Symbolic Image (Photo Credit: AP)

According to the Associated Press, Russian officials said Ukrainian drone strikes opened fire on several Russian oil facilities overnight Saturday, the latest in a series of attacks targeting Moscow’s energy infrastructure.Officials in Russia’s Rostov region said falling drone debris caused a fire that damaged an oil depot and a tanker in the port city of Taganrog. In the neighboring Krasnodar Territory, authorities reported another fire at an oil depot in Armavir, reportedly caused by drone debris.ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky Confirming the attack on Armavir highlights Ukraine’s growing ability to attack targets inside Russian territory.“Another facility of Russia’s oil industry has been reached – Armavir,” Zelensky wrote on X, noting that the city is located “500 kilometers from our state border.”“We are literally bringing the war back to where it began,” he said.Ukraine has significantly expanded its long-range strike capabilities during the war, using domestically developed drones and missiles to target Russian military and energy infrastructure.Attacks on oil depots, refineries and fuel facilities are increasing as Kiev seeks to disrupt a key source of revenue supporting Russia’s military campaign.At the same time, Russia continues missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure. Kiev is preparing for the possibility of intensified Russian bombardment after Moscow warned of upcoming “systemic attacks” on the Ukrainian capital earlier this week.Zelensky said Thursday that he remains “very firm” in urging the United States to provide additional Patriot air defense missiles capable of deterring Russian ballistic missile attacks.The latest developments come a day after a Russian drone involved in attacks on Ukraine struck an apartment building in eastern Romania, injuring two people from the NATO member state.The incident renewed concerns about the war spreading beyond Ukraine’s borders and prompted criticism from several European countries.Meanwhile, Russia’s state-owned nuclear power company Rosatom claimed that a Ukrainian drone attacked the Russian-controlled Zaporizhia nuclear power plant on Saturday. According to Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev, the drone hit the wall of a turbine hall, leaving a hole but causing no damage to critical equipment.Europe’s largest nuclear facility, the Zaporizhia plant, has been under Russian control since the early stages of Moscow’s full-scale invasion. Although the plant is no longer operational, it still needs a stable power supply to cool its six closed reactors and spent nuclear fuel.

New Delhi: India’s Digital Health Mission has crossed a major milestone with over 90 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) created across the country, reflecting the rapid expansion of the nationwide digital health ecosystem that aims to make medical records accessible with a single click.The National Health Authority (NHA) on Saturday announced that Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) has crossed the 90 crore ABHA mark from 14.7 crore in 2021, becoming one of the world’s largest digital health records initiatives.ABHA is a unique 14-digit digital health identity that allows individuals to securely link, access and share their health records across hospitals, clinics, laboratories and digital health applications with their consent. It is designed to reduce reliance on physical medical records and improve continuity of care.Growth has been particularly rapid in the last five years. Cumulative ABHA creation is expected to increase from 14.7 crore in 2021 to 30.4 crore in 2022, 50.6 crore in 2023, 72.2 crore in 2024 and 84.5 crore in 2025, before crossing the 90 crore mark this year.State-wise data shows Uttar Pradesh leads the country with over 15.3 crore ABHAs, followed by Rajasthan and Maharashtra with over 7 crore, Bihar with 6.3 crore and West Bengal with 5.9 crore. Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka are also among the top contributors.Many states and union territories have achieved almost universal coverage relative to their population. Andhra Pradesh recorded 98.5% ABHA saturation, while Odisha (91.9%), Chandigarh (90.8%), Rajasthan (89.7%), Himachal Pradesh (88.9%) and Chhattisgarh (86.6%) also reported high coverage levels. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have achieved full saturation.Digital health initiatives have also seen strong participation from women, who constitute 49.75% of all ABHA holders, indicating that almost half of India’s digital health identities are created by women.Dr. Sunil Kumar Baranwal, CEO of National Health Authority, said that the creation of ABHA worth more than Rs 90 crore reflects the growing involvement of citizens, states and health ecosystem partners. He said ABHA enables secure, consent-based access to health information and will help reduce reliance on physical records while improving continuity of care and transparency in health care delivery.

