Times of India

Australia has refuted claims that it's restricting student visa applications from Indian states like Punjab and Gujarat. The Australian High Commission in New Delhi clarified that no such ban exists, emphasizing the strong educational ties between the two nations. Over 125,000 Indian students are currently studying in Australia, highlighting their significant contribution.

US Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by his family, recently visited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence in New Delhi. Vance shared his positive experience, highlighting the Prime Minister's hospitality and its impact on his children, with his eldest son even expressing a desire to live in India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a grand welcome in Jeddah, marked by a soulful rendition of 'Ae Watan' by a Saudi singer and a Royal Saudi Air Force escort. A 21-gun salute further underscored the visit's importance.

Delhi vehicle owners, take note! The Transport Department warns that lacking a fuel-based colour-coded sticker could result in a fine. This initiative, mandated by the Supreme Court and part of pollution control efforts, requires all vehicles in Delhi to display these chromium-based hologram stickers. These stickers help authorities quickly identify fuel types.

Asaduddin Owaisi has criticized the new Waqf law. He also commented on Narendra Modi's Saudi Arabia visit. Owaisi suggested Modi ask the Crown Prince about Medina's land status. He defended Waqf's presence in Muslim countries. Owaisi addressed the separation of powers. He said the judiciary will intervene if the government misuses power.

Dr Abdalla issued a statement on Monday, calling ICE’s refusal “a purposeful decision... to make me, Mahmoud, and our son suffer.” “My son and I should not be navigating his first days on earth without Mahmoud. ICE and the Trump administration have stolen these precious moments from our family in an attempt to silence Mahmoud’s support for Palestinian freedom,” she said.

Israeli strikes in Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least 14 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, and destroyed vital equipment for rubble clearance. Separate strikes in Lebanon led to two fatalities. The ongoing Israeli offensive has devastated Gaza, raising concerns about reconstruction, amidst shortages of essential equipment and restricted imports.

Despite China's impressive economic growth over the past 18 years, its stock market performance, as reflected in the Shanghai Composite and Hang Seng indices, has been stagnant compared to the S&P 500 and Nifty 50.

MS Dhoni recently addressed a long-standing rumour about his diet, specifically the claim that he consumed five litres of milk daily. Dhoni humorously dismissed this, stating he might have had a litre throughout the day. He also laughed off another rumour about making lassi in a washing machine, clarifying he doesn't even drink lassi.

In a shocking incident, terrorists opened fire on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, specifically in the Baisaran Valley area of Pahalgam, injuring several. Security forces swiftly responded to the attack in the remote area, often called 'mini-Switzerland'. Injured tourists were admitted to a local hospital, with some evacuated by helicopter.

In a tragic incident in South East Delhi's Pul Prahladpur, a 21-year-old man named Sohaib was fatally stabbed following a dispute over a bidi. The altercation escalated when Sohaib, his brother Mohsin, and their mother confronted the attackers, resulting in serious injuries to Mohsin and a friend. Police have arrested three individuals and recovered blood-stained knives from the crime scene.

A suspected terrorist attack occurred in Pahalgam's Baisaran Valley. Several tourists sustained injuries. Gunshots were heard, prompting security forces to respond. BJP leader Ravinder Raina blamed Pakistani terrorists. Former J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti condemned the attack. She called for a thorough investigation and security improvements. Authorities have cordoned off the area to investigate the incident.

US Vice President JD Vance, during his visit to India, lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity, expressing envy over his approval ratings. He further emphasised that, "We're not here to preach that you do things any one particular way. Too often in the past, Washington approached Prime Minister Modi with an attitude of preaching."

In a rare turn of events, Pappu Yogi filed a police complaint against himself after a tragic accident near Prantij toll plaza claimed the life of his eight-year-old daughter, Priyanka. Yogi, while driving his family from Mumbai to their village in Rajasthan, lost control of the car due to blinding lights, resulting in the fatal incident.

A video showing a man demanding an auto driver speak Hindi in Bengaluru sparked a language debate. The man, dubbed the 'Hindi warrior,' later apologized in Kannada, claiming he didn't intend to offend and regretted his outburst.

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has declared the final results of the Civil Services Examination, 2024. Shakti Dubey has topped the list of 1009 recommended candidates. The result includes appointments to the IAS, IFS, IPS, and Central Services (Group A and B). A reserve list of 230 candidates has also been maintained. The result, released in April 2025, includes category-wise and disability-wise details, with full marks expected to be available on the UPSC website soon.

The visit of US Vice-President J.D. Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance to India sparked emotional responses in Andhra Pradesh, where Usha’s ancestral roots lie. Her traditional gestures and family ties stirred local pride, prompting official inquiries and heartfelt appeals from relatives and villagers hoping for a visit. Usha’s lineage traces back to Andhra’s scholarly Chilukuri family.

Elon Musk cautioned against cryptocurrency scams on X with a viral image, highlighting scammers' use of fake profiles, often posing as attractive women, to lure victims. The post underscores that these messages, despite appearances, are frequently sent by male scammers. Musk's warning addresses the serious issue of crypto-related fraud on social media, where scammers exploit users for financial gain.

Microsoft is implementing stricter performance management policies, including a two-year rehire ban for underperformers and restrictions on internal transfers. These changes aim to accelerate high performance and swiftly address low performance, aligning with industry trends toward performance-based evaluations. The company is also introducing AI-supported tools to aid managers in performance conversations.