Indian cricket team is preparing for a challenging series against New Zealand after a demanding travel schedule. Players will need to adjust to New Zealand's conditions ahead of five T20Is. Team captain Shreyas Iyer is optimistic about their adaptability despite travel fatigue and acclimatization. Bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar are returning to the squad, seeking to make significant impacts. The series will test the team's performance dynamics across various playing conditions.
We now have a phone with two active fans to keep it chill, and a ginormous battery too.
Putting an active cooling fan inside a gaming smartphone is not a revolutionary idea. Red Magic phones have done this for a while, but Honor apparently thinks a single fan isnt enough to cool the demanding Qualcomm flagship chip, so it included two in its new Win 2 gaming smartphone. The Chinese company unveiled the []
Economist Prabhakar to join Dipke, Prakash Raj, Neha at nationwide anti-SIR protests on October 23
The People Against SIR alliance has called for marches across the country, demanding the scrapping of the electoral roll revision exercise and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
EUROPE BOILS OVER! 10,000 Protesters Hit NATO Nation As Riots In France And Italy EXPLODE | Watch
Thousands of students and teachers marched across Greece, including in Athens and Thessaloniki, demanding more state funding for education, better school facilities and affordable student housing.The demonstrations also reflected wider anger over high rents, rising energy costs and weak purchasing power, with protesters voicing solidarity with similar movements elsewhere in Europe. Greeces government says hundreds of millions of euros are being invested in student housing and education upgrades.#greece #athens #greeceprotests #europe #france #italy #franceprotests #thessaloniki #eu
French Open: PV Sindhu holds nerve; Ayush Shetty stuns Srikanth
Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu survived a thrilling deciding-game fightback to advance to the women's singles second round at the French Open 2026 badminton tournament in Paris on Wednesday, while Ayush Shetty came from a game down to defeat compatriot Kidambi Srikanth, according to Olympics.com. Sindhu, ranked 10th in the women's ranking, defeated Thailand's Supanida Katethong 21-14, 8-21, 23-21 in a 64-minute opening-round encounter at the Arena Grand Paris. The Indian shuttler appeared to be cruising towards victory in the deciding game after building a commanding 19-8 lead. However, Katethong produced a remarkable fightback, winning 11 consecutive points to draw level at 19-19 and put Sindhu under pressure. Sindhu eventually halted her opponent's momentum and held her nerve in the closing stages to clinch the game 23-21 and secure her place in the round of 16. The victory marked Sindhu's sixth win over Katethong in their 10 career meetings. She will next face Japan's Riko Gun...
From job seekers to job creators: 22% students already entrepreneurs
Shillong, Oct 21: More than one in five Indian college students has already started a business, matching the global average, according to the GUESSS India 2025 report released by IIT Mandi. The national survey of 25,783 students from over 1,200 institutions across 34 states and UTs found that 43 in 100 students want to start [] The post From job seekers to job creators: 22% students already entrepreneurs first appeared on Highland Post .
CBI nabs Delhi hospital medicine specialist, contractual supervisor in Rs 1 lakh bribery case
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 21 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday apprehended a medicine specialist and a contractual supervisor at Delhis Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh in connection with a tender, according to an official statement. The accused have been identified as Harender Kumar, a Specialist (Medicine) in the hospitals Medicine Department who also serves as the Nodal Officer for Outsourcing, and Pradeep Kumar, a contractual Supervisor, Nursing Orderly. The CBI said it registered a case on Wednesday against Harendrer Kumar, who is posted at Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital in Pitampura, following a complaint alleging that he had demanded a bribe of Rs 1 lakh. According to the agency, the bribe was allegedly sought on the pretext of ensuring that a tender awarded to the complainant was not cancelled, facilitating the timely clearance of bills and preventing unnecessary red flags from being raised in the complainants file. Acting on the complaint, the CBI laid a trap and caught the medicine specialist while demanding and accepting the bribe of Rs 1 lakh through Pradeep Kumar. The agency alleged that the payment was sought in return for extending favours to the complainant, including ensuring that the tender remained valid, facilitating the timely processing and clearance of bills, and avoiding adverse observations in the relevant file. Both accused were apprehended during the operation, the CBI said. Further investigation is underway to ascertain whether any other persons were involved in the alleged bribery arrangement and to examine other aspects of the case. The CBI said the strict action against corrupt public servants underscores its firm commitment to curbing corruption. The agency has urged citizens to report such matters if they come across such instances of corruption and are demanded bribes by public officials.
Women lay siege to Tasmac outlet near Manamadurai demanding its closure
Cong Calls Modi-Shahs Silence Criminal Indifference Over Puri-Epstein Photo
Since earlier this year, the Congress has been demanding Puri's resignation on grounds that his name figures in the Epstein files released in the United States. Puri has, in the past, denied the charges levelled at him by the opposition party.
Naqiyah Haji is set to explore a different side of her acting career with Party Animals, in which she will star opposite Viraj Ghelani. After playing Dr. Nats in Heartbeats Season 2, the actress will be seen as Sakshi, a carefree party girl, in the upcoming entertainer that revolves around humour, chaos and unexpected situations. Describing the film's tone, Naqiyah called it a desi version of The Hangover meets 21 Jump Street. She believes the film's youthful setting and relatable situations will appeal to today's audience, particularly Gen Z. Party Animals is a young, youthful film. Its fun, chaotic, and something I think todays generation will really relate to, she shared. In Party Animals, Naqiyah plays Sakshi, a young woman who enjoys living in the moment and making the most of life. The character is a departure from her role as Dr. Nats in Heartbeats Season 2, which streams on Prime Video and MX Player. In the series, she portrayed a doctor dealing with the effects of childhood abuse, including its impact on her mental health and her struggle with alcohol addiction. Moving from an emotionally demanding character to a lively and carefree personality has given Naqiyah an opportunity to explore a different genre and performance style. Playing Sakshi has been a lot of fun because Ive jumped directly from playing a doctor to playing this completely different party girl. Its been a fun, challenging, and exciting experience as an actor, and Im really looking forward to people seeing this side of me on screen, she said. With Viraj Ghelani alongside her, Party Animals aims to bring together youthful characters, humour and unpredictable situations. The film's focus on the experiences and energy of young people is expected to be central to its narrative. Speaking about what she hopes audiences take away from the film, Naqiyah said, Most importantly, I hope Gen Z relates to the characters, has a great time watching the film, and just enjoys the madness! she concludes. With Party Animals, Naqiyah is set to move away from the emotional complexity of Dr. Nats and take on the spontaneous, fun-loving Sakshi. The film will see her share screen space with Viraj Ghelani in a role that offers audiences a different side of the actress. Also Read : Viraj Ghelani and Arjun Tanwar starrer Party Animals trailer out ahead of November 20 release
Italian cuisine is famous for its remarkable diversity of pasta shapes, textures, and preparation techniques. From familiar spaghetti to intricate stuffed varieties, each form reflects regional ingredients and generations of culinary craftsmanship. Among these traditions, Su Filindeu stands apart because of its extraordinary delicacy and demanding handmade process. Originating in Nuoro, in the mountainous Barbagia [] The post Su Filindeu: Sardinias Delicate Pasta Made by Repeatedly Stretching Dough appeared first on FoodNosher.Com .
CPI(M) warns against undermining democratic processes in local body elections
Party seeks fresh nomination opportunity at places where irregularities have been reported, releases manifesto demanding greater financial autonomy for local bodies
Imphal Protests: CM Event Targeted Amidst Killings
Protesters in Manipur clashed with police outside a sports complex where the Chief Minister was present, demanding action over the recent killing of three Meitei men. A 48-hour shutdown has affected normal life in Imphal Valley districts, and effigies of political figures were burnt. The state continues to grapple with ethnic conflict.
Two Youths Stabbed During Dussehra Celebrations in Nuapada
Dussehra festivities on Khariar Road took a violent turn when two youths were brutally stabbed near the Ram Mandir, triggering widespread tension and panic across the region. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening during a Sambalpuri orchestra performance by Archana Padhi, which followed the traditional Ravan Podi (effigy burning) celebrations. The victims have been identified [] The post Two Youths Stabbed During Dussehra Celebrations in Nuapada appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
Gujarat CM meets Western Naval Command chief, discusses security of states coastline
Digital Desk | Gandhinagar, Oct 21 (IANS) The security of Gujarats strategically important coastline and the Indian Navys activities to protect it were discussed when Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, met Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel in Gandhinagar on Wednesday. During the courtesy visit, Vatsayan briefed the Chief Minister on various measures undertaken by the Navy to safeguard Gujarats coastline, which is strategically significant because of its location along the Arabian Sea. Vatsayan assumed charge as the 35th Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command in May this year. Before taking up the appointment, he served as the Vice Chief of the Naval Staff at Naval Headquarters. He joined the Indian Navy in 1988 and has served aboard several prominent warships during his career. The Western Naval Command plays a key role in safeguarding Indias western coastline, protecting the countrys maritime borders and securing vital trade and energy routes. Its area of strategic interest encompasses the Arabian Sea and the western Indian Ocean, as well as important maritime passages such as the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, the Suez Canal, the Mozambique Channel and the Cape of Good Hope. These routes are significant for international shipping and energy supplies, making maritime security an important part of the Navys responsibilities. The meeting focused on the Navys activities concerning Gujarats coastline. Vatsayan also presented a memento to Patel during the visit.
Delhi Police seeks 3-day additional custody of CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 21 (IANS) The Delhi Police on Wednesday sought three more days of judicial custody for Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka in connection with the Jantar Mantar trespassing case. The two activists were brought to Mandir Marg Police Station for production before the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court after the expiry of their previous judicial custody. CJP Legal Affairs Head Ratna Singh also arrived at the police station ahead of the proceedings. The hearing before the SEM court is currently underway, and the magistrate is yet to pronounce its decision on the Delhi Polices request for a further three days of judicial custody. Earlier in the day, the Delhi High Court permitted Das and Ranka to withdraw their plea seeking their release and challenging the SEM court's order extending their custody, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the matter. A single-judge Bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad had asked the counsel appearing for the two activists to consider withdrawing the petition and await the proceedings before the SEM court before pursuing an appropriate legal remedy. It observed that if the activists secured relief from the SEM court, continuing with the proceedings before it would serve no purpose. The development comes after SEM Ritu Raj, on Monday, extended the judicial custody of the two CJP leaders till October 21, observing that their conduct raised concerns over the likelihood of a breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity. In its order, the SEM court recorded that the two leaders had allegedly breached bonds furnished before the SEM, South-West District, on October 11 and subsequently committed a breach of peace in the present case. The magistrate also cited material placed on record by the investigating officer regarding the apprehension of a breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity. The order had further directed the duo to furnish fresh sureties after finding the earlier ones unfit following an inquiry. Das and Ranka, along with CJP member Ajinkya Shinde, were among 14 people detained on October 13 after they allegedly entered Jantar Mantar through private premises and obstructed police personnel from discharging their official duties. The CJP members were protesting against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and had raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Delhi Police had earlier opposed their release, citing alleged repeated violations of law and apprehensions that their release could lead to further violations and instigation of others.
Portugal Erupts Over Housing Crisis As Thousands Protest After Police Clear Camps In Lisbon & Porto
Thousands of protesters rallied across Portugal on Tuesday after police dismantled housing protest camps in Lisbon and Porto, triggering fresh demonstrations over soaring rents and unaffordable homes. Protesters are demanding rent controls, more public housing and stronger safeguards against eviction, while Prime Minister Lus Montenegros government defends measures intended to boost the rental market. The unrest follows demonstrations in France, Spain, Italy and Albania, highlighting a wider European backlash over housing insecurity, rising living costs and declining public services.
Govt hikes monthly stipend for MBBS, BDS interns to Rs 25,000
Srinagar,: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday enhanced the monthly stipend for MBBS and BDS interns, including Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs), from Rs 12,300 to Rs 25,000, following prolonged protests by medical interns demanding fulfilment of the governments assurance. According to an order issued by the Health and Medical Education Department, the enhanced stipend []
Farmers block road demanding full waiver of crop loans
Congress Slams Haryana BJP's Two-Year Rule
The Haryana Congress has strongly criticised the BJP government's two-year tenure in the state, alleging widespread misgovernance, unfulfilled election promises, a surge in crime, and rampant corruption. Senior Congress leaders, including Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Kumari Selja, highlighted issues faced by farmers, traders, and youth, demanding accountability and a white paper on the government's performance.
Bollywood Actor Govinda Visits Puri Srimandir on Vijaya Dashami
Bollywoods legendary actor Govinda recently filled the holy atmosphere of Srimandir with profound devotion as he visited Puri to seek the divine blessings of Lord Jagannath on the auspicious occasion of Vijaya Dashami. Chanting Jay Jagannath, the celebrated actor entered the 12th-century shrine and partook in the magnificent darshan of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and [] The post Bollywood Actor Govinda Visits Puri Srimandir on Vijaya Dashami appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
BJP-ruled Centre took away people''s right to vote under SIR: Shashi Tharoor
Shashi Tharoor, a Congress MP, has raised concerns about 90 lakh deleted voter names in West Bengal. He emphasised that only a small fraction of appeals were addressed, with 91 percent deemed unjustified. The Congress party is demanding accountability and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Tharoor announced a mega rally planned for November 1 at Ramlila Maidan to protest these issues.
