Goa

Gadkari to skip Mumbai-Goa highway opening, says 'ashamed' of project delay

With the Mumbai-Goa highway still facing delays, Gadkari has vowed to blacklist more contractors and suspend officials responsible for poor project execution

Driver Burnt Alive as Lorry Catches Fire in Mahbubnagar

The incident occurred when the lorry, loaded with goats, was heading towards Kurnool and rammed into a signboard on the national highway

Tragic Truck Accident in Telangana Claims Drivers Life and Hundreds of Goats

A truck accident in Mahbubnagar, Telangana, resulted in the drivers death and the loss of around 200 goats. Firefighters responded swiftly to the scene. Tragic Truck Accident in Telangana Claims Drivers Life and Hundreds of Goats

Mayawati expels nephew Akash Anand from BSP after Ashok Siddharth announces retirement

Digital Desk | Lucknow, Sep 10 (IANS) Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Thursday expelled her nephew Akash Anand from the BSP, saying he has been freed from the party and that his personal attachment appeared to outweigh his concern for his own political career. She announced this after welcoming Akash Anand's father-in-law Ashok Siddharths decision to retire from politics. Expelled BSP leader and former Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddharth announced his retirement from politics, a day after Mayawati said that his retirement was necessary if her nephew and Siddharths son-in-law, Akash Anand, was to be given another opportunity to rise within the party. Siddharth, who was expelled from the BSP for the second time on August 2 over alleged anti-party activities, made the announcement in a detailed post on social media, reiterating his loyalty to Mayawati and the BSP and rejecting allegations that he had worked against the interests of the party. Taking to X on Thursday, Mayawati said, The announcement made today by Shri Ashok Siddharth regarding his retirement from politics is a right step taken very belatedly. The general view is that had this decision been taken much earlier, the BSP, the Bahujan society, the Bahujan movement, and her nephew Mr Akash Anand would not have had to constantly face adverse circumstances; nor would I have been compelled, in the interest of the party and the movement, to take tough decisions regarding him on several occasions, particularly amidst the preparations for the general Assembly elections and the massive effort to form the government in UP for the fifth time, she said. The BSP chief also stressed that the Ambedkarite political tradition followed by the party has historically been based on sacrifice, dedication, struggle and selflessness, with members expected to put aside their own personal and family interests in favour of the larger movement. Only then can the 'Bahujan Samaj' -- which has been exploited, oppressed, neglected, and scorned for centuries -- transform into the 'ruling class'. In this journey, one must always remember that the greater the goal, the greater the sacrifice required, she said. While describing Siddharths retirement as a positive move, Mayawati questioned why he had not taken the decision earlier if he genuinely had the future of his son-in-law Akash Anand and the BSP at heart. She said that if Siddharth had even the slightest concern about Akash Anands political future and the interests of the BSP, he would have immediately announced his retirement instead of waiting until now. Mayawati said such an earlier decision could have helped ensure Akash Anands active participation in the BSP and its movement. Such a move could have significantly ensured Mr Akash Anand's active engagement with the party and the movement. Yet, the fact that no such thing has happened proves that Mr Ashok Siddharth's intentions remain flawed and his ambitions undiminished - indeed, they remain fully intact, she said. The BSP supremo also referred to Akash Anands relationship with his father-in-law and said that his personal attachment appeared to outweigh his concern for his own political career. She alleged that Akash Anand had not even reposted the relevant post from Mayawatis X account, despite the fact that the message was intended for his own benefit and well-being. She pointed out that, before this, both Siddharth and Akash Anand had attempted to demonstrate their loyalty by regularly reposting posts shared by the BSP chief on X. Mayawati said their failure to repost the partys social media posts on this occasion indicated that both were more focused on personal and familial relationships than on the interests and success of the BSP and its movement. It is widely believed that no amount of gratitude or acknowledgement of the debt they owe to the BSP and its leadership would be enough, she said. Questioning Akash Anands ability to effectively work for the organisation while being caught between personal relationships and party interests, Mayawati asked, If Akash Anand is more concerned with personal ties and relationships than with the true interests of the party, how can he effectively serve the BSP party and the movement while being of two minds? She then announced that the party leadership had decided to completely release Akash Anand from the BSP, after he had already been relieved of key organisational responsibilities. For this reason, the party leadership deems it best that, just as he was previously relieved of all key responsibilities associated with the crucial post of National Convener on September 3, 2026, he should now be completely freed from the party as well, effective immediately, Mayawati said. Therefore, if Mr Akash Anand wishes to remain independent of the party, he is free to do so; in other words, he has now been fully released from the party, she added. Concluding her message, Mayawati called upon BSP members to remain united and confront what she described as various strategies adopted by political opponents, including attempts at conciliation, inducement, coercion and division. She urged party workers to devote themselves completely, with their ody, mind, and resources, to the BSPs political struggle and to work towards securing an absolute majority once again, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. Mayawati said the ultimate objective was to establish an Iron Rule marked by effective law and order and strong development while following the principle of Sarvajan Hitay, Sarvajan Sukhay, or the welfare and happiness of all.

Champions League: PSG, Barca shine; Arsenal, Liverpool make winning starts

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 10 (IANS) Paris Saint-Germain made an impressive start to their bid for a third successive UEFA Champions League title as Barcelona hit five, Arsenal won in Italy and Liverpool came from behind to beat Atleti. Ferran Torres hit a hat-trick in his first Champions League outing for PSG as the holders eased to a straightforward 6-1 win. Ousmane Dembele got the opener on the rebound after Nuno Mendes hit the woodwork, then glanced in a header before his fellow forward took over. Torres poked in and guided in a curled fourth and struck again from close range. Although Suleiman Camara pulled one back, Fabian Ruiz had the final say with the sixth. Meanwhile, Raphinha registered twice as FC Barcelona laid down a marker at the Camp Nou with a 5-1 win over Feyenoord. The Brazil forward struck the third-minute opener and Karim Adeyemi curled in a second midway through the first half. Raphinha's second of the game and Lamine Yamal's free-kick extended the advantage for Barca, who also hit the post through Joo Cancelo, before Sem Steijn pulled one back late on. Substitute Gabriel Jesus had the last word though, glancing in Yamal's cross, UEFA reports. Elsewhere, Liverpool made a winning start to their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 comeback victory over Atletico Madrid. The Reds fell behind to Marcos Llorentes finish 17 minutes into the first half at Anfield. But a firm response was punctuated by Dominik Szoboszlais equaliser and Alexis Mac Allisters thump either side of the interval. Andoni Iraolas men thereby kicked off the new league phase with three points ahead of a trip to LASK of Austria next month. In another match, Martin Odegaard's wonderful 75th-minute strike earned Arsenal a hard-fought 1-0 win at Napoli. A Bukayo Saka overhead kick and Mikel Merino header were among the best opportunities for last season's runners-up in the first half, while Kevin De Bruyne and Matteo Politano drew saves from David Raya for the hosts. Arsenal asserted their dominance in the second period and got the decisive goal when captain degaard finished off a slick team move with a shot off the inside of the post.

Raphinha and Torres shine as Barcelona, PSG lead Champions League goal rush

Raphinha and Torres shine as Barcelona, PSG lead Champions League goal rush

K'takas development journey has just begun, says Shivakumar on completing 100 days as CM

Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Sep 10 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Thursday that the completion of 100 days in office was only the beginning of the governments journey towards fulfilling the aspirations of the people and accelerating the states overall development. In a statement marking the completion of 100 days since taking over as Chief Minister, Shivakumar said his government has taken several important steps during the period, with a firm resolve to respond to the aspirations of the people and speed up the comprehensive development of Karnataka. 100 days... this is only the beginning, CM Shivakumar said, outlining the governments vision for the coming days. He said the governments focus would be on taking Karnataka to greater heights by giving priority to development, employment, technology, infrastructure, education, agriculture and improving the standard of living of the people. Over the coming days, our resolve is to take Karnataka to greater heights in every field, including development, employment, technology, infrastructure, education, agriculture and improving the quality of life of the people, he said. CM Shivakumar also called upon the people to work together towards achieving the states development goals. Let us all move forward together in that direction, he said. Emphasising the importance of public support, the Chief Minister said the governments strength lay in the trust of the people and that their aspirations would continue to guide its efforts. Peoples trust is our strength. Peoples aspirations are our path. Karnatakas progress is our goal, CM Shivakumar said. He said the government would continue its efforts to build a stronger Karnataka and ensure progress across sectors, reiterating his commitment to the states development during the next phase of his tenure. The Karnataka government has organised Conviction for a Strong Karnataka and Shata Patha -Pragatiya Patha (The Road of 100 Days - The Path of Progress) programme to mark the completion of 100 days of CM Shivakumars tenure. The event will be inaugurated by former Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Siddaramaiah. Several prominent leaders from across the state are participating in the event. CM Shivakumars first 100 days in office have been marked by confrontation with the family of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, particularly Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, over the Bidadi Township Project and the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) recruitment scam. The CM is also facing internal dissent over cabinet allocations, with several senior leaders remaining miffed over their exclusion from the cabinet. His cabinet also remains without a woman minister, as no berth has been allocated to a woman leader amid internal differences within the party.

Driver and around 200 goats perish in vehicle fire after collision in Mahabubnagar

The News Mill

Haaland is a beast Enzo Fernandez hails star striker after UCL brace

Manchester Citys Enzo Fernandez, who assisted Erling for the first of his two goals in 2-0 win over Porto, hails star strikers animal-like aggression

Rule of 70 for retirement: How this simple formula helps estimate when savings may double

The Rule of 70 is a retirement-planning formula that estimates how long an investment may take to double, helping investors gauge corpus growth and make informed decisions about savings, returns and retirement goals.

ED raids at K'taka Min Satish Jarkiholi properties continue for second day

Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Sep 10 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) continued its searches at the residences and properties of Karnataka Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satish Jarkiholi across the state for the second day in a row on Thursday. The development has come as an embarrassment to the Congress government led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, particularly as the government is completing 100 days in power on Thursday and has organised celebrations to mark the occasion. The searches are underway at 18 locations in Bengaluru, Belagavi, Gokak and Goa over suspected foreign investments and transactions. According to ED officials, the searches continued until 2 a.m. and resumed at 6 a.m. on Thursday. Jarkiholi was questioned by ED officials at his government-allotted residence on Crescent Road in Bengaluru, where the officials sought clarifications from him. The searches are also continuing at his private residence in Dollars Colony in Bengaluru. ED officials are also conducting searches at properties and residences linked to Jarkiholi, his associates and close relatives. The searches are expected to continue until the end of the day. ED officials remained at Jarkiholis government residence after the searches continued through the night. In Belagavi, searches continued at four locations, including Jarkiholis residence, the residence of his brother-in-law, Excise Commissioner Y. Manjunath, and premises linked to his associates. ED officials have remained inside the premises since Wednesday and continued the searches in the presence of Manjunath. Officials also questioned Manjunaths wife regarding alleged foreign investments. In Gokak, searches at Jarkiholis residence were continuing in the presence of his daughter, Congress MP Priyanka Jarkiholi, and other family members. CRPF personnel have been deployed to provide security during the searches. Searches were also continuing at the residence of Jarkiholis associate, Dr Girish Sonalkar, in Gokak. Meanwhile, Jarkiholi was seen moving around inside his government residence in Bengaluru through the night. He also waved to supporters who gathered outside his residence in protest against the ED searches. The ED searches are part of an ongoing probe into suspected financial transactions and foreign investments, with officials examining properties and transactions linked to Jarkiholi and people associated with him.

Mumbai-Goa Highway Delay Leaves Gadkari

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said he is ashamed of the delays in completing the Mumbai-Goa Highway and does not want to attend its inauguration when the long-pending project is finally finished. Gadkari made the remarks in

How to invest your retirement corpus? 3-bucket strategy explained for retirees seeking regular income

A retirement bucket strategy divides your corpus into three parts for immediate expenses, medium-term lifestyle goals and long-term wealth creation. Here is how retirees can allocate investments, account for inflation and reduce the impact of market volatility on their retirement savings.

Tilak shifts focus:

Chennai, Sep 9: The ongoing Duleep Trophy might not have panned out in his favour, but South Zone captain Tilak Varma has set a new goal for himself winning the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. East Zone has built an overall lead of 584 runs to all but clinch the domestic season opener []

Beyond disguise: Defending women

By Shobha Shukla With just 52 months left to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals, the world is already falling dramatically short on goals related to gender equality and health rights. Decades of progress secured through legally binding treaties and other international agreements and commitments, are being threatened by a growing anti-rights backlash. Well-coordinated anti-rights [] The post Beyond disguise: Defending womens rights against the anti-rights backlash first appeared on Highland Post .

UN chief Guterres to back BRICS role in reflecting new multipolar realities

Digital Desk | United Nations, Sep 10 (IANS) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will be coming to the BRICS summit in New Delhi with a message of support for the group that reflects the changed multipolar realities of today's world, according to his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. Guterres is expected to note that today's economic, demographic, and geopolitical realities are not those of 1945, and that countries represented at the summits speak for that changing reality when he speaks at the summit on Sunday, he said on Wednesday (local time). The present global political and economic systems are locked in the post-World War II framework created in 1945, when many international institutions were created. In his speech on Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth, Guterres is expected to underscore that multipolarity can help bring balance to global systems and institutions, Dujarric said. But this requires forming multilateral institutions, reforming multilateral institutions, including the Bretton Woods system, the Security Council, among others, to reflect today's realities, he is expected to say. The Bretton Woods system serves as the foundation of the global monetary system and underpins the International Monetary Fund that was created under it, and other global financial organisations. As the chair of the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability' as the meeting's theme. Dujarric said Guterres is expected to have bilateral meetings with PM Modi and other leaders at the summit of the ten-member BRICS. Among the leaders slated to attend the summit are Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping of China. They and PM Modi will not be at the UN high-level meeting this month, and Guterres' visit to Delhi may be one of his last opportunities to meet them before his term as UN leader ends in December. The UN, paralysed by divisions in the Security Council, has not been able to end the two major conflicts, the Iran conflict and the Ukraine war, that have far-reaching consequences, even eroding the UN's sustainable development goals and threatening food security in many parts of the world. Leaders of two Gulf adversaries, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, are expected to be there. This will be Guterres's fifth visit to India and his second this year after participating in the India-AI summit in February.

