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Vadodara (Gujarat) [India], September 29: Bringing diverse academic voices to one platform, Parul University in collaboration with Times of India organized Verbal Duel 2026, a state-level inter-university debate competition that

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Indian Railways will run a ticketchecking drive across the Central Railway network from October 1-31, targeting concession tickets, fixed reservation quotas, railway passes and group bookings, an official statement said on Tuesday. Ticketchecking staff will verify passengers eligibility and insist on original identity proof for concessions and quota travel. The checking will be conducted in railway stations as well as local trains. Central Railway in a sta

Digital Desk | Nagoya, Sep 29 (IANS) India capped their athletics campaign at the Asian Games 2026 with a bronze medal in the mens 4x400m relay, clocking a 3:01.61 at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium here on Tuesday. The Indian quartet of Dharamveer Choudhary, Manu Theekkinil, Jay Kumar and Vishal Thennarasu produced a determined effort to finish third, completing a memorable evening for Indian relay athletics after the womens 4x400m team had clinched gold earlier in the day. Japan won the gold

Digital Desk | Bhubaneswar, Sep 29 (IANS) The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das on Tuesday announced a statewide strike Odisha Bandh by the political parties of the India Bloc on October 8 over various demands, including the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026, the resignation of state School and Mass Education (S&ME) minister Nityananda Gond and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. Speaking to media persons, the OPCC president said, The political parties of t

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) India hosted the 11th meeting of the BIMSTEC Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (JWG-CTTC) in New Delhi on September 28 and 29 with delegations from all member states in attendance, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday. The 11th meeting of the BIMSTEC Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (JWG-CTTC), hosted by the Government of India, was held on 28-29 September 2026 in New Delhi. D

Digital Desk | Doha, Sep 29 (IANS) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) could further expand beyond physical infrastructure financing to include newer infrastructure in India that focuses on AI, MSMEs, and skilling. During her meeting with Zou Jiayi, President, AIIB, on the sidelines of the AIIB 2026 Annual Meeting in Doha, Qatar, she noted that MSMEs are the backbone of India's economy, and assistance for AI adaptability and manpowe

Digital Desk | Nagoya, Sep 29 (IANS) Indias national record-holder Pooja won the bronze medal in the womens high jump at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Tuesday, after Sarvesh Kushare and Parul Chaudhary added a silver and bronze, respectively, to Indias athletics medal haul. Pooja cleared a best of 1.84m to finish third in the womens high jump final. Uzbekistans Sayfullaeva won gold with a personal best of 1.90m, while Kazakhstans Kristina Ovchinnikova took silver after clearing

Digital Desk | Nagoya, Sep 29 (IANS) India signed off from the mixed 4x100m relay final at the Asian Games 2026 with a bronze medal and a new national record as Gurindervir Singh, Sneha Sathyanarayana, Animesh Kujur and Harita Bhadra combined to clock 41.06 seconds in Nagoya on Tuesday. The Indian quartet produced a season-best effort to finish third, improving the previous National Record of 41.35 seconds set by Ragul Kumar, Nithya Gandhe, Animesh and Sneha at the World Relays 2026 in Gaborone.

Digital Desk | Colombo, Sep 29 (IANS) The Assistant High Commissioner of India, V S Saranya, joined Sri Lanka's Plantation and Community Infrastructure Minister K V Samantha Viddyarathna and Deputy Minister Pradeep Sundaralingam to lay the foundation stone for 51 houses in Alagolla Estate in the Badulla district, the High Commission of India in Colombo said on Tuesday. Empowering communities through sustainable housing! AHC joined Plantation and Community Infrastructure Minister Hon. K V Samanth

Digital Desk | Nagoya, Sep 29 (IANS) Vithya Ramraj produced another memorable finish to her Asian Games campaign as she anchored India to gold in the womens 4x400m relay, powering the quartet to victory in 3:29.69 on Tuesday. Indias quartet of Kiran Pahal, M.R. Poovamma, Prachi and Vithya held their nerve in a tightly contested final to finish ahead of Bahrain, who clocked 3:30.21, while China claimed bronze in 3:31.02. The gold marked a fitting conclusion to a remarkable Games for Vithya, who a

Digital Desk | Moscow, Sep 29 (IANS) Ambassador of India to Russia, Vinay Kumar, on Tuesday called on country's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikhail Galuzin in Moscow, as they held talks on current issues on the bilateral and international agenda along with an in-depth discussion on the situation surrounding Ukraine. According to a statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Indian diplomat was briefed on Moscow's assessment of the current situation. The unacceptability of the Ky

