Turkey’s foreign minister has warned against inciting civil war in Iran, while warning Tehran after NATO intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Iran and bound for Turkey earlier this week.
Türkiye warns of ‘dangerous’ actions provoking civil war in Iran
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said any attempt to provoke a civil war in Iran in order to achieve regime change would be a “historic” mistake.
“We oppose everything aimed at fomenting civil war in Iran and targeting ethnic or religious fault lines,” Fidan told reporters in Istanbul.
“This is the most dangerous situation,” he added.
His comments came after reports that Washington is seeking to arm Kurdish guerrillas to infiltrate Iran, an offensive that US President Donald Trump has expressed support for.
The move will draw the ire of Turkey, which is seeking to end a decades-long bloody conflict with the Kurdish militants known as the PKK.
Fidan said he had raised the matter with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who denied U.S. involvement in such issues.
“They stated that they were not involved in such an effort and had no such intention,” Fidan said after the two spoke on Wednesday, accusing Israel of “a strategy of using Kurdish groups in the region as proxies.”
“We publicly warn everyone … against this situation,” he added.
“Not only will this cause more suffering and loss of life for innocent civilians in Iran, it will also cause millions of people to be displaced and flee to neighboring countries and beyond,” he said.
“We hope that Kurdish opinion leaders in the region will not mistakenly assume such historical responsibility,” he said.
“Such a mistake can never be corrected.
“A long period of uncertainty, war and chaos in Iran, following Iraq and Syria, is in no one’s interest,” he said.
“Any internal crisis there will have a ripple effect that spreads throughout the region. That’s why we’re trying to stop it.”
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This article was generated from automated news agency feeds without modifications to the text.
The package will be delivered to Irshad Ahmad Wani, a resident of Hajin in Bandipora district. Sources said he has been in jail for more than a month. “Preliminary investigation revealed that the package was allegedly booked by Mohammed Younis Wani, a resident of Pulwama district,” they added.Sources said an FIR has been registered and further investigation has been initiated to identify those behind the attempt to smuggle mobile phones inside the jail.
Qantas’ Project Sunrise A350-ULR will operate the world’s longest non-stop flight from Sydney to London or New York, where passengers can see the sunrise twice.
Passengers traveling between Sydney and London or Sydney and New York will soon be able to travel non-stop across more than 10,000 miles as Australia’s national carrier Qantas prepares to launch its longest-ever direct commercial flights.The routes are part of the airline’s Sunrise programme, expected to begin in the first half of 2027, using specially configured Airbus A350-1000ULR (ultra long range) aircraft. Each journey is expected to last approximately 22 hours, and travelers can watch two sunrises in one flight as the aircraft effectively chases daylight around the globe.The project is one of the most ambitious attempts yet to reinvent the long-haul aviation industry by eliminating traditional refueling stops.
A 22-hour journey designed to transform long-distance travel
The new direct flights will connect Sydney to London (10,573 miles) and Sydney to New York (10,100 miles), distances that currently require at least one refueling stop.According to Qantas, eliminating these stopovers could shave four hours off existing travel times, fundamentally changing the way passengers travel between Australia, Europe and North America.Qantas launched Project Sunrise in 2017 to operate direct flights from Australia’s east coast to London and New York.Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the project, announced at a Qantas event in September 2024 at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) hangar, aims to overcome the historic “tyranny of distance” that has long affected travel to and from Australia and “fundamentally transform the way our customers travel the world”.Hudson added:“These flights will shorten journeys by up to four hours and transform the way people experience ultra-long-distance travel with science-backed design to minimize jet lag and maximize well-being.”The aircraft chosen for the project is an Airbus A350-1000ULR, selected following Qantas’ order for 12 specially modified aircraft in May 2022.Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent engines and equipped with additional 20,000-litre fuel tanks, the aircraft has a much longer range than the standard version of the A350.The first of the aircraft is scheduled for delivery in late 2026, with test flights planned between Australia and New Zealand to allow pilots and crew to familiarize themselves with the aircraft before long-haul operations begin.
Why is it called “Sunrise Project”?
