Hyderabad, June 30 (IANS) Six workers were feared killed and 20 others injured in a massive reactor blast at an industrial unit at Pashamailaram near Hyderabad on Monday.
The incident occurred at a chemical factory in the industrial area in Sangareddy district around 9 a.m.
The explosion triggered a huge fire, which engulfed the premises of Sigachi Chemicals. Firefighters rushed to the spot to douse the fire. Eleven fire engines were pressed into service to control the fire.
Police, fire services and other personnel launched rescue and relief operations. Ambulances
Kolkata law college rape case: College ignored criminal antecedents of accused
Kolkata, June 30 (IANS) As the investigation into the rape of a
law student within her college premises at Kasba in South Kolkata, West Bengal, continues, information has surfaced that the said college authorities allegedly ignored criminal antecedents of one of the three prime accused, Monojit Mishra, while giving him contractual employment.
Sources said Mishra originally got admission for the LLB course in the same college in 2012.
were also seen at the spot to shift the injured to hospitals.
The injured were admitted to government and private hospitals. The condition of some of the injured is stated to be critical.
Six of the workers were feared killed on the spot while an injured worker reportedly succumbed at a hospital. Officials have not yet confirmed deaths.
According to eye-witnesses, such was the impact of the explosion
Proud of Indian’s journey into stars: Prez Murmu, PM Modi extend best wishes to Shubhanshu Shukla
New Delhi, June 25 (IANS) President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended their best wishes to IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla on Wednesday for embarking on a historic mission to become the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS).
‘Kaanta Laga’ star Shefali Jariwala dies at 42
Mumbai, June 28 (IANS) Shefali Jariwala, widely known for her breakout performance in the iconic 2002 music video 'Kaanta
Centuries-old Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra celebrated in Kashi, lakhs of devotees participate
New Delhi, June 27 (IANS)
The holy city of Kashi in Uttar Pradesh, witnessed a divine confluence of devotion and tradition as the grand Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath was celebrated with immense fervour on Friday.
This centuries-old tradition
continues to draw lakhs of devotees from across the country who come to seek the blessings of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra, as they embark on their ceremonial chariot procession
Laga', passed away in Mumbai late on Friday night. She was 42.
Jariwala was reportedly rushed to Bellevue Multispeciality Hospital by her husband after she was found unresponsive.
Despite all efforts, doctors declared her dead on arrival.
The cause of death has not yet been made public by the family. However, some reports suggest that Jariwala died due to cardiac arrest.
Her body has been sent to
Cooper Hospital for postmortem examination.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Police have launched a Preliminary Investigation and are currently questioning the household cook and domestic help to ascertain the sequence of events leading to her death.
A forensic team was also deployed to Jariwala's residence, where they conducted an extensive search of the premises.
AAIB also probing sabotage angle in Air India plane crash: Minister
New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, has said that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is investigating all possibilities in the Air India AI 171 crash, including any sabotage, and the report is expected in three months.
Speaking to NDTV at the Pune chapter of the 'Emerging Business
Conclave', Mohol said the AAIB was conducting a full inquiry. “It is being probed from all angles, including any possible sabotage. CCTV footage is being reviewed, and several agencies are involved,” he was quoted as saying.
The minister called the crash a "rare case”, which killed more than 270 people.
"It has never happened that both engines have shut down together," he said, referring to claims by veteran pilots and experts that a dual engine failure may have led to the crash.
The black box of flight AI 171 has been recovered and remains in
Siddiqui celebrates 13 years of ‘Gangs Of Wasseypur’
Nawazuddin
Six killed in chemical factory blast in Telangana
Continued from Page 1
Hyderabad, June 30 (IANS) Six workers were feared killed and 20 others injured in a massive reactor blast at an industrial unit at Pashamailaram near Hyderabad on Monday.
The incident occurred at a chemical factory in the industrial area in Sangareddy district around 9 a.m.
The explosion triggered a huge fire, which engulfed the premises of Sigachi Chemicals. Firefighters rushed to the spot to douse the fire. Eleven fire engines were pressed into service to control the fire.
Police, fire services and other personnel launched rescue and relief operations. Ambulances were also seen at the spot to shift the injured to hospitals.
The injured were admitted to government and private hospitals.
The condition of some of the injured is stated to be critical.
Six of the workers were feared killed on the spot while an injured worker reportedly succumbed at a hospital. Officials have not yet confirmed deaths.
According to eye-witnesses, such was the impact of the explosion that workers were tossed in the air and fell several meters away. The manufacturing unit in the factory collapsed under the impact of the blast, while fire spread to the adjoining building within the factory premises.
Several workers were working near the reactor when it exploded.
Migrant workers from Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and other states were employed in the industrial
unit.
The explosion and fire sent panic among the employees in the chemical unit and the adjoining factories. They ran out of the premises.
The rescue workers were also using earthmovers to remove the debris of the demolished structure, as there are apprehensions that some workers may be trapped under it.
Sangareddy District Collector P. Pravinya and Superintendent of Police Paritosh Pankaj also rushed to the spot and were supervising rescue and relief operations.
Personnel from various industrial units and staff of different departments also joined the rescue operation.
More details were awaited as operations continued.
‘Kaanta Laga’ star Shefali Jariwala dies at 42
Continued from Page 1
While no official statement has been issued about the cause or nature of her death, the presence of police and forensic officials suggests that the authorities are treating the case as suspicious.
Shefali Jariwala became a household name after appearing in the remixed music video 'Kaanta Laga', which dominated the Indian pop scene in the early
2000s.
Her popularity earned her a role in Salman Khan's film 'Mujhse Shaadi Karogi', and she went on to star in the 2019 web series 'Baby Come Naa'.
Jariwala also made her mark in television, participating in dance reality shows such as 'Boogie Woogie' and 'Nach Baliye', further endearing herself to audiences across India.
She also participated in 'Bigg Boss 13' with her friend and exboyfriend, Sidharth Shukla, who tragically passed away under similar circumstances in his 40s. They both dated each other over 15 years ago.
Jariwala's last X post was also dedicated to Shukla, in which she wrote, "Thinking of you today mere dost Sidharth Shukla."
Centuries-old Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra celebrated in Kashi, lakhs of devotees participate
Continued from Page 1
through the streets of Varanasi. The event marks one of the most significant spiritual gatherings in the city, considered to be Kashi's first 'Lakkha Mela,' a fair attended by lakhs of devotees.
The three-day religious celebration holds immense significance in the spiritual calendar of Varanasi. As the beautifully-adorned chariots made their way through the ancient lanes of the city, the atmosphere resonated with chants of "Jai Jagannath", the beats of drums, conches, and the joyous singing of bhajans by the devotees.
According to Hindu belief, Lord Jagannath enters a period of seclusion and recovery following a ritual bath on Jyeshtha Purnima. The chief priest of the Jagannath Temple in Kashi, Pandit Radheshyam Pandey, explained, "After bathing at Jyeshtha Purnima, Lord Jagannath is believed to fall unwell for 14 days. On Amavasya, after recovering, he embarks on a city tour to bless devotees."
Adding to this, a devotee shared an insight into the traditional healing rituals observed during this period, saying, "Lord Jagannath is believed to be
unwell. For the first two days, a general herbal decoction is given and then for the next 14 days, a special parwal decoction is prepared. After that, he recovers."
Devotees from far and wide thronged the streets of Varanasi, some offering basil leaves and sweets, especially the local delicacy nankhatai, as offering to the deity. People were seen dancing to devotional music, waving saffron flags, and participating in 'aartis' as the divine procession moved through the city.
The Rath Yatra in Kashi is a spiritual spectacle, capturing the deep-rooted faith of millions.
AAIB also probing sabotage angle in Air India plane crash: Minister
Continued from Page 1
the custody of the AAIB and the investigation would be conducted entirely within the country, according to Mohol.
“These devices will not be sent outside the country for a thorough assessment,” he was quoted as saying. Last week, the Centre said the analysis of the data from Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVR) and Flight Data Recorders (FDR) -- recovered from the crash site of Air India
Boeing Dreamliner 787 aircraft in Ahmedabad -- is currently underway in full compliance.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, all actions so far related to Black Boxes have been taken in full compliance with domestic laws and international obligations in a time-bound manner.
Following the unfortunate accident involving Air India Flight AI-171 on June 12, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) promptly initiated an
Kolkata law college rape case: College ignored criminal antecedents of accused
Continued from Page 1
In 2013, he was booked in a police case on charges of hooliganism in the Kalighat area in South Kolkata, in which he chopped off the finger of an individual. Thereafter, his admission at the same college was cancelled, and he remained absconding and away from the state for over three years. He returned to Kolkata after the case against him was settled and got re-admission at the same college in 2017.
Again in March 2018, two female students of the same college accused him of sexual harassment, following which he was partially suspended for some time from attending the college, except for appearing for examinations. However, somehow the matter against him did not proceed for a long time, and he started attending the college regularly.
In March 2023, he was again accused of sexual harassment by a female student of the college. In December 2023, some students filed a complaint at the local police station, accusing Mishra of
entering the college with outsider anti-social elements and beating them up.
Now, questions are being raised about how the college authorities gave him a contractual appointment, ignoring his criminal antecedents.
College insiders said that Mishra happened to be an extremely close confidant of the ruling party MLA, who is also in the governing body of the same college, whom the accused used to address as “uncle”.
Questions have started surfacing on why just "initials" of the three persons accused of raping a law college student in Kolkata were mentioned in the FIR instead of full names.
The names of the three accused are Monojit Mishra, Jaib Ahmed, and Pramit Mukhopadhyay, all linked to the Trinamool Congress' student wing, Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP).
However, in the FIR registered in the case, the three accused persons were referred to as "M", "J" and "P".
Proud of Indian’s journey into stars: Prez Murmu, PM Modi extend best wishes to Shubhanshu Shukla
Continued from Page 1
They congratulated him for taking India's journey to the ISS and making Indians proud.
After 41 years, India will have an astronaut in space. Shukla will be the second Indian in space after Rakesh Sharma's flight in 1984.
Taking to X, President Murmu posted, "As Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla creates a new milestone in space for India, the whole nation is excited and proud of an Indian's journey into the stars. He and his fellow astronauts of Axiom Mission 4 from the US, Poland and Hungary prove the world is indeed one family -'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'."
Extending her wishes, the President added, "My best wishes for the success of this mission, which reflects the enduring partnership between NASA and ISRO. The wide-ranging experiments to be performed by the crew will lead to new frontiers of scientific studies and space exploration."
investigation and constituted a multi-disciplinary team on June 13, in line with prescribed norms. The team, constituted as per international protocol, is led by Director General AAIB and includes an aviation medicine specialist, an ATC officer, and representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is the government investigative agency from the state of manufacture and design, (USA), as required for such investigations.
PM Modi also congratulated Shukla and wished him and the other astronauts success.
"We welcome the successful launch of the Space Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland and the US," he said in a post on X.
"The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is on the way to become the first Indian to go to International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes, hopes and aspirations of
1.4 billion Indians. Wish him and other astronauts all the success!" the Prime Minister added.
Shukla's flight launched at 2.31 a.m. EDT (noon IST) from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, aboard a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on the company's Falcon 9 rocket.
The lift-off comes after being deferred at least six times.
"India is returning to space, Jai Hind," Shukla wrote on X, just before the launch of the mission.
"After 41 years, India's flag will fly in space again," he added.
Earlier, Shukla also penned an emotional note for his wife.
"Special thanks to Kamna for being the wonderful partner that you are. Without you none of this was possible but more importantly none of this would matter," said Shukla, in a post on Instagram.
He also shared a photograph that shows them saying goodbye through opposite sides of a glass wall.
Shukla also thanked people "involved in this mission for their support".
He is serving as the pilot of the mission alongside Commander Peggy Whitson of the US.
The other crew members include Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary, both serving as mission specialists.
Mother-son murdered in Bihar’s Khagaria; land dispute suspected behind attack
Patna, June 23 (IANS) In a shocking case suspected to be linked to a land dispute, a mother and son were found murdered inside their home in Mahddipur village under Pasraha police station in Khagaria district on Monday morning.
The victims have been identified as Phul Devi (60) and her son Pankaj Kumar (35). Both were shot dead and the accused also used a sharp-edge weapon to slit Kumar's throat.
According to preliminary investigations, the incident is believed to be connected to an
ongoing dispute over 8 bighas of land.
The victim’s daughter, Savita Kumari, told police that the attack occurred while her mother and brother were asleep.
“There has been a longstanding land dispute. My father, Saatan Singh, is already in jail related to this matter. The accused may have targeted my mother and brother to avenge an earlier incident in which the opposing party's relative was killed,” she said.
Police officers have confirmed that the incident appears to stem from old enmity between the two families involved in the property dispute.
“We suspect this attack was an act of revenge. A detailed investigation is underway, and raids are being conducted to arrest the culprits. The attackers may have executed the murder
on Sunday night and we learnt about the incident on Monday morning,” said Narendra Singh, ASI of Pasraha police station.
“The family members of the deceased have given some names of suspects. Accordingly, we have registered an FIR under the relevant BNS sections of murder. The raids are currently underway to nab the accused who are at large,” Singh said.
"The dead bodies have been recovered by our team and sent for a post-mortem in Sadar Hospital, Khagaria. We have also called the FSL team to investigate the incident and collect evidence from the crime scene,” Singh said. The case has added to rising concerns about land-related violence in rural Bihar, where disputes often escalate into serious crimes.
India’s herbal and ayurvedic OTC market set to outpace global growth: Report
New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) India’s herbal and ayurvedic OTC (over the counter) market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5 per cent, from $69 million in 2025 to $118 million by the end of 2033, outpacing global trends, a report showed on Monday.
However, challenges persist as 40 per cent of new launches in 2024 faced regulatory hurdles, only 20 per cent of products have clinical validation, and quality concerns affect up to 30 per cent of offerings, limiting their credibility
and adoption for clinical illness, the report mentioned.
The herbal and ayurvedic OTC industry is reported to be growing at an unprecedented rate. According to latest research, it has made a robust entry in more than 70 per cent of Indian households.
This insight comes from the latest industry analysis by MedIQ, the Healthcare Intelligence research wing of 1Lattice, which highlights a fundamental shift in consumer behaviour, with a strong shift in preference for natural, chemicalfree wellness products across all age groups.
The study reveals that the driving factor behind the rapid growth is due to the widespread consumption of popular categories, such as
Chyawanprash, Ashwagandha supplements, Ayurvedic personal care, functional food, and youth-targeted products -- like gummies and effervescent tablets.
The study also reveals that over 40 per cent of the new adopters are millennials and Gen Z, signalling a generational shift for traditional wellness, but in modern formats. According to the report, digital adoption is accelerating the market’s expansion, with over 10 per cent of urban OTC sales are now online, and 35 per cent of new products offer tech-driven personalisation.
Meanwhile, nearly 60 per cent of urban consumers actively seek clean-label and organic-certified products, indicating growing awareness and scrutiny amongst the Indian consumers.
Andhra liquor scam: SIT serves notice to YSRCP leader Mohith Reddy
Amaravati, June 23 (IANS) The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the multi-crore liquor scam has summoned YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader Chevireddy Mohith Reddy for questioning.
The SIT has directed Mohith
Reddy to appear before it on June 25.
Mohith Reddy was recently included as the 39th accused in the case relating to the alleged scam under the previous government of YSRCP.
Mohith Reddy is the son of YSRCP general secretary and former MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, who was arrested in the same case last week.
After his father’s arrest, Mohith Reddy approached the ACB court for anticipatory bail. The petition is likely to come up for hearing on Tuesday.
Bhaskar Reddy was arrested at the Kempe Gowda International Airport in Bengaluru on June 18 along with his aide Venkatesh
‘DJ party amid tragedy’: Air India SATS execs dance days after deadly plane crash
New Delhi, June 22 (IANS) Even as India mourns one of the worst aviation disasters in its history, top officials of Air India SATS (AISATS) were seen dancing at a DJ party in their Gurugram office -- just days after the tragic crash of Flight AI171 in Ahmedabad claimed nearly 270 lives.
AISATS is a company that provides airport ground services.
It is a joint venture, owned equally (50-50) by two companies -- Air India Limited, which is part of the Tata Group, and SATS Limited, a company that offers airport services and food solutions.
The party, which took place on June 20, was attended by Bengaluru International Airport Limited’s GM and head Sampreet Kotian, AISATS’ Chief Operating Officer Abraham Zakaria, and the company's Chief Financial Officer, sources told IANS.
The video, now circulating widely on social media, has sparked outrage among grieving families and aviation industry insiders alike.
This insensitive celebration came at a time when many families were still waiting to see their loved ones for the last time, and funeral pyres were yet to cool.
As of Friday morning, only 202 of the 220 identified bodies had been handed over to families.
Several others remain in morgues, their DNA still being matched, as authorities continue the difficult task of identification.
AISATS, the company responsible for ground handling of the the Boeing 787 Dreamliner - that crashed - at Delhi airport and the load sheet for its Ahmedabad to London Gatwick leg, finds itself at the centre of controversy -- not just for its role in the chain of operations, but now also for its seemingly tone-deaf behaviour following the disaster.
"AISATS is aware of a video being circulated on social media that unfortunately is completely out of context. Notwithstanding, we sincerely regret any emotional discomfort this may have caused," an AISATS spokesperson said in a statement shared with IANS. But the apology has done little to calm public anger. Many believe the video reflects a shocking lack of empathy and respect for the victims and their families.
The crash occurred on June 12 when Flight AI171 suffered a catastrophic engine failure shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad.
The aircraft plunged into a densely populated area, hitting a hostel building and killing all 241 people on board, along with several on the ground.
Naidu. They were brought to Vijayawada, where the ACB court sent him to judicial custody.
Bhaskar Reddy, a former MLA from Chandragiri, is listed as the 38th accused in the case. The YSRCP leader denied any role in the liquor scam that purportedly took place during the previous government’s term.
Bhaskar Reddy also accused the SIT of physically assaulting a Head Constable N. Madan Reddy, who had served as his gunman for 10 years, in a bid to extract a fake confession on his involvement in the scam.
The ACB is likely to file a preliminary chargesheet in the ACB court in the next few days.
Bhopal, June 23 (IANS) A middleaged woman labourer, Savitri Bai Sisodia, found a 2.69-carat diamond while digging a mine in Panna district of Madhya Pradesh on Monday.
She had taken a portion of land (mine) on lease from the government in search of diamonds.
Savitri Bai had been toiling for the past two years to find a diamond in a private mine in Chopra area, unmindful of the scorching sun, dust and grime, with a firm belief that she would find a diamond that would change the fortune of her family.
Diamond Officer Anupam Singh, who inspected the stone and
deposited it, said it would be put up for auction as per the rules.
"The amount received from the auction will be handed over to the woman after deducting government royalty and taxes," Singh added.
Notably, the state government lease out small parts of land to prospective miners every year at nominal prices.
Thousands of people take land on lease in search of diamonds, but very few of them can lay their hands on diamonds.
One has to pay Rs. 250 to Rs. 350 through a challan, fill out a form, wait for a constable from the diamond office to allocate and mark a 25x30 feet plot at Patti Bajaria, which then becomes mine of the person for a certain period of time.
An official at the Panna Diamond office said that the exact value of the diamond is not yet known.
“It would be put up for auction. Savitri Bai Sisodia, who is a resident of Devendra Nagar in Panna district, found a diamond of 2.69 carats," an official said.
TN plans to revamp Chennai’s public spaces with new footpaths, beautification projects
Chennai, June 25 (IANS) In a major push to improve pedestrian infrastructure and beautify public spaces, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has unveiled plans to lay 200 km of new footpaths across the city at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore.
The initiative is part of a larger vision to make Chennai more pedestrian-friendly and aesthetically appealing. To kickstart the project, the civic body has floated tenders seeking a private consultant for the first phase, with an initial design budget of over Rs one crore.
According to GCC officials, the consultant will be responsible for creating footpath designs that prioritise pedestrian safety,
reduce pedestrian-vehicular conflict, and ensure comfort for walkers. “The objective is to develop high-quality, accessible, and continuous non-motorist transit (NMT) infrastructure across Chennai and oversee its implementation,” said a senior GCC official.
“To build a truly walkable city, it’s essential to expand efforts ensuring safe, accessible, and uninterrupted pedestrian movement,” he said. As per the tender documents, all designs must comply with the latest Indian Roads Congress (IRC) standards, Complete Streets Guidelines, Harmonised Guidelines, and the GCC’s Inclusive Design Manual.
The designs are expected to provide sufficient footpath width, seating areas where needed, and seamless integration with transit stations such as MTC bus stops and Metro rail stations.
The footpath layouts will also take into account the character of individual streets, the presence of
institutions, and zones with high public activity.
Alongside the pedestrian-friendly project, the GCC has also floated another tender for the annual maintenance of beautified spaces along the Marina Beach, including centre medians, roadside parks, fountains, and plantations.
According to official data, the civic body is responsible for the upkeep of 40,659 metres of centre medians, 55 fountains, 45 roadside parks, 48 traffic islands, and tree plantations along the beach roads. The successful bidder will be tasked with daily maintenance activities such as watering trees, shrubs, lawns, and other landscaped areas. Duties will also include the removal of weeds, waste, debris, and fallen leaves, as well as the clearing of hazardous materials like loose wires or cables.
Further responsibilities include pruning, trimming, and shaping of plants and hedges, along with periodic grass cutting.
RG Kar rape & murder case: CBI has no objection to victim’s parents surveying crime scene
Kolkata, June 24 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday informed the Calcutta High Court that its investigation team probing the ghastly rape & murder of a woman junior doctor of state-run R.G. Kar Medical College within the hospital premises in August last year have no opposition to the plea by the victim’s parents to survey the crime scene.
On Monday, the counsel of the victim’s parents, senior advocate Phiroze Edulji, filed a petition at the single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh with two appeals, the first being for a fast-
K’taka:
track hearing in the matter and the second being the plea of the parents to survey the crime scene.
Considering that the CBI is still investigating the larger conspiracy behind the rape and murder, the bench sought the opinion of the central agency as regards the plea from the victim’s parents in surveying the crime scene.
On Tuesday, the CBI counsel informed the court that their investigating officials have no objection to that particular plea of the victim’s parents. Thereafter, Justice Ghosh directed the victim’s parents to make a written application to the court in the matter.
Currently, the matter of ghastly rape and murder is being heard at three different courts. The first is at the trial court in Kolkata, which
Prajwal
earlier this year sentenced civic volunteer Sanjay Roy, the sole convict in the crime of rape and murder, to life imprisonment.
The current hearing at the trial court is about the larger conspiracy in the crime of altering and tampering with the evidence during the initial phase of investigation by Kolkata Police before the charge of the probe was handed over to the CBI.
Two separate cases related to the matter are before the Calcutta High Court, one the plea by the victim’s parents seeking a fresh investigation of the crime of rape and murder and the second related to the CBI’s appeal seeking a death sentence for the convict.
At the same time, a hearing on the matter is also going on at the Supreme Court.
Revanna seeks bail in obscene video case, cites
the Karnataka High Court to grant him bail, citing delay in trial proceedings and changed circumstances since his custody began.
Prajwal is facing serious charges, including alleged sexual assault, repeated rape, blackmail, criminal intimidation, and more.
Counsel for Prajwal Revanna, senior advocate Prabhuling Navadgi, submitted to the court that his client should be granted bail now, as there has been a change in circumstances since the last order denying bail was passed.
