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Elections 2026Science/Tech / IBTimes
Apple has begun rolling out iOS 27 and related software updates, introducing Siri AI, expanded Apple Intelligence features, new child safety controls, Screen Time changes and performance improvements across its devices.
How digital adoption, structured pricing, and remote delivery are transforming India's unorganised astrology sector into a professionalised global service industry.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, son Aaditya and wife Rashmi visited MNS chief Raj Thackeray's residence, Shivtirth, in Dadar on Monday for Ganesh darshan. Visuals showed members of both Thackeray families offering prayers and posing together.
On Hindi Diwas 2026, Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted India's linguistic diversity and said Hindi has played an important role in connecting people across communities. He stressed that Hindi's growth should go hand in hand with respect for all Indian languages.
CBI has registered an FIR into the death of Disha Salian following a Bombay High Court directive for a detailed investigation. Salian, former manager of Sushant Singh Rajput, died in June 2020.
With the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly's autumn session set to begin on September 21, the post of Deputy Speaker remains vacant nearly two years after the Omar Abdullah-led government assumed office. The BJP has been demanding that the post be offered to the principal opposition party in line with legislative convention.
Ajith Kumar's reaction to a fan seeking a selfie at the Le Mans race in the UK has triggered debate online. The actor appeared visibly annoyed as the fan came close to him, prompting his bodyguard to intervene. While some users said Ajith was unnecessarily stern, others defended his personal space and reaction.
Major attractions including Lalbaugcha Raja, Mumbaicha Raja, Chinchpoklicha Chintamani and GSB Seva Mandal witnessed huge crowds. Civic and security agencies stepped up arrangements across the city, with the 10-day festival set to conclude with immersions on September 25.
Three forest officials and a driver were injured in Andhra Pradesh's Annamayya district after suspected red sanders smugglers rammed their patrol vehicle while trying to escape a blockade. Two suspects were arrested and red sanders logs and smuggling equipment were seized.
The drive was conducted by 962 police stations across the state, during which 16,951 premises were checked at various districts. Legal action was also initiated against those who employed children as labourers, they said.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan won praise online after a viral video showed him turning back to thank the Indian chauffeur who drove him to the airport after the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
The song focuses on Ram and Sita's bond, taking audiences through their journey together. The visuals also capture moments of Ram and Sita being worshipped by devotees. The serene imagery, combined with the song's devotional tone, gives audiences a glimpse into the film's larger visual and emotional world.
Apple's online store went offline as the company prepared for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max pre-order rollout. The temporary shutdown is a routine move around major Apple launches as product pages and ordering systems are updated.
The real achievement of India's 2026 BRICS presidency is not that 11 countries signed another declaration. It is that, amid wars, rivalries and deep geopolitical fractures, New Delhi persuaded them to agree on what the next international order should begin to look like.
His remarks triggered a political war of words, with Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera accusing the government of imposing its dietary preferences on foreign dignitaries and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju hitting back at the Congress for making politics even on the food menu.
The government's new incentive scheme for domestic PNG connections aims to expand clean cooking fuel access by encouraging CGD companies to add more active connections. The scheme provides additional domestic
Mary Kom's Bigg Boss 20 remark that no other woman athlete had achieved what she did sparked criticism, prompting her team to issue an apology and clarification.
An Indian seafarer is missing after the Panama-flagged tanker MT El Gaia was attacked off Oman, with 13 Indian crew members rescued. The incident came shortly after PM Modi proposed a BRICS emergency support network for seafarers.
Gold and silver prices fell amid rising crude oil prices and shifting US rate expectations. Investors are now watching inflation data, the Federal Reserve, the dollar and geopolitical risks for the next direction.
Nearly 6,000 Kashmiri Pandit employees working under the Prime Minister's Rehabilitation Package have sought immediate security after the United Liberation Council allegedly issued its sixth threat in 40 days. The employees have warned of an indefinite hunger strike from October 1 and mass resignation if safe housing and security are not provided by September 30.
Handwara Police, along with the 21 Rashtriya Rifles and 92 Battalion CRPF, busted a Hizbul Mujahideen terror module in north Kashmir by arresting an ex-terrorist allegedly operating as a hybrid terrorist. The accused, identified as Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, was arrested from Handwara town, with a Chinese-made pistol, two magazines, and 16 rounds of ammunition recovered from his possession.
