Author: Rahul M

Battlelines are drawn now in Bihar. With the Election Commission (EC) announcing a two-phase Assembly polls next month, which will see a keen contest between the incumbent NDA and the Opposition Mahagathbandhan, the Urdu dailies too switched gears — from tracking the EC’s contentious Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in the state, to focusing on the electoral showdown now, whose outcome would have a crucial bearing on national politics. On the front pages of the dailies, the EC’s announcement was overshadowed by the outrage over a bid to throw a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) B…

PARIS (AP) — Outgoing French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, aiming to calm the political storm triggered by his resignation on Monday less than 24 hours after unveiling his ministers, faced a tight deadline Wednesday to break the deadlock caused by his departure. After accepting Lecornu’s resignation, President Emmanuel Macron gave him 48 hours to hold further talks with political parties, citing the need to preserve national stability. The tight time frame for Lecornu bought Macron some time to consider his options. But all eyes turned to Macron on Wednesday as debate swirls about how he may respond to France’s political…

Large haul of drugs seized in Myanmar’s Yangon Yangon, Oct 8 (IANS) Myanmar authorities have seized 3,438 kg of ICE (methamphetamine) and 2,198 kg of ketamine in the Yangon region, local media reported on Wednesday. The narcotics were confiscated, and a total of 16 suspects connected to the case were arrested between September 24 and 29 in Shwepyitha, Hlegu, Thongwa, Hlaingtharyar, Twante and Htantabin townships in Yangon region, reports Xinhua, quoting the state-owned daily Myanma Alinn. The report added that three other suspects remain at large. The drugs, which came from Shan state, were intended to be trafficked to Rakhine…

Three men charged after alleged organized crime assassination intercepted by Sydney police Sydney, Oct 8 (IANS) Three men have been charged after Sydney police intercepted an alleged organized crime assassination attempt in the city’s southwest, police said on Wednesday. Detectives from a strike force targeting organized crime were conducting a routine surveillance operation in southwest Sydney on Tuesday when they identified the three men mobilizing to carry out an offense, police in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) said. Tactical operations officers, the dog squad and aerial resources were deployed and two vehicles were subsequently stopped and the…

LONDON (AP) — The trial of two British men accused of spying for Beijing collapsed because the U.K. government refused to brand China a threat to national security, the country’s chief prosecutor said.Former parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash and academic Christopher Berry were charged in April 2024 with violating the Official Secrets Act by providing information or documents that could be “useful to an enemy” and “prejudicial to the safety or interests” of the U.K. between late 2021 and February 2023.But Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson said the case collapsed because no one from the government was willing to testify…

Haryana CM holds key business meetings in Osaka, pitches state as global investment hub Osaka, Oct 8 (IANS) In a significant push to attract global investment to Haryana, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini held high-level meetings with top Japanese companies during his visit to Osaka, one of the largest port cities of Japan. The Consulate General of India in Osaka-Kobe posted on X about the CM’s engagements, highlighting the focus on business expansion and investment promotion. “Hon’ble CM Haryana @NayabSainiBJP had useful one on one meetings with Minebea Mitsumi, Mitsui Kinzoku Company and Nitto Seiko in Osaka. The discussions aimed…

Philippines’ jobless rate drops to 3.9 per cent in August Manila, Oct 8 (IANS) The Philippines’ unemployment rate in August decreased to 3.9 per cent, down from 5.3 per cent in July, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Wednesday. PSA Chief Dennis Mapa said in a press conference that an estimated 2.03 million Filipinos were out of work in August this year, Xinhua News Agency reported. The unemployment rate in August 2024 was 4 per cent. The Philippines’ Department of Economy, Planning, and Development said the improved national unemployment rate in August was partially offset by job contractions in…

Afghan police discover drug, detain smuggler Kabul, Oct 8 (IANS) Police discovered illegal opium poppy in northern Afghanistan’s Takhar province and took into custody a drug smuggler, provincial police spokesman Nizamudin Omir said on Wednesday. The alleged drug smuggler, according to the official, had hidden 38 kg of opium poppy in the cavities of a car and was attempting to take the contraband out of the province, but police, during a check of the car on Tuesday, discovered the illegal drug and arrested its owner, Xinhua news agency reported. Previously, police also reported the discovery of 61 kg of opium…

West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara has delivered a powerful message to the current generation of West Indies players, urging them to rediscover their passion and pride for representing the Caribbean side. Speaking at the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards in Mumbai, Lara reflected on the team’s ongoing struggles and called on players to look within themselves for the motivation to turn things around. Lara Questions Players’ Commitment In his candid remarks, Lara questioned whether the modern-day West Indies cricketers truly value wearing the maroon cap as much as the greats of the past did. “If you have cricket at heart,…

With nominations for the Bihar Assembly elections beginning October 10, the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has drawn a firm line in its seat-sharing talks with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Party sources said national president and Union Minister Chirag Paswan has made it clear that the LJP (R) will not settle for fewer than 36 seats. The BJP has reportedly proposed a formula of six Assembly seats per Lok Sabha seat for its smaller allies. Based on this, Chirag Paswan, who has five MPs, has been offered around 30 seats. However, LJP (R) sources insist they were under-allocated in…