Pawan Kalyan, the Deputy Chief Minister, has officially started his Sanatana Dharma tour following his recovery from high fever and spondylitis. After a brief medical absence, Kalyan departed from Begumpet airport this morning and landed at Kochi airport a short while ago.The tour, which will last for four days, marks his return to full health and is dedicated to visiting prominent temples across Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Today, he will be visiting the Agastya Maharshi Temple in Kochi, which wil

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu introduced a performance ranking system for his Cabinet colleagues, evaluating their efficiency in clearing files from June 12 to December 2024. The ranking aimed to ensure prompt decision-making and greater accountability within the government.In this ranking, Farooq, the Minister for Minorities, emerged as the top performer, highlighting his efficiency in clearing files. The ranking system also shed light on areas where ministers could improve, with Vasam

Karnataka’s Home Minister G Parameshwara has confirmed that a meeting will be held on Wednesday to finalize the draft ordinance designed to protect borrowers from microfinance companies operating in the state. Once the draft is ready, it will be presented to the cabinet on Thursday and sent for approval to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot. The ordinance aims to curb the menace caused by microfinance companies, which have been allegedly using aggressive and unethical methods to rec

Cricket Australia (CA) Chief Executive Nick Hockley has hailed an upcoming exhibition match in Melbourne as a significant milestone for the Afghanistan Women's XI, a team composed of refugees now living in Australia. The team will face Cricket Without Borders XI in a T20 match at Junction Oval, scheduled for Thursday morning, just before the Women's Ashes Test opener at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This match marks the first time the Afghanistan Women’s team has

Janet Petro has been appointed as the acting administrator of NASA, making history as the first woman to hold the position since the agency’s founding in 1958. This appointment comes after President Donald Trump took office, with Petro replacing Bill Nelson, the 14th NASA administrator. In her new role, Petro is responsible for overseeing NASA’s budget, programs, and operations until the U.S. Senate confirms a new administrator. Notably, Trump had nominated entrepreneur

An inquiry into the actions of British Special Forces (UKSF) during the Afghanistan conflict has revealed serious allegations of war crimes, including extrajudicial killings and efforts to cover up these unlawful actions. The investigation, commissioned by the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2022, focuses on the Special Air Service (SAS) and their operations between 2010 and 2013. Testimonies from sever

Afghanistan has expressed its desire to enhance diplomatic relations with India, assuring that it does not pose a threat to any nation. In a statement after the first publicly acknowledged engagement between Kabul and New Delhi since the Taliban came to power, Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry highlighted its intent to strengthen ties, particularly in political and economic spheres. The meeting, held in Dubai, involved Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan M

K. T. Rama Rao (KTR), the former IT Minister of Telangana, has been at the center of an ACB investigation regarding allegations in the Formula E car race project. During a lengthy questioning session, KTR was asked over 80 questions about his involvement in the allocation of funds to private companies without seeking the necessary approvals from the Telangana Cabinet or the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). While KTR admitted to approving the funds, he justified his actions as a quick decision, ca

A significant high-level meeting took place in Dubai between senior Indian officials and the Afghan Taliban leadership. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri represented India, while Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi attended on behalf of the Taliban government. The meeting, which is vital for fostering stronger bilateral relations, aimed to improve cooperation across various sectors, including humanitarian aid, development, trade, and security. One of the

Republican Congressman Lance Gooden has voiced strong opposition to the Biden administration's decision to investigate Indian billionaire Gautam Adani's companies, questioning the motivations behind the probe. In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Gooden suggested that the investigation may be politically motivated, aimed at disrupting Donald Trump’s inauguration and tarnishing the reputation of India's leading industrialist. The investigation stems from

The gems and jewellery industry has made a strong plea to the government to reduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from 3% to 1% in the upcoming Budget. According to the All India Gem and Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC), this move would reduce the industry's growing cost burden, especially amid rising gold prices, and improve affordability for consumers, particularly in rural areas. Rajesh Rokde, Chairman of GJC, emphasized that such a reduction would also promote better tax compliance

India strongly condemned the Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan civilians, which resulted in at least 51 deaths, including women and children, in Afghanistan’s Paktika province on December 24. In a statement on Monday, Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal condemned the attack, describing it as part of Pakistan's longstanding practice of blaming its neighbors for its internal problems. The airstrikes targeted areas in Paktika, particularly affecting the village of Laman,

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu clarified that no action would be taken against Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) concerning allegations of bribery until concrete proof is provided. Speaking at the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) headquarters in Mangalagiri, Naidu emphasized the need for more evidence, especially as the case is still under investigation in the United States. He noted that the state government cannot act based on mere allegations and will await the outcome of the le

India’s Rising Defence Exports India’s defence exports have seen remarkable growth, with a ten-fold increase over the last decade. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that India’s exports now exceed Rs 21,000 crore, compared to just Rs 2,000 crore ten years ago. He outlined a vision to increase this figure to Rs 50,000 crore annually by 2029, demonstrating India’s ambition to become a global leader in defence manufacturing. Emphasis on Technologic

New Taliban Order on Women Employment in NGOs The Taliban government has declared that all national and foreign NGOs in Afghanistan must stop employing women or face being shut down. This decision follows a previous instruction to suspend female employment due to the alleged improper wearing of the Islamic headscarf. NGOs that fail to comply with this order will lose their licenses to operate in Afghanistan, as per a warning issued by the Ministry of Economy on Sunday. Impact

The Biden administration has introduced important modifications to the H-1B visa program, aimed at facilitating the hiring of highly-skilled foreign workers, particularly in the tech sector. These changes are expected to benefit thousands of Indian professionals seeking to work in the United States. The rule, announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), expands the definition of specialty occupations and introduces provisions for nonprofits and governmental research organizations t

In a swift move following Chrystia Freeland’s resignation as Canada’s Finance Minister, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed long-time ally Dominic LeBlanc to the pivotal role. The 57-year-old LeBlanc, who previously served as Public Safety Minister, now faces the daunting task of managing Canada’s finances amidst a growing Can$62 billion deficit—far exceeding initial projections. The Canadian economy is also grappling with various challenges, including the looming

Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s Prime Minister, is known for insisting on using the masculine form of her title - Il Presidente del Consiglio - a bold statement of her assertive leadership style. She gained attention after President Vincenzo De Luca of Campania region insulted her, only for Meloni to turn up to his region and confront him with humor, calling herself "that b****, Meloni." This interaction reflects her fearless attitude and determination to stand her ground. R

On Monday, the Biden administration informed Congress about its decision to approve the sale of MH-60R Multi-Mission Helicopters and related equipment to India, valued at approximately $1.17 billion. This move is aimed at boosting India’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities, enabling the country to better deter current and future security threats. The sale includes advanced systems such as Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS-JTRS), infrared

The Finance Ministry is set to review the windfall tax on fuel exports, including petrol, diesel, and Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), following the stabilization of global crude oil prices. The tax, introduced in July 2022, was implemented to address the substantial profits earned by oil refiners exporting fuel, which had an impact on domestic supplies. The review will assess the tax’s effectiveness and the revenue it has generated, with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas already re