Articles by PTI

Politics

AIADMK Stages Statewide Stir, Claims DMK Involved In ‘Major Irregularities’ In SIR Exercise

Chennai, Nov 20 (PTI) The opposition AIADMK on Thursday staged a protest against the ruling DMK government here over the alleged irregularities in SIR of the electoral rolls. While former AIADMK Minister D Jayakumar led the protest in Chennai, party spokesperson and former Minister S S Vaigaichelvan presided over the agitation near the District Collectorate office in neighbouring Kancheepuram. The protest was joined by the AIADMK party supporters of Uthiramerur, Sriperumbudur regions as well. The opposition party criticised the DMK for engaging party workers to commit the alleged irregularities in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision exercise. Amid staunch opposition from the ruling DMK and its allies, the SIR of electoral rolls commenced on November 4 in Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK cadres holding placards, raised slogans against the ruling DMK and Chief Minister M K Stalin. Jayakumar claimed that the government has assigned sanitary workers and those who are not eligible to be Booth Level Officers to carry out the SIR exercise. "The DMK (government) is only destroying the objective of the Election Commission by appointing such people. They have given oral instructions to the district collectors to ensure that party workers engage in the SIR exercise. For Chennai, the Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner has been asked to carry out the work on its behalf," he claimed. "All zonal officers have been instructed that they should obey DMK district secretaries while taking part in the SIR exercise," he further alleged. The DMK would pay a price for indulging in such irregularities in 2026 Assembly polls, the AIADMK leader said. PTI VIJ VIJ KH (This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)

3 days ago

Business

India Offers Wide Investment Avenues For Israeli Businesses: Goyal

Tel Aviv, Nov 20 (PTI) India offers huge investment opportunities for Israeli businesses and the industries of both sides can enhance cooperation in areas like infrastructure development, manufacturing and artificial intelligence, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday. He said the other areas of collaboration between the two countries include fintech, agri tech, machine learning, quantum computing, pharmaceuticals, space and defence. "There are unlimited possibilities and potential between the two countries," he said here while addressing the India-Israel Business Summit along with Nir Barkat, Minister of Economy of Israel. This is for the first time an Indian commerce minister is visiting Israel. Goyal is leading a 60-member business delegation to Israel. He will meet leaders and businesses to discuss ways to boost bilateral trade and investments. The minister said there are 10 'Ds' that make India an attractive investment destination. These include democracy, demographic dividend, digitalisation, fast pace development and decisive leadership. "India offers investor-friendly and predictable atmosphere to do business. It offers huge opportunities for businesses of both sides," Goyal added. Speaking at the event, Barkat said India is a great "bet for us". "India is a next big thing....Indian infrastructure companies can come here and bid," he said. Barkat added that India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) also provides an opportunity for increasing collaboration. Billed as a path-breaking initiative, IMEC envisages a vast road, railroad and shipping networks among Saudi Arabia, India, the US, and Europe to ensure integration among Asia, the Middle East, and West. The IMEC initiative was firmed up on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi in September 2023. "IMEC is an amazing idea," he said. During 2024-25, India's exports to Israel dipped 52 per cent to USD 2.14 billion from USD 4.52 billion in 2023-24. Imports, too, fell 26.2 per cent to USD 1.48 billion. During April 2000 and June 2025, India received USD 337.77 million foreign direct investment (FDI) from Israel. (This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)

3 days ago

World

Protecting Big Cats Ensures Human Future: Environment Minister At COP30

Belem (Brazil): India has urged global leaders to step up efforts to protect big cats, saying that securing the future of these species will ensure a safe, long-lasting life for mankind. Addressing the high-level Ministerial Segment on the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) at the ongoing UNFCCC COP30 Summit here on Monday, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav warned that a decline in big cat populations will destabilise the entire ecosystem. IBCA is an India-led global initiative to conserve seven big cat species: the tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma. The alliance aims to promote collaboration among member countries to curb illegal wildlife trade, conserve habitats, and mobilise resources for conservation efforts. "Where big cats thrive, forests are healthier, grasslands regenerate, water systems function, and carbon is stored efficiently in living landscapes," Yadav said. He called for renewed global cooperation to protect big cat species and their habitats as part of integrated climate and biodiversity action. "Ecological challenges today are deeply interconnected and require linked solutions. Big cats are apex predators, regulators of ecological balance, and sentinels of ecosystem health," Yadav noted. The minister also highlighted that declines in big cat populations lead to destabilised ecosystems, weakened resilience to climate change, and loss of natural carbon sinks. "What we often call wildlife conservation is, in fact, climate action in its most natural form," he said. Yadav highlighted how conserving big cat landscapes directly strengthens carbon sequestration, watershed protection, disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation and sustainable livelihoods. He outlined IBCA's potential to support countries through technical assistance, standardised tools, capacity building, south–south cooperation, and mobilisation of blended finance and biodiversity-carbon credit mechanisms. Noting that India is home to five of the world's seven big cat species, Yadav shared the country's major conservation successes. "India doubled its tiger population ahead of the target timeline, and our Asiatic lion population continues to grow well," he said. The minister pointed out that India has built one of the world's most comprehensive wildlife databases through nationwide population assessments of tigers, lions, leopards and snow leopards, while expanding protected areas, securing corridors and partnering with local communities for conservation and eco-based livelihoods. He said 17 countries are officially part of IBCA, with over 30 others expressing interest in joining. Yadav emphasised India's ambition to bring all big cat range countries, and all nations committed to biodiversity and climate security, into the Alliance. Announcing that India will host a 'Global Big Cats Summit' in New Delhi in 2026, he invited all countries to share their experiences and strategies to save big cats and their habitats, and strengthen conservation partnerships. Calling for greater global cooperation, the minister stressed that the world stands at a moment of ecological realignment that requires unity and collaboration. "We must collaborate, not compete. We must find strength not in isolation, but in solidarity. Protecting big cats is protecting our shared planet. Protecting big cats is protecting our future," Yadav said. (This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

