India

TVK Allocates Rs 1,000 Crore in Debut Budget for Gold Gifts to Brides and Newborns

The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has earmarked Rs 1,000 crore in its first budget for welfare schemes benefiting brides and newborns. Under the 'Thai Maaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam' scheme, every newborn delivered in a government hospital will receive a 1-gram gold ring. The cost of providing gold rings to newborns alone is estimated at Rs 560 crore. The remaining funds are directed toward gifts for brides as part of the broader welfare initiative. This marks a significant social spending commitment in TVK's inaugural budget.

Tewolde Gebremariam Named New CEO of Air India, Succeeding Campbell Wilson

Tewolde Gebremariam has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Air India. He succeeds Campbell Wilson, a New Zealand national and former Singapore Airlines executive who was brought on board in 2022 to spearhead the airline's transformation. Wilson had informed Air India Chairman N Chandrasekaran in 2024 of his plans to step down at some point during 2026. The leadership transition marks a new chapter for Air India as it continues its ongoing overhaul under the Tata Group.

Meta Executive Apologises to India for Restricting PM Modi's Post in Error

Meta's Joel Kaplan met with India's IT Secretary S Krishnan and senior Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) officials to address a content moderation controversy. The meeting, which lasted approximately 45 minutes, involved other top Meta executives alongside Kaplan. The discussion centred on an incident in which a post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was incorrectly restricted on Meta's platform. Kaplan formally apologised to Indian authorities, describing the restriction as an error on the company's part.

Tewolde Gebremariam Named Air India CEO Following Campbell Wilson's Departure

Air India has appointed Tewolde Gebremariam as its new Chief Executive Officer, replacing Campbell Wilson who has exited the role. Gebremariam is a seasoned aviation executive widely regarded as one of the most accomplished leaders in the industry. He is best known for spearheading the multi-billion-dollar expansion of Ethiopian Airlines Group during his tenure there. His appointment signals Air India's intent to bring in globally experienced leadership as the airline continues its transformation under Tata Group ownership.

‘Malicious propaganda’: India slams Pak on Art 370 abrogation statement, flags PoJK killings

Trump Immigration Crackdown Detains Over 50 Military Family Members, AP Finds

An Associated Press investigation has revealed that the Trump administration has detained more than 50 spouses and parents of active-duty U.S. military personnel. The detentions are part of the administration's broader mass deportation agenda. The crackdown involves rolling back immigration protections that had previously shielded military families from such enforcement actions. The affected individuals are direct family members of soldiers currently serving in the U.S. armed forces.

BJP MP Calls for Law to Protect Indians Facing Rising Threats Abroad

BJP MP Ashok Mittal has urged the government to introduce a dedicated protection law for Indian expatriates living overseas. He cited official data showing a sharp rise in the number of Indians killed abroad in recent years. The death toll climbed from 29 in 2021 to 86 in 2023, nearly tripling over the two-year period. Mittal described the trend as deeply concerning and stressed the need for stronger legal safeguards for the Indian diaspora.

India rejects Pakistan's 'Youm-e-Istehsal' on revocation of Article 370

Air India names Tewolde Gebremariam CEO and managing director

Pittsburgh Penguins emerge as suitors for free-agent goalie Connor Ingram

Connor Ingram remains unsigned after his contract with the Edmonton Oilers expired. The Pittsburgh Penguins have been linked to the goaltender as NHL free agency continues. Ingram's availability has come as a surprise given his experience at the professional level. The Penguins appear to be exploring options in goal ahead of the upcoming NHL season.

Rajya Sabha Passes Bill to Expand Supreme Court Judge Strength to 38

The Rajya Sabha has approved a bill that seeks to increase the number of Supreme Court judges from the current strength to 38. The Upper House passed the legislation and returned it to the Lok Sabha, as the bill is classified as a Money Bill. This follows the Lok Sabha having already cleared the same legislation. The move is aimed at expanding judicial capacity at India's apex court.

