Grand Dussehra Shobha Yatra draws crowds in Jammu

Jammu, Oct 20: Jammu witnessed grand Dussehra celebrations as the Sanatan Dharam Natak Samaj organised a Shobha Yatra under the leadership of its chairman and Jammu East MLA Yudhvir Sethi, drawing large crowds and showcasing the regions cultural and spiritual traditions. The celebrations marked the victory of good over evil, featuring a colourful procession with decorated chariots and tableaux depicting Lord Rama, Lakshman and Hanuman, followed by the traditional burning of the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Meghnad at Parade Ground. The Shobha Yatra began at Deewan Mandir after traditional prayers performed by Sethi. It passed through Moti Bazar, Sabzi Mandi, Rajtilak Road, Purani Mandi, Old Hospital Road, City Chowk, Shalamar Road and Raghunath Bazar. Devotees also offered prayers at the historic Raghunath Temple before the procession moved towards Parade Ground amid chants of Jai Shri Ram. Local artists who had participated in the nine-day Ramleela at Deewan Mandir joined the procession, bringing scenes from the Ramayana to life. The main attraction was the burning of the three effigies at Parade Ground, where thousands gathered to witness the spectacle. Artists portraying Lord Rama and Lakshman ignited the effigies, which went up in flames amid cheers from the crowd. According to the organisers, the effigies were prepared by artists from Uttar Pradesh over nearly a month. Elaborate security and traffic arrangements were put in place to facilitate the celebrations. Speaking on the occasion, Sethi said Dussehra conveyed the enduring message that truth and righteousness ultimately prevail. He said the large public participation reflected the people's devotion and the importance of preserving cultural traditions. He also highlighted the values of harmony, compassion and unity associated with Sanatan Dharma, calling for these principles to be passed on to younger generations. Sethi appreciated the Sanatan Dharam Natak Samaj for organising the event and providing a platform for local artists to showcase their talent. He also extended Vijayadashami greetings to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, urging them to uphold righteousness and social harmony. Sanatan Dharam Natak Samaj president Anil Masoom, general secretary Bharat Bhushan and other members of the organisation were present. Masoom highlighted the festival's cultural significance and its role in bringing people together while familiarising younger generations with the Ramayana. The celebrations concluded with the symbolic burning of the three effigies, reaffirming Dussehra's traditional message of the triumph of good over evil.

CJP's Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka move Delhi HC against judicial custody

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka Tuesday approached the Delhi High Court seeking an urgent hearing against the extension of their judicial custody. Das and Ranka sought a night hearing in the high court, which is shut this week due to Dussehra vacation. A newly-appointed Special Executive Magistrate at Mandir Marg police station on Monday ordered their judicial remand for two more days after they were produced before him. They were taken into custody on October 13 after they allegedly climbed over a locked gate to enter Jantar Mantar, which had earlier been denotified as a designated protest site, and were sent to five-day judicial custody. We have moved the Delhi High Court and requested an urgent night hearing. Saurav and Ashutosh should not spend a single minute behind bars. Their liberty must not be curtailed because of political games. Justice must not wait, CJP legal affairs head Ratna Singh said in a post on X. The CJP has alleged that the

Dominant India Women Clinch Series Whitewash With Biggest Home T20I Victory by Runs

India Women produced a clinical all-round performance to thrash Zimbabwe Women by 92 runs in the third and final T20I in Raipur on Tuesday, sealing a comprehensive 3-0 series whitewash. The margin marks Indias biggest win by runs at home in womens T20 internationals. Batting first, India posted a commanding 216 for 7 in 20 [] The post Dominant India Women Clinch Series Whitewash With Biggest Home T20I Victory by Runs appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .

3rd T20I: Harmanpreet, Nandani Star As India Thrash Zimbabwe By 92 Runs To Sweep Series 3-0

Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International: Harmanpreet Kaurs unbeaten 91 off 41 balls and Nandani Sharmas three-wicket haul powered India to a comprehensive 92-run victory over Zimbabwe in the third and final womens T20I at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium here on Tuesday, completing a series sweep. Batting first, India posted a mammoth 216/7 in 20 overs, with Harmanpreet and Shafali Verma striking half-centuries to put the hosts in a commanding position. Zimbabwe, in reply, were restricted to 124/7, with Nandani returning figures of 3/18 to lead the bowling effort. The 92-run defeat is Zimbabwes joint fifth-biggest loss in womens T20Is by runs. Their biggest defeat in the format came against Pakistan in Karachi in 2026, when they lost by 153 runs, followed by another 133-run defeat against the same opponents at the same venue. Their next-biggest defeats were by 110 and 92 runs against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2026. The loss to India in Raipur is on par with the 92-run defeat against New Zealand, while Zimbabwe also suffered two 80-run defeats against South Africa in Bulawayo in 2026. India made a strong start after opting to bat first, with Shafali and Anushka Sharma opening the innings. Anushka contributed 28 runs before departing, while Shafali continued to attack and scored 61. Harmanpreet then took charge, racing past her half-century in 25 balls and maintaining the momentum with an unbeaten 91 off 41 deliveries. The remaining Indian batters struggled to make substantial contributions as they looked to accelerate, with several falling for single-digit scores. Beloved Biza was the pick of Zimbabwes bowlers, conceding 50 runs in her four overs while claiming three wickets. Nomvelo Sibanda, Tendai Makusha and Nyasha Gwanzura picked up one wicket apiece. Zimbabwes chase suffered an immediate setback as Kelis Ndlovu was dismissed for a golden duck off the first ball. They lost another wicket in the following over, putting the visitors under early pressure. Beloved Biza scored 44, and Shrne Mayers made 50, combining for an 82-run partnership. However, their stand came at almost a run-a-ball, leaving Zimbabwe with too much to do against the required run rate. With little support from the other batters, Zimbabwe finished at 124/7 in their 20 overs. Nandani led Indias bowling attack with 3/18, while Niki Prasad, Deepti Sharma, Kranti Gaud and Arundhati Reddy claimed a wicket each to seal the 92-run win and complete the series sweep. Brief scores: Nandani led Indias bowling attack with 3/18, while Niki Prasad, Deepti Sharma, Kranti Gaud and Arundhati Reddy claimed a wicket each to seal the 92-run win and complete the series sweep. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Harmanpreet Kaurs 91 powers India to 3-0 T20I series sweep against Zimbabwe

India's women's cricket team displayed sheer dominance against Zimbabwe, clinching the third T20I by a commanding 92 runs. With Shafali Verma and Harmanpreet Kaur leading the charge, scoring 69 and 91 respectively, Zimbabwe struggled in the chase, ending at 124/7 after facing early setbacks. Nandani Sharma's stellar three-wicket performance solidified the win, marking an impressive 11-match T20I winning streak.

Ferry catches fire near Indonesian port, all passengers rescued

A fire broke out aboard the KMP Batumandi as the ferry approached Merak Port in western Indonesia on Tuesday Ferry catches fire near Indonesian port, all passengers rescued

Should you buy the MacBook Pro now or wait for the M6 or Touchscreen MacBook?

Macworld If you can postpone buying a MacBook Pro, we recommend waiting until Apples Pro and Tell media experience on October 28. Apple has confirmed that there will be gathering (not an Event as such), and the Pro and Tell name strongly suggests a MacBook Pro will be amount the new products. Reports point to two distinct updates: an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M6 chip and the existing design, and redesigned premium MacBook Pro with OLED touchscreen and M5 Pro or M5 Max processors. Their specifications, prices and availability remain unconfirmed. The redesigned MacBook Pro models, meanwhile, could introduce thinner and lighter bodies, OLED touchscreens, and M5 Pro and M5 Max chips becoming Apples first With Apples next event approaching, wed recommend waiting unless you need a MacBook Pro immediately or find a particularly good discount on the current M5 models. Apple increased MacBook Pro prices by $300 to $500 in June 2026, so discounts and refurbished models remain worth considering. The MacBook Pro is best suited to creative professionals, software developers, engineers and other power users who need sustained performance, a premium display, plenty of ports and high memory configurations. If your workload consists mainly of web browsing, office work, studying or light creative tasks, the MacBook Air is likely to offer better value at a much lower price. In this guide, well explain whether you should buy now or wait, which MacBook Pro is right for you, the best times of year to buy, todays best deals, and whether a refurbished model or MacBook Air might be a better choice. Should you buy a MacBook Pro now? Wait until Apples October 28 experience and associated announcements if your current laptop can meet your needs until then. Youll be able to assess any new models before committing to a purchase. Buying an existing model can still make sense if you need a replacement immediately or find a substantial discount. Buy a MacBook Pro now if: Youre upgrading from an Intel Mac: Apple is ending support for Intel Macs, so if you havent yet switched to Apple Silicon, now is a good time to do so. As Intel Macs reach the end of support, theyll stop receiving security updates, leaving them vulnerable to newly discovered security flaws. You need a new laptop: If your current Mac is broken, unreliable or slowing you down, theres little reason to wait. You edit video or create content: Whether youre editing 4K video, working in Photoshop or Lightroom, producing music or creating 3D graphics, the MacBook Pro delivers the sustained performance creative professionals need. Youre a software developer, engineer or AI professional: Compiling code, running virtual machines, working with AI models or processing large datasets is much faster on the MacBook Pro, particularly the M5 Pro and M5 Max models. You need sustained performance: Unlike the fanless MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro uses active cooling to maintain peak performance during long exports, renders and other demanding workloads. You need professional features: The MacBook Pro offers a Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion, HDMI, an SDXC card slot, MagSafe charging and higher memory and storage options than the MacBook Air. You find an excellent deal: A discounted current model may be worthwhile if it meets your needs. Compare the saving against the benefits of waiting for Apples announcements, and dont assume prices will fall further. When shouldnt you buy a MacBook Pro? The MacBook Pro is an excellent laptop, but it isnt the right choice for everyone. If you dont need its extra performance or professional features, youll save money and probably be just as happy with a MacBook Air. There are also a few situations where its worth waiting rather than buying today. Dont buy a MacBook Pro now if: You want the M6 model: Wait to see whether Apple introduces the expected entry-level 14-inch update. Dont assume its newer chip will make it more powerful than the premium Pro and Max configurations. Youre waiting for the redesign : Hold off until Apples announcements. The rumored OLED touchscreen models could offer a more substantial change than a processor upgrade. You want the next-generation chips: The entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro is expected to gain the M6 chip on October 27, bringing improvements in CPU, GPU, and AI performance. Youre looking for the best price: With new MacBook Pro models reportedly arriving soon, discounts on the existing M5 generation could become more attractive. Black Friday may bring further savings. You mainly use your laptop for everyday tasks: If your workload consists of web browsing, Microsoft Office, streaming, email, video calls or light photo editing, a MacBook Air offers excellent performance for much less money. Youre a student with basic computing needs: If your coursework mainly involves writing essays, researching online or creating presentations, a MacBook Air is likely to be the better value. Portability is your priority: The MacBook Air is thinner, lighter and completely silent thanks to its fanless design. Youre on a budget: The MacBook Air delivers outstanding performance for most users while costing significantly less than the MacBook Pro. For most people, the MacBook Air is the better buy. The MacBook Pro only comes into its own if you regularly run demanding professional workloads that benefit from its active cooling, more powerful chips, superior display, additional ports and higher memory options. Should I buy a MacBook Pro: At a glance Your situation Recommendation Need a laptop now Buy now The M5 models are excellent Still using Intel Upgrade, but wait until Apples October 28 announcements Using an M1, M2 or M3 MacBook Pro Wait see what the M6 offers On an M4 Pro or M4 Max MacBook Pro Keep your Mac little reason to upgrade yet Want OLED and a touchscreen Wait for the redesigned M5 Pro/Max models Want the lowest price Look for M5 clearance deals and Black Friday discounts MacBook Pro: Current line up If you can wait, compare Apples announcements around October 28 with the models below before choosing. Check the actual processor configuration, display, memory, storage and price against your workload, rather than choosing solely by chip-generation number. We recommend: Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5, 16GB, 1TB, 2025) Price When Reviewed: $1,999 (was $1,799, then $1,699) Best Prices Today: $1,837 at Amazon | $1837 at Walmart | $1839 at B&H The MacBook Pro (M5, 14-inch) was introduced in October 2025, this is the entry-level MacBook Pro. It features a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 16GB of unified memory, 1TB of storage, Thunderbolt 4 ports, and up to 24 hours of battery life. We recommend: Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro, 2026) Price When Reviewed: $2,499 (was 2,199) Best Prices Today: $2069.1 at Walmart | $2,299 at Amazon | $2299 at B&H The MacBook Pro (M5 Pro, 14-inch and 16-inch) was launched in March 2026. The M5 Pro models introduced Apples new Fusion Architecture, combining two 3nm dies into a single system-on-a-chip. They start with 1TB of storage, feature Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, and offer up to 24 hours of battery life on the 16-inch model. We recommend: Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Max, 2026) Price When Reviewed: $4,099 (was $3,599) Best Prices Today: $3,844.99 at Amazon | $3844.99 at Walmart | $4099 at Apple The MacBook Pro (M5 Max, 14-inch and 16-inch) was also introduced in March 2026, these are Apples fastest laptops, designed for demanding professional workflows. They start with 36GB of unified memory and 2TB of storage, support up to 128GB of memory, and deliver up to four times the AI performance of the previous generation. Whats the best MacBook Pro price right now? Get a MacBook Pro for less. Foundry Apple rarely discounts Macs itself. In fact, in June 2026, Apple increased MacBook Pro prices by $300 to $500, making it more important than ever to shop around for a deal. The price rise came in the middle of Amazons Prime Day sale, when the M5 MacBook Pro briefly hit record-low prices. Discounts brought the entry-level model down to $1,499/1,529, making it one of the best MacBook Pro deals weve ever tracked. Prices that low are unlikely to return until a major sales event such as Prime Day or Black Friday. For the latest prices across all configurations, see our live MacBook Pro deals table below. Best U.S MacBook Pro deals These are the best deals we saw during Prime Day in October 2026 and the lowest price we saw prior to Apple increasing prices. MacBook Pro Deal New MSRP Old MSRP Lowest 14-inch, M5, 1TB, 16GB $1,839 Get the deal at Amazon $160 off $1,999 $1,699 $1,499 14-inch, M5, 1TB, 24GB $2,039 Get the deal at Amazon $160 off $2,199 $1,899 $1,699 14-inch, M5 Pro, 1TB $2,345 Get the deal at Amazon $155 off $2,499 $2,199 $1,983.94 14-inch, M5 Max, 2TB $3,499 Get the deal at Amazon $600 off $4,099 $3,599 $3,299.99 16-inch, M5 Pro, 1TB $2,749 Get the deal at Amazon $250 off $2,999 $2,699 $2,449 16-inch, M5 Max, 2TB $3,899 Get the deal at Amazon $500 off $4,399 $3,899 $3,649 Best U.K. MacBook Pro deals MacBook Pro Deal New RRP Old RRP Lowest 14-inch, M5, 1TB Out of stock 1,999 1,699 1,528.97 14-inch, M5 Pro, 1TB, 24GB 2,249.97 Get the deal at Amazon 249 off 2,499 2,199 1,978.97 14-inch, M5 Max, 2TB 3,799 Get the deal at Amazon 300 off 4,099 3,599 3,238.97 16-inch, M5 Pro, 1TB 2,699.97 Get the deal at Amazon 299 off 2,999 2,699 2,428.97 16-inch, M5 Max, 2TB 4,399 at Amazon 4,399 3,899 3,508.97 Also see our Best MacBook Pro deals for more. When is the best time to buy a MacBook Pro? Foundry If youre looking for the lowest price on a MacBook Pro, the best times to buy are during major sales events such as Amazon Prime Day in June/July or October and Black Friday. Black Friday is typically the strongest shopping period for MacBook Pro deals, although the lowest prices are often reserved for older or clearance models, and popular configurations can sell out quickly. Another time to look for deals is shortly after Apple launches a new model, as retailers often discount the previous generation to clear remaining stock, making it possible to save hundreds if you dont need the latest chip. If youre a student, you can save all year. Students, teachers, and education staff can typically save $100 to $200 on a new MacBook Pro through Apples Education Store. However, the best time to buy is usually during Apples annual Back to School promotion in the summer, when qualifying customers can often claim a free pair of AirPods or another bonus gift alongside the education discount. See How to use Apples Education Store to get a bargain . Timing Why its a good time Typical saving Amazon Prime Day (June/July/October) Deep discounts from Amazon. $150 $800+ off MSRP Black Friday / Cyber Monday (November/December) The biggest sales event of the year for electronics. $200 $500+ off MSRP After a New Model Launch (March/October) Retailers discount the previous generation to clear inventory. Varies; often $200$400 off Apple Refurbished Store (Year-Round) Like-new condition with full warranty; pre-hike prices. 15%30% off original MSRP Apple Education Store (Year-Round) Direct discount for students and educators. $100 $200 off MSRP Is buying a refurbished MacBook Pro a good idea? Foundry Buying a refurbished MacBook Pro can be a great way to save money particularly if you buy directly from Apples Certified Refurbished Store. As of July 2026, buying refurbished makes more sense than ever because Apple has continued to sell refurbished Macs at pre-price-hike prices, allowing buyers to avoid the $300 to $500 increases Apple introduced on new MacBook Pro models in June. Apple Certified Refurbished Macs are typically around 15% cheaper than brand-new models and come with the same one-year warranty, 90 days of complimentary technical support, and the option to purchase AppleCare+. Every Mac undergoes extensive testing, is cleaned and inspected, and receives genuine Apple replacement parts where necessary. The main downside is availability. Stock changes daily, so you may need to wait for the exact model, storage capacity, memory configuration, or colour you want. Newer MacBook Pro models also usually dont appear in the refurbished store until several months after launch. Third-party retailers, including Amazon, also sell refurbished Macs, but quality standards vary considerably. We generally recommend avoiding Macs that are more than five years old, as they may receive fewer years of macOS and security updates. In some cases, retailers also offer larger discounts on new, previous-generation MacBook Pro models during major sales events, so its always worth comparing prices before you buy. For most buyers, Apples Certified Refurbished Store remains the safest and best-value way to buy a refurbished MacBook Pro. Best refurbished MacBook Pro deal right now Apple is selling the M5 MacBook Pro on its Certified Refurbished store in the U.S. for $300 off the full price. Get the MacBook Pro on Apples Refurbished Store. Apple is selling the M5 MacBook Pro on its Certified Refurbished store in the U.K. You can get up to 450 off the M5 Pro MacBook Pro and 750 off a 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Max chip. Get the MacBook Pro on Apples Refurbished Store. Which MacBook Pro to choose Before choosing a MacBook Pro, bear in mind that Apple is reportedly preparing new models for October 27. The entry-level MacBook Pro is expected to gain the M6 processor, while the higher-end M5 Pro and M5 Max models could receive an OLED touchscreen redesign. Unless you need a laptop immediately, wed recommend waiting to compare the new models before buying. Choose the M5 MacBook Pro if you want Pro features such as the better display, extra ports and active cooling, but dont need the power of the M5 Pro or M5 Max. Choose the M5 Pro MacBook Pro if youre a professional who regularly edits 4K video, compiles large software projects, works with RAW photos, produces music or runs multiple demanding applications at once. For most creative professionals and developers, the M5 Pro offers the best balance of performance and price. Choose the M5 Max MacBook Pro if your work pushes a laptop to its limits. The M5 Max is designed for users editing multiple streams of 8K video, creating complex 3D animations, running large AI or machine learning workloads, or handling visual effects and other GPU-intensive tasks. Unless you regularly perform these types of work, the M5 Pro is likely to offer better value. What about the MacBook Air? The MacBook Air is a good alternative at a lower price. Stephan Wiesend If youre considering a MacBook Pro, its also worth looking at the MacBook Air. Apple updated the Air in March 2026, and with a starting price of $1,299/1,299 (the price increased by $200/200 in June 2026), its significantly cheaper than the MacBook Pro. The MacBook Air is a good choice if you: Mainly browse the web, use Microsoft Office or stream media. Are a student or home user with light computing needs. Value portability and a silent, fanless design. Want the best value MacBook. However, the lower price comes with a few compromises. Compared to the MacBook Pro, the Air offers lower sustained performance, a less advanced display, fewer ports, and lower memory and storage limits. Choose the MacBook Pro if you need: Sustained performance for video editing, coding, 3D rendering or AI workloads. A Liquid Retina XDR display with ProMotion and HDR. More connectivity, including HDMI, an SDXC card slot and additional Thunderbolt ports. Higher-end M5 Pro or M5 Max chips, with up to 128GB of unified memory. For most everyday users, the MacBook Air is the better value. But if your work regularly pushes your laptop to its limits, the MacBook Pro is well worth the extra investment. Do you need to upgrade your current Mac? Apple Whether you need to upgrade depends on three things: how old your Mac is, whether Apple still supports it, and whether it can keep up with the apps and features you use every day. If you have an Intel Mac, its time to upgrade With macOS 27 Golden Gate, Apple has ended support for Intel Macs. While Apple is expected to continue providing security updates for the small number of Intel Macs that support macOS 26 Tahoe, that support is likely to last only another year or two. The only Intel Macs that can run macOS Tahoe are: 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019) 13-inch MacBook Pro (2020, four Thunderbolt ports) 27-inch iMac (2020) Mac Pro (2019) If your Mac isnt on this list, it may no longer receive the latest macOS updates and will eventually stop receiving security updates. For more advice, read How long Macs and MacBooks last: Lifespan, support and when to upgrade. If youre still using an Intel Mac, we recommend upgrading as soon as your budget allows. Moving from Intel to Apple Silicon is one of the biggest upgrades Apple has ever offered. Youll benefit from dramatically faster performance, much longer battery life, quieter operation, Apple Intelligence support, and many more years of macOS compatibility. Read our guides to macOS Tahoe and macOS Golden Gate to see what youll gain by upgrading. Which are the best retailers to buy a MacBook from? Aside from Apple ( View the MacBook Pro in the Apple Store and View the MacBook Pro in the Apple Store U.K ). There are a number of third-party resellers that frequently discount the MacBook Pro. When shopping at a reseller our advice is to always verify: Processor generation RAM amount SSD size Whether the model is Intel or Apple Silicon Dont make the mistake of paying for a previous generation Mac without comparing it to the specs of the current model. Best for Lowest Prices Amazon B&H Photo Walmart Best Buy Best for U.K. Buyers Amazon KRCS John Lewis Currys Laptops Direct

