Month: September 2025

Prohibitions under Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, continue to be imposed in Leh following the September 24 violence on amid the demands for statehood for Ladakh and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Assembly of five or more persons is banned in the district. No procession, rally or march to be carried out without prior written approval.

Security personnel are deployed in Leh amid the unrest.

This comes after a demonstration turned violent and targeted the BJP office in Leh.

Earlier on Thursday, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Kavinder Gupta chaired a high-level security review meeting in Leh to assess the prevailing situation across the Union Territory, amid heightened concerns over public safety.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Pawan Kotwal, Director General of Police SD Singh Jamwal, and senior officers from the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

During the meeting, the Lt Governor emphasised the need for heightened vigilance, seamless inter-agency coordination, and proactive measures to safeguard peace, security, and public order across Ladakh.

Meanwhile, activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was leading the protests with a hunger strike, finds himself in the middle of the political tension in the Union Territory.

The violence sparked a political row, where the BJP leader Amit Malviya alleged that Congress councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag had “instigated” protestors who attacked the BJP office in Leh on Wednesday.

Wangchuk denied Congress’ role in the protests and told ANI, “What is the name of the person who entered the BJP office? First of all, a few weeks ago, the Congress party was removed from our Apex body so that it can remain apolitical. So you can understand that this movement has nothing to do with Congress. They were told to move away from the movement until the elections are over. Otherwise, they also have a place in it.”

“How would you feel if I told you that the picture he was showing was wrong? He was showing a picture of someone else in a hurry; he was showing it to the whole country as a Congress councillor. And in reality, he was someone else; he had distant relatives. And today, the police are harassing him and his family. They are beating them up,” he alleged. (ANI)

Clinical bowling performances from Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Saim Ayub powered Pakistan into the final of the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, where they will face arch-rivals India for the first time in the history of the tournament across both ODI and T20I editions, following an 11-run victory over Bangladesh in their final Super Four clash on Thursday.

With this win, Pakistan concluded their Super Four campaign with two wins and one loss, placing them second on the points table. India, who sit atop the standings with two wins, will take on Sri Lanka in their final Super Four match on Friday, aiming to remain undefeated.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, finished third with one win and two losses, giving them two points. Sri Lanka has been eliminated, having lost both their games and is at the bottom spot.

During a chase of 136 runs, Bangladesh lost three wickets for 44 runs within the powerplay itself, with Shaheen (3/17 in four overs) proving to be destructive in his pairing with Rauf (3/33 in four overs). Shamim Hossain (30 in 25 balls, with two sixes) tried to hold the innings together, but a relentless Pakistan reduced them to 124/9, with Rishad Hossain (16* in 11 balls, with two fours and a six) and Mustafizur Rahman (6* in four balls, with a four) failing to get their team to the finishing line when they needed 51 runs in final five overs. Clearly, they missed the experience of their regular skipper Litton Das, who was not playing due to an injury.

This match also marked the lowest total defended by a team in Dubai in T20Is between full-member sides. The previous record was New Zealand’s 144 against Pakistan in 2018.

Rauf delivered some big blows to Bangladesh towards the end in the last five overs, making sure Bangladesh never got any momentum. He went above Australia’s Adam Zampa (130 scalps) to become the eighth-highest wicket-taker in T20Is, with 133 scalps in 93 matches at an average of 20.72, with best figures of 4/18. Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan (173 scalps in 103 matches) remains the top wicket-taker in the shortest format.

Rauf also overtook Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga (16 wickets in 11 wickets) as the top wicket-taker in T20I Asia Cup history, a tournament which has spanned three editions. Now in 10 matches, he has 17 wickets at an average of 15.76 in this competition, with best figures of 3/29.

In the ongoing tournament so far, he has taken nine wickets at an average of 12.77 with best figures of 3/33. He is currently the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the competition, with Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav being the chart topper with his 12 wickets.

