Sudanese-Scottish author Leila Aboulela was named winner of the 2025 PEN Pinter Prize, on Wednesday, joining a prestigious list of writers who, in the spirit of Harold Pinter, have cast an “unflinching, unswerving gaze upon the world.”

The announcement was made at English PEN’s annual summer party in London, where Khalid Abdalla (The Kite Runner, 2007) and Amira Ghazalla (Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi, 2017) brought Aboulela’s work to life in moving readings before an audience of writers, publishers, and cultural figures.

Calling the honour “a complete and utter surprise,” Aboulela said the award brings expansion and depth to the meaning of freedom of expression and the stories that get heard. “For someone like me, a Muslim Sudanese immigrant who writes from a religious perspective probing the limits of secular tolerance, this recognition feels truly significant,” she said.

Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd (HCCB), the largest bottling arm of The Coca-Cola Co. in India, on Tuesday announced the appointment of Hemant Rupani as its new chief executive officer, effective 8 September 2025.

Rupani joins HCCB after a nine-year tenure at Mondelez International Inc., where he currently serves as business unit president for Southeast Asia, overseeing operations in Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

He will succeed Juan Pablo Rodriguez, the current CEO of HCCB, who is transitioning to a new opportunity within the Coca-Cola system, the company said in a statement. Rodriguez was appointed CEO in August 2022. Rupani will report to the HCCB board of directors.

ACKO on Tuesday said it has been selected as the preferred insurance partner for Tesla, which has made an entry into India by opening its first showroom in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC).

With this strategic collaboration, Tesla owners in India will have a fully integrated journey — quote to cover to claim — done digitally, the insurer said.

“At the heart of this association lies a common goal: to simplify car-ownership through intelligent technology. By embedding insurance directly into the car-buying experience, Tesla and ACKO aim to reduce complexity, enhance customer convenience, and accelerate the adoption of electric

The railways ministry on Monday said it will deploy the Japanese Shinkansen E10 trains on the upcoming Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor. With this, the ministry has cleared the air around ongoing speculation that the government might use indigenously-produced trains currently being manufactured by state-run BEML at its Bengaluru facility.

In a statement, the ministry said that while the Japanese Shinkansen is currently operating E5 trains, the next-generation model is the E10 (also called Alfa-X). “In the spirit of strategic partnership between Japan and India, the Japanese government has agreed to introduce E10 Shinkansen trains in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project. It is noteworthy that E10 will be introduced simultaneously in India and Japan,” the ministry said.

The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has quashed a criminal case involving serious charges of cruelty, unnatural sex, and dowry harassment, observing that marriage is a sacred institution and should not be reduced to prolonged legal battles that serve no constructive purpose.

A Division Bench comprising Justices Nitin W. Sambre and M.M. Nerlikar in an order dated July 8, 2025, that was made available on Monday (July 15, 2025), allowed three connected criminal applications seeking to quash FIR registered at Beltarodi Police Station, Nagpur, under Sections 498-A, 377 read with 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. The charges were levelled by a woman against her husband, two sisters-in-law, and a maternal aunt-in-law following a matrimonial dispute.

Senior IPS officer Sonali Mishra has been appointed as the first female Director General of the Railway Protection Force (RPF). She will take charge of the post from incumbent Manoj Yadava, who is due to superannuate on July 31.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has officially approved the appointment of Senior IPS officer Sonali Mishra as the Director General (DG) of the Railway Protection Force (RPF). According to the order issued by the Personnel Ministry, she will serve in this position until her superannuation on October 31, 2026.

Mishra will be the first woman officer to head the RPF, which is entrusted with the responsibility of security of railway property and passengers, among other duties, the officials said.

In a landmark move, Gujarat has become the first Indian state to officially join the Cruise Bharat Mission, signaling a major leap forward in developing a globally competitive cruise tourism industry. Spearheaded by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the state aims to leverage its vast 2,340-kilometre coastline and key navigable rivers such as the Sabarmati and Narmada to position itself as a prime destination for cruise travelers.

On May 6, the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) hosted a comprehensive stakeholder workshop to outline a dedicated Cruise Shipping Policy. The event brought together maritime experts, government officials, and tourism leaders to chart a strategic course for Gujarat’s cruise tourism future.

Rajkumar Beniwal, IAS, Vice Chairman and CEO of GMB, presented Gujarat’s roadmap featuring plans for world-class cruise terminals, supported by investment-friendly policies designed to attract cruise operators and tourists alike. Saidingpuii Chhakchhuak, IAS, Managing Director of Gujarat Tourism, emphasized the development of “cruise-ready” destinations and immersive shore excursions that showcase Gujarat’s rich cultural and natural heritage.

Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, who led Nigeria twice as a military head of state and a democratic president, has died aged 82, his press secretary said on Sunday (July 13, 2025).

Mr. Buhari died in London on Sunday afternoon, where he was receiving medical treatment in recent weeks. When he was elected in 2015, on his fourth attempt, he became the first opposition candidate to win a presidential election.

He led Africa's most populous nation until 2023, when he was succeeded by Bola Tinubu, also from the All Progressives Congress.

The sacred Behdeinkhlam Festival was celebrated with fervor today in Jowai, Meghalaya, blending ancient Pnar rituals with modern social themes.

Thousands of people gathered as vibrant processions, drumbeats, and towering ‘Rots’ filled West Jaintia Hills. The festival, meaning “driving away the plague,” symbolizes spiritual cleansing and community resilience.

This year’s Rots carried powerful contemporary themes: environmental protection, women’s safety, Operation Sindoor, and the role of artificial intelligence in shaping society.

In a move aimed at taking strong action against sacrilege, the Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, approved the Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scriptures Bill 2025.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the Council of Ministers at the Chief Minister's residence in Chandigarh.

The Chief Minister's Office said, Punjab has witnessed several incidents in recent years involving the desecration of sacred texts, especially the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. These acts have deeply hurt public sentiment and triggered unrest. While existing provisions in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 (new penal code) do cover such offences, the state government believes the current penalties are not strong enough to stop such crimes.