6 days ago

World

‘Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat’ Theme To Shine At India International Trade Fair From Nov 14

New Delhi, Nov 12 (PTI) Foreign exhibitors from 12 countries, including the UAE, China, Iran, South Korea, and Egypt, will participate in the 14-day India International Trade Fair (IITF), which will begin at Bharat Mandapam here from November 14, according to an official statement. The fair is a key platform for showcasing the strength of India's industry and the quality of its products. The theme for the fair is 'Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat'. Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are participating as Partner States, whereas Jharkhand will participate as the Focus State, the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) said. Products which will be displayed include home electronics, communication, jute and coir, light engineering goods, kitchen equipment, healthcare and agro products, textile, footwear, and handicrafts, it added. The fair will run from 10.00 am to 7.30 pm. The entry gates are 3 and 4 (Bhairon Road) and 6 and 10 on Mathura Road. The Business days of IITF 2025 will run from November 14 to 18, and entry for General visitors will be from November 19 to 27. There shall be no sale of entry tickets at Bharat Mandapam Gates, it said. Entry tickets will be available at 55 DMRC metro stations and can also be purchased online through the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Sarthi app. It added that senior citizens having valid age proof and Divyangjan are entitled to free entry. (This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)

Nov 12, 2025

Politics

Supreme Court Orders Immediate Release Of Delhi Lawyer Arrested By Gurugram STF

New Delhi, Nov 12 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the immediate release of Delhi-based advocate Vikram Singh, who was arrested by the Special Task Force of Gurugram Police in connection with a murder case. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria passed the order after hearing senior advocate Vikas Singh, who appeared for the lawyer. The court directed that Singh be released forthwith on furnishing a bail bond of Rs 10,000, and listed the matter for further hearing next Wednesday. The bench directed the Registrar (Judicial) of the top court to communicate the order to Gurugram police commissioner for immediate compliance. At the outset, Vikas Singh, who is also president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, said that anybody practising in criminal law will now be susceptible to this kind of coercive measures. He said the arrested advocate was representing gangsters but this kind of atrocities from police against lawyers were impermissible. Referring to a recent Supreme Court judgment, which held that every arrested person must be provided the grounds of arrest in writing in a language they understood irrespective of the nature of the offence involved, Singh alleged that the Special Task Force (STF) did not furnish the same. The senior lawyer added that he persuaded Delhi lawyers not to continue their strike on the issue as a plea was filed in the top court. Taking note of the submissions, the bench issued notices to Haryana and Delhi governments and the Bar Council of India. "The petitioner is an advocate and not likely to evade the process (of law). Thus interim protection is granted to release the petitioner forthwith on furnishing of bail bonds of Rs 10,000. List the plea on next Wednesday. Let the Registrar Judicial (of the Supreme Court) communicate the order to the Gurugram police commissioner," the CJI said in the order. It took note of the counsel's submissions that the STF officers were in contact with the arrested lawyer. "The petitioner contends that he, on the persuasion of ASI (Assistant Sub-Inspector), went to the police station. However after he went, without furnishing him the grounds of arrest, he was taken into custody," the bench said. On November 6, bar associations across Delhi district courts abstained from work to protest Singh's false implication in the murder case. The petition in Supreme Court seeks his immediate release and a judicial probe into the STF's alleged illegal action. The plea has also sought a direction to quash all criminal proceedings against the petitioner in connection with the case registered under Sections 302 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 25 of the Arms Act. Singh, an advocate enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi since July 2019, is presently lodged in Faridabad Jail. "In the course of his professional duties, the petitioner has represented several clients in criminal cases between 2021 and 2025, including persons alleged to have connections with one Kapil Sangwan @ Nandu. All such representations were undertaken purely in the discharge of his professional obligations and in conformity with the Advocates Act and the standards of professional ethics... "However, instead of respecting the independence of the Bar, the investigating agency has sought to criminalise the petitioner's professional association with his clients, thereby undermining the rule of law and the sanctity of the advocate-client relationship," the plea said. It said the lawyer was targeted after filing an application before a court alleging custodial assault on one of his clients, Jyoti Prakash alias "Baba", who reportedly suffered a leg fracture while in STF custody. "The retaliatory action by the investigating agency culminated in my illegal arrest," the petition said. It said Vikram Singh was arrested on October 31 without a written grounds of arrest or independent witnesses, in violation of Articles 21 and 22 of the Constitution. On November 1, a trial court in Faridabad remanded Singh to judicial custody for 14 days by a mechanical and non-speaking order, devoid of any reasoning or material connecting him to alleged offences, it said. (This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)

Nov 12, 2025

Technology

Delhi pollution update: Air quality slips to ‘severe’ category for 1st time this year, residents advised to…

