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Dense fog enveloped parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) this morning, significantly reducing visibility and resulting in disruptions to travel. More than 150 flights were delayed, with an average delay of 41 minutes, as reported by aviation website FlightRadar24. Additionally, around 26 trains were delayed or cancelled due to the thick fog. The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) confirmed that departures were impacted but assured travelers that CAT III-compliant fligh

India has extended invitations to Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other neighboring countries to participate in a unique seminar marking 150 years of the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This initiative aims to set aside political differences and highlight the shared history of the Indian subcontinent. The seminar is being hailed as a first-of-its-kind effort by the Indian government to foster regional cooperation. Invitations have been sent to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanis

The Henley Passport Index 2025 reveals that India’s passport has dropped five places, now ranking 85th globally. Indian passport holders can travel visa-free to 57 destinations, sharing the position with Equatorial Guinea and Niger. Singapore continues to top the rankings with visa-free access to 195 destinations. The top 10 list is largely dominated by European countries, with Japan, South Korea, and Finland making notable appearances. A significant change in this year’

Greenland has been the subject of intense geopolitical interest, especially in recent years with Donald Trump’s repeated attempts to buy the island due to its strategic location and resources. Here are 10 fascinating facts about Greenland, its history, and its importance: Historical Ownership: Greenland has been part of several countries over the centuries. Early settlers arrived long ago, but it wasn’t until Denmark and Norway claimed the

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

On Thursday, Lebanon’s parliament elected General Joseph Aoun, the country’s army chief, as president, filling the vacant office that had remained unoccupied since October 2022. His election marks a shift in Lebanon’s political landscape and reflects a diminished influence of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group following the impact of the recent war with Israel. Aoun, who enjoys U.S. approval, received crucial backing from Hezbollah’s Shi'ite ally, the Amal Movement, a

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised Kenya to prioritize developing a predictable and robust regulatory framework for its cryptocurrency sector. In response to requests from Kenya's Capital Markets Authority (CMA) for input on future crypto regulations, the IMF conducted a detailed review of Kenya's crypto landscape. A 43-page Technical Assistance Report released on January 8 outlines the key steps needed to enhance regulation, ensuring the safety of participants and comp

Expansion of China's Trade-In Scheme China is extending its consumer trade-in program, originally launched in March 2024, to help stimulate demand in the struggling household sector. The scheme now includes additional home appliances such as microwave ovens, dishwashers, and rice cookers. In an effort to boost the digital goods market, subsidies are also being offered for products like smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches. Consumers who trade in old products can receive subsidies

Manoj Tiwary, former Indian cricketer, has criticized the selection of Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of the Indian national cricket team, stating that Gambhir is more suited for mentoring IPL teams rather than leading the national side. Tiwary cited several poor performances, including India's recent losses in Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, to support his argument that Gambhir’s appointment was a mistake. He believes that Gambhir lacks the necessary coach

Overview of ISRO's START 2025 Program: ISRO Chairman S Somanath delivered a keynote speech at the launch of the Space Science and Technology Awareness Training (START 2025) program, emphasizing the role of space science beyond the excitement of becoming astronomers. He explained that space science involves rigorous and time-consuming work that requires years of persistent effort and expertise. He shared that this year’s program will involve 20,000 students from more than 560

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the genome sequencing data of 10,000 Indian nationals, a significant step in advancing biotechnology research in India. This data, known as Genome India Data, encapsulates the vast genetic diversity of the Indian population and will be available to researchers through the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) with "managed access." PM Modi highlighted that the national database would be crucial in the treatment of genetic and infecti

A recent study by researchers at the University of Coimbra in Portugal highlights the potential health benefits of regular coffee consumption, suggesting it could extend a person's healthy lifespan by an average of 1.8 years. The research, which was supported by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC), reviews over 50 previous studies to assess the impact of coffee on longevity. Published in the journal Ageing Research Reviews, the study explores how coffee'

Republican Congressman Andy Biggs has reintroduced a bill in the US House of Representatives that seeks to revoke Pakistan’s designation as a major non-NATO ally. The bill stipulates that the U.S. president should not certify this status unless Pakistan continues to take significant military action against the Haqqani Network, a militant group that has long used Pakistan as a safe haven. The bill&

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed doubts about the future of the INDIA alliance, calling for its dissolution if it was created solely for the 2024 Parliament elections. Abdullah highlighted the lack of clarity regarding the alliance's leadership, agenda, and overall direction, noting that no meetings of the INDIA bloc have been organized. He also mentioned that the Congress should not take its leadership position in the alliance for granted, pointing out that so

In 1985, Pritish Nandy conducted a groundbreaking interview with the legendary singer Kishore Kumar, revealing facets of his eccentric personality that the public had never known. Featured in The Illustrated Weekly of India, the interview unveiled Kishore Kumar's passion for Alfred Hitchcock, his eccentric humor, and candid reflections on his personal life, including his four marriages. In the interview, Kishore Kumar openly discussed his thoughts on marriage, his relat

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman S.N. Subrahmanyan's remarks about employees needing to work 90 hours a week to stay competitive have sparked outrage on Reddit. In a video from an internal interaction, Subrahmanyan expressed his belief that working on Sundays would help employees achieve success, citing China's 90-hour work week as a model to follow. The comments were met with significant backlash, with many questioning the toll such work expectations take on employee well-being

The recent tragic stampede during the Vaikuntha Ekadashi celebrations in Tirupati has left the community in grief. In response to the crisis, the government has announced an ex-gratia of ₹25 lakh to the families of the deceased. This announcement was made following the incident at the token distribution centers for the Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan. Revenue Minister Anagani Satyaprasad, alongside other state ministers, including Home Minister Anita and Anam Ramanayana Reddy, visited the

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the controversial comments made by President-elect Donald Trump regarding the potential US acquisition of Greenland, stating that such an action is not realistic and urging the world not to waste time discussing it. Speaking in Paris during his farewell tour, Blinken stressed that the Biden administration's foreign policy focuses on maintaining strong alliances, with the belief that the US is more effective when working alongside its allies.

Two U.S. astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for months, provided an update on their extended stay. Initially, they were expected to spend just eight days aboard the ISS after arriving in June via Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. However, technical issues with the Starliner’s propulsion system forced NASA to change their return plans, pushing their departure to March 2025 at the earliest. Despite the

Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has spoken out on the issue of grooming gangs in the UK, stating that the blame cannot be placed on Asia as a whole but rather on "one rogue nation"—Pakistan. This statement was endorsed by SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who called her assertion "true." Chaturvedi’s comments came amid growing tensions in the UK, where the opposition Conservative party called for a new national inquiry into the widespread sexual abus