CBI arrests NHIDCL executive director in Rs 10 lakh bribery case
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday arrested the Executive Director and the Regional Officer of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), Regional Office, Guwahati, while accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from a private person, according to an official press release. The CBI registered the instant case, based on source information, against the Executive Director and Regional Officer of NHIDCL, Regional Office, Guwahati, and two representatives of a private company. CBI laid a trap on October 14 and caught the accused Executive Director and one private person while the public servant was accepting bribe of Rs 10 lakh from the private person for issuance of favourable extension of time (EOT) and Completion Certificate of the work performed by the private company about the contract of 4-Laning of National Highway-37 between Demow to End of Moran Bypass besides other contracts in the State of Assam. Searches were conducted at seven office and residential premises of the accused persons at different locations throughout India. During the searches at the premises of the accused public servant, Cash of Rs. 2.62 crores has been seized. Further investigation revealed the acquisition of properties, namely 9 landed properties and 20 apartments, throughout India, in the names of a public servant and his family members. Moreover, documents about the purchase of high-end vehicles in the name of a public servant have also been recovered. Further verification of the immovable/movable properties of the accused public servant is in progress. Both the arrested accused persons will be produced in the Court of Special Judge, CBI Cases, Guwahati, today.
Jairam Ramesh reveals hidden History, unveils Nehru’s forgotten speech
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has brought to light a lesser-known moment in Indian history, highlighting a largely forgotten speech delivered by Jawaharlal Nehru in Hindustani on the night of August 14, 1947—just before his iconic “Tryst with Destiny” address. According to Ramesh, Nehru began his speech in Hindustani, speaking for about six minutes before transitioning to his famous English speech. This Hindustani speech, Ramesh noted, was lyrical and captured the essence of “Tryst with Destiny.” Both the text and audio recording of the Hindustani speech are available, offering a glimpse into India’s history. The Constituent Assembly met at 11 pm on August 14, 1947, and Nehru’s “Tryst with Destiny” speech was delivered just before midnight. While the iconic speech has become synonymous with India’s independence, the preceding Hindustani speech has largely gone unnoticed. Ramesh’s discovery highlights Nehru’s linguistic versatility and his ability to connect with the masses through his mother tongue. This revelation has sparked interest in exploring more of India’s hidden historical treasures.
Sunny Leone wishes daughter Nisha on 10th birthday, calls her “bright shining star sent from heaven”
Bollywood actress Sunny Leone took to her social media account to share a heartwarming post on the occasion of her daughter Nisha Kaur Webber’s 10th birthday. The actress penned a loving note expressing affection for her eldest child, marking the special day with an intimate family celebration at home. Sharing a series of adorable pictures from the birthday celebration, Sunny captioned the post, “Happy 10th birthday. I love you so so much. You’re a bright shining star sent from heaven. We all are so proud of you,” tagging Nisha on her social media account. The pictures shared by Sunny on her carousel post showcased herself, her husband Daniel Webber, and their three children, Nisha, Noah, and Asher, gathered around a beautiful birthday cake. The birthday girl is seen dressed in a casual t-shirt with a pink sash that reads “Birthday Girl”. The little girl is seen smiling as her parents and brothers help her cut the cake and feed each other. Sunny’s post quickly received love from fans and fellow industry celebrities who flooded the comment section in wishing Sunny’s little girl on her special day. For the uninitiated, Nisha Kaur Webber was adopted by Sunny Leone and Daniel Webber in 2017 from an orphanage in Latur, Maharashtra. A year later, the couple welcomed twin boys, Asher and Noah, via surrogacy. But the blessing of parenthood did not come easily to Sunny and her husband, Daniel Weber. The couple had to go through a series of emotional ups and downs to finally see their dream of a happy family getting fulfilled. Sunny, who had appeared on actress Soha Ali Khan’s podcast, explained the entire journey to parenthood. Sunny explained, “We had four girls and two boys but that didn’t work out. One day she’s (surrogate) like, ‘I am pregnant.’ But we found out that the sack was blank. The baby was not going to grow.” She further expressed how it was extremely tough to accept the constant setbacks. “We were like, ‘Did we do something? Does God not love us? Why is this happening? And why can’t we just adopt a little girl?” The actress also spoke on the process of adoption and how her daughter, Nisha, all of just 18 months then, came into their lives and made them experience parenthood. “In that time of losing those four girls, we applied for adoption. We tell Nisha that she chose us. You picked us as parents. We didn’t pick you, obviously. Nisha was just 18 months, but she was the size of a one-year-old. But I see her for the first time, and it’s like, “That’s my baby!!” exclaimed Sunny. “There was an instant connection. It’s like instant, like she’s mine and not anybody else’s now. That’s Nisha Kaur Weber!” explained Sunny.
