SDRF rescues Russian paraglider trapped in power lines in Mandi
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U.S. Army soldier suspected of spying for Russia arrested near NATO headquarters
A soldier in the US Army has been arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia, British counter-terror police have said. The 41-year-old senior serviceman was arrested near Gloucester on Tuesday. Counter Terrorism Policing London said the man had been arrested under section one and section three of the National Security Act 2023. Section one of the Act relates to obtaining or disclosing protected information, while section three relates to assisting a foreign intelligence service. As part of the investigation, officers are carrying out searches at two locations in Gloucestershire. The BBC understands the soldier was based at Imjin Barracks in Innsworth, Gloucestershire. The barracks serve as the headquarters of Nato's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) , a strategic operational base for the alliance. Counter Terrorism Policing said it was not linked to any other ongoing investigations. FBI director Kash Patel said in a statement: This important arrest involves allegations of espionage, which is of the utmost concern to the United States and our allies. He added: While this investigation is continuing, I want to send a clear message this FBI has no tolerance for anyone who breaks their oath to the United States and whose actions endanger our national security and that of our partners. [BBC] Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, from Counter Terrorism Policing London, described the arrest as significant. The allegations are serious and our investigation is very much ongoing, she said. The unnamed soldier is currently in custody at a London police station. He has been detained under the National Security Act 2023, allowing police to hold him without charge for up to 14 days. Brig Gen Sean Stinchon, commanding general of US Army Counterintelligence Command, said: The alleged conduct of a senior soldier, entrusted with sensitive information, is a sobering reminder that insider threats are real and persistent. I encourage anyone who thinks they've witnessed something suspicious to report it to their local counterintelligence office. Additional reporting by Daniel Sandford, UK correspondent. This article originally appeared on BBC at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6d7q77xgw0vo?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Bheadline%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D
Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav links Ram Mandir joy to future Krishna Janmabhoomi celebration
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Kargil shuts down against winter LAHDC polls
Winter Polls may disenfranchise 2025 pc Ladakh voters: Kargili Kargil, Nov 10: Kargil on Monday observed a complete shutdown in response to a call by the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and other organisations against the proposed holding of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections during winter, with protesters demanding that the polls be deferred. [] The post Kargil shuts down against winter LAHDC polls appeared first on Northlines .
Dakar Youth Olympics: Lairenlakpam storms into boxing semis, assures India of medal
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) India's Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei stormed into the men's 50kg semifinals with a commanding quarterfinal victory over Namibia's Abraham Kalenga, assuring the country of a medal at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. Lairenlakpam secured the win through a Referee Stops Contest (RSC) in the opening round, with the bout stopped at 1:57, as the Indian delivered an emphatic performance to book his place in the last four. India's medal tally in boxing received another boost with Gunjan also assuring the country of a podium finish in the women's 48kg category. She defeated Mexico's Atena Sofia Juarez Calero 5-0 in her quarterfinal bout to advance to the semifinals. Both Indian boxers are now assured of at least bronze medals, with their victories taking them into the medal rounds of the competition. Lairenlakpam's dominant win highlighted India's promising campaign in the boxing competition, while Gunjan's unanimous victory underlined her control in the quarterfinal contest. The fourth edition of the Youth Olympics will be a landmark occasion for African sport, with Dakar becoming the first African city to host an Olympic sporting event. Around 2,700 athletes are expected to compete across 25 sports for 153 medal events, with competitions spread across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly. India have won 23 medals across the three previous editions, comprising three gold, 16 silver and four bronze. The country also has four medals from mixed-National Olympic Committee events, where athletes from different nations compete together, although those medals are not included in Indias official tally. The most successful campaign came at Buenos Aires 2018, when India secured 13 medals, including three gold, nine silver and one bronze.
Ladakh announces December 4 council polls amid shutdown
Ladakh's State Election Commission has announced December 4 as the polling date for all eight LAHDCs, with counting scheduled for December 8. The announcement comes amid protests and shutdowns in Kargil and Sankoo, with the Apex Body Leh opposing winter elections and demanding a review of the delimitation exercise.
Protests Erupt in Bangladesh Demanding Minimum Wage Increase, Two Injured in Clashes with Police
Protests in Dhaka for higher minimum wages turn violent, resulting in injuries and police intervention. Protests Erupt in Bangladesh Demanding Minimum Wage Increase, Two Injured in Clashes with Police
Missing Mandsaur Girl Found Dead, One Arrested
The body of a seven-year-old girl, who went missing on Monday, was found in Mandsaur district on Tuesday. Police have arrested a 30-year-old man for questioning, and a post-mortem report is awaited to determine the cause of death. The incident led to local protests demanding justice.
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Nov 10 (IANS) The trailer of the upcoming film Maatrubhumi: May War Rest In Peace, which stars Salman Khan in the lead, was unveiled on Tuesday. It promises a powerful story of patriotism, sacrifice and the human cost of war. The trailer opens with a fast cuts of avalanche in one of the highest battlefields in the world as the Chinese soldiers prepare to infiltrate the Indian side of Line of Actual Control (LAC). Salman makes a heroic entry as a highly accomplished soldier, who has the perfect balance of wit and strength. The trailer then shows his personal life, and introduces actress Chitrangada Singh as his wife, who is concerned about him being called for the action. Salman then tells her that it wont be a showdown involving guns as the Chinese and Indian soldiers do not use guns during border face-offs along the LAC because of bilateral agreements designed to prevent military escalation into a full-scale war. The trailer offers a glimpse into the life of a soldier, where duty never ends and every moment with family is precious. The film explores the humane side of war, and the emotional sacrifices of those who serve the nation and the loved ones who wait for them. Salman Khan makes a commanding impression with his powerful action avatar, while his chemistry with Chitrangda Singh adds emotional depth to the narrative. The film is further elevated by its picturesque locations, impressive cinematography and impactful music. The film carries the profound message about war never truly leading to a happy ending as the casualties pile up on both sides, its consequences extending far beyond the battlefield, and families suffering. The film is directed by Apoorva Lakhia, and produced under the banner of Salman Khan Films.
Anti-Corruption Bureau Files Case Against Junior Accountant in Bhilwara for Bribery
The Anti-Corruption Bureau has filed a case against a junior accountant in Bhilwara for allegedly demanding a bribe of 1 lakh. Anti-Corruption Bureau Files Case Against Junior Accountant in Bhilwara for Bribery
Rajasthan: ACB registers bribery case against Junior Accountant in Bhilwara
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Nov 10 (IANS) Acting on directions from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Headquarters, the ACB Unit Bhilwara-I has registered a formal case against Dharmveer, a Junior Accountant posted at Panchayat Samiti Kareda in Bhilwara district, for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 1 lakh. The action follows a complaint lodged with the ACB Bhilwara-I office alleging that the Single Sign-On (SSO) ID of Gram Panchayat Umri had been placed on hold by Block Development Officer (BDO) Gulabchand. According to the complainant, the BDO demanded Rs 1 lakh through Assistant Administrative Officer (AAO) Dharmveer to clear the hold on the SSO ID. The ACB conducted a confidential verification of the bribe demand on January 22, 2026. During the verification process, Dharmveer instructed the complainant to hand over the Rs 1 lakh bribe, intended for BDO Gulabchand, to Shantilal, Secretary of Gram Panchayat Umri. Verification details also revealed that the complainant had previously paid Rs 40,000 as a bribe in connection with the matter. Furthermore, Dharmveer directed the complainant to meet the BDO personally regarding the payment. However, a planned trap operation could not be executed as the accused caught wind of the impending law enforcement action. Following the verification findings, the ACB registered Case No. 317/2026 on November 10, 2026, against Junior Accountant Dharmveer under Sections 7 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018). The enforcement action was carried out by the ACB Unit Bhilwara-I under the supervision of Narayan Togas, Deputy Inspector General of Police, ACB Ajmer Range. The ongoing investigation is being conducted by Police Inspector Kalpana, with officials stating that the potential involvement of other individuals, including the BDO and Gram Panchayat Secretary, will be determined as evidence emerges.
Bangladesh: Garment workers clash with police in Ashulia as wage protests resume, two injured
Digital Desk | Dhaka, Nov 10 (IANS) At least two garment workers were injured in clashes with police in Dhakas Ashulia on Tuesday as protests demanding higher minimum wages resumed in Bangladesh after a break of several days, local media reported. Workers blocked a road in the Jamgora area, prompting police to fire tear gas shells and sound grenades to disperse them, the Dhaka Tribune reported. At around 10:30 am, workers blocked the road in the Jamgora area of the Baipail-Abdullahpur Road and began demonstrating. Police initially tried to persuade them to leave the road, but the protesters began throwing bricks and stones at police, triggering clashes and chases between the two sides, the report said. The injured were identified as Alamgir Hossain and Rafia Begum, both employees of Sterling Style. Hospital authorities said the workers had sustained rubber bullet injuries, though it could not be independently verified whether police had actually fired rubber bullets. Rafia Begum, who sustained a head injury, was referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, while Alamgir received primary treatment and returned home, Harun-or-Rashid, operations manager of Ashulia Women and Children Hospital, told the Dhaka Tribune. Several platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed in the industrial area, alongside additional police personnel stationed in front of factories and at key locations to prevent further unrest. Separately, authorities have announced the indefinite closure of all factories operated by New Age Group in Ashulia from November 10, 2026, under Section 13(1) of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006, citing the ongoing labour unrest, the report stated. As hundreds of thousands of garment workers staged protests across several parts of the country on October 31, demanding a minimum wage of 30,000 Bangladeshi taka ($241), police had detained 21 people who they called Awami League activists and not genuine workers. Consistent with international standards, Bangladesh authorities should ensure that police use force only when necessary and proportionate, and that those responsible for violence are held accountable, the US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) had stated last week, amid condemnation by several international rights groups of the violence against protesting workers.
Apple's eighth-generation iPad mini went on sale earlier this month with a larger OLED display, a thinner and lighter design, the A20 Pro chip, and water and dust resistance. If you still use the sixth-generation iPad mini from 2021, the upgrade also brings changes that debuted on the 2024 model , including Apple Intelligence , Apple Pencil Pro support, and twice the USB-C transfer speed. The new iPad mini starts at $699 for 128GB with Wi-Fi or $849 with cellular in the United States. The discontinued 2021 model started at $499 and $649, respectively, with 64GB of storage. Both support iPadOS 27.2, have Touch ID in the top button, and are rated for up to 10 hours of web browsing over Wi-Fi or watching video. Both displays also run at 60Hz . Display, Design, and Accessories iPad mini (sixth generation, 2021) iPad mini (eighth generation, 2026) 8.3-inch display 8.5-inch display Liquid Retina display with LED backlighting and IPS technology Super Retina XDR OLED display with 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio 2266-by-1488 resolution at 326 ppi 2316-by-1512 resolution at 326 ppi Wider display borders 24% thinner display borders 500 nits maximum brightness 600 nits maximum SDR and full-screen HDR brightness, with up to 1,200 nits peak HDR brightness and 1-nit minimum brightness Standard antireflective glass Standard antireflective glass or optional nano-texture glass on 256GB and 512GB models for $100, with a polishing cloth included IP67 water and dust resistance, rated for a maximum depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes Available in Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, and Purple Available in Midnight and Starlight Supports Apple Pencil (second generation) and Apple Pencil (USB-C) Supports Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Pencil (USB-C) Apple Pencil hover and Apple Pencil Pro features including squeeze, barrel roll, haptic feedback, and Find My Polyurethane Smart Folio, also compatible with the 2024 iPad mini Two-panel TechWoven Smart Folio with adjustable viewing angles, available separately in Navy Blue and Taupe for $79 94% fiber-based packaging 100% fiber-based packaging and 35% recycled content overall Dimensions and Weight iPad mini (2021) iPad mini (2026) Height 7.69 inches (195.4 mm) 7.69 inches (195.3 mm) Width 5.3 inches (134.8 mm) 5.22 inches (132.6 mm) Thickness 0.25 inch (6.3 mm) 0.21 inch (5.4 mm) Weight (Wi-Fi) 0.65 pound (293 grams) 0.56 pound (255 grams) Weight (Wi-Fi + Cellular) 0.66 pound (297 grams) 0.58 pound (263 grams) The 2026 model is about 14% thinner and 13% lighter in its Wi-Fi configuration. The cellular model is about 11% lighter. A15 Bionic vs. A20 Pro iPad mini (2021) iPad mini (2026) Chip A15 Bionic A20 Pro Manufacturing process 5-nanometer (TSMC N5P) 2-nanometer (TSMC N2) CPU 6 cores (2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores) 128GB and 256GB : 5 cores (2 super cores and 3 efficiency cores) 512GB : 6 cores (2 super cores and 4 efficiency cores) GPU 5 cores 7 cores Graphics features Dynamic Caching, hardware-accelerated mesh shading, and hardware-accelerated ray tracing Neural Accelerators Dedicated Neural Accelerators in each GPU core Neural Engine 16 cores 128GB and 256GB : 16 cores 512GB : Dual 16-core Neural Engine (32 cores total) Memory 4GB 12GB Apple Intelligence Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, with support for Apple's larger on-device model for more expressive Siri voices and improved dictation Storage 64GB or 256GB 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB Apple claims up to 2.2 times the CPU performance and up to four times the GPU performance of the 2021 iPad mini in its tests. Against the 2024 A17 Pro model, Apple says it delivers more than twice the unified memory bandwidth and up to 4.5 times the speed in large language model token generation. Cameras and Audio iPad mini (2021) iPad mini (2026) Front camera on the portrait edge Front camera on the landscape edge 12MP front camera with Center Stage and an /2.4 aperture 12MP front camera with Center Stage and an /2.0 aperture Smart HDR 3 on the front and rear cameras Smart HDR 4 on the front and rear cameras Retina Flash for the front camera Retina Flash with True Tone for the front camera Quad-LED True Tone rear flash Adaptive True Tone rear flash Automatic document detection and scanning in the Camera app, with adaptive flash to reduce shadows Landscape stereo speakers with external speaker holes Acoustic Display stereo audio with display-coupled woofers and concealed tweeters, without external speaker holes Dual microphones Updated dual microphones for clearer calls and recordings HEVC, H.264, and ProRes playback, with Dolby Vision and HDR10 support Apple also lists AV1 playback and HDR10+ and HLG support Connectivity, Charging, and Price iPad mini (2021) iPad mini (2026) Third-party wireless networking chip Apple N1 wireless networking chip Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 7 Bluetooth 5.0 Bluetooth 6 Thread Third-party 5G modem (cellular models) Apple C2 5G modem (cellular models) U.S. cellular model A2568 supports LTE band 46 U.S. cellular model A3596 adds 5G bands n14, n26, n70, and n75 and LTE band 106, and drops LTE band 46 UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA support UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+ support Nano-SIM or eSIM (cellular models) eSIM only (cellular models) USB-C with USB 3 speeds up to 5Gb/s USB-C with USB 3 speeds up to 10Gb/s External display output up to 4K at 30Hz External display output up to 4K at 60Hz Extended external display mode with iPadOS 27.2 19.3Wh battery 18.9Wh battery Fast charging up to 50% in around 30 minutes with a 35W or higher USB-C power adapter, sold separately Now discontinued Starts at $699 (Wi-Fi) or $849 (Wi-Fi + Cellular) Both the 2021 and 2026 models are rated for up to nine hours of web browsing over cellular. Apple claims up to 50% faster cellular data speeds with the C2 modem compared with the 2024 iPad mini. Should You Upgrade? If your 2021 model still feels responsive and lasts long enough for reading, browsing, and taking notes, keeping it makes sense for now, and if battery life is your only complaint, a battery service may be enough. However, for many 2021 iPad mini owners, the 2026 model is a worthwhile upgrade. If you've had yours since launch, its battery has had five years to wear down, and 64GB can feel cramped if you keep games or downloaded video on it. The new model gives you a fresh battery and twice the storage if you're coming from the 64GB version. Apple still rates both models for up to 10 hours when new, but the 2026 model can charge to 50% in around 30 minutes with a 35W or higher adapter. The OLED display and lighter design are the changes you're most likely to notice every day. The screen can get dimmer for reading in bed and brighter for HDR video, and the lower weight makes the iPad mini easier to hold one-handed for long stretches. Both displays run at 60Hz, with no ProMotion. The A20 Pro and extra memory matter more if you play demanding games, edit photos or video, or often find that apps reload when you switch back to them. Some of the smaller changes matter more depending on where you use your iPad mini. IP67 water and dust resistance is useful if you take it outdoors, read by the pool, or use it in the kitchen. The landscape front camera is better positioned for calls when the iPad is propped up horizontally, and extended display support lets you use a monitor as a separate workspace. Which Model Should You Buy? The discontinued 2024 iPad mini is a good middle ground if your 2021 model is showing its age and you're happy with its display. It gives you more base storage, Apple Intelligence, faster USB-C transfers, and Apple Pencil Pro support, and you can reuse your existing Smart Folio. Apple lists the 128GB Wi-Fi model for $509 through its Certified Refurbished store when available, with a new battery and a one-year warranty. Remaining new stock from third-party retailers is also worth considering at a low enough price. If prices are close at the same storage capacity, buy the 2026 model. At $699, it makes the most sense if you specifically want the OLED display, lighter body, or water resistance. If you use a Smart Folio, factor in $79 for the redesigned version. The USB-C Apple Pencil works with either newer model, while the second-generation Apple Pencil needs replacing. Both newer cellular models use eSIM, so check with your carrier if you currently use a physical SIM. A used 2021 iPad mini is still a reasonable buy at around $300 or lower if you want a second device for reading, notes, or streaming and 64GB is enough. Battery condition matters more than cosmetic wear; if the price of a 256GB unit or the cost of a battery service brings it close to a refurbished 2024 model, the newer device is still the better buy. If you're buying the 2026 model, 128GB at $699 is enough for most buyers. If you're already close to filling 128GB on your current iPad, the $799 256GB model gives you room to grow. Nano-texture glass brings that configuration to $899 and is worth considering if you regularly contend with glare. The $999 512GB model makes the most sense if you need the extra space for games, media, or projects. It also gets an additional CPU core and a second Neural Engine, which are worth weighing if you use apps that can take advantage of them. Related Roundup: iPad mini Buyer's Guide: iPad Mini (Buy Now) Related Forum: iPad This article, iPad Mini 2021 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: Is It Worth Upgrading? first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Secretary MV Govindan on Tuesday alleged that an artificial power shortage was created to facilitate the General Network Access (GNA) agreement with the state government, demanding a judicial inquiry into the deal and questioning the role of the Chief Minister VD Sateeshan and the functioning of the state Cabinet. Govindan alleged that the Chief Minister was operating through a particular group that was behind the agreement, while the Electricity Minister had no knowledge of developments related to it.
Digital Desk | Jaipur, Nov 10 (IANS) Rajasthan Education and Panchayati Raj Minister Madan Dilawar on Tuesday objected to the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's reported comparison of Diwali with Eid, calling it 'shameful' and demanding an apology to the country. Speaking to media during his Diwali visit to Ramganj Mandi, Dilawar said comparing Diwali, celebrated to mark Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya, with Eid was inappropriate and hurtful to Hindu sentiments. He described Diwali as a festival associated with non-violence and charity and alleged that it could not be compared with Eid because of the practice of animal sacrifice during the latter festival. He termed the comparison an insult to Hindus and the country and said the Congress President should apologise. Dilawar also said that if Congress leaders had even a little commitment to Hindutva and nationalism, they should reconsider their association with the party. He also accused the former Congress President Sonia Gandhi of being 'anti-Hindutva'. Reiterating his criticism, the Minister said that a foreign-born woman or her son could never work for the welfare of the country. Earlier, Dilawar celebrated Diwali with residents and business owners in his Ramganj Mandi Assembly constituency. Minister Dilawar visited several markets and extended Diwali and New Year greetings to traders. Beginning his visit from Agrasen Guest House, the Minister interacted with traders, enquiring about their well-being. Traders welcomed their MLA by offering sweets and extending festive greetings. At Pannalal Square, Dilawar garlanded the statue of martyr Pannalal and paid tribute to him. He also greeted Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and prominent citizens, wishing that Diwali would bring happiness and prosperity to people across Rajasthan. The Minister expressed hope that the state would achieve all-round development and emerge as a leading state in the country. The programme concluded with slogans praising Shri Ram.
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) Congress veteran Sonia Gandhi's much-awaited memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, which hit bookstores on Tuesday, has attracted attention for its personal revelations about the Nehru-Gandhi family and her political journey. However, the book has also come under scrutiny after readers spotted at least three apparent factual inaccuracies relating to important political and historical events. Discrepancies in different chapters have raised questions about the accuracy of some historical references. The first apparent error concerns the anti-corruption movement led by social activist Anna Hazare, which posed a major challenge to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. In Chapter 33, page 461, Sonia places the emergence of Hazare and the India Against Corruption movement in 2012. In 2012 a well-known activist from Maharashtra, Baburao 'Anna' (Marathi for 'father' or 'elder brother') Hazare, emerged as the figurehead of a movement that titled itself 'India Against Corruption', the memoir states. However, the movement gained national prominence in 2011, particularly after Hazare began an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on April 5 that year, demanding a stronger anti-corruption law through the Jan Lokpal Bill. The campaign also brought together prominent figures, including Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Baba Ramdev, although their positions and demands differed. Another discrepancy appears in Chapter 24, page 338, concerning the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The RSS, founded in 1921, dreamed of a 'Hindu nation' that would replace constitutional ideals of equality, pluralism, and secularism with second-class citizenship for Muslims, Christians, and other religious minorities in India, Sonia writes. The organisation was actually founded on September 27, 1925, in Nagpur by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, a doctor by profession. It subsequently grew into one of India's most influential ideological and organisational movements. The third error concerns veteran Congress leader Ahmed Patel, Sonia's political secretary and one of her closest political confidants. In Chapter 29, page 401, she writes: He came to wield considerable influence across the political spectrum but could be unforgiving towards those who crossed him. He remained my political secretary till, sadly, he fell victim to the Covid epidemic in 2022, leaving a vacuum in the party and an absence I felt personally. Patel died on November 25, 2020, not 2022, following multiple organ failure after Covid-19 complications. He was treated at Medanta Hospital, where his condition deteriorated, and he was admitted to the intensive care unit. His body was later taken to his ancestral village in Gujarat for burial. These three apparent errors have added an unexpected factual controversy to the release of Sonia Gandhi's memoir.
