The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad staged a protest demanding action against the private school, where the Pakistani flag was allegedly used in the Independence Day event, and submitted a memorandum to the district collector. 

District collector Rajesh Batham told PTI the memorandum was forwarded to the police for investigation, and legal steps will be taken based on the probe outcome. 

ABVP activists staged a protest and blocked a road after the video of the purported waving of the Pakistani flag went viral, said ABVP's Ratlam district convenor Satyam Dave. 

Deepak Pant, Director of Time Kids Pre-School, where the incident occurred, said children had staged a drama on the freedom struggle on August 15, also depicted the Partition. 

The flags of India and Pakistan were used in this drama, he said and added that someone shot the video of this scene and made it viral. 

"It was a drama on Independence. I have the script of the story," Pant claimed. -- PTI

The governor has also started using a bullet-proof car since Tuesday morning, the sources said. 

"All the governors, by virtue of holding gubernatorial posts, are entitled to Z-plus security. Till now, the governor was not using it because he did not feel the need for it but now his security will be tightened," a source said hinting that Gehlot will be given Z-Plus security. 

Major protests had broken out across the state after Gehlot gave permission to investigate and prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority site allotment scam. 

Congress leaders and workers staged dharnas, foot marches and rallies in all the district headquarters, holding placards denouncing the action of the governor and raising slogans against him. 

The opposition BJP leaders too staged a demonstration here demanding the chief minister's resignation. -- PTI

His wife, Odissi dancer Dona Ganguly and daughter Sana, accompanied him in the rally taken out in the evening in Behala area where they reside. 

Ganguly, who did not speak to the media, was seen lighting candles after finishing the rally. 

"We are protesting against the rape. It's not only West Bengal. Every day we get news that someone or the other from somewhere is getting raped and that is not good news. We need a safe society for every individual," Dona said. 

Her daughter Sana said, "In our society, we all are equal. The protests must go on. She (the victim) must get justice." 

Ganguly, also a former Indian cricket board president, led the march in which several students participated. 

Ganguly was supposed to participate in a rally organised by sportspersons from the city. 

However, he could not since he did not get permission from the administration. 

The body of a post-graduate trainee doctor was found in the seminar room of the RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. 

The police arrested a civic volunteer the next day in this connection. -- PTI

The failure to comply with the order may result in severe consequences such as revocation of the permission to operate, said the order issued by school education minister Deepak Kesarkar. 

Protests have broken out in many parts of the state following the alleged sexual abuse of two kindergarten girls at a school in Badlapur near Mumbai. 

A school attendant was arrested in the case. 

"All private schools in the state are required to comply with new guidelines from the department, mandating the installation of CCTV cameras at appropriate locations within school premises. Failure to comply may result in actions such as withholding financial grants or revocation of the school's operating permit," the order said. 

Installation of a comprehensive CCTV camera network is a proactive measure to enhance the safety and security of students, teachers and staff, it said. 

The school education department has also permitted the use of five per cent of the funds allocated for schools in the District Planning and Development Council to establish CCTV camera networks in state-run and aided schools. 

Further, the CCTV footage should be examined at least three times a week, and it would be the principal's responsibility to contact police if any concerning incident is captured by the cameras, the order said. -- PTI

Harrowing scenes unfolded at the SEZ where the fire ripped through the pharma company. Injured workers with torn clothes and bleeding injuries were seen being shifted to hospitals in ambulances. 

The fire broke out at 2:15 pm at Escientia Advanced Science Pvt Ltd at Atchutapuram in Anakapalli district. The company, which manufactures intermediate chemicals and active pharmaceutical ingredients commenced production in April 2019 with an investment of Rs 200 crore. 

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to use air ambulance services, if needed, to shift the injured persons for better treatment from the accident spot. 

The CM, who is scheduled to visit the multi-product special economic zone where the accident occurred, observed that air ambulance services could be used to shift patients either to Visakhapatnam or Hyderabad for better medical care. 

"The CM instructed officials to use air ambulance services to shift the injured persons, if needed. He also directed the health secretary to immediately visit the accident spot," said an official press release. 

The CM will visit the accident site on Thursday to call on the families of the deceased persons and also meet those who were seriously injured. -- PTI

The Congress leaders received a rousing welcome upon their arrival here with party activists and supporters lining up outside the airport. 

The enthusiastic supporters even stopped Gandhi's vehicle on the airport road, causing some anxious moments for the security personnel escorting him. 

The two leaders are visiting the UT for key meetings in connection with the three-phased assembly elections beginning September 18, a senior Congress leader said. 

There were no official meetings scheduled for the two leaders for Wednesday, he said. 

The two leaders will engage in extensive discussions with party leaders and workers of 10 districts of the Kashmir valley on Thursday. 

The meetings will begin at 10 am after which the two are likely to interact with the media in Srinagar. 

They are also likely to meet National Conference leadership to discuss a possible pre-poll alliance, party sources said. 

However, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Karra said the visit of the two leaders was planned well before the election schedule was announced. 

