Samajwadi Party's Azam Khan gets bail in land grab case, to walk free after 23 months in jail

LUCKNOW: The Allahabad High Court on Thursday gave major respite to incarcerated Samajwadi Party stalwart and former cabinet minister Mohammad Azam Khan by granting him bail in connection with the Rampur Quality Bar land grab case. The single bench of the court, comprising Justice Sameer Jain, had reserved its order after the final hearing on August 21. The decision, announced this week, paves the way for the veteran Samajwadi Party leaders release from Sitapur jail, where he has been lodged since 2023. With this decision, Khan is expected to walk out of the prison. Earlier, his bail plea was rejected by the Rampur MP-MLA Court in May. The case pertains to alleged fraudulent allotment/possession of a property called Quality Bar, located in the Rampur district, Uttar Pradesh. The area is Saeed Nagar, Hardoi Patti, on a highway under Civil Lines police station. The allotment reportedly happened in 2014. Azam Khans legal team comprising senior lawyers, including former Additional Advocate General Imran Ullah, Mohammad Khalid and Vineet Vikram, argued that the case, filed in 2019, was based on alleged irregularities dating back to 2013 and that Azam Khan was named as an accused only in 2024, almost a decade later. In the complaint lodged against Khan, it was claimed that during his tenure as cabinet minister in Akhilesh Yadavs government, he attempted to take over Rampurs Quality Bar by influencing the tender process. His lawyer contended that the tender was issued in the names of his wife and son through due procedure and there was no evidence of power misuse. The FIR, lodged on November 21, 2019, by bar owner Gagan Arora, alleged that an attempt was made to forcibly occupy the property located on Rampurs Saeed Nagar highway stretch. The then Revenue Inspector Anangraj Singh had registered the case. Along with Khan, his wife Dr. Tazeen Fatima, son and ex-MLA Abdullah Azam, and former Chairman Syed Zafar Ali Jafri were also named in the case. Khan has been lodged in Sitapur Jail since October 2023 after being convicted in a fake birth certificate case. Khan, along with his wife and son were sentenced to seven years by the Rampur MP-MLA Court. For security reasons, Khan was shifted to Sitapur Jail. The High Court later stayed his sentence in the case. Earlier on Tuesday, the SP leader was acquitted by a special MP-MLA court in a 17-year-old case involving a road blockade and damage to public property. The 76-year-old leader faces over 89 cases, most of which were filed between 2017 and 2019. He had earlier walked free in May 2022 after getting bail in multiple cases, but was re-incarcerated the following year. His legal troubles, combined with his frail health, have kept him away from active politics for the last seven to eight years. Despite his court battles, Azam Khan remains a formidable figure in Rampur politics. A close associate of late Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, he has been a party loyalist for over four decades. Even while in jail, Akhilesh Yadav retained him as the partys national general secretary, underlining his continued importance within the SP.

Heroes of the Lords 1996, curated by Deepak Pandit, paid tribute to the team which won Indias historic Junior World Cup triumph

The 'Heroes of the Lord's' event at NMIMS celebrated India's 1996 Junior World Cup victory, honoring Captain Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Vice-Captain Mohammad Kaif, and Coach Sarkar Talwar. Curated by Deepak Pandit, the event featured cultural performances, tributes, and recognized contributions from the Kashmiri Pandit Association of Maharashtra and the Shri Sathya Sai Organisation.

Rajinikanth confirms movie with Kamal Haasan is in the works

Two stalwarts of the Indian cinema and dear friends, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, are all set to reunite on the big screen after 46 years, the Coolie star confirmed. Rajinikanth also shared that the director is yet to be decided

The best VPN deals: Get up to 87 percent off ExpressVPN, ProtonVPN, Surfshark and others

A virtual private network (VPN) can come in handy daily, whether you're using one to streaming foreign TV shows or trying to save money buy browsing international sites for discounts. But if you're going to invest in a VPN, it's worth checking for sales and deals first before you subscribe. Pricing can be tricky for these services and far from transparent but there are deals to be had. VPN provides often provide deep discounts to those willing to sign up for one- or two-year plans, paying the full charge for the period upfront. This is a win-win they boost their subscriber numbers, and you get heavy price cuts on some of our favorite services. Most of the deals we highlight below follow that pattern, so make sure you're comfortable with a longer commitment before you take the plunge. If you've been thinking about subscribing to a VPN service, read on for the best VPN deals we could find right now. Best VPN deals NordVPN $83.43 for a two-year subscription with three months free (77 percent off): NordVPN gets the most important parts of a VPN right. It's fast, it doesn't leak any of your data and it's great at changing your virtual location. I noted in my NordVPN review that it always connects quickly and includes a support page that makes it easy to get live help. Although I'm sad to see it shutting down Meshnet , NordVPN still includes a lot of cool features, like servers that instantly connect you to Tor. This deal gives you 77 percent off the two-year plan, which also comes with three extra months but there's no expiration date, so you have a little time for comparison shopping. ExpressVPN Basic $97.72 for a two-year subscription with four months free (73 percent off): This is one of the best VPNs, especially for new users, who will find its apps and website headache-free on all platforms. In tests for my ExpressVPN review , it dropped my download speeds by less than 7 percent and successfully changed my virtual location 14 out of 15 times. In short, it's an all-around excellent service that only suffers from being a little overpriced which is why I'm so excited whenever I find it offering a decent deal. This deal, which gets you 28 months of ExpressVPN service, represents a 73 percent savings. It's the lowest I've seen ExpressVPN go in some time, though like NordVPN, it's not on a ticking clock. ExpressVPN Advanced $125.72 for a two-year subscription with four months free (67 percent off): ExpressVPN recently split its pricing into multiple tiers , but they all still come with similar discounts for going long. In addition to top-tier VPN service, advanced users get two additional simultaneous connections (for a total of 12), the ExpressVPN Keys password manager, advanced ad and tracker blocking, ID protection features and a 50 percent discount on an AirCove router. Surfshark Starter $53.73 for a two-year subscription with three months free (87 percent off): This is the asic level of Surfshark , but it includes the entire VPN; everything on Surfshark One is an extra perk. With this subscription, you'll get some of the most envelope-pushing features in the VPN world right now. Surfshark has a more closely connected server network than most VPNs, so it can rotate your IP constantly to help you evade detection it even lets you choose your own entry and exit nodes for a double-hop connection. That all comes with a near-invisible impact on download speeds. With this year-round deal, you can save 87 percent on 27 months of Surfshark. Surfshark One $67.23 for a two-year subscription with three months free (86 percent off): A VPN is great, but it's not enough to protect your data all on its own. Surfshark One adds several apps that boost your security beyond just VPN service, including Surfshark Antivirus (scans devices and downloads for malware), Surfshark Alert (alerts you whenever your sensitive information shows up in a data breach) and Surfshark Search (a private search engine with no ads or activity tracking). This evergreen deal gives you 87 percent off all those features. If you bump up to Surfshark One+, you'll also get data removal through Incogni, but the price jumps enough that it's not quite worthwhile in my eyes. CyberGhost $56.94 for a two-year subscription with two months free (83 percent off): CyberGhost has some of the best automation you'll see on any VPN. With its Smart Rules system, you can determine how its apps respond to different types of Wi-Fi networks, with exceptions for specific networks you know by name. Typically, you can set it to auto-connect, disconnect or send you a message asking what to do. CyberGhost's other best feature is its streaming servers while it's not totally clear what it does to optimize them, I've found both better video quality and more consistent unblocking when I use them on streaming sites. Currently, you can get 26 months of CyberGhost for 83 percent off the usual price. Private Internet Access $79 for a three-year subscription with three months free (83 percent off): It's a bit hard to find (the link at the start of this paragraph includes the coupon), but Private Internet Access (PIA) is giving out the best available price right now on a VPN I'd recommend using. With this deal, you can get 39 months of PIA for a little bit over $2 per month an 83 percent discount on its monthly price. Despite being so cheap, PIA almost never comes off as a budget VPN, coming with its own DNS servers, a built-in ad blocker and automation powers to rival CyberGhost. However, internet speeds can fluctuate while you're connected. What makes a good VPN deal Like I said in the intro, practically every VPN heavily discounts its long-term subscriptions the whole year round. The only noteworthy exception is Mullvad, the Costco hot dog of VPNs (that's a compliment, to be clear). When there's constantly a huge discount going on, it can be hard to tell when you're actually getting a good deal. The best way to squeeze out more savings is to look for seasonal deals, student discounts or exclusive sales like Proton VPN's coupon for Engadget readers . One trick VPNs often use is to add extra months onto an introductory deal, pushing the average monthly price even lower. When it comes time to renew, you usually can't get these extra months again. You often can't even renew for the same basic period of time for example, you may only be able to renew a two-year subscription for one year. If you're planning to hold onto a VPN indefinitely, check the fine print to see how much it will cost per month after the first renewal, and ensure that fits into your budget. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice . This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/best-vpn-deals-120056041.html?src=rss

iOS 26 has arrived: See if your iPhone is eligible for the free update

Did you know you can officially download iOS 26 on your iPhone? The update became available yesterday, along with iPadOS 26 and Apple's other operating system updates . But that's assuming you have an eligible device. If your phone is compatible with the latest OS, you'll notice substantial changes when you install the new update. You may have already heard about Liquid Glass , which (intentional or not) is sort of like Apple's take on the old Windows Vista design language. That's the most notable change, but we spent two weeks test-driving many of the other features included in the update you can check out our hands-on iOS 26 preview for more impressions. Not sure if you have an eligible smartphone or tablet but also don't want to upgrade? No worries, we'll help you find out if your devices will be able to run iOS 26. While Apple didn't nix any iPhones from its eligibility list last year, that's not the case for 2025, as a few models are getting the axe this time around. All iPhone 8 models and the iPhone X were the last to receive the boot in 2023, and this year, iPhones released in 2018 will be left behind. You can find a full list of iPhones and iPads that support iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 below. To see everything you get with the latest OS updates, you can check out our big rundown of what to expect from iOS 26 . Additionally, here's everything Apple revealed at the iPhone 17 launch event, including the all-new iPhone Air . (Check out Engadget's liveblog of the event for full details.) These three iOS 18 iPhones aren't compatible with iOS 26 Unlike last year, a trio of iPhones won't be eligible to download the newest iOS. These three models that were first released in 2018 won't be coming to the iOS 26 party: iPhone XR iPhone XS iPhone XS Max iPhones compatible with iOS 26 Per Apple's site , the devices listed below will be compatible with iOS 26. In short, if you have an iPhone that was announced in 2019 or later, you're in the clear: iPhone SE (second generation or later) iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 16e iPhone 17 iPhone 17 Pro iPhone 17 Pro Max iPhone Air iPads compatible with iPadOS 26 Meanwhile, the iPads listed below are eligible to download iPadOS 26 : iPad Pro (M4) iPad Pro 12.9inch (3rd generation and later) iPad Pro 11inch (1st generation and later) iPad Air (3rd generation and later, including M2 and M3) iPad (8th generation and later, including A16) iPad mini (5th generation and later, including A17 Pro) What if I don't want to buy a new iPhone? If you want to continue using your older iPhone that isn't supported by iOS 26, that's fine. However, you'll eventually miss out on security updates which could potentially put your phone at risk for malware and other threats. Additionally, some apps may stop working if they require a certain version of iOS or later. And, of course, you won't be able to access the latest features iOS 26 offers. Should I upgrade to iOS 18.7 or iOS 26? When you first open Software Update in Settings, you'll notice two different upgrade options: iOS 18.7 and iOS 26. Apple released the former to address security issues, so you can at least download that one if you're unsure about all the big changes on iOS 26. It also gives you more time to wait for Apple to take care of any bugs on the new OS. However, if you're excited to finally have the Liquid Glass aesthetic on your phone and use all the new features iOS 26 has to offer, go ahead and install that one. After all, Apple had all summer to weed through the most problematic bugs during its beta phase and usually releases a new update shortly after the initial launch. iOS 26 features to try out first Liquid Glass design : Your home screen is getting revamped with new app icons, including dark mode and all-clear options. You'll also notice buttons with a new floating design. Liquid Glass, in Apple's terms, was designed to make all of the company's operating systems more visually cohesive. Phone app redesign: You can finally scroll through contacts, recent calls and voicemail messages all on one screen. It also comes with a new feature called Hold Assist that'll notify you when an agent comes to the phone so you can avoid the elevator music. Live Translate: iOS 26 brings the ability to have a conversation via phone call or text message with someone who speaks another language. Live Translate will translate your conversation in real time. Polls feature: Coming to group messages in the Messages app, chat members can now create polls. This can help prevent the unwanted 30+ messages when it comes to deciding which restaurant you're meeting at this weekend. New lock screen options : More customizable iPhone lock screen options are available with iOS 26, including a cooler clock, 3D wallpaper effects, more widgets and better focus mode options. Snooze longer (or shorter): Say goodbye to the 9-minute snooze setting in your alarms (if you want). You now have the option to change your snooze time from one to 15 minutes. Fresh Camera app design : You'll find the Camera app is simpler to navigate in iOS 26, with all the buttons and menus located in convenient spots. That means less swiping, more photo taking. Plus, there's a new feature that tells you if your lens is too dirty. Screenshot revamps : When you take a screenshot, you now have the option to search for the image on Google (maybe you're looking for a sweater you saw on a celeb) and you can ask ChatGPT questions about the photo all from the edit screen. It's like a reverse image search but without all the hard work. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/ios-26-has-arrived-see-if-your-iphone-is-eligible-for-the-free-update-191854431.html?src=rss

