Two Officials from Jammu and Kashmir Women Development Corporation Arrested for Bribery

Two officials from the Jammu and Kashmir Women Development Corporation were arrested for allegedly demanding bribes to release loan funds. Two Officials from Jammu and Kashmir Women Development Corporation Arrested for Bribery

Putin Nukes Trump's Midterm Hopes? POTUS In SHOCK As New Report Drops Don Jr. Wedding Bombshell

US President Donald Trump is facing fresh criticism after a news report claimed that Russian businessman Umar Kremlev, described in the report as having close ties to Vladimir Putin, helped fund hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses for Donald Trump Jr.s lavish Bahamas wedding to Bettina Anderson. The reported spending allegedly included a private island rental, fireworks and other wedding arrangements. The revelation has triggered a new political storm, with Democrats demanding answers over why a Putin-linked figure would help pay for the U.S. presidents sons wedding and, crucially, what he may have expected in return. Rep. Robert Garcia publicly asked exactly that question.

Man climbs mobile tower demanding permission to marry GF

Australian HYROX athlete Joanna Wietrzyk reportedly soils herself during race and keeps going: Who is she and how hard is the fitness competition?

During a grueling HYROX race in Beijing, an Australian athlete faced an unexpected challenge as she experienced bowel incontinence. Remarkably, she pressed on with her competition, igniting discussions on the nature of shared athletic environments. This incident underscores the intense physical challenges posed by HYROX, which blends running with demanding functional workout stations.

macOS 27 Golden Gate: Everything you need to know

Macworld Headline changes in macOS 27 Golden Gate include an all-new Siri AI assistant, major upgrades to apps including Safari, Photos, Messages, Mail and Calendar, expanded child-safety features, design refinements and performance improvements throughout the operating system. Golden Gate continues Apples tradition of naming macOS releases after iconic Californian landmarks. More broadly, the update represents another step in Apples push to make the Mac smarter and more proactive, with greater use of Apple Intelligence across the operating system and a stronger focus on helping users complete everyday tasks more quickly. macOS 27 is supported on all Macs powered by Apple silicon, marking the end of the road for Intel-based Macs. While Intel models wont be eligible for the new operating system, Apple is expected to continue providing security updates for them for some time. This hub covers everything you need to know about macOS 27 Golden Gate, including its new features, compatibility, beta releases and Apple Intelligence upgrades. 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 : Personalized Smart Reply, 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 release date: When was macOS 27 released? September 14, 2026 macOS 27 has been in beta since it was unveiled at WWDC in June, but the official version of macOS 27 became available to install on compatible Macs on September 14. macOS 27 Beta Whats coming next ? Apple Apple hasnt released the first macOS 27.1 beta yet, but it is expected soon. Like previous point updates, macOS 27.1 is likely to include security fixes, bug fixes, refinements and possibly features that werent ready for the initial Golden Gate release. 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. Heres how you can participate in the beta program we also recommend reading our guide to whether you should install the latest macOS beta . Siri AI: Siri powered macOS 27 features Foiundry 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. macOS 27 also contains a Siri AI popover . Selecting text can bring 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. The feature is not currently enabled by default and requires Apples FeatureFlags system to activate. 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 is initially available in English. 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 : Suggested replies can reflect your usual writing style and adapt depending on who youre messaging. Improved syncing : Messages should sync more reliably across devices, while failed messages automatically retry sending. Mail Personalized Smart Reply : Mail also generates suggested responses that better match your writing style and the person youre replying to. 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 The Passwords app can 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. 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. 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. 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

Army commander visits Akhnoor sector in Jammu, reviews operational readiness

Jammu, Sep 14: The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, on Monday visited forward areas in the Akhnoor sector here to assess the existing security dynamics and review the operational readiness of the units, the Army said. The Army Commander commended the troops for their relentless resolve and formidable spirit in safeguarding the Nation, the Northern Command said in a post on X. Lt Gen Sharma encouraged all ranks to pursue excellence in operational capability, remain vigilant, responsive and combat-ready at all times, it said.

Rajasthan Civic Polls 2026: BJP Extends Its Dominance Across Urban Rajasthan

The BJP has emerged as the clear front-runner in Rajasthans 2026 municipal elections, building commanding leads across the states most important urban centres as counting continues in one of the biggest civic contests ahead of the 2028 Assembly election. The Scale of the Contest Rajasthan went to the polls across 309 urban local bodies [] The post Rajasthan Civic Polls 2026: BJP Extends Its Dominance Across Urban Rajasthan appeared first on Tfipost.com .

Assam: BJP-Congress contest in Nagaon bypoll will test politics of fear, says Gaurav Gogoi

Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 14 (IANS) Assam Congress president and Jorhat Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Monday said that the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election would essentially be a direct political contest between the BJP and the Congress and described the poll as a test of whether the ruling partys alleged politics of fear would prevail or voters would demonstrate the courage to oppose it. Speaking to IANS, Gogoi said, The main political contest will be between the BJP and the Congress. This election will be an examination of whether the BJP's politics of fear wins, or whether the courage among people against the BJP ultimately translates into a victory for the people. He said the Congress was confident that voters in Nagaon would reject what he described as an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. Our full belief is that the people of Nagaon will uproot the atmosphere of fear that the BJP is creating. Today, people are demanding their rights from the government as citizens. They are demanding respect as citizens. People will reject this politics of fear and intimidation, Gogoi said. The bypoll has assumed significance for both the BJP and the Congress after the constituency was vacated by former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi. A two-time Congress MP from Nagaon, Bordoloi resigned from the party and the Lok Sabha earlier this year before joining the BJP ahead of the Assam Assembly elections. He subsequently contested from Dispur on a BJP ticket and won, leaving the Nagaon parliamentary seat vacant. The BJP has now fielded former Nagaon Deputy Commissioner and IAS officer Devasish Sharma for the bypoll. Sharma took voluntary retirement from government service on September 3, joined the BJP on September 8 and was named the partys candidate on September 11, within days of leaving the bureaucracy. His candidature has become another major flashpoint in the campaign. The Congress has questioned the timing of his retirement and political entry, pointing out that Sharma had served as Nagaons District Commissioner as well as District Election Officer before entering electoral politics. Congress MP Rakibul Hussain has approached election authorities seeking scrutiny of decisions taken during Sharmas tenure. The BJP, however, has defended Sharmas candidature, maintaining that there was nothing improper about a government officer entering politics after his voluntary retirement was accepted. The Nagaon contest is particularly important for the Congress as the party seeks to retain a constituency it held in the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections under Bordoloi. In the 2024 election, Bordoloi defeated BJP candidate Suresh Bora, while the AIUDF also polled a significant number of votes. The by-election will be held on October 6, with counting scheduled for October 9. With the BJP seeking to convert Bordolois switch and Sharmas local administrative profile into electoral advantage, the Congress is attempting to turn the contest into a referendum on the BJP governments style of politics. For Gogoi, therefore, the Nagaon bypoll is more than a fight for a vacant Lok Sabha seat. He has framed it as a choice between what he calls the BJPs fear and intimidation and the courage of voters to demand rights, dignity and accountability from those in power.

Champions With Principles: India

Dubai witnessed something far bigger than a cricket final on Sunday night. Indias women didnt just thrash Sri Lanka by a commanding 72 runs to lift their record-extending eighth Womens Asia Cup title they showed the world that Indian sportswomen play by their own rules, and national dignity comes before any trophy. A Statement, [] The post Champions With Principles: Indias Women Show the World How to Win With Dignity appeared first on Tfipost.com .

Sr Men Inter-Department National Hockey: Railway Sports Promotion Board clinch title

Digital Desk | Hyderabad, Sep 14 (IANS) Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) lifted the title after a commanding 4-1 win in the final over All India Police Sports Control Board as the 6th Hockey India Senior Men Inter-Department National Championship 2026 concluded in Hyderabad on Monday. Petroleum Sports Promotion Board secured third place with a lone-goal win over Comptroller & Auditor General of India in the third-place playoff. In the final, RSPB were in inspired form, running out 4-1 winners against All India Police Sports Control Board. Amandeep Lakra (41, 42) struck twice, with Deep Atul (20) and Rohit (36) also finding the net as Railway Sports Promotion Board sealed the championship in style. Shubham (36) scored the lone reply for All India Police Sports Control Board, who will have to settle for the runners-up spot. Earlier in the day, Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (PSPB) edged Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) 1-0 to claim third place, with Affan Yousuf's (53) strike proving the difference between the two sides. When the final whistle was blown, Railway Sports Promotion Board brought the curtain down on the 6th Hockey India Senior Men Inter-Department National Championship 2026 as deserving champions, capping off a tournament that produced high-scoring contests and dramatic finishes throughout. Railway Sports Promotion Board and All India Police Sports Control Board booked their places in Monday's final with hard-fought wins in their respective semifinal matches on Sunday. In semifinal 1, Railway Sports Promotion Board edged past Petroleum Sports Promotion Board 2-1. Amandeep Lakra (9, 27) struck twice to see his side through, while Gurjot Singh's (45) reply was not enough for PSPB. Semifinal 2 was settled by a single goal, with All India Police Sports Control Board getting the better of Comptroller & Auditor General of India 1-0. Haris Mohammad's (25) strike proved decisive as AIPSCB held firm to book their spot in the final. Final Standings: Champions: Railway Sports Promotion Board Runners-up: All India Police Sports Control Board 3rd Place: Petroleum Sports Promotion Board 4th Place: Comptroller & Auditor General of India

Bring dried paddy to mandis to avoid problems: Haryana minister to farmers

Delhi court reserves order on bail plea of Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj

Mr. Bhardwaj was detained in Bulandshahr on September 4, hours after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) staged a protest outside the Parliament Street police station demanding his arrest over the alleged assault.

CM Fadnavis to Jarange Patil: Not ideal to stage protest during ongoing Ganeshotsav

Digital Desk | Navi Mumbai, Sep 14 (IANS) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday stated that the Maharashtra government has fulfilled almost all actionable demands, while remaining requests are subject to judicial and constitutional processes. He appealed to the Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil to reconsider the timing of his protest at Mumbai, saying that staging a hunger strike during the ongoing Ganeshotsav festival is not ideal for anyone. Responding to Jarange Patil's resolve to start his march from September 15 and launch an indefinite hunger strike demanding Maratha reservation in Azad Maidan Mumbai from September 19, CM Fadnavis said, Almost all demands have been fulfilled. Certain issues are currently before the courts or in various administrative stages. We have communicated that demands outside the framework set by the Constitution or the courts cannot be granted directly. CM Fadnavis emphasised that the governments doors remain open for dialogue, while appealing to the activist to reconsider the timing of the protest. Staging a protest in Mumbai during the ongoing Ganeshotsav festival will cause inconvenience to devotees, which is not ideal for anyone. This decision should be reconsidered, he added. Further, the Water Resources Minister and Cabinet sub-committee on Maratha quota Chairman, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil stated that the state government has done everything possible and fulfilled a vast majority of the community's primary demands (such as processing over 58 lakh Kunbi records and issuing certificates). He highlighted that implementation mechanismsincluding gazette notifications, Kunbi certificate distribution across districts, and allocations for the Annasaheb Patil Economic Development Corporationare already underway. Rejecting the governments assurances, Jarange Patil issued an ultimatum setting September 19 for an indefinite fast-unto-death at Azad Maidan, Mumbai, if all core demands are not fully met. However, Vikhe Patil also appealed to Jarange Patil to reconsider his decision to hold the protest in Mumbai amid the Ganeshotsav. Jarange Patil heavily criticised Vikhe Patil, accusing him and the government sub-committee of delay tactics regarding gazette implementations (Satara and Hyderabad gazettes) and misleading the Maratha community. Vikhe Patil maintained that the state government has delivered unprecedented legal and welfare support for the Maratha community and asks for cooperation over the agitation. On his part, Jarange Patil remained firm on moving the protest directly to Mumbai if full implementation was not achieved within the stipulated timeframe.

Maratha quota needs legal backing, not just Chhatrapati family's signature: Maha Minister

Digital Desk | Satara, Sep 14 (IANS) Maharashtra Public Works Minister and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's descendant Shivendrasinhraje Bhosale on Monday said the issue of Maratha reservation cannot be resolved merely through the signature of the Chhatrapati family. For this, establishing a legal framework, undergoing judicial processes, and fulfilling administrative requirements are essential. He also appealed to Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil to cooperate with the ongoing legal process for reservation. Speaking to the media, Minister Bhosale said that the state government is very much positive about granting reservation to the Maratha community. However, rather than making a rushed, temporary decision that deceives the community, it is crucial to secure a legally robust reservation that will stand up in court. He emphasised that without compiling all the necessary evidence and completing the required administrative procedures, the reservation will not be sustainable in the long run. This entire process will have to go through the work of the Justice Shinde Committee, guidance from retired judges, and judicial scrutiny. One must understand the reality that this matter will not be solved overnight just because someone from the Chhatrapati family signs on it, he remarked. While appealing to Jarange Patil, who has been continuously fighting for Maratha reservation, Minister Bhosale said that the government is making every effort to ensure the reservation holds up legally. He urged protesters to exercise patience and extend administrative support to the ongoing legal process so that the Maratha community receives sustainable reservation as a matter of right. Minister's statement comes after Jarange Patil announced indefinite hunger strike demanding Maratha quota from September 19 in Mumbai. Refusing to bow down, Jarange Patil called upon the community to stand firm. We cannot let the Maratha community lose. Wherever my body falls, it falls. But Marathas must fight with such pride that future generations hold their heads high, saying that he died but never backed down. I don't want to rot and die; I want to die giving rights to my community. We must not let the dignity of the community slip even by an inch, he declared. Warning the community to stay vigilant, Jarange Patil targeted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, alleging a political strategy to suppress the agitation. We have to counter Devendra Fadnavis's moves step for step. Their strategy has been to use the cover of deities to defame the Maratha movement, instigate riots through infiltrators, and then use police force to crush the protest. Marathas do not lack leaders. If not one leader, there will be another. Vote for whoever gives us reservation -- your personal preference for a party or leader is useless if they do not secure your children's future, he remarked. He added that the 5.5 crore working-class Marathas could block Mumbai at any moment, contrasting them with political and wealthy elites who make up a small fraction of the population.

Does Prabhas Perform His Own Stunts? Fauzi Stunt Masters Break Silence

According to the stunt masters, Prabhas comes to the sets when his action scenes are required and is willing to perform physically demanding work

ACB arrests two govt officers for accepting bribe against disbursement of loan

Srinagar, Sep 14: Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (JKACB) on Monday trapped and arrested two field officers of J&K Women Development Corporation for demanding and accepting bribe against release/disbursement of a sanctioned loan amount of Rs 3 lakh under the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) scheme. The spokesperson said that Anti-Corruption Bureau received a written complaint alleging that Owais Ahamd Khan, a Field Supervisor of the Jammu & Kashmir Womens Development Corporation (JKWDC) had demanded illegal gratification from the complainant for facilitating the release/disbursement of a sanctioned loan amount of Rs. 3.00 lakh under the WEP (Women Entrepreneurship Platform) Scheme. As the complainant was unwilling to pay the bribe, thus approached the ACB and lodged a written complaint. Upon receipt of the complaint, the allegations were verified and the verification prima facie established the demand of illegal gratification. Accordingly, Case FIR No. 15/2026 under Section 7, Section 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 & Section 61(2) BNS, was registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar, and investigation was taken up. The spokesperson said that a trap team was constituted to lay a trap. During the trap proceedings, the accused public servant, namely Owais Ahmad Khan, Field Supervisor, JKWDC, was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting illegal gratification from the complainant in lieu of facilitating the release/disbursement of the sanctioned loan amount of Rs. 3.00 lakh. During the course of the trap proceedings, another public servant, namely Meiraj- ud-din Sheikh, Field Supervisor, was also arrested on spot for his alleged involvement in the commission of the offence. The exact role and involvement of the said accused is being ascertained during investigation, spokesperson said. He added the tainted bribe money was recovered from the possession of the accused in the presence of independent witnesses. Both accused persons were subjected to medico-legal formalities and have been lodged in Police Station Shaheed Gunj, Srinagar, for safe custody. Further investigation in the case is in progress, spokesperson added.

