How a family hospital set up in 40s gave rise to a medical mandi in Ghaziabad
UTT Season 6: Dabang Delhi ease past Jaipur Patriots
Internationals Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Diya Chitale fired Dabang Delhi to a commanding 11-4 win over Jaipur Patriots in the Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) Season 6 opener in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
Indian executives are increasingly prioritizing well-being by integrating physical activity into their workday. From walking meetings to exercise snacking, leaders are finding creative ways to stay fit amidst demanding schedules. Companies are embedding wellness into their culture, promoting movement breaks and prioritizing employee health, recognizing its positive impact on decision-making and overall performance.
Delhi HC upholds Army officers termination for refusing to join religious parades
The Delhi High Court on Friday, May 30, upheld the termination of an Army officer for his consistent refusal to participate in religious regimental parades owing to his Christian faith. Commanding officer Samuel Kamalesan was dismissed from the Indian Army in 2021. In his plea, Kamalesan said that he merely sought exemption from entering the 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 .
Heeramandi Fame Sharmin Segal Welcomes Baby Boy With Husband Aman Mehta
Ankita murder case: Uttarakhand Congress demands public disclosure of 'VIP' linked to crime
DEHRADUN: Following Friday's court verdict in the Ankita Bhandari murder case , the Congress party has ramped up pressure on the Uttarakhand government, demanding immediate public disclosure of the 'VIP' linked to the crime, an appeal for the death penalty, and a thorough judicial inquiry. Party leaders have called for the immediate public identification of the VIP linked to the case, urging swift legal action against him. They also pressed the government to appeal the verdict in the Supreme Court, seeking the imposition of the death penalty for the convicted culprits. Furthermore, the party prominently raised the demand for the constitution of an independent judicial inquiry commission to conduct a fair and impartial investigation into the entire incident. While we welcome the life sentence, it falls short of true justice, Karan Mahara, President of Uttarakhand Congress, told TNIE , adding, The government's intentional laxity has ensured that the ultimate punishment was avoided, and more importantly, the VIP connected to this heinous crime remains hidden from public scrutiny. Will challenge lower court verdict in HC, seek death penalty for convicts: Ankita Bhandari's parents This entire charade was orchestrated to shield a powerful individual, said Congress spokesperson Garima Mahara Dasouni, reiterating her long-standing demand for the VIP's identity to be revealed. Notably, Congress has been protesting since the case began, consistently demanding that the VIP's name be disclosed. The Congress emphasised that o ensure complete transparency and uncover the full truth, an independent judicial inquiry commission is absolutely essential. The party vowed to continue agitation until all demands are met and true justice is delivered in the Ankita Bhandari case. The tragic Ankita Bhandari murder case, which gripped the nation, came to light on September 18, 2022. Nineteen-year-old Ankita, a receptionist at the Vanantara Resort in Yamkeshwar, Pauri district, was brutally murdered, her body later recovered from the Cheela Shakti Canal about a week after her disappearance. Disturbingly, prior to her death, Ankita had expressed concerns about the resort's activities and her own safety to her friend Pushpdeep through phone calls and chats, which revealed alarming details after her death. Police investigations subsequently revealed that Ankita was being pressured by resort owner Pulkit Arya and his associates, Ankit Gupta and Saurabh Bhaskar, to engage in immoral activities. A significant point of contention revolved around a dispute between Ankita and Pulkit Arya concerning extra service for an alleged VIP. A Special Investigation Team was formed, which, after conducting a thorough investigation, filed a comprehensive 500-page charge sheet in court, listing 97 witnesses, 47 of whom were examined during the trial. Uttarakhand: Former BJP ministers son, two others sentenced to life imprisonment in Ankita Bhandari murder case
Why facts not given to citizens, Parliament: TMC on CDS acknowledging loss of aircraft
Following CDS General Anil Chauhan's acknowledgement of aircraft losses during recent clashes with Pakistan, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has intensified its criticism of the BJP-led Centre. TMC accuses the government of withholding facts from citizens and Parliament, demanding a special session to address concerns surrounding Operation Sindoor. Gen. Chauhan emphasized rectifying tactical mistakes and conducting high-precision strikes inside Pakistani territory.
CPI (M) holds protest demanding repair of roads and UGD network
J&K ACB Arrests Patwari For Demanding Rs 10,000 Bribe In Dooru
SRINAGAR, May 31: Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau on Saturday caught a patwari red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 10,000 bribe in Dooru in south Kashmirs Anantnag district. According to a statement, the ACB received a written complaint alleging that the complainant had submitted an application in Tehsil Office Dooru, requesting for cutting/pruning chinar tree branches near his house as there were apprehensions of damage to life and property due to gusty winds. The statement reads that tehsil office [] The post J&K ACB Arrests Patwari For Demanding Rs 10,000 Bribe In Dooru appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Parents, activists protest outside government school in Station Sawalgi demanding basic facilities
Anupam Mittal, founder and Shark Tank India judge, recently shared his decision to quit his long-standing habit of smoking one cigarette a day. In a candid LinkedIn post, Mittal described it as a ritual providing 'clarity, closure, control' amidst a demanding entrepreneurial life. He humorously bid farewell to his 'situationship,' citing his role as a family man as the motivation.
Telangana ACB arrest government officer for demanding 80K bribe
Hyderabad: Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Saturday, May 31, nabbed a government officer from Rajanna-Sircilla district for demanding a bribe of Rs 80,000. Mandal surveyor Malloji Nagaraju from Yellareddypet Mandal was caught red-handed while accepting Rs 15,000 as a part of the bribe amount. Also ReadTelangana excise dept official caught red handed accepting Rs 8000 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 .
Delhi High Court affirms Military Code over religious exemptions
Reaffirming the unity and discipline of the armed forces, the Delhi High Court has upheld the termination of a Commanding Officer who refused to participate in regimental weekly religious parades, citing his Christian faith.
We Were Committed To Things We Wanted To Do: Sciver-Brunt On Successful Start Of Leadership Role
Captain Nat Sciver: Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt lauded Englands dominant start under a new leadership regime after they outplayed the West Indies by 108 runs in Derby to go 1-0 up in the three-match ODI series. It was a landmark victory for the team - not just in the size of the win, but in its symbolism, as it marked a fresh chapter with Sciver-Brunt leading the side for the first time in ODIs and Charlotte Edwards beginning her tenure as head coach. The team did brilliantly. The (opening partnership) was stunning, they read conditions well, played brilliantly, accelerated really well in the middle overs and set us up for a great score, Sciver-Brunt told Sky Sports. With the change of leadership and coach (I'm most proud of) settling in as quickly as we have and really committing to the things we wanted to do - huge partnerships, top batters in towards the end of the innings. The tone was set early by Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont, who rewrote the record books with a massive 222-run opening stand - Englands highest in womens ODIs. Jones, opening the innings for the first time since 2019, repaid the team managements faith with a maiden ODI century, a knock 12 years in the making. Her fluent 122 off 121 balls, supported by Beaumonts polished 11th hundred, powered England to a commanding total and ensured a celebratory mood in the dressing room. Its pretty special, Jones said after receiving the Player of the Match award. Ive played quite a few ODIs and to finally tick off a hundred feels amazing. I was thrilled when Lottie (Charlotte Edwards) suggested opening. She backed me, and having that partnership with Tammy meant a lot. The bowlers then backed up the batters with ruthless precision. Making her 50-over debut, Linsey Smith stole the show with a five-wicket haul, becoming only the second woman to claim a five-for on ODI debut for England. The left-arm spinner, who had made her T20 debut in 2018, had waited seven years for this moment and made every delivery count. Its all a bit surreal, said the 30-year-old Smith. To make my debut and help the team win with a performance like that, Im over the moon. I never wanted to give up on my dream of playing ODIs. Ive had people remind me how long its been since my T20 debut, but Im proud I stayed the course. The bowlers then backed up the batters with ruthless precision. Making her 50-over debut, Linsey Smith stole the show with a five-wicket haul, becoming only the second woman to claim a five-for on ODI debut for England. The left-arm spinner, who had made her T20 debut in 2018, had waited seven years for this moment and made every delivery count. Also Read: LIVE Cricket Score Article Source: IANS
Former South Africa: Former South Africa batter AB de Villiers backed his former IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to lift their maiden title this year after securing their berth for the summit clash with a commanding win over Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 on Thursday. This year, RCB have been in stellar form and have not lost a single away game so far in the season. They finished the league stage with 19 points to seal the second spot in the points table. Virat Kohli and Phil Salt have been leading the run-scoring for the franchise with 614 and 387 runs respectively. The duo has been supported by middle-order batters including captain Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma and Krunal Pandya. On the bowling front, Josh Hazlewood is the leading wicket-taker for the side with 21 scalps in 11 games while Krunal Pandya (15 wickets), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (15 wickets) and Yash Dayal (12 wickets) are also contributing in tandem to make them a balanced unit. I'm very happy that RCB is in the final. We saw MI winning last night, so it'll be a very good qualifier too, knockout match between Punjab and MI. Looking forward to that one, and whoever deserves it will play RCB in the final, so I'm very much looking forward to the final and hopefully, this will be the year for RCB, De Villiers told reporters in Mumbai. The legendary batter backed Punjab Kings to play the final against RCB but remains sceptical after watching Mumbai Indians' dominance against Gujarat Titans to knock them out of the tournament on Friday. I said quite a while ago, about a month ago, that Punjab and RCB will be in the final. MI looked very strong right now, so it looks like the odds are against my call, but it is still cricket. You never know. It is a knockout match. It takes one or two great performances to turn the pressure onto your opposition. So I think it's still going to be Punjab, but I've got a little bit of doubt now in my mind after watching last night's game, he said. The legendary batter backed Punjab Kings to play the final against RCB but remains sceptical after watching Mumbai Indians' dominance against Gujarat Titans to knock them out of the tournament on Friday. Also Read: LIVE Cricket Score Article Source: IANS
Environmentalists demand full disclosure of hazardous waste leakages from MSC Elsa 3
Following the sinking of a Liberian cargo ship, MSC Elsa 3, off the Kerala coast, environmentalists are demanding immediate and transparent disclosure of the nature and quantity of the chemicals involved, as well as their impact on the coastal ecosystem and fisheries. They are also calling for urgent measures to protect marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of fisherfolk. Reports indicate that the sunken ship was carrying hazardous materials, including highly reactive calcium carbide, furnace oil, and diesel, which may have leaked into the sea, creating an oil slick. The global network of environmental group, Friends of the Earth (FoE), has expressed concern over the shipwreck of the Liberian cargo ship and the reported spillage of oil and hazardous chemicals off the Kerala coast. Reports indicate that floating containers are drifting toward the southern coasts, particularly Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram and Kanyakumari, raising serious environmental and livelihood concerns, said Sarath Cheloor National Coordinator, FoE-India. According to the FoE assessments, the sunken commercial ship was carrying 640 containers at the time of the incident, including 13 containers with hazardous cargo and 12 with calcium carbide. The ship was also carrying 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil, which may have leaked into the sea, creating an oil slick. Shore cleanup steps up in Kanniyakumari as container from sunken MSC Elsa III washes ashore Calcium Carbide is highly reactive with seawater, produce acetylene gas, which is highly flammable and can cause explosions, said Cheloor. He further said the oil spill, chemical leaks and plastic pollution pose a direct threat to marine life, potentially harming fish and marine animals and destabilising the delicate marine ecosystem. Activists want compensation from the ship owner under the international laws. According to the 1992 International Civil Liability Convention, strict liability must be imposed on the shipowner for any pollution arising from the ship and any damage caused to natural resources or human health. The 1993 Braer incident, the 2006 Solar 1 shipwreck near Guimaras Island in the Philippines, the 2007 Hebei Spirit incident in South Korea, and the 2011 TK Bremen shipwreck in Lorient, France, are all examples where compensation was obtained from shipowners for damage caused to local communities and the marine environment due to ship-related pollution, said Cheloor. Environmentalists demand compensation to fishing communities for lost fishing days in addition to the formulation of safety protocols and an emergency response mechanism. FoE is a global network of environmental organizations, with over 70 national groups and a presence in 73 countries.It advocates to address issues like climate change, industrial pollution, and social injustice. Tamil Nadu CM Stalin reviews environmental impact of MSC ELSA 3 shipwreck
Woman dies after spinal cord surgery at private hospital, kin protest in Telangana
NIZAMABAD: Angry relatives of a 35-year-old woman staged a protest at a private hospital here on Friday, accusing doctors of negligence following her death while undergoing treatment for spinal cord surgery. Police were deployed at the hospital to control the situation as tensions flared between the grieving family and hospital staff. The deceased, A Kavitha, a resident of Padgal village in Velpur mandal, was admitted to the hospital on May 28. She underwent surgery the next day. She passed away in the early hours of Friday at 7.45 am, with doctors attributing her death to post-surgical bleeding. However, her family refused to accept the explanation, claiming medical negligence and demanding compensation and justice. Hospital authorities insisted they followed proper medical protocols and urged the family to file a formal police complaint if they suspected wrongdoing. Circle Inspector G Ganapathi of Nizamabad Town Police said that Kavitha was the wife of Rural Medical Practitioner (RMP) A Suresh and that the doctors were known to him. Police assured the family that they would register a case if they lodged a complaint, conduct a postmortem on the body, and the entire process would be photographed.
Tamil Nadu arts colleges get 15K more seats, but only 252 additional guest lecturers
CHENNAI: Fulfilling its promise made in this years budget that 15,000 more seats will be created in government arts and science colleges, the Tamil Nadu governments Higher Education (HE) department issued an order last week to introduce 252 new courses in 100 colleges across TN. However, the department has asked the Collegiate Education Commissioner (CEC) to engage only temporary guest lecturers (GLs) to cater to the increased number of courses and students. Moreover, it has sanctioned less than 50% of the number of GLs sought by the CEC. As per the order, the proposal sent by the CEC to the government said that 558 GLs will be required to teach these 252 courses for the first-year students who join these courses in both first and second shifts in colleges. Consequently, the CEC has sought Rs 13.95 crore for the 2025-26 academic year to pay salaries to these GLs at the rate of Rs 25,000 per month. (GLs are not paid salaries during the two-month vacation period). However, without explicitly mentioning any reason, the order sanctioned approval for engaging 252 GLs and allotted Rs 6.3 crore for their salaries. CEC had asked for money for the total number of staff needed, but the department has allocated lesser funds because they want to manage gap with the available staff. This is unfair and it will affect the quality of teaching also, said V Thangaraj, president, All Government UGC Qualified Guest Lecturers Association, which has been demanding to increase salary of GLs for long. Of the 15,354 seats added in total, 2,008 have been added by incremental increase of seats in 173 existing courses in 29 government colleges. 203 guest lecturer posts sanctioned in 57 colleges with the addition of 10,396 seats For these, additional faculty have neither been sought by the CEC nor sanctioned by the education department. Another 10,396 seats have been added by introducing 203 new courses in second shift in 57 colleges. For these, a total of 203 GLs have been sanctioned, which is at the rate of one staff per course. Another 2,950 seats have been added by introducing 49 new courses in first and second shifts 43 colleges. For these, 49 GLs have been sanctioned. The total number of additional 252 GLs allotted for these 13,346 seats roughly translates to a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 53:1. It can be recalled that there are over 7,000 permanent faculty vacancies in government arts and science colleges across TN. Teachers alleged there has been no recruitment of faculty in government and government-aided arts and science colleges in the state for the last 10 years. After the incumbent government came to power, Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) started the recruitment process for 4,000 faculty positions, but it has not progressed due to legal hurdles and other reasons. Thangaraj said while government wants to rely solely on GLs for these new courses and seats instead of filling vacancies, it is also not ready to pay them a decent salary. He expressed disappointment that their demand for increasing their salary and to pay salary for the two months of vacation, during which they are asked to work for exam paper evaluation and other work, has not been met. CEC E Sundaravalli and senior officials of HE department could not be reached for a comment by TNIE on Friday.
What's on your cosy reads list?
