VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Iran keeps door open to talks as Trump rejects Hormuz proposal Bangladesh to replace planned sculptures at historic sites Sagittarius Horoscope Today, September 27, 2026: Family harmony returns as tensions ease and savings improve Awami members celebrating Hasina’s birthday under lens ‘Leo, Leo’ chants echo across Paris as 800,000 attend Pope Leo’s mass Dale Earnhardt Jr. turned the woods of his North Carolina estate into a motorsport time capsule, keeping more than 75 wrecked race cars in a private graveyard beside a full Wild West-style town he built Scorpio Horoscope Today, September 27, 2026: Confidence drives progress in career, travel and relationships 4 killed as helicopter crashes in field in Canada’s Quebec, probe launched Aries, Weekly Horoscope, September 27 to October 03, 2026: Recognition grows, but avoid impulsive decisions 10 women dead in 2 months: South Africa probes possible links in Ekurhuleni killings EAM S Jaishankar Describing Pakistan as a serial practitioner of terrorism in his UNGA address, foreign minister S Jaishankar said that there must be no dilution of the zero-tolerance approach to the menace. Without naming Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, who had raked up the Kashmir issue in his General Assembly speech on Friday, Jaishankar said he had misrepresented facts and invoked arguments to normalise terrorism and claim immunity from its consequences.”That will not stand,” said the minister, adding that the scourge of terrorism had been a persistent threat to peace.Jaishankar called state-sponsored terrorism with a cross-border purpose a direct challenge to the global order, adding that India’s right to defend itself from terrorism will be exercised.In his remarks, Sharif had yet again given credit to US President Donald Trump for ending the India-Pakistan conflict last year with his “timely intervention”.”Govts indulging in such practices must be held accountable. There must be no dilution in our zero-tolerance approach towards terrorism. Its financial aspects, in particular, should be exposed and should be countered,” said Jaishankar.”Friendship and goodwill cannot co-exist with terrorism. And understandings premised on that will naturally be called into question. It is for the perpetrator of terrorism to mend its ways,” he added.He also flagged the need to end conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine, saying the inability to maintain peace is not just undermining security but threatening progress and retarding development. “In a globalised world, the effects of war are felt worldwide. Countries far from conflicts are being penalised for no fault of theirs. Those most impacted often have the least say.””The targeting of commercial shipping and seafarers transiting international waterways is simply unacceptable,” he said. Speaking on the West Asia crisis, the minister backed the two-state solution for durable and lasting peace.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesJaishankar spoke about the Global South predicament in today’s world and also the misuse of AI. He said a mindset of extreme competition had set in, undermining institutions and establishing choke points.”Global South’s right to industrialise is also undermined by non-market practices and market denial. The march of technology that was meant to instill hope has now become a source of anxiety. Misuse of AI is sharpening bias and diluting mutual respect. These directions bode ill for the aims and objectives of the UN.”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAlbanese Hails Modi’s Energy Push: ‘India Gave More People Access Than Anywhere In History’Delhi Skeleton Mystery: Skeleton-Like Structure Found During BJP Cleanliness Drive | Watch‘Padma Bhushan Is Small, Make Him PM’: Pawan Khera Mocks BJP’s Praise For Gyanesh KumarSkyStriker, HIMARS, Apache: India, US Showcase Firepower At Yudh Abhyas 2026 | WatchTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained123Hot PicksAsian Games India ScheduleBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysOdisha school textbooksPunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Libra Horoscope Today, September 27, 2026: Confidence rises as studies, career and social connections flourish Kharge, Sonia and Rahul pay homage to late PM Manmohan Singh EPFO wage ceiling hike NEW DELHI: With EPFO increasing the mandatory wage ceiling from Rs 15,000 a month to Rs 25,000, employees will now contribute Rs 3,000 (at 12% contribution of Rs 25,000 wage) towards their PF savings from Rs 1,800 earlier, govt said in a set of FAQs released. This will be along with a contribution of Rs 917 by employers (at 3.67%), up from Rs 550, taking the mandatory monthly PF contributions to Rs 3,917.In addition, Rs 2,083 – an 8.3% contribution from employers’ share – will now go towards the pension kitty from earlier Rs 1,250. On Sept 17, govt increased EPFO wage ceiling to bring one crore additional workers into the social security net as minimum wages