Congress Leader Ajay Rai Criticizes Government on Multiple Issues, Calls for Clarity on India-China Relations

Ajay Rai targets the BJP over various issues, demanding clarity on India-China relations and accountability on development promises. Congress Leader Ajay Rai Criticizes Government on Multiple Issues, Calls for Clarity on India-China Relations

J&K DGP reviews ongoing anti-terror operations in Poonch

Digital Desk | Jammu, Sep 14 (IANS) J&K Director General of Police (DGP), Nalin Prabhat, reviewed the ongoing anti-terror operations in Poonch district on Monday, officials said. The DGP, who was accompanied by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu Zone, Tejinder Singh, held a detailed review of the operations currently underway in the district, as well as its overall security situation. The DGP was briefed about the latest developments, operational preparedness and coordination among different security agencies on the ground. The visit assumes significance in view of recent attempts at infiltration and movement of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in the Pir Panjal region, an official said. Recently, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) conducted multiple raids in the Mandi and Surankote areas of Poonch (as well as Udhampur) targeting networks propagating radicalisation and cross-border communication. The SIA recovered evidence indicating that several locals were in direct communication with handlers across the Line of Control (LoC). These channels were allegedly utilised to spread secessionist narratives and advance online radicalisation. In early September, border troops detected a group of terrorists attempting to cross the LoC near Dabbi village in the Balakote sector (Mendhar). A heavy exchange of fire ensued, leading to extensive combing operations in the local forest belts. Massive cordon-and-search operations (CASO) remain active in remote forest pockets including Dhara Sangla, Bhatadurian, and Kherowali Dhok. These were triggered by technical intelligence and local observations of suspicious movements near critical infrastructure projects like the under-construction Pir Panjal tunnel. High-level security assessments and intelligence-based raids dictate the current anti-terror operational landscape in the Poonch district. Joint security grids involving the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and specialised central agencies have escalated measures to thwart cross-border infiltration and dismantle terror networks.

ACB nabs two JKWDC field supervisors for accepting bribe

Srinagar, September 14: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Jammu and Kashmir on Monday trapped and arrested two Field Supervisors of the Jammu & Kashmir Womens Development Corporation (JKWDC) for their alleged involvement in demanding and accepting a bribe in connection with the disbursement of a sanctioned loan. According to the ACB, the action followed a written complaint alleging that Owais Ahmad Khan, Field Supervisor, JKWDC, had demanded illegal gratification from the complainant for facilitating the release of a sanctioned loan amount of 3 lakh under the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) Scheme. The complainant, unwilling to pay the bribe, approached the ACB. Following verification of the allegations, the ACB said the demand for illegal gratification was prima facie established. Subsequently, FIR No. 15/2026 was registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar under Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). A trap team was thereafter constituted to catch the accused. During the trap proceedings, Owais Ahmad Khan was allegedly caught red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe from the complainant in return for facilitating the release and disbursement of the sanctioned loan. During the operation, another JKWDC Field Supervisor, Meiraj-ud-din Sheikh, was also arrested on the spot for his alleged involvement in the offence. The ACB said that the exact role and involvement of Sheikh are being ascertained as part of the ongoing investigation. The tainted money was recovered from the possession of the accused in the presence of independent witnesses, the ACB said. Both accused were subsequently subjected to medico-legal formalities and lodged at Police Station Shaheed Gunj, Srinagar, for safe custody. The ACB said further investigation into the case is going on .

Two JKWDC Field Supervisors Arrested For Alleged Bribe in Rs 3 Lakh Loan Case

SRINAGAR: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Jammu and Kashmir on Monday arrested two Field Supervisors of the Jammu and Kashmir Womens Development Corporation (JKWDC) for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe in connection with the release of a sanctioned Rs 3 lakh loan under the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) scheme. The arrests followed a written complaint []

Video:Punes Dagdusheth Ganpati arrives in grand procession on peacock chariot

The idol of Lord Ganesha from the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple was carried on a beautifully decorated peacock chariot and installed at a replica of Vrindavan's Prem Mandir, created at Jai Ganesh Prangan

Tripura: Students Block Chebari-Tulashikhar Road Over Teacher Shortage

Agartala, September 14, 2026: Students of Paschim Rajnagar English Medium School staged a road blockade on Monday morning, demanding an immediate and permanent solution to the acute shortage of teachers at the institution. The protest brought traffic on the main Chebari-Tulashikhar road to a standstill for a considerable period, resulting in long queues of vehicles... The post Tripura: Students Block Chebari-Tulashikhar Road Over Teacher Shortage first appeared on Northeast Today .

Sri Harmandir Sahib Glows During First Parkash Purab Celebrations

A breathtaking sight at Sri Harmandir Sahib as spectacular fireworks lit up the night sky and the sacred shrine glowed with a beautiful Deep Mala on the occasion of the First Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Deputy Speaker Post Remains Vacant as J&K Assembly Session Nears, NC-Congress Rift Deepens

With the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly's autumn session set to begin on September 21, the post of Deputy Speaker remains vacant nearly two years after the Omar Abdullah-led government assumed office. The BJP has been demanding that the post be offered to the principal opposition party in line with legislative convention.

Exercise for 2 months, get luxury fashion gifts: Indian woman working in South Korea shares unique work culture perk

In South Korea, companies are incentivizing employees to complete fitness challenges by offering luxurious fashion gifts. Staff must consistently engage in workouts for a full two months, providing evidence of their commitment. This program promotes health awareness amid demanding work obligations, presenting a lavish alternative to standard corporate perks in India. Many social media users have expressed interest in replicating such initiatives in their workplaces.

Satya Niketan building collapse: Delhi High Court seeks evidence behind claim of persons still trapped under debris

The Delhi High Court has questioned the evidentiary basis of a plea alleging that persons could still be trapped beneath the debris of the building collapse at Satya Niketan, demanding to know the source of the information forming the basis of such a claim. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice [] The post Satya Niketan building collapse: Delhi High Court seeks evidence behind claim of persons still trapped under debris appeared first on India Legal .

Raiza Wilson's horror science-fiction fantasy thriller 'Nova' to hit screens on September 25

Digital Desk | Chennai, Sep 14 (IANS) The makers of director Milo's eagerly awaited horror science-fiction supernatural fantasy thriller 'Nova', featuring actress Raiza Wilson in the lead, on Monday announced that their film would now hit screens on September 25 this year. On the occasion of Vinayakar Chathurthi, the makers released a poster confirming the film's release date. It may be recalled that Raiza Wilson had disclosed that she had braved blood-sucking leeches, constant mist and rain among other things to shoot for this film. Raiza, who is best known for her performance in 'Pyaar Prema Kaadhal', while sharing her experience of working on the eagerly awaited film, had said, The film is structured like a story within a story. I play an important character that appears in the flashback portions. The movie combines elements of action, thriller, and science-fiction. I have never acted in a story or role like this before, which is exactly why I was drawn to it, said Raiza Wilson and went on to add that the shoot took place in the forests of Marayoor in Kerala. We even filmed inside sandalwood forests, where obtaining permission itself is difficult. There were many challenges-- blood-sucking leeches, constant mist and rain, the intimidating sounds of wild animals, and muddy, slippery paths. Before going there, I thought the shoot would be quite easy. I had no idea it would be so demanding. I have never faced such difficulties in any of my previous films. Despite all this, we completed the shoot on schedule without delays, she had explained. Stating that director Milo always kept the atmosphere on set energetic and positive, the actress had said because of that, the hardships they faced never felt overwhelming. It is remarkable that he chose such a complex story for his very first feature film. It takes a lot of courage. He worked extremely hard and deserves appreciation for it. Since it rained most of the time, I often had to sit on set in wet clothes. The action scenes I performed were filmed there. Stunt master Vimal Rambo gave me specialized training. I had also already undergone fight training for my film 'Mr. X'. So, performing the action scenes in Nova became easier. Apart from Raiza Wilson, the cast also includes Dhruva of 'Aanmai Thavarael', Adviti Shetty, Bengali actress Krithika Biswas, Malayalam actor Joe John Chacko, Sendrayan, and YouTube personalities Finally Swathika and Finally Krishna.

Amritsar Soormas Beat Ludhiana Lions To Clinch Inaugural Sher-E-Punjab T20 Title

Punjab T20 League: Amritsar Soormas capped the inaugural Sher-E-Punjab T20 League with a commanding eight-wicket victory over Ludhiana Lions, chasing down 143 with 20 balls to spare in the final here at the IS Bindra Stadium. The Soormas made the run chase look remarkably straightforward, reaching 144/2 in 16.4 overs to become the first-ever champions of the tournament. Sahaj Dhawan anchored the pursuit with an unbeaten 63 off 53 balls, while captain Naman Dhir provided the early impetus with a 12-ball 29 that included four sixes. Rahul Kumar then ensured there were no late twists, finishing unbeaten on 42 off 30 deliveries as Amritsar completed the chase comfortably. The foundation for the victory had been laid by the Soormas' bowlers, who restricted Ludhiana to 142 in their 20 overs. Leg-spinner Mayank Markande was the standout performer, returning figures of 3/17 to earn the Player of the Match award in the title clash. While Markande delivered with the ball on the biggest night of the tournament, it was Dhir's sustained batting brilliance that had driven Amritsar's campaign from the outset. The captain was rewarded with the Player of the Series honour after producing some of the tournament's most explosive innings. Dhir smashed 173 off just 64 balls during the league stage before producing another match-defining assault in the semifinal, where his 91 came from only 37 deliveries and propelled the Soormas into the final. His ability to provide rapid starts and change the complexion of games became a defining feature of Amritsar's campaign, with the captain repeatedly setting the tempo for a powerful batting line-up. The captain was rewarded with the Player of the Series honour after producing some of the tournament's most explosive innings. Dhir smashed 173 off just 64 balls during the league stage before producing another match-defining assault in the semifinal, where his 91 came from only 37 deliveries and propelled the Soormas into the final. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories The emphatic victory completed a campaign in which Amritsar combined aggressive batting with disciplined bowling when it mattered most, etching their name into the record books as the maiden champions of the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League. Article Source: IANS

Uttar Pradesh Chemists Protest Dismissals, Demand Reinstatement

Chemists in Uttar Pradesh protest their dismissal, demanding reinstatement after being removed without notice. Uttar Pradesh Chemists Protest Dismissals, Demand Reinstatement

Trump Rejects AI slowdown Push, Says America Cannot Afford to Fall Behind

US President Donald Trump has firmly pushed back against growing calls from some of the worlds leading technology executives for an AI slowdown, arguing that the United States cannot afford to lose momentum in what is rapidly becoming one of the most important global technological races. His remarks have intensified the debate between those demanding [] The post Trump Rejects AI slowdown Push, Says America Cannot Afford to Fall Behind appeared first on Tfipost.com .

Eiffel Tower and Indian Orthodoxy in the Shadow of the Supreme Court

ON THE NEW YEAR OF 2019, from the northern tip of Kerala to the southern end of Kerala stretching over 620 kilometres, half a million women of Kerala stood holding their hands as a human chain which was described as Mahila Mathilugal (womens wall) demanding gender equality which also wanted access to the Sabarimala temple to worship the Lord Ayyappa who is adorning the temple. It was stated that the women during their menstruation cycle are not allowed to enter Sabarimala because it is considered menstruation will pollute and disturb the celibacy of the Lord who is considered as a Brahmachari . The women were demanding implementation of the judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on September 28, 2018 which ruled that keeping the menstruating women out considering that they were impure and had the effect of polluting the place was nothing but untouchability hit by Article 17 of the Constitution. The news of the women's human chain got hardly reported in spite of the fact that it was a unique agitation involving several thousands women. The majority of the five-judge bench held: Article 17 is the constitutional promise of equality and justice to those who have remained at the lowest rung of a traditional belief system founded in graded inequality It has been placed on a constitutional pedestal of enforceable fundamental rights, beyond being only a directive principle, for two reasons. First, untouchability is violative of the basic rights of socially backward individuals and their dignity. Second, the Framers believed that the abolition of untouchability is a constitutional imperative to establish an equal social order. Its presence together and on an equal footing with other fundamental rights, was designed to give vulnerable people the power to achieve collective good. Article 17 is a reflection of the transformative ideal of the Constitution, which gives expression to the aspirations of socially disempowered individuals and communities, and provides a moral framework for radical social transformation. But the demand of these women was never implemented in spite of the fact that there was a judgment in their favour and the State was supposed to implement the order under Article 144 of the Constitution. However, what prevented them was that a Review Petition was not only entertained, but also referred to a larger bench of 9 judges which took almost 8 years to hear the case for days together, whose verdict is awaited. However, what was shocking was that the bench never fixed any time limit for arguments of the counsels and they went on for more than three weeks. More shocking was that the counsels were willing to put forth arguments which were based on ancient texts and discarded over the years. Some arguments sounded similar to the ones which were advocated before the Privy Council in the beginning of the 20th century about the time tested practice and belief of the Hindu sect which should not be altered by any notions invented over the period. Little do they realise that by the 42nd amendment to the Constitution of India (1976), fundamental duties were introduced and Article 51-A makes several duties on the citizens and the sub-clause (e) specifically directs them to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women. While the women fight for their self-respect and dignity in the court, a group of Sanyasis belonging to the Swaminarayan sect calling themselves Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) recently went to Paris to attend the consecration of their temple in the outskirts of the city. The said group also wanted to have site-seeing in the city, one unavoidable place being the Eiffel Tower situated in the middle of the city. They intimated their tour operators that they should ensure that during their visit there should not be any interactions with the women working in the Tower. In essence, they wanted the women staff of the Eiffel Tower to be kept away from their eye contact. The management also attempted to implement the said request which led to a woman protesting against such crude discrimination and leading to the strike of the Eiffel Tower staff on September 7. In India, we may be accustomed to such blatant discrimination, but in Paris and other places it gave rise to a wide range of protest. The Mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Gregoire was quoted saying Equality between women and men will never stop at the foot of our historical monuments, nor anywhere in this country. It must be applied everywhere, for everyone. The Indian Express quoted a spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs as saying, We are aware of the opening of a temple by the BAPS Sanstha in the Paris area. As to the particular issue pertaining to the Tower, this is a matter purely between the entities concerned. Thus the Indian Government washed off its hands instead of reacting to the conduct of the group of Sadhus who went abroad and did something contrary to the spirit of India, that too in a country where three centuries ago in a revolution overthrowing the monarchy, people raised slogans of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity which prominently finds a place in the preamble to our Constitution. To add a caveat, however, Dr. Ambedkar said that he was inspired to include these words after being inspired by the teachings of Lord Buddha who was his master. India and the Promise of Article 15 Notwithstanding the fact that the Constitution assures equality before law and Article 15 specifically prohibits any discrimination by the State on grounds of sex and other reasons set out therein. Even during the debates while framing the Constitution and when the Constituent Assembly called for responses from the general public, there were several representations received from the Hindu orthodoxy that religious rituals, such as funerals or menstrual cycles of women, rendered certain persons temporarily untouchable. To criminalise the practice of untouchability, they argued, constituted direct interference with religion.( Assembling Indias Constitution , Rohit De Ornit Shani, Penguin Random House, 2025, p. 56) The very same book which gathered this information from the archives of the Constituent Assembly also referred to several exercises made by the Hindu orthodoxy to preserve the tradition and practice of the religion. Notwithstanding these sectarian approaches, the Constituent Assembly unanimously introduced Article 14 , 15 , 16 and 17 of the Constitution and wanted to remove any kind of discrimination practiced against women. Added to this is the fundamental duty provided under Article 51-A(e). The Government of India is also party to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination of Women (CEDAW) (June 25, 1993). Article 11 of CEDAW, to which India is a party, requires State parties to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of employment. In its General Recommendation No. 19 (1992), the United Nations Committee on CEDAW further clarified that equality in employment can be seriously impaired when women are subjected to gender-specific violence, such as sexual harassment at the workplace. Indias commitment to protection and promotion of womens constitutional rights as well as respect for its obligations under various international treaties is unequivocal. However, in the matter of providing equality and non-discrimination against women, however progressive the government may be, it was the judiciary which gave its peculiar interpretation, especially interpreting Article 15 of the Constitution which bans discrimination based on sex. Saurabh Kirpal, commenting on this wrote: Chief Justice M.C. Chagla [who] held that personal laws could not be challenged as violating any fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution. This was on the basis that the definition of the term law (under Article 13 ) in the Constitution did not include personal laws in its purview. Justice P.B. Gajendragadkar, who went on to become Chief Justice of India, agreed with Chief Justice Chagla, and explained the position in starker terms. He ruled that the rules prescribed for marriages are determined by the social and economic condition of the society. In dealing with these rules, it is also necessary to remember the obvious natural differences between the sexes themselves and considerations which may legitimately arise from these differences. In his view, Article 15 of the Constitution prohibited discrimination against women if it was based on the ground of sex only. This use of the word only, as per the learned judge, implied that if there was some other ground to differentiate between men and women, other than sex alone, the legislation would be upheld. ( Who is Equal? , Saurabh Kirpal, Penguin Random House India, p.187-88) That the Indian judiciary is still in the learning process was recorded in the case of Gwalior Judge in which Indira Jaisings intervention was described by a lawyer with a phrase which was completely misogynist. Justice J.S. Khehar observed: Every day is a matter of learning there is a lot to be learnt, from what she innocuously conveyed. Her sensitivity to the issue, one may confess, brought out to us, a wholly different understanding on the subject. It is therefore, that we have remarked above, that the evaluation of a charge of sexual harassment, would depend on the manner in which it is perceived. It took 8 years for the Supreme Court to issue a Hand Book on Combating Gender Stereotypes (2023). Writing the preface for the book, Chief Justice Dhananjay Chandrachud wrote: Our oath as judges mandates that we perform the duties of our office without fear or favour, affection or ill-will. The oath demands that we discharge our functions with impartiality and objectivity, applying the law to every case before us. A judges oath demands rejecting improper attempts to influence their decision-making. The oath also requires a judge to put aside any preconceived notions about the parties before the court. Relying on predetermined stereotypes in judicial decision-making contravenes the duty of judges to decide each case on its merits, independently and impartially. In particular, reliance on stereotypes about women is liable to distort the laws application to women in harmful ways. (Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes, Supreme Court of India, 2023) No sooner Chief Justice Surya Kant took over, he dismissed the book as too Harvard-oriented and said that it may not be understood by the rape survivor, her relatives or commoners. He said that judges should receive practical training on the issue, directing the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal to frame fresh guidelines , rather than sermonise High Court judges from the Supreme Court. But what is happening in the country is quite different. There was a Hindu Swamiji from South who told the women to stay at home and take care of the children and if they want to earn some amount, they can prepare kumkum or pappad at home. This trait is not confined only to Hindu swamijis . An Islamic scholar from Kanthapuram in Keralam, A.P. Aboobacker Musliar apparently advised women to remain confined to their homes because their public appearances led to great destruction. When a journalist Aparna Kurup questioned and criticized the view, she got death threats. When she approached the police for her protection, a case was booked against her which is still going on. Four women judicial officers were terminated by the Madhya Pradesh High Court; they approached the Supreme Court. When the matter came up before Justice Nagarathna she got furious and even at the admission stage remarked: I wish men had menstruation, then only they would understand. Finally allowing all the four applications and setting aside those termination orders, she emphasized that the only way such discriminations will disappear is that women should enter the field in large numbers and ultimately have positions where the decision-making will be in their hands. She said : To holistically understand womens effective participation in the Judiciary, it is important to look at three main phenomena: (I) the entry of women into the legal profession; (II) the retention of women and growth of their numbers in the profession; and (III) the advancement of women, in numbers, to senior echelons of the profession. Many have stressed that increased diversity within a judiciary, and ensuring judges are representative of society, enables the judiciary as a whole to better respond to diverse social and individual contexts and experiences. It is a recognition of this fact that a greater representation of women in the judiciary, would greatly improve the overall quality of judicial decision making and this impacts generally and also specifically in cases affecting women. Ultimately, whether any case will be filed against those BAPS sadhus is not known. Since their newly consecrated temple may attract many devotees and tourists from Europe, the French govt. may not attempt any such exercise. But theoretically if any case is instituted in India, what will be the outcome, is anybodys guess? Since Article 15 (2) is qualified by the word only and in the absence or conditions of sex plus theory is applied in all probabilities the Sadhus may escape by saying that the religious right will exclude an application of discrimination theories. Ultimately, the nine-judge bench will decide, of which Justice B.V. Nagarathna is also a part of the key answer. If they decide that the Hindu Sadhus cannot dictate as to who should be the Eiffel Tower staff and what should be their sex identity, it will be well and could and on par with the civilized world. If they decide otherwise, then the Prime Minister shouting on all platforms about Nari Shakthi will only become a mirage.

