National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides

The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS

Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent

India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh

Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?

How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?

Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition

‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal

Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch

Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine

Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states

Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions

Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy

Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS

'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia

Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside

Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift

New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more

Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot

RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress

Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'

IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act

Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott

Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances

Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation

New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know

India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims

Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed

US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance

Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built

Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH

Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school

Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report

In a significant development aimed at dismantling long-standing terror networks in the Valley, Counter-Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) has secured Non-Bailable Warrants (NBWs) against four alleged operatives of the banned outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, including its chief and other senior functionaries.&nbsp;The warrants were issued by the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge TADA/POTA (Special Judge designated under the NIA Act) in Srinagar in connection with FIR No. 05/1996 registered at Police Station CIK under Sections 121, 121-A, 153-A, and 153-B of the Ranbir Penal Code, read with Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Sections 2/3 of the E&amp;IMCO Act.&nbsp;Among those named is Mohammad Yousuf Shah, also known as Syed Salah-ud-din, a resident of Soibugh, Budgam. Shah is described by investigators as the chief of the so-called United Jihad Council (UJC) and Hizbul Mujahideen. Officials allege that he has been involved in multiple terror-related cases registered across various police stations in the Kashmir Valley.

The court also issued warrants against Ghulam Nabi Khan, alias Amir Khan, a resident of Liver Srigufwara, Anantnag, who is alleged to be the Deputy Supreme Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen. Investigators claim he has been involved in recruitment, coordination of militant activities, and other terror-related operations.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/afghanistan-warns-of-decisive-action-if-pakistan-continues-war-1772196518103">‘Our hand can reach their necks’: Afghanistan warns of ‘decisive’ action if Pakistan continues war</a>&nbsp;Another accused is Sher Mohammad, also known as Bahadur or Riyaz, a resident of Malangam, Bandipora. Authorities allege that he served as a commander within the outfit and is implicated in cases registered under the UAPA and EIMCO Act.&nbsp;CIK also named Nasir Yousuf Qadri, originally from Sheeltang, Habbakadal, Srinagar, and later residing in Bemina. According to officials, he is associated with Hizbul Mujahideen and allegedly linked to operations of Kashmir Media Service, which authorities claim disseminates propaganda and issues threats.&nbsp;The case dates back to April 5, 1996, when Police Station CIK, Srinagar, registered the FIR following information that Pakistan-based handlers were allegedly motivating and facilitating Kashmiri youth to undergo arms training in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir with the objective of waging war against India.&nbsp;Officials said the move reflects CIK’s continued efforts to pursue long-pending terror-related cases and to bring those accused of threatening the sovereignty and integrity of the nation within the ambit of law.

Among those named is Mohammad Yousuf Shah, also known as Syed Salah-ud-din, a resident of Soibugh, Budgam. Shah is described by investigators as the chief of the so-called United Jihad Council (UJC) and Hizbul Mujahideen. 

In a significant development aimed at dismantling long-standing terror networks in the Valley, Counter-Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) has secured Non-Bailable Warrants (NBWs) against four alleged operatives of the banned outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, including its chief and other senior functionaries. The warrants were issued by the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge TADA/POTA (Special Judge designated under the NIA Act) in Srinagar in connection with FIR No. 05/1996 registered at Police Station CIK under Sections 121, 121-A, 153-A, and 153-B of the Ranbir Penal Code, read with Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Sections 2/3 of the E&IMCO Act. Among those named is Mohammad Yousuf Shah, also known as Syed Salah-ud-din, a resident of Soibugh, Budgam. Shah is described by investigators as the chief of the so-called United Jihad Council (UJC) and Hizbul Mujahideen. Officials allege that he has been involved in multiple terror-related cases registered across various police stations in the Kashmir Valley.

Among those named is Mohammad Yousuf Shah, also known as Syed Salah-ud-din, a resident of Soibugh, Budgam. Shah is described by investigators as the chief of the so-called United Jihad Council (UJC) and Hizbul Mujahideen.&nbsp;

CIK secures arrest warrants against UJC chief, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operatives

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney landed in Mumbai on Friday evening, marking the beginning of his four-day visit to India. PM Carney will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on March 2. It will be the third meeting between Carney and Modi in 10 months, which shows efforts to improve the Indo-Canadian relationship, burying the tensions that prevailed during his predecessor Justin Trudeau’s time.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">VIDEO | Maharashtra: Canadian PM Mark Carney arrives at Mumbai&#39;s Taj Hotel on an official visit to India from 27 February to 2 March 2026. (Full video available on PTI Videos - <a href="https://t.co/n147TvrpG7">https://t.co/n147TvrpG7</a>) <a href="https://t.co/YkKRMKvJdj">pic.twitter.com/YkKRMKvJdj</a>&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/2027335597854200000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-15-outposts-captured-40-pak-soldiers-killed-says-afghan-22-taliban-personnel-slain-in-retaliatory-action-claims-islamabad-1772133592010">‘15 outposts captured, 40 Pak soldiers killed,’ says Afghan; 22 Taliban personnel slain in retaliatory action, claims Islamabad</a>&nbsp;Carney’s visit underscores a strong push toward deeper economic engagement between the two countries. Carney will meet top industry leaders, financial specialists, and major Canadian pension fund representatives in Mumbai, signalling that trade, investment, and financial collaboration are central to the agenda.Key delegation-level discussions will take place at Hyderabad House, building on earlier bilateral exchanges held in Kananaskis and Johannesburg in 2025.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-fruitful-discussions-to-expand-trade-ties-says-piyush-goyal-after-hosting-us-commerce-secretary-howard-lutnick-1772128131114">‘Fruitful discussions to expand trade ties’: US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick travels to India, meets Piyush Goyal</a>&nbsp;The two countries shared a tumultuous relationship a few years back, as Trudeau often accused India of being involved in political assassinations on Canadian soil.The latest visit is expected to mark a significant shift in the relationship between the countries. The two leaders are expected to hold significant talks over economic affairs and bilateral trade.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/danish-pm-mette-frederiksen-calls-snap-election-amid-popularity-surge-for-resisting-trump-s-bid-to-acquire-greenland-1772120220927">Danish PM Mette Frederiksen calls snap election amid popularity surge for resisting Trump’s bid to acquire Greenland</a>&nbsp;The Canadian Prime Minister, who is on a three-nation tour, will also travel to Japan and Australia.&nbsp;The focus of the visit will be on trading relationships as both countries are trying for early conclusion of a trade agreement.&nbsp;Canada is seeking better ties with India at a time when its relationship with neighbour the United States has taken a hit since the beginning of Donald Trump’s second stint as US President.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet top industry leaders, financial specialists, and major Canadian pension fund representatives in Mumbai, signalling that trade, investment, and financial collaboration are central to the agenda. 

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney landed in Mumbai on Friday evening, marking the beginning of his four-day visit to India. PM Carney will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on March 2. It will be the third meeting between Carney and Modi in 10 months, which shows efforts to improve the Indo-Canadian relationship, burying the tensions that prevailed during his predecessor Justin Trudeau’s time.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet top industry leaders, financial specialists, and major Canadian pension fund representatives in Mumbai, signalling that trade, investment, and financial collaboration are central to the agenda.&nbsp;

Canadian PM Mark Carney lands in Mumbai, begins his four-day India visit

“Prachand helicopter is a powerful symbol of self-reliance. At this moment, I am flying over the Jaisalmer district. I extend my heartfelt greetings and deepest gratitude to our brave soldiers,” President Murmu said during the flight in a message to the nation.

President Murmu takes sortie in LCH 'Prachand' as IAF showcases might at Vayushakti-26

In the JNU student protest case, the Patiala House Court on Friday granted bail to all the accused students. The court directed that each of the accused furnish a bail bond of Rs. 25,000. The court has also ordered verification of the bail bonds. The developments come after student protestors of JNU on Thursday, led by JNUSU, were detained by Delhi Police after they took out a protest against Vice-Chancellor Santishree D Pandit. After the police locked the university doors and prevented protestors from crossing the barricades, they met with a scuffle, following which the police detained several protestors. Earlier today, the Delhi Police accused the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student protestors of physically assaulting the security personnel. The Delhi Police stated that the student protestors turned violent and "pelted banners and sticks, threw shoes, and even bit the personnel," following which those who violated the law were detained. "During the protest, barricades were damaged, and the demonstration turned violent. Protestors pelted banners and sticks, threw shoes, and even physically assaulted Delhi Police personnel, including biting. As a result, several police personnel were injured. The protestors were stopped and contained at the North Gate of the JNU campus and were gradually moved back inside. Those who became violent and did not obey lawful orders were detained. Further details will be shared in due course," Delhi Police said. The police further said that the JNUSU called the protest march from the campus to the Ministry of Education despite being denied permission by the University administration. The police said that around 500 students gathered in the protest and left the main gate of the university, though they were asked to restrict themselves to the campus. "A call for a Long March from JNU to the Ministry of Education was made by the JNU Student Union. The students were informed that such a protest outside the campus was not permitted by the JNU administration and were asked to restrict themselves to the campus. Despite talks and requests not to protest outside, around 400-500 students gathered and held a protest march. At approximately 3:20 PM, they left the main gate and marched outside," the police stated. On the other hand, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) condemned the alleged police brutality on the student protestors marching towards the Ministry of Education, demanding the implementation of the Rohith Act and the Vice-Chancellor's resignation. JNUSU further alleged that the injured students have been denied medical assistance.

The Delhi Police stated that the student protestors turned violent and "pelted banners and sticks, threw shoes, and even bit the personnel," following which those who violated the law were detained.

In the JNU student protest case, the Patiala House Court on Friday granted bail to all the accused students. The court directed that each of the accused furnish a bail bond of Rs. 25,000. The court has also ordered verification of the bail bonds. The developments come after student protestors of JNU on Thursday, led by JNUSU, were detained by Delhi Police after they took out a protest against Vice-Chancellor Santishree D Pandit. After the police locked the university doors and prevented protestors from crossing the barricades, they met with a scuffle, following which the police detained several protestors. Earlier today, the Delhi Police accused the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student protestors of physically assaulting the security personnel. The Delhi Police stated that the student protestors turned violent and "pelted banners and sticks, threw shoes, and even bit the personnel," following which those who violated the law were detained. "During the protest, barricades were damaged, and the demonstration turned violent. Protestors pelted banners and sticks, threw shoes, and even physically assaulted Delhi Police personnel, including biting. As a result, several police personnel were injured. The protestors were stopped and contained at the North Gate of the JNU campus and were gradually moved back inside. Those who became violent and did not obey lawful orders were detained. Further details will be shared in due course," Delhi Police said. The police further said that the JNUSU called the protest march from the campus to the Ministry of Education despite being denied permission by the University administration. The police said that around 500 students gathered in the protest and left the main gate of the university, though they were asked to restrict themselves to the campus. "A call for a Long March from JNU to the Ministry of Education was made by the JNU Student Union. The students were informed that such a protest outside the campus was not permitted by the JNU administration and were asked to restrict themselves to the campus. Despite talks and requests not to protest outside, around 400-500 students gathered and held a protest march. At approximately 3:20 PM, they left the main gate and marched outside," the police stated. On the other hand, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) condemned the alleged police brutality on the student protestors marching towards the Ministry of Education, demanding the implementation of the Rohith Act and the Vice-Chancellor's resignation. JNUSU further alleged that the injured students have been denied medical assistance.

The Delhi Police stated that the student protestors turned violent and "pelted banners and sticks, threw shoes, and even bit the personnel," following which those who violated the law were detained.

Delhi court grants bail to accused students detained in JNU protest

Strong earthquake tremors were felt in Kolkata and surrounding areas on Friday (Feb 27). Preliminary seismic data estimated between 5.3 and 5.5 on the Richter scale. The epicentre is located in neighbouring Bangladesh, near Khulna which is close to the India-Bangladesh border. The region is about 26 km southeast of Taki, West Bengal.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">A 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck south-west of Bangladesh, with tremors strongly felt in Kolkata, West Bengal. Residents rushed out of their homes in panic. Video: news agency ANI <a href="https://t.co/ohOF57hi6Z">pic.twitter.com/ohOF57hi6Z</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/2027298772972343327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has reported the quake to be of 5.4 magnitude. The tremor was reported around 1:30 PM IST and was recorded southwest of the BMD Seismic Centre in Dhaka's Agargaon, it said.The USGS said the earthquake was located at latitude 22.451°N and longitude 89.139°E, at a depth of 9.8 kilometres.People were seen gathering in open spaces in Kolkata shortly after the tremors were felt.&nbsp;Recounting the moment, Swagata, a Kolkata resident, said that the sofa and fan in their room were visibly shaking, after which they had to rush downstairs to open spaces. "We were sitting on our sofa when we suddenly felt the tremors. We rushed out of our house. The sofa and fan were shaking, and a bottle kept on a table fell down. All of us have rushed downstairs," she said.&nbsp;Shallow earthquakes are generally more dangerous than deep earthquakes. This is because the seismic waves from shallow earthquakes have a shorter distance to travel to the surface, resulting in stronger ground shaking and potentially more damage to structures and greater casualties. Earthquakes can occur anywhere between the Earth's surface and about 700 kilometres below the surface. For scientific purposes, this earthquake depth range of 0 - 700 km is divided into three zones: shallow, intermediate, and deep, as per USGS data. Shallow earthquakes are between 0 and 70 km deep; intermediate earthquakes, 70 - 300 km deep; and deep earthquakes, 300 - 700 km deep. In general, the term "deep-focus earthquakes" is applied to earthquakes deeper than 70 km, the USGS states.&nbsp;Earlier today, an earthquake of magnitude 2.7 on the Richter Scale struck Namchi in Sikkim, the National Center for Seismology (NCS) said.According to the NCS, the earthquake occurred at 12:02:43 IST at a depth of 5 kilometres and the epicentre was located at latitude 27.36 N and longitude 88.37 E."EQ of M: 2.7, On: 27/02/2026 12:02:43 IST, Lat: 27.36 N, Long: 88.37 E, Depth: 5 Km, Location: Namchi, Sikkim," the NCS stated in a post on X.&nbsp;(With agency inputs)

Strong earthquake tremors were felt in Kolkata and surrounding areas on Friday (Feb 27). Preliminary seismic data estimated between 5.3 and 5.5 on the Richter scale.

Strong earthquake tremors were felt in Kolkata and surrounding areas on Friday (Feb 27). Preliminary seismic data estimated between 5.3 and 5.5 on the Richter scale. The epicentre is located in neighbouring Bangladesh, near Khulna which is close to the India-Bangladesh border. The region is about 26 km southeast of Taki, West Bengal.

Strong earthquake tremors were felt in Kolkata and surrounding areas on Friday (Feb 27). Preliminary seismic data estimated between 5.3 and 5.5 on the Richter scale.

