Month: October 2025

Ahead of the forthcoming Bihar assembly elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on Saturday asserted that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will form the government in the state and will make the symbols of jungle raj “disappear”.

“When the results of the Bihar assembly elections are announced, the NDA government will be formed again. The BJP government will be formed, and these symbols of jungle raj, those who raise slogans of ‘Shahabuddin Zindabad’, will disappear,” Bhatia said while addressing a press conference.

Earlier, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar chaired discussions with all the recognised political parties of Bihar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar Vinod Singh Gunjyal and senior officers of the Commission.

During the interaction, the Election Commission (EC) stated that political parties are the cornerstone of democracy and that all parties should ensure their participation at every stage of a transparent electoral process.

The EC urged voters to celebrate the festival of elections with harmony and respect, and to experience the transparency of the elections. It also urged political parties to ensure that they nominate polling agents at every polling booth.

Political parties thanked the EC for taking “historic, transparent, and firm” measures to purify the electoral rolls through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and reiterated their complete commitment and faith in the electoral process.

They also thanked the EC for setting a maximum number of voters per polling station at 1,200.

Moreover, representatives from various political parties demanded that elections be conducted immediately after the Chhath festival to ensure maximum voter participation and suggested holding the elections in as few phases as possible.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh today claimed irregularities in the final electoral roll after the Special Intensive Revision of the list in Bihar. Sharing a media report, he alleged that 247 voters were found in a single household, and a person’s name appears three times on the same booth.

Alleging that the SIR was orchestrated at the behest of the ruling regime, he called the Election Commission the BJP’s “B-team”.

Ramesh, General Secretary in charge of Communications in Congress, wrote on X, “The Election Commission has orchestrated the entire SIR drama at the behest of the BJP. Even the claims of reforms by the Election Commission in the final SIR are proving to be false. Reports are coming in from all regions of Bihar that confirm the sole purpose of the entire process is to provide political advantage to the BJP and its allied parties.”

“Even after the SIR process, numerous instances of irregularities in the final list indicate that the Election Commission has no regard for the clear orders of the Supreme Court. Functioning as the B-team of the BJP, the Election Commission has descended into complete shamelessness,” he added.

The electoral contest in Bihar is largely expected to be a direct fight between the incumbent National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and the Mahagathbandhan led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

In the 243-member Bihar Assembly, the NDA currently holds 131 seats, with the BJP holding 80, JD(U) 45, HAM(S) 4, and two Independents. The Mahagathbandhan holds 111 seats, with the RJD securing 77, followed by the Congress with 19, the CPI(ML) with 11, the CPI(M) with 2, and the CPI with 2.

Political activity has intensified in the state, with parties trading charges as they gear up for a high-stakes election battle. (ANI)

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer will make his first official visit to India from October 8 to 9 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Saturday.

According to MEA, during the visit, on October 9 in Mumbai, the two Prime Ministers will take stock of progress in diverse aspects of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in line with ‘Vision 2035’, a focussed and time bound 10-year Roadmap of programmes and initiatives in key pillars of trade and investment, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate and energy, health, education and people to people relations.

Both leaders will engage with businesses and industry leaders on opportunities presented by the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) as a central pillar of the future India-UK economic partnership, MEA added.

Further, the ministry noted that Starmer and PM Modi “will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance.”

PM Modi and PM Starmer will also attend the 6th edition of the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai and deliver keynote addresses. The leaders will also engage with industry experts, policymakers and innovators.

The visit will build on the momentum and substance generated by PM Modi’s visit to the UK on 23-24 July 2025. It will provide a valuable opportunity to reaffirm the shared vision of India and the United Kingdom to build a forward-looking partnership, according to MEA.

The India-UK FTA was signed in the presence of PM Modi and Keir Starmer, providing greater access to goods and services between the two countries.

The agreement was formalised in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and was officially signed by India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, and the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying said in a release.

CETA offers zero-duty access on 99 per cent of tariff lines and opens up key service sectors. Notably, for the marine sector, the agreement eliminates import tariffs on a wide range of seafood products, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Indian exporters in the UK market. This is expected to particularly benefit exports of shrimp, frozen fish, and value-added marine products, thereby boosting India’s presence in one of its major seafood destinations, alongside labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, leather, and gems and jewellery.

