VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html ‘I, Nobody’ box office collections day 3: Prithviraj Sukumaran’s thriller sees 9.6% drop; Worldwide gross reaches Rs 8.31 crore | Malayalam Movie News Hyderabad horror: SI suspended for not arresting Pocso case accused who killed 6 in overnight rampage Gordie Howe International Bridge: Canada gives share of bridge profits to US to get Trump nod Cues from the nets: India hit the ground running with Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill holding a lengthy conversation ‘This is my man’: ‘Dhurandhar’ singer Jasmine Sandlas announces engagement to Shekhar Chaudhary during her Delhi concert England vs Norway FIFA World Cup QF match result: Jude Bellingham’s brace propels England into World Cup semifinals after extra-time win Martha Lillard: Martha Lillard, last US polio patient using iron lung, dies File photo NEW DELHI: As a key parliamentary committee gets down to adopting recommendations on a contentious anti-corruption bill, its draft report has acknowledged that an “overwhelming majority of stakeholders” have found the clause of removing the PM, CMs or ministers from office if they are in custody for 30 consecutive days “constitutionally problematic” as it is delinked from any judicial outcome of culpability.One of the recommendations made in the draft report is that the bill carry a sunset or an automatic reversal clause that states the barring of the person from holding office will lapse upon his discharge or if the prosecution fails to proceed with the case within a defined period, sources said. This will ensure the removal based on an unproven allegation does not turn into a de facto permanent disentitlement, they said.The draft report is open to changes backed by a majority of panel members. Once adopted, it will be tabled in Lok Sabha, raising the possibility of govt seeking its passage in Parliament to make it into a law.Despite strong objections to the 30-day arrest trigger, the draft report’s recommendations do not substantially amend the proposal, instead calling for using the word “suspension” in place of “removal” from office to avoid stigma or presumption of guilt.Sources said the home ministry, in its reply, has objected to the term “suspension”, arguing that it implies a transient state where a person retains the legal title, rank and status of office while being barred from discharging their duties.The draft report says the most commonly proposed alternative to the 30-day custody trigger was shifting the yardstick to the stage of framing of charges.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBig Setback To Mamata Banerjee As Loyalist Anubrata Mandal Joins Ritabrata-Led Rebel CampOperation Lotus In Kashmir? CM Omar Abdullah Claims BJP Offered NC MLAs Rs 20-30 Crore In JammuSIA Kashmir Secures Interpol Red Corner Notice Against Hizbul Terrorist KandooWhat India Gained From PM Modi’s New Zealand Visit: Defence, Trade, Indo-Pacific & More15 Indian Tourists Confirmed Dead As Speedboat Capsizes Off Vietnam’s Phu Quoc IslandSonam Wangchuk Rejects ‘Modern Gandhi’ Label As Hunger Strike Enters Fourteenth Day In DelhiSupriya Sule Dismisses Pawar-Shinde Meeting Row, Calls It A ‘Storm In A Tea Cup’ Amid SpeculationINS Mahendragiri Joins Indian Navy, Boosting Maritime Power Amid Indo-Pacific Challenges | WatchHighway Blocked, Resignations Threatened As BJP Faces Backlash Over Ticket Choice In MPNEET Paper Leak Traced To Contracted Paper Setters, Charge Sheet Likely This Month | Watch123PhotostoriesWhy India is facing a diabetes explosion: Stanford’s top 2% scientist reveals the hidden reasons Indians develop it younger than the rest of the worldHow hand-painted Kalamkari is created: The story behind India’s legendary textile artFrom Priyanka Chopra to Ananya Panday: 5 best Wimbledon looks ever worn by Indian celebritiesChristopher Nolan’s best films to watch, ahead of ‘The Odyssey’: From ‘Oppenheimer’ to ‘Memento’10 foods that quietly contain too much saltWHO warns global cancer cases could nearly double by 2050; lifestyle changes, pollution and delayed diagnosis are fueling the riseAnkur Warikoo’s viral post on love after 20 years of marriage is striking a chord online10 foods that originated in India but became famous around the worldAlia Bhatt elevates a classic silk saree with modern draping at Akansha Ranjan Kapoor’s wedding festivitiesStylish Shubman Gill joins Anjali Sachin Tendulkar at Wimbledon 2026; fans ask, ‘Where is Sara?’123Hot PicksTravis Kelce and Taylor SwiftBlake LivelyAlex OvechkinJayden Adams DeathAlex PereiraJayden Adams Net WorthNico HischierStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingWilliam NylanderVietnam Boat AccidentTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Chhattisgarh Student MurderTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war Quote of the day by John Wayne: ‘You’re gonna spend the rest of your life getting up one more time than you’re knocked down, so you better start getting used to it,’ an inspiring message by the late Hollywood star highlighting why it is important to never give up Canada: Toronto shooting leaves 2 dead, 5 injured; attacker at large File photo NEW DELHI: Enforcement Directorate (ED)’s digital sleuths have been scouring the data on the mobile phone of Dharmesh Sangani, a Mumbai-based businessperson, who is facing probes also in UK and US for alleged gold smuggling.Enforcement Directorate sources were lucky to get hold of the phone of Sangani, who has diversified into the entertainment industry, that he had flung Thursday from his 13th storey apartment as a team from the agency closed in on him.”The device seems to have survived the fall and could hold clues vital to our investigation,” said sources in the anti money-laundering agency which had been on Sangani’s trail for months following a report from US authorities alleging seizure of jewellery of more than Rs 30 crore last year from Dharmesh Sangani.Sources said Sangani’s phone could help with the investigation into what is suspected to be a larger gold smuggling and money laundering operation spanning UAE, the US, Canada and other tax havens and potentially involving some “influential” people in Mumbai.The ED’s present search has been conducted to probe violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) against Kalanee Impex Pvt Ltd, its directors Dharmesh Sangani, Narendra Sangani and Rajeeta Dharmesh Sangani.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBig Setback To Mamata Banerjee As Loyalist Anubrata Mandal Joins Ritabrata-Led Rebel CampOperation Lotus In Kashmir? CM Omar Abdullah Claims BJP Offered NC MLAs Rs 20-30 Crore In JammuSIA Kashmir Secures Interpol Red Corner Notice Against Hizbul Terrorist KandooWhat India Gained From PM Modi’s New Zealand Visit: Defence, Trade, Indo-Pacific & More15 Indian Tourists Confirmed Dead As Speedboat Capsizes Off Vietnam’s Phu Quoc IslandSonam Wangchuk Rejects ‘Modern Gandhi’ Label As Hunger Strike Enters Fourteenth Day In DelhiSupriya Sule Dismisses Pawar-Shinde Meeting Row, Calls It A ‘Storm In A Tea Cup’ Amid SpeculationINS Mahendragiri Joins Indian Navy, Boosting Maritime Power Amid Indo-Pacific Challenges | WatchHighway Blocked, Resignations Threatened As BJP Faces Backlash Over Ticket Choice In MPNEET Paper Leak Traced To Contracted Paper Setters, Charge Sheet Likely This Month | Watch123PhotostoriesWhy India is facing a diabetes explosion: Stanford’s top 2% scientist reveals the hidden reasons Indians develop it younger than the rest of the worldHow hand-painted Kalamkari is created: The story behind India’s legendary textile artFrom Priyanka Chopra to Ananya Panday: 5 best Wimbledon looks ever worn by Indian celebritiesChristopher Nolan’s best films to watch, ahead of ‘The Odyssey’: From ‘Oppenheimer’ to ‘Memento’10 foods that quietly contain too much saltWHO warns global cancer cases could nearly double by 2050; lifestyle changes, pollution and delayed diagnosis are fueling the riseAnkur Warikoo’s viral post on love after 20 years of marriage is striking a chord online10 foods that originated in India but became famous around the worldAlia Bhatt elevates a classic silk saree with modern draping at Akansha Ranjan Kapoor’s wedding festivitiesStylish Shubman Gill joins Anjali Sachin Tendulkar at Wimbledon 2026; fans ask, ‘Where is Sara?’123Hot PicksTravis Kelce and Taylor SwiftBlake LivelyAlex OvechkinJayden Adams DeathAlex PereiraJayden Adams Net WorthNico HischierStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingWilliam NylanderVietnam Boat AccidentTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Chhattisgarh Student MurderTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war Argentina vs Switzerland Live Score, 1-0, FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Finals: Mac Allister scores from Messi’s corner! ‘Chai comes first’: Christopher Nolan, Tom Holland, and Matt Damon step out for tea ahead of ‘The Odyssey’ premiere FIFA WC 2026: Jude Bellingham joins Maradona in exclusive club with back-to-back braces in World Cup knockouts Mick Jagger praises Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s ‘Beatles’ hits; calls them ‘The most prolific songwriters of that time’ Pisces Horoscope Today, July 12, 2026: Keep your spending modest Did officials miss this? Why Bellingham’s England goal vs Norway should NOT have stood after bizarre camera cable incident S. Janaki once survived a life-threatening medical emergency thanks to a Malayali taxi driver; THROWBACK Jupiter-Moon Maha Rajyoga: These Zodiac Signs Set for Sudden Wealth US launches fresh strikes on Iran after Tehran declares Strait of Hormuz closed ‘Alpha’ box office collection day 9: Alia Bhatt’s action thriller sees growth on Saturday; mints over Rs 85 crore worldwide Aquarius Horoscope Today, July 12, 2026: Property investment is encouraged ‘Lenin’ box office collections day 2: Akhil Akkineni’s film records 14% jump; Worldwide total climbs to Rs 23.40 crore After fines fail, Tinsukia films public urinators, puts footages on LED hoarding to curb violations Capricorn Horoscope Today, July 12, 2026: Businessmen can safely make major choices Ram Temple theft case: Tinnu held keys to donation boxes without approval, reveals SIT report Sagittarius Horoscope Today, July 12, 2026: Exams and contests for competitive exams look promising Janaki, nightingale of many generations, falls