Available 24/7, sleep optional: Harsh Goenkas hilarious take on Vinod Khoslas Chief of Staff job requirements

Businessman Harsh Goenka took a hilarious dig at Vinod Khoslas Chief of Staff job listing, mocking its demanding work hours, 24/7 availability and limited personal time. His post sparked reactions on X, with users joking about Gen Z employees, intense corporate work culture and the expectations placed on modern professionals.

E-commerce Growth Has Limited Impact on Fresh Produce Trade, Says Former Azadpur Mandi Secretary

Despite rising e-commerce, traditional markets remain resilient in the fresh produce sector, according to Rajkumar Bhatia. E-commerce Growth Has Limited Impact on Fresh Produce Trade, Says Former Azadpur Mandi Secretary

Mukhyamantri Mandi Sthal/UP-Mandi sthal agnikand durghatna sahayata yojana

Hotel cook faces Rs 4 cr tax demand, but he alleges PAN misuse; what Delhi HC ruled

In 2024, a cook employed at a 5-star hotel in Delhi received an income tax notice demanding nearly Rs 4 crore in tax, along with a penalty for under-reporting income. The notice alleged that the man had made cash sales worth Rs 24.62 crore through a company dealing in packing materials. He immediately checked his Form 26AS to understand why such a large transaction was linked to his tax records.

CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka to approach Delhi HC seeking release

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka are set to move the Delhi High Court seeking their release, challenging the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court's order extending their judicial custody in connection with the Jantar Mantar trespassing case. The move comes a day after the SEM court extended the judicial custody of the two till October 21, observing that their conduct shows no respect for law and reflects their habitualness in calling protest at de-notified areas. The two CJP leaders were sent to judicial custody till October 21 by SEM Ritu Raj at Mandir Marg police station after their earlier five-day judicial custody ended on Monday. In its order, the SEM court said the investigating officer had placed substantial material on record, raising concerns over the likelihood of a breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity. It also recorded that the two leaders had allegedly breached the bonds furnished by them before the SEM, South-West District, on October 11 and subsequently committed a breach of peace in the present case. The court further observed that their assurance that they would not repeat the alleged offence did not inspire confidence in view of their past conduct and the material placed on record by the investigating officer. Das and Ranka, along with party member Ajinkya Shinde, were among 14 people detained on October 13 after they entered Jantar Mantar through private premises and obstructed police personnel from discharging their official duties. The CJP members were protesting against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and had raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Delhi Police had justified their continued custody, citing repeated violations of law and apprehensions that their release could lead to further violations and instigation of others. The SEM court had also found the sureties furnished on behalf of the two leaders unfit following an inquiry, citing discrepancies in identity documents and their inability to provide basic details about the persons for whom they stood surety. It directed them to furnish fresh sureties.

Adinath Kothare Takes on Challenging Role in Nai Naveli

Adinath Kothare shares insights on his demanding role as Raja Awasthi in Nai Naveli, co-starring Yami Gautam. Adinath Kothare Takes on Challenging Role in Nai Naveli

J&K CM Omar Abdullah approves doubling of MBBS, BDS Interns stipend to Rs 25,000: report

Srinagar, Oct 20: In a major development for medical and dental graduates undergoing compulsory internship in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has approved the enhancement of their monthly stipend from Rs 12,300 to Rs 25,000, with the Health and Medical Education Department directed to issue the necessary orders immediately. Quoting top government sources, news agency KNS reported that the Chief Minister has cleared the file concerning the long-awaited revision, paving the way for a substantial increase in the monthly remuneration paid to MBBS and BDS interns. The Chief Minister has approved the file for enhancement of the monthly stipend from Rs 12,300 to Rs 25,000. The Health and Medical Education Department has been directed to issue the necessary orders immediately, top government sources told KNS. Sources said the formal order was expected to be issued on Tuesday itself, but the holiday prevented its issuance. The department is now to issue the necessary notification on Wednesday, October 21. The decision will increase the monthly stipend by Rs 12,700, representing a rise of approximately 103.25 per cent over the existing amount. On an annual basis, an intern receiving the revised stipend for 12 months would get Rs 3 lakh against the earlier Rs 1,47,600, an increase of Rs 1,52,400. The decision comes against the backdrop of sustained protests by MBBS and BDS interns across Jammu and Kashmir, who have been demanding an increase in their monthly stipend to Rs 30,000. The interns had launched an indefinite strike on August 31, arguing that their stipend had remained unchanged for nearly seven years despite rising living costs and demanding hospital duties.(KNS)

Young man found dead near temple in Bengal's Kanksa, probe underway

Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 20 (IANS) A 33-year-old man was found dead in a forest near the Shyampura temple in West Bengal's Burdwan district on Tuesday morning, police said, adding that an investigation has been launched to ascertain the circumstances leading to his death. According to the police, the man identified as Laxmi Ram Mandi was wearing a red dhoti and a white shirt when his body was recovered. A red cloth was wrapped around his neck. The body was hanging from a tree with knees bent. His feet were on the ground. He was a resident of Dangal area of Bankati gram panchayat in Kanksa. An official of the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate said, Whether this is an extreme measure or death due to some other reason will be ascertained only after the autopsy. We are conducting a full investigation into the incident. According to local residents, Laxmi Ram Mandi suddenly disappeared on Monday evening. The family members became suspicious when he did not return home till late at night. A search was started for him in nearby areas, including the homes of people known to him. Despite searching, he was not found. On Tuesday morning, local residents found a young man hanging in the forest adjacent to Shyamrupa temple. When they went near and saw the body, they identified him. The Malandighi police outpost in Kanksa was informed. On receiving the information, the police reached the spot and recovered the body. Later, the body was sent to Durgapur Sub-district Hospital for autopsy. According to the police, an investigation has been launched into the incident to ascertain the cause of death. People living in the area are still in a state of panic and are eager to know who is behind this tragic incident.

Congress Protests at Jaipur Police Headquarters Demanding FIR in Ritu Barala Case

Congress leaders in Jaipur demand justice for Ritu Barala, alleging police inaction in her assault case during a protest in Delhi. Congress Protests at Jaipur Police Headquarters Demanding FIR in Ritu Barala Case

