The Centre has argued in the Supreme Court that the six-year disqualification for convicts from contesting elections is constitutionally sound and a lifetime ban should be decided by Parliament. An advocate had filed a petition seeking a lifetime ban on convicted politicians, but the government argued that time-bound penalties ensure deterrence without being excessively harsh. Courts cannot direct Parliament on legislative policy.
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday humorously suggested introducing a law to counter Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah's dominance. During a New Year's Day reception ahead of the Sydney Test, the PM praised Bumrah’s exceptional performance in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which includes 30 wickets at an average of 12.83.
NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore are returning to Earth on March 19, 2025 after over eight months aboard the ISS. They faced delays due to issues with Boeing’s Starliner. Upon return, they'll undergo an extensive rehabilitation program to readjust to gravity, rebuild strength and balance, as well as mitigate the effects of microgravity.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed concerns over efforts to downplay the significance of the 1971 Liberation War, warning that such attempts threaten Bangladesh's independence. Fakhrul highlighted that some groups are trying to erase the war from memory and distort history, emphasizing the need to preserve the nation's historical events for younger generations.
CERT-In has identified two critical and high-severity vulnerabilities in the Google Chrome browser that could allow remote attackers to exploit user data and systems.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, commented on the challenge of competing with Google after web analytics data showed ChatGPT ranking sixth among top websites for January 2025. OpenAI recently made ChatGPT's search feature available to everyone, potentially capturing up to 1% of the search market, challenging established players like Google Search and Microsoft's Bing.
VHP and Bajrang Dal activists disrupted an Easter prayer meet in Odhav, Ahmedabad, alleging religious conversion. The activists, chanting slogans and wielding sticks, entered the gathering and demanded attendees leave. Police responded to the scene after being alerted, and are currently investigating complaints from both the activists and the Christian group. No physical altercations were reported.
India's bowlers roared back on day two of the Brisbane Test, with Jasprit Bumrah grabbing two quick wickets after rain curtailed day one. Nitish Kumar Reddy then dismissed Marnus Labuschagne, caught by Virat Kohli, who shushed the Australian crowd after the dismissal. At lunch, Australia had reached 104/3, with Smith and Head at the crease.
Punjab police on Wednesday received 104 deported Indian immigrants from the US amid President Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration. The deportees, including Jaspal Singh from Punjab, were unaware of their destination and arrived in Amritsar on a US military aircraft. The returnees were transported under tight security.
Donald Trump's administration is straining traditional Anglophone alliances amid a pronounced MAGA agenda. The White House is pressuring countries like Canada, UK, and Australia to embrace anti-immigration policies or face potential exclusion from critical intelligence networks such as Five Eyes, signaling a significant geopolitical shift.
Shubman Gill dismissed Pat Cummins' claims about the effectiveness of Australia's short-ball tactic in Adelaide. Cummins suggested they might use it again in the third Test, but Gill pointed out it mainly dismissed lower-order batsmen. Gill, confident in India's batting, aims for a substantial first-innings total after their previous low scores.