Earlier, Bangladesh skipper Jaker Ali won the toss and opted to bowl first. Bangladesh’s bowling looked threatening right from ball one, as Pakistan was restricted to 71/6 in 13.3 overs, with Taskin Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan and Rishad Hossain wreaking havoc on helpless Pakistani batters, with none of the top five crossing the 20-run mark.

A 38-run stand for the seventh-wicket between Mohammad Haris (31 in 23 balls, with two fours and a six) and Mohammed Nawaz (25* in 15 balls, with a four and two sixes), the only two players to touch the 20-run mark, helped Pakistan reach a scratchy 135/8 in their 20 overs.

Taskin Ahmed (3/28) was the leading bowler for Bangladesh along with Rishad Hossain (2/18 in four overs) and Mahedi Hasan (2/28). Mustafizur Rahman, who took 1/33 in four overs, went above New Zealand’s Ish Sodhi (150 wickets) to become the third-highest wicket-taker in T20Is, with 151 scalps in 119 matches at an average of 20.66 and best figures of 6/10. He has three four-wicket hauls and two five-fors in the format. He is already above legendary Shakib al Hasan (149 wickets) as Bangladesh’s top T20I wicket-taker. Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan (173 scalps in 103 matches at an average of 13.93, with best figures of 5/3, eight four-fera and two five-wicket hauls) is the format’s leading wicket-taker. (ANI)

Also, Pakistan batter Saim Ayub’s nightmarish Asia Cup 2025 continued as he registered his fourth duck in six innings of the competition and overtook former all-rounder Shahid Afridi to have the second-most ducks for Pakistan in T20Is.

Ayub fell for a three-ball duck against Mahedi Hasan against Bangladesh during his side’s must-win Super Four clash, a virtual semifinal for a spot against the final against India. His run in the tournament has been a total of 23 runs in six innings at an average of 3.8 and only one double-digit score, 21 against India in the Super Four stage.

Afridi had eight T20I ducks in 90 innings, while Ayub has done him one better in half the innings. Umar Akmal has the most ducks by a Pakistani batter in T20Is, with 10 in 79 innings.

In 47 T20Is for his nation, Ayub has made 839 runs in 45 innings at an average of 19.51 and a strike rate of 134.24, with four fifties and a best score of 98*. In 20 innings this year, he has scored just 341 runs at an average of 17.05 and a strike rate of over 129 with three fifties and a best score of 69.

Brief Scores: Pakistan: 135/8 (Mohammed Haris 31, Mohammed Nawaz 25*, Taskin Ahmed 3/28) beat Bangladesh: 124/9 (Shamim Hossain 30, Saif Hassan 18, Shaheen Shah Afridi 3/17). (ANI)

India is on track to finalise a significant deal with the US aerospace firm General Electric (GE) worth around USD 1 billion for 113 F404-IN20 fighter jet engines, amid ongoing trade negotiations with America.

Speaking with ANI, Dr DK Sunil, HAL Chairman and Managing Director, said that the agreement is expected to be inked by October this year, with negotiations at an advanced stage.

Regarding the contract for the 113 follow-on GE-404 engines, the HAL chief told ANI, “We expect to sign it in October. The contract will be worth more than 1 billion. The contract negotiations are done, and the price is finalised. We are only going through the contract details, and we have to sign. Now that this main contract is signed, in October, we will sign the contract with GE for 113 engines…”

HAL has concluded negotiations for 113 engines with General Electric, awaiting contract signing. The order includes 68 single-seat fighters and 29 twin-seat trainers, with deliveries starting in 2027-28 and completing over six years.

HAL aims to deliver the first aircraft by October, with three already ready pending final trials, and plans to complete 180 aircraft by 2032-33.

“Three aircraft are ready as of now. We need to do the final trials. We expect to complete those trials in October. I think we should be able to deliver by October,” said Dr Sunil on being asked when the first of the aircraft will be delivered as MoD signs a contract with HAL.

