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Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS) A Special NIA Court in Delhi sentenced a Thai national and arms smuggler to six years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakh in a case relating to an international arms procurement conspiracy of the NSCN (IM), an official said Thursday. Willy Naruenartwanich alias Wuthikorn Naruenartwanich alias Willy was sentenced by the Special Exclusive Court-03 for NIA Cases at Rouse Avenue District Courts on Wednesday, the NIA said in a statement. The court had convicted

Digital Desk | Gandhinagar, Oct 8 (IANS) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday said deliberate mistakes in road and infrastructure works would not be tolerated, while calling for strict adherence to tender procedures and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to maintain quality. Patel was speaking at the inauguration of the first two-day Chintan Shibir of the state Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department in Gandhinagar, organised around the theme Gati-Gunvatta-Gaurav Accelerating Infra

Digital Desk | Dhaka, Oct 8 (IANS) Bangladeshs Awami League on Thursday expressed serious concern over the safety of minority communities across the country, questioning how much a minority life is worth when an entire Hindu family can be wiped out, and no clear answers emerge even a month and a half later. The party said that in this grim atmosphere, people are being told Durga Puja will take place, while there are no decorations at temples in Bangladesh. It said that children have not bought n

Digital Desk | Patna, Oct 8 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate's (ED) Patna Zonal Office has filed a charge sheet before the Special PMLA Court in Patna against six individuals in connection with an alleged money laundering case linked to a bank fraud involving the Punjab National Bank (PNB) in Muzaffarpur. The charge sheet was filed on September 29, 2026, seeking the conviction of Md. Zafar Eqbal, Nitesh Kumar Singh, Santosh Anand, Rajesh Kumar, Manjay Kumar Singh and Kundan Kumar. According to

Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Oct 8 (IANS) The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and IIT Dharwad on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in education, research and entrepreneurship in the presence of Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi. Congratulating both institutions, Joshi said the agreement should pave the way for sharing educational resources, research initiatives and innovation projects, while strengthening collaboration within the IIT system. He expr

Digital Desk | Bhopal, Oct 8 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested the principal of a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Itarsi and a middleman for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe from Bhopal-based firms engaged in renovation work at the school, the agency said on Thursday. The action came after the CBI registered a case against the principal on October 7 following allegations that he had demanded an undue advantage of Rs 3 lakh from the firms for releasing payments against

Digital Desk | Amaravati, Oct 8 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi and sought the Centres support for major infrastructure projects in the state. The Chief Minister raised several key issues concerning the development of Andhra Pradesh. According to an official release here, he briefed the Prime Minister on major development projects in the State, its economic situation, and issues relating to agriculture and irrigation

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS) The Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi said on Thursday that from August 31 to October 7, as many as 2,02,359 Form 6s have been received in the city for inclusion of eligible citizens names in the electoral roll. During the same period, 6,077 Form 7s have been filed for objection to proposed inclusion or deletion of names in the existing electoral roll, said a statement issued by the office of the CEO, Delhi. Till October 7, 75,280 Form 8s have been filed for

Digital Desk | Patna, Oct 8 (IANS) The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Patna Zonal Office, has filed a prosecution complaint before the Special Court (PMLA), Patna, against Priti Singh, a former Field Officer at the State Bank of India (SBI)'s Manpur branch in Gaya, in connection with an alleged Rs 7.96 crore money laundering case involving fraudulent overdraft facilities and manipulation of bank records. The complaint was filed on September 30, 2026, under Sections 44 and 45 of the Prevention

Digital Desk | Shimla, Oct 8 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh government on Thursday welcomed the reforms proposed by the GST Council, saying the measures would make the tax system more taxpayer-friendly and simplify compliance procedures. The proposed reforms, covering registration, return filing, refunds, assessment, adjudication and other processes, are expected to make Goods and Services Tax (GST) compliance simpler, more transparent and more efficient. The 57th meeting of the GST Council was held un

Digital Desk | New Delhi/Kochi, Oct 8 (IANS) The Centre has begun a nationwide consultation with fishing communities to frame a National Plan of Action for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF). The Union Department of Fisheries is leading the exercise, while the Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation (BOBP-IGO) is facilitating and coordinating it. The draft action plan is expected to be released on World Fisheries Day on November 21. It will then be opened for p

Digital Desk | Ranchi, Oct 8 (IANS) Highlighting that one can't beat experience in international cricket, India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumars sustained form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and rich experience of playing in overseas conditions were potentially behind his being given a call-up for the upcoming T20I series in New Zealand. Bhuvneshwar earned his India T20I recall on the back of a sensational IPL 2026 campaign, where he spearheaded Royal Challe