silent Scorpio Horoscope Today, July 12, 2026: Legal work, documentation, contracts, and pending cases get support Rajasthan: Maternal mortality crisis worsens as 9 more women die Unsafe deliveries NEW DELHI: From rotten eggs and spoiled parathas to expired whey protein and packaged snacks, Swiggy Instamart has been issued nine notices by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) after consumer complaints alleged the delivery of unsafe and expired food products through the quick-commerce platform.The food regulator has sought a detailed explanation and compliance report from the company, warning that failure to respond satisfactorily could invite action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.According to the notices, consumers had complained of receiving expired, spoiled, rotten, contaminated and otherwise unsafe food products through Swiggy Instamart. Among the products flagged by them were Healthify 100% Whey Protein, Noice Homestyle Madras Mixture with Peanuts, Akshayakalpa Organic Eggs and Kakke da Paratha.FSSAI said consumers had alleged that the whey protein and snack packets were delivered after their expiry dates, while the eggs were found to be rotten and emitting a foul smell, rendering them unfit for consumption. A complaint involving Kakke da Paratha alleged the product was spoiled and foul-smelling.The regulator also questioned the marketing of “NOICE” eggs, saying the brand was allegedly not covered under product categories approved under Swiggy Instamart’s existing FSSAI licence. It directed the food business operator to stop marketing the product and seek licence modification if required.The action comes amid increased regulatory scrutiny of food sold through online grocery and quick-commerce platforms as consumers increasingly rely on rapid home deliveries for daily essentials.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBig Setback To Mamata Banerjee As Loyalist Anubrata Mandal Joins Ritabrata-Led Rebel CampOperation Lotus In Kashmir? CM Omar Abdullah Claims BJP Offered NC MLAs Rs 20-30 Crore In JammuSIA Kashmir Secures Interpol Red Corner Notice Against Hizbul Terrorist KandooWhat India Gained From PM Modi’s New Zealand Visit: Defence, Trade, Indo-Pacific & More15 Indian Tourists Confirmed Dead As Speedboat Capsizes Off Vietnam’s Phu Quoc IslandSonam Wangchuk Rejects ‘Modern Gandhi’ Label As Hunger Strike Enters Fourteenth Day In DelhiSupriya Sule Dismisses Pawar-Shinde Meeting Row, Calls It A ‘Storm In A Tea Cup’ Amid SpeculationINS Mahendragiri Joins Indian Navy, Boosting Maritime Power Amid Indo-Pacific Challenges | WatchHighway Blocked, Resignations Threatened As BJP Faces Backlash Over Ticket Choice In MPNEET Paper Leak Traced To Contracted Paper Setters, Charge Sheet Likely This Month | Watch123PhotostoriesWhy India is facing a diabetes explosion: Stanford’s top 2% scientist reveals the hidden reasons Indians develop it younger than the rest of the worldFrom Priyanka Chopra to Ananya Panday: 5 best Wimbledon looks ever worn by Indian celebritiesChristopher Nolan’s best films to watch, ahead of ‘The Odyssey’: From ‘Oppenheimer’ to ‘Memento’10 foods that quietly contain too much saltWHO warns global cancer cases could nearly double by 2050; lifestyle changes, pollution and delayed diagnosis are fueling the riseAnkur Warikoo’s viral post on love after 20 years of marriage is striking a chord online10 foods that originated in India but became famous around the worldAlia Bhatt elevates a classic silk saree with modern draping at Akansha Ranjan Kapoor’s wedding festivitiesStylish Shubman Gill joins Anjali Sachin Tendulkar at Wimbledon 2026; fans ask, ‘Where is Sara?’World’s 10 most populous cities in 2026 every traveller should know123Hot PicksTravis Kelce and Taylor SwiftBlake LivelyAlex OvechkinJayden Adams DeathAlex PereiraJayden Adams Net WorthNico HischierStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingWilliam NylanderVietnam Boat AccidentTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Chhattisgarh Student MurderTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war Jul 12, 2026, 04:07 IST Libra Horoscope Today, July 12, 2026: Control your spending, especially when you are tempted to purchase comfort items online An Indian tourist, who was rescued from a speedboat that capsized, receives treatment at a hospital in Phu Quoc, Vietnam HYDERABAD/CHENNAI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: From Tamil Nadu to Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, phones that carried holiday updates rang with news no family was prepared to hear, turning a sponsored Vietnam getaway into a journey remembered only for lives cut short and homes left waiting.Among the victims were AC Thomas (58) and wife Lovely Thomas (56), from Kottarakkara in Kerala’s Kollam district.They had left on July 7 on a weeklong tour organised by a private medical company. The couple remained in touch until Friday before they were first reported missing after a boat carrying 32 Indian tourists capsized off Phu Quoc Island Saturday afternoon.”They travelled to Vietnam on a weeklong package tour. We first came to know about the accident through news reports. Later, the