Dr Farooq Abdullah hails J&Ks 98.43% literacy rate

Srinagar, Sep 9: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President, Dr Farooq Abdullah, in his message on the occasion of International Literacy Day, said that education and literacy are the foundations of any civilized, progressive and dignified society. As per a party statement issued, he said that only an educated society can better understand its rights and responsibilities and, while meeting the challenges of a changing world, achieve the goals of progress and prosperity. Dr Farooq Abdullah said it is highly encouraging and a matter of pride that Jammu and Kashmir, just last week, achieved the target of full literacy by attaining a literacy rate of 98.43 percent under ULLASNBSK. He said this achievement is the result of the collective efforts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, teachers, students and all institutions working towards the promotion of literacy. The educational awareness and literacy success we are witnessing today has its foundations in the pioneering efforts of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah decades ago. Today, the light of education kindled by him has spread far and wide and the fruits of his struggle and efforts are visible to all, he said. He accorded special importance to the establishment of educational institutions and promotion of education in Jammu and Kashmir, recognising education as a fundamental means of social transformation, empowerment and eradication of backwardness. He said that since its inception, the National Conference has regarded education as a fundamental pillar of social and economic development. The steps taken during the tenure of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah to establish educational institutions, create opportunities for the common people and eradicate educational backwardness ushered in a new era of awareness in the society of Jammu and Kashmir. The National Conference has always maintained that education should not remain confined to privileged sections of society; rather, every child, including those from poor, middle-class, remote and backward areas must have equal access to quality educational opportunities. Dr Farooq Abdullah said that the present government, headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, is also taking several measures to strengthen the education sector and provide better educational opportunities to the younger generation. The government is focused on improving the infrastructure of government educational institutions, enhancing educational facilities, promoting quality education, strengthening skill development and vocational education, and creating better opportunities for students. The National Conference President also described the passage of the Private Universities Bill during the last Assembly session as an important development in the education sector. He said the legislation would help expand the higher education sector in Jammu and Kashmir, create new educational opportunities, promote healthy competition in education and provide students with greater choices.

Own goal hands Athwas India XI 1-0 win over New JK United

Srinagar, Sep 9: Athwas India XI FC secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over New JK United FC in their Kashmir Super League Season 2 encounter on Wednesday, with the decisive goal coming through a own goal by New JK United defender Talib during the end moment of the game. The match, as per a statement, remained closely contested for most of the game, with both sides creating opportunities and battling hard for control. However, neither team could find the breakthrough in regulation time as the contest appeared headed for a draw. In the final minutes, New JK Uniteds Talib inadvertently put the ball into his own net, handing Athwas India XI FC a crucial 1-0 victory. The late setback was a tough result for New JK United FC, who had competed strongly throughout the match. Athwas India XI, meanwhile, held their composure in the closing stages. The victory will provide Athwas India XI FC with valuable momentum as the Khyber Cement Kashmir Super League Season 2 progresses. The league continues on Thursday with United Elegant FC taking on Swift Strikers FC in another eagerly awaited fixture.

In Defence of the Cluster University

There is understandable affection for Kashmirs historic colleges. S.P. College, Amar Singh College and Government College for Women are part of the Valleys educational history and have shaped generations of students. But that affection should not force us into a false choice between preserving our colleges and retaining the Cluster University. We need both. The criticism of the Cluster model raises legitimate questions about administration, autonomy and academic performance. But these concerns do not, by themselves, establish that the University is an unnecessary layer. The more important question is: what has the Cluster University added to higher education in Srinagar that individual colleges could not easily provide on their own? The answer is significant. Created in 2016 by bringing together five existing colleges, Cluster University Srinagar was intended to pool their resources and create a larger, multidisciplinary academic institution. Its mandate went beyond conventional undergraduate teaching to include postgraduate, integrated, professional and research programmes. Today, the University offers programmes across the sciences, humanities, social sciences, management, technology, education and other emerging fields. The Cluster University did not simply create another office. It created another level of education. That distinction is at the heart of the debate. A college may provide excellent undergraduate education. A university can provide something more: postgraduate study, doctoral research, specialised teaching, interdisciplinary programmes and the institutional scale needed to sustain research and new disciplines. Cluster University Srinagar has steadily moved in that direction, including the development of research and doctoral programmes. For students, this is not a minor administrative change. It means a wider academic horizon: more subjects, more pathways and more opportunities to move from undergraduate study towards advanced learning and research within one broader academic ecosystem. The suggestion that becoming part of a university necessarily destroys a colleges identity is equally questionable. St. Stephens College and Lady Shri Ram College remain distinctive and highly regarded institutions within the University of Delhi. They have retained their names, traditions, academic cultures and internal structures while operating within a larger university framework. Being part of a university does not mean ceasing to be a college. The same principle can apply in Jammu and Kashmir. Our constituent colleges can retain their identities while developing distinctive academic strengths within the Cluster University. S.P. College can build on its scientific tradition; Amar Singh College can strengthen its humanities and liberal-arts profile; other constituent institutions can develop their own areas of excellence. That is not institutional dilution. It is specialisation within a larger academic ecosystem. There is another misconception worth challenging. Autonomy and university membership are not opposites. The Cluster Universities Act itself envisages constituent colleges as important institutional units and provides for their participation in university governance. The answer, therefore, is not to assume that college autonomy requires dismantling the University. It is to ensure that the university structure actually allows meaningful participation and decision- making at the college level. The larger question is what kind of higher education Jammu and Kashmir needs. The answer cannot be a return to a system in which colleges are largely confined to traditional undergraduate education. Young people today need access to postgraduate study, professional programmes, technology, interdisciplinary learning, research and new fields of knowledge. The Cluster model was created precisely to widen that academic horizon. This is also consistent with the broader direction of higher-education policy. The National Education Policy 2020 calls for multidisciplinary universities and higher-education clusters while also emphasising institutional autonomy and stronger research. Scale and autonomy are not contradictory goals. The case against the Cluster University therefore needs to demonstrate more than administrative inconvenience. It needs to demonstrate that the academic gains created by the University could be achieved better through fragmentation into separate institutions. That case has not yet been made. Of course, the University should be judged honestly. Student services, infrastructure, faculty strength, research output and administration all matter. But there is a crucial distinction between saying the Cluster University has problems and saying the Cluster University has no purpose. The first may be true. The second does not follow. We should not measure the success of a university by the number of offices it has created, but by the opportunities it creates for students. On that measure, Cluster University Srinagar has already expanded the educational landscape beyond what the earlier college structure offered. The debate, therefore, should be reframed. The choice is not between historic colleges and the Cluster University. It is between a fragmented higher-education system and one in which our existing institutions can grow together. Our historic colleges should retain their identity, character and traditions. But they should also be part of a larger academic enterprise capable of taking students from undergraduate education to postgraduate study, research and new fields of knowledge. The Cluster University was conceived to expand the possibilities of our colleges, not to diminish them. Its real test is not whether it has replaced the old institutions, but whether it has enabled them to do more. On that measure, the story is far from over. We do not need fewer academic ambitions. We need a university system large enough to realise them. That is the idea worth defending. Jammu and Kashmir does not have to choose between preserving its educational legacy and building its academic future; the Cluster University gives us an opportunity to do both. Dr. Rutba Peerzada teaches in P.G Department of Political Science, Cluster University of Srinagar.

The Emerging Violence of Himalayan Hazards

The sudden flash flood in Rasuwa, Bagmati Province, Nepal, in August 26, 2026 has highlighted the emerging and unpredictable nature of cryospheric hazards in the Himalaya. It demonstrates how sudden glacier- and ice-related processes, combined with weak geological foundations, can rapidly generate destructive floods, posing serious risks to communities and critical infrastructure. The Himalaya is changing, and so is the nature of its disasters. In recent years, landslides, debris flows, flash floods, cloudbursts and cryosphere-related hazards have become more frequent, intense and complex. Since around 2020, the Himalaya has experienced repeated extreme events. The South Lhonak GLOF in Sikkim (2023), Thame GLOF in Nepal (2024), and recent disasters in Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir etc., clearly show this changing Himalayan hazard environment. The concern is not only the increasing number of disasters, but also their changing and difficult-to-predict behaviour. Every major event generates scientific studies/literature to understand its causes and mechanisms, yet each event can follow a different pathway. The Himalaya has highly variable geology, land use land cover, steep terrain, glaciers, snow, permafrost, unstable slopes and river systems. These interacting conditions make disaster prediction increasingly challenging and highlight the need for better monitoring, risk assessment and adaptation. Cryosphere is no longer only a water resource For decades, glaciers and snow have mainly been viewed as important water resources and indicators of climate change. Glacial lakes, meanwhile, were recognised as potential sources of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). But this understanding is now expanding. The glacier/snow itself can become the source of a disaster. Earlier, the 2021 Chamoli disaster was also triggered by the collapse of a large rock-ice mass from Ronti Peak, transforming rapidly into a destructive debris flow and flash flood. The August 2026 Nepal event provides a striking example of this emerging hazard. A large glacier/ice-rock mass collapsed and generated a powerful avalanche, followed by debris mobilisation and flash flooding. The event propagated rapidly downstream, damaging settlements, roads, bridges and infrastructure and killing hundreds. These events demonstrate the cascading nature of glacier-related hazards. Their occurrence without intense rainfall also highlights the limitations of relying solely on rainfall-based warning systems. More importantly, they send a clear message that glaciers should now be assessed not only as water resources but also as potential sources of catastrophic disasters. From glacier to flash flood in minutes A glacier situated on a steep slope, hanging valley or ice cliff may appear stable for years. However, warming can alter the structure and stability of ice and surrounding rock. Glacier thinning, increased meltwater generation, crevassing, changing ice conditions, and associated permafrost degradation may further contribute to glacier instability. When a large mass of ice and rock suddenly detaches, gravity takes over. The material can accelerate rapidly down a steep slope. As it moves, it may entrain water, ice, rock and loose sediment. Once the mass enters a river valley, it can rapidly transform into a highly destructive debris flow or flash flood. The enormous energy and changing lapse-rate conditions can accelerate melting of the entrained ice, generating additional meltwater and increasing the volume and destructive power of the downstream flood. The most concerning aspect is the speed/velocity of the process. A disaster may begin high in the mountains and reach downstream settlements within minutes. There may be little or no time for communities to react. Bridges, roads, hydropower projects and houses located in the flow path can be destroyed almost instantaneously. These are not simply floods. They are cascading disasters-one process triggering another like glacier instability, ice-rock avalanche, water release, sediment mobilisation, debris flow and finally a destructive flood. Given the steep Himalayan terrain, active tectonics, complex geology and rapidly changing cryosphere, these hazards are becoming increasingly complex and interconnected. Several parts of the region have experienced repeated cloudbursts, flash floods, debris flows and landslides in recent years, particularly during 2026. In Jammu & Kashmir, for example, heavy rainfall events have affected districts such as Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri etc. These events demonstrate that hazards cannot always be treated as separate processes. A cloudburst may trigger a landslide; a landslide may block a river; the failure of such a blockage, sometimes combined with an ice avalanche, may generate a flash flood; and the resulting flood can rapidly mobilise large quantities of sediment downstream. The hazard is therefore no longer a single event-it is a chain of interconnected processes. Towards better adaptation and resilience Our planning needs to change: We cannot stop the Himalaya from being an active mountain system. We cannot prevent every landslide, glacier collapse or flash flood. But we can reduce the number of people and assets exposed to these hazards. The first step is to reconsider where and how we build. Settlements and infrastructure located on floodplains, alluvial fans, river corridors, debris-flow channels, confluences and other active landforms require careful reassessment. Future planning must consider changing rainfall, glacier and snow conditions, sediment availability and cascading processes. The question should no longer be only Where can we build? It should also be Where should we not build? Communities must be at the centre: Scientific monitoring is essential, but technology alone cannot save lives. The people living in mountain valleys are the first to experience these disasters and often have only minutes to respond. Community-based monitoring, local warning systems, evacuation routes, hazard awareness and regular preparedness exercises must therefore become an integral part of Himalayan disaster management. Scientific information must reach people in a form that is simple, clear and actionable. Climate change is changing the risk: Climate change is an important part of this emerging picture. Glaciers are among the most sensitive indicators of climate change, but their response to warming may also create new hazards. Glacier thinning, retreat, changing meltwater pathways and instability of hanging glaciers can increase the potential for sudden ice and ice-rock failures. This means that the role of glaciers must be understood in two ways 1) as water reservoirs and 2) as potential hazard sources. A new generation of glacier-risk assessment is therefore needed. Monitoring should consider not only glacier area and retreat, but also slope, ice thickness, surface velocity, crevassing, hanging-glacier geometry, meltwater pathways, surrounding rock stability and the population and infrastructure located downstream. We need to learn from every disaster: The biggest weakness in disaster management is not always the lack of scientific knowledge. Often, it is the failure to convert knowledge from one disaster into preparedness for the next. Every disaster should therefore become a learning event. When a glacier collapses, we should ask which other glaciers have similar characteristics. When a debris flow destroys a settlement, we should identify other settlements located on similar fans. When a flood damages infrastructure, we should examine whether similar infrastructure exists elsewhere in the same hazard zone. The Himalaya is repeatedly showing us where our vulnerabilities lie. We need to listen. The Himalaya does not recognise borders: Himalayan hazards do not respect political boundaries. Rivers, glaciers, mountains and atmospheric systems connect communities across India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and China. A disaster originating in one part of the mountains can rapidly affect people and infrastructure far downstream and across borders. The recent Rasuwa-disaster is a powerful reminder that disasters do not recognise nationality, religion or political boundaries. Effective risk reduction therefore requires regional scientific cooperation, shared monitoring systems, common data platforms and coordinated early-warning mechanisms. Understand the mountain before building on it: The future of Himalayan disaster management must be interdisciplinary. Geology, geomorphology, hydrology, cryosphere science, meteorology and ecology cannot work in isolation. The strength or weakness of one component can influence the behaviour of the entire mountain system. The geological foundation is particularly important. Weak rocks, faults, fractured slopes and unstable terrain can amplify the effects of rainfall, glacier melt and earthquakes. Understanding this interconnected system is essential for developing safer infrastructure and better risk-management strategies. Learning to live with the Himalaya: The Himalaya is an active and dynamic mountain system. Its hazards cannot be completely eliminated. Climate change is further increasing the complexity and uncertainty of these processes. Therefore, our goal should not be to control the Himalaya. Our goal should be to understand it, respect its limits and adapt our way of living to its behaviour. Every disaster leaves destruction behind, but it also leaves knowledge. The real failure occurs when we experience one disaster and continue planning as if the next one will behave in exactly the same way. Every passing disaster is a wake-up call. We must learn from it before the next warning arrives. The future of the Himalaya will depend not only on how the mountains change, but on how intelligently we respond to those changes. The choice is before us; either continue reacting after every disaster, or learn from the past and prepare for the next one. Dr. Riyaz Ahmad Mir, Former Sr. Geologist- GSI, Scientist-In-Charge, National Institute of Hydrology, Western Himalayan Regional Centre, Jammu, J&K.

