India's political landscape is ablaze with activity! From the ongoing debates surrounding the new farm bills and their impact on rural India, to the upcoming state elections shaping the national narrative, the stakes couldn't be higher. Key political figures are maneuvering strategically, with alliances shifting and power dynamics constantly in flux. The opposition's challenge to the ruling party is intensifying, sparking vigorous debates on crucial policy matters including economic reforms and social justice initiatives. Parliamentary proceedings are filled with heated exchanges, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation. This evolving political climate directly impacts the lives of every Indian citizen, influencing everything from economic opportunities to social welfare programs. Stay informed about the latest developments in Indian politics, from crucial legislative decisions to grassroots movements, by exploring Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and breaking news updates. Understanding the intricacies of our political system is crucial; stay engaged, stay informed, and stay ahead.
The EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has urged Israel to approve a proposed Lebanon ceasefire deal backed by necessary security guarantees. Borrell emphasized no further delays should be allowed and criticized an apparent Western double standard regarding the ICC's arrest warrants against Netanyahu. In a sharp appeal to Israel, the European Union's top diplomat urged the nation to swiftly endorse a proposed ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. Speaking at a G7 meeting in Italy, Josep Borrell stated that the deal offers complete security assurances for Israel, and any delays are unwarranted. Borrell criticized hardline Israeli ministers opposing the deal and called on Prime Minister Netanyahu to approve the U.S. and French-backed agreement without further hesitation. A senior Israeli official indicated that the approval might be imminent. The EU diplomat also highlighted concerns over Western inconsistencies regarding the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants against several Israeli leaders, urging European Union states to remain consistent in their support for the court's decisions.
NEW DELHI: Axiom-4 crew members, including Shubhanshu Shukla, were welcomed with hugs and drinks as they stepped into the International Space Station on Thursday. The newly launched spacecraft -- the fifth in the Dragon series and named Grace -- successfully completed a soft docking with the International Space Station at 4.01pm while orbiting above the North Atlantic Ocean."At 6:31 am EDT (4:01 IST) on Thursday, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to the International Space Station for the fourth private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, Axiom Mission 4," the National Aeronautics ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 20 (ANI): Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury on Sunday expressed concern over the government inaction in bringing to justice the terrorists behind the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 civilians, including a Nepali citizen. As the Parliament Monsoon session begins, Chowdhury stated that the INDIA bloc will raise this issue, demanding answers from the government. Speaking to ANI, Chowdhury said, The Parliament session is starting, so we have reached Delhi. We have not been able to see those who killed our countrymen in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam arrested yet. T ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], August 13 (ANI): Former diplomat Vikas Swarup on Wednesday warned that the US is making a 'strategic mistake' by strengthening ties with Pakistan, a country closely aligned with China, a strategic competitor of the US. In an interview with ANI, Swarup, a former High Commissioner to Canada, said, 'I think it's a strategic mistake on the part of the US that you are getting into bed with Pakistan, which is in bed with China. China is the US' strategic competitor.' Swarup's comments come after Pakistan Army Chief Gen Asim Munir made provocative remarks in Florida, suggesting P ...Read More >
Noting that the evolution of Quad has been a "notable development," External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has said the Indo-Pacific is experiencing "significant changes" including new convergences and partnerships. "In an era of collaborative endeavours, the Indo-Pacific will require practical solutions, nimble diplomacy, greater adjustment and more open conversations. The G7 can be one such partner," Mr. Jaishankar said as he attended the G7 FMM Outreach Session with Indo-Pacific partners in the Italian city of Fiuggi on Tuesday. G7 ministers throw support behind Israel-Hezbollah ceasefir ...Read More >
United Nations, November 27 (IANS): The United Nations welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, a senior UN official said in a statement. The agreement marks the starting point of a critical process, anchored in the full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006), to restore the safety and security that civilians on both sides of the Blue Line deserve, said Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN special coordinator for Lebanon, on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported. The UN statement came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the nation's ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Citing serious "drift in foreign policy that requires immediate introspection and course correction", Congress on Thursday claimed the "fundamental departures" from traditional positions has cost the country its "moral authority" and leadership of the developing countries.It said the Modi govt's refusal to vote for a ceasefire in Gaza in the united nations general assembly is symptomatic of the chaotic choices being made against the national consensus which has underpinned its foreign policy since Independence. Congress also demanded a discussion on the foreign policy in the monsoon ...Read More >
New Delhi, August 13 (ANI): Former diplomat Vikas Swarup has described the United States' current relationship with Pakistan as a short-term, tactical arrangement driven largely by financial interests, while stressing that US-India ties remain strategic in nature. In an interview with ANI, Swarup, a former High Commissioner to Canada and renowned author, said, 'We have to look at the US' relationship with Pakistan in a different lens from the US' relationship with India. I believe the current relationship with Pakistan is tactical and short-term, primarily driven by the financial gain the Tru ...Read More >