Strong earthquake tremors felt in Kolkata, epicenter in Bangladesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reacted to the inclusion of a section on “Corruption in the Judiciary” in the &nbsp;National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) Social Science textbook for Class 8. "Kaun dekh raha hai ye sab (Who is looking after all this)," said the Prime Minister, as per various media organisations.&nbsp;The PM asked Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to find out who was responsible for this and who should be held accountable.&nbsp;Pradhan also expressed his regret over the issue on Wednesday and said, "We hold the judiciary in the highest regard... There was absolutely no intention on the part of the government to disrespect the judiciary. We are taking this matter very seriously... We will fully comply with the judiciary's decision. I am deeply saddened by what happened and express my regret."&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-deploys-a-dozen-f-22-stealth-jets-to-israel-expanding-its-military-presence-in-middle-east-amid-tension-with-iran-1772169507000">US deploys a dozen F-22 stealth jets to Israel, expanding its military presence in Middle East amid tension with Iran</a>&nbsp;Also, the &nbsp;Information and Broadcasting (I&amp;B) Ministry and the Electronics and Information Technology Ministry (MeitY) have been asked by the education ministry to stop dissemination of the controversial textbook via digital platforms and media.<h2>What's the NCERT row?</h2>&nbsp;The Class 8 Social Science book prescribed by NCERT mentions that corruption, backlog of cases, and a lack of adequate number of judges were among the some major challenges faced by the judicial system.&nbsp;The chapter “Corruption in the Judiciary” didn't go down well with the Supreme Court of India. Taking note of it, the SC issued a show-cause notice to the Secretary of School Education in the Ministry of Education and the Director of NCERT.&nbsp;

The PM asked Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to find out who was responsible for including the chapter in the text and hold the person accountable.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reacted to the inclusion of a section on “Corruption in the Judiciary” in the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) Social Science textbook for Class 8. "Kaun dekh raha hai ye sab (Who is looking after all this)," said the Prime Minister, as per various media organisations. The PM asked Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to find out who was responsible for this and who should be held accountable. Pradhan also expressed his regret over the issue on Wednesday and said, "We hold the judiciary in the highest regard... There was absolutely no intention on the part of the government to disrespect the judiciary. We are taking this matter very seriously... We will fully comply with the judiciary's decision. I am deeply saddened by what happened and express my regret." ALSO READ: US deploys a dozen F-22 stealth jets to Israel, expanding its military presence in Middle East amid tension with Iran Also, the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry and the Electronics and Information Technology Ministry (MeitY) have been asked by the education ministry to stop dissemination of the controversial textbook via digital platforms and media. What's the NCERT row? The Class 8 Social Science book prescribed by NCERT mentions that corruption, backlog of cases, and a lack of adequate number of judges were among the some major challenges faced by the judicial system. The chapter “Corruption in the Judiciary” didn't go down well with the Supreme Court of India. Taking note of it, the SC issued a show-cause notice to the Secretary of School Education in the Ministry of Education and the Director of NCERT.

The PM asked Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to find out who was responsible for including the chapter in the text and hold the person accountable.

NCERT judiciary ‘corruption’ content: PM Modi asks to fix responsibility, Education Minister vows action

A family in Madhya Pradesh's Indore was cheated of Rs 1 lakh after fraudsters staged a fake kidnapping through a morphed video call using deepfake technology, showing their minor son in distress. The incident happened when their son, studying in Class X, did not return home after his tuition class. According to a report by the Indian Express, the police said the family had previously scolded the child; when he didn't return home and remained untraceable for long hours, they filed a missing person complaint at the local police station. In order to find the boy quickly, the family also shared his footage and contact details on social media. Later that night, the family reportedly received a video call from unidentified individuals claiming the child had been abducted. During the call, the boy was allegedly shown on camera and appeared to be in danger. The callers demanded Rs 1 lakh for his safe return and instructed the family to send the money via a QR code. Fearing the threat was real and concerned for the child’s safety, the family transferred the amount, according to police.<h3>Police suspect cyber fraud using deepfake technology</h3>However, the situation changed dramatically the next day when the boy returned home on his own. He reportedly informed his family that he had gone to a nearby temple for darshan and had not been kidnapped. He also said he had not been harmed or threatened. Soon after the boy claimed, the family informed the police, suspecting it was cyber fraud. Additional DCP (Crime) Rajesh Dantodiya said the case seems to involved advanced level cybercrime involving manipulated visuals. He explained, “family was convinced because they saw what looked like their own child in the video call. Such videos can now be convincingly morphed using advanced technology”. Dantodiya added that the video shown to the family depicting the child being threatened, was not a real kidnapping. He noted that police have strong reasons to believe that deepfake technology was utilised to dupe the family after creating the extortion video. He said, "The crime branch has taken up the investigation to identify those behind the fraud and to trace the digital trail linked to the QR code payment”. &nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-i-am-not-corrupt-kejriwal-breaks-down-after-discharge-in-excise-policy-case-videoliquorgate-delhi-liquor-case-1772175196611">'I am not corrupt': Kejriwal breaks down after discharge in excise policy case | Video</a>

The police said the family had previously scolded the child; when he didn't return home and remained untraceable for long hours, they filed a missing person complaint at the local police station.

A family in Madhya Pradesh's Indore was cheated of Rs 1 lakh after fraudsters staged a fake kidnapping through a morphed video call using deepfake technology, showing their minor son in distress. The incident happened when their son, studying in Class X, did not return home after his tuition class. According to a report by the Indian Express, the police said the family had previously scolded the child; when he didn't return home and remained untraceable for long hours, they filed a missing person complaint at the local police station. In order to find the boy quickly, the family also shared his footage and contact details on social media. Later that night, the family reportedly received a video call from unidentified individuals claiming the child had been abducted. During the call, the boy was allegedly shown on camera and appeared to be in danger. The callers demanded Rs 1 lakh for his safe return and instructed the family to send the money via a QR code. Fearing the threat was real and concerned for the child’s safety, the family transferred the amount, according to police. Police suspect cyber fraud using deepfake technology However, the situation changed dramatically the next day when the boy returned home on his own. He reportedly informed his family that he had gone to a nearby temple for darshan and had not been kidnapped. He also said he had not been harmed or threatened. Soon after the boy claimed, the family informed the police, suspecting it was cyber fraud. Additional DCP (Crime) Rajesh Dantodiya said the case seems to involved advanced level cybercrime involving manipulated visuals. He explained, “family was convinced because they saw what looked like their own child in the video call. Such videos can now be convincingly morphed using advanced technology”. Dantodiya added that the video shown to the family depicting the child being threatened, was not a real kidnapping. He noted that police have strong reasons to believe that deepfake technology was utilised to dupe the family after creating the extortion video. He said, "The crime branch has taken up the investigation to identify those behind the fraud and to trace the digital trail linked to the QR code payment”. Also read: 'I am not corrupt': Kejriwal breaks down after discharge in excise policy case | Video

The police said the family had previously scolded the child; when he didn't return home and remained untraceable for long hours, they filed a missing person complaint at the local police station.

Indore family loses Rs 1 lakh in fake kidnap scam using 'deepfake technology': More details inside

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Friday (Feb 27) had a public breakdown outside Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court while being discharged in the Delhi excise policy case. Speaking to reporters, he grew emotional and said the verdict had vindicated him and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. "I am not corrupt," Kejriwal said. “The court has said that Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are honest.”The court cleared both leaders of the charges, noting that the alleged central conspiracy could not be substantiated. It found no criminal intent on Sisodia’s part and said the conspiracy theory did not stand legal scrutiny.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-declares-open-war-against-afghanistan-taliban-says-patience-reached-its-limit-1772154130929">Pakistan declares 'open war' against Afghanistan Taliban, says 'patience reached its limit'</a><h2>Kejriwal breaks down on camera: Video</h2>“Today, the court has discharged all accused in this case. We always said that the truth emerges victorious. We have full faith in the Indian legal system,” said the AAP leader growing emotional with every word. The video of his emotional moment is going viral on social media. Watch it here.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">And Arvind Kejriwal breaks down… <a href="https://t.co/viIIzfh8Nx">pic.twitter.com/viIIzfh8Nx</a>&mdash; Arvind Gunasekar (@arvindgunasekar) <a href="https://twitter.com/arvindgunasekar/status/2027277138546860404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Kejriwal launches political attack against BJP</h2>The AAP supremo used the moment to launch a sharp political attack, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of orchestrating what he called the "biggest political conspiracy to finish AAP". He alleged that the BJP had attempted to dismantle the AAP by putting "5 big leaders of the party" in jail.A "sitting chief minister was dragged out of his house and put in jail," he said, adding that he had always maintained the truth would prevail. "Kejriwal is not corrupt. I have only earned honesty in my life. Today, the court has said that Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and AAP are honest," he said.Sisodia echoed the sentiment, calling the verdict a reaffirmation of constitutional values. "Satyamev Jayate…Despite all the attempts by Modi Ji's entire party and all their agencies to prove us dishonest, today it has been proven that Arvind Kejriwal - Manish Sisodia are staunchly honest," he said.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-is-defense-production-act-can-trump-force-anthropic-to-give-unrestricted-access-to-its-ai-1772167904688">What is Defense Production Act? Can Trump force Anthropic to give 'unrestricted' access to its AI</a><h2>Case and the court’s findings</h2>The Central Bureau of Investigation in its first chargesheet in 2022, and several supplementary ones had alleged that a "south lobby" paid Rs 100 crore to influence the now-scrapped excise policy.23 individuals were named in the case, including senior political figures and business associates. However, the court noted that the allegations "failed judicial scrutiny". It said that the the conspiracy theory "cannot survive against one constitutional authority."

“I am not corrupt": After being discharged in the excise policy case, Arvind Kejriwal grew emotional outside court and called the verdict a vindication. Watch video HERE.

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Friday (Feb 27) had a public breakdown outside Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court while being discharged in the Delhi excise policy case. Speaking to reporters, he grew emotional and said the verdict had vindicated him and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. "I am not corrupt," Kejriwal said. “The court has said that Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are honest.” The court cleared both leaders of the charges, noting that the alleged central conspiracy could not be substantiated. It found no criminal intent on Sisodia’s part and said the conspiracy theory did not stand legal scrutiny. Also read | Pakistan declares 'open war' against Afghanistan Taliban, says 'patience reached its limit' Kejriwal breaks down on camera: Video “Today, the court has discharged all accused in this case. We always said that the truth emerges victorious. We have full faith in the Indian legal system,” said the AAP leader growing emotional with every word. The video of his emotional moment is going viral on social media. Watch it here.

“I am not corrupt": After being discharged in the excise policy case, Arvind Kejriwal grew emotional outside court and called the verdict a vindication. Watch video HERE.

'I am not corrupt': Kejriwal breaks down after discharge in excise policy case | Video

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Ambassador Sergio Gor on Thursday and discussed trade and economic partnership between India and the United States. Goyal confirmed the talks on trade expansion in a statement on X. “Hosted US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick &amp; US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor. Engaged in very fruitful discussions to expand our trade and economic partnership,” Goyal wrote on X without divulging much on the meeting, but the mention of ‘trade’ and ‘economic partnership’ gave enough hints that the proposed trade deal was the focal point of talks.The three leaders were all smiles as they posed for a photo.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Hosted US Secretary of Commerce <a href="https://twitter.com/howardlutnick?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HowardLutnick</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/USAmbIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USAmbIndia</a> Sergio Gor. Engaged in very fruitful discussions to expand our trade and economic partnership. 🇮🇳🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/UjfExNj6wi">pic.twitter.com/UjfExNj6wi</a>&mdash; Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/PiyushGoyal/status/2026933594493681742?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/danish-pm-mette-frederiksen-calls-snap-election-amid-popularity-surge-for-resisting-trump-s-bid-to-acquire-greenland-1772120220927">Danish PM Mette Frederiksen calls snap election amid popularity surge for resisting Trump’s bid to acquire Greenland</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;It was not until Goyal tweeted on Thursday that India came to know of Lutnick’s visit.&nbsp;Gor also shared that they had met but did not divulge much. “So many areas of cooperation for our two nations. A highly productive lunch with Howard Lutnick and Piyush Goyal,” he tweeted.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A highly productive lunch with ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/howardlutnick?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@howardlutnick</a>⁩ and ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/PiyushGoyal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PiyushGoyal</a>⁩. So many areas of cooperation for our two nations! <a href="https://t.co/C3CDN3Wopg">pic.twitter.com/C3CDN3Wopg</a>&mdash; Ambassador Sergio Gor (@USAmbIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAmbIndia/status/2026928790115332549?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-economic-forum-chief-borge-brende-quits-over-his-links-with-epstein-1772107692150">World Economic Forum chief Borge Brende quits over his links with Epstein</a>&nbsp;The timing of Lutnick’s visit is crucial. Lutnick had famously claimed in a podcast that the trade deal with India could not materialise last year because Prime Minister Modi refused to directly call Trump.Some months ago, Lutnick had made another bold prediction amid the trade deal logjam. He said India would eventually give in to the tariff pressure, say sorry, and try to make an agreement. However, it was Lutnick who travelled all the way to Delhi.&nbsp;The US embassy in India also shared photos of Lutnick with Goyal.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Welcome to India, Secretary <a href="https://twitter.com/howardlutnick?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HowardLutnick</a>! Your visit celebrates the enduring friendship between our two great democracies. Thanks to your support, the U.S.-India economic relationship has never been stronger. With our new target of $500 billion in bilateral trade, the United… <a href="https://t.co/QP0VsPwQiA">pic.twitter.com/QP0VsPwQiA</a>&mdash; U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAndIndia/status/2027027505396560214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suicide-bomber-blows-himself-up-near-pakistan-checkpost-4-cops-dead-1772038584936">Suicide bomber blows himself up near Pakistan checkpost; 4 cops dead | Video</a>&nbsp;Earlier this week, Goyal had said that trade talks between the two countries would resume once there was greater clarity, following the US Supreme Court’s invalidation of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs. Several countries that struck trade deals are now reassessing their positions.&nbsp;Earlier this month, India and the US agreed on an initial framework to reduce US tariffs on Indian exports from 50 per cent to 18 per cent.&nbsp;The US Supreme Court invalidated Trump’s emergency tariffs, creating more negotiation space for India.India postponed a planned delegation trip to Washington that was intended to finalise the interim deal, though it is not reconsidering the agreement itself.Indian officials are cautiously evaluating next steps to protect commercial interests without disrupting bilateral relations.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-orders-blanket-ban-on-ncert-textbook-says-heads-must-roll-1772104695420">Supreme Court orders blanket ban on NCERT textbook, says ‘heads must roll’</a>&nbsp;Trump has rampantly used reciprocal tariffs as leverage in finalising trade deals.After the Supreme Court ruling, an infuriated Trump warned countries against ‘playing games’ and walking back on trade commitments.“Any country that wants to play games with the ridiculous Supreme Court decision, especially those that have ripped off the US for years, and even decades, will be met with a much higher tariff, and worse, than that which they just recently agreed to,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had famously claimed in a podcast that the trade deal with India could not materialise last year because PM Modi refused to call Trump. He also said earlier that India would eventually give in to the pressure, say sorry, and try to make an agreement.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Ambassador Sergio Gor on Thursday and discussed trade and economic partnership between India and the United States. Goyal confirmed the talks on trade expansion in a statement on X. “Hosted US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick & US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor. Engaged in very fruitful discussions to expand our trade and economic partnership,” Goyal wrote on X without divulging much on the meeting, but the mention of ‘trade’ and ‘economic partnership’ gave enough hints that the proposed trade deal was the focal point of talks. The three leaders were all smiles as they posed for a photo.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had famously claimed in a podcast that the trade deal with India could not materialise last year because PM Modi refused to call Trump. He also said earlier that India would eventually give in to the pressure, say sorry, and try to make an agreement.