Delhi pollution update: Delhi recorded its first severe air quality day of the year on Tuesday with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 428 according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The overall AQI data which is usually updated by 4 pm every day was delayed by several hours. On Monday the CPCB data was updated after 11 pm. Officials did not immediately provide a reason for the disruption. The air quality which was in the very poor category for the last several days deteriorated further on Tuesday morning due to stagnant weather conditions and local emissions. A severe AQI indicates hazardous pollution levels that pose serious health risks affecting even healthy individuals and severely impacting those with pre-existing respiratory or cardiac conditions. This is the first time in 2025 that Delhis air quality has entered the severe zone. The last time the city recorded such poor air quality was in December 2024 the CPCBs data showed. Amid worsening pollution levels Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that schools up to Class 5 will temporarily operate in a hybrid mode -- both online and offline -- to protect childrens health. Chairing a high-level review meeting Gupta directed for a strict enforcement of Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) increased the number of enforcement teams to 2088 and ordered immediate action against the construction sites violating pollution norms. She also instructed agencies to control dust by paving open areas installing 300 mist-spray systems by November 30 ensuring proper waste disposal and curbing open and biomass burning. Gupta said the Delhi government is tackling the pollution crisis on a mission mode with full seriousness and accountability. According to the CPCBs classification an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good 51 and 100 satisfactory 101 and 200 moderate 201 and 300 poor 301 and 400 very poor 401 and 500 severe. According to the Decision Support System (DSS) for air quality forecasting stubble burning contributed 6.5 per cent to Delhi’s pollution on Tuesday while the transport sector accounted for around 18.2 per cent. For Wednesday the contribution from stubble burning is projected to be 5.3 per cent while transport-related emissions are expected to rise slightly to 18.9 per cent. Satellite-based data on Monday reported 133 farm fires in Punjab 30 in Haryana 154 in Uttar Pradesh and one in Delhi. The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi has forecast that the citys air quality is likely to remain in the very poor category from Wednesday. On the weather front temperatures continued to dip with the minimum recorded at 10.2 degrees Celsius 4.1 notches below normal and the maximum at 27.7 degrees Celsius 1.8 notches below normal. For Wednesday the weather department has forecast shallow fog in the morning with the maximum and minimum temperatures likely to settle around 27 and 11 degrees Celsius respectively.

Nov 11, 2025

Politics

South Africa calls Trump’s decision to boycott G20 Summit 'imperialist'

Johannesburg, Nov 9 (PTI): The South African government and the ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Sunday reacted angrily to US President Donald Trump's decision to boycott the G20 Summit scheduled to take place in a fortnight in Johannesburg.ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula lashed out at both Trump and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who repeated the allegations made by Trump.Mbalula called the statements by the two US leaders “false”, labelling them as “imperialist interference.” Trump announced on Friday that no US official would participate in the Summit, which is being hosted by South Africa as it prepares to hand over the annual Presidency to the US.Trump cited the alleged persecution of white Afrikaner farmers in South Africa as the reason for his decision. This allegation has been denied and disproved repeatedly by both the South African government and leaders within the white community itself.“It is a total disgrace that the G20 will be held in South Africa. Afrikaners are being killed and slaughtered and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated. No US government official will attend as long as these human rights abuses continue,” Trump said in a strongly worded statement on his Truth Social platform.Rubio, adding his support for Trump’s decision, said in a statement on X: “Afrikaners have been continuously subjected to violent racial discrimination by the South African government. I applaud (Trump’s) decision to not waste taxpayer dollars sending our diplomats to the G20 while this heinous violence continues.” “This is a blatant lie. There is no racial discrimination happening in South Africa. South Africa’s laws seek to redress imbalances created by apartheid, which was declared by the UN as a crime against humanity, particularly against black people. We don’t take kindly to imperialist flirtations,” Mbalula said in an interview on TV network ENCA on Sunday.Mbalula reaffirmed that the Summit would continue despite the US not participating.“We will host a successful G20 Summit with or without the US. We are a constitutional and democratic state that believes in fair trade relations, not in the dominance of superpowers,” said Mbalula.“Our country must go ahead, and the G20 will take place without (the US). It’s unfortunate that they’ve stirred up things which, in our view as the ANC, borders on imperialism. We are an anti-imperialist organisation,” he said.Mbalula said Trump was undermining South Africa’s sovereignty and misrepresenting its democratic principles.“We reject Donald Trump’s assertions and fabrications. Trump’s administration has got no regard for our sovereignty. They think that we are a sub-country of the US, which is very unfortunate on their part,” Mbalula intimated.South African Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Ronald Lamola said the US claims were “baseless and politically motivated.” “Claims of a ‘white genocide’ or its euphemism, Afrikaner persecution, are imagined and used for political expediency,” Lamola was quoted as saying by News24 as he cited police data showing that crime on farms affects both black and white South Africans.“From April 2020 to March 2024, 225 people were victims of crime on farms in South Africa. Many of the victims, 101 (of which) were current or former farmworkers who are mostly black. Fifty-three of the victims were farmers, mostly white,” Lamola said.The Department of International Relations and Cooperation also issued a statement in which it called Trump’s assertions an “ahistorical” characterisation of Afrikaners as an exclusively white group.“The claim that this community faces persecution is not substantiated by fact. Our position on this matter remains consistent with our previous statements,” the statement said.Analysts said the tensions between South Africa and the US, one of its largest trading partners, have consistently deteriorated after Trump offered political refugee asylum to some white farmers from South Africa. The President also imposed huge tariffs on South African goods, severely impacting the local economy.With just two weeks before the Summit, which is to be attended by global leaders, there are concerns in some quarters that some states aligned to Trump might also withdraw in the coming days. PTI FH RD RD RD(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

