Times of India

South Africa continued their unfortunate trend in knockout stages of ICC ODI tournaments, losing by 50 runs to New Zealand in the Champions Trophy semi-finals. The Proteas have lost five Champions Trophy semi-finals and four 50-over World Cup semi-finals, further extending their disappointing record in crucial ODI tournaments.

Kannada actress Ranya Rao was arrested for smuggling Rs 17.3 crore worth of gold and cash at Bengaluru airport. Ranya, daughter of Karnataka DGP K Ramachandra Rao, was intercepted with gold strapped to her body. A raid at her apartment revealed designer gold ornaments and cash. The investigation now extends to a Bengaluru jewelry boutique.

Stock market today: Indian equity benchmark indices, BSE Sensex and Nifty50, surged in opening trade on Thursday. While BSE Sensex went above the 74,000 mark, Nifty50 was near 22,450.

US President Trump made 13-year-old cancer patient Devarjaye 'DJ' Daniel an honorary Secret Service agent, marking history. During his address to Congress, Trump arranged for Daniel's induction, fulfilling his law enforcement dream. DJ, battling brain cancer, shared a moving reflection, inspiring many with his strength and perseverance despite his terminal illness.

Deloitte has implemented a new policy linking US tax division employees' annual bonuses to office attendance, requiring them to be in the office at least 50% of the week. This reflects similar actions by other firms like PwC and tech giant Google, emphasizing the importance of in-person collaboration for performance evaluations.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the US is prepared for conflict with China amid escalating trade tensions. Tensions rose after President Trump doubled tariffs on Chinese imports, prompting China to respond with its own tariffs. Hegseth underscored the importance of military strength, while emphasizing Trump's positive relationship with President Xi Jinping and prioritizing Indo-Pacific military readiness.

Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi was suspended for the entire Maharashtra budget session over his remarks on Aurangzeb. Azmi called the decision arbitrary, expressing concerns for his family's safety. Despite willing to retract his statement, protests continued with SP's Akhilesh Yadav and Sena UBT's Uddhav Thackeray sharing strong opinions.

A Canadian photographer captured a gripping encounter between a bald eagle and a Canada goose on a frozen lake. The goose successfully defended itself, and the eagle retreated. The encounter coincided with heightened political tensions between Canada and the U.S., symbolizing resistance.

The US Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration to release nearly $2 billion in frozen foreign aid, following a 5-4 ruling. US District Judge Amir Ali must clarify the directive's timeline. Organizations affected by the funding freeze had reduced services and laid off workers. The administration cited changing conditions and case-by-case reviews for the freeze.

Karnataka DGP Ramachandra Rao expressed shock over his daughter Ranya Rao's arrest for gold smuggling. Ranya, a Sandalwood actress, was caught at Kempegowda International Airport with 14.2kg of gold bars. Subsequent searches revealed Rs 2.1 crore worth of designer gold ornaments and Rs 2.7 crore in cash.

A fake bomb threat at Barnard College led to an evacuation amid anti-Israel protests. Over 200 demonstrators occupied the Milstein Center, demanding the reinstatement of expelled students. NYPD officers in riot gear dispersed the crowd, resulting in several arrests. Despite warnings, some protesters continued on the campus lawn. The bomb threat was eventually cleared.

South Africa's David Miller criticised the logistical disruptions that required his team to make a quick round-trip to Dubai before their Champions Trophy semi-final defeat against New Zealand. The scheduling issue arose due to India's refusal to play in Pakistan, resulting in South Africa and Australia having to travel to Dubai. New Zealand will face India in the final.

Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin once again criticizes the BJP-led central government over its language policies in the National Education Policy 2020. Stalin accuses BJP leaders of treating Tamil Nadu as second-class citizens and questions their commitment to the Tamil language, demanding linguistic equality and the removal of Hindi imposition.

Elon Musk has accused the Biden administration of delaying the return of Nasa astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore from the ISS, despite SpaceX's offer for a rescue mission. The astronauts have been stranded due to Nasa deeming Boeing’s Starliner unsafe for re-entry. They are now scheduled to return on a SpaceX Crew Dragon in March.

Mumbaikars are facing intense heat as temperatures reached 37.4°C, 4.4° above the seasonal average. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts temperatures to rise further, peaking at 38°C by Sunday. The latest spike is attributed to strong easterly winds and could last through March 11.

In Nuh, 34 people were arrested for taking the Class X Haryana exams on behalf of others, with most motivated by personal relationships. Strict measures, including police presence and physical barriers, were implemented to curb cheating across various exam centers in the state.

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.