Puri to be developed as a World-Class Religious City: CM Majhi
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today announced that Puri will be developed as a world-class religious city. Highlighting Puri’s significance beyond being a religious site, the Chief Minister stated that the government is committed to developing it as a world-class religious city, with its upgrade to a municipal corporation as the first step. Meeting elderly women devotees of Kartik Habishyali at Vrindavati Nivas, Majhi described their devotion as the moral strength of Odisha and a living symbol of Odia culture and identity. Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said the month of Kartik holds special significance in Odia culture, being associated with self-restraint, compassion, and devotion. He noted that Odia mothers have observed Habish for centuries, reflecting the state’s moral and cultural strength. Majhi also announced that from next year, a dedicated digital registration system will be launched for Habishyali women, providing access to medical and emergency services. The Chief Minister expressed hope that the devotion and prayers of Habishyali mothers will bless Odisha and guide society towards peace and progress. He added that this year, approximately 2,500 Habishyali devotees have been accommodated by the government at five designated locations, with an expenditure of around Rs. 3.30 crore. Urging everyone to follow the teachings of Jagannath Dharma, Majhi paid respects to the Habishyali devotees, took photographs with them, and discussed their convenience and needs. The event was attended by Puri MP Dr. Sambit Patra, Jagatsinghpur MP Bibhuti Prasad Tarai, Puri Sadar MLA Sunil Kumar Mahanti, Brahmagiri MLA Upasana Mahapatra, Satyabadi MLA Om Prakash Mishra, Pipili MLA Ashrit Pattnayak, and District Collector Divyajyoti Parida, among others.
Bengal Guv to visit Durgapur to meet gang-rape victim and her parents
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose today strongly condemned the alleged gang-rape of a 2nd year MBBS student in West Bardhaman’s Durgapur town, and said he would go to Durgapur to meet the survivor in hospital and her parents. In a strong message to the state administration, the Governor said that such a crime on women is not new in the state and advised the police forces to be more proactive and find out some mechanism to ensure the safety and security of people. Bose said the Police force is primarily responsible for maintaining law and order in the state and in this case there was some lacunae. He said he would meet the survivor and her parents in Durgapur to learn more about the incident. Governor Bose returned today to Kolkata. He had gone to Siliguri to meet injured BJP MP Khagen Murmu and MLA Shankar Ghosh, and then gone to New Delhi to report on the state’s law and order situation after the two opposition leaders were assaulted while distributing flood relief material in Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri. Bose is expected to catch a train in order to travel to the industrial town of Durgapur. Sources said the visit of the governor is to address the public outcry following the alleged gang rape of an MBBS student from a private medical college in the city on October 10.
Massive disaster in North Bengal due to Bhutan’s water, says Mamata Banerjee — demands compensation
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today blamed water released from Bhutan for the recent massive disaster in North Bengal and said Bhutan should compensate for the damage. Speaking to the media at Nagrakata in Jalpaiguri district, the chief minister said, “This disaster happened because of Bhutan’s water. They must compensate for the damage.” During her visit, Banerjee walked through the flood-affected areas, personally surveyed the damage, distributed relief materials, and handed out job appointment letters to one family member of each deceased victim. After returning to Kolkata last Wednesday following an initial assessment of the situation, the chief minister returned to North Bengal yesterday. She toured several affected areas in Alipurduar and then proceeded to Nagrakata today morning. Her first stop was Bamonbari, where she handed out appointment letters for government jobs to seven individuals. Assuring full support, Banerjee said the state government would compensate all local losses incurred due to the disaster. Speaking at Bamonbari, the CM reiterated her long-standing demand,”We’ve been asking for the formation of an Indo-Bhutan River Commission that includes Bengal as a member. This entire incident happened because of the water released from Bhutan.” She then criticised the central government, saying, “We have to do everything ourselves. Delhi doesn’t give a single rupee.” She also revealed that, following pressure from the state, the Centre has scheduled a meeting on October 16 to discuss the issue. A state official will represent Bengal in the meeting, although the exact agenda remains unclear. “We’ve given Rs 5 lakh each to the families of those who died. We also promised a job to one family member, and today, those appointment letters are being handed over,” the chief minister said after handing over job letters to one of the family members of the deceased. She added that a temporary iron footbridge has been constructed at the site where villagers previously crossed using a damaged bridge. Additionally, the state has pledged to rebuild homes destroyed in the disaster. Farmers whose agricultural land has been damaged will receive crop insurance payouts. The government will also arrange special camps for those who have lost or damaged their official documents in the floods. Once individuals submit a list of lost documents, the government will provide certified copies or duplicates.
DGCA declares Puri’s Jagannath Dham as Red Zone
The pilgrim town of Puri, home to the sacred Jagannath Dham, has been marked as a Red Zone on the flight map of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). According to the DGCA notification, aircraft are prohibited from flying within 50,000 meters above sea level over Puri, particularly above the Sri Jagannath Temple. The restriction came into effect on September 26, 2025, and will remain valid until September 25, 2028. However, the decision has sparked mixed reactions among devotees, many of whom have demanded the installation of anti-drone systems to prevent drones from flying near the 12th century temple, a nationally protected monument. In recent months, several incidents of drones flying close to the temple have been reported. Police have detained multiple operators, who were later released with warnings after claiming ignorance of the restrictions and stating that they were capturing visuals for social media. Yesterday, another drone operator was detained after his drone was seen flying near the temple and was later released with a warning. Devotees and locals have expressed concerns that unmanned drones could pose security threats to the historic shrine. They have urged authorities to declare the temple and its surroundings a complete no-fly zone and install drone-jamming systems to enhance protection.
