Name: Rajya Sabha elections: BJP wins 8 out of 10 seats, SP gets 2 in Uttar Pradesh
Uploaded: 2024-02-27T22:26:27.000+05:30
Duration: T00M26S
Channel: Editorji News Desk
Description: Cross-voting by SP and BSP MLAs helped BJP win 8 out of 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh.

Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) commenced commercial flights on Thursday, with IndiGo’s inaugural flight from Bengaluru marking the airport’s first arrival and departure.

Navi Mumbai International Airport starts commercial flight operations

Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) commenced commercial flights on Thursday, with IndiGo&rsquo;s inaugural flight from Bengaluru marking the airport&rsquo;s first arrival and departure.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport commenced commercial flight operations on Thursday, marking a key milestone for India's civil aviation sector, while expanding air travel capacity for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) began operations, with the first flight from Bengaluru, operated by IndiGo, touching down the runway at 8 am. The aircraft was accorded a ceremonial water cannon salute on arrival, a time-honoured aviation tradition marking NMIA's first commercial touchdown and departure, the airport operator said in a statement.
The inaugural arrival was followed by the airport's first departure IndiGo flight 6E882 to Hyderabad at 08:40 am, completing NMIA's inaugural arrival and departure cycle, it said.
On the first day, IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air and Star Air will operate domestic services, connecting the new facility to nine destinations across India. The airport will handle 15 scheduled departures on the first day, it said, adding that during the initial phase, the facility will operate for 12 hours &mdash; between 8 am and 8 pm, with up to 24 scheduled daily departures to 13 destinations and the capability to manage up to 10 aircraft movements (arrivals and departures) per hour, it added.
The airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 8 this year. The first phase of the five-phased airport was built at Rs 19,650 crore. By the time all five phases of the airport are completed, it will be catering to 90 million passengers annually, along with dedicated cargo terminals and multimodal connectivity.
The entire project is being developed in multiple phases under a special purpose vehicle, Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd (NMIAL), in which the Adani Group has a 74 per cent stake, and the remaining 26 per cent is owned by CIDCO. From February next year, operations are planned to progressively scale up to round-the-clock services.

Delhi Police has intensified security across the capital, deploying nearly 20,000 personnel, additional pickets, and traffic management plans to ensure safety during Christmas and year-end celebrations.

Delhi Enhances Security with 20,000 Personnel for Festive Season

Delhi Police has intensified security across the capital, deploying nearly 20,000 personnel, additional pickets, and traffic management plans to ensure safety during Christmas and year-end celebrations.

Delhi Police has intensified security arrangements across the national capital, deploying nearly 20,000 personnel to ensure law and order on Christmas and the upcoming New Year celebrations, an official said.
Security has also been tightened along Delhi's borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, and in areas adjoining Rajasthan, as a large influx of people is expected from neighbouring states for Christmas and year-end festivities, the official said.
"Nearly 20,000 police personnel, including traffic police and paramilitary forces, have been deployed across the city to prevent hooliganism, ensure public safety and curb traffic violations," the official said.
Additional pickets, barricades and deployment of paramilitary forces have been put in place at major entry points to check nuisance and unlawful activities by people entering the city, he added. The police said security will also be reinforced at 15 major entry points to Delhi, where vehicles from adjoining states are expected to enter.
The traffic police have drawn up a detailed plan to tackle drunken driving, overspeeding and dangerous motorcycle stunts, a senior police officer said. Additional force from local police stations has been deployed to assist traffic personnel during late evening and night hours.
"All SHOs have been directed to remain on the roads with their teams during Christmas and the New Year period to maintain law and order," the officer said, adding that vehicles involved in stunt-like activities will be impounded immediately and strict legal action will follow.
Police teams are also conducting checks at bus terminals, railway stations, hotels, dharamshalas and night shelters to verify the credentials of occupants and identify those staying illegally in the city, the official said.
Delhi Traffic Police said their primary focus will be on ensuring smooth vehicular movement and crowd management in high-footfall areas such as Connaught Place, Hauz Khas, major markets and malls.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Prashant Gautam told PTI, "Adequate police and traffic arrangements have been made in the Shahdara district to maintain law and order. Around 400 police personnel will be deployed on the ground, with nearly 80 vehicles conducting continuous patrolling."
In addition to permanent pickets, 77 additional pickets have been set up for round-the-clock checking, he said.

AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava dismissed allegations of ₹75 lakh extortion made by Bharuch BJP MP Mansukh Vasava, saying the District Collector confirmed the claims were false.

Gujarat AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava refutes Rs 75 lakh extortion claims by BJP MP

AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava dismissed allegations of ₹75 lakh extortion made by Bharuch BJP MP Mansukh Vasava, saying the District Collector confirmed the claims were false.