"This visit has no relation to (discussions on) the alliance." -- PTI

The Union home ministry has asked the Central Reserve Police Force to extend the cover to the 83-year-old former chief minister of Maharashtra. 

A team of 55 armed CRPF personnel has been earmarked for the task. 

A threat assessment review by central agencies has recommended a strong security cover to Pawar. 

The Centre has accorded him a Z plus cover to be protected by the CRPF VIP security wing, the sources said. 

A CRPF team is already in Maharashtra to take up the task, they said. 

The VIP security cover categorisations begin from the highest Z+ followed by Z, Y+, Y and X. -- PTI

Entertainment ticketing business, including movies, sports, and events, will be available on the Paytm app during a transition period of up to 12 months, it said. 

"One 97 Communications Limited (OCL)...today announced, that it has entered into definitive agreements for the sale of its entertainment ticketing business that includes movies, sports and events (live performances) ticketing to Zomato Limited," it said. 

The deal, valued at Rs 2,048 crore, underscores the value Paytm has created through its entertainment ticketing business, bringing choice and convenience to millions of Indians with its services and scale, the company said.

The incident took place Tuesday when a municipal corporation team visited Vivekananda Park to clean it, the police said. 

An FIR was filed against Amarnath Maurya on the complaint of sub-inspector Kuldeep Upadhyay at Dhoomanganj police station. 

The incident came to light after a video turned up on social media allegedly showing Maurya chasing the team with a rifle. 

According to police, Maurya alleged that the civic authority team was digging up bricks from his land and taking them away, so he went to the park to stop them. 

"When I asked the Nagar Nigam people on what authority they were taking bricks from my land, they had no answer. I have kept a rifle for my safety because my security has been withdrawn by the government," said the politician who had fought the 2024 Lok Sabha election on an SP ticket from Phulpur seat. 

Maurya has been booked under Section 132 (assault with intent to obstruct government work) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. -- PTI

The new feature, available in the beta version 2.24.18.2 for Android, introduces a Username PIN system aimed at improving user security and curbing unwanted messages, according to GSM Arena. 

This new functionality allows WhatsApp users to set a four-digit PIN in addition to their username. 

The PIN serves as an extra layer of security, ensuring that users who have not interacted with you previously cannot send you messages solely by knowing your username. 

This measure is expected to significantly reduce spam and enhance privacy for WhatsApp users, according to GSM Arena. 

"Once implemented, this feature should greatly cut down on spam, which has been a prevalent issue on WhatsApp," said a spokesperson for the company, according to GSM Arena. -- ANI

A notice put up at the bar association office said the residents of Badlapur town had appealed lawyers not to defend the accused, and the bar association decided to respond positively. 

Massive protests broke out in Badlapur, 53 km from Mumbai, on Tuesday after a school attendant was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing two kindergarten girls. 

A local court on Wednesday extended his police custody till August 26. -- PTI

The first ever performance here is scheduled to be performed at Jayamahal Palace Grounds in Bengaluru on October 5. 

"This will be the first live performance of the band in India. It will feature the original voices of Enigma -- Andru Donalds, Angel X, and Fox Lima --along with a symphony orchestra, and a live ensemble of musicians and dancers," said Hitesh Mittal, who co-founded the Indian Artists Collective, a platform bringing Indian and global artists perform live. 

Founded in 1980's by a German producer Michael Cretu, Enigma has captivated audiences worldwide with its unique blend of music styles, Gregorian chanting, ethnic psalms, church bells, organs and similar instruments, creating very specific, atmospheric, and sometimes even psychedelic sounds, said Chintan Chinnappa, the other partner of TIAC. According to him, the project had achieved iconic status without ever embarking on a live tour. "So, we are honored to bring Enigma for the first time on tour, that too in India, and give Enigma fans a thrilling music experience,' added Mittal.

In a statement on social media platform X, he said he would unveil the flag and hoist it at the party office at Panaiyur near here and also introduce the flag song on Thursday. 

In February this year, Vijay had announced the launch of Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam and said he will be contesting the 2026 assembly polls in the state. 

His party did not support any political bloc in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections, where the DMK-led alliance swept the polls in Tamil Nadu. -- PTI

The appeal filed by Dabholkar's daughter Mukta Dabholkar also challenged the judgment by which two other accused, who were convicted in the case, were acquitted of the offence of criminal conspiracy and for commission of terrorist act under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. 

Mukta Dabholkar in the appeal filed through advocate Abhay Nevagi said the killing of her father was a "well-planned murder and involved a larger conspiracy." 

The plea came up for hearing on Wednesday before a division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan which issued notice to all the accused and the prosecuting agency -- Central Bureau of Investigation. 

The court posted the matter for hearing on September 23. 

In her appeal, Mukta Dabholkar said the sessions court had failed to appreciate the fact that the convicted individuals in the case were members of the right-wing group Sanatan Sanstha and that even the three acquitted persons were also associated with the outfit. -- PTI

A similar notice was issued to Meta to remove advertisements of such fake lotteries from social media platforms Facebook, Whatsapp and Instagram managed by it, the state police media centre said in a release on Wednesday. 

