Category: India

“This time, Tejashwi will contest all 243 seats… My appeal to all of you is to vote in my name,” the RJD leader said.

Amid a push from Mahagathbandhan allies for a larger share of seats for the Bihar Assembly elections, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has made an appeal to the people of the state and said they should vote in all 243 constituencies in his name.

Addressing a rally in Muzaffarpur on Saturday, Mr Yadav said, “This time, Tejashwi will contest all 243 seats. Whether it is Bochahan or Muzaffarpur, Tejashwi will fight. My appeal to all of you is to vote in my name. Tejaswhi will work towards taking Bihar forward… All of us should work together and unseat this government.”

The former deputy chief minister, who was part of the Voter Adhikar Yatra led by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, also said attempts were being made by the BJP to snatch people’s right to vote.

Mr Yadav’s appeal came at a time when the already complicated seat-sharing talks within the Mahagathbandhan have been made even trickier by the inclusion of the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Pashupati Paras-led Lok Janshakti Party.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal had contested 144 constituencies as part of the alliance in the 2020 Bihar elections and won 75, making it the single-largest party.

The Congress, which was allotted 70 seats, won 19, but the party sees itself in a much stronger position this time because it believes that the Voter Adhikar Yatra and its vote ‘chori’ (theft) message has resonated with the people of Bihar and increased both Mr Gandhi and the party’s popularity.

Hinting that the RJD should give up some seats and be more accommodating, Krishna Allavaru, the Congress’ state in-charge, had said earlier this week, “We have always believed that if new parties come into the alliance, then every party will have to contribute from their kitty.”

“In every state, there are good seats and bad seats (in terms of winnability) and we believe that one party should not get all the good seats and the other gets the bad ones. In the sharing of seats, there should be a balance between good and bad seats,” he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

The Congress, sources said, wants at least 70 constituencies – the number it had contested last time – while the RJD wants that number to be lower to accommodate other allies.

Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahni is understood to have sought a larger share of the pie and the Left parties (CPI, CPI-M and CPI-ML), which have 15 MLAs, have made a similar push.

Pressure Tactic?

The BJP saw the latest remarks by Mr Yadav, who had earlier declared himself the alliance’s chief ministerial face in the presence of Mr Gandhi, as an effort to put pressure on the RJD’s allies and said people will vote only in the name of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bihar-elections-rjd-congress-seat-sharing-amid-seat-sharing-troubles-in-bihar-tejashwi-yadavs-all-243-appeal-9272166?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Aishanya, the widow of Kanpur businessman Shubham Dwivedi, who was killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, appealed to the people to boycott the match.

Widespread criticism has erupted over India’s cricket match with Pakistan, with opposition parties calling it an insult to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and to the Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives on the border.

On April 22, Pakistani terrorists carried out an attack in the Baisaran meadow of south Kashmir’s Pahalgam, killing 26 civilians, most of them tourists.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray announced ‘Sindoor’ protests across Maharashtra, saying boycotting the match is an opportunity to convey to the world India’s stance on terrorism.

“Till the time terror does not stop, we shouldn’t maintain any relations with Pakistan,” the former Maharashtra chief minister said at a press conference in Mumbai on Saturday.

Targeting the BJP, he asked whether the government is going to announce that Operation Sindoor has been stopped, and appealed to patriots not to watch the contest as the wounds of the Pahalgam attack remain fresh.

“This cricket match is an insult to national sentiments. Should we be playing cricket with Pakistan while our soldiers sacrifice their lives on the borders?” Thackeray asked.

Former Delhi minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, along with party workers, also burnt an effigy symbolising Pakistani players in the national capital.

“This is a gross humiliation of our women who lost their husbands in the Pahalgam attack, but still our central leadership is going ahead with the India-Pakistan cricket match,” Bharadwaj told reporters.

Later, in a post on X in Hindi, he added, “Pakistan’s cricket players mock our widows in such a dirty, disgusting way, and we will play cricket with them. Shame on the BJP government.”

Aishanya, the widow of Kanpur businessman Shubham Dwivedi, who was killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, appealed to the people to boycott the match.

Speaking to PTI, she described the decision as “deeply insensitive” and accused the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of disregarding the sentiments of the victims’ families. “Their martyrdom holds no value for the BCCI. Perhaps because none of their own were lost,” she said.

Leaders of the Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) and AIMIM have also criticised the decision to play Pakistan.

Shinde-led Sena counters Thackeray

The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, however, hit back at Thackeray, saying he had no moral right to oppose the match.

“Thackeray, who abandoned Hindutva for power and sings praises of Pakistan, cannot suddenly oppose such matches,” said Naresh Mhaske, MP and spokesperson of the Shinde Sena.

Maharashtra deputy chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who heads the NCP, said while the decision regarding the game was taken at the appropriate forum, it was natural to have different opinions.

“The country has a population of 140 crore. In such a vast country, there are bound to be differences of opinion over the cricket match. Some people may feel since relations between the two countries are strained, there should be no match. At the same time, others may support the game,” Pawar told reporters.

BJP’s Anurag Thakur responds

BJP MP and former sports minister Anurag Thakur said that while India may face Pakistan in multinational tournaments, its stance on bilateral cricket ties with the country remains unchanged.

Speaking to ANI, Thakur said participation in such matches is dictated by tournament rules, not a change in India’s diplomatic or national policies.

“When multinational tournaments are organised by ACC or ICC, it becomes a compulsion, a necessity for nations to participate. If they don’t do that, they will be eliminated from the tournament, they will have to forfeit the match, and the other team will get the points,” Thakur explained.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/deeply-insensitive-political-tempers-rise-boycott-calls-grow-over-india-pakistan-asia-cup-face-off-101757810362813.html

Ankita Lokhande and hubby Vicky Jain have made it to the headlines for the businessman’s sudden hospitalization videos which is going viral on social media.

Ankita Lokhande and Vicky Jain are one of the most loved couples of the small screen. These two often make hit headlines for their onscreen love. But this time, a video of Vicky Jain, hospitalised, is going viral. A video of him on a hospital bed with the actress on his side is leaving everyone concerned about his health.

Vicky Jain hospitalized

On Friday night, taking to his Instagram stories, former Bigg Boss 17 contestant Samarth Jurel shared a video straight from the hospital. In the video, we can see Vicky Jain lying on a hospital bed with his right hand plastered and left hand injected with syringes. Ankita Lokhande stood beside him and was there to support him throughout. In the clip, Samarth asked Vicky to get well soon. The exact reason for his hospitalisation is still not known.

The video saw all three Bigg Boss 17 contestants in a light mood. Samarth can be heard saying, “Bye Vicky bhai, bye,” to which Vicky quickly responded, “Bye mat bol yaar.” Samarth then reassured him by saying, “I mean, I’ll meet you in 2 hours.” The laughter and teasing in the video brought relief to fans who are concerned about the businessman’s health.

These three were in the Bigg Boss 17 house and formed a good bond. Later, they were also a part of Laughter Chefs season 2, which concluded recently.

Source : https://www.pinkvilla.com/tv/updates/what-happened-to-ankita-lokhandes-husband-vicky-jain-bigg-boss-star-ends-up-in-hospital-again-1396812

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Manipur for the first time since ethnic clashes began in 2023. His focus is Churachandpur, the conflict’s epicentre, where he will initiate projects worth Rs 7,300 crore. While Imphal shows signs of stability, Kukis in Churachandpur remain sceptical about the government’s promises.

In Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Manipur visit, the first since ethnic clashes erupted in 2023, the focus on Churachandpur district of the northeast state is unmissable. It was a rally in Churachandpur, the key town of the hill-based Kuki-Zo tribes, that plunged the state into its worst violence in decades.

Over 250 people have been killed, scores wounded, women raped and 60,000 displaced as the violence kept simmering even after a year. Such was the ferocity of the strife that it touched Meitei and Kuki people living in Delhi.

PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth over Rs 7,300 crore at Churachandpur. This is “in line with his commitment to inclusive, sustainable and holistic development of Manipur,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.

The PM will also inaugurate multiple development projects worth over Rs 1,200 crore at Imphal, the PMO said.

Manipur has witnessed an Imphal-Churachandpur pull. While Imphal is in the valley where the Meiteis are in an overwhelming majority, Churachandpur is the main town of the hill districts, inhabited mostly by the Kuki-Zo tribes, other than the Naga communities.

Manipur is now under central rule after Chief Minister Biren Singh, who hung on to the post through the worst phase of violence, resigned on February 9. The Centre has been questioned by the Opposition on multiple occasions on what it had been doing to bring back normalcy. Opposition leaders, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, asked why the PM didn’t visit Manipur in all these months.

PM Modi is visiting Manipur as part of a three-state trip. He will be in Assam and Mizoram too. But his visit to Manipur, especially Churachandpur, is the highlight of the visit.

SITUATION IN MANIPUR FAR MORE COMPLEX THAN IT SEEMS

Today, however, the mood and the situation on the ground in Manipur is far more complex. There is a split in the Kuki-Zo community over the PM’s visit. While several Kuki-Zo groups are welcoming PM Modi, a section believes he should have visited earlier.

The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) extended a warm welcome to PM Modi ahead of his visit to Churachandpur, calling it a “historic and rare occasion” as no Prime Minister has visited the region in nearly four decades.

Reiterating its long-standing demand, the KZC urged Modi to consider a separate administration for the Kuki-Zo people under Article 239A of the Constitution, citing peace, security, and survival as pressing needs. The council expressed hope that Modi would recognise their pain and aspirations, restore dignity, and ensure lasting protection for the community.

However, some in Churachandpur’s Kuki community aren’t too hopeful, having been cut off from the rest of Manipur for the past two-and-a-half years. Protests with coffins erupted near the DC Office earlier this week.

Caleb, a resident of Churachandpur, told India Today Digital, “When our families were forced to abandon our homes and live in relief camps, the Centre did not even acknowledge our suffering.”

“Two years have gone by—our children have missed school, our elders are living in camps without proper medical care,” he added.

Residents pointed out that children have suffered the most, with schools shut for months and entire academic years lost in some places in Churachandpur. “There are parts of Churachandpur district itself where security forces opened fire on locals (when the protests began) while the administration sat inside offices, doing nothing,” Caleb said.

Meanwhile, in Imphal, the situation is relatively better.

Fakir Ahmed, who runs a travel business in Imphal, told India Today Digital that the situation in the valley was close to normal with security mostly in the peripheral areas.

“Imphal is much more normal now, with security forces only stationed at the periphery of the valley where the hills meet the plains, and where most of the clashes happened,” he said.

But with the Prime Minister’s visit, security has been tightened across the valley, particularly around the BJP office in Imphal.

“Last time when Amit Shah came in May 2024, there were protests, and police had to lathicharge after crowds tried to burn effigies across the city. This time it looks calmer, but in local WhatsApp groups, videos of arson from Churachandpur are already circulating,” Ahmed added.

MODI TO LAY FOUNDATION FOR PROJECTS IN CHURACHANDPUR, IMPHAL

Kukis, mostly government employees and students, fled the Imphal Valley for the hills.

The NH2, the crucial road linking Imphal to Churachandpur, became the symbol of the distance between the two. Burnt houses lined it and armed youths could be seen patrolling it.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pm-narendra-modi-first-visit-manipur-strife-torn-churachandpur-kuki-imphal-meitei-visit-project-inauguration-2786399-2025-09-13

A speeding truck ploughed into devotees, leaving at least eight people dead and several others seriously injured during a visarjan procession in Karnataka’s Hassan on Friday. The tragedy occurred in Mosale Hosalli village between 8 pm and 8:45 pm, when villagers and students were participating in the final rituals of the Ganesh festival.

A Ganpati visarjan procession turned into a scene of horror in Hassan district on Friday evening when a speeding truck ploughed into devotees, leaving at least eight people dead and several others seriously injured. The tragedy occurred in Mosale Hosalli village between 8 pm and 8:45 pm, when villagers and students were participating in the final rituals of the Ganesh festival.

Viral Video Captures Horrifying Scenes

A viral video of the incident shows the truck recklessly swerving onto the road, striking a motorcycle before crashing into the crowd. The impact caused chaos as people were flung onto the road and others ran for cover. Later visuals from hospitals revealed heart-wrenching scenes of relatives crying and pleading as doctors struggled to save the injured.

Hassan Deputy Commissioner KS Latha Kumari confirmed that eight people were killed and 22 injured in the lorry accident, with one critically injured at KIMS Hospital. Seven others are being treated in a private hospital and are stable. While police are yet to confirm the cause, eyewitnesses said the truck hit a divider during the Ganpati procession, which had a large number of youths, including engineering students.

CM Siddaramaiah Announces Aid

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is expected to visit India for a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, likely in February.

The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, is likely to be in India for a bilateral with Prime Minister Narendra Modi early next year, possibly in February. This decision comes after a telephonic conversation between the two leaders very recently. Her bilateral meeting could be right after the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Impact Summit on February 19-20 next year, where she has been invited to speak.
Meloni, prime minister since 2022, and Modi have met five times, the last one during the G-7 in Kananaskis, Canada, in mid-June. She was also in New Delhi during the G-20 meeting. Before the Meloni visit, Antonio Tajani, deputy prime minister and also, foreign minister is expected here. Tajani has been in India recently, in April. Modi is likely to be in Rome sometime in 2026, after the Meloni visit.
While the economy, defence and science and technology are important part of the relationship, space is becoming an increasingly big segment. Later this month, an Italian delegation (businessmen in the space sector and scientists) will visit New Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad in an attempt to build closer ties with the space sector here.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/italy-pm-giorgia-meloni-likely-to-visit-india-for-bilateral-talks-with-pm-modi-early-2026-article-152791080

The Delhi High Court on September 2, had denied bail to Mr Imam, Mr Khalid and seven others – Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Meeran Haider, Shadab Ahmed, Abdul Khalid Saifi and Gulfisha Fatima.

The Supreme Court on Friday adjourned for September 19 pleas of Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid, Gulfisha Fatima and Meeran Haider challenging the Delhi High Court order which denied them bail in the UAPA case linked to the alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 north-east Delhi riots.

A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria adjourned the case, saying they got the case files late last night and didn’t get time to read.

The Delhi High Court on September 2, had denied bail to Mr Imam, Mr Khalid and seven others – Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Meeran Haider, Shadab Ahmed, Abdul Khalid Saifi and Gulfisha Fatima.

On September 2, the bail plea of another accused Tasleem Ahmed was rejected by a different High Court bench.

Delhi Police had opposed their bail pleas saying it was not a case of spontaneous riots but a case where riots were “planned well in advance” with a “sinister motive and well-thought-out conspiracy”.

The High Court had observed that prima facie, the role of Mr Imam and Mr Khalid in the entire conspiracy was “grave”, having delivered inflammatory speeches on communal lines to “instigate mass mobilisation of members of the Muslim community.”

Mr Khalid sought bail from the top court in the larger conspiracy case under the stringent provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in Delhi riots case in February 2020.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/2020-delhi-riots-case-supreme-court-to-hear-bail-pleas-of-sharjeel-imam-umar-khalid-on-september-19-9268076

Sudhakar took a jibe at the Bihar chief minister, who has been in the news recently for his odd behaviour, sparking a debate about his health situation.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is only “medically alive” but “brain dead”, and imposing him on the people of Bihar would be an insult to them, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Sudhakar Singh said, expressing confidence over the Mahagathban getting a two-thirds majority in the upcoming Bihar polls.

In an interview with PTI, Singh also said the Supreme Court’s direction to include Aadhaar as one of the documents for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a major victory for the marginalised sections, who faced the threat of being out of the voter list amid the exercise which seeks voters to submit documents establishing their citizenship of India.

Asked about the upcoming polls in Bihar, Singh, a Lok Sabha MP from Buxar, said Kumar has “mentally retired”.

“People are going to vote for the next generation leadership of Tejashwi Yadav . Mahagathbandhan will come in the government with a two-thirds majority,” Singh said.

“If you look at the Mahagathbandhan, we were only 12,000 votes behind the NDA even in the 2020 Bihar polls despite all the manipulations (by them). We were defeated by 12 votes in one seat, and in some other seats, we were defeated by 250 or 500 votes.

“But in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, we improved our performance. Earlier, the RJD had one MP from Bihar; now we have 10 MPs,” he said.

He took a jibe at the Bihar chief minister, who has been in the news recently for his odd behaviour, sparking a debate about his health situation.

“The chief minister of Bihar is mentally retired; the people of Bihar are familiar with this,” Singh said.

He suggested that the NDA should appoint the panel of doctor to examine Kumar.

“Nitish Kumar is medically and biologically alive, but mentally he is dead. He is a brain-dead person. Are the 13 crore people of Bihar going to be under the leadership of a brain-dead chief minister? Those who say that want to see Bihar as a colony,” he said.

“If the NDA has any morality, they should form a three-member panel of AIIMS doctors, get a health check-up done and release the report,” he said.

Kumar has been in the news recently for his antics. At a ceremony in Patna in May this year, he accepted a potted plant from a senior IAS officer and then placed it on the officer’s head. In another incident in March, he drew criticism for inappropriate behaviour during the national anthem.

“Staying in power is not a bad thing, but imposing a brain-dead CM on 13 crore people of Bihar to remain in power is an insult to the people, and you are seeing Bihar as a colony,” the RJD MP added.

Talking about the Special Intensive Revision of the voter list being carried out in Bihar, Singh welcomed the Supreme Court’s intervention, asking the Election Commission (EC) to accept Aadhaar as one of the documents listed for the exercise, and called it a major victory.

“After a long struggle, this is a big victory for the marginalised sections, like those who are uneducated or are below the poverty line. The Aadhaar card is used to get a passport, driving licence and bank account. The EC was ready to accept those documents, but the main document, the Aadhaar card, they had refused to accept,” Singh said.

He also took a dig at the poll panel for not consulting political parties and also ignoring the suggestions given by the top court.

“If we look at the initial period of the SIR, the Election Commission was not ready to talk to any of the stakeholders. They were neither listening to political parties nor were they ready to accept any suggestion of the Honourable Supreme Court,” he said.

“The SC had suggested that you should display the whole process of SIR on a dashboard. But the EC said in front of the Supreme Court that it is not obliged to show any document in the public domain or to the Supreme Court,” he said.

“Approximately 25% of the population is illiterate and landless; this is a relief for them,” Singh remarked.

Asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks about “infiltrators” being there in the country, Singh said, “It is very surprising that a person sitting at the highest position in the constitutional system is involved in a political accusation. It was expected that he would deport the infiltrators, but he is making accusations from the Red For. This means he is accepting his failure.” “What does his statement from Red Fort mean? It means he is a failed prime minister,” he said.

Sources in the EC had earlier claimed that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have found a large number of people from Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar in the electoral rolls of Bihar.

Singh slammed the poll panel for not giving machine-readable voter list to parties, and questioned the claim that changes can be made by parties if the data is in an editable format.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/bihar/nitish-kumar-medically-alive-but-brain-dead-alleges-rjd-mp-sudhakar-singh-3723213-3723213

US envoy-designate Sergio Gor said pulling India closer to Washington and away from Beijing will be a “top priority,” stressing energy and trade as key pillars of cooperation.

Sergio Gor, US President Donald Trump’s nominee for Ambassador to India, on Thursday said Washington would make it a “top priority” to pull India closer to the US and away from China.

Addressing reporters on foreign relations, Gor emphasised that the Indo-US ties are far warmer than India’s relations with Beijing.

“We will make it a top priority that India is pulled into our side and away from them,” he said.

“In the ongoing trade talks, we want the Indian market to open for our crude oil, petroleum products, and LNG. India’s middle class is larger than the entire US,” he added.

While acknowledging “hiccups” in the partnership, he expressed confidence in long-term cooperation, citing trade and energy as key areas.

“While we (India-US) might have our moment of hiccups right now, we are on the track of resolving that.”

“Our relationship with the Indian government and the Indian people extends many more decades, and it’s a much warmer relationship than they have with the Chinese,” Gor said.

“Chinese expansionism is not just on the border with India, it’s all over the area,” he added.

Sergio Gor, nominated by Trump to be ambassador to India, also noted that India and the US are actively negotiating right now.

Referring to Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s scheduled visit to Washington, Gor said Donald Trump has invited their commerce and trade ministers next week, and they will be meeting with US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer in Washington.

“Part of that will include hopeful, a hopeful deal. We are not that far apart right now on a deal. In fact, they’re negotiating the nitty-gritty of a deal,” Gor said.

“We expect more from India than we do sometimes from other nations. I do think it will get resolved over the next few weeks,” he said.

He said India’s protectionist policies and regulatory barriers have prevented Washington from fully realising its partnership with Delhi, and if confirmed, he will work to advance trade that is fair, reciprocal and beneficial to Americans.

Gor concluded by highlighting India’s importance for the global order.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/sergio-gor-says-us-top-priority-that-india-is-pulled-away-from-china-us-envoy-designate-9566571.html

Mr Khalid’s counsel, senior advocate Trideep Pais, said, “I have spent five years in custody in this joke of an FIR. This FIR doesn’t have the sanctity of law.” The case is being investigated by Delhi Police’s Special Cell.

