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.
Kolkata: The city got back its flight connectivity to China on Sunday as IndiGo's Kolkata-Guangzhou direct flight took off. Kolkata to China flights were discontinued in the backdrop of Covid and border clashes five years ago. The A32 Neo carried 176 passengers.IndiGo's Delhi-Guangzhou flight is likely to start on Nov 10 and China Eastern Airlines is set to resume its Shanghai-Delhi operations on Nov 9. The decision to resume the flights follows the govt's decision to reopen tourist visa facilities for Chinese nationals earlier this year."It's great news for Kolkata and the nation. China has always been a popular business, education as well as tourist destination. Now that the India-China direct connectivity has been relinked, we are certain that more international carriers will restart their pre-Covid sectors very soon," said Manav Soni of Travel Agents Association of India , East.Anil Punjabi of Travel Agents Federation of India added that future bookings had also been positive. "It's a great boost for tourism and trade," he added.The first flight from Kolkata left at 10pm after a brief ceremony at the airport in the presence of airport director Pravat Ranjan Beuria and IndiGo officials. The ceremonial lamp was lit by a passenger -- Monica Liu, the owner of Kolkata's Beijing restaurant. "I am flying to meet some of my relatives back in China. I used to frequent between Kolkata and China prior to Covid. Now that the direct connectivity is back, I wish to resume my travels again," said Liu."We are proud to be amongst the first to resume direct connectivity to China from two points in India. This will once again allow seamless movement of people, goods and ideas, while also strengthening bilateral ties between two of the world's most populous countries and fast-growing economies. With this very important step, we are looking at introducing more direct flights into China," IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said in a statement.While efforts to stabilise ties with China began well before last year's US elections, analysts believe the move gained urgency after India's recent diplomatic experiences with the Trump administration. China and India had agreed in principle to resume air services during foreign secretary Vikram Misri's visit to China in Jan. Since then, civil aviation authorities have been holding technical-level talks on operational details and revising the Air Services Agreement.During PM Narendra Modi's visit to China last month -- the first of its kind in seven years -- to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) regional security summit, he met Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the two leaders emphasised that India and China should be seen as partners in development rather than as competitors.Prior to 2020, more than 40 weekly flights connected major Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata with key Chinese destinations including Shanghai, Guangzhou and Kunming.
New Delhi: Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's decision to visit China before India after assuming office in 2024 had reignited speculations about the trajectory of India-Nepal bilateral ties. While some analysts see this as a shift in Kathmandu's diplomatic priorities, New Delhi has downplayed concerns, maintaining that relations between the two South Asian neighbours remain strong. "I can tell you that the relations between the two countries remain good and strong and we want to further strengthen these," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during his regular medi ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], January 13 (ANI): Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw criticised Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and called him "factually incorrect" over his remark that most incumbent governments, including India in 2024 elections, lost post-COVID. He added that the people of India have reaffirmed their trust in the NDA led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "As the world's largest democracy, India conducted the 2024 elections with over 640 million voters. People of India reaffirmed their trust in the ND led by PM @narendramodi Ji's leadership. Mr. Zuckerberg's claim that most incumbent governments, ...Read More >
New Delhi, May 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) The pilots of the IndiGo plane, which was damaged in rough weather en route to Srinagar, were denied permission by the Lahore ATC to venture briefly into Pakistan airspace to escape the hailstorm, in complete violation of humanitarian norms. India's civil aviation regulator, the DGCA, said the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of approximately 36,000 feet near Punjab's Pathankot when it ran into a thunderstorm and hailstorm. Experiencing severe turbulence, the crew first requested the Northern ATC of the Indian Air Force to allow the flight to deviate to ...Read More >
UP: Karnataka Police have arrested the mother-in-law and brother-in-law of late Atul Subhash, who committed suicide on December 9 over alleged demand by his wife's family for Rs 3 crore as settlement. The sensational case has triggered debate over harassment of married men and misuse of dowry provisions in the country. Atul Subhash ended his life on Monday leaving behind a 40-page death note and 90-minute video explaining how he was allegedly tortured by his wife. Atul's In-Laws Arrested On Thursday Night The Karnataka Police arrested Nisha Singhania, Atul's mother-in-law and brother-in-law ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], January 10 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that people misunderstand the meaning of, "minimum government, maximum governance". He said that the efforts must be to increase the speed of work done by government departments and thus, he had made different ministries for skill, cooperatives, and fisheries. Speaking in a podcast with Zerodha Co-founder Nikhil Kamath, PM Modi said that the government took away 40,000 compliances to increase the speed of work in different departments. "We often misunderstand the concept of minimum government, maximum governance. Some bel ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], January 31 (ANI): Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday that French President Emmanuel Macron has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit, and India has accepted the invite. While speaking at a press briefing, Jaiswal said that India is also developing its own AI program. "French President has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Artificial Intelligence Action Summit and we have accepted their invite. We will update you about further details," he said. On February ...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 >
