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.
New Delhi, Sep 14: Families of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas have accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being the "one obstacle" to their release and to reaching a ceasefire agreement. In a statement posted on social media, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said Israel's strike in Qatar last week showed that "every time a deal approaches, Netanyahu sabotages it." According to the BBC, Israel targeted senior Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday, killing five members of the group and a Qatari security officer. Hamas said its officials had been meeting there to discuss a US-backed ceasefire proposal. Netanyahu defended the attack, saying it removed "the main obstacle" to freeing hostages and ending the war, and accused Hamas of blocking all ceasefire attempts. But hostage families dismissed his comments as "the latest excuse," adding: "The time has come to end the excuses designed to buy time so he can cling to power." The families' criticism comes as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visits Israel amid widespread condemnation of the Doha strike. Qatar, a key American ally that hosts a major US air base, denounced the operation as a "flagrant violation of international law." Meanwhile, Israeli forces have intensified air strikes on Gaza City, warning residents to evacuate ahead of an expected ground offensive.
Dr. Munir Al-Bursh, Director General of the Ministry of Health has accused Israel of using unknown and banned weapons in Gaza to evaporate human bodies and even buildings in residential areas. In an interview with Al-Jazeera, Al-Bursh stated that in the northern Gaza strip, Israeli forces are using "unknown weapons" that results in the evaporation of human bodies, thereby preventing the local authorities from determining the full scale of destruction. Al-Bursh stated that Israel's use of such dangerous weapons reveal a new level of destruction in Gaza, which is unlike any other conflict in t ...Read More >
The newly elected President of the United States Donald Trump is extending his hands to unapologetically stand firm with United States most reliable ally, Israel. Donald Trump on 2nd December has issued a stark warning, declaring that there would be "hell to pay" in the Middle East if hostages held in the Gaza strip are not freed before his January 20, 2025, inauguration. During October 2023 terrorist attacks led by Hamas upon Israel, the terrorist group captured over 250 innocent individuals, with Israeli reports confirming dual Israeli-American nationals among the hostages. Currently, aroun ...Read More >
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, Jun 29: At least 81 Palestinians have been killed and more than 400 injured in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours, according to the Gaza-run health ministry, as the Israeli military continues its offensive in the territory, reports BBC. According to the BBC, the strikes included an attack near the Palestine Stadium in Gaza City, where tents sheltering displaced families had been set up. At least 11 people, including children, were killed in that strike. Additional casualties were reported in al-Mawasi and the Tuffah neighbourhoods, where entire families, ...Read More >
Tel Avis [Israel], November 18 (ANI): An Israeli strike in the Lebanese capital Beirut killed Hezbollah's media relations chief Mohammed Afif on Sunday, Times of Israel reported. According to the Times of Israel, Hezbollah has confirmed the death of Mohammad Afif. Afif was killed in an IDF strike on the headquarters of the Syrian Ba'ath Party in central Beirut, Times of Israel reported. Israel is yet to confirm the killing of the Hezbollah spokesman, as per the Times of Israel. According to Al Jazeera, Afif hosted several press conferences for Hezbollah, providing information regarding the ...Read More >
In a revealing Knesset speech on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel was behind a series of devastating attacks on Hezbollah in September, revealing that the operation was brought forward after concerns that a secret Israeli intelligence method was about to be uncovered. Netanyahu disclosed that the attack, initially planned for October, was accelerated to prevent the planned operation from being exposed. Also read: Caught on camera: Moment Israel strike on Beirut killed Hezbollah media chief Mohammed Afif (WATCH) The attacks, which included a massive page ...Read More >
xternal Affairs Minister (EAM), S. Jaishankar, on Monday, met with the Foreign Minister of Ukraine and discussed the conflict with Russia at the sidelines of the MED Mediterranean Dialogues Conference in Rome, Italy. Apart from Ukraine, EAM Jaishankar met with his counterparts from France, Lebanon, and Croatia as well. On his meeting with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, the EAM reiterated India's support for "dialogue and diplomacy" to end the long-running conflict. "Good to meet FM of Ukraine @andrii_sybihain Rome today. Useful exchange on advancing our bilateral cooperation. ...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 >
Fiuggi, November 27 (IANS): Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) countries called on Israel to comply with its obligations under international law at a meeting. The ministers said in a statement that they support a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah and the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, Xinhua news agency reported. The ministers expressed their concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. They called on the Israeli government to ease obstacles on humanitarian aid to civilians in areas rocked by conflicts. They said that "Israel mu ...Read More >
