Bomb-Like Object Found in Rajasthan's Alwar, Bomb Squad to Examine Object

Following the discovery, police cordoned off the area and immediately moved the object to an isolated location near Jaisamand dam, about six-and-a-half kilometres from the city, as a precautionary measure

Kallis, Boucher back Rohit, Kohli for 2027 ODI World Cup

Paarl, Jan 11: Two of South Africas modern greats Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher have thrown their weight behind Indian stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, backing the veteran duo to feature at the 2027 ODI World Cup despite advancing age and mounting scrutiny over longevity. In recent weeks, debate has intensified over []

Chennai Metro Rail train chugs along from Porur to Vadapalani

The Chennai Metro Rail Limited conducted a trial run after the elevated viaduct fromPorurtoVadapalaniwas completed. The sectionincludes a 4-km double-decker line from AlwarthirunagartoAlapakkam

Instagram says accounts 'are secure' after wave of suspicious password reset requests

If you received a bunch of password reset requests from Instagram recently, you're not alone. Malwarebytes , an antivirus software company, initially reported that there was a data breach revealing the sensitive information of 17.5 million Instagram users. Malwarebytes added that the leak included Instagram usernames, physical addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and more. However, Instagram said there was no breach and that user accounts were secure. We fixed an issue that let an external party request password reset emails for some people. There was no breach of our systems and your Instagram accounts are secure. You can ignore those emails sorry for any confusion. Instagram (@instagram) January 11, 2026 In Malwarebytes post, the company added that the data is available for sale on the dark web and can be abused by cybercriminals. Malwarebytes noted in an email to its customers that it discovered the breach during its routine dark web scan and that it's tied to a potential incident related to an Instagram API exposure from 2024. The reported breach has resulted in users receiving several emails from Instagram about password reset requests. According to Malwarebytes, the leaked information could lead to more serious attacks, like phishing attempts or account takeovers. In response, Instagram posted on X that users can ignore the recent emails requesting password resets. We fixed an issue that let an external party request password reset emails for some people, Instagram's post on X read. There was no breach of our systems and your Instagram accounts are secure. While Instagram said this isn't a data breach, its parent company has been in hot water for data breaches in the past. If you haven't already, it's always a good idea to turn on two-factor authentication and change your password. Even better, you can review what devices are logged into your Instagram account in Meta's Accounts Center. Update, January 11, 2026, 11:10AM ET: This story and its headline have been updated with Instagram's statement that was posted on X. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/instagram-says-accounts-are-secure-after-wave-of-suspicious-password-reset-requests-192105188.html?src=rss

Virat Kohli Surpasses Sangakkara, Becomes Second-highest Run-scorer Of All Time

BCA International Stadium: India stalwart Virat Kohli surpassed Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-getter of all time in international cricket, only behind the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who continues to reign at the top of the list. Kohli crossed the milestone of 28,016 runs during India's first ODI against New Zealand at the BCA International Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara, on Sunday. Tendulkar holds the record for the most runs in international cricket, having scored 34,357 runs in 664 matches and 782 innings, with an average of 48.25, along with 100 centuries and 164 fifties. Meanwhile, by scoring his 42nd run in the fifth delivery of the 20th over, Kohli surpassed Sangakkara to rise to second in the list of all-time highest run-scorers in cricket. Sangakkara finished his international career with 28,016 runs across 594 matches and 666 innings, with an average of 46.77, including 63 centuries and 153 half-centuries. Earlier in his knock, Kohli completed 28000 international runs, becoming the fastest cricketer to reach the milestone in just 624 innings, taking 20 fewer innings than the previous world record holder, Tendulkar, who needed 644 innings to reach the milestone. Before the ODI series opener, Kohli was only 25 runs short of reaching 28,000 international runs. The right-handed batter had scored 27,975 runs across 556 matches and 623 innings, maintaining a remarkable average of 52.58, with 84 centuries and 145 half-centuries. Earlier in his knock, Kohli completed 28000 international runs, becoming the fastest cricketer to reach the milestone in just 624 innings, taking 20 fewer innings than the previous world record holder, Tendulkar, who needed 644 innings to reach the milestone. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Kohli walked out to bat at No. 3 after Rohit Sharma was dismissed in the ninth over off Kyle Jamieson. The two senior cricketer have been in top form in the 50-over format across international and domestic arenas, and continued to showcase their top form as they faced the BlackCaps in the first ODI. Article Source: IANS

1st ODI: Gill Returns At Helm As India Ask New Zealand To Bat First

Kotambi International Stadium: India won the toss and elected to bowl first against New Zealand in the first ODI of the three-match series here at the Kotambi International Stadium (BCA). The hosts suffered a major blow ahead of the series opener as wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was ruled out of the series due to a right side strain injury, and was replaced by Dhruv Jurel. All focus will be on stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who are in top form in the format across international and domestic cricket. The former is also chasing several milestones and will aim to go big with the bat and add multiple feathers to his already illustrious cap. Winning the toss, India captain Gill, when asked about their plan for the game, said, Try different kinds of combinations, you know, see what combination suits us the best for different conditions, obviously when we play in India. Whenever you're bowling second, there's a bit of a challenge with the dew, and so try out what kind of combination suits our condition the best. It looks like a good wicket. Hopefully, I think it'll be a little bit easier to bat on in the second innings with the new coming in, and that was the thought process behind bowling first. I think playing a bit of Vijay Hazare series, everyone is coming after playing some matches, so everyone looks in good form. We've played a lot of cricket together, so you know, the environment is always nice and calm whenever we get together. Speaking of the combination, he said that the side has six bowlers, with Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav as spinners and Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana as the pacers. Meanwhile, New Zealand are fielding a rather inexperienced side and will be looking to challenge the Men in Blue. Michael Bracewell, who is leading the BlackCaps in Mitchell Santners absence, said that they too would have wanted to bowl first but were happy to bat. We have been used to the weather and have some great net sessions. It's a big series for us, a proud moment every time we play for New Zealand. We're playing a WC in India and it's a big advantage for us. New faces, but some experience as well. Might play a bit lower - Kristian Clarke makes his debut today, and Aditya Ashok is our main spinner, he stated. Playing XIs Michael Bracewell, who is leading the BlackCaps in Mitchell Santners absence, said that they too would have wanted to bowl first but were happy to bat. We have been used to the weather and have some great net sessions. It's a big series for us, a proud moment every time we play for New Zealand. We're playing a WC in India and it's a big advantage for us. New faces, but some experience as well. Might play a bit lower - Kristian Clarke makes his debut today, and Aditya Ashok is our main spinner, he stated. Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealand: Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Zakary Foulkes, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Adithya Ashok Article Source: IANS

Instagram data breach scare: Over 17 million users hit by sudden and unexpected password reset emails. What should you do now?

Last week, several Instagram users reported receiving unexpected password reset emails, sparking concerns of a possible data breach. The users were asked to reset their Instagram passwords not initiated by them and the concerns drew more attention after Malwarebytes claimed the activity was linked to a breach associated with 17.5 million Instagram users. Meta has denied these claims.

An Instagram data breach reportedly exposed the personal info of 17.5 million users

If you received a bunch of password reset requests from Instagram recently, you're not alone. As reported by Malwarebytes , an antivirus software company, there was a data breach revealing the sensitive information of 17.5 million Instagram users. Malwarebytes added that the leak included Instagram usernames, physical addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and more. The company added that the data is available for sale on the dark web and can be abused by cybercriminals. Malwarebytes noted in an email to its customers that it discovered the breach during its routine dark web scan and that it's tied to a potential incident related to an Instagram API exposure from 2024. The reported breach has resulted in users receiving several emails from Instagram about password reset requests. According to Malwarebytes, the leaked information could lead to more serious attacks, like phishing attempts or account takeovers. Meta hasn't released an official statement about the latest incident, but it's not the first time Instagram's parent company has been in hot water for data breaches . If you haven't already, it's always a good idea to turn on two-factor authentication and change your password. Even better, you can review what devices are logged into your Instagram account in Meta's Accounts Center. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/an-instagram-data-breach-reportedly-exposed-the-personal-info-of-175-million-users-192105616.html?src=rss

Shubman Gill Accepts T20 World Cup Axing, Focus Shifts to ODIs

Test and ODI skipper Shubman Gill on Saturday said he respected the Indian selectors' shock decision to drop him from the squad for the T20 World Cup on home soil, calling it destiny. The 26-year-old will lead the one-day team in three matches against New Zealand starting Sunday in Vadodara before many of India's players head into a five-match T20 series. Indian selectors surprisingly axed the batsman from the T20 squad after he scored only 291 runs in his past 15 matchesin the game's shortest format at an average of 24.25. Firstly, it is my belief that in my life, I am where I am supposed to be. Whatever is written in my destiny, I will have it, Gill told reporters. As a player I want to win games for my team, but having said that, I respect the selectors' decision. I wish the T20 team the very best. I hope that they win the World Cup. India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, are the defending champions in the T20 World Cup which takes place in India and Sri Lanka between February 7 and March 8. Before that, India will play 50-over matches against New Zealand with the spotlight on stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Kohli and Rohit play only the ODI format since retiring from T20s, following the World Cup triumph in Barbados in 2024, and Test cricket. Gill said the presence of the two greats was invaluable for any captain. Definitely when you have these two people in your team, it makes your life a lot easier, said Gill. And whenever you are in a tough situation, they have been in those kind of situations and conditions many times in their life, so you can always go to them and see how they are thinking or what they would do. And that piece of information is very valuable for any captain. The 37-year-old Kohli and Rohit, 38, have been in top batting form in international and domestic cricket, scoring centuries and runs to turn back the clock. Meanwhile, New Zealand's ODI captain Michael Bracewell is keen to make the most of the Indian conditions ahead of the T20 World Cup. It's always fun coming over and playing here, said Bracewell, a left-hand batter and off-spinner. A month before the T20 World Cup, getting used to these conditions. You won't be in the same venue but in general, getting used to the nature of the surfaces that they have. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Bracewell said he will name the playing XI at the toss but confirmed fast bowler Kristian Clarke will make his international debut in the ODI opener.

1st ODI: Gill Says Having Rohit And Kohli In Team makes Life A Lot More Easier

Vijay Hazare Trophy: Indias ODI captain Shubman Gill shared his thoughts on playing alongside two legendary figures, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, as the stalwarts continue to dominate the 50-over format across domestic and international stages. The Men in Blue are set to face New Zealand in a three-match ODI series starting Sunday, with the first game scheduled to be played at the BCA Stadium (Kotambi) in Vadodara. The match will see Rohit and Kohli back in India colours, and Gill marking his return to captaincy in the format after being ruled out of Indias previous series against South Africa. Among the two players you have named, one is one of the greatest openers (Rohit) of all time in ODIs, and Virat bhai is one of the greatest ODI batsmen ever. So, definitely when you have these two people in your team, it makes your life a lot easier, an elated Gill told the reporters at the pre-match press conference. And whenever you are in that kind of situation, if you are in a tough situation, they always have been in those kinds of situations and conditions many times in their life. So, you can always go to them and see what they are thinking or what they would do. And that piece of information is very valuable for any captain, he added. Rohit and Kohli recently played a couple of Vijay Hazare Trophy matches for their respective state teams, Mumbai and Delhi, and both notched centuries in winning causes. Moreover, Kohli's century against Andhra Pradesh also made him the fastest player to reach 16,000 List A runs, and he is now just two centuries away from equalling the legendary Sachin Tendulkar's record of 60 List A hundreds. And whenever you are in that kind of situation, if you are in a tough situation, they always have been in those kinds of situations and conditions many times in their life. So, you can always go to them and see what they are thinking or what they would do. And that piece of information is very valuable for any captain, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score After concluding their first ODI in Vadodara, the two teams will fly off to Rajkot for the second game, to be played at the Niranjan Shah Stadium. The series will conclude on January 18 at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. Article Source: IANS

1st ODI: India Hope To Extend Winning Streak Against Inexperienced New Zealand (preview)

