The Asian Age
Modi urges unity amid global crisis to attain ‘Viksit Bharat’
Urging citizens to work with dedication and unity to tackle global challenges, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the government prioritises securing India's interests and safeguarding "families and farmers". Addressing a gathering at...
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Govt clears `2.38L-cr S-400, arms, drones deals
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by the defence minister Rajnath Singh on Friday, gave a preliminary nod to the procurement of weapons and military hardware worth around `2.38-lakh crores. The procurement proposals include the acquisition...
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Hospitals, schools in Bastar barracks
The Chhattisgarh government has prepared a blueprint for post-Maoism Bastar. Besides launching a massive operation to remove improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from the entire forest and forested villages in the tribal belt, the government, according...
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Iran rejects 15-pt US peace plan & floats counterterms
Dubai, March 25: Iran on Wednesday dismissed an American plan to pause the war in the Middle East and launched more attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries, including an assault that sparked a huge fire at Kuwait International Airport. Iran’s...
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Modi, Trump discuss war in Mideast, access to Hormuz
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday evening discussed the ongoing conflict in West Asia. During the conversation, Mr Modi stressed the need for de-escalation, the restoration of peace in the region and...
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Sensex plunges by 1,800pts; Dalal St may recover today
The Indian markets are set for a sharp recovery on Tuesday, with GIFT Nifty surging nearly 800 points from 22,492 to 23,292, indicating a strong gap-up opening. The trigger came from US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a five-day pause on...
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No election duty for BJP’s Muslim netas in WB polls
◗ PROMINENT Muslim faces of the party at the national level remain conspicuously absent from Bengal, even as local leadership intensifies rhetoric targeting the community Despite West Bengal being home to one of the largest Muslim populations in India...
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UP govt rejig in Apr, BJP eyes pre-poll caste reset
With an eye on the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls scheduled for next year and panchayat polls to be held in May-June, the Yogi Adityanath-led government will likely go in for a minor Cabinet reshuffle in April to fine-tune the caste combination. While...
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My mission to unite Hindu samaj: Sarma
Preparations for the April 9 elections in Assam gathered steam on Friday with chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma filing his nomination papers for the Jalukbari constituency and the Congress, after days of negotiation, agreed to leave 11 seats in the...
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Iran strikes Gulf oil, gas sites after Israeli attack
Dubai, March 19: Iran intensified its attacks on oil and natural gas facilities around the Gulf on Thursday, raising the stakes in a war that is sending shock waves through the global economy. The strikes, in retaliation for an Israeli attack on a key...
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3 kids among 9 killed in Delhi fire
Nine members of a family, including three children and a 70-year-old woman, were killed in a devastating fire that tore through a four-storey residentialcum-commercial building in Delhi’s Palam area on Wednesday morning, raising serious questions about...
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Israel kills 2 top Iran officials in blow to Tehran leadership
Dubai, March 17: Iran’s top security official and the head of the Revolutionary Guard’s Basij militia were both killed in overnight strikes in a blow to the country’s leadership, Israel’s defence minister said Tuesday, while Tehran defiantly fired new...
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EC shifts Mamata’s 5 top officers, put off poll duty
The Election Commission has shunted West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s favourite five bureaucrats at the top level of her government in an unprecedented revamp since Sunday midnight, hours after announcing two-phase Assembly polls in the...
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2-phase Bengal polls from April 23; 1 day in other states; results May 4
The Election Commission on Sunday announced the Assembly election schedule for four states and one Union territory. The polling will be held in single phase in Assam, Kerala and Puducherry on April 9, in Tamil Nadu on April 23 and in two phases in West...
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TMC opposing SIR to shield infiltrators, votebank: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused West Bengal’s ruling Trinamul Congress of opposing the special intensive revision (SIR) of the voters’ list in the election-bound state for its appeasement politics. Alleging that unchecked illegal...
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Iran about to surrender, Trump tells G-7 leaders
Washington/Dubai, March 13: US President Donald Trump has told G-7 leaders that Iran is “about to surrender,” claiming success in Operation Epic Fury, a media report said on Friday. Mr Trump made the claim on Wednesday during a virtual meeting of the...
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India wants dialogue & diplomacy for peace in Mideast: Jaishankar
India is in favour of peace (in West Asia) and urges a return to dialogue and diplomacy and “advocates de-escalation, restraint and ensuring the safety of civilians”, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar told Parliament on Monday. He added that the...
