The DOJ admitted that ICE lied about its power to arrest inside immigration courts.

Over the past year, hundreds of people were arrested when they went to immigration courts regarding legal asylum cases or citizenship cases. A court filing shows that Immigration and Customs Enforcement was lying to immigration courts about having arrest authority. In a court filing Tuesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Oestreicher for the Southern District of New York revealed that the memo the government relied on to support the arrests of hundreds of immigrants appearing in immigration courts “does not and has never authorized” civil immigration enforcement actions in those courts.It stems from a lawsuit brought by the New York Civil Liberties Union and various other civil rights groups challenging the government’s practice of dismissing asylum and citizenship cases and mass detaining law-abiding immigrants at New York City’s 26 Federal Plaza, as well as other immigration courts across the country.The prosecutor wrote that the government would withdraw several briefs based on the memo, as well as some statements made at oral arguments in federal court in September. Oestreicher wrote that U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castell’s previous order would likely need to be “reconsidered and resubmitted.” In September, Castells ruled that ICE could make arrests in courts and also made it harder for judges to dismiss cases.

It’s ICE’s fault, not DOJ’s

Oestreicher claimed the mistake was not the Justice Department’s fault, but ICE’s. “The signatories below were specifically informed by ICE that the 2025 ICE Guidance applies to arrests in immigration court. Additionally, we discussed and received approval with assigned ICE counsel prior to filing each brief in this case and making any oral representations before the court and plaintiffs,” Oestreicher wrote.

‘It’s really a bomb blast’

Former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who was detained by ICE while attempting to escort an immigrant out of a courthouse in lower Manhattan during his campaign for New York City mayor in June, called the revelation a bombshell. “According to documents filed this morning by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, ICE has been lying for a year — not only to the public, but to courts and prosecutors — about being authorized to make arrests at 26 Federal Plaza and other immigration courthouses,” Lander wrote on Wednesday. “This is truly a bombshell. All arrests in court must stop immediately. There must be a congressional investigation and civil rights action for every illegal kidnapping of immigrants who try to follow the rules and appear in court.“

New Delhi: With less than a week left for the Centre’s March 31 deadline to end left-wing extremism, security forces have launched intensive operations in key Maoist-affected areas to track down the remaining armed cadres and force them to surrender.“The plan is to ensure 100 per cent elimination of armed Naxalites by March 31, the deadline announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This will be done either by engaging in encounters or by surrendering. Some major operations are being carried out in these last 5-6 days of the countdown,” a top CAPF commander told PTI.Security forces are still keeping an eye on around 130-150 armed cadres, including two central committee members of the banned CPI (Maoist) and some other divisional-rank workers.The Center is also preparing an “operations and development” blueprint, which is expected to include the withdrawal of about five Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) battalions from these areas and the introduction of several welfare schemes, official sources told PTI.As part of the operation, around three to four CoBRA units of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are being moved from Chhattisgarh to Jharkhand for a special operation in the Saranda forests of West Singhbhum district, sources said.It is said that Misir Besra alias Bhaskar lives in Jharkhand and Cobra teams are searching for him and his associates.Sources said that in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region, teams of CRPF, BSF and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) are also being “redeployed” with the specific objective of engaging armed Maoist cadres in gun battles or forcing their surrender.According to sources, a cross-border operation is also underway involving Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Odisha.According to officials, Rammanna, also known as Ganapathy or Lakshmana Rao, is reportedly in touch with the Telangana Police and may surrender by March 31.Another official said about three battalions of the Border Security Force (BSF), along with a sector office headed by a DIG-rank officer, are expected to withdraw from Koraput district and adjoining areas of Odisha.The sector office may shift to Kandhamal district of the state and three battalions will shift either to border guarding duties or to Manipur, as the situation requires.Some CAPF battalions will also be withdrawn from Chhattisgarh, the official said, an announcement of which is expected to be made on March 31. The state police and Chhattisgarh DRG will take over the CAPF camps.Chhattisgarh Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma announced in Jagdalpur on Wednesday that about 96 percent of the vast geographical area of ​​Bastar is now free from Naxalite influence.CAPFs and state police forces have also been asked to conduct a joint “de-mining” exercise to search for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and bombs hidden in Naxalite violence-hit areas, sources said.In February, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) conducted a fresh review of Naxalite violence-affected areas and informed that the number of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts in the country stands at seven.These seven districts are Bijapur, Narayanpur, Sukma, Kanker and Dantewada in Chhattisgarh, West Singhbhum in Jharkhand and Kandhamal in Odisha.The nine states affected by Left Wing Extremism under different categories are Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana and West Bengal.According to official figures, a total of 76 districts in nine states were vulnerable to Left Wing Extremism during 2005–06.Home Minister Shah has repeatedly said that the threat of left-wing extremism, which was called the biggest internal security challenge for India in 2010, will end by this March.Describing Naxalite violence as a challenge to democracy, he said that till now about 17,000 civilians and security personnel have lost their lives in it.The Naxalite movement in India emerged in 1967 in Naxalbari, a village in West Bengal located at the tri-junction of India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

