VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html Pentagon Missile Production Agreements: US signs 7-year deals with Lockheed, GD-OTS to boost THAAD & Patriot missile production Aleutian Cackling Goose: In 1975, fewer than 800 Aleutian cackling geese remained; fox removal and habitat protection helped the population rebound to around 200,000, and regulated hunting later returned Telangana CM Revanth Reddy (File photo) NEW DELHI: Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday asked Congress workers to take to the streets against BRS president and leader of opposition K Chandrasekhar Rao, demanding his resignation over what he called KCR’s “1,000-day confinement” to his farmhouse.Reddy said the Congress government would complete 1,000 days in office on September 1 and claimed it was taking Telangana from “destruction to development” after inheriting a debt burden of more than Rs 8 lakh crore from the previous BRS regime.Reddy also put a price tag on KCR’s absence, claiming that the former chief minister had drawn Rs 1.24 crore in salary over the last 1,000 days, while the government spent another Rs 21 crore on his security, bullet-proof vehicles and other facilities, according to news agency PTI.”That means KCR ate away Rs 22,24,40,000 of government money in 1,000 days,” Reddy said, asking whether Rao had devoted even a single day to the concerns of the poor, women, students, farmers, Dalits and Adivasis.Taking another swipe at his predecessor, Reddy said he had not taken leave “even for an hour” during his 1,000 days in office and questioned whether KCR had spent even an hour addressing people’s issues during the same period.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe chief minister then reached for a colourful Telugu comparison, saying the difference between him and KCR was like that between a ‘Nandi’ (sacred bull of Lord Shiva) and a ‘Pandi’ (pig).”How can you be compared with me?” he asked.Reddy also questioned how an opposition leader could remain confined to a farmhouse for 1,000 days and challenged KCR to attend the assembly and participate in the upcoming monsoon session, beginning September 7.”Is there any other opposition leader in the country who did not come out of his farmhouse for 1,000 days?” Reddy asked.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 MediaVideosDelhi Draft Voter Roll Out: 47.7 Lakh Electors Excluded, Claims Allowed Till September 30Akhilesh Yadav’s Big Attack On UP Govt; Divya Mittal Resignation & Meerut Custody RowIndus Waters Row: India Rejects Hague Court’s Jurisdiction, Says Treaty Suspension Will Continue’Dumped 40 KM Away In Delhi’: Teen Allegedly Gang-Raped In Empty Sleeper Bus, Two Accused ArrestedLVM3 Tech Transfer: Adani, Mahindra Among Firms Eyeing ISRO’s ‘Bahubali’ RocketPM Modi Meets Pezeshkian In Bishkek, Reiterates ‘Friendship With Iran’ Amid West Asia Conflict‘Babur’s Country Honoured Modi’: Owaisi Takes Dig At BJP, RSS As PM Gets Uzbekistan’s Top Award’One May Call Bharat Superpower But…’: RSS Chief Bhagwat’s ‘Vishwaguru’ Msg In Canada‘Islam Is Greater Than Other Dharams’: Karnataka Minister Sparks Row, BJP Calls Cong ‘Anti-Hindu’FIR Against Rahul Gandhi Under SC/ST Act For ‘Giving Caste Angle’ In Haldwani ‘Purification’ Row123Hot PicksNepal floodMumbai port fireGandak riverMumbai milk priceDelhi rapeWeather tomorrowTN milk price hikeGATE 2027 registrationIndia GDP growthTop TrendingCanyon Flash FloodStuart BroadBabaz AzamNovak DjokovicUS Iran WarTravis Kelce BusinessKai CenatCoco GauffsNaomi OsakaLebron James September 2026 Monthly Horoscope: What changes, what improves and what needs care for each moon sign India name 26-member squad for big friendlies against Brazil, Uruguay and Panama A New Jersey town agreed to spend $13.4 million to preserve about 50 acres once eyed for dense housing; the first 17 acres have now become public land India is bracing for below-average rainfall this September, signaling an early end to the monsoon season with overall inadequate precipitation. NEW DELHI: Monthly rainfall over the country as a whole is most likely to be ‘below normal’ in