A recently published French political book has sparked controversy after claiming the French President Emmanuel Macron Exchanged private messages with Iranian-French actress Golshifteh Farahani As part of what the author describes as a “platonic relationship”. The allegations appear in Un couple (près) parfait (“An Almost Perfect Couple”), written by journalist Florian Tardif, and have attracted international attention because the book also links the alleged exchange to a 2025 viral incident involving Macron and the first lady. brigitte macron Boarding a plane in Vietnam. However, no independently verified evidence supporting claims of a romantic or inappropriate relationship has been publicly released.

claims made in the book

These allegations have been made by Florian Tardif, political correspondent of the French magazine Paris Match. In his book, Tardif claims that Macron had personal exchanges with Farahani for months, and describes the relationship as emotional but “spiritual”.According to excerpts cited by French and British media, the author has accused Brigitte Macron of discovering messages sent by the president to the actress, which reportedly said, “I find you very beautiful”. Tardif has publicly defended the book, saying that the material was based on conversations with sources close to the presidential couple.However, screenshots of the alleged messages, official documents or independently verified evidence have not been publicly released.

Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani.

How was the Vietnam plane crash linked?

The book attracted widespread attention as it attempts to explain a viral incident involving the French President and First Lady during an official visit to Vietnam in May 2025.Footage filmed as the presidential plane arrived in Hanoi showed Brigitte Macron suddenly pushing or hitting Macron as he stood near the plane’s door. The video quickly spread online and sparked widespread speculation on social media.At the time, Macron dismissed the incident as playful behavior between a married couple and described online reactions as exaggerated. French authorities later confirmed that the footage was authentic, after initial attempts by some commentators to question the video.Tardif’s book claims the argument was linked to Brigitte Macron’s alleged viewing of messages involving Farahani during the flight. According to the author, tensions had risen between the couple before they exited the plane.

Strong denial from Macron’s allies

People close to Brigitte Macron have completely rejected the allegations mentioned in the book. French media reports, quoting members of the first lady’s entourage, said the claims were “categorically denied”.Sources close to Brigitte Macron reportedly refuted the idea that she regularly checked her husband’s phone and rejected suggestions that Farahani had any role in the strain on the presidential couple’s relationship.No official statement from the Elysee Palace has confirmed the book’s claims.

Golshifteh Farahani’s response

Farahani has previously dismissed rumors of an affair with Macron. The actress, who left Iran years ago and later settled in France, has spoken out about online gossip about her public life in previous interviews and dismissed speculation about any romantic relationship with the French president.Farahani, known internationally for films such as Extraction, Patterson and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, has long attracted significant media attention due to both his acting career and his outspoken criticism of the Iranian government.The controversy is largely based on claims made in Tardif’s book and unnamed sources cited by the author. Neither the leaked messages nor certified documents supporting the allegations have been made public. The story remains a subject of political-media speculation rather than an established factual scandal.

New Delhi: Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu C Joseph Vijay said that the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026 exam exposed “structural flaws” in the system and demanded cancellation of the exam.Vijay said that governments in Tamil Nadu have “consistently and unanimously” opposed NEET since its introduction, arguing that it has “severely disadvantaged students from rural areas, government schools, Tamil medium backgrounds and socio-economically disadvantaged families”. He called on states to allow admission to medical students on the basis of class 12 marks.The National Testing Agency on Tuesday canceled the May 3 NEET-UG exam following allegations of paper leak. The decision has left over 22 lakh medical aspirants uncertain about their future and triggered widespread protests demanding accountability and resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.CBI arrested Mangilal Biwal, Vikas Biwal and Dinesh Biwal from Jaipur, Yash Yadav from Gurugram and Shubham Khairnar from Nashik. Officials said that more arrests are likely as the scope of investigation increases in many states.“Big people are protected and the common man is harassed,” said an accused in Jaipur while being taken to Delhi for questioning.The investigators seized mobile phones, laptops and other digital devices during the raid. The devices will be forensically examined to find out how the alleged question papers were circulated before the exams.The Special Operations Group of the Rajasthan Police, which first started investigating the case, said the “guess letter” came from a medical student from Sikar studying in Kerala. Officials alleged that the material was shared among coaching students and hostel residents before being spread to candidates in Jaipur and surrounding districts.Officials questioned more than 150 students, parents and coaching colleagues across Rajasthan. Investigators suspect that the leak may have originated in Nashik before passing through Gurugram and Rajasthan.Political tension also increased after Congress and Trinamool Congress leaders alleged that some of the accused had links with the BJP. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot claimed that Dinesh Biwal was a BJP functionary and accused the state government of trying to suppress the case. BJP leaders denied the allegations, with state vice president Mukesh Dadhich saying Dinesh did not hold any post in the party.Meanwhile, protests broke out in several states, where Congress workers burnt effigies of Pradhan and student groups including NSUI, AISA, ABVP and SFI, demanding strict action and greater transparency in competitive examinations.

