Get all the latest India news and top breaking news live from all cities of India only on Readselective.com. Read latest India news, current affairs and news headlines online today.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to introduce two new bills in the Lok Sabha on Monday that will be aimed at imposing new tax/cess on demerit goods. The proposed bills are — The Central Excise Amendment Bill, 2025, and The Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025.
Cigarettes are seen during the manufacturing process in the British American Tobacco Cigarette Factory (BAT) in Bayreuth. Credit: Reuters photo
The Union government plans to impose new levies on ‘sin goods’ such as cigarettes, gutkha and pan masala, which will keep the prices of these demerit items high, as the current structure of compensation cess is likely to be discontinued by March 2026.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to introduce two new bills in the Lok Sabha on Monday that will be aimed at imposing new tax/cess on demerit goods. The proposed bills are — The Central Excise Amendment Bill, 2025, and The Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025.
The Central Excise Amendment Bill, 2025, seeks to replace the GST compensation cess on tobacco products with an excise duty.
With the introduction of the GST in July 2017, the main tax rates on tobacco and tobacco products came down substantially. However, the government imposed additional levy in the form of compensation cess. As a result, the prices of these items remained elevated.
Initially, the cess was introduced for five years to compensate the states for any revenue shortfall. As per the terms of the introduction of the GST regime, states were guaranteed 14% annual growth in tax revenue for five years beginning from July 2017. However, the cess was extended till March 2026 to repay loans taken by the Union government to support states during the revenue shortfall caused by the Covid pandemic.
“Compensation cess levied on tobacco and tobacco products, wherever applicable, will be discontinued once interest payment obligations and loan liabilities under the compensation cess account are completely discharged,” the Union finance minister noted in the ‘statement of objects and reasons’ of the proposed Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
In order to give the government the fiscal space to increase the rate of central excise duty on tobacco and tobacco products so as to protect tax incidence, it is imperative to amend the table in Section IV of the Fourth Schedule to the said Act (Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017), the minister stated.
The ‘Health Security se National Security Cess’ Bill will replace the compensation cess on pan masala. Through this, the government seeks to “augment the resources for meeting expenditure on national security and for public health”.
It will “levy a cess for the said purposes on the machines installed or other processes undertaken by which specified goods are manufactured or produced”.
A tragic bus collision in Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga district resulted in the deaths of at least 11 individuals and left over 20 injured. The accident occurred when two state-run buses collided near Vivekananda Polytechnic College. Rescue operations were swiftly initiated by police and fire services, with injured passengers transported to various hospitals for treatment. Chief Minister MK Stalin announced compensation for victims’ families, while President Droupadi Murmu expressed her condolences.
Tamil Nadu Bus Smash-Up Kills 11, Injures 20 — A Routine Ride Turns Fatal Photo : PTI
A quiet Sunday evening turned tragic in Tamil Nadu as two state-run buses collided head-on near Karaikudi, leaving at least 11 people dead and more than 20 others injured. The accident, described by officials as severe, happened in the Sivaganga district, prompting urgent rescue operations and state-level intervention.
The crash took place around 5:00 PM near Vivekananda Polytechnic College under the Tirupattur sub-division, according to a release issued by the Sivaganga district police. One of the buses belonged to the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation and was travelling from Kangeyam to Karaikudi, while the other government bus was on its way from Karaikudi to Dindigul. The impact of the collision was strong enough to cause immediate fatalities and leave many critically injured.
Rescue teams from the Police Department and Fire and Rescue Services rushed to the spot soon after the incident, pulling passengers out of the wreckage. Senior officials including the Sivagangai District Superintendent of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police, and Tirupattur authorities reached the spot to monitor the situation and oversee the rescue efforts.
Injured Shifted to Multiple Hospitals Across the District
Passengers who survived the crash were rushed to nearby medical facilities, with many shifted to the Karaikudi Government Hospital, Tirupattur Government Hospital, and Sivagangai Government Hospital for treatment. Doctors are continuing to monitor those with severe injuries as families wait anxiously for updates outside emergency wards.
This tragic collision comes just days after a similar road accident in Tenkasi district, where six people died and over 50 were injured. The back-to-back incidents have renewed concerns about road safety and long-distance transport across the State.
CM Stalin Announces Compensation; President Murmu Offers Condolences
Chief Minister MK Stalin expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and immediately dispatched the Sivaganga District Collector along with District In-Charge Minister KR Periyakaruppan to oversee relief and medical assistance.
He also announced ex-gratia for the affected families — Rs 3 lakh for the kin of each deceased victim, Rs 1 lakh for those severely injured, and Rs 50,000 for those with minor injuries.
Cyclone Ditwah in Tamil Nadu has caused three deaths, 150 cattle fatalities, and damaged 57,000 hectares of farmland amid heavy rains.
Docked boats at the Marina Beach as Red Alert issued in Tamil Nadu due to Cyclone Ditwah in Chennai on Sunday. (ANI Video Grab)
Three people have died in rain-related incidents triggered by cyclone Ditwah in Tamil Nadu over the last 24 hours, state revenue and disaster management minister KKSSR Ramachandran said on Sunday, adding that nearly 150 cattle have died and 57,000 hectares of farmland has been damaged in the delta districts due to the impact.
“Three people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents since last evening. While two persons died due to wall collapse in Tuticorin and Thanjavur, respectively, a 20-year-old youth died due to electrocution in Mayiladuthurai,” he said, briefing reporters at the State Emergency Operations Centre.
He added that the heavy rains due to the cyclone also damaged crops in about 56,000 hectares in various districts which are inundated. “Crops in about 24,000 hectares in Nagapattinam district, over 15,000 hectares in Tiruvarur district and about 8,000 hectares in Mayiladuthurai district, are affected,” the minister said. “After the flood water recedes, district officials will calculate the actual damage and accordingly the Chief Minister will announce a compensation to farmers.”
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ditwah, which killed over 300 people in Sri Lanka, was centered about 80km east of Jaffna (Sri Lanka), 140 km southeast of Vedaranniyam (Tamil Nadu), and 280km south-southeast of Puducherry.
IMD had issued a red category warning for north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts.
In a statement issued later, the IMD said that the cyclone weakened into a deep depression over southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts by November 30 evening.
“The Cyclonic Storm Ditwah over southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts moved northwards with the speed of 5 kmph, weakened into a Deep Depression and lay centered over the same region around 5.30pm. It was about 90 km east of Cuddalore, 130 km northeast of Karaikal, 90 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 180 km north-northeast of Vedaranniyam and 140 km south-southeast of Chennai. “The minimum distance of the centre of the deep depression from north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts is about 80 km,” the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Chennai said.
“It is very likely to move nearly northwards parallel to North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts and weaken gradually further into a depression around December 1st morning.”
It is likely to get colder, with a 2-3 degree C fall in minimum temperature expected over the next two days over northwest and east India, India Meteorological Department has warned.
According to the proposed health and national security cess legislation, the levy is expected on the production capacity of specified items
Apart from the cess bill, the government also intends to introduce The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to raise the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in the insurance sector to 100% from 74%.(File/HT Photo)
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to introduce a bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday to levy “Health Security se National Security Cess” on pan masala and any other items notified by the central government to meet expenditure on national security and for public health, people in the know said on Sunday.
The bill may immediately impose a cess on pan masala and could later extend it to other sin goods such as cigarettes and tobacco products (excluding bidis), they said. It is also expected to empower the central government to add any item to the list in the future in the interest of public welfare. Once the bill becomes an act, the proposed cess will come into effect on the date the government notifies it in the official gazette, the people added.
Apart from the cess bill, the government also intends to introduce The Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to raise the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in the insurance sector to 100% from 74%. The Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025 is on the schedule of the Lok Sabha’s list of business for Monday along with The Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
According to the proposed health and national security cess legislation, the levy is expected on the production capacity of specified items. Individual producers or firms will self-declare location-wise production capacity of their units for the purpose of the cess, they said.
Citing the example of pan masala, they said a cess of about ₹100 per month per machine is expected to be levied if a facility has a production capacity of 500 units of 2.5gm pouches or packets per minute per machine. The cess rates may increase with the increase in production speed as well as the weight of specified goods (pan masala in this case) in each pouch, or packet, or tin, or container, they added.
For example, if a machine has the capacity to produce more than 1,000 to 1,500 units of 2.5gm pouches, or containers, the cess amount would be ₹30.3 lakh per month per machine, they said. If these pouches weigh more than 2.5gm but less than 10gm, the cess is expected at ₹1,092 lakh per month per machine. And, if the weight of the containers exceeds 10gm, the levy would jump to ₹2,547 lakh per month per machine, they added.
Procedural details, regulatory mechanisms and other nitty-gritty would be detailed when the government will frame rules after the bill is passed in Parliament, they said. Regulatory mechanisms and inspections will be hi-tech with a wide use of digital technologies, they said.
The introduction of the cess bill is expected to replace the Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation cess on tobacco products that will cease to exist after the government services the remaining principal and interests of back-to-back loans taken during the Covid period to compensate states for their revenue losses. The bill was distributed among the MPs on Sunday. In both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha Business Advisory Committee meetings, the government pitched the bill as a priority.
The 56th GST Council in September 2025 decided to remove compensation cess in a phased manner until the remaining liability of the back-to-back loans taken to fund state revenue losses during the pandemic period is discharged. This was expected by December this year, the people mentioned above said. The GST Council had empowered the Union finance minister, who is also the chairperson of the Council, to decide the actual date on this matter.
While the levy of compensation cess ended on almost all sin goods and luxury items from September 22, it continued along with 28% GST on pan masala, gutkha, cigarettes, chewing tobacco products like zarda, and unmanufactured tobacco till loan repayment and interest payment obligations under the compensation cess account were completely discharged. All tobacco products, except bidi (18%) attract a special 40% GST rate. Specified items, as per the proposed bill, will, however, attract health and national security cess, they said.
At the time of launching the GST regime, the law assured states a 14% increase in their annual revenue for five years of the transition period from July 1, 2017 up to June 30, 2022, and also guaranteed that their revenue shortfall, if any, would be made good through a compensation cess levied on luxury goods and sin products such as liquor, cigarettes, other tobacco products, aerated water, automobiles, and coal.
The GST compensation cess was, however, extended from June 30, 2022 till March 31, 2026, only to retire debts taken on behalf of states to meet the revenue shortfall during the Covid period. While states have no claims for compensation from July 1, 2022, it was earlier decided that the cess will continue till March 31, 2026 to service the back-to-back loans released to states when compensation cess collection fell in 2020 and 2021 because of a slump in economic activity due to the pandemic.
More than 4,000 military personnel and police officers participated, reinforcing the marathon’s message of respect and solidarity for those who serve the nation.
More than 24,000 runners took part in the 9th Adani Ahmedabad Marathon
The city of Ahmedabad transformed into a vibrant celebration of endurance and unity as more than 24,000 runners took part in the 9th Adani Ahmedabad Marathon at the Sabarmati Riverfront Sports Park. Anchored in the purpose-led theme of#Run4OurSoldiers, the marathon once again brought the city together in a spirited tribute to India’s Armed Forces, with this year’s run carrying deeper significance in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor.
The event was flagged off by Pranav Adani, Director, Adani Enterprises Ltd.; Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor; Major General Gaurav Bagga; fitness ambassador and actor-presenter Mandira Bedi; Olympic medallist and Padma Shri awardee Gagan Narang; Preeti Jhangiani, actor-producer and Vice President of the Indian Olympic Association; and renowned designer Aaquib Wani, along with senior leaders from Adani Sportsline, the sports arm of the Adani Group.
Also present at the occasion was Indian cricketer and Gujarat Giants’ newest signee Yastika Bhatia.
More than 4,000 military personnel and police officers participated, reinforcing the marathon’s message of respect and solidarity for those who serve the nation.
Runners competed across the Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 10 km, and 5 km categories on a course showcasing some of Ahmedabad’s most iconic landmarks, including the Gandhi Ashram, Atal Bridge, and Ellis Bridge. The official marathon jersey-designed by award-winning creator Aaquib Wani-captured the event’s spirit and its tribute to soldiers.
With a prize pool of over Rs 40 lakh across the Full Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10K categories, winners were rewarded across multiple competitive and age-group divisions.
Recognised by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and listed on the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) Global Marathon Event List, the recognised registry of certified marathons and distance-running events that meet global standards for course accuracy, measurement, and event quality, the Adani Ahmedabad Marathon has grown into one of India’s most respected distance-running events.
Speaking at the event, Pranav Adani said, “Since 2017, the Ahmedabad Marathon has become a landmark event embraced by our beloved city. This year, the message of #Run4OurSoldiers resonated even more deeply as our Armed Forces stood tall during Operation Sindoor. The participation of over 24,000 runners shows how the event has grown into a movement the city proudly owns.”
Major General Gaurav Bagga, General Officer Commanding, Indian Army, added, “The Adani Ahmedabad Marathon is more than a sporting event, but it is a living testament to the enduring bond between the Armed Forces and the citizens we serve.
“Witnessing over 4,000 personnel run shoulder to shoulder with thousands from across the nation was profoundly heartening. Such overwhelming participation is not merely about numbers; it reflects the unity, discipline, and positive spirit that define India. In every stride, one could feel the pulse of a nation moving forward together.”
Air Marshal Nagesh Kapoor, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Indian Air Force, expressed, “Today, we are thrilled to see such a massive and enthusiastic crowd coming together to support our Armed Forces by participating in the 9th Adani Ahmedabad Marathon 2025. This event is a testament to the importance we place on fitness, and it is heartening to see such a wonderful initiative of the Adani Group in honour of the Armed Forces.
“The overwhelming response and energy on display today are really impressive. A truly memorable experience today, set against the stunning backdrop of the beautiful Sabarmati Riverfront. ”
India is undergoing a rapid demographic transition, with the birth rate dropping sharply over the past two decades, an official said.
While birth rates are falling, life expectancy continues to rise due to improvements in healthcare.
India’s population is expected to stabilise by 2080 at 1.8 or 1.9 billion due to dipping total fertility rate, which is currently below the replacement level at 1.9, an official said.
India is undergoing a rapid demographic transition, with the birth rate dropping sharply over the past two decades, he said.
“In 2000, our TFR was 3.5 and today it stands at 1.9. This is a drastic decline,” Indian Association for the Study of Population (IASP) general secretary Anil Chandran told PTI.
He said India’s population is expected to peak at 1.8 or 1.9 billion by 2080, when growth is expected to stabilise.
“All estimates show that India’s maximum population will remain below two billion,” Chandran added.
He attributed the fall in fertility primarily to increasing development and education levels. Increased female literacy, he said, has directly shaped decisions around marriage and childbearing, leading to smaller families.
Greater use of contraceptives and wider access to birth control have further accelerated the decline, he said.
“Couples today are better informed and exercise greater control over when and how many children to have,” Chandran said.
He said that late marriages and growing economic opportunities — especially for women pursuing careers — have also significantly influenced reproductive choices.
“Development is inversely proportional to birth rates. Illiterate groups still have fertility levels above three, but among the educated, TFR ranges between 1.5 and 1.8,” he said.
Citing Kerala’s example, Chandran said the state achieved replacement-level fertility (2.1) between 1987 and 1989 and now has a TFR of around 1.5.
West Bengal’s fertility rate has also seen a sharp fall. According to the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2023, the state’s TFR has dropped to 1.3, down from 1.7 in 2013 — a decline of nearly 18 per cent and well below the replacement level of 2.1. West Bengal now ranks among the lowest in the country, on par with Tamil Nadu and just above Delhi, while recording the lowest urban TFR and the second-lowest rural TFR nationally, he said.
The demographer noted that while birth rates are falling, life expectancy continues to rise due to improvements in healthcare.
“More people are living beyond 60, and this brings new challenges of elderly care, especially as younger people migrate for work,” he said, adding that solutions such as elderly day-care facilities are increasingly being discussed.
Though cross- LoC trade remains suspended due to the hostilities between India and Pakistan since 2019, the ruling by a division bench is reaffirmation of the government’s stand that PoK is part of Jammu and Kashmir and an integral part of India.
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has ruled that trade between Jammu and Kashmir and the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir or PoK across the Line of Control is intra-state trade and therefore, no GST can levied on it.
Though cross- LoC trade remains suspended due to the hostilities between India and Pakistan since 2019, the ruling by a division bench is reaffirmation of the government’s stand that PoK is part of Jammu and Kashmir and an integral part of India.
Even after the scrapping of Article 370, the J&K assembly continues to have 24 vacant seats reserved for the PoK. As per the erstwhile constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, the entire J&K including PoK is an integral part of India. J&Ks separate constitution was also scrapped with revocation of Article 370.
The High court, while considering petitions from traders across the Line of Control, said cross-LoC trade between Jammu and Kashmir and the PoK was intra-state because the PoK is part of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Therefore, the location of suppliers and the place of supply of goods were within the then State of Jammu Kashmir (now the Union Territory). The cross-LoC trade affected by the petitioners during the relevant tax period was nothing but intra-state trade,” said the division bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Sanjay Parihar.
The petitioners had challenged show cause notices issued by the Superintendent CGST under the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. They argued that when trade began in 2008, intra-state sales tax was governed by the Jammu and Kashmir Value Added Taxes Act, which exempts cross-LoC trade from tax.
However, in 2017, when the GST regime was implemented, authorities began investigating the petitioners to determine if they had paid GST on their outward and inward supplies and show cause notices were issued to them.
The petitioners challenged the notices, arguing that the cross-LoC trade regulated by the Government of India’s SOP issued on October 20, 2008, constitutes intra-state trade and is therefore exempt from the provisions of the CGST Act. They further contended that even if intra-state trade were assumed, the demand for tax would be invalid because it involved a barter system with no monetary exchange.
In 2008, following improved relations between India and Pakistan as confidence-building measures, both governments had agreed to permit free cross-LoC trade between them under specific terms and conditions.
However, on April 9, 2019, the Indian government suspended cross-LoC trade on grounds that trade routes were being misused to funnel illegal weapons, narcotics and counterfeit currency.
A statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs at the time revealed that probe by the National Investigation Agency had uncovered concerns that cross-LoC trade were operated by individuals closely associated with banned terrorist organisations.
The two most significant CMBs between India and Pakistan were the cross-LoC bus service and cross-LoC trade.
Police have arrested three key operatives of the module – one each from Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh – and seized a semi-automatic pistol, 10 live cartridges, and mobile phones containing incriminating chats.
Search operations are underway to trace other operatives of the module, police said. (Representational)
The Special Cell of Delhi Police has busted a Pakistan-backed terror module led by gangster-turned-terrorist Shahzad Bhatti, currently based in the neighbouring country, an official said on Sunday.
Police have arrested three key operatives of the module – one each from Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh – and seized a semi-automatic pistol, 10 live cartridges, and mobile phones containing incriminating chats and reconnaissance videos from their possession, Additional Commissioner of Police (Special Cell), Pramod Singh Kushwah, said.
“The module was involved in the November 25 grenade attack outside the City police station in Punjab’s Gurdaspur, which was carried out on Bhatti’s instructions. Bhatti has been coordinating operations from Pakistan using encrypted platforms and social media channels,” the Additional CP said.
“Those arrested have been identified as Vikas Prajapati alias Betu (19), a resident of Datia in Madhya Pradesh, Hargunpreet Singh alias Gurkaranpreet Singh (19) from Firozpur in Punjab, and Asif alias Arish (22) from Bijnaur in Uttar Pradesh,” the officer said.
He said the breakthrough came after a team started tracking Bhatti’s activities, including his online communication patterns.
It was found that Prajapati, wanted in an arms-smuggling case, was in frequent contact with Bhatti on social media. Prajapati’s location kept shifting between Gurdaspur and Delhi, with Bhatti frequently instructing him to switch off his cellphone to avoid tracking, the officer said.
“Prajapati was arrested in Madhya Pradesh after a two-day manhunt. His interrogation revealed the module’s modus operandi. Bhatti and his Pakistan-based associates targeted young Indians on social media, luring them with money and an aura of gangster glorification,” the Additional CP said.
They selected the recruits by scanning their profiles, gave remote instructions for reconnaissance, arranged payments digitally, and used them as disposable foot soldiers for terror strikes, the officer said.
Prajapati told police that he contacted Bhatti through social media after being influenced by his online persona.
Bhatti allegedly used Prajapati to receive an arms parcel in Gurdaspur, which contained a grenade. On Bhatti’s instructions, Prajapati conducted a recce of the City police station in Gurdaspur and the Town Hall police station in Amritsar, before handing over the grenade to Hargunpreet Singh and his associate.
During questioning, Hargunpreet, a 12th pass from Firozpur, confessed that he carried out the grenade attack on November 25 outside the City police station while riding pillion on a motorcycle driven by an associate.
The passage of the six bills marks a shift in Assam’s education framework, with key laws such as the Fee Regulation Amendment Bill and the Provincialisation Amendment Bill cleared. The opposition says the process lacked proper scrutiny and debate.
The passage of the six bills marks a shift in Assam’s education framework, with key laws such as the Fee Regulation Amendment Bill and the Provincialisation Amendment Bill cleared.
The Assam Assembly on Saturday, November 29, passed six bills associated with the Education Department. All the bills passed were in the absence of the opposition parties after the walkout.
The Assembly cleared four major amendment bills. These included the Assam Non-governmental Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fees) (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Assam Education (Provincialisation of Teachers and Re-organisation of Educational Institutions) (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The House also passed the Assam Elementary and Secondary School Teachers (Regulation of Posting and Transfer) (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Assam Education (Provincialisation of Services of Non-teaching Staff of Venture Educational Institutions) (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
The debate on four bills, all moved by Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, lasted for more than four hours. Congress, CPI(M) and Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi said that none of the amendments they proposed were accepted. They asked the government to allow voting, but the request did not get a response.
Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia said the amendments needed discussion and voting. CPI(M) MLA Manoranjan Talukdar and Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi supported his demand.
Two other bills were passed through voice vote. These were the Azim Premji University Bill, 2025 and the North Eastern Regional Institute of Management (NERIM) University Bill, 2025. Both were introduced by Education Minister Pegu on the last day of the Winter Session.
Pegu said the government wanted to improve the state’s education system through these measures. “Today in the Assam Legislative Assembly, along with The Rabindranath Tagore University (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and The Su-Ka-Pha University Bill, 2025 aimed at strengthening Assam’s education sector,” he wrote on his X account.
He added that the bills would help reorganise institutions, manage fees and improve staff-related processes.
India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to aid Sri Lanka, sending 27 tons of relief, NDRF teams, and setting up an emergency help desk as over 123 lives were lost.
A total of around 27 tons of relief material delivered by air and sea. (X/@DrSJaishankar)
Cyclone Ditwah: India has launched ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’, a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) initiative to support Sri Lanka as the island country battles Cyclone Ditwah, which has claimed at least 123 lives and left over 130 people missing.
Disaster Management Centre Director General Sampath Kotuwegoda said relief operations were underway with 43,995 people moved to state-run welfare centres after their homes were destroyed in the week-long heavy rains.
The DMC said as many as 1,48,603 individuals from 44,192 families were suffering due to widespread flooding, while 5,024 families (approximately 14,000 people) had taken shelter in 195 emergency centres.
The first tranche of relief materials was handed over after the consignments were transported by the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and frontline ship INS Udaigiri to the island nation.
The first shipment, comprising 4.5 tonnes of dry rations and 2 tonnes of fresh rations, was sourced from the Indian naval ships which are currently docked in Sri Lanka. The supplies included staple foods, ready-to-eat items, dairy and bakery products, beverages and other essential materials.
On Saturday, an IAF C-130J aircraft carrying around 12 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including tents, tarpaulins, blankets, hygiene kits, and ready-to-eat food items, landed in Colombo.
Operation Sagar Bandhu | Humanitarian Assistance
In the wake of the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah across Sri Lanka, India swiftly launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to bolster relief efforts.
The Indian Air Force promptly deployed one C-130 and one IL-76 from Hindan Air… pic.twitter.com/cIT7gKiPNs
Later, an IAF IL-76 aircraft carrying 80 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel, four sniffer dogs and specialised relief equipment to support rescue operations, reached the island nation.
The contingent, led by 8th Battalion Commandant P K Tiwary, flew out from Hindon Air Base with inflatable boats, hydraulic cutting and breaching tools, communication gear and medical kits, as part of India’s HADR outreach under Operation Sagar Bandhu.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also shared the update on X, saying that a total of around 27 tons of relief material delivered by air and sea.
Vijay’s brother, Ravi Kumar, who lives in Jagrambass village in the Badhra subdivision, has written to the MEA asking for urgent help.
Vijay Kumar Sheoran hailed from Haryana’s Charkhi Dadri (Credits: X)
A 30-year-old Indian-origin man was stabbed to death in Worcester, United Kingdom, on November 25. Vijay Kumar Sheoran hailed from Haryana’s Charkhi Dadri and had resigned from his job at the Central Board of Excise and Customs earlier this year to pursue higher studies.
While British police have not released any details about the incident, Vijay’s family in Haryana fears that someone from Haryana or Punjab may be involved in the crime.
The family has reached out to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), seeking help from the Indian High Commission in London to bring his mortal remains back as soon as possible.
Vijay’s brother, Ravi Kumar, who lives in Jagrambass village in the Badhra subdivision, has written to the MEA asking for urgent help.
“Our family is devastated by this incident. We request the MEA to help us in getting my brother’s body back for the last rites. Due to the complex legal formalities and documentation in the UK, it is difficult for us to manage on our own,” Ravi wrote.
He said Vijay had last served in Kochi before leaving his government job to study abroad. Ravi also requested help from Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.
MLA Urges Centre To Step In
Charkhi Dadri MLA Sunil Satpal Sangwan has also raised the matter publicly. In a post on X, he appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and other officials to assist the family and ensure that Vijay’s mortal remains are brought home quickly.
Deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Vijay Kumar Sheoran, an Indian student from Village Jagrambas, District Charkhi Dadri (Haryana), who lost his life following a brutal stabbing incident in Worcester, United Kingdom.
“Deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Vijay Kumar Sheoran, an Indian student from Village Jagrambas, District Charkhi Dadri (Haryana), who lost his life following a brutal stabbing incident in Worcester, United Kingdom,” he wrote in a post on X.
The campaign was a direct and emotional pushback against the apex court’s directive, issued on November 7, 2025, in a suo motu petition related to dog bite incidents
The letters collectively call for a stay, recall, and reconsideration of the November 7 order. Representational image/PTI
More than 50,000 citizens across India, including nearly 10,000 from the National Capital Territory of Delhi, participated in a massive letter-petition campaign on Saturday, urging the Supreme Court to reconsider its controversial November 7 order concerning community dogs. The citizens, comprising students, homemakers, professionals, and activists, opted for the traditional, deeply personal format of handwritten letters to the Chief Justice of India, aiming to convey the sincerity and depth of public concern regarding the fate of stray animals.
The campaign was a direct and emotional pushback against the apex court’s directive, issued on November 7, 2025, in a suo motu petition related to dog bite incidents. The order specifically instructed all states and union territories to “forthwith” remove stray dogs from sensitive institutional areas—including educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus depots, and railway stations—and relocate them to designated shelters after due sterilisation and vaccination under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023. Crucially, the court explicitly directed that the dogs must not be released back into the same location, carving out a significant exception to the ABC Rule’s core “Capture-Sterilise-Vaccinate-Release” (CSVR) principle.
Animal welfare activists leading the movement strongly criticised the order, labelling it as unscientific, impractical, and, potentially, a “death sentence” for the animals. They argued that the country severely lacks the necessary infrastructure, including functional and humane shelters, to house the millions of stray dogs that would be displaced. The forceful removal and displacement of vaccinated, sterilised, and familiar community dogs, they contend, would not only cause immense suffering but also create a vacuum in their territories, which could swiftly be filled by new, unsterilised, and potentially aggressive dogs, thereby worsening the problem it sought to solve.
The nationwide response, with postal receipts being uploaded from cities ranging from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, underscores a section of the public’s deep emotional connection with community dogs and the growing support for humane, coexistence-based solutions. The letters collectively call for a stay, recall, and reconsideration of the November 7 order, urging the Supreme Court to prioritise rigorous implementation of the existing ABC rules—focusing on sterilisation, vaccination, and the creation of designated feeding zones—rather than mass relocation and displacement.
The collection undergoing digitisation is immense, comprising over 25 million documents belonging to more than 1,300 individuals and organisations
By removing geographical barriers, the initiative aims to strengthen the study of modern India’s historical and political evolution. (Representational image/Getty)
The Prime Ministers’ Museum and Library (PMML) has launched a comprehensive digitisation project of its vast and rare archival collection, the Ministry of Culture announced on Saturday. This landmark initiative is designed to achieve the dual objectives of ensuring the long-term preservation of fragile historical documents and significantly enhancing remote access for genuine research scholars worldwide. The PMML, housed at the historic Teen Murti Bhavan, is a premier national institution dedicated to preserving and showcasing the legacy of all Prime Ministers of India since Independence.
The collection undergoing digitisation is immense, comprising over 25 million documents belonging to more than 1,300 individuals and organisations pivotal to modern and contemporary Indian history. This material includes irreplaceable personal papers, correspondence, seminal speeches, private diaries, and newspaper articles, which are regularly consulted by bona fide historians and scholars. The digitisation effort is a crucial measure against the natural degradation of these paper-based records, safeguarding them for future generations.
To facilitate the remote access component, the PMML has developed a dedicated, secure IT platform for its new Digital Archives. A substantial portion of the most frequently requested material has already been digitised, uploaded, and made available through this new system. Registered scholars may now submit online requests for specific archival documents without the mandatory need to physically visit the PMML premises in New Delhi. Once an online request is approved, the material is securely made available on the scholar’s desktop in a strictly view-only format.
According to PMML Director Ashwani Lohani, this transformative project marks a significant milestone in leveraging technology to enhance accessibility and reflects the institution’s commitment to promoting high-quality research. By removing geographical barriers, the initiative aims to strengthen the study of modern India’s historical and political evolution, allowing more global scholars to contribute to the field directly from their respective locations. The launch of the PMML’s Digital Archives is poised to revolutionise how historical research on India’s post-independence journey is conducted.
