Nation

New Delhi: A statement by a Congress leader comparing Rahul Gandhi to Lord Ram has ignited a political firestorm. The BJP has strongly condemned the remark, calling it an “unforgivable insult to faith” and accusing Congress of excessive flattery. Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole, in a recent interview, likened Rahul Gandhi’s actions to those of Lord Ram, claiming that the opposition leader is performing the same duties that the deity undertook. BJP Slams the StatementBJP national spokesperson C.R. Kesavan sharply criticized Patole’s comments, saying, “Nana Patole’s comparison of Rahul Gandhi to Lord Ram is a grave insult to the sentiments and faith of millions of Hindu devotees. Earlier, he had also shown disrespect by demanding ‘purification’ of the revered President Droupadi ...

In 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump surprised his critics with his approach to tariffs and the global economic order. Despite fears of a recession, both India and the U.S. recorded robust growth, driven largely by the AI boom and Trump’s deal-making style. Yet, rising unemployment and heavy reliance on AI could pose challenges to “Trumpism” in 2026. Trump’s Bold MovesAt the start of 2025, Trump delivered a landmark speech to the U.S. Congress, signaling three key points: massive tariff hikes, a breakdown of the rules-based global economic order, and America stepping back from its role as global policeman. Ironically, it was this rules-based order and global policing that fueled the fastest economic growth the world had seen since World War II. Fear of RecessionBy April, Trump announ...

New Delhi: From Pranjal Dahiya to Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Nidhi Agarwal, the year 2026 has begun with disturbing incidents of harassment against female celebrities. These episodes highlight the urgent need to confront and curb such behavior. Haryana’s Pranjal Dahiya recently made headlines after facing an uncomfortable situation during a live stage performance in Gurugram. Frustrated by an overzealous fan, she reportedly said, “I’m your daughter’s age, uncle—please maintain some control.” The incident quickly ignited a heated debate on social media. Similar cases have surfaced recently. On 17 December 2025, at a song launch outside Lulu Mall, Hyderabad, actress Nidhi Agarwal was surrounded by an uncontrollable crowd of fans immediately after the event. A few days later, actress Sama...

New Delhi: Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor is set to assume the prestigious post of Vice Chief of Air Staff on 1 January 2026. Currently, he serves as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the South Western Air Command (SWAC), headquartered in Gandhinagar. Earlier this year, he was honored with the Vishisht Seva Medal for his exemplary role in Operation Sindur. Air Marshal Kapoor took command of SWAC at a critical time when the Indian Air Force carried out operations between 6–10 May, targeting key Pakistani air bases, resulting in significant strategic gains. Distinguished Career and TrainingCommissioned into the Indian Air Force’s fighter stream on 6 December 1986, Air Marshal Kapoor is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy (NDA), Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), and the Nati...

New Delhi: AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has strongly criticized China’s claim of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. Speaking on the matter, Owaisi emphasized that India cannot remain silent on such claims and urged the Modi government to officially reject them, asserting that no third-party mediation is acceptable to India. ‘Sovereignty Cannot Be Compromised for Improved Relations’Owaisi took to social media late Wednesday night to question the government’s stance, stating: “Following claims by the US President regarding a ceasefire and trade sanctions to ensure peace, China’s Foreign Minister has now made similar assertions. This is an insult to India, and the government must respond firmly. Any improvement in relations with Chin...

New Delhi: Despite having a limited number of judges, India’s Supreme Court resolved over 75,000 cases in 2025, setting a benchmark for judiciaries worldwide. Comparatively, the United States and the United Kingdom handle far fewer cases at their highest courts, making India’s achievement even more remarkable. A Massive Undertaking Despite Few JudgesWhile India’s population is vast, the ratio of judges to citizens is among the lowest globally. For every 10 lakh people, India has only 21 judges, compared with 150 judges per 10 lakh people in the U.S. The Supreme Court currently has 34 sanctioned judges, meaning roughly one judge per 4.5 crore people, highlighting the immense workload shouldered by India’s judiciary. Mediation Suggested as a SolutionAt the national conference “Explorin...

New Delhi: The last day of 2025 brought an intense cold wave to the national capital, breaking a four-year temperature record and disrupting daily life. Dense fog and chilling winds blanketed the city, making it one of the coldest days since 2022. Record-Breaking ColdOn Wednesday, the maximum temperature in Delhi plummeted to 14.2°C, marking the lowest day temperature in the past four years. The persistent cloud cover prevented sunlight from warming the city, intensifying the cold. For comparison, on 26 January 2022, the maximum temperature had dropped to 12.1°C, while December 31, 2019, recorded an even lower 9.4°C. This makes the end-of-December 2025 cold one of the chilliest days in the last six years. Impact on Transportation and Daily LifeThe extreme cold and thick fog led to ‘C...

New Delhi: In a landmark move to ensure quicker access to justice, the Supreme Court of India has introduced a new system granting priority hearings for certain vulnerable groups. Petitions filed by senior citizens aged 80 and above, persons with disabilities, below-poverty-line (BPL) cardholders, and those availing free legal aid will now receive expedited consideration. Four Priority Categories EstablishedChief Justice Suryakant has formalized the system by creating four priority categories to streamline the hearing of urgent and sensitive cases. The new arrangement aims to prevent such matters from being overlooked amid the large volume of cases, particularly on Mondays and Fridays, when the court handles nearly 800 petitions across 16 benches. According to a registry circular, la...

New Delhi: China’s President Xi Jinping has sent a strong message to the world as the New Year begins, emphasizing that the reunification of the motherland “cannot be stopped.” While Xi did not explicitly mention India, analysts suggest that his words and the choice of terminology—“Motherland” and “Reunification”—carry subtle signals of intimidation, with potential implications for India’s Arunachal Pradesh. This statement comes immediately after China conducted military drills near Taiwan, drawing international attention and criticism from countries including Japan and Australia. Despite global protests, Beijing dismissed concerns, framing them as “irresponsible.” China’s Hidden AmbitionsWhile China publicly asserts claims over Taiwan, it also maintains its longstanding claim on Aru...