Bengaluru: Young poet Amana J Kumar has added another milestone to her literary journey with the release of her fifth book, The Mystical Waves. The […]
Category: SPECIAL
Underwater Tricolour feat enters Guinness records; Bengaluru adventurer part of historic mission
Bengaluru: India’s largest Tricolour was unfurled deep beneath the sea at Swaraj Dweep, earning a place in the Guinness World Records. Bengaluru-based adventure sports professional […]
India’s data centre capacity likely to surge nearly six‑fold to 10.5 GW by FY31
New Delhi, May 2 (IANS) India’s data centre capacity is set to surge nearly six‑fold from 1.8 GW to about 10.5 GW by FY2031 as demand rises due to artificial intelligence adoption and data localisation policies, a new report has said.
The report from investment bank Morgan Stanley said AI workloads alone could account for roughly 6.8 GW of the projected capacity and that rising demand for low‑latency processing, tighter localisation norms and increasing compute intensity are another major driver.
Further, geopolitical realignments, and India’s regulatory push, are catalysing a multi-year investment cycle in data centres, the report said.
The report projected an industrial capital expenditure pipeline of around $60 billion linked to incremental data centre capacity, covering land, power systems, cooling infrastructure and networking equipment.
It said the power ecosystem will require over $20 billion of investment to support energy‑intensive facilities, with operators increasingly shifting towards renewable energy and storage solutions.
The report highlighted that policy measures such as data localisation stipulations, infrastructure status for data centres and fiscal incentives are accelerating capital formation and attracting global hyperscalers.
“Strategically, greater domestic data storage enhances digital sovereignty, reduces reliance on overseas infrastructure, and positions India as a regional hub for global technology firms,” the report said, adding foreign investment flows will deepen, positioning India as a regional hub for cloud and digital services.
The report also flagged constraints to such a rapid scaling, which are access to reliable and cost-effective power, and India’s dependence on imported high-end computing hardware.
Morgan Stanley said that about 60 per cent of the incremental capex in India through 2030 is likely to be allocated to energy transition, data centres and defence.
India is likely to see an incremental cumulative capex of $800 billion over the next five years in these sectors due to the Middle East conflict, and the country’s investment‑rate will touch 37.5 per cent of GDP in FY2030, the report said,
—IANS
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Pandiraaj’s thriller comedy Parimala & Co’s first look released
Chennai, May 2 (IANS) The makers of director Pandiraaj’s upcoming thriller comedy ‘Parimala & Co’, featuring actors Jayaram and Urvasi in the lead, have now released the first look of the film, much to the delight of fans and film buffs.
Director Pandiraaj, whose last film Thalaivan Thalaivi featuring Vijay Sethpathi and Nithya Menen emerged a superhit, took to his X timeline to share the first look poster of the film.
He wrote, “From my heart to your home (Heart symbol). #ParimalaandCo #பரிமளா&Co.”
Sources close to the unit of the film point out that Parimala & Co, which is Pandiraaj’s 12th film as a director, will be a thriller and a comedy.
Sources in the know say that the story of the film will revolve around a family. The story of the film will revolve around the unique nature and characteristics of each member of this family and the problems that they encounter.
They point out that the story, which begins in Chennai, will shift to Coimbatore and Palacode as it progresses.
Apart from Urvasi and Jayaram, who play the lead, the film will also feature Santhosh Sobhan in a pivotal role along with Sanchana Krishnamoorthy. The film will also feature Sandy and Ananthika Sanalkumar as a couple.
Comedian Yogi Babu will be seen in a lengthy role that makes its presence felt all through the film, sources say and add that director Mysskin plays the role of a police officer in the film.
Two intelligent and much admired comedians — Singam Puli and Baks — too will be seen in important roles in this film.
Sources say that shooting for the film has been completed and that post production work is now on at a brisk pace. They say the film, which is being produced by Lyca Productions, Tamilkumaran Productions and Pasanga Productions, will be ready for release shortly.