Reputation Won't Win India The Series, Must Put Pressure Back On New Zealand: Shastri
ODI World Cup: India will need more than their reputation to get the better of New Zealand on their home turf, former head coach Ravi Shastri said on Wednesday, urging the visitors to soak up the pressure and turn it back on the hosts right from the opening T20I on Thursday. The five T20Is will run till November 1, before the five-match ODI series takes centrestage in terms of 2027 Mens ODI World Cup preparation. It is followed by a two-match Test series, to be played in Wellington and Christchurch from November 19 to December 1. Apart from this, India A are also touring New Zealand for three red-ball games, starting on October 24 in Lincoln. New Zealand will come hard at India. They know their conditions, they do their homework and they make you earn every win. India have the firepower, but reputation won't win them this series. They have to get out there, take the pressure and put it straight back on New Zealand. That is what I'll be watching for from the first T20I on October 22, Shastri said in a statement issued by broadcasters Sony Sports Network on Wednesday. Former India Test captain Ajinkya Rahane looked ahead to the Test leg of the tour, saying wins in both matches would be key to India's hopes of reaching the 2027 World Test Championship (WTC) final, to be played from June 9-13 at The Oval. He also welcomed the return of veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the squad. India's tour of New Zealand is a crucial one, with so many aspects to look forward to. NZ conditions provide a very different challenge in Test cricket and the Indian batters will be tested. Winning the two Tests will be crucial to staying in contention for a spot in the 2027 World Test Championship (WTC) Final. I'm really happy to see Bhuvneshwar Kumar back in the squad; his experience will come in handy in the T20Is. Overall, it's going to be a tough tour with back to back games which will test the bench strength too. I would advise the team not to think too far ahead, but to focus on each match and stick to their plans, he said. Off-spin great Ravichandran Ashwin described a trip to New Zealand as one of the sternest tests in the game. A tour of New Zealand is one of the most demanding assignments in world cricket because it constantly tests a team's ability to adapt. Every format presents a different challenge, whether it's reading conditions in T20s, building momentum in ODIs or showing patience and discipline in Test cricket. India has the quality to compete across formats, and I'm looking forward to analysing what promises to be a fascinating series, he said. Ashwin will be part of the English, Hindi and Tamil coverage during the T20Is, while Rahane joins the Hindi line-up for all three formats and Shastri will be a part of the English line-up for the white-ball games. Former New Zealand players Stephen Fleming (T20Is only), Tim Southee, Simon Doull, Shane Bond, and Ian Smith will add their knowledge of the home conditions and the opposition during various phases of the multi-format series. The broadcaster's commentary panels for the tour:- English T20I: Gaurav Kapur, Ravi Shastri, Ravichandran Ashwin, Stephen Fleming, Tim Southee, Simon Doull, Shane Bond, Ian Smith. ODI: Samir Kochhar, Ravi Shastri, Stephen Fleming, Tim Southee, Simon Doull, Shane Bond, Ian Smith. Test: Harsha Bhogle, Sunil Gavaskar, Stephen Fleming, Tim Southee, Simon Doull, Shane Bond, Ian Smith. Hindi T20I: Samir Kochhar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, Shardul Thakur, Ajay Jadeja, Vivek Razdan, Atish Thukral, Murali Karthik. ODI: Gaurav Kapur, Ajinkya Rahane, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Gavaskar, Ajay Jadeja, Vivek Razdan, Maninder Singh, Anjum Chopra, Atish Thukral. Test: Samir Kochhar/Gaurav Kapur, Ajinkya Rahane, Ajay Jadeja, Maninder Singh, Vivek Razdan, Murali Karthik, Atish Thukral. Tamil T20I: Ravichandran Ashwin, WV Raman, R Sridhar, Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan, Bharat Arun, Sastika Rajendran, S Badrinath. ODI: WV Raman, R Sridhar, Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan, Bhagavathy Prasad, Malolan Rangarajan. Test: WV Raman, R Sridhar, Bhagavathy Prasad, Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan, S Badrinath, Sudhir Srinavasan. Telugu T20I: Venkatapathy Raju, Gnaneswara Rao, Sandeep Kumar, Rakesh Deva, Hari Kishore M. ODI: Venkatapathy Raju, Ravi Teja, Sandeep Kumar, Gnaneswara Rao, Rakesh Deva. Test: KS Bharat, Venkatapathy Raju, Gnaneswara Rao, Sandeep Kumar, Rakesh Deva. Kannada T20I: Venkatesh Prasad, HS Sharath, Sumanth Bhat, Raghavendra Raj. ODI: Venkatesh Prasad, Sujith Somasunder, HS Sharath, Sumanth Bhat, Raghavendra Raj. T20I: Venkatesh Prasad, HS Sharath, Sumanth Bhat, Raghavendra Raj. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
CJP leaders withdraw from Delhi HC plea challenging their judicial custody
Cockroach Janta Party leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka on Wednesday withdrew from the Delhi High Court their plea challenging the extension of their judicial custody by a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM). Justice Subramonium Prasad told the counsel appearing for the CJP co-conveners to await the outcome of the hearing scheduled before the SEM later in the day, and approach the appellate court if their grievance continues. While permitting Das and Ranka to withdraw the case, the judge clarified that he has not made observations on the merit of the matter. During the hearing, the court orally observed that a petition under Article 226 of the Constitution was not an appropriate remedy in this case. The case was taken up by the court after the CJP leaders sought an urgent hearing in the high court, which is shut due to the Dussehra break. Das and Ranka assailed the SEM's October 19 order remanding them to two days' judicial custody in the high court. They were taken into custo
Jammu Kashmir Handicapped Association Protests in Srinagar, Seeks Redressal of Long-Pending Issues
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Handicapped Association staged a peaceful protest at Srinagars Press Enclave on Wednesday, demanding that the government address the long-pending issues and concerns of persons with disabilities. Association State President Abdul Rashid Bhat called for concrete measures to protect the rights and improve the welfare of persons with disabilities across Jammu []
The upcoming episode of Bigg Boss 20 is set to feature a confrontation over an alleged house-rule violation involving current captain Scout OP, Yung DSA, and Asif Khan. In the latest promo released by the makers, Bigg Boss reprimands Scout, while Uditi Singh questions him about the incident. The promo begins with Yung DSA calling Scout into the washroom, with Asif joining them shortly afterwards. The situation draws attention when Uditi is heard commenting on the contestants being inside the washroom. Bigg Boss 2 log washroom mein gaye hai. Captain khud rules break kar rahe hai, Uditi says, questioning why the captain himself appears to be disregarding the rules. Bigg Boss warns housemates over rule violation The promo then shows Bigg Boss reprimanding Scout over the rule violation. Bigg Boss points out that the entire house will have to face the consequences because the captain has broken one of the important rules. The promo does not reveal the exact punishment. Uditi Singh confronts Scout OP Following Bigg Boss' reprimand, Uditi is seen confronting Scout about the incident. She questions his conduct, while Scout defends himself by pointing out that other contestants have also broken rules inside the house in the past. His response shifts the discussion towards whether the rules are being applied consistently to all contestants or whether the captain should be held to a higher standard. View this post on Instagram A post shared by JioHotstar Reality (@jiohotstarreality) The exchange also places Scout in a difficult position, as his responsibilities as captain could make his actions more significant than those of other housemates. Promo arrives amid speculation over another alleged rule break The latest promo has surfaced amid speculation about a separate incident involving Scout. Reports and discussions surrounding the show have suggested that he allegedly used the kitchen gas stove to light a cigarette before smoking inside the living room. The garden area was reportedly closed at the time because of preparations for a captaincy task. Qazi Touqeer, Uditi Singh and Arishfa Khan were reportedly among the contestants who objected to the incident. According to the circulating accounts, Bigg Boss subsequently reprimanded the housemates and imposed a penalty by cutting 50% of their ration. However, the latest official promo does not confirm that the washroom incident and the alleged cigarette-related incident are connected. It also does not establish whether the ration penalty shown in reports was imposed specifically because of the incident involving Scout, Yung and Asif. Also Read:Bigg Boss 20: Aamrapali Dubey gets emotional over double-standard accusations; says, My image is spoiled unnecessarily
Delhi High Court agrees to urgently hear pleas by CJP's Das, Ranka and AISA's Neha
Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have assailed the SEM's October 19 order remanding them to two days' judicial custody in the High Court, which is shut this week due to Dussehra vacation
Cipla's Berok Zindagi Turns Asthma Awareness Into an Immersive Cultural Experience
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], October 21: This Durga Puja, Cipla brought its pioneering patient awareness campaign - Berok Zindagi, to the heart of Kolkata's festivities. Taking its 'Asthma ke liye #InhalersHainSahi' message to pandal-goers, the campaign featured larger-than-life inhaler installations at Santosh Mitra Square, Sree Bhumi Sporting Club, and Shibmandir Sarbojanin Durgotsab Samiti from 14-20 October.
Thousands Throng Puri Srimandir for Divine Raja Besha Darshan of Holy Trinity
The 12th-century shrine of Puri Srimandir is witnessing an atmosphere of profound devotion and spiritual jubilation as Lord Jagannath, along with His divine siblings Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, are adorned in the magnificent Raja Besha on Wednesday to mark the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami. Thousands of pilgrims and devotees from across Odisha and neighbouring [] The post Thousands Throng Puri Srimandir for Divine Raja Besha Darshan of Holy Trinity appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
Probe Hindu temple attack as hate crime: US lawmakers
Over 100 US lawmakers, led by Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, have written to FBI Director Kash Patel demanding an investigation into an attempted mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Illinois as a federal hate crime. They also sought answers on measures to address online threats targeting Indian-Americans, criticising the Trump administration's past messaging for legitimising racial stereotypes.
High drama unfolded in Jaipur as senior Rajasthan Congress leaders staged a sit-in protest (dharna) at the Jaipur police Commissionerate office. A heavy police deployment remains in place around the commissionerate premises, with barricades erected to prevent unauthorised entry. Amid the protest, Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra injured his leg after slipping. He (State Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra) has sustained an injury to his leg; a doctor has just examined him. He will not be able to move around for the next several days. These people have locked the toilets, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Rajasthan Assembly Tikaram Jully said. Congress is demanding a Zero FIR in connection with the alleged assault on National Students' Union of India (NSUI) National Secretary Ritu Barala. Congress leaders and party workers gathered in large numbers at the Commissionerate, raising slogans against the state government and the police administration, alleging a complete b...
Agartala, October 21: Allegations of racial harassment involving a young man from Tripura in Delhi have triggered widespread condemnation, with political leaders from the state demanding an apology and strict legal action against a social media content creator accused of making derogatory remarks. The controversy erupted after a video allegedly featuring Amir Shaukeen, who describes... The post LoP Jitendra, Tipra Mothas Pradyot Demand Action Over Alleged Racial Abuse of Tripura Youth in Delhi; Content Creator Amir Shaukeen Seeks Forgiveness first appeared on Northeast Today .
A total shutdown called by the Native People's Committee Manipur (NPCM) for 48 hours statewide from Monday midnight, demanding decisive security action against armed groups responsible for the attack in the Khongbal Tangkhul area that killed three Meitei people and injured several others, crippled normal life. The shutdown covered both hill and valley districts, and protests are also continuing until the government demonstrates credible action towards meeting the committee's demands. Health services, religious activities and institutions, and essential services will be exempted. Shops, markets, business establishments, banks, private offices and educational institutions
Trump Erupts, Yells & Warns Reporters In Explosive Oval Office Showdown
Donald Trumps latest Oval Office clash descended into a fiery shouting match as the US president snapped at journalists, barked Quiet! and warned one reporter to be careful. The confrontation escalated when Trump turned on journalist Andrew Feinberg, demanding, Whats wrong with you? Are you a sick person? The explosive exchange unfolded as reporters questioned Trump during a White House announcement, with the presidents sharp retorts and repeated interruptions turning the press briefing into a tense showdown.
Gratefully remember their commitment: Stalin salutes police on commemoration day
Digital Desk | Chennai, Oct 21 (IANS) DMK president and former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday paid tribute to police personnel who died in the line of duty, describing the force as a bastion of public trust and security on Police Commemoration Day. In a message on X, Stalin said the police were more than a law enforcement agency, underscoring their role in protecting society and ensuring that people could live peacefully. On Police Commemoration Day, let us gratefully remember the commitment of police personnel and their supreme sacrifice, he said. Saluting officers who confronted danger while discharging their responsibilities, Stalin honoured those who laid down their lives safeguarding the public. His message recognised the dedication and courage demanded of personnel serving in difficult and dangerous circumstances. Police Commemoration Day is observed annually on October 21 to honour personnel who have lost their lives on duty. It commemorates the killing of 10 Indian policemen by Chinese troops at Hot Springs in Ladakh on October 21, 1959. The personnel came under attack while searching for a missing reconnaissance party. In January 1960, a conference of police chiefs decided to observe October 21 in remembrance of those killed in Ladakh and other personnel who died while serving the country. Stalins tribute comes against the backdrop of mounting Opposition criticism of the Vijay government over its handling of law and order. Earlier this week, Stalin accused the administration of negligence, citing murders, crimes against women and alleged drug trafficking involving ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam functionaries. The DMK chief demanded closer supervision of policing and stronger action against narcotics networks. These were allegations raised by the Opposition leader. The arrest of Naam Tamilar Katchis Dharapuram bypoll candidate M. Karthika also drew criticism from several parties. Stalin alleged that the government was using arrests to divert attention from its shortcomings. AMMK general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran accused CM Vijay of deploying police against political rivals instead of tackling murders, robberies and crimes against women. The AIADMK separately condemned Karthikas arrest in an election-related case, alleging political vendetta and demanding withdrawal of the action against NTK members.
Vaibhav Vyapaar Shares to list today; Check GMP ahead of debut
Vaibhav Vyapaar shares are scheduled to list on the NSE SME platform on October 21, with the IPO commanding a grey market premium of around 6%. The Rs 42.10 crore issue was subscribed 2.27 times. The NBFC plans to use Rs 32 crore from the proceeds to strengthen its capital base.
Albanian police clash with anti-government protesters for an 8th day
Protests in Tirana escalated as police employed tear gas and water cannons against demonstrators seeking reform. Students are demanding lower tuition fees, enhanced state investment in education, and government accountability regarding corruption. Protests have erupted across several European countries due to rising living costs and housing concerns among citizens. Prime Minister Edi Rama condemned the violence but acknowledged the legitimacy of the protesters' grievances.
DC Srinagar participates in Dussehra celebrations, Bhandara at Magarmal Bagh
Srinagar, Oct 20: On the occasion of Dussehra, celebrated with great reverence, which symbolizes the victory of good over evil, a devotional Bhandara celebrations were organised at Kali Mata Mandir Magarmal Bagh with all fervor and rituals. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo also paid a visit to the Mandir and participated in the Hawan and bhandara. The event witnessed the presence of devotees from various parts of the district and paid their reverence at the temple. The bhandara was also organized with devotees coming together at the temple to mark the festival. The gathering highlighted the importance of traditions and community participation in celebrating this auspicious occasion of Dusherra.
MBBS, BDS interns strike resumes, stipend may rise to Rs 25,000
Srinagar, Oct 20:A few hours after MBBS and BDS interns of J&K announced a fresh strike demanding enhancement of their stipend, reports of J&K government having approved the hike started doing rounds. The interns association however said the strike will continue till a formal order is issued by the government. As per reports J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has approved doubling the monthly stipend of MBBS and BDS interns in Jammu and Kashmir to Rs 25,000. No order in this regard was issued till this report was filed. The absence of a formal government order has left the MBBS and BDS interns indefinite strike unresolved. The reported approval comes amid renewed protests by interns, who resumed their agitation on Tuesday. This was announced after the expiry of a written government assurance to finalise the stipend enhancement within 30 days. The proposed revision would raise the monthly stipend from Rs 12,300 to Rs 25,000, an increase of Rs 12,700. The interns have maintained that they will not call off their strike until the government issues the official order. All India Medical Students Association insisted that approval on file cannot substitute for a formal administrative decision. The interns had earlier been assured that the matter would be finalised within 30 days, as recorded in government notes dated September 4 and 9. However, the deadline passed without an order, prompting them to resume their agitation. The Associations J&K Joint Secretary said the students welcomed the decision, but a formal order would be awaited before the strike is called off. On Monday evening, MBBS and BDS interns held candlelight marches at Government Medical Colleges and SKIMS Medical College Hospital, Bemina. They were carrying placards highlighting the government's failure to meet its commitment. A delegation of interns also met senior Finance and Health and Medical Education officials at the Civil Secretariat. The meeting failed to provide a clear timeline for issuance of the order, according to an AIMSA representative. The interns have been demanding an increase to Rs 30,000 per month. They have cited the prolonged stagnation in their stipend and rising living costs. The reported approval by the Chief Minister signals movement on the demand. However, the present strike is set to affect healthcare delivery across Level II and Level III hospitals of J&K. The interns have warned that if the delay continues they would consider a hunger strike. The previous strike of interns lasted 9 days, from August 31 to September 8 this year. The strike had been called off after Health and Medical Education Department had assured the striking students that their demands would be met in 30 days.
Jalen Hurts Medical Care Under Fire as NFLPA Seeks Full Investigation
The NFLPA is demanding a full investigation into Jalen Hurts medical care after his blood clot scare, raising fresh questions about the Eagles handling of the quarterbacks health.
Interns across J&K hospitals strike again over stipend
Srinagar, Oct 20: Medical interns across Jammu and Kashmir hospitals have resumed their strike demanding an increase in their monthly stipend, alleging that the government has failed to issue a formal order despite repeated assurances. On Tuesday, interns at various medical colleges across the Union Territory held a candlelight march, reiterating that they would continue their agitation until the government issued a written order implementing the stipend hike. President of the All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA), Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, said the interns wanted the government to issue the formal order without further delay. No written order, no end to the strike, Dr Khan said, adding that repeated assurances from the authorities had failed to inspire confidence among the protesting interns. The agitation intensified after the expiry of the stipulated 30-day period without the issuance of the promised government order Referring to government record notes dated September 4 and 9, 2026, the interns said the authorities had committed to finalising the matter within 30 days but had failed to meet the deadline. The protesting interns maintained that the issue was no longer about holding meetings or receiving assurances but about implementing a commitment that had already been made in writing. Dr Khan said the interns appreciated the confirmation regarding the proposed stipend enhancement but stressed that the association could not call off the agitation solely on the basis of an announcement. He said the interns had received similar assurances in the past and were now seeking a formal government order clearly specifying the implementation of the enhanced stipend. On September 8, the Jammu and Kashmir Government had stated that the stipend of MBBS and BDS interns, who had been on strike for more than a week, would be finalised within a month based on the recommendations of the Stipend Enhancement Committee. The assurance came after a delegation of medical interns from various medical colleges across J&K met Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo and sought an enhancement in their monthly stipend. However, the interns had initially rejected the proposed one-month timeline and continued their agitation, insisting that the enhancement be formally notified through a government order. The interns have been demanding an increase in the monthly stipend paid during their one-year mandatory internship after completing their MBBS or BDS degrees. In July last year, the Health Minister had stated that the stipend would be increased very soon and that the file was under process. Since then, medical students and associations have repeatedly raised the issue with the authorities, pointing out that the stipend had not been revised for the past seven years. The matter was also raised in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in February 2026. The government had acknowledged that a committee constituted in 2023 had recommended an enhancement, but the proposal was still awaiting the required financial concurrence.
The arrival of artificial intelligence in education has changed the meaning of the classroom. A student can now ask a machine to explain a difficult concept, summarise a book, solve a mathematical problem, translate a passage or even write an essay within seconds. Information, once carefully gathered from libraries, teachers and textbooks, is now available at the touch of a screen. But while AI can make learning faster, it cannot make education meaningful on its own. The central question before us is not whether artificial intelligence should enter the classroom. It already has. The more important question is what will happen to the relationship between teachers and students when a machine becomes capable of answering almost every academic question. For generations, education has rested on a human relationship. A teacher does not merely deliver facts. A teacher observes hesitation in a students eyes, notices a sudden silence, recognises a loss of confidence and sometimes understands a problem that the student has not expressed in words. This human attentiveness cannot be replicated by an algorithm, however advanced it may become. A machine can provide an answer. A teacher helps a student understand why the answer matters. This distinction is becoming increasingly important. AI tools can produce fluent essays, generate presentations and complete assignments. But education is not simply the production of correct sentences or impressive answers. It is the development of judgment, curiosity, discipline, empathy and responsibility. If students begin to depend on AI for every intellectual task, they may acquire information without developing the ability to think independently. The danger is not technology itself. The danger lies in allowing convenience to replace effort. Teachers, therefore, must not view AI only as a threat to their authority. Nor should they treat it as a shortcut that can replace teaching. AI should be used as an aid, not as a substitute for the teacher or the students own intellectual labour. It can help teachers prepare lessons, identify learning gaps, create examples and offer different explanations for difficult subjects. It can help students practise, revise and explore beyond the limits of the textbook. But its use must remain guided by human judgment. The teachers role in the AI age is not diminished; it is made more demanding. Earlier, a teachers responsibility was largely to provide knowledge and explain concepts. Today, teachers must also teach students how to evaluate information, recognise bias, protect privacy, question machine-generated answers and use technology ethically. They must help students distinguish between assistance and dependence, between learning and copying, and between originality and imitation. This requires a new kind of digital literacy. A student should know that an AI-generated response may sound confident while being factually wrong. They should understand that technology can reflect the biases present in the data on which it has been trained. They should also learn that feeding personal information, private conversations or sensitive academic records into unknown platforms can create serious risks. The classroom must become a place where such questions are discussed openly. There is also a moral dimension to the issue. The relationship between a teacher and a student is built on trust. When a student submits work entirely produced by AI as their own, that trust is weakened. The concern is not merely about cheating in an examination. It is about the gradual weakening of honesty as a value. Education loses its purpose when marks become more important than learning and appearance becomes more important than effort. At the same time, institutions must be careful not to respond with fear alone. A blanket ban on AI may appear decisive, but it will not prepare students for the world they will enter. Artificial intelligence is already shaping workplaces, public services, research and communication. Students must learn to use it responsibly rather than remain unaware of its possibilities and dangers. Schools and colleges should formulate clear and practical policies. Students should be told when AI assistance is permitted, how it must be acknowledged and which tasks require independent work. Assessments should increasingly test reasoning, discussion, creativity and personal understanding rather than only the reproduction of memorised content. Oral presentations, classroom debates, project work and reflective writing can help teachers determine whether a student has genuinely understood a subject. The teacher-student relationship must also become more conversational. In a world where information is abundant, the teachers greatest contribution may be the ability to ask the right questions. A good teacher encourages a student to examine assumptions, defend an argument, listen to an opposing view and connect knowledge with lived experience. These are not mechanical processes. They are part of the formation of a thoughtful human being. For students, AI should be treated as a questioning partner, not an invisible author. They can ask it to explain a concept in simpler language, suggest alternative viewpoints or identify weaknesses in an argument. But the final judgment, interpretation and responsibility must remain their own. A student who uses AI to avoid thinking may complete an assignment, but a student who uses it to deepen thinking may genuinely learn. In this transformation, emotional connection will matter even more. Young people are not only seeking information; they are also dealing with anxiety, competition, loneliness and uncertainty about the future. A digital tool may respond instantly, but it cannot replace the encouragement of a teacher who believes in a students potential. It cannot take responsibility for a vulnerable child, mediate a conflict or inspire courage during failure. The future classroom should not be a battle between teachers and machines. It should be a space where technology supports human teaching and human values direct technology. The teacher must remain the mentor, the student the learner, and AI the instrument. Education will succeed in the age of artificial intelligence only when it remembers that learning is not the same as receiving information. It is a relationship through which knowledge becomes wisdom, discipline becomes character, and curiosity becomes purpose. The machine may know more answers. But the teacher must continue to show students how to live responsibly with them. (The Author is a lecturer in HED and a columnist)
The Child Who Knew the Answer but Not the Question
In a Class VI classroom somewhere in Kashmir, a teacher asks, What is photosynthesis? A girl rises and recites the definition flawlessly, word for word. The teacher nods, satisfied. Minutes later, the same girl glances at the walnut tree outside the window and wonders why its leaves turn yellow in October. She does not ask. She is unsure whether the question belongs in a science class, and she fears being wrong in front of her peers. She knows the answer. She has no idea she is standing in front of the question. This small moment holds a large contradiction. Are we educating children to understand the world, or training them primarily to reproduce what they have been told? Can we transform education by changing curricula, textbooks, assessment patterns, and administrative instructions if the mindsets shaping everyday schooling remain unchanged? Policy Vision and Classroom Experience The National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023 are, at their core, a call to think differently about children. They speak of the holistic development of learners, of conceptual understanding in place of rote memorisation, of competency-based, experiential, and inquiry-based learning, and of assessment that supports learning rather than merely classifying learners. They emphasise critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, constitutional values, and responsible citizenship. They also recognise that children come to school with diverse languages, cultures, and experiences, and that this diversity is a resource for learning, not a problem to be managed. The vision is compelling. Yet anyone who has spent time in schools knows how stubbornly everyday practice resists it. Syllabus completion, examination results, record-keeping, and familiar routines can quietly outrank the question of whether children are actually learning. Why do reforms so often change the language of schooling faster than its experience? Perhaps because we have treated reform as a matter of documents rather than of beliefs. A new vocabulary of competencies and learning outcomes can be adopted in a week. A belief about what a child is, and how a child learns, takes years to change. Teachers, parents, leaders, and administrators carry assumptions about authority, discipline, intelligence, and success that no circular can rewrite. The task is not to abandon schooling as we know it. Schools hold immense value: they provide structure, continuity, shared knowledge, and a community of peers. The task is to question those practices that prevent schooling from fulfilling its educational purpose. The Child as Active Learner For generations, the dominant image has been of the child as a vessel waiting to be filled. Yet any parent who has watched a toddler dismantle a toy knows better. Children observe, question, explore, imagine, and construct understanding from their experiences. They arrive at school as thinkers. The difference between remembering and understanding is visible everywhere. A child may memorise the formula for the area of a rectangle yet be unable to work out how much carpet a room needs. Another may reproduce the definition of evaporation without being able to explain why wet clothes dry faster in the summer sun than in a damp Srinagar winter. Real learning happens when children connect new ideas with what they already know, test their thinking, meet different perspectives, and gradually refine their understanding. This does not mean the adult should step back. Child-centred education is not education without guidance. Children need knowledgeable teachers who can explain difficult concepts, provide scaffolding, correct misconceptions, and introduce them to bodies of knowledge they could never rediscover alone. A child cannot invent algebra or the periodic table through curiosity alone. The aim is to build children's capacity to think, not merely their ability to repeat what others have thought. The Teacher's Changing Question At the heart of the change lies a simple shift in the question a teacher asks at the end of the day. From Have I taught this chapter? to What have my students understood? The first measures coverage. The second measures learning. With this shift come others. A question from a student becomes a starting point for inquiry rather than an interruption of the lesson. A mistake becomes evidence of developing understanding rather than a failure to be punished. Silence and obedience are no longer the only signs of a good student; thoughtful participation matters as well. Teachers begin to notice that children differ in pace, language, experience, and need, and that teaching every child in precisely the same way is not equality but oversight. Assessment turns from a final verdict into continuous feedback. We must be honest about the conditions in which teachers work. Prescribed curricula, large classes, limited resources, examination pressure, and administrative demands are real. A teacher in a remote school with multi-grade classes, or one posted in a high-altitude area where the school year is cut short by snow, cannot be blamed for choosing efficiency over experiment. Teachers are not the obstacle to reform; they are its most important agents, and they need support worthy of that role. Teacher development must be sustained, reflective, and rooted in real classroom problems. Teachers need time to examine children's work together, to learn from colleagues, to try something new and discuss what happened, and to exercise professional judgment within the curriculum. Nor does purposeful facilitation replace explicit instruction. The skill of good teaching lies in knowing when to explain, when to demonstrate, when to question, when to guide, and when to step back and let children explore. Curriculum and Life The curriculum is humanity's accumulated knowledge, offered to the young. Its purpose is not merely to be completed but to equip children with concepts, skills, values, and intellectual tools for understanding life. It becomes powerful when children can use it to interpret the world around them. Consider what Jammu and Kashmir offers. A local market is a classroom for arithmetic, measurement, economic exchange, language, and social relationships. An apple orchard invites questions about plant growth, seasonal change, estimation, biodiversity, agricultural practice, and sustainability. A stream or lake raises questions about ecosystems, pollution, public responsibility, and scientific evidence. Traditional crafts such as papier-mch, carpet weaving, and woodwork connect geometry, design, material science, history, and the dignity of work. Concerns such as waste management, road safety, and water conservation can become age-appropriate projects. This is the movement from problems to projects: children identify a question, gather information, examine evidence, work together, propose solutions, and reflect on what they have found. But let us be clear. Contextual learning must complement, not replace, systematic teaching. Mathematics, science, languages, and the social sciences demand conceptual depth, deliberate practice, and academic rigour. Connecting learning with life is meant to make knowledge more meaningful, not less demanding. From Fear to Feedback Nothing shapes classroom culture as powerfully as assessment. When marks become the dominant measure of achievement, teachers feel compelled to teach to the test, parents begin to equate marks with intelligence, and children learn to associate learning with fear. A child who is afraid of being wrong will not ask the question that matters. Good assessment gives a clearer picture of what children know, understand, can do, and still need help with. Questioning, observation, portfolios, project work, rubrics, peer interaction, and constructive feedback all contribute to that picture, and they align with the competency-based and holistic vision of NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023. This does not mean abandoning examinations or lowering expectations. It means ensuring that examinations measure worthwhile learning and lead to improvement. Assessment must serve the learner's progress; it must never become an instrument of humiliation, comparison, or exclusion. From Pressure to Partnership Children's relationship with learning is formed long before they reach a classroom, and it continues to be shaped at home. Many parents sincerely want their children to succeed, and many are responding to genuine anxieties about examinations, jobs, and the future. Yet anxiety travels. It reaches children through constant instruction, comparison with cousins and neighbours, sarcasm, and approval that depends almost entirely on performance. There is a vital distinction between unconditional respect for a child and accountability for a child's actions. Parents can set boundaries, insist on responsibility, and correct wrong behaviour without making a child's dignity or sense of belonging conditional on marks. Listen before instructing. Welcome questions, even when the answers are not at hand. Offer age-appropriate choices and responsibilities. Respond to mistakes with reflection rather than ridicule. Resist comparisons that turn learning into a contest for adult approval. Talk about friendships, experiences, and interests, not only homework. Children need emotional security as much as academic guidance. When parents and teachers work as partners rather than as rival authorities, children gain curiosity, resilience, and a healthy relationship with learning. The Community and the Learning Space Education cannot remain the sole responsibility of schools and families. Communities hold knowledge that no textbook contains: the farmer who understands soil and weather, the artisan whose hands carry generations of skill, the health worker, the writer, the local entrepreneur. Such people should be more than occasional chief guests at annual functions. Children should learn with them and from them, understanding livelihoods, local history, environmental challenges, and civic responsibility. Community knowledge deserves respect, and it also deserves examination through evidence, critical thinking, and ethical reflection. The regions of Jammu and Kashmir each offer their own languages, landscapes, and traditions, and the aim is to engage that diversity thoughtfully, not to reduce it to postcard stereotypes. The spaces in which children learn speak just as clearly. A classroom communicates a philosophy through its seating, displays, resources, and routines. If children are only expected to listen, copy, and reproduce, the room reinforces passivity. If they are invited to investigate, discuss, create, and question, the room supports thinking. Flexible seating where feasible, walls that display children's questions and developing work, accessible books, and purposeful use of libraries, playgrounds, school gardens, and the neighbourhood do not require expensive infrastructure. They require imagination and the willingness to see ordinary spaces as sites of learning, which is exactly the experiential vision of NCF-SE 2023. From Compliance to Enabling Change None of this will endure if the system around schools continues to reward only compliance. Teachers cannot be expected to nurture curiosity if the system measures only procedural conformity. Parents cannot be expected to value deep learning if public measures of success are marks and ranks. Schools cannot sustain innovation if every departure from routine is viewed with suspicion. Several directions follow. Teacher education should be aligned with the classroom practices NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023 envision. Professional learning communities and peer observation should become regular features of school life. School-based projects should connect curricular goals with local contexts. Academic monitoring should become supportive and reflective, focused on children's learning rather than on the neatness of registers. Teachers should enjoy reasonable professional autonomy within curricular requirements. Educational progress should be judged through multiple forms of evidence, not records of compliance alone. And parents and communities should be drawn into honest conversations about what schooling is for. Mindset change cannot compensate for teacher shortages, poor infrastructure, or excessive workloads. Sustainable transformation needs both changed attitudes and enabling conditions. Small Steps, Larger Purpose Where might we begin? A teacher can choose one meaningful question or local problem and design a structured learning experience around it. A parent can replace some routine instructions with attentive listening and give a child a decision to make. A school head can create time for teachers to discuss classroom experiences and examine student work together. An administrator can encourage responsible experimentation, reduce avoidable procedural burdens, and make monitoring about the quality of learning. A community can offer its knowledge and invite children into real concerns. These are starting points, not substitutes for policy support, professional development, adequate resources, or accountability. The Girl and the Walnut Tree Return to the girl in Class VI. Imagine her teacher pausing after the definition and asking, Where have you seen this happening? Imagine her question about the yellowing leaves being welcomed, tested, and followed through a small investigation in the school garden. Imagine her parents asking at dinner, What did you wonder about today? rather than How many marks did you get? Imagine a local orchardist visiting to explain what he observes in autumn, a classroom whose walls display her questions, and a school leader who trusts her teacher to teach this way. She would not know less. She would know more, and know it more deeply, because her knowledge would be connected to the tree outside her window. Transformation begins when adults reconsider not only what children must learn, but how they learn, what they are capable of becoming, and what a society expects its schools to achieve. A child's mind is not a container to be filled but a flame to be tended. And flames, as every Kashmiri who has sat by a kangri in winter knows, are kept alive not by commanding them, but by caring for them. (The Author is a Senior Academician, Content Creator and a Teacher Educator writing on educational research, policy, and reform. He can be mailed at: sheikhgulzar1970@gmail.com)
Ajaz Jan lays foundation for two Poonch roads
Poonch, Oct 20: MLA Haveli Ajaz Ahmed Jan on Tuesday laid the foundation stones for two road projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-IV) in Mandi block of Poonch district, with a combined sanctioned cost of around 21.01 crore. The projects are aimed at improving rural connectivity and providing residents of remote and hilly areas with better access to healthcare, education, markets and other essential services. The first project involves the construction and maintenance of the 5-kilometre L027 Link Road from NABARD Road at Jallian towards Gujjaran. Sanctioned under Package No. JK114043, PMGSY-IV, Batch-I of 202627, the project has been allocated 11.6823 crore. The second project covers the 4.15-kilometre L041 Link Road from Rajpura PS Road at kilometre 1.600 to Ziarat Arai Gali. The project, listed under Package No. JK11-4053, PMGSY-IV, Batch-I of 202627, has a sanctioned cost of 9.3293 crore. Both projects include provisions for road construction and subsequent maintenance to ensure long-term usability and improved transportation facilities. The roads are expected to benefit residents of adjoining villages by easing travel difficulties, improving access to essential services and supporting local economic activities. The development forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen road infrastructure across the Haveli Assembly Constituency, particularly in remote and hilly areas where connectivity remains a key concern. Road projects worth hundreds of crores of rupees are being undertaken across the constituency to address longstanding infrastructure needs and improve access to public services, according to the information provided.
Dussehra celebrated with religious fervour in Srinagar
Srinagar, Oct 20: Dussehra was celebrated with religious fervour and enthusiasm across Srinagar on Tuesday, with hundreds of devotees, local residents, tourists and security personnel participating in the festivities that marked the victory of good over evil. The celebrations featured the traditional Shri Ram Jhanki (religious procession encompassing tableau of Lord Ram), which began from the Indira Nagar temple and passed through various parts of the city before culminating at the JKCA Practice Ground near Church Lane. As dusk fell, effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnath were set ablaze, symbolising the triumph of righteousness over evil amid chants of Jai Shri Ram and colourful fireworks. The venue witnessed a festive atmosphere as devotees, members of the local community and visitors gathered to witness the annual event. Security personnel also joined the celebrations, while the district administration made elaborate arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival. Barricading, security deployment, traffic regulation and other facilities were put in place to facilitate devotees. Preparations for the festival had begun several days in advance. Organisers said the effigies were brought to the venue a day before Dussehra and installed with the help of artisans and volunteers, while the ground was kept ready for the celebrations. Mohit Bhan, a senior member of the Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti, said Dussehra in Kashmir always carried a message of peace, harmony and the victory of truth over falsehood. This festival is not only about the burning of Ravana's effigy. It reminds us that truth and righteousness always prevail over evil. It was great to see the support of the administration, police and people from the majority community who extend their support every year. Their participation reflects Kashmir's age-old culture of communal harmony and brotherhood and that is the true spirit of today's celebration, Bhan said. Members from the Pandit community said the Shri Ram Jhanki (procession) remained one of the highlights of the annual celebrations, bringing together people from different backgrounds in a peaceful and festive atmosphere. Many local residents also turned up to witness the celebrations, with several youngsters recording videos and taking photographs of the procession and the Ravana Dahan. It is always a pleasant sight to see people from different communities celebrating together. Such events strengthen mutual respect and remind everyone that Kashmir's identity has always been rooted in coexistence and brotherhood, said Aamir, a resident of Srinagar who was present at the event. Tourists visiting the Valley also joined the celebrations and described the experience as memorable. The atmosphere of this festival here is completely different from anywhere else. Watching the procession and celebrations here, with locals participating together, made the experience very special. It reflects the warmth and hospitality that Kashmir is known for, said a tourist from New Delhi. The festival also attracted enthusiastic participation from the younger generation, with many residents gathering at the venue well before sunset to witness the burning of the effigies. Families, children and elderly people remained present throughout the programme as devotional songs and prayers filled the air. As the towering effigies went up in flames at the JKCA Practice Ground near Church Lane, devotees greeted one another and offered prayers, bringing the celebrations to a close on a joyous note. Meanwhile, on the occasion of Dussehra, celebrated with great reverence, which symbolises the victory of good over evil, devotional Bhandara celebrations were organised at Kali Mata Mandir Magarmal Bagh amid fervour and rituals. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo also paid a visit to the Mandir and participated in the Hawan and bhandara. The event witnessed the presence of devotees from various parts of the district and paid their reverence at the temple. The gathering highlighted the importance of traditions and community participation in celebrating this auspicious occasion of Dussehra.
Grand Dussehra Shobha Yatra draws crowds in Jammu
Jammu, Oct 20: Jammu witnessed grand Dussehra celebrations as the Sanatan Dharam Natak Samaj organised a Shobha Yatra under the leadership of its chairman and Jammu East MLA Yudhvir Sethi, drawing large crowds and showcasing the regions cultural and spiritual traditions. The celebrations marked the victory of good over evil, featuring a colourful procession with decorated chariots and tableaux depicting Lord Rama, Lakshman and Hanuman, followed by the traditional burning of the effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarna and Meghnad at Parade Ground. The Shobha Yatra began at Deewan Mandir after traditional prayers performed by Sethi. It passed through Moti Bazar, Sabzi Mandi, Rajtilak Road, Purani Mandi, Old Hospital Road, City Chowk, Shalamar Road and Raghunath Bazar. Devotees also offered prayers at the historic Raghunath Temple before the procession moved towards Parade Ground amid chants of Jai Shri Ram. Local artists who had participated in the nine-day Ramleela at Deewan Mandir joined the procession, bringing scenes from the Ramayana to life. The main attraction was the burning of the three effigies at Parade Ground, where thousands gathered to witness the spectacle. Artists portraying Lord Rama and Lakshman ignited the effigies, which went up in flames amid cheers from the crowd. According to the organisers, the effigies were prepared by artists from Uttar Pradesh over nearly a month. Elaborate security and traffic arrangements were put in place to facilitate the celebrations. Speaking on the occasion, Sethi said Dussehra conveyed the enduring message that truth and righteousness ultimately prevail. He said the large public participation reflected the people's devotion and the importance of preserving cultural traditions. He also highlighted the values of harmony, compassion and unity associated with Sanatan Dharma, calling for these principles to be passed on to younger generations. Sethi appreciated the Sanatan Dharam Natak Samaj for organising the event and providing a platform for local artists to showcase their talent. He also extended Vijayadashami greetings to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, urging them to uphold righteousness and social harmony. Sanatan Dharam Natak Samaj president Anil Masoom, general secretary Bharat Bhushan and other members of the organisation were present. Masoom highlighted the festival's cultural significance and its role in bringing people together while familiarising younger generations with the Ramayana. The celebrations concluded with the symbolic burning of the three effigies, reaffirming Dussehra's traditional message of the triumph of good over evil.
Athwas India XI, Sopore Stallions to battle for Khyber Red Premier League title today
Srinagar, Oct 20: Athwas India XI will face Sopore Stallions in the grand finale of the Khyber Red Premier League Season 3 at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar on Wednesday, with both teams eyeing the title. Sopore Stallions, as per a statement issued, stormed into the final with a commanding seven-wicket win over Le Delice in the second semifinal, powered by Owais Babas six-wicket haul and Asif Ramzans unbeaten charge. Batting first, Le Delice were bowled out for 152 runs in 18.2 overs. Amir Sofi top-scored with 46 runs off 36 balls, while Amir Aziz contributed 31 runs. Sopore Stallions Owais Baba delivered a sensational bowling performance, claiming six wickets for just 31 runs to dismantle the Le Delice batting line-up. Jahid Trag also made an impact with three wickets for Le Delice.
CJP's Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka move Delhi HC against judicial custody
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka Tuesday approached the Delhi High Court seeking an urgent hearing against the extension of their judicial custody. Das and Ranka sought a night hearing in the high court, which is shut this week due to Dussehra vacation. A newly-appointed Special Executive Magistrate at Mandir Marg police station on Monday ordered their judicial remand for two more days after they were produced before him. They were taken into custody on October 13 after they allegedly climbed over a locked gate to enter Jantar Mantar, which had earlier been denotified as a designated protest site, and were sent to five-day judicial custody. We have moved the Delhi High Court and requested an urgent night hearing. Saurav and Ashutosh should not spend a single minute behind bars. Their liberty must not be curtailed because of political games. Justice must not wait, CJP legal affairs head Ratna Singh said in a post on X. The CJP has alleged that the
Dominant India Women Clinch Series Whitewash With Biggest Home T20I Victory by Runs
India Women produced a clinical all-round performance to thrash Zimbabwe Women by 92 runs in the third and final T20I in Raipur on Tuesday, sealing a comprehensive 3-0 series whitewash. The margin marks Indias biggest win by runs at home in womens T20 internationals. Batting first, India posted a commanding 216 for 7 in 20 [] The post Dominant India Women Clinch Series Whitewash With Biggest Home T20I Victory by Runs appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
3rd T20I: Harmanpreet, Nandani Star As India Thrash Zimbabwe By 92 Runs To Sweep Series 3-0
Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International: Harmanpreet Kaurs unbeaten 91 off 41 balls and Nandani Sharmas three-wicket haul powered India to a comprehensive 92-run victory over Zimbabwe in the third and final womens T20I at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium here on Tuesday, completing a series sweep. Batting first, India posted a mammoth 216/7 in 20 overs, with Harmanpreet and Shafali Verma striking half-centuries to put the hosts in a commanding position. Zimbabwe, in reply, were restricted to 124/7, with Nandani returning figures of 3/18 to lead the bowling effort. The 92-run defeat is Zimbabwes joint fifth-biggest loss in womens T20Is by runs. Their biggest defeat in the format came against Pakistan in Karachi in 2026, when they lost by 153 runs, followed by another 133-run defeat against the same opponents at the same venue. Their next-biggest defeats were by 110 and 92 runs against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2026. The loss to India in Raipur is on par with the 92-run defeat against New Zealand, while Zimbabwe also suffered two 80-run defeats against South Africa in Bulawayo in 2026. India made a strong start after opting to bat first, with Shafali and Anushka Sharma opening the innings. Anushka contributed 28 runs before departing, while Shafali continued to attack and scored 61. Harmanpreet then took charge, racing past her half-century in 25 balls and maintaining the momentum with an unbeaten 91 off 41 deliveries. The remaining Indian batters struggled to make substantial contributions as they looked to accelerate, with several falling for single-digit scores. Beloved Biza was the pick of Zimbabwes bowlers, conceding 50 runs in her four overs while claiming three wickets. Nomvelo Sibanda, Tendai Makusha and Nyasha Gwanzura picked up one wicket apiece. Zimbabwes chase suffered an immediate setback as Kelis Ndlovu was dismissed for a golden duck off the first ball. They lost another wicket in the following over, putting the visitors under early pressure. Beloved Biza scored 44, and Shrne Mayers made 50, combining for an 82-run partnership. However, their stand came at almost a run-a-ball, leaving Zimbabwe with too much to do against the required run rate. With little support from the other batters, Zimbabwe finished at 124/7 in their 20 overs. Nandani led Indias bowling attack with 3/18, while Niki Prasad, Deepti Sharma, Kranti Gaud and Arundhati Reddy claimed a wicket each to seal the 92-run win and complete the series sweep. Brief scores: Nandani led Indias bowling attack with 3/18, while Niki Prasad, Deepti Sharma, Kranti Gaud and Arundhati Reddy claimed a wicket each to seal the 92-run win and complete the series sweep. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
IND W vs ZIM W 3rd T20: India win by 92 runs; Harmanpreet stars with 91
Former captain Harmanpreet Kaur struggled to keep her emotions in check after a sizzling 91 not out off 41 balls, setting up India''s commanding 92-run win over Zimbabwe in the third and final T20I
Harmanpreet Kaurs 91 powers India to 3-0 T20I series sweep against Zimbabwe
India's women's cricket team displayed sheer dominance against Zimbabwe, clinching the third T20I by a commanding 92 runs. With Shafali Verma and Harmanpreet Kaur leading the charge, scoring 69 and 91 respectively, Zimbabwe struggled in the chase, ending at 124/7 after facing early setbacks. Nandani Sharma's stellar three-wicket performance solidified the win, marking an impressive 11-match T20I winning streak.
Ferry catches fire near Indonesian port, all passengers rescued
A fire broke out aboard the KMP Batumandi as the ferry approached Merak Port in western Indonesia on Tuesday Ferry catches fire near Indonesian port, all passengers rescued
NSUI worker assault case: Congress workers sit-in continue at Jaipur Police Commissionerate
NSUI worker assault case: Congress workers sit-in continue at Jaipur Police Commissionerate Jaipur: Congress leaders in Jaipur continued their sit-in at the Police Commissionerate on Tuesday, demanding the registration of a Zero FIR in connection with the alleged assault and mistreatment of NSUI National Secretary Ritu Barala in Delhi. The protest, which began on Monday [] The post NSUI worker assault case: Congress workers sit-in continue at Jaipur Police Commissionerate appeared first on Mangalorean.com .
Businessman Harsh Goenka took a hilarious dig at Vinod Khoslas Chief of Staff job listing, mocking its demanding work hours, 24/7 availability and limited personal time. His post sparked reactions on X, with users joking about Gen Z employees, intense corporate work culture and the expectations placed on modern professionals.
E-commerce Growth Has Limited Impact on Fresh Produce Trade, Says Former Azadpur Mandi Secretary
Despite rising e-commerce, traditional markets remain resilient in the fresh produce sector, according to Rajkumar Bhatia. E-commerce Growth Has Limited Impact on Fresh Produce Trade, Says Former Azadpur Mandi Secretary
Mukhyamantri Mandi Sthal/UP-Mandi sthal agnikand durghatna sahayata yojana
Hotel cook faces Rs 4 cr tax demand, but he alleges PAN misuse; what Delhi HC ruled
In 2024, a cook employed at a 5-star hotel in Delhi received an income tax notice demanding nearly Rs 4 crore in tax, along with a penalty for under-reporting income. The notice alleged that the man had made cash sales worth Rs 24.62 crore through a company dealing in packing materials. He immediately checked his Form 26AS to understand why such a large transaction was linked to his tax records.
CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka to approach Delhi HC seeking release
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka are set to move the Delhi High Court seeking their release, challenging the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court's order extending their judicial custody in connection with the Jantar Mantar trespassing case. The move comes a day after the SEM court extended the judicial custody of the two till October 21, observing that their conduct shows no respect for law and reflects their habitualness in calling protest at de-notified areas. The two CJP leaders were sent to judicial custody till October 21 by SEM Ritu Raj at Mandir Marg police station after their earlier five-day judicial custody ended on Monday. In its order, the SEM court said the investigating officer had placed substantial material on record, raising concerns over the likelihood of a breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity. It also recorded that the two leaders had allegedly breached the bonds furnished by them before the SEM, South-West District, on October 11 and subsequently committed a breach of peace in the present case. The court further observed that their assurance that they would not repeat the alleged offence did not inspire confidence in view of their past conduct and the material placed on record by the investigating officer. Das and Ranka, along with party member Ajinkya Shinde, were among 14 people detained on October 13 after they entered Jantar Mantar through private premises and obstructed police personnel from discharging their official duties. The CJP members were protesting against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and had raised slogans against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Delhi Police had justified their continued custody, citing repeated violations of law and apprehensions that their release could lead to further violations and instigation of others. The SEM court had also found the sureties furnished on behalf of the two leaders unfit following an inquiry, citing discrepancies in identity documents and their inability to provide basic details about the persons for whom they stood surety. It directed them to furnish fresh sureties.