Rebecca SomervellMumbai: In a trial that lasted 15 years, a magistrate court this week acquitted a Bhiwandi doctor accused of fabricating a breast cancer diagnosis. Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) Letterhead for a woman who sought treatment after having a tumor removed.Based on the pathology report, Devaki Pujari and the treating doctors believed that the woman was suffering from a serious fatal disease, but the document was later flagged as a complete forgery.Devaki was not examined as a prosecution witness. As a result, in a 13-page judgment the court acquitted Dr Arshad Shaikh, a lab owner, of multiple charges including fraud and forgery. The court found that the prosecution failed to prove that the laboratory owner actually handled the woman’s breast tumor or created fake medical records for financial gain. “The prosecution will not be in a position to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused himself conducted the pathological examination of Devaki’s breast tumor and, accordingly, issued the fabricated pathological report. As a result, the accused will have to be acquitted by giving the benefit of reasonable doubt,” said Judicial Magistrate First Class PS Shinde.An FIR was lodged at Bhoiwada police station in 2010. The patient’s ordeal began in late 2009, when a tumor was surgically removed and sent off for pathological examination. Prosecutors alleged that instead of actually testing the tumor, Shaikh kept the diagnosis fee and prepared a fake breast cancer diagnosis on September 12, 2009. Police claimed that the doctor fraudulently scanned Tata Memorial Hospital letterhead and combined the diagnosis data of two genuine cancer patients to create a fabricated document, with the aim of dishonestly tricking the woman and the doctors into believing that the tumor had been officially diagnosed.During a confrontation by the vigilance department at the hospital on March 15, 2010, Shaikh reportedly admitted to hospital security and administrators that the report was made on a computer.The prosecution questioned Devaki’s son Rajesh Pujari. He said that after the initial diagnosis by his family doctor, he took his mother to Dr. Harish’s hospital for further treatment. Dr. Harish recommended a mammogram and upon reviewing the results, referred the patient to another doctor. That doctor later removed a tumor and sent the tissue sample for testing to Maxim Lab in Kalyan, a facility owned by the accused.The alleged fraud came to light months later when the woman was referred to TMH, Parel for radiation. Upon examining the patient, a doctor at the hospital found that the physical symptoms did not completely match the serious fatal disease mentioned in the pathology report. The hospital’s internal investigation revealed that the demands and case numbers on the woman’s documents actually belonged to two other patients, and no valid record existed for Devaki in the hospital’s system.Twenty days later, the accused sent Devaki’s lab reports to the surgeon, who started chemotherapy and later referred her to TMH for advanced care, including radiation. However, when Rajesh went with his mother to consult the doctor at TMH, the doctors there found discrepancies in the lab reports.During the trial, the defense argued against the prosecution’s timeline and motive. During cross-examination by the defense counsel, Rajesh admitted that the tumor was sent to the laboratory by the surgeon and that he had never met the accused before the alleged incident. He also admitted that the said report was sent to the hospital by Dr. Harish.Referring to this, the Magistrate said that in such circumstances, the prosecution is duty bound to examine Dr. Harish to prove the connection between the removal of the tumor by him and its pathological examination by the accused. “But, the charge sheet shows that no such statement of Dr Harish has been recorded by the investigating officer. Therefore, this lacuna goes to the crux of the matter and raises doubts as to whether any such tumor of Devaki was sent to the laboratory of the accused,” the magistrate said.The magistrate found serious lapses in the police investigation, primarily noting that they did not record the statement of the woman who was suffering from cancer. Furthermore, the physical slides produced during the interrogation at the hospital were never sent for DNA testing to prove that they originated from the woman’s tumor.Addressing the lack of digital evidence required to prove forgery and fraudulent motive, the magistrate said the investigating officers failed to seize the computers allegedly used to morph the hospital letterheads.

An Indian-origin immigration lawyer has objected to the use of the word ‘alien’ for non-US citizens and asked whether Melania Trump is also an alien.