The program’s name comes from the unique nature of these ultra-long flights.Passengers can expect to see two sunrises on one journey, which aviation enthusiasts say will become the route’s defining experience.The aircraft will leave Sydney in the evening and head west across Asia and the Middle East. Because the plane effectively chases daylight across time zones, passengers will watch the sun rise once during their trip and then again closer to Europe or North America.
Qantas Airbus A350-1000ULR (Ultra Long Range) aircraft photographed at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France. /Qantas
The name also echoes aviation history. During World War II, so-called “double sunrise” flights operated between Perth and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). These endurance missions were so long that the sun rose twice during the journey.
Aircraft interior preview
Daily Mail reporter Paudie Prendergast, who was invited by Qantas to preview aspects of the project, described visiting a mock-up of the cabin health area and touring the aircraft maintenance facility.He wrote that he made a “brief stop” in Hangar 96 at the Qantas jet base at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport, where the new aircraft will be maintained.The airline plans to significantly reduce passenger density inside the aircraft compared to standard A350 aircraft.The Project Sunrise layout will carry 238 passengers instead of the usual 300-plus seats, with the following arrangements:
6 first class suites (1-1-1 configuration)
52 business suites (1-2-1 configuration)
40 Premium Economy seats (2-4-2 configuration)
140 economy class seats (3-3-3 layout)
Qantas Sunrise Plan
High-speed Wi-Fi will be available free of charge in all cabins, and the reduced seat count is intended to give passengers more room to move around during the unusually long journey.
35,000-foot “Wellness Zone”
One of the plane’s most unusual features is a dedicated wellness area designed to help passengers relieve the physical stress of nearly a full day in the air.According to Prendergast’s preview, the space will offer self-serve healthy refreshments designed to stay hydrated, as well as space for stretching and light exercise.Large screens will display guided stretches, and the walls will feature exercise handles to support movement during flight.Prendergast describes the space as “effectively a 35,000-foot yoga studio (sort of), or just a place where people might want to socialize.”The aircraft’s interior designer David Caon, who has been involved in the project since 2018, told MailOnline daily mail Balancing aesthetic and engineering constraints is a complex task.He said:“We had a team of six working full-time for two years – factors such as aircraft weight, maintainability, safety and comfort all had to be weighed against the aesthetic decisions we made.”
Designing flights to reduce jet lag
Because journeys are extremely long, Qantas has teamed up with the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Center to research ways to reduce fatigue and jet lag.The research influenced several aspects of cabin design, including lighting patterns and meal times.The lighting system will replicate the “unique light quality of the Australian outback”, while food and beverage service times will adjust to passengers’ circadian rhythms, helping travelers adapt to new time zones more easily.
Qantas Project Sunrise A350 cabin revealed
From multi-day journeys to single flights
The upcoming flights represent a dramatic shift from earlier days of travel between Australia and Europe.The route between Sydney and London, historically known as the “Kangaroo Route”, once took days.In the 1940s, passengers traveled on Lockheed Constellation aircraft, stopping at Darwin, Singapore, Calcutta, Karachi, Cairo, Tripoli and Rome, often staying overnight in Singapore and Cairo.Those early planes relied on four propeller engines and had cramped cabins, making journeys long, noisy and far less comfortable than modern long-distance travel.Even so, these flights were once considered a technological marvel.Nowadays, a journey that originally took four or five days can soon be completed in one day.
The next step for ultra-long-haul aviation
Project Sunrise will surpass the current longest non-stop passenger flight, which runs between Singapore and New York at just over 19 hours.Other very long routes exist, such as flights between Shanghai and Buenos Aires, but these journeys involve refueling.In contrast, Qantas’ new service will remain in the air for the entire journey.If successful, they could signal a broader shift toward direct ultra-long-haul travel, potentially reshaping the way airlines design aircraft and long-haul routes in the coming years.