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On Women’s Day, Modi takes aim at TMC govt over ‘insult’ to Prez
Hitting out at the TMC government for disrespecting President Droupadi Murmu during her visit to West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the people of the state will never forgive the party for insulting a woman tribal leader and...
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Modi praises Birla ahead of no-trust debate tomorrow
Ahead of an Oppositionsponsored no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday described him as an outstanding member of Parliament. While Mr Modi hailed Mr Birla as an “excellent” Speaker of the Lok...
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Trump rules out peace talks, Israel flattens Khamenei den
Dubai, March 6: US President Donald Trump on Friday appeared to rule out talks with Iran absent its “unconditional surrender.” Israeli warplanes bombed Beirut and Tehran as Iran launched more retaliatory strikes against Israel and Gulf countries on the...
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Nitish files RS nomination, Bihar set to get a BJP CM
In a dramatic political development, Bihar chief minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar on Thursday filed his nomination papers for the upcoming biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha after helming the state for over two decades. While the Opposition...
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Iran hits US’ Riyadh mission as Israel steps up airstrikes
Dubai/Washington/ Tehran/Beirut, March 3: Israel stepped up airstrikes against Iranian missile launchers and factories Tuesday, and Iran retaliated across the Gulf region, disrupting energy supplies and travel. As explosions rang out in Tehran and in...
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US-Israeli war on Iran widens as Hezbollah joins in, fires missiles
Dubai/Washington, March 2: Iran and allied armed militia groups fired missiles at Israel, Arab states and US military targets around the region on Monday, while Israel and the United States pounded Iran as the war expanded to several fronts. Kuwait...
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Tehran rocked as Supreme Leader Khamenei killed in US-Israeli strikes
Dubai, March 1: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a major attack by Israel and the United States, Iranian state media confirmed early Sunday, throwing the future of the Islamic Republic into doubt and raising the risk of...
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US, Israel launch major strikes on Iran; Tehran hits US bases, allies
Dubai, Feb. 28: The US and Israel launched a major attack on Iran on Saturday, and President Donald Trump urged the Iranian public to “seize control of destiny” by rising up against the Islamic leadership that has ruled the nation since 1979. Iran...
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Kejriwal, 22 others cleared in Delhi excise policy case
The CBI was left red-faced after a Delhi court on Friday delivered a body blow by discharging former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, his former deputy Manish Sisodia and 21 others in the politically explosive liquor policy case. The court refused to...
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Modi, Netanyahu hold talks as India, Israel ink 17 pacts
India and Israel on Thursday elevated bilateral ties to a “special strategic partnership” after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held formal delegation-level talks with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Following the meeting, India and Israel...
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‘India backs Israel fully’: Modi in historic address to Knesset
“India stands with Israel fully in this moment and beyond,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Israeli Parliament Knesset in Jerusalem late on Wednesday evening. In his address, Mr Modi said India feels the pain and shares the grief of the...
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Police arrests IYC chief for ‘shirtless’ protest at AI meet
Amid the continuing flak from friends and foes over its “shirtless stir” at the AI summit in the national capital, the Congress’ trouble mounted further on Tuesday with the Delhi police arresting its youth wing chief Uday Bhanu Chib for orchestrating...
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Will develop Delhi as ‘24x7’ capital by 2047, vows Rekha
Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta has asserted that her government’s long-term vision of “24×7 for 2047” aims to build a developed capital aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s national vision. In a conversation with this newspaper upon completion...
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Cong unveils plan to engage youth & expand legal wing
Seeking to sharpen the party's legal strategy and energise youth participation ahead of upcoming political battles, the Congress on Sunday rolled out a set of initiatives ranging from a legal fellowship programme to a nationwide effort aimed at...
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India & Brazil sign rare earth deal; eye $30bn annual trade
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Hyderabad House in the national capital on Saturday, India and Brazil set an annual bilateral trade target of $30 billion in the next five years...
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Trump’s tariffs struck down by top US court
Washington, Feb. 20: The US Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s farreaching global tariffs on Friday, handing him a significant loss on an issue crucial to his economic agenda. The 6-3 decision centres on tariffs imposed under an...
