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A section of social media users also pointed out that the scammer seemed to have a Pakistani accent.
The scammer was left in shock. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
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.
India and the US have commenced the ‘Yudh Abhyas 2025’ military exercise in Alaska, despite ongoing trade tensions, including significant tariffs imposed by President Trump. This 14-day exercise involves tactical training in various domains such as heliborne operations.
The Indian Army contingent is in the US to participate in the 21st edition of the joint military exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’.
Amid bilateral tensions over 50 per cent tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, India and the US on Monday kicked off one of their largest-ever Army ‘Yudh Abhyas’ exercise in Alaska. Military contingents from the India and the US will engage in a spectrum of tactical drills, including the integrated use of artillery, aviation and electronic warfare systems, as part of a bilateral exercise.
The 14-day ‘India-US Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025’ will also involve heliborne operations, will be held from September 1-14.
The Indian contingent will train alongside soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment ‘Bobcats’ of the Arctic Wolves Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division of the US, the Indian defence ministry said in a statement.
“Over two weeks, the troops will rehearse a spectrum of tactical drills including heliborne operations, employment of surveillance resources and unmanned aerial systems, rock craft, mountain warfare, casualty evacuation, combat medical aid and the integrated use of artillery, aviation and electronic warfare systems,” it said.
The Indian Army contingent is in the US to participate in the 21st edition of the joint military exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’.
Subject matter experts from both the armies will conduct working groups on critical domains such as UAS (unmanned aerial system) and counter-UAS operations, information warfare, communications and logistics, it said.
The exercise will culminate in jointly planned and executed tactical manoeuvres, ranging from “live-fire exercises to high-altitude warfare scenarios, with a focus on improving capabilities for United Nations peacekeeping operations and strengthening preparedness for multi-domain challenges,” the ministry said.
India-US ties hit a low after President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on New Delhi over its trade with Russia. But defence officials say the bilateral strategic partnership built over last two decades is in no danger of unravelling as yet.
‘India Offered to Cut its Tariffs to Zero’
In a fresh claim, Trump said that India has offered to cut its import taxes on American goods to “nothing”, adding that th move “was too late”.
Reiterating his claim that India maintains high tariffs, Trump said that the import duties have prevented American businesses from gaining market access in India.
“What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us. In other words, they sell us massive amounts of goods, their biggest “client,” but we sell them very little – Until now a totally one sided relationship, and it has been for many decades. The reason is that India has charged us, until now, such high Tariffs, the most of any country, that our businesses are unable to sell into India. It has been a totally one-sided disaster!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
He pointed towards New Delhi’s trade with Moscow, again, in his latest tirade after his administration imposed a massive 50% tariff rate on India.
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.
Gupta, who relocated to San Francisco in 2023, recently described the “current vibe” of young and ambitious workers in the Bay Area as one marked by extreme discipline.
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.”
A Strict Blueprint for Success
Gupta, who relocated to San Francisco in 2023, recently described the “current vibe” of young and ambitious workers in the Bay Area as one marked by extreme discipline. Speaking to The San Francisco Standard, he said:
“The current vibe is no drinking, no drugs, 9-9-6 [work from 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week], lift heavy, run far, marry early, track sleep, eat steak and eggs.”
His outlook echoes calls made in the past by influential figures such as Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, who in 2023 controversially suggested Indian youth should dedicate 70 hours a week to nation-building, and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who has long promoted 80-hour workweeks as a baseline for building revolutionary companies.
Work Over Leisure: Burning Man ‘No Longer in the Zeitgeist’
Interestingly, Gupta also tied this lifestyle shift to broader cultural changes among young professionals. He argued that the rise of work-centric lives has reshaped how millennials and Gen Z approach festivals and social gatherings. Citing Burning Man—a week-long desert festival in Nevada known for its countercultural ethos—he remarked that the event “hasn’t really been part of the zeitgeist” since his move to San Francisco, reflecting how younger workers are increasingly prioritising grind over recreation.
Divided Reactions on Social Media
Gupta’s remarks have ignited a storm of reactions online. A screenshot of his interview, captioned “so true Daksh Gupta,” was shared widely on X (formerly Twitter), quickly surpassing one million views. While some hailed his comments as evidence of strong work ethic and personal discipline, many criticised the mindset as exploitative and mentally harmful.
One user commented: “Sounds like literally the most miserable existence ever. One day you’ll retire with plenty of money and realise you have no friends, and you’re too old to properly enjoy the money you’ve earned.”
Another questioned the practicality of his lifestyle, asking, “How does he find someone to marry if he’s working all the time and the rare time he isn’t, is working out?” Several others argued that such an approach risks burnout, depression, and alienation from social life.
High Pay, High Pressure
Despite criticism, Gupta stands by his philosophy, highlighting the rewards of long-hour culture. Greptile, his AI startup, has recently opened job listings with eye-catching salary ranges. A junior hire can expect a base pay between $140,000 and $180,000 (Rs 1.2–1.5 crore), alongside equity worth $130,000–$180,000. For professionals with seven or more years of experience, the packages climb even higher—between $240,000 (Rs 2.1 crore) and $270,000 (Rs 2.3 crore) annually.
However, the lucrative salaries come with non-negotiable conditions. Employees must work from Greptile’s San Francisco office, with no option for remote or hybrid roles. At the same time, Gupta ensures competitive perks, including free meals, transport, healthcare, and a 401k match, making it clear that the company expects nothing short of total commitment.
Broader Debate on Work-Life Balance
Gupta’s remarks feed into a larger, long-running debate on work-life balance in the global tech industry. In India, Murthy’s “70-hour” call sparked widespread criticism from younger generations, who argued for mental health, innovation through leisure, and personal freedom. In Silicon Valley, Musk’s celebration of marathon workweeks continues to polarise opinion, with some crediting him for setting high standards while others point to toxic workplace cultures and sky-high burnout rates.
Gupta’s comments, therefore, highlight a growing ideological divide: should work be life’s centrepiece in pursuit of success, or should innovation flourish within balanced lifestyles? His rise as a 23-year-old founder makes his perspective noteworthy, but whether such a culture is sustainable remains a critical question.
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.”
Repeating his previous remarks, Peter Navarro once again described New Delhi as “nothing but a laundromat for the Kremlin”.
Peter Navarro mentioned the ongoing negotiation talks with India and said that China is also an offender.(Reuters)
White House trade advisor Peter Navarro has once again, in a bid to justify US President Donald Trump’s 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, described New Delhi as “nothing but a laundromat for the Kremlin”, adding that “Brahmins are profiteering at the expense of the Indian people.”
Navarro made the remarks in reference to India’s purchase of Russian oil and asked why the country was in business with Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping when it itself is the “biggest democracy in the world”.
In recent times, Navarro has been constantly making remarks targeted at India and its purchase of Russian oil as he tries to justify the additional 25 per cent tariff Trump imposed on New Delhi to double its levy over the country’s trade with Russia.
In an interview with Fox News, Navarro was asked about the ongoing negotiations with India and that New Delhi was not the only offender; China is as well. He was asked whether additional tariffs on India were “enough to choke Vladimir Putin”.
Navarro clarified that while India currently has a 50 per cent tariff, there is also a little over 50 per cent levy on China. He said there is also a question of how much higher the US wants to go without actually hurting itself.
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“I want Indians to understand what is going on. Brahmins are profiteering by buying Russian oil at the expense of the Indian people,” says Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro pic.twitter.com/9FVfRR5lks
But Trump’s advisor was quick to circle back on India, saying that before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, India did not buy Russian oil, just in very small amounts.
“What happened? Well, the Russian refiners went in and got into bed with big oil India. Putin gives (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi a discount on the crude. They refine it and they ship it to Europe, Africa and Asia at a big premium and they make a ton of money,” Navarro said.
‘Laundromat, Tariffs’ Maharaja, Brahmins profiteering…’
He asked, “Now, what’s wrong with that picture?” and added, “Well, it fuels the Russian war machine. India is nothing but a laundromat for the Kremlin. It kills Ukrainians. And what we have to do as taxpayers is we have to send them more money so Ukraine can defend itself.”
The White House trade advisor went on to describe India as the “Maharaja of tariffs”, saying that New Delhi has the highest tariffs in the world.
“They export us a bunch of stuff. They won’t let US sell to them. So, who gets hurt? Workers in America, taxpayers in America, Ukrainians in cities get killed by Russian drones,” he added.
While calling PM Modi a “great leader”, Navarro said he doesn’t understand why “he’s getting into bed with Putin and Xi Jinping when he’s the biggest democracy in the world”.
So, Navarro said, “I would just say the Indian people, please, understand what’s going on here. The Brahmins are profiteering at the expense of the Indian people. We need that to stop.”
This is not the first time that Navarro has made such remarks against India. Earlier as well, he called India an “oil money laundromat”. He hit out at New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil and referred to the Ukraine conflict as “Modi’s war”, intensifying what started as a trade spat between India and US.
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”.
TMC MP Mahua Moitra also accused the BJP of trying to turn her into a “political victim”.(PTI)
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.
PM Modi that the foundation of SCO rests on three key pillars — security, connectivity, and opportunity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the plenary session of the 25th SCO Heads of State Council Summit, in Tianjin, China.(X/ @Narendra Modi)
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.
19 NHPC were workers trapped for hours after both tunnels of the Dhauliganga project were blocked due to landslide.
Path leading to the normal and emergency tunnels of the Dhauliganga power project in Ealagarh area near Dharchula in Pithoragarh blocked (Image: X)
Nineteen workers of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC) were trapped inside a power house for hours on Sunday, August 31, as a landslide blocked normal and emergency tunnels of Dhauliganga Power Project in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh. However, all of them were rescued by the administration by the evening.
Landslide Blocks Both Tunnels of Dhauliganga Project
A landslide caused by heavy rains blocked the path leading to the normal and emergency tunnels of the Dhauliganga power project in the Ealagarh area near Dharchula in Pithoragarh. Machines have been deployed to remove the debris, reported news agency PTI, quoting Dharchula Deputy District Magistrate Jitendra Verma. He said that all workers are safe and will come out after the way to the power house is opened.
He had expressed hope that the way would be cleared by evening, after which all the workers will be able to come out. He said that despite the continuous falling of debris, the work of clearing the way is underway with the help of JCB machines of the Border Roads Organisation.
During the SCO Members Session in Tianjin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the global threat of terrorism, urging unity among member nations to combat it.
PM Modi highlighted India’s longstanding struggle with terrorism, referencing the attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday used his address at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Members Session in Tianjin, China, to deliver a strong message on terrorism, with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif seated in the hall.
Calling terrorism “a challenge to all of humanity,” PM Modi said no country can consider itself safe from the menace. “We have to say clearly and unanimously that no double standards are acceptable on terrorism,” he declared, stressing that SCO nations must act with unity against separatism, extremism and terror financing.
In reference to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, Modi said, “India has been bearing the brunt of terrorism for the last four decades. Recently, we saw the worst side of terrorism in Pahalgam. I express my gratitude to the friendly country that stood with us in this hour of grief.”
In a veiled dig at Pakistan, the Prime Minister asked SCO members whether “the open support of terrorism by some countries” could ever be acceptable. “This attack was an open challenge to every country and person who believes in humanity,” he underlined.
PM Modi also outlined India’s vision for the grouping, built on what he described as the three pillars of “S – Security, C – Connectivity, and O – Opportunity.”
‘Terrorism requires a collective resolve’: PM Modi
Reiterating India’s proactive role within the SCO, Modi said New Delhi had taken the initiative in joint information operations against Al Qaeda-linked groups and had consistently raised its voice against terror financing. “Security, peace and stability are the basis of development of any country,” he said, adding that terrorism is a common challenge requiring collective resolve.”
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.
The deceased and the injured were part of a Ganesh immersion procession when the incident happened. (Photo: Representational)
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.
The exercise, observed by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Gajraj Corps, demonstrated an impressive integration of advanced technology, operational innovation, and professional expertise by the troops.
Exercise Yudh Kaushal 3.0 was held in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang recently.
The Indian Army recently conducted Exercise Yudh Kaushal 3.0 in the challenging terrain and extreme weather of the Eastern Himalayas, specifically in the Kameng region.
The exercise, observed by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Gajraj Corps, demonstrated an impressive integration of advanced technology, operational innovation, and professional expertise by the troops.
The large-scale manoeuvres highlighted the Army’s capability to operate across multi-domain environments, with demonstrations including drone surveillance, real-time target acquisition, precision strikes, air-littoral dominance, and coordinated battlefield operations.
A key feature was the operational debut of the newly raised ASHNI platoons, showcasing how next-generation technology, combined with proven tactical experience, can provide a decisive advantage in both current and future conflicts.
A unique aspect of Exercise Yudh Kaushal 3.0 was the active involvement of the Indian Civil Defence Industry, reflecting India’s ongoing “Decade of Transformation.”
This collaboration highlighted how indigenous defence innovations are increasingly being translated into tangible battlefield advantages, enhancing national security and promoting self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
India has released its first national guidelines for animal blood transfusion, addressing a long-neglected gap in veterinary healthcare. With dogs having 13 blood groups and limited donor awareness, mismatched transfusions have often proved fatal. The new SOPs aim to regulate procedures, boost safety, and improve survival chances for pets and livestock alike.
The guidelines on blood transfusion and blood banks call for voluntary donations, and standardised protocols for safe animal blood transfusion. (Image: India Today)
Pet parents are no strangers to frantic calls and social media posts seeking blood donations for dogs suffering from severe anaemia, tick fever, injuries from accidents, or complications after surgery. But most of the time, finding a donor is nothing short of a miracle. Thousands have often lost their four-legged companions due to instances where mismatched blood types proved fatal. Dogs have as many as 13 different blood types, making it a challenge to get a suitable match. Often, the absence of regulation and the unavailability of blood or plasma costs dogs and their lives.
Not just dogs, even for farm animals, which are of great value to farmers, such as cows, buffaloes, sheep, and goats, blood transfusions can be life-saving, as they often suffer blood loss from road accidents or parasitic diseases that necessitate the procedure.
However, the government has now formally acknowledged the need for blood transfusion and blood bank facilities for companion animals and livestock.
On the eve of International Dog Day, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying released the country’s first ‘Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Blood Transfusion and Blood Banks for Animals in India’.
The move is expected to streamline the process of donor selection, blood collection, component processing, storage, transfusion procedures, and monitoring, while ensuring ethical and safety safeguards.
WHAT SOPs FOR ANIMAL BLOOD TRANSFUSION AND BLOOD BANKS SAY
Key highlights in the SOP included the establishment of state-regulated veterinary blood banks with biosafety-compliant infrastructure, mandatory blood typing and cross-matching to prevent incompatibility reactions, and strict donor eligibility criteria.
The guidelines emphasise voluntary, non-remunerated donations with a Donor Rights Charter, integrate One Health principles to manage zoonotic risks, and provide standardised SOPs, forms, and checklists for donor registration, transfusion monitoring, and adverse reaction reporting.
Additionally, the ministry proposed a National Veterinary Blood Bank Network (N-VBBN) with digital registries, real-time inventories, and an emergency helpline, while promoting innovations like mobile blood collection units, cryopreservation, and donor-recipient matching apps, alongside incorporating training into veterinary education.
BLOOD DONATION FOR DOGS IN INDIA: HOW IT WORKS?
In dogs, blood types are classified under the Dog Erythrocyte Antigen (DEA) system. Of the 13 recognised groups, DEA 1.1, 1.2, and 7 are considered the most important in transfusion reactions. Dogs that are DEA 1.1 negative, 1.2 negative, and 7 negative are regarded as universal donors. Greyhounds are often ideal donors because many of them naturally lack these antigens. However, careful cross-matching is still recommended, as the first transfusion may be tolerated, but mismatches can cause severe or fatal reactions in subsequent transfusions.
Although India is an animal-loving nation which has a long tradition of revering animals, with concepts such as go-dhan and ashva-dhan, the development of veterinary healthcare has historically lagged behind that of human medicine. While solutions for common illnesses such as kidney disease in dogs or the need for timely transfusions exist abroad, they are still limited and rare in India.
However, a few dedicated facilities for animal blood banks exist in Punjab and Haryana.
Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, and Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (LUVAS), Hisar, run dedicated animal blood banks, supplying blood, plasma, red blood cells and platelets for dogs, and also cattle such as cows, buffaloes, sheep, and goats, according to Kisan Tak – India Today Digital’s sister portal on agriculture, livestock, and rural livelihoods.
A private blood bank for dogs operates at MaxPetZ veterinary hospital in Delhi-NCR, which has multiple outlets in the region. In cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai, pet owners rely on WhatsApp groups, social media networks, and even dedicated platforms such as Bengaluru-based Blood4 Pet to connect donors with those in need.
At GADVASU, established five years ago with an investment of Rs 50 lakh, over 1,000 animals have already received blood and its components. The hospital sees up to 150 dog cases a day, and keeps four to five units of canine blood available at all times. Yet, the short shelf life of 35-40 days makes donor availability crucial, according to a report in Kisan Tak.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif kept their distance at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, with a banquet photo showing them facing away from each other and a family photo placing them far apart. The distancing came against the backdrop of India’s Operation Sindoor after April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, underscoring tense ties.
At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif were photographed with their backs turned to each other, a moment that drew attention amid the diplomatic gathering. In a picture posted by PM Modi’s official X handle, Sharif is seen in the background while Modi highlighted his “productive exchange of views” with Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on energy, security, healthcare and pharma cooperation.
The optics of distance were also visible a day earlier during the customary family photo session of SCO leaders, where Modi and Sharif stood far apart in the group lineup. The strained atmosphere between the two nations comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, India’s May 7 cross-border strike following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which has kept India–Pakistan relations on edge in recent months.
The summit also featured a rare and formally announced meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Modi conveyed India’s commitment to improving ties with China while flagging the need to maintain border stability and narrow a near-USD 100 billion trade deficit, a conversation freighted with the unresolved 2020 Galwan clash and subsequent military standoff.
The SCO meet unfolded amid turbulence in global trade triggered by US President Donald Trump’s tariff measures. His administration has imposed a universal 10% tariff and steep China-specific duties, with a temporary truce in place until November 10.
Zelenskyy also briefed Modi on his August 18 meeting with US President Donald Trump in the White House that took place three days after Trump held a summit with Putin in Alaska.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Credit: X/@narendramodi
Tianjin, China: India supports all efforts for peaceful settlement of the Ukraine conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a phone conversation on Saturday.
Modi is scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks with Putin on Monday on the sidelines of a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in this Chinese city. The Ukraine conflict is expected to be one of the focus areas of the talks.
Zelenskyy dialled Modi and conveyed his readiness for a meeting with the top leadership of Russia and that the end of the war must begin with an immediate ceasefire.
In a social media post, the Ukrainian president said India is ready to make the necessary efforts and to deliver the appropriate signal to Russia.
Zelenskyy also briefed Modi on his August 18 meeting with US President Donald Trump in the White House that took place three days after Trump held a summit with Putin in Alaska.
Thank President Zelenskyy for his phone call today. We exchanged views on the ongoing conflict, its humanitarian aspect, and efforts to restore peace and stability. India extends full support to all efforts in this direction. @ZelenskyyUa
“Thank President Zelenskyy for his phone call today. We exchanged views on the ongoing conflict, its humanitarian aspect, and efforts to restore peace and stability. India extends full support to all efforts in this direction,” Modi said on ‘X’.
The prime minister landed in Tianjin this evening to attend the two-day SCO summit beginning Sunday.
An Indian readout said Modi reaffirmed India’s “steadfast and consistent position” for a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine conflict and support for efforts aimed at the earliest restoration of peace.
The prime minister reiterated India’s commitment to extend all possible support in this regard, it said.
In a lengthy post on social media, Zelenskyy said he informed Modi about the talks with President Trump, adding India is ready to make the necessary efforts and to deliver the appropriate signal to Russia and other leaders during the meetings on the sidelines of the SCO summit.
“It was a productive and important conversation, a shared vision among partners on how to achieve real peace. Ukraine reaffirmed its readiness for a meeting with the head of Russia,” he said.
“Almost two weeks have passed, and during this time, when Russia should have been preparing for diplomacy, Moscow has given no positive signal – only carried out cynical strikes on civilian targets and killed dozens of our people,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian president said he thanked PM Modi for his words of condolences to the families of the victims.
“We coordinated our positions ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. The end of this war must begin with an immediate ceasefire, with the necessary silence,” he said.
“This position is understood and supported by everyone. It is impossible to speak meaningfully about peace while our cities and communities are under constant fire.” “India is ready to make the necessary efforts and to deliver the appropriate signal to Russia and other leaders during the meetings on the sidelines of the summit,” Zelenskyy added.
India has been consistently calling for ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
In July last year, PM Modi travelled to Moscow and told Putin that a solution to the Ukraine conflict is not possible on the battlefield and peace efforts do not succeed in the midst of bombs and bullets.
The next month, Modi visited the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv and conveyed to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that both Ukraine and Russia should sit together without wasting time to end the war.
Defence Secretary R K Singh also said that the government is likely to ink a fresh contract with HAL for procuring an additional batch of 97 Tejas jets after the delivery of the two aircraft.
Tejas fighter jet Credit: PTI Photo
Two Tejas Mark-1A fighter jets are likely to be delivered next month by the state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Defence Secretary R K Singh said on Saturday.
Singh also said that the government is likely to ink a fresh contract with HAL for procuring an additional batch of 97 Tejas jets after the delivery of the two aircraft.
The Indian Air Force had flagged concerns over delays in the delivery of the Tejas Mark 1A jets under a previous contract.
“Hopefully, the first two of those will be delivered with weapons integration by the end of September,” Singh said at the NDTV Defence Summit.
The defence secretary said about 38 Tejas jets are already in service and another 80-odd are being manufactured.
In February 2021, the defence ministry sealed a Rs 48,000 crore deal with HAL for the procurement of 83 Tejas Mk-1A jets for the IAF.
The delivery of the jets is facing delays primarily due to the US defence major GE Aerospace missing several deadlines for the supply of its aero engines to power the jets.
Last week, the government approved an additional batch of 97 Tejas fighters at a cost of around Rs 67,000 crore.
“I have made it clear to HAL that we will sign this contract only after HAL delivers two Tejas featuring a complete package,” Singh said on the additional procurement.
He said HAL “will have an order book for four to five years”.
“Hopefully, they (HAL) will be able to perfect this platform, integrate the radar and Indian weapons, so that it becomes a workhorse for us along with the Sukhoi,” Singh said.
“There will still be a gap and for that gap we will have to look at some other options,” he said, hinting at the procurement of more platforms for the Indian Air Force.
Yogesh has been arrested by police, and his blood-stained clothes and a pair of scissors, allegedly used in the crime, were recovered from the scene.
Kusum Sinha (63) and her daughter Priya Sehgal (34) were killed by Yogesh
A man has been arrested for allegedly killing his wife and mother-in-law in Delhi’s Rohini following a dispute over the gifts exchanged between the two sides of the family during his son’s birthday on Saturday, police said.
A PCR call was received at 3:50 pm at the KNK Marg Police Station regarding the murder of the caller’s mother and sister in Sector-17, Rohini. Upon reaching the scene, the police found the bodies of Kusum Sinha (63) and her daughter Priya Sehgal (34) lying in a room, they said.
The caller, Megh Sinha (30), Kusum’s son, informed that on August 28, his mother had come to Priya’s house to celebrate the birthday of her grandson, Chirag, a senior police officer said.
During the function, a dispute allegedly arose between Priya and her husband, Yogesh, regarding the gifts. Kusum stayed at Priya’s residence to settle the matter, he said.
“On August 30, when the caller tried to contact his mother over the phone, his calls went unanswered. He then came to Priya’s house and found the flat locked from outside with blood stains visible near the door,” the officer said.
He immediately informed other family members and broke open the lock, whereupon he found his mother and sister lying in a pool of blood inside the room. He alleged that Yogesh Sehgal, the husband of Priya and presently unemployed, had killed both his mother and sister and fled with the children, the police said.
Yogesh has been arrested by the KNK Marg police, and his blood-stained clothes and a pair of scissors, allegedly used in the crime, were recovered from the scene. According to the police, the motive appears to be a domestic dispute.
Teams from the Crime Team and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) have been called to the scene. Further investigation is underway.
Himalaya, brother of Priya, told PTI, “My mother had gone to my sister’s house a day before and told us she would return the next day. When we called her in between, she said there was a fight going on between my sister and her husband, and that she would help sort it out and then come back. But she never returned. We kept calling her the next morning around 11:00 AM, 11:30 AM and again at 12, but neither she nor my sister picked up. We thought maybe they were asleep. By afternoon, we decided to go and check. When we reached the house and knocked, we saw blood stains on the lock.”
A special bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath on August 22 modified the August 11 order that prohibited the release of captured stray dogs from shelters in Delhi and neighbouring areas.
File photo
Known for his light-hearted banter both in and out of the courtroom, senior Supreme Court judge Justice Vikram Nath on Saturday said the “stray dog” case has made him famous in civil society across the world.
A special three-judge bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath on August 22 modified the August 11 order of a two-judge bench that prohibited the release of captured stray dogs from shelters in Delhi and neighbouring areas.
