Families shattered as ignored warnings surface in Rajasthan's Jhalawar school collapse

JAIPUR: The school building collapse in Rajasthans Jhalawar district thats shaken the entire country, has plunged the people of Peeplodi village in deep sorrow. While everyone is full of sadness since the horrific incident, one of the worst-hit families is that of Harak Chand whose world crashed on Friday morning. His only son, 8-year-old Kartik - was crushed in the terrible tragedy on that fateful Friday. Kartik and his two sisters studied in the same school and he was the youngest in the family. All three had gone to school at 7 am, and the sisters took their brother to school by holding his hand on that fateful Friday. While the sisters were also injured in the accident, Kartik died. Harak Chand's health also deteriorated as soon as he came to know about the death of his only son. He is now admitted in the hospital along with the two injured daughters. One daughter is in critical condition in Jhalawar and the other, Manisha, is in Manohar Thana Hospital. Villagers say that Kartik was the youngest among three children and studied in the fourth class. His sister Manisha studies in seventh class and Aarti in the sixth class. Ever since the tragedy, Manisha repeatedly asks her mother- What has happened to my brother? Who will I tie Rakhi to? The grief-stricken family has been stunned into silence, and the heartbroken mother has no answer to her daughters constant query. The situation is just as heartrending at the nearby home of Chhotu Lal, whose world crashed that morning. His 8-year-old son Kanha and 13-year-old daughter Meena died in the accident. Their house now lies in silence, with the mother fainting repeatedly. Despite the tragedy, Chhotu Lal and his wife Pinky Bai didnt get a final glimpse of their children. Helpless and poor, they couldnt even reach the district hospital where their critically injured children were taken. As both children succumbed to injuries, the family waited at the mortuary for their bodies. Finally, on Saturday, they were cremated together on the same pyre. Weeping inconsolably, the mother of the duo, remarked, I've lost everything. I had only two children, a boy and a girl, and both are gone. My home is empty, and there's no one left to play in the courtyard. I wish God had taken me instead and spared my children. Kamala, a relative, recalled, Meena was the eldest and used to take her younger brother Kanha to school, holding his hand every day. She was in Class 5 and Kanha was in Class 3. Their father had big dreams for both - to study and become officers. Now everything is gone. Tragically, theirs is not the only such family. Several others are battling the same irreparable loss and deep sorrow. Conversations with injured children and their parents at the hospital revealed a chilling truth: the roof of the school had been leaking and crumbling for the last four years. Both students and parents had repeatedly complained, but no action was taken. Shockingly, teachers had even asked villagers to collect Rs 200 per family to repair the roof themselves. Villagers say they did as told. Babulal, father of injured student Vikram, said, We complained many times, but the teachers told us to gather money to fix the roof. We said, When the government is paying you, and money is being allocated, why dont you get it done? For your children, you build palaces, but for poor children like ours, there are only broken buildings. His voice broke as he added, If your child is pricked by a thorn, it hurts. Didnt you think this roof would fall? Tina, a Class 8 student, recounted the terrifying moment. All classes were seated in one room. Pebbles had been falling from the ceiling. Some kids told the teacher, but he said, Nothing will happen, sit quietly. Then suddenly, with a loud crash, a part of the roof fell from a corner. I ran outside. A few of us managed to escape before the entire roof collapsed, burying everyone else. Following the tragedy, the Education Department launched emergency inspections across districts. District Education Officers have been instructedunder orders from the Chief Ministers Officeto submit updated lists of unsafe school buildings. Under mounting pressure, Education Minister Madan Dilawar admitted moral responsibility, acknowledging that the department falls under his purview. However, he stopped short of resigning, stating that any decision on the matter lies with Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. Meanwhile, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has taken suo motu cognisance and issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Jhalawar Collector, and SP, demanding a detailed report on the inquiry and actions taken within three days. The Rajasthan government has announced Rs 10 lakh compensation and a contractual job for each bereaved family. It also declared that new classrooms built in the area will be named after the deceased children. Despite these announcements, public anger remains intense over the death of seven innocent children-four boys and three girls-who were crushed to death under the debris of their school roof. Twenty more children are undergoing treatment at the hospital, many with serious injuries. For families in Peeplodi, the tragedy has left a permanent void and an air of deep sorrow and anger prevails. Many are questioning whether the symbolic gestures and compensation from the government can ever substitute for real accountability. Villagers and activists alike are demanding systemic reforms, asking whether this tragedy will finally spark change - or be forgotten like so many others, until the next preventable disaster.

Proton VPN review 2025: A nonprofit service with premium performance

Proton VPN stands out for two main reasons: it's one of the only virtual private networks (VPNs) to include a free plan with no data limits, and it's one of the few services majority-owned by a nonprofit. It's the best VPN in both of those categories, and it makes a strong case for being the best overall. Even if you don't care about the work of the Proton Foundation, Proton VPN is a service worth using. It's easy to install and manage, runs like the wind and meets high standards for security and privacy. It has more IP locations in Africa than any of its competitors. It's even looking toward the future by working toward full IPv6 support. In short, Proton VPN gets our enthusiastic recommendation, especially for torrenting (which it supports on almost every server). It's not perfect the apps for Apple systems lag behind their Windows and Android counterparts, and the free servers can be noticeably sluggish but the cons pale in comparison to the pros. We'll get into it all below. Editor's note (7/25/25): We're in the process of revamping our VPN coverage to provide more in-depth, actionable information and buying guides. Our recommendations, and all the info on this page, are subject to change as the update continues. Check out our revamped ExpressVPN review and NordVPN review to see the new direction, or learn more about how we test VPNs . Table of contents Findings at a glance Installing, configuring and using Proton VPN Proton VPN speed test: Impacts of VPN Accelerator Proton VPN security test: Watertight protocols How much does Proton VPN cost? Proton VPN side apps and bundles Close-reading Proton VPN's privacy policy Can Proton VPN change your virtual location? Investigating Proton VPN's server network Features of Proton VPN Proton VPN customer support options Proton VPN background check: The CERN origins of Proton AG Final verdict Findings at a glance The table summarizes what we found while reviewing Proton VPN, both good and bad. Keep it open in a tab while you comparison shop for a VPN. Category Notes Installation and UI Windows has the best interface, but all apps are smooth Android users get unique preset protocols Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox can be used for split tunneling on Mac and iOS Speed Retains 88 percent of download speeds and 98 percent of upload speeds Global latency average stays under 300 ms, with 52 ms on the fastest server Security No DNS leaks or WebRTC leaks on any servers Full IPv6 support is available on Android, Linux and browser extensions; Mac, Windows and iOS still block IPv6 to prevent leaks WireShark test showed active packet encryption Pricing Best plan costs $81.36 for two years ($3.39 per month) Free plan includes unlimited data and critical security features, but you can't choose your server Bundles Proton Unlimited saves money if you want two or more Proton products Privacy policy General Proton policy prevents collection of IP addresses unless a user has violated the terms of service (such as by using a Proton VPN server to abuse another site) No third parties are allowed to handle personally identifiable information Confirmed by Securitum audit in 2024 Virtual location change Unblocked Netflix repeatedly in all five testing locations, with new content proving a successful location change A free server in Romania got into Netflix but had trouble loading the library Server network 154 locations in 117 countries More servers in Africa than any other VPN, plus many others across the globe About two-thirds of server locations are virtual Features NetShield can block just malware, or all malware, ads and trackers Kill switch on all platformsSplit tunneling on Windows, Android and browser extensions only Secure Core servers route VPN through two locations, one of which is physically secured in Iceland, Sweden or Switzerland Almost all paid servers are P2P-enabled Tor over VPN servers in six countries let you access dark web sites from any browser Profiles saves time when you repeatedly need specific connection settings Customer support Most articles in the online help center, while well-written, are invisible unless you use the search function Live chat is only for paying customers, and is unavailable from midnight to 9 AM CET Background check Launched in 2017 by the same company that developed ProtonMail Majority owned by the Proton Foundation, whose board includes the company founders and can resist takeover attempts While ProtonMail has worked with Swiss authorities in the past, Proton VPN is not governed by the same laws that compelled this Claims of a vulnerability in WireGuard's memory don't hold water Installing, configuring and using Proton VPN This section explains how it feels to run Proton VPN on the various platforms it supports. As a rule, it's not difficult. Proton VPN has more features than ExpressVPN, and a couple of them might trip up new users, but you'd have to really scrounge to find an actual inconvenience to complain about. Windows Proton VPN installs easily on Windows you'll need to grant it permission to make changes, but that's it. Once you've signed in on the app, you'll reach one of the best interfaces we've tried on a VPN. The server network is immediately visible as both a list and map, and the location search bar, connect button and major features are all laid out around the same window. Proton VPN's app for Windows. Sam Chapman for Engadget It's honestly amazing how much you can reach from the launch window without anything feeling cluttered. They even squeezed in keyboard shortcuts for the search field. We also love that settings open in the same window, since dealing with both the main VPN app and a separate preferences panel can get annoying. Our only real gripe is that there should be an easier way to adjust the size of the map. Mac The desktop app for Mac isn't quite as deftly laid out as the Windows app. You can reach most of the important features from the main window, including Profiles, NetShield, Secure Core servers and the kill switch. However, there's no longer a way to filter out a list of the P2P or Tor servers, except by digging through the Profile controls. On the plus side, you can adjust the size of the map, so it's now a viable alternative to the server list. Proton VPN's dark mode interface on macOS. Sam Chapman for Engadget The other preferences are hidden in the menu bar go to Proton VPN > Settings to reach them. They're laid out in four tabs, and shouldn't take more than a minute to go through at setup. Android The Android app takes the same design cues as the Windows app, and works as well. Four tabs along the bottom switch between the home screen, the country list, Profiles and all other settings. You can search the list of countries by tapping the magnifying glass at the top-right. In another nice touch, tapping the dots by any virtual location will tell you where the server is physically located. Proton VPN's Android client. Sam Chapman for Engadget Android users get some nifty exclusive Profiles, including anti-censorship, which automatically connects to the fastest country except for the one you're in. The Settings tab is a single menu with subheadings and no unnecessary complication. iOS Proton VPN for iPhone and iPad looks almost the same as it does on Windows and Android, but with some of the same drawbacks found on Mac. The server list is more cluttered, and once again there's no easy way to sift out the P2P and Tor locations. Proton VPN's app for iPhone and iPad. Sam Chapman for Engadget The Settings tab puts all the feature descriptions in the open, which makes it look denser than it is. But these are minor quibbles this is still a VPN that's very easy to activate and forget about. Browser extensions Proton VPN has browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. These serve as de facto split tunneling, as connecting through the extension protects only browser traffic; everything else goes unprotected. You can split the tunnel further by setting the VPN to not work on certain URLs (unlike the other apps, you don't need to know the IPs of those sites). Proton VPN speed test: Impacts of VPN Accelerator We used Ookla's Speedtest app to determine how much Proton VPN drags on a user's latency, measured in milliseconds (ms), and download and upload speeds, measured in megabits per second (Mbps). Together, these three stats show whether a VPN will noticeably slow down your internet, especially during demanding tasks. We had high hopes for Proton here because of its VPN Accelerator technology, which runs VPN communications across several parallel tracks to process everything faster. It didn't disappoint for the most part. Although download speeds didn't reach the heights we saw from ExpressVPN , Proton VPN's browsing performance still looks excellent nearly across the board. Proton VPN barely makes a dent in your download speeds. Sam Chapman for Engadget To choose our locations for the test, we checked Proton VPN's list of smart routing servers , which use servers in one country to simulate IP addresses in another. Almost all the smart routing servers are based in five cities: Miami, London, Marseille, Bucharest and Singapore. We ran these tests on a Mac using the automatic protocol setting. Server Location Latency (ms) Increase factor Download speed (Mbps) Percentage drop Upload speed (Mbps) Percentage drop Portland, OR, USA (unprotected) 16 -- 58.93 -- 5.82 -- San Jose, CA, USA (best server) 52 3.3x 55.82 5 5.58 4 Miami, FL, USA 160 10x 54.33 8 5.49 6 London, UK 332 20.8x 52.55 11 5.72 2 Marseille, France 309 19.3x 45.42 23 5.59 4 Bucharest, Romania 408 25.5x 52.51 11 5.57 4 Singapore, Singapore 394 24.6x 52.26 11 5.50 5 Average 276 17.3x 52.15 12 5.58 4 Proton VPN looks very good in that table. Its average download speed was 88 percent of our unprotected speeds. To put that in perspective, if you started with 30 Mbps down (about half what we get) and connected to any Proton VPN server, you'd almost certainly still have a fast enough connection to stream in 4K. Note the almost Proton VPN did drop noticeably on its French server in Marseille. It's not uncommon for one of a VPN's data centers to have trouble while the others work fine, and you can usually fix the problem by just disconnecting and reconnecting. Just note that while drops to about 75 percent of your download speed are rare, they're not inconceivable. Proton VPN security test: Watertight protocols When we talk about VPN security, we're really talking about reliability. Can this VPN establish an encrypted tunnel and transmit all your information through it, every time, without leaks or failures? With Proton VPN, we're happy to say the answer is yes; we probed its security and found no cracks to speak of. Read the section below for specifics. Proton VPN protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 and Stealth Proton VPN uses four VPN protocols to communicate between your devices, its servers and the internet. Three of them (WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2) are common choices with no serious flaws as long as they're implemented thoughtfully. The fourth, Stealth, is an obfuscation protocol you should only use if the other three are blocked. The protocol selection screen on Proton VPN's Android app. Sam Chapman for Engadget OpenVPN is the most secure option. Without getting too technical, OpenVPN encrypts its backend functions as well as the data itself, which leaves it with no obvious vulnerabilities. It can also communicate using the same ports as common HTTPS traffic, so it's hard to block. WireGuard is more efficient than OpenVPN, both in its source code and the cryptography it uses. It normally requires an exchange of fixed IP addresses, but the Proton VPN implementation overwrites those IPs with randomized addresses, cutting the security risk. IKEv2 is a safe choice that's occasionally faster than either OpenVPN or WireGuard. You probably won't use it unless it happens to come up while you've set the protocol to Smart. As such, it's on the way to being phased out of Proton VPN. Stealth is unique to Proton VPN, though its function is not. It's got the same architecture as WireGuard, but adds another TLS tunnel to evade network blocks that catch VPN traffic. That extra encryption slows it down, so we don't recommend using it unless the other three protocols don't work. The first option on the app, called Smart, is not a protocol it means your VPN client selects the protocol that will give you the best speeds on your current server. Since all four protocols are safe, there's no downside to using the Smart setting most of the time. Leak test We used AirVPN's IP leak tool to check all four of Proton VPN's protocols for DNS and WebRTC leaks. Proton VPN uses its own DNS servers to reduce the risk of sending unencrypted requests, but since leaks are still possible, we tested using a simple method: checking our visible IP address before and after connecting to the VPN. Despite testing several locations over three days, we never saw our real IP address show up on the tool. This held true even outside the Secure Core server list, where data centers might have been managed by third parties. It's not perfect proof, but it's a very good sign that Proton VPN enforces a consistent security regime on all its servers. Proton VPN successfully masked our real IP address, even on a virtual location in Angola. Sam Chapman for Engadget We also used BrowserLeaks to check for WebRTC leaks. These are mainly an issue on the browser side, but a VPN is doubly important if your browser happens to be leaking. We enabled WebRTC on our browser and tested the same set of Proton VPN servers without springing any WebRTC leaks. Proton VPN and IPv6 Proton is working on making its entire VPN compatible with IPv6 addresses. If a VPN that's only configured for IPv4 has to resolve an IPv6 address, it can cause a leak that's why most VPNs, even the best ones, block IPv6 altogether. That said, the whole internet will run on IPv6 one day, so it's nice to see Proton VPN leading the pack. So far, IPv6 is automatically enabled on Proton VPN's Linux apps and browser extensions, and can be optionally activated on its Android app. The Proton VPN apps for all other platforms still block IPv6 traffic, but this should hopefully change soon. Encryption test Even if a VPN's protocol choices are solid, it's possible for individual implementations of those protocols to fail. We used WireShark, a packet inspector app, to test whether Proton VPN's encryption worked no matter what settings were in place. We're happy to say we never saw plaintext once. How much does Proton VPN cost? To get full access to Proton VPN, you'll need a Plus subscription, which costs $9.99 per month. You can knock off half that price by subscribing for a full year and paying a lump sum of $59.88, working out to $4.99 per month. A Plus account with Proton VPN also gives you free access to every other Proton app. You can also pay $107.76 in advance to subscribe for two years, an average of $4.49 per month perhaps more convenient, but it doesn't save you much. The one-year plan is the best value, though it's also nice that you don't have to pay through the nose for only one month. There's a 30-day, money-back guarantee on all plans. Proton VPN is currently offering Engadget readers an exclusive deal that offers a 12-month plan for $47.88 ($3.99 per month) and a 24-month plan for $81.36 ($3.39 per month). Learn more about it here . One final option is the Proton Unlimited subscription, discussed in the side apps and bundles section below. The Proton VPN free plan Proton VPN is one of the best free VPNs on the market right now. No other VPN backed by as much experience and good judgment has a free plan with no data limits. Instead of capping how much data you can use per month, Proton VPN restricts which servers free users can access, limiting them to five countries: the United States, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania. The frustrating part is that you can't choose which of these servers you use; Proton VPN just auto-connects to whichever one is the least burdened. A Proton representative told us that this change goes along with improvements to the selection algorithm, better load balancing and the addition of the Poland and Romania locations. It is also possible to try for a better connection by clicking change server. The fact remains, though, that a free Proton VPN plan is useless for unblocking content in specific locations but this may be by design. The free plan seems more aimed toward privacy and anonymity than streaming, and the placement of the free locations near Russia and China reflects that. Free Proton VPN plans don't sacrifice any essential security features. Proton VPN side apps and bundles Proton VPN's main bundle is Proton Unlimited, which gets you all six Proton products in one package: VPN, Mail, Drive, Calendar, Wallet and Pass. This costs $12.99 for a month, $119.88 for a year ($9.99 per month) and $191.76 for two years ($7.99 per month). We won't be going in-depth on any of them in this review, but here's a quick rundown of each. Proton Mail: An end-to-end encrypted email service. Proton can still see a Mail user's real IP address, but can't read any of their messages. Proton Drive: Encrypted cloud storage. As with Mail, Proton can identify users, but can't read any of the content they store. Proton Calendar: An encrypted scheduling app with events and reminders. Proton Wallet: A self-custody wallet for storing Bitcoin unconnected to any exchange. Proton Pass: A password manager that generates, stores and autofills passwords for online accounts. Even if you only need two of the six, Proton Unlimited saves you money. Separate monthly subscriptions to Proton VPN and Proton Mail would cost a total of $14.98, so you've already knocked off $2 per month. That increases if you're able to commit to a year in advance. Close-reading Proton VPN's privacy policy Proton's privacy policy comes in two parts: the general Proton policy and the shorter policy specific to Proton VPN . We'll cover them in that order. General Proton privacy policy Proton tracks user activity on its product websites using its own marketing tools; the data set collected does not include IP addresses. It retains an email address connected to each user's account, but it's not allowed to connect IP addresses (and thus identities and locations) to those emails unless the user breaches the terms of service. You may rightly ask how Proton would know a user is abusing one of their services if they don't keep activity logs. The answer is that logs aren't needed; most forms of abuse can be detected in other ways and observed in real time. For example, if someone used a Proton VPN server to launch a DDoS attack, the team could inspect that server and find the hacker while the attack was still ongoing. The policy goes on to list the five third-party data processors Proton uses (Zendesk, PayPal, Chargebee, Atlassian and Stripe), none of whom are allowed to store customer activity data. Proton cautions that it will share what data it does have in response to unblockable requests from the Swiss government, but not until all legal or other remedies have been exhausted. This is standard for a VPN that wants to remain in business, and the transparency report shows the company does indeed fight court orders when it can. Proton VPN privacy policy Proton's VPN-specific privacy policy is quite short. It states that Proton cannot log user activities or identifiable characteristics of devices connected to the VPN, cannot throttle internet connections and must extend full privacy and security to free users. In one sense, a privacy policy requires you to take the VPN provider at their word, but it's dangerous for a company to make promises they don't intend to keep. The policy is legally binding, and breaking it is grounds for a lawsuit. Proton VPN's succinct no-logs policy is therefore a great sign. It's also been confirmed several times by a third-party audit, most recently in July 2024 . Can Proton VPN change your virtual location? Testing a VPN's ability to mask a user's location isn't complex all you need is a streaming subscription. We connected to five test locations and tried to unblock Netflix with each one. If we managed to access the site, and saw different shows than those on the American library, we concluded that the location had masked us successfully. Server location Unblocked Netflix? Library changed? Canada Y Y Romania Y Y Ghana Y Y Japan Y Y New Zealand Y Y Proton VPN passed the test every time in all five locations. The only hiccup came in Romania, which we chose because it's one of the free locations. The app connected us to a free server, which was too slow to load Netflix; when we chose a paid server, the problem disappeared. Proton VPN changed our virtual location so we saw the Japanese Netflix library. Sam Chapman for Engadget Investigating Proton VPN's server network Proton VPN's free plan includes servers in five locations: the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, the United States and Japan. When you connect as a free user, you'll be automatically connected to whichever location is fastest. A paid plan opens up the full network of 154 servers in 117 countries and territories. The menu includes a huge selection of African locations, more than any VPN we've tested in some time. The Middle East, along with central and southern Asia, are also well represented, and U.S. users will find 20 different locations to choose from. Proton VPN lets you know which of its locations are virtual. Sam Chapman for Engadget Keep in mind that about two-thirds of these server locations are virtual, meaning they're not physically located where they claim to be. This includes all the African servers except South Africa and Nigeria; all the South American servers except Brazil, Colombia and Argentina; and all the Middle Eastern servers except Turkey, Israel and the UAE. A majority of the locations in Asia are also virtual, including South Korea, India, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. To be clear, virtual locations can hide your IP address just as well as physical ones. It's only a problem if you're expecting the kind of performance, particularly in terms of latency, that you get from a nearby server. Luckily, Proton VPN gives you fast enough download and upload speeds that distance shouldn't be a problem. None Countries Virtual Locations Cities North America 6 3 25 South America 7 4 7 Europe 42 6 51 Africa 25 23 26 Middle East 13 10 14 Asia 22 16 25 Oceania 2 0 6 TOTAL 117 62 154 Features of Proton VPN Proton VPN has a number of extra features that go beyond standard VPN functionality. We've already mentioned the Stealth protocol and IPv6 support. In this section, we'll cover an additional five features that might be of interest. NetShield ad blocker Proton VPN's built-in ad blocker is known as NetShield. It's available on the main UI page, and has two settings: one that blocks only malware sites, and one that blocks sites connected with malware, ads and trackers. The stronger feature is on by default. The Netshield page on Proton VPN's iOS app. Sam Chapman for Engadget NetShield works by checking any DNS requests against a database of web servers known to host malware, inject ads or attach cross-site trackers to your browsing session. The DNS-blocking approach means it's not capable of blocking ads served from the same domain that hosts them so no blocking YouTube video ads. On the positive side, it means NetShield works across your entire device, not just on your browser. NetShield also displays a running total of how many of each form of interference it's blocked. It catches most banner ads, but since you can't customize the blocklist in any way, it's best when combined with another browser-level ad blocker. Secure Core servers Here's an interesting one. Secure Core is a form of a common feature known as double VPN or multi-hop VPN, in which a connection runs through two VPN servers before being decrypted. If one server fails or gets compromised, the other server keeps your connection private. Secure Core servers add a second node to your VPN connection. Sam Chapman for Engadget Proton VPN takes this a step further. When you activate Secure Core, your connection will still end at your chosen server location but before that, it will travel through a designated server in Iceland, Sweden or Switzerland. A few touches make Secure Core servers more reliable than the average VPN node: All three countries are safe jurisdictions, with consumer-friendly privacy laws and courts sympathetic to privacy claims. Secure Core data centers are locked down physically; for example, the Iceland location is a refitted military base, and the Sweden location is literally underground. Proton owns and operates all Secure Core locations itself, with no rentals or third-party managers. Almost no other VPNs pay as much attention to physical security as Proton VPN does with this feature. The second hop makes Secure Core connections slower on average, but it's worth it if you have something especially sensitive to do online. Kill switch Proton VPN includes a kill switch, a standard feature. When active, a kill switch cuts off your internet whenever your connection to the VPN drops. This means you're never in danger of leaking your real identity or location, even for a second. It also protects you against the TunnelVision exploit, which requires the hacker to make a fake VPN server. Split tunneling Split tunneling is included on the Windows and Android apps, but users on other devices can access it through the browser extension. With split tunneling, some apps or websites get online through the VPN, while others stay unprotected. Split tunneling with Proton VPN on Android. Sam Chapman for Engadget Proton VPN allows split tunneling by both app and IP address. This grants you a precise level of control over your split, as long as you know the IP of each website you're placing on the list (you can find that out using DNS checker ). Torrenting servers and port forwarding Proton VPN is one of the best VPNs for torrenting. It restricts torrenting to P2P servers, but nearly every server on the list is a P2P server only Secure Core servers and some free servers don't permit torrenting. Combine that with the fact that it maintains 96 percent of your upload speeds on average, and you should have few problems using a torrenting client. Proton VPN's list of P2P servers. Sam Chapman for Engadget It also has some support for port forwarding, which can improve torrenting speed. Windows and Linux users can enable it with a simple toggle, which provides an active port number for configuring private servers. Mac users can set up port forwarding through manual OpenVPN or WireGuard configurations. Tor over VPN A handful of Proton VPN servers route you directly to the Tor network after encrypting your connection. While connected to one of these Tor over VPN servers, which are marked with TOR in their names and an onion symbol, you'll be able to open .onion links on a normal browser. This is more than just convenient Tor over VPN is the safest way to access the dark web. With the VPN as an intermediary, you're never connecting to Tor with your own IP address, so malicious node operators can't see your real identity. For maximum privacy, use Tor Browser to create your Proton VPN account, so you're never exposed at any point in the process. Proton VPN has Tor servers in six countries (the U.S., France, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany and Hong Kong). Each just has one Tor server, except the United States, which gets two. Tor over VPN is supported on all platforms, but it won't work on Mac or iOS unless you have the kill switch enabled. Profiles A profile on Proton VPN is a group of pre-established settings you can use to quickly configure the VPN for a particular task. Two profiles are available from the start: Fastest, which connects to the fastest server, and Random, which always connects to a different server. You can create more profiles by toggling four settings: Feature: The type of server used. Choose from Standard, Secure Core, P2P or Tor over VPN. Country: The country to which the profile connects. Server: A server within that country. You can also select fastest or andom. Protocol: Which VPN protocol the profile will use. Smart can be selected. As an example, say you want to watch a TV series that's only available on Netflix in Canada. You could create a profile called Netflix Canada that connects to the fastest Canadian server with just one click. We'd call profiles situationally useful, but they can save a lot of time if you regularly perform the same action on your VPN. Proton VPN customer support options We went to Proton VPN's FAQ pages with two questions that came up while researching other sections: which of Proton VPN's servers are managed by third parties, and why do certain server locations (like Marseilles) run slow despite the app showing a light load? You can access the help center through any of Proton VPN's apps, or by going directly to the website. Articles appear to be organized into six categories. Oddly, clicking any category button only shows you a handful of the articles in that section for example, the Troubleshooting category looks like it only has five articles. If you type roubleshooting into the search bar, though, you'll see dozens pop up. There are even some sections, like Billing, that don't appear on the main page at all. It has the feel of a website update that wasn't adequately brought in line with the bulk of the support content. Until Proton fixes it, just use the search bar for everything. The articles themselves are well-written, give or take some stilted English. Getting quick help We couldn't find written answers to our questions about ownership and server load, so we turned to live chat. Free users should keep in mind that live chat support is only available on paid accounts, but there's a fairly active subreddit at r/protonvpn where Proton staff frequently post. Live chat is not intuitively located on protonvpn.com. We finally found it by scrolling all the way to the bottom of the main page, only to be told nobody was online to help at the moment live chat is only accessible from 9 AM to midnight Central European Time (CET). We submitted our question about the Marseille servers as an email ticket instead. Sam Chapman for Engadget This part was easy, at least, as the form helpfully populated our system information. We also got a prompt response within 24 hours. We ended the interaction there, as we weren't able to reproduce the sluggish behavior on the French server locations, but it's nice to know the team will answer quickly. Proton VPN background check: The CERN origins of Proton AG Proton VPN launched in 2017 , but its team's experience goes back much farther. The founders of its parent company, Proton AG, met while working at CERN in Switzerland, and the company remains under Swiss jurisdiction. Their first product, Proton Mail, went live in 2014 after a successful crowdfunding campaign, and claims to have 100 million users today. Proton VPN was Proton AG's second project. Like Proton Mail, it consists of a free plan supplemented by paid upgrades. Since then, Proton has introduced several more products: Proton Calendar in 2020, Proton Drive cloud storage in 2022 and the Proton Pass password manager in 2023, each designed around using end-to-end encryption to make user data inaccessible. The Proton Foundation Proton announced in 2024 that the majority of its shares had been acquired by the Proton Foundation, a nonprofit whose only purpose is to control Proton stock. Among other benefits, this prevents it from being purchased by anyone who disagrees with its mission. To sell to an objectionable parent company, the entire board of trustees would have to agree, which feels unlikely based on Proton's track record. Throughout Proton's history, we only found two incidents serious enough to comment on, and only one of them concerned Proton VPN. We'll cover them both below. ProtonMail law enforcement collaboration allegations On the page that hosts its annual transparency report , Proton states openly that it may be legally compelled to disclose certain user information to Swiss authorities (see the Privacy Policy section of this article for more on precisely what information that describes). In 2021, the company admitted it had given Swiss police (acting on a French warrant) a ProtonMail user's IP address and device logs. The police arrested the user, a French environmental activist. While that's unnerving for privacy-minded users, there are some important contextual issues to consider. Most importantly, ProtonMail is not governed by the same policy as Proton VPN. At the time the case unfolded, Swiss law obliged all email companies to comply with court orders from Swiss authorities to hand over data. VPNs aren't subject to those retention requirements . Today, Swiss email companies have been reclassified so they're also exempt from data retention requirements, thanks in part to a policy change Proton fought for . A representative from Proton confirmed that under Swiss law, we are not obligated to save any user connection logs. It's also reassuring that, despite complying with the subpoena, Proton wasn't able to turn over the contents of any emails. Alleged WireGuard memory vulnerability In January 2025, researchers at Venak Security alleged that Proton VPN lacks memory protection for keys generated under the WireGuard protocol, which might let hackers scrape the keys and decrypt intercepted communications. Proton responded to Venak in a blog post , which a Proton representative confirmed remains their official response to the allegations. In short: the Venak article only demonstrates that it's possible to view public keys, not private ones. This isn't much of a bombshell, given that public is right there in the name. But asymmetric encryption the kind used by VPN protocols like WireGuard requires both keys to decrypt any messages. Even if a hacker were able to get ahold of a private key, they likely wouldn't be able to use it for anything. WireGuard incorporates perfect forward secrecy by default, changing session keys often enough that any given key is obsolete by the time it's stolen. Final verdict In short, we're prepared to recommend Proton VPN to almost anybody. Whether you're mainly concerned with security, streaming or something else, chances are good that you'll be satisfied. The only serious downsides are that the long-term plans are overpriced and that it's hard to get live tech support if you live outside of Europe. It's also our unqualified pick for the best free VPN, but with the caveat that it's a bad choice for anyone who needs to choose specific server locations. If all you care about is staying hidden from your ISP and advertisers, Proton should be your first choice. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/proton-vpn-review-2025-a-nonprofit-service-with-premium-performance-153046073.html?src=rss