tour coordinator informed us that both of them died and their bodies were recovered during rescue operations. We are yet to receive information on when the bodies will be repatriated to India. We are in constant touch with the Indian embassy in Vietnam,” Thomas’s brother AC Varghese said.Andhra’s Machilipatnam mourned Gelli Jaya Lakshmi, while her husband, businessman Gelli Kishore, remained in hospital in Vietnam. Friends remembered them as inseparable. “Whenever Kishore travelled, he always preferred to go with his family, especially his wife… It is heartbreaking that a joyful vacation ended in such a devastating tragedy…” family friend Bandi Rambabu said.Tamil Nadu bore the heaviest toll. Among those killed were Salem wholesale mobile phone dealer, N Sridhar (60), who had travelled with friends on July 8, and Senthil Kumar (45), a Lava mobile dealer in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts who also ran an aluminium factory and an RO system agency. Kumar’s father Jayavel, a retired sub-inspector, said his son had been reluctant to travel. “Fate took my son’s life,” he said.Three more victims came from Tiruchirappalli district – N Balaji (44), S Alagurajan (39), and A Shaik Abdullah (56). They had left Wednesday and were due back on Monday.At Alagurajan’s home, relatives struggled to absorb the loss. “Why should something like this happen to such kind-hearted people,” a family member said.Abdullah’s elder brother Mohammed Bawa recalled the family’s last call. “This morning, he called his son… he said he would be out of network because they were heading to an island. None of us knew that would be our last conversation.”Another victim from Tamil Nadu was Muruga Prabhu (43), in Dindigul district. A Lava mobile distributor, he had earned the company-sponsored Vietnam trip with friend Nirmal Kumar after meeting sales targets. They left Chennai on July 8 and were expected home Monday.Hundreds of kilometres apart, homes that had awaited souvenirs and smiling photographs braced for coffins, turning a reward trip into a trail of heartbreak.(Inputs from Salem, Trichy, Madurai)Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBig Setback To Mamata Banerjee As Loyalist Anubrata Mandal Joins Ritabrata-Led Rebel CampOperation Lotus In Kashmir? CM Omar Abdullah Claims BJP Offered NC MLAs Rs 20-30 Crore In JammuSIA Kashmir Secures Interpol Red Corner Notice Against Hizbul Terrorist KandooWhat India Gained From PM Modi’s New Zealand Visit: Defence, Trade, Indo-Pacific & More15 Indian Tourists Confirmed Dead As Speedboat Capsizes Off Vietnam’s Phu Quoc IslandSonam Wangchuk Rejects ‘Modern Gandhi’ Label As Hunger Strike Enters Fourteenth Day In DelhiSupriya Sule Dismisses Pawar-Shinde Meeting Row, Calls It A ‘Storm In A Tea Cup’ Amid SpeculationINS Mahendragiri Joins Indian Navy, Boosting Maritime Power Amid Indo-Pacific Challenges | WatchHighway Blocked, Resignations Threatened As BJP Faces Backlash Over Ticket Choice In MPNEET Paper Leak Traced To Contracted Paper Setters, Charge Sheet Likely This Month | Watch123PhotostoriesWhy India is facing a diabetes explosion: Stanford’s top 2% scientist reveals the hidden reasons Indians develop it younger than the rest of the worldFrom Priyanka Chopra to Ananya Panday: 5 best Wimbledon looks ever worn by Indian celebritiesChristopher Nolan’s best films to watch, ahead of ‘The Odyssey’: From ‘Oppenheimer’ to ‘Memento’10 foods that quietly contain too much saltWHO warns global cancer cases could nearly double by 2050; lifestyle changes, pollution and delayed diagnosis are fueling the riseAnkur Warikoo’s viral post on love after 20 years of marriage is striking a chord online10 foods that originated in India but became famous around the worldAlia Bhatt elevates a classic silk saree with modern draping at Akansha Ranjan Kapoor’s wedding festivitiesStylish Shubman Gill joins Anjali Sachin Tendulkar at Wimbledon 2026; fans ask, ‘Where is Sara?’World’s 10 most populous cities in 2026 every traveller should know123Hot PicksTravis Kelce and Taylor SwiftBlake LivelyAlex OvechkinJayden Adams DeathAlex PereiraJayden Adams Net WorthNico HischierStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingWilliam NylanderVietnam Boat AccidentTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Chhattisgarh Student MurderTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war Virgo Horoscope Today, July 12, 2026: Be careful not to nitpick every penny when it causes tension at home Hyderabad horror: Pocso accused kills 6, including 16-yr-old girl, in overnight rampage File photo: SG Tushar Mehta (Picture credit: ANI) NEW DELHI: Solicitor general Tushar Mehta on Saturday said associating Hindu law with ‘Manusmriti’ was a misconception as an overwhelming number of Hindus, except those in Assam and Bengal, followed the ‘Mitakshara’ school of thought.Delivering a lecture on ‘Ancient Wisdom & Legal Intelligence’, Mehta said, “People who allege that Hindu law is based on ‘Manusmriti’ are factually wrong since most of India follows ‘Mitakshara’ school of thought which is based on ‘Yajnavalkya Smriti’.”He added, “There are two theories of Hindu law prevalent in India since time immemorial, at least