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Virender Sehwag (Screengrab)

NEW DELHI: Former Team India batter Virender Sehwag is never one to mince words, and this time, it’s Glenn Maxwell and Liam Livingstone who’ve found themselves in his firing line.
The former Indian opener has slammed the two high-profile overseas stars, accusing them of lacking the hunger and intent to contribute meaningfully in IPL 2025.
“I feel like Maxwell and Livingstone’s hunger is gone. Yeh yaha holiday manane aate hai (they just come here for a holiday). They arrive, have their fun, and leave. There’s no visible desire to fight for the team,” Sehwag said on Cricbuzz, calling out their indifferent performances this season.
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Glenn Maxwell, known for his explosive batting and game-changing ability, has looked a shadow of his former self.
The Aussie all-rounder has managed just 41 runs in six matches at an average of 8.20, with a strike rate of exactly 100.
His bowling, while marginally better, with four wickets at an economy of 8.46, hasn’t been enough to cover up the glaring void in his batting contributions.

Liam Livingstone, on the other hand, has shown glimpses of his power-hitting prowess, with a solitary fifty and 87 runs in 7 games. But his average of 17.40 and inconsistent outings haven’t justified the Rs 8.75 crore RCB spent on him.
His part-time spin has also failed to make an impact, yielding just two wickets.
“I’ve spent time with a lot of former players, but only 1 or 2 really gave me the feeling that, ‘Yes, I genuinely want to do something for the team’,” Sehwag further added.

With franchises investing heavily in overseas stars, expectations are sky-high.
But unless players like Maxwell and Livingstone rediscover their hunger, they risk becoming passengers in a tournament where impact is everything.

Maharashtra stares at a landmark moment in its politics with the buzz of a possible reunion of the estranged Thackeray cousins after two decades. Raj Thackeray, who had quit Shiv Sena in 2005 to start his own party, and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray have both hinted at reuniting amid concerns over alleged threats to Marathi culture and identity.

While the BJP and the Congress have said they would welcome such a reunion, a patch-up could mean the Thackerays putting up a joint fight against the BJP in the upcoming civic body elections in Mumbai. The Congress and NCP know this and are optimistic.

The Reunion Buzz

The Thackeray cousins have conveyed a strong message to Maharashtra’s voters – that the state’s interests and Marathi culture are above political rivalries. Speaking at separate events, they hinted it was beneficial for the state if they came together again.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray said the differences between them are “minor” and impacting the Marathi people.

“The disputes and fights between Uddhav and me are minor — Maharashtra is much bigger than all that. These differences are proving costly for Maharashtra’s existence and the Marathi people. Coming together is not difficult. It’s a matter of will. It’s not just about my desire or selfishness,” Raj Thackeray said, adding that he would not let his ego come in between if the state wants them to come together.

His reunion with Uddhav Thackeray would mean a departure from his unconditional support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 2024 national elections.

Uddhav Thackeray, who heads the Shiv Sena (UBT) after the 2022 split, had a condition for reuniting with his cousin.

“I’m ready to put aside petty disputes, but there is a condition. We cannot keep switching sides where we are supporting them one day, opposing them the next, and then compromising again. Anyone who acts against Maharashtra’s interests — I will not welcome them, invite them home, or sit with them. Let this be clear first,” he said.

From the Uddhav Thackeray camp, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut hinted at both leaders being ready to set aside their issues and reconcile. However, he reiterated the condition that his party’s chief had laid down: Raj Thackeray should not give space to Maharashtra and Shiv Sena (UBT)’s “enemies”.

A reunion of the Thackeray cousins would reshape Maharashtra’s politics, which has seen alliances shift over the past few years. Elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, pending for three years, could be held this October, and if the cousins reunite, their fight against the BJP-led NDA will test their joint working skills and pave the way for future tie-ups.

How Politicians Reacted

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis suggested the BJP would be happy if the Thackeray cousins reunite. Still, he asserted that they wouldn’t be able to defeat the NDA in the upcoming BMC elections. “We will be happy if they come together. Estranged people should reunite. It is a good thing if their disputes end. I feel the media is reading too much between the lines,” said the Chief Minister.

State BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule echoed that his party wouldn’t object to such a reunion. “It is Raj Thackeray’s prerogative whether to join hands with Uddhav Thackeray or not. He can decide his party’s future. BJP has no objection to it,” he said.

The Congress, an ally of Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena, too, had no objection. State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said Raj Thackeray appears to be endorsing the view that the BJP is trying to undermine the language and culture of Maharashtra.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, whose visit to Raj Thackeray’s house last week sparked the buzz of a possible tie-up for the BMC elections, is yet to comment on it.

However, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske has questioned its possibility, claiming that Uddhav Thackeray had threatened to leave the house if Raj Thackeray was given any responsibility. “Uddhav opposed Raj Thackeray’s visit to its branches in Mumbai. He differentiated between Raj Thackeray’s supporters. He should answer why he opposed Raj Thackeray,” Mr Mhaske told reporters.

Former MP and Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam said “two zeros” always make a zero, suggesting a reunion would not help them electorally.

“First, Uddhav went with Congress and relied on Muslim votes. But when he realised nothing was working, he started leaning towards Raj Thackeray. This is not in Maharashtra’s interest but personal interests. Both together can never pose a challenge to Mahayuti,” he added.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule, daughter of veteran politician Sharad Pawar, said such a reunion should be “welcomed wholeheartedly”. Calling it “happy news”, she said Bal Thackeray would have been very happy if he were alive today.

WrestleMania 41, Night 1 LIVE Updates: Jey Uso wins title© WWE

Isro to launch two high-profile space missions in May-June

NEW DELHI: Isro is gearing up for two high-profile space missions over the next two months — astronaut-designate Shubhanshu Shukla is set to travel to the international space station (ISS) in May as part of the Nasa-collaborated Axiom-4 mission, followed by the launch of the world’s most expensive Indo-US Earth observation satellite, NISAR, in June from Indian soil.
IAF Group Captain Shukla, who was imparted training in Russia and US for a space trip, will be the second Indian to visit space after Rakesh Sharma, who went to space on Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft four decades ago.
Making the announcement on Friday, space minister Jitendra Singh said, “Group Captain Shukla’s journey is more than just a flight — it’s a signal that India is stepping boldly into a new era of space exploration.”
Isro is also set to launch the Isro-Nasa jointly produced NISAR satellite in June onboard the GSLV-Mark 2 rocket, Singh said and added that in July the space agency will put in orbit BlueBird Block-2 satellites of US-based AST SpaceMobile using the heavy-lift LVM-3 rocket.
According to Nasa, the $1.5billion Nisar project “will measure the Earth’s changing ecosystems, dynamic surfaces and ice sheet collapses, providing information about biomass, sea level rise, groundwater and natural hazards, including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and landslides”.
Nisar will be the first satellite of its kind in space to systematically map Earth, using two different radar frequencies (L-band and S-band) to measure changes in the Earth’s surface less than a centimeter across. Under the terms of the 2014 agreement, Nasa is providing the mission’s L-band SAR, a high-rate telecommunication subsystem for scientific data GPS receivers, a solid-state recorder and a payload data subsystem. Isro, on the other hand, is providing the satellite bus, an S-band SAR, launch vehicle (GSLV Mk II), and associated launch services.
During the occasion, Isro chairman V Narayanan made a presentation on various upcoming space missions.
Isro also plans to launch the PSLV-C61 mission carrying the EOS-09 satellite, which is equipped with a C-band synthetic aperture radar, capable of capturing high-resolution images of Earth’s surface under all weather conditions, day or night. Another significant milestone will be the Test Vehicle-D2 (TV-D2) mission, designed to simulate an abort scenario and demonstrate the Gaganyaan Crew Escape System.
The mission includes sea recovery operations for the ‘crew module’, mimicking procedures planned for India’s first human spaceflight, he said.
Shukla’s journey aboard the Axiom-4 mission to the ISS is expected to provide critical hands-on experience in spaceflight operations, launch protocols, microgravity adaptation, and emergency preparedness — all essential for India’s crewed space ambitions, an official statement said. His ISS trip will also help in the country’s first human spaceflight mission Gaganyaan.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP are responsible for “instigating communal violence” in the state.

“RSS and BJP are the ones who are instigating communal violence in West Bengal. People of the state should be extremely careful not to get trapped in their provocations. BJP and its allies have suddenly become very aggressive in West Bengal. These allies include RSS. These forces are using the backdrop of an unfortunate incident that happened due to provocation. They are using the backdrop to play divisive politics,” said the Chief Minister in her open letter.

The Chief Minister added that they (RSS-BJP) want to “incite” riots, which can affect everyone.

“We love all. We want to stay together. We condemn riots. We are against riots. They (RSS-BJP) want to divide us for narrow electoral politics,” she said.

She also appealed to everyone to remain calm, adding that she condemns communal riots, which must be curbed.

“The criminals behind the riots are being strongly dealt with. But, simultaneously, we must avoid mutual mistrust and distrust. The majority and the minority communities must work together and take care of each other,” she said.

The Chief Minister added that for maintaining law and order and for saving human lives and dignity, the state government have taken strong actions.

“Two police officers-in-charge have been removed. And the police are investigating the case. Further actions will be taken,” the Chief Minister said.