Kotambi International Stadium: All eyes will once again be on stalwarts and former captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma when India take on New Zealand in the first ODI of the three-match series at the Kotambi International Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday. The venue is set to host its first-ever mens ODI game, and the match will mark the return of mens internationals at the venue. The last mens international game played here was also between India and New Zealand when the two sides squared off on December 4, 2010, and current head coach Gautam Gambhir stood out for the Men in Blue with a magnificent century. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have quit the T20 and Test formats, will take the field again after the recent series against South Africa -- taking on the BlackCaps, who have formed a rather inexperienced squad for the series but are ready to challenge. The series could very well be Rohit and Kohlis final appearance in Indian colours until July this year, as it's the teams last ODI series before the T20 World Cup and the Indian Premier League (IPL). The series will mark Shubman Gills first assignment since being left out of Indias T20 World Cup squad, with the 25-year-old set to return as captain of the ODI team. He will be chasing his first series win as Indias ODI captain, having been ruled out of the previous ODI series against South Africa and losing the assignment against Australia in October down under. New Zealands batting will rely heavily on Devon Conways firepower. The 34-year-old has a strong record in India, scoring 527 ODI runs there since 2023. Daryl Mitchell is another key player to watch, as the World No. 3 has been in excellent form in white-ball formats. On the eve of the match, both Virat and Rohit put in lengthy practice sessions, spending close to an hour and a half facing Indian pacers, spinners, and throwdown specialists, following their two appearances each in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The duo has been busy turning back time in internationals. Kohli averaged a whopping 151 against South Africa and is in no mood to slow down. Rohit, meanwhile, is the No. 1 ODI batter and has a hefty average of 52.9 against New Zealand since 2023. Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer is set to make a comeback after being ruled out of international cricket due to a spleen injury he sustained during the tour of Australia last year, and will look to continue his dominance at No. 4. As for the BlackCaps, their inexperienced pace attack will be put to the test against the strong Indian batting lineup. The visitors will rely hugely on Kyle Jamieson, who is the most-experienced pacer in their squad with 20 ODI caps. New Zealand are on a winning streak in ODIs, having won nine straight games since losing the 2025 Champions Trophy final to India. However, India, who will enter the series as favourites, have won their last seven ODIs against the BlackCaps and will look to extend the streak. When: Sunday, Jan 11, 1:30 PM IST Where: BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara Where to watch: Star Sports Network for live TV broadcast and JioHotstar for live streaming Squads Where to watch: Star Sports Network for live TV broadcast and JioHotstar for live streaming Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealand: Devon Conway(w), Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell (c), Zakary Foulkes, Nick Kelly, Josh Clarkson, Michael Rae, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Hay, Adithya Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Jayden Lennox Article Source: IANS

Nadine de Klerk leads RCB to three-wicket win against MI in WPL opener

NAVI MUMBAI, Jan 9: Royal Challengers Bengaluru, riding on an all-round display by South African stalwart Nadine de Klerk, defeated defending champions Mumbai Indians by three wickets in a last-ball thriller in the opening match of the Womens Premier League Season 4 here on Friday. Thanks to de Klerk, who returned excellent bowling figures of 4/26, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 154 for 6 with Sajeevan Sajana (45) and Nicola Carey (40) sharing an 82-run stand for the fifth wicket. [] The post Nadine de Klerk leads RCB to three-wicket win against MI in WPL opener appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy deftly balances teen drama with intergalactic intrigue

Star Trek is in a weird place right now. Less than three years ago we were living in a golden age with five shows on the air, all with different styles and intended audiences. But the universe rapidly contracted, with Picard ending while four other shows were cut short. Strange New Worlds still has another two seasons left, sure, but even that final season got truncated. As it stands, theres only one project with a firm future right now, and thats a brand-new show, Starfleet Academy , premiering January 15 on Paramount+. How this show is received could very well determine the future of Star Trek. Thats a lot to put on it, but theres something very appropriate given the subject matter. Starfleet Academy takes place in the 32nd century, 900 years after the adventures of James T. Kirk and company, and it takes place at the titular academy, meaning its principal cast is a collection of teens representing the next generation of Starfleet officers. That focus on a younger cadre has led to fans online derisively calling the series CW Trek without seeing a single episode. As Starfleet Academy is technically a Discovery spinoff, it picks up some of that series traits. The sleek, shiny sets are back, as well as a few plot threads originally set up in Discovery . The most notable is the collapse of the United Federation of Planets and the rebuilding of both the Federation and Starfleet. In fact, the series picks up on that as early as its second episode, with the Academy hosting a delegation from a once stalwart Federation planet thats now gone isolationist. Scenes from Star Trek: Starfleet Academy John Medland/Paramount+ While many complaints about the series have focused on how what fans wanted was an academy show set during the 24th century (the time of The Next Generation , Deep Space Nine , et al.), this particular episode plot works precisely because of the distant future in which it is set. In a fully-functioning galactic democracy like the United Federation of Planets, theres no logical reason for the average 18-year-old college freshman to be involved in interplanetary diplomacy. But in the 32nd century, the Federation is a lot scrappier and the individuals involved might be asked to wear many hats. Its a lot like an early-stage tech startup. The setting also lets the show be a little more creative with its cast: where TNG featured the first Klingon in Starfleet (Worf), 900 years of progress have created a Starfleet where no one bats an eye when a Klingon cadet like Jay-Den Kraag (played by Karim Dian) shows up to study science. Theres also a holographic cadet, Sam, who is the first of her kind to attend the academy (and shes super excited to do so). A few new species are present as well: Darem Reymi (George Hawkins) is a Khionian and Genesis Lythe (Bella Shepard) is a Dar-Sha, both aliens making their debut in the Star Trek universe. The cast of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy John Medland/Paramount+ However, the show does still lean on some Trek stalwarts, and its these characters that have gotten the most chatter from fans. Mary Weisman as Sylvia Tilly was originally slated for the cast, and there was even a backdoor pilot-esque episode of Discovery to tie her in to the new show, but shes no longer a regular and is nowhere to be seen in the first two episodes. Instead, we have Jett Reno (played by the wonderful Tig Notaro) as supporting cast, and Admiral Vance (Oded Fehr) appearing in a few episodes. And old school fans have been abuzz by the inclusion of The Doctor, who first appeared on Voyager (and later Prodigy ). As a hologram, hes practically immortal so his presence doesnt need any convoluted explanation, and after 800 years hes still the same gregarious blowhard (and its delightful). Theyre joined by new characters like Lara Thok, a part Klingon, part JemHadar security officer and a Lanthanite chancellor, Nahla Ake, played by Academy Award Winner Holly Hunter. And Hunter isnt even the only Oscar winner on the cast, with a major villain, Nus Braka, being portrayed by Paul Giamatti. Its a stellar cast, and the shows sets certainly rise up to meet the challenge. Like in the shows of old, a good portion of Starfleet Academy is clearly shot on location, though not in the familiar water reclamation plant that was used back during the TNG and DS9 era. This time its all being shot in Ontario, with the outdoor scenes in particular being filmed in Waterloo. Regardless of where its shot, it looks enough like sunny California to work. Scenes from Star Trek: Starfleet Academy John Medland/Paramount+ The indoor scenes, shot at Torontos Pinewood Studios, have a pleasant convention center quality to them, with lots of wide hallways and large windows in contrast to Discovery s cramped ship corridors. The hallways are full of students and teachers going to and fro, including some from species that would normally be off-limits to a show with a limited budget. But here robots and strange aliens roam freely in the background. The CGI cant have been cheap. And thats ultimately my biggest question about Starfleet Academy . Exactly how much is this costing Paramount? So much of it is being shot on real sets instead of green screens, established actors like Hunter and Giamatti couldnt have been cheap, and plentiful CG points to a robust special effects budget. Though Paramount doesnt release official numbers, estimates have put an average episode of Strange New Worlds at $10 million, so it figures that Starfleet Academy is probably more than that, with some online estimates as high as $20 million per episode. With 10 episodes scheduled, thats on par with a major motion picture budget but without the promise of blockbuster box office returns. No wonder Paramount has been doing so much cost-cutting, which includes axing every other Star Trek show. That said, Starfleet Academy is carrying a lot on its shoulders. Just as the success or failure of its class of Starfleet cadets will determine the future of Starfleet and the Federation, the success of the show may even affect whether this era of Star Trek continues. As a Star Trek fan, this can be nerve-wracking; no one wants the franchise to go dormant again. But Starfleet Academy has so far shown itself to be up to the challenge. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/star-trek-starfleet-academy-deftly-balances-teen-drama-with-intergalactic-intrigue-170253808.html?src=rss

Kauvery Hospital & Tamil Nadu Seniors Tennis Club Organise Open Tennis Tournament

Kauvery Hospital and Tamil Nadu Seniors Tennis Club successfully organised the Open Tennis Tournament for senior citizens on January 3rd and 4th at the YMCA Grounds, Nandanam, Chennai. Tennis Tournament The two-day tournament witnessed enthusiastic participation from around 210 senior tennis players from Chennai and nearby regions. The matches were conducted across multiple age categories, including 4550, 5055, 5560, 6065, 6570,7075 and 75 above, highlighting the growing passion for competitive sport among senior citizens. The tournament featured seven categories each in singles and doubles, offering players an excellent platform to compete, stay active, and engage socially. The matches were played in a spirited yet friendly atmosphere, reflecting the importance of physical fitness, mental well-being, and camaraderie in promoting healthy and active aging. The awards were presented by Dr. Singaravadivelu V, Senior Orthopaedic Surgeon, Kauvery Hospital Alwarpet who graced the valedictory function. Participants expressed their appreciation for the smooth organisation and facilities provided throughout the event. The successful conduct of the tournament reaffirmed the commitment of Tamil Nadu Open Senior Tennis Club and Kauvery Hospital towards encouraging fitness, wellness, and active lifestyles among senior citizens through sports initiatives.

It would be silly to underestimate Kohli, Rohit: Bracewell

NEW ZEALAND ODIS Mumbai, Jan 6: New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell on Tuesday said it would be silly to underestimate Indian batting superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and backed the stalwarts to play next years ODI World Cup. Kohli and Rohit, now only single-format players for India, will be back in action in the []

Rajasthan: Elderly man brutally attacked by mob over petty theft

Jhalawar: A group of eight to 10 men assaulted an elderly man on Saturday, January 3, in the Aklera town of Jhalwar district in Rajasthan, after they suspected him of petty theft. A video of the incident shared on social media shows the unidentified elderly man surrounded by a group of men who were seen Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Mood Of The Nation Today Is Dhurandhar

The word Dhurandhar () is a powerful Hindi and Sanskrit term that essentially describes a stalwart or an expert. Top gun. It is used to honour someone who is a master of their craft or who carries immense responsibility with ease. Depending on the context it is Ace, Top gun or veteran. In modern Continue reading Mood Of The Nation Today Is Dhurandhar The post Mood Of The Nation Today Is Dhurandhar appeared first on OurVoice | WeRIndia - Analysis & Opinion .

Can't Erase My Dad's Name: Riteish Deshmukh on BJP Leader's Remarks

In controversial remarks, Ravindra Chavan said memories of the late Congress stalwart would be wiped out from his hometown Latur

Single Papa: Kunal Kemmus comedy-drama renewed for season 2

The show also stars Prajakta Koli, Manoj Pahwa, Ayesha Raza, Neha Dhupia, Suhail Nayyar, Dayanand Shetty, Aisha Ahmed, Dhruv Rathee and Isha Talwar

Drifting Quicksands of Bengal Politics: Can Mamata Hold Fort?

By Anjan Roy West Bengal is witnessing hectic political manoeuvring by leading political figures, even though the assembly elections are a clear six months away at least. One of these, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who was once a stalwart of the Congress, not only in the state but nationally, is being seen on his home turf, Murshidabad and nearby areas, seeking to regain his lost ground. Chowdhury had been Congress state president and later, leader of the Congress party in [] The post Drifting Quicksands of Bengal Politics: Can Mamata Hold Fort? appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

InnovHer Enters a New Growth Chapter with Jeet Vijay Joining as Co-Founder

InnovHer has announced a major leadership milestone with Jeet Vijay joining the organization as Co-Founder. The appointment marks a defining moment in InnovHers journey as it formally transitions into InnovHer 2.0, its next phase as a full-scale venture institution focused on startups, SMEs, and regional economic development. Jeet Vijay Joins InnovHer as Co-Founder, Ushering in InnovHer 2.0 and a New Era of Institutional Venture Building Over the past two years, InnovHer has steadily built credibility as a Tier-2 venture platformdeploying capital, enabling co-investments, facilitating early exits, and positioning Jaipur as an emerging national convergence point for founders and investors. With this transition, InnovHer is sharpening its focus on institutional design, governance rigor, and long-term capital stewardship. The inclusion of Jeet Vijay significantly strengthens this ambition by adding policy depth, national-global perspective, and execution discipline. A Leader Shaped by Policy, Capital, and Ecosystem Building Jeet Vijay brings over 18 years of experience across venture capital, private equity, startup policy, and ecosystem leadership. Most recently, he served as the CEO of MeitY Startup Hub, the Government of Indias nodal agency for technology startups. In this role, he operated at the center of Indias innovation architectureworking closely with central ministries, investors, incubators, accelerators, and founders across the country. His work has spanned national advisory roles, startup funding frameworks, and large-scale ecosystem programs, giving him a rare vantage point on what differentiates activity-driven initiatives from institution building. Beyond domestic policy leadership, Jeets international exposureincluding collaborations with the University of Texas (USA)has shaped his understanding of how mature ecosystems integrate universities, capital, and enterprises into long-term economic engines. Equally significant is Jeets strong regional grounding. Hailing from Alwar, Rajasthan, and coming from a business family, he brings first-hand insight into the realities of Tier-2 and Tier-3 India. This perspective aligns closely with InnovHers founding belief that regional India requires durable institutions, not episodic programs, to unlock sustainable growth. Commenting on his decision to join InnovHer, Jeet Vijay said, Coming from Alwar, Rajasthan, I have always believed that regional India should not just export talent to metros, but build strong institutions at home. Joining InnovHer is my way of contributing backby bringing policy experience, global exposure, and capital discipline to strengthen startups and SMEs in Rajasthan and other Tier-2 regions. If we want sustainable growth, we must build local economic engines that can compete nationally and globally while remaining rooted in their communities. Strengthening InnovHers Strategic and Institutional Output As Co-Founder, Jeet Vijays role will focus on sharpening InnovHers strategic direction, governance frameworks, and institutional architecture. His presence brings greater rigor to venture selection, capital structuring, and policy alignmentensuring that InnovHers growth is disciplined, auditable, and scalable. More importantly, his inclusion expands InnovHers horizon. With a deep understanding of national policy, global best practices, and regional execution, Jeet strengthens InnovHers ability to support startups and SMEs as long-term economic contributors, not merely high-growth bets. This approach is increasingly relevant as Indias next growth cycle is expected to be driven by MSMEs, regional enterprises, and innovation-led local economies. InnovHer 2.0: Building a Venture Institution from Tier-2 India InnovHer 2.0 represents a deliberate shiftfrom a venture platform to a venture institution . The next phase is designed to deliver deeper, more structured support to: SMEs seeking capital readiness and sustainable growth pathways Startups requiring governance-first scaling frameworks Local economies aiming to build durable innovation capacity With Jeet Vijay joining as Co-Founder, InnovHer reinforces its commitment to institution-grade execution, long-term capital stewardship, and ecosystem accountability. The organization aims to demonstrate that venture institutions built from Tier-2 India can deliver outcomes on par with, or better than, metro-centric models. A Shared Vision for National Impact The alignment between InnovHers founding leadership and Jeet Vijay is rooted in a shared conviction: Indias most resilient innovation will emerge from regions when supported by strong institutions. InnovHer 2.0 seeks to set a national benchmark by proving that disciplined venture building, policy alignment, and regional grounding can coexist with scale and global competitiveness. As InnovHer steps into this new chapter, the appointment of Jeet Vijay is not merely a leadership announcementit is a signal. A signal that InnovHer is building for scale with discipline, for growth with purpose, and for impact with longevity.

