New Delhi, Aug 31 (IANS) With the Philippines having liberalised food imports from India, a delegation of rice exporters will be visiting the Southeast Asian country next month as part of a move to step up exports. The Philippines has agreed to remove restrictions on the import of Basmati rice. This move is expected to significantly boost India’s high-quality rice exports to the country and eventually lead to higher incomes for Indian farmers, a senior official said.A high-level delegation from …

New Delhi, Aug 31 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised Jitendra Singh Rathore, a security guard from Gujarat’s Surat, for his unique way of paying homage to the martyrs, describing him as a “great inspiration for every patriot” and someone who teaches the nation a “true lesson” of patriotism. Rathore, while working as a security guard, has devoted himself to collecting information about soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country, beginning with those who fought in the F…

Jammu, Aug 31 (IANS) The police said on Sunday that two terrorists were arrested in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district during an intelligence-backed raid and arms/ammunition were later recovered on the disclosure made by the arrested men.Police identified the two as Tariq Sheikh of Azamabad and Riyaz Ahmad, and both are residents of Chamber village in Poonch. They were taken into custody during a raid.“After questioning them, the police team raided the rented accommodation of Tariq Sheikh at …

Hyderabad, Aug 31 (IANS) Former captain of the Indian cricket team Mohammed Azharuddin said on Sunday that he is ‘deeply honoured and humbled’ by the Telangana Cabinet’s decision to nominate him as Member of Legislative Council (MLC) under the Governor’s quota.The former MP took to ‘X’ to thank All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge, top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K.C. Venugopal for their ‘trust and blessings’….

Chennai, Aug 31 (IANS) In a tragic road accident near Ramanathapuram early Sunday morning, four members of a family lost their lives, and one person sustained serious injuries after the car they were travelling in collided with a lorry. According to reports, the family of five, residents of Ramanathapuram district, were on their way to Courtallam for a trip when the accident occurred. The incident took place near Nenmeli on the Paramakudi two-way road, a stretch often considered risky due to hea…

New Delhi, Aug 31 (IANS) The 125th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ was widely listened to across the country on Sunday, with senior BJP leaders, Chief Ministers, and party workers tuning in from different states to hear the Prime Minister’s address.BJP National President and Union Minister J.P. Nadda listened to the programme, reaffirming the importance of direct communication between the Prime Minister and citizens.Haryana Chief Minister Nayab …

Hyderabad, Aug 31 (IANS) The Telangana Assembly on Sunday passed Telangana Municipalities and Panchayat Raj amendment Bills to provide 42 per cent reservation to Backward Classes (BCs) in the urban and local bodies. Telangana Municipalities (Third Amendment) Bill, 2025 and Telangana Panchayat Raj (Third Amendment) Bill, 2025 were passed by voice vote after a brief but heated debate during which ruling Congress and main opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) blamed each other for non-implementat…

New Delhi, Aug 31 (IANS) Veteran journalist and foreign affairs expert Waiel Awwad on Sunday expressed hope that China will address India’s concerns and that both nations will be on the right track on economic, political, and security issues.On Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, Awwad, while speaking to IANS, said it is significant as it comes after a seven-year hiatus and following the clashes in the Himalayas.Citing late Prime …

Shimla, Aug 31 (IANS) With rain-battered Himachal Pradesh again witnessing heavy to very heavy rain, 822 roads and three national highways were blocked on Sunday, impacting hundreds of stranded motorists. Besides, 1,236 distribution transformers remained disrupted after torrential rain continued to wreak havoc across Himachal Pradesh.Weather experts said a massive western disturbance-monsoon axis interaction unfolding over north India for three days starting on Sunday may worsen the flood situat…

New Delhi, Aug 31 (IANS) US President Donald Trump’s current stand on India, which involves a sharp hike in tariffs on goods imported from the world’s fastest-growing large economy, “is strategically flawed and economically counterproductive”, according to a new report. An article in One World Outlook highlighted that India’s economy has posted a robust 7.8 per cent growth in the April-June quarter despite the tariff turmoil. This is in glaring contrast to the notion suggested by Trump of India’…