Speaking at a regional conference on human-wildlife conflict organised by the National Legal Service Authority (NALSA) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Justice Nath said he was grateful to Chief Justice of India BR Gavai for assigning him the case.
“For a long time, I have been known in the legal fraternity for my odd jobs, but I am also grateful to stray dogs for giving me recognition not only in this country but in the entire civil society across the world. And I am grateful to our Chief Justice for assigning me this case,” Justice Nath, who is in line to be the Chief Justice of India in 2027, said.
He said he recently attended a summit, where lawyers, including the president of the lawyers’ association, asked him questions about the stray dog issue.
“I am also getting messages that, apart from dog lovers, dogs are also giving me blessings and best wishes,” he said.
As Peter Navarro accuses India of fuelling Putin’s war for profit, the facts point to a very different reality, one of public sector sacrifice and price cap compliance
Peter Navarro, a senior adviser to US President Donald Trump, launched a fresh attack on India this week. (News18)
Peter Navarro, a senior adviser to US President Donald Trump and one of the architects of his protectionist trade agenda, launched a fresh attack on India this week. In a fiery thread on X, he accused Indian refiners of laundering Russian oil, profiting from discounted crude, and indirectly fuelling the war in Ukraine. Navarro claimed Indian companies, with “silent Russian partners”, refined and re-exported oil to global markets while shielding themselves under the “pretense of neutrality”.
“We run a $50-billion trade deficit with India – and they’re using our dollars to buy Russian oil. They make a killing and Ukrainians die,” he said, alleging that India had become a “massive oil money laundromat for the Kremlin”.
7/ While the United States pays to arm Ukraine, India bankrolls Russia even as it slaps some of the world’s highest tariffs on U.S. goods, which in turn punishes American exporters.
We run a $50-billion trade deficit with India—and they’re using our dollars to buy Russian oil.… pic.twitter.com/X2AK5u8z33
Navarro tied these accusations directly to the 50 per cent tariff now imposed on Indian exports by the Trump administration, saying the move was aimed at cutting off what he called a “financial lifeline” New Delhi had extended to Vladimir Putin’s war machine.
But while the rhetoric has escalated, the numbers tell a very different story, one where India’s public sector units (PSUs), far from profiteering, took a significant financial hit to protect its own people during a global crisis.
What The Data Shows: Rs 21,000 Crore Loss, Not Profit
In the immediate aftermath of the Ukraine war, international oil prices surged, peaking at $137 per barrel in March 2022. Yet, the Indian government chose not to pass the burden to consumers, keeping petrol and diesel prices frozen.
This decision came at a cost. India’s three major oil PSUs—Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Bharat Petroleum (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL)—sold diesel at a net cash loss of up to Rs 10 per litre. Between April 2022 and January 2023, they collectively incurred a cumulative loss of Rs 21,000 crore, or nearly $2.5 billion. These losses were absorbed by the companies without compensation at the time.
Instead of reaping profits from discounted Russian crude, India’s state-run refineries acted as a buffer between global energy volatility and the average Indian citizen.
Why Didn’t India Raise Fuel Prices Like Other Nations?
With 1.4 billion people and a vast population dependent on affordable fuel for transport, agriculture, and essential goods, India made a policy choice to cushion citizens from global inflation. The Centre slashed excise duties by Rs 10 per litre in May 2022, and several state governments followed with VAT cuts. Together, this helped contain fuel inflation, even as other economies struggled with spiking energy bills.
Meanwhile, oil PSUs bore the brunt. The government also took additional steps to prevent private refiners from exporting excessively during high-margin periods. Export duties were imposed, and companies were mandated to sell a portion of their exports back in the domestic market—50 per cent for petrol and 30 per cent for diesel. These steps ensured that not a single retail outlet in India ran dry during the global supply crisis.
Was India’s Oil Trade With Russia Illegal Or Secretive?
Navarro’s implication that India bypassed sanctions is misleading. Russian oil was not banned by the US, EU, or G7. Instead, a price-cap mechanism was designed to prevent excess profits while allowing oil to keep flowing.
India’s purchases were in line with this framework. Transactions were settled in non-dollar currencies, such as the UAE dirham, often through traders in third countries. At no point did the US officially ask India to halt these purchases, until trade talks with the Trump administration collapsed.
In fact, key Western officials acknowledged India’s stabilising role. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen publicly stated the US was comfortable with India’s oil purchases. Ambassador Eric Garcetti credited India with preventing price shocks. Geoffrey Pyatt, the US energy envoy, called India a key market stabiliser.
Did Indian Refineries Really Flip Oil For Profit?
India has long been one of the world’s top refining hubs. Its 23 refineries cater to domestic and export markets. One of Reliance’s two major refineries, located in a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), was built specifically for exports in 2006, well before the Ukraine war.
India exported 99.2 million metric tonnes (MMT) of refined products in FY 2021-22. That figure remained largely stable over the next three years—at 98.8 MMT in FY 2022-23 and 107 MMT in FY 2023-24. For FY 2024-25, the volume actually dropped to 88.25 MMT.
Meanwhile, domestic demand increased, and about 70 per cent of refined products were consumed within India. Exports to the EU did rise marginally, from 12.6 MMT in FY22 to 21.1 MMT in FY25, but that shift was driven by changing market routes, not a profiteering strategy. The EU itself relied on Indian diesel and jet fuel after banning direct Russian imports.
So Why Is India Being Singled Out?
Navarro’s renewed tirade against India comes at a moment of heightened friction in the US–India relationship. The imposition of a 50 per cent tariff on Indian exports, growing scrutiny of H-1B visa allocations, and stalled defence technology transfers have all added strain to bilateral ties. But to target India as the chief enabler of Putin’s war effort, while overlooking far bigger players like China, has drawn criticism even within the United States.
Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said the Trump administration’s approach “does not match the scale of the problem.” In a statement, they pointed out that instead of imposing sanctions on countries purchasing larger volumes of Russian oil, “Trump’s singling out India with tariffs, hurting Americans and sabotaging the US–India relationship in the process.”
Even conservative foreign policy experts have expressed disbelief. Jeff M. Smith, director of the Asian Studies Center at the Heritage Foundation and generally aligned with Trump’s worldview, called the move “dumb.” Responding to the tariff decision, he said, “Yeah, I’m also perplexed. I can’t see the strategic rationale for sanctioning India but not China. Dumb.”
The criticism underscores a growing concern in Washington that the punitive approach could damage a strategic partnership built over decades.
The High Court had directed the Rajasthan Judicial Academy to provide training to the judge in judgment writing. The judge then moved the Supreme Court in appeal.
https://courtbook.in
The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the strictures and adverse observations made by Rajasthan High Court against a judge of a special court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) [Sonika Purohit v. State of Rajasthan].
A bench comprising Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice Vijay Bishnoi was hearing an appeal challenging a Rajasthan High Court single-judge’s order of May 2025 which said that the special judge had neglected her duty and had relied on a cut, copy, paste method while writing a judgment.
The High Court had further suggested the judgment was prepared by a stenographer rather than the judge herself and had therefore, directed Rajasthan Judicial Academy to impart training to judge in judgment writing.
The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the State on the appeal filed by the concerned judge and also stayed the operation of the High Court order.
“Issue notice returnable in four weeks. In the meantime, further action pursuant to the directions issued in the order impugned shall remain stayed,” the Supreme Court ordered.
The case stemmed from a First Information Report (FIR) registered in Jaisalmer involving offences under the POCSO Act. Two separate trials were conducted on the basis of the same FIR and overlapping evidence — one against an adult accused and another against a juvenile. Both trials culminated in convictions by the trial court.
When the conviction of the juvenile was challenged before the High Court in a criminal appeal with a suspension of sentence application, the judgment of the trial court came under close scrutiny. The High Court found that large portions of the reasoning in the judgment against the juvenile were identical to the passages appearing in the judgment against the co-accused.
The High Court observed that the trial judge had effectively shirked judicial responsibility and had resorted to a “cut, copy, paste methodology.” It went so far as to record that the judgment appeared to have been prepared not by the judge but by a stenographer.
Hence, it directed the Rajasthan Judicial Academy to provide training to the officer in judgment writing and further ordered that these observations be placed in the judge’s annual confidential report after seeking her response.
Aggrieved by the order, the judge moved the Supreme Court.
She argued that the adverse remarks were unduly harsh as they arose only from inadvertent clerical errors which had no impact on the substance of the judgment.
It was pointed out that even the High Court, while refusing suspension of sentence, did not find any illegality on merits and upheld the conviction.
The petition acknowledged that minor clerical errors had inadvertently crept into the judgment, such as an incorrect serial number of a prosecution witness, though the contents and substance of the testimony were accurately recorded.
It was submitted that such lapses were not substantive but purely clerical in nature and could have been rectified by the trial court under Section 362 CrPC if brought to the petitioner’s notice.
Justice Kant was speaking at an event aimed at addressing the growing challenges of human-wildlife conflict in Kerala.
Justice Surya kant
Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, must also be interpreted as extending to the preservation of ecological conditions essential for sustaining life, Supreme Court Justice Surya Kant said on Saturday.
He underscored that justice cannot be allowed to function selectively, neither in what it stands for nor in how it is applied.
“Justice cannot be permitted to operate selectively—neither in its substance nor in its application. Article 21, which enshrines the right to life and personal security, must be understood as extending also to the preservation of ecological conditions essential for the sustenance of that life,” he said.
Justice Kant was speaking at a conference aimed at addressing the growing challenges of human-wildlife conflict in Kerala.
The conference organized by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) was held in Thiruvananthapuram and was attended by Supreme Court and High Court judges.
In his speech, Justice Kant emphasized that ecological justice means balancing human rights with the need for conservation of ecology.
“In securing the conditions necessary for wildlife to thrive, we need to simultaneously ensure the safety, stability and well being of human communities,” he said.
He underscored that human–wildlife conflict is not only an environmental issue but also a matter of justice and governance. He added that legal aid must reach vulnerable communities living on the edges of forests.
“As we move forward, our gaze must remain fixed upon those who continue to suffer as victims of human-wildlife conflict. Since many victims belong to marginalized communities, they are their families are often unaware of the legal rights and entitlements available to them,” he noted.
He further added that the judiciary, most notably through the Green Bench of the Supreme Court, has played a pivotal role in ensuring that the nation’s developmental pursuits do not extract an irreparable price from its flora and fauna.
The event also marked the formal launch of three initiatives by NALSA. The first, the NALSA Scheme on Access to Justice for Victims of Human–Wildlife Conflict (HWC), 2025, seeks to ensure free legal aid, awareness and timely assistance to families affected by such conflicts, while at the same time promoting ecological balance and coexistence.
This scheme was followed by the launch of a first-of-its-kind Compendium on Human–Wildlife Conflict, compiling national and state-level policies, guidelines and judicial pronouncements.
While a large number of protesters were coming to Mumbai for the Maratha reservation agitation, protester Vijay Ghogre died of a severe heart attack on Saturday. He was immediately taken to G. T. Hospital in Fort, where doctor declared him dead before the admission. His body was later sent to J. J. Hospital for post mortem.
Latur-based protester Vijay Ghogre dies of heart attack amid Maratha reservation protest in Mumbai | Representational Image
While a large number of protesters were coming to Mumbai for the Maratha reservation agitation, protester Vijay Ghogre died of a severe heart attack on Saturday.
Ghogre Had Travelled From Latur District
Protesters are arriving in Mumbai from across the state to participate in the Maratha agitation. Vijay Ghogre, a resident of Takalgaon village in Ahmedpur taluka of Latur district, had come to Mumbai for the protest when he suddenly suffered a severe heart attack.
Declared Dead Before Admission at GT Hospital
He was immediately taken to G. T. Hospital in Fort, where doctor declared him dead before the admission. His body was later sent to J. J. Hospital for post mortem.
Protesters Seeking Medical Help Amid Heat and Fatigue
Many protesters attending the agitation have also been visiting G. T. Hospital and St. George’s Hospital for treatment over the past two days.
The victim, identified as Tej Narayan Narwaria, was following the district administration’s order of refusing fuel to two-wheeler riders not wearing helmets.
The shooting was caught on CCTV camera at the fuel station, which shows one of the men shooting using a pistol and another firing from a rifle. Both the accused fired multiple bullets while the pump employees ran to hide.. (Representational)(Sunil Ghosh / HT Photo)
A petrol pump employee was shot at on Saturday by two bike-borne men in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhind district for refusing fuel for not wearing helmets.
The victim, identified as 55-year-old Tej Narayan Narwaria, was following the district administration’s order of refusing fuel to two-wheeler riders not wearing helmets.
According to a report by NDTV, the incident happened around 5 AM on Saturday morning at the Savitri Lodhi Petrol Pump on the Bhind-Gwalior National Highway (NH-719). The victim refused to refuel the motorcycle of two men who were not wearing helmets.
The men began arguing with him, and he said his hands were tied because the order had been issued by the district collector.
Angered by the refusal, the men hurled expletives and subsequently took out a pistol and a rifle to shoot Narwaria, who sustained a bullet wound in his hand.
The shooting was caught on CCTV camera at the fuel station, which shows one of the men shooting using a pistol and another firing from a rifle. Both the accused fired multiple bullets while the pump employees ran to hide.
Narwaria was rushed to the Bhind district hospital after the shooting, from where he was referred to a hospital in Gwalior. According to the report by NDTV, the victim’s condition is stable.
Bhind police identify petrol pump shooters
The Bhind police told the media that the attackers involved in the petrol pump shooting incident have been identified using the CCTV footage obtained from the fuel station, and a manhunt to nab them is on. According to the police, the attackers are residents of Bijpuri village, which is within Bhind’s rural police station limits. A wrestling event was underway in Bijpuri, and the two men had stopped at the petrol pump to refuel their bike.
The rebuilding of India-China ties coincides with friction between New Delhi and Washington after Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on India. The focus will be on the outcome of the talks between Modi and Xi Jinping today.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan last year. (Reuters/File)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met for bilateral talks Sunday in the port city of Tianjin, as India and China look to reset strained ties amid Donald Trump’s tariff offensive that has soured Washington’s ties with both New Delhi and Beijing.
The 40-minute closed-door meeting comes on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. PM Modi is also scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Tianjin, the first huddle between the two leaders since the US doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent over New Delhi’s refusal to stop buying Russian oil.
Seven years have passed since PM Modi last set foot in China. His last trip, to Wuhan in 2018, followed the tense Doklam standoff. This time, the focus is on economic and strategic alignment as the two Asian powers navigate the turbulence caused by the US President’s tariff barrage.
On Sunday, PM Modi and the Chinese President will hold two bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the SCO summit. The next day, he will sit down for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
For Modi, the spectacle of him standing alongside Xi and Putin at the summit will send a pointed message to Trump.
Especially since in recent weeks, Trump and his officials have intensified their attacks on India over its purchase of Russian oil amid the war in Ukraine. White House adviser Peter Navarro went as far as to claim that the Ukraine conflict was essentially “Modi’s war”.
INDIA, CHINA HIT RESET BUTTON
However, the focus will remain on the outcome of the talks between Modi and Xi.
Last October, PM Modi and Xi broke the ice with their meeting in Kazan, Russia, after avoiding each other for years, even at multilateral forums. The meeting came after India and China agreed to disengage in the remaining two friction points along the LAC.
The ties between the Asian giants reached its lowest ebb after the border skirmishes in Galwan in 2020.
Even as recently as May this year, India saw China as its adversary, with Chinese defence systems aiding Pakistan during the hostilities.
However, nothing unites like a common enemy. And Trump seems to have done exactly that, undoing decades of American diplomacy to prop up India as a counterbalance to China.
Underscoring the shift in relations, President Xi, earlier this year, called for Sino-Indian ties to take the form of “Dragon-Elephant tango” to serve their fundamental interests.
Last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi echoed the conciliatory tone during his visit to Delhi, urging the neighbours to see each other as “partners” rather than “adversaries or threats”.
During Wang Yi’s visit, the two sides agreed to resume direct flights and the issuance of visas to facilitate business and cultural exchanges. They also decided to re-open border trade through the designated trading points.
A key takeaway was the decision to revive the stalled dual-track strategy and not let border issues affect bilateral ties.
Even at the height of the diplomatic standoff, China remained India’s second-largest trading partner. Moreover, India still relies heavily on Chinese components and raw materials.
A steady India-China relationship, in the long term, could help soften the blow of US tariffs. With key Indian exports now facing 50% tariffs, access to Chinese markets, smoother cross-border trade and supply chain networks would help New Delhi reduce its dependence on the US market.
V Anantha Nageswaran pointed out that stronger domestic demand, supported by a good monsoon and growing rural consumption, could help make up for the impact of higher tariffs.
V Anantha Nageswaran said that job losses due to high tariffs will be insignificant. (File photo)
V Anantha Nageswaran, the Chief Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister, said the impact of US tariffs would have offsetting effects, with job losses largely confined to export-oriented units that are heavily dependent on the American market.
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump announced 25 per cent base tariffs on India and an additional 25 per cent for buying Russian oil, saying it indirectly funded the Ukraine war. The US also wanred that if India did not stop buying Russian crude, secondary tariffs may be well on their way too.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Nageswaran pointed out that stronger domestic demand, supported by a good monsoon and rising rural consumption, could help compensate for the impact. Therefore, he added, any job losses that do occur are unlikely to be significant.
The top economist also noted that some of these firms could explore alternative markets, while others might take a medium-to long-term view, choosing to retain workers if the tariff-related uncertainties proved temporary.
On Friday, he also said that high tariffs are expected to be “short-lived” as both countries are in talks for the removal of the 25 per cent penal tariff and a subsequent bilateral trade deal.
Commenting on India’s 7.8 per cent GDP growth rate in Q1 2026, Nageswaran said that India’s strong GDP performance was driven by robust growth in manufacturing and services, along with government consumption, which had been negative in the first quarter of the previous year but benefited this time from a favourable base effect and added that a lower GDP deflator, reflecting easing inflation, also supported the figures.
“Despite the reciprocal tariffs and penal tariffs (imposed by the US), and after seeing the resilience of Q1 growth, we are retaining the growth rate projections for the current fiscal at 6.3-6.8 per cent,” Nageswaran told reporters in Delhi.
According to the report, which cited an unnamed Indian official as its source, Xi’s letter was intended as a test of India’s willingness to recalibrate ties with China.
Ironically, the trigger for this renewed ties was Trump’s tariff policy.
When US President Donald Trump intensified his trade war with China earlier this year, Beijing began an outreach to India with a private letter from President Xi Jinping to President Droupadi Murmu, a Bloomberg report claims.
According to the report, which cited an unnamed Indian official as its source, Xi’s letter was intended as a test of India’s willingness to recalibrate ties with China. Although the letter was sent to President Murmu, the message was swiftly conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the note, President Xi expressed concern about any prospective US-India agreements that might harm Beijing’s interests, the report claimed. The Chinese premier also named “a provincial official who would steer Beijing’s efforts,” the report stated.
It further added that PM Modi’s government began taking the Chinese outreach seriously in June, amid its own talks with the United States over Trump’s tariff threats and his claim that it was he who brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan following the sharp regional escalation over the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir in which 26 people were killed.
Stung by Trump’s tariffs, both India and China agreed to accelerate efforts to move beyond the 2020 border clash, pledging to renew talks over the long-standing boundary disputes, the report states.
Following these developments, there has been a marked improvement of India-China ties. Direct passenger flights between India and China are set to resume within weeks. Beijing has relaxed restrictions on urea shipments to India. New Delhi, for its part, has reopened tourist visas for Chinese nationals after years of suspension.
Ironically, the trigger for this renewed ties was Trump’s tariff policy – intended to punish Beijing and, later, India. In March, just after he doubled tariffs on Chinese goods, China’s foreign ministry called on Delhi to join in “opposing hegemonism and power politics.” Xi himself declared that making the “elephant and dragon dance together is the only right choice.”
By July, Chinese officials were repeating the metaphor. The Global Times, a state-backed newspaper, went further, calling for a “ballet dance” between the two Asian giants in resisting US tariffs.
PM Modi is likely to meet President Xi during his China tour later this week for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. This will be the Prime Minister’s first visit to China in more than seven years. The last time the two leaders shared a stage was at last year’s BRICS summit in Russia’s Kazan.
PM Narendra Modi’s eighth trip to Japan since 2018 is a bid to diversify partnerships, assert autonomy, and reinforce India’s global positioning amid a tariff tussle with the US
PM Narendra Modi being accorded a Guard of Honour in Tokyo, Japan, on August 29. (Image: PMO/PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Japan, at the invitation of his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba, serves as a message of strategic balancing to the United States amid growing tariff tensions.
Modi’s eighth trip to Japan since 2018 is a bid to diversify partnerships, assert autonomy, and reinforce India’s global positioning. Hence, it becomes even more significant that he will follow it up with his trip to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin.
THE INDIA-JAPAN STORY
This coming together coincides with US President Donald Trump’s unpredictability and trade war with India, which has unravelled more than two decades of a partnership built through successive administrations from George W Bush to Joe Biden.
The Quad – comprising India, Australia, Japan, and the US – is the cornerstone of the Indo-Pacific strategy, essential to India, Japan, and Australia’s vision. Yet, its trajectory appears uncertain due to Trump’s engagement.
The US President’s second term signals disengagement and a narrower view of alliances, evident as Washington imposed the highest tariff of 50 percent on New Delhi, a key strategic ally. This raises the question – will the India-US trade war risk diluting the Quad’s strategic coherence?
By engaging with India, Japan is sending a larger political message – one that transcends economics and defence. Tokyo offers consistency, resources, and a shared strategic outlook to New Delhi, rooted in an old partnership, democratic values, and a free and open Indo-Pacific.
STRENGTH IN CIVILISATIONAL TIES
Reciting the Gayatri Mantra, the Japanese welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting the deep civilisational relationship between India and Japan.
Stretching from the Himalayas to Mount Fuji, India-Japan ties are rooted in a shared cultural heritage, including Buddhism, which arrived in Japan from India in the 6th century AD.
During the visit, Modi received a Daruma doll from the chief priest of the Shorinzan Daruma-Ji temple in Takasaki-Gunma. This gesture reaffirms the close spiritual and civilisational ties between the two countries. The Daruma doll, which is considered a good luck charm in Japanese culture, also symbolises the legacy of Bodhidharma – an Indian monk known as Daruma Daishi in Japan.
This ancient connection underpins the shared ideals of democracy, tolerance, pluralism, and open societies, now strengthened by economic and defence cooperation.
SUMMIT DIPLOMACY
Japan and Russia are India’s two oldest annual summit-level mechanisms, a crucial element in diplomacy ensuring mutually beneficial outcomes.
In 2000, New Delhi and Tokyo forged a global partnership, which was elevated to a Special Strategic and Global Partnership in 2014 under Modi and former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. The bond between these leaders gave a strategic edge to the time-tested ties.
India and Japan – two of Asia’s leading democracies and among the world’s top five economies – now focus on new priorities and challenges. Topmost during this visit is Japan’s investment plan, which amounts to USD 68 billion over the next decade.
This investment will boost infrastructure, manufacturing, clean energy, and technology partnership, showcasing Japan’s long-term commitment to India’s growth, especially as investors grow cautious of China.
Being in nature is great for your brain. Experts are trying to figure out why.
(Art: The New York Times/Liam Cobb)
In 2008, 38 students at the University of Michigan set out on a walk. Half of them wound their way through the trees in Ann Arbor’s Nichols Arboretum for 2.8 miles (4.5km), while the other half navigated the same distance on the busy streets of downtown. A week later, the two groups swapped routes.
Both times before they set out, the students took a test that challenged their attention and working memory, where they were given progressively longer sequences of numbers that they had to repeat back in reverse order. When they returned to campus, the students took the test again. Walking through town improved their performance slightly, but walking in nature boosted scores by nearly 20 per cent.
“You didn’t even need to like or enjoy the nature walk to get these cognitive benefits,” said Marc Berman, a professor of psychology at the University of Chicago, who conducted the study while he was a graduate student at Michigan. People who walked on a cold January day experienced just as much benefit as those who did the experiment in July.
The effect that nature has on our minds has been studied many times before and since, and the research generally – though not always – finds that exposure to green spaces boosts our cognition and creativity, not to mention our mood.
Many of us have experienced firsthand the natural world’s ability to revitalise us – a moment of clarity after summiting a mountain, or renewed focus following a lunchtime stroll in the park. Scientists are trying to understand exactly why that happens.
In his new book, Nature And The Mind, Dr Berman attributes the cognitive benefits of nature to “attention restoration theory.” First proposed in the 1980s by Rachel and Stephen Kaplan (both of whom were psychology professors at the University of Michigan when Dr Berman was a student there), the premise is that our ability to focus is a finite resource that gets easily used up, and being in nature is an effective way to replenish it.
One of the most important things about nature, according to attention restoration researchers, is that it is “softly fascinating,” meaning it tickles our attention in a gentle way without being too boring or stimulating. (Think about watching ocean waves roll in and out, or gazing at a field of wildflowers.) Urban environments, by contrast, are more harshly fascinating and demand our vigilance in a way that depletes us.
