Category: INDIA

New Delhi, Nov 8 (IANS) Defence and trade are the key drivers of the growing partnership between India and Poland, reflecting New Delhi’s broader re-engagement with Central and Eastern Europe, a report said.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s visit to India from October 21-23 underscored the growing relations between New Delhi and Warsaw, The Diplomat reported.

“Tusk’s recent visit is reflective of India’s broader re-engagement with Central and Eastern Europe following the Cold War,” the report said.

According to the report, India took part in its first summit with members of the Visegrad Group, or V4, when External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar met his Polish, Slovak, Czech, and Hungarian counterparts on the sidelines of the UNGA in September 2026.

“As India seeks to lessen reliance on Russia, it has sought to deepen defence relations with Poland. While India’s primary security partner in Europe has traditionally been Paris, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has facilitated a continent-wide industrial rearmament,” it stated.

When the two countries upgraded their relationship to a “strategic partnership” in 2024, they announced in their 2024-2029 action plan to deepen defence industrial ties. In February 2026, the Polish Ambassador to India, Piotr Antoni Switalski, said India used Polish drones during Operation Sindoor, the report noted.

“Poland’s economic weight within Europe has increased significantly since it joined the EU in 2004, and it is now the continent’s fastest-growing economy. These developments have correlated with greater Indo-Polish economic relations,” The Diplomat stated.

From 2015 to 2025, bilateral trade between the two countries increased from $2.2 billion to $6.3 billion, and India is the second-largest market for Polish companies within Asia, according to the report.

After the India-EU free trade agreement concluded in January 2026, Warsaw and New Delhi announced plans to double bilateral trade by 2030, with Poland eager to become a gateway for Indian businesses as they seek to expand into Central and Eastern European markets.

–IANS

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Kolkata, Nov 8 (IANS) A stepmother has been arrested in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district of Sagarpara for allegedly beating a four-year-old girl child to death, the police said on Sunday.

The incident took place in Katabari Sarkarpara area of ​​Sagarpara police station area in Murshidabad.

The stepmother, Mousumi Khatun, has been arrested in the incident.

The name of the deceased child is Farzana Khatun.

The common people of the area expressed anger over the incident. They have demanded death penalty for the accused stepmother.

According to the police, the local child’s father lives in Kerala for work.

The child’s birth mother left home about three years ago to start a family elsewhere.

Later, the child’s father married Mousumi.

Locals alleged that Farzana’s stepmother Mousumi Khatun had been subjecting her to extreme physical and mental torture for a long time. She would not feed her properly, nor would she let her go to school. She was also allegedly beaten up several times before.

Initial speculation is that the child was beaten on Saturday night as well.

Later, when the child’s physical condition deteriorated, she was taken to Sagarpara Primary Health Centre where doctors declared her dead.

Soon the police were informed. The police have sent the body to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital for autopsy.

The relatives and neighbours of the deceased child have demanded capital punishment for the accused.

Nurefa Bibi, a relative of the deceased child, said, “The stepmother tortured the child every day. She did not feed her properly, beat her up. She would cover her mouth so that the child could not cry. When we went to protest, she would fight with us instead. She would leave the child at home all day, not letting anyone see her.”

She also said, “This morning, I saw the child lying in an almost lethargic state, with multiple injuries and bruises on her body. Her mother stood holding the child without telling anyone. When she was taken to the hospital, the doctor declared her dead.”

–IANS

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Kolkata, Nov 8 (IANS) Rain with thunderstorms are likely in Kolkata and south Bengal districts for the next few days, though there will be no showers on Kali Puja on Sunday, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) here said in its forecast.

The alert for rain has been issued for three consecutive days starting Monday. Rain may also occur on the day of Bhai Dooj.

The meteorological office said that there is a possibility of scattered rain in Kolkata for three days starting Monday. Thunderstorms and one or two spells of showers may occur in Howrah, Hooghly, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Murshidabad, and Nadia districts.

The other southern districts may receive rain on Tuesday and Wednesday.

However, there is no possibility of heavy rain anywhere.