Virat Kohli’s record-breaking night against Kolkata Knight Riders was full of milestones, but his words after the match were what really stood out. After scoring the match-winning century in Raipur, the RCB star admitted that he is no longer obsessed with records and is instead trying to enjoy every moment he has left in cricket.

Kohli leads Royal Challengers Bangalore to six-wicket win over KKR With a sensational inning of 105 not out in 60 balls, helped RCB reach the top again IPL 2026 mark sheet. With this inning, he also became the fastest batsman to score 14,000 T20 runs, surpassing Chris Gayle, and also became the most capped player in IPL history with his 279th appearance in the tournament. Speaking at the post-match presentation, Kohli explained how his relationship with the game has changed at this stage of his career.

RCB vs KKR: highlighted | Achievement:

Kohli said after the win, “Well, despite all this, I still like to bat. That is my basic feeling.”

“What an honor it is to play at this level. What an honor to still compete with the best players in the world. That’s what I’ve done my whole life. Cricket is just something I really love.”

The 37-year-old, who has already retired from T20I and Test cricket, also admitted that the end of his playing career is not far off. While talks continue about the possibility of leading India in the 2027 ODI World Cup, Kohli admitted that he now looks at the game with far more gratitude than with the pressure of numbers or milestones.

“And I put my heart and soul on the field, whether I’m fielding or batting, because it’s going to end one day,” Kohli said.

“And I want to make the most of every day I have on the field and just enjoy myself and have a lot of fun and look forward to the pressure situations.”

The century also came at a personally important moment for Kohli.

Before the KKR game, RCB openers Had moved to Raipur under pressure after registering back-to-back ducks Against Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians. In those two innings, Kohli had faced only three balls combined, something that became the biggest talking point around RCB despite the team’s consecutive wins.

However, against KKR, Kohli responded in a classic style.

They survived an early scare when Rovman Powell dropped them for 21, but Kolkata paid a heavy price for the missed opportunity. Kohli brought up his half-century in just 32 balls before taking complete control of the chase with Devdutt Padikkal helping maintain the pace in the middle overs.

The RCB star finally brought up his century in the final over with a single off Vaibhav Arora, before Jitesh Sharma completed the chase in style.

How Virat Kohli turned pressure into a century

Kohli admitted after the match that the brief lean patch had really helped him focus again in the KKR encounter.

“When you look back, those failures are very important because they take you back to where you were before and it doesn’t stop you from performing at your best,” Kohli said.

“So I guess that’s why people say pressure is a privilege. And of course, I was nervous. I just wanted to get out in goal and just celebrate and have a little fun out there.”

That celebration itself became a moment of the night.

After taking the first run of the innings, Kohli punched the air, laughed at himself and soaked in the thunderous roar of the Raipur crowd after avoiding an unwanted hat-trick of ducks.

From there the innings got bigger.

