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THE ASIAN AGENATION| 3

LONDON MONDAY 13 OCTOBER 2025

WORLD| 6 DELHI AGE| 16

CJI hails Constitution, Trump says US troops ‘I want the opportunity
credits it for nation’s will be paid on Oct. 15 to do good work’, says
stability and resilience despite shutdown Amitabh on turning 83
www.asianage.com Vol. 32 No. 237 | 16 PAGES | £1.50

WINDOWS ■ LJP-RV gets 29 seats; HAM & RLM to contest 6 seats each
■ RJD, Cong seat talks today ■ PM attends BJP meet on picks

NDA’s Bihar seats pact out:

BJP, JD-U get 101 seats each
AMRESH SRIVASTAVA
NEW DELHI, OCT. 12 Modi to kick off
The ruling NDA in Bihar
on Sunday announced its
Bihar campaign,
final seat-sharing pact for
the impending polls to the
interact with BJP
243-member Assembly,
wherein the JD(U) and the
workers Oct. 15 Shubman Gill takes a catch to dismiss West Indies’ Tagenarine Chanderpaul on Day 3
of the second and final Test against the West Indies in New Delhi on Sunday. The West
J&K chief minister Omar BJP will contest 101 con- AGE CORRESPONDENT Indies reached 173 for two at stumps. The visitors still need 97 runs to force India to
Abdullah takes a selfie during stituencies each, leaving NEW DELHI, OCT. 12 bat again and avoid defeat by an innings margin.
the “Delhi Half Marathon” on the rest for smaller allies. ■ Report on Page 8 — PRITAM BANDYOPADHYAY
Sunday. — PTI On the other hand, the Prime Minister Narendra

Trump, Egypt Prez Sisi to

Opposition Mahagathban- Modi will kickstart his
As winter sets in, dhan may have to wait for
another day or two to
campaign for the Bihar
Assembly polls with an
gradual increase in finalise its seat-sharing
arrangement, as talks
interactive session with
BJP workers on
Delhi’s air pollution
New Delhi: With the winter
chill beginning to set in,
between the RJD and the
Congress are underway.
The BJP on Sunday also
held a meeting of the cen-
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president J.P. Nadda,
defence minister Rajnath Singh, Union home minister Amit
Shah and other senior party leaders attend the central
election committee meeting at the party headquarters in
Wednesday.
In a post on X, Mr Modi
said he will interact with
BJP workers directly on
chair Gaza summit today
Delhi is witnessing a grad- tral election committee
meeting to finalise the
New Delhi on Sunday. — PTI October 15 under the
“Mera Booth, Sabse
Starmer, Macron at Sharm el-Sheikh; Netanyahu to skip
ual rise in air pollution lev-
els. The Air Quality Index names of its candidates Majboot” initiative. Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt),
(AQI) in the city stood at
164 by 4 pm, falling in the
“moderate” category on
for the upcoming Bihar
polls in the national capi-
tal. Prime Minister
“Our dedicated workers
are working with full
energy to ensure the vic-
Oct. 12: US President Don-
ald Trump and Egyptian
President Abdel Fattah al-
Modi invited, but MoS
Sunday. The India
Meteorological Department
(IMD) recorded the mini-
Narendra Modi, party
president J.P. Nadda and
other senior party lead-
tory of BJP-NDA in Bihar.
Interacting with such
dedicated workers always
Sisi will on Monday co-
chair a Gaza peace summ-
it in Sharm el-Sheikh set
set to represent India
mum temperature at 19.6 ers, including Bihar BJP provides new inspiration. to be attended by world SRIDHAR on the recently brokered
degrees Celsius, 1.4 notches leaders, attended the On October 15, I will get leaders, including the UN KUMARASWAMI Gaza pact. However,
below the season's average, meeting. the opportunity to direct- Secretary-General. NEW DELHI, OCT. 12 New Delhi deputed Mr
while the maximum settled According to the party ly interact with such The gathering in the Red Singh to attend the sum-
at 30.3 degrees Celsius, 3.9 sources, the discussions hard-working workers,” Sea resort town will bring Minister of state (MoS) mit. The Prime Minister
notches below normal. The were held on picking up Mr Modi posted. together “leaders from for external affairs Kirti is scheduled to hold
IMD has forecast mainly the right candidates The Prime Minister, more than 20 countries”, Vardhan Singh will rep- talks in New Delhi on
clear sky on Monday, with among the three names who urged the party including British Prime resent India at the Gaza Tuesday with
the maximum and minimum suggested by the state workers to share their Minister Keir Starmer, peace summit hosted by Mongolia’s President
temperatures likely to settle unit for each of the 101 RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav with party leader Tejashwi suggestions, will interact French President Emma- Egypt at Sharm el- Khurelsukh Ukhnaa.
around 32 and 19 degrees seats the BJP is set to con- Yadav during the national council meeting of the RJD in with those selected under nuel Macron and Turk- Sheikh on Monday, The summit will be
Celsius, respectively. test. The party also delib- Patna on Saturday. — PTI the Mera Booth, Sabse ey’s Recep Tayyip Erdo- sources said on Sunday. held at Egypt's Red Sea
Full report on Page 2 erated on the election Majboot initiative. gan, Mr Sisi’s office said. Prime Minister Naren- resort city of Sharm el-
strategy for the crucial ◗ ACCORDING TO the observers see it as a clear The BJP-led NDA, com- However, Israeli PM dra Modi received an in- Sheikh to endorse and
Bihar elections. party sources, the signal of the acknowledge- prising the JD(U), the Benjamin Netanyahu will vitation late on Satur- strengthen the recently
Operation Blue Star a The BJP is expected to
discussions were held
ment within the ruling LJP(RV), the HAM(S) and not attend and Israel will day from both US Presi- brokered Gaza ceasefire
release its list of party bloc of the regional the Rashtriya Lok not send any representa- dent Donald Trump and agreement on ending the
mistake: Chidambaram nominees soon. Mr Modi on picking up the right party’s decline and the Morcha, is locked in a tive to the peace summit Egyptian President Israel-Hamas conflict in
Shimla: Congress leader P. will kickstart his cam- candidates among the BJP’s growing heft. direct contest with the in Sharm el-Sheikh. “No Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to the region.
Chidambaram said Opera- paign for the Bihar three names suggested The Hindustani Awam RJD-led Mahagathba- Israeli official will attend the peace summit ■ More on Page 3
tion Blue Star was not the Assembly elections with by the state unit for Morcha of Jitan Ram ndhan that has the attend”, a spokeswoman
right way to capture milita- an interactive session each of the 101 seats Manjhi, who had been Congress, the Left parties for the Israeli PM’s office
nts holed up in the Golden with BJP workers of the insisting on contesting “at and smaller outfits as its said. “historic” gathering. Bes- II is also expected to
state on Wednesday.
the BJP is set to contest least 15 seats”, has been constituents. The summit will seek ides UN Secretary-Gene- attend, the state media
Temple in 1984, due to
which then Prime Minister After a marathon meet- Paswan-led LJP(RV) will given only six constituen- The Jan Suraaj, led by “to end the war in the ral Antonio Guterres and said. Hamas will not be at
Indira Gandhi “paid with her ing at the residence of Mr field its candidates on 29 cies, while the remaining poll strategist Prashant Gaza Strip, enhance the leaders of Britain, the conference. Hossam
life”. “Blue Star” was a mili- Nadda in the national cap- seats. six Assembly segments Kishor, and the Asadu- efforts to achieve peace France and Turkey, it will Badran, a Hamas political
tary operation held betwe- ital, Union minister and This is the first went to Rajya Sabha MP ddin Owaisi-led AIMIM and stability in the also be attended by Italian bureau member, said the
en June 1 to 10, 1984. — PTI BJP’s Bihar polls in- Assembly poll in which Upendra Kushwaha’s are also in the fray. Middle East, and usher in PM Giorgia Meloni and Palestinian militant group
Full report on Page 3 charge Dharmendra the JD(U) will not be con- Rashtriya Lok Morcha. The 243-member Bihar a new era of regional Spanish PM Pedro “will not be involved”.
Pradhan announced on testing more seats than Mr Manjhi, who is Assembly will go to polls security”. On Sunday, the Sanchez. Hamas “acted principally
Oscar-winning star Sunday that his party and
the JD(U) will each con-
the BJP after chief minis-
ter Nitish Kumar-led
rumoured to be unhappy
with the formula, wrote
in two
November
phases
6
—
and
Egyptian foreign min-
istry said a “document
The European Council
will be represented by its
through… Qatari and
Egyptian mediators” dur-
Diane Keaton dies test 101 seats in the Bihar
Assembly elections, while
NDA ended the 15-year
reign of the RJD-led gov-
on his X handle that he
was returning to Patna
November 11. The count-
ing of votes will take place
ending the war in the
Gaza Strip” was expected
president, Antonio Costa,
a spokesperson said.
ing previous talks on
Gaza, he said. — AFP
Los Angeles: Diane Keaton, Union minister Chirag ernment in 2005. Political ■ Turn to Page 4 on November 14. to be signed during the Jordan’s King Abdullah ■ More on Page 6
the Oscar-winning star of
Annie Hall, The Godfather
films and Father of the
Bride, whose quirky, vibrant
manner and depth made her
one of the most singular
Row as Didi tells women: Women row: Taliban FM on backfoot Uddhav and Raj
meet at ‘family
actors of a generation, has
died. She was 79. The news
was met with shock around
‘Don’t go out late at night’ ■ Vows US won’t get Bagram ■ Offers India rare earths ■ Agra trip off lunch’, buzz on
the world.— AP
Full report on Page 6 Defending rapists, not betis: BJP VINEETA PANDEY
NEW DELHI, OCT. 12
This is the first visit of a
senior Taliban minister to poll pact grows
RAJIB CHOWDHURI “It was a shocking India after the militant
Russia warns US over KOLKATA, OCT. 12 incident. The girl was Facing strong criticism group seized power in BHAGWAN PARAB
studying at a private for not allowing women Afghanistan four years MUMBAI, OCT. 12
Ukraine missile supply A day after the alleged medical college. How journalists at his press ago. However, the Taliban
Moscow: The Kremlin said gangrape of an MBBS did she come out at 12.30 conference on Friday, and FM’s much-hyped ongo- For the second time in a
on Sunday Russia was student of a private at night?” questioned carrying the Taliban’s ing six-day visit to India week, MNS chief Raj
deeply concerned about the medical college outside Ms Banerjee before anti-women culture to got overshadowed by the Thackeray met his
possibility of the US supply- the campus in West heading out to disaster- India, Afghanistan’s for- “women’s exclusion” row. cousin and Shiv
ing Tomahawk missiles to Bengal’s Durgapur, hit North Bengal. eign minister Amir Khan Apart from women jour- Sena(UBT) chief Uddhav
Ukraine, warning that the chief minister Mamata After the BJP accused Muttaqi on Sunday hur- nalists, several Thackeray at the latter’s
war had reached a dramatic Banerjee on Sunday the chief minister of riedly called a press meet Opposition leaders criti- residence “Matoshree”
moment with escalation triggered a massive defending “balatkari inviting women media cised the Narendra Modi on Sunday. While Raj
from all sides. — Reuters uproar by saying that instead of standing with persons as well. During government for allowing described the over two-
Full report on Page 6 female hostellers, espe- the beti”, Ms Banerjee the meet, Mr Muttaqi clar- the Taliban’s regressive and-a-half-hour meeting
cially those from other blamed the media for ified that the exclusion of gender discrimination as just a “family lunch”,
states, should not ven- distorting her women in the first press policy on Indian soil. The it further raised the pos-
COUNTERPOINT ture out late at night to statement. conference on Friday was Indian government said it sibility of the Thackeray
“protect” themselves. ■ More on Page 4 unintentional and not had no role to play in this Afghanistan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi (left) at brothers joining hands
deliberate. ■ Turn to Page 4 a press conference in New Delhi on Sunday. for the upcoming civic
body elections in
Maharashtra.

Pak seizes 19 Afghan posts, as The visit marked the

second such interaction
between the Thackeray
cousins in a week. Raj

Kabul says 58 Pak troops killed had also visited

Matoshree last Sunday.
This was also the sixth
meeting between the two
Islamabad/Peshawar, ◗ IF THE opposing side nation’s borders and will in the last three months.
Oct. 12: Pakistan seized 19 again violates our deliver a strong resp- The two cousins are
Afghan military posts and onse,” the ministry said. likely to meet again
“terrorist hideouts” in territorial integrity, our Afghan forces targeted when a delegation, com-
response to what it armed forces are fully Pakistani posts at Angoor prising NCP(SP) chief
termed “unprovoked” prepared to defend the Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Sharad Pawar and other
attacks by Afghan forces nation’s borders, The Dir, and Chitral in Khyber opposition leaders, will
in the border areas, secu- Taliban-led govt’s Pakhtunkhwa and call upon the chief elec-
rity sources said Sunday, defence ministry said Baramcha in Balochistan. toral officer of Maha-
ISSN 1352-3082 while Kabul claimed that Zabihullah Mujahid, the rashtra on Tuesday.
41 > 58 Pakistani soldiers were its forces had conducted Taliban government’s The Shiv Sena(UBT)
killed and 30 others “retaliatory and success- chief spokesman, said and MNS have not yet
injured during the retal- ful operations”. that 58 Pakistani soldiers announced an alliance
iatory operations. “If the opposing side were killed and around 30 for the civic polls,
Palestinians receive food parcels after aid trucks entered from the Karem Abu Salem The Taliban-led govern- again violates Afghanist- others wounded during though their leaders
crossing, in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, on Sunday as a ceasefire between ment’s defence ministry an’s territorial integrity, the operations , Tolo have confirmed that it is
Israel and Palestinian factions held for the third day ahead of a US-proposed hostage- confirmed the attacks our armed forces are fully News reported. — PTI on the cards.
9 771352 308519 prisoner exchange. — AFP early Sunday, saying that prepared to defend the ■ More on Page 6 ■ More on Page 3
 CITY
THE ASIAN AGE | MONDAY | 13 OCTOBER 2025 | LONDON
pg 2

SHORT TAKES
3 arrested in Naraina
CM cheers participants ■■ Senior Aimed at ensuring law & order, checking traffic violations
officers join personnel in 2-day exercise across city
murder attempt case
New Delhi: Three men have
at Delhi Half Marathon Police carries out ‘intensified
Omar Abdullah among 40K that took part in event
patrolling’ amid festive season
been arrested in an attempt
to murder case in southwest
Delhi’s Naraina, an official AGE CORRESPONDENT
said on Sunday. The accused NEW DELHI, OCT. 12
have been identified as
Ashish (26), Sumit (24), and Delhi chief minister AGE CORRESPONDENT reaching the Ghazipur ◗ SECURITY ARRANGE- lic and enhance law
Kunal (25) — all residents of Rekha Gupta on Sunday NEW DELHI, OCT. 12 border, where he dis- MENTS were reviewed at enforcement visibility.”
Jawar Camp. According to joined the Vedanta Delhi cussed ground-level secu- DCP (north) Raja
the police, they were Half Marathon and laud- The Delhi police conduct- rity arrangements with key points, including the Banthia conveyed greet-
involved in a firing incident ed the enthusiasm of its ed a citywide “general personnel, the police said. Ghazipur border and ings to the public for a safe
targeting the victim, Ranjit, participants. gasht” (intensified He then proceeded Peeragarhi, with senior and happy festive season
in September. Acting on a Sports enthusiasts from patrolling) across all 15 towards Hazrat officers overseeing the and appealed to citizens to
tip-off, a police team laid a all walks of life, including districts of the national Nizamuddin to continue deployment of personnel promptly report any sus-
trap near Ring Road on Jammu and Kashmir capital amid festive sea- inspections, according to and functioning of pickets picious activity.
Saturday evening and appre- chief minister Omar son, officials said. officials. “The cooperation of resi-
hended the trio, the official Abdullah, thronged the Senior officers joined the DCP (east) Abhishek Road, and Kotla dents is key to maintain-
added. During interrogation, Jawaharlal Nehru regular police personnel in Dhania said the main Mubarakpur, with tempo- ing peace. Our teams are
the accused disclosed that Stadium here on Sunday the exercise, aimed at objectives of the “general rary barricades installed on high alert, but timely
they were trying to establish as it transformed into a ensuring law and order, gasht” are to ensure city- at strategic locations. The reporting by the public
dominance in the Naraina sea of humanity with over Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta greets runners with a checking traffic violations, wide safety, monitor dark exercise saw coordination makes a huge difference,”
and Kirti Nagar areas by 40,000 participants con- wave during the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon in New and maintaining public and vulnerable areas, between local police and he said.
forming a group of local verging to celebrate the safety, they said. The check traffic violations, traffic police ensured Security arrangements
Delhi on Sunday. — PTI were reviewed at key
youngsters. Ranjit, who had spirit of running at the patrolling took place dur- and identify known crimi- smooth traffic movement
earlier worked with Ashish, Vedanta Delhi Half pating in this marathon The CM extended wishes ing the intervening night nals operating in various while enforcing checks, points, including the
allegedly switched sides and Marathon. embodied the very spirit to the runners, organis- of Saturday and Sunday. localities. officials said. Ghazipur border and
started working with their Taking to X, Ms Gupta that defines this city: hard ers, and winners. This Delhi police commis- “This initiative enh- A senior officer said, Peeragarhi, with senior
rival, Vikas. Enraged by this, said in a post in Hindi, work, awareness, and an very energy and unity are sioner Satish Golcha visit- ances police visibility and “The idea is to remain officers overseeing the
the accused confronted “This morning, I joined unrelenting passion to the true hallmarks of a ed several pickets and bar- reassures residents of highly visible and alert deployment of personnel
Ranjit near his house and the Vedanta Delhi Half move forward.” progressive and aware ricaded zones to assess the their safety during the fes- across the city, to deter and the functioning of
allegedly opened fire to cre- Marathon at Jawaharlal It was a glimpse of Delhi Delhi, she added. ongoing operations and tive season,” he said. criminal activity and pickets. Teams conducted
ate panic in the locality. The Nehru Stadium along that steps out every morn- Delhi education minister interact with officers on During the overnight respond swiftly to any patrolling on motorcycles,
police said Ashish and Sumit, with Honourable Union ing, striving for a better Ashish Sood and several duty. patrolling, officers carried untoward incident. Our checking vehicles, and
who are brothers, worked as Minister Shri tomorrow, where fitness is other personalities from Mr Golcha visited key out vehicle checks at mul- presence on the streets, questioning people in
drivers, while Kunal is a col- @KirenRijiju ji. The thou- a habit and positive ener- the sports fraternity were locations, including ITO tiple points, including especially at night, is areas identified as vulner-
lege student. sands of runners partici- gy a way of life, she added. also present at the event. and Shakarpur, later Punjabi Bagh, Rohtak meant to reassure the pub- able, said the officials.