since prior to 700 AD. The first school of thought in Hindu law is ‘Mitakshara’ school of thought and the second school of thought is ‘Dayabhaga’.”The SG said the ‘Mitakshara’ school of thought, developed by Vijnaesvara, was solely based on ‘Yajnavalkya Smriti’ and not ‘Manusmriti’ as was wrongly believed. He said it was prevalent in the entire country except Bengal and Assam, which followed ‘Dayabhaga’ school of thought, based on ‘Manusmriti’.Distinguishing between the two schools of thought based on rights of inheritance as provided in scriptures, he said, “Inheritance in ‘Dayabhaga’ school of thought used to be applicable only to those who could perform ‘pind daan’.According to this system, ‘pind’ would mean rice cake offered in ‘shraadh’ ceremony to the ancestors. This was a very restrictive meaning in the ‘Dayabhaga’ school of thought prevalent in two states.”He said the ‘Mitakshara’ school was liberal and more dynamic as it gave the right of inheritance by birth, considering ‘pind’ as DNA.This concept is still in existence as a coparcener in a Hindu family gets the right of inheritance by birth.On adoption, Mehta presented four prevailing interpretations of “right to adopt’ to argue Hindu scripture-based laws were capable of being interpreted in a dynamic way.He also praised ancient wisdom for devising ‘prohibited degrees of relationships’ between man and woman and said the system devised much prior to 700 AD had been approved by Parliament while codifying the Hindu law on marriage.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBig Setback To Mamata Banerjee As Loyalist Anubrata Mandal Joins Ritabrata-Led Rebel CampOperation Lotus In Kashmir? CM Omar Abdullah Claims BJP Offered NC MLAs Rs 20-30 Crore In JammuSIA Kashmir Secures Interpol Red Corner Notice Against Hizbul Terrorist KandooWhat India Gained From PM Modi’s New Zealand Visit: Defence, Trade, Indo-Pacific & More15 Indian Tourists Confirmed Dead As Speedboat Capsizes Off Vietnam’s Phu Quoc IslandSonam Wangchuk Rejects ‘Modern Gandhi’ Label As Hunger Strike Enters Fourteenth Day In DelhiSupriya Sule Dismisses Pawar-Shinde Meeting Row, Calls It A ‘Storm In A Tea Cup’ Amid SpeculationINS Mahendragiri Joins Indian Navy, Boosting Maritime Power Amid Indo-Pacific Challenges | WatchHighway Blocked, Resignations Threatened As BJP Faces Backlash Over Ticket Choice In MPNEET Paper Leak Traced To Contracted Paper Setters, Charge Sheet Likely This Month | Watch123PhotostoriesWhy India is facing a diabetes explosion: Stanford’s top 2% scientist reveals the hidden reasons Indians develop it younger than the rest of the worldFrom Priyanka Chopra to Ananya Panday: 5 best Wimbledon looks ever worn by Indian celebritiesChristopher Nolan’s best films to watch, ahead of ‘The Odyssey’: From ‘Oppenheimer’ to ‘Memento’10 foods that quietly contain too much saltWHO warns global cancer cases could nearly double by 2050; lifestyle changes, pollution and delayed diagnosis are fueling the riseAnkur Warikoo’s viral post on love after 20 years of marriage is striking a chord online10 foods that originated in India but became famous around the worldAlia Bhatt elevates a classic silk saree with modern draping at Akansha Ranjan Kapoor’s wedding festivitiesStylish Shubman Gill joins Anjali Sachin Tendulkar at Wimbledon 2026; fans ask, ‘Where is Sara?’World’s 10 most populous cities in 2026 every traveller should know123Hot PicksTravis Kelce and Taylor SwiftBlake LivelyAlex OvechkinJayden Adams DeathAlex PereiraJayden Adams Net WorthNico HischierStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingWilliam NylanderVietnam Boat AccidentTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Chhattisgarh Student MurderTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war Top 5 richest WNBA players in 2026: Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and more Leo Horoscope Today, July 12, 2026: Not every smile means something deep Vietnam Boat Capsized: 15 Indian tourists killed as boat capsizes in Vietnam | India News NHL Trade Rumors: Canucks urged to raid Maple Leafs for the $46. 5M winger who could change everything File photo: PM Modi with New Zealand PM Luxon (Picture credit: PTI) India and New Zealand upgraded their relationship to a strategic partnership as they signed defence agreements to boost maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, facilitate reciprocal logistics support between the Indian Navy and the New Zealand Defence Force and strengthen hydrographic collaboration.The 18 agreements and announcements that followed PM Narendra Modi’s summit meeting with his counterpart Christopher Luxon included the establishment of a joint working group to combat terrorism and a joint action plan for collaboration in high-performance sports to expand ties beyond cricket. Modi described the two countries as “natural partners” that are “made for each other”.The leaders called for doubling of bilateral trade in the next five years to Rs 35,000 crore on the back of the newly signed FTA, with Modi welcoming New Zealand’s commitment to invest $20 billion in India over the next 15 years – a key takeaway from the trade agreement.Luxon later said the FTA included a “commitment to promote” private investment. “We’ve been through this before – it’s very clearly understood on both sides – it’s a commitment to promote investment into India from New Zealand and vice versa,” said Luxon.PM Modi, Luxon agree to work towards early, effective implementation of free trade pactAccording to PM Modi, this wasn’t just a commitment to investment, but a commitment to becoming a partner in India’s developmental journey. Modi and his counterpart Luxon agreed to work towards early and effective implementation of the FTA.The strategic partnership — which is expected to enhance cooperation in trade, defence, maritime security, tourism, culture, sports and multilateral issues — came coupled with a Roadmap to 2030 to guide structured implementation of the agenda across ministries and stakeholders in the next four years.“India and NZ’s firm belief in democratic values provides us with a natural comfort to move forward together. We have taken the historic decision to elevate India-NZ relations to the level of a strategic partnership. Under this, we will move forward with clear goals and concrete outcomes in every field,” said Modi, adding the FTA will open new doors for industries, farmers, and youth as the two countries also prepare a blueprint for trust, technology, and talent.PM Modi said cooperation between India and New Zealand is vital for peace, stability, and security in the Indo-Pacific and the growing defence and security ties reflected a deep strategic trust.“Today, we have formed a Joint Working Group to move forward shoulder to shoulder on the issue of terrorism,” said Modi, as Luxon joined him in strongly condemning cross-border terrorism, the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the Red Fort “terror incident” in a joint statement. New Zealand backed India’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism. The working group on terrorism is expected to facilitate exchange of information also about Khalistan separatists active on foreign soil.Amid concerns in India over the delay in processing of student visas, the leaders recognised education in the joint statement as a “central pillar” of the relationship, underpinning people-to-people links, skills development, research collaboration and long-term economic partnership. Modi said New Zealand has been an important destination for Indian students and invited local universities to open campuses in India.On high rate of rejection of visas for Indians, MEA secretary (east) Rudrendra Tandon said visa is a sovereign issue but added it’s a “loss of opportunity for the speed at which we can build up a relation”.On regional and global issues, according to the joint statement, the leaders expressed concern over renewed escalation of tensions in West Asia and called upon all parties to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and ensure protection of civilians. They called for full restoration of freedom of navigation and the global flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz, while opposing any constraints on shipping.As they underlined the need for an effective multilateral system and bold UN reforms, NZ reaffirmed support for India’s permanent membership of a reformed and expanded UNSC. New Zealand also reiterated support for India’s NSG membership bid.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBig Setback To Mamata Banerjee As Loyalist Anubrata Mandal Joins Ritabrata-Led Rebel CampOperation Lotus In Kashmir? CM Omar Abdullah Claims BJP Offered NC MLAs Rs 20-30 Crore In JammuSIA Kashmir Secures Interpol Red Corner Notice Against Hizbul Terrorist KandooWhat India Gained From PM Modi’s New Zealand Visit: Defence, Trade, Indo-Pacific & More15 Indian Tourists Confirmed Dead As Speedboat Capsizes Off Vietnam’s Phu Quoc IslandSonam Wangchuk Rejects ‘Modern Gandhi’ Label As Hunger Strike Enters Fourteenth Day In DelhiSupriya Sule Dismisses Pawar-Shinde Meeting Row, Calls It A ‘Storm In A Tea Cup’ Amid SpeculationINS Mahendragiri Joins Indian Navy, Boosting Maritime Power Amid Indo-Pacific Challenges | WatchHighway Blocked, Resignations Threatened As BJP Faces Backlash Over Ticket Choice In MPNEET Paper Leak Traced To Contracted Paper Setters, Charge Sheet Likely This Month | Watch123PhotostoriesWhy India is facing a diabetes explosion: Stanford’s top 2% scientist reveals the hidden reasons Indians develop it younger than the rest of the worldFrom Priyanka Chopra to Ananya Panday: 5 best Wimbledon looks ever worn by Indian celebritiesChristopher Nolan’s best films to watch, ahead of ‘The Odyssey’: From ‘Oppenheimer’ to ‘Memento’10 foods that quietly contain too much saltWHO warns global cancer cases could nearly double by 2050; lifestyle changes, pollution and delayed diagnosis are fueling the riseAnkur Warikoo’s viral post on love after 20 years of marriage is striking a chord online10 foods that originated in India but became famous around the worldAlia Bhatt elevates a classic silk saree with modern draping at Akansha Ranjan Kapoor’s wedding festivitiesStylish Shubman Gill joins Anjali Sachin Tendulkar at Wimbledon 2026; fans ask, ‘Where is Sara?’World’s 10 most populous cities in 2026 every traveller should