Author: Agencies
Nepal is racing to restore vital road links severed by devastating flash floods, seeking temporary bridges from India and China as authorities work to reconnect isolated communities in the disaster-hit areas. The death toll from the August 26 disaster stood at 1,356 as of Monday, while 4,994 people remained missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). A total of 13,396 people have been rescued so far. The floods, triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border, sent the Bhotekoshi River raging downstream, washing away homes, vehicles, roads and bridges and damaging hydropower projects across…
MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday refused to quash the summons issued to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in 2019 in a defamation complaint over his remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he had called a “commander-in-thief”. A single bench of Justice N R Borkar dismissed Gandhi’s petition against the magistrate court’s order. The HC, however, continued its 2021 order directing the magistrate to defer hearing on the complaint for six weeks so that Gandhi can approach the Supreme Court in appeal. Justice Borkar said the court did not find any “perversity and illegality” in the magistrate’s order and…
VADODARA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday laid foundation stones and inaugurated and dedicated various development projects worth more than Rs 35,000 crore in Vadodara. He received an enthusiastic welcome from the crowd attending the ‘NaMo for Viksit Bharat’ event. The three important sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), covering 326 route kilometres developed at a cost of more than Rs 20,700 crore. These include the New Sanand (N) New Makarpura, New Umbergaon-New Saphale and New Saphale New JNPT sections. The direct connectivity of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) will facilitate faster movement of EXIM cargo, strengthen connectivity…
JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has amended the Jammu and Kashmir Police Rules, 1960, introducing a new framework for recruitment to the rank of constables. According to a notification issued by the Home Department on September 7, 2026, under S.O. 237, 80 per cent of constable posts will be filled through direct recruitment, while the remaining 20 per cent will be allocated through absorption and promotion. Under the amended Rule 174-A, 15 per cent of constable vacancies will be filled through absorption of Special Police Officers (SPOs) having a minimum of three years of engagement, subject to the prescribed…
NEW DELHI: BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on Tuesday targeted the Punjab government over the death of Gulzar Singh, a Dalit man from Sangrur district, alleging that the state government had failed to take action against the drug menace despite repeated concerns being raised. Addressing the media in Delhi, Bhatia said Gulzar Singh had raised the issue of drugs during Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema’s visit to his village and sought action after alleging that his son was consuming ‘Chitta’ (a term used for synthetic drug). “Gulzar Singh, a resident of Sangrur district, pleaded with the AAP minister, Harpal Singh…
NEW DELHI: In the wake of the September 6 building collapse in South Delhi’s Satya Niketan, the Supreme Court-appointed amicus curiae has urged the top court to expand its ongoing inspection exercise to PG accommodations, private hostels, and similar student housing establishments across Delhi. The amicus curiae and senior advocate, Ajit Kumar Sinha, has noted in his report that the Satya Niketan incident assumes significance as the locality had witnessed another building collapse in April 2022, in which two people were killed, and four others were injured. “The present incident is also required to be viewed in the context of…
SRINAGAR: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday paid tributes to party founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah on his 44th death anniversary. The Abdullahs paid floral tributes to the NC founder, popularly known as Sher-e-Kashmir, at his mausoleum at Naseembagh in the Hazratbal area of the city. Special supplications and prayers were made for the NC founder, who is credited with improving socio-economic conditions in Jammu and Kashmir with decisions such as the Land to Tiller Act. Ministers, MPs, MLAs and senior leaders of the party were also present at the function. “Today,…
NEW DELHI: “Hanuman Ansh”, based on the life and teachings of spiritual leader Neem Karoli Baba, has earned over Rs 150 crore at the box office. The film is directed by Vishal Chaturvedi and follows a grieving young Lakshminarayan, who embarks on a spiritual journey in search of God after the death of his mother. As he travels across North India seeking answers to life, death and human suffering, he eventually transforms into the revered saint Neem Karoli Baba, whose teachings of love, service and compassion touched countless lives. It features Shobhinaw Satya in the lead role alongside Vihaan Shedge,…
JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has appointed Dr. Twinkle Suri, Principal Dean Academic Affairs at Cluster University of Jammu, as Director Colleges, J&K, with immediate effect. The appointment was made through Government Order No. 305-JK(HE) of 2026, dated September 7, 2026, on the recommendation of the Selection Committee and with the approval of the competent authority. Dr. Suri brings with her 31 years of teaching and administrative experience. She has served as the Founding Dean, Students Welfare, and Head of the Department of English at Cluster University of Jammu for seven years. She has also served as Principal of…
UTTARAKHAND: A fresh controversy has emerged in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani over the police complaint registered against Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, with members of the Valmiki community alleging that the complainant, identified as “Amit Valmiki”, is actually Amit Kumar and has no connection with the community. A delegation of Valmiki community members reached the local police station and submitted a written complaint, urging the police to conduct an impartial investigation and verify the identity and background of the person who filed the complaint against Gandhi. According to the community representatives, the complainant’s name is Amit…