It is a truth universally acknowledged that anyone weary of endless scrolling may find far greater delight in a modest volume even if its on a Kindle than in any glowing device designed to distract. From Jane Austens drawing rooms to Mary Olivers meadows, readers find peace in words that see them, hold them, and most wonderfully ignore their phones. Whether in Murakamis silent cafs or beneath Tolstoys snowdrifts, the ultimate accomplishment remains: turning pages into peace. For many, a cosy read is less about genre and more about feeling. Sharon Pothigai, a corporate lawyer, calls it a reaffirmation of lifes beauty. Architect Subhiksha Thiagarajan links it to nostalgia, now tinged with an appreciation for melancholy. Varshini, a creative strategist, finds comfort in books that make her feel held and seen even those as quietly unsettling as Murakamis. For me, a cosy read is literature rooted in my homeland Andhra, in Telugu. While I mostly read translations, Im drawn to short stories that feel domestic and lighthearted, yet offer fresh insights about where I come from, shares K Samuel Moses Srinivas, an assistant professor. For Salmaa Gafoor, a business professional, it is a retreat into familiar worlds: Jane Austens wit or JK Rowlings magic (barring the queerphobia). Sam, a social scientist, sees it as any book that rekindles their love for reading light or heavy. The evolution While some readers tastes have evolved, others have remained constant. Writer Usha Jesudasan says shes shifted from seeking comfort in romance to craving books that inspire action. Rohith, a doctor, once preferred slow, restful prose but now turns to works that illuminate lifes confusions. An anonymous poet and doctor reflects on how their idea of a cosy read has evolved over time: Ive shifted from conventional reads like the Dalai Lama, Khalil Gibran, and Jonathan Livingston Seagull, to voices like Rumi, Paulo Freire, Maya Angelou, and bell hooks. It mirrors my journey into the political, the mystical, and the exploration of identity. Yet for others like Sibi Maran, a business excellence professional, cosy reads remain constant. He has always returned to Russian novels like The First Teacher . In a world demanding constant engagement, a cosy read offers rare respite a return to slowness and presence. Whether its the joy of revisiting an old favourite or the thrill of discovering a new voice, these books remind us of readings quiet power. As Varshini puts it: The point is to return. Masters of cosiness When asked who writes the cosiest reads, responses varied: Mary Oliver (Sharon): Soul-soothing poetry Jane Austen (Salmaa): Wit and warmth Gabriel Garca Mrquez (Varshini, Rohith): Lyrical storytelling Na Muthukumar (Subhiksha): Heartfelt Tamil columns Agatha Christie & PG Wodehouse (Mignonne): Comforting worlds It's story time Each reader crafts their own ritual some curl up under warm lamplight, others burrow into beds, or steal quiet moments between tasks. The rituals are as personal as the books themselves. Sharon Pothigai: Outdoors among wildflowers, in comfy home clothes Sibi Maran: In his personal library, with black coffee Subhiksha Thiagarajan: In bed, pencil in hand and a coffee nearby Varshini: Fresh coffee, underlined margins Salmaa Gafoor: At her favourite caf with an iced tea Yadhu Krishnan: Bedside a lamp watching reels in between chapters Usha Jesudasan: Pencil/highlighter ready for inspiration Mini Pant Zachariah: Pillowed bed and a cup of tea K Samuel Moses Srinivas: Campus walks or while invigilating, always with coffee Rohith: With his phone turned off, sitting in a quiet corner SP Praveen Raj: Beanbag or sofa with snacks at arms reach Sam: Marathon binge-reading sessions Anonymous: Daily Poem-a-Day feed on Instagram Mignonne Dsouza: No fixed ritual You have to snatch time for reading The book list Each book here offers a pocket of warmth some gentle, others grounding, but all deeply immersive. Epistolary & Memoir 84, Charing Cross Road by Helen Hanff The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony Classics & Literary Fiction Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Works by Oscar Wilde Contemporary & Global Fiction A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garca Mrquez Sumithra by Kalpatta Narayanan (trans. K.V. Shylaja) Mann Kattiyai Kaatru Adithu Pogadhu by Fazu Aliyeva Fantasy & Magical Realism Harry Potter series by JK Rowling The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab Historical Fiction & Dark Academia The First Teacher by Chinghiz Aitmatov Fortitude by Vera Ketlinskaya Man-Eaters of Kumaon by Jim Corbett Life of Pi by Yann Martel Babel, or the Necessity of Violence by RF Kuang Poetry, Essays & Creative Non-fiction Collected Aphorisms by Eduardo Galeano A Field Guide to Getting Lost by Rebecca Solnit Daily Meditations by Richard Rohr Emergence Magazine Multiform stories exploring ecology and culture. Poem-a-Day by A daily dose of diverse poetry (Poets.org). Dog Songs by Mary Oliver Anilaadum Mundril Na Muthukumar And Our Faces, My Heart, Brief as Photos by John Berger Bala Kandam by Na Muthukumar Short Stories & Novellas The Greatest Telugu Stories Ever Told from Aleph The Truant by Dada Hayat Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garca Mrquez Mystery & Humour At Bertrams Hotel, 4.50 from Paddington, The Hollow by Agatha Christie Jeeves & Wooster stories by P.G. Wodehouse Drama Arcadia by Tom Stoppard Manga, Webtoons & Comics Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku Nan Hao & Shang Feng One Piece Tamen De Gushi Komi Cant Communicate Vagabond, Vinland Saga, Berserk
'Pak's dangerous game of terror over': Defense minister Rajnath Singh
Defence minister Rajnath Singh asserted that Pakistan's long-standing support for terrorism is over, demanding the handover of terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar. He warned that another terror attack would be considered an act of war, highlighting India's readiness to employ any means necessary to eliminate terrorism.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs will provide doorstep access to diagnostic tests
Delhis Health Minister promisesample medicine supply, expansion of maternal care, dialysis, and integrated wellness management in Capital
Karun nears a double century, Sarfaraz silences critics as India A post 409/3
Karun Nair's elegant, unbeaten 186 powered India A to a commanding 409/3 against England Lions on the first day of their 'Unofficial' Test. Sarfaraz Khan contributed a vibrant 92, while Dhruv Jurel added an unbeaten 82, further solidifying India A's dominant position. The Lions' bowling attack struggled on a docile pitch, failing to contain the Indian batsmen.
MGNREGA workers protest in Kalaburagi demanding payment of pending wages
Tribal communities stage protest demanding inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes category in the U.T.
Haryana: Citizens' report calls for 'no-go' zones for mining in the Aravallis
CHANDIGARH: A citizens' report has been submitted to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, demanding the declaration of 'NO-GO' areas for mining and stone crushing in the Aravallis. It also calls for a law that classifies the destruction of this ancient mountain range as an ecological crime in Haryana. The report, titled State of the Haryana Aravallis: Citizens Report Part 1, was submitted by the environmental collective 'People for Aravallis'. It outlines the status of the Aravalli range across seven Haryana districts, Nuh, Faridabad, Gurugram, Rewari, Mahendergarh, Charkhi Dadri and Bhiwani. The report highlights that due to rampant mining (both licensed and illegal), deforestation, encroachments, and diversion of Aravalli land for various projects, the two-billion-year-old range is on the brink of extinction. Neelam Ahluwalia, Founder Member of People for Aravallis, said, This report is the first in the series of reports that our group is sharing with our elected representatives and bureaucracy, on the dismal health of our lifeline which is vital for clean air and water security. In the backdrop of the Supreme Court this week expressing serious concern over continuing illegal mining across the 670-kilometre Aravalli range and giving the Centre-led Committee a final two-month deadline to arrive at a uniform definition of the ecologically crucial mountain range, this report highlights the extremely worrying status of the Aravalli hills and forests in Haryana, she said. She added that the destruction has resulted from a lack of legal safeguards and ground-level protection, with significant consequences for the environment and public health in the region. Dr R.P. Balwan, Retired Conservator of Forests, South Circle Haryana, stated, In the report we have showcased in detail how licensed mining and stone crushing units across the Haryana Aravallis have been flouting rules and regulations, and how illegal mining continues brazenly in most districts in various ways. It also states how out of the seven districts where the Aravallis are present in Haryana, in two districts, licensed mining operations have wiped out most of the two-billion-year-old range. Only a few small hillocks stand in the name of the mighty Aravallis in Bhiwani district! he said. He further noted, The policy decision to allow mining in all the Aravalli hills in Charkhi Dadri district in 2015, other than one hill range which comes under the Aravalli plantation project, has over the last decade resulted in the near annihilation of one of the oldest geological features in the world in this district. Citing a specific case, Dr Balwan added, In Rajawas village in Mahendergarh district, where the Aravalli area was designated as Protected Forest under the Nicobar Swap, in a serious case of illegality, 24 per cent of this PF land was auctioned for mining in 2023. This area is extremely rich in biodiversity with native tree species like Khair, Dhok, Rohida, Dhoodi, Khejri, Hingot, Kair, and some endangered tree species like Guggul, Jaal and Salar. It is also a habitat for many endangered and vulnerable wildlife species such as the rare Rusty Spotted Cat, Leopard, Striped Hyena, Indian Small Civet, Bengal Monitor Lizard, Owl, and Eagle, he said. The report identifies over 60 documented locations and hotspots of illegal mining across the Mahendergarh, Nuh and Gurugram Aravallis, stressing the urgent need for surveillance, protection, and ecological restoration. Indias National Capital Region and Haryana state will soon become a desert and water-starved at the current rate of destruction of the Aravalli hills, which serve as the only shield preventing the expansion of the Thar desert into Haryana and Delhi-NCR, warned Balwan. Dr Rajendra Singh, renowned water conservationist from Rajasthan, added, All the demands made in this report, especially the creation of NO-GO areas for mining and stone crushing, are a must to be implemented to save what is left of the Aravalli hills and centuries-old forests across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi. Our elected leaders in the Aravalli states and at the Centre should also consider introducing a law that makes destruction of Aravallis an ecological crime punishable in the strictest way possible so that people indulging in illegal activities know that they will be severely punished, he added. This law should also be applicable to government officials failing to protect the Aravalli range crucial for human, cattle and wildlife health; agricultural productivity; climate modulation, as North West Indias only barrier against desertification, our pollution sink and critical water recharge zone, Singh said.
'Any attack on civilians, border, army will be responded strongly': Amit Shah in Poonch
SRINAGAR: Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said it was for the first time that Indian forces had targeted and destroyed terrorist headquarters in Pakistan, marking a strong response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. Shah made the remarks during his visit to Jammu and Kashmirs border district of Poonch, which has been worst hit by Pakistani shelling. Shah, who arrived in Jammu on a two-day visit yesterday, travelled to Poonch district this morning. Poonch bore the brunt of Pakistani shelling during four days of skirmishes between Indian and Pakistani militaries following the May 7 Operation Sindoor . At least 13 civilians were killed, 75 others injured and hundreds of houses and structures were damaged in the cross-border shelling. The Home Minister visited the district to meet border residents affected by the shelling and assess the damage caused. He handed over appointment letters to the next of kin of families who lost their members in the Pakistani shelling. Pakistan targeted civilian areas and religious places in J&K, Shah said while addressing a gathering in Poonch, praising the courage shown by the people of the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir, from Uri in north Kashmir to Poonch and Rajouri in the Jammu region. Ahead of Amit Shahs Poonch visit MLA calls government relief for Pak shelling victims joke Referring to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, where 25 tourists and a local pony-wala were killed, Shah described the incident as a cowardly attack on innocent people. The Prime Minister Narendra Modis policy is that every terror attack will be responded to severely. As per the policy, we launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 evening and targeted terror camps in PoK and Pakistan and destroyed them to avenge the Pahalgam attack, Shah said. He added that, for the first time, Indian forces had successfully targeted and destroyed terrorist headquarters inside Pakistan. This was a befitting reply from the people of India, and it was possible due to the PM's leadership, credible intelligence from agencies, and the bravery and precision of the Indian army. He further stated that hundreds of terrorists were killed in the Indian attack on the terror headquarters. Taking a dig at Pakistan, Shah said, India attacked terrorists, but Pakistan took it as an attack on itself and showed the world that it was supporting terrorists and had turned into a safe haven for terrorism. He added that no military installation was targeted, and not a single civilian suffered injuries in the Indian strike on terror camps in Pakistan. The Home Minister said that in frustration, Pakistan retaliated the next day by targeting civilian areas in J&K. Poonch was the worst hit, and it was for the first time since Azadi that Poonch came under such intense Pakistani shelling. Pakistani troops targeted civilian areas and religious places including Gurudwaras, Mandirs and Masjids, he said, adding, Today, the whole world is condemning the Pakistan attack. At least 18 civilians, including 13 in Poonch, 3 in Rajouri, one in Uri and one in Jammu, were killed in the Pakistani shelling. When Pakistan targeted our civilian areas and civilians, the Indian army responded and gave a strong and befitting reply. It damaged nine air bases of Pakistan, which eventually forced them to agree to a ceasefire, Shah said. Sending a clear message, the Home Minister asserted that India would not tolerate any attack on civilians, the army or the border. India will not tolerate any type of attack and will give a precise and strong reply. Our military has already done it, he said. Our army and our security forces are capable enough to respond strongly to everything. Shah also reiterated that J&Ks development would not be halted. The speed with which the development of J&K has started since 2014 will continue. It (development) will continue with the same speed, he said. On the occasion, Shah announced that the Government of India would announce a special package for shelling-affected border residents of J&K. He also announced that more underground bunkers would be constructed to ensure the safety of border residents.
