VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Aries Horoscope Today, September 26, 2026: Keep spending in check and seek support before big decisions Austin Rivers net worth 2026: Inside the NBA veteran’s career earnings, salary, broadcasting, family and more TPUSA insisted Charlie Kirk should speak outdoors despite security concerns, claims bombshell report; Candace Owens says ‘my jaw is on the floor’ NEW DELHI: In a first for the road sector, govt has used waste plastic as a wet mix with bitumen to lay a bituminous highway stretch, a move that is likely to reduce imports of the key construction material while addressing the growing problem of plastic waste.On Thursday, a pilot test section was laid on the main carriageway of NH-44 in Jhansi. Officials associated with the pilot said the technology has potential to reduce conventional bitumen consumption by around 4%, lowering demand for a material that India largely imports to meet domestic requirements. They added that the modified bitumen could cost around 20% less than conventional bitumen.The waste plastic wet-process technology for producing premium-quality Waste Plastic Modified Bitumen (W-PMB 76-10) has been developed by IIT (BHU), Varanasi, under a research programme funded by the ministry of road transport and highways. The performance of the pilot stretch will be monitored by IIT (BHU) to assess its long-term engineering performance and field suitability, officials said.India generates around 25,000 tonne of plastic waste every day. Until now, waste plastic has been used in road construction only as a dry mix with aggregates while laying the bituminous layer. The new method mixes processed waste plastic directly with bitumen before it is laid, making it the first such pilot on a national highway.Officials said the technology offers multiple benefits, including the value-added reuse of waste plastic through a scientifically controlled process and improved rut resistance of bituminous mixes under high ambient temperatures and heavy axle loads.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe technology has also recently been granted a patent. The low-density polyethylene (LDPE) used in the process — a soft, flexible and lightweight thermoplastic made from petroleum — includes discarded irrigation pipes, waste files and plastic folders. The material has been processed with the support of local recyclers and MSMEs, creating an opportunity to integrate local waste recycling with infrastructure development.“Laboratory evaluations have shown that LDPE-modified bitumen provides better resistance to moisture damage and greater resistance to rutting at high temperatures. The modified binder increases the stiffness and high-temperature performance of asphalt, helping pavements withstand permanent deformation under heavy traffic loads and extreme temperatures,” an official said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data Shows123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court 2022 Rajouri IED blast: Police file chargesheet against 4 End employment-based Green Card, prioritize English proficiency: Republican Senator brings new America First bill JK CM Omar Abdullah SRINAGAR: Chief minister Omar Abdullah brought Friday an assembly resolution seeking restoration of full statehood for J&K, but an autonomy reference ignited a BJP backlash, with its members ripping up copies amid anti-national chants directed at the governing National Conference (NC).The contentious reference came as the document cited an autonomy resolution passed by the assembly in June 2000 when J&K was a state.For nearly two years, Omar has called on the Centre to restore statehood. Soon after taking office, his cabinet passed a resolution to this effect. NC legislators argued that the Centre’s lack of movement forced the party to bring the resolution to the assembly.Omar echoed the sentiment, saying it seems the cabinet was not seen as the sole voice of the people by the Centre, while the legislature represents a broader political spectrum as it includes parties outside govt. “Statehood is not about govt or my family. It is about J&K. That is why we brought it to the House so that a united voice can go to the Centre,” the CM said.As BJP legislators shouted slogans and tore copies, members of NC ally Congress supported the resolution and confronted rivals. CPM, Peoples Conference and PDP also backed the resolution.Leader of opposition, BJP’s Sunil Sharma, accused Omar of trying to “smuggle in” the 2000 autonomy move dressed up as a “statehood restoration resolution”. He recalled that then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s govt had rejected the 2000 resolution and asserted that BJP will not tolerate its revival now. Angered by this, some NC legislators displayed banners reading “we want autonomy of J&K be restored.” Others called for restoration of Article 370.Omar argued that statehood was a promise made by the Centre and reaffirmed by PM Narendra Modi at an event where Sharma was present. “Delimitation was carried out. Elections were held (in 2024). People voted without any coercion. But the third step of the promise, restoration of statehood, was not fulfilled,” Omar said, citing assurances given by the Centre in Parliament and Supreme Court.