in at least seven states and UTs – Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand – have crossed the Rs 15,000 threshold.In the case of an employee with a monthly wage of Rs 20,000, the mandatory PF contribution will be Rs 3,134 – the employee share Rs 2,400 and the employer share Rs 734, with an additional Rs 1,666 going towards EPS from employer’s share. But if an employee earns, say, Rs 35,000 a month, the mandatory PF contribution will be Rs 6,000 (Rs 3,000 from employee and employers each), with no amount going towards pension as EPS is available only to those whose wages do not exceed the EPFO wage ceiling. The retirement savings agency said the new regime kicked in from Sept 17 and asked employers to review contractor compliance, wherever contract labour is engaged, and update its payroll systems.Allaying employee fears of attempts to pass on the contribution by deducting more from salaries, it said an employer’s statutory contribution cannot simply be treated as an employee deduction merely by describing it as part of CTC.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesWhile the move will likely increase compliance costs for small and medium enterprises, the potential costs due to the rise in the wage ceiling can be partly offset by the incentive of up to Rs 3,000 per month for every additional employment created under PM Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAlbanese Hails Modi’s Energy Push: ‘India Gave More People Access Than Anywhere In History’Delhi Skeleton Mystery: Skeleton-Like Structure Found During BJP Cleanliness Drive | Watch‘Padma Bhushan Is Small, Make Him PM’: Pawan Khera Mocks BJP’s Praise For Gyanesh KumarSkyStriker, HIMARS, Apache: India, US Showcase Firepower At Yudh Abhyas 2026 | WatchTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained123Hot PicksAsian Games India ScheduleBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysOdisha school textbooksPunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Leo Horoscope Today, September 27, 2026: Slow down and avoid risky decisions, arguments and careless travel Scientists play reef sounds through underwater speaker in Hawai‘i; cameras record 4 to 14 times more baby fish at treated site Opposition INDIA bloc parties will meet on September 30 to discuss alleged poll-roll manipulation under the SIR process and a possible joint campaign seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation. NEW DELHI: Opposition INDIA bloc will meet on Sept 30 to discuss the alleged manipulation of poll rolls under SIR and a possible joint struggle to press for the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar.The meeting has been scheduled against the backdrop of nationwide outrage triggered by revelations that ECs SS Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had questioned many of the decisions regarding SIR.The opposition, led by Rahul Gandhi, has said the revelations tie in with their allegations of ‘vote chori’ in favour of BJP over the last two years. It has demanded the scrapping of the SIR process.TMC MP Derek O’Brien said the demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation is “non-negotiable”, while other issues will also be discussed at the meeting. “We will work unitedly and purposefully.”The meeting is expected to be attended by the leading lights of the anti-BJP front, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, Uddhav Thackeray and MA Baby.The meeting has been scheduled after CPM’s MA Baby wrote to parties (including AAP, DMK and CJP) seeking an immediate meeting.Trinamool’s Mamata Banerjee also reached out to INDIA bloc members. She called the CEC “Vanish Kumar”, demanded his ouster and said the Bengal mandate was stolen.The joint brainstorming will follow a Congress Working Committee meet on Sept 29.The parties are also planning to submit a fresh “removal notice” against Kumar in both Houses of Parliament.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesCPI-ML’s Dipankar Bhattacharya said that there is a strong belief within INDIA bloc that some parties (Aam Aadmi Party and DMK) which are not part of the alliance umbrella should also be roped in to boost the campaign. It also released a fact-finding report regarding SIR in constituencies that the party lost narrowly in recent Bihar assembly polls and claimed it found 17-25% of voters had been wrongly deleted.The meeting assumes special significance as Cockroach Janata Party and other youth outfits have already announced a stir over the issue.CJP has reiterated that it will launch a nationwide agitation from Mumbai on Oct 2 after its ultimatum seeking the resignation of Kumar ended Saturday. Azad Maidan is most likely to be the venue of its protest.