Jagadguru Shankaracharya has said that Lord Ram was always present in Ayodhya, even during the long absence of a grand temple, highlighting his divine will.
Ram Temple in Ayodhya
Lord Ram didn’t return to Ayodhya but he was always present there even during the old temple, in the tent and now in the newly constructed grand temple at the Ramjanmabhoomi, said Jagadguru Shankaracharya.
In an exclusive conversation with Times Now Group Editor-in-Chief Navika Kumar on Frankly Speaking, when asked to comment on the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya being completed after a long wait of 500 Years and whether the Pran Pratishtha should have taken place before the temple was completed, Jagadguru Shankaracharya said that in Ayodhya, when this grand temple was not there for 500 years and when the movement of the Ram Mandir was going on, then also Lord Ram was present there. He was also present in the make-shift tent after the temple was demolished.
So Ayodhya has been a place where Lord Ram wanted to stay with his own wish, Jagadguru Shankaracharya said.
Speaking further on this issue, Jagadguru Shankaracharya said that according to Ramayan, when everyone was fed up with Ravan, then people worshiped god and requested for a solution.
During that time, Raja (King) Dashrath had also took some resolves (Anushthaan) to have a son, however, no one had requested the God that Lord Ram should take an avatar in Ayodhya, Jagadguru Shankaracharya mentioned.
But Lord Ram did come as an avatar in Ayodhya and also as the son of Raja Dashrath. This happened only because of the will of the God, he said.
Police sources also revealed that the NIA sleuths recovered Rs 18.5 lakh in cash, along with some gold biscuits and foreign currency, from Shahid’s hostel room at the university.
Police personnel conduct investigation in the aftermath of a blast near Red Fort, in New Delhi. Credit: PTI Photo
Faridabad: Dr Shaheen Shahid, arrested in the “white-collar terror module” case linked to the November 10 Delhi blast, revealed that she had planned to recruit women to carry out the terrorist act, Faridabad police sources have revealed.
They said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) brought Shahid, a former pharmacologist at Al-Falah University, to the university campus on Thursday in connection with the probe, and that during questioning, she revealed she had planned to recruit women for the mission.
Police sources also revealed that the NIA sleuths recovered Rs 18.5 lakh in cash, along with some gold biscuits and foreign currency, from Shahid’s hostel room at the university.
Earlier in the week, the agency brought Dr Muzammil for identification, and soon, the NIA could bring Dr Adil Ahmad for spot identification to the university. Muzammil and Adil Ahmad are two other suspects arrested as part of the probe.
Sources also revealed that Shahid had also lived in Saudi Arabia for four years. She worked as a professor at a medical college in Saudi Arabia from 2014 to 2018.
During Shahid’s on-site questioning at the campus, the NIA team took her to the medical ward, classroom, and her cabin to gather details of her activities and contacts there.
A senior police officer said on Saturday that the agency has prepared a list of the people with whom she interacted.
The NIA team also took her to a chemical shop from where, according to sources, Dr Muzammil allegedly purchased materials to prepare explosives.
After about four hours of investigation, questioning and identification of several locations, she was taken back to Delhi at about 9:00 pm.
India’s new criminal code still defines rape solely as a man assaulting a woman, rendering male and transgender survivors legally invisible. Their cases remain unrecorded, untreated, and unpunished, thereby creating a dangerous systemic blind spot, reports Venkatesh R.
A legal erasure. Credit: DH Illustration
Disbelief, shame, silence — survivors of sexual violence grapple with an array of emotional and psychological shocks. For male and trans survivors, the burden is heavier still: the law does not even acknowledge that they can be victims.
India rewrote its British-era criminal laws in 2024, replacing the Indian Penal Code with the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Yet what remained untouched was its imagination of who a rape survivor can be. In the eyes of the law, that survivor is still only a woman.
Under Section 63 of the BNS, rape is defined solely as a “man” committing the act against a “woman.” Men and most trans people simply do not exist in that definition. They disappear before the law even begins to speak.
This isn’t a drafting slip — it’s a worldview. Advocate K M Sai Apabharana, partner at Allied Law Practices, explains that when male or transgender survivors report sexual assault, they are pushed into provisions meant for “hurt,” “grievous hurt,” or “criminal force.” None of these captures the sexual nature of the violence, and the penalties are far lighter. “They provide limited legal avenues for redress,” she says.
What the law refuses to name, society refuses to see. In police stations, courtrooms, and even therapy rooms, survivors who are not women are met with disbelief, laughter, or silence. Their trauma doesn’t fit the statute, and so it doesn’t count.
Arvind Narrain, lawyer and co-founder of Alternative Law Forum, spells it out more bluntly: “The victim is gender-specific… the only person who can be subjected to sexual violence is defined as a woman.” That single clause narrows the entire legal imagination, pushing survivors outside the frame before they can even report a crime.
The result is legal improvisation. “If the sexual-violence part is out of the picture,” Narrain says, “then you’re left with assault, grievous hurt, hurt, criminal intimidation”. None of these, he points out, comes close to naming sexual violence for what it is.
Odisha’s Paradip Port has created history by achieving the fastest ever 100 million metric tonnes (MMT) cargo throughput in a financial year on November 27. The coveted 100 MMT mark was achieved on December 9, 2024, during the last financial year. The record was achieved in 241 days in the current fiscal year against 253 days in the previous financial year.
Odisha’s Paradip Port has created history by achieving the fastest ever 100 million metric tonnes (MMT) cargo throughput in a financial year on November 27, an official statement said on Friday. This is the 9th consecutive year the port has crossed the 100 MMT mark and clocked 100.15 MMT, exhibiting a growth of 4.78 per cent year-on-year basis, 12 days earlier than the last financial year, according to the statement.
The coveted 100 MMT mark was achieved on December 9, 2024, during the last financial year. The record was achieved in 241 days in the current fiscal year against 253 days in the previous financial year, the statement said. Despite market challenges, the port continues to set new benchmarks. Faster operations, system improvements and consistent support from stakeholders have helped Paradip Port Authority (PPA) stay ahead.
Growth in coastal thermal coal, container cargo, gypsum & flux, POL and Steel cargo has strengthened PPA’s position as a leading coastal shipping hub. Coal cargo handling constitutes around 45 per cent of total cargo volume at the port, and it has shown 3.76 per cent growth against the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. Similarly, containerised cargo volume has grown by 32 per cent, gypsum & flux volume has surged by 24 per cent, steel cargo by 35 per cent, and petroleum oil and lubricants (POL) by 31 per cent on a Y-o-Y basis in the current fiscal, the statement said.
Paradip Port Authority (PPA) Chairman P.L. Haranadh said that with a clear focus on efficiency and growth, the port is on track to target an all-time high in this fiscal. He congratulated all employees of the port, the user industries, stevedores, steamer agents, trade unions and public-private partnership operators for the “amazing accomplishment in the ability of the port to serve them”.
Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing has filed a fresh FIR against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, intensifying the ongoing legal and political dispute. The FIR is based on a complaint from the Enforcement Directorate concerning alleged fraudulent financial transactions.
Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing has filed a fresh FIR against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, acting on a complaint routed through the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The move, registered on October 3, deepens the long-running political and legal battle over the newspaper’s finances and the alleged takeover of its parent company.
CASE BUILT ON ED COMPLAINT
The FIR follows the ED’s complaint shared with Delhi Police under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, a provision that allows the agency to ask another authority to register a scheduled offence. Along with the two senior Congress leaders, six individuals and three companies have been named as accused.
The FIR invokes sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 403 (dishonest misappropriation of movable property), and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code.
Those named include Sam Pitroda, who heads the Indian Overseas Congress, and three companies, Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), Young Indian, and Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd. Dotex, a Kolkata-based firm, has been described in earlier investigations as a shell entity that transferred Rs 1 crore to Young Indian, the company in which Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are key stakeholders.
ALLEGATIONS AROUND AJL TAKEOVER
According to the FIR, the accused were involved in a criminal conspiracy to gain control of AJL, the company linked to the National Herald newspaper, by fraudulent means. The allegations centre on a series of financial transactions through which Young Indian is said to have acquired control of AJL by paying the Congress party Rs 50 lakh, despite AJL’s assets being valued at nearly Rs 2,000 crore.
S Jaishankar’s comments come against the backdrop of recent trade disputes and steep US tariffs, including a 50 per cent rate on Indian imports levied by US President Donald Trump.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. (File photo)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in a veiled reference to the US amid ongoing trade tensions, said on Saturday that politics nowadays increasingly ‘trumps’ economics in an “uncertain world”. Speaking in Kolkata after receiving an Honorary Doctorate from IIM-Calcutta, he stressed the importance of diversifying India’s supply sources to safeguard national interests.
“This is an era where politics increasingly trumps economics and that is not a pun. In an uncertain world, it is all the more important that we continuously diversify supply sources to guarantee our national needs,” he stated.
His comments come against the backdrop of recent trade disputes and steep US tariffs, including a 50 per cent rate on Indian imports levied by US President Donald Trump.
Jaishankar highlighted the evolving nature of Washington’s policy. “The United States, long the underwriter of the contemporary system, has set radically new terms of engagement. It is doing so by dealing with countries on a one-on-one basis,” he said.
India and the US are currently negotiating two parallel tracks—one to address tariff issues and another aimed at establishing a comprehensive trade agreement.
While both sides hope to expand trade volumes and resolve long-standing market access barriers, tensions persist.
Nevertheless, recent data shows India’s exports to the US have declined less than expected.
Officials say India has “avoided the worst impact of the 50% US tariffs” and is “ready to wait” for a more favourable deal.
Both nations are working toward a target of doubling bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030, up from the current USD 191 billion.
Washington is pushing for greater access to India’s agricultural and high-tech markets, while New Delhi seeks improved mobility for Indian professionals along with clearer rules on digital trade and data flows.
Jaishankar also addressed the behaviour of other major economies, saying that China “has long played by its own rules” and continues to do so, contributing to a fragmented global landscape.
This uncertainty, he noted, leads many countries to hedge their strategies.
“In the ensuing scenario, other nations are unclear whether attention should be on visible competition or the trade-offs and understandings that punctuate it. Faced with such pulls and pressures of globalisation, of fragmentation and of supply insecurity, the rest of the world responds by hedging against all contingencies,” he observed.
He underscored India’s drive toward self-reliance and a stronger industrial foundation.
“India has been actively pursuing self-reliance and making itself a manufacturing base for industries. India has been making exponential advancements in infrastructure as well as in the latest scientific developments,” he said.
With a third of global production now concentrated in China, Jaishankar argued that supply chain resilience has become more critical, especially as “conflicts and climate events have added to the possibility of that disruption”.
Jaishankar noted that India is narrowing infrastructural gaps through major improvements in transport, energy, and power.
Pakistan claimed that the Indian side pulled out of the Oxford Union debate, but connecting the dots suggests the debate was never meant to happen. It was a staged stunt, designed to show Indians as unwilling to engage in an open debate. Oxford Union President Moosa Harraj, the son of the Pakistani defence production minister, used the good ol’ cheating playbook of Pakistan.
Moosa Harraj, the president of the Oxford Union, is the son of Pakistan’s federal defence production minister. (Images: X)
Pakistan, which has a long history of deceit and double-dealing, used the prestigious Oxford Union debate platform to stage a drama and claim “victory” against the Indian side. A look at the details of how participants were invited, and the information passed on reveals that the debate was never meant to be conducted at all. It was Pakistan’s ploy that used Pakistani-origin Oxford Union President Moosa Harraj, son of a Pakistani federal minister.
The Oxford Union debate is an open intellectual dialogue, but the drama behind the motion “This House believes That India’s Policy Towards Pakistan Is a Populist Strategy Sold as Security Policy” has now been exposed by Indian participants as a stunt orchestrated by Moosa Harraj.
Harraj has now gone off the grid. India Today Digital tried to contact him over a period of 15 hours over calls, WhatsApp messages and SMS texts, for his version of the events, but he remains evasive.
Harraj is the son of Pakistan’s federal defence production minister, Muhammad Raza Hayat Harraj.
Every fact points in the direction that the Oxford Union debate was planned to construct a chimaera of sorts of an India-Pakistan debate planned months in advance, only to portray Indians as unwilling to engage.
Once you consider Harraj’s Pakistani defence links, it makes all the more sense.
This is much like a repeat of the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, where Pakistan declared victory even after its airbases were dotted with craters by Indian strikes. India also destroyed terror hubs deep inside its territory, which made Pakistan squirm like a fish out of water. The Pakistani establishment rushed to the Indian DGMO begging for a ceasefire, but cunningly claimed to its people that it had won the war.
Had the Oxford Union debate taken place, Pakistan would have struggled to back its claims with evidence, while Indian speakers and seasoned politicians, armed with proof of Pakistan’s decades-long terror sponsorship, and proof of links of Pahalgam terrorists too, would have exposed Islamabad on a global stage.
It would have been a bloodless war, heavily weighted in India’s favour. So, Pakistan chose the easier route from its old playbook of deceit. It claimed victory without a fight after misleading the Indian participants.
It’s only fair to say that Moosa Harraj resorted to a tactic his country is often accused of. Selling what it doesn’t have.
INDIAN SPEAKERS EXPOSE THE FARCE SURROUNDING OXFORD UNION DEBATE
J Sai Deepak, the advocate-author invited to speak against the motion, and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi have both gone public with identical timelines that leave little room for doubt that Harraj intended to make the debate happen.
Chaturvedi said she accepted an invitation in June, then heard absolutely nothing from the Union for five months. A second invitation landed two days before the proposed date, which was too late for any serious parliamentarian to rearrange the schedule.
J Sai Deepak also said he had been confirmed as a speaker, with General MM Naravane (Retd) and BJP veteran Subramanian Swamy as the other speakers from the Indian side. However, Narvane and Swamy also couldn’t attend the debate and the confirmation was given at least five months in advance.
“Before I could get back to the Union with alternatives, they called me to inform that they had reached out to Mr Suhel Seth and Ms Priyanka Chaturvedi, and that they had confirmed. I thought that was the end of the matter,” Deepak said on X.
However, after Deepak landed in London, he was informed that both Seth and Chaturvedi had cancelled “because of the short notice”.
When the Pakistan High Commission posted “all three Indian speakers had decided to pull out”, Deepak wrote, “Trust the Pakistanis to make a pigsty even out of the @OxfordUnion. And as always, they are genetically incapable of being truthful.”
On November 27, at 3.13 pm UK time, J Sai Deepak received a call from an Oxford Union organiser that the Pakistani speakers, including Hina Rabbani Khar and Gen Zubair Hayat, hadn’t landed in London, just hours before the debate dinner. Deepak was already in the UK after rescheduling court hearings, but refused to travel to Oxford, calling the handling of the event “abysmal”.
At 4.55 pm, Union President Moosa Harraj personally rang Deepak to apologise, admitting he had known since 10 am that his side would not show yet withheld the information for hours. By then, the Pakistan High Commission had already tweeted that India “walked out”.
Deepak on Friday discovered the Pakistani delegation had actually arrived at Oxford.
Extremely heavy rain continues across many parts of Tamil Nadu as cyclonic storm Ditwah, which earlier devastated Sri Lanka, is getting closer to Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast.
A man stands on rocks as waves crash against the seaside during rough sea conditions triggered by Cyclone Ditwah in Ramanathapuram. (Photo: PTI)
Cyclonic storm Ditwah is progressing steadily, tracking parallel to the Tamil Nadu–Puducherry coast, triggering heavy rainfall across coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and the adjoining southern districts of Andhra Pradesh. The severe weather has disrupted normal life across several parts of southern India, with air, rail, and road services significantly affected.
The storm, which had weakened earlier today, has now re-intensified as it neared the coastline, according to weather department officials, who also mentioned that a landfall is unlikely.
The cyclone-triggered downpour has disrupted normal life in many regions, with Ramanathapuram and Nagapattinam districts bearing the brunt. Multiple disaster response personnel, including teams from the SDRF and the NDRF, are on standby. Several areas remain under red alert for very heavy rainfall.
After causing widespread destruction in Sri Lanka, the cyclone is currently centred on the Vedaranyam coast in Nagapattinam district, about 80 km east of Karaikal and 250 km south of Chennai.
According to the latest bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department, the system is very likely to move nearly northwards, running parallel to the North Tamil Nadu–Puducherry coasts over the next 24 hours. While moving northward, the cyclonic storm will come within a minimum distance of 50 km from the coast by Sunday morning and 25 km by evening.
Under its influence, sea conditions along the coast have turned turbulent. Choppy waves damaged a few mechanised fishing boats anchored near Mandapam, and portions of nearby roads have been breached due to severe sea erosion. Vedaranyam has been receiving continuous heavy rainfall, inundating several areas and crippling salt production, with nearly 9,000 acres of salt pans affected.
Districts including Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Villuppuram, Chengalpattu, and the Puducherry–Karaikal region have been classified under the red alert zone in anticipation of extremely heavy rain. An orange alert has been issued for Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli, Salem, Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, and Ranipet districts.
The IMD has also warned of gale-force winds at speeds of 70-80 kmph, gusting up to 90 kmph, likely to prevail on Sunday morning. Wind speeds are expected to decrease gradually, turning squally at 45-55 kmph, gusting up to 65 kmph by the morning of December 1. Sea conditions, currently “high,” are likely to improve gradually, becoming very rough to rough on December 1 and 2 before improving further, officials said.
CYCLONE PREPAREDNESS ON A WAR FOOTING
Tamil Nadu’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister K. Ramachandran said it remains uncertain whether the cyclone will strike near Chennai, but the state government is fully prepared to roll out rescue and relief measures on a war footing.
“About 28 disaster response teams, including SDRF and NDRF, are on standby. We are planning to airlift 10 additional teams from other states. The Indian Air Force and the Indian Coast Guard have been alerted. Monitoring teams will also be dispatched to districts tomorrow,” he said.
So far, no fatalities have been reported. However, 16 livestock have died and 24 huts have been damaged. “There has been no major impact from the rain yet, but we are monitoring the situation closely and have deployed rescue and relief teams,” he added.
Nearly 6,000 relief camps have been set up across districts. Based on weather office updates suggesting that the storm may move parallel to the Chennai coast, the public has been urged to adhere to safety instructions issued by Chief Minister MK Stalin.
An official said 14 NDRF teams have already been deployed in vulnerable districts, including Villuppuram, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, and Mayiladuthurai. Additional teams have also been allocated for Puducherry and Chennai. Fishermen have stayed away from the sea for the second consecutive day due to rough conditions.
Extremely heavy rain continues across many parts of Tamil Nadu as cyclonic storm Ditwah, which earlier devastated Sri Lanka, is getting closer to Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast.
A man stands on rocks as waves crash against the seaside during rough sea conditions triggered by Cyclone Ditwah in Ramanathapuram. (Photo: PTI)
Cyclonic storm Ditwah is steadily advancing towards the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast, bringing heavy rain to coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and adjoining southern parts of Andhra Pradesh. The severe weather has disrupted normal life across several parts of southern India, with air, rail, and road services significantly affected.
The storm has now weakened as it approached the coastline, and a landfall is unlikely to happen.
The cyclone-triggered downpour has disrupted normal life in many regions, with Ramanathapuram and Nagapattinam districts bearing the brunt. Multiple disaster response personnel, including teams from the SDRF and the NDRF, are on standby. Several areas remain under red alert for very heavy rainfall.
After causing widespread destruction in Sri Lanka, the cyclone is currently centred on the Vedaranyam coast in Nagapattinam district, about 80 km east of Karaikal and 250 km south of Chennai.
According to the latest bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department, the system is very likely to move nearly northwards, running parallel to the North Tamil Nadu–Puducherry coasts over the next 24 hours. While moving northward, the cyclonic storm will come within a minimum distance of 50 km from the coast by Sunday morning and 25 km by evening.
Under its influence, sea conditions along the coast have turned turbulent. Choppy waves damaged a few mechanised fishing boats anchored near Mandapam, and portions of nearby roads have been breached due to severe sea erosion. Vedaranyam has been receiving continuous heavy rainfall, inundating several areas and crippling salt production, with nearly 9,000 acres of salt pans affected.
Districts including Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Villuppuram, Chengalpattu, and the Puducherry–Karaikal region have been classified under the red alert zone in anticipation of extremely heavy rain. An orange alert has been issued for Pudukkottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Tiruchirappalli, Salem, Kallakurichi, Tiruvannamalai, Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, and Ranipet districts.
The IMD has also warned of gale-force winds at speeds of 70-80 kmph, gusting up to 90 kmph, likely to prevail on Sunday morning. Wind speeds are expected to decrease gradually, turning squally at 45-55 kmph, gusting up to 65 kmph by the morning of December 1. Sea conditions, currently “high,” are likely to improve gradually, becoming very rough to rough on December 1 and 2 before improving further, officials said.
CYCLONE PREPAREDNESS ON A WAR FOOTING
Tamil Nadu’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister K. Ramachandran said it remains uncertain whether the cyclone will strike near Chennai, but the state government is fully prepared to roll out rescue and relief measures on a war footing.
“About 28 disaster response teams, including SDRF and NDRF, are on standby. We are planning to airlift 10 additional teams from other states. The Indian Air Force and the Indian Coast Guard have been alerted. Monitoring teams will also be dispatched to districts tomorrow,” he said.
So far, no fatalities have been reported. However, 16 livestock have died and 24 huts have been damaged. “There has been no major impact from the rain yet, but we are monitoring the situation closely and have deployed rescue and relief teams,” he added.
Nearly 6,000 relief camps have been set up across districts. Based on weather office updates suggesting that the storm may move parallel to the Chennai coast, the public has been urged to adhere to safety instructions issued by Chief Minister MK Stalin.
An official said 14 NDRF teams have already been deployed in vulnerable districts, including Villuppuram, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, and Mayiladuthurai. Additional teams have also been allocated for Puducherry and Chennai. Fishermen have stayed away from the sea for the second consecutive day due to rough conditions.
FLIGHTS HIT, TRAINS AFFECTED
Authorities at the Chennai International Airport said 54 flights to various destinations were cancelled due to the cyclone. After IMD warned that the storm could bring heavy to very heavy rainfall with wind speeds of 10-15 knots, gusting to 25 knots from the northeast direction, the airport said it has stepped up precautionary measures in a post on X.
The Southern Railway announced changes to train operations due to the storm. The release also mentioned that wind speeds at the Pamban Bridge have receded and are within permissible limits, and train traffic to Rameswaram will resume soon.
Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing has filed a fresh FIR against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, intensifying the ongoing legal and political dispute. The FIR is based on a complaint from the Enforcement Directorate concerning alleged fraudulent financial transactions.
The FIR follows the ED’s complaint.
Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing has filed a fresh FIR against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, acting on a complaint routed through the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The move, registered on October 3, deepens the long-running political and legal battle over the newspaper’s finances and the alleged takeover of its parent company.
CASE BUILT ON ED COMPLAINT
The FIR follows the ED’s complaint shared with Delhi Police under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, a provision that allows the agency to ask another authority to register a scheduled offence. Along with the two senior Congress leaders, six individuals and three companies have been named as accused.
The FIR invokes sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 403 (dishonest misappropriation of movable property), and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code.
Those named include Sam Pitroda, who heads the Indian Overseas Congress, and three companies, Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), Young Indian, and Dotex Merchandise Pvt Ltd. Dotex, a Kolkata-based firm, has been described in earlier investigations as a shell entity that transferred Rs 1 crore to Young Indian, the company in which Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are key stakeholders.
ALLEGATIONS AROUND AJL TAKEOVER
According to the FIR, the accused were involved in a criminal conspiracy to gain control of AJL, the company linked to the National Herald newspaper, by fraudulent means. The allegations centre on a series of financial transactions through which Young Indian is said to have acquired control of AJL by paying the Congress party Rs 50 lakh, despite AJL’s assets being valued at nearly Rs 2,000 crore.
Pakistan claimed that the Indian side pulled out of the Oxford Union debate, but connecting the dots suggests the debate was never meant to happen. It was a staged stunt, designed to show Indians as unwilling to engage in an open debate. Oxford Union President Moosa Harraj, the son of the Pakistani defence production minister, used the good ol’ cheating playbook of Pakistan.
Moosa Harraj, the president of the Oxford Union, is the son of Pakistan’s federal defence production minister. (Images: X)
Pakistan, which has a long history of deceit and double-dealing, used the prestigious Oxford Union debate platform to stage a drama and claim “victory” against the Indian side. A look at the details of how participants were invited, and the information passed on reveals that the debate was never meant to be conducted at all. It was Pakistan’s ploy that used Pakistani-origin Oxford Union President Moosa Harraj, son of a Pakistani federal minister.
The Oxford Union debate is an open intellectual dialogue, but the drama behind the motion “This House believes That India’s Policy Towards Pakistan Is a Populist Strategy Sold as Security Policy” has now been exposed by Indian participants as a stunt orchestrated by Moosa Harraj.
Harraj has now gone off the grid. India Today Digital tried to contact him over a period of 15 hours over calls, WhatsApp messages and SMS texts, for his version of the events, but he remains evasive.
Harraj is the son of Pakistan’s federal defence production minister, Muhammad Raza Hayat Harraj.
Every fact points in the direction that the Oxford Union debate was planned to construct a chimaera of sorts of an India-Pakistan debate planned months in advance, only to portray Indians as unwilling to engage.
Once you consider Harraj’s Pakistani defence links, it makes all the more sense.
This is much like a repeat of the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, where Pakistan declared victory even after its airbases were dotted with craters by Indian strikes. India also destroyed terror hubs deep inside its territory, which made Pakistan squirm like a fish out of water. The Pakistani establishment rushed to the Indian DGMO begging for a ceasefire, but cunningly claimed to its people that it had won the war.
Had the Oxford Union debate taken place, Pakistan would have struggled to back its claims with evidence, while Indian speakers and seasoned politicians, armed with proof of Pakistan’s decades-long terror sponsorship, and proof of links of Pahalgam terrorists too, would have exposed Islamabad on a global stage.
It would have been a bloodless war, heavily weighted in India’s favour. So, Pakistan chose the easier route from its old playbook of deceit. It claimed victory without a fight after misleading the Indian participants.
It’s only fair to say that Moosa Harraj resorted to a tactic his country is often accused of. Selling what it doesn’t have.
INDIAN SPEAKERS EXPOSE THE FARCE SURROUNDING OXFORD UNION DEBATE
J Sai Deepak, the advocate-author invited to speak against the motion, and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi have both gone public with identical timelines that leave little room for doubt that Harraj intended to make the debate happen.
Chaturvedi said she accepted an invitation in June, then heard absolutely nothing from the Union for five months. A second invitation landed two days before the proposed date, which was too late for any serious parliamentarian to rearrange the schedule.
J Sai Deepak also said he had been confirmed as a speaker, with General MM Naravane (Retd) and BJP veteran Subramanian Swamy as the other speakers from the Indian side. However, Narvane and Swamy also couldn’t attend the debate and the confirmation was given at least five months in advance.
“Before I could get back to the Union with alternatives, they called me to inform that they had reached out to Mr Suhel Seth and Ms Priyanka Chaturvedi, and that they had confirmed. I thought that was the end of the matter,” Deepak said on X.
However, after Deepak landed in London, he was informed that both Seth and Chaturvedi had cancelled “because of the short notice”.
When the Pakistan High Commission posted “all three Indian speakers had decided to pull out”, Deepak wrote, “Trust the Pakistanis to make a pigsty even out of the @OxfordUnion. And as always, they are genetically incapable of being truthful.”
On November 27, at 3.13 pm UK time, J Sai Deepak received a call from an Oxford Union organiser that the Pakistani speakers, including Hina Rabbani Khar and Gen Zubair Hayat, hadn’t landed in London, just hours before the debate dinner. Deepak was already in the UK after rescheduling court hearings, but refused to travel to Oxford, calling the handling of the event “abysmal”.
At 4.55 pm, Union President Moosa Harraj personally rang Deepak to apologise, admitting he had known since 10 am that his side would not show yet withheld the information for hours. By then, the Pakistan High Commission had already tweeted that India “walked out”.
Deepak on Friday discovered the Pakistani delegation had actually arrived at Oxford.
INDIANS WOULD HAVE MADE MINCEMEAT OF PAKISTANI PARTICIPANTS
Seasoned politicians such as Chaturvedi, who has been the spokesperson of the Congress and now a Rajya Sabha Member, and high-calibre counsels such as Deepak can be scathing when it comes to defending India. Even other experts the Union reached out to, such as Narvane and Swamy, are known for their analytical approach towards countering Pakistan.
One must note that previously, whenever Indian diplomats have spoken at the Oxford Union, it has drawn the attention of the world. In 2015, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor’s 15-minute speech on whether Britain should pay reparations for colonising India obliterated the opposition and is still one of the most-watched speeches of Oxford Union.
Pakistan neither has substance nor facts to counter New Delhi in its policy towards Islamabad.
In fact, this might never have even been about the debate, but to manufacture yet another narrative amid high tensions between India and Pakistan. And as one knows, meaningful dialogue has never been the mode of engagement of Pakistan. It’s usually terror and lies.
S Jaishankar’s comments come against the backdrop of recent trade disputes and steep US tariffs, including a 50 per cent rate on Indian imports levied by US President Donald Trump.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. (File photo)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in a veiled reference to the US amid ongoing trade tensions, said on Saturday that politics nowadays increasingly ‘trumps’ economics in an “uncertain world”. Speaking in Kolkata after receiving an Honorary Doctorate from IIM-Calcutta, he stressed the importance of diversifying India’s supply sources to safeguard national interests.
“This is an era where politics increasingly trumps economics and that is not a pun. In an uncertain world, it is all the more important that we continuously diversify supply sources to guarantee our national needs,” he stated.
His comments come against the backdrop of recent trade disputes and steep US tariffs, including a 50 per cent rate on Indian imports levied by US President Donald Trump.
Jaishankar highlighted the evolving nature of Washington’s policy. “The United States, long the underwriter of the contemporary system, has set radically new terms of engagement. It is doing so by dealing with countries on a one-on-one basis,” he said.
India and the US are currently negotiating two parallel tracks—one to address tariff issues and another aimed at establishing a comprehensive trade agreement.
