The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that a well-marked low-pressure area near Malaysia may turn into Cyclone ‘Senyar’ within 48 hours. The system is moving towards the south Bay of Bengal and may first become a depression over the south Andaman Sea in the next 24 hours. IMD reported strong convection, winds up to 30 knots, and moderate sea conditions. If it strengthens, the storm will be named ‘Senyar’, meaning “lion”. Heavy rain is expected in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and coastal Andhra Pradesh over the coming days. Thunderstorms and strong winds are also likely. (PC: India Today)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hoisted a saffron Dharma flag at the newly built Ram temple in Ayodhya, calling it a moment when “the wounds and pain of centuries are healing”. He said the act marked the fulfilment of a “500-year-old resolve”. The 10x20-ft flag, featuring the Sun, ‘Om’, and the Kovidara tree, was raised during the auspicious Abhijit Muhurat. Modi said the flag would stand as a “symbol of resolve” and embody “truth and righteousness”. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, governor Anandiben Patel, and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat were present at the ceremony. (PC: @NarendraModi/X)

Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano, dormant for nearly 10,000 years, erupted Sunday, sending ash clouds toward India at 130 kmph. The plume entered through western Rajasthan Monday night, reaching Delhi by 11 pm before drifting toward China. India Meteorological Department predicted clearance by Tuesday evening at 7:30 pm. The ash, positioned between 25,000-45,000 feet, prompted DGCA to issue urgent advisories mandating strict avoidance of affected airspace. Multiple flight cancellations followed: IndiGo's Kochi-Dubai, Akasa Air's Kochi-Jeddah, and KLM's Amsterdam-Delhi services were suspended. Airlines including Air India, SpiceJet, and Akasa closely monitored conditions. While experts noted minimal ground-level health risks, unusual sunrise colors were expected Tuesday, with light ash precipitation possible across northern India.

Over 53,000 Canadian Sikhs participated in an unofficial "Khalistan Referendum" in Ottawa on Sunday, organized by India-banned group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). Outside McNabb Community Centre, participants desecrated the Indian national flag and chanted violent slogans targeting Indian leaders while police liaison officers watched without intervention. Queues stretched nearly two kilometers, with voting extending beyond scheduled hours. SFJ's general counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, designated a terrorist by India, addressed participants via satellite. Videos showed supporters carrying yellow Khalistan flags and raising aggressive anti-India chants. The event coincided with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney meeting PM Narendra Modi at the G20 Summit in South Africa, timing SFJ called "suspicious" amid recent India-Canada diplomatic efforts to ease bilateral tensions.

Twenty-four-year-old Nicholas Singh, an Indian-origin criminal ranked 15th on Canada's most-wanted list, was arrested in Toronto after 18 months on the run. Singh went unlawfully at large on May 31, 2024, while serving a five-year, five-month sentence for robbery and firearm-related offences. Toronto Police's Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement squad arrested him near Bathurst and Dundas streets on Friday night after receiving a tip about a suspicious vehicle. Officers discovered a firearm, extended magazine, and ammunition despite a court-ordered weapons ban. Singh now faces fresh charges including possessing restricted firearms without a license. Two other Indian-origin fugitives Gurkirat Singh and Dharam Singh Dhaliwal remain on Canada's BOLO programme's top 25 most-wanted list.

Mumbai-based passenger Ritika Arora accused IndiGo Airlines of failing to protect her checked luggage after two suitcases were allegedly cut open on a Mumbai-Delhi flight, with items worth Rs 40,000 stolen. Sharing damaged luggage photos on LinkedIn, Arora criticized the airline's repeated generic response: "No pilferage found in CCTV." She highlighted that not all baggage areas had CCTV coverage and staff in non-monitored zones weren't checked. IndiGo expressed regret but claimed thorough investigation, including CCTV review, found no evidence supporting the allegations. The airline advised carrying valuables in cabin baggage per its Conditions of Carriage and offered cooperation if formal complaints were filed. Another passenger recently criticized IndiGo for unprofessional behavior during a five-hour flight delay.

The UK will enforce mandatory Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from February 25, 2026, for visitors from 85 countries previously exempt from visa requirements. This digital permit, costing £16, allows stays up to six months for tourism or family visits. Launched in October 2023, over 13.3 million ETAs have been issued during the voluntary phase. From February 2026, travelers from the EU, US, Canada, Australia, Japan, and others must obtain an ETA before boarding transport to the UK. British and Irish citizens are exempt. Applications through the UK ETA app or government website require passport details and photos, with most approvals granted within minutes. Valid for two years, the ETA aims to modernize immigration, enhance security, and create a contactless border system. (PC: Yahoo & NDTV)

Twenty-six-year-old Nick Franke from London has cycled over 11,500km across 22 countries in six months, raising funds for Future Hope, a Calcutta school for street children. On Thursday, students gave him a hero's welcome with hand-drawn flags representing every nation he crossed. Franke, nephew of school founder Tim Grandage, visited Future Hope in 2004 and now combines his cycling passion with philanthropy. His journey began in May from the UK, traversing Europe, Turkey, Central Asia, Nepal, and India, covering 100-120km daily. After departing Calcutta on November 27, he'll continue through Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, and the US, aiming to reach London by May 2026 for his best friend's wedding. (PC: Instagram) 

Bollywood lost its iconic "He-Man" Dharmendra on November 24, 2025, at age 89, just weeks before his 90th birthday. The legendary actor had been battling health issues and was receiving treatment at home after being discharged from Breach Candy Hospital. His Sholay co-star Amitabh Bachchan penned an emotional tribute calling him "another valiant Giant" who left "a silence with an unbearable sound." Bachchan described Dharmendra as "the epitome of greatness," praising not only his physical presence but "the largeness of his heart." Industry icons including Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, and Akshay Kumar attended the final rites at Pawan Hans Crematorium. Filmmaker Karan Johar called it "the end of an era." (PC: Facebook) 

Three-year-old Oliver Chu from California has astounded doctors after becoming the first person globally to receive groundbreaking gene therapy for Hunter syndrome, a rare inherited condition causing progressive brain and body damage. The devastating disease typically proves fatal before age 20. At Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, medical staff altered Oliver's stem cells by inserting a working copy of the faulty gene, enabling his body to produce the missing enzyme crucial for cellular health. Nine months post-treatment, Oliver is thriving producing hundreds of times normal enzyme levels, developing speech and mobility dramatically, and no longer requiring weekly infusions. The £2.5 million trial, nearly cancelled due to funding issues, now includes five boys worldwide, offering hope for similar genetic disorders. (PC: BBC)