Jammu and Kashmir's para-archery star Sheetal Devi clinched her maiden individual World Archery Para Series title in Ahmedabad, defeating Kazakhstan's Aizada Seidan in a dramatic shoot-off. The reigning world champion held her nerve to fire an inner 10 after the final ended 144-144, continuing her remarkable rise as one of India's brightest para-sport stars.
The NIA conducted a search at the Qazigund residence of Adeel Majid Rather, an accused white-collar terrorist linked to the Delhi Red Fort blast case. Separately, security forces intensified surveillance along the Samba border following intelligence inputs about suspected Pakistani drone activity, with BSF and SOG conducting searches across several sensitive sectors.
Congress has once again refused to join Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's government in Jammu and Kashmir, maintaining that it will not accept any cabinet berth until statehood and the constitutional rights of the people are restored. JKPCC chief Tariq Hamid Karra said the party would continue supporting the National Conference government against any attempt by the BJP to destabilise it.
The Chatroo case in Kishtwar has taken a fresh turn with police arresting four more persons, including Health Department employees, amid allegations of an infant being swapped. A nurse has also been detained for questioning, while the SIT continues to investigate the alleged sexual assault, illegal pregnancy termination and death of the minor.
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the J&K Police Crime Branch has arrested Junaid-ul-Islam from Bengaluru in connection with an alleged Rs 2-crore investment fraud case. The accused allegedly collected money from several people in Kashmir by promising monthly returns of 10 per cent while claiming an association with an e-commerce company.
A six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the alleged sexual assault, illegal termination of pregnancy and death of a 12-year-old tribal girl and her stillborn child in Kishtwar's Chatroo. Meanwhile, the Tribal Gujjar Bakarwal Welfare Foundation has demanded protection for the victim's family and strict action against those allegedly attempting to hush up the case.
The BJP faced another embarrassment in Jammu and Kashmir after police registered an extortion and fraud case against Pulwama Kisan Morcha vice-president Aijaz Ahmed Shah. The development comes days after the party suspended its Pulwama district president Showkat Gayoor following an extortion case against him.
Two female employees of AIIMS Jammu, including a doctor and a staff nurse, died under mysterious circumstances within 48 hours in Jammu and Samba districts. Police have launched a joint investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and whether there is any connection between the two cases.
Veteran Ladakhi leaders Thupstan Chhewang and Tashi Gyalson met Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and urged the administration to withdraw cases against youth linked to the September 24, 2025, Leh violence. They also sought financial assistance for affected families, early submission of the inquiry report and an early meeting with the Centre on the broader Ladakh issue.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have booked BJP's Pulwama district president Showkat Gayoor in an alleged extortion and criminal intimidation case following a complaint by a contractor. The BJP has suspended Gayoor from all organisational posts and responsibilities. The case comes amid renewed efforts by the party to expand its political footprint in the Kashmir Valley and recalls an earlier case involving the BJP's former Bandipora district president.
India's first-ever Global Black-necked Crane Festival has opened in Ladakh, attracting tourists, bird lovers, conservationists and experts from India and abroad. The August 1114 festival aims to promote black-necked crane conservation while strengthening ecotourism, local livelihoods and community participation across Changthang.
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has expressed concern over the growing drug menace in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly among youth, and called for a comprehensive strategy combining strict enforcement with prevention, early intervention, de-addiction, rehabilitation and social reintegration.
Security has been intensified across parts of Jammu and Kashmir following a purported threat letter issued by the United Liberation Council, a suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba-linked shadow outfit, targeting Kashmiri Hindu employees. The communication allegedly names six employees and contains threats against government officials and police personnel. Security agencies are examining the threat, while Panun Kashmir has demanded a probe into the purported communication.
Over Rs 62,683 crore remains unclaimed in Public Sector Banks across India as of June 30, 2026, according to the Union Government. To help depositors, nominees and legal heirs recover their money, the Centre and the RBI have introduced a series of measures, including simplified claim procedures, special outreach drives, the UDGAM portal, and the nationwide Your Money, Your Right campaign.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced the launch of the first-ever Rehabilitation and Socio-Economic Reintegration Scheme for Drug Abuse Victims, 2026. The pilot project will begin in the two worst-affected districts of Jammu and Kashmir, focusing on treatment, counselling, skill development, employment, and long-term reintegration of drug abuse victims.