–IANS
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US believes naval blockade costs Iran $4.8 billion in oil revenue: Report
Washington, May 2 (IANS) The Pentagon has estimated that Iran has suffered losses of around $4.8 billion in oil revenue due to a blockade imposed by the United States Navy on its ports, according to a report by Axios, which cited unnamed officials.
The report noted that two tankers have been seized during the course of the blockade. In addition, officials said that as many as 31 tankers carrying approximately 53 million barrels of oil are currently “stuck in the Gulf,” highlighting the scale of disruption caused to Iran’s oil exports.
According to the same officials, some vessels are now opting for “a costlier and longer route to deliver oil to China for fear of US maritime interdiction,” indicating that shipping patterns have been altered due to concerns over enforcement actions by US forces.
The blockade was imposed by the United States on Iranian ports during a temporary truce, as part of efforts aimed at pressuring Iran to accept a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire that would permanently end the ongoing conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran.
Iran had stated last month that it had fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping following the announcement of a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
However, the waterway was subsequently restricted again after the US declined to lift its blockade, maintaining that restrictions would remain in place until a permanent agreement to end the war with Iran is reached.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump told lawmakers that the war against Iran has “terminated,” as the military action — which was launched without Congressional approval — has reached a 60-day legal deadline.
“There has been no exchange of fire between the United States and Iran since April 7, 2026,” Trump was quoted by Politico as saying in a letter to congressional leaders.
“The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated,” Trump said.
According to the report, the latest move is an effort to quelch the fight over the need for Congress to approve the conflict, Xinhua reported.
Under the War Powers Resolution adopted in 1973, the president — after notifying Congress of the use of military force — must terminate the action within 60 days, unless Congress authorises continued military action.
The United States and Israel launched major combat operations against Iran on February 28. The Trump administration formally notified Congress on March 2 of the military action, meaning the 60-day legal deadline would expire on May 1.
–IANS
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US aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford leaves Middle East
Riyadh, May 2 (IANS) The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier has left the Middle East after taking part in operations against Iran, local media reported, citing a US official.
The move leaves two US aircraft carriers in the region — the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George H.W. Bush.
The Ford had been at sea for more than 10 months, breaking the post-Vietnam War record for a US aircraft carrier deployment.
On March 12, two sailors aboard the carrier were injured when a fire broke out in the main laundry spaces, according to the US Navy.
The Ford Carrier Strike Group began its latest deployment on June 24, 2025, departing from the US state of Virginia for the US European Command area of responsibility, later deploying to Latin America for counter-narcotics operations and then to the Middle East as tensions with Iran escalated.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump told lawmakers that the war against Iran has “terminated,” as the military action — which was launched without Congressional approval — has reached a 60-day legal deadline.
“There has been no exchange of fire between the United States and Iran since April 7, 2026,” Trump was quoted by Politico as saying in a letter to congressional leaders.
“The hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, have terminated,” Trump said.
According to the report, the latest move is an effort to quelch the fight over the need for Congress to approve the conflict.
Under the War Powers Resolution adopted in 1973, the president — after notifying Congress of the use of military force — must terminate the action within 60 days, unless Congress authorises continued military action.
Earlier on Friday, Trump said that negotiations with the Iranians remain uncertain, warning he is “not satisfied” with current proposals while keeping both diplomacy and military action on the table.
“They want to make a deal, but I’m not satisfied with it, so we’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters before departing on Marine One.
He described Iran’s leadership as fragmented and unable to reach a consensus. “They all want to make a deal, but they’re all messed up,” he said, adding the leadership was “very disjointed” and marked by internal divisions.
Trump argued that internal discord was weakening Tehran’s negotiating position. He said leaders “are not getting along with each other” and “don’t know who the leader is”, complicating talks.
–IANS
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Ajith Kumar’s motorsport journey film titled ‘Gladiators’
Chennai, May 2 (IANS) A docu-film that is being made on actor Ajith Kumar’s motorsport journey has now been titled ‘Gladiators’, its makers have now announced and added that it will be released in theatres shortly.