Regarding MoD signing a contract with HAL for procurement of 97 LCA Mk1A aircraft for IAF, HAL Chairman & Managing Director Dr DK Sunil said, “… By financial year 2032-33, we will finish all the 180 aircraft. That is the target…”

The F404-IN20 engines will power India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A, with HAL having already secured a contract for 99 engines for the initial 83 Tejas jets ordered by the Indian Air Force.

HAL is negotiating an 80% technology transfer for GE’s F414 engines, aimed at powering the advanced LCA Mk2 and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), aligning with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

This deal underscores India’s push for defense indigenization and reducing dependency on foreign suppliers.

Dr. Sunil sees no tariff-related impact on GE discussions; LCA Mk2 designed around GE414 engine, strengthening India-US defense ties, with collaborations in aerospace and technology transfer.

The deal is expected to boost HAL’s manufacturing capabilities and support India’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is poised for significant growth with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signing a ₹62,370 crore contract for 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Thursday.

This contract marks a significant milestone in India’s pursuit of self-reliance in defense manufacturing, embodying the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, reflecting India’s commitment to defense indigenization under the ‘Buy (India-IDDM)’ category of Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020.

LCA Mk1A features 70% indigenous content, including advanced systems like UTTAM AESA Radar.

Significant job generation expected, with 50% material content sourced from Indian private sector, boosting indigenous supply chains.

HAL has built 10 aircraft, with 11th ready; GE committed to engine supplies. Tejas Mk1A is a multi-role fighter designed for air defense, maritime reconnaissance, and strike roles, replacing aging MiG-21 fighters.

HAL is pushing for 80% technology transfer from GE for the F414 engine, crucial for future projects like the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). (ANI)

New York On the third day of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the world body via video link, following the Trump administration’s refusal to issue visas to him and his delegation.

In his remarks, Abbas made it clear that he does not endorse the actions of Hamas during the October 7 assault on Israel. “Despite all what our people have suffered, we reject what Hamas carried out on the seventh of October,” he said, adding that the killing of civilians and the taking of hostages does “not represent the Palestinian people, nor do they represent their just struggle for freedom and independence.”

Abbas reaffirmed that the Gaza Strip remains a central part of the Palestinian state. “We have affirmed, and we will continue to affirm, that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the state of Palestine, and that we are ready to bear full responsibility for governance and security there,” he stated.

Rejecting any role for Hamas in the future government, Abbas insisted, “Hamas will not have a role to play in governance,” stressing that armed groups must disarm. “Hamas and other factions will have to hand over their weapons to the Palestinian National Authority as part of a process to build the institutions of one state, one law and one legal security force. We reiterate that we do not want an armed state. Ladies and gentlemen, our wounds are deep and our calamity is great.”

Abbas also turned attention to the broader Palestinian struggle, noting, “Seven million Palestinians are still living the tragedies of the Nakba and displacement since 1948.” He said the people of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza continue to endure “the tragedies of the Israeli aggression and occupation for decades,” citing years of “occupation, killing, arrests and settlement and the theft of money, property and lands.”

Highlighting global inaction, Abbas pointed out, “More than a thousand resolutions at the United Nations, not one of them was implemented. There have been many efforts, many international initiatives, without reaching an end to this tragic situation that the Palestinian people are living under the yoke of occupation.”

He reminded the Assembly that the Palestinian authorities had adhered to the Oslo Accords. “We restructured our institutions, and we amended our national charter, and we rejected violence and terrorism and we adopted a culture of peace,” Abbas said. “We made all our efforts to build the institutions of a modern Palestinian state that lives side by side in peace and security with Israel, but Israel did not adhere to signed agreements and has worked systematically on undermining them.”

Expressing gratitude to those who have supported Palestine, Abbas said, “I share my appreciation for all the peoples and organisations around the world who protested in support of the rights of the Palestinian people to freedom and independence and to stop the war, destruction and starvation.” He stressed that support for Palestine should not be conflated with prejudice: “We reject confusing the solidarity with the Palestinian cause and the issue of anti-Semitism, which is something that we reject based on our values and principles within the framework of welcoming the outcomes of the International Conference for Peace.”

