OpenAI has introduced a new feature that allows users in the US and Canada to interact with ChatGPT directly through WhatsApp. By calling the number 1800-242-8478, users can now access the AI chatbot through voice calls, with 15 minutes of free voice calling available per month. This new feature is compatible with flip phones and landlines, making it accessible to a wider audience. OpenAI is testing this functionality as part of an experimental phase, and the availability of voice calling, as

Andhra Pradesh Environment Management Corporation Limited (APEMCL) is expanding its operations to tackle new waste management challenges in the state. As part of its ongoing efforts to ensure environmental sustainability, APEMCL will now focus on monitoring and controlling biomedical waste, battery waste, and e-waste generation. The announcement was made by APEMCL chairman Polamreddy Dinesh Reddy, who was inspecting the Coastal Waste Management Plant in Nellore. Along with local MLA Kurugondl

Governor Challenges State Government's Search Committee: On Wednesday, Governor R N Ravi took a bold step by canceling the search committee formed by the Tamil Nadu State Higher Education Department for appointing a new Vice-Chancellor at Annamalai University. The Governor's office stated that the state’s committee excluded the UGC Chairman’s nominee, violating the Supreme Court’s interpretation of UGC re

Space One, a Tokyo-based space startup, faced another setback in its mission to develop Japan's domestic space industry when its second rocket launch was aborted minutes after liftoff. The Kairos No. 2 rocket, designed to carry small satellites into orbit, launched from Spaceport Kii in the Wakayama prefecture on Wednesday. The rocket's trajectory became unstable shortly after takeoff, leading to a termination of the flight about 10 minutes in. The mission, which carried five satellit

Ukraine has condemned FIFA after a map displayed during the European World Cup qualifiers for 2026 appeared to omit Crimea from Ukraine. The map, shown during the December 2024 draw for the joint-hosted tournament by the US, Mexico, and Canada, sparked backlash when it excluded Crimea, which has been under Russian occupation since 2014. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhy accused FIFA of supporting Russian propaganda and violating international law by "redrawing b

In a seminar with Collectors and Superintendents of Police (SPs) in Andhra Pradesh, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan raised serious concerns about the ongoing smuggling operations at the Kakinada Seaport. He used the example of Ajmal Kasab and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks to emphasize the importance of robust border security, warning that similar threats could arise from unchecked smuggling activities. Despite three check posts on the route to the port, smuggling continues, raising alarms about

Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani has demanded a police case against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi over her association with the Forum of Democratic Leaders - Asia Pacific (FDL-AP), which allegedly supports the secession of Jammu and Kashmir from India. Jethmalani argues that by co-presiding over the forum, which is funded by George Soros’ foundation, Sonia Gandhi is linked to a platform that advocates for Kashmir's independence, a stance he deems criminal under the Unlawful Activiti

Amaravati, the new capital of Andhra Pradesh, is rapidly progressing toward becoming a major metropolis. While current developments include state government buildings and prominent educational institutions like VIT and SRM, the city is gaining significant attention from top companies across various sectors. Following the recent elections, Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the Chief Minister and key figure behind Amaravati's vision, has resumed leadership with a renewed focus on shaping th

US President-elect Donald Trump has selected Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and political fundraiser, as the next ambassador to Greece. Guilfoyle, who has been engaged to Donald Trump Jr. since December 2020, has been described as a "close friend and ally" of Trump but her relationship with his son was not mentioned in the official announcement. Trump praised her for her leadership and experience in law, media, and politics, stating she was well-suited to strengthen rela

Aarit Kapil, a nine-year-old chess prodigy from Delhi, has made history by becoming the youngest Indian to defeat a chess Grandmaster. In the penultimate round of the KIIT International Open tournament in Bhubaneswar, Aarit triumphed over Raset Ziatdinov, a 66-year-old Grandmaster from the United States. At just 9 years, 2 months, and 18 days old, Aarit is now the third youngest player globally to beat a Grandmaster under classical time control. The game, which lasted 63 moves, saw

Delhi’s former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia will be contesting the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections from Jangpura, as announced by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Alongside Sisodia, civil services teacher Avadh Ojha has been named as the party's candidate for the Patparganj seat in East Delhi. This announcement comes with AAP’s release of its second list of 20 candidates for the Delhi Assembly polls, which are expected early next year. Last month, AAP had already released

 The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it has received enough H-1B visa petitions to meet the annual cap. The cap includes 65,000 visas for regular applicants and an additional 20,000 for individuals holding US advanced degrees. With the lottery system in place for processing petitions once the cap is exceeded, many applicants will be notified if they were not selected. USCIS will send out non-selection notices through online accounts, with the

In response to improved air quality in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has eased pollution curbs. The CAQM announced the revocation of Stage-4 and Stage-3 measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the entire NCR, effective immediately. This decision comes after the Supreme Court allowed the relaxation, following consistent improvement in the air quality index (AQI) since November 29, with AQI levels falling below 300. Howev

Chandrababu Naidu, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, is preparing to move into a new permanent residence in Amaravati. Currently residing at the Lingamaneni guest house in Karakatta, Undavalli, Naidu has now secured a plot of land in the Velagapudi area of the Amaravati Capital region for his official residence. The 5-acre plot, located near the Seed Access Road and within a two-kilometer radius of several key establishments like the temporary High Court, judges’ residence

A 75-year-old retired ship captain from Colaba, Mumbai, fell victim to a sophisticated cyber fraud, losing approximately ₹11.16 crore between August and November 2024. The scam began on August 19 when the victim was added to a WhatsApp group named after a reputable financial services company. The group administrator, identifying herself as Anya Smith, shared investment strategies and stock market opportunities, convincing the victim of the group's legitimacy. Expressing intere

Russia launched a massive assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure overnight, using 90 missiles and 100 drones. The attack has left over one million people without electricity as temperatures drop, marking the 11th large-scale attack on Ukraine's power systems this year. Ukrainian authorities have accused Russia of "weaponizing winter," with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemning the use of cluster munitions against civilians and infrastructure. At

Four days after a resounding victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has yet to announce its choice for Chief Minister. Senior BJP leader and former CM, Devendra Fadnavis, remains the preferred candidate for the top post within the BJP, but its ally, Shiv Sena, is pushing for Eknath Shinde, who led the rebellion that toppled the previous Uddhav Thackeray government in 2022. The delay in announcing the Chief Minister has drawn criticism from the opposition,

In response to ongoing allegations of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) rigging in the Maharashtra elections, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has called for a nationwide campaign to replace EVMs with ballot papers. Speaking at an event, Kharge emphasized that the Congress will run this campaign similar to the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The move comes after the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was defeated by the BJP-led Mahayuti, securing 230 out of 288 seats in the Maharashtra Ass

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a petition filed by KA Paul, seeking to bring back ballot paper voting in elections instead of the current use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). During the hearing, the Court raised questions about the motivations behind Paul's petition, especially given his background as the president of an organization focused on humanitarian work, including rescuing orphans and widow

Pawan Kalyan, the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, is currently on a political visit to Delhi, meeting with Union Ministers and discussing the state's interests. During his visit, the Telugu media in Delhi raised questions regarding the ongoing issue of Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) absconding after posting offensive, morphed pictures targeting political figures like Chandrababu Naidu, Pawan Kalyan, and