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

The denial from the BJP was firm and unequivocal. The ruling party at the Centre underlined that it respects the judiciary, and that the provocative comments made by its MPs – Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma – against the Supreme Court have nothing to do with the BJP.

“The Bharatiya Janata Party has nothing to do with the statements made by BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma on the judiciary and the Chief Justice of the country. These are their personal statements, but the BJP neither agrees with such statements nor does it ever support such statements. The BJP completely rejects these statements,” said JP Nadda in a late-night post on X.

Nishikant Dubey, an MP from Godda in Jharkhand, had said the Supreme Court is “responsible for inciting religious wars in the country“. The MP did not stop there, arguing that the “Supreme Court is going beyond its limits”. 

“If one has to go to the Supreme Court for everything, then Parliament and State Assembly should be shut down,” argued Mr Dubey.

Another MP, Dinesh Sharma, citing the Constitution, declared “no one can direct the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha”. 

The party chief said the MPs and everyone else has been told not to not to make such comments, adding that “judiciary is an integral part of our democracy”.   

“Bharatiya Janata Party has always respected the judiciary and gladly accepted its orders and suggestions because as a party we believe that all the courts of the country including the Supreme Court are an integral part of our democracy and are the strong pillar of the protection of the Constitution. I have instructed both of them and everyone else not to make such statements,” said Mr Nadda, who is also the Union Health Minister 

The BJP MPs’ sharp remarks come days after the Supreme Court order in a Tamil Nadu case, in which it ruled that Governor RN Ravi’s decision to withhold assent to 10 bills was “illegal and arbitrary”. The Supreme Court bench set a three-month deadline for Presidential and gubernatorial assent to Bills passed by the legislature for the second time. The top court further underlined that it would be prudent for the President to refer Bills with constitutional questions to the Supreme Court.

The comments also come amid the ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court over several petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

The Centre had assured the Supreme Court during the hearing held on April 17 that it would not denotify any ‘Waqf-by-user’ provision and would not include any non-Muslim members in the Board. The assurance came a day after the top court said it will consider staying those parts of the law.

Condemning Mr Dubey’s remarks, the Congress said the “Supreme Court is being targeted”. 

“Efforts are being made to weaken the Supreme Court. Different voices are deliberately coming up and the Supreme Court is being targeted. There is the issue of electoral bonds, the issue of Waqf has come up, the issue of Election Commission is about to come,” said Congress’ Jairam Ramesh, General Secretary in charge of communication.  

In a significant ruling, the US district court (Northern District of Georgia) has granted temporary relief to 133 international students who faced sudden termination of their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record. With their legal status terminated, had it not been for the district court’s intervention, the students would have had to deport.
The district court on Friday evening, issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), ordering the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to reinstate the plaintiffs’ SEVIS records retroactive to March 31, 2025. It also barred federal authorities from using or disclosing the students’ personal information outside the scope of this litigation. By Tuesday, US government agencies (defendants to this case) have been ordered to file a notice of compliance with this order.
The students, all F-1 visa holders, had filed an urgent plea alleging unlawful actions by federal immigration authorities. This lawsuit is among the largest of its kind concerning SEVIS terminations. All of them were actively enrolled in colleges and universities throughout the US – many of them were weeks away from graduation, or were lawfully undergoing Optional Practical Training (OPT). International students can gain work experience under the OPT program for a year on completion of their studies, this period is further extended by two years for those from the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) streams.
Charles Kuck, founding partner of Kuck Baxter, an immigration law firm, who represented the students told TOI, “The overt ignoring of set immigration laws and policies by the Trump administration as it relates to foreign students is not just stunning, but dangerous. It sends a message that will reverberate for a generation as the best and most talented students that might have come to the US will consider and pursue their education options in other countries. This bad for America.”
All 133 international students proceeded with the lawsuit pseudonymously and had sought a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against officials from the (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the US Attorney General. This was prompted by notices received between April 1 and April 14, informing them that their SEVIS records had been terminated—citing either criminal background checks, visa revocations, or alleged failure to maintain lawful status.
This lawsuit is among the largest of its kind concerning SEVIS terminations The students argued that the terminations were baseless and procedurally improper. They emphasized that they had no criminal records and had complied with all legal requirements of their student visas.
In their complaint, the students alleged violations of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause. They argued that the termination actions lacked proper notice, were devoid of an articulated legal basis, and were executed without giving them an opportunity to respond. The terminations, they claimed, were arbitrary, capricious, and beyond the legal authority granted to immigration agencies.
They contended that once admitted to the US with an F-1 visa, international students are granted permission to stay for the ‘duration of status’ as long as they meet the requirements of this visa – maintaining a full course of study and avoiding unauthorised employment.
In some, but not all of these cases, the US Department of State (DOS) has revoked the student’s visa. But, the revocation of a F-1 visa does not necessarily impact the person’s lawful presence in the country. As such, plaintiffs contended that it is the SEVIS registration termination that has rendered them vulnerable to devastating immigration outcomes such as detention and deportation, as well as irreparable harm.
The district court concurred with the plaintiffs, finding they had demonstrated a substantial likelihood of success on the merits of their case. Specifically, the district court held that DHS’s power to terminate F-1 status is tightly constrained by regulation and did not apply in this situation.
Judge Victoria Marie Calvert observed that visa revocation alone does not equate to a loss of legal immigration status and cannot be used to justify SEVIS termination. In particular she added, “There is substantial public interest in having governmental agencies abide by the federal laws that govern their existence and operations.”
According to immigration attorneys, this line captures the core of the district court’s reasoning—it’s not just about protecting the students, but also about ensuring that government agencies act within the law. It underscores the principle that adherence to legal procedures is fundamental, even in matters involving immigration and national security.
Judge Calvert also acknowledged the irreparable harm the students faced: loss of educational opportunities, expulsion from the US on short notice, forfeiture of scholarships and jobs, and severe emotional distress. She cited similar rulings from other district courts that had intervened in SEVIS-related terminations, affirming the need for judicial oversight.
The court dismissed the argument that the students could have sought relief under the Privacy Act, noting that the act does not cover international students but applies to permanent residents (green card holders) and US citizens.

