The jump in shipments puts the world’s second largest economy on track to top the record-breaking annual trade surplus it saw in 2025.
China exports surge in first two months of the year despite Trump tariffs
Sanju Samson reveals he was in contact with Sachin Tendulkar during the T20 WC
India`s T20 World Cup star Sanju Samson opened up about his conversations with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar during the recent T20 WC. The Indian opener was dropped from the playing XI in the opening games of the tournament, but later emerged as the ICC Player of the tournament for his match-winning performances for India.
Sanju Samson was drafted back into the Indian playing XI after their Super-8 defeat to South Africa. After a long score against Zimbabwe, Samson returned to his best against the West Indies in India`s must-win clash.
Samson`s score of an unbeaten 97(50) against West Indies was followed by 89(42) vs ENG in the semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium. The Kerala-born star was yet again India`s best batter in the final against New Zealand, scoring 89 runs in just 46 deliveries. Samson`s match-winning performances earned him the Player of the Tournament trophy at the World Cup, despite playing only 4 matches.
During the trophy presentation, a visibly emotional Sanju Samson thanked god for his performances. He also revealed that he had constant contact with Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar during the tough times in the tournament.
“I reached out to Sachin Tendulkar when I wasn’t in the XI. He constantly guided me and helped me out. Even yesterday, he called me and checked upon me. I’m really grateful for that”. Sanju Samson said.
Samson said he was in a bad place mentally after being dropped on the eve of the World Cup, but his conversations with Tendulkar helped him get back to his best. Tendulkar`s advice paid dividends as Samson guided India to back-to-back T20 World Cup wins.
Earlier, Shefali Verma revealed Sachin Tendulkar`s impact on her World Cup-winning performance
The Indian Women`s team won the ODI World Cup for the first time in November 2025. They defeated South Africa in the final by 52 runs, with Shefali Verma named Player of the Match for scoring 87 runs and taking two wickets.
Speaking after the match, Verma revealed that she was inspired by the talk she had with Sachin Tendulkar on the eve of the final.
“When I saw him (Sachin Tendulkar), it gave me an incredible boost. I keep talking to him, and he keeps giving me confidence. He is the master of cricket, and we keep getting inspired just looking at him,” Verma said.
Shefali Verma and Sanju Samson have both praised Sachin Tendulkar`s impact on their performances after World Cup triumphs. Despite his retirement in 2013, Tendulkar remains an influential character in Indian cricket.
Mannara Chopra breaks down after Bigg Boss 17`s Anurag Dobhal`s car crash
YouTuber Anurag Dobhal, popularly known as UK07 Rider, was recently injured in a car crash. The YouTuber was admitted to Subharti Hospital in Meerut. He allegedly faced multiple fractures after crashing his Toyota Fortuner on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway. The incident took place during an Instagram livestream on Saturday. The accident has led to an outpouring of support on social media, with many fans hoping for his speedy recovery. Among those visibly affected by his accident was his former Bigg Boss 17 co-contestant Mannara Chopra.
Mannara Chopra breaks down
The actress shared an emotional video message on her Instagram Stories, in which she was seen dressed in a pink kurti and holding back tears. She spoke about her bond with Anurag Dobhal in the video, saying, “When you have spent so many days in one house, you develop some human connection. I don`t cry because I feel crying doesn`t help, but I don`t know that my personal feelings, what has happened to me in the last two years and what is happening to him now are getting mixed up. I hope his parents support him.”
Recalling his time in the Bigg Boss house, the actress shared, “He had fought a lot at the house for his parents to let him talk to them, to let him talk to his sister, his future wife, he had even taken her name.”
Mannara also opened up about Anurag`s health after the crash, urging people to prioritise emotional support over chasing material success. “What is money? If you don`t have anyone to love you, what will you do with that money? This is what I just want to tell his family. What will you do with that money?” she questioned.
The actress further shared his health update, revealing that he has sustained multiple injuries. “He has a fracture. I don`t know why this happened at such a young age, he must be 28-29. I felt very bad because I have also gone through that phase for two years,” she concluded.