Bengal minister Sashi Panja alleged BJP is politicising medical student gang-rape in Durgapur
West Bengal Minister for Women and Child Development, Shashi Panja, today said it was “very unfortunate” that a student of a private medical college was gang-raped, but accused the BJP of “politicising” the incident. Panja said the police had received a complaint regarding the alleged gang rape case and a thorough investigation was underway. She confirmed that the victim, a minor from Odisha, was in hospital where she was receiving proper medical care and counseling. “The girl is being looked after, and her statement will play a crucial role in the investigation,” Panja said. The minister added that the victim’s parents had arrived from Odisha and expressed confidence in the Kolkata Police’s ongoing probe. Panja criticised the BJP for “politicising” the sensitive issue. “Crimes against women should never be viewed through a political lens, but unfortunately, the BJP continues to do so,” she remarked. “We don’t need to repeatedly state that Kolkata is the safest metropolis in India or that West Bengal is committed to women’s empowerment. The Chief Minister never compromises when it comes to ensuring justice for women,” Panja asserted. Urging patience, she said, “We must wait for the police investigation to be completed before drawing any conclusions.” Panja further said it was “unfortunate” that BJP leaders in Bengal were using the incident for political gain, while similar cases of harassment and self-immolation of women in BJP-ruled Odisha had gone largely unaddressed
Trump slaps additional 100 percent tariff on China
Intensifying trade tensions with China, US President Donald Trump announced a 100 percent tariff on Chinese goods in response to Beijing’s export policy of tightening its control over critical minerals and rare earth elements—key resources vital to global technology and defense industries. Trump further clarified on his earlier comments regarding his planned meeting with Xi, saying he had not officially canceled the summit. Trump revealed the tariff increase via Truth Social, stating the new duties would take effect on November 1, or possibly sooner. These tariffs would supersede the existing duties on Chinese goods, which have been in place since the previous trade conflict. Additionally, Trump announced his administration would implement export controls on “any and all critical software,” in response to China’s tightened grip on rare earth exports. “It is impossible to believe that China would have taken such an action, but they have, and the rest is history,” Trump posted on Truth Social. However, he expressed surprise at China’s sudden imposition of the export restrictions, calling them “out of the blue.” Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump added, “No, I haven’t canceled. However, I’m not sure if we’ll have it. I’ll be there regardless. I would assume we might have it, but they hit the world with something. It was shocking. Out of the blue, they came up with this whole import-export concept, and nobody knew anything about it.” Trump reiterated that the additional tariffs and export controls would be imposed in retaliation for what he described as Beijing’s “extraordinarily aggressive” actions. The tariffs, effective November 1, will target a wide range of Chinese goods, exacerbating the already tense trade relationship between the two nations. Stock markets reacted negatively to the news, with the Nasdaq falling 3.6% and the S&P 500 dropping 2.7 pc. China introduced new restrictions this week that require foreign entities to obtain licenses to export any products containing more than 0.1 percent rare earth elements sourced from or processed in China. China currently controls approximately 70 percent of the world’s supply of rare earth metals, which are essential for a wide range of technologies, from smartphones to military equipment. Currently, Chinese goods face US tariffs of 30 pc, a measure Trump implemented during his first term, accusing Beijing of enabling the fentanyl trade and engaging in unfair trade practices. Earlier in the week, Trump stated there was “no reason to meet” with Xi Jinping after Beijing’s “very hostile” actions regarding rare earth exports. He warned that the US was preparing to respond with “strong countermeasures.” When asked if the US would revoke the additional tariffs if China rolled back its restrictions, Trump responded, “We’ll have to see what happens. That’s why I made it November 1.” Trump also hinted at further export controls, suggesting that aircraft parts could be among the items targeted by the US. “A lot more. We have airplanes and their parts. We were just surprised by China. I have a very good relationship with President Xi, and they did that. This is not something that I instigated. This was just a response to something they did. And they didn’t really aim it at us. They aimed it at the whole world. I thought it was very, very bad,” he said. The tariffs will be in addition to those already in place, marking a significant escalation in the trade standoff. Trump also reaffirmed that export controls on all critical software will begin on the same day.
Odisha approves Rs 1,790 crore intra-state river linking project
The Odisha Cabinet has approved the “Intra-State River Linking Scheme in Odisha” with an estimated outlay of Rs 1,790 crore. The project will be executed over a period of five financial years, from 2025-26 to 2029-30. The scheme aims to optimise intra-state water distribution by connecting water-surplus river basins with water-deficient regions. The government expects the project to improve drought resilience, create additional water storage, mitigate flood risks, and boost agricultural productivity through six major projects. State Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja said that climate change has emerged as a critical global challenge, creating increasing uncertainty in the timing, duration, and intensity of monsoon rains. He added that this unpredictability poses significant water-related challenges to human society. To address these issues, the State Government has planned to implement the new “Intra-State River Linking Scheme in Odisha,” Ahuja confirmed.
