National

Bihar Places Hope in Congress, Says Khera; Stays Quiet on RJD Alliance

Published

1 year ago

March 23, 2025

The Congress Party is currently facing a critical decision in Bihar: should it enter the forthcoming assembly elections independently or as part of the Mahagathbandhan alliance? This question is generating significant discourse among both media and political circles in the state, especially as the party has been reticent about its commitment to the alliance. Central leaders of Congress are now joining state leaders in dodging inquiries on this topic.

In a recent media interaction in Patna, senior Congress figure Pawan Khera sidestepped questions regarding a potential partnership with the RJD. “We will make a decision when the time is right. There are still eight months until the election,” he stated.

Despite persistent inquiries about collaborations with the RJD and the number of seats Congress intends to contest, Khera refrained from making any commitments. Instead, he expressed optimism about the party’s potential, emphasizing the considerable unrest in Bihar that has led citizens to seek change. He noted, “Bihar is looking to Congress with hope for transformation.”

Khera continued, stating that the party is focused on strengthening its presence in Bihar. “The outlook is promising, and there is renewed enthusiasm among our workers and supporters. We have a clear vision and proven track record in other states, which Bihar is eager to emulate,” he added.

He urged the people of Bihar to shift away from the BJP-Nitish administration for the sake of progress. “I urge the citizens of Bihar: ‘Badlo Sarkar-Badlo Bihar’ (Change the government to transform Bihar). Conditions won’t improve under Nitish Kumar’s leadership,” he asserted.

Khera voiced concern for Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s health but reiterated that the welfare of Bihar is the party’s primary focus. “When you are weak, manipulation becomes a risk. The BJP is notorious for such tactics. We are troubled by the agreements signed by a chief minister who may not be in good health,” he stated.

National

Delhi Techie Found Dead During Honeymoon Trip

Published

1 day ago

June 17, 2026

Namma Kudla

National: A 27-year-old IT professional from Delhi was found dead at a homestay in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. The woman, P Radha Gayatri, had gone on a honeymoon trip with her husband.

According to police, the couple checked into a homestay on June 14. Her husband said they had consumed alcohol and went to sleep late at night.

The next morning, he found Gayatri unconscious on the floor. Police said she was lying in a pool of urine, and blood was coming from her nose. She was declared dead at the scene.

The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination. Police are investigating the case and waiting for the autopsy report to determine the cause of death.

National

Pakistan Ranked World’s Most Polluted Country in 2025

Published

5 days ago

June 13, 2026

Namma Kudla

Islamabad: Pakistan has been ranked as the most polluted country in the world in 2025, according to a new report released by Swiss air quality monitoring company IQ Air.

The report found that Pakistan’s average PM2.5 pollution level was 13 times higher than the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). PM2.5 refers to tiny harmful particles in the air that can enter the lungs and cause serious health problems.

IQ Air said that only 13 countries and territories met the WHO air quality guideline of less than 5 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter of air in 2025. This was an improvement from seven countries in 2024.

The report also revealed that 130 out of 143 monitored countries and territories failed to meet the WHO standard.

Bangladesh was ranked as the second most polluted country, while Tajikistan secured the third position. Chad, which was the most polluted country in 2024, ranked fourth in 2025.

Experts said that Chad’s lower ranking may be linked to missing pollution data. In March 2025, the United States ended a global air quality monitoring program due to budget cuts. The program had collected pollution data from US embassies and consulates around the world.

Christi Chester Schroeder, the lead author of the report, said that the loss of data makes it difficult to know the true pollution levels in some countries.

Because of data shortages, Burundi, Turkmenistan and Togo were not included in the 2025 report.

The report also identified Loni in India as the world’s most polluted city. The city recorded an average PM2.5 level of 112.5 micrograms per cubic meter. Hotan in China ranked second with 109.6 micrograms.

According to the report, the 25 most polluted cities in the world were all located in India, Pakistan and China.

Only 14 percent of cities worldwide met the WHO air quality standard in 2025. This was lower than the 17 percent recorded in the previous year.

The report noted that large wildfires in Canada increased air pollution levels across the United States and even affected parts of Europe.

Countries that met the WHO air quality guideline in 2025 included Australia, Iceland, Estonia and Panama.

Meanwhile, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia reported significant improvements in air quality. Experts said wetter and windier La Niña weather conditions helped reduce pollution levels in these countries.

Mongolia also recorded a 31 percent drop in average PM2.5 levels during the year.

Overall, 75 countries reported lower pollution levels in 2025, while 54 countries experienced an increase in air pollution, according to the IQ Air report

National

Indian Air Force AN-32 Transport Aircraft Crashes

Published

5 days ago

June 13, 2026

Namma Kudla

Dispur: An Indian Air Force (IAF) AN-32 transport aircraft crashed at the Air Force Station in Jorhat, Assam, on Saturday. The aircraft caught fire after the crash.

According to reports, the AN-32 aircraft went down within the premises of the air base. A fire broke out immediately after the accident.

Rescue and firefighting teams rushed to the spot and launched an operation to control the flames. The fire was brought under control after their prompt response.

The exact cause of the crash is not known yet. Authorities are investigating the incident.

So far, there have been no reports of any deaths or injuries. The Indian Air Force has confirmed the accident and said that more details will be shared after a complete assessment of the situation.

Further information is awaited.