The police took the action after cyber patrolling revealed that 60 fake lottery apps, 25 fake Facebook profiles and 20 websites are connected to the scam, the SPMC release said. 

It said that stringent legal action will be taken against those who are behind the fraud. 

Giving details of the scam, the police said that fake advertisements in the name of 'Kerala Megamillion Lottery' and 'Kerala Summer Season Dhamaka' have been circulating on social media platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram and Instagram for some time stating that lotteries run by the state government can be bought online. -- PTI

Shah will arrive in Raipur late in the evening on August 23 and return to Delhi on the evening of August 25, an official of the Press Information Bureau here said. 

The Union minister will visit the ashram of Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya in Champaran town of Raipur district on the morning of August 24. 

Later, he will chair a meeting of chief secretaries and director generals of police of Chhattisgarh and neighbouring states on interstate coordination in New Delhi. 

He will then chair a meeting on security and development in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas of the state. 

Next day, Shah will inaugurate an office of the Narcotics Control Bureau in Raipur at 10:30 am and chair a review meeting there, the official said. 

Thereafter, the Union minister who also handles the cooperation portfolio will chair a meeting on the expansion of the cooperative sector in Chhattisgarh. -- PTI

Prime Minister Modi's visit to Poland is the first trip by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in the past 45 years. 

During his stay in Poland, Modi will meet President Andrzej Sebastian Duda and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Donald Tusk. 

"My visit to Poland comes as we mark 70 years of our diplomatic relations. Poland is a key economic partner in Central Europe," he said. 

"Our mutual commitment to democracy and pluralism further reinforces our relationship. I look forward to meeting my friend Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda to further advance our partnership," Modi said in his departure statement earlier on Wednesday. 

"I will also engage with the members of the vibrant Indian community in Poland," Modi said. 

The PM's discussions with the Polish leadership during his two-day visit will allow the two sides to exchange views at the top level on a variety of subjects and it will be a kind of real "useful exchange" of views, Indian Ambassador to Poland Nagma Mohamed Mallick told PTI Videos in Warsaw. 

From Warsaw, Modi will travel to Kyiv on the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine since the country became independent in 1991. -- PTI

The directions from the ministry of home affairs came on the directions of the Supreme Court. 

A CISF team, led by a DIG rank officer, Wednesday morning surveyed the hospital where a 31-year-old doctor was allegedly raped and murdered earlier this month. 

The force will also secure the residents hostel. 

An armed team of the paramilitary force will be deployed soon. 

The medic's body was found in a bloodied state in the hospital's seminar room on the morning of August 9. 

A civic volunteer, who was an outsider frequenting the hospital premises, was arrested the next day in connection with case. 

The incident has since rocked medical services across the country, with hundreds of doctors on strike under different banners demanding safety of medics through a central law. 

The Supreme Court on Tuesday constituted a 10-member task force to formulate a national protocol to ensure safety and facilities for doctors. -- PTI

A Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took a decision in this regard, a CMO statement said. 

"P R Sreejesh, who was a member of the Indian hockey team that won a bronze medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics, will be given a cash award of Rs 2 crore," it said. 

Hailing from Kerala, Sreejesh bid adieu to the game following his starring role as a goalkeeper in the country's second consecutive Olympic bronze at the just-concluded Paris Games. -- PTI

The team was returning after dropping Soren at his native village Jhilingora in the district when the driver lost control over the vehicle near Mudia Chowk on Seraikela-Kandra Road around 1.30 am, they said. 

Four other members of the unit suffered minor injuries and were administered first aid, a police officer said. 

In a post on X, Soren condoled the deaths. 

"Late last night, while returning from my residence, one of the vehicles in the convoy met with an accident, resulting in the untimely death of the driver and a security personnel. 

"May God grant peace to their souls and give strength to their families to bear this loss. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured in the accident," the former CM wrote in Hindi. -- PTI

In a meeting that was called for the discussion on seat sharing for the upcoming assembly elections on Wednesday, the MVA decided to call for a strike over the incident. 

 Speaking on the matter, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, "We had come here to discuss seat sharing but then we thought that we would not discuss seat sharing and instead discuss the law and order in the state after the Badlapur incident. The people of Maharashtra are agitated and FIRs have been registered against those who protested. We have decided that on August 24, MVA will call for Maharashtra Bandh over the Badlapur incident." 

 NCP-SCP leader Jitendra Awhad said, "Yesterday, FIRs have been filed against 300 people protesting against the Badlapur incident... This is an unconstitutional government... The culprits are increasing and against this Maharashtra Bandh is important." 

 Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat also spoke on the matter and said, "We had a meeting today and on August 24 in which we called for Bandh. The Badlapur incident is serious."

 "An inadvertent release of an air store from an Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft took place near Pokhran firing range area, due to technical malfunction, today," the Indian Air Force (IAF) posted on 'X'. 