He further argued that there has
Nine operatives of Dhanbad gangster Prince Khan arrested, paraded through city streets
Dhanbad, June 24 (IANS) In a major crackdown, Jharkhand Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Tuesday arrested nine close aides of notorious gangster Prince Khan -- the mastermind behind a wide network of extortion and organised crime in Dhanbad coalfield, officials said.
Prince Khan is currently absconding and is believed to be operating from Dubai.
The arrests were made from different areas in Dhanbad under the Mahuda, Bank More, and Barwadda police stations in Dhanbad.
The police recovered five illegal firearms, 24 live cartridges, four motorcycles, and six mobile phones from the accused.
Dhanbad SSP Prabhat Kumar, addressing a press conference on Tuesday evening, confirmed the arrests. He said the gang was actively involved in multiple
criminal activities, including extortion and targeted killings, under the remote command of Prince Khan.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Mohammad Sahil and Peer Mohammad (West Singhbhum); Ajay Kandyang (East Singhbhum); Bablu Kandyang and Pintu Lohar (SeraikelaKharsawan); Mohammad Sarwar and Tanveer Alam (Dhanbad, Bank More area); and Saif Ali alias Munna Khan (Bhuli police station area, Dhanbad)
According to the SSP, two of the arrested have confessed to their involvement in the murder of Shahabuddin, which took place in Dhanbad city last year. The SIT has also obtained vital leads about businessmen in the city who were targets of extortion by Prince Khan's operatives.
Based on the initial interrogation, police are now forming a dedicated investigation team to further probe the gang’s operations and track down their wider network.
The arrested criminals were paraded by police near Randhir Verma Chowk in central Dhanbad. A large crowd gathered to witness the public shaming of the accused.
Six held within 24 hours for Rs 4 crore jewellery heist in Bokaro
Bokaro (Jharkhand), June 24 (IANS) All six accused involved in a daring jewellery heist at a showroom in Jharkhand’s Bokaro have been arrested within 24 hours of the crime, officials said on Tuesday. The arrests were made by the Special Task Force (STF) of Bihar Police near Patna.
trial delay
been a significant delay in the trial court proceedings, which in itself is a sufficient ground to consider bail.
Senior counsel Prabhuling also pointed out that the complainant had filed the case four years after the alleged incident and accused Prajwal of sexually violating her only at the stage of recording her statement. The prosecution, however, argued that the delay in the trial is not due to Prajwal Revanna. On the contrary, the accused has repeatedly summoned defence witnesses to the stand, thereby contributing to the slow progress of the case.
The robbery, which took place around 6 P.M. on Monday at the Aastha Jewellers showroom located on Chas Bypass Road in Bokaro city, saw the gang flee with gold ornaments worth an estimated Rs 4 crore and cash.
According to police, the criminals were on the run in a car when they were intercepted and nabbed by the Bihar STF following coordinated Intelligence inputs shared by the Bokaro Police.
A significant portion of the loot -- 23 gold rings, 6 mangalsutras, a gold bracelet, and Rs 13,820 in cash -- was recovered from them.
All the arrested individuals are residents of various districts in Bihar. They have been identified as Rahul Patel alias Diamond
(Patna City), Roshan Singh (Bettiah), Nitesh Tiwari (Vaishali), Aditya Raj (Motihari), Prince Kumar, and Suman Musafir Hawari. All are aged between 22 and 25 years.
A Bokaro police team has departed for Patna to take custody of the accused.
According to the FIR filed by showroom owner Jitendra Kumar, he and his staff were inside the store when four armed men entered and held them at gunpoint. The assailants looted jewellery worth crores and Rs 60,000 in cash before fleeing the showroom. The entire incident lasted only seven minutes and was captured on CCTV.
As per the FIR, the attackers arrived on a motorcycle, with accomplices waiting outside the showroom for support and coordination.
Soon after receiving the alert, Bokaro SP Harvinder Singh formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. The SIT worked in close coordination with police forces across Jharkhand and Bihar, quickly sharing footage and leads.
Police said the swift crackdown was made possible through interstate coordination, real-time surveillance, and ground-level Intelligence.
Bengaluru, June 24 (IANS)
Former JD-S MP Prajwal Revanna on Tuesday pleaded before
North Korea ‘strongly’ denounces US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites
Seoul, June 23 (IANS) North Korea on Monday "strongly" condemned US military strikes against Iran's nuclear sites, saying that bombing Iran is a violation of a sovereign state's security interests and territorial integrity.
The North's foreign ministry issued the condemnation as the US entered a war against Iran by staging precision strikes on three key nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic.
"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea strongly denounces the attack on Iran by the US, which severely violated the UN Charter ... and violently trampled down the territorial integrity and security interests of a sovereign state," a spokesperson of the North's ministry said,
‘Irresponsible,
according to the North's Korean Central News Agency.
The North's ministry blamed the current situation in the Middle East as an "inevitable product" brought by Israel's "reckless valour," accusing Israel and the US of further aggravating tensions in the Middle East.
"The just international community should raise the voice of unanimous censure and rejection against the US and Israel's confrontational acts," the North's ministry said.
North Korea and Iran are known to have close ties while under international sanctions for their weapons programmes.
Pyongyang earlier condemned Israel's strikes against Iran, calling them a "hideous act," Yonhap news agency reported.
Earlier, the US and Iran exchanged sharp accusations at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, following US military strikes on
three of Iran's major nuclear facilities, an operation that has drawn global attention and concern over the potential for broader conflict.
Addressing the Council a day after US President Donald Trump confirmed American forces struck the Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear sites, acting US Ambassador to the UN, Dorothy Camille Shea, said that the strikes were aimed at dismantling Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and ending the nuclear threat posed by what she called the "world's foremost state sponsor of terror".
"This operation sought to eliminate a longstanding but rapidly escalating source of global insecurity and to aid our ally Israel in our inherent right of collective self-defence consistent with the UN Charter," she added.
Shea accused Iran of long obstructing transparency in its nuclear activities, saying it has "stonewalled good-faith efforts" in recent negotiations.
substantial blow to NPT regime’: Russia condemns US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities
Moscow, June 22 (IANS) Russia on Sunday "strongly condemned" the "irresponsible" US followon strikes on nuclear sites in Iran as a "blatant violation of international law" by a permanent member of the UN Security Council, which will destabilise the region and deals a "substantial blow" to the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty (NPT) regime. Former President Dmitri Medvedev, who has increasingly adopted a hawkish posture, also warned that several countries could offer nuclear weapons to Iran.
The US, on early Sunday, joined
Israel, which has already carried out a series of attacks on the sites and other military and civilian targets.
Moscow's official reaction was unequivocal.
"This reckless decision to launch missile and aerial strikes on the territory of a sovereign state, regardless of the justifications offered, constitutes a blatant violation of international law, the UN Charter, and relevant resolutions by the UN Security Council, which has consistently and unequivocally deemed such actions unacceptable. Particularly concerning is the fact that the strikes were executed by a permanent member of the UN Security Council," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Noting that the "consequences of this action, including potential radioactive effects, have yet
to be determined", it said: "However, it is already evident that a dangerous escalation is underway, one that threatens to further destabilise security both in the region and globally. This has drastically increased the likelihood of a larger conflict in the Middle East, a region already plagued by numerous crises."
Russia also maintained that the attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities "have dealt a substantial blow to the global non-proliferation regime built around the Treaty on the NonProliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which raises particular concerns".
"They have significantly undermined both the credibility of the NPT and the integrity of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) monitoring and verification mechanisms that underpin it."
At Oxford, Annurag Batra urges the world to ‘smell the chai, not the coffee’
London, June 23 (IANS) It is time for the world powers to see India differently, recognise its newfound geopolitical confidence, soft power and also its civilizational leadership as it goes to define a new global narrative, said Annurag Batra, the Chairman & Editor-in-Chief of
BW Businessworld Media Group and Founder of exchange4media at the Oxford University.
Annurag Batra, taking the centerstage at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School recently, made a stirring speech about India’s rising stature and growing dominance, and also explained why it was time to smell the chai, not the coffee – a reference to India's emergence on world stage, that left the audience pleasantly surprised.
Speaking at Oxford’s iconic Nelson Mandela Lecture Theatre
Death toll in Damascus church suicide bombing climbs to 22
Damascus, June 23 (IANS) A suicide bombing at a Damascus church killed at least 22 people and wounded 63 others, marking the deadliest and first attack of its kind on a Christian place of worship in the Syrian capital in several years, officials said.
According to Syrian authorities, two attackers stormed Mar Elias (St. Elias) Orthodox Church in the predominantly Christian Dweilaa neighbourhood during Sunday evening Mass, opened fire on worshippers, and detonated explosive belts near the entrance.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the death toll and reported that women and children were among the victims.
"This was a condemned terrorist act. We first heard gunfire in the courtyard, then two men entered, fired on the congregation, and blew themselves up. Such a crime violates every religion and every
shred of humanity," said parish priest Melatios Shtah.
"They were yelling sectarian slogans while shooting. Then everything went dark after the explosion," Worshipper Lawrence Maamari told Xinhua news agency about the panic inside the church.
Authorities sealed off the area and urged residents to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles while hospitals issued urgent calls for blood donations.
The observatory called the bombing a "dangerous escalation," noting that previous attacks on Christian sites in Syria during the civil war were largely acts of looting or sabotage, especially in areas once controlled by the Islamic State (IS).
This assault marks a shift in tactics aimed at destabilising civil peace and inflaming sectarian tensions, it added.
Interior officials said early evidence points to Islamic State sleeper cells, although no group has claimed responsibility.
Political analyst Mohammad Nader Al-Omari said the attack may have been timed to exploit regional instability following a recent US strike on Iran.
FairPoint: Congress sees weakness, but India’s diplomacy stands strong in chaotic world
New Delhi, June 22 (IANS) As the world moves from one local war to another, it now seems so right that India stopped the battle with Pakistan at the perfect time.
Even though the decision came as a shock to Indians, as each wanted the neighbour to suffer more.
However, two months after the April 22 terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor, the understanding for effecting a ceasefire was the perfect move towards the yet-to-come climax.
during a special forum, Batra was joined by prominent Indian voices, including spiritual leader Gauranga Das and BJP Foreign Affairs Department head Vijay Chauthaiwale.
Annurag Batra started by saying that he has been a chai addict and since his growing years, he has seen it as the binding factor for families and societies and stated that it reflects the rich aroma of New India, a nation that’s brewed itself into a global force, staring down both China’s dragon and America’s eagle in its eye.
The ceasefire understanding is not an end, as India has stated firmly that Operation Sindoor has not ended, and any act of terror emanating from Pakistan will be treated as an act of war. The end is open, and all depends upon Pakistan's conduct.
Given the situation created by the wars happening in other places, the pause is complementary.
Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and after three years, the two are still fighting. Several countries have tried to broker peace between the two, but every time the murmur happens, the two enter a virulent phase.
Nobody knows what the actual number of dead is in both countries, and nobody knows the extent of destruction. Wars are only about death and destruction, and the two have been facing both.
If Russia and Ukraine are hiding their pain, the war between Israel and Hamas is well televised and covered, with information flowing instantly. The conflict started on October 7, 2023, when Hamas and several other Palestinian militant groups launched coordinated armed incursions from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel. The barbarity of the attack shocked the world, and Israel rightly launched a counteroffensive. The counterattack has devastated Gaza and continues unabated, even as countries want Israel to stop.
However, the conflict has now added a new dimension, which is an attack on Iran. Israel launched the airstrikes on Iran on June 13, and each passing day is witnessing an increase in intensity, and now the US has also entered the scene.
The Israeli attack on Iran came unexpectedly as Iran-US talks were ongoing. Israel's midnight attack shocked the Iranians, and the casualties were significant and striking. After the initial shock, Iran has been fighting back, causing huge losses to Israel.
SCO
members must condemn evil Pahalgam attack unequivocally: Defence Minister Singh in China
Qingdao (China), June 26 (IANS)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) members to unequivocally condemn the evil and dastardly Pahalgam terror attack in India's Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and said that any act of terrorism is "criminal and unjustifiable."
During his address at the SCO Defence Ministers' meeting in China's Qingdao, Defence Minister Singh recalled the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 tourists were killed by 'The Resistance Front', an offshoot of the Pakistan-based UN-designated terror group, Lashkar-e-Taiba.
Defence Minister Singh said the pattern of the attack mirrored previous strikes by LeT in India.
"In exercising its right to defend against terrorism and pre-empt as well as deter further crossborder terrorist attacks, India on May 7, 2025, successfully launched 'Operation Sindoor' to dismantle cross-border terrorist infrastructure," he said.
"We reiterate the need to hold the perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of reprehensible acts of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, accountable and bring them to justice. Any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomever committed," he said.
"SCO members must condemn this evil unequivocally," the Defence Minister added.
He also called for united and decisive action against terrorism and the spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) in the possession of non-State actors and terrorist groups.
He underlined that peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terror and highlighted
radicalisation, extremism and a growing trust deficit as the foremost challenges facing the region.
"I believe that the biggest challenges that we are facing in our region are related to peace, security and trust deficit. And the root cause of these problems is increasing radicalisation, extremism and terrorism," he said.
"Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism and proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction in the hands of nonState actors and terror groups," he said, stressing that only a collective and resolute stand can ensure safety and security for all.
Defence Minister Singh said that it is "imperative that those who sponsor, nurture and utilise terrorism for their narrow and selfish ends must bear the consequences."
Defence Minister Singh warned that nations using cross-border terrorism as a tool of State policy must face consequences.
12 killed after gunmen open fire at crowd in Mexico’s street festival
Mexico City, June 26 (IANS) At least 12 people were killed and nearly 20 others wounded in a brutal overnight attack in the Mexican city of Irapuato, located in the state of Guanajuato, after gunmen opened fire during a festive street celebration honouring St. John the Baptist, local authorities have confirmed. The tragedy unfolded on
Wednesday (local time) as residents gathered to dance and drink in a community housing complex.
A video circulating on social media captured moments of joy -- a live band playing, people dancing -- before panic erupted as gunshots rang out, sending the crowd fleeing in terror.
Rodolfo Gomez Cervantes, a local official from Irapuato, addressed a press conference on Wednesday, confirming that the death toll had risen to 12 and that about 20 others were receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the attack.
Mexican President Claudia
Sheinbaum condemned the violence and called for swift justice.
"It is very unfortunate what happened. An investigation is underway," she said in a statement, as federal and state security forces scrambled to piece together what transpired and identify those responsible.
Guanajuato, a state situated northwest of Mexico City, has become one of Mexico's most violent regions in recent years.
Criminal groups have been waging deadly turf wars for control over drug routes, extortion networks, and other illicit enterprises.
Trump says Netanyahu’s trial is ‘witch hunt’, calls to end charges on ‘great wartime PM’
Washington, June 26
US
has
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging authorities to immediately cancel the ongoing trial against him or grant a pardon, calling the charges politically motivated and unjust.
In a detailed post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump expressed shock
that Netanyahu is still being prosecuted despite what he described as one of Israel's "greatest moments" -- the recent assault on Iran.
He lauded Netanyahu's leadership and labelled him a "warrior" in Israel's existential fight against Iran. "I was shocked to hear that the State of Israel, which has just had one of its greatest moments in history and is strongly led by Bibi Netanyahu, is continuing its ridiculous Witch Hunt against their great wartime Prime Minister!" Trump wrote. "Bibi and I just went through hell together, fighting a very tough and brilliant longtime enemy of Israel, Iran, and Bibi could
Israel’s Mossad chief says operations in Iran to continue
Tel Aviv, June 26 (IANS) David Barnea, chief of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, said the organisation will continue its activities in Iran, according to a video released by Mossad.
The video shows Barnea addressing operatives at the agency's operational headquarters on Tuesday, just hours after a ceasefire between Israel and Iran took effect.
"We will continue to keep a close eye on all of Iran's projects that we already know in the most in-depth way. We will be there as we have been there until now," he said on Wednesday.
He noted that with "accurate intelligence, advanced technologies, and unimaginable operational capabilities, we helped the Air Force disrupt the Iranian nuclear program, establish air superiority over Iran, and reduce the missile threat, thereby ensuring the security of the citizens of Israel."
In the video, Barnea also thanked
the US Central Intelligence Agency "for the joint activity."
Earlier on Wednesday, the Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IAEC) said that US airstrikes on Iran's Fordow nuclear facility destroyed key infrastructure, rendering the uranium enrichment plant inoperable.
In a statement issued by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office, the IAEC said Sunday's US strikes, coupled with Israeli attacks on other components of Iran's nuclear program, have set back Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons by many years.
"The achievement can continue indefinitely if Iran does not get access to nuclear material," the statement read.
At a cabinet meeting earlier on Wednesday, Netanyahu declared victory in the war against Iran, claiming Israel had removed an immediate existential threat, reports Xinhua news agency. Israel has defended its strikes as necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, an accusation Iran denies.
Also on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei confirmed the attacks had caused substantial damage.
Trump does not rule out striking Iran again if it rebuilds nuclear sites
The Hague, June 25 (IANS) US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that if Iran rebuilds nuclear facilities, the United States will carry out another strike on it.
not have been better, sharper, or stronger in his love for the incredible holy land. Anybody else would have suffered losses, embarrassment, and chaos! Bibi Netanyahu was a warrior, like perhaps no other warrior in the history of Israel," Trump added. Claiming that Netanyahu's leadership eliminated a significant nuclear threat from Iran, Trump said, "The result was something that nobody thought was possible, a complete elimination of potentially one of the biggest and most powerful Nuclear Weapons anywhere in the World, and it was going to happen, soon!"
Trump made the remarks on the sidelines of the NATO Summit going on here. Asked if the United States would strike again if Iran rebuilt its nuclear enrichment program, Trump said: "Sure."
Trump also said Washington will not allow Tehran to continue enriching uranium, including using military means.
"We will not let that happen.
Number one, militarily. I think we will end up having somewhat of a relationship with Iran," he said, Xinhua news agency reported.
Earlier in the day, Trump strongly rejected a recent intelligence report which challenged the administration’s claim that US strikes “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities.
The report by the US Defence Intelligence Agency disclosed by
two American media outlets CNN and New York Times mentioned that strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities have delayed the nuclear programme only by a few months, while much of Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium was moved before the strikes.
“Fake news CNN, together with the failing New York Times, have teamed up in an attempt to demean one of the most successful military strikes in history. The nuclear sites in Iran are completely destroyed! Both the Times and CNN are getting slammed by the public,” Trump said on Truth Social on Wednesday slamming both media outlets.
During an interview with American media outlet Fox News, Steve Witkoff, the US President’s Special Envoy to the Middle East called the leaking of the report “treasonous” stating that that it needs to be investigated
“Well, it goes without saying that leaking that type of information — whatever the information, whatever side it comes out on — is outrageous. It's treasonous, "So, it ought to be investigated, and whoever did it — whoever's responsible for it — should be held accountable. It could hurt lives in the future. Leaking is a completely unacceptable thing,” said Witkoff.
(IANS)
President Donald Trump
backed
Australian moths master longdistance migration using starry skies
Canberra, June 20 (IANS)
Australian Bogong moths have been shown to use constellations and the Milky Way as a celestial compass to navigate annual migrations of up to 1,000 km, new research has revealed.
The research, led by an international team of scientists, marks the first time an insect has been proven to rely on stellar
navigation for long-distance travel, according to a release from the University of South Australia on Thursday.
"Until now, we knew that some birds and even humans could use the stars to navigate long distances, but this is the first time that it's been proven in an insect," said co-author of the study Eric Warrant of Lund University in Sweden who is also a visiting fellow at the Australian National University and an adjunct professor at the University of South Australia.
Each spring, billions of Bogong moths migrate from southeast Australia to hibernate in the Snowy Mountains' alpine caves, returning in autumn to breed.
Lab tests confirmed they fly seasonally south in spring and north in autumn using stellar navigation, said the researchers, reported Xinhua news agency.
When the night sky was rotated,
the moths reversed direction; when star patterns were scrambled, they lost orientation, confirming their dependence on specific celestial cues, said the study published in Nature.
When clouds obscured stars, the moths switched to Earth's magnetic field, revealing a dual navigation system for reliability. Specialized brain neurons fired strongest when facing south, demonstrating sophisticated tinybrain navigation, the release said.
The discovery is crucial for conservation, as Bogong moths are now vulnerable; protecting their migratory routes and dark skies is vital, and the findings may inspire advanced navigation technologies, it said.
"It's about how animals read the world around them ... The night sky has guided human explorers for millennia. Now we know that it guides moths, too," said Warrant.
Australian military assets deployed to Middle East to aid evacuation of citizens
Canberra, June 20 (IANS) The Australian government has deployed military assets to the Middle East to help evacuate citizens from Iran and Israel.
Penny Wong, the minister for foreign affairs, said on Friday that Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and aircraft are being deployed to the Middle East as part of contingency plans to help Australian citizens leave the region if the airspace that is
currently closed reopens.
"I also emphasise we are sending defence assets to help Australians. They are not there for combat,"
she told reporters in South Australia.
On top of the ADF assets, she said, a crisis response team from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) will be sent to Azerbaijan to support Australians who manage to leave Iran without government assistance.
As of Friday, about 2,000 Australian citizens in Iran and 1,200 in Israel had registered with DFAT for government assistance to evacuate.
Wong said that any Australian who can safely leave Iran is urged to do so and that those who cannot should shelter in place.
Earlier in the day, the Australian government suspended its
embassy operations in Iran's capital and ordered officials to leave the country amid the escalating military conflict in the region.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong, said that the government has directed the departure of all Australian officials and their dependents from Iran and suspended operations at the embassy in Tehran based on advice about the "deteriorating" security environment.
She said in a statement that Australia's Ambassador to Iran will remain in the region to support the government's response to the crisis and that Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) consular staff will be deployed to Azerbaijan to support Australians departing Iran.
Australia suspends embassy in Iran, directs officials to leave
Canberra, June 20 (IANS) The Australian government, on Friday, suspended its embassy operations in Iran's capital and ordered officials to leave the country amid the escalating military conflict in the region.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs
Penny Wong has said that the government has directed the departure of all Australian
officials and their dependents from Iran and suspended operations at the embassy in Tehran based on advice about the "deteriorating" security environment.
She said in a statement that Australia's Ambassador to Iran will remain in the region to support the government's response to the crisis and that Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) consular staff will be deployed to Azerbaijan to support Australians departing Iran.
"We urge Australians who are able
to leave Iran to do so now, if it is safe. Those who are unable to, or do not wish to leave, are advised to shelter in place," Wong added.
As of Friday, more than 2,000 Australian citizens had registered with DFAT for assistance leaving Iran, Xinhua news agency reported.
However, Italy will maintain operations at its embassies in both Tehran and Tel Aviv amid the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, while organising charter flights to assist Italian nationals wishing to leave the two countries, Antonio Tajani, Minister of the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said.
Canberra, June 27 (IANS) The Australian government on Friday listed Terrorgram - an online nationalist extremist network - as a terrorist organisation, emphasising that the listing is aligned with similar actions already undertaken by the United Kingdom and the United States against the same platform.
"This group fosters and promotes an ideology that would seek to make some Australians feel unwelcome in their home, it is this extremist hatred which is not welcome and has no place in Australia," said Australia's Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security, Tony Burke.
"This listing will give Australian police and security and intelligence agencies significantly more power to keep Australians safe and restrict the operation of extremists in our country. Online radicalisation is a growing threat but the government has tools at its disposal and we will use every one of them to keep Australians safe," he added.
The Australian government's decision to list Terrorgram as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code Act 1995 was taken after consultation with national security and intelligence agencies.