Indian-origin immigration lawyer Rahul Reddy opposed the official use of the word ‘alien’ in the US language to refer to non-US citizens and said that although the term is legal, it is dehumanizing and the White House should not use the term.Reddy said the term in immigration law refers to anyone who is not a US citizen, including a green card holder who has been paying taxes for 30 years. But when the White House says “aliens walk among us,” it becomes propaganda because they limit what it means to illegal immigrants.“These are people who followed the rules, stood in lines and earned their place. When the government packages that neutral legal term with fear, secrecy, invasion and threat, the message is clear: People who are here legally are being portrayed as something less than human,” Reddy asked, asking whether Melania Trump, who was born in Slovenia, is also a foreigner.“Melania Trump was born in Slovenia, immigrated to the United States, and became a naturalized U.S. citizen. President Trump’s first wife, Ivana, was born in Czechoslovakia and was also naturalized. Her mother was born in Scotland. Her grandfather was born in Germany. Immigration is not a distant issue in the president’s life. It is his own family story. If legal immigrants are outsiders who “don’t belong here,” The president’s own family history is an immigrant story, too,” Reddy said.Pointing out the danger posed by the official use of such a word, Reddy said the US has every right to enforce its immigration laws but can do so without losing humanity.“The real danger of this language is that it no longer targets the undocumented. It spreads. It creates suspicion toward accents, foreign names, immigrant backgrounds, or foreign-born spouses. Lawful permanent residents, visa holders, students, naturalized citizens, and their American children all get caught in the crossfire. I see it firsthand in my own practice: People with legitimate status, legitimate work permits, and legitimate futures in this country are made to feel like intruders by their own government. Is. When the White House demonizes “aliens,” it is law-abiding immigrant families who pay the price,” Reddy said.

These decisions were taken in the cabinet meeting held here under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Cabinet on Saturday approved a roadmap to end the decades-old contract employment system and also paved the way for regularization of over 65,000 employees in 51 government departments.In another important decision, the Cabinet gave retrospective approval to the reconstitution of the Cabinet Sub-Committee comprising Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Cabinet Ministers Aman Arora and Baljit Kaur to examine the issues related to pending arrears of revised pay, pension, leave encashment and dearness allowance.These decisions were taken in the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant here. Value.Addressing the media after the meeting, Mann said that the Punjab Cabinet has taken a historic decision that we will end the contractual system in the state.He said, by eliminating the role of private contractors in government employment and creating a direct employer-employee relationship between the state and workers, the government has moved towards providing job security, respect and a clear path to permanent service for thousands of employees who have spent years serving Punjab without regular status.Sharing details, the Chief Minister’s Office said it has approved repeal of the Punjab Adhoc, Contract, Daily Wages, Temporary, Work Charged and Outsourced Employees Welfare Act, 2016.It also approved the Punjab State Outsourced Personnel (Alteration in Contractual Appointment) Bill, 2026 and the Punjab Contract Personnel (Absorption against Sanctioned Vacancies) Bill, 2026.“When we would go and meet people, we would hear from employees recruited through contractual and outsourcing systems and they would complain about their exploitation,” Mann said, adding that they would get all kinds of facilities at par with other government employees.He said, “We will send an ordinance in this regard to the Punjab Governor for approval. It (this bill) will be introduced in the state assembly.”Mann said, “More than 65,000 contractual workers of Punjab have given the best years of their lives in the service of the state. With this decision, Punjab has returned to them what is their rightful right.”Under the Punjab State Outsourced Personnel (Alteration of Contractual Appointment) Bill, 2026, outsourced Group C and Group D employees, who have completed five years of continuous service, will become contractual employees of the government. He said employees whose daily duties involve danger – such as fire service personnel, PSPCL linemen, sewer workers, sanitation workers of urban local bodies, waste management workers and field grievance staff – will be eligible for the next step after three years instead of five.He said that direct state employment would be provided after five years of continuous outsourced service.Thereafter, after completing 10 years of contractual service, the employees will be considered for absorption against regular sanctioned posts, as proposed under the Punjab Contract Personnel (Absorption against Sanctioned Vacancies) Bill, 2026.Highlighting the scale of the initiative, Mann said, “A total of 65,048 outsourced employees across 51 departments are covered under the ambit of this reform and more than 26,000 employees