With a view to strengthening international air connectivity and boosting religious tourism, the Bihar cabinet on Wednesday (May 20, 2026) approved ₹10.40 crore as Viability Gap Funding (VGF) to operate direct flights between Gaya Ji and Bangkok.

The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary. A total of 13 agendas were approved at the meeting.

The Reserve Bank of India on Monday issued final amendment directions dispensing with the need to maintain Investment Fluctuation Reserve requirement for banks that already maintain capital charge for market risk and follow the revised norms governing classification, valuation and operation of investment portfolios.

The IFR acts as a buffer maintained by banks to absorb valuation losses in their investment portfolios arising from interest rate movements and market volatility.

In a statement, the central bank said the amended framework seeks to rationalise IFR requirements, harmonise regulatory instructions across regulated entities and remove inconsistencies in the existing regime.

The IAF on Monday said Squadron Leader Saanya has achieved a historic first by becoming the first woman officer to earn the coveted Cat-A Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) qualification.

The Indian Air Force, in a post on X, said it marks a proud milestone for the IAF and is an inspiration for aspiring aviators across the nation.

It also shared photos of IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh felicitating the officer.

"Excellence takes flight. Sqn Ldr Saanya has achieved a historic first by becoming the first woman officer to earn the coveted Cat-A Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI) qualification. Her achievement embodies dedication and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

The United States will host the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 30-31 as Washington steps up preparations for a series of high-profile global summits later this year.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced yesterday that the meeting would bring together foreign ministers from the world’s leading economies to advance the G20’s core mission of promoting global stability and prosperity.

The discussions are expected to focus on strengthening international cooperation, addressing global economic challenges and supporting open markets and resilient supply chains, according to the State Department statement.

A 23-year-old politician representing a local council in eastern England has created history by becoming the youngest Indian-origin Mayor in the United Kingdom

Tushar Kumar, a former student of Political Science from King's College London, took charge as the Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood at a ceremony last week.

The Labour councillor joined the Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council in 2023 and previously served in the role of Deputy Mayor.

Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and senior BJP leader, Major General (Retd.) Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri passed away on Tuesday at Max Hospital in Dehradun after a prolonged illness.

A former Army officer who transitioned into politics, General Khanduri served two terms as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand (first from 2007 to 2009 and second from 2011 to 2012), steering the state's administration.

During his tenure, he took stringent measures against corruption and laid the foundation for a transparent and disciplined administration within the state.

After years of discussion and missed timelines, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) is finally moving ahead with its long-awaited air train project.

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), the operator of IGIA, has decided to directly fund and build an automated people mover (APM) system that will connect Terminal 1, Terminals 2 and 3, Aerocity and the cargo district. According to a report by The Times Of India, the project is expected to cost between Rs 3,000 crore and Rs 4,000 crore and, according to airport officials, could be operational within 30 months.

The project is essentially an airport transit train, similar to the automated systems seen at major international hubs in cities like Seoul, Zurich and Jakarta.

The planned APM will run across a 7.7-km corridor inside the airport ecosystem, helping passengers move quickly between terminals and airport-linked zones without relying on shuttle buses or road traffic.

The All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) has announced a three-day strike in the Delhi-NCR region from May 21 to May 23 against the Delhi Government’s decision to hike the environment compensation cess on commercial vehicles.

The AIMTC, the apex body of truckers, private buses, taxi, and maxi cab operators, held a meeting on Tuesday (May 19, 2026) in Delhi where issues related to the cess hike were raised.

The Maharashtra government on Tuesday signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for projects aimed at generating 25,400 MW of nuclear power, involving an estimated investment of ₹6.5 lakh crore.

Of the four proposed projects, three are planned in the Konkan region’s Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts, officials said, with Adani Power proposing a 6,000 MW nuclear plant at Barsu in Ratnagiri—a site that had earlier sparked massive protests over a proposed oil refinery project.

According to a statement released by the Maharashtra government, it has signed MoUs with Adani Power, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), NTPC Limited, and the Lalitpur Power Generation Company Limited.

The development comes months after India opened up its civil nuclear power sector to private companies. In December 2025, the Parliament passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, ending a six-decade state monopoly on nuclear power generation.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday met his Vietnamese counterpart, General Phan Van Giang, in Hanoi, where they reviewed the growing partnership between the two countries and discussed ways to deepen cooperation in maritime security, defence industry, training, and regional stability.

As per a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence, the two sides exchanged views on regional and global security developments of mutual interest and emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region.

The statement added that they discussed avenues to expand cooperation in areas including military training, defence industry collaboration, maritime security, capacity building, United Nations peacekeeping, cyber security, and high-level exchanges. They also agreed to enhance cooperation between the defence forces through regular dialogues, joint exercises and exchange programmes.