Aam Aadmi Party MLA Chaitar Vasava has dismissed claims made against him by Bharuch BJP MP Mansukh Vasava, who alleged that the MLA had extorted ₹75 lakh.
Speaking to the media after submitting a representation to the District Collector, Vasava stated that the Collector clarified publicly that the allegations against him were false. He urged the MP to limit his comments to matters related to expenditure on the Prime Minister&rsquo;s programme in Dediapada.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Making baseless allegations against me and trying to damage my political career in this manner is completely unjustified. We want to clearly state that if Mansukhbhai again makes such baseless allegations against us, we will be forced to take legal action,&rdquo; he said.
Vasava added that the Prime Minister&rsquo;s programme was held on 15th November and that the MLA&rsquo;s office had been informed during that month&rsquo;s coordination meeting. He emphasized that all details regarding the programme, which involved public funds, had been disclosed to the public.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Even when I exposed the MNREGA scam and the Nal Se Jal scam, he had stomach pain, and now when information about this programme has been sought, he is again uncomfortable,&rdquo; Vasava said.
The MLA suggested that the allegations could be related to contractors and expressed that if the MP had concerns, they should have been raised directly with him.&nbsp;
Instead, Vasava said, Mansukh Vasava held a press conference and made the claims public, also naming the Roads and Buildings Executive Engineer. &ldquo;The Collector has publicly clarified in the presence of everyone that the statements made by Mansukhbhai were completely baseless,&rdquo; Vasava added.

AAP MLA Gopal Italia has written to Visavadar police alleging harassment and extortion of farmers at the Soni Godown MSP groundnut procurement centre, urging immediate action.

AAP MLA Gopal Italia alleges bullying, extortion at Visavadar groundnut centre

AAP MLA Gopal Italia has written to Visavadar police alleging harassment and extortion of farmers at the Soni Godown MSP groundnut procurement centre, urging immediate action.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Visavadar, Gopal Italia, has written to the Police Inspector of Visavadar Police Station alleging instances of bullying and extortion at a minimum support price (MSP) groundnut procurement centre in the town.
In his letter, Italia stated that groundnut procurement at MSP is currently underway in Visavadar in accordance with government policy, with three procurement centres functioning in the area. He alleged that farmers selling produce at one of these centres&mdash;the Soni Godown procurement centre&mdash;have been facing harassment for the past week.
According to the MLA, a person identified as Nanubhai Lakhani from Lathodva village and his associates have been present at the Soni Godown procurement centre throughout the day. Italia alleged that they intimidate farmers arriving to sell groundnuts, threaten to wrongly reject their produce, and extort money from them. He said farmers from various villages brought the matter to his attention through phone calls, personal interactions during public outreach programmes, and by informing members of his team.
Italia further stated that farmers claimed Lakhani and his associates were coming from outside the taluka and occupying the procurement centre while forcibly extorting money. Following these complaints, the MLA said he deputed members of his team, including Hareshbhai Savaliya, Hardevbhai Vikma, Ravibhai Dobariya, and others, to visit the centre at different times to verify the situation and hear farmers&rsquo; grievances.
According to the letter, when the team members reached the procurement centre, they allegedly faced aggressive arguments and abusive language from Nanubhai Lakhani and his associates, creating what the MLA described as an atmosphere of fear among farmers.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/694cc0da118f8_1766637786.jpeg" width="403" height="569">
Italia has urged the police to take immediate action against those allegedly involved in bullying and intimidation at the Soni Godown procurement centre. He also requested that adequate preventive measures be put in place to ensure that no conflict or untoward incident occurs at the centre in the future.

AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava addressed concerns over alleged religious conversions in Dediapada, saying no complaints of forced conversions have been reported during his three-year tenure.

AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava dismisses conversion claims in Gujarat's Dediapada tribal region

