Thursday, January 1, 2026

Regional cooperation in South Asia not possible without peace and security, says EAM Swaraj

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Tehelka Web Desk
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Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj made a strong statement on terrorism threatening peace and stability in South Asia at a meeting of SAARC ministers on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York.

Regional cooperation in South Asia is not possible without an environment of peace and security, said EAM Swaraj.

While making an indirect reference to Pakistan she said, “The number of threats and incidents that endanger South Asia are on the rise. Terrorism remains the single-largest threat to peace and stability in our region, and indeed in the world. It is necessary that we eliminate the scourge of terrorism in all its forms, without any discrimination, and end the ecosystem of its support.”

EAM Swaraj further said, “I would like to stress that meetings, including high-level ones, can only be effective if expressions of resolve are translated in to concrete action on the ground.”

However Pakistan’s foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi while accusing India of being an obstacle in regional cooperation said, “She (Swaraj) talked about regional cooperation. My question is that how is regional cooperation possible if the nations in the region are ready to sit and you are the obstacle in those talks.”

“The attitude of only one country is hampering the spirit of the SAARC,” Qureshi said.

Himachal Pradesh: IAF airlifted 26 stranded people from Lahaul Valley

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Tehelka Web Desk
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The Indian Air Force on Friday resumed its rescue operation and airlifted 26 people including Six bikers and 20 tourists who were stranded in Himachal Pradesh’s snow-marooned Lahaul Valley.

The stranded bikers including (three women from Delhi, Trivandrum and Rajkot) and 20 other tourists were airlifted from locations near Chhattru and Chhota Dara near Bara Shigri glacier.

According to the reports, more people are reported to be holed up at a snowbound location near Chhattru. They will be rescued in subsequent sorties by IAF helicopters later in the day.

Indian Air Force tweeted, “Update on #HimachalRescue – MLH lands back at Kullu after it took off at first light, today. It safely picked up 6 Bikers & 20 Tourist from Chattru & Chita Dara near BaraShigri Glacier. Rescued bikers included 3 ladies from Delhi, Trivandrum & Rajkot. Other heptrs are airborne.”

The total number of people rescued since September 24 rose to over 1,350.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is in full swing to clear the snow for restoring the road link between the Baralacha Pass and district headquarters Keylong.

On 27 September, 424 people were evacuated from Lahaul-Spiti, while 350 via the Rohtang tunnel and 74 others were airlifted.

Rajni Kant Misra appointed as BSF Chief, S S Deswal to head Sashastra Seema Bal

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Tehelka Web Desk
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According to an official order by Personnel Ministry Indian Police Service (IPS) officers Rajni Kant Misra and S S Deswal have been appointed as the Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) respectively.

Misra, a 1984-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, is currently serving as the SSB chief.

Personnel Ministry order states that Misra been tasked to head the BSF for a period up to his superannuation on August 31, 2019 in place of K K Sharma, who will retire at the end of this month.

Deswal, a 1984-batch IPS officer of the Haryana cadre, will head the SSB in place of Misra. He will hold the post for a period up to his superannuation on August 31, 2021, the order said.

Supreme Court to deliver verdict on arrest of five activists in Bhima-Koregaon case

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Tehelka Web Desk
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The Supreme Court on September 28 will pronounce its verdict on the legality of the raids and arrests of five activists on August 28 in the Bhima-Koregaon violence case.

The activists – Arun Ferreira, Varavara Rao, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha have been under house arrest since the police held them on August 28 after the investigators found incrementing evidence to link them with the caste-based clashes in Pune’s Bhima-Koregaon in January this year.

A three-judge bench headed by CJI Dipak Misra had reserved the judgment on September 20 following counsel for both parties concluded their arguments. One judgment will be delivered by Justice D Y Chandrachud, which will be coincided by the CJI and Justice A M Khanwilkar.

The bench, that also comprised Justices D Y Chandrachud and A M Khaniwlkar had asked the Maharashtra police to file their case diary pertaining to the ongoing investigation in the case.

On September 19, the apex court had said, it would look into the case with a “hawk’s eye” as “liberty cannot be sacrificed at the altar of conjectures”.

The five activists were picked from different locations by Maharashtra Police on August 28, for their alleged Maoists links. prompting human rights defenders and Opposition to call it “virtual declaration of emergency”. 

Ex-Gujarat Finance Minister Manoharsinh Jadeja died at his residence

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Tehelka Web Desk
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Politician Manoharsinh Jadeja who had served as finance minister in the erstwhile Congress government in Gujarat died at his residence on Thursday. He was 83.

Jadeja, popularly known as ‘Dada’, was the descendant of the royal family of Rajkot.

He was Born on November 18, 1935,

Jadeja completed his primary and higher schooling from Rajkot-based Raj Kumar college (RKC).

He had served as MLA five times.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed grief on the demise of former Gujarat Minister Manoharsinh Jadeja.

“Saddened by the demise of former Gujarat Minister Shri Manoharsinh Jadeja Ji. Respected across party lines, he made a mark as a dedicated legislator and good administrator. My thoughts are with his family and well-wishers in this sad hour,” Modi tweeted.