Picking the best tablet means more than just choosing a screen size or a particular brand its about finding the right balance of power, portability and features that match your lifestyle. Whether youre looking for a casual couch companion for web browsing or a powerful laptop replacement for work and creativity, theres a great tablet out there for everyone. From premium models with stunning OLED displays or Liquid Retina displays, to more affordable picks that still offer plenty of versatility, today's best tablets are more capable than ever. Devices like the Apple iPad Air now come with USB-C ports and a variety of storage options, while Android and Windows models offer different operating system experiences to suit your personal preference. Whether you want a compact tablet for travel or a larger screen for productivity and streaming, weve rounded up the top performers to help you find the right fit. Table of contents Best tablets for 2025 Important things to consider before buying a tablet How we test tablets Other tablets we tested Tablet FAQs Tablet accessories Best tablets for 2025 Important things to consider before buying a tablet Before you start looking at specific devices, the number one thing you should do is figure out what you plan to use your new tablet for. Thats because if all you need is something to keep a kid busy, buying a brand new Apple iPad Air or iPad Pro doesnt make a ton of sense. On the flip side, if you want to use a tablet for video editing or drawing, youll need to take things like performance, versatility and stylus support more seriously especially if you're considering using it as a laptop replacement. Youll also want to think about stuff like how often you plan on traveling with the device and if its more for productivity, or for less demanding stuff like web browsing or streaming shows. Theres also an important trade-off to consider when it comes to battery life as well. Larger devices tend to have longer runtimes, though an increase in size may make it less portable. How we test tablets When evaluating different tablets, there are a few important things we look for above all else: solid performance, a good screen and long battery life. For performance, we run a handful of synthetic tests like Geekbench 6, while also performing a number of hands-on, real-world use cases such as editing photos and playing games. And with tablets often serving as hybrid devices, we also consider how easy it is to multitask and switch quickly between various apps. The more responsive a device feels, the better. Because a tablets display is such a critical component, we also view a wide range of content to gauge things like brightness, color gamut and dynamic range. Its important to take into account the difference between various panel types like OLED, which typically produce richer colors and excellent contrast but may not be as bright as a mini LED display. Recently, refresh rate has become an increasingly important spec as 90Hz and 120Hz screens can make scrolling smoother and graphics appear sharper in games. We also consider a tablets design (including things like size, weight and water resistance), its connectivity (WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, 5G, et cetera) and special features like stylus support or the ability to serve as a secondary display. Thats because, while tablets were often viewed as content consumption devices in the past, higher-end devices like the Surface Pro and iPad Pro are more than capable of replacing a laptop for a lot of people. Finally, we test battery life by running our standard local video rundown test, which involves playing a single video on a loop from 100 percent until it runs out of juice. Ideally, a tablet should be able to last an entire working day, but longer runtimes are always welcome especially for users relying on them for productivity, entertainment and storage options on the go. Other tablets we tested Apple iPad mini Apple updated the iPad mini for 2024 with some under-the-hood changes including a new processor and additional RAM to help support Apple Intelligence features. While the iPad mini is one of the best iPads you can buy, its small size makes it a bit niche. Only if you prefer your tablet be the size of an ereader should you consider this one. Google Pixel Tablet The Google Pixel Tablet excels as a smart display rather than a simple tablet. As the latter, it's unexciting, but when paired with its speaker/charging dock, it becomes much more useful. It could be a good option for those that already live within the Google ecosystem and use the Google Assistant often, or those who like the idea of a tablet that can be docked and used as a smart display as well. OnePlus Pad The solid OnePlus Pad is let down by Android because there aren't many Android apps designed to be used on a large display like this model's 11.6-inch panel. Otherwise, the hardware is well-designed, its companion stylus is comfortable to use and it has an excellent battery life. Tablet FAQs What is the best brand for tablets? The best brand for tablets is really the brand you feel most comfortable with. We recommend taking stock of the gadgets you already have do you live in the Apple ecosystem already? An iPad might be best for you then. Do you have a Samsung phone? If so, a Galaxy Tab will likely be the most convenient choice. There is no one est brand for tablets; youll find good options made by companies including Apple, Google, Samsung, Microsoft and Amazon. Can a tablet replace a laptop? Its possible for a tablet to replace a laptop, but youll need a few accessories to truly make the experience as close as possible to that of a traditional notebook. A keyboard is a must, be it a keyboard case or a Bluetooth accessory that you keep with you. Some keyboard cases, like apples Magic Keyboard for the iPad, have a built-in trackpad, which will be more ergonomic than tapping on your tablets screen for input. Additionally, you could go one step further and use a wireless mouse that connects via Bluetooth to your tablet. If youre primarily looking for a tablet to replace your laptop, consider buying a 2-in-1 laptop since those systems typically consist of high-powered tablets that are designed to work well with (and without) keyboards. What size screen do I need? Figuring out the best screen size for you will also be related to the kind of work (or play) you intend to do. Larger screens make it much easier to view two apps side by side, and big screens also deliver a more immersive movie viewing experience especially when paired with an OLED display or Liquid Retina display. But at the same time, the larger the tablet, the less likely youre going to want to move it around. That means youre not only going to want to take stock of your workspace (i.e., if you have a desk or instead plan to work from a couch or even your bed), but youre also going to want to think about how the device will fit into your everyday routine or commute (if you have one). Tablet accessories Finally, youll want to consider any add-ons or accessories youre planning to use, which can range from detachable keyboards to things like external mics or a stylus. The good news is that many of the best tablets nowadays offer some kind of keyboard accessory, which allows the device to function more like a 2-in-1 instead of simply being a content consumption device. Some tablets also feature things like microSD card slots that support expandable storage, or optional 4G or 5G connectivity, which can be a real boon to frequent travelers. And if youre planning to use the tablet mainly for work, you might want to grab a USB hub for connecting all your favorite peripherals so your devices dont have to fight for the charger. Recent updates May 2025: Updated to ensure our top picks and buying advice remain accurate. March 2025: Updated to include the latest base iPad in our top picks, February 2025: Updated to include clarification around our top picks and new buying advice. October 2024: We updated this list to include information on the new iPad mini 7. June 2024: We updated our top picks to include the Microsoft Surface Pro Copilot+ edition. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/tablets/best-tablets-150026056.html?src=rss
AIMC Recognized Among the Best Mass Media Colleges in India for Excellence in Media Education
Business Wire India AIMC: Where Media Minds are Made Blending academic excellence with industry-driven training in a vibrant, green campus at the heart of innovation In a world driven by narratives, visuals, and digital conversations, Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication (AIMC), Dwarka, New Delhi , stands as a beacon of excellence shaping the next generation of storytellers, journalists, and media visionaries. For over two decades, AIMC has not only kept pace with the media revolution but has often been ahead of the curve, setting standards that others aspire to match. Recognised Among the Best Mass Communication Colleges in India Consistently ranked No. 1 in Delhi among private media institutes by India Today-MDRA and The Week-Hansa Research Survey for five consecutive years, AIMC has earned its place among the best mass communication colleges in India. From winning the Platinum Icon Award by Dainik Jagran INEXT to being conferred with the Best Media Institute in North India title during the 4th Asia Pacific Education and Technology Summit & Awards 2022 jointly organised by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Education Post at Hotel Taj Vivanta, Goa. AIMC's excellence is consistently recognized by top educational institutions and media surveys. These accolades are not merely rankings they are a reflection of AIMC's deep industry engagement, robust academic vision, and unwavering commitment to student success. Founded on Vision, Grown with Purpose Established in 2003 under the visionary leadership of Mrs. Sushma Paul Berlia , Chairman, Apeejay Education, AIMC was conceived as more than an institute it was designed to be a catalyst for transformation. Today, AIMC is synonymous with credibility, career-readiness, and cutting-edge pedagogy in the media landscape. Curriculum That Mirrors Industry, Shapes Leaders AIMCs programs arent theoretical ivory towers. Every course is crafted with precision to mirror the realities of the media industry from the newsroom and the edit bay to campaign strategy and content innovation. Whether it's journalism, advertising, PR, digital media, content creation, or television production, AIMC offers an ecosystem where students learn by doing, thinking, failing, and rising much like the real world theyre preparing to enter. Industry-relevant tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut Pro, Mac Studios, and drone-based visual storytelling are integrated into the learning experience from day one. Niche subjects like OTT Management, Data Management and Backpack Journalism are included in the curriculum and teaching practices. Faculty That Inspires, Mentors That Guide The real hallmark of AIMC lies in its human capital. Led by Director Prof. Sajal Mukherjee, an acclaimed media strategist and academician, the faculty includes some of the finest minds from journalism, filmmaking, public relations, digital content, and brand communications. These are mentors who bring industry intensity into classrooms and prepare students not just for jobs but for leadership roles. Proven Placement Success AIMCs alumni speak for themselves. From leading newsrooms like NDTV, Zee News, India News, and The Indian Express, to global communication giants such as Burson, Ogilvy, McCann Erickson, Adfactors PR, Wunderman Thompson, and Josh Talks, AIMC graduates are driving change and commanding respect. This robust placement record is not by accident its the outcome of rigorous training, professional mentoring, and real-world readiness. Flagship Initiatives Shaping Future Media Leaders AIMC's emphasis on experiential learning is reflected in its hallmark courses and events. The 21-day Industry cum Academic Orientation familiarizes students with the ground realities of the media world through interactions with media professionals, thinkers and leaders. The International We Care Film Festival, organized in association with UNESCO and the UN Information Centre, is dedicated to disability rights and inclusion. Media Chaupal, Brand Culture Gully, Meet the Author, and Meet the Filmmaker are some of the events that give students different spaces to interact with issues of the real world, creativity, and inter-disciplinary thinking. Special Lecture Series and the in-house journal AIMC Byline further endorse AIMC as a complete media education campus. These initiatives help develop critical thinking and an independent thought process amongst students, making them highly skilled and emotionally intelligent media professionals. Infrastructure That Powers Ideas AIMC differentiates itself from most others due to its unparalleled infrastructure. The institute boasts a High Definition Television Studio set up for multi-camera shoots, a fully equipped Radio Studio, and Photography Studio. A Press Room dedicated to the craft of press conferences, Video Editing suites, and Advertising Labs that house Adobe Creative Suite that make the students proficient with state-of-the-art tools. The institute also has a Drone and Mac Studios. Smart classrooms, large amphitheater, 500-seater auditorium, and state-of-the-art conference hall provide the backdrop for a thriving learning environment. The 24*7 digital library boasts an invaluable collection of audio-visual materials, journals and national and international authors. A Launchpad for the Visionaries of Tomorrow If you aspire to shape public discourse, influence opinion, create content that moves minds, and build a career that resonates across platforms AIMC is where it begins. As one of the best mass communication colleges in India, AIMC combines academic depth with practical breadth, creating graduates who are ready for everything the modern media world demands and more. Admissions Now Open Take the first step towards a fulfilling and future-proof career in media. Visit www.apeejay.edu/aimc or call +91-9910-222-777 . Be curious. Be creative. Be AIMC. Where voices rise, and stories begin.
Congress Demeaning Indian Armed Forces: Union Minister Kishan Reddy
Hyderabad, May 30: Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy on Friday accused Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy of demeaning the countrys brave armed forces day in and day out. The Union Ministers comments came in response to Revanth Reddy demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi explain to 140 crore Indians how many Rafale aircraft were shot down by the Pakistani Army during the recent conflict. Not the first time Congress and [] The post Congress Demeaning Indian Armed Forces: Union Minister Kishan Reddy appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
An employee's promotion celebration turned into a night of guilt and exhaustion due to a critical work bug. His dedication to the job led to a missed dinner and a disappointed girlfriend, highlighting the emotional toll of demanding work cultures. The online community resonated with his regret, sparking a conversation about prioritizing personal life over constant work pressures.
Tamil Nadu: Farmers protest in Chennai demanding hike in sugarcane prices - ChiniMandi
Tamil Nadu: Farmers protest in Chennai demanding hike in sugarcane prices ChiniMandi
Ahead of Amit Shahs Poonch visit MLA calls government relief for Pak shelling victims joke
SRINAGAR: With Home Minister Amit Shah set to visit Jammu and Kashmirs border district of Poonch, the worst hit by Pakistani shelling after Operation Sindoor, local MLAs have termed the current relief inadequate and demanded compensation of Rs 5 to 15 lakh for damaged houses. He would also be submitting a representation to Home Minister Amit Shah demanding the construction of underground bunkers for border dwellers on priority basis. The Poonch district, including the town, remained in the line of fire of Pakistani troops for four days after Operation Sindoor. At least 13 civilians were killed and 75 others injured while hundreds of houses and structures were damaged in the cross-border shelling. The Poonch district was the worst affected by the Pakistani shelling and for the first time, the shells landed in Surankote and adjoining areas, which were considered as safe zones and had remained unaffected by cross border shelling in the past. MLA Poonch Aijaz Ahmad Jan said Pakistan troops rained shells in the border district causing damage to property and loss of lives. The MLA, who belongs to NC, said the assessment of the damage is being done by the administration and it would be completed soon. Asked whether the government relief of Rs 1.30 lakh to fully damaged houses and Rs 6500 to 10000 to fully damaged houses during cross-border shelling was sufficient, the MLA said, It was a joke. What will the border residents, whose houses have been damaged, do with the paltry sum?. It takes a minimum of Rs 10-25 lakhs to construct a house and the government should increase the compensation to the affected population. The border residents, whose houses have been damaged in shelling, should be provided a compensation between Rs 5-15 lakhs to rebuild their homes. Although this money is not sufficient, they can atleast rebuild their homes where they can live and take shelter. The border residents across J&K, whose houses were damaged in Pakistani shelling, have been demanding adequate compensation to rebuild their damaged homes. The MLA said even if a house is partially damaged in shelling, its base has been weakened after being hit by mortar or artillery shells, and it is unsafe for living. The partially damaged houses have also to be rebuilt and they should also be categorised as fully damaged houses. Jan said had border residents been having underground bunkers, the loss of lives could have been minimized. Despite people repeatedly demanding the construction of bunkers, the administration never paid heed to their pleas. The availability of bunkers would have minimised loss of lives and prevented migration from the border areas during the recent military skirmishes between India and Pakistan militaries after Operation Sindoor, he said. The MLA said he would be submitting a representation to Home Minister Amit Shah, who would be visiting the Poonch in Friday to assess the damage caused by the Pakistani shelling. We will seek immediate construction of bunkers in border areas on priority basis. The bunkers will at least give a sense of security to the border dwellers and they can take refuge in the bunkers in case of an outbreak of hostilities between India and Pakistan again, he said.
Ram Mandir: Will The Ayodhya Temple Be Closed Next Week For New Round Of Pran Pratishtha?
Hailstorm, heavy rains lash Shimla on May 30
Heavy rains were also witnessed in Solan and Mandi
May the criminals be sentenced to death, says Ankita Bhandari's mother ahead of court verdict
Ahead of the Kotdwar court's verdict in the Ankita Bhandari murder case, the victim's mother Soni Devi broke down in grief, urging the people of Uttarakhand to continue supporting the family and demanding capital punishment for those accused in the case that shook the state in 2022.
PM Modi should tell nation how many Rafales were shot down by Pakistan: Revanth Reddy
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy launched a strong attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding answers about the Rafale aircraft allegedly shot down by Pakistan during a recent conflict. Reddy questioned why Modi didn't convene an all-party meeting before halting the conflict and accused him of failing to reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Indian Premier League: As the Indian Premier League (IPL) continues to captivate millions across the country, a concerning trend is growing in its shadow the increasing influence of online betting and 'so-called fantasy platforms', often endorsed by some of the biggest names in cricket. Alarmed parents and fans are now raising serious concerns, accusing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of turning a blind eye to what many describe as a silent epidemic. From bustling metros to small towns, teenagers and young adults are falling prey to fantasy gaming and betting apps, drawn in by the lure of easy money and glitzy celebrity endorsements. The fallout is visible: financial distress, academic decline, and growing mental health struggles. Its heartbreaking. Cricket used to be about inspiration and sportsmanship. Now its pushing our youth into addiction, says Manish, a 55-year-old father from Delhi. He recently deleted three such apps from his 16-year-old sons phone after discovering the teen had lost 50,000. Why are my heroes promoting something so dangerous? he asks. Another parent voiced frustration: The BCCI is busy making money and doesnt seem to care about whats happening to our kids. Top cricketers are promoting these apps, and the board isnt stopping them. Some of these platforms are even sponsoring major tournaments. Theyre smart they call it fantasy sports, but theres real money involved, and kids get addicted thinking its a quick way to earn. One family attending a recent match was shocked to see several spectators openly placing bets on their phones. We saw teenagers on calls, placing bets live from the stadium. And there were many of them, said a parent. While law enforcement agencies have occasionally busted illegal betting networks, the more widespread threat now comes from mobile apps that operate openly under the guise of fantasy gaming sidestepping regulation while encouraging risky behavior. Critics argue that the BCCI the worlds wealthiest and most influential cricketing body must take moral responsibility. Yet, its silence has only deepened public concern, especially as prominent IPL players continue to feature in advertisements for these platforms. Public pressure is mounting. Fans and parents are demanding the BCCI take a firm stand: ban sponsorships and endorsements from these so-called gaming companies, and urge cricketers to reject such deals in favor of promoting responsible behavior. Critics argue that the BCCI the worlds wealthiest and most influential cricketing body must take moral responsibility. Yet, its silence has only deepened public concern, especially as prominent IPL players continue to feature in advertisements for these platforms. Also Read: LIVE Cricket Score Article Source: IANS
Councillor alleges corruption in Tirunelveli corporation, demands removal of commissioner
TIRUNELVELI: Tirunelveli Corporation council meeting on Thursday turned chaotic after MDMK councillor J Sangeetha staged a walkout, demanding the removal of Commissioner Dr N O Sukhaputra, blaming the latter for allegedly enabling corruption. During the meeting, chaired by Mayor G Ramakrishnan in the presence of Deputy Mayor K R Raju and the commissioner, Sangeetha alleged that a few temporary employees, with no official links to the corporation, have been executing office-related works, including computer operations. All corporation works are routed only through these individuals, resulting in rampant corruption. When I questioned this, the commissioner began targeting me with retaliatory actions, she said, before walking out of the session, demanding his removal. The situation escalated after several DMK councillors, including M Sudha of Ward 29, also criticised the administration, claiming that no developmental works have taken place in their wards since the mayor assumed office. Last month, Rs 10 lakh was announced as special funds for each ward, but the resolution is being passed only now. By the time the works begin, the Assembly elections will be announced, said Sudha. Many ruling party councillors joined in voicing their frustration over delays and a lack of transparency. M Revathi, zonal head of Thachanallur, alleged that her zone was ignored in the allotment of the newly procured three backhoe loaders. The deputy mayor, Raju, responded that he was unaware of the purchase of the machines. Neither the mayor nor the commissioner shares any information with me, he said. Refuting all the allegations, the commissioner told the council that a complaint against Sangeetha was already under investigation. He also alleged that he had received offensive text messages from her phone. Those messages are also a part of the ongoing inquiry, he said. Several officials stood up in protest, defending the commissioner. Mayor Ramakrishnan said that councillors must not bring unrelated matters into the meeting and warned them of stern action. Statue for historian As part of the meeting, several resolutions were passed, including one to instal a life-size statue of historian Tho Paramasivan near the District Central Library and another to increase the deposit fee for underground drainage connections. While the meeting was in progress, social activist R Siraj staged a sit-in protest with polluted Thamirabarani river water, alleging that sewage had been mixed into the drinking water supplied to the residents.
Woman councillor slaps opposition leader at Salem council meet
SALEM: High drama was witnessed at the Council meeting of the Salem City Municipal Corporation on Thursday as a scuffle broke out between DMK and AIADMK councillors. During a heated argument, DMKs 45th ward Councillor S Sugashini slapped the opposition council leader and AIADMK 36th ward Councillor N Yadavamoorthi. The meeting took acrimonious turn as Opposition leader Yadavamoorthi alleged that building permissions were being issued in an unfair manner and tenders were being awarded only to those close to the local minister (R Rajendran, who is the minister for tourism.) Riled, DMK councillors stood up and had an altercation with Yadavamoorthi. Some DMK councillors threw papers at him. DMK councillor Sugashini got up and went to argue with Yadavamoorthi. During the exchange of words, Sugashini slapped Yadavamoorthi on the face, leading to another bout of commotion between the councillors of AIADMK and DMK for a few minutes. Condemning the assault on Yadavamoorthi, AIADMK members sat in front of the mayors chair and held a dharna demanding disciplinary action against Sugashini as well as another woman councillor, M Pachiammal of the 35th ward, for punching Yadavamoorthi on his chest as she came in support of Sugashini. Following the scuffle, Mayor A Ramachandran left the hall after ending the meeting midway. Later, Ramachandran was admitted to the Salem Government Hospital for treatment. DMK Councillor Sugashini also got herself admitted in the same hospital,claiming she was assaulted by Yadavamoorthi. Speaking to TNIE, Yadavamoorthi said, This was an inappropriate behaviour by two women DMK councillors, particularly Sugashini. I have reported the incident to the police after getting admitted to the hospital. Mayor should take disciplinary action against the two councillors for their violent behaviour in the meeting hall. I did not attack anyone despite being slapped by Sugashini. Despite TNIE s repeated attempts to contact Sugashini and Mayor Ramachandran, they did not respond to the calls.
