Iran has held a funeral for the country’s most influential defence figure, Ali Shamkhani, who was killed in Israeli-US strikes on February 28. Shamkhani was a key figure in Iran nuclear talks, chief of the country’s Defence Council and advisor to the late Supreme Leader. He lost a leg in an Israeli assassination attempt last June.
Published On 15 Mar 2026
NEW DELHI: Big tournaments often reveal the finer aspects of leadership, and former Australia captain Ricky Ponting observed plenty of that in the way India navigated their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign under skipper Suryakumar Yadav.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!India entered the tournament as favourites, carrying high expectations while also dealing with form concerns within the squad. The captain himself endured a difficult campaign with the bat. Apart from a rescue knock of 84* off 49 balls in the opener against USA, Yadav scored 158 runs across the remaining eight innings. Despite that, he guided the team to peak at the most crucial moments.
Ponting believes the true measure of captaincy often lies behind closed doors.“It’s about a lot more than what they do off the field, the things that people don’t see and how they interact with their players,” Ponting said as per the ICC website.The Australian great also pointed out that leading a side becomes even tougher when a captain’s personal form dips, something Yadav experienced during the tournament.“He didn’t have a great time himself as a player, but still he’s standing at the end holding up a World Cup trophy,” Ponting noted. “I know, as a former captain, when you’re not batting at your absolute best, captaincy can become really difficult. And when you are batting well, captaincy can become really easy.”Ponting also highlighted how Yadav managed players under pressure, especially those struggling with form and confidence.“It would have been really interesting to see how Surya has interacted with Abhishek (Sharma) and Sanju (Samson) over the last few weeks. That’s where the real stories will come out on true leadership,” he added.Abhishek Sharma, the ICC No. 1-ranked T20I batter, had a turbulent run during the tournament. He registered three consecutive ducks, followed by low scores of 15, 10 and 9, and managed only one fifty before the final. However, on the biggest stage of the tournament, he found his form again, smashing 52 off 21 balls and recording the fastest fifty of the 2026 edition in just 18 deliveries.“You don’t have to worry about the staples, it’s more the guys on the fringe and the younger guys going up and down with their emotions and battling with their form, the ones you have to spend the most time with,” he noted.A key tournament decision came at the top of the order when Sanju Samson was given renewed backing. His first opportunity came early in the campaign as cover for Sharma, but he was dropped again before being recalled for a crucial fixture against Zimbabwe. Samson seized the opportunity and turned it into a dominant run.A blistering 97* in a virtual knockout against West Indies sparked his surge. He followed it up with scores of 89 (42) in the semifinal against England and 89 (46) in the final against New Zealand. In just five innings, Samson amassed 321 runs — the most by an Indian in a single T20 World Cup.Ponting emphasised the importance of India’s faith in the wicketkeeper-batter.“For India to stick with him at the top there, that was a big call to make. A big decision, but one that worked out really well in the end,” he said. “If you get the backing of the coaching staff and the captain, then that’s all you need… Just a pat on the back or an arm around the shoulder to say, ‘we’re sticking with you, we believe in you.”“When you’ve got the quality that Sanju’s got, and the confidence of the captain and coach behind you, that’s when great things can happen,” he concluded.
Poet and lyricist Vairamuthu has been selected for the prestigious Jnanpith Award, becoming the third Tamil writer to receive the country’s highest literary honour. Singer Chinmayi Sripaada, who was one among many to name the lyricist during the MeToo movement, called out Rajinikanth for praising the lyricist after the honour. Before that, she also called out Kamal Haasan for doing the same.
In 2018, multiple women named Vairamuthu during the MeToo movement, including Chinmayi. The musician wrote about it after the news was announced, “In 2018, multiple women of different age groups named one Poet – Lyricist as their molester.” She also added, “The collective voices of the women who named him, were silenced. I paid a very heavy price – the rest of the women who left their dreams behind weren’t half as lucky as I.”
In another post, she also wrote, “Ashapoorna Devi was the first woman writer to be honored by India with the Jnanpith Award. Reading Chinmayi on X brought back memories of her. These were the questions Ashapoorna Devi raised while accepting the Jnanpith: ”Why does this society tolerate so many unjustifiable actions from men? Why are women’s rights denied in every sphere of life? Why must they live suffocated within the darkness of inner quarters?” Ashapoorna Devi asked, “Why?” Half a century later, Chinmayi Sripaada asks as well: “Why is it that you feel no pain when women are subjected to psychological trauma?””
When Rajinikanth congratulated Vairamuthu for the honour and wrote in Tamil, “My heartfelt congratulations to my dear friend, the esteemed poet Vairamuthu, recipient of the great Jnanpith Award of our Indian nation. @Vairamuthu #JnanpithAward,” Chinmayi called him out, writing, “Ayyyyyyoooo!!! Puriyave puriyaadha (what a puzzle)??!”
