Rajasthan Royals has been a high-flying team in IPL 2026 so far as its occupies third place in the standings, but Riyan Parag has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons in his first full season as captain. If his batting form and captaincy have already come under the scanner, a clip from a live broadcast of his team's last game against Punjab Kings — showing Parag apparently using a vape in the dressing room — has gone viral on social media.   

The incident happened during the 16th over of the Royals’ successful chase of 223 against Punjab Kings on Monday — with the video clip spreading like wildfire. The timing could not have been worse for the 25-year-old, whose choice as replacement for Sanju Samson as captain ahead of someone like Yashasvi Jaiswal was not beyond criticism.

In the middle of a campaign headlined by their opening duo of Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Parag’s poor contribution stands out with a measly 117 runs in nine matches at an average of 14.63 and a highest score of 29 in the concerned game.

Can the smoking incident invite penal measures for Parag? The IPL’s discipinary rules forbid smoking in dressing rooms and stadium premises, except in designated areas.  

The clip has also raised eyebrows because e-cigarettes or vapes are banned in India under The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA), 2019, which prohibits their production, sale, purchase and use, with violations attracting fines and even imprisonment.

There has been no official confirmation yet from the IPL regarding the clip or any potential breach of conduct. However, the incident has sparked discussions around possible disciplinary action. The IPL has previously taken a strict view on dressing room conduct. Earlier this season, Royals’ team manager Romi Bhinder was fined after he was seen using a phone in the dugout during a match.

There have also been recent viral clips involving players off the field, including one showing Gujarat Titans’ star pacer Kagiso Rabada which drew attention online. The South African, incidentally, missed the IPL action for nearly four weeks last year after being banned by Cricket South Africa for using a recreational drug.

Asked to comment on the supposed offence, a BCCI official was quoted as saying: "We will be seeking an explanation from Riyan on this issue as vaping is not allowed. Depending on his explanation, the IPL will take further course of action."

Uddhav Thackeray has altered the political dynamics of the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Council biennial elections by fielding Ambadas Danve instead of contesting himself, a move being seen as a setback to the plans of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Shinde’s camp was reportedly preparing to field a 10th candidate in an attempt to prevent an uncontested election and politically corner Thackeray. However, the announcement of Danve’s candidature by Aaditya Thackeray on 29 April has significantly changed the complexion of the contest.

Council election arithmetic

The terms of nine members of the Maharashtra Legislative Council are ending on 13 May, including that of Uddhav Thackeray.

The last date for filing nominations is 30 April, while polling and counting are scheduled for 12 May.

Based on the current strength in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, the ruling Mahayuti coalition appears numerically stronger.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has 131 MLAs, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena has 59, while the Nationalist Congress Party has 40 legislators.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi has around 46 MLAs.

With 29 votes needed per candidate, calculations suggest the BJP can secure five seats, the Shinde faction two seats and the Ajit Pawar faction one seat, while the opposition alliance is expected to win one seat.

Why Danve was chosen

Sources in Shiv Sena (UBT) said Uddhav Thackeray had already decided against contesting the election himself but had deliberately kept his decision undisclosed.

The party reportedly wanted a strong and aggressive voice in the Legislative Council and therefore chose Ambadas Danve.

Danve earlier served as Leader of Opposition in the Council before his term ended in August 2025.

He was regarded as one of the opposition’s most vocal leaders and was known for confronting the government with detailed factual interventions during debates.

After the announcement, Danve said party workers wanted Uddhav Thackeray to return to the Council but that the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief had instead chosen an “ordinary Shiv Sainik”.

He also stressed that he was the consensus candidate of the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance.

Possibility of triangular contest

Danve’s candidature has triggered fresh speculation within Maharashtra’s political circles that if Shinde fields a 10th candidate, the BJP could also enter a 10th contestant into the race.

Such a scenario could potentially expose tensions between the BJP and the Shinde faction despite both being allies in the Mahayuti government.

Political observers say the BJP is confident about its superior numbers and may attempt to demonstrate its dominance within the alliance.

BJP eyes Shinde stronghold

The BJP has also been trying to strengthen its position in Thane, considered Shinde’s political stronghold.

As part of that strategy, the BJP has fielded a woman candidate from the Thane region for the Council polls, signalling its intent to expand its organisational footprint in areas traditionally dominated by the Shiv Sena.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier expressed hope for an uncontested election.

However, with shifting political strategies, internal alliance calculations and the possibility of additional candidates entering the fray, the Council elections are now shaping up to become politically significant and potentially dramatic.