Adinath Kothare Takes on Challenging Role in Nai Naveli
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J&K CM Omar Abdullah approves doubling of MBBS, BDS Interns stipend to Rs 25,000: report
Srinagar, Oct 20: In a major development for medical and dental graduates undergoing compulsory internship in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has approved the enhancement of their monthly stipend from Rs 12,300 to Rs 25,000, with the Health and Medical Education Department directed to issue the necessary orders immediately. Quoting top government sources, news agency KNS reported that the Chief Minister has cleared the file concerning the long-awaited revision, paving the way for a substantial increase in the monthly remuneration paid to MBBS and BDS interns. The Chief Minister has approved the file for enhancement of the monthly stipend from Rs 12,300 to Rs 25,000. The Health and Medical Education Department has been directed to issue the necessary orders immediately, top government sources told KNS. Sources said the formal order was expected to be issued on Tuesday itself, but the holiday prevented its issuance. The department is now to issue the necessary notification on Wednesday, October 21. The decision will increase the monthly stipend by Rs 12,700, representing a rise of approximately 103.25 per cent over the existing amount. On an annual basis, an intern receiving the revised stipend for 12 months would get Rs 3 lakh against the earlier Rs 1,47,600, an increase of Rs 1,52,400. The decision comes against the backdrop of sustained protests by MBBS and BDS interns across Jammu and Kashmir, who have been demanding an increase in their monthly stipend to Rs 30,000. The interns had launched an indefinite strike on August 31, arguing that their stipend had remained unchanged for nearly seven years despite rising living costs and demanding hospital duties.(KNS)
ICC Rankings: Shree Charani, Deepti Sharma dominate as Nandani, Kranti make gains
Team India continues to shine in the ICC Women's T20I Bowling Rankings, led by the exceptional performances of Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma. With Nandani Sharma and Kranti Gaud climbing the rankings, the Indian women's team has established a commanding 2-0 lead over Zimbabwe in their series. This reinforces the depth of talent within the squad, while Australian players also rise in the ODI rankings after their series against Bangladesh.
Congress Protests at Jaipur Police Headquarters Demanding FIR in Ritu Barala Case
Congress leaders in Jaipur demand justice for Ritu Barala, alleging police inaction in her assault case during a protest in Delhi. Congress Protests at Jaipur Police Headquarters Demanding FIR in Ritu Barala Case
Macworld macOS 27 Golden Gate arrived on September 14, introducing an all-new Siri AI assistant, major updates to Safari, Photos, Messages, Mail and Calendar, and expanded child-safety features. Design refinements and performance improvements round out the release. Named after Californias iconic Golden Gate, the update continues Apples push to make the Mac smarter and more proactive, bringing Apple Intelligence to more parts of the operating system to help users complete everyday tasks faster. macOS 27 supports all Macs powered by Apple silicon, but drops support for Intel-based models. Intel Macs can continue running older versions of macOS , with security updates expected to remain available for a limited time. This guide covers macOS 27s biggest new features, compatible Macs and the latest beta developments. With some features still to come, we also explain whats in the beta, whats expected in future updates and when those additions could arrive. Whats New in macOS 27 Golden Gate at a glance Apple Here are the top ten new features and changes in macOS 27 Golden Gate. Siri AI : A redesigned conversational Siri that can answer questions, understand personal and onscreen context, access the web and take actions across apps. Apple Intelligence : Systemwide proofreading, smarter writing tools, improved dictation and automatic file and folder naming. Safari upgrades : Automatic tab grouping, webpage change alerts with Notify Me, AI-generated extensions and faster, more efficient browsing. Smarter Messages and Mail : Better search and syncing, contextual suggestions and improved reliability. New Photos tools : Spatial Reframing, image expansion with Extend, improved Clean Up, and better search and organization. More powerful built-in apps : New features for Passwords, Calendar, Notes, Preview, Freeform, Weather, Shortcuts, and Image Playground. Expanded parental controls : Ask to Browse, improved Screen Time, contact approvals and broader Communication Safety protections. Better Mac gaming : Game Porting Toolkit 4 promises significant performance and compatibility improvements for Windows games. Refined Liquid Glass design : Better readability and consistency, adjustable transparency, cleaner Finder windows, and improved iPhone Mirroring. Faster macOS performance : Quicker app launches, Spotlight, AirDrop and networking, plus improved external-display, Thunderbolt and Bluetooth support. macOS 27 latest version: Whats in macOS 27.0.1 macOS 27 became available to install on compatible Macs on September 14. Apple then released the macOS 27.0.1 update on September 28, 2026. According to Apples security releases document , This update has no published CVE entries. macOS 27.2, is currently in beta so that may be the next version of macOS 27. We dont know if that means Apple will skip macOS 27.1. With iOS 27.1 being released for the iPhone Duo with features specifically designed for the foldable it is possible that Apple will move straight to macOS 27.2 in order to keep the version numbers in alignment. Alternatively, there may be secret features coming to the Mac in macOS 27.1. Latest macOS 27 Beta Whats coming in macOS 27.2? Apple Apple released the first developer beta of macOS 27.2 on September 16, followed by beta 2 on September 21, beta 3 on October 5 and beta 4 on October 13. The macOS 27.2 release candidate arrived for developers on October 19. A release candidate is a build intended for final testing before general release so the non-beta version is expected soon. Apple lists iOS 27.2 or iPadOS 27.2 as a requirement for setting up HomeView, which goes on sale on November 13, which could indicate a similar release date for macOS 27.2 since Apple usually issues software updates in tandem. Apple has not announced any major additions coming with macOS 27.2, but clues appeared in the macOS 27.2 beta on October 5. MacRumors reported new code references to touch gestures in Safari, Photos, Notes and Quick Look. These could support a future touchscreen MacBook, but they could also relate to Sidecar, which allows an iPad to act as a Mac display. Further clues emerged in October. As we reported on October 15 , footage shared by itspdfu reportedly shows touch-oriented changes to Safari in macOS 27.2 betas 3 and 4. When rearranging tabs, the selected tab lifts and enlarges as it moves, then returns to its normal size when dropped into place. Pressing and holding a tab also opens a contextual menu, but this version omits the Ask Siri option available when using a mouse or trackpad. These changes suggest Apple is exploring how Safari could respond to touch input. Apple has announced additional Siri AI languages for October, including French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish. Automatic password changes and SynthID identification for AI-generated images remain forthcoming features. Their inclusion in macOS 27.2 has not been verified though. Want to run te beta? Heres how you can participate in the beta program we also recommend reading our guide to whether you should install the latest macOS beta . Beta software can cause crashes, app compatibility problems, increased battery drain and, in some cases, data loss. If you install a beta, make a full backup first and, ideally, use a secondary Mac, separate volume or external SSD. What features are still to come in macOS 27 At the time of the launch of macOS 27 not all of Apples promised features were available. Missing features include: Automatic password changes: The ability for the Passwords app to visit supported websites and automatically replace compromised passwords was removed shortly before release. Additional Siri AI languages: Siri AI launched in English only. French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish are due in October. SynthID identification for AI images: Apple said support for adding SynthID identification to most AI-generated or edited images would arrive in a software update later in 2026. macOS 27 problems: Are there any issues with Golden Gate? Since macOS 27 Golden Gate arrived on Macs there have been reports in the Apple Support Community of issues with Mission Control and Spaces. These include: Stuttering or delayed transitions : Reports long pauses before a new Space appears. Black or missing desktop previews : A black screen may appear when switching Spaces. French website MacGeneration was able to reproduce some Mission Control glitches. It is likely Apple will address these issues in macOS 27.2, if not before. Siri AI: Siri powered macOS 27 features Foundry Apples biggest focus in macOS 27 Golden Gate is Siri AI, a completely redesigned version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence. Rather than functioning primarily as a voice assistant, Siri is now a conversational AI that can answer questions, understand personal and onscreen context, access current information from the web and take actions across apps. Siri AI behaves more like a generative-AI chatbot than the Siri of old. It can answer questions directly, understand natural follow-ups and solve problems instead of simply directing users to web searches. At a glance: Whats new with Siri AI? Conversational AI assistant : Siri can handle open-ended questions, brainstorming, research and natural back-and-forth conversations. Dedicated Siri app : A standalone Siri app keeps conversations in one place and syncs them through iCloud, allowing users to start a conversation on one Apple device and continue it on another. Personal context awareness : Siri can understand information in Messages, Mail, Notes, Photos, Maps and files to locate information and provide answers based on your personal data. Web-powered answers : Siri can access current information from the web, making it more useful for research, learning, interview preparation and questions about recent events. App actions and automation : Siri can perform tasks across apps such as Messages, Music, Reminders, Calendar and Maps using natural-language instructions. Spotlight integration : Siri AI is integrated with Spotlight, allowing users to type questions and receive AI-generated answers without opening a browser or separate app. Visual Intelligence : Visual Intelligence comes to the Mac for the first time, allowing Siri to understand selected images, documents, files, text and other content displayed on screen. Apples Visual Intelligence initially placed Blutenburg in Denmark. Macwelt Writing Tools : Siri can generate text, rewrite drafts, summarise content and adjust wording or tone. Apple says it can also adapt writing to the way you typically communicate with particular contacts. Improved dictation : Systemwide dictation gains better speech recognition along with automatic punctuation, capitalization and formatting. Custom Siri voices : Users can choose Siris voice and adjust characteristics such as pace and expressiveness, although some of these capabilities require newer hardware. A Siri AI contextural popover was discovered during beta testing. Selecting text brings up a small Siri icon offering contextual actions, including Writing Tools, summaries and key points, sending messages or emails, creating calendar events, opening locations in Maps, and tracking flights or packages. However, the feature is not enabled by default and requires Apples FeatureFlags system to activate. It remains unclear whether Apple intends to make it available as a consumer-facing feature. Apple also appears to be taking a relatively restrained approach to AI behaviour. In our testing , Siri avoids presenting itself as human, excessive flattery and potentially harmful responses, while generally keeping its answers straightforward. Siri AI has launched as a beta, so users should expect some rough edges and continued improvements. Siri AI initially supports English, with French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish due in October. Availability will vary by region. Siri AI is available on Mac and Vision Pro in the European Union , although Siri AI remains unavailable on iPhone and iPad in the EU at launch because of issues related to the Digital Markets Act. It is also unavailable in mainland China while Apple works through regulatory requirements. Which Macs support Siri AI? Siri AI requires a Mac that supports Apple Intelligence, but some of its most advanced capabilities have higher hardware requirements. Apple says its most powerful on-device AI model, expressive Siri voices and advanced dictation require an M3 or later Mac with at least 12GB of unified memory. Macs that support Apple Intelligence but do not meet those requirements can still receive other Siri AI features, although the exact feature set may vary. Safari features in macOS 27 Notify Me in Safari Apple Safari gets several Apple Intelligence-powered upgrades in macOS 27, including smarter tab organization, webpage monitoring, custom extension generation, and performance improvements. Automatic Tab Topics : Safari automatically groups related tabs by topic as you browse, helping keep research and projects organized. These groups can also be saved for later. Notify Me : Safari can monitor webpages for changes and alert you when something happens, such as a product coming back in stock or a price dropping, removing the need to keep refreshing pages manually. Describe an Extension : Users can create custom Safari extensions simply by describing what they want. Safari generates the extension from the text description and add it to the toolbar. Faster, more efficient browsing : Apple says Safari uses less power while improving page-loading speed, JavaScript performance, scrolling, animations and resizing of the Start Page. Get notified. Macwelt Messages and Mail features in macOS 27 Messages and Mail gain deeper Apple Intelligence integration in macOS 27, alongside improvements to search, syncing and everyday reliability. Messages One-Tap Suggestions in Messages : Messages suggests useful actions based on the context of a conversation, such as creating a reminder or note without leaving the chat. Smarter Photo Suggestions : Messages surfaces relevant photos based on people, places and keywords mentioned in a conversation. Personalized Smart Reply : During the preview at WWDC Apple indicated that suggested replies can reflect your usual writing style and adapt depending on who youre messaging. This was removed from the iOS 27 beta before launch and hasnt arrived with macOS 27. Improved syncing : Messages should sync more reliably across devices, while failed messages automatically retry sending. Mail Personalized Smart Reply : Apple also previewed a feature in Mail whereby it could generates suggested responses that better match your writing style and the person youre replying to, but this is absent from the first version of macOS 27. More relevant search : A new ranking system prioritizes the most useful search results, alongside improved search indexing. Faster and more accurate : Apple says Mail loads messages more quickly and provide more reliable unread counts. Photos features in macOS 27 Photos has new AI-powered editing and organization tools in macOS 27, making it easier to improve images, find photos and manage an iCloud library. Spatial Reframing : Photos will intelligently recompose and reframe images after theyve been taken. Extend Tool : A new Extend tool can expand an image beyond its original boundaries, filling in missing areas when changing the crop or aspect ratio. Enhanced Clean Up : Apples Clean Up tool is better at removing larger unwanted objects and distractions from photos. Better organisation and search : Photos adds keywords, star ratings, improved metadata search and other tools for organising a library. Faster iCloud syncing : iCloud Photos can begin uploads more quickly, with an option to prioritize syncing when needed. Other new app features in macOS 27 macOS 27 also brings a wide range of smaller upgrades across Apples built-in apps, with a particular focus on automation, organisation, security and Apple Intelligence. Passwords In macOS 27 the Passwords app will automatically identify weak or compromised passwords and, with Apple Intelligence, visit supported websites, change the password and save the new credentials. This could remove much of the manual work involved in updating large numbers of old or leaked passwords, although questions remain over website compatibility, two-factor authentication and how consistently the feature will work. Read: Apple finally got rid of my biggest password headache. This feature was not included in the initial macOS 27 release and may arrive in a subsequent update. Image Playground Image Playground gets a substantial AI upgrade, including the ability to create photorealistic images and make more convincing edits to existing pictures, such as changing colours, hair and other details. Apple continues to apply safeguards around real people, copyrighted characters and distinctive artistic styles. Support for embedding SynthID identification in most AI-generated or edited images is due in a later macOS 27 software update. Foundry Calendar Calendar gains natural-language event creation, making it possible to describe an event rather than manually entering every detail. It can also make changes to multiple events at once. Preview Preview supports more document formats, improves PDF editing and saves PDF files more quickly. Notes Notes gains drawing tools for sketching with a mouse or trackpad, along with digital signatures, Markdown copy-and-paste and links to sections within notes. Notes now features a drawing tool as well as the ability to create and use digital signatures. Foundry Freeform Freeform adds drawing tools, collaborative folders and improved organisation, including the ability to sort boards into folders. Full dark-mode support also changes the appearance of the drawing canvas. In Freeform, boards can now be organised into folders. Foundry Weather Weather gets a clearer and more detailed forecast interface, with reorganised information tiles and enhanced 10-day forecasts showing precipitation probability and amount, as well as wind speeds throughout the day. In the Weather app, the tiles have been rearranged, and there are separate 10-day forecasts for precipitation and wind (circled in red). Foundry Shortcuts Shortcuts gains a redesigned editor, more automation capabilities and one of macOS 27s more ambitious AI features: the ability to turn natural-language instructions into working automations. Shortcuts can start automatically when a specific event occurs. Thomas Armbrster Parental Controls Apple expands its family-safety tools with Safaris Ask to Browse, improved Screen Time and Time Allowances, contact approvals, and broader Communication Safety protections. The changes give parents more control over what children can access and who they can communicate with without completely locking down the Mac. The redesigned parental controls also have a family-wide software requirement. To activate them through Family Sharing, every eligible device in the group not just the parents Mac must be running iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27 or visionOS 27. Once Apple offers the migration, the family organizer or a parent or guardian should see a Get Started prompt in Family settings. Apple says parents can also select the childs name under System Settings > Family to begin setup, although the migration options are not currently appearing for everyone. Older devices that cannot install version 27 can continue using the previous Screen Time and Family Sharing controls. Apple says these legacy devices should not prevent supported hardware from using the redesigned system, but it has acknowledged delays and incorrect device-status information affecting some families.. Accessibility, Shared Albums and Suggestions macOS 27 also includes accessibility improvements, expanded Shared Albums, and more contextual Suggestions throughout the operating system. Game Porting Toolkit 4 Apples Game Porting Toolkit 4 arrives alongside macOS 27 and promises significant improvements for running and porting Windows games on Apple silicon Macs. Early beta testing suggests substantial performance gains . On an M4 Pro MacBook Pro, GTA V reportedly increased from around 106fps to 176fps, while Red Dead Redemption 2 improved from roughly 60fps to 75fps. The results suggest software compatibility, rather than raw Apple silicon performance, is increasingly the main obstacle to better Mac gaming. Improvements to Game Porting Toolkit could make Windows titles more practical to run and easier for developers to bring to macOS. Design and Interface Changes in macOS 27 Apple macOS 27 Golden Gate refines the Liquid Glass redesign introduced in macOS 26, with Apple focusing on readability, consistency and usability rather than another