Blog

17 Feb

NSCN Militant Surrenders in Tirap, Arunachal Pradesh

Sonakshi SarkarArunachal Pradesh

A militant associated with the banned NSCN (Akato) outfit has surrendered to security forces in Tirap district, Arunachal Pradesh. The individual, identified as 23-year-old Inno Mosha Pangsa, a self-styled 'sergeant' from Tuensang district, Nagaland, joined the group on April 19, 2022. Upon surrendering, he relinquished a .32 caliber pistol, four cartridges, and a walkie-talkie radio set with a charger. Following the surrender, the militant was handed over to the Khonsa Police for further action.

17 Feb

Manipal Hospitals expands oncology outreach, strengthens cancer care access for Mizoram patients

Business BureauBusiness

Manipal Hospitals has strengthened access to advanced oncology services for patients from Mizoram by expanding coordinated cancer care through its integrated oncology centres in Eastern India. Leading oncologists from the Manipal network visited Aizawl to participate in the Association of Oncologists, North East India (AONEI) conference, reaffirming the hospital group’s commitment to improving early detection, treatment access and continuity of care across the region. Manipal Hospital EM Bypass in Kolkata, associated with the Mizoram Universal HealthCare Scheme (MUHCS), provides cashless treatment for oncology and several other super-specialty services. With over 25 oncologists across multiple sub-specialties and advanced infrastructure in Kolkata…

17 Feb

PSU Bank Index Hits Record High, Outperforms Nifty for Sixth Straight Month

editorFinance

Public sector bank (PSB) stocks extended their rally on Tuesday, pushing the Nifty PSU Bank index to a fresh high of 9,517.70 on the National Stock Exchange. The index gained over 2 per cent in intra-day trade and has risen 4 per cent in the last three sessions, taking its total surge to 41 per cent since September 2025.The index has now outperformed the Nifty 50 for the sixth consecutive month. In February 2026 so far, the PSU Bank index is up 5.5 per cent compared to a 2 per cent gain in the benchmark. In January, it climbed 5.7…

17 Feb

Coal Crunch Disrupts Brick Kiln Operations in Tripura

Sonakshi SarkarTripura

Brick kilns in Tripura are currently confronting a significant coal shortage, as stated by Bivekananda Chowdhury, the President of the Tripura Brick Fields Manufacturing Association (TBFMA). This crisis stems from a disruption in coal supply from Meghalaya that has persisted for the past two weeks. In response to this alarming situation, a meeting was convened among kiln owners to evaluate the ongoing crisis, which poses a real threat to the operational viability of the 280 brick kilns in the region. Chowdhury emphasized the severity of the problem, noting that coal, which is essential for the industry, has been unavailable for…

17 Feb

Mizoram CM Draws Line, Vows to Resign Over Lengpui Land Deal if Linked

Sonakshi SarkarMizoram

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma stated he would resign if any evidence of his involvement in financial irregularities regarding the Lengpui land deal is presented. He challenged the opposition, specifically responding to Congress leader John Rotluangliana's claims of kickbacks totaling Rs 14 crore, of which he allegedly received Rs 10 crore. Lalduhoma denied these allegations, asserting they harm both his reputation and the ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM). The land in question, acquired by the IAF for military purposes near the state capital Aizawl, has been at the center of accusations of financial misconduct amounting to Rs 187.90 crore, with claims…

16 Feb

The Global Sweetener: UAE Emerges as Top Destination for Indian Sugar in 2026

editorBusiness

India has exported 201,547 tonnes of sugar through February in the 2025-26 marketing year, according to the All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA). The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as the leading buyer, importing 47,006 tones, followed closely by Afghanistan, Djibouti, and Bhutan. Of the total shipments, white sugar comprised 163,000 tonnes, while refined sugar accounted for 37,638 tonnes. This trade activity comes as the government recently increased the total export quota to 2 million tonnes, adding a 500,000-tonne allocation for willing mills. AISTA Chairman Praful Vithalani highlighted that the new two-tier system prevents mills from paying high premiums…

16 Feb

PM Narendra Modi inaugurates India AI Impact Summit, calls it a moment of ‘immense pride’

Banasree SarkarNational

Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked that the "rapid progress" in science and technology and the potential of the country's young are reflected in the India AI Impact Summit, calling it a subject of "immense pride" that international delegates had convened in India. The Prime Minister will open the five-day conference and related India AI Impact Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, bringing together IT executives, policymakers, and startup founders from around the globe in the capital. "We are extremely proud that people from all over the world are visiting India," Modi said in a post on X, adding that the event…

15 Feb

Cardiology expert highlights laser that melts plaques in heart vessels

Business BureauBusiness

During a recent conclave in Guwahati, cardiac specialists showcased a laser-based treatment that vaporizes obstructions in heart blood vessels. The technique, known as laser therapy, is a minimally invasive procedure which involves guiding a thin, specialized catheter through the artery to the site of the blockage. The catheter emits controlled bursts of high-energy laser light that melts away the blockage from within. Once upon a time, treating blocked heart arteries meant open surgery, visible scars and long recovery periods. Today, doctors use bursts of laser light to clear plaque buildup -- a transformation that shows just how far heart care…

14 Feb

Ashoka University offers scholarships to all young India fellows for 2026–27 cohort; final applications close March 23

Business BureauBusiness

Ashoka University has announced the opening of applications for the 16th cohort of its flagship Young India Fellowship (YIF) 2026–27, marking 15 years of the programme’s impact. In a major accessibility push, the university confirmed that all selected Fellows will receive partial or full scholarships, supported by HDFC Bank. Applications are free and reviewed on a rolling basis, with the priority deadline on February 23, 2026, and the final deadline on March 23, 2026. Instituted in 2011, the year-long residential programme offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Interdisciplinary Studies, combining core and elective coursework, experiential learning, critical inquiry, and holistic engagement.…

14 Feb

Ixigo Expands into Europe with €12.15 Million Spain Acquisitions

editorBusiness

Indian travel aggregator Ixigo has announced its strategic expansion into the European market with the acquisition of a 60 per cent stake in Spain’s second-largest train booking platform, Trenes, for €11.70 million (over ₹125 crore). The move marks a significant step in Ixigo’s global growth strategy and strengthens its presence in the online travel agency (OTA) segment.Following the deal, Online Travel Solutions, S.L., which operates Trenes, will become a step-down subsidiary of Ixigo. The Spanish platform primarily caters to the domestic train ticket booking market and operates across parts of Southern Europe.In addition, Ixigo’s board has approved the acquisition of…