Sept, the last month of the monsoon season, said IMD on Monday — an indication that the four-month rainy season is likely to end with overall deficient cumulative (June-Sept) rainfall as predicted earlier with high probability due to the impact of El Nino.The Met department said August, which reported a deficit of more than 16 percent in monthly rainfall in the country despite good rains in certain parts, was the warmest August in India since 1901, recording a mean temperature of 28.01 degrees Celsius.Region-wise, August in south Peninsular India was the second-warmest August since 1901, whereas it was the third warmest for east and northeast India, and fifth warmest for northwest India in the past 126 years.So far, the country as a whole reported a deficit of 14 percent in cumulative (June 1-Aug 31) rainfall, despite ‘normal’ rainfall in July. In June, the deficit was as high as 35 percent. Out of a total of 741 districts assessed for monsoon rainfall distribution, 312 districts (42 percent) received ‘below normal’ rainfall and 38 districts (5 percent) reported large deficient rainfall till Aug 31.A forecast of ‘below normal’ rainfall in Sept may lead to a deficit in overall kharif crop acreage. Though sowing of most of the seasonal crops is almost complete with a decline in acreage by nearly 2 percent compared to the corresponding period last year, low rainfall in Sept means an increase in the input cost due to farmers’ spending on irrigation of standing crops.“Spatially, many parts of the country are likely to receive below-normal rainfall, but some areas of northwest, northeast, east, east-central and south-east Peninsular India are likely to receive ‘normal to above-normal’ rainfall,” said IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra.He said currently “strong El Niño conditions” are prevailing over the equatorial Pacific Ocean, with sea surface temperature (SST) remaining above normal across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. “These conditions are expected to strengthen further in the coming months,” said Mohapatra, hinting at its negative impact on Sept rainfall.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesEl Niño, characterised by the warming of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, is invariably associated with a weak monsoon and a harsh summer in India.At present, neutral Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) conditions prevail over the Indian Ocean and the forecasts from the Monsoon Mission Coupled Forecast System (MMCFS) indicate that neutral IOD conditions are likely to persist through Sept. It means the monsoon may not benefit from this climatic phenomenon as only positive IOD helps increase rainfall activities.IMD noted that the extreme weather events (lightning, thunderstorm and heavy rains) took 113 human lives in Aug. Mohapatra, however, said this figure can be cross-checked with the data compiled by the states.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 MediaVideosDelhi Draft Voter Roll Out: 47.7 Lakh Electors Excluded, Claims Allowed Till September 30Akhilesh Yadav’s Big Attack On UP Govt; Divya Mittal Resignation & Meerut Custody RowIndus Waters Row: India Rejects Hague Court’s Jurisdiction, Says Treaty Suspension Will Continue’Dumped 40 KM Away In Delhi’: Teen Allegedly Gang-Raped In Empty Sleeper Bus, Two Accused ArrestedLVM3 Tech Transfer: Adani, Mahindra Among Firms Eyeing ISRO’s ‘Bahubali’ RocketPM Modi Meets Pezeshkian In Bishkek, Reiterates ‘Friendship With Iran’ Amid West Asia Conflict‘Babur’s Country Honoured Modi’: Owaisi Takes Dig At BJP, RSS As PM Gets Uzbekistan’s Top Award’One May Call Bharat Superpower But…’: RSS Chief Bhagwat’s ‘Vishwaguru’ Msg In Canada‘Islam Is Greater Than Other Dharams’: Karnataka Minister Sparks Row, BJP Calls Cong ‘Anti-Hindu’FIR Against Rahul Gandhi Under SC/ST Act For ‘Giving Caste Angle’ In Haldwani ‘Purification’ Row123PhotostoriesBigg Boss Telugu through the years: A look back at all seasonsVaibhav Suryavanshi breaks all-time Duleep Trophy record as a teenager: Times the young cricketer has made historyThe glass-skin obsession: Can Indian skin really achieve that mirror-like glow?Personality test optical illusion: Only sharp-eyed people can find all the hidden deer in this image within 11 secondsTamannaah Bhatia just made Rs 2.43 lakh look like a personality trait in this Aisha Rao ivory ensembleNew OTT releases this week (August 31-September 6): ‘Gandhari’, ‘Dhamaal 4’, ‘The Gentlemen’ Season 2, ‘Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly’ and moreTravelling by train in India? 