BJP's Pragya Singh Thakur is leading against Congress' Digvijay Singh by a margin of 3,105 votes in Bhopal Lok Sabha seat of Madhya Pradesh, as per initial trends.
BJP's Krishna Pal Singh Yadav is leading by a margin of 1165 votes against Congress' Jyotiraditya Scindia from Guna.
Congress candidate Nakul Nath, son of CM Kamal Nath, is ahead of BJP's Nathanshah Kawreti in Chhindwara seat by a margin of 1,520 votes.
A 15-YEAR-OLD boy accused of killing an 80-year-old man in a Leicester park told police, “I had my reasons, but I did it,” a court heard.
The boy is charged with murdering Bhim Kohli at Franklin Park, Braunstone Town, in September last year. A 13-year-old girl, also on trial, is accused of manslaughter. Both were 14 and 12 at the time and cannot be named due to their ages.
At Leicester Crown Court, transcripts of police interviews were read, BBC reported. Officers noted that after his arrest, the boy admitted responsibility, saying, “I did it, I did it. I have my reasons but I did it.”
He told police he had heard Kohli had previously pulled a knife on a friend of his co-defendant. On 1 September, he approached Kohli to ask if he was carrying a knife. When Kohli did not respond, he asked again.
The boy claimed Kohli swore at him and tried to hit him. He said he dodged it and hit Kohli back. Later, he admitted hitting Kohli three times on his arm and jaw but denied kicking him.
He said after walking away, Kohli approached his co-defendant with his hands raised, making him concerned for her safety. He ran at Kohli, pushed him over, and fell on top of him.
In his police statement, he said: “I didn’t want to hurt the male, he was the one who had become aggressive. He had taken photos of me and I even posed for them. I deeply regret the incident and was horrified to hear he died. I would like to express my sadness to his family and friends.”
The boy said he told a woman to call an ambulance because his phone battery was low. Asked why he did not use his friend’s phone, he said: “Because I didn’t want to be there.” He added, “I was panicked. He started it, I’ve already explained it.”
The court heard a paramedic at the scene reported that Kohli had said he was kicked and that “the kids” called him a racial slur. The boy denied using any racial slur.
The girl told police she was sitting on a bench away from the altercation but later went to see what was happening. She recorded the incident on her phone and was shown the footage in her interview.
Asked why she filmed, she said: “I don’t know, just to show [the boy] what he had done from far away.”
Describing the footage, she said the boy “slapped [Kohli] round the head with his slider [shoe].”
When asked if she enjoyed it, she replied: “Not really but it was a bit funny at the time.”
She said that after Kohli fell, “We just left. He was just laid on the floor and I think he was breathing pretty loud.”
The court heard that weeks before the incident, Kohli had apples thrown at him by teenagers in the park. The girl said Kohli thought she and her friends were with them and approached them. She claimed he had “something in his pocket” but admitted she did not see a knife.
She also said it was “spread around” that Kohli carried a pocket knife.
A teenage friend of the male defendant told the court he met him the day after the attack in a churchyard, where the defendant appeared “overwhelmed,” BBC reported.
“He was kind of shaking,” the witness said in his police interview. “He told me about it. He said that he was walking with his mates and he saw that man trying to do something to a young girl. When he saw that, he said he got really angry and started battering him.”
The boy told his friend he needed to “leave the area” and was “planning to go somewhere far, like a different city.”
A 14-year-old witness told jurors the defendant had spoken about his “anger issues” the day after the attack, ITV News reported.
“He said, ‘They know it’s me, they have got a full description, I have put a man in intensive care. He is basically dead.’”
The witness added: “He said he was only going to punch him once... but he said he just let his anger out and he couldn’t stop.”
The trial continues.
Carney said he would stand up for Canada’s way of life and push back against American actions affecting trade. (Photo: Reuters)
MARK CARNEY, Canada's incoming prime minister, has pledged to take on the United States in an escalating trade dispute, vowing to defend the country’s interests against US president Donald Trump’s policies.