Bagdogra (West Bengal) [India], May 29 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said improving connectivity remains one of the main achievements of his government, which has, over the past decade, ushered in a slew of rail and road projects, including in the Northeastern state of Sikkim. In his address delivered via videoconferencing at the Sikkim@50 event held at Gangtok's Palzor Stadium, the Prime Minister recalled a time when travel for education, healthcare, and employment was a major challenge for the region. However, he noted that the situation has changed significantly over the ...Read More >
Sunmei Hotels Group has announced the launch of Sunmei Group International (SGI) and three new overseas brands—SHANKEE, PENRO, and LANOU—marking its expansion into the UAE market. The company plans to introduce SHANKEE Hotels, a smart economy brand, to cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh. SGI focuses on smart marketing, modular renovations, and intelligent operations, leveraging big data and AI to enhance service and guest experiences. Chairman Ma Yingyao aims to open 100 hotels globally within the next decade, doubling revenue and establishing a strong international presence for Chinese ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) Terming the 5.4 per cent GDP growth in the second quarter as a "temporary phenomena", FICCI President Harsha Vardhan Agarwal on Thursday said the industry body expects India to achieve 6.5-7 per cent economic growth in the current financial year, while projecting a pick up in private investment. In an interview to PTI, Agarwal, who is also the Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Emami Ltd, said the RBI needs to manoeuvre a "tight-rope balancing act" between inflation and economic growth, as he opined that the central bank has been doing a prudent job. Notably, the FI ...Read More >
Uber has launched India's first Shikara ride on Srinagar's Dal Lake, offering a unique and scenic experience. This new service allows passengers to enjoy the tranquil beauty of the lake while riding in a traditional Shikara boat. Booking is easy through the Uber app, with rides available daily from 10 AM to 6 PM. This initiative aims to boost tourism in the region while providing locals with a new way to experience the lake. With Uber's entry into the Shikara market, visitors can now enjoy a blend of modern convenience and traditional charm on Dal Lake. ...Read More >
New Delhi [India] January 22 (ANI): Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take a stand in defending the rights of Indian immigrants in the United States. Surjewala also highlighted the contributions of over 20,000 Indian immigrants and expressed concerns over the government's silence on the deportation orders under President Donald Trump's administration. Sharing a detailed post on X Surjewala said, "Dear Prime Minister Modi ji, Pls spare a few moments to watch Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde speaking the truth to President of United States of Amer ...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 >
The Indian government has announced a 375km rail network expansion, aimed at enhancing economic growth and connectivity in North Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. With a total cost of approximately Rs79.27bn ($1.05bn), these projects are aimed to be completed within four years. Union Minister of Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, detailed the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs' approval of three railway infrastructure projects. The projects include the Jalgaon-Manmad fourth line (160 km), Bhusawal-Khandwa third and fourth lines (131km), and the Prayagraj (Iradatganj)-Manikpur thir ...Read More >
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 2 December 2024 - Long recognised as a land of luxury, Hong Kong has levelled up its luxury hub appeal following the Leaders of Luxury Summit 2024. Organised by Robb Report Hong Kong, the summit brought together luxury industry titans to discuss pivotal topics that "Redefine Luxury Through a Global Lens" at Regent Hong Kong on November 26-28, 2024. According to the latest "2024 Billionaire Census" report from Altrata, the city is currently world's no. 2 with the highest number of billionaires. The city is expected to have 22.4% more ultra-high-net-wor ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 18 (ANI): Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong on Wednesday said that China is ready to work with India and put into action the understandings between Indian and Chinese leaders. The comments come ahead of the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and China Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. In a post on X, Ambassador Xu Feihong, "China is ready to work with India to implement the important common understandings between the leaders of China and India, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, str ...Read More >
Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) [India], January 13 (ANI): India's indigenous Anti-Tank Missile, Nag Mk 2, the third-generation Anti-Tank Fire-and-Forget Guided Missile successfully completed its field evaluation trials at the Pokhran Field Range in Rajasthan in the presence of senior officers of the Indian Army. There were three field trials conducted, with the missile systems destroying all the targets precisely- maximum and minimum range, thus validating its firing range. Also Read | 'People of India Reaffirmed Their Trust in PM Narendra Modi': Ashwini Vaishnaw Slams Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg Over H ...Read More >
Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Rio de Janeiro to attend the G20 Summit and engage in bilateral talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Xi aims to strengthen China-Brazil relations, highlighting the importance of collaboration between the two nations in global affairs. Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Rio de Janeiro, marking his attendance at the 19th G20 Summit, according to Chinese state media reports. The visit also includes a state meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. In a statement made on arrival, Xi Jinping expressed his eager ...Read More >