Iran wants deal but terms 'absurd': US Secreatary of State
Digital Desk | Washington, Nov 10 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Iran wants an agreement with Washington but is demanding conditions he considers unacceptable, as he warned that American sanctions are causing mounting economic pressure on Tehran. Iran would love a deal. The problem is, the conditions they continue to place are absurd. They're not even serious. But that could change. Eventually, you have to eat. The economic pain that is being inflicted on Iran right now, on that regime, is extraordinary. It compounds; it's growing every day, Rubio said. These sanctions get worse over time; they get more painful as time goes on, he added. Rubio placed responsibility for the economic hardship on Iran's leadership rather than American policy. It's all brought about by the fact that this radical regime of lunatics is imposing this on their own people. They're destroying their own country. Rubio criticised how Tehran had used resources after sanctions relief granted during former President Barack Obama's administration. When Obama gave them sanctions relief, they didn't use that money to build up hospitals, roads, bridges, and universities. They used that money to build weapons and arm proxies in the region to attack us and other countries. Rubio also accused Iran's leadership of fuelling conflicts across the Middle East. Behind every single one of these destabilising activities in the Middle East there's one common denominator the Iranian regime. He added: They are behind all the instability in the region. They are the source of instability in the region. I think the countries of the region realise that as well. We work for America. We don't work for the global order; we don't work for other countries. We work for the United States. Asked about cyberattacks in France attributed by French officials to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Rubio declined to discuss whether Washington had shared intelligence with Paris. He accused the force of a longstanding pattern of sabotage but distinguished Iran's leadership and its citizens. The Iranian people are great people, he said.
Bhainsa municipal commissioner in-charge caught in ACB net
Hyderabad: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of the Adilabad Range on Tuesday, November 10, caught an officer posted in Nirmal district for demanding and accepting Rs 50,000 as a bribe. Jadhav Santhosh served as the deputy executive engineer and in-charge municipal commissioner, Bhainsa Municipality, in the Nirmal district. According to the complainant, Santhosh allegedly demanded the Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Odisha Guv urges youth, students to make millets part of daily diet
Digital Desk | Bhubaneswar, Nov 10 (IANS) Odisha Governor Brajmohan Ram on Tuesday urged people, particularly youth, students and government employees, to include Shree Anna (millets) in their daily diet, saying their promotion will benefit public health, farmers and the environment. Every household should include Mandia, Bajra, Jowar and other millets in its meals. Adopting healthy food habits is not just about personal well-being but also reflects our respect for farmers and agricultural traditions, he said while inaugurating the Symposium on Shree Anna and Strengthening of Traditional Seed Systems2026 in Bhubaneswar. Highlighting the importance of millets in India's agricultural heritage, the Governor said these crops had been an integral part of traditional food habits for centuries. In Odisha, particularly in tribal and rain-fed regions, millet cultivation is closely linked to local livelihoods and cultural traditions. Promoting Mandia (Ragi) would help improve farmers' incomes while preserving this heritage. Referring to climate change, erratic rainfall, rising temperatures and water scarcity, he said millets offered a sustainable farming option as they required less water, involved lower cultivation costs and could withstand adverse climatic conditions. He also highlighted their nutritional value, including high dietary fibre and essential nutrients, saying their regular consumption could encourage healthier food habits amid rising lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension. The Governor stressed the need to strengthen processing, packaging, value addition and marketing facilities to help Odisha's millets reach wider domestic and international markets. Emphasising traditional seed conservation, he called for establishing community seed banks, documenting indigenous varieties and encouraging their exchange. He said local seed varieties represented generations of farmers' knowledge and were vital for preserving agricultural biodiversity. Describing tribal communities and women farmers as important custodians of traditional seeds, he advocated combining indigenous knowledge with modern science, technology and better market linkages. Appreciating the Odisha government's Shree Anna Abhiyan and the Centre's initiatives to promote millets, he said collective efforts to conserve traditional seeds, protect agricultural diversity and enhance farmers' incomes would contribute to Viksit Odisha 2036 and Viksit Bharat 2047. Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, ICAR Director General Dr Mangi Lal Jat, MSSRF chairperson and former chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan, and OUAT Vice-Chancellor Prof Pravat Kumar Roul also addressed the symposium.
BJD Leader Criticizes Odisha Governments Flood Management in Ganjam
BJD leader Naveen Patnaik criticizes Odishas government for poor flood management in Ganjam, demanding accountability and swift relief measures. BJD Leader Criticizes Odisha Governments Flood Management in Ganjam
Gujarat: Temple crowds, Gheraiya dances mark beginning of Vikram Samvat 2083
Digital Desk | Ahmedabad, Nov 10 (IANS) Long queues of devotees, traditional tribal dances and elaborate food offerings at temples marked the beginning of 'Vikram Samvat 2083' across Gujarat on Tuesday, as people welcomed the Gujarati New Year with religious fervour and celebrations rooted in local customs. From the Somnath and Ambaji temples to shrines in Ahmedabad, Unjha, Patan and Jamnagar, large numbers of devotees gathered from early morning to offer prayers and seek blessings on Bestu Varas, the first day of the Gujarati calendar. In Ahmedabad, the Bhadrakali Temple witnessed a heavy rush of devotees, with queues stretching up to 1.5 km as people waited for darshan. The temple was among the prominent religious sites in the city to see large gatherings on the occasion. At the Somnath Temple in Gir Somnath district, devotees from across India and abroad attended the first morning aarti of Somnath Mahadev, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The temple premises echoed with chants of 'Har Har Mahadev' and 'Jai Somnath' as devotees prayed for the well-being and prosperity of their families, world peace and the welfare of all. The New Year sunrise and the special adornment of the deity added to the celebrations at the pilgrimage site. At Ambaji Temple in Banaskantha district, one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, the shrine was decorated with colourful flowers and lights for Bestu Varas. During the Mangala Aarti, devotees performed garba at Chachar Chowk to the chants of 'Bol Mari Ambe, Jai Jai Ambe'. Special aartis were also held at the Ambikeshwar Mahadev and Siddhivinayak temples, while an Annakut offering was scheduled for the afternoon. In Unjha, the Shri Umiya Mataji Temple, regarded as the clan deity of the Kadva Patidar community, witnessed long queues of devotees. Pilgrims, including groups who had travelled on foot, arrived to offer prayers amid chants of 'Jai Maa Umiya'. The Umiya Mataji Sansthan made arrangements for accommodation, food and darshan, with facilities at Mansarovar Vishranti Griha, Uma Bhavan and Pathikashram. Parking and security arrangements were also made with the assistance of the local administration and volunteers. In Patan, the Kalika Mataji Temple, the presiding deity's shrine in the historic town, was decorated with a special Aagi adornment. A traditional fair also began on the occasion, with celebrations scheduled to continue from Kartak Sud Ekam to Poonam. An Annakut offering was organised at Ramji Temple in the town. In Jamnagar, devotees began arriving early at the Bala Hanuman Temple to seek blessings and witness the special adornment of Lord Ram and Hanumanji. The temple is known for its uninterrupted Ramdhun, which has continued since 1964 and earned it a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. At the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Atladara, Vadodara, an elaborate Annakut Mahotsav was organised to mark the beginning of the New Year. Following the annual tradition, the celebrations began with an offering of food to the deities after Govardhan Puja. More than 1,200 varieties of dishes were arranged before the idols as part of the Annakut. In Valsad district, the New Year celebrations offered a glimpse of the traditional culture of tribal communities in Dharampur and Kaprada talukas. Instead of modern festivities, residents welcomed the occasion through age-old customs, traditional attire and Gheraiya dances. The beats of drums and folk performances brought the two tribal talukas alive with celebrations. In Mahisagar district, devotees visited temples across Lunawada from early morning to offer prayers and seek blessings. People also exchanged New Year greetings, marking the occasion with religious observances and community celebrations. The celebrations also saw political and administrative leaders extending greetings across the state. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel began the day by offering prayers at Panchdev Temple in Gandhinagar and later visited Trimandir in Adalaj and Maa Bhadrakali Temple in Ahmedabad. He prayed for the happiness, peace and prosperity of citizens and the continued development of Gujarat. Patel also called on Governor Acharya Devvrat at Lok Bhavan in Gandhinagar to extend New Year greetings. In Ahmedabad, he met prominent citizens, public representatives and residents at the Annexe Circuit House in Shahibaug before visiting the Police Officers' Mess at Dafnala to exchange greetings with senior police officers and their families. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, State Police Chief G.S. Malik, senior police officers and their family members were present at the Police Officers' Mess. The Chief Minister also exchanged greetings with citizens, serving and retired senior bureaucrats, MLAs and other representatives at the Ministers' Residential Complex in Gandhinagar. In his New Year message, Patel urged people to work collectively towards building a developed and drug-free Gujarat, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed and drug-free India. He also called for promoting social harmony, supporting local artisans and small industries, and strengthening the 'Vocal for Local' initiative. Across Gujarat, the beginning of Vikram Samvat 2083 was thus marked by a combination of religious observances, community gatherings and traditional cultural celebrations, with temples and pilgrimage centres witnessing large numbers of visitors throughout the day.
Sandpapergate: The controversy is far from over
With Warner supporting his claims, Starc maintaining his denial, Lehmann questioning the extent of team knowledge and Clarke demanding answers, Australian cricket once again finds itself divided.
India U-19 Crush UAE by 70 Runs to Continue Dominance in U19 Asia Cup
India Under-19 delivered a commanding all-round performance to defeat United Arab Emirates Under-19 by 70 runs in Match 11 of the DP World Mens U19 Asia Cup 2026/27 at Al Amerat Cricket Ground Turf 2 on Tuesday. India posted an imposing 309/7 before bundling out UAE for 239 in their allotted 50 overs. After setting [] The post India U-19 Crush UAE by 70 Runs to Continue Dominance in U19 Asia Cup appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
We need refund: TOMCOM candidates confront GM over Germany jobs
Hyderabad: Around 20 candidates confronted the general manager of Telangana Overseas Manpower Company (TOMCOM) on Tuesday, November 10, demanding refunds, alleging the organisation cheated them. The confrontation with General Manager K Naga Bharathi was recorded on camera, where she explains the status of the enrolled recruitment programmes to the agitated candidates. You assured us of Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Villagers Block NH Near Tiruchy After Double-Murder
Residents blocked the Tiruchy-Chennai highway at Samayapuram toll plaza, demanding the arrest of those who killed two 17-year-old youths.
BJP Demands CBI Inquiry into Suspicious Death of Tribal Leader Nisha Bhagat in Ranchi
BJP activists in Ranchi rally for a CBI investigation into the suspicious death of tribal activist Nisha Bhagat, demanding justice. BJP Demands CBI Inquiry into Suspicious Death of Tribal Leader Nisha Bhagat in Ranchi
Gujarat CM meets Guv Devvrat, interacts with citizens and police officers on New Year (Lead)
Digital Desk | Ahmedabad, Nov 10 (IANS) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Tuesday visited temples in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar and met citizens, political leaders and senior police officers to exchange Gujarati New Year greetings on the first day of 'Vikram Samvat 2083', reiterating his appeal for a developed and drug-free state. Patel began the day by offering prayers at Panchdev Temple in Gandhinagar, where he prayed for the happiness, prosperity and good health of citizens. He subsequently visited Trimandir in Adalaj and offered prayers to Simandhar Swami and other deities, besides paying his respects to Pujya Niruma and Dada Bhagwan. Then, he met Governor Acharya Devvrat and extended his greetings. In Ahmedabad, the Chief Minister visited Maa Bhadrakali Temple and prayed for the well-being of people and the overall development of Gujarat. He later met prominent personalities, public representatives and citizens at the Annexe Circuit House in Shahibaug, where he exchanged New Year greetings. State BJP President Jagdish Vishwakarma, Minister of State for Urban Development, Darshna Vaghela, MPs Dinesh Makwana and Hasmukh Patel, Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot, local MLAs, other political leaders and a large number of citizens were present during the interaction. Patel also visited the Police Officers' Mess at Dafnala in Shahibaug, where he exchanged Diwali and New Year greetings with senior police officers and their family members. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, State Police Chief G.S. Malik, Director General of Prisons K.L.N. Rao, Director General of Police Neerja Gotru and Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut were among those present. Earlier, the Chief Minister had also exchanged New Year greetings with citizens, serving and retired senior secretaries, MLAs and office-bearers from Gandhinagar city and district at the Community Hall of the Ministers' Residential Complex in Gandhinagar. Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjeev Kumar, Energy Department Principal Secretary Ashwini Kumar and Roads and Buildings Secretary Patel welcomed him on the occasion. In his New Year message, Patel urged citizens to work collectively towards building a 'Viksit Gujarat' and a 'Drug-Free Gujarat', contributing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed and drug-free India. I extend my heartfelt New Year wishes to everyone on the beginning of Vikram Samvat 2083. I have prayed to God for everyone's good health and for their lives to move forward with happiness, peace and prosperity. With the Prime Minister's vision of a developed India and a drug-free India, I hope we all work together towards a developed Gujarat and a drug-free Gujarat, he said. In a message on social media platform X, Patel also extended greetings to Gujarati families living across India and abroad, expressing hope that the New Year would bring happiness, peace, prosperity, good health and new opportunities. He called for strengthening social harmony, supporting local artisans and small industries, and promoting the 'Vocal for Local' initiative to ensure that prosperity reaches the last person in society. He also urged people to contribute towards the goal of an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. The New Year celebrations come as the state government continues to emphasise development and its campaign against drug abuse, with Patel calling for public participation in both initiatives.
Kerala LoP Vijayan seeks judicial probe into power purchase deal
Digital Desk | Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 10 (IANS) Kerala's Leader of Opposition (LoP) Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday demanded a judicial probe, led by a sitting High Court judge, into the controversial power purchase agreements and the alleged corruption surrounding them. This is the first time Vijayan has sought a judicial inquiry into the power purchase controversy, which has turned into a major political issue between the ruling UDF and the Opposition LDF. Reacting to the cancellation of the short-term power purchase agreement through the GNA Energy OTC Platform, the LoP said the state government's decision had vindicated the Opposition's stand that there was no genuine power crisis in the state. He alleged that the agreement was part of a major scam and that the state government was forced to withdraw only after the Opposition and the media exposed the alleged irregularities. Vijayan claimed that the deal was pushed through at a high rate by involving a private intermediary which neither generated electricity nor functioned as a power trader. He also alleged that the agreement was finalised by bypassing the objections raised by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and without following a proper tender process. The former Chief Minister questioned the role of the Chief Minister's Office in the decisions. He also alleged that Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph was kept in the dark about key developments, including the cancellation of the agreement. He said this raised serious questions about the functioning of the state Cabinet and the principle of collective responsibility. Vijayan also referred to the alleged purchase of 200 MW of power in October from V.E.N. Global at Rs 11 per unit. He claimed that the arrangement was made through the Chief Minister's Office without a tender or approval from the State Electricity Regulatory Commission. He sought answers on who benefited from what he described as an artificially created power crisis and why the state was made to bear the financial burden of costly purchases. He also questioned the need for the proposed power purchase from Himachal Pradesh. Demanding that all files related to the deals be made public, Vijayan said the proposed judicial inquiry should examine the role of the Chief Minister and all those involved in the decisions. The demand comes after the V.D. Satheesan-led Kerala government decided to cancel the GNA linked agreement amid mounting questions over the terms of the power purchase.
Kargil witnesses complete shutdown against LAHDC election scheduled in winter
Digital Desk | Kargil, Nov 10 (IANS) Kargil region of Jammu and Kashmir observed a complete shutdown on Tuesday against the administrations decision to hold the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) election in December. A complete shutdown was observed as shops and other business establishments remained closed today following a call by the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), demanding postponement of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections scheduled during winter and a review of the recently completed delimitation exercise. Traffic was also thin on roads across the region. Additional police personnel were deployed in several areas as a precautionary measure. The shutdown was called by the KDA, an alliance of political and religious organisations, trade bodies and civil society groups, which also announced a candlelight march under the banner of Save Democracy in the evening. KDA co-chairman Sajjad Kargili, accompanied by Ladakh MP Haji Haneefa Jan and civil society representatives, said the shutdown would continue till the evening today, with essential services, including medical facilities, water supply and school buses, exempted. Ladakh MP Mohmad Haneefa has also urged Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena to defer the elections, citing harsh winter conditions, snowfall, road closures and transport disruptions that could prevent residents of remote areas from reaching polling stations. Meanwhile, Leh Apex Body chairman Chering Dorjay demanded that the elections be postponed until April-May and called for a review of the delimitation exercise. He demanded comprehensive revision of electoral rolls and consultations with elected representatives, political parties and other stakeholders before finalising the election schedule. The administration has completed delimitation of 100 constituencies across Ladakhs eight districts and approved 33 per cent reservation for women. The administration today notified elections for all the eight LAHDCs today. Exercising powers under Section 4(2) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils Act, 1997, read with Rule 4 of the LAHDC (Election) Rules, 2026, the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh has directed all constituencies within the Union Territory to elect members for the formation of the new councils. The last date for filing nominations has been fixed on November 17, scrutiny of nominations is on November 18, and the date of withdrawal of nominations is November 20. Polling is scheduled for December 4 between 8 am and 5 pm, and the entire poll process will be completed by December 8, 2026.
