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Ajith Kumar’s latest film, ‘Good Bad Ugly,’ was released worldwide yesterday (Apr 10) and is receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from fans. Directed by Adhik Ravichandran, a devoted Ajith fan himself, the film features Ajith and Trisha in the lead roles. Supporting roles are played by Arjun Das, Prasanna, Yogi Babu, and others. G.V. Prakash Kumar has composed the music, and the film’s trailer has created a massive buzz, raising expectations sky-high.
Rave reviews and fan reactions
Following its release, audiences have expressed great satisfaction, stating that every scene is engaging and that this portrayal of Ajith was something they had eagerly been waiting for. Early reviews have been largely positive, which has energized both fans and the crew. Many feel that this film marks a strong comeback for Ajith, especially after his previous movie, ‘Vidaamuyarchi,’ which received mixed reactions from the audience.
Shocking piracy leak
Unfortunately, despite the successful launch, ‘Good Bad Ugly’ has fallen victim to online piracy. The movie has been illegally leaked on several websites on the day of its release, leaving the film’s team shocked and disheartened. Piracy remains a significant threat to the film industry, potentially affecting box office revenue and the morale of everyone involved in the production. The makers are expected to take legal action and are urging fans to support the film by watching it only in theaters.
Box office expectations soar.
Nevertheless, with a string of holidays approaching, the movie is expected to perform exceptionally well at the box office over the weekend. Shows are running to packed theaters in several regions, especially in Tamil Nadu and overseas. Fans are now eagerly waiting for official updates from the production company regarding the film’s opening day collection. With the momentum it has gained, ‘Good Bad Ugly’ is anticipated to collect record-breaking numbers and reaffirm Ajith’s stronghold in the industry.

Hours after Tahawwur Rana, accused of playing a big role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, was brought to India, fresh images have emerged of US Marshals handing him over to Indian authorities for extradition. 

The US Justice Department released photos of Rana, clad in a beige prison-issued uniform and flanked by US Marshals, being delivered into the custody of representatives of the Ministry of External Affairs at a secure location on April 9. 

Between November 26 and 29, 2008, ten gunmen trained by the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) unleashed a wave of coordinated terror across Mumbai.

Photo Credit: US Justice Department

Rana has been accused of playing a role in laying the groundwork for the attacks – not as a trigger-puller, but as an enabler operating in the shadows. Rana allegedly used his Chicago-based immigration business as a front to enable childhood friend and co-conspirator David Coleman Headley – born Daood Gilani – to travel freely to India under fraudulent documents.

Headley, who had received military training from LeT in Pakistan, scouted targets for the attack, conducted video surveillance, and shared detailed reconnaissance reports with LeT operatives. 

Photo Credit: US Justice Department

According to an official statement by the US Justice Department, after the Mumbai attacks, in an intercepted conversation, Rana allegedly said the victims “deserved it” and praised the attackers, claiming they deserved Pakistan’s highest military honour, the Nishan-e-Haider.

In 2009, Rana was arrested on charges related to a separate LeT-linked plot targeting a Danish newspaper that had published cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. In 2013, a US court convicted Rana of conspiring to support LeT and sentenced him to 14 years in federal prison. David Headley turned informant and pleaded guilty to 12 terrorism charges – including for the Mumbai attacks – and was sentenced to 35 years.

In 2020, India formally requested Rana’s extradition. But the process dragged on for nearly five years as Rana’s lawyers cited poor health and the threat of torture to delay the extradition to India. 

On February 27, Rana filed a last-ditch ‘Emergency Application for Stay Pending Litigation’, pleading that his medical conditions – including multiple heart attacks, stage 3 chronic kidney disease, suspected bladder cancer, Parkinson’s disease with cognitive decline, and chronic asthma – effectively made his extradition to India a death sentence.

Rana then escalated the request to the US Supreme Court, but it too was denied after deliberation. On April 9, he was handed over to Indian authorities before landing in India the next day, where he has been remanded to an 18-day anti-terror body National Ivestigation Agency (NIA) custody. 

