A fire broke out in the bushes outside Lucknow's Ekana Stadium just hours before the IPL 2025 match between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Mumbai Indians (MI). Thick black smoke caused panic among early-arriving fans, with the incident triggering visible chaos near the venue. Fire brigade teams acted swiftly to control the flames, averting a larger emergency. The cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed. Security measures have been tightened around the stadium, and local authorities are on high alert. Officials have assured that the situation is under control, and the match is in progress as scheduled at 7:30 PM. (PC: Times Now, X/IPL)

A major tragedy was averted on Friday as the Dehradun–New Delhi Jan Shatabdi Express suffered a rare wheel melt while in motion. Near Tapri Junction, the loco pilot detected unusual vibrations while increasing fan speed and immediately stopped the train. Upon inspection, it was found that a section of the engine wheel had begun melting, also damaging a part of the rail track. Railway engineers were rushed to the spot. Experts say had the train continued at speed, a derailment was likely. The Railway Board is now investigating the cause behind the severe mechanical failure. (PC: The Wall)

The Calcutta High Court has conditionally allowed two Ram Navami rallies in Howrah on April 4. Each rally can have 500 participants—morning for Anjani Putra Sena, afternoon for VHP—carrying PVC-made religious symbols only, not metal weapons. All must carry ID. Justice Tirthankar Ghosh said, “If I stop, I stop all—not just political parties.” He rejected central force deployment but emphasized police enforcement. Comparing with Durga Puja, he questioned, “If there’s trouble, will we stop Puja?” Locals, citing daily unrest, sought relief. The court approved split-time rallies after changing the route earlier demanded by the groups. (PC: Getty Images)

A 5.0-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal at 7:52 PM on Friday, according to India’s National Center for Seismology. The quake occurred at a depth of 20km and caused tremors across parts of North India. No immediate reports of damage or casualties have been received. The tremors follow a devastating 7.7-magnitude quake that hit Myanmar on March 28, killing over 3,000 people and injuring more than 4,500. While Friday's Nepal quake was less intense, officials are monitoring for aftershocks. Local media in the region reported mild panic but no major structural damage. Tremors were also reported in parts of China and Thailand. (Representative Image)

US stock markets plunged on Thursday as China hit back against Donald Trump’s new tariffs with a 34% tax on American goods, escalating trade tensions. The Dow Jones and S&P 500 fell 2.7% and 3.1% respectively, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq dropped 3.3%, entering bear territory—20% below its December peak. European markets also suffered, with London, Berlin, and Paris indexes down over 3%. Trump claimed, "China played it wrong, they panicked." Analysts warn of further volatility as global investors react to the deepening trade conflict. The full impact on US industries and global supply chains remains uncertain as markets brace for more shocks. (PC: Getty Images)

Birmingham is facing a severe rat infestation as bin workers continue their strike, now entering its third week. In Small Heath, residents report rats scurrying from 20m-long rubbish piles, with some clean-up crews frightened off by rodents. Footage shows rats leaping from bins as agency workers try to clear mounting garbage. Pest control services have seen a 60% surge in calls. A local rat catcher warns that even if trash is cleared, rats will remain due to lingering food sources. Birmingham City Council has declared a major incident over public health concerns. The UK government has yet to intervene decisively. (PC: Sky News)

Bangladesh’s chief adviser Muhammad Yunus met Indian PM Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit in Thailand, the first such meeting since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster. Yunus raised the extradition of Hasina and the Ganga water treaty. The meeting follows Yunus’s controversial remarks in China on India's northeast, which irked New Delhi. India also expressed concern over rising attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, including temple vandalism and monk arrests. While ties remain strained, both sides described the meeting as “productive.” Modi emphasized the strategic role of India’s northeast, countering Yunus’s China-leaning narrative. (PC: X/@Narendramodi)

U.S. hiring surged in March, adding 228,000 jobs, defying recession fears and beating expectations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This marked a strong rise from February’s 151,000 jobs. The unemployment rate edged up to 4.2% but remains historically low. Job growth was led by the health care, transportation, and warehousing sectors. Meanwhile, federal government employment declined by 4,000 jobs amid budget cuts. Despite market selloffs driven by new Trump-imposed tariffs, the labor market showed resilience. Average hourly wages rose 3.8% year-over-year, outpacing inflation and reflecting stronger consumer purchasing power. (PC: abc News)

London Mayor Sadiq Khan is under fire after news that the Metropolitan Police will cut 1,700 civilian staff amid a £260 million shortfall. Critics say crime has surged across the capital — including knife attacks, burglaries, and sexual assaults — while Khan's campaign promises of improved policing remain unfulfilled. Former adviser Aaron Newbury slammed Khan for blaming past Conservative governments, despite Labour now holding power. “London is listless in a storm of law breaking,” he wrote. Public confidence in policing continues to decline after repeated scandals. Khan has yet to respond publicly, drawing criticism for “silence when leadership is needed.” (PC: Evening Standard)

In March 2025, U.S. employers announced 90,309 job cuts, up 7% from February and 0.7% year-over-year, according to a report by Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The technology sector saw the highest number of layoffs at 14,224, largely driven by workforce reductions at DOGE, a crypto-related company facing financial difficulties. This marks the third consecutive monthly increase in job cuts. First-quarter layoffs have reached 257,254—up 120% from Q4 2024 and the highest since Q1 2020. Hiring plans have also sharply declined, signaling growing economic caution and shifting corporate priorities amid ongoing market uncertainty.