Drifting quick-sands of Bengal politics: Can Mamata hold fort?

Didi is now resorting to temple run to woo back Bengali Hindus By Anjan Roy West Bengal is witnessing hectic political manoeuvring by leading political figures, even though the assembly elections are a clear six months away at least. One of these, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who was once a stalwart of the Congress, [] The post Drifting quick-sands of Bengal politics: Can Mamata hold fort? appeared first on Northlines .

India vs New Zealand ODI 2026 squad announcement - All you need to know

India are set to host New Zealand for an eight-match limited-overs series featuring three ODIs and five T20Is from January 11 to 31. The ODI leg of the series is expected to draw significant attention, particularly with stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma making their anticipated return to the 50-over format after the South Africa series. Meanwhile, the T20Is will act as a final testing phase for Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian side as they prepare for their T20 World Cup title defence.

Shah: Infiltration Main Poll Plank In WB for 2026

Throwing a volley of questions to Ms Banerjee, the BJP stalwart wondered, People of Bengal are terrorised by infiltrators everywhere. Can there be any government that turns its own state into a safe haven for infiltrators? The CM must answer in the polls how big a threat the infiltrators have posed to national security? What are her plans to stop infiltration?

Punjab: How a School Protest Turned Against RSS in This Hindu Majority Town

A proposal to privatise the BBMB DAV School has sparked outrage across Talwara, with some calling it an RSS ploy.

Western disturbance raises night temperatures in Rajasthan; light rain forecast

Night temperatures rose slightly across parts of Rajasthan, with light rain expected on December 31 due to a western disturbance. Sikar recorded the minimum of 6.5 degrees Celsius, Pali 6.9 degrees, Alwar and Pilani 7 degrees, Churu 7.2 degrees, while the night temperature in Jhunjhunu was 8.2 degrees Celsius and 10 degrees Celsius in Jaipur

UniAcoustic Wins "Most Innovative Products" at FOAID Mumbai 2025, Reinforcing Leadership in Sustainable, Design-Driven Acoustics

UniAcoustic has been awarded the Most Innovative Products honour at FOAID Mumbai 2025, Indias foremost Festival of Architecture and Interior Design. This recognition marks the brands second consecutive industry accolade in 2025, following its win at ORGATEC India earlier this year, underscoring UniAcoustics growing influence on the future of acoustic design in India. Team UniAcoustic receiving the Most Innovative Products Award at FOAID 2025 The FOAID recognition reflects direct appreciation from the architecture and interior design community. UniAcoustics showcase drew strong engagement from leading architects, designers, consultants, and industry stalwarts many of whom personally visited the booth to experience the products, material innovations, and design language firsthand. What set UniAcoustic apart was not just performance, but the introduction of acoustic designs the industry has not seen before solutions that challenge the traditional perception of acoustics as purely functional elements. The brands systems were widely appreciated for their ability to seamlessly integrate into architectural narratives, offering visual richness, depth, and material expression without revealing their acoustic core. A central reason for this distinction lies in UniAcoustics patented Virtual Material Technology (VMT), which enables hyper-realistic, lifelike surface expressions on high-performance acoustic substrates. VMT allows designers to achieve the visual richness of natural and architectural materials while eliminating the instability, maintenance challenges, and environmental impact associated with conventional finishes making it a sustainable alternative to material-heavy design approaches. Sustainability remains a key pillar of UniAcoustics innovation philosophy. The brands products are engineered to reduce material waste, extend lifecycle performance, and support healthier indoor environments through low-emission surfaces. All systems comply with stringent global standards including EPD Certification, ISO 354, ISO 11654, EN 13501-1, ASTM E84, and E1/VOC, ensuring alignment with WELL, LEED, and IGBC frameworks. The award also recognises UniAcoustics solutions-led approach, where acoustics are not treated as afterthoughts but as integral components of spatial design whether for workplaces, hospitality environments, retail spaces, educational institutions, residential projects, or large public buildings. With sound absorption values reaching NRC 0.95, the brand delivers performance that is both measurable and experiential. In India, UniAcoustics innovative acoustic systems have already been deployed across several landmark projects for leading organisations including HDFC, SwissRe, Avalara, IBM, Coco-Cola, AstraZeneca, Accenture, NPCI etc reflecting strong client confidence in the brands design-led and performance-driven approach. Receiving this recognition at FOAID a platform defined by design leadership is especially meaningful , said Mr. Shabir Rajkotwala, Managing Director, UniAcoustic . It reflects how the industry is responding to acoustic solutions that are expressive, responsible, and genuinely innovative. Our focus remains on empowering architects and designers with materials that expand creative freedom while meeting the highest performance and sustainability benchmarks . As part of a Great Place to Workcertified organisation, UniAcoustic also reflects a culture rooted in people-centric values, long-term thinking, and continuous improvement principles that directly influence how its products are conceived, engineered, and delivered. With sustained recognition across two of Indias most influential design platforms, UniAcoustic continues to set new benchmarks for what acoustic products can be visually, technically, and responsibly shaping more human-centric, high-performing, and future-ready environments across India and beyond. About UniAcoustic UniAcoustic is shaping a new direction for acoustic design in India with its commitment to design-first thinking, sustainability, and patented next-generation technologies. Through its strategic collaboration with Vicoustic, the brand brings globally recognised expertise to introduce unique, never-seen-before acoustic solutions tailored for modern Indian spaces. With strong technical support, customisation capabilities, and a solutions-led approach, UniAcoustic delivers high-performance systems that enhance comfort, aesthetics, and overall spatial experienceoffering architects and designers a refined balance of functional excellence and visual sophistication.

Vaikunta Ekadashi at Hare Krishna Golden Temple Hyderabad

The auspicious festival marks the transcendental occasion when Lord Sri Vishnu Himself welcomed His dear devotee Sri Nammalwar into Vaikunta.

Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat divided over khap panchayats ban on smartphones, dress code for minors

BAGHPAT: People in Baghpat district are divided over the khap panchayats ban on the use of smartphones and wearing half-pants in public places by those under 18. In its Saturday diktat, the panchayat also objected to holding weddings in banquet halls, asserting that marriages should be held in villages and homes. It suggested the kurta-pyjama for boys and the salwar-kurta for girls. While some sections have welcomed the decisions, several intellectuals and social activists have strongly opposed them. Historian Amit Rai Jain termed the decisions Tughlaqi diktats and said mobile phones have become a necessity in present times. Talking to PTI, Jain said education, social networking and work are heavily dependent on mobile phones, making any ban impractical. He also pointed out that the authority to frame laws rests with the government and administration, not with panchayats. Deshkhap Mavi's Thambedar Chaudhary Yashpal Singh said he did not oppose the decisions but added that nothing could be imposed forcibly. He stressed the need to counsel children and instil good values, saying cultured children naturally stay away from wrong practices. The khap's decisions have also received political support. Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) MP from Baghpat, Rajkumar Sangwan, and senior Congress leader Chaudhary Yashpal Singh said preserving social values is the need of the hour. Sangwan said the khap's views were respectable as they strengthen the community. Thamba Patti Mehar Deshkhap's Chaudhary Brijpal Singh and khap leader Subhash Chaudhary said efforts would be made to implement the decisions by holding discussions with responsible members of village communities. They added that attempts would be made to extend these decisions across Uttar Pradesh by coordinating with other khaps. Former Chhaprauli MLA Sahendra Singh Ramala said the foundation of values begins at home. He said if the panchayat had taken such a decision, its members must first set an example themselves. He also stressed the need for balance in the use of mobile phones, adding that spending time with children and being their friend is equally important.

Humpy and Erigaisi settle for bronze at World Rapid Cships

Doha, Dec 29: Indian chess stalwart Koneru Humpy suffered a massive heartbreak in her bid for a third world rapid title, finishing with a bronze in the womens section of the FIDE World Rapid Championships after being cruelly done in by the tie-break rule, here on Sunday. Humpy, the winner of the world rapid title []

Jaipur Diary: Hard launch of junior Pilot Aarav at Save Aravallis rally?

Dhankhar makes quiet appearance in Jaipur Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhars quiet return to Jaipur on Thursday set political circles abuzz. On a one-day visithis first since stepping down as the Vice-PresidentDhankhar briefly interacted with the media, sharing warm memories of late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Away from the spotlight for several months, Dhankhar chose to keep it low-key, having lunch with family at his brother Randeep Dhankhars residence before meeting a senior Vishva Hindu Parishad leader. By the evening, he quietly drove back to Delhi. Notably, Dhankhar had largely vanished from public view after his sudden resignation in July. Hard launch of junior Pilot Aarav at rally? The Congress has seized the row over the Aravallis to train guns on the BJP. State president Govind Singh Dotasra and Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully have led protests in Jaipur and Alwar, while former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has kept the issue alive on social media. But it was AICC General Secretary Sachin Pilots teenage son Aarav Pilots presence at an NSUI rally in Jaipur to save the Aravallis that has got tongues wagging. Political observers are seeing the fresh-faced boys appearance at the event as a symbolic launch, reading it as Pilots bid to project himself as a seasoned leader with a long-term vision. Social media storm over reel star IAS officer Barmer district collector Tina Dabi is back in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Some students taking part in a protest at a girls postgraduate college faced police action for allegedly calling her a reel star, sparking political chatter and online furore. Dabi, however, dismissed the drama in a written statement to a private channel, calling it an attempt to defame me and gain cheap popularity on social media. Known for her academic brilliance and penchant for making reels, Dabi frequently finds herself in the headlines. Now, the debate has shifted to whether administrative officers should face restrictions on creating reels. Rajesh Asnani Our correspondent in Jaipur rajesh.asnani@newindianexpress.com

A Shot story

CPM stalwart V S Achuthanandan passed away on July 21 at the age of 101, leaving an indelible imprint on not just the Communist movements political markings, but on every milestone woven into the states socio-cultural fabric. Poverty eradication sustained? On November 1, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared Kerala free of extreme poverty making it the first state in the country to achieve the status. Though the nature of the announcement, with Mammootty in attendance, made it seem as much a PR moment as a policy milestone, the state government deserves credit for making a sustained effort to identify extremely poor families. Rajeev Chandrasekhar succeeded K Surendran as the states new BJP chief. Initially branded an outsider , Rajeev emerged as a power player after the partys victory in TPuram corporation. The Malayalam film fraternity came together to pay rich tributes to actor, screenwriter, and director Sreenivasan , whose satirical films reshaped popular cinema and made generations laugh. Gold-clad plates being removed from the sanctum sanctorum of the Sabarimala temple as part of the SIT probe into the alleged misappropriation and sale of gold, carried out by falsifying records to show them as copper during refurbishment in 2019, exposing systemic fraud and potential links to smuggling rings. Fierce sea surges and relentless coastal erosion have displaced dozens of fisher families, laying bare the vulnerability of Keralas 590-km-long shoreline. According to various studies, over 55% of Keralas coastline is at risk of erosion. There has also been a staggering loss of 647 acres of coastal land along a 58-km stretch in Thiruvananthapuram district alone over the past 14 years, highlighting the urgent need for effective coastal protection measures in the state From the start, the state governments Messi project was riddled with confusion, shifting sponsors, and half-baked plans that kept fans guessing whether Argentine superstar Lionel Messi would ever set foot in the state. The anticipation, however, ended in vain. The AMMA made history, electing Shwetha Menon as its president the first woman to hold the post in the film bodys 30-year history A stray dog stands atop a boundary wall marked with civic poll campaign graffiti and posters, capturing a striking contrast between the feverish political outreach across the state and the persistent issue of stray dog menace, which continues to trouble the public. Last respects being offered by the family of N Ramachandran , a 65-year-old Kochi native who was among the 26 civilians killed in the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 this year Mundakkai natives Radha and Pathumma embrace at Puthumala graveyard on the first anniversary of the devastating Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslides in Wayanad . The day was marked by sombre remembrances, prayers, and reflections on the tragedy that struck on July 30, 2024, claiming over 298 lives Mother Eliswa , the first nun of the Catholic Church in Kerala, was elevated to the rank of blessed in November. It was on April 14 that Pope Francis approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of Mother Eliswa People throng the Ernakulam District and Principal Sessions Court premises following the acquittal of Dileep in the actor assault case after the prosecution failed to establish conspiracy charge against him. Six accused were convicted. The lynching of Ramnarayan Baghel , a migrant worker from Chhattisgarh, on suspicion of theft at Walayar in Palakkad sits uneasily with Keralas image as a fully literate state. Ramnarayans wife, Lalitha, breaks down on seeing his body. This is the 5th lynching of a migrant in the state in the past decade Kochi-Muziris Biennale began in December, featuring 22 venues and seven collaterals, significantly widening the socio-historical as well as political footprints of the new-age art exhibition

