Amid the political storm triggered by alleged “missteps” during President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to West Bengal, the Center has asked the state government to respond by 5 pm on Sunday over the alleged violation of protocols related to venue and route arrangements, sources told Press Trust of India (PTI).In a letter to the West Bengal Chief Secretary, Union Home Minister Govind Mohan asked the state to provide a detailed explanation for the alleged violation of the “Blue Book” rules on etiquette, venue and routing.The “Blue Book” is a confidential document that outlines security and protocol rules for the president, vice president, prime minister and their families.President Murmu on Saturday expressed disappointment at the low attendance at a tribal community event near Bagdogra airport and questioned the decision to shift the venue from Bidar Nagar.She also pointed out the absence of the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and ministers during her visit.Highly placed sources said the letter sent to the West Bengal chief secretary also sought response over the absence of the chief minister, chief secretary and police chief to greet the president at the airport, which was considered a serious violation of the Blue Book protocol.The Center also noted that only Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb came to the airport to greet the President, which was considered a breach of etiquette, officials said.According to Press Trust of India sources, the toilet arranged for the President was said to have no water and an explanation has been sought from the state government.The state has also been asked to explain why the route chosen by the government to transport the president was allegedly littered with trash.The letter also sought details of action taken against the Darjeeling district magistrate, Siliguri police commissioner and another district magistrate, who appear to be directly responsible for the alleged violations.President Murmu was invited to attend the annual function of the tribal community, which was scheduled to be held at Bidhan Nagar in Siliguri.However, the authorities shifted the location to Ghoshpur near Bagdogra airport for security and logistical reasons, officials said.When the president arrived at the venue Saturday afternoon, only a handful of people were present. Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb was the only representative to greet her at the airport.“Mamata Banerjee is like a sister to me. I am also a daughter of Bengal. I don’t know if she is upset. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. You all stay healthy,” the President said.She also questioned the decision to shift the venue of the tribal community’s annual event from Bidhan Nagar to Ghoshpur, where low turnout was reported.“It would have been better if the program was held there (Bidhangarh). There is enough space there for many people to attend. But I don’t know why the state administration does not allow meetings to be held there. Today’s show is held in a place where it’s hard for people to come here. Maybe the state government doesn’t want the welfare of tribals and that’s why they are prevented from coming here,” Murmu said.According to protocol, the chief minister or a state government minister is usually present to receive the president.Vice President Radhakrishnan on Saturday termed the alleged blunders during President Murmu’s visit as regrettable and said high constitutional posts must always be treated with due dignity.Prime Minister Narendra Modi It also criticized the West Bengal government, calling the incident “shameful and unprecedented” and accused the Trinamool Congress government of insulting the president during his visit to the state.
Who is Sawley Davis? New York police officer dies from ‘medical malpractice’ while deployed to Kuwait during Operation Epic Fury
The New York Police Department announced that Officer Sorffly Davis, who was deployed to Kuwait, Epic Fury Operationdied due to “medical accident”.
USA Unleash a variety of weapons on February 28 against Iranian targets, including suicide drones, Tomahawk cruise missiles and stealth fighter jets. It also used low-cost, one-way attack drones modeled on Iranian designs for the first time in combat.
An epic act of rage led to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, US President Donald Trump announced in truth social postcalling him “one of the most evil men in history.” Khamenei died shortly after the United States launched Operation Epic Fury, a major military campaign that targeted key Iranian military locations, including missile facilities, naval bases and sites near Khamenei’s office.
Who is Sawley Davis?
NYPD News said in an
“In 2014, he began serving with the NYPD and was assigned to the 79th Precinct,” the NYPD added. “Today, his family will always be in our thoughts and prayers. May we never forget Officer Davidius’ sacrifice and may his memory be a blessing.”
Tributes are pouring in
Many people remembered Davidus in emotional social media posts, including Congressman Mike Lawler, who write on X”, “I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of NYPD Officer Sorffly Davius, who passed away from a medical incident while deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation Epic Fury. He served our country honorably in the 42nd Infantry Division of the U.S. Army National Guard, rising to the rank of Major before joining the New York Police Department in 2014. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, loved ones and the entire NYPD. May his memory be forever etched in our hearts. Blessings and may we never forget his service and sacrifice. “
Learn more | The Pentagon identifies the last two U.S. soldiers killed in the Iran war – who are Jeffrey O’Brien and Robert Mazen?
New York City Council Speaker, Julie Menin wrote“I am deeply saddened by the passing of NYPD Officer Sofli Davidus, a U.S. Army National Guard major who served our country in Kuwait. My thoughts are with his loved ones, and I join New Yorkers across the five boroughs in mourning his passing.”
