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Technology

Telangana: BRS Chief KCR expresses grief over Rangareddy bus-truck collision

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], November 3 (ANI): BRS Chief KCR has expressed deep shock and grief over the tragic accident near Mirjaguda in Chevella mandal of Rangareddy district, where 17 people lost their lives after an RTC bus collided with a tipper. He condoled the loss of lives and extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.KCR urged the government to provide financial assistance to the families of the deceased and ensure the best medical treatment for the injured passengers.Former Minister and BRS Working President KTR also extended condolences to the families of the deceased individuals and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured ones. He requested the state government to provide immediate assistance to the affected families, including the provision of quality medical treatment to the injured. Meanwhile, Telangana Minister Ponnam Prabhakar expressed grief over the road accident. He spoke to RTC MD Nagi Reddy and Rangareddy District Collector over the phone, directing them to take necessary measures to provide quality medical treatment to the injured, as per an official release. A road accident took place during the early hours of Monday between a TGSRTC bus and a truck near Khanapur Gate, under the Chevella police station limits in Rangareddy district, as per the officials. At least 17 people lost their lives, and several were injured due to the intensity of the accident.“A road accident occurred between a TGSRTC bus and a truck near Khanapur Gate, under the Chevella police station limits in Rangareddy district. Several passengers are injured, and more details are yet to be known. This incident happened early this morning. We reached the spot, and more details will be provided later,” the Chevella Police stated.The officials said that the accident occurred when a tipper coming from the wrong side collided with the bus. The Minister instructed RTC officials to reach the accident spot immediately. (ANI)

Nov 3, 2025

Technology

19 dead in road accident in Telangana

Hyderabad, Nov 3 (PTI) At least 19 people were killed and four others suffered injuries when a tipper lorry carrying gravel collided head-on with a public transport bus in Ranga Reddy district of Telangana on Monday, police said. The tipper collided with the Telangana Road Transport Corporation (RTC) vehicle near Chevella on Monday morning, resulting in the gravel falling on the bus. The 19 deceased, included 10 women, a police official told PTI. The driver of the bus, travelling to Hyderabad from Tandur, was among the dead. The total of passengers travelling in the bus could not be ascertained immediately, he said. The injured persons were in trauma and they could not provide information on the number of passengers in the bus. With the gravel falling on the bus, several passengers got stuck inside the vehicle and officials carried out relief measures using earthmovers. The passengers of the bus were brought out of it, the police official added. Expressing anguish over the accident, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy directed Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao and DGP Shivadhar Reddy to carry out relief measures on a war footing, an official release said. The CM also asked some ministers to rush to the accident site, it said. He told the officials to rush the injured passengers to Hyderabad to provide advanced treatment. PTI SJR GDK SJR ROH

Nov 3, 2025

Technology

Pine Labs IPO aims to raise Rs 3,900 cr; sets price band at Rs 210-221/share

New Delhi, Nov 3 (PTI) Fintech firm Pine Labs on Monday fixed a price band of Rs 210-221 per share for its upcoming initial public offering (IPO), targeting a valuation of over Rs 25,300 crore. The company’s Rs 3,900 crore IPO will open for public subscription on November 7 and conclude on November 11. The bidding for anchor investors will open for a day on November 6, according to its public announcement. The IPO comprises a fresh issue of shares worth Rs 2,080 crore and an Offer for Sale (OFS) of over 8.23 crore equity shares, valuing Rs 1,819.9 crore at the upper end, by existing shareholders. Under the OFS, Peak XV Partners, London-based Actis, PayPal, Mastercard Asia/Pacific, Temasek through Macritchie Investments, Invesco, Madison India Capital, MW XO Digital Finance Fund Holdco, Lone Cascade LP, Sofina Ventures S.A., and Pine Labs co-founder Lokvir Kapoor will be divesting their shares in the fintech firm. Proceeds from the fresh issue will be used by the company to repay debt, investment in IT assets, expenditure towards cloud infrastructure, technology development initiatives and procurement of digital checkout points. The company will use funds for investment in its subsidiaries, such as Qwikcilver Singapore, Pine Payment Solutions, Malaysia, and Pine Labs UAE, for expanding the presence outside the country. Earlier, the company was looking to mobilise Rs 2,600 crore via a fresh issue, with an additional OFS component of up to 14.78 crore shares by existing shareholders, as per the draft papers filed in June. Noida-based Pine Labs is a technology company focused on digitising commerce through digital payments and issuing solutions for merchants, consumer brands, enterprises, and financial institutions. Its technology infrastructure supports digital transactions and payment processing in India as well as in a few international markets, such as Malaysia, the UAE, Singapore, Australia, the US, and parts of Africa. According to the Redseer Report, the company was the largest issuer of closed and semi-closed loop gift cards in India by transaction value in FY2025. It was also identified as the leading digital affordability enabler at digital checkout points, among the top five in-store digital platforms, and a key processor for Bharat Connect transactions during the same year. In FY2025, the company processed payments worth Rs 11.42 lakh crore in gross transaction value (GTV) across 5.68 billion transactions. As of June 30, 2025, its platforms were used by over 9.88 lakh merchants, 716 consumer brands and enterprises, and 177 financial institutions. The company’s customer base spans a wide range of sectors, including retail, e-commerce, lifestyle, consumer electronics, healthcare, travel, hospitality, and financial services, as well as public sector clients such as municipal bodies and traffic departments. It has long-standing relationships with several large brands and institutions, including Croma and HDFC Bank, with some partnerships extending over a decade. The company competes with the likes of Paytm, Razorpay, Infibeam, PayU Payments, PhonePe in the domestic market and Adyen, Shopify and Block in overseas markets. The fintech company stated that 75 per cent of the issue size has been reserved for qualified institutional buyers, 15 per cent for non-institutional investors and the remaining 10 per cent for retail investors. Pine Labs will make its stock market debut on November 14. Axis Capital, Morgan Stanley India Company, Citigroup Global Markets India, JP Morgan India, and Jefferies India are the book-running lead managers, while KFin Technologies is the registrar for the IPO. PTI SP SHW