Digital Desk | Riyadh, Oct 8 (IANS) The Embassy of India in Riyadh on Thursday issued an advisory to all Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia to remain alert and vigilant amid ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure. In view of the current situation, all Indian nationals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are advised to remain alert and vigilant, stay indoors as necessary, and follow the instructions issued by local authorities through official channels, the Embassy stated in the advisory. Indian nat

Digital Desk | Bhubaneswar, Oct 8 (IANS) In a tragic incident, two members of a family died while three others sustained injuries in an alleged firecracker explosion under the Tirtol police station area of Jagatsinghpur district in Odisha on Thursday. The deceased were identified as 55-year-old Manoranjan Swain and his 22-year-old son, Soumya Sahil Swain, residents of Mahilo village in the Tirtol area of Jagatsinghpur district. Manoranjan's wife and sister-in-law sustained minor injuries in the

Digital Desk | Jaipur, Oct 8 (IANS) Udaipur is set to receive around 1,000 MCFT of additional water annually upon the completion of Phases III and IV of the Dewas Project, strengthening the city's drinking-water supply and helping sustain water levels in Lake Pichola and Fateh Sagar Lake. The enhanced water availability is also expected to support tourism, eco-tourism and related economic activities. Construction of dams and tunnels under Phases III and IV of the Dewas Project, a key initiative

Digital Desk | Gandhinagar, Oct 8 (IANS) Nearly three decades after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) first came to power in Gujarat, veteran politician and former Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela said on Thursday that the Congress can come to power in the state only if it starts preparing its candidates and reconnecting with voters much ahead of the 2027 state polls. In an interview with IANS, Vaghela, who is in talks with the Congress over a possible return to the party, said the Opposition n

Digital Desk | Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 8 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has detected major irregularities in loan transactions at three co-operative banks in Kerala. The findings were disclosed in a statement issued by the ED on Thursday. The irregularities came to light during searches conducted at 17 premises in Ernakulam, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Thrissur on Wednesday. The searches were carried out in connection with three separate cases being investigated under the Prevention of Mo

Digital Desk | Jaipur, Oct 8 (IANS) Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday expressed concern over the serious drought situation in western Rajasthan and urged Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to declare drought-hit areas and begin relief work immediately. Gehlot said arrangements for fodder and drinking water for livestock should be made without delay instead of making what he termed hollow announcements. He alleged that cattle in western Rajasthan were suffering from hunger an

Digital Desk | Guwahati, Oct 8 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the state's dairy sector had received a major boost with the launch of operations at a 20,000-litre-per-day (LPD) milk processing plant in Sonitpur, with the entire milk supply to be sourced from local dairy farmers. Sarma said the new facility was another step towards the state government's target of increasing milk production in Assam to 10 lakh litres per day. In a post on X, the Chief Minister sai

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS) India and Russia on Thursday reviewed existing military-technical cooperation and discussed co-production and co-development initiatives at the inaugural session of the 24th Working Group meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation and Defence Industry. The inaugural session of the 24th Working Group meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation and Defence Industr

Digital Desk | Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 8 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Thursday asked Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan to clarify the Congress national leadership's alleged stand that the Kerala government was not legally elected. He said the Chief Minister should make his position clear to the people of Kerala. If the Congress national leadership has taken such a position, the Chief Minister should clarify it, Chandrasekhar, who is also an MLA, said.

Digital Desk | Chennai, Oct 8 (IANS) A head-on collision between a government bus and a soil-laden lorry near Prancheri in Tirunelveli district on Thursday left a bus conductor dead and more than 20 passengers injured. The deceased was identified as Ajith Melvin Arthur, 52, a resident of Kanniyakumari district. He sustained fatal injuries and died on the spot. The injured passengers were admitted to Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital, where they are undergoing treatment. The acciden

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS) Delhi Lieutenant Governor T.S. Sandhu on Thursday inaugurated the opening ceremony of the DDA Sports Cup (Hockey) at Yamuna Sports Complex. The tournament is being organised in line with the vision of the Prime Ministers Fit India Movement, launched in 2019 to encourage people, particularly the youth, to make sports and fitness an integral part of their lives, said a DDA statement. The growing participation of young people in different sporting disciplines

Digital Desk | Chennai, Oct 8 (IANS) Tamil Nadus power utility has floated an urgent tender to buy up to 3,000 MW during evening peak hours as electricity demand remains close to 20,000 MW in October amid prolonged hot weather and declining wind generation. The Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (TNPDCL) will also procure up to 1,500 MW between midnight and 2 a.m. to bridge the supply shortfall. The purchases will cover October 12 to 31. The tender, issued through the Union government

Digital Desk | Lucknow, Oct 8 (IANS) Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, several leaders and social workers from different political parties joined the Congress on Thursday, said a party leader. Among those who joined the party were Neelam Yadav, Uttar Pradesh president of the Aam Aadmi Partys womens wing and a former national executive member; former Bahujan Samaj Party candidate from Ghaziabad Parmanand Garg; former Government of India official Durga Prasad; and Haji Imamuddin Ansar

