VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html After years, government looks to revamp investment treaty Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma Heming Willis, says she is ‘wrestling’ with guilt for celebrating her 50th birthday The biggest design mistake today isn’t colour or layout, but the need to be perfect; here’s what you need to know Weekly Nadi Horoscope for Leo (10th–16th August 2026): Solar Eclipse Could Trigger a Major Financial Reality Check Paid to persuade? California may fine influencers who hide political campaign payments In Washington, Pumas are protecting human lives by preventing vehicle collisions accounting for a 76% reduction in accidents Rijiju asks Rahul, Congress to back women’s quota Bill NEW DELHI: Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday targeted Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi over his recent remarks on women’s freedom of expression and challenged him to support the BJP-backed Women’s Reservation Bill “unconditionally”.Rijiju’s remarks came after Rahul Gandhi posted a video calling for greater freedom of expression for women and arguing that India cannot fully develop without women being able to express themselves freely.Responding to the senior Congress leader, Rijiju said Rahul Gandhi’s message appeared to be a positive change and urged the Congress to support the Women’s Reservation Bill without conditions.“This seems to be a positive message from the Congress Party. There’s a visible change of heart in Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji about the Women. Now, I hope the Congress Party will support the Women’s Reservation Bill unconditionally,” the Union minister posted on X.The Congress and other opposition parties have supported the Women’s Reservation Bill but have opposed linking its implementation to the delimitation exercise. The opposition has demanded that women’s reservation be delinked from delimitation, which would determine the number of Lok Sabha seats.The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, was passed by both Houses of Parliament. However, its implementation did not move forward after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failed to secure the required two-thirds majority of members present and voting in the Lok Sabha on April 17.The legislation provides for 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies and links its implementation to delimitation.Earlier, Rahul said in a social media video that women in India should be given greater freedom to express themselves in all areas of life.He said, “The energy of India’s women is trapped. It is not allowed to express itself. It is not allowed to imagine. For me, no country can be successful if its women are not expressing themselves. And I think a lot of my politics, and a lot of what politics should be in this country, is about making people understand that our country is stunted and incomplete without the expression of women.”Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesRahul further said, “It’s not just them doing well in business or politics, but being able to express in their houses, walk the streets comfortably, them putting a point of view that many don’t agree with, questioning their parents, husbands, brothers.””A certain amount of freedom from patriarchy and the rigid control men put on women is required if India wants to develop. It has been assaulted and put in the back seat, and we have to bring back women into conversation and allow them to express,” the Congress leader added.Rahul posted his message on women’s freedom after meeting Gen Z protesters and highlighting the repercussions they have faced following their protests amid the crackdown.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAbhishek MishraAbhishek Mishra is a Digital Content Producer at The Times of India, working with the news desk. He writes with a keen eye on foreign policy, defence developments, and the shifting currents of geopolitics-and yes, Indian politics always finds a way onto his radar too.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosOMCs Say E20 Petrol Meets Quality Standards After Nationwide Testing, Reject Contamination ClaimsNeha Bora Inked During Jharkhand Student Protest: AISA Alleges Political Attack, Accused DetainedJharkhand JPSC Protest: Hunger Striker Hospitalised After Four Days As Students Continue AgitationTamil Nadu CM Vijay’s Wife Sangeetha Withdraws Divorce Petition, Family Court Allows Withdrawal’Proof Of Corruption?’ JPSC Aspirant Makes Explosive Claims As Student Protests Intensify In RanchiExplained: Why PM Modi Asked NDA MPs To Avoid The ‘Lutyens’ Web’ And Stay Focused On Public OutreachBeyond BrahMos: Why Drones And Smart Weapons Could Become India’s Next Defence Export Boom?Gen-Alpha Grabs Spotlight At Ranchi JPSC-JSSC Protest As 13-Year-Old Zaid’s Appeal Goes ViralCentre Opposes Creamy Layer For SC-ST Quota, Says Discrimination Goes Beyond Economic StatusIAF’s : Bhawana Kanth Earns ‘Top Gun’ Title, Shivani Sehrawat Becomes Army Chief’s ADC123Photostories10 wedding desserts from around the world that are rich in tradition and symbolismYour date of birth reveals your secret lucky charm for August 2026Starting strength training after 40? The biggest mistakes beginners make and what to do insteadEven with the same diet, why do some people develop kidney disease while others don’t? Doctor explains what really makes the differenceExclusive – Farrhana Bhatt on Khatron Ke Khiladi 15, Shagun Sharma’s bullying claims against Gaurav Khanna and his divorce from Akanksha Chamola9 traditional South Indian Chicken Curries perfect for weekend dinnerHow to Wear a Tulsi Mala: 7 Important Things to Remember10 unique baby girl names that sound modern yet timelessKriti Sanon owns the night in a midnight-blue Gaurav Gupta couture gown embellished with 5,500 striking crystals123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingJapanese Quote of the dayNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeGujarat Mystery WellJPSC ProtestDelhi RainDelhi Wife MurderEknath ShindeTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case Aug 08, 2026, 10:32 IST As regulators crack the whip, firms return to drawing board Elizabeth Olsen welcomes first child with husband Robbie Arnett? Fans congratulate new parents 6 addictive Indian reality shows to binge if you love drama and competition Scorpio Horoscope Today, August 8, 2026: Business people may grow through a new partner or fresh offer 100% tariffs on India soon? US Senate clears Russia sanctions bill; 10 things to know Michael Dell’s son Zach co-founded Base Power in 2023; it is now valued at $13 billion and has installed more than 23,000 home batteries ‘Officials will contact’: CM Pushkar Singh Dhami responds to Rishabh Pant’s emotional land appeal ‘No charges on digital payments for consumers’ KATSEYE’s Sophia Laforteza announces hiatus to focus on mental health; Fans express concern as she becomes second member to bow out this year 10 wedding desserts from around the world that are rich in tradition and symbolism Your date of birth reveals your secret lucky charm for August 2026 Gravely injured, ‘a voice in the dark’, not in Iran: Where is Mojtaba Khamenei? ‘AI creating more jobs than it cuts in India’ ‘The Odyssey’ crosses USD 1 BILLION; becomes Christopher Nolan’s first film since ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ to hit box office milestone Fish may know who you are: Wild seabream fish learned to identify the diver associated with food, study finds Weekly Nadi Horoscope for Cancer (10th–16th August 2026): A Personal Reset May Reveal Where Your Energy Is Being Lost India steps up sixth-gen fighter push, moves to co-join French-led FCAS IRE vs AFG 2nd ODI: Rashid Khan’s six-for helps Afghanistan crush Ireland by 92 runs RBI removes priority sector burden for FCNR(B) deposits ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ star Jacob Batalon uses his wife’s location on his phone for assistance when lost Refrigerator Cleaning: Refrigerator aluminium foil hack: A simple, practical way to keep the fridge free from stains and unwanted odour Weekly Nadi Horoscope for Gemini (10th–16th August 2026): Mars in Ardra May Push You Towards a Bold Change Akal Takht panel asks Punjab govt to address objections before anti-sacrilege talks Religare’s demerger nixed by RBI ‘He is fine now’: Reese Witherspoon shares an update on her father’s health after he was found unconscious in his Nashville condo Weekly Nadi Horoscope for Taurus (10th–16th August 2026): A Money Conversation May Change a Family Plan ‘Airpower has its limits’: Top US General looking for a way out from Iran India discarded over 17.4 lakh blood components in 2025 NEW DELHI: India discarded over 17.4 lakh blood components in 2025, even as blood collection reached a record 1.58 crore units, according to state-wise data tabled in the Rajya Sabha, highlighting continued challenges in blood inventory management despite a steady rise in donations.Available official data indicate that China and India are among the world’s largest blood collection programmes. In 2025, India collected 15.71 million units of blood, while China collected 25.5 million units, according to China’s National Health Commission.The data, reported by blood centres through the government’s e-Raktakosh