know123Hot PicksTravis Kelce and Taylor SwiftBlake LivelyAlex OvechkinJayden Adams DeathAlex PereiraJayden Adams Net WorthNico HischierStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingWilliam NylanderVietnam Boat AccidentTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Chhattisgarh Student MurderTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war Norway Vs England Live Score, FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Finals: ENG 0-0 NOR; Heavyweights England take on Norway for semi-final berth Cancer Horoscope Today, July 12, 2026: If you’re committed, this is a good day to bring softness into the relationship NBA Trade Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers emerge as favorites for $5 Million Atlanta Hawks forward US employers told to fire foreign workers who are on the way to lose Temporary Protected Status Akash Dhar (second from left), with his restaurant team LANGATE (KUPWARA): At the centre of Langate’s main market in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district stands a brightly lit restaurant with modern decor and eight neatly arranged tables. In one corner, 29-year-old Akash Dhar welcomes customers with a smile. His eyes remain open though he cannot see.Two weeks ago, Dhar – whose Kashmiri Pandit family had migrated from J&K as violence peaked in the 1990s – tentatively opened ‘Taste and Treats’ restaurant.However, he was hardly ready for the response he would receive from the local community. “It has been incredible,” he beamed.”My landlord, Bashir Ahmad Beigh, won’t take any rent from me and customers are trooping in,” he told TOI.Starting a business back in Kupwara “felt like a natural step”, said Dhar, who had made several attempts to qualify for the civil services but couldn’t.‘We want eatery to do well and hope this will encourage other Kashmiri migrants to return’After all, his mother Chandra Dhar is from Handwara, about 4km from Langate, and his father Ashish Dhar is a “Langate native”.The family left for Jammu three decades ago where Dhar was born in a migrant colony.Dhar’s vision began deteriorating when he was a child. His parents took him to Delhi, where doctors diagnosed him with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative genetic eye disease that typically begins with night blindness, eventually leading to total blindness.His younger sister has the same condition. Both, however, pursued higher education. Akash graduated from University of Jammu and completed professional computer courses in Delhi. His sibling is studying music. An accomplished cricketer, Dhar represented the J&K blind cricket team in 2022.“It seems like this (the restaurant) is what I had always been waiting for,” Dhar said, as one of his employees, 22-year-old Yasir Aamir, nodded approvingly. “A neighbour told me about this restaurant,” Aamir said. “I applied for the job and got it. I am happy, so is my family.”The restaurant’s manager, Irfan Ahmad Lone, is upbeat. “We are getting customers from different areas,” Lone said. “Yesterday we had guests from Ganderbal. There were Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits. Some came from Srinagar too.”Latief Ahmad Ganai (30), president of the local market association, thinks so too. “We all want Taste and Treats to do well,” Ganai said.“We hope this will encourage other Kashmiri migrants to return.”Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBig Setback To Mamata Banerjee As Loyalist Anubrata Mandal Joins Ritabrata-Led Rebel CampOperation Lotus In Kashmir? CM Omar Abdullah Claims BJP Offered NC MLAs Rs 20-30 Crore In JammuSIA Kashmir Secures Interpol Red Corner Notice Against Hizbul Terrorist KandooWhat India Gained From PM Modi’s New Zealand Visit: Defence, Trade, Indo-Pacific & More15 Indian Tourists Confirmed Dead As Speedboat Capsizes Off Vietnam’s Phu Quoc IslandSonam Wangchuk Rejects ‘Modern Gandhi’ Label As Hunger Strike Enters Fourteenth Day In DelhiSupriya Sule Dismisses Pawar-Shinde Meeting Row, Calls It A ‘Storm In A Tea Cup’ Amid SpeculationINS Mahendragiri Joins Indian Navy, Boosting Maritime Power Amid Indo-Pacific Challenges | WatchHighway Blocked, Resignations Threatened As BJP Faces Backlash Over Ticket Choice In MPNEET Paper Leak Traced To Contracted Paper Setters, Charge Sheet Likely This Month | Watch123PhotostoriesWhy India is facing a diabetes explosion: Stanford’s top 2% scientist reveals the hidden reasons Indians develop it younger than the rest of the worldFrom Priyanka Chopra to Ananya Panday: 5 best Wimbledon looks ever worn by Indian celebritiesChristopher Nolan’s best films to watch, ahead of ‘The Odyssey’: From ‘Oppenheimer’ to ‘Memento’10 foods that quietly contain too much saltWHO warns global cancer cases could nearly double by 2050; lifestyle changes, pollution and delayed diagnosis are fueling the riseAnkur Warikoo’s viral post on love after 20 years of marriage is striking a chord online10 foods that originated in India but became famous around the worldAlia Bhatt elevates a classic silk saree with modern draping at Akansha Ranjan Kapoor’s wedding festivitiesStylish Shubman Gill joins Anjali Sachin Tendulkar at Wimbledon 2026; fans ask, ‘Where is Sara?’World’s 