Times of India

Civil defence mock drills, dubbed 'Operation Shield,' scheduled for Thursday in states bordering Pakistan, including Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir, have been postponed due to administrative reasons. Punjab has requested the Centre to reschedule the exercise for June 3, as their civil defence staff are currently undergoing NDRF training.

President Trump revealed he asked Prime Minister Netanyahu to hold off on military action against Iran, prioritizing ongoing nuclear negotiations. Trump expressed optimism about reaching a deal with Iran, citing "very good discussions" and potential for a breakthrough announcement soon.

Ravindra Jadeja credits two influential figures named Mahendra, both from Bihar, for shaping his cricket career. He highlights his childhood coach, Mahendra Singh Chauhan, for instilling a strong emphasis on fitness and fielding. Jadeja also praises MS Dhoni's unparalleled greatness and Virat Kohli's relentless pursuit of victory in Test cricket, emphasizing his positive approach.

The extension of the ITR filing deadline to September 15, 2025, may increase the government's interest liability on tax refunds, calculated from April 1st. Taxpayers filing by the extended deadline are still eligible for interest, but delaying may not significantly benefit them. Experts suggest early filing to expedite refunds, despite the government's manageable interest burden.

Shashi Tharoor's recent remarks, suggesting India first breached the LoC during the 2016 surgical strike, have ignited a fresh controversy with the Congress and the BJP engaged in a war of words. This follows Tharoor's earlier praise for PM Modi's diplomatic efforts, going against the party line. Congress leaders are countering Tharoor's statements citing past surgical strikes during the UPA regime.

A video has surfaced showing French First Lady Brigitte Macron seemingly shoving President Emmanuel Macron in Vietnam. Reports suggest a tense exchange followed, with Brigitte allegedly uttering, 'Stay away, you loser.' While the Élysée Palace initially dismissed the clip, its authenticity was later confirmed. Macron downplayed the incident, attributing it to playful banter and criticizing the overblown reaction.

Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia have strongly criticised Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh after a Delhi court dismissed the POCSO Act case against him. Punia highlighted Singh's celebratory roadshow despite six other sexual harassment cases still pending. He alleges continued pressure on the remaining female wrestlers to withdraw their complaints.

Elon Musk has criticized Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' deeming it a deficit-increasing spending bill. "I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful," Musk said. "But I don't know if it could be both."

Sebi has barred former IndusInd Bank CEO Sumant Kathpalia and four others from the securities market, impounding ₹19.78 crore. The regulator alleges they traded on unpublished price-sensitive information related to an RBI directive impacting the bank. This action follows Sebi's investigation into potential accounting frauds within IndusInd Bank.

President Trump has proposed a $175 billion "Golden Dome" missile defense system, aiming for completion by 2029. This initiative, intended to shield the US from long-range missile threats, faces scrutiny over its effectiveness and potential enrichment of allies like Elon Musk. Concerns arise regarding the project's technical challenges, immense costs, and the possibility of escalating an arms race in space.

The United States has declared a new visa restriction policy aimed at foreign individuals who suppress the free speech rights of American citizens abroad. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that this policy will target foreign officials and individuals complicit in censoring Americans. This includes those who fine, harass, or criminally charge US.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inquired about Ghulam Nabi Azad's health after the senior leader was hospitalized in Riyadh during an all-party MP delegation tour. Azad is now recovering in Kuwait and reports his test results are normal. BJP MP Baijayant Panda, leading the delegation, noted Azad's absence will be felt in Saudi Arabia and Algeria.

In a stunning move, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll foreign students, citing alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party and a hostile campus environment marked by antisemitism. Secretary Kristi Noem accused Harvard of CCP coordination and fostering violence, impacting over 6,000 international students.

The Lokpal has cleared former Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch of corruption allegations stemming from a Hindenburg Research report. The anti-corruption ombudsman deemed the complaints "untenable" and lacking credible evidence. Buch and her husband had previously refuted claims of involvement in the 'Adani money siphoning scandal', dismissing them as baseless.

Kamal Hasan's claim that "Kannada is born out of Tamil" ignited a language row, prompting criticism from Karnataka's Chief Minister and BJP president. Hasan later clarified that politicians, including himself, are unqualified to discuss language origins and suggested leaving it to linguists. He faced threats from Karnataka Rakshana Vedike for allegedly disrespecting Kannada.

Ravichandran Ashwin, who has been under scrutiny himself since the controversial run-out of Jos Buttler in IPL 2019, stood firmly in support of Lucknow Super Giants bowler Digvesh Rathi on Wednesday. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin dissected the incident involving Rathi’s attempt to dismiss Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma at the non-striker’s end during their IPL 2025 clash.

N Chandrababu Naidu has been re-elected as the president of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for another two years. The announcement was made at the party's annual Mahanadu conclave, where TDP Election Committee Chairman Varla Ramaiah declared Naidu's unopposed election after receiving backing from around 600 TDP leaders.

Shubman Gill is set to lead India in the upcoming Test series against England, with Rishabh Pant as vice-captain. Karun Nair makes a comeback after eight years, while Shreyas Iyer is notably absent. Gautam Gambhir declined to comment on Iyer's exclusion. Iyer's leadership will be tested as Punjab Kings face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2025 Qualifier 1.

A new threat looms as scientists warn of dangerous asteroids near Venus, hidden from Earth's telescopes by the Sun's glare. These Venus co-orbitals, including asteroids like 2020 SB, pose a collision risk due to their unstable orbits. Experts urge for dedicated space missions to monitor this blind spot and enhance planetary defence, safeguarding Earth from potential catastrophic impacts.