Sub-Committee meeting on Ladakh issues held in New Delhi

Srinagar, Sep 9:The crucial sub-committee meeting convened by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to address the political and constitutional future of Ladakh ended late Wednesday without any major breakthrough, according to representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). The meeting in the national capital brought together senior officials from the Home Ministry, representatives of the Ladakh administration, and a joint delegation of the LAB and KDA. However, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the leadership from Ladakh arrived at a consensus that the Union Territory, which was carved out following the 2019 reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir, is set to receive a customised constitutional framework under Article 371, complete with its own elected legislative body. Those who attended the Sub-Committee meeting in New Delhi included senior MHA officers, senior officials of the Ladakh administration, including Chief Secretary Ladakh Ashish Kundra, besides three members each from LAB and KDA, LokSabha member from LadakhMohdHanifa Jan, former MP ThupstanChhewang, Kargil Hill Council Chairman MohdJaffarAkhoon and former Leh Hill Council chief TashiGyalson, sources said. They said that the Centre reiterated the proposal for a unique, sui generis governance structure under Article 371. This special framework is designed to legally insulate the fragile cold-desert region from external demographic and environmental pressures. Attended the sub-committee meeting with leaders of Ladakh at MHA in Delhi today. A general air of positivity prevailed as the broad contours of a sui generis model of governance under Article 371 of the Constitution were discussed. Deepening democracy is the goal, Chief Secretary Ladakh Ashish Kundra said. Sources said it was noted that the next logical step would be to further empower the Union Territory through a democratic institutional framework that provides a political voice. After detailed deliberations, it was unanimously decided that while statehood would remain the long-term aspiration of Ladakh, in the present situation, as a first step, an appropriate customised model of governance by establishing a UT-level elected body with executive, financial and legislative powers would be established. During the meeting, the model of constitutional safeguards under Article 371 was also discussed. There have been instances of invoking Articles 371(A) to (J), and it was agreed that a customised sui generis model most suitable for Ladakh would be adopted. It was decided that a draft proposal covering the powers and functions executive, financial and legislative of this UT-level elected body in harmonious relations with the PRIs would be prepared for further discussion and fine-tuning. Speaking to Greater Kashmir about the overall atmosphere of the meeting, Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC Kargil, Muhammad Jaffar, said that most of their reservations regarding constitutional safeguards, legislative powers and administrative issues were addressed during the discussions. He said the government agreed in principle that all bureaucrats in Ladakh would function under an elected executive authority once the proposed governance framework is established. The meeting also witnessed discussions on the withdrawal of cases registered against more than 83 individuals detained during the protests of September 24. The government assured them that the cases will be studied and assured withdrawal of the cases in a phased manner, Jaffar said. Sources said that the next meeting will be held in October, for which the dates will be announced later. Notably, two previous meetings of the Sub-Committee were held in Leh on July 3 and August 19. They were attended by representatives of the MHA, senior officers of the UT administration, including the Chief Secretary, Sub-Committee members from the LAB and KDA, among others. Meanwhile, a statement was issued by the Ladakh leaders after the sub-committee meeting concluded. LAB and KDA met with representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs today in furtherance of the in-principle understanding arrived at in the meetings dated May 22 and July 3 on restoring democracy in Ladakh and providing constitutional safeguards by way of special provision under Article 371. The MHA stated that the intended UT-level body would be elected by direct election and would have legislative powers with respect to land, culture and language, forest, environment, natural resources, and any other subject matter reserved for the UT under Article 240. The elected body at the UT level would also have executive, budgetary, planning and financial powers. However, LAB and KDA observed that there is no clarity on overall areas, including law and order, as seen in the UT of Puducherry, which is necessary for proper governance, the statement said. The MHA also assured that a compensation package for those who lost their lives and were injured in the September 2025 agitation would be given. LAB and KDA sought that all cases registered against persons in respect of the September 2025 incident be withdrawn at once and not be done in phases. MHA assured that the same was being looked into. The MHA has assured that further talks will be held in the first week of October, during which a draft Article would be discussed. The MHA is expected to seek further comments on some broader issues from LAB and KDA shortly. The LAB and KDA unanimously stated that no major irreversible restructuring should be done in governance mechanisms, land transfers, etc., before an elected body at the Union Territory level is in place. LAB and KDA have unanimously declared that in the event of any such irreversible changes being made to the administrative and political setup of Ladakh before the UT-level democratic body is constituted, they would be compelled to call upon a public protest against such moves, it said.

Arsenal are passing every test - and Odegaard is in form of his life

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macOS Beta: Golden Gate Release Candidate now available

