Delhi High Court Raises Concerns Over Violence in University Elections

The Delhi High Court has expressed concerns over recent violence during student elections at Delhi University, demanding reports from involved parties. Delhi High Court Raises Concerns Over Violence in University Elections

Job in Antarctica after 30 years at HP: 59-year-old woman was laid off, struggled to find work & then landed an unexpected role on the frozen continent

May Lee, who spent 30 years at Hewlett-Packard, faced an unexpected layoff that prompted her to reconsider her career path. After an unsuccessful job search, she discovered seasonal work opportunities in Antarctica, a continent she had previously visited twice. Lee secured a role as a supply technician, where her responsibilities included operating a forklift, checking cargo and carrying out physically demanding tasks. The experience offered a refreshing change from her previous desk-based corporate career.

Army reviews security, counter-terrorism ops in Poonch

Jammu, Sep 17 : General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Command Lt Gen Pratik Sharma on Thursday visited Surankote sector in Jammu and Kashmirs border district of Poonch to review security arrangements and counter-terrorism efforts, the Army said. The northern commanders visit to Surankote comes three days after General Officer Commanding (GOC) of White Knight Corps [] The post Army reviews security, counter-terrorism ops in Poonch appeared first on Northlines .

NIMS doctors threaten strike over abuse of colleague

Hyderabad:The Resident Doctors Association (RDA) at the Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) has strongly condemned an incident in which relatives of a patient allegedly abused and threatened a resident doctor on duty, demanding that a first investigation report (FIR) be registered immediately against those involved. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening, September 16, when 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 .

India crush Afghanistan by 127 runs in 3rd T20I to take series 3-0

Abhishek Sharma smashed the fastest Indian T20I century off just thirty balls. His explosive 108 powered India to a commanding 221 for seven against Afghanistan. India then bowled Afghanistan out for a mere 94 runs in the third T20I. This dominant performance secured a comprehensive 3-0 series victory for the visiting Indian team. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravi Bishnoi took three wickets each for India.

iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 18 Pro Buyer

Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max earlier this month, arriving three years after the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Three generations of changes make for a substantial upgrade, bringing larger displays, an all-new design, improvements to every camera, significantly longer battery life, and faster charging. The iPhone 16 Pro introduced larger displays with thinner borders, the Camera Control, a 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera, and improved video and audio recording. The iPhone 17 Pro replaced the titanium frame and glass back with an aluminum unibody, added vapor chamber cooling and Ceramic Shield 2, and upgraded both the telephoto and front-facing cameras. This year's refresh centers on the A20 Pro chip, a variable-aperture Main camera, a smaller Dynamic Island , and a further increase in battery capacity . For iPhone 15 Pro owners, all three sets of changes accumulate. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 for 256GB, $200 more than the iPhone 15 Pro's $999 launch price, although the entry storage tier has doubled from 128GB. The iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299, $100 more than the iPhone 15 Pro Max's equivalent starting configuration. Here are the key differences between the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro: Design and Display iPhone 15 Pro (2023) iPhone 18 Pro (2026) Brushed titanium frame with full glass back Aluminum unibody with partial Ceramic Shield back, improving heat dissipation Glass rounded square camera bump Full-width rounded rectangle aluminum camera plateau iPhone 15 Pro : 6.1-inch display iPhone 15 Pro Max : 6.7-inch display iPhone 18 Pro : 6.3-inch display iPhone 18 Pro Max : 6.9-inch display iPhone 15 Pro : 2,556-by-1,179-pixel resolution iPhone 15 Pro Max : 2,796-by-1,290-pixel resolution iPhone 18 Pro : 2,622-by-1,206-pixel resolution iPhone 18 Pro Max : 2,868-by-1,320-pixel resolution Wider borders around the display Thinner borders, with the initial reduction of 30% introduced on the iPhone 16 Pro Approximately 2-4 nits minimum display brightness 1 nit minimum display brightness More power-efficient display Ceramic Shield front Ceramic Shield 2 front, with Apple claiming 3x better scratch resistance than the iPhone 16 Pro Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating only Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating and Apple-designed anti-reflective coating to reduce glare 2,000 nits peak display brightness (outdoor) 3,000 nits peak display brightness (outdoor), a 50% increase 2x better outdoor contrast, as stated in the iPhone 16 Pro comparison Dynamic Island supports up to two simultaneous Live Activities Smaller Dynamic Island, supports up to three simultaneous Live Activities Camera Control capacitive button with sapphire crystal cover Available in Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Blue Titanium Available in Silver, Black, Glacier, and Burgundy 99% or more fiber-based packaging 100% fiber-based packaging, suitable for recycling Dimensions and Weight iPhone 15 Pro (2023) iPhone 18 Pro (2026) Height iPhone 15 Pro : 146.6mm (5.77 inches) iPhone 15 Pro Max : 159.9mm (6.29 inches) iPhone 18 Pro : 150.0mm (5.91 inches) iPhone 18 Pro Max : 163.4mm (6.43 inches) Width iPhone 15 Pro : 70.6mm (2.78 inches) iPhone 15 Pro Max : 76.7mm (3.02 inches) iPhone 18 Pro : 71.9mm (2.83 inches) iPhone 18 Pro Max : 78.0mm (3.07 inches) Thickness 8.25mm (0.32 inches) 8.75mm (0.34 inches) Weight iPhone 15 Pro : 187 grams (6.60 ounces) iPhone 15 Pro Max : 221 grams (7.81 ounces) iPhone 18 Pro : 211 grams (7.44 ounces), an increase of 24 grams iPhone 18 Pro Max : 249 grams (8.78 ounces), an increase of 28 grams Chip, Performance, and Connectivity iPhone 15 Pro (2023) iPhone 18 Pro (2026) A17 Pro chip A20 Pro chip Built with TSMC's N3B process (first-generation 3nm ) Built with TSMC's N2 process (2nm), Apple's first 2nm smartphone chip 6-core CPU with 2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores 6-core CPU with 2 super cores and 4 efficiency cores 8GB LPDDR5 RAM 12GB LPDDR5X RAM 51.2Gb/s memory bandwidth 115GB/s memory bandwidth 6-core GPU 7-core GPU with Neural Accelerators First-generation hardware-accelerated ray tracing Faster hardware-accelerated ray tracing 16-core Neural Engine Dual 16-core Neural Engine (32 total cores) Vapor chamber cooling with 3x more surface area than the iPhone 17 Pro New chip packaging that places silicon die beside memory, allowing it to attach directly to the vapor chamber Earlier video encoding hardware Enhanced video encoding hardware supporting higher-frame-rate recording and additional professional formats Qualcomm Snapdragon X70 modem iPhone 18 Pro : Apple C2 modem in all countries iPhone 18 Pro Max : Apple C2 modem in all countries except the U.S., where it uses a Qualcomm modem Broadcom Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip Apple N1 chip for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity Bluetooth 6 connectivity Rear Camera iPhone 15 Pro (2023) iPhone 18 Pro (2026) First-generation quad-pixel sensor Newer sensor and computational imaging pipeline, building on the faster readout speeds and zero shutter lag introduced with the iPhone 16 Pro Fixed /1.78 aperture on the Main camera Variable aperture with four stops: /1.48, /1.8, /2.8, and /4.0, using six laser-cut blades API available for developers to control the aperture range within their own apps Night mode Faster Night mode, tied to the new variable-aperture lens Around 50% better Main camera low-light performance than the iPhone 16 Pro, with more detail in the back of group photos Pro controls in the Camera app: manual lens aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and histogram 12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera 48-megapixel Fusion Ultra Wide camera 12-megapixel Telephoto camera 48-megapixel Fusion Telephoto camera iPhone 15 Pro : 3x Telephoto camera, with 77mm focal length iPhone 15 Pro Max : 5x Telephoto camera, with 120mm focal length 4x Telephoto camera, with 100mm focal length, also enabling 12-megapixel optical-quality 8x shots at 200mm iPhone 15 Pro : 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 3x zoom options, with optical-quality 2x derived from the Main camera iPhone 15 Pro Max : 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x zoom options, with optical-quality 2x derived from the Main camera 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x, and 8x zoom options, with optical-quality 2x and 8x derived from the Main and Telephoto cameras Macro photography 48-megapixel macro photography Support for JPEG-XL format First-generation Photographic Styles Photographic Styles 3, with tone, color, texture, and grain controls Depth mapping for AR and portrait photography Enhanced depth mapping for AR and portrait photography, with more accurate background and subject separation and more realistic bokeh Smart focus tracking Apple Reference Image (Main camera only) Camera Control The iPhone 15 Pro already has an Action button that can launch the camera or Visual Intelligence , but it lacks the dedicated Camera Control introduced with the iPhone 16 lineup. The iPhone 18 Pro's Camera Control provides the following additional functions: Press Camera Control to launch the Camera app Press to capture a photo or press and hold to record video Light press to lock focus and exposure before reframing Slide across the capacitive surface to adjust settings such as zoom, exposure, styles, and tone Light-press controls overlay for quick access to camera settings Integration with supported third-party camera apps Press and hold to activate Visual Intelligence Video Recording iPhone 15 Pro (2023) iPhone 18 Pro (2026) 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps, with Dolby Vision HDR up to 60 fps 4K Dolby Vision video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps, 100 fps (Fusion Main), or 120 fps (Fusion Main) 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps 1080p Dolby Vision video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps, or 120 fps (Fusion Main) ProRes video recording up to 4K at 60 fps with external recording ProRes video recording up to 4K at 120 fps with external recording Slo-mo video support for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps Slo-mo video support for 1080p up to 240 fps and 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps (Fusion Main) Cinematic mode recording up to 4K HDR at 30 fps Cinematic mode recording up to 4K Dolby Vision at 60 fps Cinematic mode effects can be applied after capture to Fusion Main video shot at up to 60 fps Pro controls for lens aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and histogram Smart focus tracking Improved low-light video at 1080p Time-lapse video recording with stabilization Time-lapse video recording with stabilization, up to 4K Dolby Vision QuickTake video QuickTake video up to 4K Dolby Vision at 60 fps Apple Log Apple Log 2 ProRes RAW capture support Genlock support Dual Capture up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 fps Front Camera iPhone 15 Pro (2023) iPhone 18 Pro (2026) 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera with conventional rectangular sensor 18-megapixel Center Stage camera with square sensor and TrueDepth technology Tap to zoom Tap to zoom and rotate, allowing portrait and landscape framing without rotating the iPhone Center Stage for photos and video calls Ultra-stabilized video Dual Capture, recording the front and rear cameras simultaneously at up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 fps First-generation Photographic Styles Photographic Styles 3, with tone, color, texture, and grain controls Smart focus tracking, as described in the supplied comparison Pro controls for shutter speed, white balance, and histogram 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps, with Dolby Vision HDR up to 60 fps 4K Dolby Vision video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps 1080p Dolby Vision video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps, or 60 fps Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps Cinematic mode up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 fps Cinematic mode effects can be applied after capture Improved low-light video at 1080p Time-lapse video recording with stabilization Time-lapse video recording with stabilization, up to 4K Dolby Vision QuickTake video QuickTake video up to 4K at 60 fps in Dolby Vision Apple Log Apple Log 2 ProRes RAW capture support Audio Recording iPhone 15 Pro (2023) iPhone 18 Pro (2026) Stereo recording Spatial Audio and stereo recording Studio-quality four-mic array Wind noise reduction Audio Mix with algorithms for higher-quality voices and the ability to isolate music Battery and Charging iPhone 15 Pro (2023) iPhone 18 Pro (2026) iPhone 15 Pro : 3,274 mAh battery iPhone 15 Pro Max : 4,422 mAh battery iPhone 18 Pro : 4,056 mAh battery (SIM-tray models); 4,288 mAh battery (eSIM-only models) iPhone 18 Pro Max : 5,391 mAh battery (SIM-tray models); 5,567 mAh battery (eSIM-only models) iPhone 15 Pro : Up to 23 hours of video playback iPhone 15 Pro Max : Up to 29 hours of video playback iPhone 18 Pro : Up to 36 hours of video playback iPhone 18 Pro Max : Up to 45 hours of video playback iPhone 15 Pro : Up to 20 hours of streamed video playback iPhone 15 Pro Max : Up to 25 hours of streamed video playback iPhone 18 Pro : Up to 33 hours of streamed video playback iPhone 18 Pro Max : Up to 40 hours of streamed video playback Up to 50% charge in around 30 minutes with a 20W adapter or higher Up to 50% charge in around 15 minutes with a 60W-capable adapter or higher supporting Adjustable Voltage Supply MagSafe wireless charging up to 15W with a 20W adapter or higher MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W, reaching 50% charge in 30 minutes with a 35W adapter or higher Qi2 wireless charging up to 15W Qi2 wireless charging up to 25W Storage and Pricing iPhone 15 Pro (2023) iPhone 18 Pro (2026) iPhone 15 Pro : Available with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage iPhone 15 Pro Max : Available with 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage Available with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB storage iPhone 15 Pro : Launched at $999 (128GB), $1,099 (256GB), $1,299 (512GB), $1,499 (1TB) iPhone 15 Pro Max : Launched at $1,199 (256GB), $1,399 (512GB), $1,599 (1TB) iPhone 18 Pro : $1,199 (256GB), $1,399 (512GB), $1,799 (1TB), $2,399 (2TB) iPhone 18 Pro Max : $1,299 (256GB), $1,499 (512GB), $1,899 (1TB), $2,499 (2TB) Now discontinued Sold directly by Apple Current purchase prices depend on third-party stock, condition, and warranty iPhone 18 Pro : From $49.95 a month for 24 months via Apple Upgrade iPhone 18 Pro Max : From $54.12 a month for 24 months via Apple Upgrade Which to Choose? For iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max owners considering a replacement, the iPhone 18 Pro is a worthwhile upgrade. Three generations of changes bring improvements to the display, each camera on the device, battery life, charging, and sustained performance. Battery life is likely to be the strongest argument for most users, particularly if their current device no longer comfortably lasts through the day, while faster wired charging makes brief charging stops more useful. The camera upgrade is especially compelling for anyone who regularly takes photos or records video. Higher-resolution Ultra Wide and Telephoto cameras expand the options beyond the Main camera, while the variable aperture and Pro controls provide additional creative flexibility. The Camera Control also offers a dedicated way to launch the camera and adjust settings, although its value will depend on whether you prefer physical controls to the touchscreen. Owners of the smaller iPhone 15 Pro gain more native telephoto reach, moving from 3x to 4x, as well as the optical-quality 8x option. For iPhone 15 Pro Max owners, the camera moves from 5x to 4x, with the higher-resolution sensor enabling the additional 8x crop. For video creators, the accumulated changes are more consequential still. Higher-frame-rate 4K recording, ProRes RAW, Genlock, Apple Log 2, Dual Capture, and improved audio tools expand the range of work that can be completed on the device. The square front-camera sensor also makes landscape framing easier without rotating the phone, while Center Stage improves flexibility for group photos and video calls. The A20 Pro and vapor chamber cooling make the strongest performance case for users who play demanding games, record long video clips, or regularly push their device through sustained workloads. More RAM and additional AI processing hardware provide greater headroom for supported on-device tasks. For messaging, browsing, and other everyday activities, the A17 Pro remains capable, and access to iOS 27 , Apple Intelligence , or Visual Intelligence alone does not require replacing it. There are physical trade-offs to consider. Both newer models are larger and thicker, with weight increasing by 24 grams on the Pro and 28 grams on the Pro Max. The aluminum enclosure improves heat flow, but it may show dents and scratches more readily than the titanium frame. Users who chose the iPhone 15 Pro for its relatively compact size and light weight may find those changes less appealing, even with the improvements in screen size and battery life. If your iPhone 15 Pro still meets your needs and comfortably lasts through the day, there is not am urgent reason to replace it. It is still a capable device with support for iOS 27, Apple Intelligence, and Siri AI. A battery replacement may be worth considering if reduced health is your main complaint and you would otherwise be happy to keep the device. The upgrade becomes much easier to recommend when battery limitations coincide with a desire for the newer cameras, larger display, or improved performance. A discounted iPhone 17 Pro is another option if your priorities are the aluminum design, higher-resolution telephoto camera, square front-camera sensor, and vapor chamber cooling. Those upgrades arrived before this year's model. Paying more for the iPhone 18 Pro makes the clearest sense when you also want the variable aperture, Pro controls, A20 Pro, smaller Dynamic Island, and further improvements to battery life and charging. Pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max opened on Saturday, September 12, with availability beginning Friday, September 18. Related Roundup: iPhone 18 Pro Buyer's Guide: iPhone 18 Pro (Buy Now) Related Forum: iPhone This article, iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 18 Pro Buyer's Guide: Should You Upgrade? first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

Complaint seeks probe into alleged fake Garo identity claims

Shillong, Sep 17: Social activist Greneth M. Sangma has filed a petition before the South Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner demanding re-verification of his decade-old complaints alleging unlawful claims of Garo tribal identity. In his letter, Sangma urged the administration to revisit his complaints filed on August 13, 2014, March 12, 2015, and September 19, 2018, [] The post Complaint seeks probe into alleged fake Garo identity claims first appeared on Highland Post .

Northern Army commander reviews security, counter-terrorism operations in Poonch

Jammu, Sep 17: General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Command Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma on Thursday visited Surankote sector in Jammu and Kashmir's border district of Poonch to review security arrangements and counter-terrorism efforts, the Army said. The northern commander's visit to Surankote comes three days after General Officer Commanding (GOC) of White Knight Corps Lt Gen P K Mishra visited different operational locations in the sector. Lt Gen Sharma visited Surankote sector to review the prevailing security posture and ongoing Counter-Terrorism efforts. The Army Commander was briefed on the ongoing operations, including sustained efforts towards focused targeting of terrorists, joint intelligence framework and enhanced synergy with sister agencies, the Udhampur-based Northern Command said in a post on X. It said the commander interacted with troops, boosting their morale as he commended them for their professional conduct of operations in the challenging terrain and weather conditions.

