Category: India

A neighbour’s pitbull mauled a six-year-old boy grievously, detaching his ear, in Delhi. The pitbull is on the list of 24 dogs that the Centre had in March 2024 banned as pets. The ban has been stayed by the Karnataka High Court. But is banning breeds the answer to stopping attacks by pet dogs? Ultimately, who should be held responsible, and punished?

It was a slow Sunday in the lanes of Prem Nagar in North West Delhi before things turned gory. A pitbull attacked a six-year-old boy, tearing off his ear as the child ran, his hand covered in blood from the bite. This wasn’t an isolated incident of a dog going rogue. Pitbulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, and several other breeds are involved in similar attacks almost daily. So much so that CCTV footage of pets creating panic and chaos surfaces on social media every day. But is it really the dogs that are dangerous? Or the person holding the leash?

Dogs have become a point of contention in India, especially this year—from the streets to the Supreme Court. And it’s only fair to have a discussion on dogs, given that India reports one of the highest numbers of rabies cases in the world. Not just rabies, dog bite cases have otherwise gone up too.

India reported over 3 million dog bite cases in 2023, which rose to 3.7 million in 2024, according to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). This year, projections suggest, the number might cross 4 million.

Surveys over the last five years show that nearly a quarter of dog bites come from pets.

The Centre took note of many such issues, and banned 24 breeds in March last year. But the Karnataka High Court stayed the directive, noting that key stakeholders, such as Kennel Club of India and PETA were not consulted.

But the question remains: are the dogs, or humans, to blame?

IS IT THE BREED AND THE BLOODLINE OF DOGS THAT CAUSES AGGRESSION?

The Centre banned 24 breeds of dogs last year, but the attacks haven’t stopped. And they won’t, because if it were that simple, scientists and canine behaviourists would have come up with a simple formula to make Pitties and the Rotties obey.

Banning 24 breeds specifically, most of which aren’t even common, seems like a move that was taken just for the sake of it. Most people would not have even seen or heard of a Kangal Shepherd dog in India, or a Tornjak, which sounds like an eastern European beast but is surprisingly fluffy and cute, somewhat resembling a Sheltie.

The point is, banning breeds that are either too rare or prohibitively expensive to own is absurd and highlights the lack of any real study or logic. And that’s not even the beginning of the problem.

Banning certain breeds of dogs can’t stop attacks by dogs, because that’s not how dogs, or for that matter, any animal functions. Prohibition means judging a book by its cover.

If the government actually studied dog bite cases from breeds considered calm and “intelligent”, they might have banned Chihuahuas and Miniature Pinschers first. Or ask someone who owns a Spitz or a Shih Tzu that suddenly goes rogue.

There is a scientific reason behind this. Smaller dogs are inherently more aggressive because they have evolved to survive in environments with predators. Yes, they are domesticated now, but their genes remain programmed.

On the other hand, some dogs are massive and intimidating in size, are gentle giants.

Nature doesn’t follow a rulebook, and that logic is vehemently ignored in the move of “banning” dogs.

Labrador Retrievers can go rogue as easily as an Indie. Studies confirm this. According to the Science journal published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), only about 9% of a dog’s behaviour—whether aggressive, fearful, friendly, or easy to train—comes from its breed.

The remaining 91% depends on how it was raised as a puppy, whether it was properly trained and socialised, its unique personality, and how the dog is treated by its human.

This large-scale genetic study by AAAS analysed over 2,000 purebred and mixed dogs alongside 2,00,000 owner surveys via the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ).

And this is just one of at least four similar studies conducted worldwide at the same scale. Combined, none attribute more than 25% of a dog’s behaviour to its breed.

PITBULLS, ROTTWEILERS NEED SEASONED HANDS, NOT FOR FIRST-TIME PET PARENTS

As one would have guessed, experts agree with the study, given their experience with rogue Maltipoos that charge at people walking past and shy German Shepherds that are scared of cats.

Mumbai-based canine behaviourist Shivani Sharma told India Today Digital, “100% of the responsibility [of any mishap] lies on the owner.”

“These breeds [such as Pitbulls and Rottweilers] need seasoned hands to control and look after. They do come with certain breed traits. It’s innate. They are very instinctive, and that is well known today. Plus, irregular breeding without proper checks on bloodlines is producing dogs that act up more.”

On what percentage does a breed contribute to aggression, Sharma added, “It’s a very small number, barely 10–15%. I very rarely come across requests for training Rotties, Pitties, giants like Mastiffs, etc. Most requests are for behavioural intervention after the dogs have already started displaying aggression.”

“What we [behaviourists] have noticed is these breeds often come with a very typical owner profile. Most don’t believe in training, have a macho image to maintain, and take pride in the confidence and aggression their dogs show. A part of training is actually for humans, to debunk their idea of such dogs. Nobody wants to see a Rottweiler who sits on command—they want Rottweilers who are bold and can be paraded with pride.”

Notably, in the latest Delhi case, police learnt that the dog had been brought home around one-and-a-half years ago by a person who is currently lodged in jail in connection with an attempted murder case registered last year. This aligns with Sharma’s observation of owner profiles.

IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES RELATED TO DOGS IS ZERO ON GROUND

Three years ago, an 82-year-old retired teacher was mauled to death by her son’s pet pitbull in the Kaiserbagh area of Lucknow. The Lucknow Municipal Corporation took action against the son and his dog, but only after the damage was done.

Today, three states, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Goa, have implemented bans on “ferocious breeds”. But the reality is that you can buy any breed, even get it imported by big breeders, and no authority even bats an eye.

Since the 82-year-old teacher’s death in Lucknow in 2022, there have been dozens of cases in Uttar Pradesh involving pitbulls and rottweilers. Yet, authorities have never been seen tallying who has a pet licence and who doesn’t.

Interestingly, the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) issued a manual for keeping dogs called Shwan Licence Control and Regulation Bye-law 2003. According to the manual, anyone fond of keeping dogs must mandatorily get a licence after adhering to several conditions. The manual further states that any person shall keep and bind their dog in such a way that there is no objection from the neighbour. Ironically, the neighbour doesn’t mess with you if you own a pitbull.

A few days after the attack in which the pitbull killed the teacher, the dog was returned to its original owner, who wanted to keep the dog. This shows both the intent and the lax attitude of the authorities, despite media attention.

Also, under Section 11(3)(b) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (read with the Animal Birth Control Rules and local municipal laws), if a pet dog bites a person, the owner can face up to three months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Rs 1,000, or both, but this punishment is almost never enforced in practice.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ferocious-dog-breeds-in-india-pitbull-chews-off-boy-ear-delhi-attack-revives-debate-on-responsibility-punishment-2825709-2025-11-26

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a striking statement in the Assam Legislative Assembly, confirming that the death of singer and music icon Zubeen Garg has been categorised as murder based on ongoing investigations.

Zubeen Garg’s Death a ‘Clear Case of Murder’, says Assam CM Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on the first day of Winter Assembly session today.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a striking statement in the Assam Legislative Assembly, confirming that the death of singer and music icon Zubeen Garg has been categorised as murder based on ongoing investigations. Responding during a discussion in the Winter Session, Sarma urged political leaders and the public not to interfere with or cast doubts on the process while the Special Investigation Team (SIT) continues its work.

Sarma said there was sufficient evidence to establish that the incident was not accidental. He stated that one person carried out the act while others assisted, and the police have already applied relevant murder charges. The Chief Minister added that four to five individuals have been booked in the case under sections related to murder and conspiracy.

Zubeen Garg, 52, died in Singapore on 19 September while swimming during a yacht trip linked to the North East India Festival. His sudden death triggered massive public outrage across Assam, resulting in more than 60 FIRs, protests, and widespread calls for transparency. In response, the state government formed an SIT under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. Additionally, a one-man inquiry panel headed by Justice Soumitra Saikia of the Gauhati High Court was constituted, with its deadline for collecting statements and evidence extended to 12 December.

Several individuals linked to the singer and the festival were arrested following the investigation. Those currently in judicial custody include festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, the singer’s manager Siddharth Sharma, band members Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amrit Prabha Mahanta, and Garg’s cousin Sandipan Garg, who is also a senior police officer. The singer’s security personnel, Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya, were also arrested after investigators found unexplained financial transactions amounting to over ₹1.1 crore in their bank accounts.

Sarma stressed that the SIT must be allowed to continue without political commentary or pressure, adding that criticism before the chargesheet is submitted may demoralise the investigators. He assured that the government is treating the matter with utmost seriousness and that the chargesheet will be filed once the investigation reaches its final stage.

The five-day winter session of the Assam Assembly opened on Tuesday under tense circumstances, as Opposition parties mounted protests over eviction drives and demanded justice in the death of cultural icon Zubeen Garg before the day’s proceedings began.

Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia, CPI-M Sarbhog MLA Manoranjan Talukdar and Sivsagar MLA Akhil Gogoi, rose immediately after the obituary references, urging Speaker Biswajit Daimary to admit their adjournment motions on Garg’s death.

When the Opposition argued that the adjournment motion was vital to determine who was responsible for Zubeen Garg’s death, the Speaker countered that no debate could be allowed as the matter was sub judice.

The motion, brought jointly by the Opposition, was eventually admitted after Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma intervened, requesting the Speaker to allow it.

Daimary was preparing to permit the members to speak on the admissibility of the motion when the Chief Minister stepped in.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/zubeen-gargs-death-a-clear-case-of-murder-says-assam-cm-himanta-biswa-sarma-in-assembly

The initiative is part of the DDA’s wider effort to activate the Yamuna riverbank with low-impact adventure and leisure activities. The agency has previously added cycling tracks, nature trails and boating facilities across parts of the floodplains.

Delhi will introduce its first set of hot air balloon rides from November 29, after successful trial runs at the Delhi Development Authority’s Baansera Park along the Yamuna riverfront.

Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena announced the development on X, describing the service as compliant with the highest safety standards and operated by a professional, certified team.

Tethered Rides, Multiple Locations Planned

The public rollout begins on Saturday, November 29, at Baansera Park, with the DDA preparing to open additional launch points at Asita, the Yamuna Sports Complex and the Commonwealth Games Village Sports Complex over the next few days. Each ride will be tethered to the ground and offer controlled ascents, giving passengers panoramic views of the riverfront and adjoining areas.

Officials said flights will run twice daily, one in the morning and one in the evening, subject to weather conditions. Each session will last between 15 and 20 minutes, carrying around four passengers per basket. The price has been set at Rs 3,000 per person.

The initiative is part of the DDA’s wider effort to activate the Yamuna riverbank with low-impact adventure and leisure activities. The agency has previously added cycling tracks, nature trails and boating facilities across parts of the floodplains.

Safety Protocols, Certified Operators in Charge

According to the DDA, a licensed operator with prior experience in ballooning and aviation-linked recreation will manage the service. The team will oversee launches, pilot the balloons and conduct mandatory safety inspections before each ascent. Officials confirmed that all operations adhere to aviation and operational safety norms.

Saxena, who joined the trial run earlier this week, said the project would contribute to making Delhi a more vibrant city with improved recreational amenities and better use of the redeveloped riverfront.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/delhi-set-to-begin-its-first-hot-air-balloon-rides-after-successful-trials-at-yamuna-riverfront-check-details

The arrested Chinese citizen has travelled to Pakistan, and Pakistani, Chinese, and Nepalese currencies were recovered from him, officials said.

A 49-year-old Chinese citizen was arrested by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at the Rupaidiha checkpost on the India-Nepal border in the Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh on Monday after he illegally entered India and was allegedly videographing the border area, SSB officials said.

The arrested Chinese citizen has travelled to Pakistan, and Pakistani, Chinese, and Nepalese currencies were recovered from him, officials said.

Ganga Singh Udavat, the commandant of the 42nd battalion of the SSB, told PTI that the officer who arrested the Chinese national informed him that after entering India from Nepal, he was allegedly videographing a sensitive border area.

He added that the arrested Chinese national was identified as Liu Qunjing, a resident of the Hunan province of China.

He allegedly lacked valid documents to enter India. Three mobile phones were also seized from him, and one of them contained videos of several sensitive locations in Indian territory, officials said.

A map of Nepal was found with him. Everything on the map was written in English, but Qunjing indicated through gestures that he knew neither Hindi nor English. The SSB, the police, and other security agencies interrogated Qunjing with the help of an interpreter. The commandant said that the interrogation revealed that the Chinese national had also visited Pakistan. However, he had a visa for that country.

The commandant said that he is being considered a suspect because of his travels to Pakistan, his entry into India without valid documents, his videography of sensitive locations, and his “lack of knowledge” of English during interrogation despite the recovered map being in English.

Udavat stated that the apprehended Chinese national has been handed over to the police. The police have registered a case under the sections of the Foreigners Act at the Rupaidiha police station and arrested him.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/chinese-citizen-49-arrested-in-ups-bahraich-for-illegally-entering-india-9693868

Pema Wangjom Thongdok, an Indian citizen living in the UK, faced detention in Shanghai due to Chinese officials deeming her passport invalid because she is from Arunachal Pradesh.

An Indian citizen living in the UK has claimed that she was detained, mocked and blocked from boarding her connecting flight in Shanghai after Chinese immigration officials claimed that her passport was “invalid” because she is from Arunachal Pradesh. Pema Wangjom Thongdok, who has been residing in the United Kingdom for nearly 14 years, was travelling from London Gatwick to Osaka via Shanghai for a holiday. Thongdok claimed that she was denied access to food and was not allowed to leave the restricted area despite having flown 12 hours from London.

She said the trouble began moments after she passed the e-gates and joined the queue for security clearance for her next flight.

Narrating her experience at Shanghai airport, Thongdok claimed that a Chinese immigration official walked up to her, took her name, pointed at her passport and repeatedly said “India, India”, before taking her out of the queue without explanation. She was then taken near the manual immigration counters, where she was told, “Arunachal not India. Your visa not acceptable. Your passport invalid.”

What followed, she said, was 18 hours of confusion and humiliation.

The passenger said that she interacted with nearly 10 different immigration officials, none of whom gave a clear reason for detaining her. At one point, she alleged that officials mocked her, saying she should “apply for a Chinese passport” and that she was “Chinese, not Indian.” She told that the Airline staff of China Eastern joined the laughter and repeatedly sent her back and forth between the transfer desk and immigration desk without answers.

Despite telling officers that she had previously transited through Shanghai without a visa and that the Chinese embassy in London had confirmed that a short layover did not require one, she said officials refused to allow her to re-enter the line or board her flight to Japan.

The situation grew worse, she told, as she struggled to contact family due to slow Wi-Fi and restrictions on Google, WhatsApp and other apps.

“I told them I had transited through Shanghai before without a visa and that the Chinese embassy in London had confirmed that a short layover doesn’t require one, but they still wouldn’t let me go back into the queue or board my flight to Japan. The whole situation got worse because I couldn’t even contact my family – the Wi-Fi was really slow and you can’t open Google, you can’t open WhatsApp or Facebook. I wasn’t given any food and they wouldn’t allow me to leave that part of the terminal, even after a 12-hour flight from London.”

After repeatedly demanding to know the legal basis for the detention and asking for a way to communicate with someone outside, she said that she was finally allowed to use a landline to call a friend in London. With help from that friend, she contacted the Indian embassies in Shanghai and Beijing.

Within an hour, Indian officials arrived at the airport, spoke to Chinese authorities and arranged her exit from China. She was provided food and ultimately allowed to leave Shanghai, though only after losing her connecting flight and her holiday plans.

“I have travelled to 58 countries. My Indian passport has always been valid everywhere but apparently not in China,” she said in the video, calling the behaviour of immigration and airline officials “humiliating and unprofessional.”

India has overhauled 29 labour laws into four new Labour Codes, aiming to simplify rules, modernise workplaces and expand worker protections while giving businesses easier compliance and more flexibility.

The Government of India has introduced new Labour Codes to streamline and make it more contemporary to create a simplified, efficient framework that promotes ease of doing business while safeguarding workers’ rights and welfare. As per the new labour reforms, the government has now consolidated 29 labour laws into four comprehensive Labour Codes.

The four Labour Codes include the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.

A rescued Eurasian Griffon vulture named Marich amazed the internet after completing a 15,000 km journey across multiple countries before returning to India. Its remarkable migration sparked widespread awe, curiosity, and humour on social media.

A rescued Eurasian Griffon vulture has become the talk of social media after completing an astonishing multi-nation journey. Earlier this year, the bird—later named Marich—was found badly injured in Nagaur village of Satna district, Madhya Pradesh. It was immediately taken to Mukundpur Zoo for medical attention and later shifted to Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal for continued rehabilitation. After nearly two months of expert care, Marich was finally released back into the wild from Halali Dam in Vidisha on March 29.

As Delhi grapples with a severe pollution crisis, a viral post by a London-based tech professional has reignited the debate around the city’s worsening air quality. The NRI, who grew up in the capital, shared a post on his X handle, describing how his recent visit left him shocked, sick, and desperate to leave.

As Delhi grapples with a severe pollution crisis, a viral post by a London-based tech professional has reignited the debate around the city’s worsening air quality. The NRI, who grew up in the capital, shared a post on his X handle, describing how his recent visit left him shocked, sick, and desperate to leave.

In his post, he urged residents to “leave Delhi, go in debt if you have to,” calling the situation nothing short of a health emergency. The techie wrote that although he had lived in Delhi for years and was aware of its pollution problem, he never truly comprehended the severity until he experienced it after living abroad. “I used to think, how bad can the AQI really be? I grew up here, studied here, and never felt a huge difference,” he noted, adding that the sight of people jogging or walking without masks once made him believe the situation was manageable.

But his perception changed drastically the moment he landed in Delhi after years of breathing clean air in London. “I could literally taste and smell the pollution,” he wrote. Even at AQI 200, a level many Delhi residents consider ‘normal’, he felt a sore throat, irritation, and what he described as “needles in my lungs.” He claimed he could “feel the pollution entering” his body with every breath.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/viral/can-feel-pollution-entering-my-body-nri-reacts-after-re-visiting-delhi-urges-people-to-leave-city 

The Bombay High Court gave a man two weeks’ time after he allegedly abandoned his 76-year-old mother at a hospital in Mumbai, an act for which an FIR had been filed against him.

The Bombay High Court on Monday granted two weeks’ time to a man who abandoned his 76-year-old mother at a hospital in Mumbai’s Bandra area against whom an FIR was also registered.

A bench of Justices AS Gadkari and RR Bhonsale also sought suggestions as to what steps can be taken in the case. During the hearing, the bench pertinently asked the lawyers how the woman was doing and if her son, Amit Puri, was taking care of her now.

The bench on November 17, directed the son, who had run up a bill of over Rs 16 lakh at the Holy Family Hospital to pay, and with his consent and under his supervision, his mother be shifted to the ICU of Bhabha Hospital. The shifting was to be done by the son before 9 am on November 18.

However, advocates Yogesh Naidu, Wesley Menezes and Anukul Seth, appearing for the hospital, informed the court that the man, instead of transferring his mother, sent them a mail seeking time. However, the woman was shifted to the civic hospital and is reportedly doing fine.

Additional Public Prosecutor Ashish I Satpute, appearing for the state government, told the court that a FIR was registered against the man for abandoning his mother under the Senior Citizen Welfare Act and allegedly threatening a doctor and violating the High Court order.

Satpute pointed out that Puri did not assist in the transfer of his mother to Bhabha Hospital, stayed away and did not pay charges for the shifting and medicines, and other treatment charges as per the hospital policy.

Furthermore, the court had directed Puri to furnish an affidavit with details of all the properties, both movable and immovable, owned and possessed by his mother. He had not done the same and instead, advocate Roop Jain appeared through video conferencing for him and the court directed him to appear in person.

Satpute submitted that Puri had appeared before the Senior Citizen Welfare Tribunal and sought time to reply to the hospital’s plea, saying he “arrogantly said that he was challenging the Bombay High Court order.”

Puri has been blaming the Holy Family Hospital for negligence in treating his mother. He has filed complaints and had allegedly created a lot of chaos. The hospital had approached the High Court, alleging that he was not discharging and taking his mother home and was later only communicating through emails and legal notices.

