Category: India

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.

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.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/maratha-reservation-stir-protester-dies-of-heart-attack-during-agitation-in-mumbai

The victim, identified as Tej Narayan Narwaria, was following the district administration’s order of refusing fuel to two-wheeler riders not wearing helmets.

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.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/petrol-pump-worker-shot-at-in-madhya-pradesh-bhind-for-refusing-fuel-to-riders-without-helmets-101756610266040.html

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 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

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, 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.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/job-losses-due-to-trump-tariffs-will-be-very-low-says-chief-economic-adviser-v-anantha-nageswaran-2779365-2025-08-31

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.

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.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/xi-jinping-secret-letter-after-trump-tariff-barrage-secret-xi-letter-revived-india-china-ties-report-9179960?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

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

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.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/pm-modi-in-japan-how-his-visit-is-a-message-of-strategic-balancing-to-the-us-ws-l-9536859.html

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.

Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/wellness/nature-brain-attention-470151

The Court said that it welcomes accurate and critical reporting of its decisions and working, provided it is done in good faith.

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.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/jk-high-court-drops-contempt-case-against-hindu-etv-bharat-over-report-on-justice-atul-sreedharans-roster-change

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.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/chennai-cardiac-surgeon-39-suffers-heart-attack-during-rounds-at-hospital-dies-9184888?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

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.

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.

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.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/story/nda-wins-324-seats-india-bloc-208-seats-if-polls-are-held-today-mood-of-the-nation-survey-2778314-2025-08-28

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.

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.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/karnataka/story/bengaluru-techie-death-shilpa-found-hanging-home-family-alleges-dowry-harassment-2778434-2025-08-28

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/nikki-bhati-death-case-hospital-memo-cylinder-blast-burn-injuries-greater-noida-dowry-death-case-vipin-bhati-9533024.html

Only one in four women expressed confidence that authorities would take effective action on their safety complaints

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.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/nari-2025-these-are-the-safest-and-deadliest-cities-for-women-in-india-says-study-9535205.html

The shark’s white eyes indicate a potential form of albinism, a condition involving a lack of melanin pigmentation.

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.

Source : https://www.news18.com/viral/rare-case-of-xanthism-orange-nurse-shark-with-white-eyes-found-in-costa-rica-ws-l-9535200.html

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.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indigo-gets-6-month-extension-to-operate-2-turkish-airlines-planes-9177723

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.

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.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/son-swept-away-telangana-mother-waits-for-30-hours-then-a-dramatic-rescue-reunion-9177693

PM Modi departed to Japan earlier today, and members of the Indian diaspora gathered in Tokyo to welcome him.

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.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-in-japan-annual-summit-investments-indian-diaspora-tokyo-shigeru-ishiba-101756427902024.html

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 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.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/us/las-vegas-entrepreneur-claims-ex-husband-offered-her-339-000-to-stay-married-for-his-us-citizenship-101756422556802.html

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.

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”.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/maharashtra-virar-building-collapse-death-toll-injured-feared-trapped-builder-arrested-2777938-2025-08-28

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.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/floods-fury-in-punjab-army-ndrf-rescue-400-students-staff

She incorporated elements like blue backdrops, seashells, rocks, aquatic plants and several marine creatures for the unique pandal.

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?

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 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.”

India is initiating outreach programs in 40 countries to enhance exports amid Donald Trump’s newly imposed 50% tariffs on Indian imports.

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.

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, 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.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/fishing-vessel-today-offensive-platform-tomorrow-navy-chiefs-stark-alert-article-152532320

The Indian Army said alert troops in Gurez sector challenged terrorists, responded to indiscriminate fire, and successfully neutralised two militants.

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.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/terrorists-killed-as-security-forces-thwart-infiltration-attempt-along-loc-in-gurez-101756348949208.html

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

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.

Source :https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/delhi-residents-losing-8-2-years-of-their-lives-to-high-air-pollution-report-101756354755785.html

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 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.

Trump tariffs on India

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.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/no-pepsi-mcdonald-s-ramdev-s-desi-counter-to-trump-50-tariffs-on-india-101756347454251.html

Prime Minister Modi invited President Stubb to visit India soon, and both leaders agreed to remain in touch.

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.”

Source : ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-finland-president-alexander-stubb-discuss-ukraine-war-india-eu-free-trade-9171600

Officials from both sides are working on an agreement for the procurement of E10 bullet trains

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.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/modis-japan-visit-may-see-deal-for-quake-safe-bullet-trains-3698497

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.

