During the lunch break of the second day's play in the Brisbane Test, several Indian players, including Devdutt Padikkal and Sarfaraz Khan, practiced in the nets under the watchful eyes of their coaches. Sarfaraz even faced a few deliveries from Australian coach Daniel Vettori. Even though only 80 deliveries were possible on the opening day due to strong showers, the crowd came out in big numbers for the second day and all public tickets were sold out.
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Young opener Abhimanyu Easwaran’s patience continues as his impressive domestic performances, including consistent centuries, have yet to earn him a spot in India’s playing XI. Despite repeated inclusions in the Test squad, his chances have been thwarted by sub-par performances in crucial moments, highlighting the competitive nature of Indian cricket selection.
The Labour and Employment Ministry has established a five-person committee to expedite auto claim settlements at EPFO, impacting over 75 million members. The initiative aims to reduce manual processing and rejections.
Hollywood star Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson received over $41 million in TKO stock after joining WWE and UFC's board of directors. Signing a new contract, he secured rights to 'The Rock' name. The grant includes 96,557 shares vesting initially in December 2024, with the remainder throughout 2025. His WrestleMania 41 appearance remains uncertain due to Hollywood commitments.
A Russian missile struck a warehouse belonging to Kusum Healthcare, an Indian pharmaceutical company, in Ukraine, prompting condemnation from the Ukrainian embassy, which alleged a deliberate targeting of Indian businesses. While details on damage and casualties remain scarce, the incident has yet to elicit comment from the Indian or Russian governments.
Anand Mahindra humorously turned Bengaluru's persistent traffic into an unplanned advantage during his visit for the Invest Karnataka 2025 summit. He quipped that his new Mahindra BE 6 electric SUV got extensive visibility due to the constant gridlock, acting as a 'live showroom'. Social media users enjoyed his witty take on the city's traffic.
Starting April 1, 2025, changes in income tax slabs, UPI rules, and TDS thresholds will take effect. The highest tax rate of 30% applies to income above Rs 24 lakh. TDS thresholds for interest income have been increased. The Unified Pension Scheme begins and existing small savings scheme rates remain unchanged.
Aligarh Muslim University has introduced guidelines for students from Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan, preventing them from commenting on social media about national or international issues. They must seek permission before leaving the city and keep the administration informed of their movements. Disciplinary actions will be taken for violations, following recent protests over objectionable comments by Bangladeshi students.
South Korea’s Industry and Labour Ministers advocated revising the 52-hour workweek to permit semiconductor researchers to work longer hours, emphasizing the necessity due to intense global competition. Despite ongoing debates, no consensus has been reached on the special bill for the semiconductor industry exemption.
The 25% tariff on auto parts and automobiles is unlikely to significantly impact India. While Indian auto part exports to the US total $2.2 billion, the uniform application of the tariff levels the playing field. The Indian government has an opportunity to boost exports amidst these tariffs.
Federal agencies addressed recent drone sighting concerns, clarifying most were legitimate or misidentified objects. Thousands of drones operate legally daily, and while some sightings near military bases are under investigation, no national security threat is currently evident. Authorities are using advanced technology to monitor the situation and assure public safety.