Activist Umar Khalid on Thursday opposed the framing of charges in the 2020 Delhi riots “larger conspiracy” case and told a Delhi court that he has spent five years in custody in this “joke of an FIR”.

He alleged that evidence was fabricated to implicate him.

The arguments on framing of charges were being held before Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai.

Mr Khalid’s counsel, senior advocate Trideep Pais, said, “I have spent five years in custody in this joke of an FIR. This FIR doesn’t have the sanctity of law.” The case is being investigated by Delhi Police’s Special Cell.

Mr Pais said the FIR, in which the prosecution claimed that 51 innocent people died, was unnecessary as these deaths are being probed separately.

“The deaths of those people are being investigated by 751 different FIRs,” the senior counsel said.

He alleged that the prosecution initially decided to implicate a person and then targeted him by fabricating documents and filing the chargesheet.

“You first decide ‘isko pakadna hai’ (this person has to be caught)… then reverse engineering takes place,” Mr Pais said.

“There are no linkages (with the actual offences) and we are far away from recovery,” he added.

Mr Pais cited various orders of trial courts regarding the 2020 riots in northeast Delhi where the judges were critical of the investigative agency while acquitting the accused persons.

“Please see the falsehood of the chargesheet, the manner in which it peddles lies. This (Khalid) is a person who was not there,” he said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/delhi-riots-case-fir-a-joke-with-fabricated-evidence-umar-khalid-in-delhi-high-court-9262242

Free and secure Indian Ocean is our shared priority, says Modi, speaking alongside Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam; MoUs inked for cooperation in technology, development projects

India and Mauritius are not just partners but a family, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Varanasi on Thursday, at the signing of agreements framed to deepen ties between the two countries.

Following bilateral discussions with his counterpart from Mauritius, Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Mr. Modi said that a stable, prosperous, free, open and secure Indian Ocean was a joint priority of both countries.

“Centuries ago, our culture and traditions travelled from India to Mauritius, and became a part of everyday life there. Just like the eternal flow of Maa Ganga in Kashi, the continuous stream of Indian culture has enriched Mauritius. And today, when we are welcoming friends from Mauritius in Kashi, it is not just a formality but a spiritual union. That is why I proudly say that India and Mauritius are not just partners but a family,” said Mr. Modi.

The Prime Minister said Mauritius is an integral part of India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy.

At a press conference, Mr. Modi said, “Today, we have announced a special economic package designed to support Mauritius’s needs and priorities. This will strengthen infrastructure, create new employment opportunities, and further enhance healthcare facilities. The first Jan Aushadhi Kendra outside India has now been established in Mauritius.”

AYUSH centre

India also announced that it would extend cooperation in establishing an AYUSH Centre of Excellence, a 500-bed Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam National Hospital, as well as a veterinary school and animal hospital in Mauritius. The two countries also signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to enhance cooperation in science and technology, oceanographic research, power sector and implementation of Phase II of small development projects.

In a proposed hydrography project, the countries will work together on joint surveys, navigation charts, and hydrographic data of the exclusive economic zones of Mauritius.

“Very soon, we will also launch the training modules of Mission Karmayogi [capacity building for government officials] in Mauritius. The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, and the Indian Institute of Plantation Management have entered into agreements with the University of Mauritius. These agreements will elevate our partnership in research, education, and innovation to new heights,” added Mr. Modi, lauding the unique “civilisational ties” between the two countries.

Source : https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mauritius-ramgoolam-pm-modi-talks-varanasi-september-11-2025/article70036993.ece

CP Radhakrishnan sworn in as India’s Vice President at Rashtrapati Bhavan by President Droupadi Murmu on Friday. Dhankhar also attended the ceremony, his first public appearance since his resignation as VP.

CP Radhakrishnan was on Friday sworn in as the 15th Vice President of India. President Droupadi Murmu administered oath to the 67-year-old Radhakrishnan at a formal ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday, which was attended by top leaders of the BJP, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Dhankhar also attended the ceremony, his first public appearance since his resignation as VP.
Dressed in a red kurta, Radhakrishnan took oath in English in the name of God.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP president JP Nadda were among those who attended the programme.

Former vice presidents Hamid Ansari and Venkaiah Naidu were also present at the ceremony.
Radhakrishanan, 67, won the vice presidential election on Tuesday, defeating the joint opposition nominee B Sudershan Reddy by a margin of 152 votes.
The election was necessitated due to the sudden resignation of the then incumbent, Jagdeep Dhankhar, on July 21.
Previously, Radhakrishnan served as the Governor of Maharashtra. The 67-year-old described his 13-month tenure in the state as the happiest period in his public life and he would carry with him fond memories as he is set to move to Delhi as the next Vice President of India, according to a PTI report.

A new study has found that many Indian doctors continue to overprescribe antibiotics to children, even when they are unnecessary. Experts warn that this misuse contributes to rising antibiotic resistance, making common infections harder to treat. The findings highlight the urgent need for stricter prescription guidelines and greater awareness among healthcare providers and parents.

Doctors in India are overprescribing antibiotics for pediatric diarrhoea, even when there is no bacterial infection, research has found. The study, published in Science Advances, has pinpointed healthcare providers’ mistaken beliefs about patient expectations as the primary culprit rather than knowledge deficits. Researchers say it happens not because doctors want to fleece the parents but because the latter expect medicines that will work fast.
Taking antibiotics when needed is a serious problem across the world, as it leads to antimicrobial resistance, or AMR – when microorganisms evolve to resist the drugs designed to kill them. Experts believe AMR is making infections harder to treat and leading to increased illness, disability, and death in humans and animals.
The study also talks about a term known as “know-do gap”, which measures the space between what doctors know is correct and what they actually do in real life. Researchers said they found that more than 60 per cent of the doctors did understand that antibiotics were not needed for most cases of childhood diarrhoea, but they still prescribed them.

The study stresses the fact that if the doctors always follow what they already know, wrong prescriptions can drop by about 30 per cent. But if more focus is given on the training and information to the doctors, the improvement might be just six points.

It all started when Starbucks filed a complaint against the Pakistani cafe named Sattar Buksh, which also had its logo very similar to the logo of Starbucks. Starbucks, which hadn’t established outlets in Pakistan then, took objection. It argued that Sattar Buksh’s name and look could cause confusion and could also dilute its trademark.

What started as a dream of owning a cafe in Pakistan by a duo is now making global headlines for defeating a multinational coffeehouse chain, Starbucks, in court. It all started when Starbucks filed a complaint against the Pakistani cafe named Sattar Buksh, which also had its logo very similar to the logo of Starbucks. Starbucks, which hadn’t established outlets in Pakistan then, took objection. It argued that Sattar Buksh’s name and look could cause confusion and could also dilute its trademark.

The duo, named Rizwan Ahmad and Adnan Yousuf, started Sattar Buksh in Karachi back in 2013. When Starbucks started a legal dispute, the founders said that their cafe was built with satire in mind. They pointed out differences in logo elements (fonts, figures, colours).

They emphasised that the name “Sattar Buksh” has a long cultural legacy in Pakistan, with the help of the mention of the name in a 500-year-old Arabic book. The cafe also blended local food and a mixed aesthetic, and claims that it wasn’t trying to be a mirror image. Over time, the branding was tweaked to reduce resemblance. Disclaimers were put to clarify that there was no affiliation with Starbucks.

Revamped Menu, Different Than Starbucks

Poverty, unemployment, corruption and misgovernance are a deadly mix that has caused a volcanic eruption of mob fury which has singed Nepal. New Delhi’s foreign policy mandarins may not readily admit it but the scale and intensity of the protests led by the country’s youthful demographic has clearly caught the Modi government off guard.

It may now seem a distant memory, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first foreign policy initiative in 2014 was potentially a tactical and diplomatic masterstroke: inviting leaders of all the South Asian nations to his oath-taking ceremony. It signalled a desire for India to act as a magnet for South Asian regional unity.

Eleven years later, any hope of a revival in the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has evaporated as internal politics, nationalist fervour, economic distress and mutual antagonisms resurface in unimagined ways. In the process, the Modi government’s much-hyped ‘Neighbourhood First’ sloganeering lies in tatters.

Take the latest example of the violent protests ravaging Nepal, a country beset with chronic instability for over a decade now. Since 2015, when a new constitution came into force, Nepal has seen as many as nine governments, with a tenth one on the horizon. Poverty, unemployment, corruption and misgovernance are a deadly mix that has caused a volcanic eruption of mob fury which has singed the Himalayan republic. New Delhi’s foreign policy mandarins may not readily admit it but the scale and intensity of the protests led by the country’s youthful demographic has clearly caught the Modi government off guard.

It may again seem like a fading memory, but Nepal was the second foreign country (Bhutan was the first) the peripatetic Mr Modi visited as prime minister. The images of the prime minister praying at the Pashupatinath Temple went instantly viral: it was seen as emblematic of a Hindutva-centric leadership that was intent on retracing the deep religious and cultural roots between the two nations.

It didn’t take long for the well-choreographed optics to give way to harsh realities. A five-month unofficial ‘blockade’ of the Indo-Nepal border in 2015-16 was seen by many Nepalis as a wrongful attempt by New Delhi to dictate terms to Kathmandu. It soured relations to the point where Nepal even attempted to redraw the map and extend its territorial claims across the border. The escalatory moves reflect just how Nepal’s politicians have periodically fuelled anti-India politics for local cross-party support.

In a sense, Nepal’s Gen Z protests mirror what unfolded in Bangladesh last July. If in Nepal, a social media ban was the trigger point, in Bangladesh, student anger against a reservation policy in civil services rapidly spilt onto the streets and eventually led to the ouster of the long-serving but increasingly authoritarian government of Sheikh Hasina. Like in Kathmandu, in Dhaka too, simmering public discontent against corruption and nepotism transformed into a wider anti-elite, anti-establishment movement for change.

Here again, the Modi government, which had invested considerable political equity in the Hasina government, suddenly found itself on the backfoot, not having foreseen the dramatic turn of events. The rise of radical Islamist forces with a strident anti-India, even anti-Hindu vocabulary, meant that New Delhi was trapped in its own ideological positioning. Did a government accused by its critics of pushing a Hindu majoritarian worldview really have the moral standing to remind Bangladesh of the urgent need to restore ‘secular’ values and protect its Hindu minority population? Not surprisingly, more than a year since the 2024 uprising, New Delhi has struggled to reset its ties with Dhaka, the lingering presence of Sheikh Hasina on Indian soil posing a further challenge to any attempt at rebuilding ties with a suspicious, if not hostile neighbour.

Let’s now switch to Sri Lanka, another nation in the neighbourhood which has seen much upheaval in recent times. Here too, a corrupted political establishment, when pitched against ballooning inflation, fuel shortages and a deepening economic crisis was forced to beat a hasty retreat. The Rajapaksa brothers, seemingly in absolute control of the island nation, were literally pushed out of the country almost overnight: images of the Presidential Palace being taken over by citizen protestors were symbolic of just how even the most powerful of regimes are vulnerable to mass agitation. Here, the Modi government, again initially blindsided – Prime Minister Modi had built a strong personal equation with the Rajapaksa family – was at least able to recover a measure of political saliency by stepping in quickly to financially assist a beleaguered economy.

While India isn’t directly responsible for the travails of the aforementioned nations, the diplomatic standoff with tiny Maldives in 2024 was entirely avoidable. Hyper-nationalistic social media armies of the ruling party directed their ire at the Maldivian government led by Mohamed Muizzu, almost pushing Male to embrace a dangerous ‘India Out’, ‘China In’ platform.

While Muizzu’s anti-India rhetoric was needless provocation, the call for a travel boycott of the Maldives led by celebrities and netizens was a worrying example of using social media to politicise sensitive foreign policy issues only to cater to jingoistic domestic constituencies. The recent visit of Prime Minister Modi to the Maldives suggests a welcome dialling down of the heat, but the friction is a reminder of just why India needs to avoid excessive bombast even in dealing with the smallest of nations.

Which leaves one to address the more familiar and perennial ‘enemy’ across the LoC. Undeniably, Pakistan’s sponsoring of cross-border terror as an instrument of state policy has been primarily responsible for upending South Asian regional solidarity. The Modi government’s approach to Islamabad has veered between unexpected bouts of ‘dosti’ – recall the Modi-Sharif hug-fest in Lahore in December 2015 – to an escalatory spiral of retaliation where every terror attack is now to be treated as an ‘act of war’.

Pakistan is a seemingly irredeemable failed state, unable to extricate itself from the army-jihadi trap. But Pakistan’s shenanigans cannot mask the failure of New Delhi to build a coherent and inclusive South Asia policy that focusses on shared interests and thereby wields greater influence in the region.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/opinion/story/neighbourhood-in-turmoil-vishwaguru-india-needs-to-step-up-nepal-protests-gen-z-2785853-2025-09-12

Accompanied by panchavadyas , the crown and ornaments were brought in a poorna-kumbha procession from the Olaga Mantapa in Kollur to the temple through the Ratha Beedi.

Playback singer Ilaiyaraaja has offered diamond-studded crown (kirita) and gold ornaments to Kollur Mookambika on Wednesday.

Earlier, Ilaiyaraaja had offered a diamond-studded hasta to the Goddess. This time, he has presented a diamond crown and gold ornaments to the Goddess, and a diamond-studded silver crown along with a silver sword to Lord Veerabhadra.

Accompanied by panchavadyas, the crown and ornaments were brought in a poorna-kumbha procession from the Olaga Mantapa in Kollur to the temple through the Ratha Beedi. After the temple priests performed the rituals, the crown and ornaments were offered to the deities. The temple administration felicitated Ilaiyaraaja on the occasion.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/music-composer-ilaiyaraaja-offers-diamond-studded-crown-gold-ornaments-at-kollur-mookambika-temple-3722036

The infant was rescued after his grandmother heard his feeble cries and took him out.

A woman, who suffered from a rare mental disorder, allegedly put her 15-day-old baby in a refrigerator before retiring to bed in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad town.

According to the reports, the infant was rescued after his grandmother heard his feeble cries and took him out. The baby was rushed to a hospital where his condition was stated to be stable.

Reports said that the woman, on being questioned by the family members, said that she had put the baby in the refrigerator as he did not stop crying and therefore she was not able to sleep.

The woman, who lived in Karula locality in the town, had given birth to a baby boy a fortnight back.

The family members, initially, thought that the woman might be possessed and under the influence of an evil spirit. They took her to an exorcist but there was no improvement in her condition.

The woman was finally taken to a psychiatrist, who found that she suffered from ‘postpartum psychosis (PPP), which was a serious, rare mental disorder that occurred after childbirth. It was characterised by a sudden onset of psychotic symptoms like hallucinations, delusions and confusion, the doctor said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/uttar-pradesh/up-shocker-woman-with-mental-disorder-puts-15-day-old-baby-in-refrigerator-3721614

The Delhi High Court said on Wednesday it would pass an order on Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan’s plea seeking to protect his publicity and personality rights against unauthorised use of his image, likeness, persona, and creation of fake videos.

Justice Tejas Karia took on record the note submitted by Mr. Bachchan’s counsel regarding the defendant entities against whom he was seeking relief.

“We will pass an order,” the court said.

According to the petitioners, organising a cricket match with Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack sends a message inconsistent with national dignity and public sentiment.

A public interest litigation (PIL) petition has been filed before the Supreme Court of India seeking directions to cancel the upcoming India–Pakistan T20 cricket match scheduled to be held in Dubai on September 14 as part of the Asia Cup.

The petition has been filed by four law students led by Urvashi Jain.

According to the petitioners, organising a cricket match with Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, in which Indian civilians and soldiers sacrificed their lives, sends a message inconsistent with national dignity and public sentiment.

As per the plea filed, cricket cannot be placed above national interest, the lives of citizens or the sacrifices of armed personnel.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/pil-filed-before-supreme-court-to-cancel-indiapakistan-asia-cup-t20-match

PM Modi and his Italy counterpart Giorgia Meloni discussed Ukraine war and stressed upon an early end to the conflict.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds excellent conversation with Italy counterpart Giorgia Meloni to bring early end to Ukraine war. The two leaders also discussed further deepening of India-Italy strategic partnership.
Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, “Had an excellent conversation with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. We reaffirmed our joint commitment to deepen India-Italy Strategic Partnership, and shared interest in bringing an early end to the conflict in Ukraine.”
The Prime Minister further thanked PM Meloni for Italy’s proactive support for concluding a mutually beneficial India-EU trade agreement and promoting connectivity through the IMEEEC initiative.

Prior to Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, PM Modi held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron as both the leaders discussed Ukraine war, besides other bilateral issues.

According to Ministry of External Affairs, the leaders reviewed and positively assessed the developments in bilateral Strategic Partnership across sectors such as investment, defence, security, space, science & technology, education, people-to-people ties and counter-terrorism.
Further, MEA noted that “both leaders reaffirmed their commitment towards further deepening of the Partnership, in line with the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-29.”
They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. They agreed on the need for an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. PM Modi reiterated India’s full support for efforts in this direction.

Prime Minister Meloni reiterated Italy’s strong support for the conclusion of a mutually beneficial India-EU Free Trade Agreement at the earliest and for the success of the AI Impact Summit to be hosted by India in 2026.
The leaders also agreed on taking steps to promote connectivity under the India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEEC) initiative, MEA stated.
The leaders agreed to remain in touch.

Activist Umar Khalid has approached the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court denied him bail related to the February 2020 riots. The high court rejected bail for nine individuals, including Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, emphasising that violent protests cannot be tolerated.

Activist Umar Khalid has petitioned the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court refused him bail in a case linked to the alleged conspiracy behind the February 2020 riots in the capital.
The high court on September 2 rejected bail pleas from nine accused, including Khalid and fellow activist Sharjeel Imam, ruling that violence “under the garb of protests” cannot be permitted. Others denied relief were Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Meeran Haider, Abdul Khalid Saifi, Gulfisha Fatima and Shadab Ahmed. A separate bench the same day also dismissed a plea from another accused, Tasleem Ahmed.
Imam and Fatima have already approached the top court challenging the order.

In its decision, the high court said citizens have the constitutional right to protest peacefully and speak in public, but stressed that these freedoms are subject to reasonable restrictions. Unchecked protests, the court observed, could “damage the constitutional framework” and threaten law and order.

Khalid, Imam and the others were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code for allegedly planning the riots, which killed 53 people and injured more than 700. The violence broke out amid demonstrations against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/after-sharjeel-imam-umar-khalid-moves-supreme-court-after-delhi-hc-rejects-bail-in-2020-riots-case-article-152746642

200 Telugu people stranded in Nepal, Minister Lokesh monitoring situation: Andhra CM

Anantapur , Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday said as many as 200 Telugu people are stranded in riot-hit Nepal, and that Minister Nara Lokesh has been entrusted with monitoring real-time developments.

Addressing the ‘Super Six Super Hit’ meeting here, Naidu said it is the state government’s duty to respond when Telugu people are in difficult times.

“There are protests happening in Nepal, and around 200 Telugu people are stuck there; I have instructed the HRD Minister Nara Lokesh to monitor the situation in real-time governance. This is our duty to respond and stand with our people in these difficult times,” Naidu said.

The government has set up an Emergency Cell at Andhra Bhavan in New Delhi to assist Telugu-speaking citizens stranded in Nepal, which is witnessing civil unrest.

Andhra Pradesh Bhavan Commissioner Arja Srikanth said Chandrababu Naidu asked Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu and officials of Andhra Bhavan to extend all possible support.

“In view of the ongoing unrest in Nepal, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has set up an Emergency Cell at Bhavan, New Delhi, to provide immediate support and ensure the safety of Telugu citizens currently stranded in Nepal,” said Srikanth in a press release issued late on Tuesday.

According to Srikanth, the Embassy of India in Kathmandu in Nepal, has assured complete cooperation, and around 30 Telugu people in Bafal, Kathmandu, are currently being assisted with food, accommodation, and medical aid.

The Commissioner said that an official has been designated as the emergency nodal officer at Bhavan.

He noted that the TDP-led government is in constant touch with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu to monitor the situation and safeguard Telugu people.

A few Telugu families staying at a Hotel in Kathmandu were shifted to a nearby guest house after reports of agitators gathering outside and threatening arson, he added.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/200-telugu-people-stranded-in-nepal-minister-lokesh-monitoring-situation-andhra-cm-101757504562786.html

The Directorate General of Health Services said that physiotherapists are not trained as medical doctors and should not present themselves as such.

The Directorate General of Health Services has asked for changes in the new physiotherapy curriculum to remove the use of the “Dr” prefix for physiotherapists, saying it could mislead and confuse patients.

In a letter to the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the DGHS said several groups, including the Indian Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IAPMR), had raised objections to the provision in the Competency Based Curriculum for Physiotherapy, 2025.

The syllabus, issued in April this year, had suggested that physiotherapy graduates could use “Dr” before their name along with the suffix “PT”.

The DGHS noted that physiotherapists are not trained as medical doctors and should not present themselves as such. The DGHS is the primary regulatory body for healthcare and is attached to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

“Physiotherapists are not trained as medical doctors and, therefore, should not use the prefix “Dr”, as it misleads patients and general public, potentially leading to quackery,” Dr Sunita Sharma, Director General of Health Services, mentioned in the letter.

The letter further added that physiotherapists should work on referral from doctors, not as primary care providers.

