Election flying squad officials on Friday searched a helicopter carrying BJP leader K. Annamalai when he arrived in Ooty for an election campaign in the Nilgiris district. Annamalai, a member of the BJP Working Committee and former Tamil Nadu BJP president, had flown from Coimbatore to Ooty to campaign for BJP candidate Bhojarajan, who is contesting from the Ooty Assembly constituency.
After landing, officials inspected the helicopter as part of routine checks under the Model Code of Conduct. The examination took place shortly after his arrival, as authorities have stepped up monitoring in poll-bound areas to ensure adherence to election rules and prevent violations. The incident comes amid increased political activity in Tamil Nadu ahead of the Assembly elections, scheduled to be held in a single phase on April 23, with vote counting on May 4.
Political tensions have escalated between major parties. Earlier in the day, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami criticised DMK leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, referring to past allegations linked to the 2G spectrum case. He warned that continued trust in Chief Minister M.K. Stalin could lead to further legal issues and claimed that the DMK is dominated by the Karunanidhi family.
Kanimozhi, who has been campaigning actively for DMK candidates, accused opposition leaders of being out of touch with the public. She described the election as vital for protecting Tamil Nadu’s “self-respect” and urged voters to back DMK candidates. Election flying squads, along with Income Tax officials, also carried out searches at several locations associated with Jaffer Sadiq, a former DMK functionary accused in an alleged international drug trafficking case. Authorities are investigating claims that funds may have been stored for distribution to voters.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
Bollywood actor Salman Khan delighted fans by sharing a heartfelt and playful birthday wish for Anant Ambani on social media. Posting on Instagram, Salman uploaded a cheerful photo in which he is seen climbing onto Anant’s back, with both smiling widely, capturing a light and affectionate moment that reflects their strong bond.
In his caption, Salman expressed deep admiration for Anant, calling him a “pure soul” and someone with immense potential. He suggested that Anant could contribute significantly to the nation’s progress and warmly referred to him as his younger brother. Salman also praised his intelligence and kind nature, adding a personal and emotional touch to the message.
Salman had shared another birthday post featuring candid pictures, where he described Anant as one of the most selfless and kind-hearted individuals he knows. He also called him an inspiration to many, once again emphasizing their close relationship. The celebrations for Anant Ambani’s 31st birthday extended far beyond social media. In Mumbai, the iconic Bandra-Worli Sea Link was illuminated with a special birthday message in his honor. Across the country, people marked the occasion through community initiatives and social events.
In Jaipur, a special program was held at Elephant Village, reflecting Anant’s well-known love for animals. Students from the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) created a human formation inspired by the VANTARA logo to express gratitude, especially after he announced scholarships, learning opportunities, and job offers for them within the Reliance Group. Anant recently pledged ₹18 crore toward temple infrastructure and animal welfare projects in Kerala. Several Bollywood celebrities, including Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh, and Ananya Panday, also extended their warm birthday wishes online.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Insta/@beingsalmankhan.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a 20-minute phone conversation on Friday with Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to discuss the evolving situation in West Asia, particularly developments affecting international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Sharing details of the exchange on X, Jaishankar noted that the two leaders reviewed ongoing regional tensions and he expressed appreciation for Motegi’s message of condolence over the loss of Indian lives in the conflict.
According to a statement from Japan’s Foreign Ministry, both ministers also acknowledged the recent announcement by the United States and Iran, describing it as a positive step toward easing tensions. Motegi emphasized that de-escalation remains critical, especially in ensuring the safety and security of maritime navigation through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. He further expressed hope that ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran would lead to a timely and lasting agreement. Motegi also highlighted the importance of close coordination with the international community, including India, in addressing the situation.
Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s commitment to working closely with Japan to support de-escalation efforts and safeguard maritime routes. Both leaders agreed to maintain regular communication and coordination moving forward. They also underlined the need to strengthen multilateral cooperation to enhance energy security and ensure the resilience of global resource supply chains. The conversation comes in the wake of a recently announced two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, following weeks of heightened conflict in West Asia that disrupted regional stability and impacted several countries.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, currently on a three-day visit to Washington, held a “productive” meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is expected to visit India next month. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also attended the meeting, where discussions focused on strengthening bilateral ties.
In a post on X, Sergio Gor welcomed Misri and highlighted that the talks covered key areas such as trade, critical minerals, defence, and the Quad, while noting Rubio’s upcoming India visit. Earlier, Misri participated in several high-level meetings with senior US officials, addressing ongoing developments in West Asia and the Indo-Pacific, along with reviewing strategic defence and trade cooperation. His schedule included important discussions at the Pentagon with Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, following their recent interaction in New Delhi during the India-US Defence Policy Group meeting.
According to the Indian Embassy in the US, the talks aimed at maintaining momentum in defence collaboration. The embassy added that Misri and Colby held extensive discussions on regional developments in the Indo-Pacific and West Asia. Continuing his engagements on security cooperation, Misri also met Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Mike Duffey. Their discussions focused on strengthening defence industrial partnerships, enhancing technology sharing, and improving supply chain integration under the Major Defence Partnership framework.
The embassy described this meeting as a productive exchange at the Pentagon. Misri met Under Secretaries Jeffrey Kessler and William Kimmitt at the Department of Commerce. These discussions aimed to expand cooperation in commercial sectors and critical technologies, as well as to build secure and resilient supply chains, which are seen as vital for advancing the India-US partnership in the 21st century.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@USAmbIndia.
Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi said Operation Sindoor showcased India’s progress toward “domain jointness,” calling it a key example of integrated military operations. Launched after the Pahalgam terror attack, the operation combined efforts across land, air, sea, cyber, and other domains. He emphasized that modern warfare relies on dynamic coordination between all domains rather than isolated actions, and stressed the need to move beyond jointness toward full integration and fusion.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from defence.in.
Coverage was dominated by claims that rogue LLMs were responsible, but they had no role in the targeting. The reality is far more unsettling: this atrocity did not emerge from artificial intelligence, but from a long chain of human decisions, policies, and actions taken over many years that ultimately led to this tragic outcome.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
A new AI system developed by NTU can forecast the rate at which food spoils, enabling supermarkets to reduce waste, enhance safety, and manage inventory more efficiently. The technology works by predicting bacterial growth in food. Could this signal the future of food retail? Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman discuss with Natalie Ong, CNA journalist, and Professor William Chen, Executive Director of FRESH@NTU, to explore the possibilities.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
As thousands of U.S. troops and marines deploy to the Middle East, Iran accuses Washington of secretly planning a ground attack while publicly promoting ceasefire negotiations. Donald Trump has threatened to “destroy” Iran’s energy infrastructure, stated that he would “prefer to take the oil,” and suggested that U.S. forces could capture the country’s export hub on Kharg Island, all while claiming to be negotiating with a new “reasonable regime.” At the same time, Yemen’s Houthi forces have joined the conflict, raising the risk of further disruptions to the global economy.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
In 1998, tobacco companies in the United States were made responsible for the damage caused by the products they produced and sold through the Tobacco Settlement. Today, a similar question arises for Big Tech: it is not only about the content on their platforms but also whether these platforms were intentionally created to keep users addicted. Daniel Martin explores this issue with Rajesh Sreenivasan, Head of Technology, Media, and Telecommunications at Rajah and Tann Singapore.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