Illegal Ram Mandir in Karnataka's Belagavi demolished after seer held for abduction, rape
BELAGAVI: In the wake of the arrest of self-proclaimed seer Hathyogi Lokeshwar Swami for the alleged abduction and rape of a minor girl, authorities of Raibag taluk administration demolished the seers illegal ashram in an overnight operation. The structure, known as Ram Mandir Mutt, was located on survey no 225 in Mekhali village and was reportedly constructed eight years ago by encroaching approximately 8 acres of government grazing land (Gairan land). Despite its unauthorised status, the mutt continued to operate for years. Following the seers recent arrest and judicial custody, officials from the Raibag taluk administration carried out a pre-dawn demolition drive. The structure was brought down using three bulldozers. The operation included the complete demolition of the temple associated with the mutt. The crackdown was part of a broader effort to remove illegal encroachments on public land and restore accountability in the region.
England Thrash West Indies By 238 Runs In 1st ODI
Harry Brook made a winning start as England's permanent white-ball captain as the hosts hammered the West Indies by 238 runs in the first one-day international at Edgbaston on Thursday. Victory ended England's seven-match ODI losing streak and put them 1-0 up in the three-match series. The success was built on a commanding total of 400-8 -- the highest total in any ODI without a hundred -- after Jacob Bethell (82), Ben Duckett (60), Brook (58) and Joe Root (57) all made fifties. West Indies collapsed to 79-5 in reply and were eventually dismissed for 162 as their bid to become only the second side in ODI history to score more than 400 runs to win ended with more than 23 overs remaining. Last man Jayden Seales was the West Indies' top score with 29 not out, one of just three contributions above 20 in the innings. This was England's second-largest ODI win in terms of runs, exceeded only by their 242-run rout of Australia at Nottingham in 2018. Saqib Mahmood took a trio of top-order wickets Thursday on his way to 3-32, with England's impressive fielding display exemplified by the one-handed boundary catch Brydon Carse held off his fellow fast bowler to remove West Indies captain Shai Hope for 25. As Clive Lloyd, the West Indies' captain when they won the first two World Cups in 1975 and 1979, looked on from the stands, Adil Rashid took two wickets in his 150th ODI with the veteran leg-spinner ending the match when he bowled tailender Alzarri Joseph. England -- sent in to bat by Hope -- had looked as if they might fall short of a truly imposing total after several batsmen got out when well set. - Bethell runs riot - But Barbados-born left-hander Bethell, back from the Indian Premier League and on his Warwickshire home ground, continued to punish a wayward West Indies attack in which fast-bowler Seales took four wickets but conceded an expensive 84 runs in nine overs. Bethell and Will Jacks (39) put on exactly 100 runs in seven overs late on to take England from 287-5 to 387-6. The 21-year-old Bethell, still without a hundred in any form of senior cricket, fell off the first ball of the last over when he edged Seales to wicketkeeper Hope to end a 53-ball innings that included eight fours and five sixes. New ODI opener Jamie Smith scored freely on both sides of the wicket until, on 37, his hard-hit pull off first-change Alzarri Joseph was well caught at midwicket by Brandon King. Left-hander Duckett cashed-in with a 34-ball fifty before he was superbly caught by Roston Chase at backward point off seamer Justin Greaves. Duckett's exit brought in the 26-year-old Brook, appointed full-time skipper after Jos Buttler stood down as captain in February following a woeful Champions Trophy in Pakistan where England lost all three of their matches. Brook struck Greaves for two superb sixes in three balls -- a lofted off-drive followed by an audacious sweep on one knee over his shoulder. Just when Brook was ready to cut loose, he carved Seales to deep cover where Keacy Carty held a fine low catch Bethell ensured there was no respite for the bowlers, clubbing both Matthew Forde, whose eight wicketless overs went for a costly 88 runs, and Joseph for six before lofting Seales high over long-off. Also Read: LIVE Cricket Score The series continues at Cardiff's Sophia Gardens on Sunday before finishing at The Oval on Tuesday.
Spy ring accused helped Pakistan get Indian SIM cards
CHANDIGARH: Questioning of a dozen people arrested in Punjab and Haryana on charges of allegedly spying for Pakistan has revealed a new trend of their ISI handlers procuring Indian SIM cards from them to call junior-level police officers for information about Indian troop movement during Operation Sindoor, central intelligence agency sources said. The handlers reportedly impersonated senior officers from the Indian defence establishment and other agencies. They also used the SIMs to try to honey-trap officers or soldiers and blackmail them with recorded videos of sensitive information. Sources in the central intelligence agencies stated that the interrogation of the arrested individuals revealed a common factor: they all became involved in espionage activities after coming into contact with officials of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. They reportedly confessed that High Commission staff had asked them several times to procure Indian SIM cards in return for visa facilitation. ISI handlers have continuously carried out this practice of demanding SIM cards in exchange for visas at the Pakistani High Commission for the past few years, said an officer on condition of anonymity. Intelligence sources said the Pakistani modus operandi was to target less-educated individuals with relatives in Pakistan and who sought visas to visit them. Such people were asked to get SIM cards and share OTPs with them to activate the numbers. The SIMs were then reportedly used by Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) sitting across the border. All conversations with the SIMs took place over encrypted platforms, such as Telegram, Signal, or WhatsApp, so that call history was unavailable for probe agencies to use as evidence. During questioning, Guzala, one of the accused spies, admitted to meeting Ehsan-ur-Rehman alias Danish at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. She claimed to have become his informant, allegedly sharing details of army activities in exchange for money. She was arrested by the Punjab Police along with her associate Yameen Mohammad from Malerkotla for allegedly aiding Danish. Yameen, a passport and visa agent, transferred `10,000 to her. The modus operandi is that these individuals are recruited as visa agents and instructed to contact people seeking to travel to Pakistan, facilitating their visas in exchange for payment or providing information. Another method of recruiting spies was for PIOs to convince people who shifted to Pakistan from India during Partition that they would try to locate their relatives in India. Pak High Commission a common thread Sources in the central intelligence agencies stated that the interrogation of the arrested individuals revealed a common factor: they all became involved in espionage activities after coming into contact with officials of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. The staff asked them to procure Indian SIM cards in exchange for visa facilitation. Less educated with kin across border targeted Intelligence sources said the Pakistani modus operandi was to target less-educated individuals with relatives in Pakistan and who sought visas to visit them. Such people were asked to get SIM cards and share OTPs with them to activate the numbers. The SIMs were reportedly used by Pakistani Intelligence Operatives sitting across the border.
CBI Arrests Deputy Registrar Of NCLT Mumbai On Bribery Charges
The central probe agency conducted a trap operation in which Ahir was caught red handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 3 lakh on behalf of the accused deputy registrar.
Rahul Gandhi writes to PM Modi, demands relief package for Poonch residents
After visiting Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of the recently concluded conflict between India and Pakistan, Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding a solid and generous relief and rehabilitation package for those affected by Pakistani shelling in []
Bangladesh should focus on solving its governance issues instead of deflecting attention: MEA
MEA remarks come after reports that Bangladesh leader Prof. Yunus said Indian hegemony is destabilising Bangladesh, during a meeting with political parties demanding an early election in Dhaka
The best microSD cards for the Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 comes with 256GB of built-in storage, eight times more than the original Switch and four times more than the Switch OLED . But the new consoles improved performance means that some games will hog a ton of that space: Cyberpunk 2077 is a 60GB download, for one, while Split Fiction checks in at 73GB. Other titles arent nearly as big, but chances are youll eventually want to add more room to the device. When you do, youll need a microSD Express card. These are not the same as the standard microSD cards you may have bought for the first Switch or other gaming handhelds theyre newer, faster and significantly more expensive. But if you want more space, theyre your only choice . If youre looking to grab one today, weve laid out the best microSD cards for the Switch 2 and broken down what you should know before you buy. The best microSD cards for the Switch 2 (and why you might want to wait to buy) The SanDisk microSD Express Card and Lexar Play Pro. Jeff Dunn for Engadget The Switch 2 is the first mainstream device to require microSD Express for storage expansion, so there arent many options available to buy just yet. To make things easy, heres a list of every microSD Express card weve seen at retailers at the time of writing: 128GB SanDisk microSD Express Card ($56 MSRP) PNY microSD Express Card ($47 MSRP) 256GB Samsung microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60 MSRP) SanDisk microSD Express Card ($75 MSRP) Lexar Play Pro ($50 MSRP) PNY microSD Express Card ($59 MSRP) GameStop Express microSD Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60 MSRP) Onn microSD Express Card ($36 MSRP) 512GB Lexar Play Pro ($100 MSRP) GameStop Express microSD Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($100 MSRP) Onn microSD Express Card ($66 MSRP) 1TB Lexar Play Pro ($200 MSRP) GameStop Express microSD Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($190 MSRP) Remember: Youre looking for microSD Express , not Extreme, a la the branding SanDisk uses for some of its conventional microSD cards . A microSD Express card will have a big EX logo printed on it if you see that, you should be good to go. Nintendo says the Switch 2 technically supports cards with a capacity up to 2TB, but we havent seen any microSD Express model go beyond 1TB just yet. Its also worth noting that GameStop and Onn (Walmarts in-house electronics brand) arent manufacturers, so its unclear who exactly is making their cards. Currently, stock for each of these cards has been extremely spotty. SanDisks microSD Express Card has also increased in price since it first went up for sale in February; originally, it cost $45 for 128GB and $60 for 256GB. Either way, all of these cards are far pricier than traditional microSD options. The Samsung Pro Plus , for example, costs $17 for 128GB, $25 for 256GB, $43 for 512GB and $90 for 1TB as of this writing. All microSD Express cards will have this EX logo printed on them. Nintendo/Engadget Weve already tested SanDisks Express card and the Lexar Play Pro for our broader guide to the best microSD cards . Between the two, SanDisks card has much faster sequential read speeds up to 899 MB/s vs. 712 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark , to name one benchmark which theoretically makes it better equipped to reduce load times. The Play Pro is quicker for sequential writes (up to 720 MB/s vs. 650 MB/s), available in more sizes and should be cheaper at 256GB whenever its in stock. (SanDisk says the 128GB version of its card has slower sequential writes than the 256GB model, too.) Random performance is about equal, so the two should be similarly adept at keeping large games like Mario Kart World running smoothly. We mainly tested those cards on a Windows PC and Mac, though. How they perform on the actual Switch 2 remains to be seen. Well test as many options as we can once we have our hands on the console, but for now we cant say if itll render all microSD Express cards to similar speeds. That was largely the case with the first Switch: Once a (regular) microSD card hit a certain threshold of performance, there wasnt that much practical difference between it and other alternatives. The Switch 2 is working with a different standard, but if something similar were to happen again, the best microSD Express card would simply be the most affordable one from a reputable brand in the capacity you want. That brings us to our main piece of advice: If you can hold off on buying one of these things early on, thats probably a good idea. Its not just about the lack of testing truthfully, wed be surprised if any of the cards above were truly bad. It comes down to value: Barring more tariff shenanigans , all of these cards are as expensive today as theyre ever likely to get. The Switch 2 is already popular and will continue to be, thus more microSD Express cards will need to be made and prices will (eventually) come down. Try to use all 256 of the gigabytes baked into the Switch 2 first, even if it means having to delete a game or two. But if youre absolutely sure you want more space right away, the cards above should be good enough. What are microSD Express cards? A microSD Express card like the one on the right has a second row of pins on the back. Jeff Dunn for Engadget Most microSD cards are based on a standard called Ultra High Speed (UHS), of which there are three versions: UHS-I, UHS-II and UHS-III. The vast majority of cards you may have bought in the past utilize UHS-I. These have one row of pins in the back and a theoretical maximum data transfer speed of 104 megabytes per second (MB/s). (Though many cards are able to surpass that limit with proprietary tech and card readers.) The original Switch has a UHS-I microSD slot, as do most other gaming handhelds like Valves Steam Deck . UHS-II cards add a second row of pins and can reach up to 312 MB/s. These are pricier and much less common than cards based on UHS-I, but theyre supported by some cameras and higher-power handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally X . UHS-III, meanwhile, is twice as fast as UHS-II in theory (624 MB/s), but no microSD cards have actually used it. UHS-I cards have held on over the years because theyre cheap, widely supported and fast enough for the things most people need them to do: record 4K video, stash photos and so on. But with the Switch 2, Nintendo needs more . The new console is dramatically more powerful, which allows it to run demanding games that may have originally been built for stronger hardware like the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or gaming PCs. The device also uses UFS 3.1 storage internally, which is much speedier than the eMMC storage used by the original Switch. (A custom file decompression engine should help improve load times as well.) So if the Switch 2 is going to accept microSD cards, it needs ones that wont bring a serious drop-off in performance and can hold up with modern games. The Nintendo Switch 2. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Hence, SD Express. This standard has technically been around since 2018 but mostly went nowhere until the Switch 2 came along. It also uses a second row of pins, but it lets microSD cards take advantage of the PCI Express (PCIe)/NVMe interface, which is the same underlying tech used by modern SSDs . As a result, it can produce considerably faster read and write speeds, with a current theoretical maximum of 985 MB/s. As noted above, real-world performance wont be quite that fast. Even if it was, the best microSD Express cards would still be much slower than the NVMe SSDs used by the PS5 and Xbox. ( Sony recommends SSDs with sequential read speeds of at least 5,500 MB/s.) And theyll fall well below their peak speeds under sustained loads: SanDisk, for instance, says sustained write speeds for its 128GB Express card can drop as low as 100 MB/s. But theyre still a marked improvement over old UHS-I cards, and in theory, they should be quicker than some older SATA-based SSDs when it comes loading game levels, asset streaming, retrieving saves or copying games to external storage. Whereas SanDisks microSD Express card can produce sequential read speeds around 900 MB/s, Lexars Professional Silver Plus the top UHS-I pick in our general microSD card guide topped out just over 200 MB/s, and thats with a proprietary reader. (On the first Switch, itd be closer to 100 MB/s.) Sequential writes and random speeds were three to four times better as well, and sometimes even more depending on the benchmark we used. It remains to be seen how well these Express cards will hold up with extended use, and theres no way to know exactly when their sky-high prices will drop. Non-Switch 2 devices that support microSD Express are still exceedingly rare, and the standard itself isnt backwards compatible with UHS-II, so youll be limited to UHS-I speeds if you want to use your card with another device (unless you buy a pricey external reader ). Still, while the increased costs and limited selection are annoying, the tech itself seems worthy of a next-gen Switch. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/the-best-microsd-cards-for-the-nintendo-switch-2-160052535.html?src=rss
Best VPN for Mac 2025: Reviews and buying advice for Mac users