Abbas then outlined a set of urgent demands, beginning with “the need for an immediate and permanent end to the war in Gaza” and the unconditional entry of humanitarian aid through the United Nations, including UNRWA. He called for “the release of all hostages and prisoners on both sides,” the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and an end to settlement activity, annexation attempts, and settler violence.

He proposed that the Palestinian Authority take administrative responsibility for Gaza, under Arab and international supervision, to protect civilians and connect governance with the West Bank. He emphasised the importance of ensuring that “residents of the Gaza Strip remain on their lands without displacement” and called for a recovery and reconstruction plan for Gaza and the West Bank.

Abbas demanded that Israel release Palestinian tax revenues “unjustly” withheld and lift the economic blockade on Palestinian areas. He further urged international support for governmental reforms and pledged to “conduct presidential and parliamentary elections within a year after the end of the war,” noting that a committee is already drafting a temporary constitution.

He signalled willingness to cooperate internationally: “Palestine is ready to work with Trump, Saudi Arabia, France, the UN and all partners to implement the peace plan that was approved in the conference that was held on September 22 in a way that would lead towards a just peace and regional cooperation.”

Closing his address with an appeal to Palestinians everywhere, Abbas said, “No matter how much our wounds bleed and no matter how long this suffering lasts, it will not break our will to live and survive. The dawn of freedom will emerge, and the flag of Palestine will fly high in our skies as a symbol of dignity, steadfastness and being free from the yoke of occupation. Palestine is ours. Jerusalem is the jewel of our heart and our eternal capital. We will not leave our homeland.”

“We will not leave our lands. Our people will remain rooted like the olive trees. Firm as the rocks, we will rise from under the rubble to rebuild and send from our blessed and holy land a message of hope and the sound of truth and right and build the bridges of a just peace for the people of our region and the entire world,” he concluded. (ANI)

It looks like ‘Bigg Boss 19’ is getting its daily dose of entertainment, all thanks to Tanya Mittal.

The spiritual influencer and entrepreneur from Gwalior has already made a name for herself in the house with her flashy lifestyle stories. Now, her latest confession about drinking coffee has left both housemates and viewers in splits.

In a conversation with her closest friend in the house, Neelam Giri, Tanya shared her “basic routine” for coffee.

She said, “Yahan toh logon ko kuch nahi pata, main bahut down to earth hone ka natak karti hun. Coffee peene pata hai main kaise jaati hun? Gwalior se jaaungi Agra, Agra se coffee khareed ke peeti nahi hun, vo coffee thandi honi chahiye bilkul toh ice box saath chalta hai. Coffee usmein rakhi jaayegi aur fir Taj Mahal ke peeche ek garden hai, uss garden mein jo bench hai, vahan baith ke peeti hun vo coffee. Yeh basic hai mera.” (“People here don’t know anything, I pretend to be very down to earth. Do you know how I go to drink coffee? From Gwalior, I travel to Agra, but I don’t just buy coffee from there. The coffee has to be completely cold, so I take an icebox with me. The coffee is kept inside it, and then I sit on a bench in a garden behind the Taj Mahal to drink it. This is my basic routine.”)

Tanya didn’t stop there. She also revealed that someone brings her a biscuit from London every two months, or else she starts crying.

This isn’t the first time Tanya has grabbed eyeballs with her “royal” claims. Earlier, she said she has 150 bodyguards, an entire floor in her Gwalior house just for her clothes, and that she brought 800 sarees for her Bigg Boss journey. She even drinks water only from a silver bottle.

These stories seemed to irritate contestants in the beginning of the show, but now it seems they’ve started treating them as entertainment. Some even tease her about her over-the-top routines.