Nov 9, 2025

Politics

Pak Navy chief arrives in Dhaka to bolster defence cooperation

Dhaka, Nov 9 (PTI): Pakistan’s Navy chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf on Sunday met Bangladesh’s Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman and held talks with his counterpart Admiral M Nazmul Hassan during his visit to bolster bilateral defence ties, according to an official statement.“They (Ashraf and Zaman) discussed ways to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and military capabilities. They also discussed prospects of expanded military cooperation through bilateral training, seminars, and visits,” Defence Ministry’s Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) directorate or media wing said in a statement.The four-day visit came a day after a Pakistani naval ship, PNS SAIF, anchored off Bangladesh's main port in southeastern Chattogram for a four-day goodwill visit. Pakistan Navy, said in a statement, the development is a coordinated engagement that underscored Islamabad’s “commitment to strengthen longstanding ties and improve maritime collaboration with Bangladesh". Earlier in the day, Hassan received his Pakistani counterpart at the airport, where a Bangladeshi naval contingent offered him an honour guard. Ashraf paid homage to the 1971 Liberation War martyrs of the armed forces, placing wreaths at their memorial, Shikha Anirban, in Dhaka Cantonment. The ISPR said the two navy chiefs' meeting featured matters related to training and professional collaboration. The meeting was also attended by visiting Pakistani navy delegation members, its high commissioner in Dhaka and senior Bangladeshi navy officers. Ashraf’s Bangladesh visit came two weeks after Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) chairman General Sahir Shamshad Mirza visited Bangladesh and met interim government chief Muhammad Yunus and three armed forces chiefs. Bangladesh-Pakistan ties witnessed a rapid development after the ouster of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League regime on August 5, 2024, in a student-led street protest called July Uprising which installed Yunus as the head of the interim administration. According to ISPR, the Pakistan Navy chief is scheduled to meet Bangladesh’s Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan and the principal staff officer of the Armed Forces Division, the commandant of the National Defence College, and naval administrative authorities in the southwestern port city of Chattogram. PTI AR RD RD RD RD(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

Nov 9, 2025

Politics

‘Death Knell For Supreme Court’: Opposition Rages As Parliament Clears 27th Amendment

Islamabad, Nov 9 (PTI) Pakistan's joint parliamentary committee of the Senate and National Assembly on Sunday approved the 27th constitutional amendment bill with the opposition alleging that the government was sounding “the death knell for the Supreme Court.” The amendment proposes a change in Article 243, seeking to abolish the 'Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee' and introduce a new 'Chief of Defence Forces.' Other proposals under the same amendment include establishing a Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) and reducing the powers of the Supreme Court. Senator Farooq Naek of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), who chaired the meeting of the joint parliamentary committee, told the media after it was over that “the meeting unanimously approved the basic draft of the bill.” “There are some minor sections which the committee authorised me (NaeK) and law minister (Azam Nazir Tarar) to settle,” he said. “Everything has been done with consensus.” The Senate is scheduled to meet at 11 am on Monday to take up the bill in the light of the committee report and vote on every amendment and pass it by a two-thirds majority. After the Senate, it would be presented before the National Assembly, where it must pass a two-thirds majority again. In the final stage, it must get the president's approval to become a law. Meanwhile, the new amendment came under severe criticism in the Senate session earlier in the day, when opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Senator Ali Zafar said that the proposed constitutional amendment would “sound the death knell for the Supreme Court.” “The way you are amending the Constitution, (it) is like destroying a structure,” Zafar said as he addressed the session. He stressed that Parliament is formed by the people’s vote and that the Constitution guarantees citizens’ fundamental rights. An independent judiciary, he added, is the guarantor of democracy, with civilian supremacy a core principle. Zafar also questioned the legitimacy of the current Parliament, asserting that “there is no national consensus on this amendment; this Parliament was formed through a flawed election.” He also warned that the new constitutional courts are unnecessary, describing them as a “warehouse” for cases that will primarily involve disputes between the public and the government. Opposition members attended the Senate session wearing black armbands in protest. The Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP), a multi-party opposition alliance, had announced a nationwide protest movement against the amendment. “Democratic institutions have been paralysed within Pakistan… the nation must step up against the [proposed] 27th Amendment,” Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said in a statement. MWM is part of the TTAP along with the PTI of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan. The alliance also includes the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) and the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC). PkMAP Chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai said that the nationwide movement would begin on Sunday. “Our slogan will be 'Long live democracy', 'Down with dictatorship.' Our third slogan will call for the release of [political] prisoners,” he said. However, by evening, no protests were held anywhere in the country. Legal experts are divided over the merits of the amendment, with many believing that the tweaks would, in effect, dethrone the Supreme Court as the country’s highest judicial forum, ceding that position to the proposed Federal Constitutional Court (FCC). However, proponents of the amendment say the new constitutional court would modernise the judiciary, reduce backlogs and separate constitutional and appellate jurisdictions — a reform they argue will improve efficiency and clarity in the justice system, according to the Dawn newspaper. “Left with a limited jurisdiction of deciding ordinary civil, criminal and statutory appeals, the Supreme Court has now become all the more a ‘Supreme District Court’,” a senior counsel told Dawn. According to former additional attorney general Tariq Mehmood Khokhar, the proposed amendment tightens executive control over the superior judiciary through expanded powers to transfer high court judges, and establish an FCC “empowered by disempowering the Supreme Court.” It also formally vests the office of Chief of the Defence Forces in the Chief of the Army Staff and constitutionally guarantees the Field Marshal rank for life, he said. Another lawyer, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said that although the senior-most of the two chiefs would chair the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, “for all other purposes, the FCC will be in the commanding position.” He also noted that under the amended Article 175A, the chief justice of the FCC is listed before the chief justice of the Supreme Court and will have a longer tenure, retiring at 68, compared to the current retirement age of 65 for Supreme Court judges. In contrast, senior counsel Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmad Khokhar welcomed the initiative, calling the proposed 27th Amendment “a major and long-awaited structural shift” in the justice system. He said the creation of two separate apex courts — the existing Supreme Court dealing primarily with appellate functions, and a new FCC with exclusive jurisdiction over constitutional interpretation, inter-governmental disputes and matters arising under Article 199 — reflected “a forward-looking reform model.” This division, he argued, would provide “greater clarity, efficiency and constitutional coherence.” Khokhar said the amendments to Article 243 were in line with “modern constitutional democracies,” with a unified advisory framework under a principal military adviser answerable to the prime minister, the defence minister and the National Security Committee. The newly elected Supreme Court Bar Association President Haroonur Rasheed supported the idea of setting up an FCC. (Disclaimer: This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)