will be among the first beneficiaries.” He further announced that employees performing duties involving risk to life and health will get faster consideration under the policy.The reform will cover 15,753 power sector employees, including grievance redressal staff, PESCO staff, meter readers and nodal center staff; 8,436 employees of local government departments – mainly sanitation workers; 8,373 workers in sugar mills, co-operative institutions including Spinfed and Markfed; 7,704 employees in school education; 4,746 employees in the transport department; and 1,472 outsourced fire personnel, the CMO office said.Besides, 2,688 employees of health and family welfare, 1,575 employees of water supply and sanitation, 1,533 employees of agriculture, 1,311 employees of prisons, 1,251 employees of technical education, 1,570 employees of PWD (B&R), 1,322 employees of general administration and 1,231 employees of medical education departments will also benefit from the reform.Salaries will be deposited directly into the bank accounts of employees without any agency cut or commission. Employees will get statutory maternity benefits and 10 days casual leave every calendar year. They will also be covered under the biometric attendance system, Mann said.There will be transparency and protection from arbitrary action; He said that no employee will be removed without recording the reason in writing and without giving an opportunity of being heard.The implementation process will start within 45 days of Cabinet approval and eligible categories will be notified in phases by the Departments of Personnel and Finance.In another decision, the Cabinet sub-committee will consider payment of arrears arising from revised pay and pension benefits between January 1, 2016, and June 30, 2021, besides examining the DA and dearness relief arrears pending from July 1, 2021, to March 31, 2024.The committee will also study issues related to DA and dearness relief for various categories of employees and pensioners.To ensure speedy disposal of corruption cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, the Cabinet approved the setting up of seven special special courts across Punjab.Three courts will be set up in SAS Nagar, while one court each will be set up in Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Patiala. The Cabinet also approved the creation of 63 posts of support staff as well as seven posts of Additional District and Sessions Judges for the functioning of these courts.Speaking about BJP leader Amarinder Singh questioning his party’s decision to appoint Kewal Dhillon as Punjab BJP president, Mann said it is an internal matter of the saffron party.Mann said, “But Dhillon was considered close to Amarinder Singh. When Dhillon was a candidate from Sangrur for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections (from Congress at that time), Amarinder Singh had held rallies in his favor. Today he is saying that Dhillon is not capable.” PTI

Patna: : To curb illegal mining and unauthorized mineral transportation, the Department of Mines and Geology is set to launch a new digital monitoring and enforcement system soon, officials said.Under this, mine inspectors in the districts will be equipped with handheld digital devices. These tools will allow inspectors to check vehicles on the spot, verify documents, issue digital challans and collect fines instantly. He said they can verify the vehicle’s registration number, mineral quantity, transport challan, permits and other papers in real time.If documents are invalid or rules are violated, challan will be issued immediately without any paperwork. Additionally, drones will be used to keep an eye on illegal sand mining being carried out across the state, he said.According to official sources in the Mines and Geology Department, this step will help in controlling illegal mining, overloading and transportation without invoice. This will make enforcement swift, transparent and accountable and will reduce the need for offenders to visit government offices to pay fines.The department will specifically target vehicles carrying minerals in excess of the permitted limit or without valid invoices. Such violations result in revenue loss and violate mining rules. The digital system will be able to enable immediate identification and action, an official said.Vikash Kumar Paswan, assistant director, Department of Mines and Geology (HQ), said, “The scheme is in its initial stage. We are studying various high-tech and latest technologies being used by other states to implement it.” Bihar. The department is also planning to have its own drones to keep an eye on illegal mining.The entire system will be connected to the online monitoring network. Senior officials at the headquarters will get real-time data on inspections, challans issued and fines collected in each district, thereby strengthening monitoring.To ensure smooth implementation, the department will provide special training to officials and mine inspectors on device operation, data entry, online reporting and fine collection. Technical assistance and resources will also be made available in the districts.After implementation, the department is planning a statewide special inspection drive to send a strong message against illegal mining and transportation. The government hopes that the technology-based system will improve control over illegal activities and boost revenue collection through digital records and transparency.

