India set to launch free nationwide HPV vaccination for adolescent girls
The Union Health Ministry is set to launch a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme targeting girls aged 14 years. The vaccination will be voluntary and free of cost, ensuring equitable access across socio-economic groups. India will use Gardasil, a quadrivalent HPV vaccine, for protection from HPV types 16 and 18, which cause cervical cancer, as well as types 6 and 11. “Global and Indian scientific evidence confirms that a single dose provides robust and durable protection when administered to girls in the recommended age group,’’ a senior Health Ministry official said.
TRAI backs sale of all available spectrum; proposes lower entry barriers, 35% cap
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) recommended auctioning the entire available radiowave spectrum while proposing lower entry barriers for new players and a uniform 35% spectrum cap to safeguard competition in the telecom sector. While TRAI has not officially disclosed the combined base price of the entire spectrum on offer, as per industry calculations, if all the spectrum on offer across bands (excluding 600 MHz) is sold, the radiowaves could fetch nearly ₹81,000 crore at the reserve price.
U.S. to offer passport services in West Bank settlement for first time
The U.S. will provide on-site passport services this week in a settlement in the West Bank, marking the first time American consular officials have offered such services to settlers in the occupied territory, U.S. officials said on Tuesday. Most of the world considers Israel’s West Bank settlements illegal under international law relating to military occupations. Israel disputes that the settlements are illegal, and many on the Israeli right advocate annexing the West Bank. Palestinians have long sought the West Bank for a future independent state, alongside Gaza and East Jerusalem.
Government blocks 5 OTT platforms for streaming obscene content
The government on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) blocked five OTT platforms for streaming obscene content, officials said. They said the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has blocked MoodXVIP, Koyal Playpro, Digi Movieplex, Feel, and Jugnu following due procedure. Under the procedure, the government directs internet service providers to block access to OTT platforms under the Information Technology Rules 2021 and the laws against obscenity.
DGCA grounds four aircraft of VSR Ventures, a month after Ajit Pawar’s death in crash
Nearly a month after the death of then Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has grounded four aircraft operated by the same charter company that was flying him. The regulator also announced a slew of measures for charter companies across the country, following “a recent surge” in incidents to ensure tighter oversight, after a high-level meeting on Tuesday with several charter operators.
Amid DoT push, WhatsApp appears to test SIM-binding
Online messaging platform WhatsApp appears to be preparing to comply with the Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) SIM-binding directive issued late last year. The directive requires messaging platforms to ensure that a user’s registered SIM card is provisioned on the handset used to access the service, and to disable access if it is not. It also includes a potentially disruptive requirement that web-based instances, such as WhatsApp Web, be logged out every six hours.
Protest at AI summit: Four more Youth Congress members arrested
The Delhi police on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) arrested four more Indian Youth Congress (IYC) members and added charges of rioting in the FIR related to the “shirtless” protest on February 20 at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. In response, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge said, “We will continue to fight and continue our struggle against those who have mortgaged our country.”
Kerala to become ‘Keralam’: Union Cabinet approves change of name
The Union Cabinet on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) approved the Kerala government’s proposal to change the State’s name from ‘Kerala’ to ‘Keralam’, the name used in the Malayalam language. The President will now refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, to the Kerala Legislative Assembly to express its views, under the proviso to Article 3 of the Constitution of India, a government statement said. Once these views are received, the Union government will take further action obtain the President’s recommendation to introduce the name change legislation in Parliament.
Centre never considered renaming West Bengal, says Mamata after Kerala name change
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) said that despite repeated requests from the State, the Union government was not considering her government’s repeated requests to change the State’s official name to ‘Bangla’. Ms. Banerjee made these remarks hours after the Union Cabinet approved the new name of Kerala, ‘Keralam’. “Why do we have to sit in Y-Z for so long? When the boys and girls of our State go for exams, they have to sit on the back bench. Whenever I go somewhere as the Chief Minister, I am given the last chance to be given this name in alphabetical order,” the West Bengal Chief Minister said in a video message. She was trying to impress that since West Bengal begins with ‘W’, the name appears towards the end of the alphabetical order.
Swami Avimukteshwaranand moves Allahabad HC seeking anticipatory bail in POCSO case
Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, on Tuesday, moved the Allahabad High Court for anticipatory bail after being booked by the Uttar Pradesh Police for the alleged sexual harassment of two minors. Advocate Anjani Kumar Mishra, who represents the swami, confirmed that an application has been filed in court. The FIR against the religious leader and one of his aides, Mukundanand Giri, was registered on the directions of a special court in Prayagraj. On February 21, the court had ordered the police to act on a complaint filed by Ashutosh Brahmachari and two minors, aged 14 and 17, who alleged sexual abuse by the accused during the recent Magh Mela in Prayagraj.
Iran FM says nuclear deal ‘within reach’ ahead of U.S. talks
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) that a nuclear deal was “within reach”, ahead of talks with the United States scheduled for later this week. “We have a historic opportunity to strike an unprecedented agreement that addresses mutual concerns and achieves mutual interests,” said Mr. Araghchi, in a post on the social media site X. He added that a deal was “within reach, but only if diplomacy is given priority.”
Suspect and four others killed after stabbing in Washington
A suspect and four other people were dead on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) after a sheriff’s deputy responded to reports that a man was stabbing people outside a home near Tacoma, Washington. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office said deputies initially responded to reports on Tuesday (February 24) morning that a 32-year-old man was violating a no-contact order. They obtained a copy of the order, learned it was not valid because it had not been served on the suspect and headed to the scene to provide it to him.
CIA offers tips to potential informants in Iran as Trump considers military action
The Central Intelligence Agency offered help to potential informants in Iran on Tuesday (February 24, 2026), providing Farsi-language instructions on ways to safely contact the U.S. spy agency as U.S. President Donald Trump mulls possible military strikes. The post is the latest in a series of recruitment pitches in Farsi, Korean, Russian and Mandarin that offered secure ways to contact the CIA. The Farsi-language message posted Tuesday (February 24) to X, Instagram and YouTube, however, comes at an especially uneasy time in U.S.-Iran relations and as the Iranian theocracy faces new protests at home.
Warner Bros. opens door to Paramount as bidding war heats up
Warner Bros. Discovery said on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) it has received a revised acquisition proposal from Paramount Skydance, signalling that the offer could open the door to the company rethinking its deal with Netflix. The sweetened offer was the latest instalment of a bidding war set to reshape Hollywood and U.S. media, and has drawn White House attention, with U.S. President Donald Trump insisting he will have a say on the outcome.
T20 World Cup | Brook’s special knock guides England into the semifinals
Harry Brook fancied a promotion to No. 3 and struck a superb century (100, 51b, 10×4, 4×6) to drag England to a two-wicket win over Pakistan in their T20 World Cup Super Eight match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday (February 24, 2026). Brook became the first captain to notch up a ton in the history of the tournament, ensuring his team was not left to rue the three wickets it lost in the PowerPlay. England got to the 165-run target with five balls to spare and sealed its place in the semifinals.
T20 World Cup IND vs ZIM | Samson’s long net session a sign of top-order rejig for India?
Less than 48 hours after wilting against South Africa, the Men in Blue limbered up at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here on Tuesday night. With the Proteas and the West Indies staying way ahead in their Net Run Rate, India has to be at its ruthless best in its next two Super Eight Group 1 games. As the ICC T20 World Cup cruises towards the business end, India will take on Zimbabwe in this coastal metropolis busy adjusting to the early stirrings of summer. Thursday’s clash is a must-win game for the defending champion, and a batting rejig seems to be in store.
Published – February 25, 2026 06:20 am IST