"Terrorgram is a nationalist and racist violent extremist
organisation operating on decentralised and encrypted platforms, primarily Telegram.
Terrorgram users create and distribute propaganda to inspire terrorist attacks on minority groups, critical infrastructure and specific individuals. Terrorgram advocates for and provides instructions on how to conduct a terrorist attack, and has successfully inspired terrorist attacks in the United States, Europe and Asia," the government detailed.
The listing of Terrorgram under the Criminal Code complements the counter-terrorism financing sanctions already imposed on Terrorgram in February 2025 by the Minister for Foreign Affairs under section 15 of the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945.
"By listing Terrorgram, the Australian Government is acting to keep Australians safe from terrorism and violent extremism.
The Australian Government will continue to use all the tools available to prevent the rise of violent extremism, to confront racially motivated violence and to counter hate in all its forms.
"Listing an organisation is an important deterrent for, and response to, terrorist activity. Under Division 102 of the Criminal Code it is an offence to be a member of, associate with members of, recruit for, train with, get funds to, from or for, or provide support to, a terrorist organisation. These offences are punishable by harsh penalties up to 25 years imprisonment," the government stated.
Sydney, June 20 (IANS) A health alert for measles has been issued in the Australian city after a confirmed case traveled through the city's international airport while infectious.
The health department in the state of New South Wales (NSW) said on Friday that the confirmed case arrived in Sydney from Southeast Asia, where there are ongoing outbreaks of measles in several countries, on Monday.
Anyone who was on board Vietnam Airlines flight VN773 that arrived at the Sydney International Airport on Monday or who was in the airport's arrivals and baggage collection areas between 8:00-9:30 a.m. on
the same day has been advised to monitor for symptoms of measles.
Mitchell Smith, the acting director of Public Health for the South Western Sydney Local Health District, said that initial symptoms include fever, sore eyes, runny nose and a cough followed days later by a rash that spreads from the face to the rest of the body.
He said that it is important for anyone who was on the flight or in those areas of the airport to monitor for symptoms for 18 days, Xinhua news agency reported. According to data from the federal government's National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System, there have been 80 confirmed cases of measles in Australia so far in 2025 compared to 57 cases for the entirety of 2024 and 26 in 2023.
IDY 2025: 2,000 global events across 191 countries, 13 lakh pre-registrations on Yoga Portal
New Delhi, June 23 (IANS)
Showcasing yoga's increasing global appeal and India's pivotal role in promoting holistic health and wellness, 13.04 lakh yoga sangam events were registered across India on Yoga Portal, Ayush Ministry said on Monday. Globally, yoga demonstrations took place in 191 countries at approximately 1,300 locations, culminating in an estimated 2,000 global events.
This vast international outreach reaffirmed yoga's universal relevance in fostering global health, harmony, and well-being, the ministry said in a statement.
The 11th International Day of Yoga
(IDY 2025), celebrated globally on June 21, achieved resounding success with unprecedented worldwide participation.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the IDY celebrations have underscored yoga's increasing global appeal and India's pivotal role in promoting holistic health and wellness,” according to the ministry.
India also achieved two significant Guinness World Records in Visakhapatnam, highlighting yoga's deep penetration and wide acceptance.
The first being the largest gathering for a yoga session at a single venue, An impressive 302,000 (3.02 lakh) participants joined on June 21; and the second record of the largest mass Surya Namaskar demonstration when 22,122 tribal students participated on June 20.
Fifteen iconic yoga events
were organised at strategically significant and culturally diverse locations nationwide. These events aimed to symbolise India's natural beauty, national spirit, and civilizational ethos, while spreading the message of wellness and unity through yoga. Yoga demonstrations emphasised physical resilience and national service in some of the country's most challenging terrains such as Siachen Glacier where Indian Army personnel performed yoga at the world’s highest battlefield, Galwan Valley where sessions were held at over 15,000 feet, symbolising India's message of peace and inner strength.
Special yoga sessions at historic and spiritually significant locations highlighted India's rich cultural heritage such as NaMo Ghat, Varanasi. The 91 UP battalion of the NCC conducted vibrant sessions on the banks of the Ganga, reflecting spiritual vibrancy and youth participation.
Yoga for Humanity: PM Modi leads Global celebration from Visakhapatnam, sets new world record
New Delhi, June 22 (IANS) The 11th International Day of Yoga was observed as a sweeping celebration of India’s spiritual heritage and global leadership, with Visakhapatnam at its epicentre.
Under the theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health", the event witnessed a record-breaking gathering of over three lakh participants performing yoga along a 28-km stretch from R.K. Beach to Bhogapuram, earning
a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who led the celebrations, described the occasion as “India’s dialogue with the soul and collective meditation with the world.”
Addressing the gathering, he remarked: “Yoga brings efficiency in every action. It is not just a practice but a path to inner and outer peace.”
He called upon the global community to embrace yoga not merely as a personal discipline but as a shared responsibility for the well-being of humanity.
On Sunday, he reposted a short film by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on International Yoga Day,
showcasing how the world has embraced yoga -- an encouraging sign that people everywhere aspire to live in peace.
Participation reached unprecedented levels. In Andhra Pradesh alone, over two crore people took part in the “Yogandhra Abhiyan".
Among them, 22,000 tribal students completed 22 cycles of Surya Namaskar, earning a place in the Guinness World Records. Gujarat also stood out, with 2,121 participants performing Bhujangasana in unison.
From the snow-clad peaks of Ladakh to the southern shores of Kanyakumari, and from the deserts of the west to the hills of the northeast, yoga resonated across India.
PM Modi compliments people of Andhra Pradesh for record-breaking Yogandhra
Amaravati, June 22 (IANS)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday complimented the people of Andhra Pradesh after the Yogandhra event at Visakhapatnam on the 11th International Day of Yoga created a new Guinness World Record. “Yoga brings people together, once again! Compliments to the people of Andhra Pradesh for the manner in which they have strengthened the movement to make Yoga a part of their lives. The Yogandhra initiative and the programme in Visakhapatnam,
which I also took part in, will always motivate several people towards good health and wellbeing,” the Prime Minister posted on ‘X’ while reacting to the post of Guinness World Records.
“Today an incredible 300,105 participants took part in the largest yoga lesson ever, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India - organised by Gov. of Andhra Pradesh to celebrate International Day of Yoga,” reads a post from Guinness World Records.
Union Minister of State (Independent charge) Ayush Prataprao Jadhav, who had also participated in the event, also took to ‘X’ to react to Andhra Pradesh’s achievement.
Indian Armed Forces celebrate 11th International Day of Yoga across land, sea and sky
New Delhi, June 21 (IANS)
As the world marked the 11th International Day of Yoga on June 21, 2025, the Indian Armed Forces embraced the occasion with full vigour and commitment, conducting Yoga sessions across diverse terrains - from the icy heights of Siachen to the deep seas of the Indian Ocean and forward bases in Jammu & Kashmir.
Under the global theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” the celebrations highlighted yoga’s transformative role in building resilience, focus, and unity across India’s defence forces.
The flagship event was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at RK Beach in Visakhapatnam, where over 11,000 naval personnel, along with their family, participated in a grand session.
The Indian Navy observed Yoga Day across all stations and on board ships, including those
docked at foreign ports such as Mauritius, Oman and Malaysia. In the Himalayas, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh led the celebrations at the Northern Command HQ in Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir, performing asanas alongside 2,500 soldiers.
Rajnath Singh linked yoga with the mental clarity and discipline seen during critical operations like Operation Sindoor, calling it a symbol of the Armed Forces’ inner strength. At the world’s highest battlefield, Siachen Glacier, Indian Army personnel marked the 11th International Day of Yoga with remarkable dedication, performing asanas in sub-zero temperatures amid harsh terrain.
The celebration underscored the resilience and mental fortitude of soldiers stationed at extreme altitudes, showcasing yoga’s role in enhancing physical endurance and psychological well-being even in the most challenging conditions. The event sent a powerful message of inner strength, unity, and discipline, echoing the spirit of “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.”
‘Insightful experience’: People praise Acharya Prashant for revealing Yoga’s true meaning
New Delhi, June 21 (IANS) On the occasion of International Day of Yoga, spiritual teacher and philosopher Acharya Prashant received widespread acclaim across the country for his transformative discourse titled "Yoga in the Light of the Bhagavad Gita."
“This remarkable achievement is a testament to the collective spirit of every citizen. My heartfelt gratitude to each one of you whose enthusiasm and unwavering dedication made this historic milestone possible,” he wrote. The MoS stated that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Modi, yoga has become a global movement, uniting minds, bodies, and hearts across the world. “The Yogandhra world record is not just a number, it’s a celebration of India’s timeless wisdom and the strength we possess when we come together for a shared purpose. Also Congratulations to the people of Andhra Pradesh as well! Together, we’ve made Brand Vizag shine on the world map,” he added.
Delivered live from Goa and broadcast across more than 40 cinema halls in India, the event marked a unique spiritual milestone, turning theatres into arenas of introspection, reflection, and philosophical engagement.
Citizens from cities including Raipur, Kolkata, Jodhpur, Goa, and Bilaspur expressed deep appreciation for the talk, saying it changed their understanding of yoga.
IANS spoke to several audience members across the country, and a common sentiment emerged: Acharya Prashant has redefined the way millions perceive yoga, shifting the focus from physical postures to inner clarity and spiritual strength.
"Yoga is not yoga, it’s Yog," says a young seeker from Goa Nutan, a 24-year-old from Goa who attended the live session, said: “I liked it. I am 24, and today, for the first time, I discovered the real meaning of yoga. Yoga is not about flexibility or posture; it is about achieving our highest potential. ‘Yog’ is the right word, it is not an exercise but a way to evolve.”
Hitesh, another attendee in Goa, added, “Today I realised that Yoga is about knowing who you truly are. I understood so many new things that were never clear before.”
Raipur residents also experienced a spiritual shift
A resident of Raipur told IANS: “Earlier, I thought Yoga was simply about physical fitness. But after listening to Acharya Prashant, I now understand that yoga is about gaining inner clarity. To end sorrow, that is Yoga. Today gave me a whole new perspective.”
Another viewer from Raipur said, “Acharya Prashant speaks with such depth. He wants to cleanse the soul. He emphasised that a true Yogi is someone who knows themselves. It was a powerful message.” The Kolkata audience also finds a new purpose in Yoga. Attendees in Kolkata also echoed similar sentiments.
50 years of Emergency: BJP calls it ‘Black
Day’,
organises nationwide events to recall 1975 horrors
New Delhi, June 24 (IANS) As the nation marks 50 years since the imposition of Emergency in 1975, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a series of programmes across the country to remember what it calls the “darkest chapter of Indian democracy.”
Top party leaders and grassroots workers alike have come forward to recall the 20-month period of authoritarian rule under then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Speaking to IANS, BJP spokesperson Tuhin A. Sinha said, “On the midnight of June 24-25, 1975, Indira Gandhi killed democracy by imposing Emergency. For 20 months, the nation witnessed a brutal clampdown on freedom of
speech and expression. The media was silenced, the judiciary compromised, and Opposition leaders jailed.”
He also recounted the personal tragedy of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who was reportedly not allowed to perform the last rites of his mother during the Emergency.
“Even after 50 years, that black era continues to haunt the soul of Indian democracy,” Sinha added. Sinha also criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for questioning the state of democracy under the BJP regime during his foreign visits. “Rahul Gandhi alleges that Sikhs can’t visit gurdwaras, attacks the Election Commission, and even questions the judiciary on landmark rulings like Ram Janmabhoomi. Ironically, these statements come from a leader whose party once imposed the Emergency,” he said.
Across the country, BJP workers are sharing their experiences from that time.
Balachandra, a party worker from Belagavi, Karnataka, recalled being just 20 when he and fellow 'satyagrahis' were jailed and tortured.
“The media was completely gagged, and even ordinary citizens were not spared from police scrutiny,” he said.
In Agra, Uttar Pradesh Minister Yogendra Upadhyaya termed the Emergency a “black blot” on Indian democracy. “Civil rights were crushed. Leaders from Atal Bihari Vajpayee to common party workers were jailed because Indira Gandhi, facing disqualification from office, wanted to save her political career,” he said.
Bihar Minister Sanjay Saraogi echoed similar sentiments and supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for documenting the history of the Emergency. “The sins of the Congress need to be exposed. The way democratic rights were suspended back then is a lesson for future generations,” he said.
50 years of Emergency: Survivors recall torture, arrests and suppression of freedom
New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) As the country marks 50th anniversary of the Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975, painful memories of brutal repression, muzzling of voices and stifled freedom continue to haunt the survivors.
Several survivors, from the across the country, who were imprisoned during the time of Emergency period (1975-
1977) spoke to IANS, sharing their painful experiences and suppression with brute force.
In Mathura, senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker
Vijay Bahadur Singh recalled how the Emergency stripped people of their basic freedom.
“It was a time when even writing or printing anything without the District Magistrate’s permission was a crime. Press was muzzled, and voices were silenced,” he said.
Singh, who participated in a satyagraha against the government, claims that he was arrested and subjected to custodial torture.
“They asked about Dinesh ji, our district pracharak. When I refused, they tortured me. My
nails were pulled with a plier and I was beaten with sticks, ” he recounted.
In Chandauli, another former detainee, Harbansh Singh, now a respected local leader, described how he was inspired by socialist leader Raj Narayan and took to the streets against the Emergency.
“I spent 14 months in jail. I completed my intermediate exams from prison. After my release, I contested and won the election for president of the Municipal Inter College,” he said.
He also recalled being on the run from police, and finally getting arrested from Mughal Sarai station during an event attended by then Railway Minister Kamalapati Tripathi.
We salute every person who stood firm in fight against Emergency: PM Modi
vision of a Viksit Bharat. He said this on Wednesday while marking 50 years of the imposition of the Emergency in
the country.
Taking to social media, PM Modi wrote on X that this day marks 50 years of one of the darkest chapters in India’s history when the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution were set aside.
“Today marks fifty years since one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history, the imposition of the Emergency. The people of India mark this day as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas. On this day, the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution were set aside, fundamental rights were suspended, press freedom was extinguished and several political leaders, social workers, students
Nefarious attempt to strangle Indian democracy: Rajnath Singh on 50 years of Emergency
New Delhi, June 25 (IANS)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that 50 years ago, a nefarious attempt was made to strangle Indian democracy with the imposition of the Emergency, during which civil liberties were suspended and opposition leaders were jailed under the rule of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
In a post on social media platform X, he called the Emergency "the darkest chapter in Indian democracy", while paying tribute to those who resisted authoritarian rule.
"Fifty years ago today, a nefarious attempt was made to strangle Indian democracy through the imposition of the Emergency. People still remember the Emergency as the darkest chapter in Indian democracy. Sidelining the Constitution, the manner in which the Emergency was imposed on the country is a glaring example of the misuse of power and dictatorship. All opposition leaders were sent to jail. There was no constitutional
institution left that was not misused. Yet, the democratic traditions of this country could not be erased by the then government, no matter how much they tried," Rajnath Singh posted.
The BJP is observing June 25 as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' (Constitution Murder Day) across the nation, to mark what it calls a moment of serious institutional breakdown in India's democratic journey.
Extensive outreach programmes have been planned at the booth and district levels. The aim, according to BJP leaders, is to educate the younger generation about the consequences of authoritarianism and the importance of preserving democratic values.
Union Minister Singh also highlighted the role of those who fought against the Emergency.
"Today, democracy is alive in India, and for this, those who struggled during the Emergency, endured imprisonment, and suffered hardships have made an immense contribution. The future generations of India will never forget their contribution. Prime Minister Shri Modiji has decided to observe June 25 as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' so that every citizen remembers how dictatorship attempts to murder democracy," he added.
Indira Gandhi sacrificed Constitution for power in 1975: Yediyurappa slams Congress
Bengaluru, June 24 (IANS) BJP
and ordinary citizens were jailed.”
“It was as if the Congress Government in power at that time placed democracy under arrest!” said PM Modi.
He said the country salutes every person who stood up against the tyranny. “We salute every person who stood firm in the fight against the Emergency! These were the people from all over India, from all walks of life, from diverse ideologies who worked closely with each other with one aim: to protect India’s democratic fabric and to preserve the ideals for which our freedom fighters devoted their lives.”
Central Parliamentary Board member and former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said on Tuesday that the Emergency declared by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 was a time when the sacred Constitution was sacrificed purely for the sake of retaining power.
He was speaking at an event titled “50 Years of the 1975 Emergency – Dark Days,” organised at Town Hall in Bengaluru.
He stated that during the Emergency, people’s fundamental rights were taken away. In the pursuit of absolute power, voices of freedom were suppressed, and press freedom, judicial independence, and civil rights were all trampled.
Yediyurappa said that the dictatorial rule driven by lust for power still evokes outrage to this day. “The judiciary, executive, and
legislature were all brought under a tight grip for the sole purpose of clinging to power,” he said. “Freedom of speech and political liberty were crushed, the press was muzzled completely, and democracy was strangled. The Congress party, which had led the freedom struggle, did this to remain in power after Independence. Had this not been true, the Congress would not have imposed Emergency and strangled the ideals enshrined in the Constitution given to us by B.R. Ambedkar,” he added. Noted columnist and economic thinker S. Gurumurthy, delivering the keynote speech, recalled that in 2024, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, began holding up the Constitution and claimed to be its protector. But, he pointed out, “It seems he has no knowledge that it was his grandmother (late PM Indira Gandhi) who disregarded the very same Constitution during the Emergency.” He questioned whether the Congress, which had imposed the Emergency, has any moral or legal right to speak about the Constitution, constitutional rights, or freedom.
New Delhi, June 25 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated the commitment to strengthening the principles in the Constitution and working together to realise the nation’s
From the editor’s desk
FICQ: Amplifying the voice and identity of Indian Australians in Queensland
In the vibrant multicultural landscape of Queensland, the Indian community has emerged as one of the most dynamic and growing diasporas, contributing significantly to the social, cultural, and economic fabric of the state. At the heart of this community’s journey stands the Federation of the Indian Communities of Queensland (FICQ)—a beacon of collective strength, cultural pride, and tireless advocacy.
Since its inception in 1998, FICQ has evolved into more than just an umbrella body for Indian associations across Queensland. It has become a bridge between communities, a voice for the voiceless, and a platform for cultural expression and policy dialogue. Its work has not only unified a diverse and widespread Indian diaspora but also positioned Indian Australians as key contributors to Queensland’s multicultural success story.
The Indian community in Queensland is diverse— linguistically, regionally, religiously, and culturally.
FICQ plays a crucial role in bringing together various Indian organisations under one roof, offering them a united platform to address shared concerns, celebrate collective achievements, and showcase India’s rich heritage in a cohesive manner.
As a peak body, FICQ represents over 45 Indian community organisations. This includes cultural groups, linguistic societies, youth organisations, senior citizens' associations, and professional networks. Through this collective, FICQ effectively advocates for the community’s interests in areas such as immigration, education, social justice, small business support, and health. It acts as a formal channel of dialogue with local, state, and federal governments, ensuring that Indian Australians in Queensland are not just heard, but also included in policymaking processes that affect them.
FICQ’s proactive approach to community consultation and engagement has made it a respected voice among Queensland’s multicultural institutions. Over the years, it has fostered strong ties with the Multicultural Affairs Queensland, local councils, and the Consulate General of India in Brisbane, creating a supportive ecosystem for Indian Australians across generations.
One of FICQ’s most visible and impactful contributions lies in its commitment to preserving and promoting Indian culture. Through flagship events such as India Day Fair, International Yoga Day, Diwali celebrations,
and other state-wide festivals, FICQ has given the Indian community a platform to proudly showcase its traditions, arts, food, music, dance, and diversity to the broader Queensland society.
The India Day Fair, held annually around Indian Independence Day in Brisbane, has grown into one of the largest multicultural gatherings in the state, attracting tens of thousands of people from all backgrounds. The event is not just a celebration—it is a statement. It says that Indian culture has not only found a home in Queensland but is flourishing and enriching the wider community.
In organising such events, FICQ ensures participation from every Indian state and linguistic group—Telugu, Tamil, Punjabi, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, and more. This inclusiveness fosters mutual respect within the Indian diaspora itself while also building cultural bridges with non-Indian Australians. Schools, artists, local businesses, and politicians often participate, reflecting the mainstream relevance of these initiatives.
Moreover, by collaborating with institutions such as the Queensland Police, universities, and health organisations during its events, FICQ uses cultural platforms to spread awareness on social issues, public safety, mental health, and civic responsibilities. These events are more than cultural showcases—they are tools of community empowerment and education.
FICQ’s leadership has consistently taken strong and thoughtful stands on issues affecting the Indian community, whether it be rising incidents of racism, visa challenges faced by international students, or support for new migrants navigating the Australian system. During the COVID-19 pandemic, FICQ mobilised resources, volunteers, and coordinated relief efforts, including food drives and health guidance for stranded students and families.
The Federation has also created forums to mentor young Indian Australians into leadership, civic engagement, and political participation. Its youth-focused initiatives, workshops, and public forums are helping nurture a generation that is confident in its identity, proactive in public service, and ready to represent the community at all levels.
Furthermore, FICQ regularly honours individuals and organisations through awards and citations, promoting a culture of excellence and community contribution. Its outreach spans across Brisbane, Gold Coast, Townsville, Toowoomba, and regional Queensland—making it a truly statewide force.
Queensland Budget 2025: Prioritising people, securing the future
The 2025–26 Queensland State Budget, introduced by premier David Crisafulli and Treasurer David Janetzki, marks a turning point in the state’s fiscal and social strategy. Delivered against a backdrop of increasing costof-living pressures, a worsening housing crisis, and growing demands on public services, this budget makes one thing abundantly clear: Queensland’s people come first.
Instead of responding to economic pressure with cutbacks or fiscal conservatism, the government has chosen to invest in what matters most—families, jobs, health, education, and infrastructure. It is a budget that acknowledges the day-to-day struggles of households while laying the groundwork for longterm stability and prosperity. Queensland’s economy is navigating complex waters. A projected deficit of $8.6 billion and a steadily climbing public debt—forecast to surpass $187 billion by 2029—would often compel policymakers to resort to austerity. But the 2025–26 budget takes a different approach. Rather than tightening the purse strings at the expense of essential services, the government has taken a measured stance: acknowledging the need for fiscal responsibility while still ensuring investments that improve people’s lives. This budget reflects a clear understanding that strong communities form the foundation of a strong economy.
One of the most welcome aspects of the budget is its comprehensive package of cost-of-living relief measures. As families battle inflation and rising interest rates, the government has responded with practical solutions. Parents of school-aged children will benefit from a $100 “Back to School” allowance per child, helping to cover basic educational expenses. Sports engagement, too, receives a boost, with the launch of the “Play On!” program that offers $200 vouchers to support children’s participation in extracurricular activities—a significant step toward both health and inclusion.
Households struggling with utility bills will find some relief in energy rebates. Vulnerable groups are set to receive average savings of $386 on their electricity bills. Additionally, the government is maintaining the successful 50-cent public transport fare scheme, continuing to make daily travel more affordable for commuters. These measures are not one-time announcements; they are part of a broader, sustained effort to reduce everyday financial strain on Queenslanders.