Koil Alwar Tirumanjanam Performed Ahead Of Srivari Brahmotsavams

Dwajarohanam will be observed on September 24 evening, followed by a series of daily processions including Pedda Sesha, Hamsa, Simha, Garuda, Swarna Ratham, Rathotsavam and Ashwa Vahanam: Official Schedule

Grandeur marks Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam in Tirumala

The traditional ritual was conducted as a prelude to the annual Brahmotsavams scheduled to begin from September 24

16 Going On 60: Theatre veterans on iconic The Sound of Music turning 60

Julie Andrews as Maria, striding across the Austrian hills, crooning The hills are alive with the sound of music or leading the von Trapp children through their Do-Re-Mis, is an image etched in the minds of those who have watched The Sound of Music (1965). As the movie hits 60 this year, Bengalureans who grew up to be theatre stalwarts flip the pages to the past, remember their first encounter with it. For Maya Mascarenhas, founder of The Bangalore Chorus, the music and the beauty of Austria had her enraptured. Just seeing something in a theatre was magical and everyone in school doted on Andrews and dreamt of being Liesl, the eldest von Trapp daughter, she recalls. A year later, Mascarenhas was cast as one of the other sisters for a school play. I remember looking at the photo when I was older and seeing myself in that little pinafore dress. I felt like a little actress,she laughs. Prem Koshy, senior theatre practitioner, saw the film as a six-year-old and remembers staring at the screen, mouth open, fascinated by the music and the story. From then on, Andrews and Christopher Plummer were THE hero and heroine for me. The movie ran at the newly constructed Lido Theatre for over a year and I saw it countless times, he shares. The impact the film had on children of the time is undeniable with Ranga Shankaras founder Arundhati Nag calling her peers the Do-Re-Mi generation with a laugh. She adds, It was this song that taught all of India that English songs were not just The Beatles. Here was a song whose words you could understand because of its connectedness to Sa Re Ga Ma Pa . It was a real moment in Indian cinemas history . Leisl von Trapp dances with Rolf Gruber to Sixteen Going on Seventeen But it was by no means solely a childrens film, with adults who had lived through World War II connecting with the Von Trapp family having to face the changes wrought on their homeland by Nazi occupation. Theatre personality Judith Bidapa points out a moment, when the Von Trapps are making their escape, that has stuck with her, saying The war had been over for 20 years, but it was still fresh in the memories of our parents and grandparents. Watching it was emotional for them because they lived through it. From The Lonely Goatherd to Sixteen Going on Seventeen and Raindrops And Roses , tunes from the hills came alive in old Bangalore homes. Bangaloreans, Goans, and the Christian communities everybody sang. We took our potluck over and it would always end in singing, says Bidapa. Koshy adds, After watching it, we tried to play the music, learn every song, even get people to score it for us. The LP came out soon after and we must have bought two copies because we played it so much, the vinyl wore out. Some who grew up with the film have made watching it a family tradition. Every year, I see The Sound of Music, and it never gets boring, says director Kevin Oliver, as Mascarenhas adds, Weve watched it as a family many times like a sing-along movie.

iOS 26 is here: Find out if your iPhone is eligible for the free update

We've been talking about it for months and now it's finally here. You can officially download iOS 26 on your phone iPadOS 26 is also available, as well as Apple's other operating system updates assuming you have an eligible device. If your device is compatible with the latest OS, you'll notice substantial changes when you install the new update. You may have already heard about Liquid Glass , which (intentional or not) is sort of like Apple's take on the old Windows Vista design language. That's the most notable change, but we spent two weeks test-driving many of the other features included in the update you can check out our hands-on iOS 26 preview for more impressions. Not sure if you have an eligible smartphone or tablet but also don't want to upgrade? No worries, we'll help you find out if your devices will be able to run iOS 26. While Apple didn't nix any iPhones from its eligibility list last year, that's not the case for 2025, as a few models are getting the axe this time around. All iPhone 8 models and the iPhone X were the last to receive the boot in 2023, and this year, iPhones released in 2018 will be left behind. If your device is ineligible, Apple also released iOS 18.7 alongside iOS 26 to address security issues, so you can at least download that. You can find a full list of iPhones and iPads that support iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 below. To see everything you get with the latest OS updates, you can check out our big rundown of what to expect from iOS 26 . Additionally, here's everything Apple revealed at the iPhone 17 launch event, including the all-new iPhone Air . (Check out Engadget's liveblog of the event for full details.) These three iOS 18 iPhones aren't compatible with iOS 26 Unlike last year, a trio of iPhones won't be eligible to download the newest iOS. These three models that were first released in 2018 won't be coming to the iOS 26 party: iPhone XR iPhone XS iPhone XS Max iPhones compatible with iOS 26 Per Apple's site , the devices listed below will be compatible with iOS 26. In short, if you have an iPhone that was announced in 2019 or later, you're in the clear: iPhone SE (second generation or later) iPhone 11 iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone 12 iPhone 12 mini iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 14 iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Plus iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 16e iPhone 17 iPhone 17 Pro iPhone 17 Pro Max iPhone Air iPads compatible with iPadOS 26 Meanwhile, the iPads listed below are eligible to download iPadOS 26 : iPad Pro (M4) iPad Pro 12.9inch (3rd generation and later) iPad Pro 11inch (1st generation and later) iPad Air (3rd generation and later, including M2 and M3) iPad (8th generation and later, including A16) iPad mini (5th generation and later, including A17 Pro) What if I don't want to buy a new iPhone? If you want to continue using your older iPhone that isn't supported by iOS 26, that's fine. However, you'll eventually miss out on security updates which could potentially put your phone at risk for malware and other threats. Additionally, some apps may stop working if they require a certain version of iOS or later. And, of course, you won't be able to access the latest features iOS 26 offers. When will iOS 26 become available? As of today, Monday, September 15, you can officially download and install iOS 26. iOS 26 features to try out first Liquid Glass design : Your home screen is getting revamped with new app icons, including dark mode and all-clear options. You'll also notice buttons with a new floating design. Liquid Glass, in Apple's terms, was designed to make all of the company's operating systems more visually cohesive. Phone app redesign: You can finally scroll through contacts, recent calls and voicemail messages all on one screen. It also comes with a new feature called Hold Assist that'll notify you when an agent comes to the phone so you can avoid the elevator music. Live Translate: iOS 26 brings the ability to have a conversation via phone call or text message with someone who speaks another language. Live Translate will translate your conversation in real time. Polls feature: Coming to group messages in the Messages app, chat members can now create polls. This can help prevent the unwanted 30+ messages when it comes to deciding which restaurant you're meeting at this weekend. New lock screen options : More customizable iPhone lock screen options are available with iOS 26, including a cooler clock, 3D wallpaper effects, more widgets and better focus mode options. Snooze longer (or shorter): Say goodbye to the 9-minute snooze setting in your alarms (if you want). You now have the option to change your snooze time from one to 15 minutes. Fresh Camera app design : You'll find the Camera app is simpler to navigate in iOS 26, with all the buttons and menus located in convenient spots. That means less swiping, more photo taking. Plus, there's a new feature that tells you if your lens is too dirty. Screenshot revamps : When you take a screenshot, you now have the option to search for the image on Google (maybe you're looking for a sweater you saw on a celeb) and you can ask ChatGPT questions about the photo all from the edit screen. It's like a reverse image search but without all the hard work. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/ios-26-is-here-find-out-if-your-iphone-is-eligible-for-the-free-update-191854386.html?src=rss

BMS College of Law wins Alwar Das National Moot Court Competition

TTD to Hold Koil Alwar Tirumanjanam Ahead of Tirumala Brahmotsavams

The ritual is held on the Tuesdays preceding Ugadi, Anivara Asthanam, Vaikuntha Ekadasi, and the annual Brahmotsavams.

Calligraphy and a message deep within

VIJAYAPURA: When veteran artist Dr Subbayya Neela was invited to join a campaign to spread communal harmony through the ancient but fading art of Islamic calligraphy, he could not hide his delight. For him, the idea was not merely about preserving an art form, but about exploring the potential of art to transcend barriers of faith and culture. I have always believed that art knows no religion or boundaries. Art has the power to touch the hearts of people across communities. That is why, when I was approached to contribute to this unique initiative, I immediately agreed. I prepared a few pieces of Arabic calligraphy that were later exhibited in different places as part of the campaign, recalled Dr Neela. Among his works was a calligraphic representation of the Arabic phrase Allahu Akbar, which means God is Great. I was given the liberty to interpret the phrase through my own artistic imagination, while maintaining the sanctity of the verse. It was both a responsibility and a joy, he said. Dr Neela is among 40 artists from across Karnataka, both Hindus and Muslims, who have joined this movement that began in Kalaburagi in 2020. The campaign was conceived not only to preserve Islamic calligraphy, which has been steadily losing ground, but also to foster unity at a time when society is fractured along communal lines. The group of artists who joined the campaign The Initiative It was the brainchild of noted artist Mohammed Ayazuddin Patel, a veteran painter from Kalaburagi and recipient of the Lalit Kala Akademi Award. When hatred and intolerance seemed to be gaining ground in society, we felt the need to bring people together. We thought of reviving Arabic and Islamic calligraphy because it embodies both artistic beauty and deep spiritual messages. At the same time, it offered us a platform to involve artists of all faiths to work together for harmony, he explained. Ayazuddin was soon joined by another respected artist, Rehman Patel, and together they expanded the circle of participants. What started with around 15 artists, junior and senior, has now grown into a diverse collective of 40, half of whom are Hindus. These artists work closely with their Muslim counterparts to ensure accuracy in Arabic writing, while retaining artistic freedom. The campaign, in many ways, draws inspiration from the history of the Deccan itself. Rehman Patel points out that after the decline of the Chalukyan dynasty, many local artisans and craftsmen found themselves unemployed. With the arrival of Muslim rulers in the region, particularly in erstwhile Bijapur and Gulbarga, these artisans were drawn into projects that fused Persian and Turkish influences with local Indian traditions. The architecture of that time was a collaboration. While designs came from foreign artists, the actual construction was executed by local Hindu craftsmen. The result was Indo-Persian art, a blend of Indian and Islamic architecture that still stands testament to cultural harmony, he said. Arabic and Islamic calligraphy flourished during this period, adorning monuments and manuscripts, but over the centuries, as tastes and practices changed, the art form began to fade. Our campaign is an attempt to not only revive this vanishing tradition but also to remind people of the harmony that once defined this land, he added. Preserving sacredness A key aspect is the selection of verses from the Quran. The organizers have been deliberate in choosing verses that emphasize unity, peace and brotherhood, values that are not confined to one faith but resonate universally. The artists are given complete freedom to use their imagination while ensuring that calligraphy remains the focal point. We guide them on the technicalities of Arabic script, but artistic interpretation is entirely theirs, explained Ayazuddin. This way, we safeguard the sacredness of the verses while allowing creativity to flourish. For many Hindu artists like Basavaraj Totad and Rajani Talwar who are involved in it, it has been a learning experience. Working with Arabic characters is not easy, and ensuring accuracy requires constant collaboration. Yet, this very collaboration has built bonds of trust and friendship. It is heartening to see artists from different backgrounds sit together, discuss and create something so meaningful, said Ashok Hiremath, an artist from Bidar. To showcase their work and reach a wider audience, the collective has organized exhibitions, usually coinciding with Id-Milad, the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammed. So far, five exhibitions have been held, each drawing large crowds from different faiths. The response has been overwhelming, Ayazuddin said. We have seen people from all communities attend and appreciate the art. Many told us that such initiatives give them hope that religious harmony is still alive in our society, and voices of hate and division are not as strong as they seem. The exhibitions are not limited to calligraphy, but also feature paintings and photographs of ancient monuments from the Deccan region, tying the campaign to the cultural and architectural heritage of Karnataka. This serves two purposes. It connects people with their shared history, and encourages them to protect and preserve monuments that are our national heritage, said Rehman Patel. Messages beyond borders For the participating artists, the project is as much about personal conviction as it is about art. Dr Neela believes the messages of peace from saints and prophets have universal appeal. Prophet Mohammed spread the message of peace, which can be accepted by anyone, anywhere in the world, he said. If art can be used as a language of unity, it should not remain confined to one place. Art has always been a reflection of society. If society is fractured, art can heal and unite. That is what we are trying to do through this campaign, Ayazuddin said.

