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.

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.

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.

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.