The political fraternity in Kerala was shaken by the demise of K.P. Unnikrishnan on Tuesday. At 89, the former Union Minister and record six-time representative from Vadakara bid farewell, concluding a journey marked by electoral dominance and ministerial gravitas. From his birthplace on the Malabar coast on September 20, 1936, son of E. Kunhikannan Nair, Unnikrishnan built an academic foundation at Madras Christian College, culminating in a law degree. Journalism beckoned first, with contributions to Mathrubhumi as a special correspondent, before politics claimed him fully. Socialist roots in the 1960s evolved into Congress membership by 1962. Congress’s bet on him…
Author: Report Wire
Escalating tensions in West Asia have prompted the US to intensify contacts with India. Dispatching two top envoys this week highlights Washington’s view of New Delhi as an indispensable partner. From March 3-6, Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau will engage in New Delhi, leading the US at the 2026 Raisina Dialogue—India’s leading geopolitical conclave. He plans to champion President Trump’s policy priorities in dialogues with Indian leaders. Bilateral focus areas span defense collaboration, mineral resources, and anti-drug initiatives. The agenda extends to enhancing trade links for US enterprises and aligning on a stable, rules-based Indo-Pacific. The visits unfold amid West Asian…
In a display of unwavering religious adherence, temples throughout the NCR region shuttered their doors nine hours before the anticipated lunar eclipse on March 3. The onset of sutak at 6:20 AM transformed bustling shrines into hushed sanctuaries, as priests followed scriptural mandates to suspend all public worship. The procedure was methodical: morning rituals concluded swiftly, devotees were ushered out politely, and gates secured with traditional rites. This practice stems from the belief that eclipses disrupt positive energies, making temple precincts vulnerable during sutak. Idols receive special protection—draped in protective cloths—while puja paraphernalia is relocated to safe havens. The interim…
With Middle East volatility peaking after the elimination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by US-Israel forces, India has activated a nationwide high alert. The Home Ministry’s orders to states emphasize vigilant tracking of suspicious activities and robust policing to avert any breakdown in order. Khamenei supporters have taken to streets in several states, while online platforms buzz with divisive propaganda. Police and administrators have alerted the public: avoid sharing sensational, misleading, or incendiary posts that could fan flames of discord. Legal avenues for voicing opinions peacefully are upheld, yet hooliganism, property vandalism, and force confrontations cross red lines. These not only…
Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district are on edge after a suspicious balloon mimicking an aircraft, marked with Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) logo and Urdu writings, was recovered from Sarhoti village in Dharmasal area on Sunday. Villagers first noticed the red and white object in a stony, inclined field during midday. Its unusual design and foreign markings prompted quick action—they notified the Teryath police station without delay. Responding teams isolated the site and took possession of the balloon for detailed scrutiny. Uncertainties abound: its launch point, trajectory, and intent remain unknown. Is it innocuous partyware gone astray, or…
The shadow of Middle East conflict has fallen over Mumbai, where protests against the US-Israel assault on Iran are unfolding citywide. Security has been ramped up at embassies, and Mumbai Police are in full high-alert mode, briefing officers on potential threats from inflammatory gatherings. At the heart of the unrest is the purported elimination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prompting Iran’s 40-day mourning declaration. Police have flagged risks of demonstrations morphing into riots or firebombings, urging heightened preparedness. Voices from India’s Muslim community are resounding. Maulana Kalbe Jawad, a respected Shia scholar, likened current accusations of Iran’s nuclear ambitions…
In a congressional hearing that exposed simmering tensions beneath the waves, US Navy brass warned of China’s bold bid to shatter American undersea dominance. Vice Admiral Richard Seaf and Rear Admiral Mike Brooks, speaking at the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission’s ‘Your World Beneath the Waves’ session, revealed Beijing’s scale-tipping submarine investments. Seaf, submarine forces chief, declared the US lead intact yet strained. Vital for Indo-Pacific staying power, this superiority risks fading without action. China counters with swift sub overhauls, superior sub-hunting tools, and the infamous seabed ‘underwater Great Wall’ sensor array. The strategy boxes in US operations near…
Reports of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s killing in a supposed Israel-America joint assault have ignited protests across the globe, with Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir witnessing fervent demonstrations. Traffic on NH-44 faced immediate diversions as crowds mobilized, forcing drivers to adapt to new paths. In a bid to avert jams and uphold security, district authorities mapped out alternate routes effective until further notice. This response to protest fervor prioritizes commuter safety amid volatile sentiments. From Baramulla to Srinagar: Skip NH-44, go Sangrama-Putkhah-Chura-Hyhama-Rangi-Hamre-Sumbal-Shalatenag-Srinagar. Reverse direction from Srinagar: Shalatenag-Sumbal-Hamre-Rangi-Baramulla. Gulmarg-bound vehicles: Srinagar-Shalatenag-Narbal-Magarm-Kunzar-Tangmarg-Gulmarg. Vigilant traffic cops man chaurahas and checkpoints, synced with…
A catastrophic road mishap in Madhya Pradesh’s Betul claimed three promising young lives when their car veered off course and collided violently with a stationary crane on Itarsi Road late Monday. Two others sustained grievous injuries and are under intensive care. Occurring near a petrol pump around 3 AM, the smash was so intense that the car’s structure disintegrated on contact. The nocturnal serenity was shattered by the collision’s roar, prompting swift local intervention and calls to authorities. Responding officers, with civilian assistance, navigated the twisted metal to rescue survivors. Tragically, three occupants were pronounced dead at the location. The…
President Donald Trump’s interview with the New York Post drops a bombshell: he’s not ruling out US ground forces in Iran. Breaking from his isolationist rhetoric, Trump said, ‘If necessary, I don’t completely rule it out,’ directly challenging the ‘no troops’ mantra of predecessors. The context is Operation Epic Fury’s blistering pace. Launched Saturday, the mission vaporized 49 Iranian leaders – including Supreme Leader Khamenei – in one day, far ahead of the four-week projection. ‘Very fast, ending soon,’ Trump noted Monday. Tragically, US Central Command announced four soldiers killed by Monday via X. Trump anticipated this in his announcement…