10 things you should never do on a journeySamantha Ruth Prabhu joins the polka-dot club, and maternity fashion just got a lot more funBigg Boss Malayalam: A look back at seven unforgettable seasonsSimple things that make you feel good without spending money, from taking a walk to reconnecting with people you love123Hot PicksNepal floodMumbai port fireGandak riverMumbai milk priceDelhi rapeWeather tomorrowTN milk price hikeGATE 2027 registrationIndia GDP growthTop TrendingCanyon Flash FloodStuart BroadBabaz AzamNovak DjokovicUS Iran WarTravis Kelce BusinessKai CenatCoco GauffsNaomi OsakaLebron James In 2025, researchers used fired clay bricks and eggshell waste, reducing energy consumption for heating and cooling by 50%, turning food waste into useful building material Tiny Scottish village of 200 homes in Auchtertool, Fife, fights plans for world’s second-largest data centre covering more than 100 football pitches; 1,600 objections pile up, residents fear it could dwarf their community File photo: Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera during a press conference The Congress on Monday hit out at the government over India’s 7.8 per cent GDP growth in the April-June quarter, saying the figure was “not an economic spring” and presented a “Greatly Distorted Picture” of the state of the economy.The opposition party questioned why the country’s economic growth was not translating into jobs and prosperity, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the first-quarter performance as an “exemplary” and “herculean feat”.Jairam Ramesh flags investment, consumer confidence concernsCongress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the quarterly GDP numbers did not reflect what he described as depressed private investment sentiment, both domestic and foreign.”The quarterly GDP numbers, such as they are reported, present a GDP – Greatly Distorted Picture – of the economy. They do not convey the decidedly depressed private investment sentiment in the economy – both domestic and foreign,” Ramesh said in a post on X.He also claimed that consumer confidence was sluggish, household savings rates had fallen and debt had reached record highs.”Consumer confidence is very sluggish, hitting its lowest point since COVID and on a relentless downward trajectory since November 2025. Prices of household essentials are galloping. Educated unemployment is at alarming levels. The unabated trade deficit with China is wreaking havoc,” Ramesh said.He further claimed that the concentration of key sectors among a few large conglomerates was having “deleterious effects”, adding that the wealth of India’s five richest families had grown by 400 per cent while the real wages of salaried workers had fallen.Congress asks: Where are the jobs?Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said one quarter of 7.8 per cent growth did not amount to an “economic spring”.”One quarter of 7.8 per cent growth is not an economic spring. If India has truly ‘bloomed’, why do rampant unemployment, leaked exam papers, and a crumbling education system define the ground reality?” he said.”Why is the republic’s prosperity not translating into the prosperity of its public?” Khera asked.Taking aim at the prime minister’s remarks, he said GDP measures national output rather than jobs, wages or opportunities.”Modi can manage his headlines. For India’s youth, the question remains the same as ever: Where are the jobs?” Khera said.PM Modi calls Q1 growth a ‘herculean feat’The Congress’s criticism came after government data released on Monday showed that India’s economy grew by a faster-than-expected 7.8 per cent in the April-June quarter.