Times of India

Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith Balakrishnan faces arrest following a sexual assault complaint by an actress. Allegedly, he entered her caravan without consent on a film set. The Women in Cinema Collective has voiced strong criticism, questioning systemic failures in protecting women. Ranjith denies the charges, asserting his innocence and preparing a bail plea.

Iran has sharply retorted to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's "stone age" threats, highlighting Iran's ancient civilization and resilience. The Iranian embassy in South Africa countered that while Americans were "still in caves," Iran was inscribing human rights.

Pakistan faces a strategic crossroads, caught between alliances and regional conflicts. Past involvements in foreign wars, driven by external powers, have led to domestic instability and blowback. Now, a new defence pact with Saudi Arabia and escalating conflict with Afghanistan highlight the nation's struggle to balance relevance with long-term stability, risking further entanglement.

Lucknow Super Giants have clarified the on-field interaction between owner Sanjiv Goenka and captain Rishabh Pant after their recent defeat. The franchise released a video to counter speculation, emphasizing that "not everything you see is the true story." This follows a similar public exchange between Goenka and then-captain KL Rahul last season.

Anthropic's CCO, Paul Smith, revealed "process errors" during rapid product releases caused Claude Code's source code leak, not a hack. This incident highlights challenges in the competitive AI race. The company is also navigating a legal dispute with the US government and plans to go public soon.

Actor Rajpal Yadav's legal battle over a Rs 9 crore cheque bounce case saw the Delhi High Court reserve its verdict after settlement talks failed. Despite judicial intervention and an emotional plea from Yadav, who cited financial hardship, no agreement was reached.

IPL Chairman Arun Singh Dhumal revealed expansion plans for the tournament, aiming for 84 or 94 matches. However, a significant hurdle is the crowded international cricket calendar. Dhumal suggested a potential shift away from bilateral series could create the necessary space for the IPL's growth beyond its current 74-game format.

Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on PM Modi and Assam CM Sarma, alleging foreign influence and corruption ahead of the 2026 elections. Gandhi claimed Trump controls Modi and accused Sarma of running a "land ATM" with Modi and Shah. Congress also unveiled poll promises including financial aid for women and land rights.

Parliament is set to reconvene on April 16 to consider legislation that could increase Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 816, with 273 seats reserved for women. This move aims to implement a one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, significantly altering the country's political landscape and reinforcing the government's women's empowerment agenda.

Overall, the labour codes aim to balance protection, flexibility and clarity—supporting both employee welfare and organisational efficiency in a unified legal framework.

The Arctic is emerging as a critical new maritime highway, driven by Russia and China's strategic investments in infrastructure and icebreaker fleets. This development offers shorter trade routes between Asia and Europe, challenging traditional chokepoints and reshaping global power dynamics as the US plays catch-up.

India is set to join the UK-led discussions focusing on reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz, as confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs. The Foreign Secretary is expected to represent India at this pivotal meeting.

President Donald Trump publicly criticized Bruce Springsteen on social media, accusing the musician of "Trump Derangement Syndrome" and calling him a "boring singer." Trump urged his MAGA supporters to boycott Springsteen's concerts, citing the singer's long-standing vocal opposition to his presidency and policies. This latest exchange continues a feud that began in 2016.

IPL chairman Arun Singh Dhumal called Mustafizur Rahman’s release from Kolkata Knight Riders “unfortunate” after BCCI instructed the move, sparking controversy. The issue had wider fallout, with Bangladesh later replaced by Scotland in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Dhumal said the government has no role in daily cricket matters, while KKR confirmed they followed BCCI directives.

Sahibzada Farhan smashed an unbeaten 106 to guide Multan Sultans to a thrilling six-wicket victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the PSL. Chasing 226, Farhan's sensational century, supported by Steven Smith's quickfire 46, secured the fifth-highest successful chase in PSL history. This remarkable innings marked Farhan's ninth T20 century, placing him joint-fourth on the all-time list.

Amidst escalating Middle East conflict, India is providing petroleum supplies to neighboring nations like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan. The Maldives has also requested petroleum products, with India examining these requests based on its own availability.

Raghav Chadha has been removed as the Aam Aadmi Party's deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha. Ashok Mittal has been appointed in his place. The party has also requested the Rajya Sabha secretariat not to allot speaking time to Chadha from its quota. This move comes amid reports of indiscipline and not adhering to the party line.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has granted Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Kerala Blasters an extension until April 5 to pay their first ISL participation fee. Failure to remit the full amount, including daily fines, could lead to disqualification from the next ISL season.