About Anurag Dobhal`s car crash
Before the incident, Anurag had shared a two-hour-long video on YouTube, wherein he accused his parents of torture and harassment. He alleged that his parents targeted him over his marriage to Ritika, who belongs to a different caste. He also said in the video that he had been contemplating suicide.
Anurag Dobhal tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Ritika, in May 2025. The couple announced their first pregnancy in September that same year.
Roop Durgapal says Nana Patekar, Prakash Jha taught her about acting and life
Roop Durgapal is going to make her debut in the web space with Prakash Jha’s Sankalp, starring Nana Patekar, Sanjay Kapoor, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Kranti Prakash Jha and Meghna Malik.
The actress said that working alongside such talented names was like educating herself about various aspect about acting.
Sharing more on the series and her role, Roop said: ”The stellar cast is one of the vital reasons that I was excited to join the show. When everyone has had a fabulous body of work, you know there will be a lot of learning on sets & off it as well.”
She added: “Just being around Nana Patekar Sir, Prakash sir was like educating myself about various aspects of acting, making and even life as a whole. There was so much to learn from Meghna Malik ma’am as well, we bonded during lunches & dinners too. Such a fabulous actor great human being.”
Roop plays the character Madhuri, wife of actor Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub’s character.
Sharing more on him, Roop said: ”Zeeshan is a fabulous co actor, coming from NSD and having done so much work in films & web space, there was so much to learn from him. His measured approach towards scenes, command over language & fab energy were so helpful during our scenes together. I was looking forward to the set everyday.”
Roop was doing theatre and was preparing for a play when she got to know about the audition for Sankalp. Roop’s debut on OTT happened quite late in her career.
”I think till 2019, I hadn’t given it a thought to go beyond TV, its when Covid struck and our lives changed, saw people passing away, that I had a realisation that life is short, unpredictable. I felt like experimenting & doing things that scared me. Theatre being one of them.”
She added: “The idea of having no cuts, no retakes, month-long rehearsals was alien to me and scary too. But the realisation of life’s uncertainty gave me the strength to take a plunge. I did theatre, it was an amazingly satisfying journey to be on stage & not fumble. It gave me the courage to explore beyond TV & venture into webspace.”
“I think everything happens in its own time and everyone’s journey is different. Mine was meant to happen this way, I am very happy with the way it happened organically. Numbers of years don’t matter.”
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BCCI announces Rs 131 crore reward for India after T20 World Cup 2026 triumph | Cricket News
Team India players celebrate with the trophy after winning the T20 World Cup 2026. (AP Photo)
NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday announced a cash reward of Rs 131 crore for Team India following their historic victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!India lifted the trophy after a dominant 96-run win over New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, successfully defending their title and becoming the first team in history to retain the T20 World Cup. With this triumph, India also became the first side to win the tournament three times, cementing their status among the most successful teams in the format.
In an official statement, the BCCI congratulated the players, support staff, and selectors for the achievement and wished them continued success. The board described the victory as a “powerful reflection of depth in the country’s cricket and the structures that nurture talent and sustain excellence at the highest level.”BCCI president Mithun Manhas hailed the achievement as a moment of immense pride for the nation. “To defend the title and achieve this feat on home soil makes it even more special,” he said. He lauded captain Suryakumar Yadav, head coach Gautam Gambhir, the squad, and the selectors for outstanding cricket throughout the tournament.ALSO READ: Team India Report Card: Perfect finish to a not-so-perfect T20 World Cup campaignBCCI secretary Devajit Saikia highlighted India’s golden phase in cricket, citing the team’s success at home in both the ICC Women’s World Cup last year and the T20 World Cup. He acknowledged former BCCI secretary Jay Shah for strengthening Indian cricket’s structures and global standing.Vice-president Rajeev Shukla, joint secretary Prabhtej Bhatia, and treasurer A Raghuram Bhat praised the team’s composure, unity, and determination, noting that meticulous planning and strong foundations contributed to the victory.India posted 255 for 5, the highest total in a T20 World Cup final, before bowling out New Zealand for 159 in 19 overs. With this win, India now holds 14 ICC trophies across senior and Under-19 formats, surpassing Australia’s 13, and has established itself as the most successful team in T20 World Cup history.
