Nation

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday took a stern view of delays in deciding bail applications in High Courts and directed all High Courts to submit a detailed status report on pending cases. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant instructed Registrars General of all High Courts to furnish data on all bail pleas — both regular and anticipatory — filed on or after January 1, 2025. The report must include the date of filing, the date of disposal if decided, and the next scheduled hearing in pending matters. The Court further directed that details of bail applications filed before January 2025 that are still pending must also be disclosed. This includes petitions seeking suspension of sentence that remain undecided. The order came during the hearing of a petition challenging re...

New Delhi: A high-level meeting between India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio last year played a key role in easing tensions between New Delhi and Washington after a sharp tariff dispute, according to a Bloomberg report. Relations between the two countries had deteriorated after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on certain Indian goods and publicly criticized India’s trade practices. The situation improved recently after the U.S. reduced those tariffs to 18%, a move seen as a step toward stabilizing ties. Citing officials in New Delhi familiar with the private discussions, the report said the meeting took place in early September, shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks in Tianjin with Chinese President Xi Jin...

New Delhi: Large parts of India continue to experience winter chill, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing alerts for fog, rain, and snowfall in several northern regions on Wednesday. Weather conditions are expected to remain largely stable, though higher Himalayan areas may witness light rain and isolated snowfall. Delhi-NCR Forecast Dense morning fog reduced visibility across Delhi and the National Capital Region at daybreak. The IMD has forecast a maximum temperature of around 22°C and a minimum of about 8–9°C, keeping the cold firmly in place. Light winds and high humidity levels are likely to make mornings feel colder. Temperatures are expected to remain close to seasonal averages over the next five days. Uttar Pradesh Outlook Uttar Pradesh is likely to se...

New Delhi: Gold prices have climbed to historic highs during India’s wedding season, reflecting deep currents of uncertainty in the global economy and a structural shift in how nations manage their reserves. Over the past year, gold has surged nearly 70% in international markets and about 76% in India, despite a brief mid-year correction. Analysts say the rally signals more than routine commodity volatility. Historically, similar spikes in gold prices have coincided with periods of global upheaval — such as the collapse of the Bretton Woods monetary system in the 1970s, the oil shock following Iran’s revolution, and the financial crisis that reshaped the U.S.-led economic order in the late 2000s. While no single crisis of that scale is visible today, markets appear gripped by a persiste...

New Delhi: Senior Congress leaders will meet in the capital on Thursday to deliberate the party’s strategy for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, with a final decision expected on whether to contest in alliance with Left parties or go it alone. West Bengal Congress president Subhankar Sarkar, former state unit chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, and several other senior leaders are scheduled to attend the meeting, which is being seen as a crucial step in shaping the party’s electoral roadmap. According to party sources, the central agenda is to assess the viability of a renewed alliance with Left parties versus an independent contest. A majority of state leaders are believed to be inclined toward fighting the election without an alliance this time. Despite being key constituents ...

Washington: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Wednesday said India supports structured international cooperation to reduce risks in critical mineral supply chains, highlighting growing global concern over excessive concentration and fragility in the sector. Addressing the Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington, Jaishankar warned that overdependence on limited geographies for essential resources poses strategic and economic risks. He emphasized that coordinated action among countries is necessary to build resilient, diversified, and transparent supply chains. The minister outlined India’s domestic initiatives aimed at strengthening mineral security, including the National Critical Minerals Mission, development of rare earth corridors, and policies promoting responsib...

New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday criticized the government over the conduct of proceedings in the Lok Sabha, arguing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reply to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address would be meaningless if the Leader of the Opposition was not allowed to complete his speech. At a meeting of senior party leaders held at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence, the party discussed its strategy amid the ongoing parliamentary standoff. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi had been repeatedly prevented from speaking in the House over the past three days. “Rahul Gandhi has not been allowed to complete his speech. He is being deliberately sto...

New Delhi: Even as India and the United States have finalized their long-anticipated trade agreement, a Bloomberg report has revealed a previously undisclosed dimension of the negotiations: New Delhi had conveyed to Washington that it was prepared to wait until the end of President Donald Trump’s term rather than yield to pressure. According to officials familiar with the matter, India made it clear during high-level discussions that it would not be coerced into signing a deal on unfavorable terms. The message reportedly reflected the Modi government’s firm negotiating posture at a time when bilateral tensions were elevated by sharp rhetoric from the Trump administration and the imposition of 50% tariffs on certain Indian exports. The report cites a meeting in early September 2025 be...

India is experiencing varied weather patterns these days, ranging from severe cold to bright sunny spells. The Meteorological Department has issued forecasts indicating little change in temperatures across several states in the coming days. Here’s a state-wise update for February 5, 2026. Delhi:The national capital will experience clear skies on Thursday. Light to moderate fog may be observed on the streets during the morning hours. The maximum temperature is expected to range between 21°C and 23°C, while the minimum will be around 8°C to 10°C. Winds are likely to blow at 15 km/h in the morning, increasing to 20 km/h by afternoon. Uttar Pradesh:The weather is expected to remain largely unchanged across northwest India over the next week, especially regarding minimum temperatures. How...

In a historic first, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally presented her petition before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, acting as her own counsel in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) matter. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader has filed the petition challenging the Election Commission’s ongoing SIR process in the state. Personal Arguments in CourtWhile senior advocate Shyam Divan was present to represent her, Mamata Banerjee stood in front of the bench headed by Chief Justice Suryakant and briefly made oral submissions. The bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi, heard her arguments and issued a notice to the Election Commission, directing a response by next Monday. Claims of Denied JusticeMamata Banerjee argued that the SIR process was...