Dr Berman posits that one reason nature has this effect on us is because of its physical properties, particularly its curved lines and fractals. And the arc of a river or a rock formation, or the repeating patterns of a snowflake, may be easier for our brains to process than the straight edges of a skyscraper. “That might give our brains a rest, and that’s why we might see these benefits,” he said.
Attention restoration theory has dominated the field of environmental neuroscience for decades, but not everyone is fully convinced.
“The evidence is accumulating that, yes, something about walking in nature is benefiting our attention,” said Gloria Mark, a professor of informatics at the University of California, Irvine, and the author of the book Attention Span. But, she added, attention restoration is “a theory, and we don’t know if that’s the real explanation for what’s going on.”
It’s a little “hand-wavy,” agreed Amy McDonnell, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Utah. Much of the research relies on cognitive tests and people’s subjective reports of how being in nature makes them feel, and there are a lot of open questions, like what’s actually happening in the brain.
Dr McDonnell is one of the experts trying to fill in that gap. Last year, she ran a similar experiment to Dr Berman’s, in which people walked either through a local arboretum or on an urban medical campus. Walking in both settings improved people’s cognitive abilities compared to their pre-walk scores. But when Dr McDonnell looked at their brain waves using EEG, those who were in nature had less brain activity immediately after the walk, followed by bigger spikes while they were performing the attention task the second time.
The Court said that it welcomes accurate and critical reporting of its decisions and working, provided it is done in good faith.
The Hindu, Srinagar Bench of J&K High Court
The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court recently dropped contempt of court proceedings against the editors, correspondents and publishers of The Hindu and ETV Bharat English [Court on Its Own Motion vs Suresh Nambath and Others].
The High Court last year had initiated a suo motu case against them over their reportage claiming that Justice Atul Sreedharan – who is presently posted at Madhya Pradesh High Court – had gone on leave after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act cases and Habeas Corpus matters were shifted from the bench headed by him.
A Division Bench headed by Justice Sreedharan himself taken exception to the report and had asked the Registrar Judicial to place the matter before then Acting Chief Justice.
The newspaper report that the roster was changed midway was “false, malicious and contemptuous” and the same amounted to interference with the administration of justice, the bench had then said.
The alleged contemnors later apologized to the Court for the misreporting and sought leniency. A digital version of the news report was taken down by The Hindu after the court order.
In the judgement passed on August 22, a Bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Rahul Bharti found the repentance and regret shown by the alleged contemnors to be bona fide and noted that they have realized the seriousness of the mistake committed by them.
However, the Court also opined that their reporting was clearly suggestive of an underlying intent to bring the High Court as an institution to disrepute and create distrust that the alteration of roster was with a view to disable a particular bench from hearing of NIA and Habeas Corpus matters.
It added that roster changes are regularly published on the official website and therefore, there was hardly any need and scope for any newspaper or news portal to carry and add any angle of information to it.
“We have no reluctance whatsoever to observe that never-ever before the publication of the offending information by the respondents, there was any such like news item carried by any Online or Offline mode of newspaper publication with regard to the fixation of Roster in the High Court by the Hon’ble Chief Justice,” the Court further said.
The Court added that the publication of the information “while lacking good faith was lurking with bad faith and definitely counted as an attempt to scandalize the functioning of the High Court which had infliction of necessary effect of eroding the faith of General Public in the justice delivery system with respect to the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.”
However, considering the apologies and takedown of the publications, the Court decided not to proceed with the contempt of court case.
“Before we part with this case, we however, caution the respondents to remain extra careful in future while reporting about the court proceedings and its functioning. They shall stay well advised to keep in mind the due diligence which we have highlighted herein before,” it directed.
Court welcomes critical reporting but advices caution
In the same order, the Court said that it welcomes accurate and critical reporting of its decisions and working, provided that all is made in good faith and actuated with a mindset to highlight the deficiencies and inefficiencies and also to contribute in furthering the improvements in the judicial system and its working.
“Courts are always open to Public’s discourse and discussion and in that regard the journalists/news reporters are there to act as a bridge between the institution of judiciary and the Society. Mining and bringing information with regard to the functioning of the Courts and even the shortcomings and drawbacks therein in the public domain in good faith definitely contributes in enhancing the transparency and establishing accountability,” the Court asserted.
However, the Court added that the freedom of press, which is implicit in the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India, is subject to the caveat of non-interference in the administration of justice and law of contempt of courts.
“It is, thus, an imperative for the journalists and news reporters engaged and connected with reporting of court matters and affairs therewith to ensure that they do not print and publish inaccurate, false, misleading or self-fancied information and reports,” the Court said.
The bench further said that it is always advisable for the media not to rely upon casual sources of information and further to ensure that information is verified from the authoritative sources.
“If the information pertains to the courts’ functioning, be it judicial or administrative side, it would be proper and appropriate to seek its verification from the Registrar General of the High Court or from such officer nominated by the High Court for the purposed before venturing to pen, print, publish and publicize it,” the Court suggested.
The Court further remarked that it is a bounden duty and responsibility of the media to avoid temptation of scandalization and attribute motives “by innuendoes with respect to judiciary and judges”.
“Any news publication in respect of Court/s and its working/ functioning made with a motive and potentiality, latent or patent, of degrading and deriding the judicial institution or lowering its prestige in the eyes and estimation of General Public shakes and erodes the public trust in the courts of law and of law of land as an institution and, therefore, is to be viewed nothing less than an ill-motivated interference in the administration of justice rendering such a publication definitely to fall within the purview of criminal contempt, as defined in Clause (c) of Section 2 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971,” it said.
Rahul Dravid went on to cement his legacy among the legends of the game, but it was important for him to earn the respect of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman.
Rahul Dravid in a podcast
Unarguably one of the greatest servants of Indian cricket, Rahul Dravid’s name is written in history books with golden letters. The man who went on to earn the nickname of ‘The Wall’, went on to achieve some unbelievable milestones for the Indian team, before also winning the T20 World Cup 2024 as the national side’s head coach. Though there’s not a single cricket fan in the country who doesn’t have the utmost respect for Dravid, the man himself has revealed that he was very keen on earning praise from the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, and Sourav Ganguly during the early days.
During his appearance on a podcast, Dravid recalled how much he learned just by sharing the dressing room with the likes of Tendulkar, Laxman, Ganguly and even India’s current head coach Gautam Gambhir.
“I don’t think I was copying them, but certainly learning things from them as well, not only Laxman. It made my game a better game, sharing the dressing room and partnerships with Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly, VVS and even Gautam Gambhir for a while. You are learning from these guys, watching them prepare, play certain shots and how they go about doing certain things. And you are picking up stuff. You are being challenged and pushed by them,” Dravid said during an episode of the Haal Chaal Aur Sawaal Podcast with Ashish Kaushik.
All of these are among the legends of the game, especially in India, scoring plenty of runs across formats. Dravid, who went on to carve a legacy for himself in his own way, explained that he wanted to earn respect from these star players but never wanted to copy them.
“You want to earn Tendulkar, Laxman, and Ganguly’s respect. You want them to say ‘ok, this guy can also play. He deserves to be in this room with me’. You want to earn that, and that comes with performance and doing things. That comes with putting runs on the board and playing in difficult conditions or situations. So that in itself was a motivation. So you pick all of this up from them. And then they understand your game. You have conversations. You are chatting with these guys. So there is no doubt that all of them made me a better player, helped me achieve my potential, and I hope I did a little bit of that for them as well.”
27-year-old Ahaan Panday made a memorable debut with Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara. The film has grossed over ₹500 crore at the box office.
Ahaan Panday made a memorable acting debut with Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara.
Even as he eventually got his dream debut with Saiyaara, the road wasn’t paved smoothly for Ahaan Panday. The 27-year-old actor was supposed to be launched years before this. But somehow, things never lined up for him, as projects kept getting shelved and opportunities were lost. In a new interview, Ahaan says that he felt wronged by people, but never got bitter.
Ahaan Panday on delayed debut
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter India, Ahaan said, “Have I felt wronged by people? Yes, I have. It wouldn’t be right for me to get personal about that, though, but as an actor, that’s where you take [inspiration] from. I would take a small moment and enlarge that for the character. I just kept putting myself into different things. There was that blind optimism, the first four-five years, where I was entirely delusional, and I think people around me could sense it.”
‘Never got bitter’
Saiyaara happened for Ahaan after Yash Raj Films’ boss Aditya Chopra reached out to his parents, Chikki and Deanne Panday, with an offer to launch the youngster. That promise resulted in Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara. “Eventually, I got this opportunity. I would always remind myself: to assist on a set is a dream for millions. To be able to pursue art is a luxury; most people didn’t get to do that, I did. That kept me going. I got to be on a film set, I got to learn from other actors. I didn’t ever think it would be this [big]. I was happy doing this; I was never sour or bitter that things weren’t going my way, because I got to be on a set,” added Ahaan.
Dr Gradlin Roy, a consultant cardiac surgeon at Saveetha Medical College, collapsed in the hospital on Wednesday.
A 39-year-old cardiac surgeon collapsed after a heart attack and died during rounds at a hospital in Chennai.
Dr Gradlin Roy, a consultant cardiac surgeon at Saveetha Medical College, collapsed in the hospital on Wednesday.
Dr. Sudhir Kumar, a Hyderabad-based neurologist, said Dr Roy’s colleagues tried everything to save him, but could not.
“Colleagues fought valiantly – CPR, urgent angioplasty with stenting, intra-aortic balloon pump, even ECMO. But nothing could reverse the damage from a massive cardiac arrest due to a 100% left main artery blockage,” Dr Kumar wrote on X.
The doctor pointed out that Dr Roy’s death is not an isolated incident and there is a disturbing trend of young doctors in their 30s and 40s suffering from sudden cardiac events.
Experts said prolonged working hours is one of the key reasons for such deaths. Doctors often work 12-18 hours a day, sometimes stretching for more than 24 hours in a single shift.
There is also intense stress. The constant pressure of life-or-death decisions, high patient expectations, and medico-legal concerns takes a toll.
The other reasons cited are unhealthy lifestyles, irregular meals, lack of physical exercise, and neglected health check-ups.
The mental strain of the profession, including burnout, depression, and anxiety, is also often ignored.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba shared pictures from the ride with PM Modi on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
PM Modi and Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba were headed to Sendai city in Japan aboard the bullet train.(X/@shigeruishiba)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a bullet train ride with his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba on the second day of his visit to Japan on Saturday and met with Indian train drivers currently training at East Japan Railway Company.
Both the Prime Ministers were headed to Japan’s Sendai city.
Japanese PM shared pictures from the ride on his X (formerly Twitter) account and wrote, “With Prime Minister Modi to Sendai. Continuing from last night, I will be with you in the car.”
Several Indian train drivers currently training in Japan with JR East lined up to greet Modi on Saturday. The Prime Minister met the drivers and also posed with them for pictures.
Three people were recovered from debris following a cloudburst in Ramban District, Jammu and Kashmir. This is the second incident reported in the union territory.
Ramban_Jammu and Kashmir.
Seven members of a family were killed after a landslide flattened their house in a remote village in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir early on Saturday, officials said. The incident was reported shortly after a cloudburst in Ramban led to the death of three people.
Heavy rains in the Badder village of Mahore in Reasi triggered the landslide. A rescue operation is underway to trace the missing family, officials said. Reasi district is about 131 kms from Ramban.
Situated on the Chenab river and National Highway-44, which connects Jammu and Srinagar, Ramban district is known for its mountainous terrain and is divided into eight tehsils. Heavy rainfall in the district has resulted in the Chenab River breaching the danger-level mark and river water entering low-lying areas.
This is the second cloudburst incident reported in the union territory within 24 hours, and the third within a week.
On Friday, a cloudburst hit the Gurez Sector of Bandipora district. No casualties were reported.
The cloudburst hit the Tulail area of the frontier Gurez Sector in the north Kashmir district.
Earlier this week, heavy rainfall and a sudden cloudburst caused flash floods in Doda district, disrupting normal life and forcing the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar highway. Landslides at several locations along the route added to the disruption, halting traffic and isolating parts of the region.
Let-up in Rain Eases Flood Threat in Kashmir, Jhelum Starts Receding
The Jhelum river dropped below the flood alert level at Sangam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district as the weather improved earlier this week.
Weather officials, however, predicted a brief spell of rain or thundershowers there from September 2 to 6.
Addressing a press conference, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Anshul Garg said while the situation is under control and there is no need to panic, the coming fortnight will be crucial.
This Aug. 7, 2025, satellite image shows construction of large white tents for a new immigrant detention center at Fort Bliss, a U.S. Army base outside El Paso, Texas. When completed, the $1.2 billion facility is expected to hold up to 5,000 migrants awaiting deportation and will be the largest such facility in the United States. (Planet Labs via AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) — When President Donald Trump’s administration last month awarded a contract worth up to $1.2 billion to build and operate what it says will become the nation’s largest immigration detention complex, it didn’t turn to a large government contractor or even a firm that specializes in private prisons.
Instead, it handed the project on a military base to Acquisition Logistics LLC, a small business that has no listed experience running a correction facility and had never won a federal contract worth more than $16 million. The company also lacks a functioning website and lists as its address a modest home in suburban Virginia owned by a 77-year-old retired Navy flight officer.
The mystery over the award only deepened last week as the new facility began to accept its first detainees. The Pentagon has refused to release the contract or explain why it selected Acquisition Logistics over a dozen other bidders to build the massive tent camp at Fort Bliss in West Texas. At least one competitor has filed a complaint.
Texas detention camp opens
The U.S. opened a 1,000-bed immigration detention camp last week on the grounds of Fort Bliss, a U.S. Army base. Plans call for expansion through 2027 to 5,000 beds.
The secretive — and brisk — contracting process is emblematic, experts said, of the government’s broader rush to fulfill the Republican president’s pledge to arrest and deport an estimated 10 million migrants living in the U.S. without permanent legal status. As part of that push, the government is turning increasingly to the military to handle tasks that had traditionally been left to civilian agencies.
A member of Congress who recently toured the camp said she was concerned that such a small and inexperienced firm had been entrusted to build and run a facility expected to house up to 5,000 migrants.
“It’s far too easy for standards to slip,” said Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat whose district includes Fort Bliss. “Private facilities far too frequently operate with a profit margin in mind as opposed to a governmental facility.”
Attorney Joshua Schnell, who specializes in federal contracting law, said he was troubled that the Trump administration has provided so little information about the facility.
Ken A. Wagner, the president and CEO of Acquisition Logistics, did not respond to phone messages or emails. No one answered the door at his three-bedroom house listed as his company’s headquarters. Virginia records list Wagner as an owner of the business, though it’s unclear whether he might have partners.
Army declines to release contract
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved using Fort Bliss for the new detention center, and the administration has hopes to build more at other bases. A spokesperson for the Army declined to discuss its deal with Acquisition Logistics or reveal details about the camp’s construction, citing the litigation over the company’s qualifications.
The Department of Homeland Security, which includes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, declined for three weeks to answer questions about the detention camp it oversees. After this story was published Thursday, the department’s spokeswoman, Tricia McLaughlin, issued a statement that said “under President Trump’s leadership, we are working at turbo speed on cost-effective and innovative ways to deliver on the American people’s mandate for mass deportations of criminal illegal aliens.”
She said the Fort Bliss facility “will offer everything a traditional ICE detention facility offers, including access to legal representation and a law library, access to visitation, recreational space, medical treatment space and nutritionally balanced meals.”
Named Camp East Montana for the closest road, the facility is being built in the sand and scrub Chihuahuan Desert, where summertime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit and heat-related deaths are common. The 60-acre (24-hectare) site is near the U.S.-Mexico border and the El Paso International Airport, a key hub for deportation flights.
The camp has drawn comparisons to “Alligator Alcatraz,” a $245 million tent complex erected to hold ICE detainees in the Florida Everglades. That facility has been the subject of complaints about unsanitary conditions and lawsuits. A federal judge recently ordered that facility to be shut down.
The vast majority of the roughly 57,000 migrants detained by ICE are housed at private prisons operated by companies like Florida’s Geo Group and Tennessee-based CoreCivic. As those facilities fill up, ICE is also exploring temporary options at military bases in California, New York and Utah.
At Fort Bliss, construction began within days of the Army issuing the contract on July 18. Site work began months earlier, before Congress had passed Trump’s big tax and spending cuts bill, which includes a record $45 billion for immigration detention. The Defense Department announcement specified only that the Army was financing the initial $232 million for the first 1,000 beds at the complex.
Three white tents, each about 810 feet (250 meters) long, have been erected, according to satellite imagery examined by The Associated Press. A half dozen smaller buildings surround them.
Setareh Ghandehari, a spokesperson for the advocacy group Detention Watch, said the use of military bases hearkens back to World War II, when Japanese Americans were imprisoned at Army camps including Fort Bliss. She said military facilities are especially prone to abuse and neglect because families and loved ones have difficulty accessing them.
“Conditions at all detention facilities are inherently awful,” Ghandehari said. “But when there’s less access and oversight, it creates the potential for even more abuse.”
Company will be responsible for security
A June 9 solicitation notice for the Fort Bliss project specified the contractor will be responsible for building and operating the detention center, including providing security and medical care. The document also requires strict secrecy, ordering the contractor inform ICE to respond to any calls from members of Congress or the news media.
The bidding was open only to small firms such as Acquisition Logistics, which receives preferential status because it’s classified as a veteran and Hispanic-owned small disadvantaged business.
Though Trump’s administration has fought to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs, federal contracting rules include set-asides for small businesses owned by women or minorities. For a firm to compete for such contracts, at least 51% of it must be owned by people belonging to a federally designated disadvantaged racial or ethnic group.
One of the losing bidders, Texas-based Gemini Tech Services, filed a protest challenging the award and the Army’s rushed construction timeline with the U.S. Government Accountability Office, Congress’ independent oversight arm that resolves such disputes.
Gemini alleges Acquisition Logistics lacks the experience, staffing and resources to perform the work, according to a person familiar with the complaint who wasn’t authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Acquisition Logistics’ past jobs include repairing small boats for the Air Force, providing information technology support to the Defense Department and building temporary offices to aid with immigration enforcement, federal records show.
Gemini and its lawyer didn’t respond to messages seeking comment.
A ruling by the GAO on whether to sustain, dismiss or require corrective action is not expected before November. A legal appeal is also pending with a U.S. federal court in Washington.
A judge in that case denied a motion that sought to freeze construction at the site at a sealed hearing Thursday.
Schnell, the contracting lawyer, said Acquisitions Logistics may be working with a larger company. Geo Group Inc. and CoreCivic Corp., the nation’s biggest for-profit prison operators, have expressed interest in contracting with the Pentagon to house migrants.
In an earnings call this month, Geo Group Executive Chairman George Zoley said his company had teamed up with an established Pentagon contractor. Zoley didn’t name the company, and Geo Group didn’t respond to repeated requests asking with whom it had partnered.
A spokesperson for CoreCivic said it wasn’t partnering with Acquisition Logistics or Gemini.
The NDA is likely to put up a dominant show and win 324 seats if the Lok Sabha elections are held today, as per the Mood of the Nation survey. The Congress-led opposition alliance, which gave the NDA a run for its money in 2024, is projected to be down to 208.
With a spring in its step following back-to-back victories in three major Assembly polls, the NDA is likely to put up a dominant show and win 324 seats if the Lok Sabha elections are held today, according to the India Today-CVoter Mood of the Nation survey. On the other hand, the Congress-led opposition alliance, which won 234 seats in 2024, giving the NDA a rude shock, is projected to be down to 208 if the polls are held today.
The India Today-Cvoter Mood of the Nation (MOTN) poll was conducted between July 1 and August 14, 2025, surveying 54,788 individuals across all Lok Sabha segments. An additional 1,52,038 interviews from CVoter’s regular tracker data were also analysed. Thus, the opinion of a total of 2,06,826 respondents was considered for this MOTN report.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the BJP, riding on the charisma of PM Modi, received a reality check when it won only 240 out of 543 seats, which was 32 short of the 272 seats needed for a simple majority to form a government on its own.
However, along with its NDA partners, the overall tally of 293 allowed Modi to form a third government – a feat matching Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. The INDIA bloc gave the NDA, which boasted of crossing 400 seats, a run for its money, securing 234 seats.
Since then, the electoral fortunes of the opposition bloc have hit a nadir, losing the Assembly polls in key states of Haryana, Maharashtra, and Delhi.
WHAT MOOD OF THE NATION REVEALS
The impact of the dramatic turnaround ushered in by the BJP is reflected in the latest Mood of the Nation survey.
If seen party-wise, the survey predicts that if a general election was held now, the BJP would secure 260 seats but still fall short of getting a simple majority of its own. This is a sharp fall from the 281 seats that the MOTN survey predicted in its February edition.
It has coincided with the NDA tally seeing a dip from the numbers projected by the MOTN survey in February – from 343 seats to 324.
The victim, Shilpa, who had previously worked with IT giant Infosys, had been married to Praveen for about two-and-a-half years. The couple has a one-and-a-half-year-old child.
Shilpa was found dead at her house in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
In yet another alleged dowry harassment-related death, a 27-year-old woman was found hanging at her home in Bengaluru on Wednesday, police said. The woman’s husband was arrested for allegedly abetting suicide.
The family of the woman, identified as Shilpa, alleged that constant dowry harassment by the victim’s in-laws drove her to die by suicide.
Police have arrested Shilpa’s husband Praveen, a former software professional.
Shilpa, who had previously worked with IT giant Infosys, had been married to Praveen for about two-and-a-half years. The couple has a one-and-a-half-year-old child, and her family said Shilpa was pregnant again.
In their complaint, Shilpa’s parents stated that Praveen’s family initially demanded Rs 15 lakh in cash, 150 grams of gold jewellery and household articles before the wedding.
They alleged that despite fulfilling these demands, Shilpa was repeatedly pressured for more money and valuables after marriage. Her uncle, Chennabasayya, said the family had made huge financial sacrifices to meet these expectations.
“We got her married in a grand way three years ago. We sold our house and spent Rs 40 lakh on the wedding. We also gave her 160 grams of gold ornaments at the time of marriage,” Chennabasayya said.
According to him, the demands continued even after marriage. “A few months ago, he had taken another Rs 10 lakh from us. They now have a one-and-a-half-year-old child, and she is pregnant again. At the time of marriage, he claimed to be a B.E., M.Tech graduate. But for the past two years, he has been selling pani puri,” he added.
Chennabasayya also raised suspicions about the circumstances of Shilpa’s death.
“Inside the house, there was no chair or anything placed under the fan. The fan was also not at a height easily reachable to anyone. There were no signs of the door being broken either,” he said.
India plans to increase its imports of Russian oil in September, a report states, even as the US under Donald Trump has doubled tariffs on Indian exports, citing its purchase of Russian crude.
India plans to increase its imports of Russian oil in September, a report states, even as the US under Donald Trump has doubled tariffs on Indian exports, citing its purchase of Russian crude.
India is set to raise its imports of Russian oil in September, if a Reuters report is to be believed. This comes even as the US administration under Donald Trump on Wednesday doubled tariffs on Indian exports to 50%, citing New Delhi’s continued reliance on Moscow’s crude.
As per the Reuters report, Indian refiners are expected to increase purchases by 10–20% from August levels, or around 150,000–300,000 barrels per day, according to preliminary trade data.
India Turns to Cheaper Russian Oil
Since Western sanctions limited Russia’s access to many markets following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, India has emerged as one of the largest buyers of Russian crude. This has enabled Indian refiners to secure cheaper supplies, with mid-2024 imports averaging around 1.5–1.6 million barrels per day, meeting nearly 40% of the country’s crude needs.
India Holds Its Stand
India is pursuing dialogue to resolve the tariff standoff with Washington, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues diplomatic outreach, including a planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
US officials have accused New Delhi of “profiteering” from discounted Russian crude. Indian authorities, however, counter that the West itself continues to buy Russian goods worth billions.
The Ministry of External Affairs added, “India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by global market situation.”
Delhi has also stated that its cooperation with Russia has helped stabilise global energy markets and that India’s decisions are based on national interest, not geopolitical opportunism.
Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed the name of semiconductor plant which is likely to manufacture India’s first home-made chip.
Representational image
The first Made-in-China semiconductor chip may be manufactured from CG Semi Pilot Line soon, Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Thursday.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “1st ‘Made in India’ chip to come from CG Semi Pilot Line soon.” The CG Semi Pilot line is being set up in Gujarat’s Sanand.
The CG Semi’s G1 or pilot facility was inaugurated by Ashwini Vaishnaw along with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel.
“CG Pilot line has started today. It is a very important milestone in India’s semiconductor journey. Among all the plants that started (chip) projects in Gujarat, CG Semi plant is the first one to start a pilot line,” Vaishnaw said.
He said that the pilot line helps customers in testing the chips before placing the order.
“Hopefully, we will have the first Made in India chip rolled out of this plant very soon,” Vaishnaw said.
The pilot facility of CG Semi will operate at a peak capacity of approximately 5 lakh units per day. The facility is equipped to handle end-to-end chip assembly, packaging, testing, and post-test services.