10 most populous cities in 2026 every traveller should know123Hot PicksTravis Kelce and Taylor SwiftBlake LivelyAlex OvechkinJayden Adams DeathAlex PereiraJayden Adams Net WorthNico HischierStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingWilliam NylanderVietnam Boat AccidentTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Chhattisgarh Student MurderTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war Gemini Horoscope Today, July 12, 2026: If you’ve been missing someone, expect sweeter communication ‘Stabbed 10 times’: Nursing student who blocked stalker’s calls murdered in Chhattisgarh PG PM Modi addresses an Indian community event in Auckland, New Zealand (Picture credit: PTI) NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Saturday listed out his government’s numerous measures for Sikhs, including FCRA clearance for Golden Temple, at a diaspora event in Auckland in an outreach to the community, who make up a sizeable part of people of Indian origin in New Zealand and maintain close ties with their native state Punjab where assembly polls are due early next year.With PM Christopher Luxon in attendance, PM Modi said Indians contribute to the development of their adopted country and stated that he felt proud when their positive role was acknowledged by the host government.”We love our motherland and dedicate ourselves equally to our ‘karmbhoomi’,” he said, before turning to his government’s focus on conserving India’s heritage and citing its emergency measures to bring back copies of Guru Granth Sahib from crisis-hit Afghanistan following Taliban’s takeover of Kabul.Lauding Sikh gurus, he said when members of the community brought up problems they faced in offering service at Golden Temple in connection with FCRA, his government immediately addressed them.PM Modi spoke of the ongoing work to connect Hemkund Sahib with a ropeway to make the holy place located at a high altitude more accessible to pilgrims and his government’s decision for annual commemoration of the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons.In this context, he noted that the family of his Cabinet colleague Hardeep Puri had preserved the shoes worn by the last Sikh guru and his wife for 300 years. As they wanted the sacred relics open to the viewing of devotees, his government on the advice of experts turned them over to Patna Sahib Gurdwara, which is at the site of the guru’s birthplace, he said, adding that he was present during the ceremony.PM Modi’s 12 years in office have been marked by his repeated outreach to Sikhs to deepen BJP’s acceptance among the community, which is in a majority in Punjab and has been traditionally lukewarm to the party’s unabashed championing of Hindutva. With assembly polls approaching in Punjab where BJP’s vote share has increased on back of local satraps joining party over last few years, BJP is looking to win over a section of Sikhs to emerge as a strong force.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBig Setback To Mamata Banerjee As Loyalist Anubrata Mandal Joins Ritabrata-Led Rebel CampOperation Lotus In Kashmir? CM Omar Abdullah Claims BJP Offered NC MLAs Rs 20-30 Crore In JammuSIA Kashmir Secures Interpol Red Corner Notice Against Hizbul Terrorist KandooWhat India Gained From PM Modi’s New Zealand Visit: Defence, Trade, Indo-Pacific & More15 Indian Tourists Confirmed Dead As Speedboat Capsizes Off Vietnam’s Phu Quoc IslandSonam Wangchuk Rejects ‘Modern Gandhi’ Label As Hunger Strike Enters Fourteenth Day In DelhiSupriya Sule Dismisses Pawar-Shinde Meeting Row, Calls It A ‘Storm In A Tea Cup’ Amid SpeculationINS Mahendragiri Joins Indian Navy, Boosting Maritime Power Amid Indo-Pacific Challenges | WatchHighway Blocked, Resignations Threatened As BJP Faces Backlash Over Ticket Choice In MPNEET Paper Leak Traced To Contracted Paper Setters, Charge Sheet Likely This Month | Watch123PhotostoriesWhy India is facing a diabetes explosion: Stanford’s top 2% scientist reveals the hidden reasons Indians develop it younger than the rest of the worldFrom Priyanka Chopra to Ananya Panday: 5 best Wimbledon looks ever worn by Indian celebritiesChristopher Nolan’s best films to watch, ahead of ‘The Odyssey’: From ‘Oppenheimer’ to ‘Memento’10 foods that quietly contain too much saltWHO warns global cancer cases could nearly double by 2050; lifestyle changes, pollution and delayed diagnosis are fueling the riseAnkur Warikoo’s viral post on love after 20 years of marriage is striking a chord online10 foods that originated in India but became famous around the worldAlia Bhatt elevates a classic silk saree with modern draping at Akansha Ranjan Kapoor’s wedding festivitiesStylish Shubman Gill joins Anjali Sachin Tendulkar at Wimbledon 2026; fans ask, ‘Where is Sara?’World’s 10 most populous cities in 2026 every traveller should know123Hot PicksTravis Kelce and Taylor SwiftBlake LivelyAlex OvechkinJayden Adams DeathAlex PereiraJayden Adams Net WorthNico HischierStrait of HormuzSimone BilesTop TrendingWilliam NylanderVietnam Boat AccidentTelangana Techie Wife MurderFIFA World Cup 2026Chhattisgarh Student MurderTS EAMCET Phase 1 seat allotmentRamesh MhatreDelhi NCR rainGurgaon EncounterIran war