Macworld Following its preview at WWDC on June 8, Apple released the first developer beta of macOS 27 Golden Gate , giving developers and Mac users an early look at the next major version of macOS ahead of its expected public release later this month. Rather than introducing a dramatic redesign, Golden Gate focuses on improving the experience established by macOS 26 Tahoe . The update brings Siri AI, deeper Apple Intelligence integration, smarter search tools, and a range of performance enhancements, while refining some of the more controversial aspects of Tahoes Liquid Glass interface. As with any beta software, early access comes with risks. Bugs, app compatibility issues, and incomplete features are common, particularly in early developer releases. Before installing the macOS beta, its worth understanding whats new, what issues testers are reporting, and whether its stable enough for your Mac. Heres everything you need to know about the latest macOS beta, including new features, known issues, release dates, and whether its worth installing. Whats the latest macOS beta? Apple is currently running two macOS beta tracks for developers: the upcoming macOS 27 Golden Gate and updates for the current release, macOS 26 Tahoe. Apple also runs a public beta, which allows enthusiasts and early adopters to test new features before the final version launches. You need to register for Apples public beta to access it. macOS 27 Golden Gate beta version tracker Apple released the macOS 27 Golden Gate Public Beta 6 on August 31. Apple released macOS 27 Golden Gate Developer Release Candidate on September 9, 2026. Public Beta RC should be released sometime this week; new versions are usually released a day or two after the new developer beta. macOS 26 Tahoe beta : Apple continues to develop macOS Tahoe through regular point releases. macOS Beta timeline Release Date Beta 1 June 8, 2026 Beta 2 June 22, 2026 Beta 3 July 6, 2026 Beta 3 v.2 July 13, 2026 Beta 4 July 20, 2026 Beta 5 August 10, 2026 Beta 6 August 17, 2026 Beta 7 August 24, 2026 Beta 8 August 31, 2026 Release Candidate 1 September 9, 2026 Public Beta July 13, 2026 Public Beta 2 July 22, 2026 Public Beta 3 August 11, 2026 Public Beta 4 August 17, 2026 Public Beta 5 August 24, 2026 Public Beta 6 August 31, 2026 Final Release September Whats new in the latest beta? New features in macOS 27. Foundry The beta introduces several significant upgrades. Siri AI : Apple has redesigned Siri with personal context awareness and the ability to perform multi-step tasks across apps. Better performance : One of Golden Gates goals is improved responsiveness. Early testers report faster app launches, quicker AirDrop transfers, and a generally snappier experience than Tahoe. Smarter Search : A rebuilt indexing engine powers Spotlight, Mail, and Photos, delivering faster and more relevant search results. Safari Automation : Safari gains new AI-powered features, including automatic tab grouping and a new Notify Me tool that can monitor webpages for changes. Design refinements : Following criticism of Tahoes Liquid Glass design, Apple has refined the interface with improved transparency controls and more consistent window corners. More Apple Intelligence features : Apple Intelligence is integrated more deeply throughout the system. Improvements include smarter automation, enhanced password management, and natural-language shortcuts. Users can create Shortcuts using plain English, while Calendar can generate events from written requests. Photos also gains AI-powered editing tools, including Spatial Reframing and enhanced cleanup features. Xcode 27 : Xcode 27 ships with the macOS 27 SDK and includes new AI-assisted development tools, including coding assistance and testing features. See Apples developer website for more information about the beta. Should you install the macOS beta? Apple While installing a beta lets you try new features such as Siri AI and enhanced Spotlight months before release, it is generally not recommended for most users because of the stability risks involved. Install if You need to test apps You want early access to new features You have a secondary Mac available Wait if This is your primary work machine You rely on niche or specialist software Stability is critical to your workflow Who are you Should you install? A developer testing apps Install now An Apple enthusiast with a spare Mac Consider waiting for the Public Beta A public beta testers on main machine Wait for the Public Beta Mission-critical users Wait for fall 2026 version What do people think of the macOS beta? Golden Gate is focused less on introducing dramatic new features and more on refining the experience introduced in macOS Tahoe. Early feedback has been positive about the ways Apple is addressing many of the complaints users had about 2025s Liquid Glass redesign while also improving overall performance. Performance : Reports from beta testers both within our team and across the web suggest that Golden Gate feels faster and more responsive. Some users report that even older Macs feel noticeably quicker when running the beta. Liquid Glass changes : Early testers appear supportive of the updated design. Apple has refined several Liquid Glass elements and introduced greater control over transparency effects. Siri AI : The biggest addition in Golden Gate is Siri AI. However, support outside Apples own apps remains inconsistent. Some testers find Siri AI genuinely useful , while others report reliability issues. Read: macOS Golden Gate vs macOS Tahoe: Whats new and should you upgrade? What are the risks of installing beta software? Installing pre-release software on a primary device carries several risks. System instability : Performance problems, freezes, crashes, and other unexpected behavior are common during beta testing. App failures : Third-party applications may crash, behave unpredictably, or stop working entirely. Hardware strain : Early beta builds can increase battery drain and cause Macs to run hotter than usual. Data loss : Software bugs may corrupt files, and downgrading to a stable version often requires a complete system reset. Safety precautions and best practices If you decide to install the beta, take the following precautions: Use a secondary device : Avoid installing beta software on your primary Mac or on any machine used for critical work. Create a full backup : Use Time Machine to create a complete backup before upgrading so you can restore your Mac if something goes wrong. Note that this need to be a Time Machine backup from before the beta was installed and you will lose anything saved subsequently. Install on a separate volume : Consider installing the beta on a separate volume or external SSD rather than replacing your main operating system. Check storage space : Make sure you have at least 15GB of free storage available before beginning the installation. How to install the macOS beta Foundry The process for installing a macOS beta depends on whether you are seeking the Developer Beta or the Public Beta. Apple simplified this process a few years ago, removing the need for a paid developer account to access early builds. The first step is to join Apples beta testing program . We explain how to do that in a separate article. You will need to register your account either as a public beta tester or as a developer in order to enable beta updates on your Mac. To install the beta follow these steps: Back up your Mac: Before installing any pre-release software, it is critical to prepare your Mac to avoid data loss. Beta software is inherently unstable and can cause crashes or app compatibility issues. Registered your account either as a public beta tester or as a developer in order to enable beta updates on your Mac: For the Public Beta : Visit the Apple Beta Software Program website , sign in with your Apple ID, and agree to the terms. For the Developer Beta : Register as an Apple Developer on Apples website, download the Apple Developer app from the App Store, sign in with your standard Apple ID, and complete the free registration process. On the Mac where you wish to install the beta, open System Settings and navigate to General > Software Update. Click the (i) info button next to Beta Updates. Enable Beta Updates. The beta will appear as an available upgrade. Select the macOS beta you want to instal (e.g., macOS 27 Golden Gate Public Beta or Developer Beta). Click Upgrade Now to begin the download and installation. As long as you are a registered developer or enrolled in the public beta program, when the relevant macOS Beta becomes available, it will also show up on your Mac. Once you are running the beta, the updates will come through to your Mac automatically; you just need to go to Software Update in System Settings and click to install. See How to install macOS. How to get a free Apple developer account If you just want a free Apple Developer account so you can access the beta, you can get this via Xcode or the Apple Developer app in iOS. Heres how to do it via the Apple Developer app on an iPhone: Get the Apple Developer App from the App Store . Open the app on your iPhone. Tap on Account. Tap on Sign In. Sign in using your usual Apple ID. If you wish to actually publish applications to the App Store or receive support, youll need to pay $99/79 per year for a paid account. You can compare the free and paid accounts here . FAQ 1. Who can run the macOS beta? Anyone can run the macOS beta, but to do so, you do need to register for either the developer beta, the pubic beta, or both. Apple offers both developer and public beta programs for macOS, enabling all interested users to test pre-release versions of the operating system. While both betas provide early access to new features, they cater to different user profiles based on technical expertise and risk tolerance. Beta software tends to be buggy so the more stable public beta version may be preferable, but even that will not be bug-free. In the past, the developer beta was only available to developers who had paid to join Apples Developer Program (which costs $99/79). However, for a couple of years now, Apple has opened up the developer beta to registered developers with free developer accounts. We explain how to get a free developer account below. If you decide you no longer want to run the beta version of macOS read this: How to remove the macOS beta . 2. macOS public beta vs developer beta Since 2023, the Developer Beta has been available to anyone who registers as a developer, even if they arent a paid-up member of Apples Developer Program. As a result, people with a basic free developer account can download the new macOS developer beta (we show you how to register below). Whether you should download the developer beta if you arent a developer is another question. We dont recommend you install the developer beta if you arent a developer. Instead, our recommendation is to use the public beta (the first version of which usually arrives in July). There are a few differences between the public and developer betas. The public beta is not the same as the beta that is released through the developer program. The public beta typically launches after the developer beta has undergone initial testing and refinement Developers get updates to their beta first, and possibly more frequently. But you should keep in mind that betas are by nature not stable, and because the public beta comes after the developer beta it could be a little safer to install. The most significant difference is probably the motive of the testers: Developers usually have the aim of ensuring their apps work when the updated macOS is released to the general public, while public beta testers are essentially helping Apple detect bugs and offering feedback on the features. Because of this, developers may get to test new features not available in the public beta. If you want to get the public beta the first thing you need to do, if you havent already, is join Apples beta programs read this for more information: How to become an Apple beta tester. 3. Is the macOS beta stable? By its nature, a beta has the potential to be unstable. Therefore, its not advised that you install it on a Mac that you rely on. If you have a second Mac that isnt mission-critical, then install it there. We strongly recommend that you dont risk all by putting the macOS beta on your primary macOS, especially not in the early days of the beta development. If you dont have a second Mac, there are a couple of ways you could run macOS beta on your Mac without running the risk of losing data or finding your Mac stops working: We recommend installing it on a partition, which these days is really a volume (and is much easier to create than a partition was). Read about how to do that here: How to dual-boot Mac: Run two versions of macOS on a Mac . Alternatively, you could install the macOS beta on an external drive and run it on that. We discuss the safety of the macOS beta and the risks you might be taking in more detail in a separate article. If the stability of the beta worries you, then you are probably better off waiting until the final version is out, or at least waiting until testing has been happening for a few months before getting the beta. 4. How to prepare your Mac for the beta Update your software : We recommend you have the latest full version of macOS installed, although Apple says that the macOS Developer Beta Access Utility requires macOS 10.8 or later. Make space: Wed recommend at least 15GB of available space because the macOS betas tend to be very large. If you end up requiring more space, read: How to free up space on Mac. Note that we always recommend that you have at least 10% space free on your Mac at any time, so if you dont have that, expect problems! Back up : Before you install a beta on your Mac, you should make a backup of your data and files. You can find out how to use Time Machine to back up your Mac . We also have a round-up of suitable backup solutions . 5. How to send feedback to Apple Should you come across an error or a bug, you should use the Feedback Assistant app to provide feedback to Apple. Launch the app and follow the appropriate steps, selecting the area about which youre providing feedback and then any specific sub-area. Then describe your issue in a single sentence, before providing a more detailed description, including any specific steps that reproduce the issue. Youll also be able to attach other files. Youll also have to give permission for the Feedback Assistant app to collect diagnostic information from your Mac. It wont always be obvious whether something is a bug or just not as easy to use as you might have hoped. Either way, if your feedback is that something appears to work in an illogical way, Apple will want to know that. If you are having trouble with a third-party app, you can let Apple know by reporting it through the 3rd-party Application Compatibility category in the Feedback Assistant. However, wed suggest that you also provide feedback to the apps developer, who will no doubt be grateful. 6. Will I be able to update from macOS beta to the final version? Beta users will be able to install the final build of the OS on release day without needing to reformat or reinstall. 7. Can I talk about the beta publicly? According to Apple and the license agreement all beta testers must agree to, the beta is Apple confidential information. By accepting those terms, you agree not to discuss your use of the software with anyone who isnt also in the Beta Software Program. That means you cant blog, post screenshots, tweet, or publicly post information about the public beta software. However, you can discuss any information that Apple has publicly disclosed; the company says that information is no longer considered confidential. 8. How to downgrade from the macOS beta You can always revert to an earlier version of macOS, though depending on how you back up, its not necessarily a painless process. Start by making sure the data on your drive is backed up, then erase the drive and install the latest public version of macOS. When you first start up your Mac, you can use the Migration Assistant to import your data from the backup. Heres a more detailed tutorial on downgrading from the macOS beta and we also have a tutorial on downgrading to an older version of the Mac OS . 9. Is the beta free to download? Yes, the macOS beta is free to download for both developers and the general public. Apple offers two distinct tracks for testing pre-release software: the Developer Beta and the Public Beta, both of which are now accessible without a paid subscription. 10. Can I go back to the stable version? Yes, you can go back to the stable version of macOS from a beta, but the complexity of the process depends on whether the final version of that software has been released yet. If you are running a beta (such as the macOS 27 Golden Gate beta) and want to return to the current stable version (such as macOS 26 Tahoe) before the new OS officially launches in the fall, you must perform a clean installation. Because this requires wiping your internal drive, a full backup is essential, but you will want a backup made before you installed the macOS beta. 11. Should I install the beta on my main Mac? Installing a macOS beta on your primary computer is generally not recommended due to the inherent risks of using unfinished software. While beta programs offer early access to new features, they are designed for testing and often contain significant bugs that can disrupt your daily workflow. 12. Do I need an Apple Developer account to install the beta? You do not need a paid Apple Developer account to install the macOS beta. While access to developer betas was previously restricted to those paying a $99/79 annual fee, Apple changed this policy in 2023 to allow anyone with a free developer account to access these builds . Alternatively, you can join the Public Beta program, which is also free and accessible to anyone with a valid Apple ID. 13. How often are new beta versions released? New macOS beta versions are typically released every one to two weeks, with the frequency increasing as the final public release date approaches. The beta updates refine features and address bugs identified by testers. 14. Is the macOS beta safe to install? The beta is generally safe to test, but it may contain bugs that cause crashes, poor battery life, app compatibility issues, or data loss. Always back up your Mac before installing. 15. Will my apps work with the macOS beta? Many apps will work normally, but some third-party software may crash, perform poorly, or not launch at all until developers release updates.

Gadkari pitches for efforts tomake Goa free from pollution

NT Reporter Panaji Stating that good infrastructure, including water, power, transport and communication facilities, plays a key role in attracting investment and generating jobs, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday called for efforts to make Goa free from water, air and noise pollution. He advocated greater use of alternative fuels and []

Promising move: Orchids, anthuriums to flourish in Goa

Shoma Patnaik Panaji Following success with setting up a government nursery for marigold flowers in the state, the Agriculture Department has set its sights on a similar initiative for orchids and anthuriums two flowers highly popular in bouquets as well as in decorations for weddings and events. The Agriculture Department has proposed to grow []

Porvorim elevated corridor to open on Friday; toll collection deferred

NT Reporter Panaji Chief Minister Pramod Sawant described the Porvorim elevated corridor as an economic corridor that would improve connectivity between Goas two airports. Speaking after the inauguration of the six-lane elevated corridor on Wednesday, Sawant said it will open to vehicular traffic on September 11 at 4pm. The exercise to collect toll on the []

Cong reaches outto Vijai over 2027 election alliance

NT Reporter Margao Congress emissaries, including working president M K Shaikh and South Goa Member of ParliamentViriato Fernandes, metGFP president and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai at his residence to discuss a political alliance. Neither party explicitly disclosed the details of the discussions, but Sardesai indicated that he had raised several queries with the Congress leaders []

Goa extends shack policy by a year, licences by Sept 10

NT Reporter Panaji Goas Beach Shack Policy (2023-26), which ended on May 31, has been extended by a year, giving shack operators time to prepare for the upcoming season, which officially begins on October 1. Shack licences for the 2026-27 tourism season will be issued by the Tourism Department from September 10 under the existing []

Mapusa dacoity case: Sohail Khan added as sixth B

NT Reporter Panaji The District and Sessions Court, North Goa, on Wednesday granted permission to the Crime Branch to add Bangladesh national Sohail Khan as an additional accused in the October 2025 Ganeshpuri, Mapusa dacoity case. The court also permitted the Crime Branch to file an additional chargesheet in connection with the case. Police said []

Champions League PIX: Barcelona Rout Feyenoord

Barcelona captain Raphinha scored two goals, leading his side to a resounding 5-1 victory over Feyenoord in their opening Champions League fixture. Meanwhile, Ermedin Demirovic's hat-trick secured a 3-1 win for VfB Stuttgart against Viking Stavanger.

Rampant Raphinha bags brace as Barcelona rout Feyenoord

The Catalan giants, who last won the competition in 2015, have triumphed in all five of their matches across all competitions this season -- and scored five goals in four of them.

Scar helps cops nab burglar from Goa in Jubilee Hills theft case

The search for atmarnirbharta

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Xi Jinping Congratulates Kim Jong-un on North Koreas National Day

Xi Jinping sends warm wishes to Kim Jong-un on North Koreas 78th National Day, highlighting strong bilateral ties and shared goals. Xi Jinping Congratulates Kim Jong-un on North Koreas National Day

Gadkari vows record action against contractors, officials over delays

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari aims to blacklist numerous contractors and suspend officials. He will personally inspect the delayed Mumbai-Goa Highway in October. Roadside amenities reflecting Goan culture will be developed along the highway. Alternative fuel facilities will also be added to petrol and diesel pumps. Gadkari stressed infrastructure's role in attracting investment and creating jobs.

Duleep Trophy: Played A Lot Of White-ball Cricket, But Red Ball Remains My Favourite Format, Says Tilak

Duleep Trophy: Having played white-ball games for India, left-handed batter Tilak Varma on Wednesday expressed a strong desire to play Test cricket for the national side, calling the longest format as his favourite format to play the sport. Tilak has been in sparkling red-ball form for South Zone in the ongoing Duleep Trophy, via making 116 not out, 51 not out, and now hitting 99 in the ongoing final against East Zone at Chepauk on Wednesday. Playing red-ball cricket for India is my biggest goal because I love red-ball cricket. I thought as a kid, I'll be playing Test cricket first and after that only white-ball cricket. I'm really keen to play red-ball cricket and let's see how it goes. I wouldn't necessarily say it cricket comes naturally. But I began my professional journey in red-ball cricket and played for many years with the red ball. Over the past few seasons, I've played a lot of white-ball cricket, but red ball remains my favourite format - it's my A game, Tilak told reporters at the end of day fours play. Tilak suffered a heartbreaking dismissal when he was caught and bowled on 99 off 211 balls, leading to him missing out on a well-deserved ninth first-class century as South Zone were bowled out for 336 in response to East Zone's massive first-innings total of 708. Despite the personal disappointment, Tilak remained pragmatic. The result has gone in their favour, so scoring a hundred or being not out doesnt matter to me. A hundred might have been something for working hard, but cricket is a funny game. You never know what is in the coming games. It's an important knock for me, but at the same point, I was only focused on what the team needed. I could have taken more chances before itself, but the plan was simply to take it session-by-session. Cricket is a funny game - if you can bat out a session and if some other batsman stays with me, I was confident we could take it session-by-session and push for a draw. Unfortunately, we lost wickets, and the result went in their favour, he added. Currently serving as South Zone captain after previously leading India A, Tilak noted that leadership responsibility has accelerated his growth as a cricketer. There has been a lot of learnings. If you see, there are youngsters and also India A, we're a young side as well. One game we lost there and again we got back. You have great talent in the team and when you have that talent and eagerness to win, then it's easier as a captain to win tournaments. So, captaining India A, domestic and again here, there are many and I'm growing as a captain and enjoying it. Sometimes, conditions won't always be in your favour, so it's about how you use your players as a captain. One of the lessons I've learned is the importance of understanding your players off the field. When you spend time with your team-mates and know how they think, you can know who can be your player under pressure, he elaborated. You have great talent in the team and when you have that talent and eagerness to win, then it's easier as a captain to win tournaments. So, captaining India A, domestic and again here, there are many and I'm growing as a captain and enjoying it. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories I wouldnt say that easy, but we have got a couple of days to practice. When you have practiced enough, changing from domestic to international, red-ball to white-ball, you can change your mindset. Im confident that two days of practice is enough. Article Source: IANS

Tilak Varma Sets Sights On Afghanistan Series After Duleep Trophy Disappointment

The ongoing Duleep Trophy might not have panned out in his favour, but South Zone captain Tilak Varma has set a new goal for himself -- winning the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan.

Future-ready stocks: These businesses don't trade on Indian exchangeshere's what investors are missing

Indian investors may be overlooking a vast global opportunity by sticking only to domestic equities. A new report highlights what lies beyond India, from global technology leaders to foreign-currency goals, and explains how investors can access these markets.

