PNI News - Press Network of India

Asian stock market indices ended on a mixed note today. South Korea’s Kospi jumped 2.2 per cent to settle at a record closing high of 9,064, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 climbed 1.6 per cent to finish at an all-time closing high of 71,053. Taiwan’s Taiex advanced 1.3 per cent, and Singapore’s Strait Times Index gained 0.6 per cent. In contrast, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index declined 1.6 per cent, while China’s Shanghai Composite slipped 0.4 per cent. Major European indices were trading on a negative note today. London’s FTSE…

In the Rajya Sabha elections held today in Jharkhand, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate Baidyanath Ram and NDA-backed Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani won the two seats, while Congress nominee Pranav Jha suffered defeat. The counting process witnessed a major twist with three votes being declared invalid. According to the final results, Baidyanath Ram secured 31 votes and Parimal Nathwani received 28 votes while Pranav Jha could manage only 19 votes in the contest.

French AI company Mistral AI has expressed strong interest in expanding its engagement with India, particularly in the fields of Indian-language AI models and sovereign artificial intelligence. Speaking to Akashvani, Mistral AI CEO Arthur Mensch said the company is already working on voice-based AI systems and is keen to improve support for Indian languages through partnerships and research investments in India. Mr. Arthur Mensch said India offers valuable opportunities for AI development, especially in data and language…

President Droupadi Murmu has begun a five-day visit to Madhya Pradesh and Odisha today. On the first day of her visit, she arrived at Indore Airport, where she was welcomed by Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel and Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav. From Indore, the President travelled to Betul to attend a programme titled “Empowerment of Tribal Communities through Spiritual Awakening,” organised by the Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya. Addressing the gathering, President Murmu said that the…

United Nations’ food agencies have warned that acute hunger is expected to worsen across 13 global hotspots in the coming months due to conflict, climate shocks and funding shortages. In a joint report, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) said that around 266 million people are already facing high levels of acute food insecurity. Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen and Palestine remain the countries of greatest concern, while Nigeria and Somalia have been added to the high-risk list as famine…

Voting for two Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand is underway, with JMM candidate Baidyanath Ram, Congress nominee Pranav Jha, and Independent candidate Parimal Nathwani in the fray. Polling began at 9 a.m. and will continue until 4 p.m. Counting of votes will commence at 5 p.m., following which the results will be declared. All 81 MLAs of the Assembly will cast their votes, and the ruling alliance currently has the support of 56 legislators, including those from JMM, Congress, RJD, and CPI(ML). The opposition, backed by 24…

A landmark memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran has come into effect, bringing an immediate halt to nearly four months of direct conflict and opening a 60-day window for negotiations on a comprehensive peace settlement. The 14-point agreement, signed electronically ahead of a planned meeting in Switzerland, establishes an immediate ceasefire, commits both sides to refrain from hostile actions, and sets out a framework for addressing longstanding disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme and…