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Karnataka panel backs move to grant Tulu isecond official language status

A high-level committee constituted by the Karnataka government to study the framework adopted by Andhra Pradesh for recognising Urdu as a second official language has submitted its report, backing the state's move to accord similar status to Tulu. The six-member panel, headed by K M Gayatri, former Director of the Kannada and Culture Department, examined the procedures followed by the Andhra Pradesh government before granting second official language status to Urdu, officials said on Wednesday. The committee undertook a field visit to the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat on January 19 and 20 and held consultations with senior officials to understand the legal provisions, administrative mechanisms, and implementation benchmarks involved, they said. The panel also included Tharanatha Gatti Kapikad, president of the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy, in an advisory capacity. The report, along with a detailed note outlining Tulu's historical, linguistic, and cultural significance, was submitted

Indian gas firms restrict local supplies due to West Asia conflict

The US and Israel's air war on Iran has disrupted fuel shipments in the region, affecting India's key supplier of liquefied natural gas, Qatar

India grapples with grid curtailment, biggest test yet on energy transition

Rising renewable energy capacity is straining India's grid, forcing curtailments and raising concerns over stability

Hormuz shutdown worsens after US hits Iran warship, tankers stranded

Hundreds of other vessels remained outside Hormuz unable to reach ports, shipping data showed. The waterway is a key artery for around a fifth of the world's oil and LNG supply

Nepal to hold general election on Thursday, first after Gen Z protests

Voting will be held on Thursday for the general elections, the first one to be held after a Gen Z youth led protest toppled the K P Sharma Oli-led government in Nepal last year. More than 18.9 million eligible Nepalese will exercise their franchise to elect 275 member House of Representatives (HoR) from among the 3,406 candidates vying for 165 seats under direct voting and 3,135 candidates vying for 110 seats through proportionate voting. The election campaign concluded mid-night of Monday, March 2. The voting will start at 7 am on Thursday, March 5, and conclude at 5 pm. Acting Chief election commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari told media persons on Wednesday, "This time the voting percentage will increase and the percentage of invalid ballot papers will also decline due to improved voter education launched by the commission." He also sought cooperation from all sides to conduct the election successfully. The Gen Z youth through their two-day intensified protests on September 8 and

Google Gemini accused of coaching user to suicide in new lawsuit

In a statement, a Google spokesperson said that Gemini clarified to Jonathan Gavalas that it was AI and referred him to a crisis hotline many times

BJP leader dismisses rumours of Nitish Kumar moving to RS as Holi prank

Bihar was abuzz with speculation on Wednesday over rumours that JD(U) president and the state's longest-serving Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may move to the Rajya Sabha, paving the way for the BJP to take the top post while accommodating his son Nishant as deputy CM. However, senior BJP leader and Union minister Giriraj Singh dismissed the rumour as a "Holi prank", asserting "Nitish Kumar ji is the chief minister". The filing of nomination papers for five Rajya Sabha seats in the state will close on Thursday. While the BJP has named its two candidates, including national general secretary Nitin Nabin, and confirmed a second consecutive term for junior NDA ally Upendra Kushwaha, the JD(U) is yet to officially announce its nominees. The rumours of Kumar, who turned 75 earlier this month, being one of the candidates of JD(U), surfaced a day after the party had announced that his son Nishant would be making a belated entry into politics. Earlier, there were speculations that the reclus

Oman Air Cargo to add India, Europe network capacity in coming days

Oman Air Cargo, a key cargo carrier in the Middle East, has announced to add network capacity to various destinations, including India, soon. The cargo player has suspended flights to and from Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and Dubai due to ongoing regional airspace closures. "Extra belly hold capacity will also be added to our network over the coming days through new flights between Oman, the United Kingdom, Europe, India, and Asia," the company said in a statement. "Flights across the rest of our network may be delayed as a result of longer flight paths. We are working to ensure that all affected cargo is rescheduled once we have more clarity on airspace restrictions," it added. "All customers are being contacted to confirm the status of their cargo, and we will continue to provide regular operational updates. The safety of our staff remains our priority, and we are working closely with the relevant authorities and airport partners to ensure that all necessary precautions are in

