Nation

New Delhi: Infamous conman Sukesh Chandra Shekhar, currently in jail, has reportedly offered to buy the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for a staggering one billion US dollars. In a letter addressed to RCB’s parent company Diageo, Sukesh, through his firm LS Holdings, claimed that the deal could be finalized within 48 hours. He also stated that the purchase would be a gift for his partner, Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandes. A Billion-Dollar Offer In his letter to Diageo, Sukesh Chandra Shekhar expressed LS Holdings’ interest in acquiring full ownership and operational control of RCB. The proposed deal, valued at approximately ₹8,300 crore, would be entirely in cash. According to Sukesh, the acquisition would include all franchise rights, t...

New Delhi: Recent incidents across India have highlighted the need for technology that can monitor people living alone around the clock and alert others in case of emergencies. A case in point is 69-year-old Deepak Kumar from Ghaziabad, who lived alone and passed away—likely due to a heart attack—without anyone noticing for 12 days. Neighbors last saw him on New Year’s Eve, and though his phone rang repeatedly until 4 January, no one checked. His body was found only on 11 January. Deepak Kumar’s story is not unique. Many people relocate for work, gradually drift away from family, or face health challenges that isolate them. In such circumstances, even a short lapse in daily routine can leave someone entirely alone and vulnerable. China’s Solution: ‘Are You Dead?’ In China, an a...

New Delhi: Padma Bhushan awardee Uma Sharma, a senior Kathak dancer and disciple of the legendary Pandit Shambhu Maharaj, has long been a torchbearer of Hindustani classical dance. At 83, she continues to orchestrate the Swami Haridas-Tansen Music & Dance Festival in Delhi, ensuring that the legacy of classical music and dance remains alive for generations. In an exclusive interview with Alok Paradkar, she shares her candid views on the evolving landscape of Kathak and classical music. Preserving the Purity of Classical Music On the changes in Hindustani classical music, Sharma remarked: “I don’t believe classical music needs radical transformation. It is a heritage that must be carefully preserved. Its ragas and compositions should be safeguarded with utmost respect. While I enc...

New Delhi: The night skies over Hanle in Ladakh on 19–20 January turned an eerie blood-red, leaving locals and observers both awestruck and alarmed. What appeared to be a northern lights-like spectacle was, in reality, a warning from the Sun—a powerful solar storm that poses risks to satellites, power grids, GPS systems, and other digital infrastructure in India. A Rare and Intense Solar Event This phenomenon was caused by the most intense solar radiation storm in the last 20 years, triggered by a massive X-class solar flare that erupted from the Sun on 18 January. The flare ejected a dense cloud of superheated plasma—a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)—which traveled at a staggering speed of approximately 1,700 km per second and struck Earth’s magnetic field within 25 hours. The impact...

New Delhi: India is set to introduce a landmark rule in its aviation sector that could change the way small aircraft operate. The government is considering regulations that would allow passenger planes with up to 19 seats to take off and land from unlicensed, uncontrolled runways. This provision would work similarly to the Baramati airstrip incident on the morning of 28 January, when a plane carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar attempted to land on an uncontrolled airstrip, resulting in a tragic crash that killed all five people on board. Global Precedent and Domestic Concerns Aviation sources note that several countries, including in Africa, already permit small passenger aircraft to operate from uncontrolled airstrips. However, India’s situation is more complex....

New Delhi: The Supreme Court’s stay on the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) new regulations has not quelled the debate, as questions linger over the government’s next steps. The UGC Regulations 2026, which address equality and justice in academic institutions, have sparked protests, particularly among the upper-caste community, seeking clarity from the Modi government. Focus on the ‘False Complaint’ Clause Sources indicate that the Ministry of Education has begun considering reintroducing safeguards against “false complaints” in the final rules. This clause, included in the 2025 draft, was removed from the 2026 final regulations. Critics argue that without penalties for false complaints, the provision could be misused to harass individuals. Protests and Concerns Upper-caste...

New Delhi: The tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others has drawn critical attention from the pilot community. The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has stated that landing a plane on the Baramati airstrip in Pune at a visibility of 3,000 meters would have been unsafe. According to the union, a minimum visibility of 5,000 meters is required for a safe landing on such an uncontrolled airstrip. Landing Risks at Uncontrolled Airstrips FIP President Captain C.S. Randhawa explained that uncontrolled or unlicensed airstrips often lack essential safety systems, including the Instrument Landing System (ILS), which is considered a minimum standard for commercial operations. In the case of the Baramati crash, low visibility combi...

New Delhi: The Indian Navy is set to receive the country’s first “Made-in-India” unmanned interceptor craft (UIC), marking a significant boost to its maritime capabilities. Developed by Pune-based defence firm Sagar Defence Engineering, these automated, weaponized fast interceptor craft are designed to secure India’s coastal waters and support specialized naval missions. Enhancing Naval Strength The introduction of these unmanned fast interceptor craft (FICs) will considerably enhance the Navy’s ability to safeguard maritime borders. With these weaponized vessels, India will join an exclusive group of nations equipped with “vessel swarm” technology capable of deploying multiple armed crafts in coordinated operations. Designed, Developed, and Manufactured in India Sources confir...

Mumbai: The historic trade deal between India and the European Union promises to be a game-changer for both sides, extending far beyond conventional commerce. The agreement demonstrates that successful trade requires not just numbers, but alignment in rules, standards, and mutual respect for domestic priorities. A Landmark Agreement European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced this week that India and the EU have signed their largest and most comprehensive bilateral trade deal to date. While the negotiations took years, the timing of its conclusion is significant. The deal sets a benchmark for modern free trade agreements, emphasizing collaboration, standards alignment, and respect for each other’s domestic policies. Economic Scale and Job Creation Once implemen...

New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued alerts indicating major weather changes across northern India in the coming days. According to forecasts, several states can expect rain and snowfall until 3 February. Western Disturbance Brings Snow and Rain On the last day of January, the Western Disturbance is expected to significantly impact the weather in North India. The IMD has issued warnings of rain and snowfall in multiple states. Two weather systems forming over the western Himalayas are likely to bring light to moderate rainfall and occasional snow from 31 January to 3 February. The western Himalayas have already seen increased cloud cover due to the approaching system. Heavy snowfall is expected in Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, w...