Sunil Chhetri marked his international comeback with a goal as India defeated the Maldives 3-0 in Shillong. Rahul Bheke opened the scoring with a header in the 35th minute, followed by Liston Colaco’s strike in the 66th. Chhetri sealed the victory with a classic header in the 76th minute, netting his 95th international goal. Despite the dominant display, India’s midfield struggles remain a concern ahead of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. The win boosts India’s morale as they prepare to face Bangladesh next.

A UN worker was killed and others were injured in Gaza after a compound was damaged on Wednesday. The cause of the incident is unclear. Hamas blamed an Israeli strike, but Israel denied targeting the UN site. The attack happened after Israel resumed fighting, breaking a two-month ceasefire. Gaza's health ministry said over 400 people have died since strikes restarted. The UN has called for an investigation. Meanwhile, protests erupted in Israel against the renewed offensive. Talks for a lasting ceasefire have stalled, and humanitarian aid remains blocked at Gaza's borders.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will speak to US President Donald Trump about monitoring a possible ceasefire with Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to stop attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities but did not approve a full 30-day ceasefire. Despite this, both sides accused each other of launching fresh air attacks. Zelensky said Ukraine would provide a list of key sites for the US and allies to monitor. He stressed that if Russia stops its attacks, Ukraine will do the same. Ukraine's air force reported shooting down 72 drones, while Russia claimed to have destroyed 57 Ukrainian drones.

Suryakumar Yadav will lead Mumbai Indians (MI) in their first IPL 2025 match against Chennai Super Kings on March 23. Regular captain Hardik Pandya is banned for one match due to slow over-rate offences last season. Pandya said the ban is unfortunate but beyond his control. MI coach Mahela Jayawardene confirmed the BCCI's decision. Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah will miss the start of IPL as he recovers from injury at the National Cricket Academy. He may join MI in April. Pandya said he is lucky to have experienced players like Rohit, Surya, and Bumrah to support him.

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call to discuss the war. The US said peace "has never been closer." Zelenskyy asked for more air defence missiles to protect civilians. Trump said he would work with Europe to provide support. They also talked about intelligence sharing and securing Ukraine’s power plants. Both leaders agreed to push for prisoner exchanges and to bring missing Ukrainian children home. They instructed their teams to plan a partial ceasefire and discuss expanding it to the Black Sea. More talks will happen soon in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan praised astronaut Sunita Williams' safe return from space. He said he was confident in the mission's success and closely followed the landing. He also noted that India could learn from this nine-month NASA mission. Prime Minister Modi has invited Williams to India. Dr Narayanan said ISRO would welcome her support for India's Gaganyaan Mission. He stressed the importance of confidence and taking risks in life. He acknowledged the challenges of space missions but said ISRO is ready to face them. Williams' journey lasted longer than planned due to a technical issue in her spacecraft.

A foreign national was killed, and four others were injured in an Israeli airstrike on a UN headquarters in Gaza, the local health ministry said. Israel denied targeting the UN site, saying it struck a Hamas location where attacks were being planned. On the same day, at least 20 Palestinians died as Israel resumed airstrikes. The military warned that the assault was "just the beginning." The war began in 2023 after Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people. In response, Israel's strikes have killed over 49,000 people. India called for humanitarian aid and the release of all hostages.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accepted a ceasefire proposal from the United States. In a call with US President Donald Trump, Zelenskyy agreed to stop strikes on Russian energy and civilian sites. He said this was a step toward ending the war. The US also proposed an unconditional ceasefire on the frontline, which Ukraine accepted. Talks between the US and Ukraine took place in Jeddah. Zelenskyy shared the update on X, saying they will continue working on peace. It is unclear if Russia will agree to the deal.

Newly declassified documents on the 1963 John F. Kennedy assassination reveal CIA “black sites” in Kolkata and New Delhi. Russian media outlet RT shared findings from the US National Archives, highlighting the agency’s covert operations in India during the Cold War. These secret facilities were allegedly used for intelligence gathering, detentions, and interrogations. The revelation raises questions about past CIA activities in India. The report, published by The Week, comes amid global scrutiny of US intelligence practices. The Indian government has not yet commented on the claims.

Punjab Police clashed with farmers at Mohali as authorities dismantled protest sites at Khanauri and Shambhu borders. Over 200 farmers, including Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher, were detained. The protests, ongoing since February 2024, demand a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP). Internet services were suspended in parts of Punjab. State Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema defended the eviction, citing economic disruptions. Talks between farmer leaders and Union ministers remained inconclusive, with the next meeting set for May 4. Opposition parties slammed the AAP government, accusing it of betraying farmers.