India’s key seafood exports to the UK currently include Vannamei shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), frozen squid, lobsters, frozen pomfret, and black tiger shrimp–all of which are expected to gain further market share under CETA’s duty-free access.

Under the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), all fish and fisheries commodities falling under the UK tariff schedule categories marked ‘A’ now enjoy 100 per cent duty-free access from the date of entry into force of the agreement. (ANI)

Arjun Kapoor’s sister Anshula Kapoor has shared the first pictures from the Gor Dhana ceremony with fiance Rohan Thakkar on her Instagram.

Gor Dhana is a Gujarati pre-wedding ceremony similar to an engagement.

Anshula got engaged to her longtime boyfriend and screenwriter Rohan Thakkar on October 2 in an intimate family ceremony. The couple celebrated their Gor Dhana ceremony in the presence of close family members and friends.

She shared lovely photos from the ceremony with her brother Arjun Kapoor, sisters Janhvi Kapoor, Khushi Kapoor, and their father Boney Kapoor.

The event also saw the presence of Sonam Kapoor, Rhea Kapoor, Shanaya Kapoor, and Shikhar Pahariya, among others.

Anshula is the daughter of producer Boney Kapoor and the late Mona Shourie Kapoor and the sister of actor Arjun Kapoor. She made her relationship with Rohan, a screenwriter, public in 2023. Since then, she has often posted moments from their life together.

In one of the pictures, Anshula can be seen posing with Rohan, while in another picture, Boney Kapoor was captured blessing the two.

Both brother and sister were seen sharing heartwarming moments in a sweet photograph.

In one of the photos, Anshula sat next to a chair holding it, as a picture frame of Mona was placed on it. Another picture featured Janhvi Kapoor getting emotional as she clicked a photo of Anshula.

Sharing the images on Instragram, Anshula wrote, “02/10/2025..This wasn’t just our Gor Dhana, it was love showing up in every little detail. Ro’s favorite words have always been “Always and Forever” – and today, they started to feel real in the sweetest way. His love makes me believe fairytales don’t just live in books, they live in moments like these.”

She added, “A room overflowing with laughter, hugs, blessings, and the people who make our world feel full. And then, Ma’s love…quietly wrapping itself around us. In her flowers, in her words, in her seat, in the way her presence could still be felt everywhere. All I remember is looking around and thinking: this is what forever should feel like. Rab raakha”

Taking to her Instagram, Khushi also shared a bunch of photos with Anshula and the rest of their family members. She wrote, “My sister’s getting married! welcome to the chaotic family @rohanthakkar1511.. love you guysssss.”

Anshula officially announced her engagement to her boyfriend, Rohan Thakkar in July.

Anshula, who was seen on the reality show ‘The Traitors,’ took to her Instagram account to share a series of beautiful pictures from the proposal, which took place in New York City’s Central Park. Along with the pictures, Anshula wrote a long note expressing how she and Rohan met and fell in love.”We met on an app. Started talking on a random Tuesday at 1:15 AM. We spoke until 6 AM that morning. And somehow, even back then, it felt like the beginning of something that mattered. Three years later, in my favourite city, in front of the castle in Central Park, he proposed! At exactly 1:15 AM India time! And somehow, the world paused just long enough for the moment to feel like magic. Just the quiet kind of love that feels like home,” she wrote.

“I’ve never been the girl who believed in fairytales, but what @rohanthakkar1511 gave me that day was better because it was intentional. Thoughtful. Real. Us. I said yes. Through ugly tears, shaky laughs, and the kind of happiness I can’t put into words. Because since 2022, it’s always been you. I’m engaged to my best friend!!! My safe place. My person. Favorite boy, favorite city… and now, my favorite YES! (First meal after had to be Shake Shack because our first conversation was around the love of the shroom burger! IYKYK),” she added. (ANI)

After the death of several childrens in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh State Food and Drug Controller Dinesh Kumar Maurya on Saturday said that the main content in now-banned Coldrif syrup was ‘Diethylene Glycol’, which was found to be higher than the permitted limit, resulting in to being found contaminated and banned across the state.

