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Centre Forms Panel Led by Ramesh Chand to Examine Sugarcane Farmers' Pricing Concerns
india

Centre Forms Panel Led by Ramesh Chand to Examine Sugarcane Farmers' Pricing Concerns

The Union Government has set up a four-member committee headed by former NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand to study the demands of sugarcane farmers, including higher returns and a revision of the ex-mill Minimum Selling Price of sugar. The panel will also examine sugar recovery testing, weighment practices and deductions on mechanically harvested cane. It will consult farmers, mill associations and State Governments before submitting its report.

15 Oct 2026, 04:57 AM
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Measles in Kozhikode: 161 confirmed cases, one death; health dept steps up vaccination
health

Measles in Kozhikode: 161 confirmed cases, one death; health dept steps up vaccination

Kozhikode has reported 161 confirmed measles cases and one death this year, along with 116 suspected cases, the Health department said at a review meeting. Officials said the infection is spreading mainly among unvaccinated people and that preventive measures and vaccination coverage will be expanded. Two free doses of the measles-rubella vaccine at government health centres remain the most effective protection.

15 Oct 2026, 04:59 AM
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Kerala High Court refuses to let Pinarayi Vijayan, kin appeal FIR order in CMRL-Exalogic case
india

Kerala High Court refuses to let Pinarayi Vijayan, kin appeal FIR order in CMRL-Exalogic case

The Kerala High Court has dismissed applications by former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter T. Veena and her husband P.A. Mohamed Riyas seeking leave to appeal against a single judge's October 9 direction to register an FIR against them in the CMRL-Exalogic payoff case. The Division Bench said the order does not take away their right to pursue other legal remedies. No court has recorded any finding of guilt in the matter.

15 Oct 2026, 05:33 AM
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Andhra Pradesh announces local body poll schedule; voting from October 28
politics

Andhra Pradesh announces local body poll schedule; voting from October 28

Andhra Pradesh State Election Commissioner Anil Chandra Punetha has announced the schedule for urban local body, MPTC, ZPTC and Gram Panchayat elections, with the Model Code of Conduct now in force across the State. Urban local bodies will vote on October 28, while MPTC and ZPTC polls are set for November 3 and panchayat elections will be held in three phases from November 26 to December 2.

15 Oct 2026, 05:35 AM
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Supreme Court Upholds Madras HC Order Striking Down Tamil Nadu Reservation Notification for Converts
india

Supreme Court Upholds Madras HC Order Striking Down Tamil Nadu Reservation Notification for Converts

The Supreme Court has dismissed the Tamil Nadu government's appeal and upheld a Madras High Court order quashing a State notification that extended reservation benefits to converts to Islam from communities already listed as backward. A Bench headed by Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra held that conversion alone does not make a person a member of a notified backward Muslim community, and that the notification created an 'artificial group' without the statutory social checks the law requires.

15 Oct 2026, 05:41 AM
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Uniform Friday Sermons in J&K: Why the Waqf Board's Plan Has Sparked a Wider Debate
politics

Uniform Friday Sermons in J&K: Why the Waqf Board's Plan Has Sparked a Wider Debate

The Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board has set up a committee of Islamic scholars to decide a common topic for Friday sermons in the mosques and shrines affiliated with it. The Board says uniform sermons will help address social issues such as drug abuse and delayed marriages, while critics question the move in a region where sermons have long had an independent political voice.

15 Oct 2026, 05:50 AM
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Starlink curbs hit Ukrainian drones: Is Washington signalling a retreat from Kyiv?
india

Starlink curbs hit Ukrainian drones: Is Washington signalling a retreat from Kyiv?

Ukrainian officials say a slowdown in Starlink and Starshield services has disrupted drone operations, frontline logistics and air defence, and some allege deliberate interference. The reports came days after President Donald Trump announced an “energy ceasefire” and a plan to buy diesel from Russia, raising fresh questions in Kyiv about Washington’s reliability as an ally. The claims have not been independently verified.