Nov 3, 2025

Technology

Rupee falls 7 paise to 88.77 against US dollar in early trade

Mumbai, Nov 3 (PTI) The rupee fell 7 paise to 88.77 against the dollar in early trade on Monday, weighed down by higher crude oil prices and continuous outflow of foreign capital amid uncertainties over global trade. According to forex traders, negative sentiment in domestic equities also pressured the Indian currency, even though a weak American currency provided some cushion at a lower level. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 88.73 and slipped further to trade at 88.77 against the greenback, down 7 paise from its previous closing level. The rupee had ended 1 paisa lower at 88.70 against the dollar on Friday, a day after crashing 47 paise on Thursday, following the commentary of US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell. Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, fell 0.04 per cent to 99.59. Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose 0.31 per cent to USD 64.97 per barrel in futures trading. On the domestic equity market front, Sensex declined 258.83 points or 0.31 per cent to 83,679.88 in early trade, while the Nifty fell 47.95 points or 0.19 per cent to 25,674.15. Foreign institutional investors sold equities worth Rs 6,769.34 crore on Friday, according to exchange data. The RBI data released on Friday showed the country’s forex reserves dropped by USD 6.925 billion to USD 695.355 billion during the week ended October 24. The reserves had increased by USD 4.496 billion to USD 702.28 billion during the previous week. On the macroeconomic front, the Union government’s fiscal deficit stood at 36.5 per cent of the full-year target at the end of the first half of FY26, according to data released by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) on Friday. In the first six months of the previous financial year, the gap between the government’s expenditure and revenue was 29 per cent of the Budget Estimates (BE) of 2024-25. PTI HVA SHW

Nov 3, 2025

Technology

Karnataka Minister Eshwar Khandre orders probe into death of elephants

Bengaluru, Nov 3 (PTI) Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has ordered an investigation into the death of two elephants that died due to electrocution in Belagavi district. The incident occurred at Sulaigali village near Khanapur in Belagavi district on Sunday. Terming the incident as “unfortunate”, the minister, in a statement, cited allegations that forest officials demonstrated negligence by not taking necessary precautions despite the presence of elephants in the area for the past few days. The minister directed the Chief Wildlife Warden to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and submit a detailed report within five days, along with recommendations for disciplinary action if any lapses are found. Khandre has also warned of legal action against those responsible for providing the electric connection to the fence, which resulted in the deaths of the animals, the statement added. PTI AMP ROH

Nov 3, 2025

Technology

Maharashtra reserves 70 pc jobs in district cooperative banks for locals

Mumbai, Nov 3 (PTI) In a move aimed at encouraging local employment, the Maharashtra government has directed that 70 per cent of jobs in District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) be reserved for candidates domiciled in the respective districts. The government has also decided that all future recruitments in DCCBs across the state be conducted only through the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), TCS-iON (Tata Consultancy Services), or Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Ltd (MKCL) to ensure transparency and fairness in the process. A government resolution (GR) issued on October 31 said “70 per cent of the posts should be reserved for domicile candidates of the respective districts”, while the remaining 30 per cent will be open to candidates from outside the district. If suitable out-of-district candidates are not available, those posts may also be filled by local candidates. As per the GR, the directive applies even to the banks that have issued recruitment advertisements before this order. The GR said online recruitment will ensure transparency and boost public confidence. The decision follows complaints received against certain agencies previously empanelled by the Commissioner and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Pune, for conducting online recruitment for cooperative banks. Consequently, the state government scrapped the existing panel of seven authorised recruitment agencies. According to the GR, DCCBs must now conduct their recruitment exclusively through one of the three approved institutions using the online process. Once a recruitment agency is selected, the work cannot be subcontracted to any other organisation. PTI MR GK

