Natioanal

New Delhi: India’s 77th Republic Day has marked a milestone in strengthening ties with the European Union (EU), causing concern among Khalistani organizations and Pakistan’s ISI. The presence of EU leaders and their military contingent at the parade signals growing India-Europe cooperation, threatening the narratives propagated by anti-India networks. EU Leaders and Troops at ParadeFor the first time, a European Union military contingent participated alongside Indian armed forces at the Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path. EU Council President Antonio Luis Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attended as chief guests. Their presence, coupled with the military display, underscored India’s global standing and sovereignty, sending a clear signal to advers...

Beawar, Rajasthan: In an extraordinary display of affection and respect, the residents of Rajiawas village in Beawar, Rajasthan, gave a stray dog, fondly known as “Dog-sa,” a farewell fit for a human. The dog, who had been a silent companion to villagers across communities, passed away on the cold morning of January 3, leaving the entire village mourning his loss. Unlike ordinary stray dogs, Dog-sa had earned a special place in the hearts of villagers over the years. The suffix “-sa” in Rajasthan is a mark of respect, and the dog’s presence had become a familiar part of village life. Though not belonging to any single household, Dog-sa was considered the village’s own. A Final Journey Like No Other The villagers decided unanimously that Dog-sa deserved a farewell reflecting the li...

New Delhi: As Basant Panchami arrives, the mountains have been blanketed in snow, delighting tourists and offering a boost to the tourism sector ahead of the Republic Day long weekend. Snowfall of 10 to 15 inches was reported across regions from Kashmir to Himachal Pradesh. Snowfall Brings Joy to TouristsThe winter weather took a dramatic turn on Basant Panchami, with the mountains finally receiving snowfall after a prolonged dry spell caused by weak western disturbances. Tourists and tourism officials expressed excitement, noting that the timing—just before the weekend and Republic Day holiday—could significantly benefit tourism. In Kashmir, heavy snowfall began on Thursday, creating a thick blanket of snow with temperatures plunging below zero. Srinagar recorded around 8 inches, wh...

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday distributed appointment letters to over 61,000 newly recruited youths across various government departments and organizations through video conferencing, under the 18th Employment Fair. Addressing the young appointees, PM Modi said the occasion was particularly special, coinciding with the day when the Indian Constitution recognized “Jana Gana Mana” as the national anthem and “Vande Mataram” as the national song. He remarked that the 61,000 youths receiving government appointments were embarking on a new journey in life. Highlighting India’s economic progress, PM Modi said, “The growing global confidence in India is creating new opportunities for our youth. India is today the only major economy in the world that has doubled its GDP ...

New Delhi: The Delhi Police Special Cell has registered an FIR against Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, a terrorist affiliated with the banned Sikh For Justice (SFJ) organization, for making provocative and objectionable remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of Republic Day. Authorities stated that Pannu, who resides in the United States, had released a video claiming that ‘sleeper cells’ had put up posters in support of Khalistan in Delhi’s Rohini and Dabri areas. The video, circulated on social media, threatened to disrupt the Republic Day celebrations and included offensive slogans targeting the Prime Minister. The FIR has been filed under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including: Section 196 – Promoting enmity Section 197 – Prejudicial statements aga...

New Delhi: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has successfully intercepted a major smuggling operation from Bangladesh into India, seizing 52 bags of betel nuts (supari). The operation highlights ongoing cross-border smuggling concerns amid strained India-Bangladesh relations. Details of the OperationAccording to official sources, the ICG Fraserganj Station executed the operation on January 22, 2026, after receiving credible intelligence about illicit activities. The team located and intercepted an Indian fishing boat (IFB) named Lakshminarayan, which was transporting the contraband. During a thorough search, the Coast Guard recovered 52 bags of betel nuts, each weighing 50 kg, totaling 2,600 kg. The confiscated goods were being transported illegally across the maritime border from Banglad...

New Delhi: India is carefully preparing its stance on the Gaza peace initiative, taking a broader approach before potentially joining U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” proposal. While Trump has extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to participate, India has not yet confirmed its position, preferring to consult all stakeholders first. Preparations Ahead of Arab Foreign Ministers’ MeetIndia had already planned to host the foreign ministers of Arab countries in New Delhi. On January 31, when the ministers arrive, India intends to gauge their response to Trump’s peace board proposal. Several Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE, have already decided to join Trump’s board. India is keen to understand their perspective...

New Delhi: The Congress high command has intensified efforts to resolve the reported differences between Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor, with hopes that both senior leaders will meet soon. The party anticipates their meeting during the upcoming Parliament session in Delhi on January 28. Background of the RiftThe issue came to light after Tharoor reportedly skipped a crucial meeting convened by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to discuss preparations for the Kerala Assembly elections. Rahul Gandhi’s office reached out to Tharoor to understand the reasons for his absence. Party sources indicate that had Tharoor attended, Gandhi would have personally engaged with him to ease tensions. The differences reportedly began after Tharoor felt overlooked at a recent ‘Maha...

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to restrain the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from accessing data from the mobile phone of I-PAC officer Jitendra Mehta, which had been seized during a raid at the political consultancy’s Delhi office on January 8. The ED alleges that Rs 20 crore was sent via hawala from Kolkata to I-PAC’s Goa office. Arguments on PrivacySenior Advocate C.A. Sundaram, appearing before the bench led by CJI D.Y. Suryakant, argued that allowing the ED to unlock Mehta’s phone would violate his right to privacy. Sundaram requested that the ED be restrained from accessing the device until the next hearing scheduled for Tuesday. The bench, however, reportedly questioned the counsel, asking, “Why are you so afraid?” Sundaram emphasized that the Supreme Court sh...

New Delhi: In a significant move to promote India’s civilizational heritage, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated ‘Granth Kuteer’ at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday. The initiative replaces British-era literature with a curated collection of approximately 2,300 works in India’s classical languages, providing a dedicated space for India’s rich philosophical, literary, and intellectual traditions. A Showcase of India’s Classical HeritageAccording to an official statement, the collection includes works in Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali, spanning genres such as epic poetry, philosophy, linguistics, history, governance, science, devotional literature, and India’s constitution in classical languages. The collection also houses nea...