Month: July 2025

In a heinous terror attack, two Indians were killed while one was abducted in the Dosso region of Niger, as noted by the Indian Embassy in Niger.

The Indian Embassy in Niamey is in touch with the local authorities to repatriate the mortal remains of those killed and ensure safe release of the abducted Indian.

The mission also cautioned all Indians in Niger to remain vigilant.

In a post on X it said, “In a heinous terror attack on 15 July in Niger’s Dosso region, two Indian nationals tragically lost their lives and one was abducted. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Mission in Niamey is in touch with local authorities to repatriate mortal remains and ensure safe release of the abducted Indian. All Indians in Niger are advised to remain vigilant.”

Arab News reported citing local sources that unidentified armed attackers ambushed a Nigerien army unit providing security at a construction site for an electrical line in the Dosso region, around 100 kilometres (63 miles) from the capital city of Niamey.

Previously in March, Niger had seen a terrorist attack by the Islamic State in Great Sahara in Kokorou, which had resulted in the deaths of at least 44 civilians and had left 13 severely injured, as reported by UN Security Council Press.

The members had issued a statement condemning the attack in the strongest terms and had underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.

Significantly, the members had underscored the importance for all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate with the authorities of Niger as well as all other relevant authorities in this regard.

The statement further highlighted, “The members of the Security Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed. They reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.”

US State Department’s 2023 Country Report on Terrorism for Niger had observed, that terrorist organizations exploited Niger’s extensive borderlands and sparsely populated regions to attack and recruit among populations where access to government services was weak and economic opportunity negligible.

Due to the small size of its “defence force, ineffective coordination among security services, budget shortfalls, and instability in Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, Nigeria, and the Lake Chad Basin”, Niger’s efforts to fight terrorism were hampered.

Niger is in the midst of a political upheaval as a military coup has taken control, ousting the democratically elected President.

In July, 2023 President Mohamed Bazoum was detained by the Presidential Guard and General Abdourahamane Tchiani declared himself the new leader. This event led to widespread international condemnation.

The Niger coup is the seventh such event in West and Central Africa since 2020, highlighting a concerning trend of military interventions in the region. (ANI)

Kapil Sharma’s Cafe Kap’s Cafe is set to reopen after over a week since the firing incident which took place at the cafe in Surrey.

Comedian Kapil Sharma took to his Instagram account to share the news of the cafe reopening. He expressed his happiness by writing “Proud Of You Team’ for the staff of Kap’s Cafe while sharing a post from the cafe’s Instagram handle.

On July 10, several gun shots rang outside Kap’s Cafe in Surrey at 1:50 (local time) am, according to Surrey Police Service. Police said some staff members were present inside the restaurant at the time of the shooting. No one was injured in the incident.

The cafe had opened early this week. At least 10 bullet holes could be seen in a window at Kap’s Cafe, while another window pane was shattered.

The building where the cafe is located has retail units at ground level and residential apartments above, however, it is not known how many residents live in the building.

Multi faith centre and two other yet to be opened businesses occupy other ground-level units. Officers could be seen in the restaurant gathering evidence while children were playing across the street outside a daycare located in Newton neighbourhood that is now cordoned off by police tape, Vancouver Sun reported.

The staff of ‘Kap’s Cafe’ described the incident as “heartbreaking” and stated that they were “shocked” by the unexpected firing at the restaurant premises.

The cafe also thanked the entire community for all the messages they had received and extended gratitude to the Surrey, British Columbia, police department for all their help in the matter.

Kap’s Cafe shared a long, heartfelt note after the incident.

Titled ‘A Message From Heart’, the cafe wrote, “We opened Kap’s Cafe with hopes of bringing warmth, community, and joy through delicious coffee and friendly conversation. To have violence intersect with that dream is heartbreaking. We are processing this shock, but we are not giving up.”

The cafe said that they will stand “firm” against the violence to keep the place a symbol of “warmth and community” for its visitors.

“Thank you for Your Support. Your kind words, prayers, and memories shared via DM mean more than you know. This cafe exists because of your belief in what we’re building together. Let’s stand firm against violence and ensure Kap’s Cafe remains a place of warmth and community,” wrote Kap’s Cafe.

Spokesperson Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton said police are aware of reports in Indian media claiming that a Khalistani separatist has claimed responsibility for the shooting. (ANI)

Andy Byron has stepped down from his role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of data technology firm Astronomer following the circulation of a video of him holding a woman at a Coldplay concert, reported Variety.