Nov 3, 2025

Technology

Telangana to launch aerial electromagnetic survey for SLBC tunnel on Monday

Hyderabad, Nov 3 (PTI) The Telangana government has announced that a helicopter-borne Versatile Time-Domain Electromagnetic (VTEM) Plus Magnetic Geophysical Survey will begin on Monday to restart work on the SLBC tunnel project, which was halted after a portion collapsed in February this year, claiming eight lives. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy will oversee the launch of the heli-borne operations in Nagarkurnool district on Monday, an official release said. Conducted by scientists from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), the survey involves flying a helicopter along a 200-km stretch with an underslung 24-metre-diameter transmitter loop that emits electromagnetic signals into the ground. These signals generate eddy currents, whose reflections are captured by a smaller receiver loop. The data will then be processed to map geological formations up to 800-1,000 metres below the surface, the release said. “This will help identify shear zones or entrapped water bodies along the remaining tunnel alignment, enabling the adoption of suitable excavation methods to ensure safe and sustainable progress,” it added. On February 22, 2025, a massive geological failure caused water, silt, and debris to flood a 2.5-km stretch of the tunnel in Nagarkurnool district, burying a 130-metre-long Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) and trapping eight workers who lost their lives, the release said. Following the incident, a high-level technical committee was constituted, which recommended adopting advanced tunnelling methods, including observational techniques and scientific monitoring, to enhance safety and ensure steady progress. The Telangana Cabinet subsequently approved the proposal, aiming to complete the tunnel works by mid-2028. Tunnel experts from across the country also advised carrying out a heli-borne electromagnetic survey. Acting on this recommendation, the state government sanctioned the VTEM Plus Magnetic Geophysical Survey to be conducted by NGRI. Tunnel-1, part of the Srisailam Left Bank Canal, under the Alimineti Madhava Reddy Project (AMRP), is a 43.93 km-long tunnel originating from the left bank of the Srisailam reservoir. So far, about 13.94 km of the tunnel has been excavated from the Srisailam (inlet) side and 20.4 km from the Devarkonda (outlet) side, leaving around 9.8 km yet to be completed. The AMRP aims to provide irrigation to 3 lakh acres in the drought-prone Nalgonda district and supply drinking water to fluoride-affected villages by utilising 3 TMC of Krishna river water, the release added. PTI VVK GDK SSK KH ROH

Nov 3, 2025

Technology

ED officers raid carpenter's residence in Bengal in fake passport scam

Kolkata, Nov 3 (PTI) A team of the Enforcement Directorate on Monday conducted a raid at the residence of a person in Chakdah area of West Bengal’s Nadia district, in connection with a fake passport scam, a senior officer said. The accused, a carpenter, was allegedly involved in preparing fake passports, he said. “Many of these passports were sent abroad. We are conducting a search and will also question this person,” the officer said. The ED sleuths had in October arrested a person, Indubhushan Haldar, from Chakdah for allegedly helping a Pakistani operative obtain passports for illegal Bangladeshi nationals, he said. The officer said the carpenter’s name surfaced during the questioning of Haldar. PTI SCH RBT

Nov 3, 2025

Technology

Woman pushed out of moving train near Varkala remains critical

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 3 (PTI) The health condition of a 19-year-old woman who suffered serious injuries after being pushed out of a moving train by a drunk passenger near Varkala in this district remains critical, hospital authorities said on Monday. Sreekutty, a native of Palode near here, was travelling in the unreserved coach of the Kerala Express along with her friend from Aluva to Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday when the incident occurred. Police said they have taken Suresh Kumar of Panachamoodu, Vellarada, here into custody, and his arrest will be recorded soon. Sreekutty is currently undergoing treatment at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital. Hospital authorities said she has suffered severe head and abdominal injuries. According to them, there is some improvement in her condition, but she continues to remain critical. A team of doctors will review her condition again and decide on performing surgery, an official at the hospital said. The incident took place shortly after the Kerala Express departed from Varkala railway station around 8.30 pm. When Sreekutty and her friend Archana came out of the toilet, Kumar, who was standing near the door, allegedly pushed her out of the moving train. Passengers pulled the emergency chain and alerted police and Railway Protection Force (RPF) officials. Soon, a search was launched, and the woman was found lying on the tracks about two kilometres from Varkala station. She was first shifted to Varkala railway station on a MEMU train and taken to a nearby private hospital. Considering her critical condition, she was later moved to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital. The accused, who was intercepted by RPF personnel, was handed over to the Railway Police at Kochuveli station. Archana told reporters at Kochuveli station that both she and the victim were attacked without provocation. “He kicked her out of the train and then tried to pull me down as well, but I managed to escape after other passengers pulled me up,” she said. Police said Kumar, who was intoxicated, attacked the victim without any provocation. A case of attempt to murder has been registered against him, and his arrest will be recorded after the preliminary witness identification procedure, a police officer said. PTI TBA TBA ROH