Russia will hold its annual Victory Day parade on 9 May without tanks, missile launchers or other military hardware for the first time in nearly two decades, according to the Russian Defence Ministry.

The decision marks a significant break from tradition during one of Russia’s most important national events, long used by the Kremlin to display military power and geopolitical influence.

No military hardware on Red Square

The Defence Ministry said the parade marking the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II would proceed without the customary military equipment convoy.

The ministry cited the “current operational situation” for the move but did not elaborate further.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov blamed Ukraine’s “terrorist activity” for heightened security concerns, an apparent reference to Kyiv’s increasingly frequent long-range drone attacks inside Russia.

“All measures are being taken to minimise the danger,” Peskov said.

Ukraine has in recent months intensified strikes on Russian oil depots, military sites and infrastructure far from the battlefield using domestically developed long-range drones.

It will be the first time since 2008 that military vehicles and weapon systems will not roll through Red Square during the celebrations.

From 1991 to 2007, Victory Day parades in Russia largely avoided showcasing heavy military hardware such as tanks, ballistic missiles and large mechanised columns. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian military faced severe financial and organisational difficulties, while the Kremlin also sought to distance itself from overt Soviet-style militarism.

During these years, parades mainly featured marching troops, veterans, ceremonial units and limited flypasts. Heavy weapons formally returned to Red Square only in 2008 under Vladimir Putin, marking a symbolic revival of Russian military confidence and state power.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov blamed Ukraine’s “terrorist activity” for heightened security concerns, an apparent reference to Kyiv’s increasingly frequent long-range drone attacks inside Russia.

“All measures are being taken to minimise the danger,” Peskov said.

Ukraine has in recent months intensified strikes on Russian oil depots, military sites and infrastructure far from the battlefield using domestically developed long-range drones.

What the parade will include

The Defence Ministry said the parade would still feature military personnel, including cadets and servicemen from higher military educational institutions, along with the traditional military aircraft flyover over Moscow.

However, tanks, artillery systems, missile launchers and armoured vehicles will be absent.

Victory Day commemorations remain one of the most symbolically important events in modern Russian political culture. The Soviet Union suffered the single highest human cost of the Second World War. Out of the estimated 70–85 million total deaths globally, the USSR alone accounted for roughly 26–27 million deaths — around 30 to 40 per cent of all war deaths worldwide.

In military terms, Soviet forces suffered about 8.7–11 million military deaths, which constituted nearly half of all Allied military fatalities in the war. The Eastern Front — where Nazi Germany fought the USSR — was by far the deadliest theatre of World War II and accounted for the majority of German military losses as well.

Vladimir Putin has increasingly used the event during his more than 25 years in power to promote nationalism, military pride and Russia’s status as a global power.

The Kremlin has also linked the Ukraine war to historical narratives surrounding the Soviet fight against Nazi Germany.

Last year’s parade showcased wartime arsenal

The 2025 parade was one of the largest since the start of the Ukraine war and featured more than 11,500 troops and over 180 military vehicles.

It included tanks, artillery systems, armoured infantry vehicles, Yars nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile launchers and military drones used in the Ukraine conflict.

High-profile foreign leaders including Xi Jinping, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Robert Fico attended the event.

Security fears growing in Moscow

Russian authorities have become increasingly concerned about Ukrainian drone attacks targeting Moscow and strategic infrastructure.

Last year, Russia imposed temporary restrictions on mobile internet services in the capital around Victory Day celebrations as a precaution against possible drone operations.

The 2023 parade had already been scaled down, featuring fewer troops and military equipment and no aerial flyover.

Victory Day on 9 May remains Russia’s most important secular state holiday and a major platform for projecting military power.

The decision to remove heavy military hardware from this year’s parade underscores the growing security pressure faced by Moscow as Ukraine expands its long-range strike capabilities deep inside Russian territory.

The uneasy question gnawing at the minds of Indian football fans, with barely one-and-a-half months to go for the FIFA World Cup, is that there is no official broadcaster for the country yet. The showpiece, which will see an expanded field of 48 teams and a last hurrah for the two icons Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, will kick off on 12 June across the US, Mexico and Canada.

The ‘greatest show on earth’ has a huge following in the Indian market — especially in states like West Bengal, Kerala, Goa and Maharashtra — thanks to the exposure to global club football. However, industry watchers feel that time zone differences and the potential dilution in the quality of competition with 16 teams added at one go — not to speak of the uncertainty of advertising revenue — have been a major deterrent for the likes of Jio Hotstar, Sony and Fan Code.

