Wednesday, March 18, 2026
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Evening news wrap: Congress leader alleges religious bias in India cricket team selection; Belgium rejects Mehul Choksi’s claims in extradition case; and more

Evening news wrap: Congress leader alleges religious bias in India cricket team selection; Belgium rejects Mehul Choksi’s claims in extradition case; and more

Sarfaraz Khan, Mehul Choksi (File photos)

Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed sparked controversy by alleging religious bias in the Indian cricket team over Sarfaraz Khan’s non-selection, prompting a BJP rebuttal. Belgium’s Antwerp Court rejected Mehul Choksi’s claims of political persecution, clearing the way for his extradition to face the PNB fraud case. The IT ministry proposed changes to the IT Rules to curb harm from AI-generated content, including deepfakes, requiring major social media platforms to label synthetic content clearly. Veteran scientist Dr Eknath Chitnis passed away at 100, remembered for his role in founding Isro and developing India’s first telecom satellite. Meanwhile, Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed launched an online “jihadi course” for women, marking the first training initiative by its newly formed women’s wing, Jamaat-ul-Mominaat.Here are the top 5 news of the day:‘Sarfaraz not picked because …’: Congress leader’s communal spin sparks uproar; BJP hits backCongress national spokesperson Shama Mohamed has alleged religious bias by Indian men’s cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir, questioning the non-selection of Sarfaraz Khan for national team duties. Her remarks came a day after the national selection committee announced the India A squad for two first-class matches against South Africa A. Read more Belgium rejects Mehul Choksi’s bias claims; dismisses abduction chargeBelgium’s Antwerp Court of Appeal has ruled that fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi is extraditable to India, rejecting his claims of political persecution and ensuring he faces trial in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case. The court confirmed that the offences attributed to Choksi are punishable under both Indian and Belgian law, fulfilling the dual criminality requirement for extradition. Read moreAI in focus: Centre proposes changes in IT Rules to curb deepfakesThe ministry of electronics and information technology has proposed changes to the IT Rules to tackle harm from AI-generated content, including deepfakes. The draft aims to help users distinguish synthetic content from real information. Under the new rules, large social media platforms with over 50 lakh users will have to ask users whether the content they upload is synthetic, take reasonable steps to verify these claims, and clearly label such content. Read moreEknath Chitnis passes away: Isro pioneer was 100; built India’s first telecom satelliteRenowned Isro scientist Dr Eknath Chitnis passed away in Pune on Wednesday at the age of 100. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1985. Dr Chitnis was one of the key figures behind the founding of the Indian Space Research Organisation, working closely with Dr Homi Bhabha in its early years. He played a crucial role in developing India’s first telecommunication satellite, INSAT, which laid the foundation for the country’s progress in space communication. Read more‘Tufat al-Muminat’: JeM launches online ‘jihadi course’ for women; will charge PKR 500Days after Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) announced the formation of its first-ever women’s wing, Jamaat-ul-Mominaat, the group has launched an online training course to expand recruitment and collect funds from women, according to media reports. Masood Azhar’s sisters, Sadiya and Samaira Azhar, will conduct online classes daily, using meeting platforms to teach women about their “duties” from the perspectives of jihad, religion, and Islam. Read more Go to Source

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