The team originally had plans to release this film, which is being directed by A L Vijay, in theatres on May 1 on the occasion of the actor’s birthday.
Two-time National Award winning music director and actor G V Prakash, who is scoring the music for this film, took to his X timeline to share a glimpse video released by the team of the film, and wrote, “Let’s chase the impossible ….The race begins soon.. AK sir racing #gladiators begins with a special theme in my music for AK racing. Witnessed and Captured by #Vijay.”
For the unaware, sources close to the actor had confirmed to IANS last year that ace Tamil film director A L Vijay will be directing a docu-film on Ajith Kumar’s Motorsport journey. The film, they had then informed, would be around 90 minutes long and would seek to inspire scores of youngsters to pursue their dreams.
“Scores of youngsters have dreams that remain unfulfilled. Life makes their dreams drift away from them.This will be an attempt to inspire them to pursue their dreams,” a source close to the star had told IANS.
The move, sources had said, was also an attempt to popularise motorsport, which many still consider a rich man’s sport in the country.
“Until the 1983 World Cup, when a youngster called Kapil Dev-led India to win the trophy, cricket too was considered an elitist game. Similarly, we are hoping that this will popularise motorsport in India as well,” the source had said.
The source had also disclosed that director Vijay had filmed not just the gripping races in Malaysia but had also captured crucial and engaging moments including strategy meetings, discussions with teams, practise sessions and Ajith’s preparation on the whole.
“The docu film will be presented in theatres like any film as two halves with each half comprising of 45 minutes. We are also looking at releasing this docu-film on OTT as well. The version on the OTT will be an extended version and will be released much later,” the source had said.
Last year, actor Ajith Kumar was honoured with the prestigious ‘Gentleman Driver of the Year 2025’ award in Venice, Italy.
The ‘Gentleman Driver of the Year 2025’ is presented in honour of entrepreneur and racing driver, the late Philippe Charriol, by SRO Motorsports Group, considered to be a global leader in GT racing.
The award was seen as a fitting recognition to actor Ajith Kumar, who chose to realise his dream of becoming a car racer this year. He announced his team Ajith Kumar Racing, which made the country proud by participating in at least four demanding international racing championships and winning several laurels. Interestingly, Ajith Kumar did not stop at just owning the team and chose to participate in races along with other members of his team.
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IANS
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Pentagon plans to withdraw 5,000 US troops from Germany: Media
Washington, May 2 (IANS) The Pentagon is planning to withdraw about 5,000 US troops from Germany, a senior defence official said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s recent remarks on the US war with Iran had been “inappropriate and unhelpful,” the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was quoted by US media as saying.
Earlier this week, Merz criticized the United States for its “planless” military engagement in Iran, saying that the United States “is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership.”
In response, Trump lashed out at the German leader, saying he “doesn’t know what he’s talking about” and is indifferent to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Xinhua news agency reported.
Trump wrote on social media on Wednesday that the United States is considering a possible reduction of troops in Germany, and the decision will be made “over the next short period of time.” He said Thursday that he may also reduce US military presence in Spain and Italy.
“Why shouldn’t I? Italy has not been of any help. Spain has been horrible. Absolutely,” said Trump, again slamming European allies for not helping in the US-Israeli war against Iran.
Germany is prepared for the possible reduction of the US troops in the country, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Thursday.
Earlier, Trump has lashed out at European allies for not doing more to assist the US-Israel war on Iran, and had stated on Wednesday that he was thinking of pulling troops out of European countries deemed insufficiently supportive.
More than 36,000 US active duty troops were deployed to bases throughout Germany as of the end of last year, along with nearly 1,500 reservists and 11,500 civilians, according to Defence Department data. Germany also hosts the headquarters of US European Command and US Africa Command, and Ramstein Air Base serves as a key hub for US military operations.
–IANS
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Over 51.8 lakh domestic LPG cylinders delivered in a day, supply normal
New Delhi, April 24 (IANS): More than 51.8 lakh domestic LPG cylinders were delivered on Saturday as the supply of cooking gas continues to be normal with no dry-outs being reported at retail distributorships, according to the update issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Sunday.