The rising cost of housing has placed enormous pressure on young families and first-home buyers. The 2025–26 budget introduces one of the most
ambitious housing assistance initiatives in Queensland’s history. The First Home Owner Grant has been doubled to $30,000 for eligible contracts signed before June 2026—a bold incentive for those entering the property market. More transformative, however, is the introduction of the “Boost to Buy” shared equity scheme. Backed by $165 million, this program allows first-time buyers to secure homes with as little as a 2% deposit. The state will contribute up to 30% of the property’s value for new homes, and 25% for existing ones, up to a maximum value of $1 million. The scheme is inclusive, catering to singles with incomes up to $150,000 and couples earning up to $225,000. When combined with stamp duty concessions and the $2 billion Residential Activation Fund to fast-track land release, these policies offer a realistic pathway to homeownership for thousands of Queenslanders.
Healthcare is another major beneficiary of this budget, which commits a record $33.1 billion to improving health services across the state. This investment addresses both long-standing infrastructure needs and workforce shortages. Over the next few years, Queenslanders can expect 2,600 new hospital beds, three brand-new hospitals, and upgrades to ten existing facilities. Importantly, these improvements extend beyond urban centres—regional and remote communities will also see enhanced access to medical equipment and telehealth services. The budget also supports the recruitment of thousands of additional frontline healthcare workers. By focusing not only on physical infrastructure but also on personnel, the government is ensuring that quality care reaches those who need it most—when they need it.
Education remains at the heart of Queensland’s long-term vision, with $21.9 billion allocated to the sector. Fifteen new schools are planned, including specialist institutions designed to support diverse learning needs. This will be complemented by upgrades in existing schools to improve safety and accessibility. Beyond traditional education, the budget focuses on equipping Queenslanders with practical skills. The government is allocating $80 million annually to the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program, which will assist more than 15,000 individuals. Additionally, the payroll tax rebate for apprentices and trainees has been extended until mid-2026, offering incentives to businesses to invest in young talent. The creation of four new TAFE Centres of Excellence further cements this commitment, targeting key industries with growing demand
and helping bridge the skills gap in both regional and metropolitan areas.
With $116.8 billion earmarked for infrastructure over the next four years, Queensland is gearing up for significant transformation. This includes $9 billion for upgrades to the Bruce Highway, the $5.5 billion Sunshine Coast rail link known as “The Wave,” and a $5.75 billion Faster Rail project to the Gold Coast. While these projects serve the upcoming 2032 Olympics, they are designed with lasting benefits in mind. Investments in athlete villages, community sporting infrastructure, and transport connectivity are intended to improve daily life for Queenslanders well beyond the Games.
Public safety is a central theme of the budget, with over $500 million allocated to youth justice reform and $347.7 million to the “Making Queensland Safer” initiative. Funding will support the recruitment of 1,600 new police officers, improvements in court infrastructure, and programs aimed at early intervention and rehabilitation. This balanced strategy—combining tougher laws for serious offenders with community-based support and prevention—shows the government’s commitment to building safer, more cohesive communities.
Energy policy in the 2025 budget reflects both pragmatism and environmental responsibility. The government is investing $2.4 billion in the CopperString project, alongside support for the Brigalow Gas Peaker and further consultation on pumped hydro projects. Rather than pursuing large, risky renewable ventures, the focus is on scalable, sustainable alternatives that protect affordability while progressing toward clean energy goals.
This budget sends a powerful message: Queenslanders are not an afterthought in policy decisions—they are the priority. Every major allocation, whether in health, education, transport, or housing, serves to uplift communities and address realworld challenges. What sets the 2025–26 Queensland Budget apart is its human-centered vision. It does not sacrifice services to balance spreadsheets. Instead, it balances fiscal management with compassion and foresight.
The 2025–26 Queensland Budget is not just an economic plan—it is a people’s charter. It responds to current pressures, anticipates future needs, and builds confidence across sectors. If implemented with efficiency and accountability, it has the potential to not only support Queenslanders today but to empower them well into the future. This is, without doubt, a pro-people budget—grounded in reality, guided by compassion, and aimed at building a better Queensland for all.
FIRST PERSON: 50 years ago attempt was made to murder democracy, but ultimately Indians prevailed
New Delhi, June 24 (IANS) Fifty years ago, the night of June 25, an attempt was made to murder democracy, but ultimately, people's power prevailed, saving India.
The Congress party that screams the loudest about democracy was the perpetrator of the heinous crime, throwing opposition politicians, both national and local, into jails, imposing physical censorship on the media and arresting editors, stifling public opinion and strong-arming the judiciary.
It was 1975, when the summer of discontent over corruption and high-handedness gave rise to waves of fury against Indira Gandhi, whose legitimacy had been shattered by an Allahabad High Court verdict unseating her from Parliament for violations of the election laws.
Riding the crest of a mass movement that began in Gujarat and rolled across the northern plains, Jayaprakash Narayan –JP as he was known – brought the spirit of the rebellion to the citadels of power in Delhi on June 25.
At the Ramlila Maidan, a spot hallowed by the annual enactment of the drama of victory of good over evil, before a crowd of 100,000, JP thundered, "Singhasan Khaali Karo Ke Janata Aaati Hai, Leave Your Throne, the People Have Come."
It was his call for Indira Gandhi to leave the prime ministership that she was clinging to with a temporary stay of the court verdict banning her from parliament.
Presciently, he also called on the police and the Army to follow their conscience and not obey illegal orders.
New Delhi, June 29 (IANS)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on those who imposed the Emergency in 1975, saying it was not just a "murder of the Constitution" but also an attempt to turn the judiciary into a "slave."
In his monthly radio programme 'Mann ki Baat', PM Modi urged the nation to remember the resilience of those who resisted the Emergency and to draw inspiration from their courage to safeguard the Constitution.
"Those who imposed Emergency not only murdered our Constitution but also had the
This writer, then a subeditor with barely three years' experience on the overnight desk of the United News of India (UNI) news agency, witnessed firsthand the attack on democracy.
The reporters and senior editors wrapped up the story of the day and headed home, leaving the desk to this writer, Arul Louis, the founding executive editor of IANS and now its correspondent in New York, and colleague Tarun Basu, a former chief editor of IANS.
Just after midnight, ominous dispatches clacked on the teleprinter machines – the electrically driven typewriterlike machine linked through telephone lines -- in the predigital age.
Reports dribbled in from Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh that trucks delivering newspapers were being stopped by police, and power was going out at newspaper offices and printing plants, while some local opposition politicians were being rounded up for unclear reasons.
A Madhya Pradesh bureau passed on a rumour among local officials that "martial law" was coming. Unbeknownst to a sleeping nation, the Emergency had been declared.
Sometime after 2 a.m., this writer picked up a ringing landline. The caller cryptically narrated what would shock the nation and change the course of modern Indian history: "JP giraftar ho gaye (JP has been arrested)”.
A 10-letter bulletin went out on the wire service teleprinter network: F L A S H J P ARRESTED that marked the long night of fascist terror, 21 months marked by lathis and bullets, censorship, cowardice and despair – but also heroism, faith in democracy, unbending commitments, idealism and hope.
This writer, called Myron L Belkind, the bureau chief of the Associated Press, to get the word out to the world before censorship struck and shut down communications. This writer and colleague ran to the nearby
murdered
intention to keep the judiciary as their slave," PM Modi said, referring to the 21 months of Emergency declared by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975.
He reminded citizens that the Emergency era was marked by widespread abuse of power and suppression of civil liberties.
Recounting the observance of 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' -commemorated every year on June 25 to mark the imposition of the Emergency -- PM Modi said, "During that time, inhumane atrocities were inflicted on our people."
Parliament Street Police Station. In the dimly lit exterior of the colonnade building, the cops hadn't yet grasped the nearinfinite power the Emergency had conferred on them and said politely that nothing was happening and to go away. Suddenly, there was a bustle, and the frail JP was brought out. Asked through the cordon of police in uniform and plain clothes around him what was happening, he gave a look of sadness, but behind it was a glint of steeliness.
He said feebly: "Vinaashakaale Viparita Buddhi." Krishna Kant, a Congress party dissident and supporter of JP's movement who was under arrest alongside him, repeated louder for all to hear the Sanskrit saying that translates as, "Madness takes hold at the moment of disaster."
JP was put in one of the white Ambassador tourist taxis and driven away. His kidneys failed during the harsh imprisonment. Back to the UNI office, a story was filed with his quote that became a motif of the opposition to the Emergency.
GG Mirchandani, the fearless general manager of UNI, ordered that reports of the arrests and intimidation flow through the wires without being cowed down. Every ring of the phones brought news of more arrests – Morarji Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Jyotirmoy Basu and many others, across the swath of politics. But two names were missing from the list of arrested: George Fernandes and Subramanian Swamy. Both had staged strategic disappearances to lead the resistance.
Editors and reporters poured into the office as the night was fading, to write the first draft of a tragic history in the making.
The UNI had been spared electricity and communications cuts that many media offices suffered that morning, as it shared the grid with many government offices and Parliament. The machines spewed rolls of copy on arrests and interdictions from the bureaus across the country, and some
Highlighting the power of public resistance, the Prime Minister said, "With the power of public participation, big crises can be confronted," and played archival audio of former Prime Minister Morarji Desai to illustrate the extent of the Emergency's impact.
In the clip, Desai is heard saying, "The oppression had started 5–7 years before but reached its peak during the Emergency. People's right to freedom was snatched away, newspapers lost their independence, and the courts were rendered powerless. Over one lakh people were jailed. Such an arbitrary rule is hard to find
lapsed into silence when power or communications lines were cut.
At around 7 a.m., Indira Gandhi came on the All India Radio, then a government-run monopoly on the airwaves, to proclaim the rules of dictatorship.
Two government censors, drafted from the government's Press Information Bureau, burst in with two rubber stamps, one for stories censored and another for those approved, and imperiously took seats on the news desk.
Later, they marched into other newspaper offices and overpowered journalism.
Mirchandani defiantly kept the reports flowing till the censors delivered an ultimatum: Submit to censorship or the agency will be shut down permanently.
Mirchandani deferred, but with an order to the staff to continue to cover the news professionally and never to self-censor, anticipating censorship.
That was the censors' job, not the reporters', he said.
The censors slashed reports to meaninglessness or stamped them "Not for publication". But the reports secretly made their way to the proliferating samizdat, the underground bulletins crudely printed or run on cyclostyle machines, the inky predecessor of copying machines.
Some journalists associated with or loyal to the Congress Party or the pro-Mosow Communist Party strutted around giving advice –and veiled threats – to colleagues about the dawning of the new era of Indira Gandhi and there would be no more indiscipline.
Outside, a line soon formed of politicians, businessmen, trade unionists, and self-styled civic activists with press releases swearing fealty to the dictator.
And in the media, as in all other sectors, many lived up to BJP leader L. K. Advani's pessimistic deecription: "Some who were asked to bend, chose to crawl."
Among the editors arrested were Kuldip Nayar, the resident editor of The Statesman, and KR Malkani, the editor of The Motherland, an English-language daily newspaper associated with
even in global history."
PM Modi said Desai's words reflected the severity of the crisis, describing the period as one where "people were tormented on a large scale."
He noted that figures like George Fernandes were "tied in chains," while many others faced brutal torture.
"Under the MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act), anyone could be arrested without warning. Students were harassed, and freedom of expression was silenced," PM Modi added.
He lauded the strength of the Indian people for resisting
the Jan Sangh, the precursor of the BJP.
A journalist from UNI, SS Prakash, died after he was found with head injuries near the house of the dictator, his scooter with underground tracts. That was the time of fascism – the real fascism, not the fake term flung glibly like foul epithets, often by the intellectual and political progeny of those who put the yoke of fascism on the nation.
Those who have sat across from censors on the news desks, watched colleagues in the media and from universities arrested, or saw people snitch on others, know what fascism is like. That was the time in the name of socialism and secularism, the people in the hinterlands were hauled off buses to be sterilised, houses of the poor were demolished for no reason but the aesthetic whims of wielders of power, films were seized and burnt, when upstarts with connections became what were known as “extra-constitutions authorities”.
Let no one, least of all the Congress party, talk of fascism. Except for the BJP, the Marxists, the assorted socialists now scattered in different parties, the DMK and the courageous independents, the others lost their moral ground that day 50 years ago.
Yet some of them, like the DMK, are now aligned with the Congress that had imprisoned their leaders.
The power of the people and their commitment to democracy had boiled like a river of magma beneath the surface of the facade of untruth to erupt like a volcano searing through the fascism when elections were held by the oblivious dictator.
The nation breathed free again after 21 months on March 21, 1977. "Vinaashakaale Viparita Buddhi" is the epitaph for that era of infamy.
(The writer, Arul Louis, who witnessed first-hand the dawn of a failed dictatorship, was the founding executive editor of IANS and is now its correspondent in New York.)
authoritarian rule. "The people of India did not bow, they did not break, and they refused to compromise with democracy. In the end, the people's will prevailed -- the Emergency was lifted, and those who imposed it were defeated," PM Modi said. PM Modi also played a speech of Babu Jagjivan Ram, where the leader described the 1977 elections not merely as an electoral event but as "a great campaign by the people of India to overthrow the dictatorship and strengthen democracy."
From garage sales to global impact Bindi Shah’s WISE journey earns her OAM
In an inspiring conversation with Australia India News Featuredesk, Bindi Shah, co-founder of WISEKidsWORLD, opens up about the grassroots charity that began as a humble school community project and blossomed into a global force for good. Honoured with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) this King’s
Birthday for her outstanding voluntary contributions, Bindi shares the joys, challenges, and deeply personal motivations behind her ongoing mission to empower children, support communities, and lead by example — one fundraiser at a time.
Q1. Congratulations on your
OAM! What does this honour mean to you and the work you've done through WISEKidsWORLD?
It was a lovely surprise and honour to be awarded an OAM (for service to the community through a range of roles). Recognitions are a nice way to validate that one is on the right track, and it is important that we all contribute to society through whatever interests us
Q2. You’ve said you once thought these awards were only for “people high up.” How do you feel now that your grassroots work has received national recognition?
Receiving this award is truly humbling. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the people who went to such trouble in writing the submission for my nomination and providing references.
Q3. Can you take us back to 2014—how did WISEKidsWORLD begin, and what were your hopes for it at the time?
I was involved in the usual primary school activities when Susan Day mentioned she was holding a garage sale to raise funds for children’s education. I got involved and initially we called it Mega Garage Sale holding it annually at the local scout’s hall. The event grew in 2 years, and
we decided it was time to give it a name, and the family came up with the name WISEKidsWORLD
Q4. You and Susan Day started out as involved school parents. How important has the school community been in shaping your charity’s path?
Susan Day and I met through Beecroft public school and found that we both wanted to help disadvantaged children to have opportunities that our children had
This award recognizes that it is important for a cohesive community that we all add something whether through schools, sporting clubs or whatever interests us. We enjoyed being part of the P&C and helped with various activities at the school
Q5. Your children have grown up alongside the organisation. How has their involvement shaped them—and you?
When we started, all our fundraising events involved the whole family. The children were involved in all sorts of activities – manning the BBQ stall. Selling raffle tickets, decorating the halls, creating the flyers and letter box dropping and at the same time having fun. This has given them confidence, understanding of social issues and for me I have
enjoyed seeing them grow to be responsible adults
The great thing about this is the whole family gets involved. My children learnt the benefits of the 3 R’s, reduce, reuse and recycle and along the way help raise funds for the less fortunate.
Q6. WISEKidsWORLD has grown to support causes not only in Australia, but also in India and Uganda. How do you choose which causes or communities to help?
We research the organisations that align with our goals and also look at the community needs. Some people approach us with their ideas and we work with them
Q7. One of the most moving stories you've shared is about the Delhi slum school that returned donated funds during COVID. What was going through your mind at that moment?
It was unreal. I had never heard of anyone returning any money. It made our work even more meaningful
Q8. You’ve supported a wide range of causes—rural schools, women’s shelters, community programs. Which initiatives have had the most personal meaning for you?
Seeing the benefits of whatever we contribute making a difference makes our efforts worthwhile.
Q9. Balancing voluntary work, a part-time job, and family is no small feat. What were some challenges you faced, and how did you manage them?
Family support, communication and persistence is the key to managing. There will always be failures, disappointments but the hard work always pays off and the result at the end is so worth it.
Q10. For someone wanting to start a community-based project like yours, what would be your top three pieces of advice?
Find like-minded people
Start small
Don’t give up
Q11. Now that you're officially retired, your schedule seems busier than ever! What drives you to keep going, and what are you working on next?
I enjoy meeting up with people from all walks of life and looking forward to hosting a UNICEF High Tea fundraiser while still volunteering once a week at The Dish of St John’s in Hornsby, supporting Days for Girls Australia Ryde by cutting and pinning for the girls period kits and completing puzzles for Lifeline to sell at their bookfairs
Melbourne-based veena maestros Ramnath and Gopinath Iyer— affectionately known in the community as the Iyer Brothers— have recently been honoured with the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for their outstanding contribution to Carnatic music in Australia. In this exclusive interview with the Australia India News Featuredesk, the celebrated duo reflect on their five-decadelong journey with the veena, their artistic synergy as twins, and their deep-rooted commitment to tradition, teaching, and soulful expression. From humble beginnings in Chennai to becoming pioneering forces in Australia's classical music landscape, the Iyer brothers open up about their gurus, challenges, values, and their hopes for the future of Indian classical music on Australian soil.
1 How did it feel to receive the Order of Australia Medal –and what does this recognition mean to you both?
We are deeply humbled and honoured to receive the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) from the Australian Government for “Service to Music”, a recognition for our service to Carnatic music and the Veena in Australia. It feels so gratifying to receive recognition in a country that we have adopted as our home. The award further inspires our commitment to continue striving for excellence and making meaningful contributions to the art form through our performances and teaching.
2. Looking back, what sparked your initial fascination with the veena, especially as you
didn’t come from a musical family?
We come from a family that always had an appreciation for Carnatic classical music, but we are the first generation of musicians from our family. It was probably just providence that we shifted houses next door to a veena teacher in Chennai in 1973. Listening to the lilting melodies of the veena wafting from the nextdoor neighbour’s home instantly attracted us and ignited a keen interest to learn.
3. How did your gurus influence your musical journey and values?
Whatever little we have achieved is only due to our Gurus who shaped our musical journey. Their strict and at the same time affectionate teaching instilled in us a discipline and a deep love for the veena and Carnatic music. They also taught us values not through words, but just by their conduct, expecting nothing in return, but giving without holding anything back. In fact, our Gurus would say ‘if we treat our disciples kindly and with dignity, then we will receive the same from them’ – words that keep ringing in our ears to this day.
4. You’ve been described as playing with “one voice.”How do you achieve such perfect harmony as twin performers?
Being twins, we do think alike and probably have an extra sense of perception not only in music but in other things such as studies, work and art as well. Added to this, we always studied and practiced the music together. Even today we meet a few times every week to practice together,
thus
‘one
5. Do you ever have creative disagreements? How do you work through them?
Of course we do have disagreements on things from concert planning, selecting repertoire to mundane things like what to wear for a concert. We then take a step back, think through the differences, listen to each other, understand where the other person is coming from and eventually come to an agreement.
6. What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in the early years of promoting Carnatic music in Australia?
When we moved to Australia in the mid-eighties, the Indian community was quite small. There were no Indian music organisations within the community. Concert opportunities for Indian musicians were virtually non-existent apart from a few visiting artists invited by mainstream festivals. We started getting informal performance opportunities in peoples’ homes for small gatherings as the community came to know about us. Some of them introduced us to mainstream organisers and slowly over a decade we established ourselves as performers and teachers.
7. How have you seen the landscape of Indian classical music evolve in Australia since you first arrived?
The Indian classical music scene in Australia is vastly different today. There is a plethora of promoters and Indian music organisations, in addition to
increased awareness among mainstream media, music events, festivals and organisations. A number of performing artists and teachers now reside in Australia and sincerely teach the classical art forms. Audience support has also grown owing to the increase in migration from India; youngsters taking up learning the art form and increased mainstream interests in Indian music.
8. What principles or values do you prioritise when teaching your students?
Our gurus instilled in us the discipline to adhere to tradition while innovating within that classical framework and still be true to the core of the raga, the lyrics and the intent of the compositions. This is something we try to pass on to our students. Learning and practicing the art should be for one’s own enjoyment and musical development and not just for an upcoming performance. Learning is lifelong and what we know is only a drop in the ocean of Indian music.
9. How do you strike a balance between preserving tradition and allowing room for innovation?
First of all, tradition and innovation are not on two opposite ends of the spectrum. What we call tradition today was an innovation sometime back. If an innovation stands the test of time, it becomes part of tradition.
In Carnatic classical music, there is a nice balance between compositions and improvisation. When we perform, we ensure we follow the compositions strictly as per what we learnt from our Gurus while we constantly seek to innovate during the improvisational sections of the performance. We firmly believe that composers have immortalised the raga and the tala in their compositions, thus keeping the identity of the music intact. Tampering with that can lead to dilution of the artform. With a wealth of knowledge gleaned from the compositions one can innovate within the framework of the raga and tala or even compose something new. This is our driving principle.
10. Many say your music is deeply soulful. What do you
believe brings true soul to a performance?
Yes, we have heard many listeners tell us that our music is very soulful. This led us to name one of our albums as ‘Soulful strings’!
We believe that this soul comes from not just the musical notes, but an understanding of the meaning of the lyrics, and use of modulation of volume, speed and oscillation of the strings. That is from a technical standpoint; of course, our own enjoyment of the music also brings soul to the performance.
In addition, perhaps our performances consisting of compositions by some of our legendary composers that have very rich melodic and emotional content evoke a deep connection within the listener.
11. What keeps your passion for the veena alive after five decades?
The sound of the veena allured us into learning this instrument. That inspiration still drives us to continue learning and playing. Even today when we sit down to play a raga, the supreme melodies of the raga coming through the tuneful strains of the veena touch our inner core. This is an experience we continue to seek, feel and cherish.
12. What are your hopes for the future of Carnatic music in Australia,and your message to aspiring musicians?
The future is very bright for Carnatic Music in Australia. We do have a number of musical institutions teaching Carnatic Music across Australia, including the younger generation who have grown to be performers and teachers in their own right. We do see
a growing interest among the younger generation in composing, performing and collaborating with other genres of music, which is possible with their strong grounding in Carnatic music and its ragas.
Reiterating what we said earlier, our message to aspiring musicians in Australia“ Enjoy your music and learn and practice the art for art’s sake, performance opportunities and rewards will follow”.
keeping our veena music as
voice’.
Empowering Migrants Expo 2025: A Community Celebration You Can’t Miss
Brisbane is gearing up for the much anticipated second annual Empowering Migrants Expo, to be held on Sunday, 3 August 2025, from 10 AM to 4 PM at Brisbane City Hall. Organised by Bhartiya Samaj, this free, all ages event once again spots its mission at the heart of Queensland’s multicultural narrative— showcasing migrant talent, resilience, and unity.
What’s Happening?
• A full day of interactive cultural performances, art installations, community stalls, and the much-loved Migrants’ Awards Ceremony, now in its second edition.
• Nominations are open for 2025’s Migrants’ Awards, recognising individuals and organisations making an exceptional impact in migrant wellbeing, leadership, and cultural cohesion within Queensland.
Why It Matters
• After its successful debut in
2024—drawing thousands of attendees, community services, and government participation— the expo is back bigger and more vibrant.
• With Major support from Queensland government departments, educational institutions, and local businesses, the event ensures attendees can access key information, services, and networking opportunities.
Highlights to Look Out For
1. Cultural Showcases & Workshops
Experience the diverse talents of Brisbane’s migrant communities—from traditional dances and music to handson creative and educational workshops.
2. Community & Business Stalls
Covering everything from settlement services and language classes to small-business offerings and local support.
