National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides

The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS

Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent

India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh

Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?

How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?

Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition

‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal

Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch

Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine

Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states

Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions

Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy

Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS

'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia

Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside

Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift

New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more

Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot

RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress

Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'

IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act

Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott

Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances

Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation

New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know

India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims

Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed

US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance

Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built

Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH

Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school

Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday (August 2), while speaking at the Annual Legal Conclave 2025 claimed that late BJP politician and former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was sent to threaten him when he was protesting the three controversial farm laws. However, late Arun Jaitley's son Rohan Jaitley slammed the Congress leader, saying that his father passed away in 2019, while the protest against the farm laws started in 2020. In the same conclave, Rahul Gandhi also claimed that Lok Sabha Elections 2024 were rigged and Congress party has data to prove the same.&nbsp;&nbsp;Speaking at the Annual Legal Conclave 2025, Rahul Gandhi said, “I remember when I was fighting against the farm laws, Arun Jaitley was sent to threaten me. He said, 'If you continue down this path, opposing the government and fighting us on the farm laws, we'll have to take action against you.' I replied, 'I think you don't know or have an idea who you're talking to. We're Congress people, and we're not cowards. We never bend; the superpower British couldn't bend us.'"

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">I remember when I was fighting against the farm laws, Arun Jaitley was sent to threaten me. He said, &#39;If you continue down this path, opposing the government and fighting us on the farm laws, we&#39;ll have to take action against you.&#39; I replied, &#39;I think you don&#39;t know or have… <a href="https://t.co/8s9TJGMPah">pic.twitter.com/8s9TJGMPah</a>&mdash; Congress (@INCIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia/status/1951545787336347831?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Slamming his for his statement and claiming that it is false, Rohan Jaitley in a post on X said, “Let me remind him, my father passed away in 2019. The farm laws were introduced in 2020. More importantly, it was not in my father's nature to threaten anyone over an opposing view. He was a staunch democrat and always believed in building consensus. If at all such a situation was to occur, as it often does in politics, he would invite free and open discussions to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution to all. That was simply who he was and that remains his legacy today.” He also said that the Congress leader should be “mindful” while speaking about those who have passed away. “I would appreciate Rahul Gandhi being mindful while speaking of those not with us. He attempted something similar with Manohar Parrikar ji, politicising his final days which was in equally poor taste. Let the departed Rest in Peace,” he added.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Rahul Gandhi now claims my late father, Arun Jaitley, threatened him over the farm laws. Let me remind him, my father passed away in 2019. The farm laws were introduced in 2020. More importantly, it was not in my father&#39;s nature to threaten anyone over an opposing view. He was a…&mdash; Rohan Jaitley (@rohanjaitley) <a href="https://twitter.com/rohanjaitley/status/1951547032797077547?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Rahul Gandhi claims ‘Lok Sabha elections were rigged’</h2>Speaking at the Congress Party’s legal conference, Gandhi claimed that the 2024 Lok Sabha election was rigged. He added that the ECI is no longer acting independently and described the poll body as “dead.” Gandhi cited the example of one constituency where, according to him, out of 6.5 lakh voters on the rolls, 1.5 lakh were found to be fake. He also added that he has proof that he has proof of vote rigging. “The Lok Sabha election can be rigged and the 2024 Lok Sabha election was rigged,” Gandhi said while addressing party lawyers. He claimed the Congress had now gathered data and documents to back up its accusations. “We are going to prove this, we have data now,” he asserted. Gandhi also alleged that an independent investigation by the opposition found that the Election Commission of India is involved in a massive “vote theft” to benefit the ruling BJP and termed it “treason.”<h2>Election Commission's response to Rahul Gandhi</h2>The Election Commission of India (ECI), strongly rebutted and dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s allegations as “baseless” and urged officials to ignore such “irresponsible statements”. It said, “The Election Commission ignores such baseless allegations being made every day and, despite the threats being given every day, it asks all election officials who are working in a fair and transparent manner to not pay heed to such irresponsible statements.”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that late BJP politician and former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was sent to threaten him when he was protesting the three controversial farm laws. However, Arun Jaitley passed away in 2019 while the farm laws were introduced in 2020

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday (August 2), while speaking at the Annual Legal Conclave 2025 claimed that late BJP politician and former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was sent to threaten him when he was protesting the three controversial farm laws. However, late Arun Jaitley's son Rohan Jaitley slammed the Congress leader, saying that his father passed away in 2019, while the protest against the farm laws started in 2020. In the same conclave, Rahul Gandhi also claimed that Lok Sabha Elections 2024 were rigged and Congress party has data to prove the same. Speaking at the Annual Legal Conclave 2025, Rahul Gandhi said, “I remember when I was fighting against the farm laws, Arun Jaitley was sent to threaten me. He said, 'If you continue down this path, opposing the government and fighting us on the farm laws, we'll have to take action against you.' I replied, 'I think you don't know or have an idea who you're talking to. We're Congress people, and we're not cowards. We never bend; the superpower British couldn't bend us.'"

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that late BJP politician and former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was sent to threaten him when he was protesting the three controversial farm laws. However, Arun Jaitley passed away in 2019 while the farm laws were introduced in 2020

Did Rahul Gandhi falsely claim that Arun Jaitley threatened him over farm laws? Late minister's son responds

A day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) rapped Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his 'vote theft' remark, he has made another explosive allegation on the poll body. Speaking at the Congress Party’s legal conference, Gandhi claimed that the 2024 Lok Sabha election was rigged. He added that the ECI is no longer acting independently and described the poll body as “dead.” Gandhi cited the example of one constituency where, according to him, out of 6.5 lakh voters on the rolls, 1.5 lakh were found to be fake. He also added that he has proof that he has proof of vote rigging.<h2>Rahul Gandhi's explosive allegation</h2>“The Lok Sabha election can be rigged and the 2024 Lok Sabha election was rigged,” Gandhi said while addressing party lawyers. He claimed the Congress had now gathered data and documents to back up its accusations. “We are going to prove this, we have data now,” he asserted. Gandhi went on to cite an example, saying, "In one Lok Sabha constituency, we checked the voter list. We found 1.5 lakh voters turned out to be fake,” he alleged. He further claimed that the ruling BJP’s majority depended on this alleged manipulation. “Had they got 15–20 seats less, he (PM Modi) wouldn’t have become Prime Minister," Gandhi said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi: At the Annual Legal Conclave- 2025, Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, &quot;We are going to prove to you in the coming few days how a Lok Sabha election can be rigged and was rigged...&quot; He also says, &quot;The truth is that the election system in India is… <a href="https://t.co/F9Vfsf5uH1">pic.twitter.com/F9Vfsf5uH1</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1951520816669016371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Rahul Gandhi accuses EC of ‘vote theft’</h2>This comes after Rahul Gandhi alleged that an independent investigation by the opposition found that the Election Commission of India is involved in a massive “vote theft” to benefit the ruling BJP and termed it “treason.” The Election Commission, meanwhile, dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of vote theft as baseless and urged officials to ignore such “irresponsible statements”. “We have open and shut proof that the Election Commission is involved in vote theft. Most importantly, whoever in the Elections Commission is involved in this exercise, right from top to bottom, we will not spare you,” Gandhi said while talking to reporters outside the parliament amid the escalating row over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar. After his explosive claims, Gandhi issued a stern warning to the Election Commission officials, stating that they wouldn’t be spared even if they were retired. “Most importantly, whoever in the Elections Commission is involved in this exercise, right from top to bottom, we will not spare you. You are working against India, and this is no less than treason. Wherever you are, even if you are retired, we will find you,” Gandhi said.<h2>Election Commission's response to Rahul Gandhi</h2>The Election Commission of India (ECI), strongly rebutted and dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s allegations as “baseless” and urged officials to ignore such “irresponsible statements”. It said, “The Election Commission ignores such baseless allegations being made every day and, despite the threats being given every day, it asks all election officials who are working in a fair and transparent manner to not pay heed to such irresponsible statements.”

A day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) rapped Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his 'vote theft' remark, he has claimed that India's General Elections in 2024 was rigged and that the Congress party has data to prove this allegation

A day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) rapped Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his 'vote theft' remark, he has made another explosive allegation on the poll body. Speaking at the Congress Party’s legal conference, Gandhi claimed that the 2024 Lok Sabha election was rigged. He added that the ECI is no longer acting independently and described the poll body as “dead.” Gandhi cited the example of one constituency where, according to him, out of 6.5 lakh voters on the rolls, 1.5 lakh were found to be fake. He also added that he has proof that he has proof of vote rigging. Rahul Gandhi's explosive allegation “The Lok Sabha election can be rigged and the 2024 Lok Sabha election was rigged,” Gandhi said while addressing party lawyers. He claimed the Congress had now gathered data and documents to back up its accusations. “We are going to prove this, we have data now,” he asserted. Gandhi went on to cite an example, saying, "In one Lok Sabha constituency, we checked the voter list. We found 1.5 lakh voters turned out to be fake,” he alleged. He further claimed that the ruling BJP’s majority depended on this alleged manipulation. “Had they got 15–20 seats less, he (PM Modi) wouldn’t have become Prime Minister," Gandhi said.

A day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) rapped Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his 'vote theft' remark, he has claimed that India's General Elections in 2024 was rigged and that the Congress party has data to prove this allegation

'Lok Sabha election 2024 was rigged': Rahul Gandhi's EXPLOSIVE allegation after 'vote theft' charge on EC - What he said

Despite US President Donald Trump's newly imposed penalties on top of a 25 per cent tariff for its trade relations with Russia, Indian oil refiners, as per reports, continue to source oil from Russian suppliers, suggest reports. The Indian oil refiners' decision is reportedly based on the price, grade of crude, inventories, logistics, and other economic factors and has nothing to do with the prevailing political atmosphere. Previously, on Friday (Aug 1), speaking on similar lines, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while speaking about media reports that some Indian oil firms had paused Russian imports, said he was not aware of any such developments. He noted that India's broad approach to energy sourcing requirements depends on "what is available in the market and the prevailing global situation."<h2>Why is Russian oil in the headlines, and what does India have to do with it?</h2>On Thursday (Jul 31), Trump signed an executive order imposing new tariffs on dozens of its trade partners. This included a 25 per cent tariff rate and a penalty on India. The tariffs come amid growing criticism from Washington over India's continued imports of discounted Russian oil, despite Western sanctions related to the Ukraine war.However, as per an ANI report citing sources, despite US' pressure, India continues to source oil from Russian suppliers. As per the report, this is because Moscow is the world's second-largest crude oil producer with an output of around 9.5 mb/d (nearly 10 per cent of global demand). It is also the second-largest exporter, shipping about 4.5 mb/d of crude and 2.3 mb/d of refined products. In March 2022, amid fears of Russian oil getting pushed out of the market, Brent crude prices soared to US $137 per barrel."In this challenging environment, India, as the world’s third-largest energy consumer with 85% crude oil import dependence, strategically adapted its sourcing to secure affordable energy while fully adhering to international norms," said the news agency's unnamed sources. They added that Russian oil has never been sanctioned. Instead, the nation was subjected to a G7/EU price cap mechanism that is designed to limit revenue while making sure global supplies flowed uninterrupted. Calling India's purchases legitimate and in line with international norms, they added that "Had India not absorbed discounted Russian crude combined with OPEC+ production cuts of 5.86 mb/d, global oil prices could have surged well beyond the March 2022 peak of US$137/bbl, intensifying inflationary pressures worldwide".This, they said, means that India's energy decisions, while being guided by the nation's interests, also contributed positively to global energy stability and kept oil flowing, prices stable, and markets balanced, while fully respecting international frameworks.

Despite the US' pressure, India continues to source oil from Russian suppliers. As per the report, among other things, this is because Moscow is the world's second-largest crude oil producer and also the second-largest exporter.

Despite US President Donald Trump's newly imposed penalties on top of a 25 per cent tariff for its trade relations with Russia, Indian oil refiners, as per reports, continue to source oil from Russian suppliers, suggest reports. The Indian oil refiners' decision is reportedly based on the price, grade of crude, inventories, logistics, and other economic factors and has nothing to do with the prevailing political atmosphere. Previously, on Friday (Aug 1), speaking on similar lines, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while speaking about media reports that some Indian oil firms had paused Russian imports, said he was not aware of any such developments. He noted that India's broad approach to energy sourcing requirements depends on "what is available in the market and the prevailing global situation." Why is Russian oil in the headlines, and what does India have to do with it? On Thursday (Jul 31), Trump signed an executive order imposing new tariffs on dozens of its trade partners. This included a 25 per cent tariff rate and a penalty on India. The tariffs come amid growing criticism from Washington over India's continued imports of discounted Russian oil, despite Western sanctions related to the Ukraine war. However, as per an ANI report citing sources, despite US' pressure, India continues to source oil from Russian suppliers. As per the report, this is because Moscow is the world's second-largest crude oil producer with an output of around 9.5 mb/d (nearly 10 per cent of global demand). It is also the second-largest exporter, shipping about 4.5 mb/d of crude and 2.3 mb/d of refined products. In March 2022, amid fears of Russian oil getting pushed out of the market, Brent crude prices soared to US $137 per barrel. "In this challenging environment, India, as the world’s third-largest energy consumer with 85% crude oil import dependence, strategically adapted its sourcing to secure affordable energy while fully adhering to international norms," said the news agency's unnamed sources. They added that Russian oil has never been sanctioned. Instead, the nation was subjected to a G7/EU price cap mechanism that is designed to limit revenue while making sure global supplies flowed uninterrupted. Calling India's purchases legitimate and in line with international norms, they added that "Had India not absorbed discounted Russian crude combined with OPEC+ production cuts of 5.86 mb/d, global oil prices could have surged well beyond the March 2022 peak of US$137/bbl, intensifying inflationary pressures worldwide". This, they said, means that India's energy decisions, while being guided by the nation's interests, also contributed positively to global energy stability and kept oil flowing, prices stable, and markets balanced, while fully respecting international frameworks.

