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India on Saturday admitted that a common BRICS position on the West Asia conflict remains elusive due to "differing views" among member-nations and New Delhi is engaged to forge a consensus on the issue. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, without naming any country, said some BRICS members are directly involved in the conflict, which has impacted finding a unified stance for the grouping. India is the current chair of the influential bloc, which recently expanded to include Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and some other countries. Iran's counter-offensive against the UAE and other Gulf nations following the February 28 US-Israel strikes on Iranian targets has triggered some disquiet within the grouping. As the current chair of the BRICS, India is now navigating the challenge of finding a common position for the bloc on the conflict. "Some members of the BRICS are directly involved in the current situation in the West Asia region, which has impact
Indian employers reported a strengthening of hiring intentions for the April-June quarter of this year, supported by surging business confidence and resilient domestic demand, a survey said on Tuesday. According to ManpowerGroup's latest Employment Outlook Survey, the Net Employment Outlook (NEO) for Q2 2026 hit a record high of 68 per cent, up 17 points from the previous quarter and rising 24 points year-over-year. The Net Employment Outlook (NEO) is derived by taking the percentage of employers anticipating an increase in hiring activity and subtracting from this the percentage of employers expecting a decrease in hiring activity. The Employment Outlook Survey was of more than 3,000 employers across India, conducted from January 1 to February 3, 2026. As per the report, the combination of Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms and strong economic growth projections for 2026 provides a solid foundation for businesses. Furthermore, improving trade prospects, such as India-EU agreeme
Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Thursday announced that the Pakyong Airport, the lone such facility in the Himalayan state, will be renamed after freedom fighter Trilochan Pokhrel. Trilochan Pokhrel, popularly known as "Gandhi Pokhrel" and considered the first independence activist from Sikkim, was actively involved in the Non-Cooperation Movement, the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Quit India Movement, spearheaded by Mahatma Gandhi. Tamang made the announcement while addressing the 31st Foundation Day celebration of the 'Akhil Sikkim Khas Chettri Bahun Kalyan Sangh', a tribal organisation at Rangpo ground close to the West Bengal border. "The Pakyong Airport will be renamed Trilochan Pokhrel Airport in honour of the freedom activist who belonged to the Khas, Chettri, Bahun community," the chief minister said. Pakyong Airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 24, 2018. On the 31st Foundation Day of the organisation, Tamang said this miles
India can be called developed in true sense only if everyone gets an equal opportunity to progress, President Droupadi Murmu said on Wednesday. She was speaking after launching the 'Golden Era of Maharashtra through Unity and Trust' campaign, organised by Brahma Kumaris in Nagpur. "We have to discard negativity and embrace positivity," the President said. She described Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as an inspirational figure, who fought for justice and freedom. The campaign aims to promote trust, harmony, unity, and respect for human values across Maharashtra. The Brahma Kumaris have outlined eight guiding principles for the initiative, including building an addiction-free society, encouraging sustainable lifestyles, ensuring cleanliness, strengthening civic responsibility, fostering readiness for humanitarian service, promoting value-based education, advocating a disciplined and pure life through yoga, and working towards a green and sustainable Maharashtra. Governor Acharya Devvr
Asserting that if India can be free of Naxals, it can also be free of infiltrators, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that the illegal immigrants would be removed not only from the electoral rolls but also from the country in the next five years. Shah was addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone for a new campus of the Assam Police 10th Battalion, which he said would be constructed on land freed from encroachments by infiltrators. "It is, however, not enough to evict the infiltrators from the encroached land as they will go and settle elsewhere... They must be removed from the country," he said. Attacking Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Shah said that the Congress leader had once said that infiltrators would be removed, but the "Congress can't do so as illegal immigrants are its votebank". Congress' policy of protecting the infiltrators has threatened Assam's 'jati' (people), 'mati' (land) and 'bheti' (foundation), he alleged. "If t