India Archives - Page 135 of 300

12 Dec

Indian Railways Records Historic Low in Train Accidents as Safety Investments Surge

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiafog safety devices, GRP, Indian Railways, railway safety, RPF, train accidents

New Delhi, December 12, 2025— Passenger safety on Indian Railways has reached a record high, with consequential train accidents dropping sharply from an annual average of 171 between 2004 and 2014 to just 11 so far in 2025–26, the Ministry of Railways said on Friday.Officials credited the dramatic improvement to sustained investments, modern technology and stricter safety protocols. Safety-related expenditure has nearly tripled over the past decade, rising from ₹39,463 crore in 2013–14 to ₹1,16,470 crore in the current fiscal year.The ministry highlighted a major expansion in fog safety devices, which are vital during low-visibility winters. Their numbers have soared…

12 Dec

India Switches to Short-Term Business Visas for Chinese Technicians Amid Rising Applications

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiabusiness visa, Chinese technicians, India-China relations, visa policy

New Delhi, December 12, 2025— India has revised its visa policy to better manage a growing number of short-term business visa requests from Chinese nationals, officials said on Friday. The changes are intended to simplify entry for technicians and specialists without easing the strict security checks already in place.The surge in visa applications follows the October 2024 understanding between India and China to end their prolonged military standoff in Ladakh and gradually normalise ties. Many recent applicants are technical experts who visit India briefly to install or service machinery at industrial units.Previously, these visitors were issued employment or “E” visas…

12 Dec

‘The fire never left’: Vinesh Phogat retracts on retirement plans, eyes LA 2028 Olympics in emotional comeback

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, SportsVinesh Phogat

National Times Bureau :- Wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Friday announced her return to competitive wrestling, ending her 18-month retirement with a strong assertion that her 'fire never left' and that she is ready to chase her dream of stepping onto the Olympic podium at Los Angeles 2028. Vinesh was disqualified on the morning of the gold-medal bout for being 100 grams over the stipulated weight limit. Hours before she was poised to clinch the title of first woman to compete in an Olympic wrestling final, her dreams were shattered in Paris. Notably, Vinesh fought in the Haryana Assembly election last…

12 Dec

Crackdown on Indigo: Four officials who oversaw flight operations sacked by DGCA

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia

National Times Bureau :- Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has fired four flight operations inspectors as part of its action after the massive flight disruptions at IndiGo. This happened on the same day the regulator called IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers for questioning about how the airline plans to restore normal operations and address the staffing issues that led to the collapse. These four inspectors were the ones responsible for supervising IndiGo’s operations, but the DGCA has not explained why they were removed. Flight operations inspectors usually ensure that airlines follow safety and operational rules. Elbers has also been asked…

12 Dec

Shashi Tharoor skips Rahul Gandhi-led meeting for Congress MPs, third time in a row

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaCongress, Shashi Tharoor

National Times Bureau :- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor skipped a meeting of the party’s Lok Sabha MPs chaired by Rahul Gandhi on Friday, raising fresh questions within the party about why he keeps missing important discussions. Party sources said Tharoor had informed the leadership beforehand, though the Congress chief whip said he didn’t know the reason for his absence. Tharoor, the MP from Thiruvananthapuram, has recently faced criticism for comments that some believe were too soft on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. He missed Friday’s meeting as well as several other Congress Lok Sabha meetings in recent weeks.…

12 Dec

Shivraj Patil, Former Punjab Governor and Veteran Congress Statesman, Passes Away at 90

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, Punjab, TrendingShivraj Patil

LATUR (Gurpreet Singh)— Eminent Congress leader and former Union minister Shivraj Patil died at his Latur residence on Friday morning, bringing to a close a political journey that spanned more than five decades. He was 90. According to family members, Patil had been unwell for a short period and passed away peacefully at his home, ‘Devghar’. His funeral has been scheduled for Saturday. He leaves behind his son Shailesh, daughter-in-law Archana, and two granddaughters. Archana Patil had contested the Latur City assembly seat last year but lost to Congress candidate Amit Deshmukh. Born on October 12, 1935, Shivraj Patil began…

12 Dec

Early-Morning Bus Mishap in Andhra Pradesh Leaves 9 Dead, Several Hospitalised

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TrendingAndhra Pradesh

ALLURI SITARAMA RAJU DISTRICT (Rajeev Sharma): A pilgrimage trip turned tragic on Friday when a passenger bus veered off a ghat stretch in the Chintoor region, resulting in nine fatalities and injuries to 22 others, according to district police. The vehicle, travelling from Chittoor to Bhadrachalam in Telangana, was carrying 37 people including staff. Officials said six passengers escaped the crash without major injuries. Superintendent of Police Amit Bardar said the accident unfolded at about 4:30 a.m. on the Chintoor–Maredumilli hill route, not far from a local Durga temple. The bus is believed to have lost control on a steep…

11 Dec

Rupee Hits Record Low Amid Delayed Trade Deal and Global Market Turmoil

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaforex market, global cues, India-US trade deal delay, Rupee record low

New Delhi, December 11, 2025— The Indian rupee crashed to a historic low of 90.48 against the US dollar in intra-day trade on Thursday as uncertainty over the India-US trade agreement and sharp global market swings triggered heavy selling pressure. The currency, which opened at 89.95 at the interbank foreign exchange market, slipped quickly and marked its steepest fall from Wednesday’s close of 89.87.Forex traders said renewed doubts over the trade deal’s timeline intensified market anxiety after reports suggested that the agreement may only be completed by March 2026, a date attributed to Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran. The…

11 Dec

Goa Nightclub Fire: Owners Detained in Phuket After Interpol Notice; India Begins Process to Bring Them Back

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaBirch by Romeo Lane, Goa nightclub fire, Luthra brothers detained, Phuket arrest

New Delhi, December 11, 2025— Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, co-owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Goa where a suspected cylinder blast led to a massive fire that killed 25 people on Saturday, have been detained in Phuket, Thailand. Senior officials confirmed that the detention was made at the request of the Indian government, and the process to bring the brothers back to India is now underway. A Goa Police team will soon travel to Thailand to take custody of the duo so they can face trial.The brothers were the subject of an Interpol Blue Corner Notice issued…

11 Dec

ECI Extends Electoral Roll Revision Deadlines Across Multiple States and UT

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaElection Commission of India, Electoral Rolls, Special Intensive Revision

New Delhi, December 11, 2025: The Election Commission of India on Thursday extended the deadlines for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across five states and one Union Territory, aiming to ensure that all eligible voters are included before the final rolls are published in February 2026.As per the revised schedule, the enumeration process in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat will now continue until December 14, with draft rolls to be released on December 19. In Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the revised enumeration period will conclude on December 18, followed by the publication of…