VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Rashmika Mandanna’s ‘Mysaa’ gets a release date: Makers unveil fierce new look and special character note Bengaluru techie rejects ₹20 lakh salary hike: Why he chose work-life balance over ₹65 lakh package Hong Kong scientists found that ultrathin diamond sheets can generate electricity when bent, revealing a hidden piezoelectric effect Real estate emerges as fastest-growing services sub-sector, up 24.7 per cent in June ‘This is real’: Pete Hegseth appears to mock Canadian military woman amid US-Canada tensions ‘I am overwhelmed’: ‘Raaz’ actor Malini Sharma REACTS to viral fame after story on her quiet farm life Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce own a Samoyed dog, the breed known for its famous “smile”: Here’s the fascinating evolutionary story behind one of the world’s most recognisable dog faces Zodiac signs most likely to disappear when they’re angry India eyes drones that helicopters can launch, control and send 80km into enemy territory What happens when a historic celebrity home is demolished? Richard Gere’s $10.75 million Connecticut estate is gone, but where did the 1938 oak library, marble fireplace, antique doorway and other pieces go? Gal Gadot’s verdict on working in ‘Bitcoin’ and defending the use of AI in filmmaking: ‘I am afraid, but I am playing with it and learning it’ Badshah-Isha Rikhi end marriage after 5 months; her ‘fake personality’ post goes viral Elon Musk’s $60 billion purchase of Cursor that has made Sam Altman ‘upset’ has an ‘indian connection’, Aman Sanger In 1925, a Kansas farm boy built his own telescope from scratch. Five years later, his homemade astronomy led him to discover Pluto The advisory urged nationals not to share their passports, Emirates IDs, biometric data, including eye, face or fingerprint scans, or personal and financial credentials with unauthorised individuals or agencies under any circumstances. NEW DELHI: The consulate general of India in Dubai has warned Indian nationals in the UAE, particularly blue-collar workers, against handing over biometric data. The warning advised the workers against unauthorised agents claiming to help with visa regularisation, Emergency Certificates, Exit Permits, Emirates IDs or employment, after reports of fraud involving the misuse of fingerprints and facial scans.In an advisory issued on Monday, the consulate said it had received information about individuals and agents allegedly exploiting Indians seeking assistance with immigration and documentation procedures. The fraudsters reportedly ask victims to provide fingerprints or face scans, which can then be used without their knowledge to conduct financial transactions, open bank accounts or obtain loans and credit cards in their names.The consulate cautioned that such misuse could leave victims liable for financial obligations or transactions they did not authorise. In some cases, those affected could also face multiple fines, travel bans and even imprisonment.The advisory urged nationals not to share their passports, Emirates IDs, biometric data, including eye, face or fingerprint scans, or personal and financial credentials with unauthorised individuals or agencies under any circumstances.It also clarified that biometric information required for procedures such as exit permits, Emirates IDs or visa regularisation must be provided only at official UAE Government facilities or counters. People were specifically warned against submitting such information through private individuals, agents or third-party service providers claiming to be authorised by UAE authorities.The consulate also sought to dispel a potential source of confusion by stating that biometric information is not required for certain consular services.The advisory said the Consulate General of India in Dubai and the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi “DO NOT require any fingerprint scan or face/eye scan from applicants for the issuance of a passport or emergency certificate.”It warned that any person or agent demanding such information while claiming to represent the Indian Embassy or consulate would be engaging in fraudulent activity and should not be entertained.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIndians approached by unauthorised individuals seeking biometric data or Emirates IDs have been advised to contact the Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra through the toll-free number 80046342, WhatsApp or SMS at 00971543090571, or email pbsk.dubai@mea.gov.in to verify credentials or seek assistance.The consulate urged Indian nationals living in or visiting the UAE to exercise caution, independently verify the credentials of anyone offering immigration or documentation-related services, and report suspicious activity to the Indian consulate and the relevant UAE authorities.