Ahead of the upcoming civic body elections, former Indian cricketer Kedar Jadhav on Tuesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of state unit chief and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule and former minister and state executive president Ravindra Chavan.

By joining the BJP, which leads the Mahayuti government in the state, Jadhav is set to start his new innings.

Bawankule said that it was a great moment to welcome a former cricketer, Kedar Jadhav, into the party fold.

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, on Saturday slammed the Karnataka government, alleging that people like invaders Muhammad Ghori, Muhammad Ghazni, and Malik Kafur are effectively ruling over the state.

“Our state is on the verge of destruction. The illegalities, loot, and robbery by this government have brought the state to this point. Muhammad Ghazni, Muhammad Ghori, and Malik Kafur are governing the state. They are sitting on the third floor of the Vidhana Soudha,” he alleged, without directly naming Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, while addressing a press conference in Bengaluru.

“I challenge this government. Forty years ago, I bought 46 acres of land. I have honestly cultivated it like a farmer. In four decades, such hateful politics and misuse of officers have never occurred,” he claimed.

Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has responded to criticism from within his own party over his recent article in an English daily, which discussed Kerala’s advancements in the startup sector.

After securing control over five municipal corporations in Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party today elected its mayor in the Bathinda Municipal Corporation as well. AAP councillor Padamjit Mehta has been elected as the Mayor of Bathinda Municipal Corporation.

President Donald Trump proposed a potential deal to Iran while simultaneously threatening its destruction and imposing the harshest possible sanctions on the country. These developments unfolded in a series of rapid events that sent shockwaves across global politics.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann continued his campaign trail in Delhi on Friday, leading three roadshows in Kondli, Rohtas Nagar, and Gokalpur, and addressing two powerful Jansabhas in Badarpur. The campaign exuded AAP's commitment to clean governance, development, and accountability, with CM Mann directly addressing voters' concerns and exposing the political tactics of rival parties.

Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini launched a strong critique of former Delhi Chief Minister Sh Arvind Kejriwal over the quality of Yamuna water, stating that no work had been done in Delhi over the past 10 years. He accused Kejriwal of resorting to cheap politics to cover up his failures. "For the last decade, Kejriwal has forced the people of Delhi to drink contaminated water," Saini remarked.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hit back at the statement made by Union Minister and BJP leader Ravneet Bittu regarding the raid on the Delhi residence of Punjab’s Chief Minister. AAP MP and senior spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang criticized the incident, stating that the BJP is continuously trying to defame Punjabis as part of its larger conspiracy.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha led a massive roadshow in the Rajendra Nagar Assembly constituency on Friday, seeking support for party candidate Durgesh Pathak. The event witnessed an overwhelming response filled with energy and enthusiasm. Raghav Chadha reminded the people that this was the very seat where he once served as an MLA, and this time, he was seeking their votes for Durgesh Pathak.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, while campaigning for AAP candidates in Delhi on Thursday, addressed massive Jansabhas in Tuglakabad and Greater Kailash, and led vibrant roadshows in Kalkaji and Kasturba Nagar. CM Mann urged the people of Delhi to choose progress, education, and healthcare over conflict, divisiveness, and corruption in the upcoming elections.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann campaigned for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Jarnail Singh in Delhi’s Tilak Nagar Assembly constituency. Mann also participated in a Lohri celebration and addressed the gathering.

Speaking to the people of Tilak Nagar, Mann said that February 5 will be the day for you to decide the future of your family and children. Therefore, choose a person who knows how to work and does not engage in hate politics. He urged, “Do not entrust the responsibility of your future to those who do divisive politics. Those who practice hate politics can never work for your welfare.”

India is poised to redefine its role in global trade, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4 per cent in trade over the next decade, roughly in line with its high GDP growth, according to a report on Monday.

The ASEAN region and especially India, are among the greatest beneficiaries of production shifts spurred by geopolitics, such as trade tensions between the US and China.

"We project 6.4 per cent CAGR in India’s total trade through 2033, to $1.8 trillion annually, roughly in line with its high GDP growth," according to the report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

As the world increasingly pivots toward resilient and diversified supply chains, India’s 'China+1' strategy, backed by its large domestic market, skilled workforce, and forward-looking policies, positions it as a preferred global manufacturing hub.

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has written a letter to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat seeking answers to some questions on the BJP's politics.