Backed by central and state governments, and in collaboration with Renesas and Stars Microelectronics, CG Semi is investing over Rs 7,600 crore (around USD 870 million) over five years to develop two facilities (G1 and G2) with a total production capacity of 15 million or 1.5 crore units.
CG Plant To Operate At Full Capacity by 2027
Union Minister Ashwini Vaihsnaw said that CG Semi will start operating at full scale by 2027.
Located about 3 km from G1, the G2 facility is under construction and expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Once operational, G2 will scale up to a capacity of 14.5 million units per day. Together, the two facilities are projected to generate over 5,000 direct and indirect jobs.
CG Power Chairman Vellayan Subbiah said that the qualification, which is testing and inspection of products and manufacturing facility, will start in September, and the commercial production of the chip is expected to start in six to eight months from now.
Subbiah appealed to the Indian industry to work in collaboration and support Made in India chips in the same manner as companies in China did.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a significant two-nation visit to Japan and China, commencing August 29. Central to this trip is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, where he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for their first bilateral discussion in seven years.
PM Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will depart for his two-nation visit to Japan and China today, August 28, with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin being the key highlight, as he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and is expected to hold a first-ever bilateral in seven years. Let’s take a look what to expect and what could be on cards:
The visit to China is significant, as it will mark the first direct meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in seven years, especially after relations between the two nations nose-dived following the 2020 Galwan clash.
The meeting also comes at a time when India is facing challenging relations with the United States, which, under Donald Trump’s administration, has imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian imports, including 25 per cent on purchases of Russian oil, which US believes is what funding Moscow to continue the Ukraine war.
Interestingly, Russian President Vladimir Putin will also be travelling to China to attend the SCO Summit, and it remains to be seen whether PM Modi and Putin will hold a bilateral meeting amid US pressure to withdraw from purchasing Russian oil.
Given that US pressure on India stems mainly from two issues: purchasing Russian oil and not opening the Indian market in the agriculture and livestock sectors for US players, which has prevented a bilateral trade deal between India and the US, New Delhi may chalk out a strategy with China and Russia.
It also remains to be seen whether there will be any significant development between India and China as Beijing has been viewed globally recently as softening its stance towards India and even supporting Indian arguments before the US administration, backing New Delhi for not bowing to US pressure.
China has signalled its willingness to open its market to all Indian goods in view of Trump’s tariffs, given that Indian exports to the US under 50 per cent duty are facing significant challenges. So it remains to be seen whether there will be any progress related to Indian exports to China, as New Delhi is already exploring alternative markets.
Not just India, but Beijing too has been facing US pressure over tariffs and exports of rare earths to America. The situation remains fragile, as it is difficult to predict Donald Trump’s next move. Therefore, China is being highly calculative and is working to improve relations with India to counterbalance the US.
The SCO Summit will also be the occasion where Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will be present. It will be the first time since India’s successful ‘Operation Sindoor’ that PM Modi and his Pakistani counterpart will be on the same stage. Operation Sindoor, conducted to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 innocent civilians including one Nepalese were brutally shot dead in front of their families, struck Pakistan hard, destroying its air defence systems and reducing several terror camps to dust.
A hospital memo claims Greater Noida woman Nikki Bhati suffered severe burns in a gas cylinder blast, while her family has accused husband Vipin Bhati of setting her ablaze.
Photos showing Greater Noida woman Nikki Bhati (L)/she with her husband Vipin Bhati (R) (Social Media)
As the mystery surrounding Greater Noida woman Nikki Bhati’s death continues to deepen, a hospital memo, widely shared on social media, suggests that she was taken to a hospital after she suffered burn injuries following a “cylinder blast”.
The purported memo, from a private hospital, stated Nikki was brought to the hospital on August 21 at 6 pm. It further, in Hindi, stated, ‘Ghar par gas cylinder fatne se mareej ko kaafi gambheer roop se jal gaya hai‘ (The patient has suffered severe burn injuries due to a gas cylinder explosion at home).
“Burn at home, due to blast of cooking cylinder,” it mentioned in English.
The memo also states that Nikki was brought to the hospital by Devendra, her relative, and that her condition was “critical”.
Meanwhile, a team of the Noida Police recorded a statement of the hospital staff who attended to Nikki Bhati as she was brought there.
Sources told CNN-News18 that the staff informed the police that Nikki had herself told them that she suffered burn injuries while she was cooking at home, and that there was a cylinder blast.
However, investigations revealed that there was no cylinder blast in the house where she lived.
The police also recovered an empty bottle of thinner and a lighter from her home.
Efforts were also underway to record the statement of Nikki’s sister, Kanchan, after the hospital memo emerged.
This comes days after Kanchan, who filmed her on fire, and her family members alleged that Nikki was set ablaze at her residence in Greater Noida’s Sirsa by her husband, Vipin Bhati.
On Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Women Commission member Meenakshi Bharala reached Nikki’s residence in Greater Noida and met the grieving family members.
She assured Nikki Bhati’s family of an impartial probe into her death and also promised that the murder case would be put on a fast-track trial.
According to IANS, Nikki’s mother fainted several times while narrating the family’s trauma over her murder, before the commission member.
Only one in four women expressed confidence that authorities would take effective action on their safety complaints
As National Commission for Women Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar stated, the findings underscore that safety is not merely a law-and-order issue but one that affects ‘every aspect of a woman’s life’. (Representational image/AI-generated)
A new and comprehensive study on women’s safety in Indian cities has revealed an alarming truth: around 40% of women feel “not so safe” or “unsafe”. The findings, released in the inaugural National Annual Report and Index on Women’s Safety (NARI 2025), provide a stark look into the daily realities faced by women across the country.
The report, a collaborative effort by the Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA), Pvalue Analytics, The NorthCap University, and Jindal Global Law School, is based on a survey of 12,770 women across 31 cities in all states. It goes beyond traditional crime statistics, which often fail to capture the reality of underreported harassment. NARI 2025’s key findings highlight a “dark figure” of crime, with the report noting that only one in three women who face harassment actually report it to authorities. This means that official crime records from bodies like the NCRB miss the vast majority of incidents.
The index ranked cities based on various safety metrics, revealing a significant disparity. Cities like Kohima, Vishakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, and Mumbai were identified as the safest, correlating with factors such as stronger gender equity, improved infrastructure, and more effective policing. In contrast, cities like Ranchi, Srinagar, Kolkata, Delhi, and Patna ranked at the bottom, often linked to inadequate public infrastructure, weak institutional responsiveness, and prevalent patriarchal norms.
Safety perceptions also varied dramatically depending on the time of day. While 86% of women felt safe in educational institutions during daylight hours, that sense of security plummeted at night, particularly on public transport and in recreational areas. The report also pointed to significant institutional gaps: only one in four women expressed confidence that authorities would take effective action on their safety complaints, and a concerning 53% were unaware whether their workplaces had a Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) policy in place.
The shark’s white eyes indicate a potential form of albinism, a condition involving a lack of melanin pigmentation.
The 6-foot, 6-inch nurse shark has become a subject of scientific curiosity (Facebook/Parismina Domus Dei)
A rare and visually striking shark has been spotted off the coast of Costa Rica, drawing widespread interest from marine biologists and the public alike. The unique nurse shark, notable for its vibrant orange colouration and white eyes, was encountered by fisherman Garvin Watson near Tortuguero National Park in August 2024.
The shark was observed at a depth of 37 meters, in waters with a temperature of 31.2°C. “[It was] incredible,” Watson told USA Today. “We couldn’t believe what we had in front of us, an orange shark that looked like an alien.” He took photographs of the unusual marine animal before releasing it back into the ocean. Watson and his companions later described the encounter to marine researchers, comparing the shark’s colour to that of a goldfish.
Though Watson had initially shared photos of the shark on his Facebook page last year, public fascination surged following the release of a recent scientific study titled “First record case of free-living xanthism in the nurse shark Ginglymostoma cirratum (Bonnaterre, 1788) from the Caribbean Sea.”
The 6-foot, 6-inch nurse shark has become a subject of scientific curiosity due to its distinctive pigmentation. According to marine biologists, the shark’s vivid orange hue is the result of a rare genetic condition known as xanthism, which causes yellow or golden pigmentation in an animal’s skin, scales, or fur. Xanthism is extremely uncommon and has been previously documented in some species of fish, reptiles, and birds, but not in this particular shark species, until now.
The peer-reviewed study, published this month in the journal Marine Biodiversity, was authored by Marioxis Macías-Cuyare, Gilberto Rafael Borges Guzmán, and Daniel Arauz-Naranjo. The researchers wrote that the shark represents “the first scientifically documented case of total xanthism in the species and the first record from the Caribbean Sea.”
In addition to xanthism, the shark’s white eyes indicate a potential form of albinism, a condition involving a lack of melanin pigmentation.
The DGCA move had come against the backdrop of Turkiye backing Pakistan and condemning India’s strikes on terror camps in the neighbouring country in May.
Aviation regulator DGCA has granted a six-month extension to IndiGo on leasing of two Boeing 777 aircraft from Turkish Airlines with certain conditions, sources said on Thursday.
The surprising development comes less than three months after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in May provided a one-time final extension of three months till August 31 to IndiGo for operating the Turkish Airlines aircraft and had also asked the carrier not to seek any further extension.
The DGCA move had come against the backdrop of Turkiye backing Pakistan and condemning India’s strikes on terror camps in the neighbouring country in May.
The sources on Thursday said the regulator has granted a six-month extension to IndiGo for operating the planes from Turkish Airlines on wet lease with certain conditions. The current lease is to expire on August 31.
Generally, wet-leasing of an aircraft involves the leasing of foreign aircraft along with crew, maintenance and insurance.
“We acknowledge the acceptance of IndiGo’s request for extension to its wet lease arrangement with Turkish Airlines, subject to conditions laid down by the regulator. This approval comes at a crucial time and will help mitigate losses to the Indian aviation due to geopolitical restrictions, and greatly benefitting Indian travellers during the peak travel season by ensuring a seamless, direct connection to Istanbul and points beyond,” the airline said in a statement.
IndiGo is operating two B777-300 ER aircraft under damp lease from Turkish Airlines, and the current lease is to expire on August 31. These planes are used by IndiGo to operate direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul.
In the statement on Thursday, IndiGo said that given the current geopolitical challenges, the extension provides much-needed continuity and stability in operations, allowing it to better serve the growing demand for international travel.
Telangana’s Kamareddy, Medak districts are grappling with an unprecedented downpour.
In the flood-hit Rajanna Sircilla district of Telangana, the heart-wrenching anguish of a mother became a powerful symbol of the flood’s human toll. For 30 gruelling hours, Lakshmi waited for her son, Jangam Swamy, who was trapped in the swirling floodwaters. “I fall at your feet. Please save my son. It’s been 30 hours,” she pleaded.
Five people had got stranded at Upper Manair and repeated attempts by rescue helicopters were thwarted by adverse weather.
“What use are elections and leaders if they can’t come to the rescue of my son? You dare not try to silence me. I want you to try again and save my son,” Lakshmi cried, her anguish turning into anger with the endless wait.
Hope, though, prevailed.
Anguish of mother Lakshmi waiting for her son trapped in #floodwaters#Telangana#Sircilla: “Please save my son. It’s been 30 hours” Repeated chopper attempts failed due to adverse weather; Finally JangamSwamy returned to tears of welcome, thanked rescuers for giving him 2nd life pic.twitter.com/5EdkSuzpdm
In a dramatic rescue operation by IAF chopper, Jangam Swamy was brought to safety –, his return met with loud wails, the fears of the mother, son and rest of the family exploding into a flood of tears and an outpouring of welcome from his family.
A grateful Jangam Swamy, alive and well, thanked his rescuers for “giving him a second life”.
In Medak, another badly hit district, it was a different kind of race against time. A pregnant woman in labour was in desperate need of medical help. In a precarious and careful operation, the “Knights in Fluorescent Orange”, as the rescue teams are being hailed on social media, moved her to the safety of a hospital just in time.
The timely arrival of the NDRF team ensured that both mother and baby were given a chance at a healthy life, underscoring the vital role of these rescue forces in moments of critical need.
In Kamareddy district, which, along with Medak received the highest rain in 50 years over the last two days, it was a daring rescue operation by the police who emerged as #RealHeroes.
With not a hint of hesitation, risking their lives, the police crossed the furiously flowing, chest-deep waters, using just a single rope, to rescue 10 people marooned in flood.
Among them were children whom they carried on their shoulders, earning for themselves the sobriquet of the police being everyone’ heroes.
The spirit of survival was also evident in Nirmal district, where an NDRF team successfully rescued Shankar Naik, who had been trapped by rising floodwaters.
Using a specialised boat, rescuers brought Shankar to safety, a moment of relief in a town where heavy rains have already forced the relocation of 250 families. The main route connecting Nirmal to Maharashtra remains closed, a stark reminder of the widespread disruption.
However, not all stories had a happy ending. In a tragic turn, two men, Bestha Sathyam and Yada Goud, were swept away while attempting to cross the Rajpet bridge. Both are currently missing.
Former irrigation minister Harish Rao brought a heart-wrenching detail to light, saying the men were in an auto-rickshaw, on way to a flooded Gurukul school to pick up their children.
Yada Goud and Bestha Sathyam were both washed away. He claimed that for “at least four hours, they were holding on to an electric pole, hoping for a rescue but no helicopter was sent”.
He also criticized the government, saying, “A minister said yesterday chopper would be used only in utmost emergency whereas they use it to go to marriages and political rallies”.
Telangana’s Kamareddy and Medak districts are grappling with the aftermath of an unprecedented downpour that has crippled the region over the past 24 hours. According to reports, the rainfall is the heaviest in a 50-year period for such a short duration.
PM Modi departed to Japan earlier today, and members of the Indian diaspora gathered in Tokyo to welcome him.
PM Modi interacts with members of the Indian community in Japan(X/@narendramodi)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to Japan at the invitation of his counterpart, Shigeru Ishiba, to attend the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. Calling the visit an opportunity to advance India’s national interests, PM Modi said it would also strengthen regional and global peace and security.
“I look forward to engaging with PM Ishiba and others during this visit, thus providing an opportunity to deepen existing partnerships and explore new avenues of collaboration,” PM Modi wrote on X upon arrival in Tokyo.
Kickstarting his first standalone visit to Japan in seven years, PM Modi also met members of the Indian community who had been awaiting his arrival in Tokyo. The PM was “deeply touched” by the warmth he received and heaped praise on the Indians’ “commitment to preserving cultural roots while contributing meaningfully to Japanese society”.
Members of the Indian diaspora had gathered in Tokyo to welcome him, while Japanese artists prepared cultural performances for the occasion.
The summit is expected to focus on deepening economic and investment partnerships, while also enhancing cultural ties between the two nations.
What’s on agenda?
PM Modi announced his departure earlier today, announcing that key agenda of his visit to Japan would be fostering Special Strategic and Global Partnership, saying it made steady progress over 11 years.
He also spoke about economic and investment ties, saying Artificial Intelligence and semiconductors would also be the technologies where both nations would advance cooperation.
“We would endeavour to give new wings to our collaboration, expand the scope and ambition of our economic and investment ties, and advance cooperation in new and emerging technologies, including AI and Semiconductors. The visit will also be an opportunity to strengthen our civilizational bonds and cultural ties that connect our peoples,” a part of his post read.
According to Bloomberg report, PM Modi may secure investment pledges worth $68 billion during the two-day visit. An economic security pact focussing on semiconductors, critical minerals, and AI may also be signed, the publication further reported.
E10 Shinkansen bullet trains
It was earlier reported that India and Japan may ink a deal for the manufacture of next generation E10 Shinkansen bullet trains in India. An announcement in this regard is likely during PM Modi’s visit to the country.
“The project is in line with the success of the Maruti Suzuki joint venture that happened about four decades ago, but its scale and strategic importance is immense,” one of the people said, asking not to be named.
The Las Vegas entrepreneur alleged that her ex-husband tried bribing her to commit immigration fraud, claiming that he had also committed tax fraud.
A Las Vegas entrepreneur shared an Instagram post about her ex-husband, tagging ICE and other government agencies. (GoFundMe)
A Las Vegas entrepreneur shared a video on Instagram alleging that her ex-husband once offered her a huge amount of money to stay married so that he could easily secure American citizenship. In the post, the woman claimed that since her refusal, he has dragged her through “unnecessary and frivolous legal proceedings”, which have completely destroyed her life.
“My ex-husband offered me $339,000 to stay married so he could get his U.S. citizenship,” Las Vegas entrepreneur Alejandra Aguilar Sonnier wrote on Instagram while posting a video.
“Let that sink in… he was bribing me to commit immigration fraud for him,” she continued, adding, “And yet this same man has been dragging me through Las Vegas Family Court for 17 months with frivolous lawsuits while acting like he hasn’t broken a few federal law, including tax fraud.”
In the video, she alleged the same thing and shared a series of pictures, claiming they are text screenshots and legal documents she received from her ex.
She concluded her post by tagging several government agencies and writing, “Instead of targeting hardworking families, maybe ICE and federal authorities should start looking at the criminals openly trying to game the system.” HT.com has not independently verified the claims in the post.
Social media is divided:
The video has sparked mixed reactions among social media users. While some showed their support for Sonnier, others were quick to dismiss her claims.
An individual supporting her posted, “Gosh, I’m so glad I’m liking this post and writing this comment so this gets more coverage.” Another argued, “Why would you post this? Just let him get citizenship? This is a stupid post. Take the money for goodness’ sake. This post is ridiculous.”
A third commented, “All lies. If he has $339k to give away, he doesn’t need you to stay in the US.” A fourth joked, “ICE likes this post.” A fifth wrote, “I know that’s right, girl. Expose him.”
Woman launches GoFundMe asking for help:
Sonnier has also started a GoFundMe titled, “Legal Battles Drained Me—Need Your Help.” She wrote, “For the past 16 months, I’ve been relentlessly harassed, stalked, and financially drained through the Las Vegas Family Court system—by a man I have no children, no ties, and no obligation to. He’s weaponized the courts to punish me for moving on with my life.”
Seven of the 15 victims of the Virar building collapse have been identified, including a 24-year-old woman and her infant daughter, as rescue teams run against time to save those feared trapped in the debris.
NDRF personnel during a rescue operation after the rear portion of a four-storey building crashed onto a chawl at Virar of Vasai taluka, in Palghar district. (Image: PTI)
At least 15 people were killed and many others are feared trapped after a rear section of an unauthorised four-storey building collapsed on an adjacent vacant chawl in Maharashtra Virar early on Wednesday, officials said. Among those killed in the incident included a woman and her one-year-old daughter and six others remain critically injured.
The structure, declared ‘illegal’ by the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC), came crashing down at 12.05 am.
Rescue operations have continued for more than 20 hours, with National Disaster Response Force units and civic teams clearing rubble first by hand and later with heavy machinery, delayed initially due to the building’s congested location.
District Collector Indu Rani Jakhar confirmed that some people could still be trapped beneath the debris. Officials said the collapse rendered several families homeless, all of whom have been shifted to Chandansar Samajmandir and provided with food, water, and medical aid.
Authorities have identified seven victims so far, including Arohi Omkar Jovil (24), her daughter Utkarsha (1), Laxman Kisku Singh (26), Dinesh Prakash Sapkal (43), Supriya Nivalkar (38), Arnav Nivalkar (11), and Parvati Sapkal.
Some bodies were pulled out of the debris, while others died during treatment at nearby hospitals, officials said.
According to authorities, the crash site has 50 flats in total, with the collapsed section housing 12 apartments. Officials said that although the chawl it fell on was vacant, nearby residents in adjoining tenements were evacuated as a precaution.
Meanwhile, police have arrested the builder, Nital Gopinath Sane, after the VVMC lodged a complaint against him. A case has also been registered against the landowner. The charges included violations under sections 52, 53, and 54 of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act and section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
VVMC Assistant Commissioner Gilson Gonsalves said debris clearance is now “progressing on a war footing”.
The teams of army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) which had been pressed into service rescued more than 400 students and school staff in Gurdaspur district and a large number of others from parts of the state with the help of boats and choppers.
The flood situation in Punjab continued to worsen on Wednesday due to continuous torrential rains in Himachal Pradesh, catchment areas of Sutlet, Ravi and Beas rivers and heavy discharge of water from Bhakra, Pong and Ranjit Sagar dams, inundating a score of villages across more than 10 districts of the state.
Meanwhile, the teams of army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) which had been pressed into service rescued more than 400 students and school staff in Gurdaspur district and a large number of others from parts of the state with the help of boats and choppers.
They initiated a rescue operation to airlift over 50 workers stranded after flood-gate of Madhopur Headwork collapsed. The said headwork is located on the Ravi river in Gurdaspur district, near Pathankot and diverts the river water for irrigation in Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran and other nearby areas through canals’ network.
Also, the release of water from Ranjit Sagar dam worsened the situation in Pathankot area inundating several villages in neighbouring Gurdaspur districts too.
In Amritsar district, the Ravi river floods waterlogged several villages, residential areas and farmlands in the Ajnala area after the Dhussi embankment breached due to the swollen waters of Ravi, forcing residents to move to safer places.
Teams of the army and the NDRF rescued about 400 students and 40 staff members of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, a boarding school, at Daburi village in Gurdaspur district. These teams were also helped by villagers – who brought over six tractor-trolleys to access the school site – and a social organisation, Khalsa Aid. Dubri and several other villages were waterlogged because of the overflowing Ravi river.
25 RESCUED IN ARMY HELICOPTER OP
Elsewhere, the army team rescued 25 persons, including CRPF personnel, with the help of helicopter who were trapped atop a building surrounded by floodwaters near Madhopur Headworks. The building collapsed moments after all the people were airlifted from the spot.
CM LEAVES BEHIND CHOPPER, TRAVELS BY ROAD
Meanwhile, chief minister Bhagwant Mann announced to depute the state helicopter to assist and evacuate people and send relief material of the stranded families in the flood affected areas of the state.
She incorporated elements like blue backdrops, seashells, rocks, aquatic plants and several marine creatures for the unique pandal.
Shweta Mahadik took 60 days to complete the pandal. (Photo Credit: Instagram)
Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the most auspicious occasions of the Hindu religion and marks the birth of Lord Ganesha, the god of wisdom, knowledge, success and new beginnings. In India, the festival is celebrated with a wide range of themes, with pandals often featuring elaborate and unique designs for the idols, such as environmental conservation or social messages.
Communities may choose themes that highlight traditional art forms, cultural heritage, or even depict Lord Ganesha in various innovative or mythological avatars.
Ganesh Chaturthi Underwater Theme
To mark this year’s festivities, TV actress Shweta Mahadik, devotee of Lord Ganesha, went all the way ahead and designed a stunning Underwater theme for Ganeshotsav at her residence.
A video shared on Instagram showcases the unique theme and the efforts the content creator put into making the festivities even more memorable. It incorporates ocean elements like blue backdrops, seashells, rocks, and aquatic plants and several marine creatures like Dolphins, Sea Horses, jellyfish, Starfish, a Turtle, a Lobster and others for decoration, creating a vibrant and immersive setting to celebrate Lord Ganesha.
Interestingly, the Bappa idol was seen dressed as a Mermaid with a crown and necklace made of pearls, to give it a more vibrant look.
The post caption reads, “Ganpati Bappa Morya!!! May all our wishes come true, god pls bless the world.”
The Step-by-Step Journey Of Creating A Pandal
In other videos, she also shared the entire process of creating the Marine theme for Ganesh Chaturthi 2025, which took around one month of hard work and dedication.
The process began with sculpting the idol of Lord Ganesha from clay, followed by crafting decorative backdrops and designing intricate props such as turtles, starfish, clownfish, seahorses, corals, and more.
Next, instead of simply using wallpaper for her Ganeshotsav 2025 theme, the actress chose to showcase her artistic skills by hand-painting the entire backdrop herself, complete with marine creatures. In the video, she revealed that her inspiration came from the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system, located in Australia.
Lastly, she focused on decorating the Ganpati Bappa idol. From perfecting the skin tone and eyes to designing the jewellery and clothes, the actress revealed the entire behind-the-scenes process of bringing her unique theme to life. To enhance the backdrop, she also crafted additional marine elements, including jellyfish, an octopus, and dolphins.
How Did Social Media React?
The clip was quick to grab the attention of the viewers, prompting several reactions from them. An Instagram user commented, “This just waowwwwwwwwww.” Another one wrote, “Absolutely incredible. May Bappa bless you and your family.” One of them shared, “Extremely well done! Every small detail of Ganesha’s accessories, turtle, clown fish, every little thing. So soo beautiful.”
The PM and RSS chief are on the same page on ‘swadeshi’ and ‘atmanirbharta’ as the long-term solution, and no succumbing to pressure on trade
Interestingly, the Indian government so far has neither confirmed nor denied a German newspaper report that PM Modi had not taken President Trump’s calls when the latter tried to reach him at least four times. File pic/PTI
When faced with adversity, always put national interest first. This has been Narendra Modi’s policy for years. Faced with bullying by arguably the world’s most powerful man in Donald Trump, and once a good friend, it is Prime Minister Modi who is the one standing up to him, even as much of the world has capitulated.
