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An AISATS spokesperson said the company stands in solidarity with the families affected by the tragic loss of flight AI 171

Four senior employees of Air India’s airport gateway services provider AISATS have been told to resign after a video showing employees partying in the workplace went viral on social media.

The party at AISATS’ Gurugram office was reportedly organised just days after the Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad that killed 259 people.

An AISATS spokesperson said the company stands in solidarity with the families affected by the tragic loss of flight AI 171, and expressed regret over the “internal video”, which was seen by many on social media as a time not appropriate for celebrations.

“At AISATS, we stand in solidarity with families affected by the tragic loss of AI 171 and deeply regret the lapse in judgment reflected in a recent internal video,” the spokesperson said.

“The behaviour does not align with our values, and firm disciplinary action has been taken against those responsible as we reaffirm our commitment to empathy, professionalism, and accountability,” the spokesperson said.

The company said it has asked four senior officials to go and warned many others.

AISATS is a 50-50 joint venture between Air India Ltd, which is part of the Tata Group, and SATS Ltd, a player in gateway services and food solutions.

The Synthetic Human Genome Project is being funded by the Wellcome Trust, which has donated Rs 117 crore (10 million pounds).

Scientists have begun work on a controversial project that aims to create human DNA from scratch. World’s largest medical charity, the Wellcome Trust, has donated Rs 117 crore (10 million pounds) to start the project, which involves scientists from universities including Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College.

Regarded as the building blocks of human life, DNA is made up of repeating units called nucleotides, which contain all the genetic information that physically makes us who we are. Scientists involved in the Synthetic Human Genome Project are now attempting to create a fully synthetic human chromosome, making up about two per cent of human DNA, as proof of concept. The ultimate aim is to maybe one day, create all of it from scratch.

“The sky is the limit. We are looking at therapies that will improve people’s lives as they age, that will lead to healthier ageing with less disease as they get older,” Dr Julian Sale, of the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, who is part of the project, told the BBC.

“We are looking to use this approach to generate disease-resistant cells we can use to repopulate damaged organs, for example, in the liver and the heart, even the immune system,” he said.

Attempts were made to break the man’s fall using a tent cloth, but he still hit the ground, suffering serious injuries.

An area near the police commissioner’s office in Bengaluru witnessed unusual and frightening scenes on Thursday afternoon after a drunk man climbed a tall tree to pluck jackfruit. Videos showed him dangling from a branch, hanging on for dear life, before falling nearly 50 feet to the ground.  

Officials said a security guard at Embassy Apartments on Ali Asker Road spotted the man trying to pluck the fruit from the tree and shouted out to him. Startled, he tried to escape by climbing higher and lost his footing, leaving him hanging from a branch. 

The security guard then alerted the police, who reached the spot immediately. Attempts were made to break his fall using a tent cloth, but he still hit the ground, suffering serious injuries. 

Admitting that the main accused is linked to its student wing, the party condemned attempts to politicise the issue.

After the ‘gang-rape’ of a law student in Kolkata triggered a political firestorm, the Trinamool Congress has admitted that the main accused is linked to the party’s student wing but insisted that this would not come in the way of him getting the strictest possible punishment. 

The law student was allegedly raped at the South Calcutta Law College in Kolkata’s Kasba area on Wednesday by Monojit Mishra – a 31-year-old former student of the college, who is now a practising lawyer – and two students, identified as 19-year-old Zaib Ahmed and 20-year-old Pramit Mukhopadhyay. All three have been arrested.

NEET UG Result 2025: Out of 22.09 lakh students who appeared for the exam, 12.36 lakh have cleared the exam this year.

A determined student from Varanasi and the son of a retired army officer, has secured an impressive All India Rank (AIR) of 272 in NEET 2025. Speaking to NDTV Education, he shares his success mantras and preparation strategies that helped him crack one of India’s toughest entrance exams.

Which specialisation are you aiming for, and do you have a particular college in mind?

As of now, I haven’t finalised any particular specialisation. In terms of college preferences, I am looking at either one of the AIIMS – AIIMS Rishikesh-or IMS BHU.

Can you walk us through your NEET preparation strategy?

My strategy was centered around setting small, achievable daily and weekly goals. These helped me build consistent momentum toward the larger objective. The structured environment and guidance from my coaching institute were instrumental in maintaining this discipline.

Each day, I began by revising the topics covered in class and completing the related practice sheets and assignments. I then reviewed the syllabus for upcoming tests. If time allowed, I also focused on board exam topics and subjects like English. Daily Practice Papers (DPPs), mock tests, recorded lectures, class notes, and performance tracking through the app made my preparation highly efficient.

Delhi School Admission Minimum Age: This move is aimed at restructuring the foundational stage of schooling across government, government-aided, and recognised private schools in the capital.

The Directorate of Education (DoE), Delhi has announced a major shift in the school admission structure by aligning with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Starting academic session 2026-27, children will be eligible for admission to Class 1 only after they complete six years of age. This move is aimed at restructuring the foundational stage of schooling across government, government-aided, and recognised private schools in the capital.The circular mandates all schools under the DoE’s jurisdiction to implement this revised structure starting 2026-27. While detailed implementation guidelines will follow, the policy shift is aimed at ensuring that students entering formal schooling are developmentally ready, as envisioned under the NEP 2020 and RTE Act, 2009.