3. Inspirational Migrants’
Awards
Celebrate achievers who have demonstrated leadership and unity. The event's nomination process is in full swing, with a “final call to shine”—so spread the word!
Building on 2024’s Success Last year, the expo marked a cultural milestone—bringing over 20 nationalities together in a festival of unity. Guest feedback described it as an uplifting and inclusive celebration of migrant stories and achievements.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 expo reflects Bhartiya Samaj’s ongoing commitment to empower, connect, and celebrate. It continues to evolve as a key fixture in Queensland’s multicultural calendar, offering a trusted platform for forging connections and amplifying migrant voices.
Visit the website for more information: bhartiyasamaj.org.au
Reflecting on the 2024 Empowering Migrants Expo: A Celebration of Culture and Community
By Australia India News Newsdesk
The Empowering Migrants Expo 2024, held at Brisbane City Hall, was a landmark event in Queensland’s ongoing multicultural journey. Organised by Bhartiya Samaj, the inaugural expo brought together more than 3,500 attendees, including community leaders, families, and representatives from over 20 nationalities.
The vibrant, day-long program
featured traditional cultural performances, captivating art displays, engaging workshops, and informative resource booths hosted by over 10 government departments and community service organisations. Visitors praised the event as “uplifting,” “inclusive,” and “a proud moment” for Queensland’s migrant communities.
A key highlight of the day was the Migrants’ Awards ceremony,
recognising individuals who have made outstanding contributions to migrant wellbeing, youth empowerment, and cultural harmony.
For many Indian-Australian families, the expo was not only a celebration of their roots but also an affirmation of the multicultural values that define Australia. With the success of 2024 setting a strong precedent, anticipation is already building for the 2025 edition.
Bhartiya Samaj: Championing Inclusion and Empowerment for Migrants
By Australia India News Newsdesk
Established in 2022, Bhartiya Samaj has quickly become a prominent voice for migrant inclusion and empowerment in Queensland. Rooted in the Indian-Australian community, the organisation has built meaningful connections across cultures through vibrant cultural festivals, educational initiatives, and community outreach programs.
At the heart of their efforts is the flagship Empowering Migrants Expo—a dynamic platform that celebrates multicultural achievements, supports new migrants, and promotes unity in
diversity. The event has become a cornerstone of Queensland’s multicultural calendar.
But Bhartiya Samaj’s impact extends well beyond a single day. Throughout the year, the organisation hosts skill-building workshops, networking forums, and social support activities that benefit not only Indian migrants but also communities from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Pacific.
As Australia embraces its multicultural identity, Bhartiya Samaj stands at the forefront— ensuring that every migrant has a voice, a place, and the opportunity to thrive.
Empowering Migrants Expo 2025: Celebrating Diversity, Strengthening Community
By Australia India News Newsdesk
Brisbane will once again come alive with colour, culture, and community spirit as the second annual Empowering Migrants Expo returns on Sunday, August 3, 2025. Organised by Bhartiya Samaj and hosted at the iconic Brisbane City Hall, the event promises a vibrant celebration of Australia’s multicultural identity and the invaluable contributions of its migrant communities.
Building on the overwhelming success of its 2024 debut, the 2025 expo will feature an even broader program—showcasing cultural performances, interactive exhibits, community stalls, and the prestigious Migrants’ Awards
ceremony, which recognises outstanding individuals and organisations making a difference.
Designed as a free, inclusive event for all ages, the expo seeks to empower migrants through access to resources, information, and networking opportunities. This year, even greater participation is expected from Queensland government departments, educational institutions, service providers, and small businesses.
At its heart, the expo embodies Bhartiya Samaj’s mission to foster unity in diversity—providing a powerful platform for migrants to connect, collaborate, and thrive in their adopted homeland.
Yoga unites Queenslanders at Government House in celebration of IDY 2025
Brisbane, June 21 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
The Consulate General of India in Brisbane marked the International Day of Yoga 2025 (IDY 2025) with a dynamic and inclusive celebration at Queensland’s Government House, reflecting this year’s global theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.” The event underscored yoga’s rising global impact as a healing and unifying tradition that transcends cultures.
Queensland Governor Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM graced the occasion as Chief Guest and actively participated in the yoga session, reinforcing the importance of mental and physical wellness. Her attendance for the second consecutive year added both prestige and continuity to the celebration. Also present were Jess Pugh MP for Mount Ommaney and Cr Penny Wolff, representing Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, who voiced
their support for mindfulness, wellness, and community harmony.
A large and diverse group of attendees—from seasoned yoga practitioners to curious first-timers—came together in a guided session focused on resilience, balance, and inner peace. Their enthusiastic participation symbolised the far-reaching appeal of yoga as a holistic lifestyle.
Organised by the Consulate General of India, the event also featured representation from the Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland (FICQ) and multicultural community groups, highlighting the inclusive and collaborative spirit that yoga embodies. Their involvement emphasized yoga’s role in bridging cultural divides and promoting shared well-being. The symbolic choice of
Government House as the venue elevated the event’s significance, reflecting the deepening cultural connections between India and Australia. The overarching theme resonated strongly with attendees amid growing global awareness around sustainability and health. In addition to being a celebration of physical discipline, the event became a wider expression of holistic living and cultural togetherness.
Indian-Australians mourn Ahmedabad air disaster victims with prayer service
Canberra, June 23 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
In a deeply moving ceremony held on June 21, members of the Indian community in Canberra gathered at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre of the ACT to honour the victims of the tragic Air India crash that occurred in Ahmedabad earlier this month.
India’s High Commissioner to Australia, Gopal Baglay, joined the congregation, offering his
condolences and standing in solidarity with the grieving families.
Air India Flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner bound for London, crashed shortly after take-off at Ahmedabad airport on June 12, 2025. The aircraft, which was carrying 230 passengers and 11 crew members, failed to gain altitude and crashed into a student hostel near B.J. Medical College. The accident claimed
241 lives in total, including dozens of people on the ground.
Miraculously, one passenger survived and is currently recovering in hospital.
At the prayer gathering, community members offered floral tributes, lit candles, and recited prayers for the departed.
The temple hall was filled with solemn chants and messages of compassion, as the community came together to grieve and offer
support.
High Commissioner Baglay commended the Indian diaspora for their resilience and compassion, and assured the community that the Indian Government is committed to providing full support to the victims’ families.
The aircraft’s black box has been recovered and investigations are underway, involving Indian and international aviation authorities.
I-Yoga Day
Canberra, June 21 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
2025
marked
The International Day of Yoga was celebrated on June 21, 2025, at the iconic Old Parliament House in Canberra. Organised by the High Commission of India, the event carried the global theme for this year: “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.”
The yoga session drew participation from senior officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), members of the Australian Defence Force, representatives
Preliminary reports suggest the aircraft’s landing gear was still deployed during takeoff, but officials have not ruled out mechanical or human error. The vigil concluded with a collective moment of silence, as candles flickered in memory of the lives lost. For many in attendance, the gathering served not only as a tribute to the victims, but also as a reminder of the enduring bonds of community and shared sorrow.
at Old Parliament House in Canberra
from the diplomatic corps, and members of the Indian and Australian communities.
Addressing the gathering, Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay highlighted the growing global importance of yoga as a tool for personal and collective
well-being. The event featured guided yoga postures, breathing exercises, and a moment of reflection, all aimed at promoting wellness and harmony.
The celebration reinforced the message of health, balance, and unity, aligning with the
broader international observance of Yoga Day initiated by the United Nations in 2015. The High Commission thanked all attendees for their presence and support in marking the occasion, which continues to grow in scale and significance each year in Australia and around the world.
FICQ & Consulate promote blood donation on World Blood Donor Day
Brisbane, June 16 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
The Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland (FICQ), in collaboration with the Consulate General of India in Brisbane, organised a blood donation awareness program on June 14 at the Red Cross to mark World Blood Donor Day. The program focused on educating the community about the importance of blood donation and encouraging more people
to become regular donors. FICQ addressed common questions and misconceptions, providing information on eligibility, age limits, exclusions, donation intervals, and donation centre locations.
In a Facebook post, FICQ stated: “Each of us has a role in spreading the message about the joys of donating blood—the positive impact it has on both donors and recipients, and how it can enhance one’s health. Educating
youth about the importance of blood donation from an early age is crucial, as there exists a significant gap between blood donors and recipients in our world.”
The event also featured speakers who shared their real-life experiences as donors and recipients. FICQ extended its gratitude to all the speakers and participants who supported the initiative.
Canberra hosts 4th curtain raiser for International Day of Yoga 2025
Canberra, June 17 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
The High Commission of India in Canberra, in collaboration with BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, successfully organised the fourth Curtain Raiser event for the International Day of Yoga 2025. The event aimed to promote a holistic and sustainable approach to health and lifestyle
through the practice of yoga, encouraging conscious living, inner awareness, and collective well-being. It forms part of a series of lead-up activities ahead of the International Day of Yoga, observed globally on June 21.
Participants took part in yoga demonstrations and wellness activities that reflected the core values of the annual Yoga
Day initiative. The gathering underscored the continued efforts of the Indian High Commission to promote yoga as a shared cultural and health tradition in Australia. The High Commission expressed its appreciation to BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir for its support in hosting the program and for engaging the community in the lead-up to the global observance.
Australia, India, Indonesia deepen strategic ties through maritime dialogue
Melbourne, June 24 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
In a major diplomatic and strategic initiative, the Australia India Institute recently hosted the Trilateral Maritime Security Dialogue in Melbourne, convening maritime experts and defence strategists from Australia, India, and Indonesia. The dialogue, part of the Institute’s Defence Program and supported by the Australian Government Department of Defence, focused on strengthening regional maritime cooperation in the northeast Indian Ocean and broader Indo-Pacific region. The trilateral meeting explored key areas of collaboration aimed at addressing shared maritime security concerns. As
three nations occupying pivotal positions in the Indian Ocean, Australia, India, and Indonesia are seen as natural partners in tackling common challenges— ranging from maritime surveillance and illegal fishing to infrastructure security and environmental threats.
A primary focus of the Dialogue was improving maritime domain awareness (MDA) through enhanced informationsharing and joint surveillance. Strengthening real-time maritime intelligence and expanding collaborative patrol mechanisms were identified as essential steps to respond to growing regional threats.
Participants also highlighted the need for operational and
technical interoperability, including joint naval sails, hydrographic cooperation, and capacity-building initiatives. These measures are aimed at ensuring seamless coordination among the three countries during multilateral missions and exercises.
In tackling non-traditional maritime threats such as piracy, illegal fishing, and transnational crime, the Dialogue emphasized the importance of integrated strategies that leverage each nation’s capabilities and resources.
Another key area of concern was the protection of seabed infrastructure, particularly undersea communication cables and energy transmission systems,
which are increasingly vulnerable to both natural and man-made disruptions. Coordinated protection efforts are seen as crucial to maintaining regional stability.
The Dialogue also addressed climate-related maritime challenges, such as coastal erosion, sea-level rise, and marine biodiversity loss, urging greater trilateral collaboration on climate change mitigation and environmental protection.
Additionally, the discussions reinforced the shared commitment to international maritime law and upholding a rules-based order across the Indo-Pacific, including support for transparent governance frameworks and peaceful
resolution of disputes.
As a 1.5 track dialogue, involving both government and nongovernment participants, the event produced practical recommendations that will be shared with senior policymakers. These insights are expected to inform future trilateral discussions and contribute to ongoing strategic dialogues at official levels.
The Melbourne Dialogue marks a critical step forward in trilateral defence and maritime cooperation, underlining the potential of Australia, India, and Indonesia to lead a unified and effective response to the Indo-Pacific’s evolving maritime security landscape.
11th I-Day of Yoga celebrated at St Kilda Town Hall in Melbourne
Melbourne, June 21 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
The 11th International Day of Yoga was celebrated at the St Kilda Town Hall in Melbourne on June 21, 2025, with the theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.” The event was organised by the Consulate General of India, Melbourne.
Consul General Dr. Sushil Kumar addressed the gathering, along with several dignitaries, including Matt Fregon (Deputy Speaker, Victorian Parliament), Nina Taylor MP, David Southwick MP,
Ted Baillieu (Former premier of Victoria), and Mayor Pradeep Tiwari of Maribyrnong Council.
The Art of Living Foundation led the community in an energising yoga and meditation session, which saw active participation from local residents and members of the consular corps.
A special highlight of the event was a graceful Artistic Yoga performance by students of Abhivyakti Dance Academy, adding a cultural dimension to the celebration.
International Day of Yoga celebrated at Victorian parliament
Melbourne, June 17 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
The International Day of Yoga was recently celebrated at the Victorian parliament in an event organised by Vasudeva Kriya Yoga (VKY).
Mary-Anne Thomas, Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, joined members of the Victorian parliament, Consul General Dr.
Sushil Kumar, and community participants for the occasion.
The yoga and meditation session was led by Dr. Rajendra Yenkannamoole, founder of VKY, who guided attendees through practices focused on health and well-being. The event reflected the growing support for yoga as a means to promote physical and mental wellness within the wider Victorian community.
Geelong hosts high-level India business roundtable to boost bilateral ties
Melbourne, June 26 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
In a significant step towards enhancing bilateral cooperation, Dr Sushil Kumar, Consul General of India in Melbourne, recently attended the Geelong–India Business Roundtable Meeting, hosted by Cr Dr Stretch Kontelj OAM, Mayor of the City of Greater Geelong.
The event brought together a broad coalition of stakeholders, including representatives from
Global Victoria, DFAT, the Australia India Business Council, the Australia India Chamber of Commerce, Deakin University, and several industry leaders. The discussions focused on exploring new avenues of collaboration between India and the Geelong region in key sectors such as agri-tech, education and skills, clean energy, tourism, advanced manufacturing, and innovation.
During the meeting, officials from Global Victoria presented the
Victoria’s India Strategy, outlining a roadmap for deeper economic and cultural engagement with India. The presentation highlighted strategic initiatives to strengthen trade and investment flows and build enduring connections between the two economies.
Abhay Sinha, Managing Director of Care Essentials and winner of the 2023 Australian Exporter of the Year Award, shared his perspective on navigating the
landscape of Australia–India trade and investment. He spoke about both the opportunities and hurdles in bilateral trade, stressing the importance of streamlining procedures and strengthening institutional ties to support exporters and investors.
The roundtable reaffirmed Geelong’s growing ambition to become a focal point for India–Australia cooperation, backed by strong engagement from local government, business networks,
and educational institutions. The meeting also demonstrated India’s interest in deepening regional partnerships beyond major cities, particularly in innovation-led sectors.
With clear intent from both sides to build on this momentum, the Geelong–India Business Roundtable set the stage for a new chapter of regional economic diplomacy, helping shape a collaborative future grounded in shared growth and mutual benefit.
Melbourne’s Odia community marks Raja Parba with community spirit
Melbourne, June 26 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
The Orioz community in Melbourne came together to celebrate Raja Parba, a cherished festival from Odisha that
pays tribute to womanhood, agriculture, and the region’s deep-rooted cultural traditions.
The celebration was filled with vibrant displays of traditional music, dance, and Odia delicacies,
bringing the essence of Odisha to life in the heart of Australia. The event offered a warm and festive atmosphere, uniting community members in a shared expression of pride and joy.
For many, the occasion was a
nostalgic reminder of home, while for younger members of the diaspora, it served as a meaningful introduction to the customs and values of their heritage.
Marking the arrival of the
monsoon and celebrating feminine energy and fertility, Raja Parba took on renewed significance in Melbourne, where the community’s enthusiasm ensured that the spirit of Odisha flourished far from its native soil.
Consulate in Perth marks Yoga Day 2025 with meditation session
Perth, June 25 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
The Consulate General of India in Perth, in collaboration with Sahaja Yoga Meditation, commemorated the 11th
International Day of Yoga 2025 (IDY 2025) with a peaceful and introspective meditation session, inviting participants to experience calmness and clarity.
In keeping with this year’s global
theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” the event emphasised the meditative and spiritual dimensions of yoga, offering a moment of quiet reflection amid the demands of daily life. The
guided session created a serene space for participants to focus on inner balance and emotional well-being, underscoring yoga’s holistic benefits beyond physical movement.
The Consulate thanked all attendees and reaffirmed its dedication to promoting India’s cultural and spiritual heritage through inclusive community initiatives such as International Day of Yoga.
Karratha joins global Yoga Day celebrations
Perth, June 23(Australia India News Newsdesk)
The International Day of Yoga 2025 was celebrated in Karratha, Western Australia, in collaboration with the Hindu Association of Pilbara, bringing the global movement for wellness and harmony to the heart of the
region.
Community members gathered to take part in guided yoga sessions that promoted physical health, mental well-being, and inner balance, reflecting this year’s international theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.”
The event showcased the
expanding presence of yoga in regional Australia and its power to foster a sense of unity and cultural appreciation. Organisers expressed gratitude for the enthusiastic participation and reaffirmed their efforts to promote the values of holistic living and mindfulness through yoga.
Pilbara
Perth Consulate explores Vedic wisdom and consciousness
Perth, June 25 (Australai India News Newsdesk)
The Consulate General of India in Perth, in partnership with Anantha Australia, Sacred India Gallery, Chinmaya Mission Perth, and ISKCON, hosted a compelling event titled ‘Forbidden
Archaeology: Consciousness and the Origins of Humanity’, featuring a keynote address by renowned scholar Dr Michael Cremo.
Known for his pioneering work in alternative archaeology and Vedic science, Dr Cremo delivered an
insightful presentation examining the intersection of ancient Indian wisdom and modern scientific thought on consciousness and the origins of human life.
The event included a stimulating panel discussion with Swami Aparokshananda, Dr Sadhana
Bose, Pavan Sanagavarapu, and Dr Cremo himself. Together, they explored themes from the Puranas and Vedic literature, shedding light on how these ancient texts offer valuable perspectives in current debates on consciousness, spirituality, and human history.
The gathering reflected a growing interest in India’s philosophical traditions, drawing a diverse audience keen to engage in meaningful dialogue around timeless questions of existence and awareness.
Glenwood hosts International Yoga Day 2025 celebration
Sydney, June 26 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
The Consulate General of India in Sydney, in partnership with Sri Om Care, commemorated the International Day of Yoga 2025 (IDY 2025) with a special
community gathering at the Glenwood Community Hub, reflecting the global theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.”
The event was attended by Warren Kirby, Member of Parliament and president of
the New South Wales–India Parliamentary Group, whose presence underscored the growing engagement between Australian leaders and the Indian community.
Participants from various walks
of life joined the celebration, engaging in guided yoga sessions that emphasised health, harmony, and mindfulness. The event reinforced yoga’s global relevance and its ability to bring communities together in pursuit
of well-being and inner peace.
Organisers praised the enthusiastic participation and highlighted the event’s role in promoting cultural connection and sustainable living through the ancient Indian tradition of yoga.
Consulate and Paathshala bring Yoga Day to Perth schools
Perth, June 25 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
The Consulate General of India in Perth, in collaboration with Paathshala – Western Australian Hindi Language School, marked the International Day of Yoga 2025 with special sessions for community children across three Perth locations — Canning Vale, Subiaco, and Joondalup.
Children participated enthusiastically in guided yoga
activities designed to promote physical health, mental clarity, and emotional balance, aligning with the global theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.”
The celebration underscored a shared commitment to promoting Indian cultural values and wellness practices among the youth, while encouraging a healthy and mindful lifestyle from an early age.
Perth students embrace yoga at I- Day of Yoga celebration
Perth, June 16 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
In a vibrant celebration of the International Day of Yoga 2025, young students from the
School of Malayalam Language Inc took part in a special yoga session, recently organised by the Consulate General of India in Perth. The session, led by instructors from Sky Yoga,
offered the young participants an engaging introduction to yoga, focusing on both its physical benefits and mental well-being. The atmosphere was filled with
enthusiasm as the children embraced the ancient practice with curiosity and energy.
The event underscored the importance of introducing yoga
to younger generations and reflected the Consulate’s ongoing efforts to promote Indian culture and holistic living within the broader community in Western Australia.
Perth audiences enthralled by Nritya-Gandhar 2025 dance showcase
Perth, June 17 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
In a dazzling celebration of Indian culture, Rakhi Bose and her ensemble from the Academy of Indian Classical and Bollywood Dance presented NrityaGandhar 2025, an evening of captivating dance performances
that highlighted the richness and diversity of India’s artistic heritage.
The event featured a harmonious blend of classical Indian dance forms and vibrant Bollywood numbers, offering a cultural feast for the senses. Through expressive movement, rhythm, and grace, the performers brought stories and traditions from across India to life on stage. Nritya-Gandhar 2025 not only entertained but also served as a meaningful platform to connect the Indian diaspora and local community with the timeless beauty of Indian performing arts.
Albany celebrates International Day of Yoga for first time
Perth, June 19 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
For the first time, the International Day of Yoga was recently celebrated in Albany, Western Australia, through a
collaborative initiative between the Consulate General of India in Perth and the Southern Aboriginal Corporation.
The event marked a significant moment in bringing together
diverse communities to embrace the universal values of yoga, including health, balance, and inner peace. Participants took part in guided sessions that highlighted yoga’s relevance as a
holistic practice for physical and mental well-being.
This first-ever celebration in Albany not only promoted wellness but also served as a step towards strengthening cross-
cultural ties between the Indian and Aboriginal communities, reflecting a shared commitment to unity, inclusivity, and mutual understanding.
Perth community unites for International Yoga Day 2025 celebrations
Perth, June 21 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
The Consulate General of India in Perth, in partnership with the Indian Society of Western Australia (ISWA) and its affiliated associations, celebrated the International Day of Yoga 2025 on
June 21, highlighting this year’s global theme: “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.”
The event brought together a diverse gathering of yoga enthusiasts and community members, reflecting the inclusive spirit of the day. The
celebration was further elevated by the presence of distinguished guests, including Dr Parwinder Kaur MLC, Mayor Patrick Hall, Councillor Shen Sekhon, and Councillor Keyur Kamdar, who joined in support of the growing wellness movement.
Participants engaged in guided yoga sessions aimed at promoting holistic health, inner peace, and global harmony. The celebration emphasised yoga’s relevance as a timeless practice for physical and mental well-being, transcending age, culture, and background.
The Consulate and ISWA expressed their appreciation to the local community for their active involvement and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting wellness and cultural understanding through such collaborative events.
Tamil Association of WA joins Indian Consulate to mark I-Day of Yoga
Perth, June 21 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
The 11th International Day of Yoga was celebrated in Perth with spirited participation from the local community, in an event jointly organised by the Consulate General of India and the Tamil Association of Western Australia Inc.
The celebration brought together people of all ages to take part in guided yoga sessions, promoting the practice as a powerful tool
for physical well-being, mental clarity, and inner peace.
The event reflected this year’s theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” and highlighted the growing popularity of yoga across communities in Western Australia. Organisers thanked the participants for their enthusiastic involvement and reaffirmed their dedication to promoting wellness, unity, and cultural connection through yoga.
Perth Community comes together to celebrate 11th IDY
Perth, June 21 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
The Consulate General of India in Perth, in partnership with the Treeby Community Association and the Art of Living Foundation, commemorated the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) on
June 21, 2025, with a vibrant and well-attended event.
The celebration, held in line with the global theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” featured guided yoga sessions that encouraged participants to embrace physical wellness,
mental clarity, and inner peace.
The event was graced by the presence of City of Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett and Councillor Carol Zhang, who joined community members in showing their support for yoga as a universal practice promoting
well-being and unity.