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesExplaining the reference to previous resolutions, the CM said the aim was to convey that the House continued to stand by all past decisions. “Our friends shouldn’t say that we have given up on them. Those resolutions remain in place. This resolution neither replaces nor ignores them. It is an addition to them,” the CM said. The expression “friends” was seen as an allusion to PDP.Speaking to reporters later, Omar rejected BJP’s charges and asked “how demanding statehood can be anti-national”. The CM has been under pressure for several months now, accused by rivals of dropping demands to restore Article 370 and demanding statehood only. Friday’s resolution is not for autonomy, but NC hopes its mention in the document will help it fend off the charges.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data Shows123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Horoscope Today: Daily astrological predictions for September 26, 2026 As stocks fall at power plants, govt mulls imported coal blending An Australian family thought they owned a piece of land for decades; 65 years after its registered owner died, they had to bid for it at auction | World News Michael Douglas says he had never fallen in love on movie screen until he saw his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones: ‘She was magic, in a way that went beyond beauty’ Prince William and Harry won’t inherit Princess Diana’s childhood home: Here’s who gets Althorp Why Tom Brady felt ‘embarrassed’ after swearing on FOX as NFL legend addresses unexpected broadcast mishap A Minnesota family farm has been sold to a homebuilder and grading has already begun; the city has now given final approval to turn the 88-acre property into a 262-home community by 2032 They met in London in 2017: 9 years later, this Indian girl and her Pakistani bestie are going viral for a friendship that transcends borders CBSE names Mandeep K Bhandari as new chairman; appointment follows OSM controversy At age 6, Grace Hendrian opened a lemonade stand hoping to raise $10 for the Salvation Army; seven summers later, she and sister June closed the project after turning that tiny goal into about $55,000 “Mafia ruled UP, Yogi govt eliminated it”: Amit Shah highlights political stability, policy implementation under BJP govt NOIDA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the BJP government had eliminated the mafia from Uttar Pradesh, creating a conducive atmosphere for investment in the state.Addressing the UP International Trade Show 2026, Shah recalled the situation in the state before the BJP came to power in 2017 and said the Yogi Adityanath government had taken steps to eliminate mafia elements across Uttar Pradesh.”There was a time when the mafia ruled UP. In 2017, the BJP formed the government here, with Yogi Adityanath assuming the role of Chief Minister. The Yogi government has successfully eliminated the mafia across the state, and this has created a conducive atmosphere for investment…” Shah said.He also highlighted political stability under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said policy continuity and implementation had helped transform India into a global manufacturing hub.”Political stability has become a hallmark of our leader, PM Modi. By earning the public’s trust over 3 consecutive terms as Prime Minister, he has not only formulated policies but also ensured their consistent implementation on the ground, he said.Shah added that “PM Modi has also demonstrated great dynamism in refining existing policies and formulating new ones based on experience, thereby transforming India into an attractive global manufacturing hub.”The Union home minister recalled that in 2013, the Uttar Pradesh government had organised a conference to attract industrial investment to the state, but the event had to be held in Delhi due to the law-and-order situation in Lucknow.”In 2013, UP govt organised a conference to attract industrial investment to the state… At that time, it had to be held in Delhi. When the media raised questions about this, UP officials frankly admitted that the law-and-order situation in Lucknow was such that no investor was willing to come there. That is why they had to move the event to Delhi,” Shah said.He contrasted the situation with the present and credited the change to the “double-engine” government.”But look at the situation today: That very same Uttar Pradesh has become free from fear, a hub for investment, and an engine of national growth. This transformation is the magic of the ‘double-engine’ government,” he said.Shah said the transformation had enabled