In the letter, Kejriwal has posed questions like -- Does RSS support whatever wrong BJP has done in the past few days? BJP leaders are openly distributing money, does RSS support vote buying? Dalit and Purvanchali votes (from the voter list) are being cut on a large scale. Does RSS think this is good for democracy? Doesn't RSS feel that the BJP is weakening democracy?"

The former Delhi Chief Minister had on December 29 launched a scathing attack on the BJP, accusing the party of attempting to manipulate the voter lists, and also claimed that 'Operation Lotus' has been going on since December 15 in his Assembly constituency. He highlighted voter deletion issues in the Shahdara constituency, where the BJP allegedly submitted applications to remove 11,008 voters.

Committed to fostering longstanding, historic and close relations with all Gulf countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a two-day visit to Kuwait starting Saturday - the first by an Indian PM to the key West Asian country in 43 years. "India and Kuwait share traditionally close and friendly relations which are rooted in history and have been underpinned by economic and strong people to people linkages. India is among the top trading partners of Kuwait. The Indian community is the largest expatriate community in Kuwait. The visit will provide an opportunity to further strengthen the multifaceted ties between India and Kuwait," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said ahead of PM Modi's historic visit.

 In the run-up to the Delhi Assembly elections, Chief Minister Atishi on Monday hit out at the night stays by BJP leaders in slums as a “drama” for vote bank politics, a charge denied by the Opposition party.

Addressing the media, Atishi claimed that BJP leaders were distributing dresses and goodies in slums and making lists of voters for deletion from electoral rolls, while Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said this is an interaction exercise, especially with the youth, in slum clusters to understand their problems and solutions directly from them.

CM Atishi said, “If there is any well-wisher of slum dwellers in the city it is Arvind Kejriwal, an Indian Revenue Service officer who quit his job and served people while living, spending six months in a slum cluster in Seemapuri.”

 AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday that the party has accepted Shahdra MLA and Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel's request for retirement from electoral politics due to health issues.

Kejriwal said the party has decided not to field Goel in the upcoming Assembly elections on his request.

He also hit out at BJP leaders who have criticised the AAP-led Punjab government for "deteriorating" law and order, citing the attempt on the life of Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal.

"I compliment Punjab Police for avoiding a big incident and want to request BJP leaders and media to also highlight the deteriorating law and order in Delhi and the threats to women, children and businessmen from shootouts and murders," said Kejriwal.

Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, wife of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is celebrating her 34th birthday today. On this occasion, CM Mann also shared a picture with his wife on social media and wished her health, progress and mutual love.

The Chief Minister tweeted, My life partner Dr. Gurpreet Kaur Maan Happy birthday to.. May God bless you with health, progress and mutual love.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Dr. Gurpreet Kaur got married on July 7, 2022. CM's wife is the youngest of three sisters. One of his sisters lives in America while the other is settled in Australia.

Their marriage became a topic of much discussion. He often shares pictures with his wife on social media. Their pictures go viral as soon as they hit social media.

US President-elect Donald Trump urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to avoid any escalation in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine in a recent phone call.

The call, made from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, comes just days after his decisive electoral victory over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.

During the conversation, Trump expressed an interest in fostering further discussions with Moscow to de-escalate tensions and resolve the two-and-a-half-year-long war.

According to sources cited by The Washington Post, Trump highlighted the significance of the substantial US military presence in Europe, suggesting that he intends to bring American influence to bear on the resolution of the Ukraine conflict.

Trump, who made ending the war a key campaign promise, emphasised the urgent need for peace but has yet to reveal specific strategies or proposals.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to appoint Yechiel Leiter as Israel's Ambassador to the United States, according to a statement issued by Netanyahu's office.

Leiter, 65, has served in senior public service positions in Israel, including the deputy director-general of the Education Ministry, chief-of-staff in the Finance Ministry, and acting chairman of the Israel Ports Company, news agency reported.

"Leiter was born in the United States and is deeply familiar with the American administration and society," the statement said, calling him "a highly capable diplomat" and "an eloquent speaker" who "possesses a deep understanding of American culture and politics."

Meta has announced to extend ban on new political ads on Facebook and Instagram even after the US presidential election on November 5.

In its political ads policy update, Meta has extended ban on new political ads past Tuesday, the original end date for the restriction period.

