Mid Day

Keir Starmer has appointed Peter Mandelson as the next UK ambassador to the US, replacing Karen Pierce. Mandelson, 71, brings extensive experience in trade and foreign policy, though his past criticisms of Trump have drawn rebuke from US allies

There should be clarity on which party is merging with which, MP Sunil Tatkare said in Karad, located in Maharashtras Satara district

Japan retrieved rare earth minerals from 6,000 meters deep near Minami Torishima, marking the worlds first deep-sea extraction at such depth. The mission, using the Chikyu drilling ship, aims to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals like dysprosium and yttrium, vital for EVs, electronics, and wind turbines

Ahead of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation polls, Congress claimed 150 party rebels withdrew their nominations, while BJP said 96 rebels stepped aside, signalling last-minute consolidation by both parties before voting

Union Health Minister JP Nadda held a review meeting with Rajasthan and Maharashtra health ministers, focusing on strengthening public health infrastructure, drug regulation, diagnostics, Jan Aushadhi Kendras, and Indias TB elimination goals

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya criticized Congress for ignoring Indias civilisational values, prompting objections from Congress MP Hibi Eden. Home Minister Amit Shah intervened, defending Surya during the Parliament debate

E Sreedharan opened an office in Ponnani to start work on a proposed ThiruvananthapuramKannur high-speed rail project, despite Kerala being excluded from the Union Budget 2026 rail corridors. He said DPR and survey work will begin soon, expressing confidence of central approval

The Union Budget 2026 raised STT on futures and options from April 1, 2026. ICRA expects a 16 percent rise in STT collections in financial year 2027. Derivatives volumes cross 500x GDP in India hence the government said the move aims to curb excessive speculation

The Supreme Court granted bail to three accused in the 2024 Pune Porsche accident case that killed two people, observing that parents must be held accountable for juveniles being given cars and money without control

The National Investigation Agency on Monday conducted searches at multiple locations in Srinagar, Baramulla and Bandipora districts of Jammu and Kashmir in connection with a terror case. The action comes amid intensified counter-terror operations in the region

SBI Chairman Challa Sreenivasulu Setty has hailed Union Budget 2026, calling it a blend of policy continuity and futuristic reforms. He said the budget boosts infrastructure, banking, agriculture, AI adoption and sunrise sectors while keeping fiscal discipline intact

According to CPCB readings, several monitoring stations across the capital recorded elevated AQI levels. Anand Vihar reported an AQI of 242, Bawana 222, Chandni Chowk 217, Dwarka Sector-8 240, and R.K. Puram 232

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed it killed Hezbollah terrorist Ali Dawood Amich, head of a Hezbollah engineering branch, in southern Lebanon. Amich was reportedly restoring military infrastructure and planning attacks against Israeli forces

A 4.6-magnitude earthquake struck Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir early Monday at 5:35 am, with Pattan identified as the epicenter. Officials confirmed there were no reports of damage or casualties so far

Ukraine: 15 people were killed and seven others injured when a Russian drone struck a service bus carrying miners in the Pavlohrad district of Ukraine on Saturday (local time), according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. According to a statement issued on X by the emergency service, a fire broke out following the strike

World Bank President Ajay Banga visited Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal and the Jaulian Buddhist archaeological site in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, holding discussions on provincial economic affairs and cultural heritage preservation

Former Manipur CM N Biren Singh said NDA partners have been called to Delhi for talks as Presidents Rule in the state nears its end. The BJP leadership is expected to decide on extending Presidents Rule after consultations

Union Budget 2026 brings relief with cheaper cancer drugs, a major push for AI and data centres, a 15 per cent hike in defence spending, Rs 10,000 crore for biopharma and targeted support for MSMEs, while triggering mixed political reactions

Jeffrey Epstein is suspected of operating a global honeytrap racket allegedly linked to Russian intelligence, according to a media report. Newly released documents reportedly mention Vladimir Putin, Moscow and alleged espionage links involving Epstein and the Maxwell family

Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any US attack would trigger a regional war, as President Donald Trump threatened military strikes and claimed India would shift oil purchases from Iran to Venezuela

A new study has reconstructed a 3D image of the Suns internal magnetic field using decades of satellite data, allowing scientists to track how solar magnetism evolves beneath the surface something never directly observed before

Union Budget 2026 focuses on compliance reforms, higher education and health spending, women-led initiatives and medical tourism, while keeping income tax slabs unchanged. Markets fell sharply after a hike in STT on derivatives

A new study has found dark-brown flakes inside a Roman glass medicinal vial, offering the first direct evidence that human excrement was used to treat illnesses. The practice was linked to Galen of Pergamon, a renowned Roman physician

Leaders of our neighbouring country should pay attention to what their young people are trying to tell them