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. We explain whats available now, which features are being tested and whats expected in future updates, including 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 27.2.1 macOS 27 became available to install on compatible Macs on September 14. The latest public version is macOS Golden Gate 27.2.1 , released on November 9, 2026. It includes security fixes. To install the update, open System Settings > General > Software Update. What was in macOS 27.2? Apple released macOS 27.2 on October 26, 2026. Alongside bug fixes and security updates, it added: Better Siri context : Siri can recall earlier conversations and use additional information, including Messages photo attachments, Calendar attendees and voicemails, with improved results from Safari history and Reading List. Excluded Apps : One setting controls which apps Siri, Search and suggestions can access. Write with Siri in Mail : Access it from the message-composition formatting bar. Messages Suggestions : Turn conversation details into actions in Calendar and Reminders. Shared Albums improvements : Edit captions and comments, avoid duplicate photos and receive expiry reminders. SynthID support : Identify AI-generated or modified images in Photos and Image Playground. Podcasts changes : Separate sections for new episodes and unfinished listening. FaceTime accessibility : Add a third-party sign-language interpreter or live captioner What was in macOS 27.1? Apple did not release macOS 27.1. Following macOS 27.0.1, the next public Mac update was macOS 27.2. Apple released iOS 27.1 specifically for the iPhone Duo. What was in macOS 27.0.1? Apple released macOS 27.0.1 on September 28, 2026, with bug fixes following Golden Gates launch. It included a fix for Platform Single Sign-on (SSO): username and password fields could fail to appear on the Lock Screen after waking from sleep. Latest macOS 27 Beta Latest developer beta : macOS 27.3 beta, first release November 3, 2026. Latest public beta : macOS 27.3 public beta, first release November 5, 2026. Apple Apple released the first macOS 27.3 developer beta on November 3, 2026. The first public beta followed on November 5, opening testing to members of Apples Beta Software Program. Full Disk Access changes : Apple is tightening the controls around Full Disk Access, a permission that gives apps access to protected data, including files, mail, messages and browsing history. Apple says granting this level of access should require explicit user action, particularly as AI agents become more capable. As detailed in our report on Full Disk Access changes , macOS 27.3 beta testing indicates that users must manually add an app in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access. Previously, an app could add itself to the list, leaving the user to enable its permission. New Safari features : The beta update introduces new Safari features, including vertical tabs, Adaptive Dark Mode and additional Siri browser controls. iCloud public-link checks: Also in the beta is evidence that Apple will check iCloud content shared using Anyone with the link for harmful content. This includes publicly linked photos and files in iCloud Photos and iCloud Drive. Items shared this way are accessible to Apple and are not end-to-end encrypted, even when Advanced Data Protection is enabled. The checks concern public-link sharing, rather than everything you store in iCloud. To restrict access to invited or approved recipients, choose People you choose when sharing a link. See Apples explanation of public-link sharing . Live Activities : The macOS 27.3 beta also adds Live Activities from Mac apps, including Music and Clock, along with system functions such as screen recording. These show ongoing activity in the menu bar, so you can check it without bringing the apps window to the front. Live Activities appear as small oval indicators to the left of the menu-bar icons. Click an indicator to expand it, then click the arrow to collapse it. When several activities are running, their indicators appear alongside one another. You dont need a touchscreen MacBook Pro or Dynamic Island: the feature is available on other Macs running the macOS 27.3 beta. Want to run the 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. Some new features arrived in macOS 27.2, but there are still missing features, including: Automatic password changes: The ability for the Passwords app to visit supported websites and automatically replace compromised passwords was removed shortly before release. 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. 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. With macOS 27.2, Siri AI supports French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish in addition to English. Availability will vary by region. Siri AI is available on Mac and Vision Pro in the European Union , although Siri AI remains unavailable on iPhone and iPad in the EU at launch because of issues related to the Digital Markets Act. It is also unavailable in mainland China while Apple works through regulatory requirements. Which Macs support Siri AI? Siri AI requires a Mac that supports Apple Intelligence, but some of its most advanced capabilities have higher hardware requirements. Apple says its most powerful on-device AI model, expressive Siri voices and advanced dictation require an M3 or later Mac with at least 12GB of unified memory. Macs that support Apple Intelligence but do not meet those requirements can still receive other Siri AI features, although the exact feature set may vary. Safari features in macOS 27 Notify Me in Safari Apple Safari gets several Apple Intelligence-powered upgrades in macOS 27, including smarter tab organization, webpage monitoring, custom extension generation, and performance improvements. Automatic Tab Topics : Safari automatically groups related tabs by topic as you browse, helping keep research and projects organized. These groups can also be saved for later. Notify Me : Safari can monitor webpages for changes and alert you when something happens, such as a product coming back in stock or a price dropping, removing the need to keep refreshing pages manually. Describe an Extension : Users can create custom Safari extensions simply by describing what they want. Safari generates the extension from the text description and add it to the toolbar. Faster, more efficient browsing : Apple says Safari uses less power while improving page-loading speed, JavaScript performance, scrolling, animations and resizing of the Start Page. Get notified. Macwelt Safari features coming in macOS 27.3 The macOS 27.3 beta adds three new Safari features : Vertical tabs : Open tabs can appear down the left side of the browser window. They initially appear as icons, but you can widen the sidebar to display their titles. Adaptive Dark Mode : Safari can apply a dark appearance to websites that dont offer their own dark mode. You can enable it automatically or choose which sites use it. Siri browser controls : On compatible Macs, Siri can perform tasks such as clearing Safaris cache and organizing tabs. 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 Suggestions in Messages (added in macOS 27.2): Messages suggests actions based on your conversation, such as creating a Calendar event for dinner plans or adding a reminder. 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. macOS 27.2 added SynthID support for images generated or modified using Photos and Image Playground. 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 Touch on Mac: How macOS works with a touchscreen macOS 27 supports direct touchscreen input on the new MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display. Touch works alongside the keyboard and trackpad, giving you another way to interact with apps rather than replacing the controls you already use. You can swipe to scroll through webpages, pinch to zoom into photos, and drag content between documents. Window gestures include double-tapping to fill the screen and flicking a window to tile it into place. Apple says many existing apps work immediately because macOS translates touches into mouse clicks, while developers can use updated gesture APIs to build more specialized touch controls. Apple has also announced touch-focused updates for creative apps. Examples include playing onscreen instruments in Logic Pro and selecting ranges, placing clips and zooming into edits in Final Cut Pro. These app updates are scheduled for November. Direct touchscreen input requires compatible hardware: the 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display . 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
Man-made crisis: Naveen Patnaik slams Odisha govt over Ganjam flood response
Digital Desk | Bhubaneswar, Nov 10 (IANS) Leader of Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday severely criticised the state government's preparedness to deal with Cyclone Arnab and called for impartial rehabilitation and reconstruction work in flood-ravaged Ganjam district. In a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Patnaik has also described the devastating flood in Ganjam as a manmade crisis, calling upon the state government to fix accountability for the lapses and ensure stringent punishment. The BJD supremo also referred to his recent visit to flood-affected areas of Hinjili, Sheragada, Aska and Sorada of Ganjam district and interactions with affected persons on November 7. Patnaik expressed pain after seeing the sufferings of the people in distress, massive damage to infrastructure, extensive crop losses, loss of lives and destruction of livelihoods during his visit. He alleged that government negligence has set Ganjam back by several years. He alleged that the state government ignored IMD warnings issued since October 23. The BJD chief said Ganjam remained vulnerable to heavy rainfall, which typically occurs to the right of a cyclone's landfall, and stressed that cyclone and flood management SOPs require advance water release from dams and round-the-clock monitoring of reservoir levels. However, in the case of Ganjam, water from dams was released by the Water Resources Department after the onset of heavy cyclonic rains. This compounded the floods and caused huge loss of life and property. People have complained that adequate warning was not given to them before the gates were opened, alleged Patnaik. This gross negligence and manmade crisis raises serious issues of accountability. People are demanding strict action against those responsible for such a serious lapse, he further added. The LoP alleged that the government has also admitted its lack of preparedness for Ganjam, adding that timely action on warnings could have prevented much of the suffering. He alleged that the delay in the post-flood relief work led to people being marooned for days without food and water. Patnaik said he has forwarded the representations he received during his visit to the Special Relief Commissioner for immediate action. He urged the government to adopt a whole of government approach to ensure timely compensation, adding that lip service will not work. He warned that BJD will not tolerate negligence in relief work by the government and will hold protests from 'Palli to Delhi'. The BJD chief also contended that the previous BJD government had built a community-based, globally acclaimed disaster management system in which sarpanches, PRI members and Mission Shakti groups played a major role. He alleged that neglect of sarpanches and the near closure of Mission Shakti by the BJP government have weakened the community-based disaster response system. Citing what he termed repeated mishandling of calamities in Ganjam, Kendrapada, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Baleshwar, Patnaik asked the government to take responsibility and fix accountability. He said the progress made in 24 years of BJD rule should not be undone in 24 months by the double engine sarkar.
Under fire over MLAs's conduct, Vijay calls emergency TVK meet
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has called an emergency meeting of TVK legislators in Chennai to address growing concerns over the conduct of party MLAs. The meeting, scheduled for November 11, will focus on maintaining discipline and public behaviour, particularly in light of allegations against Deputy Speaker M Ravisankar and MLA C Arul Vignesh. Opposition parties, including DMK and AIADMK, have heavily criticised the ruling TVK over these issues, demanding accountability from the Chief Minister.
Shillong Ropeway row: Minister calls meeting as protests enter fifth day
Digital Desk | Shillong, Nov 10 (IANS) Meghalaya Cabinet Minister and South Shillong Legislator, Sanbor Shullai, has convened a meeting of local stakeholders on Wednesday to discuss the proposed Shillong Ropeway Project, as protests demanding the scrapping or relocation of the project continued for the fifth day. The meeting, called by the 19-South Shillong Advisory Committee, will be held at the State Convention Centre in Shillong, according to a letter issued by the committee on Tuesday. Shullai, who is the chairman of the advisory committee, will chair the meeting to seek views and suggestions from residents and various organisations on the implementation of the ambitious infrastructure project. The development comes amid an indefinite sit-in demonstration being staged by a section of women under the banner of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) in Shillong. The protesters have opposed the project at its proposed location and have demanded that the government either scrap the ropeway plan or shift it to an alternative site. The proposed Shillong Ropeway Project is part of broader efforts to improve urban connectivity and ease traffic congestion in the rapidly growing hill city. However, the project has triggered concerns among sections of local residents and community organisations over its location and the potential impact on surrounding areas. The protestors have been demanding that the project either be scrapped or shifted to another location. Several traditional bodies and social organisations have also been drawn into the debate, prompting the local legislator and Cabinet Minister Sanbor Shullai to convene a wider consultation with stakeholders. The proposed project is expected to connect key locations through an aerial transport system, reducing dependence on road-based travel. However, concerns over the project's alignment, location and its potential impact on local communities have turned the infrastructure proposal into a contentious issue, forcing the government to seek public feedback before moving ahead with its implementation. The committee has asked stakeholders to place their concerns and suggestions before the meeting, which will subsequently be submitted to the Meghalaya government. The consultation is being closely watched as the state government seeks to push infrastructure development while addressing growing concerns among local communities over the proposed project's location and implementation.
Pappu Yadav Questions Central Government on Floods and Sugar Mills in Bihar
Pappu Yadav criticizes PM Modi over Bihar floods and sugar mills, demanding accountability ahead of the Prime Ministers visit. Pappu Yadav Questions Central Government on Floods and Sugar Mills in Bihar
Supreme Court Demands Action Against Vehicle Pollution in Delhi-NCR
The Supreme Court has ordered immediate action to curb rising vehicle pollution in Delhi-NCR, demanding responses from multiple state governments. Supreme Court Demands Action Against Vehicle Pollution in Delhi-NCR
Balochistan medical students protest 'unjustified' viva failures, demand accountability
Digital Desk | Quetta, Nov 10 (IANS) Students at Makran Medical College in Balochistan's Turbat staged protests over alleged irregularities in viva examinations, alleging that the unjustified failures had resulted in the loss of an academic year and taken a serious toll on their mental well-being, local media reported. The protest entered its third consecutive day on Monday, with students demanding a transparent and impartial examination system and an end to what they described as unjustified failures. They said repeated demonstrations and class boycotts had failed to bring about a permanent resolution. It is unfortunate that every year we hold protests, boycott classes and take other peaceful protest measures for our legitimate demands, yet no lasting solution to students' basic problems has been found, The Balochistan Post quoted the students as saying. They called on the college authorities and relevant officials to address their grievances and ensure that their academic future was not jeopardised. We call on the college administration and the relevant authorities to take students' problems seriously and provide an immediate, practical and lasting solution, so that students do not lose any more valuable time or jeopardise their future, the protesters said. Expressing concern over the academic future of students at Makran Medical College, the Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC) questioned the Pakistani authorities' continued inaction over allegations of unfair evaluation in viva-based annual examinations. Students' futures at stake -- when will the authorities take notice? The voices raised by students at Makran Medical College, Turbat, are not merely a protest but a serious appeal to protect their academic future, rights, and justice. Every year, issues concerning the examination system, particularly Viva-based Annual Examinations, have come to light..., BSAC posted on X. The latest protest comes amid wider concerns over the safety and security of educational institutions in Balochistan. Last month, at least three female students were injured after masked gunmen opened fire inside the Girls Degree College in Balochistan's Nushki district, local media reported, citing the college administration. According to the college administration, three armed men stormed the college premises on Tuesday, damaged surveillance cameras and vandalised the principal's office before firing at the students. The injured were shifted to Mir Gul Khan Naseer Teaching Hospital in Nushki for treatment, with one of them reported to be in critical condition, The Balochistan Post reported. The victims were identified as Mehmoona and Maryam, both from Qaziabad, and Rukhsana from Killi Mengal region in Balochistan. The attack drew widespread condemnation from rights groups and student organisations, which raised concerns over the safety of students and the deteriorating security situation in educational institutions across Balochistan.
Kashmiris in the UK Protest Against Brutality by Pakistani Forces in POK
British Kashmiris rally against violence in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, demanding urgent action for civilian protection. Kashmiris in the UK Protest Against Brutality by Pakistani Forces in POK
Kumamoto Masters: Treesa-Gayatri Cruise to Pre-Quarters as Kapila-Sharma Suffer Early Exit
Indias campaign at the Kumamoto Masters Japan Super 500 badminton tournament kicked off with a mix of commanding victories and early setbacks on Tuesday. Leading the charge for the Indian contingent, World Championship bronze medalists Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand produced a disciplined performance to defeat Japanese pair Hinata Suzuki and Nao Yamakita in straight [] The post Kumamoto Masters: Treesa-Gayatri Cruise to Pre-Quarters as Kapila-Sharma Suffer Early Exit appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
3rd Unofficial Test: Rain-hit draw leaves Bumrah, Prasidh short of match practice ahead of NZ games
Digital Desk | Lincoln, Nov 10 (IANS) Persistent rain brought an early end to the third unofficial Test between India A and New Zealand A at Bert Sutcliffe Oval on Tuesday, leaving the four-day contest drawn and denying Indias returning fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna valuable match practice ahead of the senior teams upcoming Test series. After the entire third day was lost, conditions offered little respite on the final morning. Although the covers were briefly removed, another spell of rain forced the abandonment of play at 1 pm local time, without a single delivery being bowled. The three-match unofficial Test series consequently finished without a winner, with all three games ending in draws. India had put themselves in a commanding position before the weather intervened. Yashasvi Jaiswals 102 laid the foundation for a first-innings total of 464/5 declared, with Sai Sudharsan contributing 88 and Tilak Varma remaining unbeaten on 81. Dhruv Jurel (71) and Washington Sundar (50 not out) also made half-centuries as the visitors dominated the batting effort. New Zealand A were 36/2 when play ended on the second evening, with Prasidh Krishna accounting for both dismissals. However, the pacer and Bumrah managed only 11 overs between them, while Ravindra Jadeja did not get an opportunity to bowl. Bumrah, who last featured in a Test in November last year, was among the key players India wanted to give competitive red-ball exposure before the two-Test series beginning November 19. The match nevertheless provided useful batting time for several players in Indias Test plans. Jaiswal finished the three-match series with 279 runs in five innings at an average of 69.75, while Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal emerged among the leading run-scorers. Padikkal had struck 199 in the opening game, while Sudharsan registered scores of 91 and 88. Jurels successive contributions, including a century earlier in the series, strengthened his case for a place in the Test side, particularly with Rishabh Pants availability still uncertain. Meanwhile, New Zealand As Dean Foxcroft topped their batting charts with 196 runs, while uncapped pacer Zak Gibson led the series wicket-takers with eight scalps. Brief scores: India A 464/5 declared (Yashasvi Jaiswal 102, Sai Sudharsan 88, Tilak Varma 81 not out, Dhruv Jurel 71, Washington Sundar 50 not out; Zak Gibson 2/73) drew with New Zealand A 36/2 (Prasidh Krishna 2/12).
Shutdown In Kargil Against Holding Of LAHDC Polls In Winter
KARGIL/JAMMU, Nov 10: Kargil region in Ladakh on Tuesday observed a complete shutdown, demanding that the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) elections being held in winter months be deferred and the recently concluded delimitation exercise be reviewed. Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic remained thin on roads across Kargil. Security was [] The post Shutdown In Kargil Against Holding Of LAHDC Polls In Winter appeared first on Northlines .
29-year-old man found dead in field in UP's Maharajganj, family alleges murder
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Nov 10 (IANS) A 29-year-old man was found dead under suspicious circumstances in a field in Sirsiya Masarki village under Parsamalik police station limits in Uttar Pradesh's Maharajganj district, triggering panic in the area. The deceased man's family has alleged that he was murdered with a sharp-edged knife, claiming that the attack was part of a well-planned conspiracy. The incident has left the family devastated, with relatives mourning the loss of a young life. Speaking about the incident, the deceased man's brother-in-law alleged that a group of men arrived together and stabbed him to death. I am the deceased's brother-in-law. This was a well-planned conspiracy. He was killed in a knife attack. Some men came together in a group and murdered him. His grandfather had told me that there had been a dispute earlier, on Amavasya. It was a deliberate act. A complaint has been lodged, and we hope that whoever is responsible will be given strict punishment, he told IANS. Following the incident, local police reached the spot, took custody of the body and sent it for post-mortem examination. Police officials said that the matter is being investigated thoroughly from all angles, based on the family's complaint and evidence collected from the crime scene. They added that the exact cause of death would become clear only after the post-mortem report is received. The incident has sparked anger and fear among local residents, while the family is demanding strict action against those responsible. In another incident earlier, in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur district, a husband hacked his wife to death with an axe before fleeing with their child, police said. The incident was reported from Chaurasia village under the Alhaganj police station, triggering panic in the area. According to the police, the deceased has been identified as 30-year-old Sushila, while the accused husband is Avneesh. Preliminary investigation revealed that the couple had an argument over going to Delhi. Following the dispute, the accused allegedly attacked his wife with an axe, resulting in her death. On receiving information about the incident, police reached the spot, took custody of the body, and sent it for postmortem examination. An investigation into the incident was launched. Investigators said that the accused husband has been absconding with the couple's child since the incident. Two police teams have been deployed to trace and arrest him.
CM Patel begins 'Vikram Samvat 2083' with temple visits, calls for drug-free Gujarat
Digital Desk | Gandhinagar, Nov 10 (IANS) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Tuesday called for a collective resolve to build a developed and 'drug-free Gujarat', aligning the state's goals with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed and 'drug-free India', as he extended New Year greetings on the first day of Vikram Samvat 2083. CM Patel began the Gujarati New Year by offering prayers at Panchdev Temple in Gandhinagar, where he prayed for the happiness, prosperity and good health of citizens. He interacted with devotees at the temple and extended his greetings to them. The Chief Minister later visited Trimandir in Adalaj, where he offered prayers to Simandhar Swami and other deities and paid his respects to Pujya Niruma and Dada Bhagwan. He prayed for the welfare, good health and prosperity of people and the continued progress of Gujarat. The Chief Minister also met devotees and followers of the Dada Bhagwan family and exchanged New Year greetings with them. CM Patel met people at the Community Centre in the Chief Minister's residence complex in Gandhinagar, where he exchanged Gujarati New Year wishes. I extend my heartfelt New Year wishes to everyone on the beginning of Vikram Samvat 2083. I have prayed to God for everyone's good health and for their lives to move forward with happiness, peace and prosperity. With the Prime Minister's vision of a developed India and a drug-free India, I hope we all work together towards a developed Gujarat and a drug-free Gujarat, CM Patel said. In a message posted on the social media platform X, the Chief Minister extended New Year greetings to Gujaratis living in the state as well as those residing elsewhere in India and abroad. He also called for strengthening mutual affection, social harmony and hard work to take Gujarat to new heights of development. CM Patel urged citizens to work together towards the goal of 'Viksit Gujarat to Viksit Bharat' and emphasised the importance of supporting local artisans and small industries under the 'Vocal for Local' initiative. He called for ensuring that prosperity reaches the most remote sections of society and for citizens to contribute actively to building an Atmanirbhar Bharat. Gandhinagar Mayor Rupsinh Thakor, MLA Rita Patel, City Organisation President Ashish Dave, Standing Committee Chairman Mahendra and other office-bearers were also present during the prayers at Panchdev Temple.
Telangana Farmers Protest As Reservoir Shortage Triggers Water Crisis Fears
Farmers staged a road blockade near the Tapalapur Forest Check Post in Jannaram mandal, demanding continued irrigation releases from the Kadem Narayana Reddy Project.
Two teens killed as trailer truck rams motorcycle in Bihar's Aurangabad
Digital Desk | Aurangabad, Nov 10 (IANS) Two teenagers were killed, and another youth was critically injured after a speeding trailer truck collided with their motorcycle on National Highway-139 in Bihar's Aurangabad district, officials said on Tuesday. The three young men were reportedly travelling to a relative's house to attend a meal organised after a goat was sacrificed on the occasion of Govardhan Puja. The accident took place late last night near Chatra Mor, under the jurisdiction of the Mufassil police station area, when a speeding trailer truck collided head-on with the motorcycle carrying the three youths. Two of them died in the accident, while the third sustained serious injuries and is undergoing treatment. The deceased have been identified as 18-year-old Narendra Paswan and 19-year-old Pachu Kumar Paswan. Both were residents of Gheura village under the jurisdiction of the Risiyap police station. The injured youth has been identified as 18-year-old Sonu Kumar. The truck driver reportedly fled from the scene along with the vehicle after the accident. Local residents immediately informed the Mufassil police station about the incident. After receiving the information, police personnel reached the spot and, with the assistance of villagers, shifted the injured youths to a nearby hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, RJD leader Subodh Kumar and local villagers have levelled serious allegations against the police team that reached the spot through the '112' emergency response service. They alleged that the police waited for a considerable period for an ambulance to arrive, delaying the transportation of the injured to the hospital. During this time, Pachu reportedly lost a significant amount of blood and eventually died. The villagers and RJD leader claimed that Pachu's life might have been saved had the police immediately shifted him to the hospital instead of waiting for an ambulance. They alleged that excessive blood loss during the delay led to his death. Meanwhile, the increasing number of road accidents on NH-139 in Aurangabad has triggered serious concern among residents. In a span of just 24 hours, four people have reportedly lost their lives in three separate road accidents, raising fresh questions about road safety and the need for urgent intervention. Questioning how many more lives would have to be lost before the authorities acted, the RJD leader and residents demanded an immediate and lasting solution to the problem. They announced that an all-party meeting would be convened in Aurangabad after the Chhath Puja, following which an indefinite blockade of National Highway-139 would be organised. They said the road would remain blocked until a concrete solution was reached. Meanwhile, following the latest accident, local villagers staged a road blockade, demanding immediate compensation for the families of the deceased. The protest disrupted traffic on the highway for some time. The blockade was eventually called off after officials reached the spot, intervened and persuaded the protesting villagers to clear the road. An investigation into the case is underway, and further details are awaited.