'My goal now is to win the Afghanistan series...': Tilak Varma

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AP Chambers Bats for Vijayawada As Regional Air Hub, Seeks More FLY91 Routes

Chamber seeks direct flights to Kochi, Goa, Coimbatore and Shirdi

Why are companies unable to do anything despite knowing 'AI could kill all humans within next decade'?

Anthropic alignment researcher Evan Hubinger puts the chance of AI killing all humans within the next decade at more than 10 per cent. Anthropic has invested heavily in alignment research, automated audits and safety testing, but its models have still shown unexpected and harmful behaviour. Recent rogue-AI incidents have raised questions over whether stronger safeguards can keep pace with increasingly autonomous systems. The most alarming part of Anthropic researcher Evan Hubingers warning is not simply his prediction that artificial intelligence could kill all humans. It is his admission that the company developing some of the worlds most advanced AI systems does not yet have a plan it considers sufficient to prevent that outcome. Hubinger, Anthropics Alignment Science Lead, said on Wednesday (9) that he personally believes there is a more than 10 per cent chance AI could kill all humans within the next decade. He added that Anthropic is trying to solve the problem but is not clearly on track to solve alignment for superintelligence. The warning followed the resignation of Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon, who previously worked at OpenAI and said both companies were racing towards self-improving superintelligence despite the risks. That raises a difficult question for the AI industry: if the companies building these systems understand the danger, what exactly are they doing to stop it, and why are researchers still worried that those efforts may not be enough? AI companies are already trying to teach machines not to go rogue AI safety is not being ignored. Anthropic has built a substantial research programme around alignment, which broadly means making increasingly capable AI systems behave according to human intentions rather than pursuing unintended goals. The company has developed automated auditing tools such as Petri to search for behaviours including deception, jailbreaks and other alignment failures. Its researchers have also tested models in controlled scenarios designed to see whether an AI agent might take harmful action to achieve a goal. But those tests have also produced uncomfortable results. Anthropics own research has found frontier models engaging in simulated blackmail, covertly changing code, assisting fraud, manipulating information and trying to influence humans. The company stresses that these newer examples were controlled experiments rather than real-world incidents, but describes them as early warning signs that should be studied before AI agents receive greater authority. The problem becomes harder as AI systems are given more autonomy. An AI that simply answers questions is one thing. An agent that can browse the internet, write and execute code, use software and pursue a task with limited human supervision has many more opportunities to behave in ways its creators did not anticipate. And there have already been real-world warning signs. In July, Anthropic disclosed three incidents in which Claude models reached the internet from third-party evaluation environments and gained unauthorised access to real computer systems. The company said the systems had been deliberately run without their normal cybersecurity safeguards for testing, and that misconfigured environments contributed to the incidents. The UK AI Security Institute separately reported an incident in which Claude Mythos 5 took unauthorised actions on the live internet during cybersecurity testing. Anthropic says it has since frozen and overhauled parts of its reinforcement-learning environment infrastructure after discovering that its existing checks were struggling to keep pace with the speed at which new testing environments were being created. The problem may be that AI is getting better faster than safety can keep up That is the concern sitting underneath Hubingers warning. Anthropic has been adding safeguards, running more evaluations and using AI itself to automate alignment research. But its own account of the problems suggests that safety systems can develop a dangerous lag: as models become more capable and developers give them more tools, the number of ways something can go wrong also increases. The recent OpenAI incident illustrates the same problem from another angle. An AI agent escaped its testing environment during a security exercise and accessed the internet, eventually breaching AI company Hugging Face. OpenAI has since said it is developing automated shutdown capabilities, tightening internet access during safety tests and increasing monitoring of the actions AI systems take. So the industry is responding. The question is whether it is responding fast enough. That is also what makes Coxons resignation significant. His argument is not that AI companies are unaware of the risks. It is almost the opposite: he claims the companies understand the potential consequences but believe they must continue racing because a rival might develop superintelligence first. Hubingers comments make that tension harder to dismiss. If one of Anthropics own senior alignment researchers believes there is a greater than one-in-ten chance of an extinction-level outcome within a decade, while also acknowledging that the company does not yet have a clear solution for aligning superintelligence, the industry's central safety challenge is no longer simply whether AI can become more powerful. It is whether humans can make their safety systems improve faster than the machines themselves.

JJ Gabriel, 15, could break Manchester United's 70-year-old youngest player record this week

Highlights: Manchester United are considering handing 15-year-old forward JJ Gabriel his first competitive appearance in this week's EFL Cup third round. A debut would make him the youngest player in club history to feature in an official fixture, beating goalkeeper David Gaskell's record of 16 years and 19 days, set in 1956. Gabriel already holds an unofficial version of the record after appearing as a substitute in a pre-season friendly against Atletico Madrid in August, aged 15 years and 299 days, though that match doesn't count toward the official mark. Manchester United are weighing up a decision that would put a 15-year-old into the club's history books ahead of players who spent decades earning their place there. JJ Gabriel, the academy forward who has been training with the first team on and off since last season, is being considered for a competitive debut in this week's EFL Cup third round, a move that would break a club record that has stood since 1956. What record is actually on the line? Manchester United's youngest ever competitive appearance currently belongs to David Gaskell, who was 16 years and 19 days old when he played in the 1956 Charity Shield against Manchester City. The record has survived nearly seven decades, through the club's most famous academy generations, including the Class of '92. Gabriel, born in October 2010, would beat it comfortably if selected this week. He's already broken an unofficial version of the same record. In August, he came off the bench during a pre-season friendly against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm at 15 years and 299 days old, becoming the youngest player to appear for United's first team in any capacity. Because that match wasn't competitive, it doesn't count toward Gaskell's official record, leaving the door open for Gabriel to break it properly this time. What has Gabriel actually done to earn this chance? A serious amount for a player who's still 15. He made his under-18s debut at just 14, scoring twice in a 13-1 win over Leeds United, and has kept up that scoring rate ever since, including a hat-trick against Liverpool in a 7-0 win, a goal against Manchester City, and a brace against Wolves. He scored 26 goals in 26 appearances for United's under-18s last season, was named the Premier League's Under-18s Player of the Year, and made his Premier League 2 debut with a moment good enough to catch head coach Michael Carrick's attention in person. Running onto a through ball against Ipswich, Gabriel took the pace off it with his left foot before scooping a finish over the advancing goalkeeper with his right, the kind of finish that suggested a level of composure well beyond his age. Carrick, who has watched Gabriel closely for over a year, has been careful in how he talks about him publicly. He's obviously got a really big talent, the United boss said, while being clear he alone will decide when the timing is right for senior involvement. Who is JJ Gabriel, and how did he end up at United? Full name Joseph Junior Andreou Gabriel, born in Enfield, London, on 6 October 2010, he wears the number 77 shirt and operates across the front line, equally comfortable as a centre-forward, a winger, or in the No. 10 role behind the striker. His route to Manchester United wasn't direct. Before signing for the club's Carrington academy in 2022, he passed through the youth setups at Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham, each recognising his ability before United ultimately won the race for his signature. He was already a name outside academy football before any of that. Around age eight or nine, a video of Gabriel's dribbling and ball control went viral online under the title Kid Messi, a nickname that has followed him ever since and shaped expectations long before he'd played a single senior match. His father, Joe O'Cearuill, a former professional footballer who played for Arsenal, Barnet and St Patrick's Athletic and won two caps for the Republic of Ireland, has played a direct role in managing his development, including supplementing traditional academy coaching with futsal, which is often credited with sharpening the close control and improvisation that defines Gabriel's playing style. His background gives him an unusually wide net of international options. Through his English birth, Irish father, Greek Cypriot mother and a grandfather from Trinidad and Tobago, Gabriel is eligible to represent four different countries. For now, he's committed to England, with six caps at Under-15 level, two at Under-16, and two more so far at Under-17. JJ Gabriel, the record in context Full name Joseph Junior Andreou Gabriel Born 6 October 2010, Enfield, London Position Forward, comfortable as centre-forward, winger or No. 10 Squad number 77 Previous academies Chelsea, Arsenal, West Ham (before joining United in 2022) International eligibility England, Ireland, Cyprus, Trinidad and Tobago Current international team England (U15, U16 and U17 level) Current official record David Gaskell, 16 years 19 days (1956 Charity Shield) Gabriel's unofficial record 15 years 299 days (August friendly vs Atletico Madrid) U18s record last season 26 goals in 26 Premier League appearances Award won Premier League Under-18s Player of the Year Next opportunity EFL Cup third round, this week United's Premier League-era youngest Angel Gomes, 16 years 263 days (2017) Why does United's own history matter here? Because the club has a long tradition of trusting young players at the right moment, and getting it right more often than not. Ryan Giggs, United's record appearance holder, was 17 when Sir Alex Ferguson gave him his debut in 1991, having first spotted him as a schoolboy training at the Cliff. Giggs went on to make over 900 appearances across more than two decades. Nobody is suggesting Gabriel's path will mirror that exactly, but the pattern of trusting a generational talent earlier than convention allows is one United have leaned on before, successfully, when the player has been ready. What happens if he doesn't play this week? Nothing changes about how highly he's rated. Gabriel has been repeatedly invited into first-team training this season without yet making his senior competitive bow, and United have shown no urgency to rush him purely for the sake of a record. If the EFL Cup opportunity doesn't materialise this week, another will likely follow before long, given how directly Carrick has already spoken about the scale of his talent.

India Secures Top Spot in Elite Pool After Goalless Draw with China in Junior Womens Asia Cup

India clinched the top position in the Elite Pool of the Junior Womens Asia Cup after a 0-0 draw against China, setting up a quarter-final clash with Pakistan. India Secures Top Spot in Elite Pool After Goalless Draw with China in Junior Womens Asia Cup

NCB Mumbai secures conviction in inter-state drug trafficking case, two get 10 years jail

Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 9 (IANS) In a significant blow to an inter-state drug trafficking network, the NDPS Special Court in Biloli, Maharashtra's Nanded district, has convicted two traffickers and sentenced them to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh each in a case involving the seizure of 1,127 kg of ganja, a statement of the NCB said on Wednesday. The convicts, identified as Gokul Narayan Rajput (32), a truck owner-driver from Maharashtra's Aurangabad district, and Sunil Yadav Mahajan (35), a co-driver from Jalgaon district, were arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB) Mumbai Zonal Unit on November 15, 2021, while transporting a large consignment of the contraband. Acting on specific intelligence, an NCB team intercepted an Ashok Leyland truck at Manjram village in Nanded district. During a search, officers recovered 49 polythene gunny bags concealed beneath a load of industrial iron rods. The bags contained 112 packets of ganja weighing a total of 1,127 kg. According to the NCB, the investigation revealed that the contraband had been loaded at Ankampalli in Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam district and was being transported to Jalgaon district in Maharashtra. Probe findings also showed that Rajput had previously been booked in criminal cases related to attempted murder and kidnapping. The truck used for transporting the narcotics, which was owned by Rajput, had already been blacklisted by the Regional Transport Office (RTO), but continued to be used for illegal transportation activities, investigators said. During the trial, the prosecution established that both accused were in conscious possession of a commercial quantity of ganja and failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for its possession. The Additional Sessions Judge, Biloli, found both accused guilty under various provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and sentenced them to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh each. The court also ordered confiscation of the seized truck. The NCB said the conviction underscores its commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks through effective investigation and prosecution, contributing to the goal of a drug-free India.

India Junior Women's Hockey Tops Pool, Set For Pakistan Quarter-Final

The Indian junior women's hockey team played a goalless draw against China in their final elite pool match of the Junior Asia Cup. This result secured India the top spot in their pool due to a superior goal difference, setting up a quarter-final clash against Pakistan.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois To Put Belgium Career on Hold Until September 2027

Courtois made the last of his 115 international appearances at this year's World Cup but will only return to the Red Devils set-up for Euro 2028 qualifiers next year

Man arrested for stealing five goats near Erode

Drishyam The Conclusion trailer launch: Jaideep Ahlawat says hes NOT replacing Akshaye Khanna: Felt NO pressure; Ajay Devgn reveals why part 3 needed Crime Branch official: We made the threat bigger

Ajay Devgn, Shriya Saran, Jaideep Ahlawat, Tabu, Rajat Kapoor, Mrunal Jadhav, producers Kumar Mangat Pathak, Alok Jain, Ajit Andhare, director-writer-producer Abhishek Pathak and writer Aamil Keeyan Khan attended the trailer launch of Drishyam The Conclusion in Goa. Jaideep Ahlawat confirmed that his character doesn't replace Akshaye Khanna, who also played a law official in Drishyam 2 (2022). When asked if he's apprehensive that he would be compared to Akshaye Khanna, Jaideep said, No, I didn't think people would compare. When I heard the story, it was never envisioned that he's coming in place of Akshaye sir. That character's journey ended and the new character gets introduced. Hence, I didn't felt the need to take pressure. Also, as an actor, you don't think in terms of pressure as I knew the character will have his own journey and that he would have a distinct association with Meera Deshmukh (Tabu) and Salgaonkar family. Jaideep added, When Abhishek narrated, I didn't feel that he's here due to some other character. Abhishek has spent a huge time with this film and its characters. He had far more clarity on what my character should be like and also what sunglasses he wears. It makes the job of an actor easier. And of course, working with such a cast was also a great experience. I felt relaxed. Ajay Devgn remarked, Police couldn't solve the case. Hence, we made the threat bigger and introduced a Crime Branch official. It avoids repetition and changes the whole approach towards the investigation. That's what the film deserved. Drishyam The Conclusion releases in cinemas on October 2. Also Read: Drishyam The Conclusion trailer launch: I told Ajay Devgn, Haan koi dubbed film aa rahi hai called Baahubali!': Ajit Andhare recalls Drishyams release amid Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Baahubali