FIFA had, for the 2026 cycle, attempted to bundle two upcoming World Cups (2026 and 2030) and initially sought close to $100 million from the Indian sub-continent. The market didn’t respond favourably, forcing the world governing body to scale it down in a big way but it still failed to draw interest from the big players.

The buzz right now is that the ball is currently in Jio Hotstar’s court but if they don’t enter the fray, the fallback option could well be Prasar Bharati stepping in through Doordarshan.

There have been precedents when India’s sports broadcasting regulations allowed events of national importance to be routed through free-to-air platforms — though the telecast would certainly lack the multi-language, high-production ecosystem experienced in 2022.

Replying to a National Herald query about the possibility of Doordarshan entering the fray in the eleventh hour, a Prasar Bharati veteran said: ‘’If it comes to a crunch, DD may enter the fray from the quarter final stages as they have done it in the past. The corporation has it’s own share of financial woes at the moment, but the government is often moved to act owing to public sentiment and political pressures. Since DD has a slew of GECs (general entertainment channels) in regional languages, they also need footages for providing value to it’s programmes.’’

A sports broadcasting insider, meanwhile, broke it down further as to what could be holding back the likes of a Jio Hotstar with deep pockets. ‘’Any broadcasting major will look for return on investment (RoI) and it looks uncertain due to the match timings — along with the fact that cricket has already eaten into a lion’s share of advertising revenue this year with the back-to-back T20 World Cup and the IPL.  

"A few other corporate houses who are invested in sport want to hold their horses as the Asian Games is also scheduled later this year which has got strong Indian participation,’’ he said.

Incidentally, Viacom18 (as Jio’s sporting arm was known as before it’s mega merger with Star Sports) paid roughly $62 million for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but the match timings suited fine with the Indian audience. 

A report in sports website Revsportz suggests that FIFA could also choose to bypass traditional broadcasters altogether and stream the tournament in India via its own digital ecosystem, potentially through a partnership with YouTube. It would not be without precedent — the world governing body has already experimented with direct-to-consumer models via FIFA+, but doing so for a marquee market like India would mark a significant shift.

 A YouTube tie-up would guarantee both reach and accessibility, especially among younger, mobile-first audiences - while allowing FIFA to retain greater control over distribution and monetisation. It remains to be seen whether such streaming, with occasional buffering jarring the spectator experience, whet the apetite of the fans in the country.

The United States Department of State is set to release limited-edition American passports featuring Donald Trump and the Founding Fathers as part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.

The commemorative passports are expected to be launched this summer and will be available only through the Washington Passport Agency.

Trump image featured inside passport

Images shared by the State Department on social media show one page of the passport carrying Trump’s image alongside excerpts from the United States Declaration of Independence and the American flag.

The page also includes the president’s signature in gold.

Another page features the iconic painting depicting the Founding Fathers during the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Part of ‘America250’ celebrations

The special passport rollout forms part of the Trump administration’s broader America250 programme commemorating 250 years of American independence in July 2026.

The celebrations are also expected to include a Grand Prix race on the National Mall in August and a Ultimate Fighting Championship fight on the White House South Lawn in June.

“As the United States celebrates America's 250th anniversary in July, @StateDept is preparing to release a limited number of specially designed US Passports to commemorate this historic occasion,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a post on X.

A State Department official told Fox News Digital that the passports would be available to any American citizen applying for a passport during the rollout period, subject to availability.

“These passports will feature customised artwork and enhanced imagery while maintaining the same security features that make the US Passport the most secure documents in the world,” Pigott said.

Trump-themed dollar coin also proposed

The passport initiative follows an earlier proposal by the United States Department of the Treasury to mint a commemorative one-dollar coin featuring Trump’s image for the America250 celebrations.

Draft images reportedly showed one side of the coin carrying Trump’s profile alongside the words “LIBERTY”, “IN GOD WE TRUST” and “1776-2026”.

The reverse side allegedly depicts Trump raising a clenched fist in front of an American flag alongside the slogan “FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT” — a reference to remarks he made after the 2024 assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

The United States will mark the 250th anniversary of its independence in July 2026, with the Trump administration planning a series of high-profile patriotic events and commemorative initiatives under the America250 programme.

The Bombay High Court on 29 April granted bail to Sharad Kalaskar, one of the convicts in the 2013 murder case of anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar, while suspending his life sentence and questioning whether he was conclusively identified as one of the shooters.

A division bench of Justices Ajey Gadkari and Ranjitsinha Bhonsale observed that there were doubts regarding Kalaskar’s identity as the alleged assailant and also raised concerns about the credibility of two prosecution eyewitnesses.

