US President Donald Trump is preparing to announce the formation of an international coalition to escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz as tensions with Iran escalate.US officials told the Wall Street Journal that the White House’s announcement could come as soon as this week. It is not yet clear whether the escort missions…
NEW DELHI: For the Left, its most crucial battle is in Kerala, as the CPM-led LDF fights for a return to power in the last Communist-governed state, which goes to polls with West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry. In Bengal – where it was once the dominant force and now lacks any presence in…
NEW DELHI: If assembly polls since the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 reiterated BJP’s dominance and deflated hopes of its rivals emboldened by their LS poll bump, the fresh round of electoral battle will test the party’s mettle and determine if it can build on its momentum to make new strides in regions considered most…
KOLKATA: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee announced Sunday that her govt would pay Rs 10,000 crore in DA arrears to nine lakh state employees and pensioners from March and hike the monthly honorarium for Hindu priests and Muslim muezzins by Rs 500 to Rs 2,000, squeezing in both just before the model code of conduct kicked…
NEW DELHI: The govt’s campaign to discourage panic booking of LPG refills seems to have had an impact, with the number of domestic bookings declining from 88.8 lakh on Friday to 77 lakh on Saturday. The petroleum ministry said online bookings have also increased from 84% to 87%, while no dry-outs were reported at LPG…
NEW DELHI: India today is in a far stronger position to handle disruptions in global energy markets than it was a decade ago, officials said on Sunday. While Strait of Hormuz remains an important chokepoint, India can reroute vess-els and shift strategy to other energy-exporting countries. In a world of increasingly uncertain supply chains, a…
NEW DELHI: Skyrocketing international airfares may lead govt to review its unstated policy of not enhancing flying rights of foreign airlines, in a bid to come to the rescue of the public. Indian carriers’ operating costs are going through the roof due to the sharp spike in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices, and the rupee…
BENGALURU/BHUBANESWAR: Four men were arrested in Bengaluru on Sunday for allegedly attempting to bribe eight Congress legislators from Odisha with Rs 5 crore each to vote in favour of BJP in the Rajya Sabha polls, due on Monday. The arrests were made sho-rtly after Karnataka Congress president and deputy CM DK Shivakumar made allegations about…
Horoscope Today: Read daily horoscope predictions for March 16, 2026. Know all about the astrological events and influences that will be affecting each of the 12 zodiac signs. Our astrologer has analyzed the movements of the planets and the alignment of the stars to bring you the most accurate and up-to-date horoscope predictions for the…
NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Sunday said political parties driven by selfish interests and arrogance have been targeting the position of Lok Sabha Speaker since 2014, when he first assumed office and Sumitra Mahajan occupied the chair, and accused them of being unable to digest the ascendancy of a new leader. “Some people with…
