India

Humayun Kabir Launches Janata Unnayan Party, Vows to Unseat Mamata Banerjee in 2026

Humayun Kabir Launches Janata Unnayan Party, Vows to Unseat Mamata Banerjee in 2026

Kolkata, December 22, 2025: Suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir on Monday announced the formation of a new political outfit, the Janata Unnayan Party, intensifying political churn in West Bengal ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.Addressing a public rally in Beladanga, the Bharatpur legislator said his newly floated party would work for the welfare of the “aam aadmi” and asserted that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would not return to power in the next polls, which are due in less than six months. Kabir claimed that the chief minister had become increasingly disconnected from ordinary citizens.The announcement comes days after…
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Gujarat Youth Captured in Ukraine Appeals to PM Modi for Help in Emotional Video

Gujarat Youth Captured in Ukraine Appeals to PM Modi for Help in Emotional Video

New Delhi/Moscow, December 22, 2025— A 22-year-old man from Gujarat’s Morbi town, who was captured by Ukrainian forces while allegedly fighting for the Russian military, has sent an emotional video message to his family, seeking urgent help from the Indian government for his release. The youth, identified as Sahil Mohamed Hussein Majothi, appealed directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government, urging them to intervene and facilitate his return to India. In the video, which his mother received on her mobile phone, Majothi claimed he was deceived into joining the Russian military and later surrendered to Ukrainian forces…
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Mahayuti Tightens Grip on Maharashtra, Bags 207 of 288 Municipal Chief Posts

Mahayuti Tightens Grip on Maharashtra, Bags 207 of 288 Municipal Chief Posts

National Times Bureau :- The BJP–Shiv Sena–NCP–led Mahayuti alliance scored a sweeping win in elections to 288 municipal councils and nagar panchayats, clinching 207 municipal president posts on Sunday and dealing a major blow to the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which managed only 44. The outcome reaffirmed Mahayuti’s dominance in the state following last year’s Assembly elections, while the MVA once again failed to regain public confidence. Final figures released by the State Election Commission late Sunday night showed the BJP emerging as the largest single gainer with 117 municipal president posts, followed by the Eknath Shinde–led Shiv Sena…
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Fire breaks out at Sindhi Sweets in Chandigarh’s Sector 17, massive damage reported

Fire breaks out at Sindhi Sweets in Chandigarh’s Sector 17, massive damage reported

National Times Bureau :- A fire broke out at Sindhi Sweets located in Chandigarh's Sector 17 late Saturday night, causing extensive damage to edible items, electrical equipment and other goods inside the shop. Fortunately no casualties were reported.  Several fire tenders and Sector 17 police personnel rushed to the spot and began firefighting operations. The entire area was cordoned off as a precaution. The blaze was first noticed by the watchman who then informed the fire tenders. After nearly two hours, the blaze was doused and siutation was brought under control.  According to fire brigade officials, the blaze is suspected…
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VB-G RAM G Act Replaces MGNREGA as President Gives Assent Amid Political Opposition

VB-G RAM G Act Replaces MGNREGA as President Gives Assent Amid Political Opposition

New Delhi, December 21, 2025: The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act formally came into force on Saturday after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent, two days after the Bill was passed by Parliament amid strong protests from Opposition parties. With the President’s approval, the new law replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005, bringing a sweeping change to India’s flagship rural employment framework. The Centre has described the move as a major milestone in reshaping rural employment and livelihood policies. According to the government, the Act increases the statutory…
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Mining Limited to Less Than 1% of Aravalli Region, 90% Hills to Remain Protected: Bhupender Yadav

Mining Limited to Less Than 1% of Aravalli Region, 90% Hills to Remain Protected: Bhupender Yadav

New Delhi, December 21, 2025: Amid criticism from civil society groups and Opposition parties over the newly adopted uniform definition of the Aravalli hills, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Sunday clarified that mining will be permitted in only a minuscule portion of the Aravalli region. Yadav said that out of the total 1.44 lakh square kilometres spread across four states, mining eligibility is restricted to just 0.19 per cent of the Aravalli landscape. He stressed that nearly 90 per cent of the region will remain under protection, with no mining permissions to be granted in Delhi. The minister’s remarks…
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Indian Railways Announces Fare Revision From December 26, Ticket Prices to Rise Across Classes

Indian Railways Announces Fare Revision From December 26, Ticket Prices to Rise Across Classes

New Delhi: Train travel in India is set to become costlier as Indian Railways has announced a revision in passenger fares, which will come into effect from December 26, 2025. The revised pricing will apply to tickets booked on or after the implementation date. Railway officials said the fare adjustment will impact several travel classes, resulting in an increase in ticket prices for passengers. The decision has been taken to strengthen revenue generation and help meet rising operational and maintenance costs. According to officials, the revised fare structure is expected to fetch an additional ₹600 crore for the national transporter.…
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Kumari Selja Accuses BJP of Undermining MNREGA, Calls It an Attack on Rural Poor and Gandhian Ideals

Kumari Selja Accuses BJP of Undermining MNREGA, Calls It an Attack on Rural Poor and Gandhian Ideals

Mumbai/New Delhi, December 21, 2025: Congress leader and AICC General Secretary Kumari Selja on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led central government, alleging that recent changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) have “destroyed the soul” of the world’s largest employment guarantee programme. Addressing a press conference at the Regional Congress Office in Mumbai, the former Union Minister and Sirsa MP said MNREGA is not merely a welfare scheme but an economic lifeline for crores of rural families. She accused the Modi government of weakening the programme in the name of reforms and called…
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Kurukshetra doctor murder case: House help, her lover among five accused sentenced to death

Kurukshetra doctor murder case: House help, her lover among five accused sentenced to death

National Times Bureau :- A fast-track court in Haryana ordered death sentence for five accused in the high-profile murder case of gynaecologist Dr Vinita Arora, which took place in Kurukshetra three years ago. The case dates back to 2023 when the accused had entered the house under the pretext of taking a cake with the intention of robbery and brutally beat the doctor to death. The doctor’s former maid was also part of the conspiracy, prompting the court to term the case as one of the “rarest of rare.” This is the first such case in Kurukshetra and possibly the…
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Kurukshetra doctor murder case: House help, her lover among five accused sentenced to death

Kurukshetra doctor murder case: House help, her lover among five accused sentenced to death

National Times Bureau :- A fast-track court in Haryana ordered death sentence for five accused in the high-profile murder case of gynaecologist Dr Vinita Arora, which took place in Kurukshetra three years ago. The case dates back to 2023 when the accused had entered the house under the pretext of taking a cake with the intention of robbery and brutally beat the doctor to death. The doctor’s former maid was also part of the conspiracy, prompting the court to term the case as one of the “rarest of rare.” This is the first such case in Kurukshetra and possibly the…
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