Kohli’s unbeaten 105 not only ended the ongoing discussion about his form but also reminded everyone why he remains one of the defining batsmen of the IPL even at the age of 37.

RCB vs KKR: Playoff race intensifies

Reigning champions RCB reached the top of the IPL 2026 points table thanks to Kohli’s unbeaten century. Bengaluru now have 16 points and are making a strong bid to finish in the top two by the end of the season, although qualification is not yet mathematically decided.

Meanwhile, KKR suffered a major setback in their quest for qualification despite scoring a strong score of 192 for four on the back of Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s career-best 71 off 46 balls.

Their four-match winning streak ended in Raipur and their playoff hopes are now in danger. Even if Kolkata wins all its remaining matches, it may only have 15 points, which may still not be enough depending on other results.

ipl 2026 | ipl schedule | ipl points table | ipl player stats | purple cap | orange cap | ipl video | cricket news | live score

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president of france Emmanuel Macron He has been embroiled in fresh controversy after a new book claimed that his wife, brigitte macronLast year, during an official visit abroad, he was slapped after allegedly finding flirty messages involving an Iranian-origin actress on his phone.The claims are made in journalist Florian Tardif’s book “An (Almost) Perfect Couple”, which reveals that tensions within the couple increased after Brigitte saw messages allegedly sent between Emmanuel Macron and the actress. Golshifteh Farahani During a visit to Vietnam in May last year.It is being told that the incident occurred when the couple was getting ready to leave their plane in Hanoi. Cameras later showed Brigitte pushing the President and the video went viral online.According to quotes cited by the French newspaper Le Parisien, Brigitte had reportedly read a message from Farahani on her husband’s phone moments before the public exchange. One of the messages reportedly included the line: “I find you very beautiful,” it is said to have been sent by President Macron.Journalist Florian Tardif claimed in an interview that the exchanges were linked to a “spiritual relationship” between the president and the actress.According to Tardif, whose book, “An (Almost) Perfect Couple,” was published on Wednesday, President Macron told Farahani in a message, “I find you very beautiful.”He added, “The French President had an affair with the actress for several months.”According to the book, this situation created tension inside the presidential marriage and contributed to the “slapping” moment on the plane’s stairs that went viral.However, the Elysee (the official residence of the President of France in Paris) has rejected the claims. A representative of Brigitte Macron rejected the allegations and insisted that she would never check her husband’s phone.“Brigitte Macron explicitly denied this account directly to the author on March 5, specifying that she never looks at her husband’s mobile phone,” a representative told Le Parisien.Golshifteh Farahani, who has long faced rumors of an affair with the French president, has also denied any romantic involvement.“I think some people lack love and need to create this kind of romance to fill them. [the void],” she told Le Point in March.Viral footage from Hanoi shows Macron turning towards his wife as she pushes him in the face. He appeared stunned for a while before regaining his composure and greeting the camera.At the time, the Elysée dismissed the incident as minor. A close aide said: “This was the moment when the President and his wife were laughing and relaxing for the last time before the trip began.”Macron himself later described it as flippant behavior and said the reaction had been blown out of proportion to “a kind of planetary catastrophe.”

PC: UNESCO World Heritage

The landscape surrounding Troy does not immediately suggest a single ancient city preserved in isolation. The ground rises gradually at Hisarlik, a mound whose size is reduced by nature due to repeated human occupation. The stone walls are completely visible next to broken foundations of different eras. In some parts of the Earth there are traces of different settlements for centuries. What remains there today is the result of constant reconstruction over a long stretch of history rather than the remains of a civilization frozen in time.The archaeological site represents over 4,000 years of occupation. The mound preserves evidence of several major settlement phases superimposed on each other, creating an unusually dense historical record in northwestern Turkiye near the Dardanelles.