Assam CM disburses Rs 278 crore to 82,219 entrepreneurs, pushes youth towards self-reliance

Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 17 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday distributed financial assistance worth more than Rs 278 crore to young entrepreneurs under the Chief Ministers Atmanirbhar Asom Abhijan (CMAAA) 1.0 and 2.0, reaffirming the state governments focus on promoting entrepreneurship and economic self-reliance among the youth. Speaking at a financial assistance distribution ceremony held at the Jyoti-Bishnu Antarjatik Kala Mandir in Khanapara in Guwahati, Sarma said the initiative was aimed not merely at providing financial support but at encouraging young people to establish businesses and become successful entrepreneurs. Under the scheme, beneficiaries in the General Category receive Rs 2 lakh each, comprising a 50 per cent grant and a 50 per cent interest-free loan. Entrepreneurs under the Professional Category are eligible for Rs 5 lakh, structured under the same funding model. According to programme details, a total of 82,219 entrepreneurs are covered under CMAAA 1.0 and 2.0. The first phase includes 9,552 general-category and 26 professional-category beneficiaries, while the second phase covers 72,447 general-category and 194 professional-category entrepreneurs. The government is distributing more than Rs 196 crore under CMAAA 1.0, while the allocation for CMAAA 2.0 stands at over Rs 182 crore. Sarma said the government had previously provided Rs 75,000 during the initial phase and Rs 25,000 in a subsequent phase to support young beneficiaries pursuing entrepreneurship. However, several beneficiaries failed to meet the eligibility requirements for further assistance. Of approximately 13,000 beneficiaries, around 9,552 met the requirements, while nearly 4,000 did not qualify. The Chief Minister attributed some unsuccessful cases to beneficiaries taking up jobs and discontinuing their businesses. The initiative also includes skill development training and marketing support to help entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses and improve their prospects for long-term sustainability. Industries, Commerce and Public Enterprises Minister Bimal Borah, officials and participating entrepreneurs attended the ceremony.

PM Modi taking India towards league of developed nations: Chandrababu Naidu

Digital Desk | Amaravati, Sep 17 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Thursday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking India towards the league of developed nations. Participating in the VaranasiVadnagar Seva Sankalp Abhiyan programme in Varanasi on Thursday to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modis 25 years in public service, he said PM Modi believes that serving the people is serving the nation. According to a release by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) here, Chandrababu Naidu called Kashi the karmabhoomi of PM Modi, who has been elected to the Lok Sabha from Varanasi three times. Kashi has not merely elected a leader for Varanasi, but has given the country a leader, he added. The TDP chief, who began his speech with a few Hindi words, said the country was changing and progressing. The Chief Minister claimed that under Prime Minister Modis leadership, 25 crore people have come out of poverty and 80 crore people are receiving free foodgrains. Through schemes such as Jal Jeevan Mission and AMRUT, drinking-water facilities have been extended to four crore households, he said. PM-KISAN is benefiting 11 crore farmers, with funds being transferred directly into their bank accounts without intermediaries, he said. At a time when several countries were facing crises, Prime Minister Modi provided leadership that protected the interests of 140 crore Indians, the Chief Minister said. Chandrababu Naidu said Prime Minister Modi encouraged the production of 200 crore COVID vaccine doses and India supplied COVID vaccines free of cost to 101 countries, describing it as an expression of humanitarian concern. Policies such as Atmanirbhar Bharat and Vocal for Global strengthened the Make in India concept. India had earlier depended on imports for defence equipment, but has now reached a stage where it is exporting defence equipment, he said. The Prime Minister has understood emerging technologies such as space, drones, quantum technology, semiconductors and robotics, and is creating opportunities for the youth through them, Chandrababu said. The Chief Minister said that while youth earlier largely depended on employment, India now has 2.20 lakh start-ups, enabling young people to become job creators. India ranks third among countries with strong start-up ecosystems, he said. Naidu described the Prime Ministers initiatives for womens welfare and empowerment as significant, citing Beti BachaoBeti Padhao and Lakhpati Didi. Ujjwala provides access to clean fuel, Mudra facilitates access to finance, and self-help groups are strengthening confidence and economic participation among women. The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, providing 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures, would be a game changer, he said. Chandrababu Naidu said India had emerged as a strong global power and cited Operation Sindoor as an example of the countrys response to security challenges. He congratulated Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for the conduct of Operation Sindoor. Recalling his own experience of confronting Naxalism, he said the country had now made significant progress in eliminating Naxalism and Maoism. The Chief Minister praised the completion of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, saying that a long-pending aspiration had been realised. He said the Andhra Pradesh government proposes to construct a Lord Venkateswara temple in Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama. He appealed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to allot 10 acres of land for the construction of the Venkateswara temple. The VaranasiVadnagar Seva Yatra was launched as part of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, which connects Varanasi, Prime Minister Modis parliamentary constituency, with Vadnagar, his birthplace. Earlier, Chandrababu Naidu offered prayers to Lord Kasiviswanath along with Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Chirag Paswan, and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

EPFO wage ceiling hike to expand social security net, strengthen retirement protection: Industry

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 17 (IANS) The governments decision to raise the monthly wage ceiling for mandatory coverage under the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 has been welcomed by industry and labour representatives, who said the move would widen the social security net, support formal employment and strengthen long-term financial protection for workers. FICCI Director General Jyoti Vij said the revision had been overdue, pointing out that the previous wage ceiling was set in 2014, while wage levels, incomes and the structure of employment have changed significantly since then. Speaking to IANS, Vij said the increase to Rs 25,000 was in line with changing economic conditions and would bring around 51 lakh additional employees under the formal social security framework. She said the move could contribute to the formalisation of employment while helping companies retain employees and strengthening retirement security. Vij noted that access to provident fund, pension and other social security benefits can improve employee morale and job stability, creating benefits for both workers and employers. When employees have confidence that they will have financial security after retirement, they are likely to remain more committed to their work and stay longer with an organisation, Vij said. The decision was also welcomed by the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS). Girish Chandra Arya, All India Secretary of the organisation and in-charge of the banking sector, said trade unions had been demanding an increase in the EPFO wage ceiling for a long time. Arya said the Rs 15,000 threshold fixed in September 2014 had become inadequate considering the current economic environment and changing wage structures. He described the revision after nearly 12 years as an important step for employees. He said the impact of the decision could extend beyond the immediate beneficiaries, as the governments efforts to promote formal employment and bring workers from the unorganised sector into the organised workforce could bring more employees under schemes such as EPF, ESI and bonus benefits in the future. Arya also emphasised that the move should not be viewed merely as an increase in provident fund coverage. According to him, broader EPFO coverage would also strengthen workers access to long-term pension and insurance protection.

'UPI Tax' Row: CPI(ML) Demands Rollback Of New MDR

CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya has strongly criticised the newly introduced Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on select UPI transactions, labelling it a UPI tax and demanding its immediate rollback. He drew parallels with demonetisation, arguing that the new framework would negatively impact small shopkeepers, MSMEs, and ordinary citizens by increasing prices.

Sikh truck driver stabbed 17 times in Wyoming days after DHS's Mr Singh post

A Sikh truck driver was brutally stabbed seventeen times in Wyoming. This attack occurred just four days after a controversial US government post. Sikh Americans are demanding a full investigation into the assault. They want authorities to determine if hate played a role in the incident. The community fears this incident reflects a concerning climate for them.

Farmers continue stir demanding full crop loan waiver and penal interest

The protesters are demanding halt to recovery proceedings by cooperative societies; waiver of dues up to March 31; and writing off interest and penal interest

Rekha Gupta Performs Hawan At Khatu Shyam Mandir On PM Modis Birthday

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta performed a 108-Kundiya Hawan at the Shree Khatu Shyam Mandir on GT Karnal Road on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modis 76th birthday.

Members of Parliament offer prayers for PM Modi on his birthday

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 17 (IANS) Several BJP MPs extended warm greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday and visited places of worship to pray for his health and success. BJP MP Sambit Patra visited Puris Jagannath Temple, offered prayers, and performed puja. Fellow party MP Tarun Chugh visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar and offered prayers, wishing the Prime Minister a good and healthy life. Speaking to IANS, Patra said: On the occasion of our dearly beloved Prime Minister Modi's birthday, we offered our prayers to Lord Jagannath and performed puja. We prayed for the PMs long and healthy life. We are all part of his family who have benefited from various policies launched by PM Modi. Some of us have benefited from Ayushman, some through Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, some from Ujjwala, and some from Ujala. More than 80 crore people have benefited. Thus, we prayed for his long, healthy life. The people of Puri prayed at the Almightys feet that Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains healthy. I would urge others to do the same. Similarly, Chugh visited Sri Harmandir Sahib, where he offered prayers for PM Modis long life and good health. Speaking to IANS, he said, Sri Harmandir Sahib always guides and blesses all of us. We draw strength from here, which allows us to move forward. Today is Prime Minister Narendra Modis birthday. Acknowledging PM Modis contribution, MP Chugh said: He has devoted his entire life to service, to the progress of the country and to ensuring that Indias name shines across the world. Today, 25 years of his service as a head of government have been completed, and every moment of these 25 years has been dedicated to serving and advancing the nation, he added. Praising PM Modis achievements as a leader, Chugh said that owing to his policies, the nation has recorded a 7.8 GDP growth. Today we are the worlds 4th most powerful nation (in economic terms). He also added that nearly 18-19 crore households have water supply and 6 crore people have been given homes. Under PM Modis leadership, India has emerged as a powerhouse and nearly 100 crore people are benefiting from all the welfare schemes launched by the Modi government. Chugh further said it was his desire that PM Modis vision of Viksit Bharat is fulfilled, and that Punjab also gets developed under Viksit Bharat, and that is why the people of Punjab are praying to the Almighty for the Prime Ministers good health and long life. suruchi/vd

34-year-old woman told Rs 9 crore sent to her from abroad was stuck at customs; she paid for its release, lost Rs 1.2 crore to fraud

A 34-year-old West Delhi woman allegedly lost around Rs 1.2 crore after fraudsters told her a diplomatic parcel containing 7 lakh was stuck at customs. The alleged scam continued for nearly a year, with fake bank, high commission and international officials demanding customs, tax and transaction payments while promising a parcel, cheque and bank transfer.

AITUC calls for periodic revision of wage ceiling under EPFO

A day after the government announced a revision in wage ceiling under the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to Rs 25,000 per month from Rs 15,000, the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) AITUC demanding the wage ceiling to be fixed at Rs 30,000 per month to keep pace with increase in workers earnings.

Over 13K Junior Teachers Stage Mass Protest in Bhubaneswar Demanding Job Regularisation

Lower PMG turned into a massive demonstration ground as nearly 13,000 primary and upper-primary junior teachers from across all 30 districts of Odisha converged on Mahatma Gandhi Marg for a sit-in. The agitation, organised under the banner of the Odisha Junior Teachers Association, erupted over administrative delays in executing official notifications regarding the regularisation of [] The post Over 13K Junior Teachers Stage Mass Protest in Bhubaneswar Demanding Job Regularisation appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .

The NSE IPO investor playbook: Should you subscribe to the mega issue or pick rival BSE instead?

The NSE IPO has sparked a valuation debate as investors weigh subscribing at the issue price against waiting for a post-listing correction or considering BSE. With NSE commanding a dominant share of Indias equity markets, analysts point to its strong financials and scale, while flagging rich valuations and risks around options volumes.

India goes for big push towards self-reliance in semiconductors

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 17 (IANS) Indias semiconductor story has advanced rapidly in a short period. In 2021, the country had no commercial chip plant. By 2026, 12 units have been approved, and five are in production. Students across hundreds of colleges are now designing chips. Semicon 2.0 is the natural next chapter in this account. It does not begin afresh -- it takes a functioning ecosystem and completes it, according to a factsheet issued by the government on Wednesday on the occasion of the 'SEMICON India 2026' event. Semiconductors form the core of modern electronic systems as smartphones, computers, medical equipment, automobiles, defence systems, satellites and data centres use semiconductor-based components. Establishing a strong semiconductor ecosystem is, therefore, essential for technological resilience, economic security, and national self-reliance. Building on the successful implementation of Semicon 1.0, the Union Cabinet approved Semicon 2.0 on July 15, 2026 with an outlay of Rs 1,27,500 crore. While the first phase laid the foundation for India's semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem, Semicon 2.0 advances the next phase through six strategic pillars. These include research and development, chip design, machines and materials, setting up more fabs, talent development, and further strengthening the ATMP/OSAT industry, the factsheet states. It highlights that India is witnessing rapidly rising semiconductor demand. It is projected to reach $110 billion by FY2030 and exceed $200 billion by FY2035, while domestic manufacturing remains at a nascent stage. India spent almost $150 billion on semiconductor product imports during FY17FY25. Imports grew at a compound annual growth rate of 23 per cent during this period. If this trend continues, annual imports could reach $240 billion by 2035. Building a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem is, therefore, an urgent national priority, the factsheet states. Semicon 2.0 rests on six pillars: design, machines and materials, setting up new fabs, further advanced packaging, research and talent development. Its purpose is to build the complete chip value chain within the country, and not merely its closing stages. This effort carries India towards supply chain resilience, strategic autonomy and high-value employment in a technology that now underpins every modern industry. The global semiconductor market grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5 per cent between 2014 and 2024. It is projected to grow at 8.5 per cent over the next 510 years. However, recent disruptions have exposed vulnerabilities in the interconnected global semiconductor value chain. Geopolitical tensions have further highlighted the risks of supply dependence. The road ahead is demanding. Chip manufacturing ranks among the most complex industries in the world. It requires patience, precision, and steady policy support. Semicon 2.0 provides that support for the long term. For citizens, the gain will be quiet but real. Devices will be manufactured more fully within India. Critical systems will depend less upon distant supply chains. Young engineers will find high-value work closer to home, the factsheet said.

Telangana ACB arrests two police officials for taking Rs 5 lakh bribe

Digital Desk | Hyderabad, Sep 17 (IANS) Telanganas Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested two police officers for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh to do an official favour, officials said on Thursday. In an operation conducted around midnight, the ACB sleuths caught Dyapa Gnanender Reddy, Sub-Inspector of Police, Keesara Police Station, Malkajgiri Police Commissionerate, red-handed when he was accepting a Rs 5 lakh bribe. The anti-graft agency said the Sub-Inspector was accepting the bribe on the instruction of Arkapally Anjaneyulu, Inspector of Police/SHO, Keesara Police Station. The ACB said in a release on Thursday that the accused officers demanded and accepted the bribe from the complainant for granting station bail and not harassing the complainant and his friend in the case already registered at Keesara Police Station. Both the Inspector and Sub-Inspector have been arrested. They will be produced before the Principal Special Judge for SPE & ACB cases, Nampally, for judicial remand. The case is under investigation, the ACB said. The complainant had approached the ACB after the officials were allegedly harassing him and demanding money. There were also allegations that the complainant was repeatedly asked to bring biryani and cold drinks over the past few days. The officials had allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 10 lakh. A deal was struck for Rs 5 lakh. The Inspector/SHO had given the responsibility of accepting the bribe amount to the Sub-Inspector. The anti-graft agency laid a trap and caught Sub-Inspector Gnanender Reddy when he was accepting the bribe amount in a car near Keesara lake while he was on Ganesh immersion duty. On seeing the ACB officials, the SI tried to flee but was apprehended. Following the trap, ACB officials conducted searches at Keesara Police Station and officials' residences. The operation was conducted by ACB City Range-I under the supervision of DSP Majid Ali Khan. The ACB has said that in case of a demand for a bribe by any public servant, they can contact the ACB toll-free number 1064 to take action as per law. The name and details of the victim/complainant will be kept secret.

