Naghma Mohammad Mallik, the 1991-batch IFS stalwart currently helming India’s mission in Japan from 2025, steps into her latest role as Ambassador to the Marshall Islands Republic, per Ministry of External Affairs. This Pacific gem, part of Micronesia and equidistant from Hawaii and Australia, gains a leader with unmatched credentials. Mallik, armed with English Literature undergrad and Sociology master’s from Delhi’s top colleges, speaks English, French, Hindi, Urdu, and Malayalam fluently. Her odyssey started in Paris’ Indian Embassy and UNESCO. In Delhi, she navigated West Europe desk, PM Gujral’s staff, pioneered as Deputy Chief of Protocol, served as MEA Spokesperson,…
Author: The Chhattisgarh
Gwalior’s political scene lit up as Union Minister Jyotiraditya Sindhia championed the 2026-27 budget as the people’s mandate made manifest. At Ashoknagar presser, he positioned it as the grassroots engine for Viksit Bharat’s national pledge. ‘A definitive roadmap under PM Modi’s leadership,’ Sindhia proclaimed, spotlighting economic robustness, infrastructure scaling, and next-gen tech. By 2027, third-largest economy beckons, powered by this visionary outlay. Milestones abound: GDP from $2T to $4.3T. Inflation at historic 1.7% (Apr-Dec 2025). Deficit at 4.4%, down to 4.3% ahead. Infra investment: Rs 2L cr to Rs 12L cr. Northeast benefits from 50% allocation jump to Rs 6,800…
Dominance defined Day 1 of T20 World Cup 2026 warm-ups as Afghanistan overwhelmed Scotland by 61 runs at Bengaluru’s Centre of Excellence Ground 1. Batting first post-toss, Afghanistan overcame 20/2 (Naib 3, Atal 6) via Rasuli-Zadran’s pivotal 82 off 54. Zadran fell for 36 (32b; 2×4, 1×6). Rasuli’s 84 (46b; 7×4, 5×6) – retired out – and Nabi’s 34 (16b) fashioned 184/6. Scotland’s Wheel, Watt (2 wkts ea.), Currie (1) fought valiantly. Scotland managed 123 in 19.3 overs chasing. Early 24 (Munsey 13, Jones), then 29 (Jones, McMullen), but middle-order meltdown followed. Cross 21, Watt 15 too little. Afghanistan’s attack:…
Fresh salvos flew in Parliament over the 2026-27 budget and Rahul Gandhi’s off-script remarks, polarizing opinions further. While the government basked in budget praise, SP’s Zia Ur Rehman Barq captured opposition angst: ‘Self-praise from Modi govt ignores the cheated masses—especially youth and women. It’s for 5% only.’ Barq addressed madrasa woes in UP, praising judicial interventions against harassment. ‘Private donations sustain them; stop the smears,’ he urged, implying targeted suppression. Central to the storm was Gandhi’s reliance on an unpublished book in his President’s address response. BJP’s Harsh Malhotra blasted: ‘He cluelessly diverts, unleashing personal grudges.’ MP Kangana Ranaut accused…
The Chinese Embassy in the US capital lit up the weekend with a spectacular youth-oriented Spring Festival gala, uniting 500+ teens from over 20 states with Ambassador Xie Feng. This event aimed to kindle mutual appreciation amid growing bilateral exchanges. A promo reel of China Media Group’s famed Spring Festival Gala stole the show, immersing everyone in holiday magic. The cultural expo dazzled with Suzhou embroidery’s finesse, calligraphy strokes, paper-cutting artistry, and engaging arrow tosses, providing Americans a window into authentic Chinese New Year vibes. Ambassador Xie rolled up his sleeves to teach tangyuan-making, turning the session into a sweet,…
Fresh off its presentation, the 2026-27 Union Budget is being celebrated by economists for its emphasis on elevating India’s capabilities. Achievable targets in revenue collection, expenditure control, and debt-to-GDP management form the bedrock of this optimistic outlook. Dr. Sacchidanand Shukla, L&T’s top economist, called it a ‘balanced fiscal package’ responsive to international dynamics. By prioritizing manufacturing, infrastructure, data centers, and semiconductors, it lays the groundwork for medium-term economic robustness. Public trust in the economy stands to gain significantly, with fiscal numbers that are practical and within grasp, Shukla observed. R.K. Mishra, a senior foreign trade official in Mumbai, welcomed the…
Deep in Pakistan’s northwest, Tirah Valley grapples with renewed terror: Mass evacuations grip Khyber tribal district as anti-TTP strikes loom, thrusting civilians into uncertainty. History repeats cruelly. Since 2004, a dozen ops across former FATA and Malakand chased Taliban ghosts, only to spawn fiercer variants. Tirah’s people, enduring the fallout, voice weary despair. Blame-shifting defines the response. Federal-provincial rifts leave locals homeless in harsh winters, betrayed by hollow rehab pledges. Parallel crisis: Media-fueled Pashtun phobia undermines merger gains, with accusations of state-sponsored vilification to obscure policy flops. Residents push back against Tirah’s bad rep as crime central, framing ops as…
A clinical all-round display saw India A overpower USA by 38 runs in a T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up at Navi Mumbai. Narayan Jagdishan’s explosive century was the cornerstone of a massive 238/3 total, overwhelming the opposition. Forced to bat, India A’s innings was a spectacle. Priyansh Arya and Jagdishan opened with 43 in four overs; Arya made 28 (13 balls). Jagdishan then dominated with Tilak Varma for 113 runs (55 balls), Varma adding 38 briskly. Skipper Ayush Badoni’s arrival sparked another surge – 73 runs in 35 balls. Jagdishan smashed 104 (55 balls, 11×4, 4×6) before holing out. Badoni…
IT services emerged as the primary driver of China’s software industry in 2025, with revenue skyrocketing 14.7 percent to 10.6366 trillion yuan. This helped push the total industry revenue to 15.4831 trillion yuan, a 13.2 percent jump from the previous year. Meanwhile, software products grew 10.4 percent to 3.2361 trillion yuan, and information security services saw a 6.7 percent rise. Industry exports also remained strong at 62.73 billion USD. Analysts suggest that the continued integration of AI and big data across industrial sectors has provided a sustained tailwind for these impressive financial results.
On February 2, Mumbai’s celebrated performer Mona Singh opened up about mastering life’s ups and downs. Her core mantra? Mistakes aren’t millstones around your neck—they’re mentors guiding you to better horizons. Admitting universal fallibility, Mona spotlighted the peril of perpetual self-reproach. ‘It diminishes your spirit and ambition,’ she said. Her strategy: ‘I dissect the mistake objectively, harvest the wisdom, and release it. Forward momentum is non-negotiable.’ Such an outlook banishes gloom, paving the way for joy and evolution. ‘Burying guilt weakens you; celebrating lessons strengthens,’ Mona posited. Relationships, she noted, amplify this learning curve. ‘Everyone who crosses your path is…