Nov 3, 2025

Technology

3 killed, 5 injured as SUV collides with UP roadways bus in Chitrakoot

Chitrakoot (UP), Nov 3 (PTI) Two minor brothers and their cousin were killed when their SUV collided with an Uttar Pradesh roadways bus on the Jhansi-Mirzapur National Highway here, police said on Monday. Five people were injured in the incident, which occurred on Sunday night. Superintendent of Police (SP) Arun Kumar Singh said the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation bus collided with the SUV near Khokh village. Mohit (14), his brother Subhash (6) and their cousin Rohit (24), all residents of Garhiwa Majra Camp Ka Purwa village who were travelling in the SUV, were killed in the accident, he said. Shobha Devi (35), Abhilasha (15), Sandhya (8), Omkar (10) and Raja Bhaiya (36) were injured. They were rushed to the district hospital and later referred to Swaroop Rani Hospital in Prayagraj for treatment, the SP said. According to police, Raja Bhaiya and his family were returning home after attending a birthday celebration at his in-laws’ house in Ainchwara village when the accident occurred. Both vehicles have been seized and the bodies have been sent for post-mortem, Singh said. PTI COR ABN DIV DIV

Nov 3, 2025

Technology

Britney Spears removes Instagram following emotional, cryptic posts

Los Angeles [US], November 3 (ANI): Singer Britney Spears has deleted her Instagram account after sharing a series of worrying posts in recent weeks. According to People, Spears’ account became unavailable on Sunday, November 2. When fans tried to visit her profile, a message appeared saying her “profile may have been removed.”The pop star’s disappearance from Instagram comes amid public concern and a dispute involving her ex-husband Kevin Federline’s memoir.Fans had recently expressed their concern after the 43-year-old singer posted dancing videos with captions that mentioned her sons, Jayden James, 19, and Sean Preston, 20. Spears also turned off comments on those posts.Last month, she shared a video showing bruises on her arms and bandages on her hands. In the caption, she said she had fallen down the stairs at a friend’s house.“My boys had to leave and go back to Maui,” she wrote, before opening up about why she shares her dancing clips. “This is the way I express myself and pray through art … father who art in heaven … I’m not here for concern or pity, I just want to be a good woman and be better … and I do have wonderful support, so have a brilliant day !!!”She added, “Psss I fell down the stairs at my friend’s house … it was horrible. It snaps out now and then, not sure if it’s broken but for now it’s snapped in !!! Thank u god.”In another post shared on October 19, Spears appeared to talk about her time in rehab in 2018, during her 13-year conservatorship. In the post, she claimed, “brain damage happened to me.”She also shared a photo of herself riding a horse and compared her shoulder blades to “wings,” referencing the film Maleficent.“Remember the king tried to kill her but instead a guy secretly took her wings but anything from the father in heaven the real father whom is the one I only claim who loves unconditionally… anything holy is never forgotten,” she wrote according to People. “Her wings were holy so the king couldn’t take them not one person could say they were restored and hidden locked in a secret holy stain glass church…not that this has any relevance with me but I do find it incredibly interesting…”Spears further mentioned a “traumatic experience” she said she detailed in her memoir The Woman in Me, describing a time when she “no longer had my private door and illegally was forced to not use my feet or body to go anywhere.”Neither Spears nor her team has made an official comment about her decision to delete her Instagram account. (ANI)

Nov 3, 2025

Technology

Tripura Governor approves new Managing Committee of Indian Red Cross Society

Agartala (Tripura) [India], November 3 (ANI): Tripura Governor IndraSena Reddy Nallu, in his capacity as the President of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), Tripura State Branch, has approved the newly elected State Managing Committee of the IRCS for a period of three years, as stated in a release of IRCS.The approval was granted in accordance with Rule 12 of the Indian Red Cross Society Branch Committee Rules, 2017, and in accordance with the guidelines circulated by the National Headquarters on August 28, 2020.According to a release from Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), The newly constituted committee includes Bimal Kanti Ray, IPS (Retd.) as Chairman, Asmita Banik as Vice-Chairman, Animesh Ghosh as Treasurer, Chandan Debnath as General Secretary, and members Alok Roy, Animesh Deb, Gauranga Bhowmik, Kanai Shil, Subir Deb, Biswajit Malakar, Rimpi Das, and Nirmal Bardhan Roy.The official notification was issued by Er. Paramananda Sarkar Banerjee, Vice President of the IRCS Tripura State Branch, on behalf of the Governor. The copies of the notification have been sent to the Chief Secretary, Government of Tripura, the Secretary General of IRCS, New Delhi, and all District Branch Presidents for information and necessary action, as stated in a release. (ANI)