Anil Kapoor credits daughters Sonam Kapoor and Rhea Kapoor for his success in life: Having two daughters is a double bonus

Anil Kapoor is set to begin a new chapter with India Ke Top 1%: The Anil Kapoor Show, which premieres on September 19 at 8 PM on Star Plus and JioHotstar. Ahead of the shows premiere, the actor reflected on his own experiences of balancing a demanding career with family responsibilities during a conversation with one of the contestants. The contestant shared that he had decided to take a break from work after realising that his family needed more of his time. His experience led Anil Kapoor to recall a particularly difficult phase of his own life, when his professional commitments kept him away from an important family moment. Speaking about the importance of making time for family, Anil Kapoor said, Bahut log kehte hain ki main apni family ke liye kaam karta hoon, lekin main bhi ab yeh seekh raha hoon ki family ko waqt dena kitna zaroori hai. Hamare jo sons-in-law hain, woh family aur work ke liye proper time nikaalte hain. Jab main aapki umar ka tha aur Rhea paida hui thi, main hospital late pahuncha tha. Main aaj tak khud ko forgive nahi kar saka. Rhea ki delivery ho gayi thi aur main kuch waqt baad wahan pahuncha. Main poori raat shoot kar raha tha aur meri aankh lag gayi. Jab main utha, tab tak Rhea was born. Having a daughter is a bonus, aur meri do daughters hain, Sonam aur Rhea, toh mere liye double bonus hai. The actors comments highlighted how his long career sometimes came at the cost of spending time with his family. He also acknowledged the way his sons-in-law manage their professional commitments while making time for their families. At 69, Anil Kapoor continues to remain active across films and television. With India Ke Top 1%, he will take on a new role as the host of a quiz-based show, where contestants will compete by testing their logic, observation and general understanding. The format will also allow viewers to participate from home. Through JioHotstar, audiences can Play Along and stand a chance to win prizes, including Smart TVs and smartphones, while attempting to see if they can make it to Indias Top 1%. India Ke Top 1%: The Anil Kapoor Show premieres on September 19 at 8 PM on Star Plus and JioHotstar. Also Read : Ganesh Acharya on his first collaboration with Anil Kapoor, I had wanted to work with Anil sir for a long time

US lawmakers seek early passage of bill to protect access to places of worship

Washington, Sep 17: US lawmakers made a bipartisan pitch for early passage of a bill that seeks to create a 100-foot protest-free buffer zone around places of worship during religious services. More than 30 groups, including those representing Hindus, Sikhs and Jews among others, gathered at Capitol Hill on Wednesday to rally support for the draft legislation introduced in the House by Congressmen Tom Suozzi and Brad Knott. The Right to Worship Act would establish a 100-foot, protest-free buffer zone around houses of worship during religious services, making it unlawful to knowingly disrupt or impede people from attending. Exercising your right to worship should not require you to exhibit particular courage as you enter your synagogue, church, mosque, temple, mandir, or gurdwara, said Suozzi, a Democrat from New York. The breadth of support for the Right to Worship Act is very gratifying. So many groups recognise the horrifying reality that the threat to the freedom to worship is not unique to any one faith or congregation. Every religious community feels it, which is why this bill will protect everybody, Suozzi said. Knott, a Republican from North Carolina, said the right to worship was under threat, which amounted to a First Amendment violation. If people in the United States cannot worship, we do not have a First Amendment. And the right to worship is under attack, Knott said. The First Amendment to the US Constitution protects core individual liberties, including freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and petition. Suozzis Right to Worship Act builds on his earlier introduction of the Safeguarding Access to Congregations and Religious Establishments from Disruption (SACRED) Act in April, which also aimed to establish a 100-foot protest-free buffer zone around places of worship. The Right to Worship Act is a bipartisan and bicameral effort introduced in August. Representatives from Hindu American Foundation, UNITED SIKHS, American Jewish Committee, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, Coalition of Hindus of North America and Jewish Federations of North America were among the organisations supporting the measure. In recent years, we have seen a disturbing rise in the harassment of devotees and disruption of services at Hindu mandirs across America, which has deeply shaken the sense of safety for our families and devotees, said Suhag Shukla, Executive Director at the Hindu American Foundation. By making it unlawful to intentionally disrupt or harass individuals within 100 feet of a religious establishment and establishing civil penalties, this legislation ensures that our mandirs remain the sacred spaces of peace and community they are meant to be, Shukla said. Protecting religious freedom and protecting freedom of expression are not mutually exclusive. Both are essential to a free, diverse, and democratic society. The right to worship freely and the right to express oneself freely go together, said Gurvinder Singh Gill, International Aid Director of UNITED SIKHS. Four of our mandirs have been vandalised in recent years, and a family should never have to think twice before walking through the door of a house of worship, said Mukesh Swaroop, Director of Government Relations for BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. This is a much-needed step to help ensure that devotees of every faith can visit their places of worship and pray without fear of being targeted or intimidated for simply exercising their First Amendment rights, said Hitesh Trivedi, COO of Coalition of Hindus of North America.

Ektaa R Kapoor takes a DIG at out-of-touch creators: Humne desh se judna bandh kar diya; apne aap ko upar samajhte hain; Tamannaah Bhatia reveals her pandit, watchman was impressed by The Vvaans Chhath depiction

Sidharth Malhotra, Tamannaah Bhatia, Ektaa R Kapoor, Deepak Mishra, Arunabh Kumar, Anup Soni, Sunil Grover, Maniesh Paul and Shweta Tripathi Sharma attended the trailer launch of their film The Vvaan at a multiplex in Mumbai. Ektaa R Kapoor talked about her association with Arunabh Kumar of TVF, Balaji jo banata hai aur TVF jo banata hai; our content is very different. (smiles). But my admiration has been there for the makers because inki jo kahaniyaan hain, woh mitti se judi hui hoti hain. The problem in our country is that most of the content creators, at least in this side (of the country), make content which is out of touch with the demands of the common man. Humne desh se judna bandh kar diya. Hum apne aap ko usse upar samajte hai. That cannot happen. Aap desh se judoge toh desh aap se judega! Aap nahin judoge aur apne aap ko upar samjoge, toh aapko gira dega! Hence, it's very important to be rooted. Because TVF makes rooted stories (I wanted to work with them). Ektaa R Kapoor continued, And then, Arunabh and I became friends. We became mandir friends (laughs). Very few people in our circle visit temples. We belong to that category. So, we collaborated because of our faith. Then, Arunabh narrated the story to me, set in Bihar and about a van devi. Iss pe hamari baatein hui, kabhi ek mandir mein, kabhi dusre mandir mein (laughs). Arunabh Kumar added, We went to Goa and even there, we found a mandir. Ektaa revealed, On the first day of the year, we wanted to go to a temple in Goa. We were searching for a temple in Goa (laughs). Meanwhile, the song 'Chhathi Maiya' featuring Tamannaah has become a rage as it's a rare Hindi film to depict the Chhath Puja. The actress spoke about it in the beginning in detail. Towards the end of the event, Tamannaah Bhatia stated, I was celebrating the Ganesh Chaturthi festival at my residence. We had a pooja and yesterday, we did visarjan. Mere pandit ji ne mujhe pakad liya! He told me, We would all go and watch this film. He was impressed by the importance of Chhath depicted in the film. He was even noticing finer details about the celebration shown in the song and he appreciated that as well. Tamannaah then said, Then today my watchman told me, Aap Chhath pe film bana rahe hai?. I explained, Our film is on van devi, but Chhath is an important part of the film. She said, According to me, Chhath is not just a festival. Its an emotion. We have depicted it in the film with a lot of devotion and sincerity. That song ('Chhathi Maiya') blows up into a nice, amazing sequence (smiles). The Vvaan releases in cinemas on September 25. Also Read: The Vvaan trailer launch: Tamannaah Bhatia INVENTS new word to describe Sidharth Malhotras dashing personality Handsome-ta: Handsome-ta ka jo title hai, the one who embodies handsomeness

Jarange Patil suspends fast after Maha govt delegation gives assurances; issues 90-day ultimatum

Digital Desk | Patoda/Beed, Sep 17 (IANS) Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil on Thursday announced the suspension of his 20-day hunger strike following his discussion with a government delegation comprising Ministers Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Dadaji Bhuse, MLAs Prasad Lad and Suresh Dhas, and the Beed District Collector. Following the talks, Jarange Patil granted the government a 90-day deadline, demanding the implementation of the Satara Gazette within three months. He warned that if the government betrays them, he will march to Mumbai. Announcing the suspension of his hunger strike, he clarified that the agitation itself would continue. Jarange Patil demanded assurances that the 58 lakh identified Kunbi records would not be reduced, offering to provide people to help search for records. He criticised the Shinde Committee for not working and the government for being inattentive, asserting that the battle would not stop until it succeeded. Giving a three-month ultimatum for the Satara Gazette implementation, he stated that antagonising the Maratha community is unacceptable. He remarked that despite any mistakes by Minister Vikhe Patil, people should treat him with affection, and expressed similar sentiments towards Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, though not at the present moment. He added that he would not stay silent if ministers criticised them and noted that officials who previously avoided talks had finally come to negotiate, emphasising that the community's dignity is more important than reservations. The government delegation gave him assurances including implementation of the Satara, Kolhapur, Pune, and Aundh Gazettes within three months by issuing a Government Resolution (GR), issuance of a revised GR to grant Kunbi certificates in accordance with the Hyderabad Gazette, continued validation of certificates issued per the Hyderabad Gazette, no reduction in the 58 lakh Kunbi records found by the Shinde Committee and revalidation of the revoked Kunbi certificates of four elected representatives from Marathwada. Jarange Patil clarified that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde are not his enemies, but asked what choice he has when attacked. He requested that good officers be assigned to locate Kunbi records, warning that if the government intends to buy time, the protest will continue. He specifically demanded the validation of the four revoked Kunbi certificates of Marathwada representatives and urged CM Fadnavis to address his key points publicly through a press conference or video statement. During discussions with the delegation, Minister Vikhe-Patil explained that the Satara Gazette involves a 1,100-page report requiring three to four months of study before taking action. Regarding the Hyderabad Gazette GR, which is currently pending in court, Vikhe-Patil assured that care would be taken to ensure it faces no stay order. In response, Jarange Patil asked why the Maratha community continues to be overlooked and demanded the immediate implementation of the Satara, Kolhapur, Pune, and Aundh Gazettes via GR. Pointing to a recent government resolution stating that Hindu Wani, Hindu Vaishya, and Vaishya Wani are the same community, Jarange Patil demanded a similar GR stating that Maratha and Kunbi are one and the same. He requested that the GR explicitly mention -- just as it did for other communities -- that Marathas were historically Kunbi during the pre-independence era and were left out of reservations due to an oversight. He said that the commitments regarding 58 Kunbi records must carry the signature of Chief Minister Fadnavis or be publicly assured by him via the media. BJP MLA Prasad Lad stated that Jarange Patil ended his 20-day hunger strike following requests from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar. Lad affirmed that the government committed to fulfilling the promises made to Jarange within the next 90 days. Jarange Patil had previously set off for Mumbai to begin an agitation at Azad Maidan on September 19. However, police denied permission due to security concerns and potential operational strain during the Ganesh festival. As Jarange Patil marched toward Mumbai, his health deteriorated after he stopped consuming water and IV fluids. The successful outreach by the government delegation in Beed persuaded him to halt the fast. Speaking to his supporters, Jarange Patil extended greetings on Marathwada Liberation Day, marking the end of Nizam rule in the region. He assured the community that he would never abandon them and would not back down without securing the Gazette. Addressing Minister Dadaji Bhuse and MLA Prasad Lad, he emphasised that the government must implement the GR for the Satara, Aundh, and Bombay Gazettes, noting the widespread public support across Western Maharashtra. He concluded by reiterating that the government must provide written guarantees that not a single Kunbi record out of the 58 lakh records will be removed, and that certificates must be granted in accordance with the Hyderabad Gazette.

Amsterdam Flames Seal 5-Wicket Win Over Glasgow Cosmic, Move Back to Second in ETPL

Amsterdam Flames completed their league campaign with a five-wicket victory over Glasgow Cosmic in Match 28 of the ETPL at Malahide, chasing down 127 with 24 balls to spare and moving back into second place in the standings. Glasgow were bowled out for 126, leaving Amsterdam with a target of 127. The Flames made the most of the opportunity, reaching 127 for five to seal the win and collect two valuable points in the race for the top positions. The result marked another important step in Amsterdams campaign. Having already recorded a tournament-high 214 in their previous match against Dublin Guardians, the Flames followed that performance with a successful chase to close out their ten-match league schedule. Amsterdams bowlers set up the result by restricting Glasgow to 126. David Payne and Bas de Leede were particularly influential, Payne claiming three wickets and de Leede took 4 wickets as the Cosmic batting line-up struggled to build a substantial total. Their spells ensured that Glasgow were unable to set a more demanding target. This was de Leede's career best figure delivering 4/6. With 127 required, Amsterdam approached the chase with the assurance of knowing that a steady innings would put them in a strong position. The Flames reached the target in 16 overs, finishing on 127 for five and completing a five-wicket victory with four overs remaining with a major contribution coming from Curtis Campher who scored 44 from 30 balls. The win carries major significance beyond the result itself. Amsterdam have now completed their quota of ten league matches and moved back into second place, putting themselves in a strong position as the remaining fixtures determine the final qualification picture. The Flames must now wait for the outcome of the remaining matches, particularly the meeting between Edinburgh Castle Rockers and Belfast Wolves. Belfast remain in contention to move above Amsterdam, but would need a substantial victory over Edinburgh to improve their net run rate sufficiently to overtake the Flames. Rotterdam Dockers remaining fixture is also crucial to the qualification race. A Rotterdam victory would strengthen their position in the standings, while a defeat could open the door for Belfast to secure qualification, depending on the outcome and margin of the Edinburgh fixture. For Amsterdam, the task is now complete. The Flames have finished their ten matches, secured another win and placed themselves in second as the league stage reaches its decisive point. Their 59-run victory over Dublin in the previous match established a new ETPL team-total record, and this win over Glasgow provided a timely follow-up. The Flames now await the final results, with their place in the standings and qualification hopes resting on the remaining contenders performances. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Amsterdam have done what they needed to do on the field. The final qualification picture will now be shaped by the results still to come.

Doordarshan celebrates 67th Foundation Day

New Delhi, Sep 16: Doordarshan, Indias iconic public service broadcaster, celebrated its 67th Foundation Day with a vibrant evening of music, dance and entertainment at Doordarshan Bhawan, Copernicus Marg, Mandi House, New Delhi. The celebrations, themed Doordarshan@67 Kal Bhi Apna, Aaj Bhi Apna, commemorated Doordarshans remarkable journey of over six decades and its enduring connect with generations of Indians. The evening featured a special musical performance by renowned singer Jyoti Nooran, which enthralled the audience with her powerful and soulful rendition. The celebrations also witnessed a spectacular Rhythm Without Borders fusion dance performance by Shikha Khare and her group. Adding to the evening was an engaging interaction with prominent artists associated with Doordarshans upcoming television serials Sanskar and Suraag 2.0. The interaction featured K. C. Bokadia, Mahesh Thakur, Aman Verma, Darshan Jariwala, Pankaj Berry, Sudesh Berry, Sai Ketan Rao, Jigyasa Singh and Rehan Shahrukh Mirzabeig. The celebrations were hosted by Namitaa Sachdeva and Ali Asgar, who kept the audience engaged throughout the evening while celebrating Doordarshans rich legacy and continued relevance in Indias evolving media landscape. For over six decades, Doordarshan has remained an integral part of Indias social and cultural fabric. From becoming a household presence across generations to embracing new platforms and technologies, Doordarshan continues to evolve while retaining its unique identity and public service mandate. The Doordarshan Foundation Day Celebrations 2026 brought together artists, television personalities and members of the Doordarshan fraternity in a celebration of its glorious past, vibrant present and promising future.

Zuhaib Mir seeks time-bound roadmap for NHM employees

PDP spokesperson and Constituency Incharge Lal Chowk, Zuhaib Yousuf Mir, has called for an immediate and time-bound resolution of the long-pending demands of National Health Mission (NHM) employees in Jammu and Kashmir. The struggle of NHM employees is not merely about salaries; it is about dignity, job security, recognition and a secure future. These workers have served patients across hospitals, health centres and remote areas, often becoming a crucial link in our public healthcare system, Mir said. NHM employees have been seeking regularisation, pay parity, job security and social-security benefits, including EPF, ESI, insurance and retirement benefits. Their agitation, which began earlier this month, has continued with employees demanding a concrete and time-bound roadmap. Mir, as per a statement, said that years of dedicated service cannot be met with continued uncertainty. Equal work deserves fair remuneration, and contractual status cannot become a justification for denying workers basic dignity and social security, he said. He urged both the J&K and Union governments to engage meaningfully with NHM employees and establish a transparent mechanism to address their grievances. The Union Government told Parliament in March that matters concerning regularisation, absorption and pay parity of NHM personnel fall within the jurisdiction of the respective State/UT governments. The National Conference government must listen to these workers instead of allowing the issue to drag on. Healthcare workers cannot be treated as expendable. Their service sustains our public-health system, particularly at the grassroots level. Their grievances must be heard and addressed through a transparent, fair and time-bound process, Mir said.

Practice Match Day 2: Qamran Iqbals 185 powers JKCA to 316/6 against Kerala

Qamran Iqbal struck a magnificent 185 as Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) reached 316 for six against Kerala on the second day of their three-day senior mens practice match at SK Stadium, Srinagar on Wednesday. Resuming their innings on Day 2, JKCA were powered by a commanding knock from Qamran, who emerged as the standout performer with a 185-run innings before being dismissed. Kanwalpreet contributed 29, while Musaif Ajaz scored 26 as JKCA posted 316 for six by the end of the day. At the close, Abid Mushtaq was yet to open his account, while Sahil Lotra remained unbeaten on eight. For Kerala, Edhan A Tom, Akhin Sathar, Ibnul Aftab, Abhishek P Nair, J S Anurajan and Pawan claimed a wicket each. Qamrans 185 was the defining performance of the day as JKCA head into the final day at 316/6.

Jharkhand Congress takes out protest march demanding separate OBC column in Census 2027

A 10-member Congress delegation submit memorandum to Governor; assert that obtaining accurate population data for the OBC community would strengthen the factual basis for policy formulation and decisions regarding representation

Iran War & Canada Tariffs: Kevin Warsh Defies Trump With Rate Hike; POTUS Shoots Firing Threat

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh has opened a dramatic new front with Donald Trump after leading a unanimous quarter-point interest rate hike, pushing the federal funds target range to 3.75%4% despite the president demanding rates at 1% or lower.Trump reacted angrily, calling for rates to be cut fast and intensifying pressure on the Fed as inflation remains stubborn. The clash comes amid wider economic strain from the Iran war and Trumps tariff battles, including Canada, raising fresh questions over whether the White House could escalate its fight with Warsh and even move toward trying to remove him.