Organisers thanked all attendees for their enthusiastic participation and highlighted the significance of such communitydriven initiatives in fostering harmony, health, and cultural understanding across Perth and beyond.
Consulate and Yimiri host Yoga Day 2025 celebration at Nirimba Fields Public School
Sydney, June 26 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
The Consulate General of India in Sydney, in partnership with Yimiri, commemorated the International Day of Yoga 2025 (IDY 2025) with a community
event at Nirimba Fields Public School, in line with this year’s global theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.”
The event was graced by Warren Kirby, Member of Parliament and President of the New South
Wales–India Parliamentary Group, who underscored the importance of yoga in promoting physical, mental, and social wellbeing across communities.
Attendees, including students and staff, participated in guided yoga sessions aimed at fostering
mindfulness and healthy living.
The initiative highlighted the growing role of yoga in schools and community spaces, and reflected the shared commitment of the Indian Consulate and Yimiri to education, inclusion, and wellness.
Organisers appreciated the enthusiastic response and emphasised the event’s contribution to strengthening cross-cultural understanding through the universal practice of yoga.
Indian High Commission hosts Consular outreach at BAPS Mandir
Canberra, June 18 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
The Consular team of the High Commission of India held an Open House on June 14, 2025, at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Canberra to engage directly with the local Indian community and address consular-related queries.
The initiative aimed to provide guidance on a range of consular services including passports, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, visas, and document attestation. Community members
had the opportunity to seek clarifications and assistance on pending applications and service procedures.
The Open House witnessed active participation from residents across Canberra, who welcomed the chance to interact face-to-
face with officials. Many attendees expressed appreciation for the effort to make consular services more accessible and responsive.
Officials from the High Commission stated that the outreach is part of a continuing effort to strengthen
communication and service delivery for the Indian diaspora.
The High Commission thanked BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir for hosting the event and acknowledged the community's enthusiastic involvement in making the program successful.
Yoga Day 2025 unites communities across WA and NT
Perth, June 21 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
The 11th International Day of Yoga was marked with a series of inspiring events across Western Australia and the Northern Territory, led by the Consulate General of India in Perth in collaboration with several cultural and spiritual organisations. Celebrated under the global theme “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” the initiatives brought communities together through the ancient practice of yoga, highlighting its universal appeal and relevance.
In Darwin, the Consulate joined
forces with the Indian Association of the Northern Territory Inc to host a yoga celebration that drew strong community participation and promoted wellness and togetherness in the Top End.
Back in Western Australia, the Hindu Council of Australia –Perth Chapter hosted a lively session with the support of the Consulate, offering participants an opportunity to engage in holistic practices that promote both mental peace and physical fitness.
Another event, organised with the Maharashtra Mandal
Perth, saw local families and community members come together to celebrate the day with enthusiasm, blending tradition with wellbeing.
In the regional hub of Bunbury, a serene yoga session was held in partnership with SWIG (Spirituality, Wellness, and Inner Growth), giving residents a chance to embrace the calming and meditative aspects of yoga. Meanwhile, the Federation of Indian Associations of Western Australia (FIAWA) hosted a major celebration that brought together a wide cross-section
of the multicultural community, showcasing yoga’s power to unify across backgrounds.
Adding to the spiritual tone of the day, the Science of Spirituality
Yoga Retreat partnered with the Consulate to deliver a session centred around mindfulness and inner peace, attracting participants eager to explore the deeper aspects of yoga.
The City of Swan also joined the celebrations, further extending the reach of Yoga Day into Perth’s suburban communities and underlining the grassroots enthusiasm for healthy, holistic
lifestyles.
The Isha Foundation collaborated with the Consulate for a wellreceived session that reinforced the accessibility and versatility of yoga in everyday life.
These diverse celebrations across regions not only honoured the spirit of Yoga Day but also reinforced the growing appreciation for India’s ancient tradition as a tool for unity, wellness, and global harmony.
The Consulate extended its gratitude to all partner organisations and participants for making the International Day of Yoga 2025 a resounding success.
Australia India Business Pty Ltd promotes B2B commercial focus and collaborative relationship with Australia India Business Council Ltd (AIBC)
AIB complements AIBC’s advocacy and networking platform for focussing on profitable business to business outcomes
SYDNEY, Australia – In this context Australia India Business Pty Ltd (AIB) today clarified its distinct role as a commercial B2B service provider, working complementarily alongside the Australia India Business Council Ltd (AIBC) to strengthen Australia-India business relationships.
AIBC serves as the premier advocacy body and networking platform for the Australia-India corridor, whilst AIB operates as a dedicated commercial consultancy focused on delivering direct business outcomes for companies seeking market entry, expansion, and strategic partnerships between the two nations.
Distinct but Complementary Roles
"AIB and AIBC serve different but complementary functions in the Australia-India business ecosystem," said Con Livissianis,
Co-Founder and Chair of AIB.
"While AIBC excels at advocacy, policy engagement, and creating networking opportunities, AIB focuses on converting those opportunities into profitable commercial outcomes through hands-on business services."
AIBC, established in 1986 by the Australian and Indian governments, operates as a membership-based council with chapters across Australian state capitals, focusing on trade promotion, advocacy, and facilitating high-level business connections through events and networking.
AIB complements this by providing direct commercial services including:
• Market entry assistance for Australian and Indian companies
•Strategic business planning and expansion support
•Cultural integration guidance and local market insights
•End-to-end support from market research to deal completion
•On-ground teams in both countries to facilitate agreements
Professional Connection, Independent Operation
Several AIB directors and advisors maintain membership in AIBC, reflecting the organizations' shared commitment to strengthening Australia-India business ties. However, AIB welcomes the empowerment to operates independently as a private consultancy, delivering fee-for-service commercial outcomes rather than membership-based advocacy services.
"Having served as National
Chair of AIBC, I understand and support the vital role that AIBC plays in advocacy and high-level relationship building," said Jim Varghese AM, Co-Founder and Chair of AIB Advisory Council.
"I also recognize that we need to promote and support a hands-on commercial support that converts those relationships into actual business outcomes. That's exactly the commercial mission of the AIB."
"Our directors' involvement in AIBC ensures we stay connected to broader policy discussions and market trends," explained Sylvana Livissianis, Director and Company Secretary of AIB. "This connection enhances our ability to provide informed, strategic advice to our commercial clients while maintaining our independent operational focus."
Market Positioning
It is very encouraging that both organizations continue expanding their respective roles in the growing Australia-India trade relationship, valued at over AUD $50 billion annually. Companies can benefit from AIBC's advocacy and networking opportunities
while engaging AIB for direct commercial implementation and market entry services.
Australia India Business Pty Ltd (AIB) Founded in 2023, AIB is a commercial consultancy dedicated to converting business opportunities into profitable outcomes between Australia and India. With advisory councils spanning key sectors including agribusiness, resources, engineering, and education, AIB provides specialized market entry and expansion services backed by deep local knowledge in both countries.
Australia India Business Council Ltd (AIBC) Established in 1986, AIBC is the leading business council promoting bilateral trade and investment between Australia and India. With chapters in six Australian capitals and presence in India, AIBC serves as the premier advocacy body and networking platform for the Australia-India business corridor. Con Livissianis and Jim Varghese value their membership of the AIBC and look forward to promoting the complementary roles of both organisations.
AIBC QLD fosters stronger ties at networking evening in Brisbane
Brisbane, June 19 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
The Australia India Business Council (AIBC) Queensland (QLD) Chapter hosted a lively networking evening on June 17, 2025, at the scenic La Boca
Bar and Restaurant, Stamford Plaza Brisbane. The event brought together professionals, entrepreneurs, and business leaders dedicated to advancing the Australia-India trade and investment relationship.
Namrata Datt, president of the
AIBC Queensland Chapter, led the evening with energy and purpose, sharing key updates and warmly introducing new members to the council. Her leadership set the tone for a dynamic evening of dialogue, collaboration, and shared vision.
The gathering served as a valuable platform for members to connect, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities aimed at strengthening the business corridor between Australia and India. The atmosphere reflected a strong sense of community and a
shared commitment to fostering bilateral growth.
Attendees left the event inspired by the energy in the room and the prospects for deeper economic engagement between the two nations.
Crisafulli govt charts bold course with big-spending Queensland Budget
Brisbane, June 24 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
The Queensland government, under the leadership of premier David Crisafulli, has unveiled its first state budget for 2025–26, presenting a sweeping financial roadmap that significantly boosts spending on essential services and infrastructure—even as state debt is projected to climb beyond $205 billion by 2028–29.
Treasurer David Janetzki, delivering his maiden budget since the Liberal National Party’s electoral victory, outlined a strategy centred on funding healthcare, housing, law and order, transport, and Olympic infrastructure. He described the approach as steady and purposeful, focused on long-term investment over fiscal restraint, despite forecasting a deficit of $8.6 billion for the year.
Big gains for frontline sectors
A major portion of the budget is dedicated to expanding Queensland’s public sector workforce, with more than 6,000 new positions planned across hospitals, schools, police, and child protection services. Healthcare receives a historic boost of $33 billion in operational funding, including $18.5 billion set aside for the expansion and upgrade of hospitals and the construction of new medical facilities. This includes three new hospitals and over 2,600 new hospital beds across the state.
Law enforcement funding also receives a significant increase, with $2.4 billion for expanded correctional capacity in Townsville and Brisbane, $560 million for crime prevention and early intervention programs, and nearly $148 million for updated police equipment such as modern body-worn cameras and ballistic vests.
Housing market support for first home buyers
To address Queensland’s housing affordability crisis, the government has launched a new $165 million shared equity scheme, “Boost to Buy,” allowing first-time homebuyers to enter the property market with a deposit as low as 2%. Income eligibility thresholds are notably generous—up to $150,000 for singles and $225,000 for couples. The scheme is capped at 1,000 applicants.
Additional measures include scrapping stamp duty for new builds and extending the $30,000 First Home Owner Grant for another 12 months. A further $1 billion has been injected into the Residential Activation Fund to fast-track housing infrastructure across the state.
Major investment in roads and transport
A total of $41.7 billion has been committed to the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program, funding major infrastructure upgrades and
expanding transport capacity. The Bruce Highway will receive a $9 billion upgrade, and a new $100 million regional road resilience program—Country Roads Connect—will focus on improving flood-prone routes.
Public transport fares will be permanently capped at 50% across the TransLink network, aimed at reducing travel costs for Queenslanders.
Olympic preparations accelerate
Ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, the government has committed $4.7 billion to sporting and logistical infrastructure. This includes $950 million for athlete villages and $847 million for regional sporting venues like Sunshine Coast Stadium and Logan Indoor Sports Centre.
Over $300 million is allocated to a dedicated Olympic Infrastructure Authority to oversee delivery.
Energy policy shifts away from hydro
Marking a distinct policy shift, the government has abandoned the large-scale Pioneer-Burdekin hydroelectric project and scaled back the Borumba battery program. Instead, it will support smaller pumped hydro schemes and invest $1.6 billion in a new five-year Electricity Maintenance Guarantee to ensure energy reliability and retain base-load power from coal and gas.
A $2.4 billion investment will also go into the CopperString
transmission line connecting Townsville and Mount Isa. For renters, the “Supercharged Solar” program will offer landlords rebates up to $3,500 for installing solar panels, with the goal of reducing power bills for tenants.
Families, education and community sport
Cost-of-living support measures include making permanent the $100 Back to School payment for essential supplies and continuing $200 PlayOn! vouchers for sports and extracurricular activities.
Education receives a boost with the commitment to build 15 new schools and specialist campuses across Queensland, including new primary, secondary, and youth justice facilities.
An additional $500 million will fund upgrades to more than 100 local sports clubs as part of Olympic legacy programs.
Fiscal challenges and political debate
Despite bold spending commitments, the budget forecasts rising debt and continued deficits. Gross debt is expected to reach $205.7 billion by 2028–29, down from Labor’s earlier projection of $252 billion.
Treasurer Janetzki blamed a $2.3 billion drop in GST revenue from the Commonwealth for a significant portion of the current deficit, calling it a major setback to state finances.
While the government insists this budget sets a clear path toward
financial recovery, critics are unconvinced. Opposition finance spokesperson Shannon Fentiman said the budget delays hard decisions and creates long-term risks, describing it as driven more by politics than sound economics.
Unions prepare for wage battles
The budget forecasts public sector wage growth and staff costs will be capped at an average of 3.5% per year. However, unions are bracing for tough negotiations. Nurses are already protesting the government’s offer of an 8% wage rise over three years, claiming it fails to deliver on campaign promises. Similar negotiations for police, teachers, and firefighters are expected soon.
Revenue pressures from mining sector
The budget also signals declining returns from coal royalties, with Treasurer Janetzki accusing the former government of relying too heavily on temporary windfalls. With global prices falling, revenue from coal is expected to shrink considerably, prompting calls for a review of royalty structures. With its first budget, the Crisafulli government has outlined an ambitious and high-investment vision for Queensland— emphasising services and infrastructure over austerity. However, its long-term success will depend on how effectively it manages ballooning debt, public sector demands, and the delivery of Olympic and housing promises.
CG explores stronger India ties during visit to La Trobe University
Melbourne, June 27 (Australia India News Newsdesk)
Consul General (CG) of India in Melbourne, Dr. Sushil Kumar, recently paid a visit to La Trobe University, where he held productive discussions with
Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell and members of the senior leadership team.
The meeting centred on enhancing partnerships between India and La Trobe University in key areas such as higher education, research collaboration,
innovation, and student exchange programs. Both sides expressed a shared commitment to strengthening academic and institutional linkages that benefit students and researchers from both countries.
Dr. Kumar also toured the
university’s Digital Innovation Lab, gaining insights into cuttingedge research and technological advancements. During the visit, he engaged with several Indian students on campus, appreciating their academic pursuits and offering encouragement for their journey in Australia.
The visit marked another step forward in Australia-India educational ties, reinforcing the growing cooperation between Indian institutions and Australian universities.
‘Nothing compares to it’: Rohit Sharma on India-Pakistan cricket rivalry
New Delhi, June 27 (IANS) The excitement and buzz surrounding the India-Pakistan clash is unmatched for cricket enthusiasts and players due to the fierce historic rivalry between the two nations. India skipper Rohit Sharma has been a part of many such matches and he admitted that the atmosphere before these fixtures is unmatched.
Recalling the T20 World Cup 2024 clash between them, Rohit said the pre-match environment was like a festival, starting from their hotel and extending to the stadium. India won the match by six runs in a low-scoring thriller as Jasprit Bumrah collected the figures of 3-14 to bag the Player of the Match accolade.
"Before the India vs Pakistan match, we were told there was a
threat - something was going on. So, two days before the game, we weren’t allowed to step out of the hotel. The atmosphere started building from there. We were ordering food in, and the hotel was so packed you could barely walk. Fans, media - everyone was there. That’s when you realise this isn’t just another matchsomething special is about to happen.
"As soon as we got near the stadium, it already felt like a celebration - Indian fans, Pakistani fans, all dancing and enjoying themselves. I’ve played so many India–Pakistan games now - I’ve lost count - but that pre-match energy, that feeling… It’s always something else. Nothing compares to it," Rohit said on JioHotstar’s special 'Champions Waali Feeling Phir Se'.
In the match, India suffered early blows in Virat Kohli (4), Rohit (13) and Axar Patel (20) but Rishabh Pant played a decisive knock of 42 off 31 balls including six fours to take the side to a respectable total of 119 as no other batter in the
middle order was able to reach double figures.
Lauding Pant's efforts, Rohit said the wicketkeeper-batter played up to his potential and kept them alive on the challenging surface.
“We just wanted Rishabh to be Rishabh - do all the things he does best, unsettle the bowlers, play freely. And he did that perfectly. His innings was around 42, and on that pitch, that’s as good as scoring 70. It was a very challenging surface - something was always happening.
"The par score there was probably 130 or 140. We ended up with 119. Our plan wasn’t to go for 200we were aiming for 140. But of course, we lost wickets along the way. And that’s when Rishabh played that crucial knock of 40-plus, which really held things together. Eventually, we got 119and I actually felt it could still be a good score. Maybe 10–15 runs short, but I knew that if we got 2–3 early wickets with the new ball, that 119 would start to feel like 160," Rohit said.
Jhandu Kumar wins bronze; India concludes Para-powerlifting World Cup with 5 medals
Beijing (China), June 23 (IANS)
On a fresh and promising morning in China's capital, India’s Jhandu Kumar delivered an exceptional performance to secure a bronze medal in the Men’s 80kg weight category at the World Para-Powerlifting World Cup as India ended their campaign with five medals in all -- one gold, one silver and three bronze medals.
Jhandu impressed the judges and spectators alike with two
powerful lifts of 187kg and 192kg in consecutive attempts. His performance added the final flourish to India’s overall campaign in the prestigious event.
With this, India concluded their campaign with a total of five medals, marking one of its strongest performances in recent editions of the World Cup. Beyond the medal tally, several Indian athletes also delivered commendable efforts, achieving notable international rankings and further strengthening India’s presence in the global Para powerlifting circuit.
JP Singh, Chief Coach of the Indian Para-Powerlifting Team, expressed pride in the team’s performance.
“I am extremely proud of the way our athletes performed at this World Cup. Jhandu Kumar’s bronze today was the perfect conclusion to a strong campaign. Winning 5 medals at such a competitive international event
reflects the dedication of our lifters and the entire support team. We’re steadily moving forward, and I’m confident that even bigger results are ahead for India in para powerlifting.”
Among other bronze medal winners for India are Ramubhai B. Bambhava, who won bronze in Men's up to 72 kg, and Gulfam Ahme,d who took bronze in the Men’s up to 59 kg category.
The World Para-Powerlifting World Cup 2025-2028 season includes the World Cups, offering competition opportunities to athletes from all continents. The World Cups also distribute important ranking points, which will help determine the qualification slots for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
China topped the medals tally with 38 medals -- 26 gold, five silver and seven bronze while Uzbekistan ended second with 24 medals -- 15 gold, five silver and four bronze.
Smriti Mandhana becomes first Indian woman to score tons across all formats
Smriti Mandhana created history with a century against England in the first T20I at Trent Bridge as she became the first Indian woman to score a hundred in all three formats. She is also the second Indian woman to score a T20 ton after regular skipper Harmanpreet Kaur.
Her 112 off 62 deliveries, in an innings laced with 15 boundaries
Neeraj Chopra wins Ostrava Golden Spike meet with a throw of 85.29m
Ostrava (Czech Republic), June 24 (IANS) Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra won the javelin throw title in the Ostrava Golden Spike 2025 meet with a best throw of 85.29 metres in the one-day competition on Tuesday. Neeraj had clinched victory in the prestigious meet with one throw remaining as his best effort of 85.29m remained unbeaten after six rounds, securing him yet another top podium finish this season. This is the second title for Neeraj within a month after he triumped in the Paris Daimond League meet a few days back.
The 27-year-old Neeraj from Haryaha produced his best effort on his third turn as he finished first, while Douw Smit of South Africa, with 84.12m, and Anderson Peters of Granada, with 83.63m, finished second and third, respectively.
Neeraj, who made history for
India by winning the gold medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and bagged silver in Paris in 2024, had recently stood first in the Paris Diamond League and was looking to continue that winning streak in Ostrava.
He managed to do that, though the distance he achieved on Tuesday would disappoint him. Neeraj Chopra had a few weeks back had crossed the 90m mark and is hoping to achieve the feat once again.
But that did not happen on Tuesday, as he started with a foul in his first attempt. He managed 83.45 in his second attempt but made a grand comeback by throwing the spear to 85.29 in his third turn. That gave him the lead with Samit Douw in second position at 84.12m and Anderson Peters in third with 83.63. Neeraj could not improve his distance in his fourth, fifth, and sixth throws but managed to clinch the top spot. Chopra records a distance of 82.17m in his fourth attempt, and followed that up with a distance of 81.01m in his fifth and deliberately fould his sixth and last throw as he was not able to execute it properly and gain a good distance.
FIFA Club World Cup: Ruthless PSG breeze past Inter Miami
June 29 (IANS) Lionel Messi’s reunion with his former club did not go as plan as Paris Saint-Germain delivered a dominant performance to defeat Inter Miami CF 4-0 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, securing qualification for the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.
Following their 2-0 win over Seattle Sounders FC, PSG entered the Round of 16 with confidence and a clear objective to advance further in the tournament.
and three maximums, powered India to a massive total of 210/5 in 20 overs, their highest total against England in T20 Internationals. Mandhana's maiden T20 century on Saturday was the 14th time she has crossed the triple-digit mark in her career, with 11 tons in ODIs and two coming in the longest format.
Head coach Luis Enrique named a strong starting XI, with Marquinhos and Willian Pacho in central defence ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma, supported by full-backs Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes. The midfield trio comprised Vitinha, João Neves, and Fabián Ruiz, while Bradley Barcola and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia operated on the wings, flanking forward Désiré Doué.
PSG set the tone early, with João Neves heading in a Vitinha cross to open the scoring in the 6th minute. The French side continued to control possession and create opportunities throughout the first half. Despite multiple saves from Inter Miami’s goalkeeper Óscar Ustari, PSG doubled their lead in the 39th minute through Neves again, finishing calmly after a wellworked move initiated by Barcola and Ruiz.
Just before halftime, PSG extended their lead to 3-0 when Doué’s cross was deflected into the net by Inter defender Tomás Avilés. The scoring was completed in stoppage time when Hakimi followed up on his initial effort to slot home PSG’s fourth goal after a Barcola assist.
Despite numerous second-half chances, including efforts from Doué, Barcola, and Kvaratskhelia, PSG were unable to add to their tally. Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi had two efforts on goal but failed to make an impact against his former club. Ousmane Dembélé made his return from injury in the second half, replacing João Neves, who was later named Man of the Match.
PSG will face the winner of FC Bayern Munich vs Flamengo in the quarter-finals.
Atlanta,
Nottingham, June 28 (IANS)
Telangana’s Bonalu festival begins amid fanfare Why India’s education system must shift focus from
Hyderabad, June 26 (IANS) Bonalu festival, which symbolises the unique culture of Telangana, began on Thursday amid fanfare with devotees offering the first Bonam to goddess Jagadambika at historic Golconda Fort here.
The month-long festivities kicked off with the traditional rituals performed by a group of priests.
A procession was taken from Langar House to Jagdamba temple at the Golconda fort. A large number of women with pots on their heads, 'Potharajus' and devotees participated in the event.
The women devotees offered 'Bonam', containing cooked rice, jaggery, curd and neem leaves to the goddess.
Endowment Minister Konda Surekha presented silk robes to the goddess on behalf of the state government.
Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, Greater Hyderabad Mayor Gadwal Vijayalaxmi and others were present.
Congress MLC and veteran actress Vijayashanti and Telangana Jagruthi president, and BRS MLC K. Kavitha participated in the celebrations.
BJP MP Eatala Rajender and leaders of various political parties participated.
Golconda Bonalu ushers in the 'Ashadam' month, during
which the festival is celebrated at various places in Hyderabad, Secunderabad and other parts of Telangana.
The celebrations are organised every Sunday and Thursday. Every year, the festival is held in Hyderabad in three phases.
Golconda Bonalu will be followed by Lashkar Bonalu, which is held at Ujjaini Mahankali temple in Secunderabad.
The festivities will conclude at Sri Simhavahini Mahankali temple in Lal Darwaza and Sri Akkanna Madanna Mahankali temple in Haribowli in the old city of Hyderabad.
Devotees, especially women, make offerings in the form of food to the goddess in specially decorated pots. It is commonly believed that the festival was first celebrated over 150 years ago following a major cholera outbreak. People believed that the epidemic was due to the anger of Mahankali and began offering Bonalu to placate her.