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAlbanese Hails Modi’s Energy Push: ‘India Gave More People Access Than Anywhere In History’Delhi Skeleton Mystery: Skeleton-Like Structure Found During BJP Cleanliness Drive | Watch‘Padma Bhushan Is Small, Make Him PM’: Pawan Khera Mocks BJP’s Praise For Gyanesh KumarSkyStriker, HIMARS, Apache: India, US Showcase Firepower At Yudh Abhyas 2026 | WatchTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained123Hot PicksAsian Games India ScheduleBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysOdisha school textbooksPunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Westlife star Mark Feehily sues bariatric surgeon Nick Carter in £200,000 lawsuit over weight-loss surgery, alleges recurring sepsis led to stomach removal; surgeon denies negligence Virgo Horoscope Today, September 27, 2026: Accept support from loved ones and keep risky investments away Congress owes nation a public apology: Nabin after EC statement Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu backed the Election Commission’s statement on SIR, saying it reaffirmed the integrity and credibility of constitutional institutions NEW DELHI: BJP’s allies on Saturday closed ranks to hit out at opposition, with TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu saying EC’s statement reaffirmed “the integrity and credibility of our constitutional institutions” and ended “misconceptions” around it. “Attempts to undermine global confidence in India’s democratic framework for short-term political gains are deeply unfortunate,” he said, urging opposition to accept wins and losses with grace.LJP (Ram Vilas)’s Chirag Paswan said opposition is spreading confusion and questioned why it keeps silent on states where it has formed govt.JDU member Sanjay Jha said rising frustration over poll defeats have led opposition to spread propaganda to undermine the democracy.Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde said Congress keeps mum when it wins but attacks EC when it loses. The united stand came a day after some allies had pressed EC to clarify concerns raised in media reports.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAlbanese Hails Modi’s Energy Push: ‘India Gave More People Access Than Anywhere In History’Delhi Skeleton Mystery: Skeleton-Like Structure Found During BJP Cleanliness Drive | Watch‘Padma Bhushan Is Small, Make Him PM’: Pawan Khera Mocks BJP’s Praise For Gyanesh KumarSkyStriker, HIMARS, Apache: India, US Showcase Firepower At Yudh Abhyas 2026 | WatchTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained123Hot PicksAsian Games India ScheduleBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysOdisha school textbooksPunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Taurus, Weekly Horoscope, September 27 to October 03, 2026: A slow start gives way to renewed confidence and gains PM Modi, Shah put CEC in charge of match-fixing elections: Rahul Gemini, Weekly Horoscope, September 27 to October 03, 2026: Social respect rises, but think twice before major decisions New Form 6 enrolments where no SIR is under way won’t need mapping After Daunte Wright’s 2021 death, a GoFundMe raised about $1.04 million; a year later, the mother of his only child sued his parents and Ben Crump, alleging the boy received none of the money promised for his support Cancer Horoscope Today, September 27, 2026: Unexpected financial gains brighten the day, but keep emotions steady Merely 11% of IIT-B faculty from reserved categories: RTI What do the latest US visa wait times reveal: Hyderabad, Mumbai near a year for B1/B2 appointments; Delhi at 10 months Albanese highlights India’s energy connectivity under PM Modi. NEW DELHI: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has credited PM Narendra Modi with providing energy access to India’s population on a scale that, he said, no other country has achieved before.Speaking at an event on Sept 24 organised by Asia Policy Institute in New York on the sidelines of UNGA meetings, he said, “To give PM Modi credit, more people have been connected with access to energy in India under his reign than has occurred in any decade in any country or any region in human history.”Under the Ujjwala scheme, over 10.5 crore cooking gas connections have been provided since 2016, while the Saubhagya scheme helped electrify over 2.8 crore rural and poor urban households. The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana has connected over 50 lakh households with solar energy.Albanese is likely to visit India in Dec when bilateral trade and cooperation in clean energy are expected to be discussed.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAtul MathurAtul Mathur is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India with over 27 years of experience in journalism. Based in Delhi, he has spent much of his career reporting on governance, public policy and politics, churning out researched, data-driven stories that impact daily lives. Atul is known for investigative depth and strong human-interest narratives as he strives to bring clarity and context to complex issues. He currently tracks the energy sector, writing on power, renewable energy, coal and mines.