VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html ‘Five to eight years behind’: UC Berkeley professor raises alarm over student math skills Shah Rukh Khan’s Mannat sees two snakes in the property’s lawn; one rescued other still missing – Report Effects Of Dehydration: What happens to your body when you don’t drink enough water? Remedies you can perform according to your zodiac sign In 1935, black drongos were introduced on Rota to control crop pests; decades later the aggressive birds spread to Guam and became a threat to native birds ‘No intention to attack North Korea’: South Korea President Lee after Donald Trump reduces US drills Quote of the day by Barack Obama: “If we aren’t willing to pay a price for our values, if we aren’t willing to…” – a powerful reminder about integrity | World News Gold price prediction today: Will gold continue its rally? Check August 18, 2026 outlook UGC-NET retest fallout: Education Ministry orders major overhaul of NTA examination system ‘Trolls are being paid to target her’: Shatrughan Sinha reacts to Sonakshi Sinha’s trolling for silence on Jharkhand protests after she supported NEET paper leak protests, says she may join politics A rare orca known as “La Abuela” was found with wounds consistent with shotgun pellets; the suspected attack could threaten an entire Iberian population of fewer than 40 whales BJP appoints state in-charges for poll-bound UP and Punjab day after unveiling ‘Team Nitin Nabin’ IND vs SL 1st Test: How Devdutt Padikkal’s alertness saved KL Rahul’s wicket in Galle – WATCH Haryana Court Clerk admit card 2026 released: Check hall ticket direct download link and exam dates Thalapathy Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan’ gets relief ahead of OTT release, HC Bench closes major case Clean chit to Champat Rai, Anil Mishra? SIT submits final report in Ayodhya temple donation theft case In 2020, a $186 million cleanup began at Minnesota’s Spirit Lake; four years later, 1.3 million cubic yards had been remediated and a 14-acre fish-spawning bay created Maharashtra Agriculture CAP 2026 round 1 allotment out at agri2026.mahacet.org: Direct link to download scorecards here Ajith Kumar’s ‘Dare Devil’ faces casting change as Mohanlal exits film due to salary disagreeement – Report Daily Career Horoscope, August 18, 2026: Success, challenges, and breakthroughs; Know about your career Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu says rising memory and AI token prices are making business very difficult: ‘We have …’ ‘You’re loud, boisterous person, you’re fake news, be quiet’: Trump snaps at reporter over Korea question BWF World Championships 2026 Live Updates: Lakshya Sen, Unnati Hooda headline India’s Day 2 NEET UG 2026 counselling: MCC extends Round 1 choice-filling deadline till August 18, check complete details here Govinda, Sunita Ahuja’s three month old daughter passed away as her lungs had not fully developed, the actor once spoke about the heart wrenching moment of immersing her body in Narmada river Meet Lakshmanan Meyyappan: The 16-year-old boy who set a world record as the youngest Chartered Accountant in the world | How the Libra Moon impacts your social boundaries & choices – Check your zodiac sign’s lucky color & number for August 18, 2026 Meet Arnav Kodavati: A 17-year-old California teen turning food waste into biodegradable paper towels ‘39,000 soldiers guarding you from Kim’: Trump reduces military drills with South Korea over Iran ‘I cannot walk, I use two crutches’: 85-year-old Rochford man ‘close to a breakdown’ after council orders removal of £2,200 driveway built on grass verge NEW DELHI: It has been a practice that cases filed against candidates for using unfair means in the poll process, including the use of black money, are withdrawn by state govt upon a change in the dispensation. But Supreme Court Monday said the approval of the HC concerned would be needed to drop such cases.Referring to SC judgement that cases concerning sitting MPs and MLAs should be withdrawn only with the leave of HC, a bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and N K Singh said it should be applied to candidates contesting elections as well.“Undoubtedly, this suggestion appears to be a great leap in favour of impartiality; in effect, this would place candidates for elections at the same pedestal as elected MPs and MLAs in relation to criminal prosecutions against them. To our mind, this indicates to candidates and also prospective candidates that indulging in unsavoury practices is not a matter of triviality. Once prosecution is initiated against them, change in political dispensation simpliciter will not let them off the hook. In other words, a constitutional democracy expects from its representatives the same degree of moral rectitude and uprightness,” it said.