HC suspends sentence, grants bail

The court directed Kalaskar to furnish a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and ordered him to report once every month to Pune’s Deccan police station, where the case was originally registered.

Kalaskar had challenged his 2024 conviction before the high court and sought suspension of sentence pending disposal of his appeal.

The bench noted that he had remained in custody since September 2018 and that there was little possibility of his appeal being heard in the near future.

“We are of the opinion that, during the pendency of the appeal, the substantive sentence imposed upon him can be suspended and the applicant can be released on bail,” the court said.

Court questions prosecution witnesses

Rejecting the prosecution’s plea to stay the bail order, the court said:

“As we have expressed doubt about the identity of the applicant as one of the assailants in our order, the prayer for stay is rejected.”

The bench also cast doubt on the conduct and reliability of two witnesses presented as eyewitnesses by the prosecution.

According to the court, both witnesses claimed to have seen the shooting but instead of immediately informing authorities, they first completed their daily routine before approaching police.

“According to us, the conduct of these two witnesses is not of the men of common prudence and raises doubt in the mind of the court about their witnessing the incident,” the HC observed.

Identification process questioned

The high court further noted that investigators had not conducted a formal test identification parade involving Kalaskar.

Instead, the witnesses were allegedly shown only a photograph of the accused.

The court said this weakened the prosecution’s case regarding Kalaskar’s identification as one of the shooters.

Narendra Dabholkar, founder of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne assailants during a morning walk in Pune on 20 August 2013.

The killing became one of the most prominent attacks on rationalists and progressive activists in India.

It was later followed by the murders of Govind Pansare, M M Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh in separate incidents between 2015 and 2017.

Conviction and acquittals

A special court in May 2024 convicted Kalaskar and Sachin Andure and sentenced them to life imprisonment for Dabholkar’s murder.

However, the court acquitted them under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Arms Act.

The trial court had also acquitted Virendra Singh Tawde, Sanjiv Punalekar and Vikram Bhave citing insufficient evidence.

Investigation background

The case was initially investigated by Pune Police before being transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation in 2014 following a petition filed by Dabholkar’s daughter Mukta Dabholkar.

Mukta Dabholkar has separately challenged the acquittals and the dropping of UAPA charges, alleging that the murder was part of a broader conspiracy involving right-wing extremists.

Kalaskar is also facing trial in the murder case of communist leader Govind Pansare and had already secured bail in that matter from the Bombay High Court last year.

Following the latest order, he is expected to walk out of jail after completing bail formalities.

An Air India Express flight from Delhi to Bhubaneswar made an unscheduled landing in Jaipur on Wednesday after concerns emerged over fuel availability during the journey, though the airline attributed the diversion to adverse weather conditions.

The incident involved flight IX-1057, which had departed from Delhi and was headed to Bhubaneswar when the diversion decision was taken.

According to initial information, the aircraft was rerouted to Jaipur as a precautionary measure after fuel-related concerns were identified mid-flight.

The pilot subsequently opted to land at Jaipur airport safely.

There were no reports of any technical malfunction, injuries or damage during the incident.

Passengers reportedly remained seated inside the aircraft after landing while airline and airport authorities coordinated further arrangements.

Airline cites bad weather

However, Air India Express denied reports linking the diversion to a fuel shortage and said the flight was diverted because of weather conditions on the route.

“Due to adverse weather conditions en route to Bhubaneswar, one of our flights from Delhi was diverted briefly to Jaipur,” an airline spokesperson said.

“When the weather improved, the flight resumed its operations to Bhubaneswar,” the spokesperson added.

Recent precautionary landing

The development comes days after another Air India flight made a precautionary landing.

On 26 April, flight AI633 from Mumbai to Bhopal landed safely in Bhopal following a suspected technical issue.

“The crew operating flight AI633 from Mumbai to Bhopal on 26 April decided to make a precautionary landing at Bhopal due to a suspected technical issue as per standard operating procedure,” Air India had said.

The airline stated that all passengers and crew members disembarked safely.

Airlines under severe financial stress

The incident comes at a time when Indian airlines are facing mounting financial pressure due to soaring aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices and war-related airspace disruptions linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict.

The Federation of Indian Airlines — representing Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet — recently warned the government that the aviation sector was under “extreme stress”.

In a letter to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the FIA said rising jet fuel prices and longer international routes caused by airspace restrictions were pushing airlines towards “unsurmountable losses”.

“The airline industry in India is under extreme stress and is on the verge of closing down or of stopping its operations,” the federation said.