Uttar Pradesh to set an ambitious target of becoming a USD 1 trillion economy.”It is precisely because of this transformation that Uttar Pradesh can now set the ambitious goal of becoming a 1-trillion-dollar economy,” he said.Shah contrasted the present situation in Uttar Pradesh with the period when the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party governed the state, and highlighted the emergence of new industrial and manufacturing sectors.”There was a time when the SP and BSP ruled here. A ‘crime industry’ was thriving… Look at the situation today, 10 years later. In place of the illegal pistol industry, a defence corridor has been established; vehicle manufacturing has replaced vehicle theft; and a medical device park is coming up where the chain-snatching ‘industry’ once existed. This is a massive transformation,” Shah said.He said Uttar Pradesh, which earlier lacked confidence to host an investment summit in Lucknow, had now emerged as a major destination for investors.”The very UP that once lacked the confidence to host an investment summit in Lucknow has now become a major hub for attracting investment… After the Yogi government took office, the BJP administration completely eradicated the hooliganism that prevailed during the SP-BSP era…” he said.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesShah also highlighted the impact of the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative on employment and local manufacturing in the state.”There was a time when people from here used to travel to states across the country in search of employment. Today, however, the youth of UP are finding jobs right here in their own state because of this (One District One Product) initiative,” he said.He said the ODOP website had been launched to further promote the state’s products and manufacturers.”I have just launched the ODOP website… This trade show will greatly facilitate business and production for UP’s manufacturers and help showcase the state’s identity to the world,” Shah said.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos‘A Terrorist Country Asking Me That Question’: Jaishankar’s Sharp Reply To Pak Journalist At UN’SIR’ Under Fire? IIT-Bombay, Election Commission Face Accountability Questions | PrasangMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data Shows123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Shankar Mahadevan reveals ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ title track had 21 versions before the scratch mix made the final cut: ‘People get scared of being minimalistic’ ‘We went to five hospitals’: Gaurav Taneja breaks silence on Mau’s death, denies pet neglect allegations | Pakistan goes bananas over giant gorillas dancing to Bollywood songs Trump-Xi bonhomie set to continue, leaders announce two more meetings Horoscope Today, 25th September, 2026: A Long Wait Could Finally Bring Results for These Chinese Zodiac Animals; Patience Unlocks Wealth & Success Around 170 volunteers remove 43,000 pounds of trash from San Antonio dumping site after years of complaints; property was a homeless encampment and had a $100,000 cleanup estimate ‘Pure shock’: Attorney Mariah Medina breaks silence as Internet debates over her sleeveless dress criticized by a Texas judge Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, in view of the red alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for the next two days, spoke to Secretary Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Vinod Kumar Suman and directed all concerned districts and departments to take necessary precautionary measures.Dhami directed officials to maintain heightened vigilance in districts under red and orange alerts, continuously monitor vulnerable areas and ensure that all arrangements for relief and rescue operations are in place in advance in case of any emergency. He also directed that district emergency operation centres remain active and weather warnings be disseminated immediately at the local level.Disaster management and rehabilitation minister Madan Kaushik also spoke to Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman and took stock of the weather situation and preparedness across the state. He directed officials to closely monitor the weather and remain fully prepared to deal with any eventuality.Following the chief minister’s directions, Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman held a meeting with all 13 districts on Friday and instructed them to remain on alert mode.According to the weather department forecast, on September 26, red alerts have been issued for five districts, orange alerts for five districts and yellow alerts for three districts. On September 27, red alerts have been issued for four districts, orange alerts for four districts and yellow alerts for five districts.On September 26, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh, Champawat, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar are under a red