Speaking to supporters in Ottawa after being elected leader of the Liberal Party, Carney said he would stand up for Canada’s way of life and push back against American actions affecting trade.
"We didn't ask for this fight. But Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves," he said.
"So the Americans, they should make no mistake, in trade as in hockey, Canada will win," added Carney, 59, who is set to take over from prime minister Justin Trudeau in the coming days.
Carney’s time in office could be short. Canada must hold elections by October, but a snap poll could take place within weeks. Current opinion polls show the opposition Conservatives with a slight edge.
'Existential challenge'
In his victory speech, Carney said Trump's administration was trying to take control of Canada.
"The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country," he said.
"These are dark days, dark days brought on by a country we can no longer trust."
He accused Trump of targeting Canadian workers and businesses, adding, "We cannot let him succeed."
"We're all being called to stand up for each other and for the Canadian way of life."
Carney, a former central banker, won the Liberal leadership with 85.9 percent of nearly 152,000 votes cast, defeating his main rival, Chrystia Freeland, who received eight per cent.
He campaigned on a promise to challenge Trump’s policies, which have disrupted Canada-US trade with tariffs and economic uncertainty.
Delivering his farewell speech, Trudeau also warned about the US, calling it "an existential challenge" for Canada.
Contending with Trump
Liberal supporters in Ottawa welcomed Carney’s victory. Party member Cory Stevenson said, "We chose the person who could best face off against (Tory leader) Pierre Poilievre in the next election and deal with Donald Trump."
Carney has argued that his background makes him the best candidate to handle Trump. He has highlighted his experience leading the Bank of Canada through the 2008-2009 financial crisis and managing the Bank of England during the fallout from the 2016 Brexit vote.
According to polling firm Angus Reid, Carney is seen as the best choice to handle Trump. A recent survey showed 43 percent of Canadians trusted him most on the issue, compared to 34 percent for Conservative leader Poilievre.
The Liberals had been trailing in the polls before Trudeau announced his resignation in January, but the leadership change and concerns over Trump have made the race more competitive.
"We were written off about four months ago, and now we're right back where we should be," said former MP Frank Baylis, who also ran for the leadership.
Unproven in elections
Before entering public service, Carney worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs.
Since leaving the Bank of England in 2020, he has been a UN envoy promoting private sector investment in climate technology and has taken on corporate roles.
However, he has never held elected office or served in parliament.
Analysts say his lack of electoral experience could be a challenge against a Conservative Party already running attack ads about his policy shifts and background.
"It is absolutely a risk. He is unproven in the crucible of an election," said Cameron Anderson, a political scientist at Western University.
However, he added that Carney’s strong stance against Trump "is what Canadians want to hear from their leaders."
"The average Canadian in the country is viewing these things in an existential way."
(With inputs from AFP)
Temperatures are set to drop across the country. (Representational image: Getty)
THE MET OFFICE has issued a yellow weather warning for fog across parts of the North East and Yorkshire, including Durham, Newcastle, and York.
The warning is in effect for over 10 hours, from 10:40 pm on Sunday until 9:00 pm on Monday.
The Met Office stated that some areas could experience dense fog, with visibility dropping to as low as 50 metres. Travel disruption is possible, with road, rail, air, and ferry services potentially affected.
The warning advises motorists to check road conditions, allow extra journey time, and ensure fog lights are functioning before setting off. Travellers are also advised to check for updates from their transport providers.
Temperatures are set to drop across the country. Craig Snell, a meteorologist at the Met Office, told The Independent: “It’s been widely warm across the east and west, and it’s been pleasant in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It’s been fairly decent, and Sunday was the warmest day of 2025 so far.”
Snell added that cooler conditions will spread across the country next week. “The south will hang on to milder conditions on Monday, probably around 17C or 18C, but it will be cloudier. In the north, it’ll be much cooler, and bands of patchy rain will move in and gradually move southwards.”
