The controversy also prompted a wave of support for Nafeesumma from various sections of society on social media on Thursday.
India all-rounder Hardik Pandya says he "won back" his fans following his match-winning contributions during the ICC T20 World Cup title triumph in the Caribbean last year.
"Permitting students to discontinue studies is akin to asking them not to study," Stalin said, addressing an event organised by the Parents-Teachers Association in Cuddalore.
India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has expressed concern over information regarding USAID funding in India, calling it "concerning" and hinting at potential "bad faith" activities. Jaishankar asserted that India is looking into the matter and that the country should know who is involved in such activities. He also emphasized the need to expand India's security definition in the digital age, highlighting the influence of technology and narratives on public perception. The statements come amid controversy surrounding USAID funding for certain activities in India, with the US President Donald Trump questioning the agency's funding of voter turnout efforts.
Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam was conspicuous by his absence from the team's training and there was no clarity on his availability for the Champions Trophy clash against India in Dubai on Sunday, even as the country's cricket board chief Mohsin Naqvi urged the side to win "at any cost".
How will the India Pakistan Champions Trophy game in Dubai play out today?
24-year-old Sebastian Baez, who is looking to become the first two-time Rio Open champion, will take on Alexandre Muller after the Frenchman beat Francisco Comesana 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-3 in a marathon battle.
England skipper Jos Buttler expressed delight in Ben Duckett's record-breaking knock even as he hailed Australia for chasing down a massive total of 352 runs in the ICC Champions Trophy Group B match in Lahore on Saturday.
Australia's middle order enforcer Josh Inglis said their depleted side will draw a lot of confidence after pulling off a record chase against England in their Champions Trophy opener on Saturday.
Former France striker Karim Benzema was delighted to help Al-Ittihad secure a 4-1 victory over Al-Hilal in a top-of-the-table clash on Saturday, maintaining their dominance in the Saudi Pro League.
Images from Saturday's action in the Premier League.
Alex Carey's jaw-dropping catch, which led to Phil Salt's dismissal. Was this the catch of the tournament?
Russian Andrey Rublev was given a tough test early on, but finished in style to beat Britain's Jack Draper and win the Qatar Open.
Mirra Andreeva became the youngest player to win a WTA 1000 title when the 17-year-old beat Clara Tauson in the Dubai Tennis Championships final
India Masters defeated Sri Lanka Masters by four runs in a thrilling finish to the first match of the International Masters League.
Josh Inglis smashed a maiden ODI century (120 not out) to lead Australia to a thrilling five-wicket victory over England in a high-scoring Champions Trophy match.
Josh Inglis slammed a brilliant century as Australia completed the highest chase in an ICC men's tournament against England in Lahore on Saturday.
West Indies' Chinelle Henry smashed a 23-ball 62, including eight sixes and two fours, to equal the record for the fastest fifty in the Women's Premier League.
India continued their dominance over Ireland, defeating the visitors 4-0 in their return leg men's FIH Pro League match.
IMAGES from the Group B Champions Trophy match between Australia and England in Lahore on Saturday
The points table of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Former Commonwealth Games champion Parupalli Kashyap has strongly supported Pullela Gopichand's recent comments about the challenges faced by middle-class families pursuing sports careers.
Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have begun their pre-season preparations with a week-long domestic players' training stint in Mumbai, ahead of their main camp in Kolkata starting March 12 at Eden Gardens. The Mumbai camp, running from February 21-28, features nine domestic players, including Venkatesh Iyer, who was re-signed by KKR for a staggering Rs 23.75 crore after being released, making him the third most expensive player in the IPL auction.
East Bengal maintained their newfound form with a 3-1 thumping of Punjab FC in their Indian Super League (ISL) match.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has blamed the ICC for playing the Indian national anthem for a fraction of a second at the start of the Australia-England Champions Trophy match in Lahore.
Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Saturday ordered the suspension of the state transport buses to Karnataka after an Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus was attacked.
The Information and Broadcasting Ministry is examining the existing statutory provisions and the need for a new legal framework to regulate 'harmful' content amid complaints of 'obscenity and violence' being shown on digital platforms.
Kash Patel took oath as the ninth director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on the Bhagavad Gita and spoke about how a first-generation Indian kid is living the American dream, reflecting on his heritage.
P K Mishra, a retired IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre, is currently serving as the principal secretary to the prime minister.
Congress legislators continued their sit-in protest inside the assembly while the party held protests at all district headquarters on Saturday against the suspension of six party MLAs.
United States President Donald Trump for the fourth time in recent days claimed that the Biden administration allocated $21 million funding to India for 'voter turnout', evoking a sharp response from the Congress which urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to 'talk to his friend' and strongly refute the allegation.
Pakistan head coach Aaqib Javed has expressed his confidence in the pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, saying they will deliver something special in the must-win Champions Trophy clash against India. Despite the absence of Fakhar Zaman, who was ruled out due to an injury, Javed believes the team is well-equipped to handle the pressure and has the potential to overcome the challenge.
Star drag-flicker Deepika scored the winning goal from a penalty corner in the 12th minute to give India a crucial 1-0 victory over Germany in a return-leg women's FIH Pro League match. The win came after India's 0-4 loss against the same opponents on Friday.
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes that the ongoing Champions Trophy in Pakistan and Dubai could be the last ICC tournament for Rohit Sharma, who is 37 years old and has struggled for runs in recent times. Manjrekar feels that it's "very unlikely" that Rohit will be around for the 2027 World Cup, and that this tournament could be his swansong.
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes Virat Kohli needs to relax and not overthink his form ahead of India's crucial Champions Trophy clash against Pakistan.
Eight persons were trapped inside after a section of roof collapsed in the under construction stretch in the tunnel of Srisailam Left Bank Canal (SLBC) project, Telangana Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said on Saturday.
Blue Origin's 10th human flight, NS-30, will lift off from Launch Site in West Texas on Tuesday, February 25.
A Chinese team of virologists has discovered a new bat coronavirus that can infect human cells, raising concerns about potential animal-to-human transmission. The virus, a new lineage of the HKU5 coronavirus, uses the same human receptor as the virus that causes COVID-19. The study, led by Shi Zhengli, a prominent virologist at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, was published in the journal Cell. The discovery comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the Wuhan lab, which was previously accused of being the source of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chinese government has denied any involvement in the virus's origin and insists that the Wuhan lab never engaged in gain-of-function studies on coronaviruses.
The turnout of only about 10,000 spectators for the India-Bangladesh opening match of the Champions Trophy at the 30,000-capacity Dubai International Stadium has sparked debate over whether fans are only interested in an India-Pakistan clash.
Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has criticized Babar Azam for focusing on personal milestones over team success, expressing concerns about Pakistan's preparations ahead of their crucial Champions Trophy clash against India. He believes Pakistan's recent struggles, including a disappointing Tri-Nation Series campaign and a 1-1 draw against the West Indies in a home Test series, point to a lack of readiness for the India encounter.
© 2025 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances