India

Keep Syama in, Singur out of textbooks: Suvendu Adhikari

SIT Probes Rs 124 Crore Spent by Ram Temple Trust on Events Over Two Years

A Special Investigation Team is scrutinizing expenditures exceeding Rs 124 crore made by the Ram Temple Trust across major events over the past two years. The January 2024 consecration ceremony accounted for the bulk of the spending, with costs reaching Rs 113 crore. Investigators are reviewing financial records and payment vouchers to assess how the funds were managed. Donations of precious metals and jewellery received by the Trust are also under verification. The probe aims to determine whether all expenditures followed prescribed financial procedures and received proper approvals.

Ayodhya Police Weigh Narco, Polygraph Tests in Ram Temple Donation Theft Case

Ayodhya Police are considering narco-analysis and polygraph tests for five individuals jailed in connection with the Ram Temple donation theft case. Investigators hope the examinations will help uncover a wider conspiracy and establish a clear money trail. A court has granted permission for police to interrogate the accused within the district jail premises. The tests are also expected to resolve contradictions found in the suspects' statements and trace diverted funds. Additionally, the probe is looking into possible institutional failures and the potential role of senior officials in the alleged embezzlement.

Venezuela Twin Earthquakes Death Toll Climbs to 3,535 with 16,700 Injured

Venezuela's twin earthquakes have claimed 3,535 lives, according to updated official figures released on Monday. The disaster has also left more than 16,700 people injured. The latest numbers represent a rise from previously reported figures, reflecting the ongoing assessment of the earthquake's impact. Authorities continue to account for casualties as relief and recovery efforts remain underway across affected areas.

Prince Harry Arrives in UK for Five-Day Solo Visit Amid Security Row

Prince Harry arrived in Britain on Monday for a five-day visit. The trip is expected to proceed largely without his wife Meghan and their children. Reports indicate the family was refused police protection, prompting a security dispute. Harry's solo presence highlights the ongoing tension over security arrangements for the Sussexes in the UK.

NFL Staff Member Ashley Smith Catches Taylor Swift's Wedding Bouquet

Ashley Smith, sister of Kansas City Chiefs player Trey Smith, caught Taylor Swift's wedding bouquet at the celebrity ceremony. She attended the wedding as her brother's plus-one, keeping the bouquet catch within the Chiefs' inner circle. Ashley works for the NFL in a player engagement role, adding a professional football connection to the moment. The detail has drawn widespread attention from fans who found it a charming highlight of the high-profile wedding.

How Semmelweis's 1847 handwashing rule slashed childbirth deaths despite medical resistance

In 1847, Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis introduced mandatory handwashing with chlorine solution in hospital wards, cutting maternal mortality rates by nearly 90%. His intervention dramatically reduced deaths from puerperal fever among new mothers. Despite the compelling results, the medical establishment largely rejected his findings because he could not offer a scientific explanation for why the practice worked. Semmelweis faced significant professional opposition and ridicule from his contemporaries throughout his career. His methods were only vindicated years later when Louis Pasteur's germ theory provided the biological basis for his observations, cementing handwashing as a cornerstone of modern medical hygiene.

Ex-UNLF Chief Warns of External Forces Fueling Manipur Ethnic Violence

Former UNLF chairman Rajkumar Meghen is currently in Delhi advocating for a peace coalition to address the ongoing conflict in Manipur. He has alleged that non-state actors from outside India are playing a role in perpetuating the violence in Kuki-dominated areas. Meghen called for deeper economic integration between the Kuki and Meitei communities as a means of rebuilding trust. He also criticized the government for failing to instill confidence or bring the conflict to an end. The unrest, which began in May 2023, has so far displaced thousands of people and resulted in numerous casualties.

Trump Says Xi Jinping Planned for US Visit in September

US President Donald Trump has announced that Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit the United States in September. The announcement signals a potential high-level diplomatic engagement between the two nations. Trump noted that the White House has historically lacked the infrastructure to host large-scale state events. He specifically pointed out the absence of a dedicated ballroom at the Executive Mansion as a logistical challenge for such visits.

