Bihar’s judicial landscape shifted Monday as Patna High Court turned down a father’s desperate appeal for intervention in his daughter’s baffling demise at a girls’ hostel. The order aligns with the government’s CBI referral, prioritizing central expertise. Justice Arun Kumar Jha’s bench ruled out present meddling, given CBI’s mandate, while extending an invitation for reapplications if flaws surface. Government representatives affirmed the agency’s readiness for an exhaustive inquiry with prompt findings. The PIL, crafted by advocate Alka Verma, stemmed from the 11 January loss of the NEET contender. It lambasted sluggish police responses and enlisted an array of respondents, pushing…
Author: The Chhattisgarh
Heart-pounding drama unfolded in Khagaria, Bihar, as a young man’s quest for a cow morphed into a nightmare of abduction and compelled matrimony. Munnayam Kumar, hailing from Dumaria Khurd, accuses locals of a premeditated trap culminating in a weapon-enforced wedding to Kundun Kumari. The bait: a cow in Kanhaiyachak, courtesy of Kamal Kumar Rai. Village-hopping led to Sirajpur, phone snatch, and ambush by armed men. Beatings silenced resistance; the forced ceremony happened deep into the night. Relatives’ alerts mobilized Parbatta police, who extracted him swiftly. His detailed complaint, backed by social media video, triggered an FIR. Opposing views emerge from…
Delhi’s art scene gears up for the 17th India Art Fair, scheduled for February 5-8, 2026, at NSIC Grounds. Australian First Nations powerhouse Grace Lillian Lee brings her mesmerizing ‘The Winds of Guardians,’ spotlighting indigenous ingenuity on an international stage. Rooted in the Miriam Mer Semsep heritage of Torres Strait’s eastern isles, Lee embodies the designer, artist, and advocate who channels early weaving traditions into bold statements on identity, land stewardship, sustainability, and indigenous autonomy—all refracted through a 21st-century prism. Viewers will encounter four evocative wind forms (North, South, East, West) and a Dreamweaver mask, embodying wind’s dual essence as…
Eastern railways are set for a renaissance, courtesy of the 2026-27 union budget. Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, connecting virtually to the Chakradharpur press conference in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum, spotlighted unprecedented funding hikes for Jharkhand and Odisha. Jharkhand emerges as the big winner with Rs 7,536 crore allocated—a breathtaking 16 times the Rs 457 crore annual norm from the 2009-2014 UPA years. Odisha isn’t far behind, bagging Rs 10,928 crore, nearly 13 times its prior average of Rs 838 crore. These sums will bankroll a slew of initiatives: from high-capacity freight lines to modern passenger terminals, addressing decades of underinvestment. Divisional representatives,…
Strengthening Indo-Norwegian economic corridors took center stage in Oslo, where MEA’s Sibi George dialogued with Trade and Industry State Secretary Ragnhild Schonander Sirsatd. The parley prioritized investment amplification in green and blue sectors amid the India-EFTA-TEPA framework. Spokesperson Jaiswal tweeted about the constructive session on economic fortification. Defining terms: blue tech pioneers ocean-centric advancements for healthier seas and marine economies; green tech pioneers planet-sparing innovations for sustainability. Echoing the India-EU FTA momentum from the New Delhi summit—where Modi and von der Leyen signed off on tariff eliminations for 90%+ EU goods (machinery -44%, chemicals -22%, pharma -11%, aircraft/chemicals zeroed out,…
The ICC has locked in its top umpires and referees for the Under-19 World Cup 2026 semifinals, heightening excitement for the youth spectacle in Zimbabwe. This move underscores the tournament’s commitment to world-class standards. Semifinal No. 1: February 3, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo—Aus vs Eng. On-field: Zahid Basheer (Eng-NZ) and Virender Sharma (Aus-Jap, Aus-SL). Third: Lubabalo Gcuma. Fourth: Prageeth Rambukwela. Referee: Prakash Bhatt. Semifinal No. 2: February 4, Harare Sports Club—India vs Afg. On-field: Shaun Hague (Afg-SA, Afg-WI) and Russell Warren (Ind-USA, Ind-Ban). Third: Shaun Craig. Fourth: Masudur Mukul. Referee: Graeme Labrooy. Spotlighting India: DLS 6-wkt win first up, 18-run…
CHANDIGARH: BJP Punjab chief Sunil Jakhar celebrated the Union Budget as embodying Guru Ravidas Maharaj’s equality ideals, terming it a bedrock for ‘Viksit Bharat@2047.’ Jakhar told journalists that AAP and Congress’s economic illiteracy prevented them from appreciating its essence. PM Modi explicitly noted Sunday that Punjab hubs like Jalandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, Moga, and Firozpur will see boosted development. He grilled CM Mann: Where’s evidence of PM meetings for Punjab’s asks? Mann’s ‘zero gains’ narrative is false. Punjab’s pre-budget input? Just a borrowing limit plea, no real demands. This PM-led budget supercharges equality and development. Modi’s Dera Ballan speech detailed…
Bangladesh confronts mounting inflation, housing emergencies, water woes, and deteriorating public amenities. Shockingly, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim setup has sanctioned 71 luxury apartments for ministers on Dhaka’s prestigious Minto Road, valued at 786 crore taka, plus 20 crore for opulent setups. Each of the 71 units in the three new structures measures 8,500-9,300 square feet, equipped with rooftop swimming pools and elite features, all at public expense—a decision now under fierce scrutiny. A New Age investigation brands it a moral and political debacle, perpetuating the very elite privileges the government swore to eradicate. It contravenes resource equity, dents credibility, spurns…
Deepening turmoil in Pakistan spells trouble for China’s CPEC, with a fresh report flagging risks to Beijing’s massive outlay. If officials can’t navigate to Islamabad without peril, China may scale back involvement. Fresh hurdles keep emerging, each one battering CPEC progress and Beijing’s regional billions. ISPI’s Italian analysis reveals China’s bold visions for Afghanistan-Pakistan influence and border economic hubs faltering against current headwinds. October 2025 saw lethal border missile fire between Pakistan and Taliban forces, capping a relational nosedive since Kabul’s 2021 shift. China’s $62 billion wager from nearly ten years back now breeds apprehension amid Pakistan’s homegrown insurgency surge…
February 3, 1816: A date etched in history when Baba Ram Singh was born in Ludhiana’s Bhaini village, emerging as the thorn in Britain’s imperial side. This Sikh luminary didn’t just preach spirituality; he orchestrated a movement that unraveled colonial control in Punjab. No stranger to modest roots, Ram Singh skipped books for innate devotion. Carpentry from father Jassa Singh didn’t stick; army stints offered temporary refuge until a transformative Peshawar meeting with Balak Das. The saint’s initiation sealed his path to spiritual leadership. Post-1845 army exit, Bhaini Sahib became his forge for Sikh revival. Word of his wisdom spread,…