‘Fruitful discussions to expand trade ties’: US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick travels to India, meets Piyush Goyal

Months after an Indian-origin paediatrician was accused of killing her four-year-old daughter at a rental property in Miami, authorities have made public the chilling 911 call she placed on the night of the incident in June 2025. Dr. Neha Gupta, 37, who practices in Oklahoma, told investigators that her daughter, Aria Talathi, accidentally wandered out of the short-term rental home and fell into the swimming pool while they were asleep. The pair had travelled from Oklahoma to Florida when the tragedy occurred.&nbsp;In the emergency call, Gupta can be heard telling the dispatcher, "She was in the pool, I tried to save her, but I don't know how to swim," she is heard saying in the 911 recording released by authorities. “I tried to get her out.” Describing the moments leading up to the discovery, she said, "We were sleeping, and I heard some noise. She was in the pool, and I tried to save her, but I don't know how to swim. She went down in the pool."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/svalbard-doomsday-see-vault-new-seeds-from-guatemala-niger-1772111043010">Svalbard 'Doomsday Vault' just added new seeds from two first-time countries</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">🇺🇸 📹 PEDIATRA ACUSADA POR MUERTE DE SU HIJA EN PISCINA Las cámaras de seguridad captaron a la madre y la niña en la vivienda de alquiler antes del hallazgo en la piscina. ¿Noticias y tendencias? ¡Sigue <a href="https://twitter.com/ULTIMAHORAENX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ULTIMAHORAENX</a> para MAS!🔔 Neha Gupta pediatra de Oklahoma… <a href="https://t.co/ol8cVhh9BR">pic.twitter.com/ol8cVhh9BR</a>&mdash; ⓍULTIMAHORAENX (@ULTIMAHORAENX) <a href="https://twitter.com/ULTIMAHORAENX/status/2026813448705785856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

When the dispatcher asked whether anyone else was present to help, Gupta responded, “No, it's just both of us here...It's just me...I tried my best to get her out.” Pressed further about the child’s condition, she said, “No, she's at the bottom of the pool...She's not moving.” The dispatcher urged her repeatedly to attempt a rescue and asked about the pool’s depth. Gupta replied, "I think it's nine feet, I don't know how deep," adding, "Yeah, I'm trying," as emergency crews were dispatched.&nbsp;Officers arrived shortly afterward, and Gupta went to let them inside. Police were then heard retrieving the child from the water. According to investigators, Gupta initially estimated that her daughter may have been in the pool for about 20 minutes. However, the autopsy reportedly revealed no water in the child’s lungs or stomach, leading authorities to conclude she had died before entering the pool. Detectives now allege that the four-year-old was smothered.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-israel-to-finalise-free-trade-agreement-soon-1772117994104/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-israel-to-finalise-free-trade-agreement-soon-1772117994104/embed</a>&nbsp;Gupta was subsequently taken into custody and remains jailed without bond. She and her legal team continue to insist that the child’s death was accidental. She is scheduled to appear in court again in May. At the time of the incident, the girl’s father had been pursuing full custody and had expressed concerns about Gupta’s mental health. He later told police he was unaware that his daughter had been taken to Florida.

'I tried to get her out': Chilling 911 call surfaces in case of Indian-origin doctor accused of killing daughter

Months after an Indian-origin paediatrician was accused of killing her four-year-old daughter at a rental property in Miami, authorities have made public the chilling 911 call she placed on the night of the incident in June 2025. Dr. Neha Gupta, 37, who practices in Oklahoma, told investigators that her daughter, Aria Talathi, accidentally wandered out of the short-term rental home and fell into the swimming pool while they were asleep. The pair had travelled from Oklahoma to Florida when the tragedy occurred. In the emergency call, Gupta can be heard telling the dispatcher, "She was in the pool, I tried to save her, but I don't know how to swim," she is heard saying in the 911 recording released by authorities. “I tried to get her out.” Describing the moments leading up to the discovery, she said, "We were sleeping, and I heard some noise. She was in the pool, and I tried to save her, but I don't know how to swim. She went down in the pool." Also Read: Svalbard 'Doomsday Vault' just added new seeds from two first-time countries

911 audio released in Miami case where an Oklahoma doctor is accused of staging a pool drowning to cover daughter’s death

India is set to launch the Human Papillomavirus Vaccination campaign across the nation for 14-year-old girls on February 28 from Ajmer, Rajasthan. The move marks the formal start of the large-scale push of India to stop cervical cancer through immunisation. The Union Health Ministry said in an official letter, which was sent to states and union territories, that the campaign has been planned “tentatively at 11.30 am on 28th February 2026" and that “The Prime Minister has kindly consented to launch the campaign from Ajmer, Rajasthan." The letter highlighted the public health rationale, underscoring, “Cervical cancer is a significant public health concern in our country as well as globally. It is caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), and it is the only cancer which can be prevented by a vaccine."<h3>What are the operational guidelines?</h3>The initiative will first focus on girls aged 14, those who have completed their 14th year but have not yet reached 15, and will be conducted as an intensive three-month drive before being folded into the routine immunisation programme. To reduce anxiety-related reactions among adolescents, the guidelines recommend that vaccinations not be administered on an empty stomach, that recipients be monitored for 30 minutes after the shot, and that crowding at vaccination sites be avoided. The operational guidelines attached to the letter instruct states to roll out the programme immediately after the Prime Minister’s launch. “Initiate the HPV vaccination on 28th February 2026 after the launch event as per the following detailed guidelines," the letter said. “Target Population: Girls aged 14 years (those who have celebrated their 14th birthday but have not yet celebrated their 15th birthday)," it added. The letter further clarifies that “Girls who will turn 15 years within 90 days of the launch will also be eligible for vaccination during the intensive three-month HPV vaccination activity." The document also reiterates that HPV vaccination is voluntary and requires mandatory consent from a parent or legal guardian before girls are vaccinated.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-say-extraterrestrial-object-slammed-into-brazil-6-3mn-years-ago-but-left-no-crater-there-is-another-proof-1772099549598">Scientists say extraterrestrial object slammed into Brazil 6.3mn years ago, but left no crater. There is another proof</a>

The campaign on HPV  shots will first focus on girls aged 14, those who have completed their 14th year but have not yet reached 15, and will be conducted as an intensive three-month drive before being folded into the routine immunisation programme.

India is set to launch the Human Papillomavirus Vaccination campaign across the nation for 14-year-old girls on February 28 from Ajmer, Rajasthan. The move marks the formal start of the large-scale push of India to stop cervical cancer through immunisation. The Union Health Ministry said in an official letter, which was sent to states and union territories, that the campaign has been planned “tentatively at 11.30 am on 28th February 2026" and that “The Prime Minister has kindly consented to launch the campaign from Ajmer, Rajasthan." The letter highlighted the public health rationale, underscoring, “Cervical cancer is a significant public health concern in our country as well as globally. It is caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), and it is the only cancer which can be prevented by a vaccine." What are the operational guidelines? The initiative will first focus on girls aged 14, those who have completed their 14th year but have not yet reached 15, and will be conducted as an intensive three-month drive before being folded into the routine immunisation programme. To reduce anxiety-related reactions among adolescents, the guidelines recommend that vaccinations not be administered on an empty stomach, that recipients be monitored for 30 minutes after the shot, and that crowding at vaccination sites be avoided. The operational guidelines attached to the letter instruct states to roll out the programme immediately after the Prime Minister’s launch. “Initiate the HPV vaccination on 28th February 2026 after the launch event as per the following detailed guidelines," the letter said. “Target Population: Girls aged 14 years (those who have celebrated their 14th birthday but have not yet celebrated their 15th birthday)," it added. The letter further clarifies that “Girls who will turn 15 years within 90 days of the launch will also be eligible for vaccination during the intensive three-month HPV vaccination activity." The document also reiterates that HPV vaccination is voluntary and requires mandatory consent from a parent or legal guardian before girls are vaccinated. Also read: Scientists say extraterrestrial object slammed into Brazil 6.3mn years ago, but left no crater. There is another proof

The campaign on HPV &nbsp;shots will first focus on girls aged 14, those who have completed their 14th year but have not yet reached 15, and will be conducted as an intensive three-month drive before being folded into the routine immunisation programme.

India to launch nationwide HPV vaccination drive for 14-year-old girls on THIS date: More details inside

India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has revised its air ticket refund framework to make cancellations and modifications more passenger-friendly. The updated norms introduce a limited free-cancellation window, quicker refund timelines, and clearer accountability for airlines.<h2>What has changed?</h2>Under the new guidelines, travellers who book directly through an airline’s website can cancel or modify their tickets within 48 hours of purchase without paying extra fees, subject to specified conditions. This cooling-off period allows passengers to reassess their travel plans without financial penalty. Airlines are also required to fix minor name errors, such as spelling mistakes, free of charge if passengers report them within 24 hours of booking, provided the ticket was purchased directly from the airline.&nbsp;&nbsp;The move is aimed at preventing avoidable charges for small clerical mistakes. For tickets booked via travel agents or third-party platforms, airlines will now be responsible for processing refunds. Regardless of the booking channel, refunds must be credited within 14 working days, reducing the long delays many passengers have previously experienced. The revised norms additionally mention flexibility in cases involving medical emergencies, though detailed procedures were not outlined in the public communication. The intent is to provide relief to passengers forced to cancel due to health-related issues.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/operation-sindoor-2-0-underway-india-warns-pakistan-of-harsher-response-says-won-t-be-deterred-by-nuclear-bluff-1772112033120">Operation Sindoor 2.0 underway, India warns Pakistan of harsher response says 'won’t be deterred by nuclear bluff'</a>&nbsp;The changes follow a surge in refund-related complaints, particularly during the operational disruptions faced by IndiGo in December 2025, when widespread cancellations led to significant refund delays. While the 48-hour window offers flexibility, any changes made after that period will be subject to the airline’s fare rules, including applicable modification fees and fare differences.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/satte-2026-decoding-india-s-corporate-travel-sector-1772110749968/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/satte-2026-decoding-india-s-corporate-travel-sector-1772110749968/embed</a><h2>What passengers should know about the new rules</h2><ul><li>Free cancellation or modification within 48 hours of booking (for direct airline bookings).</li><li>Name corrections are allowed at no cost within 24 hours of booking.</li><li>Refunds must be processed within 14 working days.</li><li>Airlines are responsible for refunds, even for tickets booked via agents.</li><li>Medical cancellations are covered under the updated framework.</li><li>Changes made after 48 hours will incur charges as per fare conditions.</li></ul>

Made a quick booking mistake? The new rule protects you from extra fees. What is it?

India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has revised its air ticket refund framework to make cancellations and modifications more passenger-friendly. The updated norms introduce a limited free-cancellation window, quicker refund timelines, and clearer accountability for airlines. What has changed? Under the new guidelines, travellers who book directly through an airline’s website can cancel or modify their tickets within 48 hours of purchase without paying extra fees, subject to specified conditions. This cooling-off period allows passengers to reassess their travel plans without financial penalty. Airlines are also required to fix minor name errors, such as spelling mistakes, free of charge if passengers report them within 24 hours of booking, provided the ticket was purchased directly from the airline. The move is aimed at preventing avoidable charges for small clerical mistakes. For tickets booked via travel agents or third-party platforms, airlines will now be responsible for processing refunds. Regardless of the booking channel, refunds must be credited within 14 working days, reducing the long delays many passengers have previously experienced. The revised norms additionally mention flexibility in cases involving medical emergencies, though detailed procedures were not outlined in the public communication. The intent is to provide relief to passengers forced to cancel due to health-related issues. Also Read: Operation Sindoor 2.0 underway, India warns Pakistan of harsher response says 'won’t be deterred by nuclear bluff' The changes follow a surge in refund-related complaints, particularly during the operational disruptions faced by IndiGo in December 2025, when widespread cancellations led to significant refund delays. While the 48-hour window offers flexibility, any changes made after that period will be subject to the airline’s fare rules, including applicable modification fees and fare differences. https://www.wionews.com/videos/satte-2026-decoding-india-s-corporate-travel-sector-1772110749968/embed What passengers should know about the new rules Free cancellation or modification within 48 hours of booking (for direct airline bookings). Name corrections are allowed at no cost within 24 hours of booking. Refunds must be processed within 14 working days. Airlines are responsible for refunds, even for tickets booked via agents. Medical cancellations are covered under the updated framework. Changes made after 48 hours will incur charges as per fare conditions.