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.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/india-us-set-to-seal-1-billion-tejas-jet-engine-deal-amid-tariff-tensions-3698747

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

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.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/hal-ge-may-ink-deal-for-113-more-jet-engines-101756235023620.html

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.

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.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/couple-breaks-silence-after-video-of-bride-booking-cab-during-bidaai-ceremony-sparks-outrage-101756210713413.html

In a disturbing incident, a man who ordered food online discovered an unwanted thing in his item, raising serious hygiene concern.

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.”

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 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.

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.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/viral/bizarre-monkey-snatches-bag-of-cash-showers-80000-from-tree-at-tehsil-office-in-ups-auraiya-video-surfaces

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.

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.

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.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/5-killed-14-injured-due-to-landslides-on-vaishno-devi-yatra-route-amid-heavy-rain-in-jk-2777128-2025-08-26

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.

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.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-us-set-to-seal-1-billion-deal-for-113-engines-to-power-lca-tejas-fleet-2777236-2025-08-26

The wax museum, which will be unveiled on Deepotsav this year, will recreate iconic scenes from the Ramayana by blending tradition with modern artistry

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.”

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/ups-first-wax-museum-in-temple-town-ayodhya-to-have-life-sized-statues-of-ram-sita-hanuman-ws-l-9527908.html

Stay tuned for all the latest updates regarding India and the world.

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.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/breaking-news-today-india-breaking-news-august-26-2025-india-news-world-news-crime-news-us-tariff-donald-trump-run-samwad-2025-weather-updates-ins-udaygiri-ins-himgiri-pm-modi-e-vitara-gujarat-liveblog-152525345

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.

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.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/city/noida/noida-dog-carries-foetus-in-mouth-outside-maternity-hospital-cops-reveal-what-happened-article-152524803

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 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.”

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/pm-modi-calls-for-swadeshi-only-boards-at-shops-ahead-of-trump-tariff-deadline-watch-article-152524708

Dream11 CEO Harsh Jain’s comments come days after Parliament passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025.

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”.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/what-dream11s-harsh-jain-said-on-layoffs-possibility-95-of-revenues-disappeared-overnight-101756172517065.html

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.

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.

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.

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.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/shubhanshu-shukla-receives-roaring-welcome-in-lucknow-101756096765742.html

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 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.

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.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/dmrc-hikes-delhi-metro-fares-for-first-time-in-years-check-new-ticket-prices-101756089937822.html

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, 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.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rajesh-sakriya-rekha-gupta-accused-planned-to-attack-delhi-chief-minister-with-knife-also-visited-top-court-9153046

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 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.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/hanuman-ji-was-first-astronaut-anurag-thakur-urges-students-to-think-beyond-textbooks-watch-9525785.html

Ports in Gujarat account for nearly 65 per cent of the total value of drug seizures made by enforcement agencies between 2020 and 2024.

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.”

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/drug-hauls-worth-rs-7345-crore-gujarat-ports-top-seizures-in-five-years-followed-by-maharashtra-ws-l-9526053.html

Bapu Komkar and Kamini died after their surgery at Sahyadri Hospital in Pune, prompting Maharashtra health department to issue notice to the hospital.

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.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/wife-donates-liver-to-husband-both-die-after-surgery-in-pune-family-alleges-negligence-ws-l-9526070.html

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

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?

Sagar Tudu, a YouTuber, was filming videos for his channel at Dduma Waterfall in Koraput when he was swept away by a strong current.

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.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/video-youtuber-swept-away-while-filming-reels-at-waterfall-in-odisha-2776148-2025-08-24

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.

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.

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.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/toll-in-punjab-lpg-tanker-fire-mishap-swells-to-7-video

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 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.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/s-jaishankar-slams-us-for-getting-closer-to-pakistan-reminds-it-of-ladens-hideout-in-abbottabad-2775835-2025-08-23

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.

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.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kiren-rijiju-recalls-modi-stand-arrested-leaders-removal-bill-2775830-2025-08-23

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.

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.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/greater-noida-woman-nikki-set-ablaze-by-husband-vipin-and-in-laws-over-dowry-dies-2775798-2025-08-23

In another important announcement, PM Modi revealed that India’s first domestically made semiconductor chip will be available by year-end.

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.

1st ‘Made in India’ chip by year-end

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.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-to-export-electric-vehicles-evs-to-100-countries-pm-modi-101755978223857.html

PM Modi highlighted tax reforms, strong banks, record forex, job growth and India’s vision for global leadership.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/india-wont-miss-the-bus-will-take-front-seat-pm-modi-vows-diwali-gst-gift-reforms-push-ws-l-9524181.html

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.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/not-just-turkey-indian-tourists-shun-azerbaijan-too-numbers-drop-66-exclusive-ws-e-9524344.html

Approximately 70% of the planned launches are small satellites, which are well-suited for development by private firms

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.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/india-to-launch-over-100-satellites-by-2040-says-science-technology-minister-jitendra-singh-9524373.html

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.