Amit Shah recalls Uttarakhand statehood movement during ‘Jan Jan Ki Sarkar, 4 Saal Bemisaal’ in ‘Hardwar’
Haridwar (Uttarakhand): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday recalled the Uttarakhand statehood movement and said the youth of Uttarakhand must take to the streets to protect their identity, culture and rights. In this struggle, they also had to face violent incidents such as the Rampurtiraha shooting.He further said that after forming the BJP-led government at the Centre, the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee took the historic decision to create new states including Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Today, all three countries are advancing rapidly on the road to development.He said Uttarakhand was created by current Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Narendra Modi Efforts are underway to further shape and develop it. According to him, 2017 to 2026 will be dedicated to the development of Uttarakhand. He added that in the last four years, the Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami Systematically addressing many of the state’s long-standing issues has helped Uttarakhand move forward at double speed on the path of development.The Home Minister called on the public, especially members of the legal profession, to visit the new criminal law exhibition. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi replaced the 150-year-old law that was made during the British era. By 2028, all provisions of the new criminal justice framework will be fully implemented. After that, any case – from the registration of an FIR at the police station to the final verdict in the Supreme Court – takes up to three years. He described it as one of the most modern and scientific justice systems in the world.Congratulating the refugees who have been granted Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), he said Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains who came to India from Pakistan and Afghanistan have equal rights to the country as Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But they were deprived of Indian citizenship due to past appeasement politics. These refugees came to India to protect their religion and family dignity, so the government remains firm in its decision to grant citizenship to them despite objections.He added that Prime Minister Modi has taken many historic decisions, such as abrogating Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, implementing the CAA, building the Rama temple after more than 500 years, rebuilding the Kedarnath Temple and Badrinath Temple, developing Mahakalle, Kashgar Golden Corridor, etc.Shah congratulated around 1,900 youths who have received appointment letters as constables of Uttarakhand Police. He said there was now no corruption or unfairness in government work in Uttarakhand. This was achieved through strict anti-copying laws introduced by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, which ensured transparency in recruitment.He also mentioned that the Kumbh Mela will be held in Haridwar in 2027 and expressed confidence that all previous records will be broken. Referring to the government’s Vibrant Villages Scheme, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the status of “first village” to border villages to prevent migration from border areas. The scheme will be particularly beneficial for Uttarakhand.The Union Home Minister also praised Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for removing encroachments from nearly 10,000 acres of government land in the state. He said the government was committed to clearing out all illegal infiltrators from Kedarnath to Konyakumari. He also commended Uttarakhand for implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), saying it would help prevent unnatural demographic changes. Referring to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, he said the name of any non-citizen of India should be removed from the electoral roll as a clean electoral roll is essential to protect democracy.Shah further said that between 2004 and 2014, Uttarakhand received only Rs. The central government provides Rs 54,000 crore. In comparison, since 2014, the state has received Rs. 187 crore from the Centre. Crores of rupees have also been invested in projects such as the all-weather highway project, Delhi-Dehradun Economic Corridor, railways and other infrastructure development. He noted that Uttarakhand’s per capita income increased from Rs. It was Rs 1.25 lakh in 2014. Today, the state’s GDP has risen from Rs 2.6 lakh to Rs 2.6 lakh. 1.5 trillion to 3.5 billion rupees.Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of Home Minister Amit Shah, the people of Uttarakhand have shattered all political myths in 2022 and given the government a huge mandate for a second consecutive term.He said that under their leadership, Jammu and Kashmir abolished Article 370 and realized the vision of “One India, Best India”. The implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act provided dignity and security to Hindu refugees who had long been neglected. The judicial system has been aligned with the values and ethos of India through the introduction of three new penal codes including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.The Chief Minister added that under the leadership of the Home Minister, terrorism and Naxalism have been effectively controlled in the country. A region once known for unrest and fear is now gradually developing. He said hoisting the national flag in Lal Chowk, Kashmir, was once considered a challenge but today the tricolor is flying there proudly.Dhami also highlighted