KOLKATA: Sub-inspector Ritan Das of Kasba police station, whose actions during Wednesday’s scuffle with protesting SSC candidates triggered widespread outrage, has been taken off active duty pending an inquiry. The development comes after police commissioner Manoj Verma ordered a probe into the incident. Deputy commissioner (SSD) Bidisha Kalita has been assigned to submit a detailed report.
Das, who joined the force in 2010, has submitted his version of events to senior officers. He reportedly said that he acted in a moment of panic after protesters allegedly snatched his baton, broke his glasses, and punched him, leaving him isolated from his team.
The episode has caused a rare rift within Kolkata Police, a unit known for standing by its own. While some officers defended Das, calling it a “temporary lapse” in a high-stress situation, others felt he overstepped a line, especially given that the demonstrators were teachers—a group that commands social respect.
A section of officers criticised Das’s conduct, calling it avoidable and a breach of discipline.
“Despite provocations, our training teaches us not to defend in a manner that flouts the rulebook. This essentially could have been avoided as many common Kolkatans have yet again begun comparing the incident with the RG Kar vandalism,” said a serving officer-in-charge.
Others felt Das may have lost sight of the deep social sentiment attached to the teaching profession.
“There are certain sentiments that we need to value in this city. One is the respect for teachers. Not all law-and-order assignments can have one solution,” said another officer.
Those defending Das said he acted in self-defence after being attacked.
“With not even his lathi with him, he felt he would be attacked again. By then, he had been punched twice in his ears. He could have run away and let them vandalise the office, like at RG Kar, or retaliate and control the situation,” said a colleague.
When approached for comments, Das remained tight-lipped.
“My seniors will brief you,” he said. Asked if he was following orders, he responded, “You will have to ask my seniors.”
Top officers at Lalbazar said the probe was ongoing.
“A departmental inquiry has not been initiated against Das yet. A decision will be taken after we get reports from commanding officers,” an official said.
Meanwhile, teacher Amit Ranjan Bhuniya, who was reportedly kicked during the scuffle, denied claims that Das’s baton was snatched.
“…cops arrived and told us to move out. Without any provocation, they baton-charged to disperse us…”
‘The kickgate episode’
The “kickgate” episode has sparked widespread outrage, leading to twin protests on Thursday. One group of unemployed SSC candidates launched a relay hunger strike outside the SSC office in Salt Lake, while another organised a rally from Sealdah to Esplanade.
Over 50 protestors set up a temporary camp outside the SSC building and began their hunger strike early morning, demanding a public release of mirror images of all OMR sheets and a transparent identification process for tainted and untainted candidates.
Suman Biswas, one of the protest leaders, said, “As long as the segregation is not done and the mirror images of the OMR sheets of all candidates are not made public, we will continue our hunger strike. If the govt is serious about protecting untainted candidates, they must act now.”
Support for the teachers swelled as BJP leaders including former HC judge and MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay, and actor-politicians Rupa Ganguly and Rudranil Ghosh, visited the protest site.
In a separate protest, nearly 500 terminated teachers and non-teaching staff, whose appointments were invalidated by the Supreme Court over irregularities, marched against alleged “police brutality.”
Moumita Sarkar, a physical science teacher from Nadia, said, “We are surprised at their brutal attack on protesting teachers. How can we trust any verbal assurance when our jobs were terminated by the apex court? We want the govt to present solid evidence in court, including the OMR sheets.”
Later in the day, a larger protest involving around 750 individuals—including teachers, civil society members, and CPM supporters—marched from Sealdah through College Street and BB Ganguly Street, eventually gathering for a sit-in at Dorina Crossing in Esplanade.
Among them was Pratima Roy, a Sanskrit teacher from Alipurduar, who joined the protest with her two-year-old son. “The CM’s speech at Netaji Indoor Stadium was vague. We refuse to be volunteers. We demand our jobs back. Even my husband, who is a police officer, was shocked by how we were treated at the Kasba DI office.”
Swapan Kumar Mondal, a former mathematics teacher, showed injuries sustained during Wednesday’s confrontation, “I barely escaped being hit by police batons. This kind of treatment was unimaginable. We are victims of the SSC’s incompetence and the govt’s negligence. Protest is now our only option.”