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.

Source :https://www.news18.com/india/they-slapped-mumma-then-set-her-on-fire-noida-boy-describes-mothers-dowry-death-ws-l-9524278.html

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.

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.

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.

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.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/silent-hunters-how-indias-p-8i-mh-60r-and-arnala-fleet-corner-pakistans-hangors-article-152512430

Torrential rains have disrupted normal life in several parts of Rajasthan, with Kota, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, and Tonk facing a flood-like situation.

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.

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.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/amer-fort-wall-collapse-video-200-foot-wall-of-jaipurs-historic-amer-fort-collapses-amid-heavy-rains-in-rajasthan-flood-like-situation-article-152512040

“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.

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.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/pm-modi-refused-to-give-exception-to-prime-minister-kiren-rijiju-on-bill-to-sack-ministers

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.

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.

Celebrations usually include parades, cultural programs, concerts and patriotic displays, while citizens proudly showcase their national flag and traditional attire.

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.”

Independence Day Popularity

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 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.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-developed-5g-domestically-working-on-made-in-india-6g-says-pm-modi-2775861-2025-08-24

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.

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.”

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-kabutarkhana-row-acs-humidifiers-and-dust-more-concerning-than-pigeon-droppings-peta-india-writes-to-cm-devendra-fadnavis

In 2020, 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

A GST Council meeting on September 3-4 in New Delhi will discuss proposed tax reforms, including rate rationalization and insurance premium exemptions.

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.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/gst-council-to-discuss-rationalisation-of-12-18slabs-101755890431601.html

Sri Mallikarjun Nagar Youth Welfare Association in Uppuguda unveils Operation Sindoor-themed Lord Ganesha idol for Ganesha Chaturthi, honoring India’s military.

The nation is gearing up to welcome Lord Ganesha on the occasion of Ganesha Chaturthi, which falls on August 27, with unique themes, celebrations, and idols for millions of street pandals that are organised every year.

With the festival falling in the same month as Independence Day, going with the fervour of patriotism and to honour the valour and resilience of India’s Armed Forces, a mandal from Hyderabad’s Uppuguda has decided to adopt the theme of ‘Operation Sindoor’ for this year’s festivity.

The Sri Mallikarjun Nagar Youth Welfare Association is set to unveil a unique Operation Sindoor-themed Lord Ganesha idol, which features elements such as BrahMos missiles, S-400 rifles, and an army model theme, symbolising India’s military strength, news agency ANI reported.

The idol is crafted by local artists at a cost of around Rs 6 lakh.

As per the details revealed by the mandal, the idol will be accompanied by posters highlighting key events in India’s military history, including the First Indo-Pak War (1947), Second Indo-Pak War (1965), Bangladesh Liberation War (1971), Kargil War (1999), Uri Attack (2016), Pulwama Attack (2019), and the recently done Operation Sindoor (2025). The display aims to instil a sense of patriotism and national pride among devotees.

“We are from Mallikarjuna Nagar of Uppuguda and our youth, Mallikarjuna Swamy Nagar Youth Association. We have chosen Sindoor to show female power to the whole world. Only two women were ready to go and finish Pakistan in just half an hour to 45 minutes. Whatever had to be done, we did it…We all get inspired by seeing all this. Our Ganesh ji is like an Air Force officer,” Srikanth, one of the organisers, told the news agency.

He said that the artists took 50-55 days to complete the idol, with at least 10 people working from morning till 2-3 am in the night to complete making the idol. He further said that the youth committee and local residents prepared the Sudarshan vehicle accompanying the idol.

“…In the temple, key events of India’s military history, which happened from first to last, were printed in the form of AI so that the public can understand them quickly. And within 9-10 days of Navratri, a 20-minute short video is being made, like a film, that, from first to last, shows what the Indian Army, Modi, and the terrorists do, all in the form of AI. It will be shown to the people in the temple for 9 days,” Srikanth added.

Srikanth said the association, which has been organising Ganesh celebrations for the last 49 years, had the theme of Chandrayaan in 2023.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/from-brahmos-to-s-400-operation-sindoor-inspired-ganesha-pandal-in-hyderabad-ws-l-9522315.html

From August 22, 2025, electric cars in Mumbai will enjoy toll-free passage on Atal Setu, as Maharashtra expands EV incentives under its 2025 policy.