Macworld If you are concerned about your privacy and security online using a VPN could give you some reassurance. Apple provides various measures in macOS that make Macs more secure , but if you want to ensure that the connection between your Mac and the internet is protected, rather than the computer itself, you need a VPN. PROMOTION NymVPN Forget everything you know about VPN Many traditional VPN services still store logs centrally, meaning your activity could be traced back to you if theyre hacked or forced to hand over data. NymVPN is different. It uses a mixnet a decentralized network that blends your traffic with others, making it virtually impossible to trace who did what. Try NymVPN now and get 5 months free with the 2-year subscription plan! Try now! Using a VPN essentially makes you invisible on the webyour data is encrypted, your IP address is hidden, and you can even make it look like you are surfing from another country. This latter reason is the main reason many people use a VPN: they want to access services that are locked to a particular region, such as accessing U.S. Netflix from the U.K. or BBC iPlayer from the U.S. If you are looking for a VPN to protect your privacy and security online, and to grant you a way to access content as if you are in a different country, we are here to help. There are a lot of VPN providers vying for your business, which can make finding the best one to suit your needs difficult. To help you sort out the right provider for you, weve committed to extensive research and testing of VPN services that cater to Mac owners in our guide to the top VPN services for Mac. Best VPNs for Mac: Reviewed & Ranked Our top choice right now is NordVPN , which we feel stands out in many areas, from speed and privacy to unblocking and ease of use. Get NordVPN here Below you will find the VPN services for Mac that we recommend based on our tests. All of these VPNs will also work on your iPhone and iPad as well, and many with Apple TV, but you might want to check out our separate guides to the best VPNs for iPhone and best VPNs for iPad . 1. NordVPN Fully featured and fast VPN option Pros Easy to use Impressive WireGuard speeds Lots of servers Cons Two separate apps can be confusing Price When Reviewed: Basic plan from $3.09 a month for two years. Usually $12.99. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price NordVPN (Monthly) $3.09 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 5,300 servers 10 simultaneous connections NordVPN is one of the biggest and best-known VPN services. Its a fully featured VPN option thats secure, easy to use, and unbelievably fast compared to its competitors. There are cheaper options, with unlimited connections and more in-depth VPN features, but NordVPN is our top choice right now because it stands out in so many areas, from speed and privacy to unblocking and ease of use. There are more than 5,300 servers (none of which are virtual) available across 60 countries, which sounds great. You probably only care about the servers where you want to unblock content, but the more servers the better as it means you have a better chance of finding one thats not overloaded. You wont have to figure out which one to choose thanks to the handy Quick connect feature that picks the server best suited to your needs. Connections are fast and reliable, and NordVPN unblocks popular streaming services around the world including Netflix and BBC iPlayer. You can connect up to six devices simultaneously including your Apple TV. Nord has added support for the faster WireGuard protocol in NordLynx, making it one of the fastest VPN services out there. However, its only available on the IKE version of the app, which only offers a permanently enabled kill switch. To have more control, youll need to download the OpenVPN version, albeit with slightly slower speeds. Nord has an up-to-date independent audit. It also has specialty servers for specific purposes. Nord frequently has deals on offer that save money on the usual monthly price if you take advantage of the two-year plan . NordVPN offers three tiers: Standard, Plus and Ultimate. You can get Plus features (data breach scanner and password manager) or the Ultimate tier adds cloud storage and insurance options. Prices change all the time, so take a look at the prices and plans at NordVPN.com . Read our full NordVPN review 2. Surfshark Easy to use, secure VPN Pros Simple to use No device limits Great for streaming services Cons Expensive to renew Price When Reviewed: Starter plan from $1.99 a month for two years + 3 free months. Usually $15.45 a month. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Surfshark (Monthly) $1.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 3,200 servers in 100 countries Unlimited simultaneous connections Surfshark is a reliable, affordable option with more than 3000 servers spread across 100 countries. Surfsharks network is one of the widest and most varied of any VPN. Its apps, which work with Macs, iPhones, and even Apple TV, as well as other devices, are easy to use. The macOS app offers light and dark modes, and you can opt to have it shown in the dock or the menu bar. The iOS version of SurfShark offers features like MultiHop and Dedicated IP its not a watered-down versions of their desktop VPN. SurfShark offers three tiers of features at varying price points. SurfShark Starter offers VPN functionality as well as an ad blocker and the option to generate a proxy email address and personal details. SurfShark One adds email and payment detail breach alerts, as well as personal data security reports, antivirus and other malware protection. And the One+ plan adds data removal from company databases and people search sites. When we reviewed Surfshark previously we had some performance issues, but this time around things were a lot better. With WireGuard, SurfShark is the slickest VPN around, removing very little speed from my connection. OpenVPN, where we had problems previously, was much swifter this time around. Whichever protocol we used, we were able to flick between streaming libraries with ease. Those protocols also offer varying degrees of encryption to keep your data secure. The Kill Switch feature is billed as a safety net, Itll shut down your connection if your VPN connection falters, preventing personal data from sneaking out to bad actors. Surfshark is is headquartered in the Netherlands and has a privacy-minded no-logs policy thats regularly audited. Surfsharks process means it logs a small amount of data thats then scrubbed from its servers with 15 minutes of closing the connection. For even more security, the Antivirus Scan feature (available with Surfshark One and One+) can run scheduled background scans if you leave the app open. Ransomware Shield and Webcam Protection can stop your personal folders and hardware camera from falling into the wrong hands respectively, and the app will constantly look to update its database of viruses to cross-reference files. Sign up to Surfshark here. Read our full Surfshark review 3. ExpressVPN Fast, privacy-focused VPN Pros Easy-to-use Broad device support Excellent speeds Cons Illusive ExpressVPN team Expensive Price When Reviewed: From $4.99 a month for 2 years + 4 free months Best Prices Today: Retailer Price ExpressVPN (Monthly) $4.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 2,000 servers 8 simultaneous connections If you want to circumnavigate geoblocking to get access to content not available where you live, protect your data while browsing the web from a public network, and keep your web browsing habits private, ExpressVPN, with its server locations across 105 countries, can do just about all of this with two or three clicks. ExpressVPN is remarkably easy to use, but if you have any difficulties the 24-hour live chat means you can be connected to a real human to discuss issues within minutes. There are native apps on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, Android and Windows. Plus you can use it on eight devices at once (the limit was five previously). Like all VPNs there is some speed loss because you are routing via a server in another country, but ExpressVPN does well to mitigate this, dropping less than 13% of download speed in our testing. NordVPN remains faster with a 12% loss in our tests, but ExpressVPNs 13% is still better than most. ExpressVPN offers no fewer than six different choices for protocol. Lightway, the companys own option, is rapid. For improved compatibility you can switch to another version of Lightway or OpenVPN things slowed down with 24% of speed loss with the latter. Theres no Malware protection with ExpressVPN, but you can install a password manager called ExpressVPN Keys. The company is headquartered in the British Virgin Islands, so its free from the majority of intelligence-sharing agencies jurisdiction. While it also operates a no-log policy, it doesnt have PureVPNs always-on audit process, but it undergoes audits each year. ExpressVPNs more expensive than many of its contemporaries and doesnt allow access from unlimited devices (just eight). But you get a solid, speedy connection with minimal fuss, and you dont have to tie-in for a two-year deal to get the best value. That latter point is important because VPN legislation can change regularly. See ExpressVPN subscription plans here . Read our full ExpressVPN review 4. ProtonVPN Full of features Pros Simple to use Free plan Great speed Cons Setup on macOS was a little fiddly Price When Reviewed: From $2.99 a month for two years. Usually $9.99 a month. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Proton Technologies (Monthly) $2.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 6,500+ servers in 100+ countries (access servers in 5 countries on free plan, on one device) 10 simultaneous connections ProtonVPNs free tier of membership helps to set Proton VPN apart from some of its rivals. Its naturally limited, with US, Japan, and Netherlands as the server locations and some speed drop but its still pretty usable If you pay for the service it offers a sleek interface, impressive connection speeds and just about enough features to improve your day-to-day web experience without throwing too many complex concepts at new users. Proton VPN Plus offers a host of features, including an ad and tracker blocker and speed of up to 10 Gbps, as well as a 10-device limit. Theres Port Forwarding for downloads and gaming, too, as well as a Kill Switch for disconnecting should the VPN drop out. Some VPN services offer features like dark web data notifications. Proton VPN sticks to the basics and does so very well. The companys no-logs policy confirms it doesnt track sites, IP addresses, communications, or session lengths, nor does it track location-based information. Proton is Swiss-based, and only Swiss court orders can request data from the company, but since it doesnt log data theres very little it can offer to law enforcement. For the privacy-minded, Secure Core, routes traffic through one of the companys Secure servers, minimizing the potential of a data leak. These secure servers are owned by Proton and are located in more than 90 countries. Proton VPN does increase latency, but only by about 29% in our testing on a modest 60 Mbps broadband. In fact, its only about 7% slower when downloading and 5.5% slower when uploading, making it one of the slicker VPNs weve tested. In terms of included VPN protocols, Smart will be ideal for most users, automatically setting the right protocol for your current usage, but WireGuard, WireGuard (TCP), IKEv2 and Stealth are also offered. Proton VPN is an easy recommendation both for new and experienced users. Sign up for Protons subscription plans here . Read our full ProtonVPN review 5. FastestVPN Good for VPN newbies Pros Great pricing, including lifetime plan Impressive speeds and features Cons Fewer servers than some rivals Price When Reviewed: Lifetime special deal: $40, usually $600 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price FastestVPN (Lifetime payment) $40 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 800+ servers in 49+ countries 10 simultaneous connections FastestVPN packs impressive VPN performance, but thats only one facet of what makes it worth a look. Its also relatively cheap compared to many rivals, and has seen a bunch of improvements since we took a look in 2021. The app is sleek and easy to use and offers 10 simultaneous connections. FastestVPN is headquartered in the Cayman islands and has undergone a third-party audit from Altius to confirm its no-logs policy. Since the last time we looked at it its gained a number power user features like multi-hop connections. It also now features an Internet Kill Switch to shut down all traffic if your VPN drops for any reason. You can also use Smart Tunneling to ensure certain apps go via a VPN while others dont. Will FastestVPN help you get around geoblocks? Yes, in fact, FastestVPN highlights certain streaming-focused servers to help get around geoblocking. Youll find a variety of VPN protocols to choose from, with Wireguard, OpenVPN (TCP and UDP options) and IKEv2 available, and Servers have recently been updated to 10 Gbps options, but despite the name, its not the fastest around. However, its so affordable that its hard not to recommend, with a lifetime price of $40 (normally $600), which weve even seen reduced to just $30! FastestVPN does a great job and for a lot less than others. FastestVPN has more than 800 servers, which is a lot but in context, thats dramatically less than NordVPN or ExpressVPN. Rivals do offer a larger server count, but the ease of use, and low barrier of entry, make FastestVPN one of our best VPN picks in 2025. FastestVPN is available on Mac as well as Windows, iOS, iPadOS, Android, and plenty more apps. See FastestVPNs plans here . Read our full FastestVPN review 6. Mullvad VPN All about privacy Pros Privacy-focused sign-up Great for getting around geoblocks Great pricing Cons 5 connections is lower than some rivals Price When Reviewed: $5.26 a month (5) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Mullvad $5.26 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 700+ servers 5 connections Mullvad doesnt offer recurring plans, you pay 5 a month whether you sign up for a month, a year or longer. The only price change will be dependent on the exchange rate from euros at that time. This way you arent caught up in a recurring subscription and Mullvad doesnt store your personal information a great example of its privacy-first mindset. You can even buy prepaid cards if you dont want to log payment information, which makes Mullvad the ideal VPN service for anyone looking to leave a minimal digital footprint. Split Tunnelling, multihop connections and even an AI-focused defence mechanism called DAITA are included. Performance is excellent and there are plenty of features that would be paid additions elsewhere. For example, the Kill Switch to cut traffic if the VPN drops, and a Lockdown Mode that forces the user to reconnect via Mullvad if the connection drops. Multihop will bounce your connection via multiple servers, and split tunnelling is available so you can send some traffic via the VPN and ignore it for others. There is also an ad blocker. Its available on Mac, Windows, iOS, iPadOS, and Android. Its accessed exclusively from the menu bar on Mac. The iPhone and iPad apps pack plenty of power user features that in some services are limited to desktop, like multihop connections and the DAITA protection. DAITA (Defence against AI-guided Traffic Analysis) will add network noise so data packets are all the same size. The main disadvantages are the five device limit, which is lower than many VPNs, and. a lower server count. It has 700, but this is still lower than the likes of NordVPN with over 7,000. Mullvads servers are all real, not virtual, servers though. Connection speeds are impressive. Mullvad is a fantastic VPN service thats about as privacy-minded as can be. It might not have the most servers, but thats a small price to pay for the service on offer. Sign up to Mullvad here . Read our full Mullvad review 7. Private Internet Access Pros Lots of servers Fast WireGuard speeds Split tunneling works well Unblocks BBC iPlayer Cons Clunky Mac app Based within 14-eyes Price When Reviewed: From $2.19 a month for two years + 4 free months. Usually $11.99 a month. Unlimited devices. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Private Internet Access (Monthly) $2.19 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 35,000+ servers, 91 countries Unlimited connections Private Internet Access (PIA) is a powerful VPN designed for savvy users, offering power user tools and features such as custom DNS, connection rules, split tunnelling, and more at a lower cost than many competitors. The PIA Mac app offers pretty much everything its Microsoft counterpart does. The app can be used on any device and offers servers in 91 countries. In my testing, the auto setting did a good job of picking servers that balanced speed and privacy. The main window provides information on performance graphs, download and upload speeds, and quick settings for tools like Light Mode, Port Forwarding, and LAN connections. While you can use PIA for getting around geoblocked content on your streaming services, PIA is more privacy-focused than other VPNs, with features like the Advanced Kill Switch, Split Tunnelling, port forwarding, and Multi-Hop server obfuscation. PIA also offers customizable features like automation setup and DNS options. Private Internet Access cant beat the speeds of NordVPN and Surfshark, and its stablemate CyberGhost VPN offers more impressive speeds, but at the cost of some power features. In our testing, we saw a reasonable drop of around 8% on Mac while using the PIA VPN. Upload speeds dropped considerably by around 25%, which may be an issue if you do a lot of uploading. Its zero-log policy has been verified by Deloitte Audit Romania. Despite inconsistent speeds, Private Internet Access is a great VPN for all budgets with a wealth of features for privacy-inclined users. Subscribe to Private Internet Access here . Read our full Private Internet Access review 8. ClearVPN Pros Nice design. Great for getting around geo-blocks. Cons Lacks some features like split tunneling. Not the fastest. Price When Reviewed: Three day trial. Currently $44.99 a year, usually $119.88 a year ($9.99 a month). Best Prices Today: Retailer Price MacPaw (first year, 6 devices) $44.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket More than 50 servers Six device limit MacPaws ClearVPN service is a VPN that lacks many more advanced features offered by its rivals, but on the other hand, its one of the easiest to use. With a nice UI and easy-to-use features its thoughtfully designed for VPN newcomers. It really is as simple as hitting a button to connect. In the settings are options to block ads, keep ClearVPN in the dock, and a Kill Switch so that you can cut traffic from your device if the connection to the VPN is broken. Its all pretty basic stuff, but its offered in such an easy-to-use way that its hard not to appreciate the simplicity. There are also handy keyboard shortcuts to move around the app. There are more than 50 servers, which sounds like a lot, but its dwarfed rivals who have thousands of servers. That means your choices are limited, but at least ClearVPN lets you filter between Optimal Location or jumping straight to something like Disney Plus US or UK. One of the more common power user features for VPNs is split tunneling, which lets some traffic go through the VPN while some goes around it. Thats not supported here. Sadly, MacPaws VPN speeds also need some work. We saw considerable speed drops across multiple servers even closer ones. We saw drops of around 20 to 30 percent in download speed, and around 50 percent for upload speed. Its still fast enough to use Netflix, but its slower than the majority of alternatives out there. Most VPN companies use external auditors to verify that theyre not recording user or session data, but ClearVPN hasnt undergone one at the time of writing. This shouldnt mean anything untoward as the company is headquartered in Ukraine, which falls outside of various surveillance alliances, so it cant be asked to share your data. ClearVPN is priced affordably, but prices and the deals on offer change all the time with VPNs. Look out for low monthly prices that dont lock you in for too long. Theres a six-device limit. If youre new to using a VPN service, ClearVPN makes a compelling case to be your first choice, and stress-free access to Netflix around the globe, its a great starter option. Still, the speed drop and lack of common features like split tunneling likely mean power users should look elsewhere. You can save money by paying for the first year up front, but you can also pay monthly. See full ClearVPN pricing here . Read our full ClearVPN review 9. PureVPN Pros Easy to use Works on multiple devices Additional power user features Cons Obtuse pricing model. Caused many websites to question whether we were human Price When Reviewed: Standard plan from $2.14 a month for two years + 3 free months, $58.05 a year (usually $349.65). Best Prices Today: Retailer Price PureVPN (Monthly for first year) $2.14 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 6,500 servers, 78 countries 10 simultaneous connections If youre looking for a flexible VPN service that will get around geoblocking and is easy to use, PureVPN is well worth a look. The basic plan includes the VPN service and nothing more, but you can add a Password Manager and File Encryption tools in the Plus plan. The Max plan adds a Digital Privacy Manager that requests your records be scrubbed by data brokers, blocks web trackers, and recommends ways to maximize your privacy. Whichever plan you opt for youll be able to connect 10 devices at once. PureVPN will run on your iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV, and is easy to use on each to let you connect to over six thousand servers. As far as getting around geo-blocks, we found PureVPN to be as easy as any other service to use. Select a location, load your streaming service or app of choice, and youre off. PureVPN is registered in the British Virgin Islands, which is more privacy-friendly than Hong Kong where it operated previously. PureVPN offers one of the more impressive no-logging policies, with an ongoing always-on audit process whereby an auditor can request confirmation of that policy at any time. PureVPN has been winding down its virtual servers, of which it has less control. There are still 23 such servers, but PureVPN is transparent about which servers are virtual and which are physical you can see a small v next to each virtual server on the PureVPN website . At the time of writing PureVPN is offering more than a whopping 80% off its plans if you sign up for 24 months. Two years is a long time in the world of VPNs, but at least means the full monthly pricing wont kick in twelve months time. See PureVPN offers here . Read our full PureVPN review 10. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN Pros Killswitch and other advanced features Decent speeds Cons Fewer servers than some rivals Inconsistent geoblocking Price When Reviewed: $39.99 a year for one device Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Malwarebytes (first year, 1 device) $39.