Author: Team Admin

New Delhi: Reigning world champion D Gukesh will look to secure his first major success of the year when he headlines India’s campaign at the Prague International Chess Festival in the Czech Republic, beginning Wednesday. After an early exit at the World Cup and a subdued showing at the Tata Steel Masters, Gukesh will aim to regain momentum in a high quality Masters field. Seeded second, the 10th ranked player in the live world ratings enters the tournament as India’s highest rated Grandmaster. He faces stiff competition from top seed Vincent Keymer, who currently sits fourth in the live rankings,…

New Delhi: Former India head coach Ravi Shastri delivered a candid assessment after India’s crushing 76 run defeat to South Africa national cricket team in the Super 8 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The loss in Ahmedabad left the India national cricket team with a steep path to the semifinals, but Shastri said he was relieved the setback came early rather than at the decisive stage of the tournament. Reflecting on the defeat, Shastri suggested the result could serve as a timely wake up call for the Suryakumar Yadav led side. He noted that facing adversity at…

New Delhi: More than 270 former judges and retired civil and police officials have sharply criticised a shirtless protest staged by members of the Indian Youth Congress during the AI Impact Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. In a joint statement titled “A National Disgrace at Bharat Mandapam,” the signatories described the episode as a serious affront to national dignity at a time when India was hosting global technology leaders and international delegates. Among those who endorsed the statement were former Delhi High Court judge S N Dhingra and former Tripura Director General of Police B L Vohra. The…

New Delhi: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has indicated that India will resume trade negotiations with the United States once there is greater clarity on tariff related developments in Washington. He stated that discussions would move forward as soon as the situation on the tariff front becomes clearer. India and the United States had earlier decided to reschedule a planned meeting between their chief negotiators that was set to take place in Washington to finalise the text of an interim trade agreement. The Indian delegation was originally scheduled to begin a three day round of talks on February 23,…

New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has criticised the Union government’s decision to approve the renaming of Kerala to “Keralam,” arguing that symbolic changes are being prioritised over developmental needs. He pointed out that the state has long been referred to as Keralam in Malayalam, questioning what practical difference the change would make in English usage. Tharoor remarked that while the Centre had cleared the proposal to alter the state’s name, it had not sanctioned major projects or new institutions for Kerala. He cited the absence of an AIIMS and what he described as a lack of significant allocations in…

New Delhi: A month after a plane crash near Baramati claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, aviation authorities have grounded four aircraft operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd. The action follows a special safety audit conducted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in the aftermath of the accident. The regulator reported multiple deviations from approved procedures within the company’s operations. The audit identified shortcomings in airworthiness standards, flight safety oversight, and operational practices. Citing gaps in maintenance processes and procedural compliance, the DGCA directed immediate corrective measures. As part of the order,…

New Delhi: India and Israel have formally launched the first round of negotiations for a proposed Free Trade Agreement, marking a significant step in strengthening their economic partnership. The discussions began in New Delhi on 23 February 2026 and will continue until 26 February 2026, setting the stage for a structured dialogue on expanding bilateral trade and investment ties. The groundwork for these negotiations was laid in November 2025 with the signing of the Terms of Reference, which established a clear framework for engagement across identified sectors. The agreement aims to provide greater predictability and stability for businesses in both…