The hospital alleged that the woman caught hospital-borne infections thrice because Puri had not discharged her from hospital, while she was fit to be taken home where she could be cared for in a better way.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/man-who-abandoned-mother-76-at-hospital-given-2-weeks-to-comply-with-bombay-high-court-order-2825365-2025-11-25

Essential services, hospitals, utilities and pollution-control teams are exempt, while district authorities have been directed to ensure strict compliance, with penalties applicable for violations.

The Delhi government on Thursday directed all government and private offices in the Capital to operate at no more than 50% staff strength, with the remaining employees required to work from home, as part of emergency curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage III.

The directive comes amid a sustained deterioration in Delhi’s air quality, with pollution levels — especially PM2.5 and PM10 — breaching prescribed standards during peak winter months. Delhi has been notified as an air pollution control area since 1987, and authorities have invoked successive stages of GRAP since mid-October following directions from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

50% CAP FOR GOVT AND PRIVATE OFFICES

The order was issued by the Department of Environment & Forests under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. As per the order, all GNCTD government offices must ensure that not more than half their staff is physically present. Administrative Secretaries and Heads of Departments may summon additional personnel only when essential to maintain emergency and public services.

Private offices across Delhi must also cap attendance at 50%, with the rest of the workforce mandatorily working from home. They have additionally been instructed to introduce staggered work hours, enforce strict work-from-home systems, and minimise vehicular movement linked to office commutes — a major contributor to emissions during severe pollution episodes.

SUPREME COURT-DRIVEN GRAP AMENDMENTS

The fresh curbs follow CAQM’s amendments to the GRAP schedule after Supreme Court hearings on November 17 and 19 in the MC Mehta air pollution case, followed by stakeholder consultations on November 20. As part of the revised framework, a measure earlier listed under GRAP Stage IV, allowing offices to operate at half strength, has now been shifted to Stage III for quicker intervention.

LG CLEARS STAGGERED TIMINGS FOR GOVT OFFICES

The move comes days after Delhi LG VK Saxena approved staggered office timings for GNCTD and Municipal Corporation of Delhi establishments, aimed at reducing peak-hour congestion and traffic emissions. Authorities have said vehicular pollution remains a major concern during high-pollution periods.

ESSENTIAL SERVICES EXEMPT

Hospitals, health establishments, fire services, prisons, public transport departments, electricity and water utilities, sanitation bodies, disaster management units, and agencies involved in pollution control or enforcement have been exempted from the 50% cap.

STRICT ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES

The order is effective immediately and will remain in force for the entire duration of GRAP Stage III. District Magistrates, Deputy Commissioners of Police, and local bodies have been asked to ensure compliance across all private and government offices.

Violations will attract penalties under Sections 15 and 16 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, in addition to other applicable laws.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/delhi/story/delhi-government-asks-offices-to-enforce-50-work-from-home-amid-severe-air-pollution-2825294-2025-11-24

Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted after nearly 10,000 years, sending ash clouds towards India. The ash reaching Delhi may affect air quality and weather conditions in the region.

A plume of volcanic ash from Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi volcano reached Delhi around 11 pm on Monday. Forecasters had been tracking the cloud for a day as it moved across the Red Sea and headed toward northwest India at nearly 130 kmph. The long-dormant volcano erupted for the first time in nearly 10,000 years on Sunday, pushing a thick column of ash and sulphur dioxide high into the sky.

Weather trackers said the plume first entered India over western Rajasthan. “The ash cloud has now entered the Indian subcontinent from the Jodhpur-Jaisalmer region and is moving northeast at 120-130 kmph,” the India Met Sky Weather alert said. “Skies may look weird and funny for a while, but there is less to worry about as the ash lies between 25,000 and 45,000 feet.”

By late evening, the plume stretched over parts of Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi, with a trailing segment expected to brush Gujarat. Forecasters also warned that Punjab, the foothills of western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Himachal Pradesh could see impacts overnight.

Experts said most of the ash is too high to pose health risks on the ground, but some light precipitation of ash particles is possible. Sunrise on Tuesday may bring unusual colours, while noting that air quality would remain awful as usual, regardless of the volcanic intrusion.

AVIATION ON ALERT

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an urgent advisory for all Indian carriers after volcanic ash advisories were released by Toulouse, Airports Authority of India and an ASHTAM warning of hazardous conditions across parts of the Muscat Flight Information Region.

The regulator told airlines to revise routing and fuel plans, cautioning crews against flying through any ash-affected airspace. “Strict avoidance of volcanic ash-affected areas and flight levels is mandatory,” the advisory said. Pilots were asked to report any unusual engine behaviour or cabin odour immediately, while dispatch teams were told to monitor NOTAMs, ASHTAMs and meteorological updates throughout the night.

The agency also directed airlines to brief crew on volcanic-ash procedures listed in their operations manuals.

Though the cloud over India is high-altitude and unlikely to affect takeoffs or landings, officials said its evolving path over West Asia demanded caution. The DGCA said it is preparing for potential air travel disruptions depending on updated advisories through the night and Tuesday morning.

VOLCANIC ASH DISRUPTS FLIGHTS

Flight disruptions began on Monday along routes crossing the volcanic ash corridor. According to news agency PTI, two international departures from Kochi were cancelled as a precaution after the eruption in Ethiopia. Cochin International Airport Limited said the affected flights were IndiGo’s Cochin-Dubai service (6E1475) and Akasa Air’s Cochin-Jeddah flight (QP550). Airport officials said operations would resume once conditions improve.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines also cancelled its Amsterdam-Delhi flight (KL 871) and the return Delhi-Amsterdam service (KL 872) due to the ash cloud.

In a post on X late on Monday, Air India said, “Following the volcanic eruption in Ethiopia, ash clouds have been observed over certain geographical regions.”

“We are closely monitoring the situation and remain in constant touch with our operating crew. There is no major impact on Air India flights at this time,” it said.

Amid reports of flight diversions and cancellations, IndiGo said in a statement that it was “closely tracking the situation” and was “fully prepared with all necessary precautions to ensure safe and reliable operations”.

Airlines issued cautionary messages for passengers flying through the Middle East. SpiceJet warned that volcanic ash over parts of the Arabian Peninsula “may impact flight operations for aircraft flying through these regions”, adding that its operations and safety teams were monitoring the cloud’s movement. The carrier advised passengers travelling to and from Dubai to check their flight status.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ethiopian-volcano-ash-reaches-delhi-aviation-regulators-safety-alert-airlines-glbs-2825360-2025-11-25

Several Bollywood actors, including Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor, are also among the 600 guests, according to locals involved in the wedding preparations.

A glitzy extravaganza is set to unfold here over the next few days as several global celebrities, including singer-actor Jennifer Lopez and US President’s son Donald Trump Jr, are expected to descend on the City of Lakes to attend the wedding of US-based industrialist Raju Ramalinga Mantena’s daughter.

Several Bollywood actors, including Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor, are also among the 600 guests, according to locals involved in the wedding preparations.

The industrialist’s daughter, Netra Mantena, will marry NRI Vamsi Gadiraju and the wedding celebrations will be spread over four days — November 21 to 24.

Donald Trump Jr is expected to arrive here with his family on Friday. US security agencies are already in Udaipur for his visit. He will remain under special protection from the moment he arrives at the airport and is expected to stay at The Leela Palace.

Trump Jr visited the Taj Mahal in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra and Vantara, a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre at Jamnagar in Gujarat on Thursday.

Lopez and South African DJ-producer Black Coffee are likely to perform for the guests, the local residents said.

The Leela Palace hotel here has been done up in an opulent red theme to welcome the guests.

Huge clusters of flowers hang from arches and pillars, and grand chandeliers have been installed to give the venue the appearance of a royal durbar. The seating area has red couches with patterned cushions and golden lamps.

Other venues are also being decorated on a grand scale.

Besides The Leela Palace, ceremonies will be held at Manek Chowk and Zenana Mahal of Udaipur City Palace and Jagmandir, according to the people cited above.

Security has been tightened in Udaipur for the high-profile wedding.

Dutch DJ-producer Tiesto performed at The Leela Palace on Thursday night. Traditional Rajasthani dance troupes and Manganiyar artists also performed.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jennifer-lopez-donald-trump-jr-to-gather-in-udaipur-for-wedding-of-industrialists-daughter-3805788 

A viral X post has showcased Google’s Nano Banana Pro flawlessly solving a handwritten question and even mimicking the user’s handwriting. The demo has sparked both awe and concern online.

A new demo of Google’s Nano Banana Pro has set social media buzzing, thanks to a viral post showcasing just how precisely the tool can read and recreate handwritten work.

The now-popular image shared on X (formerly Twitter) features the AI solving a handwritten maths problem simply from a photo. What stunned users even more was that the tool reproduced the solution in the user’s own handwriting style.

The post, uploaded by @immasiddx, included the caption, “Google’s Nano Banana Pro is by far the best image generation AI out there.”

In the screenshots he shared, the user explained that the model instantly solved his handwritten question after he uploaded a quick snap of his notes. He added, “I gave it a picture of a question, and it solved it correctly in my actual handwriting. Students are gonna love this,” noting that the output far surpassed his expectations.

Posted on November 21, 2025, the clip has since racked up over 6 lakh views and sparked lively reactions.

Several X users were taken aback by the accuracy, saying they’d never seen an AI handle handwriting with such precision. One person wrote, “Incredible, and we are still just in the beginning of AI.”

Another observed, “Handwriting used to be the ‘Proof of Work’. It was the biometric signature of effort. Now, it’s just a style filter. We didn’t just automate the ‘Thinking’; we automated the human imperfection”.

The concerns didn’t stop there. A user remarked, “The education system, which was already falling behind, has a major challenge to tackle.”

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/viral/googles-nano-banana-pro-stuns-internet-by-solving-math-problem-in-users-exact-handwriting-article-153192128

India hosted the 18th G20 summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi in September 2023, when the African Union was added as a permanent member of the group. Ramaphosa said South Africa had closely watched India’s stewardship of the group in 2023.

As Africa hosted the G20 summit for the first time, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa admitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi — half joking, half serious — that the task was far more daunting than anticipated. “Maybe we would have run away,” he said, opening their bilateral talks in Johannesburg.

In his opening remarks at delegation-level talks with the Indian side, Ramaphosa thanked New Delhi for its support as Pretoria took on the presidency.

“Thank you for the support that India has given to South Africa in hosting G20…You should have told us that it is such a difficult task, maybe we would have run away,” Ramaphosa said with a laugh. PM Modi and other delegates in the room also laughed at the remark.

Ramaphosa said South Africa had closely watched India’s stewardship of the group in 2023. “We have learned a lot from your hosting of the G20 and yours was spectacular… building ours is really small,” he said. PM Modi immediately replied: “Small is always beautiful.”

India hosted the 18th G20 summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi in September 2023, when the African Union was added as a permanent member of the group.

INDIA, BRAZIL, INDONESIA SET FOUNDATION FOR SA G20: RAMAPHOSA
Following the talks, Ramaphosa said in his closing address that India, Brazil and Indonesia had laid the foundation for South Africa’s G20 presidency.

“We learnt a lot from what Indonesia, India and Brazil did. In many ways, what we see having unfolded here was based on the foundations that those three countries of the Global South put in place,” he said.

“Our agreement on a Declaration during this summit demonstrates the value of the G20 as a forum that can facilitate joint action on issues of shared concern not only for the leaders, but shared concern for the peoples of the world. More than that, it reaffirms our renewed commitment to multilateral cooperation and our recognition that our shared goals outweigh our differences,” the president added.

Ramaphosa thanked all G20 members and invited guests for their presence, saying their commitment had been vital “in reaffirming the G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation”.

Setting out South Africa’s priorities, he reaffirmed that “the greatest opportunity for prosperity in the 21st century lies in Africa”, and said Pretoria had “sought to place Africa’s growth and development at the heart of the G20’s agenda”.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/ramaphosas-jibe-at-pm-modi-on-hosting-g20-summit-glbs-2824841-2025-11-24

Dr Navlakhe, 43, hails from Burhanpur and earlier worked as a medical officer and later as a resident medical officer at the district hospital.

A routine police check in a small village in Madhya Pradesh has unexpectedly uncovered one of the state’s biggest fake currency networks — and at the centre of it, officers say, was not a career criminal but an MBBS doctor who once served in government hospitals.

The Khandwa Police on Friday confirmed the arrest of Dr Pratik Navlakhe along with three others, revealing how an operation that began inside the Khandwa District Jail had grown into a multi-state counterfeiting racket.

Officers said the group printed fake notes in bulk and pushed them into circulation across Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Some of the counterfeit money was even used to buy property.

Dr Navlakhe, 43, hails from Burhanpur and earlier worked as a medical officer and later as a resident medical officer at the district hospital.

Despite his respectable background, police said he had a history of financial fraud and had previously been accused of embezzling large sums while working in government posts. After spending time in jail, he set aside his medical career and moved into crime on a much bigger scale.

He rented a flat in Bhopal’s Gokuldham Society and quietly built a sophisticated printing setup using scanners, printers, cutters and dyes. He then appointed agents in Nagpur, Malegaon and other cities to move the fake notes. Police estimate the gang has circulated nearly Rs 40 lakh worth of counterfeit currency so far.

The case first surfaced on 2 November after villagers in Pethiya informed the Jawar Police that maulana Zuber Ansari — already arrested in Maharashtra for fake currency — might have hidden notes in his rented room. During the search, officers found Rs 19.78 lakh in forged Rs 500 notes, along with a cutting machine and raw material. The notes showed poor security threads and mismatched prints.

Realising the scale of the crime, SP Manoj Kumar Rai set up a Special Investigation Team led by ASP Mahendra Taranekar, with DSP Anil Singh Chauhan, TI Praveen Arya and other officers. As the team probed further, they discovered that the maulana was only transporting notes and the mastermind was in Bhopal.

On 23 November, the SIT raided Gokuldham Society and found printers, drying machines, stacks of unfinished notes and three men working inside. Dr Navlakhe was arrested along with Gopal alias Rahul (35) and Dinesh Gore (43). Equipment worth lakhs and several financial documents were seized.

Investigators later learned that the accused first met inside the Khandwa District Jail and regrouped after their release to start the fake currency operation. They also ran a fake travel agency on Hoshangabad Road as a front to recruit agents and move counterfeit cash to Nagpur, Malegaon and Jalgaon.

ASP Taranekar said, “Dr Pratik Navlakhe was identified as the mastermind. We formed an SIT and traced him to Bhopal. In Gokuldham Society, we found three men and a fully active currency-printing setup. These people met in jail. They used to print four Rs 500 notes on a single sheet. The notes were circulated in various states.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/how-mp-doctor-set-up-a-fake-currency-racket-with-former-jailmates-ws-el-9726880.html

A Meta engineer shared a wild story about receiving a chilling text from his Uber driver in Delhi, but an unexpected comical twist stunned the internet.

There’s a plot twist no one predicted! A Meta engineer shared a wild story about receiving a text from his Uber driver in Delhi, which sent chills down his spine. However, what happened next sent the internet laughing out loud, with something for Google to think about.

Arnav Gupta, a Meta engineer and an entrepreneur in Delhi, shared a story about a spooky text he received from his cab driver, where the latter said he was “facing the threat of murder.”

“A chill ran down my spine. It is Delhi after all. Anything can happen. Is he threatening to murder me because I made him wait and mistyped it? Are people on the street threatening to murder him because he is blocking the road?” he said, sharing his thoughts at the moment.

However, a comical twist happened as Arnav opened the app to see the chat, where the driver said ‘ok’ to him when he asked him to wait. It turned out that the message was translated by Google. Wow!

“I clicked “see original” as at least 15 different possible translations roamed around my head. And then I heaved the biggest sigh of relief in a long long time. He was in front of Mother Dairy,” Arnav said in his post. This is not what you see everyday!

The post received reactions of shock and laughter, as people posted various remarks over the tweet. “I have heard a rumour that Netflix has bought rights to this story. Arijit is going to sing title song,” a user said.

Source: https://www.news18.com/viral/meta-techie-gets-murder-threat-text-from-cab-driver-unexpected-twist-leaves-internet-in-splits-ws-el-9726900.html

“Today, the land of Sindh may not be a part of India, but civilisationally, Sindh will always be a part of India. And as far as land is concerned, borders can change,” Rajnath Singh said

The Sindh region may not be with India today, but borders can change and the region may return home to India, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said at an event.

Sindh province, the area near the Indus River, went to Pakistan following Partition in 1947, and the Sindhi people who lived in that region came to India.

The Defence Minister said Sindhi Hindus, especially from the generation of leaders like LK Advani, have never accepted the separation of Sindh region from India.

“I’d also like to mention that Lal Krishna Advani wrote in one of his books that Sindhi Hindus, especially those of his generation, still haven’t accepted the separation of Sindh from India,” he said.

“Not just in Sindh, but throughout India, Hindus consider the Indus River sacred. Many Muslims in Sindh also believed that the water of the Indus was no less sacred than the Aab-e-Zamzam of Mecca. This is Advani ji’s quote,” he added.

“Today, the land of Sindh may not be a part of India, but civilisationally, Sindh will always be a part of India. And as far as land is concerned, borders can change. Who knows, tomorrow Sindh may return to India again. Our people of Sindh, who hold the Indus River sacred, will always be our own. No matter where they are, they will always be ours,” the Defence Minister said.

At an interaction with the Indian community in Morocco on September 22, Singh said he is confident of India getting back PoK without taking any aggressive steps, as the people in PoK have been demanding freedom from the occupiers.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sindh-may-return-to-india-rajnath-singhs-borders-may-change-remark-9686581?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

In his address at a convocation ceremony of a Delhi-based management institute, he also said the military operation reflected a “foresight” to anticipate change as the situation unfolded.

Operation Sindoor was a “trusted orchestra” where every musician played a “simultaneous or synergistic role”, and that is how in 22 minutes, the Indian armed forces could destroy nine terrorist targets, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi said on Saturday.

In his address at a convocation ceremony of a Delhi-based management institute, he also said the military operation reflected a “foresight” to anticipate change as the situation unfolded.

It was “a response shaped not in the moment, but through years of imagining how intelligence, precision and technology could converge into action,” the general officer said.

India launched the military operation early on May 7 and decimated multiple terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Pakistan also launched offensives against India, and all subsequent counter-offensives by India were also carried out under Operation Sindoor.

The military conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, lasting nearly 88 hours, halted after they reached an understanding on the evening of May 10.

“Op Sindoor was a trusted orchestra where every musician played a simultaneous or a synergistic role. That is how in 22 minutes, we could destroy nine terrorist targets and, we could in 80 hours make sure that the battle comes to an end. But what is more important, there was no time for decision making, had we not visualised, and had we not trusted the entire team,” the Army chief said.

In his address at the ceremony hosted by New Delhi Institute of Management (NDIM) here, Gen Dwivedi told the gathering of graduating students to lead with “wisdom, humility and power”.

“So as you step forward today, remember the world will never stand still, markets will shift, technology will evolve, and your own ambitions will also change. Yet within that motion lies your greatest strength, the courage to learn, the agility to adapt, and the vision to lead with a purpose. Change is not what happens to us, it’s what we choose to become through it,” he said.

The general’s address was themed on ‘Navigating Change: The Real Constant’ and he touched upon the aspects of evolving global dynamics, technology as a disruptive force and reflections for the road ahead.

“As the 21st century unfolded, long peace yielded to a contested landscape of competition, contestation and conflicts. As across the world today over 55 conflicts today rage on, drawing in more than 100 nations, directly or indirectly, therefore blurring the boundary between peace and conflict,” he said.

And, as battlefields blurred, so did the markets, the Army chief said.

“The rise of nationalism, protectionism and sanctions led to the emergence of geoeconomics, a framework articulated by Edward Luttwak, who described it as a logic of war expressed through the grammar of commerce,” he emphasised.

The Army chief said that today, the six chapters of grammar book are different from the traditional Wren and Martin’s English grammar book. It contains “cooperation, collaboration, co-existence, competition, contestation and the conflict itself”.

“So, these are the 6Cs, which we have to know together. Because, in our strategic dealings also, we deal with the 6Cs, and you also in the future will be dealing with these,” he added.

The Army chief underlined the importance of technology in military evolution.

“Technology has transformed warfare, ranging from muddy trenches to intelligent network, rifles to drones, boots to bots, and also revolutions businesses, shampoo sachets to Gemini,” he added.

He also emphasised the need for adaptation and what he described in the context of change as “a velocity of relevance”.

