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Bangladesh's Yunus thanks Army chief, staff in farewell meetings

Bangladesh's outgoing Chief Adviser of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, on Monday bid farewell to officials and employees at his office, a day ahead of the oath-taking ceremony of the new cabinet. Following the speech, Yunus participated in a photo session with all those serving at his office, state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha quoted his spokesperson as saying. Bangladesh's Chief of Army Staff Gen Waker-Uz-Zamanalso paid a farewell visit to Yunus on Monday, bdnews24.com reported. Yunus thanked the Army chief for the cooperation of the armed forces during the general election. The tenure of Yunus is going to end tomorrow, following the swearing-in ceremony of the new government led by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). BNP, led by its chairman Tarique Rahman, bagged a whopping 209 out of 297 seats in the crucial 13th Parliamentary elections held on February 12. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin is likely to administer the oath of office to the newly ele

Reliance Retail to pilot search-discovery platform in multi-channel push

Reliance's online grocery delivery ‌service JioMart expanded to compete in the 10-minute delivery segment in 2025

NPCI offers wallet service to foreign visitors at AI Impact Summit

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) on Monday said that 'UPI One World' wallet services will be available for international visitors attending the ongoing five-day India AI Impact Summit. Through this pilot initiative, inbound foreign travellers will be able to make secure and real-time Person-to-Merchant (P2M) UPI payments during their visit to India. Visitors can use the wallet service without an Indian mobile number or bank account. "The 'UPI One World' wallet is available through authorised PPI issuers at New Delhi International Airport and at the NPCI Pavilion (Hall 14, Stall number 14.16) in Bharat Mandapam," NPCI said in a statement. Travellers can load the wallet using various payment methods and make transactions by scanning UPI QR codes via the PPI-UPI application. This eliminates the need to carry cash or manage foreign exchange complexities. Any unused balance can be transferred back to the original payment source as per foreign exchange regulations, the ...

Denta Water and Infra Solutions order book crosses ₹841 crore in December

Denta Water and Infra Solutions on Monday said that it has secured orders worth Rs 377.31 crore during the April-December period this fiscal year, taking its total order book to Rs 841.48 crore. The company has also secured two projects in the capacity of a subcontractor and holds an L1 (lowest bidder) position in two projects, subject to final approvals, Denta Water and Infra Solutions said. According to a company statement, Denta Water and Infra Solutions has a healthy order book of around Rs 841.48 crore as on December 31, 2025, providing revenue visibility in the coming quarters across irrigation, urban water supply and wastewater management projects. For the nine months of FY26, the company secured fresh orders worth Rs 377.31 crore, including Rs 161.12 crore in the October-December quarter. Chairman C Mruthyunjaya Swamy said, "We continue to see healthy traction across irrigation, drinking water and wastewater management projects, supported by a robust order book and expandin

The War Within a War: How Vietnam shaped the civil rights movement

A new history shows how the Vietnam War became a frontline of America's civil rights struggle, exposing deep racial injustice within the US military

magicpin eyes 20M active users in 2026, food delivery to drive growth: CEO

magicpin aims to grow its active user base to 20 million in 2026 with food delivery as a key growth driver, the hyperlocal platform's CEO and Founder Anshoo Sharma said on Sunday. The company crossed 15 million active users last year across various categories including e-commerce, ticketing and food delivery, is focusing on the value conscious segment for further expansion of its food delivery vertical, Sharma told PTI in an interview. "Our focus is on building value-conscious food delivery users who order frequently and engage habitually. We aim to grow our active user base to 20 million in 2026 with food delivery as a key growth driver, particularly among students and first-time job seekers," Sharma said. A majority of the active 15 million users on the platform belong to the value-conscious segment in India's major cities in the age group of 18-35 years. Food delivery continues to be the primary growth driver, supported by higher repeat users and increasing cross-category ...

Delhi Traffic Police rolls out app for faster processing of challans

The Delhi Traffic Police has launched a dedicated 'Digital Lok Adalat' application aimed at ensuring faster and more convenient settlement of traffic challans, an official said on Saturday. The system has been developed in coordination with the Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) and the National Informatics Centre (NIC) as part of a technology-driven push to streamline traffic enforcement-related services and reduce delays faced by citizens, the official said.s According to Delhi Traffic Police, under the existing mechanism, citizens often faced considerable delays in the updation of notices and challans settled during Lok Adalat proceedings. The Digital Lok Adalat system has been introduced as a technological intervention to address these issues by enabling faster disposal and real-time status updates. The newly launched portal provides unified access to traffic challan data and ensures real-time updation of disposed challans. Vehicle owners will also receive SMS ...

