India Archives - Page 123 of 270

17 Nov

Iran Ends Visa-Free Entry for Indians After Trafficking Scams Expose Major Safety Threat

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaIndian travellers advisory, Iran visa waiver scrapped, trafficking scams Iran

New Delhi, November 18, 2025 — Iran has withdrawn its visa-waiver facility for ordinary Indian passport holders after a surge in trafficking, kidnapping and extortion cases involving Indian nationals who were lured into the country on false promises of jobs or onward travel.The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday issued a strong advisory revealing that multiple Indians had been trapped by organised criminal networks that exploited Iran’s visa-free entry. Agents allegedly targeted vulnerable job-seekers with fake offers, encouraging them to travel through Iran for easy access to other destinations.According to the advisory, several Indians were kidnapped soon after landing in…

17 Nov

India Signs First Long-Term LPG Import Deal with US for 2026 to Boost Energy Security

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaenergy diversification, India LPG import, Mount Belvieu pricing, US LPG deal

New Delhi, November 17, 2025 — In a landmark agreement, Indian state-run oil companies have inked a one-year contract to import 2.2 million tonnes of LPG from the United States in 2026, diversifying the country’s energy sources and strengthening ties with Washington.Under the deal, IOC, BPCL and HPCL will bring the LPG from the US Gulf Coast, accounting for nearly 10% of India’s LPG import needs. Prices will be linked to Mount Belvieu, a benchmark hub for LPG in the United States.According to Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, the agreement ensures more stable and affordable LPG supplies for India, reducing…

17 Nov

Government Raises Print Media Ad Rates by 26% to Support Newspapers

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiagovernment advertisement rates, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, print media rate hike

New Delhi, November 17, 2025: The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has approved a 26% hike in government advertisement rates for print media, marking a significant move to bolster traditional news outlets. Under the revised rates, black-and-white advertisements in daily newspapers with a circulation of 1 lakh will now be billed at ₹59.68 per sq cm, up from ₹47.40.The ministry also accepted recommendations to charge premium rates for colour advertisements and offer preferential placements, aiming to improve revenue streams for print publications. The rise in advertisement rates comes as a response to increased competition from digital media and the rising…

17 Nov

Bihar Government Formation Accelerates as Outgoing Cabinet Meets Today

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaBihar Cabinet

National Times Bureau :- With the declaration of the Bihar Assembly election results, the process of forming a new government has gained momentum. The outgoing state cabinet is set to hold its final meeting today (Monday), where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is expected to be authorised to take the necessary steps toward government formation, including recommending the dissolution of the current Assembly. According to officials, the Chief Electoral Officer Vinod Singh Gunjyal has already submitted the list of newly elected MLAs to Governor Arif Mohammed Khan. The NDA secured a decisive victory, winning over 200 seats in the 243-member Assembly.…

17 Nov

Delhi blast: NIA arrests Pulwama man who helped suicide bomber procure car used for blast

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBlast, New Delhi

National Times Bureau :- In a big step forward in the Red Fort car bomb case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a Kashmiri man who helped suicide bomber Dr. Umar Un Nabi carry out the attack that killed 10 people and injured 32 in Delhi earlier this month. The man, Amir, was caught in Delhi after investigators found that the car used in the November 10 blast was registered in his name. The NIA says he came to Delhi to help Umar get the vehicle, which was later turned into a car bomb. According to the agency, Amir…

17 Nov

Bangladesh on edge as tribunal to deliver verdict against ousted PM Sheikh Hasina

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaSheikh Hasina

National Times Bureau :- A special court in Bangladesh will announce its verdict on Monday in a case against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is being tried without being present, for alleged crimes against humanity during last year’s student protests that forced her Awami League government out of power. The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) will give its decision at 11 am, according to Prosecutor Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim. The court will also deliver verdicts for two of Hasina’s close associates — former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun — who face the same…

17 Nov

Defence Ministry Considers Major Overhaul to Agnipath Scheme as Services Seek Higher Retention

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingAgnipath

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The Ministry of Defence is reviewing a set of significant amendments to the Agnipath recruitment system, signalling that the short-term service model may undergo its first major restructuring since its launch. The proposal, currently being examined by the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), focuses on expanding welfare protections and boosting the number of Agniveers who are absorbed into long-term service. Officials familiar with the review say the three-pronged plan includes lifelong medical support for Agniveers who suffer service-related disabilities, a permanent financial allowance for families of those who die in uniform, and a substantial upward revision…

17 Nov

NIA Detains Pulwama Man in Expanding Probe Into Red Fort Blast

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingDelhi

New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): The National Investigation Agency has made another significant arrest in its investigation into the November 10 explosion near Red Fort, detaining a Pulwama resident believed to have played a key logistical role in the attack that killed 13 people. Officials confirmed that Amir Rashid Ali, originally picked up for questioning shortly after the bombing, has now been formally arrested. Investigators say Ali helped arrange the vehicle that ultimately turned into a moving explosive device. The Hyundai i20, which blew up just outside the historic monument, was reportedly purchased using documents linked to him. The NIA assumed…

16 Nov

Over 97% Electors Receive Enumeration Forms in Ongoing Voter List Revision, Says Election Commission

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaElection Commission, enumeration forms, voter list revision

New Delhi, November 16, 2025: The Election Commission on Sunday announced that more than 49 crore electors across nine states and three Union Territories have received enumeration forms as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. The poll body said 49.73 crore forms have been distributed so far, covering 97.52 per cent of the 50.99 crore eligible voters in these regions.The SIR is currently underway in Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Puducherry, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep.Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, and West Bengal are scheduled…

16 Nov

Three Maoists Killed in Sukma Encounter as Security Forces Intensify Anti-Insurgency Push

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBastar region, Chhattisgarh Maoists, security forces operation, Sukma encounter

Raipur, November 16, 2025: Three Maoists, including two women, were killed in an encounter with security forces in the dense forests of Tumalpad in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Sunday, officials said. The clash began after security personnel launched an operation based on intelligence inputs about Maoist movement in the area.Sukma superintendent of police Kiran Chavan said the exchange of fire continued intermittently before the bodies of the three Maoists were recovered. Security forces also seized a .303 rifle, Barrel Grenade Launchers, explosives, and other weapons from the site.The deceased were identified as Madvi Deva, Podiam Gangi, and Sodhi Gangi, each…