“Recognising opportunity is one thing, responding to it is another. And that response begins with the courage to embrace change before it compels you to change. When I was commissioned into the Army, computers were nowhere in the horizon in our Army. And here I stand today, leading an Army that applies data sciences and AI in modern war fighting,” Gen Dwivedi said.

He said the transformation journey in the Army includes restructuring the force for greater agility, deepening jointness with the Navy, Air Force and other domains, accelerating modernisation through cutting-edge technologies, reforming human resource system and continuously refining our system processes and functions to enhance efficiency and responsiveness.

General Dwivedi said that today he is leading “a community of approximately 1.3 crore soldiers, veterans and families” and that happens to be one per cent of the Indian population.

“As I often tell my friends in the corporate world, that while they handle a few hundred resumes, we handle a few million lives, who are ready to walk into a hail of bullets on your one clarion call.” He also spoke of seeking an opportunity in times of turbulence.

“Let me begin with one that has served the Indian Army well, the ability to find opportunity in uncertainty. In 1971, when turmoil in us, while East Pakistan turned a tide of refugees, creating regional instability, India turned crisis into liberation, reshaping the subcontinent’s destiny,” the officer said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/trusted-orchestra-army-chief-on-how-operation-sindoor-was-executed-9683327

Shukla said travelling outside the Earth offers a profound realisation that “this is your planet, this is your home, there is nowhere else to go.”

Astronaut and Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on Saturday urged the youth to work together to tackle shared global challenges like climate change, and avoid making the mistakes of earth in space.

Shukla said travelling outside the Earth offers a profound realisation that “this is your planet, this is your home, there is nowhere else to go.” Speaking at the 26th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World at his alma mater City Montessori School here, Shukla said the experience of viewing Earth from space changes a person.

“It is not about a region, it is not about a city, it’s about the entire planet which is your home. What happens in one place, even if we don’t see it visually, will affect us a few months or a year later. That realisation becomes very deep and you come back a changed person,” he said.

Shukla stressed that climate change is a global crisis that demands collective action.

“We are on the issue of climate change and how our Earth is changing, how there is a distinct need for us to first of all realise it and take concrete steps to protect it and prevent what is happening,” he said.

To illustrate how evidence changed global understanding in the past, Shukla referred to a rise in thyroid cancer detection in the early 2000s across countries including South Korea, the US and Europe.

“People were puzzled why it was happening so rapidly. But what had happened was we had machines, CT scans, ultrasound, MRIs, that could diagnose it. It was not that thyroid cancer itself was rising, it was just that we had started discovering that it was happening,” he said.

A similar shift, he added, occurred when space exploration began in the 1950s and 1960s. “In a sense, when you think there is a crisis that climate change is happening it was once restricted to local pockets. When satellites went up, they gave you concrete, irrefutable data that it is real and it is happening the world over. It’s a problem that we are all facing together,” he said.

Shukla told the gathering of international jurists and school students that the biggest challenge today is not lack of awareness but the difficulty of getting people to agree on solutions.

“I think all of us understand the problem. We know that there is a problem and there are a few people who also want to solve it. But somehow we always fail at the implementation. How do we get people to agree to what we think is the right way to go forward? We don’t have the answer,” he said.

He urged young people to think boldly about building a global framework for consensus.

“I hope some of you put your mind to it and come up with a framework that allows global citizens and governments all over the world to come together and agree that this is what the world needs to do together and go forward,” he said.

Shukla also highlighted the rapid expansion of space activity and the new challenges it poses.

“There are treaties and laws in place, but now we are exploring space at a very rapid rate. There are about 13,000 satellites operational in space, and plans to expand these to around 35,000 to 40,000. And this is just the lower earth orbit (LEO) up to 2,000 km. I am not even talking about what’s beyond this, because things are happening there also, and on the Moon and beyond,” he said.

Warning against repeating past mistakes, he asked, “How do we not make the mistakes that we have made here on Earth outside? These are questions I don’t think we have really solid answers to. We understand the problem but we don’t know how it is going to affect us in the future. So I think it is a grey area.” The astronaut said the challenges ahead are not limited to technical issues about sending people into space and bringing them back.

“It is going to be an ethical challenge, a moral challenge, and your responsibility that you have to understand now,” he said, urging students to make full use of the unrestricted access to information available today.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/climate-change-nowhere-else-to-go-shubhanshu-shukla-calls-for-tackling-climate-crisis-9683453

The government has implemented four Labour Codes, which modernise and consolidate existing labour laws, impacting millions of workers by expanding Provident Fund and social security coverage.

In a landmark move, the government on Friday implemented the four Labour Codes pending since 2020. One of the biggest impacts of these codes will be seen in Provident Fund (PF), Employees’ State Insurance (ESIC), and social security coverage, which now extend to millions of workers who were previously excluded.
The four Labour Codes now in force are: Wages, Industrial Relations, Social Security, and Occupational Safety & Health. Together, they replace 29 older laws with a modern, consolidated framework.
The new codes introduce worker-friendly measures such as timely minimum wages for all and universal social security, including gig and platform workers.

At the same time, the framework allows longer work hours, wider fixed-term employment, and employer-friendly retrenchment rules.

Lt Gen Dhiraj Seth, GOC-in-C Southern Command, underscored that human skill and judgment – not technology – ultimately decide battle outcomes, as he reviewed the Passing-out Parade at the Combat Army Aviation Training School.

Emphasising that technology alone cannot determine the outcome of future conflicts, Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, on Friday asserted that “Machines do not win battles but it is the skill, the judgment and resolve of the aviators operating them” that ultimately makes the decisive difference on the battlefield.

Lt Gen Seth was speaking after reviewing the Passing-out Parade at the Combat Army Aviation Training School (CAATS), where he highlighted the unprecedented pace at which modern warfare is evolving. The character of conflict today, he said, is marked by precision engagements, contested air spaces, multi-domain integration and high-tempo operations – a transformation “unseen in decades”.

In this rapidly shifting environment, he noted, Army Aviation has emerged as an indispensable arm providing the force with a “flexible, responsive and indispensable third dimension”.

“Our blend of manned and unmanned platforms gives commanders exceptional operational reach, from reconnaissance and surveillance to lift, attack and precision engagements. Together these capabilities make army aviation a decisive combat multiplier,” he said.

Lt Gen Seth added that the impending induction of new technologies would further enhance this operational edge. However, he emphasised that no level of technological advancement could replace the human factor.

“Yet, even with this cutting-edge capability, there is one truth that remains always constant. Machines do not win battles but it is the skill, the judgment and resolve of the aviators operating them…. It is therefore fitting that CAATS has been designated as the center of expertise for RPAs (remotely piloted aircraft) operations and combat air maneuver,” he stated.

Addressing the newly commissioned aviators, Lt Gen Seth offered a clear and stern reminder of the responsibilities that accompany combat flying.

He advised cadets that each sortie demands complete situational awareness, adherence to procedures, respect for the machine and an unwavering commitment to mission safety.

“In combat flying, the margins are thin and the stakes are high. Never cross the red lines and compromise safety or jeopardize the mission,” he cautioned.

The ceremony marked the first-ever combined passing out of officers from the Combat Aviation Course (CAC), the Army Helicopter Instructor’s Course (AHIC), and the inaugural Combined Internal Pilot and Observers Course.

Among the award winners, Capt Ajit Singh was adjudged the Overall Best Cadet of the Combined IP/OB Course. Captain Kushal Sharma received the prestigious ‘Silver Cheetah’ trophy for topping the Combat Aviators Course, while Maj Paramveer Singh Shekhawat secured the ‘First in Order of Merit’ award in the AHIC.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/machines-do-not-win-battles-skill-and-resolve-of-aviator-matter-lt-gen-seth-article-153189452

The arrested person has been identified as Tufail Niyaz Bhat, a resident of the Batamaloo area of Srinagar, who was arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into the ‘white collar’ terror module case.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police’s State Investigation Agency arrested a man in Srinagar in connection with a ‘white collar’ terror module case.

The arrested person has been identified as Tufail Niyaz Bhat, a resident of the Batamaloo area of Srinagar, who was arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into the ‘white collar’ terror module case. According to media reports, Bhat is an electrician.

Chennai is currently experiencing a lack of significant rainfall, despite a low-pressure system forming over the Strait of Malacca, expected to develop into a depression by November 24. While districts in Tamil Nadu may receive heavy rains, forecasts suggest Chennai will likely see only light to moderate showers.

Speaking at the Gateway of India ahead of the 26/11 anniversary, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed Pakistan is attempting to reassert itself through proxy terror after the recent Delhi car blast that killed 15 people. He praised Indian security agencies for foiling planned strikes and said India has changed, with zero tolerance for terrorism.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday claimed that Pakistan is attempting to “assert its presence” through proxy attacks, following the car blast in Delhi that killed 15 people. He was speaking at a public gathering at the Gateway of India to mark the approach of the 17th anniversary of the Mumbai 26/11 terror attack.

Fadnavis said that Pakistan is aware it can no longer challenge India in a direct fight and therefore continues to pursue indirect tactics designed to create fear and instability.

“Pakistan now knows that it cannot defeat India in a direct fight. Therefore, it tries to wage a proxy war, a pseudo-war, and with an explosion in Delhi, it attempts to assert its presence once again. But I am glad that today we have a changed India,” he said.

Indian agencies prevented larger attack

India and Afghanistan are set to deepen trade ties through Iran’s Chabahar port and new cargo flights from Delhi and Amritsar to Kabul. The move, announced during Afghan Trade Minister Nooruddin Azizi’s visit, includes commercial attaches, investment incentives, and streamlined logistics. Kabul is shifting away from Islamabad to boost exports.

What do two friendly countries do when they have a wedge in the middle? They bypass it. That’s exactly what India and Afghanistan are planning to do with the roadblock called Pakistan. Kabul and New Delhi are set to expand bilateral trade both through the sea by leveraging Iran’s Chabahar port more extensively. The two countries are also gearing up to enhance bilateral trade by setting up two dedicated cargo flight routes, officials of India and Afghanistan announced on Friday.

With Afghanistan’s acting Minister of Industry and Commerce Nooruddin Azizi on a five-day visit to India, officials announced the launch of cargo flight routes to Kabul from Delhi and Amritsar. The move, confirmed by India’s Joint Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs Anand Prakash, comes alongside a decision to post dedicated commercial attaches in both Delhi and Kabul.

The bilateral trade between India and Afghanistan is currently valued at over USD 1 billion, and both nations, once contiguous neighbours, are set to expand it.

India and Pakistan are legally contiguous neighbours, but they no longer share a land border for trade or transit because of Pakistan’s illegal occupation of Gilgit-Baltistan. That makes direct overland access between New Delhi and Kabul practically impossible. As a result, alternatives now lie either in air routes or multimodal corridors that bypass Pakistan entirely through Iran’s Chabahar port.

The joint announcement by Indian and Afghan officials comes a day after Azizi met India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Responding to India Today Digital’s question on whether improved Pakistan-Afghanistan relations in future could affect Kabul’s ties with New Delhi, Azizi said, “We never wanted violence. Afghanistan has witnessed enough bloodshed. Business and politics should not be mixed. Our focus is on creating a conducive business environment for the country’s uplift.”

TALIBAN-LED GOVT INVITES INDIAN BUSINESSES TO INVEST IN AFGHANISTAN

Azizi, heading a large business delegation, used the visit to push for greater reliance on Iran’s Chabahar port, where India has invested heavily as a gateway for Afghan goods.

He specifically requested scheduled shipping services from the port, construction of dry ports in Afghanistan’s Nimruz province near the Iranian border, and smoother handling of Afghan cargo at India’s Nhava Sheva Port in Maharashtra.

Azizi also extended an open invitation to Indian businesses to participate in sectors such as mining, agriculture, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, IT, energy, and textiles. He announced several new incentives, including a 1% tariff on raw materials and machinery, free land allocations, reliable power supply, and proposed five-year tax exemptions for new industries—particularly those established by returning Afghan refugees.

Nooruddin Azizi also encouraged greater engagement from the Afghan Sikh and Hindu communities and reaffirmed Afghanistan’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful, inclusive, and business-friendly environment for all partners.

Indian authorities have also pledged swift follow-up on the same, including eased business visa processing and strengthened banking channels despite ongoing sanctions hurdles.

Cargo flight operations on the Kabul-Delhi and Kabul-Amritsar sectors are expected to start soon, which will enable faster movement of perishable Afghan exports such as fresh fruits and medicinal herbs. These commodities suffer from delays in ground transit.

Areas flagged for collaboration include pharmaceuticals, cold-chain infrastructure, food processing plants and mineral extraction ventures.

The backdrop to these agreements is Kabul’s deteriorating transit relationship with Pakistan.

Last month, amid Pakistan and Afghanistan’s cross-border attacks, dozens of Afghan trucks were stranded with produce rotting when the frontier shut on October 12.

Losses exceeded $100 million on both sides, and up to 25,000 border workers were affected, according to the Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI).

Following this, Afghan deputy PM Baradar warned traders that Kabul would not intervene if they kept relying on Pakistan.

TALIBAN REGIME HAS ASKED AFGHANS TO SKIP PAK FOR TRADE

Wing Commander Namansh Syal, 34, of the Indian Air Force, was martyred after the indigenous Tejas fighter jet crashed during a practice sortie at the Dubai Air Show.

Himachal Pradesh’s Patialakad village in Nagrota Bagwan was left shattered after Wing Commander Namansh Syal, 34, of the Indian Air Force, was martyred when an IAF Tejas fighter jet crashed in the United Arab Emirates on Friday while taking part in the Dubai Airshow 2025. The indigenous aircraft went down during a practice and demonstration flight at the prestigious event in the afternoon local time.

Wing Commander Syal, a resident of Nagrota Bagwan, was known for his discipline and exceptional service record. He did his schooling at Sainik School, Sujanpur Tira, in Hamirpur district. He is survived by his aged parents, his wife — an Indian Air Force officer — and their six-year-old daughter.

His father, Jagan Nath, a retired Army officer who later served as a principal in the Himachal Pradesh Education Department, and his mother Bina Devi were in Hyderabad to meet their son and daughter-in-law at the time of the tragedy. The Syal family home had been locked for several days.

Visuals of the crash aired on multiple TV channels showed the Tejas jet losing altitude before hitting the ground and bursting into a massive ball of fire. Thick smoke billowed from the crash site, leaving spectators at the Dubai Airshow stunned.

The news of the fatal crash sent waves of grief across the Kangra valley, with villagers gathering outside the family home late into the cold night. Many sat in shock, lighting a bonfire for warmth as they tried to comprehend the loss of their brave son.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/who-was-wing-commander-namansh-syal-tejas-crash-dubai-airshow-iaf-pilot-profile-2824159-2025-11-22

The Enforcement Directorate has submitted a chargesheet against Robert Vadra, husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in a money laundering investigation linked to UK arms consultant Sanjay Bhandari.

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday filed a chargesheet against businessman Robert Vadra, husband of Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, in a money laundering case linked to fugitive UK-based arms consultant Sanjay Bhandari, officials said.
The supplementary prosecution complaint has been filed before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court here, they said. The case has been listed for cognisance proceedings on December 6, the officials said.
This is the second money laundering chargesheet against Vadra. In July, he was chargesheeted by the ED in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in a land deal in Haryana’s Shikohpur.

Vadra, 56, has been questioned by the ED in the Bhandari-linked case in the past. There was no immediate response from Vadra or his legal team.

The ED filed a criminal case against Bhandari and others under the PMLA in February 2017, taking cognisance of an Income Tax department chargesheet filed against him under the anti-black money law of 2015.
In the earlier chargesheet filed in this case in 2023, the ED alleged that Bhandari “acquired” the 12, Bryanston Square house located in London in 2009 and got it renovated “as per the directions of Robert Vadra and the funds for renovation were provided by Robert Vadra”.
Officials said the ED probe found that Vadra was “assisting” Bhandari and “using” the London property which was nothing but “proceeds of crime” under the provisions of the anti-money laundering law.
Vadra has consistently denied that he owned any London property directly or indirectly. Terming the ED charges a political witch hunt against him, he has said that he was being “hounded and harassed” to subserve political ends.
The agency, officials said, confronted and questioned Vadra on certain evidence gathered in this case from other countries, to which he allegedly did not provide a “satisfactory” reply.
The property acquired by Bhandari was “beneficially” used by Vadra for his personal use and since it was found that Vadra was in possession of the “proceeds of crime”, a chargesheet was filed against him seeking his prosecution under the PMLA, they said.
The ED is understood to have found that Vadra furnished the said London property even though it was purchased by Bhandari for 1.9 million GBP.
The funds for furnishing the house were “provided” by Vadra, he used to decide about the interiors of the property and also used to “stay” in the said property even though the ownership of the property kept changing from Bhandari to C C Thampi to one “Mr. Cheru”, the officials said.
The evidence collected by ED found that Vadra used this property during the times when the property was in “benami” names, they said.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/robert-vadra-charged-by-ed-in-london-property-case-tied-to-fugitive-sanjay-bhandari-article-153184250

Security agencies recovered nearly 3000 kg of ammonium nitrate from Dr Muzammil’s rented accommodation in Faridabad a day before the Delhi Red Fort car blast.

A Times Now video footage shows the Faridabad residence of terror accused Dr Muzammil, from where nearly 3000 kg of ammonia nitrate was recovered on November 9, just a day before the Delhi Red Fort car blast.
The video was shot while searches were on at the rented apartment in Faridabad’s Fatehpur Taga village on the day of the blast, in which 13 people were killed and over 30 were injured.
Dr Muzammil, a faculty at Faridabad’s Al Falah University, was arrested weeks before the blast. His arrest soon led to the unravelling of a “white collar” Jaish-e-Mohammed terror network, spanning several states including Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and West Bengal.

The NIA took over the Delhi blast probe and has taken into custody Dr Muzammil and his accomplices Dr Adeel Rather of Anantnag, Dr Shaheen of Lucknow and Dr Mufti Irfan Ahmad Wagay of Shopian, taking the total number of arrests in the case to six.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/delhi/faridabad-dr-muzammil-3000-kg-ammonium-nitrate-video-delhi-red-fort-blast-article-153184145

The fresh move followed some sequence of steps taken earlier this year, comprising the January 2025 agreement between India and China when the two countries agreed to resume direct passenger flights.

In a significant step towards normalising bilateral ties, India is learnt to have resumed issuance of tourist visas to Chinese citizens worldwide– a move ending a five-year suspension imposed following the 2020 Galwan clash.

The fresh move followed some sequence of steps taken earlier this year, comprising the January 2025 agreement between India and China when the two countries agreed to resume direct passenger flights.

Officials, privy to the development, said that the decision followed an order issued in July this year suggesting to resume tourist visas for Chinese nationals.

A month ago, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage, halted for five years, was also revived in June 2025, with the first group of Indian pilgrims crossing into Tibet.

Earlier, on April 1, marking 75 years of diplomatic ties, Presidents Xi Jinping and Droupadi Murmu, along with Premier Li Qiang and PM Modi, exchanged congratulatory messages, signalling renewed commitment to stability.

Throughout 2025, diplomacy between India and China intensified as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Beijing in July, noting relations were “gradually moving in a positive direction” with a “fundamental basis for mutual strategic trust.”

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reciprocated with a two-day trip to New Delhi in August, meeting National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and EAM Jaishankar to discuss border de-escalation and normalisation.

This paved the way for PM Modi’s landmark visit to China on August 31, his first in seven years, for the SCO Summit in Tianjin, where he and Xi committed to viewing each other as “partners rather than rivals.”

Earlier on November 10, Consul General of India in Shanghai, Pratik Mathur, on Monday welcomed the first batch of passengers arriving from New Delhi as direct commercial flights between India and China officially resumed after five years.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-resumes-tourist-visa-for-chinese-citizens-after-5-year-suspension-9679422

The proposed UPI-TIPS interlinkage aims to facilitate cross-border remittances between India and the Euro Area and is expected to benefit users of both jurisdictions, the RBI said in a statement.

In a significant move, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday has announced the interlinking of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) of the Eurosystem.

The proposed UPI-TIPS interlinkage aims to facilitate cross-border remittances between India and the Euro Area and is expected to benefit users of both jurisdictions, the RBI said in a statement.