Despite the US' pressure, India continues to source oil from Russian suppliers. As per the report, among other things, this is because Moscow is the world's second-largest crude oil producer and also the second-largest exporter.

India defies Trump’s oil penalties, continues Russian imports: Report

The hill state of Himachal Pradesh in India would definitely be among favourite tourist destinations of several people. The massive tourist inflow that the state witnesses every year to places like Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Kasol, and Mcleodganj is a testimony to it. This has led to environmental degradation in the form of depleting green areas, construction of buildings and hotels and infrastructure development.&nbsp;The Supreme Court of India has taken a strong stance on the "ecological damage" in the state. Observing that the situation in Himachal Pradesh has been deteriorating, the apex court said climate change is having a "visible and alarming impact" on the state and the ongoing ecological damage will lead to Himachal "vanishing in thin air".&nbsp;"We want to impress upon the state government and Union of India that earning revenue is not everything. Revenue cannot be earned at the cost of environment and ecology," said a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said on July 28.&nbsp;"If things proceed the way they are as on date, the day is not far when the entire state of HP may vanish in thin air from the map of the country. God forbid this doesn't happen," it added.&nbsp;The court made the remarks while hearing a petition filed by a private hotel company against a June 2025 state notification that declared Shri Tara Mata Hill as a green area and prohibited fresh private construction.&nbsp;The Himachal Pradesh High Court had declined the plea of the hotel company challenging the state's June 2025 notification after which the company approached the Supreme Court.&nbsp;The apex court while hearing the case also observed that the ecological damage in the hill state is largely due to human activity and not nature.&nbsp;“The nature definitely is annoyed with the activities that are going on in Himachal Pradesh," the bench observed.&nbsp;The court listed a number of issues like unchecked hydropower projects, rapid expansion of roadways, deforestation, and unregulated construction of multi-storey buildings as major factors for the environmental damage in the state and urged the state government to consult geologists, environmental experts, and local communities before launching development projects.&nbsp;“With forests encompassing more than 66 per cent of the total land area, Himachal Pradesh is renowned for its abundant beauty and greenery. But the danger to this natural richness is growing as a result of human greed and apathy," said the court.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Observing that the situation in Himachal Pradesh has been deteriorating, the apex court said climate change is having a visible and alarming impact on the state.

The hill state of Himachal Pradesh in India would definitely be among favourite tourist destinations of several people. The massive tourist inflow that the state witnesses every year to places like Shimla, Manali, Dharamshala, Kasol, and Mcleodganj is a testimony to it. This has led to environmental degradation in the form of depleting green areas, construction of buildings and hotels and infrastructure development. The Supreme Court of India has taken a strong stance on the "ecological damage" in the state. Observing that the situation in Himachal Pradesh has been deteriorating, the apex court said climate change is having a "visible and alarming impact" on the state and the ongoing ecological damage will lead to Himachal "vanishing in thin air". "We want to impress upon the state government and Union of India that earning revenue is not everything. Revenue cannot be earned at the cost of environment and ecology," said a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said on July 28. "If things proceed the way they are as on date, the day is not far when the entire state of HP may vanish in thin air from the map of the country. God forbid this doesn't happen," it added. The court made the remarks while hearing a petition filed by a private hotel company against a June 2025 state notification that declared Shri Tara Mata Hill as a green area and prohibited fresh private construction. The Himachal Pradesh High Court had declined the plea of the hotel company challenging the state's June 2025 notification after which the company approached the Supreme Court. The apex court while hearing the case also observed that the ecological damage in the hill state is largely due to human activity and not nature. “The nature definitely is annoyed with the activities that are going on in Himachal Pradesh," the bench observed. The court listed a number of issues like unchecked hydropower projects, rapid expansion of roadways, deforestation, and unregulated construction of multi-storey buildings as major factors for the environmental damage in the state and urged the state government to consult geologists, environmental experts, and local communities before launching development projects. “With forests encompassing more than 66 per cent of the total land area, Himachal Pradesh is renowned for its abundant beauty and greenery. But the danger to this natural richness is growing as a result of human greed and apathy," said the court.

Observing that the situation in Himachal Pradesh has been deteriorating, the apex court said climate change is having a "visible and alarming impact" on the state.

Himachal Pradesh may vanish from map: India's Supreme Court warns of unchecked tourist inflow, ecological damage

Fresh firing has been reported from the operation site in the South Kashmir's Akhal Forest's Kulgam district. A top police official has confirmed that two terrorists have been killed in the ongoing operation so far. Earlier, a terrorist was killed by security forces in the operation, and reportedly few terrorists are hiding in the area. This is the third operation of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir this week, with seven terrorists being gunned down so far.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Indian Army had confirmed the killing of one local terrorist belonging to the LeT terror outfit, and later, police said that a second terrorist had been killed in the operation. The first terrorist was identified as Haris Nazir Dar of Rajpora, Pulwama, in South Kashmir and was affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). He was active from 2023 and was classified as a C-category terrorist. The second terrorist is yet to be identified.&nbsp;&nbsp;''OP Akhal, Kulgam, Intermittent and Intense fire fight continued through the night. Alert troops responded with calibrated fire and tightened the noose while maintaining contact. One terrorist has been neutralised by the security forces so far. Operation continues, '' said the Indian Army.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Update: OP AKHAL, Kulgam Intermittent and Intense fire fight continued through the night. Alert troops responded with calibrated fire and tightened the nooze while maintaining contact. One terrorist has been neutralised by the security forces so far. Operation continues.…&mdash; Chinar Corps🍁 - Indian Army (@ChinarcorpsIA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChinarcorpsIA/status/1951460461934997708?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Today's operation comes after Operation Mahadev, in which three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET) Terrorists involved in the Pahalgam terror attack were neutralised by the security forces. All three Pakistani terrorists were killed in the forest area of Lidwas in Dachigam.&nbsp;&nbsp;One more operation on Wednesday, called Operation Shiv Shakti was carried out by security forces in which two terrorists were killed by security forces. These two terrorists were trying to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir via the Line of Control at the Poonch sector, and the forces foiled the bid and killed both the infiltrators.&nbsp;&nbsp;The security remains on high alert as the Amarnath Yatra still continues in the region. Over 90 thousand security personnel have been guarding the Yatra and making sure that it passes off peacefully. In the last week, security forces have also intensified the anti-terror operations across the region.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fresh firing has been reported from the operation site in the South Kashmir's Akhal Forest's Kulgam district. Earlier, one terrorist was killed by security forces in the operation and reportedly, two more terrorists are hiding in the area

Fresh firing has been reported from the operation site in the South Kashmir's Akhal Forest's Kulgam district. A top police official has confirmed that two terrorists have been killed in the ongoing operation so far. Earlier, a terrorist was killed by security forces in the operation, and reportedly few terrorists are hiding in the area. This is the third operation of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir this week, with seven terrorists being gunned down so far. The Indian Army had confirmed the killing of one local terrorist belonging to the LeT terror outfit, and later, police said that a second terrorist had been killed in the operation. The first terrorist was identified as Haris Nazir Dar of Rajpora, Pulwama, in South Kashmir and was affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). He was active from 2023 and was classified as a C-category terrorist. The second terrorist is yet to be identified. ''OP Akhal, Kulgam, Intermittent and Intense fire fight continued through the night. Alert troops responded with calibrated fire and tightened the noose while maintaining contact. One terrorist has been neutralised by the security forces so far. Operation continues, '' said the Indian Army.

Fresh firing has been reported from the operation site in the South Kashmir's Akhal Forest's Kulgam district. Earlier, one terrorist was killed by security forces in the operation and reportedly, two more terrorists are hiding in the area

Seven terrorists killed in three Indian Army ops this week, fresh firing reported from encounter site in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (Aug 2) during his visit to Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi dedicated Operation Sindoor to Lord Mahadev. Addressing crowds during the 51st visit to his Lok Sabha constituency, Modi noted that this was the first time he was visiting Varanasi after India carried out the cross-border operation. He said that he has fulfilled his pledge to avenge his "daughters' sindoor". The PM said that "26 innocent civilians were mercilessly killed by terrorists in Pahalgam... My heart was full of sorrow... I had pledged to take revenge for my daughters' sindoor, and I fulfilled it with the blessings of Mahadev. I dedicate the success of Operation Sindoor at the feet of Mahadev."&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Varanasi, UP: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, &quot;This is the first time I have come to Kashi after Operation Sindoor. 26 innocent civilians were mercilessly killed by terrorists in Pahalgam... My heart was full of sorrow... I had pledged to take revenge for my… <a href="https://t.co/wtCpNiKIyd">pic.twitter.com/wtCpNiKIyd</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1951524198070845602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Modi releases 20th instalment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi</h2>On Saturday, the PM also released the 20th instalment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, transferring an amount of more than Rs 20,500 crores into the bank accounts of 9.7 crore farmers. As per ANI, with this release, the total disbursement achieved under the scheme has risen to over ₹3.90 lakh crore. He also laid the foundation stone and inaugurated multiple development projects worth around Rs 2,200 crore in Varanasi.He inaugurated the widening and strengthening of the Varanasi-Bhadohi and Chhitauni-Shool Tankeshwar roads, along with a key railway overbridge at Hardattpur to ease traffic on the Mohan Sarai–Adalpura route. Foundation stones were also laid for a slew of other road upgrades across both rural and urban stretches—Dalmandi, Lahartara-Kotwa, Gangapur, Babatpur, among others—as well as new railway overbridges at Level Crossing 22C and Khalispur Yard.In the energy sector, the Prime Minister launched projects worth over ₹880 crore to upgrade power infrastructure, including smart distribution and underground cabling works. Tourism and cultural heritage also saw a major push as Modi inaugurated the redevelopment of eight riverfront ghats, beautification of Rangildas Kutiya pond and ghat in Shivpur, and water purification work at Durgakund. He also laid the foundation stone for restoration at Kardameshwar Mahadev Temple and the development of Karkhiyaon—birthplace of several freedom fighters.

The PM said that, “26 innocent civilians were mercilessly killed by terrorists in Pahalgam... My heart was full of sorrow... I had pledged to take revenge for my daughters' sindoor, and I fulfilled it with the blessings of Mahadev.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (Aug 2) during his visit to Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi dedicated Operation Sindoor to Lord Mahadev. Addressing crowds during the 51st visit to his Lok Sabha constituency, Modi noted that this was the first time he was visiting Varanasi after India carried out the cross-border operation. He said that he has fulfilled his pledge to avenge his "daughters' sindoor". The PM said that "26 innocent civilians were mercilessly killed by terrorists in Pahalgam... My heart was full of sorrow... I had pledged to take revenge for my daughters' sindoor, and I fulfilled it with the blessings of Mahadev. I dedicate the success of Operation Sindoor at the feet of Mahadev."

The PM said that, “26 innocent civilians were mercilessly killed by terrorists in Pahalgam... My heart was full of sorrow... I had pledged to take revenge for my daughters' sindoor, and I fulfilled it with the blessings of Mahadev.”&nbsp;

‘Avenged my daughters’ sindoor’: PM Modi dedicates Operation Sindoor to Mahadev in Varanasi; releases 20th instalment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Aug 1) claimed to have heard that India may stop buying oil from Russia, calling it "a good step" if true. His statement comes just days after he imposed a 25 per cent tariff on India, saying the US has a massive trade deficit with the country. He also said that India will be paying additional penalties due to its trade relations with Russia. However, in New Delhi, the government pushed back, saying it was its sovereign right to take energy decisions based on national interest and market dynamics.<h2>What did Trump say about India?</h2>The US president, when asked if he planned to speak with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and if he had a penalty figure in mind, said, "I understand that India is no longer going to be buying oil from Russia. That's what I heard; I don't know if that's right or not. That is a good step. We will see what happens..."When asked if he was open to negotiating with India, Trump said, "We're talking to them now. We'll see what happens. Again, India was the highest or just about the highest tariff nation in the world, one of the highest, 100 points, 150 points or percentages. So India was one of the highest in the world. They had 175 per cent and higher than that."However, he emphasised US-India ties and his friendship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi whom he referred to as a "good friend". "As you know, Prime Minister Modi is a friend of mine, but they don't do very much business in terms of business with us. They sell a lot to us, but we don't buy from them. You know why? Because the tariff is so high. They have one of the highest tariffs in the world. Now they're willing to cut it very substantially. But we'll see what happens. We're talking to India now," he said.<h2>What is India's stand on the US tariff matter?</h2>Earlier on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs addressed media reports that some Indian oil firms had paused Russian imports. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said he was not aware of any such developments. "You are aware of our broad approach to energy sourcing requirements, that we look at what is available in the market and the prevailing global situation. We are not aware of any specifics," Jaiswal said. The comments come amid growing criticism from Washington over India's continued imports of discounted Russian oil, despite Western sanctions related to the Ukraine war. Both Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have publicly voiced concern in recent weeks.

Trump, when asked if he planned to speak with PM Narendra Modi and if he had a penalty figure in mind, said, "I understand that India is no longer going to be buying oil from Russia. That's what I heard; I don't know if that's right or not. That is a good step. We will see what happens..."