the progress made in the cooperative sector and the revival of India’s spiritual heritage through projects such as Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Golden Corridor of Kashgar, Mahakar Lokk in Ujjain and reconstruction of Badrinath and Kedarnath. He thanked the Prime Minister and Home Minister for approving Rs. Rs 500 crore has been allocated for the upcoming Kumbh Mela in Haridwar, saying the event will further enhance the glory of Sanatan culture.He said the state government was working towards overall development while preserving the rich cultural heritage of Uttarakhand. Infrastructure such as roads, education, healthcare, railways and aviation are being strengthened. Through the Global Investment Summit to be held in 2023, investment agreements worth Rs. Contracts of Rs 356 crore were signed with projects worth over Rs. 1 billion has been implemented.The Chief Minister also mentioned several historic achievements of the state government, including hosting global events like the G20 Summit in Uttarakhand and organizing the National Games, in which the state’s athletes have won over 100 medals and ranked seventh in the medal tally. The country has also launched winter tourism initiatives to promote year-round tourism, he said.The state’s economy has grown more than one-and-a-half times in the past four years. Last year alone, the state’s GDP increased by 7.23%, and per capita income increased by 41%. The state budget has been expanded from Rs. 60,000 Crore to over Rs. 100 crore, more than 20,000 new industries were established. The number of start-ups has increased from approximately 700 to more than 1,700.He further pointed out that Uttarakhand ranks first in the Sustainability Index 2023-24 released by NITI Aayog. The state also received several national recognitions, including the Aviation Ecosystem Promotion Award, Best Village and Best Regional Initiative. Uttarakhand has performed well in several national indices such as State Logistics Index, State Startup Ecosystem Ranking, Ease of Doing Business, and State Energy and Green Index.The Chief Minister said that the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand under the guidance of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister marked a historic step towards social justice and equality. He also mentioned that the state government, inspired by the Home Minister, was taking action against the infiltrators through Operation Karnemi and intensive verification operations. Strict land laws have also been introduced to prevent illegal land purchases in the hills and curb the activities of land mafia.
Doral, Florida— president donald trump The United States and Latin American countries are joining forces to fight violent cartels, he said on Saturday, and his administration wanted to show it remained committed. U.S. Foreign Policy Focuses on Western Hemisphere This is true even when dealing with a global level five crisis.
Trump encourages Latin American leaders to take military action to help US fight cartels
Trump encouraged regional leaders gathered at Miami-area golf clubs to take military action against drug cartels and transnational gangs that he said posed an “unacceptable threat” to national security in the Western Hemisphere.
“The only way to defeat these enemies is to unleash the power of our military,” Trump said. “We have to use our military. You have to use your military.” “We must do the same now to root out cartels at home,” the Republican president said, citing the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in the Middle East.
The gathering was dubbed by the White House “America’s Shield” Just two months ago, Trump ordered the United States to take bold military action to seize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and brought him and his wife to the United States to face drug conspiracy charges.
Trump called the American deaths a “very sad situation” and praised the fallen soldiers as “great heroes.”
Trump hopes to use the summit to turn his attention to the Western Hemisphere, at least temporarily. He pledged to reaffirm U.S. dominance in the region and push back against what he sees as years of China’s economic encroachment into America’s backyard.
Trump also said the United States would turn its attention to Cuba after a war with Iran and suggested his administration would strike a deal with Havana, underscoring Washington’s increasingly aggressive stance against the island’s communist leadership. “Cuba is going to change dramatically very soon,” he said, adding, “They are in their final moments.”
Cuban officials have repeatedly said they are open to dialogue with the United States as long as Cuba’s sovereignty is respected, but they have never confirmed that such talks are taking place.
The leaders of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago met with the Republican president at the Trump National Doral Miami golf resort, where he is also scheduled to host a G20 summit later this year.
The idea for a summit of like-minded conservatives in the Western Hemisphere was born out of the ashes of the 10th Summit of the Americas, which was canceled last year during the U.S. buildup off the coast of Venezuela.
The host country, the Dominican Republic, bowed to pressure from the White House and banned Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela from participating in the regional meeting. But after left-wing leaders in Colombia and Mexico threatened to withdraw in protest — and Trump failed to commit to attending — Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader decided at the last minute to postpone the event, citing “deep divisions” in the region.
