Five people, including two women, lost their lives in a tragic road accident near Kulithalai in Karur district, Tamil Nadu.

The accident occurred when the car they were travelling in collided head-on with a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus.

The incident took place on the Karur-Tiruchy National Highway when the car, en route to a temple in Okkanadu Keelayur near Orathanadu in Thanjavur district, crashed into the bus heading from Aranthangi in Pudukkottai district to Tiruppur via Tiruchy. Due to the impact, the car was crushed beneath the lower part of the bus, leaving it completely wrecked.

All five occupants, including the driver, died on the spot.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that Australian left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann’s bowling action is legal, allowing him to continue bowling in international cricket. “The International Cricket Council (ICC) today confirmed that the bowling action of Australia spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has been found to be legal, and the player can continue bowling in international cricket,” the ICC said in a statement.

Kuhnemann had been reported for a suspected illegal action during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on February 9, prompting an independent bowling assessment at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane on February 15.

The results of the assessment revealed that his elbow extension remained within the permitted 15-degree threshold under the ICC’s Illegal Bowling Regulations.

With the matter now officially resolved, Cricket Australia (CA) expressed their support for the 28-year-old.

Gastric bacteria, which leaks around the stomach lining, plays a significant role in the onset of stomach cancer -- which has limited treatment options and poor survival rates, according to a study on Wednesday.

The study led by researchers from the University of Birmingham identified a crucial interaction between Helicobacter pylori and non-H. pylori bacteria in the pre-cancerous stage of gastric cancer.

The results, published in the journal Helicobacter, could pave the way for a more effective treatment of pre-cancer.

“We are excited about the potential of this observation to open a new avenue of research in the prevention of stomach cancer. It is possible that a simple antibiotic treatment could be administered to treat these bacteria. However, there is a lot more work to do,” said Dr Amanda Rossiter-Pearson from the varsity.

Rossiter-Pearson emphaised the need to “determine the identity of these bacteria and understand how the presence of these bacteria in the precancerous condition impacts the patient’s risk of developing stomach cancer”.

Gastric cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria, whilst asymptomatic for most people, has long been identified as the primary risk factor for stomach cancer.

However, why only 1 per cent of infections progress to gastric cancer is not fully understood. To probe, the team used the latest imaging technology to pinpoint the location of bacteria. They saw that while H. pylori exclusively colonised gastric glands, non-H. pylori bacteria leaked through the stomach lining in the pre-cancerous condition, gastric intestinal metaplasia.

Telecom major Bharti Airtel Ltd. on Wednesday said that it is holding bilateral discussions with the Tata Group for a potential merger between Tata Play's Direct To Home business and its subsidiary Bharti Telemedia.

The statement to the stock exchanges came in response to a media report stating the Tata and Bharti Groups are "near a mega DTH merger".

"We wish to submit that Bharti Airtel Limited (‘Airtel’) and Tata Group are in bilateral discussions to explore a potential transaction to achieve a combination of Tata Group’s Direct To Home (‘DTH’) business housed under Tata Play Limited, with Bharti Telemedia Limited, a subsidiary of Airtel, in a structure acceptable to all parties," Airtel said in the statement to the exchanges.

However, Airtel emphasised that "the above is at a discussion stage only".

Authorities have seized 4,000 kg adulterated ghee valued at Rs 17.5 lakh in Gujarat's Banaskantha district.

Food and Drugs Department of Gujarat conducted raids at the premises of Navkar Dairy Products in Deesa and Palanpur, leading to the collection of 11 samples and the seizure of 4,000 kg of ghee, valued at approximately Rs 17.5 lakh. The confiscated stock was intended for sale in Rajasthan.

Notably, the trader had previously been fined for adulterating edible oil.

The Food and Drug Regulatory Authority, Banaskantha, had earlier issued notices to Navkar Dairy Products, after finding violations of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.

IT major Wipro on Wednesday announced to commit $200 million to its venture arm, Wipro Ventures, in its latest round of funding.

This is the fourth round of funding raised by Wipro Ventures since its inception 10 years ago, and is aimed at accelerating the company’s investments in early- to mid-stage startups.