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Aug 1) claimed to have heard that India may stop buying oil from Russia, calling it "a good step" if true. His statement comes just days after he imposed a 25 per cent tariff on India, saying the US has a massive trade deficit with the country. He also said that India will be paying additional penalties due to its trade relations with Russia. However, in New Delhi, the government pushed back, saying it was its sovereign right to take energy decisions based on national interest and market dynamics. What did Trump say about India? The US president, when asked if he planned to speak with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and if he had a penalty figure in mind, said, "I understand that India is no longer going to be buying oil from Russia. That's what I heard; I don't know if that's right or not. That is a good step. We will see what happens..." When asked if he was open to negotiating with India, Trump said, "We're talking to them now. We'll see what happens. Again, India was the highest or just about the highest tariff nation in the world, one of the highest, 100 points, 150 points or percentages. So India was one of the highest in the world. They had 175 per cent and higher than that." However, he emphasised US-India ties and his friendship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi whom he referred to as a "good friend". "As you know, Prime Minister Modi is a friend of mine, but they don't do very much business in terms of business with us. They sell a lot to us, but we don't buy from them. You know why? Because the tariff is so high. They have one of the highest tariffs in the world. Now they're willing to cut it very substantially. But we'll see what happens. We're talking to India now," he said. What is India's stand on the US tariff matter? Earlier on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs addressed media reports that some Indian oil firms had paused Russian imports. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said he was not aware of any such developments. "You are aware of our broad approach to energy sourcing requirements, that we look at what is available in the market and the prevailing global situation. We are not aware of any specifics," Jaiswal said. The comments come amid growing criticism from Washington over India's continued imports of discounted Russian oil, despite Western sanctions related to the Ukraine war. Both Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have publicly voiced concern in recent weeks.

Trump, when asked if he planned to speak with PM Narendra Modi and if he had a penalty figure in mind, said, "I understand that India is no longer going to be buying oil from Russia. That's what I heard; I don't know if that's right or not. That is a good step. We will see what happens..."

Trump calls reports of India halting Russian oil purchase 'good step' calls PM Modi a 'good friend'

In India's Jammu and Kashmir, an encounter between the security forces and terrorists is underway in Kulgam district on Saturday (Aug 2). As per news agency ANI, the encounter is taking place in the Akhal area of Kulgam district. The operation is jointly being carried out by the Special Operations Group (SOG), J&amp;K Police, Army, and CRPF. In a post on X, the Indian Army's Chinar Corps reported that while the Operation Akhal, Kulgam continues, security forces have neutralised one terrorist so far. “Intermittent and Intense fire fight continued through the night. Alert troops responded with calibrated fire and tightened the nooze while maintaining contact, it said, adding, ”One terrorist has been neutralised by the security forces so far."

This comes as on July 30, an encounter broke out along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir after the Indian Army troops detected suspicious movement near the border fence, said the Army's White Knight Corps. As per officials, Indian troops keeping vigil along the LoC noticed the movement of two individuals under suspicious circumstances in the general area of the Poonch sector. The individuals – suspected terrorists – upon being confronted by Indian soldiers, opened fire, prompting a swift retaliation from the Army. In a post on X, White Knight Corps stated, "White Knight Corps Contact with terrorists. Suspected movement of two individuals was observed by own troops along the fence in gen area of Poonch Sector. Gunfire exchanged." The joint anti-terror operation by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF, and Special Operations Group (SOG) is still in progress.

Operation Akhal, Kulgam: Encounter underway in J&K; Security forces neutralise one terrorist

In India's Jammu and Kashmir, an encounter between the security forces and terrorists is underway in Kulgam district on Saturday (Aug 2). As per news agency ANI, the encounter is taking place in the Akhal area of Kulgam district. The operation is jointly being carried out by the Special Operations Group (SOG), J&K Police, Army, and CRPF. In a post on X, the Indian Army's Chinar Corps reported that while the Operation Akhal, Kulgam continues, security forces have neutralised one terrorist so far. “Intermittent and Intense fire fight continued through the night. Alert troops responded with calibrated fire and tightened the nooze while maintaining contact, it said, adding, ”One terrorist has been neutralised by the security forces so far."

Operation Akhal, Kulgam: Encounter underway in J&amp;K; Security forces neutralise one terrorist

Amid a raging debate in India about the China-Pakistan nexus during&nbsp;Operation Sindoor, Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir, said on Friday that the bond between the two nations is&nbsp;"unique, time-tested and exceptionally resilient" despite global challenges. Asim&nbsp;Munir was addressing&nbsp;a ceremony to commemorate the 98th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China in Rawalpindi, in the presence&nbsp;of China's Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong.&nbsp;The event was also attended by&nbsp;Defence Attaché Major General Wang Zhong, Pakistani military officials, and officers of China's embassy. "Our friendship with China is unique, time-tested, and exceptionally resilient,” the military's media wing said in a statement.&nbsp;Asim Munir further said that the strategic relationship between the two nations "exemplifies mutual trust, unwavering support and shared commitment".&nbsp;He said that the friendship between the two nations has remained steadfast and unshakable despite the shifting strategic dynamics.&nbsp;"Our enduring partnership is central to promoting regional stability and securing our shared strategic interests,” Munir added, according to a PTI report.&nbsp;Asim Munir said that China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) played a pivotal role in the country's defence, security, and nation-building.&nbsp;Earlier this week, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in the parliament that the central government allowed Pakistan and China to come close during Operation Sindoor.&nbsp;External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar later launched a veiled attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, calling him a China guru who acquired their knowledge of China by attending the Beijing Olympics.&nbsp;China had helped Pakistan by providing weapons and helping in surveillance during the latter's four-day-long conflict with India.

Amid a raging debate in India about the China-Pakistan nexus during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir, said on Friday that the bond between the two nations is "unique, time-tested and exceptionally resilient" despite global challenges. 

Amid a raging debate in India about the China-Pakistan nexus during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir, said on Friday that the bond between the two nations is "unique, time-tested and exceptionally resilient" despite global challenges. Asim Munir was addressing a ceremony to commemorate the 98th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China in Rawalpindi, in the presence of China's Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong. The event was also attended by Defence Attaché Major General Wang Zhong, Pakistani military officials, and officers of China's embassy. "Our friendship with China is unique, time-tested, and exceptionally resilient,” the military's media wing said in a statement. Asim Munir further said that the strategic relationship between the two nations "exemplifies mutual trust, unwavering support and shared commitment". He said that the friendship between the two nations has remained steadfast and unshakable despite the shifting strategic dynamics. "Our enduring partnership is central to promoting regional stability and securing our shared strategic interests,” Munir added, according to a PTI report. Asim Munir said that China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) played a pivotal role in the country's defence, security, and nation-building. Earlier this week, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in the parliament that the central government allowed Pakistan and China to come close during Operation Sindoor. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar later launched a veiled attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, calling him a China guru who acquired their knowledge of China by attending the Beijing Olympics. China had helped Pakistan by providing weapons and helping in surveillance during the latter's four-day-long conflict with India.

The event was also attended by&nbsp;Defence Attaché Major General Wang Zhong, Pakistani military officials, and officers of China's embassy.

Amid China-Pakistan nexus debate in India, Asim Munir's big remark on Beijing. Here's what he said

Just days ahead of the voting for Lok Sabha elections on April 26, 2024, in the parliamentary constituency of Hassan, a major scandal broke out when over 2,900 explicit videos of the outgoing MP Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda in the fray to retain his seat, with multiple women got leaked. The scandal broke when pen drives containing the explicit videos began circulating in Hassan and nearby districts.&nbsp;The scandal captured national attention and hogged headlines, and Prajwal, the accused, fled to Germany. Murky details kept pouring out in testimonies during the trial.Prajwal Revanna lost the election.&nbsp;He returned on May 31, 2024, and was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) upon landing at Bengaluru Airport, as a case had been registered at the Holenarasipura Town Police Station. The SIT filed its chargesheet in August 2024.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Convicted in one of four rape cases, sentencing on Saturday</h2>&nbsp;A special court in Bengaluru, on Friday, convicted Revanna on charges of rape, bringing to a close a controversial and politically charged case filed by a 47-year-old domestic worker, who accused Prajwal of repeated sexual assaults in 2021 during the COVID-19 lockdown at the family’s farmhouse in Gannikada (Hassan) and their residence in Basavanagudi, Bengaluru.The quantum of the sentence will be pronounced on Saturday.&nbsp;Three other cases, involving different women, against him are under trial in the special court.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Driver exposed misdeeds, shared evidence</h2>&nbsp;The former driver of Revanna testified in court in the sex tape case and said that he had found over 2,000 explicit pictures and 40-50 videos of women in the phone of the then Janata Dal (Secular) MP.The driver, N. Kartik, also said in the court that he told the former MP’s mother, Bhavani Revanna, about his wayward behaviour, his physical relationships with many women, and his habit of recording their private moments on his phone. She demanded proof and was shown the photos and videos. She then told the driver not to reveal Revanna’s misdeeds to anyone else.Prajwal’s phone contained several videos of him with party workers, domestic helps, and others.&nbsp;Karthik then became the whistleblower and facilitated the initiation of multiple cases of rape and sexual harassment against Prajwal.Four cases of rape and sexual harassment were registered by the SIT of the Karnataka Police after the explicit videos and pictures of the alleged sexual assaults by Prajwal emerged in the public domain.&nbsp;<h2>Domestic help, cook filed cases</h2>&nbsp;A former domestic worker at the farmhouse of the Revanna family told the court about Prajwal’s alleged assaults on her during in-camera proceedings in the special court, while another woman was rescued from a farmhouse near Mysuru, where she was allegedly kept in confinement after being identified in videos of sexual assaults recorded by Prajwal on his phone.Prajwal is also accused in a case of sexual assault on a cook and the alleged sexual harassment of her daughter.&nbsp;On Friday, after his conviction in the domestic help rape case, Prajwal broke down in the court and was seen crying while leaving the courtroom.&nbsp;Revanna was elected from the Hassan Lok Sabha seat in 2019, but the 33-year-old failed to retain the constituency in the 2024 polls. JD(S) suspended him after rape cases were filed against him.&nbsp;He fled to Germany after the sex scandal came to light, but his grandfather Deve Gowda warned him, telling him to return to India and surrender to the police, or face his and the family’s anger.

The sex scandal broke out during the general elections and captured national attention. Prajwal Revanna, the accused, fled to Germany but later returned and was arrested. Murky details of his misdemeanours kept pouring out in testimonies during the trial. 

Just days ahead of the voting for Lok Sabha elections on April 26, 2024, in the parliamentary constituency of Hassan, a major scandal broke out when over 2,900 explicit videos of the outgoing MP Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda in the fray to retain his seat, with multiple women got leaked. The scandal broke when pen drives containing the explicit videos began circulating in Hassan and nearby districts. The scandal captured national attention and hogged headlines, and Prajwal, the accused, fled to Germany. Murky details kept pouring out in testimonies during the trial. Prajwal Revanna lost the election. He returned on May 31, 2024, and was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) upon landing at Bengaluru Airport, as a case had been registered at the Holenarasipura Town Police Station. The SIT filed its chargesheet in August 2024. Convicted in one of four rape cases, sentencing on Saturday A special court in Bengaluru, on Friday, convicted Revanna on charges of rape, bringing to a close a controversial and politically charged case filed by a 47-year-old domestic worker, who accused Prajwal of repeated sexual assaults in 2021 during the COVID-19 lockdown at the family’s farmhouse in Gannikada (Hassan) and their residence in Basavanagudi, Bengaluru. The quantum of the sentence will be pronounced on Saturday. Three other cases, involving different women, against him are under trial in the special court. Driver exposed misdeeds, shared evidence The former driver of Revanna testified in court in the sex tape case and said that he had found over 2,000 explicit pictures and 40-50 videos of women in the phone of the then Janata Dal (Secular) MP. The driver, N. Kartik, also said in the court that he told the former MP’s mother, Bhavani Revanna, about his wayward behaviour, his physical relationships with many women, and his habit of recording their private moments on his phone. She demanded proof and was shown the photos and videos. She then told the driver not to reveal Revanna’s misdeeds to anyone else. Prajwal’s phone contained several videos of him with party workers, domestic helps, and others. Karthik then became the whistleblower and facilitated the initiation of multiple cases of rape and sexual harassment against Prajwal. Four cases of rape and sexual harassment were registered by the SIT of the Karnataka Police after the explicit videos and pictures of the alleged sexual assaults by Prajwal emerged in the public domain. Domestic help, cook filed cases A former domestic worker at the farmhouse of the Revanna family told the court about Prajwal’s alleged assaults on her during in-camera proceedings in the special court, while another woman was rescued from a farmhouse near Mysuru, where she was allegedly kept in confinement after being identified in videos of sexual assaults recorded by Prajwal on his phone. Prajwal is also accused in a case of sexual assault on a cook and the alleged sexual harassment of her daughter. On Friday, after his conviction in the domestic help rape case, Prajwal broke down in the court and was seen crying while leaving the courtroom. Revanna was elected from the Hassan Lok Sabha seat in 2019, but the 33-year-old failed to retain the constituency in the 2024 polls. JD(S) suspended him after rape cases were filed against him. He fled to Germany after the sex scandal came to light, but his grandfather Deve Gowda warned him, telling him to return to India and surrender to the police, or face his and the family’s anger.