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorVijaya SrivastavaVijaya Srivastava is a journalist and feature writer whose expertise lies in covering human-centred developments. Her stories explore how policy, technology, economic shifts and social change influence people’s everyday lives. Her work also focuses on bringing depth, context and a human perspective to complex issues. Her reports primarily cover society, healthcare, safety, public policy and emerging trends, alongside other political developments.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBihar, Jharkhand End 25-Year Dispute, Sign Sone River Water-Sharing Agreement‘Spreading Jhooth Ki Goonj’: PM Modi Hits Out At Rahul Gandhi, Hails 7.8% GDP Growth In New VideoNepal Flood Crisis: 8,900 Army Personnel Deployed As Search For Missing People ContinuesDelhi Draft Voter Roll Out: 47.7 Lakh Electors Excluded, Claims Allowed Till September 30Akhilesh Yadav’s Big Attack On UP Govt; Divya Mittal Resignation & Meerut Custody RowIndus Waters Row: India Rejects Hague Court’s Jurisdiction, Says Treaty Suspension Will Continue’Dumped 40 KM Away In Delhi’: Teen Allegedly Gang-Raped In Empty Sleeper Bus, Two Accused ArrestedLVM3 Tech Transfer: Adani, Mahindra Among Firms Eyeing ISRO’s ‘Bahubali’ RocketPM Modi Meets Pezeshkian In Bishkek, Reiterates ‘Friendship With Iran’ Amid West Asia Conflict‘Babur’s Country Honoured Modi’: Owaisi Takes Dig At BJP, RSS As PM Gets Uzbekistan’s Top Award123Hot PicksNepal floodGrand Canyon floodsWeather tomorrowMumbai milk priceCNG priceGoa anti-conversion billTN milk price hikeMaharashtra SIRDelhi trafficTop TrendingMaharashtra SIRDelhi TrafficDan DriscollPakistan Hindu Temple DemolishedUS Iran WarGlenn PhillipsPascal WehrleinConnor McDavidDelhi SIRLebron James Updated: Sep 01, 2026, 12:29 IST Cheeni Kum? Imported sugar is yet to land, so why is it getting cheaper IGNOU July 2026 admissions: Last date to apply for online programmes extended till September 15, check steps to apply Suriya clarifies Mumbai living rumours: ‘I’m based in Chennai, just travel there sometimes’, actor clears his stand at Karthi’s ‘Sardar 2’ audio launch Nithin Kamath calls employee ‘disloyal’ after he says Nikhil Kamath is more handsome Krishna Janmashtami 2026: Is Krishna Janmashtami on September 4 or 5? Check Correct Date, Nishita Puja Muhurat and Parana Time In 2024, Melinda French Gates resigned from the foundation that carried her name, took $12.5 billion with her, and is now spending those billions on … Australian high school students collected more than 2,000 plastic bottles to form a greenhouse, 11 years later, the structure supplies food for the school’s garden Updated: Sep 01, 2026, 13:32 IST IIT Kanpur-ISKCON MoU on student well-being sparks controversy; institute deletes social media post Varun Dhawan shares RARE family moments posing with his wax statue alongside Natasha Dalal and daughter Lara from Singapore vacation: ‘Core memory unlocked’ 1950: Kevin Budden, a 20-year-old photographer, was dying from a taipan snake bite when he insisted the snake be saved; five years later, its venom helped save a boy’s life Venus Returns Home to Libra: How the transit of Venus in Libra unlocks magnetizing charm, elegant conversation, and natural romantic chemistry Toxic Full Movie Collection: ‘Toxic’ box office collection Day 7 [LIVE]: Yash and Kiara Advani film races towards Rs 225 crore India net after crossing Rs 300 crore worldwide | Kannada Movie News ‘The flood is on its way’: How 400 Nepal students escaped in time Sep 01, 2026, 13:05 IST ‘Good for nothing’: Danish Kaneria lambasts Pakistan cricket, calls it ‘a shame after 70 years’ Sold a property funded entirely by you but jointly owned with your wife? You may claim 100% Section 54 LTCG exemption on a new home in your name; what your wife should report in her ITR Dolly Parton Estate to bring DOLLYFEST back to life for two weekends in 2027 in Nashville and London Empty shampoo bottles? 7 clever ways to reuse them instead of throwing them away Why these 4 zodiac signs need constant reassurance Meet Aditi Paudel, a 17-year-old high school student appointed as Japan’s first literacy ambassador A YouTuber spent 4 years helping strangers find lost relatives; then a DNA test gave him a 22.7% match with a 66-year-old Texas woman who turned out to be his long-lost sister The SC bench asked the Centre and states to respond within four weeks on a policy decision to either ban the retail sale of acid or impose strict restrictions on it. (Photo: PTI) NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre and the states why retail sale of acid should not be banned after an acid attack survivor complained that the SC-prompted 2013 guidelines of the Union government remain on paper even as girls continue to suffer physical disfigurement and lifelong mental trauma from acid attacks.Continuing with its strong stance against those jilted lovers accused of throwing acid on girls leading to severe physical disfigurement, loss of eyesight and lifelong mental trauma, a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked the Centre and states to respond within four weeks on a policy decision to either ban retail sale of acid or impose strict restrictions on it.This direction came after