NEW DELHI: Indian equity markets indices opened sharply higher on Friday, lifted by improved global sentiment and value buying. The BSE Sensex surged 988 points to 74,835.49, while the Nifty 50 gained 296 points to 22,695.40, with both indices advancing over 1.3% in early trade.
The uptick comes on the heels of a global rebound in equities after a turbulent US session. Investors are also factoring in positive domestic cues and expectations of steady inflation. Banking, auto, and IT stocks were among the top gainers in the early session.
On Tuesday, the markets had also staged a strong recovery following Monday’s sharp decline. The Sensex closed 1,089 points higher at 74,227.08 and the Nifty 50 ended up 374 points at 22,535.85, marking gains of 1.49% and 1.69%, respectively.
Dr. V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services, noted, “The heightened uncertainty and volatility in global markets may persist for some time. However, India remains relatively insulated due to stable macros and fair largecap valuations.”
He added that long-term investors may consider selective buying in high-quality largecap stocks, particularly in financials and pharmaceuticals, as Trump is unlikely to target the pharma sector with tariffs.
Meanwhile, Nifty’s Consumer Durables index jumped 3%, and Metal, Realty, and Financial Services indices rose over 2%. Broader markets also participated in the rally, with Nifty Midcap 100 and Smallcap 100 gaining 2% each. Notably, India VIX, a key volatility gauge, fell by 10.2% to 20.47, indicating easing market anxiety.

US President Donald Trump’s delay of steeper tariffs may have won brief respite on Wall Street, but analysts say his actions — which hit China especially hard — already bring the average US effective tariff rate to its highest in over a century.

Besides imposing sweeping new 10 percent tariffs on goods from most US trading partners, Trump has also unleashed steep duties on imports of steel, aluminum and autos since his White House return.

But on Wednesday, he backed off even higher rates on dozens of economies, including the European Union and Asian manufacturing hub Vietnam, following a sharp sell-off in US government bond markets — though he doubled down on action against China.

Many goods from the world’s second biggest economy now face levies of at least 145 percent — the total additional figure Trump has imposed this year.

“The newly imposed tariffs now affect $2.4 trillion of US imports, or nearly 75 percent,” said Erica York of the Tax Foundation.

“Compared to Trump’s first term, this is a massive escalation, as his first tariffs affected about $380 billion of US imports or 15 percent,” she told AFP.

‘Highest since 1903’

Researchers from the Budget Lab at Yale University estimate that “consumers face an overall average effective tariff rate of 27 percent, the highest since 1903.”

“This is only slightly different from where the effective rate was before the late-April 9 announcement,” they added.

Even after accounting for consumption shifts, the average tariff rate will be 18.5 percent, the Budget Lab anticipates. This would be the highest since 1933.

Thibault Denamiel, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), estimates that the US tariff rate was 2.4 percent in December 2024 — a figure which now stands north of 20 percent.

“That’s mostly due to the fact that we still have a 125 percent tariff rate on China,” he said, referring to the latest duty Trump imposed on Chinese goods.

The 125 percent tariff, which took effect Thursday, coupled with an earlier 20 percent over China’s alleged role in the fentanyl supply chain, putting Trump’s new tariffs targeting China this year to 145 percent.

Even a much lower tariff would significantly impact the world’s biggest economy, Denamiel said, noting that China is the United States’ third most important trading partner.

Analysts have also pointed out that Trump’s actions marked the biggest tariff increase since the Smoot-Hawley Act of 1930, which deepened the Great Depression.

Shrinking imports

Trump has claimed the United States was “taking in almost $2 billion a day” from tariffs.

He has referred to them as a means to raise government revenue, boost the country’s industrial sectors and to pressure other governments on US priorities.