675 kg firecrackers
seized, 1 held: Police ‘Co-op drive will be ■ Political drama, he ignored them in his rule: Sachdeva Signature View
residents vacate
strengthened in city’ ‘Family reunion’: Kejriwal accuses BJP
New Delhi: The Delhi police
arrested a man and seized
675 kilograms of banned society as court
of harassment as he meets auto drivers
firecrackers during a late-
night picket check in the
Gokalpuri area of northeast New branches of banks to open: Singh deadline is over
Delhi, an official said on New Delhi, Oct. 12: Delhi vision of AGE CORRESPONDENT
Sunday. “A pick-up truck was cooperation minister Antyodaya, AGE CORRESPONDENT They had promised seven big and permit renewal NEW DELHI, OCT. 12
stopped for inspection. The Ravinder Indraj Singh on uplifting NEW DELHI, OCT. 12 process, claiming that
vehicle was carrying a large Sunday said that the the last benefits to auto drivers dur- nearly 20% of Delhi’s Several residents of the
consignment of illegal fire- cooperative movement in person in A war of words erupted in ing elections, but not one autos could go off the Signature View apart-
crackers, which were confis- the national capital will society and the political circle on has been fulfilled. They had said roads in coming months ments on Sunday vacat-
cated on the spot. The vehi- be strengthened with new building a Sunday after Aam Aadmi jahaan jhuggi wahaan makaan, due to centralised online ed the residential socie-
cle used for transporting the initiatives, including new self-reliant Party (AAP) supremo but turned it into jahaan jhuggi procedures and technical ty on the last day of the
explosives was also seized,” branches of cooperative Ravinder and devel- Arvind Kejriwal met auto wahaan maidaan. glitches. deadline set by court.
the officer said. He further banks and stores to pro- Indraj Singh oped Delhi. drivers at the party office Many of them com- The Resident Welfare
said that the accused, Noor mote local products. The min- renewing his bond with — Arvind Kejriwal, plained that challans were Association (RWA) of
Mohammad (42), is a resi- Speaking at the Annual ister said that over the the community and accus- AAP convenor. being issued automatical- Signature View Apart-
dent of Uttar Pradesh, and general meeting (AGM) of past few months, detailed ing the current Bharatiya ly and that complaints ments in Mukherjee
was trying to transport the the Delhi Citizen meetings have been held Janata Party (BJP) gov- against corrupt officials Nagar said that, as the
banned firecrackers into the Cooperative Bank, Mr with the chairpersons ernment of betrayal and Addressing the gather- but not one has been ful- went unheard. deadline is over, resi-
city for illegal sale. A case Singh announced that and directors of 12 major harassment. ing at AAP headquarters, filled,” Mr Kejriwal said, However, hitting back dents will have to vacate
has been registered at the bank accounts of minis- cooperative banks in The BJP, in a sharp reac- the former chief minister alleging that the current the Delhi BJP president the buildings.
Gokalpuri police station. ters, officers and employ- Delhi to improve con- tion, dismissed the allega- said that his connection administration has failed Virendra Sachdeva said, “As the MCD has said
Further investigation to ees of the cooperation sumer facilities and intro- tion, calling the outreach with auto drivers is “old both on promises and “Mr Kejriwal is a political earlier that water and
identify the source is under- department will be duce necessary reforms as “political drama” and and heartfelt.” He recalled empathy. He also attacked Natwarlal, he did nothing power supply will be dis-
way. — PTI opened in cooperative in the cooperative bank- accusing Mr Kejriwal of that during AAP’s govern- the ruling BJP for the for auto drivers when in connected after Oct 12,
banks to promote trust ing sector. ignoring the same drivers ment, several exemptions demolition of jhuggis, say- power and is now shed- many residents are leav-
NGO founder selected and participation.
He said the Delhi gov-
“New branches of coop-
erative banks will be
during his tenure.
While the AAP projected
and welfare measures
were implemented for
ing, “They had said
jahaan jhuggi wahaan
ding crocodile tears.” He
added that CM Rekha
ing the society today,
final numbers will be
as an Ashoka fellow ernment, under the lead-
ership of Union home
opened across different
parts of Delhi, with spe-
the event as a “family
reunion” between Mr
them, but “the exploita-
tion resumed soon after
makaan, but turned it into
jahaan jhuggi wahaan
Gupta’s government was
committed to ensuring
known only by night,”
Amrendra Singh
New Delhi: Founder of the and cooperation minister cial focus on rural areas Kejriwal and his long-time the government changed.” maidaan.” better housing, education, Rakesh, RWA president
Circle India Sandeep Rai has Amit Shah and chief min- and rehabilitation supporters, the BJP “They had promised Auto drivers raised sev- and healthcare for auto told media agency.
been selected as an Ashoka ister Rekha Gupta, is colonies,” the minister termed it an “act of des- seven big benefits to auto eral concerns, including drivers and daily wage Situated in North
fellow, joining the world’s working towards the further said. — PTI peration.” drivers during elections, corruption in the fitness workers within a year. Delhi’s Mukherjee
largest network of social Nagar area, the housing

‘City recorded ■ Sky will be clear today: IMD complex, built between
Man, M.Phil. from DU, held for
entrepreneurs. Ashoka fel-
lows are recognised for 2007 and 2009 and allot-
developing ideas that ted under a Delhi
change systems and improve 199 clean-air Air pollution increasing Development Authority

as winter nears; AQI 164 committing robberies, say cops

lives at scale. Mr Rai said, (DDA) scheme by 2011-
“This honour is both hum-
bling and inspiring. At The
days this year’ 12, has faced severe
structural deterioration
Circle, we believe every child AGE CORRESPONDENT over the years.
deserves a fair chance, and
schools can be engines of
NEW DELHI, OCT. 12
New Delhi, Oct. 12: With
‘Shubham used scientific acumen in making smoke bombs’ There are around 336
high-income group
◗ THE IMD recorded the
equity and hope. To be wel- In a major boost to the winter chill beginning
minimum temperature at New Delhi, Oct. 12: A 32 ◗ AFTER BEING released life took a criminal turn. (HIG) and middle-
comed into Ashoka’s com- Delhi’s fight against pol- to set in, Delhi is witness- year old who holds an on bail in a Bihar bank rob- In 2017, he robbed the income group (MIG)
munity is a reminder that our lution, the capital has ing a gradual rise in air 19.6 degrees Celsius, 1.4 M.Phil in Chemistry from Bank of India (BOI) flats at the complex,
work is part of a larger already logged 199 clean- pollution levels. The Air notches below the sea- Delhi University’s Kirori-
bery, Shubham allegedly branch in Sitamarhi by which have developed
story—not just about India, air days in 2025, with Quality Index (AQI) in the son’s average mal College was arrested teamed up with another creating a homemade severe structural issues
but about reinventing learn- nearly three months still city stood at 164 by 4 pm, by the police for commit- criminal and committed smoke bomb a mixture of over time, including
ing for children everywhere.” left in the year. This falling in the “moderate” es below the season’s ting robberies, including a two robberies in Model methyl acetate and ben- deep cracks in walls and
He helped launch Teach For marks an almost 100% category on Sunday. average, while the maxi- bank heist where he used Town in 2021, targeting 24 zene to confuse witnesses ceilings, raising safety
India in 2008 after begin- improvement over 2016, According to Central mum settled at 30.3 his scientific acumen to Karat Jewellers before fleeing with over concerns.
ning his career as a teacher when the city had record- Pollution Control Board, degrees Celsius, 3.9 notch- create smoke bombs. `3.6 lakh, DCP (crime) “There are around 90
with Teach For America. He ed only 110 such days, an AQI between 0 and 50 es below normal. The accused, identified Model Town, and was also Harsh Indora said. residents who have not
served in strategy at Teach according to the environ- is considered “good”, 51 The IMD has forecast as Deep Shubham (32), a previously convicted in a After being released on vacated the building
For India for over a decade ment department. to 100 “satisfactory”, 101 mainly clear sky on resident of Sitamarhi, sensational bank robbery bail, Shubham allegedly until now,” Mr Rakesh
before founding The Circle Environment minister to 200 “moderate”, 201 to Monday, with the maxi- Bihar, was nabbed by the in Sitamarhi, Bihar. teamed up with another added.
India. Manjinder Singh Sirsa 300 “poor”, 301 to 400 mum and minimum tem- crime branch team from According to the police, criminal and committed The DDA had issued a
hailed the achievement “very poor”, and 401 to peratures likely to settle Sohna (Haryana) after Shubham had pursued two robberies in Model tender in March this
as “proof that consis- 500 “severe”. around 32 and 19 degrees being on the run for near- B.Sc, M.Sc, and M.Phil. in Town in 2021, targeting year to demolish
tent, year-round efforts The India meteorologi- Celsius, respectively. ly three years. He had Chemistry from Kirori “24 Karat Jewellers.” Signature View
MAN HELD FROM deliver measurable
results.” He credited the
cal department (IMD)
recorded the minimum
The relative humidity
was recorded at 79 per
been declared a pro-
claimed offender in two
Mal College of Delhi
University and also briefly
Brandishing a gun and
knife, the duo looted over
Apartments, which com-
prises a 336-flat complex

PUNJAB IN `55K progress to the “vision-

ary
Prime
leadership”
Minister
of
temperature at 19.6
degrees Celsius, 1.4 notch-
cent at 5.30 pm on Sunday.
— PTI
armed robbery cases at
jewellery shops in city’s
pursued law
Visakhapatnam, before his
in `6 lakh in cash and
valuables. — PTI
and declared it struc-
turally unsafe.

ONLINE FRAUD Narendra Modi and the

AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, OCT. 12
“on-ground execution”
led by chief minister
Rekha Gupta.
Man’s decomposed body found near Hindon canal 440 kg stolen cashew
The Delhi police has arrested
a 25-year-old man from
Punjab for allegedly duping
“This is not luck or
weather it’s the result of
round-the-clock, coordi-
nated action,” Mr Sirsa
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, OCT. 12

The decomposed body of

Mulla

added.
Colony,
Saturday evening, he

“A team from Ghazipur

on The body appeared to be
several days old and was
badly decomposed. It has
been preserved at the
are being made to identi-
fy the deceased through
nearby police stations,
missing persons’ records,
recovered; 4 arrested
said. “From dust control a man was found police station immediate- mortuary for identifica- and CCTV footage from
a resident of north-east
Delhi’s Shahdara of `55,000 to landfill bio-mining, wrapped in brown tape ly reached the spot and tion and post-mortem. the surrounding area. Robbery orchestrated by shop employee
in an online cryptocurrency from mechanised sweep- and sealed inside a plas- found a plastic bag tight- The preliminary inves- “Teams have been
fraud, an official said. The ing to misting and plan- tic bag near the Hindon ly sealed with brown tigation suggests the per- formed to scan CCTV AGE CORRESPONDENT the vehicle was traced in
accused has been identified tation work is happen- canal in east Delhi’s tape. On opening it, a son may have been killed cameras and gather local NEW DELHI, OCT. 12 the name of Mukesh Sahu,”
as Sukhpreet Singh, a resi- ing continuously, backed Ghazipur area, an official decomposed human body elsewhere, and his body intelligence. The nearby a police official said.
dent of Ludhiana. He was by technology and said on Sunday. was discovered,” said the was dumped at the canal. areas are being searched The Delhi police has arrest- “When questioned, Sahu
arrested after a probe into a accountability.” The police received official. “The exact cause of for clues,” said the officer. ed four men in connection disclosed that the burglary
complaint lodged by The minister said information about a sus- The spot was cordoned death will be known only An FIR has been regis- with a burglary case, recov- was masterminded by
Sangam Yadav, who alleged every clean-air day is picious object lying near off, and the crime and after the postmortem,” tered and further investi- ering 440 kilograms of Sagar Khan, an employee of
that he was misled by a “earned” through team- a dry corner of the forensic teams were the official added. gation is underway, the cashews stolen from a ware- the shop who had access to
social media group posing work. Hindon canal, opposite called to collect evidence. The police said efforts police said. house in the New Kondli the godown keys. He, along
as a legitimate company area of east Delhi, an offi- with Sachin, executed the
offering paid work-from- cial said on Sunday. The theft and transported the
home tasks. “The victim ini-
tially earned small sums
through minor tasks, but was
DMRC invites bid for 500m units renewable energy supply probe revealed that the rob-
bery was orchestrated by an
employee of the shop who
cashews,” the officer added.
Further investigation led
to the arrest of Sagar Khan
later asked to deposit AGE CORRESPONDENT generating 40 MUs annu- ◗ THE DMRC’S primary resilient energy future. power for its transition had access to the warehouse. near a hotel while he was
`55,100 through UPI. When NEW DELHI, OCT. 12 ally from Rooftop Solar objective of calling the bid The DMRC’s primary towards sustainable and The incident occurred on attempting to escape, and
he sought withdrawal of Plants installed on the objective of calling the low-carbon operations. the intervening night of Sachin was apprehended in
funds, the scammers In yet another major push roofs of stations, depots
for more renewable ener- bid for more renewable The stipulated comple- October 5 and 6, when 60 Gharoli village. The police
demanded additional pay- for the adoption of renew- and staff colonies of the gy power is to increase energy power is to tion period of the project buckets of cashews, weighing recovered 39 buckets (390
ments,” the police said in a able energy sources for the Delhi Metro. the share of RE power in increase the share of RE shall be 15 months from approximately 600 kg, were kg) of cashews from Khan
statement. The official said operation of the Delhi The present renewable its power portfolio power in its power portfo- the date of award, and the stolen from the shop’s and five buckets (50 kg)
the probe revealed that Metro, the Delhi Metro Rail energy penetration in lio from the current 33 power purchase agree- godown. The theft was report- from Nitin Gupta, a local
Singh was an active member Corporation is now invit- DMRC is about 33 per captive generating plant per cent to greater than 60 ment period will be of 25 ed by the shop owner, leading shop owner in Mandawali,
of a social media groups ing bids for the supply of cent of the total power along with battery energy per cent of its total ener- years. This is an effort by to the registration of an FIR. who confessed to selling the
where he bought USD 500 million units of renew- usage during the opera- storage system anywhere gy requirement (includ- the DMRC to contribute The police reviewed CCTV remaining stock.
Tether, a cryptocurrency, at able energy every year. tional hours and nearly in India, to supply 500 ing Phase-IV network towards the Government footage and tracked the bur- The accused have been
market price and allegedly To meet a significant 65 per cent during day- MUs of renewable energy expansion). of India’s proposed five- glars’ escape route. “The identified as Sagar Khan
sold it at a higher rate, being portion of its existing time Metro operations. every year to DMRC in With this initiative, the fold strategy of footage revealed a tempo (22), Mukesh Sahu (24), the
fully aware that the victim’s power demand, the DMRC The Delhi Metro is invit- Delhi and NCR. This is a DMRC will become the “Panchamrit”, which without number plates tempo owner, Sachin (22) a
deposits were frozen or is already taking approxi- ing bids to select a “solar step in supporting India’s first Metro rail project in comprises five climate arriving at the godown, school cab, and Nitin Gupta
blocked due to cyber com- mately 350 MUs annually power developer” for set- transition towards a India to avail greater than action goals announced at with three persons loading (35) the local shop owner,
plaints. from Rewa Solar Park and ting up a grid-connected cleaner and more 60 per cent renewable COP 26. the cashew buckets. Later, the police said.
 NATION
THE ASIAN AGE | MONDAY | 13 OCTOBER 2025 | LONDON
pg 3

■ Buzz on Thackerays joining hands for civic body polls grows

SHORT TAKES Blue Star a mistake, Indira
2 RJD MLAs quit,
likely to join JD-U Raj joins Uddhav at ‘Matoshree’ paid for it with her life: PC
Patna: Two RJD MLAs —
Vibha Devi and Prakash Veer
— resigned from the assem-
bly on Sunday, amid specula-
tions that they could join
for ‘lunch’, 2nd meet in a week ‘There was a way to retrieve and capture all militants’
Shimla, Oct. 12: Congress cumula- between June 1 to 10, 1984,
BHAGWAN PARAB mentation of the three- leader P. Chidambaram tive deci- to remove Damdami
chief minister Nitish Kumar’s MUMBAI, OCT. 12 language formula for stu- said Operation Blue Star sion of the Taksal leader Jarnail
JD(U) ahead of the Bihar dents of Classes 1 to 5. was not the right way to A r m y, Singh Bhindranwale and
elections. Ms Devi was the For the second time in a In between, Raj had gone capture militants holed up intelli- his militants from the
Nawada MLA, while Mr Veer week, MNS chief Raj to Matoshree to wish in the Golden Temple in g e n c e, Golden Temple in
represented the Rajauli con- Thackeray met his cousin Uddhav on his 65th birth- 1984, due to which then police and Amritsar, the holiest site
stituency in the state assem- and Shiv Sena(UBT) chief day on July 27. Uddhav, Prime Minister Indira c i v i l among Sikhs.
bly. Both legislators met Uddhav Thackeray at the too, had visited Raj’s Gandhi “paid with her defence Later that year, Indira
Speaker Nand Kishor Yadav Shivteerth residence in
and submitted their resigna-
latter’s residence life”. Chidambaram and you Gandhi, the prime minis-
“Matoshree” on Sunday. Dadar along with his fam- The Congress leadership cannot ter at the time, was assas-
tions to him on Sunday, said While Raj described the ily in August for Ganpati is said to be “very upset” completely blame (just) sinated.
officials at the Assembly. The over two-and-a-half-hour Uddhav Thackeray Raj Thackeray darshan. with the former home Indira Gandhi,” the for- Mr Chidambaram said,
Speaker accepted their res- meeting as just a “family Uddhav, his wife Rashmi function at Shiv The two cousins are like- minister for his remarks, mer home minister said “No disrespect to any
ignations, they said. The two lunch”, it further raised and their sons Aaditya Sena(UBT) leader Sanjay ly to meet again when a and is of the view that during a book launch in service or military officer,
disgruntled MLAs of the RJD the possibility of the and Tejas. The meeting Raut’s family. This was delegation, comprising senior leaders should be Himachal Pradesh’s but Operation Blue Star
turned up at a rally address- Thackeray brothers join- assumes significance as also the sixth meeting NCP (SP) president careful before making Kasauli on Saturday. was not the right way to
ed by Prime Minister Naren- ing hands for the upcom- after nearly two decades, between the two in the last Sharad Pawar and other public statements that Mr Chidambaram made retrieve the Golden
dra Modi in Gayaji on August ing civic body elections in Raj brought his mother to three months. Opposition leaders, will create embarrassment for the remarks during a con- Temple and about 3-4
22, triggering speculations Maharashtra. Matoshree. “It’s a family On July 5, the Thackeray call upon the chief elec- the party, party sources. versation with journalist years later we showed the
that they might cross over to Raj, accompanied by his meeting. My mother is cousins first came togeth- toral officer of “There was a way to and author Harinder right way by keeping the
the NDA camp, ahead of mother Kunda, wife with me,” he said. er to celebrate a victory Maharashtra on Tuesday. retrieve and capture all Baweja on her memoir Army out in Operation
Assembly polls. Notably, Ms Sharmila, son Amit, The visit marked the sec- rally after the The Shiv Sena(UBT) and militants but Operation They Will Shoot You Black Thunder.”
Devi’s husband Raj Ballabh daughter-in-law Mitali ond such interaction Maharashtra government MNS have not yet Blue Star was the wrong Madam: My Life Through Operation Black
Yadav was a former MLA and grandson drove to between the Thackeray withdrew two contentious announced an alliance for way and I agree that Conflict at the Khushwant Thunder was carried out
and recently walked out of Matoshree, the residence cousins in a week. Raj had GRs of making Hindi the civic polls, though their Indira Gandhi paid with Singh Literary Festival. in 1986 and 1988 to flush
jail, following an acquittal by of Uddhav. At Matoshree, also visited Matoshree last “mandatory” by the state leaders have confirmed her life for the mistake Operation Blue Star was out militants hiding in the
the Patna high court in a they were welcomed by Sunday, after attending a government and imple- that it is on the cards. but the mistake was a military operation held Golden Temple. — PTI
POCSO case. — PTI