While both sides hope to expand trade volumes and resolve long-standing market access barriers, tensions persist.
Nevertheless, recent data shows India’s exports to the US have declined less than expected.
Officials say India has “avoided the worst impact of the 50% US tariffs” and is “ready to wait” for a more favourable deal.
Both nations are working toward a target of doubling bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030, up from the current USD 191 billion.
Washington is pushing for greater access to India’s agricultural and high-tech markets, while New Delhi seeks improved mobility for Indian professionals along with clearer rules on digital trade and data flows.
Jaishankar also addressed the behaviour of other major economies, saying that China “has long played by its own rules” and continues to do so, contributing to a fragmented global landscape.
This uncertainty, he noted, leads many countries to hedge their strategies.
“In the ensuing scenario, other nations are unclear whether attention should be on visible competition or the trade-offs and understandings that punctuate it. Faced with such pulls and pressures of globalisation, of fragmentation and of supply insecurity, the rest of the world responds by hedging against all contingencies,” he observed.
He underscored India’s drive toward self-reliance and a stronger industrial foundation.
“India has been actively pursuing self-reliance and making itself a manufacturing base for industries. India has been making exponential advancements in infrastructure as well as in the latest scientific developments,” he said.
With a third of global production now concentrated in China, Jaishankar argued that supply chain resilience has become more critical, especially as “conflicts and climate events have added to the possibility of that disruption”.
Jaishankar noted that India is narrowing infrastructural gaps through major improvements in transport, energy, and power.
PM Modi inaugurated a 77-foot bronze statue of Lord Ram in Goa, marking the 550th anniversary of the Shree Samsthan Gokarn Jeevottam Mutt.
Lord Ram’s 77-foot bronze statue, world’s tallest, unveiled by PM Modi in Goa Photo : PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday unveiled Lord Ram’s 77-foot-tall bronze statue as part of Shree Samsthan Gokarn Jeevottam Mutt’s 550th year celebrations at Partagali, in Cancona, South Goa. The newly unveiled statue is the tallest in the world, as per the Goa government.
Addressing the event, the Prime Minister also made 9 requests to the people which he termed as 9 resolutions saying the dream of Viksit Bharat will only be realised when we protect the environment.
The 9 Requests Made by PM Modi Are:
To conserve water
To plant trees
Cleanliness mission
Adopt Swadeshi
Desh Darshan – We must strive to understand the different parts of the country
Make natural farming a part of our lives
To adopt a healthy lifestyle, increase millets and reduce the amount of oil in our food by 10 per cent.
Embrace yoga and sports
Help the poor in some way or another
During the occasion, PM Modi said that India is witnessing a “cultural renaissance”, and the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the Kashi Vishwanath Dham, and expansion of the Mahakal Mahalok in Ujjain reflect the “awakening” of the nation.
“The restoration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, grand redevelopment of Kashi Vishwanath Dham, and expansion of the Mahakal Mahalok in Ujjain, all these reflect the awakening of our nation, which is advancing its spiritual heritage with renewed strength,” Modi said.
This renaissance will inspire future generations to stay connected to their roots, he said.
PM Modi Reflects Upon Goa’s History
Referring to Goa’s history, Modi said there were times when Goa’s temples and local traditions had to face destruction.
“It was the time when the language and cultural identity came under pressure. But these circumstances could not weaken the spirit, instead, they contributed to determination,” he said.
“This is the uniqueness of Goa. Its culture has preserved its core essence through every change and has also revived itself with time,” the prime minister added.
Lauding the Mutt, Modi said over the past 550 years, this institution has endured “countless cyclones” of time.
“Eras changed, periods changed, many transformations occurred in the country and society, but amidst changing eras and challenges, the Mutt did not lose its direction; rather, it emerged as a centre that provides direction to people, and this is its greatest identity,” he said.
The path to “Viksit Bharat” (developed India) passes through unity, the prime minister said, adding, “When society comes together, when every region and every section stands united, only then a nation makes great strides.”
The mission of the Shri Samsthan Gokarn Jeevottam Mutt is to connect people’s hearts and build a bridge between tradition and modernity, the PM said. “Therefore, in the journey of developed India, the Mutt plays a key and central role,” he added.
The PM also inaugurated a theme park based on Ramayana on this occasion, and said the new additions will become permanent centres of meditation, inspiration and devotion for the coming generations.
“Being in the company of sadhus and saints is a spiritual experience,” said Modi, who also visited the temple on the mutt premises.
Amit Shah attends the 60th All India Conference of Director Generals in Raipur. PM Modi to chair, focusing on Viksit Bharat, security, and innovation in policing from Nov 28-30.
The Union Home Minister expressed confidence that the country will be completely free from the problem of Naxalism before the next DGsP/IGsP conference. (PIB)
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the three-day 60th DGsP/IGsP Conference in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur and said that the government is on course to eliminate Naxalism nationwide before the next conference of Directors General and Inspectors General of Police.
In his address, Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the DGP/IGP Conference has emerged as a forum for resolving problems, challenges and strategies related to the internal security of the country, from policy formulation to policy resolution.
#WATCH | Union Home Minister Amit Shah attends 60th edition of the All India Conference of Director Generals/Inspector Generals of Police in Raipur, Chhattisgarh
PM Modi will chair the Conference on 29-30 November. The three-day Conference, from 28 to 30 November, aims to review… pic.twitter.com/HxcNYY9ycr
Referring to the Modi government’s actionable points for the complete eradication of Naxalism, the Home Minister said that the central government has strengthened the security cordon by building 586 fortified police stations in the last seven years and as a result, the number of Naxal-affected districts has come down from 126 in 2014 to just 11 today.
The Union Home Minister expressed confidence that the country will be completely free from the problem of Naxalism before the next DGsP/IGsP conference.
Shah said that the country has been facing the problem of Naxalism for the last 40 years. He said that the Modi government has provided a permanent solution to the problem of Naxalism, North-East and Jammu and Kashmir, which has become a nuisance for the country, and soon they will become like the rest of the country.
Highlighting the achievements of the Modi government, the Home Minister said that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) laws have been strengthened, three new criminal laws have been enacted along with strong laws for narcotics and fugitives.
He said that after the full implementation of the three new criminal laws, India’s policing will become the most modern in the world.
Referring to the Modi Government’s action against terrorism and extremism, Shah said that after the Centre banned the Popular Front of India (PFI), nationwide raids were conducted on their hideouts and arrests were made, which is an outstanding example of Centre-State coordination.
He said that security forces and police are delivering strong blows to extremism, radicalisation and narcotics by focusing on three key aspects: accuracy of intelligence, clarity of objectives, and synergy in action.
While Supreme Court lawyer J Sai Deepak provided a concrete timeline of events, the Pakistan High Commission in the UK claimed that the Indian delegation withdrew at the last moment, lacking “confidence,” even without an iota of proof.
Hina Rabbani Khar was one of the Pakistani delegates, while Sai Deepak was to represent the Indian side.
Did Pakistan walk out of a debate against India at the UK’s iconic Oxford Union even before it started? And did it subsequently pin the blame on the Indian delegation for not showing up when they actually did?
The quizzical turn of events on Thursday was blown open by a tweet from the Pakistan High Commission in the UK, which accused Indian speakers of backing out at the last moment from a debate titled “India’s Policy Towards Pakistan is a Populist Strategy Sold as Security Policy,” thereby handing a “walkover,” as it claimed.
“The Pakistani speakers had already arrived in #London and were scheduled to proceed to #Oxford today. Earlier this morning, however, the Oxford Union informed the organisers that all three Indian speakers had decided to pull out, offering no substantive explanation for their inability to attend a debate they had previously confirmed,” wrote the Pakistan High Commission in the UK.
According to the Pakistan High Commission, the speakers from their side included former Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, the country’s envoy to the UK Mohammad Faisal, and former army general Zubair Mahmood Hayat.
The tweet also listed former Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane, Subramanian Swamy, and former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot among India’s speakers.
Back in Islamabad, Pakistani news anchor Wajahat Kazmi was rejoicing Pakistan’s “intellectual win,” claiming that “the Indian side attempted to offer little-known, lower-tier replacements who did not match the standard of the announced Pakistani panel.”
‘SHAMELESS AND DESPERATE SPIN FROM AATANKISTAN’
Quick to rebut the Pakistani claim of events, senior advocate J Sai Deepak said he had been confirmed as a speaker, with MM Naravane and Subramanian Swamy as the other speakers from the Indian side.
Sai Deepak also posted an email from the Oxford Union confirming his participation in the November 27 event last month.
Dismissing the Pakistan High Commission in the UK’s tweet, Deepak wrote, “Trust the Pakistanis to make a pigsty even out of the @OxfordUnion. And as always, they are genetically incapable of being truthful.”
Deepak said he was later informed by the Oxford Union that neither Swamy nor Naravane could attend the event, and he was asked to suggest alternatives.
“Before I could get back to the Union with alternatives, they called me to inform that they had reached out to Mr. Suhel Seth & Ms. Priyanka Chaturvedi, and that they had confirmed. I thought that was the end of the matter,” he went on.
However, Deepak was informed that both Seth and Chaturvedi had cancelled “because of the short notice.”
The same was confirmed by the Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, who said that the Oxford Union had actually reached out to her in July and that she had accepted their invitation on the condition that it would not clash with any Parliament session.
“Then they disappeared all this while and mailed me out of the blue on 25th November asking me to confirm my presence, for which they got a stinker from me for their unprofessional conduct and I refused to be party to such pathetic management. Shameless and desperate spin once again from Aatankistan,” Chaturvedi clarified on X.
Despite the odds stacked against him, Deepak went to the UK and even managed to put together a team comprising Manu Khajuria and Pt Satish K Sharma, who are based in the UK, at the last moment.
Deepak then pointed out that three hours before the debate dinner, he received a call from the Union informing him that the debate had been cancelled because the Pakistani side hadn’t arrived in the UK.
“Obviously, I was unhappy given the time & effort that had gone into this. I conveyed my displeasure at the abysmal handling of the event,” Deepak wrote.
Deepak even shared his call log on his X thread to show that he had received a call from the organiser, Moosa Harraj, who was apologising for cancelling at the last moment.
Airbus has warned that intense solar radiation could affect flight-control data in A320 aircraft, forcing IndiGo, Air India and Air India Express to ground dozens of planes for urgent software and hardware fixes.
Air India said parts of its A320 fleet will undergo software and hardware realignment.
Air carriers IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express are bracing for widespread flight disruptions after Airbus warned that intense solar radiation could corrupt data used by flight-control systems in A320-family jets.
According to sources cited by news agency PTI, between 200 and 250 aircraft in India require immediate software updates or hardware realignments, forcing airlines to ground planes as engineers carry out the fixes.
The warning stemmed from an Airbus analysis of a recent A320 incident abroad, where the aircraft briefly pitched down due to a suspected malfunction in an Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC).
In response, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive instructing carriers to install serviceable ELAC units before the next flight of any affected aircraft. ELAC systems manage key flight-control functions.
India operates roughly 560 A320 family aircraft, and nearly half may need intervention. With so many jets headed for inspection, officials are preparing for a sizeable operational hit across major airlines.
IndiGo said on Saturday that it is aware of the notification issued by Airbus, the manufacturer of the majority of its fleet, regarding A320 family planes.
“Airbus has issued a technical advisory for the global A320 fleet. We are proactively completing the mandated updates on our aircraft with full diligence and care, in line with all safety protocols. While we work through these precautionary updates, some flights may see some slight schedule changes,” the airline said.
In a statement, Air India Express said, “We have initiated immediate precautionary action in response to an alert requiring a software fix on the Airbus A320 fleet. While a majority of our aircraft are not impacted, the guidance applies to operators worldwide and may result in adjustments to flight operations, including potential delays or cancellations.”
Air India, in a separate post on X, said parts of its A320 fleet will undergo software and hardware realignment, which will lengthen turnaround times.
“This will result in a software/hardware realignment on a part of our fleet, leading to longer turnaround time and delays to our scheduled operations. Air India regrets any inconvenience this may cause to passengers till the reset is carried out across the fleet,” the airline said.
However, none of the three carriers disclosed how many aircraft were impacted.
A320-family jets — A319s, A320ceo/neos and A321ceo/neos — form the backbone of India’s domestic network, so even a brief wave of groundings is expected to disrupt thousands of passengers each day.
Airbus acknowledged that the required fixes will disrupt airline operations but said precautions are necessary.
“Airbus has consequently identified a significant number of A320 family aircraft currently in service that may be impacted. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and will work closely with operators, while keeping safety as our number one and overriding priority,” the company said.
The aircraft maker said it has been working with aviation regulators to request immediate precautionary action through an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT), enabling airlines to deploy software and hardware protections and keep their fleets safe to fly.
Nikhil Kamath dropped a black-and-white teaser hinting at Elon Musk’s upcoming appearance on his WTF podcast.
The 39-second video captures Nikhil Kamath and Elon Musk casually sipping coffee and laughing their hearts out.
Zerodha founder Nikhil Kamath has officially confirmed that Elon Musk will feature on an upcoming episode of his wildly popular ‘WTF’ podcast and this revelation has sent social media into a frenzy. The news came via a sleek, black-and-white teaser shared on social media, giving fans their first glimpse of the duo together.
The 39-second-long clip shows Musk and Kamath in what appears to be a factory setting, casually sipping coffee and exchanging glances before bursting into laughter.
Accompanying the clip was a playful caption that read, “Caption this”, with Musk tagged directly, teasing viewers about his appearance on the next episode of “WTF is?”. Take a look:
At the time of writing this report, the post had already racked up 3.3 million views, 33,000 likes and over 3,100 comments.
The teaser sparked a flurry of reactions on social media, though not everyone was convinced it was real, with many commenters speculating that the highly polished footage could have been generated using artificial intelligence. One person even commented simply, “Is this AI?”
Additionally, fans also began speculating about the topics the two titans might discuss, from technology and space exploration to business insights and perhaps even some surprises.
Others responded with humor and excitement. Memes and jokes flooded X (formerly Twitter), with one fan quipping, “We got Elon Musk and Nikhil’s podcast before GTA VI.” Another praised Kamath’s growing influence, writing, “Dude, your podcast is like one of the most influential globally.”
Predicting digital chaos, one fan declared, “The internet is going to break,” while another added, “At this pace, even God may soon get a request from Nikhil Kamath’s team.”
Kamath’s ‘WTF’ podcast has become a magnet for some of the world’s most high-profile figures. Past guests include Microsoft founder Bill Gates, biotech pioneer Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, industrialist Kumar Birla, Perplexity AI’s Aravind Srinivas, and venture capitalist Vinod Khosla.
The United States is preparing one of the most significant changes to graduate lending in more than a decade. The new framework will reshape borrowing limits, programme categories and access to federal loans for thousands of students.
The new framework will reshape borrowing limits, programme categories and access to federal loans for thousands of students.
The United States government is preparing for a major shift in how graduate and professional students borrow money for higher education.
The administration, led by President Donald Trump, plans to introduce new federal loan limits from July 1, 2026, marking one of the most significant adjustments to graduate lending rules in years. The changes are designed to redefine how much students may borrow and which programmes qualify for the highest borrowing caps.
Under the new proposal, undergraduate loan rules remain unchanged. Dependent undergraduate students will continue to access up to USD 7,500 per year depending on their class level. The more substantial changes target graduate and professional students, who will face newly defined ceilings.
Graduate students may borrow up to USD 20,500 annually, capped at USD 100,000 in total, while students enroled in programmes classified as professional may access up to 50,000 dollars per year, with a total limit of 200,000 dollars. Graduate PLUS loans, which previously allowed borrowing up to the full cost of attendance, will be discontinued.
At the core of this reform is a critical definition: what counts as a professional degree.
Under the Department of Education’s criteria, a professional degree must represent completion of all requirements necessary to begin practice in a specific profession and demonstrate skills beyond those expected at the bachelor’s level.
FIELDS AUTOMATICALLY ELIGIBLE FOR HIGHER LIMITS
Using this definition, the department has identified 11 fields that automatically qualify for the higher borrowing ceiling reserved for professional degrees. These programmes typically require doctoral-level credentials and prepare students for licenced practice.
MORE FIELDS MAY QUALIFY
Beyond these 11 areas, the department has noted that more than 40 additional fields may qualify if they meet specific standards related to licensure, skill level, and doctoral pathways.
Institutions will hold responsibility for determining whether individual programmes satisfy the criteria, meaning classification could vary between universities.
CONCERNS FROM PROFESSIONAL GROUPS
Several national bodies have raised concerns about exclusions under the proposed rule.
Organisations representing nursing and social work have argued that their fields require extensive graduate training yet fall outside the definition used for higher borrowing thresholds.
They warn this may push students towards costlier private loans and deepen existing workforce shortages.
PM Modi celebrated the emergence of over 300 startups, particularly highlighting the contributions of Gen-Z engineers and scientists who are innovating in various areas of space technology.
He remarked that global companies now want to manufacture satellites in India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday virtually inaugurated Indian space startup Skyroot’s Infinity Campus in Hyderabad and discussed how when the government opened the space sector, the country’s youth, especially the Gen-Z generation, came forward to take full advantage of it. Unveiling the company’s first orbital rocket, Vikram-I, which has the capability to launch satellites to orbit, the PM highlighted the government’s ‘historic’ space reforms that are opening up the space sector to private players.
“Today, over 300 Indian space startups are giving new hopes to India’s space future. Most of these space startups began with small teams, sometimes two people, sometimes five, sometimes in a small rented room, with limited resources but with determination to reach new heights. I had the opportunity to meet them,” he said, adding this spirit gave birth to the private space revolution in India.
#WATCH | At the inauguration of Indian space startup Skyroot’s Infinity Campus, PM Modi says, “India’s youth puts the nation’s interests first. They utilise every opportunity wisely. When the government opened the space sector, the country’s youth, especially our Gen Z, leapt… pic.twitter.com/77156uCM6V
India’s youth taking every new opportunity: PM Modi
The Prime Minister said today, Gen Z engineers, Gen Z designers, Gen Z coders and Gen Z scientists are creating new technologies. Be it the propulsion system, composite materials, rocket stages, satellite platforms, India’s youth are working in areas that were unimaginable a few years ago, he said.
“They utilise every opportunity wisely. When the government opened the space sector, the country’s youth, especially our Gen Z, leapt forward to take full advantage of it. Today, India’s more than 300 space start-ups are giving new hope to India’s space
future,” he said.
The PM said that today in India’s space ecosystem, private sector was emerging with flying colours. Over 300 space startups were giving new hopes to the sector. “The Infinity Campus is a reflection of India’s new thought, innovation and the bigger youth power. Youth’s innovation, risk taking-ability and entrepreneurship are touching new heights,” the PM noted.
“India’s private space talent is making its own identity in the world. Today, India’s space sector is becoming an attractive destination for global investors. Today, the demand for small satellites is increasing rapidly in the world,” Modi added.
He traced the journey of the Indian space programme from its nascent stages– where rocket parts were moved in a bicycle, to building the “most trusted launch vehicle.”
The journey might have started with limited resources but the growth proved determination decides dreams, PM Modi said. In these changing times, space sector is expanding so much, covering the areas of communication, weather prediction, urban planning and national security, among others.
“So that is why we have made historic reforms in space sector, opened it up to the private sector, made new space policy. Startups and industry were linked with innovation, set up In-Space,” he said.
The Assam government has passed ‘Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025’ with strict punishment including jail-term.
Representational image
Assam has passed a bill to ban Polygamy and making it an offence that can lead up to 10 years of jail. Polygamy is a practice of marrying more than one person at a time. In this, a man can have multiple wives or a woman having multiple husbands.
The bill passed in the Assam Assembly prohibits and eliminates practices of polygamy and polygamous marriage in the state of Assam and matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.
The draft law will apply across the state, except in Sixth Schedule areas, and to the members of any Scheduled Tribe within the meaning of clause (25) of Article 366, read with Article 342 of the Constitution of India.
The bill proposed a 7-year imprisonment for any offenders for unlawful polygamy and a 10-year imprisonment for concealing a previous marriage.
Additionally, under the new act, compensation and legal protection will be provided for women in illegal marriages. An offender with repeated violence will face stricter penalties.
“The Gaonburah, Village Head, Quazi, parents or the legal guardians of the contracting party of the polygamous marriage, shall if, dishonestly or fraudulently hides, and intentionally takes part in the performance or solemnization of polygamous marriage, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to two years and shall be liable to a fine which may be extended upto Rs 1 lakh,” said in the bill.
It kept people belonging to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category and areas under the Sixth Schedule out of the purview of the legislation.
What Assam CM Himanta Bisawa Sarma Said on anti-Polygamy Bill
During the passage of the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also holds the portfolio of the home and political departments, said the law is “irrespective of religion and not against Islam as being perceived by a section”.
Speaking at the Assembly after the bill was tabled, Himanta Biswa Sarma cited the example of Turkiye to justify the need for the bill. He said that the bill is “not against Islam” and urged people to back the bill and be a “true muslim.”
“Islam can’t promote polygamy. If this bill passes, then you will get a chance to be a true Muslim. This bill is not against Islam. The true Islamic people will welcome this Act. Countries like Turkey have also banned Polygamy, there is an arbitration council in Pakistan…,” Assam CM said.
“The Hindus are not free from polygamy. That’s also our responsibility. This bill will cover people from Hindu, Muslim, Christian and all other societies,” he added.
Despite the CM’s request to all opposition members to withdraw their respective amendments to send a message from the House that the bill is passed unanimously to empower women, AIUDF and CPI(M) went aheadwith their modification suggestions, which were defeated by voice vote.
Himanta Biswa Sarma on UCC
Talking about the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Sarma said this will be implemented in Assam if he becomes the CM again after the Assam assembly polls next year.
“I assure the House that if I return as CM, the UCC bill will be tabled on the first session of the new government and will be implemented,” Sarma said.
A vehicle registration number, HR88B8888, was auctioned for an unprecedented Rs 1.17 crore, marking the highest price for a number plate in India.
Who Owns HR88B8888, India’s Most Expensive VIP Registration Number
A recent auction for fancy vehicle number plate saw a bidding of Rs 1.17 crore, becoming the costliest ever registration number ever auctioned in India.
The number plate in focus is HR88B8888, which is a Haryana number meant for premium vehicles, sold for a whopping Rs 1.17 crore.
Who Made Rs 1.17 Crore Bid For HR88B8888?
According to reports, a Haryana-based businessman identified as Sudhir Kumar turned to be the highest bidder for India’s most expensive number plate ever.
The Badhra sub-division in Charkhi Dadri district fetched the highest bid amount for vehicle registration number ‘HR-88-B-8888’, official sources on Wednesday said.
According to officials, the auction was made during an online bidding process on the designated portal, with Rs 1,000 as the participation fee and Rs 10,000 as the security deposit.
How ‘HR-88-B-8888’ Will Be Allotted To The Highest Bidder
Officials said that he (the bidder) has five days to deposit the bid money, after which the number will be allotted if the entire process is completed.
What Haryana Businessman Said on Bidding Rs 1.17 Crore Amount
Contacted over the phone on Wednesday evening, the businessman, who is in his late 30s and did not wish to be named, said he hails from a village in Bhiwani district and his family now lives in another Haryana district.
He said that the reserve price or base price for the fancy number was Rs 50,000 and he had not expected to go this far and make the highest bid of Rs 1.17 crore.
“I had not kept any specific amount in mind and liked the number and just went ahead,” he said, adding he has not yet decided the vehicle for which the number will be used.
Asked if he has purchased the vehicle, he said, “We are figuring that out.”
Responding to a question, he said, “I was not expecting that this bid would generate such a hype.”
“We are in the transport business. We also have a software company and we are into developing a transport-related mobile app for commercial transportation and this business is in its early phase,” he said.
Additionally, the PWD and MCD have been asked to sanitise sewer lines that run under and around the monument.
The Mughal monument, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was rocked by a bomb blast on 10 November, claiming 15 lives. (PTI)
A web of more than 200 additional cameras and Under Vehicle Scanning Systems will tighten surveillance at the Red Fort. The decision has been taken following multiple high-level meetings involving several stakeholders, after the 10 November blast, News18 has learnt.
At present, there are over 600 cameras installed within a close radius around the Fort. Officials aware of the developments told News18 that an additional 200 cameras will be installed to strengthen vigil around the monument.
The Mughal monument, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was rocked by a bomb blast on 10 November, claiming 15 lives and injuring around 30. The blast was termed a terror attack orchestrated by Jaish-e-Mohammad in a suicide-style bombing, when an explosive-laden i20 car was detonated in front of the Red Fort.
The investigation revealed that ahead of the blast, the i20 car had been parked in the Red Fort’s parking area for over three hours. It was captured on the CCTV cameras at the entry and exit points, but could not be traced within the parking zone due to a lack of internal CCTV coverage.
However, the parking area will not only get additional cameras now but may soon also receive its first Under Vehicle Scanning System. This will help scan all vehicles entering the monument for any suspicious items.
“The Red Fort and some of its peripheral area fall under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India. Following a detailed survey, the Delhi Police may write to the ASI for technological upgrades as required,” said a senior police officer.
Additionally, the PWD and MCD have been asked to sanitise sewer lines that run under and around the monument. This is to ensure such spaces are not used for any suspicious activity.
With New Delhi recording dangerous AQI levels, the US Embassy has floated a tender for 1,200 boxes of True HEPA filter sets for its Blueair air purifiers.
The US Embassy in New Delhi has issued a tender to procure 1,200 sets of Blueair True HEPA filters amid severe winter pollution.(ANI)
With Delhi NCR recording some of the worst air quality levels of the season, the US Embassy in New Delhi has floated a solicitation for supplying 1,200 boxes of True HEPA filter sets for Blueair 500 and 600 Series purifiers.
Delhi-NCR’s air quality has deteriorated sharply through November 2025, with the city repeatedly slipping into the severe and hazardous categories on multiple days. Against this backdrop, the US Embassy in New Delhi has initiated a major procurement exercise to secure 1,200 boxes of True HEPA Particle Filters for its extensive network of Blueair air purifiers.
The US Embassy in New Delhi uses Blueair air purifiers. While the exact models are not announced, the information in the tender refers to Blueair’s older large-room purifier lineup. It includes models like Blueair 501, Blueair 503, Blueair 510, Blueair 601, Blueair 603 and Blueair 650E. All of them use the same shape and size of filter. The Model-503 is one of Blueair’s most common large-room HEPA purifiers.
The tender request has been issued under Solicitation Number 191N6526Q0002 seeks “competitive proposals” from suppliers for filters compatible with the Blueair 503 model and the broader 500 and 600 Series range. According to the pricing sheet on page 2 of the solicitation, the requirement specifically calls for “True Hepa Particle Filter, (Set of 3), 500/600 Series for Blueair Purifier, Model 503, BLF-500PA” with a total quantity of 1200 boxes .
The procurement document sets a deadline of 30 November 2025 at 2:00 PM for all offers. The tender was floated on 18 November 2025.
While the embassy does not explicitly state the number of purifiers in operation, the scale of the order suggests a wide deployment of Blueair units across embassy buildings, consular sections, residential compounds, and staff facilities. A single box contains a complete set of three filters required for one purifier, which indicates that the mission may be supporting hundreds to more than a thousand air purifying units to counter the sustained exposure to Delhi’s pollution.
Given the recurring winter smog patterns in Delhi, the embassy’s move reflects the growing need for continuous filter replacement cycles. High particulate concentrations cause HEPA filters to saturate far more quickly than their normal life expectancy. With the city’s AQI pushing beyond 400 at times, government offices, corporates, schools, and foreign missions all rely heavily on premium air purifying systems to maintain indoor air safety.
The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered content creator Samay Raina and other comedians to organise at least two events a month to raised funds for the corpus setup for the treatment of persons with disability.
The Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi passed the order in a case moved by the Cure SMA India Foundation for action against the online content that violates the right to life and dignity of persons with disability.
The Foundation accused Raina of making insensitive remarks in relation to the high-cost treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy and ridiculing a person with disability. Other comedians also are facing similar allegations in the case.
The Court noted that in pursuance with the earlier orders, the respondents Raina, Vipul Goyal, Balraj Paramjeet Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakar aka Sonali Aditya Desai and Nishant Jagdish Tanwar, volunteered to hold events to generate funds for the cause. They also sought permission to share the success stories of the differently-abled.
The Court said it was up to Raina and other respondents to persuade the specially-abled persons to join them in their programs.
“We leave it to respondents 6 to 10 to persuade and invite the specially abled persons on their platforms to promote the cause of generating funds to provide timely treatment to specially abled including those suffering from SMA. We are confident that if respondent 6 to 10 show sincerity about showing their achievements.. they will also come on the platform for wider publicity of their cause. We hope and expect that such few memorable events will take place before we hear matter the next date. Let such two programs be held twice a month,” the Court ordered.
Fishermen have been pulled off large stretches of the Bay, multiple districts of southern states are on red or orange alert as officials said that Cyclone Ditwah’s landfall timing will hinge on its shifting track over the next 24 hours.
The storm name Ditwah was suggested by Yemen, likely a reference to the Detwah Lagoon on Socotra Island. (Image: ANI)
Cyclonic storm Ditwah, which grew out of a deep depression near the Sri Lanka coast, is now tracking toward north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and south Andhra Pradesh, according to the India Meteorological Department. Officials said that the system is being treated as a cyclonic storm, with no forecast upgrade to a severe cyclone for now.
Gale winds near the core may hit 60-80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph, while outer bands are expected to deliver 35-45 kmph winds, gusting to 55 kmph. Similar wind conditions are likely over parts of the Arabian Sea close to Kerala, Lakshadweep, and the Maldives. Fishermen have been advised to stay away from large stretches of the Bay of Bengal for the next five days.
Tamil Nadu has issued a red alert for Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai, signalling the possibility of more than 20 cm of rain in the next 24 hours. An orange alert is in place for five surrounding districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Ranipet and Chengalpattu.
Chief Minister MK Stalin met the state’s disaster management authority to assess preparedness and review special measures. Following the warning for November 29 and 30, Stalin has directed all departments to coordinate relief work.