Save Aravalli, Save Life drive gains currency in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: The Congress on Saturday intensified its agitation across all districts in Rajasthan over the exclusion of hills below 100 metres from the Aravalli range across all districts. Under the banner of Save Aravalli Save Life, state Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra and Leader of Opposition Tikaram Juli participated in a major protest organised by the Alwar district party committee. In Jaipur, Congress leaders and workers marched from the PCC headquarters to Shaheed Smarak, raising slogans against the Centre and the state government. On Friday, the NSUI and Youth Congress organised protest marches joined by Congress general secretary Sachin Pilot. The agitation has gained momentum across the state, drawing participation from thousands. Protesters say excluding hills below 100 metres could lead to severe and irreversible environmental damage. Addressing the gathering, Juli alleged that a deliberate conspiracy was underway to destroy the Aravalli range. He warned that while affluent sections might escape the consequences, local communities would be left to face environmental devastation. The Congress will continue its struggle until the Aravallis receive complete protection, he added. In Jaipur, city Congress submitted a memorandum to the Police Commissioner addressed to the President. Protests in several districts turned confrontational. In Dausa, Congress workers attempted to force their way into a locked Dak Bungalow meeting hall. In Ajmer, tensions escalated when police objected to the use of a DJ system during the march, leading to clashes. Similar confrontations were reported from Dholpur. In Tonk, Deputy CM Premchand Bairwa defended the governments position. The Aravalli range is a national heritage. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Union ministers have made it clear that the Aravallis are already protected and reserved. No harm will be allowed. Attempts to politicise the issue are unacceptable, he said. Activists demanded stronger legal safeguards, emphasising that the Aravalli range is not merely a chain of hills but a vital ecological shield that sustains groundwater, biodiversity, and life across Rajasthan. The Centre and the state governments were accused of colluding with mining mafia to facilitate environmental destruction.

Rajasthan Dy CM accuses Congress of politicising Aravalli redefinition row as protests continue across state

JAIPUR: Under the banner of 'Save AravalliSave Life', large-scale protests were organised by Congress across Rajasthan on Saturday, highlighting growing political and public concern over the future of one of the worlds oldest mountain ranges. On Friday, the NSUI and Youth Congress organised protest marches joined by Congress General Secretary Sachin Pilot, followed by large-scale demonstrations led by the state Congress committee on Saturday. Protesters warned that excluding hills below 100 metres could lead to severe and irreversible environmental damage. State Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra and Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Juli participated in a major protest organised by the Alwar District Congress Committee. Addressing the gathering, Tikaram Juli alleged that a deliberate conspiracy was underway to destroy the Aravalli range. He warned that while affluent sections might escape the consequences, local communities would be left to face environmental devastation. As part of the Alwar Save Aravalli Campaign, a massive demonstration took place at Kati Ghati, where hundreds of Congress workers climbed the Aravalli hills holding flags bearing the message Save Aravalli. Youth participation stood out, with several young activists shaving their heads and writing Save Aravalli on their scalps as a symbolic pledge to protect the mountain range. In Jaipur, Congress leaders and workers marched from the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) headquarters to Shaheed Smarak, raising slogans against the Centre and the State government. The city edition of Congress submitted a memorandum to the Police Commissioner addressed to the President of India. However, protests in several districts turned confrontational: In Dausa, Congress workers attempted to force their way into a locked Dak Bungalow meeting hall; in Ajmer, tensions escalated when police objected to the use of a DJ system during the march, leading to clashes; similar confrontations were reported from Dholpur as well. Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa defended the governments position: The Aravalli range is a national heritage. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Union Ministers have made it clear that the Aravallis are already protected and reserved. No harm will be allowed. Attempts to politicise the issue are unacceptable. Activists demanded stronger legal safeguards, emphasising that the Aravalli range is not merely a chain of hills but a vital ecological shield that sustains groundwater, biodiversity, and life across Rajasthan. The BJP government at the national and state levels were accused of colluding with mining mafias to facilitate environmental destruction. Recently, the Supreme Court accepted the Environment Ministrys definition that considers only hills above 100 metres as mountains. This effectively removes nearly 90 percent of the Aravalli rangemuch of which lies between 30 and 80 metresfrom the protected mountain category. While the Central Government has directed that no new mining leases be issued before scientific mapping, environmental experts remain concerned about the future of the lower-height Aravallis. The central question persists: if these hills are no longer legally classified as mountains, how will one of the worlds oldest mountain ranges be protected from mining and exploitation?

Congress intensifies campaign against Aravalli redefinition, Sachin Pilot joins NSUI protest in Jaipur

JAIPUR: Despite the Centre's assurance that no new mining leases will be granted in the Aravalli range, the political controversy over the protection of the ancient mountain system continues to intensify in Rajasthan. On Friday, the National Students Union of India (NSUI) organised a protest march in Jaipur as part of its campaign to save the Aravallis. The march was attended by Congress National General Secretary Sachin Pilot and NSUI state president Vinod Jakhar. Sachin Pilots son, Arhaan Pilot, also took part in the rally, marking his first appearance at a political protest. The Congress will continue its campaign on Saturday by holding a public awareness march in Alwar led by AICC General Secretary Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra, Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully, and AICC media coordinator Pawan Khera. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has also been consistently raising this critical issue on social media. Earlier, on Wednesday, a petition was submitted to the Presidents Secretariat in the name of President Droupadi Murmu opposing the definition that considers only hills with an elevation of 100 metres or more as part of the Aravalli mountain range. The petition demanded that the definition be revised on the basis of ecological and environmental considerations. The petition was filed by Charmesh Sharma, former director of the Rajasthan Seed Corporation and a Congress leader from Bundi, who has been vocal on Aravalli conservation. A complaint has also been filed with the National Human Rights Commission on the same issue. Row over Aravalli redefinition intensifies in Rajasthan even as Centre announces mining ban Congress sources say that while the party has staged protests on issues such as changes related to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA) and the National Herald case, they have not generated a widespread public response. In contrast, they claim there is huge public concern over the Supreme Courts decision related to the Aravalli range, with several social and environmental organisations openly expressing opposition. They argue that Rajasthan remains central to the issue, as nearly 90 percent of the Aravalli range passes through the state. According to departmental sources, the Aravalli hills extend over more than 50,000 square kilometres across 20 districts of Rajasthan. Of this, only about 8,000 to 10,000 square kilometres fall under areas with an elevation of 100 metres or more. Officials said the exact extent of the Aravalli range will be determined only after the preparation of the Master Plan for Sustainable Management (MPSM) by the Union Ministry of Environment. The Congress has indicated that protests may intensify in the coming days. Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra recently said the party is preparing a strategy to hold demonstrations at district, block, and state levels in 19 districts of the state. Political observers also suggest the party may consider coordinated movements in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi, where the Aravalli range extends. The issue has put the BJP on the defensive, with senior leaders largely avoiding detailed public responses. While Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has defended the governments position, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has assured that no harm will come to the Aravalli range. Opposition leaders, however, claim these assurances have yet to address public concerns.

PM Modi: Freed country from tendency to link all good works with one family

Prime Minister Modi, inaugurating a memorial in Lucknow, criticized past governments for glorifying a single family and neglecting national heroes. He stated the BJP government is rectifying this by honoring all contributors and dismantling barriers like Article 370. The memorial celebrates Jan Sangh stalwarts, emphasizing the BJP's commitment to merit-based recognition over dynastic politics.

Memorials of Vajpayee, two other BJP icons ready, Modi to inaugurate today

LUCKNOW: Spread over 65 acres next to the embankment of the River Gomti on Hardoi Road, on the outskirts of Lucknow, the memorial Rashtra Prerna Sthal dedicated to BJP icons Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, and Deen Dayal Upadhyay will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. The complex will open to the public after its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25, which happens to be Vajpayees birth anniversary, an official statement said. Shaped like a lotus reflecting BJPs election symbol, the memorial features three towering bronze statues of Vajpayee, Mookerjee, and Upadhyay. It also showcases poems and speeches of Vajpayee, nationalist quotes by Shyama Prasad Mookerjee and Deen Dayal Upadhyay, and audio presentations highlighting their contributions to nation-building. Developed at a cost of Rs 230 crore, the memorial comprises three statues, each measuring 65 feet and weighing 42 tonnes, making them the tallest among all statues of personalities in the state capital. The platform on which the statues stand is surrounded by a water body. A major attraction is a two-storey museum covering 6,300 sqm, with five galleries, 12 interpretation walls, and two theatres screening orientation films on the lives of the BJP icons. Galleries display texts noting the Jana Sanghs 1952 election success, the deepak election symbol, and a lamp, Sudarshan Chakra, and Bharat Mata statue. Other features include an amphitheatre for 3,000 people, a meditation hall, yoga centre, musical block, helipads, and a rally ground accommodating over two lakh people. Party sources said it is the first memorial to house statues of three BJP stalwarts at a single location.

PM Modi to inaugurate Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow on December 25

LUCKNOW: Spread over 65 acres, next to the embankment of River Gomti on Hardoi Road on the outskirts of the state capital Lucknow, the memorial, Rashtra Prerna Sthal, dedicated to BJP icons Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shyama Prasad Mookerjee and Deen Dayal Upadhyay, will be inaugurated by PM Modi on Thursday. Shaped like a lotus reflecting the BJPs election symbol, the memorial has three towering bronze statues of Vajpayee, Mookerjee and Upadhyay. Replete with poems and speeches of Vajpayee, nationalist quotes by Shyama Prasad Mookerjee and Deendayal Upadhyaya and audio presentations highlighting their contributions to nation-building, the memorial has many features. The complex will open to the public after its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 25, which happens to be Vajpayees birth anniversary. According to the officials of Lucknow Development Authority, developed at a cost of Rs 230 crore, the memorial comprises three statues, each measuring 65 feet and weighing 42 tonnes, being the tallest among all statues of personalities installed in the state capital. The platform on which the statues stand is surrounded by a water body. One of the main attractions of the Rashtra Prerna Sthal is a two-storey museum developed over an area of 6,300 sqm. It has five galleries and 12 interpretation walls dedicated to three leaders. Two separate theatres are there where orientation films on the lives of the BJP icons will be screened. The displayed text on the walls reads that in the 1952 elections, the Jana Sangh achieved a remarkable success, and its election symbol the deepak became a symbol of the emerging nationalist politics in independent India. The lamp, Sudarshan Chakra and a statue of Bharat Mata have been installed in a gallery of the museum. There is also an amphitheatre, with a capacity to host 3,000 people, a meditation hall, a yoga centre, a musical block, helipads, and a rally ground that can accommodate over 2 lakh people. According to party sources, it is a unique memorial as it would be the first such project where statues of three of the stalwarts of the party are placed in a single place. Ahead of the inauguration on Thursday, the BJPs UP unit is working to ensure the presence of nearly 2 lakh people at the ground during PM Modis address. On Tuesday, BJP state president Pankaj Chaudhary inspected preparations. The party is also holding an organisational meeting in Lucknow and adjoining districts to make the event a success by ensuring the rally ground remains fully occupied during the PMs address.