‘Bigg Boss 19’ has already entered its fifth week, with housemates forming their own camps. Meanwhile, evicted contestant Nehal Chudasama is staying in a secret room and is expected to re-enter the house soon. (ANI)

Durga Puja in Kolkata has never been just about rituals, but also about stories that are often told through art.

This year, the Khudiram Colony Puja has caught attention with a bold and emotional theme, ‘Extinction.’ And the highlight? A towering 24-foot idol of Saalumarada Thimmakka, the 112-year-old environmentalist from Karnataka, who is known worldwide for planting thousands of banyan trees.

Walking into the pandal, visitors are met with powerful images that depict the dangers of a changing world. A giant whale carries the ruins of human civilization on its back, while a life-sized rhinoceros stands as a symbol of species that are on the brink of disappearing. Murals on the walls bring to life the struggles of tribal communities whose traditions are also fading. The entire setup feels less like decoration and more like a message urging people to reflect on what’s being lost.

Theme artist Samrat Bhattacharya said the idea was born from the fear of how modernisation is harming the earth.

While speaking to ANI, theme artist Samrat Bhattacharya shared that the idea was born from the fear of how modernisation is destroying the earth.

“Our concept is extinction. With modernisation, people have begun to destroy the Earth. We wanted to capture that loss, but also show strength through Thimmakka, a woman who has dedicated her life to trees. It took almost two months to finish, and yes, it was challenging,” he said.

For the organisers, the choice to turn Thimmakka into Maa Durga was a way of blending devotion with responsibility. Committee president Pranab Dey shared how the tribute has already struck a chord with visitors. “Our theme is extinction… People are already appreciating our work… We have given Saalumarada Thimmakka the form of Devi Durga. The idol is 24 feet tall… She (Saalumarada Thimmakka) is protecting her in the form of ‘Maa’…” he said.

The significance of Durga Puja extends beyond religion and is revered as a celebration of compassion, brotherhood, humanity, art, and culture. From the reverberation of dhaak and new clothes to delicious food, there remains a merry mood during these days. (ANI)

Former Mumbai zonal director at Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Sameer Wankhede has filed a defamation suit before the Delhi High Court against Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd., the production house owned by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and his wife, Gauri Khan.

In his suit, Wankhede has sought relief in the nature of a permanent and mandatory injunction, declaration, and damages against the production house, Netflix and others, adding that he has been aggrieved by a false, malicious, and defamatory video in Aryan Khan’s directorial debut show, ‘The Ba***ds of Bollywood’.

“This series disseminates a misleading and negative portrayal of anti-drug enforcement agencies, thereby eroding public confidence in law enforcement institutions,” he claimed in his plea.

He also claimed that the series has been deliberately conceptualised and executed with the intent to malign Sameer Wankhede’s reputation in a colourable and prejudicial manner, particularly when proceedings involving him and Aryan Khan remain pending before the Bombay High Court and the NDPS Special Court, Mumbai.

He contended that the portrayal unfairly targets him at a time when the judicial scrutiny is ongoing.

Referring to a particular sequence in the show that featured a character making an obscene gesture after reciting ‘Satyamev Jayate’, the suit asserted that the act constitutes a grave and sensitive violation of the provisions of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which attracts penal consequences under the law.

In addition, the content of the series is in contravention of various provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), as it seeks to outrage national sentiment through the use of obscene and offensive material.

In his lawsuit, Sameer Wankhede has sought damages of Rs 2 crore to be donated to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital for the treatment of cancer patients.

The suit also seeks the court’s direction to restrain the streaming and distribution of the show, along with a declaration of its defamatory nature. Wankhede has maintained that, beyond harming his personal reputation, the content undermines faith in institutions responsible for enforcing drug laws.

The Delhi High Court is expected to hear the matter soon. (ANI)

Taking inspiration from one of the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ episodes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has given special emphasis on imparting training to Indian breed dogs and has trained 150 such canines so far.

