After four weeks of conflict, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism over the possibility of peace talks with Iran, stating that recent discussions had been "very good and productive." However, Iran quickly dismissed Trump’s claims, with a military spokesperson declaring, "Do not call your defeat an agreement." The strong rebuttal from Tehran suggests any resolution is far from imminent and casts doubt on Trump's diplomatic efforts. While Trump has attempted to engage Iran

The global economy faces significant risks if oil prices reach $150 per barrel, warns Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock. In recent days, Brent crude surpassed $110 per barrel, causing a substantial market reaction, and a new report suggests that prices could climb even further, especially if the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict escalates. Fink emphasized that if oil prices continue to rise, the world would face a major economic shock rather than a gradual adjustment. The impact would be felt a

The Congress party has been directed by the government to vacate its long-standing office at 24, Akbar Road, Delhi, by Saturday. This property has served as the headquarters for the Congress for 48 years. In recent times, following the inauguration of its new headquarters, Indira Bhavan, at Kotla Marg, the party had not yet vacated the Akbar Road premises, continuing its activities there. The Indian Youth Congress office at 5, Raisina Road has also been asked to vacate. In

In a significant political development, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured all five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar in the recent biennial elections, further strengthening its position in the Upper House. The alliance also won two seats in Odisha, aided by cross-voting from Opposition MLAs. In Bihar, key NDA candidates included Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and BJP national president Nitin Nabin. Both leaders secured 44 votes each in the Bihar Assembly. Meanwhile, Rashtriya L

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday announced that four special Lok Adalats will be conducted in 2026 to expedite the disposal of pending cases before the Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) and Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunals (DRATs). A significant number of these cases involve high-value claims exceeding ₹100 crore and have remained unresolved for an extended period, prompting the government to take steps to accelerate the judicial process. Responding in the Lok Sab

NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule on Monday announced that her party will not contest the upcoming Baramati Assembly bypoll, scheduled for April 23, 2026. The by-election was necessitated following the tragic demise of senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar in a plane crash earlier this year. Sule, who retained the Baramati parliamentary seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, stated that the NCP (SP) would not field a candidate against Sunetra Vahini, who is expected to contest the bypol

The biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha are underway today, March 16, 2026, to fill 37 seats across 10 states. Voting began at 9 am, with the counting of votes scheduled for later in the day at 5 pm. The seats vacated by members from states such as Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Telangana will be filled during this election. Out of the 37 seats, 26 candidates have already been elected unopposed, including me

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will attend the state-level government Iftar program today, held in Vijayawada as part of the ongoing Ramadan celebrations. The venue for the event has been shifted from the originally scheduled A1 Convention Centre to the A-Plus Convention Centre, as per the directions of the state government. Authorities have informed religious leaders, Muslim community members, and public representatives about this change, urging them to attend the program at the new location. The Iftar event is expected to bring together thousands of attendees, further promoting unity among the diverse communities in the state. Chief Minister Naidu has been a consistent participant in Iftar gatherings for the past 40 years, extending his warm invitation to the community. In his message, Naidu emphasized the significance of Ramadan, describing it as a month that represents discipline, charity, and spiritual reflection. He highlighted his deep respect for the Muslim community's devotion during this holy month, noting their commitment to fasting and spiritual practices. "I deeply respect the devotion of my Muslim brothers who observe strict fasting during this holy month," said Naidu, reinforcing the importance of interfaith unity and mutual respect. Ahead of the celebrations, NTR district collector Dr. G. Lakshmisha chaired a review meeting with various department officials to ensure all necessary arrangements for the event. The collector instructed officials to make provisions for parking, traffic regulation, security, sanitation, uninterrupted power supply, safe drinking water, temporary toilets, and adequate seating for guests. Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath (Chinni) also played a crucial role in coordinating the event by meeting with Muslim community leaders and officials to ensure the smooth execution of the program. Sivanath praised CM Naidu for his consistent support of Muslim minorities and his longstanding tradition of hosting Iftar events during Ramadan, whether in power or not. He emphasized that the participation of thousands of Muslims is expected at the Iftar event, Namaz, and dinner, which will commence at 5 p.m. The event will be attended by a broad spectrum of the community, including Muslim religious leaders, officials from the Andhra Pradesh Wakf Board, the Minority Welfare Department, and other stakeholders. This gathering not only showcases the state's commitment to the Muslim community but also serves as a platform for fostering interfaith dialogue, promoting peace, and enhancing social cohesion. The Iftar event reflects the government's dedication to building a united and harmonious society, where people of all faiths can come together to celebrate the values of charity, reflection, and mutual respect.

In a significant political move, Nitish Kumar, Bihar’s Chief Minister and leader of Janata Dal (United), is set to file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha today, further intensifying political activity in Patna. The submission of his nomination papers is scheduled for 11:30 am and is expected to be accompanied by other National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidates. The presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Patna for this event adds to the significance of the occasion. This

Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna, now newlyweds, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on February 21, 2026, to personally invite him to their reception in Hyderabad. The pictures of their meeting quickly went viral after their wedding in Udaipur on February 26, 2026. In the photos, the couple is seen warmly presenting the Prime Minister with a shawl as a sign of respect. Rashmika, wearing a simple yellow salwar suit, and Vijay, dressed in an all-white ensemble, looked elegant as t

The Delhi government has launched a groundbreaking initiative called the Saheli Pink Smart Card Scheme, aimed at empowering women by providing free travel on public transport. The scheme is designed to improve the mobility of women, offering them easy and safe access to public transportation across the city. This innovative card provides free bus travel on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses and can also be used for travel on Delhi Metro and Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS).

Andhra Pradesh has taken a significant step toward reducing human-wildlife conflicts with the launch of the ‘Hanuman’ Project, an initiative aimed at improving wildlife protection while ensuring public safety. The announcement came from Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on March 3, 2026, during an event held in Mangalagiri. The new project, which addresses ongoing issues with elephants and other wildlife in the state, promises to enhance safety measures for both people and animals in the

The Cultural Divide: Traditional Values vs. Modern Lifestyles One of the main challenges NRI parents face in arranging marriages for their children is reconciling the cultural expectations of marriage with the increasingly liberal, Westernized lifestyles of their children. Many NRI children, especially those born or raised abroad, prioritize love and personal choice over the traditional approach of arranged marriages. Parents, who a

Visakhapatnam has reached a significant milestone by securing a USD 1 million grant in the 2025–2026 Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge, a highly regarded international competition. Chosen from over 630 cities globally, this award acknowledges the city’s citizen-led climate resilience initiative, the Vizag–Prajamukhi Urban Living Lab (V-PULL). The V-PULL initiative, spearheaded by the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), focuses on enhancing resilience ag

When buying property from a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), one of the key aspects that differentiates it from typical real estate transactions is the Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) under Section 195 of the Income Tax Act. While Indian residents are subject to a 1% TDS on property transactions above ₹50 lakh, the TDS rate increases significantly for property sales involving an NRI seller. The buyer must deduct TDS at rates starting from 20% and deposit it with the Indian income tax authorities. A