The sex scandal broke out during the general elections and captured national attention. Prajwal Revanna, the accused, fled to Germany but later returned and was arrested. Murky details of his misdemeanours kept pouring out in testimonies during the trial.&nbsp;

Prajval Revanna sex scandal: When over 2000 videos got leaked amid 2024 Lok Sabha polls

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday attached&nbsp;the properties of a Pakistan-based D-company operative in Gujarat's Bharuch in connection with a double murder case. The anti-terror agency said that the accused is Mohammad Yunus alias Manjiro, who was involved in a murder in 2015.&nbsp;"Cracking down further against the Pakistan-based D-Company gang, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached two immovable properties of the accused Mohammad Yunus@Manjro in the 2015 Bharuch double murder case," the NIA said in a statement on Friday.&nbsp;Yunus was arrested for allegedly murdering BJP workers, Shirish Bengali and Pragnesh Mistry.&nbsp;"Mohammad Yunus at Manjro was arrested for his role in the criminal conspiracy and murder of BJP workers, Shirish Bengali and Pragnesh Mistry, in November 2015," it said.&nbsp;"The properties of the arrested accused have been attached under Section 33 (1) of the UA (P) Act on the orders of NIA Special Court, Ahmedabad, in the case RC-13/2015/NIA/DLI. The attached properties include his residential house in Ward No. 3, City Survey No. 3614, Bharuch City (Total area: 143.96 sq. mt.) and Ward No. 3, City Survey No. 3615, Bharuch City (Total area: 29.59 sq. mt.)," it added.&nbsp;The National Investigation Agency (NIA) further said that the action was a very important step towards destroying the D-company's gang operating in Pakistan.&nbsp;"These attachments by NIA are a very important step toward dismantling the terror ecosystem of the D-Company gang operating from Pakistan," it added.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday attached the properties of a Pakistan-based D-company operative in Gujarat's Bharuch in connection with a double murder case. 

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday attached the properties of a Pakistan-based D-company operative in Gujarat's Bharuch in connection with a double murder case. The anti-terror agency said that the accused is Mohammad Yunus alias Manjiro, who was involved in a murder in 2015. "Cracking down further against the Pakistan-based D-Company gang, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached two immovable properties of the accused Mohammad Yunus@Manjro in the 2015 Bharuch double murder case," the NIA said in a statement on Friday. Yunus was arrested for allegedly murdering BJP workers, Shirish Bengali and Pragnesh Mistry. "Mohammad Yunus at Manjro was arrested for his role in the criminal conspiracy and murder of BJP workers, Shirish Bengali and Pragnesh Mistry, in November 2015," it said. "The properties of the arrested accused have been attached under Section 33 (1) of the UA (P) Act on the orders of NIA Special Court, Ahmedabad, in the case RC-13/2015/NIA/DLI. The attached properties include his residential house in Ward No. 3, City Survey No. 3614, Bharuch City (Total area: 143.96 sq. mt.) and Ward No. 3, City Survey No. 3615, Bharuch City (Total area: 29.59 sq. mt.)," it added. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) further said that the action was a very important step towards destroying the D-company's gang operating in Pakistan. "These attachments by NIA are a very important step toward dismantling the terror ecosystem of the D-Company gang operating from Pakistan," it added.

Mohammad Yunus was arrested for allegedly murdering BJP workers, Shirish Bengali and Pragnesh Mistry.&nbsp;

National Investigation Agency attaches properties of Pakistan-based Dawood gang member

India on Friday rejected the allegations made by the UK parliamentary committee, terming its report that claimed New Delhi’s involvement in transnational repression as “baseless.” The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that these claims stem from “unverified and dubious sources”, predominantly connected to proscribed entities and individuals with a “clear, documented history of anti-India hostility.”&nbsp;The Joint Committee on Human Rights, in its report released on July 30, said that it has received evidence alleging that Bahrain, China, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have conducted acts of transnational repression on UK soil.&nbsp;Reacting to queries regarding references to India in the UK Parliamentary Committee report, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “We have seen the references to India in the report and categorically reject these baseless allegations. These claims stem from unverified and dubious sources, predominantly linked to proscribed entities and individuals with a clear, documented history of anti-India hostility. The deliberate reliance on discredited sources calls into question the credibility of the report itself.”&nbsp;In the report, the Joint Committee on Human Rights called for stronger action to stop the growth of transnational repression (TNR). The committee warned that foreign governments are being increasingly bold in attempts to silence and intimidate individuals and communities in the UK and urged the British government to make more efforts to protect and support victims.&nbsp;During his recent visit to the UK, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had thanked his UK counterpart, Keir Starmer, for condemning the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack and said that forces with extremist ideology cannot be allowed to misuse democratic freedom.While making a press statement alongside Starmer on July 24, PM Modi said, “We thank Prime Minister Starmer and his government for strongly condemning the Pahalgam terror attack. We are united in the belief that there is no place for double standards in the fight against terrorism. We also agree that the forces with extremist ideology cannot be allowed to misuse democratic freedom. Those who misuse democratic freedoms to undermine democracy itself must be held to account.”&nbsp;PM Modi’s statement came amid growing concerns over the presence of Khalistani extremists in the United Kingdom, who have in the past also targetted the Indian High Commission in London.&nbsp;Earlier this year, Khalistani goons created a ruckus outside the Chatham House in London, where External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was attending an event. A video from the event, showing a protester running towards the EAM’s vehicle as he was leaving the venue, also went viral on social media, highlighting the security breach.&nbsp;This was not the first time that anti-India, radical elements had organised demonstrations and attacks, as well as arson, in London. In March 2023, New Delhi had lodged a strong protest with the UK government after Khalistani extremists vandalised the Indian High Commission in London. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had demanded an explanation from the British authorities for the complete absence of the British security that allowed the Khalistani goons to enter the High Commission premises.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had thanked his UK counterpart, Keir Starmer, during his recent visit to the UK for condemning the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack and said that forces with extremist ideology cannot be allowed to misuse democratic freedom.

India on Friday rejected the allegations made by the UK parliamentary committee, terming its report that claimed New Delhi’s involvement in transnational repression as “baseless.” The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that these claims stem from “unverified and dubious sources”, predominantly connected to proscribed entities and individuals with a “clear, documented history of anti-India hostility.” The Joint Committee on Human Rights, in its report released on July 30, said that it has received evidence alleging that Bahrain, China, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have conducted acts of transnational repression on UK soil. Reacting to queries regarding references to India in the UK Parliamentary Committee report, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “We have seen the references to India in the report and categorically reject these baseless allegations. These claims stem from unverified and dubious sources, predominantly linked to proscribed entities and individuals with a clear, documented history of anti-India hostility. The deliberate reliance on discredited sources calls into question the credibility of the report itself.” In the report, the Joint Committee on Human Rights called for stronger action to stop the growth of transnational repression (TNR). The committee warned that foreign governments are being increasingly bold in attempts to silence and intimidate individuals and communities in the UK and urged the British government to make more efforts to protect and support victims. During his recent visit to the UK, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had thanked his UK counterpart, Keir Starmer, for condemning the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack and said that forces with extremist ideology cannot be allowed to misuse democratic freedom. While making a press statement alongside Starmer on July 24, PM Modi said, “We thank Prime Minister Starmer and his government for strongly condemning the Pahalgam terror attack. We are united in the belief that there is no place for double standards in the fight against terrorism. We also agree that the forces with extremist ideology cannot be allowed to misuse democratic freedom. Those who misuse democratic freedoms to undermine democracy itself must be held to account.” PM Modi’s statement came amid growing concerns over the presence of Khalistani extremists in the United Kingdom, who have in the past also targetted the Indian High Commission in London. Earlier this year, Khalistani goons created a ruckus outside the Chatham House in London, where External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was attending an event. A video from the event, showing a protester running towards the EAM’s vehicle as he was leaving the venue, also went viral on social media, highlighting the security breach. This was not the first time that anti-India, radical elements had organised demonstrations and attacks, as well as arson, in London. In March 2023, New Delhi had lodged a strong protest with the UK government after Khalistani extremists vandalised the Indian High Commission in London. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had demanded an explanation from the British authorities for the complete absence of the British security that allowed the Khalistani goons to enter the High Commission premises.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had thanked his UK counterpart, Keir Starmer, during his recent visit to the UK for condemning the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack and said that forces with extremist ideology cannot be allowed to misuse democratic freedom.

MEA cites dubious sources, rejects ‘baseless claims’ in UK parliamentary report

The Indian Embassy in Ireland has issued a safety advisory urging citizens to avoid deserted areas and remain vigilant after a surge in racially motivated assaults on Indians in the country. In recent assaults, a 32-year-old Indian man suffered a fractured cheekbone, while an Amazon employee was attacked, stabbed, and stripped in Dublin. The embassy is coordinating with Irish authorities and has provided emergency helpline numbers.&nbsp;The urgent safety advisory, issued after a string of attacks by teen gangs on Indian-origin persons, urges all Indian citizens in the country to avoid going to deserted places and exercise heightened caution.&nbsp;“There has been an increase in the instances of physical attacks reported against Indian citizens in Ireland recently. The Embassy is in touch with the authorities concerned in Ireland in this regard,” the embassy said in the advisory.The advisory asked Indian citizens to take reasonable precautions for personal safety, such as avoiding deserted areas, especially at odd hours.“At the same time, all Indian citizens in Ireland are advised to take reasonable precautions for their personal security and avoid deserted areas, especially in odd hours,” it added.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MEAIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MEAIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MEAIndia</a> <a href="https://t.co/RBmnRd4ZEs">pic.twitter.com/RBmnRd4ZEs</a>&mdash; India in Ireland (Embassy of India, Dublin) (@IndiainIreland) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiainIreland/status/1951227149689430279?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Embassy of India also issued an emergency contact number for help. Indian citizens can seek help via phone at 08994 23734 or email at cons.dublin@mea.gov.in.&nbsp;On July 19, the 40-year-old Indian man, an Amazon employee who had arrived in Ireland just three weeks prior, was viciously beaten, stabbed in the face, and partially stripped by a teen gang in Tallaght, Dublin. Authorities are investigating the case as a potential hate crime.&nbsp;Jennifer Murray, the Irish woman who came to the aid of the 40-year-old man, recounted the brutal assault and noted that it wasn't the first racially motivated incident to occur in the area.&nbsp;<h2>Attack sparked wave of protests</h2>&nbsp;The incident caused widespread outrage and a wave of protests. Protesters, including Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Irish citizens, gathered to denounce the attack. Arounf 800 people marched from Dublin City Hall to the National Gallery, holding placards saying “Say no to racism” and “Ireland is home.”&nbsp;The Irish police, An Garda Síochána, classified the assault as racially motivated while an online petition demanding justice has already collected over 15,000 signatures. Indians form the largest non-EU immigrant group in Ireland and play key roles in the country’s IT and healthcare sectors

Migrant advocacy groups warned that inadequate police training has made it harder for victims to report hate crimes.

Recently, on July 19, a 40-year-old Indian man who had arrived in Ireland just three weeks ago and was employed with Amazon was viciously beaten, stabbed in the face, and partially stripped by a teen gang in Tallaght, Dublin. 

The Indian Embassy in Ireland has issued a safety advisory urging citizens to avoid deserted areas and remain vigilant after a surge in racially motivated assaults on Indians in the country. In recent assaults, a 32-year-old Indian man suffered a fractured cheekbone, while an Amazon employee was attacked, stabbed, and stripped in Dublin. The embassy is coordinating with Irish authorities and has provided emergency helpline numbers. The urgent safety advisory, issued after a string of attacks by teen gangs on Indian-origin persons, urges all Indian citizens in the country to avoid going to deserted places and exercise heightened caution. “There has been an increase in the instances of physical attacks reported against Indian citizens in Ireland recently. The Embassy is in touch with the authorities concerned in Ireland in this regard,” the embassy said in the advisory. The advisory asked Indian citizens to take reasonable precautions for personal safety, such as avoiding deserted areas, especially at odd hours. “At the same time, all Indian citizens in Ireland are advised to take reasonable precautions for their personal security and avoid deserted areas, especially in odd hours,” it added.

Recently, on July 19, a 40-year-old Indian man who had arrived in Ireland just three weeks ago and was employed with Amazon was viciously beaten, stabbed in the face, and partially stripped by a teen gang in Tallaght, Dublin.&nbsp;

Indian embassy advisory cautions citizens after racial attacks spike in Ireland

Karnataka Lokayukta officials on Friday raided the house of a former clerk in the state and found assets worth Rs 30 crore. The huge sum was beyond any known sources of income of the former employee of Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL).&nbsp;&nbsp;Kalakappa Nidagundi, who worked in Koppal and had a monthly salary of Rs 15,000, was found to own a whopping 24 houses. The man also owned four plots and 40 acres of farmland. He also owned four vehicles. 350 grams of gold, worth crores, was also found in his possession. He also owned 1.5 kg of silver. The assets were in his, his wife and his brother's names.&nbsp;He, along with an ex-engineer, allegedly swindled Rs 72 crore by forging fake documents for 96 incomplete&nbsp;projects.&nbsp;The raid was part of the Lokayukta officials' campaign against government officials suspected of amassing disproportionate wealth, reported NDTV. Raids were also conducted in Hassan, Chikkabalapura, Chitradurga, and Bengaluru.&nbsp;Last month, they searched&nbsp;the premises of eight officials, including an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, and recovered unaccounted wealth of Rs 37.42 crore.&nbsp;Premises linked to IAS officer Vasanthi Amar B V, who serves as Special Deputy Commissioner at the Railway Infrastructure Development Company, were also raised. Officials recovered assets worth Rs 9.03 crore, including three sites, four houses, three acres of agricultural land to the tune of Rs 7.4 crore, ornaments worth Rs 12 lakh, and vehicles worth Rs 90 lakh, reported the channel.&nbsp;"A case has been registered against ZM Chincholikar, Executive Engineer, Divisional Office, Koppal, and Kalakappa Nidgundi, Former Office Assistant (Outsourced), Sub-Divisional Office," said the office.

