India top-order batter Shreyas Iyer, who guided Kolkata Knight Riders to their IPL title triumph in 2024, was named captain of Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Sunday ahead of the upcoming season set to begin in March.

Iyer, a proven leader and one of the most sought-after players in the IPL, was roped in by PBKS for a record-breaking ₹26.75 crore, making him the second-most expensive player during the November auction.

At PBKS, Iyer will reunite with head coach Ricky Ponting, with whom he shared a successful stint at Delhi Capitals, guiding the team to the 2020 IPL final.

"I am honoured that the team has reposed its faith in me. I am looking forward to working again with coach Ponting. The team looks strong, with a great mix of potential and proven performers. I hope to repay the faith shown by the management to deliver our maiden title," said Iyer in a statement.

Prime Minister Ilza Amado Vaz of São Tomé and Príncipe has resigned after her proposed cabinet list was made public before being presented to President Carlos Vila Nova. According to a Presidential decree, this breach prompted her dismissal from office.

Amado Vaz, a former Justice Minister, was appointed Prime Minister on January 9, following the President’s dissolution of Patrice Trovoada’s government on January 6. Per the decree, she was required to submit her proposed government structure and cabinet list by January 11. However, the ruling Independent Democratic Action Party shared the list on social media the same day it was submitted before the President was officially informed. In her resignation letter, Amado Vaz acknowledged the premature release of the list, which led to her dismissal.

The President’s decision to dissolve the previous Government has fueled political controversy in the West African island nation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated and dedicated the prestigious Sonamarg Tunnel to the nation, in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.

Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Dr Jitendra Singh, J&K Lt Gov Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Senior UT Ministers, Parliament Members, Legislators and senior Tunnel Project Officials were present on the occasion.

Prime Minister also inspected the tunnel by moving inside the tunnel. He was briefed about the tunnel project.
The Sonamarg Tunnel will significantly reduce the travel time to just 20-25 minutes between Gagangeer and Sonamarg in Ganderbal district.

The Tunnel is a game-changer for the region, offering more than just a connection between Gagangeer and Sonamarg.
The tunnel is equipped with cutting-edge technologies that provide real-time updates and seamless connectivity for users. This futuristic infrastructure will enhance the travel experience and also set a new standard for road connectivity in the region.

The Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC), apex meet for policy deliberation for the promotion and propagation of inland waterways in India, witnessed major announcements to boost infrastructure along national waterways, a release said on Friday.

According to the release, the second meeting of IWDC, organised by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal agency for the development of waterways under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), announced investments of more than RS 50,000 crore in the next five years. A series of new initiatives across 21 Inland Waterway States were announced worth more than Rs 1400 crore, on the occasion. The meeting was presided over by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal.

The IWDC began with a traditional lamp lighting ceremony by the Chief Minister of Assam, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma along with the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal at Kohora in Kaziranga.

South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a Chhattisgarh-based subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), has achieved a significant milestone by launching a dedicated Post-Retirement Benefit (PRB) Cell. This initiative underscores SECL’s commitment to ensuring the welfare and convenience of its retired employees.

The PRB Cell, acting as a single window, consolidates various post-retirement services under one roof, streamlining the process for retired employees. Previously, retirees were required to liaise with multiple departments—such as Personnel, Finance, and Medical, to address matters related to pensions, provident funds, medical facilities, and other benefits.

This fragmented approach often resulted in delays, miscommunication, and undue stress for the retirees. The newly launched PRB Cell resolves these issues by offering a centralized platform where retired employees can access all their post-retirement benefits and services seamlessly.

Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, inaugurated the newly expanded building of the Guna Head Post Office and Passport Seva Kendra (POPSK) on Saturday. This building has been constructed in an area of 1,154 square feet at a cost of Rs 43.18 lakh.

He gave detailed information about the history and importance of the Department of Posts, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, the technology based India Post Payments Bank as well as the upcoming projects including the complete technology base modernisation of the department. The Union Minister, while explaining the importance of the Postal Department, highlighted its transformation of the Postal Department done by him while being the Minister of State in the year 2008.

Govind Singh Rajput, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection, Government of Madhya Pradesh, and in-charge minister of Guna, Pannalal Shakya, MLA, and VineetMathur, Chief Postmaster General, Madhya Pradesh Postal Circle, along with other dignitaries attended the inauguration event.

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal on Friday unveiled the 'Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform', which the Centre described as an "initiative designed to enhance India's cleantech value chains in the solar, wind, hydrogen, and battery storage sectors".

The unveiling came as part of the Bharat Climate Forum 2025 organised in New Delhi. Addressing the gathering, Goyal emphasised on the negative impact of subsidies and Product Linked Incentives (PLIs) in the long run, saying such benefits "are detrimental to long-term growth and development of the clean energy sector".

According to an official press release, he also urged the attendees to come up with innovative solutions aimed at scaling manufacturing activities in the country. The Minister said that the launch of the Bharat Cleantech Manufacturing Platform will provide an opportunity for Indian firms to collaborate and co-innovate. As per the communique, Goyal also said that the initiative will help provide a platform for financing and the exchange of ideas, technologies, and resources.

India will host the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments of Commonwealth Countries (CSPOC) in 2026, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced at the CSPOC Standing Committee Meeting in Guernsey.

The event will focus on the use of artificial intelligence and social media in parliamentary processes.

In his address, Birla highlighted India’s economic progress and technological advancements, including its growing role in sectors like agriculture, fintech, artificial intelligence, and research. He invited attendees to experience the blend of India’s cultural heritage with modern development during the upcoming conference.

Birla discussed the role of parliaments in tackling global challenges like climate change, terrorism, and cybercrime. He emphasized the need for inclusive and transparent parliamentary practices and highlighted the importance of dialogue among parliamentary leaders to address shared issues.

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh will inaugurate the Mega Entrepreneurship Development Conclave in Pune tomorrow. During the event, Mr Singh will inaugurate 40 livestock projects worth more than 545 crore rupees. The objective of this conclave is to unite policymakers, federations, cooperatives, industry associations, entrepreneurs and financial institutions to unlock the potential of the livestock sector. It also provides a platform for the stakeholders to discuss challenges, share solutions and promote entrepreneurship to catalyze growth for the sector.

Maha Kumbh Mela, the world's largest religious congregation, commenced on Monday in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj district as a huge gathering of devotees took a dip in the Ganga river on the first 'Shahi Snan' on the occasion of Pauh Purnima.

Visuals from the temple town of Prayagraj showed devotees assembling on several ghats of the city and taking a dip at the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythological Saraswati rivers to wash away their sins and attain salvation (moksha).

As per the government data, at many as 60 lakh devotees took a dip in the Triveni Sangam at 8 am on Monday.