The storm name Ditwah was suggested by Yemen, likely a reference to the Detwah Lagoon on Socotra Island. In the 24 hours before Thursday’s briefing, Tamil Nadu saw scattered rain, with Thangachimadam recording 3 cm, while Puducherry and Karaikal stayed mostly dry.
Overall, the northeast monsoon has delivered around 35 cm so far, slightly above the seasonal average, though Chennai remained 31 per cent below normal. A clear landfall forecast will depend on how the system’s track evolves.
In Andhra Pradesh, the state disaster management authority said the depression over the Southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Sri Lanka coast had strengthened into a cyclone moving north-northwest. Heavy rain and strong winds are expected across South Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema, with the system projected to approach the north Tamil Nadu–Puducherry–south Andhra stretch between the evening of November 29 and the morning of November 30.
Chittoor, Tirupati, Nellore, Prakasam, YSR Kadapa, Annamayya and Sri Sathya Sai districts may face two days of heavy to very heavy rain.
The weather department has also issued an orange alert for Puducherry between November 28 and December 1 under the impact of the merging cyclone. The administration has urged residents to stay indoors unless they have no choice but to step out, warning against taking shelter under trees, lamp posts or inside ageing structures.
Parents have been advised to keep children away from open spaces during this period.
Authorities said anyone needing assistance or guidance can reach emergency services through 1077, 1070 or 112, or contact the disaster management authority on its WhatsApp helpline at 94889 81070.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, is battling the worst of the weather. Continuous rainfall for three days has triggered floods and landslides, leaving 47 people dead. All schools and institutions have been shut, seven districts are under a red alert, and the Air Force has been deployed for rescue operations.
Alert locals rescued a 25-year-old man from a car that sank into a highway-side pond in Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit witnessed a dramatic rescue on Thursday, when alert locals sprang into action to pull a 25-year-old man from a sinking car after he lost control of the vehicle and plunged into a roadside pond.
The speeding Maruti Suzuki Ertiga reportedly veered off the road near the pond and was fully submerged within minutes, as a terrified crowd gathered along the highway.
A chilling video of the rescue, showing bystanders hauling the driver, Shivam, out of the submerged vehicle, quickly went viral across social media platforms.
According to eyewitness accounts, a boatman present at the pond and another young passerby immediately jumped into the water upon spotting the sinking car. Acting with remarkable speed, they managed to retrieve Shivam from the completely submerged vehicle—just minutes before the situation could have turned fatal.
“I was passing along the highway when I saw a car sinking into the pond. Without a second thought, I jumped in and assisted the boatman in pulling the driver out,” said one of the rescuers, Dinesh Kushwaha.
Upon being alerted, City Magistrate Vijay Vardhan Tomar and senior police officer Naresh Tyagi, along with teams from the police and the fire brigade, rushed to the scene. Rescue personnel later retrieved the car from the pond.
“Our teams reached the spot as soon as the information was received. The driver was evacuated, rushed to hospital, and the vehicle has been safely recovered,” a police officer said.
Shivam was swiftly transported to Pilibhit Medical College, where he is undergoing treatment. Doctors described his condition as serious but stable, adding that he had received timely emergency care.
The incident has drawn attention to critical safety lapses along the busy highway stretch that skirts the pond on three sides. Despite being a high-security and high-traffic corridor, the route lacks adequate safety barricades, according to the locals.
The area houses the official residences of the District Magistrate, the Superintendent of Police, a local court complex, and lies close to the residence of state minister Sanjay Singh Gangwar. However, residents argue that the absence of protective barriers around the pond has made the zone prone to recurring accidents and drowning incidents.
Local ward member Sunita Singh accused authorities of repeated negligence, claiming multiple complaints had been ignored.
In Churachandpur, amidst ongoing conflict in Manipur, a young tribal boy exemplified courage at a Territorial Army recruitment camp.
manipur.
In a state scarred by conflict and uncertainty, a quiet moment of courage unfolded today at the Territorial Army recruitment camp. Among rows of determined youths stood a young tribal boy far too small for the oversized dreams he carried hoping that the Army might be the answer his family desperately needs.
With hardship tightening its grip on his home, the boy arrived with nothing but determination in his eyes and the simple wish to lift his helpless family out of financial struggle. His presence at the camp, tender yet resolute, captured both the pain and resilience of Manipur’s tribal communities surviving through one of the most turbulent times in recent memory.
In a region where opportunities are scarce and despair often overshadows hope, this child’s attempt to join the Territorial Army reflects more than just a career choice. It’s a plea for stability, a fight for dignity, and a symbol of how conflict pushes even the youngest shoulders to carry adult burdens.
As the strife in Manipur continues to disrupt lives and tear communities apart, the sight of this young boy stepping forward for recruitment is a powerful reminder of the human stories hidden beneath the headlines of courage born from necessity, of innocence touched by adversity, and of a future generation yearning for peace.
Bengaluru hosts thousands of start-ups, outsourcing firms, and global tech giants from Google to Microsoft.
Bengaluru, home to nearly 12 million people, is known as India’s “Silicon Valley”
In India’s tech capital Bengaluru, the morning “rush hour” lasts so long it devours half the workday, throttling productivity in a city often viewed as the poster child of a booming economy.
Entrepreneur RK Misra, co-founder of a multimillion-dollar start-up, avoids scheduling in-person meetings until nearly noon — then squeezes them in before gridlock returns.
The “situation is pretty bad. And it hurts by not being able to plan your day”, Misra said, describing his gruelling 16-kilometre (nine mile) commute, which can take up to two hours at peak times. “It also discourages people from doing anything other than work, because there’s no work-life balance any more.”
Bengaluru, home to nearly 12 million people and state capital of Karnataka, is the “Silicon Valley” of the world’s fifth biggest economy — hosting thousands of start-ups, outsourcing firms, and global tech giants from Google to Microsoft.
Yet its flagship Outer Ring Road (ORR) business district is clogged with traffic, pocked with potholes, and often flooded during the monsoon. Water shortages plague the summer months.
The roughly 20-kilometre (12-mile) ORR corridor, lined with swanky tech parks, hosts dozens of Fortune 500 offices, and more than a million employees.
Frustration boiled over in September when Rajesh Yabaji, CEO of digital trucking logistics platform BlackBuck, announced he was moving his company out of ORR.
Yabaji said he snapped after the “average commute for my colleagues shot up to 1.5+ hours (one way)”, he wrote on social media, adding that the roads were “full of potholes and dust, coupled with lowest intent to get them rectified”.
‘Now or never’
Pharma tycoon Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder of Biocon, chimed in.
“I had an overseas business visitor to Biocon Park who said; ‘Why are the roads so bad and why is there so much garbage around? Doesn’t the government want to support investment?” she wrote on social media.
Bengaluru had the world’s third-slowest traffic in 2024, according to the TomTom Traffic Index — far worse than San Francisco or London.
Manas Das, of the Outer Ring Road Companies Association, works with city authorities to resolve infrastructure woes for global tech companies. “Companies would like to get the basics right — and today those basics are getting compromised,” Das said.
BS Prahallad, technical director of the government-backed Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited, set up to manage major projects, said an average resident needed 90-100 minutes to cover 16 kilometres.
“Something has to be done, now or never,” he told AFP. “The next step is, we will decay.”
Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar wrote last month on X that “10000+ potholes” had been identified, with half fixed so far. “Instead of tearing Bengaluru down, let’s build it up — together,” he said.
“The world sees India through Bengaluru, and we owe it to our city to rise united!”
Borrowing a page from London’s playbook, authorities have also decided to split the municipal corporation into five smaller bodies and set up an overarching Greater Bengaluru Authority.
Shivakumar said this move would “transform the way Bengaluru is planned and governed”.
‘Choking on pollution’
The southern Indian city was not always an overrun metropolis. Once part of the erstwhile princely state of Mysore, it was known as “garden city” or a “pensioner’s paradise”.
India’s software boom kicked off in the 1990s, with outsourcing companies striking gold. Waves of investment since then from Silicon Valley companies and start-ups helped quadruple the state’s software exports from 2014 to 2024 to $46 billion.
Venture capitalist TV Mohandas Pai, former chief financial officer of Indian IT giant Infosys, said the city’s infrastructure was “possibly three to five years behind”.
Rapid expansion clogged waterways, cut trees, and filled wetlands, straining the infrastructure, ecologist Harini Nagendra said. “We have flooding because water has no place to go, drought because the water is not infiltrating into the ground,” she said.
“People are choking on pollution, choking on the concrete — and all the dust that comes with the construction, traffic, smog, heatwaves,” she added.
The Cabinet on Wednesday cleared a Rs 7,280-crore rare earth permanent magnet (REPM) scheme to cut import dependence on China. The 7-year plan isn’t just crucial for the EV, wind energy, electronics and defence sectors, it will help New Delhi geopolitically.
With the Rs 7,280-crore scheme, India will not only establish a long-term rare earths ecosystem, it will also escape China’s chokehold. (Image: Getty Images/File)
It is that crucial component of an electric vehicle (EV) that you do not see. It is also at the heart of the F-35 that scares enemies from the sky. From wind turbines to smartphones to laptops, we depend on rare earth magnets for everyday products without even realising. The next phase of the world’s growth depends on these rare earth magnets, and on Wednesday, India unveiled a Rs 7,280-crore plan to boost their domestic production.
China has a near-monopoly on the production of rare earth magnets. Beijing controls around 90% of the global market, a dominance it uses to gain geopolitical advantage. The government’s Rs 7,280-crore plan comes at a time when China’s tighter export norms on rare earths are set to heighten supply challenges for Indian industries.
The scheme was approved by the Union Cabinet for establishing a complete domestic manufacturing ecosystem for rare earth permanent magnets (REPM), a material on which India currently has near-total import dependence.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and is a push for the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
WHAT IS INDIA’S RARE EARTH PERMANENT MAGNETS SCHEME ALL ABOUT?
The initiative aims to establish a domestic supply chain that transforms NdPr (neodymium–praseodymium) oxide into high-performance sintered NdFeB (neodymium–iron–boron) magnets, that are used heavily for electric vehicles (EVs), wind turbines, defence applications, consumer electronics and medical imaging equipment.
A release by the government’s PIB mentioned that with this initiative, India will establish its first-ever integrated REPM manufacturing facilities. The government has set a target of achieving 6,000 MTPA of REPM manufacturing facilities.
The PIB release also mentioned that the scheme will be rolled out over the next seven to ten years through a combination of capital subsidies, viability gap funding and production-linked incentives.
The scheme will support the creation of integrated REPM manufacturing facilities, involving conversion of rare earth oxides to metals, metals to alloys, and alloys to finished REPMs.
Rare earth permanent magnets are the strongest commercially available magnets and have no viable substitutes in most high-performance applications. A typical mid-size electric car requires 1-2 kg of NdFeB magnets, while a single 3-MW offshore wind turbine needs around 600 kg.
With India targeting 30% electric vehicle penetration by 2030 and aggressively expanding renewable energy capacity, demand for these magnets is expected to grow exponentially within the next decade.
At present, India imports most of its rare earth requirements, with China accounting for over 90% of global refined magnet production and around 70% of mined output.
MOST VIABLE SOURCES OF RARE EARTH MINERALS ARE IN SOUTH INDIA
Despite possessing the world’s fifth-largest rare earth reserves of approximately 6.9 million tonnes of rare earth oxide equivalent, India contributes barely 1% to global production.
India’s recoverable resources are primarily locked in the southern states. Kerala hosts the richest monazite belts, particularly along the Kollam-Alappuzha-Kanyakumari stretch, where Indian Rare Earths Limited operates major plants at Chavara and Manavalakurichi.
Monazite is a reddish-brown phosphate mineral rich in rare earth elements (such as cerium, lanthanum, and neodymium) and thorium, commonly found in beach and river sands.
Odisha’s Ganjam, Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts, especially the Chatrapur mineral sand belt, are estimated to hold over three million tonnes of heavy mineral resources.
Andhra Pradesh’s coastal zones in Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and the Krishna-Godavari region, along with Tamil Nadu’s Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts, are the other key locations.
However, smaller occurrences have been reported in Rajasthan, Bihar and Jharkhand also.
WHY IS IT DIFFICULT TO EXTRACT RARE EARTH ELEMENTS?
Extracting and processing rare earth elements is difficult as monazite contains thorium and uranium, and is hence classified as a radioactive mineral, bringing operations under strict oversight of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.
Separating the 17 individual rare earth elements requires hundreds of stages of solvent extraction, consumes large quantities of acids and generates substantial volumes of toxic and radioactive waste. Producing one tonne of rare earth oxide can leave behind 70–100 tonnes of hazardous tailings.
The programme will be jointly overseen by the Department of Atomic Energy, Ministry of Mines and NITI Aayog.
In the ongoing ₹252-crore drugs case, social media influencer Orhan Awatramani, popularly known as Orry, appeared before the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of Mumbai Crime Branch, Ghatkopar Unit on Wednesday. Orry arrived around 1:30 p.m. and left the ANC office at 9:00 p.m., after nearly 7.5 hours of interrogation.
Orry leaves ANC Ghatkopar office after 7.5 hours of questioning | Instagram and IANS
In the ongoing ₹252-crore drugs case, social media influencer Orhan Awatramani, popularly known as Orry, appeared before the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of Mumbai Crime Branch, Ghatkopar Unit on Wednesday. Orry arrived around 1:30 p.m. and left the ANC office at 9:00 p.m., after nearly 7.5 hours of interrogation.
Second Summons Issued After Earlier Postponement
The ANC had issued a second summons to Orry for questioning today. He was earlier summoned on November 20, but had informed officers that he would be unavailable until November 25. Following this, a fresh summons was issued, compelling him to appear on November 26.
Mumbai, Maharashtra: Social media influencer Orry leaves after being questioned in connection with a ₹252-crore drugs case by the Mumbai Crime Branch’s Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) Ghatkopar Unit pic.twitter.com/WIDhSBfMGj
Mumbai, Maharashtra: Social media influencer Orry appeared at the Mumbai Crime Branch’s Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) Ghatkopar Unit on Tuesday for questioning in connection with a ₹252-crore drugs case. pic.twitter.com/pEVd67jnjB
Orry Leaves After Hours Of Questioning; Kapoor Also Interrogated
After extensive questioning by the Ghatkopar ANC, Orry walked out of the office at night without speaking to the media. On Tuesday, November 25, in the same ₹252-crore drugs case, the Ghatkopar ANC unit interrogated Bollywood actor Siddhanth Kapoor for nearly 5 hours.
India celebrates Constitution Day on November 26, honouring the adoption of its Constitution in 1949. The Constitution, the longest written in the world, originally comprised 395 Articles and was meticulously handwritten.
President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Union Minister JP Nadda read the Preamble of the Indian Constitution during Constitution Day celebrations at Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (PTI Photo/Kamal Kishore)
India marks Constitution Day on November 26, commemorating the adoption of the nation’s guiding document in 1949. As the country reflected on the legacy of the Constitution and its journey from a handwritten manuscript to the backbone of the world’s largest democracy, President Droupadi Murmu highlighted its role in shaping national identity, strengthening institutions, and moving India away from a colonial mindset.
Interesting Facts About the Constitution of India
-Constitution Day, or Samvidhan Divas, is observed every year on November 26 to mark the adoption of the Constitution in 1949.
-The Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950.
-Over 53,000 citizens watched the Constituent Assembly debates from the visitors’ gallery during the nearly three-year drafting process.
-India has the world’s lengthiest written Constitution, originally containing 395 Articles, 22 Parts, and 8 Schedules.
-The Constitution was handwritten, not printed, with 90,000 words, in both English and Hindi.
-It was crafted by artists of Shantiniketan under the guidance of Nandalal Bose, with calligraphy by Prem Behari Narain Raizada in Delhi.
-The original copies are preserved in nitrogen-filled glass receptacles in the Parliament Library, created with the help of the National Physical Laboratory and the Getty Conservation Institute, USA.
-Each part of the Constitution opens with artwork depicting episodes from Indian history, designed by Nandalal Bose.
-The 22 illustrations portray scenes from Mohenjo-Daro, Vedic times, the Maurya and Gupta periods, the Mughal era, and the freedom movement.
-284 members of the Constituent Assembly signed the Constitution on January 24, 1950.
-On the same day, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was announced as India’s first President.
-The Constituent Assembly had 15 women members, including Sarojini Naidu, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Hansaben Mehta, Sucheta Kripalani and G. Durgabai.
-The National Flag in its present form was adopted on July 22, 1947, just before Independence.
-The first Speaker of the Lok Sabha after India became a Republic was G.V. Mavlankar.
Some More About the Preservation of the Original Constitution:
The Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, and came into force on January 26, 1950, marking India’s transition into a sovereign democratic republic. In the early years, the original documents were kept wrapped in flannel cloth with naphthalene balls.
In 1994, following preservation practices used in the United States, India shifted the manuscripts into a controlled gas chamber created in collaboration with the National Physical Laboratory and the Getty Conservation Institute, US, as per Sansad’s website.
Muskan, accused of murdering her husband Saurabh, gave birth to a daughter named Radha, coinciding with Saurabh’s birthday. Her in-laws have requested a DNA test to confirm the child’s parentage.
Accused Muskan and Sahil (her boyfriend) allegedly drugged, stabbed, and dismembered her husband Saurabh Rajput before sealing his remains in the blue drum. (FIle Image)
Muskan, accused of killing her husband and hiding his body in a blue drum, has named her newborn daughter Radha, even as her in-laws have demanded a DNA test to confirm the child’s parentage. The baby was born on November 24 at Lala Lajpat Rai Memorial Medical College in Meerut, the same day as her slain husband Saurabh Rajput’s birthday.
Dr. Shagun, head of the hospital’s gynecology department, said Muskan would be sent back to Meerut district jail on Wednesday. Jail Superintendent Viresh Raj Sharma said the infant could stay with her mother in the women’s barrack until she turns six. The jail will provide clothes, nutrition, and medical care for the baby, he added.
Saurabh’s brother, Rahul, said he had already sought a DNA test and would move a fresh plea in court. He alleged that Muskan and her lover, Sahil Shukla, killed Saurabh, stuffed his body in a cement-filled blue drum, and fled to Himachal Pradesh.
Rahul also demanded a DNA test on Muskan’s elder daughter, saying the Rajput family would take responsibility for both children only if proven to be Saurabh’s biological offspring. Otherwise, he said, the family would “have no relation” with Muskan or the newborn.
Saurabh’s mother, Renu Rajput, supported the demand, saying the family would accept the baby only after the DNA results.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal questioned the powers given to booth-level officers, who, under the SIR notification, were allowed to effectively decide whether a person was a citizen.
Supreme Court | File Image. FIle pic
The Supreme Court on Wednesday raised sharp questions about the use of Aadhaar during the Election Commission’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR), and asked if a foreigner who has still managed to obtain an Aadhaar card and receive welfare benefits should be allowed to vote.
The issue came up even though the court had earlier directed that Aadhaar card can be added as the “12th document” in the Bihar SIR process. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant asked senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for petitioners, if Aadhaar alone could become an automatic route to voting rights.
“Aadhaar is the creation of a statute. Nobody can dispute the use of Aadhaar card to avail welfare benefits… but does it mean that since he has got Aadhaar, he should be made a voter also?” the CJI asked.
This came after Sibal began arguing challenging the legality of the SIR exercise being carried out by the Election Commission of India (ECI). He said that such concerns might apply to border States but could not applied uniformnly to States like Kerala and Bihar.
The second phase of the SIR covers 51 crore people across 12 States and Union Territories.
Justice Joymalya Bagchi pointed out that the ECI has the authority to verify entries in the voter list, especially when those entries appear doubtful. He said enumeration forms were part of this verification process, and the Commission could not operate like an “inert post office”.
Sibal argued that the process itself was exclusionary. He also warned that millions of illiterate women could be at risk of being left out of the voter list simply because they might struggle to fill out the enumeration forms.
“Any exclusionary step or attempt taken by the EC is against the constitutional scheme… Any exclusion of a name from the electoral roll must follow a reasonable process,” he said.
He also questioned the powers given to booth-level officers (BLOs), who, under the SIR notification, were allowed to effectively decide whether a person was a citizen.
According to the petitioners, the SIR had turned into a form of “citizenship screening”, placing the burden of proof on existing voters.
Justice Bagchi noted that the ECI’s authority to examine documents flows from Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act and Article 326 of the Constitution, which clearly requires voters to be citizens. He said there was always some residual power available to a constitutional authority to conduct a preliminary enquiry.
Sibal clarified that he was not questioning the ECI’s jurisdiction, only what he described as an “unreasonable” and rushed process. He said there was no justification for completing the SIR within two months.
Chief Justice Kant, however, observed that the court could not stop the process simply because of doubts about time limitations. He said that the Bihar SIR had shown that the fears of mass exclusion did not materialise. Only a little over three lakh names were removed, and very few objections were raised.
During searches, police recovered Rs 5 lakh in cash, 171 cheque books, 75 ATM cards, 20 mobile phones, laptops, computers, several passbooks, credit cards and a Hyundai Verna car.
AI-generated image used for representation
A routine investigation by Puducherry’s Cyber Crime Police has uncovered a major cyber-fraud being operated by engineering college students. The probe has revealed that a group of students helped cybercriminals move large sums of money by selling access to bank accounts belonging to friends and classmates.
The incident came to light after two students — Dinesh and Jayapratap — approached the police when their bank accounts were unexpectedly frozen. They told the officers that they had shared their account details with their friend Harish, who later emerged as one of the key accused.
Police soon learnt that Harish had collected more than 20 bank accounts from students and people outside the campus. These were turned into “mule accounts” to route scam money, with investigators estimating that at least Rs 7 crore passed through them.
Seven men have been arrested so far, including four engineering graduates. They have been identified as Thomas alias Hayagriva, Harish, Ganesan, Govindaraj, Yashwin, Rahul and Ayyappan. During searches, police recovered Rs 5 lakh in cash, 171 cheque books, 75 ATM cards, 20 mobile phones, laptops, computers, several passbooks, credit cards and a Hyundai Verna car.
One of the central figures, Ganesan, allegedly handled the conversion of withdrawn money into cryptocurrency. According to investigators, he worked with cyber-criminals in China and transferred the converted funds through Telegram in return for commission payments.
Speaking to NDTV, Puducherry’s Senior Superintendent of Police (Cyber Crime) Nithya Radhakrishnan, IPS, said, “We have been able to apprehend those who were laundering money for cyber-criminals, not merely the account holders. This shows how organised and international these networks have become,” she said.
A senior officer said that there were no names written in the diary entry, while adding that the woman “did not blame anyone”.
Police said that an autopsy has been conducted and the body has been handed back to the family.(HT file photo)
The 38-year-old daughter-in-law of a pan masala company owner, who died, allegedly by suicide, at her home in southwest Delhi, had written a diary entry before the incident.
The diary, which was recovered from her room at her house in Vasant Vihar, mentions “relationship issues”. Police officers are investigating the other entries in the diary.
“In a diary entry, she mentioned issues in her relationship,” a senior police officer aware of the investigating said on the condition of anonymity, according to an earlier HT report.
The officer further said that there were no names written in the above entry, while adding that the woman – the daughter-in-law of the owner of Kamla Pasand Pan Masala – “did not blame anyone” in her diary.
Deceased’s brother alleges ‘torture’ by in-laws
The woman’s brother has alleged that she was being “harassed” and “tortured” by her in-laws and husband. “Her husband used to harass her. We recently learned that he had illegally married someone else,” the brother said.
He further said that the deceased’s family had brought her back to Kolkata, adding that her “in-laws came to take her home.” “They promised to take care of her, but they tortured her. We have been facing these issues since last year,” the brother claimed, and said his sister had only returned because her husband’s family had promised to “fix things.”
He further alleged that her husband and mother-in-law had continued to torture her. The businessman’s lawyer, Rajender Singh, has denied these allegations as “baseless.”
“Her mother has been with us since yesterday. Both families are grieving, and everyone wants her to be cremated with dignity,” Singh said, adding that there was “no note or complaint” against anybody.
The woman lived with her husband and two children. On Tuesday, her husband had gone to the gym in the morning, while her children had left for school.
According to the senior officer, her husband returned home and found her dead in the dressing room in their bedroom. Following this, she was rushed to the hospital, but was declared brought dead, deputy commissioner of police (southwest) Amit Goel said. He added that an autopsy has been conducted and the body handed back to the family.
Major areas in Delhi recorded an AQI above 300, including in Burari, Anand Vihar, Chandani Chowk, ITO, Jahangirpuri and others.
The CAQM revoked GRAP Stage 3 restrictions after Delhi AQI saw some improvements and added that restrictions under the first and second stage of GRAP will be intensified.(PTI)
Delhi woke up to ‘very poor’ air quality on Thursday morning, a day after the Commission for Air Quality Management revoked the restrictions under Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR. The overall AQI of the city at 8 am stood at 351.
Major areas in the national capital recorded an AQI above 300, including in Burari, Anand Vihar, Chandani Chowk, ITO, Jahangirpuri and others.
On Wednesday at 4 pm, the city’s 24-hour average AQI was recorded at 327, falling in the ‘very poor’ category. It was slightly better than Tuesday’s 353 AQI and Monday’s 328 AQI. This made it the 21st day straight of AQI over 300.
The AQI was recorded at 369 in Delhi’s Burari, 390 in Anand Vihar, 348 in Dwarka, 394 in Jahangirpuri, 388 in Narela and 400 in Rohini.
#WATCH | Delhi | Visuals from AIIMS as a layer of toxic smog blankets the city. AQI (Air Quality Index) around the area is 347, categorised as ‘Very Poor’, as claimed by CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board). pic.twitter.com/yndukz4v1y
The CAQM revoked GRAP Stage 3 restrictions and added that restrictions under the first and second stage of GRAP will be intensified.
Forecasts issued by IMD and IITM indicate that the air quality in city is likely to remain in ‘very poor’ category in the coming days.
The the Sub-Committee on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) also made it clear that the construction and demolition sites that were previously issued a closure notice will not be allowed to resume work unless they receive specific order from Commission.
Meanwhile, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Wednesday directed Delhi and NCR states to draw up a scientifically planned greening strategy to achieve long term improved air quality, news agency PTI reported.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of political sabotage after her helicopter was grounded due to lapsed licensing and insurance. She claimed this was an attempt to hinder her outreach efforts ahead of a rally in Bongaon, where she arrived late after traveling by road.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses a rally, at Bangaon in North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal. (@AITCofficial/X) Photo : PTI
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accused the BJP of attempting “political sabotage” after her helicopter was grounded hours before she was to fly to Bongaon. Officials, however, said the aircraft was barred from flying because its licence and insurance had expired.
Banerjee said she was told around 10 AM that the hired chopper “would not fly”, forcing her to cancel her scheduled 12:30 PM landing in the Matua-dominated region. She later travelled by road, arriving late for the rally.
“I apologise for being late,” she told the crowd, adding, “Elections are yet to begin, but the confrontation has already started. Just before leaving home, I was informed the helicopter cannot fly.”
She accused the BJP of trying to block her outreach. “Don’t play games with me. When I play, you won’t even know. You cannot defeat me politically,” she said.
The BJP rejected her charge, calling it baseless.
“These allegations are laughable,” state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said. “If authorities said the helicopter cannot fly, there must be legitimate reasons. She should stop politicising everything.”
Senior officials said the aircraft had not been used by the chief minister for nearly six months and underwent a routine trial flight on Monday. The expired licence and lapsed insurance were not detected during checks, they said.
“The licence lapse should have been flagged immediately. Allowing a trial flight without fully verifying documents is unacceptable,” a senior bureaucrat said, reports PTI, adding the oversight surfaced only on Tuesday morning.
Officials said Banerjee was displeased and sought an explanation. An inquiry has been ordered to determine how the error occurred and why it was not caught earlier.
Mamata Warns Matua Belt of ‘Voter Delisting’ Under CAA, Calls EC a ‘BJP Commission’
Meanwhile, Banerjee accused the Election Commission of endangering voters in Matua-majority areas, warning that individuals declaring themselves foreigners under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act could be “immediately delisted” from electoral rolls. Speaking at a rally in Bongaon before leading a three-kilometre march to Thakurnagar, she sharply escalated her attack on both the EC and the BJP.
Banerjee urged people not to panic as the Special Identification Revision (SIR) of voter rolls continues across Bengal. Claiming that 35–36 deaths, including several suicides, were linked to fear around the process, she said the exercise had turned “chaotic” and warned that the draft rolls would reveal “the disastrous situation created by the Election Commission and the BJP”.
The chief minister alleged the EC had become “a BJP Commission” acting on “instructions from Delhi” and would use “AI as a tool for manipulation”. She said she would support the SIR if carried out over two or three years, questioning why it was being rushed “coercively” ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls.
Sharp Attack on BJP Over Citizenship and SIR
Banerjee insisted no legitimate voter would be removed after the enumeration. “I have come to assure you, not to ask for votes,” she told the crowd. She accused the BJP of using “crores of rupees and all central agencies” to target her but warned she would “shake” the party’s foundation if politically provoked.
Referring to reports of booth-level officers under strain, she claimed 10 BLOs were hospitalised and three had died during the SIR process. She also questioned why the exercise was being conducted in BJP-ruled states if the intention was to identify “illegal Bangladeshis”. “Does that mean there are ‘ghuspaithiyas’ in double-engine states?” she asked.
Matua Politics in Focus
The chief minister reiterated that under the CAA, anyone identifying as a foreigner risks voter delisting. She accused BJP-aligned groups close to the Matua Mahasangha of issuing “misleading certificates” describing people as Bangladeshi till 2002, calling it “a big fraud”.
She contrasted this with certificates from the Ramakrishna Mission, which she said avoid mentioning nationality. “Just because someone speaks Bengali, how are they Bangladeshi?” she asked, adding that she too could have been labelled one had she not been born in Birbhum.
The SIR exercise and the broader CAA debate have deepened political tensions in the Matua belt, where both the TMC and BJP are vying for influence.
BJP Wont Stay in Power in 2029
Banerjee also asserted that she would “shake” the BJP’s foundation if challenged in Bengal, and later escalated her attack by predicting the saffron camp “will not stay in power in 2029”, as Bengal “understands the poll game unlike Bihar”, where the INDIA bloc lost the elections post the SIR.