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket More than 245 servers 32 countries Malwarebytes is probably best known for antivirus software and advice (see our review of Malwarebytes Premium for Mac ), but it also offers a standalone VPN service called Malwarebytes Privacy VPN . Its an easy to use app with the right kind of privacy promises as youd expect. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is easy to use and offers speeds that are better than many of its rivals for both downloads and uploads. It also has split-tunnelling via its Connection rules, and a Kill Switch to cut all traffic if the VPN drops out. There are some caveats namely that it features fewer server locations than its rivals, and getting around geoblocks for different versions of streaming services can be a tad inconsistent. Theres no multi-hop server jumping, but the company does have a verified no-logs policy in place which means information isnt held about a users activity. See full Maywarebytes pricing here Read our full Malwarebytes Privacy VPN review 11. CyberGhost Pros Simple to use Decent speeds Plenty of servers Cons Two-year plans are much cheaper Lacking some power user features Price When Reviewed: $2.19 a month for two years + 2 free months. Usually $12.99 a month. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price CyberGhost (Monthly) $2.19 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 11,000+ servers in 100 countries 7 simultaneous connections CyberGhost is a user-friendly app that connects to numerous servers worldwide, making it ideal for streaming Netflix from different countries and routing traffic away from untrustworthy open Wi-Fi networks. It offers core features like kill switch support, split tunnelling, and no bandwidth restrictions. CyberGhosts no-logging audit history is thorough, and there is a 45-day free trial available. CyberGhost apps can be downloaded for various platforms, including Chrome extension and game consoles (we tested on Mac and iPhone). The app offers a simple click and go connection process, with a list of server nations and multiple locations. Encryption is standard across servers, and split tunnelling prioritizes traffic where needed. An automated kill switch can cut connections if the VPN drops out, while Block content blocks DNS domains for ads, trackers, and malware. The app does not offer anything like Proton VPNs Secure Core or additional features like a Password Manager, but subscription tiers are based on adding a dedicated IP address. The VPN has over 9,000 servers located in over 100 countries, with plans to expand in South America and Asia in late 2023. CyberGhost VPN has an impressive no-logs policy, meaning no one can access records of your activity while connected to the VPN. The app does not offer the Dark Web monitor offered by NordVPN, but it does have an automated kill switch to cut connections if the VPN drops out. The DNS blocking feature is easy to use but doesnt allow you to choose what to block. CyberGhost offers a compelling package with just one main plan and a 45-day money-back guarantee. Its an excellent VPN for newcomers, with impressive audits, an array of servers, decent speeds, and easy-to-use apps. See CyberGhost pricing here . Read our full CyberGhost review 12. Norton Ultra VPN Pros Antivirus protections Cloud Backup and Password Manager Email tracking quarantine Cons Slower than rival VPNs Inflexible payment options Price When Reviewed: First year is from $39.99 Norton Secure VPN; $49.99 Norton Ultra VPN; $59.99 Norton Ultra VPN Plus. Renews at a higher price of $79.99/$109.99/$129.99. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Norton (first year) $49.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Servers in 32 countries Norton has decades of experience protecting devices from cyber threats (read our review of Norton 360 ), but what or its VPN? Nortons VPN plans are, outside of the basic tier, tied into its security software. It also comes with a password manager, dark web monitor, and cloud storage, but the VPN side of things is a little lacking. Perhaps its from testing so many of the best VPN services that weve grown used to a certain set of non-negotiables. Chief among them is browser extension options to allow for quick switching, but at the time of writing, theres no such offering from Norton. Nortons VPN does include plenty of accoutrements that other VPNs either dont have or charge extra for. You can install the app on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and all three platforms have apps that work well and run nicely in the background. Norton offers Browser Protection, which scans sites as you browse. Norton also scans files before they land on your device. This worked well in testing, with barely added any additional time to the length of downloads. Theres a password manager, but its tied to the middle subscription tier and above. VPNs naturally decrease your internet speeds as your signal is fired across the globe, and Norton has servers in 32 countries a steep drop from the 111 in NordVPNs portfolio but it does offer four protocols to choose from. IKEv2, OpenVPN and WireGuard are pretty commonly found across the board of rivals, but Norton has its own Mimic protocol which is intended to be ideal for unblocking international streaming services. Sadly, testing on a 70 Mbps connection saw a consistent speed drop-off. As for Mimic, Nortons own VPN protocol, I was disappointed to find some international streaming services simply werent able to be unblocked with it. Norton clarified that Mimic is specifically designed for customers with special use cases who are unable to use WireGuard. We did have more luck with the more standardized protocols. VPNs worth their salt should always focus on privacy as their primary concern, and Norton does a good job, having undergone an audit from VerSprite, a security firm. Its not a bad VPN, and if youre looking for an option that packs a whole host of cyber-security tools into one easy-to-use package, its a great option. Its disappointing that there is only a pay yearly option, where other VPNs have the option to pay monthly. Added to that is a steep jump in price for the second year. See full Norton Ultra VPN pricing here Read our full Norton Ultra VPN review 13. Hide.me Pros Fast WireGuard speeds Dedicated streaming servers Impressive free tier Only VPN that offers Split Tunnelling in Big Sur and beyond Cons Slightly clunky UI No recent independent audit Premium plans are expensive Price When Reviewed: From $2.69 a month Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Hide.Me (Monthly) $2.69 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 2,600+ servers in 90 countries 10 simultaneous connections Hide.me is another VPN service that has improved considerably in recent years. As well as offering a completely free version (which none of its rivals here do), it has also added WireGuard, which is considerably faster than other encryption protocols. Other key features include a customizable kill switch and split tunneling. Hide.me is the only VPN to offer Split Tunnelling in macOS. They state on their website: hide.me VPN for macOS supports split tunneling. You can configure it in the clients settings. Hide.me also offers Stealth Guard, which stops selected apps from running without the security of a VPN connection. It can unblock Netflix and allows you to access BBC iPlayer from outside the UK. Theres also solid device support, with up to 10 simultaneous connections permitted. Malaysia-based, in recent years it has expanded the number of servers and doubled the number of countries it covers. Unfortunately, the third-party audit hasnt been updated since 2015 However, the user interface on Mac is a bit clunky, and were still waiting for an update to the 2015 no-logs policy certification. See full Hide.me pricing here Read our full hide.me VPN review 14. VyprVPN Pros Fast WireGuard speeds Very easy to use Unblocks Netflix and BBC iPlayer Low starting price Cons Comparatively few servers Not clear which servers are virtual Patchy support experience Price When Reviewed: From $3 a month for two years. Usually $10 a month. Best Prices Today: Retailer Price VyprVPN (Monthly) $3 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket 70 servers 5 simultaneous connection VyprVPN offers everything most people are looking for in a VPN, without needing to spend much money. You get fast WireGuard speeds, alongside separate protocols focused on reliability, anti-censorship and ease of use. Its also excellent at unblocking geo-restricted content, whether thats local versions of Netflix or BBC iPlayer & ITV Hub from outside the UK. Premium features such as split tunneling and a kill switch are here too, even if the latter cant be customised. VyprVPNs no-logs policy has been independently audited, and the service adheres to a strict Privacy Policy from parent company Golden Frog. More than 700 servers in over 70 countries should be plenty for most people, although theres often only one per country. Its also not clear which of these are physical and virtual. Nonetheless, its still speedy, reliable and affordable. See full VyprVPN pricing here Read our full VyprVPN review How we test VPNs For each VPN service we review, we conduct tests at three different times of the day: morning, afternoon, and evening, using Ookla Speedtest . We start by measuring the speed of our unprotected internet connection before testing the upload/download speeds of the VPN service. These tests are conducted to servers located in North America, the UK, Europe, Oceana, and Asia over an ethernet connection with a service provision of 100Mbps. To test upload and download speeds, we close down all background internet processes on the Mac, using TripMode. The only traffic on the system able to upload or download any data is Ookla. We use this setup to ensure that the numbers that Ookla produced were not stymied by anything else that the computer may have been doing at the time. The speeds Ookla captured were then averaged, providing us with a final numeric score. We then use those scores to calculate a percentage of difference in speeds, which is what youll see in our reviews. Since internet speeds change constantly based on server load, how fast your connection is, and a gazillion other factors, we feel this provides a better picture of what you can expect from a service, on the whole, than merely quoting the exact upload/download speeds we encountered during testing. Speed isnt the only quantifiable metric that we look at. The number of countries that a VPN offers servers in, total number of servers worldwide, and how much itll cost you to connect to those servers on a monthly or annual basis are also taken into consideration when recommending a VPN service to you. Additionally, we conduct hours of research into the VPN providers to find out who owns them, where theyre based, what they do with subscriber information, and whether the provider has a track record of questionable business practices. What to look for in a VPN A clear privacy policy. A good VPN should offer an easy-to-understand privacy policy that outlines what, if any, information the company collects from its users. Its important that this policy details what they do with this information. Some VPN providers, especially those that offer their services for free, sell their user information to advertisers and other interested parties, just like an ISP does. Choose a provider that offers a level of privacy that suits you. Know where the provider is based. Many countries have no laws demanding that VPN providers maintain logs of their users activity. This makes maintaining your privacy more assurable than it would be if you use a VPN located in a country that requires that user-activity records be maintained. Some companies, in an effort to make their network of servers look bigger or more varied than it actually is, spoof the locations of their servers . The more servers, the merrier. Choosing a VPN provider with a ton of servers around the world is important for a couple of reasons. First, having a multitude of servers to choose from means that you wont be forced to connect to an overpopulated server where the data flows like mud. Second, having a wealth of servers to choose from both at home and internationally means more opportunities for spoofing your location, allowing you to hide where you are or access region-locked content with ease. Multiple payment options. Its a vicious circle. Paying for a VPN with a credit card online before you have access to a VPN could allow your financial information to fall into the wrong hands. Look for providers that offer alternative payment options such as PayPal, Bitcoin, AliPay, or via the Mac App Store. An easy-to-use interface. It takes a lot of digital wizardry to connect to a VPN. Some people want to see how their VPN operates, behind the scenes. Using an open source VPN client like Tunnelblick is great for this. Most folks, however, just want their VPN to work with minimal frustration. Look for a VPN service that offers a Mac client with an easy-to-use interface. Protection for all of your devices. A good VPN service will offer licenses for multiple devices to protect your loved ones computers as well as your personal smartphone and tablet. To this end, before investing in a VPN subscription, make sure that it provides software clients for all of the devices you own. Why you can trust Macworlds advice We conduct through testing of VPNs, focusing on the practicalities of device compatibility (iPad, iPhone, Apple TV, and Mac), the number of devices supported, geo-restrictions and ease of use. We also pay attention to security and validate the privacy promises made by each VPN company. We use the software ourselves so our reviews are based on our own experience with the software and include our own insights and unbiassed opinions. What to avoid when choosing a VPN The price of a VPN might look attractive, but the price can rise over time. Most VPNs will cost less than $3/3 per month if you sign up for a one- or two-year deal. However, once the deal period ends the price often jumps significantly. By the time your deal is up you may not notice the extra cash leaving your bank account so our advice is to set a reminder to shop around a month before your subscription runs out so you can search for a better deal. Best Free VPNs for Mac You may be able to save money if you take a look at our round-up of VPN deals . But, if you were hoping to spend nothing, there are also a number of free VPNs available, just beware that some severely restrict which servers (and therefore countries) you can connect to and the amount of data you can download through those servers. Our recommendation is ProtonVPN, which has a free tier that may be sufficient for your needs. Its important to read the terms and conditions before using a free VPN, as in rare cases they sell your data to third parties to offset the cost of you using it without paying. Its a bigger problem on iPhones and Android where unscrupulous companies try to cash in on the VPN gold rush and offer up poorly put together apps. Stick with our recommendations and youll be safe from these, though. Do Macs have a built-in VPN? There is a big question. Do Mac users even need a VPN? Since Apple introduced iOS 15 and macOS Monterey in 2021 the company has offered a handy private relay service. iCloud Private Relay acts a bit like a VPN because it encrypts your web-browsing traffic and sends it through a relay to hide your location, IP, and any information about what you were browsing. iCloud Private Relay solves part of the problem that Mac users have used VPNs for in the pastit means that companies cannot build a clear picture of you on the web, thereby protecting your privacy. iCloud Private Relay has some disadvantages: it only works when you are using Safari, you have to be a subscriber to iCloud, and you cant use it to pretend to be surfing from another country in order to access content that is locked to a particular region. Read more here: iCloud+ Private Relay explained . If you are a subscriber to iCloud, and only use Safari, then iCloud Private Relay will provide you with some anonymity when you are surfing the web. You may therefore be thinking that this means you dont need a VPN to hide your location and identity. However, iCloud Private Relay does not allow you to choose an IP address or a region, and you wont be able to make it look like youre coming from another location. So you cant watch geographically locked Netflix content, for example. Whats a VPN? VPN stands for virtual private network . If youre not using a VPN, when your computer connects to the internet, it does so through the local gateway provided by your internet service provider (ISP). Doing this allows you to connect to all of the online services you use everyday. However, connecting this way also allows an ISP to know your physical location based on where you access the internetbe it at home, at work, in a cafe, or at a public Wi-Fi hotspot.This information is often sold to marketers and other parties interested in getting to know more about you and your browsing habits. Worse still, if you connect to the internet through an access point with weak security, such as at an airport, mall, or local library, hackers connected to the same network could intercept personal information like your social media passwords or banking credentials through whats called a man-in-the-middle attack . A VPN service can help prevent all of that. A VPN creates an encrypted digital tunnel between your computer and the server of the VPN service you choose to use. Once this tunnel has been established, your web searches, the sites you access, and the information you submit online will be hidden from prying eyes. This means that your ISP cant log or sell your information and hackers using the same network as you will find it difficult to initiate an attack on you. Almost no one will have any idea of what information youre accessing. For our recommendations of Mac Antivirus Software that we have tested see: Best Antivirus for Mac 2024: Top Security Software Compared . VPN apps are very easy to install and use but for a step-by-step guide, read how to set up a VPN on a Mac . What a VPN cant do A VPN cant protect you from viruses, malware, or ransomware attacks if you choose to download an infected file, or a visit site designed to inject your computer with malignant code. It wont keep spoofed sites from stealing your personal information, if you happen to visit one. So, youll want to bone up on online security best practices . You should know that while using a VPN will allow you to anonymously engage in peer-to-peer file-sharing/torrenting, some service providers may cancel your VPN subscription or turn over your information to the authorities if they catch you trading copyrighted material with others. Should you use a VPN on a Mac? Is it legal? While accessing locked content is a bit of a gray area, due to licensing agreements, we dont blame anyone who is desperate to watch the latest season of their favorite program when it airs in the U.S. rather than waiting for it to come to their country. Paying to watch a streaming service thats not available in your country has to be less morally wrong than actual piracy! For more information on the legalities and whether it is safe to use a VPN read: Is a VPN safe for Mac?
NYT Strands Spangram, Hints and answers, May 29, 2025: Complete breakdown of the Thursday puzzle
As NYT Strands continues to gain popularity, it offers a more cerebral challenge compared to its counterparts, demanding not just word recognition but thematic reasoning. With new puzzles daily and increasingly creative themes, it is fast becoming the go-to choice for readers of the NYT.
Manipur government takes action after controversial incident involving state transport signage
The Manipur government has initiated a probe into the incident on May 20 where the Manipur State Transport Corporation signage on a government bus was hidden. This incident, which occurred while ferrying journalists to the Shirui Lily Festival, has sparked widespread protests and a 48-hour shutdown. COCOMI is demanding accountability and seeking resignations of key officials.
Businessmans Death Triggers Tension At Borabanda; Case Booked Against Corporator
Irate family members staged a demonstration at Borabanda police station demanding stern action against Baba Fasiuddin
Mob attacks police station in West Bengals Bongaon after person goes on stabbing spree
The mob allegedly tried to snatch the accused from police custody and tried vandalising the police station, demanding the man be handed over to them.