DGCA introduces 48-hour free cancellation, 24-hour name correction, and a 14-day refund deadline to simplify air ticket refunds for passengers

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar was elected as the National President of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) at the party’s national executive meeting on Thursday. She succeeds her late husband, Ajit Pawar, who held the position until his tragic death in a plane crash. Ajit Pawar was also deputy chief minister.Sunetra Pawar assumed the office of party president following a unanimous decision by party MLAs and senior leaders.&nbsp;Addressing party leaders and delegates at the national convention, senior NCP leader Praful Patel delivered an emotional speech and said that there was complete clarity and unity among party leaders on the way forward.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-orders-blanket-ban-on-ncert-textbook-says-heads-must-roll-1772104695420">Supreme Court orders blanket ban on NCERT textbook, says ‘heads must roll’</a>&nbsp;Patel formally proposed Sunetra Pawar’s name. The proposal received unanimous support from all leaders and delegates present at the convention. Following this, Sunetra Pawar was officially declared the national president of the NCP, marking a new chapter in the party’s leadership and organisational journey.&nbsp;Sunetra is also contesting the bye-election from Baramati, a seat that was represented by Ajit Pawar eight times.She was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on January 31, becoming the first woman to hold the office in the state’s history.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/share-revenue-with-news-publishers-or-face-legal-action-minister-ashwini-vaishnaw-warns-platforms-1772103925985">‘Share revenue with news publishers or face legal action,’ minister Ashwini Vaishnaw warns platforms</a>&nbsp;Before her swearing-in as deputy chief minister, she was unanimously elected as the leader of the NCP Legislative Party to fill the sudden leadership vacuum in the party.&nbsp;The NCP performed well in the recent local elections and won the Pune Zilla Parishad. It also improved its position in Kolhapur and several panchayat samitis.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suicide-bomber-blows-himself-up-near-pakistan-checkpost-4-cops-dead-1772038584936">Suicide bomber blows himself up near Pakistan checkpost; 4 cops dead | Video</a>&nbsp;Ajit Pawar served as Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister six times in different coalition governments over the years. Ajit was long considered the obvious successor to his uncle, Sharad Pawar, as party chief and often found it difficult to step out of his uncle’s shadow.&nbsp;In 2019, his first attempt to rebel following some internal frictions did not succeed. But in 2023, he played a key role in a major political shift in Maharashtra. He split from the NCP, created his own faction, and joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as they came to power in the state.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-economic-forum-chief-borge-brende-quits-over-his-links-with-epstein-1772107692150">World Economic Forum chief Borge Brende quits over his links with Epstein</a>&nbsp;As the NCP was split into two, Ajit Pawar’s camp kept the party’s name and symbol and brought along several senior leaders and MLAs, weakening his uncle’s influence. After the BJP-led alliance won the 2024 state elections, Ajit Pawar was again appointed deputy chief minister.

Senior NCP leader Praful Patel delivered an emotional speech and formally proposed Sunetra Pawar’s name. The proposal received unanimous support from all leaders and delegates present at the convention, following which Sunetra Pawar was officially declared the national president of the party.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar was elected as the National President of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) at the party’s national executive meeting on Thursday. She succeeds her late husband, Ajit Pawar, who held the position until his tragic death in a plane crash. Ajit Pawar was also deputy chief minister. Sunetra Pawar assumed the office of party president following a unanimous decision by party MLAs and senior leaders. Addressing party leaders and delegates at the national convention, senior NCP leader Praful Patel delivered an emotional speech and said that there was complete clarity and unity among party leaders on the way forward. Also Read: Supreme Court orders blanket ban on NCERT textbook, says ‘heads must roll’ Patel formally proposed Sunetra Pawar’s name. The proposal received unanimous support from all leaders and delegates present at the convention. Following this, Sunetra Pawar was officially declared the national president of the NCP, marking a new chapter in the party’s leadership and organisational journey. Sunetra is also contesting the bye-election from Baramati, a seat that was represented by Ajit Pawar eight times. She was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on January 31, becoming the first woman to hold the office in the state’s history. Also Read: ‘Share revenue with news publishers or face legal action,’ minister Ashwini Vaishnaw warns platforms Before her swearing-in as deputy chief minister, she was unanimously elected as the leader of the NCP Legislative Party to fill the sudden leadership vacuum in the party. The NCP performed well in the recent local elections and won the Pune Zilla Parishad. It also improved its position in Kolhapur and several panchayat samitis. Also Read: Suicide bomber blows himself up near Pakistan checkpost; 4 cops dead | Video Ajit Pawar served as Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister six times in different coalition governments over the years. Ajit was long considered the obvious successor to his uncle, Sharad Pawar, as party chief and often found it difficult to step out of his uncle’s shadow. In 2019, his first attempt to rebel following some internal frictions did not succeed. But in 2023, he played a key role in a major political shift in Maharashtra. He split from the NCP, created his own faction, and joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as they came to power in the state. Also Read: World Economic Forum chief Borge Brende quits over his links with Epstein As the NCP was split into two, Ajit Pawar’s camp kept the party’s name and symbol and brought along several senior leaders and MLAs, weakening his uncle’s influence. After the BJP-led alliance won the 2024 state elections, Ajit Pawar was again appointed deputy chief minister.

Senior NCP leader Praful Patel delivered an emotional speech and formally proposed Sunetra Pawar’s name. The proposal received unanimous support from all leaders and delegates present at the convention, following which Sunetra Pawar was officially declared the national president of the party.

Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra elected NCP’s National President, to contest Baramati bye-election

Western Command of the Indian Army warned Pakistan of a “harsher” response than the previous one, highlighting that Operation Sindoor 2.0 is underway. Lieutenant General Rajesh Pushkar, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 2 Corps, stated that Operation Sindoor 2.0 is underway, and the scale of preparation to launch the operation was much larger this time. The Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in May last year in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people. Later, India carried out precision strikes aimed at terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.<h3>Strong warning to Pakistan</h3>Speaking about the operation, Pushkar said India had sent a strong warning to Pakistan, adding that within four days the country was effectively forced to back down. "We gave Pakistan a very small sample in the operation. In just four days, they were brought to their knees and called our DGMO and asked to stop this war... This was a very small example, and its purpose was training," the Lieutenant General Pushkar said, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;&nbsp;He made the remarks during the Western Command’s Operational Capability Demonstration held in Pathankot, Punjab. “He (Shehbaz Sharif) wants to prevent us from taking any strong action... It's a kind of bluff he's doing, which we have to call out. We will not be deterred by his nuclear bluff,” he added. "Operation Sindoor is ongoing... The preparations for Operation Sindoor 2 are quite extensive. I cannot tell you right now how this operation will unfold because it will depend on how much damage we want to cause to the enemy. Whether it is damage of any kind, be it on land, sea, or air, we are always ready to carry it out," he added. In the past, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have repeatedly stated that Operation Sindoor remains ongoing, in keeping with India's “zero tolerance policy” toward terrorism.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/why-india-carried-out-the-balakot-airstrike-on-pakistan-key-reason-explained-1772107492204">Why India carried out the Balakot airstrike on Pakistan? Key reason explained</a>&nbsp;

Operation Sindoor was launched in May 2025 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people. Later, India carried out precision strikes aimed at terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Western Command of the Indian Army warned Pakistan of a “harsher” response than the previous one, highlighting that Operation Sindoor 2.0 is underway. Lieutenant General Rajesh Pushkar, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 2 Corps, stated that Operation Sindoor 2.0 is underway, and the scale of preparation to launch the operation was much larger this time. The Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in May last year in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people. Later, India carried out precision strikes aimed at terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Strong warning to Pakistan Speaking about the operation, Pushkar said India had sent a strong warning to Pakistan, adding that within four days the country was effectively forced to back down. "We gave Pakistan a very small sample in the operation. In just four days, they were brought to their knees and called our DGMO and asked to stop this war... This was a very small example, and its purpose was training," the Lieutenant General Pushkar said, news agency ANI reported. He made the remarks during the Western Command’s Operational Capability Demonstration held in Pathankot, Punjab. “He (Shehbaz Sharif) wants to prevent us from taking any strong action... It's a kind of bluff he's doing, which we have to call out. We will not be deterred by his nuclear bluff,” he added. "Operation Sindoor is ongoing... The preparations for Operation Sindoor 2 are quite extensive. I cannot tell you right now how this operation will unfold because it will depend on how much damage we want to cause to the enemy. Whether it is damage of any kind, be it on land, sea, or air, we are always ready to carry it out," he added. In the past, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have repeatedly stated that Operation Sindoor remains ongoing, in keeping with India's “zero tolerance policy” toward terrorism. Also read: Why India carried out the Balakot airstrike on Pakistan? Key reason explained

Operation Sindoor was launched in May 2025 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people. Later, India carried out precision strikes aimed at terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Operation Sindoor 2.0 underway, India warns Pakistan of harsher response says 'won’t be deterred by nuclear bluff'

The Indian Air Force (IAF) launched an airstrike on Pakistan in the early hours of 26 February 2019, targeting a major training camp of the terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) situated in the town of Balakot, in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.&nbsp;The mission involved approximately 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets with the codename 'Operation Bandar' crossing the Line of Control (LoC) into Pakistani airspace, marking the first attack on Islamabad since the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.<h3>Why did India conducted airstrike?</h3>The airstrike was a response to avenge the Pulwama attack, which took place on February 14, 2019, by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a terror outfit from Pakistan. During the attack, a vehicle-borne suicide bomber near Pulwama in Kashmir exploded a Central Reserve Police Force convoy, claiming the lives of 40 personnel. Since the attack, February 14 has been marked as the Black Day in India, commemorating the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, one of the deadliest strikes on Indian security forces.&nbsp;The airstrike was carried out by India in the early hours of February 26, when Indian fighter jets crossed the de facto border in the disputed Kashmir region and struck targets near the town of Balakot in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.<h3>Why is February 14 marked as 'Black Day'</h3>The Pulwama attack is remembered as a “Black Day,” a term that reflects a deep sense of national mourning. The day is observed to honour the fallen soldiers, stand in solidarity with their families, and acknowledge the shared loss felt across the country. Commemorations include moments of silence, candlelight marches, remembrance events in schools and institutions, and widespread tributes on social media.&nbsp;Political leaders, security personnel and citizens pay respects at memorials by laying wreaths and reading out the names of the martyrs. The CRPF and other agencies organise special programmes highlighting their courage and sacrifice, making the day especially poignant for bereaved families. &nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-orders-blanket-ban-on-ncert-textbook-says-heads-must-roll-1772104695420">Supreme Court orders blanket ban on NCERT textbook, says ‘heads must roll’</a>

The Balakot airstrike involved approximately 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets with the codename 'Operation Bandar' crossing the Line of Control (LoC) into Pakistani airspace, marking the first attack on Islamabad since the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) launched an airstrike on Pakistan in the early hours of 26 February 2019, targeting a major training camp of the terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) situated in the town of Balakot, in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The mission involved approximately 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets with the codename 'Operation Bandar' crossing the Line of Control (LoC) into Pakistani airspace, marking the first attack on Islamabad since the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. Why did India conducted airstrike? The airstrike was a response to avenge the Pulwama attack, which took place on February 14, 2019, by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a terror outfit from Pakistan. During the attack, a vehicle-borne suicide bomber near Pulwama in Kashmir exploded a Central Reserve Police Force convoy, claiming the lives of 40 personnel. Since the attack, February 14 has been marked as the Black Day in India, commemorating the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, one of the deadliest strikes on Indian security forces. The airstrike was carried out by India in the early hours of February 26, when Indian fighter jets crossed the de facto border in the disputed Kashmir region and struck targets near the town of Balakot in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Why is February 14 marked as 'Black Day' The Pulwama attack is remembered as a “Black Day,” a term that reflects a deep sense of national mourning. The day is observed to honour the fallen soldiers, stand in solidarity with their families, and acknowledge the shared loss felt across the country. Commemorations include moments of silence, candlelight marches, remembrance events in schools and institutions, and widespread tributes on social media. Political leaders, security personnel and citizens pay respects at memorials by laying wreaths and reading out the names of the martyrs. The CRPF and other agencies organise special programmes highlighting their courage and sacrifice, making the day especially poignant for bereaved families. Also read: Supreme Court orders blanket ban on NCERT textbook, says ‘heads must roll’

The Balakot airstrike involved approximately 12 Mirage 2000 fighter jets with the codename 'Operation Bandar' crossing the Line of Control (LoC) into Pakistani airspace, marking the first attack on Islamabad since the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.

Why India carried out the Balakot airstrike on Pakistan? Key reason explained

In a heist echoing the plot of Akshay Kumar’s 2013 film Special 26, a domestic worker allegedly orchestrated a fake Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid at her employer’s house in Delhi, teaming up with accomplices who impersonated agency officials to steal cash and valuables worth several lakh rupees. Two women, Rekha Devi, the household help, and her sister-in-law, Pooja Rajput, have been taken into custody. Meanwhile, three male suspects, including a serving Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) constable and a former Army personnel, are on the run.&nbsp;The incident happened at the New Friends Colony home of 86-year-old retired architect RC Sabharwal. Earlier this month, three men dressed in police-style uniforms arrived at the house, introducing themselves as ED officers conducting an official search. They allegedly seized the family’s mobile phones, locked members inside a room, and began combing through the premises. The plan was disrupted when Sabharwal’s grandson confronted the men mid-operation. The suspects fled the scene, escaping with an estimated Rs 3–4 lakh in cash and seven high-end watches.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-humanity-should-never-become-victim-of-conflict-says-pm-modi-as-india-israel-hail-expand-bilateral-cooperation-1772104155675">'Humanity should never become victim of conflict', says PM Modi as India-Israel expand bilateral cooperation</a>&nbsp;Delhi Police launched a detailed investigation, leaning heavily on CCTV footage and digital surveillance. Officers reviewed recordings from over 350 cameras, including private security systems, city surveillance networks, and traffic cameras, to reconstruct the suspects’ route. The footage revealed their movements from New Friends Colony through Sarai Kale Khan, crossing the Ghazipur border into Uttar Pradesh, eventually leading investigators to Ghaziabad, where the getaway vehicle was discovered.&nbsp;Police then analysed mobile tower dump data to identify phone numbers active at both the crime scene and the vehicle’s parking location during the relevant time frame. This technical evidence pointed to Pooja Rajput’s residence in Ghaziabad. Local enquiries further established that Rekha Devi frequently visited the same address, raising suspicions of insider involvement. Authorities later confirmed that Rajput is Devi’s sister-in-law.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/telangana-salary-surge-for-govt-staff-triggers-public-debate-1772107159936/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/telangana-salary-surge-for-govt-staff-triggers-public-debate-1772107159936/embed</a>&nbsp;During a raid at Rajput’s home, police recovered items allegedly used in the staged operation, including a Deputy Commandant-rank ITBP uniform, counterfeit ID cards, a wireless communication device, and a pistol with an expired licence. Investigators also seized stolen jewellery and the seven luxury watches, directly tying the accused to the crime.&nbsp;Police identified 40-year-old Rekha Devi as the key conspirator behind the fake raid. Rajput has also been named as a co-accused. The absconding suspects have been identified as Prakash, an ITBP constable; Manish; and Updesh Singh Thapa, a retired Army man. The Baleno car used in the robbery is registered in Thapa’s name. Authorities are continuing efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects and recover the rest of the stolen assets.