Speaking to ANI, Maurya further said that instructions have also been issued to inspect the areas and seize the stock where the medicine was supplied.

“There was a ‘Coldrif’ named cough syrup manufactured in Tamil Nadu and after its testing report, it has been banned across Madhya Pradesh. Its stock has been seized and instructions have been issued to observe precautionary measures. It has been instructed to conduct a thorough inspection to every place where the banned medicine was supplied, to conduct its sampling and seize the stock,” Maurya said,

He further said, “The main content in the syrup was diethylene glycol which should be 0.1 % but it was found to be higher than the permitted limit. Therefore, it was found to be contaminated and banned across the state. If any further batch of the same medicine will be found then it will be seized as well and action will be taken as per the regulation.”

The MP Food and Drug Controller also mentioned that there is one more cough syrup manufactured in Himachal Pradesh, which is now being tested and action would be taken after the arrival of the report.

“A total of 19 samples were collected, 13 of them are with us whose testing is being done. So far reports of four samples have arrived and the remaining is still being examined,” Dinesh Mauyra said.

Earlier today, the order was also issued by the Office of the Controller Food and Drugs Administration, Madhya Pradesh to ban the Coldrif cough syrup, citing the syrup sample found to be adulterated, since it contains Diethylene Glycol 48.6 % which is a poisonous substance.

“As you are aware that deaths of children have been reported in Chhindwara District of Madhya Pradesh. In this regard Office of the Director of Drugs Control, Tamil Nadu, Chennai has Office of the Director of Drugs Control, Tamil Nadu, Chennai has informed as the Drug ‘Coldrif Syrup’, has declared NSQ (Not of Standard Quality) with respect to “samples is found to be adulterated, since it contains Diethylene Glycol (48.6% w/v) which is poisonous substance which may render the contents injurious to health. It is directed to stop further sale and distribution of ‘Coldrif Syrup’ immediately,” stated the order.

The order further added that in the larger public interest, it is directed to stop the sale and distribution of all other products manufactured by the same company. (ANI)

After registering a comfortable win in the first Test against the West Indies, Team India skipper Shubman Gill said it was an “ideal” game for them, and he has no complaints from the team.

Team India’s vice-captain Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round performance helped the hosts to register a win by an innings and 140 runs over the Caribbean in the first Test of the two-match series played at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday.

With this victory, the Shubman Gill-led side takes a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, with the second Test set to be played from October 10 at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Gill said, “I mean, six (toss) losses in a row, but as long as we keep winning the matches, it doesn’t matter for us, and it’s a perfect game for us, so very happy with the win. Honestly, I think this was an ideal game for us. Three centurions in the game, and I think we fielded really well in both innings; we don’t really have any complaints.”

In the Ahmedabad Test, there were three centurions in the game for Team India: Dhruv Jurel (125), Ravindra Jadeja (104*), and KL Rahul (100). Where these three players scored tons, there were Gill (50) and opener Yashavi Jaiswal (36), who failed to score big.

“I think it was a pretty good wicket to bat on. We both (Jaiswal and he) got starts but couldn’t convert; there were plenty of other batsmen who converted, so I’m happy for them. When you have quality spinners like them, it’s difficult to rotate, but it’s good to have too many options rather than not having any at all. However, it’s always challenging, which is the fun of playing in India. You know, there will always be someone who is ready to get the job done for the team. The team is young and they came out with flying colours,” the right-hand batter added.

Gill was given the Test captaincy ahead of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 in England, where his tenure was brilliant, as under his reign, the team managed to win and lose two matches each in the five-match series.

Talking about the learnings during his captaincy, the 26-year-old player said, “It’s hard to pin down on one or two things that I learnt, but I think over a period of two years, how we bonded as a team, and how we got ourselves out from tough situations and difficult situations, that was really pleasing for me to see, and we are still a learning side, and I think as long as we keep learning from experiences that we have, I think we’re going to be on the positive side of the match.” (ANI)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday launched here a three-month-long nationwide awareness campaign on unclaimed assets in the financial sector – ‘Aapki Punji, Aapka Adhikar’ (your money, your right).

The campaign is aimed at helping people trace and claim their unclaimed deposits, insurance payouts, dividends, shares, and mutual fund proceeds.