macOS 27 Golden Gate: What

Macworld macOS 27 Golden Gate arrived on September 14, introducing an all-new Siri AI assistant, major updates to Safari, Photos, Messages, Mail and Calendar, and expanded child-safety features. Design refinements and performance improvements round out the release. Named after Californias iconic Golden Gate, the update continues Apples push to make the Mac smarter and more proactive, bringing Apple Intelligence to more parts of the operating system to help users complete everyday tasks faster. macOS 27 supports all Macs powered by Apple silicon, but drops support for Intel-based models. Intel Macs can continue running older versions of macOS , with security updates expected to remain available for a limited time. This guide covers macOS 27s biggest new features, compatible Macs and the latest beta developments. With some features still to come, we also explain whats in the beta, whats expected in future updates and when those additions could arrive. Whats New in macOS 27 Golden Gate at a glance Apple Here are the top ten new features and changes in macOS 27 Golden Gate. Siri AI : A redesigned conversational Siri that can answer questions, understand personal and onscreen context, access the web and take actions across apps. Apple Intelligence : Systemwide proofreading, smarter writing tools, improved dictation and automatic file and folder naming. Safari upgrades : Automatic tab grouping, webpage change alerts with Notify Me, AI-generated extensions and faster, more efficient browsing. Smarter Messages and Mail : Better search and syncing, contextual suggestions and improved reliability. New Photos tools : Spatial Reframing, image expansion with Extend, improved Clean Up, and better search and organization. More powerful built-in apps : New features for Passwords, Calendar, Notes, Preview, Freeform, Weather, Shortcuts, and Image Playground. Expanded parental controls : Ask to Browse, improved Screen Time, contact approvals and broader Communication Safety protections. Better Mac gaming : Game Porting Toolkit 4 promises significant performance and compatibility improvements for Windows games. Refined Liquid Glass design : Better readability and consistency, adjustable transparency, cleaner Finder windows, and improved iPhone Mirroring. Faster macOS performance : Quicker app launches, Spotlight, AirDrop and networking, plus improved external-display, Thunderbolt and Bluetooth support. macOS 27 latest version: Whats in macOS 27.0.1 macOS 27 became available to install on compatible Macs on September 14. Apple then released the macOS 27.0.1 update on September 28, 2026. According to Apples security releases document , This update has no published CVE entries. macOS 27.2, is currently in beta so that may be the next version of macOS 27. We dont know if that means Apple will skip macOS 27.1. With iOS 27.1 being released for the iPhone Duo with features specifically designed for the foldable it is possible that Apple will move straight to macOS 27.2 in order to keep the version numbers in alignment. Alternatively, there may be secret features coming to the Mac in macOS 27.1. Latest macOS 27 Beta Whats coming in macOS 27.2? Apple Apple released the first developer beta of macOS 27.2 on September 16, followed by beta 2 on September 21, beta 3 on October 5 and beta 4 on October 13. The macOS 27.2 release candidate arrived for developers on October 19. A release candidate is a build intended for final testing before general release so the non-beta version is expected soon. Apple lists iOS 27.2 or iPadOS 27.2 as a requirement for setting up HomeView, which goes on sale on November 13, which could indicate a similar release date for macOS 27.2 since Apple usually issues software updates in tandem. Apple has not announced any major additions coming with macOS 27.2, but clues appeared in the macOS 27.2 beta on October 5. MacRumors reported new code references to touch gestures in Safari, Photos, Notes and Quick Look. These could support a future touchscreen MacBook, but they could also relate to Sidecar, which allows an iPad to act as a Mac display. Further clues emerged in October. As we reported on October 15 , footage shared by itspdfu reportedly shows touch-oriented changes to Safari in macOS 27.2 betas 3 and 4. When rearranging tabs, the selected tab lifts and enlarges as it moves, then returns to its normal size when dropped into place. Pressing and holding a tab also opens a contextual menu, but this version omits the Ask Siri option available when using a mouse or trackpad. These changes suggest Apple is exploring how Safari could respond to touch input. Apple has announced additional Siri AI languages for October, including French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish. Automatic password changes and SynthID identification for AI-generated images remain forthcoming features. Their inclusion in macOS 27.2 has not been verified though. Want to run te beta? Heres how you can participate in the beta program we also recommend reading our guide to whether you should install the latest macOS beta . Beta software can cause crashes, app compatibility problems, increased battery drain and, in some cases, data loss. If you install a beta, make a full backup first and, ideally, use a secondary Mac, separate volume or external SSD. What features are still to come in macOS 27 At the time of the launch of macOS 27 not all of Apples promised features were available. Missing features include: Automatic password changes: The ability for the Passwords app to visit supported websites and automatically replace compromised passwords was removed shortly before release. Additional Siri AI languages: Siri AI launched in English only. French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish are due in October. SynthID identification for AI images: Apple said support for adding SynthID identification to most AI-generated or edited images would arrive in a software update later in 2026. macOS 27 problems: Are there any issues with Golden Gate? Since macOS 27 Golden Gate arrived on Macs there have been reports in the Apple Support Community of issues with Mission Control and Spaces. These include: Stuttering or delayed transitions : Reports long pauses before a new Space appears. Black or missing desktop previews : A black screen may appear when switching Spaces. French website MacGeneration was able to reproduce some Mission Control glitches. It is likely Apple will address these issues in macOS 27.2, if not before. Siri AI: Siri powered macOS 27 features Foundry Apples biggest focus in macOS 27 Golden Gate is Siri AI, a completely redesigned version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence. Rather than functioning primarily as a voice assistant, Siri is now a conversational AI that can answer questions, understand personal and onscreen context, access current information from the web and take actions across apps. Siri AI behaves more like a generative-AI chatbot than the Siri of old. It can answer questions directly, understand natural follow-ups and solve problems instead of simply directing users to web searches. At a glance: Whats new with Siri AI? Conversational AI assistant : Siri can handle open-ended questions, brainstorming, research and natural back-and-forth conversations. Dedicated Siri app : A standalone Siri app keeps conversations in one place and syncs them through iCloud, allowing users to start a conversation on one Apple device and continue it on another. Personal context awareness : Siri can understand information in Messages, Mail, Notes, Photos, Maps and files to locate information and provide answers based on your personal data. Web-powered answers : Siri can access current information from the web, making it more useful for research, learning, interview preparation and questions about recent events. App actions and automation : Siri can perform tasks across apps such as Messages, Music, Reminders, Calendar and Maps using natural-language instructions. Spotlight integration : Siri AI is integrated with Spotlight, allowing users to type questions and receive AI-generated answers without opening a browser or separate app. Visual Intelligence : Visual Intelligence comes to the Mac for the first time, allowing Siri to understand selected images, documents, files, text and other content displayed on screen. Apples Visual Intelligence initially placed Blutenburg in Denmark. Macwelt Writing Tools : Siri can generate text, rewrite drafts, summarise content and adjust wording or tone. Apple says it can also adapt writing to the way you typically communicate with particular contacts. Improved dictation : Systemwide dictation gains better speech recognition along with automatic punctuation, capitalization and formatting. Custom Siri voices : Users can choose Siris voice and adjust characteristics such as pace and expressiveness, although some of these capabilities require newer hardware. A Siri AI contextural popover was discovered during beta testing. Selecting text brings up a small Siri icon offering contextual actions, including Writing Tools, summaries and key points, sending messages or emails, creating calendar events, opening locations in Maps, and tracking flights or packages. However, the feature is not enabled by default and requires Apples FeatureFlags system to activate. It remains unclear whether Apple intends to make it available as a consumer-facing feature. Apple also appears to be taking a relatively restrained approach to AI behaviour. In our testing , Siri avoids presenting itself as human, excessive flattery and potentially harmful responses, while generally keeping its answers straightforward. Siri AI has launched as a beta, so users should expect some rough edges and continued improvements. Siri AI initially supports English, with French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish due in October. Availability will vary by region. Siri AI is available on Mac and Vision Pro in the European Union , although Siri AI remains unavailable on iPhone and iPad in the EU at launch because of issues related to the Digital Markets Act. It is also unavailable in mainland China while Apple works through regulatory requirements. Which Macs support Siri AI? Siri AI requires a Mac that supports Apple Intelligence, but some of its most advanced capabilities have higher hardware requirements. Apple says its most powerful on-device AI model, expressive Siri voices and advanced dictation require an M3 or later Mac with at least 12GB of unified memory. Macs that support Apple Intelligence but do not meet those requirements can still receive other Siri AI features, although the exact feature set may vary. Safari features in macOS 27 Notify Me in Safari Apple Safari gets several Apple Intelligence-powered upgrades in macOS 27, including smarter tab organization, webpage monitoring, custom extension generation, and performance improvements. Automatic Tab Topics : Safari automatically groups related tabs by topic as you browse, helping keep research and projects organized. These groups can also be saved for later. Notify Me : Safari can monitor webpages for changes and alert you when something happens, such as a product coming back in stock or a price dropping, removing the need to keep refreshing pages manually. Describe an Extension : Users can create custom Safari extensions simply by describing what they want. Safari generates the extension from the text description and add it to the toolbar. Faster, more efficient browsing : Apple says Safari uses less power while improving page-loading speed, JavaScript performance, scrolling, animations and resizing of the Start Page. Get notified. Macwelt Messages and Mail features in macOS 27 Messages and Mail gain deeper Apple Intelligence integration in macOS 27, alongside improvements to search, syncing and everyday reliability. Messages One-Tap Suggestions in Messages : Messages suggests useful actions based on the context of a conversation, such as creating a reminder or note without leaving the chat. Smarter Photo Suggestions : Messages surfaces relevant photos based on people, places and keywords mentioned in a conversation. Personalized Smart Reply : During the preview at WWDC Apple indicated that suggested replies can reflect your usual writing style and adapt depending on who youre messaging. This was removed from the iOS 27 beta before launch and hasnt arrived with macOS 27. Improved syncing : Messages should sync more reliably across devices, while failed messages automatically retry sending. Mail Personalized Smart Reply : Apple also previewed a feature in Mail whereby it could generates suggested responses that better match your writing style and the person youre replying to, but this is absent from the first version of macOS 27. More relevant search : A new ranking system prioritizes the most useful search results, alongside improved search indexing. Faster and more accurate : Apple says Mail loads messages more quickly and provide more reliable unread counts. Photos features in macOS 27 Photos has new AI-powered editing and organization tools in macOS 27, making it easier to improve images, find photos and manage an iCloud library. Spatial Reframing : Photos will intelligently recompose and reframe images after theyve been taken. Extend Tool : A new Extend tool can expand an image beyond its original boundaries, filling in missing areas when changing the crop or aspect ratio. Enhanced Clean Up : Apples Clean Up tool is better at removing larger unwanted objects and distractions from photos. Better organisation and search : Photos adds keywords, star ratings, improved metadata search and other tools for organising a library. Faster iCloud syncing : iCloud Photos can begin uploads more quickly, with an option to prioritize syncing when needed. Other new app features in macOS 27 macOS 27 also brings a wide range of smaller upgrades across Apples built-in apps, with a particular focus on automation, organisation, security and Apple Intelligence. Passwords In macOS 27 the Passwords app will automatically identify weak or compromised passwords and, with Apple Intelligence, visit supported websites, change the password and save the new credentials. This could remove much of the manual work involved in updating large numbers of old or leaked passwords, although questions remain over website compatibility, two-factor authentication and how consistently the feature will work. Read: Apple finally got rid of my biggest password headache. This feature was not included in the initial macOS 27 release and may arrive in a subsequent update. Image Playground Image Playground gets a substantial AI upgrade, including the ability to create photorealistic images and make more convincing edits to existing pictures, such as changing colours, hair and other details. Apple continues to apply safeguards around real people, copyrighted characters and distinctive artistic styles. Support for embedding SynthID identification in most AI-generated or edited images is due in a later macOS 27 software update. Foundry Calendar Calendar gains natural-language event creation, making it possible to describe an event rather than manually entering every detail. It can also make changes to multiple events at once. Preview Preview supports more document formats, improves PDF editing and saves PDF files more quickly. Notes Notes gains drawing tools for sketching with a mouse or trackpad, along with digital signatures, Markdown copy-and-paste and links to sections within notes. Notes now features a drawing tool as well as the ability to create and use digital signatures. Foundry Freeform Freeform adds drawing tools, collaborative folders and improved organisation, including the ability to sort boards into folders. Full dark-mode support also changes the appearance of the drawing canvas. In Freeform, boards can now be organised into folders. Foundry Weather Weather gets a clearer and more detailed forecast interface, with reorganised information tiles and enhanced 10-day forecasts showing precipitation probability and amount, as well as wind speeds throughout the day. In the Weather app, the tiles have been rearranged, and there are separate 10-day forecasts for precipitation and wind (circled in red). Foundry Shortcuts Shortcuts gains a redesigned editor, more automation capabilities and one of macOS 27s more ambitious AI features: the ability to turn natural-language instructions into working automations. Shortcuts can start automatically when a specific event occurs. Thomas Armbrster Parental Controls Apple expands its family-safety tools with Safaris Ask to Browse, improved Screen Time and Time Allowances, contact approvals, and broader Communication Safety protections. The changes give parents more control over what children can access and who they can communicate with without completely locking down the Mac. The redesigned parental controls also have a family-wide software requirement. To activate them through Family Sharing, every eligible device in the group not just the parents Mac must be running iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27 or visionOS 27. Once Apple offers the migration, the family organizer or a parent or guardian should see a Get Started prompt in Family settings. Apple says parents can also select the childs name under System Settings > Family to begin setup, although the migration options are not currently appearing for everyone. Older devices that cannot install version 27 can continue using the previous Screen Time and Family Sharing controls. Apple says these legacy devices should not prevent supported hardware from using the redesigned system, but it has acknowledged delays and incorrect device-status information affecting some families.. Accessibility, Shared Albums and Suggestions macOS 27 also includes accessibility improvements, expanded Shared Albums, and more contextual Suggestions throughout the operating system. Game Porting Toolkit 4 Apples Game Porting Toolkit 4 arrives alongside macOS 27 and promises significant improvements for running and porting Windows games on Apple silicon Macs. Early beta testing suggests substantial performance gains . On an M4 Pro MacBook Pro, GTA V reportedly increased from around 106fps to 176fps, while Red Dead Redemption 2 improved from roughly 60fps to 75fps. The results suggest software compatibility, rather than raw Apple silicon performance, is increasingly the main obstacle to better Mac gaming. Improvements to Game Porting Toolkit could make Windows titles more practical to run and easier for developers to bring to macOS. Design and Interface Changes in macOS 27 Apple macOS 27 Golden Gate refines the Liquid Glass redesign introduced in macOS 26, with Apple focusing on readability, consistency and usability rather than another major visual overhaul. Changes include: Improved Liquid Glass : Stronger contrast, better readability and more consistent refraction effects across windows, menus and controls. Customizable transparency : Users can adjust the Liquid Glass effect in System Settings, from a clearer appearance to a more heavily tinted look. Cleaner Finder and toolbars : Finder sidebars are more clearly defined, toolbars are more consistent, and edge-to-edge sidebars replace some of the floating elements introduced in macOS 26. More consistent windows : Window corners, controls and active-window highlighting have been standardized to make the interface feel more coherent. Updated icons and menus : Menu-bar and app icons gain sharper outlines, improved contrast and more depth, while unnecessary menu icons have been reduced. Smoother window management : Mission Control and Spaces animations have been refined, and active windows should be easier to distinguish. New wallpapers and screensavers : Golden Gate-themed backgrounds include animated daytime and nighttime views of the bridge. Swipe to refresh : Supported Mac apps gain a swipe-down-to-refresh gesture. Improved iPhone Mirroring : iPhone Mirroring adds Control Center access, resizable app windows and support for DRM-protected video. Foundry Performance improvements and system changes in macOS 27 Apple says macOS 27 focuses on speed, efficiency and everyday usability, with improvements across apps, networking, displays and system tasks. Most of these changes do not require Apple Intelligence. Changes include: Faster overall performance : Apps should launch more quickly, while an optimized CPU scheduler improves system responsiveness. Faster Spotlight and setup : Spotlight indexing and new user-account creation are quicker. Faster file transfers and networking : AirDrop and network file browsing are faster, while Ethernet status can appear in the menu bar. Thunderbolt and Bluetooth improvements : RDMA over Thunderbolt has been improved, alongside more efficient Bluetooth power management. Faster Safari : The Safari Start Page loads more quickly, with broader browser performance improvements. Better external-display support : New high-resolution and high-refresh-rate modes include 5K at 120Hz, alongside improved display-position persistence, HDR support for the macOS interface and 5K Mac mirroring. Apple Intelligence powered changes: AI-powered file naming requires Apple Intelligence : macOS can suggest filenames and folder names based on their contents, including in Pages, Numbers, TextEdit and Finder. Systemwide proofreading requires Apple Intelligence : Apple Intelligence provides automatic proofreading and improved spelling and grammar suggestions throughout macOS. Apple Intelligence privacy : Apple says AI processing happens on-device where possible, with Private Cloud Compute used for more demanding tasks. Data processed in the cloud is not stored or made accessible to Apple. macOS 27 Compatible Macs The MacBook Neo and other Macs in Apples current lineup will all be compatible with macOS 27. Foundry Apple states that macOS 27 Golden Gate is compatible with: MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 2026) MacBook Air (Apple silicon, 2020 and later) MacBook Pro (Apple silicon, 2020 and later) iMac (Apple silicon, 2021 and later) Mac mini (Apple silicon, 2020 and later) Mac Studio (2022 and later) Mac Pro (Apple silicon, 2023 and later) All supported Macs can run Apple Intelligence, although some of the most advanced Siri AI features require an M3 or later Mac with at least 12GB of unified memory. What about Intel Macs? macOS 27 marks another major step in Apples transition away from Intel. macOS 26 Tahoe was the final version to support Intel Macs, and Apple is now encouraging developers to remove Intel code from their apps and focus on Apple silicon. macOS 27 will also be the final version to support Rosetta , Apples translation technology for running Intel-only apps on Apple silicon Macs. Those apps will continue to work in macOS 27, but will stop working in macOS 28 unless developers release Apple silicon-native versions. To help users prepare, macOS 27 includes an Intel-app checker in System Settings that lists Intel-based apps used during the past year. If you still rely on any essential Intel-only software, now is a good time to look for updates or alternatives before upgrading to macOS 28. What happens to DVD support? macOS 27 also begins the phase-out of Apples native DVD support . Apple has removed the DVDPlayback framework from the macOS 27 SDK and says it will disappear completely in a future version of macOS. Golden Gate may still include the DVD Player app, but it is likely to be the last macOS release with Apples built-in DVD playback support. Users who still watch DVDs on a Mac will increasingly need to rely on third-party software such as VLC. FAQ 1. When was macOS 27 Golden Gate released? September 14, 2026. 2. Should I install macOS 27? Golden Gate builds on macOS 26 Tahoe rather than reinventing macOS all over again. The biggest changes come from Siri AI and Apple Intelligence, alongside improvements to Safari, Spotlight, Photos, parental controls, and everyday system performance. But how much has actually changed since macOS 26 Tahoe , and is macOS 27 worth installing? We have a separate article that explains how Golden Gate compares with macOS Tahoe and which Macs will benefit most from upgrading . 3. Which Macs can run macOS 27? All M-series Macs can run macOS 27, and the MacBook Neo. Certain Siri AI features most powerful on-device model, expressive voices and advanced dictation are only available for M3 Macs and newer. 4. Should Intel Mac owners upgrade now? Intel Mac owners should start planning a move to Apple silicon, particularly if they want macOS 27, Apple Intelligence or continued access to the latest Mac features. The transition away from Intel hardware has reached a critical turning point, with software support rapidly vanishing and a new generation of affordable entry-level hardware making the switch more accessible than ever. Apple has confirmed that macOS 27 will not support any Intel-based Macs. While a small number of Intel models may receive security patches for older versions of macOS until September 2028, they are already excluded from modern flagship features. Those with Intel Macs also miss out on many features, including Apple Intelligence. 5. Will macOS 27 support Rosetta and Intel apps? macOS 27 will run Intel-only Mac apps through Rosetta 2. However, macOS 27 will be the final version of macOS to support Rosetta 2 as a general-purpose translation technology for running Intel-based Mac apps on Apple silicon. Rosetta has acted as a transition layer since Apple introduced its own Mac chips in 2020, translating x86_64 Intel instructions so older software can run on Apple silicon. After macOS 27, most Intel-only Mac apps will no longer work unless developers release Apple silicon-native versions, although Apple will retain limited Rosetta functionality for some older, unmaintained games. Apple is already preparing users for the change. Since macOS 26.4, Macs can display warnings when launching apps that rely on Rosetta, encouraging users (and the app developers) to update to Apple silicon-native versions before general Rosetta support ends. In macOS 28, most Intel-only apps will no longer run unless developers update them for Apple silicon. 6. When is macOS usually updated? Here is a history of release dates for macOS: macOS 27 Golden Gate: September 14, 2026 macOS 26 Tahoe: September 15, 2025 macOS 15 Sequoia: September 16, 2024 macOS 14 Sonoma: September 26, 2023 macOS 13 Ventura: October 25, 2022 macOS 12 Monterey: October 25, 2021 macOS 11 Big Sur: November 19, 2020 macOS 10.15 Catalina: October 7, 2019 macOS 10.14 Mojave: September 24, 2018 macOS 10.13 High Sierra: September 25, 2017 macOS 10.12 Sierra: September 20, 2016

Jio Platforms IPO: Public issue to open on October 21, grey market premium signals strong listing gains

Ahead of its opening, Jio Platforms' initial public offering (IPO) is commanding a strong grey market premium (GMP). The Rs 30,213-crore IPO comprises 27 crore fresh shares within a price band of Rs 1,065 to Rs 1,119 per share. The issue opens from October 21 to October 23, with listing scheduled for October 28. The company plans to utilise Rs 27,500 crore of the proceeds to prepay borrowings of its material subsidiary, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (RJIL).

Violence is wrong, weakens democracy: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader on Sanjay Raut's Albania protest remarks

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, Priyanka Chaturvedi, on Tuesday criticised her party MP Sanjay Raut's remarks referring to the burning of Albania's Supreme Court, saying that suggesting India should learn a lesson from such incidents was inappropriate and undermined the country's democracy and Constitution. Chaturvedi stressed that violence could not achieve anything and was against the interests of the country. She urged people to express their grievances through peaceful protests rather than taking the law into their own hands. Raut, in a post on X, had said, The people of Albania have burned down the Supreme Court. The people were enraged because the Supreme Court was helping corrupt prime ministers. The protesting public has also attacked the parliament and government offices, as well as the ministers' homes. All countries should learn a lesson from these events. Especially India. Reacting to his remarks while speaking to IANS, Chaturvedi said the lesson to be drawn from such incidents was the importance of respecting the judicial system and maintaining law and order, rather than encouraging violent demonstrations. The only lesson we should learn is that we must not take the justice system and law and order into our own hands and should avoid such violent protests. Violence achieves nothing and goes against the interests of the country. Whether in Bangladesh, Nepal, Albania or France, these incidents begin with student protests, after which bad-faith actors get involved, leading to such incidents, she said. Chaturvedi also cited the protests undertaken by her party over political and electoral issues, arguing that constitutional and democratic concerns should be pursued through peaceful and lawful means. This fight is for our country's Constitution and democracy. The way we removed Dharmendra Pradhan from the post through a peaceful protest. Now, our fight to ensure that the Election Commission is not undermined and to seek the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar is being pursued in the Supreme Court, she said. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader maintained that political disagreements and demands for accountability should not be used to justify or encourage violence. Despite this, suggesting that we should learn from such incidents and that violence could happen is wrong, and it weakens our democracy and Constitution, Chaturvedi added. Her remarks came amid a debate over Raut's comments on the unrest in Albania and his suggestion that India should take lessons from the protests there. BJP leaders criticised Raut, accusing him of promoting anarchy and demanding an apology.

BJP is in Oppn as per mandate; but Cong leaders are rebelling against CM Shivakumar: Vijayendra

Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Oct 20 (IANS) Karnataka BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Tuesday alleged that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's position was under threat due to rebellion within the ruling Congress and accused him of repeatedly blaming the Centre out of desperation. Reacting to Shivakumar's statement that the BJP was not cooperating with the state government's efforts to convene an all-party meeting on the sugarcane farmers' issue, Vijayendra said the Chief Minister's chair was shaking amid growing dissent within the Congress party. You have been observing the developments surrounding the sting operation. Congress leaders are rebelling against CM Shivakumar. In this background, he is repeatedly complaining against the Centre out of desperation, he alleged. Vijayendra said the BJP would discuss the proposal to join the all-party delegation to Delhi with the Leaders of Opposition and senior party leaders before taking a decision. We will sit with the Leaders of Opposition and senior leaders and discuss whether to join the ruling party's delegation to Delhi over the sugarcane farmers' issue, he said. Clarifying the BJP's stand, Vijayendra said the party would continue in the Opposition for the remaining one-and-a-half years of the government's tenure, and has no intention of destabilising the Congress government. The BJP is in the Opposition as per the mandate of the people. We will remain in the Opposition for another one-and-a-half years. There is no need for us to destabilise or bring down the Congress government. Senior leaders within the ruling party are preparing to rebel against CM Shivakumar. What I am saying is the truth, he claimed. Expressing concern over the plight of farmers, Vijayendra said agricultural communities across Karnataka and the country were facing severe distress and appealed to the Almighty to come to their rescue. Since the Congress came to power in Karnataka, farmers have been in deep trouble. The financial situation of the state is deteriorating, and people are fed up with the Congress government, he alleged. Pointing to the condition of roads in and around Bengaluru, he said public dissatisfaction with the government was growing. He also accused the state government of failing to deliver on development, drought management and welfare measures. Even after three-and-a-half years, development has not taken off. Today, persons with disabilities are on the streets demanding their pensions. The government has forgotten its priorities and is unable to think and act, he alleged. Vijayendra further accused the state government of merely writing letters to the Centre, blaming the Union government and then remaining inactive instead of addressing people's problems. He also criticised the Congress government for raising the issue of delimitation and alleged that it was creating unnecessary confusion among the people while the Centre was examining the matter. On drought management, he charged that the state government had failed to provide adequate relief to affected people. Turning to the sugarcane farmers' agitation, Vijayendra credited the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government with introducing measures to support sugarcane growers and the sugar industry. He said the Centre had introduced the minimum support price (MSP), created opportunities for ethanol manufacturing and brought in policies to facilitate value addition in the sugar industry. He also pointed to financial assistance extended to the sector, claiming that these measures had been taken by the NDA government. Vijayendra said the present agitation by sugarcane growers was primarily over alleged irregularities in the weighing of their produce at sugar factories and injustice in the assessment of sugar recovery rates. He said Union Minister Pralhad Joshi had held a meeting with Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and that a committee had been constituted to examine the issue. The committee's team was visiting Karnataka, he added. The Centre is examining possible solutions because the issue is not confined to Karnataka alone. The interests of farmers across the country and the international market must also be taken into consideration, he said.

