The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has called an urgent meeting of its Apex Council to appoint former Chief Election Commissioner Achal Kumar Jyoti as the electoral officer for upcoming elections to fill the positions of secretary and treasurer. These posts were vacated by Jay Shah and Ashish Shelar, who assumed new roles in December. According to the BCCI constitution, the Board must call a Special General Meeting and appoint an electoral officer at least four weeks before the

 On Wednesday, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, L Murugan, informed the Lok Sabha that the government had blocked 18 OTT platforms this year for publishing obscene, vulgar, and in some cases, pornographic content. This action is in line with the IT Rules of 2021, which impose specific due diligence obligations on intermediaries to ensure they take reasonable steps to prevent the spread of such content. The IT Rules also set out a Code of Ethics for publishers

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

 Hamida Banu’s incredible journey from isolation to reunion underscores the transformative impact of social media in today's digital era. Deceived by a recruitment agent in 2022, Banu was promised a job in Dubai but was instead taken to Pakistan, where she spent 23 years unable to contact her family in India. Her life changed when a video interview of her, shared on social media by Pakistani activist Waliullah Maroof, went viral. Indian journalist Khalfan Shaikh shared the vide

In a significant political development, the BJP has decided to send notices to MPs who were absent in the Lok Sabha during the introduction of the government’s flagship One Country One Election Bill. Sources revealed that more than 20 BJP MPs were not present during the division of the house, even though the party had issued a three-line whip instructing all members to be present. Despite the absences, the government successfully passed the bills, which aim to amend t

Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, has confirmed that general elections will likely take place by the end of 2025 or in the first half of 2026. Yunus, who was appointed the country’s "chief adviser" after a student-led uprising in August toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is overseeing a temporary administration that is focused on restoring democratic institutions in the country. Yunus, 84, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning microfinance pioneer, h

Ahead of Bangladesh's Bijoy Dibosh, commemorating the country's victory over Pakistan in the 1971 Liberation War, deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina launched a sharp critique of the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. She accused Yunus of leading a "fascist" administration that was "secretly supporting anti-liberation extremist-communal forces" and undermining the spirit of Bangladesh's independence. In her statement, Hasina poin

Officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have seized counterfeit drugs worth Rs 1.85 crore after conducting raids at two locations in Maharashtra’s Thane district. The raids, which took place in Bhiwandi and Mira Road over the past few months, uncovered a scheme where the accused were manufacturing and selling spurious medicines while falsely branding them as original products. The drugs were distributed across several states, deceiving patients and jeopardizing p

A tragic incident occurred in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district when a Class 10 student, Sukhdev Munda, died after allegedly being administered a wrong injection at a local pharmacy. Sukhdev, who was suffering from a skin infection, was taken to Sarbeswar Medicines pharmacy in Saharpada Market by his father for treatment. The pharmacist assured them that an injection would provide quick relief. However, shortly after receiving the injection, Sukhdev's condition deteriorated, and he passed

In a politically charged move, the West Bengal BJP's Murshidabad unit has announced plans to construct a Ram temple in Berhampore, following a proposal by TMC MLA Humayun Kabir to build a mosque in Beldanga, located in the same district. The BJP's proposed Ram temple, which will be modeled after the Ram temple in Ayodhya, is scheduled to begin construction on January 22, 2025, marking exactly one year after the inauguration of the Ayodhya temple. Shakharav Sarkar, the BJP&rs

Telugu actor Allu Arjun has been arrested in connection with a tragic stampede that occurred outside a Hyderabad theatre during the premiere of his film Pushpa 2: The Rule. The incident, which took place last month, led to the death of a woman and left others injured. The stampede broke out after Allu Arjun made an unscheduled appearance at the theatre, causing a surge of fans. The actor's unexpected visit reportedly led to a chaotic situation, resulting in the fatal incident.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed concerns in the Lok Sabha regarding the safety of minorities in Bangladesh, particularly following reports of attacks on Hindus. His statement came amidst rising incidents of communal violence in the neighboring country, where the treatment of minorities, especially Hindus, has become a matter of increasing alarm. Jaishankar emphasized that the government of Bangladesh must ensure the safety and security of its minority communities, highlighti

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh made history on Thursday by becoming the youngest world chess champion at the age of 18. He triumphed over the reigning title-holder, Ding Liren of China, in the 14th and final game of their thrilling showdown in Singapore. Gukesh secured the necessary 7.5 points, edging out Liren, who scored 6.5 points, after winning the last classical time control game, which had seemed destined for a draw for most of the match. Before Gukesh, the title of the youngest

Kim Yong-hyun, the former South Korean Defence Minister, was arrested on Tuesday after attempting suicide just before his formal detention. The former minister is under investigation for his role in the failed martial law declaration by President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 3. He attempted suicide at the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center using his clothing, but his life is not in danger. Mr. Kim is facing charges, including insurrection and abuse of authority for obstructing rights during

Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate, has been charged with the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione, who was arrested in Pennsylvania, faces charges including first-degree murder, weapons possession, and forgery. He is expected to be extradited to New York. Educational Background Mangione graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2020 with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in engineering, majoring in com

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

Rohit Sharma, the Indian cricket team captain, has struggled with his form in the ongoing series against Australia. After missing the first Test in Perth due to family commitments, Rohit returned to the squad for the day-night match in Adelaide but failed to make an impact. In the second match, his poor form continued, as he was dismissed cheaply in both innings. Rohit's dismissals were concerning due to his lack of foot movement, as he was trapped in front of the stumps in both innings.

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

 After the passing of his mentor, the legendary Ratan Tata, Shantanu Naidu, the young manager and confidant of the billionaire philanthropist, has embarked on a new journey with his passion project, Bookies. This initiative, originally started in Mumbai, aims to reignite the joy of reading among people in today’s digital age. With successful editions already in Pune and Bengaluru, Mr. Naidu is now ready to bring Bookies to Jaipur. The launch event will be held on

Brian Thompson, the CEO of US-based UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel on Wednesday morning. Thompson, 50, was walking toward the hotel to deliver a keynote address at an investor conference when a gunman ambushed him. Surveillance footage captured the suspect, a white male wearing a hooded jacket and a black mask, approaching Thompson from behind and firing several shots with a semi-automatic handgun fitted with a silencer. Thompson was str