Refugees to get citizenship under CAA soon, infiltrators to be driven out: Amit Shah

‘Jana Sangh United Nationalist Forces’

Pakistani Drone Spotted Near LoC in Rajouri; Search Op Finds Nothing

Indian security forces launched a search operation in Rajouri, Jammu & Kashmir, after a suspected Pakistani drone was spotted near the Line of Control late Sunday. Blinking lights were observed over the Mahadev Menka and Beripattan villages, indicating an unmanned aerial vehicle in the area. The drone briefly crossed into Indian airspace before turning back toward Pakistan. Forces cordoned off the region and conducted a thorough dawn search for any dropped payloads or suspicious items. The extensive operation concluded without any suspicious material being recovered.

Tehran Holds Mass Funeral Procession for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been laid to rest following a large funeral procession in Tehran. His flag-draped coffin was transported on a decorated truck styled after the ornamental grating of an imam's shrine. The procession also included the coffins of family members who died alongside him. They were killed on February 28 in an airstrike carried out at the outset of a war launched by Israel and the United States. Crowds of mourners gathered in the capital to pay their final respects.

Telangana Woman Arrested for Killing Husband with Toilet Cleaner Injection

A woman from Nizamabad district in Telangana has been arrested for allegedly murdering her husband during his medical treatment. According to police, she injected toilet cleaner into his body through a cannula while he was receiving care. The incident came to light on Monday when authorities announced the arrest. The use of a medical device to administer the lethal substance suggests the act was deliberate and premeditated. Investigations are currently underway to establish further details surrounding the case.

Assam Reports 70 CAA Citizenship Applications, Only 6 Approved So Far

The Assam government disclosed key immigration figures on the first day of its budget session. Out of 70 applications filed for citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act, only 6 have been granted approval. Authorities also revealed that 1,72,673 foreigners have been detected in the state to date. Of those, 31,786 individuals have been deported from Assam so far.

Celina Jaitly Opens Up on Returning to Acting After Years of Pain and Loss

Bollywood actress Celina Jaitly has spoken to NDTV about her long-awaited comeback to the entertainment industry. The actress described enduring a period marked by significant personal hardship, including abuse and grief. Jaitly credited her craft as the one constant that helped her survive her most difficult times. She expressed that returning to acting is, for her, a form of self-rescue and healing.

4 Dead in Pune as Heavy Rains Trigger Landslides and Wall Collapse

Four people lost their lives in Pune district on Monday amid heavy rainfall that triggered multiple rain-related incidents. Three of the victims were members of the same family, killed in a landslide and a wall collapse. Two additional individuals were swept away in separate rain-related incidents across the district. The fatalities highlight the severe impact of the intense monsoon showers that battered the region.

Landslide near Kwar hydro project blocks Doda-Kishtwar highway, damages equipment

Heavy rainfall triggered a major landslide near the Kwar hydroelectric project in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir. Flash floods and mudslides blocked the Kishtwar-Doda Highway, burying multiple vehicles under debris. Mud and boulders swept into the project site, causing damage to construction equipment and materials. Rising water levels in the Chenab river prompted authorities to open three gates of the Baglihar dam. District administrations in Doda and Kishtwar are closely monitoring weather conditions and river flow in the region.

Israel Demands Hamas Disarmament After Gaza Governing Body Dissolved

Israel has called for the complete disarmament of Hamas following the group's dissolution of its key governing body in Gaza. The demand comes as part of Israel's insistence on full implementation of the US-brokered ceasefire and peace agreement. The deal was negotiated under the administration of US President Donald Trump. Israel has characterized Hamas's moves as tactical maneuvers, dismissing them as tricks rather than genuine steps toward peace. The situation underscores the deep mistrust between the two sides as efforts to stabilize Gaza continue.

Man Kills Wife Then Dies by Suicide After Argument in Rajasthan

A 30-year-old man in Rajasthan's Bhilwara district allegedly strangled his wife to death following an argument. The incident was reported by local police on Monday. After killing his wife, the man subsequently died by suicide. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the domestic dispute that led to the tragedy.

Ram Temple Trust General Secretary Champat Rai Resigns Amid Financial Controversy

Champat Rai, the General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, has resigned from his position. Trustee Anil Mishra has also stepped down alongside Rai. The resignations come in the wake of a financial controversy surrounding the trust. Krishna Mohan, known as a quiet and behind-the-scenes organiser, has taken over as the interim General Secretary of the trust.