“I am deeply affected by the passing of Major Davidius, a true citizen soldier, devoted husband and father,” Kathy Hochul wrote. “I personally express my condolences to his wife and my thoughts are with his loved ones. We will continue to pray for the safety of all those protecting us at home and abroad.”
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim acquitted in journalist murder case
Chandigarh: Punjab and Haryana high court on Saturday acquitted jailed man De La Sasha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim The murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati in 2002 overturned a life sentence imposed by a CBI court and dealt a blow to the investigative agency.Gurmeet was convicted of raping two female devotees and has been imprisoned in Sunaria Prison in Rohtak since August 2017, serving a 20-year sentence. He has been in prison for more than eight years in connection with the case.He also faces a separate case from the British FBI for allegedly emasculating some Dera followers. The Panchkula court is hearing the case. The HC had earlier acquitted former Dera manager Ranjit Singh in the murder case. The Supreme Court on Saturday allowed the Dera chief’s appeal against his Chhatrapati murder conviction while upholding the life sentences of the three co-accused. Anshul, the slain journalist’s son, said the family planned to challenge the acquittal in the Supreme Court. Chhatrapati is the editor of the evening newspaper Poora Sach.
He published a report alleging sexual exploitation of female disciples of Dera Sacha Sauda. Prosecutors said he was killed in retaliation for the coverage.Dera chief lawyer accuses CBI of torture, retaliationThe CBI special court in 2019 sentenced the Dera chief and three others to life imprisonment and fined them $50,000 each. Gurmeet challenged the conviction in the High Court, saying he had been wrongly accused.“Krishan Lal was tortured by the CBI. Thereafter, in retaliation, the Dera chief’s name was named as an accused,” his lawyer said.The lawyer also challenged the testimony of key witness Kartar Singh, saying the suggestion that the conspiracy was hatched in his presence and not disclosed to anyone was “disproven by the admission of IO M Narayanan in cross-examination”. The defense further argued that prosecutors failed to show that Gurmeet had any grievance against journalists. “The investigative agencies have not been able to prove even a shred of evidence that the appellant had ever read the newspaper,” the lawyer said, adding that the evening paper mainly reproduced reports already published by the morning paper.
‘If you kill Americans, we will kill you’: US releases montage of precision strikes, blunt warning
(Screenshot: X @CENTCOM)
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegers issued a strong warning on social media, saying that anyone targeting American citizens will face fatal consequences.The message, shared by Central Command on“
The news was released along with a 21-second video clip showing what the military described as the current range. The footage includes “unclassified” video of vehicles and buildings bombed and destroyed by U.S. forces in recent operations.The warning comes amid rising tensions following a joint U.S.-Israeli military strike on Iranian territory on February 28. The attack killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures, triggering a strong reaction from Tehran.In response, Iran has expanded the conflict in West Asia by launching ballistic missiles and drones targeting U.S. assets and allies in the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.ALSO READ |‘Destroyed their entire evil empire’: Is US responsible for Iranian school bombing that killed 160 people? what trump saidUS President Trump also claimed that the United States had successfully suppressed the entire Iranian leadership and described the military operation as removing a major “cancer” from the global stage.Trump made the remarks aboard Air Force One flying to Miami: “We’re winning the war by a huge margin. We’ve destroyed their entire evil empire. I’m sure that’s going to go on for a while…The war itself is going on incredibly well. It’s as good as it gets.” “We’ve wiped out their (Iranian) navy, 44 ships. We’ve wiped out their air force, every aircraft. We’ve wiped out most of their missiles. You see, they don’t have many missiles left. We’ve also attacked the manufacturing areas where they make their missiles. Their drone capability has gone way down and we’ve hit them where they hurt, including almost every form of leadership that we can take out,” he added.Meanwhile, more than a week into the conflict, Iran’s humanitarian toll continues to rise. According to Al Jazeera, official CIT figures show that “more than 1,300 people have been killed” since the violence began.
Ryan Gosling vs. Harry Styles: Why SNL fans slammed the Grammy winner before he hosted the show
Harry Styles has one week left to host Saturday Night Live; the pop star’s latest move has already angered some viewers. Today, the 32-year-old actor barged into Ryan Gosling’s SNL monologue, allowing the Barbie actor to “steal the show.” The two even had a brief interaction.
Meanwhile, Gosling, popular for his roles in “The Notebook,” “La La Land” and “Barbie,” returns to host “Saturday Night Live” with musical guests Gorillaz.