Digital Desk | Komaki, Sep 29 (IANS) India produced a remarkable fightback after trailing by two sets, saving nine match points in a dramatic decider before defeating higher-ranked Qatar 3-2 to finish unbeaten at the top of Pool C in the mens volleyball competition at the Asian Games here on Tuesday. The Jerome Vinith-led side prevailed 26-28, 25-27, 25-23, 25-20, 24-22 in a marathon contest at Park Arena Komaki that lasted 167 minutes, completing a turnaround that looked unlikely when Qatar mov

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Indian Railways on Tuesday said that it has approved two MEMU services connecting Meerut City with Khurja and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh. The new services will provide additional travel options for passengers and strengthen regional rail connectivity centred around Meerut City, according to an official statement. Train No. 64573/64574 KhurjaMeerut City MEMU and Train No. 64580/64579 SaharanpurMeerut City MEMU will have commercial stoppages at all en route

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Three of the last four champions will return for the 2026 edition of the Womens Indian Open, when it tees off on October 22 at the challenging DLF Golf & Country Club in Gurugram. The final round is scheduled for October 25. Led by the defending champion Shannon Tan of Singapore, Englands Liz Young (2024 winner) and Germanys Olivia Cowan (2022 winner) will be among those attempting to take back the coveted trophy that signifies the champion of one of the e

Digital Desk | Tokyo, Sep 29 (IANS) India and Japan on Tuesday discussed the potential for further strengthening cooperation in communications, digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The discussions were held during a meeting between India's Ambassador to Japan, Nagma Mallick, and the Director General for International Affairs of Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Hideo Fuseida, in Tokyo on Tuesday. Ambassador Mallick met with Mr. Hideo Fuseida, Director General for Inte

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], September 26: In an increasingly interconnected global pharmaceutical industry, accurate technical communication has become essential for regulatory inspections, GMP audits, international business, and market expansion. Mr. Ashish

Digital Desk | Guwahati, Sep 29 (IANS) India will step onto the field of a happy-hunting Barsapara Cricket Stadium as they look to win the three-match series against the West Indies on Wednesday. A special Virat Kohli show led the Indian team to chase down 297 against the Windies in Thiruvananthapuram, while captain Shubman Gill also hit a marvellous ton. Kuldeep Yadav was the star with the ball as he made crucial strikes in his 4-40 spell to play a key role in the win. The Men in Blue return to

Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 29 (IANS) The release of the much-talked-about upcoming Korean sci-fi thriller 'HOPE' has been pushed. The drama, which was originally scheduled to be out in the cinema halls in India on September 25 this year, will now get a theatrical release on October 23, 2026. The release was delayed so that there is sufficient time for the requisite screening of the film and certification process by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Now, the English version of the m

Digital Desk | Nairobi, Sep 29 (IANS) In a significant step towards deepening maritime cooperation between India and Kenya, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Tarkash, a frontline guided-missile frigate, arrived at Mombasa Port in the East African nation on Tuesday for an operational turnaround, which will run until October 2. The port call will feature professional exchanges, interactions between the crews, and community outreach. INS Tarkash will be open to visitors on 01 October from 11 am4 pm. On depar

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Indias consumption story remains resilient despite market volatility and global macroeconomic uncertainties with premiumisation, evolving consumer preferences and strong domestic demand expected to support growth in the second half of FY27, according to a report released on Tuesday. A report by smallcase noted that real private final consumption expenditure grew 7.1 per cent in Q1FY27 which marginally lower than 7.5 per cent in the previous quarter, while

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) The economic relationship between India and Africa is entering a new reciprocal phase as investment and industrial partnerships deepen, a new report has said. The report from Modern Ghana cited an example of a $450 million contract signed by Indian government-owned Engineers India Ltd with Africas richest businessman Aliko Dangote to oversee construction of a planned $16 billion refinery and petrochemical complex in Lamu, Kenya. The greenfield project, exp

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) The Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Tuesday deliberated on a host of burning issues concerning the 'irregularities' in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise and vowed to launch nationwide protests against alleged malpractices by the Election Commission (EC). Addressing a press conference after the CWC meet, Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal launched a scathing attack on the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, demanding his

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Terrorist organisations operating against India switched to covert dead-drop techniques to transfer funds, weapons, and operational instructions, intelligence officials have revealed. Groups including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), and the proscribed Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) adopted non-contact logistics to conceal the identity of handlers based in Pakistan. Terrorism has evolved considerably, and this has

Digital Desk | Kathmandu, Sep 29 (IANS) Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Tuesday expressed special gratitude to India for its support following the recent deadly floods, landslides and other disasters, the Prime Ministers Secretariat said. Shah conveyed his thanks during a farewell meeting with Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava, who visited the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar as he prepares to return to India after completing his tenure. I