Father-son duo arrested in Delhis Harsh Vihar for attempt to murder

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) Delhi Police have arrested a father-son duo within two hours of registering an attempt-to-murder case following an assault with a sharp-edged weapon in the Harsh Vihar area, officials said on Tuesday. The incident took place around 5 p.m. on October 18 near Gullu Ka Mandir, Gali No. 1, Saboli Khadda, Part-II, within the jurisdiction of Harsh Vihar police station. According to the police, the injured, identified as Ashish, 34, an employee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), was sitting with his co-worker, Sonu Sagar, when an argument broke out over a monetary dispute involving Pratap Singh. During the altercation, Pratap Singhs 26-year-old son, also named Ashish, and another grandson joined in and assaulted the victim with a sharp-edged object. The accused subsequently fled the scene, while the injured was taken to Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital by his friend. Following the incident, an FIR was registered at Harsh Vihar police station under Sections 109(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). A dedicated police team led by Inspector Tej Dutt Gaur, Station House Officer (SHO) of Harsh Vihar police station, was formed under the supervision of ACP Nand Nagri Gaurav Kumar Tripathi. The team used CCTV footage, human intelligence and technical surveillance to identify and apprehend the two accused within two hours of the case being registered. During the investigation, police found that the dispute allegedly stemmed from Rs 3,500 that Pratap Singh had given to Sonu Sagar to help secure an MCD job for his son, Rahul. Pratap Singh allegedly suspected that Sonu had retained the money and demanded its return, triggering the confrontation. The arrested accused have been identified as Pratap Singh, 54, and his son Ashish, 26. Police said neither accused has any previous criminal involvement. Further investigation into the case is underway.

Lula takes to streets with peoples demands as Flvio leans on Big Tech in Brazils presidential race

In So Paulo, South Americas financial capital, around a million people marched last on October 18 with Workers Party banners and placards, demanding protection for public education, healthcare, and transport

Tensions flare at court hearing on Trump's D.C. golf course renovation

Golfers play past felled trees at East Potomac Golf Links in Washington D.C., US, on Sunday. - Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg/Getty Images One of the tensest showdowns between the Trump administration and the federal bench in Washington, DC, came to a head on Monday in a marathon court hearing over President Donald Trumps efforts to overhaul a public golf course that has been the subject of months of litigation. Trump early Monday doubled down on his plan to close and renovate the golf course in Washington, DC, saying construction would begin IMMEDIATELY despite a judges order to provide three days notice ahead of any construction. Trump wrote in a Truth Social post that the government does not need an approval to proceed with the construction. Work is scheduled to begin IMMEDIATELY! The finished product will be World Class, and bring income and great prestige back to D.C., he wrote. By the end of the day, Trump was still fuming about it. Just before midnight, the president posted on Truth Social: Trash Island, Washington, D.C., the nickname for the broken and dilapidated Golf Course that is the subject of frivolous litigation in the United States Court System, before a judge that seems not to want Greatness for our Capital or our Nation (but who knows?), has been badly managed for so many decades that it is a completely nonviable and unsafe Project. He said his plan will turn Trash Island into an Island of Beauty and Success! But, Trumps dream of renovating the East Potomac Golf Course is already the subject of a legal fight as preservationists and golfers seek to stop the president from changing the public park. The case may seem relatively minor compared to some of the other sweeping legal battles of Trumps second term. But the litigation has demanded the attention of several top attorneys from the Justice Department, who have sought to defend the actions government officials who are overseeing the course and have tried distinguish them from the presidents public statements about his intentions for the grounds. US District Judge Ana C. Reyes, who is overseeing the case, issued an order last week that requires the government to give at least three days notice before making any irreparable modification to the course. Reyes and the third-highest ranking Justice Department official, Associate Attorney General Stan Woodward, sparred repeatedly over the information she was demanding from the administration. The question in the case, since last Monday, had largely been about the administration removing, with less of a days notice to the court, of 400-plus trees from the park earlier this month. But the hearing on Monday quickly turned into a clash over what Trump wrote on social media, the Justice Departments ability to defend separate assertions made by the National Park Service in court, and how far the federal trial-level court can go to demand answers from the executive branch. I dont know what to do, when I keep getting different stories, Reyes told Woodward as the hearing began with a heated moment. I have, on the one hand the president of the United States saying to the American people there is a final plan, Reyes said hours later in the same hearing Monday. I have you all telling me, witnesses saying what theyre saying, there is no final plan which is it? Robert Stander a DOJ attorney who was handling the bulk of the administrations legal arguments struggled to answer the question directly and Reyes rejected his attempts to compare the social media posts to an executive order that was just the start of an agencys work on a project, rather than a final decision. Woodward returned to the line of questioning at the end of the hearing and told Reyes there was no plan to close the course, as those words have their literal meaning. He told the judge that asking Stander, a lower-level attorney that did not go through Senate confirmation, to contradict the president put his colleague in a difficult position. Reyes is considering whether to issue a longer-term order limiting what the administration can do to the course, including cutting down more trees. Last week, Reyes presided over a testy hearing in which she said she was furious with the administration for removing hundreds of trees without proper notice. The government claimed the removals were routine maintenance unrelated to any plan to renovate the golf course. Reyes ordered that no more trees be cut down before October 26. The Justice Department on Friday filed a motion asking for Reyes removal from the case , accusing her of having a disdain for the Trump Administration. Reyes over the weekend denied that motion and refuted the governments claims against her. In his Monday post to Truth Social, Trump disparaged Reyes a crazed lunatic. The golf course is one of several renovation projects Trump is working on in Washington. The presidents desire to turn the public course into a professional course a renovation that could cost between $20 million and $49 million has angered those who fear it may take away a public and affordable place to play golf in the nations capital. Administration officials express ignorance to Trumps intentions Amid the tense exchanges between DOJ and the judge were hours of testimony from government officials charged with oversight of federal public grounds testimony that turned the proceedings into a grueling drag through bureaucratic procedures of the National Park Service. Multiple government officials who oversee the golf course expressed ignorance to Trumps latest assertions about the future of the course. The acting director of the National Park Service, Jessica Bowron who signed off on this months move to cut down the 400-plus trees said she was not aware of plans to close East Potomac Park next month, nor had she been in any discussions about renovating the course. She and other officials say their work on the removing the trees was carried out under a directive that they implement recommendations from 2019 for making the course look more it did when it was first built, in a proposal known as the Cultural Landscape Report. Reyes has said that she believed that explanation was a pretext for giving the administration cover to start the renovation. She quizzed officials Monday on the coincidence that the administration suddenly rushed to implement a seven-year-old proposal specifically, only its recommendations to cut down certain trees just as Trump was demanding work on his overhaul to begin. Greg Wischer a political appointee at the Interior Department who has coordinated Trumps directives for beautifying Washington, DC testified that he came across of 2019 landscape recommendations as part of research in recent months for what his agency could do to clean up the course. He suggested that those clean up efforts were separate from the Trump-ordered redesign. DOJ assertions of privilege prevented him from answering several questions about key meetings and conversations that preceded the tree removals. But his testimony revealed that for months he has been receiving conceptual proposals for renovating the course from famed golf course designer Tom Fazio and his son Gavin. Wischer first saw the rendering posted by Trump on Sunday last week, according to his testimony, when Gavin Fazio texted it to his personal phone. Later in the hearing, Reyes asked Stander whether there was a contract with the Fazios to redo the course and asked the other attorneys at the defense table when Stander said he did not know the answer. Woodward stood to clarify that there was no such contract. This story has been updated with additional developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com This article originally appeared on CNN at https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/19/politics/trump-golf-course-renovation

Rajasthan Cong leaders stage all-night sit-in, seek FIR in alleged assault on NSUI worker

Digital Desk | Jaipur, Oct 20 (IANS) The alleged assault on NSUI activist Ritu Barala during a protest against vote theft in Delhi has triggered a political confrontation in Rajasthan, with the Congress demanding the registration of an FIR in Jaipur. Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra, along with party leaders and a legal team, staged an overnight sit-in at the Jaipur Police Commissionerate on Monday. Congress leaders and workers remained at the Commissionerate throughout the night, both inside and outside the premises. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also visited the protest site. Dotasra announced that the party would gherao the Police Commissionerate on Tuesday and called upon Congress workers from across the state to reach Jaipur. Dotasra maintained that Congress would not withdraw its protest until an FIR was registered in the case. The party has also raised questions over the police administrations handling of the complaint. Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully questioned the state government, asking who had tied the hands of the police administration and prevented it from registering an FIR. What is the BJP government's problem with delivering justice to a daughter of this state? Jully asked, warning that the Congress would neither retreat nor bow down until an FIR was registered in the Ritu Barala case. Earlier, Ritu Barala, accompanied by Congress leaders and a legal team, approached the Moti Dungri police station and submitted a written complaint to the Station House Officer, seeking registration of an FIR. However, no separate FIR was registered. Around 6.15 p.m. on Monday, Congress leaders reached the Police Commissionerate. Police Commissioner Sachin Mittal was not present at the time. Dotasra spoke to him over the phone and demanded the registration of a Zero FIR against the accused, insisting that the protesters would not leave until their demand was addressed. Gehlot arrived at the Commissionerate late Monday night from Jodhpur but left shortly afterwards. Among those who participated in the overnight sit-in were MLAs Rafiq Khan and Amin Kagzi, former Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, NSUI National President Vinod Jakhar, State Womens Congress President Sarika Singh, War Room Chairman Jaswant Gurjar, Rajendra Yadav, Media Chairperson Swarnim Chaturvedi and Jaipur City Congress President Sunil Sharma. According to Dotasra, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had called him and directed him to ensure that an FIR was registered in Jaipur in connection with the case. Police Commissioner Sachin Mittal said the incident had taken place in Delhi and a complaint had already been filed with the Delhi Police. He said police in other states had registered Zero FIRs and forwarded them to Delhi for further investigation. Multiple FIRs cannot be registered for the same incident, Mittal said, adding that the complainants had been informed that their complaint was on record. Information would be sought from the Delhi Police and the state police that registered the Zero FIR to facilitate the investigation. The Congress, however, remained firm on its demand and announced plans to intensify its protest on Tuesday.

DMK councillor, meeting organiser booked over slur against TN CM Vijay

Digital Desk | Chennai, Oct 20 (IANS) Police have registered a case against two DMK leaders, councillor Sudha Deenadayalan and Muralidharan, the party's meeting organiser, following a complaint that she made derogatory remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at a public meeting in Chennai. The case was registered at the B-2 Esplanade police station against Sudha and Muralidharan, who organised the October 7 meeting, after TVK functionary Udhayakumar lodged a complaint over the speech. The controversy centres on remarks in which Sudha allegedly referred to Vijay repeatedly as a dog while criticising his government. Video clips of the speech have circulated widely on social media, drawing protests from TVK members and intensifying exchanges between the ruling party and the opposition DMK. In his complaint, Udhayakumar alleged that the councillor had used objectionable and defamatory language against the Chief Minister. He also sought action against Muralidharan in connection with the organisation of the programme. Police subsequently registered a case against both. Details of the legal provisions invoked and further investigative steps were not immediately available. TVK members have also criticised senior DMK leaders who attended the meeting, alleging that they failed to intervene when Sudha made the remarks. According to the party, Chennai Mayor Priya, MP Kanimozhi and former Minister P.K. Sekarbabu were present on the dais. The ruling party alleged that their failure to object to the language amounted to allowing the attack to continue. That allegation forms part of TVKs criticism of the meeting and has not been independently established. The remarks were made during a speech accusing the Vijay government of failing to fulfil its promises. Sudha also alleged that the administration was continuing the subsidy and welfare programmes introduced during the previous government headed by M.K. Stalin. However, her language against the Chief Minister became the principal focus of the controversy, with TVK supporters sharing extracts from the speech and demanding police action. The registration of the case follows those protests and the formal complaint submitted at the Esplanade station. The complaint concerns both the alleged remarks and the organisers role in arranging the event. While police have initiated proceedings against the two named individuals, the information available does not indicate whether either has been questioned or summoned. No response from Sudha or Muralidharan to the allegations was available in the material provided on the case.

Ethics is not optional in civil service

A civil servants authority is borrowed. It comes from the people, through the Constitution, and it is held in trust for their welfare. The moment it is used to humiliate rather than to serve, it stops being authority and becomes mere power. The controversy now unfolding in Jammu and Kashmir should be read in that light. A senior IAS officer stands accused of verbally abusing a junior woman officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) in an official review meeting, an allegation he disputes. The facts are for the governments inquiry to establish. But the episode points to something larger that anyone who deals with government will recognise: a drift, in parts of the civil service, from welfare towards power, and from service towards authority. Most officers do not behave this way. The concern is a culture that allows some of them to, without consequence. The irony is hard to miss. Since 2013, the main examination for the IAS has carried a compulsory 250-mark paper, Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude, and the JKAS examination carries the same paper. Since 2014, the conduct rules for All India Services officers have required them to maintain high ethical standards, responsiveness to the public, particularly the weaker sections, and courtesy and good behaviour. Ethics is not optional to enter the civil service. It cannot become optional once an officer is inside it. We must remember what these services are for. Being an IAS or JKAS officer is not about making reels, building a social media image or enjoying the trappings of a chair. It is about executing authority for peoples welfare. Indias highest examination does not hand anyone absolute power; it hands them a trust, held on behalf of the farmer, the unemployed graduate and the young person waiting on a government scheme for a loan. I have sat through many meetings and review sessions in my own work. What I have always felt is that the review meeting has quietly become a theatre of hierarchy rather than a tool of governance. Targets are read out, numbers are questioned, and too often the loudest voice in the room is mistaken for the most competent one. Juniors learn to stay silent, and silence is the most expensive thing a government can buy, because it hides problems until they become failures. This is not a Kashmiri problem alone; an officer in any state will recognise the room. This is where the decline hurts the people most. An officer who rules a meeting through fear will not hear the truth about why loans are stuck, why a scheme is failing or why a village has been left out. When authority replaces ethics inside the office, welfare is the first casualty outside it. An office that cannot protect the dignity of its own officers will not protect the dignity of the citizen waiting at its door. Yet within hours, the debate on this episode split along familiar lines: IAS versus JKAS, outsider versus native, Kashmiri versus non-Kashmiri. Some voices on social media began demanding that the officer be sent back, as if people from elsewhere are somehow less human and we are above them. Some of the anger has a real context, since control over IAS officers in the Union Territory rests with the Lieutenant Governor rather than the elected government. But this reaction is intellectual bankruptcy, and it lets the real wrong slip away. I am not making an argument of IAS versus JKAS. If a Kashmiri secretary spoke this way to a junior from Bihar or Rajasthan, the act would be exactly as wrong; so would a JKAS officer humiliating a clerk or a patwari (village revenue official). Every human has a morality and a conscience, and as Immanuel Kant reminded us, persons have dignity, not a price, and must never be treated merely as a means. Abuse does not change its character with the abusers domicile or the victims cadre. To make it a question of origin is tribalism wearing the clothes of outrage. None of this is to deny that senior officers work under real pressure. Flagship schemes come with hard targets, reviews are relentless, and a secretary answers for every lag in every district. Frustration in a review meeting is understandable. But pressure may explain a raised voice; it never justifies abuse. What Kashmir needs, and what Indias bureaucracy needs, is professionalism: the discipline of disagreeing on facts without attacking persons, and of using authority as a responsibility rather than a weapon. Even when a junior speaks out of turn, the answer is a written record and due process, never public humiliation. It also means a person needs to be assigned the job he or she is capable of doing. Managing people is a skill, not a privilege of seniority, and postings should weigh temperament and conduct as seriously as batch and seniority. Juniors, in turn, need a way to report humiliation without fearing for their careers. So let the inquiry be impartial, let its findings be made public, and let accountability follow the facts, whatever cadre they point to. But the larger task is ours. Ethics has to be adopted, not as a paper to be cleared or a rule to be cited, but as the everyday practice of power in the service of people. The question before us is not where an officer comes from. It is whether he, or she, governs for the welfare of the people. On that question, there must be a single standard, applied to everyone. The author works with a bank on rural self-employment and writes on public policy and development.

DC Srinagar visits UPHC Lal Bazar, presides over registration camp for senior citizens

Srinagar, Oct 19:Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo on Monday visited the Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) Lal Bazar and presided over an awareness cum registration camp for senior citizens aged 70 years and above under the Vay Vandana Scheme. The programme on Ayushman Vay Vandana scheme was a part of District Administrations outreach efforts to ensure maximum coverage of eligible senior citizens aged 70 years and above under the scheme providing additional health support of Rs 5 Lakh over and above the existing cover aimed to strengthen senior citizen health security. The DC was accompanied by Chief Planning Officer, Fayaz Ahmad Dar, IAS Probationer, Aakash Garg, Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tahir Sajad, Tehsildar Eidgah, mohamamd Iqbal Zargar, ZMO Zadibal, Dr Rubeena Aziz, ZMO SR Gunj, Dr Shafqat Medical Superintendent Government Gousia Hospital, Dr Zahida Gul and other District Officers. On the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner led an Awareness-cum-Registration Camp on Ayushman Vay Vandana scheme of Government organized by Zonal Medical Officer, Zadibal which witnessed enthusiastic participation from elderly residents from Lal Bazar, Mandibal, Nowshahra, Botshah Mohalla,, Baghwanpora and other adjoining areas. The participants were sensitised about the benefits and advantages of the scheme and the process for registration. Addressing the gathering, the DC highlighted the significance of the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card and urged all eligible senior citizens aged 70 years and above to enrol under the scheme. He said the initiative aims to strengthen healthcare security for the elderly by providing health coverage of Rs 5 lakh and reducing the financial burden of medical treatment, thereby ensuring greater access to healthcare and promoting dignity, well-being and a better quality of life in their later years.

