The Indian Express

The death of Anil Gurav at 61 marks the end of a tragic, almost-forgotten chapter of Mumbai cricket—one that intersected closely with the rise of Sachin Tendulkar. Once hailed as the “Viv Richards of Mumbai,” Gurav was a prodigious talent who even lent Tendulkar the bat for his first competitive century. But a troubled personal life, including his brother’s links to crime, police harassment, and alcoholism derailed his career. From being a maidan superstar tipped for India, Gurav faded into obscurity, living in hardship until his death. Click on the 🔗below to read full article. https://lnkd.in/gBs_rEDf Written by: Bharat Sundaresan

In a post on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran’s new regime president has requested a ceasefire with the United States, describing him as “much less radicalized and far more intelligent” than his predecessors. Trump said the U.S. would consider the request only if the Strait of Hormuz is “open, free, and clear,” adding that until then, military action against Iran would continue. The statement comes ahead of Trump’s address to Americans on the ongoing war.

2017 Nitesh Tiwari’s Dangal win celebrated powerful storytelling Watch the Chetak Screen Awards live on Sunday, April 5, at 8 PM on youtube.com/@screenawards | Sony Entertainment Television | Sony LIV. In partnership with @youtubeindia

wo-factor authentication (2FA) for all digital transactions, including on popular UPI platforms, became operational from Wednesday (April 1), in line with directions from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to curb fraud. Under the new norm, transactions will only be processed if the user completes both verification steps. This means that even if someone knows a user’s PIN, unauthorised payments will not go through. While the RBI did not mandate a specific method for the second factor, the digital payments ecosystem has primarily adopted SMS-based one-time passwords (OTPs). Users can also verify transactions through fingerprint authentication or facial recognition. The central bank had instructed all banks and non-bank payment providers to comply with these directions by April 1, 2026, citing the move as a step to reduce fraud and improve accountability.

A Moradabad history-sheeter who had evaded police for over two decades was finally arrested in Sambhal, where he had been living under a false identity as “Sultan.” Police said the 58-year-old had forged documents including Aadhaar, PAN and voter ID, and adopted a different appearance and lifestyle to blend in. His double life unraveled during a routine verification drive using a police app, leading to his arrest. The accused, facing multiple serious criminal cases, had fled his village years ago to escape scrutiny and start afresh under a carefully constructed disguise. Click on the 🔗below to read the full article. https://lnkd.in/gJeP9a-c Written by: Manish Sahu Design: Abhishek Mitra

NASA is set to launch the Artemis II mission on Wednesday (April 1) from the Kennedy Space Center, marking the first crewed journey to the Moon since the Apollo era. The mission will not involve a moon landing. Instead, the four astronauts will carry out a low flyover of the Moon’s orbit, testing systems in space as part of preparations for a future landing, expected in about two years.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to sources cited by Iran International, has taken de facto control over key areas of governance, obstructing presidential decisions, including important appointments, and tightening its influence over the central power structure. A recent attempt by Pezeshkian to appoint a new intelligence minister reportedly failed after direct intervention by IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi. Traditionally, the president nominates candidates for the Intelligence Minister post only after approval from the Supreme Leader. However, uncertainty surrounding the condition and location of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in recent weeks appears to have complicated the process, enabling the IRGC to consolidate control over the security apparatus.

Soon after the Calcutta High Court lifted interim protection, industrialist Pawan Ruia was arrested by West Bengal Police in connection with a multi-crore cyber fraud probe. Ruia, who had been on the radar of Bidhannagar and Barrackpore Cyber Crime Police for nearly two years, was apprehended from a hotel in New Town on the outskirts of Kolkata. The investigation, which gathered pace after the arrest of a close associate in Delhi, revealed an alleged money trail involving shell companies and cryptocurrency wallets. According to the FIR, the racket — operational since early 2024 or before — targeted over 1,000 victims through fake investment schemes and ‘digital arrest’ tactics. Data from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal links the network to 1,379 cases, with losses amounting to Rs 2,315 crore. Click on the 🔗 below to read the full article. https://lnkd.in/ge-h7AFG

A local court in Goa on Wednesday (April 1) granted bail to Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, in connection with the December 6 fire last year at the club. The blaze in North Goa’s Arpora had left 25 people dead. Last Friday, their anticipatory bail plea in a case of alleged forgery and cheating was rejected. The brothers and others are accused of forging a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Health Office and using it to obtain excise and other licences to run the nightclub. A second FIR was lodged against the Luthras and their associates for allegedly fabricating documents to obtain permissions to run the club.

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s manifesto for the Assam Assembly elections promises implementation of a Uniform Civil Code, stricter action against illegal immigration, and laws targeting “land jihad” and “love jihad,” alongside increased evictions and pushbacks of declared foreigners. It also pledges a major hike in welfare schemes, including raising financial assistance under the Orunodoi scheme from ₹1,250 to ₹3,000 and expanding its coverage. The document positions development alongside protection of indigenous identity, blending economic incentives with a strong stance on demographic and cultural issues. Click on the link below to read the full article. https://lnkd.in/gV4n-dWh Written by: Sukrita Baruah