IRGC threatens 'region's complete destruction' as West Asia conflict widens

The statement, broadcast through Iran's state media, marked one of the most direct warnings issued by the organisation since the conflict begun five days ago

Israel strikes Iran's Assembly where clerics met to pick successor

Israel was likely targeting the Assembly of Experts, a Shia clerical body tasked with electing a supreme leader after Khamenei was killed in Israeli and US strikes on Saturday

Indian embassy shifts majority of Indian students out of Tehran

India on Tuesday said its mission in Iran has relocated the majority of Indian students from Tehran in view of the precarious security situation in the Iranian capital city. India's move came as the conflict in West Asia intensified with the US and Israel carrying out fresh attacks on Iran while Tehran continued to pound several Gulf countries in retaliation. "Due to the heightened risk perception in Tehran city, the embassy of India has relocated most Indian students who were in Tehran," the Indian mission said. The students were taken to locations outside of Tehran. The embassy said it has made arrangements for the transportation, food, and accommodation of the students. "Only a small number of students who declined the embassy's offer remain in Tehran," it said. "For other Indian students and Indian nationals who still remain in Iran, the advisory issued earlier remains unchanged: stay where you are, remain indoors as far as possible, and stay away from windows," the embassy .

'Ok, time to go': Cabs, cash and twisted routes to escape Dubai

The barrages of missiles and interceptors flying over the hubs of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha forced nations to close their airspaces, putting the onus on visitors to chart their own ways home

Iran's strategy: Expand the war, increase the cost, outlast Trump

Although Iran has attacked Persian Gulf countries, including hotels and airports, Tehran has so far failed to drive a wedge between them and Washington

India, Canada sign 5-year MoU to boost agri-food research cooperation

India and Canada strengthened bilateral cooperation in the agri-food sector with the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding between the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management-Kundli (NIFTEM-K) and the University of Saskatchewan (USask). The agreement was signed by NIFTEM-K Director Harinder Singh Oberoi and USask Vice President (Research) Baljit Singh in the presence of Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and senior officials of India's Ministry of Food Processing Industries, according an official statement. The partnership follows the announcement by the Prime Ministers of both countries of a jointly supported Centre of Excellence in Pulse Protein, to be led by NIFTEM-K and USask. The MoU provides for joint research projects, online teaching and training programmes, faculty and student exchanges, integrated degree programmes in Food Processing Technology, and industry-oriented short courses. It also envisages collaborative funding proposals, ..

US, Israel's war with Iran threatens global economy with fresh energy shock

Any event that extends the conflict or threatens sources of oil and gas is likely to lift energy prices to levels that would sow inflation

Iran war enters fourth day amid 'smoke and blood' as conflict widens

Iranian drones struck the US embassy in Saudi Arabia after previously hitting the mission in Kuwait

An emboldened Israel is seizing opportunities to remake region

Now, Israel and the United States own the skies over Iran and are steadily blowing up its ballistic missile infrastructure and arsenal

Trump vows 'whatever it takes' as war with Iran widens in West Asia

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rejected the idea of an "endless" war with Iran. But President Donald Trump later insisted there was no fixed timeline

Iraq starts shutting major oil fields as Hormuz crisis halts exports

The oil-market's worst fears have been realised this week after Hormuz all-but closed to shipping because of the Iran war

Telecom firms' gross revenue crosses ₹1 trillion in December quarter: Trai

The cumulative gross revenue of telecom service providers crossed the Rs 1 lakh crore mark in the December 2025 quarter to Rs 1.02 lakh crore, according to a report by sector regulator Trai, published on Tuesday. The gross revenue of telecom service providers (TSPs) was Rs 96,390 crore a year ago and Rs 99,828 crore in the September 2025 quarter. The adjusted gross revenue (AGR) grew by 8.13 per cent on a year-over-year basis to Rs 84,270 crore in the December 2025 quarter, from Rs 77,934 crore in the same period a year ago. The adjusted gross revenue (AGR) is derived from the sale of telecom services and government levies, including licence fees and spectrum usage charges. Access service providers, which are players like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea, etc., accounted for 84.54 per cent of total AGR in the December 2025 quarter. The AGR data published till the September 2025 quarter by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) in the performance indicator repor