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U.K. wants closer EU defence ties with potential bid to join new SAFE fund

Asked if Britain would seek to join a new version of SAFE, Mr. Starmer said Europe needed to do more to rearm

Prominent Venezuelan activist released after over four years in jail

To cries of Freedom! Freedom! Freedom! and applause from Catholic faithful, the 43-year-old dissident was taken to the forecourt of a Caracas chu

BNP alleges unusual voter migration ahead of Bangladesh polls

DHAKA, Feb 1: The BNP on Sunday alleged it found an unusual voter migration in capital Dhaka and other parts of Bangladesh ahead of the February

Ghani Kohli, others call on LG

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 1: Er. Abdul Ghani Kohli, former Minister and senior BJP leader called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, tod

Parkash Utsav of Guru Ravidass celebrated

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 1: All J&K Shree Guru Ravidass Sabha, under the leadership of R C Bhasin celebrated 649th Parkash Utsav of gre

Preparations underway at Rafah crossing day before Israel says travel to resume

CAIRO, Feb 1: Gazas Rafah border crossing with Egypt showed signs of activity as Israel said that limited travel to and from the territory was se

CBK files chargesheet in fake international prize scam

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Feb 1: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of the Crime Branch has chargesheeted two accused in a fake int

US ambassador arrives in Venezuela to reopen diplomatic mission after 7 years

CARACAS, Feb 1 : US Ambassador Laura Dogu arrived in Caracas on Saturday to reopen the American diplomatic mission in Venezuela after seven years

Plangarh-Badhano road in deplorable condition

Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, Feb 1; Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) road connecting Plangarh to Badhano has been lying in a highly d

Rajnath praises Coast Guards role during Operation Sindoor, urges it to prepare 2047 roadmap

Addressing an event to mark the Indian Coast Guards 50th Raising Day, Rajnath Singh said Operation Sindoor displayed seamless inter-service coord

Elected representatives should realise pain of daily wagers: Pawan Khajuria

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 1: Senior leader Pawan Khajuria today urged the public representatives of Jammu Kashmir and the UT Government,

SSP Jammu transfers 4 police officers

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 1: The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu has ordered the transfers and postings of four Inspector ra

Vehicle falls in gorge, 5 injured

Excelsior Correspondent KISHTWAR, Feb 1: Five persons were injured here today when the vehicle they were onboard rolled down the road in Padder a

Year-end rush of teacher trainings disrupts classes, sparks concern among stakeholders

Absence of PTR norms, assignment of BLO worsen situation Nishikant Khajuria JAMMU, Feb 1: With the financial year nearing its end, the School Edu

Budget lacks policy vision, offers no solutions: Kharge

NEW DELHI, Feb 1: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said the Modi Government has run out of ideas, and the Union Budget for 2026-27

Hills receive snow, rains in Valley

Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar Feb 1: Parts of Kashmir received snow, while rains lashed the plains today as the night temperature rose above t

Cabinet meets today to clear budgetary proposals with focus on welfare measures

Budget for 2026-27 likely to be around Rs 1.20 lakh cr *Ruling NCs commitments to be included Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Feb 1: The Omar Abdullah Cabi

On 50th Raising Day, Rajnath praises Coast Guards role during Operation Sindoor

NEW DELHI, Feb 1 : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday praised the role of the Indian Coast Guard during last years Operation Sindoor, sayin

Centre reduces Ladakhs grants from Rs 7377 cr to Rs 4869 cr for next FY

Leh Palace to be developed as archaeological site Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Feb 1: The Centre has allocated more than Rs 4,869 crore to the

Piyush triggers flutter in NCP with Praful is chief faux pas

Government raises limit for bringing duty-free imported goods to 75,000 under new baggage rules

Under the Baggage Rules, 2026, a resident or a tourist of Indian origin arriving in India other than by land, shall be allowed clearance free of

In Defence of Youth

Editor, The Shillong Times of Jan 30, 2026 carried a letter titled The Youth of Today. The writer made several observations about the behaviour o

Issues in the Indo-Bangla Border

By H.H. Mohrmen There were two news items that appeared in the public domain recently which had a connection with Bangladesh. The first was the a

Air pollution also looming over the Northeast

By Shahruk Ahmed Mazumdar When it comes to air pollution, most Indians think of North India, especially Delhi. It is a fact, though. However, rec

Pak to boycott India in T20 WC

PAKISTAN to boycott India MATCH ON FEB 15 but compete in tournament Lahore, Feb 1: Pakistan on Sunday formally announced that it will boycott its

Pakistan likely to face WC ban, ICC sanctions over boycott

New Delhi, Feb 1: The International Cricket Council is set to take a slew of punitive actions against Pakistan in the wake of their governments d

India U17 girls gear up for stringent Bangladesh test

A victory against Bangladesh, coupled with Bhutan failing to beat Nepal in the later kick-off, will confirm Indias spot in the title clash