Nice To Have A Little Bit More In Our Favour: Jamieson Relishes Bowler-friendly Conditions
New Zealand: New Zealand fast bowler Kyle Jamieson has welcomed the assistance available to seamers in the prevailing conditions, describing the opportunity to put batters under pressure as a refreshing change, while also opening up about the mental challenges of returning from injuries ahead of a packed Test schedule. Speaking about his approach to bowling in the current conditions, Jamieson said adapting to the weather and understanding what the surface had to offer were central to his plans. The tall pacer, who has endured an injury-disrupted period, believes the conditions have provided New Zealands seamers an opportunity to make an impact. Just trying to manage a little bit of the weather stuff. Trying to get it right on what conditions are going to look like and, just trying to put them under a little bit of pressure, Jamieson told broadcasters on the sidelines of the delayed third ODI at Seddon Park. For Jamieson, the assistance on offer has been particularly welcome after spending much of his career bowling on surfaces where pacers often have to work hard for breakthroughs. He expressed his preference for conditions that allow fast bowlers to attack with greater confidence. No, I love it. Im so used to like these wickets that are, you know, if you go under tens, youre having a good day. So its nice to have a little bit in your favour. You can kind of just try and land on a spot and hope you get a little bit of assistance. So, its nice to have a little bit more in our favour. And long may that continue, he added. Beyond the conditions, Jamiesons focus has also been on regaining complete confidence in his body after a prolonged spell of injury concerns. He admitted that getting to a stage where he could play without constantly worrying about his fitness had taken time and credited the work put in during his recovery for helping him reach that point. It certainly takes a while, right? Like its probably only now that I sort of feel like I can sort of go out completely, I guess, free from some of that, not sort of, I guess too worried about whats going on. So yeah, it takes a while but just trying to trust the work that youve done, trust the process around it and then just ultimately just sort of surrender into the game, into what may or may not happen, he stated. The 31-year-old said his primary challenge during his time away from competitive cricket was getting his physical condition under control rather than making major changes to his bowling or overall game. With a demanding run of Test matches approaching, he is hopeful of putting his fitness concerns behind him. I kind of always felt like my game was in an okay space. It was just trying to get the physical and the body side of it sort of, a bit more under my control. I felt like if I could kind of put some of those steps in place, get a run of cricket under my belt, it was always going to be all right. So thankfully I sort of feel like Im coming out the other side of it now and obviously a big run of Test cricket coming up. So touch wood we survive that, Jamieson said. Jamieson also acknowledged the frustration caused by the frequent changes to New Zealands bowling combination, with injuries and rotation preventing the attack from building consistency and familiarity through extended periods together. I kind of always felt like my game was in an okay space. It was just trying to get the physical and the body side of it sort of, a bit more under my control. I felt like if I could kind of put some of those steps in place, get a run of cricket under my belt, it was always going to be all right. So thankfully I sort of feel like Im coming out the other side of it now and obviously a big run of Test cricket coming up. So touch wood we survive that, Jamieson said. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Firm apple prices revive market activity across south Kashmir
Shopian, Nov 9: Firm apple prices during the ongoing harvesting season have improved market sentiment across south Kashmir, with traders reporting increased customer footfall and a pickup in sales after months of subdued business activity. Markets in Shopian, Pulwama and other apple-producing districts had remained relatively quiet for over a year, as traders struggled with low customer turnout and sluggish sales. Shopkeepers attributed the slowdown largely to poor returns from the apple industry, which remains a major pillar of the regions economy. Damage to the crop, partly caused by disruptions and closures of the national highway and erratic weather conditions, had affected growers earnings and, consequently, their spending capacity. However, firm prices this season have brought some relief to orchardists, with the improvement gradually reflecting in commercial activity across the region. The good apple prices have had a positive impact on the overall market, said Tariq Ahmad, a shopkeeper in Batapora, Shopian. He said customers had started returning to shops, while restaurants, eateries, ready-made garment stores and other commercial establishments were witnessing better business. Markets are bustling with customers again. There is a noticeable difference in the number of people visiting shops compared to the previous season, he said. Traders dealing in different goods said the improvement was visible across several market segments and was not confined to any particular category of business. Mushtaq Ahmad, who deals in ready-made garments and woollens in Pulwama, said business had picked up in recent weeks. People are spending more freely than they were earlier. When growers receive better returns for their produce, it has a positive effect on other businesses as well, he said. He said the improvement in purchasing activity was particularly encouraging for small shopkeepers, who had endured prolonged periods of sluggish sales. Traders said the apple economy directly influences the purchasing power of households across south Kashmir, where a large section of the population depends on horticulture and related activities for its livelihood. Despite crop damage caused by multiple spells of hailstorms during the season, apple prices have remained firm, providing some relief to growers. Mohammad Ashraf Wani, president of Fruit MandiShopian, said A-grade apples were selling at Rs 1,300 to Rs 1,500 per box. Despite the damage caused by hailstorms, the prices have remained encouraging. This has provided some relief to growers and helped sustain activity in the fruit trade, he said. He said better prices benefited not only orchardists but also thousands of people engaged in transportation, packaging, grading, loading and other activities linked to the horticulture sector. Shopkeepers said the business improvement was a welcome development after a prolonged period of uncertainty. For small traders, the return of customers to markets is an encouraging sign that better returns from the apple sector are gradually translating into economic activity beyond orchards and fruit mandis.
Sabalenka, Andreeva begin WTA Finals campaigns with wins
Digital Desk | Indian Wells, Nov 10 (IANS) Aryna Sabalenka and Mirra Andreeva opened their respective campaigns at the WTA Finals with victories on Tuesday (IST), setting up an intriguing Group 2 encounter between the two after the Belarusian overcame Karolina Muchova 7-6(2), 7-5, while the 19-year-old Russian cruised past Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-0 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Top seed Sabalenka needed one hour and 53 minutes to get past Muchova, ending the Czechs unbeaten record in tiebreaks this season and improving her own head-to-head advantage against her opponent. Muchova had entered the contest with a 3-2 career lead over Sabalenka, making her the only player in this years Finals field to hold a winning record against the Belarusian. The opening set was closely contested, with both players trading breaks and Muchova twice moving ahead. Sabalenka responded immediately on both occasions, eventually taking control in the tiebreak. Muchova saved two set points to force the decider, but a pair of forehand errors allowed Sabalenka to clinch it 7-2. The second set also featured a series of breaks, with Sabalenka eventually establishing a 5-3 advantage. Although she failed to serve out the match at 5-4, allowing Muchova to level the set, the Belarusian regained control in the following game before holding serve to seal the win. The victory extended Sabalenkas winning streak in WTA Finals opening matches to five, having lost her debut encounter to Paula Badosa in 2021. She is now 11-0 at the season-ending tournament whenever she wins the first set and has registered 13 match victories at the event, drawing level with Mary Pierce for the most wins by a player yet to lift the title. Andreeva, meanwhile, marked her WTA Finals debut with an emphatic performance against Svitolina, winning the final seven games of the contest to complete a 6-4, 6-0 victory in 70 minutes. The Russian saved all six break points she faced and maintained her serve throughout the match, including a demanding final game in which she fought off four opportunities for Svitolina to break. The result also helped Andreeva avenge her defeat to the Ukrainian at this years Australian Open and improve her head-to-head record against her to 2-1. The match brought together two players separated by 12 years and 229 days, the biggest age gap between opponents at the WTA Finals since Venus Williams and Caroline Garcia met in 2017. Svitolina, the 2018 champion, was unable to halt Andreevas momentum as the teenager dominated the closing stages. Andreevas victory also completed a clean sweep for the higher seeds in the first four singles matches of this years tournament, with Sabalenka, Linda Noskova and Coco Gauff having also won their opening fixtures. The upcoming clash between Sabalenka and Andreeva carries an added layer of intrigue. The Russian defeated the Belarusian in the 2025 Indian Wells final, 603 days before their next meeting, but Sabalenka holds a 4-2 advantage in their overall head-to-head record. With both players beginning their Group 2 campaigns on a winning note, their next encounter could prove crucial in determining the early shape of the group standings.
60 fire incidents in Jammu province in 24 hours
Jammu, Nov 09: Diwali celebrations turned into a challenging night for Fire and Emergency Services across Jammu Division, as a spate of fire incidents kept firefighters on their toes, with 60 emergencies reported within 24 hours, including 35 in Jammu district alone. From residential and commercial buildings to warehouses, marriage tents, dry grass and forest areas, the series of incidents placed considerable pressure on the department's operational machinery, requiring the simultaneous deployment of firefighting personnel and equipment at multiple locations. The situation was particularly demanding in Jammu district, where 16 fire incidents were reported within approximately five hours from 7 pm on November 8, including several major emergencies that required extensive firefighting operations. Anticipating the possibility of fire emergencies during Diwali, the department had made advance arrangements by strategically deploying fire tenders at Gole Market, Gandhi Nagar and Gangyal, besides keeping regular fire stations operational to ensure a swift response. One of the major incidents was reported at Pahari Mohalla around 8:37 pm, where a fire broke out in a five-storeyed residential-cum-commercial building. Four fire tenders from Gandhi Nagar and two from City Fire Station were immediately mobilised. The first units from City Fire Station reached the spot at 8:44 pm. With additional resources pressed into service, the deployment increased to seven fire tenders. The blaze was brought under control in approximately 45 minutes, followed by cooling operations. Barely 40 minutes later, another major emergency was reported at 9:18 pm at a warehouse-cum-shopping premises, where grocery and ration items, including cooking oil and ghee, were stored. The intensity of the blaze necessitated the mobilisation of 18 fire tenders from different fire stations and strategically stationed locations. Fire tenders positioned at Gole Market, Gandhi Nagar and Gangyal were also pressed into service. CCTV footage from the Smart City camera installed at Asian Hotel Crossing showed fire tenders proceeding towards the incident site at 9:38 pm, while three additional tenders reached within approximately ten minutes thereafter. After an intensive firefighting operation lasting around one-and-a-half hours, the blaze was brought under control. Approximately seven shops sustained damage, while several adjoining commercial establishments were saved from being engulfed. Cooling operations were subsequently undertaken to prevent any further spread or recurrence. Police, SDRF and the District Administration also assisted in the operation. Another fire broke out at Garden Estate around 10:28 pm, involving a marriage tent. Four fire tenders from the nearest available locations were immediately dispatched and reached the spot within seven to eight minutes. An additional tender from Bari Brahmana was also sent as reinforcement. The fire was brought under control in around 30 minutes. The series of emergencies continued late into the night, with another fire reported at Janta Medical Store, Shalimar, around 11:40 pm, involving the third floor of a four-storeyed building. The first fire tender reached the location at 11:46 pm, followed by additional units. A total of five fire tenders were deployed, and the blaze was brought under control in approximately half an hour, followed by cooling operations. Despite the unusually high volume of emergency calls and multiple simultaneous incidents, Fire and Emergency Services maintained its response across the division, with firefighters working through the festive night to contain the flames, protect lives and prevent further damage. Meanwhile, the department has rejected social media claims alleging a delay of approximately one-and-a-half hours in the arrival of firefighters at the warehouse fire site. Referring to official deployment records and CCTV footage, the department maintained that the emergency call was received at 9:18 pm, while footage from Asian Hotel Crossing showed fire tenders proceeding towards the location at 9:38 pm, with three additional tenders reaching approximately ten minutes later. The department said the available records did not substantiate allegations of a one-and-a-half-hour delay, urging media organisations and social media users to verify incident timelines with official sources before circulating such claims.
Between the chip and the slip: Honeytrap suspicions further sours ties between US and China
Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang is being investigated for having an alleged affair with a potential Chinese intelligence agent. This individual reportedly sought to gather information about Nvidia's advanced technology. Nvidia's board has launched an independent probe to examine the allegations against Huang. US lawmakers are demanding a briefing on the matter amid heightened concerns over national security.
Best external SSD for Mac 2026: Top drives tested
Macworld An external SSD is a straightforward way to expand your Macs storage, carry files between devices and keep backups close at hand. Whether you need more room for photos or a fast drive for video projects, our recommendations cover a range of capacities, connections and budgets. Compared with mechanical hard drives, SSDs generally offer faster transfers in smaller, lighter designs. Most portable models take power directly from your Mac, making them convenient companions for a MacBook. Desktop drives offer another option if your storage will mostly stay in one place. Choosing the right SSD involves more than finding the highest advertised speed. Your Macs ports, the drives connection and the supplied cable all affect performance. For everyday backups, capacity and value may matter more than maximum speed; for demanding creative work, faster transfers can justify paying extra. We compare tested performance, Mac compatibility, portability and value, alongside practical features such as rugged protection, encryption and warranty coverage. Below, youll find our top picks for different needs, alternatives worth considering and buying advice to help you choose. Best SSD for Mac These are our top choices of Mac SSDs we have reviewed, including a few cheaper options to suit different budgets and uses. Samsung Portable SSD T7 Shield Best for backups on the go Pros Rugged, pocketable rubber casing IP65 dust and water resistance Optional software password protection Cons Standard T7 costs less Price When Reviewed: 1TB $129.99; 2TB $219.99; 4TB $389.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Samsung $129.99 View Deal $271.28 View Deal $271.3 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Samsungs T7 Shield is a rugged portable SSD for backups and everyday storage. We liked its pocketable rubber-protected design, IP65 dust and water resistance, and optional password protection. In their review, our PCWorld colleagues recorded sequential speeds of 1,064MB/s reading and 1,004MB/s writing in Windows testing. Its 10Gbps USB interface suits routine transfers, although faster drives better serve demanding video work. Choose it for extra protection while traveling; consider the cheaper standard T7 if your drive will mostly stay safely on a desk. Performance and Mac compatibility Our PCWorld colleagues measured sequential reads of 1,064MB/s and writes of 1,004MB/s using CrystalDiskMark on Windows. Those results suit everyday transfers and laptop backups, but arent Mac benchmarks. The drive uses a 10Gbps USB interface, so a faster Thunderbolt connection wont increase its maximum speed. Older, slower USB ports will limit performance. Design and durability Measuring 3.46 2.32 0.51 inches (88 59 13mm) and weighing 0.22 pounds (98g), the Shield remains pocketable despite its protective rubber sleeve. IP65 protection guards against dust and water; it isnt rated for immersion. Samsung claims protection against three-meter drops. USB-C-to-C and USB-C-to-A cables are included. Capacity and value Password protection through Samsungs Portable SSD app adds useful security. The rugged casing justifies paying extra if you travel regularly, but the cheaper standard T7 may suffice for desk use. Who should buy? Choose it for travel, outdoor photography and everyday backups where protection matters more than maximum speed. Consider the SanDisk Extreme Pro v3 from this roundup for demanding large-file work, or the standard T7 if you dont need rugged protection. SanDisk Extreme Pro v3 SSD Best for professionals on the go Pros Good performance for pro users Slim, lightweight design Rugged IP65 protection Cons No Thunderbolt 5 support Expensive Price When Reviewed: $687.99 (currently $549.99) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $549.99 View Deal $549.99 View Deal SanDisk $687.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide The SanDisk Extreme Pro v3 is a compact USB4 SSD for photographers and video professionals handling large files. We liked its strong performance, recording 3.5GB/s reads and 4.2GB/s writes in Blackmagic testing, alongside its lightweight design and rugged IP65 protection. Available in 2TB and 4TB capacities, its easy to carry when traveling with a laptop. However, its high price and lack of Thunderbolt 5 support limit its appeal. For everyday backups, a cheaper drive is likely to offer better value. Performance and Mac compatibility SanDisks Extreme Pro v3 delivered around 3.5GB/s read speeds and consistently reached 4.2GB/s writes in our Blackmagic Disk Speed Test. Thats below SanDisks advertised 4GB/s reads but above its claimed 3.8GB/s writes, providing plenty of speed for large video and graphics files. Its USB4 interface suits demanding work, although theres no Thunderbolt 5 support to exploit the faster connection available on some high-end Macs. Design and durability Measuring 4.33 2.28 0.39 inches (110 58 10mm) and weighing 0.14 pounds (65.2g), the drive slips easily into a jacket pocket or laptop bag. Its IP65 rating provides dust and water resistance, while SanDisk claims protection against drops from three meters. A lanyard attachment offers extra security, although no lanyard is included. Capacity and value Available in 2TB and 4TB capacities, the Extreme Pro delivers strong performance in a compact, rugged package. However, its high price is the main drawback, particularly given the absence of Thunderbolt 5. Who should buy? Traveling photographers and video professionals handling large files should appreciate its speed and portability. For everyday storage or backups, consider an older SanDisk Extreme Pro to save money, accepting lower performance. Read our full SanDisk Extreme Pro V3 review SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD v3 Best for high-capacity portable storage Pros Compact, rugged portable design Up to 8TB storage Password protection and encryption Cons Slower than USB4 alternatives Price When Reviewed: 1TB: $99.99; 2TB: $149.99; 4TB: $249.99; 8TB: $549.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Western Digital (1TB) $99.99 View Deal $219.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD combines everyday USB storage with a rugged, pocketable design and capacities up to 8TB. We liked its balance of portability, useful protection and performance, recording 910MB/s reads and 946MB/s writes in Blackmagic testing. IP65 dust and water resistance suits outdoor use, while password protection, encryption and a five-year warranty add reassurance. Its a practical choice for backups and photo libraries, although demanding video editors should consider the faster Extreme Pro. Avoid immersion despite its protection. Performance and Mac compatibility The Extreme Portable reached 910MB/s reads and 946MB/s writes in our Blackmagic Disk Speed Test, against SanDisks advertised 1,050MB/s and 1,000MB/s respectively. Thats sufficient for everyday transfers, photo libraries and Time Machine backups. Its USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection sets the performance ceiling: connecting it to a faster Thunderbolt port wont make it a Thunderbolt-speed drive. Slower USB connections will reduce performance. A USB-C cable and USB-A adapter are included. Design and durability The tested 8TB model measures 3.97 2.07 0.38 inches (100.8 52.5 9.6mm). Its protective black casing and lanyard hook suit travel. IP65 protection helps keep dust and rain out, but it isnt waterproof against immersion. SanDisk also claims protection against three-meter drops. Capacity and value Capacities start at 1TB and extend to 8TB, providing substantial storage in a pocketable design. A five-year warranty, password protection and 256-bit encryption strengthen its appeal. Who should buy? Choose it for portable backups and storing large photo or video collections outdoors. Its main limitation is speed for demanding professional work. The SanDisk Extreme Pro v3 (above) offers a faster USB4 connection if transfer performance matters more than maximum capacity. Read our full SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD (2025) review OWC Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 Best fast SSD Pros Exceptional large-file read speeds Rugged metal enclosure Silent, fanless cooling design Cons Real-world writes trail benchmarks Captive cable complicates packing Price When Reviewed: 2TB: $399.99; 4TB: $599.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price OWC $400 View Deal $799.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide The OWC Envoy Ultra is a rugged Thunderbolt 5 SSD designed for demanding creative work. We liked its exceptional read performance, reaching nearly 6GB/s when copying large video files. However, real-world writes were much slower at around 1.5GB/s, despite stronger benchmark results. Its metal enclosure and three-year warranty add appeal, but the captive cable complicates packing. Youll need a Thunderbolt 5 Mac for maximum speed; high pricing and older-Mac compatibility restrictions make cheaper alternatives worth considering for less demanding use. Performance and Mac compatibility On an M4 Pro MacBook Pro, Blackmagic recorded approximately 5.2GB/s for both reads and writes, while ATTO reached nearly 7GB/s reads and 5.57GB/s writes. Crucially, copying around 330GB of video files delivered nearly 6GB/s reads but only 1.5GB/s writes. That makes it particularly attractive for accessing large projects, with less impressive performance when saving files to it. Full speed requires Thunderbolt 5. Design and durability Measuring approximately 5 2.8 0.75 inches (127 71 19mm) and weighing 0.66 pounds (298g), its metal enclosure is substantial. The captive cable makes packing awkward. OWC lists IP67 protection and a fanless aluminum design. Capacity and value The Envoy Ultra comes in 2TB, 4TB and 8TB capacities. A three-year warranty provides reassurance, but the premium is difficult to justify for everyday backups. Who should buy? Creative professionals reading large video projects from a Thunderbolt 5 Mac will benefit most. If maximum read speed isnt essential look for a cheaper option. Read our full OWC Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 SSD review Corsair EX400U USB4 SSD Compact storage for creators Pros Fast transfers for media Compact and lightweight design MagSafe-compatible ring for iPhone Cons Plastic housing feels basic Comparatively low write endurance Price When Reviewed: $119.99 (1TB) | $179.99 (2TB) | $339.99 (4TB) Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Corsair $120 View Deal $515.01 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide The Corsair EX400U is a compact USB4 SSD with a MagSafe-compatible ring for attaching to an iPhone. We liked its combination of portability, fast transfers and an included USB4 cable. Its small plastic enclosure becomes warm during sustained use, while a three-year warranty provides reassurance. Available in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB capacities, its appealing for mobile media work. However, our PCWorld colleagues found it slower than rival USB4 drives, with a comparatively low write-endurance rating. Performance and Mac compatibility Our testing recorded 3,165MB/s reads and 2,709MB/s writes, providing useful speed for large photo and video transfers. Testing used Ajax System Test Lite; sustained performance dropped by around 300MB/s. These results fall below Corsairs advertised maximums of 4,000MB/s reads and 3,600MB/s writes. Maximum performance requires USB4 or a compatible Thunderbolt connection; a slower USB-C port will limit transfers. Our PCWorld colleagues also found it slower than competing USB4 drives, particularly when writing. Design and durability Measuring 2.52 2.52 0.47 inches (64 64 12mm) and weighing approximately 0.11 pounds (51g), the EX400U is easy to carry. Its MagSafe-compatible ring attaches to an iPhone. The plastic housing is its main design compromise; it became warm, but not hot, during sustained testing. A robust USB4 cable is included. Capacity and value Available in 1TB, 2TB and 4TB capacities, it carries a three-year warranty. PCWorld highlighted a comparatively low write-endurance rating, worth considering for intensive daily use. Who should buy? Choose it for portable media storage, especially if magnetic iPhone attachment appeals. Consider the SanDisk Extreme Pro v3 from this roundup for faster tested transfers and rugged IP65 protection. Read our full Corsair EX400U USB4 SSD review Kingston Dual Portable SSD Cable-free portable backups Pros Built-in USB-A and USB-C Tiny, lightweight metal design Five-year warranty included Cons Can obscure adjacent ports Premium price for portability Price When Reviewed: From $97 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $154.