“The restriction period for ads about social issues, elections or politics is being extended until later this week,” said the social media platform.

“As a reminder, ads that have run prior to 12:01 AM PT on October 29, 2024 and served at least one impression will be allowed to continue while the restriction period is in effect with limited editing capabilities,” said Meta.

Meta, however, did not specify the day it will lift the restriction.

South Korea's top envoy to the United Nations has criticised North Korea's "dispatch of its troops to Russia", saying they will be used as mere "cannon fodder", while their wages will end up in the pockets of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un.

Ambassador Hwang Joon-kook made the remarks at a UN Security Council (UNSC) session in New York on Wednesday (local time), after South Korea confirmed that some North Korean troops have been sent to Russia's western region near the border with Ukraine, news agency reported.

"As legitimate military targets, they will end up as mere cannon fodder, while the wages they are supposed to receive from Russia will end up squarely in Kim Jong-un's pocket," he said. "Pyongyang's treatment of its young soldiers, its own people, as expendable will be never forgiven."

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) held a major protest in Chandigarh on Wednesday against the central BJP government over the issues of slow procurement of paddy and the lifting of old grains in Punjab’s markets.

As AAP leaders were about to encircle the BJP office in Chandigarh, the Chandigarh police detained them and used water cannons to stop them. There were clashes and pushing between AAP leaders and the police. During the scuffle, Minister Harjot Bains's turban fell off, which escalated the matter. In response, AAP leaders raised slogans against the Chandigarh police and the central government.

In a massive embarrassment for Canada, the country's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday admitted that Ottawa only provided some intelligence inputs and no hard proof before accusing India of killing Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Testifying before the country's foreign interference inquiry, Trudeau admitted that New Delhi had demanded the sharing of proof -- something that India has been insisting on till date -- after the allegations.

"At that point, it was primarily intelligence, not hard evidentiary proof," the Canadian PM admitted in an on-camera hearing before the committee.

As he harped on having "credible evidence" on India's involvement, Trudeau also spoke on the alleged role of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in Nijjar's killing.

The lower house of Japan's parliament was officially dissolved on Wednesday, setting the stage for the general election as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba seeks to secure a majority for his party in the house.

The general election is slated to be held on October 27, with campaigning set to begin on October 15, news agency reported.

Ishiba won the election for the President of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on September 27 and was elected Prime Minister on October 1 in the parliament controlled by the LDP-led coalition.

The timing marked the shortest period between a Prime Minister taking office and the dissolution of the lower house in Japan's postwar history.

The general election will be the first since the LDP's political funds scandal surfaced in late 2023.

Prashant Kishor, chief of the Jan Suraaj campaign, is set to launch his political party on October 2, offering a new political option for the people of Bihar.

Sources said that a mega event will be held at the veterinary college ground in Patna, where Kishor will officially announce the party’s name, constitution, and a 25-member leadership team, including the party president.

Kishor has stated that he will not hold any official post within the party and will continue focusing on his ongoing "Padyatra," which is set to conclude in Supaul and move into Araria after October 2.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K. Kavitha has been admitted to a private hospital in Hyderabad for medical tests.

According to a statement from her office, she was admitted recently, with the tests expected to be completed on Tuesday.

Kavitha suffered from several health issues, including gynaecological problems and high fever, when she was in Tihar Jail in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case.

According to the statement, she had previously undergone medical examinations at AIIMS in Delhi for these concerns.

A member of the Telangana Legislative Council, Kavitha is the daughter of BRS president and former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

While most of the leaders speaking at the General Assembly’s high-level meeting have called for reforming the Security Council, three countries, specifically, said that India should get a permanent seat.

The Council, struggling to tackle major security and peace issues, highlights the need for a comprehensive reform, Micronesia’s President Wesley Simina said on Thursday.

“It is time for permanent membership of the Security Council to be expanded to include Japan, India, Germany, Brazil, and representation from the African continent,” he said.

Portugal’s Prime Minister Luis Montenegro expressed support for two countries with which Lisbon has historical ties, India and Brazil, getting permanent seats.

Describing Arvind Kejriwal a nephew of Meham in Haryana, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said the AAP convener used to come here during holidays.

“Now he will come with retirement plans for Haryana's bigwigs. Vikas Nehra is a young candidate and has a passion to work. Therefore, send such men to the Assembly who will fight for you. Development is in the name of Vikas Nehra, only this can lead to the development of Maham,” he said after a roadshow in Meham in Rohtak district.

