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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei Martyred in U.S.–Israeli Strikes

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been killed in a large-scale military operation by the United States and Israel, Iranian state media and multiple international sources confirmed, triggering a major escalation in a conflict that has spread across the Middle East. Iran’s state broadcasters announced early on Sunday that the 86-year-old leader died after an airstrike hit his compound in Tehran during an offensive launched late on Saturday. The joint Israeli–American campaign was presented by both capitals as a coordinated effort to target the country’s senior leadership and strategic military infrastructure, according to statements from Israeli and U.S. officials. Iran declared 40 days of national mourning following the announcement of Khamenei’s death. The strikes were among the most extensive on Iranian soil in decades, and state media reported that other senior military officials, including commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, were also killed in the ...
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A Bafta for Manipur. But who has been listening?

A debut film from India's most troubled state just won one of cinema's highest honours. Its director prayed for peace on a London stage. Back home, tens of thousands are still living in camps. The Prime Minister took 864 days to visit. The Leader of Opposition visited three times and was stopped by police on his way in. On Sunday evening, inside the Royal Festival Hall in London, a filmmaker from Imphal walked up to a podium and accepted the Bafta award for Best Children's and Family Film. Lakshmipriya Devi's debut feature Boong, a quiet, tender Manipuri-language story about a boy searching for his missing father, had beaten Disney's Lilo and Stitch, the animated blockbuster Zootopia 2, and a French sci-fi film to take one of British cinema's most prestigious prizes. It was, by any measure, a remarkable moment. The first Indian film ever to win a Bafta in this category. A debut feature made in a language few outside the north-east have heard spoken, ...

India and UAE deepen trade and energy ties amid shifting global partnerships

India and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to significantly expand their economic and strategic relationship, announcing a long-term liquefied natural gas supply deal alongside a pledge to double bilateral trade to $200bn by 2032. The agreements were finalised during a brief visit to New Delhi by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, where he held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. State-owned energy companies from both countries signed a 10-year contract under which Abu Dhabi National Oil Company will supply liquefied natural gas worth up to $3bn to India’s Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, beginning in 2028. Indian officials said the deal would make India the UAE’s largest LNG customer within the next decade, accounting for roughly a fifth of Abu Dhabi’s LNG exports by 2029. The agreement is part of a broader effort by New Delhi to secure long-term energy supplies while reducing exposure to volatility in global markets. Trade between the two countries has ...

Christmas Events Disrupted by Incidents Across Several Indian States

Christmas celebrations in parts of India were disrupted this year following a series of incidents involving vandalism, arson and clashes, largely affecting Christian institutions and public festivities, according to police reports and civil society groups. The incidents were reported across several states between 20 and 25 December, with churches, schools, prayer meetings and Christmas decorations among those targeted. In many cases, groups involved claimed they were acting to prevent alleged religious conversions, allegations denied by Christian organisations. Rights groups say the events come amid a broader rise in attacks on Christians in recent years. The United Christian Forum (UCF), which documents incidents against the community, recorded more than 700 cases nationwide in 2025 up to November, with Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh reporting the highest numbers. Incidents Before Christmas In central India’s Chhattisgarh state, violence was reported in Kanker district days before...

Bihar Election 2025: NDA Sweeps to a Historic Victory as Nitish Kumar Consolidates Power

The Bihar Assembly elections delivered one of the most decisive results in the state’s political history, with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) securing a remarkable 202 out of 243 seats. The landslide has reaffirmed Nitish Kumar’s standing as one of India’s most durable political figures and strengthened the BJP’s position as a dominant force in Bihar. The outcome surprised even members of the ruling bloc. Coming after months of speculation about Nitish Kumar’s health and political longevity, the verdict reflected a clear vote of confidence in his leadership. Women voters, who turned out in exceptional numbers, were widely credited for shaping the final outcome. Welfare schemes targeting education, safety, mobility and financial independence translated into a powerful pro-incumbency force that cut across caste lines. The alliance between the JDU and BJP, often tested in the past, worked with unusual precision throughout the campaign. BJP not only acted as the organisational engi...

AAP and BJP Clash Over Delhi Pollution and 'Fake Yamuna Ghat' Amid Festive Season

New Delhi: The festive season in Delhi, which began with Diwali on October 22 and ended with Chhath Puja on October 27, turned into a political battlefield as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) traded charges over pollution data and river cleanup efforts. The AAP first accused multiple government agencies of manipulating Delhi’s air quality data on Diwali night. Days later, it claimed that the BJP had created a "fake" Yamuna ghat with filtered water for Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Chhath Puja while ordinary devotees were left to stand in the polluted river. AAP Accuses Agencies of Tampering with Pollution Data on Diwali AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that four government agencies worked together to manipulate the capital’s air quality data to hide the severity of pollution after Diwali fireworks. "They are corrupt and criminals. The Nehru Nagar monitoring station recorded an AQI of 1763 before it was suddenly shut down. ...

Trump Slaps $100,000 Fee on H-1B Visas: Modi’s “Friendship Diplomacy” Meets Reality

In yet another blow to Indian professionals eyeing opportunities in the United States, President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation slapping a $100,000 (over ₹88 lakh) fee on H-1B visas. The move is being pitched as a way to ensure only “highly skilled” workers enter the US workforce. For India, the announcement lands like a thud — despite years of photo-ops, chants of “Abki Baar Trump Sarkar”, and the much-advertised camaraderie between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the former US President. “MAGA + MIGA = MEGA” may have made catchy slogans, but on the ground, the numbers now speak louder than the hugs. What the Trump order says Trump’s team calls the H-1B program “the most abused visa category.” By hiking sponsorship costs to $100,000, the White House claims it is ensuring foreign recruits won’t replace American workers. “We need great workers, and this ensures that’s what will happen,” Trump said while signing the order. The administration is also reviving stricter cit...