West Bengal [India], February 5 (ANI): At the 8th edition of the Bengal Global Business Summit 2025, Bhutanese Minister Younten Phuntsho emphasised the importance of the summit as a platform for strengthening the collaboration between India and Bhutan. Addressing the audience, he said, "For Bhutan, this summit is an opportunity to further deepen our (India-Bhutan) collaboration and identify strategic areas where our shared aspirations align. There are several key areas where we can forge even stronger partnership - first is tourism, we invite investors to explore opportunities in wellness tou ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan on Thursday, ahead of the fourth edition of the India-Central Asia Dialogue. He shared the details of the meetings through several posts on X. Upon meeting the Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, the EAM said, 'Pleased to meet DPM & FM Murat Nurtleu of Kazakhstan this morning. Appreciated his reaffirmation of zero tolerance for terrorism. Discussed various facets of our Strategic Partnership focusing on political, trade, investment and energy cooperation. A ...Read More >
Wind Creek Hospitality, under the ownership of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, has agreed to purchase the Birmingham Racecourse from the McGregor family, known for their stakes in both the Birmingham and Victoryland Casinos. The acquisition, set to conclude by early 2025, marks a significant expansion for Wind Creek in the Southeast. "For over 30 years, we have worked to provide the best possible experience for our customers and employees, while generating significant tax revenue for the state of Alabama and local charities," said Lewis Benefield, President of the Birmingham Racecourse and ...Read More >
Mumbai: Indian stock markets on Wednesday opened near the flatline on a cautious note, tracking the subdued sentiment in Asian markets. At the opening of the trade, Nifty at National Stock Exchange (NSE) started at 24,204.80, up 10.30 points and Sensex at 80,121.03, up by about 122 points. In the opening trade, the stocks of Coal India, Adani Enterprises, Mahindra and Mahindra, Adani Ports, and Kotak Banks were the top gainers. On the other hand, IndusInd Bank, Cipla, Tata Consumer Products, Bharti Airtel, and UltraTech Cement were the major losers on the NSE. Among the sectoral indices, Aut ...Read More >
US President-elect Donald Trump is a friend of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said discussions can begin on strengthening the bilateral economic partnership once the office is assumed and new appointments are confirmed. "We should not jump the gun. We should let the new government come and express their formal and official views. But to the best of my understanding of the situation and my own experience in working with the Trump administration and India's experience in working with the Trump administration, I do not foresee any problem ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 4 (PTI) Aviation watchdog DGCA will soon come out with streamlined regulations for wet-leasing of planes by Indian airlines that will also entail enhanced oversight of the aircraft, amid airlines looking to operate more planes to meet rising travel demand. With persisting supply chain woes, there is a delay in aircraft deliveries and to meet the near-term needs, carriers are opting for planes on dry and wet leases. Also Read | ISRO PROBA-3 Mission Launch Delayed: Indian Space Agency Reschedules Launch of PSLV-C59 After Detecting 'Anomaly'. A senior official in the know told P ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 2 (VOICE) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday strongly condemned the horrifying New Year's Day terror attack in New Orleans that has left at least 15 dead and about three dozen injured. "We strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack in New Orleans. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. May they find strength and solace as they heal from this tragedy," PM Modi posted on X. A disturbing series of attacks have shocked the United States with the New Orleans attack now being investigated as an act of terrorism. A man, later identified as 42-yea ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], January 31 (ANI): The clarion call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fight obesity and reduce oil consumption has received wide support as people from different walks of life, including actor Akshay Kumar, sportspersons and people from medical fraternity lauded the message to follow healthy routine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently gave a clarion call to fight obesity and reduce oil consumption. This has received wide support from doctors, sportspersons as well as people from different walks of life. Prime Minister, Narendra Modi inaugurated the 38th National G ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 5 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan on Thursday, ahead of the fourth edition of the India-Central Asia Dialogue. He shared the details of the meetings through several posts on X. Also Read | #FreeAlaa: Will Hunger Strikes Release Alaa Abdel-Fattah?. Upon meeting the Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, the EAM said, "Pleased to meet DPM & FM Murat Nurtleu of Kazakhstan this morning. Appreciated his reaffirmation of zero tolerance for terrorism. Discussed various facets of our Strategic Partne ...Read More >
Sam Altman Cochairs Transition Team for San Francisco Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie Sam Altman, cofounder and CEO of OpenAI, has been appointed cochair of the transition team for San Francisco's mayor-elect, Daniel Lurie. Altman will assist Lurie in addressing key issues such as public safety, housing, and the city's behavioral health crisis. Lurie, who defeated incumbent mayor London Breed, received support from Silicon Valley figures, including Altman. Lurie emphasized making San Francisco a hub for AI innovation. Altman’s involvement highlights the growing influence of tech leaders in politic ...Read More >
Global alliance launched to fight hunger, poverty with 80 nations The countries of the Global South are most adversely impacted by the food, fuel and fertiliser crisis caused by global conflicts and G20 must give primacy to their concerns and priorities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday. In an address on the first day of the G20 summit, Modi complimented the Brazilian presidency of the grouping for taking forward the "people-centric decisions" taken at the bloc's summit in New Delhi last year. The Indian G20 presidency's call for "One Earth, One Family, One Future" continued to r ...Read More >
Addressing a media briefing here, Goyal also said he is looking forward to working with his counterpart in the United States once the official processes are over and the new government takes charge. President-elect Donald Trump is a "friend of India" and India-US friendship will only continue to blossom and grow further, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday. Trump, during his election campaign, had alleged that India, among all major countries, imposes the highest tariffs on foreign products and he had vowed to introduce a reciprocal tax if elected to power. Addressin ...Read More >