POLITICS
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Oct- 2025 -7 October
TDB to move Kerala HC seeking detailed probe into Sabarimala gold plating from 1998 to 2025
Travancore Devaswom Board will seek a Kerala High Court probe into the gold plating of Sabarimala’s Dwarapalaka idols from 1998–2025. Allegations involve donor Unnikrishnan Potty, with TDB vigilance set to interrogate him amid concerns over documentation and accountability. Thiruvananthapuram: Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president PS Prasanth on Friday said the board will approach the Kerala High Court seeking a detailed investigation into the gold plating of Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idols at the Sabarimala temple from 1998 to 2025. Prasanth said the TDB standing counsel has been instructed to file a petition once the High Court resumes after the Pooja holiday. He said that a comprehensive inquiry would be launched into the amount of gold used at Sabarimala and the individuals involved.…
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7 October
Whooping cough can be fatal in children under age 2: Study
A study warns that pertussis (whooping cough) in infants can be life-threatening, often lacking typical symptoms. Researchers stress maternal vaccination during pregnancy as vital for newborn protection. Early antibiotic treatment and widespread immunisation remain key to preventing severe cases New Delhi: Pertussis, or whooping cough, in young infants can be life-threatening, according to a study, which stressed the need for maternal vaccination during pregnancy. Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection that causes severe coughing fits and is often followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound as the person inhales. It can last for months in both adults and children. “Pertussis symptoms are different in infants,” said leading author Caitlin Li, infectious diseases specialist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie…
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7 October
Two dead, 90 injured during Devaragattu Banni festival in Andhra Pradesh
Two people died and 90 were injured during the Devaragattu Banni festival stick fight in Kurnool. Despite safety measures and awareness campaigns, the traditional event saw casualties, as villagers continue to uphold the ritual with devotion and restraint Devaragattu: Two persons died and 90 others sustained injuries during a stick fight organised as part of Devaragattu Banni festival in Kurnool district, said an official on Friday. The Banni festival, celebrated on Vijay Dashami, used to begin after midnight rituals following Mala Malleswara Swamy’s wedding and concludes early morning, drawing thousands of villagers from surrounding regions annually. Participants, following strict vows of fasting, celibacy, and dietary discipline, engage in traditional stick fights to symbolically capture the idol, applying turmeric for minor wounds…
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7 October
Direct air cargo mission flagged off to Antarctica from Goa
NCPOR launched a direct cargo flight from Goa to Antarctica, enhancing logistics for India’s polar research. Carrying 18 tons of supplies, the DROMLAN-operated aircraft supports scientific missions at Bharati and Maitri stations, via Cape Town, South Africa Panaji: The Goa-based National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) has sent a direct air cargo flight from the state to Antarctica, marking a significant step in enhancing logistical efficiency for India’s polar expeditions, an official has said. The cargo flight loaded with 18 tons of essential supplies, including scientific equipment, medicines, and annual provisions for Indian research stations in the Antarctic, took off from Manohar International Airport, Mopa, in North Goa on Thursday. Dr Thamban Meloth, director of NCPOR, flagged off the…
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7 October
Sonam Wangchuk’s wife moves SC challenging the activist’s detention
Gitanjali J. Angmo, wife of Sonam Wangchuk, has filed a habeas corpus petition in the Supreme Court challenging his detention under the NSA. Wangchuk was arrested after violence in Leh, prompting national attention and calls for his release New Delhi: Gitanjali J. Angmo, wife of Sonam Wangchuk, has moved a writ petition before the Supreme Court challenging the detention of the Leh-based climate activist. “I have sought relief from the Supreme Court of India through a Habeas Corpus petition against Sonam Wangchuk’s detention. It is one week today. Still I have no information about Wangchuk’s health, the condition he is in nor the grounds of detention,” Angmo said in a post on a social media platform. The Union Ministry of Home…
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7 October
RSS never fought for Independence, claims Asaduddin Owaisi amid centenary celebrations
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s praise for the RSS, alleging that its members did not participate in India’s freedom movement. Citing historical records and RSS publications, Owaisi criticised the organisation’s stance on the national flag and Constitution. Hyderabad: Taking exception to Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailing the RSS for its role in nation building, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday claimed that no RSS member sacrificed his life during the freedom movement or went to jail after its formation, as per his knowledge. Addressing a gathering here, Owaisi claimed, quoting from a biography of RSS founder K B Hedgewar, that the leader participated in the Dandi March in 1930 and went to jail only to encourage freedom fighters to join the Sangh…
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7 October
Durga immersion turns tragic in MP: 11 dead in Khandwa, 3 missing in Ujjain
Durga immersion celebrations in Madhya Pradesh were marred by two tragic accidents involving overloaded tractor-trolleys. In Khandwa, 11 people including eight children died when a trolley fell into a pond. In Ujjain, three remain missing after a similar incident in the Chambal River. Khandwa/Ujjain: Twin accidents during Durga immersion festivities have cast a shadow over celebrations in Madhya Pradesh, with one incident claiming multiple lives and the other prompting urgent rescue operations. In Jamli village of Khandwa district, a tractor-trolley carrying devotees and the idol of Goddess Durga overturned and fell into a pond while crossing a narrow culvert. The vehicle was reportedly overloaded, carrying around 20 to 25 people from Ardla and Jamli villages. So far, 11 bodies have been…
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7 October
Pakistani drone sighted in J&K’s Samba; security forces launch search operation
A suspected Pakistani drone was sighted hovering over Nanga village in J-K’s Samba district along the International Border. Security forces launched a search operation to rule out airdropping of weapons or narcotics, while security was heightened in nearby villages. Samba/Jammu: Security forces have launched a search operation after a Pakistani drone was sighted hovering over a forward village along the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir’s Samba district, officials said on Saturday. The drone-like object was seen coming from the Pakistani side and hovered over Nanga village in the Ramgarh sector late Friday, triggering alarm in the border belt, they said. According to officials, security forces and police teams were immediately deployed to scour the area and ensure that there is…
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7 October
2 Indian tourists jailed, caned for robbing sex workers in Singapore
Two Indian tourists were jailed for five years and one month and sentenced to 12 cane strokes each in Singapore for robbing and assaulting two sex workers in hotels. The men admitted to tying up, slapping, and threatening their victims. Singapore: Two men from India, accused of robbing and assaulting two sex workers in hotel rooms while holidaying in Singapore, were each sentenced to five years and one month in prison, along with 12 strokes of the cane on Friday. Arokkiyasami Daison, 23, and Rajendran Mayilarasan, 27, pleaded guilty to voluntarily causing hurt while robbing the victims, reported The Straits Times. The court heard that Arokkiyasami and Rajendran arrived in Singapore from India on April 24 for a vacation. Two days…
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7 October
Lawsuit seeks to block Trump’s USD 100,000 H-1B visa fee
A coalition of healthcare providers, educators, and religious groups filed a lawsuit to block Donald Trump’s new USD 100,000 H-1B visa fee, calling it illegal and disruptive. They warn the policy will cripple innovation, staffing, and essential public services. Seattle: In what appears to be the first major challenge to the new USD 100,000 fee required for H-1B visa applications, a coalition of health care providers, religious groups, university professors and others filed a federal lawsuit Friday to stop the plan, saying it has “thrown employers, workers and federal agencies into chaos.” President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on September 19 requiring the new fee, saying the H-1B visa program “has been deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers…
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