NSA slapped against

man in Bhadohi rape CJI credits Constitution for Kharge: Modi
govt hollowing
Bhadohi, UP: The Bhadohi
district administration in
Uttar Pradesh on Sunday
invoked the stringent
nation’s stability & resilience out democracy
New Delhi, Oct. 12:
National Security Act (NSA)
against a man placed under
‘Remained steadfast foundation through war, peace’ Congress president
Mallikarjun Kharge on
judicial custody for allegedly AGE CORRESPONDENT I n d i a ’s as well but we have Sunday accused the
abducting and raping an MUMBAI, OCT. 12 resilience remained strong and unit- Modi government of
eight-year-old tribal girl and — especial- ed. It is because of Dr “systematically corrod-
dumping her by a riverside, Chief Justice of India B.R. ly in con- Babasaheb Ambedkar’s ing” the Right to
the police said. District mag- Gavai on Sunday under- trast to Constitution, which sets Information (RTI) Act
istrate Shailesh Kumar has scored the enduring neighbour- us apart from neighbour- and “hollowing out”
approved the slapping of strength of the Indian ing coun- ing countries that are wit- democracy and citizens’
NSA on the accused to Constitution, crediting tries like nessing turmoil,” the CJI rights.
maintain public order, B.R. Ambedkar for draft- B.R. Gavai N e p a l , said. In a post on X, Mr
Bhadohi SP Abhimanyu ing a framework that con- Bangladesh, and Sri Emphasising the need Kharge said that 20
Manglik said. The NSA tinues to guide the nati- Lanka — to the strength of for accessible justice, years ago, the Congress-
empowers the Centre and on’s unity and progress. its constitutional frame- Justice Gavai said ongoing led UPA Government,
states to detain individuals He said the Constitution work. He said it was Dr efforts to enhance judicial under the leadership of
to prevent them from acting An artisan works on an idol of Goddess Kali at a workshop in Kolkata’s Kumartuli on has remained a steadfast B.R. Ambedkar’s convic- infrastructure across the the then prime minister
in a manner “prejudicial to Sunday, ahead of the “Kali Puja” festival. — PTI foundation through times tion that political democ- country are aimed at Manmohan Singh and
the defence of India”. The of war, peace, and internal racy is incomplete with- decentralising the system Sonia Gandhi, ushered
and bringing justice closer
maximum detention period
is 12 months, though it can ■ PM to hold talks with Mongolia Prez on Tue challenges, ensuring dem-
ocratic resilience and
out social and economic
equality. He also to the people.
in a new era of trans-
parency and accounta-
be revoked earlier. As it is national integrity. The expressed happiness that Thanking the bility by implementing
preventive detention and not
arrest, there is no legal obli-
gation to present the detai-
nee before a court. — PTI
Modi invited, but MoS will CJI, along with
Maharashtra chief minis-
ter Devendra Fadnavis,
attended the inauguration
the new court building
has come up in an area in
proximity to Ambavade,
the native village of Dr
Maharashtra government
for expediting
Mandangad court build-
the

ing project, Justice Gavai

the Right to Information
(RTI) Act 2005.
“In the last 11 years,
the Modi government

540 Indians in Nepal

prisons absconding
attend Gaza peace summit ceremony of the new Civil
and Criminal Court build-
ing in Mandangad,
Ratnagiri district.
Ambedkar.
“The country
remained united and on
the path of development
has
said, “In the last 22 years
as a judge, I have stood for
decentralisation of justice
and ensured several judi-
has systematically cor-
roded the RTI Act, there-
by hollowing out democ-
racy and citizens’
SRIDHAR comed the agreement on Addressing the event, in war and peace. We have cial infrastructure proj- rights,” he said in his
Kathmandu: Around 540 KUMARASWAMI the first phase of United Justice Gavai attributed seen internal Emergency ects are completed.” post. — PTI
Indian nationals serving time NEW DELHI, OCT. 12 States President Donald
in various prisons across Trump’s peace plan to end
Nepal have been absconding
ever since the Gen Z
Minister of state (MoS)
for external affairs Kirti
the Gaza conflict and had
also hailed the “strong ■ UP CM from U’khand, should be sent back to state: SP chief
protests, the department of Vardhan Singh will repre- leadership” of Israeli
prison Management said on
Sunday. More than 13,000
prisoners escaped from vari-
ous jails of Nepal during the
sent India at the Gaza
peace summit hosted by
Egypt at Sharm el-Sheikh
on Monday, sources said
Kirti Vardhan Singh
Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu after both
Israel and Palestinian mil-
itant group Hamas wel-
Yogi is an infiltrator, says Akhilesh
second day of anti-govern- on Sunday. comed the pact. Lucknow, Sept. 12: Sama- “People (Adityanath) was not a delivering a lecture on the
ment Gen Z protests on Prime Minister The summit will be held Spelling out India’s jwadi Party chief Akhi- who are giv- member of the BJP; he topic “infiltration (ghus-
September 9. At least 5,000 Narendra Modi received at Egypt’s Red Sea resort stand on social media plat- lesh Yadav on Sunday ing the sta- was a member of another paith), demographic
Nepali citizens, convicted in an invitation late on city of Sharm el-Sheikh to form X earlier in the day, likened Uttar Pradesh tistics of (party). So, when will change and democracy”.
various crimes, are still absc- Saturday from both US endorse and strengthen Mr Modi also “expressed chief minister Yogi exodus... We these infiltrators be Meanwhile, when asked
onding, followed by 540 President Donald Trump the recently brokered Gaza hope that the release of Adityanath to an infiltra- also have removed?” to comment on Mr Yadav’s
Indian nationals and 108 and Egyptian President ceasefire agreement on hostages and enhanced tor, saying he is from infiltrators Mr Yadav’s remarks remarks, UP Deputy chief
prisoners of other nations, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to ending the Israel-Hamas humanitarian assistance Uttarakhand and should in UP. The come days after Union minister Brajesh Pathak
attend the peace summit conflict in the region. to the people of Gaza will be sent back to the state. chief minis- Akhilesh home minister Amit Shah told PTI that he would
the data revealed. The gov- Yadav
ernment has issued alerts on the recently brokered It may be noted that Mr bring much-needed Speaking to reporters at ter is from claimed some political respond soon.
across the country to look Gaza pact. However, New Modi is already scheduled respite and pave the way Lohia Park in Lucknow on Uttarakhand. We want parties treat infiltrators Mr Yadav had come to
out for those who have Delhi deputed Mr Singh to to hold talks with Mong- for lasting peace in the Sunday, on the death him to be sent to as a votebank and ques- Lohia Park to pay tributes
escaped from jail in different attend the summit. The olia’s President Khurelsu- region”. Late that anniversary of Ram Uttarakhand. He is not the tioned why infiltration to Ram Manohar Lohia on
parts of the country. The Prime Minister is sched- kh Ukhnaa in New Delhi evening, he had also spo- Manohar Lohia, Mr Yadav only infiltrator; he is also does not take place along his death anniversary. He
home ministry has also issu- uled to hold talks in New on Tuesday. Mr Ukhnaa ken to President Trump said the BJP has fake sta- an infiltrator from the ide- the Gujarat and Rajasthan said that Dr Lohia fought
ed a notice to those absco- Delhi on Tuesday with will begin a four-day and had congratulated tistics. “If one is to believe ological point of view,” Mr borders. against injustice and irre-
nding prisoners to report to Mongolia’s President visit to India from Monday. him on the success of his their statistics, they would Yadav claimed. Mr Shah made the sponsibility throughout
their respective jails. — PTI Khurelsukh Ukhnaa. Mr Modi had also wel- Gaza peace plan. be lost,” he added. The SP chief added, “He remarks on Friday while his life. — PTI

CANADIAN FM IN Denied a ‘safe seat’ Education must not become Suresh Gopi offers to
DELHI, TALKS
WITH EAM TODAY by NC, Cong opts ‘privilege for few’, says Rahul step down as minister AGE CORRESPONDENT Mr Gopi
said he was

out of RS poll fight

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,
New Delhi, Oct. 12: Canada’s New Delhi, Oct. 12: of Chile, the Congress ask questions without OCT. 12 making the
foreign minister Anita Anand Congress leader Rahul leader held an “insightful any fear or constraints— suggestion
arrived in the national capi- Gandhi has said that dialogue” focused on edu- political or social. Union minister Suresh with all hu-
tal on Sunday, a day before India needs an education cation, democracy and Education must not Gopi on Sunday express- mility that
talks with external affairs
minister S. Jaishankar. The
Strong consensus to withdraw system that reflects the
rich diversity of the
geopolitics.
“India needs to build an
become a privilege for a
few because it is the very
ed his desire to resign and
suggested that BJP leader
Sadanandan
Suresh Gopi M a s t e r
discussions are expected to
focus on setting up a frame-
work for bilateral “strategic”
outside support for Omar govt country and should not
become a “privilege for a
few”, saying it is the very
alternative manufactur-
ing system that thrives in
a democratic setup. Thus,
foundation of freedom.
India needs an education
system that fosters a sci-
and Rajya Sabha member
C. Sadanandan Master be
given a berth in the union
should be elevated to the
position of Union minis-
ter in his place. “It will
cooperation in areas of YUSUF JAMEEL to the NC leadership. “We foundation of freedom. a partnership with Peru entific temper, encour- ministry as his replace- mark a new chapter in
trade, energy and security. It SRINAGAR, OCT. 12 sent a letter to chief min- Mr Gandhi, the Leader or the US could be the ages critical thinking, ment. Kerala’s political history.
is Ms Anand’s first visit to ister Omar Abdullah... He of the Opposition in the way forward,” the and reflects the rich The actor turned politi- My humble prayer is that
India after assum- The Congress leadership advised us to forward it to Lok Sabha, also said Congress quoted Mr diversity of our nation,” cian made the suggestion Sadanandan Mast-er’s MP
ing charge as the in Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah, which India needs to build an Gandhi on its official X Mr Gandhi said. at a workers meet in office in Kannur should
foreign minister in reportedly frustrated we have done. We are yet alternative manufactur- handle, while sharing a The Congress said Mr Kannur in the presence of be upgraded to ministeri-
May. She is also with its ally National to receive a response,” Mr ing system and a partner- video of his conversation Gandhi visited the Sadanandan Master. The al office,” he said.
scheduled to meet Conference (NC) for offer- Karra said. ship with the US or Peru with students in South Pontifical Catholic Union minister said the “I joined the BJP only in
commerce minis- ing a “risky” seat, on The JKPCC chief high- could be the way forward. America. University of Peru and recent nomination of 2016. But I was made a
ter Piyush Goyal Sunday announced the lighted concerns raised by In an interaction with “When it comes to edu- the University of Chile Sadanandan Master to Union minister in recog-
to discuss ways to party’s decision to opt out Congress members regar- students at the Pontifical cation, it begins with and had an engaging con- the Rajya Sabha was a nition of the mandate... I
boost two-way of contesting the October ding governance, develop- Catholic University of curiosity and the free- versation with the stu- major political develop- never wanted to be a min-
trade ties. “This Anita Anand 24 Rajya Sabha elections ment, and the lack of a Peru and the University dom to think openly and dents. — PTI ment as far as Kannur is ister quitting my cinema
visit will help build on the to four seats in the UT. coordination committee concerned. career,” he said.
positive momentum in India- “We held an in-depth among alliance partners,
Canada relations by revitalis- discussion on the upcom- expressing their dissatis-
ing our bilateral mecha- ing Rajya Sabha elec- faction with these issues.
Sources indicate a
■ CM rolls out plan to turn state as wedding destination, signs pact with ASI
nisms, deepening economic tions. Our central leader-
cooperation, and further ship had requested a safer strong consensus among
strengthening the enduring
people-to-people ties that
anchor our partnership,”
MEA spokesperson Randhir
seat — either Seat 1 or 2.
However, the NC offered
us Seat 4, which is less
secure. After thorough
attendees to withdraw
outside support for the
Omar-led NC govern-
ment, signalling that the
MP plans to develop archaeological sites as tourist hubs
RABINDRA NATH potential of the state by tourism infrastructure at plans to develop several `50 crores over the next
Jaiswal said on X. New Delhi deliberation, we unani- Congress will not tolerate CHOUDHURY focusing on the new sec- the ASI-protected site to tourist spots as wedding five years in web series,
is Ms Anand’s first stop of mously decided not to being undervalued. BHOPAL, OCT. 12 tors of tourism, on the turn it into a major tourist destinations by improving films, short films, and doc-
her three-nation tour that field a candidate for Seat 4 While such a move will sidelines of the three-day centre, Mr Yadav said. connectivity between umentaries shot in
will also take her to China and will defer to our not topple the govern- The Madhya Pradesh gov- Madhya Pradesh Travel A memorandum of these areas and the impor- Madhya Pradesh.
and Singapore. In New Delhi, alliance partners on this ment, given NC’s majori- ernment has unveiled the Mart, a tourism-promo- understanding (MoU) was tant cities. This will help establish
Ms Anand will meet with Mr matter,” J&K Pradesh ty with over 40 Assembly plan to develop archaeo- tion event which entered signed between the ASI The state government Madhya Pradesh as a
Jaishankar and Mr Goyal, as Congress Committee members, it would send a logical sites in the state as the second day on Sunday. and the state tourism also plans to develop the major destination for film
“both countries move towa- chief Tariq Hamid Karra clear message. A senior tourism centres and turn Madhya Pradesh touri- department on Saturday state as a film production and digital content pro-
rd establishing a framework said after a four-and-a- Congress leader, speaking MP into a wedding desti- sm development depart- to preserve MP’s heritage hub in the country. duction, boost local cre-
for strategic cooperation on half-hour meeting. anonymously, stated, “We nation. ment, in coordination and boost tourism. The MP tourism board ative talent, and develop
issues such as trade diversi- He further noted that cannot be taken for grant- Chief minister Mohan with the Archaeological Madhya Pradesh has 18 has signed an agreement infrastructure and pro-
fication, energy transforma- the party has formally ed. The risky seat offered Yadav rolled out the mega Survey of India (ASI), will World Heritage with Balaji TeleFilms, duction capabilities in the
tion and security”. — PTI communicated its stance is unacceptable.” plan to exploit the tourism develop world-class Monuments. The state which will invest at least state.
 NATION
THE ASIAN AGE | MONDAY | 13 OCTOBER 2025 | LONDON
pg 4