Reserve Bank of India and NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) have been engaging with European Central Bank on the initiative to connect UPI with the TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS), the instant payment system operated by the Eurosystem, it added.

Notably, the Reserve Bank of India has been actively pursuing interlinking of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with fast payment systems of other jurisdictions to promote crossborder payments.

These initiatives are aligned with the G20 Roadmap for enhancing cross-border payments, with a focus on cheaper, efficient, more transparent and more accessible remittances.

Reserve Bank of India and NIPL will continue to collaborate closely with European Central Bank to operationalise the UPI-TIPS link, including technical integration, risk management and settlement arrangements, the statement read.

Recently, while speaking with ANI, Peruvian Ambassador Javier Manuel Paulinich Velarde told Peru will also implement by next year the UPI-like real-time digital payments system.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/rbi-announces-interlinking-of-upi-with-european-instant-payment-system-9679431

The prime minister also met members of the Indian community based in South Africa who are actively working with different community organisations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday interacted with Indian origin tech entrepreneurs and members of the Indian community based in South Africa and called upon them to deepen their engagement with India.

Modi, who is in Johannesburg to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit, in a social media post said he had a “fruitful interaction” with Indian origin tech entrepreneurs and they talked about the work they are doing in sectors such as FinTech, social media platforms, agriculture, education, healthcare, medical devices and more.

“Called upon them to deepen their engagement with India and work closely with our people,” he said.

The prime minister also met members of the Indian community based in South Africa who are actively working with different community organisations.

“They shared their experiences on various issues and were very appreciative of India’s strides across different fields. Urged them to keep up the momentum with which they are enhancing people-to-people linkages,” he said.

“Also asked them to boost the popularity of Indian culture among the people of South Africa, including practices such as Yoga, Ayurveda,” he added.

“The prime minister emphasised their role as ‘a living bridge’ between the two countries. He appreciated the contribution of over 1.7 million strong Indian diaspora in South Africa towards nurturing the historical bonds of friendship between India and South Africa,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X.

Modi also lauded their efforts to help the youth connect with the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, he added.

The prime minister also received a ‘Kalash’ from the Chinmaya Mission, consisting of Shree Anna or millets from India as well as South Africa.

“This will be placed in the Annapoorna Devi Temple in Durban,” he said.

Modi also met with the winners of the Bharat Ko Janiye (Know India) Quiz in South Africa.

The prime minister said this quiz “encourages members of our diaspora to learn more about India’s history, culture and more”.

Separately, Modi met his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in Johannesburg and the two leaders took stock of progress in cooperation in diverse areas, including defence and security, critical minerals, trade & investment and people-to-people ties.

Modi met Albanese hours after he arrived in South Africa to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-meets-indian-origin-tech-entrepreneurs-in-johannesburg-9679485

Until the Red Fort blast on November 10, which killed at least 15 people, everything was officially perfect with the university – UGC-recognised, NAAC-accredited, proud banners everywhere.

“Our university is being called a terror den, an incubator of radicals. Some even say it should be razed to the ground. But what about the hundreds of students who came here only to build a career?” said a postgraduate MBBS student as he left the campus gates of Al Falah University with two suitcases, his face covered by a mask.

“If the college shuts down tomorrow, five years of NEET struggle and lakhs of rupees – everything will vanish. We will become that batch whose degree no hospital trusts.”

He added that his exams were over and he was returning home to Uttar Pradesh. He refused to share his identity.

The terror cloud descended suddenly. Until the Red Fort blast on November 10, which killed at least 15 people, everything was officially perfect with the university – UGC-recognised, NAAC-accredited, proud banners everywhere. Then came the arrests: Dr Umar un Nabi, the assistant professor who allegedly drove the explosive-laden car; Dr Muzammil Shakil, from whose rented house explosives were recovered; and finally the university founder himself, Jawed Ahmed Siddiqui, taken into ED custody over allegations of Rs 415 crore in “proceeds of crime.”

In a matter of days, the same institution went from “premier medical college” to “alleged white-collar terror hub” in TV tickers.

On November 12, Al Falah University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Bhupinder Kaur, issued a statement clarifying that the institution had no association with the arrested individuals beyond their official employment as faculty members.

Despite the university becoming the epicentre of the blast investigation, college authorities confirmed that all 150 MBBS seats for the 2025-26 academic session have been filled. Established with approval in 2019, the college charges significantly lower fees compared to most private medical institutions – a factor that faculty members say explains the continued high demand despite the ongoing probe.

Rajesh Sharma, father of a first-year student, entered the gate on a bike with his daughter sitting behind him. “Tomorrow, parents will be addressing the media about their concerns. But personally, it’s my dream to see my daughter become a doctor. Where do I go now after what happened? Private colleges don’t have seats mid-session. Government colleges laugh at lateral entry. My daughter says, ‘Papa, if I leave now, I lose one year; if I stay and NMC cancels recognition, I lose everything.’ What kind of choice is this for a parent?”

When asked about fears of other potentially radicalised students within the university, Rajesh told NDTV, “Not every intellectual is a radical. Our dreams shouldn’t be punished for someone else’s sins. We understand the reputation of the university is spoiled, but trust can be restored. I trust the values I’ve taught my child.”

Al-Falah University has now resolved a matter with the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) after it was found displaying an expired accreditation status on its website. Responding to NAAC’s show-cause notice, the university attributed the error to an “oversight” and a “technical glitch in website design,” termed it unintentional, tendered an apology, and promptly removed the incorrect information.

NAAC has issued similar notices to 25 other higher education institutions across the country for displaying lapsed accreditation grades. Officials confirmed that, in the case of Al-Falah University, no further punitive action will be taken after the corrective measures.

The NMC has also permanently removed four doctors linked to a terror module – Dr Muzaffar Ahmad, Dr Adeel Ahmad Rather, Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie, and Dr Shaheen Shahid – from the Indian Medical Register, barring them from practising medicine in India. The action was taken after they were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for their alleged involvement in the Delhi blast case.

Earlier, the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) had withdrawn Al-Falah University’s membership.

Yet inside the hostels, over 600 medical students – many from Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Haryana – are clinging to a single hope: the National Medical Commission (NMC).

“NMC is our only lifeline now,” says Arjun (name changed), a final-year student from Lucknow. “We know some faculty did unimaginable things. Punish them, investigate fully, but please don’t kill our careers. Transfer us, merge us with another college, do whatever – just don’t cancel the affiliation without a migration plan. We beg you. Tomorrow parents are protesting outside the gate – not against the college, but for our future.”

Even as NIA and police teams comb hostel rooms, and the Haryana DGP himself inspected the premises on Thursday, classes somehow continue.

A senior faculty member who still reports for duty told NDTV on condition of anonymity: “We are also scared because the administration is silent. But we come because abandoning these children now would be the real crime. Several of my colleagues have already left the campus on leave.”

Meanwhile, Faridabad Police Commissioner Satender Kumar Gupta has directed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe how the university turned into a hub for terrorist activities. The team has been tasked with collecting detailed information on the funding sources of the terror module and the supply chain of explosives. Reports are also being compiled on the involvement of residents from neighbouring villages in the network.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/al-falahs-collateral-damage-600-students-paying-price-for-terror-module-9679030?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The accident unfolded within minutes after a routine Fastag scan flagged insufficient balance, prompting the man to step out of his car to resolve the issue.

A 45-year-old man, on his way to drop a friend at the airport, was crushed to death and dragged for nearly 200 metres under a dumper truck at the Kherki Daula toll plaza on the Delhi–Jaipur Expressway early on Friday morning, police said.

The accident unfolded within minutes after a routine Fastag scan flagged insufficient balance, prompting the man to step out of his car to resolve the issue – only to be caught in the path of a speeding truck whose driver accelerated the moment the boom barrier lifted.

The victim, identified as Mubin Khan, lived in ward number seven of Tijara in Alwar district and had left home at dawn to drop his friend, Puneet Kumar, to the Indira Gandhi International Airport who was scheduled to fly to Bengaluru.

Investigators aware of the case details said Khan’s Hyundai Aura was flagged when the automatic deduction of ₹95 failed because of low Fastag balance. Toll booth staff told him to pull over and surrender his mobile phone as collateral while he paid the manual toll of ₹118 via UPI. He parked the car a short distance ahead, got out, and walked toward the operator’s cabin. He even recharged the Fastag with ₹100, but the update had not reflected by the time he reached the booth.

According to Sandeep Turan, spokesperson for the Gurugram police, the accident occurred moments after Khan completed his payment and began walking back.

“A truck entered the lane, and when the boom barrier lifted after the toll was deducted from its Fastag, the driver accelerated. He ran over Khan instantly. It appears he either didn’t realise he had mowed someone down, or he deliberately kept driving to escape,” Turan said.

Khan became trapped under the rear wheels and was dragged for several metres. His body was completely mutilated.

The truck fled, and only once toll workers noticed a trail of blood and body parts did they realise what had happened. CCTV footage from the plaza captured the truck’s Rajasthan registration number, and police said the driver would be arrested soon.

Even Kumar, who sat in the car just a few feet aware, remained unaware of the horrific accident. He repeatedly called Khan’s phone to ask what was causing the delay, but nobody answered. When he walked back to the booth, he learned that an accident had taken place. He rushed towards the small crowd gathering near the lane exit – and recognised his friend’s body. He immediately alerted the family in Tijara.

A senior official from the toll-operating firm confirmed that the truck, loaded with gravel, sped off moments after the accident. CCTV footage has been handed over to police.

‘Police warned us against looking at the body’

For the family, the tragic news arrived like a blow. Dilshad Khan, a relative, said Mubin and Puneet had left Tijara shortly before 4am. “Kumar’s flight was at 9am. They had been close friends for years. We received the information almost instantly, and several of us rushed to Gurugram,” he said.

He added that police did not allow the family to see the body. “They warned us not to open the bag after the post-mortem because it was too mutilated. We didn’t get to see him even one last time.”

“His wife Sarjeena is repeatedly fainting since she got to know about his death. A doctor visited her at home and gave her some medicines to sleep,” he said.

Khan had several acres of ancestral land and was involved in real estate deals across Tijara and parts of Alwar. But he was also the family’s central figure – the sole provider, the problem-solver, the one everyone relied on.

“His daughter Muskaan, 20, and sons Arman, 16, and Asif, 17, still cannot grasp that he is gone,” Dilshad said. “The entire family is shattered. And police have still not taken even arrested the truck driver.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/gurugram-news/man-dragged-crushed-to-death-at-kherki-daula-toll-after-stepping-out-over-fastag-issue-101763762355571.html

SIT officials questioned Subba Reddy who is also the uncle of former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for nearly seven hours at his residence in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.

The CBI-led Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Thursday questioned former Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) chairman and YSRCP MP YV Subba Reddy in connection with the ongoing probe into the alleged supply of adulterated ghee used in preparing the famed Tirumala laddu prasadam during his tenure.

SIT officials questioned Subba Reddy who is also the uncle of former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for nearly seven hours at his residence in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. The questioning reportedly focused on his role in the procurement of ghee and possible relaxation of tender norms during his time as TTD Board Chairman.

Officials also referred to statements given earlier by his personal assistant, Chinna Appanna. After the interrogation, SIT officials recorded Subba Reddy’s statement and are said to have indicated that he may be called in again if required.

Sources said the questioning was based on documents and testimonies previously provided by Appanna, former TTD Executive Officer AV Dharma Reddy, and several other senior officials.

Cow ghee is a key ingredient in preparing Tirumala laddus and other temple prasadams. The daily average requirement is estimated at around 15,000 kilograms. TTD procures ghee in bulk tankers under the Agmark Special Grade label for six-month contracts from three main sources—national dairies (20 lakh kg), dairies within a 1,500 km radius (10 lakh kg), and Andhra Pradesh-based dairies (5 lakh kg).

The Supreme Court, in October 2024, constituted an independent SIT under the supervision of the CBI Director to investigate the matter after the controversy triggered a major political storm. The five-member SIT includes two CBI officials, two representatives from the Andhra Pradesh government, and one member from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/andhra-pradesh/tirumala-laddu-row-sit-questions-former-ttd-chairman-yv-subba-reddy-3805191

A Delhi man’s hilarious take on Delhi-NCR residents ‘surviving’ anything and everything is going viral on social media, with other Delhiites chiming in on the witty joke! Take a look…

Random earthquakes, a choking AQI, a ‘foamy’ river, a BLAST and more. For the rest of the world, it might be a list of misfortunes that may happen over time, perhaps with a gap of months or even years between them. However, for Delhi, the story is a bit different! Or so is what most Delhiites believe. The said ‘misfortune’ has reached a level that it seems ‘self-roast’ is the answer that Delhi people are coming up with- because if not that, then what are these hilarious social media posts and comments that Delhi people are sharing? Taking to the internet, a Delhi man shared how if the world ends, it’s probably only cockroaches and Delhi NCR people who will survive! “Duniya Khatam Hogi To Bas Cockroach Or Delhi-NCR Wale Bachenge,” the post read.
The joke was a clear dig over what all is happening in the national capital and its surrounding areas. From an AQI that is causing health issues among people to a deadly Red Fort blast that killed 15 people, living in Delhi has truly turned into a ‘survival game’.
As soon as the post went viral, netizens chimed in with hilarious jokes which were only funnier than the ones cracked before. From calling Delhiites ‘amar (immortal)’, to others dubbing them the ‘ultimate survivors’, it seems everyone was quick in activating their ‘funny bone’, just to ‘roast’ Delhi. Many also joked about how people are normalising repeated bomb threats that the national capital is receiving.

Times Now could not confirm the details of the post.

Faridabad Police commissioner has directed the SIT to examine how the university’s environment allowed an extremist module to flourish undetected for years.

Amid parallel investigations by multiple central agencies into the Delhi blast, the Faridabad Police set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine how Al-Falah University became the base of an extremist module that allegedly operated undetected for years, officials said on Thursday.

The SIT, headed by two ACPs and supported by an inspector and two sub-inspectors, has begun preparing a comprehensive report on the university’s operations, funding patterns, and possible support networks. Officials said the team has been instructed to map links that enabled the accused doctors to use the university as a safe hub, including how they obtained, stored, and transported explosives from Faridabad to Delhi without alerting any authority.

“A SIT has been formed in the investigation of Al Falah University linked to the Delhi blast. The SIT has started probing all aspects,” said the spokesperson of Faridabad Police, confirming that the team has been asked to map every connection that enabled the accused doctors to operate from the campus.

Faridabad Police commissioner Satender Kumar Gupta has directed the SIT to examine how the university’s environment allowed an extremist module to flourish undetected for years. Investigators are gathering detailed information on the funding channels, the movement of suspects, alleged local support from nearby villages, and the disappearance of multiple faculty members since the blast case surfaced.

The team was constituted shortly after Haryana DGP OP Singh’s visit to the campus on Tuesday. Singh, who expressed serious concern over what he called the “collapse of internal security mechanisms”, directed the Faridabad Deputy Commissioner and the Police Commissioner to monitor the case personally and “take the lead from the front.”

Preliminary findings suggest that the explosive material used in the Delhi blast originated from Dhauj village in Faridabad. The SIT is conducting a discreet probe along this route, examining potential facilitators and operational gaps that may have helped the accused evade detection.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/gurugram-news/faridabad-police-forms-sit-to-probe-al-falah-university-s-alleged-links-to-delhi-blast-101763666483881.html

Orry has been asked to join probe after his name emerged during interrogation of a deported trafficker linked to a drug syndicate associated with Dawood.

Popular social media personality Orhan Awatramani, better known as Orry, is in soup over an investigation into an alleged drug syndicate linked with the Dawood Ibrahim gang, with the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of the Mumbai Police having summoned him to join the probe.

Orry’s name emerged in the probe after the interrogation of a drug trafficker – Mohammad Salim Mohammad Suhail Shaikh – recently deported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who told officials about rave parties whose guests included several Bollywood A-listers, other film celebrities and politicians.

As reported by HT earlier, the parties, in Mumbai and Dubai, were organised by Mohammad Salim Mohammad Suhail Shaikh, a close aide of fugitive drug kingpin Salim Dola, who is a key member of the Dawood Ibrahim gang.

‘Son of Dawood’s sister, Orry were at lavish parties’

The the ANC told a metropolitan magistrate court in Maharashtra’s Mumbai on November 13 that Shaikh had claimed to have arranged lavish parties for celebrities in Dubai and Mumbai.

Attendees of these parties included the son of Dawood’s deceased sister Haseena Parkar, Orry, actors Nora Fatehi, Shraddha Kapoor and her brother Siddharth Kapoor, film producers Abbas-Mustan, rapper Loka, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Zeeshan Siddique, Shaikh told police during interrogation, according to ANC’s remand application before the court.

The crime branch is yet to verify the claims made by Shaikh as their investigation is at a preliminary stage, an earlier HT report quoted an ANC officer as saying.

“We will question Orry about the claims made by Shaikh… We will decide whether to question other celebrities and political leaders mentioned by Shaikh after we question Orry,” the officer told HT.

Orry representative appeared before the ANC on Thursday and told police that he was out of the city and would be able to join the probe after November 25, a police officer familiar with the matter said.

The officer told HT a date will be decided and conveyed to him.

The case dates back to August 2022, when the crime branch and the Ghatkopar ANC arrested Mohammad Shahrukh Mohammad Shafi Shaikh – Worli resident – from Nagpada, and recovered mephedrone (MD) worth ₹1.19 lakh from him.

Several other alleged drug peddlers were arrested subsequently, and in a big breakthrough in March 2024, a mephedrone-manufacturing facility in a farm in Sangli district was busted. The facility

Authorities in the crime branch said the facility was reportedly run by wanted drug trafficker and Dawood aide Salim Dola along with his son, Tahe, who was deported from the UAE and taken into custody by Mumbai Police in June this year. His relative Mustaffa Mohammad Khubbawala was deported the following month.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/son-of-dawood-sister-orry-others-attended-lavish-parties-in-dubai-mumbai-claims-drug-trafficker-101763686992133.html

FSSAI stated that these products are being sold in retail stores and on e-commerce platforms, even though earlier orders had already withdrawn permission to use the term “ORS” for such drinks.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued an order on Wednesday directing the immediate removal of fruit-based beverages, ready-to-serve drinks, energy drinks, electrolyte drinks and similar products that use the term “ORS” in their brand names or product names.

FSSAI stated that these products are being sold in retail stores and on e-commerce platforms, even though earlier orders had already withdrawn permission to use the term “ORS” for such drinks.

FSSAI referred to its previous orders from October 14 and the clarification issued on October 15, which said that no food product, whether fruit-based, non-carbonated or ready-to-drink, can use the term “ORS” in the trademarked name or in any form, including as a prefix or suffix. Using the term in this way violates the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Despite these directions, FSSAI noted that many such products continue to be sold under names that include “ORS”.

To stop this, FSSAI has instructed officers to carry out immediate inspections on e-commerce platforms and retail outlets to identify food products that violate the orders by using the term “ORS”. If found, these products must be removed from sale, and regulatory action must be taken against the companies involved. Officers must also send a detailed action taken report to FSSAI, listing inspections, violations, and the status of product removal.

The authority instructed all officers to make sure there is no interference in the storage, distribution or sale of WHO-recommended ORS drug products.

Enforcement activities must only target non-compliant food products that are falsely using the term “ORS”.

Earlier on October 31, the Delhi High Court said it would not interfere with the decision of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) prohibiting the use of the term “ORS” on beverages, observing that counterfeit or misleading ORS-labelled products pose a serious risk to public health.

The Bench noted that public health must take precedence over commercial considerations and clarified that a detailed judgment will follow.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/food-regulator-orders-removal-of-any-products-misleadingly-labelled-ors-9673136

The class 10 student jumped in front of a metro train at the Rajendra Place station on Wednesday afternoon. He was rushed to the nearby BLK Hospital, where he was declared dead.

Four staff members of St Columba’s School — including the headmistress — have been placed under suspension following the registration of an FIR that names them in connection with the alleged suicide of a Class 10 student who had accused them of subjecting him to mental harassment, news agency PTI reported.

As per the suspension order, the headmistress for Classes IV–X, the coordinator overseeing Classes 9 and 10, along with two teachers, have been temporarily relieved of their duties while authorities look into the matter. The action is being described as provisional, pending the outcome of ongoing inquiries.