An Arunachal Pradesh woman, Pema Wang Thongdok, criticised online trolls after facing harassment at Shanghai airport, where she claims Chinese officials detained her for 18 hours.
Indian national Pem Wang Thongdok
The Arunachal Pradesh woman who was harassed in China has slammed online trolls after the Shanghai airport ordeal. She stressed that any action taken by the Indian government is for the good of every Indian, not just her, striking a strong note of unity. Pema Wang Thongdok had accused Chinese officials of detaining her for 18 hours at the Shanghai airport during what was meant to be a three-hour layover while travelling from London to Japan on November 21. The immigration officials refused to recognise her Indian passport, claiming that her birthplace, Arunachal Pradesh, was “part of China,” she alleged.
Last night, Thongdok posted a note of thanks to everyone who stood by her, along with a pointed message for those who allegedly tried to troll her over the Shanghai incident.
“I would like to thank everyone speaking in support of this diplomatic issue, and while I’m new here and not active on X, it’s because I have a very high-profile full-time position working in the financial services and don’t have idle time to answer trollers,” Thongdok wrote on X.
I would like to thank everyone speaking in support of this diplomatic issue and while I’m new here & not active on X it’s because I have a very high profile Full time position working in the financial services and don’t have idle time to answer trollers! The right people get it
“I don’t even live in India so any action that Indian govt takes will be for the benefit & pride of my fellow Indians and Arunachalis living here, not mine. We are one nation we stand for one another (sic),” she added.
Arunachal Resident Narrates Airport Ordeal in Shanghai
Pema Wang Thongdok claimed that she was detained, mocked and blocked from boarding her connecting flight in Shanghai after Chinese immigration officials claimed that her passport was “invalid” because she is from Arunachal Pradesh. Pema Wangjom Thongdok, who has been residing in the United Kingdom for nearly 14 years, was travelling from London Gatwick to Osaka via Shanghai for a holiday. Thongdok claimed that she was denied access to food and was not allowed to leave the restricted area despite having flown 12 hours from London.
She said the trouble began moments after she passed the e-gates and joined the queue for security clearance for her next flight.
Narrating her experience at Shanghai airport, Thongdok claimed that a Chinese immigration official walked up to her, took her name, pointed at her passport and repeatedly said “India, India”, before taking her out of the queue without explanation. She was then taken near the manual immigration counters, where she was told, “Arunachal not India. Your visa not acceptable. Your passport invalid.”
What followed, she said, was 18 hours of confusion and humiliation.
The passenger said that she interacted with nearly 10 different immigration officials, none of whom gave a clear reason for detaining her. At one point, she alleged that officials mocked her, saying she should “apply for a Chinese passport” and that she was “Chinese, not Indian.” She told that the Airline staff of China Eastern joined the laughter and repeatedly sent her back and forth between the transfer desk and immigration desk without answers.
Despite telling officers that she had previously transited through Shanghai without a visa and that the Chinese embassy in London had confirmed that a short layover did not require one, she said officials refused to allow her to re-enter the line or board her flight to Japan.
The situation grew worse, she told, as she struggled to contact family due to slow Wi-Fi and restrictions on Google, WhatsApp and other apps.
“I told them I had transited through Shanghai before without a visa and that the Chinese embassy in London had confirmed that a short layover doesn’t require one, but they still wouldn’t let me go back into the queue or board my flight to Japan. The whole situation got worse because I couldn’t even contact my family – the Wi-Fi was really slow and you can’t open Google, you can’t open WhatsApp or Facebook. I wasn’t given any food and they wouldn’t allow me to leave that part of the terminal, even after a 12-hour flight from London.”
After repeatedly demanding to know the legal basis for the detention and asking for a way to communicate with someone outside, she said that she was finally allowed to use a landline to call a friend in London. With help from that friend, she contacted the Indian embassies in Shanghai and Beijing.
PM Modi recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s belief that rights flow from the performance of duties, stressing that fulfilling duties is the foundation for social and economic progress.
PM Modi paid tributes to the framers of the Constitution.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged citizens to fulfil their Constitutional duties, asserting that these were foundations for a strong democracy.
In a letter to citizens on Constitution Day, the prime minister also stressed the responsibility of strengthening democracy by exercising the right to vote, and suggested that schools and colleges celebrate Constitution Day by honouring first-time voters turning 18.
PM Modi recalled Mahatma Gandhi’s belief that rights flow from the performance of duties, stressing that fulfilling duties is the foundation for social and economic progress.
He underscored that the policies and decisions taken today will shape the lives of generations to come, and urged citizens to place their duties foremost in their minds as India moves towards the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
“Our Constitution gives utmost importance to human dignity, equality and liberty. While it empowers us with rights, it also reminds us of our duties as citizens, which we should always try to fulfil. These duties are the foundation of a strong democracy,” PM Modi said in a separate post on X.
Miss Universe Organisation president Raul Rocha implied Olivia Yacé’s Miss Universe 2025 loss was due to Côte d’Ivoire’s visa issues, sparking backlash online.
Olivia Yacé, who represented Côte d’Ivoire at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant, resigned from the title of Miss Universe Africa and Oceania.
The controversies surrounding the 74th edition of the Miss Universe pageant seem to have no end. With recent resignations of Miss Estonia and Miss Côte D’Ivoire, the allegations about the competition being rigged have resurfaced.
Now, Miss Universe Organisation (MUO) president Raul Rocha, in a heated exchange, has revealed the reason why Olivia Yacé, who represented Côte d’Ivoire at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant, and resigned from the title of Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, did not win the Miss Universe 2025 title: her country needs visa for 175 countries.
MUO President reveals why Miss Côte d’Ivoire didn’t win Miss Universe 2025 title
MUO president Raul Rocha in a livestream — which has been reposted by several pageantry social media pages — seemed really upset with current state of things, and revealed that one of the reasons Côte D’Ivoire’s Olivia Yace didn’t win is because her country needs visa for 175 countries, digging himself into a deeper hole.
According to the Instagram page Miss Updates, who often post news related to the Miss Universe pageant, he spoke in Spanish said the new winner, Miss Mexico, has her over 3 million Instagram followers, is more liked than the previous winners, and even stated how many followers each winner had.
“She’s going to be the Miss Universe who spent a whole year in an apartment because of the cost of the visa process with lawyers,” Raul said during the interview, as translated into English, as per a November 25 report by People. He added: “Some of them require six months notice. The year’s already gone, right?”
How did the internet react?
Fans were shocked by the MUO President’s statement. Someone commented on Miss Updates’ post, “He has just confirmed to the world that Olivia is the real winner.” Another commented, “So judges know who they have to vote to, based on visas????” An Instagram user also wrote, “What he is saying deeply ignorant and insulting not to Olivia but towards all our sister nations.”
The comment got a furious reaction from Miss Guadeloupe Ophély Mézino. She posted on Instagram, “Just landed in Paris. I’m never angry, and I’m not letting anyone disturb my peace. But the visa topic? I’m not even concerned. As a Guadeloupean, I am French. I have a French passport. Did you steal the money of my Afro-Caribbean girls? Did you let them compete knowing they would never win this competition? Did you let them participate just to speak about diversity and inclusion?
You will never hear me rant on social media, because I’m the type of girl who prefers to speak in real life rather than online. Are you trying to find a racist excuse for the fact that you didn’t choose someone who was highly qualified for this job? Do you even read our biographies when we submit all the visa information? My girl has an American passport. What are you talking about? My heart is burning. I don’t like injustice. You said this year: ‘The highest number of countries who have never participated in Miss Universe.’
You steal the money of small territories. You steal the hope of millions of people who don’t understand why they are not in the Top 30, 12, or 5. This is the worst excuse I have ever heard. I have followed pageantry for a decade now. This is a humiliation, a lack of respect for the contestants, the families, the representatives who put so much energy into your brand. How can you disrespect those countries like that?”
Why did Miss Côte d’Ivoire resign
In a heartfelt statement shared on Instagram, Olivia Yacé, who was the popular contender and fan favourite for Miss Universe title win, said she was stepping down to remain true to her values and to continue inspiring young women, especially across the African and Afro-descendant communities.
In 2024, Chandrababu Naidu made the sensational revelation of adulterated ghee being used in the making of sacred Laddu Prasadam at the hill shrine.
Tirumala Tirupati, the home abode of Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy, which is also one of the richest Hindu temples in the world, is now caught in the middle of two major controversies that have shaken both devotees and the political circles in Andhra Pradesh.
‘Laddu’ Ghee Adulteration
In September 2024, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu made the sensational revelation of adulterated ghee being used in the making of sacred Laddu Prasadam at the hill shrine.
Citing the lab report, he alleged that animal fat and fish oil were found in the adulterated ghee. He targeted the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government for the negligence.
The government announced a Special Investigation Team (SIT), and later, the Supreme Court also constituted a team to take up the investigation.
Last week, the CBI-supervised SIT questioned former TTD chairman and YSRCP Rajya Sabha MP YV Subba Reddy for hours over the ghee adulteration racket, which allegedly took place in his tenure.
YV Subba Reddy is also the uncle of the party president and former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Investigators say that between 2019 and 2024, nearly 20 crore laddus were made with ghee mixed with palm oil and industrial chemicals.
However, YV Subba Reddy has denied wrongdoing and accused political opponents of spreading half-baked leaks, but the fact that he was grilled by the SIT has created visible tension within YSRCP circles.
Parakamani Case: CID Turns Heat Up
Another scandal revolves around the Parakamani (donation box) theft. It is alleged that Pedda Jeeyar mutt head clerk and prime accused in the Parakamani case, CV Ravi Kumar, was caught red-handed on April 29, 2023, while he was stealing $900 in cash from donations made by devotees. Later a police complaint was filed. A charge sheet was then filed by the police in a court on May 30, 2023.
Ravi Kumar and his wife, CV Ramya, donated seven properties located in Tirupati and Chennai worth Rs 14.4 crore (market value pegged at Rs 40 crore) to the TTD, which was accepted by the Tirupati trust on June 19, 2023.
On September 9, 2023, a compromise settlement was reached with Ravi Kumar at the Lok Adalat court in Tirupati, which disposed of the case and acquitted Ravi Kumar.
Following a change in government and the TDP coming into power in the state, a fresh investigation was launched.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court set aside the Lok Adalat orders and directed the CID and Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to reinvestigate the case and submit their findings in a sealed cover to the court by December 2.
The CID has intensified its investigation, issuing notices and questioning several former TTD officials.
Among those summoned is former TTD chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, a key YSRCP figure who was questioned in Tirupati on Tuesday. However, he has also denied any wrongdoing, going so far as to call the probe politically motivated.
With both probes intensifying, an arrest threat now looms over senior members of the YSRCP.
A similar incident took place in Haryana’s Bahadurgarh district. Fifteen-year-old Aman was practising at a stadium when a basketball pole fell on him
https://www.ndtv.com/
A 16-year-old national-level basketball player died in a freak accident in Haryana’s Rohtak after the basketball pole fell on his chest during practice. Hardik was practising in the court in Lakhan Majra yesterday when the pole, apparently not planted firmly, fell forward and crushed him. His friends rushed to help him, but the teen could not be saved.
Chilling CCTV footage of the incident shows Hardik practising alone in the court. He runs from the three-point line — the semi-circle with the pole in the middle — and jumps and touches the basket. Basketball players practise this move to improve their scoring abilities.
Hardik completes the first manoeuvre smoothly. He then goes at it again. This time, he clutches the basket’s rim and then, to his shock, the pole uproots and falls on him, its full weight on his chest. His friends and playmates, who must be taking a break, rush to the court. They lift the pole and rescue Hardik, but the damage was done. The 16-year-old sports talent died soon after.
Teen Basketball Player Dies In Freak Court Accident In Rohtak
Hardik’s neighbours said he had been selected for the national team and had recently returned from a training camp. His father, Sandeep Rathi, had enrolled Hardik and his younger brother at a sports club near their home, where they could learn and practice. Police said they recovered the body and handed it over to the family after the post-mortem. A case has been registered.
Shockingly, a similar incident took place in Haryana’s Bahadurgarh district. Fifteen-year-old Aman was practising at a stadium when a basketball pole fell on him. Aman suffered internal injuries and died at Rohtak’s Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, or PGIMS, late on Monday. According to reports, Aman’s family members have accused doctors at PGIMS of not providing proper care to the teenager. Aman was a Class 10 student who recently won a medal in his school’s annual sports event.
The back-to-back incidents and deaths of two promising basketball players have raised questions about public sports infrastructure and its maintenance in Haryana, home to some of the country’s best sportspersons.
Global tech Giant Apple has approached the Delhi High Court challenging provisions of India’s competition law that allow the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to impose penalties on “global turnover” of companies [Apple Inc & Anr v Union of India & Anr].
The petition is listed for hearing before a Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela on Wednesday,
Apple has made the Union of India and the Competition Commission of India (CCI) parties to the case.
The US-based tech company has challenged the 2023 amendment to Section 27(b) of the Competition Act, 2002 and the Competition Commission of India (Determination of Monetary Penalty) Guidelines, 2024, to the extent they introduced the concept of “global turnover”.
Section 27(b) allows the CCI to penalise an enterprises or a group of enterprises up to 10% of the average of the turnover or income of the last three years for abuse of dominant position or for entering into anti-competitive agreements.
The incident occurred around 10 am at the sports ground in Haryana’s Rohtak when the player was practising alone on the basketball court. The accident was captured on CCTV.
The footage shows the player attempting a dunk when the pole collapses, striking him in the chest.
A 16-year-old national-level basketball player died in Haryana’s Rohtak on Tuesday after an iron pole of a basketball hoop fell on him during practice. After the incident, the player was taken to the hospital in critical condition but died during treatment.
The incident occurred around 10 am at the sports ground in Lakhan Majra village, where the player was practising alone on the basketball court. The accident was captured on CCTV.
The footage shows the player taking a lap and reaching for the hoop, appearing to practice a dunk. As he hangs from the pole, the iron structure collapses and the rim of the basketball hoop strikes him in the chest.
Shortly afterward, other players, presumably his teammates, can be seen rushing to help him. The footage shows the player struggling to get up while the others lift the fallen pole off him.
The 16-year-old victim had won medals in several national-level basketball competitions, including the 47th Sub-Junior National Championship in Kangra, the 49th Sub-Junior National Championship in Hyderabad and the 39th Youth National Championship in Puducherry.
The incident has raised concerns over the condition of sports infrastructure in Haryana after a similar case was reported in Bahadurgarh two days earlier.
Operation Sindoor: After India launched Operation Sindoor, Pakistan targeted the Uri hydroelectric power projects in Jammu and Kashmir. However, a CISF team of 19 foiled the Pakistani attack.
Civilian areas in J&K’s Uri were also targeted during Operation Sindoor
It has been over six months since the India-Pakistan conflict, but stories of valour and bravery of the armed forces continue to unravel. Hours after India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, destroying nine terror camps, Pakistan targeted the Uri hydroelectric power projects in Jammu and Kashmir. However, a small band of CISF personnel turned a looming catastrophe into a story of grit.
The incident came to light after 19 personnel of the CISF, which provides security cover to the Uri Hydro Electric Power Projects (UHEP-I and II) along the LoC, were awarded the Director General’s disc for shielding critical national infrastructure and saving the lives of 250 civilians by displaying “exemplary” courage.
HOW URI ATTACK WAS THWARTED
On May 7, in response to the Pahalgam attack, India launched Operation Sindoor shortly after midnight, flattening nine terror camps deep inside Pakistan. The CISF personnel at the Uri plant were put on high aler and directed to switch off the lights.
Hours later, Pakistan retaliated with intense and indiscriminate shelling across the LoC. Pakistan also launched a barrage of drones.
The key target was the Uri hydro plant, located on the River Jhelum in Baramulla district. The plant is located right along the Line of Control. Not only the plant, but also the nearby civilian populations were under threat.
However, the 19-member CISF team, led by Commandant Ravi Yadav, was undeterred. Not only did the personnel neutralise the drones, but they also undertook a massive evacuation operation.
“Our personnel jammed and shot down enemy drones near the main entrance of Uri II project. The larger drones were neutralised by our sister agencies. None of their drones inflicted damage at the plant,” ASI Gurjeet Singh, who was among those awarded, told Hindustan Times.
As shells fired by Pakistan struck nearby residential complexes, the CISF personnel conducted door-to-door evacuation of 250 civilians as well as staff of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). In all, there were zero casualties.
“The only difficulty was waking up families who were fast asleep and did not know what was happening,” ASI Singh told Hindustan Times.
The CISF, in a statement, said the officers carried out a real-time threat analysis, reinforced bunkers, maintained critical communications, and neutralised hostile drones.
“Amid intense cross-border shelling, CISF teams at Uri Hydro Electric Projects displayed extraordinary courage, safeguarding vital national assets and evacuating 250 civilians to safety despite the high risk to their own lives,” the statement further said.
Yamaha’s latest XSR155 combines classic retro appeal with contemporary tech. It’s a daring formula that raises expectations. But does it fulfil them all? Ride into our exclusive review.
We ride the new Yamaha XSR155
It’s worth remembering that Japanese giant Yamaha has its own lineup of legends. Iconic machines like the RD350 and the RX100 still hold a special place in the hearts of riders. After those glory days, Yamaha shifted its strategy and gradually drifted out of the enthusiast spotlight until the arrival of the FZ series and the R15. Those two motorcycles reignited excitement around the brand, spawning multiple hot-selling variants while retaining their own popularity. Now, Yamaha is back with a fresh approach in the form of the XSR155, a motorcycle that wears retro styling but packs a modern, performance-oriented engine underneath. Sounds a bit like the RX100’s spirit returning, doesn’t it?
Yamaha XSR155: Design, features, riding position
Not very many get the retro concept right. The XSR155 though, strikes a fine balance while going modern and retro at the same time. The front end is dominated by a chunky tyre that is shod on alloy wheels. Gold USD forks take centre stage with a cool-looking front fender sitting snug between. The headlamp is a round LED unit with intricate lettering within, announcing that it is the XSR. The XSR features a single-pod all-digital instrument panel, which offers a plethora of information along with Bluetooth connectivity. The handlebar is wide and offers enough leverage. The switchgear is simple but works with precision.
The XSR features a 10-litre fuel tank that features a simple design and classy graphics. The chrome XSR logo on top is a nice touch. The side panels are triangular and remind one of the RX for sure. The tailpiece is a short unit, and an LED taillight sits atop. Indicators are LEDs all around.
The seat is a single unit and offers enough space for the rider. The pillion though, will sit snug. The XSR as it comes off the showroom, does not get a rear grab rail. This also means that the pillion might just rest on the tail light, incurring possible damage.
Seat height of the XSR is 810mm, and riders of most sizes will easily be able to flat-foot. The foot pegs are slightly rear-set set but nothing too aggressive. The wide handlebar falls into the hand easily, and overall, this remains a rather comfortable perch.
Yamaha XSR155: Engine and chassis
Let’s begin with the fact that the XSR uses the same engine as seen on the R15. This motor, going forward, will be the company’s ‘go to’ engine as Indian customers have become a lot more demanding when it comes to performance. The 155cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine then continues to produce 18.4hp at 10,000rpm and 14.1Nm at 7,500rpm. It comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox.
The XSR also uses the same Deltabox chassis as seen on the R15 and the MT15. This perimeter chassis is suspended on a set of USD forks up front and an adjustable monoshock at the back. Kerb weight is rated at 137kg and ground clearance offered is 120mm. A thing to note here is that the ground clearance number issued by Yamaha is calculated when laden, and hence there is little to worry.
When it comes to fit and finish, the Yamaha sure impresses. However, being a naked motorcycle, there are a lot of wires, cables, etc visible. Two modules on either side reside on the top of the frame, and they are quite an eyesore. But all this was otherwise hidden within the bodywork of the R15.
Last but not least, the XSR rides on a 100/80-17-inch tyre up front and at the back, there is a 140/70-17-inch unit. The safety suite on the bike includes dual-channel ABS and traction control.
Yamaha XSR155: How is it to ride?
There is something about this engine that makes me so happy. It is a smooth operator and below 7,000rpm it remains calm almost commuterish. On can trundle along at higher gears without the worry of knocking. There is no vibes to complain about here as well. Twist the right wrist and the XSR starts pulling smoothly but not fast and all of it because of the torque on tap.
But the fun begins when you rev it up to 7,000rpm and beyond. A little display pops up on the instrument panel informing you that it time to “VVA”. The bike screams towards the horizon and the engine note changes. Beyond a certain point one does feel a bit of the vibes but it all comes in as a package of excitement. Cruising at 100kmph is no big deal and the way the bike accelerates, it sure gives a proper thrill. If you remember and have ever experienced the RX, it too used to be a bit sluggish and then when it came into the powerband it would take off. The same sensation comes in here.
When it comes to handling, the light weight of the XSR helps. It changes direction with ease and even corners are dealt with precision. There is something about this chassis that continues to give and that is splendid. Just loved it! Light, nimble and fast! What a concoction!
The IMD said a depression over the Strait of Malacca and a low-pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal will influence rainfall across southern and eastern regions. Heavy to very heavy rain is expected through the week. Thunderstorms with gusty winds are likely in multiple states.
IMD predicts heavy rain across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Andaman & Nicobar Islands as depression and low-pressure area intensify in Bay of Bengal.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday said that a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, parts of Sri Lanka and the Indian Ocean is likely to intensify over the next 24 hours.
The system is expected to bring scattered to dense clouds along with heavy rainfall and thunderstorms over the southwest and central Bay of Bengal, the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, west Sri Lanka and nearby equatorial waters.
If the system does intensify into a cyclonic storm, it will be named ‘Senyar’. The name, which means “lion”, was contributed by the United Arab Emirates under the rotating list of names used for the North Indian Ocean.
As per IMD norms, a cyclone is formally named only when a deep depression strengthens into a cyclonic storm, not before. ‘Senyar’ is the next name in the current roster, and will be assigned once the system reaches that stage.
Currently, the system has a central pressure of around 1006 hPa, which is a measure of the weight of the air above it, with winds of 20-25 knots, gusting up to 35 knots. Seas are rough to very rough in the Andaman Sea, the Strait of Malacca, around the Nicobar Islands, and near Malaysia, western Indonesia, and Thailand.
RAINFALL PREDICTIONS
Meanwhile, the weather department has predicted heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu from November 25 to 30, Kerala and Mahe on November 25 and 26, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and Rayalaseema from November 29 to December 1, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from November 25 to 29.
Very heavy rainfall is expected in Tamil Nadu from November 28 to 30, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on November 26 and 27, and Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and Rayalaseema on November 30.
A neighbour’s pitbull mauled a six-year-old boy grievously, detaching his ear, in Delhi. The pitbull is on the list of 24 dogs that the Centre had in March 2024 banned as pets. The ban has been stayed by the Karnataka High Court. But is banning breeds the answer to stopping attacks by pet dogs? Ultimately, who should be held responsible, and punished?
Less than a quarter of a dog’s behaviour, whether aggression, fearfulness, friendliness, or trainability, is rooted in its breed. (Image: India Today/Vani Gupta)
It was a slow Sunday in the lanes of Prem Nagar in North West Delhi before things turned gory. A pitbull attacked a six-year-old boy, tearing off his ear as the child ran, his hand covered in blood from the bite. This wasn’t an isolated incident of a dog going rogue. Pitbulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, and several other breeds are involved in similar attacks almost daily. So much so that CCTV footage of pets creating panic and chaos surfaces on social media every day. But is it really the dogs that are dangerous? Or the person holding the leash?
Dogs have become a point of contention in India, especially this year—from the streets to the Supreme Court. And it’s only fair to have a discussion on dogs, given that India reports one of the highest numbers of rabies cases in the world. Not just rabies, dog bite cases have otherwise gone up too.
India reported over 3 million dog bite cases in 2023, which rose to 3.7 million in 2024, according to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). This year, projections suggest, the number might cross 4 million.
Surveys over the last five years show that nearly a quarter of dog bites come from pets.
The Centre took note of many such issues, and banned 24 breeds in March last year. But the Karnataka High Court stayed the directive, noting that key stakeholders, such as Kennel Club of India and PETA were not consulted.
But the question remains: are the dogs, or humans, to blame?
IS IT THE BREED AND THE BLOODLINE OF DOGS THAT CAUSES AGGRESSION?
The Centre banned 24 breeds of dogs last year, but the attacks haven’t stopped. And they won’t, because if it were that simple, scientists and canine behaviourists would have come up with a simple formula to make Pitties and the Rotties obey.
Banning 24 breeds specifically, most of which aren’t even common, seems like a move that was taken just for the sake of it. Most people would not have even seen or heard of a Kangal Shepherd dog in India, or a Tornjak, which sounds like an eastern European beast but is surprisingly fluffy and cute, somewhat resembling a Sheltie.
The point is, banning breeds that are either too rare or prohibitively expensive to own is absurd and highlights the lack of any real study or logic. And that’s not even the beginning of the problem.
Banning certain breeds of dogs can’t stop attacks by dogs, because that’s not how dogs, or for that matter, any animal functions. Prohibition means judging a book by its cover.
If the government actually studied dog bite cases from breeds considered calm and “intelligent”, they might have banned Chihuahuas and Miniature Pinschers first. Or ask someone who owns a Spitz or a Shih Tzu that suddenly goes rogue.
There is a scientific reason behind this. Smaller dogs are inherently more aggressive because they have evolved to survive in environments with predators. Yes, they are domesticated now, but their genes remain programmed.
On the other hand, some dogs are massive and intimidating in size, are gentle giants.
Nature doesn’t follow a rulebook, and that logic is vehemently ignored in the move of “banning” dogs.
Labrador Retrievers can go rogue as easily as an Indie. Studies confirm this. According to the Science journal published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), only about 9% of a dog’s behaviour—whether aggressive, fearful, friendly, or easy to train—comes from its breed.
The remaining 91% depends on how it was raised as a puppy, whether it was properly trained and socialised, its unique personality, and how the dog is treated by its human.
This large-scale genetic study by AAAS analysed over 2,000 purebred and mixed dogs alongside 2,00,000 owner surveys via the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ).
And this is just one of at least four similar studies conducted worldwide at the same scale. Combined, none attribute more than 25% of a dog’s behaviour to its breed.
PITBULLS, ROTTWEILERS NEED SEASONED HANDS, NOT FOR FIRST-TIME PET PARENTS
As one would have guessed, experts agree with the study, given their experience with rogue Maltipoos that charge at people walking past and shy German Shepherds that are scared of cats.
Mumbai-based canine behaviourist Shivani Sharma told India Today Digital, “100% of the responsibility [of any mishap] lies on the owner.”
“These breeds [such as Pitbulls and Rottweilers] need seasoned hands to control and look after. They do come with certain breed traits. It’s innate. They are very instinctive, and that is well known today. Plus, irregular breeding without proper checks on bloodlines is producing dogs that act up more.”
On what percentage does a breed contribute to aggression, Sharma added, “It’s a very small number, barely 10–15%. I very rarely come across requests for training Rotties, Pitties, giants like Mastiffs, etc. Most requests are for behavioural intervention after the dogs have already started displaying aggression.”
“What we [behaviourists] have noticed is these breeds often come with a very typical owner profile. Most don’t believe in training, have a macho image to maintain, and take pride in the confidence and aggression their dogs show. A part of training is actually for humans, to debunk their idea of such dogs. Nobody wants to see a Rottweiler who sits on command—they want Rottweilers who are bold and can be paraded with pride.”
Notably, in the latest Delhi case, police learnt that the dog had been brought home around one-and-a-half years ago by a person who is currently lodged in jail in connection with an attempted murder case registered last year. This aligns with Sharma’s observation of owner profiles.
IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES RELATED TO DOGS IS ZERO ON GROUND
Three years ago, an 82-year-old retired teacher was mauled to death by her son’s pet pitbull in the Kaiserbagh area of Lucknow. The Lucknow Municipal Corporation took action against the son and his dog, but only after the damage was done.
Today, three states, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Goa, have implemented bans on “ferocious breeds”. But the reality is that you can buy any breed, even get it imported by big breeders, and no authority even bats an eye.
Since the 82-year-old teacher’s death in Lucknow in 2022, there have been dozens of cases in Uttar Pradesh involving pitbulls and rottweilers. Yet, authorities have never been seen tallying who has a pet licence and who doesn’t.
Interestingly, the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) issued a manual for keeping dogs called Shwan Licence Control and Regulation Bye-law 2003. According to the manual, anyone fond of keeping dogs must mandatorily get a licence after adhering to several conditions. The manual further states that any person shall keep and bind their dog in such a way that there is no objection from the neighbour. Ironically, the neighbour doesn’t mess with you if you own a pitbull.
A few days after the attack in which the pitbull killed the teacher, the dog was returned to its original owner, who wanted to keep the dog. This shows both the intent and the lax attitude of the authorities, despite media attention.
Also, under Section 11(3)(b) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (read with the Animal Birth Control Rules and local municipal laws), if a pet dog bites a person, the owner can face up to three months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Rs 1,000, or both, but this punishment is almost never enforced in practice.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a striking statement in the Assam Legislative Assembly, confirming that the death of singer and music icon Zubeen Garg has been categorised as murder based on ongoing investigations.
Left: Himanta Biswa Sarma Right: Zubeen Garg | ANI
Zubeen Garg’s Death a ‘Clear Case of Murder’, says Assam CM Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on the first day of Winter Assembly session today.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a striking statement in the Assam Legislative Assembly, confirming that the death of singer and music icon Zubeen Garg has been categorised as murder based on ongoing investigations. Responding during a discussion in the Winter Session, Sarma urged political leaders and the public not to interfere with or cast doubts on the process while the Special Investigation Team (SIT) continues its work.
Sarma said there was sufficient evidence to establish that the incident was not accidental. He stated that one person carried out the act while others assisted, and the police have already applied relevant murder charges. The Chief Minister added that four to five individuals have been booked in the case under sections related to murder and conspiracy.