In another roadshow in Rewari, Mann said AAP candidate Satish Yadav “is a local leader and understands the problems of Rewari. This time give a chance to AAP and vote for ‘jhadu’ (broom)”.

Former US President Donald Trump has said that he will "get along well with China" and did not think that nations and others like Russia are the "enemies" that President Biden's administration considers them.

"I think we'll get along great with China," the Republican presidential candidate said on Monday during an online interview on X Spaces that again brought out his foreign policy ambivalence and his mercurial approach to policy.

The claim was in contrast to his threats to impose tariffs of 60 per cent or more on imports from China during his current campaign.

While he was President, he had accused China of "malfeasance" in causing the spread of Covid-19 and said that it had "raided our factories, offshored our jobs, gutted our industries, stole our intellectual property".

Congress MLA from Alwar's Ramgarh, Zuber Khan (61) passed away early on Saturday morning.

He breathed his last at his farm house in Dhai Pedi near Alwar city at 5:50 A.M.

His funeral will be held in Ramgarh on Saturday evening.

Party officials said that he had undergone liver transplant a year ago.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has met with the head of Russia's Security Council in Pyongyang and vowed to deepen the bilateral ties between the two countries, state media said on Saturday.

The meeting came on the anniversary of a rare summit between Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin last year at the Vostochny Cosmodrome space centre in Russia's Amur region, during which Kim pledged his "full support" for Moscow, news agency reported.

During their talks on Friday, Kim and Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of Moscow's Security Council, had a "wide exchange of views on the issues of steadily deepening the strategic dialogue between the two countries and strengthening cooperation to defend the mutual security interests and on the regional and international situation," according to state media KCNA.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS has condemned the arrest of the former director of Telangana Digital Media Dileep Konatham and demanded his immediate release.

BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao termed the arrest of Dileep as “illegal”.

Dileep had been reportedly arrested for certain objectionable posts on his social media accounts.

Rama Rao said in a statement that in a brazen display of “autocratic” governance, Dileep Konatham was “illegally” arrested without any formal information or clarity on the charges against him.

He stated that this arrest comes after a series of incidents where Dileep questioned the inefficiency of Revanth Reddy’s government, which seems to be using revenge politics to silence critics.

The Pune Police have arrested at least three suspects in connection with the shocking murder of Vanraj B. Andekar, former Municipal Corporator of the Nationalist Congress Party, led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, officials said here on Monday.

Taken virtually by surprise, Andekar, 32, was targeted with at least five bullets and a chopper attack at around 9.30 p.m. on Sunday, when he stood chatting with a cousin outside his home in Inamdar Chowk.

He was rushed to the KEM Hospital but declared dead on admission and later his body was taken to the Sassoon General Hospital for an autopsy early on Monday, said Jt. Commissioner of Police Ranjan K. Sharma.

Under fire after the ghastly rape and murder of a junior doctor at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday that her government will pass a Bill in the Assembly to ensure capital punishment for convicts in rape and murder cases.

“We will move a Bill in the state Assembly within 10 days seeking capital punishment for culprits in rape and murder cases. We will send it to the Governor, and if he doesn't pass the Bill, we will sit on indefinite protest outside the Raj Bhavan. This Bill must be passed... He cannot evade accountability this time. Why should rapists not be hanged," Banerjee asked while addressing an even to mark the foundation day of Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), her party's students’ wing.

Echoing the statements of Trinamool General Secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee, who spoke just before her, the Chief Minister questioned the progress made by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the R.G. Kar rape and murder case, 14 days after the case was handed over to the probe agency by the Calcutta High Court.

Former Mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SNC), Junaid Azim Mattu on Wednesday resigned from J&K Apni Party, a day after being nominated as the party's candidate for the upcoming Assembly elections.

Mattu, a senior leader of the Apni Party, was named as the party candidate for the Zadibal Assembly seat in the Srinagar district.

He said on his X-post page that he took the decision after extensive consultation with his supporters.

“It is with a heavy heart, and with all humility at my command, that I announce my decision to part ways with the J&K Apni Party,” he said.

Mattu also said that the Apni Party would be at complete liberty to field an appropriate candidate from Zadibal in his place.