Mad scramble for Dalit candidates in Kerala: Congress may pay price for neglect

KOCHI: As Kerala races towards the assembly election next May, the Congress is in a desperate eleventh-hour search for Dalit and tribal candidates. The scramble has laid bare a bitter truth: The party has failed to groom and promote leaders from the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, leaving itself exposed in 16 reserved constituencies (14 SC and two ST). The shift from the past could not have been starker. Until the mid-1980s, the Congress was never short of stalwarts from backward communities. The likes of Vella Eacharan Iyyani, M P Thami, K K Balakrishnan, K Raghavan Master, Damodaran Kalassery, P K Velayudhan, K K Madhavan, T K C Vaduthala, Kittappa Narayana Swamy and Dr M A Kuttappan gave the party both legislative heft and grassroots presence. These leaders emerged not just as candidates, but as mass figures who commanded respect. But as factionalism deepened in the late 1980s and 90s, Dalit and tribal representation shrank. The main reason for the failure of Congress to promote SC/ST leaders was the endless feud between the A and I groups. It choked the rise of new leaders and created a vacuum that remains unfilled even today, said political analyst Dijo Kappen. That vacuum is now haunting the party. For decades, the leadership has relied on a handful of safe names most notably Kodikunnil Suresh and Pandalam Sudhakaran. Kodikunnil, first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1989, remains an MP, while Sudhakaran has held sway since his Wandoor debut in 1982. Both men have effectively blocked the entry of younger leaders, according to critics. Congress is finding no names beyond Kodikunnil and Sudhakaran. With issues clouding Remya Haridas as well, the party has only itself to blame, remarked Ramesh Mathew, a former journalist and long-time Congress watcher. Indeed, the bench is worryingly thin. The party has no ready replacements for the 16 reserved constituencies. Meanwhile, the CPM and the BJP are making visible efforts to cultivate Dalit and tribal candidates, intensifying the Congress anxiety. A senior Congress source admitted the crisis, but insisted change was coming. The AICC wants new names from fishermen, SC and ST communities, not the tired old set such as Kodikunnil and [T N] Prathapan. We have identified promising new faces, and there will be a visible generational shift in 2026, the leader told TNIE. Sources said Sajithamol, the widow of M G Kannan, who was vice-president of the Pathanamthitta District Congress Committee (DCC) and district panchayat member, who passed away last month at the age of 42, will be among the Congress picks from the backward community for the assembly election. The stakes are high. In the 140-member House, the 16 reserved seats can prove decisive. Losing ground on this front could cripple Congress chances of returning to power. Leaders like P R Sona from Kottayam educated, with a doctorate, and active in community work represent the kind of profile the party should have nurtured years ago. Instead, the neglect of grassroots Dalit leadership has left Congress scouring the state at the last minute for candidates with credibility, said sources. The irony is stark. A party that once produced giants like K K Balakrishnan who held multiple ministerial portfolios, including harijan welfare and transport and Kuttappan, a staunch Ambedkarite who fought his way into the assembly despite factional sabotage, is today struggling to find even a handful of recognisable Dalit leaders. As the countdown to the polls begins, Congress is discovering that decades of ignoring and sidelining its Dalit and tribal leaders cannot be wished away in a frantic candidate search. The past is catching up fast and the party may pay a heavy price.

Jyotirgamaya: Diya Dhvani, a musical experience under candlelight

Chennai has been the epicentre of Carnatic and classical music, its sabhas and auditoriums reverberating with ragas and rhythms. For a change, from tomorrow, the citys cultural landscape is set to witness something truly out of the usual. Live4You and SciArtsRUs present Jyotirgamaya: Diya Dhvani, a festival that celebrates Carnatic and classical music steeped in tradition, yet framed in a fresh perspective. To give the music a different positioning and to be looked at from a different perspective, the organisers have chosen the century-old Museum Theatre as the venue. Generally, concerts happen in a typical auditorium. We wanted to do it in a different venue, and the Museum Theatre is more like an Opera Hall. This will be done in ambient lighting with candles and diyas, shares RSV Prakash, founder and chairperson of Live4You. The four-day celebration will bring together 12 concerts by stalwarts, including Ranjani and Gayatri, Sikkil Gurucharan and Anil Srinivasan, Ramakrishnan Murthy, and Anitha Guhas Bharathanjali at 6.45 pm, alongside a host of up-and-coming performers who will take the stage from 3 pm onwards. You can catch these artistes performing in other places also. But the candlelight is something that is attracting people, points out Prakash. Ramakrishnan Murthy It is not just the venue and ambience that make the event unique, but also its underlying philosophy. Jyotirgamaya highlights the value and the importance of light. In this particular ambience and this music concert, it is unified by the word Nada, meaning the primordial sound, which is what music is born from, explains vocalist Ramakrishnan Murthy. He draws from history to deepen the connection. If you combine Nada and Jyoti, theres only one person in the Carnatic music landscape, one of the most important composers, that is Muthuswami Dikshitar. He is known by the name Nada Jyoti because his music shines a light on all of us. And this year, coincidentally, marks Muthuswami Dikshitars 250th birth anniversary. So, it would be appropriate to take this opportunity to highlight some magnum opus compositions of his and dedicate the concept to his never-dying, and enlightening spirit. For Sikkil Gurucharan, Jyotirgamaya is personal as much as it is artistic. It is anything that instils hope and wants me to keep improving my music. He will be performing alongside pianist Anil Srinivasan at this one-of-a-kind event. Sikkil Gurucharan Gurucharan, in a conversation with Anil, had reminisced about how they belonged to the era that was before reels and Instagram and the notions. One thing that has always kept us going is how we try to imbibe different confluences of music in our presentation. This evening is going to be a celebration of every influence of music that has made our collaboration even more special, he says. The duo, starting from Carnatic music, will cross paths with Hindustani, Western classical, folk, Bengali Sangeet, and Rabindra Sangeet. Were just out there to pay tribute to wonderful forms of music all over the world, especially from India, and trying to search for light in each form, he adds. While Ramakrishnan wishes not only rasikas but all art lovers from the city to attend the event, Gurucharan looks for this event to continue. I hope this becomes a yearly feature in the Museum Theatre and features a number of artistes, he concludes. Ticket Booking Link: Music of Madras https://mdnd.in/SeasonTickets/OrganizerLandingPage?ci=101&r_id=29790 KYN https://kynhood.com/eventcategory/Jyotirgamaya

7 Sai Pallavi outfits perfect for Durga Puja

Sai Pallavis festive wardrobe proves that elegance lies in simplicity. Her outfits are timeless, graceful, and easy to recreate for upcoming Durga Puja. From sarees to salwar suits, she embraces traditional wear with minimal styling. Each look is effortlessly chic and perfect for the season.

Congress questions 'need' for installation of additional CCTV cameras in Rajasthan Assembly

JAIPUR: A massive political storm has erupted over the installation of additional CCTV cameras in the Rajasthan Assembly. It shows no signs of getting subsided. The Opposition Congress, which has been against the move from the beginning, has now alleged that the cameras are being used not only to keep watch on its MLAs but also over the faction of former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully has called the issue serious and demanded an investigation. However, Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani and BJP MLA Jogaram Patel have dismissed the allegations as baseless. Raje, notably, has been in the spotlight since her recent meeting with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat during a RSS-Sangh Parivar program in Jodhpur. Initially, LoP Jully had claimed that the ruling party is misusing the new cameras to monitor Congress MLAs. However, now he claims that the cameras are also designed to keep an eye on those MLAs who are close to BJP stalwart Raje. He alleged that when Raje visited the Assembly recently, the cameras even tracked on legislators who went to meet her. Calling it a violation of democratic decorum, Jully accused the government of running a campaign for spying through hidden cameras and demanded that a joint committee of the House be formed to probe the matter. Raising questions on the need for extra surveillance, Jully pointed out that two cameras already exist in the Assembly. Why was there a need to install additional cameras? These remain switched on even after the House proceedings are over, which is objectionable, he said. He further challenged that if proceedings are adjourned for 15 minutes, he could show access to the cameras in question. Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani rejected the allegations, saying cameras have been a part of the Assembly since its inception and are primarily used for recording proceedings. Their use has increased recently for live broadcasting on YouTube and during Commonwealth Parliamentary Committee seminars, he said. Devnani explained that an additional camera was installed following complaints of movement in the official gallery. He added that the cameras rotate 360 degrees and do not target any particular member. Citing security concerns, Devnani noted that a person had recently jumped from the gallery in the Lok Sabha. Therefore, cameras are necessary. Neither has anyones privacy been violated, nor will it be in the future, he assured. BJP MLA Jogaram Patel also dismissed the allegations, saying cameras have been installed since the Assembly building was constructed. Neither Vasundhara Raje nor any MLA has been spied upon, he said, adding that Jully should direct his questions to former CM Ashok Gehlots OSD instead.Patel further attacked Gehlot, claiming he lacked the courage to come to the House and present his views. Meanwhile, Jully met Governor Hari Bhau Kishan Rao Bagade along with senior Congress MLAs and submitted a memorandum. He alleged that hidden cameras were being misused to spy on opposition members and accused the ruling party of damaging the dignity of the Assembly through objectionable remarks made by the Government Chief Whip and BJP legislators.

Man arrested from Rajasthan for duping senior cardiologist of Rs 6.69 lakh

NEW DELHI: A 33-year-old man was arrested from Rajasthan for duping a senior cardiologist of a private hospital of over Rs six lakh. The accused, identified as Jalaluddin, a resident of Alwar district in Rajasthan, posed as an army cantonment official and induced the complainant to transfer funds for medical consultations of army personnel, police said on Thursday. He was previously found to be involved in seven cases in Delhi and Haryana. A complaint was received on August 30 from a senior cardiologist of a private hospital where he reported that he was contacted by a person claiming to be an army cantonment official, requesting medical consultations for 25 army personnel at Rs 1,500 each. Believing the request, the complainant transferred a total of Rs 6.69 lakh across four transactions from his wifes account and from his own. Later, when the arrangements did not materialise, he realised the fraud and approached police, a senior police officer said. During investigation, police traced the money that was transferred from the complainant to the fraudster and it was revealed that the Rs 6 lakh was used to repay a loan for a car, and the remaining amount was diverted towards credit card settlement, Deputy Commissioner of Police (south) Ankit Chauhan said. Later, the accused was traced to Alwar, Rajasthan. A police team went there and his location was zeroed in at Khairthal, Alwar. A raid was conducted and the accused was arrested. One car purchased from cheated funds, three mobile phones, and Rs 70,000 frozen in a fixed deposit linked to credit card settlement, the DCP said. The accused made video calls showing pre-recorded visuals of army personnel to gain trust. Later, he convinced the complainant that payments would be routed via credit card and induced him to make transfers, which were actually diverted to settle his own liabilities, police added.

Veteran Congress leader, former Kerala Speaker P P Thankachan passes away at 87

KOCHI: Veteran Congress leader, former Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, and KPCC president P P Thankachan passed away on Thursday at the age of 87. Thankachan, who had been undergoing treatment at Rajagiri Hospital in Aluva, breathed his last at 4.30 pm. A seasoned politician known for his organisational acumen and sharp interventions in the House, he carved out a long innings in public life spanning over four decades. Born on July 29, 1939, at Angamali in Ernakulam district as the son of Rev. Father Paulose, Thankachan entered politics through the Congress and soon rose to prominence within the faction led by K Karunakaran. A trusted loyalist of the late stalwart, he became an influential player in the I group, which shaped much of the Congresss internal politics in Kerala during the 1980s and 1990s. Thankachan first entered the Kerala Assembly from Perumbavoor in 1982 and held the seat consecutively in 1987, 1991, and 1996. His tenure as Speaker of the ninth Assembly (199195) came at a time when Karunakaran wielded enormous influence in the states politics. Known for his insistence on decorum, Thankachan presided over stormy sessions with firmness that drew grudging respect across the aisle. In government, he served as Opposition Chief Whip (198791) and as Agriculture Minister in the A K Antony cabinet (199596). Later, in 2004, he was elevated as president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, a move that underscored his clout in the party hierarchy under Karunakarans influence. His career was often seen as a reflection of the ebb and flow of the Karunakaran camps fortunes within the Congress. But politics was not without setbacks. When the UDF swept to a record 100 seats in the 2001 Assembly polls, few anticipated that Thankachan would fall on his home turf of Perumbavoor. The defeat was a stunning upset and a major blow, especially since he was tipped for a key berth in the new UDF ministry. The veteran leader is survived by his family. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Devine to lead White Ferns in Womens ODI World Cup

Auckland, Sep 10: Veteran all-rounder Sophie Devine, featuring in her fifth campaign, will lead New Zealand in the Womens ODI World Cup later this month, with four cricketers set for their maiden senior ICC tournament. The 15-member squad announced on Wednesday has six players making their World Cup debuts. The squad also has stalwarts Suzie [] The post Devine to lead White Ferns in Womens ODI World Cup appeared first on The Shillong Times .