 The IAF said it has ordered an inquiry into the incident. It, however, did not reveal the exact nature of the "air store". 

 Sub-Inspector of Ramdevra police station Shankar Lal said some people heard a loud bang about a kilometre away from the village following which they rushed to the spot and found pieces of an object lying around. PTI

 He said that 4-5 girls said that they were harassed. 

The development comes just days after Badlapur sexual abuse case. "There was a program in the school yesterday...After the program was over the teacher went to meet the students of class 7-8. Some 4-5 girls said that they were harassed, then we came to know about this, until then we were not aware of any such thing," the Principal of the school said. 

 Earlier today the police said that a school teacher was arrested in Maharashtra's Akola district on charges of molestation following complaints from six school girls. 

 The incident came to light after schoolgirls filed a complaint about the teacher who has been identified as Pramod Manohar Sardar. Police have recorded the statements of the victim girls. The accused was arrested on Tuesday evening. Superintendent of Police Akolka Bachchan Singh told ANI, "Akola Police received a complaint of molestation of six school girls by Pramod Manohar Sardar, a teacher of the Zilla Parishad School in Kajikhed. 

Police immediately arrested the accused teacher and recorded the statements of the victim girls." 

 "Cases under sections 74 and 75 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita and POCSO Act were registered," SP Singh added.

 At least 17 city police personnel and around eight railway cops were injured in the incidents of stone-pelting at the railway station and other parts of Badlapur during the protest on Tuesday, they said. Police have been deployed in large numbers across Badlapur to maintain law and order, and the situation in the town is back to normal. 

Entire Badlapur town virtually came to a standstill on Tuesday after thousands of protesters blocked railway tracks at the station and stormed the school building, where sexual abuse of two girls by the school sweeper took place last week. 

 The protesters hurled stones at police personnel and vandalised the school building during the protest. The police cane-charged the protesters to disperse them and clear the tracks for train movement. 

 Talking to PTI, DCP Sudhakar Pathare said on Wednesday that internet services in the town have been suspended in the wake of the protest and subsequent violence.

 "The internet services will be restored after taking a review of the situation in the town," he said. Most schools in the town remained shut on Wednesday, local people said.

 More than 45 Indian restaurants are offering a variety of traditional Indian food across Poland, with the capital Warsaw City having at least a dozen of them, as per the listing of the Embassy of India in Warsaw. 

India and Indian food are the talk of the town yet again as Warsaw is excited to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will arrive here for his two-day visit on Wednesday. This will be the first official visit of an Indian prime minister to this country in 45 years. 

 According to Indian restaurant owners, Polish people have developed a liking not just for Indian cuisine but also for its rich culture. "I really like Dosa. The best Dosa in Warsaw is in India Gate (restaurant), and it really feels like (those) in South India. I have travelled many times to Chennai and Kerala and actually, the food here definitely tastes like that," said Anna Maria Rozek, a Polish national, told PTI Videos. 

 Chandu, the owner of India Gate food chain, said, "The food is really tasty here ... Indian food with a lot of spices. Every item has a different taste. They (the Polish people) love butter chicken, mango lassi. They love Indian food and Indian people also. The Polish people also love Indian culture and Indian movies are also doing well in Poland nowadays, he said. Not just in the capital Warsaw, but Indian restaurants are popular in cities such as Krakow and Wroclaw, offering a variety of options to satisfy the curiosity and cravings of foodies in this eastern European country."

Meanwhile, the Indian diaspora in Poland's capital is excited about Modi's visit. Indians, especially students, expressed their delight as they got set to welcome the prime minister. Gaurav Singh, President of the Indian Students Union, Poland, said: There is a sense of excitement among the people here, especially the young people, the students. The number of Indians is slowly increasing here and a major chunk is that of the students.

 Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has reportedly raised concerns that the proposed Reliance-Disney merger could stifle competition. 

 "It is a good time to reflect on how the CCI should have also had the courage to address how the non-biological PM's other favourite business conglomerate is acquiring companies and reducing competition across various industries," he said in a post on X. 

 "The CCI is legally required to approve mergers and acquisitions that exceed a certain threshold. Yet, all acquisitions by the Adani Group have been approved, even as the company builds monopolies in sectors like ports, airports, power, and cement -- industries at high risk of market failure and anti-competitive practices -- often through threats and intimidation that have the backing of the powers-that-be," he alleged.

 In recent years, the CCI has not hesitated to impose penalties on both domestic and global firms for alleged abuse of dominance, Ramesh said. "Yet, a five-fold increase in User Development Fees (UDF) paid by passengers at Lucknow and Mangalore airports has been allowed by the Union government. These airports were among the six awarded to Adani after rules were altered to favour the company, despite objections from the NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Finance," he said. 

 Similarly, electricity prices in states like Haryana, Jharkhand, and Gujarat have risen sharply thanks to the Adani conglomerate's policies and actions, Ramesh claimed.