The meteorological office has issued a ‘Yellow’ alert for rain in North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, East Midnapore and West Midnapore districts on Wednesday. Scattered rain may occur in those districts along with thunderstorms. Gusty winds may also blow in some places. Dry weather will prevail throughout south Bengal from Thursday onwards.

Meanwhile, there is also a forecast of rain in north Bengal. Thunderstorms are likely in North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, and Malda districts from Monday and in the rest of the northern districts on Tuesday and Wednesday. However, the rain will be light, and there is no possibility of any major disaster. A thunderstorm warning has been issued for Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Kalimpong districts on Tuesday.

There will also be no major change in the temperature in the northern and southern districts of West Bengal in the next 24 hours. The mercury will gradually rise again in the next three days by two to three degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature in Kolkata on Sunday morning was 21.2 degrees Celsius, which is normal. The maximum temperature in the city on Saturday was 30 degrees Celsius, one degree below normal.

–IANS

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Guwahati/Agartala, Nov 8 (IANS) To facilitate the smooth movement of passengers and clear the anticipated extra rush during the Diwali festive season, Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has announced to operate three pairs of festival special trains in Tripura from Sunday to Tuesday, officials said.

NFR’s Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said that these special trains will operate on the Agartala-Sabroom and Agartala-Dharmanagar routes, providing additional travel options, enhanced connectivity and greater convenience to passengers travelling across the state during the festive period.

These additional services are aimed at providing greater travel convenience, easing congestion in regular trains and ensuring smoother journeys for passengers travelling across Tripura during the festive season, Sharma added.

Thanking the Northeast Frontier Railway for arranging special trains on the occasion of the Diwali festival in Tripura, Tourism and Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said in a Facebook post that a large number of devotees and pilgrims from across the country and abroad were expected to visit the holy Mata Tripura Sundari Temple at Udaipur for the ‘Diwali Festival–2026’.

To make their journey easier, safer and more convenient, the Northeast Frontier Railway had taken special initiatives by arranging two special trains on the Agartala–Sabroom–Agartala and Agartala–Dharmanagar–Agartala routes, he added.

The Minister said the initiative would greatly benefit thousands of devotees and pilgrims visiting the temple to offer prayers to Goddess Tripura Sundari.

He also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Manik Saha and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for taking this timely and public-oriented initiative.

Chowdhury concluded by expressing hope that the blessings of Goddess Tripura Sundari would bring peace, happiness and prosperity to everyone’s lives.

Meanwhile, more than 10 lakh devotees and visitors from across the country are expected to attend the three-day Diwali festival, which will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Manik Saha on Sunday evening at the historic 525-year-old Mata Tripura Sundari Temple in Tripura’s Gomati district, officials said.

The famous temple, located at Udaipur, around 64 km south of Agartala, is regarded as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in the country. It was built in 1501 by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya, who ruled the erstwhile princely state of Tripura from 1490 to 1515.

Local MLA Abhishek Debroy and Gomati District Magistrate Rinku Lather said that all arrangements for the annual festival had been completed, with several initiatives taken to make this year’s celebrations more attractive.

“We expect more than 10 lakh devotees and visitors including a record number of women from across the country to converge at the three-day festival. It is one of the biggest Diwali festivals in the entire Northeastern region,” Debroy told the media.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 8 (IANS) Bangladesh’s trade deficit jumped up 31 per cent year-on-year to $7.48 billion in July-September of the current financial year as the country’s fuel import bill more than doubled as oil prices soared due to the West Asia conflict, according to the latest data released by the Bangladesh Bank.

The country, which is highly dependent on imports for oil and gas, imported $19.33 billion worth of goods in the first quarter of the 2026-27 fiscal year. Import payments increased 15 per cent year-on-year. By contrast, export earnings rose only by 7 per cent to $11.86 billion during this period, according to a report in Dhaka’s The Daily Star.

The main driver behind the widening trade deficit was fuel. Imports of petroleum products rose 105 per cent to $4.2 billion from $2.0 billion, accounting for most of the increase in total imports. Food imports also climbed, with edible oil purchases up 54 per cent and wheat imports rising by as much as 66 per cent.

