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delimitation of parliamentary seats, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday convened the first Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting of several states to rally support for opposing the plan. The meeting, held in Chennai, marked the beginning of a coordinated effort to safeguard India’s federal structure, which, according to Stalin, is under threat. Describing the gathering as a «historic day» for India's federal system, Stalin emphasized that the struggle would likely extend to the legal realm. He stated, «Today will be etched in history as the day when states that have contributed to our nation's development came together to safeguard its federal structure by ensuring #FairDelimitation.» The event saw a notable presence of political leaders and chief ministers from Kerala, Telangana, Punjab, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, all of whom voiced concerns about the Centre’s proposal. Stalin introduced the meeting with a call for unity, urging the states to fight for a «fair» and equitable delimitation process that wouldn’t undermine their representation. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy echoed these sentiments, arguing that if the proposed delimitation, which is based on population numbers, were implemented, it would marginalize southern states. «If this happens, the north will make us secondary citizens,» Reddy said.

Israeli military successfully eliminated Hamas' southern Gaza military intelligence chief, Osama Tabash, in an airstrike conducted on Thursday. In a statement, the military named the Hamas leader as Osama Tabash. It said he was also the head of the militant group's surveillance and targeting unit. There was no immediate comment from Hamas.

The Shadowless Church. The moment its surreal images surfaced online, the internet went into a frenzy. A church that seemingly casts no shadow? The mystery surrounding it has sparked countless debates, conspiracy theories, and architectural admiration. Unlike anything ever seen before, the church’s ethereal glow, minimalist grandeur, and puzzling illusion have left both tourists and design experts awestruck. But what is the secret behind its ‘shadowless’ name? How does this mesmerizing structure defy the play of light and shade? Let’s unravel the magic behind one of China’s most astonishing architectural marvels.

Rupee billionaire MLAs. Cynics would explain this as an appalling display of power distance in a money-obsessed public life, but the South’s overwhelming representation in the HNI lawmakers’ club is as much a symbol of peninsular India’s broader prosperity as is the glaring regional disparity in staples-loaded retail inflation. In economic terms, the two pieces of data indicate the South’s burgeoning wealth effect – across the spectrum. India’s consumer inflation gauge, with a disproportionate rural weighting of basic food items and a still substantial urban weighting, has fallen below the 4% legal mandate in February to a seven-month low. However, a region-based analysis of inflation data indicates the South has averaged higher on the metric, presumably driven by demand, as those migrating from the less prosperous northern, eastern and central states seek toeholds in bustling economic hubs such as Coimbatore, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, and Cochin. “The region-wise index share CAGR growth during FY12 to FY25 (until Feb 2025) indicates that the southern region has the highest CAGR inflation of 6% in overall inflation,” SBI Research said in a study that analysed inflation across states and federally administered areas over the past 14 years. Curiously, inflation in the South trended above the national average over the period in both rural and urban areas, indicating prosperity across the geographic spectrum – and possibly the impact of labour migration from the less economically advantaged states into even remote villages in the South – particularly the remittance-heavy Kerala.

Yemen early Thursday. In Jerusalem, several explosions were heard shortly after the sirens sounded. There were no immediate reports of injuries. Yemen's Houthi group this week resumed missile attacks following the collapse of Israel's ceasefire with Hamas. Police also reported sirens in central Israel in the 4 a.m. attack. The MADA rescue service says it has received no reports of injuries. Israel said Wednesday its troops retook part of a corridor that bisects Gaza, and its defense minister warned that attacks would intensify until Hamas frees dozens of hostages and gives up control of the territory.

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has resumed, marking another effort to solve one of aviation's greatest mysteries. Malaysia has agreed to terms and conditions of an agreement with Ocean Infinity to resume the search for the wreckage of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, its transport minister said on Wednesday. The decision will enable commencement of seabed search operations in a new location estimated to cover 15,000 square km in the southern Indian Ocean, based on a «no find, no fee» principle, minister Loke Siew Fook said in a statement. The firm will receive $70 million if the wreckage is successfully located, he said. The aircraft vanished on 8 March 2014 while flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board. Now, nearly 11 years later, Ocean Infinity has launched a fresh search in the Indian Ocean, 1,500 km off the coast of Perth, Australia.

wolfdog" worth $5 million. Cadabomb Okami, named by an Indian dog breeder, is the world's most expensive dog. The pup, who is part wolf and part Caucasian Shepherd, has already become a celebrity, making high-profile appearances and drawing crowds eager to see him.