Agitation intensifies against SC ruling on Aravalli definition in Rajasthan, ex-CM Gehlot alleges systemic attack

JAIPUR: Environmentalists and social organisations staged demonstrations against the Supreme Courts acceptance of the Union Environment Ministrys definition of the Aravalli mountains in several cities of Rajasthan on Monday. Meanwhile, a political war of words has erupted between former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav. Protests were held in Udaipur, Jodhpur, Sikar, Alwar and Ajmer, with police action reported at some places. Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully described the Aravallis as the lungs of Rajasthan and warned that the agitation would intensify if the decision was not reversed. Responding to the protests, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma accused the Congress of spreading misinformation, saying, Former CM Ashok Gehlot is misleading the public on the Aravalli issue. The state government is fully committed to protecting the Aravalli range, and no decision will be allowed that causes harm to Rajasthans environment. The BJP further intensified its attack, with former Leader of the Opposition Rajendra Rathore alleging that Gehlot was misinterpreting the Supreme Court order for political gains. Rathore said the 100-metre criterion was finalised during the Congress regime in 2003. Centre will draw up new conservation plan for Aravalli, says Environment Minister amid row over SC order Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav also sought to clarify the Centres stand , stating, The Aravalli range will remain protected. Hills and slopes above 100 metres continue to be under protection, mining is completely banned in the NCR, and limited mining is permitted in only 0.19 per cent of the area. Twenty wildlife sanctuaries and four tiger reserves in the Aravallis are fully secure. Yadav added that the government is committed to keeping the Aravallis green and to strengthen protection standards in the range. The Aravalli range is one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, and we are fully committed to ensuring that it remains green. At the same time, it is important to establish clear and uniform standards for its protection, MinisterYadav said in an interview. The 100-metre criterion refers to the entire mountain structure, from the peak down to the ground level where its permanent base is located. In the absence of a clear definition earlier, there were irregularities in the grant of mining permits in the Aravalli region, he said. Gehlot, however, strongly rebutted the Centres claims. In a statement issued onMonday night, Gehlot said, The claims being made by the Union environment minister are completely misleading and far from the truth. He argued that the 100-metre definition should not be viewed in isolation and alleged that recent decisions point towards a systematic weakening of environmental safeguards. Gehlot also alleged that attempts to alter the Critical Tiger Habitat in Sariska and the September 5, 2023 notification bringing the Supreme Court-monitored Central Empowered Committee under the Environment Ministry reflect the governments intent to open protected areas to mining interests. With protests spreading and political rhetoric escalating, the controversy over the Aravalli definition is expected to intensify in the coming days. SC ruling on Aravalli definition sparks opposition in Rajasthan, former CM Gehlot warns of ecological disaster

BJP emerges single largest party in Maharashtra local body polls as Mahayuti sweeps municipal councils

NAGPUR: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said the BJP has set a record in local body polls with 48 per cent of councillors winning on the party symbol, and its candidates elected as presidents in 129 municipal councils. He attributed the Mahayuti alliance's success in the municipal council and nagar panchayat elections to the BJP organisation and development agenda of the government. Counting of votes for elections to the posts of president and members in 286 municipal councils and nagar panchayats held in two phases began in the morning. Fadnavis said the BJP has once again emerged as the single largest party. 48 per cent councillors have been elected on the BJP symbol, which is a record. The BJP has created another record with 3,300 councillors being elected from the party. BJP candidates have been elected as presidents in 129 municipal councils. In 75 per cent of the local bodies, Mahayuti nominees have been elected as municipal presidents, he said. Fadnavis emphasised that the BJP's national leadership has put faith in the state leadership for elections. It is the team effort - the organisation and government. We fought the polls on the development plank. I led a positive campaign on the development agenda. I never criticised any political leader or party. I solicited votes on the development agenda, the work done by the government so far, and our blueprint for the future, the chief minister told a press conference. In the multi-dimensional contests, Mahayuti allies- the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP- contested against each other in some places. There were alliances as well as friendly fights among Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) constituents- the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), and Congress. The opposition Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) virtually conceded defeat in the elections, accusing the election commission of facilitating the victory of the ruling Mahayuti. State Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal congratulated the party candidates who won the posts of municipal president and councillors. In a terse comment, he congratulated the state poll body for helping the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the elections. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut attributed the victory of Mahayuti to ampering of EVMs. He said the opposition couldn't withstand a hailstorm of money. His party colleague Ambadas Danve alleged money and muscle power shaped the Mahayuti win. The Mahayuti has bagged a larger number of seats as compared to constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, thanks to the muscle and money power deployed by the ruling parties, Danve told PTI in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Maharashtra BJP president Ravindra Chavan claimed the party had got a decisive mandate as voters had rejected the Opposition's fake narrative. He claimed the Mahayuti had won more than 250 councils, nagar parishads and nagar panchayats out of 288, with BJP candidates securing 134 out of 236 council chief posts and over 3,000 councillor seats. The Opposition levelled all kinds of allegations during the campaign, but people saw through them. Uddhav Thackeray himself said he had nothing to offer to the people and that is why his party was rejected. His party could not even win council chairperson posts in double digits, Chavan claimed. Now, Mumbaikars too would reject the opposition's narrative in the upcoming BMC polls, he said. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said the overwhelming success of the BJP was a victory of the (party) workers. This is a victory of our workers. Thank you to the people who supported the BJP by maintaining faith in its development-oriented working style, the Union minister stated. Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule claimed the Mahayuti is headed to secure two-thirds seats. The Mahayuti has taken a very good lead in Maharashtra and the people have rejected the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), he added. State minister Shivendrasinh Bhosale claimed BJP candidate Amol Mohite was elected municipal president in Satara district by 42,000 votes, an outcome that even surpassed the vote margins typically seen in assembly elections. Minister of state for home Yogesh Kadam claimed the Mahayuti had registered a clean sweep in Khed municipal council in Ratnagiri district by winning all 21 seats, including 17 seats won by Shiv Sena. The BJP has won the president's post in four out of five local bodies in Udgir, Ahmedpur, Nilanga, and Renapur in Latur district, while its ally NCP bagged the seat in Ausa. In the Beed district, the Mahayuti combine has taken a decisive lead. People have demolished the plot of the Opposition to defame Parli and Beed through the results of the local body polls, former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde claimed. The Congress and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) claimed they had retained their party bastions in Chandrapur and Sangli districts. The Congress won the municipal council president's post as well as 21 of the 23 seats in the Brahmapuri municipal council in Chandrapur district, party leader Vijay Wadettiwar said. The BJP and NCP have secured one seat each. In the Urun-Ishwarpur municipal council in Sangli district, the NCP (SP) has won 23 seats as well as the post of council president, senior leader Jayant Patil claimed. In Palghar district, the Shiv Sena has won the president's election in the municipal councils of Palghar and Dahanu, while the BJP bagged the president's posts in Jawhar municipal council and Wada Nagar Panchayat. Recounting of votes was ordered after the Congress objected to the 116-vote win of BJP candidate Ajay Agrawal in Kamptee municipal council polls in Nagpur district, an official said. In a setback for the BJP, the party candidate for the post of Loha municipal council president, Gajanan Suryavanshi, and his five kin lost. The post was won by Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party, whose candidate, incidentally, is named Sharad Pawar. The NCP emerged victorious in Loha, Kandhar, Degloor and Umri, while the BJP won in Kundalwadi, Mudkhed and Bhokar in Nanded district. The Shiv Sena and Marathwada Janhit Party won from two places each, while the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress emerged victorious from one place each, officials said. Only the NCP (SP) led by opposition stalwart Sharad Pawar failed to capture any of the municipal councils that went to polls in the district, they added. BJP consolidates Mahayuti dominance in Maharashtra local body polls, big blow to MVA

Supreme Court ruling on Aravalli definition triggers huge protests in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: The Supreme Courts recent acceptance of the Union Environment Ministrys definition of the Aravalli hills -- restricting the range to landforms with an elevation of more than 100 metres -- has triggered widespread protests across Rajasthan. Political leaders, environmental activists, social media influencers and citizens have expressed strong opposition and warned that the move will entail serious ecological and economic consequences. Under the revised definition, nearly 90 per cent of the Aravalli range in Rajasthan, consisting of hills lower than 100 metres, will no longer be classified as part of the protected range. According to available data, only 1,048 out of nearly 1.6 lakh hillocks in the state meet the 100-metre criterion, effectively excluding the vast majority from regulatory safeguards. SC ruling on Aravalli definition sparks opposition in Rajasthan, former CM Gehlot warns of ecological disaster Laxmikant Sharma, professor at the Department of Environmental Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, said the governments stance that only hills above 100 metres qualify as Aravalli would automatically exclude most of the range. In Rajasthan, the Aravalli hills are largely between 30 and 80 metres in height. This means nearly 90 per cent of the range is directly under threat, he said. Though the Supreme Court order states that new mining is not permitted, critics argue that illegal mining continues unabated. A 2018 report by the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) revealed that around 25 per cent of the Aravalli hills in Rajasthan had already been destroyed. Against this backdrop, the Aravalli Heritage Peoples Campaign was launched a few days ago from Vinoba Gyan Mandir in Bapu Nagar in Jaipur. Kavita Srivastava, national president of the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), urged the government to repeal the uniform definition of the Aravalli proposed by a committee under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, calling it a threat to Indias ecological and cultural heritage. SC ruling on Aravalli definition sparks opposition in Rajasthan, former CM Gehlot warns of ecological disaster 'Road to hell is paved with good intentions': Congress slams government over new Aravalli definition Activists have demanded that the Aravalli rangespread across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhibe declared an Ecologically Critical Area and that the use of raw stone mined from the hills be stopped. Neelam Ahluwalia, founding member of People for Aravalli, said the recent court decision would leave more than 90 per cent of the range unprotected and vulnerable to mining. The situation is particularly alarming in Alwar district, where 31 of the 128 identified hills have reportedly been completely flattened due to mining. Environmental experts warn that excluding large parts of the Aravalli range from protection could further embolden mining mafias. Experts have also cautioned that extensive degradation of the Aravallis could alter regional rainfall patterns. Some warn that if the range is destroyed, monsoon moisture could shift westwards towards Pakistan, adversely affecting rainfall in Rajasthan. Nearly 80 per cent of the 700-kilometre-long Aravalli range passes through 27 districts of Rajasthan, forming the ecological backbone of eastern Rajasthan. Agriculture and farmers livelihoods in these regions depend heavily on the hills, as several seasonal riversincluding the Chambal, Banas, Sahibi, Sota, Katli, Kasavati, Gambhiri and Moreloriginate from the Aravallis. Modi government has 'nearly signed death warrant' for Aravalli hills: Sonia Gandhi Rainwater stored in the hills flows through streams and underground channels, sustaining these rivers and supporting small-scale farming and animal husbandry throughout the year. The Aravallis are also home to diverse plant species and vegetation. As the worlds oldest mountain range, their rock formations have a strong water-holding capacity, allowing groundwater to be stored for long periods. Rajasthan has around 32 major potable water reservoirs, many of which depend on the Aravalli system. In a desert state like Rajasthan, environmentalists point out that nearly 22 per cent of the Aravalli hills have already been destroyed due to excessive mining. According to studies, the unique structure of the Aravallis helps recharge nearly two million litres of groundwater per hectare annually, making the range the largest source of water in the region. As protests intensify, environmental groups have demanded an immediate review of the definition, warning that Rajasthans ecology, water security and rural economy are at serious risk. It remains to be seen how the agitation unfolds in the coming days. On International Mountain Day, campaign launched to save India's oldest mountain range Aravalli

Malayalam film stalwart Sreenivasans legacy: A timeline

Malayalam film veteran Sreenivasan passed away due to ailments on December 20, 2025. Here is a look at his journey in film.

MFA to honour stalwarts of Meghalaya football

Shillong, Dec 19: The Meghalaya Football Association (MFA) will honour past and present footballers, coaches and referees who have lifted the standing of the sport in the state over the years at an awards night on Monday. The function will take place at the State Convention Centre at 6pm where 40 individuals, both men and []

Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam in Tirumala on December 23

The purificatory ritual will be performed from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., during which period Astadala Pada Padmaradhana Seva will remain cancelled

SC ruling on Aravalli definition sparks opposition in Rajasthan, former CM Gehlot warns of ecological disaster

JAIPUR: The Supreme Courts recent ruling, issued on the recommendation of the central government, to limit the definition of the Aravalli mountain range to landforms rising more than 100 metres above their surroundings, has triggered sharp opposition in Rajasthan. Joining the growing protests, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot has warned that the decision could lead to huge ecological damage. Gehlot termed the ruling a red carpet for illegal mining, and a direct invitation to environmental destruction. On November 21, the apex court held that only hills in the Aravalli region with a relative height of 100 metres or more would be considered part of the mountain range. The Aravalli is not just a mountain range for Rajasthan; it is our protective shield, Gehlot said. He argued that narrowing the definition on the Centres recommendation amounts to a death sentence for nearly 90 per cent of the states hills. According to him, almost 90 per cent of the Aravalli formations in Rajasthan are below the 100-metre threshold. Gehlot cautioned that excluding these hills from the legal definition is not a technical adjustment but the removal of a critical layer of environmental protection, leaving vast areas vulnerable to mining and degradation. Highlighting the ecological importance of the Aravallis, Gehlot said the range plays a crucial role in preventing desertification by blocking hot winds from the west and stopping the Thar Desert from advancing into eastern Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Experts, he noted, have pointed out that even small hills and mounds measuring 10 to 30 metres are effective in checking dust storms. Allowing mining in these areas, he warned, could accelerate desert spread towards the national capital. He further said that the rocky structure of the Aravalli range enables rainwater to percolate underground, making it a major source of groundwater recharge across the region. Removing these hills could prove disastrous for northwest India, which is already facing a severe water crisis, Gehlot said. He added that history would not forgive the injustice being done to future generations, alleging that although the Supreme Court proceedings began to protect the Aravalli, acceptance of the Centres recommendation has effectively erased 90 per cent of the range. He urged the court to reconsider the decision in the interest of future generations, calling it a direct invitation to destruction. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, Tikaram Jully, also strongly criticised the move, warning that without the Aravalli range, nothing will be left. Launching a sharp attack on the central government and the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, Jully said the looming threat to the Aravallis existence has become a question mark on the future of Rajasthan. Jully said that the fight to save the Aravalli range is no longer the responsibility of any single political party but a collective social duty to protect the state and the future of the coming generations. Targeting Union environment minister and Alwar MP Bhupendra Yadav, Jully said it was the greatest irony of democracy that those entrusted with environmental protection were now paving the way for destruction. He pointed out that Yadav was educated in Ajmer and represents Alwar, both regions closely linked to the Aravalli range and home to important pilgrimage sites such as Pushkar. Despite this, Jully alleged, the minister was acting like Dhritarashtra, the blind king from the Mahabharata, silently witnessing the destruction of the Aravalli range and ignoring the future of his own land and its people.