AAP MLA Chaitar Vasava addressed concerns over alleged religious conversions in Dediapada, saying no complaints of forced conversions have been reported during his three-year tenure.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Dediapada, Chaitar Vasava, on Wednesday addressed concerns raised over alleged religious conversions in the tribal region, following a representation submitted by the RSS-affiliated Rashtriya Adivasi Sangh to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Dediapada.
According to Vasava, the representation sought action to stop alleged religious conversions by Christians and demanded that Christmas programmes not be permitted in the area. Responding to the issue, the MLA said such organisations should first understand the historical and cultural background of the tribal community.
He stated that tribal communities are those who have lived in a region since time immemorial and described them as a pre-religious society, existing before the emergence of organised religions. Vasava said tribals traditionally practise nature worship and continue to revere deities such as Himadiya Dev and Gamaan Dev, along with natural elements including the sun, moon, rivers, mountains, trees, and forests.
Referring to developments in the 1970s and 1980s, Vasava said individuals associated with Christian missionary organisations began working in tribal areas, particularly in the fields of education, healthcare, and employment. He said that through these activities, several benefits were provided to the local population, and some members of the tribal community were inspired to gradually adopt Christianity.
The MLA further stated that many tribals follow religions other than Christianity, but at their core, they continue to identify as tribals. He said that as members of a constitutionally recognised community, tribals are entitled to secularism and protection from discrimination as guaranteed under the Constitution. According to him, this has resulted in tribals being spread across different religions and sects.
Addressing allegations of religious conversions in his constituency, Vasava said that during his three-year tenure as an MLA, he has not received a single complaint from any area regarding forced or induced religious conversion. He added that he has not come across any instance where conversion occurred due to greed, temptation, or coercion.
Vasava also referred to leaders from other political parties who follow Christianity. He said BJP leaders Riteshbhai Vasava from Jhagadia and Mohanbhai Kokdi from the Vyara constituency continue to practise Christianity and have been elected as MLAs from reserved tribal seats. He stated that if the objective of raising the issue is to question benefits meant for tribals, then, in his view, the matter should begin with such leaders as well.
The issue has brought renewed focus on religious practices, constitutional rights, and tribal identity in the region, amid ongoing political and social discussions.

At least nine people were killed after a speeding truck jumped a divider and crashed into a sleeper bus in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district, causing the bus to catch fire.

Multiple casualties after truck collides with luxury bus in Karnataka

At least nine people were killed after a speeding truck jumped a divider and crashed into a sleeper bus in Karnataka&rsquo;s Chitradurga district, causing the bus to catch fire.

At least nine persons were killed when a speeding truck crashed against a luxury sleeper bus, which caught fire under the impact, in this district early on Thursday, a senior police official said.
The bus with 32 passengers, which was on its way to Gokarna was engulfed in flames under the impact of the collision and most of the deceased were burnt alive inside the vehicle, East Zone Inspector General of Police Ravikanthe Gowda told reporters.
The accident happened after the truck jumped a road divider and collided with the oncoming bus, Gowda told reporters. The bus driver and cleaner escaped. The truck driver is among the dead, he added.
"Our preliminary investigation hints that a diesel tanker might be involved in the accident," Gowda said. Many passengers escaped by jumping from the bus, the Gowda said.
"Our initial investigation shows that eight passengers and the truck driver have died. Of the 12 injured, nine have been shifted to Sira and three to Tumakuru. One of the critically burnt patients has been taken to Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru," he added.
The rest of the injured are out of danger, the IGP said.
Another bus from T Dasrahalli to Dandeli with 42 school children that was behind the fateful bus just escaped the accident.
"The driver of the bus carrying schoolchildren hit the bus from behind, turned to the other side and veered off the road. Fortunately, no one sustained even a minor injury," Gowda said.
The children have continued their journey in another bus, he said, adding that the school bus driver is an important eyewitness to this accident, whose statement will be recorded.
Most passengers of the bus that was involved in the accident had booked their tickets online. "We have got their phone numbers. We are trying to contact their families," he said.
The officer said a DNA test would be performed to identify the dead bodies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tributes to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 101st birth anniversary, calling his leadership and ideals a guiding light for the nation.

Vajpayee's work, leadership will continue to be a guiding light for nation's development: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tributes to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 101st birth anniversary, calling his leadership and ideals a guiding light for the nation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tributes to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his 101st birth anniversary and said his personality, work and leadership will continue to be a guiding light for the all-around development of the nation.
Vajpayee served as prime minister of India thrice between 1996 and 2004.
"My respectful tributes to the former prime minister, Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji, who resides in the hearts of all countrymen, on his birth anniversary," Modi wrote on X in Hindi.
&lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&gt;&lt;p lang="hi" dir="ltr"&gt;देशवासियों के हृदय में बसे पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री भारत रत्न अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी जी को उनकी जयंती पर सादर नमन। उन्होंने अपना संपूर्ण जीवन सुशासन और राष्ट्र निर्माण को समर्पित कर दिया। वे एक प्रखर वक्ता के साथ-साथ ओजस्वी कवि के रूप में भी सदैव स्मरणीय रहेंगे। उनका व्यक्तित्व, कृतित्व और&hellip; &lt;a href="https://t.co/lFUdCnm7cf"&gt;pic.twitter.com/lFUdCnm7cf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&amp;mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) &lt;a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/2004016784962474383?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"&gt;December 25, 2025&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"&gt;&lt;/script&gt;
He said Vajpayee dedicated his entire life to good governance and nation-building.
"He will always be remembered as a brilliant orator as well as a spirited poet. His personality, work and leadership will continue to be a guiding light for the all-around development of the nation," the PM said.
Modi said the birth anniversary of Vajpayee is a special occasion for everyone to draw inspiration from his life.
He said the former prime minister's conduct, grace, ideological firmness and resolve to keep national interest above all else serve as an ideal standard for Indian politics.
"Through his life, he proved that greatness is established not by position, but by conduct, and it is conduct alone that guides society," Modi said.
Vajpayee was born on this day in Gwalior in 1924 and passed away in New Delhi on August 16, 2018. The government observes his birth anniversary as Good Governance Day.