Army Chief Gen Dwivedi to embark on 4-day visit to Australia on Monday

Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi will undertake a four-day visit to Australia beginning Monday to explore ways to boost bilateral defence ties and jointly contributing to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. The defence ministry said the Army Chief will hold wide-ranging interactions with senior leadership of the Australian defence forces, especially focussing on enhancing army-to-army engagements including training and joint exercises. It said the visit is aimed at further strengthening India-Australia defence cooperation and reinforcing the growing convergence between the two nations. "The visit reaffirms the shared commitment of both nations to further enhancing defence cooperation and jointly contributing to peace, stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region," it said in a statement. In Canberra, Gen Dwivedi will hold talks with Lt Gen Simon Stuart, the Chief of the Australian Army. Lt Gen Stuart and Gen Dwivedi are alumni of the US Army War College's 'Class of 2015' a

Sneakrz operator Brandman Retail debuts on NSE; ends 5% above IPO

Brandman Retail, a distributor and retailer for the premium athleisure and lifestyle brands, has been listed on NSE at a valuation of Rs 324.85 crore. The company, which has an IPO price of Rs 176, settled at Rs 211.80 on NSE on Friday, up 4.98 per cent. Brandman Retail, which has raised Rs 86 crore through its public issue, will invest the proceeds in store expansion, working capital support, and general corporate purposes, according to a company statement. Brandman Retail currently operates 21 stores across India, which is a mix of Exclusive Brand Outlets (EBOs) and Multi-Brand Outlets (MBOs). "As part of its next growth phase, the company plans to open 15 new stores funded through IPO proceeds, forming the first leg of a broader expansion strategy aimed at building a 50+ store national network," it said. Founded by Arun Malhotra, Brandman Retail has positioned itself as a platform for international sports and lifestyle brands seeking structured entry and expansion in the Indian

NDMC ramps up surveillance, cleanup ahead of India AI Impact Summit

The NDMC on Saturday said it has stepped up surveillance, sanitation and beautification measures across Lutyens' Delhi ahead of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, to be held here from February 16 to 20. In a statement, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) said Vice-Chairperson Kuljeet Chahal has conducted an on-ground review of the preparations, beginning at the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), where real-time monitoring of civic services and security arrangements is being carried out. "A total of 333 NDMC CCTV cameras and 183 Delhi Police cameras have been integrated with the ICCC for round-the-clock surveillance. A dedicated traffic coordination helpline has also been set up in coordination with Delhi Traffic Police," Chahal was quoted as saying in a statement. "All sanitation and service vehicles are being tracked through GPS, including RFID-enabled bins, jetting machines, mechanical road sweepers, anti-smog guns and water tankers. Ninety-nine garbage-prone spots at

Tripura CM Manik Saha rejects Roman script demand for Kokborok language

Chief Minister Saha asserted that adopting a "foreign script" could pose a threat to indigenous identity and traditional culture

Arunachal CM Khandu asks citizens to share ideas for Budget 2026-27

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Saturday invited citizens to actively participate in shaping the state budget 2026-27 by sharing suggestions, ideas and feedback, stressing that the government aims to make the process more inclusive, participatory and people-centric. In a message shared on social media, the chief minister called on people from all sections of society to contribute their inputs as the state prepares its annual financial roadmap. He emphasised that public participation is key to building a stronger, progressive and inclusive Arunachal Pradesh. "As we prepare the Arunachal Budget 2026-27, the government of Arunachal Pradesh invites valuable suggestions, ideas, and feedback from all citizens," Khandu said in a post on X. He urged people to be active partners in the development process. Highlighting the importance of collective effort in governance, the chief minister added, "Let us work together to build a stronger, inclusive, and progressive Arunachal.