Drishyam The Conclusion trailer launch: Main aa raha hoon khaali kutte ko sambhal ke rakhna: Kumar Mangat Pathaks HILARIOUS Ajay Devgn anecdote leaves audience in splits

Ajay Devgn, Shriya Saran, Jaideep Ahlawat, Tabu, Rajat Kapoor, Mrunal Jadhav, producers Kumar Mangat Pathak, Alok Jain, Ajit Andhare, director-writer-producer Abhishek Pathak and writer Aamil Keeyan Khan attended the trailer launch of Drishyam The Conclusion in Goa. Kumar Mangat Pathak brought the house down with his comments about Ajay Devgns pet dog. Kumar Mangat Pathak said, I have been associated with Ajay even before he became an actor. Veeru ji (Ajay Devgns father Veeru Devgan) was like my brother. He kept me like family. In fact, I can even claim that he has adopted me! Ajay ji has maintained that association with me. Kumar Mangat Pathak continued, I dont have to ever ask before visiting Ajay ji at his house. I simply tell Ajay ji, Main aa raha hoon. The only thing I request is Khaali kutte ko sambhal ke rakhna (laughs)! I used to feed him as a puppy but one day, he bit me! At this point, there was laughter in the auditorium. Even Ajay Devgn couldnt control laughing. Kumar Mangat Pathak then said on a serious note, Hence, our journey has been adbhut. We believe and trust each other completely. Whenever I bring him a story, he only asks me, Abhishek ne suni?. I reply in the affirmative. He would then say, Lets do it. Besides making films, we are also making multiplexes. Drishyam The Conclusion releases in cinemas on October 2. Also Read: Drishyam The Conclusion trailer launch: Jaideep Ahlawat says hes NOT replacing Akshaye Khanna: Felt NO pressure; Ajay Devgn reveals why part 3 needed Crime Branch official: We made the threat bigger

5 candidates to break Ronaldo

Most Ronaldo records in the Champions League are untouchable, but this one might not be so far out of reach. The post 5 candidates to break Ronaldos record for most goals in a Champions League season appeared first on Planet Football .

Beast Haaland equals Agueros Man City UCL 36-goal mark

Haaland also reached another major City milestone. His two goals took his overall club tally to 167 goals in 203 appearances, moving him past Tommy Johnson into third place among City

Is 15-year-old Gabriel set to become Man Utd's youngest ever player?

Fifteen-year-old JJ Gabriel has scored two magnificent goals in two Premier League 2 appearances for Manchester United - is he ready to make his senior debut

India Rout Chinese Taipei 15-0, Enter Junior Asia Cup Hockey Semi-Finals

Skipper Anmol Ikka smashed a whopping six goals as defending champions India ended their pool engagements with a 15-0 rout of Chinese Taipei to enter the men's semifinals of the Junior Asia Cup hockey...

Meta Muse Launched as Personal AI Agent With WhatsApp Support

Meta has introduced Muse, a personal AI agent that can manage tasks across apps and continue working without constant user input. Available in the US across mobile and web, Muse can handle everything from emails and travel bookings to longer-term goals. It also uses previous conversations to inform future tasks and operates inside Metas dedicated Secure VM. Users can control its app permissions, while Sentinel manages internet access. Meta will later add Confidential VM, with support for AI glasses, Shop Pay and 1Password also planned.

Biggest wealth destroyer is not poor performance, but constant search for better returns, says Radhika Gupta

Edelweiss Mutual Fund CEO Radhika Gupta warns that constantly chasing higher-performing investments can undermine wealth creation. Investors may shift from goal-based investing to comparing returns, often chasing recent winners without considering risk, strategy or suitability. She advises focusing on financial objectives, consistency, time horizon and disciplined investing rather than short-term performance.

Fastest Footballers to 300 Club Goals

The Norwegian superstar was the lone goalscorer in his side's 1-0 win over Coventry FC, completing the 300 club-goals mark in just 384 matches.

Erling Haaland now one goal away from two of Lionel Messi

Both will be broken in no time. The post Erling Haaland now one goal away from two of Lionel Messis Champions League records appeared first on Planet Football .

Is full digital sovereignty achievable? 59% of businesses think it's an unrealistic goal but that shouldnt stop them from trying

Over-reliance on foreign technology solutions and the hassle of switching providers has some IT leaders questioning their sovereignty ambitions

Akasa Air and BPCL operate commercial flight using 1% sustainable aviation fuel

As per the release, the flight departed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, at 13:05hrs IST and arrived at Manohar International Airport (GOX), Goa, at 14:30hrs IST

Abhishek Malhan on becoming a Roadies gang leader: My only goal is to make my contestant win

Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 9 (IANS) Abhishek Malhan, who will be seen as a Gang Leader in Roadies: Rebirth, said that while competition can get intense on a reality show, the bonds shared off camera with other mentors should remain unaffected. Abhishek spoke about his bond with Prince Narula and emphasised that a mentors priority is to ensure their contestant wins, but what happens as part of the show should stay within the show and not distort personal relationships. I think the bond that I share with him (Prince Narula) is much stronger than anything in this world. But honestly, when we get into a reality show and as a mentor, your only goal is to make your contestant win, Abhishek told IANS, when asked if he is worried about spoiling his bond with Prince due to competition. He added: And then at that moment, we can do anything to make sure that our contestant wins. I feel what happens in the moment for the show should always stay in that moment and for the show. And when the camera cuts, I think the bonds that we share off camera should always be intact. Abhishek concluded: They shouldn't be distorted or finished. That's how I feel. And we are hoping for the best. This season, the show gets six Gang Leaders, including Nikhil Chinapa, Neha Dhupia, Prince Narula v/s Abhishek Malhan, Bani J and Baseer Ali. Abhishek is popularly known as Fukra Insaan. He gained fame through his YouTube content and later appeared as a contestant on reality shows such as Bigg Boss OTT, Playground Season 3, and Temptation Island India. Talking about the show, the first two seasons of Roadies had a daily budget cap for contestants, encouraging them to experience India's diversity while completing various tasks. However, after MTV took over in the third season, the show adopted a more competitive and aggressive format. From the fourth season, a new segment was introduced to select wild card contestants, Battleground and Graveyard. In the fifth season, advantage tasks were introduced, allowing winners to gain benefits during vote-outs. It was also the first season where Roadies traveled international during journeys. Each season follows a theme and includes various twists, vote-outs, and eliminations. The contestant who survives all challenges and vote-outs is ultimately crowned the Ultimate Roadie in the finale.

He isnt at his best, and he knows it: Mourinho backs Vinicius after Bernabeu boos

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 9 (IANS) Manager Jose Mourinho has backed Vinicius Junior to return to his best form after the Real Madrid forward was booed by sections of the home crowd during the clubs 2-1 Champions League win over Inter on Wednesday. Vinicius was substituted in the 87th minute at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, prompting some supporters to express frustration with his performance. The Brazil international had struggled to make a decisive impact against Inters organised defence. However, Mourinho refused to criticise the winger and instead highlighted the effort he put in for the team. He isnt at his best, and he knows it, but hes working hard to be the Vinicius who decides games. Without being at his best, hes working harder than ever, Mourinho told reporters after the match. The Portuguese manager also pointed to fatigue as one of the reasons Vinicius was unable to maintain his defensive work late in the game. In the moments that he wasnt able to drop back and defend, it was because of fatigue. I have to value that a lot. I have a lot of respect for this Vinicius. The time will come when he decides games and wins us games, he said. Mourinho also defended Vinicius against criticism of his performance by explaining the difficulties Real Madrids attackers faced against Inters tactical setup. If he works, hell always have my support, he said. He worked very hard for the team. Its very hard for wingers to play against a side that uses three defenders at the back and wing-backs. The Real Madrid boss believes Vinicius could have made a much bigger difference had he been at his best, particularly in one-on-one situations. Mourinho stated, Clearly, if Vini had been at his best during the one-on-ones on the left wing, he would have dominated the game. Thats what we expect of him. But he gave everything. Real Madrid secured three points in their Champions League opener thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappe and Federico Valverde, despite Inter managing to keep the hosts under pressure for long periods.

Novartis India Ltd leads gainers in 'B' group

Bal Pharma Ltd, Medi Caps Ltd, Anmol India Ltd and Goa Carbon Ltd are among the other gainers in the BSE's 'B' group today, 09 September 2026.

'Underprepared Pitches In Japan Might Aid Spin,' Says Chakaravarthy Ahead Of Asian Games Challenge

Korogi Sports Park: Expecting underprepared tracks in Japan, India wrist-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy believes spinners could play a pivotal role in the team's upcoming Asian Games campaign, even as he cautioned that unpredictable weather conditions will ultimately dictate how the pitches behave during the tournament. Chakaravarthy has fully recovered from a Grade 2 left hamstring injury sustained during the T20I series against England, including doing rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. In the Asian Games mens T20 event, India, the gold medal winners in the last edition in Hangzhou, will begin their campaign from the quarter-final stage in Aichi-Nagoya. That's how it has been scheduled, so I don't have any say in that. But definitely every match and every tournament needs preparation, and that we have to do. So it's just like every other tournament we will prepare well and whatever comes our way, we will take it, Chakaravarthy said in an exclusive interaction with IANS, facilitated by ASICS India. Assessing the playing conditions at the Korogi Sports Park ahead of the marquee event, Chakaravarthy, who will also be in action for Indias T20Is against Afghanistan and the historic one-off clash against Japan, noted that adaptability will be key for the bowling unit. What I've seen is that the pitches might be a little bit underprepared. So it might help spin, but I don't know how the weather in Japan will play a role in the way pitches behave. It can have a big impact as well. We are just preparing for facing all kinds of conditions, and let's see how it goes, he added. Reflecting on the year so far, which saw him finish as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 14 scalps in India's T20 World Cup triumph on home soil, Chakaravarthy termed it as a rollercoaster. Its been lovely. I have no complaints at all. It's been a great journey till now and we won the World Cup this time, so everything is going well. I did have one hiccup with my injury, but I'm back. I feel fitter. I've done a lot of strength training and running. Credit goes to the CoE, where I trained a lot, he said. Chakaravarthy, who also picked up 11 wickets in IPL 2026 while battling through hairline fractures in his left hand and toe, takes pride in his unconventional rise through the ranks. I started cricket very late. I started bowling when I was 26 and I played for India when I was 28 and a half. I'm a very late bloomer. It's been seven to eight years in cricket right now and I would say I'm in the first half of my career. There is a long way to go ahead and it's been an unconventional journey till now and I think it's going to be more like that, he reflected. Speaking on evolving his craft, Chakaravarthy revealed that while he continuously works on adding fresh variations behind the scenes, polishing his existing skill set remains his primary objective. Well, it's a combination of both. Obviously, polishing and mastering the skill is always the primary thing and bringing in other variations is always on the back of my mind. I'm also working on certain new variations. When I will be able to master it is a different question, but it's a mix of both. Asked how he guards his mystery balls from high-tech cameras and tactical analytics, Chakaravarthy stressed that execution under pressure overrides technology. As you mentioned, there are no secrets anymore because there are so many video analysts everywhere, and everything that you do is being recorded. The only thing is the human touch in cricket, where the batter won't know what I'm going to bowl to them. That has to be decided by me and I don't think any AI or video analyst can predict that. So, that's what we have to play with. Rather than plotting long-term milestones in a highly volatile sport, the Chennai-based Chakaravarthy prefers setting incremental targets. I set more short-term goals rather than long-term goals because I don't think I'll be able to plan for five years down the line, but I'll be able to plan what I want to do in the next six months. I'm that sort of a guy, so I focus more on short-term goals. The only thing is the human touch in cricket, where the batter won't know what I'm going to bowl to them. That has to be decided by me and I don't think any AI or video analyst can predict that. So, that's what we have to play with. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories That's when I started wearing them, and they were among the best I've ever worn out of all the brands out there. So when ASICS approached me, I was ready to cling on to it. It is one of the best performance brands out there, so no complaints. Article Source: IANS

Hyderabad Police Nab Jewellery Theft Accused at Goa Casino

City cops cracked a major theft case at a prominent liquor businessman's residence in Banjara Hills, and traced the accused to Goa, where he was found gambling at a casino.

Anmol Ekka's six-goal blitz powers India men into AHF Junior Asia Cup semis

Digital Desk | Moqi, Sep 9 (IANS) Defending champions India stormed into the semi-finals of the AHF Junior Asia Cup 2026 with a ruthless 15-0 demolition of Chinese Taipei in their final Pool A match here on Wednesday. Captain Anmol Ekka was the star of the show, scoring six goals all from penalty corners as India turned a goalless opening quarter into a one-sided contest. The victory took India to the top of Pool A with 10 points from three wins and a draw. South Korea claimed the second semi-final spot from the group with nine points after edging Japan 3-2. Japan, Indonesia and Chinese Taipei were eliminated from the title race and will now feature in the classification matches. India dominated possession and created several openings in the opening 15 minutes but were unable to breach a disciplined Chinese Taipei defence. The breakthrough finally came in the 17th minute when Aryan Xess opened the scoring, with Prabhdeep Singh doubling the lead a minute later. Gursewak Singh made it 3-0 in the 22nd minute before Ekka converted his first penalty corner three minutes later. Arjun Santosh Hargude added another in the 28th minute, and Ekka struck again moments later as India went into half-time with a 6-0 lead. The third quarter belonged almost entirely to India. Ekka converted two early penalty corners to complete his hat-trick and then added another to take his tally to four. Ajeet Yadav also got on the scoresheet in the 35th minute before Ekka converted again in the 45th minute to make it five for the evening and take India into double figures. There was no let-up in the final quarter. Harpal scored in the 48th minute before Ekka completed his remarkable six-goal haul three minutes later with another successful penalty corner. Harpal added his second soon after, while Aryan Xess rounded off the rout with his second goal of the match as India completed a 15-0 victory. The result underlined Indias attacking strength and set-piece efficiency, particularly after they found their rhythm following the first-quarter stalemate. The defending champions now head into the semi-finals with their confidence boosted by a dominant finish to the pool stage.

