Puducherry will vote for its 30 Assembly seats on April 9, 2026, with results announced on May 4. Nearly 9.44 lakh voters are eligible, including 23,033 first-time electors. The Election Commission emphasized free and fair polls, deploying extensive webcasting and model polling stations. The NDA, including AINRC and BJP, has finalized its seat-sharing plan.

By-elections for eight assembly seats across six states, including Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland, and Tripura, have been announced by the Election Commission. Polling dates are set for April 9 and April 23, with vote counting scheduled for May 4. These elections will fill vacant legislative seats, ensuring full representation in state assemblies.

The Israel-Iran conflict is poised to reshape international air traffic to and from India in the medium term, with Gulf carriers' schedules uncertain. Lufthansa Group is evaluating expanding its India operations, potentially bringing more airlines like Austrian and Eurowings to the country. The group is also enhancing its partnership with Air India through a joint business agreement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for his composure and impartiality following the rejection of a no-confidence motion against him. Modi commended Birla's adherence to parliamentary decorum and his affirmation that no one is above the rules, reinforcing democratic traditions.

The Election Commission has announced poll dates for West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry, with results on May 4. Meanwhile, Iran stated its war will cease only after assurances against future US-Israel attacks, as fighting intensifies. Rahul Gandhi urged PM Modi to posthumously award the Bharat Ratna to BSP founder Kanshi Ram.

You do not have to be an Empire nostalgist to weep at the pitiful state of today's Navy.

When she announced she was stepping down from Bake Off, Prue Leith explained she wanted to enjoy more time off work.

Andrew Pritchard was once one of the biggest drug traffickers in Britain, our very own homegrown drug lord to rival Colombia's Pablo Escobar or Mexico 's El Chapo.

Is there anyone who is not relieved that Ian Huntley is dead? There is nothing to say in defence of the heinous Soham murderer. Yet modish liberals hoped to keep him alive for many years to come.

LIVE: Follow the latest developments on the US-Israel war with Iran as Iran insists its new Supreme Leader is still alive amid speculation he had been killed.

The Democratic contest highlights divisions over crypto regulation and billionaire influence in politics, as the industry spends millions in a battle with the governor.

The U.S. and Israel crippled Iranian forces in two weeks of war, but Tehran’s ability to disrupt oil flows and its uranium stockpile complicate the push to end it.

The head of a federal arts commission is proposing the more ornate Corinthian style for the nearly 200-year-old columns at the building’s front entrance

Michael Gouthro says he hopes there’ll be something for everyone at his new two-storey locale.

Leaders from the five Nordic countries and Canada meet in Oslo for a mini-summit on Arctic security amid rising geopolitical tensions. Discussions follow a massive NATO exercise in northern Norway and focus on Russian military risks, the fallout from U.S. threats to seize Greenland and energy security.

When his trial began in February, Frank Stronach faced 12 counts related to seven female complainants whose allegations included sexual assault and the historical charges of rape and attempted rape. Now, with all the evidence heard and closing submissions set for the end of the month, those charges have been whittled down to seven — related to four of the initial seven complainants.

Rahul Gandhi has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to posthumously award the Bharat Ratna to Bahujan Samaj Party founder Kanshi Ram. Gandhi highlighted Kanshi Ram's significant role in social justice and empowering marginalized communities. This call follows consistent demands from Dalit leaders and intellectuals for the highest national honor for the BSP founder.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced a Rs 500 hike in monthly honorariums for priests and muezzins, raising their pay to Rs 2,000. This move, along with the approval of all new applications, was made just before the Election Commission declared poll dates. Banerjee stated the decision recognizes the vital role of religious functionaries in community life.

The Election Commission is set to announce the schedule for assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry today. The upcoming polls are expected to involve fewer phases, particularly in West Bengal, with a substantial increase in central forces deployment. Supplementary voter lists for West Bengal will also be published following the adjudication of 'doubtful' voter cases.