“The stand of EC is that cases should not be withdrawn as the norm. It is not a hidden truth, however, that changes in political dispensation often lead to such decisions being taken. Needless to say, such practice is entirely antithetical to the spirit of an unbiased criminal justice system, which is a hallmark of a constitutionally governed republic, specially one like India where the separation of powers is clearly recognised, and as far as possible, enforced,” it said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIt passed a slew of directions, including one to activate I-T department to take action when Static Surveillance Teams during checks find money in excess of Rs 10 lakh. It held the investigation officer entrusted with the probe thereof shall make every possible endeavour to complete investigations thereinto within a year from date of registration.Expressing concern over the role of black money in electoral politics, SC said, “The three ideas of democracy, the rule of law, and the electoral processes are inextricably linked to one another. If one aspect of any of these three is compromised, it impacts the entirety of the three ideas and their execution…”Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCriminal Cases Against Netas: 4,192 Trials Pending, 170 Lok Sabha MPs Face Serious ChargesJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In TearsAsish Banerjee Death Mystery: Threat, Blackmail Angle Probed As Note And Phones Face ScrutinyBJP’s Big Shake-Up: Ram Madhav Returns, Smriti Irani Gets Key Role In Nitin Nabin’s New Team‘Will Rise For Vande Mataram, But Won’t Sing’: Congress MP Imran Masood Amid Sonia Gandhi Row‘Personally Meet Students’: Rahul Gandhi Writes To CM Hemant Soren Over Jharkhand Protests7 Charred To Death, Several Injured In Fire At Hotel Near Tarapith Temple In Bengal’s Birbhum‘Electric Pole Fell’: 7 Women Dead, Many Injured In Stampede At Temple In Bihar’s Lakhisarai‘Only These…’: Rijiju Shares 3 Categories Of ‘Dimagi Naxals’ After Oppn’s Attack On PM Modi123Photostories5 Snakes that thrive in extreme climates: Here’s how they survive harsh weather conditionsForget quinoa: 9 ways to add dalia to your daily breakfast7 email habits that can make you look careless at work even when your actual work is goodGeorgina Rodríguez’s wedding jewellery was pure Kalahari luxury, and the diamonds clearly came to competePriyanka Chopra’s maroon backless gown just gave desi Disney princess energy with a trail that refused to behave10 powerful baby boy and girl names from different cultures that mean strengthOptical Illusion personality test: What you see first reveals your secret personality traitH1N1 or seasonal flu? Symptoms often overlap, but doctors look for these clues before deciding9 ways to add more protein to your rotiOTT releases this week (August 17-August 23): ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, ‘Jana Nayagan’, ‘Lanterns’, ‘Toy Story 5’, ‘Love Is Blind: UK’ Season 3 and more123Hot PicksKarnataka PG Dental admissionBank holidays this weekRBI new rulesBJP new teamJharkhand ProtestUS green cardSmriti IraniSupreme Court HolidayUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingK AnnamalaiBengal Hotel FireNoida Biker AccidentTamil Nadu Double MurderAbhijeet DipkeHyderabad MurderMuzaffarnagar Kanwariya MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir Aug 18, 2026, 10:25 IST MP High Court Assistant Grade-3 recruitment 2026: Apply for 1,174 posts, check eligibility and direct link here ‘Batwara 1947’ box office collection day 4: The Sunny Deol starrer sees 72 percent drop on Monday, struggles to cross Rs 30 crore while ‘Awarapan 2’ races ahead towards Rs 100 crore Why does dal foam while boiling? Should you actually remove it? Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela is a natural light show that appears on hundreds of nights every year, making it one of the world’s biggest lightning hotspots. Two builders jailed for two years for failing to hand over possession of Mumbai flat to buyers ‘Needs to be moved to hospital now’: Imran Khan’s health in jail deteriorates New Delhi: The decline in political discourse being seen today is not only worrisome but shameful as well, defence minister Rajnath Singh said as he hit out at Rahul Gandhi for his choice of words in attacking PM Narendra Modi.Singh said it was particularly disturbing as the incident involved the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha.Speaking at the release of former vice president M Venkaiah Naidu’s biography in Hindi, Singh recalled his wit and humour in handling tricky situations and said it ought to serve as a learning experience for all.Rahul had mocked Modi at a recent event, inviting censure from the BJP.BJP chief Nitin Nabin said Naidu has lived an ideal life for a social and political worker, as he rose through the ranks to occupy the top party position, before being elevated as the VP.Nabin said the biography is particularly relevant for the younger generation as it conveys the message that commitment and hard work can help a person move forward in life. TNNGet the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCriminal Cases Against Netas: 4,192 Trials Pending, 170 Lok Sabha MPs Face Serious ChargesJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In TearsAsish Banerjee Death Mystery: Threat, Blackmail Angle Probed As Note And Phones Face ScrutinyBJP’s Big Shake-Up: Ram Madhav Returns, Smriti Irani Gets Key Role In Nitin Nabin’s New Team‘Will Rise For Vande Mataram, But Won’t Sing’: Congress MP Imran Masood Amid Sonia Gandhi Row‘Personally Meet Students’: Rahul Gandhi Writes To CM Hemant Soren Over Jharkhand Protests7 Charred To Death, Several Injured In Fire At Hotel Near Tarapith Temple In Bengal’s Birbhum‘Electric Pole Fell’: 7 Women Dead, Many Injured In Stampede At Temple In Bihar’s Lakhisarai‘Only These…’: Rijiju Shares 3 Categories Of ‘Dimagi Naxals’ After Oppn’s Attack On PM Modi123Photostories5 Snakes that thrive in extreme climates: Here’s how they survive harsh weather conditionsForget quinoa: 9 ways to add dalia to your daily breakfast7 email habits that can make you look careless at work even when your actual work is goodGeorgina Rodríguez’s wedding jewellery was pure Kalahari luxury, and