The ministry also pointed out that courts and medical councils have repeatedly ruled against the use of “Dr” by physiotherapists. Judgments from the Patna High Court (2003), Bengaluru court (2020), and Madras High Court (2022), as well as advisories from the Tamil Nadu Medical Council, have all made it clear that the prefix is reserved for registered medical practitioners.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/physiotherapists-not-doctors-cant-use-dr-prefix-governments-health-authority-2785380-2025-09-10

Qatar is a key US ally and a mediator in the Gaza peace talks. The attacks on Doha took place at a time when several Hamas leaders were in the city to participate in the US-backed ceasefire talks.

A day after Israeli forces carried out airstrikes in an assassination attempt on top Hamas officials in Doha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday bemoaned the attack, expressing “deep concern”. The PM added that he spoke to the Emir of Qatar, condemned the “violation” of Qatar’s sovereignty and called for dialogue to resolve disputes.

“Spoke with Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani and expressed deep concern at the attacks in Doha. India condemns the violation of the sovereignty of the brotherly State of Qatar,” PM Modi tweeted.

Reiterating India’s consistent position, the Prime Minister underlined the importance of resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy and stressed the need to prevent further escalation.

“We support resolution of issues through dialogue and diplomacy, and avoiding escalation. India stands firmly in support of peace and stability in the region, and against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” he added.

According to Hamas, at least five people were killed in the strike, including three bodyguards of Hamas leaders. Khalil al-Hayya’s son, Hammam al-Hayya, and his office manager, Jihad Labad, were both killed, Hamas political bureau member Suhail al-Hindi said.

Expressing concern over the incidents, PM Modi praised Doha’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability. He specifically acknowledged Qatar’s mediation role in Gaza, including initiatives for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

In response, Sheikh Tamim thanked Modi for his message of solidarity with the people and the State of Qatar.

Both leaders welcomed the steady progress of the India-Qatar Strategic Partnership and pledged to deepen cooperation across sectors of mutual interest. They also agreed to maintain close communication going forward.

PM Modi’s tweet came a day after the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday, “We have seen reports about the Israeli strikes in Doha earlier today. We are deeply concerned by this development and its impact on the security situation in the region”.

The statement followed Israel’s confirmation that it carried out airstrikes against senior Hamas officials in Doha, a city that has hosted multiple rounds of ceasefire negotiations seeking to end the Gaza conflict.

Qatar, a key US ally and mediator in the peace process, condemned the strikes, calling them a violation of its sovereignty. The Gulf nation said the attack targeted the homes of several Hamas political bureau members residing in Doha.

The incident marked a rare military strike on Qatari soil and triggered international condemnation, with world leaders denouncing it as a breach of international law. Qatar reported that one member of its Internal Security Force was killed and several others injured.

US WAS NOTIFIED OF STRIKES

The late businessman Sunjay Kapur’s widow Priya Kapur told the Delhi High Court that Karisma Kapoor’s children had already received Rs 1,900 crore from a family trust before filing their inheritance suit.

In a fresh twist to the inheritance dispute over late businessman Sunjay Kapur’s estate, his widow Priya Kapur has told the Delhi High Court that Karisma Kapoor’s children had already received assets worth Rs 1,900 crore from the family trust before they filed their suit.

Appearing for Priya Kapur, her lawyer submitted, “Rs 1,900 crore worth of assets were transferred to the children. I don’t know how much money is enough.” The remark was made to counter allegations that the children had been excluded from their father’s estate and deprived of their rightful share.

The lawyer further argued, “The court is not considering the case of a person standing on a road, and they have already received Rs 1,900 crore.” The submission implied that the plaintiffs could not claim to have been left with nothing.

However, legal experts point out that trust assets and personal assets are treated separately under Indian law. Under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882, assets transferred to a trust are managed by trustees and enjoyed by beneficiaries under the terms of the trust deed, not through inheritance.

Inheritance of personal assets, on the other hand, is governed by the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, and the Indian Succession Act, 1925. Heirs remain entitled to their statutory share unless excluded by a valid will.

This means that even if Rs 1,900 crore was transferred from the trust, it does not prevent the children from claiming a share in Sunjay Kapur’s personal estate.

Karisma Kapoor’s children have approached the High Court seeking partition, rendition of accounts, and a permanent injunction over their father’s estate. They have alleged that Priya Kapur concealed information, withheld documents, and may have taken steps to “deal with and fritter away” the assets.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/sunjay-kapur-estate-dispute-priya-kapur-karisma-kapoor-children-1900-crore-trust-2785348-2025-09-10

PM Modi took to his official social media account and said that the violence in Nepal is heart rending and that he is extremely disturbed over the tragic loss of young lives in the protests.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed his concerns over the violence in Nepal. PM Modi took to his official social media account and said that the violence in Nepal is heart rending and that he is extremely disturbed over the tragic loss of young lives in the protests.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “After returning from the day’s tour today, there was a detailed discussion about the events in Nepal at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security Affairs. The violence that has occurred in Nepal is heart-wrenching. My heart is extremely disturbed by the fact that many young people have lost their lives. Nepal’s stability, peace, and prosperity are of utmost importance. I humbly appeal to all my brothers and sisters in Nepal to maintain peace and order.”

Nepal is going through political instability after Prime Minister of Nepal K.P. Sharma Oli was forced resign from his position after the Gen-Z protests escalated in the country. The youngsters took to the street and protested against the corruption of the government.

They took to violence and chased down several leaders and also thrashed them brutally in the middle of the street. They also burnt down the official residence of K.P. Sharma Oli and other leaders including the President Paudel and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/pm-modi-reacts-to-gen-z-protest-in-nepal-says-heart-extremely-disturbed-over-loss-of-young-lives

Donald Trump reportedly called into a meeting with senior US and EU officials in Washington and demanded tariffs of up to 100% on India and China.

US President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to have more tariffs, as much as 100%, placed on India and China, Russia’s two biggest oil buyers. The Republican, who has already placed 50% tariffs on India, has now asked the European Union to impose sweeping duties on the country.

According to a Financial Times report, the President called into a meeting with senior US and EU officials in Washington and made the demand there. “We’re ready to go, ready to go right now, but we’re only going to do this if our European partners step up with us,” the publication quoted an unnamed US official as saying.

The ask to put 100% tariffs on India and China is reportedly a pressure tactic for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and comes months after Trump gave Russia 50 days to agree to a deal to end the Ukraine war.

The US is reportedly ready to match Europe’s tariffs on either India or China, further hiking duties on imports from both countries.

Trump had announced 25% reciprocal tariffs on Indian imports in July, which he later doubled to 50% citing India’s oil trade with Russia. However, despite China being the biggest oil buyer, the US has so far held off on increasing duties for the country. The US presently charges 30% tariffs on Chinese imports.

The FT report cited an official as saying that Trump wants “dramatic tariffs” and keep them on until China agrees to stop buying Russian oil.

The latest report of Trump considering higher tariffs on India and China comes just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping projected a united front in Tianjin during the SCO Summit.

After the three leaders were seen all smiles, Trump had shared a picture of them on his Truth Social handle, with the caption: “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!”

However, he had later backtracked on the remark, reaffirming ties with India and “great Prime Minister” Narendra Modi. Most recently, Trump said in another post that India and the US would continue negotiations to “address trade barriers”, adding he looks forward to talking to PM Modi.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-reciprocates-donald-trump-trade-talks-tariffs-india-us-partnership-101757470414497.html

India’s planned revamp of its goods and services tax (GST) will boost household consumption and support growth, but weigh on government finances, Moody’s Investors Service said Tuesday.

Approved at a 3 September GST Council meeting and effective 22 September, the new structure consolidates most rates into two slabs—5% and 18%—with goods from the old 12% and 28% categories moving lower. A new 40% rate will apply to “sin” and luxury items such as premium cars, tobacco, sugary drinks, casinos and online gaming. Food staples, medicines and insurance will be exempt.

Moody’s said the lower effective tax rates will cut prices, bolster household demand and support growth at a time when India faces external pressures from higher US tariffs.

Boost to consumption

Household consumption, which accounts for 61% of GDP, already received a push in February from income-tax threshold hikes that reduced liabilities for middle-income households. Consumption has shown strong quarter-on-quarter growth in real terms in the three months through June, the first quarter of India’s fiscal year ending March 2026, Moody’s said.

Lower prices are also expected to help contain inflation. Consumer inflation fell to 1.55% in July from a recent peak of 7.44% in July 2023 and remains well below the Reserve Bank of India’s 4% target, giving consumption more room to drive growth.

Revenue loss looms

The tax cuts, however, come at a cost. The government estimates foregone revenue this year at ₹48,000 crore (approximately $5.4 billion) from the GST restructuring. Moody’s cautioned that the eventual loss is likely to be larger, particularly from fiscal 2027 when the new regime will apply for a full year.

Tax buoyancy is already weakening: gross revenues rose just 0.8% in April-July, compared with 21% a year earlier, while expenditure surged 20%, widening the fiscal deficit to 4.7 trillion rupees, Moody’s noted.

“The GST reforms will have mixed effects on Indian credit: while the support for growth is credit positive for some sectors, the loss of tax revenue will likely limit progress in fiscal consolidation and debt reduction,” Moody’s said.

Non-financial companies are among the likely winners. Automakers stand to gain with lower levies on small cars, two-wheelers and trucks—down to 18% from 28%. SUVs and luxury cars will be taxed at 40% but face no cess, cutting overall incidence. Consumer goods, durables and cement will also become cheaper, while non-lifesaving medicines will be taxed at 5% instead of 12%.

For insurers, GST exemptions on individual life and health policies are credit positive, though the loss of input tax credits will raise costs. Whether these are absorbed or passed to customers remains unclear, Moody’s said.

Fiscal headwinds

Moody’s cautioned that while the measures align with New Delhi’s push for consumption-led growth, they will restrain fiscal consolidation. Much of the recent surge in spending reflects the government’s effort to compensate for under-executed capital expenditure in fiscal 2024-25, it said.

Spending growth is expected to slow over the next two quarters, helping preserve consolidation trends.

Source : https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/block-defeats-shareholder-lawsuit-over-2021-cash-app-data-breach-11757461007812.html

Speaking at the virtual Brics virtual meeting, Jaishankar said the group should focus on building a more resilient supply chain, especially at a time when multiple disruptions are affecting international trade.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday, speaking at the Brics summit 2025, stressed the need for fair and transparent economic practices that benefit all amid rising trade tensions sparked by Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Speaking at the virtual Brics virtual meeting, Jaishankar said the group should focus on building a more resilient supply chain, especially at a time when multiple disruptions are affecting international trade. He addressed the summit in place of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“It is imperative that economic practices are fair, transparent and to everyone’s benefit. When there are multiple disruptions, our objective should be to proof it against such shocks. That means creating more resilient, reliable, redundant and shorter supply chains,” Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar pointed at several pressing global challenges that demand collective attention. “The last few years have witnessed the devastating impact of the Covid pandemic, major conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, volatility in trade and investment flows, extreme climate events and a discernible slowing down of the SDG Agenda. In the face of these challenges, the multilateral system appears to be failing the world,” he said.

He added that ongoing conflicts have direct developmental and supply chain implications, stressing the importance of diplomatic efforts to resolve hostilities and ensure solutions.

The minister reaffirmed India’s commitment to a rules-based international trading system. “India strongly believes that this should be protected and nurtured,” he said, while calling for constructive approaches to ensure sustainable trade.

JAISHANKAR URGES BRICS TO EASE TRADE BARRIERS AMID INDIA’S DEFICITS

The minister warned against increasing trade barriers or linking trade measures to non-trade matters, urging Brics nations to set a positive example. He also pointed out India’s trade imbalances within the grouping.

“Increasing barriers and complicating transactions will not help. Neither would the linking of trade measures to non-trade matters. The Brics itself can set an example by reviewing trade flows among its member states. Where India is concerned, some of our biggest deficits are with Brics partners and we have been pressing for expeditious solutions. We hope that this realisation will be part of the takeaways from today’s meeting,” he added.

The EAM expressed gratitude to Brazilian President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva for convening the Brics Summit.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/economic-practices-should-be-fair-transparent-benefit-everyone-jaishankar-at-brics-meet-amid-trump-tariffs-2783997-2025-09-08

The remarks came after terrorists opened fire on passengers after boarding a bus in Jerusalem on Sunday, killing five people and injuring 12 others, Times of Israel reported. Seven of the injured were in serious condition, while five sustained light injuries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday strongly condemned the terrorist attack on innocent civilians in Jerusalem, extending condolences to the families of the victims and prayers for the recovery of the injured.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack on innocent civilians in Jerusalem today. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to those injured. India condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and stands firm in its policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism.”

The remarks came after terrorists opened fire on passengers after boarding a bus in Jerusalem on Sunday, killing five people and injuring 12 others, Times of Israel reported. Seven of the injured were in serious condition, while five sustained light injuries.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said PM Benjamin Netanyahu is holding a situation assessment with security chiefs.

In a post on X, the Israeli PM’s Office said, “Prime Minister Netanyahu is currently holding a situation assessment with the heads of the security system following the attack in Jerusalem.” The terrorists who carried out the deadly terror shooting attack at the Ramot Junction in Jerusalem used a makeshift “Carlo” submachine gun, otherwise known as a Carl Gustav. The terrorists are West Bank Palestinians, according to security officials. The pair are believed to have set out from villages in the Ramallah area, as per The Times of Israel.

The improvised gun is commonly manufactured at illegal workshops in the West Bank and has been used in numerous Palestinian attacks in the past, as per The Times of Israel.

Both gunmen were shot and “neutralized” at the scene. Their identities and conditions are not immediately known.

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid expressed support for Israeli security forces “in their efforts to thwart terrorism” following this morning’s shooting attack in Jerusalem.

The far-right lawmakers called for total war against “enemy” Palestinians.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/pm-modi-strongly-condemns-terrorist-attack-in-jerusalem-extends-condolences

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed a petition filed by Central government seeking transfer of the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 pending before different High Courts [Union of India Vs Head Digita].

The Central government approached the Supreme Court seeking transfer of petitions pending before three different High Courts to the apex court.

“This is a challenge to the Act challenged before three High Courts. If they can be called here, it would save time,” said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the Central government.

The gaming companies who had challenged the law did not oppose the same.

“We will be very happy if we get a finality if the Court hears it. I had pressed for interim order, therefore my lords please transfer,” Senior Advocate C Aryama Sundaram on behalf of Head Digital.

A Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan then proceeded to allow the government’s transfer petition.

“This transfer petition is at the instance of Union of India. The transfer as prayed for is allowed. The proceedings from Karnataka High Court, Delhi High Court and Madhya Pradesh High Court stand transferred to this Court. The respective High Courts are requested to transfer the entire record within a period of one week from today. Let this transfer be done digitally to save time. The transfer petition is accordingly disposed of. Once entire records are transferred, the registry shall do the needful and list it before the Court at the earliest. If the parties intend to file the writ petition with the entire record. They may do so with the registry,” the Court ordered.

The Act, which was notified on August 22, is the first central law to impose a nationwide prohibition on online games played for stakes. It criminalises offering or participating in such games—whether classified as games of skill or chance—with offences being cognisable and non-bailable.

The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 20, passed by voice vote in both Houses within two days and quickly received Presidential assent. The law represents a significant shift in the regulation of the online gaming sector previously governed largely by State-level legislation and judicial pronouncements distinguishing games of skill from games of chance.

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to issue a formal notice stating that Aadhaar will be accepted as an identity proof document for the inclusion of a voter to the revised voters’ list being prepared as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar.

A similar directive had earlier been issued only with respect to 65 lakh names proposed to be deleted from the voters’ list. This directive has now been extended to other voters.

A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymlaya Bagchi has expressly mentioned that Aadhaar with be the twelfth ID proof document, in addition to eleven other ID documents mentioned by the ECI for inclusion in the Bihar voters list.

The Court clarified that Aadhaar is only proof of residence and not citizenship, as also agreed to by all parties before it.

The ECI is also empowered to examine the genuineness of the Aadhaar cards being submitted to ensure that they are not forged, the Court added.

“Aadhaar card shall be accepted…for purpose of acceptance of inclusion or exclusion in revised list…Aadhaar card shall be treated as 12th document …However, it is clarified that the authorities shall be entitled to verify the authenticity and genuineness of the Aadhaar card itself and Aadhaar will not be proof of citizenship…ECI shall issue instructions during the course of the day,” the Court ordered.

The Court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the Bihar SIR exercise.

Notably, the Court was earlier informed that 65 lakh names were dropped from the draft electoral roll published on August 1. On August 14, the Court directed the ECI to upload the list of these 65 lakh voters proposed to be deleted during the SIR.

On August 22, the Court added that people excluded from the draft electoral roll can use their Aadhaar cards as ID proof to get themselves included in the voters’ list. Before this, the ECI had stated that it would only accept any of eleven other ID documents for this purpose.

Today, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal argued that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were committing gross contempt of court by not accepting claims from excluded voters who gave Aadhaar cards as proof of residence.

Sibal claimed that election officers were being told not to accept Aadhaar as ID proof unless it is also accompanied by one of the eleven other identity proof documents mentioned by the ECI.

“We are racing against time. Is Aadhaar acceptable or not, lordships will have to decide. What they are doing is very shocking, we have prepared a note,” he said.

Justice Kant, in turn, asked if the petitioners were saying that Aadhaar should be accepted as proof of citizenship.

“No, no, (it is only for proof of) residence. Citizenship can’t be decided by Booth Level Agents anyway, that is by Central government. Nothing to do with citizenship. Aadhaar should be accepted as place of residence proof so that I can vote. 11 documents plus Aadhaar, that’s all we want, nothing more than that,” Sibal replied.

Sibal added that BLOs themselves had said that Aadhaar would not be accepted as the sole proof of identity.

“Show-cause notices have been issued by ECI to (election) officers for accepting Aadhaar…This is despite three orders of this court…This is because there is no instruction by the Election Commission to accept Aadhaar…The document which is universal in nature is not being accepted!…We have 24 affidavits from separate districts saying that they went with Aadhaar (and it was not accepted),” Sibal argued.

Representing the ECI, Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi strongly opposed Sibal’s argument.

“We have advertised…We can file it…Aadhaar can be digitally uploaded…Only thing is, Aadhaar we are not considering as proof of citizenship. We don’t accept the contention that Election Commission is not empowered for purposes of electoral roll to decide if a person is citizen or not,” Dwivedi said.

However, the Court noted that a show cause notice placed before it only referred to eleven other documents as proof of ID.

“Why does this show cause refer to only the 11 documents? We would like you to clarify. We have repeatedly clarified that the list part of the SIR illustratively indicates 11 documents. Apart from passport and birth certificate (in the list of 11 documents), none of them are conclusively proof of citizenship,” the Court remarked.

“I (ECI) have not prevented them from filing Aadhaar,” Dwivedi replied.

“We clarified that include Aadhaar…But this seems (to indicate otherwise),” the Court said.

“We will find out if someone is errant somewhere,” Dwivedi replied.

Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, however, raised concern about forged Aadhaar cards being used by foreigners.

“All these Aadhaar cards have been forged by paying ₹1,000. All these Rohingyas and Bangladeshis..,” Upadhyay said.

The Court, in turn, noted that Aadhaar is also mentioned in the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951 (RP Act), which governs the conduct of elections in India.

“You can never argue Aadhar is alien to RP Act. (Election) Forms itself refer to Aadhaar. And one of provisions of the Act specifically refers to Aadhaar as proof of residence,” the Court said.

Advocate Vrinda Grover, meanwhile, added,

“Only the poor are being eliminated (by not accepting Aadhaar as proof of identity).”

“We know who is the poor here,” Dwivedi retorted.

Dwivedi again maintained that the ECI has advertised the fact that Aadhaar can be submitted as proof of identity during the SIR exercise.

“Your lordships have passed an order, we have advertised,” Dwivedi said.

“They (ECI) have to issue a direction that this is the 12th document…Send a circular,” Sibal argued.

Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan added that Aadhaar must be expressly stated to be the twelfth document in the ECI’s list of documents that can be submitted to verify a voter’s identity. He raised concern that the Court’s directive to accept Aadhaar may otherwise be flouted.

“You have officers on ground, told a magic number of 11 documents. Lordships have thrice said that the 12th document (is Aadhaar). Please mention in the order (that this is the twelfth document). Otherwise, it will not trickle down,” he contended.

In earlier hearings, the Court had also asked political parties to assist the people who have been excluded from the draft electoral roll.

In the last hearing of the matter, the Court requested the Chairman of the Bihar State Legal Services Authority to depute para legal volunteers to assist voters and political parties in submitting online claims, objections or corrections to the electoral roll.

The Court, however, refrained from issuing any direction to extend the deadline for submitting such claims beyond September 1, after the ECI assured that even objections sent after this deadline would be considered before the electoral roll is finalised.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/bihar-sir-supreme-court-orders-eci-to-issue-formal-notice-allowing-aadhaarasidproof

PM Modi will first arrive in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, at around 1:30 pm, where he will reportedly conduct an aerial survey of the most affected areas.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the flood-hit Himachal Pradesh and Punjab on Tuesday (September 9) to review the rain-afflicted damage and rehabilitation efforts after weeks of heavy downpour that have wreaked havoc across several northern states.