In anticipation of the 50% tariffs from the US that have now kicked in, PM Modi two days ago prudently referred to the impending development as “economic self-interest” prevalent worldwide, with “everyone busy serving their own agenda”.
The Prime Minister will carry this thought with him to the SCO Summit in China later this week, where he will meet the Russian and Chinese presidents, a crucial triple axis that could checkmate the US in the long run. Donald Trump would be watching closely as Narendra Modi, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping get into a huddle there.
India’s exports to the US stand at about $86 billion, barely 2% of our GDP, and only a part of this is affected by reciprocal tariffs. The actual value-added impact is even smaller. With strong macro fundamentals, robust growth, and India poised to become the world’s third-largest economy, it must view this challenge in perspective and not overstate its implications. The feeling in the government is also that India has weathered far greater crises in the past and emerged stronger. Hence, the PM’s response is being calm and confident—using this as an opportunity to push reforms, improve ease of doing business, and strengthen our domestic ecosystem.
At the same time, India is keeping communication channels with the US open while diversifying exports through FTAs and exploring new markets. After a successful Free Trade Agreement with the UK, PM Modi is also pushing for the early conclusion of a mutually beneficial India-European Union FTA. India’s large domestic demand and growing competitiveness, demonstrated recently with EVs being exported to 100 countries, give it the resilience and strength to navigate this phase without losing sight of the economy’s long-term trajectory.
Interestingly, the Indian government so far has neither confirmed nor denied a German newspaper report that PM Modi had not taken President Trump’s calls when the latter tried to reach him at least four times. When this correspondent asked the US State Department about the accuracy of the report, we were referred to the White House for a comment. But no luck yet.
There is no denying that the India-US relationship has been damaged by Trump’s reckless strategy of antagonising one and all, be it friends or adversaries. It is also a fact that 50% tariffs would hurt Indian businesses and exporters in the short run. But compromising on the interests of Indian farmers and small industries by signing on the dotted line as the US wants would hurt the country much more in the long run.
Hence, PM Modi has stressed “swadeshi” and “atmanirbharta” as the long-term solution. On Wednesday, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat echoed the same thought when he said atmanirbharta (self-reliance) is the solution to all issues, and international trade should not be done under any pressure. The PM and the RSS chief are hence on the same page here on the way forward.
The Prime Minister has made it clear: India’s energy security and strategic autonomy are non-negotiable. India has never bent to global arm-twisting, even when our economy was not as strong as it is today, and we should stay that way. Instead of bowing, PM Modi has decided to turn this moment into an opportunity, which is pushing through bold, once-in-a-generation reforms and aggressively diversifying our export markets beyond the US.
Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee questioned the logic behind targeting India with tariffs while neglecting China, the largest buyer of Russian energy.
The post was shared on Wednesday, coinciding with the day the 50 per cent tariffs on imports from India to the United States came into effect.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats have criticised President Donald Trump for imposing tariffs on India over its purchase of Russian oil while sparing China and other major buyers. In a post on social media platform X, the Committee quoted a foreign media report and said that Trump’s decision to focus solely on India with tariffs is “almost like it’s not about Ukraine at all.” They also flagged that the move was “hurting Americans & sabotaging the US-India relationship in the process.”
Quoting a media report, they stated, “It would be one thing if the Trump administration had opted to follow through on the threat of secondary sanctions for any country that purchases Russian oil. But the decision to focus solely on India has resulted in perhaps the most confusing policy outcome of all: China, the largest importer of Russian energy, is still purchasing oil at discount prices and has so far been spared similar punishment.”
Instead of imposing sanctions on China or others purchasing larger amounts of Russian oil, Trump’s singling out India with tariffs, hurting Americans & sabotaging the US-India relationship in the process.
— House Foreign Affairs Committee Dems (@HouseForeign) August 27, 2025
Trump’s 50 per cent tariffs kick in
Donald Trump’s additional 25 per cent tariffs on Indian imports to the United States took effect on Wednesday, August 27. The US has claimed that the additional trade duties on India have been imposed for continuing to purchase Russian oil and defence equipment, as the Trump administration feels that this is funding Moscow’s “war machine” to continue its onslaught against Ukraine.
The US Department of Homeland Security, in a draft order said the higher tariffs would apply to Indian products entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after 12:01 am Eastern Daylight Time on August 27. According to the notice, the additional duties are being imposed to give effect to the President’s Executive Order 14329 of August 6, 2025, titled “Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of the Russian Federation.”
India is initiating outreach programs in 40 countries to enhance exports amid Donald Trump’s newly imposed 50% tariffs on Indian imports.
Representational image
India is planning an outreach programme in 40 nations to boost its exports as Donald Trump’s 50 per cent tariffs take effect on Indian imports to the United States, according to news agency PTI.
According to PTI, government sources have said that there is no cause for panic over Donald Trump’s 50 per cent tariffs, as their impact is unlikely to be severe due to India’s diversified exports.
In addition to this, steps are also being taken to cushion affected sectors and support exporters. The current fading of India-US ties is seen as a temporary phase in the long-term relationship between the two nations.
The US has been the largest trading partner of India from 2021-22. In 2024-25, the bilateral trade in goods stood at USD 131.8 billion (USD 86.5 billion exports and USD 45.3 billion imports).
India is planning dedicated outreach programmes in 40 countries, including the UK, Japan, and South Korea, to push textiles exports.
Together, these 40 countries represent more than USD 590 billion in textile and apparel imports, offering vast opportunities for India to enhance its market share, which stands at only 5-6 per cent, the official said.
According to exporters, these high tariffs will have impact on their cost competitiveness in the US as their competitor countries, including Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia are being subjected to lower duties by America.
Exporters said the imposition of a 25 per cent penalty on India over and above the 25 per cent tariffs move will disrupt the flow of Indian goods to its largest export market.
Communication Channels Between India-US Open
Amid tensions over Trump’s tariffs, Government sources said that communication channels between India and the US are open to resolve the ongoing issues, and the glitch in trade ties is only temporary, given the long-term relationship between the two nations.
They added that India’s exports to the US during the first four months of this fiscal year has risen 21.64 per cent to USD 33.53 billion.
Going by the trend, the exports may touch the last year’s figure (USD 86.5 billion), one of the sources said.
“Communication channels are open between India and the US to resolve the ongoing tariff issues… it is a temporary phase in a long-term relationship,” they said.
‘At End of Day We Will…’: US Treasury Secretary On India-US Ties
In an interview with Fox Business, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has described the India-US relationship as “very complicated” but hoped that “at the end of the day, we will come together”.
“This is a very complicated relationship. President Donald Trump or Prime Minister Narendra Modi have very good relationships at that level. And it’s not just over the Russian oil,” Scott Bessent said.
Bessent comments came hours after the additional 25 per cent penalty imposed by Trump on India for its purchases of Russian oil came into effect from today, August 27, bringing the total amount of levies on New Delhi to 50 per cent.
Sources added that there are positive signals coming from both sides and “we need to build upon that”.
They also said the government is working on measures to insulate domestic exporters from the impact of the US tariffs.
The commerce ministry is holding a series of stakeholder consultations this week from sectors such as chemicals, gems and jewellery to discuss ways to push India’s exports in new markets.
Work is also progressing fast on the formulation of the Export Promotion Mission, announced in the Budget for 2025-26.
“In the next 2-3 days, the ministry will meet stakeholders on the diversification of exports,” an official said.
According to the Navy Chief, fishing fleets, once regarded as harmless extensions of coastal economies, have increasingly been fitted with sophisticated equipment such as satellite communication systems and long-range sensors.
Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi (File Image)
Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, speaking at Ran Samvad 2025, sounded a strong cautionary note on how rapid technological advancements are reshaping the maritime security environment. He said that emerging technologies are enabling adversaries to operate in the “gray zone” of conflict—below the threshold of conventional war—while still exerting strategic pressure and challenging order at sea.
According to the Navy Chief, fishing fleets, once regarded as harmless extensions of coastal economies, have increasingly been fitted with sophisticated equipment such as satellite communication systems and long-range sensors. These upgrades allow them to remain at sea for prolonged periods, relaying positional and surveillance intelligence in real time. “What was once a livelihood activity has, in many cases, become an extension of national strategy,” Admiral Tripathi remarked, underscoring how these seemingly civilian platforms are being transformed into tools of state power.
The Admiral also highlighted the role of research and survey vessels, which, under the banner of scientific exploration, now carry advanced sonar arrays and electronic suites capable of seabed mapping and hydrographic data collection. He warned that such data has “obvious military utility,” ranging from submarine operations to targeting seabed infrastructure and shaping undersea battle spaces. This, he noted, represents a dangerous blurring of lines between peaceful research and military reconnaissance.
Another major concern flagged by Admiral Tripathi was the weaponization of autonomy at sea. Small autonomous boats, he explained, have now advanced to the point where they can carry and launch sophisticated payloads such as surface chernobysites, opening the possibility of covert offensive actions being conducted from platforms that appear to be civilian in nature. “It is entirely conceivable that fishing vessels of the near future could carry out offensive operations without revealing their true intent until the last moment,” he cautioned.
Emphasizing the challenge of “platforms of ambiguity,” the Navy Chief said these systems are “civilian in appearance but military in function,” making it increasingly difficult to identify threats and establish clear rules of engagement. This ambiguity, he stressed, complicates both deterrence and response in the maritime domain.
Looking ahead, Admiral Tripathi called for urgent action to safeguard India’s maritime interests, which span vast sea lines of communication, energy routes, and undersea infrastructure. He outlined the need for enhanced Maritime Domain Awareness through satellite surveillance, drones, and radar networks; technological countermeasures such as electronic warfare tools and AI-based anomaly detection systems; doctrinal adaptations to counter gray-zone challenges; and deeper international cooperation with like-minded navies to build norms, share intelligence, and deter hostile actions masked under civilian cover.
The Indian Army said alert troops in Gurez sector challenged terrorists, responded to indiscriminate fire, and successfully neutralised two militants.
Two terrorists were killed in Gurez sector of Bandipore during a joint operation by the Indian Army and Jammu & Kashmir Police.(Representational image/ANI Grab)
Two terrorists were neutralised in Gurez sector of Bandipore district during a joint operation by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police, carried out following intelligence on a likely infiltration attempt.
Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said alert troops spotted suspicious activity in Gurez sector, challenged the terrorists, and responded effectively when they opened indiscriminate fire, neutralising two terrorists.
“Based on intelligence provided by JKP regarding likely infiltration attempt, a joint operation was launched by #IndianArmy and @JmuKmrPolice in Gurez Sector. Alert troops spotted suspicious activity and challenged, which resulted in terrorists opening indiscriminate fire. Troops responded with effective fire, neutralising two terrorists. Operation is in progress,” Chinar Corps wrote in a post on X.
On August 13, a soldier was killed during an exchange of fire as the Army foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector, Jammu and Kashmir. The troops successfully stopped the infiltration in the Churunda area of Uri in Baramulla district, north Kashmir, the Army said.
Earlier, on July 30, two heavily-armed terrorists, believed to be members of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were killed in a fierce gunfight as alert Army troops foiled their infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The encounter came two days after security forces eliminated three hardcore terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in a forest in Srinagar.
The Army said the operation, conducted under the code name ‘ShivShakti’, was a major setback to the nefarious designs of Pakistan-sponsored terrorist organisations that are constantly abetting acts of terror in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC)’s 2025 report is based on an analysis of pollution data from 2023 when Delhi’s annual PM 2.5 concentration was 88.4µg/m3
Particulate concentrations in India in 2023 were higher than in 2022. (HT PHOTO)
Delhi residents are losing 8.2 years of their life expectancy to high PM 2.5 concentration in the city, a new report released on Thursday said, underlining that this loss could be mitigated by bringing down pollution levels to the World Health Organization (WHO) standard of 5 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3). The loss is 4.7 years as per the national standard of 40µg/m3, it said. The average Indian is losing 3.5 years of their life expectancy, said the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI).
The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC)’s 2025 report is based on an analysis of pollution data from 2023. Delhi’s annual PM 2.5 concentration in 2023 was 88.4µg/m3. It was 41µg/m3 for the entire country.
The report cited the latest satellite-derived PM2.5 estimates in 2023 and said particulate concentrations in India were higher than in 2022. “These levels are more than 8 times higher than the WHO guideline, and reducing them to permanently meet the WHO Guideline would add 3.5 years to the average life expectancy of Indians,” said the report. It added that people of Delhi were the worst impacted across the country.
The average person globally was losing 1.9 years of their life, according to the WHO standard. “The AQLI’s 2023 data reveals that global PM2.5 concentrations in 2023 were 1.5% higher than in 2022 and nearly 5 times the WHO guideline of 5 μg/m3.”
The AQLI is a pollution index that quantifies the causal relationship between long-term human exposure to air pollution and life expectancy. The life expectancy calculations made by AQLI are based on a pair of peer-reviewed studies. By comparing two subgroups of the population that experienced prolonged exposure to different levels of particulate air pollution, the studies plausibly isolate the effect of particulate air pollution from other factors that affect health.
The biggest loss in life expectancy as per the WHO standard after Delhi was in Bihar (5.4 years), Haryana (5.3 years), and Uttar Pradesh (5 years), the report said. The report said the northern plains, with 544.4 million residents or 38.9% of the country’s population, could gain an average of five years of their life in relation to WHO standards and 1.6 years in relation to the national standard.
Overall, the country’s entire population of 1.4 billion lives in areas where the particulate matter pollution levels exceeded the WHO standards. “This means that even people living in the cleanest regions of India could live 9.4 months longer if particulate concentrations in these regions were reduced to meet the WHO guideline,” the report said.
It added that 46% of the population lived in areas where the pollution levels also exceeded the annual national standard of 40 µg/m³.
“Reducing particulate concentrations in these regions to meet India’s national standard could add 1.5 years to the life expectancy of people living in these regions,” it said.
Air Quality Life Index director Tanushree Ganguly, who co-authored the report, said the data and findings were particularly stark for Delhi. “Consistent exposure to the levels seen in Delhi over the past five years suggests that residents could lose up to eight years of life if such conditions persist. Pollution reduction in Delhi must therefore be guided by strict concentration reduction targets. To meet India’s national standard of 40 µg/m³, the city would need to cut particulate concentrations by more than 50%.”
She said doing so could add over 4.5 years to the life expectancy of the average resident. “Research shows that about 50% of Delhi’s pollution comes from local sources and controlling these sources alone could therefore help meet national standards,” she said.
Ramdev’s comments come hours after US President Donald Trump’s doubling of tariffs on imports from India to as much as 50% took effect on Wednesday.
Yoga guru Ramdev slammed the Donald Trump administration for imposing an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods. (ANI file )
Yoga guru Ramdev has hit out at the Donald Trump administration for imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods for purchasing Russian crude oil, calling for a complete boycott of American companies and brands.
Ramdev’s comments come hours after US President Donald Trump’s doubling of tariffs on imports from India to as much as 50 per cent took effect as scheduled on Wednesday, delivering a serious blow to ties between two powerful democracies that had in recent decades become strategic partners.
A punitive 25 per cent tariff, imposed due to India’s purchases of Russian oil, was added to Trump’s prior 25 per cent tariff on many imports from the South Asian nation.
Describing the move as a “political bullying, hooliganism and dictatorship”, Ramdev, while addressing the media, said, “Indian citizens should strongly oppose the 50 per cent tariffs that America has imposed on India. American companies and brands should be completely boycotted.”
Ramdev also urged people to stop buying US food products from Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Subway, KFC, or McDonald’s outlets.
“Not a single Indian should be seen at the counters of Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Subway, KFC, or McDonald’s. There should be such a massive boycott… If this happens, chaos will ensue in America. Inflation will increase in America to the point where Trump himself may have to retract these tariffs. Trump has committed a blunder by turning against India,” news agency ANI quoted Ramdev as saying.
#WATCH | Noida, UP | On 25% additional US tariffs on India from August 27, Yoga guru Ramdev says, “Indian citizens should strongly oppose the 50% tariffs that America has imposed on India as political bullying, hooliganism and dictatorship. American companies and brands should be… pic.twitter.com/ZCyXOBg9UW
The additional 25 per cent duties take total tariffs as high as 50 per cent for goods as varied as garments, gems and jewellery, footwear, sporting goods, furniture and chemicals, among the highest imposed by the US and roughly on par with Brazil and China.
The new tariffs threaten thousands of small exporters and jobs in India, including Gujarat, and are expected to hurt growth in the world’s fastest-growing major economy.
There was no indication of renewed talks between Washington and New Delhi on Wednesday, after five rounds of talks failed to yield a trade deal to cut US tariff rates to around 15 per cent – like the deals agreed by Japan, South Korea and the European Union.
Prime Minister Modi invited President Stubb to visit India soon, and both leaders agreed to remain in touch.
PM Modi and Finland President also reviewed progress in the India-Finland bilateral relationship.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a telephone call from the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, on Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in an official statement.
According to the MEA, President Stubb shared his assessment of the recent meetings held between the leaders of Europe, the United States and Ukraine in Washington on the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s consistent support for a peaceful resolution of the conflict and the early restoration of peace and stability.
The leaders also reviewed progress in the India-Finland bilateral relationship and reaffirmed their commitment to enhance partnership in emerging fields including quantum technologies, 6G, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and sustainability.
The MEA added that President Stubb reiterated Finland’s support for an early conclusion of a mutually beneficial India-EU Free Trade Agreement. He also affirmed support for the success of the AI Impact Summit to be hosted by India in 2026.
Prime Minister Modi invited President Stubb to visit India soon, and both leaders agreed to remain in touch.
Reflecting on the conversation, PM Modi posted on X, “Had a good conversation with President Alexander Stubb. Finland is a valued partner in the EU. Discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in key sectors such as trade, technology and sustainability. Exchanged perspectives on the ongoing efforts for peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.”
President Stubb also echoed a positive tone in his post on X.
Stubb said, “A good conversation with the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. We discussed the need for a just and lasting solution to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Ending the war is in all our interests, it’s a shared goal. India plays an important role. It is heard and respected in the South, West and East. We also agreed on the need to further deepen the relations between India and the EU. Our cooperation grows and continues.”
Officials from both sides are working on an agreement for the procurement of E10 bullet trains
E5 Series Shinkansen (Japan’s Bullet Train). Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Miyagi in Japan this week to see the prototypes of the E10 bullet trains being manufactured at a plant may set the stage for India to procure the most advanced high-speed rolling stock, which the East Asian nation itself would launch in 2030.
With Modi and his counterpart in Tokyo, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, likely to visit the manufacturing plant, officials from both sides are working on an agreement for the procurement of E10 bullet trains, being developed by East Japan Railway Company, for the 508-kilometre Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor of India.
Modi will leave New Delhi on Thursday for an official visit to Japan. He and Ishiba will hold the 15th India-Japan annual summit on Friday.
“The 15th summit will give both the prime ministers the opportunity to do an in-depth review of the bilateral ties, take stock of progress in the last few years across multiple domains, and, of course, as is usual, exchange views on regional and global issues of importance,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told journalists in New Delhi on Tuesday.
“This will also be an opportunity to launch several new initiatives to build greater resilience in the relationship, and to respond to emerging opportunities and challenges.”
With Modi and Ishiba likely to explore Japan’s participation in future bullet train projects in India, beyond the one between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, the summit in Tokyo on Friday might result in the launch of a next-generation mobility partnership, sources in New Delhi told DH.
A week ago, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the purchase of 97 additional Tejas LCA Mk-1A from HAL at a cost of Rs 62,000 crore to boost the Indian Air Force’s depleting squadron strength.
Indian Air Force (IAF) LCA Tejas performs an aerobatic display during the Aero India 2023 air show at Yelahanka air base in Bengaluru, India, February 13, 2023.
New Delhi: Amid ongoing tariff tensions, India is likely to sign a mega defence deal with the US to buy 113 additional F-404 engines from General Electric for 97 Tejas LCA jets, which the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will manufacture.
The deal worth around $1 billion is likely to be inked by September, according to an ANI report that quoted unnamed defence officials.
A week ago, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the purchase of 97 additional Tejas LCA Mk-1A from HAL at a cost of Rs 62,000 crore to boost the Indian Air Force’s depleting squadron strength.
Indian officials said the new deal would help HAL complete the delivery of 180 Tejas LCA Mk-1A in time.
Due to a long delay in GE’s supply of F-404, the Bengaluru-based aviation major is yet to supply the homegrown fighter jets to the Indian Air Force.
HAL plans to meet its production targets, with the first batch of 83 aircraft slated for delivery by 2029-30, and the subsequent 97 by 2033-34, provided GE fulfils its promise of supplying two engines per month.
The engine order, seen costing around $1 billion, follows the Centre clearing a ₹62,000 crore deal to buy 97 more LCA Mark 1A fighters earlier this month
HAL, GE may ink deal for 113 more jet engines
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd is set to sign a contract with US manufacturer GE Aerospace for an additional 113 GE-404 engines to power the light combat aircraft (LCA) it is building for the Indian Air Force, a person familiar with the matter said.
The engine order, seen costing around $1 billion, follows the Centre clearing a ₹62,000 crore deal to buy 97 more LCA Mark 1A fighters earlier this month, this person said. The IAF had initially ordered 83 Mk-1A fighters for ₹48,000 crore in February 2021. HAL had ordered 99 GE-404 engines to power these aircraft.
GE in March announced that it has delivered the first of these 99 engines to HAL. A total of 12 engines are expected in 2025 with 20 engines each expected to be delivered by GE every year to fulfill the 2021 contract.
The LCA Mk-1As will replace the IAF’s MiG-21 fighter jets that are set to retire in September.
The first Mk-1A jets were slated to be delivered in March, 2024 but the first delivery is expected only sometime this year. In February, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh criticized HAL saying he did not believe it could meet the air force’s critical requirements in the backdrop of the delay in the supply of the Mk-1A fighters.
Couple clarified viral bidaai video after backlash over bride booking a cab, saying the car broke down and she booked it as she knew her home address.
Couple criticised netizens for judging them without knowing the context.(Instagram/@iammishra009)
A couple has issued a clarification after a video from their wedding went viral, sparking a heated discussion online. In the viral clip, the bride is seen booking a cab from her phone while the groom smiles beside her. The video, originally shared on Instagram by the couple, was later reshared on X by a user named ‘Matakti aankhein’. In the caption, the user claimed the bride had to book the cab herself “because no one in the groom’s family cared about her.” “Ruined a special and emotional moment of her bidaai,” she added.
The video quickly caught the attention of social media users, with many calling the incident extremely humiliating for the bride. Several users slammed the groom and his family for ruining the bride’s special moment.
However, the couple has now responded to the backlash, seeking to clarify the context behind the widely shared footage.
Couple explains truth behind viral video
In the video, the groom said that the X user had ‘misinterpreted’ the clip and had no idea about the actual context. He then explained what really happened after the wedding ceremony.
According to him, the car arranged by his family broke down before reaching the wedding venue. He added that since they are from Bihar, it is a ritual for the groom to go to the bride’s house and stay there for four days. When the car broke down, the bride booked a cab because she knew the exact address of her home, making it easier for them to reach their destination.
In a disturbing incident, a man who ordered food online discovered an unwanted thing in his item, raising serious hygiene concern.
Man orders food online, finds unpleasant ‘add on’ stuffed inside.
How would one react if they ordered food online and their worst fear was unlocked? In a shocking incident, a man who ordered food online was stunned to see an unpleasant addition to his item, raising a serious hygiene issue.
A person named Satish Sarawagi ordered a sandwich via the food delivery app Zomato but was terrified when he noticed a hand glove stuffed inside his food.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Satish Sarawagi said, “I ordered a sandwich and found a glove inside the food! This is unacceptable and a serious hygiene concern. Please investigate and respond ASAP.”
Zomato was quick to respond to the man’s complaint, saying they were also shocked to learn about the incident.
Hi Satish, we’re absolutely shocked to hear about this. We can’t begin to imagine how upsetting this must have been for you. Please allow us some time so that we can take this up with the restaurant partner, we’ll get in touch with you to discuss this further.
“Hi Satish, we’re absolutely shocked to hear about this. We can’t begin to imagine how upsetting this must have been for you. Please allow us some time so that we can take this up with the restaurant partner. We’ll get in touch with you to discuss this further,” Zomato Care responded to Satish.
The monkey checked the bag after climbing up the tree. When the monkey did not find any food inside the bag, it began to throw the notes into the air. The people who were present at the spot rushed to grab the money.
Monkey Snatches Bag Of Cash, Showers ₹80,000 From Tree | X
In a bizarre incident, a monkey pulled out a bag full of money from a bike and climbed up a tree in Uttar Pradesh’s Auraiya. The monkey then started throwing the money down, creating chaos as the people gathered quickly to collect the money. The incident was caught on camera and the video of the incident is doing rounds on social media. It can be seen in the video that the Rs 500 currency notes are falling from the tree and the people underneath are collecting the money.
औरैया-तहसील परिसर में बंदर ले उड़ा किसान का बैग, पेड़ पर बैठकर बंदर ने कर दी नोटों की बारिश की
The strange incident occurred in Bidhuna tehsil on Tuesday afternoon. There are reports that a private teacher identified as Rohitash Chanra from Dodapur village came to the tehsil office with his lawyer to complete a registration formality. There was Rs 80,000 in a bag inside the bike’s diggy. While they were busy with the documents, the monkey took the bag and climbed up the tree.