portal, show that expiry was the leading reason for discarding blood components, followed by reactive units and other operational reasons. Reason-wise discard data has been captured on the portal since 2024, while such details were not available for 2023.Replying to a question in Parliament, the Union health ministry, however, said it had not received any report of regional blood shortages. It added that ensuring an adequate supply of safe blood and minimising wastage is primarily the responsibility of state governments and Union Territories, while the Centre advocates a hub-and-spoke model under which blood is collected and processed at high-volume centres before being distributed to smaller blood banks and storage centres.According to the data, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest blood collection in 2025 with 21.6 lakh units, followed by Maharashtra (18.73 lakh), Gujarat (11.82 lakh), Rajasthan (10.79 lakh) and Tamil Nadu (9.74 lakh). Overall blood collection increased from 1.42 crore units in 2023 to 1.58 crore units in 2025.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe annexure also showed a corresponding increase in blood component utilisation, with Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan reporting the highest utilisation during 2025.At the same time, Uttar Pradesh reported the highest discard of blood components at 2.40 lakh, followed by Maharashtra (1.87 lakh), Kerala (1.44 lakh), Rajasthan (1.21 lakh) and Tamil Nadu (1.09 lakh). The ministry did not provide an analysis of the wide variation in discard across states.Dr Hema Goyal, Consultant (Blood centre & Lab services), Aakash healthcare said blood wastage is inevitable to some extent, particularly because platelets have a shelf life of only five days. But discarding 17.4 lakh blood components in a year points to a mismatch between collection and actual demand. The solution is not fewer donations but smarter inventory management through real-time stock sharing and better coordination between blood banks.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 MediaVideosOMCs Say E20 Petrol Meets Quality Standards After Nationwide Testing, Reject Contamination ClaimsNeha Bora Inked During Jharkhand Student Protest: AISA Alleges Political Attack, Accused DetainedJharkhand JPSC Protest: Hunger Striker Hospitalised After Four Days As Students Continue AgitationTamil Nadu CM Vijay’s Wife Sangeetha Withdraws Divorce Petition, Family Court Allows Withdrawal’Proof Of Corruption?’ JPSC Aspirant Makes Explosive Claims As Student Protests Intensify In RanchiExplained: Why PM Modi Asked NDA MPs To Avoid The ‘Lutyens’ Web’ And Stay Focused On Public OutreachBeyond BrahMos: Why Drones And Smart Weapons Could Become India’s Next Defence Export Boom?Gen-Alpha Grabs Spotlight At Ranchi JPSC-JSSC Protest As 13-Year-Old Zaid’s Appeal Goes ViralCentre Opposes Creamy Layer For SC-ST Quota, Says Discrimination Goes Beyond Economic StatusIAF’s : Bhawana Kanth Earns ‘Top Gun’ Title, Shivani Sehrawat Becomes Army Chief’s ADC123PhotostoriesEven with the same diet, why do some people develop kidney disease while others don’t? Doctor explains what really makes the differenceExclusive – Farrhana Bhatt on Khatron Ke Khiladi 15, Shagun Sharma’s bullying claims against Gaurav Khanna and his divorce from Akanksha Chamola9 traditional South Indian Chicken Curries perfect for weekend dinnerHow to Wear a Tulsi Mala: 7 Important Things to Remember10 unique baby girl names that sound modern yet timelessKriti Sanon owns the night in a midnight-blue Gaurav Gupta couture gown embellished with 5,500 striking crystalsWhy marinating meat is important and 6 mistakes to avoid5 budget-friendly celebrity beauty hacks that actually work7 traditional Goan breads you need to try at least onceTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah fame Shailesh Lodha’s luxurious home: A cozy lounge, a stunning balcony and more123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingJapanese Quote of the dayNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeGujarat Mystery WellJPSC ProtestDelhi RainDelhi Wife MurderEknath ShindeTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case Aug 08, 2026, 09:13 IST Britannia signals another 1.5-2% price hike in Q2 Mohit Suri calls ‘Awarapan 2’ his ‘long-lost love’, gets nostalgic over trailer: ‘This one feels special’ Capricorn Horoscope Today, August 8, 2026: Your mood is warm enough to improve family ties Iran wants to bar US, Israeli ships from Hormuz in deal NEW DELHI: In a fresh crackdown on food safety violations, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has acted against two food products, penalising the