Temperatures in the north are expected to range between 6C and 8C, while the south will see highs of 8C to 9C. The cooler weather will persist through midweek, with scattered showers in northern and eastern areas.
Snell said: “Conditions will stay in single figures and it’ll be a cold midweek, particularly when compared with this weekend. It won’t be a washout and there will be plenty of dry spells. But it’ll be the breeze that keeps those temperatures down.”
By Friday and Saturday, similar conditions are expected before temperatures begin to rise slightly into the weekend.
The Honourable Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami graced the inaugural event
The International Yoga Festival 2025 commenced on Sunday (9) at Parmarth Niketan with a sacred Ganga Aarti ceremony on the banks of the holy Ganges. Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the event, which also featured soulful kirtan performances and inspiring talks by spiritual leaders.
Inaugration Ceremony of International Yoga Day 2025Parmarth Niketan
The week-long festival, attended by participants from over 100 countries, focuses on yoga, meditation, and holistic well-being. This year’s edition emphasises mindfulness, global harmony, and the transformative power of yoga. The opening day set a serene tone for the event, which includes a diverse lineup of yoga sessions, workshops, and cultural programmes.
“This festival is a testament to India’s spiritual heritage and its role in promoting global unity,” said Chief Minister Dhami during his inaugural address.
Sacred Ganga Aarti ceremony on the banks of the holy GangesParmarth Niketan
Held annually in Rishikesh, often referred to as the yoga capital of the world, the event brings together renowned yoga masters, spiritual guides, and wellness practitioners. Parmarth Niketan, with its tranquil setting by the Ganges, provides an ideal venue for this global gathering.
The festival will run until 15 March 2025, offering attendees an opportunity to deepen their practice, connect with like-minded individuals, and experience India’s rich spiritual traditions.
INDIA's government faces mounting questions after US president Donald Trump claimed the country has agreed to "cut tariffs way down" ahead of his 2 April deadline for imposing reciprocal tariffs on trading partners.
The controversy erupted after Trump's remarks from the Oval Office, where he accused India of charging "massive tariffs" that make it "almost restrictive" to sell American goods in the country.
"They've agreed to cut their tariffs way down now because somebody's finally exposing them for what they've done," Trump declared.
Opposition Congress party leaders have seized on the comments, with general secretary Jairam Ramesh demanding prime minister Narendra Modi clarify India's position when Parliament resumes on Monday (10).
"What has the Modi government agreed to? Are the interests of Indian farmers and of Indian manufacturing being compromised?" Ramesh wrote on social media platform X.
The party described Trump's comments as an "insult" to India's sovereignty and called for an all-party meeting to ensure "national interest remains paramount" in trade negotiations.
The diplomatic tension comes amid commerce minister Piyush Goyal's recent visit to Washington for talks with US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick and trade representative Jamieson Greer.
Lutnick stressed that India has "some of the highest tariffs in the world" and urged the country to lower duties on American goods to forge an "extraordinary relationship" between the nations.
Meanwhile, Indian government sources have defended any potential tariff reductions, insisting they should be viewed as part of broader efforts to advance trade with developed nations through bilateral agreements. They pointed to similar arrangements India has made with Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland and Norway, rather than a response to Trump's pressure.
Last month, during Modi's visit to Washington, both countries agreed to negotiate the first stage of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by year's end. The US is already India's largest trading partner, with trade reaching $118.2 billion (£93.1 bn) last financial year.
India's external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the country is "looking at deepening trade ties with the US including by reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers under a bilateral trade agreement."
Trump has previously labelled India a "tariff king" and a "big abuser." During his first joint address to Congress as president, he promised to impose reciprocal tariffs from 2 April on countries with "unfair" trade policies, specifically mentioning India among others.
"India charges us tariffs higher than 100 per cent... The system is not fair to the US; it never was. On April 2, reciprocal tariffs kick in. Whatever they tax us, we will tax them," Trump warned.
(with inputs from PTI)