पेट्रोल-डीजल को लेकर अफवाहों का असर इन दिनों अमेठी जिले में साफ दिख रहा है। अफवाहों के चलते पेट्रोल पंपों पर भारी भीड़ उमड़ रही है और लोग घबराकर पेट्रोल भरवाने पहुंच रहे हैं. हर जगह गाड़ियों की लंबी कतारें लगी हुई हैं और लोगों में अपनी टंकी फुल कराने की होड़ मची हुई है. हालांकि तेल कंपनियों ने साफ कर दिया है कि देश में पेट्रोल-डीजल की कोई कमी नहीं है, लेकिन फिर भी घबराहट का माहौल बना हुआ है।

पेट्रोल पंपों पर लंबी कतारें
अमेठी जिले के सैकड़ों पेट्रोल पंपों पर लोगों की भारी भीड़ देखी जा रही है. वाहन चालकों को अपने वाहनों की टंकी फुल कराने के लिए घंटों लाइन में खड़ा रहना पड़ रहा है। खासकर संग्रामपुर क्षेत्र में अमेठी-किठावर मार्ग पर स्थित पेट्रोल पंप पर स्थिति अधिक गंभीर दिखी, जहां लंबी कतार के कारण यातायात भी प्रभावित हुआ।

सभी प्रकार के जहाजों में ईंधन भरा जा रहा है
हालात इतने बढ़ गए हैं कि लोग न सिर्फ अपनी गाड़ियों में बल्कि प्लास्टिक के कंटेनर, पानी की टंकियों और छोटी-बड़ी बोतलों में भी पेट्रोल-डीजल भर रहे हैं. इससे सुरक्षा को लेकर चिंताएं भी बढ़ गई हैं. प्रशासन लोगों से संयम बरतने की अपील कर रहा है.

डीजल के लिए भी लंबी लाइनें
पेट्रोल के साथ-साथ डीजल की मांग भी अचानक बढ़ गई है। पेट्रोल पंपों पर ट्रैक्टर, ट्रक और अन्य बड़े वाहन भी कतार में नजर आ रहे हैं. यही स्थिति अमेठी तहसील क्षेत्र के लगभग सभी पेट्रोल पंपों पर देखने को मिली, जहां हर कोई जल्द से जल्द अपना टैंक फुल कराना चाहता है।

तेल कंपनियों ने दी सफाई
तेल कंपनियों ने स्पष्ट किया है कि देश में पेट्रोल और डीजल का पर्याप्त स्टॉक उपलब्ध है और आपूर्ति में किसी भी प्रकार की कोई कमी नहीं है। अधिकारियों का कहना है कि अफवाहों के कारण ही लोगों में दहशत फैल रही है, जिससे लोग घबराकर खरीदारी कर रहे हैं।

(रिपोर्ट:बृजेश मिश्र,अमेठी)

Skeleton uncovered under Dutch church

A remarkable archaeological discovery in the Dutch city of Maastricht may finally solve one of history’s most enduring mysteries. During restoration work at a historic church, researchers uncovered a high-status skeleton buried beneath the altar, an unusual and coveted resting place. What makes this discovery extraordinary is the presence of a musket ball fragment lodged in the thigh and a 17th-century French coin, both of which match closely with historical records of Charles de Batz de Castelmore d’Artagnan. The great soldier who inspired The Three Musketeers is said to have died in Maastricht in 1673 from a similar wound.

The discovery that could solve a 350-year-old mystery

The remains were discovered inside the Church of Saints Peter and Paul during ongoing restoration efforts, with archaeologists surprised by their location beneath the altar, which is usually reserved for individuals of high social or religious status. The excavation is being carried out by experts from RAAP Archaeological Consulting in collaboration with local heritage authorities.“This is an extraordinary discovery,” said Michel Grotheid, one of the lead researchers involved in the project. “Burial under church altars was rare and usually reserved for quite important individuals. This immediately raised questions about the identity of this individual.”Along with the skeleton, researchers found a French coin from the 1600s, giving rise to the theory that the man may have been a French military man. However, the most compelling clue was the musket ball fragment lodged in the thigh bone, indicating a fatal battlefield injury.

Who was D’Artagnan?