Devika Sihag secures maiden Super 300 title at Thailand Masters

Anahat Singh in Squash on Fire final

Andhra, Jharkhand qualify for quarters from Group A

Nagpur, Feb 1: Defending champions Vidarbha defeated Uttar Pradesh by four wickets but still failed to qualify for the knockout round as Andhra a

State to receive over Rs 328 cr from Budget

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Feb 1: The Union Budget 2026-27 has allocated over Rs 328 crore to Meghalaya under various Finance Commission grants to

Uttarakhand secure bonus point win vs Assam, join Bengal in QF

Dehradun, Feb 1: Uttarakhand thrashed Assam by an innings and 42 runs to clinch a bonus-point victory in their final league match here on Sunday

Mlaya govt set to implement direct job policy for sportsperson

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Feb 1: The state government will soon implement the Meghalaya Sportsperson Direct Recruitment Policy, under which sport

NPP grapples with balancing act as race for RS seat begins

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Feb 1: With the tenure of National Peoples Party (NPP) Rajya Sabha MP Wanwei Roy Kharlukhi set to end on June 21, inter

J&K join Mumbai in Ranji Trophy quarterfinals

Mumbai, Feb 1: Skipper Ayush Dosejas unbeaten 159 helped Delhi force a draw against table-toppers Mumbai, while Jammu and Kashmir joined the 42-t

MHRC directive vindicates arrested youths: Bernard

Rimpu Bagan case By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Feb 1: State BJP vice president and Tura MDC Bernard N. Marak has said that the Meghalaya Human Rights

SC reinstates trial court acquittal in 2006 Shillong murder case

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Feb 1: The Supreme Court of India has allowed the appeals filed by Bernard Lyngdoh Phawa and Boni Lyngdoh Phawa, overtu

Different surfaces, day games in T20 WC are new challenges but we can adapt: NZ captain Santner

I think were obviously tested a lot throughout the series. We knew that was going to be the case. We know how good India are, especially their re

Pakistan trounces Australia by 111 runs to complete a 3-0 T20 series sweep

Pakistans commanding 111-run win in the third and final game eclipsed Australias previous biggest defeat when England registered a 100-run win at

U19 World Cup: All-rounder Kanishk stars in Pakistan rout as India reaches semis

It was all-rounder Kanishk, whose quickfire 29-ball-35 and a 50-run stand for the eighth wicket with Khilan Patel (21 not out off 15 balls) took

Alcaraz hails Djokovic, savours first Australian Open title

Youre talking about how Im doing the things, amazing things, but what youre doing is really inspiring, Alcaraz told Djokovic

KTR Calls SIT Probe of KCR a Diversionary Tactic

Rama Rao pointed to the shooting incident at Koti on Saturday, the killing of a woman constable by ganja smugglers, and alleged mismanagement at

A Futuristic Budget for Defence

Defence manufacturers welcome capital-heavy approach, say stress on modernisation, indigenisation.

Union Budget 2026-27: FM hands out a mixed bag for capital markets

Police to get 12,846 cr. allocation

Education Budget: Hostels a Plus, But Overall Vision And Funds 'Inadequate'

The proposal to set up a girls hostels in every district was welcome, Prof. Rao said, but it would be inadequate considering the large population

Budget will help Capital scale new heights: Gupta

Delhi-Varanasi high-speed rail corridor to be a game changer, boost citys financial activity, says CM; BJP MP Khandelwal terms Budget a fine blen

Step up efforts to save native fish in Yamuna: NGT to States, authorities

Budgets Bond Push May End Funds Crunch for Basic Amenities in Outlying Municipalities

The HMDA that has proposed to raise Rs.2,144 crore has decided to mobilise another Rs.2,000 crore in the next five months.

Union Budget 2026 falls short of expectations in poll-bound West Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the Budget had nothing to offer to people of the State. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lea

Assam government accused of letting corporate houses take over tribal lands

Political parties and social organisations in Dima Hasao district cite the allotment of more than 9,000 bighas of land for limestone mining to fe

What the new fiscal rule means for growth and spending

Deficit reduction in FY27 is driven largely by cuts in development expenditure, particularly in the rural and agricultural sectors

Aviation Budget: Duty Cuts for Parts, Push for Seaplanes and Drones to Lower Costs

The Budget also proposes revised international baggage clearance rules to raise duty-free allowances and clarify temporary carriage of goods, add

Shabbir Slams Centre's Meagre Minority Allocation

Shabbir Ali noted that Telangana alone had allocated 3,591 crore for its minorities welfare department in 2025-26, and Karnataka over 4,000 crore

Census boost for Home Ministry in Budget 2026; intelligence bureau gets 74% hike

Budget 2026: India's internal security budget sees a major increase. The Union government has allocated 2.55 lakh crore, a rise of nearly 9.5%. C

Indias defence budget: a case for higher allocation

In the context of Indias rapidly evolving security requirements, its defence budget is middling. Our security outlays must be assessed in the con

