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Kurra Appa Rao taking charge as the chairman of the Guntur Mirchi Yard on Friday. | Photo Credit: T. Vijay Kumar The Andhra Pradesh government will accord a priority to the development of the Guntur Mirchi Yard (Agriculture Market Committee), one of the most significant market committees in Andhra Pradesh, Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu said on Friday.Addressing the oath-taking ceremony of the newly nominated market committee in Guntur, the Minister said the government was committed to the comprehensive development of the yard. He noted that chilli farmers had faced severe hardships under the previous regime and assured measures to curb…

Recently, the Tamil Nadu government made a gazette notification that heatwave is a state disaster, clubbing it with 13 other eventualities such as deaths caused by electrocution, thunderstorm and lighting, floods and snakebite. Families of victims including relief workers who died due to heatwave, would be eligible for an ex-gratia of ₹ 4 lakh. These are significant steps as greater onus is now on the State Government to take various measures to reduce heatwave-related causalities in the State (remember, heatwaves are not yet notified as a disaster at the national level under the existing disaster relief policies). Anup Kumar Srivastava, former senior…

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra encouraged MSMEs to pursue formalisation, maintain credit discipline and adopt digital payments to build their long-term resilience and competitiveness, the RBI said. File Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Sanjay Malhotra on Monday (February 16, 2026) emphasised that improving access to timely and adequate formal credit for MSMEs remains a key policy priority of the Reserve Bank.He also outlined several policy and regulatory measures undertaken for the sector by the Government of India and the Reserve Bank at a meeting with select MSME representatives in Mumbai on Monday (February 16).Also Read: Bridging the credit gap for…

In what now seems like the distant past, cricket matches between India and Pakistan were gripping affairs, steeped in tension and nerves, and extraordinary quality. There was an array of glittering superstars in both camps; India had the batting, Pakistan a seemingly endless supply of high-class fast bowlers who, to misquote Geoffrey Boycott, could obtain swing with even an orange.Contests between these two proud nations were exactly that – contests that were no holds barred. Contrary to this age where players don’t even look in each other’s direction, let alone shake hands and exchange pleasantries, Indian and Pakistani stars struck…

The train pulled out of Old Delhi. On the narrow wooden berth, tucked under a blanket and two travel bags, a lean indie dog lay so still that ticket-checkers walked past without noticing. It had been the same trick 55 times. “She hid for 55 train journeys,” Divya Dugar says with a chuckle. “She was never caught. She knew when to lie absolutely still and when to get up, indies are so intelligent and loving,” says the freelance journalist and documentary producer.  The first-class coupe of the Indian Railways allows you to travel with two dogs, which requires you to get…

Two giants stand on either side,With oceans vast and hearts allied.From India’s factories to America’s mallsA new accord now breaks the walls.Not just in goods or market rate,But anchoring a common fate.The India-US trade deal announced by President Donald Trump on his social media platform ‘Truth Social’ after a telephone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi marks a historic de-escalation of trade tensions and a strategic realignment between the world’s two largest democracies. Prime Minister Modi confirmed the deal in his own post on ‘X’, saying, “Big thanks to President Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India…

An annular solar eclipse. | Photo Credit: AP The first solar eclipse of 2026 will occur on Tuesday, February 17. It will be an ‘annular solar eclipse’ and the world is eagerly awaiting the celestial event. Here’s all you need to know about it.What is a solar eclipse? A solar eclipse is when the Sun, Moon and Earth are in alignment and the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow on our planet and blocking some of the fiery ball’s light. The configuration of the three celestial bodies is called a syzygy by scientistsWatch | What is an annular…

The Thiruvananthapuram corporation council on Friday approved the draft annual plan for 2026-27. The draft will be put for discussion in the Ccorporation’s development seminar to be held this week. The draft plan was prepared following discussions with various stakeholders and the suggestions from a general body meeting of the various working groups and in ward sabhas. Published – February 20, 2026 09:11 pm IST Source link

Vikram Gowda, a key Maoist leader from Karnataka, was killed in an alleged exchange of fire with the Anti-Naxal Force (ANF) at Peetabailu village near Hebri in Udupi district on November 18 night. The incident marks the first killing of a Maoist leader in an encounter in Karnataka since 2012. ANF, police intensify combing operations after Maoist leader Vikram Gowda encounter Six members of Maoist’s ‘Kabini Dalam’, including Vikram Gowda, were searching for a safe place in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, and Kodagu districts. They were reportedly contacting their old contacts to initiate the process of surrendering to the police.…

U.S. Supreme Court rejects Trump’s global tariffs The U.S. Supreme Court struck down on Friday (February 20, 2026) President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs that he pursued under a law meant for use in national emergencies, rejecting one of his most contentious assertions of his authority in a ruling with major implications for the global economy.The justices, in a 6-3 ruling, ‌upheld a lower court’s decision that the Republican president’s use of this 1977 law exceeded his authority. The Supreme Court reached its conclusion in a legal challenge by businesses affected by the tariffs and 12 U.S. states, most of them Democratic-governed,…