■ My comments distorted: CM ■ 3 held ■ Odisha team in WB

SHORT TAKES
‘Kargil panel didn’t suggest
BSF gets woman
flight engineer
New Delhi: In a first, the
Girls shouldn’t go out at night: creation of joint command’
Border Security Force’s air
wing has got its first woman
flight engineer in its over
50-year history following
completion of a first in-
Didi sparks row over gangrape
RAJIB CHOWDHURI The CM said on Sunday, blames the Beti and
IAF, CAPSS stress need for thoughtful restructuring
PAWAN BALI
NEW DELHI, OCT. 12
◗ THE MANDATE of KRC excluded the actual con-
duct of operations during
house training capsule. KOLKATA, OCT. 12 “It was a shocking inci- defends Balatkari. Time &
excluded the actual con- the Kargil War, and the
Inspector Bhawna dent. The girl was studying again: R.G. Kar, Amidst ongoing debate on duct of operations dur- Committee stuck to its
Chaudhary, along with four A day after the gangrape of at a private medical col- Sandeshkhali, Park Street - the structure of joint mili- ing the Kargil War, and mandate. It did not exam-
male subordinate officers, an MBBS student of a pri- lege. How did she come out this has been done. Will the tary Theatre commands, a the Committee stuck to ine events beyond May 26,
was recently “trained ab ini- vate medical college out- at 12.30 in the night?” outrage lobby who was Centre for Aerospace its mandate. It did not 1999, when air power was
tio by the instructors of the side the campus at She added, “It happened, shouting yesterday — Power and Strategic examine events beyond employed," it said.
BSF air wing, and they Durgapur in Burdwan as far as I know, in a forest Supriya Shrinate, Studies (CAPSS) paper May 26, 1999, when air It also said that there has
recently completed their West of West Bengal, chief area. I don't know what Priyanka Vadra, Rahul said that Kargil Review been no government-led
two-month-long training.” minister Mamata Banerjee happened at 12.30 am. Mamata Banerjee Gandhi etc open their Committee (KRC) never power was employed high-level review of mili-
Ms Chaudhary is the first triggered a massive uproar Investigation is on. But the searching for all the mouths now?” recommended creation of tion of the three services," tary operations since the
flight engineer of the pre- by making controversial private medical college accused. Nobody will be The CM alleged, “I made integrated Theatre said the paper on debunk- 1962 Sino-India War. KRC
mier border guarding force. comments about the case. also needs to take care of excused. Whoever is guilty some comments at Dum Commands but a National ing myths in Indian also examined what led to
The five personnel were She not only questioned its students. Girls should will be punished strictly. Dum Airport but my com- Defence Headquarters. debates on the Theatre the war, and not how it was
skilled for 130 hours during how the victim stepped out not be allowed to go out- Three have been arrested ments were distorted. I am Recently, Indian Air Command by Wg. Cdr. A. fought. It said that only a
the two months in-house of the campus after mid- side. They also have to pro- already.” making a request to you. Force Chief Air Chief Pichipoo Raja, Senior thorough, in-depth
training starting in August, night but also sermonized tect themselves.” Slamming Ms Banerjee, You ask me questions and Marshal A.P. Singh had Fellow, Centre for enquiry into Indian mili-
and they also had real expo- that the girls, including Wondering about the BJP spokesperson Shehzad then distort my comments. also cautioned against the Aerospace Power and tary operations from the
sure to the work as various those who come here from actions against the rape of Poonawalla posted on X- You are twisting ‘I eat rice’ implementation of the the- Strategic Studies (CAPSS), operational records by a
assets of the BSF air wing other states for studies, three girls on sea beach in handle, “Once again the into ‘I rice’. Don't try to aterisation plan in a hurry an autonomous defence suitable committee would
flew operational sortie,s should not go out at night Odisha three weeks ago, CM indulges in victim play such politics with me. as creating a new structure research and analysis reveal the preva-
including during the recent to "protect" themselves. the CM said, “But if any- shaming and blaming. I meet you while many oth- while disrupting every- body. lence/extent of the issue.
floods in Punjab and other She however took a U- thing happens to women in "The girls should not be ers don't even do that.” thing is not a very good The paper said that it is a "In the absence of this,
states. The BSF air wing has turn later and claimed Bengal, we don't allow any- allowed to go outside (col- Meanwhile, on the direc- idea at this point of time. myth that the Kargil any arguments regarding
been facing a critical short- “distortion” of her com- thing to be considered as a lege) at night," said CM tor of Odisha CM Mohan "Kargil Review Review Committee (KRC) the lack/abundance of
age of flight engineers in its ments in the media after casual case. We consider it #MamataBanerjee on gan- Charan Majhi, a team from Committee (KRC) recom- commented adversely on jointness are either anec-
Mi-17 helicopter fleet. facing a volley of attacks a serious case. I have grape of an MBBS student Balasore district adminis- mended better civil-mili- jointness during Opera- dotal or hearsay and
from BJP for her offensive received a prima facie in Durgapur. Instead of tration reached Bengal to tary integration and did tions in the Kargil war. devoid of factual evi-
CRPF training school remarks. report. The police is standing with the Beti, She meet rape victim. not mention any integra- "The mandate of KRC dence," it said.

at Karregutta Hills
New Delhi/Bijapur: The CRPF
is planning to establish a
commando training school
Miya-Muslims
to be Assam’s
Army will host UN BSF deploys
more troops
for troops at the rugged
Karregutta Hills located along
the Chhattisgarh-Telangana
border, the site of one of the
largest group, meeting from Tue along border
biggest anti-Naxal operations
in which 31 Maoists were warns Sarma Defence minister to address conclave before winter
killed this year between April AGE CORRESPONDENT Uruguay and Vietnam.
and May this year. A survey MANOJ ANAND NEW DELHI, OCT. 12 Defence minister YUSUF JAMEEL
has been under progress to GUWAHATI, OCT. 12 Rajnath Singh will SRINAGAR, OCT. 12
find a suitable location on the The Indian Army will address the conclave.
landscape that is about 60 A s s a m host the United Nations Senior Military officials In anticipation of height-
km long, 5-20 km wide, and chief min- Troop Contributing from Algeria, Armenia, ened infiltration
dotted with caves and ister Him- Countries’ (UNTCC) Bangladesh, Brazil, attempts from across the
bunkers apart from bees, anta Biswa Chiefs’ Conclave from 14 Cambodia, Italy, Nepal, Line of Control (LoC)
bats, bears and insects of Sarma said October, bringing togeth- Kenya, Rwanda, Senegal, before winter snowfalls,
various kinds, the sources in t h a t er senior military leader- Australia, Egypt, the Border Security
the force said. The CRPF, its Bengali- ship from 32 nations that Malaysia, Morocco, Force (BSF) has deployed
jungle warfare commando speaking Muslims, com- play a pivotal role in UN Nigeria, Thailand and additional troops and
unit CoBRA, and Chhattisgarh monly known as Miya-in peacekeeping operations. Madagascar will repre- enhanced surveillance
Police undertook the three- the state, are projected to "A total of 32 UN Troop sent their respective mili- along the de facto border.
week long “Operation Black become the largest com- Contributing Countries taries at senior levels. Speaking on the side-
Forest” at the Korgotalu Hills munity in the state, have confirmed participa- The delegations from lines of the Wular 2.0
(KGH), also known as accounting for around 38 tion in the forthcoming countries that contribute Marathon in Bandipora,
Karregutta Hills, killing 31 percent of the population People throng at Dadar market ahead of the Diwali festival in Mumbai on Sunday. — PTI Conclave, with atten- troops to UN peacekeep- north Kashmir, on
Maoists and seizing a huge in the upcoming census. dance by 15 Chiefs, 17 ing missions across the Sunday, Additional

Cheetahs in Kuno ‘Indianised’

cache of arms and ammuni- The CM told reporters Vice-Chiefs and other globe are expected to Director General (ADG)
tion between April and May. in Dibrugarh, “By the high-ranking military arrive at New Delhi on 13 of BSF, Satish S.
time the next census is officials from seven October. Khandare, confirmed
Friends kill man for completed, the popula- nations," said officials. The UNTCC serves as a that the force is on high

in behaviour and dietary habit

tion of Miya-Muslims in The countries repre- vital forum to address alert to counter cross—
not sharing tobacco the state will swell to 38
per cent in the state. Take
sented at the level of
Chiefs include Bhutan,
operational challenges,
evolving threats, interop-
border movements.
“Intelligence reports
Raipur: A youth in a it from me they will be Burundi, Ethiopia, Fiji, erability, inclusivity in indicate terrorists are
Chhattisgarh town was the largest community. RABINDRA NATH ◗ THESE SUBTLE Similarly, cheetahs in France, Ghana, Kazakh- decision-making and the positioned at launch
allegedly murdered by his This is the reality of CHOUDHURY Kuno were found to be stan, Kyrgyzstan, Mong- role of technology and pads across the border,
friends for not sharing a beedi Assam now.” BHOPAL, OCT 12
changes in behaviours drinking water even thrice olia, Poland, Sri Lanka, training in strengthening preparing to infiltrate
with them, the police said on Announcing that his seen in some cubs of the a day from water holes in Tanzania, Uganda, UN peacekeeping. the Valley before heavy
Sunday. The police cracked government is going to Cubs of African cheetahs, African cheetahs in Kuno National Park, snowfall blocks routes,”
the murder case by arresting bring in three key legisla- born in the Kuno National Kuno have been which is uncharacteristic he said.
three accused in the case. As
per the police, a body was
tions in the next assem-
bly session to protect
Park of Madhya Pradesh,
have been found, unchar-
described by the experts
as “local adaptation”
of cheetahs.
Cheetahs usually quench
IPS officer’s suicide: Panel “Infiltration attempts
typically surge before
Assam’s — jati, mati acteristically, enjoying their thirst by drinking winter, so we’ve strength-
found floating in a drain near
the Amner village under
Abhanpur area in Raipur dis-
bheti — meaning com-
munity, land, and home,
swimming in rivers, drink-
ing water thrice a day, and
per on Sunday.
As per to some forest offi-
fluid (blood) of their prey
and they then do not need
gives 48 hrs to remove DGP ened our presence
and intensified surveil-
trict on October ten. A police the CM regretted that if hunting even medium- cers of Kuno, several chee- to consume fluid for Chandigarh, Oct. 12: A 31- abetting his suicide. lance along the LoC,” he
team rushed to the spot after necessary steps would sized animals. tah cubs were found to be another three days, member committee, A decision was taken by said.
learning about it. There were have been taken three These subtle changes in crossing flooded rivers in experts say. formed to ensure accept- the committee at a maha- While exact numbers of
injury marks at several parts decades ago, the state’s behaviours seen in some Kuno ‘fearlessly’ during Mr Sharma explained ance of demands of the panchayat held at Guru potential infiltrators are
of the body indicating that he demographic landscape cubs of the African chee- the current monsoon sea- that unlike African sum- family of Haryana IPS Ravidas Bhavan on difficult to confirm,
was attacked with blunt wea- could have been differ- tahs in Kuno have been son, much to their amaze- mer, the summer in officer Y. Puran Kumar, Sunday. Khandare emphasised
pons, the police said. Later, ent. He reiterated, “Steps described by the experts as ment. Sheopur district, under who allegedly committed "The Haryana DGP and that credible inputs indi-
CCTV footage of the nearby are being taken to protect “local adaptation”. The felines seemed to which Kuno National Park suicide, has given a 48- the ex-Rohtak SP should cate increased activity
area was examined, leading to our people and ensure a “Some minor changes in enjoy swimming in the falls, is usually very harsh hour ultimatum to the be arrested in the matter. across the border.
identification of the deceased secure future.” behaviours have been river, sources said. and the cheetahs in Kuno Chandigarh administra- The Haryana government “The threat of infiltra-
as Sonu Pal (22), police said. Stressing the need for noticed in some cubs of “Cheetahs typically are need to take water twice or tion and the Haryana gov- should remove the DGP tion from our neighbour-
Later the three accused were sustained action to main- the African cheetahs in not swimmers for pleas- thrice a day to escape ernment to remove state from his post. We have ing country persists, but
arrested. During the probe of tain demographic bal- Kuno. These cubs are born ure. But they will swim to dehydration. police chief Shatrujeet given 48 hours after the BSF, alongside the
the accused, it was revealed ance, the CM said, “We in Kuno National Park. cross a water body in That’s the reason why Kapur from his post. which we will decide the Army, is fully prepared
that the trio had a heated have to keep the Miyas But it is not a major behav- search of prey or new the cheetahs were found to Kapur is one of the next course of action," a to thwart any attempts,”
argument with the deceased under pressure, and if ioural change but local home range”, South be taking water from the police officers against spokesperson of the com- he asserted, underscor-
when the latter refused to that can be done for a sus- adaptation”, field director African cheetah expert water bodies in Kuno whom Kumar's wife, IAS mittee told reporters ing the force's commit-
share a beedi, a thin rolled tained period, the situa- of the park, Uttam Kumar Susan Yannetti told this National Park particularly officer Amneet P. Kumar, here after the mahapan- ment to safeguarding
tobacco, with them. tion will improve.” Sharma, told this newspa- newspaper. in summer, he said. has sought for allegedly chayat. — PTI India’s borders.

Women row: Taliban mantri on backfoot NDA’s Bihar pact: BJP & 32 cases filed
against hair
■ Continued from Page 1
incident. For Sunday’s press
meet, Mr Muttaqi had to cancel
Returning to the talking points
of his visit to India and the
meeting with external affairs
tion followed by harassment
back home. The only female
Afghan staffer in the embassy
US and Nato forces,” he
said.
Meanwhile, Mr Muttaqi used
JD-U get 101 seats each stylist Habib in
his scheduled trip to Agra to cor- minister S. Jaishankar on was not present during the press the press conference to send a ■ Continued from Page 1 ers. The Congress is likely to get a
rect the “historical blunder”
that his team had made on the
Friday, Mr Muttaqi said the new
Afghanistan regime under the
meet on Sunday.
With regard to his visit to
message to Pakistan over the
ongoing clashes along the bor-
but asserted, “I will stay with
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
lesser number of seats than the
last time due to its dismal per-
UP’s Sambhal
Indian soil. Taliban will shortly reopen its India, Mr Muttaqi said among der of the two countries. A war- till my last breath.” formance in the 2020 Assembly Sambhal, Oct. 12: As
“The press conference was embassy in New Delhi full- other things he is also here to like situation is building up Barring Mr Kushwaha’s party, polls, when it won 19 out of 70 many as 32 FIRs have
organised on short notice. A fledged as relations with seek investment from Indian along the Durand Line after which came into being only a cou- seats it contested. been registered against
small list of journalists was India are improving “with each companies for Afghanistan. In Pakistan carried out air strikes ple of years ago, all other con- “The Congress president has celebrity hair stylist
finalised. It was more of a tech- day”. this regard, Afghanistan is in Kabul on Thursday. Pakistan stituents of the NDA have agreed been speaking to all the coalition Jawed Habib, his son
nical issue. Our colleagues had The staff of Afghanistan ready to open mining sector, has claimed it has seized 19 to contest fewer seats than the partners in Bihar.” Anos Habib and another
decided to send invitations to embassy had on Friday resisted including rare earth minerals, Afghan military posts and number of constituencies they “The final discussion is on for person for allegedly
specific journalists and there putting the Taliban’s black and that he claimed the US President destroyed several “militant hide- fought, respectively, in the 2020 deciding candidates in a few seats defrauding investors by
was no other intention,” Mr white flag with “Shahada” dur- was eyeing. Taliban sources outs”, besides killing 200 polls. where the Congress and promising high returns.
Muttaqi said. He added that no ing the press meet, insisting that added that India has a lot Taliban fighters. The Taliban In the last elections, the JD(U) some other parties feel they are On Sunday, Mr Habib's
one’s rights should be violated -- only the United Nations-accept- of goodwill in Afghanistan has claimed to have killed close had the lion’s share of 115 seats, strong.” lawyer Pawan Kumar
be it men or women. “Kisi ka ed flag of the country can be dis- and the new government wants to 60 Pakistani soldiers in retal- followed by the BJP at 110 and the “The Congress president has met Sambhal Police and
haq zaya nahi ho sakta, chahe played. However, a lot transpired to collaborate in various iatory fire. HAM at seven. been talking to all political lead- submitted medical
mard ho ya aurat,” he said when in the last two days as on Sunday sectors. Mr Muttaqi said Afghanistan The Mahagathbandhan, accord- ers for the last two days in Bihar,” papers citing his poor
questioned on women’s rights in the Taliban regime firmly set up “Mining, roads, energy, trans- has borders with six countries -- ing to sources, will likely finalise Congress general secretary health.
Afghanistan. its Islamic flag for the press port, water resources, health- China, Iran, Turkmenistan, its seat-sharing in the next few Jairam Ramesh said, adding that Mr Habib, his son and
He also expressed regret over meet without resistance from care, are the major areas we Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and days and may announce its candi- the talks between the leaderships associate have been
the killings of journalists in the embassy staff. The embassy's want Indian investment. We Pakistan -- but it is only with dates along with a joint manifesto of the RJD and the Congress are accused of running a
Afghanistan by Taliban fighters, main flagpole, however, still fea- want top Indian hospitals to col- Pakistan that it is having prob- this week. also going on and the leaders of scheme under the banner
including Indian photo journal- tures the Afghan Republic’s laborate with Afghan hospitals lems. “Why is it that we have no The insiders in the INDIA block the two main parties may also of Follicle Global
ist Danish Siddiqui, who was flag. in critical care and help improve problems with our other neigh- said talks between the RJD and meet by Monday. Company (FLC), and tak-
brutally killed by the Taliban in It is learnt that after Friday’s our health setup,” said an bours? Because a section of peo- the Congress are underway. The According to sources, the ing `5-7 lakh from each
2021. “The four decades of war incident the embassy staff was official of the Taliban govern- ple in Pakistan and its govern- leadership of the two parties may Congress will get more than 50 investor after promising
was a bitter period of our histo- intimidated by the Taliban and ment. ment does not want peace with meet on Monday, as RJD chief seats but less than 70 seats. They 50-70 per cent returns on
ry. We regret all the losses were threatened with regard to An agreement has already us,” said Mr Muttaqi. He denied Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi added that top Congress leaders Bitcoin purchases.
in the last few years. In the last their families back in Kabul, been reached to improve air con- Pakistan’s claims that it har- Yadav are in the national will be meeting at the party head- "They took around `5-7
four years since we have which forced them to back off nectivity between New Delhi bours Tehreek-e-Taliban capital. quarters on Monday for finalis- lakh from each investor,
taken over no reporters have this time. and Mumbai to Kabul and Pakistan (TTP) terrorists. When asked about the seat-shar- ing candidates in some more claiming that it would
been harmed,” Mr Muttaqi “This is our flag. This is 100 Kandahar. He said with India Delivering a message to ing, the RJD chief said the talks seats in the Bihar assembly yield high returns, but
said. per cent our embassy. All those they have discussed ways to Islamabad from New Delhi, he are on among the alliance part- polls. even after two-and-a-half
Sitting in the front row, the working here are with us,” Mr make effective use of Chabahar said: “The policy of the Islamic ners. Besides the “vote chori” cam- years, none of the
women journalists questioned Muttaqi said. port, keeping in mid the latest Emirate of Afghanistan is to “There is a meeting of the paign, the Congress is focusing investors received their
Mr Muttaqi over gender dis- Since Mr Muttaqi made it clear American sanctions. resolve all problems through dis- alliance. Talks are on,” Mr Yadav on extremely backward classes. It money back," SP Krishna
crimination and the poor condi- the present government is the On a question by this reporter cussion and understanding. We told the media. However, announced the Mai-Bahin Maan Kumar Vishnoi had said
tion of women in Afghanistan custodian of the embassy in if Taliban will allow the United want to have zero tension, and if Tejashwi said, “We have come Yojna, under which `2,500 will be earlier. As per the police,
under the Taliban regime. Some India and across the world, the States to retake control of they don’t want that, here as the court has called us.” transferred into the bank preliminary investiga-
of the questions he weakly six Afghan staffers who all along Bagram airbase in Kabul, the Afghanistan has other means. He did not elaborate further. accounts of underprivileged tions estimate a financial
defended and others he easily held the fort firmly in Delhi now answer was a firm “no”. “There Blood cannot be cleaned by The Yadavs were received at the women and some more proposals fraud to the tune of `5-7
deflected. fear termination and deporta- is no chance of any base of the blood.” airport by some Congress lead- are in the works. crore. — PTI
 EDIT
THE ASIAN AGE | MONDAY | 13 OCTOBER 2025 | LONDON
pg 5