Fuel costs and rerouted flights hit airlines

Airlines said nearly 40 per cent of operational expenses are now linked to fuel procurement.

The industry body warned that rising crude oil prices following the Iran conflict, combined with rupee depreciation and longer rerouted international flights, had sharply escalated costs across both domestic and global operations.

The FIA also sought temporary suspension of the 11 per cent excise duty on ATF and highlighted high state-level VAT rates on jet fuel in major aviation hubs.

Separately, Air India recently unveiled its first retrofitted twin-aisle Boeing 787-8 aircraft as part of a wider modernisation programme covering 26 Boeing 787 planes.

Indian carriers operating major international routes through West Asia, Europe and North America have been among the worst affected by disruptions linked to the Iran conflict and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy transit route.

Global equities delivered a patchy performance on Wednesday, taking cues from a subdued session on Wall Street, while oil prices surged more than 3 per cent amid lingering uncertainty over how — and when — the Iran conflict will end.

US futures hinted at a tentative stabilisation, with contracts for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average inching up by less than 0.1 per cent.

Attention remained fixed on the Federal Reserve, which was widely expected to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.6 per cent as it concludes its policy meeting later in the day. Policymakers largely view this level as a balancing act — restrictive enough to curb inflation by dampening borrowing and spending, but not so tight that it risks derailing hiring or pushing up unemployment.

Across Europe, markets leaned negative in early trade. Britain’s FTSE 100 fell 0.6 per cent to 10,269.06, Germany’s DAX slipped 0.3 per cent to 23,958.39, and France’s CAC 40 dropped 0.6 per cent to 8,054.38.

Asian markets offered a more upbeat counterpoint — though not without caveats. Japan remained shut for a public holiday, but elsewhere gains were more visible. South Korea’s Kospi climbed 0.8 per cent to 6,690.90, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped 1.7 per cent to 26,111.84, and China’s Shanghai Composite rose 0.7 per cent to 4,107.51.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 edged 0.3 per cent lower to 8,687.00, Taiwan’s Taiex slipped 0.6 per cent, while India’s Sensex advanced 0.9 per cent — a reminder that risk appetite hasn’t entirely vanished, just become selective.

Oil, meanwhile, stole the spotlight — and not in a reassuring way. Brent crude for June delivery climbed 3.1 per cent to USD 114.70 a barrel, while July contracts rose 3 per cent to USD 107.61. For context, Brent had been hovering near USD 70 before hostilities escalated in late February.

Benchmark US crude followed suit, gaining 3.4 per cent to USD 103.32 a barrel.

Markets are also closely watching the OPEC after the United Arab Emirates announced it would exit the cartel from Friday. With OPEC accounting for roughly 40 per cent of global oil supply, the move has injected fresh uncertainty into an already tense energy landscape. The UAE, one of the group’s biggest producers, has long chafed under output limits, signalling a desire to pump more.

Initially, the news nudged prices lower on expectations of increased supply.

“The UAE's exit will increase (oil) output,” ING Bank strategists Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey wrote in a research note. “The UAE has been increasingly frustrated over recent years by its output being constrained by OPEC production quotas, which have kept it well below its potential.”

“However, before this can be tapped, there must be a resolution in the Persian Gulf that allows for uninhibited energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz once again," they added.

That caveat is doing a lot of heavy lifting. With US-Iran negotiations stuck and the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly a fifth of global oil once flowed — still largely shut, near-term price movements hinge heavily on whether the vital corridor reopens.

Tehran has floated reopening the strait if Washington lifts its naval blockade, but the US appears unwilling to entertain any agreement that sidesteps Iran’s nuclear programme — leaving both sides entrenched.

Back on Wall Street, Tuesday’s session saw a pullback from recent highs. The S&P 500 fell 0.5 per cent, the Dow dipped 0.1 per cent, and the Nasdaq slid 0.9 per cent.

Tech and AI-linked stocks led the retreat, suggesting that even market favourites are not immune to nerves. Broadcom dropped 4.4 per cent, Nvidia fell 1.6 per cent and Micron Technology lost 3.9 per cent. Investors are also bracing for earnings from Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft and Meta Platforms later on Wednesday.

In currency markets, the US dollar edged up to 159.77 Japanese yen from 159.62 yen, while the euro slipped slightly to USD 1.1701 from USD 1.1712.

For now, markets seem caught between two competing forces: cautious confidence in central bank stability, and a geopolitical overhang that refuses to fade.

With AP/PTI inputs

Another oil-related facility deep inside Russia was reportedly set ablaze on 29 April following what Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as Ukraine’s latest long-range drone strike targeting Russian energy infrastructure.