The Lokayukta officials on Friday raided the house of a former clerk in Karnataka and found assets worth Rs 30 crore.

Karnataka Lokayukta officials on Friday raided the house of a former clerk in the state and found assets worth Rs 30 crore. The huge sum was beyond any known sources of income of the former employee of Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL). Kalakappa Nidagundi, who worked in Koppal and had a monthly salary of Rs 15,000, was found to own a whopping 24 houses. The man also owned four plots and 40 acres of farmland. He also owned four vehicles. 350 grams of gold, worth crores, was also found in his possession. He also owned 1.5 kg of silver. The assets were in his, his wife and his brother's names. He, along with an ex-engineer, allegedly swindled Rs 72 crore by forging fake documents for 96 incomplete projects. The raid was part of the Lokayukta officials' campaign against government officials suspected of amassing disproportionate wealth, reported NDTV. Raids were also conducted in Hassan, Chikkabalapura, Chitradurga, and Bengaluru. Last month, they searched the premises of eight officials, including an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, and recovered unaccounted wealth of Rs 37.42 crore. Premises linked to IAS officer Vasanthi Amar B V, who serves as Special Deputy Commissioner at the Railway Infrastructure Development Company, were also raised. Officials recovered assets worth Rs 9.03 crore, including three sites, four houses, three acres of agricultural land to the tune of Rs 7.4 crore, ornaments worth Rs 12 lakh, and vehicles worth Rs 90 lakh, reported the channel. "A case has been registered against ZM Chincholikar, Executive Engineer, Divisional Office, Koppal, and Kalakappa Nidgundi, Former Office Assistant (Outsourced), Sub-Divisional Office," said the office.

Karnataka lokayukta raid: The man also owned four plots and 40 acres of farmland. He also owned four vehicles.

Karnataka ex-clerk owned 24 houses, 350 gm gold; his salary was...

The Indian government on Friday refuted reports claiming that the death sentence of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya has been revoked and an agreement has been reached for her release and urged restraint and caution in speculative reporting around the “sensitive and complex” case. The Ministry of External Affairs said in a media briefing that India is working “through all possible channels" to bring home Nimisha Priya, the Indian nurse facing death penalty in Yemen.&nbsp;MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “As I had informed you earlier, this is a sensitive matter, and the Government of India has been offering all possible assistance in the case. As a result of our concerted efforts, the local authorities in Yemen have postponed carrying out her sentence. We continue to closely follow the matter and render all possible assistance. We are also in touch with some friendly governments on the issue.”“I would once again reiterate that this is a sensitive and complex case. Media reports based on misinformation and speculation are most unhelpful, and we would urge all to be mindful of this. I would urge to refrain from believing any media report. Please wait for an update from us.”&nbsp;<h2>‘I so badly want to see her’: Nimisha’s daughter said in appeal</h2>&nbsp;The MEA statement came days after Nimisha’s 13-year-old daughter Mishel went to Yemen to plead for her mother’s life. Mishel, who has not seen her mother in over a decade, was accompanied by her father, Tomy Thomas, and Global Peace Initiative founder Dr KA Paul.&nbsp;In an emotional video message delivered in both Malayalam and English, Mishel said, “I love you, mummy. Please help bring my mother back home. I so badly want to see her. I miss you, mummy.”Tomy, also speaking from Yemen, appealed directly to the authorities, saying, “Please save my wife Nimisha Priya and help her reach her hometown.”&nbsp;<h2>Murder of Yemeni business partner after harassment</h2>&nbsp;Nimisha Priya, a trained nurse from Kerala, moved to Yemen in 2008 and later opened her own clinic. In 2017, she was arrested for the alleged murder of her former business partner, Talal Abdo Mehdi. As per Yemeni law, foreigners can only start their business with a local partner.Authorities claim she attempted to sedate him to retrieve her passport, reportedly held by him without consent, but the sedative proved fatal. She alleged that Mahdi had harassed her for money, seized her passport, forged documents to pose as her husband, and subjected her to physical and emotional abuse. In 2018, she was convicted by a trial court in Yemen.&nbsp;The execution, scheduled for July 16, was suspended after sustained diplomatic outreach from India. The MEA said it is providing full legal assistance to Nimisha’s family, including visa support and consular access, and deputed a team of legal and Sharia experts to Yemen.The case is complex, as under Yemeni Sharia law, the victim’s family holds the right to pardon in exchange for diyyah (blood money). However, the brother of the deceased, Abdelfattah Mehdi, has publicly refused any clemency, saying, “There can be no pardon for the crime.”&nbsp;<h3>Mediation by Grand Mufti</h3>&nbsp;Reports saying the Kerala nurse's death penalty was revoked emerged on July 28 after the information was revealed by the Grand Mufti of India, Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, popularly known as Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar. Reports said that he had mediated with Yemeni authorities.&nbsp;Dr Paul praised Yemeni authorities for engaging with the humanitarian appeal, saying, “Nimisha’s only daughter did not see her for 10 years. Mishel is here. I want to thank the Talal family. As soon as you release Nimisha, hopefully tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, we shall be very grateful. God will bless you.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson (August 01, 2025) <a href="https://t.co/e1AadhLBOb">https://t.co/e1AadhLBOb</a>&mdash; Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1951229865941713347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Ministry of External Affairs urged restraint in reporting on the sensitive and complex case and urged caution instead of speculation on Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse facing the death penalty in Yemen. The Indian government and her family are working to bring her home.

The Indian government on Friday refuted reports claiming that the death sentence of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya has been revoked and an agreement has been reached for her release and urged restraint and caution in speculative reporting around the “sensitive and complex” case. The Ministry of External Affairs said in a media briefing that India is working “through all possible channels" to bring home Nimisha Priya, the Indian nurse facing death penalty in Yemen. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “As I had informed you earlier, this is a sensitive matter, and the Government of India has been offering all possible assistance in the case. As a result of our concerted efforts, the local authorities in Yemen have postponed carrying out her sentence. We continue to closely follow the matter and render all possible assistance. We are also in touch with some friendly governments on the issue.” “I would once again reiterate that this is a sensitive and complex case. Media reports based on misinformation and speculation are most unhelpful, and we would urge all to be mindful of this. I would urge to refrain from believing any media report. Please wait for an update from us.” ‘I so badly want to see her’: Nimisha’s daughter said in appeal The MEA statement came days after Nimisha’s 13-year-old daughter Mishel went to Yemen to plead for her mother’s life. Mishel, who has not seen her mother in over a decade, was accompanied by her father, Tomy Thomas, and Global Peace Initiative founder Dr KA Paul. In an emotional video message delivered in both Malayalam and English, Mishel said, “I love you, mummy. Please help bring my mother back home. I so badly want to see her. I miss you, mummy.” Tomy, also speaking from Yemen, appealed directly to the authorities, saying, “Please save my wife Nimisha Priya and help her reach her hometown.” Murder of Yemeni business partner after harassment Nimisha Priya, a trained nurse from Kerala, moved to Yemen in 2008 and later opened her own clinic. In 2017, she was arrested for the alleged murder of her former business partner, Talal Abdo Mehdi. As per Yemeni law, foreigners can only start their business with a local partner. Authorities claim she attempted to sedate him to retrieve her passport, reportedly held by him without consent, but the sedative proved fatal. She alleged that Mahdi had harassed her for money, seized her passport, forged documents to pose as her husband, and subjected her to physical and emotional abuse. In 2018, she was convicted by a trial court in Yemen. The execution, scheduled for July 16, was suspended after sustained diplomatic outreach from India. The MEA said it is providing full legal assistance to Nimisha’s family, including visa support and consular access, and deputed a team of legal and Sharia experts to Yemen. The case is complex, as under Yemeni Sharia law, the victim’s family holds the right to pardon in exchange for diyyah (blood money). However, the brother of the deceased, Abdelfattah Mehdi, has publicly refused any clemency, saying, “There can be no pardon for the crime.” Mediation by Grand Mufti Reports saying the Kerala nurse's death penalty was revoked emerged on July 28 after the information was revealed by the Grand Mufti of India, Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, popularly known as Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar. Reports said that he had mediated with Yemeni authorities. Dr Paul praised Yemeni authorities for engaging with the humanitarian appeal, saying, “Nimisha’s only daughter did not see her for 10 years. Mishel is here. I want to thank the Talal family. As soon as you release Nimisha, hopefully tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, we shall be very grateful. God will bless you.”

The Ministry of External Affairs urged restraint in reporting on the sensitive and complex case and urged caution instead of speculation on Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse facing the death penalty in Yemen. The Indian government and her family are working to bring her home.

Reports of Nimisha’s death penalty revocation incorrect, says MEA, urges for caution in ‘sensitive case’

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged on Friday that an independent investigation by the opposition found that the Election Commission of India is involved in a massive “vote theft” to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and termed it “treason” while warning the EC members of strong action. The Election Commission, meanwhile, dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of vote theft as baseless and urged officials to ignore such “irresponsible statements”.&nbsp;“We have open and shut proof that the Election Commission is involved in vote theft. Most importantly, whoever in the Elections Commission is involved in this exercise, right from top to bottom, we will not spare you,” Gandhi said while talking to reporters outside the parliament amid the escalating row over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar.&nbsp;Without naming any individual, Gandhi issued a warning to those in the Commission, saying, “You are working against India, and this is no less than treason. We will find you wherever you are, even if you are retired.”&nbsp;Explosive allegations by Rahul Gandhi against ECI&nbsp;Amid the protests in the parliament against Bihar SIR, Gandhi claimed that the opposition conducted an independent investigation after the recent elections and found proof that reveal ECI’s “involvement in vote theft”.&nbsp;“After the results of the Madhya Pradesh and Lok Sabha elections, we had our suspicions. Those only deepened after the Maharashtra Assembly polls—especially when we saw that 1 crore new voters had suddenly been added to the final voter list. That’s when we realised the Election Commission wouldn’t act. So, we launched our own six-month investigation. And what we uncovered is nothing short of an atom bomb. Once it explodes, the Election Commission will have no place to hide,” Gandhi said.&nbsp;Rahul’s warning to EC officials&nbsp;After his explosive claims, Gandhi issued a stern warning to the Election Commission officials, stating that they wouldn’t be spared even if they were retired.“Most importantly, whoever in the Elections Commission is involved in this exercise, right from top to bottom, we will not spare you. You are working against India, and this is no less than treason. Wherever you are, even if you are retired, we will find you,” Gandhi said.&nbsp;On Thursday, the INDIA bloc parties, in a unanimous decision at their meeting, resolved to intensify their protests against the ongoing SIR both inside and outside Parliament.The INDIA bloc's protest comes as the Election Commission is scheduled to publish the draft electoral rolls of Bihar on Friday.&nbsp;============================&nbsp;The Election Commission of India (ECI) in its reaction issued a strong rebuttal and dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of vote theft as “baseless” and urged officials to ignore such “irresponsible statements”.&nbsp;&nbsp;It said, “The Election Commission ignores such baseless allegations being made every day and, despite the threats being given every day, it asks all election officials who are working in a fair and transparent manner to not pay heed to such irresponsible statements.”&nbsp;“And I’m not saying this lightly, I’m speaking with 100 percent proof. And when we release it (proof), the entire country will come to know that the Election Commission is enabling vote theft. And who are they doing it for? They’re doing it for the BJP,” he said while speaking to reporters.

Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Election Commission of India is involved in vote theft and claimed that he has proof of it. He claimed an independent investigation revealed serious misconduct linked to recent polls.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged on Friday that an independent investigation by the opposition found that the Election Commission of India is involved in a massive “vote theft” to benefit the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and termed it “treason” while warning the EC members of strong action. The Election Commission, meanwhile, dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of vote theft as baseless and urged officials to ignore such “irresponsible statements”. “We have open and shut proof that the Election Commission is involved in vote theft. Most importantly, whoever in the Elections Commission is involved in this exercise, right from top to bottom, we will not spare you,” Gandhi said while talking to reporters outside the parliament amid the escalating row over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar. Without naming any individual, Gandhi issued a warning to those in the Commission, saying, “You are working against India, and this is no less than treason. We will find you wherever you are, even if you are retired.” Explosive allegations by Rahul Gandhi against ECI Amid the protests in the parliament against Bihar SIR, Gandhi claimed that the opposition conducted an independent investigation after the recent elections and found proof that reveal ECI’s “involvement in vote theft”. “After the results of the Madhya Pradesh and Lok Sabha elections, we had our suspicions. Those only deepened after the Maharashtra Assembly polls—especially when we saw that 1 crore new voters had suddenly been added to the final voter list. That’s when we realised the Election Commission wouldn’t act. So, we launched our own six-month investigation. And what we uncovered is nothing short of an atom bomb. Once it explodes, the Election Commission will have no place to hide,” Gandhi said. Rahul’s warning to EC officials After his explosive claims, Gandhi issued a stern warning to the Election Commission officials, stating that they wouldn’t be spared even if they were retired. “Most importantly, whoever in the Elections Commission is involved in this exercise, right from top to bottom, we will not spare you. You are working against India, and this is no less than treason. Wherever you are, even if you are retired, we will find you,” Gandhi said. On Thursday, the INDIA bloc parties, in a unanimous decision at their meeting, resolved to intensify their protests against the ongoing SIR both inside and outside Parliament. The INDIA bloc's protest comes as the Election Commission is scheduled to publish the draft electoral rolls of Bihar on Friday. ============================ The Election Commission of India (ECI) in its reaction issued a strong rebuttal and dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of vote theft as “baseless” and urged officials to ignore such “irresponsible statements”. It said, “The Election Commission ignores such baseless allegations being made every day and, despite the threats being given every day, it asks all election officials who are working in a fair and transparent manner to not pay heed to such irresponsible statements.” “And I’m not saying this lightly, I’m speaking with 100 percent proof. And when we release it (proof), the entire country will come to know that the Election Commission is enabling vote theft. And who are they doing it for? They’re doing it for the BJP,” he said while speaking to reporters.

Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Election Commission of India is involved in vote theft and claimed that he has proof of it. He claimed an independent investigation revealed serious misconduct linked to recent polls.

‘EC involved in vote theft, it’s treason,’ alleges Rahul Gandhi with warning; poll body rebuts charge

Days after US President Donald Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs plus a penalty on India, a Pakistani propaganda account claimed that India has entered a state of financial emergency. However, the Indian government fact-check unit Press Information Bureau (PIB) debunked the claims.The PIB fact-checked the claim it shared on its official X handle, stating that the claim made by the Pakistani account is "fake", clarifying that no financial emergency has been declared in India.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A Pakistani propaganda account is claiming that a financial emergency has been declared in India following a $60 billion market wipeout due to a 25% tariff announced by Donald Trump.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PIBFactCheck?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PIBFactCheck</a> ❌This claim is <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Fake?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Fake</a> ✅ No financial emergency has been declared in India… <a href="https://t.co/cJRp1GeeA1">pic.twitter.com/cJRp1GeeA1</a>&mdash; PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) <a href="https://twitter.com/PIBFactCheck/status/1950939650291581426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;According to the Pakistani propaganda account, it suggested that India had entered a state of financial emergency after its markets reportedly lost $60 billion in value following Trump's tariff announcement. The Indian government stressed that the information is entirely baseless and fabricated.<h2>What did Pakistan claim?</h2>The Pakistani account shared a post, claiming that a financial emergency has been declared in India following a $60 billion market wipeout due to a 25 per cent tariff announced by Donald Trump.The Press Information Bureau clarified, calling it "fake".Trump on Wednesday (July 30) announced to impose a 25 per cent tariff on India, effective from August 1, saying that the US has a massive trade deficit with India. Trump stressed that, along with a 25 per cent tariff, India will also be paying penalties.While noting that India is a "friend", said that relatively, the US has done "little business with them because their tariffs are far too high." The US president added that India's tariffs are among the “highest in the world, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers of any country.”Trump continued, as he raised concerns over India buying the majority of its military equipment from Russia, at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the war in Ukraine.Later, India reacted to the US imposing 25 per cent tariffs on India, saying that the government is studying the implications of tariffs. The Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that the government attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of our farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs.Moreover, it concluded that the Indian government will take all steps necessary to "secure our national interest".&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Pakistani account shared a post, claiming that a financial emergency has been declared in India following a $60 billion market wipeout due to Trump's 25% cent tariff.  The Indian government stressed that the information is entirely baseless and fabricated.

Days after US President Donald Trump imposed 25 per cent tariffs plus a penalty on India, a Pakistani propaganda account claimed that India has entered a state of financial emergency. However, the Indian government fact-check unit Press Information Bureau (PIB) debunked the claims. The PIB fact-checked the claim it shared on its official X handle, stating that the claim made by the Pakistani account is "fake", clarifying that no financial emergency has been declared in India.

The Pakistani account shared a post, claiming that a financial emergency has been declared in India following a $60 billion market wipeout due to Trump's 25% cent tariff. &nbsp;The Indian government stressed that the information is entirely baseless and fabricated.

Financial emergency in India post Trump's 25% tariffs? India's fact check unit clarifies Pakistani propaganda claims

Prajwal Revanna, a former MP from Karnataka and the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, broke down in tears on Friday after a court convicted him of raping a domestic help. The court will declare the quantum of punishment tomorrow.&nbsp;Ashok Nayak, the prosecutor, called the verdict a "victory." He said that the accused had recorded his act, and the digital evidence helped the court reach the judgment.Prajwal Revanna, who was expelled by Gowda's party, JDS, last year, was found guilty in one of the four rape cases registered against him.&nbsp;After the verdict against him was pronounced, Prajwal Revanna broke down and was seen weeping, reported ANI.<h2>What's the case?</h2>Prajwal Revanna was accused of raping his domestic help at a farmhouse in Hassan's Holenarasipura in Hassan district. A case was registered against him at the Holenarasipura Rural Police Station of Hassan District.&nbsp;The incident emerged last year, before the 2024 general elections, after scores of obscene videos of sexual harassment of women by the former MP were circulated in Karnataka.&nbsp;He fled India. He returned from Germany a month after the controversy and was arrested by the Karnataka police.&nbsp;In November 2024, the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal challenging the Karnataka High Court's order denying him bail in connection with the case of rape and sexual abuse.&nbsp;Four complaints were received by an SIT probing the sexual abuse of women seen in the videos.&nbsp;Three cases registered against Prajwal Revanna invoked the Indian Penal Code (IPC)'s section for sexual assault, the fourth case was registered under sections for sexual harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation.&nbsp;The victim has alleged that she was raped by Revanna in Hassan and later at his house in Bengaluru's Basavanagudi. He recorded the acts on his mobile phone.

Prajwal Revanna, a former MP from Karnataka and the grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, broke down in tears on Friday after a court convicted him of raping a domestic help.

Prajwal Revanna, a former MP from Karnataka and the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, broke down in tears on Friday after a court convicted him of raping a domestic help. The court will declare the quantum of punishment tomorrow. Ashok Nayak, the prosecutor, called the verdict a "victory." He said that the accused had recorded his act, and the digital evidence helped the court reach the judgment. Prajwal Revanna, who was expelled by Gowda's party, JDS, last year, was found guilty in one of the four rape cases registered against him. After the verdict against him was pronounced, Prajwal Revanna broke down and was seen weeping, reported ANI. What's the case? Prajwal Revanna was accused of raping his domestic help at a farmhouse in Hassan's Holenarasipura in Hassan district. A case was registered against him at the Holenarasipura Rural Police Station of Hassan District. The incident emerged last year, before the 2024 general elections, after scores of obscene videos of sexual harassment of women by the former MP were circulated in Karnataka. He fled India. He returned from Germany a month after the controversy and was arrested by the Karnataka police. In November 2024, the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal challenging the Karnataka High Court's order denying him bail in connection with the case of rape and sexual abuse. Four complaints were received by an SIT probing the sexual abuse of women seen in the videos. Three cases registered against Prajwal Revanna invoked the Indian Penal Code (IPC)'s section for sexual assault, the fourth case was registered under sections for sexual harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation. The victim has alleged that she was raped by Revanna in Hassan and later at his house in Bengaluru's Basavanagudi. He recorded the acts on his mobile phone.

Prajwal Revanna was accused of raping his domestic help at a farmhouse.

Prajwal Revanna weeps after rape conviction. What's the case?

After US President Donald Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Indian imports and called the Indian and Russian economies as “dead”, reports emerged that New Delhi has asked its refineries to stop purchasing crude oil from Russia, the main source of petroleum for the country. India is one of the largest importers of seaborne Russian crude and an important country for Moscow for revenue generation amid its &nbsp;ongoing war with Ukraine.&nbsp;MEA responds to claims&nbsp;In a report published by news agency Reuters, it was said that Indian state refiners have stopped buying Russian crude in the last week as discounts narrowed and Trump warned countries against buying oil from Moscow.&nbsp;In response to the report, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday (August 1) said "India buys oil depending on market and global situation". It however did not elaborate on the issue.While a &nbsp;Times of India report quoting a senior govt official said no such instructions have been given to oil companies.&nbsp;Trump criticises India&nbsp;In a post on Truth Social, Trump also criticised India’s continued trade with Russia and its participation in the BRICS alliance.&nbsp;“I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India, their tariffs are too high, among the highest in the world. Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together," Trump said in the post after announcing the levies on India.&nbsp;The 25% tariff singles out India more harshly than other major US trading partners. It also risks undoing months of trade discussions and could strain the strategic partnership between Washington and New Delhi, a relationship often seen as critical to countering China’s growing influence. &nbsp;

India is one of the largest importers of seaborne Russian crude and an important country for Moscow for generating revenue amid war with Ukraine.

After US President Donald Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Indian imports and called the Indian and Russian economies as “dead”, reports emerged that New Delhi has asked its refineries to stop purchasing crude oil from Russia, the main source of petroleum for the country. India is one of the largest importers of seaborne Russian crude and an important country for Moscow for revenue generation amid its ongoing war with Ukraine. MEA responds to claims In a report published by news agency Reuters, it was said that Indian state refiners have stopped buying Russian crude in the last week as discounts narrowed and Trump warned countries against buying oil from Moscow. In response to the report, the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday (August 1) said "India buys oil depending on market and global situation". It however did not elaborate on the issue. While a Times of India report quoting a senior govt official said no such instructions have been given to oil companies. Trump criticises India In a post on Truth Social, Trump also criticised India’s continued trade with Russia and its participation in the BRICS alliance. “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India, their tariffs are too high, among the highest in the world. Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together," Trump said in the post after announcing the levies on India. The 25% tariff singles out India more harshly than other major US trading partners. It also risks undoing months of trade discussions and could strain the strategic partnership between Washington and New Delhi, a relationship often seen as critical to countering China’s growing influence.

India is one of the largest importers of seaborne Russian crude and an important country for Moscow for generating revenue amid war with Ukraine.

Global situation drives purchase, says India on claims of halting Russian oil imports

India has reportedly rejected the US offer to purchase F-35 fighter jets from the United States, making a clear shift in its defence strategy, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. However, India has ruled out immediate retaliation against President Donald Trump's 25 per cent tariff.During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the White House in February, Trump offered to sell the F-35 fighter jets to India. However, the PM Modi government is more interested in a partnership focused on jointly designing and manufacturing defence equipment domestically, the officials said.Trump on Wednesday announced that impose 25 per cent tariffs on India, along with a penalty, citing several reasons. India has been disappointed by US tariffs.The New Delhi officials were shocked and disappointed by the tariffs, the people said on condition of anonymity. The government is keen to keep bilateral trade talks on track and is exploring ways to increase purchases from its largest trading partner.The sources said India is considering raising its natural gas purchases from the US and increasing imports of communication equipment and gold, Bloomberg reported. They added that boosting these purchases could help narrow India's trade surplus with the US over the next three to four years.The source said that no defence purchases are being planned by India. PM Modi-led government is unlikely to buy additional defence equipment from the US, which is notably a key demand from Trump, officials familiar with the matter said, requesting anonymity.A day after Trump announced the tariffs, India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that the government is now engaging with exporters to assess the impact of Mr Trump's tariffs.He added that his ministry is collecting feedback from exporters and industry groups, and will take "all necessary steps to secure and advance our national interest."

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the White House in February, Trump offered to sell the F-35 fighter jets to India. However, the PM Modi government is more interested in a partnership focused on jointly designing and manufacturing defence equipment domestically,

India has reportedly rejected the US offer to purchase F-35 fighter jets from the United States, making a clear shift in its defence strategy, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. However, India has ruled out immediate retaliation against President Donald Trump's 25 per cent tariff. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the White House in February, Trump offered to sell the F-35 fighter jets to India. However, the PM Modi government is more interested in a partnership focused on jointly designing and manufacturing defence equipment domestically, the officials said. Trump on Wednesday announced that impose 25 per cent tariffs on India, along with a penalty, citing several reasons. India has been disappointed by US tariffs. The New Delhi officials were shocked and disappointed by the tariffs, the people said on condition of anonymity. The government is keen to keep bilateral trade talks on track and is exploring ways to increase purchases from its largest trading partner. The sources said India is considering raising its natural gas purchases from the US and increasing imports of communication equipment and gold, Bloomberg reported. They added that boosting these purchases could help narrow India's trade surplus with the US over the next three to four years. The source said that no defence purchases are being planned by India. PM Modi-led government is unlikely to buy additional defence equipment from the US, which is notably a key demand from Trump, officials familiar with the matter said, requesting anonymity. A day after Trump announced the tariffs, India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that the government is now engaging with exporters to assess the impact of Mr Trump's tariffs. He added that his ministry is collecting feedback from exporters and industry groups, and will take "all necessary steps to secure and advance our national interest."

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the White House in February, Trump offered to sell the F-35 fighter jets to India. However, the PM Modi government is more interested in a partnership focused on jointly designing and manufacturing defence equipment domestically,

No F-35 jets from US? India informs Washington it won't buy combat fighter jets amid Trump's 25% tariffs

In a major step marking a thaw in strained ties, Canada has appointed its first diplomat to India since bilateral relations nosedived in 2023 during the Justin Trudeau regime and led to a major diplomatic fallout. In a move signalling an attempt to restore diplomatic normalcy, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on Wednesday announced the appointment of Jeff David as the new Consul General in Mumbai, replacing Diedrah Kelly.This is the first diplomatic posting in India by Canada since October 2023, when Ottawa had to withdraw 41 diplomats due to India’s insistence on maintaining parity in diplomatic presence. New Delhi’s relations with Ottawa had hit a low after former PM Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in the killing of a Khalistani separatist on Canadian soil without any proof. India had strongly denied the charges.&nbsp;The scaled-down diplomatic strength affected key consular services, including visa processing and academic collaboration.&nbsp;David’s appointment is being viewed as an early signal of improvement in relations between the two countries after engagement following high-level discussions on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.&nbsp;<h2>Modi-Carney meeting initiated reset of ties</h2>&nbsp;India and Canada have started restoring the strained diplomatic ties after a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit held in Kananaskis, Alberta, in June. Modi and Carney agreed to take concrete steps toward restoring full diplomatic engagement, including the reappointment of high commissioners, resumption of suspended free trade talks, and the restoration of normal embassy operations.&nbsp;The development marks the first major softening after the September 2023 standoff when the Trudeau government accused Indian diplomats of supporting violence linked to Khalistani separatists on Canadian soil. The controversy led to both countries expelling senior officials and freezing key negotiations.Both governments have already exchanged names for new high commissioner appointments, with formal announcements expected soon, said a Times of India report, citing sources.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>‘Calibrated’ diplomacy attempts, FTA talks to resume</h2>&nbsp;India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the development as part of its “calibrated" diplomacy, emphasising that primary concerns like unchecked separatist extremism in Canada are still firmly on the table even as ties are being repaired.In a statement post-G7 meeting, the MEA said that Modi and Carney had agreed to revive dialogues across multiple sectors and restart discussions on a long-pending Canada-India free trade pact halted just before the diplomatic fallout in 2023.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had invited PM Narendra Modi to the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Alberta in June, where the leaders met and agreed to appoint new ambassadors and restore regular embassy functions. Canada has now appointed its first diplomat to India since the 2023 row.

