Times of India

Kane Williamson stresses the importance of learning from New Zealand's earlier defeat to India as they prepare for the Champions Trophy final against the same opponents in Dubai on March 9. New Zealand advanced after a 50-run win over South Africa with standout performances from Williamson, Rachin Ravindra and Mitchell Santner.

Playback singer Kalpana Raghavendar was found unconscious in her Hyderabad home, leading to hospitalization. She clarified that the incident was an accidental overdose of insomnia medication due to stress from a disagreement with her daughter over education. Kalpana attempted to sleep by consuming multiple tablets but lost consciousness instead. Her husband, unable to reach her, sought help, leading to her rescue. Kalpana's daughter dismissed suicide rumors, assuring the family's well-being. Kalpana, with a career spanning over 1,500 songs, is expected to recover shortly.

Kannada actor Ranya Rao was intercepted at KIA with 14.2kg of gold bars concealed in a belt. Subsequent searches at her residence uncovered ₹2.1 crore worth of gold ornaments and ₹2.7 crore in cash. Investigations suggest these were linked to a prominent politician.

Khalistani extremists in London heckled and attempted to attack external affairs minister S Jaishankar. The incident occurred during Jaishankar’s UK visit to strengthen the India-UK strategic partnership. Police officers present appeared unresponsive to the vandalism.

The Los Angeles Lakers plan to convert Jordan Goodwin's two-way contract into a standard NBA deal as they prepare for the playoffs. Goodwin has become a key player, averaging 6.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. To make space, the Lakers are likely to waive Cam Reddish. A multi-year contract for Goodwin is also anticipated.

President Donald Trump issued a final warning to Hamas, demanding the immediate release of American hostages in Gaza. This follows his meeting with former hostages and signals the US's direct engagement with Hamas representatives in Qatar, breaking from longstanding US policy.

China announced a 7.2% hike in its defence budget, bringing it to over $245 billion, reflecting its continued military modernization. This intensifies strategic challenges for the US and India, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, amid mounting geopolitical tensions. On the other hand, India's defence budget remains constrained by operational shortfalls and spending limitations.

Boatman Pintu Mahara and his family from Prayagraj expanded their fleet in anticipation of the Maha Kumbh influx, significantly increasing their income. The family credits their financial transformation to the strategic organization of the event by PM Narendra Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath, which attracted millions of devotees.

A massive fire ignited at a dumpsite in Noida's Sector 32, fueled by dry waste and strong winds. The blaze, which started due to a discarded bidi, is being battled by 15 fire tenders and 75 firefighters. The accused, a drunken man attempting suicide, has been taken into custody.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attributed the pollution in the Ganga river to the British era. While addressing the Legislative Council, he mentioned that despite the pollution, the river remains sacred to the people.

Indian children with expiring dependent visas face uncertainty as recent US immigration changes affect their ability to stay legally. Green card backlogs and policy shifts may force them to leave the US, despite having lived there most of their lives, leading to potential financial burdens and emotional distress.

A 27-year-old student from Rangareddy district, Gampa Praveen, was shot dead during a suspected robbery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Praveen was close to completing his MS in data science at the University of Wisconsin and worked part-time at a local store. His family is devastated and struggling with limited information about the incident.

A gang stole 830 kg of human hair worth nearly Rs 1 crore from a godown in Lakshmipura Cross, Bengaluru. The hair, stored in 27 bags, was taken in an SUV. A passerby alerted the police. Venkataswamy, the owner, suspects involvement of someone in the hair business. Police are investigating with CCTV footage.

The cabinet has approved two ropeway projects in Uttarakhand, reducing travel time significantly. These projects, Sonprayag to Kedarnath and Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib, will be implemented on a public-private partnership basis, costing around Rs 6,811 crore. The ropeways will provide fast, eco-friendly connectivity and are expected to boost pilgrimage and tourism.

Delhi Jal Board has reported rising ammonia levels in the Yamuna, attributed to industrial activities in Haryana. The fluctuating ammonia levels, reaching up to 8.4ppm, could disrupt Delhi's water supply. A proposed ammonia treatment plant at Wazirabad has faced delays. These fluctuations have created operational difficulties, occasionally halting water treatment plants. Despite challenges, water supply remained unaffected on Wednesday.