acid attack survivor Shaheen Malik, who runs an NGO to help girls who suffered trauma and scars of acid attacks, told the bench that every day three girls face a similar fate and there should be a complete ban on the retail sale of acid. She cited a case of three girls, two from Okhla in Delhi and one in Haryana, who were blinded by acid attacks. “How many more girls must suffer,” she asked while pushing for a complete ban.Accepting that acid should be supplied for the purpose of research and educational institutions, the bench said banning across-the-counter sale is the first option. In the alternative, it proposed whether retail sale of acid can be restricted only to those who are above 50 years of age after they give in writing the purpose behind such purchases. The data should be collated on a dashboard for ready reference of law-enforcing agencies on acid available in private hands.Senior advocate Saurabh Kirpal told the bench that strict guidelines framed by the SC in the Laxmi case in 2013 said acid continues to be available across the counter. The bench said the 2013 guidelines must have become obsolete now and asked additional solicitor general Archana Pathak Dave to submit fresh guidelines from the Centre on this issue.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe bench also sought a status report on implementation of its May 9 directions to the states and Centre seeking schemes for rehabilitation of acid attack survivors, which could include preferential government employment and, in the absence of which, a monthly honorarium, lifelong free medical treatment and free education. SC also said it is desirable to include in the school curriculum the preventive measures, post-attack treatment and emergency protocol.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBihar, Jharkhand End 25-Year Dispute, Sign Sone River Water-Sharing Agreement‘Spreading Jhooth Ki Goonj’: PM Modi Hits Out At Rahul Gandhi, Hails 7.8% GDP Growth In New VideoNepal Flood Crisis: 8,900 Army Personnel Deployed As Search For Missing People ContinuesDelhi Draft Voter Roll Out: 47.7 Lakh Electors Excluded, Claims Allowed Till September 30Akhilesh Yadav’s Big Attack On UP Govt; Divya Mittal Resignation & Meerut Custody RowIndus Waters Row: India Rejects Hague Court’s Jurisdiction, Says Treaty Suspension Will Continue’Dumped 40 KM Away In Delhi’: Teen Allegedly Gang-Raped In Empty Sleeper Bus, Two Accused ArrestedLVM3 Tech Transfer: Adani, Mahindra Among Firms Eyeing ISRO’s ‘Bahubali’ RocketPM Modi Meets Pezeshkian In Bishkek, Reiterates ‘Friendship With Iran’ Amid West Asia Conflict‘Babur’s Country Honoured Modi’: Owaisi Takes Dig At BJP, RSS As PM Gets Uzbekistan’s Top Award123Hot PicksNepal floodGrand Canyon floodsWeather tomorrowMumbai milk priceCNG priceGoa anti-conversion billTN milk price hikeMaharashtra SIRDelhi trafficTop TrendingMaharashtra SIRDelhi TrafficDan DriscollPakistan Hindu Temple DemolishedUS Iran WarGlenn PhillipsPascal WehrleinConnor McDavidDelhi SIRLebron James GST collections jump 14.8% to record Rs 1.99 lakh crore in August Quote of the day by Brigette Bardot: ‘I gave my beauty and my youth to men. I am going to give my wisdom and experience to animals’, inspiring lesson highlighting the French star’s transition from the world of glamour into the field of animal care and how priorities in life change with time Tamil Nadu’s 10,000 forgotten mansions: Built with Italian marble, Belgian glass and Burmese teak by wealthy Chettiars, these grand homes were abandoned for decades, now some are finding a new life Indian among 12 killed after Russia launches massive strike on Ukraine Melinda French Gates’ father worked on NASA’s Apollo missions; the women engineers she met at his company picnics shaped her thinking | World News PM Modi called for dismantling the entire ecosystem that enables terrorism at SCO NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, addressing the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek on Tuesday, said there can be no “double standards” in the fight against terrorism and called for dismantling its entire ecosystem, including financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens.“We must dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorism–its financing, recruitment, radicalization, and safe havens. We must speak in one voice that there can be no place for double standards on this serious issue,” he said.PM Modi described terrorism as a “grave challenge to all of humanity” and added that the fight against it cannot be limited to a mindset of “action-reaction”. He also called on countries that use terrorism as an instrument of policy or provide shelter and support to terrorists to face a strong message.“Those countries that use terrorism as an instrument of their policy, and provide shelter and support to terrorists, must be sent a strong message that terrorism cannot be a ‘strategic asset’ for anyone,” the Prime Minister said.He also outlined “Security, Connectivity and Opportunity” as the three pillars of India’s vision for the SCO, with peace and security forming the first pillar.