50 booked for protests against Himachal revenue minister in Seraj

In Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, more than 50 individuals face charges including rioting. They protested against Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi with black flags and slogans. The protest was against shifting the College of Horticulture and Forestry from Thunag. Videos circulated showing protesters hurling shoes at the minister's vehicle. The Congress alleges BJP involvement.

Drone Prahaar Drill At Border

The military drill, which was named Exercise Drone Prahaar, was led by General Officer Commanding of the Dimapur-based Spear Corps (or III Corps) Lieutenant General Abhijeet S Pendharkar who observed that the drill designed to validate the integration of drone technology into tactical operations by Infantry and supporting arms

'You make life worth it' Gambhirs heartfelt message for wife Natasha

Amidst England's strong performance in the fourth Test, India's coach Gautam Gambhir took time to celebrate his wife Natasha's 41st birthday, sharing a heartfelt message on social media. Joe Root's impressive 150 propelled England to a commanding lead, while Gambhir faces increasing scrutiny over team selections and India's struggles in the series, with fans questioning the absence of key players.

SOS from the fringes

Bonacaud, a remote forest-fringed settlement in the state capital, is grappling with healthcare challenges due to the absence of medical facilities. Located on the edge of the Western Ghats, deep within the Vithura panchayat in Nedumangad, the area is vulnerable to human-wildlife conflicts, with wild elephants and bears often sighted. The nearest government hospital is over 20km away, leaving the ageing former tea estate workers living here without access to timely medical care. In emergencies, help often arrives only after a minimum delay of two hours. This delay could be fatal, say the residents. Selvaraj T, 62, a resident of the estate, had a near-death experience after a snakebite a few months ago. I thought I wouldnt survive. Another person was bitten earlier, and the only ambulance available took him first, he says. I had to wait for four hours before I was picked up. He was first taken to Vithura taluk hospital, from where he was referred to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. He spent three days in the ICU and incurred an expense of Rs 30,000. Selvaraj is among the 180 families, mostly elderly, who reside at the estate. The residents have submitted a representation to the district collector and the Vithura panchayat, demanding a health sub-centre or a primary health centre in the area. Once a flourishing British-era plantation known as Bonaccord, Bonacaud was a hub of activity and employment for hundreds of workers, many of whom had migrated from Tamil Nadu. Established in the 19th century, the estate remained a major tea producer until its decline in the late 20th century, culminating in the factorys closure in 2000. An elderly woman with firewood at the Bonacaud estate. (Right) Ponnu, 78, and Bhadrakali, 75, walk to work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme Elderly couple Karuppaswamy and Rajamma at the Bonacaud estate With their livelihoods affected, many residents moved out. Some stayed back at the layam dilapidated row houses near abandoned bungalows and overgrown tea bushes. Adding to their woes is the threat of wild animals. Saraswathi S, 73, a cancer patient, recalls a time when the tea estate ran a hospital dispensary for workers. Since the closure of the tea estate, the dispensary also shut down. Ever since, for every ailment we have to travel 20 km. After dusk, its impossible to step out as we have to wade through forests, says Saraswathi, who now travels to Nedumangad for treatment. Karuppaswamy and Rajamma, an elderly couple, echo the concern. I collapsed recently, and it was late at night. My son lives in Vithura, and he had to come all the way to take me to hospital. It takes two hours to reach here. We feel helpless. You can hear the calls of wild animals during the night. Anything can happen to us, says Rajamma. Notably, Bonacaud also serves as the base point for trekkers heading to Agasthyakoodam, one of Keralas most popular eco-tourism spots. In the event of accidents or sudden illness during trekking, there is no facility nearby to offer first aid or emergency care, placing both tourists and local residents at risk, says Rajesh G, a young estate resident. We have taken up the matter with the authorities. They always promise, but nothing has happened on the ground. We hope they act soon and help these people. Vithura panchayat president Manjusha Anand says a resolution to set up a health sub-centre has been passed. The estate is private property. There is an abandoned school where the facility can be set up. But the property belongs to the education department, and there are many hurdles. The MLA [G Stephen] has promised to sort this out. Selvaraj T, 62, survived a snakebite recently Saraswathi S, 73, a cancer patient living at the Bonacaud estate

YSRCP rejects commission report on Tirupati stampede, demands CBI inquiry

The YSRCP has rejected the judicial commission's report on the Tirupati stampede, deeming it biased and aimed at shielding senior officials. They are demanding a CBI probe into the incident that resulted in six deaths, alleging the report unfairly blames lower-level staff while omitting key TTD and police officials.

Agitating ASHA workers in Kerala welcome Centre's incentive hike

ASHA workers in Kerala are pleased with the central government's reported plan to raise their monthly incentive. The incentive is expected to increase from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500. Retirement benefits may also increase. Despite this, protests continue, demanding a higher state honorarium. The workers want the state government to increase their honorarium from Rs 7,000 to Rs 21,000.

Watch: What are Epstein files and why is MAGA demanding it?

Lets take a look at what Epstein files are and why it has once again become the center of political controversy in the United States

'My home is empty... no one left to play': Mother who lost both kids in Jhalawar school tragedy

JHALAWAR: Just days ago, the cheerful laughter of two siblings echoed through the courtyard of a modest house in Rajasthan's Jhalawar. Today, a deafening silence prevails as the children were among the seven who died in the school building collapse on Friday . Weeping inconsolably, the mother of the duo -- a boy and a girl -- wished God had taken her instead and spared her children. I've lost everything... I had only two children, a boy and a girl, and both are gone. My home is empty... There's no one left to play in the courtyard. I wish God had taken me instead and spared my children, she said. Among the many stories of sorrow, perhaps hers stands out as especially heart-rending, even as the tragedy has plunged several families into mourning. On Saturday morning, wails of grieving mothers pierced the air outside the mortuary of the SRG Hospital here as the bodies of the seven children were handed over to their families. Some of them clung tightly to the wrapped bodies of their children, refusing to let go, while others sat in stunned silence, struggling to come to terms with the sudden and shattering loss. Shortly afterwards, five of the children were cremated together on the same funeral pyre while the other two were consigned to flames separately. Another woman, who lost her child in the incident, raised questions on the role of the teachers present in the school at the time of the incident. The teachers went outside, leaving the children behind. What were they doing outside? she charged. The tragic collapse has raised serious questions about the condition of rural school infrastructure in Rajasthan and the systemic neglect that turned a place of learning into a site of mourning. The youngest of those who died was only six years old. Those killed were identified as Payal (12), Harish (8), Priyanka (12), Kundan (12), Kartik, as well as a brother and sister -- Meena (12) and her brother Kanha (6). Five of the school staffers were suspended, and a high-level inquiry into the matter was ordered. The School Education Minister has announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh to those families who lost their children. Jhalawar District Collector Ajay Singh met the grieving families on Saturday to console them. Later, talking to reporters, he said appropriate action will be taken against those guilty. Five school staffers have been suspended, and a probe committee has been constituted. If needed, an FIR will be registered. If suspension has to turn to expulsion, that will be done, Singh told reporters. He said all possible help and support is being given to the aggrieved families, and the school education minister has announced that a new building will be constructed in the village. He said maximum financial assistance will be given to each family in the next 10 days. Reacting to a video of road patch work being done outside a hospital in Jhalawar ahead of the school education minister's visit to meet the injured, the district collector said, I am unaware of it... I will take an update. On the repair work of the school building, Singh said, There are clear-cut directions for it. The district administration is making efforts to ensure that the incident does not occur again. District education officials have been directed to not let students enter schools if the condition of the building is not good. He said it was unfortunate that no input was received from the school staff regarding the condition of the building. If we had received any complaint, we would have got the building repaired and the incident could have been averted, he said. On Friday morning, the children, all students of Classes 6 and 7 at Piplod Government School, had barely assembled for the morning prayer when a portion of the building collapsed, burying over 35 children under debris. 28 were injured. Slabs of concrete, bricks and stones were piled up high, and scores of people, including frantic parents and teachers, helped in the rescue effort, searching through the mounds of debris to pull out the children. After the incident, anger and sorrow spilt onto the streets as locals blocked roads at Guradi Circle and outside SRG Hospital, demanding accountability. The protest, joined briefly by Congress leader Naresh Meena, led to his detention by police. Protesters at Guradi Circle turned aggressive when police reached the spot to clear the roadblock and started pelting stones at the police, injuring a policeman. The police used mild force to disperse the agitators.

'We are ruined': Ajit Pawars outburst goes viral as he says Punes Hinjewadi IT Park with 800+ companies is shifting to Bengaluru, Hyderabad

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar expressed his concern over the potential relocation of Hinjewadi IT Park from Pune to Bengaluru and Hyderabad. During an inspection of civic works in Pimpri Chinchwad, Pawar voiced his frustration, emphasizing the significant economic impact of this shift and demanding immediate action to address the issues.

Backed My Shots, Worked A Lot On Power-hitting: Tim David After Hitting Australia's Fastest T20I Ton

Debutant Mitchell Owen: All-rounder Tim David credited the hard work behind his power-hitting after delivering a blistering performance, smashing Australias fastest T20I century off just 37 balls, as the visitors clinched the series with a dominant chase of 215, winning with 23 balls to spare on a boundary-packed night in St Kitts. Shai Hope notched up his maiden T20I century, anchoring a 125-run opening partnership with Brandon King to power West Indies to a commanding 214 for 4. When Australia stumbled to 87 for 4 in the ninth over, the chase appeared daunting. But David turned the game on its head with a stunning display, smashing Australias fastest T20I fifty in just 16 balls and then reaching his century - also the winning shot - with a boundary. His explosive maiden ton featured 11 sixes and rewrote the record books. Debutant Mitchell Owen made a strong impression as well, hammering 36 off just 16 deliveries and sharing a rapid 128-run stand with David for the fifth wicket in only 46 balls. Absolutely not (when asked if he should be batting higher up in the batting order), just had a great time in the middle, wanting to make the most of every opportunity with the bat. Was really nice to spend time at home, I had picked up a niggle, didn't think too much, didn't think I would score a 100 for Australia, David said in the post-match presentation. Debutant Mitchell Owen made a strong impression as well, hammering 36 off just 16 deliveries and sharing a rapid 128-run stand with David for the fifth wicket in only 46 balls. Also Read: LIVE Cricket Score With a 3-0 lead, Australia will eye a clean sweep in the five-match series with the final two games to be played on July 27 and 29 respectively. Article Source: IANS

WATCH: Bumrah's staircase stumble triggers major injury scare for India

India faced injury concerns on Day 3 of the fourth Test as Jasprit Bumrah appeared to hurt his ankle, while Mohammed Siraj also struggled with discomfort. England capitalised, with Joe Root's magnificent 150 propelling them to a commanding 544/7, establishing a substantial 186-run lead. Ben Stokes remained unbeaten, steering England towards a potential series-clinching victory.