15 Oct 2026, 05:53 AM
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Questions Mount Over New White House Press Secretary's Legal Credentials
politics

Questions Mount Over New White House Press Secretary's Legal Credentials

Katie Zacharia, the new White House press secretary, is facing questions about her legal credentials after a report said she did not appear to be licensed in any US state. Her law degree from Pepperdine is confirmed by the university, but neither she nor the White House has produced evidence that she passed a bar examination. The White House says she is "uniquely qualified" for the role.

15 Oct 2026, 03:16 AM
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India Questions UN Rights Body's Silence on PoK Unrest, Alleges 'Extreme Selectivity'
india

India Questions UN Rights Body's Silence on PoK Unrest, Alleges 'Extreme Selectivity'

India has asked the UN human rights office to state when it will issue a report on steps taken by Pakistan to address concerns in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, citing earlier OHCHR statements on killings, internet curbs and detained leaders. New Delhi accused the office of 'extreme selectivity' and double standards, while restating that its law enforcement acts in accordance with the law and that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of India.

15 Oct 2026, 03:24 AM
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Indonesia's Kalimantan Blanketed in Orange Smog as Air Pollution Soars Past Hazardous Levels
india

Indonesia's Kalimantan Blanketed in Orange Smog as Air Pollution Soars Past Hazardous Levels

A thick orange smog has descended on Palangka Raya in Indonesia's Central Kalimantan, with the air pollution index exceeding 1,200—four times the hazardous level. The haze is linked to wildfires and slash-and-burn land clearing, and is affecting millions across Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. Authorities are facing calls for stronger action as health concerns grow.

15 Oct 2026, 03:26 AM
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Anthropic tells investors revenue jumped 45% to $16.8bn ahead of listing plans
india

Anthropic tells investors revenue jumped 45% to $16.8bn ahead of listing plans

Anthropic has told prospective investors its revenue rose 45% to $16.8bn in the three months to September, as it prepares for a possible stock market listing. The privately shared figures have not been independently verified. The news comes as chip makers and other AI-linked stocks fell sharply in the US and Asia over concerns about the scale of AI infrastructure spending.

15 Oct 2026, 03:33 AM
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India at UN: When will rights office report on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir?
india

India at UN: When will rights office report on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir?

India has asked the UN human rights office to state when it will report on steps taken by Pakistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including probes into killings and internet curbs. India's representative at the UN General Assembly accused the OHCHR of 'extreme selectivity' and 'double standards'. The remarks followed New Delhi's rejection of the office's comments on protests in Delhi.

15 Oct 2026, 03:42 AM
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Sonagachi sex workers hold 14th Durga Puja amid resistance, seek mainstream acceptance
india

Sonagachi sex workers hold 14th Durga Puja amid resistance, seek mainstream acceptance

The Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee (DMSC) in Kolkata’s Sonagachi inaugurated its 14th Durga Puja on Wednesday, October 14, amid resistance from some local residents. Organisers said the event provides a safe space for sex workers who often feel unwelcome at other pujas, and they hope for mainstream acceptance. The puja also highlights the tradition of using clay from sex workers’ courtyards for Durga idols.

15 Oct 2026, 03:49 AM
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Supreme Court to hear Rahul Gandhi, INDIA bloc plea on SIR voter deletions today
politics

Supreme Court to hear Rahul Gandhi, INDIA bloc plea on SIR voter deletions today

The Supreme Court is set to hear a joint petition by Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders seeking disclosure of Election Commission records on the Special Intensive Revision, which the petitioners say has deleted about 13 crore voters. Separately, the Indian Youth Congress has moved the Delhi High Court over Jantar Mantar's withdrawn protest-site status, and a fresh gathering has been announced for October 16 in Delhi.

15 Oct 2026, 03:53 AM
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Rupee gains 44 paise to 94.92 as RBI steps in to curb dollar demand
economy

Rupee gains 44 paise to 94.92 as RBI steps in to curb dollar demand

The rupee appreciated 44 paise to 94.92 against the U.S. dollar in early trade on Wednesday, helped by RBI measures to reduce near-term dollar demand and curb speculation. The currency has now gained for three consecutive sessions, though traders expect external pressures to limit further gains. Domestic equities opened marginally lower.