major visual overhaul. Changes include: Improved Liquid Glass : Stronger contrast, better readability and more consistent refraction effects across windows, menus and controls. Customizable transparency : Users can adjust the Liquid Glass effect in System Settings, from a clearer appearance to a more heavily tinted look. Cleaner Finder and toolbars : Finder sidebars are more clearly defined, toolbars are more consistent, and edge-to-edge sidebars replace some of the floating elements introduced in macOS 26. More consistent windows : Window corners, controls and active-window highlighting have been standardized to make the interface feel more coherent. Updated icons and menus : Menu-bar and app icons gain sharper outlines, improved contrast and more depth, while unnecessary menu icons have been reduced. Smoother window management : Mission Control and Spaces animations have been refined, and active windows should be easier to distinguish. New wallpapers and screensavers : Golden Gate-themed backgrounds include animated daytime and nighttime views of the bridge. Swipe to refresh : Supported Mac apps gain a swipe-down-to-refresh gesture. Improved iPhone Mirroring : iPhone Mirroring adds Control Center access, resizable app windows and support for DRM-protected video. Foundry Performance improvements and system changes in macOS 27 Apple says macOS 27 focuses on speed, efficiency and everyday usability, with improvements across apps, networking, displays and system tasks. Most of these changes do not require Apple Intelligence. Changes include: Faster overall performance : Apps should launch more quickly, while an optimized CPU scheduler improves system responsiveness. Faster Spotlight and setup : Spotlight indexing and new user-account creation are quicker. Faster file transfers and networking : AirDrop and network file browsing are faster, while Ethernet status can appear in the menu bar. Thunderbolt and Bluetooth improvements : RDMA over Thunderbolt has been improved, alongside more efficient Bluetooth power management. Faster Safari : The Safari Start Page loads more quickly, with broader browser performance improvements. Better external-display support : New high-resolution and high-refresh-rate modes include 5K at 120Hz, alongside improved display-position persistence, HDR support for the macOS interface and 5K Mac mirroring. Apple Intelligence powered changes: AI-powered file naming requires Apple Intelligence : macOS can suggest filenames and folder names based on their contents, including in Pages, Numbers, TextEdit and Finder. Systemwide proofreading requires Apple Intelligence : Apple Intelligence provides automatic proofreading and improved spelling and grammar suggestions throughout macOS. Apple Intelligence privacy : Apple says AI processing happens on-device where possible, with Private Cloud Compute used for more demanding tasks. Data processed in the cloud is not stored or made accessible to Apple. macOS 27 Compatible Macs The MacBook Neo and other Macs in Apples current lineup will all be compatible with macOS 27. Foundry Apple states that macOS 27 Golden Gate is compatible with: MacBook Neo (A18 Pro, 2026) MacBook Air (Apple silicon, 2020 and later) MacBook Pro (Apple silicon, 2020 and later) iMac (Apple silicon, 2021 and later) Mac mini (Apple silicon, 2020 and later) Mac Studio (2022 and later) Mac Pro (Apple silicon, 2023 and later) All supported Macs can run Apple Intelligence, although some of the most advanced Siri AI features require an M3 or later Mac with at least 12GB of unified memory. What about Intel Macs? macOS 27 marks another major step in Apples transition away from Intel. macOS 26 Tahoe was the final version to support Intel Macs, and Apple is now encouraging developers to remove Intel code from their apps and focus on Apple silicon. macOS 27 will also be the final version to support Rosetta , Apples translation technology for running Intel-only apps on Apple silicon Macs. Those apps will continue to work in macOS 27, but will stop working in macOS 28 unless developers release Apple silicon-native versions. To help users prepare, macOS 27 includes an Intel-app checker in System Settings that lists Intel-based apps used during the past year. If you still rely on any essential Intel-only software, now is a good time to look for updates or alternatives before upgrading to macOS 28. What happens to DVD support? macOS 27 also begins the phase-out of Apples native DVD support . Apple has removed the DVDPlayback framework from the macOS 27 SDK and says it will disappear completely in a future version of macOS. Golden Gate may still include the DVD Player app, but it is likely to be the last macOS release with Apples built-in DVD playback support. Users who still watch DVDs on a Mac will increasingly need to rely on third-party software such as VLC. FAQ 1. When was macOS 27 Golden Gate released? September 14, 2026. 2. Should I install macOS 27? Golden Gate builds on macOS 26 Tahoe rather than reinventing macOS all over again. The biggest changes come from Siri AI and Apple Intelligence, alongside improvements to Safari, Spotlight, Photos, parental controls, and everyday system performance. But how much has actually changed since macOS 26 Tahoe , and is macOS 27 worth installing? We have a separate article that explains how Golden Gate compares with macOS Tahoe and which Macs will benefit most from upgrading . 3. Which Macs can run macOS 27? All M-series Macs can run macOS 27, and the MacBook Neo. Certain Siri AI features most powerful on-device model, expressive voices and advanced dictation are only available for M3 Macs and newer. 4. Should Intel Mac owners upgrade now? Intel Mac owners should start planning a move to Apple silicon, particularly if they want macOS 27, Apple Intelligence or continued access to the latest Mac features. The transition away from Intel hardware has reached a critical turning point, with software support rapidly vanishing and a new generation of affordable entry-level hardware making the switch more accessible than ever. Apple has confirmed that macOS 27 will not support any Intel-based Macs. While a small number of Intel models may receive security patches for older versions of macOS until September 2028, they are already excluded from modern flagship features. Those with Intel Macs also miss out on many features, including Apple Intelligence. 5. Will macOS 27 support Rosetta and Intel apps? macOS 27 will run Intel-only Mac apps through Rosetta 2. However, macOS 27 will be the final version of macOS to support Rosetta 2 as a general-purpose translation technology for running Intel-based Mac apps on Apple silicon. Rosetta has acted as a transition layer since Apple introduced its own Mac chips in 2020, translating x86_64 Intel instructions so older software can run on Apple silicon. After macOS 27, most Intel-only Mac apps will no longer work unless developers release Apple silicon-native versions, although Apple will retain limited Rosetta functionality for some older, unmaintained games. Apple is already preparing users for the change. Since macOS 26.4, Macs can display warnings when launching apps that rely on Rosetta, encouraging users (and the app developers) to update to Apple silicon-native versions before general Rosetta support ends. In macOS 28, most Intel-only apps will no longer run unless developers update them for Apple silicon. 6. When is macOS usually updated? Here is a history of release dates for macOS: macOS 27 Golden Gate: September 14, 2026 macOS 26 Tahoe: September 15, 2025 macOS 15 Sequoia: September 16, 2024 macOS 14 Sonoma: September 26, 2023 macOS 13 Ventura: October 25, 2022 macOS 12 Monterey: October 25, 2021 macOS 11 Big Sur: November 19, 2020 macOS 10.15 Catalina: October 7, 2019 macOS 10.14 Mojave: September 24, 2018 macOS 10.13 High Sierra: September 25, 2017 macOS 10.12 Sierra: September 20, 2016
Ahead of its opening, Jio Platforms' initial public offering (IPO) is commanding a strong grey market premium (GMP). The Rs 30,213-crore IPO comprises 27 crore fresh shares within a price band of Rs 1,065 to Rs 1,119 per share. The issue opens from October 21 to October 23, with listing scheduled for October 28. The company plans to utilise Rs 27,500 crore of the proceeds to prepay borrowings of its material subsidiary, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (RJIL).
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, Priyanka Chaturvedi, on Tuesday criticised her party MP Sanjay Raut's remarks referring to the burning of Albania's Supreme Court, saying that suggesting India should learn a lesson from such incidents was inappropriate and undermined the country's democracy and Constitution. Chaturvedi stressed that violence could not achieve anything and was against the interests of the country. She urged people to express their grievances through peaceful protests rather than taking the law into their own hands. Raut, in a post on X, had said, The people of Albania have burned down the Supreme Court. The people were enraged because the Supreme Court was helping corrupt prime ministers. The protesting public has also attacked the parliament and government offices, as well as the ministers' homes. All countries should learn a lesson from these events. Especially India. Reacting to his remarks while speaking to IANS, Chaturvedi said the lesson to be drawn from such incidents was the importance of respecting the judicial system and maintaining law and order, rather than encouraging violent demonstrations. The only lesson we should learn is that we must not take the justice system and law and order into our own hands and should avoid such violent protests. Violence achieves nothing and goes against the interests of the country. Whether in Bangladesh, Nepal, Albania or France, these incidents begin with student protests, after which bad-faith actors get involved, leading to such incidents, she said. Chaturvedi also cited the protests undertaken by her party over political and electoral issues, arguing that constitutional and democratic concerns should be pursued through peaceful and lawful means. This fight is for our country's Constitution and democracy. The way we removed Dharmendra Pradhan from the post through a peaceful protest. Now, our fight to ensure that the Election Commission is not undermined and to seek the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar is being pursued in the Supreme Court, she said. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader maintained that political disagreements and demands for accountability should not be used to justify or encourage violence. Despite this, suggesting that we should learn from such incidents and that violence could happen is wrong, and it weakens our democracy and Constitution, Chaturvedi added. Her remarks came amid a debate over Raut's comments on the unrest in Albania and his suggestion that India should take lessons from the protests there. BJP leaders criticised Raut, accusing him of promoting anarchy and demanding an apology.
BJP is in Oppn as per mandate; but Cong leaders are rebelling against CM Shivakumar: Vijayendra
Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Oct 20 (IANS) Karnataka BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Tuesday alleged that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's position was under threat due to rebellion within the ruling Congress and accused him of repeatedly blaming the Centre out of desperation. Reacting to Shivakumar's statement that the BJP was not cooperating with the state government's efforts to convene an all-party meeting on the sugarcane farmers' issue, Vijayendra said the Chief Minister's chair was shaking amid growing dissent within the Congress party. You have been observing the developments surrounding the sting operation. Congress leaders are rebelling against CM Shivakumar. In this background, he is repeatedly complaining against the Centre out of desperation, he alleged. Vijayendra said the BJP would discuss the proposal to join the all-party delegation to Delhi with the Leaders of Opposition and senior party leaders before taking a decision. We will sit with the Leaders of Opposition and senior leaders and discuss whether to join the ruling party's delegation to Delhi over the sugarcane farmers' issue, he said. Clarifying the BJP's stand, Vijayendra said the party would continue in the Opposition for the remaining one-and-a-half years of the government's tenure, and has no intention of destabilising the Congress government. The BJP is in the Opposition as per the mandate of the people. We will remain in the Opposition for another one-and-a-half years. There is no need for us to destabilise or bring down the Congress government. Senior leaders within the ruling party are preparing to rebel against CM Shivakumar. What I am saying is the truth, he claimed. Expressing concern over the plight of farmers, Vijayendra said agricultural communities across Karnataka and the country were facing severe distress and appealed to the Almighty to come to their rescue. Since the Congress came to power in Karnataka, farmers have been in deep trouble. The financial situation of the state is deteriorating, and people are fed up with the Congress government, he alleged. Pointing to the condition of roads in and around Bengaluru, he said public dissatisfaction with the government was growing. He also accused the state government of failing to deliver on development, drought management and welfare measures. Even after three-and-a-half years, development has not taken off. Today, persons with disabilities are on the streets demanding their pensions. The government has forgotten its priorities and is unable to think and act, he alleged. Vijayendra further accused the state government of merely writing letters to the Centre, blaming the Union government and then remaining inactive instead of addressing people's problems. He also criticised the Congress government for raising the issue of delimitation and alleged that it was creating unnecessary confusion among the people while the Centre was examining the matter. On drought management, he charged that the state government had failed to provide adequate relief to affected people. Turning to the sugarcane farmers' agitation, Vijayendra credited the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government with introducing measures to support sugarcane growers and the sugar industry. He said the Centre had introduced the minimum support price (MSP), created opportunities for ethanol manufacturing and brought in policies to facilitate value addition in the sugar industry. He also pointed to financial assistance extended to the sector, claiming that these measures had been taken by the NDA government. Vijayendra said the present agitation by sugarcane growers was primarily over alleged irregularities in the weighing of their produce at sugar factories and injustice in the assessment of sugar recovery rates. He said Union Minister Pralhad Joshi had held a meeting with Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and that a committee had been constituted to examine the issue. The committee's team was visiting Karnataka, he added. The Centre is examining possible solutions because the issue is not confined to Karnataka alone. The interests of farmers across the country and the international market must also be taken into consideration, he said.
Father-son duo arrested in Delhis Harsh Vihar for attempt to murder
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) Delhi Police have arrested a father-son duo within two hours of registering an attempt-to-murder case following an assault with a sharp-edged weapon in the Harsh Vihar area, officials said on Tuesday. The incident took place around 5 p.m. on October 18 near Gullu Ka Mandir, Gali No. 1, Saboli Khadda, Part-II, within the jurisdiction of Harsh Vihar police station. According to the police, the injured, identified as Ashish, 34, an employee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), was sitting with his co-worker, Sonu Sagar, when an argument broke out over a monetary dispute involving Pratap Singh. During the altercation, Pratap Singhs 26-year-old son, also named Ashish, and another grandson joined in and assaulted the victim with a sharp-edged object. The accused subsequently fled the scene, while the injured was taken to Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital by his friend. Following the incident, an FIR was registered at Harsh Vihar police station under Sections 109(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). A dedicated police team led by Inspector Tej Dutt Gaur, Station House Officer (SHO) of Harsh Vihar police station, was formed under the supervision of ACP Nand Nagri Gaurav Kumar Tripathi. The team used CCTV footage, human intelligence and technical surveillance to identify and apprehend the two accused within two hours of the case being registered. During the investigation, police found that the dispute allegedly stemmed from Rs 3,500 that Pratap Singh had given to Sonu Sagar to help secure an MCD job for his son, Rahul. Pratap Singh allegedly suspected that Sonu had retained the money and demanded its return, triggering the confrontation. The arrested accused have been identified as Pratap Singh, 54, and his son Ashish, 26. Police said neither accused has any previous criminal involvement. Further investigation into the case is underway.
Lula takes to streets with peoples demands as Flvio leans on Big Tech in Brazils presidential race
In So Paulo, South Americas financial capital, around a million people marched last on October 18 with Workers Party banners and placards, demanding protection for public education, healthcare, and transport
Eminent Islamic Scholar Mufti Muneer Hussain Passes Away In Rajouri; Thanamandi Mourns
Rajouri: Eminent Islamic scholar Mufti Muneer Hussain of Thanamandi in Rajouri district passed away on Monday at the age of 85. Reports said said that his wife had passed away yesterday and her Nimaz-e-Janaza was offered today, while Mufti Muneer Hussain passed away today. His son had also passed away several days ago. His Nimaz-e-Janaza []
Rajasthan Cong leaders stage all-night sit-in, seek FIR in alleged assault on NSUI worker
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Oct 20 (IANS) The alleged assault on NSUI activist Ritu Barala during a protest against vote theft in Delhi has triggered a political confrontation in Rajasthan, with the Congress demanding the registration of an FIR in Jaipur. Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra, along with party leaders and a legal team, staged an overnight sit-in at the Jaipur Police Commissionerate on Monday. Congress leaders and workers remained at the Commissionerate throughout the night, both inside and outside the premises. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also visited the protest site. Dotasra announced that the party would gherao the Police Commissionerate on Tuesday and called upon Congress workers from across the state to reach Jaipur. Dotasra maintained that Congress would not withdraw its protest until an FIR was registered in the case. The party has also raised questions over the police administrations handling of the complaint. Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully questioned the state government, asking who had tied the hands of the police administration and prevented it from registering an FIR. What is the BJP government's problem with delivering justice to a daughter of this state? Jully asked, warning that the Congress would neither retreat nor bow down until an FIR was registered in the Ritu Barala case. Earlier, Ritu Barala, accompanied by Congress leaders and a legal team, approached the Moti Dungri police station and submitted a written complaint to the Station House Officer, seeking registration of an FIR. However, no separate FIR was registered. Around 6.15 p.m. on Monday, Congress leaders reached the Police Commissionerate. Police Commissioner Sachin Mittal was not present at the time. Dotasra spoke to him over the phone and demanded the registration of a Zero FIR against the accused, insisting that the protesters would not leave until their demand was addressed. Gehlot arrived at the Commissionerate late Monday night from Jodhpur but left shortly afterwards. Among those who participated in the overnight sit-in were MLAs Rafiq Khan and Amin Kagzi, former Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, NSUI National President Vinod Jakhar, State Womens Congress President Sarika Singh, War Room Chairman Jaswant Gurjar, Rajendra Yadav, Media Chairperson Swarnim Chaturvedi and Jaipur City Congress President Sunil Sharma. According to Dotasra, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had called him and directed him to ensure that an FIR was registered in Jaipur in connection with the case. Police Commissioner Sachin Mittal said the incident had taken place in Delhi and a complaint had already been filed with the Delhi Police. He said police in other states had registered Zero FIRs and forwarded them to Delhi for further investigation. Multiple FIRs cannot be registered for the same incident, Mittal said, adding that the complainants had been informed that their complaint was on record. Information would be sought from the Delhi Police and the state police that registered the Zero FIR to facilitate the investigation. The Congress, however, remained firm on its demand and announced plans to intensify its protest on Tuesday.
