Kolkata: The Election Commission on Wednesday gave Bengal chief secretary Manoj Pant time till Aug 21 to comply with its directive to suspend four state officers and lodge FIRs against them and a data entry officer. Pant told EC seniors the state had formed a three-member panel to probe the complaints.Pant rushed to Delhi and met EC officials much before the 5 pm deadline he was set on Tuesday. He informed the officials that the state had ordered a fresh probe because it felt the EC's directives...Read More
Kolkata: In 1975, the release of 'Sholay' marked a pivotal moment in Bollywood, not just for its groundbreaking action sequences but for its revolutionary approach to film soundtracks. The film's music and dialogues became a cultural phenomenon, especially in Kolkata, where fans eagerly played the LPs and EPs until they wore out. This was the first time Bollywood embraced stereo sound, offering an immersive auditory experience that captivated audiences.Shiladitya Chaudhury, a music enthusiast an...Read More
Gurgaon: A day after a clash broke out between two groups of Rajasthan and Haryana over a parking dispute in Mundaka of Ferozepur Jhirka at the Nuh-Rajasthan border, Nuh police arrested five Rajasthan residents. The two groups belonging to two communities exchanged heated arguments and pelted stones at each other, besides torching a bike and a shop in Nuh. Nuh SP Rajesh Kumar said there was no communal angle to the clash and confirmed that it was a parking dispute between two men, including the ...Read More
Mumbai: If some of your Shia friends in the city are currently not here, maybe they are walking down the nearly 90 km road from Najaf to Karbala in Iraq. Arbaeen, or 'fortieth' in Arabic, is 40 days after Ashura, or the day of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain at the battle of Karbala in 860, and draws millions from across the world. Many thousands from Mumbai are at the Arbaeen pilgrimage, enduring cruel heat of 52 degree celsius in the day, but mostly preferring to walk in the night.Arbaeen, which...Read More
LUCKNOW: The Yogi Adityanath govt tabled Sri Banke Bihari Temple Nyas Bill in the assembly Wednesday, the third day of the monsoon session.The state govt had earlier promulgated an ordinance, Sri Banke Bihari Nyas Adhyadesh. The bill tabled on Wednesday stipulates that the trust will have a right over offerings, donations, and all movable and immovable properties of the temple. This includes idols installed in the temple, offerings/gifts made to deities within the temple premises and precincts, ...Read More
New Delhi [India], August 13 (ANI): Indian Super League (ISL) side Jamshedpur FC on Wednesday confirmed the departure of head coach Khalid Jamil, who has been appointed as the full-time head coach of the Indian national football team, as per the official website of ISL. Jamil has signed a two-year contract with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), with an option to extend for an additional year. Jamil guided Jamshedpur FC to the final of the Kalinga Super Cup 2025, the semi-finals of the ...Read More
Hyderabad: Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) has expanded its fleet by deploying the highest number of new Metro Deluxe buses to key hubs, including Secunderabad (79), Patancheru (64), Koti (37), Uppal (33), and Mehdipatnam (27), covering both starting and terminating points. While these areas now benefit from improved connectivity, residents in IT corridors such as Gachibowli, Madhapur, and Kondapur, as well as other neighbourhoods including the Financial District and Himayatn...Read More
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 13 (ANI): Rapper Badshah is facing heat from the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) over his upcoming concert in Dallas, Texas. The FWICE has written a letter to Badshah seeking clarification on his association with 3Sixty Shows, a Pakistani company sponsoring his 'Badshah UnFinished Tour' at the Curtis Culwell Centre on September 19, 2025. FWICE said that Badshah's collaboration with a Pakistani company goes against national sentiment and d...Read More
NEW DELHI: Bringing down the curtain on the proceedings initiated against misleading advertisements for medicinal products, the Supreme Court has closed the case filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) against Patanjali Ayurved and its founders.A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and K V Viswanathan said no further hearing was needed as the court had already passed various orders and the purpose of the case had been achieved. "By various orders, the prayers of the WP have been achieved and ...Read More
As opposition parties continue their protests against the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, called the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), the Assam Congress is preparing a strategy to counter any voter list manipulation as the state gears up to hold a similar exercise ahead of polls next year. Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday announced a two-week-long campaign titled "Vote Chore, Gaddi Chore" aimed at combating voter fraud in the state. The Congress leader said the party ha...Read More
Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran on Wednesday said US tariffs-related challenges will dissipate in the next one or two quarters, and urged the private sector to do more as the country navigates through other longer-term challenges. He attributed the growth slowdown in FY25, which saw a deceleration to 6.5 per cent from FY24's 9.2 per cent, to tight credit conditions and liquidity issues. The right agriculture policies can add 25 per cent t...Read More
'They should be given a strong message that they are not the ones who decide the rule of the land, and they are not the ones who decide what justice is.' IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets the heads of various Christian organisations during his visit to Kerala. Photograph: ANI Photo It was on the 26th of July that Preethi Merry and Vandana Francis, two Catholic nuns from Kerala, working in the tribal areas of Chhattisgarh, were arrested along with Sukaman Mandavi, a youth from Narayanpu...Read More
The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches on Rohtas Projects Ltd. in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, investigating a money laundering case involving alleged investor fraud of Rs 248 crore. The probe, triggered by multiple FIRs, focuses on recovering assets from the company's promoters, Piyush Rastogi, Paresh Rastogi and Deepak Rastogi, who have reportedly been absconding for four years. The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday conducted searches against an Uttar Pradesh-based realty group as part...Read More
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], August 13 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday released a book on the compilation of the struggle of senior officers working in the state, titled 'Sanghrash Se Shikhar Tak', written by Mamta Gupta of Solan district.The book narrates the struggles of the senior officers of the state who have now achieved their positions despite adverse circumstances. The book reflects that individuals can attain success in their lives throug...Read More
The Dehradun district administration has announced a holiday for all schools from classes 1 to 12 and Anganwadi centres on Tuesday, August 12, following a heavy rainfall alert from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). This closure also includes school staff and management to ensure everyone's safety during the expected downpour. The decision was made as a precaution to keep students and staff safe amid the forecast of heavy rains in the area. Meanwhile, in Uttarakhand, the Kedarnath Yat...Read More
Congress and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) have announced a boycott of Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi's Independence Day Tea Reception. Both parties cite grievances against the Governor's actions, alleging he undermines state authority and delays important legislative processes, impacting democratic governance and electoral integrity. Congress and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) are staging a boycott of the Independence Day Tea Reception hosted by Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi. The parties claim t...Read More
New Delhi [India], August 11 (ANI): The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season 12 is set to witness an exciting clash between former teammates Aslam Inamdar and Akash Shinde -- now part of rival sides -- on August 29, with Bengaluru Bulls facing Puneri Paltan in the second match of the day. The league stage will also take place in Jaipur, Chennai, and New Delhi till October 23.The Instagram Live-part of a special Thursday series running every week until the season starts -gave fans a glimpse of the com...Read More
The Alibaug Knights finished as the second runner-up in the Pro Govinda League Season 3, winning Rs 25 lakh. The event, inspired by the dahi handi tradition, was held in Worli. Co-owned by Jashan Bhumkar, the team showcased unmatched dedication and aims for the championship title in future seasons. In a captivating end to the Pro Govinda League Season 3, the Alibaug Knights, under the prowess of Bal Utsahi Govinda Pathak from Jogeshwari, clinched the second runner-up position, earning Rs 25 lak...Read More
India broadens its export focus to fifty nations, including those in West Asia and Africa. This move aims to lessen dependence on one market. It also seeks to cushion against trade disruptions amid high US tariffs. The government is devising strategies to protect exports from these tariffs. They are also exploring alternative markets and domestic demand to absorb affected goods. India is expanding its export outreach to 50 countries including in West Asia and Africa to reduce reliance on any si...Read More
CHENNAI: The Directorate of Elementary Education, while responding to reports in a section of media about closure of many government schools, acknowledged that 1,204 schools in TN, including 208 government schools, have been shut down this academic year due to zero enrolment. In a release, it said the closures included 869 unaided, 114 aided, 11 partially-aided and two run by the union government. Officials cited declining birth rates and migration from villages to towns and cities as the main ...Read More
