Editors Pick
In a major revision to military recruitment rules, the Union Cabinet has lengthened the service period of Agniveers from four to six years, offering the 75% cohort previously slated for civilian discharge an additional two-year engagement and a subsequent route to regular military enrollment. Announced by CDS General N.S. Raja Subramani just ahead of the first batch’s retirement dates, the overhaul also reverses recruitment stages by putting written tests ahead of physical trials.
Celebrated British actor Sir Patrick Stewart has passed away at the age of 86. Rising from a childhood marked by domestic hardship and going completely bald by age 19, Stewart built a formidable career with the Royal Shakespeare Company before capturing global stardom as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor X in the X-Men franchise. Knighted in 2010, the Yorkshire-born legend proved that classical discipline and character can redefine modern popular culture.
Septuagenarian CPI(M) whole-timer Bipul Dasgupta has emerged as the face of peaceful resistance in West Bengal after standing ground with folded hands against a mob attempting to tear down a Left book stall in Nagerbazar during Durga Puja. The incident, set against a broader ideological row over the festival’s nomenclature, drew widespread condemnation from civil society as well as senior saffron figures including State Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta and the RSS, prompting a large solidarity march from Kolkata’s College Street on October 29.
The Calcutta High Court cleared the way for the Mamata Banerjee-led faction of Trinamool Congress to hold its annual Martyrs’ Day programme on July 21 at a new venue near Birla Planetarium after refusing to permit the gathering at its traditional site in front of Victoria House.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief SunetraPawar faces a test after her leadership came under question, with senior leader and NCP national secretary Sachchidanand Singh challenging her election as the party president.
Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MPs Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray and Prakash Chik Baraik joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kolkata on Thursday.
The Congress party in Punjab has familiar faces from almost all castes, making it a strong challenger in the 2027 Assembly polls in Punjab. The expectation of coming back to power with a majority has led several leaders into lobbying mode to be better placed today so that they will have leverage to demand a greater role after victory. This has led to intense factionalism in the state.
In Men’s Cricket, England defeated India by 125 runs in the 3rd T20 International at Trent Bridge in Nottingham last night.
The Mamata Banerjee-led faction of the TMC on Monday filed a detailed response before the Election Commission of India (ECI), rejecting rival leader Ritabrata Banerjee’s claim over the party. It also asserted that the TMC’s organisational committees remained valid until 2027 as per the constitution of the party.
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