Author: Indmedia
Saudi Arabia will begin issuing Hajj 2026 visas from February 8, four months ahead/Representative Image Saudi authorities have moved early on preparations for the next Hajj, opening the visa process months before pilgrims begin their journey, a step aimed at tightening planning and easing pressure during the peak season.The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced that visas for the 2026 Hajj season, corresponding to 1447 AH, began being issued on Sunday, February 8, which falls on Sha’ban 20. The early start places the Kingdom nearly four months ahead of the rituals, setting the tone for a more structured…
The role of biochemistryCancer originates at the genetic micro-molecular level within a cell — resulting in a cascade of subtle biochemical and cellular abnormalities that escape internal patrol — and eventually manifests as a detectable disease. Onco-biochemistry involves quantifying tumour markers, enzymes, hormones and metabolites in blood and body fluids for diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring treatment response or resistance. Clinical biochemists monitor the chemical signature of cancer and the body’s systemic response to treatment. They determine the baseline biochemical parameters in a cancer patient and any reversal of these chemical signals as a result of cancer treatment.Tumour markers such as prostate…
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, and India captain Suryakumar Yadav. The impasse over the India-Pakistan T20 WC match showed no signs of being resolved, after Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif weighed in on the issue, calling their boycott of the February 15 match against India in Colombo an “appropriate decision”. It was a “considered stance” to support Bangladesh, he said.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“We have taken a very clear stand on the T20 World Cup that we won’t play the match against India because there should be no politics on the sports field. We have taken a…
Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday praised former party president Rahul Gandhi, saying he was a “sincere” person and a “strong voice” against communalism in the country, signalling bonhomie with the party leadership after his meeting with Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi to resolve differences. The thaw in relations between Tharoor and the party’s top leadership also became evident with Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan asserting that the Thiruvananthapuram MP will be a star campaigner for the party-led UDF in the upcoming polls. “I can say that I am going…
Prosecutors in Kazakhstan have granted Russia’s request to extradite a jailed critic of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov after a court in the Central Asian country denied his request for asylum, the activist’s defense attorney said Thursday. Mansur Movlayev fled to Central Asia in 2023 after being released from a Russian prison on drug charges he claimed were politically motivated. Police in Kazakhstan detained Movlayev in May 2025, more than a year after he was deported from neighboring Kyrgyzstan, sparking fears that he could face torture or death if returned to his native republic of Chechnya in Russia’s North Caucasus. Prominent…
Image Credit: Representative Image MUMBAI: City police arrested a 50-year-old man for allegedly raping and impregnating his 20-year-old daughter, three months after a rape case was registered when she was found five months pregnant. The man, a sweeper who did odd jobs, lived in a slum with his three children who have mental health issues.The victim is the eldest, with a younger brother and a 13-year-old sister. Their mother, who also had mental health problems, died a few years ago.The case surfaced in Oct 2025 after Cama and Albless Hospital informed police that a mentally-unstable woman admitted with abdominal pain…
A key junction in West Vinod Nagar, Patparganj— ironically marked by a blue “Welcome to Patparganj” sign — has been reduced to a stinking mess of cow dung and stray cattle with dairy owners letting loose their animals at the spot. The junction sits at a critical convergence of a govt school, a hospital and multiple residential societies.Locals and passersby have only worsened the situation by dumping vegetable waste for the cattle, transforming the public road into what resembles a neglected goushala rather than a city street. Patparganj, has become a hazardous zone due to stray cattle Cows and bulls…
Bengaluru: BMRCL’s decision to hike Namma Metro fares for the second consecutive year triggered sharp criticism from regular commuters. Many accused the agency of fleecing passengers, arguing that repeated fare increases defeat the very purpose of promoting public transport. Students, who rely heavily on Metro to commute, are likely to be hit hard by the fare hike. Unlike several other Metro systems in the country, BMRCL does not offer concessional monthly passes for students. Last year, based on the fare fixation committee (FFC) report, BMRCL proposed fare hikes of over 110%. Following public backlash, it rejigged the fare matrix and…
Sailing with the TimesHere’s your chance to become part of India’s proud naval history Ahead of the International Fleet Review commencing Feb 15, 2026, in which Navies from across the globe are taking part, TOI has joined hands with the Eastern Naval Command to launch a unique competition for our readers. We will provide you three different parts of one ship of the Indian Navy. If you can identify the name of the ship by the given date, you stand a chance to win memorabilia from the Navy. This is the third part of the fourth week’s jigsaw.Guess the name/class…
CHENNAI: Madras high court on Friday dismissed a plea moved by actor and founder of political party Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) Vijay, challenging a Rs 1.5 crore penalty imposed by the income tax department for allegedly not disclosing his true income during the assessment period 2015-16.Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorty passed the order while rejecting the plea moved by Vijay challenging the demand notice issued by the income tax department. According to Vijay, he declared an income of Rs 35.42 crore for the financial year 2016-17. However, based on documents seized by the department during a raid conducted at his residence in…