Nov 2, 2025

Technology

Aronyak upsets GM Bartel; Ganguly, Sadhwani advance

Panaji, Nov 2 (PTI) The experienced GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly, Raunak Sadhwani and Karthik Venkatraman scored comfortable victories to advance to the second round of the FIDE World Cup 2025 here on Sunday. IM Aronyak Ghosh defeated GM Mateusz Bartel of Poland. The 42-year-old Ganguly, playing with black pieces, knew that Ahmad Ahmadzada had to take risks to draw level after losing the opening game and the Indian took control of the match by attacking from his opponent’s king side and forced him to resign after just 28 moves. He will face French GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France. Karthik, who had drawn his opening game against GM Roberto Garia Pantoja on Saturday, forced his opponent to resign after 39 moves to set up a second round clash against compatriot GM Aravindh Chithambaram VR. Also advancing to the next round was Sadhwani. The 19-year-old from Nagpur had managed to draw the opening game against FM Daniel Barrish of South Africa despite making errors. On Sunday, he made no mistakes to clinch a win with black pieces in 39 moves. While Ganguly, Sadhwani and Karthik won, 19-year-old Pranesh did not take any unnecessary risk against Kazakhstan’s Satbek Akhmedinov and split the point after 36 moves in a rook-pawn end game. The FIDE World Cup 2025 is played as a single-elimination knock-out tournament with 206 players from 82 countries vying for the coveted Viswanathan Anand Cup, named after the Indian legend. Meanwhile, GM Aronyak, who lost the first game with black pieces against Bartel, came up with a solid middle game to take the upper hand and then made the advantage count to win the game in 41 moves to keep his campaign alive. Four other Indian players, Raja Rithvik R, Diptayan Ghosh, Lalit Babu MR and Narayanan SL will now be taking the rapid route to make it to the next round after they drew their respective games. Rithvik was held to a draw by Kazakhstan’s Kazybek Nogerbek in 30 moves in the second game on Sunday while Diptayan Ghosh, playing white, could not find a way past China’s GM Peng Xiongjian after 39 moves. Meanwhile, wild card entrant Divya Deshmukh’s campaign came to an end in the first round after she went down 0:2 against Greek GM Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis. Having lost the opening game with white pieces, the 19-year-old women’s world cup champion needed a win to stay alive on Sunday. She tried her best to get past the format of Stamatis but ultimately had to accept defeat in a marathon 73-move game with her opponent’s additional pawn in the endgame making the difference. Indian results (Game 2-Round 1)GM Pranav V bt Ala Eddine Boulrens (Alg) 2:0GM Raunak Sadhwani bt FM Daniel Barrish (RSA) 1.5:0.5GM Karthik Venkataraman bt GM Roberto Garcia Pantoja (Cub) 1.5:0.5GM Diptayan Ghosh drew with GM Peng Xiongjian (CHN) 1:1GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly bt GM Ahmad Ahmadzada (AZE) 2:0GM Iniyan Pa bt GM Dylan Berdayes (Cub) 1.5:0.5GM Raja Rithvik R drew with Kazybek Nogerbek (Kaz) 1:1GM Lalit Babu MR drew with GM Max Warmerdam (Ned) 1:1GM Narayanan SL drew with IM Steven Rojas (Per) 1:1IM Himal Gusain lost to GM Andy Woodward (USA) bt 0:2IM Harshavardhan GB lost to GM Mustafa Yilmaz (Tur) 0.5:1.5IM Neelash Saha lost to GM Georg Meier (Uru) 0.5:1.5GM Leon Luke Mendonca lost to IM Shixu B Wang (Chn) 0.5:1.5GM Divya Deshmukh lost to GM Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis (Gre) 0:2. PTI AT KHS

Nov 2, 2025

Technology

Fishing hooks removed from neck, flippers of pregnant turtle

Mumbai, Nov 1 (PTI) Fishing hooks stuck in the neck and flippers of a flapshell turtle were removed by city doctors by performing a complex surgery, an NGO said. The turtle, which fell out from a truck, was rescued by an auto-rickshaw driver in Dahisar area and handed over to the forest department. It had fishing hooks stuck in one of its flippers and the esophagus, and was handed over to the Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare for treatment and rehabilitation, said its president Pawan Sharma. Dr Priti Sathe and Dr Kirti Sathe of Himi’s Bark Veterinary Clinic, also associate veterinarians with RAWW, performed a surgery and successfully removed the hooks, Sharma said. X-ray images showed that the turtle was carrying five eggs. It is currently stable and under constant observation, he added. PTI ZA KRK