Digital Desk | Kakamigahara, Sep 29 (IANS) An unbeaten India will take on South Korea in the womens hockey semifinal of the Asian Games 2026 on Wednesday, with the defending Asian Games silver medallists needing two more victories to end a 44-year wait for a second continental gold. India have been flawless in Pool B, winning all five matches and scoring 66 goals in the process. But their biggest test of the tournament so far awaits at the Kawasaki Juko Stadium, where South Korea will provide a

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) India expanded missile production beyond staterun firms by bringing private companies into manufacturing, a shift aimed at closing a critical gap between developing sophisticated weapons and producing them at scale, a new report has said. The report from India Narrative said the move creates wartime redundancy and scale as the ministry plans at least two production partners for each missile system to avoid singlepoint failures in wartime. The competition

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) tweaked its operational strategy regarding India, choosing to prioritise widespread radicalisation and proxy recruitment over immediate, large-scale terror attacks, according to intelligence reports. Security assessments indicate that Islamabad seeks to avoid major cross-border strikes that could provoke direct military retaliation while it attempts to project itself as a regional peacemaker on the global stage.

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) As India and the US aim to advance negotiations on a balanced and mutually beneficial Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal's engagement with the US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer is being seen as key to achieve the trade deal faster. India wants domestic exporters to receive a tariff advantage over competing economies rather than simply a lower headline tariff. Goyal will attend the G20 Trade Ministers' M

Digital Desk | Tahara, Sep 29 (IANS) India concluded their maiden surfing campaign at the Asian Games 2026 without a medal on Tuesday, with Kishore Kumar Anbarasu being the last Indian to be knocked out after he exited in the mens shortboard quarter-finals. Surfing made its Asian Games debut at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 and India fielded a four-member contingent across the mens and womens shortboard competitions at the Pacific Long Beach in Tahara. 18-year-old Indian surfer Kishore's run ended with an 8

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) India and the US explored ways to deepen bilateral defence cooperation while exchanging views on the changing security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. The talks were held on Monday between Indian Army chief General Dhiraj Seth and Lieutenant General Joel B Vowell, Deputy Commanding General of United States Army Pacific (USARPAC), in New Delhi. Following the meeting, the Indian Army took to X on Tuesday and posted: Lieutenant General Joel B Vowell, Deputy Com

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 29 (IANS) India's manufacturing growth is likely to remain supported by exports and a strengthening investment cycle in the coming months despite below-normal monsoon that could weigh on rural demand, according to a report. According to a report by ICICI Bank, exports are expected to remain a bright spot for manufacturing, while rising power demand is signalling strength in the investment cycle as capital expenditure picks up. While rural demand could weaken, export

Digital Desk | Doha, Sep 29 (IANS) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has conveyed that Saudi Arabia is Indias trusted and valued strategic partner, highlighting the wide-ranging partnership between the two countries across defence, security, trade, investment, energy, technology, healthcare, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges. She met Mohammed Aljadaan, Minister of Finance, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the sidelines of the AIIB 2026 Annual Meeting here, who congratulated the Unio

Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 29 (IANS) Domestic equity markets opened subdued on Tuesday with benchmarks slipping about 0.2 per cent each amid a surge in crude oil prices and weak global cues. Sensex opened at 72,633.68, down 138.04 points or 0.19 per cent. Similarly, Nifty fell 47.80 points, or 0.21 per cent, to open at 22,732.45. Sector-wise, Nifty Auto, Nifty Media, Nifty FMCG and Nifty Cement declined up to 0.64 per cent in morning trade. Consumer durables, metal and chemicals indices also tra

Digital Desk | New York, Sep 29 (IANS) By juggling a multitude of relations with countries, the US is now doing what India has been practicing through its policy of strategic autonomy, according to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Pretty much what people used to say about us, Washington is today practising with a great deal of gusto, he said on Monday at an event in New York. You're dealing with China, you're dealing with Russia, with Ukraine, with other parts of Asia or with Europe, he t

Digital Desk | Washington, Sep 29 (IANS) India-born Rewant Ruia called a proposed American steel investment a homecoming as his family joined President Donald Trump at the White House to announce plans for a new plant in Iowa. While I was born in India, I went to high school in New York, college in Boston, and did my MBA in California. I spent half my life here so announcing this investment today is a great honor and a true homecoming for me, Ruia said at the White House event. The familys plan

Digital Desk | Washington, Sep 29 (IANS) Applicants in India waited an average of 346 days for a US visitor visa interview in fiscal 2025, more than eight times the 42-day average before the pandemic, according to a federal audit released on Monday (US local time). The Government Accountability Office found that demand had outpaced consular staffing in India. The 346-day figure is a historical average for obtaining an interview. It does not describe the time taken to decide an application after