In ‘Special 26’-style operation, Delhi housemaid stages fake ED search to loot lakhs

In a heist echoing the plot of Akshay Kumar’s 2013 film Special 26, a domestic worker allegedly orchestrated a fake Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid at her employer’s house in Delhi, teaming up with accomplices who impersonated agency officials to steal cash and valuables worth several lakh rupees. Two women, Rekha Devi, the household help, and her sister-in-law, Pooja Rajput, have been taken into custody. Meanwhile, three male suspects, including a serving Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) constable and a former Army personnel, are on the run. The incident happened at the New Friends Colony home of 86-year-old retired architect RC Sabharwal. Earlier this month, three men dressed in police-style uniforms arrived at the house, introducing themselves as ED officers conducting an official search. They allegedly seized the family’s mobile phones, locked members inside a room, and began combing through the premises. The plan was disrupted when Sabharwal’s grandson confronted the men mid-operation. The suspects fled the scene, escaping with an estimated Rs 3–4 lakh in cash and seven high-end watches. Also Read: 'Humanity should never become victim of conflict', says PM Modi as India-Israel expand bilateral cooperation Delhi Police launched a detailed investigation, leaning heavily on CCTV footage and digital surveillance. Officers reviewed recordings from over 350 cameras, including private security systems, city surveillance networks, and traffic cameras, to reconstruct the suspects’ route. The footage revealed their movements from New Friends Colony through Sarai Kale Khan, crossing the Ghazipur border into Uttar Pradesh, eventually leading investigators to Ghaziabad, where the getaway vehicle was discovered. Police then analysed mobile tower dump data to identify phone numbers active at both the crime scene and the vehicle’s parking location during the relevant time frame. This technical evidence pointed to Pooja Rajput’s residence in Ghaziabad. Local enquiries further established that Rekha Devi frequently visited the same address, raising suspicions of insider involvement. Authorities later confirmed that Rajput is Devi’s sister-in-law. https://www.wionews.com/videos/telangana-salary-surge-for-govt-staff-triggers-public-debate-1772107159936/embed During a raid at Rajput’s home, police recovered items allegedly used in the staged operation, including a Deputy Commandant-rank ITBP uniform, counterfeit ID cards, a wireless communication device, and a pistol with an expired licence. Investigators also seized stolen jewellery and the seven luxury watches, directly tying the accused to the crime. Police identified 40-year-old Rekha Devi as the key conspirator behind the fake raid. Rajput has also been named as a co-accused. The absconding suspects have been identified as Prakash, an ITBP constable; Manish; and Updesh Singh Thapa, a retired Army man. The Baleno car used in the robbery is registered in Thapa’s name. Authorities are continuing efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects and recover the rest of the stolen assets.

Delhi Police arrest housemaid, recover stolen cash and watches after fake Enforcement Directorate raid at elderly architect’s home; three accused still absconding

The Supreme Court has ordered a complete, blanket ban on the reprinting and digital dissemination of the NCERT’s newest Social Science textbook for Class 8, which includes a chapter, “The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society,” also mentioning “corruption” in the judiciary. As an abundant caution, the court ordered a complete, blanket ban on the reprinting and digital dissemination of the book and said any attempt to circulate the book would be in defiance and breach of the top court’s direction. A three-judge Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi passed the order on Thursday while hearing a suo motu case registered over the matter.“We would like to have a deeper probe. We need to find out who is responsible… heads must roll! We won’t close the case,” the apex court said as it grilled Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, arguing for the NCERT.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/share-revenue-with-news-publishers-or-face-legal-action-minister-ashwini-vaishnaw-warns-platforms-1772103925985">‘Share revenue with news publishers or face legal action,’ minister Ashwini Vaishnaw warns platforms</a>&nbsp;<h2>Bench orders immediate seizure of all copies in circulation, seeks compliance report</h2>&nbsp;The bench called it a “deep-rooted conspiracy against the judiciary”, ordered an immediate seizure of the copies in circulation, and called for a compliance report on the seizure of books in two weeks.&nbsp;&nbsp;The NCERT, in coordination with Union and State departments, are directed to ensure that copies of the book, hard or soft, in circulation are immediately seized and away from public access, even from digital platforms, the Bench said.It would be the personal responsibility of the NCERT Director and school principals, it added.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-treasury-sanctions-over-30-individuals-and-entities-for-enabling-illicit-iranian-petroleum-sales-1772043577579">US Treasury sanctions over 30 individuals and entities for enabling illicit Iranian petroleum sales</a><h2>‘Thankful to the media for bringing this out’: CJI</h2>&nbsp;CJI Surya Kant thanked the media “for bringing this out” as the issue was first brought to notice in media reports.“I was getting hundreds and hundreds of calls and had taken cognisance even before (Kapil) Sibal mentioned it yesterday,” CJI Surya Kant said.“We all must stand together and defend the independence of the judicial institution,” he said.&nbsp;The Solicitor General said a notice has been published in the media and a copy placed on record. According to the press release, the Department of School Education and Literacy said the distribution of the book has been held back until further orders. That chapter would be rewritten, it said while tendering an apology.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suicide-bomber-blows-himself-up-near-pakistan-checkpost-4-cops-dead-1772038584936">Suicide bomber blows himself up near Pakistan checkpost; 4 cops dead | Video</a><h2>Show cause notice issued to Dept. of School Education, NCERT Director</h2>&nbsp;“We deem it appropriate to issue show cause notice to Dept. of School Education secretary, Dr. Dinesh Prakash Sakhlani (NCERT Director) as to why suitable action under contempt of court act or in accordance with any other provisions of law against them or those found responsible for introducing the offending chapter,” the CJI said.&nbsp;The Supreme Court said it will consider later whether the apology has been tendered genuinely or to wriggle out of the spot when substantial damage has been done.&nbsp;<h2>Publish an unconditional apology: SG</h2>&nbsp;The Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the current apology is not enough and an unqualified and unconditional apology will be published.&nbsp;The individuals who prepared the chapter would not be associated with any preparation of any chapter or any work in any ministry, the SG added.&nbsp;<h2>‘Fundamentally wrong to expose students to biased misconceptions at this tender age’</h2>&nbsp;CJI Surya Kant said the necessity has arisen for judicial intervention to safeguard the pedagogical sanctity. “Students are only beginning to navigate the nuances of life, it is fundamentally wrong to expose them to biased misconceptions at this tender age.”“There is a need to appreciate the manifold and onerous responsibilities by the judiciary,” the CJI said.“We have to keep in mind that the subject book will not remain confined to students only, the contents are bound to travel from students, teachers to parents and including the next generation too. It may have a lasting impact on judicial independence. Such misconduct falls within criminal contempt; if it proves to be deliberate, it will amount to scandalising the institution and bring it to disrepute,” he added.&nbsp;<h2>Text does not mention judiciary’s role in upholding constitutional values: CJI</h2>&nbsp;CJI Kant said that with just one stroke of the pen the publication washed off the illustrious history of the Supreme Court and High Courts and does not mention any substantive contributions of these institutions towards protecting the democratic values.&nbsp;“If this is allowed to go unchecked, it will erode the sanctity of the judiciary in the eyes of the public and more importantly the impressionable minds of the youth,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-shocking-unacceptable-says-minister-govt-initiates-action-against-bsnl-director-over-prayagraj-visit-row-1772027947359">‘Shocking, unacceptable,’ says minister; govt initiates action against BSNL director over Prayagraj visit row</a><h2>‘Heads must roll; we want to know persons behind this’: CJI</h2>&nbsp;The Chief Justice said the court wants to know who the persons behind this are.“Heads must roll. There must be a deeper probe into this issue. Who are the persons behind this? We want to know. We must,” CJI Kant states.&nbsp;Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the text is extremely lopsided as it has not been highlighted that the judiciary is the protector of the Constitution. “How we do legal aid, etc., not mentioned,” Justice Bagchi said.

The three-judge bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi called it a deep-rooted conspiracy against the judiciary, ordered an immediate seizure of the copies in circulation, and called for a compliance report on the seizure of books in two weeks.

The Supreme Court has ordered a complete, blanket ban on the reprinting and digital dissemination of the NCERT’s newest Social Science textbook for Class 8, which includes a chapter, “The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society,” also mentioning “corruption” in the judiciary. As an abundant caution, the court ordered a complete, blanket ban on the reprinting and digital dissemination of the book and said any attempt to circulate the book would be in defiance and breach of the top court’s direction. A three-judge Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi passed the order on Thursday while hearing a suo motu case registered over the matter. “We would like to have a deeper probe. We need to find out who is responsible… heads must roll! We won’t close the case,” the apex court said as it grilled Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, arguing for the NCERT. Also Read: ‘Share revenue with news publishers or face legal action,’ minister Ashwini Vaishnaw warns platforms Bench orders immediate seizure of all copies in circulation, seeks compliance report The bench called it a “deep-rooted conspiracy against the judiciary”, ordered an immediate seizure of the copies in circulation, and called for a compliance report on the seizure of books in two weeks. The NCERT, in coordination with Union and State departments, are directed to ensure that copies of the book, hard or soft, in circulation are immediately seized and away from public access, even from digital platforms, the Bench said. It would be the personal responsibility of the NCERT Director and school principals, it added. Also Read: US Treasury sanctions over 30 individuals and entities for enabling illicit Iranian petroleum sales ‘Thankful to the media for bringing this out’: CJI CJI Surya Kant thanked the media “for bringing this out” as the issue was first brought to notice in media reports. “I was getting hundreds and hundreds of calls and had taken cognisance even before (Kapil) Sibal mentioned it yesterday,” CJI Surya Kant said. “We all must stand together and defend the independence of the judicial institution,” he said. The Solicitor General said a notice has been published in the media and a copy placed on record. According to the press release, the Department of School Education and Literacy said the distribution of the book has been held back until further orders. That chapter would be rewritten, it said while tendering an apology. Also Read: Suicide bomber blows himself up near Pakistan checkpost; 4 cops dead | Video Show cause notice issued to Dept. of School Education, NCERT Director “We deem it appropriate to issue show cause notice to Dept. of School Education secretary, Dr. Dinesh Prakash Sakhlani (NCERT Director) as to why suitable action under contempt of court act or in accordance with any other provisions of law against them or those found responsible for introducing the offending chapter,” the CJI said. The Supreme Court said it will consider later whether the apology has been tendered genuinely or to wriggle out of the spot when substantial damage has been done. Publish an unconditional apology: SG The Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the current apology is not enough and an unqualified and unconditional apology will be published. The individuals who prepared the chapter would not be associated with any preparation of any chapter or any work in any ministry, the SG added. ‘Fundamentally wrong to expose students to biased misconceptions at this tender age’ CJI Surya Kant said the necessity has arisen for judicial intervention to safeguard the pedagogical sanctity. “Students are only beginning to navigate the nuances of life, it is fundamentally wrong to expose them to biased misconceptions at this tender age.” “There is a need to appreciate the manifold and onerous responsibilities by the judiciary,” the CJI said. “We have to keep in mind that the subject book will not remain confined to students only, the contents are bound to travel from students, teachers to parents and including the next generation too. It may have a lasting impact on judicial independence. Such misconduct falls within criminal contempt; if it proves to be deliberate, it will amount to scandalising the institution and bring it to disrepute,” he added. Text does not mention judiciary’s role in upholding constitutional values: CJI CJI Kant said that with just one stroke of the pen the publication washed off the illustrious history of the Supreme Court and High Courts and does not mention any substantive contributions of these institutions towards protecting the democratic values. “If this is allowed to go unchecked, it will erode the sanctity of the judiciary in the eyes of the public and more importantly the impressionable minds of the youth,” he said. Also Read: ‘Shocking, unacceptable,’ says minister; govt initiates action against BSNL director over Prayagraj visit row ‘Heads must roll; we want to know persons behind this’: CJI The Chief Justice said the court wants to know who the persons behind this are. “Heads must roll. There must be a deeper probe into this issue. Who are the persons behind this? We want to know. We must,” CJI Kant states. Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the text is extremely lopsided as it has not been highlighted that the judiciary is the protector of the Constitution. “How we do legal aid, etc., not mentioned,” Justice Bagchi said.

The three-judge bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi called it a deep-rooted conspiracy against the judiciary, ordered an immediate seizure of the copies in circulation, and called for a compliance report on the seizure of books in two weeks.

Supreme Court orders blanket ban on NCERT textbook, says ‘heads must roll’

Addressing a joint press briefing with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (February 26) said that India and Israel have taken a landmark step to elevate their long-standing relationship to a special strategic partnership, reflecting the shared ambitions of both countries. In his joint statement after delegation-level talks with Netanyahu, Modi highlighted that the India-Israel strategic partnership, technological collaboration, and defence cooperation go far beyond traditional friendship. The two countries signed 16 agreements and made 11 announcements, resulting in a total of 27 significant bilateral outcomes.&nbsp;&nbsp;Several agreements were concluded to strengthen cooperation across sectors such as innovation and agriculture, following discussions between the two leaders. Speaking in Jerusalem, Netanyahu announced that both sides have agreed to hold a G2G meeting in India. He said, “As soon as we can arrange it, we would like to take the distinguished ministers who are here.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bangladesh-political-row-deepens-as-jamaat-chief-shafiqur-rahman-questions-president-mohammed-shahabuddin-over-sheikh-hasina-s-resignation-1772101440243">Bangladesh political row deepens as Jamaat chief, Shafiqur Rahman, questions president Mohammed Shahabuddin over Sheikh Hasina's resignation</a>&nbsp;At the joint press statement, Netanyahu commended India’s governance, saying, “You have an amazingly efficient government.” He further said that the “meeting of minds and hearts” between the two leaders would continue through the long-awaited G2G engagement, enhancing the substantial mutual benefits both countries can achieve together.Emphasising the importance of peace, Modi said that humanity must never become a victim of conflict and reiterated that India has supported the Gaza peace plan. "India's stance is clear: Humanity must never become a victim of conflict. A path to peace has been created through the Gaza Peace Plan. India has fully supported these efforts. In the future as well, we will continue dialogue and cooperation with all countries," he was quoted as saying. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-israel-ties-modi-netanyahu-talks-likely-to-focus-on-defence-upgrades-1772102645148/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-israel-ties-modi-netanyahu-talks-likely-to-focus-on-defence-upgrades-1772102645148/embed</a>&nbsp;“An agreement has been reached for the use of UPI in Israel,” Indian PM Narendra Modi said. PM Modi said that India will advance collaboration with Israel in defense cooperation, focusing on joint development, production, and technology transfer.

