Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed India's stronger-than-expected 7.8% real GDP growth in Q1 FY2026–27, stating the impressive figures have exposed the "jhooth ki goonj" (echo of lies) spread by political critics. Highlighting key growth drivers like a 9.2% surge in manufacturing, the Prime Minister celebrated the nation's economic resilience despite ongoing global headwinds. Alongside celebrating the economic milestone, PM Modi reinforced his "Swadeshi" push, calling on citizens to support domestic growth by avoiding unnecessary gold purchases and foreign leisure trips. Watch the complete breakdown of India's Q1 GDP performance and key announcements.


PM Modi hails 7.8% growth, pushes 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' 

India’s IPO market is on fire — raising nearly $200 million every hour as a new wave of domestic investors transforms the country’s financial landscape. From LG Electronics India’s $1.3 billion IPO — fully subscribed in just six hours — to record-breaking fundraising across industries, India is emerging as one of the world’s hottest IPO destinations.
This boom reflects a power shift from foreign funds to Indian investors, fueled by retail participation, mutual funds, and insurers — marking the rise of a self-sustaining capital market in the world’s fastest-growing major economy.

India’s Explosive IPO Boom Shows The Rise Of Local Investors

In a new development forcing Indonesian government to step up vigilance in checking the spread of new variant of coronavirus, first case of local transmission of Omicron has come up in capital Jakarta on Tuesday. &nbsp;

In an online press conference, Ministry of Health's COVID-19 vaccination spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi said, "This patient is a male aged 37 years old, with no history of overseas travel in the last few months, nor any contact with international visitors." &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/omicron-disrupts-holiday-season-global-cases-hit-record-high-with-over-1-million-infections-440689" hreflang="en">Omicron disrupts holiday season: Global cases hit record high with over 1 million infections</a>

On December 6, the patient had arrived in Jakarta from Medan city in the North Sumatra province. He along with his wife had visited a mall in the Sudirman Central Business District in the capital city on the same day. &nbsp;

In an antigen test, the person had undergone at a hospital before going back to Medan, showed Covid infection. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nsw-health-minister-slams-queensland-premier-for-being-passive-aggressive-on-covid-19-testing-440657" hreflang="en">NSW health minister slams Queensland premier for being ‘passive aggressive’ on COVID-19 testing</a>

A laboratory test’s result on December 26 confirmed that the man was infected with the new variant. The man’s wife has tested negative for the virus. &nbsp;

The patient's close contacts are being traced. The government is conducting numerous swab tests for people, who visited the mall, the hospital and the apartment where the patient lives in North Jakarta. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In a new development forcing Indonesian government to step up vigilance in checking the spread of new variant of coronavirus, first case of local transmission of Omicron has come up in capital Jakarta on Tuesday.

In a new development forcing Indonesian government to step up vigilance in checking the spread of new variant of coronavirus, first case of local transmission of Omicron has come up in capital Jakarta on Tuesday. In an online press conference, Ministry of Health's COVID-19 vaccination spokesperson Siti Nadia Tarmizi said, "This patient is a male aged 37 years old, with no history of overseas travel in the last few months, nor any contact with international visitors." Also Read: Omicron disrupts holiday season: Global cases hit record high with over 1 million infections On December 6, the patient had arrived in Jakarta from Medan city in the North Sumatra province. He along with his wife had visited a mall in the Sudirman Central Business District in the capital city on the same day. In an antigen test, the person had undergone at a hospital before going back to Medan, showed Covid infection. Also Read: NSW health minister slams Queensland premier for being ‘passive aggressive’ on COVID-19 testing A laboratory test’s result on December 26 confirmed that the man was infected with the new variant. The man’s wife has tested negative for the virus. The patient's close contacts are being traced. The government is conducting numerous swab tests for people, who visited the mall, the hospital and the apartment where the patient lives in North Jakarta. (With inputs from agencies)

First local Omicron variant transmission case reported in Indonesia

Countries that were forced to re-impose local lockdowns to curb surge in COVID-19 cases

While <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-jodhpur-court-convicts-salman-khan-he-gets-a-5-year-jail-term-128523">sentencing Salman Khan</a> to five years in jail, the judge pointed out the fan following of the superstar, saying he is a "popular actor whose deeds are followed by people".

Chief judicial magistrate Dev Kumar Khatri sentenced the actor to five years in prison for killing two blackbucks, capping a 20-year case that began with a late night safari outside the tourist city of Jodhpur on the sidelines of a film shoot in 1998.

