New Delhi: In a major development in global geopolitics, India has seized three Iranian oil tankers operating under U.S. sanctions. The move comes in the wake of a recent trade deal between India and the United States, and marks a significant step in safeguarding India’s maritime interests. The three vessels—Stellar Ruby, Asphalt Star, and Al Jafjia—were reportedly attempting to evade coastal authorities by frequently changing their identities. The tankers are owned by entities based abroad. Indian officials had briefly posted details of the seizure on social media on 6 February, but later deleted it. Why India Took Action India aims to ensure that its maritime zones are not used for ship-to-ship transfers intended to obscure the true identity of oil cargoes. Such transfers are co...

New Delhi: In a major strategic move, India has established an Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the northeast, converting a section of national highway into a fully functional runway. This initiative, aimed at strengthening border security, allows rapid deployment of fighter jets, transport aircraft, and other military assets near the China border. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally inspected the Assam-based facility in Moran, flying there aboard a C-130J aircraft. The new ELF, located approximately 300 km from the China border and 200 km from Myanmar, marks a historic development in India’s northeastern defense infrastructure. What is the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF)? The ELF in Moran, Assam, features a 4.2-kilometer stretch of ro...

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has emphasized that the government must take proactive measures to educate vulnerable citizens and provide compensation to those who have lost their hard-earned money in cyber fraud cases. Special attention, the court noted, should be given to protecting elderly victims. The remarks came on Monday while granting bail to Paramjit Kharb, who faces allegations of creating bank accounts to deposit money extorted from online fraud victims and selling these accounts to alleged cybercriminals. Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan presided over the bench. Elderly Most at Risk Justice Nagarathna instructed Additional Solicitor General S.D. Sanjay: “You must educate people. Use TV and radio broadcasts to explain how cybercriminals operate. They mostly targe...

Tariq Rahman, Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), will be sworn in as the country’s Prime Minister today. The BNP secured a landslide victory last week, winning two-thirds of the seats in the general elections. From India, Speaker Om Birla is scheduled to attend the swearing-in ceremony. This marks a new chapter in Delhi-Dhaka relations. 2. BJP Targets Uddhav Thackeray Over Tipu Sultan Remarks; Congress Fires Back The controversy over Maharashtra Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal’s remarks on Tipu Sultan continues. BJP has now involved former CM Uddhav Thackeray, accusing Congress of disrespecting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. In response, Sapkal challenged the BJP, saying if any historical inaccuracy was made while comparing Shivaji Maharaj and Tipu Sultan’s valo...

New Delhi: Observing a sharp rise in complaints of sexual assault arising from false promises of marriage, the Supreme Court on Monday issued a caution to young individuals regarding pre-marital physical relationships. The court emphasized that couples should exercise extreme caution before engaging in intimate relations before marriage. However, it also acknowledged that such advice may seem old-fashioned to some. During a hearing on a bail petition of a man facing charges under alleged false promises of marriage, Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan questioned how the woman involved had agreed to travel to Dubai, where the two engaged in a physical relationship. The bench remarked, “It happens with consent. We may be old-fashioned, but a boy and a girl before marriage are comp...