But experts warn that prohibitively high duties on China will likely cause US imports from the country to contract.

With Chinese tariffs reaching punitive levels, even conservative estimates suggest that China’s share of imports “should shrink dramatically,” said JPMorgan chief US economist Michael Feroli in a recent note.

If this were to happen, York of the Tax Foundation added that imports from China would end up generating “very little tariff revenue.”

“Overall, we estimate the tariffs and announced retaliation will shrink US GDP by 1.0 percent,” she said.

With Trump’s latest actions, Feroli expects “the drag from trade policy is likely to be somewhat less than before, and thus the prospect of a recession is a closer call.”

“However, we still think a contraction in real activity later this year is more likely than not,” he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The Taliban morality police in Afghanistan have detained men and their barbers over hairstyles and others for missing prayers at mosques during the holy month of Ramadan, a U.N. report said Thursday, six months after laws regulating people’s conduct came into effect.

The Vice and Virtue Ministry published laws last August covering many aspects everyday life in Afghanistan, including public transport, music, shaving and celebrations. Most notably, the ministry issued a ban on women’s voices and bare faces in public.

That same month, a top U.N. official warned the laws provided a “distressing vision” for the country’s future by adding to existing employment, education, and dress code restrictions on women and girls. Taliban officials have rejected U.N. concerns about the morality laws.

Thursday’s report, from the U.N. mission in Afghanistan, said in the first 6 months of the laws’ implementation, over half of detentions made under it concerned “either men not having the compliant beard length or hairstyle, or barbers providing non-compliant beard trimming or haircuts.”

The report said that the morality police regularly detained people arbitrarily “without due process and legal protections.”

During the holy fasting month of Ramadan, men’s attendance at mandated congregational prayers was closely monitored, leading at times to arbitrary detention of those who didn’t show up, the report added.

The U.N. mission said that both sexes were negatively affected, particularly people with small businesses such as private education centers, barbers and hairdressers, tailors, wedding caterers and restaurants, leading to a reduction or total loss of income and employment opportunities.

The direct and indirect socio-economic effects of the laws’ implementation were likely to compound Afghanistan’s dire economic situation, it said. A World Bank study has assessed that authorities’ ban on women from education and work could cost the country over $1.4 billion per year.

But the Taliban leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, has emphasized the primacy of Islamic law and the role of the Ministry of Vice and Virtue in reforming Afghan society and its people.

In a message issued ahead of the religious Eid Al-Fitr festival that marks the end of Ramadan, Akhundzada said it was necessary “to establish a society free from corruption and trials, and to prevent future generations from becoming victims of misguided beliefs, harmful practices and bad morals.”

More than 3,300 mostly male inspectors are tasked with informing people about the law and enforcing it, according to the report.

The ministry has resolved thousands of people’s complaints and defended the rights of Afghan women, according to its spokesman Saif ur Rahman Khyber.

This was in addition to “implementing divine decrees in the fields of promoting virtue, preventing vice, establishing affirmations, preventing bad deeds, and eliminating bad customs.”

The ministry was committed to all Islamic and human rights and had proven this in practice, he said Thursday, rejecting attempts to “sabotage or spread rumors” about its activities.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