Business Wire India Mirka Howard wearing Sanjukta Dutta at Cannes 2025 Under the golden sun of the French Riviera, where the worlds most iconic red carpet meets the flash of haute couture, Indian designer Sanjukta Dutta delivered a masterclass in cultural couture that left fashion insiders breathless. At the 78th Cannes Film Festival , amidst a constellation of global style, Sanjuktas signature silks shimmered with stories draping elegance, power, and heritage into every handcrafted thread. This year, three international divas stepped onto the scarlet steps of the Palais des Festivals, not just wearing fashion but wearing legacy : Valeriya Hjertenaes ,Mrs. World Congeniality, floated in a dream of intricate weaves an ethereal ensemble adorned with motifs drawn from ancient Assamese folklore. Timeless, regal, magnetic. Mirka Howard ,Ms. Italy Globe Supermodel, stunned in a sculpted silhouette that married the drama of European couture with the soul of Indian silk a look that whispered elegance and roared innovation. Jasleen Soni ,Mrs. NoveCosmo, reigned like modern royalty in a bold, jewel-toned drape. It was a statement of strength, femininity, and unapologetic cultural pride. Every ensemble was a symphony in silk , a visual sonnet spun on looms soaked in Assamese history elevated into modernity by Sanjuktas fearless imagination and globally-savvy design language. These werent just outfits. They were moving murals , poetry stitched into couture, commanding the carpet with narrative grace. From Assam to the Croisette: The Designer Who Redefined Red Carpet Couture For the fifth year in a row , Sanjukta Dutta has proven that Indian handloom isnt a quiet whisper at the fashion table its a showstopper . Her presence at Cannes has become a moment of annual reverence , where silk speaks louder than sequins and heritage walks taller than trends. A force across the globe from Lakm Fashion Week to New York, Milan, and Paris Fashion Week Sanjuktas artistry is stitched not just in thread but in emotion, in intention, in identity. Her vision: to decolonize couture , to put Indian weaves not behind, but at the front of fashions biggest moments . This Is What Fashion With a Soul Looks Like At a time when fashion is shifting toward the sustainable, the authentic, the story-rich Sanjukta Dutta leads the charge with garments that honor their origins . Her creations are odes to the artisans of Assam, love letters to Indian craft, and battle cries for global recognition . Her work is slow fashion with star power , couture that doesnt just flatter the body it awakens the soul. She doesnt just dress celebrities; she drapes them in heritage . And Cannes 2025 was her canvas bold, brilliant, breathtaking. Her Vision Is Crystal Clear Sanjukta Duttas mission is nothing short of revolutionary: to elevate Indian handloom from the sidelines of souvenir stalls to the center of high fashion , where it belongs. Not as an accessory. Not as a novelty. But as the main event . A Legacy That Walked the Red Carpet As the camera flashes painted the Riviera in starlight and the fashion press took note, one truth sparkled brighter than any jewel: Sanjukta Dutta is not just designing clothes shes weaving a legacy . A legacy of women. Of artistry. Of Indias soul. And this year at Cannes, that legacy didnt just walk the red carpet. It owned it .
'Maa' trailer out now: Kajol fights to save her daughter
Kajol returns to the screen in 'Maa,' a film co-produced by Ajay Devgn, with the trailer launch attended by their son Yug. The trailer reveals a story of a mother and daughter in a haunted forest, where a demon lurks, demanding the blood of sacrificed baby girls.
Supporters of Bangladeshs ex-Premier Khaleda Zia rally demanding general election by December
Tens of thousands of Bangladeshi students rallied in Dhaka, demanding a general election by December amidst growing discontent with the interim government. The rally, organised by groups linked to the BNP, follows weeks of political tension and calls for elections from various factions.
NH 66 collapses again at Malappuram, raising safety concerns
MALAPPURAM: The NH 66 at Kooriyad , Malappuram, which had previously collapsed on May 19, caved in once again last night. The protective wall gave way, causing soil and stones to fall onto the nearby service road. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. The new collapse occurred just meters away from the spot where the road had given way a few days earlier. Additionally, new cracks have appeared in several sections of the protective wall. As a result of the accident, the service road has further eroded into an adjacent field. The road was constructed by raising soil on a field that floods during rains. The area has been waterlogged since the recent downpours. Allegations have surfaced that the construction proceeded without proper soil testing or a thorough study of the site. An expert team appointed by the Central Government has submitted a report regarding the road collapse, finding design flaws as a major cause. Local residents have staged protests, demanding the demolition of the current road and the construction of a safe bridge in its place. Meanwhile, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, chaired by KC Venugopal, will examine the incident. The committee is scheduled to meet today to discuss the issue and has requested an explanation from the Secretary of the Central Transport Ministry. The PAC has also asked for details regarding the project's alignment and Detailed Project Report (DPR).
10-year-old boy honoured for serving soldiers during Operation Sindoor in Punjab border village
CHANDIGARH: A 10-year-old boy, Shravan Singh, from Tara Wali village in Mamdot block on the Indo-Pak international border in Punjabs Ferozepur district, who dreams of becoming an Indian Army soldier, played his part in Operation Sindoor by serving water, ice, tea, milk, and lassi to soldiers deployed in his village. Recognising his dedication, Major General Ranjit Singh Manral, General Officer Commanding of the 7th Infantry Division (Golden Arrow Division), recently honoured him. Despite his young age and the sound of gunfire near the border, Shravan remained undeterred. On May 25, the Army honoured Shravan, a Class IV student, for his bravery and tireless efforts during Operation Sindoor. He was felicitated with a memento, treated to a special meal, and given his favourite treat - ice cream. Son of a farmer, Sona Singh, Shravan braved the scorching heat to serve water, milk, lassi, and even ice to soldiers camping in their fields. I was not scared, Shravan says. I want to join the Army when I grow up. I used to give water, lassi, and ice to the soldiers, and they loved me a lot. Speaking to this newspaper, Shravans father, Sona Singh, who owns one acre of land and runs a dairy, said, For about ten to fifteen days, the Army soldiers were stationed in our fields. My son used to go to them at least four to five times a day. He served them ice, water, tea, milk, and lassi. Sometimes, he stayed with them the whole day. He never missed a single day. I accompanied him occasionally. The soldiers gave him biscuits, bananas, chocolates, and even shared meals with him. They loved him. Singh added that Shravan has an elder sister studying in Class VII and a younger brother who is just eight months old. Seeing Shravan, other villagers also began asking the jawans if they needed anything. We were later called by Army officers, and my son was felicitated. We are proud of him, he said, beaming with pride. Shravans mother, Santosh Rani, added, He never got scared. The Army personnel truly loved him. During the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan on May 7 and 10, swarms of drones were spotted in border villages and towns of Ferozepur. Otherwise, the small village of Tara Wali, just two kilometres from the international border, remains quiet.
Kathmandu is on high alert as two major rallies are set to converge on Republic Day, one by the ruling CPN-UML celebrating the republican system, and another by royalists demanding the restoration of the monarchy. Tensions are high following controversial statements, prompting a large security deployment to manage potential unrest and traffic disruptions.
Toshkhana at Mubarak Mandi Reopened After 18 Years for Inventory and Inspection
SRINAGAR: The historic Toshkhana housed within the Mubarak Mandi Complex was reopened after more than 18 years for verification and assessment of its invaluable artifacts. According to a detailed report published in Daily Excelsior, this step marks a significant move towards the formal transfer of the Toshkhanas assets from the Directorate of Hospitality and Protocol [] The post Toshkhana at Mubarak Mandi Reopened After 18 Years for Inventory and Inspection appeared first on Kashmir Life .
All about Amitabh Bachchan's 40cr plot investment in Ayodhya
Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan has reportedly purchased a 25,000 square feet plot in Ayodhya, near the Ram Mandir.
Thousands of Chhattisgarh teachers protested against the government's school rationalisation policy, fearing job losses and a decline in education quality. The government's order to rationalise over 10,000 schools has sparked outrage, with teachers demanding a rollback. Critics argue the move will weaken schools and lead to teacher burnout, while the government insists it will enhance education standards.
DD & OE, Economics, SHTM dominate Day 3
JUs Inter-Department Cricket Tourney 202526 (Men) Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, May 28: The third day of the Inter-Departmental Cricket Tournament 202526 for Men at the University of Jammu witnessed intense competition, high energy and outstanding sportsmanship at the University Cricket Ground. In the first match, the Department of Distance & Online Education (DD & OE) defeated the Geology Department by a commanding margin of 108 runs. DD & OE posted a total of 180/5 in 15 overs, with standout performances [] The post DD & OE, Economics, SHTM dominate Day 3 appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
After over 18 yrs, doors of Toshkhana at historic Mubarak Mandi reopened
No date yet fixed for inspection of precious items at Civil Sectt Experts analyzing condition of royal artifacts Mohinder Verma JAMMU, May 28: After more than 18 years, the Toshkhana inside the historic Mubarak Mandi Complex in Jammu was reopened today for the verification of its inventory and assessment of the condition of royal artifacts. This process marks a crucial step before the formal transfer of these valuable articles from the Directorate of Hospitality and Protocol to the Department of [] The post After over 18 yrs, doors of Toshkhana at historic Mubarak Mandi reopened appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
CPI seeks support of political parties for impeachment proceedings against Justice Varma
NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (CPI) MP and Leader of the party in the Upper House, P Sandosh Kumar has written to the presidents of all political parties demanding their support in initiating impeachment proceedings against former Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Varma, following the shocking reports of unaccounted hoards of cash allegedly recovered from his residence. In his letter, Sandosh Kumar stated that if proven true, these allegations are not only a gross betrayal of public trust but also a serious affront to the integrity of our judicial institutions. Kumar urged all political parties to rise above partisanship and take constitutional responsibility to safeguard the credibility of Indias judiciary. The Centre is weighing the option of bringing in Parliament an impeachment motion against Justice Varma, who has been indicted by a Supreme Court-appointed probe panel after the discovery of a huge sum of burnt cash from his official residence in the national capital. Sources in the government said an impeachment motion in Parliament, which meets next during the Monsoon Session starting in the second half of July, is an obvious choice if Justice Verma, who was repatriated from the Delhi High Court to Allahabad High Court after the unsavoury incident, does not resign on his own. The letter underscores the need for Parliament to act decisively in light of such serious allegations, invoking the provisions of Article 124 and Article 218 of the Constitution of India to initiate impeachment proceedings. The CPI MP further emphasised that the legislature cannot be a silent spectator when such grave questions of judicial propriety and public accountability are raised. Beyond the immediate case, Sandosh Kumar has also called for a nationwide political dialogue on making the judiciary more accountable, inclusive, and socially representative. He highlighted that the judiciary continues to remain opaque in its appointments and largely unrepresentative in terms of caste, gender, and regional diversity. Our courts must reflect the plural character of Indian society. Accountability mechanisms for the higher judiciary are long overdue. What we are facing today is not an isolated case of alleged corruptionit is a systemic failure that demands both institutional reform and democratic will, the CPI MP said. The party has consistently championed democratic accountability across institutions and reiterates its demand for the establishment of a constitutionally backed, independent mechanism to oversee judicial conduct and integrity, read a statement issued by the Parliamentary Party Office of CPI on Wednesday.
Dakshina Kannada Muslim Congress leaders vent ire at state government; plan to resign en masse
MANGALURU: Muslim leaders of the Congress party from Dakshina Kannada district have decided to resign en masse to their posts over the state government's alleged failure to curb communal murders in the Dakshina Kannada district. Shahul Hameed, the minority wing president of DK District Congress Committee, told TNIE that they will hold a meeting at Shadi Mahal in Bolar on Thursday at 2.30 pm before putting down their papers. He said office-bearers from booth level to KPCC belonging to the Muslim community will put down the papers. He blamed police department's complete failure to have led to the murder of Abdul Rahiman. There was no action against inflammatory speeches and those forced people after giving a call for bundh. If we are not able to provide justice to the people, then what is the use of us being in these positions. We are pained and helpless, he said. Muslim youth's brutal murder near Mangaluru puts Dakshina Kannada on edge again Hamid said Rahiman would have been alive had the police managed to tame those inflammatory speeches. He alleged right-wing activists who made inflammatory speeches during a protest rally demanding NIA probe into Suhas Shetty murder case, were directly involved in Rahiman's murder. Being associated with the political party ruling the state we are pained at the state of affairs in the district. The poor are scared to step out of their houses, he said and urged Home Minister G Parameshwara and district minister Dinesh Gundu Rao to immediately visit the region and take strict action those disturbing peace in the region. Mangaluru lynching: Minister claims youth was killed over 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogan Rowdy sheeter, accused in 2022 Fazil murder case hacked to death in Mangaluru
Kerala seeks Centre's approval to cull more wild animals amid rising human-wildlife conflict
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state cabinet on Wednesday decided to seek approval from the central government to cull wild animals, other than wild boars, that pose a direct threat to human life and property. The Forest and Wildlife Department has been entrusted with initiating the process to obtain the Union governments consent. The forest secretary has been directed to consult with the law secretary and submit recommendations for the necessary legislative amendments to facilitate the move. Currently, the state allows the conditional culling of wild boars that cause damage to agriculture and pose threats to lives and property. These powers, originally vested in the Chief Wildlife Warden, had been delegated to honorary wildlife wardens and other authorised officers through government orders. The cabinet has now approved the extension of the validity of these orders by one more year. The decision comes in the wake of increasing incidents of human-wildlife conflict across the state, particularly in forest-adjacent districts like Wayanad, Palakkad, Idukki, and Pathanamthitta. Incidents involving wild boars, monkeys, elephants, leopards, and bison straying into farmlands and residential areas have become increasingly common, often resulting in injuries, loss of life, and large-scale crop destruction. Farmers and locals have repeatedly raised concerns over the lack of timely intervention and compensation, demanding stronger action from the government.
PM Modi to inaugurate, lay foundation of key infra projects in Kanpur on Friday
LUCKNOW: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Kanpur to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for a series of development projects worth several thousand crores on Friday. A key highlight of PMs Kanpur visit will be the inauguration and laying of the foundation stone for five units of Khurja, Obra, and Jawaharpur Thermal Power Plants. All the power projects will significantly spruce up the power infrastructure in the state. The PM is expected to address a public rally at Chandrashekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology (CSA) ground. In preparation for the Prime Ministers visit, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conducted an on-site inspection, on Wednesday, and reviewed the venue's readiness with senior officials. Another highlight of PMs visit will be inauguration of a crucial section of Kanpur Metro Rail Project. The newly-completed stretch from Chunniganj Metro Station to Kanpur Central Metro Station, constructed at a cost of over Rs 2,120 crore, comprises 14 planned stations including five newly-built underground stations. This segment is expected to provide improved urban mobility, connecting key city landmarks and commercial hubs, thereby boosting public transportation and easing city traffic. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the widening and strengthening work of the Grand Trunk (GT) Road while laying the foundation stone for a 220 kV substation at Sector 28 under the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) in Gautam Buddh Nagar. In addition, he will inaugurate two 132 kV substations at Ecotech-8 and Ecotech-10 in Greater Noida. Developed at a combined cost of over Rs 320 crore, these facilities are expected to significantly enhance electricity distribution, supporting the growing industrial and residential needs of the region. In the power generation sector, a major milestone will be the inauguration of the 660 MW Panki Thermal Power Extension Project in Kanpur. Built at a cost of more than Rs 8,300 crore, the project is set to play a crucial role in expanding the states energy capacity. Complementing this is the inauguration of three 660 MW units of the Ghatampur Thermal Power Project, developed at a cost of Rs 9,330 crore. The visit also includes the inauguration of two new rail over bridgesat Panki Power House Railway Crossing and Panki Dham Crossing on Panki Road in Kalyanpur Panki Mandir, Kanpur. Further supporting urban development, the Prime Minister will inaugurate a 40 MLD (Million Liters per Day) tertiary treatment plant at Bingawan in Kanpur, developed at a cost of over Rs 290 crore. The plant will enable the reuse of treated wastewater, promoting sustainable water resource management and conservation efforts in the region. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for key road projects to strengthen Kanpurs industrial and defence connectivity. These will include the widening and strengthening of Gauria Pali Marg in Kanpur Nagar and a road link connecting Narwal Mode (AH-1) on the Prayagraj Highway to the Kanpur Defence Node.
Complaint filed against Kamal Haasan, ban on film likely
Actor Kamal Haasan has sparked outrage in Karnataka after he said Tamil gave birth to Kannada at an event in Chennai. Pro-Kannada groups have staged protests across the state, demanding an apology from the actor. They have also threatened to disrupt screenings of his upcoming film Thug Life in Karnataka. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce is also set to discuss a possible ban on the actor.
Hasinas Defiant Words Before Ouster
Reportedly before leaving Hasina wanted to record a farewell speech to be aired on television, but military officials declined.reports Asian Lite News Following a violent student uprising last year, the Bangladeshi military forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign. In a dramatic confrontation, she lashed out at officials, demanding they shoot her and bury her at her official residence, Ganabhaban Then you shoot me and bury me here, in Ganabhaban, said Hasina. This was disclosed during a International Crimes Tribunals (ICT) hearing by chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam during a hearing on Hasinas case, reports leading Bangladeshi daily, Prothom
Kamal Haasan's remark that Kannada originated from Tamil has sparked controversy, drawing sharp reactions and protests in Karnataka. Activists protested near a Belagavi cinema, demanding an apology. Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra condemned the statement as an insult to Kannadigas, while the DMK defended Haasan, citing historical context and accusing the BJP of inciting division.
Vladimir Putin, for Ukraine peace, wants a pledge to halt NATO enlargement, sources say
President Putin seeks written guarantees from the West to halt NATO's eastward expansion and ease sanctions as conditions for ending the Ukraine war. Despite Trump's push for peace, Putin insists on neutrality for Ukraine, protection for Russian speakers, and resolution of frozen assets. With battlefield gains, Putin hardens his stance, demanding control of four Ukrainian regions.
Telangana farmers demand immediate procurement of soaked paddy
Hyderabad: Paddy farmers of Nirmal district in Telangana staged a protest on Wednesday, May 28, demanding immediate procurement of their harvest that reportedly got soaked due to the untimely arrival of monsoons this year. Farmers staged a protest in front of the IKP purchasing center in Ponakal village. They expressed concerns over the procurement delay 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 .