MPSC exam paper leaks: CJP to join protesters demanding resignation of key officials

The agitation seeking the resignation of the MPSC chairman and secretary would be taken forward, and a statewide tour would be undertaken to interact with MPSC aspirants if the demand was not met by September 24, the CJP said in a release

MPSC paper leak: CJP to join protesters demanding resignation, sets Sept 24 deadline

In a show of unity, the Cockroach Janta Party will support students demonstrating against the purported paper leaks in the MPSC exams. Abhijeet Dipke, the party founder, confirmed this backing after engaging with the aspiring candidates. The students are calling for the resignation of the MPSC chairman and secretary, planning a statewide tour if their needs are unmet by September 24.

MPSC exam 'paper leaks': CJP to join protesters demanding resignation of key officials

The Cockroach Janta Party and its founder Abhijeet Dipke will join protests by MPSC aspirants over alleged paper leaks and irregularities in online examinations conducted by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission. The CJP said the agitation seeking resignations of the MPSC chairman and secretary would continue, with a statewide tour planned if unmet.

Dir FCS&CA directs crackdown on unfair trade practices

Rajouri, Aug 13: Director Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Rajesh K. Shavan on Sunday reviewed the functioning of the department in Rajouri at a meeting with the field officers. A range of issues, including advance three-month ration distribution, 100% LPG e-KYC, issuance of SK-Oil licences and departmental infrastructure were discussed in detail. At the outset, Tehsil Supply Officers apprised the Director of the tehsil-wise status of ration distribution and LPG e-KYC. The Director instructed the officers to ensure 100% completion of LPG e-KYC and complete the distribution of three months ration by September 15, with close monitoring of lifting and distribution. Progress on the issuance of SK-Oil licences and other supply-related matters was also reviewed. Later, the Director inspected departmental stores and godowns at Sunderbani, Thanamandi, Rajouri and other locations. He took stock of infrastructure, storage capacity and other requirements at each facility. Officers were directed to identify facilities requiring repair, renovation or augmentation and prepare DPRs, wherever necessary, for taking up their upgradation with the concerned agencies. Emphasising the importance of accountability and responsiveness at the field level, the Director called for sustained efforts to safeguard consumer interests, ensure smooth supply of essential commodities and deliver efficient services to the public, leaving no scope for laxity in the implementation of departmental responsibilities.

CJP to join MPSC aspirants' protests over alleged online exam paper leaks

The Cockroach Janta Party said on Sunday that its members and founder Abhijeet Dipke will join students in their protests over alleged paper leaks in various online examinations conducted by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC). The CJP made the announcement after a group of MPSC aspirants met Dipke at the latter's home in the Waluj area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The agitation seeking the resignation of the MPSC chairman and secretary would be taken forward, while a statewide tour would be undertaken to interact with MPSC aspirants if the demand was not met by September 24, the CJP said in a release. Dipke and CJP members would join the protesters, it said. After his meeting with MPSC aspirants, Dipke said in a video message, I and CJP are with MPSC aspirants in this fight. We will stand with the aspirants till the resignations (of top MPSC officials). MPSC aspirants have staged protests in parts of the state, demanding transparency in the recruitment process and

SKUAST-K Bio-Enzyme course concludes, students pitch waste-to-wealth ideas

A week-long certificate course on Bio-Enzyme Entrepreneurship, jointly organised by the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) and the Bio-Enzyme Entrepreneurs Academy of India, Bengaluru, concluded at the universitys Shalimar Main Campus. Organised by the SKUAST-K Innovation and Incubation Entrepreneurship Centre (SKIIE), the course combined classroom sessions, practical demonstrations and field visits to landfills, waste-collection sites and fruit mandis. The programme provided students, farmers and rural entrepreneurs with practical exposure to bio-enzyme production, value addition, waste management and marketing, with a focus on converting agricultural and kitchen waste into useful and marketable products. The concluding session featured pitch-deck presentations by student innovators, who showcased business ideas based on bio-enzyme technology and waste-to-wealth models. A total of 10 ideas were received, covering eco-friendly cleaning products, organic fertilisers and waste-recycling solutions for campus and community applications. A jury evaluated the ideas on originality, feasibility, market potential and environmental impact, and appreciated the participants preparation and clarity of presentation. Addressing the valedictory session, Naveed Bhat, CEO, SKIIE, thanked the Vice Chancellor of SKUAST-K for supporting the collaborative programme with the Bio-Enzyme Entrepreneurs Academy of India and congratulated the participants on completing the course. Bhat said the ideas demonstrated the potential to convert agricultural and kitchen waste into value-added, eco-friendly products and encouraged participants to take their concepts towards commercialisation. He also assured continued support from SKIIE to participants seeking incubation for further development of their ideas. The programme concluded with an emphasis on waste-to-wealth entrepreneurship, sustainable resource utilisation and innovative waste-management solutions.

Operation Gadol 4th anniversary commemorated

The Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police jointly commemorated the fourth anniversary of Operation Gadol, the September 2023 counter-terrorism operation in the Gadol forests of Kokernag in south Kashmirs Anantnag district, with a wreath-laying ceremony and a Chinar plantation drive at the 19 Rashtriya Rifles Battalion Headquarters in Larkipora. The ceremony was held in remembrance of the four personnel who laid down their lives during the operation Colonel Manpreet Singh, KC (P), SM; Major Aashish Dhonchak, SC (P), SM; DSP Humayun Muzzammil Bhat, KC (P); and Sepoy Pardeep Singh, SC (P). Officials said their courage, leadership and devotion to duty continue to inspire both the security forces and the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The event was attended by SSP Anantnag Amod Ashok Nagpure and Commanding Officer of 19 Rashtriya Rifles Colonel Rohit Rattan, along with officers and other ranks of the Army and J&K Police. Floral tributes were paid to the four martyrs during the wreath-laying. Officials described the commemoration as a reaffirmation that the sacrifices of September 2023 have not faded from institutional memory. The ceremony served as a solemn reaffirmation that the sacrifices made during the operation continue to be remembered with the deepest respect and gratitude, officials said. As a lasting tribute, four Chinar saplings were planted near the main gate of the battalion headquarters, now known as Colonel Manpreet Singh Dwar. Officials said the four trees stand together as a living memorial to all four fallen personnel. The Chinar, closely tied to the landscape and heritage of Jammu and Kashmir, was chosen for its association with strength, resilience, longevity and continuity across generations. The Chinar Corps, in a separate statement, said it stood in solemn remembrance of its fallen heroes. Their sacrifice shall never be forgotten, their legacy shall never fade, and their courage shall continue to inspire all who serve the nation, the statement said. Operation Gadol was launched in mid-September 2023 after specific intelligence on the presence of terrorists in the densely forested higher reaches around Gadol in Kokernag. A joint column of 19 Rashtriya Rifles and J&K Police, led from the front by the battalions commanding officer, established contact in difficult, cliff-and-forest terrain. In the opening burst of fire from a well-concealed position, Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Aashish Dhonchak, DSP Humayun Muzzammil Bhat and Sepoy Pardeep Singh were fatally hit. Colonel Singh, of the Sikh Light Infantry and then commanding 19 RR, was a Sena Medal awardee who had earlier declined a peace-station posting to remain with the battalion in south Anantnag. DSP Bhat, from the Police Special Operations Group and the son of a retired senior police officer, was a young father. All four were later decorated posthumously Colonel Singh and DSP Bhat with the Kirti Chakra, and Major Dhonchak and Sepoy Pardeep Singh with the Shaurya Chakra among the rare instances of two Kirti Chakras and two Shaurya Chakras arising from a single operation.

SEBI turns up heat on Wall Street giants

India's securities regulator is increasing its oversight of foreign financial firms. Prominent players like JPMorgan Chase and Jane Street face allegations of market manipulation. Regulators are now demanding accountability similar to US and European counterparts. This stricter approach targets lucrative opportunities in India's fast-growing economy. Global banks are upgrading compliance as India enforces its market conduct rules.

Zverev Tames Shelton in Four Sets to Clinch Men's US Open Crown

After securing the first two sets in commanding fashion, the German withstood a spirited third-set fightback from the home favourite

Manipur Government Urges Civil Society Groups to Halt NRC Update Protests

The Manipur government calls on civil society groups to end protests demanding updates to the National Register of Citizens. Manipur Government Urges Civil Society Groups to Halt NRC Update Protests

Sgrs 147 million litres of untreated sewage enters Jhelum, Dal Lake daily

Srinagar, Sep 13: Kashmirs two iconic water bodiesJhelum and Dal Lakeare facing a growing sewagecrisis, with acrucial scientific studyestimatingthat nearly 147 million litres of Srinagars sewage remain untreatedevery dayand are discharged into the two water bodies collectively. The figure emerges from the study Assessment of Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Dal Lakes TrophicState,published in the journal Water. The researchers estimate that Srinagar generates around 201 million litres of sewage daily, of which nearly 73 per cent goes untreated into Dal Lake or the Jhelum. The 73 per cent works out to approximately 147 million litres a day, it reveals. The study, however, does not provide a separatebreak-upof the quantity entering the Jhelum and Dal Lake, meaning the figure represents the combined untreated discharge into the two water bodies. The findings assume significance as both water bodies are already under considerable ecological pressure. The trophic condition of Dal Lake between 2019 and 2023 showed a worrying deterioration in its ecological health, the study reads. By the end of the assessment period, the lake was classified as eutrophic, indicating increasing nutrient enrichment and pollution pressure. The researchers linked the deterioration to pollutant loads associated with human activity and untreated wastewater. Excessive nutrient input can trigger algal growth, reduce water quality and disturb the natural balance of aquatic ecosystems, the study notes. The Jhelum faces its own growing wastewater burden as it cuts through Srinagar. An action-taken report submittedbeforethe National Green Tribunal (NGT) records 10 outfalls discharging into the Jhelum, with domestic and household wastewater listed among the discharges. A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audithasfurther exposed the weakness of Srinagars drainage system, finding that the citydoes not haveseparate sewage and storm-water networks. In one striking instance cited by the audit, three dewatering stations discharged 7.47 crore litres between October 20 and 30, 2023, despite there being no rainfall during the period. The audit observed that the absence of rainfall indicated that the discharge was not simply stormwater and pointed towards household wastewater entering the drainage system. The Lal Mandi dewatering station alone discharged 4.39 crore litres during those 11 days, with the audit recording discharge into the Jhelum, the audit report said Climate expert Dr Touseef Bhat said pollution of the Jhelum and Dal Lake should be viewed as a wider ecological challenge, with untreated wastewater, urbanisation and changing climatic conditions collectively increasing pressure on Kashmirs fragile water systems. The problem has existed for decades, but the scale is now becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. As Srinagar expands, concrete surfaces have replaced open spaces, while sewerage and drainage infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with the volume of wastewater generated by the growing urban population, Bhat said. Earlier research by University of Kashmir scientists had documented numerous drains carrying urban waste into the Jhelum through Srinagar and recorded deterioration in several water-quality parameters along the river. The latest findings add urgency to the need for effective sewage interception and treatment. The government has undertaken several sewage-treatment and pollution-control projects to bridge the infrastructure gap. But experts say treatment plants alone cannot solve the problem unless households are connected to functional sewer networks and untreated drains and outfalls are intercepted. The challenge is therefore not merely about increasing treatment capacity. It is about ensuring that sewage never reaches the river or lake in the first place. The numbers provide a stark warning: Srinagar generates around 201 million litres of sewage every day, while roughly 147 million litres is estimated to remain untreated and enter Dal Lake and the Jhelum collectively.

Veterinary interns to meet Minister Dar

Srinagar, Sep 13: The ongoing strike by veterinary interns at SKUAST-Ks Shuhama campus entered its seventh day on Sunday, with the interns set to meet Agriculture Minister Javed Dar to press for an increase in their monthly stipend. President of the Veterinary Association, Saqlain Rashid, said that a delegation of the interns will meet the Agriculture Minister today after he asked them to meet him and discuss their concerns. We will meet the Agriculture Minister along with our delegation today. We are hopeful that our issues will be addressed and that the meeting will have a fruitful outcome, Saqlain Rashid said. He said the interns are demanding an increase in their stipend from the existing 6,000 to around 23,000 per month, which, according to the association, is being provided to veterinary interns in several other states but not at SKUAST-K. The interns have been pressing the authorities to revise the stipend, stating that the existing amount does not adequately meet their expenses during the internship period. The association expressed hope that the Agriculture Minister would consider their demands and take necessary steps towards resolving the issue.

Ecology Must Anchor Sustainable Development

Sustainable development has too often been reduced to a slogan repeated at international summits and inserted into policy documents. Its real meaning is far more demanding. It requires societies to pursue economic growth without exhausting the natural systems that make life possible. For India and the wider Global South, this balance is not an abstract policy concern. It is directly linked to public health, food security, livelihoods and social justice. The accelerating damage to ecosystems shows the cost of treating nature as an unlimited resource. Rivers are polluted, forests are disappearing, groundwater is being depleted and cities are struggling under the pressure of unplanned expansion. Climate change has intensified heatwaves, irregular rainfall, floods and droughts. These disasters do not affect all people equally. Poor households, farmers, labourers, coastal communities and those dependent on forests bear the heaviest burden, despite contributing the least to environmental destruction. This is why ecology must remain at the heart of development planning. Roads, industries, housing and energy projects are necessary, but their benefits cannot justify the permanent destruction of forests, wetlands, watersheds and agricultural land. Environmental clearances must not become procedural formalities designed merely to remove obstacles before construction begins. They must be transparent, scientifically credible and based on the long-term carrying capacity of each region. The challenge is particularly serious in ecologically fragile areas such as the Himalayas. The regions forests, glaciers, rivers and wetlands support millions of people far beyond its immediate boundaries. Yet reckless construction, poorly planned tourism, quarrying, deforestation and weak waste management are placing enormous pressure on this fragile system. Development that ignores the limits of mountain ecology eventually creates economic losses, displacement and disasters. The recent pattern of floods, landslides and land subsidence should be treated not as isolated events but as warnings from an overstretched landscape. A sustainable approach must also recognise that conservation and development are not opposing ideas. Renewable energy, climate-resilient agriculture, public transport, water harvesting, recycling, green buildings and responsible tourism can generate employment while reducing ecological stress. Small farmers and local communities should be treated as partners in conservation, not as encroachers on their own traditional landscapes. Their knowledge and participation are essential for protecting forests, pastures, wetlands and biodiversity. The transition to clean energy is equally important, but it must be managed fairly. Green technologies require minerals, land and infrastructure. If their extraction creates new forms of displacement and pollution, the language of sustainability will lose credibility. A just transition must therefore include local consent, fair compensation, ecological restoration and social protection for workers and communities affected by economic change. Governments must strengthen institutions responsible for environmental protection and make polluters accountable. Citizens, too, have a role in reducing waste, conserving water and supporting responsible consumption. But individual action cannot substitute for sound public policy. The larger responsibility lies with governments and industries that shape the scale and direction of development. The true measure of progress is not how quickly economies expand, but whether prosperity reaches people without destroying the foundations of their future. Ecology is not an obstacle to development. It is the condition that makes meaningful and lasting development possible.

JKSA demands suspension of JMI Assistant Proctor over alleged assault of J

Association says students cannot be threatened for demanding hygienic food SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Saturday strongly condemned the alleged assault, intimidation and harassment of students of the J&K Girls Hostel at Jamia Millia Islamia during their ongoing protest over serious concerns regarding the quality, hygiene and sanitation of food being []

BRICS and the New Delhi Declaration: A Diplomatic Victory for India?

The rise of BRICS is one of the clearest manifestations of this changing reality. What began as an economic grouping of emerging economies has gradually acquired a much larger geopolitical significance, bringing together countries that collectively represent a substantial share of the world's population and economic strength. Its expansion into West Asia, Africa and Southeast Asia has further enlarged its reach and given it a voice that the established centres of global power can no longer ignore. The question, therefore, is not simply whether BRICS has emerged as a challenge to Western dominance; the more important question is what kind of challenge it representsand, within that evolving equation, whether the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration can be regarded as a diplomatic victory for India. There is certainly a basis for viewing BRICS as one of the instruments through which the old distribution of global power is being questioned. For decades, the international political and economic system was shaped disproportionately by the United States and its Western allies. Institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, the dollar-centred financial system and several important mechanisms of international governance reflected the realities of a world that emerged after the Second World War. But the economic and strategic landscape has changed dramatically since then. China has become a major economic and technological power, India has emerged as one of the world's most consequential economies, the influence of the Gulf countries has expanded, and countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America are demanding a greater role in determining the rules by which the international system operates. BRICS is therefore not an isolated phenomenon; it is an institutional expression of this broader redistribution of economic and political weight. Yet to describe BRICS merely as an anti-Western bloc would be an oversimplification. Its members do not share an identical foreign-policy outlook, nor do they have the same relationship with the United States and Europe. India, for instance, maintains deep strategic, economic and technological engagement with the West while simultaneously playing an active role in BRICS and maintaining important relations with Russia and other emerging powers. The Gulf members have extensive commercial and security relationships with Western countries, while Brazil has traditionally followed an independent diplomatic path. China and Russia, on the other hand, have adopted much more assertive positions towards aspects of the existing Western-led order. What unites these countries, therefore, is not a common ideology against the West but a common interest in greater strategic autonomy, greater representation and a more balanced distribution of power in global governance. This distinction is crucial to understanding India's approach. New Delhi has little interest in replacing one rigid bloc with another. Its diplomatic preference has increasingly been for a multipolar world in which countries can cooperate across geopolitical divisions without surrendering their independent choices. From this perspective, BRICS becomes valuable not because it can defeat the West, but because it can create additional centres of economic and political influence. The discussion over increasing the use of national currencies in trade, strengthening cross-border payment systems and developing alternative mechanisms of financial cooperation illustrates this gradual approach. It does not mean that the dollar is about to disappear from international finance; such a conclusion would be unrealistic. Rather, it indicates a desire among emerging economies to reduce excessive dependence on any single financial system and to acquire greater freedom in conducting their economic affairs. The same aspiration is visible in the demand for reform of global institutions. The countries of the Global South have long argued that the institutions created in the middle of the twentieth century do not adequately reflect the economic and demographic realities of the twenty-first century. India, with its enormous population, growing economy and expanding international influence, has a particularly strong interest in this reform. Its demand for a greater role in global decision-making, including permanent membership of a reformed United Nations Security Council, is therefore not merely a matter of national prestige; it forms part of a much larger argument about the legitimacy and representativeness of the international system. It is against this wider background that the New Delhi Declaration assumes importance. India's BRICS presidency came at a particularly difficult moment, when geopolitical tensions were already dividing the international community. The expansion of BRICS has made consensus more complicated because the grouping now contains countries with competing strategic interests and sometimes sharply divergent positions on major international questions. The situation in West Asia presented one of the most difficult challenges during negotiations, with Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates bringing different regional calculations to the table. That a common declaration was eventually adopted after prolonged negotiations is therefore not an insignificant accomplishment. India's success was not in eliminating disagreements among the members; it was in ensuring that those disagreements did not prevent them from finding sufficient common ground. This is perhaps where the New Delhi Declaration can legitimately be described as a diplomatic victory for India. Diplomacy is rarely about persuading every participant to accept one country's position in its entirety. Its more sophisticated form lies in reconciling competing interests without allowing the larger objective to collapse. India appears to have performed precisely that balancing act. It succeeded in keeping BRICS focused on multilateralism, development, economic cooperation, financial reform and greater representation of emerging economies rather than allowing the grouping to be defined exclusively by geopolitical confrontation with the West. That achievement is particularly important because an explicitly anti-Western BRICS would ultimately limit India's own diplomatic space. India's interests do not lie in a world divided permanently into opposing camps. Its strength comes from its ability to maintain relationships with multiple centres of power while pursuing an independent national interest. New Delhi's simultaneous engagement with Washington, Moscow, Beijing, European capitals and countries across the Global South is not necessarily a contradiction; it is an expression of strategic autonomy. The New Delhi Declaration, viewed in this context, reflects an attempt to strengthen the collective voice of emerging economies without transforming BRICS into another rigid alliance. The economic provisions of the declaration reinforce this pragmatic character. Greater cooperation in cross-border payments, local-currency transactions and financial mechanisms could gradually reduce some of the vulnerabilities associated with excessive dependence on existing financial channels. But the more significant point is that BRICS is attempting to create choices rather than proclaiming an immediate revolution in the global financial system. Alternatives, once established and made credible, can themselves alter the balance of power. The challenge to the existing order therefore need not come through its sudden destruction; it can emerge through the gradual creation of parallel possibilities. For India, another significant dimension of the declaration is the recognition of its larger aspirations in global governance. Support from major BRICS members for India's greater role in international institutions strengthens New Delhi's longstanding argument that global governance must reflect present realities rather than remain frozen in the political circumstances of the mid-twentieth century. Such diplomatic support may not by itself alter the structure of the United Nations, but it strengthens India's position in the continuing debate over reform and representation. India's achievement, however, should not be exaggerated. The New Delhi Declaration is not proof that BRICS has become a cohesive geopolitical power capable of replacing the Western-led order. The grouping continues to face serious internal contradictions. India and China have unresolved strategic differences; Russia's relationship with the West is fundamentally different from India's; the Gulf countries have their own regional priorities; and the expanding membership brings an even wider range of political and economic interests into the organisation. BRICS has no common foreign policy, no collective defence arrangement and no single geopolitical doctrine. Its ability to translate declarations into sustained practical cooperation will ultimately determine whether its growing influence is durable. This is why the significance of the New Delhi Declaration should be judged not merely by the language contained in the document but by what follows from it. Can BRICS make financial cooperation more effective? Can it increase trade and investment among developing economies? Can it strengthen South-South cooperation in technology, health, infrastructure and sustainable development? Can its members continue to find common ground despite their geopolitical differences? And can India maintain the delicate balance between strengthening BRICS and preserving its constructive engagement with the Western world? These are the questions that will determine whether the New Delhi Summit becomes a landmark in the evolution of global politics or remains another entry in the long catalogue of summit declarations. Nevertheless, the broader diplomatic message from New Delhi is difficult to overlook. India demonstrated that its growing influence does not necessarily depend upon choosing one geopolitical camp against another. Its diplomatic strength increasingly lies in its ability to engage with competing centres of power, articulate the concerns of the Global South and still retain enough credibility to bring diverse countries towards a common position. In that sense, India's success was less about imposing its will than about creating consensus where consensus appeared difficult. The emergence of BRICS should therefore be understood neither as the beginning of the end of the West nor as an inevitable replacement of one hegemonic system by another. The West remains enormously powerful, and the United States continues to possess unmatched military, technological and financial capabilities. The dollar remains deeply embedded in international finance, while Western economies and institutions retain enormous global influence. But what is changing is the ability of any one centre of power to assume that its preferences will automatically constitute the global consensus. That is the deeper significance of BRICSand perhaps the more enduring significance of India's role within it. The New Delhi Declaration represents a moment in which India demonstrated that diplomacy in the twenty-first century may increasingly be about building bridges between different power centres rather than choosing one side of the divide. It did not erase disagreements within BRICS; it managed them. It did not declare war on the existing global order; it demanded that the order become more representative. It did not seek to replace Western dominance with another dominance; it strengthened the case for a world with multiple centres of influence. If that vision succeeds, the real transformation will not be the victory of East over West or South over North. It will be the gradual emergence of a world in which no single power or group of powers can claim to speak for the entire international community. And in helping move that transition forward, the New Delhi Declaration can indeed be counted as a significant diplomatic moment for India. (The author is RK columnist and can be reached at: sanjaypanditasp@gmail.com )

What A Performance': BCCI VP Shukla Hails Indias Eighth Women's Asia Cup Triumph

Dubai International Cricket Stadium: BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla hailed Indias womens cricket team for their dominant campaign in the Womens Asia Cup 2026 after the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side clinched a record-extending eighth continental title with a 72-run win over Sri Lanka in the final on Sunday. India remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and capped their campaign with a comprehensive performance at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Shukla highlighted the consistency of the team and the contributions from players across the squad as he celebrated the latest milestone for Indian womens cricket. What a performance by our Women in Blue! Undefeated throughout the tournament and now Asia Cup champions for the 8th time! Every player stepped up when required. A complete team effort and a proud moment for Indian cricket. Well played, Team India! @BCCI @BCCIWomen, Shukla wrote on X. The title triumph saw India avenge their defeat to Sri Lanka in the 2024 Asia Cup final and further strengthen their record in the tournament. The Women in Blue have now won the Asia Cup eight times, establishing themselves as the most successful side in the competition. Indias victory was built on a commanding batting display before their bowlers completed the job. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana produced a record 129-run opening stand to put India in control after being asked to bat first. Shafali smashed 68 from 39 balls, including the fastest half-century in the history of the Womens Asia Cup, reaching the landmark in only 24 deliveries. Mandhana added 59 from 39 balls as India posted 183/5. Sri Lanka struggled to match the intensity during the chase. Captain Chamari Athapaththu top-scored with 36, but Indias bowlers kept taking wickets at regular intervals. Shafali smashed 68 from 39 balls, including the fastest half-century in the history of the Womens Asia Cup, reaching the landmark in only 24 deliveries. Mandhana added 59 from 39 balls as India posted 183/5. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories The triumph also marked Indias sixth victory over Sri Lanka in an Asia Cup final, adding Article Source: IANS

Underpaid and Overworked!

An MBBS internship in India, officially designated as the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) or Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI), is a mandatory 12-month hands-on clinical training period that every medical graduate must complete after passing their final MBBS professional examinations. Governed by the National Medical Commission (NMC), it serves as the final practical bridge between being a medical student and a licensed, independent primary care physician. Why Internship? The Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) is mandatory for MBBS students in India for several vital reasons, ranging from practical clinical readiness to legal requirements. Here is exactly why this internship year is an absolute necessity in the Indian medical education system: The Bridge from Theory to Real-World Practice 1. For four and a half years, MBBS students primarily acquire theoretical knowledge and observe cases from a distance. The internship is their first opportunity to shift from classroom learning to active clinical action. Hands-on experience: It teaches them vital practical skills that textbooks cannot, such as drawing blood, putting in IV lines, passing catheters, and suturing wounds. Decision-making: It builds clinical judgment, teaching them how to prioritise patients, manage emergencies, and make split-second decisions under pressure. 2. Legal Requirement for Licensing In India, completing the 12-month internship is a statutory legal requirement. You cannot get a permanent registration number from the National Medical Commission (NMC) or State Medical Councils without a valid internship completion certificate. Without this registration number, an MBBS graduate cannot legally practice medicine, prescribe drugs, or work as a Medical Officer in India. 3. Preparation for Diverse Indian Healthcare Demands India has a massive, highly diverse population with major differences between urban and rural healthcare availability. The internship includes a mandatory 3-month posting in Community Medicine (rural health centres). It exposes young doctors to grassroots healthcare challenges. It teaches them how to manage public health programs, treat tropical diseases, and handle cases with limited resources in rural setups. 4. Specialisation Exploration (Choosing a Career Path) Before the internship, students often do not know which branch of medicine suits them best. Rotating through every major department (Medicine, Surgery, OB-GYN, Paediatrics, Orthopaedics, etc.) acts as a trial period. It helps graduates figure out which speciality they want to pursue for their post-graduation (MD/MS) based on their aptitude and interest. 5. Development of Soft Skills and Professionalism Being a doctor requires much more than medical knowledge. The intense internship year forces students to develop critical soft skills: Communication: Learning how to explain diagnoses to patients, break bad news to families, and counsel anxious relatives. Teamwork & Stress Management: Learning to work with nurses, senior residents, and hospital staff while managing long 24-to-36-hour shifts. When Internship? In the context of Indian medical education, there is only one true internship period: the 12 months following your final year exams. It is a mandatory, legally enforced bridge that transforms a medical student into a licensed, practising physician. The Human Element: Demographics, Grind, and Grit : Behind the clinical rotation tables lies the raw, human reality of the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI). For an intern, this year is less about academic reading and entirely about surviving the high-stakes, high-pressure environment of Indian public healthcare. 1. The Age Factor: Young Minds, Massive Responsibilities The Age Bracket: The vast majority of medical interns in India are 23 to 25 years old. The Transition: At an age when most of their peers in engineering or corporate sectors are navigating entry-level office jobs, medical interns are thrust into life-or-death situations. They go from being protected students who memorize textbook definitions to frontline workers breaking bad news to grieving families, assisting in emergency resuscitations, and managing chaotic casualty wards. 2. The Hardwork and The Grind The sheer volume of physical labor expected from an MBBS intern in India is notoriously gruelling. The Brutal Shift Timings: A standard day is rarely just 8 hours. Depending on the department, interns routinely pull 24-hour to 36-hour continuous shifts with little to no sleep. The Scut Work: Because Indian public hospitals are chronically understaffed, interns function as the backbone of daily operations. Beyond clinical learning, a massive portion of their energy goes into administrative laborwheeling patients to radiology, running blood samples to laboratories, manually filling out endless paperwork, and tracking down patient case sheets. 3. The Psychological and Environmental Factors The environment of a government hospital medical college shapes an intern's resilience through extreme trial by fire: Overwhelming Patient Footfall: Indian public hospitals handle an astronomical volume of patients. An intern on a single emergency night shift might screen hundreds of patients, testing their clinical reflexes and patience to absolute limits. The NEET-PG / NExT Shadow: Perhaps the most unique and stressful factor for Indian interns is the dual burden of time. They must survive physically exhausting 100-hour workweeks while simultaneously preparing for one of the toughest competitive exams in the worldNEET-PG or NExT. Balancing active hospital duties with late-night textbook revision leads to chronic sleep deprivation and burnout. Emotional Detachment vs. Empathy: Facing severe trauma, systemic resource shortages, and patient mortality daily forces these young doctors to mature rapidly. They must quickly learn the delicate balance of maintaining emotional empathy for patients while building a thick skin to prevent psychological exhaustion. Where Internship? According to the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) Regulations set by the National Medical Commission (NMC): The Same Institute Rule: For Indian Medical Graduates (IMGs), the rule is strict: you must complete your 12-month internship at the exact same medical college hospital from which you completed your MBBS course. The older practice of ransferring or externing to a different hospital in another city or state for internship is no longer casually permitted. The Approved Hospital List: For Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs)students who completed their MBBS abroad and passed the screening examthe internship must be completed in NMC-approved government or private medical colleges within India, often allocated through centralized state counselling processes. Rural Postings: A portion of the internship (specifically under Community Medicine) cannot be done in the main city hospital. Interns must live and work at Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) in rural areas for up to two months to understand grassroots public healthcare. The Reality Checklist: Conditions of the Internship Places The conditions of the hospitals where MBBS students undergo their internships vary wildly depending on whether they are in a massive government facility, a rural village, or a corporate private hospital. 1. Public / Government Medical Colleges (The High-Volume Zones) The vast majority of Indian medical students train in state or central government hospitals. The conditions here are characterised by extreme intensity: Infrastructure Deficits: These places are often overcrowded and under-resourced. Interns regularly work in wards lacking central air conditioning, facing broken fans, or short on basic ward supplies (like gloves, specific syringes, or proper patient trolleys). The Patient Influx: Public hospitals are flooded with hundreds of patients every day. While this means the infrastructure is chaotic, it provides unmatched clinical exposure. An intern here will see rare diseases and perform dozens of basic procedures (like drawing blood, putting in IV lines, or suturing wounds) daily. Hygiene and Security Challenges: Wards can be highly congested. Security is a major concern, as overcrowded emergency rooms frequently witness friction between emotionally distressed patient relatives and under-staffed medical teams. 2. Rural Health Centres (The Grassroots Postings) During the mandatory rural rotation, the environment shifts completely: Basic Living Conditions: Interns are usually required to live in residential quarters on-site at a village PHC or CHC. These accommodations can vary from decent to highly compromised, with issues like erratic electricity, poor internet connectivity, and basic plumbing. Limited Diagnostic Tools: Unlike tertiary hospitals, there are no advanced MRI machines or rapid lab results here. Interns must rely purely on basic clinical examination skills, managing snakebites, basic maternal deliveries, and infectious diseases with minimal backup. 3. Private Medical Colleges / Corporate Hospitals For students studying in private institutions, the setting is vastly different: Superior Infrastructure: The working conditions are physically comfortable. Hospitals are clean, fully air-conditioned, technologically advanced, and well-staffed with nurses and ward boys. Lower Administrative Workload: Because these hospitals have dedicated staff for running lab samples or filling paperwork, interns face much less non-clinical scut work. The Downside (Patient Privacy): Because patients pay high fees, they rarely allow a young intern to perform procedures on them. Private hospital interns primarily observe senior consultants rather than getting the intense hands-on experience that their government counterparts get. Ultimately, the place where an MBBS internship is done determines a doctor's initial clinical competence. Government hospitals present brutal physical conditions but elite medical learning, while private institutions offer comfortable conditions but limited independent practical exposure Why Internship Stipend? The question of why MBBS intern students deserve a fair and uniform internship stipend has become a central debate in medical education. After completing four and a half years of rigorous academic study and clearing their final professional exams, MBBS graduates enter a mandatory one-year rotating internship. This period is not just a continuation of their education; it is a transition into full-time clinical service where interns form the backbone of public healthcare delivery. Here is why a robust, standardised internship stipend is a necessity, not a luxury, for MBBS interns. 1. Payment for Essential Clinical Labour MBBS interns are not mere observers; they are frontline healthcare workers. In most government and charitable medical colleges, interns work gruelling shifts that frequently extend from 12 to 24 consecutive hours, sometimes totalling over 80 to 100 hours a week. They manage emergency wards, conduct preliminary patient examinations, dress wounds, draw blood, and assist in major surgeries. Without their labour, the daily operations of major public hospitals would heavily falter. A stipend is the rightful financial compensation for this intense physical and mental labour. 2. Financial Independence and Relief By the time a medical student reaches their internship, they are usually 23 to 25 years old. Dependence on Parents: After a lengthy and expensive education, expecting young adults to continue relying on their parents for basic living expenses (food, rent, utility bills, and books) is unfair and financially draining for families. Loan Repayment: Many students take out substantial educational loans to fund their MBBS. A fair stipend allows them to begin managing their financial obligations and daily expenses independently. 3. Boosting Morale and Mental Well-being Medical internships are notoriously stressful, characterised by high patient loads, sleep deprivation, and exposure to critical trauma. When interns are underpaid or not paid at all, it breeds resentment and severe burnout. Financial anxiety compounded by physical exhaustion severely impacts an intern's mental health. Providing a fair stipend acts as a vital morale booster, making students feel valued by the healthcare system they serve. 4. Preventing Exploitation and Ensuring Equity Currently, there is a massive disparity in stipends across different states and institutions. While interns in some central government institutions receive a substantial amount, their peers in certain state government colleges or private institutions receive a fraction of that, or sometimes nothing at all, despite doing identical work. Mandating a fair, uniform stipend prevents private management from exploiting young doctors as cheap labour. It ensures equity, guaranteeing that a student's compensation is determined by their work, not by the geographical location or funding type of their college. The Current Landscape vs. The Need of the Hour The National Medical Commission (NMC) and various court rulings have repeatedly emphasised that all interns must be paid a stipend fixed by the respective authorities. However, implementation remains uneven. Medical interns are the primary link between patients and senior doctors. Denying them a fair stipend undermines the dignity of the medical profession. Providing a justifiable stipend is an investment in the healthcare system, ensuring that the next generation of doctors is motivated, financially secure, and focused entirely on saving lives. What Internship Stipend should be paid? To enhance and standardise the stipend amount for MBBS intern doctors, both the central and state governments must adopt a coordinated policy framework. Currently, the National Medical Commission (NMC) mandates that interns be paid, but leaves the specific execution and financial liability to individual states and institutions. This creates massive regional disparities. The Supreme Court of India has repeatedly reprimanded defaulting institutions and the NMC, emphasising that medical internships are a matter of right and denying fair compensation is akin to onded labour. A comprehensive policy roadmap should be implemented to ensure fair remuneration. 1. Central Government & NMC Action Plan As the overarching regulatory bodies, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the NMC must set the national benchmark. Establish a National Minimum Stipend Floor: The NMC should amend the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) Regulations to establish a statutory National Minimum Stipend Floor (e.g., 25,00030,000 per month) indexed to inflation. No medical collegegovernment or privateshould be legally allowed to pay below this baseline. Strict Enforcement and Penalties: The NMC must continuously monitor compliance through its mandatory disclosure portal. Institutions failing to pay or delaying stipends should face swift disciplinary actions, including hefty financial penalties or the freezing of seat allocations. Reactivate Regular Central Revision Cycles: The Central Government should resume its strict biennial (two-year) revision cycle for central institutions like AIIMS and central university hospitals. This sets an immediate upward benchmark for state governments to emulate. 2. State Government Action Plan Because public health and state medical colleges fall under provincial jurisdiction, state governments must fix systemic local issues. Implement Equal Pay for Equal Work Across Sectors: State policies must mandate private and minority medical colleges to match the stipend amounts paid by government medical colleges within that state. An intern's clinical duties remain identical regardless of whether a hospital is state-run or privately owned. Automatic Inflation Indexing: State health departments should implement a policy where intern stipends automatically increase by a set percentage (e.g., 5-10%) every two years to account for the rising cost of living, bypassing the need for students to launch mass protests or strikes to seek adjustments. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Systems: To prevent private management from coercing or shortchanging students, states should mandate that all internship stipends be disbursed via a Direct Benefit Transfer system linked directly to the intern's bank account, ensuring complete audit transparency. Rahul Gandhi's vision on internships Rahul Gandhi's vision on internships revolves around the idea that fair compensation and structured training are legal rights for the youth, rather than privileges or cheap labor. As the Leader of the Opposition (LoP), his philosophy shifts the narrative from ad-hoc stipends to a legally enforceable structural framework. This vision can be analyzed through two distinct lenses: his broader national policy for all graduates and his specific stance regarding medical (MBBS) intern doctors. 1. Broad National Vision: The Right to Apprenticeship During his election campaigns and policy announcements, Rahul Gandhi introduced a flagship economic model for young graduates known as the Pehli Naukri Pakki (First Job Guaranteed) scheme. Legally Guaranteed Internships: Modelled after the rights-based approach of MGNREGA, his vision proposes a statutory Right to Apprenticeship Act. This would make it legally mandatory for both government offices and private corporations to take in college graduates and diploma holders under the age of 25 for a one-year internship. National Minimum Stipend Baseline: A core component of this vision is a guaranteed financial floor. He proposed a fixed stipend of 1 lakh per year (equivalent to 8,500 per month) to be transferred directly via DBT into the accounts of the interns. Criticism of Existing Models: Gandhi has frequently criticised current central government internship schemes. He argues that a low-stipend infrastructure results in high refusal rates (claiming up to 90% of youth reject them) because meagre payouts fail to match basic living costs. 2. Emerging Stance on MBBS Intern Doctors The broader philosophy of fair pay for professional work has directly intersected with ongoing medical agitations. Direct Appeals from Medical Interns: Protesting MBBS and BDS internsspecifically highlighted during recent statewide strikes in places like Jammu and Kashmir demanding a stipend hike from 12,300 to 30,000have formally approached Rahul Gandhi to champion their cause on a national stage. Dignity of Labour over Exploitation: Within his political framework, the gruelling 12-to-36-hour shifts clocked by medical interns without timely or adequate compensation align with what he labels administrative exploitation. The core of his vision supports the idea that medical interns are professional healthcare workers whose compensation must mirror their immense clinical responsibilities. Treating Health and Life Insurance as a Non-Negotiable Labour Right: Within his core political philosophywhich views interns as vital frontline workers rather than cheap student labourproviding free health, accident, and disability insurance is a natural extension. In high-risk clinical environments where medical interns face continuous exposure to blood-borne pathogens, needle-stick injuries, and infectious diseases, his vision treats institutional insurance coverage as a primary safety net that the hospital must guarantee. State-Sponsored Group Premium Models: Rather than forcing financially strapped medical students to buy private out-of-pocket policies, the framework aligns with a fully government-funded group welfare model. Similar to the way he has pushed for direct-to-beneficiary safety net expansions (like the 25 Lakh health insurance model in Kerala), his internship vision implies that state and central governments must completely absorb the premium costs for comprehensive medical student insurance during their 12-month rotation. Institutional Protection Against Legal & Negligence Vulnerabilities: Medical interns operate under constant high-pressure clinical supervision. Gandhis rights-based approach supports insulating young doctors through compulsory institutional professional indemnity insurance. This ensures that trainee doctors are protected against potentially crippling personal legal liabilities or allegations of negligence while managing overcrowded public emergency wards and casualties . (The author is pursuing his M.Tech in Power Systems and Control and is a worker of Congress's student organisation, NSUI. Feedback at: fahadpeer07@gmail.com)

A year on, Rs 15 lakh for kin of 4 killed in Leh firing

Ladakh's Lieutenant Governor announced compensation for four protesters killed last September. An ex gratia of Rs 3 lakh for major injuries and Rs 1 lakh for minor injuries was also approved. This follows demonstrations demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards under Schedule Six. Authorities imposed restrictions and arrested over eighty people after the violent protests occurred. Cases against those arrested will be withdrawn and victims will receive compensation.

Smriti Irani congratulates Team India on record eighth Womens Asia Cup triumph

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 14 (IANS) Indias record-extending eighth Womens Asia Cup title drew a celebratory response from former Union Minister Smriti Irani, who hailed the Indian womens cricket team after its emphatic 72-run victory over Sri Lanka in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. India delivered a commanding all-round performance to reclaim the continental crown, overcoming Sri Lanka in the summit clash after losing to the same opposition in the 2024 final. The victory also extended Indias dominance in Asia Cup finals against Sri Lanka, with the Women in Blue now having beaten them six times in title clashes across formats, including the 2004 edition. Reacting to the landmark triumph, Irani congratulated the players and underlined the qualities that powered Indias campaign, while also expressing pride in the teams achievement. India, Indiaaaaaaaa.....Heartiest congratulations to our Indian Womens Cricket Team on winning the Womens Asia Cup 2026. This remarkable triumph reflects the teams hard work, determination and belief. Your performance has made the entire nation proud. Wishing the champions many more victories ahead! India had laid the foundation for the victory with a powerful opening partnership between Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana. The duo added a record 129 runs for the first wicket, putting Sri Lanka under pressure from the outset. Shafali was the aggressor, smashing 68 from just 39 balls. She also produced the fastest half-century in the history of the Womens Asia Cup, reaching the landmark in only 24 deliveries. Mandhana complemented her with a composed 59 off 39 balls. Despite losing momentum in the latter stages, India finished with a formidable 183/5, with G Kamalini contributing a quick 15 from five balls. Sri Lankas chase never gathered sustained momentum. Deepti Sharma struck twice in the 10th over, dismissing captain Chamari Athapaththu for 36 and Vishmi Gunaratne, before Shree Charani took centre stage. Charani claimed four wickets for 20 runs, while Deepti finished with 3-19 as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 111. The 72-run win secured Indias eighth Asia Cup title and completed a dominant campaign with the team starring with both bat and ball.

JAC Stages Protest Demanding Protection of Waqf Lands in Raidurg

JAC president Abdul Wahab said a dispute regarding approximately 510.35 acres of Jamia Nizamia Waqf land had been going on for long.

South Africa Thrash Namibia By 9 Wickets To Complete 3-0 ODI Series Sweep

Bjorn Fortuin's four-wicket haul and aggressive half-centuries from Jordan Hermann and Connor Esterhuizen powered South Africa to a commanding nine-wicket victory over Namibia in the third ODI at the Namibia Cricket Ground on Sunday, completing a 3-0 series sweep.

AVC Men's Volleyball Asian Cships: Japan beat Iran in final to qualify for LA28

Digital Desk | Kitakyushu, Sep 13 (IANS) Japan booked their place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games after defeating Iran 3-0 in the final of the AVC Mens Volleyball Asian Championship on Sunday, successfully defending their continental title on home soil. The hosts produced a composed performance in Kitakyushu to beat Iran 25-21, 26-24, 25-23 and claim their 12th Asian Championship crown. The victory also secured Japan one of the qualification quotas for the 2028 Olympics, where they will join the United States as the first two teams to earn their places in the mens volleyball tournament. Japans latest continental triumph came against familiar opponents, with Iran appearing in the Asian Championship final for the third consecutive edition. The two sides had also met in the Nations League in June, when Japan prevailed in a five-set contest. The straight-sets victory on Sunday strengthened Japans advantage in their long-standing rivalry, taking their head-to-head record to 29-18. Takahashi Ran played a key role in Japans successful title defence, scoring 17 points in the final and finishing the tournament with a competition-best 22 service aces. He was subsequently named the tournaments Most Valuable Player. Despite securing Olympic qualification, Takahashi insisted Japans ambitions extend beyond simply making it to Los Angeles. The only thing left for us to do now is to win a medal (at LA28), he said. Weve earned the right to do so. We have a lot of time to prepare at home to build a strong Japan team. This is not our goal, so we have to put together a team good enough to medal in LA, he added. Takahashi also acknowledged that Japan still had areas to address despite its emphatic victory over Iran. This was the final. There was a distinct atmosphere, and our opponents were going to compete to the end. So to come away with the win tonight I think means a lot. Looking back on the performance, we dropped a lot of easy points, so I think there are a lot of areas where we can improve, he stated. Coach Laurent Tillie, the former France coach who guided his country to Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020, praised the players for completing a demanding campaign with the continental title and Olympic qualification. Its truly fantastic, said Tillie. Its a miracle. Last season was difficult for us, and this season also was challenging and felt very long. So I think its brilliant to be able to cap it off with a victory from the bottom of my heart. The qualification makes Japan the second Japanese team to secure a berth at LA28, following the countrys rhythmic gymnastics team's feat in August. Takahashi, setter Fukatsu Hideomi and middle blocker Onodera Taishi were named in the tournaments Dream Team, alongside Irans Ali Hajipour, Poriya Khanzadeh and Seyed Eisa, and Republic of Korea libero Park Kyeong-min. Japans Olympic participation remains subject to selection by its National Olympic Committee.

INS Sudarshini sets sail from Italy, carries spirit of maritime partnership and vision of MAHASAGAR

Digital Desk | Rome, Sep 13 (IANS) The Indian Navy's sail training ship, INS Sudarshini, set sail from Livorno in Italy, after completion of a successful port call, the Ministry of Defence said on Sunday. The Indian Navys sail training ship, INS Sudarshini, set sail from Livorno, Italy, on September 12 on completion of a successful port call. During her stay, the ship participated in a series of professional interactions and cross-training visits, strengthening bonds of friendship and maritime partnership between the two nations, the Ministry said. Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto, Chief of the Italian Navy, visited INS Sudarshini and interacted with the ship's crew and trainees. He was briefed on the ship's voyage and training activities. The engagement reflected the expanding maritime cooperation and longstanding friendship between India and Italy. Taking to social media platform X on Saturday, the Indian Embassy in Rome said: During her port call at Livorno, INS Sudarshini had the honour of hosting Admiral Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto, Chief of the Italian Navy. He was briefed about the ship's activities and interacted with the crew as well as cadets. The visit highlighted the enduring friendship and growing India-Italy maritime cooperation. Indian Ambassador to Italy Vani Rao also visited INS Sudarshini at Livorno and interacted with officers, sailors and cadets on board. She welcomed Italian dignitaries who attended the onboard reception. Ambassador Rao highlighted the longstanding IndiaItaly maritime linkages, strategic convergences and efforts to strengthen maritime security cooperation. She wished the crew fair winds, following seas and success for the Lokayan26 voyage, the Indian Embassy said on X. INS Sudarshini Commanding Officer (Commander Ravikanth Nandoori) called on Rear Admiral Alberto Tarabotto, Italian Naval Academy Commandant, and shared experiences from the ongoing expedition. Interactions were also held with Luca Salvetti, Mayor of Livorno, and Edoardo Lombardi, Vice Prefect of Livorno. As part of the training exchanges, Indian sea trainees visited ITS Virginio Fasan and the Italian Naval Academy, while Italian naval personnel visited INS Sudarshini, fostering professional cooperation and mutual understanding, the Ministry of Defence noted. A deck reception was hosted onboard, attended by senior Italian naval officers, local authorities, diplomatic representatives and distinguished guests. As INS Sudarshini continues her voyage as part of Lokayan 2026, she carries forward the spirit of maritime partnership and the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), the Ministry said.

PM Modi hails Indias Junior Asia Cup double, lauds immense talent of young hockey stars

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 13 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated Indias junior mens and womens hockey teams after they swept the Junior Asia Cup titles in Moqi, China, with the men successfully defending their crown and the women completing a hat-trick of triumphs in the tournament. PM Modi hailed the performances of both teams, highlighting the determination and talent displayed by Indias young hockey players. A proud moment for Indian hockey! Congratulations to our Junior Womens Hockey Team on retaining the Asia Cup with a superb unbeaten campaign. Their success reflects the talent and determination of the players. Best wishes to the entire team, PM Modi wrote on X. The Indian womens team defeated hosts China 1-0 in the final, with Sanika Chandrakant Mane scoring the decisive goal in the 17th minute. The victory extended Indias dominance in the competition, following title-winning campaigns in 2023 and 2024. The Prime Minister also praised the junior mens side after their emphatic 4-1 victory over South Korea in the final. Congratulations to our Junior Mens Hockey Team on winning the Asia Cup with an emphatic 4-1 win in the final. It is indeed a remarkable achievement. This feat reflects the immense talent of our young players. Best wishes to the entire team, he wrote in another post. Indias men produced a commanding display in the title clash, with Ajeet Yadav, Anmol Ekka, Prabhdeep Singh and Ashu Maurya finding the net against South Korea. The triumph was particularly significant for the mens team as India became the first side in the history of the Junior Asia Cup to win the title four times in a row. The double triumph in China also secured Indias qualification for the Junior Hockey World Cup, with both the mens and womens teams earning their places at the global tournament by winning their respective continental titles.

Wrong ITR form costs trader 26.69 lakh in tax demandITAT gives major relief

The ITAT holds that selecting the incorrect ITR form does not justify taxing the same business income twice

Ladakh LG sanctions Rs 1.52 crore aid for statehood protest violence victims

Leh, Sep 13: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Sunday sanctioned Rs 15 lakh each to the next of kin of the four persons who lost their lives in the September 24 violence last year in Leh. Leh witnessed large-scale protests last year, demanding statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to Ladakh. Violence erupted during the agitation, leaving four people dead and scores injured allegedly in police firing. An ex-gratia assistance of Rs 3 lakh for persons who sustained major injuries and Rs 1 lakh for those who sustained minor injuries has also been approved, a Lok Bhavan spokesman said. He said the total financial commitment of the administration under the approved compensation measures will be Rs 1.52 crore, comprising Rs 60 lakh for the four deceased, Rs 72 lakh for 24 persons with major injuries and Rs 20 lakh for 20 persons with minor injuries. The incident had resulted in the loss of four lives, while 43 civilians sustained major or minor injuries. As Ladakh did not have a general policy prescribing compensation in cases of death or injury arising from incidents of public unrest or rioting, the administration examined the matter with a view to extending appropriate humanitarian assistance to the affected families and individuals. Saxena, after taking over in March this year, accorded priority to the matter and worked towards finalising an appropriate compensation package for the affected families and injured persons, the spokesperson said, adding that the compensation is intended as a measure of support and solidarity with the affected families and individuals. He expressed his deep gratitude to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his sensitive, humanitarian and guiding approach, and for always standing in solidarity with the victims and their families. While no compensation amount can replace a life lost or erase the pain endured, the Ladakh Administration firmly stands beside every affected family in their journey towards healing and overcoming the grief, Saxena said.

Imposing Emergency not our culture, dissent essential to democracy: HM Shah on Gen Z protests

Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 13 (IANS) Asserting that open dialogue and consensus-building form the core tenets of the current administration, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday stated that running the government by imposing an Emergency is ot our culture, contrasting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) governance philosophy with that of the opposition Congress. HM Shah made these remarks during a press conference responding to media queries regarding the societal and political impacts of recent Gen Z student demonstrations across the nation. Addressing questions on public unrest and youth-led protests, the Home Minister emphasised that dissent is a fundamental feature of democratic governance. We live in a vibrant democracy. People naturally hold diverse views on various issues, and expressing those opinions is essential, HM Shah remarked. Our government does not believe in governing by declaring an Emergency. That reflects the culture of the Congress party. Our ethos is fundamentally differentwe prioritise open discussion, engagement, and continuous dialogue with citizens, he said. Maintaining a firm stance on national security alongside democratic discourse, the Home Minister reiterated the government's resolve regarding illegal immigration, asserting that every illegal infiltrator will be identified and deported from the country. During the press conference, HM Shah announced the BJP-led National Democratic Alliances (NDA) upcoming 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan', scheduled to take place across the country from September 17 to October 17. The initiative marks Prime Minister Narendra Modis completion of 25 continuous years in high public office, spanning his tenures as Chief Minister of Gujarat and subsequently as Prime Minister of India. Highlighting PM Modis self-identification as the nations Pradhan Sevak (Prime Servant), the Home Minister noted that the campaign will showcase major policy breakthroughs while organising public welfare activities nationwide. The month-long campaign features a structured 12-point action plan designed to drive developmental and social engagement across every block and taluka level. The Seva Setu Abhiyan will be launched to ensure total saturation and delivery of central government welfare schemes at the local level. Nationwide blood donation drives, specialised Anganwadi services, and community outreach programmes (Namo Seva) will also be organised, said HM Shah. He added that there will be Seva Jyoti Kalash Yatra, cultural musical-theatrical performances, and bidirectional pilgrimage journeys connecting Vadnagar and Varanasi. The Home Minister underscored Prime Minister Modis unique milestone of serving continuously for 25 years as head of governmentfirst as Chief Minister of Gujarat and subsequently as Prime Minister of India. He paid tribute to the Prime Minister's leadership philosophy, noting that it aligns with Guru Nanaks teachings and the ideals of Saint Samarth Ramdass concept of 'Upbhog Shunya Swami' (a leader who serves without personal self-interest or desire for consumption), defining himself as the nation's Pradhan Sevak (Prime Servant). Contrasting current administration outcomes with earlier eras, HM Shah stated that prior to 2014, the nation was heavily stymied by corruption, casteism, and dynastic politics. Under PM Modi's leadership, these systemic issues have been decisively eradicated, the Home Minister said. India has pulled 25 crore people out of poverty, established itself as the worlds fastest-growing major economy, significantly enhanced its global standing, and strengthened the value of the Indian passport, he added. The Home Minister further said, Direct benefit transfers arrive straight into bank accounts, and 13 crore farmers are receiving financial support through the PM-Kisan scheme. Further, 11 crore families have benefited from the Ujjwala Gas scheme, and 3 crore women have been empowered to become Lakhpati Didis. Through the modernisation and expansion of railways, India has reached the next level. We revoked Article 370 without shedding a single drop of blood. We have developed culturally significant landmark sites such as the Ram Mandir and Kashi Vishwanath, and successfully executed groundbreaking space missions like Chandrayaan-3, he noted.

Manipur govt urges civil society groups to withdraw agitations over NRC updation

Digital Desk | Imphal, Sep 13 (IANS) The Manipur government on Sunday urged Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to withdraw their ongoing agitations, including the closure of Central and state government offices, over their demand for updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state. State government spokespersons Thokchom Radheshyam Singh and Sapam Ranjan Singh, both ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs, said that the closure of Central and state government offices as part of the agitations by CSOs, including the Campaign for Justice and Fair Delimitation (CJFD), was causing suffering and inconvenience to the general public. They appealed to all concerned not to add more misery to the sufferings and inconveniences of the public. Addressing a press conference, Radheshyam Singh said that the state government is fully aware of the CJFD's demand and the people of Manipur also want the NRC be conducted before the Census-2027. He added that the recently held session of the Manipur Assembly reaffirmed its earlier resolution to update the NRC before the Census-2027, and Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has conveyed the same to the Central government. Radheshyam Singh added that on the last day of the recently-concluded Assembly session, a discussion regarding the base year of the NRC with 1951 took place in the House and the matter has already been conveyed to the Union Home Ministry. He said that following the campaign by the members of the Manipur Assembly in New Delhi, the Chief Minister, too, conveyed the Central leaders about the people's desire. Consequently, the Union Home Ministry has also postponed the Census process, the spokesman said. Against this backdrop, the CJFD has intensified its agitation by calling for the closure of government offices. Such an agitation may lead to various undesirable incidents and affect the functioning of the state government, he added. Radheshyam Singh also appealed to the CJFD not to intensify the agitation and also urged the organisations not to continue such activities for a prolonged period, as protracted agitation in the state could cause greater inconvenience to the people. He appealed all the sections of the public o give peace a chance in Manipur and to support the endeavours of the current government in restoring normalcy in the state. The spokespersons also made it clear during the press meet that state Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh along with some other MLAs are camping in New Delhi for the past few days to pressurise the Centre regarding the updation of NRC, 1951. They also expressed that it is highly hopeful that Centre will act as per the wishes of the people of the state. Meanwhile, the State Assembly's latest move on September 2 came amid massive agitations by various CSOs, mainly in the five districts of the Imphal Valley region -- Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching -- demanding the updation of the NRC before the conduct of Census-2027. The CJFD and various other CSOs have been holding massive agitations in the Imphal Valley region since August 17, demanding the updation of the NRC before the Census exercise is undertaken. A day before its pre-schedule start, the Central government on August 31 announced to defer the Census-2027 exercise in Manipur amid continuing protests and demands by various CSOs for the updation of the NRC before the conduct of the Census-2027 in the state. Meanwhile, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC), the apex body of the Kuki-Zo tribal community in Manipur, has opposed the demand for the updation of the NRC before the Census operations in 2027. KZC Spokesperson Ginza Vualzong had said that there is no constitutional provision for conducting an NRC exercise exclusively in a particular state. The NRC is a national exercise. The Assam NRC was undertaken pursuant to the Assam Accord of 1985. Therefore, any attempt to conduct an NRC exclusively in Manipur is not only discriminatory but also unconstitutional, he added.

Fortuin Fires South Africa to ODI Series Sweep Over Namibia

Bjorn Fortuin's four-wicket haul sparked Namibia's collapse before Jordan Hermann and Connor Esterhuizen powered South Africa's chase, sealing a commanding nine-wicket win and 3-0 ODI series sweep.

Delhi E-Rickshaw Driver Murdered

An e-rickshaw driver, Abhishek, was stabbed to death by unidentified assailants in Delhi's Shahbad Dairy area. His family and locals protested by blocking a road with his body, demanding justice. Police have registered a case, formed multiple teams, and are investigating the incident, examining CCTV footage to identify the accused.

CPI(M) urges Centre to announce 1 lakh crore package for drought-hit farmers in Andhra Pradesh

The State has suffered crop losses of 5.40 lakh crore, says party State secretary Srinivasa Rao, demanding that drought-affected mandals be declared immediately and 50,000 each be given to the affected families

'SP link emerges in 90 pc of crimes': UP Minister on Jaunpur murder

Digital Desk | Lucknow, Sep 13 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Minister Anil Rajbhar on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Samajwadi Party (SP) over the murder of a 22-year-old man in Jaunpur, after the victim's family accused a local SP MLA of shielding the prime accused, saying that whenever a crime takes place anywhere in the state, an SP connection is revealed in most cases. Vishal Yadav, a 22-year-old resident of Jaunpur, was allegedly brutally beaten to death with iron rods and sticks in broad daylight at the Ramdayalganj market in the district on September 11, 2026. The incident has sparked a major political controversy, with Vishal's family accusing Samajwadi Party MLA Lucky Yadav of protecting the alleged prime accused, Manish Yadav. Speaking to IANS, Rajbhar said, In the Vishal Yadav murder case, the victim's family has filed a serious complaint against the local SP MLA. The government will ensure strict action against the culprits by conducting an impartial investigation into the entire matter. Whenever a crime is committed in the state, an SP connection surfaces in 90 per cent of the cases, he said. Rajbhar said the state government had adopted a clear policy of taking strict action not only against those involved in criminal activities but also against individuals accused of providing protection or shelter to criminals. Action in such cases should be taken that sets an example for the future. The allegations made by Vishal Yadav's family will also be investigated seriously, he said. The minister further said that the government would continue taking action in the matter until the victim's family was completely satisfied with the steps taken by the authorities. The murder took place on September 11 when Vishal Yadav was returning home on a motorcycle along with his friend Sandeep after visiting a salon. According to the officials, a group of attackers intercepted the two at the Ramdayalganj market and knocked them off the motorcycle before allegedly launching a brutal assault on Vishal with iron rods and batons. Vishal sustained severe injuries in the attack and later died, triggering anger among his family members and residents. Following the incident, Vishal's family staged a protest by placing his body on the Jaunpur-Mirzapur highway, demanding action against those responsible for his death. Police have registered an FIR against 28 named accused and 50 unidentified individuals in connection with the murder. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack and the allegations levelled by the victim's family is underway. Vishal, who was the sole support for his family, used to earn a living by driving a trailer in Gujarat.

Manasi Joshi Roy reminisces about connecting with Lord Ganesha ahead of Ganpati celebrations

Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 13 (IANS) Actress Manasi Joshi Roy, who essays the titular role in the television show Lakshmi Niwas, has recollected when she first connected with Lord Ganpati ahead of the Ganpati celebrations in the entertainment capital of the country. The actress reflected on cultural significance of festivities while growing up in a Gujarati Brahmin household in Mumbai. Talking about the same, she told IANS, Growing up in a Gujarati Brahmin household his presence was always there in my life. But the moment we both connected was in 1992. That was the year I met & fell in love with the man who is my husband today. And as we stood together doing Aarti at his aunts house ;Like any young girl newly in love I was praying that all would be well in our relationship & I felt an unknown pull, a connect which seemed to tell me that HE was listening to my prayers. And subsequently every year I would stand in front of HIM & pray for love & happiness. Life still was full of ups & downs but my Faith in HIM & other beliefs helped me to ride every storm. She took a walk down the memory lane, as she spoke about bringing Lord Ganpati home during the 1st year of her marriage to actor Rohit Roy. She further mentioned, One such year as I had stood there doing Aarti I had taken a mannat (vow) that I would bring him home when I got married. And so that one time he came to our house in the 1st year of my marriage in 1999. It felt beautiful & right, holy & spiritual. Many years passed after that & he has retained his special place in my temple & my heart. In 2008, my 6 year old daughter came home the day before Ganesh Chaturthi demanding to know why we weren't getting Ganu home? My brother in law had been bringing him home since many years & she had just come back from their house where all the preparations were in full swing. This had excited her & she wanted all that festivity in her house too. So like any indulgent parents we decided to bring HIM home that year. Off we rushed to choose the Murti , the decorator was called, sweets, flowers & fruits ordered, friends & relatives invited & we were ready to welcome him home. And somewhere in our hearts we were glad that she had insisted we bring him home because we wanted to have his presence in our house too. We loved the festivity & the fervour that went on for these 10 days. And I always felt a deep sense of gratitude when I stood in front of him. During the 1st Aarti I'd inevitably get tears in my eyes, she added. Lakshmi Niwas airs on Zee TV.