The reported attack occurred in Russia’s Perm region in the Ural mountains, more than 1,500 km from Ukraine, highlighting Kyiv’s growing ability to hit strategic targets far inside Russian territory.

Russian regional governor Dmitry Makhonin confirmed that a drone struck an unspecified industrial facility, triggering a fire.

Russian media reports suggested the target may have been an oil pumping station and storage complex, though authorities did not officially identify the site.

Videos circulating online showed large plumes of black smoke rising from the area, though the footage could not be independently verified.

Zelenskyy touts expanding drone reach

Without directly naming the Perm facility, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was entering a new phase of long-range warfare aimed at weakening Russia’s ability to finance the war through oil exports.

“The straight-line distance is more than 1,500 kilometers. We will continue to increase these ranges,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram.

He praised the Security Service of Ukraine for the “precision” of the strikes.

Russia’s oil infrastructure increasingly targeted

The strike came just a day after Ukraine attacked the Tuapse oil refinery on the Black Sea coast for the third time in less than two weeks.

The repeated attacks forced evacuations and prompted Russian President Vladimir Putin to warn of possible “serious environmental consequences”.

Russian authorities later said the Tuapse refinery fire had been contained.

Ukraine exploiting Russia’s vulnerabilities

According to the Institute for the Study of War, Ukraine has intensified strikes on Russian oil facilities partly to counter Moscow’s growing energy revenues following US sanctions waivers linked to the Iran conflict.

The institute said Ukraine was increasingly exploiting the geographic vulnerability created by Russia’s vast territory and stretched air defence systems.

“Ukrainian forces will likely continue to exploit the large attack surface of Russia's deep rear and overstretched Russian air defences to launch more frequent and larger strikes against Russian oil infrastructure and military assets,” the institute said.

Russia claims interception of 98 drones

Russia’s Defence Ministry said its air defence systems intercepted 98 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions and in Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014.

The ministry did not comment directly on the Perm fire.

After years of dependence on Western military aid, Ukraine is now emerging as a major drone warfare innovator.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine was producing surplus quantities in certain categories of weapons and was expanding defence cooperation with countries in the Middle East, Gulf, Europe and the Caucasus.

The agreements reportedly include joint production and supply of drones, missiles, software and military technologies.

Kyiv has also proposed expanded defence cooperation with the United States involving drones and weapons systems for air, land and naval warfare.

Russia continues attacks on Ukrainian cities

Even as Ukraine escalates attacks inside Russia, Moscow continues long-range strikes on Ukrainian civilian areas.

Regional officials said overnight Russian attacks injured eight people in the Kharkiv region.

In Sumy, authorities said a 60-year-old woman died from carbon monoxide poisoning following a strike.

In the southern Odesa region, Russian attacks damaged infrastructure and a district hospital building in Izmail.

Ukraine’s air force claimed it intercepted 154 out of 171 drones launched by Russia overnight.

Long-range drone warfare has become a defining feature of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with both sides increasingly targeting energy infrastructure, logistics networks and strategic facilities far from frontline combat zones.

Ukraine’s growing domestic drone production capability is now emerging as one of Kyiv’s key military advantages in the prolonged war.

You bought the anti-dandruff shampoo, used it every day, and yet the flakes kept coming back. Sound familiar? A lot of people assume that more frequent use means faster results. But with dandruff, how often you shampoo matters just as much as what you're using. Getting the frequency wrong can either slow your progress or make things worse.

Understanding What Anti-Dandruff Shampoos Actually Do

Most anti-dandruff shampoos work by targeting a yeast called Malassezia, which lives on the scalp naturally but can overgrow and trigger flaking, itching, and irritation. The active ingredients — things like ketoconazole, zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, or coal tar — work to reduce this overgrowth and calm the scalp's inflammatory response.

These aren't your regular cleansing shampoos. They contain medicinal compounds that need time to work but can also cause dryness or irritation if overused. This is the core reason frequency isn't a one-size-fits-all answer.

Why Using It Every Day Can Backfire

Daily use of anti-dandruff shampoo might feel like the logical thing to do when you're dealing with heavy flaking. But the scalp needs a degree of balance to heal.

Washing every day strips natural oils, which can:

●       Dry out the scalp and cause more irritation

●       Trigger compensatory oil production, feeding the yeast further

●       Weaken the scalp's natural barrier over time

●       Lead to increased sensitivity and even more flaking

For most people, daily use isn't recommended unless a dermatologist specifically advises it for a short period. Even then, it's usually a temporary phase, not a long-term habit.