Neha Bhandari, Lone BSF Officer Who Commanded Border Outpost Along IB During Operation Sindoor
Jammu, May 28: Commanding a border outpost within eyeball-to-eyeball contact of a Pakistani post along the International Border, Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari led her troops to silence three forward hostile posts across the zero line (area closest to enemy territory) by giving a befitting reply. Apart from Neha, six women constables held a gun position on a forward border post, with their josh rising with every bullet they fired at enemy positions across the IB in Samba-R S Pura-Akhnoor sectors. [] The post Neha Bhandari, Lone BSF Officer Who Commanded Border Outpost Along IB During Operation Sindoor appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Dimple leads protest demanding restoration of Statehood, Darbar move
Jammu Tawi: Mission Statehood President Sunil Dimple led a protest rally at Rehari Chungi, BC Road on Tuesday, urging Union Home Minister Amit Shah to restore Jammu and Kashmirs statehood, special status, and Darbar Move. The rally, attended by hundreds of people, aimed to send a strong message ahead of Shahs two-day visit to J&K [] The post Dimple leads protest demanding restoration of Statehood, Darbar move appeared first on Northlines .
Manipur MLAs urge Governor Ajay Bhalla to form 'popular' government in state
Ten MLAs, including eight from the BJP, one from the NPP, and one Independent MLA, met Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal on Wednesday, demanding the formation of a popular government in the ethnic violence-hit state.
Damoh RTI activist arrested for abetment after teacher dies by self-immolation over blackmail
BHOPAL:An RTI activist has been arrested in Madhya Pradeshs Damoh district for allegedly prompting a government primary school teacher to burn himself alive. While the middle-aged RTI activist Jitendra has been arrested on May 26, for mentally harassing and blackmailing primary school teacher Rajesh Tripathi, which allegedly prompted Tripathi to immolate self in Hatta town of Damoh district on May 15, more primary school teachers have approached the Damoh district police against the same RTI activist. According to informed sources, Bhatt had complained to the authorities alleging that the primary school teacher Tripathi got the government job by using a fake BEd degree. Police investigations revealed that the RTI activist was harassing and blackmailing Tripathi in the matter, to regularly get money from him. After forcing Tripathi to pay him around Rs 7 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, Bhatt had recently started demanding that the school teacher pay him half of his salary every month, Damoh district police superintendent Shrutkirti Somwanshi told TNIE . Burdened by mounting debts worth over Rs 50 lakh taken from bank and private money lenders to construct a house as well as regularly pay money to Bhatt accompanied by continued threats by the RTI activist to get him sacked from the job over the fake degree, compelled Tripathi to burn himself alive while returning from Hatta town his village on May 25. He died during the course of treatment at hospital later, the SP-Damoh added. Bhatt has been booked under BNS Sections for mentally harassing Tripathi and abetment of suicide. At least 5-10 more school teachers who have been terminated or are facing probe by the authorities for using fake degrees/certificates to get government job, too have approached the police and complained against Bhatt, alleging that he was blackmailing them for a long time and forcing them to pay money running into lakhs of rupees. Were investigating those complaints and more FIRs may be lodged against the arrested RTI activist in the coming days, Somwanshi said. Importantly, the services of over 20 government school teachers in Damoh district have been terminated recently after a departmental probe confirmed they had secured jobs using fake degrees. In most cases, the complaints were filed by RTI activist Jitendra Bhatt, who, according to the dismissed teachers and others facing similar inquiries, had allegedly been blackmailing them for money over the past several years.
Kamal Haasan sparks row with Kannada was born out of Tamil remark, BJP calls him ungrateful
Chennai: Actor Kamal Haasan has stirred a fresh controversy over language identity after claiming that Kannada was born out of Tamil during a public event in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The remark has triggered sharp political reactions and public outrage in Karnataka, with the BJP and pro-Kannada groups condemning his statement and demanding an unconditional apology. []
RANCHI: Amid the ongoing protest by the JMM and Congress demanding a Sarna Religion Code, Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi said that if these parties are truly concerned, they should take concrete steps to stop the conversion of tribals to Christianity. According to Marandi, if all tribals who believe in Marang Buru or worship nature are converted to Christianity, then who will write Sarna in the separate column of the census form. Notably, tribal leaders across Jharkhand have been demanding the implementation of a Sarna Code in census surveys to identify tribals as followers of the Sarna faith. Marandi said religious conversion has become a major challenge in Jharkhand, which is why the previous Raghuvar Das-led BJP government had brought in a bill to curb it. Addressing the media at the BJP headquarters in Ranchi, Marandi cited the 2011 caste census, claiming that 15.48% of the tribal population in Jharkhand had converted to Christianity. He added that nearly 26% of Oraon, around 33% of Munda, over 67% of Kharia, more than 2% of Ho, and about 1% of Santhal populations had adopted Christianity. Why doesn't the government explain how lakhs of tribals who traditionally followed the Sarna religion have now been converted to Christianity? he asked. Marandi said that in 2011, Jharkhands total population was 3.29 crore, of which 86.45 lakh (26.2%) were tribals. Out of these, nearly 14 lakh (around 15%) identified themselves as Christians. The question is, how did so many tribals shift from their original Sarna faith to Christianity, and why is this trend continuing? he said. He added that the upcoming caste census would reveal the actual figures of tribal conversion, and warned, When all tribals will become Christians, then where will Sarna survive? Marandi challenged the JMM and Congress: If they truly care about protecting the Sarna faith and are serious about demanding a separate religion code, they should explain what concrete steps they've taken to curb religious conversions. He also accused both parties of deceiving the tribal community under the guise of advocating for a Sarna religion code. Marandi pointed out that a Sarna code had existed in earlier censuses but was later removed by the Congress-led central government. In 2014, when the Congress-led UPA government was in power at the Centre, they called the demand for a Sarna Dharma Code impractical in Parliament. Hemant Soren was comfortably sharing power with them, he said. Marandi alleged that the tribal community in Jharkhand is now facing widespread exploitation, and claimed the real character of the JMM and Congresswho he said are encouraging conversion and infiltrationhas now been exposed. The JMM and Congress have been demanding a separate column for Sarna followers in the census form. After Congress held demonstrations on Monday, the JMM staged similar protests at district headquarters across Jharkhand on Tuesday.
Bad road claims life in West Bengals Asansol
Protests erupt in Sonarpur over poor road conditions as locals block road for hours demanding immediate action
GUNTUR: A viral video showing police personnel publicly thrashing three young men, accused in several cases, in Tenali has sparked outrage, prompting the Human Rights Forum (HRF) to demand a judicial inquiry. The video, circulated on May 26, shows Tenali II Town police beating the accused in full public view, an act the HRF called degrading and unconstitutional. The incident relates to a case registered on April 25 following a complaint by Constable Kanna Chiranjeevi. The constable alleged that four men: Vemu Naveen alias Killer, John Victor, Doma Rakesh, and Shaik Karimulla attacked him the previous night near Ithanagar, reportedly due to prior enmity and his role in summoning them for counselling in a drug-related case. Police said the accused, armed with a knife, attempted to kill the constable, who escaped. The case was registered under multiple sections of the BNSS. Naveen remains absconding; the others were arrested on April 26 and are in judicial custody. Police also said Naveen, Victor, and Rakesh have multiple criminal cases and rowdy sheets against them. HRF condemned the polices public thrashing, stating that regardless of the charges, law enforcement must follow due process. It demanding action against the officers involved under relevant laws. Meanwhile, the police are investigating the source of the leaked video. Responding to the incident on X, YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy condemned the brutal assault of Dalit and minority youth by Tenali police. Jagan accused the Chandrababu Naidu-led government of violating human rights and fostering police impunity.
India's alarm over Chinese spying rocks the surveillance industry
Global surveillance gear makers are in conflict with Indian regulators over new security rules demanding hardware, software, and source code submissions for government lab assessments. This policy, driven by concerns about Chinese surveillance capabilities, has sparked industry warnings of supply disruptions.
Justice league: HC orders conditional release of granites seized in Nalgonda
HC orders conditional release of granites seized in Nalgonda Justice K Lakshman of the Telangana High Court has directed the authorities to verify the nature of granite slabs seized by the assistant director of Mines and Geology, Nalgonda, and ordered conditional release of the vehicle and goods if they are found to be finished products. Justice Lakshman was hearing a writ petition filed by Kanumuri Sunadham of Palnadu district in Andhra Pradesh, seeking release of his lorry and the granite slabs it was transporting, which were seized by the respondent authorities citing lack of proof of royalty payment on the mineral used. According to the petitioner, the vehicle was carrying 4,950 sqft of polished granite slabs from Bhuvanagiri Enterprises in Markapur, Andhra Pradesh, to a buyer named Mahesh in Pune, Maharashtra. The goods were supported by a tax invoice dated March 20, 2025, and a valid e-way bill. Despite submitting the invoice and other necessary documents, including vehicle registration, permit, and insurance papers, the authorities detained the vehicle under a notice dated March 28, 2025, demanding payment of approximately Rs 1.76 lakh as penalty unless the source of procurement was disclosed. The petitioner argued that since the goods were finished products and not raw minerals, royalty payment documents were not applicable. He contended that seizing the vehicle despite producing all required GST-compliant documents was illegal and arbitrary. Land dispute: Petitioners told to approach Tribunal Justice CV Bhaskar Reddy of the Telangana High Court has directed petitioners Arutla Srinivasa Charyulu and Arutla Narasimha Charya to approach the Endowments Tribunal to get their land dispute resolved, emphasising that the Tribunal should adjudicate the matter independently, without being influenced by prior observations made by the district collector or the high court in the writ petition. A senior counsel representing the petitioners contended that despite this long-standing record, the authorities erroneously removed the petitioners names from the records, depriving them of benefits provided by the government. The petitioners, claiming to be the legal heirs of late Narahara Charyulu, stated that they are the rightful pattadars (title holders) of approximately 10 acres and 31 guntas of land situated at Odela village in Peddapalli district. They argued that the land is their ancestral property and that their names, as well as their ancestors, have consistently been recorded in the revenue records. According to the petitioners, while their ancestors were recorded as pattadars, the names of two temples, Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy temple and Sri Anjaneya Swamy temple, were also mentioned in the revenue records, purportedly only for identification purposes. They claimed their ancestor, Narahara Charyulu, served as a pujari at both temples throughout his life and was issued a pattadar passbook.
Hyderabad teen is youngest Indian to scale all seven continents
HYDERABAD: At just sixteen, Vishwanath Karthikey Padakanti from Hyderabad has etched his name in the annals of mountaineering glory, becoming the youngest Indian and the second youngest in the world to complete the daunting 7 Summits challenge, which demands climbing the highest peak on each of the seven continents. His final and most formidable ascent, Mount Everest (8,848 metres), was achieved on May 26, 2025, a moment that marked the culmination of a dream years in the making. Before him, Kaamya Karthikeyan was the youngest Indian to scale the seven summits at the age of 17. The youngest person in the world to scale all seven peaks is American mountaineer Jordan Romero, who achieved the milestone at the age of 15. Reflecting on the feat, Vishwanath Karthikey said: This journey tested every part of mephysically, mentally, and emotionally. But standing on the summit of Everest and completing the 7 Summits is a dream come true. I am deeply grateful for the love and support I have received throughout this journey. Much of that unwavering support came from his family. My parents, Padakanti Rajendera Prasad and Padakanti Laxmi, and my grandparents have been my pillars of strength, he said days before the summit push. My mother, especially, has been the driving force juggling countless responsibilities and nurturing my dream with her constant belief that doing what you love leads to a fulfilling and successful life. The teens transformation from a self-described lazy student to a disciplined mountaineer was nothing short of remarkable. Before mountaineering, Karthikey struggled academically and lacked motivation, his mother, Laxmi, shared with TNIE. But after his first trek, everything changed his focus sharpened, his grades soared from 40% to nearly 80%, and his days began at 4.40 am with rigorous training in Yapral, before heading off to college. Over the past five years, Vishwanath trained under the expert mentorship of Bharath and Lt Romil Barthwal, a veteran of the Indian Army and accomplished climber. Vishwanaths achievement is more than just a mountaineering milestone, said Romil Barthwal. Its a testament to his strength of character, humility, and unshakable determination. Guiding him has been a privilege. Hes proof of what young minds can achieve with the right attitude, discipline, and purpose. Speaking to TNIE on Karthikeys achievements, Bharath said: We have been training Karthikey for five years. Watching his journey and witnessing his growth into Indias youngest to summit all seven peaks has been incredibly special. His commitment has only deepened over time. Karthikey left Hyderabad on April 10 and arrived in Kathmandu on May 7. From there, he began the slow, demanding process of acclimatisation. The Everest summit wasnt without challenges. Originally scheduled for May 19, the climb had to be postponed after Vishwanath was struck with the infamous Khumbu cough at Camp 4, forcing a temporary descent. But true to form, he bounced back. Once he recovered, he showed tremendous willpower and pushed forward with focus and resolve, Bharath added.
Liquor traders accuse MLA of harassment, extortion in Odisha
JEYPORE: A day after Laxmipur MLA Pabitra Saunta forcibly shut down government-approved liquor shops operating in his assembly constituency, licensed liquor traders on Tuesday accused the legislator of harassment and extortion. In a letter to the Koraput collector, owners of seven licensed liquor shops alleged that the MLA was demanding a monthly bribe of Rs 1 lakh from each of them. They claimed that their shops were closed on basis of false accusations after they refused to comply with his demands. The traders called for immediate action against the legislator, requesting the administration to intervene and allow them to operate in accordance with Excise rules without political interference. On Monday, a group of residents led by the Congress MLA forcibly shut down licensed liquor shops in Dasmantpur, Garudaguda, Kakrigumma, Narayanpatana, Bandhugaon and Laxmipur for allegedly flouting government norms. Saunta claimed the liquor sold in these shops was of substandard quality and produced under unhygienic conditions, causing serious health hazards among local communities. For the past few months, I have been urging the administration to take action against these shops for violating Excise norms and selling hazardous liquor. Since there was no response, we were forced to shut them down ourselves. We cannot allow such dangerous trade to continue in tribal areas, he said.
Madras HC slams Tangedco for delay in acting against graft-accused staff
MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court has directed the Tangedco chief engineer (personnel) to take timely disciplinary action against employees who are facing corruption charges, by using attested photo copies of supporting documents needed for the process. Justice B Pugalendhi gave the direction recently after finding that there is huge delay in launching the disciplinary proceedings as Tangedco keeps waiting for the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) officials to share the materials collected by them. The judge directed the chief engineer to issue a circular in this regard. The judge passed the order while dismissing the petition filed by an accounts supervisor in Tangedco who was suspended for demanding Rs 5,000 bribe from a line inspector for dropping disciplinary action in 2011. The petitioner had challenged his charge memo on the ground that it was issued after a delay of 10 years. While explaining the delay, the chief engineer informed the court that they were unable to proceed since the supporting documents required for the proceedings were with the DVAC, which retained the documents for criminal prosecution. The officer also informed the court that out of 231 Tangedco employees who were facing graft charges, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against only 101 employees, owing to the above reason. Calling it a lame excuse, the judge opined that this directly helped the accused officials. He further pointed out that the government had issued a G.O. in 2004 that when the original records are with courts, there is no bar to use attested photocopies of documents for disciplinary proceedings to take a final decision without awaiting the outcome of criminal cases. Further, the judge directed the trial court to conclude the proceedings preferably within six months.
Separated elephant calf battles illness as forest staff race to reunite it with herd in Coimbatore
COIMBATORE: After a 10-month-old elephant calf was found separated from its herd at Koothamandi reserve forest in Sirumugai forest range, efforts are under way to reunite it with its herd since Monday evening. The team led by Sirumugai forest range officer K Manoj tried reuniting the animal with the herd on Monday evening, but the herd refused to take in the calf. The calf was under the care of the Koothamandi Anti Poaching Watcher's (APW) office on Monday night, and a Coimbatore forest veterinarian K Sukumar was called to treat the calf since it was also found to be sick. The calf is in stress as it was separated from its original herd, and the Sirumugai forest range staff are trying to reunite it with the herd. The calf elephant consumed lactogen milk and fodder, and it also fainted during observation. Emergency treatment was provided to revive its health and the animal was stable after an hour, said forest department sources. The official said they are taking steps to reunite the animal with the herd, and the herd will only accept it when the calfs health improves. Sirumugai forest sources said, The nearby forest range staff are also trying to locate the mother elephant in Sathymangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) and Kil Kotagiri forest range since they are close to the Sirumugai range. We have also been using drones to locate the mother elephant. We watched the calf walk 2km into the forest before returning. After this, we started providing treatment, the forest staff said.
DNA Verified: Did people in Sindh demonstrate demanding independence from Pakistan?
A video showing a public protest has gone viral on social media, with users claiming it depicts people in Pakistan demanding independence for Sindhudesh. However, a fact-check by the Press Trust of India reveals that the video is actually from a protest held in February 2025.