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAlbanese Hails Modi’s Energy Push: ‘India Gave More People Access Than Anywhere In History’Delhi Skeleton Mystery: Skeleton-Like Structure Found During BJP Cleanliness Drive | Watch‘Padma Bhushan Is Small, Make Him PM’: Pawan Khera Mocks BJP’s Praise For Gyanesh KumarSkyStriker, HIMARS, Apache: India, US Showcase Firepower At Yudh Abhyas 2026 | WatchTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained123Hot PicksAsian Games India ScheduleBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysOdisha school textbooksPunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Cancer, Weekly Horoscope, September 27 to October 03, 2026: Career progress shines, while family matters need patience India, Bangladesh look towards Rahman visit in Nov Who is Christos Marafatsos, the Greek-American businessman accompanying Kimberly Guilfoyle to key meetings? Gemini Horoscope Today, September 27, 2026: Career progress brings relief as useful contacts open new doors Kai Cenat shares plans for a Seven Wonders streaming tour as fans accuse him of copying IShowSpeed Leo, Weekly Horoscope, September 27 to October 03, 2026: Luck, recognition and financial gains brighten the week Brittany Mahomes earns major recognition as KC Current’s $375 million rise highlights her growing impact A Pennsylvania grandfather built a backyard amusement park with a 105-foot waterslide, go-kart track and vintage carousel; his $24,700 roller coaster then triggered a zoning fight Chadwick Boseman’s widow Taylor Simone Ledward hits back at his brothers over $3.4 million estate dispute, says $150,000 was already paid to Derrick and Kevin and calls lawsuit a ‘public-relations stunt’ Taurus Horoscope Today, September 27, 2026: Maintain financial balance and let delayed plans unfold naturally Meet Jessica Lee, 17-year old Honolulu high school senior who logged 420 hours of volunteer service, competed in varsity golf and completed a multi-day expedition before earning the US Congress’s highest youth award Indian-origin woman robbed of $20,000 worth of jewelry during evening walk in Canada, stranger lady touched her feet, hugged, swapped gold necklace with fake in seconds Virgo, Weekly Horoscope, September 27 to October 03, 2026: Fortunes improve after midweek hurdles and emotional strain Influencer flaunts gold buy, posts vacation plan; thieves strike it rich Aries Horoscope Today, September 27, 2026: Control spending and avoid unnecessary family conflicts “My goal is really to focus on growing my faith”: Chiefs’ billionaire heiress Gracie Hunt opens up on her life away from the Kansas City J&K high court rejects ED plea to add charges in JKCA fund scam case JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir high court Friday rejected an Enforcement Directorate‘s petition that challenged a Srinagar CJM court’s order denying permission to add charges related to the receipt and concealment of stolen property in the alleged Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) fund scam.Justice Sanjay Parihar held that ED’s prayer for invoking sections 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) and 424 (dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property) of Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) lacked merit based on the material currently available.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHowever, the HC set aside the trial court’s reasoning that ED lacked a “locus standi“ to move such an application.The case dates to the period between 2002 and 2011, when BCCI granted Rs 94.06 crore to JKCA. A CBI probe found that Rs 43.69 crore was misappropriated by the then office-bearers of JKCA.ED argued that although CBI filed the primary chargesheet under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant) of RPC, the material gathered during the money-laundering probe disclosed sufficient grounds to frame charges for receiving and concealing stolen property as well.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAlbanese Hails Modi’s Energy Push: ‘India Gave More People Access Than Anywhere In History’Delhi Skeleton Mystery: Skeleton-Like Structure Found During BJP Cleanliness Drive | Watch‘Padma Bhushan Is Small, Make Him PM’: Pawan Khera Mocks BJP’s Praise For Gyanesh KumarSkyStriker, HIMARS, Apache: India, US Showcase Firepower At Yudh Abhyas 2026 | WatchTibet Govt-in-Exile Reprimands Activist Sonam Wangchuk, Calls Comparison ‘Misplaced and Inaccurate’India’s Savage ‘Osama’ Reply To Pak PM’s UN Bluster; ‘Repeating Lies Won’t Make It True’‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained123Hot PicksMandeep K BhandariBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysOdisha school textbooksPunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingNorma DumontRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts’ Notting Hill home with famous blue door listed for £7.95 million nearly 30 years after film’s release Horoscope today: Daily Astrological Predictions for September 27, 2026 Dwayne Johnson built an $800 million empire after WWE by turning The Rock’s wrestling fame into Hollywood success, brand ownership, investments and lasting business power