DMK councillor, meeting organiser booked over slur against TN CM Vijay
Digital Desk | Chennai, Oct 20 (IANS) Police have registered a case against two DMK leaders, councillor Sudha Deenadayalan and Muralidharan, the party's meeting organiser, following a complaint that she made derogatory remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at a public meeting in Chennai. The case was registered at the B-2 Esplanade police station against Sudha and Muralidharan, who organised the October 7 meeting, after TVK functionary Udhayakumar lodged a complaint over the speech. The controversy centres on remarks in which Sudha allegedly referred to Vijay repeatedly as a dog while criticising his government. Video clips of the speech have circulated widely on social media, drawing protests from TVK members and intensifying exchanges between the ruling party and the opposition DMK. In his complaint, Udhayakumar alleged that the councillor had used objectionable and defamatory language against the Chief Minister. He also sought action against Muralidharan in connection with the organisation of the programme. Police subsequently registered a case against both. Details of the legal provisions invoked and further investigative steps were not immediately available. TVK members have also criticised senior DMK leaders who attended the meeting, alleging that they failed to intervene when Sudha made the remarks. According to the party, Chennai Mayor Priya, MP Kanimozhi and former Minister P.K. Sekarbabu were present on the dais. The ruling party alleged that their failure to object to the language amounted to allowing the attack to continue. That allegation forms part of TVKs criticism of the meeting and has not been independently established. The remarks were made during a speech accusing the Vijay government of failing to fulfil its promises. Sudha also alleged that the administration was continuing the subsidy and welfare programmes introduced during the previous government headed by M.K. Stalin. However, her language against the Chief Minister became the principal focus of the controversy, with TVK supporters sharing extracts from the speech and demanding police action. The registration of the case follows those protests and the formal complaint submitted at the Esplanade station. The complaint concerns both the alleged remarks and the organisers role in arranging the event. While police have initiated proceedings against the two named individuals, the information available does not indicate whether either has been questioned or summoned. No response from Sudha or Muralidharan to the allegations was available in the material provided on the case.
Ethics is not optional in civil service
A civil servants authority is borrowed. It comes from the people, through the Constitution, and it is held in trust for their welfare. The moment it is used to humiliate rather than to serve, it stops being authority and becomes mere power. The controversy now unfolding in Jammu and Kashmir should be read in that light. A senior IAS officer stands accused of verbally abusing a junior woman officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) in an official review meeting, an allegation he disputes. The facts are for the governments inquiry to establish. But the episode points to something larger that anyone who deals with government will recognise: a drift, in parts of the civil service, from welfare towards power, and from service towards authority. Most officers do not behave this way. The concern is a culture that allows some of them to, without consequence. The irony is hard to miss. Since 2013, the main examination for the IAS has carried a compulsory 250-mark paper, Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude, and the JKAS examination carries the same paper. Since 2014, the conduct rules for All India Services officers have required them to maintain high ethical standards, responsiveness to the public, particularly the weaker sections, and courtesy and good behaviour. Ethics is not optional to enter the civil service. It cannot become optional once an officer is inside it. We must remember what these services are for. Being an IAS or JKAS officer is not about making reels, building a social media image or enjoying the trappings of a chair. It is about executing authority for peoples welfare. Indias highest examination does not hand anyone absolute power; it hands them a trust, held on behalf of the farmer, the unemployed graduate and the young person waiting on a government scheme for a loan. I have sat through many meetings and review sessions in my own work. What I have always felt is that the review meeting has quietly become a theatre of hierarchy rather than a tool of governance. Targets are read out, numbers are questioned, and too often the loudest voice in the room is mistaken for the most competent one. Juniors learn to stay silent, and silence is the most expensive thing a government can buy, because it hides problems until they become failures. This is not a Kashmiri problem alone; an officer in any state will recognise the room. This is where the decline hurts the people most. An officer who rules a meeting through fear will not hear the truth about why loans are stuck, why a scheme is failing or why a village has been left out. When authority replaces ethics inside the office, welfare is the first casualty outside it. An office that cannot protect the dignity of its own officers will not protect the dignity of the citizen waiting at its door. Yet within hours, the debate on this episode split along familiar lines: IAS versus JKAS, outsider versus native, Kashmiri versus non-Kashmiri. Some voices on social media began demanding that the officer be sent back, as if people from elsewhere are somehow less human and we are above them. Some of the anger has a real context, since control over IAS officers in the Union Territory rests with the Lieutenant Governor rather than the elected government. But this reaction is intellectual bankruptcy, and it lets the real wrong slip away. I am not making an argument of IAS versus JKAS. If a Kashmiri secretary spoke this way to a junior from Bihar or Rajasthan, the act would be exactly as wrong; so would a JKAS officer humiliating a clerk or a patwari (village revenue official). Every human has a morality and a conscience, and as Immanuel Kant reminded us, persons have dignity, not a price, and must never be treated merely as a means. Abuse does not change its character with the abusers domicile or the victims cadre. To make it a question of origin is tribalism wearing the clothes of outrage. None of this is to deny that senior officers work under real pressure. Flagship schemes come with hard targets, reviews are relentless, and a secretary answers for every lag in every district. Frustration in a review meeting is understandable. But pressure may explain a raised voice; it never justifies abuse. What Kashmir needs, and what Indias bureaucracy needs, is professionalism: the discipline of disagreeing on facts without attacking persons, and of using authority as a responsibility rather than a weapon. Even when a junior speaks out of turn, the answer is a written record and due process, never public humiliation. It also means a person needs to be assigned the job he or she is capable of doing. Managing people is a skill, not a privilege of seniority, and postings should weigh temperament and conduct as seriously as batch and seniority. Juniors, in turn, need a way to report humiliation without fearing for their careers. So let the inquiry be impartial, let its findings be made public, and let accountability follow the facts, whatever cadre they point to. But the larger task is ours. Ethics has to be adopted, not as a paper to be cleared or a rule to be cited, but as the everyday practice of power in the service of people. The question before us is not where an officer comes from. It is whether he, or she, governs for the welfare of the people. On that question, there must be a single standard, applied to everyone. The author works with a bank on rural self-employment and writes on public policy and development.
DC Srinagar visits UPHC Lal Bazar, presides over registration camp for senior citizens
Srinagar, Oct 19:Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo on Monday visited the Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) Lal Bazar and presided over an awareness cum registration camp for senior citizens aged 70 years and above under the Vay Vandana Scheme. The programme on Ayushman Vay Vandana scheme was a part of District Administrations outreach efforts to ensure maximum coverage of eligible senior citizens aged 70 years and above under the scheme providing additional health support of Rs 5 Lakh over and above the existing cover aimed to strengthen senior citizen health security. The DC was accompanied by Chief Planning Officer, Fayaz Ahmad Dar, IAS Probationer, Aakash Garg, Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tahir Sajad, Tehsildar Eidgah, mohamamd Iqbal Zargar, ZMO Zadibal, Dr Rubeena Aziz, ZMO SR Gunj, Dr Shafqat Medical Superintendent Government Gousia Hospital, Dr Zahida Gul and other District Officers. On the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner led an Awareness-cum-Registration Camp on Ayushman Vay Vandana scheme of Government organized by Zonal Medical Officer, Zadibal which witnessed enthusiastic participation from elderly residents from Lal Bazar, Mandibal, Nowshahra, Botshah Mohalla,, Baghwanpora and other adjoining areas. The participants were sensitised about the benefits and advantages of the scheme and the process for registration. Addressing the gathering, the DC highlighted the significance of the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card and urged all eligible senior citizens aged 70 years and above to enrol under the scheme. He said the initiative aims to strengthen healthcare security for the elderly by providing health coverage of Rs 5 lakh and reducing the financial burden of medical treatment, thereby ensuring greater access to healthcare and promoting dignity, well-being and a better quality of life in their later years.
Indian Army imparts training to SDRF, Civil Defence personnel at Rajouri
Rajouri, Oct 19: Aimed towards strengthening Civil Defence preparedness and in line with the governments vision of strengthening and modernising the Civil Defence network, the Indian Army conducted the Train with Your Army initiative under the theme Sashakt Nagrik, Surakshit Rashtra (Empowered Citizens, Secure Nation). White Knight Corps, under the aegis of Northern Command, conducted this three-day residential training camp at the Corps Battle School, Sarol, Rajouri in coordination with the Civil Defence Organisation and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Jammu and Kashmir. The camp trained fifty participants, comprising sixteen SDRF personnel and thirty-four Civil Defence volunteers from Jammu, Doda, Samba, Akhnoor, Sunderbani, Nowshera and Rajouri. The training covered hybrid warfare, drone threats, air raids, information warfare, cyber threats, survival techniques and emergency response procedures, the army further said. Practical demonstrations and hands-on training enhanced the participants understanding of emerging threats and their preparedness to respond effectively to emergencies. The camp culminated on Monday with outstanding trainees being felicitated by Major General Manoj Kumar Ruria, General Officer Commanding, Ace of Spades Division. The Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri Dr Devyansh Yadav; DIG Civil Defence Anita Sharma, DIG Police Rajouri Poonch range Sandeep Wazir, Station Commander Brig Atul Choudhary and other representatives of the district administration attended the closing ceremony. The initiative reaffirmed the Indian Armys commitment to strengthening civil - military cooperation, enhancing community preparedness and building national resilience, PRO Defence Jammu stated. By equipping Civil Defence volunteers and SDRF personnel with essential skills to address emerging threats and emergencies, the initiative underscored the importance of a well-prepared citizenry in ensuring a safer and more resilient nation, the army further stated.
Northern Army Commander visits forward post in north Kashmir
Srinagar, Oct 19:Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Northern Command, conducted a series of visits to north Kashmir over the weekend to review the operational preparedness of troops and assess the prevailing security situation, according to official posts by the Northern Command on X. On Sunday, Lt Gen Sharma visited Rashtriya Rifles units deployed in north Kashmir. Interacting with commanders and troops on the ground, he emphasised the importance of constant vigil, operational synergy and regional outreach in the hinterland to retain an upper hand over inimical elements. The Army Commander commended the professionalism of the troops and their commitment to maintaining the resolve of a terror-free Jammu and Kashmir. In a follow-up visit on Monday, the Northern Army Commander accompanied by GOC 15 Corps, Lt Gen Balbir Singh reviewed the operational preparedness of units deployed in forward areas of north Kashmir. He lauded the troops for their professionalism and operational acumen. Stressing the need for sustained readiness, he underlined the importance of rigorous training, innovation and technology-driven capability enhancement to strengthen preparedness for operations, particularly in view of the forthcoming winter season and the associated challenges. North Kashmir, encompassing sensitive areas along the Line of Control in districts such as Baramulla and Kupwara, remains a critical sector in the Armys security grid. The visits come amid ongoing efforts to maintain a high state of alertness across the counter-terrorism and border management grid as the region prepares for harsh winter conditions that traditionally affect logistics, mobility and surveillance. The Northern Commands posts highlighted the Army Commanders focus on operational synergy, constant vigilance and proactive measures to counter any threats while reinforcing the commitment to peace and stability. The interactions with troops on the ground formed a key part of the review, with Lt Gen Sharma appreciating the high morale and readiness of the formations. These visits form part of the Northern Commands regular assessment of security arrangements and operational readiness in Jammu and Kashmir. The emphasis on technology integration, innovation and winter preparedness reflects the Armys approach to maintaining dominance in challenging terrain and climatic conditions.
Blaze in Bani? Fire tender from 155 kms away Kathua F&ES station will arrive to extinguish it!
Jammu, Oct 19: Fire destroys 40 houses in Warwan area of Kishtwar. 8 houses gutted in Warwan blaze. Screaming headlines from Warwan and any other place across Union Territory create trepidation among thousands of inhabitants of Bani tehsil headquarters spread across over 33 villages in Kathua district as a dreadful thought crosses their mind It may happen to us even, anytime! They, in particular, share empathy with the Warwan inhabitants, who in the past few years have witnessed such destruction, a number of times. Comparative empathy is not out of place. Reason being, both Warwan in Kishtwar district and Bani tehsil in Kathua district remotely placed treacherous areas, do not have a fire station or even a locally stationed fire tender a demand being made and ignored for long now. If for Warwan in Kishtwar district, fire tender comes traversing a distance of over 80 kms from Kokernag in Anantnag district of Kashmir, in Bani tehsil of Kathua district, the distance even stretches further to around 155 kms. In case of any fire or emergency incident in Bani tehsil, Fire and Emergency Services station in district headquarter Kathua, situated at around 155 kms away, is the nearest available station to respond to (emergency) situation or deploy even fire tender. And this is not mere allegation by the inhabitants; the assertion has come straight from the horses mouth. Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES), J&K, itself, has made this admission in response to an application filed under Right to Information (RTI) Act by a social activist of the area, Mudasar Ali, regarding fire and emergency services and availability of fire tenders in Bani tehsil of Kathua district. As per reply furnished by the Director, F&ES, J&K on October 7, 2026, in response to Mudasar Alis RTI application registration number FIREE/R/2026/60027 dated August 31, 2026, there is no Fire & Emergency Services Station presently established or stationed in tehsil Bani, district Kathua. No fire tender of this department is presently stationed or deployed in tehsil Bani. Accordingly, no fire tender registration number, date of deployment or operational status is applicable, the Directorate mentioned in response to a query regarding details of fire tenders, fire service vehicles presently deployed or stationed in Tehsil Bani. When asked if no fire tender is permanently stationed in tehsil Bani, what is location of the nearest Fire & Emergency Services Station from which fire tenders are dispatched to Bani during emergencies, the Directorate has replied that F&ES Station Kathua is the nearest Fire and Emergency Services Station to Tehsil Bani, being situated at a distance of approximately 155 kms from Bani. In case of any fire or emergency incident in tehsil Bani, F&ES Station Kathua is the nearest available Fire and Emergency Services Station for responding to the emergency, it has been maintained. F&ES Station Kathua is responsible for responding to fire calls received from tehsil Bani and for deployment of available fire-fighting resources in case of any fire emergency, as per operational requirements and availability of resources, the Directorate F&ES, J&K informs. In response to a query about details of the number of fire incidents reported in tehsil Bani during the financial years 2021-22 to 2025-26, year-wise and the number of fire tenders dispatched in response to such incidents, if such information is maintained, the Directorate mentions that as per the report furnished by the in-charge, F&ES Station Kathua, no fire tender was deputed for any fire incident in tehsil Bani during the period from April, 2021 to April, 2026. However, F&ES Station Kathua has attended a number of deployments relating to fire-safety arrangements in tehsil Bani from time to time, as required, it has been stated. However, as per the reply, a proposal for establishing 102 new Fire and Emergency Stations is presently under consideration, which also includes the proposal of Fire and Emergency Station Bani and is under process. No fire station or fire tender has been sanctioned and made operational at Bani as on date (October 7, 2026). The proposal for establishment of a Fire and Emergency Services Station at Bani is, however, presently awaiting government sanction, reads the reply to a query about any Government order, sanction order, proposal, correspondence, inspection report or other official communication regarding establishment of a Fire Station in Bani; deployment or provision of a fire tender in Bani; construction or provision of infrastructure for Fire and Emergency Services in Bani. Himanshu Gandotra, Deputy Director, Command Officer, Fire and Emergency Services, Samba-Kathua, as per the Directorates reply, is the designated authority for arranging and coordinating fire-fighting services in district Kathua including tehsil Bani in case of any fire or emergency. Social activist and applicant under RTI Act, Mudasar Ali points out that the residents of Bani tehsil in district Kathua have long been demanding for the establishment of a fire service station in the area. The residents allege that despite repeatedly highlighting the issue over the years, there has been no positive response from the government so far. The locals maintain that during recent years, they have suffered property losses worth crores, due to the absence of a fire service station. Despite several fire mishaps reported frequently in the sub-region, the government has failed to set up even a single fire station, leaving the population exposed and helpless, they lament. Had there been a fire station in our area, the damage could have been less, Mudasar Ali asserts. Bani is a snow-bound and hilly region, where more than 90 percent of the houses are made of wood and tin sheetsmaking them highly vulnerable to fire incidents.