Tarun Chugh Visits Family of Gulzar Singh, Promises Justice

Tarun Chugh meets Gulzar Singhs family in Sangrur, pledging support and demanding justice amid serious allegations. Tarun Chugh Visits Family of Gulzar Singh, Promises Justice

Pakistan Under-19 Team Secures Series Victory Over England with Dominant 200-Run Win

Pakistans Under-19 team clinched the series against England with a commanding 200-run victory in Worsley. Pakistan Under-19 Team Secures Series Victory Over England with Dominant 200-Run Win

Walnut growers to get harvesting machines

Srinagar, Sep 16: The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) is likely to introduce walnut harvesting machines in Jammu and Kashmir next year to make the process safer and reduce the risks involved in climbing trees manually. Dr Imtiyaz Ahmad Lone, Professor and Head, SKUAST-K. Told Rising Kashmir that the move would help make walnut harvesting safer and more efficient for growers, many of whom continue to depend on traditional methods. Walnut harvesting machines are expected to be introduced next year, Dr Imtiyaz said, stressing the need to reduce the risks faced by workers who climb tall walnut trees during the harvesting season. He said mechanisation is an important step towards modernising the walnut sector and improving productivity. Manual harvesting can be physically demanding and exposes workers to the risk of falls and serious injuries. Dr Imtiyaz said SKUAST has already developed walnut washing and cleaning machines, which have been deployed in several areas, including Kupwara, Handwara, Tangdar, Uri and Chenab. He said the focus is now on introducing suitable machinery for harvesting walnuts, which could reduce dependence on manual labour and improve harvesting efficiency. Dr Imtiyaz also called for wider adoption of modern walnut cultivation practices. He said most growers still follow traditional methods, resulting in low tree density and limited production. He advised farmers to shift towards grafted walnut plants and high-density plantations. According to him, farmers can plant around 20 to 25 grafted walnut trees per kanal, compared with only four to five trees under traditional planting. He also urged growers to adopt improved varieties developed through research and seek technical guidance from SKUAST, regional research stations and Krishi Vigyan Kendras. Dr Imtiyaz said modern cultivation, mechanisation and better post-harvest facilities are essential to strengthen Kashmirs walnut industry and help local growers compete in domestic and international markets.

A Saint of the Valley: The Life and Legacy of Swami Nand Lal Ji

A Lineage of Faith and Fortune Swami Nand Lal Ji was born in 1902 at Gurgari Mohalla, Zaina Kadal, Srinagar, to Pandit Sahaj Koul and Smt. Radha Mali. His birth fell during a particularly harsh Kashmiri winter, and family tradition holds that it coincided with the festival of Tilla Ashtami, when Pandit households along the Vitasta lit ceremonial fires to mark the occasion. The Koul family- known locally as the Kothdars - were prosperous and well regarded. Nand Lal Ji's forefathers had served as bankers to Maharaja Pratap Singh, and the household was known for its devotion to Goddess Sharika Devi of Hari Parbat. In every season, family members, men and women alike, would undertake the Parikrama to the shrine. Tragedy struck early: his mother died while he was still young, leaving behind two sons and a daughter. It was his stepmother, however, who became his first spiritual guide - her simple, disciplined way of life is said to have quietly shaped the boy who would later renounce the world altogether. Nand Lal Ji's granduncle, Ram Koul, had earlier built a temple and dharamshala near the Maha Lakshmi shrine at Hari Parvat - structures that reportedly still stand today, testament to the family's long-standing piety. A Restless, Commanding YouthAs a boy, Nand Lal Ji was energetic and somewhat imperious, the kind of temperament often seen in the sons of well-off families. At school he studied up to the eighth class, and among his juniors were his cousin, the late Pandit Naranjan Nath Koul, and Pandit Sham Lal Sapru - known affectionately as Boetoth Ji - both of whom he tended to dominate as boys. In time, both would become his devoted followers once he had transformed into a realized yogi. After a brief, roughly eighteen-month attempt at business, Nand Lal Ji left home at age of fourteen in pursuit of Sadhana. Once he walked out of his father's house, he never returned to worldly life - and for nearly twenty years afterward, he was largely untraceable, a wandering ascetic somewhere in the hills and forests of the region. Initiation Under Swami Lal Ji of Banaras Nand Lal Ji took the vow of brahmacharya and was formally initiated into sainthood by Swami Lal Ji of Banaras, himself a great yogi. So struck was the guru by his disciple's spiritual attainments that he is said to have once offered Nand Lal Ji his own aasana - an honour the disciple, mindful of the proper guru-shishya relationship, declined to accept. Swami Lal Ji reportedly remarked that Nand Lal Ji had accomplished, in a remarkably short span, a level of kriya yoga that had taken him personally years of practice to master. He is remembered to have said, in Kashmiri, that true greatness belonged only to one who could match Nand Lal Ji's will and discipline - a measure of how far the young ascetic had progressed. Sadhana at Bomai and the Ashram at Sharada Much of Nand Lal Ji's deep spiritual practice was carried out at Bomai Sadhamaleun near Sopore. He lived close to nature throughout his life - in his food, dress, and daily habits - and remained a strict vegetarian. He had a particular fondness for Sufiana music, and accomplished musicians of the tradition would travel to sit before him and perform. After completing his Sadhana, Swami Ji settled at Sharada, in the Tangdhar area, establishing a small ashram at the historic Sharada temple - still known locally, largely among the Gujjar community of the area, as the Sharda Mai temple. His following there drew heavily from traders of Tikker village in present-day Kupwara. Displacement in 1947 and a New Ashram at Tikker When Pakistani raiders occupied the Sharada area in 1947, Swami Ji relocated with his followers to Tikker village in 1948, where he established a new ashram atop a hill. Interestingly, a Namberdar named Zaman Lone of Sharda gave his horse to Swami Ji to help him cross the LoC and reach Tikker. Among the few precious belongings he brought with him from Sharda was a silver Mukut from Sharda Peeth. The same silver Mukut was installed by Swami Nand Lal Ji at the Sharda Mandir in Tikker when the temple was reconstructed in 1949. Due to unavoidable circumstances in the 1990s, the Mukut was kept in the safe custody of devotees. An episode from this period of upheaval is remembered vividly by his devotees: a Sikh man fleeing armed raiders took refuge in Swami Ji's ashram at Sharada. When the raiders demanded he come down to be shot for being a Kafir, Swami Ji calmly told him not to fear and to go down as instructed. As the story goes, the gunmen's weapons repeatedly failed to fire; astonished, they eventually fell at Swami Ji's feet, begged forgiveness, and left the Sikh man unharmed - though they urged Swami Ji himself to leave the area, warning him of the violence that would follow into the Valley. During the construction of the new ashram at Tikker, workers digging the foundation reportedly encountered snakes and other creatures that departed without causing harm, after Swami Ji had reassured his devotees beforehand not to be afraid. A few feet underground, the diggers uncovered a fire tongs, a kangri, a chillum, scattered rice, a dhooni with ash, and a saligram along with fresh flowers - items his followers took as a sign that Swami Ji had performed Sadhana at that very spot in a previous life. Turning to one bewildered devotee, Pandit Niranjan Nath, Swami Ji is said to have remarked, in Kashmiri, that there was no way to describe how much was hidden in that place. He instructed the workers to set the recovered articles - the chillum, kangri, tongs, and saligram - aside and proceed with laying the plinth. The ashram commanded a sweeping view stretching as far as Sopore and Handwara. Swami Ji later established a second ashram at Hushoora, near Budgam, again showing what devotees describe as an unusually keen eye for site and setting. Tales of Healing and Revival Many miracles are attributed to Swami Ji by those who knew him, though his followers acknowledge that not all such accounts can, or should, be told. Among those still recounted: At Sopore around 196061, a temple priest ran to Swami Ji in distress, saying his wife had died. Swami Ji sent him to fetch a tumbler of water from the Vitasta and told him to sprinkle it on her face. She is said to have revived within minutes and outlived her husband. On another occasion, a devotee who had passed away suddenly stirred back to life as his body was being ritually bathed, startling those present. He asked only for clothing, saying he would explain what had happened though because his revival had not been sanctioned by Swami Ji, he permanently lost the power of speech even as he lived on for many years. This is said to have occurred after Swami Ji had already attained Nirvana. A teenage boy in Jawahar Nagar, who privately doubted that a photograph of Lord Shiva on his wall held any real significance, later experienced a night of overwhelming light in his room, in which Lord Shiva himself reportedly appeared, seated and smiling. The next morning, Swami Ji, aware of the boy's earlier doubt, asked him whether he still questioned the photograph's meaning - leaving the boy to beg forgiveness at his feet. A government employee facing certain conviction for misconduct came to Swami Ji in desperation the night before his court judgment. Swami Ji drew on his chillum, producing a burst of flame, and told him to set his worries aside. The court building and its records were destroyed by fire before the verdict could be delivered. Perhaps the most elaborate account concerns a retired police officer from Kupwara who was rushed to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar and pronounced dead one night, to his wife's anguish - only to show signs of life again as his body was being moved, terrifying those present. He later described being led by two figures through a vision of his own life, shown a hilltop with a lush garden on one side and a dark forest on the other, and being pushed toward the forest, where a thorn (later found to be an iron nail) pierced his foot - at which point he glimpsed Swami Ji in the distance and was allowed to return. He kept the nail until his death. An Open Kitchen and Quiet Miracles at Tikker Those close to Swami Ji recall an ashram where food was never denied to anyone - the langar ran daily, free of charge, feeding fifteen to twenty people or more at both morning and evening meals, and Swami Ji himself never accepted money from visitors or sought attention from important people. One devotee, Jai Kishan, is remembered to have silently wondered about the identity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar. One evening, three elderly Pandits in traditional dress appeared to be conversing with Swami Ji over tea; when Jai Kishan was asked to walk them partway down the hill, they vanished the moment he looked away. Swami Ji later told him this had been the answer to his unspoken question - the three visitors, he said, had been the Trikoti itself. In another account, Jai Kishan was unexpectedly transferred from Civil Aviation to the security detail of the Prime Minister's office not long after Swami Ji had asked him, in passing, whether he would like to see the world - a posting that eventually took him abroad in the Prime Minister's entourage. A young airman from Hoshura who wished to volunteer for a peacekeeping post in Congo was told by Swami Ji, Congo alone? Why not a world tour? He was later inadvertently carried aboard a cargo flight to Washington, spent time under Indian Embassy care in the United States, and was eventually routed home via Brazil - before returning to India to serve, more prosaically, as a postmaster. A Secular and Compassionate Outlook Swami Ji's following was never confined to one community. At Bomai, a Muslim resident named Mohammed Gosain is said to have once seen him in a vision resembling Lord Shiva astride Nandi, and became a devoted follower from that day. Another Muslim devotee, troubled that his cow had stopped giving milk, was told simply to place a pot before the animal and ask her, in Swami Ji's name, to give milk - which she did at once. Swami Ji is also remembered for a prophecy made in early 1967 warning that Kashmiri Pandits faced difficult times ahead - a warning his followers later connected to the community's upheavals later that decade. A Personal Testimony One devotee, recalling his own school days in 1965, described being caught apparently cheating during a Matriculation physics examination - only to find, when the invigilator opened his answer book, that the concealed material had simply vanished, sparing him from punishment. Visiting Swami Ji's ashram afterward, he was startled to be asked directly what had become of the book he had hidden during the exam - proof, in the devotee's telling, that Swami Ji's awareness and protection extended far beyond his physical presence, and continued for his followers even after his passing. Nirvana and Succession Swami Nand Lal Ji attained Nirvana in January 1966, on the day of Gauri Tritiya, at the Malviya Nagar residence of his disciple Pandit Prem Nath Sadhu in New Delhi. He left behind a wide circle of disciples and named three successors: Shri Vibhishan Ji, who continues at an ashram in Bordi; Swami Kral Bab Ji, who established an ashram at Gaddi, Udhampur, before his own passing some years ago; and Swami Mast Ram Ji, who has carried his guru's name and teaching to ashrams in Jammu, Karala (Delhi), and Haridwar - the last able to host up to 2,000 pilgrims at a time, free of charge. Among his earliest and most senior disciples were two men initiated in his own lifetime: Swami Sedhmol, born Vedh Lal, and Swami Sham Lal Sapru, Boetoth Ji - both of whom, like their guru, are remembered for quiet spiritual power exercised without any desire for recognition, and for their lasting contribution to the Kashmiri Pandit community. A Living Tradition: Smriti Yatra & Sharda Ashtami Mahotsav 2026 Six decades after his Nirvana, Swami Nand Lal Ji's memory continues to draw pilgrims back to the hills he once walked. The Mata Kheer Bhawani Asthapan Committee, Tikker, Kupwara, is organising theSwami NandLal Ji Smriti Yatra & Sharda Ashtami Mahotsav 2026, a spiritual and cultural yatra from 14th to 19 th September, held in remembrance of the saint's lifelong dedication to Kashmir's spiritual and cultural revival. The yatra will begin at Tikker on 14th September and proceed to Hushroo in Budgam, before moving on to Bomai (Sopore), Chandigam (Lolab), Kariham, and the Gaurishankar Mandir at Gotingoo, with devotees returning to Tikker thereafter. From there, the pilgrimage continues toward Jumagund and the banks of the Krishan Ganga, taking in Pushkar Naag, Kindreshwar Dham, Rudrawan (Ladewan), and Mokhta Sar, culminating in puja at the Krishan Ganga. The route then turns to Ramchandrun (Sita Sarayain) and Meeyal for further puja, Guru Vandana, and the offering of prasad. Devotees are scheduled to return to Tikker on 18th September to begin preparations for the Sharda Ashtami celebrations, which will include a Maha Aarti, Sharda Abhishek, Vedic chanting, a talk on the life of Swami Nand Lal Ji, and the formal conclusion of the yatra (Yatra Sampan). After decades, the same sacred Mukut is now set to be reinstalled at the Sharda Mandir in Tikker on the 19 th September. The organisers have extended an open invitation to devotees and well-wishers of the land to join the pilgrimage - to walk together, remember together, and help preserve the spiritual heritage that Swami Nand Lal Ji devoted his life to nurture. (The Author is a columnist)

When Students Speak, Governments Must Listen: Chhatron Ki Goonj in Jammu & Kashmir

For the youth of Jammu & Kashmir biggest question is no longer what the government promises but is when the promise will finally become an opportunity. Behind every recruitment notification is a young person who has spent months, years, preparing for a competitive examination. Behind every delayed result is a family waiting for financial independence, every cancelled or disputed examination is a generation being asked to start again. And behind every unemployment statistic is a young man or woman wondering how long they must wait before their education translates into a livelihood. This is why Rahul Gandhis Chhatron Ki Goonj initiative, which brings students into a direct conversation on education, recruitment and unemployment, has significance far beyond the political stages of the country. It raises questions that Jammu & Kashmirs political establishment can no longer afford to ignore. The youth of J&K are not demanding special treatment but a system that works, institutions they can trust and an economy that gives education a meaningful destination. At a time when political leaders are often more comfortable unveiling schemes, issuing statements and trading accusations than sitting down with students and listening to them, an initiative centred on the voice of the student offers a necessary challenge to the established style of politics. The real test of any government is not how loudly it speaks about the youth, but how seriously it listens when the youth speaks. For the youth of Jammu & Kashmir, the recruitment question is particularly important because government employment continues to be a one of the most stable and accessible avenues for educated young people. When recruitment is delayed, vacancies remain unfilled or examination processes become uncertain, the consequences are far greater than an administrative inconvenience. A delayed examination can mean another year of preparation, delayed result can mean another year of uncertainty and cancelled examination can mean that months or years of hard work have to begin again. Many students also face an age-related pressure that cannot simply be ignored. A young person may remain eligible for one recruitment cycle but lose that opportunity if the process is repeatedly delayed. The government must therefore establish a clear, annual and publicly accountable recruitment calendar for Jammu & Kashmir. Vacancies should be identified and communicated transparently and examinations should be conducted according to predetermined timelines also results should be declared without unnecessary delay and appointments should follow promptly. Where allegations of malpractice and irregularities arise investigations must be credible, independent and swift, while innocent candidates must not be made to suffer indefinitely. The principle should be simple government must protect both the integrity of the examination and the future of the candidate. Unfortunately, political leadership across the country often remembers students when an election approaches and forgets them once the campaign ends. This is precisely where initiatives such as Chhatron Ki Goonj can create a different political culture. Students do not need leaders who arrive once, make a speech, take photographs and disappear. They need leaders who return, listen, follow up and demand answers until the problem is resolved. In Jammu & Kashmir this type of distinction matters enormously. The larger issue, however, is not simply government recruitment. Jammu & Kashmir needs a comprehensive strategy for education, employment and economic transformation. It is neither realistic nor desirable to suggest that every graduate should depend upon a government job. The objective must be to create an economy in which a young person can choose between public service, private employment, entrepreneurship, research, skilled professions and new sectors of the economy. Our universities and colleges must become centres of opportunity rather than merely institutions that award degrees. Students should have access to modern laboratories, research opportunities, internships, career counselling, technology, industry exposure and entrepreneurship support. Skill development programmes must be judged not by how many certificates they issue but by how many young people actually find sustainable employment afterwards. J&K has enormous potential in tourism, horticulture, agriculture, handicrafts, food processing, information technology, renewable energy, logistics, creative industries and small and medium enterprises. Yet potential alone creates nothing. It must be supported by investment, infrastructure, credit, market access, professional training and predictable policy. A young entrepreneur should not have to spend more energy navigating bureaucracy than building a business. A graduate should not be told that a certificate itself is an achievement when what they desperately need is a livelihood. A modern employment policy for J&K must also recognise regional disparities. Opportunities cannot remain concentrated in a handful of urban centres. Students and young people in remote and rural areas must receive comparable access to education, coaching, digital resources and employment support. There is also a fundamental constitutional dimension to this debate. The promise of India is not simply that every citizen will be allowed to dream; it is that citizens should have a fair and equal opportunity to pursue those dreams. Equality of opportunity must be experienced, not merely quoted. A student from Budgam should believe that merit can take them as far as a student from Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi or Indore. A young woman from a rural district should have the same access to educational and professional opportunities as anyone else. A graduate from Jammu should not have to leave home simply because there is no serious employment ecosystem available locally. And a student preparing for a competitive examination should be able to trust the institution conducting it. This is why the political response to student grievances should never be dismissive. When young people ask questions about recruitment, examination integrity, education costs or unemployment, they are not creating problems; they are identifying the problems that governments are responsible for solving. It is particularly disappointing when political leaders respond to such concerns with ridicule, slogans or counter-slogans. Calling a youth campaign a jhooth ki goonj may make for a political soundbite, but it does not answer a single unemployed graduate. If the concerns of students are false, answer them with facts. If they are genuine, answer them with action. The language of democracy should be dialogue, not dismissal. This is also why the absence of sustained student engagement from many political formations deserves criticism. Leadership should not be confined to assemblies, press conferences and election rallies. It must be present in classrooms, universities, coaching centres and communities where young people are actually experiencing the consequences of policy decisions. The youth of Jammu & Kashmir should not have to wait for an election season before someone asks them what they need. Their concerns should be part of governance every day. The real opportunity before the Congress and its leadership, therefore, is to transform the spirit of Chhatron Ki Goonj into a sustained national and J&K-specific movement for educational opportunity, transparent recruitment and dignified employment. Jammu & Kashmir should have its own structured student dialogue, involving universities, colleges, professional institutions, young graduates and aspirants preparing for competitive examinations. Their concerns should be documented district by district and converted into a concrete J&K Youth Employment and Education Charter with measurable commitments, a transparent recruitment calendar, time-bound filling of vacancies, safeguards for examination integrity, support for students affected by cancelled examinations, stronger public universities, affordable professional education, expanded career and skill programmes, entrepreneurship support and a deliberate strategy to attract private investment and create jobs across the Union Territory. Most importantly, there must be a culture of accountability in which governments are judged by outcomes rather than announcements. Jammu & Kashmirs youth do not need pity, political tokenism or another round of empty assurances. They need a fair system in which hard work has meaning. They need leaders who will stand with them when cameras are absent, when examinations are delayed, when recruitment processes stall and when a young graduate is wondering whether to continue preparing or abandon the dream altogether. Rahul Gandhis Chhatron Ki Goonj can become the beginning of that conversation. From Indore to Jammu & Kashmir, the message should be unmistakable: students are not merely the future of India but are citizens of India today, and their voices deserve to shape the policies that determine their tomorrow. Let their concerns be heard, let governments be held accountable, and let the politics of promises finally give way to the politics of performance. J&Ks youth are not asking for favours. They are asking for opportunity, equality, dignity and a fair chance to build their own future. That is not too much to ask from a democracy. It is the very least it owes them. (The Author is the Central Kashmir head of the Jammu and Kashmir Students' Association, a UPSC educator and a political analyst)

