Nation

New Delhi: In a unique cricket match held in 1953 to raise funds for flood relief, India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and then Vice President Dr. S. Radhakrishnan faced each other on the field. In this historic encounter, Nehru’s team batted first, and the match ended in a draw, raising nearly one lakh rupees for flood victims. A Rare Glimpse of Parliamentary Cricket The match saw Nehru leading a team of Members of Parliament, while Dr. Radhakrishnan captained the opposing side. Rare video footage of the game, shared on social media platform X by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and credited to cricket archive expert Jai Galgali, shows Nehru, Radhakrishnan, and several MPs playing on the field as a large audience watched. The match took place just two months before Nehru’s ...

NEW DELHI | Jan 30, 2026 Palestine has signalled cautious openness to US President Donald Trump’s proposal to transform the Gaza Strip into a Mediterranean-style “Riviera”, but only if the plan directly benefits Gazans, Palestinian Foreign Minister of State Varsen Aghabekian Shahin said on Friday. In an interview with PTI Videos, Shahin stressed that any development must prioritise the local population. “Well, a Riviera for its people. I mean, why not? If it's a Riviera for Gazans, the Palestinians, to enjoy, yes. But if it's a Riviera for others to enjoy without the Palestinians, no,” she said. Shahin also highlighted that India’s involvement in Trump’s proposed ‘Board of Peace’ could contribute positively to the initiative.

DIBRUGARH | Jan 30, 2026 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of showing disrespect to the North East by declining to wear the traditional ‘gamosa’ presented by President Droupadi Murmu during the ‘At Home’ reception on Republic Day. Addressing a public rally at Khanikar Parade Ground, Shah said that all dignitaries, including foreign guests, had worn the scarf as a mark of respect, but Gandhi was the “only person to refuse” to do so. “Rahul Gandhi can do whatever he wants, but as long as the BJP is in power, it will not allow any disrespect of the North East's culture,” Shah asserted.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday raised alarm over the future of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, questioning whether it was next in line to be “killed” following MGNREGA, after the Economic Survey called for a re-examination of the law. In a post on X, Kharge accused the Union government of systematically weakening the RTI Act and creating a climate of fear that punishes truth-seekers. He highlighted that over 100 RTI activists have been murdered since 2014. “The Economic Survey has called for a re-examination of the Right to Information Act. It also suggests introducing a possible ‘Ministerial veto’ to withhold information and wants to explore shielding public service records, bureaucratic transfers, and staff reports from public scrutiny,” Kharge said....

Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar on Friday said that India’s response to terrorist attacks has evolved, noting that instead of holding candlelight vigils, the country now relies on the BrahMos missile system. Speaking at the inauguration of the three-day literary festival, Narmada Sahitya Manthan, in Indore, Arlekar referred to Operation Sindoor, carried out by the Indian Armed Forces following the Pahalgam terror attack. The festival, themed Bharat Uday (Rise of India), saw the governor highlighting India’s strengthened security and strategic capabilities as a mark of national resilience.

The weather is set to change across India once again, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning of heavy rainfall over the next 24–48 hours in eight states, including Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan. Light rainfall is also expected in Delhi tomorrow. Snowfall Expected in Himachal, Uttarakhand, and Other StatesDue to an active western disturbance, the IMD has forecast rainfall with snowfall in the western Himalayan regions over the next one to two days. Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand may experience snow along with rain, while northwestern and central plains could witness light rainfall. Winds in these regions are expected to blow at speeds of 30–40 km/h. States Under Heavy Rain AlertThe IMD has issued alerts for ...

Dibrugarh | 30 Jan 2026 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of showing disrespect to the North East by refusing to wear the traditional gamosa presented by President Droupadi Murmu at the Republic Day ‘At Home’ reception. Addressing a public rally at Khanikar Parade Ground, Shah claimed that while all other dignitaries—including foreign guests—wore the ceremonial scarf as a mark of respect, Gandhi was the “only person to refuse.” Shah said, “Rahul Gandhi can do whatever he wants, but as long as the BJP is in power, it will not allow any disrespect of the North East’s culture.”

In a landmark ruling on Friday, the Supreme Court of India directed all states and Union Territories to provide free biodegradable sanitary napkins to girls in schools, citing menstrual hygiene as an essential part of the right to life and privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution. The judgment, delivered by Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, also mandates separate toilets for boys and girls in every school, including accessible facilities for differently-abled students. Key directives of the Supreme Court The Court emphasized that the provision of sanitary pads and clean toilet facilities is not merely a policy or charitable matter but a constitutional right crucial to the dignity, health, and equality of girls. It clarified that the rules apply to both government and priv...