Subhani

13 OCTOBER 2025

Will Delhi ties with Kabul

soar to pre-Taliban level?
T
he intriguing, high-stakes subcontinental game of diplomatic chess just
got more players. In a game involving friends, foes, frenemies and prickly
neighbours, India made a significant move in normalising relations with
the Talban-led government in Afghanistan, its upgrading of its technical
mission in Kabul to a full-fledged embassy being the major gambit.
The quick turn of events that came with the current visit of the Afghan foreign
minister Amir Khan Muttaqi may have come as a shock to those who oppose the
misogynistic Kabul regime that excludes women from education and jobs. But
there was a seemingly positive move in that direction, too, as the foreign minister
invited women journalists to his press conference Sunday in a conciliatory
gesture.
Mollifying gender-equality sentiment is a good opening move that the Taliban,
which has gained notoriety for its repressive measures against women, has made
in recognising realities outside its mountainous home that has been wracked by
war for decades since the first Soviet occupation army set foot in the 1980s fol-
lowed by the Americans who pulled out quite messily to a sudden Joe Biden dik-
tat in August 2021.
Afghanistan is also currently engaged in a conflict against Pakistan along the
Durand Line. It has just killed 58 Pakistan soldiers

Trump’s Gaza peace plan:

China may have and captured some Pakistan Army posts in retalia-
been the first tory strikes for frequent violations of its territory LETTERS
country to and airspace by the neighbouring nation. It has
formally accept the accused Pakistan, with no denial coming from it so
far, of a bombing run on Kabul and an attack on a
LADAKH STANDS UNITED
credentials of a market in the east, avowedly in response to attacks

Good start, hurdles loom

Taliban-appointed by the Pakistani Taliban. Ladakh won’t easily forget the
ambassador with What makes the game more interesting is that the events of September 24, when
President Xi improvement in ties promised by India, which is four locals, including a veteran
reaching out with generous financial aid, ambu-
Jinping granting lances, medical equipment, vaccines and reconstruc-
him audience in tion support for structures, comes at a time when the visit Israel and Egypt on
soldier, lost their lives in police
Pakistan has firing after an irate group of
January relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan has October 13. In Israel he will
shrewdly address the Knesset, as he
hit a new low. Gen Z protestors set fire to
The nations also nurse this common grouse of attacks emanating from Pakistan,
whether by proxy through terrorists funded and trained by the ISI in the case of
K.C. Singh repositioned itself
as a supplier of
needs to maintain pressure
to ensure Israel’s govern- the local BJP office. In an in-
India or by the Pakistan air force and ground forces as in Afghanistan. Of course, minerals, rare ment does not renege on its credibly heavy-handed re-
Pakistan lives by the illusion that India supports the attacks by the Pakistani commitments under pres-
Taliban that is assumed to be sponsored by Afghanistan in a restive border region
earths and energy sure from its far-right allies.
prisal, local hero Sonam
saturated with armed militancy. to the US. It has In Cairo, he will address the Wangchuk, an avowed Gan-
While no immediate relief from events of the military versus militancy kind offered the US a Gaza peace conference al- dhian, was taken into custody
may be forthcoming for Afghanistan, India is bent upon pursuing diplomacy, plac- new port, between ong with Egypt’s President
under the National Security

T
ing expansion of trade and help with education and visas that are in big demand he crisis over ser Arafat to shake hands at Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Iran’s Chabahar and
for an Afghan population looking for ways to seek asylum in the West and in Gaza, triggered by the White House in Sept-
Pakistan’s Gwadar.
Mr Netanyahu has been Act. Yet amid this crisis, the
India. It must also help that India has long supported the Afghan national cricket the brutal Hamas ember 1993. That kicked off openly claiming that no
team with a training base and a home ground in the country. attack on Israel on the Oslo peace process. Palestinian state can be cre- Leh Apex Body and the Kargil
China may have been the first country to formally accept the credentials of a October 7, 2023, President Clinton’s final ated. Since the Oslo Accords Democratic Alliance, repre-
Taliban-appointed ambassador with President Xi Jinping granting him audience has begun deescalating. On attempt, days before his The US joined in bombing and especially since the senting Buddhists and
in January. Most of the Asian and West Asian region have, however, accepted the September 29, US President presidency ended, in parts of the programme en- Gaza conflict the Israelis
de facto position of the Taliban as the rulers of Afghanistan. India’s recognition Donald Trump announced December 2000 is the closest trenched under mountains. have uninhibitedly allowed Muslims, respectively, have
that comes with the upgrading of its Kabul embassy is another step forward for a his 20-point plan to resolve any US leader has come to President Trump gave Israeli settlers to illegally recognised the importance of
regime run by the group of extremists. It can be said that all of India’s aid will it. With both the Israeli resolving the lingering dis- Israel a free hand over six continue grabbing more
come with few strings attached, the importance of which Afghanistan would do Cabinet and Hamas giving pute. But once the 9/11 months, while his chant land in the West Bank. Thus their struggle and closed
well to recognise as ties are set to take off. their approval to its con- attacks in 2001 occurred in seeking the Nobel Peace the “land for security” for- ranks. The ultimate goal is
tours, Phase-1 has begun. the United States, the global Prize got more persistent. mula has become progres- safeguarding of the unique
This involves the Israeli attention shifted to counter- The Israeli air attack on the sively less implementable.
Defence Forces (IDF) terrorism and combating supposed location of the top Where does India figure in ecology of Ladakh. Can they
retreating to a “yellow line”, Al-Qaeda. For two decades, Hamas leadership, negotiat- this? Prime Minister Nar- achieve it?
skirting Gaza City, etc., but the Palestinian issue ap- ing a ceasefire, in Qatar endra Modi’s original tweet,

Discuss SC idea of sex education well within Gaza. Hamas

has agreed to release 20
hostages and hand over the
peared defunct. Mr Netan-
yahu tactically kept Hamas,
controlling Gaza, isolated
boomeranged. President
Trump felt embarrassed as
the Qataris had snuggled up
praising Mr Netanyahu’s
strong leadership, elicited
negative reactions over
Bhagwan Thadani
Mumbai

T
he Supreme Court’s observation that authorities should consider remains of another 28. Israel from the Palestinian Auth- to him with a Boeing 747 gift charges of genocide against
making children aware of “changes that happen after puberty” by in return must release ority, wielding limited pow-
ers in the West Bank. Gaza
and the continued hosting of
a US military base. This was
the Israeli leader. India
must remain alert to
UNSEEN TALENT
incorporating sex education in school syllabus from lower classes about 250 Palestinians serv-
merits a wider discussion in society. The intent behind the court’s sugges- ing life terms and another functioned like an open-air the last straw which moti- Pakistan carving out a role ABDUL ALIM’S journey from a security
tion is that such education would enable teenagers to guard themselves 1,722 detainees picked up jail with its occupants vated the US to seek an end in the international stabili- guard to a software developer at Zoho is a
against unwarranted advances by others is laudable and must be from Gaza. Hamas seeks the granted controlled access to to Israel’s Gaza operation. sation force. Another ele- powerful reminder that talent and deter-
welcomed. release of some high-profile Israeli territory. Mean- However, the next steps ment is Iran’s role, which mination can defy all odds. Hailing from
In the modern era, teenagers have access to every sort of information, prisoners, who can help while, as Mr Netanyahu can be extremely challeng- the US is trying to suppress Tamil Nadu, Alim had only a 10th-grade
including that of erotic nature, either on their smartphones or OTT plat- unite Palestinians political- came under increasing pres- ing. First, the demilitarisa- by targeting nations engag- education and no formal training when
forms — even movies rated for family viewership are also replete with dou- ly, across Gaza and the West sure of criminal prosecu- tion of Gaza and disarming ing it economically. he began working as a security guard.
ble-meaning erotic references. Unlike the past, censorship of content is Bank. So far, Israel has not tion for alleged corruption, of Hamas. Second, having Pakistan has shrewdly However, his deep interest in coding
near impossible, and parents — busy in making their careers — find no accepted this demand. he aligned with the far-right Hamas abandon power, repositioned itself as a sup- caught the attention of a senior employee
time to guide children. Simultaneously, Israeli political parties. Conse- which it has wielded since plier of minerals, rare who chose to mentor him. Alim studied
Influenced by the open culture, reports of underage sex — either by con- national security minister quently, he allowed more 2007. Its surviving fighters earths and energy to the US, tirelessly during his night shifts, gradu-
sent or deception — and rape are also gradually increasing in society. Itamar Ben-Gvir, represent- illegal settlements in the must opt for exile or based on presumptive ally mastering programming and eventu-
Unaware teenagers become easy targets for paedophiles, who are on the ing a far-right ruling coali- West Bank area. amnesty. Finally, the issue deposits. It has offered the ally earning a role as a developer. His
prowl. In this background, the Supreme Court’s suggestion appears tion party, led 1,300 illegal Hamas’ 2023 attack caught of transitional government, US a new port, between inspiring transformation not only high-
plausible. Israeli settlers to intrude at the Israeli intelligence and consisting of select Palesti- Iran’s Chabahar and lights personal perseverance but also
Nevertheless, as the subject is a sensitive topic concerning children’s the Al-Aqsa mosque in government off-guard. It al- nians and experts. Over- Pakistan’s Gwadar. The Ind- reflects Zoho’s progressive vision —
future, it requires wider consultation in society. Teenage is the most cru- Jerusalem, the third holiest so revived the Palestinian seeing that would be anoth- ian outreach to the Taliban valuing skill and passion over degree.
cial time when children’s future is set, as it is this age when they take all Islamic site. It was con- issue. The US, under Pre- er body, led by President is reminiscent of the Cold Md Asad
crucial examinations that could shape their careers. demned by Islamic nations, sident Joe Biden, backed Trump, called the “Board of War-era India-Afghanistan New Delhi
Unlike in Western countries, the predominant majority of Indians con- including Saudi Arabia, Israel targeting Hamas. The Peace”. The composition of alliance to contain Pakis-
sider marriage to be a sacrament. As such, the State should not give the Jordan, Qatar and others. support persisted despite these bodies and the metho- tan. While China was al-
impression it encourages underage sex. While reports of underage sex are
on the rise, the State’s actions should not fan the flame. Similarly, the fam-
The Palestinian foreign mi-
nistry saw it as an attempt
the mounting civilian mas-
sacre. Much earlier, in the
dology to disarm Hamas are
unclear.
ready active in the region,
America’s re-entry compli-
WORK-LIFE BALANCE
ily continues to remain a strong foundation of Indian society, and casual “to thwart international early part of his first term as Meanwhile, the Nobel cates it. The Saudi-Pakistan I WOULD LIKE to share a thought for
sex should not be allowed to undermine it. efforts, including President President, Donald Trump Peace Prize has gone to a military alliance and Tur- your readers. Work is like a rubber ball
If officials decide to consider the Supreme Court’s observations, they Trump’s efforts, to halt the had announced recognition Venezuelan pro-democracy key refusing to abandon — if dropped, it bounces back. But fam-
need to conduct an in-depth study on the pros and cons of the probable Israeli aggression and war of Jerusalem as Israel’s cap- activist, Maria Corina Ma- Russian oil purchases and ily, health, friends, and spirit are like
impact of opening up sex education to children at an early age. against our people in Gaza”. ital in December 2017. chado. She shrewdly dedi- warning Israel indicates the glass; once damaged, they may never
Perhaps with his reputation Following this, the US cated her award to Trump. realignments underway in be the same. Life is not a race but a
restored, Israeli Prime Min- embassy was shifted there She is now in hiding and the Islamic world. Thus, journey to be cherished. We should
ister Benjamin Netanyahu from Tel Aviv in May 2018. requires the US pressure on Indian diplomacy enters a never give up while we have something
may not fear seeking a fresh This unilateral concession, the Venezuelan government challenging phase. The to offer, and we must value love, giving
THE ASIAN AGE mandate. without extracting Israeli to institute democratic existing uncertainty in the it freely instead of holding it too tightly.
Since the UNSC concessions, was unwise. reforms and free elections. South Asian neighbourhood Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mys-
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR Resolution 242 (1967), fol- Following the 2023 attack, According to Alfred Nobel will get impacted by West tery, and today is a gift.
Editor Printer & Publisher
lowed by Resolution 338 Israel began to decapitate the award is to be bestowed Asian turbulence, as Md Hammad
THE ASIAN AGE office is located at:
(1973), the core principle for Hezbollah and kill Hamas’ on a person, who during the President Donald Trump’s Mumbai
New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New Delhi-110002. Phone: resolving the Israeli- top leadership, in Gaza and preceding year conferred 20-point plan unfurls.
Palestinian issue has been abroad. Once Mr Trump “the greatest benefit on
(011) 23211124.
Published and Printed on behalf of and for “land for security”. US was back in the White Ho- mankind”. By this norm, The writer is a former
`500 for the best letter of the
◗ Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited, Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, 219 Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, New
President Bill Clinton got use in January 2025, Israel any award for Mr Trump at secretary in the external week goes to Bhagwan Thadani
Delhi 110 002 at BFL Infotech Ltd., C-9, Sector-III, Noida -201301.
◗ London: Quickmarsh Ltd, 8th Floor, Block 2, Elizabeth House, 39 York Road, London, SE1 7NQ. Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin even attacked Iranian nuc- this stage would be prema- affairs ministry. He tweets (October 11). Email:
RNI Registration number: 57290/94 and Palestinian leader Yas- lear enrichment facilities. ture. Trump is expected to at @ambkcsingh. [email protected].

A
s Afghanistan’s “foreign minister” Amir within India, no matter how abhorrent these prac- some unpalatable players staking out in Pakistan is not the only extraneous factor. These
Khan Muttaqi came calling in India recent- tices are, its re-entry into the Afghan arena is a mas- Afghanistan, while steering a steadfast course for terror groups are said to be struggling ever since
Padma Rao ly, both sides agreed to kickstart their mori- terly stroke. India is throwing a challenge to the big India’s best interests. Ankara turned the screws on the Islamic State (ISIS)
bund relationship (India upped and left boys — Russia, China and the US. It’s telling them to There’s uncertainty and a lack of irrefutable evi- and other terror funders based in Turkey. But given
Sundarji Afghanistan as the Taliban took over in 2021), evoked bring it on, and showing India can chop and change dence of other assurances offered by the Taliban. For Turkey’s close relationship to Pakistan and
“old, historical ties” and promised to have each strategy too. And, of course, a major motivation is to instance, what is the Taliban’s current relationship President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's dogged insistence
Delhiberations other’s backs over regional security issues. While Mr
Muttaqi did not specifically mention India in his
checkmate unstable, turbulent and aggressive
Pakistan. It’s time for practising pragmatic policy,
with many terror outfits sprawled over Afghanistan
and Pakistan’s border areas? The Afghan Taliban
on raking up Kashmir at every available opportuni-
ty, what is to stop Turkey from now encouraging or,
recorded address at the negotiation table when he not for navel gazing, and India is doing just that. distances itself from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan at least turning a blind eye to that funding, in order
said Afghanistan’s soil would not be “used against But there’s a pressing need for caution. Of all coun- (TTP), an offshoot of many banned terror outfits, to shred the newfound India-Taliban relationship?
others”, somebody made sure India was clearly men- tries in the region, it is Afghanistan that has which Pakistan accuses Kabul of sheltering and sup- India's engagement with the Taliban is crafty diplo-
tioned in the joint statement issued later. remained in a volatile, turbulent churn for more porting. Possibly out of pique over Mr Muttaqi’s New macy at its best. But the refrain of “our Pathan broth-

India must tread There was enough drama on Day 1 of the visit.
Women journalists were neither invited nor allowed
through the gate of the Afghan embassy in Delhi,
than half a century. At any given point in Afghan his-
tory, there has been no telling when the tide will turn
next, and what each one will bring. From monarchy,
Delhi visit, Pakistan reportedly conducted airstrikes
on Kabul last week. The target of the attack was the
TTP’s Noor Wali Mehsud, who said he was safe in
ers and sisters” and the old “Kabuliwala” romanti-
cism must stop.
If India re-enters the Afghan arena (and it can only
when Mr Muttaqi held a press conference. The anger to Soviet-style communism, to puppet governments, Pakistan, but that his son was killed in the attack. If be described as one, given the multitude of players
with caution as is understandable. However, an embassy officially
belongs to the country it represents, and not the host
country. The Taliban were therefore strictly within
to public executions, to clumsy Western domination
and then sudden abandonment, right up to the
Taliban, Afghanistan has seen it all. This means any
the Afghan Taliban has nothing to do with the TTP,
what was his son doing in Kabul?
The Al-Qaeda stakes out in Afghanistan as does
involved), it has to be prepared to go way beyond
mere investment and humanitarian aid. It must be
prepared to face harsh realities like the Taliban’s

it upgrades ties their rights to invite or not invite anyone. But after
India gifted ambulances and shaken hands with
what is seen as a pariah regime by most of the world,
assurances of smooth sailing for India-Afghan ties in
future is an illusion. If India is serious about entering
the Afghan Great Game, it must dig its heels in for
Islamic State Khorasan (ISKP). The Haqqani
Network, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Harkat-ul-Mujahadeen
and, according to a recent UN report, even anti-India
shoddy treatment of women and try to bring about
subtle changes without getting involved in the
undoubted unjustness of that treatment. And, if nec-
essary, it must stop pretending that its security per-
Mr Muttaqi must be wholeheartedly condemned for the long haul, and not depart at the first sign of the terror outfits Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and Jaish-e-
with Taliban govt not showing the same courtesy to his host country on
its soil, by respecting the law of this land. (The anger
was limited to women journalists, the male journal-
next, invariable change.
India must shed its image as a regional peacemak-
er, a Good Samaritan that provides earthquake aid
Mohammed float in and out of Afghanistan.
Officially, the Afghan Taliban is at loggerheads with
these groups and claims they are on the backfoot. But
sonnel are sent to Afghanistan only to “safeguard its
installations”.
History, especially in Afghanistan, has shown that
ists hardly noticed.) and ambulances to her “Afghan brothers and sisters” how could they all still be in the region without the the greatest of games can go either way. India must
And yet, the visit must be welcomed. Just as India and forget its traditional diplomatic bon mots to knowledge, if not tacit support, of the Afghan prepare to play it till the end.
has never tolerated interference by other countries future its interests. If need be, India must extend its Taliban? Can India really trust the Taliban to take on
over aspects like caste and religious discrimination engagement beyond the Taliban — perhaps even to and eradicate these groups? The writer is a veteran foreign correspondent
 WORLD
THE ASIAN AGE | MONDAY | 13 OCTOBER 2025 | LONDON
pg 6