Hegseth Survived, For Now: Mike Johnson Flees Impeachment Clash; Trump Faces Iran War Revolt

Pete Hegseth has survived an immediate impeachment showdown but the fight is far from over. House Speaker Mike Johnson cancelled votes and sent lawmakers home as Republican Rep. Thomas Massies impeachment push against the defense secretary threatened to force a politically explosive House vote.Massies move has opened a fresh Republican rebellion over the Iran war, with critics accusing Hegseth of violating congressional war powers and demanding accountability. Democrats quickly accused Johnson and GOP leaders of running from the vote, turning the Hegseth fight into another major pressure point for Donald Trump and his war strategy.

Narendra Modi daily routine: What Prime Minister's habits reveal about his journey

Narendra Modi's daily routine, personal habits: PM Narendra Modi's journey reflects discipline and enduring interests shaping his public persona. Yoga remains a consistent morning routine, strengthening his body and mind daily. Early responsibilities and RSS work instilled a demanding schedule and long working hours. Reading and writing are lifelong passions, influencing his communication and public engagements. Service over personal achievement guides his approach to governance and public life.

10 Years of Pink: Taapsee Pannu recalls choosing Minal Arora; says, Only I will do this film now

Taapsee Pannu is looking back at one of the most significant films of her career as Pink completes 10 years. Released in 2016, the Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury directorial featured Taapsee as Minal Arora, a young woman whose story becomes central to the films exploration of consent and societal attitudes. At the time, Taapsee had already begun attracting attention for taking on varied roles in Hindi cinema. Following her appearance in Baby, the actor recalled feeling the pressure of choosing a project that would build on the response to her earlier work. Pink eventually became the project that caught her attention almost immediately after she heard the script. She recalled saying, After Baby, there was a lot of pressure on me about what I was going to do next. In the first few Hindi films that I did, there was so much versatility in the characters I played that people were always curious about what I would take up next. There was this pressure that my next project had to be really good, and one step ahead of Baby. So, when Pink came my way, I heard the script and immediately found it interesting. The film was set in Delhi, and the makers had seen my work, so they called me and asked if I would be interested in doing it. Interestingly, they also asked me whether I thought a film like this should be made. As an audience member, I said, Definitely. Being a girl from Delhi, I genuinely wondered why nobody was making a film about an issue like this. So, when they asked me, I said, Yes, why not? I very authoritatively said, Only I will do this film now. And the rest is in front of you. Pink went on to become an important title in Taapsees filmography, with her performance as Minal receiving attention alongside the films subject and ensemble cast. The film also featured Amitabh Bachchan, Kirti Kulhari and Andrea Tariang in key roles. A decade later, Taapsee continues to take on characters across different genres. Her recent work includes Gandhari, in which she plays Bani, a mother searching for her kidnapped daughter. The Netflix film has also reached audiences internationally, with the film reportedly trending across more than 70 countries. From Minal in Pink to Bani in Gandhari, Taapsees recent career has continued to include roles centred on emotionally demanding characters and stories. As Pink marks 10 years, her recollection of choosing the film offers a look back at the decision that became an important chapter in her journey in Hindi cinema. Also Read: Taapsee Pannu REACTS to Kirti Kulharis sidelined claim during Pink promotions: I cant discard her feelings

Gukesh, Sarin Lead India To Win At Chess Olympiad Opener

The Indian men's chess team, led by D Gukesh, Nihal Sarin, and Vidit Gujrathi, secured a 3-1 victory over Thailand in their opening match at the 46th World Chess Olympiad, despite Arjun Erigaisi's unexpected loss. The Indian women's team achieved a commanding 4-0 win against the Dominican Republic, with Koneru Humpy, R Vaishali, Vantika Agrawal, and B Savitha Shri all registering wins.

Sikkim landslides: 161 evacuated in Gyalshing amid heavy rain, flooding

At Rimbi, 128 people from 28 households were shifted to the Rimbi Gram Panchayat Kendra as a precautionary measure after landslides and flooding heightened risks to settlements. The situation remains particularly concerning around Mandir Point, where fresh landslides have been reported

CoMSO draws red line on UCC:

Shillong, Sep 16: The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organizations (CoMSO) has fired a strong salvo against the proposed Uniform Civil Code rollout in NDA-ruled states, demanding Meghalaya be kept out. In representations to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, CoMSO questioned under what constitutional mechanism the Centre proposes to apply UCC [] The post CoMSO draws red line on UCC: Political alliances cannot override Sixth Schedule first appeared on Highland Post .

Jail jammer issue: Advocates to stage protest during Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru

Advocates associated with the Mangaluru Bar Association will stage a protest in front of the Praja Soudha at Padil during the Cabinet meeting on Friday, demanding that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar direct the Mangaluru district prison authorities to remove the phone jammer at the jail.

Man Dies in Boudh Road Accident, Outraged Locals Block Traffic Demanding Action

A 35-year-old man, Tuna Nag from Bhaliapadar village, died in a road accident in Kantamal, in Boudh district, leaving the local area in deep mourning. The fatal mishap triggered intense anger among family members and villagers over growing road safety concerns. Demanding adequate financial compensation for the grieving family and strict action against those responsible, [] The post Man Dies in Boudh Road Accident, Outraged Locals Block Traffic Demanding Action appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .

CPI Demands Reversal of UPI Transaction Fee Decision

The CPI has criticized the governments decision to impose fees on UPI transactions, calling it anti-people and demanding its immediate withdrawal. CPI Demands Reversal of UPI Transaction Fee Decision

President's diplomatic menu gets Himachali flavour with traditional hill cuisines

Digital Desk | Shimla, Sep 16 (IANS) Indias diplomatic dining experience at Rashtrapati Bhavan is set to acquire a distinct Himachali touch, with traditional cuisines from the Himalayan state -- with a touch of nature's earthiness and the unmistakable aroma of guchhi, one of the worlds most prized morel mushrooms grown in high mountains -- being introduced to the menu for visiting dignitaries and elite guests after a special culinary training programme conducted by a government chef from Himachal Pradesh. Acclaimed chef Nand Lal Sharma, Consultant (Food and Beverage) with Himachal Tourism and President of the Himachal Chef Association, was invited by the Presidents Secretariat to train cooks at Rashtrapati Bhavan in authentic Himachali cuisines. During his week-long stay, he showcased traditional dishes from the Kangra and Mandi regions, highlighting the culinary heritage of the hills through recipes rooted in local ingredients, slow-cooking techniques and generations-old traditions. The most popular dham, a multi-course traditional saatvik (vegetarian) feast served by sitting together on the ground on special occasions like weddings and festivals and eating without forks or spoons, is prepared by Bhotis, the Brahmin chefs who have traditionally been cooking for generations. Most of the utensils used for cooking are made from copper or brass. For us, Himachali food is soul-rooted in Himalayan cultures and preserving its authenticity, as every dish has its meaning, and then showcasing culinary diversity of the mountain communities on the diplomatic table is the aim of my Rashtrapati Bhavans visit, Sharma told IANS in an interview on Wednesday. He cooked lip-smacking and mouth-watering recipes of the Kangra and Mandi regions, popularly known as Kangri and Mandiali dishes, during his weeklong stay in Rashtrapati Bhavan. Sharma, the President of the Himachal Chef Association, said that during his stay in the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the food is served on pattals (broad leaves of a tree); rice first and then a round of other items. According to him, he also got an opportunity to train one personal chef of President Droupadi Murmu, besides three others. Sharma, who got an opportunity to interact with the President, said she liked the gucchi recipe most. Gucchi, or Morchella Esculenta, is a mushroom variety that grows naturally on snowy slopes. In Himachal Pradesh, gucchi is grown in dense deodar forests mainly in the interiors of Shimla, Chamba, Kullu and Mandi districts. Since its trade is not regulated by the government, there is no estimation about its overall production. Villagers have permission from the Forest Department to collect gucchi, which falls under the category of minor forest produce. The Presidents office, in a missive to the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director on July 16, asked him to depute Sharma to train cooks at Rashtrapati Bhavan in local and Himachali cuisines. During the recent visit of the Honourable President of India to Mashobra, Shimla, it was found that Shri Nand Lal Sharma has great expertise in local cuisines and the Honourable President of India was highly appreciative of this, reads the letter. For me it was a profound honour and, of course, a truly humbling experience to showcase our food cultures that will help connect communities across the Himalayan state, Sharma told IANS. In Himachal, the main course of Mandiali dishes comprises rajmah, kale chane ka khatta (sour), maa ki dal cooked in spices with generous amounts of desi ghee, karahi, sepu vadi, kaddu (red pumpkin) ka mitha (sweet) and a bowl of rice. The traditional multi-course meal of the Kangra Valley has mandra (spiced vegetable and yoghurt curry), mahni (spicy sweet and sour curry), maah, chana dal (split Bengal gram with fennel seeds), budane ka mitha (sweet), rainthla (date and spinach curry) and rice. Meethe chawal, or sweet-spiced fragrant rice, is a common dessert in Kangra. Sharma, the former chief chef at Hotel Holiday Home in Shimla, said the President, who relishes only a vegetarian diet without onion and garlic, liked bathu ki kheer, a special dessert prepared with chenopodium seeds grown in high reaches, milk and sugar. Also, the President liked the classic dish sepu vadi -- urad dal dumplings fried and then simmered in curd gravy. (Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)

Vice-President Radhakrishnan to lead Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations

Digital Desk | Hyderabad, Sep 16 (IANS) Vice-President of India C.P. Radhakrishnan will be hoisting the National Flag at Secunderabad Parade Grounds here on Thursday to mark Hyderabad Liberation Day. Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan will be the chief guest at this years event. He will review the parade by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Central ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, G. Kishan Reddy, Bandi Sanjay Kumar and others will attend the event, which will also feature cultural programmes. It was on September 17, 1948, that the then Hyderabad State was annexed into the Indian Union. For the fifth consecutive year, the Centre is organising Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations. Like the last few years, the Central and Telangana governments will celebrate the day with different themes. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy will unfurl the National Flag at the main event to be held at the Public Garden in Hyderabad. For the third year in a row, the state government is celebrating it as 'Telangana Praja Palana Dinotsavam (people's governance day)'. State ministers, government advisors, and key representatives will hoist the National Flag and take the salute at the official celebrations in all 32 district headquarters. The National Flag will also be unfurled at all government offices, urban local bodies, and gram panchayats. While the earlier Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government celebrated September 17 as 'National Integration Day' in 2022 and 2023, Congress, which came to power in December 2023, decided to celebrate the occasion as Praja Palana Dinotsavam'. In 2022, the Union Ministry of Culture started organising the celebrations in Hyderabad on September 17. In 2024, the BJP-led government at the Centre decided to celebrate September 17 as Hyderabad Liberation Day. It issued a gazette notification, mentioning that Hyderabad did not get independence for 13 months after India's Independence on August 15, 1947 and continued to be under the Nizam's rule. In 2022 and 2023, Union Home Minister Amit Shah unfurled the national flag at Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations. Union Coal and Mines Minister Kishan Reddy led the celebrations in 2024, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was the chief guest in 2025. The BJP has long been demanding an official celebration of September 17 as Hyderabad Liberation Day. Earlier, in united Andhra Pradesh and later in Telangana, the party used to organise protests demanding that the government officially organise the celebrations. Successive governments, however, avoided official celebrations in view of the objections from Muslim organisations, which claimed that a massacre took place in the name of 'Police Action' as 'Operation Polo' was popularly known. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) led by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi and other parties strongly opposed the celebrations on the grounds that the entire India has one Independence Day. Accusing the BJP of giving communal colour to the issue, then Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao in 2023 decided to celebrate September 17 as National Integration Day. AIMIM also changed its strategy and celebrated it as National Integration Day. Last year, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy invited Union Ministers Amit Shah, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Kishan Reddy, and Minister of State Bandi Sanjay Kumar to attend 'Praja Palana Dinotsavam' to celebrate the anniversary of the arrival and heralding of democracy on Hyderabad soil. The BJP leaders, however, rejected the invitation. Kishan Reddy wrote that he cannot be part of an insincere ritual that blatantly attempts to erase the truth from the people.

Raveena Tandon: Apart from Lolo and me, dont think anyone else pairs up with Govinda as brilliantly

Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 16 (IANS) Actress Raveena Tandon has spoken about reminiscing her iconic on-screen pairing with Govinda and said that apart from Karisma Kapoor and her, she doesnt think anyone else pairs up with the star as brilliantly Raveena, who will feature as a special guest in the show Indias Best Dancer Season 5 semi-final episode, will be seen reminiscing about her on-screen pairing with Govinda and the interesting story behind the 1998 film Dulhe Raja. During a conversation with host Harssh Limbachiyaa in the upcoming episode, Raveena recalls how she and Govinda had signed films together earlier, but things did not work out. However, a trip to Calcutta for a store opening led to an unexpected conversation with Govinda, who suggested that they should do a film together. The two then visited a temple before beginning work on Dulhe Raja. Raveena said in a statement: Ji actually kahani aisi thi ki Chichi aur mera kahin na kahin humne filmein sign ki thi lekin woh work out nahi ho rahi thi, something or the other was not working out toh fir ek aisa hua ki hum Calcutta gaye the store opening ke liye toh Chichi ne bola yaar Raveena kuch toh karna chahiye humein ek film karni chahiye saath mein, meri ek film hai chal hum log pehle mandir chalte hain fir hum log Kali Mata Rani ke mandir gaye waha pe subah-subah 5:30 baje pooja ki aur phir aaye and next day we started Dulhe Raja and it worked out so well for us (sic). (The story was that Chichi Govinda and I had signed films together at some point, but they werent working out. Something or the other would always go wrong. Then, one time, we went to Calcutta for a store opening. Chichi said, Raveena, we should do something together. We should make a film together. I have a filmcome, lets first go to the temple. So we went to the Kali Mata temple, offered prayers early in the morning at around 5:30, and then came back. The very next day, we started Dulhe Raja, and it worked out so well for us.) Speaking about her equation with Govinda, Raveena added: And I think dekha jaaye toh Chichi ji ke saath aaj bhi jab baat hoti hai toh besides Lolo and me I dont think we pair up anyone else that brilliantly with Chichi. (And if you look at it, even today, whenever I talk to Chichi ji, apart from Lolo and me, I dont think anyone else pairs up with Chichi as brilliantly.) Sense of dancing, unki sense of timing, unki sense of comedy main toh logon ko bolti hoon, comedy timing toh maine Chichi se hi sikhi hai. (His sense of dancing, his sense of timing, his sense of comedyI tell people that I actually learned comic timing from Chichi.) Raveena also recalls how their love for dance turned into a playful challenge while shooting their song Ladka Deewana Lage. She said, Toh ye jo gaana tha ye actually is gaane se start kiya aur jo aap dekhenge ek shot hum ek dusre ko dekhte hain aur meri aur Chichi ki itni hansi nikal rahi thi na (So, this song was actually where it all started. In one shot, when you see the two of us looking at each other, we were laughing so much) Because that was a first time we could see both of us used to love dancing and hum log literally dancing mein ek dusre ko challenge kar rahe hain ki tu better shot dega ki mai better shot dungi so we used to be like that toh vo gaane mai hi hamarai jo tuning bethi uske baad lagataar Garib, Dariya Gyarah picture ki saat mai. (Because it was the first time we realized that we both loved dancing. We were literally challenging each other through our dancing Will you give the better shot, or will I? Thats how we used to be.) (The chemistry and understanding we developed while doing that song continued afterward, and we went on to work together in Gair, Dariya Dil, Gharana, and Aunty No. 1.) Indias Best Dancer Season 5 airs on Sony Entertainment Television and Sony LIV.

