A 19th-century painting by renowned Indian artist Raja Ravi Varma has set a new benchmark in the global art market, selling for 1.67 billion rupees ($17.9 million) at an auction in New Delhi on Wednesday, April 2, 2026. The sale marks the highest price ever achieved for an Indian artwork, surpassing the previous record held by a work from modernist painter MF Husain. The painting, titled Yashoda and Krishna, is an oil-on-canvas masterpiece created in the 1890s, during the peak of Va

Renowned Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee tragically passed away following a boating accident at Talsari beach in Odisha. The 42-year-old actor was reportedly in the region for a film shoot when the incident occurred, sending shockwaves across the Bengali film industry and his fan base. Acco

In a tragic incident, two Indian Air Force pilots were killed after their Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighter jet crashed in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam. The aircraft, which was on a routine training mission, went missing shortly after taking off from the Jorhat airbase, located about 60 km away from the crash site. The missing jet was reported to have lost contact with the control tower at approximately 7:42 pm, and it was later discovered to have crashed in a remote, hilly region. Residents of

India is preparing to buy five additional squadrons of the Russian‑made S‑400 Triumf long‑range air defence missile system, a plan driven by the system’s highly effective performance during last year’s Operation Sindoor. The move aims to significantly bolster the Indian Air Force’s layered air defence network across both eastern and western fronts against evolving aerial threats. Defence ministry sources say the proposal from the Indian Air Force will soon be taken up fo

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a significant gesture during his private dinner with Prime Minister Narendra Modi by wearing a traditional Indian jacket, warmly greeting the Indian leader. This thoughtful attire choice was widely seen as a symbol of the growing strategic partnership between India and Israel. The move not only emphasized the strengthening diplomatic and defense ties but also highlighted the personal rapport shared by both leaders, underscoring the deepening coop

Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan has once again captured public attention with a mysterious and cryptic post on X, leaving fans puzzled and curious. The veteran actor, known for his thoughtful and often philosophical social media presence, shared a short yet striking message that immediately sparked widespread speculation. His post read, “T 5661(i) – CHUUUUUUPPPP!!!!” accompanied by an angry emoji, triggering a wave of reactions from his millions of followers across the platform.

On February 6, Galgotias University made headlines with a bold announcement: it had invested more than Rs 350 crore in artificial intelligence infrastructure, calling it the largest AI investment by any private university in India. The statement positioned the institution as a future global AI powerhouse, citing partnerships, supercomputing infrastructure, and ambitions aligned with global leaders s

The Defence Procurement Board has cleared a proposal to acquire 114 additional Rafale fighter aircraft, marking a major step forward in India’s effort to strengthen its air combat capabilities. The clearance, granted after an initial examination of the case, advances one of the Indian Air Force’s most significant modernisation plans aimed at addressing long-standing operational gaps and preparing for future security challenges. The proposal is intended to narrow the difference b

Two Indian nationals working as truck drivers in the United States were arrested in Indiana following the discovery of a large quantity of cocaine during a routine highway inspection conducted earlier this month. Authorities said the seizure took place on January 3, when state police stopped a semi-truck traveling along Interstate 70 in Putnam County and uncovered approximately 309 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $7 million. According to law enforcement officials

Pakistan has, for the first time, publicly acknowledged that Indian drone strikes caused damage at the strategically sensitive Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi during Operation Sindoor, marking a significant shift from its earlier attempts to downplay or deny the impact of the attacks. The admission came during a year-end press briefing on December 27, when Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister

Recent calls by some US political activists to reduce or eliminate the presence of Indian professionals in American workplaces have reignited a long-running debate over immigration, national identity and economic growth. Mark Mitchell, a US pollster who has promoted what he describes as a “de-Indianisation” consultancy, has become a prominent voice in this discourse. His arguments reflect a broader strain of nativism that has surfaced periodically throughout American history, often at mom

A winter storm watch has been issued for the entire Chicago region as the area prepares for the possibility of significant snowfall during the weekend following Thanksgiving. Weather officials have included all of northern and central Illinois along with northwest Indiana in the alert, signaling that the system is expected to affect a large portion of the region. The watch will take effect at 3 a.m. on Saturday and remain in place through Sunday morning, covering a period during which travel con

American singer and actor Jennifer Lopez has once again become the center of online discussion, this time among Indian audiences. Her appearance at the lavish wedding of Netra Mantena and Vamsi Gadiraju in Udaipur made headlines, especially because of her power-packed performance during the celebrations. However, what truly caught widespread attention was not just her music or dance, but the choice of outfits she wore on stage. Videos from the wedding quickly surfaced online, showcasing Jenni

A Tejas fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed on Friday during its scheduled performance at the Dubai Air Show, prompting an immediate investigation into the cause of the aviation accident. The incident occurred while the indigenous light combat aircraft was taking part in an aerobatic display at one of the world’s most prominent aerospace events, drawing attention from global defence and aviation observers. The air show, known for showcasing advanced fighter jets and emerging ae

Indian-origin venture capitalist Asha Jadeja Motwani has asserted that she played a role in shaping former President Donald Trump’s recent shift in tone on the H-1B visa program, a move that has triggered debate among his political supporters. The program, which enables United States companies to hire skilled foreign workers, has long been a focal point in policy discussions involving the technology sector. Motwani said she spoke directly with both Trump and Vice President JD Vance about th

Veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra’s health became the centre of widespread misinformation on social media after several unverified reports claimed that the 89-year-old had passed away. However, his family swiftly dismissed the false claims, confirming that the legendary actor is alive, stable, and recovering under medical care at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital. Early on November 11, social media platforms were flooded with posts suggesting the demise of the actor affectionately k

A powerful early-season winter storm brought heavy lake effect snow to parts of northeastern Illinois and northwest Indiana on Monday, causing significant travel disruptions, hazardous driving conditions, and widespread school closures. The unseasonal snowfall, which arrived in the middle of fall, blanketed some communities with more than a foot of snow while leaving others with little more than a dusting. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), a winter storm warni