The 16-year-old boy studying in the school, which located in central Delhi, died by suicide after he jumped in front of a metro after alleging that his teachers subjected him to prolonged mental harassment. His family demanded stringent action against those responsible and accused the school administration of failing to take action despite raising concerns over the victim’s mental health several times.

According to information, the class 10 student jumped in front of a metro train at the Rajendra Place station on Wednesday afternoon. He was rushed to the nearby BLK Hospital, where he was declared dead.

Officials from the Delhi Education Department confirmed on Thursday that a dedicated committee has been set up to investigate the allegations and assess the school’s conduct in the lead-up to the incident.

However, the victim’s father, Pradeep Patil, disapproved of the move as inadequate, saying the suspension was “only temporary” and reiterating his demand for the immediate arrest of the teachers mentioned in the FIR. “We need to send a message that no teacher should treat our children like that,” he said.

Investigators said the boy left behind a suicide note in which he named several teachers, accused them of mental harassment, apologised to his family and asked that his organs be donated.

The FIR, registered at the Rajendra Nagar police station, includes sections pertaining to abetment of suicide. Police are currently recording statements from classmates, teachers and school administrators as part of the ongoing probe.

“My son was a little mischievous, like any child his age, and I had told the teacher that such behaviour is natural in a child. But despite this, the teacher continued to harass him,” Pradeep Patil said while speaking to India Today.

CHANGE OF SCHOOL WAS PLANNED

The family had reportedly been preparing to transfer the boy to another school following his repeated complaints, and were waiting only for his examinations to conclude before making the move.

The father said, “We had assured our son that only 10 days were left for his exams, and after that, we would shift him to another school. He had agreed to this. But three days ago, his teacher reportedly told him, and informed us, that he would be expelled from the school. He became deeply disturbed by this.”

According to him, the situation worsened just a day before the tragedy. Patil recounted that his son slipped during a drama class, but instead of receiving help, he was “pushed and insulted in front of everyone, and he was told he was overacting.”

He added that the same teacher went on to blame the boy for the fall. “The teacher accused him of falling intentionally and when he started to cry, she said ‘don’t do drama. This won’t make any difference to me.’ This humiliation happened in front of his classmates. He could not bear it.”

The father said the suicide note recovered by the police contained the names of three teachers as well as the principal, alleging that they had subjected the boy to continuous mental harassment throughout the year.

“He also expressed a wish to donate his organs to those in need and apologised to his mother and brother for not fulfilling their dreams. His last wish was that justice be done—so that no other child faces what he went through,” he said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/two-teachers-headmistress-among-four-suspended-after-fir-registered-for-suicide-abetment-2823424-2025-11-20

The editors condemned the raid as a “coordinated attempt to silence independent journalism,” insisting that criticising the government is not inimical to the state and calling on authorities to withdraw the charges.

The State Investigation Agency (SIA) of Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday raided the Jammu office of the Kashmir Times newspaper, recovering cartridges of AK rifles, rounds of pistols, and hand grenade pins during a search linked to allegations that the publication was promoting activities against the country.

Officials said SIA teams conducted a thorough search of the premises, including computers, as part of the investigation. The promoters of the newspaper are expected to be questioned in the coming days.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Singh Choudhary reacted cautiously, saying that action should follow only where wrongdoing is established. “If they have done something wrong, then action should be taken. If you do it only to (build) pressure, then that will be wrong,” he told reporters.

Founded in 1954 by veteran journalist Ved Bhasin, the Kashmir Times has long been regarded as pro-separatist. Ved Bhasin, who also served as president of the Jammu Press Club, passed away in recent years, after which his daughter, Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal, along with her husband Prabodh Jamwal, took over the management and editorial responsibilities.

Anuradha Bhasin and Prabodh Jamwal are currently abroad. The newspaper has not been publishing its print edition from Jammu since 2021–22, though its online edition remains active. Ved Bhasin’s name had also surfaced in the Ghulam Nabi Fai terror seminar controversy years ago.

PUBLICATION CALLS RAID AN ATTACK ON PRESS FREEDOM

In a joint statement, editors Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal and Prabodh Jamwal condemned the raid, calling it a “coordinated attempt to silence independent journalism.” They said, “Criticising the government is not the same as being inimical to the state. A robust, questioning press is essential to a healthy democracy. The accusations levelled against us are designed to intimidate, to delegitimise, and ultimately to silence. We will not be silenced.”

The editors urged authorities to withdraw the charges and stop what they described as harassment, appealing to media colleagues, civil society, and citizens to stand in solidarity. They reiterated that journalism is not a crime and stressed that their commitment to truth will continue despite the raid.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter, Iltija Mufti, criticised the raid, calling it “preposterous” and an example of state “high-handedness.” She said the Kashmir Times was among the few newspapers in the region that “spoke truth to power and refused to bend or buckle under pressure and intimidation.”

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kashmir-times-jammu-office-raided-ak-rifle-cartridges-rounds-of-pistols-recovered-2823164-2025-11-20

The call center was designed to give an impression of a legitimate international customer-support centre and the accused, who are fluent in English, used to call foreign nationals on the pretext of helping them and send them links in order to hack their systems and blackmail them using their data.

The Delhi Police have busted a fake international call centre, targeting foreign nationals, in south Delhi’s Satbari village and arrested eight people, including a woman.

According to the officials, the accused persons targeted foreign nationals using voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP)-based calling setups, foreign databases and fake communication tools and cheated hundreds of victims.

The call center was designed to give an impression of a legitimate international customer-support centre and the accused, who are fluent in English, used to call foreign nationals on the pretext of helping them and sending them links in order to hack their systems and blackmail them using their data.

Multiple computer systems, mobile phones, VoIP software, and foreign data sets were recovered from the scene, officials said and added that three crypto wallets, multiple SIM cards, laptops and chequebooks were also recovered from the building.

According to the police, the cyber cell operation also uncovered fake firms, mule accounts, and e-commerce front companies.

Sanu, believed to be the mastermind, escaped shortly before the raid. Officials said that he is a repeat offender and has been named in multiple call centre frauds.

“A special police team has been formed to arrest him,” an official said.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/delhi-police-bust-fake-international-call-centre-targeting-foreign-nationals-8-arrested-2823497-2025-11-21

Due to the risk of exposure while bathing or participating in water rituals, the government has mandated strict precautions for pilgrims

The Karnataka government has issued an urgent health advisory for thousands of pilgrims travelling to Kerala’s Sabarimala shrine, following a surge in cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis (AME), a rare but nearly fatal brain infection.

The advisory, released by the Commissioner of the Health and Family Welfare Department, highlights the risk posed by Naegleria fowleri, a toxic, free-living amoeba. This microorganism thrives primarily in warm, fresh water sources like stagnant pools, lakes, and soil. Crucially, the infection is not contagious and cannot be contracted by drinking contaminated water; it enters the body exclusively through the nose, travelling to the brain, where it causes severe inflammation.

Due to the risk of exposure while bathing or participating in water rituals, the government has mandated strict precautions for pilgrims. The guidelines explicitly instruct travellers to use nose clips or firmly hold their noses shut whenever they immerse themselves in water bodies to prevent the amoeba’s entry.

The department also stressed the importance of timely medical intervention. “Pilgrims are advised to be vigilant for symptoms appearing within seven days of water contact. Key warning signs include fever, severe headache, vomiting, a stiff neck, and changes in mental state or behaviour,” said the advisory issued on Tuesday.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/silent-threat-in-sacred-waters-karnataka-warns-sabarimala-pilgrims-about-deadly-brain-eating-amoeba-9716847.html

Efforts are in progress to repatriate fugitive gangster Anmol Bishnoi, implicated in the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique. Sources indicate he may return to India on Wednesday, with multiple agencies involved in the extradition process after the NIA requested his return from the US.

Efforts to bring fugitive gangster Anmol Bishnoi, a key accused in the killing of NCP leader Baba Siddique, back to India are underway, with multiple agencies involved in the process. He is likely to be repatriated on Wednesday, sources told Times Now.
Bishnoi is being deported along with a batch of illegal immigrants staying in the US. Around hundreds of individuals are supposed to land in Delhi tomorrow. The flight will arrive at Delhi’s IGI Airport at 10 a.m. The aircraft has already taken off from the US.
Anmol is one among them who has an RCN against him.

“It has come to the notice of this ministry that some news channels have been broadcasting content related to alleged persons involved in Red Fort blasts, justifying their acts of violence, as well as information videos of how to make explosive material,” the advisory to all private satellite TV channels said.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Tuesday issued an advisory to all private television channels against telecasting visuals that could aid, abet or promote unlawful activities.

“It has come to the notice of this ministry that some news channels have been broadcasting content related to alleged persons involved in Red Fort blasts, justifying their acts of violence, as well as information videos of how to make explosive material,” the advisory to all private satellite TV channels said.

It said such broadcasts may inadvertently encourage or incite violence, disrupt public order, and pose risks to national security.

“All TV channels are advised to exercise the highest level of discretion and sensitivity while reporting on such matters,” the advisory said.

It cited sections of the Cable Television Network Rules which state that no programme should contain anything obscene, defamatory, deliberately false, or suggestive innuendos and half-truths; be likely to encourage or incite violence, contain anything against the maintenance of law and order, or promote anti-national attitudes; or contain anything that affects the integrity of the nation.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/centre-issues-advisory-to-tv-channels-over-airing-sensitive-provocative-content-after-delhi-car-blast

In an open online conference on a new app for Aadhaar, UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar said that the authority is considering introducing a new rule in December to discourage offline verification by entities such as hotels, event organisers.

The Unique Identification Authority of India is mulling issuing an Aadhaar card with the holder’s photo and a QR code to prevent misuse of individuals’ data and discourage offline verification practices, which are in contravention of the present law, a top official said on Tuesday.

In an open online conference on a new app for Aadhaar, UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar said that the authority is considering introducing a new rule in December to discourage offline verification by entities such as hotels, event organisers, etc, and enhance the age verification process using Aadhaar while maintaining the privacy of individuals.

“There is a thought process as to why there should be any detail on the card. It should be only a photo and a QR code. If we keep printing, then people will keep accepting what is printed. People who know how to misuse it will keep misusing it,” Kumar said.

The Aadhaar Act prohibits the collection, use, or storage of an Aadhaar number or biometric information of any individual for any purpose in case of offline verification.

However, several entities continue to collect and store photocopies of the Aadhaar card.

Kumar said that legislation is in work to discourage offline verification by using an Aadhaar card copy, which will be taken up for consideration by the Aadhaar authority on December 1.

“Aadhaar should never be used as a document. It should only be authenticated with the Aadhaar number or verified using QR code. Otherwise, it can be a fake document,” Kumar said.

The UIDAI held a joint meeting with several stakeholders including banks, hotels, fintech firms etc to update them on the new app in the works which is expected to be rolled out soon.

The new app is expected to fine tune Aadhaar authentication service in line with Digital Personal Data Protection Act which will be completely operational in 18 months.

The app will enable users to update their address proof documents on the new app and add other family members on the same app who don’t own any mobile phone.

An UIDAI official said that the new app will also enable updating of mobile number of Aadhaar holders within the family using face authentication feature in the app.

Kumar said that the new app will replace the mAadhaar app, and it will ease the authentication process for the various entities that need to verify an individual for various purposes.

The new app will work like Aadhaar verification done by the Digiyatra app.

He said that the authentication service can generate various use cases and entities can give feedback to UIDAI on new use cases of Aadhaar authentication services.

Another UIDAI official explained that the new app will help in the verification of individuals in several cases, including entry into events, cinema halls, buying certain products where the minimum age requirement is 18 years, as well as student verifications, check-in at hotels, entry into residential societies, etc.

The official authority has published details online to update systems of offline verification seeking entities (OVSE).

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/aadhaar-card-with-just-photo-and-qr-code-soon-what-top-official-said-9659880

The probe began after FIRs accusing the university of fake NAAC accreditation and misleading UGC claims. The ED is also examining whether any laundered funds were used to support those involved in the November 10 Red Fort blast, which killed 14 people.

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday arrested Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, founder of Al-Falah University and chairman of the Al-Falah Group, in a money laundering case that is also being examined for possible terror-financing links, officials said.

The action comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Faridabad-based university, which investigators describe as the epicentre of a ‘white-collar’ terror module linked to the November 10 Red Fort blast that killed 14 people and injured several others. Earlier in the day, India Today TV reported that Siddiqui was being questioned, and his residence was under search.

ED officials said the arrest followed detailed scrutiny of evidence collected during searches at university premises and other locations tied to the Al-Falah Group.

FIRs ON FAKE ACCREDITATION TRIGGERED ED INQUIRY

According to sources, the ED probe was initiated after two FIRs by Delhi Police Crime Branch alleged that Al-Falah University made fraudulent NAAC accreditation claims and falsely projected itself as recognised under Section 12(B) of the UGC Act to mislead students and parents.

The UGC later clarified that the university is listed only under Section 2(f) as a state private university and has never been eligible for grants under 12(B).

TRUST STRUCTURE AND FINANCIAL TRAIL

Sources said the Al-Falah Charitable Trust, established in 1995, with Siddiqui as a founding and managing trustee, owns and financially consolidates all educational institutions under the Al-Falah Group. The trust and its institutions have grown rapidly since the 1990s, but investigators say this rise was not supported by matching financials.

Searches conducted at the university and at residential premises of key personnel revealed that crores of rupees in alleged proceeds of crime were generated and diverted.

Investigators found evidence that funds from the trust were routed to family-owned entities, with construction and catering contracts allegedly awarded to firms linked to Siddiqui’s wife and children.

RS 48 LAKH CASH HAUL, SHELL FIRMS FOUND

The ED seized Rs 48 lakh in cash, digital devices and extensive documentation. The agency has also identified multiple shell companies connected to the group, along with suspected violations under several other laws.

According to sources, evidence recovered during the probe shows a clear pattern of fund diversion, layering and misuse of trust funds, all under Siddiqui’s effective control of the organisation’s finances and decision-making.

POSSIBLE TERROR-FINANCING ANGLE

Alongside the financial probe, the ED is also examining whether any part of the laundered funds may have been channelled to individuals linked to the November 10 Red Fort blast, which killed 14 people. This line of enquiry remains ongoing.

After establishing his alleged role in generating and layering proceeds of crime, the ED placed Siddiqui under arrest on 18 November 2025, following due legal procedure. Further investigation is underway.

LINKS TO ARRESTED DOCTORS AND THE RED FORT BLAST

The United States has deported 200 Indian nationals, including notorious gangster Anmol Bishnoi, back to India. This significant move marks a crucial step in India’s fight against organised crime and fugitive criminals abroad.

In a significant coordinated deportation operation, the United States has sent back 200 Indian nationals, including alleged gangster Anmol Bishnoi, two fugitives wanted in Punjab, and 197 undocumented migrants. The flight, which has already departed from the US, is scheduled to land at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 10 am on Wednesday, officials confirmed.

Bishnoi, the younger brother of jailed gang leader Lawrence Bishnoi, is wanted in several high-profile criminal cases across India, including the murder of former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique and the April 2024 shooting outside actor Salman Khan’s residence.

FAKE PASSPORT, SECRET ESCAPE

Intelligence sources say Anmol fled India in April 2022 using a forged passport, just weeks before singer Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead on 29 May that year.

He is believed to have been travelling on fraudulent Russian documents, moving between the US and Canada until he was eventually traced and detained.

Investigators allege he continued running gang operations from abroad via encrypted communication platforms.

HELD IN US WITH ELECTRONIC MONITORING

Sources added that after being detained in California last year, Anmol remained in police custody and was placed under an ankle monitor, a GPS-enabled electronic device used to track suspects, parolees and individuals under judicial supervision.

These monitors are typically used for people released on bail, those under house arrest, people freed on probation or parole, or anyone placed under court-ordered surveillance. The device is usually a black strap with a small, locked tracking box, which cannot be easily removed.

His final deportation is being carried out from Louisiana, officials said.

VICTIM’S FAMILY KEPT PURSUING US AUTHORITIES

NCP leader and former MLA Zeeshan Siddique, son of the late Baba Siddique, said he received an email confirming that Anmol had been “removed” from US territory.

He said his family had registered a victim contact status with US agencies, which entitled them to official updates. He urged the Centre to ensure his immediate arrest upon landing.

He also said he had repeatedly written to US authorities detailing his father’s killing and the suspected role of the Bishnoi network.

Zeeshan added that he had raised concerns about his own security with Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and Union Minister Devendra Fadnavis, requesting a review after the recent developments.

AGENCIES PREPARE FOR CUSTODY BATTLE

The government of Ira has suspended visa-waiver facility available to ordinary Indian passport holders visiting Iran with effect from November 22. The Indian nationals with ordinary passports would be required to obtain a visa to enter or transit through Iran.

In a shock to travellers, Iran has decided to suspend visa waiver facility for ordinary Indian passport holders. It is said that the decision has been taken in the wake of several reported incidents of Indians being lured to the country on false promises.

A tragic accident in Saudi Arabia resulted in the deaths of 45 individuals, primarily from Hyderabad, when a bus collided with an oil tanker near Madina.

The ill-fated bus in Saudi Arabia that collided with an oil tanker and met with a brutal accident, claiming the lives of 45 innocent people, also carried 18 members across three generations from a single family.
At least 45 people, most of them from Hyderabad, were killed in Madina, Saudi Arabia, Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar said on Monday, citing preliminary information.
According to a relative, the bus had around 18 members from one family spanning three generations.

Mohammad Aslam, a nephew of Shaik Nazeeruddin, said that Nazeeruddin, a retired railway employee, was travelling with his wife, son, three daughters, and grandchildren to Madina when tragedy struck. Another son of Nazeeruddin resides in the United States.

In a statement, Aslam said he did not know whether it was an accident or something else, but confirmed that 18 members of his family were on board. He demanded a proper inquiry to determine the real cause of the accident.

This comes a month after the deaths of several children in Madhya Pradesh, linked to contaminated cough syrups found to contain higher than permissible levels of diethylene glycol

After multiple child deaths linked to contaminated cough syrups in recent months, the Centre is considering a major regulatory change: cough syrups may no longer be sold freely over the counter and could soon require a doctor’s prescription.

According to a proposal before the Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC), which was accessed by News18, syrups meant for treating cough should be removed from the list that allows sale of medicinal products without a licence.

The agenda document asked the panel to deliberate on the matter considering the “recent incidences due to contaminated cough syrup”, hinting at cases where children suffered poisoning and acute kidney injury after consuming contaminated products.

At present, cough syrups fall under Schedule K – a category meant for everyday, low-risk medical products that can be sold even in villages without requiring a full drug-sale licence. The list includes items such as syrups, lozenges, pills and tablets for cough apart from liniments, bandages, absorbent cotton, adhesive plasters, tincture of iodine and benzoin and other first-aid products. These products are exempt on the condition that they are sold “in the original retail pack of a manufacturer licensed under the Act”.

“In view of the recent incidences due to contaminated cough syrup, it is proposed that the exemption provided for the sale of syrups for cough may be deleted,” said the agenda document.

“DCC may kindly deliberate the issue and give recommendation in the matter,” it said.

The document only mentioned deliberations on “syrups” and not on another cough-related remedial product such as lozenges or pills.

Schedule K products are chosen because they are considered safe for routine use, unlikely to cause harm, and essential for communities where no licensed pharmacy is available.

Other products part of schedule K are aspirin and paracetamol tablets, analgesic balms, antacid preparations, gripe water for use of infants and inhalers containing drugs for treatment of cold and nasal congestion among others.

The latest move comes a month after the deaths of several children in Madhya Pradesh that were linked to contaminated cough syrups found to contain higher than permissible levels of diethylene glycol. Following the incident, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a medical alert warning that the untracked distribution of such syrups through informal or localised channels could pose a risk to health.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/cough-syrups-to-be-made-prescription-only-after-series-of-contamination-deaths-ws-l-9714556.html

The Enforcement Directorate has launched searches in at least 25 locations linked to Al-Falah University’s trustees and associates as part of its probe into the varsity’s funding.

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday conducted searches in at least 25 locations across Delhi-NCR as it began its probe into the funding of Haryana’s Al-Falah University, in connection with the Faridabad terror module and the Delhi car blast case.

According to the details, the probe agency was conducting searches on the premises of the trustees and other persons related to the University.

