BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — One of college sports’ most iconic rivalries is set to write a new chapter on an even grander stage. On Friday, in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Sweet 16, Duke and North Carolina will face off for the very first time in tournament history. The game, which tips off at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN as part of the Birmingham Regional 2 semifinals, will be the third meeting between the two programs this season — but the first ever in March Madness. For a

Ugadi, also spelled as Yugadi, marks the beginning of the New Year as per the Luni-Solar calendar. It is one of the most significant festivals celebrated in the southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. The festival not only signals the onset of a new year but is also observed as a harvest festival, celebrating abundance, renewal, and spiritual prosperity. In 2025, Ugadi falls on March 30. According to Hindu Panchang, the Prati

Indian students studying in the United States have been reminded of the importance of adhering to local laws by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This warning comes after two high-profile incidents involving Indian nationals that raised concerns about visa violations and political activity, with one individual being detained and another reportedly self-deporting. The cases in question involved accusations of support for Hamas, and the incidents hav

Mahendra Singh Dhoni once again proved why he is regarded as one of the finest wicketkeepers in cricket history with a stunning 0.12-second stumping of Suryakumar Yadav during an IPL 2025 match. Despite being 43 years old and nearing the end of his career, Dhoni’s lightning-fast reflexes on Sunday night left cricket enthusiasts and experts in awe. The iconic cricketer, who retired from international cricket five years ago, continues to play as a player for Chennai Super Kings after succ

Eid-ul-Fitr is one of the most significant festivals for Muslims across the globe. It marks the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection. The festival is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar (Hijri), and its exact date depends on the sighting of the crescent moon.   Eid-ul-Fitr 2025 Date in India In India, Eid-ul-Fitr is likely to be observed either on March 30 (Sunday) or March 31

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a generous Rs 58 crore prize money for the Indian cricket team following their triumphant victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. On March 9, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, Team India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the thrilling final held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This victory marked India's third Champions Trophy title, following their previous triumphs in 2002 and 2013. The win further ce

Like all iconic stories that blur the lines between myth and reality, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has a fascinating origin that began with an ambitious prediction on the front page of a Rajasthan newspaper. On December 4, 2003, Rajasthan residents woke up to a bold forecast in two major Hindi dailies: 'BJP 120-plus; bye-bye Ashok Gehlot.' By the evening of the same day, that prediction had come true. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 120 seats in the Rajasthan assembly elec

The Bombay High Court has directed the Bandra Magistrate Court to decide the divorce case of Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal and his estranged wife, Dhanashree Verma, by March 20. The decision comes as Chahal’s Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 commitments draw closer, with the Punjab Kings set to play their opening match on March 25 against the Gujarat Titans in Hyderabad. Justice Madhav Jamdar presided over the case and emphasized the urgency of resolving the matter promptly. The cou

The recent increase in scrutiny of Green Card holders in the United States has raised concerns among Indian immigrants and their families. Indians make up the second-largest group of individuals gaining US citizenship or Green Cards, with 49,700 Indians naturalized in FY 2024, accounting for 6.1% of new US citizens. However, a growing number of incidents involving detentions, secondary inspections, and even deportations have sparked fear and confusion among Indian Green Card holders in the US

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has requested the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to introduce long-term government bonds, including 100-year bonds, to support their investment strategies for whole life insurance policies. This request was confirmed by Siddhartha Mohanty, Managing Director and Chief Executive of LIC, during an event in Mumbai. Speaking on the sidelines of the GCA25 conference, Mohanty explained that LIC’s investment portfolio heavily depends on long-term bonds to

Google is set to collaborate with Taiwan's MediaTek to develop the next generation of its Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), which are expected to launch next year. This strategic move signifies a shift in Google’s approach to AI chip development, although the tech giant will continue working with its current chip partner, Broadcom. According to a report by The Information, Google’s partnership with MediaTek is largely driven by cost efficiency and MediaTek’s stron

Indian badminton stars PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen are set to continue their quest for top form at the Swiss Open 2025 in Basel, starting Tuesday. The USD 250,000 BWF Super 300 tournament will witness a strong Indian presence across multiple categories. Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, seeded seventh, will face compatriot Malvika Bansod in a much-anticipated opening-round clash. This intriguing encounter between India's top female shuttlers will highlight the battle of experience versu

Sourav Ganguly, former Indian cricket team captain, grabbed headlines with his surprise role as a cop in the promotional video for Netflix’s web series 'Khakee: The Bengal Chapter'. In the recently released promo, Ganguly appears in a police uniform, acting out various scenes under the director’s guidance. In one standout moment, when asked by the director to display aggression, Ganguly recalls his infamous history with former India coach Greg Chappell — a reference

In a spectacular display of cricketing excellence, India Masters claimed the inaugural International Masters League (IML) 2025 title by defeating West Indies Masters by six wickets in the grand finale held at the SVNS International Stadium. The thrilling match, played before a roaring crowd of nearly 50,000 fans, saw Sachin Tendulkar lead his side to a memorable victory. The IML final was a nostalgic treat for cricket lovers as it revived the magic of cricket's golden era. India Masters d

Lionel Messi was once again on the scoresheet as Inter Miami claimed a crucial 2-1 victory over Atlanta United in the Major League Soccer (MLS) showdown on Sunday. The win marked Miami’s sweet revenge for last season’s playoff elimination at the hands of Atlanta and propelled them to the top of the Eastern Conference standings. The winning goal came in the 89th minute when Fafa Picault, a veteran Haiti international, delivered a powerful header to seal the victory for Miami. Picau

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly suffered an estimated Rs 869 crore (USD 85 million) loss after hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, resulting in severe budget cuts across various sectors of Pakistani cricket. This substantial financial setback has prompted drastic cost-cutting measures, including reductions in match fees and player accommodations. The financial blow stems from heavy investments in stadium upgrades and event preparations. According to a report by The Telegrap

Organizers of the Fongshan Marathon in southern Taiwan have issued an apology after mistakenly awarding Type 95 automatic rifle-shaped trophies, firearms used by China’s People's Liberation Army, to race winners. The incident, which sparked controversy, was acknowledged by the organizers on Sunday, according to the Taipei Times. The marathon took place in Kaohsiung's Fongshan District, with routes passing through three military institutions: the Military Academy, the Fongshan Ar

The United States is set to impose reciprocal tariffs starting April 2, raising concerns about potential disruptions to Indian exports. While traders remain uneasy about the impact on export-driven sectors, a report by SBI Research suggests that India's economy is resilient enough to withstand these changes with minimal consequences. According to SBI Research, the newly imposed US tariffs are projected to result in only a 3-3.5% decline in Indian exports. Despite the tariff hike, India&rs

The Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) has issued fresh guidelines to streamline the pension disbursement process for retirees under the National Pension System (NPS). The new instructions aim to ensure that pensioners receive their dues on time without unnecessary delays. In a memo dated March 12, 2025, the CPAO emphasized the need to follow the same procedural framework as the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) to avoid errors. The CPAO’s latest reminder follows an earlier directive issue

The much-awaited Blood Moon graced the skies across several regions in the Americas, Western Europe, and Africa as skywatchers witnessed a mesmerizing total lunar eclipse. Enthusiasts on X (formerly Twitter) shared breathtaking photographs that showcased the Moon’s stunning transformation into a deep red shade, capturing this rare celestial event beautifully. The Moon’s red appearance occurred during the totality phase of the eclipse, a result of Rayleigh scattering. In this optic