India's Last Imported Stealth Warship, INS Tamal To Receive Grand Welcome At Karwar Home Base

INS Tamal is the eighth ship of the Talwar-class stealth frigates and is part of the Western Fleet, known as 'The Sword Arm' of the Indian Navy under the Western Naval Command

Industry Stalwarts Ravi Kant Rajesh Srivastava address session at RGU

GUWAHATI, Sept 9: The Assam Royal Global University (RGU) today hosted an impactful Management Development Program titled Leading from the Back to Achieve the Impossible, featuring distinguished industry leaders Ravi Kant, Former CEO & Vice Chairman of Tata Motors, and Rajesh Srivastava, Former President of JK Helene Curtis, Raymond Group. Through engaging sessions, the eminent []

Cramped training centre forces state to scale down K9 expansion to 20 dogs

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Scaling down its initial plan, the state police department will now induct only 20 dogs into its K9 squad instead of the proposed 38 because of space constraints at the dog training centre in Thrissur. Though the proposal to expand the dog squad was submitted in July, a final decision is still awaited. Officers said the matter will be taken up after the Onam celebrations. The squad currently has 142 active service dogs, with a target strength of 180. The remaining additions will now be made in phases over the next 18 months, said an officer. Each dog undergoes nine months of training for roles like narcotics and explosives detection, search and rescue, or tracking. Training more than 20 dogs at once will compromise quality, a senior officer with the dog squad said. Veterinary surgeon Suman BS of the K9 unit said the training school has submitted its report to the state police headquarters and the police chief. The expert committee will take a final call soon. The focus is on German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois, both known for agility and intelligence, Dr Suman said. The procurement plan was to include 12 trackers, 17 explosive sniffers, six narcotic sniffers, two cadaver dogs and one alcohol sniffer. Dogs will be sourced from central government institutions like CRPF, SSB and BSF. The choice of breed and type will depend on availability, Suman added. The police department earlier relied on private kennels but stopped the practice to avoid subpar selections. Sourcing from government centres has ensured better pedigree and working ability. The last procurement of eight German Shepherds was made in 2023 from SSBs Alwar (Rajasthan) breeding centre.

Tirumala temple to remain closed due to lunar eclipse

The Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala will be closed for the lunar eclipse. The temple will remain shut from September 7 afternoon to September 8 early morning. Offline Srivani darshan on September 7 is rescheduled. VIP recommendation letters will not be accepted on September 15 due to Koil Alwar Tirumanjanam ritual. Devotees are requested to cooperate with the arrangements.

John Cena appeared on Smackdown for the final time and Brock Lesnar spoiled the party with his shocking return; heres how action unfolded

John Cena appeared for the final time on Smackdown in Chicago. During his final match on WWE Smackdown, Cena was neck and neck with Zayn and he gave him a hard time inside the ring. Cena hit an Attitude Adjustment on Zayn, who recovered and went for a corner exploder that the stalwart managed to block.

Ethereum smart contracts hijacked: Hackers use ETH to hide malware is blockchains security at risk?

Ethereum smart contracts, a backbone of the blockchain ecosystem, are under attack. Hackers are now exploiting ETH to hide malware, using decentralized infrastructure to bypass security tools and compromise developers, applications, and crypto networks worldwide.

6 Stunning desi styles you can copy from Preity Zinta

Preity Zinta effortlessly channels classic Indian style through her elegant salwar suits and ethnic ensembles. From vibrant festive colors to timeless embroidery, her Instagram showcases a blend of tradition and modern grace. Explore six of her most stunning Indian suit looks that celebrate heritage with a contemporary flair.

Why Shastri is deserving too!

Making a case for the quintessential Wankhede Stadium performer to be honoured here without diluting the need to perpetuate the memory of stalwarts like Sardesai, Ashok Mankad, and Solkar

Army builds another Bailey bridge to restore traffic on NH-244

Jammu Tawi, Sep 2: Braving incessant rains and rough terrain, the Army on Tuesday constructed a Bailey bridge over the Jangalwar stream along National Highway-244, restoring crucial connectivity to Doda and Kishtwar districts of Jammu and Kashmir. This is the second Bailey bridge built by the Army within a week to overcome the large-scale damage [] The post Army builds another Bailey bridge to restore traffic on NH-244 appeared first on Northlines .

Koil Alwar Tirumanjanam Held At Tiruchanoor Temple

The temple premises were cleansed with water and fragrant substances like sandalwood powder, turmeric, kumkum, kasturi and camphor: Reports

J&K: Army Starts Work On Bailey Bridge To Restore Traffic On NH-244

JAMMU, Sep 2: Braving incessant rains, the Army on Tuesday started the construction of a Bailey bridge along National Highway-244, over the Jangalwar stream, to provide connectivity to Doda and Kishtwar districts of Jammu and Kashmir. This is the second such bridge being constructed by the Army in the wake of last weeks record rainfall that has left behind a trail of death and destruction in the region. Devastating floods in the Jammu region have submerged vast areas, sweeping away [] The post J&K: Army Starts Work On Bailey Bridge To Restore Traffic On NH-244 appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Indian Navy warships INS Tamal, INS Surat dock in Jeddah to boost Indo-Saudi ties

NEW DELHI: Aiming to strengthen ties with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, INS Tamal, a Talwar-class stealth frigate, and INS Surat, the latest indigenously constructed guided-missile destroyer of the Indian Navy, arrived at Jeddah on 27 and 28 August 2025, respectively. The Indian Navy (IN) in its statement said, During the port call, the crew will engage with the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) and Border Guards through sports fixtures, familiarisation with naval facilities and discussions towards fostering Indo-Saudi Arabian relations. The Navy said the visit underscores India's commitment to strengthening defence collaboration and friendly ties with Saudi Arabia. It will also provide an opportunity for both navies to share best practices and explore avenues for further engagement. The Indian side will host a cultural exchange for senior dignitaries of the RSNF, Border Guards, diplomats, prominent members of the diaspora and local government officials, the IN added. Indian Navy commissions latest frigate INS Tamal As reported in detail earlier by The New Indian Express , INS Tamal (F71), a multi-role stealth guided missile frigate, was commissioned in July at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia. INS Tamal is the eighth multi-role stealth frigate in the series of Project 1135.6 and the second of the additional follow-on Tushil class of ships. The first ship of the Tushil class (INS Tushil) was commissioned on 09 December 2024 in the presence of the Defence Minister. TNIE reported on INS Surat, which was commissioned this January, is the latest indigenous guided-missile destroyer of the Indian Navy. Built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Mumbai, and designed by the Indian Navy's Warship Design Bureau, the ship is a shining example of Atma Nirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and boasts an indigenous content of over 75%.

Google is setting up a verification process for all Android app developers

Android said that developer verification was being added in order to protect people from bad actors spreading malware and scams

Rahul Gandhi's voter yatra reaches crescendo as Priyanka joins

PATNA: The Voter Adhikar Yatra reached a crescendo when Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined the rally, which entered its tenth day on Tuesday. Priyankas participation in the yatra on the auspicious occasion of Teej is being viewed as a morale booster for the INDIA bloc supporters, especially women, who, like in previous elections, will play a crucial role in the upcoming state assembly elections. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy also joined the 16-day, 3000-km Yatra, covering 23 districts of the state. Rahul, along with Priyanka, Revanth, Dipankar Bhattacharya (CPI-ML), and Mukesh Sahani (VIP), travelled from Supaul to Madhubani in an SUV, waving to the people waiting for hours on the roads in long queues and bracing the scorching sun. The 51-km stretch from Hussain Chowk in Supaul and Lohia Chowk in Madhubani district was adorned with welcome arches and flags representing the INDIA allies. Young people carrying flags accompanied the cavalcade, while women and girls welcomed the leaders from the rooftops and balconies of multi-storied buildings. Priyanka, dressed in a blue kurti and white salwar, carried a black handbag, as she greeted the crowd from the SUV. Rahul, in his usual white T-shirt and trousers, shook hands with the supporters. Standing in the middle of the Gandhi siblings was Revanth, who also greeted the gathered people. During the yatra, Rahul interacted with a youth named Prem Sagar Kumar, who introduced himself as someone who has undergone one year of training at ISRO. Kumar lashed out at the state government for its poor education system, expressing his aspiration to become a scientist despite facing financial constraints. As the rally reached Lohia Chowk, Phulparas (Madhubani), for breakfast, a large number of supporters gathered to meet their leaders, raising Vote Chor Gaddi Chhod slogan at regular intervals. RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav also joined the yatra later. Security personnel had a tough time managing the crowd.

Rain lashes Jammu for third consecutive day, traffic on Jammu-Srinagar NH suspended

JAMMU: Moderate to heavy rains lashed Jammu division for the third consecutive day on Tuesday, leading to suspension of traffic along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, officials said. Almost all the rivers and streams are flowing above or close to the danger mark, submerging a number of low-lying areas and roads in the city and elsewhere, they said. The officials said the traffic on the 250-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway was suspended as a precautionary measure this morning following the shooting of stones from the hillocks at Chanderkote, Kela Morh and Battery Cheshma in Ramban district. The vehicular movement on the highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with rest of the country, was suspended at Udhampur in Jammu and Qazigund in Kashmir, they said, adding it was raining heavily all along the highway when last reports were received. The officials said a portion of the Padder road near Traith Nallah was washed away in Kishtwar district, while Ramnagar-Udhampur road in Udhampur and Jangalwar-Thathri road in Doda were closed following landslides at Konga and Thathri, respectively. Reports of damage to nearly a dozen houses and cowshed were also received from higher reaches of Kishtwar, Doda and Rajouri districts. As Jammu battles incessant rains, MeT forecasts more intense downpour; warns of cloudburst, flash floods The officials said the overflowing Modhopur barrage has crossed one lakh cusec mark and is continuously rising, triggering heavy flooding in several low-lying areas along the Ravi river in Kathua district. The officials said water levels in the Taranah River, Ujh River, Maggar Khad, Sahar Khad, Ravi River, and their tributaries in Kathua are simultaneously rising and nearing the danger mark The Tawi river has crossed the 20 feet danger mark in Udhampur district, while downstream in Jammu it is flowing currently below the alert level, the officials said, Chenab is also flowing close to the warning level in Jammu. Basanter River in Samba also crossed the danger mark of 4.5 feet this morning, they said. According to meteorological department, Kathua district recorded the highest 155.6 mm of rainfall during the last 24 hours ending 8.30 am followed by Bhaderwah in Doda at 99.8 mm, Jammu (81.5 mm) and Katra (68.8mm). Authorities have already issued advisories, asking people to stay away from water bodies and landslide-prone areas amid the weather forecast predicting moderate to heavy rainfall at many places in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Reasi, Udhampur, Rajouri, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar districts with possibility of cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides in high altitude areas till August 27.

J&K government bans use of USBs, pen drives in government offices

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has banned the use of USB and pen drives on official devices across all administrative government departments in the Union Territory to protect sensitive government information and minimise risks of data breaches. According to an official order issued by M Raju, Commissioner Secretary to the Government, the move is aimed at enhancing the cybersecurity posture of the Union Territory of J&K. To enhance cyber security posture of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, protect sensitive government information, and minimize the risks of data breaches, malware infections, and unauthorized access, it has been decided to prohibit the use of pen drives on official devices across all Administrative Government Departments in Civil Secretariat Jammu and Srinagar, Deputy Commissioner Offices in all districts of UT, the order read. In exceptional cases where operational needs justify their use, controlled whitelisting may be permitted for up to 2 to 3 pen drives per department, upon formal request routed through the respective Administrative head to the State Informatics Officer (SIO), National Informatics Centre. After approval pen drive must be physically submitted to the respective NIC Cell for reconfiguration, authorisation, and ownership registration prior to use. As a secure alternative, the government departments have been directed to adopt ( https://govdrive.gov.in ) GovDrive, a cloud-based, multi-tenant platform offering every Government official 50 GB of secure storage with centralized access and synchronisation across devices. As per the government order, the use of public messaging platforms such as WhatsApp or unsecured online services like iLovePDF for processing, sharing, or storing official or confidential materials is strictly prohibited to uphold data sovereignty and prevent security breaches. All sensitive technical information, including ICT architecture diagrams, system configurations, vulnerability assessments, IP addressing schemes, and strategic technology plans, must be classified as confidential and handled exclusively through approved secure channels in accordance with Information Security Best Practices by MHA, CERT-In directives, and departmental data classification policies, added the order. The government has warned that failure to adhere to the instructions shall be viewed seriously and may invite disciplinary action under relevant rules governing official conduct, IT usage andadministrative responsibility. All departments have been asked to accord top priority to the implementation of the guidelines in the interest of the secure and safe e-Governance.

Opposition VP candidate to meet CM Stalin, DMK allies in Chennai on Sunday

Chennai: Retired Justice Sudershan Reddy, the Oppositions Vice-Presidential candidate, is in Chennai on Sunday to kickstart his campaign in Tamil Nadu. He will begin the day by meeting Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at his Alwarpet residence. During the meeting, Stalin is expected to felicitate Reddy and host a tea reception in his honour. Reddy will 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 .

CPI stalwart Suravaram Sudhakar Reddys body to be donated to medical college

Hyderabad: The mortal remains of former Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary and two-time MP Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy will be donated to the Gandhi Medical College on Sunday, August 24, for the purpose of students medical research.. His mortal remains will be brought from Care hospitals in Gachibowli to Makdhoom Bhavan on Street Number 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 .