Bengaluru: BJP raised the murder of a Hindu man in Koppal in the legislative assembly Wednesday and demanded the investigation be handed over to National Investigation Agency (NIA) and that Rs 50 lakh compensation be given to the victim's family. A BJP delegation also met governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot and urged him to intervene and direct the state govt to transfer the case, alleging a deep-rooted conspiracy by "extremist" groups. In its memorandum, BJP said Gavisiddappa Nayak, from the Valmiki ...Read More
Lucknow: Taking cognisance of the potential threat of bird flu, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday directed concerned departments to coordinate and take measures to prevent the prevalence of the H5 virus in the state. He said that efforts should be stepped up in all zoos, sanctuaries, national parks, etc.On Monday, the bird flu virus was diagnosed in the poultry birds in Rampur after an estimated 15,000 chickens died.The chief minister also instructed the health department to conduct an...Read More
Srinagar, Aug 13: The Indian Army foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Uri sector of north Kashmir's Baramulla district on Wednesday. However, one soldier was killed during the exchange of fire, officials said.The Army had neutralised two terrorists in the same sector just days earlier. According to an official statement, troops detected and engaged the infiltrators early in the morning, successfully preventing their bid to cross the LoC."While foiling the infilt...Read More
New Delhi [India], August 14 (ANI): Former diplomat Vikas Swarup has praised India firm stance in trade negotiations with the United States, saying the country has done the right thing by resisting pressure from the Trump administration to open up its agriculture and dairy sectors. If you cave in to a bully, then the bully will increase his demands, Swarup told ANI, warning that yielding to such demands would only invite more pressure. His remarks come after US President Donald Trump imposed 5...Read More
SHILLONG, Aug 13: Under intense pressure from the courts to come clean on the disappearance of 4,000 MT of illegally mined coal, the state officials appear to be caught on the wrong foot. And there is no way to hide. After a minister tried to explain the missing coal as possibly washed away by rain, it evoked derisive public reaction. With the Supreme Court stepping in, the situation has taken a serious turn. The state government desperately needs a face saving explanation. However, all that ...Read More
Mumbai: The Maharashtra government is planning to increase the budget for organ transplants under the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana, Health Minister Prakash Abitkar announced on Wednesday, pledging wider financial support for patients in need. The commitment came during a moving ceremony at Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children to mark World Organ Donation Day, where donor families were honoured for their life-saving contributions. Wadia Hospital Secures Pediatric Heart Transplant L...Read More
Guwahati: Six centuries of rule. Repeated victories against Mughal armies. And now, a Class VIII textbook under fire for getting the Ahoms' story wrong.Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi, a member of Ahom community, said Wednesday the newly revised NCERT history textbook carries "significant inaccuracies" about the dynasty that ruled much of present-day Assam for 600 years. He urged education minister Dharmendra Pradhan to "immediately correct" the errors.The disputed content in chapter 'Tribes, Nomads and ...Read More
SHILLONG, Aug 13: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday stated that the state government plans to invest an additional Rs 25 crore for the improvement of the Iewduh market, in addition to the Rs 14 crore sanctioned by the North Eastern Council (NEC). Speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony for Phase Two of the NEC-funded project, the Chief Minister noted that works worth around Rs 5 crore have been initiated in the first phase. He revealed that the detailed project report (DPR) for Ph...Read More
Kolkata: Twenty-two-year-old Malda migrant labourer Amir Sheikh -- who was pushed into Bangladesh on June 25 -- came back to India on Wednesday, his reappearance as mysterious as his disappearance from the country of his birth.A BSF explanation in the Calcutta High Court a couple of hours after Amir's return through the Basirhat border only added to the mystery as the agency insisted that he had crossed over to Bangladesh "inadvertently". "We have been told that this person inadvertently crossed...Read More
NEW DELHI, Aug 13: The climate change-driven worst-ever deficient rainfall in Meghalaya has taken a toll on its famed golden-hued heritage crop Lakadong turmeric. Recent studies by the Meghalaya Climate Change Centre identified Laskein as one of the state's 25 blocks where this turmeric farming is facing "high" or "very high" risk from climate pressures. According to the studies, farmers are struggling with extreme weather events such as unpredictable rainfall, poor soil health, and increased ...Read More