Digital Desk | New York, Sep 29 (IANS) India and the United States have reached a broad understanding on a trade agreement, but changes in American tariff policy have complicated the decision on when to conclude it, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said here in New York. EAM Jaishankar described the proposed agreement as very, very far advanced. He said its completion could help put the wider relationship on a better course after a difficult period. We have reached a situation where there

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 28 (IANS) The fifth Director General-level talks between India's Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Sri Lanka's Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) were held in Colombo, focusing on intelligence sharing, joint operations and fugitives, an official said on Monday. The Indian delegation was led by R. Sudhakar, IPS and NCB Deputy Director General (Southern Region), and the Sri Lankan delegation by K.D.G.L. Ashoka Dharmasena, Head of PNB, the official said on Monday in a stat

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 28 (IANS) India and France discussed defence cooperation, intelligence sharing, training, and capacity building in space as Air Marshal Tejinder Singh met with Lieutenant General Dominique Tardiff, Vice Chief of the French Air and Space Force. Air Marshal Tejinder Singh CISC interacted with Lt Gen Dominique Tardiff, Vice Chief of the French Air and Space Force. Discussions focused on defence cooperation, intelligence sharing, training and capacity building in space,

Digital Desk | Canberra, Sep 28 (IANS) India on Monday underlined the need for conservation of whales and other cetaceans at the 70th meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC-70), being held in Hobart, Australia, from September 28 to October 2. In its Opening Statement at IWC-70, India emphasised the importance of continued collaboration among range countries, scientific institutions and relevant international organisations for effective cetacean conservation, the Ministry of Environ

Digital Desk | New York, Sep 28 (IANS) Sibi George, Secretary (West) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), on Monday affirmed Indias unwavering commitment to combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at the High-Level Meeting on the 25th Anniversary of Adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) during the ongoing 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. Secretary(West) Sibi George delivered Indias Statement in the High

Digital Desk | Rome, Sep 28 (IANS) India on Monday highlighted its significant achievement in forest and landscape restoration and reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable forest management, climate action and resilient forest landscapes at the Twenty-eighth Session of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) Committee on Forestry (COFO 28), being held in Rome from September 28 to October 2, said the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. India highlighted the consistent progress

Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 28 (IANS) In a major operation, troops of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), in coordination with local police, raided a house close to the India-Nepal border on Monday and seized narcotics and a sophisticated firearm with two magazines. Authorities took two people into custody and are questioning them to identify others involved in the racket. A senior SSB official said the operation began around 4 a.m. and continued till 11.05 a.m. after specific intelligence inputs wer

Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 19 (IANS) Bollywood couple Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor have said their farewell for 'Bappa' for this year, but on Saturday, the 'Jigra' actress took to her official Insta handle and published a couple of glimpses from the festive season. The highlight of the album was their daughter Raha drawing a sketch of Lord Ganesh on paper and colouring it using crayons. We could also see Alia welcoming Bappa home during Ganesh Chaturthi, performing aarti with Ranbir, mother-in-l

Digital Desk | Hyderabad, Sep 17 (IANS) Hyderabad police, along with the Rapid Action Force (RAF), on Thursday conducted a flag march in some sensitive areas of the city in view of the ongoing Ganesh festival and the idol immersion procession, scheduled on September 25. With a view to maintaining peace, communal harmony, public safety and smooth regulation of traffic, the Flag March, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Golconda Zone, J. Raghavendar Reddy, was conducted in the sensitive and imp

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday said that the government is committed to bringing children out of begging and connecting them with education, skills and a dignified life. Chairing a meeting of the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR), the Chief Minister directed the commission to strengthen the campaign to end begging by children in the city through public participation, an official statement said. She said non-governmental or

Chennai has steadily grown into one of Indias most preferred residential markets, supported by expanding infrastructure, established employment hubs, and well-connected neighbourhoods. From first-time homebuyers to families planning a long-term investment, many people are exploring housing options that match their lifestyle and future goals. As the city continues to evolve, choosing the right residential project []

Koror (Palau), Sept 1 (IANS) Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita, on Tuesday met Ricky F Cantero, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Micronesia, on the sidelines of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Koror, Palau. According to Marghertia, they discussed Indias engagement with Micronesia under bilateral and the Forum for []

Kathmandu, Aug 28 (IANS) The death toll from the devastating floods in Nepals Bhotekoshi region has risen to 469, while 977 people remain out of contact, according to the latest update released by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) on Friday. The floods, believed to have been triggered by an avalanche on []

Mumbai, Aug 28 (IANS) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that 37 pilgrims from Maharashtra stranded in Saga, Tibet, after completing the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra have departed safely via the Nyalm Check Post route to Kathmandu. The Maharashtra CMO, in a post on X, said, The 37 pilgrims from Thane, Pune, Alibag, Raigad, and []