India has raised concerns over the demolition of a Hindu deity’s statue during the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict, calling the act disrespectful and urging both sides to pursue dialogue and diplomacy.

India expresses concern over demolition of Hindu deity's statue in Thailand-Cambodia conflict

India has raised concerns over the demolition of a Hindu deity&rsquo;s statue during the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict, calling the act disrespectful and urging both sides to pursue dialogue and diplomacy.

India on Wednesday voiced concern over the demolition of a statue of a Hindu deity in the ongoing military conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.&nbsp;
New Delhi said such "disrespectful" acts hurt sentiments of followers around the world, even as it urged both Thailand and Cambodia to resolve their border dispute through dialogue and diplomacy.
"We have seen reports on the demolition of a statue of a Hindu religious deity, built in recent times, and located in an area affected by the ongoing Thai-Cambodia border dispute," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
<img src="https://cdn.editorji.com/694cb74dccd6b_1766635341.jpg" width="487" height="487">
"Hindu and Buddhist deities are deeply revered and worshipped by people across the region, as part of our shared civilizational heritage," he said. Jaiswal was responding to a media query on the issue.
"Notwithstanding territorial claims, such disrespectful acts hurt the sentiments of followers around the world, and should not take place," he said.
"We once again urge the two sides to return to dialogue and diplomacy, to resume peace and avoid any further loss of lives, and damage to property and heritage," Jaiswal added.
The border clashes between the two Southeast Asian countries erupted in July. Both countries agreed on a ceasefire in July that was brokered by US President Donald Trump. The fight broke out again this month.

India’s civil aviation sector is set to expand as Al Hind Air and FlyExpress receive no objection certificates, with Shankh Air also likely to start operations in 2026.

India to get three new airlines as Shankh Air, Al Hind Air, FlyExpress receive NOC from government

India&rsquo;s civil aviation sector is set to expand as Al Hind Air and FlyExpress receive no objection certificates, with Shankh Air also likely to start operations in 2026.

Two new airlines -- Al Hind Air and FlyExpress -- are set to take to the skies, with the carriers receiving their no objection certificates from the civil aviation ministry.
In 2026, apart from these two carriers, Uttar Pradesh-based Shankh Air, which already has a No Objection Certificate (NOC), is likely to start operations. Al Hind Air is being promoted by Kerala-based alhind Group.
The ministry is keen to have more airline operators in the country, which is one of the world's fastest growing domestic civil aviation markets. Currently, there are nine operational scheduled domestic carriers in the country.
Fly Big, a regional airline, suspended scheduled flights in October. IndiGo and Air India Group -- Air India and Air India Express -- together have over 90 per cent of the domestic market share.
Concerns about apparent duopoly in the fast-growing domestic airlines' industry got amplified this month in the wake of the massive operational disruptions at IndiGo, which has a market share of more than 65 per cent.
"Over the last one week, pleased to have met teams from new airlines aspiring to take wings in Indian skies- Shankh Air, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress. While Shankh Air has already got the NOC from the Ministry, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress have received their NOCs this week," Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said in a post on X on Tuesday.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Over the last one week, pleased to have met teams from new airlines aspiring to take wings in Indian skies&mdash;Shankh Air, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress. While Shankh Air has already got the NOC from Ministry, Al Hind Air and FlyExpress have received their NOCs in this week. It has&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/oLWXqBfSFU">pic.twitter.com/oLWXqBfSFU</a>
&mdash; Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) <a href="https://twitter.com/RamMNK/status/2003481008793092205?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
According to him, it has been the endeavour of the ministry to encourage more airlines in Indian aviation which is amongst the fastest growing aviation markets.
Schemes like UDAN, have enabled smaller carriers Star Air, India One Air and Fly91 to play an important role in the regional connectivity within the country and there is more scope for further growth, he added.
Apart from Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and state-owned Alliance Air, other scheduled carriers are Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Star Air, Fly91 and IndiaOne Air, as per latest data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
In the past years, many airlines, including Go First and Jet Airways, stopped flying amid debt woes.