Tejashwi Yadav accuses Centre of 'stepmotherly' treatment in Bihar flood relief

Tejashwi Yadav criticises the Centre's alleged stepmotherly treatment of Bihar regarding flood relief. He stated Prime Minister Narendra Modi provides quick assurances for Gujarat's flood situations. Yadav mentioned writing to the Prime Minister demanding national disaster status and financial aid. He questioned the Bihar Chief Minister's ability to secure central assistance for the state. The opposition leader claimed his letters to the Prime Minister received no response.

Noida DM moves SC against Allahabad HC order reprimanding her for student's detention under NSA

A district magistrate has appealed to the Supreme Court against a High Court order. The High Court directed a Rs 5 lakh deduction from her salary. This deduction was for the detention of a student under the National Security Act. The court had quashed the student's detention, calling it concocted. It also criticized bureaucratic conduct and ordered compensation recovery.

Kashmirs Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Malla completes 72-Km Khardung La Challenge

Leh, Sep 11: Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Malla of Kutabradie, Kulgam, has achieved a remarkable feat of endurance by successfully completing the 72-km Khardung La Challenge, one of the worlds toughest high-altitude ultra-marathons. Dr Malla completed the gruelling race, organised as part of the 13th Ladakh Marathon, which was held on September 11 and took runners through the challenging terrain of Ladakh to Khardung La at an altitude of 17,618 feet. The official event website describes the Khardung La Challenge as one of the highest and most demanding ultra-marathons in the world. According to race-related information, Dr Malla completed the 72-km challenge in 11 hours, 20 minutes and 9 seconds, enduring extreme altitude, thin air and demanding mountain terrain. A medical doctor and hybrid athlete, Dr Malla has built his endurance career through participation in challenging races, including the Border Ultra in Jaisalmer and the Goa Ultra, before taking on the Khardung La Challenge. His achievement is being described as a landmark accomplishment for endurance sport in Kashmir, with Dr Malla reported to be the first athlete from the Kashmir Valley to complete the Khardung La Challenge. Speaking about his achievement, Dr Malla dedicated the accomplishment to the youth of Kashmir and urged young people to embrace fitness, discipline and a healthy lifestyle. If my journey inspires even one young person to choose health and discipline, that is true success, he said. The 2026 Khardung La Challenge brought together ultra-runners from across the country for a demanding test of physical endurance and mental resilience. A total of 477 ultra-runners participated in the two high-altitude ultra events of the Ladakh Marathon this year, including the 72-km Khardung La Challenge and the 122-km Silk Route Ultra. (Ladakh Administration) Dr Mallas achievement adds another notable chapter to Kashmirs growing presence in endurance and adventure sports.

Tragic Accident Claims Lives of Couple in Ranchi, Villagers Protest by Blocking Road

A couple dies after being hit by a speeding truck in Ranchi, leading to protests by locals demanding justice and compensation. Tragic Accident Claims Lives of Couple in Ranchi, Villagers Protest by Blocking Road

England's Stokes retirement, McCullum exit, Carse row & Root return end in 3-0 sweep

England triumphed with a commanding 3-0 Test series win against Pakistan, with returning captain Joe Root commending the team's ability to adapt amidst significant turmoil. The players showcased impressive resilience and execution, building on the foundation set by earlier coaches and leaders. This victory highlights their capacity to overcome challenges both on and off the field.

Umar Khalid News | Umar Khalid Documentary Screening Sparks Row At Bengaluru Law University

A controversy has erupted at Bengaluru's National Law School of India University (NLSIU) over a proposed screening of a documentary on Umar Khalid. The ABVP has opposed the event, alleging concerns over Khalid's past involvement in protests and demanding that the university cancel the screening.

Sun Xinran Wins US Open Junior Title; Penickova Sisters Clinch Doubles Crown

Chinas Sun Xinran claimed her maiden Grand Slam junior singles title at the US Open, defeating Russias Anna Pushkareva in a gripping three-set final. In a repeat of the Wimbledon showdown, Sun avenged her London loss with a commanding 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 victory that lasted one hour and 47 minutes. The 16-year-old top-ranked junior showcased [] The post Sun Xinran Wins US Open Junior Title; Penickova Sisters Clinch Doubles Crown appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .

Mumbai: BEST electric bus catches fire in Chembur, no injuries reported

A fire broke out in the battery box of a BEST electric bus near Kalimata Mandir in Chembur on Sunday morning. The Mumbai Fire Brigade, police and BEST personnel responded, with the blaze extinguished by 9:34 am. No injuries were reported

Bhuban Ganesh Puja to Get Vrindavan

Preparations for Ganesh Puja have gathered pace in Bhuban, with a grand toran inspired by Vrindavans famous Prem Mandir set to emerge as one of the major attractions of this years celebrations. The puja committee has intensified preparations for the elaborate structure, which is expected to draw the attention of devotees and visitors once construction [] The post Bhuban Ganesh Puja to Get Vrindavans Prem Mandir-Themed Grand Toran This Year appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .

ADGP Armed Nitish Kumar Visits APC Mattan, Reviews Facilities ,Welfare Measures

Srinagar : Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Armed, J&K, Nitish Kumar, IPS, accompanied by DIG Armed, Kashmir Range, Maqsood-ul-Zaman, IPS, visited the Armed Police Complex (APC) Mattan in Anantnag and reviewed the administrative, welfare and training facilities available for police personnel. On his arrival, the ADGP was accorded a Guard of Honour by contingents of the 17 JKAP IR Battalion. He also paid homage to police martyrs at the Martyrs Gallery, honouring their sacrifice and service to the nation. During the visit, Kumar inspected various facilities at APC Mattan, including administrative blocks, barracks, MT and equipment stores and the gymnasium. He took stock of the facilities and welfare measures being provided to the personnel. A Joint Darbar of personnel from the 10, 11 and 17 JKAP IR Battalions was also held during the visit. The ADGP interacted with the personnel, heard their grievances and issued directions for the prompt redressal of genuine issues. He underlined that personnel welfare, morale and a conducive working environment remain key priorities. The ADGP also inaugurated several newly established facilities at APC Mattan, stressing the importance of continuous professional development and capacity building. Addressing the personnel, Kumar called for further strengthening of training programmes, with emphasis on physical fitness, mental well-being, discipline and operational preparedness. He encouraged personnel to participate regularly in sports and physical activities at unit and company levels. He also advised police personnel to stay away from drugs, excessive online gambling and other harmful habits, urging them to adopt healthy, disciplined and constructive lifestyles. As part of the visit, the ADGP participated in a tree plantation drive at the APC premises, planting Deodar and Chinar saplings. The initiative highlighted the importance of environmental conservation and creating a greener and sustainable environment. The ADGP further directed all Commanding Officers to meet the families of martyrs and retired police personnel at least twice a month, listen to their concerns and ensure timely redressal of genuine issues. DIG SKR Anantnag Javid Iqbal Matoo, SSP Anantnag Amod Ashok Nagpuri , SSP SO to ADGP Armed J&K Dalip Kumar, SSP/CO 10 JKAP IR Mohd Majid Malik, SP/I/C CO 17 JKAP IR Zahid Samoon, SP/I/C CO 11 JKAP IR Rahil Marchal, and DySP (S) and Private Secretary to ADGP Armed Syed Sajad Hussain, besides other officers, were present on the occasion.

Amid rising electricity demand and protests, TN taps generators, open market

Digital Desk | Chennai, Sep 13 (IANS) Tamil Nadu has moved to purchase an additional 2,000 MW of electricity from power-generating companies and the open market after prolonged hot weather and weak wind generation placed the states electricity network under pressure. The Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) initiated the emergency procurement amid a steep rise in consumption and reports of supply disruptions in several districts. The corporation expects the additional power to help bridge the demand-supply gap and maintain uninterrupted distribution. The action follows public complaints about unannounced outages lasting up to an hour in some areas. Residents also staged protests at several places, alleging load-shedding without advance notice and demanding immediate measures to restore reliable electricity supply. Explaining the situation, Electricity Minister R. Nirmalkumar said a sudden fall in wind energy production had caused a power shortage in Tamil Nadu for two consecutive days. He said similar supply constraints had affected several states and were not confined to Tamil Nadu. The Minister said the electricity required to bridge the deficit was procured from the common power supply pool on Friday evening. Following the procurement, the power supply across Tamil Nadu had stabilised, he added. In a statement issued on Saturday, TNPDCL said summer-like weather had continued much longer than anticipated this year, pushing electricity consumption considerably higher. The persistent heat increased the use of air conditioners, fans and other cooling appliances in households, commercial establishments and offices. At the same time, lower wind speeds adversely affected generation from wind energy installations, an important source of electricity for the state during this period. The fall in wind power availability also led to technical problems, including occasional voltage fluctuations in parts of the distribution network. TNPDCL said arrangements were being made to secure an additional 2,000 MW from different sources so that the widening gap between supply and demand could be managed effectively. The corporation is also monitoring the electricity network and demand pattern to prevent further disruptions. Officials said power availability would be reviewed regularly and additional purchases would be made whenever required. TNPDCL assured consumers that all necessary steps were being taken to maintain stable supply and minimise inconvenience while weather conditions and wind generation remained unfavourable.

MMF launches free Moul Mouj Dementia helpline across J&K

Responding to a growing and urgent demand for dementia support from families across Jammu and Kashmir, Moul Mouj Foundation (MMF) today launched a free dedicated Moul Mouj Dementia Helpline offering tele-consultation, counselling and caregiver support across Jammu and Kashmir, coinciding with World Alzheimers Month. The initiative comes amid growing concern over dementia in the region. A nationwide study published in Alzheimers & Dementia reported a dementia prevalence of 11.04% among people aged 60 and above in J&K, compared with a national estimate of 7.4%. The live helpline will operate Monday to Saturday, 8:009:00 PM, addressing the difficult evening hours when dementia-related confusion and agitation often worsen. A 24/7 WhatsApp service will also allow caregivers to seek guidance and receive tailored care and digital resources. All services are free. Caring for a loved one with dementia is an incredibly demanding journey, particularly during the evening when behavioural challenges often peak, said Dr Zubair Saleem, Founder of MMF and leading geriatrician. This helpline ensures that caregivers are never alone when they need support most. Beyond tele-consultation, MMF will provide customised caregiver digital kits, behavioural logs and home-safety checklists, based on the patients needs. Dementia affects the entire family, not just the patient, said Dr Shakeel ur Rehman, Secretary General, MMF. We aim to combine clinical advice with practical tools and counselling that can reduce caregiver stress and improve quality of life. Families can access the service by calling the helpline 1800-20-30-337 or 6005463346 on weekdays from 8:009:00 PM, or messaging the team on WhatsApp at 6005463346.

ACB chargesheets ex Patwari, associate in Udhampur bribery case

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jammu and Kashmir, on Saturday produced a charge sheet against a former Patwari and another accused in a bribery case registered in 2023 before the Court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Udhampur. The charge sheet has been filed in FIR No. 01/2023 registered at Police Station ACB Udhampur under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018, against Darbinder Singh, the then Patwari of Patwar Halqa Rasli Gadheran, Basantgarh, Udhampur, and Nashar Ahmad, son of Mohd Iqbal, a resident of Basantgarh. According to the ACB, the case originated from a written complaint lodged by Bodh Raj, a resident of Rasli Gadheran, who alleged that he had applied for issuance of a fard (land record extract) in connection with the proposed sale of his land to one Madan Lal. The complainant alleged that after approaching the then Patwari, Darbinder Singh, for issuance of the fard, the official demanded a bribe from him. The complaint was subsequently verified by an officer of the ACB Udhampur-Reasi Branch. During verification, the allegations were found to be genuine, following which a formal case was registered, and a trap was laid by the anti-corruption agency. The ACB stated that during the trap operation, Darbinder Singh, the then Patwari, and Nashar Ahmad, who was driving the vehicle bearing registration number JK02BV-9048, were allegedly caught red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount from the complainant. During the investigation, the ACB collected documentary and other evidence and concluded that the offence punishable under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018, had been established against the accused persons. Accordingly, the charge sheet was presented before the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Udhampur, on Saturday for further judicial proceedings. The filing of the charge sheet marks the culmination of the investigation conducted by the ACB in the bribery case, with the matter now before the competent court for further proceedings in accordance with law.

Ruhullah joins veterinary students strike, seeks stipend hike

Srinagar, Sep 12:Srinagar Lok Sabha MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Saturday joined protesting veterinary interns at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shuhama campus, and pressed the Jammu and Kashmir administration to urgently address their demand for an increase in the monthly stipend. The veterinary interns, protesting under the banner of the Jammu and Kashmir Veterinary Students Association (JKVSA), have been holding a peaceful protest at the campus for the past six days. The students are demanding parity with veterinary interns in other parts of the country, pointing out that their monthly stipend of Rs 6,000 to Rs 9,000 has remained unchanged for years. They are seeking an increase to Rs 20,00023,000. Expressing solidarity with the protesters, Ruhullah said veterinary professionals play an important role in public health and should be provided dignified stipends and safe working conditions. He questioned the rationale behind paying interns as little as Rs 6,000 a month, saying students who spend years pursuing professional education should not be expected to work for such a meagre amount. Ruhullah also raised broader concerns concerning medical interns and reservation, saying an elected government should listen to the grievances of those who elected it. He urged Agriculture Minister Javed Ahmad Dar to meet the protesting students and address their concerns. Ruhullah said he would wait for a day or two for the department or senior authorities to engage with the students. The Agriculture Minister is a good person. I know him and he has been my friend. I am sure he will connect with the students, Ruhullah said. He warned that if no engagement takes place, he would involve more people and amplify the issue. The MP assured the students that he would continue to advocate for their concerns and raise their grievances with the administration if the matter was not resolved promptly.

Pahalgam echoes through BRICS

New Delhi, Sep 12:The BRICS grouping strongly condemned the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack in its 'New Delhi Declaration' adopted on Saturday and called for zero tolerance towards cross-border terrorism, while demanding that all perpetrators and their sponsors be brought to justice. The comprehensive 45-page document, titled 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability', marked a unified stance by the bloc against global terror, illegal financial flows, cyber fraud and emerging cross-border scam networks. Leading the security outcomes of the declaration, member nations condemned the April 22, 2025 terror strike in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, mainly tourists, and left scores injured. We express strong condemnation of any acts of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed, the BRICS declaration said, while explicitly citing the deadly attack at Baisaran meadows in Kashmir's Pahalgam area last year. Reaffirming their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, the member states called for tackling the cross-border movement of terrorists, terrorism financing, and safe havens. We reiterate that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group and that all those involved in terrorist activities and their support must be held accountable and brought to justice in accordance with relevant national and international law, the joint statement said. Demanding an unyielding stance against terror networks, the declaration said, We urge to ensure zero tolerance for terrorism and reject double standards in countering terrorism. We emphasise the primary responsibility of States in combating terrorism. The ruling BJP said the Delhi Declaration represents a significant diplomatic win for India. No ambiguity. No double standards. On Pahalgam, BRICS is on the same page. Under PM Narendra Modi ji, India has turned its fight against terrorism into a global diplomatic consensus, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said. Big diplomatic win for India. BRICS stands united against terrorism, he said on X. The BRICS leaders also pressed for the expeditious finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN framework and called for concerted actions against all UN-designated terrorists and terrorist entities. The declaration welcomed the activities of the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group (CTWG) and its five Subgroups based upon the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Strategy, the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Action Plan and the CTWG Position Paper. We look forward to further deepening counter-terrorism cooperation. We call for an expeditious finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN framework. We call for concerted actions against all UN-designated terrorists and terrorist entities, it said. The bloc further stressed the need to counter extremism and radicalisation, especially among the younger generations, through shared best practices. We also emphasise the importance of countering extremism and radicalisation especially among the younger generations and further stress the need to enhance cooperation among the BRICS countries and their competent authorities, including through sharing of best practices, it said. Beyond counter-terrorism, the declaration expressed serious concern over illicit financial flows, drug trafficking proceeds, money laundering, and the criminal misuse of virtual assets. The member states took strong note of modern financial security threats, saying we express serious concerns over the proliferation of organised scam networks, including cross-border fraud operations and so-called scam compounds, which exploit digital technologies, payment systems and individuals in vulnerable situations. Underlining the need for joint enforcement, the declaration said: We underline the importance of coordinated international action to dismantle these illegal networks, trace and recover criminal proceeds, protect victims, and prevent the misuse of financial institutions and emerging payment methods for large-scale fraud. To curb economic crimes, the leaders urged enhanced cross-border cooperation among financial intelligence units, customs authorities, law enforcement agencies, tax authorities, telecom providers and technology platforms using data analytics and information sharing to effectively disrupt complex money laundering schemes.pti