The raids began at nearly 5 am today.

The controversy intensified when Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw quoted the post and suggested introducing a fee to deter misuse. “They should charge an additional Rs 5000 per airport n then they will see how many genuine passengers there are!” she wrote, igniting a storm of mixed reactions.

A viral video circulating on social media has sparked a heated debate about the alleged misuse of airport wheelchair assistance by Indian passengers, leading Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw to weigh in with a sharp response. The footage, originally shared by a Chinese X user, shows a long stretch of passengers seated in wheelchairs being pushed by airport personnel.

The uploader claimed that several passengers travelling on India–US routes were using wheelchair assistance not out of necessity but to access priority boarding and bypass long queues. The post suggested that on certain flights, the number of passengers requesting the service appeared unusually high, allegedly reaching up to 80 percent.

The video gained traction in India after another user reshared it, claiming that nearly 30 percent of travellers on India–US flights were requesting wheelchair support, despite many seemingly being physically fit. The user labelled it a growing ‘scam’ that was affecting genuinely dependent passengers, who rely on the service due to age, disability or medical reasons.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Reacts To Viral Video

Gas supply across parts of Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai was disrupted on Sunday after third-party damage to GAIL’s main gas pipeline inside the Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF) compound affected the flow of gas to Mahanagar Gas Limited’s (MGL) City Gate Station (CGS) at Wadala.

Gas supply across parts of Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai was disrupted on Sunday after third-party damage to GAIL’s main gas pipeline inside the Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF) compound affected the flow of gas to Mahanagar Gas Limited’s (MGL) City Gate Station (CGS) at Wadala.

MGL Prioritises Domestic PNG Supply

According to an MGL spokesperson, efforts are underway to gradually restore supply to CNG stations. The utility has prioritized uninterrupted supply to domestic piped natural gas (PNG) consumers, ensuring household usage remains unaffected.

CNG Stations May Remain Non-Operational

However, several CNG stations—including those catering to public transport fleets—may remain non-operational until the supply to CGS Wadala is fully restored. Industrial and commercial consumers in the impacted areas have been advised to shift to alternative fuels in the interim.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/gas-supply-disrupted-across-mumbai-thane-and-navi-mumbai-after-damage-to-gail-pipeline-at-rcf-cng-stations-affected

The National Investigation Agency has made a significant breakthrough in the Red Fort car bomb case by arresting a key conspirator from Kashmir. This development sheds light on the wider network behind the deadly attack that shook Delhi earlier this month.

In a major escalation of its probe into the Red Fort car bomb blast, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a Kashmiri man who played a crucial role in helping suicide bomber Dr Umar Un Nabi execute the attack that killed 10 people and injured 32 in Delhi earlier this month.

Amir was arrested from Delhi after investigators confirmed that the car used in the November 10 blast was registered in his name. According to the NIA, he had travelled to the capital to assist Umar in securing the vehicle, which was later turned into a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).

The agency said Amir had actively conspired with Umar, an Assistant Professor of General Medicine at Al-Falah University in Faridabad, to carry out the bombing near the Red Fort.

Forensic analysis has identified the charred body found at the blast site as that of Umar Un Nabi, confirming he was the suicide bomber who drove the explosive-laden car.

Investigators have also seized another vehicle belonging to Umar, which is now undergoing forensic examination for additional evidence.

So far, the NIA has examined 73 witnesses, including several survivors injured in the blast, as part of its effort to trace every link in the chain of the conspiracy.

The agency is coordinating closely with Delhi Police, Jammu & Kashmir Police, Haryana Police, Uttar Pradesh Police and other central units as it pursues multiple leads across states. Officials believe the conspiracy extends beyond the two identified conspirators, and more arrests are expected as the investigation progresses.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nia-arrests-delhi-bomber-dr-umar-un-nabis-aide-who-helped-procure-the-car-used-in-red-fort-blast-2820820-2025-11-16

In a response to the apex court, the poll body noted that the court had, on September 8, clarified that Aadhaar may be used only to verify identity

The Election Commission of India (ECI) informed the Supreme Court that it has already directed officials in Bihar to use Aadhaar strictly as proof of identity, not citizenship, when updating the state’s revised electoral roll.

In a response submitted to the apex court, the Commission noted that the court had, on September 8, clarified that Aadhaar may be used only to verify identity under Section 23(4) of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1950.

Section 23 governs the procedures for adding or removing names from electoral rolls.

Following this clarification, the EC said it issued instructions on September 9, 2025, to Bihar’s Chief Electoral Officer, reiterating that Aadhaar should not be treated as evidence of citizenship during voter roll revisions.

The EC’s submission was filed in response to an interlocutory application by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, who sought a specific direction that Aadhaar be used solely for identity verification in line with Section 23(4).

The Commission further pointed to an August 2023 office memorandum issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which explicitly states that Aadhaar does not serve as proof of citizenship, residence, or date of birth.

This position has also been acknowledged by the Bombay High Court, which held that Aadhaar cannot be relied upon to establish date of birth and that the responsibility to prove such details lies with the cardholder.

The EC stressed that the Supreme Court has already clarified the limited permissible use of Aadhaar in the context of updating electoral rolls, including for the ongoing revisions in Bihar.

On October 7, the Supreme Court issued notice on Upadhyay’s application.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/aadhaar-can-verify-identity-not-citizenship-for-electoral-roll-inclusion-poll-body-to-top-court-9710710.html

A man from Lucknow appealed to the Russian government for his son to join Russia’s promising cancer vaccine trial after Indian doctors showed limited response.

The Russian government took a sensitive stand to an appeal made by Lucknow resident Manu Srivastava, who sought help to save the life of his 21-year-old son, Ansh Srivastava, who is battling cancer.

Manu Srivastava had requested the Russian government to conduct its vaccine trial on his son, as the vaccine in Russia was not available in India.

While speaking to ANI, Manu said that his son battling cancer that has now advanced to the fourth stage which is at its fourth stage. He said that although his son is being treated in India, the doctors haven’t been fully responsive. He then wrote to both the Government of India and the Russian government after learning that a new vaccine had been developed in Russia, proving very effective in treating cancer.

“When I learned that a vaccine had been developed in Russia, proving very effective in treating cancer, I sent letters to the Government of India and the Russian government. The reply came back saying my request was under consideration and the Russian government had sent it to their Ministry of Health for further processing,” he told ANI.

“We also wrote to the Indian government. A letter came from there as well. It stated that the vaccine, currently manufactured in Russia, is being implemented only in Russia. The people conducting the trials are local. So, we, and no other country, have yet received approval to conduct trials,” he added.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/up-father-seeks-russian-cancer-vaccine-trial-on-his-21-year-old-son-moscow-replies-ws-l-9711077.html

For the next five days, the IMD has predicted Delhi’s minimum and maximum temperature to swing between 8-12 and 23-27 degrees Celsius respectively.

As winters knock on the gates of the national capital, the temperature in Delhi dipped to 9.7 degrees Celsius on Saturday, which is 3.8 notches below normal for the season. This is the first time the minimum temperature in Delhi has gone below the 10 degrees Celsius mark during this year’s winter season.

The maximum temperature recorded in the capital on Saturday was 26.6 degrees Celsius, which is also 1.9 degrees Celsius below normal for the season.

For Sunday, November 16, the India Meteorological Department has predicted minimum temperature between 09-11 degrees Celsius and maximum temperature between 24-26 degrees Celsius in Delhi. It also said that the sky in Delhi will remain “mainly clear with mist” and “shallow fog” during morning hours of Sunday.

For the next five days as well, the IMD has predicted Delhi’s minimum temperature to swing between 8-12 degrees Celsius and maximum temperature between 23-27 degrees Celsius.

Delhi air quality turns ‘severe’
Delhi’s continues to breathe toxins on Sunday morning, as of 8 am, Delhi’s air remained ‘very poor’ with AQI of 385. However, in some areas such as Anand Vihar, Chandni Chowk, ITO, and Bawana, the air turned ‘severe’ as well with AQI of 412, 418, 417, and 436 respectively.

Delhi’s air remained ‘very poor’ on Saturday as well with an AQI of 386, according to the Central Pollution Control Board data. On Friday too, the air was in the ‘very poor’ category, which is a slight improvement from earlier days during the week when Delhi’s air turned ‘severe’.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/delhi-air-quality-turns-severe-as-mercury-dips-to-9-7-degrees-celsius-101763257257431.html

IIT Kanpur Online PG Programmes: These programmes aim to deliver IIT-standard learning to students across India and abroad, helping bridge existing gaps in advanced education.

The Indian higher education landscape is witnessing a major shift, with professionals increasingly required to upgrade their skills to stay relevant in a rapidly changing job market. Flexible online learning programmes offered by reputed institutions now enable working professionals and graduates to pursue advanced studies without relocating or leaving their jobs.

In a significant step toward expanding access to high-quality education, the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) has launched its Online Postgraduate Programmes, MTech, MSc, and Postgraduate Diplomas. These programmes aim to deliver IIT-standard learning to students across India and abroad, helping bridge existing gaps in advanced education.

Each programme is identical in content, structure, and evaluation to IIT Kanpur’s on-campus offerings and operates under the same Senate-approved framework. At least 85 per cent of all course material is developed and delivered by IIT Kanpur faculty and long-term visiting faculty. Industry professionals contribute selectively to add practical and interdisciplinary insights, ensuring an effective blend of academic depth and real-world application.

The programmes also emphasise credible and transparent evaluation. A minimum of 50% of the total grade weight comes from in-person, proctored examinations conducted at authorised centres in major Indian cities. This ensures that every grade reflects genuine learning and effort. International learners are offered online proctoring options with transparent reporting to maintain fairness.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/education/iit-kanpur-launches-online-postgraduate-programmes-check-details-here-9637949

Authorities have dismantled a doctor-led terror module linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind through coordinated operations in multiple regions, resulting in eight arrests, including three doctors from Al Falah University.

The investigation into the doctor-led terror module unfolded through a series of coordinated raids and recoveries across Faridabad, Nuh, Mewat and Jammu & Kashmir, according to top Faridabad Police sources.
Eight people, including three doctors affiliated with the Al Falah University in Faridabad, were arrested and 2,900 kg of explosives seized with the uncovering of a white collar terror module involving the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind and spanning Kashmir, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Here’s the sequence of events:
October 30:
Jammu & Kashmir Police reached Faridabad with a search warrant. The Police Commissioner assigned the Crime Branch to assist. On the same day, Dr Muzammil was arrested from Al-Falah University and taken to J&K on transit remand.

November 8:
J&K Police returned with inputs from Muzammil’s interrogation indicating the presence of weapons and explosives. From Dr Shaheen’s silver Swift, police recovered an assault rifle, a pistol, three rifle magazines, 83 cartridges, and two pistol magazines with seven live rounds. The car was seized from inside the campus.

Twelve teams from Faridabad Crime Branch and J&K Police conducted searches across the university, Douj and nearby areas.
November 9:
In Room No. 15 of a building in Douj, police found 12 suitcases containing 358 kg of ready-to-use explosives.
Timers, batteries, detonators, cutters, masks, wigs, wires and IED-making materials were also recovered. Everything was handed over to the J&K Police bomb squad.
November 10:
Based on further inputs, 2,553 kg of ammonium nitrate packed in bags was recovered from the house of Imam Ishtiyaq in Fatehpur Taga.
At 6:50 pm, the Red Fort blast took place.
By this time, since Muzammil’s arrest on October 30, Dr Umar had been absconding, with his movements traced around Nuh and Mewat.

November 12:
Police received input about a suspicious red EcoSport. The vehicle was traced and rounded up from Khandawali village. No explosives were found, but the car was forwarded for forensic testing to check residue.
November 13:
The EcoSport was seized at 5 pm.
Wasib, a Douj resident linked to Umar and working as a computer operator at the university, was detained and handed over to investigating agencies.
A silver Brezza belonging to Shaheen was also located inside the university. NSG and CFSL inspected and seized the vehicle; nothing suspicious was found.
Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/from-al-falah-to-red-fort-timeline-of-events-that-exposed-faridabad-doctor-terror-network-article-153158419

Heavy machinery, along with specialised personnel, is being used to remove the debris and widen access to the collapsed area as quickly as possible.

A portion of a stone quarry collapsed in Uttar Pradesh’s Sonbhadra, trapping several labourers under the rubble. Operations are underway to rescue the trapped workers.
A wall inside Krishna Mines Quarry suddenly caved in on Sunday, trapping several workers.
The exact number of people trapped is still unknown, but Uttar Pradesh minister Sanjeev Kumar Gond, who visited the site in Billi Markundi village in Sonbhadra district, said “around a dozen labourers” may be under the debris. Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Social Welfare Gond, who is also the local MLA, visited the spot with district officials.

District Magistrate B N Singh said, “Some labourers are buried after a wall collapsed inside the quarry.” Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are carrying out rescue operations at the site.

Heavy machinery, along with specialised personnel, is being used to remove the debris and widen access to the collapsed area as quickly as possible.

“The district magistrate, superintendent of police and other officials are at the spot, and relief operations are underway. I am also present here and every possible effort is being made,” the minister said.
“The circumstances under which the mine was operating will be investigated. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty,” the minister said. “We stand with the families of the victims.” Gond said that ex-gratia compensation would be provided to people affected in the incident. “This is a very sad incident,” he added.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/portion-of-stone-quarry-caves-in-uttar-pradeshs-sonbhadra-several-workers-trapped-rescue-ops-underway-article-153160607

Following the incident, Naveen Arora was rushed to a private hospital, where doctors declared the RSS leader’s son brought dead. Senior officers, including DSP City Sukhwinder Singh, reached the scene soon after the incident. The DSP said the police were scanning CCTV footage to identify the attackers and that teams had been formed to track them.

Naveen Arora, the son of senior RSS leader Baldev Raj Arora, was shot dead in Ferozepur on Saturday evening (November 16) in what police believe was a targeted attack carried out by motorcycle-borne assailants.

According to initial accounts, Naveen was returning home on foot from his shop in the main bazaar when two unidentified men on a motorcycle approached him near Baba Noor Shah Wali Durgah. They opened fire at close range, leaving him critically injured.

He was rushed to a private hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. Senior officers, including DSP City Sukhwinder Singh, reached the scene soon after the incident. The DSP said the police were scanning CCTV footage to identify the attackers and that teams had been formed to track them.

A powerful car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort on November 10 killed 13 people and injured several others, shattering the area. Authorities continue to document the wreckage and aftermath of the high-intensity blast.

Delhi Police has recovered three 9mm cartridges from the spot where a car exploded near the Red Fort earlier this month, killing 13 people and injuring several others, sources told India Today TV.

According to officers familiar with the probe, two of the cartridges are live rounds while the third is an empty shell.

The discovery is significant because 9mm ammunition is typically used by security forces and police personnel. However, officials said that no pistol or weapon part was found at the site, raising questions about how the rounds landed there.

Police have also verified the ammunition issued to their own staff present at the location, but none of their rounds were unaccounted for, ruling out the possibility that the cartridges belonged to personnel on duty.

Meanwhile, India Today TV has also accessed as many as 43 CCTV images that trace the complete movement of the Hyundai i20 car driven by the primary suspect, Dr Umar Nabi, to Delhi’s Red Fort on November 10.

Officials confirmed Umar’s identity after DNA lifted from the blast site matched samples taken from his mother, formally tying him to the attack.

These never-seen-before images showed Umar’s movement with new clarity, following him from a Faridabad university campus to Old Delhi just hours before the explosion. Police sources said that officials stitched together this route using footage from over 5,000 CCTV cameras across multiple districts, highways, and key checkpoints in Delhi-NCR.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/9mm-cartridges-typically-used-by-army-recovered-from-red-fort-car-blast-site-but-no-weapon-found-sources-2820588-2025-11-16

Rahul Gandhi is expected to be extremely disappointed, especially after his ‘vote chori’ press conferences, which didn’t really help his party at the end.

The Indian National Congress (INC) had high expectations when it decided to contest on 61 seats in Bihar. However, the election hasn’t gone according to their plan, as they won only six seats, a disappointing outcome to their ambitions.

It is one of their poorest performances in Bihar. In the 2020 state assembly elections, the Congress secured 19 seats, compared to 27 in 2015. Meanwhile, in 2010, they secured four seats.

Follow live updates on the Bihar election results here.

The INDIA bloc’s aggressive campaign in Bihar revolved around Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘vote chori’ (vote theft) allegations. However, his accusations and aspirations crumbled on Friday as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a dominant victory.

Rahul Gandhi’s ‘vote chori’ accusations

Rahul Gandhi presented an inspiring and aggressive image in a series of press conferences, where he accused the Election Commission of India (ECI) of vote theft under the instructions of the BJP-led NDA. In his three press conferences, he levelled allegations of how the ECI was stealing and mass-deleting. He also accused the body of data manipulation.

He went a notch higher in his final press conference on November 6, where he alleged and showed evidence of a Brazilian model on the Haryana voter list. Her photo appeared under 22 different names, including Sweety and Seema.

Failed to strike a chord with the public

Either his ‘vote chori’ message wasn’t heard, or it simply fell flat, as he never showed his promised ‘hydrogen bomb’ of evidence. Their performance in Bihar can be summed up simply as disastrous, and it could take a huge toll on the party’s confidence and image.

Congress has become a minor player in Bihar now, often finishing in third or fourth place. Their last strong and significant leadership presence in the state was under Jagannath Mishra. He was elected as chief minister of Bihar three times and was the most powerful Congress leader in the late 1970s and 1980s. However, since then, the party has seen a decline in its influence in Bihar, leaving a significant leadership vacuum.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/big-hopes-narrow-outcome-congress-contested-61-seats-in-bihar-won-only-6-101763115989978.html

Sarbjit Kaur of Amanipur village in Punjab’s Kapurthala went to Pakistan on November 4 to participate in ‘Parkash Purb’ celebrations at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib.

A woman pilgrim from Punjab who was part of the jatha’ (group) visiting Pakistan to offer prayers at the Nankana Sahib has still not returned, police said on Friday.

She was among the many Sikh community members from India who were visiting the bordering nation for the 556th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev. Identified as Sarbjit Kaur, a resident of Amanipur village in Punjab’s Kapurthala, the woman crossed over to Pakistan via Attari-Wagah border.

Police have launched an investigation to check her whereabouts and three cases have been registered at various police stations in Kapurthala, said Station House Officer (SHO) of Talwandi Chaudhrian, Nirmal Singh.

Sarbjit was part of the ‘jatha’ consisting of over 1,900 Sikh members that went to Pakistan on November 4 to participate in the ‘Parkash Purb’ celebrations at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib and to visit other important Sikh shrines.

While the group she was with returned on Thursday night, she was not among them.

According to news agency PTI, immigration authorities in Pakistan have informed their Indian counterparts about the incident as Indian immigration authorities are working to obtain more details about Kaur and her family members from her village.

First Jatha after Operation Sindoor

The jatha that returned on Thursday after 10 days of pilgrimage to Nankana Sahib and visiting other historic gurdwaras was the first one following Operation Sindoor as India had imposed travel restrictions to Pakistan.

The Union government granted permission on October 2, two weeks after initially refusing it due to security concerns. Earlier, Sikhs were also barred from visiting Pakistan for Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death anniversary in June.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/punjab-woman-on-sikh-pilgrimage-in-pak-goes-missing-cops-share-update-101763176362296.html

An Indian Sikh pilgrim, Sarbjeet Kaur, who went missing during a visit to Pakistan on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti, married a Pakistani national, claimed media reports. purported copy of the Nikahnama surfaced online. She is a resident of Punjab’s Kapurthala district. The reports claimed that she converted to Islam and married a man named Nasir Hussain.

Sarbjeet Kaur, an Indian Sikh pilgrim who went missing during a visit to Pakistan on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti, reportedly married a Pakistani national. A purported copy of the Nikahnama surfaced online.

Kaur went missing from the group of devotees who had travelled to Pakistan on November 4 to celebrate the Parkash Purab (birth anniversary) of Guru Nanak Dev. She is a resident of Punjab’s Kapurthala district.

Kaur disappeared on November 13. Documents which surfaced online suggest that the Indian Sikh pilgrim has adopted Islam and married the Pakistani national, Nasir Hussain, reported News18.