In a major step marking a thaw in strained ties, Canada has appointed its first diplomat to India since bilateral relations nosedived in 2023 during the Justin Trudeau regime and led to a major diplomatic fallout. In a move signalling an attempt to restore diplomatic normalcy, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on Wednesday announced the appointment of Jeff David as the new Consul General in Mumbai, replacing Diedrah Kelly. This is the first diplomatic posting in India by Canada since October 2023, when Ottawa had to withdraw 41 diplomats due to India’s insistence on maintaining parity in diplomatic presence. New Delhi’s relations with Ottawa had hit a low after former PM Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in the killing of a Khalistani separatist on Canadian soil without any proof. India had strongly denied the charges. The scaled-down diplomatic strength affected key consular services, including visa processing and academic collaboration. David’s appointment is being viewed as an early signal of improvement in relations between the two countries after engagement following high-level discussions on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. Modi-Carney meeting initiated reset of ties India and Canada have started restoring the strained diplomatic ties after a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit held in Kananaskis, Alberta, in June. Modi and Carney agreed to take concrete steps toward restoring full diplomatic engagement, including the reappointment of high commissioners, resumption of suspended free trade talks, and the restoration of normal embassy operations. The development marks the first major softening after the September 2023 standoff when the Trudeau government accused Indian diplomats of supporting violence linked to Khalistani separatists on Canadian soil. The controversy led to both countries expelling senior officials and freezing key negotiations. Both governments have already exchanged names for new high commissioner appointments, with formal announcements expected soon, said a Times of India report, citing sources. ‘Calibrated’ diplomacy attempts, FTA talks to resume India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the development as part of its “calibrated" diplomacy, emphasising that primary concerns like unchecked separatist extremism in Canada are still firmly on the table even as ties are being repaired. In a statement post-G7 meeting, the MEA said that Modi and Carney had agreed to revive dialogues across multiple sectors and restart discussions on a long-pending Canada-India free trade pact halted just before the diplomatic fallout in 2023.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had invited PM Narendra Modi to the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Alberta in June, where the leaders met and agreed to appoint new ambassadors and restore regular embassy functions. Canada has now appointed its first diplomat to India since the 2023 row.

Canada appoints diplomat to India marking ties reset after Justin Trudeau-era discord

After months of lull for the tourism industry after the Pahalgam attack, Kashmir Valley is slowly coming back on track. Tourist Ski Resort Gulmarg in North Kashmir is picking up on tourism, and tourists have started to return in big numbers, expressing confidence in the region's improved security.Kashmir Tourism, which had hit its rock bottom after the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed, is finally on the road to revival. Hundreds of tourists have started coming back to Kashmir Valley and Gulmarg is yet again bustling with tourists from across the country.The administration and security agencies also make sure to provide the utmost secure environment to the incoming tourists in the valley. While posting additional security at every tourist spot, the agencies have also installed CCTV cameras across various spots to keep an eye on these spots 24/7.''I have been here for three days. We did the Amarnath Yatra as well. The arrangements and security are excellent, and we were in Srinagar and now have come to Gulmarg and we did a Gondola ride and saw snow. It's beautiful here and we enjoyed it a lot and there is nothing to worry about. We are all safe. Pahalgam has happened, but I am sure there will never be such an incident anymore because the security is great and locals are helpful too, '' said Murlidhar, a tourist.The Tourist stakeholders in the Kashmir Valley are very optimistic that the industry is on its way to recovery and within a few months, the valley will again see a tourism boom."We have come from Gujarat; We stayed in Srinagar and later went to Pahalgam for three days. We went to Betaab valley, and now we have come to Gulmarg and there is no problem at all. The locals here are very supportive, and we are having the best time. We recommend that everyone come here. It's like visiting Switzerland here. It's very peaceful here and we pray everything remains peaceful now, '' said Nayab, a tourist.The tourism stakeholders of the Kashmir region are hoping that the Autumn and Winter season in Kashmir Valley will see a tourism boom again and break all the tourist footfall records of the previous years.

Kashmir Tourism, which had hit its rock bottom after the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed, is finally on the road to revival. Hundreds of tourists have started coming back to Kashmir Valley and Gulmarg is yet again bustling with tourists from across the country.

After months of lull for the tourism industry after the Pahalgam attack, Kashmir Valley is slowly coming back on track. Tourist Ski Resort Gulmarg in North Kashmir is picking up on tourism, and tourists have started to return in big numbers, expressing confidence in the region's improved security. Kashmir Tourism, which had hit its rock bottom after the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed, is finally on the road to revival. Hundreds of tourists have started coming back to Kashmir Valley and Gulmarg is yet again bustling with tourists from across the country. The administration and security agencies also make sure to provide the utmost secure environment to the incoming tourists in the valley. While posting additional security at every tourist spot, the agencies have also installed CCTV cameras across various spots to keep an eye on these spots 24/7. ''I have been here for three days. We did the Amarnath Yatra as well. The arrangements and security are excellent, and we were in Srinagar and now have come to Gulmarg and we did a Gondola ride and saw snow. It's beautiful here and we enjoyed it a lot and there is nothing to worry about. We are all safe. Pahalgam has happened, but I am sure there will never be such an incident anymore because the security is great and locals are helpful too, '' said Murlidhar, a tourist. The Tourist stakeholders in the Kashmir Valley are very optimistic that the industry is on its way to recovery and within a few months, the valley will again see a tourism boom. "We have come from Gujarat; We stayed in Srinagar and later went to Pahalgam for three days. We went to Betaab valley, and now we have come to Gulmarg and there is no problem at all. The locals here are very supportive, and we are having the best time. We recommend that everyone come here. It's like visiting Switzerland here. It's very peaceful here and we pray everything remains peaceful now, '' said Nayab, a tourist. The tourism stakeholders of the Kashmir region are hoping that the Autumn and Winter season in Kashmir Valley will see a tourism boom again and break all the tourist footfall records of the previous years.

Kashmir Tourism, which had hit its rock bottom after the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed, is finally on the road to revival. Hundreds of tourists have started coming back to Kashmir Valley and Gulmarg is yet again bustling with tourists from across the country.

Kashmir tourism on path to recovery, Gulmarg Ski Resort abuzz with tourists

The story of Babydoll Archi continues to baffle the world. This person who doesn't even exist has been making headlines for weeks now. She is an Instagrammer who dances seductively to Romanian songs, shares space with adult entertainment stars and managed to double her following within a few days. The content she served was borderline salacious and erotic. This pulled over a million people to her page. Babydoll Archi was trending, and everyone wanted to dive into her world. However, the person whose face was splashed across social media was oblivious to all the fame she was garnering. The woman everyone was watching wasn't doing any of it. Someone had stolen her identity and created an almost pornographic persona that everyone wanted to get a bite of. Archita Phukan is a married woman living in Dibrugarh, Assam. She had no idea what was happening on the internet. Someone had taken her face and used AI to whip up a social media personality who was basically seducing people. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/swedish-company-gives-masturbation-break-to-its-staff-1753760328714">'An apple a day...': A Swedish company gives 30-minute masturbation break to its staff. Here's why</a>&nbsp;<h2>Babydoll Archi, an AI deepfake who was killing it on social media</h2>Babydoll Archi danced seductively in a red saree to Dame Un Grr, a Romanian song. Then she was seen in a photo posted on the platform alongside American adult film star Kendra Lust. Both these things proved to be her ticket to fame, and her following swelled to 1.4 million on Instagram. The mirror shattered when someone reached the Dibrugarh police station with a complaint - someone was using the man's sister's name and face online. This was Babydoll Archi. The woman, Archita Phukan, was not on social media. Then, who was the woman who went viral? Investigations led the police to Pratim Bora, Phukan's ex-boyfriend and a mechanical engineer. It was a case of revenge porn. Bora took the woman's photos and used ChatGPT and Dzine to create a fake digital identity. Senior Police Officer Sizal Agarwal confirmed that Bora came up with the idea to humiliate the woman. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/cia-paid-prostitutes-to-lure-men-into-a-brothel-and-drug-them-as-part-of-a-mind-control-research-program-1753955070830">CIA wanted to control people's minds. So it had sex workers lure men into a fake brothel and drug them with LSD</a>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/pattaya-indian-men-refuse-to-pay-sex-worker-claiming-she-misled-them-about-her-figure-1753503731343">Indian men refuse to pay sex worker in Pattaya claiming she misled them about her figure</a><h2>Babydoll Archi's page was verified, even though the seductive persona was fake</h2>He started the page in 2020, posting edited photos with the woman's face. As AI advanced, so did Bora's tactics. He used more advanced tools to upgrade the content. He created entire videos showing the woman in provocative scenarios. The red saree dance got her a blue tick; she was verified, despite not being real. Once she was seen with Kendra Lust, everyone speculated that the woman could be entering the American adult entertainment industry. However, she didn't even know that she had posed with Lust. She came to know about the endeavours when mainstream media started talking about Babydoll Archi. She had her face, but who was she? On July 11, the family showed the police images and screenshots. They reached out to Instagram to know who owned the account. She had no idea who it could be. The police arrested Bora on July 12. Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/doomsday-bunker-ai-can-cause-world-wars-1747723679696">Can AI trigger 'end-time event'? Man behind ChatGPT fears so, called for doomsday bunker</a><h2>Questions raised on AI and what it is even useful for</h2>They seized laptops, mobile phones, hard drives, and bank documents. He is estimated to have made Rs 10 lakh from his online activities, posting 282 times as Babydoll Archi. He even ran paid subscriptions via a Linktree platform. Babydoll Archi was not the only account he had made. “He had more than 3,000 subscriptions,” Agarwal said. There were multiple Gmail accounts and aliases. The Instagram page underwent numerous name changes as well, the latest one being Amira Ishtara. With evolving AI technology, deepfakes are becoming more and more real. It is extremely hard to tell the fake apart from the real. Criminals are using AI to forge voices to bleed people of millions of rupees. Is this what tech bosses envisioned when AI was created? Things are only going to get worse from here, and it's time someone takes steps to ensure this does not happen.

Babydoll Archi was seducing people online, but no one knew who she was. The woman who supposedly was the artist did not even know about the steamy videos and photos of her on Instagram. It was all because of AI from hell. 

The story of Babydoll Archi continues to baffle the world. This person who doesn't even exist has been making headlines for weeks now. She is an Instagrammer who dances seductively to Romanian songs, shares space with adult entertainment stars and managed to double her following within a few days. The content she served was borderline salacious and erotic. This pulled over a million people to her page. Babydoll Archi was trending, and everyone wanted to dive into her world. However, the person whose face was splashed across social media was oblivious to all the fame she was garnering. The woman everyone was watching wasn't doing any of it. Someone had stolen her identity and created an almost pornographic persona that everyone wanted to get a bite of. Archita Phukan is a married woman living in Dibrugarh, Assam. She had no idea what was happening on the internet. Someone had taken her face and used AI to whip up a social media personality who was basically seducing people. Also Read: 'An apple a day...': A Swedish company gives 30-minute masturbation break to its staff. Here's why Babydoll Archi, an AI deepfake who was killing it on social media Babydoll Archi danced seductively in a red saree to Dame Un Grr, a Romanian song. Then she was seen in a photo posted on the platform alongside American adult film star Kendra Lust. Both these things proved to be her ticket to fame, and her following swelled to 1.4 million on Instagram. The mirror shattered when someone reached the Dibrugarh police station with a complaint - someone was using the man's sister's name and face online. This was Babydoll Archi. The woman, Archita Phukan, was not on social media. Then, who was the woman who went viral? Investigations led the police to Pratim Bora, Phukan's ex-boyfriend and a mechanical engineer. It was a case of revenge porn. Bora took the woman's photos and used ChatGPT and Dzine to create a fake digital identity. Senior Police Officer Sizal Agarwal confirmed that Bora came up with the idea to humiliate the woman. Also Read: CIA wanted to control people's minds. So it had sex workers lure men into a fake brothel and drug them with LSD Also Read: Indian men refuse to pay sex worker in Pattaya claiming she misled them about her figure Babydoll Archi's page was verified, even though the seductive persona was fake He started the page in 2020, posting edited photos with the woman's face. As AI advanced, so did Bora's tactics. He used more advanced tools to upgrade the content. He created entire videos showing the woman in provocative scenarios. The red saree dance got her a blue tick; she was verified, despite not being real. Once she was seen with Kendra Lust, everyone speculated that the woman could be entering the American adult entertainment industry. However, she didn't even know that she had posed with Lust. She came to know about the endeavours when mainstream media started talking about Babydoll Archi. She had her face, but who was she? On July 11, the family showed the police images and screenshots. They reached out to Instagram to know who owned the account. She had no idea who it could be. The police arrested Bora on July 12. Also Read: Can AI trigger 'end-time event'? Man behind ChatGPT fears so, called for doomsday bunker Questions raised on AI and what it is even useful for They seized laptops, mobile phones, hard drives, and bank documents. He is estimated to have made Rs 10 lakh from his online activities, posting 282 times as Babydoll Archi. He even ran paid subscriptions via a Linktree platform. Babydoll Archi was not the only account he had made. “He had more than 3,000 subscriptions,” Agarwal said. There were multiple Gmail accounts and aliases. The Instagram page underwent numerous name changes as well, the latest one being Amira Ishtara. With evolving AI technology, deepfakes are becoming more and more real. It is extremely hard to tell the fake apart from the real. Criminals are using AI to forge voices to bleed people of millions of rupees. Is this what tech bosses envisioned when AI was created? Things are only going to get worse from here, and it's time someone takes steps to ensure this does not happen.

