Natioanal

Ongoing trade negotiations between India and the United States have yet to reach a conclusion, and tensions have risen over agricultural tariffs. India had imposed a 30% tariff on US pulses, prompting American senators to appeal to President Donald Trump to address the issue in ongoing trade talks. US Senators Advocate for Farmers Senators Steve Daines and Kevin Cramer wrote to President Trump on January 16, urging him to include provisions in the trade deal that would benefit US pulse farmers. The letter highlighted concerns for farmers in North Dakota and Montana, who are among the top producers of pulses such as peas and lentils. India, on the other hand, is the largest consumer of pulses in the world, accounting for approximately 27% of global consumption. India’s Tariffs Impa...

Following the devastating Cyclone Dithwah in Sri Lanka, India has stepped in to provide assistance under Operation Sagar Bandhu. The Indian Army has successfully constructed three critical Bailey bridges in Jaffna, Kandy, and the Central Province. The third bridge, measuring 120 feet in length, connects Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, reopening a route that had been blocked for over a month and restoring movement and supply lines. The Engineer Task Force B-492 of the Indian Army has been working tirelessly on restoration efforts. Two Bailey bridges in Jaffna and Kandy were completed earlier, and the third bridge, located near KM 15 on the B-492 Highway in Sri Lanka’s Central Province, has now been successfully installed. This bridge is particularly significant as it links the Kandy and Nuwara...

In a worrying development along the Line of Control (LOC) in Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistani drones have been repeatedly spotted over the past few days. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi reacted strongly to the incidents, calling Pakistan’s actions a deliberate provocation and asserting that India will respond. Singhvi’s Statement on Pakistani Drones Posting on X, Singhvi said, “Pakistan has returned to its old tactics. Just days after Operation Sindoor, drones have been sighted again in Jammu and Kashmir. This is not a mistake, but a deliberate act of hostility. India is watching and will respond!” Repeated Drone Sightings Along the LOC Reports indicate that in the last five days alone, drones have been observed three times near the LOC. On 15 January, drones were spotted n...

Written By: Anjan Kumar | Navbharat Times | 17 Jan 2026, 1:13 PM IST Significant progress has been made in India’s ongoing negotiations with France for additional Rafale fighter jets. The focus of the deal is to ensure that the Indian Air Force (IAF) receives jets with maximum indigenisation and integration of domestic systems. Deal Advances Further The Defence Ministry has granted a key approval for the acquisition of 114 additional Medium Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MMRFA). The proposal will now be considered by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), the top decision-making body for defence procurement. The IAF faces a critical shortage of medium multi-role fighter jets, and until the domestically developed 4.5th and 5th generation stealth aircraft are operational, acquiring th...

Ten years after the tragic death of Dalit student Rohit Vemula, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, paid tribute to him on social media, highlighting the persistent challenges faced by Dalit youth in India. In his post, Gandhi wrote, “It has been 10 years since Rohit Vemula passed away, yet his question still echoes in our hearts: Does everyone in this country have the right to dream? Rohit wanted to study, write, and contribute to science, society, and humanity. But this system could not accept the progress of a Dalit.” He condemned institutional casteism, social ostracism, daily humiliation, demeaning language, and inhuman behavior, describing them as the poison that pushed a talented young student to the point where his dignity was stripped awa...

Japan has extended an invitation to 500 Indian AI professionals to work in the country, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence. The two nations have also agreed to establish a Japan-India AI Strategic Dialogue, aimed at accelerating joint research and fostering technological advancements in the coming years. Following talks with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu announced the invitation for Indian AI professionals and urged collaborative research initiatives. He also expressed Japan’s interest in contributing to the success of India’s upcoming "AI Impact Summit" in February. Minister Jaishankar welcomed the initiative, noting its potential to enhance India-Japan t...

Newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, has officially assumed his duties in the country. During his visit to Mumbai, he met with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between the two nations. The discussions included potential areas for collaboration, including the adoption of cutting-edge American technologies. Sharing details of the meeting on X, Ambassador Gor wrote, “It was a pleasure meeting RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra. We discussed areas to strengthen collaboration, including state-of-the-art U.S. technology.” Meeting with Tata Group Chairman On Friday, Ambassador Gor also met with N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of the Tata Group. Sharing photographs from the meeting, Gor noted, “Had a great meeting with Tata...

New Delhi: India once again delivered a strong rebuke to Pakistan at the United Nations, exposing its repeated attempts to spread falsehoods regarding Jammu and Kashmir. The incident unfolded during the UN General Assembly, where Pakistan tried to advance its divisive narrative, only to be called out by Indian diplomats. Aldous Mathew Punnus, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, accused Pakistan of making baseless allegations and presenting a distorted picture far removed from reality. “Pakistan has made it a habit to lie repeatedly,” Punnus said, emphasizing that such attempts to mislead the international community were nothing new. Punnus further highlighted that Pakistan misuses UN platforms to pursue its divisive agenda. “At a time when member states should rise above narr...