Kerala sanctions Rs 50 lakh as compensation to former ISRO scientist Narayanan

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Tehelka Web Desk
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Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on 27 September said that his government had sanctioned Rs 50 lakh as compensation to former Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) scientist S Nambi Narayanan, who was arrested in an alleged spy scandal in 1994.

CM Vijayan also asked authorities to see if the money can be recovered from erring officials.

After a weekly cabinet meeting CM said, “The money will be given (to the ex-scientist) very soon. We have directed the Law Department to see if this money can be recovered from police officers who falsely implicated him in the ISRO case.”

This development came as a follow up to the apex court’s order in which it had directed the Kerala government to pay a sum of Rs 50 lakh as compensation to the appellant.

The Supreme Court ordered compensation for the sufferings and ignominy the scientist underwent after his arrest in ISRO spy case.

Former ISRO scientist was, reportedly, accused of selling vital Indian space technology secrets to Pakistan. The apex court had, however, cleared him of spy charges and termed his arrest as “needless” and “unnecessary”.

The ISRO spy case surfaced in the year 1994 when Narayanan was arrested on charges of espionage. The CBI cleared him in 1995 and since then he has been fighting a legal battle against Inspector General of Police Siby Mathews and then Deputy superintendents of police KK Joshua and S. Vijayan who probed the case.

EAM Swaraj meets Iranian Counterpart, discusses US Sanctions against Tehran

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Tehelka Web Desk
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Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj held talks with Javad Zarif, her Iranian counterpart, and discussed bilateral issues, including the US sanctions against the major crude exporter which are set to be implemented in November this year.

EAM Swaraj and Iranian counterpart held the meeting on the sidelines of the 73rd UN General Assembly session.

Both the leaders also discussed the status of Iran nuclear deal with the EU.

Raveesh Kumar, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said, “On the issue of sanctions, India remains engaged with all stakeholders who are part of the process and Iran is one of them. So, it was natural that the issue of sanctions did come up during the meeting.”

“We heard them out, we also explained our position. It is important to understand that as far as the sanctions on Iran go, we are also engaged with other stakeholders and countries for example the US as well,” spokesperson Kumar added.

Spokesperson Kumar described the bilateral talks with Iran as a “good meeting”, saying the two nations share strong civilization bonds and go back a long way.

The US has told India and other nations to cut oil imports from Iran to “zero” by November 4 or face sanctions.

Maldives’ President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih invites PM Modi to attend oath-taking ceremony

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Tehelka Web Desk
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Maldives’ President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih who won in a dramatic turn of events ousting Abdulla Yameen, has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend his oath-taking ceremony.

The oath-taking ceremony will be held in November and a team is already working on the inauguration ceremony.

President Solih’s spokesperson Mariya Ahmed Didi said on Wednesday that Modi was invited to the ceremony during a telephonic conversation between the two sides following Solih’s victory in the presidential elections.

According to the sources, Maldives is the only South Asian neighbour that Modi has not visited since taking office in 2014.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first world leader to call Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and congratulated him on his victory.

A statement by the Indian Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) states, “The two leaders agreed to work closely together to further strengthen the friendly, close and good neighbourly relations between the two countries.”

The Ministry of External Affairs said that the election marks the “triumph” of democratic forces in the Maldives and also reflects the firm commitment to the values of democracy and the rule of law.

Vyapam Scam: Court ordered FIR against – Digvijaya Singh, Kamal Nath, Jyotiraditya Scindia and whistleblower Prashant Pandey

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Tehelka Web Desk
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A special court in Bhopal on Wednesday ordered the police to register an FIR against Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh, Kamal Nath, Jyotiraditya Scindia and whistleblower Prashant Pandey on a petition filed by BJP’s legal cell advocate Santosh Sharma.

The court ordered has come after the BJP activist’s petition which alleged that the Congress leaders had submitted forged evidences before the Court. The petitioner had also accused the Congress leaders of trying to “mislead and manipulate” the investigation being carried out by STF, SIT and CBI.

Sharma’s complaint came after Digvijay Singh had on September 17, filed a private complaint with 27,000-page chargesheet in a Bhopal Court, seeking criminal prosecution against chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and a number of police officers alleging that investigative agencies had not acted against Chouhan in the Vyapam scam.

The Vyapam scam pertains to college admissions and government recruitments that was unearthed in 2013 pertains to alleged irregularities in the examination conducted by Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB), involving senior officials, politicians and businessmen.

Karnataka: Heavy rains continue to lash Bengaluru

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Tehelka Web Desk
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Heavy rains continued to lash Bengaluru and surrounding districts in Karnataka on Thursday.

The city had received rainfall of up to 6.6 cm in the last 24 hours, which flooded several major roads in the city, the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) said.

However, heavy rains on Wednesday night flooded several city roads, leading to massive traffic jams.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy have directed officials to be on high alert.

Rains have also been lashing south interior districts of Kodagu, Mandya, Tumakuru and Ramanagara and the northern districts of Raichur, Vijayapura, Koppal and Yadgir.

According to the India Meteorological Department, rains are likely to continue over the next two days in Bengaluru and adjoining districts.

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