The Times of India

An autorickshaw driver in Palghar brutally assaulted a four-year-old boy, slamming him to the ground and smashing his head against an iron rod after an argument with the child's father. The critically injured boy is battling for life in the hospital, and the accused has been arrested.

Maharashtra has seen a surge in autonomous colleges, more than tripling to 314 by 2025, with Mumbai University leading. Eased UGC norms, including removing the 'A' grade requirement, have fueled this growth. While proponents highlight enhanced course flexibility, concerns about diluted academic standards and potential fee hikes are being raised, prompting calls for careful selection and continuous monitoring of institutions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday commissioned the Haldia Bulk Terminal (HBT) and formally dedicated it to the nation.

A Kerala mechanic has transformed his home into a unique automotive art gallery, repurposing discarded vehicle parts into stunning decor. From scooter sofas and car-seat arrangements to engine coffee tables and tyre window frames, this creative dwelling showcases an extraordinary blend of passion for automobiles and sustainable design, captivating millions online.

Japan's airports now use automated facial recognition gates to expedite immigration, meaning many travelers won't get traditional passport stamps. However, those desiring a souvenir stamp can still request one from an officer immediately after using the automated gate, before leaving the immigration area. This system aims to boost tourism by streamlining border checks.

Congress has accused Prime Minister Modi of being lackmailed by the US, citing American permission for Indian refiners to buy Russian oil. Party leaders claim India's strategic autonomy and sovereignty are threatened, with Rahul Gandhi asserting foreign policy should stem from India's ethos, not a compromised individual's actions.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei voiced concerns over autonomous weapons and mass surveillance, emphasizing AI's compatibility with democracy. He also highlighted India's potential for significant economic growth, projecting 20-25% driven by AI productivity gains, and noted Anthropic's efforts to enhance its models for Indic languages.

As part of the arrangement, there will be devolution of powers relating to 46 subjects to FNTA, which will cover the districts of Tuensang, Mon, Kiphire, Longleng, Noklak and Shamator. The autonomy and greater say will address the long-standing grievances of ENPO over lack of equitable development in eastern Nagaland districts.

The draft National Electricity Policy 2026 proposes annual tariff resets, including automatic index-linked revisions, to ensure the financial health of power utilities. It aims to limit cross-subsidies for manufacturing and railways, while promoting competition in distribution and phasing out monopolies. The policy also emphasizes renewable energy, storage, and cybersecurity.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval highlighted the global trend of countries imposing their will through force, emphasizing that national willpower translates into national power. He credited India's current leadership for its significant progress over the past decade, stating that strong leadership and morale are crucial for national independence and achieving objectives.

The transport ministry is proposing mandatory fitness and pollution tests at automated test stations (ATS) for private vehicles, ending home-delivered certificates. A 10-second geo-tagged video of the vehicle during the test will be required. Vehicles failing fitness tests will be declared 'End of Life Vehicle' if not rectified within 180 days.

Salesforce is scaling back its reliance on large language models due to reliability issues, shifting focus to deterministic automation in its Agentforce product. Executives acknowledge a decline in trust in AI models, with reported instances of models omitting instructions and losing focus. This strategic pivot follows significant support staff reductions attributed to AI agent deployment.

The government is firm on its SIM-binding rule for messaging apps to combat cyber fraud and foreign intelligence misuse, despite industry pushback. While the continuous SIM-binding mandate remains, authorities may increase the auto-logout time for web sessions from six hours to 12-18 hours, but not exceeding 24 hours, to address user concerns about workflow disruption.