Author: News Desk

New Delhi, India: The Indian government has placed Manipur under direct federal administration days after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned. Singh, a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), stepped down, following months of mounting pressure over his handling of the state’s ethnic violence. Manipur has been gripped by conflict since May 2023, when clashes erupted between the Meitei majority and the Kuki minority over land rights, job quotas, and economic benefits. More than 250 people have been killed, and tens of thousands have been displaced. Federal Rule President Droupadi Murmu’s office announced the imposition of President’s Rule,…

Washington DC: TikTok is once again available for download on US Apple and Google app stores after President Donald Trump postponed the enforcement of a ban on the Chinese-owned social media platform until April 5. The app, used by over 170 million Americans, briefly went dark last month as the ban deadline neared. Trump later signed an executive order granting TikTok a 75-day extension to comply with a law requiring its sale to a neutral party to avoid an outright ban. Apple and Google resumed allowing downloads after receiving assurances from the Trump administration that they would not be held…

Buckinghamshire, UK: The UK government has announced an ambitious ‘Our Plan for Change’ to develop over 100 New Towns as part of the largest housebuilding initiative since the post-war era. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, during a visit to Buckinghamshire, reiterated his commitment to overcoming opposition and addressing the housing crisis by delivering 1.5 million homes. This means each of the proposed new towns will be designed to accommodate at least 10,000 homes, along with essential infrastructure like schools, healthcare facilities, and transport links. The government aims to fast-track construction by reducing bureaucratic hurdles and overriding environmental objections that might…

Pilbara, Western Australia: A powerful Category 5 tropical cyclone, Zelia, is advancing toward Western Australia’s Pilbara coastal region, prompting emergency preparations and port closures. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has warned of the cyclone’s potential to cause severe destruction as it moves slowly toward landfall, expected late Friday, 14th of February. Zelia poses a significant threat to key infrastructure, including major export ports for iron ore and oil and gas processing hubs. Port Hedland, the world’s largest iron ore export point, has been forced to close due to the storm’s intensity. Authorities have issued urgent warnings, with Darren Klemm, head…

London: A fashion advertisement by Next has been banned after the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled that the model’s pose and camera angle made her appear “unhealthily thin.” The ASA compared the ad with other images of the same model and found she did not appear excessively thin in those. However, in the now-banned image, the angle, pose, and styling highlighted the model’s slim legs in a way deemed “irresponsible.” Next disagreed with the ruling, stating the model, who is 5’9″, has a “healthy and toned physique.” The retailer explained that her pose was chosen to showcase the leggings’ fit…

Buenos Aires: More than 100 people were evacuated from a luxury residential skyscraper in Buenos Aires after a fire spread across multiple floors, emergency services reported. The 50-floor building called the Renoir Tower II, is the highest residential building in the city and is located in the exclusive neighbourhood of Puerto Madero, saw flames extend up to the 15th floor. Authorities confirmed that 40 individuals were treated for carbon monoxide inhalation and 2 people had to be transferred to Argerich Hospital, before the fire was brought under control. The cause of the blaze remains unknown. Alberto Crescenti, head of Buenos…

Washington DC: Google has officially renamed the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” for users in the United States, following an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump. The tech giant announced that Google Maps and other services would display the name based on user location—showing “Gulf of America” in the US, “Gulf of Mexico” in Mexico, and both names for users elsewhere. The change aligns with the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) run by the US Geological Survey. Google had previously signalled the update in a post on X, where it also mentioned plans to rename…

Manchester: A Dolly Parton-themed musical was suspended mid-performance at Manchester’s Opera House after homophobic abuse was directed at the stage, according to actor Stevie Webb. Webb, who plays a devoted Dolly Parton fan in Here You Come Again, said the disruption occurred when a woman expressed outrage over a gay character, forcing the cast to leave the stage. A separate incident happened when a man had to be removed from the audience. ATG Entertainment, which operates the venue, stated it enforces a “zero tolerance” policy against abuse, harassment, or bullying, ensuring immediate removal of offenders. Webb also recalled similar disturbances…

Bengaluru, India: British pop star Ed Sheeran was prevented from busking in Bengaluru’s bustling Church Street area, after local police intervened, citing a lack of necessary permissions. A viral video captured the moment an officer unplugged Sheeran’s microphone as he performed in the popular shopping and entertainment district. Authorities said that a request from Sheeran’s team to perform on the street was denied to prevent congestion. However, Sheeran refuted this on Instagram, stating that, “We had permission to busk, by the way. Hence, us playing in that exact spot was planned out before. It wasn’t just us randomly turning up.…

New Orleans: US President Donald Trump has announced that he will soon impose a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminium imports into the United States, a move expected to impact Canada the most. Speaking aboard Air Force One while traveling from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida to the Super Bowl in New Orleans, Trump also revealed plans for reciprocal tariffs on countries that tax US imports but did not specify which nations would be affected or whether any exemptions would be granted. Trump said that, “If they charge us, we charge them.” And reiterated that, “Any steel coming into…