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.
Mamata says it is not acceptable to deprive voter rights in the name of SIR, warns BJP against playing with fire
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said it is not acceptable if the poll panel in the name of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) strike off the voters’ right and alleged that the ECI officials were “threatening” her government officials under political pressure. She also accused the BJP of playing with fire and said in the guise of SIR, the NRC (National Register of Citizens) were being done. She said two persons in Nadia received such an NRC notice from the Assam government and questioned how other states could interfere with the affairs of West Bengal. Banerjee told a media conference at the state secretariat Nabanna that some ECI officers were holding meetings without any representative from the state government and accused the state chief electoral officer of “overdoing”. “The CEO must not overdo as I know his record,” the chief minister warned. “He (CEO) is accused of corruption and there is a conspiracy to cut votes under the pretext of SIR. I have the evidence,” Banerjee told the reporters and said he must not overreact. “I hope he will not betray the country and democracy,” the CM said. She also questioned the timing of SIR when the state was having a natural calamity, and thousands of people had been displaced and their belongings lost in the floods and landslides. Besides, many people were out of station due to the festive months. Banerjee also questioned how it could be possible to complete SIR within two months and accused the BJP of influencing the revision. She also asked how a central minister belonging to the BJP declared that some 1.5 crore voter names were to be deleted from the electoral rolls and warned the saffron party not to play with fire or else they will be engulfed in the blaze. Banerjee reiterated that it is not acceptable if any voters’ rights were snatched away in the name of SIR as Bengal has many communities across the state. Questioning the ECI activity, Banerjee asked how the poll panel summoned state government officers before the poll schedule was declared. She said the election dates have not been announced for Bengal. “Then how can the ECI officials visit the state and direct the state government officers for SIR preparedness?” A team of the Election Commission of India led by Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Gyanesh Bharti, yesterday held a video conference with the District Election Officer-District Magistrates of the districts of South Bengal. The Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, Manoj Agrawal, was also present in the meeting. Electoral Registration Officers of the districts concerned also attended the video conference. The team also visited some assembly constituencies in North 24 Parganas district to meet electoral officials and Booth Level Officers (BLOs). They also went to Kolaghat of Purba Medinipur district today and met BLOs of Purba Medinipur, Jhargram and Bankura districts.
Dilip Ghosh slams TMC over Darjeeling disaster response, alleges attack by ‘Bangladeshi infiltrators’
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dilip Ghosh has launched a sharp attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, accusing it of a delayed and inadequate response to the recent landslide disaster in Darjeeling. Ghosh also alleged that BJP leaders who rushed to assist affected people were attacked by so called “Bangladeshi infiltrators” allegedly protected by the ruling party. Speaking to the media, Ghosh said, “Even after such a big tragedy, no TMC leader went to Darjeeling. It is the government’s duty to provide help and ensure people’s safety, but the Chief Minister went there two to three days after the disaster. Our BJP MLAs and MPs reached before her.” He further claimed that BJP’s tribal MPs, who visited the affected tribal communities, were attacked by individuals he labelled as illegal infiltrators. “They were attacked by Bangladeshi infiltrators who are being protected by TMC. Our MPs were attacked because TMC doesn’t want the truth to come out,” Ghosh alleged. His remarks have sparked a fresh political storm in West Bengal, with the BJP accusing the state government of mismanaging the crisis and failing to provide timely relief. The party has also reiterated its long-standing concerns about alleged illegal infiltration in border regions like Darjeeling.While the rescue operation is still underway in Darjeeling.TMC has not officially responded to Ghosh’s claims yet, but party sources say the allegations are an attempt to divert attention during a time of crisis.
TMC team leaves for Tripura after alleged BJP vandalism at party office
A five-member Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation, led by senior Lok Sabha member Pratima Mondal, left for Tripura today to assess the situation following allegations that BJP activists vandalised the party’s office in Agartala. TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in a post on social media accused the BJP of resorting to violence in states where it is in power. “Unable to defeat us at the ballot box in Bengal, the BJP has unleashed its full machinery to provoke violence in states under its control,” Banerjee said. He alleged that BJP workers attacked and ransacked the TMC party office in Tripura “under the watchful eyes of the Tripura Police,” calling it evidence of a “vindictive and lawless mindset.” Banerjee, who is also the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said the incident was not isolated, recalling earlier attacks on TMC leaders and workers in the state. “In 2021, my convoy in Tripura was vandalised by BJP-hired goons. They speak of upholding democracy, yet their actions blatantly violate its very principles,” he said. Following the alleged attack, the TMC delegation left for Tripura to review the situation on the ground, express solidarity with party workers, and officially raise the issue with the state administration. “Intimidation, violence, and vendettas will never silence us. Democracy, law, and the people’s mandate will always prevail over BJP’s brute politics,” Banerjee asserted. The delegation includes Pratima Mondal, Saayoni Ghosh (MP), Birbaha Hansda (minister), and party spokespersons Kunal Ghosh and Sudip Raha. Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev is expected to join the team in Agartala.