14 Oct 2026, 05:00 AM
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SIT to probe extremist links in Kochi synagogue arson case; suspect's phone holds key evidence
india

SIT to probe extremist links in Kochi synagogue arson case; suspect's phone holds key evidence

The Kerala Police has constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe suspected extremist links in the alleged arson attack on the Kadavumbhagam Synagogue near Ernakulam Market. The arrested suspect's mobile phone reportedly contained videos of the attack and communications with groups suspected of foreign links, with investigators also examining a possible role in an earlier arson in Muvattupuzha.

14 Oct 2026, 05:11 AM
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Keralam Launches India's First Ecosystem Red List as 83% of Riparian Forests Are Lost
india

Keralam Launches India's First Ecosystem Red List as 83% of Riparian Forests Are Lost

Keralam has launched India's first Red List Assessment of Ecosystems, a year-long scientific study by the Kerala State Biodiversity Board that will measure how close the State's habitats are to collapse. Riparian evergreen forests of the southern Western Ghats have already lost 83% of their extent and are classified Critically Endangered. The project's risk registers and restoration maps will be shared with panchayats and biodiversity committees to guide climate adaptation.

14 Oct 2026, 05:12 AM
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Rahul Gandhi on CJP Jail Term: 'Jantar Mantar Belongs to the People of India'
politics

Rahul Gandhi on CJP Jail Term: 'Jantar Mantar Belongs to the People of India'

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has criticised the jail term given to CJP leaders, saying Jantar Mantar belongs to the people of India and that they would reclaim it. The remark has renewed a long-running argument over how far the law may regulate public protest in the capital. Jantar Mantar has served for decades as Delhi's designated site for demonstrations.

14 Oct 2026, 05:24 AM
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Hasina Calls Bangladesh PM's BRICS Summit Absence 'Immature', Says Dhaka Lost an Opportunity
india

Hasina Calls Bangladesh PM's BRICS Summit Absence 'Immature', Says Dhaka Lost an Opportunity

Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has called Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's decision to skip the India-hosted BRICS summit "immature" and damaging to Bangladesh's national interest. In an interview with PTI, she said participation could have opened new economic and diplomatic opportunities, and that cross-border ties should not hinge on the sensitivities of one individual. The interview did not include a response from Mr. Rahman's office.

14 Oct 2026, 05:36 AM
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Russia Arrests Japanese Journalist on Spying Suspicion amid Kuril Islands Tension
india

Russia Arrests Japanese Journalist on Spying Suspicion amid Kuril Islands Tension

Russia's FSB says a Japanese journalist working for the Hokkaido Shimbun has been arrested in the Sakhalin region on suspicion of spying for a Japanese intelligence agency, and is being held in Moscow for two months. The arrest follows heightened tension over the disputed Kuril Islands after President Putin's August visit to Iturup. Moscow has not named the journalist, and no response from Tokyo has yet been reported.

14 Oct 2026, 05:42 AM
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Ministry orders probe into IIIT Ranchi student's death; students protest over hostel facilities
india

Ministry orders probe into IIIT Ranchi student's death; students protest over hostel facilities

The Ministry of Education has set up a three-member committee, headed by Prof. Rajni Abbi of the University of Delhi, to examine the death of a first-year IIIT Ranchi student found in his hostel room on October 10. The panel will assess basic facilities, counselling, mentoring and grievance redressal systems, and recommend measures to prevent such incidents. Students have protested over hostel management and emergency medical facilities, while the police inquiry continues and the cause of death is yet to be ascertained.

13 Oct 2026, 03:26 PM
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AMNS India and APSSDC sign LoI for ₹70-crore skill centre at Nakkapalli
india

AMNS India and APSSDC sign LoI for ₹70-crore skill centre at Nakkapalli

APSSDC and AMNS India have signed a Letter of Intent to set up an integrated skill and community development centre at Nakkapalli in Anakapalli district, with AMNS India indicating about ₹70 crore in capital investment and roughly ₹10 crore a year for operations. The project will proceed only after state government approval, clearances, a Detailed Project Report and a formal MoU.

13 Oct 2026, 03:28 PM
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