The 71st National Film Awards will be held on September 23, 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, with President Droupadi Murmu presenting the honours. Beginning at 4 pm IST, the ceremony will celebrate excellence in Indian cinema for films released in 2023. The event can be watched live on the DD News YouTube channel from 3 pm, starting with the red carpet. This year’s winners reflect the wide spectrum of Indian

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on Monday, just before the start of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting, held at the Lotte New York Palace, marked their first in-person engagement since the United States announced an additional twenty-five percent tariff on India in response to Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, which raised the total tariff burden to fifty percent. This face-to-face discuss

The Government of India has rolled out a historic reform in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) system by eliminating the 12% and 28% slabs and restructuring the tax categories. The changes, which took effect today, bring relief to households as 99% of daily-use products will now fall under lower tax rates. However, in order to balance revenue and discourage harmful or luxury consumption, the government has introduced a new 40% GST slab for specific goods.

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will hold crucial talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on Monday, September 22. This meeting, taking place on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, marks the first high-level engagement between India and the United States since President Donald Trump’s sharp policy moves targeting New Delhi, including a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods and a steep increase in H1-B vi

Popular Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, known for his soulful voice and evergreen hits, passed away on September 19 in Singapore after a tragic swimming accident. According to officials, he removed his life jacket on a yacht trip, calling it oversized, but was later found floating in the sea. Despite immediate CPR and being rushed to Singapore General Hospital, he was declared dead. His mortal remains reached Delhi, where Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma,

Meta and Microsoft have issued urgent advisories to their H-1B visa employees following US President Donald Trump’s latest immigration crackdown. Internal emails accessed on Saturday revealed that the two tech giants advised foreign workers not to leave the United States for at least 14 days and instructed those currently abroad to return within 24 hours to avoid possible denial of re-entry. Meta’s adviso

US President Donald Trump has stunned India with back-to-back decisions that are being described as both hostile and strategic. Just three days after wishing Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday and hailing him as a “tremendous friend,” Trump revoked the sanctions waiver for Iran’s Chabahar Port and slapped an unprecedented $100,000 fee on H-1B visa applicants. Analysts believe these twin moves are a calculated attempt to pressure New

Tension gripped Manipur’s Bishnupur district on Friday evening after unknown gunmen ambushed a convoy of 33 Assam Rifles near Nambol Sabal Leikai. The attack, which took place around 5.50 pm, claimed the lives of two soldiers and left four others injured. One jawan remains critically wounded and is undergoing treatment along with others at nearby hospitals. According to officials, the convoy was moving from Imp

Navaratri 2025 will be celebrated from September 22 to October 1, with Vijayadashami on October 2. Dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine divine forms, Navaratri is one of the most auspicious festivals in India. Every day of Navaratri is marked by a specific goddess, symbolic color, unique alankaram, meaningful pooja, and prasadam offered to devotees. The prasadam, considered as the blessings of the goddess, plays a vital role in connecting faith with food. Be

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has strongly criticised Washington’s trade and tariff threats, arguing that major powers such as India and China cannot be coerced into changing their policies through ultimatums. Speaking on a television programme in Moscow, Lavrov said that the repeated warnings from the United States to cut energy ties with Russia were not only failing but also backfiring, as they were pushing countries to diversify markets, look for alternative energy resources

A 29-year-old software professional from Telangana’s Mahabubnagar district was shot dead by police in the United States after a violent altercation with his roommate. The incident, which occurred on September 3 in Santa Clara, California, has left his family in India devastated and appealing to authorities for assistance in bringing his body home. The victim, Mohammed Nizamuddin, had been living in California after completing his master’s degree in the US and working in

SGS Devotional Music Course – Offered by Yoga Sangeeta, USA Embark on a soulful musical journey with the SGS Devotional Music Course, starting October 1st. This unique program is designed for all levels — from beginners to advanced learners — and is guided by an expert panel of music teachers.

Defending champion Neeraj Chopra endured a shocking night at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, finishing eighth in the men’s javelin throw final. Despite being one of the top favorites, Chopra struggled to cross the 85m mark in five attempts, recording his best at 84.03m before fouling his fifth and final effort. Known for his consistency and having breached the 90m mark earlier this year at the Doha Diamond League, Chopra’s dip in form s

The high-octane India vs Pakistan Asia Cup clash on September 14 may have ended on the field, but the fallout off it continues to dominate headlines. Reports suggest that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is preparing to lodge a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav. The controversy stems from Surya’s post-match comments, where he dedicated India’s seven-wicket win to “

The United States has taken a strong stand against the illegal fentanyl trade by revoking and denying visas to several Indian corporate executives and their families over alleged links to trafficking of fentanyl precursors. The move was confirmed by the US Embassy in New Delhi, which described the measure as part of Washington’s intensified efforts to combat the flow of synthetic opioids into America. Although the statement did not name the individuals or companies involved, it signaled

A shocking case from Punjab has highlighted once again the vulnerability of individuals who put their trust in online relationships. Rupinder Kaur Pandher, a 71 year old US citizen of Indian origin, travelled to India in the hope of starting a new life with a man she believed to be her partner. Instead, she was met with betrayal of the cruellest kind, and within weeks of her arrival, she was brutally murdered and burnt alive. Police investigations have revealed that the very man who had promi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi intensified his attack on the Election Commission of India, alleging that voters in Congress strongholds were deliberately deleted during the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections. According to him, thousands of voter IDs were removed through fake logins and phone numbers originating from outside the state, and the entire exercise was coordinated via centralised software rather than individual manipulation.

Saudi Arabia’s decision to sign a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Pakistan has stirred debates across South Asia and the Middle East. The pact, which promises that an attack on one country will be treated as an attack on both, resembles a NATO-style commitment. For Pakistan, struggling with economic and diplomatic challenges, this deal is seen as a significant political win and a potential deterrence against India. Yet, beneath the surface, exper

The Asia Cup 2025 has been plunged into deeper turmoil after India captain Suryakumar Yadav reportedly told the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) that he will not accept the tournament trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi if India wins the final. The warning comes amid escalating tensions following the no-handshake controversy between India and Pakistan. The Indian skipper made his stance cle

A fresh controversy has erupted after a woman accused border officials in Georgia of subjecting a group of 56 Indian tourists to what she described as “the most inhuman treatment” while they attempted to cross into Armenia. The incident allegedly took place at Sadakhlo, one of the most important crossing points on the Georgia-Armenia border, and has since drawn criticism and sparked heated debate among travellers and social media users. According to the complainant, the