However, imports of capital goods and capital machinery fell, pointing to weaker business investment amid the economic slowdown, persistent inflation and a lack of investor confidence stemming from uncertainty.

Imports of capital goods dipped 13.6 per cent in the July-September period. Of these, imports of capital machinery slumped 22.5 per cent year-on-year to roughly $770 million. The Bangladesh Bank data showed that the current account deficit, which covers trade, services, income and transfers with the rest of the world, increased to $1.33 billion from $821 million a year earlier.

Remittances helped limit the gap. Inflows rose 13 per cent to $8.59 billion, led by Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Despite the increase in remittances, the country’s overall external account deficit widened. During the first quarter of this fiscal year, the deficit stood at $1.16 billion, against a surplus of $853 million in the same period a year earlier, reflecting that total foreign currency inflows were insufficient to cover external payments, with Bangladesh Bank meeting the shortfall from its reserves, the report added.

–IANS

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Siddharthnagar (UP), Nov 8 (IANS) In a suspected case of mass food poisoning amid the Diwali festivities, more than 150 people fell ill after consuming ‘golgappa’ from a local vendor in Uttar Pradesh’s Siddharthnagar district, with over 30 of them, including children, requiring hospitalisation.

The incident triggered panic in Kalanakhor Pedari village, along with two to three nearby villages, under the Khesraha police station area.

Officials said more than 150 people fell ill and have been admitted to hospitals.

A doctor on emergency duty told reporters that around 30-33 patients have been admitted to the Emergency Department so far.

“Around 18 children have been admitted to the PICU, and 15 patients are above the age of 15 years,” he said.

The doctor said that people developed symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea two days after consuming food and drinks from a golgappa vendor in a village under the Khesraha police station area.

“Among those admitted, two-three were in serious condition, but now all of them are stable,” he said.

The doctor added that more such patients are on their way to the hospital.

“We have received information that more patients are reaching via bus,” he said.

In a similar case of food poisoning reported from Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi district last month, around 102 people had fallen ill after eating ‘khasta’ (junk) food at a fair, with 17 of them, including children, requiring hospitalisation.

The incident was reported in Kotwa village of Amethi district, where around 102 people reportedly fell sick after eating ‘khasta’ food at a fair, triggering panic in the area. As people complained of vomiting and diarrhoea, a team from the state Health Department rushed to the village.

Later, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) also reached the spot and personally supervised the medical examination and treatment of those affected.

During the inspection, 39 children and 63 adults were found to be ill.

According to the CMO, the health department team reached the village following a complaint from the village head and was investigating the matter at the time of filing the report. He said the situation was under control.

–IANS

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Hyderabad, Nov 8 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Sunday celebrated his birthday with his family members in Kodangal, his home constituency in Vikarabad district.

The Chief Minister cut a cake to celebrate his birthday in the presence of his wife Geetha, wife Nymisha Reddy, son-in-law Satyanarayana Reddy, and grandson.

Earlier, Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar met Revanth Reddy at his residence in Kodangal to extend birthday wishes.

Ministers Seethakka and Vakiti Srihari, MP Mallu Ravi, various MLAs and MLCs, Chairpersons of different corporations, key Congress leaders, and party workers also conveyed their birthday wishes to the Chief Minister.

Chief Ministers of various states and leaders of Congress and other parties greeted Revanth Reddy on his birthday.

Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar greeted his Telangana counterpart.

“Warm birthday wishes to my friend and Telangana Chief Minister Shri Revanth Reddy avaru. Wishing you good health and continued success in serving the people,” he posted on X.

Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan also conveyed birthday greetings to Revanth Reddy.

“Warm birthday greetings to my dear friend Shri Revanth Reddy (Chief Minister, Telangana). May you continue your dedicated efforts in transforming Telangana with your leadership and vision. Wishing you good health, happiness, and a long life ahead,” Satheesan said in a post on X.

Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, both of whom hail from the state, also greeted the Chief Minister on his birthday.

Tollywood superstar K. Chiranjeevi also took to X to greet CM Revanth Reddy.

“As a member of the film fraternity, I especially appreciate your vision for Hyderabad as a global hub for cinema. May your ambitious vision of ‘Telangana Rising 2047’ pave the way for a progressive, prosperous and brighter future for our state. Wishing you good health, happiness and many more years of successful leadership,” Chiranjeevi said.

–IANS

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Canberra, Nov 8 (IANS) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday extended wishes to people who are celebrating Diwali, stressing that shining diyas, candles, and lanterns reflect shared hopes for humanity and assure people that goodness, knowledge, and truth will always prevail.

Albanese’s message for Diwali was shared by Australian High Commissioner to India Philip Green on X.

“I send my best wishes to everyone observing Deepavali, the great celebration of the victory of light. For Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Buddhist communities, Deepavali is deeply embedded in culture – an ancient tradition of spiritual and personal renewal, underpinned by the cultivation of generosity and the embrace of new beginnings,” Albanese said.

“In many ways, the signs and symbols of Deepavali transcend religion and culture, embodying that spirit of generosity by extending its call to compassion and understanding to all of us. With love and unity at its luminous heart, it is a message – and an invitation – that is as welcome now as it has ever been,” he added.

PM Albanese stated that Diwali draws people from all backgrounds together and it has become a part of the face of modern Australia. He hailed the Indian community in Australia for their contribution to Australian society through hard work, aspiration and love of the country.

“Shining diyas, candles and lanterns reflect our deepest shared hopes for humanity, and assure us that goodness, knowledge and truth will always prevail. Deepavali draws people of all backgrounds together, reminding us of our shared essence, and the bonds of family, friendship and community, brings light and joy to us all. Wonderfully, it comes as the culmination of a month of great religious and cultural festivity,” he said.

“We can all take pride and joy in just how intrinsically Deepavali has become part of the face of modern Australia. As you honour the birthright of your heritage, you add so much to the land that is your home, just as you and your community have through generations of hard work, aspiration and an abiding love of country. And that is a gift to all of us – together – as Australians. May your Deepavali celebrations uplift you in hope for a brighter future,” he added.

Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali extended wishes to the people on Diwali, stressing that the festival of lights is a “radiant remembrance of light overcoming darkness, wisdom dispelling ignorance, and goodness rising triumphant over evil”.

“I extend warmest greetings to every Guyanese, at home and abroad, but especially to our Hindu community, on this sacred and luminous occasion of Diwali. Diwali is the festival of lights. It is a radiant remembrance of light overcoming darkness, wisdom dispelling ignorance, and goodness rising triumphant over evil. As diyas flicker in homes and hearts, they summon us toward compassion, truth, and love. Their small flames carry vast hopes; their tender lights bear timeless truths,” Ali posted on X.

“And as Guyana enjoys bright days, let us be mindful that true prosperity is measured not only by what we create, but by what we preserve. Our emerging prosperity must never be purchased at the expense of our extraordinary natural inheritance,” he added.

He stated that Guyana, which is being recognised globally for championing environmental stewardship, must continue to ensure that development and environmental protection advance together. He described Guyana’s forests as a global environmental asset and Guyana’s biodiversity, freshwater resources, mangroves, and marine ecosystems as essential for the country’s economic resilience and human survival. He expressed hope that the lights of Diwali illuminate a deeper understanding and acceptance that forests, rivers, oceans and biodiversity are not just natural resources but foundations of life and human well-being.

“Diwali’s reverence for light invites reflection on the gifts of nature that sustain all life. The festival of light quietly teaches that our health, prosperity, and joy are inseparable from the natural world, urging us to celebrate responsibly and protect the environment that sustains us all. And it is in this spirit that we must embrace a more enduring covenant with nature.”