Charles de Batz de Castelmore d’Artagnan was a Gascon nobleman who became Captain of the Musketeers under Louis XIV. Known for his bravery and leadership, he became a major figure in French military history.Historian Olivier Poncet, who has studied the Musketeers extensively, said, “d’Artagnan was not just a literary hero. He was a trusted military commander and close to the royal court, making it plausible that he would have been buried with honors.”His legacy was later immortalized in literature by Alexandre Dumas, whose novels made him a symbol of loyalty, courage, and bravery.

Charles de Batz de Castelmore, Count d’Artagnan inspired The Three Musketeers

the war that ended his life

Historical records confirm that d’Artagnan died on 25 June 1673 during the siege of Maastricht in the Franco-Dutch War. He was reportedly leading French troops in an attack on the Tongerspoort gate when he suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the thigh.Military historian Julian Wilmart noted, “The injury described in historical accounts is highly typical. It was not unusual for a musket shot to the thigh in siege warfare, but the fact that this skeleton shows a similar wound is particularly striking.”Contemporary accounts describe his death as heroic, but the exact location of his burial has never been clearly documented, further deepening the mystery that has persisted for more than three centuries.

Why is the evidence so compelling?

The newly discovered skeleton matches several key details from historical accounts. The thigh injury exactly matches the documented cause of death. French coinage indicates the individual’s nationality, while the distinguished burial location indicates a person of significant importance.Archaeologist Lisbeth Claes said, “Individually, these clues may not be conclusive. But taken together, they make a very compelling case that cannot be ignored.”Additionally, the church’s proximity to the siege site strengthens the theory that it may actually be d’Artagnan’s.

DNA testing can confirm the truth

To move beyond speculation, scientists have begun DNA analysis on the remains. The research is being conducted in collaboration with forensic experts and geneticists, including teams from Maastricht University.Maarten Larmuseau said, “For definitive identification, DNA is vital.” “If we can match the genetic profile with known descendants of the d’Artagnan family, we can finally confirm his identity with a high degree of certainty.”The results will be compared to genetic samples from documented descendants, potentially bringing an end to a 350-year-old historical mystery.

A legend between history and fiction

The story of D’Artagnan exists at the intersection of history and myth. While he was a real soldier, his legend was enhanced by The Three Musketeers, where he appears with fictional companions such as Athos, Porthos, and Aramis.Literary scholar Jean-Yves Taddy said, “Dumas transformed a historical figure into a universal symbol of friendship and bravery. The discovery of his true resting place will link literature and history in a powerful way.”The enduring popularity of the novel has ensured that his name remains synonymous with bravery and camaraderie.As DNA testing continues, historians and enthusiasts alike are keeping a close eye. If confirmed, the discovery would not only unearth d’Artagnan’s long-lost tomb, but also reunite one of literature’s greatest heroes with his true historical resting place.

Here are the top 5 news of the day:

Government assures strong fuel security and says they have 60 days of oil reserves

The government assured that India’s petroleum and LPG systems are safe and under firm control, with no shortage of petrol, diesel or LPG anywhere in the country. The ministry further said that crude oil requirements for the next 60 days have already been secured, and there is no gap in supply in the system. Read the full story

Trump says Iranian negotiators ‘begging’ for deal

US President Donald Trump claimed Iranian negotiators are “begging” for a deal with Washington, while publicly saying they are only reviewing the US proposal. On Truth Social, he further said that NATO countries had done “absolutely nothing” to help in the conflict with Iran, which he described as a “crazy nation” that has now been “militarily destroyed”. Trump said the United States “doesn’t need anything from NATO”, but also said allies should “never forget” the present moment. Follow live updates

Supreme Court flags ‘danger’ of AI-generated decisions, cautions lawyers

The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed concern over the growing “menace” of lawyers and litigants citing non-existent judgments generated by artificial intelligence, warning that the practice is becoming increasingly common in courts. A bench of Justices Rajesh Bindal and Vijay Bishnoi said such examples are not limited to India, but are being seen globally, and stressed the need to exercise greater caution while relying on AI-assisted content. Read the full story

BCCI unveils India’s 2026-27 domestic schedule: 22 matches in 17 cities

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the full schedule for Team India’s international domestic season for 2026-27, unveiling a packed calendar featuring 22 matches across 17 cities. The upcoming season promises a comprehensive competition across all formats with four visiting teams – West Indies, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Australia – giving fans a chance to watch top-class international cricket across the country. Read the full story

Second time in 10 days: Air India A350 diverted after 7 hours of flight due to ‘excessive noise’