The Prime Minister departed for Himachal Pradesh and Punjab after casting his vote in the vice-presidential election at the Parliament House, asserting that the Government of India stood “shoulder to shoulder with those affected in this tragic hour” in both states.

PM Modi will first arrive in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, at around 1:30 pm, where he will reportedly conduct an aerial survey of the most affected areas. He is also expected to chair a high-level meeting with NDRF, SDRF and Aapda Mitra teams in Dharamshala and interact with flood victims.

Kangra Airport Director Dhirendra Singh told news agency ANI that Himachal Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, BJP President JP Nadda and other dignitaries will attend the meetings convened by the Prime Minister within airport premises. “We are preparing in every way required… We are not cancelling any flights for this event, we have only rescheduled some of them,” he said.

Then, the Prime Minister will conduct an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas in Punjab around 3 pm. He will arrive at Gurdaspur around 4:15 pm, where he will hold discussions with senior officials and chair a review meeting on the ground situation.

What’s The Situation In Himachal Pradesh, Punjab?

The ongoing monsoon season in Himachal Pradesh has claimed 370 lives so far, with 205 fatalities linked to rain-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, drowning, lightning strikes, electrocution, and other disaster-related causes. A total of 434 people have been injured, and 41 remain missing.

According to the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA), a total of 744 roads were blocked, including three National Highways: NH-03, NH-70, and NH-305, as of 6 pm on Monday. Kullu district is the most affected, with 223 roads blocked, including two National Highways. Additionally, 959 Distribution Transformer Regions (DTRs) and 472 water supply schemes were disrupted.

Meanwhile, the catastrophic floods ravaging Punjab have resulted in a rising human and economic toll. The death toll has risen to 51, according to Punjab’s Department of Information and Public Relations. All districts have been declared as disaster areas as recue operations are underway.

The deluge, caused by swollen rivers like the Sutlej and incessant monsoon rains, has been termed by officials as the worst the state has faced in decades, surpassing the scale of the 1988 floods.

State Govts Seek Relief Package

The governments of both Himachal Pradesh and Punjab have urged PM Modi to provide special relief packages to the flood-affected people of the states. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expected PM Modi to release a special relief package for the disaster-hit state.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/pm-modi-to-visit-himachal-punjab-to-assess-flood-situation-relief-ops-monsoon-top-updates-ws-kl-9558451.html

In the afternoon, police received information that the body of a man was lying face down in the mud on the roadside between two villages

A scene straight out of a thriller unfolded in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district when a man, presumed dead for nearly six hours, suddenly stood up just as police and villagers were preparing to lift his body.

The bizarre incident occurred in the Khurai rural police station area. In the afternoon, police received information that the body of a man was lying face down in the mud on the roadside between Dhanora and Bankhiriya villages, with locals claiming the man had not moved for hours, and believing him dead, they informed the authorities.

Police station in-charge Hukum Singh rushed to the spot with his team and even called a hearse van. A crowd of curious villagers had already gathered, watching as the police completed the investigation.

But just when officers and villagers bent down to lift the body, the ‘dead man’ suddenly twitched, moved, and stood up. And in a trembling voice declared, “Sahab, main zinda hoon” (Sir, I am alive).

The strange scene left both villagers and police speechless. Many rubbed their eyes in disbelief, while some even stepped back in fear.

Upon questioning, the man revealed he was heavily drunk. He had stopped on the roadside to relieve himself, lost his balance, and collapsed into the mud. His intoxication was so extreme that he could not get up, remaining motionless for hours. His motorcycle was also found parked nearby.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/i-am-alive-dead-man-rises-as-villagers-cops-prepare-to-lift-his-body-9239525?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

The vice presidential election was necessitated by the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar, who sources said quit after running afoul of the BJP-led central government over the impeachment of a High Court judge.

India will welcome a new Vice President by nightfall September 9. But will it be the BJP-led ruling alliance’s pick of Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan? Or will the INDIA bloc’s ex-Supreme Court judge, Justice B Sudershan Reddy, deliver a shock?

Here are the top points in this big story:

1. 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first MP to vote as polling began at 10 am. Voting is open till 5 pm, and the counting will begin post 6 pm. “Voted in the 2025 vice president election,” he said on X, before leaving for flood-hit Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.
   2. Both Mr Radhakrishnan and Justice Reddy have expressed confidence. Justice Reddy said he is “trying to awaken people’s conscience”. “This is a fight for the Constitution… I thank the people for the love I got and the response of the society,” he said.
   3. Meanwhile, Mr Radhakrishnan said he expects “victory of Indian nationalism”; “We are all one, we will be one, and we want India to become Viksit Bharat,” he said.
   4. Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury raked up the Telugu language angle, requesting Telangana’s BRS, which has announced to boycott the election, to vote for Justice Reddy. “I want to tell the BRS that this is an important day for Telangana Reddy is a candidate from South India. He has worked for Telangana. Reddy speaks Telugu, and BRS is not voting for him. It is a matter of shame.”
   5. The election process is fairly straightforward. All MPs, elected or nominated, can vote. They do so in a secret ballot, meaning each can vote as they wish. This means cross-voting is common. In 2022, for example, several opposition MPs voted for Jagdeep Dhankhar, the BJP’s pick. Then the BJP benefited from a large number of its own MPs, over 300 in the Lok Sabha alone, in the fray. This time, the party-led NDA has 427 in both Houses. That should still be enough given confirmed support from the YSR Congress and a 386-vote majority mark after the BRS, BJD’s abstention.
   6. However, the narrower margins – in 2022, Mr Dhankhar won by 346 votes – mean the BJP is taking no chances. ‘Man-to-man marking’ is what sources have told NDTV. BJP MPs have been divided into groups that will gather in the morning and stay together for the rest of the day, to minimise disruptions and/or attempted poaching by the opposition.
   7. BJP MPs from the southern states will be shepherded by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and those from Uttar Pradesh will be ‘guarded’ by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, while Agriculture Minister Shivraj Chouhan, Housing Minister ML Khattar, Law Minister Arjun Meghwal, and five others have been assigned ‘guard’ duties.
   8. The opposition, i.e., the Congress-led INDIA bloc, has only 315 votes, not including 12 Aam Aadmi Party MPs who may back Justice Reddy. However, even within that 12, there may be discord; AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal may not toe the party line, given last year’s clash with Arvind Kejriwal over alleged assault by his aide, Bibhav Kumar. However, even if Ms Maliwal votes on party lines, as do all other non-BJP MPs, including those within the INDIA bloc, Mr Radhakrishnan will still get enough votes to win.
   9. This election was necessitated by the sudden resignation of Mr Dhankhar, who quit citing ill health on a turbulent first day of Parliament’s Monsoon session. Sources told NDTV Mr Dhankhar ran afoul of the government after accepting an opposition-sponsored motion to impeach Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Verma in the cash-at-home row.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/who-will-be-new-vice-president-voting-begins-at-10am-in-bjp-vs-india-battle-9238780?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The program, filled with patriotic fervour, left attendees deeply moved, many of whom described the experience as “mesmerizing” and “inspirational.”

The atmosphere was electric at the Sarsana Convention Center in Surat, as audiences watched the grand musical multimedia stage production ‘Namotsav’, based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s life.

The program, filled with patriotic fervour, left attendees deeply moved, many of whom described the experience as “mesmerizing” and “inspirational.”

Organised as a tribute to PM Modi’s transformative journey from his humble beginnings to becoming a global leader, the event featured a cast of over 150 artists under the leadership of renowned Gujarati poet and performer Sai Ram Dave.

The two-hour musical dramatisation depicted key moments from PM Modi’s life, showcasing his visionary leadership, policy reforms, and unwavering dedication to the nation.

Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, was among the dignitaries in attendance. He lauded the initiative, saying, “A complete multimedia and live stage program was organised on the life of PM Modi. More than 150 artists worked day and night with detailed research to prepare this historic program. The show was house full, and chants of ‘Modi-Modi’ echoed throughout the dome.”

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/namotsav-mega-musical-showcases-pm-modis-life-journey-in-surat-9234849

If the demand is not met by Monday evening, the tribal community would launch a major agitation.

Days after a newborn girl died at the government-run Maharaja Yeshwantrao Hospital (MYH) here, a tribal outfit on Monday claimed rats had gnawed her four fingers, and accused the medical facility’s administration of lying and misleading everyone.

The Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS), a tribal organisation, has demanded suspension of the hospital superintendent and other senior officials, along with registration of a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

If the demand is not met by Monday evening, the tribal community would launch a major agitation, JAYS national president Lokesh Mujalda warned.

Two newborn girls, who had been bitten by rats in the hospital’s ICU, died recently, raising questions about the institution’s functioning.

One of them, daughter of Devram from Dhar district, who was admitted to the hospital with congenital deformities, died after the rat attack, Mujalda claimed while talking to PTI.

The body was handed over to the family in a plastic bag after the post-mortem on Saturday evening, he said.

When the packing was removed before the funeral, the family was devastated and enraged to notice that four fingers on one hand of the baby had allegedly been gnawed by rats, Mujalda said.

He accused the MYH administration of misleading everyone by initially claiming the baby had only suffered minor injuries to her fingers due to rat bites.

The JAYS leader demanded suspension of the hospital superintendent and senior officials, along with registration of a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

If the demand is not met by Monday evening, the tribal community would launch a major agitation, he warned.

Rats bit the two infants, suffering from congenital deformities, on the intervening night of August 31 and September 1 in the hospital’s ICU, officials earlier said. The other affected family is from neighbouring Dewas district.

Amid allegations of gross negligence, the MYH authorities maintained the deaths of both the babies were not linked to rat attacks, but were because of severe pre-existing health complications they suffered due to congenital deformities.

On Saturday, JAYS functionaries staged a protest at the hospital with the bereaved parents seeking compensation of Rs 1 crore each for the families of the two infants as well as registration of a culpable homicide case against senior officials.

“The district administration has assured us the necessary steps will be taken to suspend senior officials of MYH and register an FIR against them. If this demand is not fulfilled within 10 days, another protest will be staged by us at MYH,” Mujalda had said.

The hospital administration has so far taken disciplinary action against six officials, including suspension and removal from posts, in connection with the deaths.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) last week issued notices to the principal secretary of the Madhya Pradesh’s health department and Indore’s collector over a complaint alleging a newborn died and others were injured due to “rat attacks” inside a hospital.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rats-bite-newborn-girls-fingers-in-indore-hospital-sparks-outrage-9235623

Following the SCO summit in Tianjin, tensions in the South China Sea escalated as the Philippines and Vietnam took assertive stances against China.

Shortly after the historic SCO in Tianjin, where the world order was challenged by the grandeur of Xi Jinping’s event, tensions continued in the South China Sea, a region of tensions, face-offs and disputes between Beijing and its neighbours. While the Philippines refused to back down and Vietnam upped the ante with artificial land reclamation, another announcement could be worrying for the Dragon – that of the presence of the Indian Navy in the Strait of Malacca.
A vital maritime corridor that connects the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea, the Strait of Malacca is considered a major weak point of Beijing. The narrow passage will now be patrolled by the Indian Navy along with Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Singapore is a key partner in India’s Act East Policy and vision for the Indo-Pacific.

The bodies of world leaders are never just private matters; they are symbols, political tools, and sometimes, global flashpoints

From Donald Trump’s bruised hand and swollen ankles to Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping casually musing about organ transplants and immortality, health is increasingly in the headlines—not because of medical breakthroughs alone, but because it reveals the vulnerability of powerful men who otherwise project invincibility.
In politics, even a bruise can become a headline. When photographs of Donald Trump’s hand revealed a conspicuous white patch earlier this year, the internet lit up with speculation. Was it vitiligo? An infection? Something more serious? Trump’s attempt to cover the mark with mismatched makeup only deepened the intrigue. Weeks later, images of his swollen ankles circulated. By July, the White House stepped in: Trump, they announced, had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)—a benign but common vein condition among older men. His physician stressed there were no serious complications and that Trump remained in “excellent health”.

For months, rumours had overshadowed reality. Trump’s instinct to conceal and downplay created a vacuum in which every patch of skin and every step became a subject of scrutiny. In the age of viral imagery, transparency delayed often looks like transparency denied.

In the last few weeks, it has become evident that the bodies of world leaders are never just private matters; they are symbols, political tools, and sometimes, global flashpoints. These recent glimpses into the backstage choreography of power—Kim Jong Un’s aides obsessively scrubbing away DNA traces in Beijing, or Putin’s guards escorting a “poop suitcase” out of Alaska—show how the bodies of leaders are treated as matters of state security.

What might look crazy on the surface is, in fact, part of a broader logic. In an era where health information can be weaponised, even a strand of hair, a glass of water, or a stool sample becomes politically sensitive. It underscores the same truth running through Trump’s bruised hand and Xi and Putin’s musings on longevity—that for leaders, biology and politics are now inseparable.

Xi, Putin & A Conversation About Immortality

While Trump was hiding bruises, two of his global counterparts were overheard discussing something far more ambitious: eternal life.

At a military parade in Beijing earlier this month, a hot mic caught Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping chatting as they walked toward the Tiananmen rostrum. Putin’s interpreter was heard saying: “Biotechnology is continuously developing… human organs can be continuously transplanted. The longer you live, the younger you become, and (you can) even achieve immortality.”

Xi replied with his own projection: “Some predict that in this century humans may live to 150 years old.” The exchange, quickly clipped and shared, caused a stir.

Putin later confirmed the conversation, framing it as optimism about medical science and longevity research. Still, the symbolism was striking: while Trump struggled to hide a bruise, Xi and Putin were talking about rewriting the human lifespan.

Leaders’ Health Has Never Been Private

These episodes—a bruise in Washington, a hot mic in Beijing—may seem trivial. But they reveal something fundamental: the health of leaders is political.

As we look back, history offers several examples from the United States itself. Former presidents of the United States, including Franklin D Roosevelt, kept their paralysis from polio hidden from the public eye, carefully staging appearances to project vitality during wartime. Another US President, John F Kennedy, concealed his Addison’s disease, which required constant medication, while presenting himself as energetic and healthy. Ronald Reagan underwent surgery for colon cancer but downplayed wider concerns about his age and mental sharpness.

What Chronic Venous Insufficiency Really Is?

For clarity, CVI, Trump’s official diagnosis, is a circulatory condition caused by weakened valves in the leg veins. Symptoms include swelling, skin discolouration, and bruise-like marks.

Dr Jaisom Chopra, senior vascular surgeon, Apollo Spectra Hospital, Delhi, explained to News18 that Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is basically a surgical disorder which occurs when the veins in the legs are unable to return blood to the heart. Normally, tiny one-way valves in the veins keep the blood flowing in the upward direction against gravity. But in the condition of CVI, these valves become weak or damaged, which causes blood to pool in the legs. This also led to symptoms such as swelling, heaviness, cramping, pain, skin discolouration, and, in advanced cases, non-healing ulcers.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/trumps-bruise-xi-putins-immortality-talk-kims-dna-wipes-when-world-leaders-make-health-political-ws-kl-9556281.html

The MHA has assured Belgium that Mehul Choksi’s rights will be protected if he is extradited to India, detailing specific material, medical, and procedural safeguards.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sent a letter to Belgium’s Ministry of Justice providing assurances regarding the conditions under which fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, a key accused in the multi-crore rupee Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case, would be held if extradited to India.

The letter comes amid Choksi’s rights concerns, and details specific material, medical, and procedural safeguards intended to address human rights concerns raised during the extradition proceedings.

These assurances were formulated in consultation with the Maharashtra government to ensure that Choksi’s rights are protected while complying with extradition protocols.

Choksi was arrested in Belgium in April following a formal request from Indian authorities.

He and his nephew, Nirav Modi, are the primary accused in the PNB fraud case, which involves fraudulent transactions.

In addition to this case, Choksi is reportedly wanted in connection with several other unrelated bank fraud investigations.

Following his arrest, his counsel, Vijay Aggarwal, announced planned to appeal the court’s decision of denying him a bail, citing Choksi’s deteriorating health and ongoing cancer treatment.

MEHUL CHOKSI’s EXTRADITION: THE MHA’s ASSURANCES

In the letter dated September 4, 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that “Choksi will be held at the Barrack number 12, Arthur Road jail complex in Mumbai, if extradited.”

“Mehul Choksi will be kept in a cell in which he will get a minimum of 3 square metres of personal space (not including furniture) throughout the period of his prospective detention in case he is found guilty,” the letter mentioned.

“The detention cell in which he is to be kept has the provision of providing clean thick cotton mat, pillow, bedsheet and blanket. However, a metal frame/wooden bed can be provided on medical grounds,” it mentioned.

“Adequate light and ventilation, and storage for permissible personal belongings are available,” the letter stated.

“Mehul Choksi will have sufficient access to a clean drinking water supply each day and adequate medical facilities are available round the clock.”

“Mehul Choksi will have access to adequate toilet and washing facilities each day,” it stated.

“Mehul Choksi will be permitted out of his cell for exercise and recreation for a reasonable amount of time each day,” it stated.

“He will receive adequate food throughout his detention period,” the MHA’s assurance letter read.

CONCERNS OVER MEHUL CHOKSI’s EXTRADITION

At a press conference earlier in Delhi, Aggarwal outlined the defence’s strategy to oppose Choksi’s extradition to India on two primary grounds, the politically motivated nature of the case, and concerns over Choksi’s medical treatment in India.

He argued that extradition could violate Choksi’s human rights due to inadequate healthcare and potential political harassment.

Aggarwal emphasised that Choksi has not been officially declared a fugitive and has cooperated with Indian investigative agencies.

He noted that Choksi has repeatedly offered to participate in investigations via video conferencing, citing his inability to travel due to health issues.

The defence also highlighted procedural requirements for extradition, including the issuance of non-bailable warrants dating back to 2018.

Aggarwal referenced earlier failed extradition attempts from Dominica and noted that Choksi had been receiving cancer treatment in Antigua before travelling to Belgium.

Choksi faces charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including criminal conspiracy, cheating, and falsification of accounts, as well as provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/mehul-choksi-extradition-india-ministry-of-home-affairs-sends-assurances-to-belgium-government-9556283.html

Taking to X, the Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing created a poll as he accused X of priorisiting “foreign interests”.

A day after his post against India was fact checked on X, Trump’s trade aide Peter Navarro has launched a fresh attack against the Elon Musk-owned social media platform.

Taking to X, the Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing created a poll as he accused X of priorisiting “foreign interests”.

“Should X put up posts like one below where foreign interests masquerade as objective observers and interfere with domestic U.S. economics and politics? See SCREEN SHOT! Take poll on next post,” wrote Navarro.

In an earlier post, the Trump aide hit out at Elon Musk for allowing “propaganda into people’s posts.”

“That crap note below is just that. Crap. India buys Russia oil solely to profiteer. It didn’t buy any before Russia invaded Ukraine. Indian govt spin machine moving high tilt. Stop killing Ukrainians. Stop taking American jobs,” said Navarro.

Elon Musk, however, responded to this and said the it was the people that decide the narrative on X.

“On this platform, the people decide the narrative. You hear all sides of an argument. Community Notes corrects everyone, no exceptions. Notes, data, and code is public source. Grok provides further fact-checking,” Musk wrote in a post on X.

Navarro has made several jibes against India since Trump imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on New Delhi for its purchase of Russian oil. From calling New Delhi the “maharaja of tariffs” to being a “laundromat for the Kremlin,” the Trump aide has made several remarks.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/foreign-interests-masquerading-peter-navarro-latest-dig-at-x-after-post-on-india-fact-checked-elon-musk-trump-tariff-101757303906784.html

An encounter broke out in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district between security forces and terrorists on Monday, September 8. According to reports, one terrorist was neutralised by the security personnel, while one Indian Army soldier also sustained injuries in the gunfight.

The injured Army soldier is a junior commissioned officer (JCO). Security forces received an intelligence input about the presence of terrorists in the Guddar forest of the district. A joint operation was launched by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

OP GUDDAR, Kulgam. Based on specific intelligence input by JKP, joint search operation was launched by #IndianArmy, @JmuKmrPolice & @crpf_srinagar in Guddar forest of #Kulgam,” the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps said in its X post.

“Vigilant troops observed suspicious activity and upon being challenged, terrorists opened fire, prompting a fierce exchange of gunfire during which one terrorist has been eliminated and a junior commissioned officer suffered injuries,” It added.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/breaking-news-encounter-breaks-out-in-jammu-kashmirs-kulgam-one-army-soldier-injured-report

Indian laws are “light years behind” rapidly evolving technology, Supreme Court Justice Manmohan recently opined.

As a consequence, courts are struggling to resolve complex commercial disputes without adequate legal tools, he said.

“You are dealing with tech you’re not understanding. You require assistance, new genres of litigation are coming up. Technology is moving at a fast pace, laws are lagging behind—in fact, light years behind. Technology has its own nuances,” Justice Manmohan said.

Nearly 400 products – from soaps to cars, shampoos to tractors and air conditioners – will cost less when the GST reforms are effective from September 22

Calling the landmark GST overhaul a ‘people’s reform’, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said that rationalisation of rates for a wide swath of products will benefit every family, boost consumption, and bolster the economy.

