National

New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon Eager to Strengthen Ties with India

Published

1 year ago

March 14, 2025

The bilateral relationship between India and New Zealand is poised for further enhancement across various sectors, with significant people-to-people connections being prioritized. This follows New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s upcoming trip from Wellington to New Delhi for his inaugural visit to India since taking office this weekend.

Luxon is scheduled for an official visit from March 16-20, joined by a high-level delegation comprising ministers, senior officials, business leaders, media representatives, and members of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand.

“This marks the first visit by a New Zealand Prime Minister to India in an extended period. Even before taking office, Prime Minister Luxon pledged to prioritize India and intended to visit following his election. He has a strong determination to engage with India, which is recognized as a global power in both economic and geopolitical arenas. Consequently, the current Prime Minister is eager to foster engagement with India across all levels, beyond commerce alone,” stated Bhav Dhillon, the former Honorary Consul of India in Auckland and a prominent figure within the Indian diaspora, during an interview with IANS.

Dhillon, who will be accompanying Prime Minister Luxon alongside several members of the Indian diaspora, indicated that this visit is poised to be historic, fostering significant discussions between the two leaders and yielding “landmark outcomes.”

“India has firmly established itself on the global stage and cannot be overlooked. New Zealand recognizes the need to engage with India, showing it the respect and attention it deserves at this critical juncture. Expect several memoranda of understanding to be signed across diverse areas, including education, sports, defense, and more. Additionally, a New Zealand Navy ship will dock in Mumbai during our visit,” Dhillon mentioned.

As a global leader in dairy farming, New Zealand is eager to share its advancements in agricultural and horticultural technology with India. Given India’s considerable demand for superior agricultural practices, New Zealand is ready to collaborate and support India’s large agrarian population. This aligns with Prime Minister Modi’s vision to uplift farmers, as New Zealand possesses the necessary technologies. A broad-based partnership between the two nations would yield significant benefits, remarked Dhillon, who is also a recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award.

He stressed that the current New Zealand government is not solely focused on exporting goods to the Indian market but is intent on establishing a comprehensive relationship with India.

“New Zealand aims to cultivate a robust, meaningful, and enduring partnership with India, covering all areas of cooperation—not just trade. They seek strategic alignment in the Indo-Pacific region, will sign defense agreements, foster connections between sports organizations, and further collaboration in education, as well as in fintech and space technology sectors,” he concluded.

National

Jammu University Introduces Fuel-Saving Measures

Published

22 hours ago

May 14, 2026

Namma Kudla

National : The University of Jammu has announced several fuel-saving measures following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for fuel conservation. Vice-Chancellor Prof Umesh Rai said the university has decided to conduct all PhD viva voce examinations online to reduce travel and save fuel.

The university will also prefer virtual speakers for national and international conferences. In another step, the Academic Council meeting planned in Poonch has been shifted to the Jammu University campus to avoid unnecessary travel.

Prof Rai said the measures will help save fuel, time and resources. He also encouraged university staff to use bicycles and carpool while travelling to the campus.

National

One Year On: Pahalgam Attack Still Haunts the Nation

Published

3 weeks ago

April 21, 2026

Namma Kudla

National: One year after the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, the nation remembers the 26 people who lost their lives. The attack took place on April 22 at Baisaran, a popular tourist spot.

At first, reports said only five people were injured. Later, it became clear that it was one of the worst terror attacks in the region in decades. Terrorists came out of the forest and opened fire on tourists.

Survivors said the attackers separated men from women and children. They then shot the men at close range. Many victims were reportedly targeted after being asked about their religion.

A heartbreaking image of Himanshi Narwal sitting beside her husband’s body became a symbol of the tragedy. Her husband, a naval officer, was among those killed.

The group The Resistance front, linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility. The case was investigated by the National Investigation Agency.

After months of tracking, security forces launched Operation Mahadev. On July 28, 2025, all three terrorists were killed after a long search operation.

The attack remains a painful memory and a reminder of the need for strong security.

National

Social Media Influencer-Turned Gangster Held Abroad

Published

1 month ago

April 9, 2026

Namma Kudla

New Delhi: Rao Inderjeet Yadav has been arrested in Dubai. He is wanted in a murder case from Haryana.

He fled India in 2024 after a businessman was killed in Rohtak. Police had been searching for him since then. Officials said Dubai authorities have asked for documents. He is likely to be brought back to India soon.

Yadav faces more than 15 criminal cases. These include extortion, fraud, and illegal land deals. The Enforcement Directorate also investigated him for money laundering. Raids led to the seizure of cash, cars, and documents.

He also ran a music company called Gems Tunes. It produced regional songs.

Yadav had a large social media following. He often showed his rich lifestyle online. He has denied all charges. He claims he is being framed.

Police are now preparing for further action.