A legacy lost to neglect and silence

Remembering Kashyap Bandhu Avtar Nehru Many stalwarts and scholars within the Kashmiri Pandit community privately concede that Pandit Kashyap Bandhu was among its greatest figures for much of the twentieth century. He was widely respected as a public intellectual and, importantly, was deeply networked with the leading minds and institutions of his time. His stature was formally acknowledged when he was included among the 75 Personalities commemorated during Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM), marking seventy-five years of Indias independence in [] The post A legacy lost to neglect and silence appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Inter-state criminal nabbed in Indore after returning to fill SIR voter form

BHOPAL: Coming back to his home city Indore reportedly to fill up his Special Intensive Revision (SIR) voter enumeration form recently, a hardened inter-state criminal landed in the Madhya Pradesh polices net. Identified as Abdul Rashid, alias Talwar Singh (54), the criminal is accused in around 100 cases, including robbery, theft and murder in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states. He had recently returned to Indore after many years just to fill up the SIR enumeration form. On December 3, he broke into a closed flat in Indores Geeta Nagar locality and decamped with gold and silver jewellery valued in lakhs of rupees. Multiple teams were formed by the Indore Palasia police to crack the burglary-theft case, which led to the arrest of Abdul Rashid a few days later in Indore, following a specific tip-off. His questioning revealed that he had come down to his home city Indore after many years for filling up his SIR enumeration form. After filling the form, he committed the crime at the closed flat in Geeta Nagar, but acting on specific intelligence, the police arrested him a few days later, Indore police spokesperson and additional DCP of the city crime branch Rajesh Dandotiya told TNIE on Saturday. Subsequent investigations, based on Rashids sustained grilling, revealed that he was accused in around 100 cases of theft, robbery, burglary, murder and attempted murder in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states. Had he not come to Indore for filling up the SIR form and then not committed the burglary-theft, maybe we wouldnt have been able to nab him, a senior Indore police officer said. Stolen properties, including cash, jewellery and a two-wheeler, all valued at over Rs 7.5 lakh, were recovered from Rashids possession. He was originally a native of Indores North Toda locality and started committing thefts and burglaries from the age of 19. However, he later shifted to Akola in Maharashtra after the Indore police began searching for him. He married a woman in Akola and started living there. He earned the infamous sobriquet Talwar Singh a few years back, after he beheaded a man with a sword and then surrendered at the local police station with the severed head in Maharashtras Wardha.

Congress stalwart Shivraj Patil passes away at 90

PTI Latur Veteran Congressman Shivraj Patil, who served as the Lok Sabha speaker and was Union home minister during the 26/11 attacks, passed away at his hometown Latur in Maharashtra on Friday morning, family sources said. Patil (90) passed away at his residence Devghar after a brief illness, they said, adding his funeral will be [] The post Congress stalwart Shivraj Patil passes away at 90 appeared first on The Navhind Times .

GPS spoofing of flights reported at major airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai: Centre tells Rajya Sabha

The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Monday disclosed that incidents of GPS spoofing and interference with flights have been reported at major airports in the country, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai. In a written reply to questions raised by YSRCP MP S Niranjan Reddy in the Rajya Sabha, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu confirmed that GPS spoofing was reported in the vicinity of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in New Delhi. Some flights reported GPS spoofing in the vicinity of IGIA, New Delhi while using GPS based landing procedures, while approaching on RWY (runway) 10. Contingency procedures were used for GPS spoofed flights approaching to RWY 10. There were no effects on movements of flights, on other runway ends having conventional navigational aids being operational, the minister said. Global Positioning System (GPS)/ Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) spoofing and jamming refer to attempts to manipulate a user's navigation system by giving false signals. The minister stated that the Wireless Monitoring Organisation (WMO) has been directed to identify the source of the spoofing. Airports Authority of India (AAI) has also requested Wireless Monitoring Organisation (WMO) to possibly identify the source of interference/ spoofing. During the high-level meeting, WMO was directed to mobilise more resources to identify the source of spoofing based on approximate spoofing location details shared by DGCA and AAI, Naidu said in a written reply. WMO comes under the Department of Telecommunications. After being mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to report instances of GPS jamming/ spoofing since November 2023, regular reports are being received from other major airports in the country. GNSS interference reports are being received from Kolkata, Amritsar, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai airports, the minister said. Last month, DGCA asked airlines, pilots and air traffic controllers to report GPS spoofing incidents within 10 minutes of the occurrences, amid recent such incidents at the Delhi airport. In the written reply, Naidu said Minimum Operating Network (MON), consisting of Conventional (Ground-based) Navigation and Surveillance Infrastructure, are retained in accordance with global best practices. India is also participating in global platforms to keep itself abreast of the latest methodology and technology for the timely implementation of the same. To a query, Naidu said the global cybersecurity threats to the aviation sector are in the form of ransomware/ malware. To enhance cyber security against global threats, AAI is implementing advanced cyber security solutions for IT networks and infrastructure. These actions have been taken in accordance with the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) and Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) guidelines. Cyber security is ensured by continuous upgradation. As the nature and type of the threat changes, new protective measures are being taken, he added. (With inputs from PTI)

Travel Chaos Fears Ease After Airbus Update On A320 Software Upgrade

Fears of days of travel chaos across Europe and the world eased on Saturday after plane manufacturer Airbus intervened rapidly to implement a software upgrade it had said was immediately needed on some 6,000 of its stalwart A320 planes.

Cong Worked Hard To Erase Sardar Patel From History, Says Nadda; Slams Nehru For Article 370

Vadodara, Nov 29: BJP president JP Nadda on Saturday said the Congress made great efforts to erase Sardar Patel from history, with the party even questioning the cost and need for the Statue of Unity constructed as a memorial to the stalwart by the Narendra Modi government. The Congress did not want Sardar Patel to be remembered, Nadda said while addressing a gathering at the Sardar@150 Unity March at Atladra village here. He also said the countrys first prime minister [] The post Cong Worked Hard To Erase Sardar Patel From History, Says Nadda; Slams Nehru For Article 370 appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Delhi Police warns against fake traffic challan messages with malware links

Delhi Police warns of a surge in fraudulent WhatsApp and SMS messages impersonating traffic challan notifications. Scammers trick users into downloading malicious APK files to install malware, steal financial information, and gain remote control of devices. Citizens are urged to verify challans only through official portals and never click on suspicious links or download unknown files.

Struggle for Congress

While the results of the Bihar assembly elections were agonizing to the Congress, the party is now faced with another serious pain in Karnataka, where it held power for the past over two and a half years. Two stalwarts behind the partys big electoral win there in 2023, namely Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief []

Pakistan's New WhatsApp-Based Spy Tactic Targets CAPF Officers After Red Fort Blast | Exclusive

Agents posed as officials on WhatsApp, lured CAPF officers into fake groups, then used the join link to infect devices with Trojan malware and gain remote access to sensitive data

Two More Sentenced In Pakistan-Linked Navy Espionage Case, NIA Secures 8th Conviction

New Delhi, Nov 25: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday awarded over five years of simple imprisonment to two more accused in the Pakistan-linked espionage case involving surveillance of Indian Navy installations, taking the total convictions in the case to eight. The accused, identified as Ashok Kumar of Jhunjhunu district and Vikas Kumar of Alwar district of Rajasthan, will have to undergo SI of 5 years and 11 months under each of section 18 of [] The post Two More Sentenced In Pakistan-Linked Navy Espionage Case, NIA Secures 8th Conviction appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

2 More Accused Get Imprisonment in Visakhapatnam Navy Espionage Case

The accused, identified as Ashok Kumar of Jhunjhunu district and Vikas Kumar of Alwar district of Rajasthan, will have to undergo SI of five years and 11 months under each of section 18 of UA(P) Act and section 3 of Official Secrets Act

Iconic film personality, phenomenal actor: PM Modi's tribute to Dharmendra

The legendary Dharmendra, a stalwart of Indian cinema, has sadly left us at the age of 89. In a heartfelt tribute, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recognized him as a timeless icon and extraordinary performer. Spanning an impressive sixty years and more than 300 films, Dharmendra's passing signifies the conclusion of a cinematic chapter that shaped millions.

Meet Swiftee: The AI companion by ConveGenius Turning Education HarDware into Heartware

ConveGenius, a leading Indian AI and edtech company, unveiled Swiftee, its on-device multimodal AI companion, at SwiftEdge 2025 the companys flagship partner summit held in New Delhi. The event brought together 40+ OEM leaders and education innovators, including representatives from HP, Lenovo, and Google Chromebook. Mr Jairaj Bhattacharya, CEO & MD, ConveGenius Group at the launch of Swiftee Despite the rapid scale of device shipments, most classroom hardware still functions as passive screens, with limited ability to support how children actually learn. ConveGenius is addressing this gap by introducing a new category that shifts Indias devices from Hardware to Heartware. Heartware is the AI layer that makes hardware emotionally aware, contextually relevant, and purpose-driven for learning. At the centre of this shift is Swiftee, an on-device multimodal AI companion that transforms any tablet, panel, or device into an active, guided learning tool. Positioned as a heartware layer, Swiftee sits atop existing hardware to make digital learning safer, more personal, and more meaningful for children aged 5 to 18. Built on ConveGenius decade-long research in AI-led learning, Swiftee offers capabilities such as homework support, safe search, creative exploration, emotional check-ins, and guided engagement. Live demos at the summit showcased Swiftee running seamlessly across diverse hardware ecosystems and operating systems, reinforcing how easily it integrates with both entry-level and premium devices. Unlike generic cloud-AI tools, Swiftee works in low-connectivity settings, understands multilingual inputs, and responds safely around children. For OEMs, this means a device is no longer just a screen. It becomes an intelligent assistant built for real learning use cases, an evolution the education sector has long awaited. On the vision behind Swiftee, Jairaj Bhattacharya, CEO, ConveGenius Group said: Over the last ten years, weve learned that AI becomes meaningful only when it fits the lives of the people it is meant to support. Weve seen this firsthand across 22 states and 170 million users. That is why we built Swiftee-to make AI relevant for students, helpful for teachers, and dependable for parents and schools. It is intelligence shaped by India and not imported for India. Swiftee has the potential to immensely contribute towards accomplishing Indias commitment for ensuring inclusive and quality education to all children by 2030 . With Swiftees API framework, hardware companies can also build custom AI agents to shape solutions around the exact needs of their buyers. Wellbeing support for students, assistance for teachers, lesson planning automation, curriculum-aligned remediation, and much more. The possibilities are endless. Everyone is excited about AI, but operational challenges like cloud costs, unpredictable behaviour, and constant oversight often hold hardware players back , said Viprav Chaudhary, Senior Vice President, ConveGenius . Swiftee removes those constraints. It runs locally, operates on safe AI guardrails, and works with all types of hardware. Theres no need to rebuild systems, one can plug into our stack and start delivering value immediately . Industry partners echo this sentiment. Mrs. Kamini Talwar from Iris Global Services said, Education has long needed a solution that goes beyond hardware upgrades and brings educational intelligence directly into the device. An AI layer like Swiftee makes hardware truly meaningful for classrooms, adapting to real use cases for students, supporting teachers in instruction, and helping schools deliver better learning outcomes. This is the kind of custom-built innovation the education sector has been waiting for . As Indias device market continues to grow, the next phase will not only be defined by bigger screens or faster processors, but also by the intelligence that lives inside them. Swiftee represents this new category of Heartware, where devices become intelligent companions that understand classroom realities and accordingly support learning. About ConveGenius ConveGenius is a leading AI and EdTech company delivering learning, assessment, and data-intelligence solutions for state governments and education partners. Its data and AI tools power decision-making at Vidya Samiksha Kendras (VSKs) and bring data-driven governance to public education across India.

