hyderabad l monday l march 30, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION world no. 1 sabalenka completes ‘Sunshine Double’ at Miami Open Aryna Sabalenka made history as she beat Coco Gauff in the Miami Open women’s singles final 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 on Saturday. A look... First since swiatek to seal the double The World No. 1 overpowered Gauff in the first and third sets with sizzling groundstroke winners and became the fifth woman and the first since Iga Swiatek in 2022 to accomplish the “Sunshine Double” — winning Indian Wells followed by Miami in the same season. It was Sabalenka’s second straight title at the Miami Open, Gauff’s hometown tournament ■ 5 Means a lot: Aryna after historic feat ■ ”It means a lot,” Sabalenka said after joining Poland’s Swiatek, German great Steffi Graf, Belgian Kim Clijsters and fellow Belarusian Victoria Azarenka on the list of women to win both titles in same year ”My goal always been to put my name in the history, and I just did it,” the World No. 1 added after winning the title Sabalenka is fifth woman to complete ‘sunshine double’ CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI E x p r e s s Re a d Pak still giving refuge to terror groups: US report Chandigarh: Pakistan continues to shelter terrorist organisations on its soil, including groups that target India and particularly those focused on Jammu and Kashmir, according to a report by the US Congressional Research Service titled ‘Terrorist and Other Militant Groups in Pakistan’ | P7 Actor Vijay in fray from two TN constituencies Chennai: TVK president and actor Vijay on Sunday unveiled the party’s candidates for the 2026 Assembly elections, declaring that he will contest from Perambur in Chennai and Trichy East. Former AIADMK leader KA Sengottaiyan is up from Gobichettipalayam. Russia reports fire at major Baltic export hub Moscow: A drone strike claimed by Ukraine triggered a fire at Russia’s Baltic port of Ust-Luga as the regional governor on Sunday reported new damage at the major exporting hub hit for a second time in days. Ukraine has intensified retaliatory attacks on Russian infrastructure—including refineries, oil depots and ports— saying they are justified as part of the effort to cut revenues funding Russia’s offensive | P9 West Asia situation is sensitive and warrants restraint in public discourse, says Modi; Don keeps option for ground ops open in Iran, sends more troops Cong remarks could endanger Indian lives: pm Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah participates in the city’s first-ever international marathon, in Jammu on Sunday | pti (first offence) n Up to `1 lakh (repeat offences) n Minimum: 1 year n Maximum: 7 years For repeat offences n Minimum: 2 years n Maximum: 10 years A G ENCIES @ Tehran, Tel Aviv, Dubai PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said his government is doing everything in its power to ensure the safety of Indians working and living in Gulf countries but the Congress is trying to politicise the ongoing Iran war by making “dangerous and irresponsible” remarks. Speaking at an election rally in Palakkad in Kerala, from where lakhs of people work in Gulf countries, Modi said the situation remains sensitive and warrants restraint in public discourse. However, he alleged, Congress leaders are issuing reckless statements amid an evolving day international situation that could endanger the lives of Indians. “It appears as though the Congress is willing to risk the lives of nearly Indians’ one crore Indians living in the safety top Gulf, merely to gain political adpriority vantage,” Modi said. Modi said The PM’s comments come days countries in after Congress leader Rahul Ganthe Gulf are dhi attacked the Centre’s handling prioritising the of the West Asia crisis, terming Insafety of Indian dia’s foreign policy ‘compromised’ nationals during and ‘a joke’. the conflict. “Our “The PM will do what US and Isembassies are rael say He will not work in the in. working round the terest of India,” Gandhi had said clock to ensure last week, criticising India’s forthat our brothers eign policy stance. and sisters there Speaking in Palakkad, Modi face no hardship,” stressed the Centre is closely monihe added toring the situation and taking measures to mitigate the impact on India and Indian nationals living in the region. “The welfare of Indian citizens abroad is central to my government’s policy response,” the prime minister said, adding that India has been actively engaging with global leaders as tensions have escalated. “Since the outbreak of the conflict, I have been in constant touch with global leaders,” Modi added. A top Iranian official warned the US against a ground invasion, saying its troops would be set “on fire,” as regional diplomats met on Sunday in Pakistan in hopes of opening direct US-Iran talks and ending the month-long war. Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said Iranian forces were “waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire and punish their regional partners forever,” according to Iranian state media. Iran warned of escalation after Israeli airstrikes hit several universities, including ones that Israel claimed were used for nuclear research and development. The paramilitary Revolutionary Guard warned that Iran would conFrance sider Israeli universities and denounces branches of US universities in the Houthis region “legitimate targets” unless France condemned offered safety assurances for Iraon Sunday two nian universities, state media attacks by Yemen’s reported. Houthi rebels on The Israeli military said an imIsraeli targets, pact at an industrial zone may have accusing them been caused by missile shrapnel, of escalating shortly after it detected a new bartension in the rage fired from Iran. Gulf by entering Foreign ministers from Pakistan, the war. “Houthis Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey should abstain started talks on the war, with Isfrom all attacks,” lamabad acting as a go-between bespokesman Pascal tween the United States and Iran. Confavreux said The four-way meeting between the Muslim nations was convened “to review the evolving regional situation and discuss issues of mutual interest”, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a brief statement. US-Israeli strikes hit the Iranian port city of Bandar Khamir near the Strait of Hormuz, killing five persons, Iranian state media reported. IRNA news agency said four persons were wounded. Two more Indian ships cross Hormuz NEW DELHI: Two more Indian-flagged LPG tankers, carrying roughly a day’s supply of the country’s cooking gas, have safely navigated through the war-hit Strait of Hormuz and are expected to reach Indian shores in the next couple of days. While BW TYR is proceeding towards Mumbai, BW ELM is en route to New Mangalore with an estimated arrival date of April 1 Oppn cross as U’khand begins audit on status of minorities ahead of polls NA R END R A SETHI @ Dehradun In a move that has sparked political tensions, Uttarakhand’s BJP-led gover nment has constituted a high-level committee to audit the status of minorities in the state, ahead of next year’s Assembly elections and the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The seven-member high-level committee will do a comprehensive study of the socioeconomic, educational, and cultural shifts within the minority communities in the state over the last 25 years–essentially since the inception of Uttarakhand. T he committee will be chaired by retired judge Akhilesh Chand Sharma. Other members include retired IAS officer Shatrughan Singh, Doon University Vice-Chancellor Surekha Dangwal, subject Pushkar Singh Dhami, Uttarakhand CM Panel’s report to guide future policies: Govt According to its official mandate, the committee will evaluate the economic and educational status of minorities. It will then prepare a detailed report based on empirical data, which will guide the government’s welfare policies expert Manu Gaur, State Minority Commission Vice-Chairperson Farzana Begum, social worker Rajpal Singh, and the Director of the Minority Wel- Includes content against persons alive or dead Grounds covered: n Religion, n Race, caste or community n Sex, gender or sexual orientation n Place of birth or residence n Language n Disability Organisations/ institutions can be held liable, and persons in charge will be prosecuted and punished Bill proposes `1L fine, up Iran taunts Trump, to 10-yr jail for hate speech S h ya m PV @ Palakkad COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Sunday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sending an oil shipment to ease fuel supply disruptions in the island nation caused by the West Asia conflict. A shipment of 38,000 MT of fuel, comprising 20,000 MT of diesel and 18,000 MT of petrol, arrived in Colombo on Saturday | P9 What counts as hate speech? Any expression (spoken, written, digital) intended to cause injury, disharmony, enmity or hatred, and targets individuals, groups or communities Will victims get compensation? Courts can award adequate compensation based on severity and impact of the crime Iranian strikes on Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base damaged a US E-3 AWACS aircraft along with a few refuelling aircraft | X Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves nelkathir (rice sheaf) during an election rally in Palakkad, Kerala on Sunday | PTI Lanka thanks India for fuel supply jammu run Fine n Up to `50,000 says waiting for US boots on ground 30 Non-bailable offence with stiff penalties fare Department as the member secretary Speaking to this . newspaper, senior