Indian Army imparts training to SDRF, Civil Defence personnel at Rajouri

Rajouri, Oct 19: Aimed towards strengthening Civil Defence preparedness and in line with the governments vision of strengthening and modernising the Civil Defence network, the Indian Army conducted the Train with Your Army initiative under the theme Sashakt Nagrik, Surakshit Rashtra (Empowered Citizens, Secure Nation). White Knight Corps, under the aegis of Northern Command, conducted this three-day residential training camp at the Corps Battle School, Sarol, Rajouri in coordination with the Civil Defence Organisation and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Jammu and Kashmir. The camp trained fifty participants, comprising sixteen SDRF personnel and thirty-four Civil Defence volunteers from Jammu, Doda, Samba, Akhnoor, Sunderbani, Nowshera and Rajouri. The training covered hybrid warfare, drone threats, air raids, information warfare, cyber threats, survival techniques and emergency response procedures, the army further said. Practical demonstrations and hands-on training enhanced the participants understanding of emerging threats and their preparedness to respond effectively to emergencies. The camp culminated on Monday with outstanding trainees being felicitated by Major General Manoj Kumar Ruria, General Officer Commanding, Ace of Spades Division. The Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri Dr Devyansh Yadav; DIG Civil Defence Anita Sharma, DIG Police Rajouri Poonch range Sandeep Wazir, Station Commander Brig Atul Choudhary and other representatives of the district administration attended the closing ceremony. The initiative reaffirmed the Indian Armys commitment to strengthening civil - military cooperation, enhancing community preparedness and building national resilience, PRO Defence Jammu stated. By equipping Civil Defence volunteers and SDRF personnel with essential skills to address emerging threats and emergencies, the initiative underscored the importance of a well-prepared citizenry in ensuring a safer and more resilient nation, the army further stated.

Northern Army Commander visits forward post in north Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 19:Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command, conducted a series of visits to north Kashmir over the weekend to review the operational preparedness of troops and assess the prevailing security situation, according to official posts by the Northern Command on X. On Sunday, Lt Gen Sharma visited Rashtriya Rifles units deployed in north Kashmir. Interacting with commanders and troops on the ground, he emphasised the importance of constant vigil, operational synergy and regional outreach in the hinterland to retain an upper hand over inimical elements. The Army Commander commended the professionalism of the troops and their commitment to maintaining the resolve of a terror-free Jammu and Kashmir. In a follow-up visit on Monday, the Northern Army Commander accompanied by GOC 15 Corps, Lt Gen Balbir Singh reviewed the operational preparedness of units deployed in forward areas of north Kashmir. He lauded the troops for their professionalism and operational acumen. Stressing the need for sustained readiness, he underlined the importance of rigorous training, innovation and technology-driven capability enhancement to strengthen preparedness for operations, particularly in view of the forthcoming winter season and the associated challenges. North Kashmir, encompassing sensitive areas along the Line of Control in districts such as Baramulla and Kupwara, remains a critical sector in the Armys security grid. The visits come amid ongoing efforts to maintain a high state of alertness across the counter-terrorism and border management grid as the region prepares for harsh winter conditions that traditionally affect logistics, mobility and surveillance. The Northern Commands posts highlighted the Army Commanders focus on operational synergy, constant vigilance and proactive measures to counter any threats while reinforcing the commitment to peace and stability. The interactions with troops on the ground formed a key part of the review, with Lt Gen Sharma appreciating the high morale and readiness of the formations. These visits form part of the Northern Commands regular assessment of security arrangements and operational readiness in Jammu and Kashmir. The emphasis on technology integration, innovation and winter preparedness reflects the Armys approach to maintaining dominance in challenging terrain and climatic conditions.

Blaze in Bani? Fire tender from 155 kms away Kathua F&ES station will arrive to extinguish it!

Jammu, Oct 19: Fire destroys 40 houses in Warwan area of Kishtwar. 8 houses gutted in Warwan blaze. Screaming headlines from Warwan and any other place across Union Territory create trepidation among thousands of inhabitants of Bani tehsil headquarters spread across over 33 villages in Kathua district as a dreadful thought crosses their mind It may happen to us even, anytime! They, in particular, share empathy with the Warwan inhabitants, who in the past few years have witnessed such destruction, a number of times. Comparative empathy is not out of place. Reason being, both Warwan in Kishtwar district and Bani tehsil in Kathua district remotely placed treacherous areas, do not have a fire station or even a locally stationed fire tender a demand being made and ignored for long now. If for Warwan in Kishtwar district, fire tender comes traversing a distance of over 80 kms from Kokernag in Anantnag district of Kashmir, in Bani tehsil of Kathua district, the distance even stretches further to around 155 kms. In case of any fire or emergency incident in Bani tehsil, Fire and Emergency Services station in district headquarter Kathua, situated at around 155 kms away, is the nearest available station to respond to (emergency) situation or deploy even fire tender. And this is not mere allegation by the inhabitants; the assertion has come straight from the horses mouth. Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES), J&K, itself, has made this admission in response to an application filed under Right to Information (RTI) Act by a social activist of the area, Mudasar Ali, regarding fire and emergency services and availability of fire tenders in Bani tehsil of Kathua district. As per reply furnished by the Director, F&ES, J&K on October 7, 2026, in response to Mudasar Alis RTI application registration number FIREE/R/2026/60027 dated August 31, 2026, there is no Fire & Emergency Services Station presently established or stationed in tehsil Bani, district Kathua. No fire tender of this department is presently stationed or deployed in tehsil Bani. Accordingly, no fire tender registration number, date of deployment or operational status is applicable, the Directorate mentioned in response to a query regarding details of fire tenders, fire service vehicles presently deployed or stationed in Tehsil Bani. When asked if no fire tender is permanently stationed in tehsil Bani, what is location of the nearest Fire & Emergency Services Station from which fire tenders are dispatched to Bani during emergencies, the Directorate has replied that F&ES Station Kathua is the nearest Fire and Emergency Services Station to Tehsil Bani, being situated at a distance of approximately 155 kms from Bani. In case of any fire or emergency incident in tehsil Bani, F&ES Station Kathua is the nearest available Fire and Emergency Services Station for responding to the emergency, it has been maintained. F&ES Station Kathua is responsible for responding to fire calls received from tehsil Bani and for deployment of available fire-fighting resources in case of any fire emergency, as per operational requirements and availability of resources, the Directorate F&ES, J&K informs. In response to a query about details of the number of fire incidents reported in tehsil Bani during the financial years 2021-22 to 2025-26, year-wise and the number of fire tenders dispatched in response to such incidents, if such information is maintained, the Directorate mentions that as per the report furnished by the in-charge, F&ES Station Kathua, no fire tender was deputed for any fire incident in tehsil Bani during the period from April, 2021 to April, 2026. However, F&ES Station Kathua has attended a number of deployments relating to fire-safety arrangements in tehsil Bani from time to time, as required, it has been stated. However, as per the reply, a proposal for establishing 102 new Fire and Emergency Stations is presently under consideration, which also includes the proposal of Fire and Emergency Station Bani and is under process. No fire station or fire tender has been sanctioned and made operational at Bani as on date (October 7, 2026). The proposal for establishment of a Fire and Emergency Services Station at Bani is, however, presently awaiting government sanction, reads the reply to a query about any Government order, sanction order, proposal, correspondence, inspection report or other official communication regarding establishment of a Fire Station in Bani; deployment or provision of a fire tender in Bani; construction or provision of infrastructure for Fire and Emergency Services in Bani. Himanshu Gandotra, Deputy Director, Command Officer, Fire and Emergency Services, Samba-Kathua, as per the Directorates reply, is the designated authority for arranging and coordinating fire-fighting services in district Kathua including tehsil Bani in case of any fire or emergency. Social activist and applicant under RTI Act, Mudasar Ali points out that the residents of Bani tehsil in district Kathua have long been demanding for the establishment of a fire service station in the area. The residents allege that despite repeatedly highlighting the issue over the years, there has been no positive response from the government so far. The locals maintain that during recent years, they have suffered property losses worth crores, due to the absence of a fire service station. Despite several fire mishaps reported frequently in the sub-region, the government has failed to set up even a single fire station, leaving the population exposed and helpless, they lament. Had there been a fire station in our area, the damage could have been less, Mudasar Ali asserts. Bani is a snow-bound and hilly region, where more than 90 percent of the houses are made of wood and tin sheetsmaking them highly vulnerable to fire incidents.

Congress Demands Resignation of Maharashtra Home Minister After Shooting Incident Involving Tiger Shroff

Congress criticizes Maharashtra and central governments after shooting near Tiger Shroffs home, demanding accountability from officials. Congress Demands Resignation of Maharashtra Home Minister After Shooting Incident Involving Tiger Shroff

Outsourcing Minds To AI

The internet redefined life; now, Artificial Intelligence has joined the bandwagon. We live in an age where answers are everywhere, yet genuine thinking is scarce. A question, a click, an instant responseno struggle, no silence, no effort. Where we once held words in our minds, we now hold prompts. Artificial Intelligence has penetrated our classrooms, offices, homes, and even our private conversations. It writes our essays, drafts our letters, summarises our books, and generates our ideas. It can compose poetry, analyse data, and solve complex problems in seconds. While this is a remarkable technological achievement, beneath the surface of convenience lies a brutal truth: the rise of redundant minds. The critical question we face is whether we are using AI to sharpen our minds, or slowly surrendering them to machines. The true danger is not that machines are becoming intelligent, but that humans may stop exercising their own intelligence. Thinking is hard work. It demands patience, doubt, curiosity, and relentless brainstorming. It requires us to sit with a problem before rushing toward an answer. AI offers an easier path by removing friction and saving time, delivering polished words without demanding deep thought. That is precisely where the danger begins. We must learn to distinguish between producing an answer and understanding it, between collecting information and gaining wisdom, and between merely appearing intelligent and actually thinking. This concern is far from merely philosophical; recent research gives us compelling reasons to take it seriously. A 2024 study by Microsoft Research and Carnegie Mellon University examined the use of generative AI in knowledge work. Surveying 319 professionals who use AI tools, researchers found that greater confidence in generative AI was directly associated with a decrease in critical-thinking effort. While this finding does not prove that AI makes people less intelligent, it raises a serious question about what happens when we trust machine-generated answers without sufficient scrutiny. Similarly, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has stressed the vital importance of developing critical thinking, creativity, and other uniquely human capabilities in an increasingly digital world. The message is clear: access to powerful technology must go hand in hand with the ability to question it. AI can produce convincing answers, but it can also make mistakes, invent facts, and reflect biases embedded in its training data. Fluency is not the same as truth. Confidence is not the same as competence. A machine can sound entirely certain and still be completely wrong. That is why the human mind must remain the final checkpoint. The greatest danger of artificial intelligence is not that machines will learn to think like humans. It is that humans may become comfortable thinking like machinesor stop thinking altogether. (The author is a freelance columnist and writes on various issues. He can be reached at: fidahumairawrite@gmail.com )

Shift to Navi Mumbai or suspend flights: Mumbai airport gives airlines options

MIAL has informed airlines that they can shift operations to the new Navi Mumbai International Airport. The existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport will undergo redevelopment until 2030. Airlines have expressed concerns about splitting operations between the two airports due to logistical difficulties. The Airline Operators Committee has rejected the proposed transfer of international operations, demanding more information.

In Numbers: What Is Fueling Protests In France

The protests were launched by students demanding better learning conditions. Students and teachers have expressed their anger at overcrowded classrooms and the cut of more than 4,000 teaching posts outlined in the government's 2026 budget.

Student Activist Aranya Rathore Recounts Alleged Police Assault In Detention

Student activist Aranya Rathore recounts her alleged assault while in Delhi Police detention after being detained during an October 11 protest demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumars resignation. Despite the risk of facing police cases, she explains why she feels compelled to return to protesting.

Asian Para Games: PM Modi praises Nishad Kumar's versatility after winning long jump gold

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 19 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday praised para-athlete Nishad Kumar for his versatility, determination and sporting excellence after he won a gold medal in the men's long jump T47 at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, and said he was very proud of him. Winning a gold medal on his debut in the Asian Para Games makes the achievement even more special, the Prime Minister said in a post made by the PMO India on Monday. Nishad Kumar added an unexpected gold medal to his impressive para-athletics career, winning the mens T47 long jump at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Monday with a best effort of 7.11 m. The two-time Paralympic silver medallist delivered a commanding performance at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium to secure Indias second gold of the Games. Very proud of Nishad Kumar on winning Gold in the Mens Long Jump T47 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 with an outstanding jump. Winning a Gold on his debut in this event makes the achievement even more special. His versatility, determination and sporting excellence are truly inspiring. Wishing him the very best for the endeavours ahead, PM Modi was quoted as saying in a post by PMO India. Known primarily for his achievements in the high jump, Nishad made an emphatic statement in a discipline that remains secondary to his speciality. His winning distance proved beyond the reach of the competition, with the Indian recording 7.11m twice during the final to establish his superiority. Nishad opened with a jump of 6.95m before moving into the lead with 7.09m in his second attempt. He then stretched his advantage with a 7.11 m effort in the third round, followed by a foul in his fourth attempt. The Indian bounced back in the fifth round to match his best distance before closing his campaign with 7.07m. Uzbekistans Omadbek Khasanov mounted the closest challenge, producing a season-best 6.99m to claim silver. Sri Lankas Mohammadu Safran completed the podium with a best jump of 6.55m. The triumph is particularly notable given Nishads relatively recent entry into long jump competitions. The Indian began exploring the event last year and arrived in Japan with limited competitive experience in the discipline. His performance in Aichi-Nagoya underlined his versatility and ability to translate his athletic qualities into another event. Nishads established reputation, however, rests on his achievements in the mens T47 high jump. He won silver at the Paris 2024 Paralympics and has also claimed a world championship gold in the discipline. At the Asian Para Games, he is the defending champion in the high jump, making him one of Indias key medal prospects in the event.

UEFA gives FIFA November 2 deadline to release Infantino World Cup plan documents

UEFA submitted 42 detailed questions to FIFA, demanding responses by November 2 16 days before the nomination deadline for the presidential election next March 18

CJP's Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das In Tihar Jail Till Oct 21; Judicial Custody Extended By Two Days

Ranka and Das were produced before a Special Executive Magistrate at Mandir Marg police station for the required proceedings, after which they were taken back to Tihar Jail.

Mexico Water Crisis Explodes! Angry Protesters Torch Streets, Target Government Buildings

Thousands marched through Guadalajara demanding clean drinking water as anger over foul-smelling, contaminated supplies spilled into clashes, fires and damage to government buildings.Residents say unreliable water service and pollution have plagued parts of the city for years, while recent protests have triggered arrests, police action and growing pressure on authorities to fix Guadalajaras ageing water infrastructure and address contamination across the wider Lerma-Santiago watershed.

Sarfaraz ton puts Mumbai on top; Haryana beat Chandigarh

Sarfaraz Khan's magnificent unbeaten 139 helped Mumbai establish a commanding 258-run lead over Himachal Pradesh in their Ranji Trophy Group D match, while Nishant Sindhu's all-round heroics secured an innings victory for Haryana against Chandigarh.

Youth Congress burns Ravan effigy bearing Gyanesh Kumar

New Delhi, Oct 19 (PTI) The Indian Youth Congress (ITC) on Monday burnt an effigy of Ravan bearing the face of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar here, demanding his resignation over alleged irregularities in electoral processes and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. The protest featured a stage decorated with vibrant posters and slogans targeting the Election Commission (EC); one read Vote Chori ki Rasleela targeting the poll panels handling of the SIR exercise. The effigy, depicting the CEC as Ravan, was burnt as the Congress youth wing stepped up its campaign seeking the resignation of Gyanesh