The American Shield moniker is intended to express Trump’s vision for an “America first” foreign policy in the region, leveraging U.S. military and intelligence assets not seen in the region since the end of the Cold War.
to this end, Ecuador The United States this week launched military action against organized crime gangs in the South American country. Ecuadorian and U.S. security forces on Friday raided a refuge in the Ecuadorian Amazon belonging to Colombia’s illegal armed group Comandos de la Frontera, authorities reported.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa said the joint operation against drug traffickers was “just the beginning.”
Notable at the summit was the absence of the region’s two dominant countries – Brazil and Mexico – as well as Colombia, which has long been key to the U.S. counter-narcotics strategy in the region.
Trump complained that Mexico was “the epicenter of cartel violence” and that drug lords “orchestrate much of the bloodshed and chaos in this hemisphere.”
“The cartels are ruling Mexico. We can’t tolerate that,” Trump said. “It’s too close.” Too close to you. “
Trump made no mention of his administration’s insistence that countering China’s influence in the Western Hemisphere is a top priority for his second term.
his national security strategy Extending the “Trump Corollary” to the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine, which sought to prohibit European invasion of the Americas by targeting Chinese infrastructure projects, military cooperation, and investment in the region’s resource industries.
In the first sign of a tougher approach, Trump pushed hard for Panama to withdraw from China’s Belt and Road Initiative and review a long-term port contract held by a Hong Kong company amid U.S. threats to retake the Panama Canal.
The recent U.S. capture of Maduro and Trump’s pledge to “manage” Venezuela could disrupt oil shipments to China, the top buyer of Venezuelan crude before the attack, and bring one of Beijing’s closest allies in the region into Washington’s orbit. Trump is scheduled to travel to Beijing later this month to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
For many countries, China’s trade-focused diplomacy fills a serious fiscal void in a region that faces major development challenges such as poverty reduction and infrastructure bottlenecks. Trump, by contrast, has been slashing foreign aid to the region while rewarding countries that support his crackdown on immigration — a policy generally unpopular in the Western Hemisphere.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the leaders for a working lunch after Trump traveled to Delaware for an event. Lunch was given to Kristi Noem, Trump fires Homeland Security secretary On Thursday, she had the opportunity to debut in her new role as America’s Shield envoy.
“We want our Western Hemisphere to be more secure, more sovereign, more prosperous,” Noem told the leaders.
Durkin Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter Gabriela Molina in Quito, Ecuador, contributed to this report.
This article was generated from automated news agency feeds without modifications to the text.
The Hindu American Foundation criticized Texas politicians for linking the recent Austin shootings to immigration and skilled worker visas (H1-B), calling the response “ridiculous political theater.”In a post on “Texas politicians blamed H-1B visas for the Austin shootings. The suspect was a U.S. citizen who had settled in the country for a long time, not a foreign worker on a visa,” the group said.It added, “Using tragedy to attack skilled immigrants? This is not policy. This is ridiculous political theater. Please. Make it count.”A mass shooting occurred in downtown Austin, Texas. Ndiaga Diagne, 53, opened fire outside a crowded bar, killing two people and injuring 14 others before being shot dead by police.Reports show that Diagne is from Senegal and entered the United States on a tourist visa in 2000. After marrying a U.S. citizen in 2006, she became a legal permanent resident and naturalized in 2013.Still, the shooting sparked a political push from several Texas Republicans to halt the immigration program. More than 70 Republican lawmakers signed a letter to Congress urging sweeping restrictions, including an immediate freeze on issuance of H-1B visas, a program that allows U.S. companies to hire highly skilled foreign professionals in specialized fields.In the letter, the MPs argue that tighter controls are necessary for national security and call for a moratorium on immigration until authorities can better track and vet individuals entering the country. The requests also include fully funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and directing resources to identifying potential threats already within the United States.