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PM unveils India’s ‘human-centric’ vision to shape AI revolution, make it ‘inclusive’
Outlining a “human-centric” vision for the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched the country’s AI revolution, saying that India was not just a part of the AI revolution, but was leading and shaping...
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Modi holds 7 bilaterals, will open AI meet plenary today
Ahead of the leaders’ plenary on Thursday at the AI Impact Summit in the national capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday kickstarted his three-day schedule of bilateral meetings with participating world leaders by meeting PMs from Spain,...
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Modi, Macron agree on 21 key outcomes, deepen ties
After talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India and France have now elevated ties to the level of a “special global strategic partnership” that “knows no boundaries” and...
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Modi, Macron to meet, hold talks in Mumbai today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold talks in Mumbai with French President Emmanuel Macron late on Tuesday afternoon, after which several pacts are expected to be signed between the two sides. The French President will land in Mumbai at about...
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PM hails Budget, FTAs, slams UPA’s ‘economy mishandling’
New Delhi, Feb. 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed the latest Union Budget and a spate of global trade deals signed by his government as foundations for Viksit Bharat and urged the private sector to step in “more aggressively” and...
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Centre clears `1L-cr to push urban infra, mkt-led growth
In the last Cabinet meeting at the South Block on Friday, the government approved the launch of the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) with a total Central assistance of `1-lakh crores and sanctioned the construction of the country's first underwater twintube...
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Modi clears 4 key schemes on Day 1 at new PM office
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said as India strides towards a “Viksit Bharat” and seeks to shed every relic of its colonial past, new buildings of governance — Seva Teerth and Kartavya Bhavans — are an important milestone in national progress....
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BNP poised to win B’desh polls, results likely today
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) appears to have the edge over its once ally Jamaate-Islami in the crucial general elections on Thursday to elect a new government to replace the interim administration, which took charge after the collapse of the...
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Rahul: Trade deal one-sided, govt gave in to ‘US pressure’
Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday came down heavily on the government over the recently signed Indo-US interim trade agreement, accusing the Modi government of compromising with the interests of the farmers and giving in to...
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Opp. submits no-trust motion against Speaker, 120 MPs sign
The Opposition parties on Tuesday submitted a notice for moving a motion to remove Om Birla from the office of Lok Sabha speaker. After the Opposition’s notice, Mr Birla directed Lok Sabha secretary general Utpal Kumar Singh to examine the notice and...
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Storm in Lok Sabha as Opp. plans no-trust against Birla
The Speaker versus Opposition duel in the Lok Sabha moved to another level on Monday with the latter expressing “no confidence” and seeking to remove Speaker Om Birla from his office as the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi continued to be denied an...
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India trusted partner for growth, investment: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India is seen as a “trusted partner for growth” and it was reflected in the recent trade deals it has agreed with various countries, including the UK, USA and EU. Addressing a community programme in Kuala...
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India, US will ink trade deal mid-March: Goyal
Commerce minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said India and the United States will finalise and sign a joint statement on the first tranche of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) within 4-5 days, following which tariffs imposed by America will come down...
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LS adjourns ahead of Modi speech amidst Opp. furore
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled reply to the motion of thanks to the President’s address in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday did not take place because the House was adjourned for the day amid Opposition protests against the trade deal with the US...
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Opp. alleges govt succumbed to US diktat, walks out of RS
Members of several Opposition parties on Tuesday staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha while raising the issue of the Indo-US trade deal and demanding a discussion on it, while the TDP urged the government to press the US for a formal withdrawal of...
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India, US agree on trade deal: Trump
After speaking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi late Monday evening (IST), US President Donald Trump announced the two nations had agreed to a trade deal and declared that out of respect for Mr Modi and following a request from him, the US would reduce...
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Nirmala’s Budget offers reforms thrust, shuns populism, in push for infra amid global churn
Choosing “reforms over populism”, the government on Sunday opted for a Union Budget 2026-27 with a long-term focus on infrastructure creation, manufacturing, skilling and job creation to insulate the country from global turbulence. Presenting her ninth...
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Union Budget to focus on long-term targets, growth
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to follow a twopronged approach in her ninth Union Budget, which she will present to the Lok Sabha on Sunday, by setting long-term goalposts for the economy and addressing the immediate issues that are...