#WATCH | Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma says, “…We are not here to do politics in Zubeen Garg’s name. If you want justice for our beloved Zubeen, please do not try to demoralise the SIT. The day the chargesheet comes, if any advocate says it’s weak, that is a different issue. But… pic.twitter.com/w57LgMsn2c
Zubeen Garg, 52, died in Singapore on 19 September while swimming during a yacht trip linked to the North East India Festival. His sudden death triggered massive public outrage across Assam, resulting in more than 60 FIRs, protests, and widespread calls for transparency. In response, the state government formed an SIT under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. Additionally, a one-man inquiry panel headed by Justice Soumitra Saikia of the Gauhati High Court was constituted, with its deadline for collecting statements and evidence extended to 12 December.
Several individuals linked to the singer and the festival were arrested following the investigation. Those currently in judicial custody include festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, the singer’s manager Siddharth Sharma, band members Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amrit Prabha Mahanta, and Garg’s cousin Sandipan Garg, who is also a senior police officer. The singer’s security personnel, Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya, were also arrested after investigators found unexplained financial transactions amounting to over ₹1.1 crore in their bank accounts.
Sarma stressed that the SIT must be allowed to continue without political commentary or pressure, adding that criticism before the chargesheet is submitted may demoralise the investigators. He assured that the government is treating the matter with utmost seriousness and that the chargesheet will be filed once the investigation reaches its final stage.
“Zubeen Garg’s Unexplained Death & the Government’s Silence and my Stand in the Assam Assembly Today,” – LoP AssamLegislative Assembly @DsaikiaOfficialpic.twitter.com/AQIzuYEGrV
The five-day winter session of the Assam Assembly opened on Tuesday under tense circumstances, as Opposition parties mounted protests over eviction drives and demanded justice in the death of cultural icon Zubeen Garg before the day’s proceedings began.
Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia, CPI-M Sarbhog MLA Manoranjan Talukdar and Sivsagar MLA Akhil Gogoi, rose immediately after the obituary references, urging Speaker Biswajit Daimary to admit their adjournment motions on Garg’s death.
When the Opposition argued that the adjournment motion was vital to determine who was responsible for Zubeen Garg’s death, the Speaker countered that no debate could be allowed as the matter was sub judice.
The motion, brought jointly by the Opposition, was eventually admitted after Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma intervened, requesting the Speaker to allow it.
Daimary was preparing to permit the members to speak on the admissibility of the motion when the Chief Minister stepped in.
The initiative is part of the DDA’s wider effort to activate the Yamuna riverbank with low-impact adventure and leisure activities. The agency has previously added cycling tracks, nature trails and boating facilities across parts of the floodplains.
Delhi Set To Begin Its First Hot Air Balloon Rides After Successful Trials At Yamuna Riverfront; Check Details | X
Delhi will introduce its first set of hot air balloon rides from November 29, after successful trial runs at the Delhi Development Authority’s Baansera Park along the Yamuna riverfront.
Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena announced the development on X, describing the service as compliant with the highest safety standards and operated by a professional, certified team.
Happy to share that the trials for Delhi’s first ever Hot Air Balloon rides, today at DDA’s Baansera Park on the Yamuna were successful. To be run by a qualified & professional operator, the balloon rides meet the highest standards of safety parameters.
The public rollout begins on Saturday, November 29, at Baansera Park, with the DDA preparing to open additional launch points at Asita, the Yamuna Sports Complex and the Commonwealth Games Village Sports Complex over the next few days. Each ride will be tethered to the ground and offer controlled ascents, giving passengers panoramic views of the riverfront and adjoining areas.
Officials said flights will run twice daily, one in the morning and one in the evening, subject to weather conditions. Each session will last between 15 and 20 minutes, carrying around four passengers per basket. The price has been set at Rs 3,000 per person.
The initiative is part of the DDA’s wider effort to activate the Yamuna riverbank with low-impact adventure and leisure activities. The agency has previously added cycling tracks, nature trails and boating facilities across parts of the floodplains.
Safety Protocols, Certified Operators in Charge
According to the DDA, a licensed operator with prior experience in ballooning and aviation-linked recreation will manage the service. The team will oversee launches, pilot the balloons and conduct mandatory safety inspections before each ascent. Officials confirmed that all operations adhere to aviation and operational safety norms.
Saxena, who joined the trial run earlier this week, said the project would contribute to making Delhi a more vibrant city with improved recreational amenities and better use of the redeveloped riverfront.
The arrested Chinese citizen has travelled to Pakistan, and Pakistani, Chinese, and Nepalese currencies were recovered from him, officials said.
According to official, the arrested Chinese national was identified as Liu Qunjing. (Representational)
A 49-year-old Chinese citizen was arrested by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at the Rupaidiha checkpost on the India-Nepal border in the Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh on Monday after he illegally entered India and was allegedly videographing the border area, SSB officials said.
The arrested Chinese citizen has travelled to Pakistan, and Pakistani, Chinese, and Nepalese currencies were recovered from him, officials said.
Ganga Singh Udavat, the commandant of the 42nd battalion of the SSB, told PTI that the officer who arrested the Chinese national informed him that after entering India from Nepal, he was allegedly videographing a sensitive border area.
He added that the arrested Chinese national was identified as Liu Qunjing, a resident of the Hunan province of China.
He allegedly lacked valid documents to enter India. Three mobile phones were also seized from him, and one of them contained videos of several sensitive locations in Indian territory, officials said.
A map of Nepal was found with him. Everything on the map was written in English, but Qunjing indicated through gestures that he knew neither Hindi nor English. The SSB, the police, and other security agencies interrogated Qunjing with the help of an interpreter. The commandant said that the interrogation revealed that the Chinese national had also visited Pakistan. However, he had a visa for that country.
The commandant said that he is being considered a suspect because of his travels to Pakistan, his entry into India without valid documents, his videography of sensitive locations, and his “lack of knowledge” of English during interrogation despite the recovered map being in English.
Udavat stated that the apprehended Chinese national has been handed over to the police. The police have registered a case under the sections of the Foreigners Act at the Rupaidiha police station and arrested him.
Pema Wangjom Thongdok, an Indian citizen living in the UK, faced detention in Shanghai due to Chinese officials deeming her passport invalid because she is from Arunachal Pradesh.
Arunachal Pradesh Woman harassed at Shanghai Airport
An Indian citizen living in the UK has claimed that she was detained, mocked and blocked from boarding her connecting flight in Shanghai after Chinese immigration officials claimed that her passport was “invalid” because she is from Arunachal Pradesh. Pema Wangjom Thongdok, who has been residing in the United Kingdom for nearly 14 years, was travelling from London Gatwick to Osaka via Shanghai for a holiday. Thongdok claimed that she was denied access to food and was not allowed to leave the restricted area despite having flown 12 hours from London.
She said the trouble began moments after she passed the e-gates and joined the queue for security clearance for her next flight.
Narrating her experience at Shanghai airport, Thongdok claimed that a Chinese immigration official walked up to her, took her name, pointed at her passport and repeatedly said “India, India”, before taking her out of the queue without explanation. She was then taken near the manual immigration counters, where she was told, “Arunachal not India. Your visa not acceptable. Your passport invalid.”
What followed, she said, was 18 hours of confusion and humiliation.
The passenger said that she interacted with nearly 10 different immigration officials, none of whom gave a clear reason for detaining her. At one point, she alleged that officials mocked her, saying she should “apply for a Chinese passport” and that she was “Chinese, not Indian.” She told that the Airline staff of China Eastern joined the laughter and repeatedly sent her back and forth between the transfer desk and immigration desk without answers.
Despite telling officers that she had previously transited through Shanghai without a visa and that the Chinese embassy in London had confirmed that a short layover did not require one, she said officials refused to allow her to re-enter the line or board her flight to Japan.
The situation grew worse, she told, as she struggled to contact family due to slow Wi-Fi and restrictions on Google, WhatsApp and other apps.
“I told them I had transited through Shanghai before without a visa and that the Chinese embassy in London had confirmed that a short layover doesn’t require one, but they still wouldn’t let me go back into the queue or board my flight to Japan. The whole situation got worse because I couldn’t even contact my family – the Wi-Fi was really slow and you can’t open Google, you can’t open WhatsApp or Facebook. I wasn’t given any food and they wouldn’t allow me to leave that part of the terminal, even after a 12-hour flight from London.”
After repeatedly demanding to know the legal basis for the detention and asking for a way to communicate with someone outside, she said that she was finally allowed to use a landline to call a friend in London. With help from that friend, she contacted the Indian embassies in Shanghai and Beijing.
Within an hour, Indian officials arrived at the airport, spoke to Chinese authorities and arranged her exit from China. She was provided food and ultimately allowed to leave Shanghai, though only after losing her connecting flight and her holiday plans.
“I have travelled to 58 countries. My Indian passport has always been valid everywhere but apparently not in China,” she said in the video, calling the behaviour of immigration and airline officials “humiliating and unprofessional.”
India Calls It ‘Ludicrous’
India has lodged a strong protest with China. A demarche was issued to Beijing both through the Indian Embassy in China and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in Delhi on the very day the incident occurred.
India’s Consulate in Shanghai also intervened locally, extending full assistance to the stranded passenger until her situation was resolved.
According to official sources, New Delhi made it clear to Chinese authorities that the grounds on which the passenger was detained were “ludicrous” and completely unacceptable.
Arunachal Integral and Indisputable Part, Says India
India reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and indisputable part of India, and therefore its residents are legitimately entitled to hold and travel with Indian passports without any additional scrutiny or obstruction abroad.
The Indian side also highlighted that the conduct of Chinese officials appeared to be in violation of key international aviation treaties, specifically the Chicago and Montreal Conventions governing civil aviation and the handling of international passengers. These conventions ensure that passengers in transit cannot be subjected to arbitrary detentions or discriminatory treatment by host airports.
India has overhauled 29 labour laws into four new Labour Codes, aiming to simplify rules, modernise workplaces and expand worker protections while giving businesses easier compliance and more flexibility.
India’s Labour Reforms: What the New Codes Mean for Workers and Businesses (This is an AI-generated image)
The Government of India has introduced new Labour Codes to streamline and make it more contemporary to create a simplified, efficient framework that promotes ease of doing business while safeguarding workers’ rights and welfare. As per the new labour reforms, the government has now consolidated 29 labour laws into four comprehensive Labour Codes.
The four Labour Codes include the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.
Why This Reform?
The government says these reforms were needed for three main reasons.
First, too many different labour laws made it hard for companies to follow the rules.
Second, several authorities handling the same issues created confusion and weak enforcement.
And third, many labour laws were written before Independence, so they no longer match today’s economy or technology.
Labour Code 1: Code on Wages (2019)
What it does: Sets common rules for minimum wages, equal pay, bonuses and wage payments.
Key Changes
Minimum wages for all: Earlier, minimum wages applied to selected industries. Now every worker, formal or informal, is covered.
National floor wage: The Centre will set a floor wage. States cannot fix wages below it.
Clear criteria for fixing wages: Skill level, region, and nature of work will decide wage levels.
No gender discrimination: Employers cannot differentiate between men, women or transgender employees in pay or hiring.
Universal wage protection: Timely wage payment rules now apply to all employees, not just those earning below Rs 24,000 per month.
Overtime pay: Employers must pay at least double the normal wage for any work done beyond the regular working hours.
Responsibility for Wage Payment: Employers, whether companies, firms or associations, must ensure workers are paid on time. If wages are withheld, the employer or proprietor will be held accountable.
Inspector-cum-Facilitator: The old “inspector” role has been redesigned to focus on helping employers comply with the law. Officials will now guide, advise and create awareness, along with carrying out enforcement.
Compounding of Offences: Minor, first-time offences can be settled by paying a penalty instead of going to court. However, violations repeated within five years cannot be settled this way.
Decriminalisation of Offences: Jail terms for several first-time violations have been replaced with monetary fines – up to 50% of the maximum – shifting the focus from punishment to compliance.
Who benefits:
Workers in unorganised sectors, women, fixed-term workers, and low-income employees.
Who must adapt: All employers — since wage rules now apply universally.
Labour Code 2: Industrial Relations Code (2020)
What it does: Sets rules for trade unions, labour disputes, layoffs, and hiring.
Key Changes
Fixed-Term Employment allowed: Workers hired on short contracts get the same pay and benefits as permanent staff. Gratuity after 1 year.
Re-skilling fund: Workers who are retrenched will get 15 days’ wages for training.
Trade union clarity: A union with 51% membership gets recognition.
Worker definition expanded: Journalists, sales promotion staff and some supervisors now included.
Layoff/closure threshold raised: Factories with up to 300 workers no longer need prior government approval.
Women’s Representation: Ensures proportional representation of women in grievance committees for gender-sensitive redressal.
Stricter strike rules: 14-day mandatory notice.
Direct tribunal access: Faster dispute settlement.
Digital records: Online systems for transparency.
Work-from-home recognised in service sectors.
Who benefits:
Workers needing union clarity, fixed-term workers, retrenched workers.
Who gains flexibility: Employers due to simpler layoff norms and digitised processes.
Labour Code 3: Code on Social Security (2020)
What it does: Extends social security – PF, ESIC, maternity benefits, insurance – to more categories of workers, including gig and platform workers.
Key Changes
ESIC coverage across India: No more “notified area” restrictions; applies nationwide.
EPF timelines fixed: Inquiries must finish in 2 years; no unlimited reopening.
Lower deposit for appeals: EPFO appeal deposit cut to 25%.
Gig & platform workers covered: Aggregators must contribute to their social security fund.
Social Security Fund created: For unorganised, gig and platform workers.
Expanded definition of dependents: Includes grandparents and in-laws.
Uniform definition of wages: For PF, gratuity, and bonus calculations.
Commuting accidents covered: Travel accidents treated as “employment-related.”
Gratuity for fixed-term workers: After 1 year, instead of 5.
Digital processes: Online registrations and inspections.
An IndiGo flight from Kannur to Abu Dhabi was cancelled after being diverted to Ahmedabad due to an ash cloud caused by a volcanic eruption in Ethiopia.
A volcano in Ethiopia north-eastern region has erupted for the first time in nearly 12,000 years. (Photo: X)
An IndiGo flight from Kannur to Abu Dhabi was cancelled after being diverted to Ahmedabad due to ash cloud conditions triggered by a volcanic eruption in Ethiopia.
IndiGo flight 6E 1433, operating on the Kannur–Abu Dhabi route, departed as scheduled but was forced to divert mid-air when volcanic ash was detected along its path. Following standard safety protocol, the aircraft landed safely in Ahmedabad.
Airline sources said that with ash cloud conditions persisting, the decision was taken to cancel the flight. All passengers were provided with refreshments, and IndiGo is arranging an alternate flight to return them to Kannur, the original point of departure.
DGCA Advisory on Ethiopia Volcano Burst
In the wake of the eruption of Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a detailed advisory to airlines and airports:
Airlines have been warned of hazardous volcanic ash drifting into regional air routes and instructed to avoid affected altitudes and regions immediately.
Airports have been directed to inspect runways, taxiways, and aprons if ashfall is suspected, with operations restricted or suspended until surfaces are cleared.
A Volcanic Ash Advisory and ASHTAM have been issued, with dispatchers told to monitor satellite imagery and meteorological data round-the-clock
Airlines must review volcanic-ash SOPs and ensure all flight and cabin crew are briefed as per Operations Manual protocols.
Mandatory rerouting and fuel adjustments are required to avoid ash clouds, while pilots have been instructed to report any suspected ash encounters, including engine anomalies or cabin smoke.
Dispatch teams are on high alert, tracking advisories, NOTAMs/ASHTAMs, and evolving ash movement forecasts.
All airlines have been asked to conduct post-flight engine and airframe inspections for aircraft operating near possible ash corridors.
Safety-risk protocols have been activated, requiring operators to monitor engine fluctuations, cabin odour events, and weather changes affecting ash dispersion.
A rescued Eurasian Griffon vulture named Marich amazed the internet after completing a 15,000 km journey across multiple countries before returning to India. Its remarkable migration sparked widespread awe, curiosity, and humour on social media.
‘Injured’ Vulture Completes 15,000 Km Incredible ‘Solo Trip’ Across Countries, Returns To India (Image Source – @Himanshutyg_ifs/X)
A rescued Eurasian Griffon vulture has become the talk of social media after completing an astonishing multi-nation journey. Earlier this year, the bird—later named Marich—was found badly injured in Nagaur village of Satna district, Madhya Pradesh. It was immediately taken to Mukundpur Zoo for medical attention and later shifted to Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal for continued rehabilitation. After nearly two months of expert care, Marich was finally released back into the wild from Halali Dam in Vidisha on March 29.
15,000 km of Sheer Endurance
Once it took flight, Marich embarked on an extraordinary migration covering more than 15,000 kilometers. Its route stretched across Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan before the bird eventually returned to Indian skies. The vulture’s massive loop through Central Asia stands as a remarkable example of the Eurasian Griffon’s strength and natural navigational instincts.
IFS Officer Tracks Marich’s Incredible Path
Indian Forest Service officer Himanshu Tyagi spotlighted the bird’s fantastic expedition on X (formerly Twitter), sharing a map of its extensive route.
He wrote, “This injured Eurasian Griffon was rescued in January, treated, and released back into the wild in Vidisha’s forests in March. Since then, it has travelled more than 15,000 km, journeying across multiple countries all the way to Kazakhstan, and has now returned to India. The world truly feels small for these birds.”
This injured Eurasian Griffon was rescued in January, treated, and released back into the wild in Vidisha’s forests in March. Since then, it has travelled more than 15,000 km, journeying across multiple countries all the way to Kazakhstan, and has now returned to India.
The revelation of Marich’s successful migration sparked a wave of reactions online.
One user commented, “Nature at its finest. A rescued bird soaring across nations and returning home almost poetic!”
Another wondered, “Interesting to know what is the average life of these birds.”
Someone else reflected on the vulture’s instincts, saying, “It’s truly amazing how these animals have only one law, the law of hunger – when they prey on others – but at other times they are ‘free birds’ (pun unexpected but happened).”
As Delhi grapples with a severe pollution crisis, a viral post by a London-based tech professional has reignited the debate around the city’s worsening air quality. The NRI, who grew up in the capital, shared a post on his X handle, describing how his recent visit left him shocked, sick, and desperate to leave.
‘Can Feel Pollution Entering My Body’: NRI Reacts After Re-visiting Delhi, Urges People To ‘Leave’ City | X @kunalstwt
As Delhi grapples with a severe pollution crisis, a viral post by a London-based tech professional has reignited the debate around the city’s worsening air quality. The NRI, who grew up in the capital, shared a post on his X handle, describing how his recent visit left him shocked, sick, and desperate to leave.
In his post, he urged residents to “leave Delhi, go in debt if you have to,” calling the situation nothing short of a health emergency. The techie wrote that although he had lived in Delhi for years and was aware of its pollution problem, he never truly comprehended the severity until he experienced it after living abroad. “I used to think, how bad can the AQI really be? I grew up here, studied here, and never felt a huge difference,” he noted, adding that the sight of people jogging or walking without masks once made him believe the situation was manageable.
Leave Delhi, go in debt if you have to.
I used to think, how bad can the AQI really be for people in Delhi? I knew it was bad, but I never understood the scale because I didn’t feel it as drastically. I grew up in Delhi, studied here, and never felt a huge difference. You see… pic.twitter.com/OV5RVE351C
But his perception changed drastically the moment he landed in Delhi after years of breathing clean air in London. “I could literally taste and smell the pollution,” he wrote. Even at AQI 200, a level many Delhi residents consider ‘normal’, he felt a sore throat, irritation, and what he described as “needles in my lungs.” He claimed he could “feel the pollution entering” his body with every breath.
PM Modi will hoist a saffron flag atop the temple’s spire, a moment many are calling a symbolic ‘second pran pratishtha’ after the consecration of Ram Lalla in January 2024. The event signifies the final declaration that the decades-awaited Ram Mandir is now fully complete.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Ayodhya on Tuesday for a historic ceremony marking the formal completion of the Ram Temple. He will hoist a saffron flag atop the temple’s spire, a moment many are calling a symbolic ‘second pran pratishtha’ after the consecration of Ram Lalla in January 2024.
The event signifies the final declaration that the decades-awaited Ram Mandir is now fully complete. With thousands of devotees arriving and extensive security measures in place, Ayodhya has been transformed with grand decorations, setting the stage for what is expected to be one of the most important spiritual events of the year.
#Watch | PM @narendramodi will visit the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya on 25th November for a landmark socio-cultural and spiritual moment. PM Modi will ceremonially hoist the saffron flag atop the temple’s Shikhar. #ayodhyarammandirpic.twitter.com/TjyAuJm0IY
Here Are Top 10 Points About The Mega Event At Ayodhya Ram Temple:
1. Flag Hoisting Ceremony:
PM Modi will hoist a right-angled triangular saffron flag, measuring 10 ft by 20 ft, atop the Ram Temple spire today at noon.
2. Symbolic Elements Of The Flag:
The flag carries a radiant Sun representing Lord Rama’s brilliance, an ‘Om’ inscription and the Kovidara tree symbol, adding deep spiritual meaning.
3. Completion Of The Temple:
The hoisting formally marks the completion of the Ram Mandir after the installation of Ram Lalla in the garbhagriha in January 2024.
On the historic and blessed occasion of the flag-hoisting atop the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is presenting a magnificent Mangal-Svasti Gaan. It’s a musical offering crafted to fill the entire atmosphere with spiritual radiance.… pic.twitter.com/DvV1jz1IJr
— Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra (@ShriRamTeerth) November 24, 2025
4. Massive Security Deployment:
Ayodhya has heightened security with 6,970 personnel, including ATS commandos, NSG snipers, cyber teams and technical units.
5. Huge Devotee Influx:
Large numbers of devotees, both domestic and international, have already reached the temple for ‘darshan,’ with huge crowds expected on the event day.
6. Architectural Highlights:
The flag will be placed on a shikhar built in traditional Nagara style, while the surrounding 800-metre Parkota showcases diverse temple architecture.
7. Cultural & Spiritual Message:
The Prime Minister’s Office states the saffron flag symbolises dignity, unity, cultural continuity and the ideals of Ram Rajya.
Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh: Morning visuals show devotees gathering at the Shri Ram Mandir gate ahead of the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. pic.twitter.com/RVDZDV0FZn
PM Modi will visit the Saptmandir complex, which includes temples of sages such as Vashishtha, Vishwamitra, Agastya, Valmiki, Devi Ahilya, Nishadraj Guha and Mata Shabari.
The Bombay High Court gave a man two weeks’ time after he allegedly abandoned his 76-year-old mother at a hospital in Mumbai, an act for which an FIR had been filed against him.
A Bombay High Court bench of Justices AS Gadkari and RR Bhonsale also sought suggestions as to what steps can be taken in the case. (Representative image)
The Bombay High Court on Monday granted two weeks’ time to a man who abandoned his 76-year-old mother at a hospital in Mumbai’s Bandra area against whom an FIR was also registered.
A bench of Justices AS Gadkari and RR Bhonsale also sought suggestions as to what steps can be taken in the case. During the hearing, the bench pertinently asked the lawyers how the woman was doing and if her son, Amit Puri, was taking care of her now.
The bench on November 17, directed the son, who had run up a bill of over Rs 16 lakh at the Holy Family Hospital to pay, and with his consent and under his supervision, his mother be shifted to the ICU of Bhabha Hospital. The shifting was to be done by the son before 9 am on November 18.
However, advocates Yogesh Naidu, Wesley Menezes and Anukul Seth, appearing for the hospital, informed the court that the man, instead of transferring his mother, sent them a mail seeking time. However, the woman was shifted to the civic hospital and is reportedly doing fine.
Additional Public Prosecutor Ashish I Satpute, appearing for the state government, told the court that a FIR was registered against the man for abandoning his mother under the Senior Citizen Welfare Act and allegedly threatening a doctor and violating the High Court order.
Satpute pointed out that Puri did not assist in the transfer of his mother to Bhabha Hospital, stayed away and did not pay charges for the shifting and medicines, and other treatment charges as per the hospital policy.
Furthermore, the court had directed Puri to furnish an affidavit with details of all the properties, both movable and immovable, owned and possessed by his mother. He had not done the same and instead, advocate Roop Jain appeared through video conferencing for him and the court directed him to appear in person.
Satpute submitted that Puri had appeared before the Senior Citizen Welfare Tribunal and sought time to reply to the hospital’s plea, saying he “arrogantly said that he was challenging the Bombay High Court order.”
Puri has been blaming the Holy Family Hospital for negligence in treating his mother. He has filed complaints and had allegedly created a lot of chaos. The hospital had approached the High Court, alleging that he was not discharging and taking his mother home and was later only communicating through emails and legal notices.
The hospital alleged that the woman caught hospital-borne infections thrice because Puri had not discharged her from hospital, while she was fit to be taken home where she could be cared for in a better way.
Essential services, hospitals, utilities and pollution-control teams are exempt, while district authorities have been directed to ensure strict compliance, with penalties applicable for violations.
Delhi orders 50% staff cap, mandatory work-from-home for remaining workforce
The Delhi government on Thursday directed all government and private offices in the Capital to operate at no more than 50% staff strength, with the remaining employees required to work from home, as part of emergency curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage III.
The directive comes amid a sustained deterioration in Delhi’s air quality, with pollution levels — especially PM2.5 and PM10 — breaching prescribed standards during peak winter months. Delhi has been notified as an air pollution control area since 1987, and authorities have invoked successive stages of GRAP since mid-October following directions from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
50% CAP FOR GOVT AND PRIVATE OFFICES
The order was issued by the Department of Environment & Forests under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. As per the order, all GNCTD government offices must ensure that not more than half their staff is physically present. Administrative Secretaries and Heads of Departments may summon additional personnel only when essential to maintain emergency and public services.
Private offices across Delhi must also cap attendance at 50%, with the rest of the workforce mandatorily working from home. They have additionally been instructed to introduce staggered work hours, enforce strict work-from-home systems, and minimise vehicular movement linked to office commutes — a major contributor to emissions during severe pollution episodes.
SUPREME COURT-DRIVEN GRAP AMENDMENTS
The fresh curbs follow CAQM’s amendments to the GRAP schedule after Supreme Court hearings on November 17 and 19 in the MC Mehta air pollution case, followed by stakeholder consultations on November 20. As part of the revised framework, a measure earlier listed under GRAP Stage IV, allowing offices to operate at half strength, has now been shifted to Stage III for quicker intervention.
LG CLEARS STAGGERED TIMINGS FOR GOVT OFFICES
The move comes days after Delhi LG VK Saxena approved staggered office timings for GNCTD and Municipal Corporation of Delhi establishments, aimed at reducing peak-hour congestion and traffic emissions. Authorities have said vehicular pollution remains a major concern during high-pollution periods.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES EXEMPT
Hospitals, health establishments, fire services, prisons, public transport departments, electricity and water utilities, sanitation bodies, disaster management units, and agencies involved in pollution control or enforcement have been exempted from the 50% cap.
STRICT ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES
The order is effective immediately and will remain in force for the entire duration of GRAP Stage III. District Magistrates, Deputy Commissioners of Police, and local bodies have been asked to ensure compliance across all private and government offices.
Violations will attract penalties under Sections 15 and 16 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, in addition to other applicable laws.
Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted after nearly 10,000 years, sending ash clouds towards India. The ash reaching Delhi may affect air quality and weather conditions in the region.
Weather trackers said the plume first entered India over western Rajasthan. (Photo: AP)
A plume of volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano reached Delhi around 11 pm on Monday. Forecasters had been tracking the cloud for a day as it moved across the Red Sea and headed toward northwest India at nearly 130 kmph. The long-dormant volcano erupted for the first time in nearly 10,000 years on Sunday, pushing a thick column of ash and sulphur dioxide high into the sky.
Weather trackers said the plume first entered India over western Rajasthan. “The ash cloud has now entered the Indian subcontinent from the Jodhpur-Jaisalmer region and is moving northeast at 120-130 kmph,” the India Met Sky Weather alert said. “Skies may look weird and funny for a while, but there is less to worry about as the ash lies between 25,000 and 45,000 feet.”
By late evening, the plume stretched over parts of Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi, with a trailing segment expected to brush Gujarat. Forecasters also warned that Punjab, the foothills of western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Himachal Pradesh could see impacts overnight.
Experts said most of the ash is too high to pose health risks on the ground, but some light precipitation of ash particles is possible. Sunrise on Tuesday may bring unusual colours, while noting that air quality would remain awful as usual, regardless of the volcanic intrusion.
AVIATION ON ALERT
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an urgent advisory for all Indian carriers after volcanic ash advisories were released by Toulouse, Airports Authority of India and an ASHTAM warning of hazardous conditions across parts of the Muscat Flight Information Region.
The regulator told airlines to revise routing and fuel plans, cautioning crews against flying through any ash-affected airspace. “Strict avoidance of volcanic ash-affected areas and flight levels is mandatory,” the advisory said. Pilots were asked to report any unusual engine behaviour or cabin odour immediately, while dispatch teams were told to monitor NOTAMs, ASHTAMs and meteorological updates throughout the night.
The agency also directed airlines to brief crew on volcanic-ash procedures listed in their operations manuals.
Though the cloud over India is high-altitude and unlikely to affect takeoffs or landings, officials said its evolving path over West Asia demanded caution. The DGCA said it is preparing for potential air travel disruptions depending on updated advisories through the night and Tuesday morning.
VOLCANIC ASH DISRUPTS FLIGHTS
Flight disruptions began on Monday along routes crossing the volcanic ash corridor. According to news agency PTI, two international departures from Kochi were cancelled as a precaution after the eruption in Ethiopia. Cochin International Airport Limited said the affected flights were IndiGo’s Cochin-Dubai service (6E1475) and Akasa Air’s Cochin-Jeddah flight (QP550). Airport officials said operations would resume once conditions improve.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines also cancelled its Amsterdam-Delhi flight (KL 871) and the return Delhi-Amsterdam service (KL 872) due to the ash cloud.
In a post on X late on Monday, Air India said, “Following the volcanic eruption in Ethiopia, ash clouds have been observed over certain geographical regions.”
“We are closely monitoring the situation and remain in constant touch with our operating crew. There is no major impact on Air India flights at this time,” it said.
Amid reports of flight diversions and cancellations, IndiGo said in a statement that it was “closely tracking the situation” and was “fully prepared with all necessary precautions to ensure safe and reliable operations”.