Dollar trade with US aligns with Russia's national currency policy: Kremlin

The trade with the US in dollars does not contradict Russia's principle policy of use of national currencies in foreign transactions, the Kremlin said Saturday. Russia switched to the use of national currencies in foreign trade after its USD and Euro accounts were frozen by the West following the outbreak of the 2022 conflict with Ukraine and has been pushing for a global de-dollarisation trend. In an interview to the state-run TASS news agency, the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov pointed that the dollar is the national currency of the United States, so its use in transactions with Washington will not conflict with the principle of transitioning to national currencies. "In general, yes," the Kremlin spokesman agreed with the thesis about the dollar as the national currency in Russian-American trade and that its use will not fundamentally affect Russia's interactions with its current partners. Amid reports of bilateral negotiations to expand economic cooperation between Moscow an

Access to justice must deliver real outcomes for all: CJI Surya Kant

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday said access to justice cannot remain an abstract ideal reserved for the legally empowered and must translate into real outcomes for marginalised citizens. Speaking at the 11th biennial meeting of the Commonwealth Judicial Educators (CJE) here, CJI Kant said judicial leadership cannot be confined to administrative authority or institutional hierarchy and must be understood as an intellectual and ethical orientation. "Access to justice cannot remain an abstract ideal reserved for the legally empowered. It must translate into real outcomes for the last person standing in the line, the marginalised citizen whose faith in the justice system rests upon its accessibility, responsiveness and humanity," the CJI said. While placing stress on integration of technology into the justice system, he said that AI must assist, and not replace, judicial reasoning. CJI Kant said judicial leadership demands not only administrative foresight but deep empath

FM calls for tech share, differentiated treatment for low emissions nations

The finance minister stressed that India had increased its commitment towards climate action, increasing its budget allocation from 3.7 per cent of GDP six years ago to nearly 5.6 per cent of GDP now

Cabinet clears ₹18,662 cr for Brahmaputra road-rail tunnel in Assam

The Union Cabinet has approved a Rs 18,662-crore project to construct a four-lane access-controlled greenfield corridor between Gohpur and Numaligarh, featuring India's first road-cum-rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra river in Assam. Currently, the connectivity between Numaligarh on NH715 and Gohpur on NH-15 is 240 km -- from the existing Kaliabhambhora road bridge near Silghat on NH-52, which takes 6 Hours passing through Numaligarh, Kaziranga National Park, and Biswanath Town, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) said in a statement on Saturday. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the construction of a four-lane, access-controlled greenfield road connecting Gohpur on NH-15 to Numaligarh on the 715 section, including a 15.79 km road-cum-rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra River, to be developed at a total cost of Rs 18,662 crore in Assam, it added. The project will be developed on an engineering-procurement-construction (EPC) model, MoRTH said. This

GRSE commences production of two coastal research vessels for GSI

Defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd on Saturday commenced the construction of two coastal research vessels (CRV) for the Geological Survey of India (GSI), an official statement said. The ceremonial steel cutting, marking the commencement of the construction of the ship, was held in the presence of GSI Director General Asit Saha and senior officials from GRSE and the Indian Armed Forces. The research vessels, each having a length of 64 metres and a width of 13 metres, will have capabilities to carry out offshore geological mapping, mineral exploration (including dredging), ocean environment monitoring and research, the statement said. "They will have modern, well-equipped scientific laboratories on board for data processing and sample analysis," it said, adding that these ships will operate within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of India. The defence shipyard, which also builds research and survey platforms, is currently building an ocean research vessel

Ties with India must go beyond economic complementarity: Australian envoy

India and Australia have "highly complementary" economies, and both countries produce things which fit each other's interests, but the bilateral relationship needs to be deeper than that aspect, Australian envoy Philip Green said. "We need to understand each other at a deeper level. We need to tell each other's stories and hear each other's stories," Green told PTI on the sidelines of an event hosted on Friday night on the premises of the Australian High Commission here. Two Australians of Indian heritage, including India-born Reuben de Melo, who won "The Voice Australia" singing competition in 2024, entertained guests at the event, "Gig on the Green". "It is a very special occasion for us. You know, we are building up a multi-faceted bilateral relationship across defence and security, across economics, across education," Green said. The human connection that we have is a very special thing about the bilateral relationship, he said. "There are now more than a million people of Ind

Rebellion in Verse: Devotion as a social disruptor in Tamil Bhakti movement

Raghavan Srinivasan reclaims the Tamil Bhakti saints as radical poets who challenged caste, ritual authority and hierarchy through powerful Tamil verse

Happiest Minds to double hiring in AI business amid skill shortages

Mid-tier IT firm Happiest Minds plans to double its AI and GenAI workforce to over 1,000 by next fiscal, investing more to address skill gaps that are leading to lost revenue