Fake call centre targeting US citizens busted in Navi Mumbai; 20 held

THANE: Police have busted a fake call centre in Navi Mumbai, from where cyber frauds involving at least Rs 12 crore were allegedly committed mostly against US citizens, and arrested 20 persons in this connection, officials said on Thursday. The police suspect that the scale of the crime is very large and many wanted accused are involved in it. The action against this call centre, which was in operation in Turbhe area of Navi Mumbai was taken on Thursday, they said. Navi Mumbai Cyber police station and the Crime Branch took the action. The police received a tip-off on November 18 that a call centre was in operation under the guise of various bogus companies to defraud citizens. Immediately, a joint team of police conducted a raid and uncovered two distinct methods of fraud being run from there. In the first method, the employees of the call centre targeted US-based citizens through WhatsApp groups and lured them by promising high returns on stock market investments. Separately, they also targeted the American citizens by carrying out ransomware or malware attacks on their computers, an official statement said. The raid brought to light a massive scale of the financial crime, it said. The investigators found 97 persons working at the fake call centre. They also found several WhatsApp numbers and bank accounts being used by those found at the location, it added. The transactions of 71 bank accounts, details of which were sent to US citizens and others, for fraud were checked. Out of these, 61 accounts were found to have transactions worth a total of Rs 12.29 crore. Some of these bank accounts were checked on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP) developed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). It was found that 31 cyber fraud complaints have been registered across the country, the statement added. The police seized 108 computers, 38 mobile phones, and 5 GSM servers, it said. A case was registered at the Cyber police station in Thane under Sections 318(4) (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 319(2) (punishment for cheating by personation), and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with sections of the Information Technology Act. So far 20 accused have been arrested and remanded in police custody till November 23 by a local magistrate, the police said. The scale of the crime is very large and many wanted accused are involved. After a thorough technical investigation of the crime, the amount of fraud is likely to increase further, the police said in the statement.

Nineteen years and counting: Nitishs unbroken grip on Bihar

On Thursday, Nitish Kumar achieved yet another rare political milestone, becoming Bihars longest-serving chief minister, despite his party repeatedly finishing as the second-largest partner in both the Mahagathbandhan and NDA alliances in recent times. With this latest swearing-in , he joins the group of Indias ten longest-serving chief ministersa list long dominated by political stalwarts such as Sikkims Pawan Kumar Chamling and Odishas Naveen Patnaik. Chamling served as chief minister for 25 years, while Patnaik has held office for 24 years. West Bengals Jyoti Basu governed for more than 23 years, and Arunachal Pradeshs Gegong Apang for over 22 years. Mizorams Lal Thanhawla also crossed the 22-year mark, while Himachal Pradeshs Virbhadra Singh served more than 21 years. Tripuras Manik Sarkar held office for 19 years. Nitish Kumar, similarly, has now completed roughly 19 years as Bihars chief minister. Tamil Nadus M. Karunanidhi served for more than 18 years, and Punjabs Parkash Singh Badal is also credited with over 18 years in office. In Bihar, however, what distinguishes Nitish Kumar most is his repeated return to the top post, even after shifting between alliances. While Prime Minister Modi promotes the mantra of Sabka Vikas with Sabka Saath through Sabka Prayas, Nitish Kumar is often described as Sabka CM. Political observers in the state believe this contributes to his steady influence among minority voters. He has again included a Muslim minister in his cabinet, and the JD(U) fielded four Muslim candidates in the recently concluded Bihar Assembly elections. Another point of alignment between him and Prime Minister Modi is his refusal to allow family members to hold roles within the JD(U), reflecting his firm stance against dynastic politicssomething that contrasts with many parties in the Mahagathbandhan. Just as Modi maintains a stance of zero tolerance for corruption and nepotism, Nitish Kumar has ensured that neither corruption, nepotism, nor communalism gains a foothold in his administration. The political chemistry between Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi within the NDA is often regarded as one of the most dependable partnerships in Bihar. Both leaders have no family members active in politics and are widely seen by the public as hardworking, sincere, and trustworthy.

1.3 billion passwords and 2 billion emails leaked online, check if youre at risk and protect your accounts

A massive collection of 2 billion email addresses and 1.3 billion passwords has been compiled. These credentials come from hundreds of past data breaches and malware infections. Users can now check if their information is exposed through Have I Been Pwned. This data helps identify compromised accounts. It is crucial to change passwords if found in the database.

Body of MBBS student found dead in Russia brought back to Rajasthan; family suspects foul play

JAIPUR: Ending an agonizing 11-day wait for the family, the body of Ajit Chaudhary, an MBBS student from Laxmangarh in Rajasthan's Alwar district, arrived in India from Russia on Monday morning. A medical board conducted a re-postmortem soon after the body reached Alwar, and the funeral was finally conducted. Ajits body arrived at Delhi airport at around 4:05 AM and was taken to Alwar District Hospital by 9 AM. Although a post-mortem had already been conducted in Russia, the family requested another examination. For this, a group of doctors was formed. Ajits father, Dharm Singh, a farmer, said his son was studying MBBS at Bashkir State Medical University in Russia and was in his third year. The family last spoke to him on 19 October, after which he suddenly went untraceable. A friend had called him, after which he disappeared. Later, we were told that Ajits clothes and shoes were found on the riverbank. His body was found 18 days later on November 6, Dharm Singh said. The grieving father further added, His mother was dying waiting for her son. Alleging negligence by both the administration and the government, Ajit's family bid him a tearful farewell and reiterated their demand for an impartial investigation into the circumstances of his death. Ajits uncle, Bhom Singh, expressed strong suspicion regarding the circumstances. He questioned why another student, Jeet Kasana, informed the family of the disappearance when the college had the familys contact details. He also raised doubts about why the body was found without clothes, saying, Why would someone committing suicide remove his clothes? He added that Ajit had asked for money shortly before 19 October and had reportedly argued with another student. We dont believe our son committed suicide; we suspect it is murder, he said. The family has already spent around Rs 29 lakh on Ajits education. Ajit had travelled to Russia in October last year to pursue MBBS at Bashkir State University in the Ufa region. His family had arranged the funds for his education by selling three acres of agricultural land. Since recieving the news about his death, Ajit's family had been struggling to bring the body home. Frustrated by the delay, relatives and locals last week staged a shutdown in Laxmangarh, demanding swift action from the government to expedite the repatriation.

Uttarakhand Police bust cybergang swindling victims of Rs 3.37 crore

NAINITAL: Uttarakhand Police have arrested four members of a major interstate cybercrime network for allegedly hacking into people's phones and transferring money from their bank accounts. The gang allegedly used to send links on social media to gain access to victims' phones. All transactions were made to mule accounts to keep their identities hidden, police said on Sunday. According to a preliminary probe, transactions of Rs 3.37 crore have been found to be suspicious. Tallital police intercepted a car at Bhediyapakhad mod in Do Gaon on Saturday during a checking drive conducted by Superintendent of Police Jagdish Chandra and Deputy Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar. Police said the four occupants of the car were found suspicious, and a thorough search revealed 11 phones, nine SIM cards, several Aadhaar and PAN cards, cheque books, QR codes, and several debit and credit cards. During interrogation, they revealed that they sent APK files via social media to access victims' phones. After hacking the devices, they transferred money to various mule accounts. Police said that a QR code was linked to a bank account related to a case in Delhi. Shubham Gupta from Alwar, Rajasthan; Piyush Goyal from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh; Rishabh Kumar from Ghaziabad, UP and Mohit Rathi from Gurugram, Haryana have been arrested. Several high-end smartphones and a car used by the accused have also been confiscated.

Not giving first over to your best bowler Jasprit Bumrah was questionable: Kumble

The opening Test saw India falling short against South Africa by 30 runs, sparking a discussion on the effectiveness of the Indian bowling strategy. Anil Kumble, a stalwart of cricket, expressed concern over the missed opportunity to utilize Jasprit Bumrah with the new ball on a pitch that demanded precision.

Bengaluru tech park scam: How fraudsters used ads, malware and fear to loot U.S. victims

Chhote Sarkar of Mokama wins from jail, Shahabuddins son retains Siwan

NEW DELHI: The Bihar elections witnessed numerous family members and even bahubalis (strongmen) themselves contesting, but the results, dashed the hopes of many of them who were aspiring to enter the House as peoples representatives and lawmakers. The RJD had fielded the son of former Siwan MP Md Shahabuddin, Osama Shahab, from the Raghunathpur Assembly seat against JDUs Vikash Kumar Singh. He won the seat by 9,248 votes, defeating the JDU candidate. Similarly, another bahubali, Anant Singh widely referred to by his supporters as hhote Sarkar also contested from the Mokama seat on a JDU ticket and won, defeating the RJD candidate Veena Devi, who is the wife of another stalwart, Suraj Bhan Singh. The RJD also fielded Shivani Shukla, daughter of jailed Munna Shukla and a UK-educated law graduate, from the Lalganj Assembly seat. After a neck-and-neck contest against BJP MLA Sanjay K Singh, Shukla lost the election. Rital Lal Yadav, another bahubali contesting on an RJD ticket from the Danapur seat, lost to BJP candidate Ram Kripal Yadav by a margin of 29,000 votes. Hulas Pandey -the LJP candidate and bahubali, also lost from Brahampur. According to rough data, 15 candidates who were either bahubalis or members of their families contested. Of these, eight were fielded by the NDA and seven by the Mahagathbandhan. Amrendra Singh, another bahubali candidate, won the Kuchaikote seat on a JDU ticket, while Anita Devithe wife of strongman Ashok Mahtoalso won the Warisaliganj seat. Manoranjan Singh won the Ekma Assembly seat on a JD(U) ticket. Chetna Anand, son of Anand Mohan, won Nabinagar on a JD(U) ticket.

Bihar election result: Big day of mandates dawns, political futures of many a stalwart at stake

Bihar Assembly election results: Most exit polls suggest the NDA, led by the BJP and JD(U), is on course for a comfortable victory with 130170 seats, well past the majority mark of 122. But beyond the numbers lies a deeper story -- about leadership fatigue, shifting loyalties and the search for new political narratives.

Congress leader Bhanwar Jitendra Singh faces court case over alleged custody of MF Husain painting

JAIPUR: Assam Congress in-charge and former Minister of State for Home Affairs Bhanwar Jitendra Singh is set to face trial in Delhis Rouse Avenue Court for allegedly failing to return a painting by renowned artist Maqbool Fida Husain (M.F. Husain). According to the complaint, Singh, a member of Alwars erstwhile royal family, had borrowed the artwork from then Congress MP Prabha Thakur in 2014. Despite repeated requests from Thakur and her family, the painting was allegedly never returned. Prabha Thakurs son, Rohit Singh, has filed a petition in court over the matter. The court accepted the petition on November 11, 2025 and scheduled the hearing for November 25. Rohit Singh alleged that the former Union Minister had offered to give the family miniature Bundi paintings in exchange for the Husain artwork. However, despite several written and verbal reminders from his mother, the painting was never returned. The petitioner informed the court that he and his mother had purchased the M.F. Husain painting from Saatchi Gallery, Mumbai, in 2013 for Rs 2.25 lakh. He further claimed that the artworks current market value exceeds Rs 1 crore. Earlier, Rohit Singh had approached the Magistrate Court in March, but the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate dismissed the complaint, ruling that no case of fraud or criminal breach of trust had been established. However, the Special Judge later set aside that order, observing that the painting had been handed over to Bhanwar Jitendra Singh in April 2014 merely for viewing and possible purchase, not as a gift. Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, a senior Congress leader considered close to the Gandhi family, has previously served as a two-time MLA from the Alwar City Assembly constituency and was elected MP from Alwar in 2009. He later lost two consecutive Lok Sabha elections, and the party did not field him from Alwar in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Soch's Strategic Pivot Fuels E-commerce with 65% Growth and Disciplined Retail Expansion