The 7th Amazon Big Science Carnival was held on March 6 at the CIDCO Exhibition Center in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, where students from city schools came together to showcase science and technology-based solutions to real-world challenges.The program, powered by Amazon and implemented by Learning Links Foundation, engaged more than 12,000 students from schools run by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation over a period of five months. The initiative culminated in a grand finale with selected teams presenting working prototypes and ideas based on themes such as “STEM for Sustainability” and “Tech for Good”. According to organizers, the selection process involves multiple stages. Around 90 student teams presented their projects for the first time at the three-day mini science carnival, after which industry experts, government representatives and educators selected the top 20 teams to present their innovations in the finals.The carnival also features activities such as STEM quizzes and robotics competitions, designed to encourage participants’ analytical thinking, technical knowledge and teamwork.More than 2,500 students visited the event, which included interactive exhibits and hands-on learning sessions hosted by organizations including Amazon Future Engineer, SeadNXT, Museum of Solution, Pi Jam Foundation and Pluto Drone.Speaking at the event, Nikhil Pingle, COO of Learning Links Foundation, thanked Amazon for supporting the program and the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation for its cooperation.Witnessing students present their ideas shows the importance of providing opportunities for young learners, he said. He also encouraged participants to stay curious and continue to use STEM to solve real-world problems.Anurag Khilnani, director of data center planning and delivery for Amazon Asia Pacific, said he was encouraged to see students transform ideas into practical solutions. He also acknowledged the role schools, teachers and program partners play in supporting student innovation.Organizers say the initiative aims to improve students’ scientific thinking and problem-solving skills while encouraging the use of technology to solve social and environmental problems.
A Southwest Airlines flight from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale was forced to be diverted Friday night due to safety issues on board, according to reports. The flight was diverted from its original route and landed safely in Atlanta, where police removed a passenger from the plane. The incident attracted attention online after a video showing the passenger being removed from the plane circulated on social media.
Passengers detained after Southwest Airlines flight from Nashville was forced to land in Atlanta (Representative Image/Unsplash)
Flight diverted to Atlanta due to safety concerns
According to FOX5 Atlanta, Southwest Airlines Flight 2094 was en route from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale when the crew decided to divert due to possible safety concerns. The plane changed its flight path and landed safely at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport at about 9:06 p.m.
Local authorities were called to the scene after the plane landed. Atlanta Police Department officers boarded the plane and removed a passenger from the plane.
Southwest later confirmed the diversion in a statement. The airline said the plane was diverted to Atlanta in response to a “possible safety issue.”
Video shows passengers being taken away
A video of the incident shared on X showed tense scenes inside the plane. In the video, several passengers can be seen raising their hands above their heads as police officers move towards the passengers involved.
The video also shows police handcuffing the passenger and taking them off the plane. Many passengers appeared scared when what happened inside the cabin.
Abhishek Sharma (right) talks to his father Rajkumar Sharma at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. (Photo courtesy: Sahil Malhotra)
TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: On Saturday, most eyes were on the Internet Abhishek Sharma India bats during practice on the eve of the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand. Facing a combination of bowling specialists and bowlers, Abhishek batted for nearly 30 minutes, with batting coach Sitamshu Kotak and head coach keeping a close eye on Gautam Gambhir. Off-spin is the flavor, and there’s a lot of inside-out hitting that gets cleaner when he gets into the crease.
T20 World Cup Final: Greenstone Lobo predicts India vs New Zealand winner horoscope analysis
Abhishek’s father and childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, was stationed far away from the field but had the best vantage point to watch his son finish the game one last time before the big night. The father was unfazed and kept his neck stretched out in the direction where the ball was hit. Every sweet connection is met with a nod of approval. Unbeknownst to his son, his father, his biggest cheerleader, supporter and critic, was quietly present and offering support during the most difficult phase of his career.
Abhishek Sharma (left) walks back after meeting his father Rajkumar Sharma at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. (Photo courtesy: Sahil Malhotra)
“I watched the net for a long time, everything will be fine tomorrow and the team will win the World Cup. (I saw his net after a long time. Everything will be fine tomorrow and the team will win the World Cup),” he quipped.“I’m sitting there,” he said, pointing to a hospitality box above, “but the real fun is watching the game from here. I watched his early cricket from near the boundary rope and it was fun,” the father added.Without his glasses, he couldn’t get as close a look at the proceedings as he’d hoped, but the sound of the gunfire was enough to put a smile on his face. When Abhishek finished batting, Coach Gambhir called him out and the two chatted for nearly twenty minutes. It was an energetic pep talk, highlighted by pointing fingers to different parts of the ground and lots of reassurance.