How ancient city of troy became a layered archaeological site

Troy expanded through accumulation. The earlier settlements did not disappear completely when later communities arrived. Structures collapsed, walls were buried, fires left debris in their wake, and new buildings slowly rose above the remains. Over the generations, the ground level rose on its own, turning the settlement into a layered mound.According to the report of UNESCO World HeritageThe site contains “several layers of settlements”, each reflecting a different historical phase. Earlier structures became buried beneath later constructions as alterations were made to houses, walls and public spaces over time. Some layers reveal fortified sections with defensive walls, while others preserve traces of domestic life and changing urban layouts. The impact left by the site is uneven. One section may belong to a Bronze Age settlement while nearby remains indicate a much later period. Time is stuck in one scenario only.

The strategic location that kept the ancient city of Troy alive

Troy’s location explains part of its longevity. The settlement was close to routes connecting the Aegean with inland areas and the waterways around the Dardanelles. Traffic through this region had commercial and military importance for centuries.According to UNESCO reports, the site occupied a location with “control of the Dardanelles”, which helps explain why settlement there continued across different civilizations and historical periods. Even after decline or destruction, the geography remained useful enough for subsequent populations to return. From archaeological point of view continuity is visible. Rather than an isolated historical moment, Troy developed through cycles of reconstruction based on changing societies and regional influence.

The ancient city of Troy highlights changing civilizations over the centuries

Public attention often focuses on the connection between Troy and the ancient epic tradition, especially the stories associated with Homer. Yet the archaeological significance of the site extends far beyond literary interpretation.As noted, Troy has “considerable scientific importance” due to the long cultural sequence preserved within the mound. These remains provide evidence of changing settlement patterns, architectural styles and forms of urban organization over thousands of years. Some layers suggest a period of prosperity and expansion. Others indicate reconstruction after destruction. Infections do not always clear up or go away easily. That complexity is part of what makes the site unique.

The ancient walls of Troy reveal the city rebuilt from generation to generation

The ruins visible at Troy represent only part of the history of the settlement. Much of its significance lies below the surface, where successive occupations were deposited over time. Each generation slightly altered the site, leaving fragments that were later buried under new construction.According to the UNESCO report, the remains of Troy document “continuous habitation” over several periods. Walls from different centuries now stand close to each other because later settlements reused them and built on top of earlier foundations rather than completely clearing them. Today the site reflects that long continuity. Walls from different centuries stand close to each other, sometimes overlapping, sometimes separated only by thin layers of earth. The result is less like a ruined city and more like a stacked history of human habitation slowly built into the landscape.