The new initiative of the BSF has resulted in the addition of a total of 150 Indian breed dogs to the BSF’s dog squad teams.

The specially trained dog breeds include Rampur Hounds and Mudhol Hounds, with 20 currently kept at the BSF’s Tekanpur Training Centre for breeding.

Among them is Riya, a Mudhol Hound that won a gold medal in tracking at the 2024 All India Police Duty Meet, outperforming several foreign breeds.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi had mentioned Indian dog breeds in Mann Ki Baat. We have so far trained 150 of them, and Riya’s success is one of the best examples of our initiative in line with Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” Shamsher Singh, Additional Director General (ADG) and Director of the BSF Academy, Tekanpur, told ANI.

The Prime Minister, in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ broadcast of August 2020, had spoken about the potential of breeds like Rajapalayam, Kanni, Chippiparai, and Combai, noting that “Indian breed dogs are very competent.”

Established in 1970, the National Training Centre for Dogs (NTCD) is located at the BSF Academy in Tekanpur, Madhya Pradesh, and serves as the premier institution in India for training service dogs for paramilitary and police forces.

The centre has played a key role in breeding, training, and deploying dogs for duties such as tracking, guarding, narcotics and explosives detection, and search-and-rescue operations.

The centre houses a canine breeding wing, where Indian and foreign breeds are raised. Traditionally, breeds such as German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, and Labradors were used, but in recent years the BSF has placed greater emphasis on indigenous breeds like the Rampur Hound and Mudhol Hound.

Tekanpur’s school is also tasked with specialised training programmes for dogs and their handlers, including conditioning them for hostile environments like border zones, high-altitude areas, and counter-insurgency theatres. Graduates from Tekanpur are deployed not only with the BSF but also with other CAPFs, state police forces, and even friendly foreign nations.

The centre has produced several award-winning dogs that have excelled in national-level police duty meets. It has so far trained 5448 dogs and 9473 dog handlers. (ANI)

Actor Bhumi Pednekar recently opened up about her journey in films and how her work has shaped her life and career.

Speaking at the India Today Conclave Mumbai 2025 during a session titled “Power of Presence in a Changing Industry,” she reflected on her decade-long journey in cinema.

Bhumi said that her very first film continues to hold a special place in her heart. Talking about the “presence and impact” of her debut film Dum Laga Ke Haisha, she explained how it changed the course of her life.

“I can never shake off the presence and impact that Dum Laga Ke Haisha had on me. It was a film that truly made a difference. I started my journey as a teenager at Yash Raj, with big dreams and aspirations of becoming a heroine in the film industry. Back then, I was someone seeking opportunities and acceptance. Today, I find myself seeking purpose and impact; that’s how I’ve evolved as a person,” she said during the session.

The actor also spoke about how her films over the years have connected with audiences, adding that movies like Toilet: ‘Ek Prem Katha,’ ‘Sonchiriya,’ ‘Badhaai Do,’ and ‘Bhakshak’ dealt with themes such as “ethical journalism and gender-based violence,” while ‘The Royals’ celebrated “women in positions of power.”

“For me, these last 10 years have been filled with nothing but gratitude. Every morning, I wake up feeling like I’m headed to a film set, and that feeling is everything. This is just the beginning. I want to keep working until my last breath,” she added.

Bhumi also spoke about the challenges of facing trolling and online negativity and shared how they have become accustomed to “trolling and bullying.” However, she said it becomes harder when women are the targets.

“Trolling, bullying, whatever you call it, we’re used to it. But when women are targeted, I don’t always know how to deal with it. I don’t wake up with courage; I find it within myself because I don’t have another option. I know I’m going to survive this. I have too much drive and ambition in me. We live in a world dominated by social media, and with it come constant noise and opinions. My lows in life have taught me more than my highs, and they’ve shown me that I am far more resilient than I thought.”

On the work front, Bhumi was last seen in Netflix’s ‘The Royals’ where her performance received much praise. (ANI)