The Atal Setu in Mumbai is an important link for the city. However, using it costs more than a dime, and users have often raised their concerns across social media platforms about the toll rates levied. Under the new EV Policy 2025, the Maharashtra government has now announced a major relief. The electric vehicles will be exempted from toll on the Atal Setu.

Starting August 22, 2025, all electric four-wheelers will be exempted from paying toll-free on this bridge. The exemption, confirmed through a government notification by the Urban Development Department (No. MRD-3325/C.R.123/UD-7), covers electric four-wheelers (category M1) and electric buses (categories M3 and M4), whether operated by State Transport Undertakings (STUs) or non-STU operators. However, electric goods carriers are not included in this scheme.

The toll waiver applies specifically at collection centres in Shivaji Nagar and Gavan along the Atal Setu corridor. This development expands upon an earlier resolution from January 31, 2025, which had set toll charges for all vehicles using the bridge until December 31, 2025. Now, EVs get a clear exemption, aligning with Maharashtra’s push to encourage cleaner mobility.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/auto/zero-toll-tax-for-electric-vehicles-on-atal-setu-maharashtra-extends-exemption-9139424?pfrom=movies-topstories

Tejashwi Yadav had shared a cartoon on his social media account, calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Gaya rally a “shop of rhetoric”.

A First Information Report (FIR) was filed against Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli for allegedly sharing an ‘objectionable’ social media post targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Gadchiroli police registered the FIR against the former Bihar deputy chief minister on the complaint of local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Milind Narote.

According to a PTI report, the FIR against Yadav was registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 196 (promoting enmity between different groups), 356 (defamation), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace) and 353 (statements that cause public mischief).

What was the ‘objectionable’ post against PM Narendra Modi that Tejashwi Yadav shared?

Tejashwi Yadav had shared a cartoon on his social media account, calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Gaya rally a “shop of rhetoric”.

The post, shared on X ahead of the rally, showed a cartoon of PM Modi as a shopkeeper. The signboard of the satirical shop read “famous shop of Rhetoric.” In an accompanying post, Tejashwi Yadav asked Modi to give an account of his 11-year rule along with the NDA’s 20 years in Bihar.

“Today, a shop of lies and rhetoric will be set up in Gaya! Prime Minister ji, in Gaya, with a boneless tongue, you will build a Himalaya of lies and rhetoric today, but the justice-loving people of Bihar, like Dashrath Manjhi, will break down these massive mountains of your lies and rhetoric. Give an account of your 11 years and the 20 years of the NDA government’s rule?” the post in Hindi read.

PM Modi targets RJD, Congress in Bihar

PM Narendra Modi on Friday raked up a past remark by a Congress chief minister against migrants from Bihar, accusing the Congress and its allies of harbouring contempt for the state’s people and treating them merely as a “vote bank”.

Taking a swipe at the Rastriya Janata Dal and its partners at a rally in Bihar’s Bodh Gaya, PM Narendra Modi said, “For them, the people of Bihar are only a vote bank; they have no concern for the struggles of the poor. You may recall how a Congress CM once said from a stage that Biharis would not be allowed to enter their state. Such is the Congress’s hatred towards the people of Bihar. Our effort is to ensure that Bihar’s sons and daughters find employment and live a life of dignity here itself.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rjd-leader-tejaswhi-yadav-makes-objectionable-post-on-pm-modi-maharashtra-police-files-fir-what-was-the-post-101755909602106.html

A GST Council meeting on September 3-4 in New Delhi will discuss proposed tax reforms, including rate rationalization and insurance premium exemptions.

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.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/gst-council-to-discuss-rationalisation-of-12-18slabs-101755890431601.html

Sri Mallikarjun Nagar Youth Welfare Association in Uppuguda unveils Operation Sindoor-themed Lord Ganesha idol for Ganesha Chaturthi, honoring India’s military.

The nation is gearing up to welcome Lord Ganesha on the occasion of Ganesha Chaturthi, which falls on August 27, with unique themes, celebrations, and idols for millions of street pandals that are organised every year.

With the festival falling in the same month as Independence Day, going with the fervour of patriotism and to honour the valour and resilience of India’s Armed Forces, a mandal from Hyderabad’s Uppuguda has decided to adopt the theme of ‘Operation Sindoor’ for this year’s festivity.

The Sri Mallikarjun Nagar Youth Welfare Association is set to unveil a unique Operation Sindoor-themed Lord Ganesha idol, which features elements such as BrahMos missiles, S-400 rifles, and an army model theme, symbolising India’s military strength, news agency ANI reported.

The idol is crafted by local artists at a cost of around Rs 6 lakh.

