,310 death sentences, but the High Court confirmed only 106 cases. Reports show that the Supreme Court has upheld just over half of the death sentences confirmed by high courts, without upholding the original verdicts.The data indicate a persistent gap between trial court decisions and appeal outcomes. As of December 31 last year, a total of 574 inmates were on death row, which the report said was “the largest year-end population on death row since 2016.”Against this backdrop, the study found that in 2025, courts sentenced 128 people to death in 94 cases.The report shows that in 2025 alone, the HC recorded acquittals, commutations, remands or commutations in most of the death penalty cases it adjudicated, and the SC’s records reflect a similar pattern. The study found that the Supreme Court has not confirmed a single death sentence between 2023 and 2025, even if the high court initially upheld the death sentence.In 2025 alone, the High Court acquitted 35 people in 22 cases. The Supreme Court acquitted more than half of the cases it decided, setting a record for the most acquittals of 10 people on death row in the past decade.“The frequency with which death sentences are overturned on appeal raises serious concerns about the reliability of convictions in death penalty cases,” the report states.Those acquitted by the HC spent an average of 5.17 years on death row, with some remaining on death row for nearly 20 years before being acquitted.“The high rate of acquittals on death row exposes deep fractures in the criminal legal system,” said Shreya Rastogi, director of litigation and forensics at Square Circle Clinic. “When more than a third of the HC’s confirmed cases result in acquittal, it shows that failures in investigation and prosecution harm both victims and defendants. These mistakes cost people decades of life and liberty.”Maitreyi Misra, director of research and mitigation at Square Circle Clinic, said the failings identified in the report were found throughout the criminal justice process. “The Supreme Court itself, while acquitting death row inmates, has repeatedly pointed out failures at multiple levels including the investigative agencies, prosecutorial agencies and lower courts.”
New Delhi: election committee Officials appointed as central observers for the upcoming parliamentary elections in four states and one Union Territory were on Thursday directed to act impartially, ensure compliance with all electoral laws and existing Election Commission guidelines and be the eyes and ears of the commission by reporting any electoral malpractice noticed by them.Addressing the central observers of India’s International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Management (IIIDEM) here, Chief Election Commissioner Janesh Kumar said the Election Commission has chosen them as a beacon for the assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. He asked them to ensure free, fair and transparent polls, stressing that their presence was crucial in energizing the entire electoral machinery in the polling states and UT’s 824 precincts.Polling in these four states and Puducherry is likely to be held in April-May. A total of 1,444 observers will be briefed in three batches on Thursday and Friday.West Bengal Home Minister Jagdish Prasad Meena and Howrah Police Commissioner Praveen Kumar Tripathi are among the 25 IAS and IPS officers appointed by the EC as central observers.The EC also held a question and answer session. Senior officials briefed observers on the preparation of electoral rolls and other aspects.
mayor of new york city, Zoran MamdaniOn Wednesday, he publicly blasted artificial intelligence-generated images circulating on social media that falsely depicted his mother, Mira Nair, and him as children with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The mayor described seeing the images as “very difficult”.
Zohran Mamdani criticized artificial intelligence-generated images depicting him and his mother and Jeffrey Epstein, calling the experience “extremely difficult.” (X/@ThadhaniManish_)
The false images began circulating online shortly after the Justice Department released millions of documents from Epstein’s dossier. One of the new documents includes a 2009 email stating Mira NairAttend the after-party of the movie.
Social media users have since taken advantage of this background and created AI-powered photos.
“There’s a saying about how quickly a lie spreads compared to the truth.”
The AI images went viral on various social media platforms, where Mamdani and Nair were seen posing with Jeff Bezos, Epstein, and former President Ghislaine Maxwell. bill clintonand Bill Gates.
The images sparked fresh controversy and sparked an online backlash from Mamdani and Nair.
Another image created by the AI shows Nair holding baby Mamdani alongside Bezos, Maxwell, Clinton and Epstein. The account that created the images originally billed itself as an “artificial intelligence-powered meme engine.”
Responding to the controversy, Mamdani said that in the “age of misinformation” it was “extremely difficult” to clearly see the fake “obviously photoshopped” images being circulated around the world.
He also recounted the adage – “How quickly a lie spreads compared to the truth.”
Mamdani calls for tighter regulation AI and digital platforms to curb the misuse of such tools. “We also have to work to make sure that we have a city, we have a state, we have a country that actually has a regulatory system in place when it comes to artificial intelligence,” Mamdani said.
He warned of the speed at which AI technology is developing in today’s world, saying: “Today’s systems are frankly ill-equipped for the speed and reach of the technology before us.”
New Delhi: The number of fatalities on national highways fell by around 11 per cent in 2025 compared to last year, i.e., 57,482 in 2025 as against 64,772 in 2024, the Ministry of Road Transport informed the Lok Sabha on Monday, citing eDAR (electronic detailed accident) reports.According to written replies, Uttar Pradesh, MP and Chhattisgarh reported a sharp drop in fatalities in Guard accidents passing through these states. officials saidThe eDAR data is provisional and the exact death toll will not be released until April, as many people died from their injuries weeks after the crash.“However, when fully verified data becomes available, we expect a reduction in fatalities on national highways,” an official said.The number of fatalities on UP highways was 6,973 last year and 9,560 in 2024, the data shows. Similarly, the number of fatalities on MP national highways decreased to 2,882 in 2025 from 4,644 in the previous year. Punjab also saw 858 deaths due to NHs last year, while the figure was 1,562 in 2024.Gujarat and Jharkhand are the only two states with a higher death toll. In Gujarat, the death toll increased to 2,380 from 2,192 in 2024 and in Jharkhand to 1,783 in 2025 from 1,686 in the previous year.
While India and Malaysia will seek to strengthen trade and defense ties during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s weekend visit to Kuala Lumpur, India is also likely to raise the issue of extraditing fugitive Zakir Naik. Several memorandums of understanding are likely to be signed during the visit, including one to collaborate with Malaysia’s booming semiconductor industry.“During past visits, we had an opportunity to discuss the issue at various levels. And, we may continue to discuss the issue until all technical procedures are completed and we hope to get the results we want,” MEA Secretary (East) P Kumaran said in response to a question on Naik.India and Malaysia have an extradition treaty, but as Malaysia insists, the case will be resolved based on judicial considerations. The official said Modi and Anwar Ibrahim will review the progress of the India-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, especially in priority areas of cooperation such as trade, investment, defence, security, semiconductors, digital technology, renewable energy, education, healthcare and people-to-people exchanges.Kumaran also highlighted the potential for defense cooperation between the two countries, saying India was considering selling Dornier aircraft to Malaysia. “Malaysia also has Scorpene-class submarines. We are looking for opportunities to try cooperation, especially in terms of mid-term upgrades, modifications, etc.,” the official said.