The incoming US president has vowed to press for a quick deal to end Russia's war - leaving Kyiv scrambling to position itself ahead of his January inauguration Nato foreign ministers looked set to rebuff Tuesday a push from Ukraine for progress on joining their alliance ahead of Donald Trump taking power in the United States. The incoming US president has vowed to press for a quick deal to end Russia's war - leaving Kyiv scrambling to position itself ahead of his January inauguration. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said getting security guarantees from the Western alliance and ...Read More >
The United States recently updated its travel advisory for India. The Ministry of External Affairs acknowledged the update. The US advises its citizens to exercise caution due to crime and terrorism. Certain areas are marked as high-risk. The advisory level for India remains unchanged. It has been at level 2 for several years.Travel advisories are periodically issued by countries based on their "assessment of various factors", and "we have noted" that the US has updated the travel advisory for In ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 10 (ANI): Palestinian Ambassador to India, Abdullah Abu Shawesh, said that the conflict between Israel and Gaza is not a conflict and termed it Israel's 'brutal aggression', which he said has continued for 642 days. He expressed hope that Israel's brutal aggression and massacre would come to an end 'very soon.' Speaking to ANI, Shawesh said that approximately 10,000 civilians have lost their lives due to the conflict in Gaza, which has lasted for the past 642 days. When asked about the Israel-Gaza conflict, he said, 'I find all the time myself having no other choice e ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 13 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on being nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the President, stating that Shringla unique experience would enrich Parliamentary proceedings. Shringla is among four eminent personalities nominated to the Upper House under Article 80(1)(a) of the Constitution, read with clause (3) of the same article. The nominations come in the wake of vacancies created by the retirement of previously nominated members. In a post on X, PM Modi praised the former diplomat key role i ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Nayara Energy's refinery at Vadinar in Gujarat became the first in India to come under Western sanctions as the European Union on Friday announced fresh curbs on Russian oil exports with the aim of throttling funding for Moscow's war machine."For the first time, we're designating a flag registry and the biggest Rosneft refinery in India," agencies quoted EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas as saying.India responded by saying it "does not subscribe to any unilateral sanction measures. "We are a responsible actor and remain fully committed to our legal obligations. Government of India ...Read More >
Patna, Aug 1 (PTI) Healthcare services were affected at AIIMS-Patna on Friday as resident doctors went on an "indefinite strike" in protest against the alleged high-handedness of Sheohar MLA Chetan Anand. According to a press statement issued by the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA), AIIMS-Patna, on Friday, "The RDA expresses deep disappointment and anguish over the lack of action by the administration following the violent and traumatic incident that occurred on Wednesday, when MLA Chetan Anand, his wife and their armed guards breached hospital security, physically assaulted staff, and thr ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], August 14 (ANI): Former diplomat Vikas Swarup has praised India firm stance in trade negotiations with the United States, saying the country has done the right thing by resisting pressure from the Trump administration to open up its agriculture and dairy sectors. If you cave in to a bully, then the bully will increase his demands, Swarup told ANI, warning that yielding to such demands would only invite more pressure. His remarks come after US President Donald Trump imposed 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods -- in two phases -- citing India imports of Russian oil. Trump ann ...Read More >
Patna, June 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) On a day-long visit to Bihar on Friday, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the government "surrendered" during Operation Sindoor under pressure from former US President Donald Trump. Speaking at the Samvidhan Sammelan (Constitutional Dialogue) in Rajgir, Gandhi cited Trump's repeated public claims about mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and questioned the Prime Minister's silence on the matter. "US President Donald Trump has publicly claimed 11 times that he forced PM Modi to a ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 29 (ANI): The world paused on June 13 when Israel targeted major military and nuclear facilities, and crucial personalities in Iran as it launched a series of attacks to disempower the West Asian country. Also Read | Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa Dead: IDF Eliminates Hamas Mastermind Behind October 2023 Attack in Israel. The involvement of the Houthis of Yemen and the US in this high-tension conflict stopped short of a nuclear apocalypse--but this was not entirely unexpected. Some saw this coming. Supporting Israel, the US went ahead and struck three key nuclear sites ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 2 (PTI) Shashi Tharoor was a part of a government delegation that was sent abroad, and being a member, one has to defend the government, said Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan amid a row over the MP's recent remarks that have irked the party leadership. He, however, sounded cautious about "what happens to Mr Shashi Tharoor in future", saying, "I don't know and would not like to comment on that." Both Chavan and Tharoor were part of the now-defunct 'group of 23' that had written to then Congress president Sonia Gandhi in 2020 for the overhaul of the party organisation. Followin ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 20 (ANI): Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address critical issues in Parliament, particularly regarding, defence, foreign policy and electoral structure. Gogoi emphasised the importance of the PM Modi presence in Parliament to provide clarity on Pahalgam terror attack, responding to US President Donald Trump claims about mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and Election Commission functioning, particularly in relation to the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and its potential exte ...Read More >