Unclaimed financial assets have been a long-standing issue, and the campaign seeks to simplify the process for citizens by offering on-the-spot guidance, demonstration of digital tools, and support to complete claim procedures.

During the launch event, Sitharaman handed over cheques and claim orders to citizens who had successfully reclaimed their unclaimed money.

Addressing the gathering, she urged people to spread the message. “I urge you all to become ambassadors of this campaign, reach out to people you know, ask if they hold any papers of unclaimed financial assets, and guide them to register on the portal to claim what is rightfully theirs,” she said.

She added that the campaign’s success lies in fulfilling the three “A”s – Awareness, Access, and Action. “If the three ‘A’s are fulfilled, the money lying in safe custody can be rightfully claimed by the people with proper documents,” she explained.

The Finance Minister also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s advice to take this initiative directly to the people. “I am very grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who once advised me to go among the people and call upon them to claim what is rightfully theirs. Acting on his advice, I am glad to share that Gujarat has taken the lead in launching this campaign,” she said.

Sitharaman emphasised that collective participation was necessary to ensure success. “With concerted efforts from all – the Finance Ministry, regulators, state governments, and banks in villages – if the entire chain is activated, everyone will be able to reclaim their money. This is not only our assurance, but also our duty,” she added.

The campaign launch was attended by Gujarat Finance Minister Kanu Desai and Department of Financial Services Secretary M. Nagaraju, along with senior officials from the financial sector.

As per an official release, the initiative has been launched by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, Government of India, in coordination with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), and the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

The release said that the Centre is committed to ensuring that every rupee saved by citizens can be rightfully claimed by them, or by their legal heirs and nominees. The campaign will encourage people to participate actively, spread awareness, and strengthen financial inclusion in every household. It seeks to empower citizens by providing clear information on how to trace and claim their rightful money, supported by Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) developed by the respective fund regulators, to make the process simple and transparent. (ANI)

The Russian forces on Friday (local time) carried out strikes on multiple Ukrainian military facilities and gas infrastructure, Russia Today reported, citing the country’s Ministry of Defence.

According to Russia Today, the Russian defence ministry said that missiles and long-range drones were launched from various platforms overnight which hit all the designated targets.

Ukraine’s state-owned energy company, Naftogaz, described the attack as the largest on gas extraction sites in the country to date. The company said that the damage due to Russian strikes was “critical”, noting that sites in the Kharkiv and Poltava regions were hit by about 35 missiles, as per Russia Today.

On September 7, Russia launched its largest aerial assault of the Ukraine war overnight into Sunday, deploying more than 800 drones and striking a Kyiv government building for the first time, CNN reported.

An infant was among at least two people killed during drone strikes on several residential buildings in the Ukraine capital, which was under an air-raid siren for 11 hours.

Russia launched a total of 810 drones, four ballistic missiles and nine cruise missiles, the Ukrainian Air Force said. While most were shot down by air defences, 54 drones and nine missiles hit targets across Ukraine, it said.

The latest assault surpasses the size of a July attack that was previously the largest of the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022. It also comes after recent attempts by Kyiv’s Western allies to broker a peace deal, as per CNN.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as “vile,” saying that “such killings now, when real diplomacy could have started a long time ago, are a deliberate crime and a prolongation of the war.”

“The world can make the Kremlin’s criminals stop killing, all we need is political will,” Zelenskyy said.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko called it a “massive attack,” saying the cities of Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro, Kremenchuk, and Odesa all came under fire, as well as Kyiv. (ANI)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued cyclone ‘Shakti’ warning for some districts of Maharashtra, with high to moderate cyclone warning between October 3 and 7.

According to the release, the warning covers Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. The wind speed, reaching 45-55 kmph and gusting to 65 kmph, is likely to prevail over the North Maharashtra coast between October 3 and 5.

The wind speed may increase depending on the cyclone’s intensity. The Sea conditions are very rough, with rough seas expected along the nothern Maharashtra coast until October 5.

Fishermen are advised to avoid venturing into the sea.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy to very heavy rains in the interior parts of Maharashtra, particularly in East Vidarbha and parts of Marathwada, with a possibility of flooding in the low-lying areas of North Konkan due to intense cloud formation and infiltration of moisture into the atmosphere.