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesThe growth figure exceeded the Reserve Bank of India’s forecast of 7 per cent for the quarter and kept India as the world’s fastest-growing major economy.Responding to the data, PM Modi took a dig at those questioning the state of the Indian economy, saying “doomsayers were doomed and India bloomed yet again”.The prime minister said India’s GDP growth during the first quarter of FY 2026-27 was a “herculean feat”.”The collective strength of our people ensured India delivered such growth despite oil price shocks and supply chain issues in the midst of global uncertainties,” PM Modi said in a post on X.The Q1 growth compares with a 6.9 per cent expansion in the year-ago quarter.The RBI has projected India’s economy to grow by 6.7 per cent in the full 2026-27 fiscal year.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDelhi Draft Voter Roll Out: 47.7 Lakh Electors Excluded, Claims Allowed Till September 30Akhilesh Yadav’s Big Attack On UP Govt; Divya Mittal Resignation & Meerut Custody RowIndus Waters Row: India Rejects Hague Court’s Jurisdiction, Says Treaty Suspension Will Continue’Dumped 40 KM Away In Delhi’: Teen Allegedly Gang-Raped In Empty Sleeper Bus, Two Accused ArrestedLVM3 Tech Transfer: Adani, Mahindra Among Firms Eyeing ISRO’s ‘Bahubali’ RocketPM Modi Meets Pezeshkian In Bishkek, Reiterates ‘Friendship With Iran’ Amid West Asia Conflict‘Babur’s Country Honoured Modi’: Owaisi Takes Dig At BJP, RSS As PM Gets Uzbekistan’s Top Award’One May Call Bharat Superpower But…’: RSS Chief Bhagwat’s ‘Vishwaguru’ Msg In Canada‘Islam Is Greater Than Other Dharams’: Karnataka Minister Sparks Row, BJP Calls Cong ‘Anti-Hindu’FIR Against Rahul Gandhi Under SC/ST Act For ‘Giving Caste Angle’ In Haldwani ‘Purification’ Row123PhotostoriesBigg Boss Telugu through the years: A look back at all seasonsVaibhav Suryavanshi breaks all-time Duleep Trophy record as a teenager: Times the young cricketer has made historyThe glass-skin obsession: Can Indian skin really achieve that mirror-like glow?Personality test optical illusion: Only sharp-eyed people can find all the hidden deer in this image within 11 secondsTamannaah Bhatia just made Rs 2.43 lakh look like a personality trait in this Aisha Rao ivory ensembleNew OTT releases this week (August 31-September 6): ‘Gandhari’, ‘Dhamaal 4’, ‘The Gentlemen’ Season 2, ‘Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly’ and moreTravelling by train in India? 10 things you should never do on a journeySamantha Ruth Prabhu joins the polka-dot club, and maternity fashion just got a lot more funBigg Boss Malayalam: A look back at seven unforgettable seasonsSimple things that make you feel good without spending money, from taking a walk to reconnecting with people you love123Hot PicksNepal floodMumbai port fireGandak riverMumbai milk priceDelhi rapeWeather tomorrowTN milk price hikeGATE 2027 registrationIndia GDP growthTop TrendingCanyon Flash FloodStuart BroadBabaz AzamNovak DjokovicUS Iran WarTravis Kelce BusinessKai CenatCoco GauffsNaomi OsakaLebron James ‘Toxic’ box office collection Day 6: Yash, Kiara Advani, Nayanthara film adds Rs 7.45 crore, misses Rs 225 crore net domestic mark as worldwide haul crosses Rs 300 crore Meet Harshith Nelabhotla, the Ohio student who built an AI system that can recognise American Sign Language words in real time Pakistan to lead ‘Islamic Nato’ for 3 years; Mecca pact members hold first meet 13 injured as shuttle bus crashes into barrier at Newark Airport Major shake-up in Pakistan cricket after Lord’s rout: Seven players, coaches Sarfaraz, Gul released Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Aaradhya celebrate Raksha Bandhan; fans love this rare glimpse of the actress with family after her sister-in-law Shrima Rai shares PIC JD Vance says Donald Trump’s dramatic Kharg Island post was meant as a signal to Iran Before becoming a major philanthropist, Laurene Powell Jobs spent three years trading fixed-income securities on Wall Street | World News General Secretary and Media In-Charge, ‘AAP’ Punjab NEW DELHI: Punjab’s groundwater crisis is showing signs of improvement, with the latest assessment indicating a decline in groundwater extraction and an increase in canal-water utilisation, AAP Punjab media in-charge Baltej Pannu said on Monday.Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh earlier today, Pannu attributed the improvement to the Bhagwant Mann government’s efforts to strengthen canal infrastructure, increase the use of canal water and reduce dependence on groundwater.Pannu said canal-water utilisation has risen to around 80-82% from roughly 21% in 2022. He said the government had activated 14,100 watercourses, restored more than 400 km of defunct canals and concretised over 1,000 km of canals. Recharge points have also been developed along repaired canal infrastructure, he said.According to Pannu, Punjab’s stage of groundwater extraction declined from 163.80% in 2021-22 to 156.36% in 2025 and 152.22% in 2025-26. Annual groundwater extraction also fell from around 28.01 billion cubic metres to 26.32 billion cubic metres.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelines95 dark-zone blocks show improvementPannu said the latest assessment showed improvement in 95 of Punjab’s 153 dark-zone blocks, while the number of critical blocks fell from 10 to six. Four blocks — Arniwala in Fazilka, Makhu in Ferozepur, Hajipur in Hoshiarpur and Narot Jaimal Singh in Pathankot — have moved into the safe category, he said.Another 14 blocks have recorded significant improvement, according to Pannu.Pannu said total annual groundwater recharge has increased to 19.14 billion cubic metres, including 5.53 billion cubic metres from rainfall and 5.5 billion cubic metres through canal water. Canal-water recharge increased from 4.5 billion cubic metres last year to 5.5 billion cubic metres this year, he 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 MediaVideosAkhilesh Yadav’s Big Attack On UP Govt; Divya Mittal Resignation & Meerut Custody RowIndus Waters Row: India Rejects Hague Court’s Jurisdiction, Says Treaty Suspension Will Continue’Dumped 40 KM Away In Delhi’: Teen Allegedly Gang-Raped In Empty Sleeper Bus, Two Accused ArrestedLVM3 Tech Transfer: Adani, Mahindra Among Firms Eyeing ISRO’s ‘Bahubali’ RocketPM Modi Meets Pezeshkian In Bishkek, Reiterates ‘Friendship With Iran’ Amid West Asia Conflict‘Babur’s Country Honoured Modi’: Owaisi Takes Dig At BJP, RSS As PM Gets Uzbekistan’s Top Award’One May Call Bharat Superpower But…’: RSS Chief Bhagwat’s ‘Vishwaguru’ Msg In Canada‘Islam Is Greater Than Other Dharams’: Karnataka Minister Sparks Row, BJP Calls Cong ‘Anti-Hindu’FIR Against Rahul Gandhi Under SC/ST Act For ‘Giving Caste Angle’ In Haldwani ‘Purification’ RowFor Every Rs 100 Laundered, Only Re 1 Is Recovered By Authorities: CJI Surya Kant At Cambridge123Hot PicksNepal floodMumbai port fireGandak riverMumbai milk priceDelhi rapeWeather tomorrowTN milk price hikeGATE 2027 registrationIndia GDP growthTop TrendingCanyon Flash FloodStuart BroadBabaz AzamNovak DjokovicUS Iran WarTravis Kelce BusinessKai CenatCoco GauffsNaomi OsakaLebron James Zimbabwe survive huge Namibia scare, clinch five-run win in final-over thriller Gold pledged for loan stolen in bank robbery: Borrower gets gold value plus Rs 88,362 for making charges and stones, Rs 40,000 compensation – how he won the case Once called ‘junior Amitabh Bachchan’, child artist Master Ravi was paid Rs 3500 per day, went on to become a professional chef, now leads administration department of a prominent company ‘Most beautiful bread in the world’: Why everyone is talking about this Uzbek bread AI cameras watched birds around solar panels for 17,000 hours and recorded no collisions; scientists are now testing the system in 7 US states After a decade-long restoration, 1,800 volunteers took turns pulling a 400-ton Japanese castle with ropes; 8,000 people had applied for the chance to help move it NEW DELHI: Veteran social activist Anna Hazare has been admitted to a hospital in Mumbai, according to reports.Hazare, 89, has been admitted for medical treatment. Further details about his condition and the reason for his hospitalisation were not immediately available.Hazare, who has been associated with several anti-corruption and social reform campaigns, rose to national prominence during the 2011 anti-corruption movement, when he led a hunger strike demanding a strong Lokpal law.Further details about his health are awaited.