Nov 9, 2025

Technology

Jharkhand CM Slams BJP, Urges Support for JMM Candidate in Ghatsila

Ghatsila: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday urged the electorate to exercise their democratic power to oust the BJP, cautioning voters against "rumour mongers, horse traders and forces seeking to divide society on caste and creed lines."Addressing an election rally at Dhalbhumgarh in support of JMM candidate Somesh Chandra Soren for the upcoming Ghatsila assembly bypoll, Soren said the BJP may use money power and threats to seek votes but emphasised that "no court is bigger than the court of the people in a democracy."Referring to the deaths of JMM supremo Sibu Soren and sitting Ghatsila MLA and Jharkhand Education Minister Ramdas Soren in August, the chief minister said the by-election was a constitutional obligation that must be respected.Soren attacked the BJP for claiming to be the largest organisation, accusing it of historically oppressing underprivileged communities, Adivasis, Dalits, and farmers.Without naming them, he criticised BJP candidate Babulal Soren and his father, calling Babulal a "bull" who had grown within JMM but now served BJP's interests.He alleged such forces had weakened the Jharkhand movement and delayed the statehood process.Recalling the 2024 assembly polls, Soren said Ramdas Soren had defeated Babulal Soren with a large margin due to public support.Appealing to voters to support Somesh Chandra Soren in the November 11 bypoll, the CM said the candidate was capable of carrying forward his late father's unfinished work.

Nov 7, 2025

Technology

IFFI to Showcase Over 240 Films from 81 Nations, Japan as Focus Country

New Delhi: The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will be held in Goa from November 20 to 28 and feature over 240 films from 81 countries, including 13 world premieres, five international premieres and 44 Asian premieres, officials said on Friday. Japan has been named the 'Country of Focus' for 2025 and six curated titles, representing the nation's evolving cinematic language, will be screened at the festival. Spain will serve as the 'Partner Country', while Australia will be the 'Spotlight Country'.The festival will host three international competitions featuring 32 films from five continents, along with top award-winning titles from world's major film festivals.such as South Korean drama "No Other Choice", Cannes Palme d'Or winner "It Was Just An Accident", "Father Mother Sister Brother", the Golden Lion winner at Venice, "The Message", which won the Silver Bear at Berlin festival and "Sentimental Value" by acclaimed filmmaker Joachim Trier.This year's festival received a record 2,314 submissions from 127 countries, including 1098 entries from 18 different languages from India."IFFI 2025 marks a significant chapter as it embraces inclusivity and diversity, showcasing voices from all corners of the world while spotlighting Indian regional cinema's rich tapestry. By introducing programmes focused on emerging filmmakers and digital storytelling, IFFI is nurturing platforms that champion new talent and celebrate the evolution of filmmaking in the digital age," information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a statement.The opening film of IFFI 2025 is Brazilian auteur Gabriel Mascaro's "The Blue Trail", a sci-fi and fantasy feature following a 75-year-old woman's defiant voyage through the Amazon. The film, a quiet manifesto on freedom and dignity, won the Silver Bear - Grand Jury Prize at the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival.The Gala Premieres segment will feature 18 titles, including 13 world premieres, two Asia premieres, one India premiere, and two special showcase screenings.Over 160 films will screen in the International Section, including 13 world premieres and 80 award-winning festival titles, as well as 21 Oscar-nominated films. The jury for international competition is headed by filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.The festival's nine curated sections include Docu-Montage, From the Festivals, Rising Stars, Mission Life, Experimental Films, Restored Classics, Macabre Dreams, UNICEF and Cinema of the World.The film gala will feature an extensive slate of 21 masterclasses and panel discussions across 10 formats at Kala Academy, bringing together some of the most prominent names in Indian and international cinema.Participants include Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Anupam Kher, Aamir Khan, Bobby Deol, Ravi Varman, Kushboo Sundar, Suhasini Maniratnam, Christopher Charles Corbould OBE, Pete Draper and Sreekar Prasad.Sessions will cover topics such as editing and acting in the digital era, theatre and sustainability, as well as AI and VFX technologies. Panels will explore cinema's role in promoting peace and the challenges of modern filmmaking, while "In Conversation" sessions will host leading artists and technicians.IFFI 2025 will celebrate centenaries of cinematic legends Guru Dutt, Raj Khosla, Ritwik Ghatak, P Bhanumathi, Bhupen Hazarika and Salil Chowdhury by showcasing restored classics of their work.The Indian Panorama section will feature 25 feature films, 20 non-feature films and 5 debut features.Tamil film "Amaran", directed by Rajkumar Periyasamy and starring Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi, will open the feature category, while "Kakori" will open the non-feature section.The feature film jury is headed by actor Raja Bundela, while Dharam Gulati leads the jury for non-feature category.The Women in Cinema and Emerging Voices segments will spotlight inclusivity and new perspectives, featuring over 50 films directed by women and an equal number by debut filmmakers.The Waves Film Bazaar, in its 19th edition, will feature over 300 film projects across Screenwriters Lab, Market Screenings, Viewing Room Library and Co-Production Market.The co-production market will showcase 22 feature films and 5 documentaries, with total cash grants of USD 20,000 to three winning projects.The Creative Minds of Tomorrow (CMOT) programme, which saw 799 entries this year, will feature 124 selected participants across 13 filmmaking crafts, including three new ones. The initiative also includes a 48-hour filmmaking challenge in collaboration with ShortsTV.The 2025 edition of the International Film Festival of India will run from november 20 to 28.

