Natioanal

New Delhi: Iran is witnessing one of the largest uprisings since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. What began in December as protests against inflation and economic hardship has now escalated into calls for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic. Millions of Iranians have taken to the streets, and despite brutal crackdowns, the unrest shows no sign of abating. Widespread UnrestThe protests, which started on 28 December in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar and other commercial hubs, have now spread across all 31 provinces. Initially led by merchants opposing the plummeting rial (14.5 lakh rials per USD) and soaring inflation (42%), the movement has grown to include students, women, pensioners, and youth. The Iranian government has restricted internet and phone services, but satellite networks like Starlin...

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently shared his reflections on the deep cultural ties between Kashi (Varanasi) and Tamil Nadu, during the ongoing Kashi-Tamil Sangamam, a celebration of language, literature, and tradition. He candidly admitted his regret at not being able to learn Tamil, emphasizing the importance of such initiatives in fostering national unity. Kashi, the city of Lord Shiva’s Baba Vishwanath, has historically shared strong cultural and spiritual links with Tamil Nadu, home to the sacred pilgrimage of Rameswaram. Tenkasi in Tamil Nadu is often referred to as the “South Kashi.” Esteemed scholars and saints, including Pujya Kumaraguru Swamiji, have long nurtured these bonds, while iconic poet Subramania Bharati drew inspiration from Kashi’s intellectual and spi...

New Delhi: The Supreme Court is set to pronounce its verdict today on whether Harish Rana, a resident of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, who has been in a coma for nearly 13 years, can be allowed passive euthanasia. The decision comes after a grave medical report from AIIMS confirmed the seriousness of his condition, prompting his parents to request mercy killing. Harish Rana has been bedridden and unconscious since 2013, when he suffered severe head injuries after falling from the fourth floor of his hostel in Chandigarh. Over the years, the prolonged immobility has caused multiple bedsores, and his medical reports indicate no possibility of recovery. The Supreme Court had met Harish’s parents on 13 January before issuing any order. His parents, having lost hope of his recovery, formally ...

New Delhi: Northern India, including the national capital Delhi-NCR, is set to witness a return of severe cold, according to the latest forecast from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Dense fog and freezing temperatures continue to disrupt daily life across northern and eastern plains. The IMD has issued alerts for a persistent cold wave over the next two days in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, western Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha. Light to dense fog is expected in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and western UP. Western Disturbance IncomingThe weather department has warned of a new Western Disturbance arriving on 15 January. Between 15–30 January, multiple strong systems are expected to bring heavy snowfall to the nort...

New Delhi: The Lawrence Bishnoi gang, listed as a terrorist organization in Canada, has once again grabbed headlines in India. According to a report by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the gang is allegedly operating in Canada under the influence of the Indian government. Canadian news outlet Global News claims to have accessed the confidential report, which repeatedly mentions—six times—that the Bishnoi gang maintains links with the Indian government. The report comes at a time when India-Canada relations are showing signs of improvement. In August 2025, after more than ten months of strained relations, both countries appointed ambassadors in each other’s capitals. At that time, Canadian officials had accused India of involvement in espionage and violent activities—claims repe...

New Delhi: Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Shatrujeet Singh Kapur has been appointed as the new Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). He will hold the position until 31 October 2026, the date of his retirement. Kapur succeeds the outgoing ITBP chief, Praveen Kumar, who has been appointed as the new Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF). Kumar, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the West Bengal cadre, will serve as BSF chief until 30 September 2030. Shatrujeet Kapur, a 1990-batch officer of the Haryana cadre, was earlier serving as Haryana’s Director General of Police (DGP) before being relieved of the post last December. He also held the position of Chairman of the Haryana Police Housing Corporation in Panchkula. Roles and Responsibilities: ...

Kochi, January 14, 2026: The Kerala High Court has directed a detailed investigation into the alleged misappropriation of funds from the sale of “Adiya Sistam Ghee” at Sabarimala Temple. The order follows a report submitted by the temple’s Special Commissioner on Tuesday, seeking a vigilance inquiry into the irregularities. Estimated Misappropriation of ₹35 Lakh:The court found that during the periods November 17 to December 26, 2025, and December 27, 2025, to January 2, 2026, approximately ₹35 lakh from ghee sales may have been misappropriated. The High Court directed the Vigilance Director to form a special team and act based on a report submitted by the Chief Vigilance and Security Officer of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). Sales Irregularities:An inspection conducted on Dece...

Kolkata, January 14, 2026: Ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, the state’s voter list is being meticulously revised under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The publication of the draft roll, which saw over 5.8 million names removed, has sparked a fierce political tussle between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). TMC has accused BJP of manipulating the voter list to target specific communities. The party shared a video on its official X account implying that BJP sought to preemptively remove voter names, calling the party “anti-Bengali” and suggesting it treats voters as a problem rather than citizens. The video caption read, “When pre-filled forms are treated like cargo and removed from the rolls, the anti-Bengali mind...

As the Defence Ministry prepares to finalize the acquisition of 114 Rafale fighter jets from France, critics have raised questions over the pricing and terms of the deal. Kirti Chakra awardee Major Digvijay Singh Rawat has responded sharply to these criticisms, urging citizens to focus on the strategic direction of the nation. Major Rawat Defends the Deal Speaking on social media platform X, Major Rawat highlighted that no serving or retired Indian Air Force pilot has criticized the Rafale deal. Instead, he said, the criticism is coming from “keyboard warriors” with no real operational experience. “These are the people who have never flown a real mission but are criticizing Prime Minister Modi, the Indian Air Force, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and the government from the sa...

On the occasion of Armed Forces Veterans Day, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid a heartfelt tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and lifelong service of India’s ex-servicemen at Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantonment. Speaking to the veterans, he emphasized the government’s commitment to the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme, highlighting its impact on financial stability and welfare for the nation’s veterans. One Rank, One Pension: A Step Toward Equality Addressing the gathering, Rajnath Singh said that the long-standing demand for OROP has now been implemented with complete sincerity. “We have worked to eliminate the inequality that our veterans have experienced for years,” he said. The Defence Minister emphasized that the scheme not only provides financial stability but also reinfor...