Glimpses from Donald Trump and Xi Jinping's ceremonial Beijing engagement capture diplomacy, symbolism and statecraft at historic Chinese landmarks.
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.
'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.
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.'
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.
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.
Kangana Ranaut visited the Shri Durgaparameshwari emple in Kateel and the Shri Hale Mariamma temple in Kapu.
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.
'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.'
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.
What the Raksha Mantri did in Mhow and Indore.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Govind Dev Giri Maharaj, treasurer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, acknowledged supervisory lapses at the Ayodhya Ram temple following alleged donation theft, but stated he would not resign as he does not consider himself personally at fault. He estimated the theft could be around Rs 3 crore and criticised SBI for not verifying employee credentials.
Former poll strategist Prashant Kishor made a stunning electoral debut by winning Bihar's Bankipur assembly seat, a long-held BJP bastion. Concurrently, the Congress retained the Datia assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh, while the BJP successfully held onto the Manjalpur seat in Gujarat, showcasing mixed results for the ruling and opposition parties in these crucial by-elections.
'SIT means nothing because the BJP government of Uttar Pradesh and Ram Janmabhoomi Trust are the same people.'
Two individuals have been booked for allegedly defrauding devotees at the Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik, India, by charging them for 'quick darshan' without proper receipts.
The Madhya Pradesh BJP has dispatched senior leaders to Datia to consolidate support for its bypoll candidate, Ashutosh Tiwari, following protests by supporters of former home minister Narottam Mishra, who was denied a ticket. The party is working to project unity ahead of the July 30 by-election, which was necessitated by the disqualification of the incumbent Congress MLA.
A Congress spokesperson, quoted in media reports, summed up the party's thinking by saying, 'Whenever BJP is in trouble on the ground, a new 'apolitical' or 'alternative' party appears with the same ideology and the same backers.'
Police forces from several adjoining districts were requisitioned to man key junctions, sensitive locations and government buildings in the Lutyens' area ahead of the march.
The monsoon session of Parliament will set the tone for how the Hindu community feels about what happened at the Ram Mandir. Whether emotions will be stirred within the voters of India lies solely at the oratory skills of the Congressis and Samajwadis, notes Zainab Sikander.
The southwest monsoon has advanced across northern Indian states, leading to widespread rainfall, waterlogging, road blockages, and rain-related deaths, particularly in Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. The Centre is monitoring the situation, especially concerning potential drought conditions in some areas due to the El Nino effect.
Indian-American lawmakers are encouraging the diaspora to actively participate in US politics and run for public office at all levels. This call comes amidst increasing incidents of anti-India and anti-Hindu hate, with leaders emphasising that political representation is crucial to address community concerns and ensure their voices are heard.
Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Surya Kumar Yadav offered prayers at the Shree Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai after winning the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
A coordinated international operation, 'Operation Hard Ball', led to the arrest of 24 alleged members and associates of three India-based criminal syndicates, including the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, across the US, Canada, and Europe.
After their T20 World Cup victory, the Indian cricket team, including coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, visited the Hanuman Tekri Temple in Ahmedabad to offer prayers and celebrate their win.
Boat services at Purushottampuri, a pilgrimage site in Beed district, have been suspended after a capsizing incident killed two women. Local residents allege that many private operators run services without proper licences or safety equipment.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing allegations against astrologer Ashok Kharat has questioned a temple priest and watchman, while further investigations reveal potential property fraud and misuse of water resources.
The boundary mess between India and Nepal needs a solution in a manner as mentioned by Nepal's Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal: 'On evidence not emotions', counsels Lieutenant General Shakti Gurung (retd).
Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad responds to Gautam Gambhir's criticism regarding taking the T20 World Cup trophy to a temple, emphasising respect for all religions and the dignity of athletes.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's family is under scrutiny after an Indian Express newspaper report revealed their extensive land purchases in Ujjain, particularly in areas benefiting from state infrastructure projects, raising questions of propriety and conflict of interest.