Data Center Industry To See Major Boost With Tax Holiday, Say Experts

Move to spur data-centre investment and boost Hyderabads tech hub

Budget 2026: A slow-cooked recipe for wholesome consumption

The government has chosen to prioritise investment, productivity and job creation. Public capex remains the backbone of the budget, with continue

Union Budget trims TCS, simplifies TDS to ease burden on taxpayers

The budget simplifies tax collection with revised Tax Collected at Source (TCS) rates, significantly benefiting overseas travelers, students, and

Budget 2026-27 falls short of expectations in poll bound West Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the Budget had nothing to offer to people of the State. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lea

Budget skirts issues listed by economic survey, says Congress

Budget 2026: Opposition leaders P Chidambaram, Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, and Kanimozhi have strongly criticized the Union Budget. They claim

Telangana HC Rules Against Arbitrary Intervention by Regulators

The judge was hearing a writ petition challenging the action of the agriculture department in obstructing the licensed business operations of the

T.N. Assembly poll: Congress identifies 70seats to field candidates

No force can destroy unity in DMK-led alliance: Stalin

Building on a tax gamble that did not pay off

The government should have gone back to the drawing board if its existing strategies were not working

AI in Schools: Telangana Plans Labs for 1,000 High Schools

For the secondary level education, the focus is more on physical labs and connectivity.

BJP chief Nabin's Maiden Telangana Visit on Feb. 4

State-level leaders and office-bearers are also expected to meet the partys national president on his arrival at the airport. BJP state president

Marathon promotes cancer awareness

Children recommend lessons on safe touch, life skills and AI in revamped T.N. curriculum

Debating Union Budget 2026 as turning point or tinkering

Budget 2026-27 needs to be read in the context of much geopolitical turmoil

Himachal CM Sukhu terms Union Budget inequitable, raises concerns over Finance Commission report

Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the Budget overlooked the concerns and priorities of Himachal Pradesh, even as he raised serious

Vizags Koney Sridhar appointed member of Hindi Advisory Committee

Madras Canine Clubs dog show concludes with grand finale

Phone Tapping case: After SIT questions KCR, KTR attacks Telangana govt

Hyderabad: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) later in the evening on Sunday, February 1, concluded questioning Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) pr

AP To Opt for Ship Building, Repair Cluster Mentioned in Union Budget

Duggarajapatnam SPV, long coastline boosts states shipping prospects

Union Budget an inspiring blueprint for building Viksit Bharat, says U.P. CM

Budget will provide opportunities to the youth, security to farmers, encouragement to entrepreneurs, relief to the middle class, respect to worke

Elon Musk says steps to stop Russia from using Starlink seem to have worked

Elon Musk's SpaceX has reportedly halted Russia's unauthorized use of its Starlink internet system, a move confirmed by Ukraine's defence ministe

Giving wings to aspirations: Budget lays the groundwork for competitive manufacturing, resilient supply chains and inclusive growth

Budget 2026: India's latest budget prioritizes manufacturing and supply chain strength for Viksit Bharat. It boosts public spending and outlines

Activists express concerns over Odisha government turning a blind eye to depletion of mineral resources

The government is facilitating mineral extraction by large corporate houses without taking a long-term view of resource sustainability, says Ling

Ukraine talks set for next week as cold sweeps country

Ukraine and Russia will meet for U.S.-backed talks in Abu Dhabi next week. President Zelenskyy confirmed the February 4-5 dates. Ukrainians face

Extracting rare earth elements from fly ash is akin to searching needle in a hay stack, say researchers

Pointing out that fly ash has REEs at 0.04% by weight, they say monazite sand is a better alternative as it has REE content up to 60%

Budget 2026: Customs levy on personal imports halved to 10%; high-end electronic goods, apparel may see lower landed costs

The government has also signalled higher duty-free allowances for Indians returning from overseas travel, potentially widening the benefit for fr

Srinagar youth providebrave new voice amid silence, despair: Mehbooba Mufti

Scores of girls also attended the PDP initiative and highlighted the issues the new generation was facing when it comes to employment and politic

Ambati Rambabu remanded to 14 days judicial custody

Capex drive to power growth as Budget 2026 hikes investment to sustain growth & modernise logistics

Budget 2026: The government has proposed an 8.9% increase in capital spending for the next fiscal, reaching Rs 12.2 lakh crore, with a focus on a

MP Rashids party seeks citizenship for ex-militants kin from PoK

No trace of nuclear submarine near Moscow despite Trump's threat: Dmitry Medvedev

Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's Security Council deputy chairman, praised Donald Trump as an effective leader seeking peace, though Moscow has found no

Mamata Banerjee to meet CEC Gyanesh Kumar

The Chief Minister has written six letters to the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on the issue of SIR over the past few months. In the

Budget 2026: Job creation and skill development top the agenda

In an era of economic transformation, the Union Budget puts a spotlight on job creation and skill enhancement, laying the groundwork for a robust

Borrowing to build: Govt bets on capex as fiscal deficit stays on track

Government borrowing is increasingly financing capital expenditure, boosting economic growth potential as effective capital spending surpasses th