New Delhi: In a significant milestone in India’s efforts to bring back stolen cultural treasures, two historic Indian bronzes originally from temples in Tamil Nadu – the 12th century Chola period sculptures of Somaskanda (Shiva and Uma) and the 16th century saints Sundarar and Paravai – were brought back to India on Tuesday night from the Smithsonian – National Museum of Asian Art in the United States. The third – the idol of Lord Nataraja – will be brought back after being displayed in an exhibition under a three-year loan agreement.Apart from highlighting the return of these temple artefacts, Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also said that under the framework of the recent cultural property agreement with the US, US law enforcement agencies have already handed over 657 additional art objects of Indian origin to the Indian Embassy in the US. He said arrangements are being made for their transportation and verification by ASI experts for their archaeological status.“These will be evaluated, packed and brought back to India, after which they will undergo detailed examination and certification,” Shekhawat said. The minister also pointed out that out of 668 antiquities brought back from different countries since 1972, 655 have returned after the Modi government came to power in 2014.Meanwhile, in the case of the ‘Shiva Nataraja’ statue of the Chola period (circa 990 CE), which originally belonged to the Sri Bhava Aushadesvara temple in Thanjavur district, the Government of India, at the request of the Smithsonian, has agreed to a three-year loan agreement with the museum (2025-28). The statue will be brought back after being displayed in an exhibition where the visitors will get a glimpse of the entire historical journey from origin to repatriation.The government has justified the decision to extend the loan arrangement in relation to Shiva Nataraja as a “goodwill gesture” and in support of “responsible museum participation”. The Minister said the spirit behind the agreement was to enable public presentation of its entire historical journey – from provenance to repatriation – while strengthening ethical museum practices and provenance research standards.“Guided by the personal interest and direction of the Prime Minister, the return of these antiquities has been possible due to coordinated efforts between the Ministry of Culture, ASI, Indian Embassies abroad and various enforcement agencies,” the minister said.These sacred temple bronzes, originally from Tamil Nadu, were illegally removed from India in the mid-20th century and later stored abroad.The two bronzes brought back from America are displayed in the National Museum along with 11 antiquities brought back from Australia, including Shunga-period terracotta objects, a Pala period statue of Varaha, an 11th-century Bodhisattva statue and a wooden statue of Brahma.In the case of three bronzes from the US, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) successfully traced the artefacts to their original temple sites in Tamil Nadu, through extensive provenance research using archival records, field documentation and historical temple photographs from the 1950s and 1960s. The findings formed the basis of coordinated talks involving the Ministry of Culture, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Indian Embassy in the United States. The photograph of Shiva Nataraja belonging to Sri Bhava Aushadeswara temple was taken in 1957 and the photograph of Saint Sundarar with Paravai sculpture was taken in 1956 at the Shiva temple of Veersolapuram village. The photograph of Somaskanda was taken in 1959 at the Vishwanath temple in Alathur village.In January 2026, the Smithsonian announced the return of three important Indian bronzes, which have deep spiritual significance and were historically used in temple processions.As for where the bronze statues from these temples will eventually be housed, according to the Culture Ministry, it is ideal that repatriated antiquities are returned to the place where they were originally located. In case of antiquities whose place of origin cannot be identified, they are retained by the ASI.

Courtesy: The BurntPeanut

MisterBeast recently asked fellow streamer TheBurnPeanut if he would reveal his true face for $1 million, but the creator immediately shot down the idea with a strange response. The moment occurred during TheBurntPeanut’s May 11 livestream and immediately gained attention online due to the streamer’s unusual joke-filled response.TheBurntPeanut has become popular as a VTuber-style creator in the past year, although he calls himself one “Ptuber” Because he appears as the Peanuts character instead of his normal avatar. Since fans have never seen the real person behind Peanuts’ design, many viewers often ask him to show the face. MrBeast decided to bring up the topic during the stream by offering a hypothetical challenge of $1 million.

DabarnnutPeanut jokes about “peeling off the skin” after MisterBeast’s $1 million question

During the livestream, MisterBeast asked Dreamer, “If someone offered you $1 million dollars, would you show your face?” TheBurntPeanut immediately replied jokingly, “this is my face.” MisterBeast continued the joke and then asked if he would “Peel back the peanut shell.”This led to an even funnier response from the producer. DabernutPeanut said, “If someone offered you a million dollars, would you peel the skin off your face?” He then joked that MisterBeast was trying to torture him on the live stream and said that he would not “mutilate” himself for money.The streamer also added an amusing comment about “Peanut People” Have been tortured for a very long time. Many viewers found the interaction funny and clips of the moment quickly spread across social media platforms.Like many creators who hide their real identity online, TheBurntPeanut has already faced several rumors from fans. However, none of those alleged images or leaks have been confirmed by the streamer itself.Some online creators have finally shown their true faces after hiding them for years. Others revealed themselves briefly and later began again using masks or virtual characters.However, for now, it seems TheBurntPeanut has no plans to leave his Peanuts character behind, even if someone offered him millions of dollars.