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 8 (IAS) Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday launched JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) Teams under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaany to strengthen youth-led community participation in efforts to eliminate tuberculosis. Describing the launch of JOSH Teams as a milestone in the collective fight against tuberculosis, Nadda said a WHO report shows India has recorded a 21 per cent decline in TB incidence and treatme

Digital Desk | Hyderabad, Oct 8 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was afraid of poor people who had turned against it and, therefore, wanted to deprive them of their right to vote. For a second consecutive day, the Chief Minister participated in the INDIA bloc's protest in New Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He alleged that the BJP had tried to divide Indians based on religion,

Digital Desk | Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 8 (IANS) Environmental groups in Kerala have sought a CBI probe into the deaths of wild elephants in the state, citing the sharp fall in numbers and a high mortality rate in recent years. They have also demanded an investigation by a special team under the supervision of the Kerala High Court. The demand was raised at Vana Spandanam, a meeting of environmental organisations and activists held over three days. Kerala had an estimated 5,135 wild elephants in

Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Oct 8 (IANS) Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly R. Ashoka on Thursday demanded that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar make public the details of the alleged honey trap attempts he has referred to and ensure a formal investigation into the matter. Ashoka's remarks came after Shivakumar claimed that an attempt had been made to trap him through a sting operation after he became Chief Minister and said

Digital Desk | Islamabad, Oct 8 (IANS) Pakistan using artillery and air power against people of its own country in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces - who are holding protests against the present dispensation - indicates that residents in these areas are considered enemies and the state is losing control in these areas, a report has detailed. Thousands of Baloch people have been killed by Pakistan in extrajudicial operations, according to the numbers given by Pakistan's Director Gener

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS) The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) on Thursday hosted a grand send-off ceremony for the Indian contingent ahead of the 5th Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, with Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya urging the athletes to build on their historic performance at the previous edition. The ceremony, held at ITC Maurya in Chanakyapuri, was attended by athletes, coaches, support staff, dignitaries and partners, while the official Team India jersey for the

Digital Desk | Madrid, Oct 8 (IANS) Indian Navys guided-missile frigate INS Trishul undertook a PASSEX with Spanish naval ship ESPS Reina Sofia during its departure from Valencia. The exercise enhanced interoperability and operational synergy between the two Navies, the Indian Navy said on Thursday. Indian Navys guided-missile frigate INS Trishul undertook a PASSEX with Spanish Naval Ship ESPS Reina Sofia on departure from Valencia, Spain, on 04 Oct 26, the Indian Navy stated on X. The joint exe

Digital Desk | New Delhi/Bengaluru, Oct 8 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday said he had received good news regarding the state's long-pending dues after discussions with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, but declined to disclose details immediately. I discussed the issue of our states old pending dues with the Finance Minister, and I have received some good news. I will not reveal anything about it now. I will speak about it later, Shivakumar told reporters at

Digital Desk | Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 8 (IANS) Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has assured Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan that steps will be taken to speed up the delayed works on National Highway 66 in Kerala, an official statement said on Thursday. CM Satheesan met the Union Minister in New Delhi and discussed several major road and transport projects in the state. Gadkari assured that the delays in the NH-66 works would be addressed and construction would be expedited

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS) Nasscom on Thursday said that the recommendations of the GST Council have addressed longstanding concerns affecting service exports, input tax credit, refunds, and compliance, while the proposal on notices, prosecution, and arrest powers also signals a more proportionate approach to tax enforcement. We appreciate the constructive engagement of the Union and State Governments, the Ministry of Finance and CBIC with industry on these issues, the apex trade ass

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS) More than 16 lakh small businesses that sell directly to consumers could soon be allowed to file just one GST return annually, after the GST Council on Thursday approved in principle a simplified compliance scheme for taxpayers with turnover of up to Rs 5 crore. Under the proposed framework, eligible businesses such as retail shops, salons and small eateries would pay GST every quarter but file a single return each year, reducing compliance requirements for

Digital Desk | Greater Noida, Oct 8 (IANS) Shubhankar Sharma fired a seven-under 65 to establish a four-shot lead after the second round of the INR 2 crore Kapil Dev Invitational Tour Championship at the Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort in Greater Noida on Thursday. The 30-year-old Chandigarh golfer (68-65), who began the day two strokes behind overnight leader Shaurya Bhattacharya, made an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys to reach 11-under 133. A two-time winner on the DP World Tour, Shubhank

Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Oct 8 (IANS) Former Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Ashwani Sharma on Thursday said the Supreme Court's decision to cancel and order fresh elections in 50 Municipal Corporation and Municipal Council wards in Patiala and Moga districts had raised serious questions about the functioning of the state Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. He said the decision had also exposed the government's alleged high-handedness during the local body elections. In a statement