In an interview to PTI, the Finance Minister said she will personally monitor passing on of goods and services tax (GST) rate cuts in the form of price reduction but hastened to add that industry has shown positivity towards such cuts.

Within days of the decision, from car makers to public sector insurance companies and shoe and apparel brands have already announced significant price cuts and the rest are likely to follow suit by the time new GST rates are implemented, she said.

Nearly 400 products – from soaps to cars, shampoos to tractors and air conditioners – will cost less when the GST reforms are effective from the first day of Navaratri on September 22. Premium paid on individual health and life insurance will be tax-free. A third rate of 40 per cent has been earmarked for a small list of sin goods and ultra-luxury items.

“This is a reform which touches the lives of all 140 crore people. There is no individual in this country who is untouched by GST. The poorest of the poor also have something small that they buy, touched by GST,” she said.

Starting September 22, the GST slab structure will change – 5 per cent for common use goods and 18 per cent for everything else. The existing slab of 12 and 28 per cent rates have been done away with.

In the revamped GST structure, most daily food and grocery items will fall under the 5 per cent GST slab with bread, milk and paneer attracting no tax at all.

Sitharaman said the reform – the single biggest since the 2017 rollout of the one-nation, one tax regime – has been carried out with a focus on the common man. Every tax on daily use items has gone through a rigorous review and in most cases the rates have come down drastically.

While the significant relief in income tax that she gave in her Budget in February this year left more money in the hands of common people, the GST changes will allow for greater spending, making things more affordable.

“People do understand for example, Rs 100 with which they go to the shop to buy a thing. Today, the same Rs 100 they can buy one and a half of the commodity. Earlier, they bought one,” she said.

So this rate reduction is going to bring down monthly household ration and medical bills, as well as help aspirational buying like upgrading from car, replacing white goods like refrigerator or washing machine.

“There is not going to be one family which is going to be without this positive impact of the GST touching them… 140 crore people are going to benefit from this in one way or the other. So this will boost consumption, and as a result, I think the virtuous cycle will start,” she said.

Asked about monitoring mechanism for ensuring passing on of GST rate cut benefit, Sitharaman said the ministry has been talking with industry and trade.

“They’ve all come out openly to say we will pass this on. So, I can see the positivity from industry and trade… I’m very confident they will pass it on,” she said.

“I have said from September 22 my main focus in my job would be to watch out and see if it is getting passed on and where it is not getting passed on, I will engage with industry and say that they have to.” On inflation, she said, it is already well under control and this cut in the GST will actually bring people out to consume more. “There is no doubt about it.” The Finance Minister highlighted that the reforms go far beyond rate cuts. They also focus on making it easier for businesses – especially small and medium enterprises – to operate.

Simplified compliance norms, faster refunds, and easier registration are part of the reform package, she added.

Under the new framework, 90 per cent of refunds will be processed within a stipulated time, and companies will be able to register within three days.

The GST overhaul, she said, addresses confusion over classification of products by bringing similar goods in the same tax bracket.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/gst-overhaul-a-peoples-reform-touches-every-family-nirmala-sitharaman-9228783

On getting information, a team from the Doda police station rushed to the spot and successfully prevented the suicide attempt, thereby saving three precious lives, police said in a statement.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police claimed on Saturday to have averted a tragic incident by rescuing a woman and her two minor children, who were about to jump into the Chenab river in Doda district.

On getting information, a team from the Doda police station rushed to the spot and successfully prevented the suicide attempt, thereby saving three precious lives, police said in a statement.

They said the woman, Shamima Akhter, the wife of Irfan Ahmed and a resident of Golibagh village in Doda, was handed over to the Women police station in Doda for counselling and necessary legal assistance.

To support women and girls in distress, women helpdesks have been set up at every police station, in addition to a dedicated women police station, ensuring accessible avenues for counselling, assistance and legal recourse.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Doda, Sandeep Mehta urged women facing domestic disputes or other difficulties to approach the women help centres, already functional across all police stations, instead of resorting to extreme steps.

He reiterated that help and support are always available.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jammu-and-kashmir/cops-foil-suicide-attempt-of-woman-jumping-into-chenab-river-rescue-her-and-2-children-in-jks-doda-3715713

Visuals from the visarjan procession show devotees showering gulal and flowers from a bridge. A huge crowd can be seen around the Ganesha idol.

Mumbai: A sea of devotees has gathered to catch a glimpse of Mumbai’s beloved Lalbaugcha Raja, as the majestic Ganesha idol makes its way for visarjan on Saturday. The idol reached S Bridge in Byculla West at 8:25 PM. Visuals from the visarjan procession show devotees showering gulal and flowers from a bridge. A huge crowd can be seen around the Ganesha idol.

A huge number of people were seen sitting on road dividers, building terraces, balconies, trees, and poles to catch a glimpse of the Ganesha idol.

CM Fadnvais DCM Eknath Shinde At Girgoan

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reached Girgaon Chowpatty, where, along with Lalbaugcha Raja, many other idols are being immersed. Lalbaugcha Raja will be immersed in the early hours of Sunday in the Arabian Sea.

Chandigarh University on Saturday launched its ambitious initiative ‘Campus Tank’ at the Constitution Club of India, aimed at strengthening India’s startup ecosystem by fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and investors.

Chandigarh University on Saturday launched its ambitious initiative ‘Campus Tank’ at the Constitution Club of India, aimed at strengthening India’s startup ecosystem by fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and investors.

Chancellor of Chandigarh University, Satnam Singh Sandhu’s Statement

Chancellor of Chandigarh University and Rajya Sabha MP, Satnam Singh Sandhu, underlined the significance of visionary leadership in driving the country’s growth.

“The progress and growth of any nation depend on its vision, which is shaped by its leadership. We are fortunate that for the past 11 years, our country has had leadership providing a clear vision — an Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat,” he said.

Union Minister Jitender Singh lauded the launch as a first-of-its-kind initiative that could redefine industry-academia collaboration.

“Campus Tank is dedicated to startups, creating a structure for easy facilitation of public-private linkages with universities acting as catalysts. I am sure this trend would pick up across the country,” he remarked.

He emphasised the need for strong industry linkages to consolidate India’s startup momentum, adding, “We have already reached number three in the startup ecosystem globally. This startup movement should have robust industry connections.”

Pro-Vice Chancellor Of Chandigarh University, Himani Sood’s Statement

Pro-Chancellor of Chandigarh University, Himani Sood, highlighted the pivotal role of government policies and collaborative efforts in making India a global startup leader.

“The government has been very instrumental in making India the leading pioneer in terms of incubation and setup of startups. From third to number one, till Viksit Bharat is going to be a reality. It’s not a dream because the government, angel investors, and now even academia are working towards it,” she said.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/education/chandigarh-university-launches-campus-tank-to-boost-indias-startup-ecosystem

He said that 48 more villages, with a population of 2,691 people and 2,131 hectares of crops have been affected during the past 24 hours and that till date, 1,996 villages across 22 districts stand impacted, affecting a total population of over 3.87 lakh people.

Punjab revenue, rehabilitation and disaster management minister Hardeep Singh Mundian on Saturday said floods had claimed three more lives in Amritsar and Rupnagar districts in the past 24 hours, raising the total toll to 46 across 14 districts, while three persons remained missing in district Pathankot.

He said that 48 more villages, with a population of 2,691 people and 2,131 hectares of crops have been affected during the past 24 hours and that till date, 1,996 villages across 22 districts stand impacted, affecting a total population of over 3.87 lakh people.

The Cabinet minister said that 19 more villages have been affected in Jalandhar in the past 24 hours, while 13 in Ludhiana, 6 in Ferozepur, 5 in Amritsar, 4 in Hoshiarpur and one village in district Fazilka were affected during this period.

Detailing the evacuation efforts, he said that 925 more persons were evacuated in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 22,854 people rescued so far.

He further said that 139 relief camps are presently operational in the state, sheltering 6,121 affected people, while a total of 219 camps have been established across different districts since the onset of floods.

Imam has challenged the Delhi High Court order denying bail to him and several others accused in the case, including Umar Khalid.

Sharjeel Imam has moved the Supreme Court seeking bail in the larger conspiracy case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in relation to the 2020 North East Delhi riots. [Sharjeel Imam v. State of NCT Delhi]

On September 2, the Delhi High Court had denied bail to him and 8 others – Umar Khalid, Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Meeran Haider, Shadab Ahmed, Abdul Khalid Saifi and Gulfisha Fatima.

Imam has challenged the High Court’s decision in his plea before the Supreme Court.

The riots occurred in February 2020, following clashes over the then-proposed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). As per the Delhi Police, the riots caused the death of 53 persons and injured hundreds.

The present case pertains to allegations that the accused had hatched a larger conspiracy to cause multiple riots. The FIR in this case was registered by a Special Cell of the Delhi Police under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the UAPA.

Most of the accused were booked in multiple FIRs, leading to multiple bail petitions before different courts. Most have been in custody since 2020.

Imam was booked in multiple FIRs across several states, mostly under sedition and UAPA charges.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/sharjeel-imam-moves-supreme-court-seeking-bail-in-delhi-riots-conspiracy-case

The girl’s family discovered her pregnancy on Thursday after she complained of persistent stomach pain.

An 11-year-old girl here, who had been subjected to repeated rape and blackmail, has given birth to a premature baby, which died soon after, police said on Saturday. The infant was born seven months into the pregnancy and died half an hour later, they said.

A police report has been filed against a 31-year-old man named Rashid, a father of two, who is accused of repeatedly raping the girl and blackmailing her to continue sexual relations. The accused was arrested on Saturday.

Nawabganj Station House Officer Arun Kumar Srivastava confirmed that an FIR has been registered against Rashid on Friday. A DNA sample has been taken from the baby to match with the accused.

According to the girl’s older brother, Rashid lured her to his house offering a fruit six to seven months ago, where he allegedly raped her.

He then threatened her that he would kill her family if she told anyone. He also made a video to blackmail her into having sexual relations with him multiple times.

The girl’s family discovered her pregnancy on Thursday after she complained of persistent stomach pain, leading them to get an ultrasound test at a government hospital, which revealed she was seven months pregnant.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bareilly-up-girl-11-raped-by-married-man-gives-birth-child-dies-minutes-later-9230280?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

She’s conquered ultras abroad, but India’s roads remain her hardest race. Ashwini Ganapathi speaks on fear, freedom, and reclaiming public space.

It is 4:30 am in Bengaluru. The first light of the morning sky is yet to hit the ground. Few in the city stir this early. But for Ashwini Ganapathi, one of India’s most prominent ultra-marathon runners, the day has already begun.

You may remember her name. In July, she stunned India’s ultra-running world by conquering the Deep Japan Ultra: 173 kilometres of relentless climbs, bitter cold, and worsening exhaustion in 45 hours 43 minutes, with no sleep and barely any food.

To the world, it was a trophy moment. To Ashwini, it was a culmination of years of rising before the dawn, running streets riddled with potholes and prejudice alike. India is going through a running revolution, but for women like Ashwini, that revolution has never been about medals alone. It is about defiance, grit, and the audacity to claim space in a world that too often tells women to shrink.

This morning is no different. Ashwini focusses on her breathing, her stride, her rhythm – until the silence is cut by a group of young men, staggering home from a late nighter, who decide to amuse themselves with catcalls.

“Cat-calling is usual,” she says, her voice steady. “I take charge and confront them when I can. But it is a persistent issue on the roads.”

Still, she refuses to accept it as routine, reminding herself and others firmly: endurance must never mean silent submission. These acts are crimes under Indian law, yet too often they are minimised, shrugged off, or blamed on the women themselves.

Ashwini, who has been doing this for a decade, says that it is a growing problem in India’s running wave. With basic needs secured, millennials and Gen Z are chasing fitness, and Indian athletics is quietly undergoing a revolution. At the elite level, names like Animesh Kujur and Parul Chaudhary are making history. And among recreational runners, many are trying to turn passion into careers.

In this landscape stands Sukant Singh Suki – “India’s toughest man” – the only Indian to finish Australia’s 350-km Delirious West. Ashwini belongs to the same rarefied air: a running and lifestyle coach based out of Bengaluru by the day, an ultra-runner at dawn. But no matter her credentials, things change the moment she steps outside.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/athletics/story/ashwini-ganapathi-india-fittest-woman-ultramarathon-safety-2782972-2025-09-07

Gorakhpur: Chaos erupted at a fuel pump in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur district over the state government’s ‘no helmet, no petrol’ rule. A video of a brawl between a woman and a petrol pump employee surfaced online.

The violent altercation erupted between the two after the saleswoman refused to fill petrol in the bike of the woman’s friend. In the video, a woman wearing blue jeans could be seen assaulting the saleswoman with a slipper, a chair, and even with a bottle in her hand.

The viral video shows the woman hitting the petrol pump employee and her colleague with a chair. She then threw the bottle at the saleswoman. The woman customer later climbed the platform where the fuel machines were installed and hit her. The petrol pump employee also defended herself with a fuel nozzle.

The woman’s friend and other person then intervened between the two and separated them. In the viral video, the girl could also be seen hitting a saleswoman with a slipper at the saleswoman. A crowd gathered at the petrol pump after the altercation.

After the video went viral, the Gorakhpur Police took cognisance of the incident. A case has been registered by the police. “Regarding the incident, Station House Officer Ramgarh Tal informed that the customer got into a dispute over the issue of not providing petrol at the petrol pump without a helmet, and based on the received written complaint in this regard, a case has been registered at the local police station under relevant sections,” the police said.

A detailed investigation has been launched into the matter.

Earlier this month, the UP government rolled out its month-long “No Helmet, No Fuel” drive. The rule is aimed at creating awareness among bikers regarding the importance of helmets and safety measures.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/up-chaos-at-gorakhpur-fuel-pump-over-no-helmet-no-petrol-rule-woman-attacks-staff-with-bottle-slippers-video

Shivnath Prasad joined services of Delhi government as an assistant teacher in 1993 and was the principal of MCD Primary Boys School at the time when he died.

The Delhi High Court has directed the government in the capital to pay Rs 1 crore ex-gratia to the family of a school principal who died while discharging COVID-19 duties.

The high court allowed an appeal filed by his widow challenging a single judge’s decision, which held the man was not on COVID duty at the relevant time.

“We have no hesitation in coming to the conclusion that the unfortunate demise of the late husband of the appellant was caused on account of contracting novel coronavirus while discharging COVID-19 duties,” a bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Tushar Rao Gedela said on September 4.

Shivnath Prasad, the plea said, joined the services of Delhi government as an assistant teacher in May 1993 and was the principal of the MCD Primary Boys School in Nithari at the time when he died.

The plea said in May 2020, the Delhi government rolled out a scheme under which if any person who is a government officer or official deployed for COVID-19 duties died by contracting the disease during discharge of his or her duties, the kin will be paid an ex-gratia amount of Rs 1 crore posthumously.

The plea said the man was deployed for discharging various duties including COVID-19 related duty in April 2021 and he tested positive for the virus on April 24, 2021, which according to his widow was the time when he was discharging COVID-19 related duties in the school he was attached to.

The man succumbed to the virus on April 28, 2021.

The deputy director of education concerned said the woman’s file for ex-gratia had some objections and the amount could not be approved.

The widow subsequently moved the high court seeking the relief but her plea was dismissed.

The division bench, on the other hand, examined a April 2023 letter issued by the principal of MCD Primary Boys’ School, Nithari indicating the former principal was deployed to perform duties during COVID-19 pandemic.

He was stated to have performed works related to the administration of COVID-19 vaccines.

“Having regard to the fact that the letter dated April 24, 2023 clearly specified that the late husband of the appellant was deployed on COVID-19 duties, it is clear that his death, on contracting novel coronavirus was not only relatable but also attributable to the discharge of such specific duties,” the bench said.

The court said the Delhi government’s May 2020 policy was a welfare measure, conferring benefits upon a particular class of persons who lost their lives while rendering essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While examining applications under such beneficial policies, a narrow and pedantic view ought to be completely avoided. Though it is the bounden duty of the officers scrutinising such applications to verify the same scrupulously, however, the intent behind such policies must not be lost sight of,” it added.

The court said relegating the widow back to the situation of filing a fresh application having due regard to the letter, was not in the interest of justice.

The Delhi government, as a result, was directed to process the woman’s application after considering the April 2023 letter of the school principal and complete the payment within eight weeks.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/delhi-high-court-orders-rs-1-crore-aid-to-school-principals-family-who-died-on-covid-duty-9226152

Peter Navarro, Trump’s trade adviser, has often attacked India over its Russia ties, dubbing the war “Modi’s war” and calling India “Kremlin’s laundromat.”

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Friday launched a fresh attack on India, accusing New Delhi of profiteering from Russian oil trade and imposing tariffs that he claims are costing Americans jobs.

“FACTS: India highest tariffs costs U.S. jobs. India buys Russian oil purely to profit/Revenues feed Russia war machine. Ukrainians/Russians die. U.S. taxpayers shell out more. India can’t handle truth/spins,” Navarro wrote on X.

His comments came in response to a Washington Post article that said Washington’s harsh language toward New Delhi was worsening bilateral ties, news agency ANI reported.

Navarro, who serves as Senior Counsellor for Trade and Manufacturing to President Donald Trump, has been criticising India for continuing its trade with Russia.

He earlier described the conflict as “Modi’s war,” labelled the country “Kremlin’s laundromat,” and alleged that New Delhi is fuelling Russia’s war economy.

In a Bloomberg Television interview last week, he said, “India is helping feed the Russian war machine. I mean Modi’s war, because the road to peace runs, in part, through New Delhi.”

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indias-tariffs-cost-us-jobs-peter-navarros-fresh-charge-amid-trade-tensions-101757118365097.html

Modi also encouraged the use of indigenous materials in art and craft classes and school celebrations to nurture a lasting sense of pride in Indian-made goods.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said teachers generally give homework to their students but he wants to give one “homework” to teachers for a change, that is to lead campaigns along with their students to promote swadeshi products and give an impetus to “Make in India” and “vocal for local”.

In an interaction with National Teacher awardees, he asked schools to celebrate such occasions as ‘Swadeshi Day’ or ‘Swadeshi Week’ when students would bring local products from their homes and share their stories.

“Today I am doing the task that you always do, giving homework. I am giving you a homework to lead campaigns to promote swadeshi products. I am confident that you will complete it.”

“Students should be encouraged to get swadeshi products from home, and there should be discussions on that. Students can also participate in marches in villages carrying placards rooting for swadeshi products. Such activities will create an atmosphere and encourage the citizens to use Made in India and be vocal for local products,” he said.

Modi also encouraged the use of indigenous materials in art and craft classes and school celebrations to nurture a lasting sense of pride in Indian-made goods.

He emphasised discussions on the origin, makers, and national importance of swadeshi products to foster deeper awareness.

“There should be interaction between students and local artisans, highlighting the value of indigenous crafts and manufacturing passed down through generations. Made in India gifts can be encouraged for occasions like birthdays to instil pride in local products. Such efforts will nurture patriotism, self-confidence, and respect for labour among youth, linking their personal success to national progress,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that there should be boards outside every house and shop of ‘har ghar swadeshi’

“Series of reforms to make India self-reliant will not stop. There should be boards outside every house and shops of ‘har ghar swadeshi’,” he said.

“Every student should ask themselves, ‘What can I do to fulfil any of the needs of my country?’ It is very important to connect oneself with the needs of the nation. It is this country that takes us forward in life, that gives us so much, and that is why every student must always carry this thought in their heart: What can I give to my country, and which of the nation’s needs can I help fulfil?” he said.

Modi called upon all teachers across the country to sow the seeds of self-reliance in every student and communicate its importance in simple language and local dialects.

He urged teachers to inspire students to understand that a nation dependent on others can never progress as rapidly as its true potential allows.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/pm-modis-homework-to-teachers-promote-swadeshi-vocal-for-local-3712964

The MUDA scam had become Siddaramaiah’s worst political nightmare as his wife was accused of illegally receiving 14 plots in a posh Mysuru locality in exchange for 3.16 acres of her land in the Kesare village, which she claimed was usurped by MUDA.

The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday accepted Justice P N Desai Commission’s report exonerating Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his wife Parvathi in connection with irregularities in site allotments at the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

The MUDA scam had become Siddaramaiah’s worst political nightmare as his wife was accused of illegally receiving 14 plots in a posh Mysuru locality in exchange for 3.16 acres of her land in the Kesare village, which she claimed was usurped by MUDA.

Justice Desai specifically addressed this allegation in his report, which was submitted to the government on July 31.

It turns out that there is no definite rule or regulation governing compensation to persons whose lands are used by MUDA without due acquisition.

The Commission said that MUDA followed two modes of compensation for lands utilised without acquisition. The first mode is land, and the second being sites. As per information furnished by MUDA to the Commission, it used up 72.34 acres of land without acquisition.

…allotment of sites is one of the modes adopted by MUDA and also BDA to provide compensation to the willing owner whose land is utilised without acquisition to give quietus to the dispute. In the absence of any statutory rule or law or regulation, such a procedure of method cannot be said as either illegal or unlawful,” the Commission said.