Monsoon intensifies in Rajasthan, heavy rains disrupt life in several districts

JAIPUR : The monsoon has made a strong comeback in Rajasthan, with continuous heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours disrupting normal life in many parts of the state. After an active spell in July, rains had weakened in August, but the monsoon is now fully active again. The Meteorological Department has issued an alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in 11 districts. Flood-like conditions have been reported in Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar, Tonk, Chittorgarh, and Sawai Madhopur districts. Flood conditions continue to persist in Sawai Madhopur district. NDRF and SDRF teams have been deployed in flood-affected areas. A tractor trolley full of NDRF personnel lost control and overturned on Surwal Mega Highway. The accident occurred while the team was going to help the flood victims. In Kota division, the Chambal river has swollen due to heavy inflows, forcing authorities to discharge water from Kota Barrage. By Saturday morning, the water level of the Chambal river had reached 132.80 metresnearly two metres above the danger mark of 130.79 metres. Transportation has been badly hit. The Jaipur-Kota highway near Deoli (Tonk) has been flooded, while traffic movement on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Kota has been halted. Soil erosion along the Delhi-Mumbai railway track near Laban in Bundi forced trains to be stopped at nearby stations. Jaipur too witnessed heavy rain on Saturday afternoon. Authorities have opened six gates of Bisalpur Dam and two gates of Kota Barrage to release excess water. Schools have been closed in nine districts as a precaution, while NDRF, SDRF, and police teams have been deployed for relief and rescue operations. The flood situation remains critical in Sawai Madhopur. In one incident, a tractor trolley carrying NDRF personnel overturned on the Surwal Mega Highway while heading to assist flood-affected people. A jawan was briefly trapped under a boat loaded in the tractor but was rescued promptly by his colleagues. Fortunately, there was no loss of life. In Alwars Ramgarh area, tragedy struck when a house collapsed due to heavy rain, allegedly burying seven members of a family under debris. Locals managed to rescue them, but a young girl remains in critical condition. In Jaipur, a wall of Dil Aaram Bagh on the way to Amer Palace collapsed, though no injuries were reported. Explaining the sudden intensification of rainfall, Radheshyam Sharma, Director of the Meteorological Centre, Jaipur, said, The monsoon had been inactive for the past two weeks. With the trough line returning to its normal position, the monsoon became active again. A cyclonic system over the Madhya Pradesh-Rajasthan border remained stationary, leading to heavy rainfall in the southeastern parts of Rajasthan. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma expressed concern over the situation and instructed officials to remain on high alert. He held discussions with district collectors of Tonk, Kota, Sawai Madhopur, Bundi, and Dausa, reviewing the ongoing relief and rescue efforts. The CM directed NDRF and SDRF teams to stay prepared and announced a special girdawari (crop survey) to assess damage to agriculture. He assured that relief will be provided quickly after evaluating losses to life and property.

India Tops Global Malware Attack Chart As AI Drives Ransomware Surge: Acronis Report

AI is empowering cybercriminals to operate at scale and with higher precision.

Saw Them Putting Papa's Body In Drum: Son Of Man Killed By Wife, Lover

Days after a man's rotting body was found in a blue drum in Rajasthan's Alwar, his 8-year-old son has emerged as a crucial witness to the case in which his mother and her alleged lover are the prime accused.

Rajasthan Teacher Dies As Hospital Delays Treatment Over Aadhaar

A school lecturer died at the Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital in Alwar, Rajasthan, after staff allegedly delayed treatment demanding an Aadhaar card

Man's Body Found Rotting In A Drum In Rajasthan, Wife And Children Missing

A man's rotting body has been recovered from a drum on the first floor of his rented home in Rajasthan's Alwar, said the police Sunday.

Seventh death anniversary of Vajpayee: PM Modi leads nation in paying tributes

Several other dignitaries, including President Droupadi Murmu, Union Ministers and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, visited his memorial 'Sadaiv Atal' to pay tributes to the BJP stalwart

VSSUT Burla Enforces First-ever Uniform Dress Code For Freshers

As per the official notification, male students must wear formal pants and a shirt, while female students can opt for either formal pants and a shirt or a shalwar-kameez paired with a waistcoat. Dupattas have been banned, citing security concerns

Pakistan-Based Malware Network Targeting Millions Globally: CloudSEK

The criminals posted links to cracked versions of high-demand software such as Adobe After Effects to attract victims.

Sangeetha Adbalwar Founder & CEO, Vroutes HR

Sangeetha Adbalwar, Founder & CEO of Vroutes HR, transforms HR into a growth engine with her proprietary Three-Layer 360 HR Model, delivering scalable, compliant, and culture-driven solutions. The post Sangeetha Adbalwar Founder & CEO, Vroutes HR appeared first on Startup Success Stories India - News & Updates for Indian Entrepreneurs .

Country In Safe Hands: Ahmed Patel's Son Praises Narendra Modi Government

Congress stalwart late Ahmed Patel's son Faisal has praised the Narendra Modi government and said the country is in safe hands, but clarified that he is not upset with the Congress and has taken a break from public life

Sourav Ganguly backs Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharmas continued ODI careers

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has addressed swirling media speculation about the future of Indias white-ball stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Australia A inflict 114-run defeat on India A in second Womens T20

MACKAY (AUSTRALIA), Aug 9: Australia A bowlers, led by pace-bowling stalwart Kim Garth, ran roughshod as India A suffered a demoralising 114-run defeat in the second unofficial T20I as the hosts took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. For the second consecutive match of the multi-format series, India A won the toss and chose to field, a decision that backfired big time with Australia A batting stalwart and the Southern Stars skipper, Alyssa Healy played a superb 70-run [] The post Australia A inflict 114-run defeat on India A in second Womens T20 appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Germany suspends military exports to Israel for use in Gaza war

Berlin: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday said his country will not authorise any exports of military equipment that could be used in Gaza until further notice. Germany has been a stalwart supporter of Israel for decades. In a statement, Merz emphasised that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas terror and said 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 .

Amit Shah Becomes Countrys Longest-Serving Home Minister, Surpasses Advanis Record

New Delhi, Aug 5: Amit Shah has become the longest-serving Union Minister of Home Affairs of India on Tuesday. With 2,258 days in office since assuming the role on May 30, 2019, Shah has now surpassed the previous record held by senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani. Shahs tenure has also overtaken that of Congress stalwart Govind Ballabh Pant, cementing his position as a key pillar in the current National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. Coincidentally, Shah achieved this milestone on [] The post Amit Shah Becomes Countrys Longest-Serving Home Minister, Surpasses Advanis Record appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Environmental activists gather at Jantar Mantar to demand cancellation of STR rationalisation plan

NEW DELHI: Eminent environmental activists from across the country gathered at Jantar Mantar to demand the cancellation of the Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR) rationalisation plan, which could potentially reopen more than 50 mines that were previously closed by a Supreme Court order in May 2024. People from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan appealed to the Chief Justice of India and the Union Minister of Environment to intervene and cancel the rationalisation plan for STR to protect Indias national animal. On June 26 meeting, Indias top wildlife body approved a proposal to redraw the boundaries of the Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) of the STR in Rajasthan. It involved the exclusion of about 48.5 sq km area, primarily from the southern and south-western parts of the Sariska CTH. In compensation, the state will designate around 91 sq km as quality tiger habitat, mostly in the STRs north. As a result, the CTH area will increase from 881.11 sq km to about 924 sq km, while the buffer zone shrinks from 245.72 sq km to 203.2 sq km. The protesters called for the immediate revocation of the National Board for Wildlife's approval for the boundary changes in the STR. Sariska boundary rationalisation: A recipe for conservation disaster? They also demanded full transparency in all Environmental Impact Assessments and public hearings related to mining in and around protected areas, as well as recognition of local community rights and their involvement in conservation decisions. Akhil Chandra, a former director of the World Wildlife Fund, expressed shock that both the National Board for Wildlife and the National Tiger Conservation Authority approved the plan to redraw the boundaries of Sariska's Critical Tiger Habitat, which would allow previously shut mining operations within a one-kilometre radius of the reserve's boundary. He stated, Allowing mining in an eco-sensitive zone such as Sariska can have serious long-term harmful impacts on its flora and fauna. Sneha Solanki from the Tiger Trails Trust in Alwar highlighted the threat posed to the Aravalli hills and surrounding forests, referencing a 2018 report by the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee. This report indicated that 31 hills in the Alwar district had disappeared over time. The Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee revealed in 2018 that out of the 128 hills sampled in Alwar district, 31 hills have vanished since the Survey of India topographic sheets were prepared in 1967, Solanki stated. She added, This move to redraw the boundaries of Sariska is unacceptable to the citizens of Alwar district, as it will end up rewarding violators of the law and set a dangerous precedent for allowing similar illegalities in other protected areas across India.

Shah Rukh Khan thanks Kamal Haasan, Mohanlal, Juhi Chawla for their wishes after his first-ever National Award win

Shah Rukh Khan, who won the National Film Award for his movie Jawaan, receives heartfelt wishes from industry stalwarts such as Mohanlal, Kamal Haasan and Juhi Chawla

Mukul signals end of road for TMC in Mlaya

SHILLONG, Aug 3: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) which made a grand entry in Meghalaya in November 2021 by roping in twelve sitting MLAs, including the likes of Mukul Sangma and Charles Pyngrope, is now staring at a dead end with no plans of its revival in the state. Leader of Opposition and TMC stalwart Mukul [] The post Mukul signals end of road for TMC in Mlaya appeared first on The Shillong Times .

All about Turla, the elusive Russian spy group hacking diplomats computers

Turla, a sophisticated Russian cyber espionage unit linked to the FSB, is targeting foreign diplomats and embassies through compromised Moscow-based ISPs. This long-standing group, also known as Venomous Bear, employs advanced techniques like spear-phishing, living-off-the-land tactics, and unique malware such as KRYPTON for data theft from air-gapped systems.

Prakash Hinduja On The Science Behind Water Revival In Alwar

Their goal is to build a water-literate society where people understand the risks and solutions clearly.

Communist Stalwart v s Achuthanandan Played a Major Role in Shaping Kerala Politics

By Pinarayi Vijayan The life of Comrade VS Achuthanandan who passed away at the age of 101 on Monday is a remarkable chapter in the history of Kerala in general and the revolutionary movement here in particular. Comrade VS Achuthanandan was a symbol of a brilliant tradition of struggle, extraordinary determination and uncompromising fighting stance. His century-long life, which took on the problems of the people and stood with the people, is inextricably intertwined with the modern history of [] The post Communist Stalwart v s Achuthanandan Played a Major Role in Shaping Kerala Politics appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Jodhpur police cremated Muslim youth despite missing report, family learns truth after DNA test

JAIPUR: Jodhpur police are facing backlash for allegedly cremating, instead of burying, the body of a 20-year-old Muslim youth, Ismail, despite a missing persons report being filed days earlier. The body, found in Gulab Sagar, was labelled unclaimed and cremated, a violation of Islamic burial practices. It was only after a DNA test that the body was confirmed to be Ismails, leaving the family devastated and angry. Ismail, who lived in Chimanpura Gali-4, went missing on 17 June. His family reported his disappearance to the Sadar Bazar police station on 20 June. Just a day later, on 21 June, the body of a young man was recovered from Gulab Sagar and placed in the mortuary at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, falling under the jurisdiction of the nearby Sadar Kotwali police station. Despite the fact that Sadar Bazar and Sadar Kotwali police stations operate from the same premises, they allegedly failed to coordinate. On 25 June, the Sadar Kotwali police treated the body as unidentified and cremated it. It was not until 26 June that Ismails sister-in-law came across visuals and information about the body recovered from the reservoir. Suspicious that it could be her missing relative, she informed the family. They contacted the Sojati Gate police and demanded verification. A DNA test was ordered. The following day, on 27 June, Ismails mother, Malka, provided a blood sample. The results from the Forensic Science Laboratory later confirmed that the cremated body was indeed Ismail's. On receiving the confirmation, Malka broke down, grieving not only her sons death but also the denial of religious burial rites. She accused the police of both carelessness and deep insensitivity. He should have been buried, not cremated, she said, struggling to hold back tears. Assistant Sub-Inspector Nemichand from Sadar Bazar police station acknowledged that the body was badly decomposed when found, making identification difficult. It was considered unclaimed at the time. After we were informed of the missing report, we proceeded with DNA testing, he said. This is not the first time such a mistake has allegedly occurred in Rajasthan. A similar incident was reported in 2019 in Bhiwadi, Alwar, where police cremated the body of a Muslim youth before confirming his identity. That event had triggered protests by the Meo community, with community leader Sher Mohammad accusing the police of serious insensitivity. The latest Jodhpur incident has reignited concerns about police protocol in handling unidentified bodies. It has raised questions about accountability, coordination between departments, and the respect of religious practices, especially when families have already reported someone missing. The case has drawn strong reactions from locals, who are demanding clear procedures and strict action to prevent such incidents from recurring.