SHORT TAKES
58 Pak soldiers killed Ceasefire holds in Gaza
3 QATARI OFFICIALS
ahead of hostage release
KILLED IN CAR
CRASH IN EGYPT
Cairo, Oct. 12: Three employees
in clashes, says Kabul Cairo/Jerusalem, Oct. 12:
A ceasefire between Israel
and Hamas held in Gaza
of Qatar's Amiri Diwan, its top
government body, were killed
Taliban holds fire after Qatar and Saudi Arabia intervene for a third day on Sunday
ahead of the expected
in a car crash near Egypt's Red Islamabad, Oct. 12: Paki- release of Israeli hostages
Sea resort city of Sharm el-
Sheikh, Qatar's embassy in
stan closed border cross-
ings with Afghanistan on
PAK: KILLED OVER and Palestinian prisoners
and an address by US
Egypt said in a post on X on
Sunday.
Sunday, Pakistani officials
said, following exchanges 200 AFGHANIS IN President Donald Trump
to Israel's
The embassy said two others of fire between the forces parliament.
were wounded. It said the
injured and the bodies of the
of the two countries
overnight in which Kabul
BORDER CLASH Thousands
Palestinians continued to
of

deceased would be repatriated claimed to have killed 58 Islamabad/Peshawar, travel north towards Gaza
later on Sunday to Doha. Pakistani soldiers. Oct. 12: At least 23 City, the focus of Israeli
Earlier, two sources said a car Afghan troops opened Pakistani soldiers and attacks over the past two
carrying Qatari diplomats fire on Pakistani border over 200 Taliban and affil- months, hopeful the cease-
overturned on a curve on a posts late on Saturday, iated terrorists were fire would bring an end to Palestinians make their way past destroyed buildings in
road 50 kilometres from the with the country's min- killed in intense the war.
Gaza City on Sunday. — AFP
city. The accident came a few istry of defence saying overnight clashes along “There is a lot of joy
days after officials from Qatar, this was in retaliation for the Pakistan-Afghanistan among the people,” said
Turkey and Egypt participated
in talks in Sharm el-Sheikh
Pakistani airstrikes in
Afghanistan earlier in the
border, the Pakistani
Army said on Sunday, as
Abdou Abu Seada, adding
that the joy was tempered PRO-PALESTINIAN RALLY DRAWS
Taliban security personnel keep guard near border
earlier this week. week. Pakistan said that it
had responded with gun crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan at Spin
tensions escalated
between the two neigh-
by exhaustion after two-
years of war that have TENS OF THOUSANDS IN AUSTRALIA
B’DESH LAUNCHES and artillery fire.
Afghanistan said it had
Boldak district in Kandahar province on Sunday. — AFP bours amid mutual accu-
sations of cross-border
destroyed much of Gaza.
Israel's hostages coordi- Sydney, Oct. 12: Tens of estimated a crowd of
VACCINATION DRIVE killed 58 Pakistani sol-
diers, but gave no details
Afghan posts being hit.
The exchange of fire was
concern about the clashes.
“There is no kind of
aggression.
The statement comes
nator Gal Hirsch, in a let-
ter to relatives of the cap-
thousands joined a pro-
Palestinian rally in
30,000 in Sydney, the
nation's most populous
TO CURB TYPHOID on how it knew of the
casualty figures. It also
mostly over on Sunday
morning, Pakistani secu-
threat in any part of
Afghanistan's territory,”
amid Pakistan seizing 19
Afghan military posts and
tives seen by Reuters, said
it was expected that
Sydney on Sunday, organ-
isers said, one of dozens
city, one of about 27
nationwide. Police did not
Dhaka, Oct. 12: Bangladesh said that 20 Afghan troops rity officials said. the Taliban administra- “terrorist hideouts” in hostages would start of demonstrations across have a crowd estimate for
launched a nationwide vacci- were killed or injured. But in Pakistan's tion's spokesman, response to what it termed being released on Monday. Australia, with some pro- the protest. The Gaza
nation campaign on Sunday to There was no immediate Kurram area, intermit- Zabihullah Mujahid, said “unprovoked” attacks by Under the ceasefire testers expressing scepti- ceasefire appeared to be
protect millions of children response from Pakistan. tent gunfire continued, Sunday. “The Islamic Afghan forces in the bor- agreement, Hamas is due cism a ceasefire in Israel's holding early on Sunday
from typhoid, a deadly and Pakistani security offi- according to local officials Emirate and the people of der areas, while Kabul by noon on Monday to two-year-old assault in and Israeli troops had
increasingly drug-resistant cials said they had inflict- and residents. Afghanistan will defend claimed that 58 Pakistani release the remaining Gaza would hold. pulled back under the first
disease that poses a growing ed casualties on Afghan Afghanistan's ministry their land and remain res- soldiers were killed and 30 hostages, taken captive on The organiser, the phase of a US-brokered
public health threat. force but gave no number. of defence had previously olute and committed in others injured during the October 7, 2023, when the Palestine Action Group, agreement. — Reuters
The month-long campaign Reuters could not inde- said that their operation this defence.” retaliatory operations. group's militants
aims to immunise around 50 pendently verify the had finished at midnight Mujahid said that fight- The army in a statement launched the surprise Thursday said a task force dead hostages that Hamas
million children aged between accounts. local time. ing was ongoing in some said that on the interven- attack on Israel that ignit- would be formed to help could not locate.
nine months and 15 years with Both nations claimed to Kabul said on Sunday areas. Islamabad accuses ing night of October 11-12, ed the war. Hirsch on find the remains of any — Reuters
a single dose of the Typhoid have destroyed border that it had halted attacks the Taliban administra- Afghan Taliban and
tion of harbouring mili- Tehreek-e-Taliban

Russia cautions US over

Conjugate Vaccine (TCV). posts of the other side. at the request of Qatar
Approved and pre-qualified by Pakistani security offi- and Saudi Arabia. The two tants who attack Pakistan, Pakistan (TTP) “launched
the World Health Organisation cials shared video footage, Arab Gulf nations had a charge that Kabul an unprovoked attack on
(WHO), the vaccine provides which they said showed released statements of denies. — Reuters Pakistan. — Reuters
protection for up to five years
and is being administered free.
The vaccination push comes
amid rising concerns over
drug-resistant typhoid strains
Prez: US troops will be paid SHOOTINGS AT
BAR KILL 4 IN
missile supply to Ukraine
across South Asia. Moscow, Oct. 12: The

FRENCH PM RACES
AGAINST CLOCK TO
on Oct. 15 despite shutdown SOUTH CAROLINA
Beaufort, Oct. 12: A mass
Kremlin said on Sunday
Russia was deeply con-
cerned about the possibili-
ty of the US supplying
Washington, Oct. 12: shooting at a crowded Tomahawk missiles to
FORM GOVT President Donald Trump
said he is directing the
CHINA TELLS U.S. bar on an idyllic South
Carolina island has left
Ukraine, warning that the
war had reached a dra-
Paris, Oct. 12: French Prime
Minister Sebastien Lecornu
Defence Department to
use funds his administra-
TO BACK OFF ON four people dead and at
least 20 injured, officials
matic moment with esca-
lation from all sides.
faces a race against time to
form a government by
tion has identified to
deliver paychecks to US TARIFF THREATS say.
The shooting occurred
US President Donald
Trump said on Monday
Monday's budget deadline, as troops on Oct. 15 despite early on Sunday at that before agreeing to
divisions emerged within the the ongoing government Beijing, Oct. 12: China Willie’s Bar and Grill on provide Tomahawks, he
conservative Les Republicains shutdown. said the US should stop St. Helena Island, offi- would want to know what
party over whether to accept “I am using my authori- threatening it with higher cials said. A large crowd Ukraine planned to do
ministerial posts in his ty, as Commander in tariffs and urged more was at the scene when with them because he did
cabinet. Chief, to direct our negotiations on outstand- sheriff ’s deputies not want to escalate the Ukrainian recruits taking part in a training exercise to
Just two days after being Secretary of War, Pete ing issues to agree on a arrived and found sever- war between Russia and improve their tactical skills in Zaporizhzhia region,
reappointed, Lecornu must Hegseth, to use all avail- trade deal, responding to al people suffering from Ukraine. He said, howev- amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. — AP
present a draft budget bill to able funds to get our President Donald Trump's gunshot wounds. er, that he had “sort of
cabinet and parliament on
Monday, requiring key ministe-
Troops PAID on October
15th,” Trump wrote in a Donald Trump
latest measures against
Beijing. China's recent
“Multiple victims and
witnesses ran to the
made a decision” on the
matter. U.S. INTELLIGENCE HELPS UKRAINE
rial positions to be filled imme- Truth Social post trade countermeasures nearby businesses and Tomahawk missiles have
diately amid France's deepest
political crisis in decades.
Saturday. More than a
quarter of a million feder-
on Republicans to soften
their stance on
on US-related issues were
necessary, defensive
properties seeking shel-
ter from the gun shots,”
a range of 2,500 km (1,550
miles), meaning Ukraine
TO TARGET RUSSIAN ENERGY INFRA
The LR party's governing al employees missed Democratic demands to actions, the ministry of the Beaufort County would be able to use them Kyiv, Oct. 12: The US has refineries, far beyond the
body said on Saturday that "the scheduled paychecks this address health-care costs, commerce said in a state- Sheriff ’s Office said in a for long-range strikes been helping Ukraine front line, the newspaper
trust and conditions are not in week, with another 2 mil- including extending ment on Sunday. Beijing statement on the social deep inside Russia, mount long-range strikes said, citing unnamed
place" to join Lecornu's gov- lion expected to go with- Affordable Care Act subsi- will take corresponding media platform X. including Moscow. Some on Russian energy facili- Ukrainian and U.S. offi-
ernment, yet a majority of the out pay by next week, dies that are set to expire. measures to safeguard its “This is a tragic and retired variants of ties for months in a joint cials familiar with the
party's lower house members which would be the third “I will not allow the rights if the US persists in difficult incident for Tomahawks can carry a effort to weaken the econ- campaign. The White
favour taking cabinet positions week of the shutdown. Democrats to hold our its actions, it said. everyone. We ask for nuclear warhead, accord- omy and force President House, Ukrainian
to influence the budget. Under current law, US Military, and the entire Trump on Friday your patience as we con- ing to the US Vladimir Putin to the President Volodymyr
troops aren't guaranteed Security of our Nation, announced an additional tinue to investigate this Congressional Research negotiating table, the Zelenskiy's office and
backpay during a shut- HOSTAGE, with their 100% tariff on China as incident. Our thoughts Service. “The topic of Financial Times reported Ukraine's foreign min-
MADAGASCAR down, unlike civilian
employees. The Penta-
dangerous Government
Shutdown,” Trump wrote
well as export controls on
“any and all critical soft-
are with all of the vic-
tims and their loved
Tomahawks is of extreme
concern,” Kremlin
on Sunday.
US intelligence has
istry did not immediately
respond. There was no
PREZ WARNS OF gon's next military pay-
day, Oct. 15, was shaping
in his post.
The Department of War
ware” beginning Nov. 1,
hours after threatening to
ones,” the statement
said. Four people were
spokesperson Dmitry
Peskov told Russian state
helped Kyiv strike impor-
tant Russian energy
immediate comment from
the Russian foreign
ATTEMPTED COUP up as a key pressure point
in the ongoing standoff
has identified about $8 bil-
lion of unobligated
cancel an upcoming meet-
ing with Chinese leader
found dead at the scene,
and at least 20 other peo-
television. — Reuters assets, including oil ministry. — Reuters

Antananarivo, Oct. 12: between Republicans and research development Xi Jinping. That came ple were injured. Among
Democrats over a stopgap testing and evaluation after China added new the injured, four were in
Madagascar's presidency said
on Sunday that "an attempted
illegal and forcible seizure of
spending measure.
Trump's decision to pay
funds from the prior fiscal
year that will be used to
port fees on US ships,
started an antitrust inves-
critical condition at area
hospitals. The victims’
Spain celebrates National Day
power" was underway in the the troops may ease some issue mid month tigation into Qualcomm identities were not
African nation, without pro- of the immediate pressure paychecks. — Bloomberg Inc., — Bloomberg released. — AP
viding details, a day after some

Chinese ship rams vessel: Philippines

soldiers joined a protest move-
ment that had begun last
month.
Troops from the elite CAPSAT
unit that helped President
Andry Rajoelina seize power in Manila, Oct. 12: The Chinese ship had used a Firm Against Chinese has been a source of
a 2009 coup, urged fellow sol- Philippines accused a water cannon, he said. Bullying and Aggressive geopolitical tensions for
diers to disobey orders and Chinese ship of deliber- The Chinese Coast Actions in Pag-asa decades, with myriad
back the youth-led protests, ately ramming a govern- Guard, meanwhile, said The Philippine Coast overlapping maritime ter-
which began on September 25 ment vessel in the disput- they expelled ships which Guard (PCG) and the ritorial claims. The con-
and pose the most serious chal- ed South China Sea, the had entered waters near Bureau of Fisheries and tested waters are criss-
lenge to Rajoelina's rule since latest alleged incident the Spratly Islands, Aquatic Resources (BFAR) crossed by vessel routes
his reelection in 2023. Rival amid maritime tensions according to a statement. have reaffirmed their vital to global commerce,
forces claimed on Sunday to between the two nations. One ship ignored "stern strong commitment to and the seabeds beneath
have command over security The Philippine vessel warnings," and protecting Filipino fisher- them may contain
operations in the country, with suffered structural dam- approached a Chinese ves- men in the Kalayaan reserves of oil and gas.
one group, representing the age, although its crew sel that was conducting Island Group. The South Against that backdrop,
CAPSAT soldiers, saying it were uninjured, Coast "normal law-enforcement China Sea - bordered by vessels from China and
would coordinate all branches Guard spokesperson Jay operations," spokesperson China and a number of the Philippines collided Spain’s King Felipe VI (2L), Queen Letizia (2R), Princess Leonor (L) and Princess Sofia
of the military. Tarriela said Sunday in a Liu Dejun said. Southeast Asian nations, near a disputed shoal in (R) attend the Spains National Day military parade in Madrid, on Sunday. — AFP
post on X. Initially, the PCG and BFAR Stand including the Philippines - September. — Bloomberg
FAILED CHINA SPY
CASE: UK DEFENDS ICONIC | ROLES Actor was romantically involved with Allen, Pacino, Beatty, but never married
ITS HANDLING
London, Oct. 12: A UK minister
has insisted the government
didn't intervene in an aborted
prosecution of two men
accused of spying for China
Diane Keaton, star of ‘Annie Hall’, dies at 79
KEATON’S Washington, Oct. 12: favored androgynous alised version of me, let's
amid growing scrutiny over CAREER Diane Keaton, the quirky KEATON WAS AFTER BRIEFLY attending col- looks, turtleneck sweaters put it that way,” Keaton
the role of senior officials in SPANNED OVER US actress who won an born Diane Hall in lege in California, Keaton and her trademark hats. said about the film in an
the collapse of the case. Academy Award and cap- Los Angeles on moved to New York to study at She earned Oscar nomi- interview with CBS News
60 FILMS, nations for best actress for in 2004. “Annie Hall” and
British education secretary tured hearts with her per- January 5, 1946. the Neighborhood Playhouse.
Bridget Phillipson told Sky INCLUDING ‘THE formance as Woody her portrayal of US jour- Keaton's dramatic turn as
News on Sunday that the gov- GODFATHER’ Allen's eccentric, insecure SHE WAS the old- IT WAS AN AUDI- nalist Louise Bryant in the a dedicated teacher by day
ernment is “very disappoint- TRILOGY girlfriend in the 1977 est of four TION with Allen 1981 political drama and prowler of singles
ed” that the prosecution romantic comedy “Annie children. for the stage “Reds,” as a caring aunt to bars at night in “Looking
collapsed, but reiterated that SHE WAS Hall,” has died at the age HER FATHER was production of Leonardo DiCaprio in the for Mr Goodbar” landed
the decision was made by the KNOWN FOR HER of 79. Rizzoli, a publishing
a civil engineer “Play It Again, 1996 family saga “Marvin's her on the cover of “Time”
Crown Prosecution Service. ANDROGYNOUS company that released Sam” that Room” and opposite Jack magazine in Sept. 1977.
The director of public several of Keaton's books, and mother a Nicholson in the 2003 Rolling Stone magazine
STYLE. housekeeper. changed
prosecutions had previously confirmed her death in a romantic comedy described her as “the next
said that the CPS was forced to statement, calling her an her life. “Something's Gotta Give.” (Katherine) Hepburn”.
drop the case because govern- “icon whose influence But it was “Annie Hall,” Forty years later, Allen
ment officials refused to label spanned film, fashion, and which Allen loosely based paid tribute to his early
China a national security design.” A representative by People magazine. gy, “The First Wives Club” on his relationship with muse when Keaton got the
threat — a crucial legal for Keaton could not be Keaton, who appeared in and eight films with Allen, Keaton, that established American Film Institute
requirement under the old immediately reached. Her more than 60 films, includ- stood out in Hollywood her as a consummate Life Achievement Award.
espionage laws. death was first reported ing “The Godfather” trilo- with a personal style that actress. “It was an ide- — Reuters
 LONDON | MONDAY | 13 OCTOBER 2025
pg 7

