New Delhi: (Jan 16) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that democratic institutions can remain strong and relevant when they are transparent, inclusive, responsive, and accountable to people, as the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth concluded here on Friday. Addressing the Special Plenary of the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding…

New Delhi,  India, and Japan on Friday agreed to ramp up cooperation in areas of trade, critical minerals, defence, and high technologies, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar saying that the partnership between the two sides holds immense potential to de-risk the global economy. A meeting between Jaishankar and his Japanese counterpart, Toshimitsu Motegi, saw…

New Delhi: India is mulling various options on its engagement in the development of the strategically-located Chabahar port in Iran against the backdrop of the Trump administration threatening a 25 per cent additional tariff on countries doing business with Tehran. India is a major partner in the development of the Chabahar port, located in the Sistan-Balochistan…

Kolkata/Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will criss-cross poll-bound West Bengal and Assam this weekend, a visit expected to have a blend of high-voltage political messaging with a series of infrastructure launches as the countdown to the 2026 assembly elections gains momentum. In West Bengal, where the BJP is the principal challenger to Chief Minister Mamata…

Mumbai: In a setback for the BJP, the Congress on Friday emerged as the single largest party in the Chandrapur Municipal Corporation after winning 28 of the 66 seats in the civic elections, even as counting of votes is ongoing. The Congress and its allies have won 28 seats, the BJP 26, Shiv Sena (UBT)…

Chennai: The TVK on Friday constituted a 10-member election campaign committee to take up poll- related activities in view of the forthcoming assembly polls in Tamil Nadu. K A Sengottaiyan, N Anand, and Adhav Arjuna are among those present in the committee. “In view of the upcoming legislative assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, an election…

Mumbai: The BJP and ally Shiv Sena were ahead in high-stakes Mumbai municipal corporation elections as per trends in 210 of 227 wards, after counting of votes began Friday morning. There was no official confirmation from the State Election Commission, but TV channels said the BJP was leading in 92 wards in Mumbai, while Shiv…