Glimpses from Donald Trump and Xi Jinping's ceremonial Beijing engagement capture diplomacy, symbolism and statecraft at historic Chinese landmarks.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has appointed a new leadership team, including retired Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra as CEO, Ayodhya lawyer Madan Mohan Pandey as trustee, Delhi businessman Mahesh Bhagchandka as treasurer, and Dr Nirmala Yadav as the first woman trustee, to address allegations of theft and improve administration and devotee facilities.
The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is set to appoint its first full-time CEO from a shortlist of three candidates, chosen from over 5,500 applicants. The Trust is also discussing filling three vacant trustee posts, amending the Trust deed, and addressing administrative matters, including financial affairs and security coordination, following a recent controversy over alleged temple donation embezzlement.
A 31-member group from Kerala narrowly escaped the devastating flash floods in Nepal thanks to a 20-minute delay at a Buddha temple. They recounted their terrifying ordeal, including witnessing the destruction and spending a night without basic necessities, before safely returning to Kerala.
The Supreme Court will hear a plea from journalist Abhishek Upadhyay, who is challenging an FIR filed against him by Ghaziabad police in an alleged road rage case. Upadhyay claims the FIR is retaliatory, stemming from his reporting on alleged irregularities in donations to Ayodhya's Ram temple and corruption in Uttar Pradesh. He fears arrest and seeks quashing of the FIR or transfer of the investigation to an independent agency.
Following alleged thefts at the Ram temple in Ayodhya and other incidents, prominent temples across India, including Baba Balak Nath Temple in Himachal Pradesh and Ambaji temple in Gujarat, are implementing stringent new rules for counting offerings. These measures include mandatory pocketless clothing for staff, extensive CCTV surveillance, metal detector frisking, and promoting digital payments to ensure transparency, honesty, and accountability in donation management.
Soaring above the mighty Chenab River, this record-breaking railway bridge is a sight to behold.
'Earlier, people used to hand money directly to priests after a ritual, and priests would keep it in their own pockets. We completely stopped that practice.'
The Ram Temple trust in Ayodhya has implemented a new, two-shift system for counting cash donations, overseen by the State Bank of India (SBI), following an embezzlement scandal. A new team, including ex-servicemen and supervisors, has been deployed to enhance security and transparency in the process, aiming to prevent future theft and restore public trust.
Kangana Ranaut visited the Shri Durgaparameshwari emple in Kateel and the Shri Hale Mariamma temple in Kapu.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has deactivated the digital IDs of former general secretary Champat Rai, trustee Anil Mishra, and special invitee Gopal Rao. This action follows alleged irregularities in the issuance of VIP darshan passes and an ongoing SIT probe into financial misconduct at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. The move aims to curb misuse of preferential entry passes.
Seers in Ayodhya are demanding that bureaucrats be excluded from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust following allegations of donation embezzlement and the resignations of two key members, Champat Rai and Anil Mishra. While some seers call for the trust to be run solely by religious figures to prevent corruption, others defend the integrity of the resigned officials, highlighting a division within the spiritual community regarding the trust's management and accountability.
''These people who were running the show at the Ram temple have something to hide, therefore they are not ready for a CBI investigation.'
What the Raksha Mantri did in Mhow and Indore.
Opposition parties disrupted Lok Sabha proceedings on the opening day of the Monsoon Session, leading to multiple adjournments. Protests focused on the alleged NEET paper leak and Ram temple donation theft issues, with demands for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. The House was eventually adjourned for the day after repeated appeals for order failed.
Five friends from Raipur, Chhattisgarh, narrowly escaped being swept away by flash floods in Nepal's Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river valleys thanks to an impromptu tea break. They endured two tense days on higher ground, witnessing devastation, before returning home safely, with a poignant Raksha Bandhan moment providing comfort.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Uttar Pradesh government has questioned Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai and administrator Gopal Rao regarding allegations of donation money theft and financial mismanagement at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
The Indian Parliament remains deadlocked as the Opposition, led by the Congress, insists on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply to discussions on alleged donation theft at the Ram temple in Ayodhya and student protests, rejecting the government's offer for Home Minister Amit Shah to respond.
Mumbai police have arrested a 19-year-old man for allegedly stealing Rs 60,000 from a donation box at the Laxmi Narayan temple in Kandivali West. His associate remains at large, and police investigations involved tracking the accused's travel routes.