RAIPUR: Responding to a second letter from Maoists, seeking to initiate peace talks with govt, Chhattisgarh deputy chief minister Vijay Sharma on Thursday said they should contact him directly if they are serious about truce.
“If they want to talk, they must come forward transparently. Govt has not formed any official committee for peace talks. If anyone wants to talk, they should reach out to me directly. I will ensure their safety. But let me be clear: violence will be met with force,” Sharma, who is also the home minister, said.
“I tried to verify the authenticity of the letter issued by the ‘in-charge of the northwest sub-zonal bureau’ of the CPI(Maoist). It was found to be true. We are open to unconditional talks with even a single representative and prepared for strict action if violence continues,” minister Sharma said.
“Even if a single individual is willing to come forward for discussions, the govt is prepared. Whether it’s a small group or a large one, we are ready for dialogue on all fronts,” Sharma reiterated.
Govt views peace talks as a path toward promoting long-term stability and development in Naxal-affected regions, he said.
Guns can’t dictate terms in democratic nation: Dy CM
In his statement, Sharma appealed to Naxal groups “not to waste time waiting for others”, but to come forward voluntarily and engage in dialogue.
Around a week ago, when Maoists made their first peace overture, Sharma had dismissed it as “not even worth considering”. “There can be no conditions attached to peace talks,” he said.
This time, too, he questioned the Maoists’ credibility, demanding clarity on the so-called committee mentioned in their letter.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Sharma echoed Union home minister Amit Shah‘s call for Maoists to surrender and join the mainstream.
Highlighting the new rehabilitation policy under which surrendered rebels – even those active for 5-6 years – will not face prosecution, and pending cases may be withdrawn, he said talks are possible when Naxals decide to surrender.
Responding to the Maoists’ appeal to ‘stop internal conflict’, Sharma said: “You call for peace but continue holding guns. In India, we follow democracy, not dictatorship like China. Guns cannot dictate terms in a democratic nation.”
“We are running the ‘VIR’ (Village Integration and Rehabilitation) campaign. We’re going village to village, connecting with people. This is Modi ji’s govt, and Amit Shah’s mission is clear,” Sharma said, affirming the state has four years to achieve complete resolution.
He emphasized that this peace initiative is being undertaken under the guidance of the Prime Minister, the Union home minister and chief minister.
However, Sharma made it clear that dialogue alone cannot be the response to violence. “We cannot respond to bullets with just words,” he said firmly, adding that govt will not hesitate to take strict action if the situation demands it.
Maoists on Wednesday issued a second letter within a week, reiterating their willingness to engage in peace talks with govt. Any such dialogue can only proceed if a conducive atmosphere is created, but govt has failed to ensure this, the letter claimed.
“While we are not averse to peace negotiations, the current conditions in Bastar – marked by ongoing killings and security operations – make talks practically impossible,” the letter went.
With Union home minister Amit Shah’s bold declaration to eliminate Maoist insurgency by March 2026, anti-Naxal operations have intensified across Bastar region. With over 400 cadres shot dead in encounters and around 1,016 surrendered since last year, the Maoist network has been smashed and they are increasingly being cornered into ever tighter pockets. TNN

A family of five Spanish tourists, including three children, and a pilot were killed after their sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson River in New York on Thursday.

Videos on social media showed parts of the chopper – a Bell 206 – tumbling through the air into the water near the shoreline of Jersey City, New Jersey.

Hudson River Helicopter crash @fox5ny @ABC7 @NBCNewYork @CBSNewYork @njdotcom @News12NJ @CNN @cnnbrk

Credit: Bruce Wall pic.twitter.com/CVy249wApx

— SangriaUltra (@xpertcommander) April 10, 2025

JUST IN: 6 people are confirmed to be deceased in the Hudson River helicopter crash, according to the Associated Press.

The chopper’s propeller was seen detached from the helicopter, spinning into the water.

According to a witness who spoke with NBC, the chopper blade just… pic.twitter.com/EMpWMJC9el

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 10, 2025

The helicopter took off around 3 pm from downtown Skyport and flew south before heading up the Manhattan shoreline to the George Washington Bridge, New York City police commissioner Jessica Tisch said.

It then turned back towards the downtown Manhattan heliport, lost control and hit the water near a Hoboken pier, Ms Tisch said.

“NYPD divers pulled four people from the crash site, and FDNY divers recovered an additional two. Immediate lifesaving measures were undertaken on the vessels at the scene, as well as the adjoining pier,” she said.

“Four victims were pronounced dead on scene, and two more were removed to local area hospitals, where, sadly, both succumbed to their injuries,” the police chief added.

Witnesses On New York Helicopter Crash

A hostess at a restaurant along the river in Hoboken, New Jersey, told the news agency AP that the helicopter was spinning uncontrollably with “a bunch of smoke coming out” before it slammed into the water.

