Nation

New Delhi: India has issued its first official response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that New Delhi has agreed to stop buying oil from Russia. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasized that India’s top priority remains the energy security of its 1.4 billion people. The government also clarified that it could continue to purchase oil from Venezuela if commercially viable. MEA spokesperson Randeep Jaiswal said at a press conference, “Regarding India’s energy security and sources, the government has repeatedly stated publicly that ensuring the energy needs of 1.4 billion citizens is our highest priority. Diversifying our energy sources, according to market conditions and changing international dynamics, remains central to our strategy. All decisions will be made with this...

New Delhi: In response to questions about alleged U.S. pressure on the India-US trade deal, former Indian ambassador to Poland, Dr. Deepak Vohra, dismissed such claims, calling them baseless. Speaking on a podcast, he said, “What pressure? If India hadn’t signed the deal, what would the U.S. have done? Dropped a nuclear bomb? Those who know nothing about diplomacy are the ones raising these questions.” Dr. Vohra described the trade agreement as a significant diplomatic achievement for India, highlighting the patience and strategic restraint demonstrated by New Delhi during the negotiations. “In recent years, the U.S. establishment has often criticized India, yet India maintained composure and secured a deal without compromising sensitive sectors while achieving most of its core objectiv...

New Delhi: BJP MP Manoj Tiwari has accused the opposition of orchestrating a premeditated plan to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha. According to Tiwari, opposition MPs deliberately advanced toward the Prime Minister’s chair, using women MPs as part of their strategy. Speaking to the media, Tiwari said, “On Wednesday, what happened in the House will draw the nation’s condemnation for the Congress. The Prime Minister was scheduled to respond to the President’s address, but at 5 PM, Congress used women MPs to surround him. This reflects their desperation after repeated electoral losses—they intended to target the Prime Minister.” Tiwari further alleged that the opposition approached in anger with the clear intent to intimidate and disrupt. “They went beyond the Chair...

New Delhi: The issue of missing children in the national capital was raised in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sandeep Pathak. Highlighting the severity of the problem, Pathak stated that every year, 6,000 to 7,000 children go missing in Delhi, with over 70% being girls. “According to an RTI response from Delhi Police, around 6,000 children have been reported missing annually since 2024,” said Pathak. “This is not limited to 2024 alone. On average, 17 children disappear every day in Delhi,” he added, emphasizing that the capital has a higher rate of missing children compared to other major cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal also targeted the BJP over the issue, tweeting that 807 people, including women and children, went m...

New Delhi: The Supreme Court is set to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) in March challenging the practice of political parties promising “irrational freebies” ahead of elections. The PIL, pending since 2022, seeks measures including cancellation of party registrations or seizure of election symbols for parties making such promises. During Thursday’s hearing, the bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Sunya Kant and comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi agreed to list the matter in March. Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, appearing for the petitioner, told the court that notices had been issued to the Union Government and the Election Commission in 2022, urging prompt hearing of the case. Upadhyay remarked, “Except for promising the sun and the moon, political parties promise everything during ...

New Delhi: During World War II, Adolf Hitler explored an unusual weapon against Britain — counterfeit money. Alongside guns and bombs, Nazi Germany planned to wage economic warfare by undermining confidence in the British currency. The episode is detailed by Irish economist and author David McWilliams in his book Money: A Story of Humanity. The idea echoed a belief once expressed by Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin, who said in a 1919 interview that the easiest way to weaken a society was to destroy its currency. Lenin argued that flooding an economy with excess money could erode value and destabilize the capitalist system. Hitler, having witnessed Germany’s devastating hyperinflation after World War I, understood how currency collapse could tear apart a nation. Under a covert mi...

New Delhi: A recent survey has revealed a growing spam problem on WhatsApp, with 96% of users reporting that they receive unwanted messages on a daily basis. The survey, conducted by LocalCircles, included responses from 42,000 users across 324 districts in India. Only 4% of respondents said they did not receive any spam messages. About 54% reported receiving 1–3 spam or promotional messages daily, 30% received 4–7 messages, and 11% admitted to receiving eight or more messages every day. The survey highlighted that a significant number of these messages are sent from WhatsApp Business accounts. The majority, 71%, are related to financial services and real estate, while 46% are linked to healthcare and pathology services, 44% to job or earning opportunities, 24% to spas, RO services, ...

New Delhi: Amid uproar in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, the “Vote of Thanks” on the President’s Address was passed by voice vote. Traditionally, the Prime Minister responds to the discussion on this motion, but due to the disruptions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was unable to do so this time. The proceedings were marked by repeated interruptions from opposition members. After an initial adjournment, the session resumed at 12 PM, with Speaker Om Birla presenting the necessary documents and instructing protesting MPs near the Chair not to display banners. The motion, introduced by BJP MP Sarbananda Sonowal and supported by BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, formally expresses gratitude for the President’s address delivered by President Droupadi Murmu on 28 January at the joint sitting of both Houses of ...

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha witnessed a fiery confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties on Thursday, shortly after proceedings began. Union Minister J.P. Nadda urged members not to disrupt the House and referred to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying, “Do not make an innocent child a captive.” Nadda emphasized that discussions on Lok Sabha proceedings cannot take place in the Rajya Sabha. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge quickly retaliated, asserting, “Your party has been held captive by Modi ji; you cannot speak without his opinion. Do not lecture us about our party.” Kharge further argued that Parliament comprises both Houses and that the opposition in the Lok Sabha was denied the opportunity to speak on national interests, questioning how the House could be conduct...

New Delhi: Congress leader and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor stumbled and fell on the steps of the Parliament today. The incident occurred while Tharoor was descending the staircase, and he was immediately assisted by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav. Congress MP Imran Masood, who was nearby, also rushed to help. Following the incident, Tharoor shared a video on social media explaining what happened. In his post, he wrote: "While descending the Parliament steps, I missed one step and stumbled. I am in some pain, but I don’t think anything is broken — just a sprained ankle and minor injuries to a few fingers. I hope to recover in a few days. Between 4 PM and 7:30 PM, I held several meetings in my home office, keeping my leg elevated on a stool, including with two ambassador...