At least 10 people lost their lives in the Male garage fire, which reportedly included Indian nationals. Maldives Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid expressed his condolences to the victims of the fire incident in Male.

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas is being celebrated with great fervour across the country since 2014. In the last eight years, it has gained wide acceptance and the day has now become established at par with other important national celebrations such as Independence Day and Republic Day.

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], August 6 (ANI): With the theme to a pay tribute to the Kannada film stars Rajkumar and his son Puneet Rajkumar, the Independence Day Flower Show has begun at the Lalbagh Botanical Garden in Karnataka's Bengaluru.

Tunis [Tunisia], July 26 (ANI/Xinhua): Tunisian President Kais Saied said on Monday that the country is moving toward a new republic based on freedom, justice and national dignity after he voted for the new constitution.

Sonipat (Haryana) [India], February 16 (ANI): A partially consumed bottle of liquor was recovered from the ill-fated car of Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu, who died in a road accident on Tuesday near Sonipat in Haryana.

Sonipat (Haryana) [India], February 16 (ANI): The post-mortem of actor Deep Sidhu's body was concluded on Wednesday, after which the corpse was handed over to his family.

Sonipat (Haryana) [India], February 16 (ANI): Actor Deep Sidhu died during treatment after the road accident and a woman, who was in the car accompanying him, is presently undergoing treatment and is out of danger, said Superintendent of Police (SP) Sonipat, Rahul Sharma.

Jammu Jan 29 PTI To mark the culmination of the Republic Day celebrations the customary Beating Retreat ceremony was held at the Maulana Azad Stadium here on Saturday evening Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha was the chief guest on the occasion an official spokesman said During the ceremony marching bands of the armed forces were displayed and the inspiring tunes of brass bands and pipe drum bands of the Army the BSF and the J-K Police were performed on the slow and quick strathspey he said Later the Lt Governor felicitated the contingents of pipe drum and brass bands for their mesmerising playing of tunes and outstanding display at the grand event the spokesman said Sinha also awarded several officers from defence forces J-K Police and civil administration besides cadets from NCC boys and girls marching contingents of schools boys and girls ex-servicemen Bharat Scouts and Guides boys and girls and cultural performers he said The Beating Retreat ceremony concluded with the ever-popular Saare Jahan Se Achha with simultaneous display of spectacular fireworks followed by the national anthem the spokesman said PTI TAS AQS AQS

New Delhi Jan 27 PTI The BJP on Thursday denounced former vice president Hamid Ansari for his remarks on cultural nationalism saying that the madness of bashing Prime Minister Narendra Modi has turned into conspiracy for India bashingSpeaking at a virtual panel discussion organised by the Indian American Muslim Council on Wednesday Ansari said in recent years there has been emergence of trends and practices that dispute the well-established principle of civic nationalism and interpose a new and imaginary practice of cultural nationalismAnd it wants to distinguish citizens on the basis of their faith give vent to intolerance he addedTaking on Ansari for his remarks Union minister and BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on a day when the country was celebrating Republic Day and the tricolour was unfurled at Srinagars Lal Chowk at the same time someone who occupied a constitutional post criticised our country speaking at a platform provided by an organisation that has worked against India and conspired to tarnish its imageNaqvi claimed that the Indian American Muslim Council has links with ISI and all such organizations which are engaged in conspiracy to disturb peace and harmony of the whole worldHe said that the madness of Modi bashing is turning into conspiracy for India bashing therefore such remarks are made The people who used to exploit minority votes are now anxious about the positive atmosphere in the countryHe said the country always follows the principle of tolerance and secularism and asserted that the BJP and the government firmly believe in cultural nationalism PTI JTR ZMN ZMN

Kolkata Jan 27 PTI West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee President Adhir Choudhury on Thursday said its was regrettable that he was not invited by the state government to its Republic Day ceremonyChoudhury who was interacting with media at state Congress headquarters was asked about the Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikaris complaint that he was not invited to the Republic Day parade by the state government and reports that the WBPCC chief too had not received an inviteThis is lack of courtesy as we are peoples representatives In contrast in Delhi we are always invited to the parade at Rajpath he saidSpeaking of the upcoming polls in four Municipal Corporations on February 22 and other municipalities on February 28 he said I urge the ruling party and administration to refrain from indulging in any unfair means strong-arm tactics or violence in the local body polls Bengal has earned a bad name with regards poll violence Rest of the country thinks no election even school committee polls can be held without bloodshed in Bengal he said PTI SUS JRC JRC