Ton-Up Harry Brook Leads From Front As England Hammer Sri Lanka In 1st T20I

Harry Brook's 114 not out and a typically dashing 80 from former captain Jos Buttler powered England to a commanding total of 254-4.

Jindal Supreme IPO opens today; GMP signals 29% potential listing gain. Check key details

Jindal Supreme IPO opens today, September 16, and will remain open until September 18. The issue comprises a fresh issue of Rs 99.89 crore and an OFS of Rs 24.99 crore. The IPO is commanding a GMP of around 29% ahead of opening, while allotment is expected on September 21 and listing on NSE and BSE on September 23.

You buy the village back: Former CEO explains the hidden cost of raising children in Bengaluru, Gurugram and Pune

Former CEO Aditya Kulkarni described modern parenting in Indian metros as a well furnished prison, arguing that families have lost the village-like support once provided by neighbours and grandparents. Parents now pay for nannies, daycare and other services while managing demanding careers. He said every arrangement comes with a cost, whether money, career, parental presence or retirement, leaving families with difficult trade-offs.

Noakhali Jubo League president arrested in anti-terrorism case

Police say he is also accused of financing a flash procession demanding Sheikh Hasina

'Don't Build Frankenstein And Then Ask For Regulation: JD Vance To AI Labs

US Vice President JD Vance has sharply criticised artificial intelligence developers for demanding global governance while continuing to build advanced systems

Harry Brook scripts history, becomes first cricketer to achieve this feat in T20Is

In a remarkable feat, Harry Brook reached a notable captaincy milestone in 2026, becoming the only Full Member captain to score two T20I centuries within the same year. His latest achievement was an explosive 114 not out against Sri Lanka in Southampton, which he accomplished off just 42 deliveries, leading England to a commanding 119-run victory in their first T20I match.

Ton-Up Brook Leads From The Front As England Beat Sri Lanka By 119 Runs In 1st T20

England captain Harry Brook hailed a near-perfect performance after his blistering unbeaten century paved the way for a 119-run thrashing of Sri Lanka in the first Twenty20 international at Southampton on Tuesday. Brook's 114 not out and a typically dashing 80 from former captain Jos Buttler powered England, to a commanding total of 254-4 after they shared a stand of 128 in just 60 balls. This was the 27-year-old Brook's first hundred in 18 international innings in all formats - since the World Cup win against Pakistan in February - and England's joint second-fastest in T20s. Faced with a huge chase, Sri Lanka were never in the hunt, the tourists dismissed for 135, with Sonny Baker, on his Hampshire home ground, taking a miserly 3-12 -- the fast bowler's first wickets in white-ball internationals -- in his maximum four overs. Victory put England, second in the T20 world rankings, 1-0 up in a three-match series. An exceptional performance and I am proud of how the boys went about every aspect of the game tonight, said Brook, who just days earlier was a member of the England Test side that completed a 3-0 whitewash of Pakistan. It is not the ideal schedule but we managed to mentally prepare for this game and this series, said Brook, adding: I thought the performance tonight was near-perfect. - 'Tough day' - Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka, who won the toss and fielded, made no attempt to hide from a tough day out here for us. Credit to Harry Brook and Jos Buttler for their exceptional innings, he said. At the same time, I don't think we pulled off our plans and execution. England's second-wicket pair again ran riot at the Rose Bowl after their mammoth partnership of 233 in a 56-run T20 win over India in July, when Buttler made 131 and Brook was 95 not out. On Tuesday, it was Brook who posted a century, his second in T20 internationals coming off just 42 balls, including eight fours and six sixes. This match was England's first since former captain Kevin Pietersen, an outstanding batsman in his own right, joined a white-ball coaching set-up still led by sacked Test boss Brendon McCullum as a special mentor. And Pietersen would have admired the way Brook smashed six boundaries off left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage in a fifth over costing 30 runs as Sri Lanka's attack wilted under England's assault. Sri Lanka lost dangerman Pathum Nissanka early in their chase when he tried to launch off-spinner Will Jacks over mid-on only to be caught by the towering Jamie Overton. Baker, effectively replacing the rested Jofra Archer, then clean bowled Kamil Mishara before having Lahiru Udara was caught off a scoop to leave Sri Lanka struggling at 32-3. Sonny has been bowling extremely well and he deserved his opportunity tonight, said Brook. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories The series moves on to Cardiff on Thursday before finishing at Old Trafford on Saturday, with England and Sri Lanka then involved in a three-match one-day international campaign.

Samson, Nitish star as India thrash Afghanistan to clinch T20 series

New Delhi, Sep 15: Sanju Samsons explosive 57 off 22 balls and Nitish Kumar Reddys three-wicket haul powered India to a commanding seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in the second T20I here on Tuesday, giving the hosts an unassailable lead in the three-match series. Reddy returned with figures of 3/24, striking on the first ball of []

SKUAST Kashmir veterinary interns refuse to relent over stipend hike

Srinagar, Sep 15:The ongoing protest by veterinary interns at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) entered its ninth consecutive day on Tuesday, with students maintaining a complete boycott of clinical and field duties as they press for a substantial revision of their monthly stipend. The protesting interns, assembled at the SKUAST-K campus, chanted slogans demanding pay parity. They highlighted that their current stipend falls drastically below the basic cost of living and fails to reflect the intense physical labour and hazardous conditions associated with veterinary field services. Interns are demanding an upward revision of their monthly allowance. Yet, nine days in, no official notification or concrete commitment has been issued. We cannot feed our families on promises alone, and we will not return to work until an official order is released. The deadlock continues despite recent government outreach. Protesters noted that they met the Minister for Agriculture Production, Animal/Sheep Husbandry, and Fisheries, Javid Ahmad Dar, at the Secretariat, who assured a delegation of student representatives that the administration would find a solution through a set process. President JKVSA Saqlain Rashid said the delegation, which included two professors, met the Agriculture Minister around 11:30 am on Monday and discussed the pending proposal concerning the stipend hike. Rashid said the minister informed the delegation that the proposal for 2024 had been sent directly to the Finance Department, whereas the prescribed procedure requires it to be routed through the Agriculture Production Department (APD). According to Rashid, the minister advised the university authorities to prepare a fresh proposal and ensure that it is first routed through the APD before being forwarded to the Finance Department. He also assured us that if the file reaches him within 30 days, he will make efforts to get it cleared within 20 days, Rashid said, adding that the minister addressed the concerns raised by the delegation and gave them adequate time to explain their demands. Rashid said the minister also spoke to the Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, during the meeting and asked him to initiate a fresh proposal through the proper channel. Following the meeting with the minister, the delegation also met the Vice Chancellor, who, according to Rashid, assured them that the fresh proposal would be prepared soon. The Vice Chancellor told us that the fresh proposal should be completed by tomorrow, Rashid said. The protracted strike has begun affecting routine operations across the universitys ambulatory clinics, regional veterinary hospital facilities, and rural extension centres. While permanent faculty and resident doctors are attempting to manage the patient load, the absence of internswho form the backbone of daily triage, surgery assistance, and field treatmenthas slowed diagnostic and clinical services.

Cascading Strikes Signal Deeper Uease

Srinagar, Sep 15:A wave of protests by trained healthcare workers and trainees has unfolded in quick succession in J&K. The spree is exposing a sense of grievance among those who have invested years in rigorous professional education yet believe they are receiving a raw deal professionally. The chronic disease of unemployment and underemployment afflicting the job sector for decades here is now spilling over across the spectrum. MBBS and BDS interns in J&K who receive Rs 12,300 a month get one of the lowest stipends in the country. It has remained unchanged for nearly seven years, pushing the interns to stage a strike from late August into early September 2026. They are demanding a rise to Rs 30,000 and citing long shifts, night duties, and rural postings. They also cite far higher payments elsewhere. They suspended the agitation after a government assurance of a decision within 30 days. Almost immediately, veterinary interns at SKUAST campuses intensified their own action over stipends. Cited as low as Rs 6,000, they are seeking parity with institutions paying substantially more. Simultaneously, National Health Mission contractual employees launched a 72-hour strike. They protest stagnant honorariums, job insecurity, and delayed benefits. Now medical associations are pressing for better pay for postgraduate residents and senior residents in GMCs of J&K. They seek parity of remuneration with SKIMS and AIIMS Jammu. These successive agitations highlight frustration among doctors, interns, and paramedical staff. They shoulder critical frontline responsibilities in a strained and stretched public health system. They argue their qualifications and workload are undervalued relative to inflation. The living costs and national benchmarks give credence to the demands. The recommendations of various committees and files, these aggrieved professionals and trainees state, are often lingering across departments. The pattern suggests a cascading discontent in the sector. However, this sits against a far larger backdrop of limited opportunities for the educated population in J&K,a situation that has not changed for decades. Official figures have put the number of registered educated unemployed youth in J&K at over 3.6 lakh. Kashmir division accounts for a larger share in this cohort. The overall unemployment rate has hovered around 6.7 per cent. It is double the national average in recent PLFS data. Youth and graduate unemployment remain much higher. The Union Territory produces more than 25,000 graduates annually. These graduates, strikingly form only about 13 per cent of the workforce. This points to underemployment and heavy dependence on government jobs. The private sector has failed to deliver jobs, and more seriously, better-paying jobs. Thousands with degrees and professional qualifications find few matching avenues in the employment sector, and compete for lower-level posts. Despite vacant government positions numbering in the tens of thousands, finding a job in J&K is now akin to striking gold. Hyped schemes such as Mission YUVA aim to promote entrepreneurship and self-employment, however, absorption of the educated workforce has been a sore topic for decades. The qualified young professionals already in the system feel under-compensated and insecure, the contrast is stark. A larger number of equally or similarly educated peers outside it struggle to find a foothold. Limited industrial diversification beyond tourism and horticulture and fiscal constraints on public hiring explain both the pay disputes and the broader joblessness in J&K. Meaningful opportunities for the thousands of educated youth remain elusive, breeding despondency.

After spending Rs 3530 Cr on Smart City projects, has Srinagar really become smart?

Srinagar, Sep 15:On paper, Srinagar is almost a finished Smart City. On the ground, however, residents, traders say the bigger question is whether the citys Rs 3530-crore transformation is delivering what it promised. Nearly a decade after Srinagar was selected under the Smart Cities Mission, the city has undergone a visible makeover, with public spaces redesigned, roads and footpaths upgraded and new urban infrastructure created across key areas. But traders argue that the success of such a massive public investment cannot be measured by completed projects alone. The real test, they say, is whether these assets remain functional, improve access and mobility, and make the city better for residents and businesses. According to information reported by Srinagar Smart City as of March 31, 2026, the city has taken up 161 projects worth Rs 3,633 crore, including projects under Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). Of these, 157 projects, or 98 percent, involving projects valued at Rs 3530 crore, have been completed. The figures indicate substantial progress, but also mark the beginning of a more difficult phase: maintaining the infrastructure and demonstrating its long-term impact. The assets created under the Smart City project have not been adequately maintained, undermining the value of the investment made in them, said Aijaz Shahdhar, President of the Kashmir Trade Alliance (KTA). Shahdhars assessment reflects a wider concern among traders that the programme cannot be judged merely by the number of projects completed or their financial value. The condition of roads, public spaces, parking facilities, pedestrian infrastructure, drainage, and access to commercial areas directly affects business activity. Lal Chowk, one of Srinagars most prominent commercial centres, offers a visible example. Suhail Ahmad, a retail trader operating near the Clock Tower, said the initial response to the redevelopment of Lal Chowk Plaza was highly positive. When this Smart City project was made, and this Lal Chowk Plaza was created, we were very excited, he said. He recalled how the plaza initially attracted large evening crowds, with fountains and newly developed public spaces becoming major attractions. There was a huge rush in Lal Chowk. Everything was fine. New and fresh things were there. Fountains were running. It was looking good. People used to come in the evening, he said. But he said the infrastructure subsequently deteriorated. As time passed, it went towards deterioration because of no maintenance, Suhail said, pointing to damaged bollards and a non-functional fountain. He also questioned the level of consultation with local stakeholders. We were never asked how a Smart City should be made, what facilities shopkeepers and people would need. They made the Smart City in their own way, he said. The comments underline the distinction between asset creation and asset management. An urban project may be completed technically, but its public value declines if it is not maintained and periodically upgraded. Feroz Ahmed Baba, president of the Lal Chowk Traders Association, said deterioration cannot be attributed entirely to the administration and pointed to vandalism by members of the public. When it was inaugurated, on the 14th and 15th of August, some people came and danced on the fountain. Then the fountain was pressed down and almost its entire structure was broken, Baba said. He said traders subsequently worked with authorities to restore and strengthen parts of the infrastructure. We worked together. We made Lal Chowk better, he said. However, he said damage to fountain nozzles and lighting has continued. The experience highlights a broader challenge: infrastructure created through public investment requires regular maintenance, timely repairs and public cooperation to retain its value. Traders at Srinagars Polo View Market have been demanding restoration of traffic movement and parking access, arguing that changes introduced under the Smart City initiative have adversely affected their businesses. The pedestrianisation of the market and removal of parking facilities have, according to traders, reduced customer access and affected footfall. Traders say they are not necessarily opposed to pedestrianisation or urban renewal, but argue that such interventions must be accompanied by adequate arrangements for parking, deliveries and customer access. The Polo View experience adds a commercial dimension to the Smart City debate: a project intended to improve the pedestrian environment can create difficulties for businesses if commercial access is not adequately considered. The Smart Cities Mission was not conceived merely as a beautification programme. Its focus areas included smart mobility, WASH, governance, energy and environment. Baba pointed to plans for improved footpaths, crossings, cycling infrastructure, seamless transportation and last-mile connectivity. Water transport on the Jhelum was also proposed as part of the citys mobility strategy, reportedly drawing on the Kerala model. Years have passed, but till now the water transport concept has not taken off, Baba said. For a city where the Jhelum runs through the commercial core, the limited progress on water transport raises questions about whether individual projects have been integrated into a wider mobility strategy. The official figures show that Srinagars Smart City programme has reached an advanced stage, with 157 of 161 projects completed. But the completion rate does not answer whether the assets are functioning as intended, whether they are being maintained adequately, or whether traders and residents have experienced measurable benefits. The government has stated that Smart City Proposals were prepared locally based on city needs and in consultation with stakeholders, including citizens. The programme also has a multi-level monitoring structure at the national, UT and city levels. For Srinagar, the next challenge is therefore less about construction and more about stewardship. The city has created thousands of crores worth of new infrastructure. But infrastructure is not an achievement that ends with an inauguration. Its value is determined by how well it functions years later.

Stop Attacking My Loved Ones: Kash Patel Erupts As Booker Insults GF Alexis Wilkins On Her Face

Kash Patel erupted at Sen. Cory Booker after the Democrat brought up the FBI directors girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, during a heated Senate hearing. Booker questioned Patel over reports alleging that FBI resources, including a SWAT detail, had been used to protect and transport Wilkins.Patel immediately pushed back, demanding to know why Booker was talking about my loved ones and telling him to stop attacking them. With Wilkins reportedly present in the room, the exchange quickly turned personal and became one of the most dramatic moments of the hearing.

PIX: Brook scores 114 off 49 balls as England crush SL

England secured a commanding 119-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first T20 international. Harry Brook's unbeaten 114 off 42 balls, supported by Jos Buttler's 80, propelled England to a massive total of 254-4. Sri Lanka struggled in their chase, being bowled out for 135, with Sonny Baker taking 3 wickets. This win gives England a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Storm before the Assembly Session

Srinagar, Sep 15: Ahead of the Autumn Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, various employees associations across the Union Territory have intensified their efforts to press the government for resolution of their long-pending demands, with several groups announcing protests and strikes. A major demandbeingraised by employees and workers is regularisation of their jobs and enhancement of monthly stipends, particularly for those engaged under different schemes and on contractual or temporary arrangements. The associations have geared up to draw attention to their issues and seek intervention from legislators and the administration. The protests began in Jammu and Kashmir on August 31, 2026, whenthemedical interns from different government medical colleges and hospitals commenced their strike to press fortheir demands foran increase in their monthly stipends. After protesting for nine days, the medical interns called off their strike following a meeting with Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Minister Sakeena (Masood) Itoo, with the government assuring that the long-pending demand for enhancement of their monthly stipend will be resolved within 30 days. The second protest started in Srinagar by the Jammu Kashmir Casual Daily Wagers Forum (JKCDWF), led by its president Sajad Ahmad Parray, who demanded that the government make public the recommendationsmade by the government with regard totheir long-pending demand for regularisation.However, the protest is stillgoing onas the forum has decided to once again hit the streets for the third time in a month on September 22in casetheir demands are not met. In this regard, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder KumarChoudhary hadstatedthat the workers had a legitimate grievance but should not allow outsiders or political interests tousetheir issue. Furthermore, the agitation byemployees of the National Health Mission (NHM)continued across Jammu and Kashmir for the seventh consecutive day on Tuesday, with around 12,000 workers remaining off dutyin support oftheir long-pending demands. The 72-hour strike by NHM employees commenced on September 9, demanding pay parity with NHM workers in other states, a comprehensive policy for job security and regularisation, besides social security benefits including EPF, ESI, insurance coverage and post-retirement support.The protesting employees, however, extended their strike by a further 72 hours twice andhave been pressingfor their demands. With regard tothese employees, Minister Sakeena Itoo termed their demands genuine, butsaidthe government wouldbe left withno option but to act againstthese employees in casetheydont jointheir duties soon. Besides, theVeterinaryinterns ofSher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Kashmir (SKUAST-K) also continued to protest, demandingthat their monthly stipend should be increasedfrom Rs 6,000 to Rs 23,000. During their protest, theprotestersmet Agriculture Minister Javid Dar at the Civil Secretariat. The minister, according to the interns, informed them that the earlier proposal seekingan increase in their stipendhad been sent directly to the Finance Department instead of being routed through the Agriculture Production Department (APD). He said a fresh proposal would therefore have to be submitted through the proper channel. The interns said the minister assured them that action would be taken within 20 days of receiving the fresh proposal. They, however, remained dissatisfied with the response and said they would decide on the continuation of their strike after meeting the universitys Vice-Chancellor. After the persistent protests, the Anganwadi workers have also joined the queue ahead of the Assembly Session, with the President of Anganwadi Workers Association J&K warning of a strike and road blockade by the workers if issues remain unresolved in the upcoming Assembly session. These stirs comeat a time whenthe government prepares totake upvarious legislative and policy matters during the session, providing employee organisations an opportunity to highlight their concerns. Representatives of different associations said they would intensify their agitation if their demands were not addressed, while appealing to the government to initiate dialogue and resolve the issues through a time-bound mechanism. The employees bodies have also urged legislators to take up their concerns during the session.