Abhishek Sharma (left) talks to Nets head coach Gautam Gambhir at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. (Photo courtesy: Sahil Malhotra)
Father Rajkumar watched the conversation, and after it was over, netballers and onlookers besieged Abhishek, asking for selfies and autographs. He complied with everyone’s request and the father gave his son the space he needed and then walked towards him.“Please tell me I’m coming. (laugh) [Let me tell him that I am here],” he said.The father and son met and had a brief chat, mostly about cricket and batting, before more “Abhishek sir, Abhishek sir” requests punctuated the moment.Abhishek asked a support staff member to take his gear to the dressing room and the released southpaw made sure he signed every piece of paper that came through the security fence.
Abhishek Sharma talks to his father Rajkumar Sharma after the Indian team’s training session on the eve of the T20 World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. (Photo courtesy: Sahil Malhotra)
It was a tough match for the world number one as he was not at full strength yet and struggled with issues off the ball. The team had cracked his code and he scored his first run in the World Cup after three balls in the fourth over. A stomach infection that forced him to be hospitalized didn’t help, and getting back to a smooth lifestyle has been a struggle ever since. The batsmen who had beaten the opposition in the previous matches had become walking wickets for the opponents. All they need to do is field a non-spinner. Even a part-time job is fine.After scoring 89 points in eight games, the youngster needed a new guard and forget everything that had happened so far. For some hitters, it’s important to get two sweet hits before getting back to normal. Abhishek belongs to that school of batting technique and he doesn’t need to look back for too long for inspiration. Against Zimbabwe, the opener tried to spend time in midfield and while the lack of spin in the power play was helpful, his patience was rewarded.
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“two (Pray),” were the words the father used repeatedly as he met several greeters near the screen. He also had a brief interaction with International Cricket Federation president Jay Shah, who was at the Narendra Modi Stadium to inspect preparations for the mega finals with other officials from the global cricket body.As the team returned to the dressing room and the field was cleared for Sunday’s musical performance, father Rajkumar left the field and prayed that his son would return to dominance as he watched from the third-tier hospitality box.
Antonia Bettridge, 25, from St Helens, faces a possible life sentence in Dubai on drug charges. /Image: Echo
A British woman who worked as a personal trainer in Dubai has been detained in the United Arab Emirates on suspicion of drug offenses and could face life in prison, according to legal advisers assisting her family. Antonia Bettridge, 25, from St Helens, Merseyside, was detained under the UAE’s strict drug laws after authorities accused her of “possessing drugs with intent to distribute”. Under UAE legislation, the charge is punishable by life imprisonment and a fine of up to Dh200,000. News of her detention was first reported by liverpool echothe newspaper said Betteridge was believed to have been arrested early last month. The case attracted UK attention after her family spoke out through advocacy group Dubai Detention Center (DID).
Arrested in Dubai and could be sentenced to life in prison
Betteridge moved to Dubai in November 2023, initially working as a sports coach and later working in real estate while training as a personal trainer. Legal counsel said she was detained under UAE anti-drug laws on suspicion of possessing drugs with intent to distribute.according to Detained in Dubaiauthorities in the United Arab Emirates do not necessarily require direct evidence that the drugs were intended for sale to pursue charges.
Those detained in Dubai warned that the charge alone could subject Antonia Betteridge to severe penalties under UAE law. /Image:X
The organization has been assisting foreigners facing legal difficulties in the UAE and wider Gulf region for sixteen years and says it has handled more than 20,000 cases. The group said the charge alone could expose the 25-year-old to severe penalties if convicted.