The monkey checked the bag after climbing up the tree. When the monkey did not find any food inside the bag, it began to throw the notes into the air. The people who were present at the spot rushed to grab the money.
In the confusion, Rohitash tried to recover his cash but could only get back Rs 52,000 with the help of the crowd. The remaining Rs 28,000 either got torn or the people took it away.
US President Donald Trump recently reiterated his assertion of having brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, claiming he communicated directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Despite Trump’s comments, the Indian government has persistently rejected the notion of US mediation, emphasising that external leaders did not influence its military operations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks as US President Donald Trump listens during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in February this year (AP Photo)
In what could be seen as another long shot at the Nobel Peace Prize, US President Donald Trump once again claimed that he brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. While briefing the media at the White House late on Tuesday, Trump boasted about brokering ‘peace’ between Pakistan and India – the claim refuted by India on several occasions. In the briefing, a special mention was made about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Calling him a “terrific man”, Trump repeated his peace claim.
“I am talking to a very terrific man, Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. I said what’s going on with you and Pakistan. The hatred was tremendous. This has been going on for a hell of a long time, like, sometimes with different names for hundreds of years. I said, I don’t want to make a trade deal with you. You guys are going to end up in a nuclear war,” Trump said.
“I said, call me back tomorrow, but we’re not going to do any deals with you, or we’re going to put tariffs on you that are so high, your head’s going to spin…Within about five hours, it was done…Now maybe it starts again. I don’t know. I don’t think so, but I’ll stop it if it does. We can’t let these things happen,” he added.
However, the Indian government has consistently denied any US mediation in the matter. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated there was no foreign leader who asked India to stop its operation during Operation Sindoor, while Prime Minister Modi made no secret of operating under direct military channels.
Notably, this exchange comes amid ongoing trade tensions. The US, under Trump’s direction, has imposed steep tariffs on Indian exports – some exceeding 50% – escalating diplomatic friction and casting additional doubt on his claims of peacemaking.
Adding fuel to the fire, the United States has now formally issued a public notice confirming the implementation of an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, as previously announced by President Trump. Indian exports were already subject to a 25% tariff, and with the new measure, the total levy could exceed 50%. The Department of Homeland Security issued the notice through US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), setting August 27 as the official deadline for enforcement. The action, taken under Executive Order 14329, is ostensibly linked to concerns over national security and broader geopolitical threats — though India was notably singled out in the tariff schedule modification.
A heavy downpour triggered a landslide on the route to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Jammu and Kashmir’s Trikuta hills, leaving at least six dead and 14 injured.
Six people were killed and over a dozen injured when a landslide struck the route to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop the Trikuta hills on Tuesday afternoon, amid relentless heavy rain battering the region. With this, the death toll in the state over the past 24 hours has risen to 10.
The pilgrimage to the revered shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district was suspended following the incident, officials said.
A massive rescue operation is underway near the Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkwari, where the landslide occurred around 3 pm, at a point roughly halfway along the 12-km trek to the hilltop shrine. The Army said its personnel were “swiftly mobilised for rescue and relief operations” and that “efforts are underway to save lives, provide assistance to the needy, and move civilians to safe areas.”
Anticipating heavy rain, a red alert has been issued in several districts of the state, including Anantnag, Kishtwar, Doda, Kathua, Ramban, Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri, Jammu, and Sabma.
The Yatra has been suspended in view of the situation, and the shrine authorities have urged devotees to reschedule their journey. Earlier in the day, the Yatra along the Himkoti trek route was already suspended. Pilgrims were allowed to proceed on the old route until 1:30 pm, when authorities halted it completely due to torrential rain.
India and the United States are close to finalising a defence deal worth over USD 1 billion for 113 GE-404 engines to power 97 LCA Mark 1A jets, ensuring timely delivery of the aircraft to the armed forces.
Tejas MK-1A is an indigenous fighter jet of India. (Photo: PTI)
India and the United States are on the verge of finalising a significant defence deal, with an agreement worth over USD 1 billion to purchase 113 engines for 97 LCA Mark 1A Tejas fighter jets. This new order would be in addition to the 99 GE-404 engines already contracted for the initial 83 Mark 1A jets.
The development comes at a time when India-China relations are under strain following Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 50 per cent tariff on New Delhi over its trade with Russia.
Defence sources indicated that negotiations for the 113 engines are nearing completion and a deal is likely to be signed by September of this year.
The acquisition aims to ensure a continuous supply of engines for Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is manufacturing the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), thereby avoiding any types of delays in engine supplies.
This steady supply is crucial for HAL to meet its production targets, with the first batch of 83 aircraft slated for delivery by 2029-30, and the subsequent 97 by 2033-34. American firm GE is expected to supply two engines per month to fulfil its commitment to the Indian program.
Meanwhile, HAL is also in negotiations with GE for a separate deal to acquire GE-414 engines with an 80 percent transfer of technology. This around USD 1.5 billion deal is expected to be signed in the coming months to provide 200 GE-414 engines needed for India’s LCA Mark 2 and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programs.
In a separate, but equally critical development, HAL is in advanced talks with GE for a deal to acquire 200 GE-414 engines for the future LCA Mark 2 and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programs.
While most DJs dream of festivals, nightclubs, or arena stages, DJ TRYPS literally took her music to new heights
At 10,000 feet above the ground, with nothing but the wind rushing past her and the vast expanse of sky around, DJ TRYPS made history. The trailblasing artist became the first-ever female DJ to perform a full live set while paragliding, a daring feat that is now etched as a landmark moment for Indian electronic music.
Not a stage. Not a club. The sky.
While most DJs dream of festivals, nightclubs, or arena stages, DJ TRYPS literally took her music to new heights. Quite literally. Suspended mid-air with her gear, she turned the sky itself into a pulsating dancefloor. The beats echoed against the silence of the mountains, carried by the wind as she performed with passion. She seemed to be enjoying the experience at 10,000 feet above the ground, grooving to her beats.
Breaking fear, Building legacy
For DJ TRYPS, this wasn’t just about pulling off a stunt, it was about challenging limits. Performing in the sky meant battling turbulence, unpredictable weather, and the psychological challenge of staying calm under extreme conditions. But instead of fear, she chose fearlessness. “Music has no boundaries,” and this performance embodied that belief in the most dramatic way possible.
Inspiration beyond music
This moment is not just a headline for electronic music lovers; it’s an inspiration for anyone who’s ever been told their dreams were too unconventional. By taking her set off the ground, literally, DJ TRYPS has created a new kind of stage and reminded the world that innovation comes from daring to be different.
The wax museum, which will be unveiled on Deepotsav this year, will recreate iconic scenes from the Ramayana by blending tradition with modern artistry
With an estimated investment of Rs 7.5 crore, the wax museum project is being seen as a tribute to India’s spiritual heritage as well as a new attraction for those who throng Ayodhya each year. (Image: ANI)
The Ramayana — a story retold over centuries through scriptures, theatre, and festivals — will soon find a new form of expression at the temple town of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, which is home to the Ram Mandir.
This Deepotsav, which is observed before Diwali, a wax museum will be unveiled that will recreate iconic scenes from the Ramayana, blending tradition with modern artistry. Spanning 10,000 square feet, it will feature nearly 50 life-sized statues of major characters from the epic, including Ram, Sita, Lakshman, Hanuman, Sugriv, and Jatayu. With an estimated investment of Rs 7.5 crore, this project is seen as both a tribute to India’s spiritual heritage and a new attraction for those who throng Ayodhya each year.
Officials from the Uttar Pradesh government said the museum is designed to be more than just a gallery of statues, offering an immersive experience that brings the Ramayana to life. Key episodes of the epic, including Ram’s battle with Ravana, Sita’s abduction, Hanuman’s journey to Lanka, and the construction of Ram Setu, will be recreated using a mix of wax artistry, intricate costumes, and state-of-the-art audio-visual effects.
To engage younger generations, the museum will include interactive displays. Children and youth will not only witness lifelike depictions of the characters from the epic but also experience the story through sound, light, and visual presentations.
A Maharashtra-based organisation, in collaboration with experts from Kerala, is leading the work on the statues. Authorities said each figure is being sculpted with attention to detail to ensure realism and cultural authenticity.
Deepotsav has now become a significant event in Ayodhya, when numerous diyas are lit along the ghats of the Saryu river. This year, the wax museum will be a highlight of the festivities.
Municipal commissioner Jayendra Kumar said the construction work is rapidly progressing and being closely monitored. “The wax museum will be a landmark attraction. We are ensuring timely completion so that devotees and visitors can witness this cultural marvel during Deepotsav,” he said.
Divisional commissioner Rajesh Kumar said the museum will add a new dimension to Ayodhya’s heritage. “Alongside the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, the wax museum will strengthen the city’s appeal as a religious destination while also presenting the timeless values of the Ramayana to the world stage,” he said.
The project is being executed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, similar to Ayodhya’s ‘Bhool Bhulaiya’ project in Amaniganj. This approach, officials said, enables efficient execution while meeting both cultural and economic goals.
This model is part of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s vision of developing Ayodhya into a world-class cultural and religious tourism hub. Over the past few years, large-scale infrastructure projects such as road widening, beautification of the ghats, and heritage revival works have been undertaken to accommodate the influx of pilgrims following the construction of the Ram temple.
Officials estimated that the wax museum will further enrich the tourism circuit, offering devotees and international visitors a deeper cultural immersion beyond temple visits. They said once operational, the museum will host guided tours and educational programmes as well, helping schoolchildren and foreign visitors alike to understand the Ramayana in a more interactive format.
“The museum will showcase not just the epic story of Ramayana, but also the values of courage, devotion, and dharma that define Indian culture,” said an official associated with the project. “It is not just an attraction but a storytelling space where mythology meets modern presentation.”
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Breaking News Today: PM Modi Flags Off ‘e-VITARA’ in Ahmedabad
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday flags off the ‘e-VITARA’, Suzuki’s first global strategic Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), at the Suzuki Motor plant in Hansalpur, Ahmedabad.
Breaking News Today: Indian Navy to commission two advanced stealth frigates in Vizag
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to preside over the commissioning of two multi-mission stealth frigates, Udaygiri and Himgiri, at the Eastern Naval Command here by the Indian Navy on Tuesday. INS Udaygiri and INS Himagiri come from the Indian Navy’s latest state-of-the-art Project 17 A, and their commissioning is the first occasion when two frontline surface combatants built at two different shipyards will be commissioned simultaneously.
A dog was seen carrying a foetus in its mouth outside the Maternity and Child Health (MCH) hospital in Noida, Sector 110, on Saturday. A viral video of the incident sparked a police investigation.
Noida News: Dog Seen Carrying Foetus Outside Noida Hospital, Police Launch Enquiry (Representative Image) Photo : iStock
An unusual sight of a dog carrying a foetus in its mouth outside the Maternity and Child Health (MCH) hospital in Noida, Sector 110, shocked Noida residents on Saturday. Several videos of the incident went viral on social media platforms, subsequently grabbing the attention of the police officials. Upon investigation, they learned that the incident happened when a 30-year-old woman suffered a miscarriage after falling from the stairs, according to a media reports. The police have launched an investigation into the matter.
According to the officials, a woman, hailing from Noida’s Banghel, fell from the staircase at her home. She was rushed to the 50-bed MCH, where the doctors informed the family about the miscarriage. Therefore, they had to abort the fetus, said The Indian Express.
“Doctors informed the family members of the woman that she had suffered a miscarriage. They were outside the hospital and were looking for a cloth to cover it (foetus) before burying it,” said Station House Officer (Phase 2) Vindhyachal Tiwari.
At that time, a dog roaming around came, snatched the foetus, and ran away before the family could process what had happened. The SHO further added that the fetus was recovered later with the help of the locals.
PM Modi declared that he can’t compromise on interests of farmers, cattle-rearers, small-scale industries, cautioning “pressure on us may increase, but we will bear it.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a large gathering in the Nikol area of Ahmedabad city (Image: X)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again pushed for the consumption of “swadeshi” or indigenous goods as India maintains firm stance against the tariff imposed by the United States. PM’s remarks came just two days before the 50 per cent US tariffs on Indian goods kick in. August 27 is the Trump administration-set deadline for the imposition of 50 per cent American tariffs on goods from India to its key export market.
Speaking at an event in Ahmedabad, PM Modi asked the shopkeepers to display ‘swadeshi boards’ outside their shops during the upcoming festive season. “This is the season of festivals. Now Navratri, Vijayadashami, Dhanteras, Diwali… all these festivals are coming. These are celebrations of our culture but they should also be celebrations of self-reliance. Therefore, I want to reiterate my request to you once again that we must adopt a mantra in our lives: whatever we buy will be ‘Made in India’, it will be indigenous,” PM Modi said.
He appealed the citizens to buy only indigenous goods, and and also asked businessowners to refrain from selling outside goods. “I appeal to the citizens of our country to prioritise purchasing goods that are Made in India. Whether it’s decorative items or gifts, let us choose products manufactured within our own nation. I also encourage businesses to refrain from selling items sourced from other countries. These small yet impactful steps can play a significant role in driving our nation’s progress and prosperity…” he said.
Businessmen should keep a big board outside their establishments, saying they sell only ‘swadeshi’ goods, the PM asserted. “Traders should keep a big board outside their establishments, saying they sell only ‘swadeshi’ goods. Let these festivals open the doors of prosperity. Swadeshi and Aatma-nirbhar Bharat (self-reliance) is the highway to ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India). Focus on increasing quality and decreasing prices of your products,” he said.
PM Modi declared that he can’t compromise on interests of farmers, cattle-rearers, small-scale industries, cautioning “pressure on us may increase, but we will bear it.”
Dream11 CEO Harsh Jain’s comments come days after Parliament passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025.
Harsh Jain, CEO of Dream11, tagged Elon Musk in a post slamming Tesla.
Dream Sports, the parent company of fantasy gaming giant Dream11, will not resort to layoffs despite being hit by India’s ban on real-money games, co-founder and CEO Harsh Jain has said.
“95 per cent of Dream11’s revenues have disappeared overnight, and 100 per cent of our profits…,” Harsh Jain told Moneycontrol on Monday.
Dream Sports has been a major real-money gaming player in India, but it has to close its money-based games after the government banned all forms of online money games.
Jain’s comments come days after Parliament passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, criminalising the offering and financing of such games, with offenders facing up to five years in prison.
“We are not interested in doing any layoffs. All the talent here is safe,” Jain said in the interview.
Dream11 has also intimated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India that it won’t be able to continue with the title sponsorship of the team as the revenue stream is going to get hit badly.
“The only way to deal with 95 per cent of your revenue being gone is to build new products that you can monetise in the future. That will always start with talent,” Jain said, adding that the company has no plans to challenge the government on the ban.
The Mumbai-based company plans to redeploy its 500 engineers and other staff across existing businesses such as FanCode, DreamSetGo, Dream Game Studios and Dream Money, while also working on new AI-driven products for the sports and creator economy.
“We have sports content, commerce, fan engagement, analytics, sports performance, and merchandise. All of this is going to be disrupted by AI. And now I have 500 engineers whom I can allocate to solving these problems,” Jain said. “We will start again to solve these problems for Indian sports fans.”
Jain asserted that Dream Sports has sufficient cash reserves to retain staff and sustain operations for the next couple of years. In FY23, the company reported operational revenue of ₹6,384.49 crore, up from ₹3,841 crore in FY22.
According to news agency PTI, Dream Sports is testing a new app, Dream Money, to foray into the financial services sector.
“Dream Money has been under pilot for the last few months. The platform has not been launched yet,” PTI reported, citing an unnamed source.
As per information available on Google Play Store, the app will offer gold purchase service on a daily basis, starting from ₹10 per day and fixed deposits starting from ₹1,000.
According to the source, the official name of the new platform is “Dream Suite Platform Private Limited”.
Indian Air Force pilot Shubhanshu Shukla makes history as the first Indian on the ISS, returning to a grand welcome in Lucknow after Axiom Mission 4.
“Today is a big day for Lucknow. The son of Bharat, the son of Lucknow, set foot in Lucknow,” said deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak.(Deepak Gupta/Hindustan Times)
Astronaut and group captain Shubhanshu Shukla on Monday was received with a grand welcome from his city Lucknow. The ISRO astronaut returned to his home town after spending nearly 20 days in space for the Axiom-4 mission at the International Space Station(ISS).
Shukla arrived at Lucknow Airport earlier on Monday amid a huge uproar by children and supporters. The astronaut was welcomed by his family and Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak.
#WATCH | Lucknow: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla heads to City Montessori School in Gomtinagar where a felicitation ceremony has been organised for him. pic.twitter.com/Sh4tN4Dfm6
Pathak said that the Uttar Pradesh government has organised an event to honour Group Captain Shukla.
Afterwards, Shukla was reportedly headed to City Montessori School in Gomtinagar for a felicitation ceremony. Deputy chief ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, along with several other prominent leaders, will also be present at the event, read a press release.
“Today is a big day for Lucknow. The son of Bharat, the son of Lucknow, set foot in Lucknow. Ever since he returned to earth from space, the people of Lucknow were eagerly waiting for his arrival. Today, that moment is finally here. We welcome Shubhanshu Shukla with warmth and love,” Pathak said.
#WATCH | Lucknow, UP | Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak says, “Today is a big day for Lucknow. The son of Bharat, the son of Lucknow, set foot in Lucknow. Ever since he returned to earth from space, the people of Lucknow were eagerly waiting for his arrival. Today, that moment is finally… pic.twitter.com/s2eysv01yX
An accomplished Indian Air Force pilot, Shukla made history by becoming the first Indian to set foot on the ISS.
On board the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax‑4)’s Dragon spacecraft, group captain Shubhanshu Shukla left for International Space Station (ISS), from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 26.
Describing Shukla as a symbol of courage and dedication, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said, “Your achievement is a proud symbol of courage, dedication, and commitment to science. Today, every Indian, especially the people of Uttar Pradesh, feels honoured.”
Earlier on Sunday, defence minister Rajnath Singh felicitated Shukla and his colleagues, group captain P V Nair, group captain Ajit Krishnan and group captain Angad Pratap.
Shukla also reportedly lauded the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station, stating that the learning from the “big achievement” will pave the way for executing future missions of the country.
He expressed happiness after being felicitated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and mentioned that India is on its journey of a human space flight- Mission Gaganyaan, Bharatiya Antriksh Station, and eventually, landing on the moon.
Commuters will have to pay an increased fare ranging from ₹1 to ₹4, depending on the distance. The fare on the Airport Express line has been hiked up to ₹5.
Travelling on the Delhi Metro, the city’s transport lifeline, is more expensive now.(HT Photo)
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Monday announced a hike in fares for Metro services in the national capital, making travelling on the city’s transport lifeline more expensive.
According to DMRC, commuters will have to pay an increased fare ranging from ₹1 to ₹4, depending on the distance. The fare on the Airport Express line has been hiked up to ₹5.
“The passenger fares of the Delhi Metro services have been revised with effect from today, that is, 25th August 2025 (Monday) onwards. The increase is minimal, ranging from ₹ 1 to ₹ 4 only depending on the distance of travel (up to ₹5 for the Airport Express Line),” DMRC said in a post on X.
The passenger fares of the Delhi Metro services have been revised with effect from today, that is, 25th August 2025 (Monday) onwards. The increase is minimal, ranging from ₹ 1 to ₹ 4 only depending on the distance of travel (upto ₹5 for the Airport Express Line). The new fare… pic.twitter.com/gOgOGmebxz
— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) August 25, 2025
Following the fare revision, the minimum Delhi Metro fare is now ₹11, while the maximum has been set at ₹64. DMRC last revised its fares in 2017 based on the recommendations of the fourth Fare Fixation Committee (FFC). This means it is the first fare revision for Delhi Metro in eight years.
Details on Delhi Metro fare hike
The revised Delhi Metro fares go into effect on Monday. Prices for 0-2 kilometres and 2-5 kilometres increase by ₹1. While the old fares were ₹10 and ₹20, they will now be ₹11 and ₹21.
The fare for distances between 5 and 12 kilometres has been increased to ₹32 from ₹30. Travelling up to 21 kilometres will cost commuters ₹43, an increase of ₹3 from the existing ₹40.
For distances greater than 21 kilometres, the fare hike stands at ₹4. While the commuters travelling less than 32 kilometres will have to pay ₹54, anything above that will cost ₹64.
Rajesh Sakriya, a resident of Gujarat’s Rajkot, told the police that he attacked Rekha Gupta after she allegedly ignored his appeals against removing stray dogs from Delhi.
Rajesh Sakriya has been arrested for attacking Rekha Gupta on August 20
Rajesh Sakriya, arrested for attacking Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during a public hearing last week, had planned to attack her with a knife, sources told NDTV on Monday.
Sakriya, 41, a resident of Gujarat’s Rajkot, told the police that he attacked Ms Gupta on August 20 after she allegedly ignored his appeals against removing stray dogs from Delhi.
He also visited the Supreme Court after it ordered to catch stray dogs in Delhi and neighbouring areas and shift them to shelters away from residential areas, sources said.
Sakriya, however, left for the Chief Minister’s residence in Shalimar Bagh after seeing the tight security at the top court.
He then planned to attack Ms Gupta with a knife and visited her Civil Lines office. He, however, threw the knife after seeing the security during the public hearing.
Sakriya then allegedly slapped Ms Gupta, pushed her and pulled her hair during the ‘Jan Sunwai’ meeting.
Ms Gupta had earlier said that stray dog attacks were troubling Delhi residents for quite some time now.
“This problem has taken a formidable form and is now standing before Delhi, and providing a solution is very important. We will prepare a proper plan on this issue,” she had said after the top court order.
Second Accused Arrested In Rekha Gupta Attack Case
The Delhi Police on Sunday arrested another accused in connection with the attack on Rekha Gupta.
Tahseen Syed, a friend of Rajesh Sakriya, was brought to Delhi from Rajkot on Friday night for further questioning. He was made to confront Sakriya to verify facts and taken into custody on Sunday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has included himself in the proposed law to sack jailed ministers.
Amit Shah lashed out at the Opposition for ‘black bill’ protests.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday hit out at the Opposition’s criticism of the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi has included himself in the proposed law to sack jailed ministers.
“The Prime Minister himself has included the post of PM in this. Earlier, Indira Gandhi had introduced the 39th Amendment (protecting the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Speaker from judicial review by Indian courts). PM Modi has brought a constitutional amendment against himself that if the Prime Minister goes to jail, he will have to resign,” Mr Shah told news agency ANI.
The Centre introduced three bills last week – the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025. Together, the bills propose that if the Prime Minister, any Union minister, or a state Chief Minister is arrested and detained in custody for at least 30 days in relation to an offence carrying a minimum five-year jail term, the person will automatically lose office on the 31st day.
The Opposition, however, is protesting the bill, alleging political motives to destabilise non-BJP governments.
Mr Shah lashed out at the ‘black bill’ protests, saying he and the BJP “completely reject” the idea that the country “cannot be governed without the person” who has been jailed.
“I want to ask the entire nation and the Opposition – Can a Chief Minister, Prime Minister, or any leader run the country from jail? Does that suit the dignity of our democracy? Even today, they are trying that if they ever have to go to jail, they will easily form the government from jail. The jail will be made Chief Minister’s House, Prime Minister’s House, and the DGP, Chief Secretary, Cabinet Secretary, or Home Secretary will take orders from the jail. My party and I completely reject the idea that this country cannot be governed without the person who is sitting there,” he said.
The Home Minister added, “This will not affect anyone’s majority in the Parliament or the Assembly. One member will go, other members of the party will run the government, and when they get bail, they can come and take the oath again. What is the objection to this?”
Mr Shah also called out the Opposition’s protests and sloganeering in Parliament during the tabling of the bill.
The Hamirpur MP made the statement while addressing students at a PM Shri School in Una during the National Space Day celebrations on Saturday
BJP MP Anurag Thakur | File Image
BJP leader and former Union minister Anurag Thakur told students that Lord Hanuman could be regarded as the “first one to travel in space,” urging them to look beyond school textbooks and draw inspiration from India’s ancient traditions.
The Hamirpur MP made the statement while addressing students at a PM Shri School in Una during the National Space Day celebrations on Saturday.
He later shared a video clip of the interaction on X, writing: “Pawansut Hanuman Ji… the first astronaut.”
During his talk, Thakur posed a question to the students: “Antriksh main yatra karne wala pehla kaun tha? (Who was the first space traveller?).”
The students, responding together, answered: “Neil Armstrong.”
Smiling, Thakur gave his own reply: “Mujhe toh lagta hai Hanuman ji the (I think it was Lord Hanuman).”
The five-term parliamentarian explained that India’s civilizational knowledge often remains ignored. “We still see ourselves in the now. As long as we do not know our thousands of years’ old tradition, knowledge, culture, we will remain the same as the British have shown us,” he said.
Appealing to both teachers and students, Thakur added: “I would like to request the principal and all of you to think out of the textbooks and take a look at our nation, our traditions, our knowledge. If you look at it from that direction, you will find a lot of things to see.”
