India

Woman Pilgrim Dies, Three Injured in Landslide on Amarnath Yatra Route

Woman Pilgrim Dies, Three Injured in Landslide on Amarnath Yatra Route

Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir (National Times): A tragic incident marred the sacred Amarnath Yatra on Wednesday evening as a 55-year-old woman pilgrim lost her life and three others sustained injuries following a landslide along the Baltal route in Ganderbal district, Jammu and Kashmir. According to official reports, four pilgrims were swept downhill by a sudden landslide that struck near Railpathri, a vulnerable stretch on the Baltal axis leading to the revered Amarnath cave shrine. The pilgrims were on their spiritual journey when the mishap occurred. Rescue teams acted swiftly, evacuating the injured to the Baltal base camp hospital. However, one…
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Air India AI-171 Crash: Pilot’s Medical History Under Scrutiny Amid Mental Health Claims

Air India AI-171 Crash: Pilot’s Medical History Under Scrutiny Amid Mental Health Claims

New Delhi (National Times) In the ongoing investigation into the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, attention has now turned to the mental health and medical records of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the pilot in command, following claims that he may have been suffering from depression. The 56-year-old veteran pilot, who had logged over 15,000 flying hours and was months away from retirement, reportedly took time off in recent years and was deeply affected by the death of his mother in 2022. He had since moved from Delhi to Mumbai to care for his aging father and was…
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Federation of Indian Pilots Raises Concerns Over AI-171 Crash Investigation

Federation of Indian Pilots Raises Concerns Over AI-171 Crash Investigation

Mumbai (National Times): In the wake of the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has released an official statement expressing deep concern over the preliminary findings and the public discourse surrounding the incident. The statement, signed by Capt. C.S. Randhawa, President of FIP, criticizes the exclusion of pilot representatives from the investigation process. The FIP also objects to the manner in which the preliminary report has been interpreted and publicized. “The report, as released, lacks comprehensive data and appears to rely selectively on paraphrased cockpit voice recordings,” the statement reads. The…
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SC Refuses to Lift Stay on ‘Udaipur Files’; Says Release May Cause ‘Irreparable Damage’

SC Refuses to Lift Stay on ‘Udaipur Files’; Says Release May Cause ‘Irreparable Damage’

New Delhi, July 16, 2025 — The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to lift the stay on the release of Udaipur Files – Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder, a film based on the 2022 killing of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, Rajasthan, observing that the release could cause “irreparable damage.”A Bench led by Justice Surya Kant, with Justice Joymalya Bagchi, deferred the matter to July 21, directing the filmmakers to await the decision of a central government panel scheduled to hear objections against the movie later on Wednesday.“If the movie is released, there will be irreparable damage. If it’s not, then…
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NATO Chief Warns India, China, Brazil of Heavy Sanctions Over Russia Ties Amid Trump’s Ultimatum

NATO Chief Warns India, China, Brazil of Heavy Sanctions Over Russia Ties Amid Trump’s Ultimatum

Washington DC, July 17, 2025: NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has issued a stark warning to nations like Brazil, China, and India, cautioning that they could face severe economic consequences if they continue business relations with Russia amid heightened Western pressure over the Ukraine war.Speaking to reporters on Wednesday after meetings with US lawmakers, Rutte urged leaders in Beijing, New Delhi, and Brasília to reassess their ties with Moscow in the wake of looming secondary sanctions threatened by US President Donald Trump.“My encouragement to these three countries, particularly is, if you live now in Beijing, or in Delhi, or you…
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Parliamentary Panel Proposes 285 Changes to Income Tax Bill, 2025 Ahead of Monsoon Session

Parliamentary Panel Proposes 285 Changes to Income Tax Bill, 2025 Ahead of Monsoon Session

New Delhi, July 16, 2025: A parliamentary panel scrutinising the landmark Income Tax Bill, 2025 has suggested as many as 285 changes to the draft legislation, which aims to overhaul and modernise India’s income tax laws.The Select Committee of the Lok Sabha, chaired by BJP leader Baijayant Panda, finalised its report on Wednesday. The report is set to be tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday, coinciding with the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon session.“We have made 285 suggestions to the Bill,” confirmed a member of the committee, reflecting the panel’s extensive engagement with the proposed legislation.The government is expected…
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Cabinet approves the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana

Cabinet approves the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana

New Delhi (National Times): The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today approved the “Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana” for a period of six years, beginning with 2025-26 to cover 100 districts. Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana draws inspiration from NITI Aayog’s Aspirational District Programme and first of its kind focusing exclusively on agriculture and allied sectors. The Scheme aims to enhance agricultural productivity, increase adoption of crop diversification and sustainable agricultural practices, augment post-harvest storage at the panchayat and block levels, improve irrigation facilities and facilitate availability of long-term and short-term credit. It is in pursuance of…
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Air India Flight AI186 from Vancouver to Delhi Encounters Significant Service Failures, Further Eroding Passenger Trust

Air India Flight AI186 from Vancouver to Delhi Encounters Significant Service Failures, Further Eroding Passenger Trust

Vancouver (Rajeev Sharma): Passengers on board Air India Flight AI186 from Vancouver to Delhi on 15th July, experienced a disappointing journey, raising serious concerns regarding the airline's service quality. The long-haul flight was plagued by several issues, including malfunctioning entertainment systems and unresponsive in-flight staff, under the command of Pilot Parshant Pankaj.According to passengers, entertainment screens for nearly half the seats were non-functional throughout the flight. "The crew had no explanation—just repeated apologies," said one frustrated traveler. The situation is particularly alarming given the recent incident involving an Air India flight from London, which left many passengers shaken. Travelers stated…
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Execution of Kerala Nurse Nimisha Priya Postponed in Yemen, Renewing Hopes for Her Release

Execution of Kerala Nurse Nimisha Priya Postponed in Yemen, Renewing Hopes for Her Release

New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, July 15 — Yemeni authorities have postponed the execution of Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala convicted of murdering a Yemeni citizen in 2017, bringing a wave of relief to her family and supporters who are now hopeful that united efforts may ultimately avert her death sentence altogether.Sources in New Delhi confirmed on Tuesday that Priya’s execution, which was originally scheduled for July 16, has been deferred following sustained diplomatic and humanitarian appeals by the Indian government and other stakeholders.The 38-year-old nurse, who hails from Kollengode in Kerala’s Palakkad district, has been on death row since 2020 after…
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UGC Sets Up Probe Panel After Odisha Student’s Self-Immolation Over Harassment Allegations

UGC Sets Up Probe Panel After Odisha Student’s Self-Immolation Over Harassment Allegations

New Delhi/Balasore, July 15 — The University Grants Commission (UGC) has constituted a four-member fact-finding panel to investigate the circumstances leading to the tragic self-immolation of a 20-year-old woman student at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Odisha’s Balasore.The second-year B Ed student, who had accused the college’s Head of Education Department, Samira Kumar Sahu, of sexual harassment, set herself ablaze on the campus on Saturday. She sustained 95% burns and succumbed to her injuries late Monday night at AIIMS Bhubaneswar after battling for her life for about 60 hours.In a statement on Tuesday, UGC Secretary Sudeep Singh Jain said:“A four-member…
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