She was part of a 1,923-member Sikh delegation led by Akal Takht Sahib’s Jathedar, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, that went to Pakistan via the Attari border in Amritsar under a bilateral agreement facilitating visits to religious shrines.

After spending 10 days visiting various gurudwaras in Pakistan, the group of 1,922 returned to India on Thursday evening. However, Kaur’s disappearance triggered major security concerns. Intelligence agencies in both India and Pakistan were trying to trace the missing Indian Sikh pilgrim.

On November 4, the Sikh pilgrims went to Nankana Sahib in Pakistan to celebrate Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Prakash Parv. However, Pakistani officials reportedly denied 14 Hindus from Delhi and Lucknow from travelling with the Sikh group.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/indian-sikh-pilgrim-sarbjeet-who-went-missing-in-pakistan-during-religious-visit-converts-to-islam-marries-local-man-nikahnama-surfaces-online

The blast, triggered during the handling of explosives seized in the Faridabad terror module case, ripped through Srinagar’s Nowgam Police Station on Friday night.

At least nine people were killed and over 30 injured after a massive explosion tore through the Nowgam Police Station in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar late Friday night. The accidental blast occurred while officials were extracting samples from a large cache of explosives recently seized in the Faridabad terror module case, officials said on Saturday.

The blast reduced the police station to rubble and gutted several vehicles parked outside. Eyewitnesses and CCTV footage captured the explosion tearing through the building, sending flames and thick smoke billowing into the air.

According to sources, the death toll may rise as several of the injured are in critical condition and some people remain missing. Rescuers continued to comb through the rubble for those feared trapped. Investigators said body parts were found as far as 300 feet from the site, underscoring the scale of the blast.

ACCIDENTAL BLAST, SAYS TOP COP

While police maintained that the blast was triggered during the handling and sealing of the seized explosives in the presence of a magistrate, the PAFF, a shadow organisation linked to Jaish-e-Muhammad, has reportedly claimed responsibility for the incident.

However, J&K Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat said at a press conference that the explosion was accidental and dismissed other theories as “unnecessary speculation.”

“A huge quantity of explosive substances and chemicals were recovered from Faridabad. We transported the recovery to PS Nowgam. Due to the sensitive nature, handling was being done with utmost caution. However, last night an accidental explosion occurred. Any other speculation is unnecessary,” the DGP said.

During the press conference, the J&K top cop informed that a State Investigation Agency official, three Forensic Science Laboratory officials, two crime wing officials, two revenue officials and a tailor who was associated with the team were among those killed. The DGP also added that 27 police personnel, two revenue officials and three civilians have received injuries.

The explosion caused extensive damage to the police station building, which was “very severely” impacted, and several adjoining structures were also affected. Authorities are still assessing the full extent of the destruction, he added.

In a separate press briefing, Prashant Lokhande, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, also echoed J&K DGP’s statement and said that the cause of the incident is being investigated and any other speculation into the cause of the blast was unnecessary.

Much of the 350 kg stock of explosives recovered in the terror module case had been stored inside the police station, where the primary FIR is registered.

SECURITY TIGHTENED; SENIOR OFFICIALS VISIT VICTIMS

Police teams searched Ruia’s residence and offices, as well as those of several of his associates, last Thursday after their names figured in an FIR registered in connection with a nationwide cyber fraud case, the officer said.

The cybercrime wing of West Bengal Police has busted a Rs 317-crore online fraud involving 148 shell companies and raided the home and offices of businessman Pawan Ruia for his alleged links to the racket, an officer said on Tuesday.

Police teams searched Ruia’s residence and offices, as well as those of several of his associates, last Thursday after their names figured in an FIR registered in connection with a nationwide cyber fraud case, the officer said.

“A meticulous investigation unveiled the direct involvement of a cyber fraud. Over 1,379 complainants across West Bengal and other parts of India were cheated of approximately Rs 317 crore,” police said in a statement on Monday.

“These funds were routed through numerous bank accounts of 148 shell companies, many of which shared the same registered address, and were subsequently siphoned off to various mule accounts,” it added.

Talking more about their investigation, the officer said, “Preliminary findings suggest that around Rs 170 crore of the diverted funds was converted into cryptocurrency in an attempt to prevent law enforcement from tracing or freezing the assets”.

A suo motu FIR was registered at Barrackpore Cyber Crime Police Station on November 5, the officer added.

“The FIR names Ruia, members of his family, and close associates, noting that 11 directors linked to Ruia-controlled entities also hold positions on the boards of 186 other companies across India,” the officer said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/west-bengal/bengal-police-bust-rs-317-crore-cyber-fraud-racket-conduct-raids-at-businessman-pawan-ruias-premises-3793969

The findings, officials said, reveal a complex chain of fertilizer and ammonium nitrate purchases allegedly orchestrated by Dr Umar Un Nabi and his associates.

Investigators tracking the origins of the explosives used in Monday’s deadly blast near Delhi’s Red Fort have traced the procurement network to Basai Meo village in Haryana’s Nuh district and adjoining areas of Faridabad, Gurugram, and Saharanpur. The findings, officials said, reveal a complex chain of fertilizer and ammonium nitrate purchases allegedly orchestrated by Dr Umar Un Nabi and his associates from the Faridabad module over the past several months.

People familiar with the investigation said Umar and another suspect had posed as farmhouse owners while approaching fertilizer shops in Nuh, where they began purchasing NPK fertilizers in small quantities over the last three-four months. Senior officers said the module collectively raised ₹20 lakh to buy more than 26 quintals of NPK fertilizer and over 1,000kg of ammonium nitrate – materials powerful enough to make multiple bombs.

India’s Cabinet on Wednesday called this week’s deadly car explosion in the capital a terror attack carried out by “anti-national forces,” though it did not release any new evidence linked to the blast.

Earlier Wednesday, authorities said several suspects had been arrested in the disputed Kashmir region as part of the investigation into the blast Monday near the historic Red Fort monument that killed eight people and injured several others.

Authorities on Tuesday announced that they were investigating it as possible terrorism — a step that gives investigating authorities broader powers to arrest or detain people. But they have not publicly detailed their evidence.

The federal Cabinet of ministers, in a resolution passed late Wednesday, called the car explosion “a heinous terror incident, perpetrated by anti-national forces.” It provided no further details.

Red Fort, a major tourist attraction, is a 17th-century monument and the place where Indian prime ministers deliver Independence Day speeches on Aug. 15 each year. If confirmed as a deliberate attack, it would be the deadliest such blast in India’s capital since 2011.

At least five people were detained for questioning in a series of raids overnight in the Kashmir’s southern Pulwama district, police officials said Wednesday.

A suspected militant cell dismantled, and then the blast
Monday’s blast came hours after police in Indian-controlled Kashmir said they had dismantled a suspected militant cell operating from the disputed region to the outskirts of New Delhi. At least seven people, including two doctors, were arrested, and police seized weapons and a large quantity of bomb-making material in Faridabad, a city in Haryana state, which is near New Delhi.

Indian news outlets report the explosion could be linked to the same cell. Police have not commented, citing their ongoing investigation.

Four police officers in Kashmir familiar with the case said the investigation that led them to the cell began with a routine probe into anti-India posters that appeared in a neighborhood in the Kashmir city of Srinagar on Oct. 19. The posters threatened attacks on Indian troops stationed in Kashmir.

The officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case, said CCTV footage helped identify suspects, initially leading to the arrest of at least three people.

Over the following three weeks, interrogations led to the detention of two Kashmiri doctors working in two Indian cities, as well as two other suspects from Kashmir, the officers said.

Local media reports suggest car’s driver was from Kashmir
Indian news outlets have reported that police are investigating whether another suspected member of the same cell, also a Kashmiri doctor teaching at a medical college in Faridabad, was driving the car that exploded. Police have not confirmed those reports, but Indian news outlets said the doctor may have either deliberately triggered the blast to avoid arrest or was transporting explosives that detonated accidentally.

Delhi police spokesman Sanjay Tyagi said investigators were probing “all possible angles, including a terror attack, an accidental blast or any kind of failure in the car.”

Shagufta Jan, the doctor’s sister-in-law in Kashmir’s Pulwama district, said the family had not heard from him since last Friday, when she told him police were looking for him.

“He called us on Friday, and I told him to come home. He said he would come after three days,” she said.

“That was the last time we spoke with him,” Jan said, adding that police came to their home Monday night and took in the doctor’s mother and two brothers for questioning.

The blast could raise tensions between India and Pakistan

The possible terrorism link in the blast has raised fears of renewed tensions between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan. India often accuses Pakistan of backing attacks on its soil, saying they are carried out by groups based across the border.

In April, suspected militants killed 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, in Indian-controlled Kashmir. New Delhi blamed Pakistan for the massacre, which Islamabad denied. It was followed by tit-for-tat military strikes by India and Pakistan, bringing the nuclear-armed rivals to the brink of their third war over the region.

Source: https://apnews.com/article/india-car-blast-red-fort-1ce382e2c514561759f464182d82d4e2

The injured man has been identified as 24-year-old Sonu Kumar, a resident of Gurugram, Haryana. He has been admitted to AIIMS Rishikesh and his condition is reportedly critical.

A terrifying incident has come to light from Uttarakhand’s Rishikesh, where an accident took place during adventure sports. A young man in Shivpuri was severely injured after falling from a height of 180-ft while bungee jumping.

The incident took place on Wednesday at the Thrill Factory Adventure Park on the Tapovan–Shivpuri Road, and CCTV footage of the event surfaced on Thursday and has since gone viral on social media. The injured man has been identified as 24-year-old Sonu Kumar, a resident of Gurugram, Haryana. He has been admitted to AIIMS Rishikesh and his condition is reportedly critical.

Police Statment

According to the police, Sonu had travelled to Shivpuri for adventure sports. He attempted bungee jumping, but the rope suddenly broke, causing him to fall from a height. He landed on a tin shed and was hospitalised. His condition is reported to be critical. Police say they have not yet received any complaints, and further action will be taken once a complaint is received.

A man on X (formerly Twitter) shared that his friend had visited Thrill Factory, Rishikesh, yesterday for bungee jumping, and that just seven minutes after their turn, the major accident took place.

The incident has raised concerns over safety protocols in adventure sports in India.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/terrifying-youth-falls-from-180-ft-afterrope-breaks-during-bungee-jumping-in-rishikesh-video

Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off for the first time in his Portugal career in his side’s World Cup 2026 Qualifier against Ireland on Thursday. The Al Nassr star sarcastically applauded the Irish fans, who jeered and booed at him. Ronaldo faces the risk of missing Portugal’s FIFA World Cup 2026 opener should the ban be extended.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the centre of controversy in Portugal’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers on Thursday. The former Manchester United star was sent off for elbowing defender Dara O’Shea in the second half. It was the first ever red card in his international career for Ronaldo, who walked off sarcastically applauding the referee’s decision.

The Irish fans responded calling the Portugal legend a ‘cry baby’. The hosts jeered and booed in jubilation as the 40-year-old made his way off the field, making the ‘crying baby’ gesture. Incidentally, the Real Madrid legend had made the same gesture towards Nathan Collins, five minutes before he was sent off.

Ronaldo will serve a mandatory one-game ban imposed for any red card when Portugal hosts Armenia on Sunday. He confronted Irish head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson while walking off the field.

Ronaldo spun round and swung his right elbow into O’Shea’s back. The referee had initially given a yellow, only for VAR to intervene and convert it into a red. The 40-year-old walked off the field being jeered and mocked by Ireland fans. He paused to stop and looked at the fans, applauded them and raised two thumbs up in an apparent sarcastic gesture.

Ronaldo will miss Portugal’s final FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Armenia as he serves a suspension. It is a must-win clash for the Nations League holders, with 3 points guaranteeing a World Cup 2026 spot.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/watch-cry-baby-cristiano-ronaldo-mocked-by-irish-fans-after-first-red-card-for-portugal-could-miss-world-cup-2026-opener

The Supreme Court of India has permitted Surendra Koli, the main suspect in the notorious Nithari serial killings, to file a curative petition, leading to his potential release after nearly 20 years in prison. Koli was initially convicted in 2011 but has since been acquitted in twelve other related cases due to insufficient evidence. The court criticised previous trials influenced by media pressure and acknowledged the inconsistencies in the evidence against Koli.

Nearly two decades after the horrific Nithari serial killings shook the nation, the Supreme Court of India has allowed the curative petition of Surendra Koli, the prime accused, paving the way for his release. The decision marks the final chapter in one of India’s most chilling criminal cases, one that began with the discovery of skeletal remains of several children behind a bungalow in Noida’s Nithari village in 2006.
Koli, who worked as a domestic help for businessman Moninder Singh Pandher, had been accused in multiple cases of rape and murder between 2005 and 2007. Over the years, he was convicted in one case and acquitted in twelve others. With the apex court now overturning his final conviction, Koli is set to walk free unless required in any other case.

Why the Supreme Court Freed Koli

A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices Surya Kant and Vikram Nath delivered the judgment, allowing Koli’s curative plea against his 2011 conviction. The court observed that it would be a “travesty of justice” to uphold the lone conviction when Koli had already been acquitted in twelve other cases based on the same set of evidence.
The judges noted that Koli’s conviction in the remaining case rested solely on his confessional statement and the recovery of a kitchen knife from a lane behind his employer’s house, the very same evidence deemed insufficient in other trials. The Allahabad High Court, which had acquitted Koli in twelve cases and Pandher in two, had earlier ruled that recoveries made at the instance of the accused and their statements before the police were not admissible as evidence.

Chief Justice Gavai also lauded the Allahabad High Court for standing firm “against media pressure”, remarking that the original trial appeared to have been influenced by “media trial” and public outrage. “It is rather complimentary of the judges of the High Court for writing such a judgment. There must have been a lot of media pressure. The trial court, sorry to say, must have been swayed by it,” the Chief Justice observed during hearings.

In its final order, the bench said, “For the reasons recorded above, the curative petition is allowed. The petitioner shall be released forthwith, if not required in any other case or proceeding.”

The move is aimed at strengthening India’s energy security and supply chain security as the elements are highly used in the country, especially in the electric vehicle, electronic manufacturing and strategic sectors.

In a move aimed at boosting the domestic production of critical minerals and reduce import dependence, the central government approved the rationalisation of royalty rates of graphite, caesium, rubidium, and zirconium.
The decision was taken by the Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The decision comes at a time when China, which holds the world monopoly in critical minerals production, is increasingly imposing export restrictions. India’s move to push domestic production will also cut down dependence on imports from Beijing.

This would be PM Narendra Modi’s fourth visit to South Africa. Since 2014, the PM has attended every G20 Summit, which India hosted in 2023.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit South Africa on November 21 to attend the G20 Summit, according to sources, which would be his fourth visit to the country.

PM Modi is likely to embark on a three-day visit to South Africa, starting from Johannesburg on November 21. The Indian Prime Minister has attended every G20 Summit since 2024.

South Africa, which assumed the year-long G20 Presidency on December 1, 2024, will host the Summit in Johannesburg from November 22 to 23, the first time the meeting of G20 leaders will be held on African soil. The US will take over the G20 Presidency from South Africa on December 1, 2025, and will chair the grouping until November 30, 2026.

India hosted the G20 Summit in 2023, which was marked by a historic diplomatic effort to achieve a consensus over the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war in the New Delhi Declaration and the inclusion of the African Union (AU) in the bloc. India handed over the G20 Presidency to Brazil on December 1, 2023.

The G20 comprises 19 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, the UK, and the US as well as the European Union and the African Union.

Trump Not To Attend G20 Summit In South Africa

Reports of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to South Africa came after US President Donald Trump said no American official would attend the multilateral event, calling it a “disgrace” over “human rights abuses” against the ethnic minority group of Afrikaners in the country.

“I am not going. We have a G20 meeting in South Africa. South Africa shouldn’t even be in the Gs anymore because what’s happened there is bad. I’m not going. I told them I’m not going. I’m not going to represent our country there. It shouldn’t be there,” Trump said while addressing the America Business Forum Miami in Florida earlier this month.

The Trump administration has long accused the South African government of allowing minority white Afrikaner farmers to be persecuted and attacked. As it restricted the number of refugees admitted annually to the US to 7,500, the administration indicated that most would be white South Africans, who it claimed faced discrimination and violence at home.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/pm-modi-likely-to-visit-south-africa-for-g20-summit-next-week-9703096.html

According to Delhi Police, the fire brigade received a call at 4 pm on Wednesday about a bomb being found at Delhi Airport Terminal 3.

A bomb threat email received on IndiGo’s grievance portal on Wednesday triggered security checks at Delhi Airport’s Terminal 3, but later turned out to be a hoax. The email, which also mentioned several other airports, including Delhi, Chennai, and Goa, prompted an immediate response from security agencies, and precautionary checks were conducted at all the locations.

According to Delhi Police, the fire brigade received a call at 4 pm on Wednesday about a bomb being found at Delhi Airport Terminal 3. However, after investigating the scene, it was determined to be a hoax. The email was received on IndiGo’s grievance portal. It mentioned several other airports, including Delhi, Chennai, and Goa. Following the information, precautionary checks have been conducted at all locations.

Following the recent car blast in Delhi, which claimed several lives and left many injured, security has been placed on high alert across the city.

Meanwhile, two days after the blast near the Red Fort, a link of a “white-collar terror network” has surfaced in the preliminary investigation, with the probe agencies finding links of the terror incident with Pakistan-based outfits Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH).

The network, which allegedly involved doctors and clerics, was dismantled following a series of coordinated operations between October 19 and November 10, 2025, resulting in the recovery of 2,921 kilograms of explosives and many arrests.

The investigation, now being handled by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), began after a joint operation by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Haryana Police exposed an elaborate inter-state nexus spanning educational, medical, and religious institutions.

The crackdown began on October 19, when objectionable JeM posters were found in the Nowgam area of Kashmir, prompting an FIR and a wider investigation. The next day, three suspects — Arif Nisar, Yasir-ul-Ashraf, and Maqsood — were arrested and taken to the Nowgam Police Station area.

On October 27, security forces apprehended Maulvi Irfan Ahmed Wage from Shopian and Zameer Ahmed from Wakura, Ganderbal, recovering a pistol and ammunition from their possession.

The probe soon expanded beyond Jammu and Kashmir. On October 30, Dr Muzamil, a faculty member at Al-Falah Medical College in Faridabad, was arrested, followed by the November 5 arrest of Dr Adeel from Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.

Subsequent searches at Anantnag Hospital on November 7 led to the seizure of an AK-56 rifle and other ammunition, while a day later, a raid at Al-Falah Medical College yielded additional rifles, pistols, and gunpowder.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bomb-threat-hoax-at-airport-terminal-3-delhi-police-9625270

Red EcoSport car owned by Delhi blast suspect was found parked in Haryana after cops launched massive hunt this afternoon. The car with DL10CK0458 plate was registered in the name of Umar Un Nabi at Rajouri Garden RTO on 22 November 2017.

The Red Ford EcoSport owned by Delhi blast suspect Dr Umar Un Nabi was found parked near Haryana’s Khandawali village hours after cops launched a massive hunt for the vehicle on Wednesday, officials said. The car was found parked outside a Khandawali house which belongs to Dr Umar, they added.

After the seizure, the car was cordoned off and a team of experts was called to investigate the vehicle. It is suspected that the vehicle may be carrying weapons or explosives.

The red Ford EcoSport bears the registration number DL10CK0458 and is registered to Umar Un Nabi, also known as Dr Umar Mohammad, who was listed as the second owner of the vehicle.

The car was registered at the Rajouri Garden RTO in Delhi on November 22, 2017. Investigations have revealed that Umar used a fake address in Northeast Delhi to purchase the vehicle, prompting police to raid that location late at night, sources told India Today.

Authorities believe that the suspects used the EcoSport as a secondary vehicle in the operation, following the explosion of a white Hyundai i20, which was found destroyed near the blast site.

Intelligence agencies had warned that the red EcoSport could be carrying crucial evidence or even explosives. According to the sources, investigating agencies suspect that Dr Umar and his team used a red EcoSport car to transport and stockpile ammonium nitrate over time.

In response, all law enforcement units were instructed to intercept any red Ford EcoSport, with particular attention to the one bearing DL10CK0458.

Police on patrol and picket duty were also ordered to remain fully armed and vigilant, ready to act immediately upon spotting the vehicle.