Kamal had also congratulated Vairamuthu, writing in Tamil, “Tamil literature, with its long tradition, has received the prestigious literary award, the Jnanpith, for the third time. After the previous Jnanpith received by Jayakanthan, after the passage of a quarter century, my uncle poet-emperor @Vairamuthu has added this great honor to Tamil. With the poetic words “The sky is a Bodhi tree for me; every day it gives me a message,” which fell into my ears, entered my heart, and mingled in friendship, I take pride in congratulating this friend.”
Chinmayi called him out, writing, “For God’s sake. P.S.: Men in such power in cinema transitioning to politics completely turning a deaf ear to women who come on record to say they were molested by “his uncle-mentor” must remind women who vote – that men will never be on our side. The weirdest thing – one of the women in his own party publicly named the Poet. End of the day, men WILL stand by their bros, uncles, dads, friends, mentors. Who cares if multiple women were traumatised?”
Vairamuthu became the third Tamil writer, after novelists Akilan (1975) and Jayakanthan (2002), to be honoured with the Jnanpith Award. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed immense joy over the announcement on X (formerly Twitter).
Veteran comedian Tim Meadows recently shared a heartfelt tribute to his longtime pal Adam Sandler, calling him the funniest person he knows. The 65-year-old actor made the revelation during a lively chat. Meadows, best known for his iconic run on ‘Saturday Night Live’, explained why Sandler stands out after decades in the comedy world.
On the podcast Literally! With Rob Lowe, Meadows shared that he and Sandler first crossed paths as castmates on SNL from 1991 to 1995. Those early 90s years forged a bond that has lasted over 30 years, filled with shared sketches and backstage antics. Host Rob Lowe, 61, prompted Meadows by asking about the funniest folks he has worked with over his career. Without hesitation, Meadows pointed to Sandler, 59, as the top pick. Their friendship thrives on inside jokes, or “bits,” that started back then and keep evolving. “We have bits that we do with each other from 30 years ago. Then you create new bits whenever you hang out with him,” Meadows said. He added that “Sandler loves to laugh and just hang out, making it easy to be themselves together”. This effortless vibe sets Sandler apart from other comics Meadows admires.“I know a lot of very funny people, but Sandler, I think, for me [is the funniest]… ‘cause I’ve known him so long, and we have a really good friendship,” he said
Meadows did not stop at Sandler. He gave a shoutout to fellow SNL alum David Spade, also 61, as another hilarious standout from their era. “He’s very funny. I always say there are very few people from SNL that I would drive across the country with, but Spade is probably in my top three or four people that I could do that with,” Meadows noted. Spade’s sharp wit made long trips bearable, a true test of comedic gold. “We can be ourselves with each other,” Meadows addedThe two have stayed connected beyond the Studio 8H stage. Sandler often casts his SNL buddies in films like ‘Grown Ups’, ‘Grown Ups 2’, and ‘Hubie Halloween,’ where Meadows popped up alongside the crew. These collaborations keep the laughs rolling in real life, too. Today, Meadows stars in the CBS comedy series DMV, sharing the screen with another SNL vet, Molly Kearney. The show highlights his timeless talent for character work and timing. Fans tuning into the podcast got a peek into how these enduring friendships fuel his funny bone.
India lost 0-2 against England in the final of the FIH Women’s Hockey World Qualifier but still managed to progress to this year’s mega-event, to be co-hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium, here on Saturday.
World No. 6 England scored through a penalty corner conversion by Grace Balsdon in the 13th minute before doubling their lead through a field strike from Elizabeth Neal in the 43rd minute.
The Indians, ranked ninth in the world, tried their heart and soul throughout the entire 60 minutes but failed to break the resolute English defence.
Besides champions England, runners-up India and Scotland, who defeated Italy 1-0, qualified from this event for the World Cup.
Meanwhile, this match marked India skipper Salima Tete’s 150th international appearance.
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It took Ektaa R Kapoor’s intervention to reunite filmmaker Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar after 16 years. Despite collaborating on six films earlier, the duo hadn’t worked together since Khatta Meetha (2010). That changed when Kapoor approached them with the script of Bhooth Bangla, which releases next month. The script “excited both of us”, shares Priyadarshan, adding that the actor had suggested Kapoor approach him to direct the project.