'Humanity should never become victim of conflict', says PM Modi as India-Israel expand bilateral cooperation

Addressing a joint press briefing with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (February 26) said that India and Israel have taken a landmark step to elevate their long-standing relationship to a special strategic partnership, reflecting the shared ambitions of both countries. In his joint statement after delegation-level talks with Netanyahu, Modi highlighted that the India-Israel strategic partnership, technological collaboration, and defence cooperation go far beyond traditional friendship. The two countries signed 16 agreements and made 11 announcements, resulting in a total of 27 significant bilateral outcomes. Several agreements were concluded to strengthen cooperation across sectors such as innovation and agriculture, following discussions between the two leaders. Speaking in Jerusalem, Netanyahu announced that both sides have agreed to hold a G2G meeting in India. He said, “As soon as we can arrange it, we would like to take the distinguished ministers who are here.” Also Read: Bangladesh political row deepens as Jamaat chief, Shafiqur Rahman, questions president Mohammed Shahabuddin over Sheikh Hasina's resignation At the joint press statement, Netanyahu commended India’s governance, saying, “You have an amazingly efficient government.” He further said that the “meeting of minds and hearts” between the two leaders would continue through the long-awaited G2G engagement, enhancing the substantial mutual benefits both countries can achieve together. Emphasising the importance of peace, Modi said that humanity must never become a victim of conflict and reiterated that India has supported the Gaza peace plan. "India's stance is clear: Humanity must never become a victim of conflict. A path to peace has been created through the Gaza Peace Plan. India has fully supported these efforts. In the future as well, we will continue dialogue and cooperation with all countries," he was quoted as saying. https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-israel-ties-modi-netanyahu-talks-likely-to-focus-on-defence-upgrades-1772102645148/embed “An agreement has been reached for the use of UPI in Israel,” Indian PM Narendra Modi said. PM Modi said that India will advance collaboration with Israel in defense cooperation, focusing on joint development, production, and technology transfer.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed measures to boost bilateral relations, enhance strategic collaboration, and strengthen people-to-people connections

In a pointed message, Union Information Technology and Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday told digital and social media platforms to either voluntarily adopt fair revenue-sharing models for news publishers and content creators or be prepared for legal frameworks to enforce it. The minister was speaking at the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) Conclave 2026.Vaishnaw said that platforms deriving value from journalistic and creative content must ensure equitable compensation not only for established news organisations, but also for independent creators, researchers and influencers in the country.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-orders-blanket-ban-on-ncert-textbook-says-heads-must-roll-1772104695420">Supreme Court orders blanket ban on NCERT textbook, says ‘heads must roll’</a>&nbsp;“Platforms must work to share fair compensation for the content they use from publishers and creators. They either do it voluntarily or else there are legal ways to get it done,” he said.“The platforms must also share revenue in a fair way with the people who are creating the content — whether it is news persons, conventional media, creators sitting in far-flung areas, influencers, professors or researchers,” he said.He stressed that intellectual property has historically powered societal progress. “If original content is not fairly compensated, then the growth of science, technology, arts and literature will get stunted,” he warned.“I will request all the platforms to rethink your revenue sharing policies. If this is not done voluntarily, there are so many countries which have shown the path to get it done in a legal way,” Vaishnaw added.The minister’s remark is being seen as a signal that India could explore regulatory mechanisms mandating tech platforms to compensate news publishers for content usage.&nbsp;<h2>‘Trust is the foundation, and it is under threat’</h2>&nbsp;“The entire human society is built upon trust in institutions. When that trust erodes, the very foundation of society begins to weaken,” Vaishnaw said and warned that deepfakes, disinformation campaigns, and synthetically generated videos are iundermining public faith in institutions, including media.&nbsp;“Creating videos with absolutely no correlation to reality, generating synthetic content of respected personalities without consent — these are not small issues. They directly challenge societal trust,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-treasury-sanctions-over-30-individuals-and-entities-for-enabling-illicit-iranian-petroleum-sales-1772043577579">US Treasury sanctions over 30 individuals and entities for enabling illicit Iranian petroleum sales</a><h2>‘Platforms must take responsibility for content’</h2>&nbsp;“The nature of the internet has changed. It is no longer just an open-source exchange of information. It has become a powerful media outlet. The times are gone when a platform could say it is not responsible for the content,” Vaishnaw added.He said platforms must take responsibility for illegal, harmful, or algorithmically amplified content. “Are they promoting fake content? Are they causing harm to children? Are they inciting crimes? These are questions platforms must now answer,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suicide-bomber-blows-himself-up-near-pakistan-checkpost-4-cops-dead-1772038584936">Suicide bomber blows himself up near Pakistan checkpost; 4 cops dead | Video</a><h2>‘Online safety is a national priority, consent must’</h2>&nbsp;The minister also emphasised online safety as a national priority, particularly for children and vulnerable users. He called for proactive action against cyber fraud and cybercrime, stronger grievance redressal mechanisms, mandatory user consent before generating synthetic audio or video using an individual’s likeness, and greater accountability in algorithmic amplification.“How can a video be generated of a well-known news anchor advertising a product without consent? That consent must be taken,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-shocking-unacceptable-says-minister-govt-initiates-action-against-bsnl-director-over-prayagraj-visit-row-1772027947359">‘Shocking, unacceptable,’ says minister; govt initiates action against BSNL director over Prayagraj visit row</a>&nbsp;Vaishnaw pointed out that courts and parliamentary committees have increasingly scrutinised the societal impact of digital platforms.“The judiciary is concerned. The Parliamentary Committee has done extensive consultations and submitted a comprehensive report,” he said, urging stakeholders to examine the findings closely.“In such interesting times, it’s very important that whatever we decide today lays the foundation of tomorrow,” he said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Ashwini Vaishnaw warns Big Tech: Share revenue with content creators or face legal action Watch: <a href="https://t.co/P46yqFbz86">https://t.co/P46yqFbz86</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZrsALhxy0i">pic.twitter.com/ZrsALhxy0i</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/2027005640057794778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Union IT and Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasised that intellectual property has historically powered societal progress. He further warned that if original content is not fairly compensated, then the growth of science, technology, arts, and literature will get stunted.

In a pointed message, Union Information Technology and Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday told digital and social media platforms to either voluntarily adopt fair revenue-sharing models for news publishers and content creators or be prepared for legal frameworks to enforce it. The minister was speaking at the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) Conclave 2026. Vaishnaw said that platforms deriving value from journalistic and creative content must ensure equitable compensation not only for established news organisations, but also for independent creators, researchers and influencers in the country. Also Read: Supreme Court orders blanket ban on NCERT textbook, says ‘heads must roll’ “Platforms must work to share fair compensation for the content they use from publishers and creators. They either do it voluntarily or else there are legal ways to get it done,” he said. “The platforms must also share revenue in a fair way with the people who are creating the content — whether it is news persons, conventional media, creators sitting in far-flung areas, influencers, professors or researchers,” he said. He stressed that intellectual property has historically powered societal progress. “If original content is not fairly compensated, then the growth of science, technology, arts and literature will get stunted,” he warned. “I will request all the platforms to rethink your revenue sharing policies. If this is not done voluntarily, there are so many countries which have shown the path to get it done in a legal way,” Vaishnaw added. The minister’s remark is being seen as a signal that India could explore regulatory mechanisms mandating tech platforms to compensate news publishers for content usage. ‘Trust is the foundation, and it is under threat’ “The entire human society is built upon trust in institutions. When that trust erodes, the very foundation of society begins to weaken,” Vaishnaw said and warned that deepfakes, disinformation campaigns, and synthetically generated videos are iundermining public faith in institutions, including media. “Creating videos with absolutely no correlation to reality, generating synthetic content of respected personalities without consent — these are not small issues. They directly challenge societal trust,” he said. Also Read: US Treasury sanctions over 30 individuals and entities for enabling illicit Iranian petroleum sales ‘Platforms must take responsibility for content’ “The nature of the internet has changed. It is no longer just an open-source exchange of information. It has become a powerful media outlet. The times are gone when a platform could say it is not responsible for the content,” Vaishnaw added. He said platforms must take responsibility for illegal, harmful, or algorithmically amplified content. “Are they promoting fake content? Are they causing harm to children? Are they inciting crimes? These are questions platforms must now answer,” he said. Also Read: Suicide bomber blows himself up near Pakistan checkpost; 4 cops dead | Video ‘Online safety is a national priority, consent must’ The minister also emphasised online safety as a national priority, particularly for children and vulnerable users. He called for proactive action against cyber fraud and cybercrime, stronger grievance redressal mechanisms, mandatory user consent before generating synthetic audio or video using an individual’s likeness, and greater accountability in algorithmic amplification. “How can a video be generated of a well-known news anchor advertising a product without consent? That consent must be taken,” he said. Also Read: ‘Shocking, unacceptable,’ says minister; govt initiates action against BSNL director over Prayagraj visit row Vaishnaw pointed out that courts and parliamentary committees have increasingly scrutinised the societal impact of digital platforms. “The judiciary is concerned. The Parliamentary Committee has done extensive consultations and submitted a comprehensive report,” he said, urging stakeholders to examine the findings closely. “In such interesting times, it’s very important that whatever we decide today lays the foundation of tomorrow,” he said.

Union IT and Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasised that intellectual property has historically powered societal progress. He further warned that if original content is not fairly compensated, then the growth of science, technology, arts, and literature will get stunted.

‘Share revenue with news publishers or face legal action,’ minister Ashwini Vaishnaw warns platforms

A family in India’s Madhya Pradesh has claimed that the British government owes them a loan of Rs 35,000, which the then administration failed to repay during the First World War in 1917. The family of late businessman Seth Jumma Lal Ruthia has said that they are now exploring legal options to recover the ancestral debt with interest.Vivek Ruthia, 63, has alleged that his grandfather, Seth Jumma Lal Ruthia, gave a loan of Rs 35,000 in 1917 to W S Dawis, the then political agent in Bhopal under British rule. The family has said that the amount was given to help with the management of administration in Bhopal. However, the money has still not been paid back.A certificate preserved by the family, dated June 4, 1917, states that Seth Jumma Lal, of the firm Seth Rama Kishan Jaskaran Ruthia, “subscribed Rs 35,000 to the Indian War Loan and thereby showed his loyalty to the Government and Empire.” The document carries the signature of W S Davis, then Political Agent in Bhopal.Under British rule, Political Agents acted as intermediaries between the British administration and princely states and looked after government matters, ensuring alignment with imperial authority.Seth Jumma Lal Ruthia passed away in 1937, about 20 years after making the subscription. India gained independence in 1947, and the family maintains that no repayment or settlement was ever made.Ruthia said that he is now consulting lawyers to explore whether a financial claim linked to a colonial-era Indian War Loan can be pursued against the present-day United Kingdom. Although no legal notice has been issued yet.“It’s not just about money, it’s about justice and history,” he said. The original sum of Rs 35,000 could now be worth more than Rs 10 crore after being adjusted for compound interest, inflation or gold prices.However, legal experts have said that pursuing such a claim would involve significant challenges, including limitation laws, sovereign immunity and jurisdictional complexities. For now, the 1917 certificate remains a historical document in the family’s possession.

A Madhya Pradesh family claims the British government owes Rs 35,000 from a 1917 Indian War Loan. They are exploring legal options, saying the sum with interest could now exceed Rs 10 crore.

A family in India’s Madhya Pradesh has claimed that the British government owes them a loan of Rs 35,000, which the then administration failed to repay during the First World War in 1917. The family of late businessman Seth Jumma Lal Ruthia has said that they are now exploring legal options to recover the ancestral debt with interest. Vivek Ruthia, 63, has alleged that his grandfather, Seth Jumma Lal Ruthia, gave a loan of Rs 35,000 in 1917 to W S Dawis, the then political agent in Bhopal under British rule. The family has said that the amount was given to help with the management of administration in Bhopal. However, the money has still not been paid back. A certificate preserved by the family, dated June 4, 1917, states that Seth Jumma Lal, of the firm Seth Rama Kishan Jaskaran Ruthia, “subscribed Rs 35,000 to the Indian War Loan and thereby showed his loyalty to the Government and Empire.” The document carries the signature of W S Davis, then Political Agent in Bhopal. Under British rule, Political Agents acted as intermediaries between the British administration and princely states and looked after government matters, ensuring alignment with imperial authority. Seth Jumma Lal Ruthia passed away in 1937, about 20 years after making the subscription. India gained independence in 1947, and the family maintains that no repayment or settlement was ever made. Ruthia said that he is now consulting lawyers to explore whether a financial claim linked to a colonial-era Indian War Loan can be pursued against the present-day United Kingdom. Although no legal notice has been issued yet. “It’s not just about money, it’s about justice and history,” he said. The original sum of Rs 35,000 could now be worth more than Rs 10 crore after being adjusted for compound interest, inflation or gold prices. However, legal experts have said that pursuing such a claim would involve significant challenges, including limitation laws, sovereign immunity and jurisdictional complexities. For now, the 1917 certificate remains a historical document in the family’s possession.

A Madhya Pradesh family claims the British government owes Rs 35,000 from a 1917 Indian War Loan. They are exploring legal options, saying the sum with interest could now exceed Rs 10 crore.

Indian family claims British government owes them over 100-year-old loan – Will UK repay?

The Indian army once again reiterated that any conflict with Pakistan will be met with harsher response and could extend beyond terror camps to Pakistani territory. Speaking at an Investiture Ceremony II held in Pathankot, Punjab, Western Army Commander Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar said, "the response will be stronger than what we have done in Operation Sindoor", if a situation like this arises in the future.&nbsp;Speaking further he said that during Operation Sindoor "we attacked all their (Pakistan) terrorist bases" after which they responded. But in response, "we destroyed their military bases and air bases."&nbsp;He then went on to say that the strong response by India forced the Pakistani side to seek ceasefire and "not just directly from us, but also from other countries."&nbsp;ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/imran-khan-s-sisters-hit-out-at-senior-pti-leadership-allege-legal-proceeding-not-being-taken-seriously-1772093835747">Imran Khan's sisters hit out at senior PTI leadership, allege legal proceeding not being pursued seriously</a>&nbsp;"They cannot fight us. The response will be stronger than what we have done in Operation Sindoor," he added.<h2>"This time war will not be limited to terror camps"</h2>&nbsp;Lt Gen Katiyar then spoke on infiltrators in J&amp;K and said that they have the support of Pakistan Army.&nbsp;"The trained terrorists who are infiltrating, it is possible that Pakistan also has a hand in training these terrorists," said Katiyar and added, “This time war will not be limited to terror camps but to their land,” he said, indicating the possibility of ground action if required.&nbsp;The terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 had claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists, after which the Indian army launched Operation Sindoor hitting terror targets inside Pakistan.&nbsp;Under Operation Sindoor, India destroyed nine terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan reacted angrily, attacking India's civilian areas and military installations. However, most of these attacks were thwarted by the Indian defence forces.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Katiyar said that the strong response by India forced the Pakistani side to seek ceasefire and not just directly from us, but also from other countries.

The Indian army once again reiterated that any conflict with Pakistan will be met with harsher response and could extend beyond terror camps to Pakistani territory. Speaking at an Investiture Ceremony II held in Pathankot, Punjab, Western Army Commander Lieutenant General Manoj Kumar Katiyar said, "the response will be stronger than what we have done in Operation Sindoor", if a situation like this arises in the future. Speaking further he said that during Operation Sindoor "we attacked all their (Pakistan) terrorist bases" after which they responded. But in response, "we destroyed their military bases and air bases." He then went on to say that the strong response by India forced the Pakistani side to seek ceasefire and "not just directly from us, but also from other countries." ALSO READ: Imran Khan's sisters hit out at senior PTI leadership, allege legal proceeding not being pursued seriously "They cannot fight us. The response will be stronger than what we have done in Operation Sindoor," he added. "This time war will not be limited to terror camps" Lt Gen Katiyar then spoke on infiltrators in J&K and said that they have the support of Pakistan Army. "The trained terrorists who are infiltrating, it is possible that Pakistan also has a hand in training these terrorists," said Katiyar and added, “This time war will not be limited to terror camps but to their land,” he said, indicating the possibility of ground action if required. The terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 had claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists, after which the Indian army launched Operation Sindoor hitting terror targets inside Pakistan. Under Operation Sindoor, India destroyed nine terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan reacted angrily, attacking India's civilian areas and military installations. However, most of these attacks were thwarted by the Indian defence forces.