The wreckage of a helicopter being removed from the water after crashing into the Hudson River
Photo Credit: AFP

Another witness said it appeared like the helicopter’s rotor blade “shattered in the sky.”

“And after it shattered, then we saw the helicopter just spiral… And then it just crashed into the water just like that,” the witness told the news agency AFP.

Justin Green, an aviation lawyer who was a helicopter pilot in the Marine Corps, told AP that the video of the crash suggested that a “catastrophic mechanical failure” left the pilot with no chance to save the aircraft.

It is possible the helicopter’s main rotors struck the tail boom, breaking it apart and causing the cabin to free fall, Mr Green said.

“There’s no indication they had any control over the craft. No pilot could have prevented that accident once they lost the lifts. It’s like a rock falling to the ground. It’s heartbreaking,” he said.

Donald Trump Calls Chopper Crash Footage “Horrendous”

US President Donald Trump called the crash “terrible.”

“Terrible helicopter crash in the Hudson River. Looks like six people, the pilot, two adults, and three children, are no longer with us. The footage of the accident is horrendous. God bless the families and friends of the victims. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy, and his talented staff are on it. Announcements as to exactly what took place, and how, will be made shortly,” he wrote on Truth Social.

New York Mayor Eric Adams called it a “heartbreaking and tragic crash” and said all six victims had been removed from the water.

At least 38 people have died in helicopter accidents in New York City since 1977.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 14-year-old post on X on Tahawwur Rana, accused of plotting the 26/11 terror attacks, has gone viral as the latter was extradited from the US and reached Delhi on Thursday evening. PM Modi, in his 2011 post, had criticised the previous Congress-led government’s foreign policy after the US “disgraced the sovereignty of India” by declaring Rana “innocent”.

In 2011, a US court had cleared Rana of a direct role in helping plot the attacks that killed 166 people, but convicted him for supporting a terrorist group blamed for the attacks.

“US declaring Tahawwur Rana innocent in Mumbai attack has disgraced the sovereignty of India & it is a “major foreign policy setback”,” PM Modi’s post read.

US declaring Tahawwur Rana innocent in Mumbai attack has disgraced the sovereignty of India & it is a “major foreign policy setback”

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 10, 2011

Also Read | 26/11 Attacks Survivor Recalls Horror, How He Escaped Death

Social media users shared the post and praised PM Modi for successfully extraditing Rana to India to face the law.

“A leader who walks the talk. Captain my captain,” one user wrote.

Another said, “You did it sir!! Kudos and thank you!”

Many users echoed the term “Modi hai toh mumkin hai” (If there’s PM Modi, everything is possible) on the post.

During PM Modi’s visit to the US in February this year, President Donald Trump had confirmed the extradition of Rana to India.

A special flight carrying Rana landed in Delhi last evening, soon after he exhausted all legal avenues to stop his extradition. He was sent to the custody of the anti-terror National Investigation Agency (NIA) for 18 days.

Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, had earlier worked as a doctor for the Pakistan Army. He is facing charges for his role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which over 160 people died. According to officials, he was aware of the terror attack and was in contact with the terrorist groups and their leaders in Pakistan.

Rana’s involvement in the conspiracy behind the 26/11 attacks was revealed by his childhood friend and a key accused in the case, David Coleman Headley – who said he was in constant touch with Rana and even took his permission to open a business office in Mumbai as a front for his activities. During interrogation, Headley had revealed that he had travelled to India five times between 2007 and 2008 and done recce for the Mumbai attacks – using a five-year visa that Rana had helped him obtain. He also revealed the role of terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the Mumbai attacks and said he had opened an immigration company to hide his identity with Rana’s help.

Rana had also visited Mumbai with his wife and stayed at the Taj Mahal Hotel, which became a target of the attacks.

In 2013, Rana was sentenced to 14 years in jail but was released in 2020 on health grounds. He was re-arrested later that year after India’s extradition request.