Nov 1, 2025

Technology

No matter how big one becomes, he shouldn't forget his culture: CJI

Kaushambi (UP), Nov 1 (PTI) Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on Saturday said that one should remain connected to one’s soil and that no matter how big an individual becomes, he should never forget his culture. Gavai said the opportunity he got as a judge to provide socio-economic justice to people was better than any riches. He was speaking at the annual function of Maheshwari Prasad Inter College in Uttar Pradesh’s Kaushambi district. Currently a government-funded Inter College, the institute was founded as a primary school in 1966 by Devendra Nath, the father of Supreme Court Justice Vikram Nath. Addressing students, the CJI said, “One should not break the connection with one’s soil. No matter how big an individual becomes, he should not forget his culture.” Gavai said that before becoming a judge, he was a lawyer with a good practice. But the opportunity he had as a judge to provide socio-economic justice to the citizens of the country was better than earning crores of rupees. He urged the students to take inspiration from great personalities visiting the college. “You are the future of the country. How India will be tomorrow depends on you. You are fortunate that you are born in the land of Buddha,” said CJI Gavai, who is the first Buddhist to hold the office. He said he has come to the programme not as the Chief Justice of India, but as “an elder brother of Justice Vikram Nath” as the two of them share a close bond. “I had wanted to visit this college long ago, but (Justice) Vikram Nath said he will take me here when I become the CJI. After 15 months and seven days, when Justice Vikram Nath becomes the Chief Justice of India, I will come to this school’s programme without even being invited,” said Gavai, who was accompanied by wife Tejaswini Gavai. A student from an economically weaker family presented a hand-drawn portrait of the CJI, on which he expressed great delight. Later, the school’s management committee announced Rs 11,000 financial assistance to the student. Gavai said the institute’s founder, late Devendra Nath Srivastava, had “planted a small sapling by opening a small school in Alam Chand village to connect the children of backward classes and Dalits in the area to the mainstream of education, which has today become a huge banyan tree.” Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Arun Bhansali, who was a special guest at the programme, said the college was a bridge to send rural talents into the country’s mainstream. “Education is not just a means to get a job, education teaches you to differentiate between right and wrong,” Bhansali said, adding that technology should be used only for positive works. He also asked teachers to encourage the students to ask questions in the class. PTI COR NAV RUK RUK

Nov 1, 2025

Technology

Anirban shoots 12-under, McKibbin stays in front at Hong Kong Open

Hong Kong, November 1 (ANI): Overnight leader Tom McKibbin kept his hopes of a wire-to-wire victory alive at the Link Hong Kong Open, but the Northern Irishman is being pushed all the way with the American duo of MJ Maguire and Peter Uihlein breathing down his neck at the top of a busy leaderboard going into the final round at the Hong Kong Golf Club.McKibbin had started the day with a two-shot lead over Uihlein after following up his course-record 60 with a five-under 65, his second consecutive bogey-free round, as per a press release. A second round of 65 on the spin kept the Legion XIII man in front on 20-under, after Maguire had roared into life with a nine-under 61 to move to 19-under. Two late bogeys from playing partner Uihlein (65) left the Range Goats GC man a shot further behind on 18-under.India’s leading golfers continued their campaigns at the Link Hong Kong Open with measured performances. Anirban Lahiri carded a round of 3-under to reach a total of 12-under, placing him at T18 on the leaderboard. SSP Chawrasia posted a 1-under to move to 8-under overall, while Ajeetesh Sandhu matched that score to finish the day at 7-under.Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat (66), starting in the final group with McKibbin and Uihlein, is three behind in T4 alongside Scott Hend after the veteran Australian – a champion here in 2014 – rolled back the years with a six-under 64.LIV players Charles Howell III of America and Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa are T6 on 16- under, following four-under rounds of 66, with U.S. star Charles Porter on 15-under alongside Korean-American Micah Shin (66) and Poom Saksansin of Thailand (65) after putting together an impressive seven-under round of 63. McKibbin’s bogey-free run ended abruptly with a dropped shot on three, although he was back in credit after bouncing back with two straight birdies on four and five.Three more birdies followed on six, nine and 12, before a second bogey on 15, but another two birdies on 16 and 17 got him back in front of Maguire after the American had roared into the race with seven birdies and an eagle in an impressive display.That shot could prove crucial going into the final day with places on next year’s Open Championship and Masters at stake, as well as points on The International Series Rankings race. McKibbin felt he did well in more difficult conditions on day three. He said: “It was pretty good overall. I felt the course was playing a little tougher – the pins seemed harder, but I played some very nice golf. I holed a few good putts, and everything felt solid.“I think everyone came here knowing those spots are available, but for me, finishing second or third does not make a big difference. I went into the week with the mindset of giving it a good go, and that’s what I will try to do,” McKibbin said.Maguire was ticking along with two birdies in his front nine, but he sprang into contention with a run of three birdies and an eagle from 10 to 13, including a hole out on his second at 11, and then back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18.Maguire, a winner on The International Series last year at the Black Mountain Championship in Hua Hin, Thailand, said: “Yeah, it all kind of kicked off on 11, I holed out the second shot.“Had some tree trouble, was thinking about going over the trees. Hit a little punchy eight iron and it rolled in like a putt. You know, I was just happy to get that on the green and to see it drop. That was the kickstarter, and I was able to make a few more birdies in a row.”Uihlein, who shot a triple bogey on 10 in round two when sitting nine under with two left to play, had another eventful day. Having picked up five birdies by 14, he went bogey-birdie-birdie-bogey and ultimately settled for a 65 to stay two off the lead – where he had started.Range Goats GC star Uihlein said: “The start was all right, right? And then the last four, well, I guess 15 and 18 were bad, but it felt fine compared to yesterday, it felt like way less of a roller coaster than yesterday.”Referring to The Open and Masters places that will go to the champion, the two-time International Series winner added: “It’s obviously amazing that the governing bodies have recognized this event for the quality that it is. It has obviously given us an opportunity to try and win, and a couple shots back, you still have to make a bunch of birdies, so we will see.”The 10-time Asian Tour champion Hend is handily placed, three back from McKibbin after a bogey-free six-under 64. He said: “I just tried to play solid golf. I missed a fair few putts out there, but when I missed the green, I managed to get it up and down.“Overall, it was about staying steady and keeping things simple. I will need a low one because Tom is playing some good golf. We will see what happens. I would love to win the Hong Kong Open again. That is the main goal. For me, this is a special tournament on the schedule, and I always look forward to playing here. Everything else is just a bonus.”Thailand’s Kiradech, making his first Asian Tour start of the season, struggled with two early bogeys, but he hit back with four birdies and an eagle to stay in the hunt, level with Hend.He said: “Rough start, two over through five, and I missed a couple of shots. But I am just enjoying this week. Today I was playing with my good friend Peter Uihlein, one of the best – we had a lot of chat and I played a lot better on the back nine. The team has done an amazing job here – the conditions are the best I have ever seen. There are a lot of opportunities to make birdies, but if you do not pay attention, you can get hurt.”The Hong Kong Open is the seventh of nine elevated tournaments on the Asian Tour that offer a pathway to the LIV Golf League through the season-long Rankings race. (ANI)