Unnao rape case survivor terms Kuldeep Singh Sengar’s Delhi HC bail “kaal” for her family and announces plan to challenge verdict in Supreme Court.

Unnao rape case survivor to move SC against suspension of Sengar's jail term

Unnao rape case survivor terms Kuldeep Singh Sengar&rsquo;s Delhi HC bail &ldquo;kaal&rdquo; for her family and announces plan to challenge verdict in Supreme Court.

The 2017 Unnao rape case survivor on Wednesday termed the Delhi High Court's decision to suspend the jail term of expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar "kaal (death)" for her family and said that she would move the Supreme Court against it.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday suspended the sentence of Sengar, who is serving life imprisonment in the case, and ordered his release on bail pending the disposal of his appeal against his conviction by a trial court in December 2019.
In its order, the high court directed that Sengar shall not come within a 5-kilometre radius of the victim's residence and shall not threaten the survivor or her mother. It also said violation of the conditions would automatically lead to cancellation of bail.
Sengar, however, will remain in jail since he is also serving 10 years' imprisonment in the custodial death case of the victim's father and has not been granted bail in that case.
Reacting to the verdict, the survivor, who was a minor when she was kidnapped and raped by Sengar in 2017, told PTI over phone from Delhi that security for her family members, lawyers and witnesses had already been withdrawn and the court's decision had deepened her fears.
"If the convict gets bail in a case like this, how will the country's daughters remain safe? For us, this decision is no less than 'kaal' (death)," she said. "Those with money win, those without money lose," she rued.
The survivor, who was heading out with her mother to stage a protest near Mandi House against the verdict, added that she would challenge the HC order in the Supreme Court.
Women's rights activist Yogita Bhayana, who staged a protest with the survivor's mother at India Gate on Tuesday night, shared on X a video of the survivor and her mother.
In the video, the survivor claimed that she left home in the morning to meet her lawyer, who had called her to sign some papers and go to the Supreme Court, and Bhayana. However, she claimed, CRPF personnel tried to send her back home.
"I was shouting that I need to visit my lawyer. I was shouting in the vehicle as well and then the order came from the top to take me (to meet my lawyer)," she said. "All I want is that justice should be done," she added.
Bhayana claimed that the survivor was injured in the melee. Bhayana also shared a clip of her phone conversation with the survivor from earlier in the day.
In the clip, the survivor is heard saying that she was not being allowed to go and meet her lawyer, and the security personnel were taking her back home. Bhayana then asks her to get down from the vehicle and tell the security personnel that she won't go with them.
The survivor also claimed that her mother was thrown in the middle of the road after being removed from India Gate during her protest on Tuesday. A senior police officer, however, said, "We removed the protesters from the site around 8.45 pm on Tuesday and placed them in a CRPF bus. No further action was taken."
Bhayana told PTI Videos that the survivor is scared for her life.
The Unnao rape case and other connected cases were transferred from Uttar Pradesh to Delhi on the directions of the Supreme Court in August 2019.
Meanwhile, the mother of the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape victim, Asha Devi, extended support to the Unnao rape case survivor and her family. The HC's decision was "unfortunate" and would send a "wrong message" to society, she said.
Speaking to PTI, she said granting bail to a life convict in a rape case would embolden wrongdoers and weaken faith in the justice system. "How can such a person be released? This will open the doors for other rape accused to approach courts for bail. It gives strength to those who commit such crimes," she said, adding that the decision would adversely impact the safety of women and girls across the country.
Asha Devi said the protests against the HC verdict are justified and urged the court to reconsider its order. "The victim's family wants justice. What has happened is injustice not only to them but to all daughters and women of this country," she said.

Editorji is a popular short video news and information platform based in India. It was founded in 2018 by Vikram Chandra, one of India’s leading journalists, and has risen to prominence in the digital news space in a relatively short span of time. The platform is primarily designed for mobile devices, with applications available for Android and iOS.

ABOUT US:

about us editorji

Latest Video News: Editorji provides the latest news video headlines, latest videos clip from India and the World. Get all breaking news videos on Entertainment, Business, Coronavirus, Elections, Politics and more.

Latest Video News, Breaking News, Bollywood, Political, Sports, Business News | Editorji

+91 11 4035 6666 / info@editorji.com
3rd floor, Plot B, Khasara no 360, Sultanpur, New Delhi, Delhi 110030
<a title="mail to us" href="mailto:info@editorji.com">Send Feedback</a>
<a title="Contact Us" href="mailto:info@editorji.com">Contact Us</a>

REACH US

Contact for any questions, suggestions, comments, feedback or advertisement on Editorji.com, we are always looking forward to hearing from you.

