Nation

Palestine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, visiting India, met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday to discuss regional developments and bilateral cooperation. Jaishankar expressed satisfaction over the meeting, stating that discussions focused on the Gaza peace plan and other regional developments. In a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, “It was a pleasure to meet Varsen Aghabekian Shahin. We exchanged views on the Gaza peace plan and regional developments. We also reviewed our development cooperation and agreed on initiatives to further strengthen it.” Palestine urges India to mediate Earlier, Palestine had requested India to play a mediating role in the Israel-Palestine conflict and take an active part in Gaza’s reconstruction...

New Delhi, Jan 30: The Congress on Friday launched a sharp attack on the government over the repeal of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not want a law associated with Mahatma Gandhi to provide people a legal right to work. Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh made the remarks during a protest at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters. Senior Congress leaders and workers marched from the Congress office at 24, Akbar Road, towards Gandhi Smriti to protest what they called the "snatching away of the constitutional right to work" by the Modi government. However, the march was stopped by the police before reaching its destination.

New Delhi: The world is heading towards extreme heat by 2050, with India expected to be severely affected. Health risks and threats to agriculture loom large as temperatures continue to rise. A study by Oxford University has issued a stark warning: if global warming continues at the current pace, billions of people worldwide could face dangerously high temperatures in the coming decades. According to the research, if the Earth’s average temperature rises 2°C above pre-industrial levels—a scenario that is increasingly likely—nearly half of the global population (around 3.79 billion people) will experience extreme heat by 2050. The researchers note that even a 1.5°C rise would significantly accelerate heat impacts. In 2010, 23% of the world’s population was exposed to extreme heat; thi...

New Delhi: The dense forests of Lohit Valley in Arunachal Pradesh have been engulfed in flames, prompting immediate action from the authorities. In response to the escalating situation, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched a specialized mission to combat the fire, deploying Mi-17V5 helicopters for aerial firefighting operations. The IAF helicopters carried out the mission at an altitude of approximately 9,500 feet, where the thin Himalayan air poses a significant challenge for aviation operations. During the operation, the helicopters dropped nearly 12,000 liters of water over the affected areas, showcasing the skill, precision, and commitment of the Air Force in protecting human lives and fragile ecosystems. IAF Shares Mission Details and MediaThe Indian Air Force shared photogra...

A Kuwait-bound Indigo flight carrying passengers to Delhi was diverted to Ahmedabad following a bomb threat written on a tissue paper. Security agencies acted swiftly to ensure the safety of all on board. Fortunately, the threat was later confirmed to be a hoax. Swift Action Ensured Passenger Safety Airport authorities reported that the Indigo flight, en route from Kuwait to Delhi, was diverted to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad around 6:40 a.m. All 180 passengers were safely evacuated. The handwritten note claimed the presence of a bomb inside the aircraft, prompting immediate precautionary measures. Following the alert, the pilot informed Air Traffic Control, and the flight was rerouted as a safety precaution. Upon landing, passengers were safely dise...

India and the European Union (EU) have recently signed a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA), opening the doors for enhanced market access for Indian industries across 27 European countries. As part of the deal, the EU has provided India with five key assurances regarding the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), aimed at easing trade and ensuring fair carbon compliance. 1. Exemption on CBAM for India Under the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) principle, India will receive equal treatment in future CBAM exemptions. If any other country is granted CBAM-related concessions, India will automatically be entitled to the same benefits under the newly signed FTA. 2. Technical Dialogue and Transparency India and the EU will establish a technical working group to maintain full transparen...

The Delhi government has issued a notice clarifying the eligibility criteria for ration cardholders, emphasizing that households owning both a house and a vehicle may no longer qualify for subsidized food. The move comes as part of an ongoing verification drive by the Food and Supply Department to identify beneficiaries who do not meet the prescribed criteria. Verification Notices Sent Ration cardholders whose assets include land, a house, and a vehicle are receiving SMS notices requiring them to provide details of their income, property, and vehicles. Beneficiaries must also submit an income certificate issued by the Revenue Department, reflecting a minimum annual income of ₹1 lakh, which has now been made mandatory. Failure to comply will result in the cancellation of their ration ...