Harry Styles ruins Ryan Gosling’s monologue
Gosling had just finished hosting the show when he suddenly noticed Styles sitting in the audience. “What are you doing here, man?” the Barbie actor asked onstage.
Styles said he came to watch and “get a feel for it.”
“Yeah, it was so professional,” Gosling added. “I just wish someone told me.”
“Can we get him off the screen?” he continued, looking at the photographer, who was wearing an “I Love Harry” shirt.
While the episode was all in good fun, Styles’ presence turned off some viewers.
Harry Styles faces harsh criticism
“Poor Ryan was upstaged by Harry,” one user wrote on the X (formerly Twitter) platform.
“This is funny. I hope Ryan Gosling comes back next episode and hijacks Harry Styles’ monologue for revenge lol,” another wrote on Twitter.
“Harry gets more attention on Saturday Night Live than Ryan Gosling hosts,” a third added.
What did Ryan Gosling say during his SNL monologue?
Speaking of Styles, Gosling continued: “I have a new movie coming out and it’s called ‘The Harry Styles Project.’ No — it’s going to be a good movie, though… People are saying it’s like ‘Alien’ meets ‘Interstellar,’ which is crazy because those two movies are like two of the best movies ever made, so they’re kind of like saying it’s double that? I don’t know, I didn’t say that.”
“I’ve always loved making movies about space. These movies gave me some perspective,” he added.
“Sorry, why are we on Harry’s side?” he asked.
‘Pillars of a progressive nation’: President Murmu, PM Modi hail ‘nari shakti’ on International Women’s Day
president Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi On Sunday, “nari shakti” greetings were extended on the occasion of International Women’s Day, which is celebrated across the world on March 8 every year.President Durupadi Murmu congratulated the women and described women as “the backbone of a progressive nation”.She wrote in a post onShe added: “On this occasion, let us reaffirm our joint commitment to building a society where every woman has equal opportunities to grow and live with dignity, security and freedom. Let us create an environment together where women’s aspirations and achievements shape a more equitable future.”Prime Minister Modi also acknowledged the role of women in shaping the country and praised their “determination” and “unparalleled passion”.He wrote in “X”: “On the occasion of International Women’s Day, I send greetings to all Nari Shakti. Across every field, women are shaping India’s progress with determination, creativity and unparalleled enthusiasm. Their achievements inspire our nation and strengthen our collective resolve to build Viksit Bharat.”“Women empowerment is at the core of our various programs and initiatives. We remain committed to creating opportunities that enable every woman to realize her full potential and contribute to India’s development journey,” he added.He ended his post with the hashtag “Naye Bharat Ki Nari Shakti”.
Fines of up to Dh200,000, two years in jail: UAE spreads rumors as it fights regional crisis | World News
The UAE has warned residents against spreading rumors and misinformation on social media platforms amid escalating conflicts between Iran, the United States, Israel and regional tensions.Authorities said they have seen a surge in the circulation of fake news, fabricated videos and misleading images related to ongoing military confrontations and other developments in the region.
Official warning
UAE Attorney General Hamid Saif Al Shamsi warned against taking, publishing or disseminating images and videos of accident scenes or damage caused by falling projectiles or debris.It is circulated on the Internet in an attempt to aggravate social anxiety and confusion, affect national stability, and raise questions about the current situation. Many of these campaigns re-release old footage of accidents and fires that occurred in Gulf countries years ago and present them as recent events in the UAE, according to security sources and experts. Additionally, manipulated videos created using artificial intelligence and deepfake technology are being circulated with the aim of shaping public opinion and spreading hostile agendas.Shamsi assured that state agencies responsible for public security are carrying out their duties efficiently to protect society, and that daily life across the country continues to proceed normally and that necessary measures are being taken to deal with any developments. He also stressed that incidents of this nature are handled by competent authorities with precise security and defense procedures and that sharing videos or images online could undermine authorities’ response efforts. Therefore, sharing such fabricated content or spreading misleading information is a criminal offense and should be punished by law. Shamsi stressed that prosecutors will take firm legal action against violators.
severe legal penalties
Legal experts say spreading rumors or unverified information in the UAE is a criminal offense under the country’s Cybercrime and Rumors Law. Article 52 of the law stipulates that anyone who uses the Internet to publish or reprint false news, misleading reports or malicious rumors that contradicts officially announced information shall be punished with up to one year in prison and a fine of Dh100,000. The same article increases the penalty to at least two years in prison and a fine of Dh200,000 if such information is disseminated to incite public opinion, spread panic, harm public security or the national economy.