Bihar Man Arrested for Impersonating Union Minister's Aide to Seek Prisoner Transfer

A Bihar resident named Dheeraj Kumar has been arrested for allegedly posing as an aide to a Union Minister. Kumar, originally from Mehandia in Arwal district, was living in Lakhisarai at the time of his arrest. He reportedly used this false identity to seek the transfer of a prisoner. Authorities apprehended him after the impersonation came to light.

Nirmal Purja's Body Recovered from Broad Peak, Brought to Base Camp

Renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, widely known as 'Nimsdai', has died on Broad Peak, a high-altitude mountain in the Karakoram range. His body was successfully recovered and transported down to Base Camp following a difficult and demanding rescue operation. The operation was led by a close friend of the legendary climber. Purja had gained global recognition for his extraordinary mountaineering achievements, including summiting all 14 of the world's highest peaks in record time. His body is now expected to be repatriated home following the completion of the recovery effort.

Family alleges poor emergency response after Air India flight turbulence injures passenger

A passenger was injured aboard Air India flight AI2379 operating from Phuket to Delhi after the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude mid-flight. The turbulence was severe enough to throw passengers, including the injured man, toward the aircraft's ceiling. His daughter, Palak Raniwala, described the incident as harrowing and raised serious concerns about the aftermath. The family alleged a lack of ambulances and poor coordination in the emergency response following the flight's landing.

MP High Court Issues Notices to 3 BJP MPs Elected Unopposed to Rajya Sabha

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued notices to three BJP members who were elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha. The elections took place in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, where 228 MLAs were eligible to cast their votes. Under the electoral formula, 58 votes were required to secure one Rajya Sabha seat. The court's move signals a legal challenge to the validity of the unopposed elections of these three BJP representatives.

Jharkhand Drops 43 Lakh Names From Draft Voter Rolls After Revision Exercise

Jharkhand's voter rolls have seen a significant reduction following a revision exercise under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar confirmed that over 43 lakh names were deleted from the draft electoral rolls. Before the enumeration phase began, the state had a total of 2.64 crore registered voters. The deletions came to light after a systematic review of voter registrations across the state. The revision exercise is aimed at ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the electoral rolls in Jharkhand.

Toll suspended on Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway amid probe into road damage

The National Highways Authority of India has moved to declare PNC Infratech a non-performer following significant damage to the Lucknow-Kanpur Expressway. Toll collection on the route has been halted and will remain suspended until all repairs are completed. Disciplinary action has been initiated against both current and former project directors on charges of negligence. An expert team from IIT Kharagpur has been tasked with determining the cause of the road slippage. The financial burden of repairing the damaged stretch will be borne entirely by the concessionaire.

Morgan Freeman on risking it all to pursue your dreams

Hollywood legend Morgan Freeman is known for a career built on dignity and enduring wisdom. One of his notable quotes encourages people to take bold risks in pursuit of dreams that are not yet visible. In his youth, Freeman had aspirations of becoming a fighter pilot before shifting his focus to the arts. He made his professional acting debut on Broadway in 1967, going on to build an extensive and celebrated filmography.

Former FIFA VP Accuses Infantino of Blackmailing Member Federations

Prince Ali, president of the Jordan Football Association and former FIFA vice president, has accused FIFA of blackmailing member federations to secure support for Gianni Infantino. He claims Jordan has yet to receive prize money owed to them after finishing as runners-up in the FIFA Arab Cup held in Qatar in December. The tournament prize money has allegedly been withheld, which Prince Ali suggests is being used as leverage. The accusation adds to growing scrutiny of FIFA's internal governance and Infantino's leadership practices.

Student's 200-Ant Study Reveals Visual Navigation Secrets, Wins Science Award

Seungah Chung, a young student, conducted a detailed navigation experiment using 200 ants driven by her curiosity about insect behavior. Her research found that ants rely primarily on visual landmarks to find their way around. The project earned her recognition at a prestigious science competition. Experts note the findings could inform the design of next-generation robots and autonomous systems.