“Wipro Ventures is strategically positioned to participate in and contribute to technological innovation across startup hubs globally,” said Srini Pallia, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Wipro Limited.

“We envision a collaborative ecosystem where these emerging technologies can be deployed globally, drive progress, and create sustainable value for all stakeholders involved,” he added.

Actor Raghav Juyal, who was recently seen in ‘Kill’, is celebrating Maha Shivratri with deep devotion as he paid a visit to the sacred Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple in Trimbak, Maharashtra, to offer his prayers.

He was seen dressed in a simple kurta and pants, he embraced the spiritual essence of the occasion, participating in rituals with quiet reverence.

Reflecting on the festival’s significance, Raghav shared, “In Uttarakhand, Maha Shivratri feels just like Diwali, with an air of excitement and devotion everywhere”.

He further mentioned, “There is a temple called Gopeshwar where I used to perform special pujas with my family every year. However, due to work commitments, I couldn’t travel this time, so I chose to come here instead to seek Baba’s blessings”.

The 45-day-long Maha Kumbh Mela, one of the largest and most spiritually significant events in the world, came to a spectacular close on Wednesday as millions of devotees gathered at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj for the final 'Amrit Snan' (holy dip) on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri.

With chants of "Har Har Mahadev" echoing through the sacred grounds, over 1.32 crore pilgrims took part in the ritual, marking the culmination of this grand spiritual gathering.

The event, which began over a month ago, saw a steady stream of devotees from across India and beyond flocking to Prayagraj to bathe in the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Sarasvati rivers. As the sun rose on Maha Shivratri, the holy waters of the Sangam became a symbol of divine purification, with devotees immersing themselves in the belief that this sacred act would cleanse their souls and grant them blessings from Lord Shiva.

The scale of the Maha Kumbh Mela this year has been unparalleled. Official reports confirm that over 65 crore people have visited Prayagraj during the 45-day event, making it one of the largest religious gatherings on earth. The festival has not only captured the imagination of devotees but has also garnered extensive international media coverage.

A team of international researchers has developed a new blood test that could predict the risk of about 30 age-related conditions like lung cancer and heart disease that can appear decades later.

The blood test measures the age of different organs of the human body to predict the risk. The team including from the UK, France, and the US said the quick and easy blood test identifies whether a specific organ is ageing faster than expected -- an advance that may pave the way for personalised prevention and treatment methods.

The findings based on 20 years of follow-up data revealed that a heart that aged more rapidly predicted a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, while accelerated lung ageing predisposed people to respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer.

The highest risk of dementia was found in those whose immune systems aged faster than usual. Similarly, people with accelerated kidney ageing were more likely to later develop vascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and liver diseases, while biological ageing of nearly all organs predicted an increased risk of kidney disease.

National Periodontist Day was celebrated in collaboration with the Dentistry Club by the Department of Periodontics at Desh Bhagat Dental College & Hospital, an integral part of Desh Bhagat University. The day marked the foundation of the Indian Society of Periodontology (ISP), which aims to promote and enhance knowledge and science of Periodontology in India. This year’s celebration was extra special, as ISP is commemorating its 50th Anniversary, the Golden Jubilee Year of its establishment.The one-day celebration evolved into a full week of events, featuring various activities and competitions for both patients and students. These included awareness lectures, dental camps, a Rangoli competition, a face painting competition, a Happy Smile contest, and a Reel making contest. Students and staff members actively participated throughout the week, contributing to the success of the celebration.The inaugural ceremony took place at the Department of Periodontics, where the esteemed Chancellor, Dr. Zora Singh, and Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Tajinder Kaur, inaugurated the event by releasing golden-colored balloons into the sky, symbolizing the Golden Jubilee celebration of ISP. The dignitaries were formally welcomed in the Department of Periodontics, followed by a cake-cutting ceremony. Chancellor Dr. Zora Singh and Pro-Chancellor Dr. Tajinder Kaur distributed gifts and certificates to the competition winners, congratulating them on their achievements and sharing inspiring words about the significance of Periodontist Day. The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Vikram Bali, Principal of Desh Bhagat Dental College. The celebration provided a wonderful platform to raise awareness about Periodontology and the vital role of periodontists in maintaining oral health.