BRS Criticizes Government Over Drought and El Ni
BRS MLC Dr. Shravan Dasoju criticizes the Telangana government for its handling of drought and El Nio issues, demanding immediate action and transparency. BRS Criticizes Government Over Drought and El Nio Management, Calls for White Paper
The internet redefined life; now, Artificial Intelligence has joined the bandwagon. We live in an age where answers are everywhere, yet genuine thinking is scarce. A question, a click, an instant responseno struggle, no silence, no effort. Where we once held words in our minds, we now hold prompts. Artificial Intelligence has penetrated our classrooms, offices, homes, and even our private conversations. It writes our essays, drafts our letters, summarises our books, and generates our ideas. It can compose poetry, analyse data, and solve complex problems in seconds. While this is a remarkable technological achievement, beneath the surface of convenience lies a brutal truth: the rise of redundant minds. The critical question we face is whether we are using AI to sharpen our minds, or slowly surrendering them to machines. The true danger is not that machines are becoming intelligent, but that humans may stop exercising their own intelligence. Thinking is hard work. It demands patience, doubt, curiosity, and relentless brainstorming. It requires us to sit with a problem before rushing toward an answer. AI offers an easier path by removing friction and saving time, delivering polished words without demanding deep thought. That is precisely where the danger begins. We must learn to distinguish between producing an answer and understanding it, between collecting information and gaining wisdom, and between merely appearing intelligent and actually thinking. This concern is far from merely philosophical; recent research gives us compelling reasons to take it seriously. A 2024 study by Microsoft Research and Carnegie Mellon University examined the use of generative AI in knowledge work. Surveying 319 professionals who use AI tools, researchers found that greater confidence in generative AI was directly associated with a decrease in critical-thinking effort. While this finding does not prove that AI makes people less intelligent, it raises a serious question about what happens when we trust machine-generated answers without sufficient scrutiny. Similarly, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has stressed the vital importance of developing critical thinking, creativity, and other uniquely human capabilities in an increasingly digital world. The message is clear: access to powerful technology must go hand in hand with the ability to question it. AI can produce convincing answers, but it can also make mistakes, invent facts, and reflect biases embedded in its training data. Fluency is not the same as truth. Confidence is not the same as competence. A machine can sound entirely certain and still be completely wrong. That is why the human mind must remain the final checkpoint. The greatest danger of artificial intelligence is not that machines will learn to think like humans. It is that humans may become comfortable thinking like machinesor stop thinking altogether. (The author is a freelance columnist and writes on various issues. He can be reached at: fidahumairawrite@gmail.com )
Shift to Navi Mumbai or suspend flights: Mumbai airport gives airlines options
MIAL has informed airlines that they can shift operations to the new Navi Mumbai International Airport. The existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport will undergo redevelopment until 2030. Airlines have expressed concerns about splitting operations between the two airports due to logistical difficulties. The Airline Operators Committee has rejected the proposed transfer of international operations, demanding more information.
In Numbers: What Is Fueling Protests In France
The protests were launched by students demanding better learning conditions. Students and teachers have expressed their anger at overcrowded classrooms and the cut of more than 4,000 teaching posts outlined in the government's 2026 budget.
Student Activist Aranya Rathore Recounts Alleged Police Assault In Detention
Student activist Aranya Rathore recounts her alleged assault while in Delhi Police detention after being detained during an October 11 protest demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumars resignation. Despite the risk of facing police cases, she explains why she feels compelled to return to protesting.
Asian Para Games: PM Modi praises Nishad Kumar's versatility after winning long jump gold
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 19 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday praised para-athlete Nishad Kumar for his versatility, determination and sporting excellence after he won a gold medal in the men's long jump T47 at the Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan, and said he was very proud of him. Winning a gold medal on his debut in the Asian Para Games makes the achievement even more special, the Prime Minister said in a post made by the PMO India on Monday. Nishad Kumar added an unexpected gold medal to his impressive para-athletics career, winning the mens T47 long jump at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Monday with a best effort of 7.11 m. The two-time Paralympic silver medallist delivered a commanding performance at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium to secure Indias second gold of the Games. Very proud of Nishad Kumar on winning Gold in the Mens Long Jump T47 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 with an outstanding jump. Winning a Gold on his debut in this event makes the achievement even more special. His versatility, determination and sporting excellence are truly inspiring. Wishing him the very best for the endeavours ahead, PM Modi was quoted as saying in a post by PMO India. Known primarily for his achievements in the high jump, Nishad made an emphatic statement in a discipline that remains secondary to his speciality. His winning distance proved beyond the reach of the competition, with the Indian recording 7.11m twice during the final to establish his superiority. Nishad opened with a jump of 6.95m before moving into the lead with 7.09m in his second attempt. He then stretched his advantage with a 7.11 m effort in the third round, followed by a foul in his fourth attempt. The Indian bounced back in the fifth round to match his best distance before closing his campaign with 7.07m. Uzbekistans Omadbek Khasanov mounted the closest challenge, producing a season-best 6.99m to claim silver. Sri Lankas Mohammadu Safran completed the podium with a best jump of 6.55m. The triumph is particularly notable given Nishads relatively recent entry into long jump competitions. The Indian began exploring the event last year and arrived in Japan with limited competitive experience in the discipline. His performance in Aichi-Nagoya underlined his versatility and ability to translate his athletic qualities into another event. Nishads established reputation, however, rests on his achievements in the mens T47 high jump. He won silver at the Paris 2024 Paralympics and has also claimed a world championship gold in the discipline. At the Asian Para Games, he is the defending champion in the high jump, making him one of Indias key medal prospects in the event.
UEFA gives FIFA November 2 deadline to release Infantino World Cup plan documents
UEFA submitted 42 detailed questions to FIFA, demanding responses by November 2 16 days before the nomination deadline for the presidential election next March 18
CJP's Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das In Tihar Jail Till Oct 21; Judicial Custody Extended By Two Days
Ranka and Das were produced before a Special Executive Magistrate at Mandir Marg police station for the required proceedings, after which they were taken back to Tihar Jail.
Mexico Water Crisis Explodes! Angry Protesters Torch Streets, Target Government Buildings
Thousands marched through Guadalajara demanding clean drinking water as anger over foul-smelling, contaminated supplies spilled into clashes, fires and damage to government buildings.Residents say unreliable water service and pollution have plagued parts of the city for years, while recent protests have triggered arrests, police action and growing pressure on authorities to fix Guadalajaras ageing water infrastructure and address contamination across the wider Lerma-Santiago watershed.
Sarfaraz ton puts Mumbai on top; Haryana beat Chandigarh
Sarfaraz Khan's magnificent unbeaten 139 helped Mumbai establish a commanding 258-run lead over Himachal Pradesh in their Ranji Trophy Group D match, while Nishant Sindhu's all-round heroics secured an innings victory for Haryana against Chandigarh.
Youth Congress burns Ravan effigy bearing Gyanesh Kumar
New Delhi, Oct 19 (PTI) The Indian Youth Congress (ITC) on Monday burnt an effigy of Ravan bearing the face of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar here, demanding his resignation over alleged irregularities in electoral processes and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists. The protest featured a stage decorated with vibrant posters and slogans targeting the Election Commission (EC); one read Vote Chori ki Rasleela targeting the poll panels handling of the SIR exercise. The effigy, depicting the CEC as Ravan, was burnt as the Congress youth wing stepped up its campaign seeking the resignation of Gyanesh
M6 iMac: Release date rumors, new colors, specs and price
Macworld Apples next iMac could be just days away. Nearly two years after the M4 iMac launched, Apple is reportedly preparing to introduce a new model powered by its M6 chip, potentially at the end of October 2026. The good news is that the M6 promises a substantial performance upgrade, with a faster CPU and GPU, improved memory bandwidth and significant advances in AI processing. The less exciting news is that Apple isnt expected to make major changes to the iMacs design, although new colors could be on the way. Bloombergs Mark Gurman reported in August that the next iMac was close to launch and should arrive before the end of 2026. More recently, reports have pointed to another Apple product launch around October 27 or 28, raising the possibility that the new iMac will be among the announcements. Heres everything we know about the M6 iMac, including its expected release date, design, specifications and price. M6 iMac release date: When will it launch? Expected release date: October 2026, possibly October 27 or 28. Apple could unveil the M6 iMac before the end of October 2026. Apple has reportedly invited selected media to a product launch experience in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28. Bloombergs Mark Gurman previously indicated that another Apple product launch was planned for Tuesday, October 27, so an announcement could still take place the day before the media gathering. The M6 iMac is among the products expected to make an appearance, alongside new MacBook Pro M6 models, a touchscreen MacBook Pro , and an updated iPad mini . The prospect of an imminent iMac launch follows earlier reporting from Gurman. In the Q&A section of his August 23 Power On newsletter , Gurman indicated that the M6 iMac was close to launch and that customers should be able to buy one before the end of 2026. An earlier July 2026 report also identified two iMac models, codenamed J833 and J834, among a wave of new Macs Apple was preparing. The current M4 iMac arrived in fall 2024, making it nearly two years old. Apple appears to have skipped an M5 iMac altogether, as it previously skipped the M2 generation, meaning the next model should move directly from M4 to M6. M6 iMac design: Will there be new colors? Expected: The same 24-inch design, potentially with new color options. There are seven different colors available for iMac. Apple Anyone hoping for a completely redesigned iMac may be disappointed. According to Gurmans August reporting, Apple is not preparing a major overhaul of its all-in-one desktop for 2026. The iMac has retained essentially the same ultra-thin, colorful design since Apple introduced the 24-inch M1 iMac in 2021 . Although the M4 iMac update in 2024 introduced some refinements, the overall appearance remained largely unchanged. Gurman expects the M6 iMac to follow a similar pattern, with the new chip representing the most significant upgrade. However, he has suggested that new colors could be introduced. Apple currently offers the iMac in seven colors: blue, green, pink, silver, yellow, orange and purple. These options have been available since 2021, although Apple refreshed the shades with the M4 model. A more substantial iMac redesign could still arrive in a future generation, but there is currently little evidence to suggest that Apple is planning one for the M6 iMac. M6 iMac display: Will it have a larger screen? Will Apple ever bring back the iMac Pro with a larger screen? Foundry Expected: A 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, similar to the current model. The current model features a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, with a resolution of 4,480 by 2,520 pixels. It uses LED-backlit LCD technology and supports up to 500 nits of brightness. The M6 iMac is likely to retain a similar screen. There have been rumors about Apple developing a larger iMac with more advanced display technology. In 2023, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted a higher-end 32-inch iMac with a mini-LED display, potentially arriving in 2025. However, that product never materialized, and there is no reliable indication that it will launch alongside the M6 iMac. M6 iMac specs and performance: How much faster will it be? Expected: M6 chip, improved CPU and GPU performance, faster memory and a substantial AI upgrade. The M6 iMac may not look very different from its predecessor, but the processor could make it a considerably more powerful computer. Apple introduced the M6 chip in August 2026, with the new M6 Mac mini going on sale in September. That means we already have a useful indication of the technology the next iMac could include. You can read about how the Mac mini M6 chips compare to other Macs in our Best Mac guide. The M6 is Apples first chip manufactured using a 2-nanometer process, replacing the 3-nanometer technology used by the M4. The smaller manufacturing process allows Apple to improve transistor density, performance and power efficiency. The M6 used in the Mac mini features: A 12-core CPU. A 12-core GPU with Neural Accelerators in every core. A Dual 16-core Neural Engine for AI and machine-learning tasks. 16GB of standard unified memory, configurable up to 32GB. Memory bandwidth of up to 170GB/s. Improved storage performance compared with the M4 generation. The M4 iMac currently offers an 8-core or 10-core CPU and an 8-core or 10-core GPU, depending on the configuration. Moving to the M6 could therefore bring a particularly noticeable performance improvement, especially for buyers upgrading from the entry-level M4 model. Apple claims that the M6 Mac mini delivers up to 40 percent faster CPU performance, twice the graphics performance and four times the AI performance of the M4 Mac mini in its specified tests. We cant assume that the M6 iMac will achieve identical results, but these figures demonstrate the potential benefits of moving from the M4 to the M6 generation. Improved AI performance One of the biggest improvements could be the M6s new AI-processing architecture. Previous M-series chips used a single 16-core Neural Engine. The M6 introduces a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, supported by Neural Accelerators in each GPU core. Together, these changes should make the M6 iMac significantly better equipped for demanding AI workloads, including running local language models, processing images and using AI-powered creative tools. For everyday users, the benefits may be less immediately obvious. However, the additional processing capabilities could become increasingly useful as macOS and third-party applications adopt more sophisticated on-device AI features. More memory and faster connectivity The M6 supports up to 32GB of unified memory and memory bandwidth of 170GB/s. Whether Apple offers the same memory configurations in the iMac remains to be seen. The new Mac mini also includes Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, so these connectivity improvements seem likely to arrive on the M6 iMac as well. Its unknown if Apple will update the iMacs Thunderbolt ports, storage options or other hardware features. M6 iMac price: How much will it cost? Expected starting price: Around $1,499. When Apple introduced the M4 iMac in 2024, prices started at $1,299 for the entry-level model with an 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU and 256GB of storage. The higher-end version, featuring a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, started at $1,499. However, Apple increased the prices of the M4 iMac in June 2026 . The entry-level model now starts at $1,499, while the four-port version starts at $1,699. These price increases make it difficult to predict what Apple will charge for the next generation. Apple could retain the current starting prices, particularly if the M6 update introduces relatively few changes beyond the processor. Alternatively, the higher cost of components and memory could result in further increases. For now, $1,499 is a reasonable starting point for expectations. Should you buy an M4 iMac or wait for the M6? Our recommendation: Wait for the M6 iMac if you can. With the next iMac potentially arriving before the end of October, wed recommend holding off on buying the M4 model at full price. The current iMac remains an excellent all-in-one desktop for everyday computing, home working, students and families. Its 24-inch Retina display, compact design and M4 processor make it more than capable of handling most peoples needs. However, the M6 looks set to bring a meaningful increase in performance. The move from M4 to M6 should provide improvements to CPU and GPU performance, while the upgraded Neural Engine could make a difference as AI features become more demanding. Waiting will also allow you to compare the new iMacs pricing and specifications with those of the outgoing model. Even if you ultimately choose an M4 iMac, its replacement could make discounted older models more appealing. There are reasons to buy now. If you need a new Mac immediately and find a substantial discount on an M4 iMac, it could still be a sensible purchase. But for anyone buying a new iMac at full price, waiting for Apples next announcement is the better option.