'Beyond India now': Ex-England cricketer questions Shubman Gill's tactics

England dominated India in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, with Joe Root's impressive 150 putting them in a commanding lead. Jonathan Trott highlighted India's bowling struggles, particularly the lack of support for Bumrah. Shubman Gill faced a tough captaincy challenge on his first England tour. Sanjay Manjrekar urged India to fight back, despite the uneven bounce of the pitch.

Need unified political approach for restoration of J-K's statehood: Ghulam Nabi Azad

JAMMU: Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad has called for a unified political approach for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood. Azad also expressed concern over the state of development in Jammu and Kashmir, saying while central projects were progressing, state-level initiatives were completely halted. Even the prime minister and the home minister have committed to restoring it (statehood) on the floor of Parliament. Some mistakes kept happening due to which there was a delay. First, a demand should be placed (before the government), but people immediately take to the streets, Azad told reporters here. The matter should be discussed seriously, not just to divert public attention, he said. Speaking on the ongoing protests and political mobilisations demanding statehood, Azad asserted that while everyone has the right to protest, meaningful dialogue with the central leadership should have preceded such actions. Protests are of two kinds -- symbolic and goal-oriented. But before hitting the streets, the political leadership should have engaged with Delhi. We need unity, not fragmentation, on this issue, he said. Azad emphasised that the demand for the restoration of statehood has a broad consensus across communities and regions. There is no opposition to the idea of statehood -- be it in Jammu, Kashmir, or among any religious groups, he said. On the National Conference's recent call for a special session on statehood, Azad welcomed the idea, stating that the Assembly is a shared platform for all parties and the matter should not be viewed through a partisan lens. Amid speculation about his potential appointment as the vice-president of India, Azad dismissed the reports as baseless. These are mere rumours. Serious constitutional posts should not be discussed on the streets. The media and public should not entertain such talks, he said. He also parried a direct reply to questions on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, saying the issue remains under debate and is likely to be taken up in Parliament. Azad also reiterated concern over development work in Jammu and Kashmir, saying that while central projects were progressing, state-level initiatives were completely halted. Development by the local administration is negligible. Labourers could easily be employed through basic infrastructure projects like roads, water, and power supply. I have visited 15 districts. People say that not even a footpath is being built. If there is a government, why is nothing visible on the ground? he asked. The former leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha also criticised the repeated disruptions of Parliament proceedings. Recalling his tenure, Azad said, I have always supported the functioning of Parliament. Even when Lok Sabha was being disrupted, during my time as leader of the opposition, Rajya Sabha would continue its normal proceedings. On Rahul Gandhis recent remarks questioning the Election Commission's credibility, Azad refused to comment, calling it a matter between the Congress leader, the poll panel, and the government. Regarding the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar from the post of vice-president, Azad said he met him recently and believed that the decision was prompted by health concerns. I have known him for 40 to 50 years. He has cited health reasons for his resignation. I cannot say for sure whether there was any other reason. Maybe his health is genuinely not well, and that is why he stepped down, Azad said. Pushing for long-delayed elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Azad said panchayat, municipal, and local body polls could generate vital employment at the grassroots level and must be conducted soon. On internal developments within the DPAP, he acknowledged that some former ministers and lawmakers had switched sides, calling it part of Indias political culture, but said the partys grassroots support base has grown steadily. Reacting to Farooq Abdullahs demand for the resignation of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha over the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Azad said that such lapses had occurred during the tenure of other leaders as well. Why are they forgetting those incidents now? he asked.

Road Blocked, Protest Rally Held As Udaipur's Medical College Faces Outrage Over Student Suicide

The students of the college carried out massive protest on the campus and also blocked a road outside, demanding action against the faculty members mentioned on the suicide note.

Remote Bonacaud faces healthcare crisis amid wildlife threats

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Bonacaud, a remote forest-fringed settlement in the state capital, is grappling with healthcare challenges due to the absence of medical facilities. Located on the edge of the Western Ghats, deep within the Vithura panchayat in Nedumangad, the area is vulnerable to human-wildlife conflicts, with wild elephants and bears often sighted. The nearest government hospital is over 20km away, leaving the ageing former tea estate workers living here without access to timely medical care. In emergencies, help often arrives only after a minimum delay of two hours. This delay could be fatal, say the residents. Selvaraj T, 62, a resident of the estate, had a near-death experience after a snakebite a few months ago. I thought I wouldnt survive. Another person was bitten earlier, and the only ambulance available took him first, he says. I had to wait for four hours before I was picked up. He was first taken to Vithura taluk hospital, from where he was referred to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. He spent three days in the ICU and incurred an expense of Rs 30,000. Selvaraj is among the 180 families, mostly elderly, who reside at the estate. The residents have submitted a representation to the district collector and the Vithura panchayat, demanding a health sub-centre or a primary health centre in the area. Saraswathi S, 73, a cancer patient living at the Bonacaud estate Once a flourishing British-era plantation known as Bonaccord, Bonacaud was a hub of activity and employment for hundreds of workers, many of whom had migrated from Tamil Nadu. Established in the 19th century, the estate remained a major tea producer until its decline in the late 20th century, culminating in the factorys closure in 2000. With their livelihoods affected, many residents moved out. Some stayed back at the layam dilapidated row houses near abandoned bungalows and overgrown tea bushes. Adding to their woes is the threat of wild animals. Saraswathi S, 73, a cancer patient, recalls a time when the tea estate ran a hospital dispensary for workers. Since the closure of the tea estate, the dispensary also shut down. Ever since, for every ailment we have to travel 20 km. After dusk, its impossible to step out as we have to wade through forests, says Saraswathi, who now travels to Nedumangad for treatment. Karuppaswamy and Rajamma, an elderly couple, echo the concern. I collapsed recently, and it was late at night. My son lives in Vithura, and he had to come all the way to take me to hospital. It takes two hours to reach here. We feel helpless. You can hear the calls of wild animals during the night. Anything can happen to us, says Rajamma. Elderly couple Karuppaswamy and Rajamma at the Bonacaud estate Notably, Bonacaud also serves as the base point for trekkers heading to Agasthyakoodam, one of Keralas most popular eco-tourism spots. In the event of accidents or sudden illness during trekking, there is no facility nearby to offer first aid or emergency care, placing both tourists and local residents at risk, says Rajesh G, a young estate resident. We have taken up the matter with the authorities. They always promise, but nothing has happened on the ground. We hope they act soon and help these people. Vithura panchayat president Manjusha Anand says a resolution to set up a health sub-centre has been passed. The estate is private property. There is an abandoned school where the facility can be set up. But the property belongs to the education department, and there are many hurdles. The MLA [G Stephen] has promised to sort this out.

ARTRAC commemorates26 years of victory in Kargil War

The commemorative events of Kargil Vijay Diwas were inaugurated in a solemn ceremony by Lieutenant General Devendra Sharma, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, ARTRAC, Shimla

'Where's he been?': Ex-England captain slams India over delayed Sundar spell

Nasser Hussain has criticised India's captain Shubman Gill for delaying Washington Sundar's introduction into the attack during the fourth Test, despite Sundar's previous success at Lord's. Hussain also questioned India's bowling strategy against Joe Root, suggesting they should have used more short balls. Root's dominant innings has put England in a commanding position, intensifying scrutiny on India's tactical choices.

Old Trafford Test: Why Stokes Returned Soon After Retiring Hurt on 66

An outstanding batting performance had left England in a commanding position, largely thanks to a century from Joe Root, who moved up to second on the all-time list of test run scorers behind Sachin Tendulkar

Kargil Diwas: Of folded flags, blurred letters, and unfading memories

For some, it is a page of history. For some, it is a lived experience. While another section sees it as an unspoken pain and a memory imprinted in folded flags. Twenty-six years after the Kargil War, also known as Operation Vijay, the memories continue to linger in conversations, ceremonies, and in the glass frames where medals rest beside photographs. The Indian army, with a mission to win over the peaks occupied by the cross-border army, also battled altitude and distance from family. This duty to the nation came above every personal task and relationship. The only thread that connected them to their homes was the fragments of paper bearing good wishes, and the promises of returning safely made to the families they clung to it. In Chennai, far from the border, the tremors were felt in news bulletins, prayer meetings, and protest marches. Communities came together to donate and support the army. (Retd) Major Madhan Kumar shares, When Atal ji started the Defence Personnel Fund, Tamil Nadu was the highest contributor. Karunanidhi, then Chief Minister, conducted a music festival at the Nehru Indoor Stadium. A lot of donation was collected, which were eventually routed to the Fund. He adds that most of the autorickshaws in the city and state carried posters of Major M Saravanan and Vikram Batra. A lot of people volunteered, and many were willing to go fight for the Indian Army, he notes. While the instances of the entire nation coming together bring back emotional memories, soldiers and their families bear the invisible scars of the war, even 26 years since it ended. As civilians share posts on social media today for the jawans , Kargil Diwas is more than just a date on the calendar for those who were in the scene; its a constant reminder of bravery, loss, and resilience. (Retd) Col Sada S Peter and his wife Maria Anita from Chennai Anita recalls the days before the Kargil War began: I had just delivered my second baby in November and was about to join my husband after a break from his field post in Sikkim. In May 1999, he was about to take me and the babies to his regiment in Delhi. Then suddenly, I fell sick, so I could not go with him right away. After 10 days, I got a call from him saying, You wont be able to join me. I have been assigned to something bigger. I cant tell you over the phone. Right now, you look after the baby and continue the [elder] childs education. We will talk about it. Then, a month later, he called me, and his voice was feeble, and the call got disconnected soon. Later, through the media, we got to know the situation he was in. It was not what we were expecting. After that, every fortnight, he tried to call me. In those calls, I could sounds of bomb shellings. In the meantime, I used to write letters. I used to write what all happened throughout the day, about the childrens activities. Its not like he got the letters frequently. Col Sada says, I used to get 7-8 letters in bulk. I used to sit on the bonnet of my jeep and read them. Each letter was about 2-3 pages long, which also had some drawings by my son. I used to keep them in my pockets. In September, he came home. He just came for a couple of weeks, and he went back again. He came back in the last week of December and took us back to the regiment. He was a little troubled then. I could sense that through his disturbed sleep. I could see something was amiss because it was too much for him...that trauma. I started having bizarre dreams. Something black was coming from the tap. Warriors were standing in front of me. Then one day, I saw two small boys walking with my boots on and trampling all over the house. The whole house was full of marks. I would get up shaken, sweating, and in pain, says Col Sada. It took him almost two years to come out of it. She handled all my eccentricities, irritation, low threshold to accepting an issue, and my anger bursts. After a lot of hand-holding from her side, introspection, and prayers, I became better, concludes Col Sada. (Retd) Lt Col Murugesan C from Tirunelveli I was the reinforcement officer at the time placed in Sonamarg, J&K. Suddenly, in the night, at around eleven, I got a call to move with my troops to Tololing. The moonlight was beaming over the roads. There was snow everywhere, and the road was slippery. At that time, the government did not allow the army to cross the LoC. Our role was to cross the Line of Control in the nighttime, after 11 oclock, observe the enemys movement over there, and come back before first light, that is before 5 o clock. We were getting trained for the war, and the strategies were being built at that time. On one of these days, my commanding officer (CO) met us at 8.30 am. He supplied drinks to everyone, gave us a letter to write, and said, Write a letter as if this is the final letter to your parents and family. Write whatever you want. I was confused; whom to write to and what to write? I was thinking of writing to my father, mother, sister...and my aunt in my village. She was my caretaker when I was working there. My letter read, When this letter reaches you, and when you are reading this, it means Im not here. Take care of the family and everything. I posted the letter and forgot. Meanwhile, when the letter reached home, my sister told everybody Murugesan is dead and the villagers started crying. My sister came to the Dakshin Bharat area in Chennai and inquired about me. The letter had details about my regiment in Akhnoor. My sister gave a call to Akhnoor. And from Akhnoor, the call was connected to my unit, and my CO answered and said, Murugesan is here only. The call with my CO went something like this: You bloody. Are you alive? My team and I went on the operation, we succeeded, and we came back. We were alive. Then a year later, I went back home, and the villagers greeted me saying, a ghost has come. This is the most memorable moment. In 2019, I was posted in Kargil. This time, I was the camp commandant in 56 Mountain Brigade. The twentieth Kargil Diwas was celebrated, and I was in charge of receiving the war veterans and the guests. A team came from Jalandhar. I took them to a particular point in Tololing. From there, we went to another place, from where we could see Tiger Hill. I briefed them about what happened how Pak infiltrators were sitting on the top, and our people [army officers] climbed on the hill, opened fire, and everything that followed. Life came full circle. Shakthivelu R Shakthivelu R, Liaison Officers Car Driver (Retd) from Madurai WHEN the war broke out, Saurabh Kalia and five of his gallant soldiers were held captive by the Pakistani army. They tortured them. There was evidence of ear drums pierced with hot rods, broken teeth and bones, punctured eyes and nails, cut lips, chipped noses, and more in the post-mortem report. These bodies were brought to Leh airfield, where it was received by Chief of Army, Ved Prakash Malik, and the Defence Minister, George Fernandes. There were restrictions on flight take-off timings because of weather conditions, and natural light to land at Leh. So, around 3.30 pm, I, among others, shifted the covered and unrecognised bodies to the aircraft. After that, I was in Chandigarh. I served there for two years, and throughout the time, bodies were being recovered from the peaks. As the snow melted, bodies were found. The government allocated the N Area referring to the headquarters N Area Office Aerodrome for the bodies to be brought and honouring the officers with a 21-gun salute. This was the place that was used by the army to transport ammunition, food and others. Kargil was one of the riskiest wars fought by the country. Every army officer who climbed the peak knew that they may or may not return alive, yet they went ahead. Such is the grit of the army officers. And the Indian army, in particular, has a lot of willpower and resilience. They also got equal support from their families and citizens of the nation.