the diamonds clearly came to competePriyanka Chopra’s maroon backless gown just gave desi Disney princess energy with a trail that refused to behave10 powerful baby boy and girl names from different cultures that mean strengthOptical Illusion personality test: What you see first reveals your secret personality traitH1N1 or seasonal flu? Symptoms often overlap, but doctors look for these clues before deciding9 ways to add more protein to your rotiOTT releases this week (August 17-August 23): ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, ‘Jana Nayagan’, ‘Lanterns’, ‘Toy Story 5’, ‘Love Is Blind: UK’ Season 3 and more123Hot PicksKarnataka PG Dental admissionBank holidays this weekRBI new rulesBJP new teamJharkhand ProtestUS green cardSmriti IraniSupreme Court HolidayUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingK AnnamalaiBengal Hotel FireNoida Biker AccidentTamil Nadu Double MurderAbhijeet DipkeHyderabad MurderMuzaffarnagar Kanwariya MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir Rupee slips 7 paise against US dollar as crude soars beyond $90 per barrel levels SSC CHSL FRTA result 2026 released: Check 3,515 shortlisted candidates and sliding dates Kashmera Shah pens cryptic note amid Govinda’s affair rumours with Komal Rani Swarnkar and spat with wife Sunita Ahuja: ‘So is this what true love looks like?’ Losing hair because of Alopecia? This Arthritis drug can help you regrow hair like never before | In 2026, scientists found oak trees can delay spring leaf growth by three days to starve hungry caterpillars ‘Which RSS, BJP man fought for nation?’: Mallikarjun Kharge hits back amid Vande Mataram row Police and CRPF are conducting searches in Udhampur, Reasi and Kathua districts (Representative Image) NEW DELHI: Security forces on Tuesday launched search operations at multiple locations following reports of suspected persons being spotted in Udhampur, Reasi and Kathua districts of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.The Jammu and Kashmir Police, in coordination with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), launched a cordon-and-search operation after receiving information about the movement of two suspected individuals.According to officials, the two individuals knocked on the door of one Prakash Chand in Talot village of Udhampur late Monday night and asked for food.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesHowever, the residents did not respond to the repeated knocks and alerted security forces after the suspected individuals, who were wearing shawls, left the area towards Khuban, officials said.Acting swiftly on the information, joint teams of the police and CRPF reached the village and launched a search operation, they added.Meanwhile, security forces also carried out searches in the Sadini forests of Reasi and in several villages near the International Border in Kathua’s Hiranagar sector.The operations are underway in all areas where the movement of the two suspects has been reported.(With PTI inputs)Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCriminal Cases Against Netas: 4,192 Trials Pending, 170 Lok Sabha MPs Face Serious ChargesJSSC-CGL CANCELLED: Jharkhand Students Celebrate After Government Accepts Key Demands“No Compensation, Build A School”: CJP Volunteer Emotional Tribute To Father Leaves Ranka In TearsAsish Banerjee Death Mystery: Threat, Blackmail Angle Probed As Note And Phones Face ScrutinyBJP’s Big Shake-Up: Ram Madhav Returns, Smriti Irani Gets Key Role In Nitin Nabin’s New Team‘Will Rise For Vande Mataram, But Won’t Sing’: Congress MP Imran Masood Amid Sonia Gandhi Row‘Personally Meet Students’: Rahul Gandhi Writes To CM Hemant Soren Over Jharkhand Protests7 Charred To Death, Several Injured In Fire At Hotel Near Tarapith Temple In Bengal’s Birbhum‘Electric Pole Fell’: 7 Women Dead, Many Injured In Stampede At Temple In Bihar’s Lakhisarai‘Only These…’: Rijiju Shares 3 Categories Of ‘Dimagi Naxals’ After Oppn’s Attack On PM Modi123Photostories5 Snakes that thrive in extreme climates: Here’s how they survive harsh weather conditionsForget quinoa: 9 ways to add dalia to your daily breakfast7 email habits that can make you look careless at work even when your actual work is goodGeorgina Rodríguez’s wedding jewellery was pure Kalahari luxury, and the diamonds clearly came to competePriyanka Chopra’s maroon backless gown just gave desi Disney princess energy with a trail that refused to behave10 powerful baby boy and girl names from different cultures that mean strengthOptical Illusion personality test: What you see first reveals your secret personality traitH1N1 or seasonal flu? Symptoms often overlap, but doctors look for these clues before deciding9 ways to add more protein to your rotiOTT releases this week (August 17-August 23): ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, ‘Jana Nayagan’, ‘Lanterns’, ‘Toy Story 5’, ‘Love Is Blind: UK’ Season 3 and more123Hot PicksKarnataka PG Dental admissionBank holidays this weekRBI new rulesBJP new teamJharkhand ProtestUS green cardSmriti IraniSupreme Court HolidayUP NEET UG counsellingTop TrendingK AnnamalaiBengal Hotel FireNoida Biker AccidentTamil Nadu Double MurderAbhijeet DipkeHyderabad MurderMuzaffarnagar Kanwariya MurderWeather TomorrowBengaluru RapidoBen Gvir Meet Tiya Aggarwal, the Canadian high school student who built a smart watering system that automatically adjusts itself for more than 150 plant species Nancy Guthrie’s bones found in desert near home? 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