In her post, she alleged that she was scammed shortly after landing in Mumbai and also shared the registration number of the taxi

Several hits in this budget puts ease at front and centre; focus on dispute resolution and domestic strengthening; there is no change in slab rates, surcharge, or the four per cent education cess

Budget 2026 signals trust over control; the most important reform is the comprehensive simplification and liberalisation of the Customs and tax administration

Union Budget 2026: Markets turned volatile on Budget Day as Nifty and Sensex fell sharply after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a steep hike in STT on futures and options trading, triggering panic selling and heavy losses in large-cap stocks

An official statement said that the CISF successfully provided comprehensive security for Wings India 2026, held at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad from January 28 to 31, 2026

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said 15 Bangladeshi immigrants were pushed back across the border as part of the states ongoing crackdown on illegal migration. He reaffirmed the governments commitment to act firmly against infiltrators

Smartphones and sports equipment may become cheaper, while cigarettes, alcohol, and futures and options trading will see higher costs, even as income tax slabs remain unchanged. The changes will come into effect from April 1

In her first Budget in 2019, Sitharaman replaced the decades-old leather briefcase with a traditional red bahi-khata, symbolising a shift in presentation style. Continuing the practice of recent years, the Union Budget 202627 will be paperless, marking the fifth consecutive digital Budget

Union Budget 2026 brings changes affecting household expenses and consumer choices. Smartphones, sports goods, select drugs, and capital equipment may get cheaper, while alcohol, tobacco, and stock futures trading become costlier

Union Budget 2026 boosts Indias defence spending to Rs 7.8 lakh crore, a 15 per cent jump year-on-year. Capital outlay for military hardware rises 21.8 per cent, with duty waivers on aircraft raw materials to support Aatmanirbhar Bharat

Principal of IDTR said tyres are the only point of contact between a vehicle and the road, bearing the entire weight of the vehicle and playing a critical role in braking, stability and control

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented Union Budget 2026, focusing on reforms, fiscal consolidation, high-speed rail corridors, rare earth and biopharma initiatives, and targeted tax relief for individuals and businesses

In a major relief move, Union Budget 2026 exempts income tax on interest earned from motor accident compensation claims. The decision removes TDS, ensuring victims and families receive the full awarded amount without deductions

Union Budget 2026 extends the Khelo India Mission for 10 years and boosts funding for sports goods manufacturing. The move aims to strengthen infrastructure, nurture talent, generate jobs, and prepare India for global events like the 2036 Olympics

Parts of Kashmir received fresh snowfall in higher reaches and rain in the plains as night temperatures rose above freezing in Srinagar and other areas, while Gulmarg remained the coldest place. The weather department has forecast cloudy conditions with the possibility of light rain or snow over the next two days

Presenting the Union Budget 2026 in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said the time limit for submitting revised income tax returns would be extended from December 31 to March 31, subject to the payment of a nominal fee

Sitharaman said the proposals are driven by Yuvashakti and anchored in what she described as the governments three kartavyas, aimed at accelerating growth while maintaining reform momentum

The Finance Minister announced the setting up of 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs in government schools over the next five years to promote innovation, scientific temper, and hands-on learning among students

Union Budget 2026 seeks to touch multiple segments of society - from farmers, students and MSMEs to commuters, investors and healthcare professionals - while keeping long-term growth firmly in focus

The changes, announced as part of her speech on direct taxes, aim to decriminalise certain procedural non-compliances, reduce the severity of punishments, make penalties more proportionate, and ease the compliance burden on taxpayers

The Finance Minister did not propose any revisions to Income Tax slabs or rates under either the old or new tax regime for FY 2026-27. The most important announcement for taxpayers is the rollout of the New Income Tax Act, 2025, which will replace the Income Tax Act, 1961, from April 1, 2026

While there is no revision in slabs, the Budget addresses several long-standing concerns of middle-class taxpayers through targeted relief measures, including a reduction in TCS rates and the introduction of new dividend-related deductions

Presenting the Budget in Parliament, Sitharaman said the initiative is aimed at creating a robust ecosystem for biopharma and biosimilars, strengthening domestic capabilities and boosting Indias global competitiveness in high-value pharmaceutical manufacturing

Sitharaman said the new law will replace the six-decade-old Income Tax Act of 1961, with all changes announced in the current Budget being incorporated into the fresh legislation

Israeli air strikes killed at least 32 people, including women and children, across Gaza on Saturday, according to the territorys civil defence agency. The attacks targeted residential buildings, shelters and a police station, despite a ceasefire entering its second phase earlier this month

The blast happened a day before a planned naval drill by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all oil traded passes. The US military has warned Iran not to threaten its warships or commercial traffic in the strait, on which Bandar Abbas sits