Chaos in Parliament and Bihar Assembly Over Sir is Just the Beginning

Dr. Gyan Pathak Both the Houses of the Parliament of India Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assembly of Bihar witnessed total chaos on Wednesday July 23 due to which they had to be adjourned. The Opposition members in the Parliament of India were protesting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the Electoral Roll in Bihar and demanding a discussion on it, while in the Legislative Assembly of Bihar, discussion began but when the Leader [] The post Chaos in Parliament and Bihar Assembly Over Sir is Just the Beginning appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Opposition protests wash out 1st week of Parliament session

Parliament faced disruptions due to opposition protests. The monsoon session's first week saw repeated adjournments in both houses. Opposition MPs protested the Election Commission's voter list revision in Bihar. They marched towards the Gandhi statue, demanding the SIR drive be scrapped. Speaker Birla called a meeting to discuss House proceedings for the next week. The houses adjourned for the day.

MLS: Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba handed suspensions - here's why

Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba were suspended for one Major League Soccer match for skipping Wednesday's All-Star game, sidelining them for the contest against FC Cincinnati. MLS enforces its policy requiring participation unless valid reasons exist. Commissioner Don Garber, while acknowledging Messi's impact and Miami's demanding schedule, emphasised the need to uphold league rules.

Telangana Releases Rs 205 Crore for Warangal Mamnoor Airport Land Acquisition

Reports said the government was offering Rs 1 crore per acre of agriculture land but farmers were demanding Rs 2 crore as compensation. Officials have proposed a consent award of Rs 1.2 crore per acre.

RS adjourned again amid Oppn uproar

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha proceedings were disrupted again on Friday amid opposition uproar demanding discussion on various issues, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, forcing the Chair to adjourn the House for the day. The Upper House, which has been witnessing protests by opposition MPs over the SIR exercise, [] The post RS adjourned again amid Oppn uproar appeared first on Northlines .

IND vs ENG: Ruthless England batting sees India register unwanted record last seen 10 years ago

England dominated Day 3 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, posting a commanding total against India. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett's opening partnership set the tone, followed by Joe Root's masterful 150. England surpassed 500 runs, marking the first time India has conceded such a total overseas since 2015, leaving India a huge mountain to climb.

Congress leaders push for nationwide caste census, reservation cap removal

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge spoke in Delhi, demanding a nationwide caste census and removing the 50 percent reservation cap. He accused PM Modi of denying rights to backward communities and misleading the country, stating that OBC voices will only be heard when they are in power

DVAC arrests Perur tahsildar, office assistant for demanding, accepting 50,000 bribe

CBI registers two separate cases over alleged assault of Army colonel by Punjab police

CHANDIGARH: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday registered two separate cases (First Information Reports) into the alleged assault on Colonel Pushpinder Singh Bath by Punjab Police personnel. The CBI has re-registered both the FIRs filed by the Civil Lines Police Station, Patiala, as its own separate cases on the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court earlier this month. The premier investigating agency has tasked its special crime unit to carry out investigations in this case. Both the FIRs, one from Colonel Bath and the other from the dhaba owner, were registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which also include charges under attempted murder. In the second FIR taken over by the CBI, the owner of the eatery alleged that the occupants of Colonel Bath's car had parked their vehicle in the middle of the road where they were drinking when a minor scuffle took place between them and some passersby and the individuals in an unknown car. On July 16, the Punjab and Haryana High Court transferred the investigation into the alleged assault on Colonel Bath over a parking dispute outside a dhaba in Patiala by Punjab Police personnel to the CBI. Previously, the court had entrusted the investigation to the Chandigarh Police. Justice Rajesh Bhardwaj had expressed dissatisfaction with the investigation conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Chandigarh Police. He had asserted that the conduct of the police amounted to setting the wrong example and protecting the accused. The court was earlier informed that five accused, four of whom are police inspectors, are absconding, and no non-bailable warrants have been issued against them. 'They were like a pack of wolves': Wife of Army colonel attacked by Punjab cops demands CBI probe In his petition, Colonel Bath sought an independent probe into the matter, preferably by the CBI. It is noteworthy to mention that the investigation of the instant case was transferred to the Chandigarh Police on 4 April and it is being stated with utmost disappointment that even despite the lapse of more than three-and-a-half months since the registration of the FIR and lapse of three months since the investigation has been handed over to the Chandigarh Police, neither a single accused has been arrested so far, nor any accused has been associated with the investigation, the petition stated. In March, Colonel Bath had moved the High Court after the Punjab Police allegedly delayed filing an FIR regarding the alleged assault on him and his son by a group of 12 policemen, including four inspectors. The family had rejected the SIT formed by the Punjab Police. The Punjab Police had registered an FIR only on 22 March, eight days after the incident, following repeated appeals from the officers family. The incident took place on the intervening night of 13 and 14 March when Colonel Bath and his son Angad Singh were having dinner at a dhaba near Rajindra Hospital. Colonel Bath alleged that a group of men aggressively approached them, demanding they move their car. After Colonel Bath identified himself as an Army officer, the attackers allegedly snatched his ID card and mobile phone.

Congress stages protest demanding repair of crumbling Medical CollegeMundur road

The deteriorated condition of the road is not just negligence, it is a direct challenge to the people, says Congress leader

Sunjay Kapur, Karisma-Abhishek, Saiyaara box office: Top 5 news

Entertainment headlines are buzzing with Sunjay Kapur's mother's shocking allegations surrounding his death, demanding a thorough investigation. Rishabh Pant playfully hinted at Yuzvendra Chahal's engagement amidst dating rumors, while Suneel Darshan reminisced about Karisma Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan's chemistry, suggesting external pressures led to their split.

Climate change causes yield losses of up to 65% in horti crops

1,522 mandis now on eNAM; genomeedited rice lines cleared of biodiversity and seed sovereignty concerns, says government

Chhava Sanghatna demands the ouster of Maharashtra Minister Manikrao Kokate

Amid backlash over Minister Manikrao Kokate allegedly playing rummy during the Maharashtra Assembly session, Chhava Sanghatna activists met NCP chief Ajit Pawar demanding his removal. The meeting followed an assault on the outfits members by NCP workers in Latur. Pawar condemned the incident and promised action by Tuesday.

Rajnath to initiate 16-hour debate on Operation Sindoor in Lok Sabha on July 28

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday said the Lok Sabha will hold a special discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor on July 28, amid continued disruptions from the Opposition during the Monsoon Session. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to initiate the discussion on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha on Monday, with the Rajya Sabha expected to take up the debate on Tuesday. Addressing media persons in the national capital, Rijiju stated that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla convened a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) earlier in the day, during which it was reiterated that the government is prepared for a full debate on the sensitive issues. Today, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla called the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), and it was reiterated that we are ready for a discussion on Operation Sindoor. It has been decided today that there will be a special discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor on Monday (28th July), Rijiju said. Rijiju said Operation Sindoor would be debated first, followed by other matters, with 16-hour discussions scheduled in both Houses on July 28 in the Lok Sabha and July 29 in the Rajya Sabha. Monsoon Session: Opposition uproar over Bihar SIR stalls Parliament for fifth consecutive day The stalemate over the Oppositions demands for the discussion was broken on Friday after an all-party meeting. The government had maintained it was open to debating Operation Sindoor and other issues as per rules and the Chairs approval. Rijiju said that several Opposition parties, including the Congress, had requested a discussion on the issue, and the government agreed to it, but despite that, the Opposition kept on creating a ruckus and disrupting the Parliament proceedings. ...Before the Monsoon Session began, several Opposition parties, including the Congress, had requested that Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack should be discussed in Parliament. The government said we are ready to discuss it... The Opposition has been creating a ruckus in Parliament from day one and protesting inside and outside Parliament and not allowing the House to function. In the first week of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, we have been able to pass only one Bill... I urge all Opposition parties not to disrupt the proceedings of Parliament, he added further. Motion to remove Justice Yashwant Varma over graft charge to begin in Lok Sabha Sources said that Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Nishikant Dubey are expected to take part in the discussion in the Lok Sabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to intervene in the discussion in the Lok Sabha, and may also intervene in the Rajya Sabha. Rajnath Singh and Jaishankar will be among the ministers who will take part in the discussion in Rajya Sabha, sources said. TDP's Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu and GM Harish Balayogi are expected to take part in the discussion on Op Sindoor in the Lok Sabha. The sources said the party has been allotted 30 minutes. From the Samajwadi Party, its chief Akhilesh Yadav and MP Rajiv Rai will take part in the debate. Opposition parties have been demanding discussion on Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor and have sought the government's clarification over US President Donald Trump's repeated claims that he brokered ceasefire between India and Pakistan. The Opposition had been demanding Prime Minister Modis presence during the debate. As he was on a two-nation visit this week , the discussion has been scheduled for next week. Opposition parties have also been demanding discussion on Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and India's foreign policy. PM Modi has to answer in Parliament: Congress on Trump's India-Pakistan ceasefire claims The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have witnessed repeated adjournments since the beginning of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on July 21, with the two Houses transacting little business. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla called an all-party meeting on Friday to end the stalemate. Before adjourning the House amid sloganeering by Opposition members on Friday, Birla urged them to allow normal functioning of the House. He objected to Opposition members displaying banners. He said the stalemate is not good. Come, there will be discussion to end stalemate. There will also be representatives from the government... If there is disagreement, it should be expressed as per House norms, he said. Earlier, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Friday amid sloganeering and protests by Opposition members in the well of the House. The Lower House is set to meet next on July 28 at 11 am. The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned at 2 PM, and is set to meet on Monday at 11 AM. BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, chairing the Lok Sabha, urged the Opposition members to maintain decorum in the House and let the Private Members Bill be introduced so that discussion can take place. Prior to the adjournment, the House took up for further consideration and passed 'The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024.' (With inputs from ANI) Monsoon Session Day 4 | Parliament adjourned for the day amid Opposition uproar over Bihar SIR

Delhi launches online OPD booking across 35 govt hospitals with HIMS platform

Delhi's Chief Minister Rekha Gupta launched the Health Information Management System. It will ease access to government hospital services. Patients can book appointments online and view medical records digitally. Thirty-four Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and eight Jan Aushadhi Kendras were also inaugurated. Gupta criticised the previous AAP government for incomplete health projects.

Monsoon Session: Opposition uproar over Bihar SIR stalls Parliament for fifth consecutive day

NEW DELHI: Both houses of the Parliament were adjourned for the fifth consecutive day of the Monsoon session onFriday, as Opposition protests continued over the revision of electoral rolls (SIR) in Bihar . No significant legislative business was transacted for the fifth straight day. The Rajya Sabha proceeding was adjourned for the day shortly after it reassembled at noon on Friday as Opposition parties started raising slogans demanding the withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in Bihar. The House will now meet at 11 am on Monday. When it met at noon, BJP MP K Laxman started a discussion and wanted to know the details of Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan from Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. While Chouhan rose to speak, the Opposition MPs continued their protest and raised slogans demanding that the SIR exercise be stopped. Chouhan said that he wanted to answer the question as it is important and related to the welfare of farmers and women, but the Opposition didn't relent. He said that it was the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the benefits of scientific research should reach the farmers in real time, and that's why the government started Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan. BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari, who was in the Chair, tried to urge the protesting members, but when he failed to do so, he adjourned the House for the day to reassemble on Monday. Monsoon Session Day 4 | Parliament adjourned for the day amid Opposition uproar over Bihar SIR During the morning session (Zero Hour), Deputy Chairman Harivansh said he has received 28 notices under Rule 267 demanding discussion on various issues including SIR, alleged discrimination against Bengali migrant workers in other states, no elected government in Manipur and the India-UK free trade agreement. He, however, declined all the adjournment notices, and called BJP MP Ghanshyam Tiwari to make his Zero Hour mention. Opposition members started protesting against the decision of the rejection of adjournment notices. The Chair adjourned the proceedings till 12 noon Earlier during the Zero Hour. Harivansh had urged members to maintain discipline and decorum in the House and respect each other's right to speak when permitted by the chair. He said that during Thursday's proceedings, it was observed that some members, while not in their designated seats, were attempting to disturb the speaker. Citing the rules of procedure and conduct of business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) he warned members that if they wilfully obstruct members from speaking and disturb the proceedings of the House, it will tantamount to reach of privilege of the House. The Lok Sabha proceedings were also adjourned for the day on Friday as Opposition protests continued over the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, capping the Monsoon session's first week which has been washed out. The proceedings were initially adjourned till 2 PM following opposition uproar. After the house met at 2 PM, Jagdambika Pal, who was in the chair rebuked the opposition MPs for repeated disruptions despite government's assurance that it was willing to answer on all issues. Nobody is benefiting from this ruckus.People have sent you to raise their issues you are disrupting the House. Getting the House adjourned is not an achievement, it is a matter of concern and the whole country is harmed by it, Pal told protesting opposition MPs who rushed to the Well of the House raising slogans against SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar and demanding a discussion on the issue. 'Have 100% proof': Rahul Gandhi claims EC allowed vote fraud in Karnataka Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said, 'The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024' is a very important bill concerning Scheduled Tribes (STs) that should be taken up for discussion. It is a very important bill. Are they (opposition) against the STs? Meghwal said. Pal said it was a day when private member bills of MPs were to be discussed and it was not right to disrupt the House. The government is ready to discuss all issues. The Speaker has taken the initiative. Government is ready to answer on all issues. The whole week has been washed out. The people of the country have some expectations but you dont wan't this House to run, Pal told the protesting MPs. As the opposition MPs continued with their protests, Pal adjourned the House for the day. Earlier, the Question Hour in the Lower House was disrupted for a fifth straight day since the Monsoon session of Parliament commenced on July 21. Soon after the House convened for the day, Opposition members sought to raise the issue of electoral rolls revision in Bihar and many of them were standing in the aisle. Speaker Om Birla told the protesting members to allow the Question Hour to continue and stressed that even when there are disagreements, those should be expressed within the democratic traditions. While mentioning that sloganeering and display of placards in the House is not appropriate, Birla also said that he can call the government and Opposition representatives, and help in discussions and sorting out the issues. As the protests continued, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings within five minutes till 2 pm. The opposition is demanding a discussion on SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, an exercise initiated by the Election Commission ahead of the state assembly polls due later this year. The House also paid tributes to the fallen soldiers in the Kargil War, a day ahead of the 26th Kargil Vijay Diwas on Saturday. As a mark of respect, the House also stood in silence for a brief while. (With inputs from PTI)

Patwari caught red-handed taking Rs 20,000 bribe in Jammu

Jammu, Jul 25: Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday said to have trapped and arrested a Patwari from Patwar Halqa Dansal, Jammu for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 20,000. A spokesman said in a statement that Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau received a complaint alleging therein that public servant namely Chuni Lal, [] The post Patwari caught red-handed taking Rs 20,000 bribe in Jammu appeared first on Northlines .