Hamas warned that Israel's new airstrikes early Tuesday breached their ceasefire and put the fate of hostages in jeopardy. Israel said it launched the wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip because of a lack of progress in ongoing talks to extend the ceasefire. It was not immediately clear if the operation was a one-time pressure tactic or if the 17-month-old war was being resumed altogether. Hamas said Israel's government was responsible for an «unprovoked escalation» against Palestinians. Gaza's ministry of health said at least 44 people were killed in the airstrikes early Tuesday. Israel launched a wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, saying it was striking Hamas targets in its heaviest assault in the territory since a ceasefire took effect in January. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the strikes because of a lack of progress in ongoing talks to extend the ceasefire. It was not immediately clear if the operation was a one-time pressure tactic or if the 17-month-old war was being resumed altogether.

Gaza early Tuesday morning. Israel launched a new wave of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, saying it was striking Hamas targets in its heaviest assault in the territory since a ceasefire took effect in January. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the strikes because of a lack of progress in ongoing talks to extend the ceasefire. It was not immediately clear if the operation was a one-time pressure tactic or if the 17-month-old war was being resumed altogether. «This comes after Hamas repeatedly refused to release our hostages and rejected all offers it received from the U.S. presidential envoy, Steve Witkoff, and from the mediators,» Netanyahu's office said. Taher Nunu, a Hamas official, criticized the Israeli attacks. «The international community faces a moral test: either it allows the return of the crimes committed by the occupation army or it enforces a commitment to ending the aggression and war against innocent people in Gaza,» he said.

The move comes as a direct response to Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, which Alberta Premier Danielle Smith condemned as an «economic attack» on Canada.

Cocoa futures on the ICE exchange hit four-month lows on Friday and headed for 3% losses for the week, amid a large increase in ICE-certified stocks and benign weather forecasts for West Africa. London cocoa fell 3.6% to 6,110 pounds per metric ton at 1259 GMT. Dealers noted ICE-certified stocks have shot up to their highest since early January ahead of the expiry of the front month cocoa contract later this session.

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu on Friday stated that the central transfers from the Union Government in the form of Grants-in-aid and share in central taxes as a proportion of total revenue receipts have reduced significantly. The Tamil Nadu Minister while presenting the state budget for 2025-26 said that the state's own revenues have been increasing due to the efforts of the state Government. «While the State's Own Revenues have been increasing due to the efforts of the Government, the central transfers from the Union Government in the form of Grants-in-aid and share in central taxes as a proportion of total revenue receipts have reduced significantly,» Thennarasu said. He said that withholding of funds under Samagra Shiksha, denial of funds under NDRF for Cyclone Fengal, and a paltry release of Rs 276 crore for two massive disasters in the form of Cyclone Michaung and the unprecedented rainfall in southern districts have all caused severe strain on the State Finances. «In 2024-25, the grants-in-aid are estimated to substantially reduce to Rs.20,538 crore in the Revised Estimates, as compared to the Rs. 23,354 crore projected in the Budget Estimates. Anticipating the release of the entire funds due to the State under Samagra Shiksha in the ensuing year, the Grants-in-aid receivable from the Union Government are estimated at Rs.23,834 crore in Budget Estimates 2025-26,» he added.

The Hundred draft. Big names like Imad Wasim, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan and Hasan Ali and Naseem Shah, who was the highest priced, all found no bidders. Among women Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Yusra Amir, Iram Javed, and Jaweria Rauf did not find any takers. Meanwhile, Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad and New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell got the best deal. Ahmad joined Manchester Originals, while Bracewell was picked by Southern Brave. Former Australia cricketer David Warner was picked by London Spirit.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. For years, South Indian cinema has thrived on a theatrical-first model, with a fiercely loyal audience that made the big screen the ultimate platform for stardom. Unlike Bollywood, where actors transitioned seamlessly between films and over-the-top (OTT), the South Indian star system remained firmly anchored in the theatrical experience.

delimitation of parliamentary constituencies and said he would attend the Chennai meeting on the issue after taking permission from Congress high command. Reddy made these remarks after a DMK delegation led by Tamil Nadu minister TK Nehru met him in Delhi and invited him to the meeting. «I welcome Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin's stand. I have to get permission from the (Congress) high command to attend the meeting.