“For what we inherit from the earth carries with it an obligation to protect, nurture and pass it on, enriched rather than diminished. It is this wisdom, this reverence for the interconnectedness of all life, that gives particular resonance to the celebration of Diwali. May the lights of Diwali therefore illuminate a deeper understanding and acceptance that our forests, rivers, biodiversity, and oceans are not merely natural resources; they are the foundations of life and human well-being. May we continue to safeguard these assets. I wish one and all a Happy and Holy Diwali,” he added.

Diwali, the festival of lights, is being celebrated across the world today. On the day, homes and temples are decorated and illuminated with earthen lamps and decorative lights. In the evening, people perform traditional prayers to Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi, seeking blessings for happiness, peace and prosperity.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 8 (IANS) As the people in India and abroad celebrate Diwali on Sunday, Embassies and High Commissions from across the world extended their wishes to the people on the festival of lights.

The Greek Embassy in India extended wishes to people on Diwali and also shared glimpses from their own celebration on X.

In the video, the Greek diplomats responded to different questions like what their favourite Diwali sweet is, their Diwali memory in India, and what Diwali tradition they would like to take back home.

“My wish for all our Indian friends for Diwali is that your life is as sweet as kaju barfi. Shubh Diwali,” one diplomat said.

Another said: “One thing I learned about Diwali is that light is not simply something we celebrate, it’s something we choose to share and if light brings people together, it knows no border.”

European Union’s Delegation to India wished people a very Happy Diwali.

Australia’s High Commissioner to India Philip Green extended wishes to people on Diwali. The Australian High Commission in India also celebrated the Diwali festival here.

The pictures shared by Green on X showed embassy officials wearing ethnic clothes and dancing.

“Wishing everyone a Happy Diwali. Diwali with the High Commission family is always special, and even more so as I celebrate my final Diwali in India as High Commissioner. A memorable day of warmth, festive cheer and lots of dancing,” he posted on X.

“A few more glimpses from our #Diwali celebrations at the High Commission! A day filled with colour, light, laughter and festive cheer as our High Commission family came together to celebrate the Festival of Lights,” he added.

The Ukrainian Embassy in India also extended wishes on Diwali. In the video posted on X, Ukrainian Ambassador to India Oleksandr Polishchuk said: “Namaste and Happy Diwali. We send in our warm wishes to all of our Indian friends, and especially those Indians who stay with us in Ukraine during these difficult times. May the light of Diwali bring warmth, hope, peace, and brighter days ahead. May the light prevail!”

–IANS

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New Delhi, Nov 8 (IANS) Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit reached a forward base on Sunday and joined frontline troops in Diwali festivities. He celebrated the festival with the ‘Air Warriors’ deployed at the station.

Upon arriving at the forward-area Air Force station, the IAF chief interacted with the Air Force warriors and ‘Agniveervayus’ (Agniveers in the Air Force) deployed there, entrusted with safeguarding the nation’s airspace.

The IAF chief distributed sweets and extended festive greetings to the brave. The Air Force Chief commended the Air Warriors for fulfilling their duties in the service of the nation with unwavering commitment, even while staying away from their families on the auspicious occasion of Diwali.

He said that while most people celebrate festivals with their families, Air Warriors stationed on the frontlines prioritise duty and remain on high alert to ensure the country’s security.

Notably, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, accompanied by Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth, also celebrated Diwali with the Indian Armed Forces in Sherathang, Sikkim.

During the visit, the Union Minister paid tribute to the fallen soldiers at the Sherathang War Memorial and extended his Diwali greetings to the troops.

He commended the soldiers for their professionalism, high morale and steadfast commitment to safeguarding the nation’s borders in challenging high-altitude conditions, urging them to continue protecting the motherland with the same enthusiasm and dedication.

“Like a lamp which dispels darkness without seeking attention, soldiers perform their duties silently, ensuring that citizens can celebrate festivals with peace and security,” he said.

Highlighting the significance of Diwali, the Defence Minister drew a parallel between soldiers’ role and the diya (earthen lamp). He noted that just as a Diwali diya combats darkness silently, soldiers’ lives follow a similar path—they do not seek attention. Yet, their presence gives the entire nation a sense of security.

–IANS

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