Nov 1, 2025

Technology

Navi Mumbai to get new Haj House soon

New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) A new Haj House will soon be built in Navi Mumbai’s Kharghar, about 35 km from the new airport, officials said here on Saturday. The project marks a major step in the Ministry of Minority Affairs’ bid to modernise Haj infrastructure and improve facilities for pilgrims. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, reviewed the site’s layout and design plan during a visit with officials from the CPWD and Haj Committee of India. Discussions were also held on connectivity, logistics, and amenities. Earlier, Kumar chaired a review meeting in Mumbai with CPWD members to discuss preparations for Haj 2026. A review of minority welfare schemes, Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) and Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS), was also done in the meeting. PTI SKU VN VN

Nov 1, 2025

Technology

India to host maritime information sharing workshop from Nov 3-5

New Delhi, Nov 1 (PTI) Maritime security practitioners from 30 countries are set to assemble in India from November 3-5 as part of a key event that catalyses coordinated responses to transnational maritime threats such as piracy, drug smuggling and other incidents disrupting global maritime commerce. The Gurugram-based Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) will host the third edition of the Maritime Information Sharing Workshop (MISW) from November 3-5, officials said on Saturday. The workshop is a high-fidelity table-top exercise, simulating real-world maritime threats and fostering syndicate-based contingency planning, they said. The delegates will engage in collaborative response frameworks, reinforcing the value of shared situational awareness and coordinated action, the Indian Navy said in a statement. With the theme ‘Enhancing Real-Time Coordination and Information Sharing Across the Indian Ocean Region’, the MISW 2025 is poised to be a pivotal international platform dedicated to fortifying the collaborative framework essential for safeguarding the world’s most vital sea lanes, a Navy spokesperson said. In line with India’s vision of ‘Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions’ (MAHASAGAR), IFC-IOR conducts a series of workshops and training programmes, of which the MISW is the flagship event. The inaugural edition of MISW was conducted in 2019. Since then, the MISW has matured into a premier operational forum, convening working-level professionals from across the globe to exchange best practices, strengthen interoperability and foster “trust-based information sharing”, the Navy said. “More than a dialogue platform, the MISW catalyses coordinated responses to transnational maritime threats such as piracy and armed robbery, drug smuggling, irregular human migration, and other incidents that disrupt global maritime commerce,” it said. By bridging operational expertise with strategic foresight, the MISW reinforces the Indian Ocean Region’s collective resilience and advances a future of secure, stable, and sustainable seas, the officials said. The workshop will be inaugurated by Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (DCNS). It will bring together maritime security practitioners from 30 countries of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), the Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment (DCoC/JA), and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), the statement said. The MISW is a testament to IFC-IOR’s commitment to building a cohesive, transparent, and resilient maritime information ecosystem, the officials said. “The outcomes of this workshop will play a significant role in charting the future roadmap for strengthening the IOR maritime information ecosystem for a safer, peaceful, and more prosperous global ocean,” the Navy said. PTI KND ARI