trump He’s back on his game as the Iran peace deal eludes himDonald Trump got furious. Here he was working tirelessly to make America great again and stop Iran from building a nuclear bomb. And there were all these judges and other busy people putting spokes in the wheel.Yet amid tough peace talks with Iran, POTUS claimed a major victory, not against Tehran, but in his Republican civil war with the four-term senator defeated by Trump-backed Republicans in a primary runoff in Texas.In addition to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who defeated Senator John Cornyn, at least eight other Trump-backed challengers have ousted longtime Republican lawmakers who had endorsed him.The results indicated he was still the boss of the Republican Party, even as his poll numbers continued to decline with the broader electorate, much to Trump’s surprise. Calling opposition Democrats “Dumocrats”, he declared, “I’ll have some nice, big, beautiful rallies for Ken. Texas, it’ll be fun!”With Iran hard-liners taking a tough stance as far as the peace deal is concerned, Trump deferred a ‘final decision’ after a two-hour meeting with top aides in the Situation Room. The proposed agreement would extend the ceasefire for another 60 days while the US and Iran negotiate a plan to remove Iran’s enriched uranium.Earlier, Trump drew his own red lines, demanding, “Iran must agree that they will never possess a nuclear weapon or a bomb. The Strait of Hormuz must be immediately open to unrestricted shipping traffic in both directions, with no tolls.”And while expressing indifference to the fallout from the Iran war, rising gas prices or political pressures ahead of the November midterms, Trump remained focused on the things that matter to him — like the big beautiful ballroom.He criticized Congress and judges for obstructing his ballroom, when a judge blocked above-ground construction on the project until Congress authorized it and Senate Republicans rejected a plan to fund its security.In a legal filing posted on Truth Social, he argued that “the President cannot safely conduct the business of the United States without a ballroom”.Meanwhile, House Democrats announced a bill to stop Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch, nicknamed ‘Arc de Trump’, near Arlington National Cemetery.A federal judge in Virginia temporarily blocked the Justice Department’s $1.776 billion ‘anti-weapon’ fund to compensate its supporters allegedly targeted by the previous administration.Trump’s decision to paint the reflecting pool “American flag blue” has also gone under legal challenge. But there are no challenges yet to the construction work underway on the White House lawn for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) arena, which will host a cage match on June 14 to commemorate Uncle Sam’s 250th anniversary and Trump’s 80th birthday.And a flattering cabinet is always ready to satisfy his whims and fancies. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant announced that his department has designed a $250 bill featuring Trump in hopes of passing legislation stalled in Congress.If passed and signed into law by Trump, it would mark an extraordinary recognition for a sitting American leader as such an honor is usually reserved for the dead and departed.Meanwhile, the Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into author E. Jean Carroll, who won a $5 million civil judgment after accusing Trump of sexual assault and defamation.Trump himself re-filed his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over reporting on his alleged affair with Jeffrey Epstein, after a judge threw out an earlier version due to legal deficiencies.But Bruce Springsteen, an American singer, songwriter and musician nicknamed “The Boss”, used a concert in Washington to speak out against Trump. At one point, he led the crowd in chanting “ICE OUT”, encouraging the audience to make their voices heard all the way to the White House.Springsteen, whom Trump has labeled a “total loser spewing hate” and called for a boycott of his shows, also announced a star-studded protest festival for the Washington, DC area a month before the midterm elections.However, Trump reacted with fury as a federal judge ordered his name removed from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.Angry against the judge’s decision, Trump threatened to withdraw his leadership from the institution he had headed after becoming President.Until he was “free to do what I do better than anyone else,” he had “no interest in continuing a frustrating journey into ‘Never Never Land,'” he posted.In a sharp satire of 580 words, Trump called the judge appointed by ‘Barack Hussein Obama’ careless. He portrayed the performing arts center as a dilapidated structure that only he could restore.Trump, referring to himself in the third person, wrote, “Unfortunately, Judge Cooper and the radical left would rather see it die than see President Trump turn it into something everyone can be proud of.”“So, based on the fact that radical left Democrats care more about opposing your favorite president, ME, than saving a dying performing arts center, … we are going to work with Congress to transfer this failing institution back to them.”He complained, “There has never been a President of the United States who has been treated more unfairly by the courts than I have been, but that’s OK, I’ll continue to do what’s supposed to be a great job for the wonderful people of our country.”Earlier, after his third scheduled medical checkup in 13 months before his 80th birthday, where “everything checked out perfectly”, he posted a photo of himself examining the White House pillars and declared, “The only president who knows how to fix the White House.”I wish he had even threatened to give it all up. Critics say it will actually work ‘just right’!(by arrangement with US market)