manufacturer of a fortified sunflower oil after it was found to be substandard and stopping the sale of a Monk Fruit Sweetener over alleged licensing and labelling violations.The regulator imposed a penalty on AWL Agri Business Ltd, Mangaluru, after a laboratory analysis of a retail sample of Fortune “Fryola” Refined Sunflower Seed Oil found that its vitamin D content was below the prescribed standard, making the fortified edible oil substandard under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.FSSAI said the company was given an opportunity to present its case, but the adjudicating authority concluded that it had manufactured and marketed a substandard fortified edible oil before imposing a monetary penalty.In a separate action, the regulator prohibited the sale of PIE Foods’ Monk Fruit Sweetener, a natural zero-calorie sugar substitute, after inspections found cartons of the product stored at the company’s premises without the required manufacturing licence.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesFSSAI also alleged that the product carried claims such as “100% Monk Fruit Extract” and “Natural Ingredients”, while its online listing did not carry the mandatory endorsement required under food safety regulations. It further said the company failed to produce records showing that the monk fruit extract used in the product had been procured in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards Act.The prohibition order will remain in force until the product complies with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act and related regulations.The regulator said the actions are part of its ongoing drive to tighten enforcement against food business operators and ensure that products sold to consumers meet prescribed safety and quality standards.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 MediaVideosOMCs Say E20 Petrol Meets Quality Standards After Nationwide Testing, Reject Contamination ClaimsNeha Bora Inked During Jharkhand Student Protest: AISA Alleges Political Attack, Accused DetainedJharkhand JPSC Protest: Hunger Striker Hospitalised After Four Days As Students Continue AgitationTamil Nadu CM Vijay’s Wife Sangeetha Withdraws Divorce Petition, Family Court Allows Withdrawal’Proof Of Corruption?’ JPSC Aspirant Makes Explosive Claims As Student Protests Intensify In RanchiExplained: Why PM Modi Asked NDA MPs To Avoid The ‘Lutyens’ Web’ And Stay Focused On Public OutreachBeyond BrahMos: Why Drones And Smart Weapons Could Become India’s Next Defence Export Boom?Gen-Alpha Grabs Spotlight At Ranchi JPSC-JSSC Protest As 13-Year-Old Zaid’s Appeal Goes ViralCentre Opposes Creamy Layer For SC-ST Quota, Says Discrimination Goes Beyond Economic StatusIAF’s : Bhawana Kanth Earns ‘Top Gun’ Title, Shivani Sehrawat Becomes Army Chief’s ADC123PhotostoriesEven with the same diet, why do some people develop kidney disease while others don’t? Doctor explains what really makes the differenceExclusive – Farrhana Bhatt on Khatron Ke Khiladi 15, Shagun Sharma’s bullying claims against Gaurav Khanna and his divorce from Akanksha Chamola9 traditional South Indian Chicken Curries perfect for weekend dinnerHow to Wear a Tulsi Mala: 7 Important Things to Remember10 unique baby girl names that sound modern yet timelessKriti Sanon owns the night in a midnight-blue Gaurav Gupta couture gown embellished with 5,500 striking crystalsWhy marinating meat is important and 6 mistakes to avoid5 budget-friendly celebrity beauty hacks that actually work7 traditional Goan breads you need to try at least onceTaarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah fame Shailesh Lodha’s luxurious home: A cozy lounge, a stunning balcony and more123Hot PicksThailand School ShootingUPI TransactionsAsk Me AnythingJharkhand protestGurgaon rainNICL Assistant RecruitmentAnkur WarikooIndia Labour CodesGold rate todayTop TrendingJapanese Quote of the dayNagpur Rape CaseAbhijeet DipkeGujarat Mystery WellJPSC ProtestDelhi RainDelhi Wife MurderEknath ShindeTamil Nadu BudgetPraveen Nettaru Murder Case Aug 08, 2026, 08:51 IST Hindalco Q1 net jumps 75% to over 7,000 crore Keerthy Suresh’s Sassy comeback to fan claiming she will dance in ‘The Paradise’ due to no ‘substantial roles’ goes viral Weekly Nadi Horoscope for Aries (10th–16th August 2026): A Family Decision May Reshape Your Work Routine Delhi records its wettest August 1st week in 16 years; IMD issues yellow alert for today RBI move on revolving credit hits NBFC stocks ‘A father’s heart couldn’t ask for more’: Mohanlal celebrates daughter Vismaya’s ‘Thudakkam’ debut Weekly Panchang, 10th to 16th August 2026: Sawan Shivaratri, Hariyali Teej, Solar Eclipse and Auspicious Muhuratas