A.P. introduces incentives for families to have three children

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu introduced the Draft Population Management Policy, whose objective is to raise the total fertility rate (TFR) from 1.5 to an optimal level of 2.1, in the Assembly on Thursday, with the aim of reversing the declining fertility rate and preparing the State for an ageing society by 2047.

Iran launches fresh attacks against Israel, U.S.

Iran launched a new wave of attacks against Israel, American bases and countries around the region on Thursday, even as Israel and the U.S. hammered the Islamic Republic for a sixth day. Bahrain said an Iranian missile hit a state-run oil refinery. It said the fire on Thursday night was extinguished and the refinery was still working.

Ahead of crucial Assembly elections, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal Governors changed

President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday appointed Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi as the Governor of West Bengal, while Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was given the additional charge of Ta mil Nadu. The appointments come ahead of the announcement of crucial Assembly elections in these States.

West Asia on fire 

India should oppose the U.S's attempt to widen the war to the Indian Ocean

Six days after the unprovoked, illegal Israeli-American war against Iran began, West Asia has descended into chaos. When U.S. President Donald Trump launched the war, killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, other leaders and at least 160 schoolchildren, he called on Iranians to overthrow the Islamic Republic and take over state institutions. That did not happen. Iran retaliated by targeting Israel as well as American bases, assets and missions in the Persian Gulf region. -10

Transforming representation into real change by 2029

Parliament 2029 must transform women's lives. with its representatives well aware of what guardrails women need to age with dignity

Protecting women's rights amid conflict and instability

International Women's Day is once again in our midst. Observed globally on March 8, the day has evolved from its early 20th century labour roots into a leading platform for deliberating on women's rights, celebrating achievements and demanding concrete action toward gender equality. Officially recognized by the United Nations (UN) in 1977, the day continues to serve as both a celebration and a call to action.

The legality of U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran

Under the UN Charter, only the UN Security Council may authorise the use of force against a member state, with self-defence permitted only in response to an actual armed attack.

Civilian objects such as schools and hospitals are protected under International Humanitarian Law, which regulates the conduct of hostilities during conflict.

International law compels states to justify the use of force and seeks to limit human suffering by regulating the means and methods of warfare.

Mascots Pragati, Vikas to serve as the friendly faces of Census 2027

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday un-veiled two mascots, Pragati and Vikas, for the upcoming Population Census 2027. Mr. Shah also soft-launched four digital tools to be used during the exercise. This will be the first Census that will be digital, and the first to allow self-enumeration and enumeration of caste. 

Conflicts can't be resolved solely by military action: PM on West Asia, Ukraine

India and Finland will sup-port all efforts to end the conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine at the earliest, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi after talks with Fin-land's President Alexander Stubb, stressing that there are no military solutions to any conflict.

Sinking of ship brings war to region: Sri Lanka, Maldives leaders

The sinking of an Iranian ship by the U.S. in the Indian Ocean raises concern for the smaller countries in the region, leaders from Sri Lanka and the Maldives, who have gathered for the Raisina Dialogue, said on Thursday. They called for closer communication on the issue with India as a "net security provider" in the region.

Indian HPV vaccine under test for single-dose roll-out

A relaxation by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the prescribed dosage for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine and 'free' doses may have pushed back the inclusion of an Indian-made vaccine into the national pro-gramme to inoculate children against HPV.

India, China top Asia-Pacific region in metabolic diseases burden: study

India and China have among the highest absolute metabolic disease bur-dens in Asia-Pacific, a re-cent review of data from the Global Burden of Dis-ease, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD), 1990-2023, revealed. It also includes forecasts up to 2030 for the Asia-Pacific region, based on these trends.

Iran's political system: clerical rule with the ballot

The Constitution mandates the 88-member Assembly of Experts to elect the Supreme Leader; the Assembly, which also has the authority to oversee and dismiss the Leader, is directly elected, but the candidates are strictly vetted by the Guardian Council, whose members are directly or indirectly picked by the Supreme Leader; President and members of Parliament (Majles) are directly elected

Voting concludes in Nepal with preliminary turnout around 60%

Nepal voted on Thursday in its first election since September last year's Gen Z protests, with preliminary estimates suggesting a turnout of 60%.