Elijah Wood teases his return in upcoming The Lord of the Rings film
Hollywood actor Elijah Wood is playing it smart with regards to his potential return as Frodo in the upcoming Andy Serkis-directed feature The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.
The actor has neither confirmed nor denied the status of his potential return but the longtime actor said he wouldn’t want anyone else to take up the mantle as long as he is “alive and able” to play the role, reports ‘Deadline’.
The actor acknowledged co-star Ian McKellen teasing details about the forthcoming movie to fans at a convention last year.
He told The Times U.K., “It hasn’t been officially announced, but at a convention last August, Ian sort of let the cat out of the bag. So there is a good chance. I’m not able to officially say anything until it’s announced, but I will say I’m thrilled with the prospect of another film”.
He further mentioned, “It’s always a little nerve-racking when people talk about new movies for a world like Middle-earth. Everyone gets a little protective and hopes it retains its level of integrity, but this story is fun, thrilling. There is a genuine feeling of getting the band back together”.
As per ‘Deadline’, the film is set for release in late 2027, and tells the story of what happened between the end of The Hobbit prequel trilogy and the beginning of ‘The Lord of the Rings’.
When told about Ian McKellen’s statement about him not allowing anyone else to play Gandalf, Elijah said, “Well, no, and I totally get that. I certainly wouldn’t want anybody else to play Frodo either as long as I’m alive and able. And I can also recognize what fun that is going to be, when you are in the cinema and you see the hat turn around and it’s Gandalf. Because I’m also a fan, and excited to see how it all comes together”.
Beginning in 2001 with the release of The Fellowship of the Ring, the first film of the Peter Jackson-helmed trilogy catapulted Wood to a new stratosphere of stardom as he took on the lead role of Frodo, the protagonist of J. R. R. Tolkien’s books who is charged with a noble quest to save Middle-earth.
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Ascend International beat Bombay Scottish 2-0 to enter boys U-10 Super Cup final
Ascend International School (BKC) defeated defending champions Bombay Scottish School (Mahim) 2-0 to enter the final of the boys U-10 Dream Sports Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) inter-school football Super Cup tournament at Azad Maidan on Monday.
Interestingly, Bombay Scottish had beaten Ascend 1-0 to win the title last year.
Ascend made a bright start and took the lead early in the sixth minute through Aushim Sagar. His attempt from outside the area slipped past Bombay Scottish goalkeeper Kabir Vora, who fumbled while trying to collect the ball, giving the BKC side a 1-0 lead. The Mahim outfit tried to respond and pushed forward in search of the equaliser. However, Ascend’s defence stayed compact and denied them clear chances. Despite their efforts, Scottish were unable to break through as Ascend carried the 1-0 advantage into the halftime break.
On resumption, the Mahim outfit tried to press for the equaliser but struggled to create clear chances as Ascend’s defence remained compact. With four minutes remaining, Nivaan Virani sealed the victory with a neat placement into the right side of the goal.
Meanwhile, in the other semifinal, Campion School (Colaba) defeated Sacred Heart Boys High School (Santacruz) 4-1 at the same venue. Hrihaan Jagtap, Aadit Dey, Abbas Attarwala and Prerit Bhansali scored for Campion, while Harman Singh netted the lone goal for Sacred Heart.
Ascend International and Campion will face each other in the final on March 10 at 3.30 pm at Azad Maidan.
Love & War update: Film undergoes multiple reshoots, budget spikes up
It is already known that Ranbir Kapoor and Sanjay Leela Bhansali`s highly awaited drama Love & War, which was expected to reach the cinema halls by August this year, might be getting pushed.
Now, IANS has finally learned the reason behind the delay. A source close to the project revealed that the release of Love & War has been repeatedly delayed as some crucial scenes from the film are being reshot, leading to a spike in the budget.
Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who is known for creating a unique world of his own with every film, looks for perfection in every frame and hence is shooting a few of the important scenes from his next yet again.
The source further revealed that this has also added to the budget of the drama, which is already being made on a jaw-dropping scale.
It is further believed that all the rework has led to an indefinite delay in the release of the movie.
Refreshing your memory, during a recent Instagram live, Ranbir shared that the movie buffs might have to wait a little longer to witness Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s directorial. He said that the film, which was initially expected to reach the cinema halls by August 2026, is now likely to be out either later this year or even in 2027.
Explaining the reason for the delay, Ranbir shared that grand projects such as Ramayana and Love & War take a little longer to finish due to their ambitious scale and vision. Nevertheless, Ranbir expressed the confidence that the wait will be worthwhile.
It remains to be seen when the makers lock in on the final release date for Love & War. Ranbir will be seen alongside his better half, Alia Bhatt, and actor Vicky Kaushal in the forthcoming romantic entertainer, which is believed to be inspired by the 1964 film Sangam, starring Ranbir`s grandfather, Raj Kapoor, Vyjayanthimala, and Rajendra Kumar.
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Apple now makes about 25% of iPhones in India after China pivot| Business News
Apple Inc. increased iPhone production in India by about 53% last year and now makes a quarter of its marquee devices there, reflecting the US company’s efforts to avoid tariffs on China.
The company assembled about 55 million iPhones in India in 2025, up from 36 million a year earlier, people familiar with the matter said, asking not to be named because the numbers aren’t public. Apple makes about 220 million to 230 million iPhones a year globally, with India’s share of the total increasing rapidly.
Apple has accelerated its expansion in the world’s most populous country in recent years, bolstered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s production-linked incentives aimed at turning India into the world’s factory. The subsidies have helped offset some of the structural cost disadvantages that manufacturers face in India, including the lack of a China-like robust supply chain and logistics challenges.
In 2025, shipments from China, where Apple still makes the bulk of iPhones, faced headwinds as a result of US tariffs related to the two economic powers’ trade war. The levies pushed Apple and its suppliers to move a greater share of devices meant for the American market to alternative manufacturing destinations, with India emerging as a major bright spot.
An Apple spokesperson declined to comment.
Even though the gap has narrowed, electronics assembly and component manufacturing still costs more in India than in countries including China and Vietnam. That’s prompted Apple, Samsung Electronics Co. and others to seek more government support.
Companies are discussing with New Delhi another round of incentives to support export growth. India’s current production subsidies for smartphones expire March 31 and with the US Supreme Court striking down some of the duties affecting China, India needs to move quickly to remain cost competitive.
Cupertino, California-based Apple currently assembles all versions of the latest iPhone 17 lineup in India, including the high-end Pro and Pro Max models. Its suppliers in India, including Foxconn Technology Group, Tata Electronics and Pegatron Corp., also build older models such as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 for local sales and export.
The rising output in India highlights Apple’s long-term supply chain strategy to build a second major iPhone manufacturing base to serve global demand. The company is deepening and widening its local supplier partnerships to make components including lithium-ion cells, watch and phone enclosures and accessories such as AirPods.
Beyond manufacturing, Apple is targeting market share gains in a region where sales have surged past $9 billion. It’s preparing to launch Apple Pay in India later this year and its retail network now comprises six stores, underscoring the country’s growing importance as not just a production hub but also a fast-growing consumer market.
US consumers express dismay over rising gas prices after attack on Iran | US-Israel war on Iran News
Surging energy prices caused by the US-Israel war on Iran could ripple across the United States economy, heaping further strain on consumers at a time when cost-of-living issues are already a primary concern.
The price of crude oil increased from about $67 per barrel before the war began on February 28 to nearly $97 on Monday, as the conflict snarls production and transport in one of the most energy-rich regions on earth. Oil temporarily passed $100 per barrel on Sunday before slightly easing back.
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The price tracker GasBuddy reported on Monday that the average price of gas in the US has risen by 51 cents per gallon over the last week.
“Yes, yes, definitely,” said 52-year-old Alma Newell when asked if she was worried about price increases at a gas station in the coastal city of Goleta, California.
