Author: Swati Pandey

Lightening struck a SriLankan Airlines flight with over 200 passengers shortly after takeoff from Colombo to Sydney, Australia. The plane was UL606 and the crew immediately followed emergency procedures and flew back to the airport where they took off. According to a representative of the airline, the plane took off from Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo and ran into severe weather shortly after it was struck by lightening. After assessing the condition, the flight crew decided that the safest option was to return to Colombo. Mid-Air Scare Forces Flight to Turn Back There were 207 passengers on board along with…

A hefty amount is expected to be paid out as arrears under the 8th Pay Commission. This has sparked much discussion among employees of the Central Government as well as those receiving pensions, regarding what amount of arrears will be eligible for these groups. While the pay revision formula remains to be announced by the Government, estimates range from a few lakhs to more than ₹14 lakh of arrears based on the employee’s pay level, fitment factor and date of implementation. Arrears will be paid based on the date of implementation At present, it is anticipated that the 8th Pay…

As part of efforts to support new sources of fuel and lower dependence on crude oil imports, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced final regulations that will permit use of 100% ethanol fuel in the operation of vehicles. Gadkari made the announcement December 9 in Nagpur, stating that he had granted legal recognition to E100 fuels, meaning that fully ethanol-powered vehicles can now to be used commercially in India. Signals Major Shift in India’s Fuel Policy The decision marks a milestone in the shift towards cleaner fuels made from renewable sources with domestic production. Ethanol…

The standoff has reached a high diplomatic level on the international stage, putting delicate geopolitical balances and current peace efforts at risk. U.S. President Donald Trump has been stoking fears of Iran’s drone attacks on commercial merchant vessels with Indian crews near the critical Strait of Hormuz. Tehran responded to the strong allegations made over the weekend with a quick and furious protest. The Iranian government strongly refuted the allegations as “baseless,” and blamed the United States military for the recent maritime fatal accidents that saw the deaths of several Indian sailors. The Incitement: Trump’s Truth Social Proclamation The diplomatic…

A South African freedom fighter, political leader and humanitarian by the name of Nelson Mandela is one of the most well-known people who fought against Apartheid and became South Africa’s first black president in 1994. He is recognized for being strong, forgiving and working towards creating peace between groups. I chose to highlight Mandela as an example because he showed the world that it takes great courage and compassion to create a better society. Early life In 18 July 1918, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in Mvezo, he came from a royal family (the Thembu) where his father was a…

In Mizo, there is a word that cannot be easily translated into English. A word that embodies a way of life, a strong sense of morals and the very essence of a people: Tlawmngaihna. It is a virtue of being self-sacrificial, chivalrous, and giving a lot of one’s self to the good of the whole, giving up one’s own comfort for the sake of others. This beautiful cultural feature is not only about a culture in textbooks of Mizoram; it is a reality that has been created by one organization. The entire State of Mizoram suspends their normal operations and…

Temporary restrictions have been placed by the Union government on the sale of petroleum products, temporarily stopping the sale of gasoline and diesel to industrial, commercial, and institutional customers through regular gasoline stations. That is to remain in effect for 90 days unless otherwise stated. Centre Imposes Temporary Curbs on Bulk Fuel Purchases Under the new guidelines from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, bulk fuel customers must now acquire their fuel needs via either their own consumer fuel pumps or bulk sale sites rather than through traditional retail outlets. The reason for this is to make sure that…

Anvay Dravid, the youngest son of Rahul Dravid, is the second member of the Dravid family to achieve success at a national level; he has been selected for India’s Under-19 cricket team travelling to Sri Lanka as announced by the BCCI Junior Cricket Committee. Anvay’s selection is an important milestone in his career and has generated considerable interest among cricket fans across the country. The selectors based their decision on Anvay’s consistent performance at the age group level, his gradual progress through the domestic rank system, and credible recent achievements on the cricket field. Following the Steps of a Great…

The Indian shooting community has been dealt another severe blow with the news of the passing of Jaspal Rana at the age of 49 years, who was a legendary shooter and coach. He was a multiple Asian Games (gold) Medallist and one of India’s great Indian shooting legends. Rana passed away at a hospital in Delhi, following health complications from his recent travel to Germany (for the ISSF World Cup) and his untimely passing has left shockwaves within the sports fraternity, with many athletes, coaches, administrators and politicians paying tribute to him throughout India. Indian Sports Loses a Stalwart Jaspal…

Streaming platforms Prime Video and ZEE5 have unveiled a fresh lineup of movies and series for viewers looking for new entertainment this week. The latest releases span multiple genres, including action, crime, reality television and psychological mystery, offering something for a broad audience. Among the highlights are Suriya’s action drama Karuppu, the Hindi crime thriller Raakh, the family-oriented reality show Maa Hai Na, and the Bengali mystery drama Taarkata. All four titles are scheduled to premiere on June 12. Karuppu Brings Suriya’s Box-Office Hit to Streaming Release Date: June 12Platform: Prime Video Following its successful theatrical run and emergence as…