For the second time in exactly 10 days, a new Airbus A350 (VT-JRF) of Air India could not complete its long-haul journey due to turbulence, excessive vibration and noise in the belly hold section. The latest example occurred when it was operating as AI 111 from Delhi to London. This problem was repeated when the aircraft was in Oman airspace. The airline then decided to call it back to Delhi, where it returned after flying for more than seven hours. Read the full story

23 मार्च से ग्रीन कार्ड बनाने के निर्देश जारी कर दिए गए, लेकिन अभी तक जमीनी स्तर पर कोई ठोस इंतजाम नजर नहीं आ रहे हैं। आरटीओ कार्यालय और नारसन बॉर्डर दोनों जगह व्यवस्थाओं का अभाव है। चारधाम यात्रा के दौरान वाहनों की फिटनेस और सुरक्षा सुनिश्चित करने के लिए ग्रीन कार्ड अनिवार्य किया गया है।

इसके लिए प्रक्रिया को समय पर शुरू करना बहुत जरूरी है ताकि यात्रा के दौरान कोई अव्यवस्था न हो। इस बार यह बात सामने आई है कि यात्रा की शुरुआत में कार्ड जारी करने वाले सॉफ्टवेयर में तकनीकी खराबी आ गई थी. वाहन मालिकों का कहना है कि ग्रीन कार्ड पाने के लिए उन्हें अभी और इंतजार करना पड़ेगा.

व्यवस्था में सुधार नहीं हुआ तो यात्रा के दौरान भारी दिक्कतें होंगी।

बॉर्डर और ऑफिस में अभी तक कोई काम शुरू नहीं हुआ है. नारसन बॉर्डर पर भी जांच और ग्रीन कार्ड जारी करने की कोई ठोस व्यवस्था नजर नहीं आ रही है. इससे न सिर्फ स्थानीय वाहन संचालक बल्कि बाहर से आने वाले श्रद्धालु भी असमंजस की स्थिति में हैं। स्थानीय चालक राजेश कुमार ने बताया कि हर साल ग्रीन कार्ड बनाने की प्रक्रिया काफी पहले शुरू हो जाती है लेकिन इस बार कोई स्पष्ट जानकारी नहीं दी जा रही है. यदि समय रहते व्यवस्था में सुधार नहीं किया गया तो यात्रा के दौरान भारी दिक्कतें होंगी।

ये भी पढ़ें…यमुनोत्री धाम: हिमस्खलन से सड़क क्षतिग्रस्त, कई फीट बर्फ जमा, सुरक्षात्मक कार्य के लिए जा रहे कर्मचारी भी फंसे।

ग्रीन कार्ड बनाने की प्रक्रिया को लेकर विभाग गंभीर है. कुछ तकनीकी और प्रशासनिक कारणों से लॉन्च में देरी हुई है। बुधवार को परिवहन मंत्री के साथ बैठक भी हुई. आरटीओ कार्यालय और नारसन बॉर्डर पर अतिरिक्त स्टाफ और संसाधन तैनात किए जाएंगे, ताकि वाहन स्वामियों को किसी तरह की परेशानी न हो। चारधाम यात्रा शुरू होने से पहले सभी आवश्यक व्यवस्थाएं पूरी कर ली जाएंगी और ग्रीन कार्ड बनाने की प्रक्रिया सुचारू रूप से संचालित की जाएगी। -संदीप सैनी, एआरटीओ (प्रवर्तन), देहरादून

Manchester City star midfielder Rodri has dismissed any talk of a rift with Vinicius Junior following their boycott of the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony. Spanish international wins 2024 men’s award Ahead of the Real Madrid star.

“I have nothing against Vinnie Jr.,” Rodri told Spanish radio station Onda Cero. “I have the most respect for him, for what he did even in that Ballon d’Or year. It’s other people who decide who wins the Ballon d’Or. They tried to pit us against each other, but it’s not like that.”

Read the full story

Tensions rose when City fans unveiled a tifo at the Etihad Stadium during the 2024 clash, taunting Real Madrid and Vinny Junior for boycotting the event after not winning the most prestigious individual award in men’s football.

The two have faced each other regularly since then, with UEFA drawing the two clubs against each other in six of the last seven UEFA Champions League campaigns. The most recent of these matches took place in the round of 16, in which the Spanish club once again advanced.

“It doesn’t matter if they arrive at a good or bad moment in the match, Real Madrid is always Real Madrid,” he said.

Rodri, who has a year left on his contract, has now fueled speculation about a possible return to Spain, most likely with Real Madrid.

“Playing at the Bernabeu is incredible. It’s a very intimidating place,” the Spanish international said. “The fact that I have played for Atlético Madrid does not prevent me from playing for Real Madrid. You cannot refuse the best clubs in the world.”