As per the details revealed by the mandal, the idol will be accompanied by posters highlighting key events in India’s military history, including the First Indo-Pak War (1947), Second Indo-Pak War (1965), Bangladesh Liberation War (1971), Kargil War (1999), Uri Attack (2016), Pulwama Attack (2019), and the recently done Operation Sindoor (2025). The display aims to instil a sense of patriotism and national pride among devotees.

“We are from Mallikarjuna Nagar of Uppuguda and our youth, Mallikarjuna Swamy Nagar Youth Association. We have chosen Sindoor to show female power to the whole world. Only two women were ready to go and finish Pakistan in just half an hour to 45 minutes. Whatever had to be done, we did it…We all get inspired by seeing all this. Our Ganesh ji is like an Air Force officer,” Srikanth, one of the organisers, told the news agency.

He said that the artists took 50-55 days to complete the idol, with at least 10 people working from morning till 2-3 am in the night to complete making the idol. He further said that the youth committee and local residents prepared the Sudarshan vehicle accompanying the idol.

“…In the temple, key events of India’s military history, which happened from first to last, were printed in the form of AI so that the public can understand them quickly. And within 9-10 days of Navratri, a 20-minute short video is being made, like a film, that, from first to last, shows what the Indian Army, Modi, and the terrorists do, all in the form of AI. It will be shown to the people in the temple for 9 days,” Srikanth added.

Srikanth said the association, which has been organising Ganesh celebrations for the last 49 years, had the theme of Chandrayaan in 2023.

Operation Sindoor

In one of the biggest attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Lashkar-linked terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in Pahalgam on Tuesday, April 22, killing at least 26 people, including foreign tourists, and injuring many others. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/from-brahmos-to-s-400-operation-sindoor-inspired-ganesha-pandal-in-hyderabad-ws-l-9522315.html

Though they face questions from family, they believe ‘having a baby just to meet their expectations would be selfish’.

A recent study has found that registered births in Karnataka have declined by 17 per cent since 2012. The reasons are varied — from falling fertility rates to limiting the number of children per family and a decline in marriages. But therapists and sociologists point to another reason — increasingly couples are choosing not to have children.

Avinash K and his wife Naina have been married for 10 years. After giving it serious thought early in their marriage, they decided against having children. “I thought about a realistic scenario — juggling my business and the responsibilities of being a parent. It did not appeal to me,” says Avinash, 40. The Lavelle Road-based couple has two dogs. When the dogs fall sick, Avinash finds it extremely stressful. “I cannot imagine what my stress levels would have been if I had kids,” he reasons. The duo also leads a very busy life due to their work and travel. “We do not want to compromise on that,” he adds.

Prakriti V was clear on her position even before marriage. “My husband and I shared the same perspective. We eventually told our families. Although some family members occasionally ask when we will start a family, we respond vaguely. I do not think we are obliged to justify our decision to anyone,” says the 37-year-old media professional.

The high cost of living in a tier-1 city, particularly steep school fees, was a significant factor in their decision. They are also concerned about bringing a child into a world facing severe climate change and uncertainty.

Zero restrictions

For others, like engineer Ankur M, the decision to be child-free was simply because he did not feel the need for a child to complete his family. “Earlier, my wife and I would cite the climate crisis, rising crimes against children, overpopulation, and the polarising times we live in as reasons. While all that still matters, the real reason is simple — we are happy and fulfilled as we are,” he shares.

Ankur’s wife, Samantha adds that they enjoy being outdoors and travelling. They rarely plan in advance. “But for parents, especially with young children, their free time usually revolves around the child’s needs and activities,” she says.

Though they face questions from family, they believe “having a baby just to meet their expectations would be selfish”. They do not worry about their future, but sometimes wonder if they would have to work longer to support themselves, when their peers retire.

Ayesha Khan, a 28-year-old ed-tech professional, took the decision because she does not want to face the physical and psychological toll of childbirth. “I helped raise my two younger siblings, so I do not think I will be missing out on parenthood,” she explains.

Lack of support

Sociologist Avatthi Ramaiah notes that in cities, it is becoming increasingly difficult to have children. With families becoming nuclear, parents lack a strong support system. The financial burden is a major deterrent. “A lot of couples are also delaying having children,” he says. As a result, he sees old age homes becoming the norm in the future.

Relationship therapist Sunil John has noticed an increasing number of his clients opting to be child-free. “In the last month, I had two new clients who have chosen to not have children,” he reveals.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/high-cost-hectic-lifestyle-more-bengaluru-couples-choosing-to-be-child-free-3691730

Shubhanshu Shukla shared a stunning timelapse of India from the International Space Station, showing lightning-lit monsoon clouds, the Himalayas, and a glowing sunrise.

