Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) underscored the importance of targeted interventions and technology-led outreach in the fight against tuberculosis, while chairing a high-level review meeting on the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) at his official residence.

The Prime Minister emphasised the need to analyse TB patient data based on urban-rural distinctions and occupational categories. “This will help identify vulnerable groups requiring early testing and treatment, especially workers in construction, mining, textile and other high-risk sectors,” Mr. Modi observed.

Highlighting the curability of TB with regular treatment, the Prime Minister said the public must be made more aware, with less fear and more support. He called upon Nikshay Mitra —volunteers who support TB patients, to leverage digital platforms and interactive technologies to engage with patients effectively.

Union Housing and Urban affairs minister Manohar Lal on Saturday inaugurated the ‘Bharat Bodh Kendra’ at the India Habitat Centre (IHC) here.

In a statement, the Union housing and urban affairs ministry said ‘Bharat Bodh Kendra’ is a new addition to IHC’s Habitat Library and Resource Centre — a dedicated section aimed at fostering awareness and appreciation of India’s rich cultural and civilisational heritage.

The new facility will house a curated collection of books and resources on Indian art, music, spirituality, history, philosophy and other related fields.

The WHO has urged all member states, the civil society, the private sector and communities to push for people-centred mobility policies, safer road design, safe vehicles and lower speed limits on the occasion of the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week.

The UN Global Road Safety Week is marked biennially, starting on the third Monday of May.

This year, the theme urges the world to make walking and cycling safe for everyone.

Walking and cycling are an integral part of the multimodal transport systems in the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2020-2030, Saima Wazed, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, said.

The Taliban government has suspended chess across Afghanistan, citing concerns that the game may promote gambling—an activity considered forbidden under their interpretation of Islamic law. The suspension, announced on Sunday, will remain in effect until religious authorities determine whether the game aligns with Islamic principles.

“Until these considerations are addressed, the sport of chess is suspended in Afghanistan,” said Atal Mashwani, spokesperson for the Taliban’s sports directorate, speaking to AFP.

In Kabul, the ban has disrupted small social hubs where chess served as a rare recreational outlet. Azizullah Gulzada, who runs a café in the city that has hosted informal chess games for years, said the move could hurt both his business and the mental well-being of his patrons.

The Indian Premier League is all set to resume on May 17 with the final to be played on June 3, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Monday. The IPL, which was suspended last Friday following hostilities between India and Pakistan, will now take place at six venues with those for the play-offs still to be decided.

Ever since India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire, the BCCI has been in a huddle to restart the league. After consultation with the government, the Board released the revised schedule which sees the tournament resuming in Bengaluru on Saturday with Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Kolkata Knight Riders. It will be followed by a double header on Sunday in Jaipur and Delhi as Rajasthan Royals take on Punjab Kings in the afternoon, followed by the evening clash between Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans.

Apart from these three venues, Lucknow, Ahmedabad and Mumbai will see the remaining league fixtures being played. The Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals match, which was called-off mid-way on May 8, would now take place in Jaipur on May 24.

The event was conducted at Crossword's new Juhu flagship store.In an age where scrolling has become second nature, a powerful new book titled Win The Battle of Your Mind: Scroll Less, Read More by acclaimed author and Asia's first Reading Coach Reeta Ramamurthy Gupta was launched to a full house @ Crossword Krishna Curve at the hands of eminent educationist and businessman, Dr Niranjan Hiranandani.

"Addressing the book launch, Dr. Niranjan Hiranandani opined, 'In an age where endless scrolling dominates our attention, 'Win the Battle of Your Mind: Scroll Less, Read More, serves as an awakening. This book inspires a balanced approach to integrate mindfulness with the digital age, encouraging us to engage with content in ways that enrich our minds and nurture our personal growth. It is a crucial reminder of the power of our brain and how we must not let it be affected by a lack of reading.' He emphasized the importance of developing the reading habit, reminding us of the revolutionary power of reading throughout history.

FOLLOWING the ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan, New Delhi on Monday lifted the temporary closure of various airports in parts of northern and western India, making them available for regular civil flight operations.

Amid the major escalation in tensions with Pakistan last week, India had announced a temporary closure of 32 airports for civil aircraft operations till 5:29 am May 15, according to a series of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) issued on Friday by aviation authorities. Those NOTAMs were cancelled Monday morning with immediate effect.

Airlines said they were working to fully restore operations to and from the affected airports, with two IndiGo flights from Delhi to Jammu and Chandigarh operating on Monday evening.

Actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood will be honoured with the prestigious Humanitarian Award at the 72nd Miss World Festival for his outstanding contributions during the Covid-19 pandemic. The grand event is scheduled to be held on May 31 at the HITEX Arena in Hyderabad, where Sood will also serve as one of the esteemed judges for the Miss World 2025 grand finale.

Julia Morley, Chairperson of the Miss World Organisation, praised Sood’s dedication, noting that his tireless efforts exemplify the organisation’s core values under the banner of ‘Beauty With A Purpose’. “We are honoured to present Sonu Sood with this award for his extraordinary service to humanity,” said Morley. “His work continues to inspire people across the globe, and we are proud to celebrate his remarkable contributions on our stage.”

Sonu Sood became a household name not just for his roles on screen, but for his real-life heroism during the Covid-19 crisis. When the nationwide lockdown left thousands of migrant workers stranded, Sood stepped up to arrange transport to help them return home. He also provided critical medical support, oxygen supplies, and launched a series of free educational and employment initiatives through his non-profit organisation, the Sood Charity Foundation.

The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) on Friday recommended Sanjay Joshi for the position of Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) at Oriental Insurance Company Limited (OICL).

The post fell vacant after R R Singh retired at the end of February. Recently, the government had appointed Executive Director Amit Misra as acting CMD of the company for three months from 1 March 2025.

Joshi is currently serving as General Manager at United India Insurance Company. A 1989-batch direct recruit officer, he has served the general insurance sector for over 30 years, working as a branch and divisional head across various regional offices. He

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday (May 9, 2025) met World Bank President Ajay Banga in Lucknow and launched two initiatives ‘UP AGREES’ and ‘AI Pragya’ related to agricultural innovation and digital transformation in the Sate.

Expressing gratitude for the World Bank’s continuous support, Mr. Adityanath praised the role of the international organisation in helping Uttar Pradesh to move closer to its vision of becoming a $1 trillion economy. “The entire world sees Uttar Pradesh not as a barrier, but as the growth engine of India. I express my gratitude to the World Bank for its participation in the UP-AGREES project, it will help will farmers in a big way and significantly enhance agricultural output in the state,” said Mr. Adityanath, addressing the meeting at his official residence.