alert, while Dehradun, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Almora are under an orange alert. Haridwar, Uttarkashi and Tehri Garhwal are under a yellow alert.On September 27, red alerts have been issued for Dehradun, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri Garhwal and Haridwar; orange alerts for Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Nainital and Rudraprayag; and yellow alerts for Bageshwar, Almora, Champawat, Udham Singh Nagar and Pithoragarh.The weather department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at several places and extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places. Authorities have been asked to remain particularly vigilant in view of the possibility of landslides and road blockages in hilly areas, rising water levels in rivers and streams, and waterlogging in the plains.Suman directed all districts to continuously monitor vulnerable areas, keep district emergency operation centres operational and ensure immediate dissemination of every weather warning to the ground level.Officials have been instructed to continuously monitor water levels in rivers, streams, gad-gaderas and other water sources and make arrangements to shift people living nearby to safer locations if water levels rise. JCBs and other necessary machinery should be stationed at strategic locations along landslide-prone roads and areas so that blocked routes can be cleared at the earliest.All district emergency operation centres have been directed to remain operational round the clock, with continuous coordination among the police, SDRF, fire services, health, Public Works Department, drinking water, power and other concerned departments. Relief and rescue teams, along with necessary equipment and resources, should be deployed in vulnerable areas as required.The secretary also directed that traffic on mountain routes be regulated based on weather and road conditions and unnecessary travel in areas vulnerable to landslides and heavy rainfall be avoided. People living near rivers, streams and seasonal water channels should be regularly alerted and prevented from approaching riverbanks or entering fast-flowing waters.Special monitoring has also been ordered along the Char Dham routes, major tourist destinations and other vulnerable areas to ensure the safety of pilgrims and tourists. All arrangements should be kept ready in advance so that relief and rescue operations can begin with minimum response time in case of an emergency.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesSuman urged district administrations to remain fully alert and not to show any negligence in view of the prevailing weather conditions. He also appealed to the public to follow advisories issued by the weather department and district administration, avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from rivers, streams and landslide-prone areas.The State Emergency Operation Centre is continuously monitoring the weather situation. In case of any emergency, people can contact the State Emergency Operation Centre at toll-free number 1070, the District Emergency Operation Centre at 1077, or emergency services at 112.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data ShowsAjeet Bharti Faces Arrest Heat As Delhi HC Rejects Bail In Chandrashekhar Azad CaseIIT-Bombay Death Row: Parents Question CCTV Leak, Demand CBI Probe And Action Against Officials123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Sep 25, 2026, 22:51 IST Trump embraces Xi as peer, alarms partners and critics Researchers in Rwanda turn plastic waste into sisal-reinforced tiles; strongest sample reached 41.66 MPa with 0.225% water absorption | World News Most interventions were cataract surgeries, along with selective retinal procedures and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. NEW DELHI: Over 220 sight-restoring surgeries were conducted by Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) surgeons during the 10th edition of first-of-its-kind mega eye surgical camp, held under Operation Drishti, at an underground operation theatre in a shelling-prone zone at Tangdhar in Kupwara along the Line of Control in J&K on Friday and Saturday.Most interventions were cataract surgeries, along with selective retinal procedures and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery. Patients from Khawarpora, Tangdar, Tadd, Bagbela, Yangdar and neighbouring hamlets came after screening and a broadcast on Radio Rooh-e-Karnah, with the Indian Army guiding each one from arrival to recovery.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesOver the two days, the camp was visited by Army chief General Dhiraj Seth who interacted with patients and distributed medicines and gifts. DG AFMS Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja also visited the camp and appreciated the surgeons and their team. The camp was led by head of ophthalmology at Army Hospital (Research & Referral), Delhi Cantonment Brigadier Sanjay Kumar Mishra, whose team carried advanced phacoemulsification, vitreoretinal and glaucoma equipment across mountainous terrain.AFMS’s series of mega surgical eye camps envisaged by defence minister Rajnath Singh has, so far, screened over 1.5 lakh patients. Over 3,500 surgeries have been conducted across 10 cities. The 11th camp in this series will be held in Srinagar from Sept 27 to 29. The formal closing ceremony will be attended by J&K LG Manoj Sinha on Sept 30.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data ShowsAjeet Bharti Faces Arrest Heat As Delhi HC Rejects Bail In Chandrashekhar Azad CaseIIT-Bombay Death Row: Parents Question CCTV Leak, Demand CBI Probe And Action Against Officials123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Zodiac Love Horoscope Predictions, 26th September, 2026: These Zodiac Signs Experience Deep Love; Introspective Energy Demands Honesty San Francisco AI startup planned to open hundred-plus 24-hour cafes, then a top executive’s dating post went viral, making company with cafes in London, New York and Atlanta junk all plans Sep 25, 2026, 22:23 IST Tillotama Shome responds SHARPLY after troll said she has ‘anxiety issues’ over her post on women’s safety in Mumbai: ‘How sensitive of you’ Career & Money Predictions, 26th September, 2026: Pisces Moon May Reveal Which Opportunity Is Worth Your Time Who is Tommy “Gun” McMillen? Meet the 12-0 UFC prospect making waves in featherweight division A Seattle shipbuilder sold his company for a reported $3.5 million in 1906 and built an Orcas Island estate; 15 years later he donated more than 2,700 acres to Washington to create Moran State Park AFSPA gives the armed forces deployed in areas declared as “disturbed”, powers to search, seize and arrest without a warrant, and to also use lethal force against law-breakers. NEW DELHI: The home ministry on Friday extended the application of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 in parts of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland for a further period of six months until March 31, 2027, while retaining status quo in terms of the police stations and districts declared as “disturbed areas” under the Act.As Manipur continues to witness law and order upheavals on account of clashes between Kukis and Nagas that in the past few days have seen scores of houses torched across the Naga villages in Kangpokpi district, the Centre renewed the “disturbed” tag for the entire state, barring 13 police stations across its five districts, for six months starting Oct 1. The areas that will continue to be outside the purview of AFSPA include Imphal, Lamphel, City, Singjamei, Patsoi and Wangoi police stations in Imphal West district; Poropat, Heingang and Irilbung police stations in Imphal East district; Thoubal police station in Thoubal district, Bishnupur and Nambol police stations in Bishnupur district, and Kakching police station in Kakching district.AFSPA gives the armed forces deployed in areas declared as “disturbed”, powers to search, seize and arrest without a warrant, and to also use lethal force against law-breakers.The latest AFSPA notification for Nagaland, which extends applicability of the Act in parts of the state till March 31 next year, retains nine districts and 21 police stations across five other districts as “disturbed areas”. The list includes Dimapur, Niuland, Chumoukedima, Mon, Kiphire, Noklak, Phek, Peren and Meluri districts in Nagaland and the areas in Nagaland falling within the jurisdiction of Khuzama, Kohima North, Kohima South, Zubza and Kezocha police stations in Kohima district; Mangkolemba, Mokokchung-I, Longtho, Tuli, Longchem and Anaki ‘C’ police stations in Mokokchung district; Yanglok police station in Longleng district; Bhandari, Champang and Ralan police stations in Wokha district; and Ghatashi, Pughoboto, Satakha, Suruhuto, Zunheboto and Aghunato police stations in Zunheboto district.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesIts status quo in Arunachal Pradesh as well with Tirap, Changland and Longding districts and the areas falling within the jurisdiction of Namsai, Mahadevpur and Chowkham police stations in Namsai district bordering Assam, declared as “disturbed areas” under Section 3 of AFSPA for a period of six months with effect from Oct 1.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorBharti JainBharti Jain is senior editor with The Times of India, New Delhi. She has been writing on security matters since 1996. Having covered the Union home ministry, security agencies, Election Commission and the ‘prime’ political beat, the Congress, for The Economic Times all these years, she moved to TOI in August 2012. Her repertoire of news stories delves into the whole gamut of issues related to terrorism and internal strife, besides probing strategic affairs in India’s neighbourhood.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosMassive Protest Erupts At Delhi’s Jantar Mantar Against Gyanesh Kumar Over EC-SIR RowUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? The Legal Gap Explained‘Made In UP’ Missiles Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights: Amit Shah On BrahMosOmar Abdullah Moves Full Statehood Resolution In J&K Assembly, BJP Protest Sparks House UproarThird Bihar Harassment Case In A Week: Minor Girl Targeted In Banka, Video Surfaces’You Cannot Keep Playing’: CJP’s Dipke Challenges Opposition Over Alleged Election Rigging“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRCBJP’s ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data ShowsAjeet Bharti Faces Arrest Heat As Delhi HC Rejects Bail In Chandrashekhar Azad CaseIIT-Bombay Death Row: Parents Question CCTV Leak, Demand CBI Probe And Action Against Officials123Hot PicksWeather tomorrowBank strikeNEET PG ResultGold Rate TodayOctober 2026 School HolidaysTN programmePunjab school holidayMadurantakam bypollDr MonishCBSE Date SheetTop TrendingAsian Games Medal TallyRahul GandhiPowerball JackpotDelhi Hit and RunUP EncounterDonald TrumpPM ModiNaomi OsakaJoe ThomasSupreme Court Sep 25, 2026, 22:02 IST Delhi couple repaid Rs 1.41 crore home loan, but the bank lost their original sale deed property papers; consumer commission orders Rs 15 lakh compensation plus Rs 50,000 costs ‘One-time watch’: Anjali Anand’s mother gives brutally honest verdict of her daughter’s film ‘Dhamaal 4’; leaves Farah Khan in splits Beyond the spotlight: How Cristiano Ronaldo’s wife Georgina Rodríguez quietly built her own activewear brand, Mimoa China’s coal mines generate billions of cubic metres of water; researchers say it could help cool data centres | World News Sep 25, 2026, 21:27 IST Tom Brady vs Patrick Mahomes – why TB12 Foundation could never match 15 and the Mahomies Singapore welcomes Southeast Asia’s first okapi calf: Why this rare ‘forest giraffe’ is so unusual Inside ‘Enna Vilai’ star Nimisha Sajayan’s 2,334-sq-ft Kochi home: From colourful interiors and Indian accents to a private Dolby theatre ‘Compromised PM does it again’: Congress targets Centre over bail for US national Matthew Aaron VanDyke held in terror conspiracy case America laughs as Trump pivots from ‘Kung Flu’ to hug Xi’s panda diplomacy Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav during a visit to Raebareli. (PTI photo) NEW DELHI: Is Uttar Pradesh all set to go the Bihar way for the opposition’s INDIA bloc? Wait, we are not talking about the results yet. This is about the all-too-familiar alliance strains between INDIA bloc allies – the Samajwadi Party and the Congress in the run-up to UP assembly elections early next year.On Thursday, Akhilesh Yadav unveiled the Samajwadi Party’s ‘PDA Rath’ which he will use for a statewide campaign in the run-up to the 2027 assembly poll. While his fight is against the BJP, the first stop of his rath was Raebareli – a Congress bastion represented by the Gandhis for decades.Also, while Akhilesh targeted the BJP, he had a clear message for the Congress also.“Alliance will happen. We will also go with the alliance. Winnability will be the criteria for deciding seats. For us, it is not about seats, it is about victory. Whosoever can win can take the seat.”The BJP was quick to take digs at both allies and suggested that now Congress should start its campaign from Yadav bastion Mainpuri.This was not an isolated remark. The SP and the Congress have been engaged in a war of words over seat sharing for quite some time now. The open fight has an uncanny resemblance to how events had unfolded between the INDIA bloc allies in Bihar.INDIA bloc’s failed Bihar experimentCut to the 2025 Bihar assembly elections.INDIA bloc allies – the RJD and the Congress engaged in a continuous war of words in Bihar over seat-sharing and CM face, while the BJP-led NDA managed a smooth division of seats. What started as public posturing between INDIA bloc allies ended up in public sparring between them as the divided opposition alliance was decimated in the polls.The two parties campaigned separately for most of the time as they could not agree on seat sharing. They took out separate yatras across the state. While Rahul Gandhi undertook the “Vote Adhikar Yatra,” RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav went across the state with his “Bihar Adhikar Yatra.” Ironically, it was the success of the two yatras that boomeranged on the alliance as it made seat-sharing bitter and difficult.In the run-up to the Bihar elections, Tejashwi Yadav was confident of a sweep. The Congress was also not willing to budge, guided by its improved showing in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the state. The two parties used pressure tactics against each other. So much so that the INDIA bloc went into the elections as a divided house despite last-minute agreements and adjustments to keep the alliance intact.Uttar Pradesh appears to be headed the same way, at least as of now. We have already seen a lot of public posturing and