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Kingstons Dual Portable SSD combines a thumb drives convenience with SSD performance. We liked its tiny, sturdy metal design, 13g weight and built-in USB-A and USB-C connectors, which eliminate cables. Testing delivered 920MB/s reads and 950MB/s writes, making it suitable for everyday transfers and Time Machine backups. A five-year warranty adds reassurance. However, its width can obscure an adjacent MacBook port, and you pay extra for portability. Consider Kingstons XS1000 for better value or a faster drive for demanding work. Performance and Mac compatibility The Dual Portable SSD delivered 920MB/s reads and 950MB/s writes in our Blackmagic Disk Speed Test. Writes matched Kingstons advertised 950MB/s, while reads fell below its claimed 1,050MB/s. Thats sufficient for everyday transfers and routine Time Machine backups. Its USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface needs a matching connection for full performance; older, slower USB ports will limit speed. Theres no Thunderbolt support, so demanding graphics and video work may benefit from a faster drive. Design and durability Measuring 2.83 0.83 0.34 inches (72 21 8.6mm) and weighing 0.03 pounds (13g), its exceptionally pocketable. The sturdy red metal casing incorporates USB-A and USB-C connectors, eliminating cables. However, its width partly obscured an adjacent MacBook Pro port. Theres no IP rating, and the removable connector caps could easily be lost. Capacity and value Available in 512GB, 1TB and 2TB capacities, it includes a five-year warranty. You pay a premium for the tiny design compared with conventional SSDs, including Kingstons slightly larger XS1000. Who should buy? Choose it for quick backups and moving files between USB-A and USB-C devices while traveling. Consider the Kingston XS1000 if value matters more than cable-free convenience, or a faster SSD for professional workloads. Read our full Kingston Dual Portable SSD review Samsung T5 EVO High-capacity everyday backups Pros Compact, lightweight design Sturdily built Provides up to 8TB storage Cons Modest performer Only supports USB 3.2 Gen 1 Price When Reviewed: 2TB: $189.99; 4TB: $$229.99; 8TB: $479.00 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Samsung (2TB) $189.99 View Deal $579.99 View Deal $1119.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide The Samsung T5 EVO is a compact portable SSD offering up to 8TB for backups, photos and video libraries. We liked its sturdy metal construction, protective rubber sleeve and convenient attachment ring. Our Blackmagic tests recorded 370MB/s reads and 460MB/s writes, making it a practical upgrade from a portable hard drive. However, its older 5Gbps USB interface limits performance. Choose it for capacity and portability; consider the faster Samsung T7 Shield if transfer speed and outdoor protection are higher priorities. Performance and Mac compatibility Our Blackmagic Disk Speed Test recorded 370MB/s reads and 460MB/s writes. Writes matched Samsungs advertised 460MB/s, but reads fell below the same claim. Thats adequate for routine backups and storing photo or video collections, rather than demanding editing work. Despite its USB-C connector, the T5 EVO uses USB 3.2 Gen 1, a 5Gbps interface. Connecting it to a faster USB or Thunderbolt port wont overcome that limitation. Its appeal is a more portable, faster alternative to a conventional hard drive. Design and durability Measuring 3.74 1.57 0.67 inches (95 40 17mm) and weighing 0.22 pounds (102g), it slips easily into a laptop bag. A rubber sleeve protects the sturdy metal body, while the substantial metal ring provides an attachment point. Theres no quoted IP rating for water or dust resistance. Capacity and value Available in 2TB, 4TB and 8TB capacities, the T5 EVO prioritizes storage space over speed. Password protection, AES-256 encryption and a three-year warranty add useful reassurance. Its value depends on current pricing compared with faster alternatives. Who should buy? Choose it for substantial backups and carrying large file collections without a bulky hard drive. The Samsung T7 Shield from this roundup is a better fit if faster transfers and rated outdoor protection matter more than maximum capacity. SanDisk Desk Drive High-capacity desktop backups Pros Up to 8TB storage Good everyday transfer performance Compact footprint for desktops Cons Requires external mains power No additional data ports Price When Reviewed: 4TB: $379.99; 8TB: $699.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Adorama $289.99 View Deal Western Digital $379.99 View Deal $713.86 View Deal $799.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide The SanDisk Desk Drive is a desktop SSD offering 4TB or 8TB of storage for backups, photos, videos and work files. We liked its combination of capacity, compact footprint and performance, recording 910MB/s reads and 925MB/s writes in our tests. Its faster than a hard drive, although faster SSDs suit demanding professional work. Its main drawback is mains power, making it impractical for travel. There are no extra data ports to compensate for using one of your Macs USB-C ports. Performance and Mac compatibility Our tests recorded 910MB/s reads and 925MB/s writes, below SanDisks advertised 1,000MB/s read speed but sufficient for regular backups and large photo or video libraries. The USB-C connection uses USB 3.2 Gen 2 at 10Gbps, so your Mac needs a matching connection to exploit its performance. A faster Thunderbolt port wont increase the drives speed. Its considerably faster than a conventional hard drive, although demanding professional work benefits from a faster SSD. Design and durability Measuring 3.91 3.91 1.58 inches (99.2 99.2 40.2mm) and weighing 0.59 pounds (268g), the Desk Drive occupies little desk space. However, it requires mains power: connecting it to our MacBook Pros USB-C port alone didnt work. Its single data port provides no hub functionality or additional connections for peripherals. Capacity and value Available in 4TB and 8TB capacities, it offers substantial storage for a desktop setup. SanDisk includes Acronis True Image backup software for Mac. Its value rests on needing SSD speed alongside capacity. Its appeal is high-capacity desktop storage with SSD speed, although mains power makes it less convenient than portable alternatives. Who should buy? Choose it for a permanent home or office backup setup. If you regularly travel with your storage, the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD from this roundup also offers up to 8TB without requiring mains power. Lexar TouchLock Portable SSD Simple secure iPhone storage Pros Simple NFC phone unlocking Automatic locking and encryption Compact, MagSafe-compatible portable design Cons Modest read and write speeds No water-resistance IP rating Price When Reviewed: 512GB $99.99 | 1TB: $159.99 Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $99.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide The Lexar TouchLock is a compact portable SSD that prioritizes file security over speed. We liked its straightforward NFC unlocking, automatic locking when disconnected and 128-bit encryption. Its lightweight design and MagSafe-compatible ring suit iPhone photo and video backups, while USB-C also connects to a Mac. Testing delivered around 350MB/s for reads and writes, adequate for everyday backups. However, theres no IP rating, and you need a compatible phone to unlock it. Choose another drive for demanding editing or ruggedness. Performance and Mac compatibility Our tests delivered around 350MB/s for both reads and writes, below Lexars advertised 450MB/s reads and 420MB/s writes. Thats adequate for Time Machine and mobile photo backups, but modest for demanding editing. Its USB 3.2 Gen 1 interface limits performance even on faster Mac ports. Lexar claims support for direct 4K/60fps ProRes recording. USB-C connectivity works with Macs, but unlocking requires an NFC-equipped phone running the Lexar app. Design and durability Measuring 3.35 2.09 0.28 inches (85 53 7mm) and weighing 0.09 pounds (40g), the TouchLock is pocketable. A MagSafe-compatible ring holds it against an iPhone. Lexar claims two-meter drop protection, but theres no IP rating for water or dust resistance. A USB-A adapter is included. Capacity and value The TouchLock model we reviewed offers 512GB or 1TB of storage. Its appeal rests on convenient security: NFC unlocking, automatic locking when disconnected and 128-bit encryption. Who should buy? Choose it for straightforward, secure backups when traveling with an iPhone. Consider the Samsung T7 Shield from this roundup for faster transfers and IP65 protection. Mac-only users should weigh the inconvenience of needing a phone to unlock their storage. Read our full Lexar TouchLock Portable SSD review Also considered We recommend: LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 Price When Reviewed: 2TB: $399.99 I 4TB: $599.99 Best Prices Today: $399.99 at Seagate (Lacie) | $1,850 at Amazon The LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 is a portable Thunderbolt 5 SSD designed for photographers, filmmakers, and other creative professionals. We liked its combination of excellent performance and substantial protection: our testing recorded approximately 5,250MB/s for both reading and writing on a compatible Mac. Its rubberized enclosure carries an IP68 water and dust resistance rating, while a five-year warranty adds reassurance. Available in 2TB and 4TB capacities, it provides ample room for demanding projects without becoming difficult to carry. However, its premium price makes it excessive for ordinary backups, and achieving its best speeds requires Thunderbolt 5. Reports that the model is being discontinued also make availability uncertain. It remains worth considering at a sensible clearance price, but we would prioritize more readily available alternatives. We recommend: LaCie Rugged SSD4 Price When Reviewed: 1TB, $135; 2TB, $250; 4TB, $480 Best Prices Today: $119.99 at Seagate | $389.99 at B&H | $684.97 at Amazon The LaCie Rugged SSD4 is a portable USB4 drive that combines fast transfers with LaCies familiar orange protective sleeve. We liked its strong Mac performance, recording approximately 2,975MB/s for reading and 3,300MB/s for writing comfortably sufficient for large file transfers and demanding everyday work. Its IP54 rating protects against dust and splashes, while LaCie also specifies resistance to three-meter drops and one-tonne crushing pressure. A three-year warranty with Rescue Data Recovery Services strengthens its appeal for people working away from the office. Our main design complaint was the easily misplaced removable USB port cover. However, reported discontinuation and uncertain stock now undermine its position as a leading recommendation. Consider remaining stock only when the price compares favorably with current USB4 alternatives offering similar performance and protection. We recommend: LaCie Portable SSD Price When Reviewed: 500GB $129.99; 1TB $209.99; 2TB $369.99 Best Prices Today: $129.99 at LaCie The LaCie Portable SSD is a small USB-C drive aimed at people who want straightforward additional storage without a bulky enclosure. We liked its attractive silver design, solid construction, and exceptionally light, pocketable form. Its USB 3.2 Gen 2 connection offers sufficient performance for everyday transfers, photo libraries, and backups, although it was an average performer within its class rather than a speed leader. Reviewed capacities ranged from 500GB to 2TB, making it suitable for carrying a working collection of documents and media. Its appeal was always the combination of portability, simplicity, and style. However, retailers now identify reviewed models as discontinued or end of life. We would choose a more readily available alternative unless remaining stock comes with a compelling discount and a trustworthy seller. We recommend: SanDisk Extreme Pro SSD with USB4 Price When Reviewed: $280 for 2TB, $430 for 4TB Best Prices Today: $279.99 at Sandisk | $529.99 at Amazon | $999.99 at Walmart The SanDisk Extreme Pro with USB4 is a rugged portable SSD available in 2TB and 4TB capacities. We liked its strong performance on Macs, with our Thunderbolt 4 MacBook Pro recording approximately 3,400MB/s for both reading and writing. Its forged aluminum body and protective silicone covering give it a reassuringly sturdy feel, supported by IP65 dust and water resistance and a five-year warranty. The main drawback is size: it is noticeably larger and heavier than many portable competitors. SanDisk now offers a newer Extreme Pro V3, so this older model makes more sense as a discounted alternative than the default recommendation. Check the model number carefully: SDSSDE82 identifies this version. We recommend: Seagate One Touch SSD Price When Reviewed: 500GB $94.99; 1TB $169.99; 2TB $309.99 Best Prices Today: $94.99 at Seagate | $109.99 at Walmart The Seagate One Touch SSD is a compact portable drive designed for straightforward backups and everyday file transfers. We liked its light, sturdy construction and the inclusion of both USB-C and USB-A cables, making it convenient to use across different computers. The reviewed model offered 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities, with enough performance for documents, photos, and media libraries. Seagates Toolkit software adds folder synchronization. The absence of hardware encryption is a limitation for people carrying sensitive files. It could still be worth buying at a competitive price; be careful to distinguish the faster STKG generation from older STJE models. We recommend: WD My Passport SSD Price When Reviewed: 500GB $59.99; 1TB $74.99; 2TB $179.99; 4TB $319.99 Best Prices Today: $59.99 at Western Digital | $199 at Amazon | $379.99 at Walmart The WD My Passport SSD is a lightweight USB-C drive intended for everyday portable storage, with hardware encryption among its attractions. We liked its slim design and useful performance when connected to a suitable USB 3.2 Gen 2 port. Compatibility with USB-A connections also makes it practical for people moving files between newer and older computers. However, the unusually short cable can be inconvenient. It remains worth comparing when discounted, particularly if encrypted portable storage is your priority. We recommend: LaCie Rugged Mini SSD Price When Reviewed: 500GB = $89.99; 1TB $129.99; 2TB $234.99; 4TB $439.99 Best Prices Today: $84.99 at Lacie | $127.43 at Amazon The LaCie Rugged Mini SSD is a portable drive wrapped in the companys distinctive orange protective sleeve. We liked its sturdy construction, pocketable design, and three-year warranty with Rescue Data Recovery Services. It provides a useful way to carry backups or project files when traveling, with reviewed capacities extending to 4TB. However, its USB 3.2 Gen 22 interface is a significant consideration for Mac buyers: the Macs used in our testing could not achieve its advertised 2,000MB/s performance. We recorded approximately 900MB/s for writing and 970MB/s for reading, which remains sufficient for routine backups. It is still worth considering at a competitive price, particularly if its protective design and recovery service matter more than maximum transfer speeds. We recommend: Lexar Armor 700 Price When Reviewed: 1TB: $150 I 2TB: $230 I 4TB: $400 Best Prices Today: $209.99 at Adorama | $209.99 at B&H The Lexar Armor 700 is a rugged portable SSD aimed at photographers, filmmakers, and anyone carrying important files outdoors. We liked its slim design, grippy protective covering, and IP66 rating for resistance to dust and powerful water jets. Its construction makes it an appealing travel companion, while encryption software provides another useful feature for sensitive files. The important limitation for Mac buyers is its USB 3.2 Gen 22 interface: without support for that connection standard, a Mac cannot deliver the drives advertised maximum performance. It remains fast enough for ordinary backups, but USB4 alternatives are better suited to buyers prioritizing speed. A substantial discount could still make it an attractive purchase for travel. We recommend: Verbatim Turbometal Portable SSD Price When Reviewed: $153 Best Prices Today: $282.52 at Amazon The Verbatim TurboMetal SSD is a portable USB4 drive with a rounded metal enclosure and a temperature-controlled cooling fan. We liked its attractive construction, quiet fan, and good transfer speeds. Testing on an M3 MacBook Air produced approximately 2,664MB/s for writing and 3,123MB/s for reading, with stronger results on an M4 Max Mac Studio. Reviewed capacities ranged from 1TB to 4TB. However, sustained testing exposed temporary speed reductions as the drive warmed up, before cooling restored performance. Mac users should also reformat the drive appropriately, and the included software is Windows-only. Other USB4 options offer a clearer combination of performance and convenience. It remains a reasonable alternative when discounted, particularly for everyday transfers that do not involve continuously writing large amounts of data. We recommend: Adata SE920 Price When Reviewed: $140 for 1TB The Adata SE920 is a high-performance portable USB4 SSD designed for demanding work such as photo and video editing. We liked its fast, consistent transfers and effective cooling system, which combines a metal enclosure with a small fan. Pressing the housing expands it and activates the fan, giving users additional cooling during sustained activity. Our testing recorded approximately 2,992MB/s for writing and 3,161MB/s for reading, with stable performance over longer periods. Its setup is less convenient for Mac users because it arrives formatted as NTFS and includes Windows-focused backup software, although reformatting with Disk Utility is straightforward. It remains worth considering if its price undercuts comparable USB4 models and you are comfortable handling the initial setup yourself. We recommend: Sandisk Pro-Blade Transport Price When Reviewed: $49.99 for dock I $159.99 w/1TB Mag I $219.99 w/2TB I $339.99 w/4TB Best Prices Today: $49.99 at Western Digital | $485.31 at Amazon The SanDisk Professional Pro-Blade system is modular storage designed for creative workflows spanning location work and the studio. We liked the flexibility of its removable SSD Mag modules, which can move between a portable Transport enclosure and the desktop Station. The modules are designed to withstand rough handling, and the Station accommodates four of them for a larger storage setup. This makes the system useful for teams exchanging footage or maintaining separate project drives. However, a Mag cannot connect directly to your Mac, so the required enclosure adds cost and complexity. The Transports USB 3.2 Gen 22 connection also limits performance on Macs without that interface. Most readers will find a conventional portable SSD simpler and more economical. We recommend: Sonnet Echo 13 Thunderbolt 5 SSD Dock Price When Reviewed: From $479.99 Best Prices Today: $299.99 at Amazon | $439.99 at B&H | $479.99 at Sonnet The Sonnet Echo 13 Thunderbolt 5 SSD Dock combines desktop expansion with built-in solid-state storage. We liked the convenience of adding fast storage alongside an extensive selection of connections, including Thunderbolt 5, 2.5Gb Ethernet, and memory card readers. It can also provide up to 140W of charging power to a compatible laptop, making it an appealing foundation for a MacBook workstation. The SSD impressed in our testing, delivering approximately 5,331MB/s for writing and 5,822MB/s for reading in AJAs 4K test. However, this is a premium docking station rather than a straightforward portable drive, and its cost makes most sense when you need the extra connections. It serves a different purpose to the other SSDs in this roundup, although it remains attractive for an equipped desktop workspace. We recommend: Seagate Ultra Compact SSD Price When Reviewed: 1TB: $100 I 2TB: $180 Best Prices Today: $79.99 at B & H Photo The Seagate Ultra Compact SSD combines the convenience of a USB thumb drive with the performance of a portable SSD. We liked its small size, sturdy housing, and cable-free connection, making it easy to carry files without packing additional accessories. Our Mac testing recorded approximately 943MB/s for writing and 930MB/s for reading, comfortably sufficient for everyday transfers and suitable video recording tasks. Its IP54 rating provides protection against dust and splashes, while Seagate specifies resistance to three-meter drops. However, the short USB-C connector may not reach an iPhones port through some protective cases. It remains an appealing alternative for buyers who want compact USB-C storage and value its protective construction. How we test Mac SSDs Our reviews combine benchmark results with hands-on use to assess transfer performance, portability, construction and everyday convenience. We identify the test platform where relevant, including results from our colleagues at PCWorld. Performance varies with the computer, connection and workload, so we distinguish measured results from manufacturers advertised speeds. We also assess practical details such as cables, power requirements, security features and warranty coverage. Why you should trust Macworld Macworld has been testing Mac hardware for decades. Our recommendations draw on hands-on reviews from our team and colleagues across Foundry, with particular attention to Mac compatibility, useful performance and value. How to choose an SSD: Buying advice Youve read our recommendations of the best SSDs for Mac owners on the market right now. But how did we reach these decisions, and what general advice should you follow when selecting the best SSD for your needs? SSDs vs hard drives Hard drives generally offer more storage for your money, making them a good choice for large backups where capacity matters more than speed. SSDs typically cost more per gigabyte, but provide faster transfers and are usually smaller and lighter. They also have no moving parts, making them better suited to carrying alongside a MacBook. If you decide in favor of hard drives, see our roundup of the best Mac hard drives . Which SSD connection should you choose? For an external SSD, prioritize the connection supported by both the drive and your Mac. A fast SSD cant deliver its full performance through a slower port or cable. Everyday backups rarely need the fastest connection, while large video projects and frequent transfers can justify paying for USB4 or Thunderbolt. USB-C doesnt tell you the speed USB-C describes the connectors shape, rather than its transfer speed. Drives with identical-looking USB-C connectors can use different USB or Thunderbolt standards and offer very different performance. The table below compares connection bandwidth, rather than guaranteed file-transfer speeds. Connection Maximum connection bandwidth Best suited to USB 3.2 Gen 1 5Gbps Routine backups and everyday storage USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps General transfers, backups and photo libraries USB 3.2 Gen 22 20Gbps Compatible computers; limited performance on many Macs USB4 at 40Gbps / Thunderbolt 3 or 4 40Gbps Large transfers and demanding photo or video work Thunderbolt 5 80Gbps for storage Maximum performance on compatible Macs USB 3.2 Gen 22 deserves particular attention. Macs that support USB transfers at only 10Gbps wont deliver a Gen 22 drives advertised 20Gbps performance. A Thunderbolt port doesnt automatically remove that limitation. To get the most from a Thunderbolt 5 SSD, you need a Thunderbolt 5-equipped Mac. Its higher storage bandwidth can support much faster transfers, but connecting a slower USB drive to that port wont increase the drives own maximum speed. What about SATA and NVMe? SATA and NVMe describe the storage technology inside a drive, rather than the external connection to your Mac. SATA SSDs typically top out at around 550MB/s, while NVMe SSDs use PCIe and can achieve substantially higher speeds. However, an external enclosures connection can become the bottleneck. An NVMe SSD capable of several gigabytes per second internally wont achieve those speeds through a 10Gbps USB connection. For a ready-made external SSD, our measured performance is more useful than its internal PCIe generation alone. If youre assembling your own external drive, choose an enclosure that supports your SSDs type and a connection your Mac can exploit. Match the drive, port and cable Use a cable rated for the drives connection standard. If you connect through a hub or dock, its supported speeds and shared bandwidth also matter. Actual transfers depend on file sizes, sustained-write performance and the storage at the other end. Choose a drive based on its tested performance in the kind of work you do, rather than connection bandwidth alone. How much SSD storage do you need? Choosing the right external SSD capacity depends on what you plan to store. Capacities vary by model, with several recommendations here extending to 8TB. Allow enough space for your existing files and room for your collection to grow, especially if you work with photos or video. These starting points can help: 500GB1TB: Everyday documents, smaller photo collections and transferring files between devices. 1TB2TB: Larger photo libraries, individual video projects and more substantial everyday storage. 4TB8TB: Extensive photo and video collections, multiple large projects or substantial backup archives. For backups, consider how much data you need to protect and allow additional space for older versions you may want to recover. For a working drive, consider the size of your projects and how many you need to keep available at once. A smaller SSD may suffice if you regularly move completed projects to separate storage. Avoid buying a drive that your files will fill immediately. Leaving free space provides room to grow and can help maintain performance, although the effect of filling a drive varies by model and workload. Compare the price per terabyte across capacities. Larger models sometimes offer better value, but the highest capacity isnt automatically the best deal. Balance the price with the space youll realistically use. How portable does your SSD need to be? Most external SSDs are small enough to carry in a laptop bag, but size, weight and cable design affect convenience. A compact, lightweight drive suits frequent travel, while built-in connectors eliminate a separate cable but may obstruct an adjacent port. For outdoor use, look for a sturdy enclosure and a stated IP rating for dust and water resistance. Water resistance doesnt necessarily mean a drive can withstand immersion. Also consider power requirements. Most portable SSDs draw power from your Mac, but the SanDisk Desk Drive requires mains power, making it better suited to a permanent desk setup. Shock-proof and rugged? Other features to look out for include IP-ratings for weather protection and password protection for your important files. SSDs are more durable than hard drives. They have no moving parts, and are less vulnerable to knocks and movement than mechanical hard drives while writing data. While modern hard drives have some level of shock protection, its still a big issue. However, SSDs can still suffer physical damage or fail, so handle them carefully and keep another copy of important files. Some portable SSDs even offer water resistance. You can also get ruggedization in a specialized drive enclosure, if you choose to go down the 2.5in drive route. This is a huge portability benefit. But if they are sat still all day, are SSDs more reliable than HDDs? Hard drives tend to fail mechanically. For example, the motor that spins the platters might burn out. SSDs memory cells age, which can lead to failure. Both kinds require specialist recovery. As ever, back up important data. However, for our purposes, as people who occasionally have to fling drives in rucksacks and plug them in while sat in an airplane seat, SSDs are the clear winner. Software Just remember to check that any apps provided by the manufacturer work with Macs as well as Windows PCs.