Sensex may see ripples NSE faces around 17 cr

quick cyberattacks every day
BITES of new US-China tussle
Global uncertainty set to move Indian markets this week
Mumbai, Oct. 12: The
National Stock Exchange
(NSE) faces around 17 cro-
re cyberattacks daily, req-
SECURITY SET-UP
NSE RECORDED highest-ever
WHATEVER connect-
ed to NSE's systems
will get affected in
40 cr cyberattacks in single day
INDICATORS % RAVI RANJAN PRASAD
uiring a dedicated team of
cyber warriors to work during Operation Sindoor.
case of breach.
SELF-ACTIVATED
Sensex 82,500.82 0.40 RARE EARTH MINERALS WHY THEY ARE IMPORTANT?
around the clock to ensure backup system was
MUMBAI, OCT. 12
Rare earth metals have unique EXCHANGE IMPLEMENTED
Nifty 50 25,285.35 0.41 CHINA RECENTLY WHAT ARE RARE uninterrupted operations. internal cybersecurity meas- established in
The Indian stock markets electrical, magnetic, and lumines- The NSE recorded its
S&P 500* 6,552.51 -2.71 extended the curbs EARTH MINERALS? cent properties that are critical ures for its operations. Chennai that can be
are likely to react to fresh highest-ever 40 crore cybe- operated remotely.
Dollar (`) 88.66 -0.14 trade tensions between US on the export of rare Rare earth minerals for production of many modern rattacks in a single day POP-UPS, alerts
and China as both sides earth minerals on are a group of 17 technologies. during Operation Sindoor, instantly generat-
Pound Sterling (`) 117.91 -0.79 security grounds.
resorted to heavy penal- metallic elements HOW WILL SHORTAGE designed as a DDoS simu- ed upon detection
Euro (`) 102.61 0.58 ties ignited by China’s cu- The country pro- that have unique lation. However, attackers of any suspicious
rbs on rare earth exports. duces over 90 per AFFECT WORLD? failed to cause any da-
Gold (10gm)* (`) 121,492▲999 0.83 magnetic, electrical, Shortage of rare earth elements activity.
As the US and European cent of world's and fluorescent prop- mage due to coordinated
Brent crude ($/bbl)* 62.09 -1.02 markets fell sharply on can have economic and techno- efforts of men, machines,
processed rare erties. Though the
IN 10-Yr bond yield 6.531 0.15 Friday and crude oil fell earths and rare earth logical impacts. Many companies and advanced technology.
sharply too, the domestic
term rare-earth is have to stop production due to “Every day, crores of
US 10-Yr T-bill yield* 4.059 0.008 magnets. The misleading as they
market is likely to digest unavailability of rare earths. cyberattacks take place on
* As of 8:30 PM IST these developments on restrictions will have are not scarce but NSE. But our technical cybersecurity fundamen- making it crash or become
Monday while second qu- wide disruptions on occur in compounds HOW MUCH INDIA PRODUCES? teams, their systems and tals training program unavailable to legitimate
arter earnings, key macro production of semi- that are hard to iso- India's production of rare earths technology combat these through NSE Academy. users.
data releases like whole- conductors, EVs late and purify. is very less. It accounts for less attacks round the clock The security set-up incl- The NSE leadership
ICAI likely to give sale, consumer price infla-
tion will be other triggers.
and others. than one per cent of global
supply. Majorly India
using specialised soft-
ware,” a NSE official said.
udes strict protocols gov-
erning emails, external
noted that not only the
exchange’s systems but
firms data for On last Friday, the US
market fell sharply as it
imports rare earths. He said that the number
of cyberattacks ranges
data, pen drives, and pro-
tection against distrib-
whatever is connected to
us will get affected in case
imposed a 100 per cent from 15 crore to 17 crore uted denial of service of a breach, emphasising
India’s LLMs fresh tariff on China over
and above the 30 per cent
HOW COULD Many nations are making policies to boost domestic pro-
COUNTRIES OVER- duction. India's proposes `7,300-crore plans for its produc-
daily, making the task for
the teams and systems
attacks. Trading members
are required to undergo
the ripple effect of digital
vulnerabilities across
Institute of Chartered Account- basic tariff negotiated COME SHORTAGES? tion. Firms developing products without use of rare earths. highly challenging. regular cybersecurity and interconnected networks.
ants of India (ICAI) is in discus- earlier. The US markets’ “The strong cybersecuri- cyber-resilience audits, They further said that
sions with the ministry of elec- seen sharp fall of Dow ty architecture involving according to officials. the potential for large-
tronics and information tech-
nology (MeitY) to provide
financial and economic data of
Jones (-1.90 per cent), S&P
500 (-2.71 per cent) and
Nasdaq Composite (-3.56
impose a 100 per cent tar-
iff on imports from China
and restricting many crit-
Crypto marts witness tech-savvy personnel,
machines and technology
makes the NSE’s operatio-
Pop-ups and alerts are
instantly generated upon
detection of any suspicio-
scale cyberattacks on
financial market infra-
structure at very low cost
listed companies for India’s
sovereign artificial intelligence
(AI) model. The MeitY is work-
per cent) wiped out
approximately $2 trillion
in US market capitalisa-
ical US exports to China.
The FPI flows, going for-
ward, will depend on how
biggest one-day selloff ns safe”, the official said.
NSE has implemented
strong internal cybersecu-
us activity through the-se
channels, officials added.
A DDoS attack over-
remains a global risk.
NSE has a self-activated
backup system that can be
ing to develop India’s large lan- tion in a single day. this renewed trade war rity measures for its oper- whelms a server with traf- operated remotely from
guage models (LLMs). A senior Brent crude oil futures pans out in coming days,” New York, Oct. 12: The fueled what might have ations and also runs a fic from multiple sources, its Chennai. — PTI
functionary at ICAI said the dropped 3.8 per cent to set- said VK Vijayakumar, day after crypto experi- been a less dramatic oblit-
institute plans to provide finan- tle at $62.7 a barrel on chief investment strate- enced its biggest one-day eration of positions.

Maruti, Tata better

cial and economic data of list- Friday, the lowest since gist, Geojit Investments. selloff, everyone in the From the morning hours
ed companies to develop LLMs. May 7, as renewed US-
China trade tensions rat-
FPIs turned buyers in
the cash market on the
industry was trying to fig-
ure out who was left hold-
in Asia through the after-
noon in the US on
TARIFF HIKE TO
tled markets, said reports.
Lower crude oil price is
last four trading sessions
of the week ended on 10th
ing the bag.
A record $19 billion in
Saturday, traders, execu-
tives and market-data ana-
IMPROVE TELCOS’
positive for Indian market
amid rupee at an all time
low valuation against US
dollar which raises India’s
October with total `3,289
crore net buying.
“The Indian market
direction in the coming
bets evaporated and cryp-
to prices tumbled, due in
large part to newly severe
China tariffs announced
lysts were wondering
who, exactly, had suffered
losses. Did a large entity
get completely hosed — or
MARGINS: COAI
New Delhi, Oct. 12:
market pie in Sept.
crude import bill. week will hinge on a mix by US President Donald was this a case of a lot of Telecom industry body New Delhi, Oct. 12: Maruti September last year.
“The global market sen- of domestic cues, global Trump. small bettors watching COAI has defended serv- Suzuki and Tata Motors Mahindra & Mahindra
timent has again turned macroeconomic tre-nds, A combination of fac- their holdings evaporate ice providers’ call to saw a year-on-year (YoY) retailed 37,659 passenger
negative with US-China and corporate earnings,” tors - leverage, automati- to zero? More than 1.6 mil- increase mobile tariff cit- increase in their retail vehicles last month
trade war resurfacing fol- said Ponmudi R, chief cally triggered sales, a lion traders were liquidat- ing continuous widening sales market share last recording a market share
lowing US President executive officer, Enrich lack of liquidity at odd ed, according to the of gap between their month, according to the of 12.58 per cent. It sold
Donald Trump’s threat to Money. hours for global trading - CoinGlass. — Bloomberg expense on network latest passenger vehicle 35,863 units in the year-
DRL, Zydus pull deployment and revenue
earned by them in return.
(PV) registration data for
September.
ago period with a market
share of 12.67 per cent.
out two drugs
Lack of ITC benefit to affect
While speaking at India Hyundai Motor India Hyundai Motor India
Mobile Congress, cellular and Toyota Kirloskar on retail sales stood at 35,812
operators association of other hand saw a YoY dip units last month account-
from US market India (COAI), director
general, SP Kochhar said
in their respective market
share last month.
ing for 11.96 per cent mar-
ket share. It had sold
Drug majors Dr Reddy’s Labor-
atories and Zydus Lifesciences
are recalling products in the US
for manufacturing issues,
insurers’ profits negatively that the government has
supported a lot to telecom
operators with policies
like right of way (RoW)
As per the data, Maruti
Suzuki India retailed
a total of 1,23,242
units in Septem-
38,833 units in the same
month last year with
a market share of
13.72 per cent.
according to US health regula- FALAKNAAZ SYED but still several authori- ber grabbing a S i m i l a r l y,
tor. US Food and Drug Admini-
stration (USFDA) stated that an
SHADOW BANKS MUMBAI, OCT. 12
LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES
witness double-digit growth
IT WAS DRIVEN by
strong momentum in ties continue to charge
exorbitant fees for laying
market share of
41.17 per cent. It
Toyota
loskar
Kir-
Motor
US subsidiary of Dr Reddy’s is
recalling 571 vials of an injecti-
LEND 86% MICRO The recent GST exemp-
tion on life insurance pre-
with new business
premiums rising by
group business which
more than offset
network elements.
“Earlier, the gap until
had retailed 1.15
lakh units in
and Kia India’s
market share
14.8%YoY to decline in individual
on used to relax muscles. US-
based arm of Zydus is recalling LOANS IN INDIA mium is likely to impact
the profitability of insur- `40,206.7 cr. premiums.
2024 for infrastructure
development and revenue
September 2024
with a market share
saw a marginal
year-on-year dip.
over 1,500 boxes of an antiviral ers for the July-September received from tariffs was of 40.83 per cent. In two wheeler space,
medication used to treat the Kolkata, Oct. 12: NBFCs 2025 quarter. INDUSTRY REPORTS 7.6% rise in H1 around `10,000 crore. Now Tata Motors saw its mar- Hero MotoCorp saw its
chronic hepatitis B virus. and NBFC-MFIs con- With the benefit of ITC FY26 with premiums rising to Rs 2.03 it has started increasing ket share improve to 13.75 market share rise to 25.10
tribute to 86 per cent of not available on existing lakh cr from Rs 1.89 lakh cr in H1FY25 even further. Our cost of per cent last month as per cent last month as
the microfinance client book, life insurance com- rolling out networks compared to same period against 22.48 per cent in
base and 84 per cent of the panies may report flat or should be reduced by a last year when it sold year-ago period. Its retail
outstanding portfolio, marginally better profit strong momentum in the nies will be about 165-400 reduction in the price of 32,586 units accounting sales rose to 3.23 lakh
ACME to invest according to a report.
The report, prepared
margins even as new sales
improve during period.
group business, particu-
larly in the single premi-
bps of the value of new
business margins.
spectrum, levies etc.
“The Centre has come
for 11.52 per cent market
share in PV segment.
units last month.
Overall the two-wheeler
`5,000 cr to set jointly by Sa-Dhan, a self-
regulatory organisation,
and the NABARD, said
In September, the life
insurance industry wit-
nessed double-digit
um segment, which more
than offset the decline in
individual premiums. A
“Individual non-single
policies continued to fall
in September due to base
out with a very good ROW
policy. It is a different
matter that many people
Overall, PV retail sales
last month stood at 2.99
lakh units, registering an
retail sales rose 6.5 per
cent to 12.87 lakh units in
September as against
up DRI facility that the total active client
base of the MFIs stood at
growth, with new busi-
ness premiums rising by
favourable base effect and
the impact of goods and
effect and surrender value
regulations which to nor-
have not yet fallen in line
and are still charging
increase of 6 per cent as
against 2.82 lakh units in
12.08 lakh units in the
year-ago period. — PTI
ACME Group is planning to 8.28 crore and loan out- 14.8 per cent year-on-year services tax (GST) reduc- malise next month onwa- extremely high,” Kochhar
invest `5,000 crore to set up a standing at `3,81,225 crore to `40,206.7 crore, revers- tions aided this. rds. Private players to off- said.
direct reduced iron (DRI) facili-
ty, according to sources. “Our
greenfield facility will produce
in FY25.
Other entities which
extend microloans are
ing the 5.2 per cent decline
seen in August and higher
than 14 per cent growth
According to Nischint
Chawathe of Kotak
Institutional Equities, the
set decline in policies by
rising premiums received
per policy,” said Saurabh
The COAI director gen-
eral defended the cut
down of data packs in
Vedanta emerges world’s
some of lowest carbon emis-
sion green HBI and DRI prod-
ucts, underscoring our commit-
banks and small finance
banks.
The top five states for
seen in September 2024.
The group was driven by
input tax credit (ITC) loss
for life insurance compa-
Bhalerao, associate direc-
tor, CareEdge Ratings.
entry-level tariff plans by
select operators. — PTI largest aluminium producer
ment as a leader of clean tech the micro-lending busi- RAVI RANJAN PRASAD MTPA capacity, it said.
company,” ACME Group chair-
man Manoj Kumar Upadhyay
said without divulging informa-
tion related to investment
ness are Bihar, Tamil
Nadu, Uttar Pradesh,
West Bengal
Karnataka, it said.
and Oil PSUs worth less than Zomato MUMBAI, OCT. 12

Vedanta-owned Balco has

announced fresh alumini-
Balco itself will now
contribute over 20 per
cent of India’s total alu-
minium production.
being planned for the project. NABARD chairman K V FC CORRESPONDENT cap), indicating India’s crore) and Titan Company seen quantum jumps. um production capacity “The expansion sup-
Shaji said that MFIs have NEW DELHI, OCT. 12 largest oil and gas produc- (`3.13 lakh crore),” the Analysts suggest that taking its total production ports country’s self-relia-
emerged as the corner- er is undervalued. BSE data said. the market has not fully to one million tonne per nce by ensuring availabil-
stone of India's socio-eco- State-owned Oil and As of Friday closing, ONGC was India’s most priced in value of ONGC’s annum (MTPA) with pro- ity of domestically pro-
nomic transformation by Natural Gas Corporation ONGC is ranked 25th valuable company with a diverse portfolio. duction commencing from duced aluminium for crit-
fostering financial inclu- (ONGC), valued at around according to m-cap, the m-cap of `2.44 lakh crore The combined value of country’s largest 525 kilo ical sectors such as
sion. `3.10 lakh crore, now BSE data showed. in 2012, ahead of IT giant its stake in subsidiaries ampere (kA) smelter in defence, aerospace and
“Millions have been able trails food delivery firm “ONGC market value of TCS and energy major MRPL and HPCL and Chhattisgarh. automotive,” it added.
to access timely and col- Zomato despite its stakes `3.097 lakh crore, lower Reliance Industries. While minority investments in Balco’s capacity expan- Balco is expanding its
lateral-free credit, in subsidiaries and minor- than `3.36 lakh crore of ONGC’s market capitali- other listed companies sion to 1 MTPA, makes downstream capabilities
enabling them to build ity investments account- Eternal (formerly known sation rose by just 26 per comes to over `1.07 lakh Vedanta Aluminium as too to meet India’s rising
sustainable livelihoods,” ing for over a third of its as Zomato), Hindustan cent over the past 13 years, crore - more than a third the world’s largest alu- demand for advanced alu-
Shaji said. — PTI market capitalisation (m- Aeronautics (`3.23 lakh other listed firms have of its current mcap. minium producer with 2.8 minium applications.

SBI to boost women staff by BOOKING | SPREE Travel services report near 100% occupancy in festive season

Philips to strength
its products range
30% in 5 yrs, says HR director
New Delhi, Oct. 12: State
Bank of India (SBI), the
improved,” SBI deputy
managing director (HR)
Hospitality services reap Diwali benefit
country’s largest lender, and chief development New Delhi, Oct. 12: Association of India (HAI) ● WITH GST reform rable journeys,” he noted.
has devised a strategy to officer Kishore Kumar Hospitality and travel President K B Kachru said Vikram Dhawan, chief
in Indian market boost gender diversity,
aiming to increase its
Poludasu said.
The bank is taking
services providers are wit-
nessing robust demand
early trends show higher
hotel occupancy, reflecting
acting as a key driver for
the mid-scale hotels and
strategy officer, Ebix Tra-
vels, Delphi World Money,
women workforce measures to bridge this festive season in the the excitement of trav- mid-market domestic said, “With Diwali align-
Technology firm Philips has
said it will continue strengthen- to 30 per cent the gap and achi- run-up to the long Diwali ellers celebrating festivals customers, making it ing with a long weekend
ing its male grooming and within 5 years. eve its medium- weekend, registering stro- with family, friends, and easier for travellers to this year, we're seeing trav-
mother and child care product “If we talk term goal of 30 ng bookings across urban leisure getaways. explore lesser-known ellers plan their journeys
range in India, besides intro- about frontline per cent women and leisure destinations, “Booking patterns this destinations. well in advance to max-
ducing global categories into staff, women in its workforce, with intercity bus services season highlight trav- imise holiday experience.”
the domestic market. Philips are almost 33 he said. occupancy levels even ellers' preference for con- Intercity bus routes are
India, which rolled out a skin- per cent, but as a SBI has a total touching 95-100 per cent. venience, flexibility, and and wellness,” he said. sites, local culture, and off- operating near full capaci-
protect grooming product, total if you see, staff strength of mo- With the GST reform act- curated experiences. Many Kachru, who is also beat experiences. ty with occupancy levels
OneBlade, also said premiumi- they account for 27 per re than 2.4 lakh, highest ing as a key driver for mid- hotels are reporting grow- Chairman- South Asia, “This demonstrates a touching 95-100 per cent
sation is fast catching up in the cent of the total work- in banking industry. The scale hotels and mid-mar- ing interest in premium Radisson Hotel Group, fur- broader diversification of and fares increasing by 1.5
market, with the company see- force. So, we will be work- bank is having more than ket domestic customers, and experiential stays, sig- ther said tier-II and emerg- travel choices, with domes- to 3 times above the norm,
ing over 75 per cent growth in ing towards improving 340 branches exclusively making it easier for trav- nalling a shift toward ing destinations are seeing tic tourists moving beyond indicating strong demand
premium segment category. this percentage so that the manned by all-women ellers to explore lesser- immersive travel that a notable surge in demand, metro cities toward more during this period, he
diversity gets further staff across India. — PTI known destinations, Hotel blends leisure, culture, as travellers seek heritage meaningful and memo- added. — PTI
 GAMES
THE ASIAN AGE | MONDAY | 13 OCTOBER 2025 | LONDON
pg 8

