Day: August 27, 2026

Why Has Vande Mataram Become a Political Flashpoint?

Arijit Bose

New Delhi: The latest political debate over Vande Mataram, India’s national song, has once again brought questions of history, nationalism, constitutional values and electoral politics into the public discourse. Written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Vande Mataram became one of the defining expressions of India’s freedom movement and inspired generations of Indians during the struggle against British rule. The song’s historical significance, however, has also been accompanied by periodic political and social debates over its complete and shortened versions. The present controversy has revived discussion around the decision taken by the…

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Rahul Gandhi’s Political Relaunch Comes Amid Fresh Electoral Buzz

Arijit Bose

New Delhi: With the political atmosphere beginning to intensify ahead of upcoming electoral contests, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appears to be undergoing another effort at political repositioning. A series of public appearances and political programmes in recent weeks have once again put the spotlight on his leadership, messaging and the Congress party’s broader strategy. The latest phase began after controversy surrounding the Congress leadership’s rendition of Vande Mataram during Independence Day events. Rahul Gandhi subsequently staged a protest outside the Parliament Street police station in connection with a reported pellet-gun…

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Sara Ali Khan Unveils Shoppers Stop’s New Co-Branded Credit Card Range

Arijit Bose

Mumbai: Shopping and fashion enthusiasts can now look forward to a new set of rewards and lifestyle benefits, with Shoppers Stop and RBL Bank launching a three-tier co-branded credit card portfolio featuring Gold, Platinum and Black variants. The new cards were unveiled by Bollywood actor Sara Ali Khan and are designed to combine Shoppers Stop’s fashion and beauty retail ecosystem with RBL Bank’s credit card expertise. The portfolio offers customers a combination of rewards, membership benefits, welcome privileges and curated experiences. The cards have been launched on the Visa network…

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Canada Announces Dollar-for-Dollar Response to New US Trade Measures

Arijit Bose

Ottawa: Canada has announced a dollar-for-dollar response to the latest US trade measures, with Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiling new counter-tariffs and a fresh support package for workers and businesses affected by the escalating trade dispute between the two countries. Carney said on Tuesday that Ottawa would match the latest US tariffs while introducing additional assistance worth US$7.5 billion. The new measures will supplement nearly US$25 billion in support programmes that Canada says have already been rolled out since the United States began imposing tariffs. The Canadian government said the…

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Indian Women’s Hockey Team Has Shown Significant Progress, But Can Do Better: Schuurman

Arijit Bose

Amstelveen, Netherlands: India’s women’s hockey team has made significant progress at the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup, and the players now believe they are capable of performing at an even higher level, head coach Schuurman said ahead of their final classification match against Germany. The Indian team will face Germany at the Wagener Stadium on Thursday in a match that will determine their final position in the tournament. Despite narrowly missing out on a semi-final berth, India’s spirited campaign has impressed against some of the world’s leading sides. Speaking ahead…

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Indian and Vietnamese Coast Guards Strengthen Maritime Cooperation Ahead of SAHYOG-HOPTAC Exercise

Arijit Bose

Chennai: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening maritime security cooperation ahead of the second edition of their joint exercise, SAHYOG-HOPTAC, scheduled to begin off Chennai on Thursday. The two sides held their 7th High-Level Meeting in Chennai on August 25, with discussions centred on maritime search and rescue, law enforcement at sea, marine pollution response, capacity building and greater operational coordination. The meeting was co-chaired by ICG Director General Paramesh Sivamani and Major General Luong Dinh Hung, Vice Commandant of…

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Defence Experts Examine Former CDS Anil Chauhan’s Revelation on Kirana Hills Strike During Operation Sindoor

Arijit Bose

New Delhi: Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan’s recent remarks about the reported impact at Pakistan’s Kirana Hills during Operation Sindoor have triggered renewed debate among defence and foreign policy experts over the circumstances surrounding the incident and its wider strategic implications. General Chauhan had clarified that India had not intentionally targeted the Kirana Hills, an area associated with Pakistan’s nuclear infrastructure. According to his explanation, a loitering munition deployed to search for radar systems around Sargodha may have inadvertently struck one of the hills after exhausting…

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Lucknow Police Return 100 Lost Mobiles Worth Rs 18 Lakh; 347 Phones Recovered in 2026

Arijit Bose

Lucknow: In a relief to residents who had given up hope of recovering their lost mobile phones, the Lucknow Police have traced and recovered 100 devices worth around Rs 18 lakh and returned them to their rightful owners. The recovery was carried out by the Cyber Cell of the Lucknow Police’s South Zone with the help of the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal. The latest operation involved tracing mobile phones that had gone missing from different parts of the city and were later found being used in other districts…

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50,000 Female Undergraduate Students to Get Scooters in October-November: CM Yogi

Arijit Bose

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced that 50,000 female undergraduate students in the state will be provided scooters in October-November as part of a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening women’s mobility, safety, education and economic independence. The Chief Minister made the announcement ahead of Raksha Bandhan at an event in Lucknow, where he also launched the ‘Lokmata Ahilyabai Matri Shakti Yatra’, under which women aged 60 years and above will be able to travel free of cost on Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) buses.…

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UP Government Cancels 944 Hectares Land Allotment to Two Power Companies in Kanpur Dehat

Arijit Bose

Kanpur Dehat: The Uttar Pradesh government has cancelled the allotment of 944.029 hectares of land given to two power companies in Kanpur Dehat after no construction work was undertaken for a proposed thermal power project even 15 years after the land was allotted. The action has been taken under the state government’s zero-tolerance policy towards violations and alleged irregularities. The government has ordered that the land be restored in the name of the Uttar Pradesh government and the Energy Department. The land was allotted in 2011 to M/s Lanco Anpara…

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