Schools shut as heavy rains lash Rajasthan, 30 districts on alert

JAIPUR: Rajasthan continues to reel under intense monsoon activity as heavy rains batter multiple regions, prompting widespread disruption and precautionary measures. Jaipur saw heavy showers since morning, causing waterlogging in several parts of the city. Notably, areas around government residences, including those of Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant and DGP Rajeev Sharma, were flooded. The Hadoti region was badly hit, with connectivity also severely disrupted. In Kota and surrounding Hadoti region, the spell of rain persisted on Tuesday as well, filling up dams, anicuts, and ponds. Waterfalls have begun flowing from the surrounding hills, and low-lying areas are flooded. Many rural roads are submerged, causing significant traffic disruptions, and standing crops are beginning to rot in waterlogged fields. Kota city recorded 15 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, with intermittent rain continuing through the day after a wet night. In Tonk and Sawai Madhopur, several areas are submerged. Rajasthans connectivity with Madhya Pradesh has been severely affected: Parvati river overflowed in Etawah (Kota), flooding a new bridge on the Etawah-Khatoli road. As a result, State Highway-70 (KotaGwaliorSheopur) is closed to traffic. Augaad culvert on NH-552 in Bodal, about 12 km from Sawai Madhopur, was washed away, severing the Sawai MadhopurSheopur (MP) route. In Sawai Madhopur, houses are filled with water up to five feet, and railway tracks are submerged, affecting train services. Morel Dam overflows again The Morel Dam in Lalsot (Dausa), considered Asias largest kachha (earthen) dam, has overflowed with water reaching 1.5 feet above its crest. This is the second consecutive year the dam has reached capacity. The situation is being closely monitored by local authorities. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange and Yellow alert for several districts, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next three days, particularly on Wednesday and Thursday. According to the forecast, 18 districts in Jaipur, Ajmer, and Bharatpur divisions are expected to witness heavy rainfall in the next 48 hours. Some parts of the Bikaner division may also receive moderate to heavy showers. School holidays announced in several districts In light of the continuing downpour and the expected intensity of rain, local administrations have declared school and Anganwadi closures in several districts as a precautionary measure: Jaisalmer: Over 1650 schools closed till 31st July. Baran: Schools closed till August 2 Kota: Till August 1 Ajmer and Udaipur: July 30 and 31 Bhilwara: Closed on Wednesday Authorities have urged residents to remain alert, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow advisories, as life and property could be affected due to waterlogging, flooding, and road damage. Rainfall alerts 30 July Alerts: Orange Alert: Ajmer, Alwar, Dausa, Jaipur, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk Yellow Alert: Bharatpur, Bhilwara, Bundi, Chittorgarh, Dholpur, Jhunjhunu, Rajsamand, Sikar, Sirohi, Udaipur, Bikaner, Hanumangarh, Churu, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Pali, Sri Ganganagar 31 July Alerts: Orange Alert: Ajmer, Tonk Yellow Alert: Bhilwara, Bundi, Jaipur, Sawai Madhopur, Sikar, Bikaner, Churu, Nagaur, Pali, Sri Ganganagar

Boycott or play? India-Pakistan WCL 2025 semi-final under cloud after top sponsor withdraws

This firm stance follows the cancellation of the two teams' group stage encounter earlier in the tournament, where several Indian players, including stalwarts like Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina, had refused to participate.

IND vs WI, WCL LIVE: Pollard Left To Fight Alone For 8-Down WI; Gayle, Bravo Flop

India Champions vs WI Champions LIVE Score, India Legends vs West Indies, WCL 2025: WI stalwarts Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo have disappointed with the bat.

10-month-old infant orphaned during Himachal flash floods declared 'child of state'

CHANDIGARH: 10-month-old infant Neetika who lost her parents in flash floods in Himachal's Mandi district has been declared a child of the state under the Chief Minister Sukh-Aashray Yojana of the Himachal Pradesh Government. Authorities have pledged to support her education and upbringing. Neetika's mother Radha Devi (24) and grandmother Purnu Devi (59) are still missing while her father Ramesh (31) was found dead after a cloudburst struck Talwara village in Chachyot Tehsilof Mandi district on the intervening night of June 30 and July 1. The infant was found alone in the house by their neighbor Prem Singh, who informed her relative Balwant, a personal security officer for former chief minister and Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur. The infant is currently living with her aunt Kirna Devi, the younger sister of her deceased father, in Shikauri village, about 20 km away from Talwara village. Following 'Shudi' rituals on the 13th day of the familys death, relatives decided that the child will be raised by her aunt. On that fateful night, Ramesh had stepped out of the house to divert the flow of water entering the house, while his wife and mother followed to help but they did not return. Many people had come forward to help the infant and thus two bank accounts were opened in her name in the Himachal Co-operative Bank and Punjab National Bank. Sources said that the money deposited in these accounts will be reserved for her education and she can access it when she turns 18 year old. Additionally, the child has also been offered admission in Sainik School after Class VI. Himachal Pradesh Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi said that the state government has taken full responsibility of the infants education and future as part of a long-term plan. Whatever this girl wants to become in the future, a doctor, an engineer or an officer, the government will bear all expenses, he said. Sources said that benefits are given to the orphans (children of the state) under the Sukh-Ashray scheme launched by the state government in 2023. The scheme provides food, shelter, clothing, higher education and skill development to unmarried orphans between 18 and 27 years of age who are unhoused and are unemployed. The children get clothing and festival allowance, inter or intra-state annual exposure visits, stipend to meet personal expenses while pursuing higher education, vocational training or skill development, funds for startup and grants for building a house. A senior official said that following the directions of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu the children who lost either their parents during the natural disaster are being ensured the benefits of the welfare schemes. Thus under Sukh-Aashray Yojana, Neetika will get Rs 4,000 per month from the government and already Rs 8000 has been sanctioned for July and August and credited to her savings bank account. This financial support from the government will continue until she turns 27 years old, he added. He further said that five children from two families in Sanarli panchayat of Karsog have been enrolled under this scheme. Three children (Kritika Verma (14) and Anshika (10) both daughters and eight-month-old son Raghav Thakur) of Lalit Kumar of Bhutti village under this panchayat who died will get Rs 1000 each per month for their education. Meanwhile, two children of Jeet Ram of Surmu village, Paramjeet (15) and Ranjit (12), will also get this financial support will continue until they turn 18 years old and will be deposited in a joint bank account with their mother, he added.

Opposition loses more than government when Parliament is disrupted: Kiren Rijiju

NEW DELHI: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said that frequent disruptions in the House hurt the Opposition more, as they lose the crucial opportunity to hold the government accountable. The remarks came after the first week of the ongoing monsoon session was largely washed out due to repeated protests by Opposition MPs. Speaking at the Sansad Ratna Awards event organised by Prime Point Foundation, Rijiju recalled how bureaucrats sometimes express relief when Parliament is adjourned. Let me tell you, officers are relieved when Parliament doesn't function because they escape the grilling. The government can be held accountable in Parliament. When the House runs, ministers face tough questions. When it adjourns within minutes, those questions don't even get raised. Opposition loses more than the government when Parliament is disrupted, he said. Those who stall the House think they are damaging the government, but in truth, they are weakening their own role in a democracy, Rijiju added. Reinforcing the importance of parliamentary accountability, the minister said, In any democracy, the government must answer to the people through Parliament. That is why allowing the House to run is essential for a functioning democracy. Reflecting on his journey in Parliament, Rijiju said he never considered Opposition MPs as adversaries. We are all colleagues. Before 2014, most of my parliamentary career has been on the Opposition benches. Political rivalries may exist, but there is no enmity, he said. Drawing from a quote by Winston Churchill, Rijiju said, A new MP once asked Churchill about the people sitting across the aisle, and he said they were political opponents. But when asked about those sitting on his side, he said they were our political enemies. That is politics, but we are not enemies. Rijiju also said there is undue burden on Indian legislators compared to their counterparts in developed countries. There, one MP represents approximately 66,000 people. Here, it is over 20 lakh. They are not asked to fix drains or get someone out of jail. But our MPs deal with personal grievances, infrastructure and law enforcement issues and are still expected to perform in the House, he said. 32-hr debate on Operation Sindoor kicks off from Monday Despite all this, they are often criticised. Every elected MP deserves respect; it is not an easy job. Recalling his own early experiences, Rijiju shared a humorous but telling anecdote. The first time I met Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, I had gone to request a room for MPs who smoke. He scolded me, saying, 'This is your first meeting with the Speaker and this is what you've come for?' I got a good scolding that day and learned I should approach such offices with more purpose. He also reflected on how senior leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani set examples of decorum. Back then, we would think twice before speaking because stalwarts were listening. Now disruptions begin on day one. Maybe social media has changed the game. Calling for more constructive media reporting, Rijiju said, Earlier, journalists would arrive at 9 am and cover parliamentary debates till night. Good speeches got coverage. Today, headlines go to who created the most ruckus. I remember Sharad Pawar once presented an excellent agriculture policy, but the next day not a single paper mentioned it. So now, MPs chase headlines because good work is neither reported nor recognised. Negative news drives TRPs, not constructive action. It is a vicious cycle -- both the MPs and the media are trapped in it, he said. Rijiju congratulated all the recipients of this year's Sansad Ratna Awards, including Supriya Sule, Bhartruhari Mahtab, N K Premachandran, and Shrirang Appa Barne, who received special jury awards for consistent performance in the 16th, 17th, and the current Lok Sabha. Whenever any parliamentarian is recognised for good work, we should all celebrate together, cutting across party lines, Rijiju said. National Commission for Backward Classes Chairperson Hansraj Gangaram Ahir took a swipe at the Opposition, saying, Those who claim to be followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar bring disrepute to the country by speaking against it abroad. Monsoon Session: Opposition uproar over Bihar SIR stalls Parliament for fifth consecutive day

Of over 27 million Indians facing infertility challenges, 4050 per cent are men, say experts

NEW DELHI: India has approximately 27.5 million people facing infertility challenges, with male infertility accounting for 4050 per cent of the total cases, experts said here on the occasion of World IVF Day on Friday. This growing prevalence of infertility in both women and men is driven by lifestyle changes, environmental exposures, and undiagnosed medical conditions, underscoring the urgent need for awareness, destigmatization, and inclusive treatment approaches, they said. For too long, infertility has been viewed through a lens focused only on women, while male infertility, now contributing to nearly half of all cases remains shrouded in silence, said Dr. Pankaj Talwar, President of the Indian Fertility Society (IFS), at the 6th National IVF Summit & Awards 2025, hosted by the Integrated Health & Wellbeing (IHW) Council in collaboration with the Indian Society for Assisted Reproduction (ISAR) and supported by the IFS. With rising cases linked to factors like stress, obesity, hormonal imbalances, lifestyle habits such as smoking and alcohol use, and even medication side effects, the issue is more complex than ever. Addressing it openly is critical to building a truly equitable and evidence-based approach to reproductive health in India, he said. According to Dr. Ameet Patki, President of the Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction (ISAR), Indias IVF market is set to grow from USD 750 million in 2020 to USD 3.7 billion by 2030, but behind these numbers are real people, real struggles, and often silent pain. Nearly half of all infertility cases involve male factors, yet the focus remains largely on women. Its time we change that, by replacing stigma with support and ensuring every fertility journey is met with empathy, science, and dignity. Kamal Narayan, CEO of the IHW Council, said that male infertility is no longer a silent issue, as it is a shared reality for millions of families across India. With male factors contributing to around 4050% of infertility cases, this is not a marginal concern; its a national health priority. We recognise that fertility care must evolve to reflect this truth. We cant achieve true inclusivity without addressing male reproductive health head-on. Our goal is to build a medically sound, emotionally sensitive, and socially inclusive ecosystem where care is guided by science, not stigma. Clinicians, researchers, embryologists, hospital leaders, legal experts, and patient advocates participated in the summit. At the event, Dr. Gunjan Gupta, Medical Director of Gunjan IVF World, launched a book titled How to Freeze Your Biological Clock . The book serves as a comprehensive guide for women navigating fertility planning, and also contributes to the broader dialogue on empowering individuals, both men and women with timely, evidence-based fertility choices.

India moves to shield power grid from solar equipment malware

India has introduced new rules for solar power equipment. These rules aim to protect against cyberattacks. The focus is on inverters, which convert direct current into electricity. Suppliers must connect inverters to a national software platform. This platform will be managed by a government agency. The move addresses concerns about China-made parts and grid security.

India Moves To Shield Power Grids From Solar Equipment Malware

As power grids become more automated and digitally connected, they face growing cybersecurity threats, prompting governments worldwide to tighten safeguards.

2 killed, 30 hurt as kanwariya truck hits live wire in Raj

Two people died and 30 others were injured when a truck carrying kanwariyas came into contact with a hanging overhead power line in Alwar district, Rajasthan. The incident occurred during a parikrama, leading to protests and accusations of negligence against the electricity department.

Dubai returned couple held at Surat airport with over 20 kg of gold hidden under clothes

SURAT: A couple arriving from Dubai was apprehended at Surat airport on July 20 for allegedly smuggling over 20 kg of gold concealed in paste form under their clothes, officials said. The incident occurred around 10 pm when a plainclothes officer from the Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) intelligence unit noticed the duo behaving suspiciously after deboarding an Air India flight. Their unnatural gait and visible bulges around the abdomen raised suspicion, a senior CISF official said. The officer alerted Customs personnel, who subsequently intercepted the coupleboth Gujarat residentsand carried out a thorough physical check. The man was dressed in a shirt and trousers, while the woman wore a salwar suit. Officials discovered 28 kg of gold paste strapped around their midsections and upper torsos16 kg on the woman and 12 kg on the man. Based on concentration levels, officials estimate the net gold content to exceed 20 kg. This is possibly the biggest gold seizure in the history of Surat airport, said an official involved in the investigation. The operation, officials noted, underscored the effectiveness of behavioural profiling and the seamless coordination between CISF and Customs.

CPI(M) loses a stalwart with the demise of VS: Therambil Ramakrishnan

V.S. Achuthanandan: Comprehensive coverage on former Kerala CMs life and times

A compilation of stories on the communist stalwart in Kerala who passed away at the age of 101. V.S. Achuthanandan rose above the cut and thrust of provincial politics

Andhra Pradesh to be a Green Hydrogen Valley - Declared Honourable CM Sri Chandrababu Naidu at the Green Hydrogen Summit 2025, SRM AP

The Green Hydrogen Summit 2025, jointly organised by SRM University-AP , Government of Andhra Pradesh, IIT Tirupati, IISER Tirupati, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Govt. of India, New & Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Ltd. and the SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu, explores the research and development, innovation, commercialisation of green hydrogen. Keynote addresses, plenary sessions and conclaves with industry stalwarts, research organisations, and policymakers aim to open new frontiers in the green hydrogen sector.

Transgender Bangladeshi national lived in India for decade, traced in Bhopal

BHOPAL: A transgender Bangladeshi national, Abdul Kalam, had been living in Bhopal for the past ten years under the assumed identity of Neha Kinnar. Surprisingly, during this time, the Bangladeshi national had even managed to get valid identity documents to legitimise herself as an Indian citizen. Acting on specific intelligence inputs from a specialised unit tracking foreign nationals residing illegally in the state, Abdul Kalam alias Neha Kinnar was recently traced to the Mangalwara locality in old Bhopal. The Mangalwara and Budhwara areas of old Bhopal are home to a significant transgender population, and Abdul Kalam, living under the identity of Neha Kinnar, had also taken up residence there. The third gender individual was recently traced and has since then been questioned by a dedicated team of cops. Initial questioning has revealed that Abdul Kalam, who is aged around 30-32 years presently, entered India illegally, while aged 17 years and since then has lived in various parts of the country, including West Bengal, Assam, Maharashtra and MP. Abdul Kalam has been residing under the assumed identity of Neha Kinnar in Bhopal since the last ten years, a senior Bhopal police official told TNIE . Abdul Kalam managed to get the new identity of Neha Kinnar by getting various identity proof documents to give legal sanctity to the false identity. However, it remains unclear whether these documents were procured in Madhya Pradesh or elsewhere to legalsie seld as an Indian citizen. According to sources the individual was also involved in a case of physical assault with another transgender around five years back and the final court hearing in the matter is slated shortly. According to Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra, the dedicated verification campaign is currently underway to trace foreign nationals who are living illegally in the MP capital. As per sources, the process of Abdul Kalam aka Neha Kinnar deportation to Bangladesh is likely to start over the next few days, once the entire probe about the 10 year long illegal stay in Bhopal is over.

Modi to inaugurate major development projects in Bihar and Bengal today

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stones and inaugurate major projects worth over Rs 12,000 crore in West Bengal and poll-bound Bihar on Friday. He will flag off four Amrit Bharat trains from different parts of Bihar. He will visit Motihari in Bihar and Durgapur in West Bengal for this purpose and will also address public meetings at both venues, according to a statement from the PMO. In Bihar, Modi will inaugurate a new Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) facility in Darbhanga, alongside a state-of-the-art Incubation Facility at STPI in Patna. He will flag off four Amrit Bharat trains between Rajendranagar Terminal (Patna) and New Delhi, as well as between BapudhamMotihari and Delhi (Anand Vihar), and between Darbhanga and Lucknow via Bhagalpur. The projects worth Rs 7,200 crore for the state form part of a broader initiative across the oil and gas, power, road, and rail sectors. He will dedicate several railway projects to the nation, including the automatic signalling system between the Samastipur-Bachhwara rail lines to enhance efficiency in train operations. The doubling of the Darbhanga-Thalwara and Samastipur-Rambhadrapur rail linespart of the Darbhanga-Samastipur doubling projects valued at Rs 580 crorewill also be inaugurated. The Mithilanchal region, comprising electorally significant districts such as Darbhanga and Samastipur, will benefit from these developments. Modi will also lay the foundation stone for a Vande Bharat train maintenance facility at Patliputra. The Darbhanga-Narkatiaganj rail line doubling project is estimated at `4,080 crore. In the road sector, the PM will lay the foundation stone for the four-laning of the Ara-Mohania NH-319 and the Patna-Buxar NH-92, to reduce travel time. He will also inaugurate the four-lane Parariya to Mohania section of NH-319, valued at Rs 820 crore, which is a critical link connecting Ara town to the Golden Quadrilateral (NG-02). The Prime Minister will inaugurate a series of fisheries development projects. He will hand over keys to 12,000 beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin scheme. In West Bengals Durgapur, the PM will unveil projects worth Rs 5,000 crore. He will lay the stone for the oil and gas infrastructure to be developed by BPCL and gas distribution project in Bankura and Purulia.

Man held for setting fire to wifes two-wheeler in Alwarthirunagar

'Can Activate Malware, Bugs': Govt To Probe Security Risks From Chinese Medical Devices

China is the second-largest exporter of medical devices to India at around Rs 11,506 crore in 2023-24, less than US, which exported devices worth Rs 12,552 crore the same year

Pro League was a good wake-up call ahead of next years Asian Games and WC: Sreejesh

New Delhi, Jul 17: Former India captain and goalkeeping stalwart P R Sreejesh believes the just-concluded FIH Pro League was a good wake-up call for the mens national hockey team ahead of next years Asian Games and the World Cup. India struggled in the European leg of the Pro League and finished eighth out of nine teams to avoid relegation by a whisker. But Sreejesh, who was part of Indias bronze medal winning sides in Tokyo and Paris Olympics, felt [] The post Pro League was a good wake-up call ahead of next years Asian Games and WC: Sreejesh appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Rajasthan Woman Kidnapped From Outside House,Gang-Raped By 7 Men For 11 Days

A woman in Alwar, Rajasthan, was allegedly gang-raped by seven men for 11 days after being kidnapped on April 24. An FIR was filed on June 2, 2025, after a court order.

Rajasthan Minister raises questions govt's Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya poverty alleviation scheme

JAIPUR: In Rajasthan, strong opposition is emerging against the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department's Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Garibi Mukt Gaon Yojana. Besides critics and activists, the special feature of this opposition is that in the cabinet meeting, the minister of the department and one of the senior stalwarts of the BJP in Rajasthan Kirodi Lal Meena, raised questions on this scheme and registered his strong objection. Meena said that government assistance should be given to those families who are needy and who do not have pucca houses. He also reportedly questioned the wisdom of the move to give money as incentive to those people who are well-off and are not included in the BPL. There is no point in wasting money on ineligible people, Meena is said to have asserted according to sources. Under the Deendayal Upadhyaya Garibi Mukt Gaon Yojana, the government has recently made a provision of Rs 300 crore to provide better livelihood to families living below the poverty line. According to the list of BPL Census 2002, the survey was conducted in the first phase from April to June 2025. 122 villages were selected from each district in 41 districts and a total of 30631 families were surveyed in 5002 villages. Shocking figures came out in the survey. 72 percent of the selected families--22076 families--have by now come out of the poverty line. The state government claimed that the families above the poverty line are out of BPL. The question is that the BPL list belongs to the central government and according to this list, the benefits of many schemes like food security schemes are being given. In such a situation, will these families who have come out of the poverty line continue to get the benefits of central schemes or not? According to the first phase survey report, 6524 families are living below the poverty line. Out of these, 122 families do not have electricity-water connection, let alone food to fill their stomach. 758 do not have money for treatment and 726 families do not have gas connection, 1580 families do not have land lease, 1277 have house, 1056 have toilet. At the same time, 728 families are not getting pension. Each family coming out of the poverty line is given an incentive amount of 21 thousand and a self-reliance family card. In this way, the government has to give a total amount of 46.35 crores to 22076 families as incentive. The department has also paid the amount to many families. 77545 families from 5000 villages have been identified for the second phase survey. This phase will be completed by December. It is a different matter that this disagreement of the minister was not recorded in the meeting, but the fresh opposition of Meena, who has been a headache for the Bhajan Lal government for a long time, has again created a stir in the power corridors from Jaipur to Delhi.

Fervour marks Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam in Tirumala

Move to redraw boundaries of Sariska Tiger Reserve to facilitate mining draws flak from experts

A coalition of environmentalists has made urgent appeals to the Union government, Rajasthan government and Tiger Conservation Authority, voicing their concerns over the proposal to alter the boundaries of the Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR) in order to facilitate mining activities in the Aravalli hills. They emphasized that this decision could set a troubling precedent and have a negative impact on wildlife conservation efforts across the country. In early July, Indias wildlife authority approved changes to the boundaries of the STR as part of a conservation plan that also accommodates mining activities. The adjustment affects both the Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) and the buffer zone, aiming to enhance wildlife conservation while taking into account the development needs of nearby regions. Experts warn that if the proposed rationalization plan is implemented, it could have disastrous consequences for the ecologically sensitive Aravalli region. The environmental group People for Aravallis submitted representations to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), expressing concerns about the recent proposal to redraw the boundaries of the Sariska Tiger Reserve. According to the group, the decision to redraw the boundaries aims to allow the reopening of at least 50 marble, dolomite, limestone, and masonry mines that were closed following a previous Supreme Court order. Activists argue that this could set a dangerous precedent across the country, legitimizing similar illegal activities. The group submitted three representations on July 14 to Indias Environment Minister, the Additional Director General (Project Tiger), and the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, urging them to abandon the proposal to redraw the boundaries of the STR, as it is flawed from both an ecological and legal standpoint, said Kay Nair, Co-Founder of People for Aravallis. Joy as tigress at Sariska gives birth to four cubs A significant concern in the proposed plan is its potential to reopen around 50 marble, dolomite, limestone, and masonry stone mines near the new boundaries of the reserve, Nair added. As per the guidelines for declaration of eco-sensitive zones around protected areas, an area of up to 10 km radius may be included as a shock absorber. The buffer zone is currently established to be a radius of 1 km around the boundaries of STR. Uma Shanker Singh, retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forest from Uttar Pradesh, who is one of the 37 retired IFS officers who wrote to the Prime Minister in February 2025 highlighting the damage to the Aravalli range as a result of mining and other activities, urged the government at the Centre and in the four Aravalli states to take urgent steps to protect Aravalli. Allowing mining in an eco-sensitive zone such as Sariska can have serious long-term harmful impacts on its flora & fauna. Blasting and mining activities hugely put the wildlife at risk, said Singh. In 2004, poaching resulted in the killing of 28 tigers in Sariska, and their number was reduced to zero. Later, tigers were relocated to Sariska from Ranthambore. After many years of successful conservation efforts, the tiger count in Sariska stands at a historic high of 49. In 1992, the government regulated development activities in the Aravallis spanning across the Gurgaon and Alwar districts of Haryana and Rajasthan through notifications. Later, in 2018, the Centrally Empowered Committee report had revealed that mining had razed 31 Aravalli hills of Alwar district to the ground. The government and the Supreme Court must scrap the ecologically disastrous proposal to redraw boundaries of Sariska which is not in the interest of protecting our national animal and instead benefits the miners, said Dr Rajendra Singh, a water conservationist from Rajasthan.

Watch: Umayalpuram explains how to play for the stalwarts of Carnatic music

Recalling his experience with Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, he said the veteran often sang in madhyama kalam, and sometimes the mridangam player had to establish the tempo before he began the kriti.

Haryana govt orders suspension of mobile internet, ban on non-veg ahead of Braj Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana Government ordered suspension of mobile internet and the bulk SMS services in Nuh district for 24 hours and a complete ban on the sale of non-vegetarian food ahead of the Braj Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra on Monday, The orders have been issued by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Haryana. The internet services will be suspended for twenty hours from 9 pm on July 13 till 9 pm on July 14. The SMS facility related to baking and mobile recharge will continue as before. As per orders issued by the district administration, a complete ban has been imposed on the sale, display, and public handling of meat, fish, or any kind of non-vegetarian food items along the yatra route from Nalhad Mahadev Temple to Jhir Keshwar Mahadev Temple (Ferozepur Jhirka) and up to Singar Temple (Singar). A ban has also been ordered in the areas surrounding these three religious sites. This restriction will be effective only on July 14. All concerned shopkeepers, vendors, and food establishments are directed to strictly comply with this order. Deputy Commissioner Vishram Kumar Meena said the district administration has held meetings with the organising committee, the district-level peace committee, trade associations, and prominent individuals to communicate all arrangements and contingencies for the Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra. He said that, to ensure smooth conduct and law and order during the Brij Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra on July 14, major traffic changes are expected in several parts of the Nuh district. All the schools in the district will be closed as a precautionary measure. In the interest of student safety and convenience, all government and private schools in the Nuh district will remain closed on Monday, July 14. The District Education Officer has been directed to ensure compliance with the orders, he said. Meena informed that 24 Duty Magistrates have been appointed at various locations, with 12 kept in reserve. Along with each DSP, one Duty Magistrate has been deployed. The heavy vehicles coming from Alwar (Rajasthan), Gurugram, Delhi, Tawadu, and Hodal will be rerouted on July 14. One duty magistrate has been appointed at each of the district's 14 police stations, two at each of the three temples, three with the yatra procession, one at every toll plaza and five magistrates have been kept in reserve. A ban has been imposed on the use of drones, microlights, aircraft, gliders, power gliders, hot air balloons, kite flying, Chinese microlights, and fireworks on July 13 and 14. He further said that orders have been issued to prohibit the open sale of petrol and diesel during the yatra throughout the district. Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar said that 22 units of police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in the district for the Yatra, which include mounted police, dog squads, and bomb squads. Night-vision drones will be used for nighttime surveillance. Cow vigilante Bittu Bajrangi, who was also accused in the 2023 Nuh violence, has been denied permission and his social media accounts have been suspended. On July 31, 2023, two home guards were killed, and at least 15 others including several policemen, were injured as a mob in Nuh tried to stop a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession, pelting stones and setting cars on fire. The BJP government in the state then led by Manohar Khattar, had drawn sharp criticism from the opposition parties over the violence.