 The alleged crime by a male attendant created a volatile situation in the town of Thane district on Tuesday, with protesting parents and locals crippling rail services and clashing with police. 

 Shah stressed the urgency of the matter, saying that the alleged sexual abuse of the two kindergarten students is a clear case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act. 

 After learning about the incident, the state child rights panel chief said, she contacted the Thane District Child Protection Unit about the parents' concerns. "They (child protection unit) took them to the police to file the complaint. When I asked the school management about the case, they tried to cover it up. I even asked them why POCSO provisions should not be invoked against the school management," said Shah.

She said if the school management had promptly alerted the police, the chaotic situation in Badlapur could have been avoided. "The issue arises from the parents being made to wait for 11 hours. Despite being apprised of the alleged sexual attack, the principal chose not to contact the police. Instead, she went to the school management," Shah said, calling the episode a terrible state of affairs. 

 Every district in the state has a child protection unit under the Women and Child Development Department. There is also a Special Juvenile Protection Unit in every police station, she said. 

All the systems, units, and committees are in place. We all must make collective efforts to make the system work effectively, she said. 

 Shah also said she would recommend a structured procedure for educational institutions to avoid such situations in the state in the future. The state should implement such procedures and implement them strictly, she said. -- PTI

Oumair Aejaz was arrested earlier on August 8 after he allegedly placed hidden cameras in a variety of settings from bathrooms, changing areas, hospital rooms, and even his own home where he would record children as young as 2 years old in varying states of undress, Fox News reported.

 Authorities became aware of his offences after his wife came forward with disturbing materials. Before his arrest, he had no criminal history. He also allegedly recorded sexual encounters with numerous women who were unconscious or asleep, the Oakland County Sheriff said on Tuesday. 

 The magnitude of Aejaz's offences is not currently known, but Sheriff Mike Bouchard said it will take months to fully investigate. Authorities suspect there could be many more victims as investigators review thousands of videos found at his home in Rochester Hills, a city in Oakland County in the US state of Michigan.

 "The victimisation is so broad and the perversion so great, we're just beginning to wrap our arms around it," he said. "Disturbing on so many levels." 

 He equated the scale of criminality to Larry Nasser, the disgraced sports doctor convicted of abusing dozens of young women in his care. Several search warrants have been served since Aejaz was arrested on August 8 at his home. 

They include computers, phones, and 15 external devices. Bouchard said a single hard drive had 13,000 videos on it. He may have uploaded videos into cloud storage as well. 

 Aejaz was charged on August 13 with one count of child sexually abusive activity, four counts of capturing an image of an unclothed person and five counts of using a computer to commit a crime and is being held in the Oakland County Jail on a USD 2 million bond, Detroit Free Press reported. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said Aejaz's wife produced materials earlier this month that were concerning and the sheriff's office immediately executed a search warrant and confiscated more devices. 

She said investigators have "sifted through really jarring, alarming images" and continue to do so. McDonald said Aejaz also preyed on well-respected institutions and hospitals, which she said have been cooperative. Many of the allegations stem from Aejaz allegedly recording a mother and her kids inside a changing room at the Goldfish Swimming Club in 2023. However, he is also believed to have assaulted patients inside hospital rooms. 

"These are children and moms at a swim school," McDonald said. "They're there to teach their kids to swim. Because that brings their kids joy and because they want their kids to be safe around water. They were victimised by a person of trust in the community a medical doctor." 

 His work history shows he was employed at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Township and Ascension Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc. His current employment was as a physician contracted with a company that would send him to different hospitals. 

 Before that, he moved to the US in 2011 on a work visa from India, where he is a citizen. His residency took place at Sinai Grace Hospital before spending time in Alabama. He returned to Michigan in 2018.

Sule said that according to the government's data, crime has increased in Maharashtra.

"Crime has increased in Maharashtra and this is not something I am saying but the government data mentions. Be it the Porsche case or drugs in the state. Crime against women has increased a lot in Maharashtra...The issue (Badlapur) incident is sensitive. The way it was ignored is saddening. When the people were on the roads, the government was awakened," she said.

"After the elections (Lok Sabha), the sisters immediately became 'Ladki' (dear) for the government and started giving Rs 1500 for the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana. I saw on all your channels that a woman said they do not want this government's Rs 1500, we will give them Rs 2000 but keep our sisters safe," the NCP SCP MP added.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Police has arrested more than 40 people and registered an FIR against 300 people following the massive protest over the alleged sexual assault of two minor girls in Badlapur that led to stone-pelting, disruption of train services and lathi- charges on Tuesday.

The arrested people will be presented in court on Wednesday. Maharashtra police have also heightened the security at the railway station as police personnel have been deployed at the railway station to ensure no repetition of Tuesday's outbreak. Internet services have been shut down in Badlapur and shops are ordered to remain closed.

DCP, GRP of Railway Police Manoj Patil said that the situation is normal now.

"The situation is normal now. railway movement is also normal. No section has been imposed. Internet services will be suspended for a few days so that rumours do not spread." Manoj Patil said.