Rajasthan Royals (AP Photo)

New Delhi: As the dust has settled on the IPL 2026 playoffs and the focus turns to Sunday’s grand finale, one name continues to be in the news in the cricket world – Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

Rajasthan Royals Kishore may have bowed out of the tournament after losing to Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2, but he has walked out of the tournament with his reputation boosted, his stock on the rise and praise from fans and experts alike. At just 15 years old, Suryavanshi was not just the breakout star of the season; He was definitely the face of IPL 2026.The campaign for Rajasthan Royals ended one step short of the final. Yet considering the ups and downs of their season, reaching Qualifier 2 is a commendable achievement. RR showed resilience, overcame a mid-season slump and unearthed a generational talent that could shape their future for years to come.That season of SuryavanshiEvery IPL season produces some memorable stories. IPL 2026 was in the name of Suryavanshi.The teenage opening batsman finished the season with 776 runs in 16 matches at an average of 48.50 and a strike rate of 237.30. He scored a century and five fifties, redefining the boundaries of fearless batting.Even with GT openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan having one more game to play, Suryavanshi entered the final weekend as the tournament’s leading run-scorer.What made his numbers even more remarkable was the way he scored. Bowlers arrived with plans and field placements, but few got answers. The youngster attacked pace and spin with equal confidence and often changed the course of the match inside the powerplay.His season-defining performance came in the playoffs. Firstly, in the Eliminator, he played a breathtaking inning of 97 runs in 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad, which is one of the most destructive innings in IPL history. Then, when Rajasthan needed another miracle in Qualifier 2, he played a brilliant inning of 96 runs in 47 balls against Gujarat Titans.Both of them emphasized one thing: Suryavanshi is working at a level rarely seen in someone so young.Strong Start, Dramatic Fall, Euphoric RecoveryRR’s campaign can be divided into three distinct phases.The Royals started like genuine title contenders, winning their first four matches and quickly established themselves among the league leaders. Their aggressive batting approach and superior bowling attack made them one of the most balanced teams in the competition.However, the momentum did not last.A disastrous streak of six defeats in eight matches pushed them to the brink of elimination. At one point it seemed that RR would waste their excellent start and miss the playoffs completely.The most disappointing aspect was that even exceptional individual performances were not enough. During this difficult phase, Suryavanshi scored a brilliant century in 36 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad, but in the end he had to face defeat.With two matches remaining, Rajasthan needed to win both the matches to keep their playoff hopes alive.The pressure was immense, but the Royals responded. Suryavanshi scored an inning of 93 against Lucknow Super Giants before the team achieved another important win over Mumbai Indians. Although Kishore failed in that competition, jofra archer Stepped up with a match-winning all-round performance to secure RR’s place in the playoffs.They ultimately finished fourth with eight wins from 14 league matches.Playoff run showed the character of the RoyalsQualifying for the playoffs was an achievement in itself, considering RR found themselves in the middle of the tournament. But the Royals’ work was not done yet.They demolished Sunrisers Hyderabad in the eliminator, largely powered by another Suryavanshi masterclass. This victory demonstrated the team’s fighting spirit and ability to perform under pressure.Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans was perhaps the perfect summary of RR’s season. Suryavanshi played another exceptional innings, but GT’s superior depth and experience ultimately proved decisive.Despite posting a record target, RR could not stop the strong opening pair of Gill and Sudarshan, whose record partnership took GT to the final.The defeat was disappointing, but it also highlighted how close Rajasthan Royals are to becoming a championship-winning team.Positives: Foundations of a title contenderrise of suryavanshiThe biggest positive side is obvious. Finding a player capable of scoring 776 runs at a strike rate above 230 changes the fortunes of a franchise. RR now have one of the most exciting talents in world cricket and can build their batting unit around him.Archer’s influenceJofra Archer did what Rajasthan needed from its leadership. This fast bowler took 25 wickets in 16 matches at an average of 22.36. Beyond the wickets, he provided leadership, breakthroughs at crucial moments and valuable contributions down the order. His performance was crucial in keeping RR competitive throughout the season.jurel stabilityDhruv Jurel quietly enjoyed an excellent campaign. The wicketkeeper-batsman scored 515 runs in 16 matches at an average of 36.79 and a strike rate of 154.65, which included six half-centuries. His ability to steady the innings and accelerate when required made him an important member of the batting unit.never give up attitudeMany