The Punjab State Election Commissioner has announced that elections for 105 municipal bodies, including eight municipal corporations, will be held on May 26, with vote counting on May 29. The Model Code of Conduct is now in effect, and over 35,000 police personnel will be deployed to ensure safety.
Addressing the 36th extraordinary session of the Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) held on Thursday in London, the Indian envoy said, "India remains deeply concerned about the evolving situation and continues to call for de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy, with utmost restraint and priority being given to the safety of civilians."
India along with the G4 nations said it is "unfortunate" that momentum could not build up over the issue in the current session.
Polling is underway for local body elections in Haryana, including municipal corporations of Ambala, Panchkula, and Sonipat. An average voter turnout of 25 per cent was recorded till 1 pm. The main contest is expected between the Congress and the ruling BJP.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Seva Teerth complex, which will house the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the National Security Council Secretariat, and the Cabinet Secretariat, marking a shift towards modernizing India's administrative governance.
India is the only significant power that all parties trust, or at least do not distrust, notes former defence secretary Ajay Kumar.
Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani (retd) has been appointed as India's next Chief of Defence Staff, succeeding Gen Anil Chauhan. Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan has been named the next Chief of the Naval Staff, succeeding Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi. Lt Gen Subramani's primary mandate will be to implement the military theaterisation plan and bolster tri-services synergy.
The BRICS foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi concluded without a joint statement due to disagreements over the West Asia conflict, with Iran blaming the UAE for the lack of consensus. India, as the host, issued a chair's statement highlighting the differing views.
'Customers do not recover the original making charges paid on old jewellery. Sentimental value is lost when heirlooms are exchanged.'
The United Nations member states will begin inter-governmental negotiations on the expansion of the 15-member Security Council in both permanent and non permanent categories and also mull on the question of veto, the two issues for which India has pressed for debate.
India has said the United Nations Security Council in its present structure is "completely out of tune" with global realities and serves "no one's purpose", asserting that an expansion in the 15-member body should have permanent representation from Asia, Africa and Latin America.
The newly elected BJP-led NDA government in Assam will be sworn in on May 12, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries expected to attend. Preparations are underway to ensure a smooth and secure ceremony.
Local body elections in Haryana, including municipal corporations of Ambala, Panchkula, and Sonipat, saw a 54.5 per cent voter turnout. Polling was held for mayor and ward councillor posts, with key contestants from BJP and Congress. The votes will be counted on May 13.
A faction of the AIADMK, led by S P Velumani and C Ve Shanmugam, has announced its support for the TVK government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, citing opposition to Edappadi K Palaniswami's alleged plans to align with the DMK.
India's newly formed Artificial Intelligence Governance and Economic Group (AIGEG) is set to advocate for a unified legal framework for AI companies, including developers of large language models and chatbot systems, alongside broader operational rules.
Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Iran, stating that the US will take a tougher stance if a diplomatic resolution regarding its nuclear programme is not reached soon.
The AIADMK is facing a deeper crisis as factions clash over the floor test of the TVK government, with accusations of defying party directives and demands for disqualification under the anti-defection law.
Himanta Biswa Sarma has been elected as the leader of the BJP-led NDA in the Assam assembly, paving the way for his second consecutive term as chief minister. The NDA secured a two-thirds majority in the recent assembly polls, with the BJP winning 82 seats and its allies AGP and BPF securing 10 seats each.
America's population and its media and its democratic structures seem fine with this, which is why Trump continues as he does, asserts Aakar Patel.
Meghalaya's Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar has announced that the state government will review objections raised by pressure groups and villagers regarding the proposed limestone mining project in Jaintia Hills district.
The GST Council at its next meeting may consider a reduction in taxes on air and water purifiers as air quality across the country worsens and access to safe drinking water remains uneven.
For decades, several key government offices and ministries functioned from fragmented and ageing infrastructure spread across multiple locations in the Central Vista area.
Pakistan is reportedly pursuing Chinese J-35 stealth fighters while China already operates hundreds of J-20 stealth aircraft.
A 19-year-old man allegedly snatched the mobile phone of BJP MLA Dharamlal Kaushik during his morning walk in Raipur. The accused was arrested within eight hours, but the incident has sparked political controversy.
The embassy also said that the exit must be undertaken in coordination with the mission.
Police in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, have detained six individuals following an incident where pro-Pakistan slogans were allegedly raised in a busy market area, causing panic and the partial closure of shops. An FIR has been lodged against over four dozen people, with the main accused identified as Kashif, son of a former corporator.
The deployment could include infantry and armoured units, in addition to the 82nd Airborne Division, which is already stationed in the region.
rediffGURU Pankaj Vyavahare, career counsellor and life coach at the Bhagirath Counselling Centre, counsels students on how to make informed career choices.
Nagaland is seeking to implement the Juvenile Justice Act and Adoption Regulations in a way that respects the state's customary laws and traditional systems of care, while remaining legally sound.
A New York Times report on Thursday (local time) has claimed that the US Justice Department is contemplating dropping charges against industrialist and Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani.
This is the first UN sanction on Iran.
Nitin Menon remains the only Indian in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires after the governing body named an unchanged team of match officials for the 2026-27 international season following its annual review.
Two family members of Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian general killed in a US strike in 2020, have been arrested in the United States after their residency permits were rescinded.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini celebrated the BJP's victory in the recent civic body elections, attributing the win to public confidence in the party's development-focused governance and rejection of the Congress' negative politics.
'It has always been viewed as a hedge against inflation.'
In the Opposition camp, the Congress, which contested 99 seats, won 19 constituencies, while the Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF and Akhil Gogoi-led Raijor Dal secured two seats each, and the Trinamool Congress bagged one constituency.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has announced it will contest the upcoming elections to 102 nagar councils and nine municipal corporations on the party symbol. The decision was made at a meeting presided over by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal. The party also addressed concerns about the anti-sacrilege law and the law and order situation in Punjab.
Referring to local sources, IRNA shared a video clip that it claims shows the downing of the American F-15 fighter jet in Kuwait.