Harshkumar Patel has asked the US court to quash his conviction

A US court has been asked to overturn the conviction and sentence of Harsh Kumar Patel, the man found guilty in a human trafficking case related to the freezing death of an Indian family of four near the Manitoba-Minnesota border in 2022.Patel was convicted in 2024 and sentenced to more than 10 years in prison. He has filed an appeal, arguing that legal errors affected his trial. He is now representing himself after raising concerns about his attorney last year, according to court documents submitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals.The filing claims there were problems with how the jury was instructed and how the sentence was imposed. Patel has asked the court to vacate his conviction in all cases or overturn selected charges and send the case back for retrial.Patel and his co-defendant, Steve Shand, were convicted by a federal jury in Fergus Falls, Minnesota in November 2024. It took jurors less than 90 minutes to convict both men on multiple charges related to bringing immigrants into the US illegally, transporting them and profiting from the operation.The case stems from a tragic incident in January 2022, when a family from Gujarat froze to death while attempting to trek from Manitoba to Minnesota during a severe blizzard. The victims included 39-year-old Jagdish Patel, his 37-year-old wife Vaishali, their 11-year-old daughter Vihangi and their three-year-old son Dharmik. Their bodies were later found in a snow-covered field about 12 meters from the US border.The temperature dropped to -23 C that night, while wind chill made conditions feel closer to -35 to -38 C. The family had walked for hours in deep snow wearing little clothing before slowly dying from the cold.Patel was identified as the organizer of the smuggling network that hired Shand, a Florida resident, to transport the migrants after they entered the US. Shand was arrested the same night after being found in a snow-trapped van with other Indian nationals near the Minnesota border. He was later sentenced to six and a half years in prison, followed by supervised release.Separately, Shand last month turned to an appeals court seeking to overturn his conviction and sentence. His filing argues that the traffic stop that led to his arrest was unlawful and challenges the sentencing decision, specifically the finding that he was responsible for the deaths of an Indian family who died while crossing the ice.It also said that Shand “was ignorant of it and powerless to control it.” [human smuggling operation] The leader’s decision to stay in a family with young children in unsuitable weather conditions.A judge had earlier rejected a request to order an acquittal or a retrial in April 2025, finding that the evidence against both men was sufficient.

Chandigarh: Chandigarh’s CBSE Class 12 pass percentage fell by 3.03% points this year. While medical and non-medical streams recorded a decline of more than eight and 10 percentage points respectively, the number of students scoring above 90% almost doubled.The UT recorded an overall pass percentage of 92.29% for Class XII in 2026, compared to 95.32% last year. At the national level, the CBSE pass percentage dropped from 88.39% to 85.20%.Data released by the Chandigarh education department for government senior secondary schools showed a similar trend. The overall pass percentage in government schools declined from 88.79% last year to 87.25% this year. Of the 10,255 students who appeared, 8,948 passed.The sharpest decline was recorded in the science stream.The pass percentage of the medical stream dropped from 93.25% in 2025 to 82.88% this year, showing a decline of 10.37 percentage points. Non-medical declined from 87.71% to 79.06%, while commerce fell from 92.05% to 88.92%.Humanities has emerged as the only mainstream stream to improve, with the pass percentage increasing to 87.94% from 86.50% last year. Skills courses recorded the best performance overall with 97.17%, better than last session’s 94.68%.The results come amid major changes in the CBSE evaluation process. This year, the board implemented ‘On Screen Marking’ (OSM) for Class XII answer sheets and expanded competency-based assessment under NEP-2020, with more focus on conceptual understanding and application-based questions rather than rote learning. Officials linked the nationwide decline in results to the strict evaluation pattern.Despite the decline in the overall passing percentage, the number of people scoring high marks increased rapidly.The number of students scoring 90% and above increased from 225 last year to 348 this year. Similarly, the number of those scoring above 95% almost doubled from 29 to 57.Two schools recorded a pass percentage above 95%, while 16 schools crossed the 90% mark.Girls once again performed better than boys. Among government school candidates, the passing percentage of girls was 90.55%, while the passing percentage of boys was 84.51%.The results point to a growing gap between streams in Chandigarh’s Class 12 performance this year. While science and commerce subjects saw a significant decline in the pass percentage under the strict assessment pattern, humanities and skills courses recorded improvement, even as the number of students scoring above 90% and 95% increased sharply despite the overall decline.