teams would have folded midway through the season after losing six out of eight matches. Rajasthan did not. They fought back, qualifying for the playoffs and advancing to Qualifier 2. This flexibility will be useful to them moving forward.Negative: Areas that need attentionJaiswal’s inconsistent seasonYashasvi Jaiswal Produced flashes of talent but never reached the heights that were expected of him. His 427 runs in 16 matches were respectable, but RR wanted more consistency from a player capable of dominating attacks.weak middle and lower orderThe biggest weakness in RR’s campaign was the lack of consistent contributions beyond the top order. Donovan Ferreira scored 317 runs Riyan Parag 309 and managed Ravindra Jadeja Added 266 runs. Furthermore, Rajasthan received very little batting support. Often, the side became too dependent on Suryavanshi and Jurel.Archer lacks support in bowlingArcher took a lot of the burden of bowling. Brijesh Sharma and Nandre Berger took 14 wickets each, while Ravi Bishnoi and Jadeja finished with 11 and 10 wickets respectively. Those numbers are useful but not enough for a side targeting the title. RR lacked a second strike bowler who was capable of sharing the workload with Archer consistently.What next for Rajasthan Royals?Despite the sadness of missing the final, Rajasthan Royals should look at IPL 2026 as a step forward.The priority ahead of next season will be to strengthen the middle order and find another wicket-taking fast bowler to partner Archer. Greater batting depth will reduce the reliance on Suryavanshi, while a strong pace attack will make the bowling unit more dangerous in pressure situations.Most importantly, RR have discovered a player around whom an era can be built.The Royals may not have reached the pinnacle, but IPL 2026 will be remembered as the season because the 15-year-old phenomenon captured the imagination of cricket fans everywhere. If RR can overcome some key weaknesses, Suryavanshi’s remarkable rise could form the foundation of a title-winning campaign in 2027.

New Delhi: The weather in Delhi was at its peak in the month of May, May was the hottest in two years, while the air quality this month was also recorded as the cleanest in almost five years.According to the data, the average maximum temperature of the city in May was 39.7 degrees Celsius, while the average minimum temperature was 25.8 degrees Celsius. The last warmest May was in 2024, when the average maximum and minimum temperatures reached 41.7 °C and 26.5 °C, respectively.The weather patterns kept changing in the capital throughout the month. Experts said frequent western disturbances and associated weather systems triggered pre-monsoon activity, leading to low temperatures during the first half of May. As these systems weakened, temperatures rose rapidly and heat wave conditions developed in parts of Delhi before another round of strong pre-monsoon activity returned towards the end of the month.As quoted by PTI, Skymet Weather’s Mahesh Palawat attributed the month’s fluctuating weather to a combination of western disturbances and cyclonic circulation induced over Rajasthan and adjoining areas and moisture-laden winds from the Bay of Bengal.Heat wave conditions were recorded between 18 and 21 May, with maximum temperatures crossing 46 degrees Celsius in some parts of the city.Nights in Delhi also remained unusually hot, with the minimum temperature reaching 32.8 degrees Celsius on May 26 and 31.9 degrees Celsius on May 21, among the highest night temperatures recorded in the city in the last 14 years, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).The IMD defines heatwave as a situation where the maximum temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius and is 4.5 to 6.4 degrees Celsius above normal.A hot night is declared when the maximum temperature is 40 degrees Celsius or more and the minimum temperature is also 4.5 to 6.4 degrees Celsius above normal.Delhi received 17.61 mm rainfall during the month. Palawat noted that thunderstorms, rain and strong winds intensified in late May, causing widespread weather activity across the capital and providing relief from the scorching heat of the past few days.Rain and strong winds also helped improve the air quality. Despite high temperatures, Delhi recorded the cleanest air quality in May in nearly five years.An analysis by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) showed that the capital’s average AQI as of May 29 was 161, the lowest for the month since 2021, when it was 144.Experts said rain and intermittent strong winds played a significant role in spreading the pollutants. While the dust brought from Rajasthan gave rise to several dust storm events and affected the air quality, local intense rainfall helped flush out particulate matter and improve the overall air quality across the city.The data showed that between May 1 and May 29, Delhi recorded three satisfactory days, 20 moderate days and six poor days, with no very poor or severe air quality days. In comparison, May 2021 recorded six satisfactory days, 22 moderate days and three poor days, with the average AQI at 144. The average AQI was 170 in May 2025 and 223 in May 2024.On May 30, Delhi recorded a satisfactory AQI of 85 after widespread rainfall and strong winds. This was the cleanest air quality day in May since 2023 and the fourth satisfactory air quality day this month.Looking ahead, Palawat said no heat wave conditions are expected during the first week of June. However, temperatures are expected to rise gradually from June 1 as the current spell of rain activity will weaken and move away from the region.