India clinches consensus on UN reform

New Delhi, Sep 12:Prime Minister Narendra Modi secured a major diplomatic triumph on Saturday as leaders of the expanded BRICS bloc unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration, enshrining support for Indias bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, pushing back against Western trade barriers, and initiating concrete moves toward financial clearing mechanisms that bypass the US dollar. The 140-point joint declaration, agreed on the opening day of the two-day summit at the Bharat Mandapam convention centre, marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the grouping. The document capped months of extensive negotiations led by New Delhi across more than 400 meetings in 30 Indian cities, framing India as the central bridge between an increasingly polarized West and a demanding Global South. Convening under the Indian presidencys theme Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability, the heads of state of the newly expanded bloc issued their most forceful challenge yet to the post-World War II global order. The communiqu declared that current multilateral architectures are fundamentally misaligned with contemporary multipolar realities and called for structural decentralisation across international politics and finance. In a direct endorsement of Indias core strategic goal, permanent Security Council members China and Russia explicitly reiterated their backing for the aspirations of India and Brazil to play a greater role in the United Nations, including permanent membership on the Security Council. The declaration similarly endorsed the legitimate aspirations of African states under the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, demanding that council reform amplify developing voices. The summit took aim at executive appointments across international bodies, highlighting that in the ongoing selection of the next UN Secretary-General, no woman has ever been elected, while only two nationals from Asia, two from Africa, and one from Latin America have ever held the role. Invoking Article 101 of the UN Charter, leaders demanded an end to national monopolies over senior executive posts and deplored efforts by certain states to undermine multilateral bodies by deliberately withholding assessed budgetary dues. Addressing historical injustices, the summit welcomed UN General Assembly Resolution 80/250 declaring the trafficking and racialised chattel enslavement of Africans as humanity's gravest crime, urged the complete eradication of colonialism under Resolution 79/115, and backed a proposal by South Africa and Brazil to establish an international panel on inequality under Sustainable Development Goal 10. New Delhi also steered an aggressive critique of international financial architecture. Reaffirming the BRICS Rio de Janeiro Vision and the Diriyah Guiding Principles, the leaders demanded the immediate implementation of the IMFs 16th General Review of Quotas and swift realignment under the 17th review. The declaration insisted that emerging market quota increases must match their true economic weight, without coming at the expense of poorer nations, and warned that voluntary financial contributions must never dictate quota allocation or governance representation. It also called for open, merit-based leadership selection at the IMF and World Bank to dismantle historical Western appointments. On trade, the leaders hit out at unilateral protectionism and unilateral carbon border adjustment measures (CBAM), characterizing them as discriminatory distortions violating World Trade Organisation principles. The bloc demanded the immediate restoration of the WTOs paralysed dispute-settlement Appellate Body, welcomed the accession procedures of Iran and Ethiopia, and commended Chinas zero-tariff programme for 53 African nations. Extraterritorial sanctions and secondary coercive economic measures drew unanimous condemnation, with leaders warning that such restrictions violate international law, sever critical supply chains, and infringe on fundamental human rights to development. To shield member states from unilateral financial sanctions, India helped steer tangible economic deliverables aimed at reducing reliance on Western financial plumbing. The BRICS Payment Task Force was mandated to broaden local currency settlements and test technical interoperability between member states domestic interbank messaging networks and central bank payment rails. Progress was registered on creating a BRICS Insurance Resilience Centre, alongside a review of an Indian proposal to locate an open-access BRICS Risk Lab inside the GIFT City International Financial Services Centre in Gujarat. Members also advanced structural revisions to strengthen liquidity responsiveness under the Contingent Reserve Arrangement Treaty ahead of its ninth operational test run, expanded pilot operations under the BRICS Multilateral Guarantees facility, and drafted steps for a member-driven New Investment Platform. Catering to Indias substantial small-business sector, the leaders agreed to examine an Indian-championed cross-border Invoice Discounting Mechanism under the Jaipur Consensus to provide liquidity for micro, small, and medium-sized exporters. The summit endorsed operationalising the BRICS Grain Exchange to protect against global food and fertiliser price shocks, and advanced feasibility work on an autonomous, high-speed submarine telecommunications cable network linking members directly. The New Development Bank, marking its 10th year of operations, was directed to expand local-currency loan disbursements. On foreign policy and international security, the summit expressed profound alarm over military escalation across the Middle East. The declaration condemned attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure, and IAEA-inspected nuclear installations, while demanding immediate compliance with UNSC Resolution 2803 following violations of the October 2025 Gaza ceasefire agreement. The leaders rejected any demographic alterations or forced displacement of Palestinians, insisted on full humanitarian access via UNRWA, and called for the admission of the State of Palestine as a full U.N. member based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. The communiqu also condemned breaches of Lebanese sovereignty under UNSC Resolution 1701, demanding complete Israeli military withdrawal, and strongly condemned strikes against the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that resulted in the deaths of four Indonesian peacekeepers. BRICS called for the total withdrawal of unauthorised foreign forces occupying Syrian territory under UNSC Resolution 2254, urged an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Sudan under the principle of African solutions to African problems, and called for the prompt termination of unilateral economic embargoes against Cuba. On security, Indian negotiators secured unified language unequivocally condemning terrorism in all forms, specifically citing the April 2025 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The declaration demanded zero tolerance, rejected double standards, urged coordinated crackdowns on UN-designated terrorist outfits, and pressed for the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. The summit also pledged intelligence-sharing between financial intelligence units to combat cyber scam syndicates, illicit virtual asset exploitation, and international arms trafficking. The document codified wide-ranging operational initiatives across technical sectors, approving an Integrated Early Warning System for Mass Infectious Diseases, pharmaceutical regulatory integration under the BRICS GXP White Paper, and a mental health network anchored by India's National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS). Marking the 65th anniversary of Yuri Gagarins space flight, the bloc amended its Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation framework to integrate new member space agencies, drafted Terms of Reference for a BRICS Space Council, and reiterated calls for a binding treaty prohibiting outer-space weapons. Leaders approved a joint declaration on the global governance of artificial intelligence, created the BRICS Incubator Network, and began reviews for a shared startup innovation fund. The declaration codified the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership 2030, establishing unified norms for green hydrogen certification, smart grids, and gig-worker social protections through the newly established BRICS CONNECT initiative. Following the conclusion of the New Delhi summit, India will formally hand over the rotating BRICS chairship to China, which will host the 19th summit in 2027.

'Global South must shape, not just follow, rules': PM Modi at Brics Summit

Prime Minister Modi opened the Brics summit, demanding urgent United Nations Security Council reforms. He stressed transforming global governance from privilege to partnership for developing nations. Modi proposed Brics draft ten proposals for inclusive global governance and multilateralism. He also called for a Seafarers Emergency Support Network for maritime workers. The summit aims to empower the Global South as rule-shapers, not rule-takers.

Best Gaming Phones Under Rs. 40,000: Redmi Turbo 5, Oppo K13 Turbo, Poco F7 and More

Despite the soaring prices of memory components that have ultimately increased smartphone rates, gaming smartphones are still pretty accessible to the masses. There are several options in the sub-Rs. 40,000 segment that offer powerful chipsets, high-refresh-rate displays, and dedicated cooling systems. This means you do not necessarily need to spend flagship-level money for a phone capable of handling demanding games. Phones like the Redmi Turbo 5 with its Dimensity 8500 Ultra chipset and 3D Ice-Loop cooling, as well as the Oppo K13 Turbo Pro with its built-in fan, put a strong emphasis on sustained performance.

NHM standoff deepens as govt fails to address demands

Srinagar, Sep 12: More than 12,000 National Health Mission (NHM) employees across J&K continued their protest on Saturday as part of their extended 72-hour strike over long-pending demands, including a comprehensive job policy, salary revision and social-security benefits. The Jammu & Kashmir National Health Mission Employees Association (JKNHMEA) UT-Level Coordination Committee commenced the 72-hour strike on September 9, with employees staging protests at district headquarters across Jammu and Kashmir. Amid the ongoing strike, the Health Department Kashmir has directed all Medical Superintendents, Block Medical Officers and heads of institutions under its administrative control to ensure the presence of all available regular staff in hospitals. DHSK directed all Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) and heads of institutions to ensure that adequate regular staff remains available on duty in all critical and patient-care areas. Essential services including OPD, IPD, Emergency, Labour Room, OT, diagnostics, pharmacy and other patient-care services are maintained without interruption, the order said. The Directorate further directed that duty rosters be suitably adjusted wherever required to ensure adequate manpower during the strike period. It said patient care and essential health services should not suffer due to the absence of NHM staff. Any shortage of manpower adversely affecting essential services shall be brought to the notice of this Directorate immediately for appropriate intervention, it said. Meanwhile, commenting on the NHM employees strike, Health Minister Sakeena Itoo said she had met the employees several times and maintained that healthcare workers posted in sensitive and critical-care areas should not leave their duties to participate in protests. She said the government had not rejected their demands and assured that efforts were being made to address the issues that fall within the governments jurisdiction, while other matters had already been taken up with the Government of India. I have already taken up the matter with the Union Health Minister in a conference, and this was my main point. We have also sent the proposal to the Government of India, she said. We are examining the matter. We request them to resume their duties. The government is working on their issues, she added. However, JKNHMEA Chief Spokesperson Abdul Rauoof said NHM employees had been protesting for their rights for a long time and remained an important component of the healthcare delivery system. He said NHM employees continued to perform their duties in hospitals despite several unresolved issues concerning their service conditions and future. The NHM employees have been protesting for their rights for a long time. They are an important component of the healthcare delivery system and continue to perform their duties in hospitals, Rauoof said. He said the association was demanding a secure job policy, salary revision, retirement benefits and social-security measures to provide financial and social protection to employees and their families. Rauoof said the association had repeatedly raised these issues through appropriate forums and sought a meaningful and time-bound resolution from the government. Despite repeatedly raising these issues, the government has failed to resolve them and has only given assurances, he said. The latest agitation comes five months after a 48-hour strike held by NHM employees in April over similar demands. The protest was called off on April 2 after representatives met Health Minister Sakina Itoo, who had assured them that their grievances would be addressed.

Dust down, Mandi Gobindgarh climbs 15 spots in all-India clean-air survey

South African President calls for UNSC reforms at BRICS Summit

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 12 (IANS) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday called for comprehensive reforms of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. Africa accounts for 54 member states of the United Nations and nearly one-fifth of humanity, yet Africa remains without permanent representation on the Security Council of the United Nations. This is neither just nor sustainable. South Africa reiterates its call for comprehensive Security Council reform that makes the council more representative, more accountable, more transparent, and effective, Ramaphosa stated during his remarks at the BRICS Summit. He noted that the relevance of the United Nations and the durability of the multilateral system are now threatened by overt violations of the United Nations Charter and the resort to war to settle differences between Member States. This is what makes BRICS so much more important in the geopolitical terrain that the world finds itself in. The greatness of BRICS lies not in the fact that we are the same, but precisely in the fact that we are different. We represent different continents, different civilisations, political traditions and stages of development. Yet we have discovered that our diversity need not divide us; our diversity should actually unite us. We can cooperate without surrendering our sovereignty, trade without demanding political conformity, and pursue our national interests while advancing the interests of humanity, stated the South African President. He said that BRICS represents a world in which no nation needs to choose between East and West, North and South. It represents a world with many centres of power, but a common commitment to development, to dignity, to respect for one another, and a more equitable international order. The BRICS members' session on Saturday was held on the theme of 'Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism'. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), at the session, BRICS leaders spoke from their perspective, national perspective, but there was a broad convergence on the need to strengthen and to make our global governance institutions more representative, inclusive, effective and responsive to today's realities. The leaders reiterated support for comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including its Security Council, with greater representation of developing countries and for reform of the international financial architecture to give developing countries and the Global South a stronger voice, Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary of Economic Relations at the MEA, said during a media briefing held on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. He noted that the discussion reaffirmed the foundations of BRICS cooperation anchored in mutual respect, equality, solidarity, openness, inclusiveness, and consensus, with differences addressed through dialogue and consultations.

Inter-state gang targeting Char Dham pilgrims busted, key accused arrested

Digital Desk | Chamoli, Sep 12 (IANS) The Chamoli Police in Uttarakhand have invoked the Gangsters Act against an organised inter-state gang allegedly involved in pickpocketing and cheating pilgrims during the ongoing Char Dham Yatra, with the gang leader arrested from Devprayag. The accused, identified as 26-year-old Sunil Kumar, a native of Bharatpur in Rajasthan and currently residing in Punjab's Bathinda was arrested on September 11 following sustained technical surveillance and ground-level intelligence gathering. According to the police, the gang took advantage of the heavy rush of devotees during the Char Dham Yatra and systematically targeted pilgrims. The investigation revealed that the accused were not part of an ordinary or loosely connected group but were operating as an organised inter-state criminal gang. A case was registered at Kotwali Shri Badrinath on April 27, 2026, under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). As the investigation progressed, police established links between the accused and a wider organised network involved in targeting pilgrims. Police had earlier arrested four members of the gang. They were identified as Krishna Kumar, 28, a resident of Punjab's Bathinda; Diya, 25, a resident of Mor Mandi in Bathinda; Sunil Kumar, 26, a native of Rajasthan's Bharatpur and currently residing in Bathinda; and Lalit Kumar, 31, a resident of Rajasthan's Alwar. During interrogation, police uncovered details of the gang's activities and found that its members had allegedly targeted pilgrims not only in the Badrinath Dham area but also in Kedarnath Dham. A separate case in connection with similar incidents has also been registered at Sonprayag police station. According to the police, the findings in both cases established the organised and inter-state nature of the gang's criminal activities. Chamoli Police subsequently prepared a detailed gang chart and obtained approval from the District Magistrate before initiating action under the Gangsters Act against the gang and its members. Police teams maintained continuous surveillance on the suspects and combined technical inputs with information collected on the ground. The coordinated investigation eventually helped them trace the gang leader. Based on technical surveillance, Sunil Kumar was arrested from Devprayag on September 11. Police said the action is an important step towards ensuring the safety of pilgrims during the Char Dham Yatra and curbing organised criminal activities targeting devotees.

Manoj Jarange Patil to march to Mumbai from Sept 15 for indefinite Maratha quota hunger strike

Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil on Saturday announced a march to Mumbai from September 15, where he plans to begin an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan demanding OBC reservation for the Maratha community. He urged supporters to join in large numbers and warned the Maharashtra government against stopping them.

DMK stages State-wide demonstrations condemning Vijays remarks against Stalin

Slogans were raised during the protests demanding, among other things, the expunction of the remarks made against the DMK president from the Assembly records

Ram Mandir Trust May Soon Appoint Joint, Deputy CEOs, DMRC Engineer May Get Key Role

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French Mayor praises BAPS for ten years of trust, transparency

Digital Desk | Bussy-Saint-Georges (Paris), Sep 12 (IANS) Yann Dubosc, Mayor of Bussy-Saint-Georges near Paris, has warmly praised the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) for its positive and transparent engagement with the city over the past ten years. His remarks are in contrast to the recent rumours about women's entry in Eiffel Tower. Speaking on their decade-long association, Mayor Dubosc said the relationship had grown through regular dialogue, better understanding and a shared commitment to working together. He described BAPS as a trusted part of the city's diverse religious and cultural community. The BAPS Hindu Mandir stands on the Esplanade of Religions and Cultures in Bussy-Saint-Georges. The esplanade already includes two Buddhist pagodas, a synagogue and a mosque, creating a distinctive space where different faiths and communities can meet and engage with one another. Mayor Dubosc said the Mandir reflects the identity of Bussy-Saint-Georges and its commitment to peaceful coexistence. He noted that the project had been developed openly and transparently, with information shared through the press and social media. Over the years, BAPS has become an active and trusted member of the Esplanade of Religions and Cultures. The organisation presided over the interfaith body in 2023 and continues to participate regularly in its activities. The Mayor also referred to the warm appreciation expressed for BAPS by representatives of the local Protestant community. Sharing his personal experience, Mayor Dubosc recalled welcoming a delegation of BAPS swamis to the Town Hall in 2023. He described their conduct as respectful and cordial. At no point, he said, was anyone asked to move or leave the premises, including female members of staff. The Mayor also praised the dignity and calm consistently shown by the BAPS community. His remarks reflected the trust that has developed through years of direct interaction between BAPS, the city administration and local interfaith representatives. Mayor Dubosc also acknowledged the scale and success of the cultural festival associated with the Mandir. The twelve-day celebration attracted tens of thousands of visitors from around the world, with 41 countries represented. Cultural and culinary programmes introduced visitors to Hindu traditions while bringing together people from different backgrounds. He thanked the teams and nearly 3,000 volunteers whose dedication made both the Mandir and the cultural festival possible after years of sustained effort. Mayor Dubosc said that the spirit of Hinduism had touched the people of Bussy-Saint-Georges. He highlighted the values of forgiveness, mutual support and solidarity, describing them as essential to building a more positive and harmonious society. Concluding his remarks, the Mayor invited those present to recognise and applaud the women and men whose commitment had enabled the BAPS Hindu Mandir to take its place within the life of Bussy-Saint-Georges.