Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off India’s first Vande Bharat sleeper train from Malda Town in West Bengal. The train will connect Howrah with Kamakhya in Guwahati.   “This train will make long journeys faster, safer, and more comfortable,” the Prime Minister’s Office said. The sleeper train is fully air-conditioned and offers modern berths, clean linen, and advanced safety systems. It can reach 180 kmph but will run at 120–130 kmph.   The service is expected to cut travel time by 2.5 hours and boost tourism in eastern India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attacked the ruling Trinamool Congress at a public rally in Malda. He called the state government “extremely insensitive and ruthless”.   “The money sent for the poor is being looted,” Modi said. He claimed central schemes like Ayushman Bharat were blocked in Bengal.   Modi urged people to vote for change. “It is time to say goodbye to this cruel government,” he said. He promised jobs, flood control, and support for mango farmers if the BJP comes to power.

Tension between India and Bangladesh was visible during their Group B match at the Under-19 World Cup in Bulawayo on Saturday. After the toss, Indian captain Ayush Mhatre and Bangladesh skipper Md Azizul Hakim Tamim did not shake hands. Both captains walked away without speaking or making eye contact.   There was also no interaction during the national anthems. Indian opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi later exchanged words with Bangladesh players.   The incident comes amid rising political strain between the two countries. Similar no-handshake scenes were earlier seen in India–Pakistan matches.

An audio clip shared online has renewed focus on the case of Sarabjeet Kaur, an Indian woman who travelled to Pakistan for a Sikh pilgrimage and later married a Pakistani man. In the unauthenticated clip, Kaur says she is being harassed and wants to return to India. She claims her condition in Pakistan is “not good” and says she cannot live without her children. Kaur went missing after the pilgrimage in November last year. Police later said she married Nasir Hussain in Sheikhupura. Authorities have placed her in a government shelter home in Lahore. The audio clip has not been independently verified. (PC: NDTV)

Protests in Iran appeared to ease this week amid a prolonged internet blackout and reports of a heavy crackdown. Rights groups said at least 3,000 protesters were killed, while some estimates placed the toll above 5,000. Despite the lull, a senior cleric called for harsh action against detainees. Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami urged that “armed protesters should be put to death,” according to state media. US President Donald Trump said executions had been halted, claiming it helped calm tensions. Internet services remain largely shut, though limited international calls have resumed in parts of the country. (PC: HT)

Boards barring the entry of non-Hindus were put up at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar on Friday. The boards were installed by the Ganga Sabha, which manages the ghat. Sabha president Nitin Gautam said areas falling within Kumbh limits should remain restricted to non-Hindus, citing a 1916 agreement. The Kumbh is scheduled in early 2027. The state government said the matter is under review. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said consultations are ongoing with religious groups. Opposition leaders criticised the move, calling it against constitutional principles.

The first commercial flights carrying Indian nationals from Iran arrived in Delhi late Friday amid recent unrest. The flights were regular services and not part of an evacuation operation. Several returnees described disrupted daily life due to internet shutdowns and street protests. “There was no internet and protests were dangerous,” one national said, adding that families could not be contacted. Another said protesters blocked roads and caused brief trouble. The Indian government had earlier advised against non-essential travel. The Indian Embassy in Tehran issued advisories and stayed in contact with citizens as the situation gradually stabilised. (PC: NDTV)

A dense blanket of fog and cold conditions affected Delhi-NCR on Saturday morning, disrupting air, road, and rail traffic. Visibility dropped sharply in several areas, delaying flights at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The minimum temperature in the capital fell to around 7 degrees Celsius, while air quality worsened due to stagnant conditions. Authorities reimposed pollution curbs under Graded Response Action Plan Stage III as smog mixed with fog. Data from the India Meteorological Department showed very poor to severe air quality at many stations. Dry weather is expected to continue, with cold mornings likely over the coming days. (PC: India Today)

India has said it will not exit Iran’s Chabahar port project, calling it strategically essential despite US sanctions pressure. The Ministry of External Affairs said New Delhi is in touch with Washington to implement a temporary sanctions waiver allowing work at the port to continue. The clarification followed reports linking the project to possible US tariffs on countries trading with Iran. (PC: X) Located on Iran’s southern coast, Chabahar gives India access to Afghanistan and Central Asia while bypassing Pakistan. India signed a 10-year deal in 2024 to operate the port through a state-run firm. Officials said talks with the US are ongoing as the waiver expires in April 2026.

The Trump administration has named senior US and international figures to a new “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s post-war transition. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former UK prime minister Tony Blair are among the founding members, the White House said. President Donald Trump will chair the board, which is part of a 20-point plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas. The board is expected to temporarily oversee Gaza’s administration and reconstruction. Further members will be announced in coming weeks. (PC: BBC)