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23 Dec

Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala Suspends Visa, Consular Services Amid Protests

Sonakshi SarkarTripura

Citing "unavoidable circumstances," the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala has indefinitely suspended all visa and consular services as of Tuesday. This decision, stated in an official notification by SM Almas Hossain, First Secretary and Head of Mission, is a response to heightened tensions following demonstrations by the Tipra Indigenous Students Federation (TISF) and various right-wing organizations outside the mission. These protests were fueled by recent comments from National Citizen Party officials regarding the Northeast region and allegations of attacks on the Hindu community in Bangladesh. Demonstrators called for action to safeguard the rights of religious minorities. Consequently, security measures…

23 Dec

Shah Assures IFSCAP That Rules Will Be Framed for Arunachal Freedom of Religion Act

Sonakshi SarkarArunachal Pradesh

In the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which has seen concerns over alleged coerced or induced religious conversions, Union Home Minister Amit Shah promised on Monday that steps will be taken to draft the long-pending regulations for the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 1978. In front of a group from the Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFCSAP), Shah made the promise, inspiring optimism for the legislation's successful execution. The goal of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, which was passed in 1978, was to stop religious conversions that were carried out by coercion, fraud, or…

23 Dec

Army-Led Pilgrimage Expedition Planned for Topo Gonov Peak in Arunachal Pradesh

Sonakshi SarkarArunachal Pradesh

The Indian Army is set to organize a pilgrimage to Topo Gonov peak, also known as Topo Gone, situated along the McMahon Line in Arunachal Pradesh's Shi Yomi district, marking a significant collaboration aimed at preserving cultural heritage, promoting spiritual practices, and enhancing national security. The pilgrimage, slated for January 19–24, 2026, is a partnership with the Galo Welfare Society (GWS), as stated by a Defence Ministry spokesperson. Topo Gonov, rising to 2,900 meters, holds great reverence in Galo mythology as a sacred sanctuary for prayers and traditional ceremonies, but its challenging terrain has made it largely inaccessible. The Indian…

22 Dec

Samsung To Unveil AI Vision Built with Google Gemini at CES 2026

Business BureauBusiness

Samsung today announced that it will showcase a next-generation lineup of AI-powered kitchen appliances at CES 2026, featuring upgraded vision-based capabilities built using Google Gemini and Google Cloud. The rollout will include refreshed models of its Bespoke AI Refrigerator Family Hub, upgraded OTR microwaves and slide-in ranges, and a new Bespoke AI Wine Cellar. The Gurugram-based consumer electronics leader said the collaboration with Google marks a major step in AI-driven household convenience. “Samsung will reach a new level of innovation through this collaboration with Google Cloud,” said Jeong Seung Moon, Executive Vice President and Head of R&D Team, Digital Appliances…

22 Dec

Blenders Pride Fashion Tour Finale in Kolkata signals new market momentum for craft-led innovation

Business BureauBusiness

The Blenders Pride Fashion Tour concluded its 2025 edition in Kolkata, unveiling a boundary-pushing vision of craft-led innovation that industry watchers say could spark commercial opportunities for India’s fashion sector. The finale, staged on a barge anchored on the Hooghly River under the Howrah Bridge, showcased designer Anamika Khanna’s AK|OK collection with actor Ishaan Khatter as showstopper. In collaboration with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), the event challenged long-held craft traditions, transforming zardozi, chikankari and mirror work through futuristic tailoring and metallic interventions. Responding lasers, scaffolding and a dramatic speedboat entry highlighted a new performance-driven presentation format aimed…

22 Dec

Traffic Disrupted for Hours as Former Militants Protest on Key Tripura Highway Over Pending Benefits

Sonakshi SarkarTripura

Traffic movement on the Assam–Agartala National Highway was brought to a halt late on Sunday after surrendered militants blocked the road at Baramura in West Tripura. The protestors demanded that the state government immediately restart a rehabilitation scheme that has remained stalled for several years. The blockade began on the night of December 21 and continued into Monday, leaving a long line of vehicles stuck on both sides of the affected stretch. Truck drivers and passengers said they waited for hours with no information on when the road would reopen. The highway is one of the key routes that links…

22 Dec

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2025 bets on sports-tech innovation to unlock access, inclusion across India

Business BureauBusiness

Samsung on Thursday announced the launch of Solve for Tomorrow (SFT) 2025, the latest edition of its flagship education programme in partnership with IIT Delhi, spotlighting technology-driven innovations aimed at making Indian sport more inclusive. Focused on the theme “Social Change Through Sport & Technology,” the initiative drew thousands of student entries from across the country. A key highlight was NextPlayAI, created by IIIT Pune tennis players Aadish Shelke and Bhagyashri Meena. The AI-powered platform uses video analytics and machine learning to spot athletic potential through personalized feedback, enabling high-quality coaching beyond geographic or economic limitations. Other finalists showcased diverse…

22 Dec

SCREEN Audience Backs Kalyan Padala in Bigg Boss Telugu 9 Race

PreetiEntertainment

Bigg Boss Telugu Season 9, hosted by Nagarjuna Akkineni, is set to announce its winner tonight. This season, which features a unique blend of celebrity contestants and common individuals, has progressed to the final stage with five finalists competing for the coveted trophy. The finalists include Kalyan Padala, Pavan, Sanjjanaa Galrani, Thanuja Puttaswamy, and Emmanuel, each aiming to secure victory in this popular reality show. Hours before the grand finale of Bigg Boss Telugu Season 9, SCREEN conducted a poll on the platform X to understand the audience's preference for the show's winner. The results showed that commoner Kalyan Padala…

22 Dec

Britannia NutriChoice and Aamir Khan team up to show how one good choice makes the next one easier

Business BureauBusiness

Britannia NutriChoice has unveiled a new campaign centered on the idea that “one good choice makes the next one easier,” featuring Bollywood actor Aamir Khan as the face of the brand. The initiative seeks to spark everyday conversations around mindful choices, using relatable moments like deciding whether to skip sugar in tea. Conceptualised by Lowe Lintas, the TVC films showcase how one small decision can set off a chain of better choices. The campaign blends humour and simplicity through slice-of-life scenes highlighting Aamir Khan’s effortless screen presence. Alongside the campaign, Britannia NutriChoice launched its latest variant – 100% Millets Apple…

22 Dec

After rafting the Dibang, Chowna Mein proposes Arunachal as the next destination for adventure travel

Banasree SarkarArunachal Pradesh

Following an exciting river-rafting trip on the powerful Dibang River at Dambuk in Lower Dibang Valley district with former chief minister Mukut Mithi, Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein highlighted the state's enormous eco and adventure tourism potential. Arunachal Pradesh's burgeoning attractiveness as a center for eco-tourism and adventure sports in the Lower Dibang Valley was reinforced on Saturday by the exhilarating journey over difficult rapids amid pristine forests and striking landscapes, which underlined the Dibang's raw strength and untamed beauty. Mein wrote on social media that rafting the Dibang was "an experience of raw power, pristine forests, and…