Three days after collapse, search begins for trapped workers in illegal mine in Jharkhands Dhanbad

RANCHI: After a delay of three days, a joint team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Mines Rescue Wing of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) has finally launched a rescue operation to locate workers allegedly trapped inside a closed underground mine in Block-2, Baghmara, Dhanbad, since 22 July. The operation involves a 35-member NDRF team and 15 personnel from the BCCL rescue wing. While the NDRF conducted an initial survey of the area on Thursday morning, active rescue work commenced in the evening after receiving clearance from the district administration. The efforts continued until 11:30 PM and resumed again on Friday at 11:30 AM. Senior officials including Block-2 General Manager G.C. Saha, NDRF Assistant Commandant Santosh Kumar, Inspector Ravishankar, Circle Officer, and the Officer-in-Charge of Baghmara Police Station, Ajit Kumar, are overseeing the operation. According to Ajit Kumar, the operation was initiated following demands from local Member of Parliament Chandra Prakash Choudhary, who identified three suspected locations where individuals may be trapped. Rescue work has begun at the first site and will continue at the remaining two. Illegal mine collapse in Dhanbads Jamunia area; nine feared trapped, officials remain silent The incident reportedly took place on Tuesday, when the roof of a closed underground mine collapsed during illegal mining activity. Several workers, believed to be hired by a coal theft syndicate, are feared to be trapped under the debris. The collapse occurred near the Jamunia River at Kesargarha, under the jurisdiction of Baghmara Police Station, where at least nine people are suspected to be buried. Locals claimed that around 15 workers were inside the mine at the time of the collapse, which occurred when carbonaceous rocksupported only by weak pillarsgave way with a loud crash. Although BCCL authorities and the Dhanbad police initially dismissed the reports as rumours, Giridih MP Chandra Prakash Choudhary and Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy visited the site and insisted that multiple individuals were trapped. The MP staged a sit-in protest at Baghmara Police Station and submitted a formal complaint demanding immediate rescue efforts. The protest was called off only after Baghmara SDPO Purushotam Singh assured the leaders that a rescue operation would be launched without further delay.

CGST Ludhiana unearths Rs 260 crore fake billing scam in iron, steel sector; 2 arrested

CGST Ludhiana officers busted a syndicate in Mandi Gobindgarh involved in fake ITC claims within the iron and steel sector. The operation revealed a scheme using debt-ridden rolling mills to evade GST scrutiny. Two individuals have been arrested, with preliminary assessments indicating bogus bills worth Rs 260 crore and a GST loss of Rs 47 crore.

ACB Arrests Patwari For Accepting Bribe In Jammu

Jammu, Jul 25: Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday said to have trapped and arrested a Patwari from Patwar Halqa Dansal, Jammu for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 20,000. A spokesman said in a statement that Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau received a complaint alleging therein that public servant namely Chuni Lal, Patwari Patwar Halqa Dansal, demanded illegal gratification from the complainant for providing demarcation report. The accused Chuni Lal, Patwari, Patwar Halqa Dansal, demanded the bribe [] The post ACB Arrests Patwari For Accepting Bribe In Jammu appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Rajya Sabha witnesses opposition push for debate on Bihar`s voter list revision

Notices have been submitted by Congress MPs demanding a detailed discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Bihar, raising concerns over the ongoing voter list revision.

JPSC declares civil services 2023 results: Ashish Akshat Tops, 342 candidates selected amid delay and protests

RANCHI: Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) has finally declared the result of the much-awaited Civil Services Examination 2023. A total of 342 candidates have been selected for various administrative posts, out of which Ashish Akshat has secured the first position. Abhay Kumar stood second, and Ravi Ranjan Kumar stood third. Names like Gautam Gaurav, Shweta, Rahul Kumar Vishwakarma, Robin Kumar, Sandeep Prakash, Swati Keshari and Rajiv Ranjan are also included in the top-10 position. The result is available on the commission's website, jpsc.gov.in. The successful candidates will be posted various administrative, police, finance, labor, excise, planning and social security service departments of the state. According to the commission, the selection has been done completely in accordance with the merit, marks and reservation rules. This is not just the result of an exam, but a success achieved after delay, agitation and struggle, which has brought relief and satisfaction to thousands of competitors. The commission has described the selection process as per the merit and reservation rules. Notably, the candidates had to take to the streets several times demanding that JPSC declare the results. Questions were also raised on the functioning of the commission regarding the continuous delay and ambiguity in the process from the main examination to the interview and then the final result. Organized protest started during the main examination of JPSC Civil Services Examination 2023 itself. The candidates had clearly expressed displeasure over the transparency in evaluation, the process of checking the answer sheets, the correctness of the answer key and the time limit of the results. Agitation, siege, memorandum and social media campaigns were carried out in many districts including Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Dhanbad, Garhwa in this regard. Only after constant pressure and intervention from public representatives, the commission slowly moved the process forward. A total of 864 candidates who passed the JPSC Mains exam had been called for interview, out of which, 342 candidates were named in the final list of successful candidates. The advertisement for JPSC Civil Services Examination was released on 27 January 2024. The preliminary examination was held on 17 March. 7011 candidates were successful in the result released on 22 April.

Thailand rejects mediation in Cambodia conflict, open to bilateral talks

Thailand-Cambodia Conflict: Thailand has declined mediation offers from the US, China, and Malaysia to resolve its conflict with Cambodia. Bangkok insists on bilateral talks, demanding Phnom Penh halt attacks. Foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura stated that third-country mediation is unnecessary at this stage. Thailand seeks a direct resolution, emphasizing the need for Cambodia to cease hostilities before further discussions.

INDIA bloc MPs tear SIR posters, dump them in bin as protest over Bihar voter list revision

NEW DELHI: Several MPs of the INDIA bloc parties, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi, on Friday held an unusual protest in Parliament House complex against the voter roll revision in Bihar by tearing posters with 'SIR' written on them and putting them in a 'disposal bin'. They also staged a protest march in Parliament House complex, demanding the rollback as well as a discussion on the issue in both houses. Ahead of the start of the day's proceedings, several MPs of the opposition, including those of the Congress, DMK, Samajwadi Party, TMC, RJD and Left parties, carried out a protest march with the banner 'SIR- Loktantra par Var'. Then in front of the Makar Dwar steps, a bin was placed and one by one the opposition leaders, including Kharge and Gandhi, tore the poster with SIR written on it and put it in the bin as a symbolic rejection of the exercise. The MPs also raised slogans like Save democracy and Stop vote-bandi. The opposition has been protesting in both houses of Parliament against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), alleging the EC's exercise was aimed at disenfranchising voters in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections.

Opposition MPs tear and throw SIR posters in bin as symbolic rejection of exercise

The MPs also staged a protest march in the Parliament House complex, demanding the rollback as well as a discussion on the issue in both houses

Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury moves Rule 267 notice in Rajya Sabha, seeks discussion on SIR in Bihar

Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury and Akhilesh Prasad Singh have moved notices in Rajya Sabha, demanding the suspension of house business to discuss the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision exercise in Bihar. The opposition INDIA bloc has raised concerns about potential disenfranchisement of vulnerable groups due to stringent documentation requirements and opaque guidelines.

MNS cracks down on Gujarati signage: Party issues warning to highway restaurants; wants menus, boards printed in Marathi

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers targeted restaurants and hotels along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway, demanding the prioritization of Marathi language. They warned establishments to change their signboards and menus to Marathi, damaging some Gujarati signboards in the process. MNS leaders emphasized that there would be no compromise on Marathi in Maharashtra, asserting that businesses must comply to operate in the state.

Min Seethakka appears in Nampally court over 2021 COVID-19 protest case

Hyderabad: Telangana Panchayat Raj minister Seethakka appeared before the Peoples Representatives Court in Nampally on Thursday for a hearing related to a case filed against her and others during a protest in April 2021. The case stems from an agitation led by Seethakka, along with NSUI leaders, at Indira Park in April 2021, demanding 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 .

Parliament Monsoon Session Day 5 Live Updates: Protests In Parliament Over Special Intensive Revision Of Electoral Rolls Likely To Continue

The Opposition leaders have been protesting at Parliament's Makar Dwar, demanding that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise be halted.

TMC differs from Oppn line, wants debate on SIR first

NEW DELHI: As both Houses of Parliament are set to take up a debate on the Pahalgam terror attack and OperationSindoor early next week, the INDIA bloc ally Trinamool Congress (TMC) has taken a divergent stand by insisting that a debate on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar be taken up first. The government has agreed to discuss Operation Sindoor for 16 hours in the Lok Sabha on Monday. It will come up for discussion in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. According to TMC sources, the party raised the demand in the first meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. However, the government did not pay heed to the demand, said a leader. Incidentally, it was the first BAC meeting which was held after Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhars resignation. The leader further said that the party may even abstain from the debate on Operation Sindoor and Pahalgam if the government ignores their demand. In the meeting, the government was non-committal on the Oppositions demand for a debate on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. Although the other INDIA bloc members had earlier wanted the discussion on Operation Sindoor to be held immediately, the government said that debate would be possible only after Prime Minister Modis return from a two-nation visit on June 26. While the other INDIA bloc partners have agreed with the government on the debate on Operation Sindoor, the TMC feels that SIR must be given priority, as it will have devastating effects on voting rights and citizenship of citizens. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has been demanding roll back of the revision. Op Sindoor debate later Although the other INDIA bloc members had earlier wanted the discussion on Operation Sindoor to be held immediately, the government said that debate would be possible only after Prime Minister Modis return from a two-nation visit on June 26.

RSS chief, clerics agree to start dialogue between Hindus and Muslims

NEW DELHI: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat met prominent Muslim clerics and scholars on Thursday, discussing a host of issues with them and agreeing on the need to start a dialogue between Hindus and Muslims, All India Imam Organisation chief Umer Ahmed Iliyasi said. The meeting that lasted for about three hours and a half was attended by 60 prominent imams, muftis and mohtamims (heads) of madrasas, Iliyasi said. The meeting was organised by the All India Imam Organisation at the Haryana Bhawan here. The RSS described the meeting as positive and said it was part of a continuous process of holding an extensive dialogue with all sections of the society with the objective of exploring how everyone can work together in the interest of the country. This is a continuous process of an extensive dialogue with all sections of the society. The main objective is how everyone can work together in the interest of the country. Todays discussion was also positive, Sunil Ambekar, the head of the national publicity and media department of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh said. Bhagwat, who attended the meeting on an invitation from the All India Imam Organisation, was accompanied by senior RSS leaders, including Krishan Gopal and Indresh Kumar. A freewheeling discussion took place at the meeting on national issues. It was decided that there should be a dialogue between mandirs and masjids, imams and pujaris, gurukuls and madrasas, Iliyasi said. Asked about the RSS chiefs view on the decision, he said Bhagwat appreciated it. There was a consensus that the All India Imam Organisation and the RSS will take this forward together, he added. Dialogue is the only medium to resolve every issue. Dialogue resolves misunderstandings, ends hatred, establishes mutual coordination, builds mutual trust, Iliyasi said.

J&K outclasses Kerala Knights in Intl Masters Basketball tourney

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, July 24: In a pulsating contest held at the Greenfield International Stadium in Trivandrum, J&K Masters registered a memorable 9285 victory over the Kerala Knights in the ongoing Stephen Koshy Jacob Memorial International Masters Basketball Tournament. The encounter was marked by high-intensity gameplay and competitive spirit, but it was J&Ks superior teamwork and tactical execution that ultimately sealed the win. Leading from the front was Randhir Singh, who delivered a commanding performance with 35 points, dominating [] The post J&K outclasses Kerala Knights in Intl Masters Basketball tourney appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Opposition protest against Bihar rolls revision stalls House

The parliamentary session faced disruptions for the fourth consecutive day due to opposition protests against alleged irregularities in Bihar's electoral rolls. Sonia Gandhi joined the demonstration, demanding accountability from the Election Commission. Despite attempts to proceed with legislative business, both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned amidst the uproar, hindering discussions on key bills like the one concerning Scheduled Tribes in Goa's assembly.