Airlines issued cautionary messages for passengers flying through the Middle East. SpiceJet warned that volcanic ash over parts of the Arabian Peninsula “may impact flight operations for aircraft flying through these regions”, adding that its operations and safety teams were monitoring the cloud’s movement. The carrier advised passengers travelling to and from Dubai to check their flight status.
Several Bollywood actors, including Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor, are also among the 600 guests, according to locals involved in the wedding preparations.
Credit: Reuters photo
A glitzy extravaganza is set to unfold here over the next few days as several global celebrities, including singer-actor Jennifer Lopez and US President’s son Donald Trump Jr, are expected to descend on the City of Lakes to attend the wedding of US-based industrialist Raju Ramalinga Mantena’s daughter.
Several Bollywood actors, including Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor, are also among the 600 guests, according to locals involved in the wedding preparations.
The industrialist’s daughter, Netra Mantena, will marry NRI Vamsi Gadiraju and the wedding celebrations will be spread over four days — November 21 to 24.
Donald Trump Jr is expected to arrive here with his family on Friday. US security agencies are already in Udaipur for his visit. He will remain under special protection from the moment he arrives at the airport and is expected to stay at The Leela Palace.
Trump Jr visited the Taj Mahal in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra and Vantara, a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre at Jamnagar in Gujarat on Thursday.
Lopez and South African DJ-producer Black Coffee are likely to perform for the guests, the local residents said.
The Leela Palace hotel here has been done up in an opulent red theme to welcome the guests.
Huge clusters of flowers hang from arches and pillars, and grand chandeliers have been installed to give the venue the appearance of a royal durbar. The seating area has red couches with patterned cushions and golden lamps.
Other venues are also being decorated on a grand scale.
Besides The Leela Palace, ceremonies will be held at Manek Chowk and Zenana Mahal of Udaipur City Palace and Jagmandir, according to the people cited above.
Security has been tightened in Udaipur for the high-profile wedding.
Dutch DJ-producer Tiesto performed at The Leela Palace on Thursday night. Traditional Rajasthani dance troupes and Manganiyar artists also performed.
A viral X post has showcased Google’s Nano Banana Pro flawlessly solving a handwritten question and even mimicking the user’s handwriting. The demo has sparked both awe and concern online.
Google’s ‘Nano Banana Pro’ Stuns Internet By Solving Math Problem In User’s ‘Exact’ Handwriting (Image Source – @immasiddx/X)
A new demo of Google’s Nano Banana Pro has set social media buzzing, thanks to a viral post showcasing just how precisely the tool can read and recreate handwritten work.
The now-popular image shared on X (formerly Twitter) features the AI solving a handwritten maths problem simply from a photo. What stunned users even more was that the tool reproduced the solution in the user’s own handwriting style.
The post, uploaded by @immasiddx, included the caption, “Google’s Nano Banana Pro is by far the best image generation AI out there.”
In the screenshots he shared, the user explained that the model instantly solved his handwritten question after he uploaded a quick snap of his notes. He added, “I gave it a picture of a question, and it solved it correctly in my actual handwriting. Students are gonna love this,” noting that the output far surpassed his expectations.
Google’s Nano Banana Pro is by far the best image generation AI out there.
I gave it a picture of a question and it solved it correctly in my actual handwriting.
Posted on November 21, 2025, the clip has since racked up over 6 lakh views and sparked lively reactions.
Several X users were taken aback by the accuracy, saying they’d never seen an AI handle handwriting with such precision. One person wrote, “Incredible, and we are still just in the beginning of AI.”
Another observed, “Handwriting used to be the ‘Proof of Work’. It was the biometric signature of effort. Now, it’s just a style filter. We didn’t just automate the ‘Thinking’; we automated the human imperfection”.
The concerns didn’t stop there. A user remarked, “The education system, which was already falling behind, has a major challenge to tackle.”
India hosted the 18th G20 summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi in September 2023, when the African Union was added as a permanent member of the group. Ramaphosa said South Africa had closely watched India’s stewardship of the group in 2023.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at G20 Leaders’ Summit. (Photo: Reuters)
As Africa hosted the G20 summit for the first time, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa admitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi — half joking, half serious — that the task was far more daunting than anticipated. “Maybe we would have run away,” he said, opening their bilateral talks in Johannesburg.
In his opening remarks at delegation-level talks with the Indian side, Ramaphosa thanked New Delhi for its support as Pretoria took on the presidency.
“Thank you for the support that India has given to South Africa in hosting G20…You should have told us that it is such a difficult task, maybe we would have run away,” Ramaphosa said with a laugh. PM Modi and other delegates in the room also laughed at the remark.
Ramaphosa said South Africa had closely watched India’s stewardship of the group in 2023. “We have learned a lot from your hosting of the G20 and yours was spectacular… building ours is really small,” he said. PM Modi immediately replied: “Small is always beautiful.”
India hosted the 18th G20 summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi in September 2023, when the African Union was added as a permanent member of the group.
INDIA, BRAZIL, INDONESIA SET FOUNDATION FOR SA G20: RAMAPHOSA
Following the talks, Ramaphosa said in his closing address that India, Brazil and Indonesia had laid the foundation for South Africa’s G20 presidency.
“We learnt a lot from what Indonesia, India and Brazil did. In many ways, what we see having unfolded here was based on the foundations that those three countries of the Global South put in place,” he said.
“Our agreement on a Declaration during this summit demonstrates the value of the G20 as a forum that can facilitate joint action on issues of shared concern not only for the leaders, but shared concern for the peoples of the world. More than that, it reaffirms our renewed commitment to multilateral cooperation and our recognition that our shared goals outweigh our differences,” the president added.
Ramaphosa thanked all G20 members and invited guests for their presence, saying their commitment had been vital “in reaffirming the G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation”.
Setting out South Africa’s priorities, he reaffirmed that “the greatest opportunity for prosperity in the 21st century lies in Africa”, and said Pretoria had “sought to place Africa’s growth and development at the heart of the G20’s agenda”.
Residents of Australia’s Northern Territory spent their Sunday morning assessing the damage from an intense cyclone that struck the region overnight. No injuries have been reported.
The city of Darwin on Australia’s tropical northern coast was slammed by a cyclone over the weekend [FILE: April 12, 2022]Image: U.S. Marines/ZUMA/picture allianceA tropical cyclone hit Australia’s Northern Territory overnight, uprooting trees and traffic lights and severing power for thousands of people in its wake.
Residents on Sunday began clearing streets after the cyclone brought with it powerful winds, including in Darwin — the region’s capital.
Cyclone Fina hits northern Australia with destructive winds
Fina hovered off the coast of the Northern Territory for many days before transforming into a Category 3 storm.
On Saturday night, it passed Darwin and the Tiwi Islands with wind gusts of 110 kilometres per hour.
Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology called it a “severe tropical cyclone.”
By Sunday, Fina moved away from Darwin as it clocked wind gusts of up to 205 kilometres per hour.
Cyclone knocks out power in Darwin
Fina battered Darwin — a busy city of nearly 140,000 residents — damaging property and submerging roads, but no injuries were reported.
About 19,000 people in the city were left without electricity.
The Northern Territory’s chief minister, Lia Finocchiaro, said efforts were being made to restore power.
“In true territory spirit, neighbours are coming out with chainsaws and everyone’s chipping in,” the regional premier said amid clean up efforts.
Australian media reported that a part of the roof of the city’s major Royal Darwin Hospital collapsed during the storm.
Meanwhile, the Darwin International Airport had reopened on Sunday after being forced to close operations on Saturday.
Darwin was the site of one of Australia’s worst natural disasters after Cyclone Tracy wiped out most of the city on Christmas Day 1974, leaving 66 people dead.
“This cyclone saw a territory that was united and prepared for what was to come,” Finocchiaro told the media on Sunday.
PM Modi held bilateral talks with Japan’s Sanae Takaichi, Canada’s Mark Carney and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni on the final day of the G20 Summit in South Africa.
PM Modi with Canada’s Mark Carney (L) and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni (R). (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral meetings with the leaders of Japan, Canada and Italy on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa and discussed several issues of mutual importance.
PM Modi met Sanae Takaichi, the first woman Prime Minister of Japan. This was their first bilateral meeting after she was elected to the top position. PM Modi had earlier spoken to Takaichi in October to congratulate her after assuming office.
Had a productive meeting with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan. We discussed ways to add momentum to bilateral cooperation in areas such as innovation, defence, talent mobility and more. We are also looking to enhance trade ties between our nations. A strong India-Japan… pic.twitter.com/4UexmElSwQ
The two leaders discussed the shared vision of advancing the partnership between the two countries, and the leaders underscored that stronger India-Japan ties are vital for global peace, stability and prosperity. Takaichi had earlier said her government will deepen multilateral dialogue with India and other countries.
PM Modi Speaks With Canadian Counterpart
Prime Minister Modi also held talks with his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney as the two countries attempt to rebuild relations following a brief period of tensions under Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, over the death of a designated Khalistani terrorist.
Modi said both sides had agreed to set a target of $50 billion in bilateral trade by 2030, and the Canadian Pension Funds are also showing keen interest in Indian companies. “We also agreed to unlock the potential for deeper cooperation in defence and space sectors and meet again in the near future,” he added.
This came after Modi announced an Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership to work more closely in areas such as advanced tech, clean energy and artificial intelligence. The initiative will deepen collaboration between democratic partners across three continents and three oceans in emerging technologies, support diversification of supply chains, clean energy and mass adoption of AI.
According to a statement by the Canadian government, the initiative will draw on the natural strengths of the three countries and have an emphasis on green energy innovation and building resilient supply chains, including in critical minerals.
PM Modi also held a bilateral meeting with his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni. The two leaders greeted each other warmly on Saturday as world leaders gathered in Johannesburg for the G20 Summit on Saturday.
Dr Navlakhe, 43, hails from Burhanpur and earlier worked as a medical officer and later as a resident medical officer at the district hospital.
A routine police check in a small village in Madhya Pradesh has unexpectedly uncovered one of the state’s biggest fake currency networks — and at the centre of it, officers say, was not a career criminal but an MBBS doctor who once served in government hospitals.
The Khandwa Police on Friday confirmed the arrest of Dr Pratik Navlakhe along with three others, revealing how an operation that began inside the Khandwa District Jail had grown into a multi-state counterfeiting racket.
Officers said the group printed fake notes in bulk and pushed them into circulation across Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Some of the counterfeit money was even used to buy property.
Dr Navlakhe, 43, hails from Burhanpur and earlier worked as a medical officer and later as a resident medical officer at the district hospital.
Despite his respectable background, police said he had a history of financial fraud and had previously been accused of embezzling large sums while working in government posts. After spending time in jail, he set aside his medical career and moved into crime on a much bigger scale.
He rented a flat in Bhopal’s Gokuldham Society and quietly built a sophisticated printing setup using scanners, printers, cutters and dyes. He then appointed agents in Nagpur, Malegaon and other cities to move the fake notes. Police estimate the gang has circulated nearly Rs 40 lakh worth of counterfeit currency so far.
The case first surfaced on 2 November after villagers in Pethiya informed the Jawar Police that maulana Zuber Ansari — already arrested in Maharashtra for fake currency — might have hidden notes in his rented room. During the search, officers found Rs 19.78 lakh in forged Rs 500 notes, along with a cutting machine and raw material. The notes showed poor security threads and mismatched prints.
Realising the scale of the crime, SP Manoj Kumar Rai set up a Special Investigation Team led by ASP Mahendra Taranekar, with DSP Anil Singh Chauhan, TI Praveen Arya and other officers. As the team probed further, they discovered that the maulana was only transporting notes and the mastermind was in Bhopal.
On 23 November, the SIT raided Gokuldham Society and found printers, drying machines, stacks of unfinished notes and three men working inside. Dr Navlakhe was arrested along with Gopal alias Rahul (35) and Dinesh Gore (43). Equipment worth lakhs and several financial documents were seized.
Investigators later learned that the accused first met inside the Khandwa District Jail and regrouped after their release to start the fake currency operation. They also ran a fake travel agency on Hoshangabad Road as a front to recruit agents and move counterfeit cash to Nagpur, Malegaon and Jalgaon.
ASP Taranekar said, “Dr Pratik Navlakhe was identified as the mastermind. We formed an SIT and traced him to Bhopal. In Gokuldham Society, we found three men and a fully active currency-printing setup. These people met in jail. They used to print four Rs 500 notes on a single sheet. The notes were circulated in various states.
A Meta engineer shared a wild story about receiving a chilling text from his Uber driver in Delhi, but an unexpected comical twist stunned the internet.
The spooky text from the Uber driver initially scared the techie. (AI-Generated)
There’s a plot twist no one predicted! A Meta engineer shared a wild story about receiving a text from his Uber driver in Delhi, which sent chills down his spine. However, what happened next sent the internet laughing out loud, with something for Google to think about.
Arnav Gupta, a Meta engineer and an entrepreneur in Delhi, shared a story about a spooky text he received from his cab driver, where the latter said he was “facing the threat of murder.”
“A chill ran down my spine. It is Delhi after all. Anything can happen. Is he threatening to murder me because I made him wait and mistyped it? Are people on the street threatening to murder him because he is blocking the road?” he said, sharing his thoughts at the moment.
Today I made my Uber driver wait for 2 min as I was getting out of my house. And suddenly I received a notification from Uber “I am facing the threat of murder”
However, a comical twist happened as Arnav opened the app to see the chat, where the driver said ‘ok’ to him when he asked him to wait. It turned out that the message was translated by Google. Wow!
“I clicked “see original” as at least 15 different possible translations roamed around my head. And then I heaved the biggest sigh of relief in a long long time. He was in front of Mother Dairy,” Arnav said in his post. This is not what you see everyday!
The post received reactions of shock and laughter, as people posted various remarks over the tweet. “I have heard a rumour that Netflix has bought rights to this story. Arijit is going to sing title song,” a user said.
“Today, the land of Sindh may not be a part of India, but civilisationally, Sindh will always be a part of India. And as far as land is concerned, borders can change,” Rajnath Singh said
Rajnath Singh said Sindh was, is and will always remain a part of India
The Sindh region may not be with India today, but borders can change and the region may return home to India, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said at an event.
Sindh province, the area near the Indus River, went to Pakistan following Partition in 1947, and the Sindhi people who lived in that region came to India.
The Defence Minister said Sindhi Hindus, especially from the generation of leaders like LK Advani, have never accepted the separation of Sindh region from India.
“I’d also like to mention that Lal Krishna Advani wrote in one of his books that Sindhi Hindus, especially those of his generation, still haven’t accepted the separation of Sindh from India,” he said.
“Not just in Sindh, but throughout India, Hindus consider the Indus River sacred. Many Muslims in Sindh also believed that the water of the Indus was no less sacred than the Aab-e-Zamzam of Mecca. This is Advani ji’s quote,” he added.
“Today, the land of Sindh may not be a part of India, but civilisationally, Sindh will always be a part of India. And as far as land is concerned, borders can change. Who knows, tomorrow Sindh may return to India again. Our people of Sindh, who hold the Indus River sacred, will always be our own. No matter where they are, they will always be ours,” the Defence Minister said.
#WATCH | Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, “…Today, the land of Sindh may not be a part of India, but civilisationally, Sindh will always be a part of India. And as far as land is concerned, borders can change. Who knows, tomorrow Sindh may return to India again…”… pic.twitter.com/9Wp1zorTMt
At an interaction with the Indian community in Morocco on September 22, Singh said he is confident of India getting back PoK without taking any aggressive steps, as the people in PoK have been demanding freedom from the occupiers.
In his address at a convocation ceremony of a Delhi-based management institute, he also said the military operation reflected a “foresight” to anticipate change as the situation unfolded.
The Army chief also underlined the importance of technology in military evolution. (File)
Operation Sindoor was a “trusted orchestra” where every musician played a “simultaneous or synergistic role”, and that is how in 22 minutes, the Indian armed forces could destroy nine terrorist targets, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi said on Saturday.
In his address at a convocation ceremony of a Delhi-based management institute, he also said the military operation reflected a “foresight” to anticipate change as the situation unfolded.
It was “a response shaped not in the moment, but through years of imagining how intelligence, precision and technology could converge into action,” the general officer said.
India launched the military operation early on May 7 and decimated multiple terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Pakistan also launched offensives against India, and all subsequent counter-offensives by India were also carried out under Operation Sindoor.
The military conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, lasting nearly 88 hours, halted after they reached an understanding on the evening of May 10.
“Op Sindoor was a trusted orchestra where every musician played a simultaneous or a synergistic role. That is how in 22 minutes, we could destroy nine terrorist targets and, we could in 80 hours make sure that the battle comes to an end. But what is more important, there was no time for decision making, had we not visualised, and had we not trusted the entire team,” the Army chief said.
In his address at the ceremony hosted by New Delhi Institute of Management (NDIM) here, Gen Dwivedi told the gathering of graduating students to lead with “wisdom, humility and power”.
“So as you step forward today, remember the world will never stand still, markets will shift, technology will evolve, and your own ambitions will also change. Yet within that motion lies your greatest strength, the courage to learn, the agility to adapt, and the vision to lead with a purpose. Change is not what happens to us, it’s what we choose to become through it,” he said.
The general’s address was themed on ‘Navigating Change: The Real Constant’ and he touched upon the aspects of evolving global dynamics, technology as a disruptive force and reflections for the road ahead.
“As the 21st century unfolded, long peace yielded to a contested landscape of competition, contestation and conflicts. As across the world today over 55 conflicts today rage on, drawing in more than 100 nations, directly or indirectly, therefore blurring the boundary between peace and conflict,” he said.
And, as battlefields blurred, so did the markets, the Army chief said.
“The rise of nationalism, protectionism and sanctions led to the emergence of geoeconomics, a framework articulated by Edward Luttwak, who described it as a logic of war expressed through the grammar of commerce,” he emphasised.
The Army chief said that today, the six chapters of grammar book are different from the traditional Wren and Martin’s English grammar book. It contains “cooperation, collaboration, co-existence, competition, contestation and the conflict itself”.
“So, these are the 6Cs, which we have to know together. Because, in our strategic dealings also, we deal with the 6Cs, and you also in the future will be dealing with these,” he added.
The Army chief underlined the importance of technology in military evolution.
“Technology has transformed warfare, ranging from muddy trenches to intelligent network, rifles to drones, boots to bots, and also revolutions businesses, shampoo sachets to Gemini,” he added.
He also emphasised the need for adaptation and what he described in the context of change as “a velocity of relevance”.
“Recognising opportunity is one thing, responding to it is another. And that response begins with the courage to embrace change before it compels you to change. When I was commissioned into the Army, computers were nowhere in the horizon in our Army. And here I stand today, leading an Army that applies data sciences and AI in modern war fighting,” Gen Dwivedi said.
He said the transformation journey in the Army includes restructuring the force for greater agility, deepening jointness with the Navy, Air Force and other domains, accelerating modernisation through cutting-edge technologies, reforming human resource system and continuously refining our system processes and functions to enhance efficiency and responsiveness.
General Dwivedi said that today he is leading “a community of approximately 1.3 crore soldiers, veterans and families” and that happens to be one per cent of the Indian population.
“As I often tell my friends in the corporate world, that while they handle a few hundred resumes, we handle a few million lives, who are ready to walk into a hail of bullets on your one clarion call.” He also spoke of seeking an opportunity in times of turbulence.
“Let me begin with one that has served the Indian Army well, the ability to find opportunity in uncertainty. In 1971, when turmoil in us, while East Pakistan turned a tide of refugees, creating regional instability, India turned crisis into liberation, reshaping the subcontinent’s destiny,” the officer said.
Shukla said travelling outside the Earth offers a profound realisation that “this is your planet, this is your home, there is nowhere else to go.”
Shukla stressed that climate change is a global crisis that demands collective action. (File)
Astronaut and Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on Saturday urged the youth to work together to tackle shared global challenges like climate change, and avoid making the mistakes of earth in space.
Shukla said travelling outside the Earth offers a profound realisation that “this is your planet, this is your home, there is nowhere else to go.” Speaking at the 26th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World at his alma mater City Montessori School here, Shukla said the experience of viewing Earth from space changes a person.
“It is not about a region, it is not about a city, it’s about the entire planet which is your home. What happens in one place, even if we don’t see it visually, will affect us a few months or a year later. That realisation becomes very deep and you come back a changed person,” he said.
Shukla stressed that climate change is a global crisis that demands collective action.
“We are on the issue of climate change and how our Earth is changing, how there is a distinct need for us to first of all realise it and take concrete steps to protect it and prevent what is happening,” he said.
To illustrate how evidence changed global understanding in the past, Shukla referred to a rise in thyroid cancer detection in the early 2000s across countries including South Korea, the US and Europe.
“People were puzzled why it was happening so rapidly. But what had happened was we had machines, CT scans, ultrasound, MRIs, that could diagnose it. It was not that thyroid cancer itself was rising, it was just that we had started discovering that it was happening,” he said.
A similar shift, he added, occurred when space exploration began in the 1950s and 1960s. “In a sense, when you think there is a crisis that climate change is happening it was once restricted to local pockets. When satellites went up, they gave you concrete, irrefutable data that it is real and it is happening the world over. It’s a problem that we are all facing together,” he said.
Shukla told the gathering of international jurists and school students that the biggest challenge today is not lack of awareness but the difficulty of getting people to agree on solutions.
“I think all of us understand the problem. We know that there is a problem and there are a few people who also want to solve it. But somehow we always fail at the implementation. How do we get people to agree to what we think is the right way to go forward? We don’t have the answer,” he said.
He urged young people to think boldly about building a global framework for consensus.
“I hope some of you put your mind to it and come up with a framework that allows global citizens and governments all over the world to come together and agree that this is what the world needs to do together and go forward,” he said.
Shukla also highlighted the rapid expansion of space activity and the new challenges it poses.
“There are treaties and laws in place, but now we are exploring space at a very rapid rate. There are about 13,000 satellites operational in space, and plans to expand these to around 35,000 to 40,000. And this is just the lower earth orbit (LEO) up to 2,000 km. I am not even talking about what’s beyond this, because things are happening there also, and on the Moon and beyond,” he said.
Warning against repeating past mistakes, he asked, “How do we not make the mistakes that we have made here on Earth outside? These are questions I don’t think we have really solid answers to. We understand the problem but we don’t know how it is going to affect us in the future. So I think it is a grey area.” The astronaut said the challenges ahead are not limited to technical issues about sending people into space and bringing them back.
“It is going to be an ethical challenge, a moral challenge, and your responsibility that you have to understand now,” he said, urging students to make full use of the unrestricted access to information available today.
The government has implemented four Labour Codes, which modernise and consolidate existing labour laws, impacting millions of workers by expanding Provident Fund and social security coverage.
How new labour laws will impact PF and Social Security for employees.
In a landmark move, the government on Friday implemented the four Labour Codes pending since 2020. One of the biggest impacts of these codes will be seen in Provident Fund (PF), Employees’ State Insurance (ESIC), and social security coverage, which now extend to millions of workers who were previously excluded.
The four Labour Codes now in force are: Wages, Industrial Relations, Social Security, and Occupational Safety & Health. Together, they replace 29 older laws with a modern, consolidated framework.
The new codes introduce worker-friendly measures such as timely minimum wages for all and universal social security, including gig and platform workers.
At the same time, the framework allows longer work hours, wider fixed-term employment, and employer-friendly retrenchment rules.
What Changes for PF, Social Security in New Labour Codes
Universal Social Security for All Workers
Every worker including gig, platform, contract, and migrant workers will now get social security benefits, which were earlier fragmented.
A single Aadhaar-linked Universal Account Number will make PF and benefits portable across jobs and states.
Aggregator platforms like cab and delivery apps must contribute a small share of turnover to a social security fund for gig workers.
This ensures retirement savings, health insurance, accident cover, and maternity benefits reach workers outside traditional salaried jobs.
What Changes In Provident Fund For Employees
According to the new codes, PF benefits have been extended to fixed-term, contract, and temporary workers.
Fixed-term employees can now claim gratuity after just one year, compared to five years earlier.
Employers will benefit from a uniform PF framework across states, reducing compliance confusion.
ESIC Coverage Expands Nationwide
As per the new codes, the ESIC benefits will now be available across India, not just in select areas.
Small firms with fewer than 10 workers can opt in voluntarily.
ESIC coverage is mandatory for any workplace with hazardous processes.
Medical facilities will be extended to plantation, mine, beedi, dock, and rural workers.
What’s New in Formalisation for Worker Welfare
In the new codes, employers must issue appointment letters to all workers, essential for PF and ESIC registration.
Free annual health check-ups will be provided for workers aged 40 plus.
Women workers can take night shifts with consent and safety measures.
Contract workers will receive PF, ESIC, and health benefits, with the principal employer responsible.
Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, GOC-in-C Southern Command, underscored that human skill and judgment – not technology – ultimately decide battle outcomes, as he reviewed the Passing-out Parade at the Combat Army Aviation Training School.
Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, GOC-in-C Southern Command.
Emphasising that technology alone cannot determine the outcome of future conflicts, Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, on Friday asserted that “Machines do not win battles but it is the skill, the judgment and resolve of the aviators operating them” that ultimately makes the decisive difference on the battlefield.
Lt Gen Seth was speaking after reviewing the Passing-out Parade at the Combat Army Aviation Training School (CAATS), where he highlighted the unprecedented pace at which modern warfare is evolving. The character of conflict today, he said, is marked by precision engagements, contested air spaces, multi-domain integration and high-tempo operations – a transformation “unseen in decades”.
In this rapidly shifting environment, he noted, Army Aviation has emerged as an indispensable arm providing the force with a “flexible, responsive and indispensable third dimension”.
“Our blend of manned and unmanned platforms gives commanders exceptional operational reach, from reconnaissance and surveillance to lift, attack and precision engagements. Together these capabilities make army aviation a decisive combat multiplier,” he said.
Lt Gen Seth added that the impending induction of new technologies would further enhance this operational edge. However, he emphasised that no level of technological advancement could replace the human factor.
“Yet, even with this cutting-edge capability, there is one truth that remains always constant. Machines do not win battles but it is the skill, the judgment and resolve of the aviators operating them…. It is therefore fitting that CAATS has been designated as the center of expertise for RPAs (remotely piloted aircraft) operations and combat air maneuver,” he stated.
Addressing the newly commissioned aviators, Lt Gen Seth offered a clear and stern reminder of the responsibilities that accompany combat flying.
He advised cadets that each sortie demands complete situational awareness, adherence to procedures, respect for the machine and an unwavering commitment to mission safety.
“In combat flying, the margins are thin and the stakes are high. Never cross the red lines and compromise safety or jeopardize the mission,” he cautioned.
The ceremony marked the first-ever combined passing out of officers from the Combat Aviation Course (CAC), the Army Helicopter Instructor’s Course (AHIC), and the inaugural Combined Internal Pilot and Observers Course.
Among the award winners, Capt Ajit Singh was adjudged the Overall Best Cadet of the Combined IP/OB Course. Captain Kushal Sharma received the prestigious ‘Silver Cheetah’ trophy for topping the Combat Aviators Course, while Maj Paramveer Singh Shekhawat secured the ‘First in Order of Merit’ award in the AHIC.
The arrested person has been identified as Tufail Niyaz Bhat, a resident of the Batamaloo area of Srinagar, who was arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into the ‘white collar’ terror module case.
Security personnel carry out a door-to-door census in connection with the ‘white-collar terror module’ in Jammu and Kashmir (File Image) Photo : PTI
The Jammu and Kashmir Police’s State Investigation Agency arrested a man in Srinagar in connection with a ‘white collar’ terror module case.
The arrested person has been identified as Tufail Niyaz Bhat, a resident of the Batamaloo area of Srinagar, who was arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into the ‘white collar’ terror module case. According to media reports, Bhat is an electrician.
How J&K Police Busted White-Collar Terror Module
The entire ‘white-collar’ terror module was busted after the Srinagar Police began an investigation into the pasting of posters that threatened police and security forces on walls in Bunpora, Nowgam, in mid-October.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Srinagar) Dr G V Sundeep Chakravarthy personally led the investigation, and the CCTV footage analysis led to the arrest of the first three suspects — Arif Nisar Dar alias Sahil, Yasir-ul-Ashraf, and Maqsood Ahmad Dar alias Shahid.
Their interrogation led to the arrest of Maulvi Irfan Ahmad, a former paramedic turned Imam, who allegedly supplied the posters and radicalised the doctors.
The trail led the investigators to Al Falah University in Faridabad, where Dr Muzzafar Ganaie and Dr Shaheen Sayeed were arrested, and 2,900 kg of explosive material was seized.
White-Collar Terror Module Linked To Delhi Blast
Hours after raids in Faridabad and the recovery of explosives, a blast near Delhi’s Red Fort claimed 15 lives, sending the city into panic. Investigators believe a core trio of doctors — Dr Ganaie, Umar Nabi (the driver of an explosives-laden car that exploded near the Red Fort on November 10), and Muzzaffar Rather (absconding) — were running the module.
According to investigators, Delhi bomber Umar, along with Dr Muzammil, Dr Adeel, and Dr Muzaffar Rather, had travelled to Türkiye in 2022 for a secret meeting with a Syrian, who is believed to be part of a larger terror grid.
The Syrian handler, described as a “highly trained operative”, convinced Umar that he must participate in a “bigger operation”, the sources said. The meeting was arranged on the instructions of a key handler named Ukasha, investigators believe, according to sources. Apart from Ukasha, the other handler has been identified as Hanzullah, they said.
Chennai is currently experiencing a lack of significant rainfall, despite a low-pressure system forming over the Strait of Malacca, expected to develop into a depression by November 24. While districts in Tamil Nadu may receive heavy rains, forecasts suggest Chennai will likely see only light to moderate showers.
Low-Pressure Stir in Bay Raises Cyclone Fears — Chennai Faces Another Close Shave
Chennai’s uneasy wait for meaningful rain continues, even as a new low-pressure system brews over the Strait of Malacca and moves into the Bay of Bengal. While several districts in Tamil Nadu are expected to see heavy rainfall over the next three days, Chennai may once again be spared the worst, with early forecasts showing only light to moderate showers for the city.
