PM Modi congratulates Balendra Shah on being sworn in as Nepal's PM

IANS | March 27, 2026 1:36 PM

New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated Balendra Shah on being sworn in as Nepal's Prime Minister and expressed readiness to work with him to take the friendship between the two nations to greater heights for the benefit of citizens of both countries.

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws paralyse institutions, undermine justice: Rights group

IANS | March 27, 2026 1:32 PM

Islamabad, March 27 (IANS) A leading minority rights group on Friday alleged that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are being exploited as a tool of systematic coercion, enabling organised religious groups and their allies to intimidate judges, prosecutors, police, and politicians, effectively holding the country’s justice system and broader state machinery hostage.

Not financial sacrifice by govt, but return of taxpayers’ money: Oppn calls excise duty cut 'politically driven'

IANS | March 27, 2026 1:29 PM

New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) The Congress on Friday said that the government’s revenue ultimately comes from the people’s pockets, asserting that any reduction in excise duty is not a financial sacrifice by the government but a return of taxpayers’ money. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP also questioned the intent behind the move, with some calling it politically-motivated.

'Every day is embarrassing day for Indian football': Fans explode after 'disrespectful' Kochi stadium standoff

IANS | March 27, 2026 1:16 PM

Kochi, March 27 (IANS) In a move that has left fans and stakeholders reeling, Indian football has stumbled into yet another administrative nightmare. On Thursday, an embarrassing standoff unfolded at Kochi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JLN) when Indian men's football team head coach Khalid Jamil and several players were reportedly denied entry to the premises.

Bengal polls: Basanti violence was result of Mamata Banerjee’s provocation, says BJP leader

IANS | March 27, 2026 12:59 PM

Kolkata, March 27 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday claimed that the violence and clashes at Basanti in South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal in which a police sub-inspector of police was also thrashed by a group of miscreants allegedly linked to the ruling Trinamool Congress was a result of the provocative statements from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at an election campaign rally earlier in the day.