CM launches health initiatives to offer patients timely care

New digital system unveiled to ensure treatment begins instantly, says Gupta; 34 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, eight Jan Aushadhi Kendras opened; 93 lakh digital health cards issued, 1,350 posts filled

Rajya Sabha adjourned for fourth day in row

The Rajya Sabha faced disruptions for the fourth consecutive day due to opposition protests, leading to multiple adjournments. Proceedings began with Ujjwal Nikam's oath-taking and farewell speeches for six retiring members from Tamil Nadu. However, opposition members disrupted Question Hour, demanding discussions on various issues, including the resignation of Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Gaekwad family to revive 90-year-old Kirti Mandir

4th Test: Duckett And Crawley Fifties Help England Claim Control After Stokes Five-for (Ld)

Tendulkar Trophy Test: Half centuries from Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley have put England in a commanding position after skipper Ben Stokes took his first five-wicket haul in eight years on day two of fourth Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test at Old Trafford on Thursday. At stumps, England reached 225/2 in 46 overs and trail India by 133 runs. Stokes 5-72 helped England bowl out India for 358 with Rishabh Pant coming out to bat and making a courageous 54 despite a fractured right foot - a knock that will be remembered for ages to come. Pant had retired hurt on 37, but his sheer willpower got him back at the crease adding 17 more runs and ensuring India crossed 350-mark. Duckett (94) and Crawley (84) then put on a superb opening partnership of 166 off 195 balls to rattle India - falling before reaching their respective centuries. But with Joe Root and Ollie Pope unbeaten on 11 and 20 respectively, England will be confident to get a big score and take a first innings lead. In the morning, Jofra Archer continuously found Jadeja's outside edge before eventually getting the left-hander to nick behind and Brook at second slip took the catch, as he fell for 20. Thakur and Washington Sundar managed to survive a tough examination from Englands bowlers to stitch a 48-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Thakur was proficient in hitting three boundaries while making 41 off 88 balls before his resistance was finally broken when he was drawn into a drive off Stokes and edged to a diving Duckett at gully. His dismissal brought an injured Pant onto the crease amidst rapturous applause from the spectators. The visuals of him taking the support of railings to come out to bat and Shardul Thakur giving him a little pat on the head before stepping on to the field showed the desire to fight through the pain and contribute to his team's cause. Though Pant hobbled to complete his singles and run between the wickets, he then had to make the long walk back to the pavilion with Sundar, leaving the cricketing world astounded and in awe of his warrior-like spirit, as rain caused for early lunch to be taken. The second session began with Sundar getting a healthy edge off Stokes for four, before he hooked a short ball from Chris Woakes to deep fine leg and fall for 27 off 90 balls. Stokes completed his first five-wicket haul in eight years when his outswinger took an edge of Kambojs bat and was caught safely by Jamie Smith. Pant finally got the timing right when he nailed a pull off Archer for six and reached his 18th Test fifty in 69 balls by reaching out to Stokes wide ball and sent it cracking through cover for four. But for the second consecutive time, Archer sent Pants off-stump on a cartwheel ride, as hit gutsy knock came to an end at 54 off 75 balls and received rousing reception from the spectators. Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah hanged around to hit a boundary each, before the latter swung a leg-side delivery off Archer and the ball was caught by Smith. After Root persuaded to go for a review, that proved to be a shrewd move as a nick was detected and resulted in Indias innings coming to an end, with Archer taking 3-75. Questions were around how the Indian bowlers would make use of bowler-friendly conditions, but Crawley and Duckett came out all guns blazing by feasting on the inconsistent lines and lengths from the tourists bowling line-up, who didnt make much use of bouncers too. Duckett laid the platform for England by hitting four boundaries off debutant Anshul Kamboj, before glancing Jasprit Bumrah for three boundaries. While Duckett has feasted on anything on his legs, Crawley took a liking to Mohammed Sirajs freebies and hit three boundaries. The duo would take a four each off Siraj and Kamboj to ensure England hit a great punch till tea break came. The final session started with Crawley thumping three boundaries, before he and Duckett reached their fifties in 73 and 46 balls respectively. Despite Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja brought into the bowling attack, there was no stopping boundaries as Crawley continued to play his shots with immaculate ease. India finally had a breakthrough on the last ball of the 32nd over when Crawley edged a turning ball from Jadeja and KL Rahul took a low catch at first slip, as he fell for 84 off 13 balls. Duckett also smacked three boundaries off Mohammed Siraj, before missing his century when he chased a short and wide delivery from Anshul Kamboj and nicked behind to wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel to give the pacer his first Test wicket. The final session started with Crawley thumping three boundaries, before he and Duckett reached their fifties in 73 and 46 balls respectively. Despite Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja brought into the bowling attack, there was no stopping boundaries as Crawley continued to play his shots with immaculate ease. Also Read: LIVE Cricket Score Brief Scores: India 358 in 114.1 overs (B Sai Sudharsan 61, Yashasvi Jaiswal 58; Ben Stokes 5-72, Jofra Archer 3-73) lead England 225/2 in 46 overs (Ben Duckett 94 not out, Zak Crawley 84; Ravindra Jadeja 1-37, Anshul Kamboj 1-48) by 133 runs Article Source: IANS

Centre to extend President's rule in Manipur for six more months, Amit Shah to move resolution in Rajya Sabha

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will on Friday move a resolution in Rajya Sabha to extend Presidents Rule in Manipur for another six months. The extension will take effect from August 13. That this House approves the continuance in force of the Proclamation dated the 13th February, 2025, in respect of Manipur, issued under Article 356 of the Constitution by the President, for a further period of six months with effect from 13th August, 2025, a Rajya Sabha Parliamentary bulletin said on Thursday. Manipur was placed under Presidents Rule after the BJP failed to reach a consensus on a successor to N. Biren Singh , who had resigned as Chief Minister on February 9. He stepped down just a day before his government was due to face a no-confidence motion and a critical floor test. The resignation followed nearly two years of ethnic violence in the state, beginning in May 2023, and came amid increasing pressure from the opposition, which had been demanding Singhs removal. In April, 21 ruling NDA MLAs from the state wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Shah, demanding the immediate installation of a popular government. In their letters, they said the people of Manipur had welcomed Presidents Rule with high expectations, but there had been no visible actions to restore peace and normalcy. There is a strong apprehension among the common people that the violence may reoccur. Many civil society organisations have come out openly against the imposition of Presidents Rule. They have been demanding the installation of a popular government in the state, the MLAs wrote jointly. The ethnic violence has left over 250 people dead and displaced 60,000 others. A majority of them are still taking shelter in relief camps. President's rule in Manipur symbolic of PM Modi, HM Shah's collective failure: Gaurav Gogoi

Crawley responds to Gills allegation of being 90-second late at Lord's

Zak Crawley lauded Ben Stokes' leadership and bowling prowess after England's strong showing on Day 2 of the fourth Test. Crawley and Duckett's impressive opening partnership put England in a commanding position, trailing India by just 133 runs.

Both houses adjourned for fourth day amid Opposition uproar

New Delhi: For the fourth consecutive day today, both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day after Opposition members created ruckus, demanding the withdrawal of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in Bihar and discussion on Operation Sindoor. As soon as the Lok Sabha reconvened at 2 pm, and the presiding officer, Krishna [] The post Both houses adjourned for fourth day amid Opposition uproar appeared first on Northlines .

4th Test: Duckett And Crawley Fifties Help England Claim Control After Stokes Picks Five-for

Tendulkar Trophy Test: Half centuries from Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley have put England in a commanding position after skipper Ben Stokes took his first five-wicket haul in eight years on day two of fourth Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test at Old Trafford on Thursday. At stumps, England reached 225/2 in 46 overs and trail India by 133 runs. Stokes 5-72 helped England bowl out India for 358 with Rishabh Pant coming out to bat and making a courageous 54 despite a fractured right foot - a knock that will be remembered for ages to come. Duckett (94) and Crawley (84) then put on a superb opening partnership of 166 off 195 balls to rattle India - falling before reaching their respective centuries. But with Joe Root and Ollie Pope unbeaten on 11 and 20 respectively, England will be confident to get a big score and take a first innings lead. The final session started with Crawley thumping three boundaries, before he and Duckett reached their fifties in 73 and 46 balls respectively. Despite Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja brought into the bowling attack, there was no stopping boundaries as Crawley continued to play his shots with immaculate ease. India finally had a breakthrough on the last ball of the 32nd over when Crawley edged a turning ball from Jadeja and KL Rahul took a low catch at first slip, as he fell for 84 off 13 balls. Duckett also smacked three boundaries off Mohammed Siraj, before missing his century when he chased a short and wide delivery from Anshul Kamboj and nicked behind to wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel to give the pacer his first Test wicket. The final session started with Crawley thumping three boundaries, before he and Duckett reached their fifties in 73 and 46 balls respectively. Despite Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja brought into the bowling attack, there was no stopping boundaries as Crawley continued to play his shots with immaculate ease. Also Read: LIVE Cricket Score Brief Scores: India 358 in 114.1 overs (B Sai Sudharsan 61, Yashasvi Jaiswal 58; Ben Stokes 5-72, Jofra Archer 3-73) lead England 225/2 in 46 overs (Ben Duckett 94 not out, Zak Crawley 84; Ravindra Jadeja 1-37, Anshul Kamboj 1-48) by 133 runs. Article Source: IANS

Road transport corporation employees to launch indefinite strike on August 5

They are demanding release of pending wage arrears as part of the implementation of 2024 wage revision

Himachal govt urges Centre to carry out in-depth studies on rising natural disasters in state

CHANDIGARH: The Himachal Pradesh government has urged the Centre to carry out in-depth studies, through institutions such as the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Geological Survey of India (GSI), on the causes of natural disasters in the state. Since 2018, the state has witnessed 148 cloudbursts, 294 flash floods and over 5,000 landslides. Sources said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had recently ordered the formation of a multi-sector team comprising experts from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indore, to study the reasons behind the recent cloudbursts and flashfloods in Himachal Pradesh. A meeting of the Multi-Sectoral Central Team (MSCT), constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate the increasing incidents of natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh, was held in Shimla on Thursday. Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) KK Pant said that Himachal Pradesh's geographical conditions are different from other states, making it necessary to revise the norms related to disaster recovery and rehabilitation in the region. He stressed the need for institutions such as the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) to conduct in-depth studies on the causes of natural disasters while being stationed in the state. He highlighted the importance of assessing disaster-prone areas and focusing on early forecasting of such events. He said that emphasis should be laid on pre-disaster planning rather than post-disaster response in order to minimize loss of life and property. He also called for the installation of advanced sensors to improve data collection across the state. Pant said that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has also been advocating for a detailed study on the increasing incidents of cloudbursts since 2023. He further emphasized the need to set up a flood forecasting unit in the state, with the support of the Central Water Commission, to enhance hydrological monitoring and study glacial lakes. Dr Neeraj from DGRE-DRDO and Atul from GSI participated in the meeting virtually. The MSCT team urged DGRE-DRDO to provide data related to high-altitude regions and asked GSI to focus more on the issues of sudden floods and landslides, which were the two major natural disasters occurring in Himachal Pradesh. Special Secretary (Revenue-Disaster Management) DC Rana gave a detailed presentation on various natural disasters in the state. He said that since 2018, Himachal Pradesh has witnessed 148 cloudbursts, 294 flash floods and over 5,000 landslides. He said that districts such as Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and Mandi were extremely vulnerable to such events. He apprised the MSCT team that during 2023 alone, the estimated loss due to natural disasters in the state was nearly Rs 10,000 crore. Apart from this, the state incurs a loss of Rs 1,000-2,000 crore annually due to such events. He said that climate change was a major factor behind the increase in cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides. Senior officials from various departments of both the central and state governments were present in the meeting. On Tuesday, a cloudburst caused large-scale damage in Kaurik and Ranrgik villages of Kaza subdivision. Similarly, an incident of cloudburst was reported in the Leo nullah in the Hungrung valley of Kinnaur district on July 22. Not only these two tribal districts but the entire state is witnessing a shift in agro-climatic zoning and an adverse impact on crops and fruits. Leader of the Opposition and former chief minister Jai Ram Thakurs assembly segment of Seraj in Mandi has suffered widespread destruction and losses to the tune of around Rs 1,000 crore. He feels that climate change can be one of the reasons for this large-scale devastation and there is need for experts to examine this disturbing trend. Meanwhile, a delegation led by Union Health Minister JP Nadda, BJP MPs and MLAs from Himachal along with former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday met Union Ministers Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari to seek central assistance for restoration of the damaged infrastructure this monsoon. Nadda, who had visited the rain-ravaged parts of Mandi and Kullu district on July 7, apprised Shah about the havoc wreaked by rains on June 30. He sought assistance for reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure from Shah, who assured all possible help. The delegation also called on Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to seek liberal financial assistance for reconstruction of the damaged roads and bridges, which had suffered damage running into several hundred crores of rupees. Gadkari assured that the road infrastructure would be restored on a war footing.

UP Minister Stages Sit-In Protest Against Kanpur Police Over Case Against BJP Workers

UP Minister Pratibha Shukla protested in Kanpur, demanding a police official's removal after a road construction dispute and a case against her supporters.

AIADMK to protest demanding immediate opening of Palayamkottai Market inaugurated by Stalin in February

Protest by IIT Guwahati students against fee hike enters third day

GUWAHATI: An indefinite protest by research scholars and post-graduate students of the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) against steep hike in their fee structure entered the third day on Thursday, even as the institute said the fee was hiked to support enhanced student welfare and activities. The protestors alleged that the decision on fee hike was made without any transparency and without consulting the student community, particularly the PhD scholars. Despite the institute having a student population of around 8,500, not a single student was informed of this change until it appeared suddenly on the fee payment portal, a protesting student, who did not wish to be named, said. The students launched the protest demanding an official confirmation from the administration ensuring registration without penalty or late fines, an assurance that no fellowship would be deducted due to delayed fee payments, and a revised fee structure. A group of students had met the management last week but their talks failed. The protestors warned that they would not relent until the decision on the fee hike is revoked. The IIT Guwahati said the fee structure had been revised after seven years. It added that the Rs 8,900 per semester increase for continuing students is to support enhanced student welfare and activities, including increased allocations for hostel-level events, cultural and sports festivals, and Gymkhana-led initiatives beyond just Inter-IIT participation. The administration had a four-hour open discussion on 17 July 2025 and provided detailed clarifications on the increased components of the fee. The students were also informed that the institute has made provisions for loans through the Students Welfare Fund to support the needy ones, the institute said in a statement. It further stated that following the meeting, the students were asked to submit their representation if they had any further concerns but no submission was received. However, suddenly, on 22 July 2025, a small group of students gathered in front of the administrative building and started protesting without any prior notice and without submitting any representation of their concerns. While a small group of students is protesting, the majority of 8,400-strong student body is not participating in the protest, the statement further stated.

Punjab Police reveal bomb threats to Golden Temple were sent through 'dark net', VPN

CHANDIGARH: Police have revealed that the emails sent to the Shiromani Parkhandak Gurdwara Committee (SGPC) threatening to bomb the Golden Temple were sent via the 'Dark Net' and 'Virtual Private Network' (VPN). Sources said that the SGPC received nine threats via email since July 14. Three days ago, Sri Guru Ram Dass Ji International Airport at Amritsar received an RDX blast threat, following which the CISF and Punjab Police tightened the security around the airport. On July 18, the Nanakjhira Gurdwara management in Bidar in Karnataka also received an RDX blast threat. Sources said that all threatening emails had similar content, as the sender repeatedly raised issues related to the people of Tamil Nadu, criticising the government of that state. We strongly believe that the emails were sent from Tamil Nadu, but we have to substantiate it with technical evidence. We have approached a US-based software company and its subsidiary companies, which can provide the source of the same; we are waiting for a response. We have also informed central agencies, said an officer on condition of anonymity. The police arrested Shubham Dubey from Faridabad in Haryana following a technical probe. His laptop and mobile were seized and sent for forensic analysis. Meanwhile, Congress MPs from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh on Thursday staged a demonstration outside the parliament house, demanding immediate action related to threats being issued to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Those who joined the protest included Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Charanjit Singh Cahnni, Dr Amar Singh, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Dharamvir Gandhi, Manish Tewari, Kumari Selja, Sher Singh Ghubaya and Gurjeet Singh Aujla. Later, talking to the media, Punjab Congress President and Ludhiana MP Warring pointed out that threats were continuously being issued against the Golden Temple. He said that while the Punjab government had claimed to have arrested one of the accused, he was said to be not involved in issuing the threats. He said, the union government and the union Home Ministry must take serious note of these threats and identify the culprits and bring them to book. They must understand the seriousness and sensitivity of the matter, he added.