The General Frequency Guidelines Worth Knowing

There's no universal rule, but most dermatologists and hair care professionals suggest the following as a starting point:

●       Mild dandruff: Use anti-dandruff shampoo 2–3 times a week to start

●       Moderate dandruff: You may need it more frequently initially, then taper down

●       Maintenance phase: Once symptoms are controlled, once a week or even once every ten days can be enough

●       In between: Use a gentle, sulphate-free shampoo for regular washing days

The idea is to treat first, then maintain. Treating constantly without adjusting the dose keeps the scalp in a medicated state it wasn't meant to stay in indefinitely.

It's also worth understanding that some active ingredients have specific instructions. If you're using a shampoo with ketoconazole, for example, it's worth reading about ketoconazole shampoo side effects before settling into a long-term routine, especially if you notice dryness or hair texture changes.

Seasonal and Lifestyle Factors That Change the Equation

Dandruff doesn't behave the same way year-round. Humidity, sweat, stress, and diet all influence how active it is on your scalp. During winters, scalps tend to get drier and flaking can increase. During humid months, excess sweat and oil can encourage yeast growth.

If you're someone who exercises frequently, washes their hair more often, or lives in a high-pollution environment, your routine may need small adjustments. The goal is always to keep the scalp environment balanced — not too oily, not too dry, and free of irritants.

Stress is another underappreciated factor. Chronic stress disrupts the immune response and can flare up conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, which looks and feels a lot like dandruff but tends to be more stubborn.

When the Shampoo Alone Isn't Enough

If you've been consistent with an anti-dandruff shampoo for four to six weeks and haven't seen meaningful improvement, it may be a sign that dandruff is being driven by something deeper — hormonal imbalance, nutritional deficiency, gut health, or a stressed immune system.

This is where the approach needs to go beyond the scalp. Some treatment methods like traya anti dandruff shampoo are designed to work as part of a broader, root-cause system rather than as a standalone fix. Treating only the symptom without asking why it keeps returning tends to lead to the same cycle of temporary relief followed by a flare-up.

Final Thoughts

Anti-dandruff shampoo works best when used at the right frequency, not the highest one. Start with two to three times a week, pay attention to how your scalp responds, and adjust from there. If things aren't improving despite regular use, that's useful information — it means the root cause hasn't been addressed yet. The scalp, like the rest of the body, responds better to thoughtful care than aggressive treatment.

This is an advertorial. The article is published as received.

If you have ever compared the cost of borrowing against gold online versus walking into a bank branch, you probably noticed the numbers do not match. The interest rate on a digital gold loan and the one offered across the counter can differ by a full percentage point or more. That gap is not random, and it is not a marketing trick. It reflects real differences in how these two channels operate, assess risk, and manage costs.

The Cost of Running a Branch Is Baked Into the Rate

A traditional branch-based gold loan involves physical infrastructure. There is a building with rent, a staff of appraisers and clerks, a vault for storing pledged gold, insurance for that vault, and security personnel guarding it all. Every one of those costs has to be recovered somewhere, and the interest rate is where lenders recover them.

When a lender processes your loan digitally, some of those costs shrink or disappear. There is no long queue of customers to manage, no paper trail to maintain, and fewer employees involved per transaction. That operational saving can translate into a different gold loan interest rate for the borrower. Whether it translates into a lower or higher rate depends on several other factors, which is where the picture gets more complicated.

Risk Assessment Works Differently Online

In a branch, a trained appraiser physically examines your gold, tests its purity, and weighs it in front of you. The lender has direct custody of the collateral from the moment the loan is sanctioned. This hands-on process gives the lender a high degree of confidence in the collateral's value.

Digital channels have to work harder to achieve the same confidence. Some lenders require you to visit a partner location for gold appraisal before the loan is disbursed digitally. Others use doorstep appraisal services where an agent comes to your home. Each of these models carries its own cost and risk profile. If the lender is less certain about collateral quality, or if the appraisal process costs more per loan, that gets reflected in the pricing.

The speed of digital disbursement also introduces a subtle risk. When a loan is processed in minutes rather than hours, there is less time for manual checks. Lenders compensate for that compressed timeline by adjusting their pricing models.

Loan Tenure and Amount Tend to Vary by Channel

Branch loans often cater to a wider range of borrowers, including those seeking larger amounts or longer tenures. A farmer pledging gold for an agricultural loan and a small business owner borrowing for working capital might both sit in the same branch waiting room.

