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SC flags uneven compliance in solid waste management, issues directions

Flagging the "uneven" compliance with the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules across India, the Supreme Court has said the present generation cannot afford to wait for further legislative refinement while existing implementation gaps persist. Observing that the right to a clean and healthy environment is an "inseparable part" of the right to life, the court issued a slew of pan-India directions to ensure that the executive has the requisite mechanism required to enforce the SWM Rules, 2026, which will be effective from April 1. A bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and S V N Bhatti said neglecting municipal solid waste will affect health as much as the economy and India must be fully-compliant with the 2026 Rules when the world looks at the country in technology-related activities. "Compliance of MSW/SWM Rules meant to govern waste management remains uneven across India. While mandated at source, the segregation at source into wet, dry and hazardous streams is still not fully realised in

Departure(s): Julian Barnes' final novel reflects on endings and memory

The book meditates on the blurred lines between fact and fiction, only to arrive at a semi-conclusion that both are governed by memory

Fund managers rebalance MAAFs after run-ups, so stay invested

New investors should consider them for risk reduction, stability and disciplined allocation, not return-chasing

Nestle in talks to sell ice cream business as overhaul gathers pace

Nestle had already handed the reins of its European and US ice cream units to Haagen-Dazs owner Froneri, a joint venture it established with European buyout firm PAI Partners in 2016

US gives IEA one-year deadline to drop net zero focus or they'll quit

The Paris-based IEA was formed after the 1970s oil supply crisis and provides research and data to the US and other industrialised governments to guide energy policy

Sheher Mein Gaon: How Delhi's urban villages navigate conflict, change

Ms Chauhan demonstrates how the character of these spaces has been changed by the forces of urbanisation

US jobless claims fall sharply to 206,000, biggest drop since Nov

That was lower than all but one estimate in a Bloomberg survey. In the past year, new applications have fallen below the 210,000 mark only a handful of times

Meaningful deal in 10 days or 'bad' things will happen: Trump warns Iran

"Otherwise bad things happen," Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to attack Iran, told the first meeting of his Board of Peace in Washington

GalaxEye's OptoSAR satellite to use AI for Earth data analysis

Bengaluru-based private space technology company GalaxEye's upcoming satellite mission, Mission Drishti, will feature NVIDIA Jetson Orin, a powerful compact computer designed to run complex artificial intelligence models, officials said on Wednesday. It will help the satellite accelerate processing and interpretation of Earth observation data in space, and quickly deliver the data to its customers. In a statement, GalaxEye CEO Suyash Singh said, "Taking NVIDIA Jetson Orin to space aboard Mission Drishti is a defining milestone for GalaxEye. Building on our successful in-space demonstration in 2024, we're advancing to next-generation of Earth observation satellites." Mission Drishti will also carry what GalaxEye calls the world's first SyncFused OptoSAR architecture, which integrates Electro-Optical (EO) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensors on a single satellite platform. While EO sensors capture high-resolution images during sunlight and clear skies, SAR sensors provide ...

ATR bets on 2026 production ramp-up amid strong turboprop demand

The company logged 60 gross orders and 50 net orders last year, taking its backlog to more than 160 aircraft, while revenues held steady at about $1.2 billion

Shivraj Singh Chouhan calls for making tree planting a mass movement

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday stressed the need to make tree plantation a mass movement for protecting the environment and addressing the challenge of climate change. He was speaking at an event to mark the completion of five years of his pledge to plant at least one sapling everyday. Chouhan, who is also the minister of rural development, started this green initiative on February 19, 2021, on the occasion of Narmada Jayanti, when he planted saplings of 'Rudraksha' and 'Sal' at Amarkantak. The minister has planted more than 6,000 saplings in the last five years. Addressing the event, Chouhan announced that all the programmes organised by his two ministries would start with plantation of saplings. He also directed the officials of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to do the same. Plants should be given to honour the dignitaries in such programmes. After the successful completion of five years of his pledge, the minister emphasised the nee

What are the health insurance options available to NRIs visiting India?