Priyadarshan says he took the story from the writer but developed his “own screenplay”. Bhooth Bangla draws heavily from “Indian folklore and mythology like the English werewolf. Soul-switching, controlling souls, and black magic is the core of the film. [The idea] — tele-transportation, where one soul inhabits the body of another human [is significant] even in the Bible and Indian philosophy. It is funny because I am a psychology student and I don’t believe in ghosts,” laughs the director. He adds that the film unfolds from the perspective of a non-believer who suddenly encounters a soul.
Akshay Kumar in ‘Bhooth Bangla’. Pics/PTI, Instagram, AFP
Unfazed by comparisons with the Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise, Priyadarshan insists that the Kumar, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Tabu-starrer is “being made on a grander scale.” He adds, “People will smile and then the eeriness will creep in. The climax is one of the biggest ends ever shot on a huge canvas.”
The director reveals that Tabu — with whom this horror-comedy marks his fifth collaboration — “looks as beautiful in it as she did in Virasat [1997]. Without Tabu’s character, there’s no logic in the story.” He recalls that the actor was equally excited to reunite and work with him again.
Priyadarshan; (right) Ekta Kpoor (L) and Wamiqa Gabbi
However, it is Rajpal Yadav’s comic timing that the filmmaker cannot stop praising. “He is hilarious in the film and a character you will remember,” he notes, adding that while he has no plans to turn Bhooth Bangla into a franchise, “Maybe, Ektaa can take it forward.”
6
Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan’s movies together
`Virasat`
1996: ‘Kaalapani’
1997: ‘Virasat’
2000: ‘Hera Pheri’
2000: ‘Snegithiye’
Critics have seized on the activity, calling for a crackdown on the apps, which they say are facilitating unseemly, and potentially illegal, war profiteering, generating national security risks and enabling opportunities for insider trading and corruption.
The ongoing Middle East crisis has triggered concerns over the supply of several essential commodities, including fertilisers. Addressing these worries, the government on Saturday said the country’s fertiliser availability remains stable, assuring that existing stocks of urea and other key crop nutrients are “more than adequate”.Speaking at an inter-ministerial media briefing on the situation related to the conflict, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India currently has sufficient fertiliser reserves, particularly as preparations begin for the upcoming Kharif season.“What I can tell you is that India has more than adequate stocks of fertilisers at this point of time, especially for the upcoming Kharif season,” he said.Jaiswal noted that the country’s urea reserves are currently higher than the levels recorded at the same time last year. “Our stocks of urea are more than what they were at this point last year,” he said.The spokesperson also highlighted a stronger stock position for other fertilisers. According to him, reserves of DAP (Diammonium phosphate) are now double the levels seen in 2025, while stocks of NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) are also significantly higher compared with last year.He urged commentators to rely on verified information when discussing supply concerns. “Observers and commentators would do well to look at the factual situation and not induce panic through uninformed speculation,” he said.DAP is the most widely used phosphorus fertiliser, while NPK is suitable for all stages of plant growth.Jaiswal said domestic urea production is currently expected to exceed nominal consumption levels, especially as the Rabi season is nearing its end. “In so far as our domestic production of urea is concerned, our current production will be more than our nominal consumption, especially since the Rabi season is coming to an end,” he said. He also pointed out that the government had advanced annual maintenance schedules at certain fertiliser plants in order to maximise output.“In addition, we had taken care to advance the scheduled annual maintenance of some our plants, which means that we are able to maximise production with available gas,” he said. The Department of Fertilisers (DoF), he added, had already issued global tenders in anticipation of potential disruptions linked to the current geopolitical situation.“These have received a very good response and we expect to receive the bulk of the quantities ordered from a variety of sources by end of March. The DoF has also decided to procure spot gas on a competitive basis and the first phase purchase will be by Tuesday,” he said.Jaiswal said India’s international partners have reassured New Delhi that fertiliser shipments will continue without interruption. “All our partners have assured us of uninterrupted supplies and we hope to attain and maintain comfortable fertiliser stocks by the time Kharif demand peaks by May 15,” he said. He added that the department of fertilisers is closely monitoring both domestic and global trends and taking the necessary steps to ensure adequate availability.
Actor Aamir Khan marked his 61st birthday on March 14 with a warm and intimate celebration at home, surrounded by those closest to him. The gathering brought together his girlfriend Gauri Spratt and his children: Junaid Khan, Ira Khan and Azad Rao Khan, making it a cosy family affair. His former wife Kiran Rao was also present at the gathering.
Late on Saturday, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan took to Instagram to share a glimpse from the birthday celebrations. Irfan Pathan attended the celebration with his wife and former model Safa Baig.
In the clip, Aamir is seen cutting his birthday cake as guests around him clap and cheer. The footage offers a glimpse of the cosy celebration, with a spread of home-cooked dishes arranged on the table. Ira, Junaid, and Azad are dressed casually in jeans and T-shirts, while Gauri is wearing a green ensemble. Aamir is also seen dressed casually in a striped T-shirt paired with black pants.