8 Dead, 21 Injured as HRTC Bus Falls into Gorge in Himachals Mandi District

Accident occurred near Maseran in Sarkaghat area; CM Sukhu and MP Kangana Ranaut express grief

Bus falls 100 feet off road in Himchal' Mandi; eight killed, 21 injured

MANDI: Eight people, including four women, died and 21 others were injured when a state-run bus veered off the road and fell around 100 feet down in Sarkaghat area of Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district on Thursday, police said. The accident took place at Tarangla near Maseran when the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus with 29 people including the driver and the conductor on board was on its way to Durgapur from Sarkaghat. Five people were declared dead at the Civil Hospital Sarkaghat, two at the Government Medical College Nerchowk and one in AIIMS Bilaspur, police said. As many as 17 injured people are under treatment at the Government Medical College Nerchowk, AIIMS Bilaspur and RKGMC Hamirpur while four are taking treatment in the Civil Hospital Sarkaghat, they added. The accident was noticed by local residents who immediately informed the police. Mandi SP Sakshi Verma said local police and ambulance teams promptly reached the site and carried out a rescue operation, navigating the steep terrain to evacuate victims. The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, Verma, who was at the spot, said. Some reports said that an injured woman passenger asked a person who helped her to bring her bag with Rs 1.5 lakh cash in it. The helper searched for the bag and handed it over to the injured woman. Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri who also holds the portfolio of transport department met the injured in AIIMS Bilapsur. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has expressed grief over the incident and directed the Mandi district administration to provide ex-gratia grant to the next of kin of the deceased and best of treatment to the injured. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (@SukhuSukhvinder) July 24, 2025 He also prayed to the God to grant peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss. Meanwhile, BJP MP from Mandi Kangana Ranaut also expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incident. In a post on social media, she prayed to the almighty to give peace to the departed souls and strength to the bereaved families.

Five dead, several injured as HRTC bus falls into gorge in Himachal Pradeshs Sarkaghat

Mandi Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma stated that around 20 people sustained injuries in the accident and are currently receiving treatment at the Sarkaghat hospital.

Opposition create ruckus; stall key legislation in Lok Sabha till Friday

As TDP leader Krishna Prasad Tenneti took the Chair, opposition members immediately began shouting slogans, demanding a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, among other pressing issues.

Divya Prem: Pyaar Aur Rahasya Ki Kahanis Megha Ray Turns Makeup Room Into Mini Gym

Megha Ray, star of Divya Prem, uses mini dumbbell workouts on set to stay fit and energized for her demanding role.

Himachal Pradesh: At least 5 killed, 20 injured after bus falls into gorge in Mandi, here's what we know so far

At least five people, including three women and two men, were killed after a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus plunged into a gorge near the Maseran area of Sarkaghat, around 60 kilometres from Mandi town, police said.

Himachal Pradesh: 5 dead, several injured as HRTC bus falls into gorge in Sarkaghat

Mandi (Himachal Pradesh), July 24: At least five people, including three women and two men, were killed after a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus plunged into a gorge near the Maseran area of Sarkaghat, around 60 kilometres from Mandi town, police said. Mandi Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma stated that around 20 people sustained injuries in the accident and are currently receiving treatment at the Sarkaghat hospital. Several passengers are reported to be in critical condition. Preliminary information indicated [] The post Himachal Pradesh: 5 dead, several injured as HRTC bus falls into gorge in Sarkaghat appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Lok Sabha adjourned for fourth consecutive day amid Opposition ruckus

In the morning, Speaker Om Birla had to adjourn proceedings when Opposition members raised slogans, entered the Well of the House and also displayed placards demanding that the SIR be withdrawn

The best microSD cards for the Nintendo Switch 2

If you're lucky enough to have a new Nintendo Switch 2 in hand right now, you're probably filling it up with old and new games alike. The console comes with 256GB of storage built in; that's eight times more than the original Switch and four times more than the Switch OLED . But the new consoles improved performance means that some games will hog a ton of that space. Take, for instance, Cyberpunk 2077 , which is a 59GB download, while Split Fiction checks in at 69GB. While not all titles hog so much storage, there's a good chance you'll want to add more space to your Switch 2 as time goes on. You'll need a microSD Express card to do that. These are not the same as the standard microSD cards you may have for the first Switch or other gaming handhelds . They're newer, faster and (as to be expected) more expensive. But if you want more space, theyre your only choice . If youre looking to grab one today, weve laid out the best microSD cards for the Switch 2 and broken down what you should know before you buy. The best microSD cards for the Switch 2 (and why you might want to wait to buy) The SanDisk microSD Express Card and Lexar Play Pro. Jeff Dunn for Engadget The Switch 2 is the first mainstream device to require microSD Express for storage expansion, so there arent many options available to buy just yet. To make things easy, heres a list of every microSD Express card weve seen at retailers at the time of writing. 128GB SanDisk microSD Express Card ($54 MSRP) PNY microSD Express Card ($45 MSRP) 256GB Samsung microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60 MSRP) SanDisk microSD Express Card ($73 MSRP) Lexar Play Pro ($50 MSRP) PNY microSD Express Card ($59 MSRP) GameStop Express microSD Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($60 MSRP) Onn microSD Express Card ($36 MSRP) 512GB Lexar Play Pro ($100 MSRP) GameStop Express microSD Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($100 MSRP) Onn microSD Express Card ($66 MSRP) 1TB Lexar Play Pro ($200 MSRP) GameStop Express microSD Card for Nintendo Switch 2 ($190 MSRP) Nintendo says the Switch 2 technically supports cards with a capacity up to 2TB, but we havent seen any microSD Express model go beyond 1TB just yet. Its also worth noting that GameStop and Onn (Walmarts in-house electronics brand) arent manufacturers, so its unclear who exactly is making their cards. Stock for these cards remains somewhat patchy, particularly for the higher-capacity options. But many of the 128GB and 256GB models appear to be steadily available as of the Switch 2's launch week. Just be warned that you may have to deal with extended ship times in some cases. SanDisks microSD Express Card has also increased in price since it first went up for sale in February; originally, it cost $45 for 128GB and $60 for 256GB. Either way, all of these cards are far pricier than traditional microSD options. The Samsung Pro Plus , for example, costs $17 for 128GB, $25 for 256GB, $43 for 512GB and $90 for 1TB as of this writing. Remember: Youre looking for microSD Express , not Extreme, like the branding SanDisk uses for some of its conventional microSD cards . A microSD Express card will have a big EX logo printed on it if you see that, you should be good to go. All microSD Express cards will have this EX logo printed on them. Nintendo/Engadget Weve already tested SanDisks Express card and the Lexar Play Pro for our broader guide to the best microSD cards . Between the two, SanDisks card has much faster sequential read speeds up to 899 MB/s vs. 712 MB/s in CrystalDiskMark , to name one benchmark which theoretically makes it better equipped to reduce load times. The Play Pro is quicker for sequential writes (up to 720 MB/s vs. 650 MB/s), available in more sizes and should be cheaper at 256GB whenever its in stock. (SanDisk says the 128GB version of its card has slower sequential writes than the 256GB model, too.) Random performance is about equal, so the two should be similarly adept at keeping large games like Mario Kart World running smoothly. We mainly tested those cards on a Windows PC and Mac, though. How they perform on the actual Switch 2 remains to be seen. Nintendo didnt send out early review units to press, and we've only just received our own retail model. So well need a few more days to finish testing. For now, though, we cant say for sure if the console renders all microSD Express cards to similar speeds. That was largely the case with the first Switch: Once a (regular) microSD card hit a certain threshold of performance, there wasnt that much practical difference between it and other alternatives. The Switch 2 is working with a different standard, but if something similar were to happen again, the best microSD Express card would simply be the most affordable one from a reputable brand in the capacity you want. That brings us to our main piece of advice: If you can hold off on buying one of these things early on, thats probably a good idea. Its not just about the lack of testing truthfully, wed be surprised if any of these cards are truly bad. It's more about value: Barring more tariff shenanigans , all of these cards are as expensive today as theyre ever likely to get. The Switch 2 is already popular and will continue to be, thus more microSD Express cards will need to be made and prices will (eventually) come down. Try to use all 256 of the gigabytes baked into the Switch 2 first, even if it means having to delete a game or two. But if youre absolutely sure you want more space right away, the cards above should be good enough. What are microSD Express cards? A microSD Express card like the one on the right has a second row of pins on the back. Jeff Dunn for Engadget Most microSD cards are based on a standard called Ultra High Speed (UHS), of which there are three versions: UHS-I, UHS-II and UHS-III. The vast majority of cards you may have bought in the past utilize UHS-I. These have one row of pins in the back and a theoretical maximum data transfer speed of 104 megabytes per second (MB/s). (Though many cards are able to surpass that limit with proprietary tech and card readers.) The original Switch has a UHS-I microSD slot, as do most other gaming handhelds like Valves Steam Deck . UHS-II cards add a second row of pins and can reach up to 312 MB/s. These are pricier and much less common than cards based on UHS-I, but theyre supported by some cameras and higher-power handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally X . UHS-III, meanwhile, is twice as fast as UHS-II in theory (624 MB/s), but no microSD cards have actually used it. UHS-I cards have held on over the years because theyre cheap, widely supported and fast enough for the things most people need them to do: record 4K video, stash photos and so on. But with the Switch 2, Nintendo needs more . The new console is dramatically more powerful, which allows it to run demanding games that may have originally been built for stronger hardware like the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X or gaming PCs. The device also uses UFS 3.1 storage internally, which is much speedier than the eMMC storage used by the original Switch. (A custom file decompression engine helps improve load times as well.) So if the Switch 2 is going to accept microSD cards, it needs ones that wont bring a serious drop-off in performance and can hold up with modern games. The Nintendo Switch 2. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Hence, SD Express. This standard has technically been around since 2018 but mostly went nowhere until the Switch 2 came along. It also uses a second row of pins, but it lets microSD cards take advantage of the PCI Express (PCIe)/NVMe interface, which is the same underlying tech used by modern SSDs . As a result, it can produce considerably faster read and write speeds, with a current theoretical maximum of 985 MB/s. As noted above, real-world performance wont be quite that fast. Even if it was, the best microSD Express cards would still be much slower than the NVMe SSDs used by the PS5 and Xbox. ( Sony recommends SSDs with sequential read speeds of at least 5,500 MB/s.) And theyll fall well below their peak speeds under sustained loads: SanDisk, for instance, says sustained write speeds for its 128GB Express card can drop as low as 100 MB/s. But theyre still a marked improvement over old UHS-I cards, and in theory, they should be quicker than some older SATA-based SSDs when it comes loading game levels, asset streaming, retrieving saves or copying games to external storage. Whereas SanDisks microSD Express card can produce sequential read speeds around 900 MB/s, Lexars Professional Silver Plus the top UHS-I pick in our general microSD card guide topped out just over 200 MB/s, and thats with a proprietary reader. (On the first Switch, itd be closer to 100 MB/s.) Sequential writes and random speeds were three to four times better as well, and sometimes even more depending on the benchmark we used. It remains to be seen how well these Express cards will hold up with extended use, and theres no way to know exactly when their sky-high prices will drop. Non-Switch 2 devices that support microSD Express are still exceedingly rare, and the standard itself isnt backwards compatible with UHS-II, so youll be limited to UHS-I speeds if you want to use your card with another device (unless you buy a pricey external reader ). Still, while the increased costs and limited selection are annoying, the tech itself seems worthy of a next-gen Switch. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/best-microsd-cards-for-nintendo-switch-2-160052947.html?src=rss

HP: Rain havoc leaves 311 road blocked; 221 water supply schemes disrupted

As per the morning report compiled at 10:00 AM by the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) on Thursday, National Highway-70 remained closed in the Mandi district due to heavy rain and landslides

Oppn MPs protest in Parliament against Bihar Voter Roll Revision

New Delhi, July 24: MPs from the INDIA bloc, including senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, staged a protest in the Parliament House complex on Thursday against the Election Commissions Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, demanding its immediate rollback and a discussion in both houses of Parliament. The demonstration, held for the [] The post Oppn MPs protest in Parliament against Bihar Voter Roll Revision appeared first on Northlines .

5 Dead, Over 20 Injured As Bus Falls Into Gorge In Himachal's Mandi

All injured are being treated at the Sarkaghat hospital, with several reported to be in serious condition.

Parliament Monsoon Session: Opposition protests stall Lok Sabha proceedings for fourth day

Opposition members protested demanding a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar

Monsoon Session Day 4 | Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm as Opposition continues protest over Bihar SIR

The fourth day of the Monsoon Session also began on a stormy note, with Lok Sabha proceedings adjourned till 2 pm following protests by Opposition MPs in the House. Prior to the start of the session Opposition Members staged fresh protests at at the Parliament's Makar Dwar over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, among other issues. The first three days of the session were largely washed out due to similar protests, leading to repeated adjournments and no substantial legislative business being transacted. Notably, the Opposition has continued to press the Union government for a debate on the SIR exercies, Operation Sindoor, Donald Trumps repeated claims of negotiating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, as well as seeking answers over the sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar after the first day of the session. Opposition protests before House proceedings The fourth day of the Monsoon session began on a stormy note, with Opposition MPs staging fresh protests over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, among other issues. Ahead of the days proceedings, members of the Opposition's INDIA bloc held a demonstration outside Parliament's Makar Dwar , criticising the ECIs SIR exercise and demanding a debate on the matter in both Houses. The first three days of the session were largely washed out due to similar protests, leading to repeated adjournments and no substantial legislative business being transacted. Notably, the Opposition has continued to press the Union government for a debate Operation Sindoor, Donald Trumps repeated claims of negotiating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, as well as seeking answers over the sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar after the first day of the session. #WATCH | Delhi: INDIA bloc MPs stage a protest outside the Parliament, against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise being carried out by the Election Commission of India ahead of the Bihar Assembly Elections. pic.twitter.com/Cmuiwr8c83 ANI (@ANI) July 24, 2025

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