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has shared a breathtaking timelapse video of India as seen from the International Space Station (ISS).

The video, shot from the ISS cupola window, captures the station’s journey from the Indian Ocean along the east coast of India.

Lightning flashes from thunderstorms light up the monsoon clouds, followed by a dark stretch marking the Himalayas. As the station crosses over, the view transforms into a spectacular sunrise, with stars visible in the backdrop.

Sharing the video, Shukla said he wanted viewers to feel as if they were “sitting in the cupola and witnessing it yourself.”

He described the sight as a “mesmerising dance of natural elements,” noting that though much of the country was covered in clouds during the monsoon, he managed to capture glimpses of Bharat from orbit.

“Unfortunately I was up there during the monsoon season and it was mostly cloudy, yet I managed to steal a few shots of Bharat, one of which you are seeing,” the astronaut wrote in the X post.

A day before, Shubhanshu Shukla shared detailed insights about the experience and its significance for India’s ambitions in human spaceflight, emphasising the invaluable knowledge gained from being in space itself.

Speaking at a press conference, he underscored the pride and profound perspective gained by viewing Earth from orbit.

He explained that the true benefit of executing a human space mission goes far beyond rigorous training, referencing India’s upcoming space endeavour Gaganyaan.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/shubhanshu-shukla-international-space-station-iss-timelapse-video-bharat-from-space-himalayas-sunrise-monsoon-9520702.html

A man was killed by Naxalites after hoisting the Tricolour on Independence Day. As per the police sources, Naxalites were unhappy with the man for hoisting the flag.

In a brutal case of Naxalite violence, a man in Chhattisgarh was killed after he hoisted the Tricolour on Independence Day in a remote village in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district. As per the officials, the Naxalites held a ‘jan adalat’ and killed him after claiming that the victim was a police informer.

The victim, identified as Manish Nureti, is from Binagunda village under Chhotebetiya police station limits. As per the police, a group of armed Naxalites arrived at the village on Monday and took Nureti and two others.

At the ‘jan adalat’, a poster claiming Nureti to be a police informer was installed. “They held a ‘jan adalat’ where Nureti was killed, while the other two were released after a thrashing. The Maoist ultras put up a poster claiming Nureti was a police informer, which is untrue,” the official was quoted by PTI as saying.

The two others were thrashed and left, while Nureti was murdered.

Kanker district Superintendent of Police IK Elesela said Nureti’s body was yet to be recovered, adding that his family were being contacted.

“Naxalites frequently visit Binagunda village. In the last one-and-a-half years, Naxalites have killed four to five people after accusing them of being police informers. However, none of the deceased had any connection with the police,” Elesela told PTI.

Bastar Range Inspector General of Police of Sundarraj P, confirmed the incident, and said, “A short video has also surfaced in which Manish Nureti is seen participating in Independence Day celebrations.” A probe is underway into the killing, and strict action will be taken against those involved, the IG added.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/chhattisgarh-man-who-hoisted-flag-on-independence-day-killed-by-naxals-in-jan-adalat-ws-bl-9520772.html

Veteran Punjabi actor-comedian Jaswinder Bhalla died on August 22 in Mohali. The cremation will take place on August 23.

Popular Punjabi actor-comedian Jaswinder Bhalla, 65, died on Friday morning at Fortis Hospital in Mohali. The funeral will be held on August 23 at 12 noon at the Balongi cremation ground in Mohali. A large number of fans and artists are expected to gather to pay their last respects.

According to media reports, he had been unwell for the past few months. News of his death has left the Punjabi film industry and his fans in deep shock.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/jaswinder-bhalla-punjabi-actor-comedian-dies-65-carry-on-jatta-2775018-2025-08-22

A major gas leak accident took place at Medley Pharmaceutical Company in Maharashtra’s Palghar. As per reports, 4 workers have died while two more are in critical condition.

At least four people have died after a gas leak incident took place at a pharmaceutical company in Maharashtra’s Palghar on Thursday.
The gas leak was reported at Medley Pharma Company located at Tarapur-Boisar industrial area in Palghar. While four people were declared dead, condition of two more is said to be critical.
The gas leak occurred in Medley Pharmaceuticals located at Plot No. 13, Boisar Industrial Colony, between 2:30 and 3:00 pm on August 21.

The accident occurred due to gas leakage in the nitrogen reaction tank present in the factory, in which a total of 6 workers were affected.