FBI Will Arrest Voters?: Blumenthal Torches Kash Patel Over Midterms; Shock Answer Follows

Sen. Richard Blumenthal pressed FBI Director Kash Patel over whether the bureau would stay out of election interference during the midterms, demanding what he called an unequivocal, clear, unambiguous commitment.Blumenthal said he was dissatisfied with Patels response and warned against any FBI role that could be perceived as influencing the election. The tense exchange added another flashpoint to Patels contentious Senate oversight hearing, where lawmakers repeatedly questioned the FBI chief over political independence and Donald Trumps influence on the bureau.

Punjab Congress Protests Against Finance Minister Cheema in Chandigarh

Congress leaders, led by Sachin Pilot, staged a protest in Chandigarh demanding the resignation of Finance Minister Harpal Cheema. Punjab Congress Protests Against Finance Minister Cheema in Chandigarh

Court to Hear PIL Demanding Halt to Madurantakam-Dharapuram By-elections

A public interest petition seeks to delay by-elections in Madurantakam and Dharapuram, questioning resignations of lawmakers for political reasons. Court to Hear PIL Demanding Halt to Madurantakam-Dharapuram By-elections

Delhi: Student body KYS gives memorandum to Jesus and Mary College principal over hostel facilities

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS) Representatives of students' organisation Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS), along with the students of Jesus and Mary College, gave a memorandum to the college principal Molly K.A demanding hostel facilities for needy outstation students, a statement said. Bhim Kumar, member of KYS Delhi State Committee, said on Tuesday that the delegation was led by the organisation's activists Mudita and Amrita. He added that the submission of memorandum on Tuesday was a part of a wider campaign launched by the KYS to demand adequate hostel facilities for students in the wake of the Satya Niketan building collapse tragedy on September 6 which claimed seven lives. During the meeting with the principal, the students also apprised KYS about surveillance of women students through the CCTVs in classrooms. This is unprecedented and exists nowhere else in Delhi University. Such an anti-women practice, that too by a college administration, is condemnable, the statement said, adding that the KYS will take up this issue with the college administration in the coming days. The delegation later also met the Maitreyi College Principal Haritma Chopra and submitted a memorandum. The Satya Niketan tragedy is not merely an isolated incident of a building collapse. It has exposed a much larger and long-standing problem of non-provision of hostel facilities in colleges, the statement said. In the absence of hostel facilities, students are compelled to live in rented rooms and paying-guest accommodations, often in unsafe buildings and insecure neighbourhoods, it added. They (students) are often subject to harassment, arbitrary restrictions and exploitative behaviour from landlords and PG owners. Women students are particularly affected, as they, apart from unsafe buildings, have to face daily harassment from landlords in insecure neighbourhoods, it said. The KYS, in the meetings with Principals, demanded that the college administrations take immediate concrete steps towards providing hostel facilities for needy outstation students. The KYS said that it is going to step up its campaign for hostels for needy outstation students across DU and other higher education institutions in Delhi. The organisation will also take up the issue of surveillance of women students in Jesus and Mary College, the statement said.

Air India Board clears all decks as new chief Tewolde Gebremariam enters the cockpit

Air India's board met to discuss operational priorities and remuneration for incoming CEO Tewolde Gebremariam. Outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson presented the airline's current operational position and progress made. Chairman N Chandrasekaran outlined expectations for the new leadership's focus on reliability and execution. Gebremariam will now lead the airline's demanding turnaround stage and integration efforts. The board also acknowledged Wilson's contributions to Air India's transformational journey.

iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 18 Pro Buyer

Apple last week announced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, arriving two years after the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Skipping a generation means makes for a bigger upgrade, with more than 50 differences between the 2024 and 2026 models. Most of the visible change arrived in between, with the iPhone 17 Pro replacing the titanium frame and glass back with an aluminum unibody and Ceramic Shield 2, adding vapor chamber cooling, and upgrading both the telephoto and front cameras. This year's update is largely focused on internal changes, centering on the A20 Pro chip, a variable-aperture Main camera, a smaller Dynamic Island , and a battery capacity increase that delivers the largest jump in battery life in the iPhone's history. For iPhone 16 Pro owners, the two sets of changes stack on top of each other. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 for 256GB, $200 more than the iPhone 16 Pro's $999 launch price, although the entry storage tier has doubled from 128GB. Apple no longer sells the iPhone 16 Pro directly, so any comparison now involves either a device you already own or a third-party listing. Here's everything that differs between the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro: Design and Display iPhone 16 Pro (2024) iPhone 18 Pro (2026) Titanium frame with full glass back Aluminum unibody with partial Ceramic Shield back 8.25mm thickness 8.75mm thickness Glass rounded square camera bump Full-width rounded rectangle aluminum camera plateau Ceramic Shield front Ceramic Shield 2 front with 3x better scratch resistance Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating only Apple-designed anti-reflective display coating to reduce glare 2,000 nits peak display brightness (outdoor) 3,000 nits peak display brightness (outdoor) 2x better outdoor contrast Dynamic Island supports up to two simultaneous Live Activities Smaller Dynamic Island, supports up to three simultaneous Live Activities iPhone 16 Pro : Weighs 7.03 ounces (199 grams) iPhone 16 Pro Max : Weighs 7.99 ounces (227 grams) iPhone 18 Pro : Weighs 7.44 ounces (211 grams) iPhone 18 Pro Max : Weighs 8.78 ounces (249 grams) Available in White, Black, Natural, and Desert Available in Silver, Black, Glacier, and Burgundy Chip, Performance, and Connectivity iPhone 16 Pro (2024) iPhone 18 Pro (2026) A18 Pro chip A20 Pro chip Built with TSMC's N3E process ( 3nm ) Built with TSMC's N2 process (2nm), Apple's first 2nm smartphone chip 6-core CPU with 2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores 6-core CPU with 2 super cores and 4 efficiency cores 60GB/s memory bandwidth ~115GB/s memory bandwidth 8GB RAM 12GB RAM 6-core GPU 7-core GPU with Neural Accelerators 16-core Neural Engine Dual 16-core Neural Engine (32 total cores) Vapor chamber cooling with 3x more surface area than the iPhone 17 Pro New chip packaging that places silicon die beside memory, allowing it to attach directly to the vapor chamber Qualcomm Snapdragon X71 modem iPhone 18 Pro : Apple C2 modem in all countries iPhone 18 Pro Max : Apple C2 modem in all countries except the U.S., where it uses a Qualcomm modem Broadcom Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip Apple N1 chip for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity Bluetooth 6 connectivity Rear Camera iPhone 16 Pro (2024) iPhone 18 Pro (2026) 12-megapixel Telephoto camera 48-megapixel Fusion Telephoto camera 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 5x optical zoom options 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x, and 8x optical zoom options Fixed /1.78 aperture on the 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera Variable-aperture 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera with four stops: /1.48, /1.8, /2.8, and /4.0, using six laser-cut blades API available for developers to control the aperture range within their own apps Faster Night mode, tied to the new variable-aperture lens Pro controls in the Camera app: manual lens aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and histogram New sensor and computational imaging pipeline on the Fusion Main camera, delivering around 50% better low-light performance and more detail in the back of group photos Photographic Styles 2, adjusting tone and color Photographic Styles 3, adding texture and grain controls alongside tone and color Smart focus tracking Cinematic mode recording up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 fps Cinematic mode recording up to 4K Dolby Vision at 60 fps Cinematic mode effects can be applied after capture, on video shot at up to 60 fps Improved low-light video Time-lapse video recording with stabilization, up to 4K Dolby Vision Apple Reference Image (Main camera only) Audio Mix Audio Mix with new algorithms for higher-quality voices, and the ability to isolate music ProRes RAW capture support Genlock support Front Camera iPhone 16 Pro (2024) iPhone 18 Pro (2026) 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera 18-megapixel TrueDepth camera Tap to zoom Tap to zoom and rotate Center Stage Ultra-stabilized video Dual Capture (up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 fps) Photographic Styles 2, adjusting tone and color Photographic Styles 3, adding texture and grain controls alongside tone and color Smart focus tracking Cinematic mode effects can be applied after capture Improved low-light video Time-lapse video recording with stabilization, up to 4K Dolby Vision Battery and Charging iPhone 16 Pro (2024) iPhone 18 Pro (2026) iPhone 16 Pro : 3,582 mAh battery iPhone 16 Pro Max : 4,685 mAh battery iPhone 18 Pro : 4,056 mAh battery iPhone 18 Pro Max : 5,391 mAh battery iPhone 16 Pro : Up to 27 hours of video playback iPhone 16 Pro Max : Up to 33 hours of video playback iPhone 18 Pro : Up to 36 hours of video playback iPhone 18 Pro Max : Up to 45 hours of video playback iPhone 16 Pro : Up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with a 20W adapter or higher iPhone 16 Pro Max : Up to 50% charge in 35 minutes with a 20W adapter or higher Up to 50% charge in around 15 minutes with a 60W-capable adapter iPhone 16 Pro : MagSafe wireless charging up to 22W with a 30W adapter or higher iPhone 16 Pro Max : MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W with a 30W adapter or higher MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W, reaching 50% charge in 30 minutes with a 35W adapter or higher Storage and Pricing iPhone 16 Pro (2024) iPhone 18 Pro (2026) iPhone 16 Pro : Available with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage iPhone 16 Pro Max : Available with 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage Available with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB storage iPhone 16 Pro : Launched at $999 (128GB), $1,099 (256GB), $1,299 (512GB), $1,499 (1TB) iPhone 16 Pro Max : Launched at $1,199 (256GB), $1,399 (512GB), $1,599 (1TB) iPhone 18 Pro : $1,199 (256GB), $1,399 (512GB), $1,799 (1TB), $2,399 (2TB) iPhone 18 Pro Max : $1,299 (256GB), $1,499 (512GB), $1,899 (1TB), $2,499 (2TB) Now discontinued, only available via third-parties iPhone 18 Pro : Sold directly by Apple, from $49.95 a month for 24 months via Apple Upgrade iPhone 18 Pro Max : Sold directly by Apple, from $54.12 a month for 24 months via Apple Upgrade Which to Choose? For iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max owners, the iPhone 18 Pro is a worthwhile upgrade, and a far easier recommendation than it is for anyone coming from last year's model . Two generations of changes accumulate, touching almost every part of the device: an all-new aluminum unibody with Ceramic Shield 2 and three times better scratch resistance, a display that is 50% brighter outdoors at 3,000 nits and features an anti-reflective coating the iPhone 16 Pro lacks entirely, and a battery that runs for 36 hours rather than 27, rising from 33 hours to 45 hours on the Pro Max. Charging has changed most dramatically of all, dropping from 50% in 30 minutes to 50% in around 15 minutes. The camera differences are also major. The telephoto camera moves from 12 megapixels at 5x to 48 megapixels with 4x and 8x optical options, the front camera jumps from 12 megapixels to 18 megapixels and gains Center Stage and ultra-stabilized video, and the Main camera trades its fixed /1.78 aperture for a four-stop variable aperture ranging from /1.48 to /4.0. Add ProRes RAW, Genlock, Dual Capture, Cinematic mode at 60 fps, and manual Pro controls, and the iPhone 18 Pro is a substantially different camera system. Performance is the other argument for upgrading, particularly if you have noticed your iPhone 16 Pro throttling. The A20 Pro moves to a 2nm process, gains a seventh GPU core with Neural Accelerators, and doubles the Neural Engine to 32 cores, while the vapor chamber that the iPhone 16 Pro lacks entirely is now in its second generation. If you play demanding games, shoot long video clips, or expect to lean on on-device Apple Intelligence features for several more years, the extra 4GB of RAM and the doubled Neural Engine make the iPhone 18 Pro the more future-proof purchase. That being said, the price has moved against you. The iPhone 18 Pro costs $200 more than the iPhone 16 Pro did at launch, even accounting for the doubled 256GB entry tier, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max is $100 more than its equivalent. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is also 22 grams heavier than the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which is noticeable in the hand, although it buys you the largest battery gain Apple has ever delivered on an iPhone and the option of a 2TB device. A notable exception arises if you are upgrading primarily for the design, the telephoto camera, or the battery. Almost all of those enhancements arrived with the iPhone 17 Pro rather than this year's model, so an iPhone 17 Pro bought from a third-party retailer at a heavy discount will get you most of the way there for meaningfully less money. The iPhone 18 Pro's genuine exclusives over that model are the variable aperture and Pro controls, the C2 modem, the smaller Dynamic Island, and roughly three extra hours of battery life. If none of those matter to you, last year's model is the better value. Pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max opened on Saturday, September 12, with availability beginning Friday, September 18. Related Roundup: iPhone 18 Pro Buyer's Guide: iPhone 18 Pro (Buy Now) Related Forum: iPhone This article, iPhone 16 Pro vs. iPhone 18 Pro Buyer's Guide: Worth Upgrading? first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums

India is destined to rise in a very turbulent world, says Jaishankar

India is destined to rise in a turbulent world, facing demanding diplomatic challenges. External affairs minister S Jaishankar outlined six key issues for Indian diplomacy. This rise implies a greater global footprint and stronger international ties. India will count more and influence more on the world stage.

'Such gimmicks...': India rejects Pak's Masood bounty

India has dismissed Pakistan's recent announcement of a seven million rupees bounty on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a gimmick, demanding concrete action against terrorism. India highlighted Pakistan's history of similar phoney announcements and its alleged sheltering of Azhar, while Pakistan faces international pressure from the FATF to crack down on terror financing.

BJP slams Pakistan over Azhar fugitive claim

Srinagar, Sep 15: Senior BJP leader and J&K BJP spokesman Altaf Thakur on Tuesday termed Pakistans latest move to list Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar among its most-wanted terrorists a big fraud, alleging that Islamabad was attempting to evade accountability over his presence in the country. Thakur said Azhar had not fled Pakistan and alleged that he continued to remain there under the protection of the establishment. Pakistans attempt to portray Masood Azhar as a fugitive is nothing but a big fraud and an exercise in deception, Thakur said, demanding that Islamabad hand over the JeM chief to India, where he is wanted in connection with major terror cases. His remarks came after Pakistan listed Azhar among its most-wanted terrorists and increased the reward for information leading to his arrest. Thakur questioned the timing of the move, saying it appeared to have come amid international scrutiny of Pakistans record on terrorism and ahead of an upcoming FATF review. He also referred to the BRICS Summit hosted by India, saying the New Delhi Declarations condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack and reiteration of zero tolerance towards terrorism had increased international pressure on Pakistan. Thakur said Pakistan must demonstrate its commitment through concrete action rather than announcements, including by dismantling terror infrastructure and acting against internationally designated terrorists. If Pakistan really wants to prove that it has changed, let it act against Masood Azhar and other internationally designated terrorists, he said. He said India would continue to press for accountability of those involved in terrorism and work with the international community to counter terror financing, recruitment networks and safe havens.

Govt plans push to strengthen fruit mandis

Srinagar, Sep 15: Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Department, Javid Ahmad Dar, on Tuesday interacted with the representatives of Fruit Mandi Associations from Kashmir Division at the Civil Secretariat here to discuss issues concerning the functioning of fruit mandis and strengthening of horticulture market infrastructure. The meeting was attended by Director Horticulture Marketing and Planning, Ghulam Jeelani Zargar; Managing Director, JKHPMC, Mohammad Farooq Dar; Director Horticulture Kashmir, Vikas Anand; Presidents of Fruit Mandi Associations from Kashmir Division besides other senior officers. During the interaction, the representatives apprised the Minister of various issues concerning the functioning of fruit mandis. They highlighted the need for strengthening the basic infrastructure and improving essential facilities for traders, fruit growers and labourers associated with the horticulture sector. Javid Ahmad Dar assured the representatives that their genuine concerns would be examined and resolved on priority basis. He directed the concerned officers to maintain close coordination with the mandi associations and take necessary measures for addressing their issues in a time-bound manner. The Minister emphasized that the government is committed to create a conducive and efficient working environment in fruit mandis, which play a vital role in facilitating horticulture trade and supporting the livelihoods of thousands of growers, traders and workers. Javid Dar stressed the need for strengthening the basic infrastructure and improving essential facilities in fruit mandis to facilitate smooth trade operations and ensure better working conditions for all stakeholders. He called for coordinated efforts by the concerned departments to identify infrastructure gaps, address operational bottlenecks and ensure timely execution of necessary improvement works. Highlighting the importance of the horticulture sector to Jammu and Kashmirs economy, the Minister underscored the need for sustained efforts to strengthen market infrastructure, improve trade facilitation and safeguard the interests of fruit growers and other stakeholders. He also emphasized the importance of regular interaction with the Fruit Mandi Associations to ensure that their concerns are promptly brought to the notice of the concerned authorities and resolved effectively.