M6 iMac: Release date rumors, new colors, specs and price

Macworld Apples next iMac could be just days away. Nearly two years after the M4 iMac launched, Apple is reportedly preparing to introduce a new model powered by its M6 chip, potentially at the end of October 2026. The good news is that the M6 promises a substantial performance upgrade, with a faster CPU and GPU, improved memory bandwidth and significant advances in AI processing. The less exciting news is that Apple isnt expected to make major changes to the iMacs design, although new colors could be on the way. Bloombergs Mark Gurman reported in August that the next iMac was close to launch and should arrive before the end of 2026. More recently, reports have pointed to another Apple product launch around October 27 or 28, raising the possibility that the new iMac will be among the announcements. Heres everything we know about the M6 iMac, including its expected release date, design, specifications and price. M6 iMac release date: When will it launch? Expected release date: October 2026, possibly October 27 or 28. Apple could unveil the M6 iMac before the end of October 2026. Apple has reportedly invited selected media to a product launch experience in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28. Bloombergs Mark Gurman previously indicated that another Apple product launch was planned for Tuesday, October 27, so an announcement could still take place the day before the media gathering. The M6 iMac is among the products expected to make an appearance, alongside new MacBook Pro M6 models, a touchscreen MacBook Pro , and an updated iPad mini . The prospect of an imminent iMac launch follows earlier reporting from Gurman. In the Q&A section of his August 23 Power On newsletter , Gurman indicated that the M6 iMac was close to launch and that customers should be able to buy one before the end of 2026. An earlier July 2026 report also identified two iMac models, codenamed J833 and J834, among a wave of new Macs Apple was preparing. The current M4 iMac arrived in fall 2024, making it nearly two years old. Apple appears to have skipped an M5 iMac altogether, as it previously skipped the M2 generation, meaning the next model should move directly from M4 to M6. M6 iMac design: Will there be new colors? Expected: The same 24-inch design, potentially with new color options. There are seven different colors available for iMac. Apple Anyone hoping for a completely redesigned iMac may be disappointed. According to Gurmans August reporting, Apple is not preparing a major overhaul of its all-in-one desktop for 2026. The iMac has retained essentially the same ultra-thin, colorful design since Apple introduced the 24-inch M1 iMac in 2021 . Although the M4 iMac update in 2024 introduced some refinements, the overall appearance remained largely unchanged. Gurman expects the M6 iMac to follow a similar pattern, with the new chip representing the most significant upgrade. However, he has suggested that new colors could be introduced. Apple currently offers the iMac in seven colors: blue, green, pink, silver, yellow, orange and purple. These options have been available since 2021, although Apple refreshed the shades with the M4 model. A more substantial iMac redesign could still arrive in a future generation, but there is currently little evidence to suggest that Apple is planning one for the M6 iMac. M6 iMac display: Will it have a larger screen? Will Apple ever bring back the iMac Pro with a larger screen? Foundry Expected: A 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, similar to the current model. The current model features a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, with a resolution of 4,480 by 2,520 pixels. It uses LED-backlit LCD technology and supports up to 500 nits of brightness. The M6 iMac is likely to retain a similar screen. There have been rumors about Apple developing a larger iMac with more advanced display technology. In 2023, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted a higher-end 32-inch iMac with a mini-LED display, potentially arriving in 2025. However, that product never materialized, and there is no reliable indication that it will launch alongside the M6 iMac. M6 iMac specs and performance: How much faster will it be? Expected: M6 chip, improved CPU and GPU performance, faster memory and a substantial AI upgrade. The M6 iMac may not look very different from its predecessor, but the processor could make it a considerably more powerful computer. Apple introduced the M6 chip in August 2026, with the new M6 Mac mini going on sale in September. That means we already have a useful indication of the technology the next iMac could include. You can read about how the Mac mini M6 chips compare to other Macs in our Best Mac guide. The M6 is Apples first chip manufactured using a 2-nanometer process, replacing the 3-nanometer technology used by the M4. The smaller manufacturing process allows Apple to improve transistor density, performance and power efficiency. The M6 used in the Mac mini features: A 12-core CPU. A 12-core GPU with Neural Accelerators in every core. A Dual 16-core Neural Engine for AI and machine-learning tasks. 16GB of standard unified memory, configurable up to 32GB. Memory bandwidth of up to 170GB/s. Improved storage performance compared with the M4 generation. The M4 iMac currently offers an 8-core or 10-core CPU and an 8-core or 10-core GPU, depending on the configuration. Moving to the M6 could therefore bring a particularly noticeable performance improvement, especially for buyers upgrading from the entry-level M4 model. Apple claims that the M6 Mac mini delivers up to 40 percent faster CPU performance, twice the graphics performance and four times the AI performance of the M4 Mac mini in its specified tests. We cant assume that the M6 iMac will achieve identical results, but these figures demonstrate the potential benefits of moving from the M4 to the M6 generation. Improved AI performance One of the biggest improvements could be the M6s new AI-processing architecture. Previous M-series chips used a single 16-core Neural Engine. The M6 introduces a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, supported by Neural Accelerators in each GPU core. Together, these changes should make the M6 iMac significantly better equipped for demanding AI workloads, including running local language models, processing images and using AI-powered creative tools. For everyday users, the benefits may be less immediately obvious. However, the additional processing capabilities could become increasingly useful as macOS and third-party applications adopt more sophisticated on-device AI features. More memory and faster connectivity The M6 supports up to 32GB of unified memory and memory bandwidth of 170GB/s. Whether Apple offers the same memory configurations in the iMac remains to be seen. The new Mac mini also includes Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, so these connectivity improvements seem likely to arrive on the M6 iMac as well. Its unknown if Apple will update the iMacs Thunderbolt ports, storage options or other hardware features. M6 iMac price: How much will it cost? Expected starting price: Around $1,499. When Apple introduced the M4 iMac in 2024, prices started at $1,299 for the entry-level model with an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU and 256GB of storage. The higher-end version, featuring a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, started at $1,499. However, Apple increased the prices of the M4 iMac in June 2026 . The entry-level model now starts at $1,499, while the four-port version starts at $1,699. These price increases make it difficult to predict what Apple will charge for the next generation. Apple could retain the current starting prices, particularly if the M6 update introduces relatively few changes beyond the processor. Alternatively, the higher cost of components and memory could result in further increases. For now, $1,499 is a reasonable starting point for expectations. Should you buy an M4 iMac or wait for the M6? Our recommendation: Wait for the M6 iMac if you can. With the next iMac potentially arriving before the end of October, wed recommend holding off on buying the M4 model at full price. The current iMac remains an excellent all-in-one desktop for everyday computing, home working, students and families. Its 24-inch Retina display, compact design and M4 processor make it more than capable of handling most peoples needs. However, the M6 looks set to bring a meaningful increase in performance. The move from M4 to M6 should provide improvements to CPU and GPU performance, while the upgraded Neural Engine could make a difference as AI features become more demanding. Waiting will also allow you to compare the new iMacs pricing and specifications with those of the outgoing model. Even if you ultimately choose an M4 iMac, its replacement could make discounted older models more appealing. There are reasons to buy now. If you need a new Mac immediately and find a substantial discount on an M4 iMac, it could still be a sensible purchase. But for anyone buying a new iMac at full price, waiting for Apples next announcement is the better option.

GOC Northern Command reviews operational preparedness in forward areas of north Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 19: General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Northern Command Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma on Monday visited north Kashmir and reviewed operational preparedness of units deployed in forward areas. The Army Commander lauded the troops for their professionalism and operational acumen. He emphasised rigorous training, innovation and technology-driven capability enhancement to strengthen readiness for operations, especially in the wake of forthcoming winter season and the associated challenges.

Karimnagar government officer in ACB net for Rs 8,000 bribe

Hyderabad: A government officer in Karimnagar was trapped by the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 8,000 in Sircilla district. A private person was also arrested. Mohammed Abubakar, a Tahsildar-cum-Joint Sub-Registrar and Sankasala Anil Kumar were caught red-handed by the officials. Kumar works as a Bhu Bharathi operator. Mohammed 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 .

Ramas Office Targeted By Explosive-Laden Drone? Albanian PM Cries Foreign Hand

Albanias political crisis takes a dramatic turn as Edi Rama claims an explosive-packed drone targeting his office was intercepted just days before fresh anti-government clashes. The embattled prime minister blamed foreign hands for the alleged plot, warning the device could have set his office courtyard ablaze. With students demanding his resignation over corruption, education concerns and a controversial luxury resort linked to Jared Kushner, Rama has invited protesters for talks but refuses to quit. The alleged drone plot has not been independently verified.

Google Review scam: Over 20 people reportedly lose 1 crore in a month; 5 warning signs to watch out for

More than 20 people in Visakhapatnam reportedly lost 1 crore in a month to a Google Review job scam. Fraudsters used small initial payouts to build trust before demanding larger deposits, leaving victims unable to withdraw their money.

Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das judicial custody extended by 2 days

New Delhi: The Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court at the Mandir Marg Police Station in Delhi on Monday, October 19, extended the judicial custody of CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das by two days. Their bail pleas were denied, said advocate Dharamvir, adding, They will be taken back into judicial custody. The matter will Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

JNU Admin Says Two Rounds of Talks Held With Hunger-Striking Students

Several students sat on a hunger strike, demanding that the administration revoke the rustication of the elected JNUSU members.

Tirana Erupts In Mayhem: Petrol Bombs Fly, Storefronts Smashed; Police Fire Tear Gas

Albanias capital is engulfed in street warfare as furious protesters hurl petrol bombs, fireworks and rocks while riot police unleash tear gas and water cannon. With shops smashed, fires spreading and students demanding Prime Minister Edi Ramas resignation, the Flamingo Revolution has spiralled into a wider anti-government showdown fuelled by anger over corruption, education and a luxury coastal resort linked to Jared Kushner, Donald Trumps son-in-law.

Ram Bhakton Ki Ek Pukar: Aman Arora Urges PM Modi to Act in Ram Mandir Donation Case

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab President and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure strict punishment for those responsible for the reported chanda chori at Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, asserting that the BJP, which

Tiger Shroff firing: Sapkal questions Bishnois operations from jail

Demanding accountability, Harshwardhan Sapkal questioned how jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi continued to operate an extensive criminal network from Sabarmati Jail in Ahmedabad without official patronage or political protection

Vikrant Massey on why he chose a simple, relatable story like Musafir Cafe for his production debut: It really doesnt matter how big or how small a film is

National Award-winning actor Vikrant Massey recently ventured into production with Musafir Cafe, the first project from his production house, Homemade Stories. The show has received appreciation from audiences across the country, with its simple yet relatable storytelling striking a chord with viewers. At a time when production houses often aim to make a big announcement with a large-scale film, Vikrant chose a story rooted in everyday emotions and human connections. During a conversation at ET Summit, when asked why he opted for a relatively simple story instead of a big-budget film for his production debut, and how challenging the decision was, Vikrant explained that he has a different perspective on how projects are categorised. He said, To be honest, I have a very different perspective towards this thing and I've had a problem lately in the last few years. And I just hope to sort of contribute in a way. Now, when I say this, what I mean is, you're absolutely right. Like, most of the times when you're probably announcing yourself or when you're coming out with a new venture, you want it to be huge. You want it to be large. And in our field, we call it a big film. Today, it's become a part of our normal language as well. This is a big film; this is a small film. I kind of have a problem with that. It really doesn't matter how big or how small a film is. You really cannot categorize it that way. What really matters in the world of storytelling is, if it is a good film or a bad film. The actor further explained how his experience with 12th Fail strengthened his belief in the power of a good story. He added saying, A big film may not necessarily be a good film. Or a small film can turn out to be a good film. And thankfully, I've been a part of that journey, when 12th Fail came out. It was actually, technically, so to say, the smallest film that year with regards to the production budget, with regards to the number of screens we had. But what kind of reiterates that very fact is that you guys watched the film. That film was the longest running film in the new millennium, post 2000, besides Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, which continues to play at Maratha Mandir. In the age of multiplexes, that film ran for 8 months, which is actually unprecedented. So, that kind of validated the very philosophy that I'm talking about. A good story and a bad story, we need to categorize it that way. Speaking about the vision behind Homemade Stories, Vikrant shared that the name itself reflects the kind of cinema he hopes to champion. He said, And with regards to Homemade Stories, which is my production house, the name signifies that philosophy itself. I want to tell relatable stories. I want to tell stories that impact, that sort of stay with you. And I would not want to say that this is the only genre that I'll be dabbling in. Of course, I would want to go out there and make a large scale theatrical film also at some point in time. But largely, the idea remains that I want to tell stories that resonate with people. Play parts as an actor wherein you can see a bit of yourself or your loved ones, or you can just reminisce about your own time, your own life. And I think that sort of worked very well with Musafir Cafe. Taking the world of Musafir Cafe beyond the screen, Vikrant is also bringing the concept into the real world, with plans to open two physical replica cafs in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The initiative will allow audiences to experience a space inspired by the show, extending its appeal beyond the story itself. On the work front, Vikrant will next be seen in White, in which he portrays spiritual leader and humanitarian Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The film explores his role in peacebuilding and efforts to resolve Colombias long-running civil conflict. Also Read: Vikrant Massey starrer Musafir Cafe expands beyond screen as cafs take shape in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand; see pic

ACB Files Charge Sheet Against Postal Assistant in Bribery Case

Baramulla, October 19, 2026: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jammu and Kashmir, has filed a charge sheet against Mudasir Ahmad Najar, a Postal Assistant posted at Sub Post Office Bandipora, in a bribery case involving the alleged demand and acceptance of Rs 6,500 in connection with the release of a subsidy under the Prime Ministers Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). According to the case details, a complaint was received at Police Station ACB Baramulla alleging that the accused had demanded illegal gratification from the complainant for facilitating the release of the subsidy component of a loan sanctioned under the PMEGP scheme. The complainant had availed financial assistance through the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Pampore, for business activities at Bandipora. An amount of 1,75,000 was reportedly pending as subsidy, subject to physical verification and geo-tagging by the concerned official. Following the complaint, the ACB conducted discreet verification, which led to the registration of a formal case at Police Station ACB Baramulla under FIR No. 05/2025, under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. During the investigation, the ACB stated that the accused was caught red-handed while allegedly demanding and accepting 6,500 from the complainant. He was subsequently arrested and taken into custody. The investigation was later concluded as proved, and the requisite sanction for prosecution was obtained from the competent authority after consideration of the material collected against the accused. Accordingly, the charge sheet was presented before the Honble Court of the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla, on October 19, 2026, against Mudasir Ahmad Najar for trial and judicial determination. The matter will now be decided by the competent court in accordance with the law.

ACB files chargesheet against postal assistant in Rs 6,500 bribery case in Bandipora

Srinagar, Oct 19: Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau on Monday filed a chargesheet against public servant (MTS) working in postal department for demanding and accepting illegal gratification in lieu of release of subsidy component of a loan case availed by complainant under PMEGP scheme. Officials said that a complaint was received at P/S ACB Baramulla against Mudasir Ahmad, Postal Assistant, posted at sub post office Bandipora for demanding illegal gratification, for release of subsidy component in favour of complainant who had availed financial assistance with KVIC Pampore for the activities of his business unit situated at Bandipora and in this connection, pending amount of Rupees 1,75,000/- as subsidy was due to him, subject to physical verification with geo tagging to be conducted by the alleged suspect public servant, upon which a discreet verification was conducted, which resulted in the registration of a formal case at Police station ACB Baramulla vide FIR No.05/2025 U/s 7 P.C Act 1988. They said that during the course of investigation, the accused was caught red handed while demanding and accepting the bribe money amounting to Rs 6500/- from complainant, following which the accused was arrested and taken into custody. Finally the investigation of the case was closed as proved and the necessary sanction for launching prosecution against accused public servant was accorded by competent authority after due consideration of material placed on file against him. Accordingly, the chargesheet of the case has been presented before the Honble court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption Baramulla on 19.10.2026 against the accused Mudasir Ahmad Najar, Postal Assistant, posted at sub post office Bandipora for trial and judicial determination, officials added.

Bihar: Buxar MP seeks LS Speakers intervention over defamation notice by IPS officer

Digital Desk | Patna, Oct 19 (IANS) The controversy surrounding the suspicious death of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari and an alleged staged encounter in Bilauti village of Bihars Bhojpur district has reached the Lok Sabha, with Buxar MP Sudhakar Singh seeking the intervention of Speaker Om Birla after receiving a defamation notice from senior IPS officer Kundan Krishnan. In a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP has sought an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the legal notice and requested that the matter be referred to Parliaments Committee of Privileges if a prima facie case of breach of parliamentary privilege is established. According to Sudhakar Singh, Krishnan sent the legal notice through his personal counsel, demanding a public apology and warning of a defamation suit seeking Rs 5 crore in damages, along with possible criminal proceedings. The MP has expressed concern that the notice could discourage elected representatives from raising issues of public importance in Parliament. However, the alleged intention behind the notice has not been independently established. The controversy stems from the suspicious death of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari in Bilauti village, where allegations of a staged encounter have also been raised. In his letter, Sudhakar Singh claimed that police personnel allegedly involved in the incident had been suspended and that an FIR had been registered based on a complaint filed by the deceaseds mother. He also referred to a judicial inquiry constituted by the state government, whose findings have not yet been made public. The MP has argued that the investigation should not be confined to lower-ranking police personnel. He pointed out that Kundan Krishnan was serving as Director General of the Bihar Special Task Force (STF) at the time of the incident and called for an impartial examination of the chain of command. He has sought scrutiny of the orders allegedly issued, communications between officers, information conveyed to police headquarters and the role of senior officials. The responsibility of individual officers, however, can only be established through a proper investigation. Invoking Article 105 of the Constitution, which provides for freedom of speech in Parliament and certain privileges of its members, Sudhakar Singh has argued that elected representatives must be able to raise questions concerning administrative actions and possible misuse of official authority. He has asked the Speaker to examine the capacity in which Krishnan issued the legal notice and whether he had obtained authorisation from the Bihar or the Central government. The MP has also referred to Rule 17 of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, seeking clarification on its applicability to the circumstances surrounding the notice. Another issue raised in the letter concerns the role of the private law firm that issued the notice. Sudhakar Singh has sought clarification on whether the firm was representing Krishnan in his personal capacity or had also been authorised to act on behalf of the Bihar government. He has requested details of any official orders or authorisations issued in connection with the legal action. Apart from seeking an examination of the legal notice, the Buxar MP has asked the Speaker to obtain information about the status of the judicial inquiry into Tiwaris death and whether its findings are available. He has urged the Speaker to initiate an inquiry into the entire episode and refer it to the Committee of Privileges if sufficient grounds are found. He has also called for appropriate measures if evidence emerges that an elected representative was subjected to pressure or retaliation for performing parliamentary duties.

Two rounds of discussions held with students on hunger strike: JNU administration

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Monday said that it had held two rounds of discussions with the protesters and its administration was providing medical care to students sitting on a hunger strike, including rusticated students. Several students sat on a hunger strike, demanding that the administration revoke the rustication of the elected JNUSU members. In a statement, the university administration said a committee appointed by the competent authority had met the hunger strikers on October 9 and October 14 to discuss their demands. The administration said the committee, headed by Prof Vivek Kumar, Dean of the School of Social Sciences, met the students at the Vice-Chancellor

Jammu Kashmir: ACB Files Charge Sheet Against Postal Assistant in Rs 6,500 Bribery Case

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed a charge sheet against a postal assistant accused of demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 6,500 for facilitating the release of a subsidy under the Prime Ministers Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). The charge sheet against Mudasir Ahmad Najar, posted at the Sub Post Office []

France violence: Protesters block Louvre Museum as unrest spreads

Around half a million people took to the streets across France to protest the surging cost of living, marking the culmination of four weeks of demonstrations that began with high school students demanding better conditions at their schools

Punjab AAP seeks punishment for Ayodhya's Ram Temple 'chanda chori accused

Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Oct 19 (IANS) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab President, Aman Arora, on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure strict punishment for those responsible for the reported 'chanda chori' at Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The AAP asserted that the BJP, which rose to power by invoking the sentiments associated with the Ram Temple, must not shield anyone who betrayed devotees faith. Citing 105 reported incidents of chanda-chori (donation theft)', Aman Arora demanded a thorough probe into the role of senior officials, questioning why accountability should end with junior employees. Arora said more than one lakh Ram devotees from Punjab had written to Prime Minister Modi seeking justice, declaring: Ram Bhakton ki ek pukar, Chanda choron ko saza is baar. Arora said, Millions of Ram devotees contributed their hard-earned money towards the construction of the Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya with immense faith and devotion. If the money donated by devotees has been misappropriated, it is a betrayal of their faith. Prime Minister Narendra Modi must ensure that everyone found guilty faces the strictest punishment. The AAP Punjab President said, I am raising this issue not as an AAP leader or party president, but as a Ram Bhakt who shares the anguish of lakhs of people across Punjab. People across the country celebrated the construction of the Shri Ram Mandir with immense joy and contributed generously from their hard-earned savings towards this sacred project. Their faith and contributions deserve to be respected. While displaying bundles of letters received from different parts of Punjab, Cabinet Minister Arora said, More than one lakh Ram devotees from Punjab have voluntarily written letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to intervene and ensure justice. These letters have come from across approximately 22,000 polling booths in the state. We will present them to the Prime Minister as a collective appeal from devotees who want accountability and strict action against everyone found responsible. Why should accountability end with lower-level employees when serious questions remain about the role of senior officials and those entrusted with managing the temples affairs? If repeated incidents of theft have taken place, the responsibility of those overseeing the institution must also be examined, he said.