A ministerial conference kicked off on Monday in Cairo to garner regional and international support for the besieged Gaza and alleviate the sufferings of the Palestinian people. The meeting is being held under the auspices of the Egyptian President with the participation of 103 delegations of various countries, international organisations, and financial institutions, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini told the conference that "UNRWA has preserved the Palestinian ...Read More >
Hyderabad: In a significant boost for 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbharta' in the aerospace and defence sector, and Hyderabad's growing stature as a global aerospace hub, the complete fuselage of the Rafale fighter jet will now be made in India at Hyderabad. This move marks the first time that these Rafale components will be manufactured outside France for the Indian as well as global markets.French aerospace major Dassault Aviation has signed four production transfer agreements with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) for manufacturing key sections of the Rafale fighter jet, including the lateral ...Read More >
New Delhi: A quiet splash. A dark current. And then, chaos. Concrete cracking. Steel shattering. Russia's mighty Crimean Bridge, once a symbol of unbreakable control, was torn. Not by fighter jets. Not by missiles. But by bombs, sleeping silently beneath the waves. On June 3 morning, Ukraine's security service SBU claimed responsibility for a jaw-dropping underwater strike on the Kerch Bridge, an important supply line between Russia and the occupied Crimean Peninsula. The attack, which reportedly used 1,100 kg of explosives, targeted the bridge's underwater pillars - crippling its foundation ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 4 (ANI): India on Friday refuted claims that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's request to meet US President Donald Trump was denied by the White House due to his busy schedule, terming it as 'fake news.' In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Factcheck unit stated, 'CLAIM: White House denies Indian FM Jaishankar's request to meet Donald Trump due to busy schedule. This is FAKE News. This CLAIM is false.' https://x.com/MEAFactCheck/status/1940852409657704485 MEA's statement comes after a user on social media platform X claimed that the White House d ...Read More >
DHARAMSHALA, India - The spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists, the Dalai Lama, turned 90 on Sunday (July 6) after a week of celebrations by followers during which he riled China again and spoke about his hope to live beyond 130 and reincarnate after dying. The Nobel laureate is regarded as one of the world's most influential religious leaders, with a following that extends well beyond Buddhism, but not by Beijing which calls him a separatist and has sought to bring the faith under its control. Fleeing his native Tibet in 1959 in the wake of a failed uprising against Chinese rule, the 14th D ...Read More >
Lebanese health ministry confirms 3,841 dead in Israel-Hezbollah conflict Lebanese armed group Hezbollah confirmed its media relations chief Mohammad Afif was killed by an Israeli strike on a building in central Beirut on Sunday. Israel has rarely hit senior Hezbollah personnel who do not have clear military roles, and its air strikes have mostly targeted Beirut's southern suburbs where the group has its heaviest presence. Israel's military, which earlier declined to comment, issued a statement late on Sunday reporting it had "eliminated" Afif. The Lebanese health ministry said the strike h ...Read More >
AMRITSAR, India (AP) -- A U.S. military plane carrying 104 deported Indian migrants arrived in a northern Indian city on Wednesday, the first such flight to the country as part of a crackdown ordered by the Trump administration, airport officials said. The Indians who returned home had illegally entered the United States over the years and came from various Indian states. The move came ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington, which is expected next week. U.S. President Donald Trump and Modi discussed immigration in a phone call last week and Trump stressed the impo ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 29: Ukraine has confirmed the loss of an F-16 fighter jet and its pilot during efforts to repel a large-scale Russian air assault, amid continued heavy fighting in the fourth year of war reports Al Jazeera and International media. The country's air force said the aircraft was engaged in defending against a barrage of missiles and drones when it was damaged and lost altitude. Ukrainian air defences reportedly shot down seven targets before the fighter crashed overnight. The pilot, identified as a first-class officer, was killed in the incident. The loss comes as Ukraine faces o ...Read More >
Srinagar- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said foreign countries were told clearly during the post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach that in case of a fresh provocation, India would repeat its action. Speaking at a discussion at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Tharoor said Indian delegations which visited foreign countries in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor managed to convey that India acted with restraint and responsibility. "In other places, we actually were able to get some very high-placed people to say not only that they respected and supported India's right of self- ...Read More >