Verification is a civil liability
“In times of crisis, relying on official sources and professional media organizations remains the safest way to understand events,” social media activist Ibrahim Al Thehli told Gulf News.He added that publishing information online is both an individual and a social responsibility, and that inaccurate information could mislead others and exacerbate public anxiety. He pointed out that the rapid spread of news does not necessarily mean it is credible, and verifying the date, context and original source of images and videos can help people avoid being manipulated.
Expert: Seismic map rollback is ready for earthquakes
DEHRADUN: The Indian government’s decision to cancel India’s newly introduced seismic zoning maps and revised earthquake design codes has sparked concerns among seismologists and geologists, many of whom say the move could undermine the country’s ability to prepare for future major earthquakes.The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) launched a revised framework in November 2025 proposing a major update to India’s seismic design codes, including bringing the entire Himalayan arc under a new Zone VI, the highest seismic risk category.
Geologists warn India’s earthquake risk is far from marginalSeveral experts described the withdrawal as a “missed opportunity” to strengthen India’s resilience, especially in areas where scientists have long warned of the possibility of devastating earthquakes.Senior geoscientist CP Rajendran called the rollback a “bad step”. “We don’t know what prompted the government to cancel such a bold policy. The new earthquake norms are based on the accumulated knowledge of the scientific community about earthquakes and their possible impact on India,” he said.Rajendran added that scientists have repeatedly warned that the Himalayan region may experience earthquakes of magnitude eight or larger in the future. “The new norms reflect the real seismic risks the country faces,” Rajendran said.Geologists point out that India’s earthquake risk is far from minimal. According to experts, nearly 59% of the country’s landmass and nearly 80% of its population fall into moderate to extremely high earthquake risk zones.Piyoosh Rautela, a geologist and former executive director of the Uttarakhand Disaster Management Authority, said the proposed changes in regulations represent an important step forward in improving disaster preparedness in the country.“The proposed revisions mark an important step towards strengthening India’s seismic design framework to better protect the country’s built environment from future earthquakes,” Rautela said. He added that the newly proposed Zone 6 covering the Himalayan arc acknowledges the ongoing tectonic threats along the Indo-Eurasian plate boundary – similar to those that occurred during the 2001 Bhuj earthquake and the 2015 Nepal earthquake.Experts further said that the revised code introduces stronger safety measures, including an improved design spectrum, 10-30% increase in base shear requirements, stricter rules for structural irregularities and more stringent geotechnical and dynamic analyses. The changes are intended to promote performance-based engineering – ensuring buildings are designed to not only withstand vibrations but also minimize the risk of collapse and economic losses during a major earthquake.Meanwhile, experts acknowledge that the revised code has had a significant impact on construction practices and ongoing infrastructure projects across the country.
Daylight Savings Time 2026: When does it start and end? Which states don’t change their clocks?
Daylight Saving Time, the annual change in time known colloquially as Daylight Saving Time, is about to begin in 2026. As a result, most Americans will lose an hour of sleep this weekend when they “go ahead.” For nearly 20 years, a ceremony to set the clocks forward one hour has been held every year on the second Sunday in March.
When does daylight saving time start in March 2026?
This year Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, March 8. Since 2007, the start date has been the second Sunday in March, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory, the Department of Defense’s official time source.
Learn more | U.S. lawmakers are again advancing legislation to make daylight saving time permanent — what to know
Much of the United States will lose an hour to the clock change on Sunday, as the 2 a.m. time jumps to 3 a.m. us”move forward“Before the true spring arrives, the vernal equinox on March 20th.
When does Daylight Saving Time end in 2026?
Most Americans will “fall back” to standard time at 2 a.m. local time on the first Sunday in November. This year it’s November 1st. After the autumnal equinox on September 22, the country will be nearly six weeks into fall.
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, daylight saving time will last 238 days.
Which US states don’t change their clocks?
The U.S. Department of Transportation pointed out that as of July 25, 2022, only parts of Hawaii and Arizona do not participate in daylight saving time. The only exception is Arizona It’s the Navajo Nation.
At the same time, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico The Virgin Islands are not participating either.
The website notes that under the Revised Uniform Time Act, states are exempt from observing daylight saving time under state law.
China requires high-risk groups to undergo cancer screening
China’s Ministry of Health is urging people at potential risk to get screened for cancer as part of a wider push to improve disease prevention and control. Lei Haichao, director of the National Health Commission, said at a press conference on Saturday that people aged 50 and above, long-term smokers, those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or a family history of lung cancer are recommended to receive annual low-dose spiral CT scans. The Chinese government is advancing actions to strengthen the comprehensive cancer prevention and control plan by 2030.(Bloomberg)