NRIs' overseas health plans may not be accepted in Indian hospitals since they may not have the relevant tie-ups; for such contingencies, it is best to take a local travel health

India likely to join US-led 'Pax Silica' strategic bloc on Friday: Report

India is likely to formally join a US-led strategic alliance, known as 'Pax Silica', which is aimed at building a resilient supply chain for critical minerals and artificial intelligence. The move comes amid efforts by the two sides to finalise the proposed trade deal and move forward on several other initiatives to solidify the bilateral ties after a spell of severe strain in the relations. India is likely to formally join the 'Pax Silica' initiative on Friday, people familiar with the matter said. The initiative was launched in December to build a secure, resilient, and innovation-driven supply chain for critical minerals and artificial intelligence (AI). The Pax Silica Summit was held in Washington on December 12 where partner nations signed the Pax Silica declaration. The declaration lays out a shared vision of deep economic and technology cooperation across supply chains -- from raw materials through semiconductors and AI infrastructure -- and commitment to mutual prosperity

Former UK Prince Andrew arrested for 'misconduct in public office'

Thames Valley Police issued a statement confirming the arrest of a man in his sixties from Norfolk as part of an ongoing investigation

Airbus to ramp up H125 helicopter production in India to 10 by 2029

Bullish on the growth potential of the Indian market, aerospace major Airbus plans to produce 10 H125 helicopters annually from the final assembly line, established in collaboration with Tata Advanced Systems in Karnataka, by 2029. Asserting that helicopters can be a tool for "nation building", as well as public services, Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even said efforts would continue to contribute to the development of the ecosystem in India. "We strongly believe in the potential of the helicopter market in India... we strongly believe that H125 helicopters can be a key enabler to boost this civil helicopter market in India," Even told PTI in an interview in the national capital. Airbus, along with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), has set up the country's first private sector helicopter Final Assembly Line (FAL) for the H125 at Vemagal in Karnataka. On February 17, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron virtually inaugurated the facility. According to Ev

Andhra secures India's largest battery Gigafactory by Waaree Energies

In a major boost to India's clean-energy manufacturing and self-reliance, Waaree Energies will establish India's largest integrated lithium-ion battery Gigafactory in Andhra Pradesh with an investment of Rs 8,175 crore. The project will come up at Rambilli in Anakapalli district and is expected to generate around 3,000 direct jobs. The greenfield facility will have a capacity of 16 GWh and will cover the complete battery value chain, including cell manufacturing, battery packs and large-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). The project has received in-principle approval from the Andhra Pradesh State Investment Promotion Board, chaired by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Welcoming the investment, Nara Lokesh said this project marks a significant milestone in Andhra Pradesh's clean-energy journey. "Waaree's gigafactory will be India's largest battery manufacturing plant and will play a critical role in reducing import dependence while strengthening domestic manufacturing i

SC to begin hearing anti-CAA pleas from May 5, pan-India matters first

The bench said it will hear the pleas related to pan-India application of the CAA first and then take note of the petitions pertaining to Assam and Tripura later

Bombay HC asks govt to fix systemic failures in land acquisition cases

The Bombay High Court has slammed the Maharashtra government for its "large and systemic failure" in dealing with land acquisition matters, depriving owners of compensation, and directed it to adopt a "mission-mode" to resolve them. A bench of Justices Vibha Kankanwadi and Hiten Venegavkar of the HC's Aurangabad bench on Tuesday said the continued failure to complete acquisition proceedings, even after possession and completion of projects, amounts to a continuing wrong and breach of constitutional duty. Its remarks came on a plea filed by a bunch of residents in Beed district whose lands were acquired by the irrigation division in 1996 for a village water tank construction, but the acquisition proceedings were not yet completed due to which they had not received the compensation. The bench noted that many of the affected landowners are agriculturists, illiterate or rustic persons who may not even be aware of the formal acquisition proceedings or that they are entitled to compensati

Big Food pours millions into rebrands as obesity drugs reshape US demand

Peter ter Kulve, CEO of Magnum Ice Cream, said GLP-1 users continue to eat treats, but they exhibit "a stark reduction of mindless munching and binge eating"

Apple drops ESG performance metrics from executive pay packages

The retreat is a setback for a mechanism once viewed as a promising driver of corporate action on climate and water conservation, among other issues