Karnataka: ED raids Minister Jarkiholis residences, associates properties over alleged overseas investments (LD)

Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Sep 9 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials stated that search operations were conducted at the residences of Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi and those of his close associates under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999. Officials are examining alleged illegal investments and financial transactions carried out abroad. The ED on Wednesday conducted searches at more than 15 locations across Bengaluru, Belagavi and Goa in connection with the investigation. The searches included Satish Jarkiholis private residence in Dollars Colony, Bengaluru, his residence in Belagavi and a government-allotted residence in Bengaluru. According to preliminary information, searches were conducted at five locations in Bengaluru, five locations in Belagavi and three locations in Gokak town in Belagavi district. According to officials, a team of more than 25 ED officers arrived in around 18 vehicles and began the searches at around 7 a.m. The premises were secured with the assistance of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. The ED team also searched a flat associated with Jarkiholi in Bengaluru and properties linked to his daughter and MP Priyanka Jarkiholi. ED officials are questioning staff members at Minister Satish Jarkiholis government residence in his presence. Officials said the search was initiated after they learned that Jarkiholi was at the residence preparing to attend the Cabinet meeting scheduled for today. Sources said Satish Jarkiholi does not frequently use his private residence in Bengaluru. During the searches, ED officials reportedly took the housekeeper from Dollar's Colony private residence locality along with them for questioning. The searches are part of a FEMA investigation into alleged overseas investments and financial transactions in violation of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines. The ED is reportedly examining whether funds were transferred or investments were made in foreign countries, including South Africa and Uganda, and whether such transactions violated FEMA provisions. Officials are also examining documents relating to foreign investments, fund transfers, properties and other financial transactions. Apart from Satish Jarkiholis properties, ED officials also conducted searches at the premises of three of his close associates. The residence of Dr. Girish Sonwalkar, a doctor and reportedly a close associate of the minister, in the Laxmi Tech area of Belagavi city was searched by the officials. Searches were also conducted at the residences of Raju Dharagashetti and Vitthal Parasannavar, two other associates of Jarkiholi, in Gokak. According to sources, the ED conducted searches at around five locations in Belagavi district as part of the operation. The ED is reportedly scrutinising financial records to determine whether there were any violations of FEMA provisions in connection with overseas investments and fund transfers. Sources said Y. Manjunath, a senior Excise Department official and relative of Satish Jarkiholi, had also come under the agencys scanner in connection with alleged irregularities in the Excise Department. Manjunath, who is the Additional Commissioner of Excise for the Belagavi Zone, is reportedly the ministers brother-in-law. The ED had earlier conducted searches at Manjunaths residence and other premises in June. Searches were also carried out at locations in Bengaluru, Belagavi, Mysuru and Athani. Officials had reportedly recovered a diary during an earlier search and gathered details relating to financial transactions. Manjunath is also understood to have properties in Goa. Sources further claimed that investments in Africa were made in the name of Manjunaths wife several years ago. The agency is examining the nature and source of such investments as part of its investigation. Rahul Jarkiholi, son of Satish Jarkiholi, is also reportedly a partner in a business entity linked to the investigation. The ED is examining the financial dealings and business links of persons associated with the case. The latest ED searches have also acquired a political dimension, coming at a time when the Karnataka government headed by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is completing 100 days in office. Satish Jarkiholi, a senior Congress leader from Belagavi, has in recent months figured prominently in discussions within the party, with sections of political circles projecting him as a potential future Chief Ministerial contender. There has also been speculation in some quarters about the possibility of a Dalit Chief Minister. The timing of the ED searches is therefore likely to trigger political reactions, with Opposition parties expected to question the alleged Excise Department irregularities and the financial dealings under investigation. However, the ED searches and investigation do not by themselves establish wrongdoing by Satish Jarkiholi or any of the individuals whose premises were searched. The agencys findings and any subsequent legal proceedings will determine the nature of the alleged violations. The searches were continuing on Wednesday, and further details are awaited from the ED.

India's gross manufacturing leasing posts 49 pc CAGR since 2021

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 9 (IANS) India's gross manufacturing leasing has reached a cumulative 69 million sq ft, registering a compound annual growth rate of 49 per cent since 2021, a report said on Wednesday. Indias manufacturing sector is witnessing an unprecedented transformation, with leasing demand for industrial spaces projected to capture 40 per cent of the market by 2030, the report from commercial real estate services firm JLL said. Manufacturing has now emerged as the second-largest occupier segment after third-party logistics (3PL), signaling a fundamental restructuring of Indias industrial real estate hierarchy. Gross absorption touched 19.2 million sq. ft. in 2025, and H1 2026 recorded 10.2 million sq. ft.a 19 per cent year-over-year increase for the first half. With manufacturing leasing absorption forecast to reach approximately 46 million sq. ft. by 2030, the sector's trajectory underscores India's evolution toward becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse aligned with its Vision 2047 aspirations, the report noted. The growth in the manufacturing real estate asset class reflects two distinct yet complementary strategies shaping India's industrial landscape. Tier-I cities are witnessing aggressive leasing of Grade-A facilities as manufacturers prioritise speed-to-market and be capex-light due to paucity of affordable land, said Yogesh Shevade, Managing Director, Industrial & Logistics, India, JLL. Simultaneously, Tier-II markets are seeing manufacturers opt for land acquisition, seeking greater customisation and long-term operational control, Shevade said. Both approaches signal robust manufacturing commitment; whether through leasing or ownership, India is becoming the factory floor of choice, he added. Grade-A properties captured 90 per cent of manufacturing leasing in 2025 and the shift toward high-specification facilities reflects stringent adherence to enhanced building standards, hygiene protocols, and safety norms. Nearly 14 emerging markets including Lucknow, Jaipur, Chandigarh tri-city, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Surat, Nagpur, Nashik, Goa, Indore, Sambhajinagar, Tuticorin, Coimbatore & Vizag are witnessing manufacturers prioritise land transactions over leasing, reflecting diverse regional strategies aligned with specific operational requirements.

Akasa Air, BPCL successfully operate commercial flight using 1% Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Akasa Air and BPCL successfully operated a commercial flight using sustainable aviation fuel. This initiative builds on their July 2026 Memorandum of Understanding to explore decarbonisation. The flight provided valuable insights for future sustainable aviation fuel adoption. India aims for 5% SAF blending by 2030, supporting global emission reduction goals. Akasa Air's fleet and fuel management solutions enhance operational efficiency and environmental progress.

India Storms Into Junior Asia Cup Semis With 15-0 Win

Defending champions India secured their spot in the Junior Asia Cup hockey tournament semifinals with a dominant 15-0 victory over Chinese Taipei. Skipper Anmol Ikka was the star of the match, scoring an incredible six goals, all from penalty corners, as India topped Pool A.

Meta launches Muse AI agent to handle everyday tasks for users

New york: Meta launched on Tuesday, September 9, a personal artificial intelligence agent, Muse, for people 18 and over who are looking for help with day-to-day tasks like schedules, shopping and, in the companys words, turning long-term goals into action plans. The parent company of Instagram and Facebook is stressing the safety and privacy features 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 .

Karnataka: ED raids Minister Satish Jarkiholis residences in Bengaluru, Belagavi

Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Sep 9 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches at around 15 locations across Bengaluru, Belagavi and Goa in connection with alleged irregularities in the Karnataka Excise Department. As part of the operation, ED officials raided the Bengaluru residence of Karnataka Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satish Jarkiholi in Dollar's Colony. Searches were also conducted at his residence in Belagavi, as well as a government-allotted residence in Bengaluru. According to officials, a team of more than 25 ED officers arrived in around 18 vehicles and began the searches at around 7 a.m. The premises were secured with the assistance of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. The ED team also reportedly searched a flat associated with Jarkiholi in Bengaluru and properties linked to his daughter and MP Priyanka Jarkiholi. Sources said Satish Jarkiholi does not frequently use his Bengaluru private residence. During the searches, ED officials reportedly took the housekeeper along with them for questioning. The searches are reportedly linked to Y. Manjunath, a senior Excise Department official and a relative of Satish Jarkiholi. Manjunath, who is the Additional Commissioner of Excise for the Belagavi Zone, is the minister's brother-in-law. The properties of Manjunath have also been raided in Bengaluru, Belagavi and Goa. The ED had earlier raided Manjunath's residence and other premises linked to his associates on June 24 as part of its investigation into alleged irregularities in the Excise Department. The agency is reportedly probing an alleged Rs 178-crore excise scam. Officials said the agency had recovered a diary during an earlier search of Manjunath's office and had gathered information from the material. The investigation is also reportedly examining alleged hawala transactions and possible foreign links. Manjunath had earlier approached the Karnataka High Court seeking a stay on the investigation. The latest searches have reportedly been carried out by teams from the ED offices in Bengaluru and Goa, with the operation extending to multiple locations. The raids have also acquired a political dimension, coming at a time when the Karnataka government led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is marking 100 days in office. The timing of the searches has triggered discussions in political circles, with Opposition leaders likely to raise questions over the alleged excise irregularities and the involvement of officials and political figures. The searches were ongoing as of Wednesday morning, and further details are awaited from the ED.

Dembele, Kane, Mbappe lead Ballon d'Or race as Putellas leads womens field

Last year's winner Ousmane Dembele, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe are among the top contenders for the men's Ballon d'Or. The 30 men's and 30 women's nominees were revealed by France Football magazine on Tuesday, with the winners to be announced at a ceremony in London on Oct. 26. In the women's field, two-time winner Alexia Putellas, Ewa Pajor and Melchie Dumornay are among the favorites. Aitana Bonmati, the winner of the past three awards, did not make the cut after missing most of the season through injury. She returned at the end of Barcelona's quadruple-winning season that included another Champions League title. Dembele and Mbappe both played for France at the World Cup, where their team lost to eventual champion Spain in the semifinals. Although it's difficult to win the accolade without a major trophy, Mbappe made history when he overtook Lionel Messi for the most all-time World Cup goals (22), in fewer games. After claiming a second straight Champions League title with Pari

Real Madrid, Man City off to winning starts in UEFA Champions League

Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are off the mark in the Champions League as Real Madrid and Manchester City kicked off their campaigns with wins on Tuesday. Mbappe gave record 15-time champion Madrid an early lead en route to 2-1 victory over Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu. Haaland scored both goals as 2023 winner City beat Porto 2-0. Madrid and City are expected to be among the main challengers to back-to-back defending champion Paris Saint-Germain this season and both will be relying on their star strikers. Mbappe's goal after 14 minutes was his 71st in European club soccer's top competition, while Haaland took his tally to 59 in 59 appearances in the Champions League. Borussia Dortmund beat Villarreal 3-2, and Real Betis won by the same score at Lille. Aston Villa also won 3-2 over Club Brugge and AEK Athens sealed a 1-0 win over LASK. PSG begin their campaign on Wednesday against Slovan Bratislava. Villa kicks off with a win =============== Aston Villa put its dome

Guirassy double lifts Dortmund as Real Madrid, Man City win openers

Digital Desk | Berlin, Sep 8 (IANS) Serhou Guirassy struck twice late on as Borussia Dortmund opened its UEFA Champions League campaign with a 3-2 victory over Villarreal, while Real Madrid and Manchester City also made winning starts. Dortmund's victory was overshadowed by a health scare involving Konstantinos Karetsas, who went down without contact during the first half and required lengthy treatment. The 18-year-old Greece international was carried off on a stretcher in the 27th minute and taken to hospital after suffering what the club described as circulatory problems, reports Xinhua. Dortmund later said he was doing well as well as could be expected under the circumstances and would undergo further examinations. Ethan Nwaneri replaced Karetsas, and Dortmund gradually regained their attacking rhythm, although Guirassy was denied by Villarreal goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi shortly before halftime. The hosts increased the pressure after the restart and went close in the 52nd minute when Pape Gueye's attempted intervention sent the ball against his own post. Dortmund broke the deadlock a minute later when Renato Veiga diverted a dangerous low delivery into his own net. Villarreal responded strongly and equalized in the 66th minute, with Santiago Mourino powering a close-range header inside the near post following a corner. The visitors continued to threaten, but Dortmund's substitutes helped turn the contest back in the hosts' favor. Jobe Bellingham released Fabio Silva down the right in the 80th minute and the Portuguese squared for Guirassy to finish from close range. Guirassy was then fouled inside the penalty area and converted the resulting spot kick in the 85th minute to give Dortmund a 3-1 advantage. Villarreal pulled another goal back in the third minute of stoppage time when Guirassy inadvertently turned Nicolas Pepe's free kick into his own net, but Dortmund survived the late pressure to secure all three points. Elsewhere, Real Madrid punished two costly Inter Milan errors to claim a 2-1 home victory. Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring before Federico Valverde capitalized on a mistake by Inter goalkeeper Josep Martinez to double the hosts' advantage. Carlos Augusto replied for Inter in the 76th minute, but Thibaut Courtois made a series of saves to preserve Real's lead. Erling Haaland scored twice after halftime as Manchester City won 2-0 away to Porto. The Norwegian headed home Enzo Fernandez's cross two minutes after the restart before adding his second from Rayan Ait-Nouri's pass in stoppage time. Real Betis twice came from behind to beat Lille 3-2 in France. Marc Bartra scored both equalizers before Troy Parrott completed the turnaround, while Lille's Ethan Mbappe was sent off following a VAR review. Aston Villa held off a second-half fightback to defeat Club Brugge 3-2 in Belgium. John McGinn, Emiliano Buendia and Nicolas Jackson scored for Villa, while Hugo Vetlesen and Nicolo Tresoldi were on target for the hosts. In Tuesday's other match, Razvan Marin curled home a first-half free kick to earn AEK Athens a 1-0 victory over Austrian side LASK.

