Nation

New Delhi: In a significant move to advance defense diplomacy, the Indian Army has launched a digital initiative called “Friends for Life”. The platform aims to connect military and ex-military officers from friendly countries who have trained at various Indian Army institutions, enabling them to share experiences and foster professional dialogue. Connecting a global network of officers According to the Indian Army, the initiative will bring together officers from 99 countries who have trained alongside Indian counterparts over the years. By facilitating professional interactions, the platform seeks to strengthen cooperation and mutual understanding between Indian and foreign military officers. Over the past decade, the Indian Army has trained more than 21,500 officers from friend...

New Delhi: Bangladesh is set to establish a military drone manufacturing facility with China’s assistance, signaling a major shift in South Asia’s defense landscape. In response, India has unveiled plans to construct an underground rail corridor through the strategically sensitive “Chicken’s Neck” region, strengthening a historically vulnerable lifeline. Bangladesh-China drone factory Under the recent defense agreement signed on January 27 between the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation International (CETC), Bangladesh will build a factory for Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAVs and VTOL drones near the proposed Bogra airbase. The deal, concluded at the Bangladesh Air Force Headquarters in Dhaka, reflects growing Chinese influence over...

New Delhi, Feb 7, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently on a visit to Malaysia, addressed a large Indian diaspora gathering in Kuala Lumpur, extending his greetings for Shivratri and Ramadan. He emphasized the deep cultural and historical ties between India and Malaysia, calling their heritage a shared legacy. Speaking at the event, PM Modi said, “Last year, I could not visit Malaysia for the ASEAN Summit, but I promised my friend that I would come soon. As promised, I am here. This is my first foreign trip of 2026.” Highlighting the vibrant Indian community in Malaysia, Modi said, “Malaysia is home to the world’s second-largest Indian-origin population. There are countless things that connect Indian and Malaysian hearts. You are the living bridge between our nations. You hav...

New Delhi, Feb 7, 2026: Arshad Madni, President of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, on Saturday addressed the ongoing debate over the idea of a Hindu nation in India, urging those who support it to take lessons from the history of neighboring Nepal. Posting on his social media account X, Madni emphasized that the path to national progress lies in love, harmony, and justice, not in imposing any single religion or ideology. Madni highlighted that some communal forces and organizations are pursuing the dream of a Hindu nation. “They should learn from Nepal, where similar ideologies were used to establish a Hindu state. Ultimately, that system collapsed, and a democratic constitution was restored,” he said. He stressed that real progress, stability, and public welfare in any country are possible onl...

New Delhi, Feb 7, 2026: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s legal team on Saturday told a Delhi court that allegations related to her citizenship and voter registration are entirely false, baseless, and politically motivated. They argued that the complaint was filed with external motivations and represents a misuse of legal procedures. The response was submitted before Special Judge Vishal Gogane, who is hearing a review petition challenging a magistrate’s order from September 11, 2025, which had refused to investigate the allegations. The court scheduled the next hearing for February 21, 2026. Sonia Gandhi’s lawyers Taranum Cheema, Kanishka Singh, and Akash Singh stated in the response that the complaint, filed by advocate Vikas Tripathi of the Central Delhi Court Bar Association, was “e...

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded BJP-nominated Rajya Sabha MP C. Sadanandan Master for his debut speech in the Upper House, sending him a personal letter praising his “moral strength, firm conviction, and self-confidence.” Modi highlighted Sadanandan’s courage, patriotism, and respect for Indian culture in his note. In the letter, Modi commended the MP for presenting his points in a “calm and confident manner” despite being new to Parliament. “Although you are new to the House, you bring with you a lifetime of commitment and service to the ideology of putting the nation first,” the Prime Minister wrote. Modi emphasized that Sadanandan’s words reflected his inner moral power and steadfast belief. The MP shared pictures of the Prime Minister’s letter on the social med...

New Delhi: During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Malaysia, Congress highlighted the historic friendship between former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The visit, aimed at strengthening India’s strategic partnership with Southeast Asia, has sparked political commentary back home. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh reminded that Modi’s planned Kuala Lumpur trip in October 2025 had been canceled at the last minute. He explained that Modi opted for a virtual summit with ASEAN leaders instead, reportedly to avoid overlapping with then-US President Donald Trump’s visit. Ramesh further recalled Anwar Ibrahim’s tribute to Dr. Manmohan Singh following his demise. On 27 December 2024, Ibrahim had said, “During those dark days when I was impriso...

New Delhi: A heated controversy has erupted in the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly over the existence and recognition of the Pir Panjal region, triggering a political storm between the BJP and opposition parties National Conference and Congress. The dispute centers on Rajouri-Poonch districts being referred to as the Pir Panjal region and Ramban-Doda-Kishtwar districts as the Chenab region. BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma triggered the uproar when he questioned the legitimacy of the Pir Panjal region, remarking, “I do not know which area is being referred to as Pir Panjal.” His statement drew immediate protests in the Assembly. BJP legislators claimed that there is no separate Pir Panjal area and accused regional parties of attempting to divide the region politica...

New Delhi: Air pollution remained a serious concern across India in January, particularly in the Delhi-NCR region. According to the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), nearly half of the monitored cities recorded PM2.5 levels above national safety standards. Ghaziabad emerged as the most polluted city, with PM2.5 levels reaching 184 µg/m³—three times the national limit. The report highlighted that the city exceeded daily pollution standards every day throughout January. Following Ghaziabad, Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and Greater Noida were also among the most polluted cities, with Delhi experiencing 27 days of “very poor” or “severe” air quality during the month. Top 10 Most Polluted Cities in January Ghaziabad Delhi Noida Gurugram Greater Noida Dharuh...