Babydoll Archi was seducing people online, but no one knew who she was. The woman who supposedly was the artist didn't even know about the steamy videos and photos of her on Instagram. It was all because of AI from hell.&nbsp;

Babydoll Archi went viral for her seductive dance moves online. Turns out, it was AI from hell

In a written statement in the Indian Parliament, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday (August 1) said that India is closely monitoring developments that have national security implications, including those about the anti-India map by a Turkish NGO. On behalf of the government, Jaishankar said that his ministry has taken note of an Islamic group in Dhaka named ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’, which is backed by a Turkish NGO called the 'Turkish Youth Federation', that has put out a map of the so-called ‘Greater Bangladesh’ that includes parts of India. Jaishankar was responding to a starred question by Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala in the Rajya Sabha, saying the map in question was displayed at Dhaka University on the occasion of Poila Boisakh on April 14 this year. The EAM added that India continues to take all necessary measures to safeguard it.<h2>What is Centre's response to the controversy?</h2>"The Government has taken note of reports that an Islamist group in Dhaka called the ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’, backed by a Turkish NGO called the ‘Turkish Youth Federation’, has put out a map of the so-called ‘Greater Bangladesh’ that includes parts of India. The map was displayed in the Dhaka University," a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs quoted Jaishankar as saying. "The Government of Bangladesh fact-checker platform, ‘BanglaFact’, claimed that there is no evidence of ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’ operating in Bangladesh. It further clarified that the ‘map’ was displayed at a historical exhibition in reference to the so-called earlier Bengal Sultanate," the statement added. The MEA statement also added that the organisers behind the exhibition denied any connections with any foreign political entity.<h2>What is the controversy?</h2>A Turkish NGO-backed Islamist group in Dhaka allegedly displayed maps of ‘Greater Bangladesh’ — which comprised several Indian states of the Eastern and Northeast regions. According to a report published by the Economic Times, a group ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’ allegedly put out the controversial map of "Greater Bangladesh". The map marked Myanmar's Arakan State, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and the entire Northeast region of India as part of ‘Greater Bangladesh’. According to ET, Turkey is increasing its influence in Bangladesh after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. It must be noted that Bangladesh is already mending ties with Pakistan and the latter has a good relationship with Turkey. Turkey has reportedly stepped up its engagement through proposed military supplies to the Bangladesh armed forces. As per the report, Turkish NGOs aligned with the country's ruling government have also grown increasingly active in Bangladesh. Notably, Turkey supported Pakistan after India launched Operation Sindoor to hit terror infrastructure inside the neighbouring country, prompting calls for its boycott in India.

In a written statement in the Indian Parliament, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday (August 1) said that India is closely monitoring developments that have national security implications, including those about the anti-India map by a Turkish NGO.

In a written statement in the Indian Parliament, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday (August 1) said that India is closely monitoring developments that have national security implications, including those about the anti-India map by a Turkish NGO. On behalf of the government, Jaishankar said that his ministry has taken note of an Islamic group in Dhaka named ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’, which is backed by a Turkish NGO called the 'Turkish Youth Federation', that has put out a map of the so-called ‘Greater Bangladesh’ that includes parts of India. Jaishankar was responding to a starred question by Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala in the Rajya Sabha, saying the map in question was displayed at Dhaka University on the occasion of Poila Boisakh on April 14 this year. The EAM added that India continues to take all necessary measures to safeguard it. What is Centre's response to the controversy? "The Government has taken note of reports that an Islamist group in Dhaka called the ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’, backed by a Turkish NGO called the ‘Turkish Youth Federation’, has put out a map of the so-called ‘Greater Bangladesh’ that includes parts of India. The map was displayed in the Dhaka University," a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs quoted Jaishankar as saying. "The Government of Bangladesh fact-checker platform, ‘BanglaFact’, claimed that there is no evidence of ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’ operating in Bangladesh. It further clarified that the ‘map’ was displayed at a historical exhibition in reference to the so-called earlier Bengal Sultanate," the statement added. The MEA statement also added that the organisers behind the exhibition denied any connections with any foreign political entity. What is the controversy? A Turkish NGO-backed Islamist group in Dhaka allegedly displayed maps of ‘Greater Bangladesh’ — which comprised several Indian states of the Eastern and Northeast regions. According to a report published by the Economic Times, a group ‘Saltanat-e-Bangla’ allegedly put out the controversial map of "Greater Bangladesh". The map marked Myanmar's Arakan State, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and the entire Northeast region of India as part of ‘Greater Bangladesh’. According to ET, Turkey is increasing its influence in Bangladesh after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina. It must be noted that Bangladesh is already mending ties with Pakistan and the latter has a good relationship with Turkey. Turkey has reportedly stepped up its engagement through proposed military supplies to the Bangladesh armed forces. As per the report, Turkish NGOs aligned with the country's ruling government have also grown increasingly active in Bangladesh. Notably, Turkey supported Pakistan after India launched Operation Sindoor to hit terror infrastructure inside the neighbouring country, prompting calls for its boycott in India.

In a written statement in the Indian Parliament, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday (August 1) said that India is closely monitoring developments that have national security implications, including those about the anti-India map by a Turkish NGO.

‘Greater Bangladesh’ map includes Indian territory: S Jaishankar responds to Turkey links - What he said

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Minister BC Janardhan Reddy’s cousin allegedly slapped a constable on duty during the inauguration of a temple in Andhra Pradesh. The video of the incident, which took place on Wednesday (Jul 30) at the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Kolimigundla, Kurnool district, has gone viral on social media, drawing criticism.&nbsp;Following the incident, the Opposition party, Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), slammed the TDP leaders and their family members for “openly displaying arrogance”. They further said that no immediate action was taken despite the assault happening in public, revealing “how the police force has been reduced to a tool under political pressure.”&nbsp;Allegedly, the Minister’s cousin, Madana Bhupal Reddy, was demanding entry into the temple but engaged in a heated argument with the on-duty police constable, Jaswanth Kumar, who was tasked with managing the crowd.&nbsp;After he was denied entry into the temple, Madana started verbally abusing him, then attacked him physically, as seen in the video. Soon, other police personnel intervened to control the situation.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Shocking incident in Andhra Pradesh: Brother of a TDP Minister caught on video slapping an on-duty police constable (Source: YSR Congress Party/X) . . . . . . .<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TDP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TDP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AndhraPradesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AndhraPradesh</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PoliceAssault?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PoliceAssault</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LawAndOrder?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LawAndOrder</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ViralVideo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ViralVideo</a> <a href="https://t.co/2T0art2Uey">pic.twitter.com/2T0art2Uey</a>&mdash; WION (@WIONews) <a href="https://twitter.com/WIONews/status/1951165528149729606?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The incident was caught on camera, footage of which has been widely circulated on social media. TDP minister Reddy, who was present at the event, condemned the assault and called for strict legal action against his cousin.&nbsp;“I strongly condemn the assault on the AR constable. As soon as I came to know about the incident, I issued instructions to senior police officials to register an FIR and take legal action against whoever was involved. There is no place for such behaviour in public life. Those in public life should act responsibly,” Reddy said.&nbsp;A case has been registered by the Kolimigundla police under IPC Sections 132, 121(1), 126(2), and 351(2), which deal with obstructing and assaulting a public servant on duty. Madana Bhupal Reddy was arrested by the police on Friday (Aug 1). &nbsp;

The incident was caught on camera, footage of which has been widely circulated on social media. TDP minister Reddy, who was present at the event, condemned the assault and called for strict legal action against his cousin.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Minister BC Janardhan Reddy’s cousin allegedly slapped a constable on duty during the inauguration of a temple in Andhra Pradesh. The video of the incident, which took place on Wednesday (Jul 30) at the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Kolimigundla, Kurnool district, has gone viral on social media, drawing criticism. Following the incident, the Opposition party, Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), slammed the TDP leaders and their family members for “openly displaying arrogance”. They further said that no immediate action was taken despite the assault happening in public, revealing “how the police force has been reduced to a tool under political pressure.” Allegedly, the Minister’s cousin, Madana Bhupal Reddy, was demanding entry into the temple but engaged in a heated argument with the on-duty police constable, Jaswanth Kumar, who was tasked with managing the crowd. After he was denied entry into the temple, Madana started verbally abusing him, then attacked him physically, as seen in the video. Soon, other police personnel intervened to control the situation.

The incident was caught on camera, footage of which has been widely circulated on social media. TDP minister Reddy, who was present at the event, condemned the assault and called for strict legal action against his cousin.

WATCH | Indian Minister's cousin slaps on-duty cop during heated argument, arrested after video goes viral

The Election Commission of India on Friday (Aug 1) has announced the schedule for the election of the next vice president of the country. The last date for making nominations is August 21, and the polling (if necessary) is set to take place on September 9 between 10 am to 5 pm. This comes days after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from the post on July 21, citing health reasons behind his reason to resign “effective immediately”.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Election Commission of India announces schedule for the election of Vice President of India Last date for nominations-August 21, 2025 Date of poll (if necessary)- September 9, 2025 <a href="https://t.co/Ct6u3A9KpR">pic.twitter.com/Ct6u3A9KpR</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1951181147234308526?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Full schedule of election for vice president of India:</h2><ul><li>Issue of Election Commission’s notification calling the election - August 7, 2025</li><li>Last date for making nominations - August 21, 2025</li><li>Date of the Scrutiny of nominations - August 22, 2025</li><li>Last date of the withdrawal of candidatures - August 25, 2025</li><li>Date on which a poll shall, if necessary, be taken - September 9, 2025</li><li>Hours of poll - 10:00 am to 5:00 pm</li><li>Date on which counting, if required, shall be taken - September 9, 2025</li></ul><h2>How is the vice president elected?</h2>According to the official website of the Vice President of India, the vice president is elected by an electoral college, which consists of members of both Houses of Parliament: Lok Sabha, the Lower House and Rajya Sabha, the Upper House. It is in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote, and the voting in such an election is by secret ballot.&nbsp;To become eligible to be elected as the vice president of India, a person should be an Indian citizen and at least the age of 35 years old. The person should also be qualified for election as a member of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha). The website adds, “A person is not also eligible if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or a State Government or any subordinate local authority.”

This comes days after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from the post on July 21, citing health reasons.

The Election Commission of India on Friday (Aug 1) has announced the schedule for the election of the next vice president of the country. The last date for making nominations is August 21, and the polling (if necessary) is set to take place on September 9 between 10 am to 5 pm. This comes days after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from the post on July 21, citing health reasons behind his reason to resign “effective immediately”.

This comes days after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned from the post on July 21, citing health reasons.

EC announces date for India’s vice presidential election days after Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation: Full schedule here

india-news

India, News on India, stories on India, articles on India, India stories at Wion, India news, India latest news

india news

Did Rahul Gandhi falsely claim that Arun Jaitley threatened him over farm laws? Late minister's son responds

'LS polls were rigged' Rahul Gandhi's allegation after 'vote theft' charge on EC

India defies Trump’s oil penalties, continues Russian imports: Report

Himachal may vanish from map: India's Supreme Court warns of ecological damage

Six terrorists killed in 3 ops this week by Indian Army, fresh firing in Kulgam

PM Modi dedicates Operation Sindoor success to Mahadev in Varanasi

Trump calls reports of India halting Russian oil purchase 'good step'

Operation Akhal, Kulgam: Encounter underway in J&K; one terrorist neutralised

Amid China-Pakistan nexus debate in India, Asim Munir's big remark on Beijing

Prajval Revanna sex scandal: When over 2000 videos got leaked amid 2024 LS polls

NIA attaches properties of Pakistan-based Dawood gang member

MEA cites dubious sources, rejects ‘baseless claims’ in UK parliamentary report

Indian embassy advisory cautions citizens after racial attacks spike in Ireland

Karnataka ex-clerk owned 24 houses, 350 gm gold; his salary was...

MEA refutes reports of Nimisha’s death penalty revocation, urges for caution

‘EC involved in vote theft, it’s treason,’ claims Rahul; poll body rebuts charge

FACT CHECK - India debunks Pakistani propaganda claims on 'financial emergency'

Prajwal Revanna weeps after rape conviction. What's the case?

Global situation drives purchase, says India on claims of halting Russian oil

No F-35 jets from US? India informs Washington it won't buy combat fighter jets

Canada appoints diplomat to India marking ties reset after Trudeau-era discord

Kashmir tourism on path to recovery, Gulmarg Ski Resort abuzz with tourists

Babydoll Archi stirred desires online. Turns out, it was AI from hell

S Jaishankar responds to controversy over ‘greater Bangladesh’ map

Indian Minister's cousin slaps on-duty cop during heated argument, arrested

EC announces date for India’s vice presidential election: Full schedule here