Nov 7, 2025

Technology

China Launches Third Aircraft Carrier, Its Most Advanced with Electromagnetic Catapults

Beijing: China has commissioned its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, stated to be the most modern warship equipped with electromagnetic catapults, at a ceremony attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, wrapped in secrecy.While the official media reported its commissioning on Friday, a report by state-run Xinhua news agency said that Xi attended the commissioning and flag-presentation ceremony of the Fujian on Wednesday at Sanya port in south China's Hainan Province.The Fujian is equipped with an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), used only by the American aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford.US President Donald Trump last week said he wanted to abandon EMALS technology and go back to steam power, calling the advanced launch system expensive, unreliable and difficult to repair, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.While all three Chinese carriers are conventionally powered, recent reports said China is reportedly building its fourth aircraft carrier in Dalian, which could be powered by nuclear propulsion to increase its endurance and global reach and provide significantly more power to run advanced systems.China, which was the last among the major countries to opt for aircraft carriers for its navy, currently has two of them: the Liaoning, a refit of the Soviet-era ship commissioned in 2012, and Shandong, an indigenously built 2nd aircraft carrier operationalised in 2019.Fujian has been commissioned after the military said carrier-based aircraft J-15T, J-35 and KongJing-600 have successfully completed catapult-assisted take-off and arrested landing training on its flat deck.All three carriers are conventionally powered. Fujian is the largest among them with a displacement of 80,000 tonnes.Analysts say that with tensions on the rise with the US, China may build more aircraft carriers to operate in various global maritime routes.During his visit to Fujian, Xi, who is also the head of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high command of the Chinese military, has been briefed about the combat capabilities of Fujian and the use of its advanced electromagnetic catapults, according to Xinhua.As someone who is pushing for rapid modernisation of the Chinese military, Xi himself directed the navy to use EMALS technology, Xinhua reported.Besides attending the briefings by the commanding officers and pilots about the aircraft's technical and tactical performance and the advantages of electromagnetic catapults, Xi visited the tower and learned about flight command and take-off and landing operations.With the operationalisation of the third aircraft carrier, the Chinese navy was expected to begin to deploy them in the immediate vicinity of the Taiwan Strait and the disputed South China Sea.China claims Taiwan as part of its mainland. It also claims most of the South China Sea. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims.With the operationalisation of Fujian, China may also extend the deployment of aircraft carriers in India's backyard, the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, where its naval fleet is active with bases in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa and Pakistan's Gwadar, besides the commercial port, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, which China acquired as a debt swap.According to a recent BBC report, China now has the world's largest operating fleet of 234 warships compared to the US Navy's 219.The Indian Navy, which operates two aircraft carriers, INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, is also catching up by commissioning more naval ships to maintain its dominance in the Indian Ocean.Simultaneously, China is developing a new fighter aircraft that can operate from its carrier groups.Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told state-run Global Times that Fujian commissioning is a symbol of the achievements in the transformation of the PLA Navy from coastal defence to far seas defence.Zhang said the commissioning of the Fujian will bring three major changes and capability leaps for the PLA Navy. The first is the use of the electromagnetic catapult system that enables aircraft to take off with full fuel and ammunition, increasing the combat radius and enhancing the attack capability.Chinese military commentator Song Zhongping said, "As China's first aircraft carrier with a flat deck, and utilising numerous advanced technologies, including electromagnetic catapults, electromagnetic arresting gear, and an all-electric propulsion system, the delivery speed is remarkably fast," he said.Song said that despite China entering "a new era" with three-carrier battle groups, it was not enough to fend off possible interference in the Taiwan Strait."Three aircraft carriers are not actually sufficient. China's aircraft carriers still have certain shortcomings in terms of performance, quantity and combat experience if we want to fend off those countries capable of intervening in the Taiwan Strait," he said.Song said Fujian was the only Chinese carrier capable of...

Nov 7, 2025

Technology

Trump To Skip G20 Summit, Says South Africa ‘Shouldn’t Be In The Gs Anymore’

New York: US President Donald Trump has said he will not attend the G20 Summit to be held in South Africa later this month, questioning the country's membership in the grouping of major economies. South Africa, which assumed the year-long G20 Presidency on December 1, 2024, will host the Summit in Johannesburg from November 22 to 23, the first time the meeting of G20 leaders will be held on African soil. “I am not going. We have a G20 meeting in South Africa. South Africa shouldn't even be in the Gs anymore because what's happened there is bad. I'm not going. I told them I'm not going. I'm not going to represent our country there. It shouldn't be there,” Trump said while addressing the America Business Forum Miami in Florida on Wednesday. The US will take over the G20 Presidency from South Africa on December 1, 2025, and will chair the grouping until November 30, 2026. Trump has previously said he plans to host the 2026 G20 Summit at his golf club near Miami. India held the G20 Presidency from December 2022 to November 2023 and hosted the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023, which was attended by then US President Joe Biden. The G20 comprises 19 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkiye, the UK, and the US as well as the European Union and the African Union. It was under India's G20 Presidency that the African Union was inducted as a permanent member of the grouping. In his remarks, Trump also criticised “communist” New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, and said Miami has long been a haven for people fleeing communist tyranny in South Africa. (This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)

