India offers $50 billion aircraft leasing opportunity: Ram Mohan Naidu​

IANS | May 8, 2026 8:23 PM

Gandhinagar, May 8 (IANS) Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said on Friday that India’s commercial airlines currently have outstanding deliveries of 1,640 aircraft, which translates into a $50 billion opportunity for the country’s leasing ecosystem over the coming decade.​

J&K: Kalari cheese business soars after 'Mann Ki Baat' mention, demand spikes

IANS | May 8, 2026 7:58 PM

Jammu, May 8 (IANS) A pointed reference to Kalari cheese -- a traditional delicacy of Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir, in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' recently has done wonders to its business, significantly pushing up its demand in the local markets as well as those in adjoining districts.

Chhattisgarh: ‘Lakhpati Didi’ Purnima Basin’s journey paints picture of transforming rural households​

IANS | May 8, 2026 7:09 PM

Raipur, May 8 (IANS) The story of Purnima Basin, from Chhattisgarh's Balrampur district, is that of an ordinary woman with extraordinary achievements. From facing daily hardships of making both ends meet to becoming a beacon of inspiration for fellow villagers, she has come a long way. She credits the Centre’s Lakhpati Didi yojana for the transformative change in her life and in the lives of a hundred others like her.​

Suvendu Adhikari promises collective leadership as Bengal CM​

IANS | May 8, 2026 6:52 PM

Kolkata, May 8 (IANS) In his first speech after his name was announced as the leader of the BJP’s legislative party and Chief Minister of the first BJP-ruled government in West Bengal since Independence, Suvendu Adhikari stressed running the new state administration on a collective leadership basis instead of monopolising the decision-making process of the state Cabinet.​

Congress CM race turns bitter as Satheesan supporters take to the streets

IANS | May 8, 2026 6:40 PM

Thiruvananthapuram, May 8 (IANS) What began as a moment of celebration after the Congress-led UDF's historic victory in the Kerala Assembly elections has rapidly descended into open factional warfare, with supporters of the three Chief Ministerial aspirants taking their battle from closed-door discussions to the streets, social media, and public campaigns.

India-New Zealand FTA seen as big step to correct US-triggered trade disruption

IANS | May 8, 2026 5:27 PM

New Delhi, May 8 (IANS) The recently-concluded India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is not only seen by the global media as a significant step forward for the two democracies in strengthening bilateral economic relations, but also a major move to correct the disruption in global trade caused by the tariff turmoil triggered by the US.