A devastating helicopter crash that claimed six lives in New York has prompted swift action from federal authorities, with the Federal Aviation Administration announcing the immediate shutdown of the operator, New York Helicopter Tours. The decision came just days after a sightseeing helicopter carrying a pilot and a Spanish family of five broke apart midair and plummeted into the Hudson River, leaving no survivors. The crash occurred Thursday during what was intended to b

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has announced the cancellation of all tenders linked to the controversial Mumtaz Hotel project in Tirumala. The decision comes amid mounting opposition from religious groups, priests, and devotees who raised concerns over the project’s potential impact on the spiritual sanctity of the revered Tirumala region. During his statement, Naidu firmly declared that no Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) land would be permitted for privatisation

In a significant move aimed at reshaping the American education system, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday directing the closure of the Department of Education. This bold move aligns with long-standing Republican ambitions to transfer educational authority to individual states and reduce federal involvement in schools. The signing ceremony took place in the East Room of the White House, where Trump, surrounded by schoolchildren, proudly displayed the signed order.

The Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO) has issued fresh guidelines to streamline the pension disbursement process for retirees under the National Pension System (NPS). The new instructions aim to ensure that pensioners receive their dues on time without unnecessary delays. In a memo dated March 12, 2025, the CPAO emphasized the need to follow the same procedural framework as the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) to avoid errors. The CPAO’s latest reminder follows an earlier directive issue

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay has expressed strong concerns over the proposed delimitation process, urging the government to ensure fair representation and conduct public consultations before finalizing any changes. In a detailed five-page statement, Vijay clarified that his party is not against delimitation but firmly believes that no state should lose its rightful representation in Parliament due to constituency redistribution.Vijay emphasized that simply increasing t

  The Texas legislative session is heating up with several high-profile issues, including the future of the Texas Lottery Commission, school choice policies, budget reforms, and controversial bills on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The discussions have sparked debate over gambling laws, education funding, and government spending. The Texas Lottery Under Scrutiny

 The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Board, under the leadership of Chairman B.R. Naidu, has initiated a major personnel overhaul by transferring 18 non-Hindu employees. This action follows concerns raised by Hindu devotees about the promotion of non-Hindu activities, such as the availability of non-vegetarian food, alcohol, and drugs on the sacred Tirumala Hills, which some employees allegedly abetted.The decision has sparked mixed reactions, with many devotees expressing satisfact

Income Tax: Union Budget 2025 introduces a revamped tax regime, with key reforms aimed at providing relief to the middle class. The new tax slabs are as follows: Up to Rs 4 lakh - 0% Rs 4-8 lakh - 5% Rs 8-12 lakh - 10%

Special Arrangements for Ratha Saptami: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is all set for the grand celebration of Ratha Saptami on February 4. TTD Chairman BR Naidu confirmed that the Trust Board has made extensive arrangements for the occasion. Notably, all arjita sevas (special services) will be performed in Ekantham (isolated worship), which will ensure the sanctity of

DTC to Be Introduced Separately: Sources have confirmed that the much-anticipated Direct Tax Code (DTC), which seeks to simplify India’s income tax laws, will be introduced separately and not as part of the Union Budget 2025. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to deliver the budget speech on Saturday, but the new tax code will be presented at a later date. This move marks a shift from earlier reports suggesting the DTC would be included with the budg

The newly appointed Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board, under the leadership of Chairman BR Naidu, held its first meeting on Monday at the Annamayya Bhavan in Tirumala. During this meeting, the board passed several resolutions, one of which was a strong request to the Andhra Pradesh government to cancel the allotment of 20 acres of land near Alipiri for the proposed Mumtaz Hotel. The decision comes after growing concerns that the hotel project could hurt the religious sentiments of de

The United States will soon allow highly skilled professionals, especially Indians working in specialized fields, to renew their H-1B visas without leaving the country. This change follows a successful pilot program launched a year ago, which involved approximately 20,000 participants. The new process, aimed at making visa renewals quicker and more convenient, eliminates the need for applicants to travel back to their home countries for a visa stamp. This has been a long-awaited relief for ma

India has officially declared 2025 as the "Year of Defence Reforms" with the goal of modernizing its military and enhancing synergy between the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh outlined a nine-point reform plan that includes the creation of integrated theatre commands to improve collaboration and resource utilization among the three services. These reforms will ensure a technologically advanced, combat-ready force capable of operating across multiple domains

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has reported an impressive Rs. 1,365 crore in Hundi donations for the year 2024. The temple saw a significant number of pilgrims, with 2.55 crore devotees visiting the holy site. A remarkable 99 lakh devotees participated in the tradition of tonsuring their heads as an offering to Lord Venkateswara. TTD also ensured the spiritual nourishment of the devotees, with 6.30 crore serving of Anna Prasadam, a free meal provided to pilgrims. In addition, 12.14 cror

India introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017 to simplify the tax structure and reduce the tax burden. Recent data shows that the gross GST collection for October 2024 rose by 9% to ₹1.87 lakh crore, a record second-highest figure. However, a recent proposal by the Group of Ministers (GoM) on GST Rates Rationalisation suggests a new 35% GST slab on products like aerated drinks and tobacco, which has raised concerns. The proposal aims to target 'sin' products such as thos

Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan recently criticized former CM YS Jagan for allegedly running the state’s temples like a business operation, shortly after the discovery of adulterated ingredients in the famous Tirumala Laddu. However, with the new TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams) board now in place, led by the experienced BR Naidu, significant changes are being made to improve the operations and environment at the Tirumala temple. Under the new leadership, the TTD has focused on res

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board, under the leadership of BR Naidu, has brought in notable improvements to the operations and management of the Tirumala temple. From cleaner pathways and better quality of services to addressing long-standing concerns like non-Hindu workers in Tirumala, the board has been making strides in maintaining the temple's sanctity. However, one major issue remains unresolved: the rise of Instagram reels and dance videos filmed in front of t

BR Naidu, a prominent media figure and owner of TV5 Media, has traditionally been a reserved individual, rarely making public appearances despite leading a major media channel. However, his recent appointment as the Chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has marked a change in his approach. Naidu has become more vocal and has started participating in media interviews, shedding light on his long-standing association with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and his aspirations for the TT

The appointment of BR Naidu as the chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board has ushered in a series of transformative reforms aimed at addressing challenges left behind by the previous YCP government’s board. As the new board takes full effect, the changes introduced by BR Naidu and his team are expected to streamline operations and ensure that the Tirumala shrine continues to uphold its sanctity and efficiency. One of the most significant reforms is the comp

Andhra Pradesh’s IT and Education Minister, Nara Lokesh, has announced an ambitious vision to create a distinctive "Andhra Pradesh model" of education, which he claims will surpass the existing educational frameworks of Delhi and Kerala. His reforms aim to bring revolutionary changes to the state's education system, spanning from KG to PG levels, with a focus on quality and holistic development. Lokesh emphasized that his approach would break awa