Five years after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, the international community continues to face a difficult question: how should the world deal with a regime that has established firm control over the country but remains deeply controversial because of its policies on human rights, women’s freedoms and political participation? The Taliban returned to power...
Day: August 17, 2026
Supreme Court Puts Allahabad HC Proceedings on Hold in Rahul Gandhi Disproportionate Assets Case
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Allahabad High Court to defer further proceedings in a case involving allegations that Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi possesses assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The apex court also restrained the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement...
Vijay Government at 100 Days: A New Political Era Faces the Test of Governance
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s government has completed its first 100 days in office, marking an unusual political experiment in a state known for its deeply established administrative systems and long-standing political traditions. The milestone has prompted a closer examination of whether the new administration is beginning to establish a distinct model of...
Indian Stock Market Ends Lower as Nifty Extends Losing Streak Amid Rising Crude Oil Prices
Indian benchmark equity indices ended lower on Monday, August 17, as persistent concerns over elevated crude oil prices and geopolitical tensions continued to weigh on investor sentiment. The decline extended the Nifty 50’s losing run to five consecutive sessions, while the Sensex also closed in negative territory after a volatile trading session. The BSE Sensex...
Trump Threatens Oman With Military Action Amid Escalating Strait of Hormuz Crisis
US President Donald Trump has issued a sharp warning to Oman amid rising tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, saying the United States could launch military action if Muscat interferes with Washington’s efforts to reopen and secure the strategically vital waterway. The warning came during a television interview on Monday, August 17, as the broader...
Shehzad Poonawalla Explains Why He Left BJP, Calls Party a Strong Platform for Youth
Shehzad Poonawalla has explained his decision to step away from the Bharatiya Janata Party, saying that his resignation was primarily linked to personal, professional and financial considerations rather than a fundamental disagreement with the party’s ideology. Poonawalla, who had served as a prominent BJP spokesperson and frequently represented the party in television debates and public...
Rajasthan Schoolgirls Blacken Principal’s Face During Protest Over Molestation Allegations
A protest at a government school in Rajasthan’s Ajmer district took an unusual and dramatic turn on Monday when girl students allegedly blackened the face of their principal with ink while demonstrating over accusations of molestation. The incident brought the allegations against the school official into sharp focus and prompted police intervention as well as...
CJI Surya Kant Clarifies He Never Accepted NALSAR Convocation Invite as Student Protest Intensifies
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has clarified that he never accepted an invitation from the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) University of Law to attend its upcoming convocation as chief guest, effectively putting to rest speculation over whether he would appear at the ceremony. The clarification comes against the backdrop of...
Two Air India Pilots Flagged in Drug Screening After Phuket-Delhi Flight Incident
Two Air India pilots have returned non-negative results in preliminary drug screening, prompting further confirmatory testing as the airline group carries out mandatory checks of its cockpit crew following a serious Phuket-Delhi flight incident. The development comes amid heightened scrutiny of pilot fitness and aviation safety after the commander of an Air India flight operating...
Eight Dead in Tarapith Hotel Fire as Locked Exits Hamper Rescue
At least eight people were killed and several others injured after a massive fire broke out at a hotel in Tarapith, a major pilgrimage destination in Birbhum district of West Bengal, in the early hours of Monday. The fire reportedly broke out around 4 am, when most guests were asleep inside the hotel. The blaze...