In Parvathi’s case, the Commission said that she insisted on “alternative undeveloped land” as compensation. “…although the resolution was passed in 2017, the same was not implemented, but subsequently in 2022, sites were allotted at the ratio of 50:50 as per one of the modes of payment of compensation adopted in the same manner as allotted to others,” the report stated.

“Hence, the allotment of sites as compensation to the land owners whose lands were de-notified, but utilised by MUDA…cannot be said to be illegal,” the Commission said. “Therefore, the methods followed by the Authority for payment of compensation in the form of sites in case of utilisation of denotified lands cannot be said unlawful, since MUDA does not have any title and legal possession over the denotified lands,” it concluded.

Source :  https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/muda-scam-citing-legal-loophole-panel-gives-siddaramaiah-clean-chit-in-land-allotment-row-3712691

Modi’s comments came even as experts said the rate cuts will boost domestic demand , offset the impact of US tariffs in businesses, and may increase real GDP

The changes in the Goods and Services Tax regime is a double dose of support and growth for the nation and the next-generation reforms have been done to support India’s progress in the 21st century, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday, a day after the GST Council approved the most sweeping overhaul of the country’s consumption tax since its 2017 launch.

Modi’s comments came even as experts said the rate cuts will boost domestic demand , offset the impact of US tariffs in businesses such as textiles and leather , and may increase real gross domestic product (GDP) from existing estimates of 6.5% to 6.7% in 2025-26.

“Without timely reforms, our country cannot claim its rightful place in today’s global landscape. As I had said from the ramparts of Red Fort on August 15, it is essential to implement next-generation reforms to make India truly self-reliant. I had also assured the nation that there would be a double blast of happiness for citizens ahead of this Diwali and Chhath Puja..This time, the festivity of Dhanteras will also be even more vibrant as the tax on dozens of items has now been reduced significantly,” Modi said while interacting with the National Awardee Teachers.

Stating that GST has become even simpler, the PM said, “On 22 September, which is the first day of Navratri, the next generation reform will be implemented as all these things are related to the ‘Matrishakti ’ (maternal strength)”.

Modi said that the poor, neo middle class, middle class women, students, farmers and young people will particularly benefit from the decision. He further said that these would lead to “ease of doing business”, and boost employment and investments.

The PM said that reforms in GST have added Panchratna (five aspects) to India’s economy, “First, the tax system has become much simpler. Second, the quality of life of the citizens of India will improve further. Third, both consumption and growth will get a new boost. Fourth, ease of doing business will boost investment and employment. Fifth, cooperative federalism will become stronger for a developed India.”

Modi also targeted the Congress, saying, “No one can forget how the Congress government has increased your monthly budget… They used to levy a 21% tax even on toffees for children. If Modi had done this, they would have pulled my hair out.” He added that under previous governments, many essentials such as kitchen items, agricultural goods, medicines, and even life insurance, were heavily taxed.

“Had it been the same era, you would have to pay ₹20-25 as tax on things priced at ₹100. But the aim of our government is to maximise the savings in the lives of common people and make people’s lives better,” he said.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the changes — which affected everything from toothpaste and insurance to tractors and cement — after a marathon meeting of the 56th GST Council. More than 90% of goods across multiple categories will become cheaper as the government whittles down the GST structure from four slabs to essentially two main rates of 5% and 18%, with a special 40% levy reserved for luxury and sin goods.

The changes will have a net revenue implication of ₹48,000 crore based on 2023-24 consumption patterns but represent a gamble on growth by boosting domestic demand at a time when exports face headwinds from punishing US tariffs.

In a relief to e-commerce exporters, the commerce ministry on Thursday said the GST Council approved the ministry’s proposal to eliminate the value threshold for refunds on low-value consignments. Laws will be amended to allow refunds for exports made with payment of tax, regardless of value, it added.

“This long-awaited reform addresses the concerns of small exporters, particularly those shipping through courier or postal services, and is expected to greatly simplify procedures and facilitate low-value e-commerce exports,” it said. The move will encourage participation of MSMEs and small sellers in international trade, boosting the growth of low-value e-commerce exports, it added.

The commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal described the rationalization exercise as a decisive step in strengthening India’s manufacturing base, empowering MSMEs, and enhancing the competitiveness of Indian goods in domestic and international markets. “The reform reinforces the vision of building an Atmanirbhar Bharat while delivering concrete benefits to producers, traders, and exporters across the country,” the ministry said in a statement quoting him.

DK Srivastava, chief policy advisor of EY India, said major sectors benefiting from the exercise include textiles, consumer electronics, automobiles, and foods. “These are employment intensive sectors where the benefits of lower prices would be quite broad based. On the production side, sectors that would benefit include fertilisers, agricultural machineries and renewable energy. In these sectors farmers would benefit through lower input costs,” he added.

“Thus, there is a demand and efficiency improving impact which would offset some of the revenue loss,” he added. These positive effects would gather momentum over the medium term and the base broadening effects could eventually overtake the short-term revenue reduction effects, he said.

As far as macro impact in 2025-26 is concerned, there may be some marginal pressure on the centre’s budgeted fiscal deficit, Srivastava said. “On the whole, even with some slippage in the fiscal deficit to GDP ratio, we expect the real GDP growth to actually increase from existing estimates of 6.5% to 6.7% in 2025-26. This is likely to happen in spite of the US tariff hikes. Most of the tariff affected sectors such as textiles would recover relevant ground with the increase in domestic demand and export diversification to countries where new free trade agreements would become effective later in the year,” he said.

DK Srivastava, chief policy advisor of EY India, said major sectors benefiting from the exercise include textiles, consumer electronics, automobiles, and foods. “These are employment intensive sectors where the benefits of lower prices would be quite broad based. On the production side, sectors that would benefit include fertilisers, agricultural machineries and renewable energy. In these sectors farmers would benefit through lower input costs,” he added.

“Thus, there is a demand and efficiency improving impact which would offset some of the revenue loss,” he added. These positive effects would gather momentum over the medium term and the base broadening effects could eventually overtake the short-term revenue reduction effects, he said.

As far as macro impact in 2025-26 is concerned, there may be some marginal pressure on the centre’s budgeted fiscal deficit, Srivastava said. “On the whole, even with some slippage in the fiscal deficit to GDP ratio, we expect the real GDP growth to actually increase from existing estimates of 6.5% to 6.7% in 2025-26. This is likely to happen in spite of the US tariff hikes. Most of the tariff affected sectors such as textiles would recover relevant ground with the increase in domestic demand and export diversification to countries where new free trade agreements would become effective later in the year,” he said.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/double-dose-for-growth-pm-hails-gst-2-0-attacks-oppn-101757011841806.html

In the viral video, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is heard telling IPS officer Anjana Krishna to halt the police crackdown on illegal murrum excavation in Maharashtra’s Solapur.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar has landed in a controversy after a video of him purportedly pressuring a woman IPS officer to halt action against illegal soil excavation in a village in Solapur went viral on social media. Pawar reacted to the viral clip, in a post on X, and said that he holds “the highest respect for our police force and its officers, including the women officers”.

He further explained that his intention was not to interfere with law enforcement but to ensure that “the situation on the ground remained calm and did not escalate further”.

“I have the highest respect for our police force and its officers, including the women officers who serve with distinction and courage and I value the rule of law above all. I remain firmly committed to transparent governance and to ensuring that every illegal activity, including sand mining, is dealt with strictly as per the law,” he added.

The incident reportedly occurred two days ago in Kurdu village in Solapur, where sub-divisional police officer Anjana Krishna had gone to act on complaints of illegal ‘murrum’ excavation — a material widely used in road construction.

Villagers clashed with officials on the spot, prompting local NCP workers to intervene. Party worker Baba Jagtap is seen in the clip handing his phone to Krishna after dialling Ajit Pawar directly.

In the video, shared by many on social media, Pawar is heard speaking to Krishna from Jagtap’s phone. “I can understand what you are saying, but I am unable to figure out if I am talking to the Deputy Chief Minister. Can you please call me on my number directly?” the IPS officer asked.

Her reply apparently made Pawar furious. He shot back, threatening action against the IPS officer. “Ek min, main tere upar action lunga (I will take action against you. I am myself talking to you and you are asking me to call you directly. You want to see me. Take my number and make a WhatsApp call. Itna aapko daring hua hai kya (How dare you?)” Pawar said.

Since the officer does not recognise his voice, the Deputy Chief Minister later makes a video call, sternly telling her to stop the action. Krishna, in response, said she had not realised she was speaking to Pawar. The NCP leader then asks her if she recognises him by face.

The Nationalist Congress Party defended Ajit Pawar, claiming his remarks were misinterpreted. “Ajit Dada may have chided the IPS officer to pacify party workers. He didn’t mean to halt the action completely,” said state party chief Sunil Tatkare, stressing that Pawar never supports illegal activities.

Party spokesperson Anand Paranjpe added that the video was being given the wrong colour. “In a democracy, even workers’ grievances must be heard. Pawar only tried to manage the situation. The clip is being misrepresented,” he said.

NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar lalo backed his uncle Ajit, attributing the controversy to his straightforward nature and alleging allies are twisting the narrative to target him. Rohit urged focus on pressing issues like farmer loan waivers instead.

Furthermore, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale also came to Pawar’s defence and said, “I think Ajit Pawar is a very strong leader and a good administrator. He later talked about what happened. He did that mistakenly because he did not know she was an officer. He also admitted that what he did was not right. So this is not a matter of dispute.”

The incident has drawn some sharp reactions. NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Supriya Sule condemned the move on X, calling it an assault on constitutional values and gender equality, urging action to protect civil servants from political intimidation. Also, Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut criticised Pawar, accusing him of shielding illegal activities and undermining discipline.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ajit-pawar-video-woman-ips-officer-anjana-krishna-illegal-excavation-solapur-ncp-2782221-2025-09-05

The most striking improvement has been in the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), considered a key measure of health standards

For the first time, India’s birth and death rates have dropped to nearly half their levels from fifty years ago, marking strong improvements in healthcare, family planning, and social well-being across the country, according to the latest government data for 2023.

According to the latest data from the Sample Registration System, India’s birth, death, and infant mortality rates have shown a steady decline over the past few decades.

Fall in birth rate

The birth rate (live births per thousand population) has fallen from 21.4 in 2013 to 18.4 in 2023. Overall, data shows the birth rate at all-India levels has declined drastically over the last five decades from 36.9 in 1971 to 18.4 in 2023—a drop of 18.5.

Birth rate defines the number of babies born alive in a year for every 1,000 people in the population, and it shows how fast a population is growing. Data shows that in rural areas, where birth rates have traditionally been higher, it recorded a decline from 22.9 to 20.3 over the same period, while in urban areas, it saw a sharper fall from 17.3 to 14.9. The data also highlighted regional disparities: Bihar reported the highest birth rate at 25.8 in 2023, while the Andaman & Nicobar Islands recorded the lowest at 10.1.

Declining death rate

The death rate (deaths per thousand population) also continued its downward trend, decreasing from 7.0 in 2013 to 6.4 in 2023. Death rate defines the number of people who die in a year for every 1,000 people in the population and gives an idea of overall mortality, life expectancy, and health conditions in a population.

Rural areas reported a death rate of 6.8, compared to 5.7 in urban areas. However, the gap between states remains significant. Chhattisgarh recorded the highest death rate at 8.3, while Chandigarh registered the lowest at 4.0.

Plummeting IMR

The most striking improvement has been in the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), considered a key measure of health standards. IMR shows the number of babies who die before reaching 1 year of age (infants), per 1,000 babies born alive in a year. IMR is considered one of the best indicators of a country’s healthcare quality, nutrition, and living conditions, because it reflects how well newborns and mothers are cared for.

IMR dropped from 40 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2013 to 25 in 2023, a decline of nearly 37.5%. Rural IMR fell from 44 to 28, while urban IMR declined from 27 to 18 over the same period. In 2023, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh reported the highest IMR at 37, while Manipur had the lowest at just 3.

MMR too headed down

A similar trend was visible in the data from the National Health Mission on the Maternal Mortality Rate. It showed that India’s decline in Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) is higher than the global ratio. Between 1990 and 2020, India’s MMR declined by 83% in comparison to a 42% fall on a worldwide scale. It means in India, during 1 lakh live births, 556 mothers died. However, the number has now improved, and maternal mortality now stands at 97 deaths.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/indias-birth-and-death-rates-halve-in-50-years-sharp-drop-in-infant-and-maternal-mortality-9550394.html

The new slab structure blends economic relief with strategic messaging: trimming household bills while protecting key sectors before elections

The GST 2.0 overhaul isn’t just a tax reform; it’s a political statement. From the middle class to farmers, the restructuring of India’s indirect tax regime appears carefully calibrated to please key voter segments ahead of the Bihar elections. The four-tier structure of 5, 12, 18, and 28 per cent is being replaced by just two core slabs—5 and 18 per cent—while a new 40 per cent rate has been introduced for luxury and ‘sin goods’.

The slab changes seem to have been designed with precision, targeting constituencies that matter both economically and electorally. Here’s how each group stands to benefit.

Middle Class: Aspirational Gains, Political Stakes

Comprising nearly 31 per cent of India’s population, the middle class is both an economic driver and a critical electoral bloc. The BJP has already tried to woo this segment with tax cuts in the Union Budget, and GST 2.0 takes it further.

The government has slashed GST on a host of goods associated with middle-class consumption and aspirations— small cars, LED TVs, air conditioners, cinema tickets, chocolates, pencils, geometry boxes—have seen tax rates slashed to 18 per cent. Daily-use items like soaps, shampoos, hair oil, toothpaste, toothbrushes, talcum powder, candles, shaving kits, safety matches, and even stationery and toys are now taxed at just 5 per cent, down from 12–18 per cent earlier.

Healthcare expenses, a major outlay for many households, have also been addressed. Life and health insurance premiums are now GST-exempt, while 33 life-saving drugs, including treatments for cancer and rare diseases, have been made entirely tax-free. Diagnostic kits, thermometers and most other medicines are down to 5 per cent.

With the Bihar elections around the corner, these changes are seen as a strategic move to retain middle-class goodwill in a state where their vote can swing the outcome.

Farmers and Dairy Sector: A Red Line in Tariff Talks

India’s agrarian economy has long made farmers a non-negotiable priority in policymaking. According to National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) data, the country is home to between 37 and 118 million farmers, and around 93 million agricultural households. The dairy sector alone involves 70 to 80 million farmers.

GST 2.0 acknowledges their importance. Tax rates have been cut on items vital to farm and rural livelihoods—farm equipment, ghee, butter, paneer, jams, sauces, soups, namkeens, and even dry fruits like almonds, cashews, and pistachios are now taxed at 5 per cent, significantly down from 12–18 per cent.

Crucially, both the agriculture and dairy sectors have been protected during trade negotiations with the US. India has refused to open these to foreign competition, choosing instead to safeguard domestic producers. This aligns with the broader political priority of keeping rural India economically secure.

Healthy India: Taxing the Bad Stuff

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently promoted a healthy lifestyle, from popularising yoga internationally to urging citizens to cut down on oil and sugar consumption.

GST 2.0 reinforces this vision with a new 40 per cent ‘sin tax’ on products considered harmful to health. This includes tobacco, pan masala, zarda, gutkha, and aerated or caffeinated beverages with added sugar. The message is clear: the government wants to make unhealthy choices costlier while rewarding mindful consumption.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/who-gains-from-gst-2-0-middle-class-farmers-and-the-push-for-a-healthy-india-ws-l-9549242.html

“People will start benefiting from first day of Navratri. This time, Dhanteras will be more vibrant. This is the biggest reform of independent India,” PM Modi said.

The rationalisation of Goods and Services Tax — which is expected to put money in the pockets of the middle class by slashing tax on multiple items and scrapping it altogether for crucial items including bread and life saving drugs — is the “biggest reform since Independence,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today. The two tax slabs which would be operational instead of the current four, will come into effect from September 22 — the first day of Navratri.

“People will start benefiting from first day of Navratri. This time, Dhanteras will be more vibrant. This is the biggest reform of independent India,” PM Modi said.

During his address at the National Teachers Awards, PM Modi said he had promised “double dhamaka” of next-generation GST reforms before Diwali and Chhath from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

“Without timely changes, we cannot give our country its rightful place in today’s global context. I had said from the Red Fort on 15 August this time that it is crucial to undertake next-generation reforms to make India self-reliant. I had also promised the countrymen that there would be a double blast of happiness before this Diwali and Chhath Puja,” he said.

He said the GST reforms incorporated “Panch Ratna” (five gems) – simpler tax system, better quality of life for citizens, boost for consumption and growth, encouraging investments and job creation through ease of doing business and strengthening cooperative federalism for developed India – to the country’s economy.

He also attacked the Opposition Congress, pointing out that when they were in power at the Centre, they taxed anything and everything — daily essentials, food and medicine.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/biggest-reform-of-independent-india-pm-narendra-modi-applauds-gst-rationalisation-9217983?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Jaishankar highlighted that geopolitical uncertainties and economic volatility make a “very powerful case” for stronger partnerships with EU and Germany.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said the global strategic and economic landscape is undergoing “significant and far-reaching changes”, stressing the need for India, the European Union (EU), and Germany in particular, to deepen cooperation in response to these shifts.

Addressing a joint press conference with visiting German foreign minister Johann Wadephul, Jaishankar highlighted that geopolitical uncertainties and economic volatility make a “very powerful case” for stronger partnerships.

Wadephul is on a two-day visit to India, having begun his engagements in Bengaluru on Tuesday before arriving in New Delhi for talks.

The statement also comes at a time when India is facing heightened economic pressures, including the Donald Trump administration’s recent decision to impose a 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports linked to its purchases of Russian crude oil.

During the presser, Jaishankar urged for a stronger relationship with Germany, saying, “We are witnessing significant and far-reaching changes on the global strategic landscape. We’re also seeing a lot of volatility on the global economic landscape and I think together they make a very powerful case for India and the European Union and India and Germany to work much more closely with each other. This is a relationship where there are considerable possibilities for fairly rapid growth,” news agency ANI reported.

He added, “So the bottom line answer is yes. There are big changes underway in the world. Those changes make a very compelling case for a deeper, stronger, wider India-Germany relationship.”

India-Germany trade growth

Jaishankar underlined the importance of bilateral cooperation with Germany and said discussions also focused on advancing trade negotiations.

“Today, our conversation was mostly devoted to the bilateral part…The minister was kind enough to assure me that Germany would also put its full weight behind the FTA negotiations with the European Union,” ANI quoted EAM as saying.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jaishankar-says-big-changes-underway-in-the-world-calls-for-closer-india-eu-ties-101756908801664.html

PM Modi and President Putin had travelled in the same vehicle to the destination of their bilateral meeting after the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue in Tianjin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, while divulging details for the first time about his conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their car ride in Tianjin after of the SCO Summit, said that he spoke with the Indian PM about the Alaska Summit with US President Donald Trump.
PM Modi and President Putin had travelled in the same vehicle to the destination of their bilateral meeting after the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue in Tianjin.
“After the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue, President Putin and I travelled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting. Conversations with him are always insightful,” PM Modi had said in a post on X.

The mini road-trip for Putin and Modi to reach the venue for their bilateral meeting lasted only about 15 minutes, but the two leaders then sat inside the car for a further 45 minutes to continue their discussions.

“The two leaders continued their one-to-one dialogue on the way to the hotel where they were to be joined by members of their teams. However, on reaching the hotel they did not deboard the Russian president’s limousine and continued their conversation for 50 minutes,” Russian national radio station VestiFM reported.

Later, during the bilateral meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed the depth of their partnership and exchanged views on global issues like the Ukraine war. Reiterating the long-standing friendship between New Delhi and Moscow, Prime Minister Modi said, “India and Russia have always stood shoulder to shoulder even in the most difficult situations. Our close cooperation is important not only for the people of both countries but also for global peace, stability and prosperity.”
The talks came at a time when India has been facing heat, and tariffs, from the US over their buying of Russian oil. Besides a 25 per cent tariff, US President Donald Trump has also imposed a 25 per cent penalty over India buying oil from Russia.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/putin-modi-sco-summit-car-ride-conversation-details-article-152653621

The German authorities had taken custody of Ariha Shah on September 23, 2021, when she was seven months old, alleging that her parents had harassed her.

India on Wednesday called upon Germany to ensure the early return of Indian baby girl Ariha Shah, who has been living in a foster care in Berlin for nearly four years.

The issue was raised by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during talks with his German counterpart Johann Wadephul.

“I raised the issue of Ariha Shah, an Indian child who has been in the foster care of German authorities for some time. I underlined to the Minister that it is essential that her cultural rights are ensured and she grows up in Indian surroundings,” Jaishankar said at a joint media briefing with Mr Wadephul.

“This matter needs to be resolved without further delay, and I think we have had some discussions today on that subject,” he said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-urges-germany-to-ensure-early-return-of-baby-ariha-shah-9211943

The tax on pan masala, tobacco products, cigarettes, aerated drinks containing added sugar and caffeinated and non-alcoholic beverages has been increased from 28 per cent to 40 per cent.

The GST Council has increased the tax on sin and super luxury goods under a special rate of 40 per cent. The tax on pan masala, tobacco products, cigarettes and all automobiles above 1,200 cc and longer than 4,000 mm will attract 40 per cent GST. Motorcycles exceeding 350 cc, yachts and aircraft for personal use, and racing cars will attract a 40 per cent levy.