Theme parties are transforming social gatherings into immersive experiences, driven by social media and a desire for participation. Brands are engineering these events to foster deeper engagement, turning passive fandom into collective celebration. This trend taps into psychological needs for connection and belonging, creating shared cultural moments that extend beyond mere entertainment.

The Election Commission is set to announce the schedule for assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal today at 4 pm. Ahead of the announcement, opposition leaders have voiced concerns, questioning the poll body's neutrality and the effectiveness of the Model Code of Conduct.

US journalist Tucker Carlson might be in danger, CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou has said Read Full Article at RT.com

SINGAPORE — Japanese restaurant chain Itacho Sushi appears to have shuttered all its outlets in Singapore, following a spate of closures here in the past year.As at March 15, the four remaining Itacho Sushi outlets were listed on Google Maps as permanently closed. These outlets were located at Ion Orchard, Bugis Junction, The Star Vista and Novena Square 2.They had been listed on Itacho Sushi's website — which is down — according to a Nov 12, 2025, archived snapshot. This follows closures of the chain's other outlets at Tampines Mall and Bedok Mall within a year.Checks on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook on March 15 showed that the company's Singapore accounts had been taken down too. The Itacho Sushi mobile app was also not available on the Google Play Store and App Store.According to the Government's Bizfile portal, Itacho BM, which operates the Singapore chain of restaurants, is listed as being «gazetted to be struck off» the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority's Register of Companies. The notice was first published in the Government Gazette on Feb 13.

SINGAPORE — Between 2023 and 2025, more than 20 doctors and dentists here were caught practising without a valid registration or after their practising certificates had expired.No patient was harmed in the cases reported and investigated, the Ministry of Health (MOH) told The Straits Times.MOH said these errant practitioners were formally trained practitioners who did not have the necessary or valid credentials, mainly due to issues that were «administrative in nature and not related to professional competency».In several instances, the practitioners had unintentionally continued practising after their practising certificates had expired, it said.But in the light of the cases, MOH sent a circular on Feb 6 to remind all licensees under the Healthcare Services Act and its Regulations, including general practitioners and dental clinics, to have proper credential verification processes in place.

CMC A new report by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has highlighted progress in the adoption of front-of-package warning labelling systems for food products in the Region of the Americas, including the Caribbean, and has identified opportunities to strengthen these policies to protect public health.

Several food items imported from Jamaica for the United States (US) market have remained scarce since Hurricane Melissa, leaving restaurant operators and other consumers in the diaspora and beyond facing higher prices and potentially impacting business operations, as well as a connection to the traditional tastes and dishes from the island. Among the items in short supply are ackee, callaloo, Jamaican green bananas, Scotch bonnet pepper and yams.

The Government is aiming, within the next 24 months, to establish the single entity it has been touting to take charge of national roads in the country and which has been named the One Road Authority (ORA).

As global politics and international law are being redefined by current developments in the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East, the issue of expanding geopolitical hegemony was among the matters raised at The University of the West Indies’ (UWI’s) Mona campus during presentations to a packed room of social scientists, academics, students, and current and past lecturers last Wednesday.

Their home is no longer a sanctuary – it’s a prison of fear. At any moment, their mentally ill relative could strike and, for Sharon Burgess* and her elderly mother, that day could be fatal. Burgess’ brother lives with them and, over the years, his violent outbursts have grown more frequent. Their house and yard has become his dumping ground. His rage-filled threats echo through the rooms, and police have been called multiple times to restore order.

Jeffrey Epstein illegally supplied Peter Mandelson with drugs while he was a government minister. In one email Mandelson boldly asks Epstein where he will get more 'triangles'.

LIVE: Follow the latest developments on the US-Israel war with Iran as Iranian officials threaten to kidnap US troops after Washington attacked Kharg Island.

The US-Israeli war in the Persian Gulf is throttling fertilizer supplies, which could cause a global food crisis Read Full Article at RT.com

Iran would only consider the ongoing war with the US over if Washington withdrew from the Persian Gulf, Major General Mohsen Rezaee has said Read Full Article at RT.com