Mizoram Police have seized drugs valued at over Rs 25 crore in a series of coordinated operations conducted across the state over the past few days, leading to multiple arrests and ongoing investigations. According to officials, on March 31, a team from the Aizawl District Special Branch apprehended two Myanmar nationals near the Zemabawk area. The accused were found in possession of 104 grams of suspected heroin concealed in soap cases, with an estimated value of Rs 20.4 lakh. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the NDPS Act and the Immigration laws.

In a separate operation on March 29, Saitual Police intercepted a vehicle traveling from Manipur to Aizawl and recovered 242.79 grams of suspected heroin worth approximately Rs 48.55 lakh. The accused has been booked under the NDPS Act. On March 28, police seized 1.927 kg of suspected heroin valued at around Rs 3.86 crore from two individuals during a routine check near Keifang. Another operation on March 27 led to the recovery of 2.298 kg of suspected heroin worth Rs 4.596 crore from a vehicle intercepted at Kualmawi.

One of the biggest seizures was reported on March 25, when a CID Special Branch team intercepted a truck near Tuirial Bridge. Authorities recovered 19.836 kg of suspected methamphetamine tablets, commonly known as Yaba, valued at over Rs 15.86 crore. A handgun, along with magazines and live ammunition, was also seized from the vehicle. The driver was arrested and booked under the NDPS Act and Arms Act.

On April 1, Khawzawl Police seized 23 grams of suspected heroin worth Rs 4.6 lakh from a juvenile at Tuisenphai Check Gate. The individual has been produced before the Juvenile Justice Board for further legal proceedings. In another case, police recovered foreign cigarettes worth Rs 8 lakh from a vehicle intercepted at the same check gate on March 31. The consignment has been handed over to the Legal Metrology Department. Police officials stated that further investigations are underway to identify supply networks and establish forward and backward linkages in all cases.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

The Indian government has appointed senior IAS officer Vir Vikram Yadav as the new Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), while Chanchal Kumar takes the helm as Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved these key changes late last month, signaling a fresh push to address urgent challenges in aviation safety and the evolving media landscape.

Vir Vikram Yadav, a 1996-batch IAS officer from the Odisha cadre, replaces Faiz Ahmed Kidwai as DGCA chief, assuming the role with additional secretary rank. Coming from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Yadav steps into a high-pressure job amid recent aviation woes—like IndiGo's chaotic flight cancellations last December and rising scrutiny on smaller airports and charter flights. Kidwai, also from the 1996 batch but Madhya Pradesh cadre, moves to the Department of Personnel and Training. This reshuffle aims to tighten safety nets and boost efficiency in an industry projected to handle 300 million passengers annually by 2030.

Chanchal Kumar, a 1992-batch Bihar cadre officer, succeeds Sanjay Jaju as I&B Secretary. Fresh off leading the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Kumar brings infrastructure savvy to a ministry wrestling with digital content rules and platform booms. Jaju swaps places, heading to DoNER.

Kumar's prior telecom coordination stint last year positions him well for tackling online media regs, much like global efforts to balance innovation and oversight. This broader bureaucratic reset, including tweaks at the National Testing Agency, underscores India's drive for agile governance amid economic growth. Aviation firms and media outlets will watch closely for policy shifts ahead.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.

On Tuesday, the Tibetan Youth Congress launched its “Black Hat March,” a peaceful protest from Dharamshala to New Delhi aimed at drawing global attention to what it describes as ongoing genocide in Tibet. The march was inaugurated by Tibetan security minister-in-exile Dolma Gyari at Lhagyal Ri Temple in McLeodganj. Spanning a month, the march is set to conclude at the United Nations office in New Delhi on April 25.

More than 65 Tibetan activists from different parts of India are taking part in the initiative, which seeks to highlight issues such as cultural suppression, political imprisonment, and the demand for Tibetan freedom. The campaign is symbolically linked to two key dates in Tibetan history: March 31, marking the 1959 arrival of the 14th Dalai Lama and thousands of Tibetans into exile in India, and April 25, the birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama, who was taken at the age of six and has not been seen since.

