In a move aimed at shielding passengers from sharp airfare surges, the government has capped monthly increases in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices for domestic flights at 25%, according to Reuters.The decision comes amid volatility in global energy markets linked to the ongoing Iran crisis, which has pushed up fuel costs and added pressure on...
Category: Events
$20 million Everest rescue scam clouds Nepal’s climbing season
Nepal’s spring Everest climbing season opened this week amid a police probe into an alleged insurance fraud worthe nearly $20 million in which guides, helicopter operators, hospital staff and agents are accused of staging or inflating medical emergencies to trigger costly helicopter evacuations and bogus insurance claims.Police said the methods included mixing baking soda into...
No permit, no pass: Iran plans new navigation regime in Strait of Hormuz
Iranian deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi on Thursday said that Tehran has nearly completed its first draft to establish a new navigation regime in the Strait of Hormuz.In an interview with the Sputnik, Gharibabadi said that Tehran is planning to begin talks with Oman to develop a joint solution. Watch ‘New Fronts’: Iran’s Supreme Leaders...
The politics of giving: How Tamil Nadu set the template for India’s freebies race
NEW DELHI: Politics in India seems to be in an era of freebies, where every party offers cash doles or concessions ahead of elections. Last year, the NDA offered Rs 10,000 to over 75 lakh women in Bihar just before the polls, which helped the alliance to achieve an overwhelming majority.Riding this trend, AIADMK and...
‘When you were in caves …’: Iran taunts US over ‘Stone Age’ threat
AI image used for representative pur NEW DELHI: Iran mocked the US defence secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday over his threats on sending the Middle Eastern nation “to the stone age”.In a post on X from Hegseth that said, “Back to the Stone Age”, Iran gave sharp retort slamming him. “Stone Age? At a time...
Balochistan, Afghanistan, Iran: Is Pakistan running out of strategic room?
Pakistan is once again caught between allies and adversaries. Islamabad finds itself pulled between powerful partners and dangerous neighbourhood realities, between competing risks. As war between Iran and the Gulf states continues to spiral, Islamabad’s response has been strikingly cautious. Officials insist there is “no question” of rushing to Saudi Arabia’s defence, even as they...
‘Less interest in bilateral series’: Has IPL chairman Arun Dhumal hinted at expansion of 94 matches?
Has IPL Chairman hinted at IPL expansion? (Screengrab) Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Arun Singh Dhumal has opened up on the possibility of expanding the tournament, stating that while demand for more matches exists, the biggest challenge remains the packed international cricket calendar. In a conversation with the Financial Times, Dhumal explained that the IPL’s...
Evil eye emoji: Raghav Chadha fires silent shot on social media after AAP snub
Raghav Chadha (File photo) NEW DELHI: AAP leader Raghav Chadha made a cryptic statement after his removal as deputy leader in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.Sharing a video highlights of his speeches in the upper House, Chadha responded on X with an “Nazar (evil) amulet”. He did not say anything else on social media on the...
‘Trump controls PM’: Rahul Gandhi attacks Modi in Assam, calls Himanta ‘most corrupt CM’
(Photo credit: PTI) NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday sharpened his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that US President Donald Trump “controls” him. He also called Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma the “most corrupt CM” in the country and accused him of running a “land ATM” in the state along...
Trump’s Iran address: Peace is close, war is closer
The TOI correspondent from Washington: The prime-time address was intended to reassure an anxious nation and steady jittery markets; instead, U.S President Donald Trump on Wednesday underscored the deep contradictions at the heart of his war in Iran, declaring that American objectives were “nearing completion” even as he threatened an intensification of military action.The speech,...