In a display of velvet diplomacy, China’s ambassador Xu Feihong extended a hand to Delhi, calling India and China the “double engines of economic growth in Asia”, while taking a subtle dig at “bully” US President Donald Trump.

In a striking display of velvet diplomacy, China’s ambassador to India Xu Feihong sought to reset ties with New Delhi, invoking the language of intimacy and power. “We are the double engines of economic growth in Asia,” he said, adding that India and China must be “like relatives” who visit each other freely.

Rapper Montero Lamar Hill, aka Lil Nas X, shocked fans after a viral video showed him half-naked in Los Angeles, wearing only underwear and cowboy boots. Police said he charged at officers before being taken into custody and hospitalised for a possible overdose. He faces suspicion of misdemeanour battery on a police officer. His condition remains unknown.

Rapper Montero Lamar Hill, popularly known as Lil Nas X, shocked fans after a video posted by TMZ of him went viral on Thursday. He was seen half-naked, wearing only underwear and cowboy boots, walking around the streets of Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, Los Angeles, around midnight.

Lil Nas X Spotted Nearly-Naked In LA

The viral video showed the Old Town Road singer wandering down the street. At one point, he pointed at a passing car that was recording him, muttered about going to a party, and even placed an orange traffic cone on his head.

Shortly after, a man noticed him and informed the police, reporting a ‘nude man walking in the street.’

According to police, when officers arrived at the scene, the suspect charged at them and was subsequently taken into custody. According to TMZ, Lil Nas X was transported to the hospital after officers shared that he might have suffered a possible overdose.

Lil Nas X Arrested After Clash With Police

He was arrested for battery on a police officer, along with misconduct, including public obscenity and was subsequently transferred to a hospital. While the rapper remains hospitalised, he is expected to be booked later on suspicion of misdemeanor battery on a police officer.

His condition remains unknown.

Before the shocking incident, Lil Nas X had been posting a bizarre series of 11 photos on Instagram, as reported by Page Six. The images showed his house in a state of disarray, with scattered pieces of art and furniture.

In the caption of one of his selfies, he wrote, “OH NO sHES GONE MAD! CRAZY I TELL U!”

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/rapper-lil-nas-x-spotted-nearly-naked-suspected-drug-overdose-leads-to-arrest-hospitalisation-in-la-video-goes-viral

Surprisingly, the restaurant served food at 1962 prices before its demolition. A massive crowd was drawn at the restaurant to take advantage of the scheme.

An advertisement surfaced on the television with the tag line “Aapke zamaane me baap ke zamaane k daam” (Your era, your father’s era prices.) became a reality at a famous restaurant in Mumbai’s Goregaon. Surprisingly, the restaurant served food at 1962 prices before its demolition. A massive crowd was drawn at the restaurant to take advantage of the scheme.

The offer was introduced at Udipi Vihar restaurant in Goregaon East only for a single day due to which a large crowd lined up outside the hotel despite heavy rain. The old restaurant which is set to be demolished to make way for a new building decided to give its customers a taste and feeling of the paste. The restaurant served the cheap meal only on Monday (August 18).

As a farewell gesture, the restaurant served all its popular dishes at the same prices at which it used to sell in the year 1962. The visitors were thrilled as they were going to get a full lunch at an unbelievable rate of 50 paise, while other items like jalebi, wada and idli were being served to the customers at only 12 paise.

Videos surfaced on social media which showed that the nostalgic move drew food lovers and everyone was excited to be a part of the restaurant’s final day to make it memorable.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/lunch-50-paise-idli-20-paise-udipi-vihar-restaurant-serves-food-at-1962-prices-in-mumbais-goregaon-video

Each unanswered helpline call is not just silence, it is a life teetering on the edge, left alone in its darkest hour. India’s rising suicide numbers demand more than token helplines; they demand a system that listens, cares, and responds.

Suicide is an untimely, avoidable death. And yet, every day, countless lives are lost because support either arrives too late or not at all. Most suicide helplines operate like offices: Monday to Friday, 10 am to 5 pm. But mental health doesn’t follow office hours. When the day ends, distractions fade and the world falls asleep, the flames of the battle inside rage again. Loneliness, memories, and unspoken fears resurface with a force that suffocates.

Here’s the stark reality. I called one such helpline (just to check) past midnight, the very hour when despair peaks and you still cling to a flicker of hope that tomorrow might be better, if only you survive the night. But when nobody picks up, when that one “lifeline” you trusted goes unanswered, the silence feels like the world crashing in on you.

That missed call can become a missed life.

Frustrated by a widow’s repeated demands for marriage, a former village pradhan and his nephew murdered her in Jhansi’s Kishorpura village, chopped the body into seven pieces, stuffed them into sacks, and dumped them in a well and near a bridge.