All cars larger than 1,200 cc for petrol and 1,500 cc for diesel will be charged at 40 pc, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.

The council has also raised the tax rate on aerated drinks containing added sugar and caffeinated and non-alcoholic beverages has been increased from 28 per cent to a steep 40 per cent.

The council, chaired by Ms Sitharaman, cut the current four slabs down to two, in a landmark move. It scrapped the 12 per cent and 28 per cent rates, while retaining the 5 per cent and 18 per cent slabs. The new goods and services tax (GST), except for tobacco products and cigarettes, will become effective from September 22.

The government has decided to cut taxes on hundreds of consumer items ranging from soaps to small cars, with a “focus on the common man”.

Praising the announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “GST reforms will improve lives, ensure ease of doing business, especially for small businesses”.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/tobacco-products-carbonated-beverages-what-comes-under-40-gst-9211789

Hundreds of farmers, waiting in long lines for urea under a token system, were first offered tea and biscuits by the administration in a gesture of calm.But as night fell, tempers rose.

It is the season of sowing, but there’s anger and despair across Madhya Pradesh. Farmers in several districts are facing a deepening fertilizer crisis.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, in a high-level review meeting on Wednesday, directed collectors to ensure “smooth and transparent distribution of fertilizers” and warned that they would be held accountable for any chaos.

“The state government is with the farmers in every situation,” said the Chief Minister.

He directed district administration to conduct an intensive review of fertilizer availability, keep farmers constantly informed, and share district-wise stock information with public representatives.

“This will make farmers aware of the actual status of fertilizer availability,” he said.

Mr Yadav also instructed that surprise verification and monitoring of double lock godowns, Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS), and private sales centers must be carried out.

If additional sales outlets are needed, he said, they should be started immediately.

Officials of agriculture, cooperative banks, and the marketing federation must stay in constant touch with farmers’ organizations, the Chief Minister stressed.

Yet, ground reality paints a different picture.

In Rewa’s Karhiya Mandi, chaos led to confrontation on Tuesday night.

Hundreds of farmers, waiting in long lines for urea under a token system, were first offered tea and biscuits by the administration in a gesture of calm.

But as night fell, tempers rose.

Farmers, alleging mismanagement, locked the Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildar and Markfed officials inside a room. The police responded with force. Videos from the spot show police using lathis to disperse the restless crowd.

The administration insists, however, that “no lathicharge” was carried out. Officials claim only “mild force” was used after farmers confined officers.

“Fertilizer is available in sufficient quantity, but farmers need to maintain patience,” a Rewa official said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/first-tea-and-biscuits-then-lathis-as-farmers-lock-officials-over-fertilizers-at-rewa-in-madhya-pradesh-9211711

The revised rate structure will come into effect on September 22, coinciding with the first day of Navratri

In a major move to simplify India’s tax regime and bring relief to consumers, the GST Council on Wednesday approved a sweeping overhaul of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) structure.

The reforms include slashing tax rates on everyday items, such as TVs, shampoos, air conditioners, medicines, and even small cars, and streamlining the number of GST slabs.

The revised rate structure will come into effect on September 22, coinciding with the first day of Navratri. The GST Council has replaced the earlier four-tier system (5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%) with a simplified two-rate structure of 5% and 18%. Additionally, a special 40% rate has been introduced for luxury and sin goods like high-end cars and tobacco products.

HERE ARE 10 KEY FAQs TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT’S CHANGING

1. When will the changes in GST rates come into force?

The new GST rates will apply from 22nd September 2025 for most goods and services. Items like cigarettes and chewing tobacco will continue with the current rates until a later date, to be notified separately.

2. What is the GST rate on medicines?

All medicines will now attract a 5% GST, unless specifically exempted.

3. What is the GST rate on air conditioners, TVs, monitors, and dishwashers?

GST on air conditioners and dishwashers has been reduced from 28% to 18%. All TVs and monitors, regardless of size, will now be taxed at 18%.

4. Has GST on agricultural machinery/equipment been reduced?

Yes. Items like sprinklers, harvesters, composting machines, and other equipment will now attract 5% GST instead of 12%.

5. What is the revised GST rate on small petrol, LPG, CNG, or diesel cars?

GST on small cars is reduced from 28% to 18%.

“Small cars” include:

• Petrol/LPG/CNG cars with engine capacity up to 1200 cc and length up to 4000 mm
• Diesel cars with engine capacity up to 1500 cc and length up to 4000 mm

6. What is the GST rate on renewable energy equipment/devices?

GST on renewable energy devices has been brought down from 12% to 5%.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/from-electronics-to-small-cars-and-medical-devices-10-key-faqs-on-new-gst-rate-cuts-ws-l-9547758.html

The MEA raised concerns about Ariha’s sudden transfer to specialized foster care in Germany, warning it could negatively impact her emotional and mental well-being

German Foreign Minister Johann Wedfful is visiting India, where he met with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi. While the talks primarily focused on strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations, attention was also drawn to a sensitive human-interest issue—the case of a young girl named Ariha Shah.

This marks the first meeting between the German and Indian foreign ministers since Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office.

Who Is Ariha Shah?

Ariha Shah, an Indian girl of about four years, has been separated from her parents, Dhara and Bhavesh Shah, and placed in German foster care. The separation occurred after an incident where Ariha was injured by her grandmother, leading German authorities to take her into protective custody, classifying the situation as a case of abuse. Ariha has been in foster care for 46 months, entangled in a complex legal case in Germany.

Her parents have maintained that the injury was accidental, but the legal proceedings in Germany have prolonged her stay in foster care.

Foreign Minister Calls For Immediate Release

Jaishankar brought up the case of Ariha Shah during talks with the German Foreign Minister, stating, “I raised the issue of Ariha Shah, an Indian girl under German authorities’ care for some time. I stressed the need to protect her cultural rights and ensure her upbringing in an Indian environment. This matter should be resolved without delay.”

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had also raised Ariha’s case in talks held in October 2024, yet she remains in foster care. The MEA and the Embassy of India in Berlin have been persistently advocating for the return of the baby, who was placed in the custody of Germany’s Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt) on September 23, 2021 when she was seven months old.

When Did Indian Government Step In?

The Government of India had stepped in following a letter from Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to the Ministry of External Affairs, urging support for Ariha Shah. The letter highlighted the parents’ plea to bring Ariha back home.

The MEA emphasized that the child’s best interests can only be fully safeguarded in her home country, where her socio-cultural rights can be protected. India has repeatedly requested German authorities to return Ariha and ensure her access to her cultural, religious, and linguistic background. The Indian Embassy had also sought consular access and opportunities for cultural immersion at the Indian Cultural Centre in Berlin.

However, these requests have so far not been fulfilled. The MEA had expressed concern over Ariha’s abrupt transfer to a specialized foster care arrangement in Germany, describing the process as potentially harmful to her emotional and mental development.

Officials also noted that India has a strong child welfare system and that prospective foster parents are ready to provide a home that preserves her socio-cultural identity.

Ariha’s Parents Spoke Out

According to Shinde’s letter to S. Jaishankar, Ariha’s parents, Dhara and Bhavesh Shah of Mumbai, have been tirelessly working to reunite with her.

Earlier, Dhara Shah had expressed deep worry, saying, “Based on the court order there, Ariha has now been sent to an orphanage. We have no idea about the people she will live with. We are extremely concerned for her safety.”

She mentioned that with their German visas expiring, delays in the process could result in permanent loss of custody.

Ariha was just seven months old when separated from her parents, who have been allowed visits only once every 15–20 days.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/who-is-ariha-shah-4-year-old-indian-girl-taken-from-parents-and-placed-in-german-foster-care-ws-dkl-9546976.html

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has frozen approximately Rs 40.69 crore in nine bank accounts linked to Congress MLA KC Veerendra amid a money laundering investigation related to illegal online betting.

ED has frozen around Rs 40.69 crore kept in 9 bank accounts and one bank account of Congress MLA KC Veerendra in a money laundering probe revolving around illegal online betting investigations.
On August 22, ED had arrested Karnataka MLA from Chitradurga KC Veerendra in Gangtok and later got his custodial remand. In total, the ED has frozen Rs 55 crore.
“An amount of Rs. 55 crore (approx.) were marked freeze, including Rs. 40.69 crore (approx.) in 9 bank accounts and one Demat account of KC Veerendra and a total amount of Rs. 14.46 Crore (approx.) in 262 mule accounts recovered from one of the accused gateways through which money collected by multiple gaming websites being operated by K C Veerendra and his associates were being routed,” said ED on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, ED again carried out fresh searches in several locations in Bengaluru and Challekere.

It has also seized five high end vehicles all Mercedes Benz with VIP number plates ending with 0003 and one with 5267.
The federal probe agency has claimed that illegal betting syndicate allegedly being run and one payment gateway being used could be around Rs 2000 crores.
“The accused is running several online betting sites in name of King 567, Raja 567, Lion 567. It has been revealed that several gateways are being used to route payments collected through websites,” said ED on Wednesday.
“The money collected from these websites being operated by KC Veerendra and his associates through single gateway alone is more than Rs. 2,000 Crore in a short span of time,” ED said in a statement on Wednesday.

ED claims Congress MLA’s brother KC Thippeswamy is reportedly operating three business entities in Dubai, Diamond Softech, TRS Technologies and Prime9Technologies.
“These entities are related to call centre services and gaming business of KC Veerendra,” said an official.
“We have traced other Dubai based entities like Castle Rock Project Management, Lascaux Core Project Management Services which have been incorporated by Veerendra in partnership with his brother and others,” he added.
“K C Veerendra and his associates in Dubai are operating several gaming websites by using various gateways and fintech service providers for layering of funds and for masking their illicit activities as genuine e-commerce businesses,” said ED.
On 22nd August – 23rd August ED had carried out searches at 31 locations in Karnataka, Goa and Sikkim. During these searches, an amount of Rs. 12 Crore in cash, gold jewellery worth Rs. 6 Crore, silver articles around 10 Kg along with 4 vehicle were seized.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/ed-freezes-rs-40-crores-of-karnataka-congress-mla-in-illegal-betting-case-article-152654493

Ranya smuggled 127 kg of gold, according to evidence gathered, says DRI

The saga of Sandalwood actress Ranya Rao’s involvement in a major gold smuggling racket has taken a dramatic turn, with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) serving a show-cause notice demanding a staggering fine of Rs 102 crore. This development intensifies the legal troubles for the actress, who is already in judicial custody and has seen her assets worth Rs 37 crore seized by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

While Ranya Rao was initially caught with 14 kg of gold, the DRI’s meticulous investigation has revealed a far more extensive operation. Documentary evidence compiled by the agency indicates that the actress, through her multiple international trips, was a key player in the illegal smuggling of a colossal 127 kg of gold.

The notice, served under the Customs Act, marks a critical step for the DRI Bengaluru, which has built a watertight case and is now moving to recover a penalty of 100% of the smuggled goods’ value, as mandated by law. The DRI can also seek confiscation of the already seized assets.

The crackdown extends beyond the actress, exposing a complex network of individuals involved in the multi-crore illicit trade. The DRI has also issued show-cause notices to three other accused. Tharun Raju, accused no. 2 in the case, is alleged to have smuggled 71.6 kg of gold and faces a penalty of Rs 62 crore. The other accused, Bharat Jain and Shahil Jain, each implicated in the smuggling of around 63 kg of gold, have been ordered to pay a fine of Rs 53 crore each.

The serving of the notices on Tuesday through the jailer brings a new chapter to this unfolding investigation, as the accused now face the full financial consequences of their alleged crimes.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/dri-serves-jaw-dropping-rs-102-crore-penalty-notice-to-actress-ranya-rao-in-gold-smuggling-case-9544608.html

Relentless rains in Himachal Pradesh caused landslides, road closures, and evacuations. Kiratpur-Manali highway remains blocked, stranding thousands of tourists.

Relentless rains have wreaked havoc in Himachal Pradesh, triggering a series of landslides that have crippled road connectivity, disrupted essential services, and forced several families to evacuate.

Further, two women died in separate house collapse incidents on Tuesday amid relentless rain. The extreme weather also led to the closure of 1,337 roads, including four national highways, causing widespread disruption. With several key roads being blocked, contact with some of the key regions have been cut off, leading to widespread logistical challenges.

The Kiratpur-Manali four-lane highway remains out of bound for a second day on Tuesday owing to multiple landslides between Mandi and Banala. With the alternate Kataula route also being blocked, over 2,000 vehicles are stuck in Mandi and Kullu, leaving tourists and locals stranded amid deteriorating weather.

The transport paralysis has severely impacted farmers from Lahaul and Spiti, who are now watching their unsold vegetable produce rot in the fields. The prolonged blockade threatens both their seasonal income and the wider vegetable supply chain.

In a separate incident, a rockfall near the Paddal Gurudwara in Mandi town struck two houses, sparking panic among residents. Fortunately, all occupants evacuated in time, and no injuries were reported.

The area has been declared unsafe and vacated as a precaution, the authorities have said. The affected families were moved to safer locations, and nearby residents also left their homes fearing further rockfalls.

Further, in Manali, two people were rescued after their vehicle was caught in a landslide-related mishap. Rescue teams remain on high alert, with officials urging the public to stay away from unstable areas and report any signs of ground movement.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/himachal-rain-fury-2000-vehicles-stranded-in-mandi-kullu-1337-roads-closed-ws-l-9544773.html

A 26-year-old man allegedly strangled his 52-year-old lover after she demanded loan repayment and marriage. The victim used Instagram filters to hide her real age.

A 26-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh’s Mainpuri district allegedly killed his lover, double his age, for pressuring him to marry her and return the loan he took from her. As per the police, the man strangled the victim with her dupatta.

Accused, Arun Rajpoot, befriended a 52-year-old woman on Instagram and after chatting for 1.5 years, they exchanged numbers. The woman allegedly used Instagram filters to appear younger.

2 months ago, they met each other for the first time at a hotel in Farrukhabad. When Rajpoot saw the victim, he was stunned as she appeared much older. She told him that her age was 52. Rajpoot didn’t act on it and conspired to take money from her. He took a loan of almost Rs 1.5 lakh from her.

The victim asked for loan repayment after Rajpoot refused to marry her.

Rajpoot got miffed by the continuous pressure and planned to murder the woman. He called her to Mainpuri and strangled her to death with her dupatta. He pulled out the SIM card from her mobile and got rid of it. He left the body in the bushes.

Police Performed Last Rites

The woman’s abandoned body was found by the police on August 11 near Kharpari Rajbaha in the Kotwali area of ​​Mainpuri. A mobile phone was also found near the body. When the body could not be identified, the police registered it as abandoned and cremated it. However, the police had sent the photo of the woman to all the police stations of the district and the surrounding districts.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/52-year-old-woman-used-instagram-filter-to-hide-age-killed-by-lover-after-pressing-for-marriage-ws-l-9545205.html

The Delhi High Court was responding to the delay in the trial cited as one of the major reasons to grant bail by the lawyers of the accused

Denying bail to activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and eight others, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday said a hurried trial in the 2020 riots conspiracy case will be “detrimental” to both the accused and the State.

Khalid, Imam, Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Meeran Haider, Abdul Khalid Saifi, Gulfisha Fatima and Shadab Ahmed have been behind bars for the past five years in an anti-terror law case linked to the alleged conspiracy behind the February 2020 riots in Delhi.

“All the appeals are dismissed,” said a bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur, while acting on the bail pleas. “A hurried trial would also be detrimental to the rights of both the Appellants and the State. The parties have informed this Court that the trial is currently at the stage of hearing arguments on the framing of charges, thus, it indicates that the case is progressing.”

The court was responding to the delay in the trial cited as one of the major reasons to grant bail by the lawyers of the accused.

The division bench noted that the Delhi Police has filed a 3,000-page chargesheet with an additional 30,000 pages of electronic evidence. It observed the police had carried out a detailed investigation, leading to the arrest of several people and, in such a background, “the pace of the trial will progress naturally”.

A different bench of Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar rejected the appeal of Tasleem Ahmed against a bail rejection order of the trial court.

Khalid, Imam and several others were booked under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and provisions of IPC for allegedly being the “masterminds” of the February 2020 riots, which left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. The violence erupted during the protests against the CAA and NRC.

The accused have been in jail since 2020 and they moved the high court against a trial court order dismissing their bail pleas. While challenging this order, Imam, Khalid and others had cited their long incarceration and parity with other co-accused who were granted bail.

WHAT DID THE PROSECUTION SAY?

The prosecution opposed the bail pleas saying it was not a case of spontaneous riots but a case where riots were “planned well in advance” with a “sinister motive” and “well-thought-out conspiracy”.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta contended it was a conspiracy to defame India on a global level and merely citing long incarceration was no ground for bail. He argued that the intention behind the riots was to globally defame the nation through a “well-planned and orchestrated” criminal conspiracy by the accused persons.

Delhi Police argued that it was not a spontaneous riot but a well-organised act planned in advance, aimed at a particular day and time. It was alleged the protests were part of a conspiracy of the accused persons to cause violence at the time of the visit of then US President Donald Trump.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/hurried-trial-detrimental-to-accused-state-delhi-hc-says-role-of-umar-khalid-in-2020-riots-grave-ws-l-9544857.html

Shubhanshu Shukla is the first Indian to set foot on the International Space Station (ISS) and the second from the country to go into space.

Shubhanshu Shukla shared a surprising video that captured how he used to eat food while aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The first Indian to visit the ISS and the second Indian to go into space explained the routine astronauts have to follow while eating in zero gravity.

“Food in space. Never thought I would have to learn to eat again. Here I am explaining why habits matter when you are eating in space. If you are not mindful you can easily create a mess and you don’t want to be that guy. Solid mantra that works for anything in space ‘Slow is Fast’,” Shukla wrote.

How do astronauts digest food in space?

He added, “Other interesting fact is we don’t need gravity to digest food. A process called ‘peristalsis’ is responsible for digestion which is gravity independent. It is the contraction and relaxation of muscles to push food down through the digestive tract. Head up or head down, gravity or no gravity your body will always digest food. Bon appetit.”

The astronaut also shared a video of himself on the ISS. In the video, he says that eating and drinking in space is a challenge. He then goes on to show how everything is attached with Velcro so they don’t float.

In the video, he drinks coffee as the liquid floats around. At one point, he jokingly says, “You can eat water in space,” concluding his video about “food in space.”

Take a look at the post:

Social media is mesmerised:

An individual wrote, “Wow, Shubhanshu! It’s incredible to see you master the art of dining in zero-G. From test pilot to a space pro, you’ve shown us that with the right mindset, even the most mundane tasks become a scientific adventure. Your insights are as inspiring as your journey! We’re all rooting for you.” Another added, “Space has always inspired me, Captain, but your food training journey excites me even more. Awesome.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/shubhanshu-shukla-reveals-how-he-had-to-learn-to-eat-again-while-in-space-you-can-eat-water-101756853394857.html

“Every child has a right to the affection of both parents. Even if parents live apart or in different countries, it is important for the child to maintain a relationship with both of them, ” the top court said.

Every child has a right to the affection of both parents and even if they live apart or in different countries, it is important for the child to maintain a relationship with them, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, while allowing a plea filed by a man seeking video interaction with his nine-year-old son who was living in Ireland with his mother, said denying such contact would deprive the child of the love, guidance and emotional support of the father.

The top court noted that at present, the child is living with his mother in Ireland and seems to be settled there. Noting that the conduct of both parents has not been ideal, the top court said their personal differences have grown into a long and bitter conflict but the court cannot allow the child to become a casualty of this conflict.

The bench said it would not be in his interest to disturb that arrangement at this stage.

“The father has also limited his request before us as he is not asking for custody, but only for the chance to interact with his son regularly through video-conferencing. We find this request to be both fair and necessary.

“Every child has a right to the affection of both parents. Even if parents live apart or in different countries, it is important for the child to maintain a relationship with both of them. Denying such contact would deprive the child of the love, guidance, and emotional support of the father.

“We are therefore of the view that the appellant’s request for video interaction is reasonable. It balances the reality of the child’s present living situation with the need to ensure that the father remains a part of the child’s life,” the bench said.

Issuing a slew of directions, the top court said the man shall be entitled to interact with his son through video-conferencing for two hours on every alternate Sunday from 10 am to 12 noon (Ireland time).

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/every-child-has-right-to-affection-of-both-parents-supreme-court-9206560

Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton has used Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s China visit to launch a blistering attack on Donald Trump, warning it is “bad news for the West.”

Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton has launched a sharp attack on Donald Trump, tying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent meeting with Xi Jinping in China to what he calls the US President’s “disastrous” trade approach. Speaking to Times Now, Bolton said PM Modi’s China visit was “bad news for the West”. “Trump’s recent moves arm the Chinese President,” he said.

In a string of posts on X, Bolton argued that Trump’s tariff moves have undone years of Western efforts to pull India away from its Soviet-era alignments and warn New Delhi of Beijing’s rise.
“The West has spent decades trying to wean India away from its Cold War attachment to the Soviet Union/ Russia, and cautioning India on the threat posed by China. Donald Trump has shredded decades of efforts with his disastrous tariff policy,” Bolton wrote.