Online speculation suggested the woman may have been Astronomer’s Head of Human Resources, Kristin Cabot.

Following the clip going viral and garnering tens of millions of views, the Astronomer’s Board of Directors initiated a formal internal review. A company statement released on Friday confirmed Byron’s resignation.

“As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding,” read the statement as quoted by Variety.

“Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met. Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted. The Board will begin a search for our next Chief Executive as Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO,” as per the statement released by Astronomer, quoted by Variety.

It continued, “Before this week, we were known as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams power everything from modern analytics to production AI. While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not. We’re continuing to do what we do best: helping our customers with their toughest data & AI problems,” as quoted by Variety.

At a Coldplay concert Wednesday night in Foxborough, Massachusetts, a fan cam found Bryon with his arms around a woman. Once spotted, they quickly moved away from each other and hid their faces from the camera.

The couple was identified on social media, and the clip of them together has amassed tens of millions of views since it was posted late Wednesday.

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin noticed the couple’s odd reaction on the arena’s jumbotron. As they ducked away, Martin joked, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”

If reports are to be believed, Byron is married to Megan Kerrigan Byron, and the couple resides in New York. (ANI)

The organisers of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) have officially called of the India-Pakistan match and apologised for hurting sentiments and hopes of people.

In its statement WCL said that It had announced the India-Pak fixture after a recent volleyball match between the two countries to create happy memories for fans. The tournament says that this may have ended up hurting the feelings of many and caused discomfort to the Indian legends.

In the wake of this a decision to call off the fixture was taken. WCL further apologised for hurting sentiments.

Earlier, several Indian players like Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan also informed the media that they would not be playing the India-Pakistan game. Sources also say some other players in the India line-up have also taken a similar stance.

In a post on X, Dhawan shared an email written to the tournament orgainsers where he said that the decision to not play Pakistan had been communicated to the organisers on May 11. The email said that the decision to not play Pakistan was taken in consideration of the current geo-political situation.

In his post Dhawan said, “Jo kadam 11 May ko liya, uspe aaj bhi waise hi khada hoon. Mera desh mere liye sab kuch hai, aur desh se badhkar kuch nahi hota. (I standby the decision I took on May 11. My country is everything for me and nothing is bigger than the country)”

One of the tournament sponsors, Travel-tech Portal EaseMyTrip also released an official statement regarding its sponsorship of the WCL. The company clarified its stance, stating that despite entering into a 5-year sponsorship agreement with WCL two years ago, it will not associate with or participate in any match involving Pakistan.

The travel tech platform emphasised that its position has always been clear. EaseMyTrip supports the India Champions and stands firmly by the team. However, the company maintains that it does not support or promote any match that includes Pakistan.

EaseMyTrip reaffirmed its commitment to Team India, expressing its desire to see the cup brought home.

On Sunday, in a post on X, EaseMyTrip wrote, “Despite entering into a 5-year sponsorship agreement with the World Championship of Legends (WCL) two years ago, our stance has always been clear–EaseMyTrip will not be associated with or participate in any WCL match involving Pakistan. We proudly continue to support the India Champions and stand firmly by our team. However, as a matter of principle, we do not support or promote any match that includes Pakistan. This position was communicated unambiguously to the WCL team from the beginning. EaseMyTrip supports Team India, but will not engage in any match featuring Pakistan. Let’s bring the cup home. Bharat First. Always.”

Scheduled to be held from July 18 to August 2 across Birmingham, Northampton, Leicester, and Leeds, WCL 2025 brings together the heroes of yesteryears in a summer spectacle sanctioned by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). (ANI)

Amid the ongoing Hindi-Marathi language row, NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule took a jibe at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, questioning who might be pressuring him to prioritise Hindi over Marathi.

Speaking with the reporters on Saturday, Supriya Sule said, “I am very concerned about Devendra (Fadnavis) Ji. Who is pressuring him?… Under whose pressure is he doing this? This is the first time that Maharashtra’s Chief Minister is placing Hindi above Marathi…”

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray hit back at BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s controversial “patak-patak ke maarenge” remarks.

In a counter-attack, Raj Thackeray said, “A BJP MP said, ‘Marathi logon ko hum yahan pe patak patak ke maarenge’… You come to Mumbai. Mumbai ke samundar mein dubo dubo ke maarenge.”

Reacting to Dubey’s remarks, the MNS chief asserted that he will not compromise on matters related to the Marathi language and the people of Maharashtra. He further said that those who live in Maharashtra should “learn Marathi as soon as possible.”