Nov 6, 2025

Technology

Courts block deportation of Indian man wrongly imprisoned for 43 years

Two separate courts have ordered immigration officials not to deport an Indian-origin man who spent four decades in prison before his murder conviction was overturned.Subramanyam Vedam, 64, is currently detained at a short-term holding centre in Alexandria, Louisiana, that's equipped with an airstrip for deportations. Vedam, known as 'Subu', was transferred there from central Pennsylvania last week, relatives said.An immigration judge stayed his deportation on Thursday until the Bureau of Immigration Appeals decides whether to review his case. That could take several months.Vedam's lawyers also got a stay the same day in the US District Court in Pennsylvania, but said that case may be on hold given the immigration court ruling.Vedam came to the US legally from India as an infant and grew up in State College, where his father taught at Penn State. He was serving a life sentence in a friend's 1980 death before his conviction was overturned this year.He was released from state prison on October 3, only to be taken straight into immigration custody.The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement is seeking to deport Vedam over his no contest plea to charges of LSD delivery, filed when he was about 20. His lawyers argue that the four decades he wrongly spent in prison, where he earned degrees and tutored fellow inmates, should outweigh the drug case.A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said on Monday that the reversal in the murder case does not negate the drug conviction.“Having a single conviction vacated will not stop ICE's enforcement of the federal immigration law," Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, said in an email.Vedam's sister said on Monday that the family is relieved “that two different judges have agreed that Subu's deportation is unwarranted while his effort to re-open his immigration case is still pending".“We're also hopeful that Board of Immigration Appeals will ultimately agree that Subu's deportation would represent another untenable injustice inflicted on a man who not only endured 43 years in a maximum-security prison for a crime he didn't commit, but has also lived in the US since he was 9-months-old," Saraswathi Vedam said.

Nov 4, 2025

Technology

Modi Wants Youth Busy Making Reels to Avoid Questions on Jobs: Rahul Gandhi

Aurangabad: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants the youth to remain busy in making social media reels, so that they stay distracted from pressing problems about education, health and employment.Addressing a poll rally in Bihar's Aurangabad, Gandhi charged the PM with promoting addiction to social media. Modi wants you to become addicted to making reels, Instagram, Facebook... This is the new high ('nasha') of the 21st century. He wants such a scenario because this would ensure that the youth remain distracted, and do not hold his government accountable for their problems about education, health and employment, he alleged.Gandhi also claimed that Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were indulging in 'vote chori' (vote theft) in Bihar, as they know the NDA would not win the assembly polls. The INDIA bloc, if voted to power in Bihar, will be a government of the extremely backward, socially marginalised and Dalits, the former Congress president asserted.Slamming the NDA government in the state, Gandhi accused Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of turning the youth of Bihar into labourers. Question paper leaks are also a regular affair in Bihar, benefitting the financially rich students, alleged Gandhi.

Nov 4, 2025

Technology

4 militants killed in encounter with security forces in Manipur’s Churachandpur

At least four militants, belonging to a banned outfit, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Manipur's Churachandpur district on Tuesday morning, police said.Based on inputs about the presence of armed cadres belonging to the proscribed United Kuki National Army (UKNA), an operation was launched around 5.30 am at Khanpi village under Henglep sub-division in the district, a senior officer said.UKNA is not a signatory to the Suspension of Operations pact signed between the Centre, the state government and the Kuki and Zomi militant groups.During the operation, a fierce gunfight broke out between Army personnel and the militants, the officer said."At least four militants were killed during the exchange of fire while several others managed to flee the spot," the officer said, adding that the identities of the deceased are yet to be established.A defence statement also said that in the early hours of Nov 4, terrorists resorted to unprovoked firing on the Army column during an intelligence-based operation at Khanpi village, approximately 80 km west of Churachandpur.In the ensuing firefight between security forces and armed cadres of UKNA, a non-SOO insurgent group, "four cadres of the terrorist group were neutralised", it said.The operation is still in progress, and a search in the adjoining areas is underway, the statement said.

Nov 4, 2025

Technology

Mirabai Chanu’s weight class axed from 2028 Olympics, to bulk up to 53kg for LA Games

Star Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu's weight class has been dropped from the 2028 Olympics and she is set to bulk up to the 53kg category for the 2028 Games.Chanu had won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in the 49kg. However, the lowest category for women at the 2028 LA Games is now 53kg following the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to increase the total number of weightlifting events to 12.Chief national coach Vijay Sharma feels that bulking up to 53kg will work in Chanu's favour but said the Manipuri will continue in her old weight class till the Asian Games next year."This (removal of 49kg) is a good thing for Mirabai because cutting down her weight to 48kg was a taxing process," Sharma told PTI.The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF), in a statement late Monday, said, "Following the encouraging decision taken by the IOC to enlarge the weightlifting programme at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 – where 12 events (six men, six women) will be contested.”This is the second time the IWF has changed the categories in less than a year.Chanu had earlier this year shifted to the 48kg category after the IWF dropped the 49kg division form the Olympics. Though the 49kg class has now been reinstated for IWF events such as the World Championships, it will not feature in the Olympics.Chanu had won the gold at the Commonwealth Championships and a silver medal at the World Championships in the 48kg this year.The 31-year-old will continue to compete in the 48kg/49kg category until next year's Asian Games. After that, she will have two years to gradually move up to the 53kg division to prepare for the Olympics.Chanu has several times spoken about the physical strain of maintaining a 48kg body weight. In a higher weight class, she will be able to add more muscle mass."Right now, she will continue in the same weight class till the Asian Games, after that we will begin the process of changing the weight to 53kg," Sharma added.The women's Olympic categories now include -- 53kg, 61kg, 69kg, 77kg, 86kg, +86kg -- while the men will compete in the 65kg, 75kg, 85kg, 95kg, 110kg, +110kg weight classes.The Olympic categories are part of a slightly adjusted, new set of 16 IWF bodyweight categories.The new categories will come into effect from August 1, 2026."The new categories were proposed by the IWF Technical Committee, and were provisionally approved by the IWF Executive Board in its last meeting in Forde (NOR), with the occasion of the 2025 IWF World Championships. They became official after the ratification by the IWF Athletes Commission," the IWF said.In the 2024 Paris Olympics, the women's weight categories were 49kg, 59kg, 71kg, 81kg and +81kg, while the men had competed in 61kg, 73kg, 89kg, 102kg and +102kg weight classes.