AISA President Neha Bora moves Delhi High Court against Rs 10,000 Peace Bond notice, seeks protection from coercive action

New Delhi , Oct 19 : All India Students Association (AISA) president Neha Bora has moved the Delhi High Court, challenging a notice issued by a Special Executive Magistrate directing her to show cause why she should not execute a personal bond of Rs 10,000 with one surety to maintain peace during an inquiry. In her petition, Bora has sought quashing of the October 17 notice issued under Sections 126 and 130 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, along with all proceedings arising from it. She has also sought directions to the authorities not to take any coercive action against her pursuant to the notice. The petition states that Bora was called upon to appear before the Special Executive Magistrate on October 19 and explain why she should not be required to furnish the bond under Section 135(3) of the BNSS. Challenging the notice, Bora has alleged that it does not disclose any material to substantiate the apprehension of a breach of peace and fails to specify the period, occasion or event in relation to which such a breach is anticipated. According to the petition, the notice cites sloganeering at Mandi House on October 16, repeated protests around Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS, and an allegation that Bora instigated people to participate in a demonstration at Connaught Place on the same day. Bora has disputed the allegation concerning the Connaught Place demonstration, contending that her call was for a peaceful gathering at Mandi House at 5 pm on October 16. She has submitted that she was detained from Mandi House and that the gathering she had called for was different from the demonstration referred to in the notice. The petition further contends that the authorities have not supplied the underlying order and material relied upon to initiate the proceedings, thereby preventing her from effectively responding to the allegations. It also questions the reliance on prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS, arguing that the notice does not identify the specific order or incident allegedly violated. The plea states that an order dated August 23, issued by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sub-Division Parliament Street, did not cover Mandi House and exempted Jantar Mantar Road. The August 23 order prohibited meetings, slogans, speeches and assemblies of five or more people across the sub-division for 60 days, until October 21, subject to the specified exemption. Bora has argued that preventive proceedings cannot be initiated merely on the basis of participation in or a call for a peaceful protest, and that the authorities must demonstrate a proximate likelihood of a breach of peace. The petition alleges that the notice is vague, rests on incorrect factual assertions and amounts to an arbitrary exercise of preventive powers. The plea also invokes the fundamental rights to freedom of speech and expression, peaceful assembly and personal liberty under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution. According to the petition, Bora was detained at Mandi House at around 5.30 pm on October 16, taken to an undisclosed location and subsequently to RK Puram police station, where she was held overnight. She was released at around 6 am on October 17. The notice issued by the Special Executive Magistrate followed the detention and required her to appear on October 19. Bora has contended that failure to grant relief would expose her to the possibility of being directed to execute the bond, with the prospect of detention in the event of non-compliance. The petition comes in the backdrop of the proposed Lehra Do Tiranga march and demonstrations, scheduled for October 16, concerning the Election Commissions Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Protesters had also sought accountability from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)'s Abhijeet Dipke was also detained ahead of the proposed march. According to the earlier account of the police action, proceedings under Sections 126 and 170 of the BNSS were initiated against him, and he was released after appearing before a Special Executive Magistrate and executing a peace bond. The present petition seeks quashing of the notice dated October 17 and protection against coercive action arising from the proceedings. The matter concerns the legality of the preventive action initiated against Bora following the events of October 16.

France's unrest reaches the Louvre after weekend of violence and mass arrests

Protests such as this one in Lyon rocked France over the weekend (Jeff PACHOUD) Protesters blocked the entrance to the Louvre in Paris on Monday, as French authorities scrambled to stem public discontent fuelling mass cost-of-living demonstrations that over the weekend spilled over into some of the worst street violence in recent years. President Emmanuel Macron ordered a security review as the country's interior minister admitted that the police had lost control during the weekend's unrest. Undeterred, the Yellow Vests movement which organised the weekend's rallies called for a new round of protests Saturday. Italy, Spain and Portugal, where anger over rising prices has also led to protests, were keeping a nervous eye on the developments after smaller clashes broke out in Milan over the weekend and protests about housing costs persisted in Spanish cities. Some half a million people turned out across France to protest the surging cost of living, a culmination of four weeks of protests that began with high school students demanding better conditions at their schools. What started as peaceful demonstrations morphed into violence in some places, as masked groups on the sidelines of the protests attacked law enforcement, broke into town halls and other public buildings, setting many of them ablaze, looted shops, and set fire to cars, bicycles and scooters on the streets. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez offered to resign on Monday after more than 2,500 people were arrested and nearly 1,000 members of the security forces injured. Protesters were also hurt, with one demonstrator's hand blown off by a police crowd-control grenade. On Saturday, in some major cities, you couldn't look shopkeepers in the eye after hundreds of shops had been looted and tell them we hadn't lost control, Nunez said. Macron refused Nunez's resignation, even as he acknowledged security and intelligence failures in the government response, despite the some 60,000 law enforcement personnel deployed across the country on Saturday. Nationwide, more than 2,330 people were taken into police custody over the weekend, 70 percent of whom were adults, Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said Monday. More than 2,000 shops were expected to have been affected by the weekend's violence across France, with damage running into hundreds of millions of euros, according to chamber of commerce president Alain Di Crescenzo. In an address to the nation Sunday evening, Macron slammed the unbridled violence and said local authorities would be able to ban -- if necessary -- certain rallies in coming days. But he stopped short of announcing drastic measures, such as a state of emergency or curfew. City authorities in Marseille said on Monday that public gatherings would be banned from noon to 08:00 pm (1000-1800 GMT). - Louvre blocked - The public discontent showed no signs of subsiding on Monday, with demonstrators blocking the entrance to Paris's iconic Louvre Museum, the most visited in the world. We are proud to announce that we are blocking the world's largest museum, read a leaflet posted outside the museum, as management and unions said the protest was led by students from Ecole du Louvre. Rising prices have fuelled anger in France, where diesel prices have jumped nearly 40 percent and petrol by 25 percent since March and where food prices have risen by 25 percent since 2021. - Elections - The unrest in France has flared just months before a key presidential election where centrist Macron cannot stand again and Marine Le Pen, the far-right presidential candidate for the National Rally party, is riding high in the polls. Ministers have blamed ultra-left groups for the violence, while Le Pen claimed that the party of her far-left rival for the presidency, Jean-Luc Melenchon, had legitimised the violence. The left has accused Macron of ignoring protesters' demands, while the right is calling on him to take a firmer line. - Europe - With costs of living rising across Europe, smaller demonstrations have broken out in other countries. During the weekend, clashes broke out on the sidelines of a cost-of-living demonstration in Milan, with Mayor Giuseppe Sala warning: I'm very worried because it's a new phenomenon, which also originates from an international scenario and therefore feeds itself. In Spain, hundreds of tents have occupied Madrid's central Puerta del Sol square since September, when the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her lifelong flat sparked nationwide protests in a country with soaring housing costs. Dozens of tents have also sprung up in Portugal's main cities of Lisbon and Porto, with protesters demanding action over rising costs of housing. burs/yad/ekf/gv This article originally appeared on AFP at https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/police-lost-control-during-french-074439816.html

India Can Win Womens Champions Trophy Next Year If They Keep Improving: Poonam Yadav

Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International: Veteran India leg-spinner Poonam Yadav believes the Smriti Mandhana-led side has what it takes to win next year's Champions Trophy, to be played at home next year, provided it keeps learning from its mistakes the way they did on their way to thrashing Zimbabwe by nine wickets. In the game held at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium on Sunday night, India corrected its mistakes from the series opener win to thrash Zimbabwe by nine wickets and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. After suffering a batting meltdown in the first game before completing the chase of 115 with four wickets in hand, captain Smriti and her deputy Shafali Verma put a 96-run opening stand to chase down 103 in 8.5 overs. This dominating and commanding victory of India in this second T20I against Zimbabwe shows that they did their homework in the right manner. They made a lot of mistakes in the first match of the series and that was okay because these players were playing for the first time against Zimbabwe and they were not really familiar with their bowlers. But coming into the second match of this series, it was important for the Indian team to learn from their mistakes and they did exactly that. They didn't repeat the mistakes and that is the sign of a team being led by a good captain, said Poonam on JioStar. Smriti, who fell for nine in the first game, made an unbeaten 47 off 25 balls, while Shafali smashed 55 off 24 deliveries. She used her feet well, utilised the depth of the crease and forged an excellent partnership with Shafali. If India keeps improving like this game after game, then I see no reason why they cannot go on to win the Champions Trophy next year, added Poonam. She further described the opening duo of Smriti and Shafali as the backbone of India's batting and added that their ability to score through timing, not just power, sets them apart from others. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma have become the pillars of Indian batting. A good batting pair in T20 Internationals have the ability to score not just through power, but also through timing. These two do exactly that. They bat as per the demands of the situation, which makes batting look easy and doesn't give the opposition bowlers a chance to dominate them. In the previous game, both Shafali and Smriti got dismissed early, but in this match, they were having none of that, as both of them played good knocks, built a strong partnership, and set the platform for the run chase. She further described the opening duo of Smriti and Shafali as the backbone of India's batting and added that their ability to score through timing, not just power, sets them apart from others. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma have become the pillars of Indian batting. A good batting pair in T20 Internationals have the ability to score not just through power, but also through timing. These two do exactly that. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS

Tiger Shroff firing: AAP MP Sanjay Singh questions PM Modi, Amit Shah over gang in BJP-ruled state

AAP MP Sanjay Singh criticized the ruling government over the law-and-order situation, questioning how a criminal gang can operate freely and open fire on actor Tiger Shroff in a BJP-ruled state while its leader is imprisoned in Gujarat, demanding accountability from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Harsimrat Kaur writes to HM Shah, demands CBI probe into anti-drug activist

Harsimrat Kaur writes to HM Shah, demands CBI probe into anti-drug activists murder Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MP Harsimrat Kaur on Monday wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah demanding a CBI probe into the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota as well as a comprehensive investigation into the politician-police-drug mafia nexus in the [] The post Harsimrat Kaur writes to HM Shah, demands CBI probe into anti-drug activists murder appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Can We Govern Autonomous AI Before It Puts Human Safety at Risk?

by yk Ik and Vanessa Evers Autonomous AI systems, from humanoid robots to drones and self-driving vehicles, are blurring cybersecurity and physical safety boundaries, demanding stronger regulation, accountability, secure infrastructure and human oversight before widespread deployment. A new generation of autonomous AI systems, including drones, self-driving vehicles and humanoid robots, can perceive the world, make []

Democrats demand Pentagon disclose cost of Iran war damage to U.S. bases in 8 countries

WASHINGTON Lawmakers on the Senate Armed Services Committee called on the Pentagon to publicly reveal the total cost of the war in Iran , demanding non-classified answers about the damage to U.S. bases and other military facilities in the Middle East. Five Democratic senators wrote in a letter to Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, that the Trump administrations ongoing efforts to hide the true cost of this war are outrageous and unacceptable. The letter, first reported by USA TODAY, asks the Pentagon to reveal an estimated cost of the damage, a timeline for beginning repairs, and how much it has spent adapting new facilities to account for the damage done to military bases in the region. The U.S. military estimated that the Iran war has cost $43.6 billion as of Sept. 3 , according to an update provided by Central Command to the congressional national security committees. The cost update, however, does not account for damage to U.S. bases and other military facilities in the region that were damaged or destroyed by Iranian strikes. During a recent classified briefing, you provided information to the Senate Armed Services Committee on the estimated cost of the damage to U.S. bases and facilities, the senators wrote. However, that figure should not be available only to lawmakers the American people deserve to know the full cost of the Trump administrations unauthorized war against Iran. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts led the letter to Cooper, which was also signed by Sens. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, and Gary Peters of Michigan. More than 50,000 U.S. service members have been deployed in Central Commands area of responsibility to support the Iran war. At least 21 U.S. service members have been killed, and another 865 were injured since the start of the conflict. Trump rejected Iran's latest peace deal. What will happen next? Buildings and facilities at U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Jordan were damaged or destroyed by Iranian strikes during the war, according to a report on the war from the Pentagons official watchdog. The U.S. military has justified its decision not to disclose an estimated cost of the damage because it has not decided which bases and facilities it will choose to rebuild. There is no rationale for classifying that cost estimate, the senators wrote. Our allies and our adversaries are, unfortunately, keenly aware of the extraordinary toll that this reckless war has taken on military readiness, and Congress and the public need this information to determine the steps necessary to recover from this debacle. Naval Support Activity Bahrain, the U.S. Navys main logistics hub in the Middle East, was severely damaged by an Iranian missile and drone attack at the start of the war. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao confirmed the base suffered extensive damage, saying in an interview that Iran blew the hell out of Bahrain. The damage to the base in Bahrain complicated the Navys efforts to resupply the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln , contributing to deteriorating conditions for U.S. service members working and living onboard the aircraft carrier. This war has caused significant damage to the U.S.s critical infrastructure in the region, the senators wrote. Damage to allied bases and facilities has also increased the cost of this war for our regional partners and put U.S. troops at risk. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Democratic senators demand Pentagon reveal 'true cost' of Iran war This article originally appeared on USA TODAY at https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/10/19/iran-war-cost-pentagon-senators/92324117007/

Tiger Shroff shooting suspects arrested: What the alleged Bishnoi gang threat to Salman Khan says

Highlights Three suspects have been arrested in Rajasthan over the firing at Tiger Shroffs car in Mumbai. A social media post claiming responsibility for the attack warned that people working with Salman Khan could be targeted. A separate audio message reportedly threatened Khan and his family, with police investigating the claims and the alleged gang connection. Three men suspected of opening fire at Tiger Shroff s car in Mumbai have been arrested in Rajasthan, following an attack that has raised fresh concerns about threats against Bollywood personalities associated with Salman Khan. The suspects were apprehended at Kota railway station on Monday (October 19) while travelling by train from Mumbai towards Delhi. Police are investigating their alleged roles in the shooting and whether they have links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The firing took place in Mumbais Juhu area on Sunday evening (October 18), as Shroff was leaving a football ground. The actor escaped serious injury, but his driver and another driver travelling in an autorickshaw were injured. What did the alleged Bishnoi gang message say? A social media post attributed to individuals identified as Anil Pandit and Harman Sandhu claimed responsibility for the shooting. The message alleged that Shroff had ignored warnings about working with Salman Khan and threatened further action against people in the film industry who continued to associate with the actor. The post warned that others who failed to heed the alleged groups demands could also be targeted. However, the claim of responsibility does not establish who ordered the attack or whether the alleged gang directed the suspects. A separate audio message attributed to Pandit reportedly threatened Khan and his family, demanding that the actor apologise to Lawrence Bishnoi and the Bishnoi community. The speaker also warned Khan against relying on his security arrangements. Police are examining the messages and investigating the alleged links between the suspects and the criminal network. The motive behind the shooting has not been conclusively established. Why has Salman Khan faced threats linked to Lawrence Bishnoi? The latest threats come amid a long-running dispute between Khan and Lawrence Bishnoi, who has repeatedly been linked to threats against the actor. The hostility has been associated with the 1998 blackbuck poaching case. Bishnoi has cited the animals religious significance to the Bishnoi community in connection with his anger towards Khan. In April 2024, gunmen opened fire outside Khans residence in Mumbais Bandra area. The actor was unharmed, and the subsequent investigation led to arrests and scrutiny of suspected links to the Bishnoi network. Former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique was murdered in Mumbai in October 2024, with a social media post attributed to the Bishnoi gang claiming responsibility. Investigators examined alleged links to the network as part of the case. The firing at filmmaker Rohit Shettys Juhu residence in February 2026 also brought renewed attention to threats against prominent figures in the entertainment industry. Reports linked a subsequent claim of responsibility to individuals associated with the Bishnoi network, although the circumstances of each incident require separate investigation. What happens next in the Tiger Shroff case? Mumbai Police had formed 15 teams to trace the attackers following the shooting. Investigators examined CCTV footage, gathered forensic evidence and tracked the suspected escape route. The three arrests in Kota mark a significant development, but investigators must still establish the suspects individual roles, identify anyone else involved and verify the alleged gang connection. The incident has also prompted renewed scrutiny of security arrangements for Bollywood personalities, particularly Salman Khan, who has faced repeated threats in recent years. The investigation remains ongoing, and police have yet to establish conclusively whether the alleged Bishnoi gang ordered the attack on Shroff.

Albania protests: Why are people demanding Edi Rama's resignation?

Albania is witnessing days of anti-government protests and clashes as demonstrators demand Edi Rama's resignation. Here is what to know about the unrest

Missing Kokernag labourers body returns home, family alleges murder

Anantnag, Oct 19: Grief and anger erupted in south Kashmirs Kokernag on Monday as family members and locals staged a protest after the body of a 28-year-old labourer, who had been missing for weeks, reached his native village from Punjab. The grieving family members and locals blocked the road, wailed and beat their chests while demanding justice. The grieving family told the news agencyKashmir News Observer (KNO) that Dar had initially travelled to Srinagar for work before leaving for Ludhiana in Punjab in search of employment. We remained in regular telephone contact with him for about a week, after which his phone was switched off and he could no longer be reached, said a family member. He said that on October 17, the family and locals staged a protest in Hallpora, expressing concern over Dars disappearance and seeking urgent efforts to trace him. On Monday morning, after his body reached the village, family members and locals staged another protest outside Police Station Kokernag, alleging that Dar had been murdered and demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible. A police officer told KNO that a missing report was lodged on September 26 regarding Aijaz Ahmad Dar, son of Abdul Majeed Dar, a resident of Darpora, Hallpora, Gadool in Kokernag. He said police had assured the protesters that the case would be investigated fairly and taken to its logical conclusion. The protesters dispersed following the assurance.(KNO)

Raut Questions Fadnavis On State's Deteriorating Law And Order

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan have strongly criticised the Maharashtra government, particularly Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis, over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. They cited recent incidents like the firing at actor Tiger Shroff and the murder of a Shiv Sena worker, demanding a egime change and accountability from the government.

Tiger Shroff attacker issues fresh warning to Salman Khan in an audio clip: 'Apologise to Lawrence Bishnoi'

A purported audio clip featuring Anil Pandit has surfaced after the firing incident involving Tiger Shroffs car in Mumbai. The speaker allegedly threatened Salman Khan and his family, demanding an apology to jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and the Bishnoi community. Mumbai Police have formed 15 teams to investigate the shooting and verify the audio and social media claims.

Government asks Meta to ensure its recommendation systems do not expose users to limited set of narratives

MeitYs advisory, issued amid protests demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumars resignation, asks Meta to review its content-ranking systems and provide context for posts on ongoing public events

Govt asks Meta to avoid algorithmic bias towards limited set of narratives

The government has asked Meta, owner of Instagram and Facebook, to ensure that its recommendation systems do not result in disproportionate exposure of users to a single or limited set of narratives, and to step up checks on content that could cause public disorder or incite violence or other unlawful activity. The advisory by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), dated October 10, asked Meta to undertake appropriate measures to provide adequate context in relation to photographs, videos, graphics, or other content depicting ongoing public events, particularly where the authenticity, date, location or circumstances of such content may not be readily apparent to users. Although the advisory does not identify any specific incident that prompted its issuance, it comes amid protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and opposition parties in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision ..