The Delhi Police, in coordination with central security agencies, scanned CCTV footage, toll booth records, and mobile tower data to trace the car’s movements.

Umar is described as the most radicalised member of the module and the key link between all the doctors. Following the arrests of a Nowgam cleric and Muzamil, Dr Umar reportedly switched off his phones and severed all digital communications.

The module had conducted multiple reconnaissance operations and, according to sources, was planning a series of serial blasts, awaiting final instructions from its handler when the network was dismantled.

Dr Umar is believed to be the man driving the white Hyundai i20 that exploded near the 17th century monument. Investigative agencies have already collected DNA samples from the members of his family, which are being compared with evidence from the blast site to confirm the driver’s identity.

FAKE ADDRESS USED TO BUY CAR

Al-Falah Group, which manages various institutions since the year 1997, became autonomous in the year 2009 and a University in 2014. It is recognised by the University Grants Commission and has managed its medical college since 2019. Its 76-acre campus is located in the Muslim-majority Dhauj village in Faridabad district.

In its first reaction on the terror module busted in Faridabad and Delhi Red Fort blast, the Al-Falah University, located in Haryana’s Faridabad district, on Wednesday distanced itself from the two doctors arrested in the case and said that it has no connection to them “apart from them being working in their official capacities with the university’’.

Al-Falah Group, which manages various institutions since the year 1997, became autonomous in the year 2009 and a University in 2014. It is recognised by the University Grants Commission and has managed its medical college since 2019. Its 76-acre campus is located in the Muslim-majority Dhauj village in Faridabad district.

Stating that the varsity is extending full cooperation to the investigating agencies probing the cases mentioned above, the university Vice-Chancellor Prof (Dr) Bhupinder Kaur Anand, in her statement (copy with FPJ) said “we are deeply saddened and anguished by the unfortunate developments that took place and condemn the same…. We have also learnt that two of our doctors have been detained by the Investigating Agencies’’.

“We wish to make it clear that the University has no connection with the said persons apart from them being working in their official capacities with the University’’, she said.

Prof Anand’s statement further clarified that “no such chemical or material, as is being alleged by certain platforms, is being used, stored, or handled within the University premises. The University laboratories are used solely and exclusively for the academic and training requirements of MBBS students and other authorised courses’’.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/white-collar-terror-ring-no-connection-with-terrorist-docs-says-al-falah-university

A senior UP Police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “We had been receiving such inputs earlier, which is why vigilance in the state was already heightened. Lucknow was the prime target, but several other cities were also on the radar.”

The blast that shook Delhi earlier this week was never meant to happen there — it was first planned for Uttar Pradesh. Inputs from the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Gujarat ATS suggest that the terror module behind the explosion had initially chosen Lucknow and other major UP cities as targets before changing plans at the last moment. The revelation has triggered a statewide alert, with security agencies intensifying surveillance across the state.

A senior UP Police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “We had been receiving such inputs earlier, which is why vigilance in the state was already heightened. Lucknow was the prime target, but several other cities were also on the radar.”

Officials said two separate terror modules had been uncovered in recent weeks — one dismantled by Gujarat ATS and another by Jammu and Kashmir Police. “It appears that after their modules were busted, the operatives altered their plans and carried out the attack in Delhi,” the officer added.

Investigators believe the shift in plan came after the arrest of Dr. Adil from Faridabad and the recovery of nearly 2,900 kg of explosives. “Members of the same network were moving toward UP. It cannot be ruled out that the explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort could have taken place in any city of Uttar Pradesh,” the officer said.

The terror outfit was reportedly looking for recruits familiar with the terrain of UP who could move without relying on mobile phones. Two such men — Azad Suleman Sheikh from Shamli and Mohammad Suhail from Lakhimpur — were identified and later arrested by Gujarat ATS before they could execute any plan.

Last month, Jammu and Kashmir Police had warned that some suspects might attempt to use Tablighi Jamaat activities as a cover for terror operations. Acting on that alert, the UP Police had ordered discreet surveillance of Tablighi Jamaat members and directed district officials to restrict their movement. The DGP Headquarters issued verbal instructions that anyone traveling to or organizing such congregations be kept under watch.

Over half a dozen people, most from western UP, have been detained so far for questioning, an ATS officer confirmed. Some arrests were made based on Gujarat ATS inputs, while others followed leads from Jammu and Kashmir Police.

The UP ATS is also set to interrogate Dr. Shaheen Shahid of Lucknow, who was arrested from Faridabad on November 10. A team has already left for Jammu and Kashmir to gather more details about her UP connections.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/delhi-blast-was-originally-planned-for-uttar-pradesh-reveal-police-sources

India’s young, tech-savvy population has already made it a leading country in AI adoption. When setting rules for artificial intelligence, New Delhi is taking a different approach compared to the EU, China and the US.

India unveiled a set of artificial intelligence (AI) guidelines last week, outlining how it wants to regulate and promote the technology.

The move comes as New Delhi prepares to host a major AI summit at the start of 2026.

The guidelines advocate using existing legal frameworks — like the Information Technology Act and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act — to handle emerging risks such as deepfakes and unauthorized data use.

“India’s AI governance adopts a balanced, agile and flexible approach that promotes innovation and safety,” Amal Mohanty, AI policy expert and one of the lead authors of the guidelines, told DW.

He said India’s approach is different to the rules charted by the EU, China and the US.

“Unlike the EU’s detailed AI Act that imposes strict, rule-based obligations based on risk classification, ours favors self-regulation and voluntary measures,” he said. “This allows developers more freedom to innovate while managing AI risks responsibly.”

Rapid pace of AI adoption in India

India ranks among the global leaders in AI adoption and innovation, mainly due to its youthful, tech-savvy population.

Millions of workers and consumers in the world’s most populous country are embracing the technology at an unprecedented rate.

From health care and agriculture to fintech and public services, AI is becoming a central part of digital growth.

A recent report by Boston Consulting Group states that 92% of employees involved in customer service, operations and production activities in India are already using AI at work, the highest rate in the Asia-Pacific region and well above the global average of 72%.

“We are still in the early stages of the AI lifecycle. It is like the dial-up internet era of AI. I strongly believe now is not the time to set roadblocks in front of AI innovation,” Paul Emmanuel, founder and CEO of Two Minute Reports, told DW.

Emmanuel’s company, which is involved in design and development of AI-driven data analytics and reporting tools for marketers, said the focus should be on widespread public awareness, education and upskilling to ensure vulnerable groups are not blindsided by AI advancement.

“The Indian government’s light-touch approach is going to help local businesses compete better globally. More importantly, it helps build the talent and technological know-how to be ready for future demands and challenges of AI,” said Emmanuel.

Working within existing laws

But Urvashi Aneja, founder and executive director of Digital Futures Lab, a research and advisory firm, pointed out that the guidelines do not flesh out how India’s AI objectives will be achieved.

“For example, how is data usability and sharing going to be enhanced? Improving access to public sector data to spur innovation has been a long-standing goal but data quality continues to be poor,” she told DW.

Aneja also said there is a patchy understanding of the risks involved.

“This narrow view on AI risks mean the guidelines are silent on issues such as labor displacement, psychological and environmental harms. Equally glaring is the absence of any discussion on market concentration,” she underlined.

A core element of the guidelines is the “Do No Harm” principle, which officials hope will manage AI risks effectively without stifling technological growth.

Another important point is content authentication to help distinguish authentic content from AI-produced or modified material.

The government has already proposed amendments to existing IT rules that require social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram to visibly label AI-generated or synthetically modified content. Visual labels are to cover at least 10% of the display area, while audio content must include audible labels for at least 10% of the duration.

These measures aim to enhance transparency and help users distinguish authentic from AI-manipulated content, making them less susceptible to misinformation and deepfakes.

What makes India different on AI?

Yash Shah, co-founder and CEO of Momentum91, a custom software development company, said the new AI guidelines take a very “India first” route. He described the rules as practical, flexible and built for a country where innovation often outpaces infrastructure.

“Think of the EU approach as airport security. It is meticulous, mandatory, and sometimes painfully slow. India’s approach is more like metro security. It is efficient, situational, and designed to keep people moving,” Shah told DW.

“For example, a fintech startup in Bengaluru can deploy an AI underwriting model faster under India’s voluntary safeguards than it could under the EU’s mandatory risk classification system,” he added.

“Similarly, an edtech company experimenting with personalized learning tools doesn’t have to wrestle with multi-layer compliance before even testing its product,” said Shah, explaining why the framework is simply better suited to India’s scale and complexity.

Overall, the current framework advocates governing AI applications specifically, not the technology itself.

It also stands in contrast with China’s technology-specific rules and the US’ evolving, more fragmented policies.

Source : https://www.dw.com/en/india-charts-its-own-course-on-ai-regulation/a-74702266

Following a deadly car blast in Delhi, security measures were tightened in Uttar Pradesh, with anti-terror agencies conducting raids linked to a terror module associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed. Dr. Shaheen Sayeed, a doctor with ties to a newly formed women’s group by JeM, was arrested, leading to further investigations across multiple states.

Security was tightened across Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday following the deadly car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort that killed at least 12 people and injured more than 20. In Lucknow, anti-terror agencies raided the home of Dr Shaheen Sayeed – a woman doctor arrested in connection with the Faridabad explosives case that exposed a “white-collar” terror module linked to the banned Jaish-e-Mohammed.
A joint team of the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), Lucknow Police, and central agencies searched Sayeed’s residence in Muttaqipur locality, seizing documents and questioning family members and neighbours as part of an expanding counter-terror probe.
Eight people, including three doctors, were arrested on Monday, and 2,900 kg of explosives were seized in Faridabad during a 15-day operation spanning Kashmir, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Among those held was Sayeed, who hails from Lucknow and was associated with Al-Falah University in Faridabad.

Meanwhile, Dr Sayeed’s family denied any knowledge of her alleged role.

Delhi blast terror suspects Dr Umar and Dr Muzammil had recced Red Fort twice since January, sources said on Wednesday.

Delhi blast terror suspects Dr Umar and Dr Muzammil had recced Red Fort twice since January, and the plan was to carry out a major terror attack on January 26, sources said on Wednesday.
According to sources, terror suspect Dr Muzammil, who was arrested after JeM’s multiple state terror module was busted, revealed this to investigators while being grilled after the powerful blast at Red Fort killed at least 12 people on Monday.
Muzammil was being interrogated based on data recovered from his phone. In a major revelation, he told agencies that the plan was to execute a large-scale attack, and the recce of these areas was part of that conspiracy.

The Gaganyaan parachute system is a complex sequence designed for ultimate redundancy and safety

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a critical safety milestone for the Gaganyaan mission, successfully completing a key Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Test (IMAT) for the Crew Module’s deceleration system. This successful qualification test, conducted at the Babina Field Firing Range (BFFR) in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, on November 3, 2025, is a major step towards ensuring the safe return of Indian astronauts (Vyomanauts).

Testing for Extreme Scenarios

The Hongqi Bridge, part of a major national highway linking China’s heartland with Tibet, gave way on Tuesday afternoon following a series of landslides in the area.

A dramatic video from southwest China’s Sichuan province shows the moment the newly opened Hongqi Bridge collapsed, sending a large section of the structure plunging into the river below. The bridge, part of a major national highway linking China’s heartland with Tibet, gave way on Tuesday afternoon following a series of landslides in the area. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far.

The incident took place near the Shuangjiangkou Hydropower Station in Maerkang city. Videos circulating widely on Chinese social media captured the hillside beginning to crumble, releasing thick clouds of dust and debris. Within moments, the ground beneath the bridge shifted, causing its support pillars to tilt before the span collapsed into the river in a dramatic cascade of concrete and steel.

Authorities had reportedly closed the 758-metre-long bridge to traffic a day earlier after detecting cracks in nearby slopes and roads, along with signs of ground movement. Officials cited potential geological hazards and had halted all movement across the bridge as a safety precaution. These early warnings are believed to have prevented any loss of life.

According to local authorities, initial assessments indicate that the collapse was caused by geological instability and a series of landslides on the steep mountain slopes surrounding the bridge. Emergency and rescue teams have been deployed to the site to assess the extent of damage, stabilise the terrain, and ensure safety in the region.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/chinas-hongqi-bridge-linking-sichuan-tibet-collapses-days-after-opening-watch-9700459.html

PM Modi met His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck in Bhutan, joined Global Peace Prayer Festival and inaugurated Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan, during his two-day state visit to the Himalayan kingdom- a visit that reaffirmed the enduring strength of the India–Bhutan partnership. The meeting took place amid celebrations of the Fourth King’s 70th birth anniversary and the ongoing Global Peace Prayer Festival in Thimphu.

Extending warm greetings on behalf of the Government and people of India, PM Modi wished the Fourth King good health and long life. He thanked him for his “leadership, counsel, and guidance” in nurturing the close bonds between the two neighbours. The leaders discussed key areas of cooperation and highlighted the shared spiritual, cultural and historical ties that continue to shape relations between India and Bhutan.

PM Modi Joins Global Peace Prayer Festival

PM Modi joined Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the Fourth King and Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay at the Kalachakra initiation ceremony at Thimphu’s Changlimithang Stadium, part of the Global Peace Prayer Festival. The ceremony was presided over by Je Khenpo, Bhutan’s Chief Abbot.

Bhutan’s King expressed appreciation for the presence of the Holy Piprahwa Relics of Lord Buddha from India, brought to Bhutan for public veneration during the festival- a gesture reflecting the deep spiritual connection between the two countries.

India–Bhutan Hydropower Partnership Strengthened

In a major milestone for bilateral cooperation, PM Modi and Bhutan’s King jointly inaugurated the 1,020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project, marking the start of electricity exports from Bhutan to India. The two leaders also agreed to resume work on the 1,200 MW Punatsangchhu-I project, which will become Bhutan’s largest hydroelectric venture once completed.

India has extended a ₹40 billion concessional line of credit to support Bhutan’s energy initiatives and welcomed greater participation of Indian companies in the hydropower sector. Both sides expressed satisfaction over progress under the Joint Vision on Energy Partnership, signed in 2024.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/pm-modi-meets-fourth-king-of-bhutan-joins-global-peace-prayer-festival-in-thimphu-ws-l-9700781.html

Cybercriminals used forged documents and impersonation to extort Rs 99 lakh from a Pune retiree. The scam highlights rising threats exploiting public trust in government agencies.

Cybercriminals forged the signature of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on a fabricated arrest warrant to deceive a 62-year-old retired LIC officer from Pune and extort nearly Rs 99 lakh from her in a “digital arrest” scam.

According to the Pune City Cyber Police, the fraud began in the last week of October when the woman, a resident of Kothrud, received a call from a man claiming to represent a “Data Protection Agency.” He alleged that her Aadhaar-linked mobile number had been misused for fraudulent transactions.

She was then connected to another person who introduced himself as a senior police officer named George Mathew. During a video call, the impersonator accused her of money laundering and warned that her bank accounts would be frozen. To reinforce the threat, the scammers sent her a forged arrest warrant carrying Sitharaman’s fake signature and what appeared to be an official government seal.

The woman was told that due to her age she would be placed under “digital arrest”, meaning she would be monitored remotely, and was instructed to transfer all her funds to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) accounts for verification. Believing the claim, she transferred 99 lakh to multiple accounts later found to be controlled by a cybercrime network based in Thane.

To sustain the deception, the fraudsters shared additional fabricated documents, including a fake receipt purportedly from the Enforcement Directorate (ED). When the woman later tried to reach the callers, the numbers were switched off. She then realised she had been defrauded and lodged a complaint with the Pune City Cyber Police.

Investigators have begun tracing the bank accounts and phone numbers used in the fraud. Officials said scammers increasingly misuse names of real and fictitious government agencies, such as the Data Protection Board of India (DPBI) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), to create credibility.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/scammers-forge-nirmala-sitharamans-signature-dupe-pune-woman-of-rs-99-lakh-2817879-2025-11-12

These findings were submitted to a local court in Andhra Pradesh after an accused was arrested.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the ghee adulteration case has found that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) received supplies of adulterated ghee for over five years.

According to sources, Pomil Jain and Vipin Jain, Directors of M/s Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk Private Limited, who were arrested by the CBI in February, produced adulterated ghee at their plant in Bhagwanpur, near Roorkee in Uttarakhand.

The probe revealed that instead of cow ghee, the accused used adulterants such as palm oil, palm kernel oil, and palmolein, sourced from Buge Budge Company in Kolkata.

These substances were blended with a small quantity of pure ghee and mixed with chemicals like beta-carotene, acetic acid ester, and synthetic ghee flavour to pass laboratory tests and retain aroma.

These findings were submitted to a local court in Andhra Pradesh after an accused was arrested.

As part of their plan, Pomil and Vipin Jain supplied the adulterated ghee to the TTD through Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk Pvt Ltd and other firms, including M/s Sri Vyshnavi Dairy Specialties Pvt Ltd near Srikalahasti, M/s Malganga Milk and Agro Products Pvt Ltd near Pune, and M/s AR Dairy Foods Pvt Ltd in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.

Together, these firms supplied around 60,37,351 kg of ghee worth approximately Rs 240 crore between 2019 and 2024.

Cow ghee is a key ingredient in preparing the Tirumala laddus and other prasadams, and the average daily requirement is about 15,000 kg.

No action by TTD

The SIT has also found that test reports from the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysuru, in August 2022, clearly confirmed adulteration with vegetable oil.

However, despite these findings being communicated to then TTD Chairman Y V Subba Reddy, no action was initiated against the suppliers. The CBI, in its remand report, noted that the same companies continued supplying ghee to TTD until 2024, with Bhole Baba Organic Dairy Milk Pvt Ltd supplying until October 2022.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/andhra-pradesh/ttd-received-adulterated-ghee-for-over-5-years-sit-2-3793624

Relations between New Delhi and Washington have been reeling under severe stress after Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India, including 25 per cent for its purchases of Russian oil.

The US has a “fantastic” relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Donald Trump said, as he underlined that India is an “important” economic and strategic security partner in the Indo-Pacific region.

“We have a fantastic relationship with the Prime Minister, (Narendra) Modi, and Sergio (Gor) has only enhanced that because he’s become already friendly with the Prime Minister,” Trump said in remarks during Gor’s swearing-in ceremony as US Ambassador to India in the Oval Office Monday. “Knowing that Sergio is going to be the Ambassador, they would call constantly to say, ‘let’s get to know this man’, and they like what they see,” Trump said.

US Vice President J D Vance administered the oath of office to Gor at a special ceremony in the Oval Office. Trump presided over the ceremony that was attended by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, US Attorney General Pam Bondi, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro as well as Senator Lindsey Graham and widow of political activist Charlie Kirk, Erika Kirk, among other officials and lawmakers.

Trump said that Gor is going to have “great success” in India, as he described the bilateral relationship between India and the US as “very important.” Trump said India has the fastest-growing middle class and is an “important economic and strategic security partner in the Indo-Pacific region.

“It’s an amazing country, actually, 1.5 billion people. China has 1.4 billion. Those are two big countries. As Ambassador, Sergio will work to fortify our country’s bond, promote investments in key US industries and technologies, increase American energy exports and expand our security cooperation,” Trump said.

The US Senate had in October confirmed Gor to serve as the United States’ next ambassador to India. In August, Trump had promoted Gor, Director of Presidential Personnel, to be the next US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs.

Trump said that in his role as Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, Gor will be a “key emissary to a very important group of nations at the crossroads between East and West.” Trump noted that last week, he was “honoured” to host leaders of the five central Asian countries in the White House.

Trump had hosted the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan at the White House.

“We had an amazing meeting the other night at the White House, and I’m confident that Sergio will do an outstanding job and make our country and all of his friends very proud. But I’m very proud of Sergio. I’ve known him for a long time, and he’s a great guy, and most people love him,” Trump said. “Some people don’t like him so much. I’ll be honest with you, Sergio,” Trump said amid laughter from the attendees.

“Some people, when they don’t like Sergio, they don’t like him, but when they like him, they like him more than anybody. But most of them really are the like category. And I just want to say that I think he’s going to be an outstanding representative for the United States of America. And it’s a big deal. Being the Ambassador to India is a big deal. So Sergio, congratulations. I know you’re going to do a fantastic job,” Trump said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/us-has-fantastic-relationship-with-pm-modi-donald-trump-3793812