Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday laid the foundation stone virtually for the world’s largest curd production plant while slamming the previous TMC government for stalling the entry of Gujarat-based dairy cooperative Amul into the state.

Part of the Rs 700-crore Amul Bengal Dairy Project, the plant – coming up at Howrah Food Park in Howrah’s Sankrail – will have a daily capacity to process up to 30 lakh litre milk and 10 lakh litre curd.

Addressing the gathering at the event at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre here in the presence of CM Suvendu Adhikari, Shah said, “I am here to tell the people of Bengal that all the election promises the BJP had made would be fulfilled. Today is a very important day for the farmers of Bengal. Amul has performed the ‘bhumi pujan’ for what will become the world’s largest curd production plant. Around 1.2 lakh small dairy farmers and cattle rearers will benefit from this initiative.”

The Centre has announced a new recruitment category for Ex-Agniveers applying for the posts of Constable (General Duty) in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Rifleman in the Assam Rifles, introducing a series of benefits, including reservation, age relaxation and exemptions from parts of the recruitment process.

Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai shared the details in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, according to a press release issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

According to the government, Ex-Agniveers will be eligible for reservation in recruitment to the posts of Constable (General Duty) in CAPFs and Rifleman in the Assam Rifles.

France will soon become the first country in the European Union to ban children under 15 from using social media platforms. The French Parliament has approved a legislation to effect the same. President Emmanuel Macron, who is serving his final term said he wants the new rules to come into force by September.

In December last year, Australia became the first country to require major platforms including TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat to remove accounts belonging to users under 16 or face significant financial penalties.

After the proposal was passed by the Parliament, Macron posted on X: “I had committed to it, and now it’s been voted on: social media will be banned for those under 15 starting back-to-school. Thanks to the parliamentarians. It’s up to the Constitutional Council to rule, then on to action to make this measure concrete and protect our children online.”

The Centre on Tuesday launched Mission Golden Spice, a ₹175.45-crore initiative aimed at transforming Meghalaya’s GI-tagged Lakadong turmeric into a globally recognised premium spice while strengthening the entire value chain and boosting farmers’ incomes.

The Integrated Lakadong Turmeric Value Chain Enhancement Project was launched by Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia along with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma. The five-year mission (2025–2030) will be implemented in two phases, beginning with value chain strengthening, followed by expansion and scale-up.

India has approved its first dengue vaccine, with the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) granting market authorisation to vaccine QDENGA, developed by Takeda Biopharmaceuticals India. According to Takeda, the approval marks a major step in India’s fight against dengue, a mosquito-borne disease that affects millions of people every year.

It added that the vaccine is approved for people aged 4 to 60 years and can be given regardless of whether a person has previously been infected with dengue. Unlike some dengue vaccines, QDENGA does not require pre-vaccination screening, allowing eligible individuals to receive the vaccine without first being tested for past dengue infection.

The approval comes as India continues to shoulder one of the world’s highest dengue burdens, with cases increasing sharply over the past two decades due to urbanisation, climate change, changing mosquito habitats and population growth.

A Chinese food delivery rider who wrote poems during breaks between deliveries has won one of the country's highest literary honours, marking a remarkable journey from odd jobs and financial hardship to national recognition in literature, according to a report by the BBC.

Wang Jibing, 56, has been awarded the prestigious Lu Xun Literary Prize for Low Flight, a poetry collection inspired by the everyday struggles and experiences of delivery workers in China's vast gig economy. Named after Lu Xun, often regarded as the father of modern Chinese literature, the award is among China's most respected literary accolades.

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday invited Moldovan businesses to explore trade and investment opportunities in India, while encouraging Indian companies to expand their presence in Moldova, as she addressed the India-Moldova Business Forum during her historic State Visit to the East European nation.

Addressing the forum alongside Moldovan President Maia Sandu, President Murmu said India and Moldova have shared warm and friendly relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992, founded on mutual respect, democratic values, and a common commitment to peace, development and international cooperation.

Highlighting India’s long-term development vision, the President said the country was advancing towards its goal of becoming a developed nation under Viksit Bharat 2047 and was seeking partnerships built on trust and shared prosperity.

Telangana’s GM Raja Rithvik settled for a silver in the prestigious Menuires International Chess Championship, held in Menuires, France.Chess & Abstract Strategy Games

Entering the tournament as the fourth seed, the Hyderabad-based Rithvik scored an impressive seven points from nine rounds in a highly competitive field that featured 86 top players from across the globe, including France, India, China, Germany, Poland, Netherlands and Italy.

Rithvik remained unbeaten throughout the championship, securing five wins and four draws.

The championship witnessed a thrilling all-India race to the top. Both GM Rohith Krishna and GM Raja Rithvik finished tied at the pole position with seven points each. Following a close tie-break calculation, GM Rohith Krishna (tie-break score of 43) claimed the gold, while GM Raja Rithvik (tie-break score of 41.5) earned the silver.

Pakistan is planning to host the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games in early 2027, as part of its endeavour to revamp the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

The plan was shared by Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, during a farewell courtesy call by the outgoing SAARC Secretary General, Ambassador Golam Sarwar of Bangladesh, in Islamabad recently.

During the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister highly commended Ambassador Sarwar for his dedicated leadership and impactful contributions to strengthening the South Asian regional framework.

Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester and dubbed ‘the King of the ‌North’, has become the new prime minister of the United Kingdom, the seventh British PM in a decade. Keir Starmer formally resigned on Monday after meeting King Charles III at Buckingham Palace.

Burnham is officially the 59th prime minister of the UK. He has been invited by King Charles to form a government in a private meeting at Buckingham Palace.

In a statement, Buckingham Palace confirmed Burnham’s appointment, saying, “His Majesty received in audience the Rt Hon Andrew Burnham MP and requested him to form a new Administration. The Rt Hon Andrew Burnham MP accepted The King’s offer and kissed hands upon his appointment as Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury.”