Union Minister Karandlaje demands SIT probe into sting operations in Karnataka

Digital Desk | Mysuru (Karnataka), Oct 19 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour & Employment, Shobha Karandlaje, on Monday alleged that the Karnataka government was resorting to blackmail to retain power and demanded an immediate Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged sting operations targeting political leaders. Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, she alleged that blackmail was being used within the ruling party and the government to manage political affairs and secure positions of power. She claimed that sting operations were being conducted and CDs containing alleged compromising material were being used to threaten certain individuals. They are running the administration by blackmailing people within their own party and government. There is information that former Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Siddaramaiah was forced to step down from the Chief Ministers post using these sting operations, she alleged. Karandlaje termed the alleged practice a black mark on the state, accusing those involved of resorting to unethical means to gain and retain power. She said the developments had attracted attention outside Karnataka, with people in other states questioning what was happening in the state. This will not bring honour to anyone. Such practices must come to an end, she said. The Union Minister demanded that the state government immediately order an SIT investigation into the alleged sting operations and ensure stringent punishment for those found responsible. I am requesting the Chief Minister in this regard. People are pointing fingers at you, she alleged, urging the state government to take immediate action. Karandlaje's remarks come amid the ongoing political controversy surrounding alleged sting operations and claims of the use of compromising material to influence political developments within the ruling party. Earlier in the day, she participated in a programme at the Mysuru Palace premises, where she arranged breakfast for the families of mahouts and kavadis accompanying the Dasara elephants. It can be noted that the sting operation row has created a stir in the state politics. Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday led a padyatra with hundreds of JD(S) workers to the office of Director General and Inspector General of Police M.A. Saleem in Bengaluru, demanding swift action and the arrest of those behind the ongoing sting operation controversy. BJP Karnataka President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra has urged Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara to take the sting operation case seriously, conduct a comprehensive investigation and take it to its logical conclusion. Meanwhile, Karnataka Police, investigating the sting operation controversy and the uploading of a video allegedly related to Siddaramaiah, have written to YouTube seeking technical details, including the IP address from which the video was uploaded and information about the person who uploaded it, officials said on last Saturday.

'Terrifying Scene In Daylight, Like Film Shoot': AICWA President Writes To Amit Shah On Tiger Shroff Car Firing

AICWA president Suresh Shyamlal Gupta has urged Amit Shah to strengthen Bollywoods security after the firing incident involving Tiger Shroff, demanding a central agency probe, arrests and protection against alleged gang threats.

NO FASCISM HERE: Ben Gvir Heckled As Anti-War Demonstrators Target Netanyahu Ahead Of Elections

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvirs appearance at Tel Aviv University was disrupted by protesters condemning his far-right politics, as rival demonstrators exchanged chants. Ben Gvir defended his position on Gaza, insisting Hamas must not remain in the territory. Separately, anti-war protesters gathered at Habima Square, condemning the war and the occupation of Palestinian territories while demanding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu answer for the October 7 security failures. The demonstrations come ahead of Israels October 27 elections.#ItamarBenGvir #IsraelProtests #TelAviv #GazaWar #BenjaminNetanyahu #IsraelPolitics #AntiWarProtests #Gaza #IsraelElections #DonaldTrump #October7 #MiddleEast

Aishwarya Sakhuja opens up about misdiagnosis, living with Type 1 diabetes

Aishwarya Sakhuja reflected on a decade of insulin, lifestyle adjustments and understanding her body, admitting that managing diabetes can be exhausting and demanding. She also opened up about being misdiagnosed before learning that she had Type 1 diabetes

Mansa Murder: Diljit Dosanjh Backs Justice For Anti-Drug Activist

Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh has called for justice for anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, who was shot dead in Mansa last week. Jhota was killed after confronting a medical store owner selling addictive drugs. His family and supporters are protesting, demanding a CBI probe and refusing cremation until justice is served, with actress Neeru Bajwa and singer Babbu Mann also showing support.

For Cockroaches, Now Comes Lal Hit Janata Party, Warns CJP Over Delhi Protests, Claims Rs 3,000 Crore Loss

A new group, the Lal Hit Janata Party, has emerged to oppose the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which has been holding protests in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The new group's first membership gathering was held

8th Pay Commission: What is dearness relief and how is it different from DA? Expert explains

As the 8th Pay Commission meets in Mumbai on 22-23 October, heres how dearness allowance (DA) differs from dearness relief (DR), what unions are demanding, and what central government employees and pensioners can realistically expect before the final report due by May-June 2027.

Sahil Wakode's parents visit IIT Bombay, protesters demand justice and arrests

Parents submit letter to IIT-Bs chairperson and Board of Governors demanding preservation of CCTV footage from hostel and reconstruction of Sahils movements on September 18

Govt asks Meta to ensure its recommendation systems do not expose users to a limited set of narratives

New Delhi, Oct 18:The government has asked Meta, owner of Instagram and Facebook, to ensure that its recommendation systems do not result in disproportionate exposure of users to a single or limited set of narratives, and to step up checks on content that could cause public disorder or incite violence or other unlawful activity. The advisory by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), dated October 10, asked Meta to undertake appropriate measures to provide adequate context in relation to photographs, videos, graphics, or other content depicting ongoing public events, particularly where the authenticity, date, location or circumstances of such content may not be readily apparent to users. Although the advisory does not identify any specific incident that prompted its issuance, it comes amid protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and opposition parties in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. In the advisory seen by PTI, Meta has also been asked to review its recommendation and content-ranking mechanisms to ensure that potentially misleading, manipulated or out-of-context content is not disproportionately amplified or repeatedly recommended to users. ...ensure that recommendation systems do not result in disproportionate exposure of users to a single or limited set of narratives, and endeavour to provide appropriate diversity of relevant and credible information, it said while seeking the strengthening of mechanisms for rapid identification, review and escalation of content, which is gaining significant reach through recommendation systems and has the potential to cause widespread public confusion, apprehension, violence or disturbance of public order. When contacted, IT Ministry sources said the ministry had reports from agencies that Meta platforms were not promoting all narratives equally, with their algorithms appearing to favour one kind of content over others. MeitY, in its advisory, has also told Meta to ensure timely cooperation with law enforcement and other authorised government agencies, including furnishing information or assistance in accordance with applicable law and within the timelines prescribed under the IT Rules, 2021. It said the ministry has noticed that certain content relating to ongoing public events was being prominently displayed and recommended to users through platforms operated by Meta. Such content includes videos, images, statements and static graphics on public-order and law-and-order situations. The ministry said such material, when shown without adequate context or amplified disproportionately, may contribute to public confusion, apprehension and disturbance of public order and social tranquillity. Citing the Information Technology Act, 2000, the advisory said Meta, as an intermediary, must observe due diligence under the IT Rules, 2021. These rules require intermediaries to inform users about prohibited information, including content likely to cause public disorder or incite a cognisable offence relating to public order. MeitY asked Meta to pay particular attention to content that presents old, unrelated or selectively edited visuals as current events, and content with unverified or misleading claims about emergency, restrictions, police action or other official measures. It also flagged audio-visual material on law-and-order situations without adequate context, content likely to incite violence or other unlawful activity, and content being disproportionately amplified despite being potentially misleading. The advisory outlined six specific asks for Meta. These include measures to identify and address content under the IT Rules, and a review of its recommendation and ranking systems so that misleading, manipulated or out-of-context content is not disproportionately amplified or repeatedly recommended to users. The ministry emphasised that its advisory is intended to facilitate responsible dissemination and recommendation of information while respecting lawful expression and legitimate public discourse. Meta is advised to ensure that any action taken pursuant to this advisory is consistent with the Information Technology Act, 2000, the IT Rules, 2021, and other applicable laws, it said. The social media giant has been advised to take the necessary measures with immediate effect and apprise the ministry of the action taken. Apar Gupta, Founder Director of Internet Freedom Foundation, a digital rights advocacy group, said that while the advisory is not legally binding, it amounts to a continuing censorship directive. MeitY must withdraw this advisory forthwith, and Meta must publicly disclose every takedown and every act of downranking carried out under it, he said. Even this advisory, which contains phrases like content 'without adequate context' and periods of 'heightened public-order sensitivity ', is not tied to any provision of the IT Act or the IT Rules, he sptiaid.

The Lament of Wazwan!

I am guilty of lavishness, extravagance, profligacy and squandering. People often curse me for recklessness and being a spendthrift. Gluttony and gourmandism are often attributed to me. Many people condemn me for burdening the backs of the poor and crushing the economically weaker sections of society. But the fact is quite different. I am not as ostentatious as people have made me. I am rather a feast of a few cuisines that adorn and embellish Kashmir marriages, functions and get-togethers. My aroma gives Kashmir a royal tinge. Souls of yesteryear would relish my company. Simplicity was my station. So were the ancestors of Kashmir - austere and simple. But the modern Kashmiris have embraced ostentation and pretence to manufacture the false sense of awe. The pomp and show of contemporary Kashmiris is adding venom to my elixir-like gravy. I and Kashmir are like nail and flesh, quite inextricable. My omission makes Kashmir marriages Insipid and unsavoury. I am the emblem of Kashmiriyat, the king of non-veg delicacies. I am the ambassador of Kashmir across the globe. I carry forward the rich cultural legacy of our ancestors, and let everyone know that our past has been gloriously magnificent and sublime. My aroma unlatches sunken taste buds, and adds new lease of life to weak and ill. My spices give a therapeutic touch to bellies and stomachs. My aromatic wafts entice in appetent souls. But human rapacity, flaunt and pompous instincts have jinxed me. Greedy men have brought a bad name to me. The mount on the Trami ( Copper Plate ) has climbed viciously; unnecessary and bizarre innovations have tarnished my image. Chicken was never a part of my culinary system, but the heirs of pious and God-fearing Kashmiris have added two to three kinds of chicken cuisines to me. Pounded mutton dishes except Kabaab were never part of my opening menu. But now, drones, pears, rotis and whatnot have elevated the pile further. Very recently, a mulish bullock-head sent a Trami of wazwan weighing 50 KGs to his son-in-law's home. The news not only shocked the netizens but saddened them terribly as well, and they registered their resentment and anger on different social media platforms. These juices, soft drinks, plastic wares, chocolates, chewing-gums, fancy fruit bowls, sugar candies and toffees were never kin to me. Will anyone dare to question those idiots who have adulterated my cuisines with such corroded novelties? I hang my head in shame at the hypocrisy of Ibni-Adam. Who has asked him to stuff coins into my Ristas (Pounded meat balls)? Why has the size of my Gushtaba swollen to the size of a football? A buffoon stepped out of the line so bizarrely that he served cigarette packs to invitees. Excessive and unnecessary dishes have belittled me. But, believe me, I am not to be blamed. It is the caliph of Allah who has breached the fragile line. Poor girls and their parents are shattered, but I am not behind their plight. It is the finest creation of Allah SWT who should be held responsible for the predicament of poor and destitute. Immoderation and exorbitance have become the order of the day in the Peer Vaer. I vividly remember the time when a single bull was enough to feast an entire village. Every soul was served, every heart was full. But today, dozens of sheep fail to satiate the hunger of Kashmiris. The number and size of dishes have grown manifold, but the love, warmth and strength in relationships have withered away. We have enlarged our Tramis but shrunk our bonds. Our ancestors bloomed with strength after consuming me, but now, I have been taking revenge on modern Kashmiris for his brazen show-off. I no longer give him strength; I only bulge his belly, letting him drown in the storm of fatty liver, diabetes and hypertension. I wonder if the viceroy of Allah (SWT) on the earth is really human? Greed has latched onto his wits; he can no longer distinguish between fair and foul. He has fallen below the very standards of humanity. Even the beasts of the jungle seek refuge from his brutality. My Roganjosh, Marche-Wangan Korma, Aab Gosh and Tabakmaaz are mourning the callous and insensitive attitude of Ibni-Adam. I too am fed up with his swanking. If less than ten dishes can suffice the purpose, why is he hell-bent on preparing dozens? Has he been bitten by rabid dogs? Let someone tell him that he is the crown of this creation. I feel choked and gagged. Will someone liberate me from the bondage of Kashmiri braggarts? May your conscience prick you ! Mr Wazwan stood still and silent at the podium for a few moments, as if he froze into a statue of ice. He couldn't leave the dais instantly. Every head in the auditorium bowed down in reverence, and a heavy pin-drop silence swept through the hall. A moment later, the hall erupted as every person rose to accord Mr Wazwan a standing ovation for the eloquent and inspiring monologue. (The author is a Teacher and a Columnist. He can be reached at mushtaqhurra143@gmail.com )

'ALMOST MADE ME CRY': Luxury Stores Smashed, Buildings Burned; French Citizens Erupt Over Violence

France is reeling from scenes of destruction as violent protests, looting and fires leave streets scarred across major cities. From smashed luxury-store windows in Marseille to burning buildings in Lyon and clashes in Paris, the aftermath has left residents shocked, angry and demanding answers. Protesters also looted shops in Lille and Paris, carrying away goods as police deployed tear gas. Footage from Limoges showed a historic 143-year-old building engulfed in flames, with part of its roof collapsing.

Himachal CM opens two blocks of state Secretariat

Digital Desk | Shimla, Oct 18 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday inaugurated Blocks 1 and 2 of Phase IV of the Armsdale Building at the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat, built at a cost of Rs 9 crore. On the occasion, the Chief Minister said that infrastructure expansion was essential alongside development. The Secretariat building had been expanded, and offices would be shifted to the new premises shortly. Replying to a media query, Chief Minister Sukhu said the number of postgraduate (PG) medical seats across the state's six government medical colleges had been increased from 277 to 597, marking a historic addition of 320 seats. He added that the number of PG seats at Indira Gandhi Medical College in Shimla has been increased from 139 to 230, an increase of 91 seats. At Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in Tanda, the number of seats had risen from 99 to 156, up by 57 seats. At Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College in Mandi, the number of seats had risen from 24 to 79, an addition of 55 seats. And at YS Parmar Government Medical College in Nahan, the PG seats has been increased from three to 35 seats. At Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Government Medical College in Chamba, the seats have been increased from four to 32, while at Dr Radhakrishnan Government Medical College in Hamirpur, the PG seats have been increased from eight to 65 seats. The Chief Minister said the state government was placing special emphasis on strengthening government medical colleges, expanding opportunities for PG medical education and improving the availability of specialised healthcare services. Chief Minister Sukhu said the increase in PG medical seats would provide young doctors with greater opportunities to pursue specialised medical education within the state. It would also increase the availability of trained specialist doctors in government hospitals. He added that that nearly 15 to 20 years old health equipment were being replaced with modern machines. He said that healthcare institutions were being equipped with machinery at par with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

Tohana farmers shut mandi gate over delayed paddy procurement

Army's Southern Command troops rehearse combat roles, desert manoeuvres

Digital Desk | Pune, Oct 18 (IANS) The Southern Command of Indian Army showcased operational preparedness and combat effectiveness in the desert terrain in an integrated exercise, an official said on Sunday. The #BattleAxeDivision and #BlackMaceBrigade unleashed their mechanised might across challenging desert terrain sharpening battlefield manoeuvres, rehearsing combat roles and synchronising operations, the Southern Command said in a post on social media platform X. The #IntegratedOperations showcased speed, precision and seamless coordination among combat elements, reinforcing #OperationalPreparedness and combat effectiveness, it added. Earlier, the General Officer Commanding led discussions with officials of the Indian Coast Guard, Maharashtra Police Chief Sadanand Vasant Date and Maharashtra Home Department on emerging security challenges, focusing on boosting civil-military synergy. In a message on X, the Southern Command said, Strengthening a Whole-of-Nation approach to security, HQ Maharashtra Gujarat & Goa (MG & G) Area convened a joint conference under the aegis of the General Officer Commanding, reinforcing coordinated preparedness for emerging security challenges. Bringing together senior stakeholders including DGP Maharashtra, Principal Secretary (Home), ADGP (Int), IG (Sec), FOMA, AOC MAO and DIG Coast Guard, the deliberations focused on Rear Area Security, swift mobilisation and integrated contingency response during war-like situations. The engagement strengthened Civil-Military synergy, inter-agency coordination and collective operational readiness, the post on X said. Meanwhile, the 5th Annual Joint Bilateral Military Exercise AUSTRAHIND 2026 between the Indian Army and the Australian Army is scheduled to start on Monday and last till November 2 in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. The aim of Exercise AUSTRAHIND is to promote military cooperation between India and Australia through enhancement of interoperability in conduct of joint sub conventional operations in semi-urban environment in semi-desert terrain under Chapter VII of the UN mandate. The exercise focuses on high degree of physical fitness, joint planning and joint tactical drills. Exercise AUSTRAHIND enables the two sides to share their best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures of conducting tactical operations. The exercise will also facilitate developing bonhomie and camaraderie between soldiers of both the sides.

Priyansh Arya Agonisingly Falls For 199 As Delhi Dominate Gujarat

Priyansh Arya missed out on a maiden first-class double century by the narrowest of margins, but his superb knock put Delhi in a commanding position on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match against Gujarat as they reached 381/4 on Sunday.

Govt asks Meta to diversify recommendations, check misleading content

The government has asked Meta, owner of Instagram and Facebook, to ensure that its recommendation systems do not result in disproportionate exposure of users to a single or limited set of narratives, and to step up checks on content that could cause public disorder or incite violence or other unlawful activity. The advisory by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), dated October 10, asked Meta to undertake appropriate measures to provide adequate context in relation to photographs, videos, graphics, or other content depicting ongoing public events, particularly where the authenticity, date, location or circumstances of such content may not be readily apparent to users. Although the advisory does not identify any specific incident that prompted its issuance, it comes amid protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and opposition parties in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision ..

GOC Northern Command visits security formations in north Kashmir, reviews operational preparedness

Srinagar, Oct 18: General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Northern Command Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma today visited Rashtriya Rifles units in north Kashmir to review operational preparedness and assess the prevailing security situation. While interacting with officers and troops on ground, the Army Commander emphasized the importance of constant vigil, operational synergy and regional outreach in the hinterland to retain an upper hand over the inimical elements. The GOC commended the professionalism of troops to maintain the resolve of terror-free Jammu and Kashmir.