The victim, Riyaz Ahmad Bajad, a resident of the tribal area of Chandian Pajan in Kulgam district of southern Kashmir, in his late 20s, went missing on February 13 along with two others, Mukhtar and Showkat from Kulgam, when they were on their way to attend a function. The family registered a complaint when it found they could not be reached as their phones were switched off. The families went from pillar to post to raise the issue but only after the matter was raised by legislators in the ongoing budget session of the assembly. Bajad's body was found in Veshow Nallah in Mah area of Kulgam. «This is what we feared the most, as the forces picked up our men earlier as well but released them after a few days. Now we want the other two people alive,» said a relative of Bajad, who did not wish to be identified. «It seems hot liquid was poured on his head. He didn't have a single strand of hair.» Police informed the family about the body and later handed it over to the family members after medico-legal formalities, said the relative. «The condition of the body was such that we couldn't even bathe it properly,» he said. Bajad is survived by a six-month old baby girl.

Siddaramaiah has thrown his weight behind his Tamil Nadu counterpart MK Stalin’s initiative to bring all likeminded political parties together on the issue of delimitation of constituencies. On his behalf, Dy CM DK Shivakumar will attend the joint action committee meeting Stalin has called in Chennai on March 22. Siddaramaiah, in a letter to the TN CM on Thursday, said his March 7 letter “raises very important issues of autonomy of States which have serious implications on the principles governing our polity. Particularly the issues of delimitation of the Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies based on new population benchmarks. These issues have to be discussed at length by the like minded states.” He added he wished to participate in the meeting but was not able to do so in view of his prior commitments and Shivakumar will represent Karnataka. “We remain committed to protecting federal principles and the rights of states,” the CM said in a post on X. «First JAC meeting in Chennai on March 22, 2025. Let us stand together not as separate political entities but as protectors of our people's future,» Stalin wrote in an earlier post on X. Congress and DMK are part of the INDI alliance, the political grouping that fought the BJP and its alliance in the Lok Sabha elections, last year.

Coromandel International Ltd.(up 2.05%), Bohra Industries Ltd.(up 2.00%), Paradeep Phosphates Ltd.(up 1.86%), Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd.(up 1.62%), Agro Phos India Ltd.(up 1.41%), Southern Petrochemicals Industries Corporation Ltd.(up 0.68%), Krishana Phoschem Ltd.(up 0.54%), Gujarat State Fertilizer & Chemicals Ltd.(up 0.27%) and Rama Phosphates Ltd.(up 0.09%) stood among the top gainers.

Rama Phosphates Ltd.(up 3.36%), Bohra Industries Ltd.(up 2.00%), Southern Petrochemicals Industries Corporation Ltd.(up 1.74%), Madras Fertilizers Ltd.(up 1.54%), Paradeep Phosphates Ltd.(up 1.53%), Coromandel International Ltd.(up 1.49%), Gujarat State Fertilizer & Chemicals Ltd.(up 1.40%), Agro Phos India Ltd.(up 1.20%), Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd.(up 1.19%) and Deepak Fertilisers & Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd.(up 0.99%) were among the top gainers.

total lunar eclipse will happen this week as the Earth moves between the sun and the moon. This will block sunlight from reaching the moon, making it appear dark red, often called a "blood moon." The event will be visible across North America and other regions if the sky is clear.

Panama Canal but has not offered specifics about how he would do so. Here is an explanation of the history and laws governing the critical waterway. Why is the Panama Canal important? The Panama Canal, located at the narrowest part of the isthmus between North and South America, is one of the most strategically important waterways in the world. Last year, the canal logged 11,240 crossings totaling more than 235.5 million tons of cargo. Over two-thirds of all cargo passing through the canal today originates from, or is destined for, the U.S. If the Panama Canal were blocked or unavailable, ships would need to make the long voyage around the southern tip of South America to cross between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.