Haaland fires
5-STAR KULDEEP
SHORT TAKES
India beat NZ for
2nd straight win
Johor, Malaysia: The Indian jun-
Norway closer
ior men’s hockey team contin-
ued its unbeaten run at the
Sultan of Johor Cup with a
comfortable 4-2 win against
New Zealand, here Sunday.
Yadav shines with 5-wicket haul as Campbell leads WI fightback to World Cup
Paris, Oct. 12: Erling
Arshdeep Singh (2nd minute), Haaland scored a hat- THE RESULTS
PB Sunil (15th), Araijeet Singh
Hundal (26th) and Roman
DEEPIKA DAS
NEW DELHI, OCT. 12
SCOREBOARD trick to pass 50 interna-
tional goals in record Portugal 1
Kumur (47th) scored the goals time as Norway cruised (Ruben Neves 90+1)
India 1st innings: 518/5 decl India’s Kuldeep Republic of Ireland 0
for India, while Gus Nelson Star wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav to a 5-0 thrashing of Israel
(41st) and Aidan Max (52nd) led the charge with his fifth five-
West Indies 1st innings (Overnight Yadav acknowl- on Saturday, edging closer Norway 5
140/4): John Campbell c Sai Sudharsan edges fans after
found the net for New Zealand. wicket haul in Test cricket as the to qualifying for a first (Khalaili 18-og, Haaland 27,
b Jadeja 10, Tagenarine Chanderpaul c
India had earlier defeated Great West Indies failed to save the fol- Rahul b Jadeja 34, Alick Athanaze c taking a five-wick- World Cup finals since
63, 72, Nachmias 28-og)
Israel 0
Britain 3-2 in their opening low-on with India imposing their Jadeja b Kuldeep Yadav 41, Shai Hope b et haul on Day 1998. Before the match in
match of the tournament. dominance on the third day of the Kuldeep Yadav 36, Roston Chase c & b Three of the sec- Oslo, hundreds of people Spain 2
Jadeja 0, Tevin Imlach lbw b Kuldeep ond Test against (Pino 24, Oyarzabal 64)
The opening goal for India second and last Test at the Arun Yadav 21, Justin Greaves lbw b Kuldeep attended a pro- Georgia 0
came as early as in the second Jaitley Stadium here on a balmy Yadav 17, Khary Pierre b Bumrah 23, the West Indies in Palestinian demonstra-
minute of the first quarter with Sunday. Jomel Warrican b Mohammed Siraj 1, New Delhi on tion, chanting “Free Bulgaria 1
(Kirilov 13)
Arshdeep scoring from a loose India captain Shubman Gill, Anderson Phillip not out 24, Jayden Sunday. Palestine” to protest Turkey 6
ball after poor defending in the who had declared at 518/5 on the Seales lbw b Kuldeep Yadav 13. Extras — PRITAM against Israel’s “geno- (Guler 11, Popov 49-og, Kenan
(b-5, lb-18, nb-5) 28. Total (all out in
circle by New Zealand. second day, decided to enforce the 81.5 overs) 248. BANDYOPADHYAY cide” in Gaza. Yildiz 52,56, Zeki Celik 65,
He made a swift run in the cir- follow-on after the West Indies Norwegian police dis- Irfan Can Kahveci 90+3)
cle from the right flank and were bowled out 270 runs short of Fall of wickets: 1-21, 2-87, 3-106, 4-107, persed a gathering of pro-
5-156, 6-163, 7-174, 8-175, 9-221. Hungary 2
took a shot on goal but was ini- the hosts’ first innings total. Palestinian activists with (Lukacs 56, Gruber 90+4)
tially saved by the New Zealand The Windies were 173/2 in 49 Bowling: Jasprit Bumrah 14-4-40-1, tear gas and made several Armenia 0
Mohammed Siraj 9-2-16-1, Ravindra
keeper but he managed to con- overs at the close on Day Three Jadeja 19-5-46-3, Kuldeep Yadav 26.5- arrests. Estonia 1
vert from the rebound. after being bowled out for 248 in 4-82-5, Washington Sundar 13-2-41-0. Inside the Ullevaal (Sappinen 76)
India were quick to double their their first essay. John Campbell Stadium, several dozen Italy 3
West Indies 2nd innings: John Campbell (Kean 5, Retegui 38, Esposito
lead in the final minute of the (69 off 105 balls) and Shai Hope (66 batting 87, Tagenarine Chanderpaul c Israeli fans waved their 74)
quarter when Sunil scored from off 103 balls) were at crease and Shubman Gill b Mohammed Siraj 10, country’s flag and a ban-
a fine penalty corner variation they contributed 138 off 208 balls Alick Athanaze b Washington Sundar 7, ner reading “Let the Ball
when dragflicker and captain of for an impressive third-wicket Shai Hope batting 66. Extras (b-2, nb-1) Talk!”. reach their first World
the side Rohit passed the ball stand to stretch the match to 3. Total (For 2 wickets in 49 overs) 173. Norway now lead Group Cup finals since 2014,
to Sunil. fourth day. Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-35. ‘I’ with 18 points, six more moved a step closer
This was India’s fourth attempt In the morning session, spinners bMohammed Siraj 6-2-10-1, Ravindra than second-placed Italy, thanks to goals from
after the first three found the started taking over the reins with Jadeja 14-3-52-0, Washington Sundar who beat Estonia 3-1 in Moise Kean, Mateo
foot of the New Zealand first Kuldeep (5/82) and Ravindra 13-3-44-1, Kuldeep Yadav 11-0-53-0, Tallinn to stay on track Retegui and Pio Esposito
Jasprit Bumrah 4-2-9-0, Yashasvi
rusher. Jadeja (3/46) running through the Jaiswal 1-0-3-0. for qualification. in Tallinn. The Italians
India will next play Pakistan on batting line-up. Pacers The comfortable win in move three points ahead
Tuesday. — PTI Mohammad Siraj and Jasprit also Oslo leaves Norway firm- of Israel in second place
got one wicket each in the first Campbell and Hope. They stitched ly in control of the group in Group ‘I’, which offers
innings. a third-wicket stand of 50 off 48 as they seek a place at a play-off spot.
Gauff pips Pegula Windies were bowled out for 248
but not before their gritty tailen-
balls before touching the century
mark together from 149 balls,
next year’s finals in the
United States, Canada
MISSED RONALDO
to win Wuhan final ders showed some resistance. No
two ways about it that the
much to Windies’ relief. The third
session was fruitful for the visi-
and Mexico.
After a meek perform-
SPOT-KICK
In Lisbon, Cristiano
Wuhan, China: Coco Gauff said Caribbean side showed their bet- tors as they scored more than ance, Israel take on Italy Ronaldo had a second-half
her “stubborn” decision to defy ter acumen in the second Test accumulative of the first two ses- in Udine on Tuesday penalty saved by the legs
her coach and play in China than in Ahmedabad. sions on the day. knowing they must win to of Republic of Ireland
after a tough US Open had paid Hope (36) was carrying the visi- Campbell was playing with keep alive their fading goalkeeper Caoimhim
off after she beat Jessica tors’ hopes as Windies started the patience and managed to hit the hopes of qualifying. Kelleher but Portugal
Pegula 6-4, 7-5 on Sunday to third day needing 179 to avoid the boundaries on a couple of occa- Haaland became the stole the win in injury
clinch the third WTA 1000 title follow-on. Hope looked fluent in sions as well. He was first in the fastest player in men’s time when Ruben Neves
of her career in Wuhan. his stay along with Tevin Imlach series to hit a half-century for the international football to scored with a header.
The 21-year-old Gauff secured (21) but could not get his team visitors. Twice in Wasington reach 50 goals for his The hard-fought 1-0 win
the Wuhan Open without drop- through. Alick Athanaze was the Sundar’s overs, the drift did country and now boasts puts the Portuguese five
ping a set after a 1hr 42min top scorer with 41 in the first Campbell in, hitting his pad 51 goals for Norway in points clear of Hungary
battle in the central Chinese innings. before the bat, but on both occa- just 46 games. at the top of Group ‘F’.
city and became the first player After Jadeja got rid of the top- sions Campbell had the not-out Italy, attempting to — AFP
in the Open Era to win her first order, it was Kuldeep who bowled on-field call saving him on impact.
nine hard-court finals. “It was a a beauty to dismiss Hope (36). This The Caribbean side was down
great Asian swing,” said Gauff,
who reached the semifinals in
was Hope’s 31st consecutive
innings without a half-century.
17/1 within 10 overs in the second
innings. Gill took a superb catch
WORLD JUNIOR | CHAMPIONSHIPS
Beijing last week, before win- After the middle order failed to at mid-wicket as opener
ning the Wuhan Open.
“I'm going to call JC out,” she
rise to the occasion, tailenders
Anderson Phillip and Jayden
Tagenarine Chanderpaul was
attempting a boundary off Siraj’s INDIAN SHUTTLERS AIM
said referring to her coach Seals played safe and stretched the cross seamer.
Jean-Christophe Faurel.
“He originally didn’t want me to
innings. Khary Pierre and Phillip
resisted India’s push for 15.3 overs
Sunder accounted for Athanaze
as Windies were tottering at 35/2
FOR INDIVIDUAL GLORY
come because I had a tough US to take West Indies to lunch at at Tea but Campbell and Hope Guwahati, Oct. 12: Riding high on their his-
Open, but I had to prove him 217/8. saved their best for last to keep the toric bronze medal finish in the mixed team
wrong. I’m a very stubborn per- Indian bowlers at bay. Though the event, the Indian contingent will look to
CAMPBELL-HOPE FIGHTBACK hosts kept their run-flow in check
son so maybe he said that on carry that momentum into the individual
purpose for me to have a good In the second innings, the high- but failed to snap any wicket in competitions of the BWF World Junior
result here,” Gauff added. light was the partnership between the session. Championships that begin here on Monday. India’s
In the first final between the best performance in the tournament came 17 years
former doubles partners, Gauff ago in Pune when Saina Nehwal grabbed the girls’
came from behind several times singles gold while R. M. V. Guru Sai Dutt clinched
in the second set against her the bronze medal in boys’ singles.
fellow American. So far, India has won a total of 11 individual
The pair had contrasting routes
to the final with Gauff dropping
a mere 16 games while Pegula
battled through three-setters in
all eight of her previous match-
Healy’s masterclass ton floors India medals in the history of the competition, including
four silver.
India’s best chance to add another gold medal to
their tally in this edition is the girls’ singles with
junior world number one Tanvi Sharma and China

Vizag stadium honours

es in China. — AFP Visakhapatnam, Oct. 12: Open quarterfinalist Unnati Hooda.
Skipper Alyssa Healy Both players have been placed in different halves
unfurled a hundred of the draw, raising hopes of a possible all-Indian
Joshna in Japan touched with genius and
grit as Australia achieved
final.
Tanvi, the Asian U-19 bronze medallist, has a bye
Open semifinals
New Delhi: Seasoned Indian
squash player Joshna Chinappa
defeated Egyptian Nardine
the highest-ever success-
ful run chase in women’s
ODI to register a three-
wicket win over India in
their World Cup match
cricketers Mithali, Raavi
ARUNA
in the opening round and a potential quarterfinal
clash against Indonesian seventh seed Thalita
Wiryawan could be her first big test in the cam-
paign. — PTI

Garas in straight games to here on Sunday. VISAKHAPATNAM, OCT. 12

storm into the semifinals of the Healy (142, 107 ball,
Japan Open PSA Challenger 21x4, 3x6) toyed with the In a move toward celebrat- DELHI | HALF MARATHON
event in Yokohama, Japan. Indian bowlers as the ing women athletes, AP
The 39-year-old former
women’s world No 10 beat
Egyptian second seed Garas 11-
8, 15-13, 11-9 in the quarterfinals
seven-time champions
ended up with 331/7, after
the hosts garnered an
impressive 330 riding on
HRD minister N. Lokesh
inaugurated the Mithali
Raj Stand and Raavi
Kalpana Gate at the
Kenyan runners
are elite winners
on Saturday. fifties by Smriti ACA–VDCA Cricket
Joshna will now take on fourth Mandhana and Pratika Stadium here on Sunday.
seed Egyptian Rana Ismail in Rawal. The previous Others present at the
the last-four stage. highest successful run event included
Earlier, the former Asian cham- chase was Sri Lanka get- International Cricket
pion and world doubles cham- ting past 302 against Council chairman Jay New Delhi, Oct. 12: gories including the Half
pion defeated French fifth seed South Africa in 2024. Shah, Andhra Cricket Kenyan long-distance Marathon, Open 10K,
Lauren Baltayan 11-7,11-4, 11-9 in The Australians went on Association president runners Alex Matata and Champions with
the second round, and top of the table with Kesineni Sivanath, ICC Lilian Kasait Rengeruk Disability Run, Senior
Malaysian Anrie Goh 11-6, 11-6, seven points, while India CEO Sanjog Gupta, stamped their authority Citizens’ Run, and the
11-6 in the opening round. remained on third with India opener Smriti Cricket Australia chair- on the capital’s streets, Great Delhi Run.
— PTI four points. Mandhana celebrates her man Mike Baird, CEO storming to victory in the It was a dominant dis-
Healy’s batting was all Todd Greenberg, BCCI ICC chairman Jay Shah along with AP HRD minister men’s and women’s elite play from Matata, who led
half-century against
about pristine ball hit- president Mithun Nara Lokesh unveil the Mithali Raj Stands and Raavi races respectively at the for the most part of the
No Indian makes ting, a result of her won-
derfully supple wrists,
Australia on Sunday.
Mandhana creates history Manhas, secretary Devajit
Saikia, joint secretary
Kalpana Gate (below) during the Women’s World Cup
match at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on
Vedanta
Marathon
Delhi
here
Half
on
race. He left behind
Ethiopia’s Boyelign
skeet event finals allowing the right-hander
to place the ball precisely
with 1,000 runs in a year,
crosses 5,000 in WODIs.
Prabhtej Bhatia, and sen-
ior ACA officials Sana
Sunday. — K. MURALI KRISHNA Sunday. It was only the
second time in the event’s
Teshager (1:00:22 seconds)
and compatriot James
Athens: None of the Indian in the desired areas. — K. MURALI KRISHNA Sathish Babu, B.V.N. Rao, history that Kenyan run- Kipkogei (1:00:25 seconds)
shooters could make the indi- She had a rather sub- Dandamudi Srinivas, ners won both the men’s to seal a memorable victo-
vidual finals in either the men’s dued record against pacer BRIEF SCORES Vijay Srinivas and Vishnu and women’s titles in the ry.
or women’s skeet events at the Kranti Gaud before this Dantu. same edition. Francis In contrast, the women’s
ISSF World Championship for game, but on this night, India 330 in 48.5 overs Mithali Raj is India’s Kibiwott and Lineth race went down to the
Shotgun, here on Sunday. Healy biffed the Indian (Smriti Mandhana 80, highest scorer in women’s Chepkurui were the first wire. Multiple world
Pratika Rawal 75, Jemimah cross-country medallist
In the women’s skeet, Raiza for a six and three fours Rodrigues 33, Annabel
internationals with 10,868 ones to achieve the
Dhillon was the best-placed in an over to break the Sutherland 5/40, Sophie runs in a career lasting 23 unique distinction in and pre-race favourite
Indian, finishing 16th among 58 stranglehold. Molineux 3/75) lost to years. She received a 2006. Rengeruk surged ahead
shooters with a score of 116 out Sneh Rana generally Australia 331/7 in 49 overs handcrafted silver cricket Matata, who finished in the final stretch to edge
of 125, three points short of the tried the fuller lengths, (Alyssa Healy 142, Ellyse ball bearing the ACA runner-up here last year, out Ethiopia’s Melal
cut-off mark of 119 required to trying to cramp Healy for Perry 47 not out; Shree emblem. Lokesh praised ran a perfectly-timed race Siyoum Biratu (1:07:21
make the six-shooter final. room but the Australian Charani 3/41, Deepit Sharma her as “an institution in to cross the line in 59:50 seconds), who was com-
Parinaaz Dhaliwal and Ganemat was equal to the task and 2/52). Indian cricket” and hoped seconds, while Rengeruk peting in her first race
Sekhon shot identical scores of brought out sweeps to that hundreds of Mithalis triumphed in the outside her country.
110 each to end 44th and 47th find the often vacant arc spinner Sri Charani will emerge from Andhra women’s field with a time Ethiopian Mulat Tekle
respectively, as India finished between square leg and bowled an excellent spell Pradesh. of 1:07:20 seconds braving finished third with a tim-
eighth in the team standings mid wicket or behind the (10-1-41-3) that gave India, Moved by the honour, “Getting honoured along- be named after women the warm and humid con- ing of 1:07:29 seconds.
out of 12 participating nations. fine leg. who are without a sixth Mithali said, “As a little side Mithali didi is players. Andhra Cricket ditions. Both winners
The six shooters who qualified Rana tried to bowl at a bowling option, a sem- girl, I only dreamt of play- beyond imagination. Association responded pocketed $27,000 each for ABHISHEK, SEEMA TOP
for the women’s skeet final faster click but Healy slog blance of control in the ing for India. I never Andhra has produced tal- swiftly, making perma- their efforts. ELITE INDIANS
were Samantha Simonton swept the off-spinner for a middle overs. The local imagined girls would look ents like Arundhati Reddy nent a space for two icons They were greeted at the Abhishek Pal and Seema
(USA), Gabriela Rodriguez six as the Australians girl grabbed the wickets up to me. This honour is and S. Meghana. I’m confi- of Indian women’s cricket finish line by event were the fastest Indian
(Mexico), Konstantia Nikolaou motored well along the of Phoebe Litchfield, who overwhelming.” Mithali dent many more girls will at the ACA–VDCA Cricket ambassador and leg- finishers, clocking 1:04:17
(Cyprus), Emmanouela required rate. Healy assisted Healy in a cava- went on to congratulate make the country proud.” Stadium here. endary nine-time and 1:11:23 seconds
Katzouraki (Greece), Jiang fetched her fifty in 35 lier 85 runs stand for the wicket-keeper, batter The honour comes in the ICC chairman Jay Shah Olympic gold medallist respectively as the coun-
Yiting (China) and Victoria balls — the fastest in this opening wicket, and Raavi Kalpana, who has a wake of a roundtable on called the gesture vision- Carl Lewis. try’s top middle- and long-
Larsson (China). edition of the tourna- Annabel Sutherland, stadium gate named in gender stereotyping in ary, noting that Mithali’s Over 40,000 runners distance athlete Gulveer
In the men’s skeet, Bhavtegh ment. whom she foxed with a her honour. August 2025. A leading legacy will inspire young took to the streets of Singh pulled out due to a
Singh Gill shot 119 out of 125 to Amidst the Australian clever quicker, straight Kalpana, humbled by the women’s cricketer called girls across the cricketing Delhi, participating back injury he sustained
finish 38th. — PTI domination, left-arm ball to castle. — PTI recognition, said, for stadium stands to also world. across multiple cate- on Thursday. — PTI