Not interested in direct elections anymore: Union Minister Jual Oram

SAMBALPUR: Veteran BJP leader and Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram on Saturday announced he would no longer contest direct elections. The younger generation, he said, should be given more opportunities in Odisha's political landscape. Interacting with the media following his visit to the Rozgar Mela in Sambalpur, Oram said he may be chosen as Governor or nominated to Rajya Sabha but will not take part in direct elections anymore. I have contested elections 10 times during my career - eight times as MP and twice as MLA. I am not willing to contest direct elections anymore, he said. However, he clarified that he is not considering formal retirement from politics. I may be sent to the Rajya Sabha or appointed as a Governor by the party. In any case, I will continue serving my party, he added. Oram, who currently represents Sundargarh in the Lok Sabha, reiterated that while the decision to step back from electoral contests is personal, it may be revisited if the party insists. I am not retiring but it is my personal choice to not contest as an MLA or MP again. If the party disagrees and forces me to contest, I will have to reconsider my decision, he said. Oram had earlier indicated during the previous election that he would not contest either Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha polls. With his latest announcement, he has reasserted his call. The time has come to make way for younger leaders, the 64-year-old BJP stalwart said. Over the course of his political career spanning more than three decades, Oram was first elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly from Bonai in 1990 and served two terms until 1998. He entered the Lok Sabha from Sundargarh in 1998 and was re-elected in 1999, when he was inducted into the Union Cabinet as the country's first Minister of Tribal Affairs. He subsequently won the parliamentary seat in 2004, 2014, 2019, and again in 2024. He also served as state BJP president in 1997.

Gallery Gs On the Go Opens in Hyderabad with Rare Masterworks, Modern Icons, and a Talk by Manu S. Pillai

Running until July 13, the exhibition features over 40 artists across genres, schools, and regions. The Hyderabad edition offers a particularly compelling representation of regional stalwarts whose nuanced palettes and expressive forms resonate deeply with the citys discerning audience.

Mandi cloudburst: Family dead or missing, 10-month-old baby lone survivor

In a tragic cloudburst in Mandi district's Talwara village, ten-month-old Neetika is likely the sole survivor of her family. Her father's body was recovered, while her mother and grandmother remain missing. A neighbor found the infant, and authorities are opening a bank account for her as people offer assistance.

Unidentified girl found dead in Thane; police suspect murder

THANE: The body of an unidentified minor girl has been found near a construction site in Maharashtra's Thane city, police said on Sunday. A case of murder has been registered and a probe is on into it, they said. Some persons spotted the body, with a hood tightly wrapped around the girl's neck, near a road in front of a construction site in Kasarvadavali area on Saturday afternoon and alerted local authorities, an official from the police control room said. The deceased, about four feet tall and believed to be in the age group of 15 to 17 years, was dressed in a green salwar-kurta and had bangles on her wrists, the official said. The body has been sent for postmortem and photographs of the deceased have been circulated among the law enforcement agencies to aid in her identification. The Kasarvadavali police have registered a case under sections 103(1) (murder) and 238 (destruction of evidence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the official said. Thane crime branch sub-inspector Tushar Mane is leading the investigation and can be reached on the number - 9082150306 - for any information pertaining to the deceased, the police said.

Avoid littering, abstain from alcohol and caffeine, wear trekking gear: Amarnath shrine board advises pilgrims

SRINAGAR: Ahead of the 38-day-long annual Amarnath Yatra starting from Thursday, the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has issued an advisory to yatris, asking them to respect the environment, abstain from alcoholic and caffeinated drinks, and cautioned women pilgrims to avoid wearing sarees during trekking. The 38-day-yatra will start from both routes --- traditional Pahalgam route in south Kashmir and shortest Baltal route in central Kashmir --- on July 3 and conclude on August 9. The first batch of pilgrims was flagged off from base camp in Jammu by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday morning. The pilgrims will reach base camps in Baltal and Pahalgam today, and will begin their journey to the Amarnath cave tomorrow. The SASB issued Dos and Donts for the pilgrims. In its advisory, the SASB has advised the pilgrims undertaking the yatra to respect the environment. Please respect the environment and do nothing whatsoever to pollute the Yatra area. Please do not throw used plastic bottles and other garbage in the open, the advisory stated. In the first 20 days of Amarnath pilgrimage last year, about 200 tonnes of waste was collected from both the yatra routes. Do not do anything during your entire forward/return journey which could cause pollution or disturb the environment of the Yatra area. Use of plastics is strictly banned in the State and is punishable under law, the SASB advised the pilgrims. The pilgrims were also asked not to drink alcohol, caffeinated drinks or smoke during the yatra. The pilgrims have also been advised not to commence yatra on an empty stomach. Please do not overexert during the Yatra beyond your normal capacity. Free food facility is available in the entire Yatra area at the langars. Please consume plenty of carbohydrates and follow the prescribed food menu during the yatra, the SASB told the pilgrims. The women pilgrims have been advised to avoid wearing Saree during trekking. Women should wear Salwar Kameez, Pant-Shirt, Track suit or any recommended clothing suited for trekking on high altitude during the yatra, the SASB advisory read. The pilgrims were requested to wear appropriate trekking garments because there are steep rises and falls on the route to the Amarnath Cave and asked pilgrims to wear trekking shoes only. Do carry an umbrella, wind cheater, raincoat, and waterproof shoes as the weather in the Yatra area is unpredictable, the pilgrims have been advised. The yatris have also been asked to not attempt any shortcuts and walk only on the track and never stop at places which are marked by warning notice. Travel in groups with porters, horses, ponies and ensure they remain in your sight. Please help your fellow Yatris on the tracks. The Amarnath cave is located at around 12,800 feet, please take precautions in view of high-altitude sickness and avoid overnight stay at the Cave. Do not ignore the symptoms of high-altitude sickness. Walk slowly while ascending, relax at regular intervals and descend immediately to lower elevation in case of any symptom of sickness, discomfort during the Yatra and seek nearby Medical help, the pilgrims have been advised. The yatris have been asked to wear a Unique RFID tag on their neck at all times during the yatra for safety and security.

Anderson Peters pulls out of Neeraj Chopra Classic

The 27-year-old Grenada stalwart, who had taken the bronze medal behind Neeraj at the Paris Olympics last year, has been replaced by Poland's Cyprian Mrzygd in the event schedule for Saturday

Indian Navy commissions latest frigate INS Tamal

NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy on Tuesday commissioned INS Tamal(F71), a multi-role stealth guided missile frigate at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia. INS Tamal is the eighth multi-role stealth frigate in the series of Project 1135.6 and the second of the additional follow-on Tushil class of ships. The first ship of Tushil class (INS Tushil) was commissioned on 09 Dec 24 in the presence of the Defence Minister. The Indian Navy in a statement said, All seven ships inducted thus far are part of the Western Fleet - 'The Sword Arm' of the Indian Navy under the Western Naval Command. This ceremony marks the formal induction of INS Tamal into the Indian Navy. The ship is commanded by Capt Sridhar Tata, a gunnery and missile warfare specialist. Vice Admiral (VAdm) Sanjay Jasjit Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command was the Chief Guest at the commissioning ceremony. In his address, the Chief Guest, V Adm Sanjay Jasjit Singh noted that the commissioning of Tamal into the Indian Navy marked a significant milestone in the country's maritime defense capabilities and Indo-Russian Cooperation. Vice Admiral Singh commented that INS Tamal joins the illustrious list of Talwar, Teg, and Tushil class of ships, renowned for their dependability and prowess. Though being built in Russia, the ship has 26% indigenous components , including the BrahMos long-range cruise missile and Humsa-Next Generation (NG) Sonar system, Singh added. Tamal is the 51st ship being produced under India, Russia collaborative effort in the past 65 years. The construction of the next two ships of the class in India further enhances the scope, potential and wide horizon in harnessing and synergising mutual strengths and joint capabilities. He concluded his address by emphasising that the Indian Navy stands as a credible, capable, cohesive, and future-ready force ready to meet any challenges anytime, anywhere. As per Navy, INS Tamal is a formidable moving fortress at sea and is designed for blue water operations across the spectrum of naval warfare in all four dimensions ie. air, surface, underwater and electromagnetic. The construction of the warship began with its launch on 24 February 2022. She sailed for her maiden sea trials Nov 2024, and completed an exhaustive schedule of Factory Trials State Committee Trials and the Delivery Acceptance Trials, both in harbour and at sea, by Jun 2025. The ship has successfully carried out trial firing of all her Russian weapon systems including the vertical launched surface to air missile Shtil-1, artillery weapons and torpedoes. Elaborating on the weapons systems, Indian Navy said, Tamal punches well above her weight with Dual role BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, vertically launched surface to air missile with extended ranges, the standard 30 MM Close in Weapon System, the 100 MM Main gun and very potent Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) rockets and heavyweight torpedoes. Tamal is an amalgamation of Indian and Russian technologies with a host of state of the art communication and network centric operational capabilities. The complement of advanced electronic warfare suite and advanced EO/IR systems adds ears and eyes to this potent platform. The highly versatile combat management system fuses all weapons and sensors into an effective fighting machine. The ship is also capable of embarking the upgraded Anti-submarine and Airborne Early Warning helicopters, the Kamov 28 and Kamov 31, which are formidable force multipliers, the Navy added. The ship has been equipped with complex automated systems for nuclear, biological and chemical defence, including damage control and fire-fighting that can be operated centrally from sheltered posts. These complex systems aid in minimising casualties, achieve rapid restoration of combat effectiveness, enhancing combat capability and survivability. INS Tamal is manned by a crew of about 250 sailors and 26 officers. The officers and sailors of this ship embody the ships motto - Sarvatra Sarvada Vijaya (Victory always everywhere) , signifying Tamal's undying commitment to operational excellence in every mission, complementing Indian Navy's motto 'Combat Ready, Credible, Cohesive and Future Ready Force Safeguarding National Maritime Interests - Anytime, Anywhere'. The ship will soon embark on her maiden passage back to her homeport of Karwar in Karnataka. Tamal will touch various ports enroute and showcase her combat prowess. It would reach India in combat-ready conditions set to dominate maritime space.

Congress leader Kunal Patil joins BJP

MUMBAI: In a blow to the Congress in north Maharashtra, former MLA Kunal Patil, a third-generation leader who hails from a family of staunch Congress loyalists and son of ex-minister the late Rohidas Patil, on Tuesday joined the BJP. Patil, who hails from Dhule, asserted that his decision was voluntary and backed by the people. There is no pressure on me to join the BJP. I come from a tradition of public service. My supporters and voters have supported my decision. I am joining the BJP to serve the people more effectively, he told reporters after senior BJP leaders Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Ravindra Chavan, and Girish Mahajan welcomed him into the party fold. Patil lost the assembly election in November 2024 on a Congress ticket. He had previously served two terms as an MLA. His defection is seen as a significant loss for the Congress, given his family's deep-rooted association with the party for over three generations. He is the son of the late Rohidas Patil, a Congress stalwart and former state minister who held key portfolios, across successive Congress governments. In a sign of the family's importance within the party, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had visited Rohidas Patil at his residence when he was unwell in March last year and even arranged a phone conversation between him and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Kunal Patil's grandfather, Chudaman Patil, also served as a three-time MP from the Dhule Lok Sabha constituency between 1962 and 1971. Maharashtra Congress president Harshavardhan Sapkal criticised the move, calling it self-sabotaging. Patil's decision is self-harming. The BJP cannot nurture its own cadre into leadership roles, which is why it is stealing leaders from other parties. Kunal Patil comes from a proud Congress legacy. His father and grandfather were both prominent Congress figures who held key posts. They would be deeply hurt by this decision, he said. Leader of the Congress Legislature Party, Vijay Wadettiwar, said whoever wants to leave the Congress is free to do so. We will continue to work hard and strengthen the party in Maharashtra. Patil's exit follows that of former Pune MLA Sangram Thopte, another Congress loyalist, who switched to the BJP in April, further reflecting the growing attrition within the Congress's traditional base.