The TOI correspondent from Washington: A group of three Indian and two Chinese students on Friday mounted a legal challenge against the Trump administration for disrupting the academic pursuit of hundreds of foreign students and academics in the US, often on minor grounds such as traffic and parking violations.
In a class action lawsuit filed before the US District Court in New Hampshire, the five students, through their attorneys, alleged that the Department of Homeland Security has unilaterally terminated F-1 student status of “hundreds, if not thousands,” of foreign students and Optional Practical Training (“OPT”) participants throughout the US. They sought reinstatement of student visas that have been terminated, including theirs, and a halt to detentions and deportations.
The three Indian plaintiffs Manikanta Pasula, Likhith Babu Gorrela, Thanuj Kumar Gummadavelli, are students at Rivier University in New Hampshire, and the two Chinese plaintiffs Hangrui Zhang and Haoyang An, are graduate students at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts. Indians and Chinese the two largest foreign groups in the US academia, with more than half million students between them.
In the lawsuit, Pasula, now in the third semester of a computer engineering master’s program, described being arrested and charged with driving without a valid US license while he had his Indian driver’s license. New Hampshire permits the use of an International Driving Permit for up to 60 days after foreign student’s arrival in the United States, and while Pasula was driving within that 60-day window, he pled guilty, paid a $248 fine, and immediately obtained a valid U.S. driver’s license.
Earlier this month, Pasula received an email from Rivier University that the State Department revoked his visa. He separately received an email from the U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai, that confirmed that his visa was revoked and that “remaining in the United States without a lawful immigration status can result in fines, detention, and/or deportation.”
The two other cases involving Indian students are similar. Thanuj was charged with speeding and a traffic misdemeanor for failing to carry a valid US driver’s license. Although he had a valid international driving permit at the time, he was outside the 60-day window in which the international driving permit is allowed in New Hampshire. Gorrela too had an international driving permit but was using it beyond the 60-day window. Although both paid fines and subsequently got their US licenses, the DHS nixed their student status, putting them on track for visa revocation and deportation.
Of the two Chinese students, the lawsuit says Haoyang was charged with a misdemeanor for driving without an active insurance policy in Massachusetts, and Hangrui was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor in an episode stemming from a misunderstanding. Although both cases were subsequently dismissed in court, their student status was also revoked in the DHS crackdown that now extends to infractions that go far beyond political activism.
Attorneys for the students said the Trump administration’s “unilateral and unlawful terminations” have severely disrupted the educational opportunities of students who are in the middle of their studies (and in the middle of a semester) and who are simply trying to obtain, often at considerable expense, an education in the US while following all the rules required of them.
“These injuries are real…. Their graduation is unpredictable and unlikely unless this Court intervenes,” the lawsuit said, describing the students’ situation. Linkhith Babu Gorrela’s graduation date for his Master’s program is May 20, 2025, and without a valid F-1 student status, he may not obtain his Master’s degree. Nor can he participate in the OPT program after graduation.
Similarly, Thanuj Kumar Gummadavelli and Manikanta Pasula have only one semester left before they can complete their Master’s degrees and participate in the OPT program. Hangrui Zhang’s only source of income, the lawsuit said, is his research assistantship which has been cut off in light of the termination of his F-1 student status. Haoyang An will have to abandon his Master’s program despite having already invested $329,196 in his education in the US.