The developing system has already triggered a flurry of speculation among weather models, with predictions split on whether it could intensify into the season’s next cyclone — and if so, where it might head.
A System That’s Growing, But Uncertain
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that an upper-air cyclonic circulation persists over the central parts of the Strait of Malacca, extending up to 5.8 km above mean sea level, as per a TOI report. This feature has now developed into a low-pressure area, which is expected to intensify into a depression around 24 November over the southeast Bay of Bengal.
From there, the system is likely to move west-northwestwards, strengthening further over the southwest Bay during the following 48 hours.
However, the key question remains unanswered: Will it become a cyclone, and will it hit Tamil Nadu?
Weather models remain divided. Some show the system tracking towards north Andhra Pradesh, while others suggest it may curve away towards Bangladesh, reducing its impact on Tamil Nadu. The IMD’s cyclogenesis probability chart indicates:
No depression formation in the first 48 hours
Low probability between 48 and 72 hours
Moderate probability only after 144 hours
Manorama Mohanty, Director of the Bhubaneswar IMD office, said it’s too early to call it a cyclone.
“We have so far forecast only a depression. We will issue more information after the low-pressure area forms on November 22,” she said.
Rain for Delta and South TN, Not So Much for Chennai
While cyclone development remains uncertain, rainfall is a more immediate concern — especially for the delta districts, south coastal Tamil Nadu and adjoining regions, which are expected to receive heavy downpours for at least the next three days.
Chennai, on the other hand, may only see one or two spells of light to moderate rain, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, according to the IMD bulletin.
Daytime skies are likely to stay partly cloudy, with temperatures hovering around 31–32°C, and minimum temperatures settling near 25°C.
Weather blogger Pradeep John, in an online update, said heavy rainfall in the southern districts would be driven by the system’s movement towards the Comorin Sea.
“The system is complex, so we need to wait for more clarity,” he cautioned, adding that Chennai could still experience sudden intense spells till Tuesday.
Chennai’s Weak Northeast Monsoon Shows in the Numbers
After mild showers on Friday — 1 cm in Nungambakkam and 2.9 mm in Meenambakkam — the city recorded only trace amounts of rain on Saturday.
The data paints a difficult picture:
Chennai: 43 cm (23% below normal)
Kancheepuram: 36 cm (9% below normal)
Tiruvallur: 47 cm (10% above normal)
Chengalpattu: 28 cm (41% below normal)
Tamil Nadu overall: 29 cm (6% below normal)
With only intermittent rain so far, Chennai’s Northeast Monsoon performance continues to disappoint.
Satellite Images Show Strong Clouds — But Track Still Unclear
INSAT-3DS satellite images from early Saturday showed:
Intense convection over the south Bay of Bengal and south Andaman Sea
Moderate to strong convection over the central Bay
This suggests plenty of moisture and favourable atmospheric conditions, but not enough evidence yet to confirm a cyclone or its landfall.
Farmers in Odisha Move Quickly as Rain Threat Looms
While Tamil Nadu waits, the system is already influencing behaviour elsewhere. In coastal Odisha, farmers have begun harvesting their nearly mature paddy crop early, anticipating potential rain from next week. The state agriculture department, however, has not issued any formal advisory yet.
Speaking at the Gateway of India ahead of the 26/11 anniversary, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed Pakistan is attempting to reassert itself through proxy terror after the recent Delhi car blast that killed 15 people. He praised Indian security agencies for foiling planned strikes and said India has changed, with zero tolerance for terrorism.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis | File Image
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday claimed that Pakistan is attempting to “assert its presence” through proxy attacks, following the car blast in Delhi that killed 15 people. He was speaking at a public gathering at the Gateway of India to mark the approach of the 17th anniversary of the Mumbai 26/11 terror attack.
VIDEO | Mumbai: “Pakistan had plans to bomb every corner of India; Delhi blast was their retaliation after Indian agencies foiled plot,” says Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis.
Fadnavis said that Pakistan is aware it can no longer challenge India in a direct fight and therefore continues to pursue indirect tactics designed to create fear and instability.
“Pakistan now knows that it cannot defeat India in a direct fight. Therefore, it tries to wage a proxy war, a pseudo-war, and with an explosion in Delhi, it attempts to assert its presence once again. But I am glad that today we have a changed India,” he said.
Indian agencies prevented larger attack
The Chief Minister further alleged that Pakistan’s intent was to target major Indian metros, including Mumbai, but its plans were disrupted by the country’s intelligence and counter-terror operations. He said that around 3,000 kilograms of RDX was seized by security forces, which he claimed was meant for coordinated strikes across multiple cities.
“When our Indian agencies sensed this and directly attacked them, they demonstrated their presence by carrying out an explosion in Delhi,” he added.
So far, the Centre has neither confirmed nor denied Pakistan’s involvement in the blast near Red Fort.
“Had there been Operation Sindoor after 26/11, no one would attack India”
In a sharp reflection on past policy decisions, Fadnavis remarked that if India had carried out a military response similar to Operation Sindoor after the Mumbai attacks in 2008, no further attempts would have been made against the nation.
Authorities in Uttarakhand recovered 161 gelatin sticks near a school in Almora, triggering a swift police action and extensive investigation to trace the origin.
Police found 161 gelatin sticks near the school. (Photo: ITG)
Uttarakhand Police recovered 161 gelatin sticks, a powerful explosive material, from near a government school in Almora, triggering heightened security measures and a detailed investigation in the area.
The matter came to light on Thursday evening after the principal of a Government Higher Secondary School informed the police that children had spotted a suspicious object in nearby bushes while playing.
A police team rushed to the spot and immediately cordoned off the area. Bomb disposal and dog squad teams carried out a detailed search, seized the explosives, and collected samples from the site. Police have registered a case against unknown persons under the Indian Explosives Act.
Almora Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Devendra Pincha confirmed the development and said a probe is underway. He also urged the public not to believe rumours and assured that verified information will be shared as the investigation progresses.
“In Dabra village, around 161 gelatin sticks were found in bushes near the school. The local police reached the spot and called in the BDS team, which carried out an inquiry and searched the entire area. An FIR has been registered under the appropriate sections. Further action is underway,” he said.
Officials said gelatin rods are commonly used for rock blasting in road construction. The SSP added that four teams have been formed and the investigators are now trying to ascertain who placed the explosive material near the school and for what purpose.
The recovery of the massive cache of explosives comes at a time when security agencies across the country remain on high alert following the Red Fort blast and the earlier seizure of 2,900 kg of explosives near Al Falah University in Faridabad.
Tejas Jet Crash: Experts said the IAF pilot appeared to be executing a manoeuvre known as a barrel roll when it crashed during the Dubai Airshow.
At 2.08 pm (local time) on Friday, the Indian Air Force’s Tejas jet was performing an aerial manoeuvre, enthralling the audience gathered at the Dubai Airshow. The next minute, it appeared to lose balance before nosediving and crashing, sending thick black smoke billowing from the crash site. The pilot of the aircraft, which has a near-perfect safety record, died in the incident, the IAF confirmed.
It has led to one singular question: how did the Tejas crash?
Experts have now decoded the last moments of the ill-fated Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which witnessed only its second crash in its 24-year history. Interestingly, the crash comes a day after the government dismissed viral claims that the Tejas Mk1 fighter aircraft experienced an oil leak at the Dubai air show.
FINAL MOMENTS OF TEJAS JET CRASH
Experts said the IAF pilot appeared to be executing a manoeuvre known as a barrel roll, in which the jet turns over and then back up again, completing a full axial rotation. While it is not a complicated manoeuvre, it involves the pilot being momentarily upside down before flipping all the way over.
On Friday, the Tejas was looking to execute a precise loop — initially pulling up, then going inverted, and then descending again. It was supposed to climb again, but it never happened.
Tejas Crash Updates
The jet was likely too close to the ground to again pull up and complete the manoeuvre. Moreover, experts said the jet also possibly did not have the speed to rise again and ultimately crashed.
While a barrel roll isn’t considered highly complex, executing such manoeuvres at high speed in a fighter jet is demanding. Even a small miscalculation can have serious consequences.
The IAF has not officially revealed what caused the crash. Experts also pointed out that an engine flameout could be behind the tragedy.
India and Afghanistan are set to deepen trade ties through Iran’s Chabahar port and new cargo flights from Delhi and Amritsar to Kabul. The move, announced during Afghan Trade Minister Nooruddin Azizi’s visit, includes commercial attaches, investment incentives, and streamlined logistics. Kabul is shifting away from Islamabad to boost exports.
Afghanistan’s acting Minister of Industry and Commerce Nooruddin Azizi is in India on a five-day trip. He is heading a large business delegation. (Images: AFP/Reuters)
What do two friendly countries do when they have a wedge in the middle? They bypass it. That’s exactly what India and Afghanistan are planning to do with the roadblock called Pakistan. Kabul and New Delhi are set to expand bilateral trade both through the sea by leveraging Iran’s Chabahar port more extensively. The two countries are also gearing up to enhance bilateral trade by setting up two dedicated cargo flight routes, officials of India and Afghanistan announced on Friday.
With Afghanistan’s acting Minister of Industry and Commerce Nooruddin Azizi on a five-day visit to India, officials announced the launch of cargo flight routes to Kabul from Delhi and Amritsar. The move, confirmed by India’s Joint Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs Anand Prakash, comes alongside a decision to post dedicated commercial attaches in both Delhi and Kabul.
The bilateral trade between India and Afghanistan is currently valued at over USD 1 billion, and both nations, once contiguous neighbours, are set to expand it.
India and Pakistan are legally contiguous neighbours, but they no longer share a land border for trade or transit because of Pakistan’s illegal occupation of Gilgit-Baltistan. That makes direct overland access between New Delhi and Kabul practically impossible. As a result, alternatives now lie either in air routes or multimodal corridors that bypass Pakistan entirely through Iran’s Chabahar port.
The joint announcement by Indian and Afghan officials comes a day after Azizi met India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Responding to India Today Digital’s question on whether improved Pakistan-Afghanistan relations in future could affect Kabul’s ties with New Delhi, Azizi said, “We never wanted violence. Afghanistan has witnessed enough bloodshed. Business and politics should not be mixed. Our focus is on creating a conducive business environment for the country’s uplift.”
TALIBAN-LED GOVT INVITES INDIAN BUSINESSES TO INVEST IN AFGHANISTAN
Azizi, heading a large business delegation, used the visit to push for greater reliance on Iran’s Chabahar port, where India has invested heavily as a gateway for Afghan goods.
He specifically requested scheduled shipping services from the port, construction of dry ports in Afghanistan’s Nimruz province near the Iranian border, and smoother handling of Afghan cargo at India’s Nhava Sheva Port in Maharashtra.
Azizi also extended an open invitation to Indian businesses to participate in sectors such as mining, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, IT, energy, and textiles. He announced several new incentives, including a 1% tariff on raw materials and machinery, free land allocations, reliable power supply, and proposed five-year tax exemptions for new industries—particularly those established by returning Afghan refugees.
Nooruddin Azizi also encouraged greater engagement from the Afghan Sikh and Hindu communities and reaffirmed Afghanistan’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful, inclusive, and business-friendly environment for all partners.
Indian authorities have also pledged swift follow-up on the same, including eased business visa processing and strengthened banking channels despite ongoing sanctions hurdles.
Cargo flight operations on the Kabul-Delhi and Kabul-Amritsar sectors are expected to start soon, which will enable faster movement of perishable Afghan exports such as fresh fruits and medicinal herbs. These commodities suffer from delays in ground transit.
Areas flagged for collaboration include pharmaceuticals, cold-chain infrastructure, food processing plants and mineral extraction ventures.
The backdrop to these agreements is Kabul’s deteriorating transit relationship with Pakistan.
Last month, amid Pakistan and Afghanistan’s cross-border attacks, dozens of Afghan trucks were stranded with produce rotting when the frontier shut on October 12.
Losses exceeded $100 million on both sides, and up to 25,000 border workers were affected, according to the Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI).
Following this, Afghan deputy PM Baradar warned traders that Kabul would not intervene if they kept relying on Pakistan.
TALIBAN REGIME HAS ASKED AFGHANS TO SKIP PAK FOR TRADE
Recent directives from Afghan leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, have urged traders to wind down business through Pakistani routes within months, citing repeated closures and perceived political exploitation by Islamabad. Losses for Afghan exporters have mounted into tens of millions of dollars over the past year.
In response, freight through Chabahar and Central Asian pathways has surged. The Iranian port, part of the broader International North-South Transport Corridor championed by New Delhi, now serves as landlocked Afghanistan’s primary seaport in Iran.
However, trade via this route and limited air links hit roughly $900 million in the last fiscal year, even flipping a small surplus in Kabul’s favour for the first time.
But with New Delhi’s thawing of ties with Kabul, by expanding humanitarian aid—more than a million tonnes of wheat since 2021—while also resuming direct flights to Kabul, India has sustained engagement even as it has engaged with the Taliban administration.
Wing Commander Namansh Syal, 34, of the Indian Air Force, was martyred after the indigenous Tejas fighter jet crashed during a practice sortie at the Dubai Air Show.
The pilot in the Tejas aircraft crash during the Dubai Air Show has been identified as Squadron Leader Naman Syal from Kangra.
Himachal Pradesh’s Patialakad village in Nagrota Bagwan was left shattered after Wing Commander Namansh Syal, 34, of the Indian Air Force, was martyred when an IAF Tejas fighter jet crashed in the United Arab Emirates on Friday while taking part in the Dubai Airshow 2025. The indigenous aircraft went down during a practice and demonstration flight at the prestigious event in the afternoon local time.
Wing Commander Syal, a resident of Nagrota Bagwan, was known for his discipline and exceptional service record. He did his schooling at Sainik School, Sujanpur Tira, in Hamirpur district. He is survived by his aged parents, his wife — an Indian Air Force officer — and their six-year-old daughter.
His father, Jagan Nath, a retired Army officer who later served as a principal in the Himachal Pradesh Education Department, and his mother Bina Devi were in Hyderabad to meet their son and daughter-in-law at the time of the tragedy. The Syal family home had been locked for several days.
Visuals of the crash aired on multiple TV channels showed the Tejas jet losing altitude before hitting the ground and bursting into a massive ball of fire. Thick smoke billowed from the crash site, leaving spectators at the Dubai Airshow stunned.
The news of the fatal crash sent waves of grief across the Kangra valley, with villagers gathering outside the family home late into the cold night. Many sat in shock, lighting a bonfire for warmth as they tried to comprehend the loss of their brave son.
The Enforcement Directorate has submitted a chargesheet against Robert Vadra, husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in a money laundering investigation linked to UK arms consultant Sanjay Bhandari.
ED files chargesheet against Robert Vadra in London asset case Photo : PTI
The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday filed a chargesheet against businessman Robert Vadra, husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in a money laundering case linked to fugitive UK-based arms consultant Sanjay Bhandari, officials said.
The supplementary prosecution complaint has been filed before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court here, they said. The case has been listed for cognisance proceedings on December 6, the officials said.
This is the second money laundering chargesheet against Vadra. In July, he was chargesheeted by the ED in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in a land deal in Haryana’s Shikohpur.
Vadra, 56, has been questioned by the ED in the Bhandari-linked case in the past. There was no immediate response from Vadra or his legal team.
The ED filed a criminal case against Bhandari and others under the PMLA in February 2017, taking cognisance of an Income Tax department chargesheet filed against him under the anti-black money law of 2015.
In the earlier chargesheet filed in this case in 2023, the ED alleged that Bhandari “acquired” the 12, Bryanston Square house located in London in 2009 and got it renovated “as per the directions of Robert Vadra and the funds for renovation were provided by Robert Vadra”.
Officials said the ED probe found that Vadra was “assisting” Bhandari and “using” the London property which was nothing but “proceeds of crime” under the provisions of the anti-money laundering law.
Vadra has consistently denied that he owned any London property directly or indirectly. Terming the ED charges a political witch hunt against him, he has said that he was being “hounded and harassed” to subserve political ends.
The agency, officials said, confronted and questioned Vadra on certain evidence gathered in this case from other countries, to which he allegedly did not provide a “satisfactory” reply.
The property acquired by Bhandari was “beneficially” used by Vadra for his personal use and since it was found that Vadra was in possession of the “proceeds of crime”, a chargesheet was filed against him seeking his prosecution under the PMLA, they said.
The ED is understood to have found that Vadra furnished the said London property even though it was purchased by Bhandari for 1.9 million GBP.
The funds for furnishing the house were “provided” by Vadra, he used to decide about the interiors of the property and also used to “stay” in the said property even though the ownership of the property kept changing from Bhandari to C C Thampi to one “Mr. Cheru”, the officials said.
The evidence collected by ED found that Vadra used this property during the times when the property was in “benami” names, they said.
Security agencies recovered nearly 3000 kg of ammonium nitrate from Dr Muzammil’s rented accommodation in Faridabad a day before the Delhi Red Fort car blast.
Investigators search Dr Muzammil’s Faridabad residence, where nearly 3000 kg of ammonium nitrate was seized a day before the Delhi Red Fort blast.
A Times Now video footage shows the Faridabad residence of terror accused Dr Muzammil, from where nearly 3000 kg of ammonia nitrate was recovered on November 9, just a day before the Delhi Red Fort car blast.
The video was shot while searches were on at the rented apartment in Faridabad’s Fatehpur Taga village on the day of the blast, in which 13 people were killed and over 30 were injured.
Dr Muzammil, a faculty at Faridabad’s Al Falah University, was arrested weeks before the blast. His arrest soon led to the unravelling of a “white collar” Jaish-e-Mohammed terror network, spanning several states including Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and West Bengal.
The NIA took over the Delhi blast probe and has taken into custody Dr Muzammil and his accomplices Dr Adeel Rather of Anantnag, Dr Shaheen of Lucknow and Dr Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay of Shopian, taking the total number of arrests in the case to six.
The fresh move followed some sequence of steps taken earlier this year, comprising the January 2025 agreement between India and China when the two countries agreed to resume direct passenger flights.
The decision followed an order this year suggesting to resume tourist visas for Chinese nationals.
In a significant step towards normalising bilateral ties, India is learnt to have resumed issuance of tourist visas to Chinese citizens worldwide– a move ending a five-year suspension imposed following the 2020 Galwan clash.
The fresh move followed some sequence of steps taken earlier this year, comprising the January 2025 agreement between India and China when the two countries agreed to resume direct passenger flights.
Officials, privy to the development, said that the decision followed an order issued in July this year suggesting to resume tourist visas for Chinese nationals.
A month ago, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage, halted for five years, was also revived in June 2025, with the first group of Indian pilgrims crossing into Tibet.
Earlier, on April 1, marking 75 years of diplomatic ties, Presidents Xi Jinping and Droupadi Murmu, along with Premier Li Qiang and PM Modi, exchanged congratulatory messages, signalling renewed commitment to stability.
Throughout 2025, diplomacy between India and China intensified as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Beijing in July, noting relations were “gradually moving in a positive direction” with a “fundamental basis for mutual strategic trust.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reciprocated with a two-day trip to New Delhi in August, meeting National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and EAM Jaishankar to discuss border de-escalation and normalisation.
This paved the way for PM Modi’s landmark visit to China on August 31, his first in seven years, for the SCO Summit in Tianjin, where he and Xi committed to viewing each other as “partners rather than rivals.”
Earlier on November 10, Consul General of India in Shanghai, Pratik Mathur, on Monday welcomed the first batch of passengers arriving from New Delhi as direct commercial flights between India and China officially resumed after five years.
The proposed UPI-TIPS interlinkage aims to facilitate cross-border remittances between India and the Euro Area and is expected to benefit users of both jurisdictions, the RBI said in a statement.
The RBI has been actively pursuing interlinking of UPI with fast payment systems of other jurisdictions.
In a significant move, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday has announced the interlinking of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) of the Eurosystem.
The proposed UPI-TIPS interlinkage aims to facilitate cross-border remittances between India and the Euro Area and is expected to benefit users of both jurisdictions, the RBI said in a statement.
Reserve Bank of India and NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) have been engaging with European Central Bank on the initiative to connect UPI with the TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS), the instant payment system operated by the Eurosystem, it added.
Notably, the Reserve Bank of India has been actively pursuing interlinking of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with fast payment systems of other jurisdictions to promote crossborder payments.
These initiatives are aligned with the G20 Roadmap for enhancing cross-border payments, with a focus on cheaper, efficient, more transparent and more accessible remittances.
Reserve Bank of India and NIPL will continue to collaborate closely with European Central Bank to operationalise the UPI-TIPS link, including technical integration, risk management and settlement arrangements, the statement read.
Recently, while speaking with ANI, Peruvian Ambassador Javier Manuel Paulinich Velarde told Peru will also implement by next year the UPI-like real-time digital payments system.
The prime minister also met members of the Indian community based in South Africa who are actively working with different community organisations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday interacted with Indian origin tech entrepreneurs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday interacted with Indian origin tech entrepreneurs and members of the Indian community based in South Africa and called upon them to deepen their engagement with India.
Modi, who is in Johannesburg to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit, in a social media post said he had a “fruitful interaction” with Indian origin tech entrepreneurs and they talked about the work they are doing in sectors such as FinTech, social media platforms, agriculture, education, healthcare, medical devices and more.
“Called upon them to deepen their engagement with India and work closely with our people,” he said.
The prime minister also met members of the Indian community based in South Africa who are actively working with different community organisations.
“They shared their experiences on various issues and were very appreciative of India’s strides across different fields. Urged them to keep up the momentum with which they are enhancing people-to-people linkages,” he said.
“Also asked them to boost the popularity of Indian culture among the people of South Africa, including practices such as Yoga, Ayurveda,” he added.
“The prime minister emphasised their role as ‘a living bridge’ between the two countries. He appreciated the contribution of over 1.7 million strong Indian diaspora in South Africa towards nurturing the historical bonds of friendship between India and South Africa,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X.
Modi also lauded their efforts to help the youth connect with the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, he added.
The prime minister also received a ‘Kalash’ from the Chinmaya Mission, consisting of Shree Anna or millets from India as well as South Africa.
“This will be placed in the Annapoorna Devi Temple in Durban,” he said.
Modi also met with the winners of the Bharat Ko Janiye (Know India) Quiz in South Africa.
The prime minister said this quiz “encourages members of our diaspora to learn more about India’s history, culture and more”.
Separately, Modi met his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in Johannesburg and the two leaders took stock of progress in cooperation in diverse areas, including defence and security, critical minerals, trade & investment and people-to-people ties.
Modi met Albanese hours after he arrived in South Africa to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit.
Until the Red Fort blast on November 10, which killed at least 15 people, everything was officially perfect with the university – UGC-recognised, NAAC-accredited, proud banners everywhere.
For now, the students oscillate between despair and defiant hope.
“Our university is being called a terror den, an incubator of radicals. Some even say it should be razed to the ground. But what about the hundreds of students who came here only to build a career?” said a postgraduate MBBS student as he left the campus gates of Al Falah University with two suitcases, his face covered by a mask.
“If the college shuts down tomorrow, five years of NEET struggle and lakhs of rupees – everything will vanish. We will become that batch whose degree no hospital trusts.”
He added that his exams were over and he was returning home to Uttar Pradesh. He refused to share his identity.
The terror cloud descended suddenly. Until the Red Fort blast on November 10, which killed at least 15 people, everything was officially perfect with the university – UGC-recognised, NAAC-accredited, proud banners everywhere. Then came the arrests: Dr Umar un Nabi, the assistant professor who allegedly drove the explosive-laden car; Dr Muzammil Shakil, from whose rented house explosives were recovered; and finally the university founder himself, Jawed Ahmed Siddiqui, taken into ED custody over allegations of Rs 415 crore in “proceeds of crime.”
In a matter of days, the same institution went from “premier medical college” to “alleged white-collar terror hub” in TV tickers.
On November 12, Al Falah University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Bhupinder Kaur, issued a statement clarifying that the institution had no association with the arrested individuals beyond their official employment as faculty members.
Despite the university becoming the epicentre of the blast investigation, college authorities confirmed that all 150 MBBS seats for the 2025-26 academic session have been filled. Established with approval in 2019, the college charges significantly lower fees compared to most private medical institutions – a factor that faculty members say explains the continued high demand despite the ongoing probe.
Rajesh Sharma, father of a first-year student, entered the gate on a bike with his daughter sitting behind him. “Tomorrow, parents will be addressing the media about their concerns. But personally, it’s my dream to see my daughter become a doctor. Where do I go now after what happened? Private colleges don’t have seats mid-session. Government colleges laugh at lateral entry. My daughter says, ‘Papa, if I leave now, I lose one year; if I stay and NMC cancels recognition, I lose everything.’ What kind of choice is this for a parent?”
When asked about fears of other potentially radicalised students within the university, Rajesh told NDTV, “Not every intellectual is a radical. Our dreams shouldn’t be punished for someone else’s sins. We understand the reputation of the university is spoiled, but trust can be restored. I trust the values I’ve taught my child.”
Al-Falah University has now resolved a matter with the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) after it was found displaying an expired accreditation status on its website. Responding to NAAC’s show-cause notice, the university attributed the error to an “oversight” and a “technical glitch in website design,” termed it unintentional, tendered an apology, and promptly removed the incorrect information.
NAAC has issued similar notices to 25 other higher education institutions across the country for displaying lapsed accreditation grades. Officials confirmed that, in the case of Al-Falah University, no further punitive action will be taken after the corrective measures.
The NMC has also permanently removed four doctors linked to a terror module – Dr Muzaffar Ahmad, Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather, Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie, and Dr Shaheen Shahid – from the Indian Medical Register, barring them from practising medicine in India. The action was taken after they were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for their alleged involvement in the Delhi blast case.
Earlier, the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) had withdrawn Al-Falah University’s membership.
Yet inside the hostels, over 600 medical students – many from Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Haryana – are clinging to a single hope: the National Medical Commission (NMC).
“NMC is our only lifeline now,” says Arjun (name changed), a final-year student from Lucknow. “We know some faculty did unimaginable things. Punish them, investigate fully, but please don’t kill our careers. Transfer us, merge us with another college, do whatever – just don’t cancel the affiliation without a migration plan. We beg you. Tomorrow parents are protesting outside the gate – not against the college, but for our future.”
Even as NIA and police teams comb hostel rooms, and the Haryana DGP himself inspected the premises on Thursday, classes somehow continue.
A senior faculty member who still reports for duty told NDTV on condition of anonymity: “We are also scared because the administration is silent. But we come because abandoning these children now would be the real crime. Several of my colleagues have already left the campus on leave.”
Meanwhile, Faridabad Police Commissioner Satender Kumar Gupta has directed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe how the university turned into a hub for terrorist activities. The team has been tasked with collecting detailed information on the funding sources of the terror module and the supply chain of explosives. Reports are also being compiled on the involvement of residents from neighbouring villages in the network.
The accident unfolded within minutes after a routine Fastag scan flagged insufficient balance, prompting the man to step out of his car to resolve the issue.
The victim, identified as Mubin Khan, lived in ward number seven of Tijara in Alwar district .
A 45-year-old man, on his way to drop a friend at the airport, was crushed to death and dragged for nearly 200 metres under a dumper truck at the Kherki Daula toll plaza on the Delhi–Jaipur Expressway early on Friday morning, police said.
The accident unfolded within minutes after a routine Fastag scan flagged insufficient balance, prompting the man to step out of his car to resolve the issue – only to be caught in the path of a speeding truck whose driver accelerated the moment the boom barrier lifted.
The victim, identified as Mubin Khan, lived in ward number seven of Tijara in Alwar district and had left home at dawn to drop his friend, Puneet Kumar, to the Indira Gandhi International Airport who was scheduled to fly to Bengaluru.
Investigators aware of the case details said Khan’s Hyundai Aura was flagged when the automatic deduction of ₹95 failed because of low Fastag balance. Toll booth staff told him to pull over and surrender his mobile phone as collateral while he paid the manual toll of ₹118 via UPI. He parked the car a short distance ahead, got out, and walked toward the operator’s cabin. He even recharged the Fastag with ₹100, but the update had not reflected by the time he reached the booth.
According to Sandeep Turan, spokesperson for the Gurugram police, the accident occurred moments after Khan completed his payment and began walking back.
“A truck entered the lane, and when the boom barrier lifted after the toll was deducted from its Fastag, the driver accelerated. He ran over Khan instantly. It appears he either didn’t realise he had mowed someone down, or he deliberately kept driving to escape,” Turan said.
Khan became trapped under the rear wheels and was dragged for several metres. His body was completely mutilated.
The truck fled, and only once toll workers noticed a trail of blood and body parts did they realise what had happened. CCTV footage from the plaza captured the truck’s Rajasthan registration number, and police said the driver would be arrested soon.
Even Kumar, who sat in the car just a few feet aware, remained unaware of the horrific accident. He repeatedly called Khan’s phone to ask what was causing the delay, but nobody answered. When he walked back to the booth, he learned that an accident had taken place. He rushed towards the small crowd gathering near the lane exit – and recognised his friend’s body. He immediately alerted the family in Tijara.
A senior official from the toll-operating firm confirmed that the truck, loaded with gravel, sped off moments after the accident. CCTV footage has been handed over to police.
‘Police warned us against looking at the body’
For the family, the tragic news arrived like a blow. Dilshad Khan, a relative, said Mubin and Puneet had left Tijara shortly before 4am. “Kumar’s flight was at 9am. They had been close friends for years. We received the information almost instantly, and several of us rushed to Gurugram,” he said.
He added that police did not allow the family to see the body. “They warned us not to open the bag after the post-mortem because it was too mutilated. We didn’t get to see him even one last time.”
“His wife Sarjeena is repeatedly fainting since she got to know about his death. A doctor visited her at home and gave her some medicines to sleep,” he said.
Khan had several acres of ancestral land and was involved in real estate deals across Tijara and parts of Alwar. But he was also the family’s central figure – the sole provider, the problem-solver, the one everyone relied on.
“His daughter Muskaan, 20, and sons Arman, 16, and Asif, 17, still cannot grasp that he is gone,” Dilshad said. “The entire family is shattered. And police have still not taken even arrested the truck driver.”