A woman’s dismembered body was found dumped in a well in Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi district. Police have arrested two men in connection with the murder — a former village head, identified as the victim’s lover, and his nephew. A third accomplice, who helped execute the murder, remains at large, said police.

Pressured and frustrated by the woman’s constant urges to get married, the former village pradhan, Sanjay Patel, along with his nephew, Sandeep Patel murdered the woman in Jhansi’s Kishorpura village, cut her body into seven pieces and stuffed them into sacks, subsequently dumping them into a well and near a bridge.

The case came to light on August 13 when a farmer inspecting his fields noticed a foul smell emanating from a well. Upon inspection, two sacks were found floating in the water, containing body parts of a woman. The discovery sent shockwaves through the community and posed a significant challenge for local authorities.

Following the incident, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Jhansi, formed eight investigative teams to crack the case. On August 17, police recovered the victim’s hands from the drained well. However, the head and legs were missing, complicating identification. A post-mortem was conducted, and cremation took place on August 18.

Police investigations revealed the murder was premeditated due to the victim’s persistent marriage demands on the former pradhan. In response, Patel conspired with his associates to eliminate her, resulting in her brutal murder. Intense investigations included questioning over 100 villagers and examining footage from more than 200 CCTV cameras.

Thousands of posters were distributed, eventually leading to the victim’s identification as Rachna Yadav, a widow from Tikamgarh, two hours from Jhansi.

The breakthrough came when Rachna’s brother recognised her after seeing one of the posters. She had been entangled in a legal dispute supported by the former village pradhan, during which they developed an intimate relationship.

According to police, on August 8, the accused strangled Rachna and transported her body to a well, where it was dismembered to conceal evidence. The crime scene was carefully analysed, with bricks and soil samples matching local materials.

“Two sacks containing parts of a woman’s body were recovered from a well in Kishorpura village under Todifatehpur police station. Eight teams were formed to investigate the case. Today, the woman’s head was recovered from the Lakheri river,” the SSP told India Today TV on Thursday.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jhansi-woman-murder-former-pradhan-nephew-arrested-search-accomplice-2774994-2025-08-22

TCS layoffs: The IT firm announced its decision to layoff around 12,000 employees in July this year.

TCS layoffs: The Union of IT & ITES Employees (UNITE) staged a protest in Chennai on Tuesday against the layoffs of 12,000 employees at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). The layoffs will impact mid and senior-level employees.

TCS layoffs: 30,000 employees to be fired?

“Union of IT and ITES Employees protested today in Chennai against the announced TCS layoff of 12,000 employees and the government inaction,” UNITE said on X (formerly Twitter).

The video quickly went viral, prompting the Forest Department to take suo motu cognizance of the incident.

A YouTuber from Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district has been arrested for allegedly cooking the meat of a protected and rare species of monitor lizard and posting the video on social media platforms.

The accused, identified as Rupa Nayak, a resident of Asanbani village, reportedly came across a dead monitor lizard on the roadside near the Banta area while returning from his wife’s maternal home in Bhadrak. He took the carcass home, cooked its meat, and recorded a video of the entire process, which he later uploaded to Facebook and YouTube.

The video quickly went viral, prompting the Forest Department to take suo motu cognizance of the incident. A probe was launched, and Nayak was taken into custody. During interrogation, he admitted to the act.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/odisha-man-cooks-rare-monitor-lizard-posts-online-forest-officials-take-action-9127885

Probe is underway to ascertain motive of accused and whether he was under the influence of alcohol or any other substance at the time of the incident

A senior doctor at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) had a narrow escape after the driver of a car allegedly tried to mow him down inside the hospital campus, the police said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred on August 18, around 4:00 pm, near Gate Number 1 of AIIMS, when the victim was passing through the campus and noticed a traffic jam being caused by the car.

The complainant informed the police that the car was blocking traffic. When he signalled to the driver to reverse so that other vehicles could pass, the driver, instead of complying, allegedly accelerated and struck him, a senior police officer stated.

“The driver did not stop after the first collision. He struck me two more times and dragged me along with the car before I managed to save my life,” the complaint told the police.

Based on the complaint, an FIR under Section 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered at the Hauz Khas Police Station.

The officer noted that CCTV footage from the cameras installed on the campus has been seized, and eyewitnesses are being identified.

“We are taking the matter seriously, and multiple teams are working to identify and nab the accused. The vehicle number has been noted, and technical surveillance is being used to track the suspect,” the officer said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/doctor-narrowly-escapes-after-car-driver-attempts-to-mow-him-down-at-aiims-9127764