This year, the state government has released Rs 20 crore for celebrating Bonalu.
The Endowment Department distributed cheques to temple committees.
‘The Emergency Diaries’ chronicles my journey during Emergency: PM Modi
anniversary of the Emergency's imposition.
The book, published by Bluekraft Digital Foundation, explores Narendra Modi's journey as a young Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) pracharak during one of India's most turbulent political periods.
It sheds light on how he evaded the police, worked underground, and took part in the covert resistance to what has been described as a draconian crackdown on civil liberties and democratic institutions under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's rule from 1975 to 1977.
Taking to X on Wednesday, PM Modi wrote, "When the Emergency was imposed, I was a young RSS Pracharak. The anti-Emergency movement was a learning experience for me. It reaffirmed the vitality of preserving our democratic framework. At the same time, I got to learn so much from people across the political spectrum."
"I am glad that BlueKraft Digital Foundation has compiled some of those experiences in the form of a book, whose foreword has been penned by Shri H.D. Deve Gowda Ji, himself a stalwart of the antiEmergency movement," he added.
"'The Emergency Diaries' chronicles my journey during the Emergency years. It brought back many memories from that time," PM Modi said.
marks to skills
New Delhi, June 19 (IANS) For decades, India’s education system has been driven by an obsession with marks and standardised examinations. From board exams to competitive entrance tests, academic performance is measured almost exclusively through a numerical lens. While this has produced a large population of degree-holders, it has not necessarily translated into a skilled and employable workforce.
As India strides into an era of technological disruption, economic transformation, and global competition, the time has come to shift our national focus from mere academic scores to practical skills and real-world capabilities.
The Problem with Marks-Driven Learning
In most Indian schools and colleges, student performance is measured by how well they can reproduce textbook knowledge in a written exam. This system rewards rote memorization over conceptual understanding, speed over depth, and shortterm cramming over long-term learning. The consequences are far-reaching.
• Limited Creativity and Critical Thinking: The pressure to score high often curtails creativity. Students are discouraged from questioning, debating, or exploring alternative solutions. In a marks-centric system, there is little room for curiosity or divergent thinking.
• Mental Health Concerns: The high stakes attached to board exams, entrance tests, and university cut-offs have made academic performance a source of stress and anxiety for millions of students. Depression, burnout, and even suicides linked to exam results are tragically common.
• Employability Crisis: A 2023 report by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) found that nearly 50 per cent of Indian graduates are not employable in industry due to lack of skills. Despite high academic scores, many students fail to meet basic requirements in communication, problem-solving, or digital literacy.
• Inequity in Opportunity: A rigid exam-based system tends to favor those with access to coaching centers, private tuitions, and supportive environments. Students from under- privileged backgrounds often fall behind, not due to a lack of intelligence or ambition, but because of structural disadvantages.
Global Trends: Skills Over Scores
Many leading economies have already begun reorienting their education systems to focus on skills. Finland, consistently ranked among the top in global education indices, emphasizes student well-being, creativity, and collaboration rather than standardized testing. In Germany, the dual education system integrates classroom learning with hands-on vocational training, making graduates highly employable.
Even in India, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has acknowledged the need to transition towards holistic, skills-based education. The policy emphasizes critical thinking, experiential learning, and flexibility in subject choices. However, implementation at a scale remains a challenge.
What Skills Should Indian Education Prioritize?
To align with the future of work, the Indian education system must prioritize a diverse set of cognitive, technical, and socioemotional skills:
• Digital and Technological Literacy: Foundational knowledge in computing, coding, and digital tools is essential.
• Communication and Collaboration: The ability to express ideas clearly, work in teams, and resolve conflicts.
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Analyze information, think independently, and devise practical solutions.
• Creativity and Innovation: Encourage experimentation and original thinking across disciplines.
• Emotional Intelligence: Empathy, resilience, and adaptability are key to navigating the modern world.
• Vocational and Entrepreneurial Skills: Practical training in trades and entrepreneurship can open up alternative career paths.
How to Make the Shift: Concrete Steps
• Curriculum Reform: Boards must reduce content overload and include modules on skillbuilding, coding, and design thinking.
• Assessment Redesign: Move towards application-based assessments, open-book exams, and portfolio evaluations.
• Teacher Training: Equip teachers to deliver experiential, project-based, and interdisciplinary education.
• Industry-Academia Partnerships: Offer students internships, workshops, and real-world exposure through collaborations.
• Technology Integration: Use EdTech platforms to provide accessible, skill-focused education at scale.
New Delhi, June 25 (IANS)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said he was glad that his experiences during the antiEmergency movement have been
compiled into a new book titled 'The Emergency Diaries -- Years that Forged a Leader', which will be released by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the 50th
Attari border, Golden Temple added in Raj govt’s pilgrimage scheme for senior citizens
Adding a patriotic dimension to its Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme 2025, the Rajasthan government’s Devasthan Department has added AttariWagah Border to the list of places, where passengers will be able to witness the iconic Retreat Ceremony in Amritsar, Punjab.
Officials said this initiative will allow senior citizens to take a dip in the 'Triveni' of spirituality, Indian culture, and patriotism. Under this scheme, selected senior citizens will travel on the Rajasthan Vahini Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train, visiting not only religious sites but also key national landmarks like the Attari-Wagah Border to witness the iconic Retreat Ceremony. Witnessing this traditional military performance is sure to instil enthusiasm and a deep sense of gratitude and pride among senior citizens toward the Indian Armed Forces. The Devasthan Department has
specially included the Border point and the Golden Temple of Amritsar in the spiritual circuit for the first time, they added.
Devasthan Minister Joraram Kumawat announced that the next Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train, heading to Mata Vaishno Devi, will depart from Udaipur on July 6, travelling via Ajmer and Jaipur to Katra via Amritsar. This journey combines both religious significance and patriotic inspiration, aligning with the government's vision of promoting cultural unity and national pride.
On June 6, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma flagged off the first AC pilgrimage train from Durgapura Railway Station, Jaipur.
The second train has already left from Udaipur to Rameswaram, and another AC train is scheduled to depart from Dungarpur to Rameswaram via Udaipur on June 27, carrying 800 passengers, including 400 from Dungarpur, 376 senior citizens, and 24 support
staff, including instructors and medical personnel.
The next AC train will depart from Udaipur to Vaishno Devi Katra on July 6, followed by more trains from different regions: Ajmer to Rameswaram via Bhilwara on July 14, Jaipur to Rameswaram via Sawai Madhopur on July 23, August 1, and August 20, and Ajmer to Rameswaram again on August 11.
A total of 6,400 senior citizens will benefit from this initiative.
The IRCTC has been officially informed and is facilitating the travel arrangements. Kumawat confirmed that the Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train is equipped with modern amenities, including air-conditioned coaches, a fully functional kitchen car, bio-toilets, and onboard doctors.
Each passenger will receive a confirmed berth, along with free hotel stays, meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), transportation, and temple darshan arrangements at every destination.
New destinations included this year are RameswaramMadurai, Jagannath Puri, Tirupati, Dwarkapuri-Somnath, Vaishno Devi-Amritsar, Prayagraj-Varanasi, MathuraVrindavan-Barsana, Sammed Shikhar-Pawapuri-Baidyanath, Ujjain-OmkareshwarTrimbakeshwar, Gangasagar, Kamakhya, Haridwar-RishikeshAyodhya, Bihar Sharif and Goa. A special air route has also been planned to visit Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Not once, but visit Kashmir again
again: Omar Abdullah to tourists
revive tourism in Kashmir in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, asserting that the tourists should not visit Kashmir just once, but return to the pristine Valley again and again for vacations.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah held an interactive session with a visiting delegation of the Indian Association of Tour
Operators (IATO) on Tuesday and acknowledged their continued interest and efforts in promoting Jammu and Kashmir as a premier tourist destination.
The session was attended by Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Commissioner Secretary Tourism Yasha Mudgal, Director Tourism Kashmir Raja Yaqoob Farooq, President IATO Ravi Gosain, senior officials, key tourism stakeholders and IATO
High-level meeting to be held in Pahalgam to review tourism
Ahigh level meeting of tourism secretaries of all states will be held next month in J&K's Pahalgam to revive tourism in the Kashmir Valley, official sources said on Wednesday.
The Union Ministry of Culture and Tourism is going to hold a review meeting of tourism secretaries of all states on July 7 and 8 in Pahalgam to revive tourism in the Kashmir Valley.
”The meeting is aimed to send out a powerful message that the tourists are safe in Kashmir and they need to return to their dream tourist destinations in the Valley," official sources said.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief
Omar Abdullah also held a Cabinet meeting in Pahalgam to signal the revival of tourism by sending out a signal that the place is safe for everybody.
The government has also decided to raise a memorial at Baisaran to remember those killed by the terrorists.
The meeting of tourism secretaries is also being held in the aftermath of the heinous terror attack by Pakistan backed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 civilians including 25 tourists and a local Pony owner were killed after segregating them on the basis of religion.
Congress MP joins J&K CM’s endeavour to revive tourism in Kashmir
and
office bearers.
“We are very grateful to IATO for coming here and organising this visit, because trust works both ways. Your presence assures us that we are on the right path,” the Chief Minister remarked while addressing the gathering.
Referring to the Pahalgam attack, the Chief Minister said, “To call it unfortunate would be an understatement. It impacted not just 26 families directly, but also affected the confidence of many more. Just when the season had begun to look promising, the downturn by mid-June was quite telling.”
The Chief Minister highlighted the resilience of the tourism sector and expressed optimism about the revival.
“Since the 2022 season, we’ve seen a surge in tourist vehicles. It was encouraging to see Srinagar bustling with activity, taxis with luggage on rooftops heading to Pahalgam, Gulmarg, and beyond,” he said.
Congress leader and Member of Parliament, Renuka Chowdhury, said on Monday that in order to send a reassuring message to the people of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, whose livelihoods suffered due to the terror attack on April 22, the next set of Parliamentary Standing Committee meetings should be held at Pahalgam.
The Congress leader was reacting to a comment posted by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, who visited Pahalgam on Sunday.
The Chief Minister had expressed satisfaction that the efforts to revive tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, especially in Pahalgam after the terror attack, had started giving positive results.
He said on Sunday on X, "The last time I was in Pahalgam I cycled through a market that was all but deserted. Today I came back to a Pahalgam that was bustling with activity."
"Tourists from various parts of the country competed for space with local picnickers who were enjoying the cool climate & rainy weather. It's very satisfying to see the efforts my colleagues & I have been putting in slowly bearing fruit," he added.
Reacting to the Chief Minister, Renuka Chowdhury on Monday said, "It should be our collective endeavour and parliamentarians to ensure that the next set of standing committee meetings should happen in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. Let the people of this beautiful part of India feel we are together in this."
"We owe to them to return livelihoods," she added.
In the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and a local pony owner, were killed by Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam, a booming tourist season had suddenly come to a grinding halt.
J&K
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday called for a joint effort to
Minister
Shubhanshu Shukla carries India’s spirit, ‘Gajar Ka Halwa’ into orbit
New Delhi, June 28 (IANS) On a day destined to be etched in golden letters in India’s space saga, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the second Indian to journey beyond the confines of Earth, spoke from the International Space Station to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Orbiting 400 kilometres above Earth, Captain Shukla made
history as the first Indian aboard the ISS (International Space Station) - a moment cherished across the nation.
During a live conversation with the Prime Minister, he shared an observation that resonated deeply back home: “Jab maine Bharat ko space se dekha, toh laga ki woh nakshon mein jitna dikhta hai, usse kaafi bada hai.” (When I saw India from space, it looked much bigger than how it appears on the map). The sentiment was more than geographical—it was emotional. It captured the awe of seeing one’s country without borders, politics, or constraints. Just land, culture, and identity stretching beyond outlines. In a warm and inspiring
interaction broadcast to the nation on Saturday, PM Modi congratulated Captain Shukla not merely as a soldier of science but as a symbol of new beginnings.
“Aapke naam mein bhi ‘shubh’ hai aur aapki yatra naye yug ka ‘shubh aarambh’ hai,” he remarked, noting how the astronaut’s very name embodied the auspiciousness of the moment.
“Aap se iss samay 140 crore Bharatiyon ke jazbaat jude hue hain,” the Prime Minister added, his voice filled with emotion.
“Main aap se sirf ek neta ke roop mein nahi, par har Bharatiya ke garv aur ummeedon ka pratinidhi ban kar baat kar raha hoon.”
Indian scientists produce green hydrogen by splitting water molecules
New Delhi, June 21 (IANS) A team of Indian scientists from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have developed a scalable next-generation device that produces green hydrogen by splitting water molecules. Green hydrogen is one of the cleanest fuels known, capable of decarbonising industries, powering vehicles, and storing renewable energy. Yet, until now, scalable and affordable production methods remained
elusive.
The CeNS team developed green hydrogen using only solar energy and earth-abundant materials, without relying on fossil fuels or expensive resources.
“By selecting smart materials and combining them into a heterostructure, we have created a device that not only boosts performance but can also be produced on a large scale,” said Dr. Ashutosh K. Singh from CeNS, who led the research.
“This brings us one step closer to affordable, large-scale solarto-hydrogen energy systems,” he added.
In the research, published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry
A, the team designed a state-ofthe-art silicon-based photoanode using an innovative n-i-p heterojunction architecture,
consisting of stacked n-type TiO2, intrinsic (undoped) Si, and p-type NiO semiconductor layers, which work together to enhance charge separation and transport efficiency.
The materials were deposited using magnetron sputtering -- a scalable and industryready technique that ensures precision and efficiency. This thoughtful engineering approach allowed better light absorption, faster charge transport, and reduced recombination loss, key ingredients for efficient solar-tohydrogen conversion.
This is more than just a lab success. The device achieved an excellent surface photovoltage of 600 mV and a low onset potential of around 0.11 VRHE, making it highly effective at generating hydrogen under solar energy.
Australian scientists’ genetic barcoding decodes early human development
New Delhi, June 25 (IANS)
Australian scientists have unveiled a transformative tool that allows researchers to track the fate of individual cells in a developing embryo with unprecedented precision.
The study introduces LoxCode -- a system that assigns each cell in a genetically engineered mouse a unique DNA barcode, Xinhua news agency reported.
The team led by Melbourne-based Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) noted that the barcode might enable scientists to trace the lineage of
each cell as it divides, migrates, and specialises.
LoxCode generates 30 billion unique DNA barcodes, far exceeding existing technologies, enabling full cellular ancestry mapping via standard sequencing. Already adopted globally, it powers studies in brain development, immunity, and organ regeneration, the team said.
The research revealed that the body's organ blueprint forms earlier than thought. Days after conception, some embryo cells are already committed to specific tissues such as the brain and blood, while others retain full flexibility.
This insight into cellular fate decisions could transform the understanding of development and developmental disorders.
The silent revolution: How AI is finally freeing financial minds from grind of SEC reporting
Picture this. It's 2 a.m., the coffee is cold, and a team of seasoned financial professionals is poring over hundreds of pages of SEC filings. Eyes glaze over, searching for that one crucial disclosure, that subtle regulatory change, or that peer comparison that could make or break investor confidence. This isn't a scene from a forgotten era. It's a common reality -- a daily grind of risk, repetition, and relentless pressure. The stakes are immense, and human capacity, however brilliant, has its limits. For decades, the ritual of SEC reporting has been a Herculean task, demanding painstaking hours, meticulous attention, and an intimate dance with complex regulatory language. The hidden compliance risks, the valuable man-hours siphoned away from strategic growth, the nagging fear of missing a critical update – these are the very human problems at the heart of financial compliance. But what if this exhausting cycle could finally be broken? What if a quiet revolution, powered by artificial intelligence, is already underway, ready to transform this arduous process into a streamlined, reliable, and yes, even stress-free experience?
“When life is a ball of just a few hundred cells, we discovered that some cells could individually give rise to every tissue in the body, while others were already destined to become a certain type of tissue, like brain, gut, limbs or blood,” said lead researcher Professor Shalin Naik, and WEHI laboratory head.
“What excites me most is the explosion of research LoxCode enables – it’s not every day you create a tool that’s widely used and has the power to transform what we understand about how our bodies work, at the deepest level,” Naik added.
Tom Weber, the inventor of LoxCode from WEHI and the University of Melbourne, compared it to dealing with each cell with a unique, inheritable DNA "hand."
Beyond the Buzzword: AI's Real Impact on Financial Insight AI isn't just a tech buzzword here. It's a game-changer. Its ability to devour vast quantities of data, spot obscure patterns, and automate repetitive tasks makes it uniquely suited to the world of financial disclosure. We're moving from simple data processing to "intelligent orchestration," where AI makes decisions and coordinates actions across systems, enabling teams to operate not just faster, but smarter.
A new breed of innovators is leading this charge, equipping financial professionals with tools that were once the stuff of science fiction:
1: AlphaSense has become a go-to for many, using AI to sift through millions of documents – from SEC filings to earnings call transcripts and news – helping analysts and investors quickly uncover critical insights and trends that would
take human eyes days or weeks to find. It’s like having a super-powered research assistant at your fingertips, extracting the needles from the haystack with uncanny precision.
2: Intelligize is leveraging its deep domain expertise in regulatory content. Their platform, enhanced with AI, allows users to ask complex questions and receive immediate, precise answers drawn from a comprehensive database of SEC filings, no matter how arcane the rule. It’s akin to having a legal and compliance expert instantly explain the nuanced implications of a new regulation.
3: Greenboard.ai looks to address the very specific challenge of compliance through the application of AI, which helps involve the automation of mapping internal controls for various regulatory frameworks, making audit preparation and continuous compliance monitoring highly efficient. It's like a vigilant guardian who sees to it that nothing slips through the cracks.
4: And then there's Finrep.ai, stepping in as the AI-powered co-pilot for disclosure research, drafting, and compliance. Finrep directly confronts the anxieties that keep financial professionals up at night:
The dread of incomplete filings: Ever worried you've missed something crucial? Finrep's Checklist Benchmarking instantly validates guideline compliance and benchmarks disclosures against peers, pre-emptively closing gaps before auditors or the SEC even get a glance.
This isn't just about avoiding penalties. It's about genuine peace of mind.
The spectre of SEC comments: Those awful comment letters can be a monkey wrench in the works. Finrep's Comment Letter Explorer identifies SEC scrutiny trigger points early, alerting teams to get ahead of issues before they hit. It's preparation, not surprise.
Staying ahead of peer disclosures: In today's fast-paced market, lagging behind on best practices is not an option.
With Disclosure Comparison, Finrep assists in detecting and bridging gaps against industryleading peers, presenting concise AI summaries that keep filings fresh and cutting-edge.
The endless time sink of research: Imagine turning hours of sifting through documents into mere minutes. Finrep's Smart Search finds the exact guideline, peer disclosure, or comment letter instantly – no more wasted hours.
Honey from native stingless bee may help tackle antibiotic resistance
New Delhi, June 24 (IANS)
Australian researchers have found that honey made by native stingless bees possesses distinctive antimicrobial qualities, offering new hope in the fight against the worldwide threat of antibiotic resistance.
Known locally as "sugarbag" honey, honey from three species, such as Austroplebeia australis, demonstrates remarkable antimicrobial activity, Xinhua news agency reported.
Researchers from the University of Sydney noted that the antimicrobial activity remains intact even after undergoing heat treatment and long-term storage
-- a trait that could benefit commercial medical applications.
This resilience sets it apart from honey produced by European honeybees, whose antimicrobial effects often rely on hydrogen peroxide and can diminish over time or with heat.
The study found that stingless bee honey's antimicrobial power relies on both peroxide and nonperoxide mechanisms, remaining effective even without hydrogen peroxide -- unlike manuka honey, whose potency depends mainly on certain plants.
The study's lead author, Kenya Fernandes at the University of Sydney, said the honey's consistent antimicrobial effects across locations suggest the bees themselves, not just the plants, play a key role.
"Antimicrobial activity is consistent across all sugarbag samples tested, unlike honeybee
honey which can vary significantly based on seasonal changes and floral sources," said co-author Dee Carter, Professor at the University of Sydney.
Traditionally used by indigenous Australians for food and healing, sugarbag honey is now seen as a promising natural alternative to synthetic antibiotics, said the study detailed in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, published by the American Society for Microbiology.
Although each stingless beehive produces only half a litre of honey per year, their low maintenance could enable larger-scale production.
With regulatory approval, this honey can now access high-value markets, and ongoing research into its antimicrobial properties offers new promise against antibiotic resistance, researchers said.
Novo Nordisk launches weight-loss drug
Wegovy in India, priced at Rs 4,336.25 per dose
New Delhi, June 24 (IANS) Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk on Tuesday launched its once-weekly injectable weightloss drug Wegovy in India, at Rs 4,336.25 per dose.
Wegovy, a once-weekly glucagonlike peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA), is the first and only weight management medication in India.
The drug, with semaglutide as the active ingredient, is indicated for both long-term chronic weight management and reduction in risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in people living with the condition.
The drug is available in five dosing -- 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7
mg, and 2.4 mg -- and comes with the convenience of an innovative, easy-to-use pen device.
The first three will be priced at 4,336 rupees, and the monthly price for the drug starts at Rs 17,345 per pen, the company said.
On the other hand, 1.7 mg is priced at Rs 24,280 per pen, and 2.4 mg is priced at Rs 26,015 per pen.
Wegovy is a prescription-only medication that has the potential to improve the quality of life for millions of Indians living with obesity or overweight, the company said.
"Obesity is not just a personal health concern -- it is a chronic disease and a national epidemic that India cannot afford to ignore. Recognising this, we are proud to announce that we are bringing Wegovy to Indians as a transformative and evidencebased therapeutic solution with
the convenience of a world-class, state-of-the-art pen device," said Vikrant Shrotriya – Managing Director, Novo Nordisk India.
"Additionally, we have an Indiaspecific price with the benefit of the same price for the first three dosing strengths. With this we are reaffirming our commitment to address India's growing burden of overweight and obesity," he said. Notably, the drug comes with common side effects which include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, and stomach (abdomen) pain. In people with type 2 diabetes, it can cause low blood sugar; and also raise issues like gas, stomach flu, heartburn, and runny nose or sore throat. Rodent studies have reported a risk for thyroid tumours or thyroid cancer, with Wegovy. Acute pancreatitis and gallbladder problems were also reported in studies with Wegovy.
Millions of children at risk as global childhood vaccination rates plummet since 2010: Lancet
New Delhi, June 25 (IANS)
With a significant decline in the progress made in global childhood vaccination rates since 2010, lives of millions of children are at vulnerable to preventable diseases and death, according to a new study published in The Lancet on Wednesday. The study led by researchers from
the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, analysed coverage rates for 11 core vaccines for diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, whopping cough, and measles recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) across 204 countries and territories.
The findings showed that between 1980 and 2023, worldwide vaccine coverage doubled against diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), measles, polio, and tuberculosis.
In addition, there was also a 75 per cent global decline in the number
Researchers turn toxic fungus into potent anti-cancer compound
New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) A team of US researchers has turned a deadly fungus into a potent cancer-fighting compound, according to a new study released on Monday.
After isolating a new class of molecules from Aspergillus flavus -- a toxic crop fungus linked to deaths in the excavations of ancient tombs -- the researchers modified the chemicals and tested them against leukemia cells.
The result was a promising cancer-killing compound that rivals FDA-approved drugs and opens up new frontiers in the discovery of more fungal medicines, according to the study by University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Science.
