Author: News Desk

Kolkata: Indian politician Suvendu Adhikari, once regarded as a close protégé of outgoing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is set to replace her after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced that he would become the state’s next chief minister, with the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for May 9. The BJP secured a decisive victory in West Bengal’s assembly elections, winning 207 out of 294 seats during vote counting held on May 4. The result ended the 15-year rule of Banerjee’s All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and brought the Hindu nationalist party to power in the state for the first time.…

Canary Islands: Two passengers in serious condition evacuated from the cruise ship MV Hondius have arrived in the Netherlands for medical treatment following a confirmed hantavirus outbreak on board, according to operator Oceanwide Expeditions. A third passenger in stable condition was also due to be evacuated, although the flight carrying the individual was delayed. The vessel is currently sailing toward the Canary Islands after remaining anchored for three days near Cape Verde off the west coast of Africa. The three evacuated individuals are British, Dutch, and German nationals. Oceanwide Expeditions said that the 65-year-old German evacuee had been closely associated…

Boulder, Colorado: Scientists in the United States have successfully harnessed the glowing properties of a marine algae species to create light-emitting living structures, opening new possibilities for sustainable lighting and environmental sensing technologies. The breakthrough centres on Pyrocystis lunula, a bioluminescent single-celled algae known for producing flashes of blue light. In nature, massive blooms of the organism can create shimmering blue displays in ocean waves along coastlines. The research was led by Giulia Brachi and her team at the University of Colorado Boulder. The scientists initially attempted to trigger the algae’s glow by slowly applying mechanical pressure in a darkened…

New York: Officials at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have halted the publication of several studies that supported the safety of widely used vaccines for COVID-19 and shingles, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Andrew Nixon, spokesperson for the department, said the studies were withdrawn due to concerns that their conclusions were not adequately supported by the underlying data. Nixon noted that the FDA took this step to maintain the integrity of its scientific review process and ensure all associated research meets strict standards. The move is part of broader actions by health authorities…

Washington: New artificial intelligence tools, particularly advanced AI models, developed by major tech firms including Google, Microsoft, and xAI, will now be tested by the US Department of Commerce before being released to the public. The companies have voluntarily agreed to submit each AI model for evaluation through the Department’s Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI). This initiative expands on earlier agreements reached during the Joe Biden administration with firms such as OpenAI and Anthropic. Under the new framework, every AI model will be assessed for performance, safety, and potential risks. Chris Fall, Director of CAISI, said that the…

Brussels: European vehicle regulators are set to convene in Brussels, where the Dutch vehicle authority RDW will present its case supporting the approval of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) Supervised system across the European Union. The meeting represents a significant step in Tesla’s effort to secure EU-wide acceptance, though approval remains uncertain and timelines are unclear. Despite its name, FSD (Supervised) is not a fully autonomous driving system but an advanced driver-assistance technology. It allows vehicles to steer, accelerate, and turn independently, while requiring constant human supervision, with drivers expected to remain attentive and ready to intervene. Rather than pursuing the…

New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the outcome of the West Bengal Assembly elections as a major victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), stating that the results would be remembered as a triumph of public will and effective governance. Modi expressed gratitude to the people of West Bengal, calling the verdict a reflection of their trust. The victory marks a significant milestone for the BJP, which had long sought to gain control in West Bengal. The result strengthens the party’s grip across both state and central governments, extending its influence further into eastern India. Since Modi assumed…

Auckland: A rare celestial event is set to unfold as the comet C/2025 R3 PanSTARRS, formed at the outer edges of the solar system, becomes visible in southern skies over the next two weeks. Skywatchers have a limited opportunity to observe it before it disappears for an estimated 170,000 years. According to astronomer Josh Aoraki from Te Whatu Stardome in Auckland, the comet had previously been visible in the northern hemisphere but has now looped around the Sun and shifted into southern viewing regions. While the comet is relatively bright, it is not visible to the naked eye. Observers will…

Cape Verde: Three people have died, and three others have fallen ill following a suspected outbreak of Hantavirus on a Netherlands-based cruise ship, according to authorities and media reports. The vessel, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, was sailing near Cape Verde when the suspected hantavirus outbreak was identified. The company confirmed it is managing a ‘serious medical situation’ aboard its polar expedition ship, the MV Hondius. The cruise departed from Argentina around three weeks ago with approximately 150 passengers on board. During the voyage, the ship visited Antarctica and several other locations before heading toward Cape Verde. https://twitter.com/WHO/status/2051029427614818551 A spokesperson for…

KL Rahul delivered a match-winning performance to guide Delhi Capitals to a seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, while also moving to the top of the tournament’s run-scoring charts. Reflecting on his performance, Rahul said personal milestones are most meaningful when they contribute to team success. The experienced batter, who has been Delhi’s most reliable performer this season, scored a fluent 75 off 40 balls, hitting six boundaries and five sixes. His innings helped Delhi chase down a challenging target of 226 runs, their highest successful run chase in IPL history, and end a three-match losing…