“I will not make any compromises over Marathi and the people of Maharashtra. Those who live in Maharashtra, to them I would like to say, ‘learn Marathi as soon as possible, wherever you go, speak Marathi’. In Karnataka, they fight for their language. Even a rickshaw puller knows that the Government is standing behind him over language. Similarly, you are like a pillar and speak in Marathi only. This is what I have come to request all of you,” Thackeray said while addressing a gathering in Mumbai.

Taking a dig at the Maharashtra leadership over the language policy, Thackeray said, “Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis had said that they would make Hindi language compulsory (in schools)… Maharashtra CM is fighting for Hindi. Marathi should be made mandatory in all schools. But instead, you are speaking about making Hindi mandatory.”

The Maharashtra Government had revoked the government resolutions (GRs) on the three-language policy, introducing Hindi as the third language in primary schools. The government has decided to set up a committee to take a relook into the three-language policy.

Fadnavis announced that the government resolutions (GRs) issued in April regarding the three-language policy in primary schools have been cancelled. The first GR had made Hindi a compulsory third language for students from Classes 1 to 5, and the second GR made it optional. (ANI)

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that around 76,000 start-ups in India today are women-led and a large number of them are from Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns.

The Minister said that India’s path to becoming a developed nation by 2047 will be led by empowered women and youth, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi under the paradigm of Women-Led Development.

Jitendra Singh was addressing the one-day conference titled “Viksit Bihar: Envisioning a Developed Bihar through Women’s Participation”, jointly organized by the Department of Rural Development, Government of Bihar, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi, of which Singh is the Co-Chairperson.

In his address, Jitendra Singh stated that over the last 11 years, the Modi Government has focused its governance architecture around four pillars–the Poor, Farmers, Youth, and Women–with women consistently placed at the top.

He said, “Women-centric governance has not only empowered individuals, but reshaped society. What began as targeted welfare has now evolved into institutional leadership.”

The Minister launched the Jeevika E-Learning Management System App, aimed at providing accessible learning for women, and unveiled the publication titled “Shashakt Mahila, Samriddh Bihar”, which celebrates women’s contributions to Bihar’s progress, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions said in an official statement.

Jitendra Singh elaborated on the Modi Government’s structured and comprehensive approach to women’s empowerment, built across four key pillars.

The first phase, Access and Inclusion in Institutions, marked a historic shift in India’s educational and military landscape. Girls were admitted for the first time into Sainik Schools and the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA), breaking age-old barriers. Combat roles in the armed forces were opened to women, with the country now anticipating its first woman Army Chief–an unprecedented milestone in gender-inclusive leadership, as per the ministry.

The second phase, Scientific and Technological Empowerment, has empowered women through targeted schemes such as WISE (Women in Science and Engineering), GATI (Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions), CURIE, and the Women Scientist Programme. These initiatives are designed to help women re-enter STEM careers, especially after career breaks. In a focused effort, Patna Women’s College in Bihar is set to be adopted under the CURIE scheme for financial and technological support, further advancing the state’s leadership in women’s empowerment, it added.

The third phase, Economic and Social Empowerment, has witnessed a massive scale-up of women’s access to financial resources. Over 48 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened for women, while more than 60% of Mudra Yojana beneficiaries are women entrepreneurs. The creation of over 3 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’ through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) is transforming rural economies. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, homes registered in women’s names are providing not just shelter but also financial and social dignity, the release added.

The fourth phase, Workplace Reforms and Legal Sensitivity, has introduced compassionate and inclusive governance measures. These include six-month paid childcare leave for women in government service, pension rights extended to unmarried or divorced dependent daughters, and maternity leave provisions even after stillbirths–demonstrating a humane and progressive legal framework that places women’s needs at the center of policymaking, as per the release.

Jitendra Singh reiterated that these four pillars collectively represent the Modi Government’s unwavering commitment to making women not just beneficiaries, but leaders of India’s growth story.

Jitendra Singh emphasized that Indian women are no longer passive participants, but strategic leaders across fields like space, civil services, and innovation.”From Chandrayaan-3’s Kalpana to Aditya-L1’s Nigar Shaji, women have led India’s space glory,” he noted.

The Minister also highlighted that the first-ever woman Director General now heads CSIR, with over one-third of CSIR laboratories across India led by women scientists–marking a significant shift in the scientific leadership landscape.

