'What exactly is on the prime minister's mind, we do not know. But it feels like the government wants the country to be prepared for unseen challenges ahead.'
BJP workers celebrated in West Bengal as the party took an early lead in the state assembly elections, raising slogans and exchanging sweets.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has stated that India is closely monitoring developments in West Asia, addressing topics ranging from ceasefire efforts to maritime security and the safe return of Indian nationals. The MEA also addressed the UN Climate Change Conference and the delimitation bill.
The Centre informed the Supreme Court that ten Indians have died while fighting alongside Russian forces in the Russia-Ukraine war. The court is hearing a plea seeking the repatriation of Indians allegedly forced to fight.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting to review regional and internal security in light of recent events in Iran and Afghanistan.
Citizens and residents across the Gulf region are preparing for Eid amidst regional conflict, impacting festivities and daily life.
There is no cause for concern, as the overall situation arising out of the crisis is firmly under control, the Centre informed while briefing political parties at the all-party meet.
Donald Trump has appointed Markwayne Mullin as the new Secretary of Homeland Security, replacing Kristi Noem, who will take on the role of Special Envoy for 'The Shield of the Americas' initiative.
Delhi Police are increasing security measures, including intensified border checks and crackdowns on traffic violations, to ensure peaceful Holi celebrations.
'Look at the way SIR that was implemented in Bengal. They wanted to entirely curate the voter list in order to suit their purposes and victory.' 'Look at the targeted deletions and the targeted voting list.' 'The difference between the TMC and the BJP was only about 4% but that 4% vote was done so selectively that the difference ultimately showed up as 100 seats!'
The Punjab Assembly has passed the Punjab Prisons and Correctional Services Bill, 2026, to modernise the prison system, and the Societies Registration (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2026, to enhance transparency and accountability of societies.
By asking Vijay to produce letters of majority support before inviting him to form the government, the governor risks overstepping established Constitutional principles, notes Harishchandra.
Courts cannot be the only hope for those fighting hate speech. Countering its effects on the ground takes more effort. With our political parties unwilling to put in that amount of effort, it's left to citizens to do so, points out Jyoti Punwani.
TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee has questioned the credibility of the West Bengal assembly polls, accusing the Election Commission of partisan conduct and alleging large-scale irregularities during the elections.
If West Bengal does not begin to reclaim its lost pride, the state would have lost -- perhaps irreversibly, this time, notes Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).
During the raids in St Paul, Minnesota, US citizen ChongLy 'Scott' Thao was mistakenly detained after agents broke into his home without a warrant and led him outside in freezing temperatures in just his underwear before realising he was not the suspect and releasing him with neither an apology nor an explanation.
Police and security forces in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, demolished 44 memorials built by Maoists to instill fear, marking a significant step in combating Naxalite influence in the region.
'In West Bengal, the BJP's ideology of Hindutva will be customised to cater to the culture and the cultural imperatives of Bengalis.'
The US State Department is set to release a limited-edition passport featuring images of President Donald Trump and the Founding Fathers to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence in July. The special passports will be available in person at the Washington Passport Agency.
'It's a changing world and the opening up doesn't mean that concerns with regards to security have gone away.'
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has submitted a fact-finding report to the Maharashtra government, revealing pervasive sexual harassment, systemic bullying, and zero compliance with the POSH Act at the Nashik unit of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). The report details a toxic workplace environment and recommends strict action and compliance with the POSH Act.
The United States on Friday issued a 'security alert' for its citizens in Bangladesh, asking them to remain vigilant and avoid crowds as political violence or extremist attacks may occur, potentially targeting rallies, polling stations, and religious sites during the election period.
Delhi Police will deploy over 15,000 personnel to maintain law and order during Holi celebrations, focusing on preventing drunken driving and motorcycle stunts.
Vinesh Phogat's attempt to compete in the National Open Ranking tournament was rejected by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), leading to a confrontation where she alleged a 'pre-planned conspiracy' to prevent her return to wrestling.
Telangana's newly appointed DGP C V Anand announced that the state police will implement measures to address cyber crimes, drug issues, and road accidents, involving district-level officials. He also mentioned reviewing the phone-tapping case linked to the previous BRS regime and prioritising rehabilitation programmes for surrendered Naxals.
Mumbai police are investigating three separate incidents of fatal assaults that occurred within 48 hours, resulting in the deaths of three individuals in Dadar, Matunga, and Kherwadi.
Opposition parties in Odisha, including the BJD and Congress, have criticised the ruling BJP for failing to maintain law and order after a violent attack in Puri district. The incident, captured in a viral video, has sparked concerns about public safety and governance in the state.
BJP president Nitin Nabin has accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and opposition parties like the Congress for the setback in implementing women's reservation in legislatures.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman convened a high-level meeting with bank heads to assess cybersecurity risks linked to advanced AI models, following concerns over Anthropic's Claude Mythos system and its potential impact on financial data security.
A land dealer was allegedly shot dead in Ranchi, Jharkhand, due to a financial dispute. Police have arrested the accused and are investigating the incident.
Opposition parties in Punjab have criticised the Bhagwant Mann government following a blast incident at a freight corridor rail track in Patiala, citing intelligence failures and a lack of grip on law and order.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar convened a meeting with bankers to address the misuse of bank accounts in cyber frauds and implement preventative measures, following 'Operation Octopus' which dismantled cyber fraud networks and led to arrests of complicit bank officials.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence that the BJP would form the next government in West Bengal after the assembly polls, asserting that he would return to the state for the oath-taking ceremony after results are announced on May 4.
Gujarat's Director General of Police, KLN Rao, has emphasised the importance of a proactive approach in combating cybercrime, focusing on technology, coordination, and public awareness.
Hamirpur Police arrested two individuals involved in a counterfeit currency racket after a shopkeeper was defrauded. The suspects, using fake Rs 200 notes to obtain genuine Rs 500 notes, were identified through CCTV footage and ITMS. Police recovered counterfeit notes and are investigating further.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has reached a record Rs 314 lakh crore in transaction value in FY26, representing more than a 4,000-fold increase since inception.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma announced a significant drop in the state's crime rate, attributing it to sustained policing efforts and a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption. The announcement was made at the 77th Rajasthan Police Foundation Day function.
'I cannot imagine that any NSA before Ajit Doval would have given us this kind of time and this kind of engagement. They would have offered slogans, or nothing at all. That, too, tells you something.'
The proposed solution is a one-hour delay for digital transactions exceeding Rs 10,000, particularly when the transfer is made to a new or unverified beneficiary. The idea is simple -- give users a window to reconsider, detect fraud or alert their bank before the funds are irretrievably transferred.
In a post on X, the embassy said such groups 'may intend to conduct attacks in central Baghdad in the next 24-48 hours', raising concerns over the safety of US citizens and installations in Iraq.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances