VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Quote of the day by Robert Downey Jr. : “She found me a snarling rescue pet, and loved me back to life. That is why I am here,” when the Iron Man star opened up about love, marriage, and the woman he credits with saving his life. Chetan didn’t pay, Ketan didn’t return: Security guard at Lohagad Fort recalls chilling moments before 400-ft fall Laura Loomer defends Usha Vance, says ‘brown Hindu woman’ gets hate for no reason: ‘I hope SLOTUS never converts’ The Alliance, India’s brainchild, was established in 2024 with the aim of conserving seven big cats NEW DELHI: Bangladesh on Wednesday joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) as its new member, taking the total count of member countries of this treaty-based global entity to 27.The Alliance, India’s brainchild, was established in 2024 with the aim of conserving seven big cats — tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar and puma — in coordination with other countries. Except for jaguar and puma, India is home to five big cats.Besides the founding member India, the countries that have already formally joined the IBCA as its members include Russia, Cambodia, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Armenia, Ethiopia, Mongolia, Rwanda, Angola, Myanmar and Saudi Arabia, among others.Primary objective of the IBCA, headquartered in New Delhi, is to facilitate collaboration and synergy among stakeholders, consolidating successful conservation practices and expertise to achieve the conservation of big cats at a global level.There are 95 big cat range countries having habitats of one or more big cats. While 27 out of these 95 are member countries, five others are part of the Alliance as observers.Announcing Bangladesh’s move on X, the IBCA said, “This important milestone strengthens international cooperation for the conservation of #BigCats and their habitats, and reinforces our shared commitment to safeguarding these iconic species and the ecosystems they inhabit for future generations.”Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorVishwa MohanVishwa Mohan is Senior Editor at The Times of India. He writes on environment, climate change, agriculture, water resources and clean energy, tracking policy issues and climate diplomacy. He has been covering Parliament since 2003 to see how politics shaped up domestic policy and India’s position at global platform. Before switching over to explore sustainable development issues, Vishwa had covered internal security and investigative agencies for more than a decade.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosAmerica’s Cancer Drug Crisis: How India Could Help Prevent Treatment DisruptionsIndia Set To Restart ₹915 Crore RITES Project Railway Coach Exports To BangladeshAdani Mundra Airport Starts Commercial Operations As First Star Air Flight Lands From GoaNew Book Reveals Trump Rejected Proposal To Send Indian Peacekeepers To UkraineHyderabad Gets ‘Donald Trump Avenue’ As Telangana Renames Road Outside US ConsulateSindhi Community Raises Concerns Over Utilisation Of 200 Kg Silver Donation Made For Ram MandirIndia Hits Back At Pakistan At UN, Reaffirms Jammu & Kashmir Is Strictly An Internal MatterMumbai Faces Widespread Waterlogging As Delayed Monsoon Arrival Brings Heavy Rain And DisruptionsAkhilesh Yadav Says BJP Using Mohan Yadav Land Allegations To Prepare Chief Ministerial ChangesIndia-US Partnership Will Shape The Coming Decades, Says US Envoy123PhotostoriesJuly 2026 Hollywood OTT releases: ‘Enola Holmes 3’ to ‘Heartstopper Forever’Psychology says the happiest couples share one unexpected habit; and no, it’s not saying ‘I love you’Psychology says Indian women who love staying at home often share these 11 unique traitsSara Ali Khan gives Princess Diana’s ‘Revenge Dress’ a 2026 upgrade in front of the British royaltyLove desserts? 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NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh described Jawaharlal Nehru as the finest prime minister India has produced, while naming Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as the country’s best prime minister who never got the opportunity to hold the office.In a wide-ranging interview with news agency PTI, Ramesh also launched a sharp attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), calling its members “fraudulent nationalists”, and labelled Prime Minister Narendra Modi “the master of falsehoods”.During a rapid-fire segment, the Rajya Sabha MP was asked to give one-word responses to a series of questions. When asked to identify India’s best prime minister, he replied, “undoubtedly Jawaharlal Nehru”. On who he considered the best prime minister the country could not have, Ramesh chose Sardar Patel.Asked to pick between his previous ministerial assignments, Ramesh said he preferred his stint as environment minister over rural development minister. He also favoured his role overseeing the Congress party’s communications strategy over serving as an AICC in-charge for any state.When presented with three different descriptions of himself, writer, strategist and environment conservationist, Ramesh said all were part of the same individual.”I enjoyed writing a large number of books in the last 10 years. I enjoyed researching, going to the archives. Topics that had been on my mind that I could write and which I wrote on. So each role is different. I enjoy being an MP, I enjoy raising questions on environment and I enjoy writing,” Ramesh said.The Congress general secretary also reflected on his entry into politics, crediting former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi for encouraging him to join the party full-time.Asked how his political journey began, Ramesh said, “That’s entirely because of Mr. Rajiv Gandhi you know through Mr. Sam Pitroda, we had worked with the then prime minister on technology missions and then Mr. Gandhi lost the election and in 1990 sometime Mr. Pitroda and I had spoken to him and Mr. Gandhi said come and work with us full-time for the party because elections are around the corner.””So that’s how it started and then I continued. So this is my 35th year with the Congress party,” he added.Ramesh said he had previously worked with the Rajiv Gandhi government in the Ministry of Industry and the Planning Commission, before collaborating directly with the then prime minister through Pitroda on technology missions.”So, he (Rajiv) was the inspirational figure and he was the one who encouraged a lot of younger people from non-political backgrounds. I come from a completely non-political background. So he encouraged all this and no doubt that he was the inspiration, the starting point,” Ramesh said.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 MediaVideosCong Questions Trade Strategy As India-US Agreement Enters Final Negotiation PhaseAmerica’s Cancer Drug Crisis: How India Could Help Prevent Treatment DisruptionsIndia Set To Restart ₹915 Crore RITES Project Railway Coach Exports To BangladeshAdani Mundra Airport Starts Commercial Operations As First Star Air Flight Lands From GoaNew Book Reveals Trump Rejected Proposal To Send Indian Peacekeepers To UkraineHyderabad Gets ‘Donald Trump Avenue’ As Telangana Renames Road Outside US ConsulateSindhi Community Raises Concerns Over Utilisation Of 200 Kg Silver Donation Made For Ram MandirIndia Hits Back At Pakistan At UN, Reaffirms Jammu & Kashmir Is Strictly An Internal MatterMumbai Faces Widespread Waterlogging As Delayed Monsoon Arrival Brings Heavy Rain And DisruptionsAkhilesh Yadav Says BJP Using Mohan Yadav Land Allegations To Prepare Chief Ministerial Changes123PhotostoriesGardening ideas for small balconies: 5 Smart ways to create a green oasis in limited spaceJuly 2026 Hollywood OTT releases: ‘Enola Holmes 3’ to ‘Heartstopper Forever’Psychology says the happiest couples share one unexpected habit; and no, it’s not saying ‘I love you’Psychology says Indian women who love staying at home often share these 11 unique traitsSara Ali Khan gives Princess Diana’s ‘Revenge Dress’ a 2026 upgrade in front of the British royaltyLove desserts? 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The viral trend that every Indian parent has already been doing without knowing it123Hot PicksPunjab police admit cardDevina GahlotDonald Trump avenueMumbai rainsCBSE 12th revaluationBihar school timingsSpanish proverbAfghan proverbPortuguese proverbTop TrendingDelhi Rape MurderUS-Iran WarITR filing 2025-26FIFA World Cup 2026England vs Ghana FIFA World Cup ResultICAI CA Inter May resultLucknow coaching fireGold rate todayWho was Ketan AgarwalMumbai rain Jun 24, 2026, 17:53 IST NEST 2026 result released at nestexam.in: Direct link to check your merit rank here When Prakash Raj mocked ‘Dhurandhar 2’ and took swipe at Allu Arjun, Mahesh Babu and Jr NTR: ‘I am far from Dhurandhar, are you too?’ Builder used homebuyer’s money as interest-free capital for 10 years, consumer commission orders Rs 5.25 lakh refund Sharjah announces new parking timings, paid hours extended to midnight from July 1 | World News Akhilesh claimed the allegations against Mohan Yadav were aimed at paving the way for leadership changes in BJP-ruled states (File photo) NEW DELHI: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the controversy surrounding allegations of large-scale land purchases linked to Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav’s family is part of a wider Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strategy to replace several of its chief ministers, including Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath.Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Akhilesh claimed the allegations against Mohan Yadav were aimed at paving the way for leadership changes in BJP-ruled states.”The BJP has hatched a conspiracy to defame Mohan Yadav. If these allegations are against Mohan Yadav, then the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh has acquired 300-600 acres of land. This is nothing new. He used to work in real estate earlier. Does the BJP not know this? These allegations are being made because the BJP is looking for a way to change three Chief Ministers. They want to change the Chief Ministers, hence making allegations,” Akhilesh said.He further claimed, “They want to remove the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. They are removing these two because they want to remove the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. This is a conspiracy to remove them.”Referring to the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Akhilesh said the Samajwadi Party would return to power and that the current chief minister would be “automatically removed”.Land controversy sparks political battleAkhilesh’s remarks came amid a political storm over allegations that Mohan Yadav and his family acquired large tracts of land after he became chief minister in December 2023.Citing a report by a national daily, Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari sought a probe by a sitting Supreme Court judge and questioned how the chief minister’s family’s land holdings allegedly increased from 100 acres to 335 acres after he took office. Patwari claimed that Yadav and his family purchased at least 137 plots covering 168 acres, valued at around Rs 45 crore, largely in areas linked to planned infrastructure projects and land-use changes.”The media reports that have surfaced are extremely worrying. The chief minister is not just an individual; he represents the entire state. Therefore, if such serious allegations are made against him, it will be a grave matter. The dignity of the state is hurt,” Patwari told PTI Videos.BJP rejects charges, Rajbhar targets AkhileshThe BJP has strongly rejected the allegations. Madhya Pradesh BJP president Hemant Khandelwal described them as “completely baseless” and accused Congress of targeting leaders from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community.He maintained that land declared in Mohan Yadav’s 2023 election affidavit remains unchanged and argued that all properties cited by the opposition existed before the implementation of the Ujjain master plan.Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh minister Om Prakash Rajbhar hit back at Akhilesh, accusing him of trying to divert attention from alleged links between Samajwadi Party leaders and land investments in Madhya Pradesh. In a lengthy post on X, Rajbhar alleged that an IAS officer connected to senior SP figures had facilitated investments in land along proposed highway corridors and called for an investigation into what he described as “white-collar investments” linked to the party.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 MediaVideosAmerica’s Cancer Drug Crisis: How India Could Help Prevent Treatment DisruptionsIndia Set To Restart ₹915 Crore RITES Project Railway Coach Exports To BangladeshAdani Mundra Airport Starts Commercial Operations As First Star Air Flight Lands From GoaNew Book Reveals Trump Rejected Proposal To Send Indian Peacekeepers To UkraineHyderabad Gets ‘Donald Trump Avenue’ As Telangana Renames Road Outside US ConsulateSindhi Community Raises Concerns Over Utilisation Of 200 Kg Silver Donation Made For Ram MandirIndia Hits Back At Pakistan At UN, Reaffirms Jammu & Kashmir Is Strictly An Internal MatterMumbai Faces Widespread Waterlogging As Delayed Monsoon Arrival Brings Heavy Rain And DisruptionsAkhilesh Yadav Says BJP Using Mohan Yadav Land Allegations To Prepare Chief Ministerial ChangesIndia-US Partnership Will Shape The Coming Decades, Says US Envoy123PhotostoriesJuly 2026 Hollywood OTT releases: ‘Enola Holmes 3’ to ‘Heartstopper Forever’Psychology says the happiest couples share one unexpected habit; and no, it’s not saying ‘I love you’Psychology says Indian women who love staying at home often share these 11 unique traitsSara Ali Khan gives Princess Diana’s ‘Revenge Dress’ a 2026 upgrade in front of the British royaltyLove desserts? Psychology says it could say something interesting about your personalityParenting looks completely different here: 5 countries that raise independent kids from an early ageWhat is Snake Soup, does it have venom and reasons why Chinese still consume itMumbai–Bengaluru Vande Bharat corridor: 5 destinations worth exploring along the routeWhat is FAFO parenting? The viral trend that every Indian parent has already been doing without knowing itMarriage, divorce, dating: Trisha’s honest take on relationships123Hot PicksPunjab police admit cardDevina GahlotDonald Trump avenueMumbai rainsCBSE 12th revaluationBihar school timingsSpanish proverbAfghan proverbPortuguese proverbTop TrendingDelhi Rape MurderUS-Iran WarITR filing 2025-26FIFA World Cup 2026England vs Ghana FIFA World Cup ResultICAI CA Inter May resultLucknow coaching fireGold rate todayWho was Ketan AgarwalMumbai rain Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s reaction to brother Ashirvad’s another century goes viral FMGE June 2026 admit card out at natboard.edu.in: Direct link to download hall ticket here Tom Holland SPILLS details of one character who remembers Peter Parker’s existence, ahead of ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ release Wikipedia blocks founder Larry Sanger, who praised Elon Musk’s Grokepedia, from the platform after he called for more balanced … UN watchdog chief says Iran’s nuclear inspections ‘going to happen’; Tehran rebuts Instead of landing at Amritsar, the flight was diverted back to Delhi due to heavy air traffic. It later departed again from Delhi and landed in Amritsar at around 2.10am on June 24. AMRITSAR: Air India flight AI 479, flying from Delhi to Amritsar, reportedly strayed into Pakistani airspace on Tuesday night before returning safely after receiving a warning from Lahore Air Traffic Control (ATC).The Airbus A321 departed Delhi at approximately 9.18pm and, instead of landing at Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport, drifted toward the international border into Pakistani airspace. Upon detection, Lahore ATC alerted the pilot, after which the aircraft executed a U-turn.Instead of landing at Amritsar, the flight was diverted back to Delhi due to heavy air traffic. It later departed again from Delhi and landed in Amritsar at around 2.10am on June 24.There was no official statement from the Amritsar airport director. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, downplayed the incident. Instead of clarifying whether the aircraft actually entered Pakistani airspace, he simply said that it flew “within a mile or so” of the international border, leaving its exact position unconfirmed.But at the same time, the official added that the flight’s movements were coordinated with Lahore ATC and that the diversion to Delhi was a result of congestion at Amritsar. The aircraft was refueled in Delhi before continuing to Amritsar.The official also said that such occurrences are not uncommon and that Pakistani passenger aircraft have, at times, flown inside the Indian airspace or near the international border and are similarly coordinated and redirected.Sources indicated that an investigation has been initiated to determine the precise cause of the route deviation.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia Set To Restart ₹915 Crore RITES Project Railway Coach Exports To BangladeshAdani Mundra Airport Starts Commercial Operations As First Star Air Flight Lands From GoaNew Book Reveals Trump Rejected Proposal To Send Indian Peacekeepers To UkraineHyderabad Gets ‘Donald Trump Avenue’ As Telangana Renames Road Outside US ConsulateSindhi Community Raises Concerns Over Utilisation Of 200 Kg Silver Donation Made For Ram MandirIndia Hits Back At Pakistan At UN, Reaffirms Jammu & Kashmir Is Strictly An Internal MatterMumbai Faces Widespread Waterlogging As Delayed Monsoon Arrival Brings Heavy Rain And DisruptionsAkhilesh Yadav Says BJP Using Mohan Yadav Land Allegations To Prepare Chief Ministerial ChangesIndia-US Partnership Will Shape The Coming Decades, Says US EnvoyQatar Emir Speaks To PM Modi, Offers Condolences After Ras Laffan Blast123PhotostoriesPsychology says Indian women who love staying at home often share these 11 unique traitsSara Ali Khan gives Princess Diana’s ‘Revenge Dress’ a 2026 upgrade in front of the British royaltyLove desserts? 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BSE Sensex closes around 800 points up – top reasons for rise ‘All he had was a laptop and patchy internet’: How a 19-year-old built a Rs 1 crore-a-month AI business R Madhavan sports a limited-edition 18-karat rose gold watch worth Rs 40 lakh while receiving the Padma Shri, only 10 exist worldwide Imd Orange Alert: Mumbai rains update: IMD issues orange alert, flights and train services hit; here’s what travellers should expect Are you born on these dates? keeping a Hanuman idol may benefit you Kolkata godown collapse: 3 dead, 11 rescued, many still trapped; top developments Flying from Dubai this summer? Emirates issues travel alert, asks passengers to reach airport 3 hours early Jun 24, 2026, 16:44 IST ‘Constructive and forward-looking’: India, US conclude ministerial-level talks on interim trade pact ahead of July tariff deadline HPSC ADA admit card 2026 expected to be released soon at hpsc.gov.in: Check steps to download here Has Boney Kapoor already spent Rs 30 crore on ‘No Entry 2’? Here’s the truth behind the film Want to do everything in life? This is what Psychology says about your brain | Sooryavanshi mania triggers ticket rush in Ireland ahead of possible India debut It can take years to find the courage to say what you really think. To speak up in a meeting, to disagree with someone you respect, or to tell people who you truly are. Melinda Gates, who has spent much of her life working to lift up women and girls around the world, believes that finding this kind of voice is one of the surest signs of strength. A woman with a voice, she says, is by definition a strong woman. But she is honest about the other half of the truth too. The search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult. Getting there is rarely simple, because so many quiet pressures push people, and women in particular, to stay silent. The quote holds both ideas at once, the strength and the struggle. Quote of the day by Melinda Gates “A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.” Who is Melinda Gates Melinda Gates, also known as Melinda French Gates, is an American philanthropist and one of the world’s most prominent advocates for women and girls. With her former husband she co-founded the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has spent enormous sums on global health, education and reducing poverty. She later started her own organisation focused on advancing women. Much of her work has centred on a single idea, that helping women find their footing, their rights and their voices makes life better for whole communities. She first shared this line in a 2003 speech, while talking about how a girl grows into a strong woman. The answer, she suggested, begins with one deceptively simple step. She finds her voice. Understand the meaning behind the quote by Melinda Gates The quote makes two linked points. The first is a kind of definition. To Melinda Gates, having a voice is itself a mark of strength. By voice she does not simply mean the ability to talk. She means the power to express what you think, to stand up for yourself, and to be heard. A person who can do that, she argues, is by definition strong, because doing it takes real courage. The second point is the honest catch. Finding that voice is hard. It is not something most people are simply handed. It often has to be searched for, sometimes over many years and against a great deal of resistance. So the quote celebrates the strength of having a voice while being honest that reaching it is a real struggle. Why finding a voice can be so hard When she first said this, Melinda Gates went on to explain why the search is so difficult. Part of it, she noted, is unequal access to education. In many parts of the world, women and girls receive far less schooling than men, and some receive none at all, which makes it harder to find and use their voices. But she pointed to something subtler too. From a young age, she said, people meet countless small pressures, some obvious and some hidden, that quietly encourage them to mute themselves in order to please others. Over time, those little nudges add up, and many people learn to stay quiet long before they ever discover what they might have said. Why this quote is relevant Although Melinda Gates was speaking about women, the struggle she describes is one many people recognise. Plenty of us, of any background, have held back an opinion, swallowed a disagreement, or gone along with something we did not believe, simply to avoid friction. The quote is a reminder that learning to speak up is not a small thing. It is a real form of strength, and one worth building. It also gently reframes the difficulty. If finding your voice feels hard, that does not mean something is wrong with you. It means you are attempting something that has always been hard, and that the struggle itself is part of growing stronger. How to apply this quote in daily life You do not have to change the world to use this idea. It starts with small choices. Start small and build up. You do not need your full voice overnight. Speak up in low stakes moments first, and let your confidence grow from there. Notice the pressures that quiet you. Pay attention to when and why you hold back. Often it is a fear of displeasing someone, and naming that pressure makes it easier to push past. Surround yourself with people who listen. It is far easier to find your voice among people who respect it. Seek out friends or mentors who want to hear what you think. Help others find their voice too. If you have found yours, use it to make room for quieter people. Simply asking someone what they think can be the nudge they needed. Other famous quotes by Melinda Gates Gates has spoken and written often about people, equality and possibility. Here are a few more of her lines. “If you want to lift up humanity, empower women. It is the most comprehensive, pervasive, high-leverage investment you can make in human beings.” “Women and girls should be able to determine their own future, no matter where they’re born.” “Connect deeply with others. Our humanity is the one thing that we all have in common.” “Optimism isn’t a belief that things will automatically get better; it’s a conviction that we can make things better.” There is something encouraging in the way Melinda Gates frames this. She does not pretend that finding your voice is easy, and she does not treat the struggle as a weakness. Instead she calls the search itself a sign of strength. Whoever you are, the lesson holds. The quiet work of learning to say what you think, and to be heard, is worth doing. | World News Elon Musk loses trillionaire status: Here’s why his net worth fell Meet Aakriti Goel: The BITS Pilani graduate who left a ₹30 LPA job, cracked NEET, and became a doctor at 30 ‘Dharman’: Why Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan’s film could be Tamil Cinema’s next biggie