The video also captures a playful moment during the celebrations, with Ira lighting a lighter in place of a candle while Aamir blows it out. She is later seen smearing a bit of cake cream on his face. Aamir fed the cake first to Azad, followed by Ira, Gauri and then Junaid.
Irfan posted the video on his Instagram handle with the caption, “Wishing a very Happy Birthday to Aamir bhai. Also wonderful to see Ira Khan doing impactful work through Agatsu Foundation, spreading awareness and support for mental health & much more. Video : @nupur.shikhare”.
Later, several videos of guests who attended the intimate birthday bash leaving the venue also surfaced on social media. Several clips captured Aamir’s ex wife and filmmaker Kiran Rao getting in the car with Aamir and Gauri. The footage also revealed that the birthday bash was attended by Aamir’s former wife Reena Dutta, who was seen leaving the venue with their son Junaid.
Meanwhile, several of Aamir’s colleagues and close friends took to social media to extend their birthday wishes to him. Sharing a birthday video posted by Aamir’s production house, Kiran wrote, “HBD to my forever Sikander.”
Kajol, who has worked with Aamir in films such as Fanaa, Ishq and Salaam Venky, wished the actor on her Instagram stories with a throwback picture. “Happiest birthday #AamirKhan, have a good one,” she wrote.
Last year, Aamir made his comeback to the big screen with Sitaare Zameen Par after the failure of Laal Singh Chaddha in 2022. Helmed by R. S. Prasanna and produced by Aamir Khan and Aparna Purohit, the film was a spiritual successor to Aamir’s 2007 classic Taare Zameen Par. The actor was also seen in a cameo appearance in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s Coolie, which also featured Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Shruti Haasan, Soubin Shahir and Upendra.
Next, he has several projects lined up across acting and production. Aamir is backing the period drama Lahore 1947, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and starring Sunny Deol. He also produced the Vir Das-directed Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, which released on 16 January this year and earned approximately ₹6.21 crore at the box office. Aamir was seen in a cameo role in Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos.
Apart from this, Aamir is also producing the romantic drama Ek Din starring his son, Junaid Khan, alongside Sai Pallavi. The film is set to release on 1 May 2026.
Aaqib Javed has launched a forceful defence of Pakistan’s selection committee and the team’s recent record, arguing that criticism after every major setback has turned into a destructive obsession with finding someone to blame.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, where the selectors had no squad to announce, Aaqib pushed back against the fallout from Pakistan’s T20 World Cup exit, insisting the team’s campaign had not been poor enough to justify claims that Pakistan cricket had been “destroyed”. All members of the men’s selection committee were present, and the PCB later said chairman Mohsin Naqvi had met them and expressed full confidence in their work.
“In our setup, whenever a team loses, there is always a demand to punish someone,” Aaqib said. “It happened at the previous World Cup, then the Champions Trophy, and the Asia Cup. Whenever we lose, we’ll go over the top, demanding the whole team, coach or selectors be changed. The way we change coaches and selectors never happens anywhere else in world cricket. We’ll have to move past scapegoating people.”
That was the central message of Aaqib’s appearance. Pakistan may have now gone four straight ICC men’s tournaments without reaching the last four, but he was determined to frame the reaction as excessive rather than justified. The selectors, too, appeared keen to present a united front, with Misbah-ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed attending as members of the panel after their recent appointments.
Aaqib also tried to build a broader case around Pakistan’s results over the last 18 months. “Overall, if I view the Pakistan team since I’ve come here, we beat England in a Test series, which no one even dreamed of. We won an ODI series in Australia after 27 (22) years. We then beat South Africa 3-0 in South Africa (in ODIs), which no one has ever done. We let the Centurion Test slip through our fingers, and should have won it.”
He did concede one major failure. “Then came the Champions Trophy, which I admit was a disaster,” he said. “Until then, the team’s performance was going well.”
Aaqib Javed’s most provocative defence came when he downplayed the scale of the T20 World Cup disappointment. “The India-Pakistan match is important for us, but we have never beaten India in a World Cup. It is 8-0 (8-1 in T20 World Cups). The best captains from 1975 onwards have played them, including players from all generations, and we’ve never beaten India; the result is 8-0. Set that aside.”
He then added, “We qualified for the second round, and we lost only one game against England. Did anything else happen? It was not possible to win by that margin against Sri Lanka, which we required. We lost just one game, and only missed out due to net run rate. It’s not so big an issue to say our cricket has been destroyed.”
The next selection calls will come after PSL 2026, with Bangladesh Tests on the horizon. For now, though, Aaqib has made one thing clear: the selectors are not backing down.