On Tuesday, police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the protestors gathered at the Badlapur railway station after the demonstrators blocked the railway track, causing a halt in local trains. As protestors blocked the track 12 mail express trains were diverted and 30 local trains were partially cancelled.

However, the railway service, after 10 hours of halt, resumed late at night after the police dispersed the protestors.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) team led by a senior officer reached the hospital in the morning. They talked to the local police and hospital authorities about the security arrangements, an official said. 

The body of a postgraduate trainee doctor, who was allegedly raped and murdered, was found in the seminar room of the Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, triggering nationwide outrage. 

A civic volunteer was arrested in connection with the case the next day. A mob entered the Kar Medical College and Hospital and vandalised the emergency department, nursing station, and medicine store, while also damaging CCTV cameras in the early hours of August 15. 

 The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered deployment of CISF at the Kar Medical College and Hospital to enable doctors to resume work. 

"In the aftermath of the brutal incident and the demonstrations which followed, the state government was expected to ensure the deployment of the state machinery to prevent a breach of law and order. 

"It was all the more necessary to do so since investigation of the crime which took place in the precincts of the hospital was underway. We are unable to comprehend how the state was not prepared to deal with the incident of vandalisation of the premises of the hospital," the top court said. -- PTI

Speaking after his wife Michelle Obama on Tuesday (local time), the former US president recalled that Harris in her capacity as the attorney general of California had stood up for children who had been victims of sexual abuse.

"Kamala Harris is ready for the job," Obama said noting that she fought big banks and for-profit colleges, "securing billions of dollars for the people they have scammed".

Taking a swipe at Donald Trump, Obama said that the US didn't "need four more years of bluster and bumbling and chaos."

"Here's a 78-year-old billionaire who has not stopped talking about his problems since he rode down on his golden escalator nine years ago" Obama said of Trump.

"We have seen that movie before, and we all know that the sequel is usually worse," Obama said adding that "America is ready for a new chapter. America is ready for a better story. We are ready for a President Kamala Harris."

In his speech, Obama also praised Joe Biden and said that choosing the latter his as his vice president in 2008 was one of the best "big" decisions he made during his candidacy.

"Joe and I come from different backgrounds, but we became brothers, and as we worked together for eight, sometimes pretty tough years, what I came to admire most about Joe wasn't just his smarts, his experience -- it was his empathy and his decency and his hard earned resilience; his unshakable belief that everyone in this country deserves a fair shot," said Obama.

Meanwhile, Michelle Obama who captivated the crowd with her rousing speech also went tough against Donald Trump, while only rarely naming him as per a commentary in The Hill.

"Hope is making a comeback," the former first lady said early in her speech, drawing a direct line between her husband's historic 2008 presidential campaign and Harris's quest this year, the US publication noted.

In her fiery speech Michelle said that of the two major candidates in this race, "only Kamala Harris truly understands the unseen labour and unwavering commitment that has always made America great."

The Nifty at the National Stock Exchange (NSE) opened at 24,680. 50, up 18.30 points and BSE Sensex opened at 80667.30, down by 135.61 points. As per analysts, the Indian stock market is keenly watching the global trends this week.

Among the sectoral stocks on NSE, Auto, FMCG, Media, Metal, Pharma, Healthcare, Consumer Durables, Oil and Gas opened in green territory.

On the other hand, the sectoral stocks of Reality, Private Banks, PSU banks, IT, and Financial sectors opened in the red.

The top gainers at NSE in the initial hours were Divi's Laboratories, Dr Reddy's Laboratories, SBI Life, Nestle India, and Hindalco. The stocks of UltraTech Cement, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IndusInd Bank, and Tata Steel were top losers in the initial hours of the trade.

"However, the structural set-up, with falling inflation, strong macro and resilient domestic liquidity inflows lends strength to the Indian markets. The last FOMC meeting minutes today are being awaited for further monetary signals. On the 23rd Fed Chair, Powell's speech at the Jackson Hole symposium is expected to be dovish and should lend further support to the markets. We remain optimistic on the markets and will be buying on every dip in the Indian markets," said Ajay Bagga, Market and Banking Expert.

Shrikant Chauhan, Head of Equity Research Kotak Securities expressed his optimism as he said the benchmark indices showed positive momentum.

"On Tuesday, the buying interest was observed in banking and financial stocks, while some profit booking took place in select FMCG and media stocks during intraday trading. From a technical perspective, the overall market structure appears bullish. However, we recommend that day traders consider buying on dips as the ideal strategy, " Chauhan said.

 A group of people had entered the medical facility and vandalised its emergency department, nursing station, and medicine store in the early hours of August 15. The violence at the state-run hospital took place amid midnight protests by women in various parts of West Bengal against the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor at the health facility. Three officers have been suspended.

Two are assistant police commissioners and one is an inspector, an official said. Further investigation is underway. The trainee doctor's body with severe injury marks was found inside the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital's chest department on August 9. PTI

Senior doctors have been asked to report for duty in place of the junior medics at several hospitals, even as the state government urged the protestors again to resume work, officials said. 