Contact Us for Feedback, Suggestions and Advertising 

Editorji content is better experienced in our app.

Cross-voting by SP and BSP MLAs helped BJP win 8 out of 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh.&nbsp;

Rajya Sabha elections: BJP wins 8 out of 10 seats, SP gets 2 in Uttar Pradesh

Cross-voting by SP and BSP MLAs helped BJP win 8 out of 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. 

Cross-voting by SP and BSP MLAs helped BJP win 8 out of 10 Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh.&nbsp;

The BJP nearly swept the Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh after winning 8 out of the 10 seats in the state. The remaining 2 went to the Samajwadi Party. The BJP had numbers to win 7 out of the 10 seats but it fielded 8 candidates. Cross-voting by at least 7 SP MLAs and a BSP MLA helped the BJP win the 8th seat.&nbsp;

The Railway Ministry has officially notified a hike in train ticket prices, with fares rising by 1–2 paise per km across select classes from December 26, while short-distance and suburban passengers remain unaffected.

Railway Ministry notifies fare hike; new ticket prices come into effect today

The Railway Ministry has officially notified a hike in train ticket prices, with fares rising by 1&ndash;2 paise per km across select classes from December 26, while short-distance and suburban passengers remain unaffected.

The Railway Ministry on Thursday officially notified a hike in train ticket prices by 1 paise per km for ordinary class beyond a journey of 215 km, and 2 paise per km for non-AC classes of mail/express trains and AC classes of all trains.
On December 21, the ministry announced its decision to increase the passenger fares from December 26. This is the second time in a year that the ministry has revised passenger train fares. The earlier fare hike was implemented in July.
Justifying its decision, the ministry stated that the rationalising of fares has "the objective of balancing affordability for passengers and sustainability of operations".
"Under the revised fare structure, there is no change in fares for suburban services and season tickets, including both suburban and non-suburban routes. For ordinary non-AC (non-suburban) services, fares have been rationalised in a graded manner across second class ordinary, sleeper class ordinary, and first class ordinary," the ministry said in a statement.
It added, "In second class ordinary, there is no increase in fare for journeys up to 215 km, ensuring that short-distance and daily commuters are not impacted. For distances from 216 km to 750 km, the fare increases by Rs 5.
For longer journeys, the increase is applied in steps -- Rs 10 for distances between 751 km and 1250 km, Rs 15 for distances between 1251 km and 1750 km, and Rs 20 for distances between 1751 km and 2250 km."
According to the ministry, fares for sleeper class ordinary and first class ordinary have been revised uniformly at the rate of 1 paise per kilometre for non-suburban journeys, ensuring a gradual and limited increase in ticket prices.
It stated that in mail/express trains, the fare increase has been rationalised at 2 paise per kilometre across non-AC and AC classes.
"This includes sleeper class, first class, AC chair car, AC 3-tier, AC 2-tier, and AC first class. As an illustration, for a 500 km journey in non-AC mail/express coaches, passengers will pay only about Rs 10 extra," the statement said.
The official notification said that the existing basic fares of major train services, including Tejas Rajdhani, Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat, Humsafar, Amrit Bharat, Tejas, Mahamana, Gatimaan, Antyodaya, Garib Rath, Jan Shatabdi, Yuva Express, Namo Bharat Rapid Rail, and ordinary non-suburban services (excluding AC MEMU/DEMU, where applicable), have been revised in line with the approved class-wise basic fare increases.
"The revised fares are applicable only on tickets booked on or after 26 December, 2025. Tickets booked prior to this date will not attract any additional charges, even if the journey is undertaken after the effective date," it added.
The fare list displayed at stations will also be updated to reflect the new fares effective from December 26.
The ministry maintained that Indian Railways remains committed to providing safe, reliable and affordable travel to millions of passengers every day.
The revised fare structure reflects a balanced approach that safeguards passenger convenience while maintaining operational sustainability, it said.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari revealed he met Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran just hours before his assassination, recalling the incident during a book launch event.