India now hosts 1.7 lakh startups, with around 76,000 led by women, generating over 17 lakh jobs, Singh revealed. These are not just urban phenomena–Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, including smaller towns in Bihar, are emerging as hotbeds of women-led innovation.

“This silent revolution is rewriting India’s future, led by first-generation women entrepreneurs, researchers, and policy-makers,” he said.

Jitendra Singh commended Bihar for its pioneering reforms in advancing women’s empowerment, highlighting initiatives such as 50% reservation for women in Panchayats and urban local bodies, and 35% reservation in the state police and civil services. He noted that over 30 lakh women in Bihar have been financially empowered through targeted schemes, with cumulative support exceeding Rs 5,000 crore. Singh urged the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) to document Bihar’s successful women-centric governance model into a replicable manual, so that other states across the country can draw inspiration and implement similar transformative reforms.

Concluding his remarks, Jitendra Singh called for a fundamental shift in the national mindset, emphasizing that “it is no longer about women’s participation–it is about women-led development. The future belongs to women who lead, not just follow.” He reaffirmed that the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 will be realized with women at the forefront–in laboratories, legislation, leadership, and everyday life–paving the way for a truly inclusive and aspirational India.

The event was also attended by Giriraj Singh, Union Minister for Textiles; Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying; and Shravan Kumar, Bihar’s Minister for Rural Development, SN Tripathi DG IIPA, Himanshu Sharma, CEO Jeevika Mission, Pratyay Amrit, Development Commissioner, Bihar and other senior officials. (ANI)

The Election Commission on Friday said that 95.92% of electors in Bihar have been covered under the draft electoral list as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, with six more days remaining.

As per official data, out of 7.89 crore total electors (as on June 24, 2025), over 7.57 crore total electors have been covered.

Around 4.08% i.e., 32.23 lakh remaining enumeration forms are yet to be received, the release said.

It said during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the Electoral Rolls in Bihar, the entire electoral machinery, that is, nearly 1 lakh BLOs, 4 lakh volunteers, 1.5 lakh BLAs appointed by the political parties and their district presidents are working together in a mission mode to ensure that the name of no eligible elector is left out from the draft Electoral Roll to be published on August 1, 2025.

“With six more days still to go for filling up of the enumeration forms, the Election Commission is making all possible efforts to ensure that the remaining nearly 32 lakh electors are added to the draft electoral roll,” the release said.

BLOs have already completed over three rounds of the house-to-house visits and have established contact with the electors.

A concerted effort by the entire electoral machinery along with yet another round of visits by the BLOs has also been started to establish contact with the remaining electors.

To enroll the remaining electors, special camps have been setup in all the 5,683 wards of all 261 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Bihar.

The draft electoral roll will be published on August 1, 2025. Any rectification can be filed by August 30, 2025.

The release said that 41.64 lakh electors have not been found at their given addresses. These include 14.29 lakh probably deceased, 19.74 lakh who have probably permanently shifted, 7.50 lakh electors identified as enrolled at multiple places, and 11,000 who were not traceable. (ANI)

A video of a couple captured at a recent Coldplay concert, which led frontman Chris Martin to joke about them possibly having an “affair,” has now resulted in CEO Andy Byron being placed on leave.

Byron, the CEO of data startup Astronomer, has been put on leave after he was allegedly identified as one of the individuals in the now-viral footage.

“Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy is currently serving as interim CEO, given that Andy Byron has been placed on leave…We will share more details as appropriate in the coming days,” a spokesperson for Astronomer told PEOPLE.

The video, filmed during Coldplay’s performance at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, showed a man and a woman on the event’s ‘kiss cam.’

As the man put his arms around the woman, both appeared to quickly hide their faces after realising they were being shown on the big screen. The woman was seen briskly covering her face, while the man ducked out of sight soon after realising they were on camera.

The moment caught the attention of the Coldplay frontman, who joked from the stage that they might be having an “affair.”

“Oh, what? Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy,” said Martin.

The clip went viral in no time, sparking speculation about the identities of the couple.

Amid the viral frenzy, Astronomer confirmed that Byron had been placed on leave.

In a statement shared on LinkedIn on Friday, Astronomer wrote, “…committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability.”

“The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter, and we will have additional details to share very shortly,” the company added.

The company, which did not directly confirm the identities of anyone in the video at the time, also clarified that Byron had not issued any statement. They also refuted reports suggesting that “other employees” were at the event and appeared in the video. (ANI)