Soch , India's leading evening and occasion wear brand, announced a significant leap in its e-commerce performance alongside a disciplined, profitability-driven retail strategy. The brands online business is on track to grow 65% year-on-year, looking to close at 90 crore this fiscal, underscoring the success of a purposeful pivot toward sustainable omni-channel growth. Soch's E-commerce site The Indian retail industry is entering a new era where profitability and sustainable growth are the north stars, not just raw expansion. Apparel and fashion brands are embracing a fewer, better philosophy, curating memorable destinations, integrating digital experiences, and leveraging analytics for sharper store selection. Reflecting this macro shift, Soch has redefined its growth playbook with an equal focus on disciplined offline expansion and accelerated e-commerce growth and profitability. While Soch continues to remain predominantly an offline-first brand, its e-commerce business has grown tenfold over the past five years, from INR 5.3 crore in FY20 to INR 54 crore in FY25, and is now targeting over six-fold growth to INR 350 crore by FY30 . The online channel contributed 12% of total revenue last year, projected to rise to 18% this year and to 30% of overall business within five years. This impressive jump in e-commerce revenue has not come at the sacrifice of profitability. On the contrary, its online division has transitioned from breakeven to delivering a 10% profit margin this fiscal, powered by exclusive online collections, sharper product curation, and data-led innovations. The brands omni-channel approach has also been a key enabler, integrating store-level inventory with digital fulfilment to ensure speed and availability across channels. While many brands began digital-first and are now exploring offline channels, Soch represents the next evolution, an offline-first brand mastering online with speed and precision. Our e-commerce transformation reflects the strength of our brand trust combined with the agility of technology. Its proof that growth and profitability can and should coexist , said Vinay Chatlani, CEO & Co-Founder, Soch . Soch exemplifies the Offline First, Digital Fast approach, leveraging its established offline trust to swiftly scale online. This blend of strong offline credibility with rapid digital growth creates a powerful growth flywheel, amplifying both brand loyalty and ecommerce profitability. Despite the recent success with its Online platforms, retail operations remain Sochs core strength. On this front the Brand is taking a measured approachfortifying its retail base while advancing in product and customer innovation. Over the last two years, the brand has consolidated its offline portfolio with a clear focus on performance. While continuing to expand new outlets in high-potential markets, it has closed its underperforming stores. This strategic optimisation is projected to deliver over 2.5% improvement in store-level EBITDA. With over 175 stores across India, Canada and Malaysia, Soch now prioritises same-store growth by driving customer conversion, ticket size, and average transaction value. This has been one of the outcomes of its premiumisation journey, which has seen the brand expand its evening and occasion wear portfolio to meet evolving customer expectations. In a 5-year period the brand has seen a 40% jump in ASP (average selling price), 50% increase in average transaction value along with a 10% increase in average basket size. The brand also records one of the highest trading densities in its category, exceeding INR 16,000 per sq. ft. Store openings today are sharper and more strategic , added Chatlani . We close locations that dont meet benchmarks and double down on those that drive value and engagement. Its not about being everywhere; its about being of substance wherever we are . Through a blend of offline trust and digital speed, Soch has built a resilient growth engine designed for the future of Indian retail. Our investments in technology, digital capability, and disciplined retail operations are already yielding strong results , said Chatlani . Weve built a business thats both resilient and ready for scale, anchored in profitability and confident in our ability to sustain and accelerate this momentum . The Brand has successfully navigated a challenging consumer environment where many have faced revenue and margin pressures. Soch is building a future-ready omnichannel business for steady, sustainable growth, positioning itself as a confident leader in Indian ethnic and occasion wearharnessing e-commerces momentum while strengthening its retail foundation for long-term success. About Soch Soch Apparels, the largest evening-occasion wear ethnic brand for women in India, seamlessly combines tradition and modern artistry. Our meticulously crafted outfits, featuring elaborate embroideries and handpicked fabrics, celebrate the rich heritage of Indian aesthetics. It offers a wide range of stylish designer ethnic wear, including sarees, salwar suits, kurtas, tunics, kurta sets, lehengas, and kaftans. With over 175 stores nationwide, Soch is the go-to destination for stylish and elegant designer ethnic wear. The brand has been consecutively recognized as the Best Ethnic Fashion Retailer of the Year 2023 and 2024 by IREC (Industry of Retail & eCommerce) and continues to redefine traditional Indian fashion. soch.com to explore our collection.

Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam Purifies Padmavathi Temple Ahead of Brahmotsavams

Singhal told reporters that elaborate arrangements were in place. Around 1,600 police personnel would be deployed, the TTD Annaprasadam wing will serve free meals to about 10,000 devotees daily, and nearly 75,000 devotees on Panchami Theertham day on November 25.

Kids Can Grow Up But Should Be Obedient: BJP On Ajit Pawar's Land Scam Reply

The controversial land deal linked to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's son, Parth, has given a new handle to the NCP stalwart's traditional political rivals to target him over his response to allegations.

Pak-linked hacker group targets Indian government, military networks with advanced spyware: Report

NEW DELHI: An Intelligence Agencys report has alerted the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to a major cyber-espionage campaign by Pakistan-linked hacker group Transparent Tribe, which is targeting Indian government and military networks with an advanced spyware called DeskRAT, sources said on Friday. The report warns that the group has upgraded its tactics this year, moving from public cloud platforms like Google Drive to private servers, making detection and blocking more difficult. According to sources, the hackers are believed to be exploiting ongoing border tensions in Ladakh, attempting to intercept intelligence related to Chinas military movements through compromised Indian systems. Agencies said the attackers are using sophisticated phishing emails disguised as government notices, ZIP files and intelligence briefings, often timed with security alerts or border incidents, to trick officials into downloading infected attachments. Once installed, DeskRAT, a remote access tool tailored for BOSS Linux systems widely used in government offices, can secretly monitor, extract and transmit sensitive files without detection. The latest attacks are faster, stealthier and harder to detect, a source said. The report also highlights the hackers use of artificial intelligence and large language models (LLMs) to rapidly develop new malware variants, outpacing traditional cybersecurity defences. Experts have warned that only automated, real-time threat detection can counter such adaptive attacks aimed at long-term espionage of Indias defence and administrative networks. The Transparent Tribe has been previously linked to attacks distributing Crimson RAT malware, often through phishing documents disguised as security briefings. During the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, the group allegedly circulated fake government messages to lure officials into opening infected attachments. Following the alert, the MHA has directed all ministries and defence units to step up cyber vigilance and strengthen security protocols, calling the threat a matter of national security.

31stKolkata International Film Festivalinaugurated;toshowcase215 films from 39 nations across 21 theatres

Films from Palestine and movies of stalwart filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak to be in the limelight in the coming week

Former BJP Leader and Ex-union Minister Rajen Gohain Joins Assam Jatiya Parishad

Mr Gohain, once regarded as a BJP stalwart in the state, had resigned from the party on October 9, citing growing discontent with its leadership and direction.

Allahabad HC orders SP MP to pay Rs 30k monthly maintenance to his fourth wife amid marital dispute

LUCKNOW: The Allahabad High Court has directed Samajwadi Party MP from Rampur and Imam of the Parliament Street Mosque, Maulana Mohibullah Nadvi, to pay 30,000 per month as maintenance to his fourth wife, Rumana Nadvi. The order, issued on October 14, 2025, came following a petition filed by Rumana seeking financial support. The bench referred the matter to the High Courts Mediation and Conciliation Centre and granted both parties three months to reach a mutual settlement. The court said that until a resolution was reached, Nadvi must continue paying the maintenance amount. It also stayed the recovery of arrears from the date of filing till the order but warned that failure to comply would lead to revocation of the interim relief. Nadvis counsel, Narendra Kumar Pandey, informed the court that the case was a marital dispute and his client was willing to settle the matter amicably. To demonstrate goodwill, Nadvi offered to pay 50,000 upfront at the first mediation meeting. Rumana Parveen, who married Nadvi on October 22, 2012, alleged that he concealed details of his previous marriages and children from her. He deceived me at every step, she said, claiming that Nadvi forced her to leave her home and pressured her to abort their child. Currently living with her son in Agra, Rumana said that Nadvi married her without disclosing that he already had two daughters. I lived with him for about three years before he abandoned me, she added. This was also Rumanas second marriage. Nadvis personal life has come under intense scrutiny following the court order. According to close associates, his first marriage was to Afia Khatoon of Sambhal, who died of cancer ten years after their marriage, leaving behind two daughters. His second marriage to Najifa of Rampur lasted barely 15 days, as she returned to her parental home and never came back. The third marriage of the SP MP with a woman from Bulandshahr ended on the very night of the wedding when both decided to part ways. Rumana, his fourth wife, lived with him for over three years before filing the maintenance case. Nadvi later married Samra Naz for the fifth time. Naz is a relative of Nadvis first wife and has two children with him. In his 2024 Lok Sabha election affidavit, Nadvi mentioned five dependents two daughters from his first wife, a son from Rumana, and a son and daughter from his fifth wife. Besides serving as the SP MP from Rampur, Maulana Nadvi is also the Imam of the Parliament Street Mosque in Delhi. In July 2025, top SP leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav and Dimple Yadav, met him, sparking debate over his growing influence within the party. Originally from Rajanagar village in Swar tehsil of Rampur, Nadvi currently resides at the Jama Masjid premises in Parliament House, New Delhi. However, his strained relationship with SP stalwart Azam Khan has become another political talking point. Both leaders have exchanged barbed remarks since Azams release from jail. When asked about Nadvi, Azam said he did not know who he was. Nadvi responded sharply, saying, He has become old. After being in jail for long, he naturally has trouble recognising people.

Film Stars Hail History Makers: Team India's Maiden Cricket World Cup Glory celebrated

From Bollywood heavyweights to other film stalwarts like SS Rajamouli and Jr NTR, they expressed immense pride, hailing the team's grit, spirit, and world-champion performance.

Harmanpreet Grateful to Share Maiden WC Win with Jhulan and Mithali

Speaking during the pre-match press conference, Kaur revealed what it was like sharing the gold with two of India's biggest stalwarts

Revanth Seeks 30K Majority In Jubilee Hills

Promising to honour Congress stalwart P. Janardhan Reddy, Revanth announced that Borabanda would be renamed PJR Borabanda, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.

Hometowns of Kannada stalwarts to receive 1 crore each for development

At first Prez's birthplace in Bihar, Yogi rakes up 'insult' of Rajendra Prasad by Congress PM Nehru

Yogi Adityanath alleged that Jawaharlal Nehru insulted Rajendra Prasad by preventing him from attending the Somnath temple inauguration. Adityanath also criticized Congress for disrespecting Indian stalwarts and heritage. He highlighted the BJP's commitment to building the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Theatre play, Yellara Ambedkar, to depict the stalwarts life tomorrow

Gmail data leak: Infostealer malware dumps 183 million email passwords online; heres how to check and protect your gmail

A huge email breach has compromised 183 million accounts. This includes many Gmail users. The data was stolen by malware, not a direct hack of Google. Passwords were found in plain text. Users should check Have I Been Pwned. Google Security Checkup and strong passwords are recommended. Businesses must enhance security measures.

Virat Kohli second-highest run-getter in ODIs

Sydney, Oct 25: Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli on Saturday broke another record as he became the second-highest run-getter in the ODI format. Kohli, who endured a subdued form in the first two ODIs against Australia, broke the shackles and announced his return on the international stage. The No.3 batter, who is famously known as []

Rohit, Kohlis game plan to be decided post-SA ODIs: Gill:

Sydney, Oct 25: Indias young ODI captain Shubman Gill has said that a final decision on how to ensure regular game time for senior pros Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be taken only after the upcoming South Africa ODI series. Both stalwarts, who now feature exclusively in the 50-over format, are expected to require []

IBM says conventional AMD chips can run quantum computing error correction algorithm

The U.S. stalwart is racing to develop quantum computing against Microsoft and Alphabet's Google, which announced a breakthrough algorithm this week

Operation Shutter Down: Major cybercrime racket siphoning funds from government schemes, PM Kisan busted in Rajasthan; Rs 3 crore, luxury cars seized, 30 arrested

At least 30 people were arrested by Rajasthan's Jhalawar police in a major crackdown on cybercrime network operating across multiple states. Under Operation Shutterdown, Jhalwar Police have busted an interstate cybercrime module allegedly involved in siphoning funds from government welfare schemes.

Education, economic progress will reduce caste and religious divisions, says VIT Chancellor

MDMK leader Vaiko also spoke at the annual memorial lecture in honour of Dravidian stalwarts Periyar E.V. Ramasamy and former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai

Illegal mining in Doodh Ganga in violation of SC ban

Irfan Tramboo SRINAGAR, Oct 22: In blatant violation of a Supreme Court-imposed ban, illegal riverbed mining continues in the Doodh Ganga stream in district Budgam, allegedly under the cover of Disposal and Short Term Permits issued by authorities. Instances of such illegal mining have surfaced from Kralwari Borwah village in the Chadoora area, where the agency granted permission is reportedly indulging in the illegal extraction of gravel, sand, and boulders (GSB) using heavy machinery. Reports indicate that heavy machinery is [] The post Illegal mining in Doodh Ganga in violation of SC ban appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

No rustiness in Ro-Ko's game, they are looking in great touch: Sitanshu Kotak

With a calm demeanor, Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak reassured fans about the form of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, asserting their readiness for the ODIs against Australia. He pointed out that the rain interruptions during the opener affected their batting strategy.

24-year-old MBBS student from Rajasthan missing in Russia

JAIPUR: A student from Kafanwada village in the Laxmangarh area of Alwar district has gone missing under mysterious circumstances in Russia. The missing student, 24-year-old Ajit Singh, was pursuing an MBBS degree in Bashkir State Medical University in Ufa, Russia. He has reportedly been missing from his hostel since around 11 pm on October 19, and his mobile phone has been switched off since then. According to family members, Ajits jacket, shoes, and mobile phone were found on a riverbank, raising serious concerns about his safety. Following news of his disappearance, family members and villagers contacted Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav, seeking his intervention to expedite the search. They have also appealed to the Alwar District Collector to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs to locate the student. Ajits uncle, Bhoom Singh, told the media that the family received a call from the Russian police on October 20, but the situation was unclear at the time. Later, his roommate informed the hostel warden about Ajits disappearance, but now even the warden is not responding properly. We tried to reach out to the college authorities, but havent received any reply yet. We are completely in the dark about what has happened to Ajit, he said. He added that after speaking with the warden, it appeared the authorities were trying to suggest that Ajit might have jumped into the river, but no one has confirmed this version. Just an hour before he went missing, Ajit had spoken to his mother, Santara Devi, and sister, Geeta, on a video call around 10 pm on October 19. During the call, he wished them a happy Diwali. The family said Ajit was scheduled to return to India next month. They had even sold their land to fund his medical education in Russia. This incident comes at a time when another student from Rajasthan, 22-year-old Rahul Ghosalya, who was pursuing MBBS in Kazakhstan, suffered a brain hemorrhage. He was brought to Jaipur by air ambulance on Monday after extensive efforts. Rahul is currently admitted to the ICU of SMS Hospital, where a team of four specialists is overseeing his treatment.