Nitin Gadkari reveals how he met Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh hours before assassination in Tehran

Union minister Nitin Gadkari revealed he met Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran just hours before his assassination, recalling the incident during a book launch event.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari has revealed that he encountered Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran only hours before Haniyeh was assassinated in a high-security Iranian military facility&mdash;an incident that later highlighted serious security shortcomings and sent shockwaves across the region.
Gadkari shared the account while speaking at a book launch, recalling his visit to Iran in July 2024 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. He said he had travelled to Tehran at the request of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to represent India at the event.
According to Gadkari, several world leaders and dignitaries were staying at a five-star hotel in Tehran ahead of the inauguration. He noted that Haniyeh was present despite not being the head of any state.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSpAb71gNxk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14">
<div style="padding: 16px;">
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSpAb71gNxk/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Press Trust of India (PTI) (@ptinews_multimedia)</a>
</div>
</blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&ldquo;All the heads of various nations were present, but one person who wasn't a head of state was Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. I met him. I saw him heading to the swearing-in ceremony along with the President and the Chief Justice,&rdquo; Gadkari said.
He said the situation took a dramatic turn in the early hours following the ceremony. After returning to his hotel, Gadkari said that around 4 am, the Iranian ambassador to India approached him and informed him that he had to leave immediately.
&ldquo;When I asked what had happened, I was told that the Hamas chief had been assassinated. I was shocked. I asked how it happened, and the answer was, 'I don't know yet',&rdquo; he said.
Iran later announced that Haniyeh was killed at around 1.15 am on July 31, 2024, while staying at a heavily guarded military facility in Tehran under the supervision of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). His bodyguard was also killed in the attack.
Gadkari said that even after the incident, there was uncertainty over how the assassination was carried out. &ldquo;Some people say he was killed because of using his mobile phone. Some say it happened in some other way,&rdquo; he told the audience.
During the same address, the Union minister also reflected on global geopolitics, stating that a nation&rsquo;s strength plays a decisive role in its security. Referring to Israel, he said that if a country is strong, &ldquo;no country can lay a hand on it,&rdquo; pointing to Israel&rsquo;s technological and military capabilities despite its small geographical size.
The IRGC has officially stated that the building where Haniyeh was staying was hit by a short-range missile.
However, a separate investigation reported by The Telegraph presented a different version of events. The report claimed that Israel&rsquo;s intelligence agency Mossad had recruited Iranian security personnel to assassinate Haniyeh by planting explosives inside the facility.
According to the report, an earlier plan to target Haniyeh during his visit to Tehran in May&mdash;when he attended the funeral of former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi&mdash;was abandoned due to heavy crowds and the risk of exposure.
The final operation reportedly focused on an IRGC guesthouse in northern Tehran where Haniyeh was expected to stay. Citing two Iranian officials, the report said Mossad-linked operatives planted explosive devices in three separate rooms in the complex.
Iranian authorities, according to the report, reviewed surveillance footage showing the operatives entering and leaving the rooms within minutes. The agents allegedly exited Iran without detection, while maintaining at least one local contact within the country.
At around 2 am, the explosives planted in the room occupied by Haniyeh were remotely detonated.
Senior IRGC officials have since acknowledged serious lapses in security. One senior official told The Telegraph that Mossad may have exploited personnel from the Ansar-al-Mahdi protection unit, which is responsible for guarding senior leaders and allied figures inside and outside Iran.

Delhi recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 220 on Thursday morning, improving from Tuesday’s ‘severe’ levels, with Anand Vihar still in the ‘very poor’ category, CPCB data shows.

Temporary Relief from Pollution in Delhi as AQI Improves

Delhi recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 220 on Thursday morning, improving from Tuesday&rsquo;s &lsquo;severe&rsquo; levels, with Anand Vihar still in the &lsquo;very poor&rsquo; category, CPCB data shows.

Delhi saw a brief respite from elevated pollution levels on Thursday morning, with the air quality index (AQI) recorded at 220 in the 'poor' category.&nbsp;
According to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) Sameer app, 29 monitoring stations in the capital recorded air quality in the 'poor' category. Anand Vihar recorded AQI in the 'very poor' category at 308, while the remaining stations were in the 'moderate' range.&nbsp;
As per the CPCB classification, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor' and 401 to 500 'severe'.&nbsp;
The 24-hour average AQI in the capital stood in the 'poor' category on Wednesday as well. This marked a sharp improvement from Tuesday, when the AQI had deteriorated to 412 in the 'severe' category at 4 pm, the CPCB data showed.&nbsp;
However, the relief is expected to be short-lived, with air quality likely to worsen again in the coming days. Favourable meteorological conditions, particularly surface wind speeds of 15 to 25 kilometers per hour, helped improve air quality in the capital, the CPCB said.&nbsp;
On the weather front, Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 6.5 degrees Celsius, one notch below normal, and a relative humidity of 63 per cent, according to the India Meteorological Department. The expected maximum temperature is 22 degrees Celsius and a moderate is forecast.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a Christmas morning service in Delhi, joining Christians from across north India, while wishing citizens peace, harmony, and goodwill on the festive occasion.