Kaalidhar Laapata is an emotional and heartfelt story, and the remake of the Tamil film Karuppu Durai, featuring Abhishek Bachchan and Daivik Baghela in the road thriller premiere. It has been directed by Madhumita and produced under Zee Studios. The story takes you to Kaalidhar, a man who has failed to fulfil his wishes in life, sees a turning his life once he meets Ballu, a young boy. Together, they embark on a journey to fulfil their long bucket list.

The story features Abhishek Bachchan as the protagonist, with Daivik Baghela, Geetika Vidya Ohlyan, Shruti Vyas, Prakash Belawadi, and Varun Buddhadev. It has been directed by Madhumita and produced under the banner of Zee Studios. The writers are Madhumita and Sreekar Prasad. Music has been given by Karthikeya Murthy, and cinematography done by Balasubramaniem.

Its clout on the world stage is diminished. Facing major funding cuts from the United States and others, it has been forced to shed jobs and start tackling long-delayed reforms.

The United Nations, a collaborative global dream built into reality out of the ashes of World War II, marks its 80th anniversary this month. There’s little to celebrate.

Its clout on the world stage is diminished. Facing major funding cuts from the United States and others, it has been forced to shed jobs and start tackling long-delayed reforms. Its longtime credo of “multilateralism” is under siege. Its most powerful body, the Security Council, has been blocked from taking action to end the two major wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

And as conflict between Israel, Iran and now the United States flares, it watched from the sidelines.

Four generations after its founding, as it tries to chart a new path for its future, a question hangs over the institution and the nearly 150,000 people it employs and oversees: Can the United Nations remain relevant in an increasingly contentious and fragmented world? With its dream of collaboration drifting, can it even survive?

When the United Nations was born in San Francisco on June 26, 1945, the overriding goal of the 50 participants who signed the UN Charter was stated in its first words: “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.”

The White House signaled trade progress with China on Thursday, with an official saying both sides have reached an understanding on issues including expediting rare earth shipments to the United States.

After talks in Geneva in May, Washington and Beijing had agreed to temporarily lower steep tit-for-tat tariffs on each other’s products.

China also committed to easing some non-tariff countermeasures, but US officials later accused Beijing of violating the pact and slow-walking export license approvals for rare earths.

Both sides eventually agreed on a framework to move forward with their Geneva consensus following talks in London this month.

On Thursday, a White House official told AFP that President Donald Trump’s administration and China have “agreed to an additional understanding for a framework to implement the Geneva agreement.”

This clarification came after Trump told an event that Washington had “just signed” a deal relating to trade with China, without providing further details.

Asked about Trump’s remarks on Bloomberg TV, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick referred to the London negotiations, saying the framework deal — which needed top-level approval — has now been “signed and sealed.”

Separately on Thursday, the White House also indicated that Washington could extend a July deadline when steeper tariffs impacting dozens of economies are due to kick in.

While Trump imposed a sweeping 10 percent levy on most trading partners this year, he unveiled — then halted — higher rates on dozens of economies while negotiations took place.

That pause is set to expire July 9.

Asked if there were plans to further the pause, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters: “Perhaps it could be extended, but that’s a decision for the president to make.”

“The deadline is not critical,” she said. “The president can simply provide these countries with a deal if they refuse to make us one by the deadline.”

Lutnick told Bloomberg TV that Washington will announce some deals in the next week or so.

“Those who have deals will have deals, and everybody else who’s been negotiating with us, they’ll get a response from us,” he said.

“July 9 will go forward. And as the president said, if people want to come back and negotiate further, they’re entitled to, but that tariff rate will be set, and off we’ll go,” Lutnick added.

On the progress of trade negotiations, Leavitt added that US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is “working very hard” and has had “good and productive discussions with many of our key trading partners.”

The demolition of a Durga Temple in Dhaka had led to a sharp response from India over the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh. Authorities in Bangladesh have justified the move, calling it a ‘makeshift structure’, built illegally. 

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We understand that extremists were clamouring for the demolition of the Durga temple in Khilkhet, Dhaka. The interim government, instead of providing security to the temple, projected the episode as a case of illegal land use and allowed the destruction of the temple today.”

“This has resulted in damage to the deity before it was relocated. We are dismayed that such incidents continue to recur in Bangladesh. Let me underline that it is the responsibility of the interim government of Bangladesh to protect Hindus, their properties, and their religious institutions,” Mr Jaiswal said. 

India has repeatedly voiced concern about the targeting of minorities in Bangladesh under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue with Mr Yunus during the meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok. 

Prime Minister Modi had also underlined India’s concerns related to the safety and security of minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, and expressed his expectation that the Government of Bangladesh would ensure their security, including by thoroughly investigating the cases of atrocities committed against them, during the meeting with Muhammad Yunus.