Katiyar said that the strong response by India forced the Pakistani side to seek ceasefire and "not just directly from us, but also from other countries."

'This time war will not be limited to terror camps': Indian army's warning to Pakistan

Kashmir’s tourism industry has once again demonstrated remarkable resilience, with visitor numbers in 2026 projected to surpass all previous records. This strong recovery follows a challenging period in 2025, marked by security concerns, including the April 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam. Although the sector experienced a significant setback in the aftermath of the incident, it has steadily regained momentum and is now firmly back on a growth trajectory, reflecting renewed traveller confidence and sustained demand. &nbsp;Iconic destinations such as Gulmarg and Pahalgam have reported near-full hotel occupancy, fuelled by a strong surge in domestic tourism and reinforced security measures that have helped sustain traveller confidence.“There is a clear revival in tourism across the Kashmir Valley. Visitor numbers are now almost on par with what we recorded last winter, which shows that the sector is firmly back on track. The figures have remained consistent and are nearly matching last year’s trends. We anticipate an even stronger inflow in the coming months, particularly in March and April, when we expect tourists to arrive in large numbers. With this steady momentum, we are confident that tourism will continue to grow and surpass previous benchmarks,” said Syed Qamar Sajad, Director of Tourism.Security has been significantly strengthened across all major tourist resorts in the Kashmir Valley to ensure that visitors feel safe and comfortable during their stay. Tourists have expressed their admiration for the region, saying there is no place in the world quite like Kashmir, especially Gulmarg.“Kashmir is truly breathtaking and unlike any other place. Everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime; it really is paradise on earth. We’re absolutely loving the snow here. It’s incredibly beautiful, and honestly, we don’t want to leave. We feel like staying here forever. We did have some doubts before coming because of the Pahalgam attack, but once we arrived, all our worries disappeared. The security arrangements are excellent, and both the security forces and the locals have been extremely supportive and welcoming,” said Shiv, a tourist.Hotels in Gulmarg are completely jam-packed, with thousands of visitors flocking to the famous gondola rides to Kongdori and the higher reaches of Apharwat. Many tourists can be seen capturing reels and sharing moments on social media, while others simply soak in the breathtaking views of Gulmarg’s snow-capped mountains and serene landscape.“This truly feels like paradise. I have never seen views like this in my entire life. We’ve come here from Maharashtra for the first time, and it’s unbelievably beautiful. It’s very cold, of course, but we’re thoroughly enjoying the chill and the snow. Despite the major setback the Kashmir tourism industry has faced, this snowfall and the winter season are proving to be a real game-changer. The stunning winter landscape is sure to boost tourist arrivals across the Kashmir Valley,” said Abira Ahir, a tourist.Snow has long been one of the main attractions drawing tourists to the Kashmir Valley.“It’s absolutely wonderful here, it truly feels like paradise. There’s no place in India quite like Kashmir; nothing compares to its beauty. It’s even more breathtaking than what we’ve seen in social media videos. We definitely feel like coming back to Kashmir every year now,” said Akash Ahir, a tourist.The tourism industry of the Kashmir region is hopeful that the upcoming spring season will bring a major surge in visitors, potentially breaking all previous tourist footfall records set in past years.

Security has been significantly strengthened across all major tourist resorts in the Kashmir Valley to ensure that visitors feel safe and comfortable during their stay.

Kashmir’s tourism industry has once again demonstrated remarkable resilience, with visitor numbers in 2026 projected to surpass all previous records. This strong recovery follows a challenging period in 2025, marked by security concerns, including the April 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam. Although the sector experienced a significant setback in the aftermath of the incident, it has steadily regained momentum and is now firmly back on a growth trajectory, reflecting renewed traveller confidence and sustained demand. Iconic destinations such as Gulmarg and Pahalgam have reported near-full hotel occupancy, fuelled by a strong surge in domestic tourism and reinforced security measures that have helped sustain traveller confidence. “There is a clear revival in tourism across the Kashmir Valley. Visitor numbers are now almost on par with what we recorded last winter, which shows that the sector is firmly back on track. The figures have remained consistent and are nearly matching last year’s trends. We anticipate an even stronger inflow in the coming months, particularly in March and April, when we expect tourists to arrive in large numbers. With this steady momentum, we are confident that tourism will continue to grow and surpass previous benchmarks,” said Syed Qamar Sajad, Director of Tourism. Security has been significantly strengthened across all major tourist resorts in the Kashmir Valley to ensure that visitors feel safe and comfortable during their stay. Tourists have expressed their admiration for the region, saying there is no place in the world quite like Kashmir, especially Gulmarg. “Kashmir is truly breathtaking and unlike any other place. Everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime; it really is paradise on earth. We’re absolutely loving the snow here. It’s incredibly beautiful, and honestly, we don’t want to leave. We feel like staying here forever. We did have some doubts before coming because of the Pahalgam attack, but once we arrived, all our worries disappeared. The security arrangements are excellent, and both the security forces and the locals have been extremely supportive and welcoming,” said Shiv, a tourist. Hotels in Gulmarg are completely jam-packed, with thousands of visitors flocking to the famous gondola rides to Kongdori and the higher reaches of Apharwat. Many tourists can be seen capturing reels and sharing moments on social media, while others simply soak in the breathtaking views of Gulmarg’s snow-capped mountains and serene landscape. “This truly feels like paradise. I have never seen views like this in my entire life. We’ve come here from Maharashtra for the first time, and it’s unbelievably beautiful. It’s very cold, of course, but we’re thoroughly enjoying the chill and the snow. Despite the major setback the Kashmir tourism industry has faced, this snowfall and the winter season are proving to be a real game-changer. The stunning winter landscape is sure to boost tourist arrivals across the Kashmir Valley,” said Abira Ahir, a tourist. Snow has long been one of the main attractions drawing tourists to the Kashmir Valley. “It’s absolutely wonderful here, it truly feels like paradise. There’s no place in India quite like Kashmir; nothing compares to its beauty. It’s even more breathtaking than what we’ve seen in social media videos. We definitely feel like coming back to Kashmir every year now,” said Akash Ahir, a tourist. The tourism industry of the Kashmir region is hopeful that the upcoming spring season will bring a major surge in visitors, potentially breaking all previous tourist footfall records set in past years.

Security has been significantly strengthened across all major tourist resorts in the Kashmir Valley to ensure that visitors feel safe and comfortable during their stay.

Kashmir tourism bounces back: Visitor numbers in 2026 set to shatter records after 2025 setback

The fourth edition of the Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon 2026 concluded successfully on Thursday at the iconic Pangong Lake, further cementing Ladakh’s growing reputation as a global hub for winter tourism and high-altitude adventure sports.&nbsp;Held at an altitude of 14,272 feet above sea level, the two-day event (February 24–25) unfolded in extreme temperatures ranging between –15°C and –17°C. Recognized as one of the world’s highest and most challenging frozen lake races, the marathon drew 460 runners from 21 Indian states and international participants from the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, and Australia.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-happens-if-j-k-vs-karnataka-ranji-trophy-final-ends-in-a-draw-details-here-paras-dogra-1772023095595">What happens if J&amp;K vs Karnataka Ranji Trophy final ends in a draw? Details here</a>&nbsp;Personnel from the Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), along with local residents and children from nearby villages, added a strong community presence to the high-altitude sporting spectacle.&nbsp;The marathon was organized by Thin Ice Adventures in collaboration with the Union Territory Administration of Ladakh and the Indian Army. The race was flagged off at 8:30 am from Maan village by Durbuk Sub-Divisional Magistrate Mohammad Ismail and Commander Jagdish M.R. of the 114 Brigade.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/j-k-police-launches-snow-leopard-squad-to-hunt-terrorists-in-high-altitude-forests-1771922051714">J&amp;K police launches ‘Snow Leopard Squad’ to hunt terrorists in high-altitude forests</a>&nbsp;On the opening day, 186 runners competed in the 10-km race, while 46 athletes took on the grueling 42-km full marathon across the frozen surface of Pangong Lake. Women athletes made a notable mark, with 16 participants in the 10-km category and six in the full marathon. The second day featured the 21-km half marathon and 5-km races, which saw enthusiastic participation from local youth and visiting runners alike. In the 42-km men’s category, Tsering Nurboo secured first place, followed by Tsering Stobgais in second and Khadim Hussain in third.&nbsp;The 10-km open women’s race was won by Yeshi Sangdol, who clocked 1:08:34, while Tashi Dolkar and Rinchen Dolkar finished second and third respectively. In the men’s 10-km open category, Mehboob Ali claimed first place with a time of 0:45:01, narrowly ahead of Rinchen Gurmet and Jigmet Stobdan.&nbsp;The 21-km open female category saw Nima Lhamo finish first, followed by Ishey Dolkar and Tsering Latso. In the men’s half marathon, Tsetan Namgyal led the field, with Tashi Namgail and Sarfaraz Hussain securing second and third positions. In the 5-km open category, Tsewang Dolma topped the women’s race, while Kunchok Dhargyal finished first among men. Dawa Chuzin and Rafket Dolma, along with Sonveer Singh and Rohit, completed the podium positions in their respective categories.&nbsp;Given the fragile ice conditions and unpredictable weather, organizers prioritized safety. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and UTDRF carried out detailed inspections, regularly measuring ice thickness before and during the races. Additionally, a scientific assessment based on 15 years of weather data was conducted in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics to evaluate environmental patterns and ensure the safe execution of the marathon.&nbsp;Race Director Chamba Tsetan, an ice hockey player, said the marathon was launched in 2023 to promote winter tourism in Ladakh, a season traditionally marked by minimal tourist activity due to harsh weather conditions. Inspired by the Antarctica Marathon, the event has quickly evolved into a major winter attraction. Organizers noted that the marathon has significantly boosted economic activity in the Changthang region of Eastern Ladakh. Homestay tourism, local employment, youth engagement, and community participation have transformed the typically quiet winter months into a vibrant sporting season.

The 4th Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon 2026 concluded at 14,272 ft in Ladakh, drawing 460 runners from across India and abroad. Held in sub-zero temperatures, the event boosted winter tourism and local economy, with strong participation from the Army, ITBP and local communities.

The fourth edition of the Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon 2026 concluded successfully on Thursday at the iconic Pangong Lake, further cementing Ladakh’s growing reputation as a global hub for winter tourism and high-altitude adventure sports. Held at an altitude of 14,272 feet above sea level, the two-day event (February 24–25) unfolded in extreme temperatures ranging between –15°C and –17°C. Recognized as one of the world’s highest and most challenging frozen lake races, the marathon drew 460 runners from 21 Indian states and international participants from the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, and Australia. Also Read: What happens if J&K vs Karnataka Ranji Trophy final ends in a draw? Details here Personnel from the Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), along with local residents and children from nearby villages, added a strong community presence to the high-altitude sporting spectacle. The marathon was organized by Thin Ice Adventures in collaboration with the Union Territory Administration of Ladakh and the Indian Army. The race was flagged off at 8:30 am from Maan village by Durbuk Sub-Divisional Magistrate Mohammad Ismail and Commander Jagdish M.R. of the 114 Brigade. Also Read: J&K police launches ‘Snow Leopard Squad’ to hunt terrorists in high-altitude forests On the opening day, 186 runners competed in the 10-km race, while 46 athletes took on the grueling 42-km full marathon across the frozen surface of Pangong Lake. Women athletes made a notable mark, with 16 participants in the 10-km category and six in the full marathon. The second day featured the 21-km half marathon and 5-km races, which saw enthusiastic participation from local youth and visiting runners alike. In the 42-km men’s category, Tsering Nurboo secured first place, followed by Tsering Stobgais in second and Khadim Hussain in third. The 10-km open women’s race was won by Yeshi Sangdol, who clocked 1:08:34, while Tashi Dolkar and Rinchen Dolkar finished second and third respectively. In the men’s 10-km open category, Mehboob Ali claimed first place with a time of 0:45:01, narrowly ahead of Rinchen Gurmet and Jigmet Stobdan. The 21-km open female category saw Nima Lhamo finish first, followed by Ishey Dolkar and Tsering Latso. In the men’s half marathon, Tsetan Namgyal led the field, with Tashi Namgail and Sarfaraz Hussain securing second and third positions. In the 5-km open category, Tsewang Dolma topped the women’s race, while Kunchok Dhargyal finished first among men. Dawa Chuzin and Rafket Dolma, along with Sonveer Singh and Rohit, completed the podium positions in their respective categories. Given the fragile ice conditions and unpredictable weather, organizers prioritized safety. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and UTDRF carried out detailed inspections, regularly measuring ice thickness before and during the races. Additionally, a scientific assessment based on 15 years of weather data was conducted in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics to evaluate environmental patterns and ensure the safe execution of the marathon. Race Director Chamba Tsetan, an ice hockey player, said the marathon was launched in 2023 to promote winter tourism in Ladakh, a season traditionally marked by minimal tourist activity due to harsh weather conditions. Inspired by the Antarctica Marathon, the event has quickly evolved into a major winter attraction. Organizers noted that the marathon has significantly boosted economic activity in the Changthang region of Eastern Ladakh. Homestay tourism, local employment, youth engagement, and community participation have transformed the typically quiet winter months into a vibrant sporting season.

The 4th Pangong Frozen Lake Marathon 2026 concluded at 14,272 ft in Ladakh, drawing 460 runners from across India and abroad. Held in sub-zero temperatures, the event boosted winter tourism and local economy, with strong participation from the Army, ITBP and local communities.