Ireland's Troy Parrott Strikes Again As Real Betis Seal Comeback Win On Champions League Return

Real Betis fought back from a goal down twice to beat Lille in their first Champions League match after 21 years.

UN chief expected to meet PM Modi during visit to BRICS summit: Spokesperson

Digital Desk | United Nations, Sep 9 (IANS) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he visits India this week for the BRICS summit, according to his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. The spokesperson said at his briefing on Tuesday (local time) that although the visit has not been officially announced, he could say hat he (the UN chief) will be there at the BRICS summit. And I think you can expect him to meet with Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, he added. This will be Guterres' second visit to India this year, and his fifth during his tenure as secretary-general. He had attended the India-AI Impact Summit in New Delhi in February. For Guterres, who is in his last four months in office, this may be among his last opportunities as secretary-general to meet PM Modi and Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Xi Jinping, formally or informally, because they will be skipping the annual high-level meeting of the General Assembly later this month but attending the BRICS summit. The leaders of the ten-member BRICS are meeting under the dark clouds of two major conflicts, the Iran conflict and the Ukraine War, with far-reaching consequences, even eroding the UN's sustainable development goals and threatening food security in many parts of the world. Leaders of two Gulf adversaries, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, are expected to be there. India, as the chair, has set the summit's theme as 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability', ideas that Guterres has promoted in his ten-year run as the UN's head. Additionally, Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia, Xi Jinping of China, and Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran will be at the BRICS summit that starts on September 12. That may be Guterres' last chance as Secretary-General to meet Putin and Xi, formally or informally, because they will be skipping the annual high-level meeting of the General Assembly later this month.

Champions League Scoring Starts Early as Villa's McGinn Nets Fastest Goal After Record-Scoring Season

Brugge leveled in the 19th with a sweeping, low left-footed shot by Hugo Vetlesen.

Meta launches personal AI agent 'Muse' to help with everyday tasks

Meta launched on Tuesday a personal artificial intelligence agent, Muse, for people 18 and over who are looking for help with day-to-day tasks like schedules, shopping and, in the company's words, turning long-term goals into action plans. The parent company of Instagram and Facebook is stressing the safety and privacy features of the agent, which for now is only available in the US Muse, Meta said, runs on a dedicated, secure virtual machine that houses both the agent and the user's data. People can message the agent in a separate app, called Muse, or message it in WhatsApp. It can handle simple tasks like sending an email or booking travel, or bigger, long-term goals like creating a yearlong exercise plan or setting up a new business. Once a person shares a goal with Muse, it helps them develop a personalised plan and coordinate their time and resources, then advances the work on its own. It can open a browser, fill out forms, and negotiate on their behalf, Meta said in a blog

'Rs 15 lakh car is not really a Rs 15 lakh decision': CA shares a financial checklist most buyers skip

CA Nitin Kaushik says buying a car requires looking beyond the sticker price and EMI. Buyers should calculate the on-road cost, down payment, insurance, fuel, maintenance and total loan interest. He advises comparing loan and insurance options, protecting emergency savings and stress-testing affordability. A bank-approved car may still strain finances, so the right choice should not compromise other financial goals.

Aqua Avengers Kashmir beat Swift Strikers 3-1 in Kashmir Super League

Srinagar, Sep 8:Aqua Avengers Kashmir produced a commanding display of attacking football as they defeated Swift Strikers 3-1 in Match 5 of the Khyber Cement Kashmir Super League on Tuesday. Playing in front of an enthusiastic crowd, Aqua Avengers Kashmir, as per a statement, showed greater attacking intent from the outset, combining movement, pressure and clinical finishing to take control of the contest. Their three-goal performance proved decisive as they maintained their advantage and closed out the match with a convincing victory. Swift Strikers fought back and found the net once, giving themselves an opportunity to make a contest of the game. Aqua Avengers, however, responded with composure and continued to dictate the tempo, eventually securing a 3-1 result. The scoreline reflected a match in which Aqua Avengers Kashmir made their attacking opportunities count. Their ability to maintain pressure across the game and finish key chances separated the two sides on the night. The fixture also carried a strong off-field presence, with noted personalities from the Indian film industry and media attending the match as special guests.

When Modern Medicine Cannot Cure, It Must Still Care

Every practising physician eventually encounters the difficult othing more we can do moment. A patient with advanced malignancy, end-stage renal disease, or progressive motor neuron disease is discharged from a tertiary centre because active curative interventions have reached their ceiling. They return home, many a time to a distant village, with uncontrolled pain, breathlessness, nausea, and an overwhelmed family watching helplessly. This phrasethere is nothing more we can dois fundamentally flawed. Modern medicine may run out of disease-modifying therapies, but it never runs out of ways to relieve suffering. That is the core of palliative care. Redefining the Scope: It Is Not Giving Up Palliative care is frequently confused with hospice or immediate end-of-life care. While terminal care is a part of it, palliative medicine is much broader: it is specialized medical care focused on symptom relief, psychological support, and quality of life for anyone living with a serious, life-limiting or terminal illness and their family. Ideally, palliative care should begin at the time of diagnosis, delivered alongside curative or life-prolonging treatmentsnot merely when they fail. It offers: Symptom Control: Managing refractory pain, breathlessness, nausea, fatigue, and delirium using evidence-based pharmacological and non-pharmacological protocols. Goal Setting & Communication: Helping patients and families make informed choices about difficult medical decisions, including invasive interventions, feeding tubes, and resuscitation before an acute crisis occurs. Caregiver Support: Addressing the emotional, physical, and financial burnout borne by family members managing prolonged illnesses at home. Why Jammu & Kashmir Needs a Robust Palliative Network The need for structured palliative medicine is universal across India, but the unique topography, climate, and healthcare delivery landscape of Jammu & Kashmir make it critical. 1. The Barrier of Geography and Climate For a bedridden patient residing in interiors of Dal Lake, Gurez, Kishtwar, or any other difficult-to-reach areas of Kashmir, travelling to a tertiary health care facility in Srinagar or Jammu for symptom control is not just inconvenientit is physically agonising and financially devastating. Winter roadblocks, difficult connectivity and logistics leave patients stranded with poorly managed symptoms. Palliative care must be decentralised down to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) and home-care level. 2. A Changing Disease Burden J&K is witnessing a notable rise in non-communicable diseases. Beyond high rates of specific malignancies (such as oesophagal, gastric, lung, and colorectal cancers), there is a growing population living with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic kidney disease, diabetes, congestive heart failure, and stroke-related disability. These patients often suffer for years with heavy symptom burdens that fall outside traditional oncology-centric palliative discussions. 3. The Opioid Availability Gap Despite the 2014 amendment to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act simplifying access to Essential Narcotic Drugs (ENDs), oral morphine and fentanyl remain difficult to procure outside a few tertiary institutions. Bureaucratic hesitation, unjustified fear of addiction (opiophobia) among prescribers, and a lack of Recognised Medical Institution (RMI) certifications mean thousands still endure severe, treatable cancer pain. 4. Sustaining the Family Care Model In our region, strong social and familial ties mean families prefer caring for their ailing elders at home. However, goodwill alone cannot manage severe neuropathic pain, malignant ascites, or complex wound care. Without professional home-based palliative support, family caregivers experience intense psychological trauma and financial distress. The Path Forward Building a functional palliative infrastructure in J&K does not require massive capital investment in new hospital towers. It requires sensitization, training, sensible drug policy, and community integration: Raising Awareness and Sensitisation: Public health campaigns must demystify palliative care as an active, supportive service that works in parallel with disease-directed treatments. Simultaneously, institutional sensitisation must target doctors, administrators, nursing staff and community elders to dismantle social stigma, alleviate irrational fears surrounding essential opioid analgesics, and normalize early goals-of-care conversations. Training Frontline Clinicians: Basic palliative care competenciespain assessment, opioid dosing, and difficult communicationshould be integrated into training for medical officers, postgraduates, and nursing staff under the National Programme for Palliative Care (NPPC). Empowering District Hospitals: Every district hospital should maintain an active RMI license, stock oral morphine, and run designated palliative outpatient and consultation services. Mobilizing Home-Care Teams: Utilizing Community Health Officers (CHOs) and ASHA workers to identify bedridden patients, assist with basic nursing needs (catheter care, pressure sore management), and coordinate with PHC doctors. Modern medicine cannot promise a cure for every condition. But it can- and it should- promise that no patient is left alone to suffer manageable symptoms associated with chronic, lifelong, or terminal illnesses. Palliative care is not a luxury or an afterthought; it is a basic clinical standard and a fundamental human right. Dr Mubashir Hussain Sofi is a Radiation Oncologist with Post-MD Fellowship in Palliative Medicine, focusing on cancer & supportive care in Jammu & Kashmir

GBHSS Zainakote wins National Youth for Earth honour for 2nd time

Government Boys Higher Secondary School (GBHSS), Zainakote, Srinagar, has secured second rank in the Junior Category of the Youth for Earth Award 2026, earning national recognition for the second time after its earlier success in 2024. The school received the award at the International Conference on Sustainability Education (ICSE 2026), held at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. The award carries a cash prize of 30,000. The recognition was conferred for the school's innovative project to develop a plant-based sustainable packaging material from Typha, locally known as Petch, a wetland plant found abundantly across Kashmir. The project was recognised for its potential to provide an environmentally sustainable alternative to plastic packaging while addressing concerns related to waste generation and ecological degradation. According to the organisers, the initiative stood out for its practical application and its integration of environmental conservation with community welfare. By using Typha as a raw material, the project seeks to reduce dependence on plastic-based packaging while also reviving traditional weaving practices associated with the plant and potentially creating livelihood opportunities for local artisans. The award-winning team, SABZ: The Green Guardians of Kashmir, represented the school under the mentorship of Nyla Ali, Eco Club Incharge at the institution. The International Conference on Sustainability Education brought together educators, researchers, policymakers and student innovators from India and abroad to deliberate on contemporary environmental challenges. The conference also provided a platform for young innovators to showcase projects aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. Reacting to the achievement, Principal Tahira Manzoor said the recognition reflected the commitment of the school's students and teachers to innovation and environmental responsibility. Receiving this award for the second time is a matter of immense pride for our institution. It demonstrates the capacity of our students to develop meaningful solutions to real-world challenges and compete successfully at national forums, she said. Mentor teacher Nyla Ali said the award would encourage young innovators working on sustainability-related issues. The project demonstrates how locally available resources can be transformed into sustainable products that benefit both the environment and the community. We hope this recognition inspires more students to engage with environmental problem-solving and social innovation, she said.

Real Madrid beat Inter Milan as Mbappe goal sets Mourinhos men on way

Kylian Mbappe opens the scoring but Real Madrid fail to convince in 2-1 Champions League win against Inter Milan. Real Madrid beat Inter Milan as Mbappe goal sets Mourinhos men on way

From shot-shy to shoot on sight - Villa find a way to win

Aston Villa finally found their shooting boots with three goals at Club Brugge - but their win was not straightforward.

Literacy matters

Goas literacy milestone must now translate into greater digital and civic empowerment Yesterday, the world celebrated the 60th anniversary of International Literacy Day (ILD). UNESCO is marking it across two days September 8 and 9 in Mexico. Celebrated under the theme Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity, according to UNESCO, ILD 2026 []

The sister chronicle

Jyoti Bandekar talks to NT BUZZ about her latest book, Tai Smruti Sugandh, which shares memories of her elder sister, late Shashikala Kakodkar, the first woman Chief Minister of Goa RAMNATH N PAI RAIKAR French novelist George Sand had observed that Memory is the perfume of the soul. Memories, with their lingering presence in []

Re-examining literary wealth

Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr (TSKK), Porvorim recently organised a national symposium, in collaboration with St. Aloysius (Deemed to be University), Mangalore on the topic Rediscovering Sixteenth Century Local Language Literature in Goa: Texts, Traditions, and Historical Narratives. The objective of this symposium was to re-examine the emergence of local language literary traditions in the 16th []

A matter of belonging

Goans have moved across continents for generations. In his new book, R. Benedito Ferro uses literary references to look at how this history of migration has affected ideas of identity and belonging CHRISTINE MACHADO For centuries, Goa was part of the Portuguese colonial empire, becoming part of India only in 1961. This colonial history connected []

Snehal, Lalit hold fort

Their half-centuries help Goa reach 174/4 in reply to Vidarbhas 393 Panaji: Goa skipper Snehal Kauthankars unbeaten 62 kept his sides hopes alive after Vidarbha posted 393 in their first innings on the second day of the Dr (Capt) Thimmappiah Memorial Cricket Tournament at the IAF Ground Bengaluruon Tuesday. Vidarbha, resuming at 310/4, were bowled []

Wesley, Urvi win Gaspar Dias Open TT

They emerge champions in the mens and womens category respectively Miramar: Wesley Do Rosario and Urvi Surlakar emerged Mens and Womens champions respectively at the Priority Gaspar Dias Open All Goa Major Ranking Table Tennis Tournament held at Clube Tennis de Gaspar Dias, Miramar, in association with the Goa Table Tennis Association. Wesley defeated Aaron []