Nov 1, 2025

Technology

Himachal Pradesh govt announces major gift for Class IV employees

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], November 1 (ANI): The Himachal Pradesh government has taken yet another major decision in the interest of its employees.Under the new provision, Class-IV employees who were regularised after May 15, 2003, will now be granted one year of regular service benefit for every five years of daily wage service for the purpose of pension calculation.Accordingly, a maximum of two years of regular service benefit will be counted for employees having ten years or more of daily wage service.Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced this decision while presiding over a high-level meeting. He said that this move would particularly benefit those Class-IV employees who were earlier deprived of pension benefits at the time of their retirement due to having less than ten years of regular service.With this relaxation, one year of regular service will be counted for every five years of daily wage service. The maximum of 2 years qualifying service against 10 years of daily wage service will be considered for the grant of pension under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972.The Chief Minister further stated that the Government would also provide these Class-IV employees an opportunity to opt for the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) once again. He recalled that immediately after assuming office, the present State Government reinstated the Old Pension Scheme in the State, ensuring social and financial security for its employees.Sukhu reiterated that the state government remains fully committed to safeguarding the interests of its employees and continues to extend financial and welfare benefits to them from time to time.Sukhu, while presiding over the review meeting of the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited here on Saturday, directed to ensure better marketing and high-quality of its products, a CMO release said. He said that a “milk processing centre would be established” in Karcham or Tapri in Kinnaur district to make its products “available to the army and local people”.He said that the “possibility of operating both milk processing plants located at Duttnagar, Shimla district, on an outsourced basis should be considered to ensure a further increase in production”.Directions were given for preparing a proposal to set up a new milk powder plant in the already existing milk processing plant in Mandi district, the CMO said.He said that the federation has recorded the “highest increase” in milk procurement during this financial year, and “29 new bulk milk coolers have been installed”.“In two years, 222 automatic milk collection units have been installed in the State. Multi-level efforts have been made to increase the number of milk-producing co-operative societies, with their number now standing at 716. The number of farmers selling milk to Milkfed has also increased significantly, now exceeding 40,000,” CM Sukhu said, as per the CMO.Federation President Buddhi Singh Thakur, Principal Secretary Finance Devesh Kumar, Secretary Health M Sudha Devi, Managing Director Vikas Sood, Senior Manager Preeti and other senior officials were present at the meeting. (ANI)

Nov 1, 2025

Technology

India's Pro Wrestling League set for 2026 comeback with IPL-inspired model

New Delhi [India], November 1 (ANI): In a landmark move set to reshape the landscape of Indian sports, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) today announced the triumphant return of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL). Following its successful 2019 season, the league is poised for a powerful comeback with the Pro Wrestling League 2026, backed by a robust public-private partnership model designed to provide a global platform for Indian wrestlers, fuel the nation’s Olympic aspirations, and empower the ‘Matri Shakti’ of Indian wrestling. The league is scheduled to kick off from mid-January 2026, as per a press release. The official announcement was made at a press conference today, which was graced by Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Former President of WFI and Former Member of Parliament, as the Guest of Honour, who inaugurated this new chapter for Indian wrestling. Setting the vision for the league, the Guest of Honour, Brij Bhushan, said, “Wrestling is not just a sport in India, it is our legacy, rooted in our soil and culture. For years, I have witnessed the immense talent that thrives in our akhadas, often without the platform they deserve. The return of the Pro Wrestling League is the much-needed arena that will take this traditional sport to a global, professional pedestal. This league will ensure that every young wrestler dreaming of glory will have a clear path–from the local akhada to the international podium. We are committed to making it the foremost wrestling league in the world.” Sanjay Kumar Singh, President, Wrestling Federation of India, stated, “The IPL demonstrated how a structured league can unearth and nurture domestic talent, giving them exposure to compete on the world stage. The Pro Wrestling League 2026 is our commitment to replicating that success. It will be the training ground that produces our next generation of medalists for the Olympics, Asian Games, and other prestigious international events. Furthermore, this league will be the catalyst that prepares our ‘Matri Shakti’ for this new era, ensuring equal prominence and investment to build a pipeline of women champions ready to dominate at the highest level.” A core objective of the league is to champion gender equality. This focus is perfectly timed with the global shift in wrestling, as evidenced by the historic achievement of women wrestlers at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Indian female wrestlers have consistently punched above their weight, winning a larger share of medals for the country on the world stage in recent years. The league will see top Indian grapplers competing alongside international stars from wrestling powerhouses like Russia, Kazakhstan and other countries, raising the competitive bar. Commenting on the league structure, Dayaan Farooqui, Chairman and Promoter, Pro Wrestling League, said, “The Pro Wrestling League is designed as a premier franchise-based ecosystem. We are creating a compelling product for private corporations and investors to own teams, mirroring the successful commercial frameworks of other major leagues. This structure is essential for creating a self-sustaining model that elevates the sport’s profile and ensures long-term growth.” Addressing the critical need for financial security, Akhil Gupta, CEO of Pro Wrestling League, outlined the league’s player-centric model. “Our vision is to transform the life of a wrestler. We are building a robust economic model where wrestlers are valued as professional athletes. Through structured contracts, league-wide incentives, and franchise partnerships, we will provide the financial stability that allows our champions to focus solely on winning medals for India.” Sumit Dubey, Chief Operating Officer of the Pro Wrestling League, will lead the charge in building these crucial partnerships. His focus will be on overall operations and engaging with the corporate world to attract franchises and sponsors, ensuring the league’s commercial success and widespread appeal. (ANI)

Nov 1, 2025