Mother speaks out through legal counsel
according to liverpool echo, Betteridge’s mother, whose name has not been released, said the family is trying to understand the situation and is deeply concerned for her daughter. She told Dubai Detention: “Antonia’s whole life has been around fitness and healthy living. She didn’t like the party lifestyle. She moved to Dubai to create something positive for herself. We are shocked and just trying to figure out what happened.”
Two months before moving to Dubai, Antonia Bettridge was given a community order for possessing £8,000 of criminal property. /Image:X
She also described difficulties communicating with her daughter while in detention. “With everything that’s going on in the area right now, it’s unbelievable to know that our daughter is in custody and we can’t get a hold of her. We were worried sick. We just want her to be safe and have a chance to prepare her defense. She is 25 years old. her whole future is in danger. “
Regional tensions fuel family worries
Radha Sterling, chief executive of Dubai Detention Centre, said the wider geopolitical situation in the Middle East was fueling anxiety among families with relatives detained in the region. She said: “When regional instability or security incidents occur, families will naturally be more concerned about their already vulnerable loved ones.” Sterling added that defendants should prepare their cases outside of custody whenever possible. “This reinforces why it is so important, where appropriate, to allow defendants to prepare their cases outside of custody. We hope that the FCDO will at least support her bail application while awaiting trial. “ The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed it was aware of the case. A spokesperson said: “We are supporting a British woman detained in the UAE and are liaising with local authorities.”
Previously convicted in the UK
Court records show Betteridge appeared at Liverpool Crown Court in September 2023 and was found guilty of possessing criminal property after police found £8,000 in cash in her glovebox. The case stems from a traffic stop on December 22, 2021, when police stopped her vehicle after it exited the M62 towards Junction 9 at Winwick, Warrington. Betteridge initially told police she did not have any money with her. Police later found £610 in her handbag and thousands of pounds in the car. Investigators later confirmed she drove around 170 miles from her home in Greenfield Road, Dentons Green, along the M5 near Bristol to Gordano Services and then back north. After admitting possessing criminal property, Betteridge was given a 12-month community order including 75 hours of unpaid work, up to 30 days of rehabilitation activity and ordered to pay £1,200 in court costs. Two months later, in November 2023, she moved to Dubai.
Strict laws and previous cases involving Britons
Betteridge is not the first British citizen to face serious legal consequences under the UAE’s strict criminal laws. In the latest case, 24-year-old Mia O’Brien faces up to 25 years in prison after police said she was found with 50 grams of cocaine in Dubai. She was later granted a royal pardon in December, which her family described as a “Christmas miracle”. Another case involved British tourist Marcus Fakana, 19, who was jailed for having consensual sex with a 17-year-old during a visit to the country. Although the relationship involved two British nationals, local authorities prosecuted the case because sex outside of marriage is illegal in the UAE. Fakana was sentenced to one year in prison, then received a royal pardon and returned to England. He died in a traffic accident in October, three months after being released from prison. In a separate case, 63-year-old Albert Douglas spent four years in a Dubai jail after he was jailed in 2021 after checks bounced related to his son’s company, despite claiming he had no involvement in the business. He claimed he was beaten and starved while in detention. The United Nations later ruled that he had been detained arbitrarily and was allowed to return to the UK in December.
Travel warnings and ongoing regional tensions
The case also unfolds against the backdrop of rising tensions in the Middle East. The Foreign Office has advised British nationals in the UAE to “stay indoors” and “away from windows” following recent US and Israeli attacks on Iran. Iran’s missile and drone strikes in the region have targeted locations in several Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain, disrupting air travel and leading to widespread flight cancellations. Authorities urge residents and visitors to avoid areas near military or security installations, follow local government guidance and monitor official updates. However, the immediate concern for Betteridge and her family remains the legal case ahead – one that could determine whether the 25-year-old faces years in jail in Dubai.
The package will be delivered to Irshad Ahmad Wani, a resident of Hajin in Bandipora district. Sources said he has been in jail for more than a month. “Preliminary investigation revealed that the package was allegedly booked by Mohammed Younis Wani, a resident of Pulwama district,” they added.Sources said an FIR has been registered and further investigation has been initiated to identify those behind the attempt to smuggle mobile phones inside the jail.