"Our stir will continue until we ensure justice for our sister. We understand that patients are facing problems, but our demands are justified," a junior doctor told PTI. 

The trainee doctor's body with severe injury marks was found inside the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital's chest department on August 9. Services at outpatient departments and non-emergency units were crippled, as long queues of patients were seen outside ticket counters of state-run hospitals. 

"We are not issuing tickets until there is confirmation that doctors concerned are present on duty. There is a huge number of patients coming for treatment at the hospital every morning, but doctors are a handful," a senior medic at the Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital told PTI. 

Some doctors have rescheduled surgeries owing to the absence of the junior medics, he said. The protesting doctors are scheduled to hold a rally in Kolkata during the day to press for speedy justice for the deceased trainee.

Modi embarks on a two-nation visit to Poland and Ukraine from August 21 to 23. In the first leg of the visit, Modi is travelling to Poland on a two-day visit. From the Polish capital Warsaw, he will travel to Kyiv.

 "From Poland, I will be visiting Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This is the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine," Modi said in his departure statement. "I look forward to the opportunity to build upon earlier conversations with President Zelenskyy on strengthening bilateral cooperation and share perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict," he said. 

"As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region," he added. 

 On his visit to Poland, Modi said the country is a "key economic partner" of India in Central Europe. 

 "Our mutual commitment to democracy and pluralism further reinforces our relationship. I look forward to meeting my friend Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda to further advance our partnership," he said. "I will also engage with the members of the vibrant Indian community in Poland," Modi said.

 "We want to further verify Ghosh's answers, as there have been discrepancies in some of the replies to our questions. Therefore, we are mulling over the option to conduct a polygraph test on him," an official told PTI. 

 Ghosh was on Tuesday, too, grilled by investigators, as part of its probe into the rape-murder of the postgraduate trainee. 

 CBI officers have put forth various questions to Ghosh in the last few days, including specifying his role after getting the news of the doctor's death, who he had contacted thereafter and why he allegedly made the parents wait for nearly three hours before getting to see her body, the official said.

 He has also been quizzed over the authorisation of renovation of rooms adjacent to the seminar hall of the RG Kar hospital, after her body was discovered there, he said. 

 The CBI had earlier obtained permission from a local court to conduct a polygraph test on Sanjay Roy, the civic volunteer who has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the case. 

 The Central Bureau of Investigation took over the probe into the trainee doctor's rape-murder from the Kolkata Police last week upon directions of the Calcutta High Court. PTI

"We need an economy that works for all of us, not just the greed of the billionaire class. My fellow Americans, while 60 per cent of our people live paycheck to paycheck, the top 1 per cent have never had it so good. These oligarchs tell us we shouldn't tax the rich; we shouldn't take on price gouging; we shouldn't expand medicare to cover dental, hearing, and vision; and we shouldn't increase social security benefits for struggling seniors," he said. "Well, I've got some bad news for them. That is precisely what we are going to do, and we're going to win this struggle because this is precisely what the American people want from their government. And at the top of that to-do list is the need to get big money out of our political process," he said. 

 Billionaires in both parties should not be able to buy elections including primary elections, the Vermont senator said. 

 "For the sake of our democracy we must overturn the disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision and move toward public funding of elections. And let me tell you what else we must do. We need to join the rest of the industrialized world and guarantee health care to all as a human right, not a privilege, he said.

 Some social media users promptly noticed that a similar situation unfolds in season 3 of popular web series 'Panchayat'. During the function, BJP MLA and former minister Punnulal Mohle who was the chief guest, Mungeli Collector Rahul Deo, and Superintendent of Police Girija Shankar Jaiswal were handed pigeons to release, signifying peace and freedom. The birds released by the MLA and the collector successfully flew off.

 However, when the SP released the pigeon, it fell to the ground. Social media user Sachin Gupta shared the video on his 'X' handle and wrote, "Panchayat-3 was repeated in Chhattisgarh. SP sahab released pigeons on Independence Day. His pigeon fell down instead of flying."

 Official sources on Tuesday said the SP wrote a letter to the collector, seeking disciplinary action. 

 "During a major national festival like Independence Day, the incident of a pigeon falling to the ground was prominently broadcast on social media and other media. This situation was created as a result of presenting a sick pigeon for flying in the main district-level programme. Had it happened at the hands of the chief guest of the function and honourable MLA, then the situation would have been more unpleasant," the SP wrote in the letter.

 "Certainly, the officer responsible for this work has not discharged his responsibility properly," it said. 

 The bird is stated to be alive. PTI

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently declared the mpox outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern.

Mpox cases have been confirmed among children and adults in more than a dozen African countries, and a new form of the virus is spreading. Vaccines for the diseases are in short supply.

"In view of the global health emergency declared due to the mpox outbreak, Serum Institute of India is currently working on developing a vaccine for this disease to cater to millions of lives that might be at risk. Hopefully, with the ongoing progress, we will have more updates and positive news to share within a year's time," Poonawalla said.