Woman's Body Chopped Into Pieces In Guwahati, Accused Arrested 6 Days Later
The accused, Pradip Taye, a resident of Dhemaji who worked as a driver in the Khanapara area of Guwahati, allegedly killed Jeena Baishya on November 1. Her body was found in a drain near Ganesh Mandir in Khanapara on November 7.
Outrage in Puri: Unauthorized Sale of Mahaprasad Outside Srimandir Sparks Backlash
Devotees are outraged over the unauthorised open sale of Lord Jagannath's sacred Mahaprasad outside the Puri Srimandir North Gate. Read about the rising demands for strict administrative action. The post Outrage in Puri: Unauthorized Sale of Mahaprasad Outside Srimandir Sparks Backlash appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
Controversy Over Spate Of Deepavali Murders
Opposition parties have criticised the ruling TVK government over 11 murders reported across Tamil Nadu on Deepavali, alleging a collapse of law and order and demanding accountability.
Trump Offers To Ease Hormuz Blockade In Major Iran War U-Turn; Tehran Demands Written Guarantees
The United States has reportedly offered Iran a phased deal to ease its naval blockade and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, signalling a fresh diplomatic push by President Donald Trump to end the Iran war. According to Emirati outlet Erem News, the proposal would begin with partial blockade relief, followed by nuclear negotiations, gradual sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian funds. Tehran has yet to respond, demanding written guarantees and concrete American action before negotiations proceed. A separate Qatari proposal reportedly includes limited uranium enrichment, international nuclear inspections and the release of up to ten billion dollars in Iranian assets. The diplomatic push comes as Trump faces growing pressure to end the costly conflict following Republican losses in the U.S. midterm elections.
'Stop Funding Munir's Army': Why Muslim US Senator Al-Sayed Is Flagging Trump's Military Aid To Pak
Why should American taxpayers fund foreign militaries accused of violating international law? Newly elected Muslim Senator Abdul Al-Sayed is challenging Washingtons military-aid model - and questioning US support for Pakistans military under Army chief Asim Munir. El-Sayed extends the argument demanding scrutiny of American aid to Israel and Egypt too, including billions of dollars in military financing and assistance. Can one senator stop US aid to Pakistan? Not by himself. But he can demand hearings, push for conditions, question arms transfers and force the administration to explain why American money continues to support foreign militaries. For Pakistan, this could be an early warning: the next debate over US support may be fought not in the Pentagon, but in congressional hearing rooms.
Tanvi Patri credits China, India training for historic Youth Olympics silver
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Nov 9 (IANS) India's historic Youth Olympics silver medallist Tanvi Patri credited her early training in China and subsequent development at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bengaluru for shaping her game, while revealing that illness had restricted her preparations to just two days of practice before her campaign in Dakar. The 15-year-old became the first Indian women's singles player to win a silver medal at the Youth Olympic Games after going down to reigning world junior champion Zhang Yi Xin in a thrilling final in Dakar, Senegal, on November 5. Patri saved six match points and had three opportunities to seal the gold medal herself before eventually losing 15-21, 21-13, 26-24 in an hour and 22 minutes. Her achievement followed individual silver medals by HS Prannoy in 2010 and Lakshya Sen in 2018. Speaking to IANS, Patri recalled how her badminton journey began in China, where her father worked with Nike China, and she accompanied him to a club where he played. She said the training environment and emphasis on technique helped her develop the foundations of her game. Preparation in China because I went to China. Like my dad used to work there for Nike China. So then my mom and I also went to China with him. And then the training and all was really good. Like the coaches and all really focused on the technique and yeah, they've also helped me a lot in the game and all, she said. Patri moved back to India around 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and initially trained in Odisha for around one-and-a-half years before joining the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy in Bengaluru. She said the coaches at the academy helped her improve her speed and also supported her through a series of injuries. And then I think I moved to India in 2020 or something. I don't remember the year for COVID. And then I was training in Odisha for like one and a half years. And then I moved to the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy. So here also, the coaches have really helped me a lot in improving my speed and all. And then I got injured. I had a knee injury first and then hamstring and then back injury this year in like February something. So yeah, they have taken care of me when I was injured also, she said. Her preparations for the Youth Olympics were further disrupted by illness following the World Junior Championships in Egypt. Patri said she was still recovering from fever after returning to India and had to take a complete week's rest before getting only two days of training ahead of the competition in Dakar. Because before going for the World Junior Championships, I was sick. Like when I reached Egypt for the World Junior Championship, I was sick. And then I couldn't perform well in that tournament. So, when I came back to India also still that fever impact and all was there. So, for like one week, I took complete rest. And then I just practised for like two days. And then I went to Dhaka for the Youth Olympic Games. So, yeah, I am happy with my performance there. And I hope I play well in the future tournaments also, she said. Patri also spoke about the difference in conditions between India and Dakar, saying the heat, humidity, and absence of air-conditioning made the stay challenging, although she did not face any major difficulty adjusting to a different country. Conditions like from India to Dakar, yeah, it was a bit tough. Because there was no AC, it was hot and humid there. And then yeah, like there were no challenges in moving from one country to another. Just like once you come back from one country, there is jet lag, which goes away in two to three days. But yeah, there are no such conditions I faced in moving from one country to another, she said. In the final, Patri took time to settle before producing a strong recovery in the opening game. After trailing 3-5, she won seven consecutive points to move ahead 10-5, using her punch tosses effectively and controlling the net to take the first game 21-15. She began the second game with a 4-0 lead, but the drift from the far end affected her control on the clears. Zhang capitalised after the mid-game interval to win 21-13 and force a decider. The Chinese shuttler then built a commanding 19-10 lead in the third game with her cross-court drops. Patri fought back to reduce the deficit to 15-19, but an error on a cross-court smash gave Zhang five match points. The Indian saved all five and subsequently had three opportunities to close out the match, but Zhang's experience proved decisive as she eventually converted her sixth match point to claim the gold.
Maha: Shiv Sena demands probe into Sunil Tatkares role in Ajit Pawars crash
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Nov 9 (IANS) A massive political storm has erupted in Maharashtra following serious allegations made by Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam against NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) leader and state president Sunil Tatkare. Kadam on Monday demanded a high-level inquiry into whether Tatkare had any hand in the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Ajit Pawar's flight took off from Mumbai to Baramati, but as the aircraft was landing at the Baramati airstrip, it met with a horrific accident resulting in his death. Following this tragic incident, political blame-shifting has intensified. Launching a scathing attack during the Diwali festival, Ramdas Kadam linked Sunil Tatkare directly to Ajit Pawar's fatal crash, demanding an investigation. Kadam went on to make explosive remarks about Tatkare's past and ambitions. Sunil Tatkare is a demonic person. He cannot be loyal to anyone. He used to be the Personal Assistant (PA) to A R Antulay saheb, and he finished him off too, he claimed. Whoever gets close to Tatkare, he works to destroy them. I have heard that he himself wanted to become the Deputy Chief Minister. Therefore, an investigation must be conducted from the angle of whether Tatkare had a hand in Ajit Pawar's fatal crash. His ambitions are monstrous, and he can do anything to fulfil them, alleged Kadam. Kadam also targeted Tatkare's political standing, stating, During the Khed-Dapoli elections, I worked shoulder to shoulder with Tatkare. At that time, people used to tell me not to work for him, as he is a traitor. Tatkare doesn't even have the standing to speak against me. However, Sunil Tatkare has vehemently rejected all the allegations made by Ramdas Kadam, calling them entirely baseless. He stated that he would address the media in a formal press conference to present his side. NCP national spokesperson Umesh Patil also responded to Kadams remarks, saying, Ramdas Kadam has made allegations against Tatkare in the past as well. Tatkare has been working in the Konkan region for the last 40 years, building the party against the Shiv Sena. Therefore, this should be viewed as a local-level political conflict. Patil said Kadam should have spoken with evidence and termed his charges baseless. The war of words between Shiv Sena and the NCP has brought the underlying tensions within the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Raigad district to a boiling point. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar has also jumped into the controversy, stating that since Ramdas Kadam has made such grave accusations against Tatkare, an inquiry should be initiated. The insults hurled by Kadam deeply offended Ajay Birvatkar, a Zilla Parishad member and Sunil Tatkares brother-in-law. Following a prior dispute regarding seating arrangements at a foundation-stone laying ceremony for the Poynar dam in Khed, Birvatkar took to social media to fire back. He posted, When a person's downfall begins, such frantic ranting follows. Even if one has the ambition to touch the sky, one's feet must remain on the ground. However, if self-respect is hurt, the market will be dismantled, issuing a sharp warning that signals an escalation of the feud between Tatkare and Ramdas Kadam.
Air quality deteriorates in north post-Diwali
New Delhi: A thick layer of smog hung over parts of north India on Monday, a day after Diwali celebrations during which crackers were burst beyond permitted hours, pushing air quality to alarmingly high levels.Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Western Uttar Pradesh's Air Quality Index (AQI) levels were well above 350, falling into the 'very poor' range.Also Read: 'Data eclipse': Questions over Delhi AQI data as several monitoring stations go offline on Diwali nightOn Sunday, Delhi recorded its most polluted Diwali in five years, with the average AQI at 376. The next morning, the AQI dropped marginally to 371, according to the CPCB.The overall AQI stood at 371 on Monday till 10 am, the highest for a post-Diwali day since 2021. Of the 51 monitoring stations that recorded data, 14 were in the 'severe' category, four in the 'poor' category and the remaining 33 in the 'very poor' category. Delhi Technological University (DTU) recorded the worst reading of 439. Earlier in the morning, the overall AQI was 370 at 8 am.According to CPCB data, Delhi's AQI was 376 on Diwali, the highest recorded on the festival day since 2021, when it was 382.Also Read: Mumbai bans sky rockets, aerial fireworks till November 25 after fire incidentsHowever, according to real-time readings on AQI.in, Delhi's air quality climbed to 2,283 after Diwali. Six other Indian cities also recorded AQI levels above 1,000 at 9 pm on Sunday, according to the platform.On Monday morning, AQI.in recorded Delhi's air quality at 637, classifying it as 'hazardous'.According to IQAir, the concentration of PM2.5 stood at 170 micrograms per cubic metre, around 34 times the World Health Organisation's annual guideline value.The high AQI also pushed up PM 10 and PM2.5 levels in the national capital.The concentration of PM10 was 126 micrograms per cubic metre, while ozone levels stood at 31, nitrogen dioxide at 44.6 and sulphur dioxide at 32. Carbon monoxide concentration was recorded at 1,461.5 micrograms per cubic metre.PM2.5, fine particulate matter capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and entering the bloodstream, is among the major pollutants of concern due to its adverse health effects.IQAir's dashboard also showed a prominent air quality alert for Delhi, with data from 32 monitoring stations provided by 12 contributors.In Uttar Pradesh, the western region bore the brunt of post-Diwali air pollution, with several cities and localities recording 'very poor' air quality and some pockets in Ghaziabad, Meerut and Saharanpur reporting AQI levels in the 'severe' category, according to official and local data.Among the 24-hour average readings from November 8 to 4 pm on Monday, Noida recorded an AQI of 332, Greater Noida 252, Ghaziabad 324, Baghpat 305, Bulandshahr 303, Muzaffarnagar 225, Meerut 269, Shamli 275 and Hapur 202.In Meerut, doctors reported an increase in patients complaining of breathing difficulties, asthma, throat infections and eye irritation after Diwali.In Ghaziabad, the municipal corporation intensified mechanical road sweeping, water sprinkling and dust-control operations at identified pollution hotspots, City Health Officer Mitlesh Kumar said.The post-Diwali pollution levels were not uniform across the state.Among the places covered in the 24-hour readings, Bareilly recorded a comparatively lower AQI of 102 and Vrindavan 110. Fatehabad registered 138, Pratapgarh 141, Jhansi 144, Mathura 169, Firozabad 176 and Agra 187.Other major cities also recorded poor air quality, with Lucknow at 245, Kanpur at 221, Prayagraj at 241, Varanasi at 274 and Gorakhpur at 261.In neighbouring Punjab and Haryana, the air quality was in the 'very poor' category on Monday.According to the 24-hour average AQI, which is reported at 4 pm every day, Bahadurgarh in Haryana recorded 400, while Charkhi Dadri was at 389.The CPCB's data further showed that Gurugram's AQI was 345, Rohtak 378, Manesar 333, Faridabad 350, Ballabhgarh 316, Bhiwani 340, Kaithal 347, while Narnaul recorded an AQI of 305.The air pollution was so severe that many residents complained of breathing difficulty.Gurugram resident Praveen Bhardwaj said that when he stepped out of his home on Monday morning, he began to experience eye irritation and difficulty breathing.I used to go for a walk in the park every morning. But now, due to the pollution, I'm afraid to even step outside. Many people are even having to give up their morning walks for the sake of their health, he said.Ashok Yadav, a resident of Sector-14, said pollution has become a cause for concern even for those who head out for morning walks.Instead of merely issuing directives, the government and the administration should take concrete, on-the-ground measures to control pollution so that people can get relief, he added.In Punjab, the 24-hour AQI reading in Jalandhar and Mandi Gobindgarh was 336, in the 'very poor' category, while Ludhiana (292), Amritsar (257) and Patiala (221) were all in the 'poor' category. Chandigarh, the common capital of Haryana and Punjab, recorded an AQI of 148 in the 'moderate' category.
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SanDisk Extreme Pro SSD review: Fast, rugged, and expensive
Macworld At a glance Expert's Rating Pros Good performance for pro users Slim, lightweight design Rugged, with IP65 rating Cons No support for Thunderbolt 5 Expensive (thanks to the AI apocalypse) Our Verdict The SanDisk Extreme Pro delivers fast USB4 performance in a slim, lightweight design, with IP65 protection for life on the move. Strong write speeds suit demanding video and graphics work, although tested read speeds trail SanDisks claims. Its high price and lack of Thunderbolt 5 limit its appeal, but professionals prioritizing portability and durability will still find plenty to like. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed $687.99 (currently $549.99) Best Prices Today: SanDisk Extreme Pro V3 Retailer Price $549.99 View Deal $549.99 View Deal SanDisk $687.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide What is it? A slim, rugged portable USB4 SSD with fast performance for storing and working with large files. Whos it for? Professionals working with large video and graphics files who need fast, durable storage thats easy to carry. Whos it not for? Budget-conscious buyers or professionals seeking the faster performance available from a Thunderbolt 5 SSD. SanDisk has updated its entire range of portable solid-state drives, including this third-generation update for the Extreme Pro, which, as the name suggests, is aimed at professional users who need high-end performance when working with large video and graphics files. Sadly, like most forms of memory and storage, the Extreme Pro has rocketed in price since our review of the previous version, now starting at $549.99/489.99 for a model with 2TB storage, or a whopping $1,099.99/980.99 with 4TB. Theres also an 8TB model planned for next year, although SanDisk hasnt given any indication of pricing for that model. You should also be aware that older versions of the drive are still widely available online, so make sure you select the correct model before buying. Alternatively, you could save some money by buying an older version of the drive although, of course, it wont be quite as fast as the latest model. Design The Extreme Pro is still an attractive option for professional users looking for a USB4 SSD to use with a Mac , though, with a more compact design than its predecessor, measuring just 110mm long, 58mm wide and 10mm thick, and weighing a mere 65.2g. Its easy to slip it into a bag or jacket pocket if youre travelling with your laptop, and theres a clip for a lanyard (not included) on one corner of the drive to help keep it safe. It boasts a sturdy IP65 rating for weather-resistance, and Sandisk also states that it can survive being dropped from a height of three metres. Performance Performance is good too, with Sandisk quoting read and write speeds of 4GB/s and 3.8GB/s, respectively. The drive did fall a little short on read performance in our tests, using the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test, hitting around 3.5GB/s, but it outperformed on write performance, consistently reaching 4.2GB/s. The Extreme Pro will certainly be fast enough for pro users working with large video files, although its a shame that such an expensive drive is only using a USB4 interface, with no support for the even faster Thunderbolt 5 that is now available on several high-end Mac models. Should you buy the SanDisk Extreme Pro? The SanDisk Extreme Pro combines fast USB4 performance with a slim, lightweight design thats easy to carry alongside your MacBook. Strong write speeds make it appealing for professionals working with large video and graphics files, while IP65 protection and claimed three-meter drop resistance add reassurance when traveling. However, read speeds fell short of SanDisks claims in our tests, and the lack of Thunderbolt 5 feels disappointing at this price. Starting at $549.99/489.99 for 2TB, its a costly investment. Its worth considering if portability, durability, and speed are priorities, but the steep price makes it harder to recommend without some reservations.
The trouble for the residents of Gokuldham Society is far from over as Vishwasur comes up with another plan to avoid taking responsibility. With people demanding refunds for the money they paid to watch the performers, Vishwasur turns the situation around by putting the blame on the Gokuldham residents. Jethalal and the others are taken aback when they realise that Vishwasur is trying to portray them as the ones responsible for the entire situation. Instead of addressing the complaints and returning the money, he claims that the residents themselves organised the event and are accountable for the inconvenience caused. This leaves the Gokuldham members in a difficult position, as they now risk being held responsible for something they never intended to do. How will Jethalal and the other residents defend themselves against Vishwasur's accusations? Will they be able to expose his claims and prove their innocence? Or will Vishwasur manage to escape the situation by putting the entire blame on them? Tune in to Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah tonight at 8:30 PM, only on Sony SAB, to find out what happens next. Recap of the Previous Episode In the previous episode, the absence of Jigna Jackson left the people who had paid to watch the performers demanding refunds. Vishwasur, however, informed them that he had already invested the collected money in the share market and was unable to return it immediately. Meanwhile, Tappu Sena decided to take matters into its own hands and called reporter Rita to Gokuldham Society to cover the incident. As Rita began reporting live, Vishwasur realised that the situation had caught public attention. However, rather than accepting responsibility, he came up with another excuse. Vishwasur claimed that the Gokuldham residents had organised the Navratri celebrations themselves and that he was not responsible for bringing Jigna Jackson. He also denied that any agreement existed between them and insisted that the residents were responsible for the entire mess. Although the Gokuldham members attempted to expose his claims, Vishwasur continued to shift the blame onto them. With the original agreement still in his possession, he appeared confident about avoiding accountability. Also Read : Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: Why did Vishwasur exclude Tapu Sena from Navratri celebrations?
There's deemed suspension if public servant is kept in judicial custody for over 48 hours: SC
The Supreme Court reiterated that public servants arrested and in judicial custody for over 48 hours face deemed suspension. In the case of Vishwajeet Singh, administrator of Sadar Hospital, the court restored his bail. Singh was accused of demanding a bribe for clearing a contractual worker's wages, which raised concerns. The court noted Singh was reappointed to the same position after his suspension was revoked.