Newell said she is out of work with a shoulder injury and worried that rising costs could stretch her already limited budget.
“The prices have a big impact because I’m not working right now,” she said. “Food and rent are already very expensive.”
“It’s crazy,” she added. “Because the war is so unnecessary.”
Cost of living issues
Rising prices could deepen frustration with the administration of US President Donald Trump and put greater political pressure on the White House, already struggling to address cost-of-living issues with the crucial midterm elections set to take place later this year.
“I think the current price increase in oil suggests the US will see $3.50 to $4 gasoline by next week, and $5 diesel this week,” said Gregory Brew, a senior analyst on Iran and oil at the Eurasia Group.
The highest recorded average for gas prices at the pump was in June 2022, when prices soared to $5.034, months after the Russian war on Ukraine started, according to Gas Buddy, which tracks fuel prices going back to 2008.
“The impact 1773122537 is more political than economic, as high gasoline prices generate negative press and can add to the perception that the government is not properly handling the economy. That means Trump will feel more political pressure to end this war quickly.”
A Pew Research Center poll in early February suggested widespread anxiety about the rising cost-of-living before the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, with 68 percent of respondents saying they were very or somewhat concerned about gas prices.
“I’m not too worried myself because I have a hybrid car and ride my bike,” said 72-year-old Bjorn Birmir at the gas station in Goleta, California. “But for people in general, it will make life more expensive. Prices are already high, and it will make them even higher.”
Ongoing disruptions
The disruptions caused by the war include the shuttering of the Strait of Hormuz, a key node in global transit and shipping. Iran has long said that it could close down the strait in the event of a showdown with the US and Israel.
About 20 percent of global oil and a significant portion of natural gas pass through the strait, predominantly to Asia, supplies that are now stranded as traffic through the narrow waterway has ground to a halt. Iranian attacks on energy infrastructure in countries across the region have also led some countries to scale back production.
Other economic sectors are also feeling the squeeze.
Goods such as fertiliser, vital for agricultural production, are seeing price increases just ahead of the spring planting season in the Northern Hemisphere. About one-third of the global fertiliser trade passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
Effects of the war could ripple throughout the global economy, with poor countries especially hard-hit. Pakistan announced a series of austerity measures and cuts to fuel subsidies on Monday, while Bangladesh shuttered universities and announced restrictions on fuel use as a result of the war.
US officials and countries around the world have already discussed measures to help ease the shock of rising energy prices, including the potential release of strategic oil reserves in a bid to temporarily boost global supply.
The G7 said on Monday that it would take “necessary measures” to support energy supplies, but held off on announcing the release of strategic reserves, with energy ministers set to meet on Tuesday to discuss the matter further.
The US has a strategic oil reserve of more than 415 million barrels, one of the largest in the world, that it could release in coordination with allied countries.
But it is unclear when these measures would kick in and how long such steps could help fill the gaps created by the war.
Rachel Ziemba, adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, says that much depends on whether the war is brought to a speedy conclusion or continues on for weeks or even months, with the possibility of further escalation.
Thus far, neither the US and Israel nor Iran has suggested it are willing to stop the war anytime soon, although Trump told CBS News on Monday that “the war is very complete, pretty much”, comments that helped ease some of the price swings in oil and stocks.
“If the war continues, we would see oil prices not only remain elevated, but perhaps rally further as markets price in a more protracted outage,” said Ziemba. “There’s also the question of, when it does end, how much damage will be done to infrastructure and just how quickly supplies could come back online.”
Initial polling has suggested that the war is unpopular in the US, with a Quinnipiac University poll released on Monday finding that 53 percent of voters who responded oppose Trump’s military action in Iran, including 60 percent of political independents.
That lack of popular support could present a political headache for Trump and his Republican Party if voters connect the war to increasing prices. Thus far, Trump has largely dismissed concerns about the war’s possible impact on the rising cost of living.
“Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for USA, and World, Safety and Peace,” Trump said in a Truth Social post on Sunday. “ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY!”