An instant gold loan, by contrast, is typically designed for smaller amounts with shorter repayment periods. The borrower profile skews toward someone who needs quick liquidity, perhaps to cover an unexpected medical bill or bridge a short-term cash flow gap. Because these loans are smaller and shorter, the per-unit cost of processing them is proportionally higher. Lenders offset this by adjusting the rate upward. Conversely, some digital lenders accept thinner margins on these loans to attract volume, which can push rates lower. The direction of the difference depends on the lender's strategy.

Competition Shapes Digital Pricing

The online lending space is crowded. Banks, non-banking financial companies, and fintech platforms all compete for the same digitally savvy borrower. This competition puts downward pressure on rates in the digital channel that does not always exist to the same degree in the branch network.

A borrower comparing rates online can switch lenders in minutes. A borrower who has already walked into a branch, waited in line, and started paperwork is far less likely to walk out and start over somewhere else. That difference in switching costs gives digital lenders a stronger incentive to offer competitive pricing.

However, competition does not always mean lower rates. Some digital lenders charge a premium for convenience and speed, and borrowers willingly pay it. If you need funds within the hour, you are not going to quibble over an extra half-percent.

Regulatory and Structural Factors

The Reserve Bank of India regulates gold loans regardless of the channel, but the way lenders structure their products can differ between branches and digital platforms. A branch might offer a simple interest product while the digital arm of the same institution offers a reducing balance product, or vice versa. The headline rate might look different even when the effective cost to the borrower is similar.

Loan-to-value ratios also play a role. The RBI caps the LTV for gold loans at 75 percent of the gold's value. But within that cap, a branch might lend at 70 percent LTV while the digital channel lends at 65 percent. A lower LTV means less risk for the lender, which can support a lower interest rate.

What This Means for Borrowers

The practical takeaway is straightforward: do not assume that one channel is always cheaper. Compare the effective annual rate, not just the headline number. Factor in processing fees, which can differ significantly between branch and digital loans. And pay attention to the repayment structure, because a lower rate on a flat interest calculation can end up costing more than a higher rate on a reducing balance.

The gap between branch and digital gold loan rates is real, but it is driven by economics, not arbitrariness. Understanding what creates that gap puts you in a better position to choose wisely.

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In a rare glimmer of hope for the planet’s lungs, the relentless destruction of tropical forests eased in 2025 — yet the reprieve, scientists warn, is fragile and far from sufficient.

A new study by the World Resources Institute and the University of Maryland reveals that the world lost 4.3 million hectares of tropical primary rainforest last year — a sharp 36 per cent drop from the record devastation of 2024.

But beneath this encouraging headline lies a sobering truth: forest loss remains dangerously elevated, still 46 per cent higher than a decade ago and nearly 70 per cent above the level needed to halt deforestation by 2030.

“A drop of this scale is encouraging — it shows what decisive government action can achieve,” said Elizabeth Goldman, co-director of WRI’s Global Forest Watch platform. “But part of the decline reflects a lull after an extreme fire year.”

Indeed, the report cautions that wildfires — supercharged by climate change — are emerging as a “dangerous new normal”, threatening to undo hard-won progress. With the warming El Niño expected to return mid-year, the risks of heatwaves, droughts, and infernos are set to intensify once more.

A significant portion of the global slowdown can be traced to Brazil, home to the Amazon rainforest. There, forest loss unrelated to fires plunged by 41per cent — the lowest rate on record.

Researchers credit the turnaround to renewed environmental resolve under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who reinstated anti-deforestation measures, tightened enforcement, and increased penalties for environmental crimes.

Yet even in Brazil, the battle is far from won. Expanding soy cultivation, cattle ranching, and efforts to weaken protections continue to cast long shadows over the forest canopy.

Elsewhere, progress flickered but remained uneven. Colombia recorded a 17 per cent decline in forest loss — its second-lowest level since 2016 — thanks to policy interventions and agreements curbing land clearing. But in parts of Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cameroon, deforestation rates remained stubbornly high.

Globally, tree cover loss dipped by 14 per cent, yet fires accounted for a staggering 42 per cent of tropical forest destruction. While many of these blazes are human-driven, climate change is amplifying their intensity and reach — even in temperate regions.

In Canada, wildfires scorched 5.3 million hectares in 2025, marking the country’s second-worst fire season on record.

“Forests are powerful carbon sinks, but on a warming planet, fires and droughts are turning them into sources of emissions,” warned Rod Taylor. “We’re on a kind of knife’s edge.”

As the world inches toward critical climate deadlines, the message is clear: while policy can bend the curve of destruction, the accelerating force of climate change threatens to snap it back — leaving the fate of the world’s forests hanging in a precarious balance.