Akhilesh Yadav questions Yogi's silence over Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation case amid 1990 firing row
Dibang dam: Assam-Arunachal alliance demands PAF status, issues 10-day ultimatum
Tinsukia: An alliance representing downstream communities in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh has issued a 10-day ultimatum to the two governments, demanding rehabilitation, flood protection and other safeguards linked to the 2,880 MW Dibang Multipurpose Project. The Dibang Dam Assam-Arunachal Downstream Action Alliance, formed on October 17, 2026, has called for immediate intervention by both governments, [] The post Dibang dam: Assam-Arunachal alliance demands PAF status, issues 10-day ultimatum appeared first on NorthEast Now .
Congress stages protests at petrol pumps across Bengaluru over alleged excess ethanol blending
Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Nov 9 (IANS) Congress workers staged protests at multiple petrol pumps across Bengaluru on Monday, opposing the alleged excessive blending of ethanol in petrol and demanding that the Centre ensure the supply of unblended fuel to consumers. Congress workers visited several petrol bunks carrying posters and raised slogans against the BJP-led Union government, alleging that motorists were being cheated through the blending of ethanol beyond the prescribed limits. Speaking during the protest, Congress leader Manohar said Rahul Gandhi had already raised the issue and urged the Union government to take action. However, the Centre had maintained that ethanol blending in petrol was limited to 20 per cent. Our state government got petrol samples tested in reputed laboratories, and the findings revealed that ethanol blending was as high as 32 per cent. The Congress has demanded that ethanol blending in fuel be stopped immediately and normal, unblended petrol be made available to consumers and motorists. The BJP government, which is itself involved in adulterated practices, is betraying consumers by allowing higher percentages of ethanol blending, he alleged. Meanwhile, BJP MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, speaking to the media, accused the Congress of diverting public attention from the issue of rising prices by repeatedly raising the ethanol blending controversy. The issue of ethanol blending has already been discussed. There is no truth in the allegations, and the Centre has provided explanations. Claims that engines would not function properly because of ethanol blending are also false. There is no need for further discussion on this issue, he said. The protests come amid a controversy over the Karnataka government's claim that petrol sold in the state contains up to 31.2 per cent ethanol. Public sector oil marketing companies -- Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) -- have rejected the claim, maintaining that E20 petrol supplied across the country, including Karnataka, complies with the Bureau of Indian Standards' IS 17021 specification. The oil companies and the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry have also questioned the testing methodology adopted by the Karnataka government, stating that the findings were not based on the statutory and technical procedures prescribed under the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel Control Order, 2005, and the Marketing Discipline Guidelines, 2024. Responding to the joint statement issued by the oil companies, Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad had criticised their response, describing it as a cut-copy-paste response. He had said he would issue a detailed clarification and share the findings with the nation.
Delhi Firecracker Tragedy| Kin Of Boy Who Died Due To Firecracker Wound Alleges Hospital Negligence
A Diwali celebration turned tragic for a family in Delhi's Narela after a 10-year-old boy died while bursting firecrackers. A rocket reportedly struck the child in the chest, leaving him critically injured. He was rushed to Raja Harish Chandra Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The boy's mother has alleged that the hospital staff failed to provide proper treatment and threatened the family. The grieving family is now demanding justice and answers over the child's death.
Group forcibly enters Mumbai temple, defaces property
A group of people allegedly forcibly entered a Ram Mandir in Mumbai's Aarey area, threatened a security guard, performed aarti, defaced a board, and tore down a religious banner. Police have arrested two individuals and registered an FIR against 15 persons for various charges, including inciting discord and outraging religious feelings.
Hyderabad: 2 constables, home guard booked for extortion
Hyderabad: Two police constables and a home guard attached to Sanathnagar police station have been booked in an extortion case for allegedly demanding money from a man to return his seized motorcycle. The incident, which reportedly took place on Deepavali day, has triggered a stir in the police department. According to the complaint, the three Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Road Doggs WWE Exit Faces New Claims Over His Support For Chelsea Green
Jonathan Coachman claims WWE fired Road Dogg for supporting Chelsea Green, but PWInsider reported that James resigned. The former WWE creative team member also cited the demanding schedule and his desire to spend more time with family.
Diwali night fires wreak havoc across Mumbai, Thane
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Nov 9 (IANS) Multiple fire incidents were reported across Mumbai and neighbouring Thane on Diwali night, with major blazes engulfing residential buildings, shops and hutments, triggering panic among residents and prompting extensive firefighting and rescue operations. Several people were trapped amid thick smoke and intense heat, while four persons sustained minor injuries in one of the incidents in Thane's Kasarvadavali area, officials said. Separate fire incidents were reported in Vidyavihar, Dongri, Dadar and Thane's Raheja Gardens, keeping fire brigade personnel and disaster management teams on their toes as they rushed to the affected locations to contain the flames and rescue stranded residents. In one of the incidents, a fire broke out in two interconnected flats on the seventh floor of the ground-plus-seven-storey Skyline Epitome building in Vidyavihar West at around 4.50 p.m. on Wednesday. Although no injuries were reported in the incident, the blaze caused considerable damage to household belongings and property. As smoke and intense heat spread through the building, five people, including three women and two men, were stranded in a flat opposite the affected apartments. They were unable to make their way out through the passage due to the hazardous conditions. Fire brigade personnel subsequently carried out a rescue operation and safely evacuated all five occupants. The two affected flats together covered an area of approximately 3,000 square feet. The fire damaged electrical wiring, installations, furniture, doors, windows, household articles and split air-conditioning units. Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control and completely extinguish it by around 7 p.m. The exact cause of the fire was yet to be established, and an investigation was underway. In another major incident, a fire broke out late Sunday night in Mumbai's Dongri area, spreading across several shops and hutments and triggering panic among local residents. The blaze erupted at Haji Kasam Chawl, located near Datta Mandir on Dr Maheshwari Road, before spreading over a considerable area. Fire brigade teams were rushed to the spot to tackle the flames and prevent the fire from spreading further to adjoining structures. Meanwhile, a major fire was reported at a 17-storey residential building in Thane city on Sunday evening. The incident occurred at around 8.30 p.m. at the Carlyle building, situated within the Raheja Gardens complex in the Wagle Estate area. Officials said that no injuries had been reported in the incident. The exact circumstances that led to the outbreak of the fire were not immediately known. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that emergency responders managed to rescue around 50 people from the building. As a precautionary measure, residents were moved to the terrace and designated refuge areas to ensure their safety while firefighting operations were underway. In a separate incident in Mumbai, a fire broke out at Kamgar Stadium in Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Nagar, Dadar West. The fire involved wooden and bamboo materials stored on the premises, prompting an immediate response from the fire brigade. Firefighters reached the location and launched an operation to douse the flames. The blaze was successfully extinguished within minutes. No injuries were reported in the incident. Another fire incident was reported in Thane West, where four people sustained minor injuries, and two others were rescued after flames broke out in the corridor on the seventh floor of a residential building in the early hours of Sunday. The incident occurred at Aravali Hills Society in the Kasarvadavali area, approximately 20 minutes after midnight. According to officials, the fire originated in the seventh-floor corridor of the building's A wing, prompting an immediate response from firefighting teams and disaster management personnel. Fire brigade officials and disaster management teams rushed to the residential complex and initiated efforts to bring the situation under control. The fire was completely extinguished by around 1.10 a.m., officials said. Investigations into the causes of the individual incidents were underway.
Digital Desk | Chennai, Nov 9 (IANS) The makers of director Ajay Gnanamuthu's eagerly awaited horror thriller 'Demonte Colony 3', featuring actors Arulnithi and Priya Bhavani Shankar in the lead, have announced that their film will now hit screens worldwide for Pongal next year. For the unaware, the makers had first announced that film would release on September 11 this year. They had then announced that the film would hit a day earlier on September 10. However, now, they have announced that it will hit screens for Pongal next year. Actor Arulnithi took to his social media timelines to share the release date announcement poster. He wrote, Mark your calendars! The countdown to hell has begun. Your nightmare awaits this Pongal. #DemonteColony3 #DemonteColony3fromPongal. significantly, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has already cleared the film for release with an 'A' certificate. Director Ajay Gnanamuthu, who had taken to his social media timelines to share the update, had then said, The darkness is back. #DemonteColony3 Officially Censored 'A'. Not for the faint-hearted. Brace yourself. The darkness returns on September 10. The makers of the film had, in April this year, announced that shooting for the film had been wrapped up. Producer Sudhan Sundarm of Passion Studios had then said, A directors craftsmanship is not merely defined by narrative finesse or technical prowess, but equally by the discipline and commitment to deliver a project within its stipulated timeframe. 'Demonte Colony 3' has been mounted on an expansive scale. The film has been shot across diverse international and domestic locations, including Portugal, Malta, LehLadakh, and Chennai. Given the magnitude of its star cast and technical ensemble, completing the production within schedule could have proven exceedingly arduous for any filmmaker. I was, in fact, prepared to extend both the shooting timeline and the budget, having been thoroughly captivated by the manner in which the film was taking shape. Nevertheless, director Ajay Gnanamuthu demonstrated exemplary discipline and punctuality, ensuring that the entire shoot was wrapped as planned within 80 days, he informed. Director Ajay Gnanamuthu had, at the time of wrapping up shooting, said, It is indeed a privilege for a franchise like 'Demonte Colony' to be supported by such a proficient producer. The journey of creating 'Demonte Colony 3' has been immensely fulfilling. Even the most demanding challenges appeared seamless, owing to the consistent and magnanimous support of the production team. Arulnithis conviction and dedication to the process were particularly inspiring. The technical crew and the entire cast stood as steadfast pillars, enabling us to complete the shoot within the planned 80-day schedule. The director had gone on to add, 'The Demonte Colony' franchise has transcended linguistic and regional boundaries, earning widespread appreciation across audiences. With the third instalment, we have endeavoured to cater to a global viewership, ensuring that the film resonates beyond conventional limits. Apart from Arulnithi and Priya Bhavani Shankar, the film will also feature actors Antti Jaaskelainen, Guru Somasundaram, GM Kumar, Muthukumar, SreeKumar, Meenakshi Govindarajan, Kathir, Ashiq Hussain, Sarjano Khaliand Archana Ravichandran among others. Sam CS has scored the music for this film, while Sivakumar Vijayan has captured its haunting visuals. Kumaresh D has sharpened the narrative with his crisp editing.
We Wont Be Considering Marn: Bailey Confirms Labuschagnes Omission From NZ Tests
NZ Tests: Cricket Australia selection chair George Bailey on Monday confirmed that Marnus Labuschagne will not be considered for the upcoming four-Test series against New Zealand in December and January, bringing an end to speculation surrounding the batters immediate future in the national side after a prolonged lean patch. Bailey said the decision would also give the Queensland batter some breathing space to rediscover his form during the next round of Sheffield Shield fixtures. At this stage, we wont be considering Marn for selection for certainly that first Test, but for the New Zealand series. Theres been a lot of speculation around his place in the team, and so I think this gives him a little bit of space and clears up a bit of conjecture as we work through the next round of (Sheffield) Shield cricket, Bailey told reporters, as quoted by cricket.com.au. The decision comes after Labuschagne struggled to convert his starts into substantial scores during Australias recent assignments against Bangladesh and South Africa. The 31-year-old has not registered a half-century in his last 16 innings, with his latest outings yielding 36 runs at an average of 12 against Bangladesh and 131 at 21.83 in South Africa. Australia drew the Bangladesh series 1-1 before suffering a 2-1 defeat in South Africa. Once regarded as a dependable presence at No. 3, Labuschagnes prolonged wait for a Test century has now stretched to 49 innings, dating back to his last three-figure score against England at Manchester during the 2023 Ashes. His latest setback also marks the second time in 17 months that he has lost his place in Australias Test plans. Bailey, however, made it clear that the latest omission should not be interpreted as the end of Labuschagnes international career. With a demanding Test calendar ahead, including a five-match tour of India and an away Ashes assignment next year, the selection chair believes the batter still has an opportunity to force his way back through consistent performances. Its still possible, absolutely. And I think we all know how good and how effective Marnus can be at his best. But that performance hasnt been there. I think hes missed some opportunities, some promising starts in Darwin (against Bangladesh) and even in South Africa as well, to go on and get a big score that wed like and would have liked for some time, and that just hasnt happened. But I dont think weve ever ruled anyone out permanentlyand thats no different in this case, Bailey said. Labuschagne had regained his preferred No. 3 position ahead of the home Ashes after an encouraging start to the domestic season. He made half-centuries in both the opening Tests of the series but was unable to sustain that momentum, with his subsequent performances failing to meet Australias expectations. For now, the right-hander will return to domestic cricket and captain Queensland, with the next Sheffield Shield round beginning on Wednesday, November 11. Bailey said the decision to make Australias position public ahead of the squad announcement was deliberate, given the attention surrounding Labuschagnes place in the team. We just felt like this one was an important one, as much for Marn, just to give him the space. Hell obviously go back and captain Queensland. (We) didnt really think it was beneficial to have that conjecture hanging over his head for the next week or so, he added. For now, the right-hander will return to domestic cricket and captain Queensland, with the next Sheffield Shield round beginning on Wednesday, November 11. Bailey said the decision to make Australias position public ahead of the squad announcement was deliberate, given the attention surrounding Labuschagnes place in the team. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories Article Source: IANS
Ekta Kaushlya, a talented choreographer, crossed paths with Parth Chamaria, a dedicated Rapido driver, during her inaugural ride in Mumbai. Their engaging chat unearthed Parth's fervent dreams of becoming an athlete, despite financial hurdles. After their ride, Ekta reached out, initiating a bond that would blend their personal and professional lives. Supported by one another, they navigated their demanding careers, with Parth even representing India at an international competition.
Jurel, Tilak, Washington power India A to commanding lead
However, Jurel, who was on 12 on Saturday, added 31 with Tilak Varma en route to a 71 off 95 balls studded with nine boundaries and two sixes
HD Kumaraswamy alleges officials in Hassan demanded Rs 60 lakh to clear crusher files
Union minister HD Kumaraswamy has accused officials in Karnataka's Hassan district of demanding bribes to clear crusher-related files and land conversion proposals. Releasing 15 pages of purported WhatsApp conversations, he alleged Rs 60 lakh was sought for three files and Rs 75 lakh paid to secure an official's continuation in a post.
Defence Minister celebrates Diwali with soldiers in forward areas of Sikkim
New Delhi, Nov 8:Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday celebrated Diwali with soldiers of the Trishakti Corps (33 Corps) deployed in the forward areas of Sikkim, praising their dedication and vigilance in safeguarding the country's borders under challenging high-altitude conditions. Accompanied by Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen VMB Krishnan and General Officer Commanding, 33 Corps, Lt Gen Man Raj Singh Mann, the Defence Minister interacted with troops at Sherathang on November 8. Describing the soldiers as the brightest lights of Diwali, Rajnath Singh said their commitment to duty at the borders gave the entire nation a sense of security.Like a lamp which dispels darkness without seeking attention, soldiers perform their duties silently, ensuring that citizens can celebrate festivals with peace and security, he said. The Defence Minister commended the troops for their professionalism, high morale and commitment to protecting the country's borders. He also acknowledged the sacrifices of soldiers who remain away from their families during festivals, placing national duty above personal celebrations.Emphasising the importance of discipline and courage, he said that even the most advanced technology would be of little use if a soldier lacked these qualities. He also stressed that the conduct, uniform, language and restraint of Army personnel shaped the image of the military among local communities. He urged the soldiers to strengthen the bond of trust and goodwill between the Army and people in Sherathang and surrounding areas. During the visit, Rajnath Singh paid homage to soldiers who laid down their lives in the service of the nation at the Sherathang War Memorial. He also visited the Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial and paid respects to the revered soldier.Highlighting the importance of war memorials, he said they did more than commemorate past sacrifices as they helped shape collective memory and strengthen national consciousness and pride. He pointed out that the soldiers remembered at the Sherathang memorial belonged to different parts of the country, including Nagaland, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Assam, but had made the supreme sacrifice to protect people irrespective of their region, language or community.This spirit of unity and selfless service is the very soul and ethos of India, where every citizen considers fellow Indians as members of one family, he said. The Defence Minister also referred to the National War Memorial in New Delhi, established by the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to honour soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice. He said approximately 26,000 names of fallen soldiers had been inscribed in golden letters at the memorial, adding that these names evoked a deep sense of pride among their families and people from their native villages and regions. He said such memorials served as a source of inspiration for present and future generations.
At 91, This Track Star Is Still Breaking World Records, Inspiring Many: 'Wonderful Feeling'
She regularly competes and sets world records in a wide variety of demanding events for the 90-to-94 age bracket.
Winter isolation ahead, yet remotest areas without maternity facilities in Kupwara
Kupwara, Nov 8:Residents of several snowbound areas in north Kashmirs Kupwara district face immense hardships due to the absence of gynaecologists and obstetricians at local health centres. This leaves pregnant women particularly vulnerable during the harsh winter months, when these areas often remain cut off from the district headquarters. The affected areas include Keran, Machil, Budnamal, Kumkadi, Jumagund, Moori and several other remote villages along the Line of Control (LoC). Residents have repeatedly demanded the deployment of gynaecologists at local health facilities, stating that the absence of specialised medical care poses serious challenges, particularly during pregnancy-related emergencies. Locals expressed resentment over years of official neglect, alleging that despite repeated representations, no concrete steps have been taken to address the shortage of specialist doctors in these remote areas. Several health centres in the snowbound areas also lack adequate infrastructure and medical facilities, adding to the woes of people, they added. In Machil, residents said that although a Primary Health Centre was established in the area, it was insufficient to cater to the healthcare needs of the local population due to the limited availability of doctors. Whenever we approach the concerned authorities for posting a gynaecologist at PHC Dudi, we are told that there is no sanctioned post of a gynaecologist at the facility, former Sarpanch Habibullah told Greater Kashmir . Residents of Keran voiced similar concerns, saying pregnant women were compelled to face considerable difficulties due to the absence of specialised medical services. We have been demanding the posting of a gynaecologist at the New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC) for several years, but our demand has remained unaddressed, Ferhad, a local youth, said. The situation becomes particularly difficult during winter, when heavy snowfall cuts off the area from the rest of the district. Whenever a medical emergency arises during winter, we are forced to carry patients on makeshift stretchers for several kilometres on foot before reaching vehicles near Ferkin Top. From there, patients are taken further for treatment, he said. Mumtaz, another local of the area, said that several pregnant women who developed labour complications during the previous winter had to be airlifted to Kupwara by the district administration. While we appreciate the administrations efforts in airlifting patients during emergencies, we need a permanent solution rather than depending on emergency evacuations every winter, he added. The residents have urged the Health Department to immediately address the shortage of specialist doctors, suggesting that gynaecologists could be deputed to these areas on a rotational basis for a few days every week. They said even a limited weekly deployment of specialist doctors would provide considerable relief to pregnant women and their families and help prevent avoidable hardships during the winter months. Meanwhile, a senior Health Department official at Kupwara acknowledged the difficulties faced by residents but said there were no sanctioned posts of gynaecologists in these snowbound areas. The snowbound areas, including Keran, Machil, Budnamal, Kumkadi, Jumagund, Moori and others, do not have designated posts for gynaecologists. Therefore, we cannot post specialist doctors there. However, with the onset of winter, we issue advisories asking pregnant women to shift to safer and accessible areas in the plains to avoid any eventuality, the official told Greater Kashmir .
Mumbai: A major fire broke out in Mumbais Dongri area late Sunday night, November 8, engulfing several shops and huts, civic officials and residents said. The fire broke out at Haji Kasam Chawl, near Datta Mandir, on Dr Maheshwari Road, and spread across a large area. While residents also reported hearing loud explosion-like sounds, it Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
VaishnaviAdkar-RutujaBhosale become first all-Indian pair to reach WTA Tour doubles final
Chennai, Nov 8: India's Vaishnavi Adkar and Rutuja Bhosale created history by becoming the first all-Indian pair to reach a WTA Tour-level doubles final, beating second seeds Weronika Falkowska of Poland and Alana Smith of the USA in a thrilling semifinal at the Chennai Open here Saturday. The Indian duo recovered from a mid-match slump to prevail 6-2 2-6 10-8, keeping their composure in the deciding super tie-break after the Polish-American combination had threatened to snatch the contest away. The achievement is significant for Indian women's tennis, with no all-Indian combination having previously reached a final at the main WTA Tour level. ShikhaUberoi and her sister Neha had reached the finals of the 2005 Sunfeast Open and Guangzhou Open, but Neha represented the USA, making them an Indo-American combination. Former India player Sania Mirza won 43 doubles titles during her illustrious career but never partnered an Indian in those triumphs. Ankita Raina and Karman Thandi won a WTA 125 doubles title in 2018, a level below the main Tour, while PrarthnaThombare reached three WTA 125 finals with Dutch partner Arianne Hartono. Adkar and Bhosale will take on Swiss pair of Naima Karamoko and Simona Waltert, who defeated Isabelle Haverlag of the Netherlands and Hungary's Panna Udvardy 6-4 6-4. Meanwhile, top seed and defending champion Janice Tjen defeated American Robin Montgomery 6-3 6-4 in the singles semi-finals. In the other last-four clash, third seed Magda Linette of Poland fought back from a set down to beat seventh seed Anastasia Zakharova of Russia 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. Adkar and Bhosale looked in complete control in the opening set, capitalising on the errors of their opponents to take a commanding 4-1 lead. The Indians made the first breakthrough in the third game after Adkar attacked Smith's second serve with a fierce return that Falkowska failed to put back into play. Bhosale then consolidated the advantage with a comfortable hold. A forehand error from Falkowska presented the home pair with another break opportunity, which Bhosale converted with a powerful forehand return to establish a double-break cushion. The second seeds struggled to find their rhythm as the Indians wrapped up the opening set without much resistance. The momentum, however, shifted in the second set. The Indians missed opportunities to break Smith and Falkowska in the third and fifth games, allowing their opponents to grow in confidence. Adkar endured a disastrous sixth game, dropping her serve at love after committing two consecutive double faults. The Indians also struggled to finish points at the net as the Polish-American pair tightened their grip on the contest. Adkar, who had also needed medical attention during her singles second-round match, received a medical timeout for treatment to her strapped left thigh. Bhosale subsequently came under pressure on serve, and the second seeds converted their first of three break points to level the match at one set apiece. In the deciding super tie-break, Falkowska and Smith raced to a 3-0 lead, but the Indians fought back to remain in contention. Bhosale produced a fine point but followed it with a double fault as the Indians slipped to 6-8. She then found a forehand winner, passing Smith to reduce the deficit. Adkar produced a winning volley to earn match point before sealing the historic victory with a superb forehand down the line, sparking celebrations for the home pair.