The Crime Branch's Economic Offences Wing has chargesheeted a former ICICI Prudential Life Insurance employee for allegedly siphoning off over 10.75 lakh by fraudulently surrendering an insurance policy using forged documents and a fake SBI account. The investigation found evidence of forgery, cheating and attempted fraud involving multiple insurance policies, with the case now before a Jammu court.
The Union Government informed the Rajya Sabha that it has launched the National Mental Health Survey-2 to assess mental health disorders, including those linked to prolonged conflict, natural disasters and substance abuse in Jammu and Kashmir. It said the Union Territory has around 120 psychiatrists, 40 clinical psychologists, 21 addiction treatment facilities and expanded Tele-MANAS services as part of efforts to strengthen mental healthcare across all districts.
The Jammu and Kashmir Sarnarthi Action Committee (JKSAC) has demanded a high-level probe into the alleged misappropriation of lakhs of kanals of evacuee land meant for the rehabilitation of families displaced from PoJK. The demand comes after the ACB unearthed a major Custodian land scam and registered multiple FIRs against revenue officials and beneficiaries.
FASTag-based toll collection on National Highways reached a record 70,278.18 crore in 2025-26, marking a steady rise over the past three years, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed the Rajya Sabha. The Centre said it has reviewed the toll pricing mechanism to reduce the burden on commuters through measures such as an annual pass, rationalised toll charges and lower penalties for UPI payments.
The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway Corridor has come under the spotlight after official data tabled in the Rajya Sabha revealed that 58 of J&K's 73 identified black corridors are located in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts, through which the mega highway project passes.
Jammu and Kashmir Police has executed a court proclamation against Pakistan-based designated terrorist Mohammad Qasim alias Sulliman, directing him to appear before a designated court in Jammu by August 21. Qasim, who carries a Rs 10 lakh reward, is accused of involvement in the Katra and Narwal blasts and of operating a terror network in Rajouri and Poonch.
A Kashmiri youth was allegedly lured to Cambodia with a promise of a lucrative computer operator job but was instead forced into online scamming activities. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Kashmir, has filed a chargesheet against the accused in the overseas job fraud case registered in April.
The sleuths of the ED conducted raids at nine locations in J&K and Punjab as part of a money laundering investigation into an alleged Pakistan-linked narco-terror funding network. The probe revealed a cross-border heroin smuggling racket with suspected links to Hizbul Mujahideen, leading to the seizure of incriminating documents and the freezing of bank accounts containing approximately 49.9 lakh.
The killing of Police Head Constable Aashiq Hussain Qureshi in Anantnag has triggered one of the largest anti-terror operations in Kashmir in recent years. Security forces have detained over 2,000 terror associates, intensified surveillance across the Valley, and demolished the houses of two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists as investigations point to possible cross-border involvement.
Nature's fury continued across the Jammu division as three more people died in rain-related incidents, pushing the death toll beyond 23 in three days. Poonch witnessed the worst devastation, with three families nearly wiped out in separate cloudburst and landslide tragedies, while Rajouri issued a flood advisory amid forecasts of more heavy rainfall and ongoing rescue operations.
Six more people died in rain-related incidents across Jammu division on Monday, taking the death toll to 16 in two days. Rescue operations in flood-hit Poonch and Rajouri were hampered by fresh rainfall, while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced Rs 6 lakh ex gratia for the families of those killed.
Partial shutdowns were observed in Doda and Kishtwar following the death of a youth in an alleged police firing in Bhadarwah. Protesters demanded a CBI investigation, while authorities extended internet restrictions, detained two associates of the deceased for questioning, and intensified security to maintain law and order.
The National Conference has expelled LAHDC-Kargil Chief Executive Councillor Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon from the party for six years over alleged anti-party activities. The action comes days after Akhoon retained his majority with BJP-backed support, deepening the political crisis over the NC-Congress power-sharing agreement in Kargil.
The Principal Sessions Court in Jammu has rejected the bail application of Kamal Singh, the accused in the attempted assassination of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah. The court cited the gravity of the offence, public safety concerns, and the possibility of the accused repeating the crime if released.

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