"The accused is a popular actor whose deeds are followed by people. Despite this, the accused hunted two blackbucks," Khatri said in his written judgment.

The defence had argued that Salman has not been convicted in any case earlier and that he has always appeared before the court on the given date.

The defence counsel also said Salman was under the custody of forest department for five days and he should be given the benefit of the Probation of Offenders Act.

But the court refused to give Salman the benefit citing the circumstances of the case and gravity of the offence, according to a copy of the judgement.

"...considering the rising number of cases of illegal hunting of wildlife animals, looking at the circumstances of the case and gravity of the offence, giving the benefit of Probation of Offender Act does not appear justified," the judge said.

The defence also said the accused is an actor and his sentencing will affect the livelihood of several families. Opposing this, the prosecution said the actor has committed an offence of serious nature.

The prosecution also mentioned the hit-and-run case against him in Mumbai and other cases while requesting for the maximum punishment.

The verdict triggered a deluge of sympathy from colleagues for the "bad boy" of Hindi filmdom, whose career and personal life have been peppered with controversies, including a manslaughter charge in a hit-and-run case that is still pending.

"I feel bad. He should be given relief. He has done a lot of humanitarian work," actor-politician Jaya Bachchan told reporters outside Parliament in New Delhi, adding that the punishment was harsh.

Since morning, media crews, hundreds of stargazers and security personnel swarmed the court premises waiting for Salman and the other accused to show up. Large crowds armed with phone cameras lined up along the 2-kilometre route from the

court as the 52-year-old was whisked away in a Bolero police jeep to spend a night in the Jodhpur Central Jail. Within hours, social media was awash with photographs of Salman, dressed in a black shirt and jeans, entering the jail.

Animal rights activists welcomed the sentencing, and some said Salman should have been given the maximum punishment under the Wildlife Act.

"We are happy that justice has prevailed and a serial offender is behind bars. The judiciary has once again proved that the popularity of the accused has no bearing on the case before the court," said Gauri Maulekhi of People For Animals.

All the others charged in the case — actors Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam, Sonali Bendre, and Dushyant Singh, a local — were acquitted.

While sentencing Salman Khan to five years in jail, the judge pointed out the fan following of the superstar, saying he is a "popular actor whose deeds are followed by people". Chief judicial magistrate Dev Kumar Khatri sentenced the actor to five years in prison for killing two blackbucks, capping a 20-year case that began with a late night safari outside the tourist city of Jodhpur on the sidelines of a film shoot in 1998. "The accused is a popular actor whose deeds are followed by people. Despite this, the accused hunted two blackbucks," Khatri said in his written judgment. The defence had argued that Salman has not been convicted in any case earlier and that he has always appeared before the court on the given date. The defence counsel also said Salman was under the custody of forest department for five days and he should be given the benefit of the Probation of Offenders Act. But the court refused to give Salman the benefit citing the circumstances of the case and gravity of the offence, according to a copy of the judgement. "...considering the rising number of cases of illegal hunting of wildlife animals, looking at the circumstances of the case and gravity of the offence, giving the benefit of Probation of Offender Act does not appear justified," the judge said. The defence also said the accused is an actor and his sentencing will affect the livelihood of several families. Opposing this, the prosecution said the actor has committed an offence of serious nature. The prosecution also mentioned the hit-and-run case against him in Mumbai and other cases while requesting for the maximum punishment. The verdict triggered a deluge of sympathy from colleagues for the "bad boy" of Hindi filmdom, whose career and personal life have been peppered with controversies, including a manslaughter charge in a hit-and-run case that is still pending. "I feel bad. He should be given relief. He has done a lot of humanitarian work," actor-politician Jaya Bachchan told reporters outside Parliament in New Delhi, adding that the punishment was harsh. Since morning, media crews, hundreds of stargazers and security personnel swarmed the court premises waiting for Salman and the other accused to show up. Large crowds armed with phone cameras lined up along the 2-kilometre route from the court as the 52-year-old was whisked away in a Bolero police jeep to spend a night in the Jodhpur Central Jail. Within hours, social media was awash with photographs of Salman, dressed in a black shirt and jeans, entering the jail. Animal rights activists welcomed the sentencing, and some said Salman should have been given the maximum punishment under the Wildlife Act. "We are happy that justice has prevailed and a serial offender is behind bars. The judiciary has once again proved that the popularity of the accused has no bearing on the case before the court," said Gauri Maulekhi of People For Animals.

'Popular actor whose deeds are followed by people,' judge said

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