Rs 7.93 Cr tourism push to put Uri on Kashmirs tourist map
Baramulla, Nov 8:Long identified with its sensitive location along the Line of Control (LoC) and decades of cross-border tensions, Uri is seeking to reshape its identity by positioning its natural landscapes, spiritual heritage and adventure tourism potential as the centrepiece of a fresh development initiative. With administrative approval granted for Rs 7.93 crore for tourism infrastructure at five locations, the border town is set to receive a major push aimed at developing it as a distinct destination on Kashmirs tourism map. The project envisages the development of tourist facilities at Uri town, Bosiyan-Gingal, Mahura, Garkote and Bela Boniyar. The proposed infrastructure includes tourist huts, facilitation centres, riverfront and scenic parks, viewpoints, trekking paths and public conveniences, aimed at improving visitor facilities and encouraging tourists to explore the region. Beyond the proposed infrastructure, Uri offers a combination of natural, spiritual and historical attractions that could help it emerge as a tourism destination in north Kashmir. Surrounded by mountains and forests, with the Jhelum flowing through the region, the area offers diverse landscapes for visitors seeking destinations beyond Kashmirs established tourist circuits. Its location along the LoC also gives it a distinctive border tourism character. While Suchetgarh in Jammu has traditionally featured prominently in discussions around border tourism, Uri offers another dimension to the experience, combining its border identity with natural scenery and heritage attractions. The region also has considerable potential for religious and heritage tourism. Pando Mandir, Baba Qazinag and shrines associated with Baba Fareed and Baba Gafoor are among the spiritual destinations that could be developed into a dedicated pilgrimage circuit. The nearby Zehanpora Buddhist heritage site further adds to Uris historical and cultural appeal, offering visitors an opportunity to explore Kashmirs lesser-known Buddhist connections. Uris ecological wealth provides another dimension to its tourism potential. The region is home to rich biodiversity, including the rare markhor, and its mountain ranges, forest stretches and riverfront landscapes could attract visitors interested in nature-based tourism, trekking, photography and other outdoor activities. Connectivity is also expected to play an important role in opening up the region to visitors. The proposed Banali-Gulmarg road is expected to create additional travel opportunities, potentially allowing tourists visiting Gulmarg to include Uri in a wider north Kashmir itinerary. The existing Trade Facilitation Centre, which has already been converted into accommodation for visitors, could further support the initiative by enabling tourists to stay in the area rather than restrict their visits to brief excursions. MLA Uri Sajad Shafi described the tourism initiative as a potential turning point in the development of the border constituency, saying it would help unlock the areas largely untapped tourism potential. He said the project was only the beginning and that the government was committed to bringing lasting change to the region. People in Uri have endured years of hardship. The focus now must be on opening a new chapter in the areas development and taking it in a different direction, he said. For decades, Uri has largely remained in public consciousness because of its sensitive border location and periodic tensions along the LoC. The proposed tourism initiative seeks to broaden that identity by bringing its natural beauty, spiritual landmarks and cultural heritage into greater focus. The government expects the project to stimulate tourism-related economic activity, create livelihood opportunities for local residents and strengthen Uris presence on Kashmirs tourism map.
CDS Gen Subramani reviews security grid in Kashmir
Srinagar, Nov 8:Chief of Defence Staff General N S Raja Subramani visited the Kashmir Valley to review the prevailing security situation, operational preparedness and deployment posture of the Armed Forces across forward areas and the hinterland, in what was his first visit to the Valley. During the visit, the CDS assessed the operational readiness of troops deployed in strategically important locations. He focused on the security environment, existing deployments and the preparedness of forces operating in the Valleys challenging terrain and demanding conditions. The review covered both forward areas along the Line of Control and the hinterland, underscoring the need for a robust security grid to safeguard the nations frontiers and address emerging challenges. Interacting with personnel from all three services Army, Navy and Air Force General Subramani conveyed his Diwali greetings to the troops deployed in forward areas. He lauded their steadfast commitment to safeguarding the nations frontiers and maintaining a strong security presence despite the difficult conditions. The dedication and professionalism of our personnel, who continue to perform their duties with resilience even during important festivals while remaining away from their families, is truly commendable, the CDS told the troops, according to official accounts of the interaction. He acknowledged their sacrifices and emphasised the importance of jointness among the three services for operational effectiveness and high morale in sensitive areas. General Subramani, who assumed charge as the third Chief of Defence Staff on May 31, 2026, succeeding General Anil Chauhan, has been driving efforts towards greater integration, jointness and synergy among the Armed Forces. A highly decorated officer commissioned into the Garhwal Rifles, he has held key operational and strategic appointments, including as Vice Chief of the Army Staff, and is known for his expertise on regional security challenges. The visit, coinciding with Diwali, highlighted the Armed Forces ethos of service before self. Troops deployed in the Valleys remote and high-altitude areas continued their vigil while the nation celebrated the festival of lights. Officials said the CDSs presence and interaction boosted the morale of personnel who remain on duty round the clock to maintain the security grid. The review reaffirmed the focus on operational effectiveness across forward and hinterland areas, with the CDS stressing the need for sustained preparedness to protect national interests in the region. The visit also reflected the integrated approach of the three services in securing Jammu and Kashmir under challenging conditions.
NFL Cheerleaders Face Intense Pressure Over Fitness, Appearance And Conduct
Behind the NFL's glamorous game-day image, cheerleaders face demanding fitness standards, strict appearance rules and intense training requirements, often without the pay or benefits enjoyed by players.
Kashmirs dying pottery finds a Diwali spark
Festive orders revive hopes of traditional artisans as demand for earthen lamps rises Clay shortages, rising costs, fading youth interest threaten centuries-old craft Srinagar, Nov 08: As thousands of earthen lamps are prepared for Diwali, the potter's wheel is spinning with renewed hope in parts of Kashmir, offering a glimpse of a possible revival of one of the Valley's oldest traditional occupations. At a pottery workshop in Ishber Nishat, young entrepreneur Mohammad Umer and his family have prepared around 40,000 earthen diyas this year, compared to 25,000 sold last year. The increased demand has brought fresh business to the workshop, with buyers from within and outside Kashmir placing orders through traditional wholesale channels and social media. Umer said the workshop began making diyas in 2020-21 after receiving orders for the traditional lamps. What started as a small seasonal activity has gradually developed into a sizeable business. We started making diyas in 2020-21 because we didn't make them before. When orders started coming in, we began making them too. The response encouraged us to expand production, and this year we have prepared around 40,000 lamps, he said. The workshop produces different varieties, including small lamps, lamps with stands and decorative arrangements featuring multiple diyas. Online marketing has also helped the family reach customers beyond the Valley. For generations, Kashmir's potters, locally known as Krals, supplied households with earthen utensils, water containers, cooking vessels and decorative products. Pottery was once an important source of livelihood for artisan families across Srinagar and other parts of the Valley. However, the spread of aluminium, stainless steel, plastic and factory-made crockery gradually reduced demand for handmade earthenware. Ghulam Ahmad, a traditional potter from Habba Kadal in Srinagar, said the occupation that once supported numerous families was gradually losing its economic relevance. Pottery was once an important occupation in Srinagar, with families depending on it for their livelihood. Today, demand has declined considerably as people have shifted towards factory-made utensils. Traditional artisans are finding it increasingly difficult to compete, he said. Diwali has nevertheless emerged as an important commercial opportunity, particularly for artisans producing traditional earthen lamps. Beyond business, the trade also reflects Kashmir's shared cultural traditions. During Eid, they make products for us, and they get employment. Similarly, during Diwali, we make products for them and get employment, Umer said, highlighting how festivals create livelihood opportunities across communities. However, festive demand alone cannot sustain an entire traditional industry. Artisans face difficulties accessing quality clay, rising production costs, limited working facilities and competition from cheaper factory-produced alternatives. Umer has identified the shortage of clay as a major obstacle. His workshop previously sourced clay from Baramulla for making kulhads but now struggles to obtain adequate supplies. If we don't have clay available, we won't be able to fulfil next year's orders, he said, appealing for government intervention to ensure access to raw material. The challenge is compounded by declining interest among younger generations. Many young people from traditional potter families are reluctant to enter a physically demanding occupation with uncertain earnings and limited social recognition. Lateef Ahmad, a potter from Pulwama, said the future of the craft depended on making it financially attractive to younger people. Young people are no longer interested in taking up pottery because the income is uncertain and the work requires considerable effort. If the government provides raw materials, better facilities and marketing support, many families could still continue this occupation, he said. Umer, a commerce graduate, has taken a different path by continuing his family occupation. After learning the craft from his father, he began introducing new designs, exploring online markets and encouraging other families to return to pottery. He has also worked towards reviving Kashmir's distinctive glazed pottery, traditionally associated with the Dal Gate area. Kashmir's pottery heritage extends beyond diyas and household utensils. Its glazed products are known for distinctive colours, including deep green, blue, brown and ochre. Traditional clay products also include the tumbaknari, a percussion instrument widely used during Kashmiri weddings. The Valley's pottery history has been traced to the Neolithic settlement of Burzahama, dating between 3000 and 1200 BC. Institutional support has also begun receiving attention. On September 22, 2026, the Union Ministry of Textiles sanctioned two specialised training programmes for the revival of glazed pottery and copperware in Kashmir under the Guru-Shishya Hastshilp component of the National Handicrafts Development Programme. An amount of Rs 14.90 lakh was sanctioned to the Craft Development Institute, Srinagar. The glazed pottery programme, planned for Baramulla district, will train 30 artisans over two months under master craftsmen. The initiative includes provisions for artisans' wages, training facilities and raw materials. Artisans, however, need more than short-term training. Assured access to clay, affordable production facilities, modern equipment and sustained marketing support are essential to making pottery economically viable. Diversification into contemporary tableware, planters, decorative products, customised souvenirs and supplies for hotels and restaurants could create demand beyond festival seasons. Better market linkages and digital platforms could also help small workshops reach customers across the country. The experience of Umer's workshop demonstrates that traditional pottery can attract buyers when artisans combine inherited skills with changing market preferences. But replicating this success across Kashmir's pottery clusters remains a challenge.
Chief of Defence Staff visits Kashmir
Srinagar, Nov 08: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General NS Raja Subramani visited Kashmir Valley to review the prevailing security situation, operational preparedness and deployment posture across forward areas and the hinterland. An Army spokesperson said that during the visit, the CDS interacted with personnel from all three services and extended Diwali greetings to troops deployed in forward areas. He lauded the personnel for their steadfast commitment to safeguarding the nations frontiers and maintaining a robust security grid despite challenging terrain and demanding operational conditions. The visit was aimed at reviewing the security scenario and assessing the operational readiness of forces deployed across the valley.
The Digital Divide in the Age of AI
Artificial intelligence is often presented as the next great equaliser: a tool that can put knowledge, services and opportunity within everyones reach. For a student, it may explain a difficult lesson; for a farmer, help interpret weather or market information; for a small business, make tasks easier and cheaper. Yet this promise rests on a basic condition that is too often overlooked: people must first be able to get online, access a suitable device and use digital tools with confidence. In Jammu and Kashmir, that condition is far from universal. The digital divide is not merely a question of who has an internet connection and who does not. It reflects differences in the quality and reliability of connectivity, the cost of devices and data, digital literacy, language access and the availability of support. Geography and income shape each of these. A household in a well-connected urban neighbourhood does not face the same barriers as a family in a remote village, a student sharing one phone with siblings, or an older person trying to navigate an online service without help. The arrival of AI makes these inequalities more consequential. When public services, schools and workplaces increasingly rely on digital platforms, those who lack access risk being left out of essential opportunities. When AI tools become common in education, students who can use them effectively may gain an advantage over those who cannot. When businesses adopt automation, people with relevant skills may find new avenues, while others face greater insecurity. Technology does not distribute its benefits automatically; access, design and public policy determine who gains. That is why the debate about AI in Kashmir must begin not with slogans about innovation, but with the realities of everyday access. Can a student rely on a stable connection to attend an online class or research a subject? Can a family afford a device that does more than run basic messaging apps? Are digital services available in languages people understand? Can users get assistance when an online form fails or an automated system does not recognise their needs? These are not minor details. They determine whether digital transformation is useful in practice or merely impressive in policy documents. Connectivity remains the foundation. Intermittent or slow internet can make an AI tool inaccessible even when a phone is available. In hilly and remote areas, infrastructure gaps can turn a routine online task into a frustrating exercise. For students, unreliable access can disrupt learning; for entrepreneurs, it can limit the ability to reach customers; for patients, it can weaken the promise of telemedicine. Digital services cannot be called inclusive if they work smoothly only for those already served by strong networks. Affordability is another barrier. A smartphone may be present in a household, but that does not mean every member has meaningful access to it. One shared device cannot reliably serve several students, workers and family members at once. Data costs, repairs and the need for newer hardware can also place digital tools beyond the reach of low-income households. As AI applications become more demanding, the gap between having a phone and having a device capable of using modern tools may grow. The skills gap is just as important. Access to an AI platform does not guarantee that a person can judge its answers, protect personal information or distinguish reliable guidance from error. AI systems can produce convincing but inaccurate responses. They may also reflect biases in the data on which they were trained, or fail to account for local contexts. Users need more than instructions on which buttons to press. They need the confidence and critical understanding to question what a system tells them and to know when human expertise is essential. This challenge is particularly important in education. AI can help teachers prepare material, offer students additional explanations and support learning at different speeds. But it should complement teachers, not become a substitute for them. A student with a dependable connection, a personal device and guidance in using AI responsibly will not have the same experience as a student who is sharing a phone and struggling to get online. If schools adopt AI without addressing these differences, technology could widen learning gaps rather than close them. The same caution applies to public services. Digital platforms can reduce paperwork and make information easier to access. AI may help people navigate procedures or find answers more quickly. But an automated system that is confusing, inaccessible or unable to handle a persons circumstances can become another barrier between citizens and the services they need. Essential services must retain human assistance and accessible alternatives. A digital-only route is not efficient if it excludes the people it is meant to serve. There is also a matter of language and local context. Many AI systems work best in widely represented languages and may struggle with regional speech, local terminology or the realities of life in Kashmir. A tool that cannot understand how people communicate will not serve them equitably. Local institutions, educators and technology developers have a role in ensuring that AI systems are tested with diverse users and adapted to the languages and needs of the communities in which they are used. The response cannot be limited to distributing devices or expanding network coverage, although both are necessary. Digital inclusion requires a coordinated effort: reliable infrastructure, affordable access, practical training, accessible interfaces and safeguards for privacy and data. Schools and colleges can help students learn how to use AI critically. Community centres and libraries can provide access and support for people who do not have suitable devices at home. Public institutions can ensure that online systems are backed by human assistance and clear information. The regions young population gives Kashmir a significant stake in this transition. With the right support, AI can help students broaden their learning, enable entrepreneurs to reach new markets and make information more accessible. But these gains will remain uneven if access is treated as an individual responsibility rather than a public priority. A person cannot benefit from a technology that their network, device, language or circumstances prevent them from using. AI will not erase the digital divide simply because it is powerful. Without deliberate action, it may make the consequences of that divide more visible: one group equipped to learn, work and access services through new tools, and another left to navigate systems that increasingly assume digital fluency. The question for Kashmir is not whether AI will arrive. It is whether the region will prepare people to use itand ensure that the benefits are not reserved for those who were already connected. The promise of AI should be measured not by how quickly it is adopted, but by how many people can use it safely and meaningfully. That means investing in connectivity and skills before celebrating transformation, keeping human support within reach, and designing digital services around the people they serve. If Kashmir is to share in AIs promise, bridging the digital divide must come first. (The Author is Lecturer in HED and a columnist)
Announcements cannot replace jobs: Hakeem Yaseen demands 40-year age limit
Questions recruitment uncertainty, seeks reopening of Doodhpathri Yousmarg, Tosamaidan SRINAGAR: President of the Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) and former Cabinet Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen on Sunday expressed concern over the growing unemployment crisis in Jammu and Kashmir, accusing those at the helm of failing to address the genuine concerns of educated unemployed youth and demanding []
Troops are brightest lights of Diwali, Rajnath tells soldiers
New Delhi, Nov 08: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday celebrated Deepawali with soldiers of the Trishakti Corps (33 Corps) deployed in the forward areas of Sikkim, commending their courage, professionalism and dedication in guarding the borders in challenging high-altitude conditions. He was accompanied by Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth; General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, Lt Gen VMB Krishnan; General Officer Commanding, 33 Corps, Lt Gen Man Raj Singh Mann, and other senior officers of the Indian Army. Interacting with the soldiers at Sherathang, the Defence Minister described them as the brightest lights of Diwali, stating that their dedication and vigilance at the borders provide the entire nation with a sense of security. Like a lamp which dispels darkness without seeking attention, soldiers perform their duties silently, ensuring that citizens can celebrate festivals with peace and security, he said. He commended the soldiers for their professionalism, high morale and steadfast commitment to safeguarding the nation's borders, urging them to continue protecting the motherland with the same enthusiasm and dedication. He acknowledged the sacrifices of soldiers who serve far away from their families, placing duty to the nation above self and personal celebrations. Underlining the importance of discipline and courage, Rajnath Singh asserted that no matter how advanced technology may become, it is of little use if a soldier lacks these qualities. He underlined that the conduct, uniform, language and restraint of personnel shape the image of the military among local communities, and urged the soldiers to continue strengthening the bond of trust and goodwill shared by the Indian Army and the local population in Sherathang and surrounding areas. The Defence Minister also paid homage at the Sherathang War Memorial to the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation. He also visited the Baba Harbhajan Singh Memorial, paying his respects to the revered soldier whose legacy continues to hold a special place in the military-civil traditions of the region. Highlighting the significance of the Sherathang War Memorial, Rajnath Singh emphasised that such monuments do more than commemorate past events and sacrifices; they shape collective memory and awaken national consciousness and pride. He stated that the soldiers honoured at the Memorial belonged to different parts of the country, including Nagaland, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Assam, and laid down their lives to protect the people irrespective of their region, language or community. This spirit of unity and selfless service, he said, is the very soul and ethos of India, where every citizen considers fellow Indians as members of one family. The Defence Minister emphasised that the Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, established the National War Memorial in New Delhi to honour the gallant soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice. Approximately 26,000 names of the fallen heroes have been inscribed in golden letters at the National War Memorial to honour their unmatched valour and sacrifice. Seeing the name of a fallen soldier at the memorial evokes a deep sense of pride among their families, relatives and people from their native villages and regions. These memorials serve as sources of inspiration for the present and future generations, he said.
Manisha Koirala: Compassion should go beyond our homes, extend to every animal on streets
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Nov 8 (IANS) Actress Manisha Koirala, who was last seen in the streaming series Heeramandi:The Diamond Bazaar, is an animal lover, and feels that compassion for other lives should not be confined to just the home but should also extend to the animals on the streets. On Sunday, the actress took to her Instagram, and shared a series of pictures from her visit to Nepal, where she attended a special event for animal welfare. The pictures featured her with the First Lady of Nepal, Sabina Kafle. She also penned a long note in the caption as she wrote, Some occasions remind us of the simple things that make life beautiful. Kukur Tihar is one of them. I was delighted to be part of this lovely celebration initiated by our First Lady, Mrs. Sabina Kafle. It was a thoughtful way of bringing attention to the voiceless members of our society who give so much and ask for so little. As someone who has always believed in the special place animals hold in our lives, I feel that compassion should go beyond our homes and extend to every animal on our streets. May we become a society that is kinder, more caring and more responsible towards all living beings. A lovely thought, and an even more meaningful message, she added. A few days ago, the actress celebrated her fathers 80th birthday with a heartfelt note, expressing gratitude for seeing him healthy, happy, and full of energy. Taking to Instagram, the Dil Se actress shared a glimpse of her fathers disciplined lifestyle and revealed how he began his special day with his usual fitness routine. The actress said she had never seen her father healthier, happier or more full of life. She wrote in the caption, Dads 80th!!! I honestly dont think Ive ever seen Dad healthier, happier or more full of life. The actress revealed that her father had already walked 3 km in the morning and covered 12,000 steps in a day. He had also enjoyed eight-and-a-half hours of sleep and completed his morning exercises before getting ready for his birthday brunch. Highlighting his discipline and enthusiasm for life, the actress said his approach to health and fitness made him special to the family.