BJP turns up heat on NC govt over short Assembly session

Srinagar, Sept 15: Jammu and Kashmir unit of BJP on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the National Conference-led government over the curtailed Assembly session, with Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma demanding that the House be convened for at least a month to provide legislators adequate time to raise and debate issues confronting the people. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in Jammu, Sharma said people had high expectations from the elected government and the Legislative Assembly remained the primary institutional platform for representatives to voice public concerns. Unfortunately, the government of Jammu and Kashmir has almost completely lost its legislative accountability. The Assembly has effectively been reduced to a joke, Sharma said. The 10-day Autumn Session of the J&K Assembly is scheduled to begin in Srinagar on September 21 and continue till September 30. As per the provisional calendar, the House will have seven sittings, with September 23, 26 and 27 marked as non-sitting days. Sharma objected to the limited number of sittings, saying that after accounting for the non-sitting days, legislators would have only a handful of substantive days to raise matters of public importance. By restricting the session to effectively only five substantive sittings, the government has made a mockery of the people of JK and their expectations, he said. The BJP leader also questioned the role of Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, saying the Speakers chair was expected to remain impartial and ensure the proper functioning and dignity of the House. Sharma urged the Speaker to reconsider the schedule and extend the session to around 30 days, arguing that the Assembly was the only institutional forum available to elected representatives to directly raise people's grievances with the government. He also questioned the functioning of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), which, he said, should facilitate discussion among political parties on the legislative business to be taken up during the session. Sharma questioned the purpose of the all-party meeting called by the Speaker for September 17, alleging that the dates, calendar and business of the session had already been decided. The attempt to hold a meeting on September 17 at 2 pm for just 10 minutes, merely to have tea and complete a formality, is deeply regrettable, he said. Questioning the Speaker's understanding of legislative procedure, Sharma asked whether the importance and dignity of the BAC and the Assembly were being adequately respected. The LoP also alleged that routine governance was not visible on the ground and claimed there was inadequate public outreach by ministers. For the past two years, there is hardly any sign of what can be called routine governance on the ground. There is no public outreach by the ministers, he alleged. Sharma further alleged that corruption had become prevalent from the level of officials to ministers, claiming that people were reluctant to visit government offices because of the burden of corruption. He said the decision to limit the Assembly session to seven sittings reflected what he termed the government's non-performance, arrogance and ego. The BJP Legislature Party, Sharma said, had recently undertaken public interactions at district headquarters to understand people's concerns. He claimed BJP legislators had met people across almost all district headquarters in the Jammu region and gathered issues that would be raised during the upcoming Assembly session. A marathon meeting was subsequently held to compile and finalise the issues identified during these interactions, he said. Sharma said the BJP Legislature Party had reached a consensus to raise the concerns of people who were suffering, deprived, exploited and victims during the forthcoming session.

2nd T20I: It Would Be Nice To Give Opportunities To The Players: Iyer Hints At Changes For Third GameI

New Delhi: India captain Shreyas Iyer has indicated that the team could make changes for the third T20I against Afghanistan and hand opportunities to players who have been waiting on the sidelines, after India wrapped up the three-match series with a seven-wicket victory in New Delhi on Tuesday. With the series already secured, Iyer said the final game could be used to give the wider squad valuable exposure to the conditions while also allowing the team management to experiment with its combination. We want all of them to get used to the wicket and the conditions and also get some practice. So it would be a nice game to give opportunities to the players, especially those who have been sitting out, and also change a little bit in the combination as well, Iyer said after the game. The comments open the door for India to rotate their playing XI in the series finale, particularly with several players having had limited opportunities during the opening two matches. The move would allow the team to assess its bench strength while ensuring more members of the squad gain match practice. Iyer was also pleased with the manner in which India responded after winning the opening T20I. The captain said the side had demanded a more complete performance in the second game and felt it delivered on that objective. Yes, certainly. I think looking at the last match performance and coming into this one, we were demanding a comprehensive win, and today was the right example of it, he added. For Iyer, the series has also represented a chance to settle into the leadership role after what he described as a difficult beginning. Rather than dwelling on setbacks, he stressed the importance of remaining balanced and embracing whatever comes his way. Yes, certainly. It was a tough pill to swallow at the start, but the journey is always going to be a roller coaster. You need to be in equilibrium as much as possible and see to it that you enjoy the moment and not think much about what has happened in the past. For Iyer, the series has also represented a chance to settle into the leadership role after what he described as a difficult beginning. Rather than dwelling on setbacks, he stressed the importance of remaining balanced and embracing whatever comes his way. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Indias series-clinching win now gives the team the freedom to look beyond the immediate result in the third T20I. With Iyer suggesting that opportunities could be handed to those waiting for their chance, the final match could provide a glimpse of Indias wider plans and combinations going forward. Article Source: IANS

Mayank Agarwal 177 leads commanding Durham display

No let up from Division Two champions as they amass 437 for 7 on day one against Worcestershire

Hyderabad rowdy sheeter held for putting knife on man

Hyderabad: Police on Tuesday arrested a 25-year-old rowdy sheeter in Hyderabad for allegedly threatening a family with a knife and demanding Rs 20,000. The incident occurred on September 4. Syed Mohammed alias Chango entered the house of Noor Jahan Begum and placed a knife at the throat of her son, Abdul Rahman. He threatened to 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 .

TPF Launches Education Bus Yatra Demanding Law on Private Fees, 18% Budget Share

The campaign will run till September 27, with the team visiting government schools and meeting parents.

Watch: Gaza war crimes probe: UN demands full access as bodies found

Hundreds of bodies are being recovered from the rubble in Gaza, sparking urgent calls from the United Nations. UN rights chief Volker Turk is demanding immediate access for international investigators to gather evidence of potential war crimes. With thousands still missing and entire families unearthed, global pressure is mounting on all sides to ensure independent forensics, accountability, and justice for the victims.

Ladakh groups to launch massive stir for statehood on Sep 20

The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) announced a major protest rally in Kargil on September 20, demanding justice for victims of police firing in Leh last year and protesting the central government's perceived lack of seriousness in talks regarding Ladakh's demands. The KDA, along with the Leh Apex Body (LAB), rejected the compensation offered by the Lieutenant Governor as inadequate and called for the withdrawal of all cases against arrested protesters. They criticised the recent talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs as unproductive and reiterated their demands for statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh.

Could UK households face higher bills and borrowing costs this Christmas?

UK borrowing costs have reached their highest level since 1998. Markets are pricing in as many as five interest rate rises by November 2027. Energy bills could rise by 25 per cent in January. UK households could face a difficult run-up to Christmas, with borrowing costs rising sharply just as energy and fuel prices threaten to push inflation higher. The yield on 30-year UK government bonds, known as gilts, climbed above 5.95 per cent this week, reaching its highest level since 1998. The yield is closely watched because it reflects how much it costs the government to borrow over the long term. Investors are increasingly betting that the Bank of England may need to raise interest rates several times to contain inflation. Markets are pricing in as many as five rate rises by November 2027, potentially taking the base rate from 3.75 per cent today to 5 per cent. There is already a 35 per cent chance of a rate rise at Thursday's meeting, according to financial market pricing. If the Bank holds rates this week, markets are putting an 80 per cent probability on an increase at the next Monetary Policy Committee meeting on November 5. For households with mortgages and other forms of borrowing, that could mean another rise in monthly costs. The timing could prove particularly uncomfortable. The chancellor's Budget is due on October 28, meaning households could enter the final weeks before Christmas facing uncertainty over taxes alongside higher borrowing costs and rising household bills. Oil is adding fuel to the inflation problem A major concern is the renewed rise in energy prices following the conflict in the Middle East. Oil prices have approached $110 a barrel, pushing petrol prices to their highest level in four years and adding pressure at the pumps. Energy bills could be next. Bloomberg Economics has forecast that the annual energy bill for a typical household could rise by 427, or 25 per cent, in January to around 2,150. Such an increase could push inflation above 4 per cent next year, potentially putting further pressure on the Bank of England to raise rates. Anthony Brinkman, high yield portfolio manager at Principal Asset Management, said recent movements in the gilt market suggested investors were increasingly demanding action from central banks. The UK is especially vulnerable because of the combination of oil prices at $100110 a barrel and concerns about the credibility of the public finances ahead of the October 28 Budget, he reportedly said. The pressure is also visible across shorter-term borrowing. The yield on two-year gilts rose above 4.95 per cent on Tuesday, its highest level since 2023, while the 10-year yield climbed above 5.4 per cent, reaching a 19-year high. For households, government bond yields do not directly determine mortgage rates, but sustained increases can feed into the wider cost of borrowing and influence the rates available to consumers and businesses. Britain is not alone The rise in borrowing costs is not confined to the UK. Government bond yields have been climbing across several major economies as investors reassess the outlook for inflation and interest rates. The 10-year US Treasury yield has moved above 5 per cent, its highest level since 2007, while Japan's 10-year government bond yield has reached above 3 per cent, its highest level in three decades. Germany's 10-year benchmark yield is close to its highest level since 2009 at around 3.55 per cent. French 10-year yields are also near an 18-year high at more than 4.5 per cent. But the UK stands out. Its 10-year government borrowing costs are higher than those of any other G7 economy, adding to concerns about the pressure facing the government's finances. Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, said financial markets were still dealing with uncertainty around energy prices, inflation and interest rates. The bond markets are reflecting concerns that the only way is up, and the worries that the ascent could be a steep one, she reportedly said. That leaves the Bank of England facing an awkward choice. Higher rates could help contain inflation if energy prices feed into wider costs, but they could also put additional pressure on households and businesses already dealing with weaker economic conditions. The immediate question is whether policymakers move this week or wait for more evidence. For households, the bigger concern may be what happens if the pressures on borrowing, energy and everyday prices arrive at the same time.

DDCA Unveils Enhanced LED Perimeter Displays At Arun Jaitley Stadium During India-Afghanistan T20I

The Arun Jaitley Stadium: The Arun Jaitley Stadium received a visual makeover ahead of the India vs Afghanistan series as the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) introduced enhanced LED perimeter displays for the T20I series between the two sides, describing the initiative as part of an effort to offer spectators and viewers a more modern and immersive match-day experience. The initiative, conceptualised under the leadership of the DDCA President, features upgraded LED perimeter displays designed to create a more uniform and visually striking presentation around the stadium. The association termed the changes a visible transformation and a proud DDCA initiative. The development came as the stadium hosted the second game of the three-match series, with India winning the toss and opting to bowl first. The hosts made one change to their XI, bringing in Ravi Bishnoi for the injured Varun Chakaravarthy, while Afghanistan retained the same side that featured in the opening T20I. India entered the contest looking to wrap up the series after their commanding performance in the first game. Afghanistan, meanwhile, were seeking a stronger response after being beaten comprehensively in the opener. The first T20I had seen Afghanistan recover from an early batting collapse through Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi, who added 83 runs, but their eventual 156-run total was comfortably overhauled by India. Abhishek Sharmas blistering 82 off 32 balls set up the chase, while Indias bowling attack kept Afghanistan under sustained pressure. India entered the contest looking to wrap up the series after their commanding performance in the first game. Afghanistan, meanwhile, were seeking a stronger response after being beaten comprehensively in the opener. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories The DDCAs stadium initiative added another dimension to an evening already carrying significance on the field, with the enhanced displays intended to strengthen the visual experience for both those inside the venue and audiences watching the contest. Article Source: IANS

22nd India-US Joint Military Exercise Yudh Abhyas Begins in Auli and Rajasthan

The 22nd edition of the India-US joint military exercise, Yudh Abhyas, officially commenced today at the Auli Foreign Training Node in Uttarakhand. Simultaneously being conducted at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan, the bilateral exercise features 600 personnel from each side. The opening ceremony was addressed by Major General Amaresh Gunjan, General Officer Commanding, [] The post 22nd India-US Joint Military Exercise Yudh Abhyas Begins in Auli and Rajasthan appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .

Wrestling: Sujeet Kalkal wins 65kg trial, sets up showdown for World Championships berth

Digital Desk | Lucknow, Sep 15 (IANS) World No. 1 grappler Sujeet Kalkal emerged victorious in the 65kg Freestyle category at the national selection trials in Lucknow on Tuesday. Alongside Kalkal, standout performers including Yash, Sachin, and Abhimanyu also secured top finishes in their respective weight divisions, setting up a final trial showdown with the Asian Games-bound contingent for berths at the Senior World Wrestling Championships 2026, which is going to be held in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1 Sujeet Kalkal prevailed in a competitive 65kg field in Lucknow, beating Anujj Kumar 8-3 in the final. The Trials in the four non-Olympic weight classes will also be held later. In other Freestyle action, Yash produced a dominant performance to claim the 74kg title, defeating Deepak 10-4. Rahul secured the top spot in the 57kg category with an 11-4 win over Akshay Dhere, while Pushpendar Dalal prevailed over Himanshu Antil 10-4 in the 86kg final. Vicky edged past Parveen Kumar 3-2 in a tight 97kg bout, and Jaspooran Singh defeated Rohit 5-1 to win the 125kg division. WFI President Sanjay Singh said, Today's trials in Lucknow proved just how competitive men's wrestling has become in India. The sheer effort and technical skill displayed by the athletes assure us that our reserve bench is stronger than ever. I congratulate today's top performers and expect them to carry this same momentum forward. In the Greco-Roman discipline, Harsh delivered a commanding 9-0 victory over Lalit to win the 60kg category. Sachin edged Karanjit Singh 6-5 in a thrilling 67kg final, while Luvpreet Singh overcame Vikas 10-8 in the 77kg division. Rohit defeated Rohit Bura 5-2 in the 87kg category, Abhimanyu secured a 12-3 win over Virensh Kundu in the 97kg class, and Joginder emerged victorious by fall against Gursewak in the 130kg final. WFI Men's Freestyle Selection Trials Results * 57kg: Rahul 1st Position | Akshay Dhere 2nd Position * 65kg: Sujeet 1st Position | Anujj Kumar 2nd Position * 74kg: Yash 1st Position | Deepak 2nd Position * 86kg: Pushpendar Dalal 1st Position | Himanshu Antil 2nd Position * 97kg: Vicky 1st Position | Parveen Kumar 2nd Position * 125kg: Jaspooran Singh 1st Position | Rohit 2nd Position WFI Greco-Roman Selection Trials Results * 60kg: Harsh 1st Position | Lalit 2nd Position * 67kg: Sachin 1st Position | Karanjit Singh 2nd Position * 77kg: Luvpreet Singh 1st Position | Vikas 2nd Position * 87kg: Rohit 1st Position | Rohit Bura 2nd Position * 97kg: Abhimanyu 1st Position | Virensh Kundu 2nd Position * 130kg: Joginder 1st Position | Gursewak 2nd Position

Rowdy-sheeter arrested for demanding 20,000 from man at knife point in Hyderabad

TNCC plans Statewide campaign demanding change in format to choose OBC caste name

Present format of open-ended question on caste names is a deceitful ploy aimed at denying OBCs their rightful benefits, says Manickam Tagore

TNCC plans Statewide campaign demanding change in format to choose OBC caste name

Present format of open-ended question on caste names is a deceitful ploy aimed at denying OBCs their rightful benefits, says Manickam Tagore

Baruipur encounter: Calcutta HC directs preservation of CCTV footage

Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 15 (IANS) The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed the West Bengal Police to preserve the CCTV footage related to the encounter killing of Pravas Mondal, a prime accused in the rage and murder of a minor girl at Baruipur in South 24 Parganas district in July this year. A division bench of Justices Arijit Banerjee and Reetobroto Kumar Mitra also directed the quick completion of the ongoing investigation process in the matter. The next hearing in the matter will be after three weeks, and as per the bench's ruling, the investigation process in the matter should be completed before then. In July this year, a minor girl went missing in the Suryapur area under Baruipur Police Station in South 24 Parganas. Later, her body was recovered from a pond in a bag. After that, Baruipur went into a state of siege for quite some time, following violent protests by a group of local people, in which an innocent youth was also lynched. The police arrested four persons, namely Pravas Mondal, Dibakar Sardar, Anand Sardar, and Kabir Mollah. On the night of July 7, the police went out to the scene of the crime along with Mondal to reconstruct the scene. It was claimed that at that time, the accused tried to escape after snatching the firearm of a police officer and even fired at the police team. He was killed as police retaliated. Officials of Baruipur Police District, where the scene of the crime falls, claimed that the investigating officer, Arghya Mandal, was forced to fire from his service weapon to save himself and his colleagues from Mondal. However, after several questions were raised about the encounter, the investigation of the incident was handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Meanwhile, a petition had also been filed at the Calcutta High Court demanding a central agency probe in the matter.

Sachin Pilot leads protest demanding Punjab finance minister

The News Mill

Bengaluru team completes double Catalina channel crossing, congratulated by Indian Consul General in LA

An Indian swimming team achieved a historic double crossing of the Catalina Channel. The SwimLife Orcas team completed this demanding open-water challenge in twenty-nine hours. This remarkable feat marks the first time an Asian team has accomplished this swim. Consul General K.J. Srinivasa congratulated the swimmers for their exceptional endurance and teamwork.