committee member and retired IAS officer Shatrughan Singh said, “The committee’s work is in progress, and it has already held four meetings.” While the government has called it a purely administrative exercise, the Opposition has raised a red flag. “The way the BJP is trying to delete names of people from the Muslim community from the electoral rolls, it appears the government is gathering this data to create a hostile environment and facilitate exploitation,” Mohan Kala, spokesperson for the Uttarakhand Congress, alleged, noting the timing is suspect. The BJP has dismissed the allegations as fear-mongering. Minority welfare minister Khajan Das said the data will allow the government to take informed decisions. CM says ready for CBI probe into illegal mining Hyderabad: Amid pandemonium in the Assembly on Sunday, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said the government was ready to order a CBI probe into alleged illegal mining in the state, as BRS MLAs demanded the constitution of a House committee to investigate the allegations. They also sought the resignation of Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, alleging that a company linked to his relatives was involved in illegal mining. The chief minister said a CID inquiry had already been ordered, and if the opposition had no faith in the agency, the government was prepared to hand over the probe to the CBI. He asserted that action would be taken even against his own or the minister’s family members if found guilty. Rejecting the demand for the minister’s resignation, Revanth alleged that the previous BRS regime had misused House panels for political gains. Earlier, BRS members disrupted proceedings by raising slogans, tearing papers and occupying the podium, despite repeated appeals from the Speaker and ministers to maintain order. Following this, the Speaker suspended 24 BRS MLAs, including T Harish Rao and KT Rama Rao, from the House for two days.  full report on P4 M a n d a R a v i n d e r R e d d y @ Hyderabad In a move to curb hate speech and hate crimes in Telangana, the state government tabled a Bill in the Legislative Assembly prescribing a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine of `1,00,000. Hate speech and hate crimes, under this new law, will be cognisable and non-bailable. Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu introduced The Telangana Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2026 in the Assembly on Sunday . Hate speech includes any expression that is made, published or circulated, in words either spoken or written or by signs or by visible representations or through electronic communication, with the intention to cause injury, disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or illwill against a person, alive or dead, class or group of persons or community . The Bill defines prejudicial interest to include bias on the grounds of religion, race, caste or community, sex, gender, sexual orientation, place of birth, residence, language, disability and tribe. Under this new law, whoever commits a hate crime will be punished with imprisonment for a term which will not be less than one year, which may extend up to seven years with a fine of `50,000. If any person commits subsequent or repetitive offences, the punishment will be not less than two years, which may extend up to 10 years with a fine of `1,00,000. The Bill also contains provisions for compensation to the victims. “The court may award adequate compensation to the victim by calculating the injury caused due to hate crime, depending upon the gravity of the impact of the crime,” the Bill explained. The Bill also seeks to punish organisations or institutions for hate crimes. “If the person committing an offence under this Act is an organisation or institution, every person who, at the time of the offence committed, was in charge of and was responsible to, such organisation or institution for the conduct of the business of the same, as well as such organisation or institution shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly Here, organisation or institu.” tion means an association of persons whether registered or not. Meanwhile, in the Statement of Objectives and Reasons of the Bill, the government stated that in recent years, there has been a discernible increase in incidents of hate speech and hate crimes, particularly through digital and social media platforms, which have the potential to spread rapidly and cause serious harm to public order and social harmony . The existing legal framework does not comprehensively address the evolving nature and manifestations of hate speech and hate crimes, necessitating a dedicated and robust legislation to effectively prevent, regulate and penalise such conduct, while also protecting and providing redress to the affected persons.