Returning to Indian Premier League (IPL) action after a gap of two years, former India pacer Prasidh Krishna has played a key role in Gujarat Titans' 36-run win over Mumbai Indians in their previous match and is excited about Wednesday's clash with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Another reason for Prasidh Krishna being so excited about the upcoming clash with RCB is that it will take him to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, his hometown and the ground on which he grew up. "It's great to come back home and play in the stadium that you've grown up playing in. It is exciting. The first game in Bangalore as well, so we're looking forward to how it's going to play out," said Prasidh in a pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

"The team is excited about how the tournament has started. We've done quite a few things well, we are trying to get better at a few things. So yeah, it is going to be exciting," said Prasidh Krishna, who claimed 2-18 in their last match against the Mumbai Indians.

Amidst the ongoing war against drugs waged on the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Counter Intelligence (CI) of Ferozepur has busted a cross-border drug smuggling racket with the arrest of a drug smuggler and recovered 3.5 kg heroin from his possession, Director General of Police said on Tuesday.

The arrested accused has been identified as Sukhdev Singh, alias Sukhi, a resident of Mohan Ke Uttar village in Ferozepur district.

Apart from recovering heroin, police teams have also impounded his motorcycle, which he was riding.

DGP Yadav said that the preliminary investigation revealed that the accused was in direct contact with a Pakistan-based smuggler, who was using drones to drop drug consignments from across the border.

Further investigation is underway in this case, he added.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Tuesday said that it has extended the deadline for implementing new regulations governing retail investors' entry into algorithmic (algo) trading.

The new rules, which were initially set to take effect on April 1, will now come into force on August 1.

This extension follows requests from stock exchanges, who asked for more time to fully implement the new standards in consultation with the Brokers’ Industry Standards Forum (ISF).

The SEBI had first introduced these guidelines on February 4, aiming to regulate how retail investors can access and use algo trading.

AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal today addressed AAP's Executive Summit in Ludhiana, outlining the Aam Aadmi Party's mission to eliminate drugs from Punjab. Calling it a crucial step for the state's future, Kejriwal assured the gathering of AAP volunteers that this mission is not just a goal but a collective commitment that will unite every individual in Punjab to free the state from the clutches of drugs.

Addressing the AAP volunteers Kejriwal said, "You are the ones who worked day and night to establish AAP's government in Punjab. Today’s meeting is of great importance as we are gathered here for a single mission — to eradicate drugs from Punjab. I strongly believe that if every person here takes an oath to remove drugs from Punjab, then no one can stop us from achieving this goal."

AAP Leaders and Volunteers, along with Arvind Kejriwal, took the oath, "I am the true son of Punjab's sacred soil. I am a true volunteer of the Aam Aadmi Party. Today, I swear by the soil of Punjab. That I will never consume drugs myself. I will make every effort to keep my friends, family, and society away from drugs. Wherever I see drugs being sold, I will inform the police. I will not be afraid. Because in this fight, God is with me. I will choose education, not drugs; I will choose progress, not destruction; and I will choose revolution, not silence. As a true soldier of the Aam Aadmi Party, I swear that I will not rest until Punjab is free from drugs.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, addressing the gathering during the Executive Summit in Ludhiana, expressed his deep gratitude towards the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) volunteers, calling them the true driving force behind the party’s success. 

Mann praised AAP Volunteers' unwavering commitment and described them as passionate torchbearers of the party’s ideology. Mann also emphasized the ongoing efforts to bring positive changes to Punjab and assured volunteers of the party’s unwavering commitment to the people.

"AAP volunteers are not just political workers; they are a revolution in themselves. Whenever the party calls upon them, they respond immediately without hesitation, dedicating themselves fully to the cause of clean and people-centric politics," said Mann.

Myanmar on Tuesday observed a one-minute silence to honour the victims of the devastating earthquake that has claimed over 2,000 lives.

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake, followed by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock minutes later, struck Myanmar’s Mandalay region on Friday, causing massive casualties and damage.

Myanmar announced on Monday a week-long mourning period following the earthquake that struck Myanmar, which wrought widespread destruction,
News Agency reported.

Music maestro AR Rahman is all set to kick off his much-awaited 'Wonderment' worldwide tour in Mumbai.

The tour promises to be a one-of-a-kind musical experience, bringing together AR Rahman’s iconic compositions and captivating performances. Celebrating 30 years in the global film and music industry, AR Rahman is ready to redefine the concert experience with the global premiere of his highly ambitious musical production, ‘Wonderment - The Tour’. The groundbreaking event has been created in collaboration with Percept Live and Fair Game Entertainment.

The inaugural concert of ‘Wonderment - The Tour’ will take place on May 3 at DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai. Speaking about the tour, Rahman said, “With wonderment, our aim was to convey the aspect that every note, every rhythm, tells a story. I hope to merge tradition with innovation, bringing together the past and the future in a celebration of music. Mumbai’s energy and spirit are unmatched, and it’s a joy to bring this unique musical experience to the heart of the city.”

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national leader and Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia praised the Punjab government’s campaign ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ (War Against Drugs) and stated that under the guidance of AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, they will completely eliminate drugs from Punjab.

On Tuesday, in Ludhiana, Manish Sisodia, along with AAP Punjab President Aman Arora, addressed a press conference on this issue. He outlined Punjab government’s 360-degree strategy against drugs and said that in today’s meeting with Arvind Kejriwal and AAP leaders, it was decided that now both the Punjab government and the Aam Aadmi Party organization will jointly run a campaign against drugs to ensure that Punjab is completely drug-free as soon as possible.

Er Munish Bhardwaj has been promoted as Officiating Superintending Engineer (Electrical)/OSD to CMD, PSPCL, Patiala, against a vacant post with immediate effect, according to an official order issued by PSPCL.

Previously, he served as Additional SE/Chairman-cum-Managing Director, PSPCL, Patiala.

On this occasion, Er Kamal Joshi, Advisor/Litigation, PSPCL, Patiala, congratulated Er Munish Bhardwaj by presenting him with a bouquet and extending his best wishes. He said, "This promotion is a testament to his dedication and expertise. I am confident he will continue to serve PSPCL with the same commitment and excellence."

Er Kamal Joshi said, “This promotion is a well-deserved reward for the honesty, dedication, and hard work of Er Munish Bhardwaj.”

At least 18 workers were killed following an explosion at a firecracker factory located on Dhunwa Road in Deesa town of Gujarat’s Banaskantha district. The death toll may further rise as rescue operations are underway.

The blast caused a massive fire, leading to chaos in the area as emergency teams struggled to douse the flames and recover survivors from the rubble.

Reacting to the tragedy, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called for strict enforcement of safety regulations in firecracker factories. In a statement on social media, he expressed condolences to the affected families and demanded a thorough investigation to hold those responsible accountable.

“Such accidents frequently occur in these factories, and poor workers lose their lives while earning their livelihood. Safety rules must be strictly enforced, and clear accountability must be established to prevent such tragedies,” he wrote on X.