He added: “Donald Trump’s unwillingness to consider diplomatic moves in a larger strategic context has given Xi Jinping an opportunity to reset the East.”

Bolton’s comments came just after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, where PM Modi held separate meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Ministry of External Affairs said Modi and Xi acknowledged the stabilising role their economies play in global trade.
During his meeting with Putin, the Prime Minister underlined that India and Russia have “always stood shoulder to shoulder, even in the most challenging situations.” He stressed that the partnership remains vital for “global peace, stability and prosperity.” Putin, for his part, highlighted that 2025 marks 15 years of the India-Russia “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.”

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/ex-us-nsa-john-bolton-uses-pm-narendra-modi-china-visit-to-target-donald-trump-bad-news-for-the-west-article-152642595

Russia is exploring plans to manufacture its Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets in India, with defence sources saying investment options are under review amid growing New Delhi-Moscow defence alignment despite US tariff pressures.

Amid Washington’s steep tariffs on Indian exports, Russia is weighing a major defence move — manufacturing its fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jets in India. Defence sources told ANI that Russian agencies are “assessing the level of investment required to manufacture the aircraft in India.”
The discussions come as President Donald Trump has slapped 25% tariffs across sectors, with an additional 25% citing New Delhi’s purchase of Russian crude oil. Yet, instead of pushing India away from Moscow, the measures appear to be strengthening defence cooperation between the two.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which already produces the Su-30 MKI in Nashik, is viewed as a potential hub if the Su-57 deal takes shape. Sources also pointed out that “there are other facilities in India also where a number of other Russian origin equipment is manufactured and can be used in the fifth-generation fighter aircraft production… which would also help cut costs.”

India has previously flagged the need for at least two to three squadrons of fifth-generation fighters. Both the Russian Su-57 and the American F-35 are contenders, with Moscow actively pitching the Su-57 while Washington continues to push New Delhi towards the F-35.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/donald-trump-tariff-tantrums-push-india-russia-bonhomie-moscow-weighs-su-57-jet-production-in-india-article-152643022

Union Minister Piyush Goyal expressed optimism regarding the potential conclusion of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between India and the United States by this fall.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal gave signal of hope over negotiations between India and United States saying that a Bilateral Trade Deal (BTA) may be concluded by November or end by this fall. This comes as Donald Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India including 25 per cent reciprocal and 25 per cent as penalty for purchasing Russian oil and defence equipment.
Mentioning that some geopolitical issues encircled the trade matters, he hope that things between India and US will get back on track and a trade deal will be sealed by this fall.
Making remarks during his address at the Annual Global Investor Conference 2025 in Mumbai, Piyush Goyal said the world is excited to do business and trade with India adding, “We have had a little bit of geopolitical issues overtaking trade issues in our negotiations with the United States of America.”

Suhana Khan Faces Legal Trouble Over ₹12.91 Crore Alibaug Land Deal: Investigation Launched Into Shah Rukh Khan’s Daughter’s Property Purchase

Suhana Khan, daughter of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, is currently embroiled in a legal controversy concerning a land transaction in Thal village, Alibaug, Maharashtra.
Reports indicate that she purchased the property for ₹12.91 crore from the Khote family, residents of Mumbai’s upscale Cuffe Parade area. The deal, finalized on May 30, 2023, involved a stamp duty payment of ₹77.46 lakh and was processed through Standard Chartered Bank.

The land in question was originally allotted by the government to farmers for agricultural purposes. Under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, non-farmers are prohibited from purchasing such land without obtaining explicit permission from the District Collector. Investigations suggest that these legal formalities were not adhered to during the transaction. Additionally, Suhana was reportedly listed as a farmer in the sale documents, raising further concerns about the legitimacy of the deal .

The Resident Deputy Collector has directed the Alibaug Tehsildar to conduct an impartial inquiry into the matter. Authorities are examining potential irregularities in the transaction, including possible collusion between officials and misuse of authority to facilitate the sale. If found in violation of the law, the deal could be annulled, and the land may revert to government control .

Source : https://www.spotboye.com/trending/trending-news/suhana-khan-faces-legal-trouble-over-12-91-crore-alibaug-land-deal-investigation-launched-into-shah-rukh-khan-s-daughter-s-property-purchase/68b6d1499f17ff90ccaa2a7a

Uttarakhand’s Chardham Yatra and Hemkund Sahib Yatra postponed till September 5 due to heavy rainfall alerts and safety concerns, says government.

The Uttarakhand’s Chardham Yatra—pilgrimage to holy shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath— and the Hemkund Sahib Yatra have been temporarily postponed till September 5 by the Uttarakhand government in view of red and orange alerts of heavy rainfall issued by the Meteorological Department.

Vinay Shankar Pandey, Secretary to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Commissioner of Garhwal Division, said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure with extremely heavy rainfall forecast for the coming days.

“Due to heavy rains, the roads are being obstructed due to landslides or debris in many places in the state, which the government is opening on priority, but in view of the safety and convenience of the passengers, it has been decided to postpone the Chardham and Hemkund Sahib Yatra till September 5,” news agency ANI quoted Pandey as saying.

Pandey further appealed to the passengers not to depart on the travel routes for the time being in view of the adverse weather conditions and to follow the advisory issued by the administration.

The Met department has issued a red alert for Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri and Haridwar on Monday, warning of extremely heavy to very heavy rain. For September 2, an orange alert has been sounded for Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Bageshwar.

Amid the warnings, schools have been closed in several districts, including Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri and Champawat.

Following the warning, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday directed the officials to remain alert 24×7.

The Chief Minister, in a meeting with senior officials, said that the coming few days will be challenging, and appropriate steps should be taken to ensure the safety of common people.

Dhami asked the State Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman to monitor the situation from the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), given the high possibility of landslides and waterlogging in many areas.

“We are providing immediate assistance to those whose houses have been affected by the disaster and are relocating them to safe places. Camps have also been set up. Our goal is to ensure that all basic needs are met in the relief camps… Efforts to open the blocked roads are underway…,” he added.

Cloudbursts, landslides, and flash floods in recent days have wreaked havoc across Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand, with the Central government constituting Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) to assess the damage caused by heavy rainfall, officials said.

All educational institutions across the state have been instructed to remain closed on Monday after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that heavy rainfall could trigger landslides and flash floods in Uttarakhand in September.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/uttarakhands-char-dham-hemkund-sahib-yatra-temporarily-suspended-in-view-of-heavy-rain-alert-ws-l-9541858.html

An IndiGo flight with 272 passengers on board made an emergency landing in Nagpur after a bird hit damaged the aircraft’s front portion shortly after takeoff.

An IndiGo flight with 272 passengers on board returned to the Nagpur airport after it suffered a bird hit soon after take off.

The flight was bound for Kolkata, but made an emergency landing in Nagpur as the crew decided to make a U-turn midair.

According to the details, the front portion of the aircraft suffered damage due to the bird strike.

All passengers were reported safe.

An image from the runway at the Nagpur airport showed an airport staffer inspecting the aircraft, with the nose of the plane visibly damaged.

In a statement, Abid Ruhi, Senior Airport Director, Nagpur Airport, said the authorities at the airport were trying to analyse what had happened.

“There has been a suspected bird strike on IndiGo’s 6E812 Nagpur-Kolkata flight. We are trying to analyse what has happened,” news agency ANI quoted him as saying.

Later, an official statement by a spokesperson of the airline read, “IndiGo flight 6E 812 operating from Nagpur to Kolkata on 02 September 2025 encountered a bird strike soon after take-off.”

“As a precautionary step, pilots decided to turn back, and the flight landed safely at the Nagpur airport,” it added.

“Due to the requirement of necessary inspection and maintenance of the aircraft, the flight has been cancelled for the day,” the statement read.

On Monday, a Delhi-bound SpiceJet flight from Pune made a mid-air turnback to the originating airport due to a technical glitch and landed under full emergency conditions, news agency PTI quoted sources.

The aircraft landed safely and passengers were deplaned normally, SpiceJet said in a statement.

“SpiceJet Boeing 737 aircraft, bearing registration VT-SLG was midway diverted back to Pune airport due to a technical glitch. The flight landed back under full emergency conditions after an hour of its take off for Delhi,” the source told PTI.

The flight SG937 had departed with a delay of 40 minutes from its scheduled time of 6 am from Pune airport, and was to land in Delhi at 8.10 am, as per the flight tracking website flightradar24.com.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/nagpur-kolkata-indigo-bird-hit-emergency-land-portion-of-aircraft-damaged-9542952.html

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate ‘Semicon India 2025’, a conference aimed at catalysing India’s semiconductor ecosystem, here on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate ’Semicon India – 2025’, a conference aimed at catalysing India’s semiconductor ecosystem, here on Tuesday.

He will also participate in the conference on Wednesday and attend the CEOs roundtable, a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Monday said.

The three-day conference starting from Tuesday will focus on advancing a robust, resilient and sustainable semiconductor ecosystem in India, it said.

It will feature sessions on the progress of the Semicon India programme, semiconductor fab and advanced packaging projects, infrastructure readiness, smart manufacturing, innovations in R&D and artificial intelligence, investment opportunities, and state-level policy implementation, among others.

Additionally, the event will highlight initiatives under the Design Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme, the growth of the startup ecosystem, international cooperation and the future roadmap for India’s semiconductor sector.

Over 20,750 attendees, including more than 2,500 delegates from over 48 countries, over 150 speakers, including over 50 global leaders, and more than 350 exhibitors will participate in the event, the statement said.

It will also include six countries roundtable discussions, country pavilions and dedicated pavilions for workforce development and startups, among others.

The statement said semicon conferences organised across the world aim to maximise outreach of the technological advancements in the semiconductor domain as well as the policies of various countries to strengthen their semiconductor ecosystem.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/pm-modi-to-inaugurate-semiconductor-conference-in-delhi-tomorrow-9542533.html

A section of social media users also pointed out that the scammer seemed to have a Pakistani accent.

Scam calls have become so frequent that most people either hang up instantly or try to block the number. But recently, a video surfaced online showing a very different response. Instead of panicking, a man kept chatting with a scammer only because his Spotify subscription had ended and he wanted to “pass some time.”

The clip, shared on Instagram by Dipak Bhagwat, has already been viewed more than five lakh times and is leaving people amused at the unusual exchange.

A Police Uniform, Portraits And Flags

The scammer tried to make his act look real. On the video call, he wore a full police uniform. Behind him were flags and a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, something usually seen in police stations. But the scammer had also put up a photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Normally, portraits of freedom fighters are placed in such spaces, not the Prime Minister, which made the whole setup look unusual.

‘Bas Time Pass Kar Raha Tha’

At first, the caller instructed Dipak to show his identity card and follow certain steps. He listened to all of them quietly but then revealed the real reason why he was on the call.

Dipak said, “Main travel kar raha tha, aur mera jo Spotify hai, uska subscription bhi khatam ho gaya. Toh jane ke liye kuch time pass tha nahi, toh mai bas aap logo ke sath time pass kar raha tha…toh jane do, koi dusra bakra dhundo aap (I was travelling and my Spotify subscription had ended. I had no way to pass time, so I was just chatting with you people… now let it be, go find another fool).”

Hearing this, the scammer couldn’t help but smile. He replied, “Ab esse jyada main kya bol sakta hu (What more can I even say now).”

A Strange Friendly Chat

The conversation continued in a friendly manner. When Dipak reminded him that it was not his first scam call, the scammer admitted, “Hume bhi toh karna hai na (We also have to do it, right).” To this Dipak responded, “Haan karna hai, majboori hai aapki (Yes, you have to, it is your compulsion).”

At one point, the scammer even summed up the moment by saying, “Maine aapke maze le liye, aapne mere maze le liye. Accha ho gaya (I’ve had my fun, you’ve had your fun. That’s good).”

Dipak further asked the scammer where he was speaking from. While the man first claimed he was in Mumbai, he later said that he could not disclose his exact location.

‘Accha Business Mile’

The unusual exchange did not end there. Dipak also told the caller that he earns his money fairly and wished the same for him.

“Mauka milega, main prabhu se prathana karunga ki aapko accha business mile aur tab tak aapko acche acche bakre bhi mile (You will get your chance, I will pray to God that you get good business. Till then, may you continue to find good fools),” he said with a laugh as both ended the call.

The overlay text on the video reads: “Spotify khatam hone par scammer ke sath time pass kaise kare (How to pass time with a scammer when your Spotify ends).”

Reactions Are As Entertaining As The Call

People in the comments section could not stop laughing at the exchange and shared their varied reactions.

One user commented, “Bhai ka convincing power. Chor ko bhi comfortable feel karvaya aapne. Salute hai bhai (Brother’s convincing power. You even made a thief feel comfortable. Salute to you, brother).”

“Pakistani tone hai eska,” a comment read.

Another playfully remarked, “I think till now this is the best ad for Spotify. They should consider this as an official Spotify ad.”

Someone defined the situation with, “When hacker meets developer,” while a person noted, “Bro stopping scammer, nope, he is appreciating them.”

“Scammers ke saath scam hogaya (The scammers got scammed),” a viewer jokingly wrote.

Source : https://www.news18.com/viral/spotify-subscription-over-bored-man-passes-time-with-scammer-mere-maje-le-liye-video-9542807.html

The resurgence of extreme work culture has been reignited by Daksh Gupta, a 23-year-old entrepreneur from India, who leads the AI startup Greptile in San Francisco. Advocating for grueling 12-to-14-hour workdays, Gupta promotes a lifestyle devoid of distractions, emphasizing discipline among young professionals.

The global debate on extreme work culture has resurfaced with fresh intensity, this time driven by a 23-year-old Indian-origin entrepreneur who has made Silicon Valley sit up and take notice. Daksh Gupta, the founder and CEO of San Francisco-based AI startup Greptile, has become the latest tech leader to advocate relentless work schedules, urging young professionals to embrace 12-to-14-hour workdays, six days a week, while giving up drinking, drugs, and what he describes as “distractions.”

This development has come at a time when the Supreme Court has directed the transfer of similar PILs from various High Courts to the top court for consideration.

In a significant development, the Meghalaya High Court has requested the Supreme Court to allow it to retain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the stray dog menace, observing that the stray dogs issue in Meghalaya is distinct due to the aggressive nature of the dogs, which poses a grave danger to public safety.

This development has come at a time when the Supreme Court has directed the transfer of similar PILs from various high courts to the top court for consideration.

On August 30, the division bench of Meghalaya high court comprising Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh in its order passed on Saturday stated that, “Although many issues may be common between petitions concerning stray dogs in other high courts and in the Supreme Court, we feel that it is our duty to point out that in this State there is peculiarly distinctiveness in the menace pose by stray dogs. We have been specifically told that quite a number of stray dogs are biter dogs and very vicious in nature. In roads, streets and other public places they attack persons suddenly and at times causing grave injury. Having heard those submissions in this public interest litigation, we had, inter alia, directed those dogs to be taken hold of by the public authorities, inoculated, vaccinated medically attended to and then kept in shelters for observation before setting them free. With dogs of this nature, freeing them without satisfaction that they have ceased to be biter dogs, and allowing them to frequent public places would pose grave danger to the public.”

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/meghalaya-high-court-to-supreme-court-stray-dogs-in-meghalaya-are-dangerous-in-nature-9194086

Mahua Moitra clarified that her remarks were idioms and that one doesn’t really cut someone’s head off. She said the idiom is “a metaphor for accountability”.

In response to the FIR registered against her in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur for her alleged “derogatory” remarks against Home Minister Amit Shah, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra took a sharp jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday and said that “idiots don’t understand idioms”.

The TMC MP had triggered a row after allegedly saying that if Shah fails to stop infiltration from Bangladesh, “the first thing you should do is cut Amit Shah’s head and put it on your table”. She had allegedly made the remarks in Bengali.

Moitra clarified that her comments were “idiomatic”, accusing the police of twisting her words, news agency ANI reported.

‘Idiots don’t understand idioms’

An FIR was registered against Moitra in Raipur’s Mana Camp police station under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 196 (promoting enmity between groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc.) and 197 (imputations prejudicial to national integration).

Moitra explained the use of her Bengali expressions and said, “Similarly, in the Bengali language, ‘matha kata jawa, we say lojjay matha kata chhe,’ which means that ‘you are so ashamed that you can cut your own head off. When we say matha kata jawa, matha ke tebi le rakha, it means taking accountability, owning responsibility.”

“This is an idiom. Now, of course, idiots don’t understand idioms, which is where we are,” she added.

According to the TMC leaders, her words were misinterpreted, and she was speaking in metaphors and idioms.

She drew parallels with another situation to further clarify her point. Mahua Moitra said, “So in June 2024, when the Lok Sabha results came out, abki baar, 400 paar fell flat on its face. And the foreign media reported that the results, only 240 seats, was a slap in the face for Narendra Modi. Now, did the BJP’s claim really fall flat on its face? No. Did someone go and slap the Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji on his face? No.”

“Then everyone said that heads will roll. Did heads roll? Yes, they did. These are what in the English language are called idioms, right? When you say heads will roll, it refers to when kings used to cut the heads off of people who were disobedient. And when you cut the head off, it starts rolling. A beheaded head can only roll,” she added.

Moitra further said that one doesn’t really cut someone’s head off, adding that it is an idiom, “a metaphor for accountability”.

‘…making heroine out of me’

The TMC leader also accused the BJP of trying to turn her into a “political victim”. She said every time that such a thing happens, the party does this “stupidity of making a heroine out of me”.

“You did this before; you expelled me from Parliament, and I won and came back. Every time you do this to me, politically it gets you nowhere, it makes me into Joan of Arc,” Moitra added.

“Haven’t you learnt your lesson?” she asked. Asking for her to just let be, Moitra said that every time she is in a tiff with the BJP, they fight her, she wins and comes back stronger.

“So take your FIRs and keep them where the sun doesn’t shine, and hopefully you’ll get better sense soon,” the TMC MP added.

Moitra also slammed the Chhattisgarh police. Addressing the Raipur SP directly, she accused officials of filing false cases.

The TMC MP referred to an earlier incident involving migrant workers and said, “Please do me a favour. Call your colleague. Why Anant Kumar, SP Kondagaon? On the 12th of July, he illegally picked up 12 migrant workers from Kondagaon, Bengali workers from my constituency, booked them under Section 128, falsely filed an FIR, booked them, beat them, arrested them, did not produce them in court, kept them illegally detained, and released them only on the 14th of July.”

She recalled how a notice was issued to the police after she approached the Chhattisgarh High Court. “Now, with your tail between your legs, another idiom, tail between your legs after getting a slap in the face, your colleague has withdrawn the case,” Moitra added.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/idiots-don-t-understand-idioms-mahua-moitra-amid-row-over-remarks-on-amit-shah-bjp-fir-tmc-101756692221119.html

PM Modi that the foundation of SCO rests on three key pillars — security, connectivity, and opportunity.

During his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the importance of respecting national sovereignty in global connectivity projects.

“Connectivity that bypasses sovereignty loses both trust and meaning,” PM Modi said, raising India’s concerns about regional unilateral infrastructure projects.

PM Modi’s remarks come amid ongoing debates over international projects such as China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which India chose to stay out of, citing issues related to territorial integrity, particularly in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a large-scale infrastructure development programme launched by China in 2013. The initiative aims to connect Asia with Europe and Africa through a network of railways, highways, ports, airports, and other infrastructure projects with the intent to promote trade, investment, and economic growth in participating countries.

PM Modi also shared India’s vision for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and said it is guided by three pillars — Security, Connectivity and Opportunity.

Regarding the second pillar of connectivity, PM Modi highlighted the importance of connectivity projects.

“India has always believed that strong connectivity not only boosts trade but also opens doors to growth and trust. With this in mind, we are working on initiatives like the Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor. This will help us improve connectivity with Afghanistan and Central Asia.”

PM Modi on Pahalgam attack at SCO Summit

The Prime Minister also presented India’s strong stance against terrorism, calling out “some countries” for their open support of terrorism and reaffirming that such “double standards” are not acceptable.

He said that the Pahalgam terror attack was an open challenge to every country that believes in humanity, and urged SCO members to stand united in their fight against terror.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/connectivity-without-sovereignty-is-in-china-pm-modis-message-on-global-projects-101756702533461.html

19 NHPC were workers trapped for hours after both tunnels of the Dhauliganga project were blocked due to landslide.

The tractor was carrying devotees during the Ganesh immersion procession, killing four people on board and injuring one. The injured has been admitted to hospital with serious injuries.

Four people were killed and one was injured when the tractor in which they were travelling overturned in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. The deceased and the injured were part of a Ganesh immersion procession when the incident happened.

The deceased have been identified as Tirumala Narasimha Murthy (35), Kadiyam Dinesh (9), Eevana Satyanarayana (58), and Guruju Murali (38).

Another victim, Kancharla Prasad (26), suffered grievous injuries and was rushed to a hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment.

District Collector Chadalavada Nagarani rushed to the spot and later visited Narasapuram Government Hospital. She instructed the hospital superintendent to ensure the injured received the best possible medical care.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/tractor-carrying-devotees-during-ganesh-immersion-yatra-overturns-in-andhra-pradesh-2779743-2025-08-31