“Fungi gave us penicillin. These results show that many more medicines derived from natural products remain to be found,” said Sherry Gao, Presidential
Penn Compact Associate Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) and senior author of a new paper in Nature Chemical Biology journal.
The therapy in question is a class of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides, or RiPPs, pronounced like the “rip” in a piece of fabric. The name refers to how the compound is produced — by the ribosome, a tiny cellular structure that makes proteins — and the fact that it is modified later, in this case, to enhance its cancerkilling properties.
“Purifying these chemicals is difficult,” says Qiuyue Nie, a postdoctoral fellow in CBE and the paper’s first author.
While thousands of RiPPs have been identified in bacteria, only a handful have been found in fungi. In part, this is because past researchers misidentified fungal RiPPs as non-ribosomal peptides and had little understanding of how fungi created the molecules.
“The synthesis of these compounds is complicated,” adds Nie. “But that’s also what gives them this remarkable bioactivity.”
Recycled plastics can harm hormone systems, metabolism: Study
New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) A new study on Monday warned that a single pellet of recycled plastic can contain over 80 different chemicals, adding that recycled polyethylene plastic can leach chemicals into water causing impacts in the hormone systems and lipid metabolism.
The plastic pollution crisis has reached global levels, threatening both planetary and human health, and recycling is proposed as one of the solutions to the plastics pollution crisis.
of children who had never received a routine childhood vaccine (also known as zero-dose children), falling from 58.8 million in 1980 to 14.7 million in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic. But since 2010, progress has stalled or reversed in many countries. For example, measles vaccinations declined in 100 of 204 countries between 2010 and 2019, while 21 of 36 high-income countries experienced declines in coverage for at least one vaccine dose against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, measles, polio, or tuberculosis, the research showed.
However, as plastics contain thousands of chemical additives and other substances that can be toxic, and these are almost never declared, hazardous chemicals can indiscriminately end up in recycled products, said researchers from University of Gothenburg and Leipzig.
In a new study published in Journal of Hazardous Materials, researchers bought plastic pellets recycled from polyethylene plastic from different parts of the world and let the pellets soak in water for 48 hours.
After which zebrafish larvae were exposed to the water for five days. The experimental results show increases in gene expression
relating to lipid metabolism, adipogenesis, and endocrine regulation in the larvae.
“These short leaching times and exposure times are yet another indicator of the risks that chemicals in plastics pose to living organisms. The impacts that we measured show that these exposures have the potential to change the physiology and health of the fish,” says Azora Konig Kardgar, lead author and researcher in ecotoxicology at the University of Gothenburg.
Previous research has shown similar effects to humans, including threats to reproductive health and obesity, from exposure to toxic chemicals in plastics. Some chemicals used as additives in plastics and substances that contaminate plastics are known to disturb hormones, with potential impacts on fertility, child development, links to certain cancers, and metabolic disorders including obesity and diabetes. “This is the main obstacle with the idea of recycling plastic. We never have full knowledge of what chemicals will end up in an item made of recycled plastic. And there is also a significant risk of chemical mixing events occurring, which render the recycled plastic toxic,” said Bethanie Carney Almroth, professor at the University of Gothenburg and principal investigator on the project.
Sara Tendulkar, social media sensation and youth icon and the new face of Laneige, one of the most popular Korean beauty brands in the world. Known for her authenticity, charm and influential presence on social media, Sara has embarked on this new venture with the brand to support the its mission in the country.
She gracefully represents the brand's values of natural and sustainable beauty, while bringing to life the brand belief that everyone should shine with a unique inner and outer glow that is as distinct as their individuality. Along with the announcement of a new Brand Ambassador, the brand unveiled its Bouncy and Firm Sleeping Mask.
An elated Sara Tendulkar, Brand Ambassador, Laneige India, commented, “I am thrilled to be part of Laneige's family. As
someone with a biomedical background that makes way for a keen understanding of quality as well as a personal passion for skincare, I admire the brand's commitment to innovation and have been using their products for quite a while. It brings me immense excitement and humility to partner with Laneige, as their core belief in the radiance of each person's unique individuality resonates deeply with me."
At the launch, Paul Lee, Managing Director & Country Head of Amorepacific India, added, "Laneige proudly announces Sara Tendulkar as its Brand Ambassador, embracing her vibrant energy. Sara symbolizes the modern, self-assured youth advocating that beauty transcends mere appearances. With Sara onboard, Laneige aims to connect with a broader audience."
Mini Sood Banerjee, Assistant
Hydration is Key
Combat the drying effects of summer heat by regularly applying moisturising lotion or oil to your nails and cuticles. This simple step will help maintain their strength and flexibility, reducing the risk of breakage.
Summeris all about fun in the sun, beach outings, and showing off those fabulous nails! With the sunny season upon us, it's essential to step up our nail care game to keep our nails looking fresh and vibrant.
Experts in nail care from Tip and Toe Salon share with IANSlife
Protect from the Sun
Protect your nails from the sun's harmful UV rays, just as you would protect your skin. Consider using a nail polish with UV protection or applying a clear topcoat containing SPF. When engaging in outdoor activities, wearing gloves can also provide an additional layer of protection against sun damage.
Director & Head of Marketing and Training Amorepacific India said, "As Laneige's journey evolves, we are thrilled to welcome Sara Tendulkar into our family as the embodiment of timeless grace and modern elegance. Her vibrant spirit and innate charm perfectly resonate with Laneige's commitment to empowering individuals to embrace their unique beauty. Together, we embark on a new chapter, celebrating authenticity and the transformative power of skincare."
Social media sensation Sara Tendulkar for Korean Beauty Brand Laniege Summer nail care secrets
"We are delighted to announce Sara Tendulkar as the new Brand Ambassador for Laneige," said Sally Lee, Brand General Manager of Laneige India. Sara's luminous charm and timeless elegance resonate deeply with our brand's values. Sara's deeper integration into the Laneige experience marks a remarkable milestone, fostering deeper connections with a burgeoning generation of consumers."
Laneige is a brand that specializes in moisture research. They have developed advanced water complexes that are dedicated to creating intelligent skincare solutions for all skin types. With a range of products developed to address different skin concerns due to stress and a hazardous environment, Laneige offers solutions that awaken your skin’s ultimate moisture potential.
the importance of maintaining healthy and beautiful nails, especially during the summer months. Don't let the sun and heat take a toll on your nail health; follow these expertrecommended tips to keep your nails looking fabulous.
Use the Right Tools
Using the right tools is crucial for maintaining nail health. Avoid metal cuticle pushers, as they can cause damage and increase infection risks. Instead, opt for wooden or rubber cuticle pushers. Additionally, always use sharp, clean nail clippers and files to prevent nail splitting and peeling.
Chase the sun,
not
the damage: Smart skin care choices for summer
As the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter, many of us eagerly embrace the warmth of summer. However, the need for diligent skin care comes with the joys of outdoor activities and beach vacations.
Before diving into skin care tips, it's essential to understand the damaging effects of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. Prolonged exposure to UV radiation can lead to many skin concerns, including sunburn and premature ageing.
"One of the most effective ways to shield your skin from sun damage is sunscreen. Look for a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor) rating to ensure comprehensive protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Apply sunscreen generously to all exposed areas of skin, including your face, neck, and ears, and remember to reapply every two hours, especially if you're swimming or sweating," says Mansi Sharma, founder of The Honest Tree by Boddess.
Hydration is key. Summer heat can take a toll on your skin, leading to dehydration and a loss of moisture. Mansi recommends
to combat the heat by staying hydrated from the inside out. She says, "Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your skin hydrated and plump. Additionally, incorporate hydrating skincare products into your routine, such as lightweight moisturizers and serums formulated with hyaluronic acid or glycerin."
While sunscreen provides crucial protection, it's not the only line of defence against the sun's rays. "Consider covering up with lightweight, breathable clothing, hats, and sunglasses to provide additional protection for your skin and eyes. Opt for tightly woven fabrics and dark colours for optimal sun protection," adds Mansi. "When possible, seek shade during the sun's peak hours, typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This is when UV radiation is at its strongest, increasing the risk of sunburn and skin damage. Take breaks from direct sunlight by relaxing under a beach umbrella or finding shelter in a shaded area."
The founder of The Honest Tree by Boddess also suggests that while selecting skincare products for summer, opt for formulations that cater to the specific needs of sun-exposed skin. Mansi says, "Look for products enriched with antioxidants like vitamins C and E, which help neutralize free radicals generated by UV exposure. Incorporating a gentle exfoliant into your routine can also help slough off dead skin cells, revealing a fresh, radiant complexion."
Beauty addicts can now get Kylie Cosmetics in India
Iamso excited to launch Kylie Cosmetics in India – I created Kylie Cosmetics to give my fans access to the makeup products that I use and love, and I can’t wait to share my collection with all my fans in India.", said Kylie Jenner, Founder of Kylie Cosmetics.
In 2015, Kylie Jenner embarked on her beauty business with the launch of Kylie Lip Kits - a collection of three liquid lipsticks with corresponding lip liners. Since then, Kylie supported by Global beauty powerhouse Coty, have continued to expand her beauty empire around the world in over 50 countries, and across eye, complexion, and countless innovations in lip. The beauty line is carefully crafted with clean formulations and vegan ingredients that deliver on trend, high-quality, high-pigment, and
high-performance formulations that fans around the world have come to love.
In a significant milestone in the brand’s global expansion Kylie Cosmetics, launches in India. Partnering with House of Beauty, the leading beauty specialty company which brings coveted international beauty brands to India, Kylie Cosmetics’ arrival has been long awaited by Indian beauty consumers. This partnership marks the first time the brand has partnered with an Indian omnichannel specialist like House of Beauty.
The launch collection includes the best-selling Matte and Velvet Lip Kits, as well as recent must-have launches such as Precision Pout Lip Liner, Power Plush Longwear Foundation, Kylash Volume Mascara, Power Plush Longwear Concealer and Tinted Butter Balm.
Starting 25th April 2024, Kylie Cosmetics will be available exclusively in 25 Sephora India stores nationwide and online on www.sephora.in
Adelaide: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar meets Governor of South Australia Frances Adamson in Adelaide, Tuesday, June 24, 2025.
Kananaskis: Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses with world leaders during the traditional family photo session at the G7 Summit, in Kananaskis, Canada, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar meets Muslim leaders regarding the issue of mosque loudspeakers at Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Leader Zeeshan Siddique also present.
Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar hands over an appointment letter to an assistant architect selected by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC)
Haldwani: Uttarakhand Disaster Management Department conducts a mock drill in flood-prone and highly sensitive areas to assess preparedness for the upcoming monsoon in Haldwani on Monday, June 30, 2025.
Varanasi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah being felicitated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during the 25th meeting of the Central Zonal Council
Florida: Axiom Mission 4 to the International Space Station, carrying India’s Shubhanshu Shukla along with three other astronauts, lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, US, Wednesday, June 25,
New Delhi: Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal poses for a group photograph during the inaugural session of the training programme for Joint Secretaries and senior officers of the Department of Legal Affairs at the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), in New Delhi on Monday, June 30, 2025.
New Delhi: Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje receives 224 Indian nationals who returned from Israel under Operation Sindhu upon their arrival by an Indian Air Force aircraft in New Delhi,
Johannesburg: Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh with Acting Secretary for Defence of South Africa, Dr Thobekile Gamede,
Kolkata: BJP activists take part in a protest rally called Kannya Suraksha Yatra against the State Government, demanding justice for the alleged rape of a female student inside Kasba Law College hostel, in Kolkata on Sunday, June 29, 2025.
New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu in a group photo with actors Aamir Khan, Genelia D’Souza, and the cast of the film Sitaare Zameen Par at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, in New Delhi on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.
La Cavalerie (France): The 8th edition of Joint Military Exercise ‘Shakti 2025’ between India and France commenced in La Cavalerie, France, with a formal opening ceremony on Thursday, June 19, 2025.
DIRECTOR: Mohit Suri CAST: Aneet Padda, Ahaan Panday
WAR 2
RELEASE DATE: 14 August 2025
LANGUAGE: Hindi, Telugu, Tamil (With English Subtitles)
PRODUCER: Aditya Chopra
DIRECTOR: Ayan Mukherji CAST: Jr NTR, Hrithik Roshan, Kiara Advani
TEHRAN
RELEASE DATE: TBC
LANGUAGE: Hindi (With English Subtitles)
PRODUCER: Bake My Cake Films, Maddock Films
DIRECTOR: Arun Gopalan
CAST: John Abraham, Manushi Chhillar, Hadi Khanjanpour
Nawazuddin Siddiqui celebrates 13 years of ‘Gangs Of Wasseypur’
As his film ‘Gangs Of Wasseypur’ clocked 13 years in Hindi cinema, acclaimed actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui celebrated the moment with a picture posing alongside its director Anurag Kashyap.
Nawazuddin took to Instagram, where he shared a picture of himself alongside Kashyap. The two are standing on a sidewalk, back-to-back, with a tree between them.
“Celebrating 13 years of Gangs Of
Wasseypur,” Nawazuddin wrote as the caption.
“Gangs of Wasseypur”, an epic gangster crime film, released in 2012. Centered on the coal mafia of Dhanbad, and the underlying power struggles, politics and vengeance between three crime families, the film stars Manoj Bajpai, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Pankaj Tripathi, Richa Chadda, Jaideep Ahlawat, Huma Qureshi and Tigmanshu Dhulia in the major roles. Its story spans 68
years from 1941 to 2009. It has gained a large cult following over the years due to its dark humor, experimental soundtrack, and its realistic filmmaking style. Nawazuddin, who studied at the National School of Drama, had minor roles in films such as Sarfarosh , Shool, and Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.
The actor first gained recognition for his role in Anurag Kashyap's Black Friday and the Gangs of Wasseypur duology. Further success came for his supporting roles in The Lunchbox, Kick and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. He went on to gain critical acclaim for his roles in Raman Raghav 2.0, Raees, Mom, and Manto. He has also starred in two Emmy-nominated series, Sacred Games and the British McMafia.
Nawazuddin’s latest work includes “Costao”, a biographical crime drama film directed by Sejal Shah. It also stars Priya Bapat, Kishore, Hussain Dalal, and Mahika Sharma. Set in the 1990s, the story followed Costao Fernandes, a Goa customs officer who sacrificed everything to dismantle a major gold smuggling operation.
He will next be seen in “Section 108.”
Sara Ali Khan, Aditya Roy Kapur gorge on idly, dosa in Bengaluru
Pankaj Tripathi remembers waiting daily for wife Mridula’s call on canteen landline
Acclaimed star Pankaj Tripathi has talked about how love in the past was simple, patient, and built on trust. He took a trip down memory lane and recalled how he would wait everyday for his future wife Mridula's call on the canteen's landline.
Sara took to Instagram, where she shared a boomerang video featuring the two actors in a restaurant enjoying idly, dosa, sambhar and some dahi chaat.
In her own style, Sara wrote a shayari to caption the picture: “Dinner break zaroori jab traffic mein badh jaye doori and Aditya Roy Kapur sweetly obliges and does jee hazoori. Ab mann muskura sakta hai.”
She then shared a video from a fan meet and wrote: “Thank you for all the love Banglore (sic). Our story begins here and so do our promotions.”
The upcoming film stars Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Pankaj Tripathi, Konkona Sen Sharma, Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta. Directed by Anurag Basu, the film will be in cinemas on July 4.
The film is a spiritual sequel to the 2007 film “Life in a... Metro” directed by Basu. Partly inspired by Billy Wilder's romantic comedy film The Apartment, it features an ensemble cast of Dharmendra, Nafisa Ali, Shilpa Shetty, Kay Kay Menon, Shiney Ahuja, Irrfan Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Kangana Ranaut, and Sharman Joshi in lead roles.
Asked what is the key to a successful marriage and relationship, Pankaj told IANS:
“In our time, there wasn’t much technology. We didn’t have mobile phones. There was no technology in every hand. When we left the house, the only ‘technology’ we experienced was sitting in a public transport bus.
He said that back then, technology was something you rode on such as a train, bus, tempo, an auto, or a bike.
“We didn’t have mobiles in our hands. There was only a landline phone. Then the mobile came — and with it came so many things. Yes. It brought social media, payment gateways, all the apps you mentioned. Now, we have technology in our lives 24x7. Earlier, it wasn’t like that.”
He recalled his younger days when he waited for his future wife Mridula’s call on the landline.
“I remember back in my hostel days — at 8 o'clock at night, I used to get a call from her (wife Mridula), from the landline in the canteen. The whole day was spent waiting for that one call at 8 PM.”
Pankaj also recalled how he “used to sit near the telephone booth with our plates.”
“There was no ringtone or caller ID to indicate it was our call. So, we would wait the whole day,
hoping the call would come at 8,” he said.
Now, people spend the whole day checking the location of someone, where they are, he said.
“That’s how doubt starts building up in the mind. Technology has made it possible to track locations, to see where someone is. He left the house, his location is updated — but he’s not updating me.”
The actor said back in his days, there was no scope of doubts.
“Back in our day, these doubts didn’t arise because we didn’t have that much technology. I would just wait for the call in the evening — and we would talk,” said Pankaj.
Pankaj met Mridula during a wedding ceremony in 1993 when they were both in college and then got married in 2004. They moved to Mumbai after their marriage, and in 2006, had a daughter named Aashi Tripathi.
Pankaj currently awaits the release of his upcoming film “Metro…In Dino”, directed by Anurag Basu. The film delves into the complex and modern relationships, the upcoming film promises an exploration of love, heartbreak, and human connection.
The film stars Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Pankaj Tripathi, Konkona Sen Sharma, Anupam Kher and Neena Gupta.
The film will be in cinemas on July 4.
Bollywood stars Sara Ali Khan and Aditya Roy Kapur, who are currently promoting their upcoming film “Metro…In Dino”,
made the most of Bengaluru traffic by treating themselves to a delicious dinner.
Dolly Parton returns to touring with new shows in Las Vegas
Singer-songwriter Dolly Parton is coming out of her touring sabbatical. The singer, who has not been out on the road since her ‘Pure & Simple’ tour wrapped up in 2016, has announced her upcoming tour.
resort from December 4 through December 13. Fans will of course be hoping for an extension on that, given the likely demand, but for now, at least, it’s just a half-dozen shows, all happening during National Finals Rodeo, when country stars have been known to take a special liking to Vegas bookings.
As per ‘Variety’, no special presales have been announced prior to the general on-sale date. But VIP packages are promised for fans who want to go the extra mile. According to the announcement, offers may include a personal photo op with Dolly herself, an onstage tour, access to Dolly’s Rhinestone Lounge, a deluxe gift set and more”.
Here is why Salman Khan is not able to step out much
It is a well-known fact that Salman Khan has been facing security threats since 2018, restricting his outdoor activities to just shooting and promotions.
During his latest appearance in season three of "The Great Indian Kapil Show", where Salman appeared as the first guest of the season, he revealed what it is like being him.
another one, and so on. From there to a hotel, then the shoot, back to the hotel, then another airport, and finally home again. Then it's from home to the studio and back. This has been my life for the past thirty-thirty-five years."
However, the singer has performed only scattered one-off full concerts in the past few years, reports ‘Variety’.
Parton will be doing a six-concert run at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in December. Officially named ‘Dolly: Live in Las Vegas’, the mini-residency will run at the
Parton said in a statement, “To say I’m excited would be an understatement. I haven’t worked Vegas in years and I’ve always loved singing there. I’m looking so forward to the shows in The Colosseum at Caesars and I hope you are as well. See you there”. The previous run Parton is referring to was at the Mirage in the early ’90s, a much more extensive one than this is initially announced to be. From 1990 through 1993, the singer performed nearly 50 shows at the Mirage.
Bobby Deol poses with Diljit Dosanjh: ‘Punjabi Munda mil gaya oye’
Meanwhile,
where he shared a picture of the two stars posing together in what seems like a store. Bobby looks dapper in a black sleeveless shirt paired with round sunglasses, flaunting a rugged bearded look and beefed up muscles.
quirky style with a printed bucket hat, oversized black sunglasses, a black t-shirt, and a big smile. The “Amar Singh Chamkila” star could be seen striking a playful pose with his hands.
For the caption, Bobby wrote: “Punjabi Munda mil gaya oye! @ diljitdosanjh.”
Talking about Bobby, his recent
work includes “Housefull 5”. It also stars such as Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Dino Morea, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Nagis Fakri, Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, Chitrangada Singh, Fardeen Khan, Chunky Pandey, Johnny Lever, Shreyas Talpade, Ranjeet, Soundarya Sharma, Nikitin Dheer, and Akashdeep Sabir.
Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, the film released in theatres on June 6 with two climaxes. The film is bankrolled by Sajid Nadiadwala under his home banner Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment.
The 56-year-old actor is all set to portray the iconic Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in “Hari Hara Veera Mallu,” a period action spectacle headlined by Pawan Kalyan.
Meanwhile, Diljit has joined Ahan Shetty, Sunny Deol and Varun Dhawan for third schedule of “Border 2” at Pune’s National Defence Academy Backed by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, J.P. Dutta, and Nidhi Dutta, and directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 is presented by Gulshan Kumar T-Series, in association with J.P. Dutta’s J.P. Films.
When host Kapil Sharma asked Salman about the downside of being Salman, the 'Tiger Zinda Hain' actor said, "If you consider this a downside, then I do not get to go out much. But if you want that, then you must give up everything you have. Go on, step out and roam wherever you like, do whatever you want."
However, Salman shared that he likes this about his lifestyle as he himself does not like to get out much. He added, "I actually prefer this. As it is, I don't step out much. I go on shoots and then come home. From home to one airport then another airport, then
Refreshing your memory, it all started when gangster Lawrence Bishnoi threatened to kill Salman during one of his court hearings of the 1998 Blackbuck poaching case. This was followed by multiple threats against the 'Kick' actor over the years.
In another incident, back in April 2024, two shooters allegedly part of the Bishnoi gang opened fire outside Salman’s Bandra residence.
Later on, the forces were able to apprehend the suspects. After this, the actor's security was tightened multifold. Even bulletproof glass was installed on the balcony of his home, along with additional CCTV surveillance near his residence.
Anupam walks on streets of NY with De Niro: Never in my wildest dreams I’d ever thought
Veteranactor Anupam Kher showcased awe after walking the streets of New York with legendary actor Robert De Niro and said that he never thought about this even in his “wildest dreams”.
Anupam, who was in the Big Apple for the premiere of his upcoming directorial “Tanvi: The Great”, took to Instagram, where he shared a picture of the two actors walking.
He wrote as the caption: “Never in my wildest dreams had I ever thought that one day I will
be walking on the streets of New York with the GREATEST ACTOR in the world. The ICONIC #RobertDeNiro! God is kind and so is Mr. De Niro!! Jai Mata Di! #Actors.”
Anupam and De Niro are longtime friends and worked together in the 2012 romantic comedy drama titled “Silver Linings Playbook” directed by David O. Russell. The film is based on Matthew Quick's 2008 novel The Silver Linings Playbook. It stars Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, De Niro, Jacki Weaver, Chris Tucker, John Ortiz, Shea Whigham, Anupam Kher and Julia Stiles. The film is set in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania. Bradley essays Patrizio "Pat" Solitano Jr., a man with bipolar disorder who is released from a psychiatric hospital and moves back in with his parents. Pat is determined to win back his estranged wife. He meets a young widow, Tiffany Maxwell, who offers to help him get his wife back if he enters a dance competition with her.
Actor Bobby Deol bumped into Punjabi sensation Diljit Dosanjh and expressed his joy at finding a fellow Punjabi guy. Bobby took to Instagram,