Washington/New Delhi, July 1 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today said that victims and perpetrators of terrorism must never be equated, and India will exercise the right to defend its people against terrorism, and that it expects the Quad partner nations to understand and appreciate this. In his media remarks ahead of the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Washington, attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian FM Penny Wong and Japanese FM Takeshi Iwaya, the EAM said the Quad countries are all committed to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. "To that end, our e ...Read More >
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Quad grouping of the United States, India, Japan and Australia called on Tuesday for the perpetrators of an Islamist militant attack that killed 26 in India-administered Kashmir to be brought to justice without delay. The April 22 attack sparked heavy fighting between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan in the latest escalation of a decades-old rivalry as India blamed it on Pakistan, which denied responsibility while calling for a neutral investigation. The U.S. State Dep ...Read More >
Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has refuted US President Donald Trump's assertion of using trade as leverage to negotiate a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during a military showdown in May. Trump has repeatedly said that the US mediated between the South Asian neighbors when they were involved in a 4-day confrontation and offered more trade with both countries if they ceased hostilities. "I think the trade people are doing what the trade people should be doing, which is negotiate wi ...Read More >
Srinagar, July 4: Security guards working for a U.S.-based aid group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation -- reportedly part of an Israel-backed aid distribution effort -- allegedly opened fire on Palestinian refugees seeking food and aid, according to an investigation by the Associated Press and BBC. A former security subcontractor told the BBC that guards at the distribution sites used stun grenades and live ammunition, including machine gun fire, against unarmed civilians -- elderly people, women, and children -- accusing them of "moving too slowly" away from the area. The ex-contractor also ...Read More >
Gold Rate in India Today: The price of gold in India continued its downward trajectory and brought cheers among gold jewellery buyers. Falling gold rate in India today is a reflection of consolidating international prices of the bullion amid easing geopolitical tensions and improving trade prospects. Gold Rate in India today has plunged to its 10-day low mark of Rs 97,420 per 10 gram amid easing tensions between Israel and Iran. The precious metal prices jumped phenomenally over the past few days as clashes between the two nations were followed by United States air strikes on Iranian nuclear ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 30: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar left for an official visit to the United States from June 30 to July 2, 2025, to participate in the upcoming Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting (QFMM) scheduled for July 1. The visit comes at the invitation of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meeting, which brings together the foreign ministers of India, the United States, Japan, and Australia, will build upon the agenda discussed at the previous QFMM held in Washington, D.C. on January 21, 2025. The ministers will review developments in the Indo-Pacific and global security ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 4 (ANI): Keeping the door open for diplomacy, Iran has stated that any negotiation process with the US is meaningless until Washington provides a 'credible guarantee' to prevent future acts of aggression by Israel and the US. In an email interview with ANI, Iran's Ambassador to India, Iraj Elahi emphasised Tehran's conditions for resuming dialogue with Washington. 'As for negotiations with the United States, considering their betrayal of diplomacy and complicity with the Zionist regime in launching illegal attacks on Iran -- while a diplomatic process was still ongoin ...Read More >
New Delhi: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted that his country is supporting an armed group in Gaza that opposes Hamas. Hamas is a banned terrorist group that controls Gaza, which is involved in many terrorist attacks on Israel. A former Israeli minister has revealed that his country is also arming this anti-Hamas group. Israeli and Palestinian media have reported that the group Israel is working with is part of a local Bedouin tribe led by Yasser Abu Shabab. This group has also been accused of looting international aid in the Gaza Strip. Hamas has also carried out many attacks ...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 >
Washington/New Delhi, July 2 (UNI) The Quad nations, comprising India, US, Japan and Australia, condemned in the strongest terms the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack and called for the perpetrators, organisers, and financiers of this reprehensible act to be brought to justice without any delay and urged all UN Member States to cooperate actively in this regard. A joint statement issued at the end of the meeting of the Quad Foreign Ministers in Washington, the Foreign Ministers, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian FM Penny Wong and ...Read More >
A summary of world news briefs includes Hezbollah's media chief killed by Israeli airstrike, U.S. policy shift allowing Ukraine to use American weapons against Russia, Xi Jinping's final talks with Joe Biden, and other geopolitical developments including climate finance consensus at the G20 in Brazil. In a significant escalation of regional tensions, Lebanese Hezbollah's media relations head, Mohammad Afif, was killed in an Israeli strike in central Beirut. The attack targets a senior Hezbollah figure, signaling a rare focus on individuals without explicit military roles. The U.S. administra ...Read More >