sparring between the leaders of the INDIA bloc partners. Both the Congress and the SP have repeatedly claimed that the opposition’s fight against the BJP can be led only by their respective leaders.The SP and Congress contested the 2024 Lok Sabha polls together in Uttar Pradesh and won 43 seats between them, with the SP winning 37 and the Congress six. The alliance also won the Faizabad seat, which includes Ayodhya, where the BJP won in 2019.And that is perhaps where lies the genesis of this power tussle. Both the SP and the Congress feel that it was their party and leader who played a greater role in the 2024 electoral success and hence want the advantage to flow accordingly in seat sharing for the assembly elections.Rahul or Akhilesh vs BJPOne look at the latest broadside between the two parties and we know why seat sharing between them may not be smooth.Recently, Samajwadi Party MP from Kairana Iqra Hasan and Congress MP from Saharanpur Imran Masood, both elected in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as part of the SP-Congress alliance, publicly pitched their respective party leaders to take on the BJP.”Only Rahul Gandhi is the opposition voice across the country, which unnerves the BJP. Rahul ji has done the hard work and created a favourable atmosphere. So make no mistake, nothing is possible without Rahul ji, and no one should have any doubts about this,” Masood said.Days later, Hasan responded and pitched SP chief Yadav as the key to the alliance’s prospects.”Only Akhilesh Yadav is capable of defeating the BJP. On its own, the Congress won’t be able to achieve much,” she said.Last week, Congress Uttar Pradesh in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam signalled a firm stance regarding upcoming electoral negotiations and said that any seat-sharing arrangement with the Samajwadi Party (SP) must be built on mutual respect and equal standing.Clarifying reports regarding seat distribution, Gautam claimed that formal discussions with the SP have not yet begun. While expressing open flexibility for minor adjustments, he stressed that the Congress would not compromise its organisational self-respect or dignity in any prospective deal.”We have made one thing very clear. The Congress is the country’s oldest party. It was the Congress that led the freedom struggle. Any alliance formed will be based on mutual respect; there will be equal partnership and dignity. Sure, we can show some flexibility; there might be minor adjustments, but we cannot compromise on our dignity,” the Congress leader said.The contrasting assertions come despite messages of unity from both sides of the divide. Akhilesh is riding high on SP’s Lok Sabha success in Uttar Pradesh. The Congress, which is trying hard to revive its lost electoral fortunes, does not want to compromise on its expansion plans in one of the most politically important states.The Owaisi factorThe problem is that both the parties are wooing the same social base in the state – minorities, Dalits, women, youth. Akhilesh is missing no opportunity to expand his PDA’s – Pichda Dalit and Alpsankhyak – base by making concerted attempts to include Pandits, Aadhi aabadi (women) and other social groups. The Congress is also wooing the Brahmins, the Dalits and the women in a big way.What the two bickering allies don’t realise that there are several other parties who are also reaching out to the same social base. For instance, Mayawati and Chandrashekhar Azad are also going all out to woo Dalits. Then there is Owaisi, who has already put both the parties in a Catch22 situation by offering them an alliance against the BJP. Owaisi’s proposal is like a double-edged sword for the two parties. If they accept his offer, the BJP will gun for them.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines If they reject the offer, Owaisi will use the rejection to rally the Muslims against them.Lok Sabha gains, assembly painsThe Samjawadi Party and the Congress may do well to learn lessons from the Bihar debacle before it’s too late. Lok Sabha elections and assembly elections are two very different games and success in one does not automatically translate into success in another. There are numerous instances to show that alliances which did well in Lok Sabha elections failed in assembly elections. Maharashtra is a case in point. The Maha Vikas Aghadi of the opposition parties – Congress, Shiv Sena and the NCP did very well in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, putting the BJP on the backfoot. But a year later in 2025 – the opposition alliance was decimated by the BJP in the assembly elections. So, Akhilesh and Rahul need to decide if they want to keep on flexing muscles at each other or unite in time to pose a challenge to the BJP.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUAPA ‘Missing’: What Allowed VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians To Leave India? 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