“Our shared aspiration for a peaceful and secure Eurasia is also linked to peace and stability in Afghanistan,” he said, adding that India would continue its development and humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.On the West Asia crisis, Modi said conflicts in one region can have repercussions across the world, affecting “energy security, maritime trade, and supply chains of the entire world”.“The countries of the Global South have to bear the maximum brunt of this. Therefore, India’s call has been that the solution to all tensions and wars is not possible on the battlefield, but only through Dialogue and Diplomacy,” he said.The Prime Minister also flagged drug trafficking as a serious threat to the younger generation and regional security, calling for stronger cooperation through SCO mechanisms dealing with security threats, organised crime, information security and narcotics. “We must make them effective mediums for practical coordination and timely action,” PM Modi said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHe further stressed that SCO cooperation should translate into tangible benefits for people, with people-to-people ties placed at the centre of the grouping’s future agenda.“The true measure of our success should be how many new opportunities our efforts have created for young people, how many new markets have opened up for our entrepreneurs, how much our farmers have benefited from technology, and how much better the lives of our citizens have become,” he said.Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov is hosting the summit and serving as its chairman. PM Modi is attending alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other leaders of SCO member states.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTrisha MahajanTrisha Mahajan is a journalist with The Times of India digital, with keen interest in covering business and corporate affairs. She also reports on key national and world developments and global news trends. A keen reader with a strong interest in storytelling that adds context, clarity, and depth to complex issues.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBihar, Jharkhand End 25-Year Dispute, Sign Sone River Water-Sharing Agreement‘Spreading Jhooth Ki Goonj’: PM Modi Hits Out At Rahul Gandhi, Hails 7.8% GDP Growth In New VideoNepal Flood Crisis: 8,900 Army Personnel Deployed As Search For Missing People ContinuesDelhi Draft Voter Roll Out: 47.7 Lakh Electors Excluded, Claims Allowed Till September 30Akhilesh Yadav’s Big Attack On UP Govt; Divya Mittal Resignation & Meerut Custody RowIndus Waters Row: India Rejects Hague Court’s Jurisdiction, Says Treaty Suspension Will Continue’Dumped 40 KM Away In Delhi’: Teen Allegedly Gang-Raped In Empty Sleeper Bus, Two Accused ArrestedLVM3 Tech Transfer: Adani, Mahindra Among Firms Eyeing ISRO’s ‘Bahubali’ RocketPM Modi Meets Pezeshkian In Bishkek, Reiterates ‘Friendship With Iran’ Amid West Asia Conflict‘Babur’s Country Honoured Modi’: Owaisi Takes Dig At BJP, RSS As PM Gets Uzbekistan’s Top Award123Photostories7 plants that came from UK and have become invasive in IndiaBigg Boss 20 rumoured contestants: From Karan Wahi to Arishfa Khan and Mary Kom, here’s a look at the celebrities rumoured to enter the Salman Khan-hosted showBadshah-Isha Rikhi to Ali Merchant-Sara Khan: Bollywood’s shortest celebrity marriagesBigg Boss Tamil 10: From Naveen Kumar to reviewer Prashanth, rumoured male contestants of Vijay Sethupathi-hosted showFrom quitting his well-paying engineering job in Dubai to Sonalika Joshi recommending him for Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah; When Mandar Chandwadkar recalled his journey7 workplace behaviours we call ‘professionalism’ that may actually be people-pleasingHe likes you, but is he serious? 5 signs that reveal his true intentionsFrom Siva Balaji to Kalyan Padala: Where Are the Bigg Boss Telugu Winners Now?Bigg Boss Telugu through the years: A look back at all seasonsVaibhav Suryavanshi breaks all-time Duleep Trophy record as a teenager: Times the young cricketer has made history123Hot PicksNepal floodGrand Canyon floodsWeather tomorrowMumbai milk priceCNG priceGoa anti-conversion billTN milk price hikeMaharashtra SIRDelhi trafficTop TrendingMaharashtra SIRDelhi TrafficDan DriscollPakistan Hindu Temple DemolishedUS Iran WarGlenn PhillipsPascal WehrleinConnor McDavidDelhi SIRLebron James ‘They put work ahead of their surnames’: Abhay Verma praises star-kid co-stars Suhana Khan, Shanaya Kapoor and Rasha Thadani He drives an auto by day and coaches table tennis by passion: Bengaluru man’s story is one of grit Scientists use robots more than two kilometres beneath the Pacific to discover huge lava fields around an active underwater volcano Indian among 12 killed after Russia launches massive strike on Ukraine Scientists used geothermal drill-hole temperatures in Oregon’s Cascades and found at least 81 cubic kilometres of water hidden in volcanic rock, nearly 3 times Lake Mead’s capacity