His comments came against the backdrop of India’s renewed momentum in space exploration.
India recently completed a successful test of its Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS), which effectively engaged and destroyed three targets at different altitudes off the Odisha coast.
DRDO successfully carried out the first flight tests of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System Sunday.
India has successfully conducted a test of its new integrated air defence system, which employed multiple weapons to intercept and destroy three targets at varying altitudes and ranges off the Odisha coast, the Defence Ministry announced on Sunday. This development follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent announcement of building a robust military capability to safeguard India’s civilian and military assets from aerial threats. He also set a 10-year target under Mission Sudarshan Chakra to create an indigenous air defence shield integrated with offensive weaponry.
The first trial of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS), envisioned as a key element of the broader national security shield announced by the Prime Minister, was carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Saturday.
The IADWS is a layered air defence system that integrates Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missiles (QRSAM), Very Short Range Air Defence Systems (VSHORADS) and a laser-based directed energy weapon.
“During the flight-tests, three different targets, including two high-speed fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle targets and a multi-copter drone were simultaneously engaged and destroyed completely by the QRSAM, VSHORADS and the high-energy laser weapon system at different ranges and altitudes,” the defence ministry said.
The weapon system components, including the missile systems, drone detection and destruction system and command and control systems, along with communication and radars performed flawlessly as confirmed by range instruments deployed by the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, to capture the flight data, it added in a statement.
In April, India successfully tested an indigenously developed laser weapon, showcasing its ability to destroy fixed-wing drones at long range, neutralise swarm drones and disable surveillance systems. With this achievement, India joined a select group of nations – including the US, Russia, China, the UK, Germany and Israel – that have mastered laser technology to counter missiles, drones and smaller projectiles.
The integrated functioning of IADWS components is managed through a centralised command and control centre, developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad.
“This unique flight test has established the multi-layered air-defence capability of our country and is going to strengthen area defence for important facilities against enemy aerial threats,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said.
Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of Mission Sudarshan Chakra in his Independence Day speech. He said, “In the next 10 years, by 2035, I want to expand, strengthen and modernise this national security shield. Drawing inspiration from Lord Shri Krishna, we have chosen the path of Sudarshan Chakra.”
The indigenously developed air defence control and reporting system, Akashteer, played a pivotal role in India’s air defence network during Operation Sindoor — New Delhi’s direct military response to Pakistan after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.
Ports in Gujarat account for nearly 65 per cent of the total value of drug seizures made by enforcement agencies between 2020 and 2024.
The data revealed that Gujarat’s ports, including Adani Mundra, Pipavav, Gandhidham and other Container Freight Stations (CFS), witnessed seizures valued at over Rs 7,345 crore. (Image: PTI)
Gujarat has emerged as India’s top entry point for narcotics, with ports in the state accounting for nearly 65 per cent of the total value of drug seizures made by enforcement agencies between 2020 and 2024, according to data of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The data revealed that Gujarat’s ports, including Adani Mundra, Pipavav, Gandhidham and other Container Freight Stations (CFS), witnessed seizures valued at over Rs 7,345 crore. In terms of sheer quantity, Gujarat’s share stood at an overwhelming 99 per cent, dominated by the interception of 9.42 million tramadol tablets and injections at Mundra in 2024. In fact, the biggest seizure which was earlier accounted as Rs 21,000 crore was around Rs 6,000 crore as per the Ministry.
Maharashtra is the second-largest contributor, with ports such as JNPA Mumbai and Raigarh CFS recording seizures worth Rs 2,367 crore, around 21 per cent of the national total. Tamil Nadu’s Tuticorin port accounted for Rs 1,515 crore, or about 13 per cent of the value, largely due to a single cocaine haul of 303 kg in 2021.
India has over 200 ports out of which 12 are major ports and others are minor ports.
Enforcement Successes and Shifts in Smuggling Patterns
The data highlights how 2021 was the peak year for heroin seizures, with 3,307 kg valued at Rs 6,614 crore intercepted across different ports, including a record seizure of 2,988 kg at Mundra. In 2022, heroin seizures dropped sharply to 852 kg, though enforcement agencies continued to intercept cocaine shipments.
By 2024, there was a clear shift in trafficking patterns. Instead of heroin or cocaine, seizures were dominated by synthetic pharmaceutical opioids like tramadol, with two major consignments of 68.7 lakh and 25.4 lakh tablets detected at Mundra CFS, and smaller volumes of injections seized at Kolkata.
Legal Action and Status of Cases
While enforcement agencies have successfully intercepted large consignments, the legal process remains lengthy.
In the most cases are still under trial or investigation. Several key cases, including the record Mundra heroin seizure, remain pending before courts. In Kolkata, “the proprietor of import firm is absconding and non-bailable arrest warrant has been issued against him by the Session Court.”
Bapu Komkar and Kamini died after their surgery at Sahyadri Hospital in Pune, prompting Maharashtra health department to issue notice to the hospital.
The patient, identified as Bapu Komkar, and his wife Kamini underwent surgeries at the hospital on August 15. (AI-generated pic)
In a tragic incident, a woman who donated a part of her liver to her husband died following his death after the transplant surgery in Pune. The deaths have prompted the Maharashtra health department to issue a notice to Sahyadri Hospital in the city, news agency PTI reported.
The deceased have been identified as Bapu Komkar and his wife Kamini. The couple underwent transplant procedures on August 15.
It is learnt that Bapu’s condition worsened post-surgery, and he breathed his last on August 17. The report suggests Kamini initially recovered but developed an infection on August 21 and passed away during treatment.
The state’s Deputy Director of Health Services, Dr. Nagnath Yempalle, confirmed that a notice was sent to the hospital.
“We have issued a notice to the hospital and sought details of the recipient and the donor, their video recordings, and the line of treatment. The hospital has been asked to furnish all the details by 10 am on Monday,” PTI quoted him as saying.
The family members of the deceased have alleged medical negligence and demanded a thorough investigation into the deaths.
Sahyadri Hospital has acknowledged the notice and stated it is cooperating fully with authorities. In an official statement, the hospital said both surgeries were conducted as per standard medical protocols.
“We are fully cooperating in the investigation. We are committed to providing all necessary information and support to ensure a thorough review of this matter,” the hospital said in a statement, PTI reported.
The hospital stated the patient (Bapu Komkar) was a high-risk individual with many complications.
“We deeply sympathise with the Komkar family in this time of immense loss. A living donor liver transplant is one of the most complex procedures, and in this case, the patient was a high-risk person with many complications,” it said.
The hospital added that Kamini had initially recovered but later suffered septic shock and multi-organ failure, which proved deadly.
The project, valued at Rs 10 crore and expected to be completed within 12 months, also includes carrying out quality and safety studies to meet regulatory standards
Monoclonal antibodies are lab-made proteins designed to act like precision-guided weapons in the body. (Representative Image)
India’s premier biotechnology research institute has invited drug-makers to partner in developing a new monoclonal antibody (mAb) drug—a type of lab-made protein often described as a “smart medicine” because it can precisely target harmful cells in the body.
The project, undertaken by the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council – Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (BRIC-THSTI), aims to take the experimental therapy from research to GMP manufacturing, paving the way for clinical trials.
According to the Expression of Interest (EOI) document seen by News18, the selected agency will be responsible for creating a master cell bank, establishing a scalable manufacturing process, and supplying the drug for pre-clinical and Phase-I clinical trials.
The project valued at Rs 10 crore also includes carrying out quality and safety studies to meet regulatory standards and is expected to be completed within 12 months.
BRIC-THSTI, Faridabad, is an institute under the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology. According to EOI, it has developed “a novel human monoclonal antibody (mAb) with the potential to function as a therapeutic drug against pathogenic organisms of interest”.
The mAb, the document said, has been developed to the Research Cell Bank (RCB) stage and is now ready for progression into GMP-compliant manufacturing for Investigational New Drug (IND).
In biologics, Research Cell Bank (RCB) is the early stock of cells that produce the monoclonal antibody. It’s created during the discovery stage and serves as the starting source. From this, a Master Cell Bank is later developed, which is fully tested and used for large-scale, regulatory-approved drug manufacturing.
The institute has already developed the antibody up to the research stage and is now seeking industry collaboration to advance it further for Investigational New Drug (IND) filing in India and abroad.
Interested firms have been asked to submit their bids by September 10, 2025.
What are Monoclonal Antibodies?
Monoclonal antibodies are lab-made proteins designed to act like precision-guided weapons in the body. Unlike natural antibodies, which are produced in response to many different threats, monoclonal antibodies originate from a single cell clone and are highly specific to one target, such as a cancer cell or a virus. By binding precisely to that target, they can block its activity, mark it for destruction by the immune system, or even deliver a therapeutic payload directly to it.
Sagar Tudu, a YouTuber, was filming videos for his channel at Dduma Waterfall in Koraput when he was swept away by a strong current.
Odisha YouTuber swept away by strong current at Duduma waterfall.
A 22-year-old YouTuber from Berhampur, identified as Sagar Tudu, went missing on Saturday after being swept away by a strong current at the Duduma waterfall in Odisha’s Koraput district.
According to reports, Sagar had travelled to Koraput along with his friend Abhijit Behera from Cuttack to shoot videos of prominent tourist spots for his YouTube channel. The incident occurred in the afternoon while Sagar was recording reels using a drone camera at the waterfall.
A video from the scene shows Sagar Tudu standing in the middle of the waterfall while others try to rescue him using ropes. However, they fail as a strong current sweeps him away.
Authorities of the Machakunda dam had released approximately 2,000 cusecs of water due to heavy rainfall in the Lamtaput area, following an alert issued to residents downstream. The sudden surge in water flow left Sagar stranded on a rock midstream.
Despite frantic rescue attempts by locals and tourists at the site, the youth was swept away by the gushing waters. On receiving information, personnel from the Machkunda police station and the Fire Services Department rushed to the scene and launched a search operation.
According to information, the deceased who died on Sunday were identified as Manjit Singh, 60, Vijay, 17, Aradhna, 30 and Jaswinder Kaur, 65, all residents of village Mandiala. They were admitted to a private hospital in critical condition with about 90% burns in Hoshiarpur.
File Pic (Representative Image)
The toll in the LPG tanker fire mishap which took place near Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district Friday night, swelled to seven as four more succumbed to burns on Sunday.
It may be recalled that two persons had died and 21 persons were injured when an LPG tanker caught fire after hitting a pickup vehicle on Hoshiarpur-Jalandhar road late on Friday night; One more person succumbed to burns on Saturday.
According to information, the deceased who died on Sunday were identified as Manjit Singh, 60, Vijay, 17, Aradhna, 30 and Jaswinder Kaur, 65, all residents of village Mandiala. They were admitted to a private hospital in critical condition with about 90% burns in Hoshiarpur.
On the Hoshiarpur–Jalandhar road near Village Mandiala, a tragic accident occurred between a car and a gas tanker, leading to a gas leak, blast and fire that spread to nearby houses and shops.
DC and SSP Hoshiarpur immediately reached the spot, reviewed the situation and..(1/2) pic.twitter.com/FnYIw1czYT
It may be recalled that an LPG tanker had collided with a pickup vehicle near Mandiala village on Hoshiarpur-Jaladhar road around 10 pm on Friday, after which the tanker caught fire and its blasé engulfing the entire area in its proximity gutting at least 15 shops and four house and the pickup vehicle.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was referring to the 2011 killing of Osama bin Laden, who orchestrated the 9/11 terror attacks, and said the military that Trump is trusting now was the one who sheltered the dreaded terrorist deep inside their house.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. (Photo: PTI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday took a jibe at the US and Pakistan, referring to the growing closeness between the two countries, and while reminding Washington that 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden’s hideout was in Abbottabad, said they have a history, and a history of “overlooking” that history.
“They have a history with each other. And they have a history of overlooking their history. It is the same military that went into Abbottabad (in Pakistan) and found who (Bin Laden) there?” Jaishankar said in reply to a question about the growing cosiness between the US and Pakistan after the latter’s recent military conflict with India.
Jaishankar was referring to the 2011 killing of Al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden, who orchestrated the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the US, and said the military that Trump is trusting now was the one who sheltered the terrorist deep inside their house.
Last month, Pakistan’s Field Marshal General Asim Munir was invited to Washington for a meeting with Trump.
It marked a rare instance where a country’s military chief was exclusively invited by a sitting US President. This was the first such meeting between a high-ranking Pakistani military chief and a sitting US President since India’s Operation Sindoor.
The US gesture to the top-ranked Pakistani military official came after Pakistan’s call for Donald Trump to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, as Munir credited the US president with preventing what could have spiralled into a nuclear war between India and Pakistan during their brief military standoff in May.
“The issue is, when countries are very focussed on doing the politics of convenience, they keep trying to do such things. Obviously, I respond to the situation or the challenge of the day, but I also do so, always keeping in mind the larger structural strengths of the relationship, the confidence that comes from it. So, I take it in that spirit,” Jaishankar added.
Trump sought to warm Pakistan’s back after India denied any mediation by any world leader in reaching a ceasefire agreement with Pakistan in the Operation Sindoor aftermath, despite the Republican leader’s repeatedly claiming credit for it.
America’s ties with India have taken a downturn in recent months also because of the ongoing tariff war between the two nations.
At the same event, Jaishankar criticised the US for singling out India over its energy relations with Russia, asking why the same standards were not applied to China or the European Union, which rank among the biggest importers of Russian crude oil and LNG, respectively.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said PM Narendra Modi had rejected granting any special protection to the prime minister in the newly introduced bill that sought the removal of ministers if they are arrested for 30 days.
PM Modi said PM is also a citizen and shouldn’t be given special protection, Kiren Rijiju said. (PTI photo)
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had rejected any proposal to keep the PM’s post out of a controversial new law that seeks removal of ministers if they are under arrest for 30 days.
Speaking on the recently introduced bills that allow for automatic removal of the Prime Minister, chief ministers, or ministers held in custody for 30 consecutive days, Rijiju said, “PM Modi told the cabinet that the recommendation is to keep the prime minister out of this bill, but he did not agree. PM Modi refused to give an exception to the prime minister. The PM is also a citizen, and he should not have special protection.”
Rijiju added that the law should apply equally to all, regardless of party or position. “Most of the Chief Ministers are from our party. If they do something wrong, they have to leave their position. Ethics should also mean something. The Opposition would have welcomed this bill had they kept ethics at the centre,” he said.
The Union Minister also defended the government amid the uproar in Parliament when the bills were introduced. He blamed the ruckus on the Opposition, particularly the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
“Everyone had agreed after prior discussion to maintain the order of the House… As soon as the House began, TMC MPs jumped into the well, started throwing papers. Congress’s Venugopal also started tearing papers. What happened to the understanding? I don’t want to blame the Congress MPs. They have to work as their leaders ask them to. TMC’s Mamata Banerjee orders her MPs from Kolkata, then they are compelled here… the ruckus begins,” he alleged.
His remark follows after the recently concluded Parliament session witnessed pandemonium on the day before session concluded.
The uproar was over three draft legislations — the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, and the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill — introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah earlier this week.
Under the proposals, if the Prime Minister, a chief minister, or any minister is arrested and detained for 30 days on charges carrying a minimum punishment of five years, they will automatically lose office on the 31st day. They could, however, be reappointed if released.
The government has described the move as a major anti-corruption step. Shah defended the bills, saying, “We cannot be so shameless as to occupy constitutional positions while facing charges.”
The Opposition, however, has strongly opposed the measures, branding them “draconian” and “unconstitutional.” Parties warned that the provisions could be weaponised by central agencies to target and topple non-BJP governments.
The victim’s sister, married into the same family, alleged that on Thursday night, Nikki was beaten unconscious by her husband Vipin and then set on fire using an inflammable substance.
The victim, Nikki, was assaulted before she was set on fire by her in-laws. (Screengrabs)
A woman died after she was set on fire by her husband and in-laws over dowry in Greater Noida. Her husband, Vipin, has been arrested as the prime accused in the case.
Police have registered a case against four family members, including the woman’s husband, mother-in-law, father-in-law and brother-in-law.
The incident came to light on Thursday night when the victim, identified as Nikki, married to Vipin of Sirsa since 2016, was brought to Greater Noida’s Fortis Hospital in a critical condition with severe burn injuries.
She was later referred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi for better treatment but died on the way. Her body was handed over to the family after post-mortem.
According to the complaint lodged by Nikki’s elder sister, Kanchan, the victim was beaten unconscious by her husband, Vipin, and later set on fire with an inflammable substance on Thursday night.
Kanchan alleged that despite their family giving a branded SUV and valuables at the time of marriage, Nikki’s in-laws kept demanding more dowry.
“After marriage, they demanded Rs 35 lakh. We even gave them another car, but their demands and harassment continued unabated,” Kanchan said.
Kanchan claimed she was present at the spot but could not save her sister. Both sisters were married in 2016 to the same family. Neighbours helped take Nikki to the hospital, where she succumbed during treatment.
In a disturbing turn, a video of Nikki’s young child has surfaced on social media, where the boy is heard saying, “Papa killed Mummy by burning her with a lighter”. The clip has gone viral, intensifying public outrage.
Raj Singh, uncle of the victim, said repeated complaints and compromises were made earlier through panchayat meetings, but the accused continued the harassment. “Both sisters were subjected to regular beatings. No amount of compromise worked,” he said.
Following the complaint, police registered a case against Vipin (husband), Rohit (brother-in-law), Daya (mother-in-law), and Satveer (father-in-law).
ADCP Greater Noida Sudhir Kumar confirmed the arrest of Vipin. “On the night of August 21, a memo was received from Fortis Hospital that a woman had been admitted with burn injuries. She was later referred to Safdarjung but died on the way. Based on her sister’s complaint, a case has been registered against four family members. The husband has been arrested and teams have been formed to nab the others,” he said.
In another important announcement, PM Modi revealed that India’s first domestically made semiconductor chip will be available by year-end.
PM Modi also highlighted India’s achievements in the space sector and said that in the last 11 years, India has completed over 60 space missions and there are many more missions lined up.(File/ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday that India is going to export electric vehicles to 100 countries across the world. He made the announcement while speaking at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum.
PM Modi added that a “very big program” related to this will be conducted on Tuesday, August 26. However, he did not give much detail about the program.
“I want to tell you about another achievement of India. India is now going to export electric vehicles to 100 countries of the world. A very big program related to this is also being held after two days on 26th August,” he said.
#WATCH | Delhi: Addressing ET World Leaders Forum 2025, PM Narendra Modi says, “I want to tell you about another success of India. India is now going to export electric vehicles to 100 countries of the world. A very big program related to this is also being held after 2 days on… pic.twitter.com/zKjhsrYnyn
PM Modi made several announcements during the summit, one of the biggest ones of which was that by the end of the year, India’s first domestically manufactured semiconductor chip will be available in the market.
He said that semiconductor-related factories have started coming up in India and that decades ago, the country had missed the chance to enter semiconductor manufacturing, however, the situation has now changed.
“We all know that semiconductor manufacturing could have started in India 50–60 years ago, but India missed that too, and the same thing continued for many years to come. Today we have changed this situation. Semiconductor-related factories have started coming up in India,” he said.
“By the end of this year, the first Made in India chip will come in the market,” he added.
Shoutout to Shubhanshu Shukla
The Prime Minister also highlighted India’s achievements in the space sector, particularly in the last decade. He said that in the last 11 years, India has completed over 60 space missions and there are many more missions lined up.
PM Modi highlighted tax reforms, strong banks, record forex, job growth and India’s vision for global leadership.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (X)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed the progress of the Indian economy, saying that it is one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world.
While addressing the ET World Leaders Forum 2025, he emphasised that India follows the mantra of Reform, Perform, Transform, and asserted that the country is in a position to take the world out of slow growth rate.
“We are not the people who sit on the banks of stagnant water and throw pebbles. We are the people who can turn the fast-flowing stream…” he said.
#WATCH | Delhi: Addressing ET World Leaders Forum 2025, PM Narendra Modi says, “India, which follows the mantra of Reform, Perform, Transform, is today in a position to take the world out of slow growth rate. We are not the people who sit on the banks of stagnant water and throw… pic.twitter.com/XPKim9HMiT
He also highlighted the government’s reform push, saying a new Income Tax Bill has been introduced after 60 years and written in simple language to benefit the common man.
PM Modi said that despite many disruptions created by the opposition during the Monsoon Session of the Parliament, the government engaged in reform with full commitment.
“In this monsoon session, Jan Vishwas Bill 2.0 has been passed. This is a major reform related to trust-based governance and pro-people governance. In this session, the income tax law has also been reformed. This law, which has been in existence for 60 years, has been made more simple now,” he said.
#WATCH | Delhi: Addressing ET World Leaders Forum 2025, PM Narendra Modi says, “The monsoon session of the Parliament has just ended. In this monsoon session, you will see the continuity of reform. Despite many disruptions created by the opposition, we have been engaged in reform… pic.twitter.com/WW6CfUxwz5
He announced that GST reforms will be completed by this Diwali, making the tax regime simpler, boosting manufacturing and demand, and improving ease of living and doing business.
“A big reform is also being done in GST. This process will be completed by this Diwali. This will make GST even easier and prices will also come down…” he said.
#WATCH | Delhi: Addressing ET World Leaders Forum 2025, PM Narendra Modi says, “A big reform is also being done in GST. This process will be completed by this Diwali. This will make GST even easier and prices will also come down…”
The Prime Minister further said that, as per the experts, India’s contribution to global growth will account for 20%.
“Today our banks are much stronger than before. Our banks are stronger than before, inflation is low, interest rates are less and CDA is under control as well as forex are strong. The inflation is low, interest rates are low, today’s CAD low and forex reserves are strong. Every month, several domestic investors are investing heavily through SIPs,” he said.
PM Modi emphasised that in June, over 24 lakh formal jobs were added in the EPFO.
“India’s retail inflation after 2017 is at its lowest. Forex reserves are at a record high. India’s resilience and the strength is now world’s hope. When eco fundamentals are strong, the foundation is strong, the impact is also strong,” he said.
He also referred to his Independence Day speech, saying, “On August 15, I’ve discussed this extensively. In the past week, everything that has happened is a befitting testament to India’s growth story. By year-end, the first Made-in-India chip will be out in the market.”
He also spoke about preparing India to emerge as a thriving sports economy and reiterated that the foundation of the Viksit Bharat 2047 dream lies in the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. “India is ready for aatmanirbharta as a Viksit Bharat,” he said.
He further stressed the need to infuse urgency in research and development, saying India has significantly amplified its R&D ecosystem in recent years but must go further to achieve the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
He urged industry and private companies to step forward in emerging fields such as quantum technology, biotechnology, clean energy and battery storage, noting that private sector participation would be key to accelerating innovation.
The tourism figures for the month of June show that only 9,934 Indian tourists visited Azerbaijan in June, compared to 28,315 Indian tourists going to Baku in the same month last year. Representational image/AI-generated
Not just Turkey, Indian tourists have also shunned Azerbaijan after Operation Sindoor. Indian tourists going to Azerbaijan in June this year fell by two-thirds compared to the same month last year, official tourism figures show.
The Azerbaijan tourism website even depicts a truncated map of Jammu and Kashmir, showing PoK and Aksai Chin as not part of India, News18 found.
Big dip in numbers
The tourism figures for the month of June show that only 9,934 Indian tourists visited Azerbaijan in June, compared to 28,315 Indian tourists going to Baku in the same month last year. That is an almost 66% drop in tourism numbers in June after Operation Sindoor and Azerbaijan’s open support for Pakistan during it.
May and June are the top tourism months for Indians to go to Azerbaijan, and as many as 23,326 Indian tourists had gone to the country this May, before the sharp drop in June. Apart from Turkey, Azerbaijan is the other country which openly supported Pakistan at global forums, and Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir paid a visit to Azerbaijan in May to thank the country for its support. A trilateral meeting with Turkey and Azerbaijan happened.
Till May, Azerbaijan described India as one of the key target markets for its tourism sector. “The number of guests, overnight stays, and expenditures is growing, and India is among the top three countries visiting Azerbaijan. In 2024, Indian arrivals reached 243,589—a 108% increase compared to 117,302 in 2023,” says the Azerbaijan Tourism Department.
Turkey at receiving end too
News18 reported on Saturday how Indian tourism to Turkey has halved in the last three months, after the role of Ankara in arming and backing Pakistan became clear during Operation Sindoor.
Latest figures accessed by News18 showed only 16,244 Indian tourists went to Turkey in July this year, compared to 31,659 in May. That is a nearly 50 per cent drop. Even comparing the year-on-year figures, the massive drop is clear. Against 16,244 Indian tourists landing up in Turkey this July, 28,875 went there in the same month last year. That is a 44% drop.
Approximately 70% of the planned launches are small satellites, which are well-suited for development by private firms
Singh noted that the space sector is no longer confined to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) but has become a dynamic ecosystem with hundreds of startups and private companies. File pic
India is charting a new and ambitious course in its space journey, with a goal to launch over 100 satellites by 2040, according to Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh. Speaking on National Space Day, the minister unveiled a comprehensive 15-year roadmap for the space sector, which marks a significant shift toward greater collaboration between government and private entities.