According to global news agencies, Congo will receive the first vaccine doses from the US next week to address the outbreak. Congo, which has a majority of mpox cases, currently needs 3 million vaccine doses. Japan-based KM Biologics is one of the manufacturers of an mpox vaccine. Denmark's Bavarian Nordic makes another vaccine, called Jynneos, for the disease. Reuters reported that Japan holds a stockpile of the KM Biologics vaccine.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has provisioned for a temporary holding area for mpox patients, consisting of five beds.

"These beds will be allotted to MPox patients on recommendation of the Emergency Chief Medical Officer and treated by the medicine department', AIIMS said. These patients will then be referred to Safdarjung Hospital for further evaluation.

-- Sohini Das & Sanket Koul/Business Standard

The news was first reported by TMZ and subsequently confirmed by multiple sources to People magazine. Lopez reportedly filed the divorce papers herself in Los Angeles County Superior Court on August 20 listing April 26, 2024, as the date of separation, Variety reported.

 The singer has chosen to represent herself in the legal proceedings. The couple's marriage began with a surprise wedding in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022, followed by a larger ceremony in Georgia on August 20, 2022, marking the second anniversary of their traditional wedding celebration. According to People magazine, there is no prenuptial agreement between the two.

 "She tried really hard to make things work and is heartbroken. The kids are a top priority, as they always have been," according to People magazine.

 Lopez and Affleck reignited their relationship in 2021, nearly 17 years after their initial engagement was called off in 2003. Fondly referred to as Bennifer by their fans, the couple officially ended their first engagement in January 2004 but maintained a friendly relationship over the years. 

 The couple went public with their renewed romance in April 2021, following Lopez's split from former MLB star Alex Rodriguez. They made their relationship official on social media in July 2021 and were seen together at the Venice Film Festival that same year. 

 Lopez and Affleck announced their engagement in April 2022, culminating in their surprise Las Vegas wedding. They celebrated with a grander ceremony in Georgia, attended by celebrities such as Matt Damon, Kevin Smith, and Jason Mewes. 

 The ceremony was officiated by podcaster and life coach Jay Shetty, according to People magazine.

 Lopez shares twins Max and Emme, 16, with her ex-husband Marc Anthony, while Affleck has three children--Violet Anne, 18, Seraphina Rose, 15, and Samuel, 12 with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner. 

 The couple's recent collaboration on Lopez's Prime Video musical documentary, 'This Is Me... Now: A Love Story', which accompanied her album release in February, was one of their final joint projects. Rumours of marital strife began circulating in May when they spent significant time apart. Lopez was occupied with her movie promotion and upcoming tour, while Affleck remained in Los Angeles to film 'The Accountant 2'. 

 Their relationship appeared strained as they spent much of the summer on opposite coasts, with Lopez reportedly staying in the Hamptons and Affleck in Los Angeles. In June, they listed their Beverly Hills mansion for sale, and Affleck subsequently purchased a new USD 20 million home in July. According to People magazine, Lopez and Affleck were no longer residing together, with Lopez reportedly not seeing Affleck for several weeks leading up to the filing. -- ANI

The letter, which is widely circulating on social media carries a signature from a person named "Dr Akash Nag", ostensibly an Indian Police Service officer working in the CBI. 

 The official statement reads, "A fake letter in the name of a person named Dr Akash Nag and claiming to be DIG, Joint Director, Crime Branch, Kolkata under the official banner "Central Bureau of Investigation, Office of the Deputy Inspector General, Anti-Corruption Branch, Kolkata" and addressed to Union Home Secretary is circulating in Social Media through WhatsApp, etc., about the case related to rape and murder of a trainee doctor of RG Kar Hospital, Kolkata."

 Furthermore, CBI informed that the case is being investigated by the CBI Headquarters in Delhi and the contents of the letter are fake.

"It is clarified that the said letter is fake one. The investigation of the case is being handled by CBI Headquarter, Delhi. Moreover, there is no officer in CBI by the name and designation of Dr. Akash Nag, DIG, Joint Director, Crime Branch, ACB, Kolkata. The contents of said letter are false and hence vehemently denied," it added.

Waman Mhatre, former mayor of Badlapur who belongs to the party led by the Maharashtra chief minister, however, claimed that his remark was misconstrued. 

Massive protests broke out at the Badlapur railway station in Thane district in the morning over the alleged sexual abuse of two kindergarten girls at a school in the town last week. 

The woman journalist, who works for a Marathi daily, told a news channel that as she was covering the protests on the tracks, Mhatre confronted her, making `vulgar' gestures. 

She was reporting on the incident in such a way `as if she herself had been raped,' she quoted Mhatre as saying. 

"Such behavior was highly unacceptable and caused me agony. However, I responded by asserting that my reporting is based on facts," the woman added. 

Mhatre claimed that his comments were misconstrued. -- PTI

It also found that the "manner of death" is "homicidal."