Nearly 600 tribal students abandoned a government-run hostel in Amravati, Maharashtra, after some girls exhibited strange behaviour, leading to claims of spirit possession. Officials suspect mental stress or selective hysteria, while local beliefs attribute the incidents to angry spirits from a cut 'mahua' tree or an encroached temple. Counselling efforts are underway to bring students back.
'What struck me at the time was simply the scale of it -- that something of this magnitude could be unfolding inside the Ram temple itself.' 'It was bewildering. And what troubled me further was the manner in which people were shielding it.'
A recent building collapse in Satya Niketan, Delhi, which killed seven people, has brought to light the dire living conditions faced by students in paying guest (PG) accommodations near Delhi University's South Campus. Due to a severe shortage of on-campus hostels, students are forced to pay high rents for cramped rooms with poor ventilation, inadequate facilities, and sub-standard food. The article details student experiences with non-functional amenities, mandatory food charges for poor quality meals, and the lack of support from student bodies, highlighting a systemic issue in student housing.
Shi Yongxin, the former head priest of China's Shaolin Temple, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison on graft charges, including embezzlement and bribery.
Researching Japan was like going down a rabbit hole. There is just so much to see and do, but I finally decided we would stick to the 'Golden Route' of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, notes Radhika Mittal.
Nepal is grappling with the devastating aftermath of flash floods, with the death toll reaching 1,356 and nearly 5,000 people, including foreign nationals, still missing. Identification of bodies is a major challenge, with only a fraction identified so far. President Ramchandra Paudel has appealed for climate justice and national unity for relief efforts. International teams, including experts from India and China, are assisting in search and rescue, particularly at hydropower projects where workers are trapped. The country is also working to restore infrastructure and reassure tourists to protect its vital autumn tourism season.
The Indian government has confirmed its readiness for a Lok Sabha debate on the ongoing student protests and police action, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah set to address the concerns, particularly those related to the NEET paper leak issue.
A heated parliamentary showdown unfolded as NDA and INDIA bloc MPs clashed at Parliament's main gate.
Kiren Rijiju has strongly criticised the Congress for allegedly 'unfairly disrupting' the recent monsoon session.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon citizens to celebrate Independence Day with honour and pride, urging them to take a pledge for a developed India. This appeal comes amidst parliamentary sessions marked by protests from both ruling and opposition alliances.
Over 130 Indian nationals, including Kailash Manasarovar Yatra pilgrims and tourists, are missing or stranded in Nepal following devastating flash floods that have cut off central districts and disrupted communication links. Indian states and the embassy in Kathmandu have launched helplines to assist those affected.
India's Monsoon Session of Parliament concluded with significantly low productivity, marked by frequent disruptions and protests from the Opposition, primarily the Congress, leading to minimal debate on key legislation.
Gambhir, who has been on a temple run since becoming India's Head Coach in 2024, also visited Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar Temple on January 16.
CCTV footage collected from cameras near a temple allegedly showed the accused first assaulting the victim with a stick before mowing him down with a vehicle, police said.
Home Minister Amit Shah has offered to hold a comprehensive debate in Parliament on student protests and other pressing issues, but Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has swiftly rejected the proposal, demanding accountability for actions against students.
Saransh Jain's domestic success motivated by his cancer-affected dad's inspiring note. Saransh received his India Test call-up for the Sri Lanka tour on Tuesday.
For the Jagannath Temple in Puri, the timing of Rath Yatra is a matter of scriptural injunction rather than convenience.
The Union Home Ministry has designated 23 individuals based in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for their involvement in infiltration, recruitment, logistics, financing, and operational planning targeting India.
An elephant ran amok in a residential area of Thrissur, Kerala, causing damage to vehicles and property and creating panic among residents before being subdued by its mahouts.
Anupam Kher and Naseeruddin Shah find themselves in a public war of words, reigniting their long-standing feud over Shah's 'clown' remarks and Kher's political affiliations.
A day after his resignation was accepted by the Ram temple trust, its former general secretary Champat Rai on Tuesday said he would respond to all allegations of donation embezzlement after the SIT submits its final report, even as opposition parties alleged a "cover-up" and stepped up the demand for its dissolution.