Pangong frozen lake marathon 2026 concludes at Pangong Lake, boosts winter tourism in Ladakh

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Bombay High Court seeking a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the plane crash that claimed the life of senior Maharashtra leader Ajit Pawar.The plea has added a fresh political and legal dimension to an incident that has already triggered widespread debate across the state. The petition was moved by RTI activist Ketan Tirodkar, who has alleged that several key questions surrounding the January 28 crash remain unanswered. The aircraft went down near Baramati, Pawar’s political stronghold, resulting in five fatalities.&nbsp;While preliminary inquiries are understood to be underway, the petitioner has argued that the circumstances of the crash warrant a deeper, independent probe under judicial supervision. In his plea, Tirodkar has called for the formation of an SIT comprising senior police officers, aviation experts, and former officials of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).&nbsp;According to the petition, the inclusion of technical experts is essential to examine factors such as flight clearance records, aircraft maintenance logs, weather conditions, air traffic control communication, and compliance with safety protocols. The activist has contended that a transparent and technically sound investigation is crucial to maintain public confidence.&nbsp;Interestingly, the petition also names NCP MLA Rohit Pawar as a respondent. Rohit Pawar has publicly demanded greater transparency in the probe, making his inclusion in the plea a notable development. Political observers say this could further intensify the spotlight on the case.&nbsp;The tragedy has sparked sharp reactions across party lines in Maharashtra. Several opposition leaders have demanded that the probe be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), arguing that an independent central agency would ensure credibility.&nbsp;Meanwhile, others have urged restraint, stating that speculation should not precede official findings. The Bombay High Court is expected to hear the PIL in the coming days.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-at-unhrc-says-pakistan-s-claims-reek-of-envy-notes-islamabad-must-be-living-in-la-la-land-video-1772084782376">India at UNHRC says Pakistan’s claims ‘reek of envy,’ notes Islamabad ‘living in la la land’ | Video</a>

The petition was moved by RTI activist Ketan Tirodkar, who has alleged that several key questions surrounding the January 28 crash remain unanswered. The aircraft went down near Baramati, Pawar’s political stronghold, resulting in five fatalities.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Bombay High Court seeking a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the plane crash that claimed the life of senior Maharashtra leader Ajit Pawar. The plea has added a fresh political and legal dimension to an incident that has already triggered widespread debate across the state. The petition was moved by RTI activist Ketan Tirodkar, who has alleged that several key questions surrounding the January 28 crash remain unanswered. The aircraft went down near Baramati, Pawar’s political stronghold, resulting in five fatalities. While preliminary inquiries are understood to be underway, the petitioner has argued that the circumstances of the crash warrant a deeper, independent probe under judicial supervision. In his plea, Tirodkar has called for the formation of an SIT comprising senior police officers, aviation experts, and former officials of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). According to the petition, the inclusion of technical experts is essential to examine factors such as flight clearance records, aircraft maintenance logs, weather conditions, air traffic control communication, and compliance with safety protocols. The activist has contended that a transparent and technically sound investigation is crucial to maintain public confidence. Interestingly, the petition also names NCP MLA Rohit Pawar as a respondent. Rohit Pawar has publicly demanded greater transparency in the probe, making his inclusion in the plea a notable development. Political observers say this could further intensify the spotlight on the case. The tragedy has sparked sharp reactions across party lines in Maharashtra. Several opposition leaders have demanded that the probe be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), arguing that an independent central agency would ensure credibility. Meanwhile, others have urged restraint, stating that speculation should not precede official findings. The Bombay High Court is expected to hear the PIL in the coming days. Also read: India at UNHRC says Pakistan’s claims ‘reek of envy,’ notes Islamabad ‘living in la la land’ | Video

The petition was moved by RTI activist Ketan Tirodkar, who has alleged that several key questions surrounding the January 28 crash remain unanswered. The aircraft went down near Baramati, Pawar’s political stronghold, resulting in five fatalities.

SIT demand grows over Ajit Pawar plane tragedy; PIL filed in Bombay High Court

India on Wednesday (Feb 25) slammed Pakistan at the 61st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, with a pointed remark noting that Islamabad must be "hallucinating or living in la la land" if it believes development in Jammu and Kashmir was not real. The comment came during India’s Right to Reply at the session in Geneva, where New Delhi pushed back against allegations raised by Pakistan and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).<h2>India slams Pak's ‘hallucinations’, reiterates Kashmir an ‘integral and inalienable’ part of territory</h2>India's representative Anupama Singh accused Islamabad of recycling propaganda and said the OIC had allowed itself to become an "echo chamber" for one member state. "We categorically reject these allegations," she said, adding that Pakistan’s repeated claims “reek of envy.”Singh also reiterated India's position on Jammu and Kashmir and said that it "was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India." She said the region's accession in 1947 was "completely legal and irrevocable," grounded in the Indian Independence Act and international norms."The only outstanding dispute regarding this region is the illegal occupation of Indian territories by Pakistan," she noted, calling on Islamabad to vacate areas under its control.Watch what India's representative Anupama Singh said here:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Pakistan lives in la la land, Indian Diplomat Anupama Singh&#39;s sharp rebuke to Pakistan at UN Human Rights Council Singh also pointed to Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s development budget being bigger than Pakistan&#39;s IMF bailout <a href="https://t.co/dLB6ItcRCX">pic.twitter.com/dLB6ItcRCX</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/2026872553894207682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Development versus crisis</h2>Singh's sharpest remark came when she pointed to recent infrastructure projects in the region, including the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world's highest railway bridge, inaugurated last year."If the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world's highest bridge, inaugurated in Jammu and Kashmir last year, is fake, then Pakistan must be hallucinating or living in the 'La-la-land'" Singh said.Contrasting what she described as Jammu and Kashmir's expanding development budget with Pakistan’s economic troubles, she then claimed that the Union Territory's development budget was "more than double the recent bailout package", the size of Pakistan’s recent IMF bailout package.Responding to Pakistan's criticism of India’s democratic record in the region, Singh said it was "hard to take lectures on democracy from a country where civilian governments rarely complete their terms." She pointed to voter participation in recent elections as evidence that people in Jammu and Kashmir have "rejected the ideology of terrorism and violence" for development.Singh also accused Pakistan of continuing to back militancy in the region, calling it "relentless state-sponsored terrorism."&nbsp;

India hit back at Pakistan at the UN Human Rights Council, saying Islamabad must be “hallucinating” if it denies development in Jammu and Kashmir. Representative Anupama Singh rejected OIC-backed claims and reaffirmed J&K was an integral part of India.

India on Wednesday (Feb 25) slammed Pakistan at the 61st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, with a pointed remark noting that Islamabad must be "hallucinating or living in la la land" if it believes development in Jammu and Kashmir was not real. The comment came during India’s Right to Reply at the session in Geneva, where New Delhi pushed back against allegations raised by Pakistan and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). India slams Pak's ‘hallucinations’, reiterates Kashmir an ‘integral and inalienable’ part of territory India's representative Anupama Singh accused Islamabad of recycling propaganda and said the OIC had allowed itself to become an "echo chamber" for one member state. "We categorically reject these allegations," she said, adding that Pakistan’s repeated claims “reek of envy.” Singh also reiterated India's position on Jammu and Kashmir and said that it "was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India." She said the region's accession in 1947 was "completely legal and irrevocable," grounded in the Indian Independence Act and international norms. "The only outstanding dispute regarding this region is the illegal occupation of Indian territories by Pakistan," she noted, calling on Islamabad to vacate areas under its control. Watch what India's representative Anupama Singh said here:

India hit back at Pakistan at the UN Human Rights Council, saying Islamabad must be “hallucinating” if it denies development in Jammu and Kashmir. Representative Anupama Singh rejected OIC-backed claims and reaffirmed J&amp;K was an integral part of India.

India at UNHRC says Pakistan’s claims ‘reek of envy,’ notes Islamabad ‘living in la la land’ | Video

In a significant policy shift ahead of Canadian PM Mark Carney's visit to India, Canada has said that it believes New Delhi is no longer linked to violent crimes in Canada. According to Canadian English daily Toronto Star, the statement came during a briefing with journalists ahead of Carney's trip. According to the report, the statement suggests that Canadian authorities do not see ongoing foreign interference or violent activity tied to India at present. This comes at a time when Carney's visit is seen as Ottawa's effort to pursue a more "pragmatic" foreign policy and deepen economic ties with India.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-points-to-fraud-rules-as-tahawwur-rana-faces-potential-loss-of-citizenship-1772069128110">Canada points to fraud rules as Tahawwur Rana faces potential loss of citizenship</a> "We have a very robust diplomatic engagement, including between national security advisers, and I think we can say we're confident that that activity is not continuing," one of the senior officials said on Wednesday. The officials said that previous concerns about active foreign interference or repression linked to India are no longer ongoing. “I really don't think we'd be taking this trip if we thought these kinds of activities were continuing.”<h2>Mark Carney's India visit</h2>Carney is starting his nine-day trip to India, that includes stops in Mumbai and New Delhi. He is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Since the time Carney came to power, Canadian government has been trying to improve relations with India that went downhill after the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurudwara in British Columbia. Months later, then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there was "credible" evidence linking agents of the India government to Nijjar's death, an allegation New Delhi strongly denied. The situation escalated with both sides deciding to expel diplomats. In 2024, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) further claimed that Indian government agents were linked to violent crime in Canada, including death threats and alleged involvement in homicides.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-canada-ties-india-canada-to-discuss-expanding-cooperation-in-energy-1772019911088/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-canada-ties-india-canada-to-discuss-expanding-cooperation-in-energy-1772019911088/embed</a>&nbsp; However, the latest statement by officials is a sharp U-turn from earlier position. Reacting to the statement, Moninder Singh, a religious leader in British Columbia, told the Toronto Star that Vancouver police recently warned him of an imminent threat to his life and that of his family. Protests were also held on Parliament Hill by members of Sikhs for Justice, the group with which Nijjar was associated. Demonstrators condemned the government's renewed engagement with India.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ahead-of-pm-s-india-visit-canada-seeks-to-revoke-26-11-mastermind-tahawwur-hussain-rana-s-citizenship-1771922916744">Ahead of PM's India visit, Canada seeks to revoke 26/11 mastermind Tahawwur Hussain Rana’s citizenship</a><h2>India-Canada relations</h2>

Speaking to WION, India's High Commissioner to Ottawa, Dinesh Patnaik had expressed optimism about the ties between the two countries and said that disagreements should be handled through dialogue rather than by damaging the overall relationship. He suggested that Canada had overreacted when the allegations first emerged. On Nijjar issue, he said that the matter is in court. “We have always maintained that we will cooperate with Canada. We work together with Canada to make sure that the perpetrators, are brought to justice.” Patnaik also said that the recent discussions between the two countries' National Security Advisors, during NSA Ajit Doval's visit to Ottawa, marked a significant step forward in strengthening bilateral security ties.

Ahead of PM Mark Carney’s India visit, Canada signalled a policy shift, saying it no longer sees India linked to violent crimes or interference. The move marks a reset in strained ties after the Nijjar row, as Ottawa looks to boost diplomatic and economic engagement with New Delhi.

In a significant policy shift ahead of Canadian PM Mark Carney's visit to India, Canada has said that it believes New Delhi is no longer linked to violent crimes in Canada. According to Canadian English daily Toronto Star, the statement came during a briefing with journalists ahead of Carney's trip. According to the report, the statement suggests that Canadian authorities do not see ongoing foreign interference or violent activity tied to India at present. This comes at a time when Carney's visit is seen as Ottawa's effort to pursue a more "pragmatic" foreign policy and deepen economic ties with India. Also Read: Canada points to fraud rules as Tahawwur Rana faces potential loss of citizenship "We have a very robust diplomatic engagement, including between national security advisers, and I think we can say we're confident that that activity is not continuing," one of the senior officials said on Wednesday. The officials said that previous concerns about active foreign interference or repression linked to India are no longer ongoing. “I really don't think we'd be taking this trip if we thought these kinds of activities were continuing.” Mark Carney's India visit Carney is starting his nine-day trip to India, that includes stops in Mumbai and New Delhi. He is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Since the time Carney came to power, Canadian government has been trying to improve relations with India that went downhill after the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurudwara in British Columbia. Months later, then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there was "credible" evidence linking agents of the India government to Nijjar's death, an allegation New Delhi strongly denied. The situation escalated with both sides deciding to expel diplomats. In 2024, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) further claimed that Indian government agents were linked to violent crime in Canada, including death threats and alleged involvement in homicides. https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-canada-ties-india-canada-to-discuss-expanding-cooperation-in-energy-1772019911088/embed However, the latest statement by officials is a sharp U-turn from earlier position. Reacting to the statement, Moninder Singh, a religious leader in British Columbia, told the Toronto Star that Vancouver police recently warned him of an imminent threat to his life and that of his family. Protests were also held on Parliament Hill by members of Sikhs for Justice, the group with which Nijjar was associated. Demonstrators condemned the government's renewed engagement with India. Also Read: Ahead of PM's India visit, Canada seeks to revoke 26/11 mastermind Tahawwur Hussain Rana’s citizenship India-Canada relations

Ahead of PM Mark Carney’s India visit, Canada signalled a policy shift, saying it no longer sees India linked to violent crimes or interference. The move marks a reset in strained ties after the Nijjar row, as Ottawa looks to boost diplomatic and economic engagement with New Delhi.

'Activity is not continuing...': Canada makes U-turn on terror accusations against India ahead of Carney’s visit, but avoids direct Nijjar reference

india-news

India, News on India, stories on India, articles on India, India stories at Wion, India news, India latest news

india news

CIK secures arrest warrants against UJC chief, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operatives

Canadian PM Mark Carney lands in Mumbai, begins his four-day India visit

President Murmu takes sortie in LCH 'Prachand' during IAF’s Vayushakti-26 drill

Delhi court grants bail to accused students detained in JNU protest

Strong earthquake tremors felt in Kolkata, epicenter in Bangladesh

NCERT judiciary ‘corruption’ content: PM Modi asks to fix responsibility

Indore family loses Rs 1 lakh in fake kidnap scam using 'deepfake technology'

'I'm not corrupt': Kejriwal breaks down after discharge in liquorgate case-Video

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick travels to India, meets Piyush Goyal

Chilling 911 call of Indian-origin doctor accused of killing daughter surfaces

India to launch nationwide HPV shots for 14-year-old girls on THIS date

Made a quick booking mistake? No extra fee if you act within...

Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra elected NCP chief, to contest Baramati seat bypoll

Operation Sindoor 2.0 underway, India warns Pakistan of harsher response says 'won’t be deterred by nuclear bluff'

Why India carried out the Balakot airstrike on Pakistan? Key reason explained

In ‘Special 26’-style operation, Delhi maid stages fake ED search to loot lakhs

Supreme Court orders blanket ban on NCERT textbook, says ‘heads must roll’

'Humanity should never become victim of conflict', says PM Modi in Israel

Share revenue with news publishers or face action, Vaishnaw tells platforms

Indian family claims British government owes them over 100-year-old loan

'This time war will not be limited to terror camps': Indian army warns Pakistan

Kashmir tourism bounces back: Visitor numbers in 2026 set to shatter records

Pangong frozen lake marathon 2026 concludes, boosts winter tourism in Ladakh

SIT demand grows over Ajit Pawar plane tragedy; PIL filed in Bombay High Court

India slams Pakistan at UNHRC, says Islamabad living in ‘la la land’

Canada makes U-turn on terror accusations against India, avoids Nijjar reference