Tsering Chomphel, president of the Tibetan Youth Congress, explained that the black hat represents China and its alleged efforts to spread misinformation and erase Tibetan culture. He emphasized that the Tibetan language symbol on the hat signifies resilience and the determination to preserve their identity. He added that participants from 20 regional chapters across India are involved in spreading awareness both nationally and internationally.

Activist Tsering Choekyi described the 25-day march as a call for Tibetan freedom and urged all Tibetans to take part in the movement. Exile MP Namgyal Dolkar highlighted the protest as a stand against policies like the “Ethnic Unity Law” and expressed solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet. Indian supporter Shaswat Kapoor praised the Tibetan community’s commitment to preserving its culture and striving for independence. The march serves as a symbolic protest against the suppression of Tibetan identity, culture, and language, as well as against forced assimilation policies and the detention of political prisoners, including the 11th Panchen Lama.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

The Government of Sikkim has set up a centralized State Control Room in Gangtok, along with district-level control rooms across all six districts, to monitor and manage LPG distribution. This step comes amid concerns over supply disruptions linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict. According to the Food & Civil Supplies Department, the control rooms will operate 24/7 to ensure smooth supply, prevent black marketing, and address public complaints. A regulated refill schedule has been introduced, with domestic LPG refills available every 25 days in urban areas and every 45 days in rural regions. Priority for commercial LPG will be given to essential services, including hospitals and educational institutions. Authorities have also instructed strict enforcement of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and require daily reporting from district units to the State Control Room.

Oil companies such as IOCL, HPCL, and BPCL will coordinate with the government to maintain uninterrupted supply. Officials have assured swift action against malpractices, emphasizing that these measures will remain in effect until further notice. At the central level, the government is closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary preparedness and response measures to ensure stability in critical sectors. Efforts focus on maintaining energy supplies, safeguarding maritime operations, and supporting Indian nationals in the region. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas provided an update on these measures on March 29, 2026.

With the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz—a key global oil shipping route—proactive steps are being taken to secure uninterrupted petroleum and LPG availability. All refineries are operating at high capacity, with adequate crude stocks. Domestic LPG production has been increased, and sufficient petrol and diesel reserves are being maintained.

City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies, including IGL, MGL, GAIL Gas, and BPCL, are offering incentives for domestic and commercial PNG connections. The government has urged States, Union Territories, and Central Ministries to expedite approvals for CGD network expansion. States that facilitate a transition from LPG to PNG can receive an additional 10% allocation of commercial LPG, with multiple States already applying for such support. Two LPG carriers, BW TYR and BW ELM, carrying a total of about 94,000 MT of LPG, have safely transited and are en route to India.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

This week, as the repercussions of the US-Israel conflict with Iran continue, Australians are feeling the pinch from a worsening fuel crisis. At the same time, the Liberal Party faces a critical moment as voters increasingly shift toward One Nation. In this edition of the Guardian’s Australian Politics podcast, political editor Tom McIlroy talks with Andrew Hastie, shadow minister for industry and sovereign capability, about Australia’s approach to the global fuel shock, the need for reindustrialisation, and his perspective on how the Liberal Party should respond to the rise of One Nation.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

In spring 2003, the initial euphoria over Saddam Hussein’s fall quickly turned into deadly chaos across Iraq. Guardian reporters, whether working independently or embedded with military units, witnessed the violence and disorder firsthand, documenting the rapid shift from jubilation to conflict, looting, and unrest that marked the early days following the invasion and the collapse of Saddam’s regime.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

Our system of mental health diagnosis and labeling has provided clear benefits, helping people access treatment and understand their conditions. However, as a practicing doctor, I am concerned that overdiagnosis and excessive labeling may be causing more harm than good, potentially stigmatizing patients and oversimplifying complex mental health experiences.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

Under President Lee Jae Myung’s guidance, investor confidence in South Korea has surged, fueled by ambitious reforms—from proposed corporate governance improvements and regulatory adjustments to efforts aimed at revitalizing the stock market. His pro-market policies have shifted sentiment positively, attracting both domestic and international investors and pushing the Kospi to new highs. But is this surge sustainable, or merely a short-term spike? Hairianto Diman and Elakeyaa Selvaraji explore the outlook with Betty Wang, Head of Northeast Asia Research at Oxford Economics.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.