Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticised the Centre after it approved the renaming of Kerala to “Keralam”. He said the focus should be on development projects. “The government has not given us an AIIMS or any new institutions. They have given us no projects in the Union Budget. But when it comes to a name change, they are willing to authorise it,” he said.   Tharoor noted that Kerala is already called “Keralam” in Malayalam. He also asked what residents would now be called. On X, he said “Keralamite” sounds like a microbe and “Keralamian” like a mineral. The state assembly had earlier passed a resolution supporting the change. (PC: X)

Ukraine marked four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion with memorial events across the country. A minute’s silence was observed in Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky said, “Ukraine never chose this war,” and added, “We have defended our independence.” The Kremlin said its aims “haven’t been fully achieved yet.” (PC: BBC)   Russia controls nearly 20% of Ukraine’s territory. Heavy fighting continues in the east. European leaders joined events in Kyiv in a show of support. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Russia gained “0.8% of land… at a terrible cost.” French President Emmanuel Macron said he was “very sceptical” about near-term peace.

Sanju Samson was the focus at India’s training session in Chennai after Rinku Singh flew home due to a family emergency. Rinku is doubtful for the Super Eight match against Zimbabwe. He missed practice under lights at Chepauk. Samson had a long batting session. He faced both pace and spin. He also worked on his keeping. Coach Gautam Gambhir watched closely. If Rinku is unavailable, Samson could return to the XI. India are also reviewing their top-order options after the loss to South Africa. Axar Patel trained with bat and ball and may come back on the black-soil pitch. (PC: X)

Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport has been named Asia-Pacific’s Best Airport for departures in the over 40 million passengers category. The award was given at the 2025 Airport Service Quality Customer Experience Awards by Airports Council International. The ranking is based on passenger feedback collected through the year. It reviews check-in, security, boarding, cleanliness and staff service. A CSMIA spokesperson said, “We are thankful to our passengers for voting for us.” The airport has added DigiYatra e-gates, self-check-in kiosks and hybrid baggage-drop units to manage heavy traffic. Mumbai Airport is the world’s busiest single-runway airport by annual passenger traffic. (PC: NDTV)

An air ambulance that crashed in Jharkhand’s Chatra district had no black box and had remained unused for four years, officials said. The Beechcraft C90 King Air was flying from Ranchi to Delhi on Monday night. All seven people on board died.   Officials said cockpit voice and flight data recorders were not required for this aircraft. Investigators will use air traffic control records and study the wreckage. Bad weather and a thunderstorm are being examined as possible causes. Air India and IndiGo had earlier reported rough weather on the same route. The victim’s family has sought compensation, saying the flight cost them ₹8 lakh. (PC: HT)

An Indian restaurant in London will shut next month after 16 years in business. Owner Harman Singh Kapoor said rising costs and safety fears forced the decision. He runs Rangrez in Hammersmith with his wife.   In a post on X, Kapoor said “repeated disturbances and attacks by Pakistanis” and “a lack of proper support from the Met Police” made it impossible to continue. He earlier said he and his family received death threats after he posted a video criticising the Khalistan movement. Police said officers attended the scene and reviewed CCTV. Kapoor said he will now focus on activism. (PC: India Today)

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a rare, classified briefing to the “Gang of Eight” — senior congressional leaders from both parties — on rising tensions with Iran amid a significant U.S. military buildup in the Middle East. The session, attended by lawmakers and reportedly joined by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, focused on Iran’s nuclear programme and regional threats, as Washington weighs its strategic options. The briefing came just hours before President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, where Iran policy was expected to feature prominently. Some Democrats urged clearer justification for potential military action. (PC: Getty Images)

At least 25 people have died after relentless heavy rains triggered severe flooding and landslides in southeastern Brazil, particularly in Minas Gerais state. Rivers overflowed, inundating residential areas and sweeping away vehicles, while mudslides buried homes and blocked roads. Emergency services evacuated hundreds of residents to safer shelters as rescue teams searched for missing persons. Local authorities reported widespread infrastructure damage, including disrupted power supply and closed schools. Federal and state governments have mobilised relief assistance, while weather officials warned that continued rainfall could worsen conditions and hamper ongoing rescue and recovery operations.

U.S. President Donald Trump strongly criticised the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn key parts of his tariff programme during his State of the Union address, calling the ruling “very unfortunate” as justices watched from the gallery. The high court held that Trump exceeded his authority by imposing broad import duties under emergency trade powers. Defending his approach, Trump said tariffs were vital for American economic and national security and suggested tariffs could even replace income tax. He pledged to pursue new legal and legislative avenues to reinstate his trade policies and protect U.S. industries amid global competition. (PC: India Today)

The push to rename the state as “Bangla” has resurfaced after the Centre approved Kerala’s request to be called “Keralam.” The Chief Minister accused the Union government of discrimination and being “anti-Bengali.” However, officials say the change is complicated. Concerns include possible international confusion with Bangladesh, the need for parliamentary approval, and extensive administrative updates across ministries and legal documents. Earlier proposals featuring names in multiple languages were rejected, as rules require one uniform name. The state government argues that “West” is outdated and affects alphabetical positioning in official forums. (PC: NDTV)