The Maharashtra government has issued instructions for preparation in response to the cyclone ‘Shakti’ warning. District administrations should activate their disaster management systems, prepare evacuation plans for citizens in coastal and low-lying areas, issue public advisories, advise against sea travel, and maintain safety during heavy rains. (ANI)

Union Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, as well as Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, alongside Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Hiromasa Nakano, conducted a visit to the construction sites of the High-Speed Rail (HSR) project, specifically the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train initiative, located in Surat and Mumbai on Friday.

Nakano was welcomed at Surat International Airport with a traditional Garba. Surat’s MP Mukesh Dalal, Mayor Daxesh Mavani, Chairman of the Railway Board, senior officials of Railways, NHSRCL and the district administration were also present at the Japanese Minister’s reception.

The Ministers visited the track construction base at the Surat High-Speed Rail site, where they witnessed the installation of the J-slab ballast-less track system on the viaduct. Track slab installation and permanent rail laying are progressing rapidly, as stated in the release.

Recently, Union Minister Vaishnaw also witnessed the installation of the first track turnout near Surat HSR station.

The Ministers also travelled from Surat to Mumbai via Vande Bharat Express train. They reviewed the progress of the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) bullet train station in Mumbai. Minister Nakano and the Japanese team expressed happiness at the quality of the Vande Bharat train.

The Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) station will be an underground facility on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor. Excavation has reached a depth of over 30 metres, equivalent to a 10-storey building, with approximately 84% of the work already completed.

The station will feature three levels: a platform, a concourse, and a service floor, and will offer both road and metro connectivity. Two entry and exit points are planned–one near the Metro station and another near the MTNL building. Designed for passenger comfort, the station will feature spacious areas and modern amenities, along with skylights that allow for natural lighting.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor is 508 km long. Of the total viaduct, 323 km has been completed, along with 399 km of pier work. Key bridge construction milestones include the completion of 17 river bridges, 5 PSC bridges, and nine steel bridges.

A total of 211 km of track bed has been laid, and over 4 lakh noise barriers have been installed along the corridor. Excavation is underway for the seven mountain tunnels in Palghar, while 5 km of the 21 km NATM tunnel between BKC and Shilphata has achieved a breakthrough. Rolling stock depots at Surat and Ahmedabad are under construction. Superstructure work on all Gujarat stations is at an advanced stage.

Work has begun on all three elevated stations in Maharashtra.

The Japanese Minister’s visit reflects strong collaboration between India and Japan in implementing India’s first High-Speed Rail corridor. (ANI)

US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) expressed confidence regarding Hamas’ willingness to ensure peace in Gaza, after the militant group agreed to the 20-point peace plan introduced by him earlier this week.

Trump mentioned that the issue is not about peace in Gaza alone but in the whole of Middle East region. He further said that Israel should stop its attacks in Gaza so that it can quickly release its hostages.

“Based on the statement just issued by Hamas, I believe they are ready for a lasting PEACE. Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza, so that we can get the Hostages out safely and quickly! Right now, it’s far too dangerous to do that. We are already in discussions on details to be worked out. This is not about Gaza alone, this is about long sought PEACE in the Middle East,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Hamas on Friday (local time) agreed to release all Israeli hostages, whether dead or alive, in response to the 20-point Gaza peace plan introduced by US President Donald Trump earlier this week, Al Jazeera reported.

“In this context, the movement affirms its readiness to immediately enter into negotiations through the mediators to discuss the details of this agreement,” Hamas said in a statement released on Telegram, quoted by Al Jazeera.

The group also agreed to hand over the Gaza administration to an independent Palestinian technocrats’ body “based on Palestinian national consensus and Arab and Islamic support.”

“Other issues mentioned in President Trump’s proposal regarding the future of the Gaza Strip and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people are connected to a unified national position and relevant international laws and resolutions,” the statement said, as per Al Jazeera.

“They will be addressed through a comprehensive Palestinian national framework, in which Hamas will participate and contribute responsibly,” the statement added.

The development comes after United States President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) issued a stern warning to Hamas, saying the militant group is “militarily trapped” and has been given a last chance to agree to a peace deal endorsed by regional and global powers. (ANI)