Rodri played for the red team of Madrid, the Rojiblancos, for one season in 2018/19 before his €70 million transfer to Manchester City. Prior to this, he was with Villarreal CF, where he rose through the ranks from their B team.

“I hadn’t planned on playing outside Spain in my career, but Manchester City came up as an option in 2019 and I said yes,” he explained. “I have one year left on my contract at Man City. At some point we have to sit down and talk. Real Madrid is not a closed door for me,” he told Onda Cero.

– ends

India’s Sangeeta Basfour runs with the ball (Photo by Getty Images and @IndianFootball on X)

New Delhi: The road to the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia was supposed to be the moment when Indian women’s football would finally come out of the shadows and take the much-awaited leap forward. With six World Cup spots at stake, the Blue Tigresses felt the pulse of history beneath their studs. Instead, the campaign, with three defeats in three games, could be described as a sequence of administrative gambles followed by heartbreak on the field, leaving players to pick up the pieces of a shattered dream.Sangeeta Basfour, a midfield general who saw the nightmare up close while playing all three matches in the tournament earlier this month, tries to hide the deep collective grief behind the rhetoric of professional development.

“None of us are satisfied with our performance because the results did not go our way,” he said in an exclusive interview with TimesofIndia.com. “The coach had a lot of expectations from me. But personally, I feel I couldn’t give my best or support the team the way I should have… but to play on such a big stage against top players. That in itself was a big achievement for us.”

An approach that left more questions than answers

The unrest in Perth began long before the opening whistle. In a move that surprised many observers, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) opted for the overseas-better approach just weeks before the tournament. He demoted home coach Crispin Chhetri, who had orchestrated the famous qualification win over Thailand, to an assistant role. In his place came Costa Rican tactician Amelia Valverde, who had two World Cup qualifications on her resume, and signed a frantic, short-term two-month contract.On paper the preparations looked seamless as the team spent nearly 40 days in Antalya, Turkey to test themselves against European clubs.

Team India in the crowd (Photo by @IndianFootball on X)

Basfour recalled, “Honestly, our preparation was very good.” “We played against teams from Ukraine and Russia… against Champions League-level club teams. We won almost every match.” But as the team moved from the Mediterranean air of Türkiye to the high-pressure pressure of Australia, cracks began to appear.“As the matches were getting closer, we were getting more excited but also a little nervous. Until we played the first match, we couldn’t really predict how our performance would be. No matter how much you prepare, there is always uncertainty on such a big stage,” the 29-year-old admitted. “We became more serious after the first match. We still regret that we feel like our World Cup opportunity was taken away from us.”

a coaching carousel

The AIFF have confirmed that they will not be extending Valverde’s contract, showing that their stop-gap solution to success has become useless.According to several reports, his short-lived tenure was marred by tactical instability, with the AIFF Technical Committee recently describing his tenure as “disappointing”. He cycled through three different formations in three group games. The results on the field were disastrous, including three defeats, zero points and a crushing 11–0 defeat at the hands of eventual champions Japan.

Sangeeta Basfour of India (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Basfour feels there was little time for Valverde. “She’s a very good coach. “If she had more time with us, she would have understood us even better,” the West Bengal-born midfielder told this website. But he still tried and talked to everyone, motivating us both on and off the field. There wasn’t really any problem.”Despite the 11–0 scoreline against Japan, Basfour refused to accept that the margin was too big for Indian football. Looking at her other opponents, Vietnam and Chinese Taipei, she insists the difference was not quality, but execution and perhaps a little luck. “If you look at teams like Vietnam or Chinese Taipei, there is no big difference. We could have done better. We fought hard as a team. We were also unlucky, many of our shots hit the post,” he admitted.“If we had a longer camp and played more friendly matches, it would have helped.”

What’s next?

The road to salvation now leads to Nairobi. In April 2026, the Blue Tigresses will take part in the FIFA series, facing hosts Kenya at the Nyayo National Stadium. It is a chance to overcome various opposition including Malawi and the Australian side which recently hosted the continental crisis.

It would have helped if we had a longer camp and played more friendly matches.

Sangeeta Basfour, India women’s national team midfielder

There is optimism, however, tempered by appeals for structural change. For Basfour, the nightmare in Australia was not just about tactical formations or foreign versus domestic coaches; It was about the daily reality of Indian sports. Also read: $256K, what’s next for Nepal? Competitive cricket, infrastructure boost and a helping hand from India“Improving grassroots development and extending the duration of the women’s league will help a lot,” she said.“When players go back home, they don’t always get proper training or facilities. If the league runs longer, the players will improve and the national team will perform better.”