PM Modi Attends Christmas Service, Emphasizes Peace and Harmony

Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a Christmas morning service in Delhi, joining Christians from across north India, while wishing citizens peace, harmony, and goodwill on the festive occasion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attended a Christmas morning service at the Cathedral Church of the Redemption here along with a large congregation of Christians of Delhi and north India.
The service included prayers, carols, hymns and a special prayer for the prime minister by Rt. Rev. Dr. Paul Swarup, the Bishop of Delhi.
"Attended the Christmas morning service at The Cathedral Church of the Redemption in Delhi. The service reflected the timeless message of love, peace and compassion. May the spirit of Christmas inspire harmony and goodwill in our society," Modi said in a post on X.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Attended the Christmas morning service at The Cathedral Church of the Redemption in Delhi. The service reflected the timeless message of love, peace and compassion. May the spirit of Christmas inspire harmony and goodwill in our society. <a href="https://t.co/humdgbxR9o">pic.twitter.com/humdgbxR9o</a>
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/2004046244315123891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Earlier, the prime minister greeted citizens on Christmas.
"Wishing everyone a joyous Christmas filled with peace, compassion and hope. May the teachings of Jesus Christ strengthen harmony in our society," he said in another post on X.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Wishing everyone a joyous Christmas filled with peace, compassion and hope. May the teachings of Jesus Christ strengthen harmony in our society.
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/2004018806507950358?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Over the last few years, PM Modi has been regularly attending programmes connected with the Christian community.
During Easter in 2023, he attended a programme at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Delhi.
On Christmas in 2023, he hosted a programme at his residence 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in Delhi.
In 2024, he attended a dinner at the residence of Minister George Kurian and also a programme hosted by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India.
This shows a regular engagement with the community, sources said.
Meanwhile, Vice President C P Radhakrishnan also greeted people on Christmas.
"Wishing everyone a joyous Christmas, overflowing with hope, love, and kindness. May Christ's message inspire us to build stronger, more caring communities, and may his teachings strengthen our bonds and promote lasting peace," he wrote on X.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, along with Deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, paid tribute to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birth anniversary, praising his leadership, vision, and service to the nation.

Tributes to Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Birth Anniversary

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, along with Deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, paid tribute to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birth anniversary, praising his leadership, vision, and service to the nation.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday paid tribute to former prime minister 'Bharat Ratna' Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birth anniversary, saying his policies had foresight, his leadership was marked by the spirit of service, and his decisions reflected political acumen.
Adityanath said in his post on X, "On the birth anniversary of the eternal ideal of good governance, the symbol of simplicity and compassion, our source of inspiration, former prime minister, 'Bharat Ratna' revered Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, I offer my heartfelt tributes and extend my best wishes to the people of the state on 'Good Governance Day'."
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
सुशासन के शाश्वत आदर्श, सहजता एवं सहृदयता के प्रतीक, हमारे प्रेरणा पुरुष, पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री, 'भारत रत्न' श्रद्धेय अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी जी की जयंती पर उन्हें कोटि-कोटि नमन एवं प्रदेश वासियों को 'सुशासन दिवस' की हार्दिक बधाई। 'राजनेता' से 'राष्ट्रनेता' तक उनकी यशस्वी यात्रा&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/LWWl4XA6lM">pic.twitter.com/LWWl4XA6lM</a>
&mdash; Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) <a href="https://twitter.com/myogiadityanath/status/2003989271674605789?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
He further said in the post, "His illustrious journey from 'politician' to 'national leader' is commendable. His policies had foresight, his leadership was marked by the spirit of service, and his decisions reflected political acumen."
Yogi added, "He dedicated his life to upholding the honour of Mother India and the progress of the nation. His profound faith in democracy is worthy of reverence."
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said on his X account, "Former prime minister Bharat Ratna, revered Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji was a visionary personality whose politics had dignity, whose words were restrained, and whose decisions reflected a deep commitment to the nation, and he always considered power as a means of public service."
He said, "The courageous decision of Pokhran gave India a new sense of confidence and strength. Atal ji made it clear that only a strong nation can truly protect human values."
Maurya further said, "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, the same spirit of 'Nation First' is reaching every citizen as the work culture of New India. My heartfelt tributes to former prime minister, Bharat Ratna, revered Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji on his birth anniversary!" He also extended his best wishes and greetings on 'Good Governance Day', which is celebrated on the occasion of Atal Jayanti.
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said in his post, "On the birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna, the towering figure of Indian politics, the guiding light for countless BJP workers, our source of inspiration, and former prime minister, the revered Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, I offer my respectful tributes."
Pathak also extended his best wishes on Good Governance Day.
Vajpayee was born on December 25, 1924, in Gwalior.

Highlights

Latest news

Rajya Sabha elections: BJP wins 8 out of 10 seats, SP gets 2 in Uttar Pradesh

Up Next

More videos

Categories