India and the EU are making significant progress in negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA), according to commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal. The two sides agreed to build a commercially meaningful trade agenda and work towards a mutually beneficial pact, ahead of the 10th round of talks.
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Thailand issued a special stamp based on 18th-century Ramayan mural paintings during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit. Highlighting cultural ties, PM Modi was also gifted the World Tipitaka in Pali by the Thai PM. He witnessed a Thai Ramayana performance, underscoring shared cultural heritage. Modi's foreign visits often showcase India's rich traditions, reflecting deep historical and cultural connections.
South Goa SP Sunita Sawant was removed from her position following her order to collect information on Bajrang Dal members, leading to pressure from the outfit's functionaries. Anti-narcotics cell SP Tikam Singh Verma replaced her. Bajrang Dal has become increasingly active in Goa, protesting against various issues and political leaders since mid-2023.
President Vladimir Putin highlighted the 'special and privileged strategic partnership' between Russia and India on India's 76th Republic Day. He emphasized productive bilateral cooperation and constructive international interaction. Putin praised India's achievements since its constitution took effect and plans to visit India this year for reciprocal engagements between the countries' leaders.
British Airways introduces an in-person service in local languages for Indian customers traveling to London. The free 'meet and assist' service, available in Hindi, Punjabi, Telugu, and Tamil, helps passengers with check-in, airport navigation, boarding, and transit at London Heathrow. This initiative aims to enhance accessibility and improve customer experience on BA flights from five Indian cities.
Harish Rawat, former Uttarakhand chief minister, faced a setback as he found his name missing from the voters list during Dehradun's municipal elections. Despite being a resident since 2009, Rawat was unable to vote, alleging BJP's involvement in altering the list. Voting is underway for multiple municipal positions across Uttarakhand.
In response to soaring airfares due to the Maha Kumbh pilgrimage, the Centre has instructed airlines to increase flight frequency to Prayagraj. Airlines such as Akasa and SpiceJet have added numerous flights to alleviate fare pressures and enhance accessibility for devotees during important snan dates in January and February.
A CCTV footage shows the suspect entering Saif Ali Khan's Mumbai apartment before stabbing him multiple times. Khan underwent emergency surgery and was moved out of the ICU. The suspect, carrying a wooden stick and a blade, was arrested after a manhunt by Mumbai police following the attack.
A special NIA court in Bengaluru has sentenced Dr Syed Ismail Afaq to life imprisonment and two associates, Abdul Sabur and Saddam Hussain, to 10 years in jail for planning terror activities, including serial blasts ahead of US president Barack Obama's 2015 visit. Convicts are from Bhatkal, Karnataka, and were arrested by CCB sleuths.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the previous Bihar government under Lalu Prasad while emphasizing NDA's commitment to farmers' welfare. Speaking at a rally in Bhagalpur, PM Modi lauded the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme and was joined by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar who highlighted significant improvements in education, health, infrastructure, and security since 2005.
The Department of Space (DoS) has allocated Rs 413 crore for the Axiom-4 mission, aiming to send Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS) later this year. This joint Isro-Nasa effort targets a Q2 2025 launch, focusing on microgravity experiments and STEM education.