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Trump asked Putin to halt strikes on Kyiv for a week, says Kremlin
Moscow, Jan. 30: US President Donald Trump asked Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to halt strikes on Kyiv for a week “until February 1”, the Kremlin said Friday, while suggesting that Moscow had accepted. Mr Trump had earlier said he made the request...
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Survey: India to grow by 6.8%-7.2% in FY27
As the global economy gets reshaped by geopolitical realignments that will influence investment, supply chains and growth prospects for years to come, India must choose to build resilience, innovate relentlessly and stay the course toward Viksit...
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Maha Dy CM Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash with 4 others
In a tragic incident, Maharashtra deputy chief minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash on Wednesday morning. The chartered Learjet 45 (VTSSK) crashed while attempting to land at Baramati Airport, killing...
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India, EU seal ‘historic’ FTA; Modi hails ‘start of new era’
In a “landmark and historic” step on Tuesday, India and the European Union announced 13 outcomes, including signing a “political declaration on conclusion of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)” that was described by both sides as the “mother...
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Op Sindoor, Vande Mataram in focus as India celebrates 77th Republic Day
India celebrated its 77th Republic Day on Monday by showcased its military might in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, with cultural diversity, economic growth and Vande Mataram as the major themes with two top European Union leaders in attendance as...
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India messenger of peace in strife-ridden world: Prez
Amid conflicts gripping multiple continents, tariffs being weaponised and multilateralism undergoing churning, President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday said India is spreading the message of peace in the world, a sine qua non to secure the future of...
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Modi: Trade, mobility pacts creating new jobs for youth
Noting that India is among the youngest nations in the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said his government is entering into trade and mobility agreements with various countries to create new opportunities for youth both within India and...
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PM attacks DMK for running ‘corrupt, mafia & crime’ govt
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that the people of Tamil Nadu have decided to bid farewell to the “corrupt, mafia and crime” DMK government in the coming Assembly election, as he launched the NDA’s poll campaign in the state. Kicking...
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Trump rolls out ‘Board of Peace’ at Davos, key allies opt out
◗ TRUMP OFFICIALS unveiled ambitious plans for a ‘New Gaza’ at the World Economic Forum, with the US leader describing the devastated Palestinian territory as ‘great real estate’ Davos, Jan. 22: President Donald Trump on Thursday inaugurated his Board...
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Cong in Bengal strongly opposes Left pact
As the West Bengal Assembly elections draw closer, sharp differences within the Opposition, particularly between the Congress and the Left, have once again come to the fore, underscoring the uncertainty over any possible alliance in the state. While...
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At Davos, EU’s top boss asks if Trump can be trusted now
Davos, Jan. 20: The European Union’s top official on Tuesday called into question US President Donald Trump’s trustworthiness, saying that he had agreed last year not to impose more tariffs on members of the bloc. European Commission president Ursula...
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TMC converting infiltrators into voters: Modi in Bengal
Seeking the voters of West Bengal to break the “tieup” between the ruling Trinamul Congress and “infiltrators” in the upcoming Assembly election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asserted a need to evict the illegal immigrants from the state,...
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US envoy pledges to push India-US ties, signals ‘reset’
United States ambassador Sergio Gor on Wednesday presented his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu along with envoys of Austria as well as Trinidad and Tobago. Meanwhile, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and US secretary of state Marco Rubio...
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25% extra US tariff on Iran may not hit India
Hours after United States President Donald Trump announced that any country doing business with Iran will have to pay 25 per cent tariffs on its trade with Washington, Indian government sources said the announcement is likely to have a minimal impact,...
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Modi: Need to defeat forces opposing country, Somnath
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that forces that opposed the reconstruction of the Somnath temple after Independence remain active in the country and pointed out that now conspiracies against India are carried out through other malicious...
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Inaccurate: MEA on Trump aide’s trade deal claim
India on Friday dismissed United States commerce secretary Howard Lutnick’s claim that a trade deal between India and the US was ready last year but could not be clinched as Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not call US President Donald Trump in time as...
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HC upholds order for lamp lighting at Madurai temple
The Madurai bench of the Madras high court on Tuesday upheld the single judge’s order permitting the ritualistic karthigai deepam (lighting of a lamp) at the stone pillar atop the Thiruparankundram hillock that houses the famous Murugan temple at its...
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Umar, Imam denied bail; but 5 others get SC relief
The Supreme Court on Monday refused bail to activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case under the stringent anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, holding “a prima facie attribution of a central and...
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