Nov 4, 2025

Technology

Stalin Slams PM Modi For ‘Vote Politics’ In Bihar Speech, Asks If He Has Courage To Say Same In Tamil Nadu

Dharmapuri (Tamil Nadu), Nov 4 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of engaging in "vote politics" during his speech in Bihar. He also wondered if PM Modi had the "courage" to speak in a similar vein in Tamil Nadu. Claiming that the prime minister had described Tamil Nadu as a place for the visitors to reside, Stalin asked, "Does he have the courage to speak in Tamil Nadu?" Looking ahead, he asserted, "No matter what conspiracy someone hatches, how many slanderous statements are spread, how much fake news is peddled, I wish to say that the DMK will definitely form the government in 2026." Speaking at party MP A Mani's family function on Monday, Stalin, who is the president of the DMK, said his party was determined to free the state from the grip of AIADMK. Referring to the all-party meeting on SIR in which the opposition AIADMK and the BJP boycotted on November 2, he accused AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami of "double standards" on the issue. It was the responsibility of all political parties to oppose the SIR exercise that "snatches away the voting rights of the people of Tamil Nadu and buries democracy," the CM said. PTI JSP KH ROH (This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)

Nov 4, 2025

Technology

Mandhana, Jemimah, Deepti Named in ICC Women's World Cup Team of Tournament

Dubai: The title-winning Indian stars expectedly dominated the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Team of the Tournament with Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma making it to the line-up announced on Tuesday. The Indian trio played a stellar role in the team's maiden World Cup triumph. India defeated South Africa by 52 runs in the summit clash on Sunday.Runners-up South Africa also have three of their players in the side, with skipper Laura Wolvaardt chosen to captain the Team of the Tournament following her sensational efforts with the bat where she amassed a whopping 571 runs at an average of 71.37 to break the record for the most runs at any single edition of the Women's World Cup.Annabel Sutherland, Ash Gardner and leg-spinner Alana King feature from the Australian team that reached the semi-finals, with standout wicket-keeper Sidra Nawaz of Pakistan the only player named in a side to miss out on the final four, stated an ICC press release.England's Sophie Ecclestone was also included following some strong efforts that helped her side reach the semi-finals, while compatriot Nat Sciver-Brunt is named as the 12th player.Opening batter Mandhana scored 434 runs at an average of 54.25 with one century and two fifties.A model of consistency at the top of the batting order for India, Mandhana finished as the second-leading run-scorer at the tournament behind only Wolvaardt.Her 109 against New Zealand in Navi Mumbai was the highlight for the left-hander, while consecutive scores of 80 and 88 against Australia and England prior to that century displayed Mandhana's ability to perform well against the best teams.Rodrigues, on her part, made 292 runs at an average of 58.40 with the help of one century and one fifty.Her stunning innings of 127 not out against Australia in the semi-finals was the major reason behind her inclusion in the side, though the India No.3 also produced a string of other good scores throughout the tournament.An unbeaten 76 against New Zealand was of vital importance in India's run to the semifinals, while Rodrigues' knock of 24 helped alongside Shafali Verma's fireworks in the final against South Africa.With the bat, Deepti scored 215 runs at an average of 30.71 with one century and three fifties. She also took 22 wickets at an average of 20.40.Named Player of the Tournament, Deepti was instrumental in India's title-winning campaign. She finished as the leading wicket-taker and scored crucial runs across the tournament.Deepti produced her best performance on the grandest stage, taking 5/39 in the final against South Africa and adding 58 with the bat. Her consistency and ability to influence games with both bat and ball made her India's most valuable player.ICC Women's World Cup Team of Tournament:1. Smriti Mandhana (India)2. Laura Wolvaardt (c) (South Africa)3. Jemimah Rodrigues (India)4. Marizanne Kapp (South Africa)5. Ash Gardner (Australia)6. Deepti Sharma (India)7. Annabel Sutherland (Australia)8. Nadine de Klerk (South Africa)9. Sidra Nawaz (wk) (Pakistan)10. Alana King (Australia)11. Sophie Ecclestone (England)12th Player: Nat Sciver-Brunt (England).

Nov 4, 2025

Technology

IPL: Tom Moody Appointed LSG's Global Director of Cricket

Lucknow: Indian Premier League (IPL) side Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday appointed former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody as their global director of cricket for the upcoming season of the lucrative T20 league. The 60-year-old Moody has had two coaching stints with Sunrisers Hyderabad. He left the franchise in 2022 when Brian Lara took over as head coach.LSG posted an image of Moody on its social media handle with title "Experience. Vision. Leadership. Welcome aboard the Super Giants Universe, Tom Moody!"During his Australia stint as a player, Moody played eight Tests and 76 ODIs, scoring 1667 runs and taking 54 wickets in the two formats together.He was a giant in Sheffield Shield cricket, scoring over 21,000 first-class runs, including 64 centuries, and taking 361 wickets.

Nov 4, 2025