Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe claimed victory on Sunday for his ruling coalition in the upper house election, vowing to keep alive plans to amend the nation’s pacifist Constitution. With the results, the 64-year-old Abe, who is on course to become Japan’s longest-serving Prime Minister, aims to shore up his …

A Venezuelan fighter jet “aggressively shadowed” a U.S. intelligence plane over the Caribbean Sea, defence officials said on Sunday. U.S. Southern Command said the Russian-made Venezuelan SU-30 on Friday followed a U.S. EP-3 at an “unsafe distance…jeopardising the crew and aircraft.” “The EP-3 aircraft, flying a mission in approved international …

While the Thiruppavai has many commentaries, it itself may be considered a commentary on the Vedas, said Malola Kannan, in a discourse. Every pasuram in Thiruppavai reflects the Vedas in one way or the other. Taking the Azhi mazhai kanna pasuram as an example, one can see how it is …

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf party and Independent candidates won five seats each in the first-ever elections in former semi-autonomous tribal region, bordering Afghanistan, that was once a stronghold of militant groups like the Taliban and the Al-Qaeda. Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), where the first-ever provincial elections were …

UGC may allow multiple degrees simultaneously Students might soon be able to pursue multiple degrees simultaneously from different universities or the same university, with the University Grants Commission (UGC) studying the feasibility of the idea. The UGC has set up a panel headed by its Vice Chairman Bhushan Patwardhan for …

Taslima Nasreen’s residency extended Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen’s residence permit has been extended for a year by the Union Home Ministry, officials said on Sunday. The writer was given a three-month permit last week and had requested Home Minister Amit Shah for a year’s extension. Ms. Nasreen has been living …

Lucknow will host the 11th biennial edition of DefExpo from February 5 to 8, 2020, the Defence Ministry announced on Sunday. “The main theme of DefExpo India-2020 will be “India: the emerging defence manufacturing hub” and the focus will be on “Digital transformation of defence’,” the Ministry said in a …

Group faces allegations of bank loan fraud involving Rs. 8,100 crore. The Interpol is yet to issue Red Notices against Chetan and Nitin Sandesara, promoters of the Vadodara-based Sterling Biotech Limited group which faces allegations of bank loan fraud involving Rs. 8,100 crore. The Enforcement Directorate, which is pursuing a …

Electoral bonds worth Rs. 5,851.41 crore were bought by donors to fund political parties between March 2018 and May 2019, of which 80.6% were redeemed in New Delhi, where the headquarters of major parties are located, reply to an RTI query has revealed. Chandrashekhar Goud, an RTI activist based in …

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Sunday asked militants to stop killing innocent people, including security personnel, and rather target “those who have looted the wealth of Kashmir for years”. The statement evoked severe criticism from mainstream politicians. “These boys who have picked up guns are killing their …

The four studies ordered by Army chief Gen. Bipin Rawat are restructuring of the AHQ; the Army restructuring which includes creation of Integrated Battle Groups; the cadre review of officers; and review of the terms and conditions of Junior Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks. The aim is a holistic integration …

Voting sees a jump from 4% in 2014 Having sent postal ballots to service voters electronically for the first time in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission of India on Sunday said the one-way electronic transmission had enabled 60.14% turnout of such voters. In comparison, an EC statement …

A number of Rohingya refugee families remain stranded on a zero point of the border along Tripura, as the Indian Border Security Force and Border Guards Bangladesh failed to resolve the issue. The two forces held a flag meeting after the former prevented their entry into India through the Rahimpur …

ITI’s ‘art from waste’ museums re-purpose metal waste left by cyclones Using the metal waste material left by the Titli and Fani cyclones, students of the government-managed Berhampur Industrial Training Institute (ITI) have built a giant 70-ft. Guitar. “The institution is planning to approach the Guinness Book of World Records …

State funding can provide a level playing field, says former PM There is a need to discuss state funding for elections at a time when a single party has access to 90% of the election funds, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Sunday at the birth centenary celebrations of …

Expecting response to the note verbale that we sent on Sunday, say sources India is in discussion with Iran to free at least 30 of its nationals who were on board two foreign-flagged ships detained by Iranian authorities. The Indian embassy in Tehran on Sunday sent an official note urging …

Use of estimated figures in place of reported numbers affected the final score of certain States An analysis of the NITI Aayog’s “Healthy States, progressive India” report released on June 25 shows that the usage of estimated figures in place of reported numbers, to calculate certain health indicators, has adversely …

Targeted date just a day later than the earlier schedule; module’s twin phases tweaked, says official The loss of a week due to the aborted launch of India’s second moon mission, Chandrayaan-2, on July 15 has not hampered the mission’s targeted landing date on the moon’s South Pole with ISRO …

New Delhi wants to move away from past set pieces, break political hegemonies and put different actors on the political chessboard The ongoing Parliament session saw the extension of President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir by another six months. At the same time, Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke of …

RTI enquiry reveals poor representation Scientists from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) are grossly under-represented in scientific institutions funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), a Right To Information query by a researcher has found. Several of these institutions just about meet the government prescribed criteria for reservation …