Besides, 5.45 lakh PNG connections have been gasified, and infrastructure has been created for an additional 2.62 lakh connections since March this year. More than 42,500 PNG consumers have also surrendered their LPG connections via MYPNGD.in website, the statement said.
Meanwhile, online domestic LPG cylinder bookings have increased to 98 per cent, while authentication code-based deliveries, on the registered mobile number of the consumer, have increased to around 94 per cent to prevent diversion at the distributor level.
Supply of cooking gas to domestic households has been prioritised even as overall LPG supply continues to be affected by the prevailing geopolitical situation.
Over 9,131 metric tonnes (MT) of commercial LPG (equivalent to more than 4.8 lakh 19 kg cylinders) was sold on Saturday, which takes the total amount sold during this month to 1,64,655 MT (equivalent to more than 86.66 lakh 19 kg LPG cylinders).
Meanwhile, enforcement actions continue across the country to curb hoarding and black marketing of LPG. More than 2,100 raids were conducted across the country on Saturday.
Public sector oil marketing companies have strengthened surprise inspections and imposed penalties on 310 LPG distributorships and suspended 70 LPG distributorships so far.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas further stated that it is taking steps to ensure the uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and LPG across the country, in the context of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Citizens are advised to avoid panic purchase of petrol, diesel and LPG and to beware of rumours and rely on official sources for correct information. LPG consumers are requested to use digital booking platforms and avoid visiting distributors.
All refineries are operating at high capacity with adequate crude inventories, while sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel are being maintained. Local LPG production from refineries has been increased to support domestic consumption, the statement added.
–IANS
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Trump pushes ballroom plan after shooting
Washington, April 26 (IANS) President Donald Trump has renewed his push for a secure White House ballroom following the shooting at the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner here on Saturday, asserting that the incident exposed vulnerabilities in hosting high-profile events outside the presidential complex.
Speaking hours after being evacuated from the Washington Hilton, Trump said the attack underscored the need for a permanent, highly secure venue within the White House grounds.
“What happened last night is exactly the reason that our great Military, Secret Service, Law Enforcement… have been DEMANDING that a large, safe, and secure Ballroom be built ON THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE,” he said on Truth Social.
He added that the shooting “would never have unfolded” in such a facility and described the proposed venue as having “every highest level security feature there is.”
Trump has been advocating the construction of a 90,000-square-foot ballroom on the White House grounds, a project currently facing legal challenges. He said those obstacles should now be removed.
“It cannot be built fast enough!” he said, adding that the venue would be located “inside the gates of the most secure building in the World.”
The proposal has been under scrutiny for months, with courts reviewing whether proper approvals were followed. According to Fox News, Trump has called for legal challenges to be “dropped, immediately,” arguing the project is necessary for national security.
The annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner has traditionally been held at the Washington Hilton due to space limitations at the White House. The event draws journalists, senior officials and celebrities, making it one of the most prominent gatherings in the US political calendar.
Trump criticised the current venue, describing it as less secure compared to a purpose-built facility. “It’s not a particularly secure building,” he said during a press conference following the incident.
The President praised the response of security personnel, crediting the Secret Service and law enforcement agencies with preventing a more serious outcome.
“You saw the very best… you saw law enforcement do exactly what they’re supposed to do,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said during the briefing.
Trump said he initially wanted to continue the event despite the shooting but was advised to evacuate. “I fought like hell to stay,” he said, adding that the dinner would be rescheduled.
The ballroom proposal has long been debated in Washington, with supporters citing enhanced security and critics raising concerns about cost and the impact on the historic White House complex.
According to The Washington Post, Trump and his allies have increasingly used the shooting to strengthen their case for the project, arguing that large-scale events require more controlled environments.
Saturday’s incident has brought renewed urgency to that debate, as policymakers weigh how best to secure gatherings involving top leadership.
The White House has hosted major events for decades, but it has never had a dedicated ballroom of this scale. The proposed facility would represent a significant expansion of the complex.
–IANS
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