New Delhi: Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address critical issues in Parliament, particularly regarding defence, foreign policy and electoral structure. Gogoi emphasised the importance of the PM Modi's presence in Parliament to provide clarity on Pahalgam terror attack, responding to US President Donald Trump's claims about mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and Election Commission's functioning, particularly in relation to the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and its potential extension to other sta ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 12 (ANI): Stating that America relationship with Pakistan is complex, a leading security expert has said that he does not see the possibility of Islamabad getting US technology antime soon and that the United States administration has conveyed that it will not back those who back terrorism. In an interview with ANI, welfare scholar and chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the Modern War Institute, John Spencer, said that India is not the same India of five years ago, and for him, studying the country from elements of economics, military, and politics is the same as studyi ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 18 (ANI): Expressing his concern on the trade deal with the United States, Congress MP Anand Sharma said that they are expecting from the Centre that national interest would be taken into perspective and a balanced agreement would be struck, where India would benefit from the deal. Speaking to ANI, Sharma highlighted that India too has its commitments, adding that negotiators know these issues that India concerns and reservations have to be taken into consideration. We expect that national interest would be taken into perspective and a balanced agreement would be stru ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 17: Syrian government forces began withdrawing from the southern city of Suwayda following a tentative ceasefire deal with Druze militias after days of intense clashes. The move came hours after Israeli airstrikes hit Damascus, targeting government installations in a sharp escalation of regional tensions. At least three people were killed in the strikes on the Syrian capital, which Israel said were carried out in support of the country's Druze population, an Arab minority group caught in violent confrontations with pro-government forces. The Syrian government confirmed that tr ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 19 (ANI): Twenty-four members of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) today agreed on various key issues to be raised during the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning Monday including the Pahalgam terror attack and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. A virtual meeting of the INDIA parties was held today, which was attended by leaders and representatives of INDIA parties. They included Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Smt Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabh ...Read More >
(Image for representation purpose; Credit: Getty Images) The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday carried out their first airstrike since the ceasefire went into effect, targeting a Hezbollah rocket facility in southern Lebanon. The IDF stated that its fighter jets struck the facility after identifying activity that violated the terms of the ceasefire. The facility, which had been used to store medium-range rockets, was targeted as part of efforts to neutralize the threat posed by Hezbollah. The military emphasized that it remains actively deployed in southern Lebanon and is committed to ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 7: The latest round of indirect ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas concluded in Doha without any breakthrough, according to the BBC, quoting Palestinian sources familiar with the process. The session, which lasted over three hours, was held in two separate venues, with Qatari and Egyptian mediators facilitating the exchange of messages. Despite the diplomatic efforts, no significant headway was made. Talks are expected to resume late Monday, with mediators planning further separate meetings in an attempt to bridge persistent gaps. Two Palestinian officials told Reu ...Read More >
Shimla, Jul 17 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the state government to remove encroachments on forest lands, including the fruit-bearing trees, all across the state and not limit it to some areas. The order was passed by a division bench consisting of Justices Vivek Thakur and Bipin C Negi on Wednesday after the Advocate General placed on record fresh instructions issued by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, informing that 2,456 apple and other fruit trees have been felled from forest lands in Chaithla village, and 713 and 490 trees in Rohru and Kotgarh forest divisions, r ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 19 (ANI): Twenty-four members of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) today agreed on various key issues to be raised during the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning Monday including the Pahalgam terror attack and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. A virtual meeting of the INDIA parties was held today, which was attended by leaders and representatives of INDIA parties. Also Read | West Bengal Rape Case: IIM-Calcutta Student, Accused of Sexual Assault, Granted Bail. They included Congress president Mallikarjun ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: As tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the horrific Pahalgam attack on April 22, the nation witnessed a parallel war that erupted online -- one that included not drones or missiles but manipulating pixels and synthetic voices.From AI-generated clipping of a newspaper falsely praising Pakistan's air force to deepfaked video of S Jaishankar offering fake apologies, public fell prey to misinformation created with help of Artificial Intelligence.The weaponisation of AI, particularly in times of elections or war, is not just a nuisance or prank; it's a calculated effort t ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Slamming the Modi government for its 'failed foreign policy', the Congress on Friday claimed that India has become isolated in global stage and "our all-weather friends are distancing themselves from us". Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said that the "biggest failure" of the government's foreign policy was its inability to arrange meetings of its delegations sent abroad with heads of states or influential people and asked what the country got out of the exercise. The Opposition alleged that India is being "insulted" all over the world due to the "failed foreign policy" of t ...Read More >
New Delhi: The dust still has not settled in Tehran. Not on the rubble. Not on the talks. Not on trust. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi does not mince his words. He says the message from the United States came quietly through intermediaries. Washington wants to reopen talks. But Tehran has a condition. "First," he said, "we need a guarantee. No more attacks." Just weeks ago, dialogue was still on the table. The focus was narrow - Iran's nuclear programme. Then came the airstrikes. Israel hit first. They struck deep - nuclear facilities, military bases and high-ranking sc ...Read More >