The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has issued a red alert for heavy rainfall in Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, and Idukki districts due to a low-pressure system over the Gulf of Mannar. The Central Meteorological Department has also declared a high alert for central and southern Kerala. An orange alert is in effect for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Thrissur districts, while a yellow alert has been issued for all other districts, excluding Kannur and Kasargod.

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), led by Jagan Mohan Reddy, has been thrown into turmoil following a crushing defeat in the 2024 Andhra Pradesh elections, where the party secured only 11 out of 175 seats. This electoral setback, at the hands of the NDA coalition led by Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan, has escalated into an existential crisis for the party, compounded by a series of defections. Two prominent former MLAs, Avanthi Srinivas and Grandhi Srinivas, resigned from the party

Australia is introducing new rules to compel large tech companies, including Google, Meta, and TikTok, to pay local publishers for news content. These companies, whose annual Australian revenue exceeds $250 million, will need to negotiate commercial deals with media organizations or face increased taxes. This move builds on the world-first law passed in 2021, which forced tech giants like Meta and Google to pay for news content shared on their platforms. The new rules aim to pressur

The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s 50-year regime has ushered in a new chapter for Syria, marked by jubilation and uncertainty. In Damascus, crowds celebrated the regime's collapse, while other groups, including rebel factions, engaged in efforts to stabilize the country and fill the power vacuum left behind. Syrian journalist Abdo Fayyad attributes this shift to the 2016 opposition victories in Idlib, which laid the groundwork for today’s rebel advances. While the future

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has unveiled a new initiative aimed at promoting cleanliness and sanitation across the state. Announced during the inaugural session of the collectors' conference in Amaravati, Naidu declared that every second Saturday of the month will be observed as a special day for the ‘Swachh Andhra Pradesh’ program. This initiative will include various cleanliness drives and sanitation-related activities across the state. Naidu em

The potential fall of Syria’s Assad regime poses a serious challenge for Russia’s foreign policy and military strategy. One of Moscow's most prized assets from its involvement in Syria has been its naval base at Tartus, located on the Mediterranean coast. However, recent developments, including the departure of Russian warships from Tartus, signal that Moscow's long-term access to this crucial facility is at risk. This would be a major blow to Russia, which has historicall

The batting form of India’s stalwarts, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, has been a major topic of discussion in recent months. Both have struggled with consistency, often getting out cheaply. Kohli scored a century in the first Test against Australia at Perth, but both he and Rohit failed to contribute in the second Test at Adelaide, where India suffered a heavy defeat. In the second Test, Kohli and Rohit combined for just 27 runs across four innings. Kohli was dismissed for 7 an

A heartbreaking incident has come to light involving Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash, who recently took his own life after allegedly being extorted by his estranged wife and her family. His family has filed a police complaint accusing his wife, her family members, and a judge of abetment of suicide. Atul, in a recorded 80-minute video and a 24-page suicide note, accused his wife, Nikita Singhania, and her family of extorting crores of rupees from him, beyond his financial capacity. He

The NDA-led government of Andhra Pradesh is making significant strides in inviting global investments to the state. A major milestone was reached today with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the government of Andhra Pradesh and Google, marking the beginning of a strong partnership. The MoU focuses on establishing an AI Data Center in Vizag, which will be operated by Google Cloud. This confirms Google's entry into Andhra Pradesh as part of its tech expans

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

In a significant development, at least 75 Indian nationals have been evacuated from war-torn Syria, where rebel forces have overthrown President Bashar al-Assad’s government. The evacuees, including 44 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir stranded at Saida Zainab, have safely crossed into Lebanon and will return to India by commercial flights, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The evacuation follows multiple requests from Indian nationals and an assessment of the evolv

President-elect Donald Trump has reiterated his plan to end birthright citizenship, a policy that grants U.S. citizenship to children born within the country, regardless of their parents' citizenship. This right, enshrined in the 14th Amendment for more than 150 years, could soon be under scrutiny after Trump takes office on January 20th. Trump has called the practice "ridiculous," stating that the U.S. needs to "get it changed," and that "maybe we&rsquo

Delhi has recorded its coldest morning of the season today, with the temperature dropping to 4.9 degrees Celsius, significantly lower than the season's average by five notches, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The relative humidity was recorded at 64% at 8.30 am, and the temperature is expected to rise to around 23 degrees Celsius by afternoon. As temperatures remain in single digits, homeless individuals in the national capital have sought refuge in night

Telangana has taken a significant lead in river tourism with its long-distance boat services on the Krishna River, operating weekend trips from Somasila in Kollapur to Nagarjunasagar. With a total capacity of 150 passengers, these boats offer a scenic 6-7 hour journey, taking tourists to destinations like Srisailam and providing meals along the way. The boats prioritize safety, including double engines, life jackets, and guides. However, services are suspended during the monsoon season and be

Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes on military targets in Syria after Israeli troops seized a buffer zone, previously established after the 1973 Middle East war. The military said it would deploy forces in additional locations essential for Israel’s defense, though it denied advancing toward Damascus. On the same day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testified in his long-running corruption trial, denying charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Netanyahu called the charge

Legendary Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist has praised the team’s captain, Pat Cummins, for leading Australia to a dominant 10-wicket win in the second Test, which leveled the five-match series 1-1 after their heavy loss in Perth. Gilchrist believes Australia was "stung" by criticism following their 295-run defeat in the opening match and noted that Cummins' controlled aggression was key to their return to form. Gilchrist highlighted Cummins' emo

Anoushka Kale's Election as President Anoushka Kale, a 20-year-old English Literature student at Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge, has been elected as the president of the prestigious Cambridge Union Society for the Easter 2025 term. Kale won the election uncontested, receiving 126 votes. As the current Debates Officer for the society, she is recognized for her commitment to pro

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has criticized the Union Government for delaying financial assistance to Wayanad, which was severely affected by landslides in July. Nearly 400 people were killed in the disaster, and despite 100 days passing since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the affected villages, the state has not received any financial aid for rehabilitation. The Centre has been swift in helping other disaster-hit states, but Kerala’s requests for aid have been

After the historic NDA victory in the 2024 Andhra Pradesh election, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan has been increasingly active in political affairs. Highly respected by CM Chandrababu Naidu and the NDA leadership in Delhi, Kalyan has become a prominent figure. However, recent reports have raised serious concerns as Kalyan's security and administration team received alarming phone calls threatening his life. The caller issued explicit death threats, using offensive and abusive language,