This initiative is a strategic move to leverage space technology for crucial national objectives. The minister stressed that these satellites will serve to enhance food and water security, bolster disaster resilience, and promote environmental sustainability and inclusive growth. By integrating space-based applications into everyday governance, India aims to improve its public welfare and developmental programmes, from infrastructure monitoring to smart city planning and land ownership mapping using drones.
The roadmap reflects the government’s commitment to empowering the private sector. Singh noted that the space sector is no longer confined to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) but has become a dynamic ecosystem with hundreds of startups and private companies. These private players, with their innovative and agile approaches, are now key partners in missions, a model that will be crucial for achieving the 100+ satellite target. Approximately 70% of the planned launches are small satellites, which are well-suited for development by private firms.
Nikki was killed for dowry in Greater Noida, allegedly set on fire by husband Vipin Bhati and his family. Police arrested Vipin as crowds demanded justice.
The deceased, identified as Nikki, had married into a family in Greater Noida’s Sirsa village in 2016. (X)
A haunting video shows a woman engulfed in flames limping down a staircase just hours before she died on her way to a Delhi hospital on Thursday. Her young son witnessed the horror when she was tortured and set on fire by his father and his grandmother.
“They first put something on mumma. Then they slapped her before setting her on fire using a lighter,” said the boy, fighting back tears.
He nodded when someone asked him if his father killed her.
The deceased, identified as Nikki, was killed for dowry, nine years after she married Vipin Bhati, a resident of Greater Noida’s Sirsa.
Her elder sister, Kanchan — also married into the same family — alleged that Nikki was set ablaze before her eyes after failing to meet a demand of Rs 36 lakh in dowry. She further said she too was assaulted by her in-laws over dowry.
“We were being tortured, our in-laws would tell us they did not get this or that during the wedding. They asked us to get Rs 36 lakh from our home. I was also assaulted between 1.30 am and 4 am on Thursday. They told me, ‘We have got dowry for one, what about the other? You are better off dead. We will marry again,” NDTV quoted Kanchan as saying.
She said that she tried to save Nikki but could not. “I want them to suffer the way they made my sister suffer,” she said.
One video shows the woman’s husband and mother-in-law dragging her by the hair and beating her, while another captures her sitting on the floor with grievous burn injuries.
She was taken to Fortis Hospital with the help of her neighbours. She was referred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi. But she died on the way.
A Syrian man was arrested in Gujarat for allegedly raising fake Gaza relief funds to support a lavish lifestyle, while three accomplices remain on the run. Police are probing how the group used mosques to collect donations and tracking the flow of money.
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad and National Investigation Agency have joined the probe. (Image for representation/File)
Police in Gujarat have arrested a Syrian national accused of raising money in the name of Gaza victims and using it for personal luxury. Three of his associates remain at large. The accused, identified as Ali Meghat Al-Azhar, 23, of Damascus, was nabbed from a hotel in Ahmedabad’s Ellis Bridge area, said Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Sharad Singhal. Authorities recovered $3,600 and Rs 25,000 in cash from him.
The three absconding suspects were identified as Zakaria Haitham Alzar, Ahmed Alhabash and Yousef Al-Zahar, all Syrian nationals who had been staying in the same hotel.
Police have issued lookout notices to prevent them from leaving India.
According to investigators, the men entered India on tourist visas, landing in Kolkata on July 22 before travelling to Ahmedabad on August 2. They allegedly visited mosques in the city, showing videos of starving families in Gaza to solicit donations, but police said no evidence was found that the money ever reached Gaza.
“It is a matter of investigation why they first went to Kolkata and then came here, and if they are really into fund-raising or doing a recce for some other purpose. Recovery of US dollars and some digital transactions also raise suspicion. We are now scanning CCTV footage of the area to know more about their movements and links,” Singhal said.
“Prima facie, it appears they were here to do a recce and were in touch with suspicious people,” he added, as quoted by PTI. Officials added that the cash, foreign currency and digital transactions recovered raised further doubts about their activities.
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad and National Investigation Agency have joined the probe to determine the group’s intent and track where the collected funds were sent. CCTV footage from the area is also being reviewed.
A police statement said the arrested man admitted the funds were used to support the group’s “lavish lifestyle”, in violation of their visa conditions. Authorities have begun proceedings to blacklist and deport him.
Famine Confirmed in Gaza, Half a Million at Risk, UN Warns
Meanwhile, famine has been officially confirmed in Gaza City and surrounding areas for the first time, according to a report by the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). The IPC said roughly half a million people are facing “starvation, destitution and death”, and warned the situation is likely to worsen in the coming weeks.
India’s continued focus on undersea dominance, including the expansion of its nuclear-powered and AIP-equipped submarine fleets, suggests that Pakistan’s submarine power may be limited.
MH-60R (File Image/ Credit: Lockheed Martin)
Pakistan is modernising its submarine fleet with the Hangor-class, aiming to enhance its naval capabilities and project power in the Indian Ocean. China recently handed over three of eight new Hangor-class submarines to Pakistan, bolstering Islamabad’s naval strength as Beijing aims to try and expand its footprint in the Indian Ocean, a region that is India’s strategic backyard.
The submarine was launched in Wuhan. The second vessel was delivered in March. Pakistan has also received four modern Chinese frigates in recent years, alongside Beijing’s development of the Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea.
Chinese experts describe the Hangor-class as a stealthy platform with long endurance, high mobility, and powerful underwater combat capabilities. The Hangor-class submarines, an export variant of the People’s Liberation Army-Navy’s (PLA-N) Type 039B Yuan-class submarines, are a product of the agreement signed during President Xi Jinping’s visit to Islamabad in April 2015.
The Hangor-class submarines, while modernising Pakistan’s fleet, face significant challenges navigating to and from operational areas in the northern Arabian Sea due to India’s established Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities, particularly near Karachi Harbour and Ormara Naval Base in Balochistan. These areas represent potential “choke points” where Indian forces, including the INS Arnala, are positioned to detect and potentially neutralise Pakistani submarines.
The coastal waters near Karachi and Ormara are strategically important naval bases for Pakistan. But the shallow waters present challenges for submarines attempting to transit undetected. The route between Karachi and Ormara is relatively close to the coastline, making the submarines more vulnerable to detection by surface ships and aircraft equipped with ASW capabilities.
The northern Arabian Sea, particularly along the Makran coast, has shallow waters, which can restrict the depth at which the submarines can operate and manoeuvre, potentially limiting their ability to evade detection. The presence of islands along the route can create natural chokepoints and areas where submarines might be forced to transit at predictable depths, making them more susceptible to attack.
Moreover, India’s deployment of assets like the INS Arnala, the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Shallow Water Craft (SWC), and its focus on littoral ASW operations pose a significant challenge to Pakistani submarines attempting to navigate these coastal waters.
India’s ASW arsenal also includes the Kamorta-class anti-submarine warfare corvettes currently in service with the Indian Navy, the P-8Is, a long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, along with the MH-60R sophisticated multi-mission naval helicopter renowned for its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capabilities.
While the Hangor-class submarines offer enhanced capabilities, their ability to operate effectively in the northern Arabian Sea is compromised by India’s superior ASW capabilities. This means that the Hangor fleet submarines could be tracked and destroyed within hours of leaving harbour, forcing them into slow-speed, low-risk transits that limit operational reach and deterrent value. Each of these factors blunts the strategic impact of Pakistan’s submarine arm, even if all eight Hangors arrive on schedule.
Moreover, Hangor’s propulsion remains untested. And the geography leaves little room for stealth. In this environment, the Arabian Sea is less a hunting ground for Pakistan’s new subs and more a fortress where India controls the gates. For the Hangors, the real challenge may be surviving the journey from Karachi’s jetties to the open ocean – because in these waters, they are hunted before they sail.
Torrential rains have disrupted normal life in several parts of Rajasthan, with Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, and Tonk facing a flood-like situation.
A portion of wall in Amer Fort complex collapses (Image: X/ PTI)
A massive portion of the wall, located in front of the Jwala Mata Temple, of the historic Amer Fort in Rajasthan’s Jaipur, collapsed on Saturday amid heavy rain. Amer Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Jaipur’s most popular tourist attractions, receives thousands of visitors daily.
Confirming the development, Amer Palace Superintendent Dr. Rakesh Chholak said, “Due to heavy rains in Amer today on 23.08.2025, the wall of Rambagh in front of Jwala Mata Temple has collapsed. Keeping in mind the well-being of elephants and tourists, the elephant ride in Amer Palace is closed till further orders.”
A video shared by news agency PTI shows a massive section of the Amer Fort wall has collapsed amid heavy rainfall.
VIDEO | Jaipur, Rajasthan: 200-feet long wall collapses in Amer Fort.
Notably, torrential rains have disrupted normal life in several parts of Rajasthan, with Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, and Tonk facing a flood-like situation.
Low-lying areas have been inundated, disrupting road and rail connectivity in eastern Rajasthan, which has received most rain, and several villages have been cut off due to waterlogging.
Several districts, including Bundi, Kota, Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, and Jaipur, recorded over 10 cm of rainfall till Saturday morning, leading to widespread waterlogging.
“PM Modi refused to give an exception to the prime minister. The PM is also a citizen, and he should not have special protection. Most of the CMs are from our party. If they do something wrong, they have to leave their position. Ethics should also mean something. The Opposition would have welcomed this bill had they kept ethics at the centre,” Rijiju said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi | File Pic
With the monsoon session of Parliament having witnessed continuous disruptions by opposition over their demands, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Saturday that he made constant efforts to urge and convince Congress and other opposition parties to allow discussion in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, but to no avail “Mera gala bhi baith gaya dekho. Opposition ko chilla chilla ke mai anurodh karta hoon ki behas hone dijiye. (My throat got sore, I repeatedly urged opposition to allow discussion.” he said.
In an interview with ANI, Rijiju noted that in a parliamentary democracy, the Parliament belongs to the Opposition as they can seek answers from the government.
Minister Kiren Rijiju’s Statements
“The government is liable to answer. The Opposition has to ask questions. What would the government do if the ones who are supposed to ask questions ran away? We have been asking them not to cause a disturbance. My throat got sore because I had to shout and ask the Opposition not to create a ruckus,” he said.
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha faced continuous disruptions during the monsoon session over the opposition’s demand for a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar.
With both the Houses witnessing repeated adjournments due to disruptions throughout the session, which concluded on Thursday, the productivity of Lok Sabha was about 31% and that of Rajya Sabha was about 39%. In the Lok Sabha, discussions could happen for only 37 hours out of the total available 120 hours and in the Rajya Sabha, discussions took place for 41 hours and 15 minutes. A total of 15 bills were passed by Parliament during the session.
Answering queries, Rijiju said the session was “successful from the nation’s point of view and a failure from the Opposition’s point of view”.
Rijiju also said the people in the country are welcoming the provisions of the Constitution Amendment Bill introduced in Lok Sabha and the opposition parties would have welcomed it too if they “had kept ethics at the centre.” The bill provides for the removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Minister or any other Minister in the central or a state government, if he is arrested and detained in custody on account of serious criminal offences. Two more bills to apply similar provisions in Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir were also introduced in Lok Sahba. The three bills will be examined by a Joint Parliamentary Committee.
Rijiju said Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the cabinet that the recommendation is to keep the Prime Minister out of this constitution amendment bill, but he did not agree.
“PM Modi refused to give an exception to the prime minister. The PM is also a citizen, and he should not have special protection. Most of the CMs are from our party. If they do something wrong, they have to leave their position. Ethics should also mean something. The Opposition would have welcomed this bill had they kept ethics at the centre,” Rijiju said.
“The monsoon session of the Parliament was successful from the nation’s point of view and a failure from the Opposition’s point of view. The government also thinks that it was a success. However, it was not well, as far as discussions are concerned, because important bills were passed. Any government brings bills… PM Modi is a prime minister who went against the recommendation and put the PM in the category that even if the prime minister commits any corruption, then he has to go to jail and leave his position. Any position, whether CM, PM or Union Ministers, cannot be above the law. What objection does the Opposition have? The nation is welcoming this revolutionary bill,” he added.
Amid disruptions and adjournments, Rijiju had made continuous appeals to opposition members in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha not to resort to sloganeering and disruptions and allow normal functioning of Parliament Rijiju alleged that Congress does not have any interest in parliamentary discussions. He said many Congress MPs and parliamentarians of other parties came to him and said they were not able to raise issues concerning their constituencies with the two Houses getting repeatedly adjourned, .
“They don’t believe in debate and discussion in the Parliament. Many MPs of the Congress and other parties came to me and said that because the Parliament is not running, they are able to present the concerns of their constituencies. If the Parliament does not run, the loss is for the Opposition. The government will pass the bills in the national interest. But it is not good if the bills are passed without discussion. We believe in discussion… The loss is for those who have to ask questions,” the Union Minister said.
The vibrant colours lit up the monument on Saturday evening as the country celebrates its National Day or Independence Day 2025. This symbolises solidarity with Ukraine on its National Day.
Qutub Minar Shines In Yellow And Blue Ukrainian Flag Colours To Mark Ukraine’s Independence Day – VIDEO | X
On the occasion of Ukraine’s Independence Day 2025, Delhi’s historic Qutub Minar was illuminated in yellow and blue which are the colours of the Ukrainian national flag. The vibrant colours lit up the monument on Saturday evening as the country celebrates its National Day or Independence Day 2025. This symbolises solidarity with Ukraine on its National Day.
When Is Ukraine’s Independence Day?
Ukraine National Day, also known as Independence Day, is celebrated every year on August 24. It marks the country’s declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The day is one of the most important national holidays in Ukraine, symbolising freedom, unity and the resilience of its people.
#WATCH | Delhi | The Qutub Minar was illuminated in yellow and blue colours on the occassion of Ukraine’s Independence Day pic.twitter.com/HEjBzsq9KE
Celebrations usually include parades, cultural programs, concerts and patriotic displays, while citizens proudly showcase their national flag and traditional attire.
Delhi: Qutub Minar in the colours of the Ukrainian national flag as the country celebrates its national day pic.twitter.com/atjvyvlHk5
Russian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to his official X account and said, “We remember the longing for freedom that Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian people demonstrated with the Baltic Way. We honor the unity these nations showed in defending their right to freedom and independence.”
He further stated, “And today we highly appreciate the genuine solidarity of the Baltic states, in the face of dumb Russian imperialism. Just as you have, we are defending the right of our state and our people to independent life, and against the Russian attempt to subjugate us. Together we will return durable peace and uphold human dignity on the European continent.”
Eighty-six years ago, on August 23, 1939, the Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, known as the “Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact,” was signed in Moscow, along with its secret protocols. In these agreements, Hitler and Stalin agreed to… pic.twitter.com/LUJVLGDhBM
Earlier in 2013, the Independence Day holiday was not considered to be very famous among the Ukrainians. It was reportedly the least popular holidays in the country. However, its popularity and importance have increased in the recent past after the Russian invasion.
India developed its entire 5G stack domestically and the country is now rapidly working on a made-in-India 6G technology, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a media event in Delhi on Saturday. (Photo: PMO via PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that guided by the mantra of reform, perform, and transform, India is in a position to help lift the world out of slow growth.
Addressing a media event in Delhi, the Prime Minister said India will soon become the world’s third-largest major economy, and is on the way to becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Observing that reform is a matter of commitment and conviction for his government, PM Modi said the next-generation GST reform process, which seeks to make the law simpler, will be completed before Diwali and bring down prices.
The Prime Minister also asked the private sector to increase investment in research and development in sectors like clean energy, quantum technology, battery storage, advanced materials and biotechnology. This will strengthen the resolve of a developed India.
“It is not in my nature to be satisfied with what has already been achieved. The same approach guides our reforms,” he said.
“For us, reforms are neither a compulsion nor crisis-driven, but a matter of commitment and conviction.”
The Prime Minister said the government is going to bring a comprehensive new set of reforms.
“With this arsenal of next-generation reforms, manufacturing in India will increase, market demand will rise, the industry will receive a new boost, new employment opportunities will be created, and both Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business will improve,” he pointed out.
The government continued to carry out reforms during the just concluded monsoon session of Parliament despite disruptions by Opposition parties, he said.
“Guided by the mantra of Reform, Perform, Transform, India today is in a position to help lift the world out of slow growth,” PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister said that in the global context, one can realise the strength of India’s economy.
“Today, India is the world’s fastest-growing major economy. We are going to become the world’s third-largest economy very soon. Experts are saying that India’s contribution to world growth is going to be around 20 per cent very soon,” he added.
He said this growth and resilience in the economy are due to the macroeconomic stability that India has achieved in the last decade. Today, the fiscal deficit is expected to come down to 4.4 per cent.
Regarding the fundamentals of the economy, PM Modi said Indian companies are raising record funds from the capital markets, banks are stronger than ever before, inflation is very low, and interest rates are also low.
The current account deficit is under control, forex reserves are also robust, and every month lakhs of domestic investors are investing thousands of crores of rupees in the market through SIPs.
“You also know that when the fundamentals of the economy are strong, its foundation is strong, then its effect is also seen everywhere,” he said.
The Prime Minister said India is working with full force toward its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047, and the basis of a developed India is a self-reliant India.
He also pointed out that the country needs to focus on three parameters for a self-reliant India – speed, scale, and scope.
Referring to a commonly used phrase – ‘Missing the Bus’ – to illustrate how opportunities, if not seized, can pass by, PM Modi said that previous governments in India missed several such buses of opportunity in the fields of technology and industry.
But post-2014, PM Modi said, India changed its approach and resolved not to miss any more buses, but instead to take the driving seat and move forward.
He said India developed its entire 5G stack domestically.
The country is now rapidly working on Made-in-India 6G technology, he added.
The Prime Minister said that until 2014, India’s automobile exports stood at approximately Rs 50,000 crore annually. Today, India exports automobiles worth Rs 1.2 lakh crore a year.
Pigeon feeding is a humane and necessary tradition of cultural and religious significance, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India wrote to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.
PETA’s founder president Ingrid Newkirk | File Photo
Pigeon feeding is a humane and necessary tradition of cultural and religious significance, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India wrote to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The animal welfare organisation also issued a factsheet dismissing the claims of health risks caused by pigeons and claimed that harmful substances may be found in air conditioners, humidifiers as well as contaminated food and not only bird droppings or feathers.
BMC Invites Suggestions Amid Kabutarkhana Debate
Amid the ongoing row of heated debates and demonstrations over feeding of pigeons at Mumbai’s iconic kabutar khanas, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has invited suggestions and objections from citizens on this issue.
On Wednesday, PETA India wrote to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and welcomed his statement that “abruptly shutting shelters is not a solution” and a practical way forward on the issue of pigeon feeding is necessary. It also lauded his assurance that controlled feeding will continue under the supervision of BMC.
Scientific Evidence Shows Minimal Health Risks
The NGO also issued a factsheet claiming that six decades of scientific evidence confirms that the risk of disease transmission from pigeons to humans is very low. While it cited a German study which claims that homing pigeons can be a minor concern for human health, it also cited University of Edinburgh that claims that pigeons are unlikely to carry bird flu virus.
It also said that an RTI response from Mumbai’s three biggest civic-run hospitals shows that only 0.3% of respiratory illness cases in 2024 were linked to pigeon exposure.
Alternative Causes of Respiratory Illnesses Highlighted
PETA India claimed that medical literature on ‘hypersensitivity pneumonitis’ shows it can occur from repeatedly breathing in bacteria, mold, or chemicals in the environment, and harmful substances may be found in multiple sources like air conditioners, humidifiers, contaminated foods, metalwork fluids, hardwood dusts, hay or grain as well as hot tubs and not just bird droppings or feathers.
PETA Suggests Three-Step Plan for Controlled Feeding
PETA India suggested a three-step plan to satisfy public health concerns while maintaining tradition and bird welfare. It has urged to designate specific feeding hubs at existing kabutar khanas, clearly posting reasonable feeding hours, requiring only pigeon-friendly food and bans on littering, bread and plastic.
Secondly, it has requested that sanitation workers should perform regular wash-downs and sweeps of each site, and nutrient-rich droppings could be routed to municipal composting facilities, turning waste into valuable fertiliser at virtually no cost.
It also added that a multilingual public-education push can help citizens understand that the true risk of catching a disease from pigeons is virtually nil, thereby encouraging harmony between human and bird Mumbaikars.
Global Humane Population Control Models Proposed
It has also suggested that integrating a globally recognised humane population control method Pigeon Control Advisory Service (PiCAS) model, which has shown measurable success across European cities, can be integrated into the proposed plan.
Under this model, artificial nesting and roosting houses are constructed near designated feeding areas to attract pigeons away from sensitive sites and enable monitoring. It has also suggested egg removal by replacing them with dummy eggs to control pigeons’ population.
It has also recommended pigeon-proofing key public and private buildings through the use of non-lethal deterrents such as reflective bird repellent tape.
PETA Calls Pigeon Feeding Spiritually Significant
Atharva Deshmukh, campaigns coordinator at PETA India, said, “Pigeon feeding is a humane tradition of cultural and religious significance and potential health risks caused by pigeons are hugely overblown. Mumbai’s kabutar khanas are century-old and provide countless citizens the comfort and spiritual fulfilment from offering a handful of grain to these gentle birds each day. Moreover, pigeons that have been fed at kabutar khanas for generations will starve to death without their known, reliable food source.”
In 2020, India banned TikTok and 58 other Chinese-owned apps, citing data security concerns.
India banned TikTok and 58 other Chinese-owned apps, citing data security concerns.
The government on Friday refuted reports that the ban on Chinese short video-making aggregator TikTok, online shopping platform AliExpress, and women’s clothing e-commerce platform Shein was lifted.
Earlier, reports claimed that these Chinese apps, which had a huge following in India, were back five years after they were banned following strains in bilateral ties between the two South Asian neighbours in 2020.
Claims on social media suggested that some users were able to access the websites of TikTok, but with no access further than the homepage. They also said that no shopping was allowed on AliExpress or Shein.
MANY CHINESE APPS RETURNED IN FEBRUARY
Notably, in February this year, many of the Chinese apps that were banned in 2020 following the India-China border tensions made a return to the Play Store in India as diplomatic relations between the two countries improved.
Apps like Xender, and TanTan, among a bunch of others were available for download once again, but TikTok—by far the most popular of these apps in India—remained conspicuously absent.
While some of these apps returned with tweaks, others made a comeback in cloned versions.
India Today’s Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) team reviewed more than 200 of the banned mobile applications and found that original or clone versions of at least 36 of them were available either on Google’s Play Store or Apple’s App Store or on both platforms as of February 10.
INDIA BANNED TIKTOK IN 2020
On June 29, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government abruptly banned TikTok and 58 other Chinese-owned apps, citing data security concerns.
While some of these apps have returned with tweaks, others made comeback in cloned versions.
The Indian government accused TikTok — owned by the Chinese tech giant ByteDance — of misusing data and acting as a tool for espionage.
The decision came just two weeks after a deadly clash between Chinese and Indian troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
A GST Council meeting on September 3-4 in New Delhi will discuss proposed tax reforms, including rate rationalization and insurance premium exemptions.
The Union finance minister is the chairperson of the GST Council, where states/UTs are represented by finance ministers.(File photo)
A two-day meeting of the Goods and Services Council will be held on September 3-4 in New Delhi to discuss the three-pillar GST reforms proposed by the centre, including ratonalisation of tax rates by eliminating 12% and 28% slabs while retaining the other two — 5% and 18%, people in the know said.
The secretariat of the council on Friday notified the dates of the meeting that will follow the officers’ meeting on September 2. Officers will prepare backgrounds and details for the two-day GST Council deliberations, including the proposed three-pillar reforms. The other two pillars of the GST 2.0 are structural reforms and ease of living.
Although the GST secretariat is yet to make the meetings’ agenda public, the council is also expected to discuss matters related to the compensation cess, which, according to the law, will cease to exist after March 31, 2026. The council’s agenda may also include exemption of GST on individuals’ health and life insurance premiums, which is currently 18%.
Tax rate rationalisation and elimination of GST on insurance premiums, if accepted by the council, are expected to reduce tax burden on many goods and services and bring cheers to the people ahead of Diwali. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15 underscored the importance of the next generation of reforms under GST that would bring relief to the common man, the middle class, farmers and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
After deliberations on Wednesday and Thursday, the group of ministers (GoM) on rate rationalisation approved, in principle, the Union government’s proposal to reduce the number of GST slabs from four to two in order to substantially reduce tax burden on the consumer, although some of the ministers expressed concerns over the revenue implication of the move and sought ways in which the states could be compensated. The Centre proposed to eliminate two tax slabs of 12% and 28% and retain the 5% and 18% tax rates with a special slab of 40% for so-called luxury and sin goods.
Another GoM on insurance also supported elimination of GST for individual policyholders. The centre has proposed exempting individual life and health insurance premiums from the 18% GST, a move that received positive response from a panel.
While the GoM on restructuring of compensation cess is headed by Union minister of states for finance Pankaj Chaudhary, Bihar’s deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary heads GoMs on rate rationalisation, and life and health insurance. Final decisions on all matters pertaining to GST are taken by the GST Council as GoMs are only recommendatory bodies.