Digital Desk | Jaipur, Oct 8 (IANS) The Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday arrested a Senior Medical Officer and a private individual for allegedly accepting a Rs 35,000 bribe at Nadbai in Bharatpur district. According to the ACB, Shashikant Sharma, Senior Medical Officer at the Government Hospital in Nadbai, allegedly demanded Rs 35,000 from a complainant through Trilokchand Sharma alias Chinu, who was allegedly acting as his middleman. The bribe was allegedly sought for prepari

Digital Desk | Patna, Oct 8 (IANS) The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Patna Zonal Office, has provisionally attached immovable properties worth Rs 1,09,26,808 (Rs 1.09 crore) in Sheikhpura district of Bihar in connection with a money laundering investigation involving M/s Arena Food and Agro Industries Private Limited. The properties were attached on October 7 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. According to the ED, the properties belong to the company

Digital Desk | Bhopal, Oct 8 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh has detected 1.12 lakh tuberculosis (TB) patients through intensified screening, Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla said on Thursday. The state has stepped up its TB elimination drive by involving youth volunteers and NCC cadets in door-to-door screening to identify suspected patients and ensure their early linkage with healthcare services. Shukla said the intensified screening had resulted in the identification of a significantly higher numb

Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 8 (IANS) The 410-km sailing expedition by National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets, Hooghly Sankalp - MENU 2026, was flagged off at the Man o' War Jetty on Thursday. There was appreciation and applause as the 60 Naval NCC cadets (both boys and girls) rested their oars after the gruelling expedition that started from Farakka. Hundreds watched as the whaler boats, accompanied by an Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) vessel and dedicated safety boats, gracefully glided

Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Oct 8 (IANS) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday urged Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria to dismiss State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhari following the Supreme Court's observations that the December 2024 nomination process and subsequent municipal elections were severely affected by violence, intimidation and obstruction. SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema also demanded that responsibility be fixed on all officials who allegedly assisted the Aam Aadmi Par

Digital Desk | Gandhinagar, Oct 8 (IANS) The Gujarat government has proposed a Rs 100-crore investment over five years to establish a Marine Biotechnology Research and Innovation Corridor (M-BRIC) at Mocha village in Porbandar district, bringing marine research, biomanufacturing, startups and coastal livelihood programmes under a single ecosystem. The proposed project, an initiative of the Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission (GSBTM) under the Department of Science and Technology, is intended to

Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 8 (IANS) Metro Railway, Kolkata, will run night-long services on its Blue and Green Lines during Durga Puja, and will also extend services on its Purple, Yellow, and Orange Lines. This is being done to allow Puja revellers to visit pandals across the city more comfortably. Commuting time between pandals will also be reduced. The night-long services will be operated on Maha Saptami (Oct. 17), Maha Ashtami (Oct. 18) and Maha Navami (Oct. 19). On Maha Panchami (Oct. 15)

Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Oct 8 (IANS) Former Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Sunil Jakhar on Thursday staged a protest outside the Punjab Development Commission office here, alleging that the institution had become a centre of loot by sidelining constitutional institutions and undermining the legal framework. He described it as a hub of corruption in Punjab and alleged that a group of on-state actors was plundering the state while weakening its governance structure. Speaking to

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS) Former Indian cricketer Jhulan Goswami paid tribute to Harmanpreet Kaur after she stepped down as India womens captain across formats, lauding her courage and conviction while urging her to continue enjoying the game. Harmanpreet, who led India to their maiden senior womens ODI World Cup title, announced her decision to relinquish captaincy earlier this week. Smriti Mandhana has since been appointed as Indias new captain, while Harmanpreet remains part of t

Digital Desk | Nairobi, Oct 8 (IANS) The High Commission of India in Kenya on Thursday stated that India stands in solidarity with Kenya to combat Ebola virus and is committed to supporting public health preparedness and response. India stands in solidarity with Kenya in its efforts to combat Ebola Virus Disease. We remain committed to supporting Kenyas public health preparedness and response, and to further strengthening our longstanding partnership in healthcare, the High Commission stated on

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS) As Booth Level Officers (BLO) continue to visit voters who have been issued Special Intensive Revision (SIR) notices, the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ashok Kumar said that till Thursday, 15,30,408 cases of o-mapping and logical discrepancy have been verified on the basis of documents collected from the voters. The BLOs are visiting such electors for whom notices have been generated to collect their documents and they need not come to the offices fo

Digital Desk | Kabul, Oct 8 (IANS) The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said on Thursday that it is gravely concerned about the recent arrests, detentions and threats of arrest targeting women and girls by the Taliban authorities in various parts of Afghanistan. It has urged the Taliban to stop discriminatory enforcement practices targeting women and girls and uphold Afghanistan's obligations under international human rights law. According to UNAMA, at least 52 women and