India

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has ceded the home portfolio to BJP for the first time in his two decades at the helm and his party JDU has, in lieu, got control of finance, which was kept by BJP. Though it may appear like a regular ministry swap which happens between allies, the significance of deputy…

MUMBAI: Fraud and waste continue to drag India’s health-insurance system, with Rs 8,000–10,000 crore leaking from claim payouts each year, says a Boston Consulting Group–Medi Assist report. Fraud and unnecessary claims inflate premiums, strain insurer finances and drain public funds. Weak data systems and loose checks also push patients into higher out-of-pocket spends.The analysis shows…

NEW DELHI: BJP on Friday said the ‘Indira Gandhi Peace Prize’ given by Congress to former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet was a vindication of PM Narendra Modi’s assertion that the opposition party’s DNA had now become ‘Muslim-Maoist Congress.’“People like George Soros and Michelle Bachelet remain involved in anti-India activities at the international level. They attack…

NEW DELHI: SC on Friday agreed to hear Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association’s plea to make Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act applicable to sexual harassment complaints against advocates. It issued a notice of appeal against a Bombay high court judgment holding that the Act was not applicable to advocates.A bench of Justices B V…

SRINAGAR: Security forces on Friday foiled what they called “a potential terror plot” in Jammu and Kashmir, and recovered weapons and ammunition, including M4 rifles, during a search in Handwara, around 130 km north of Srinagar.“Based on specific input, a joint operation was launched by J&K Police and the Army’s Naugam brigade in the Neeriyan…

NEW DELHI: Indian diplomatic missions and consulates worldwide have now reopened tourist visa applications for Chinese nationals, marking progress in bilateral relations following the resolution of military tensions in eastern Ladakh.Tourist visas for Chinese citizens, which were halted during the military confrontation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh starting May 2020,…

NEW DELHI: “Deeply anguished at the loss of a brave and courageous IAF pilot during an aerial display in Dubai Air Show,” Rajnath Singh wrote.“My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. The nation stands firmly with the family in this tragic hour,” he added.Earlier in the day, a Tejas fighter jet, performing at the Dubai…

Tejas jet crashed in Dubai NEW DELHI: A Tejas fighter jet participating in the Dubai Air Show crashed on Friday after nosediving during an aerobatic display, the Indian Air Force (IAF) said in a statement. The HAL-built light combat aircraft went down at around 2.10pm (local time) while executing a manoeuvre, sending thick black smoke…

NEW DELHI: Congress on Friday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he left for Johannesburg, the venue for this year’s G20 Summit. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh suggested the prime minister was attending the event “safely and securely” because US President Donald Trump has chosen to boycott it, and wondered whether “huglomacy” with…

NEW DELHI: A new national white paper has exposed a sweeping health-insurance crisis for persons with disabilities in India, revealing that 80% still have no health cover, while 53% of those who applied were rejected by insurers — and 60% of them were given no reason at all. Based on a survey of over 5,000…