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorRohitashwa RanjanRohitashwa Ranjan is a digital journalist with The Times of India, where he decodes Indian politics as a carefully staged production with scripts, subtext and everything behind. His stories track elections, party dynamics and the things that often are buried beneath the headlines. When not parsing vote shares or alliances, he is usually reading between the lines, where the real story tends to reside.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndus Waters Row: India Rejects Hague Court’s Jurisdiction, Says Treaty Suspension Will Continue’Dumped 40 KM Away In Delhi’: Teen Allegedly Gang-Raped In Empty Sleeper Bus, Two Accused ArrestedLVM3 Tech Transfer: Adani, Mahindra Among Firms Eyeing ISRO’s ‘Bahubali’ RocketPM Modi Meets Pezeshkian In Bishkek, Reiterates ‘Friendship With Iran’ Amid West Asia Conflict‘Babur’s Country Honoured Modi’: Owaisi Takes Dig At BJP, RSS As PM Gets Uzbekistan’s Top Award’One May Call Bharat Superpower But…’: RSS Chief Bhagwat’s ‘Vishwaguru’ Msg In Canada‘Islam Is Greater Than Other Dharams’: Karnataka Minister Sparks Row, BJP Calls Cong ‘Anti-Hindu’FIR Against Rahul Gandhi Under SC/ST Act For ‘Giving Caste Angle’ In Haldwani ‘Purification’ RowFor Every Rs 100 Laundered, Only Re 1 Is Recovered By Authorities: CJI Surya Kant At Cambridge‘Oldest Trick In RSS Playbook’: Owaisi Slams Mohan Bhagwat’s Hindu-Muslim Unity Call In New York123PhotostoriesBigg Boss Telugu through the years: A look back at all seasonsVaibhav Suryavanshi breaks all-time Duleep Trophy record as a teenager: Times the young cricketer has made historyThe glass-skin obsession: Can Indian skin really achieve that mirror-like glow?Personality test optical illusion: Only sharp-eyed people can find all the hidden deer in this image within 11 secondsTamannaah Bhatia just made Rs 2.43 lakh look like a personality trait in this Aisha Rao ivory ensembleNew OTT releases this week (August 31-September 6): ‘Gandhari’, ‘Dhamaal 4’, ‘The Gentlemen’ Season 2, ‘Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly’ and moreTravelling by train in India? 10 things you should never do on a journeySamantha Ruth Prabhu joins the polka-dot club, and maternity fashion just got a lot more funBigg Boss Malayalam: A look back at seven unforgettable seasonsSimple things that make you feel good without spending money, from taking a walk to reconnecting with people you love123Hot PicksNepal floodMumbai port fireGandak riverMumbai milk priceDelhi rapeWeather tomorrowTN milk price hikeGATE 2027 registrationIndia GDP growthTop TrendingCanyon Flash FloodStuart BroadBabaz AzamNovak DjokovicUS Iran WarTravis Kelce BusinessKai CenatCoco GauffsNaomi OsakaLebron James A Kohl’s closed in 2016 and sat vacant for nearly a decade; $28 million later, the 80,000-square-foot store is becoming a church and community venue NSE’s closing auction sees Rs 39,718 crore rush on first index rebalancing day ‘Women should stay confined to homes’: Kerala Islamic scholar Kanthapuram defends purdah remark ‘I wish him nothing but suffering’: Nikitha Godishala’s friend knew murder accused Arjun Sharma but didn’t think he was capable of this crime Aug 31, 2026, 21:42 IST Bank credit growth nearly doubles to 19.1% in July as lending picks up across sectors Aamir Khan set to be a part of ‘Race 4’? Producer Ramesh Taurani breaks silence: ‘Refrain from speculations’ Scientists are tracking Burmese pythons to find other Burmese pythons; a single tagged snake can lead researchers to breeding females Château Des Grotteaux: Built in 1928 and bought by a future Dallas mayor, this French-style castle was doubled in size; 98 years later, it’s heading to auction after a $5.8M listing Michigan’s AQI hit 616 after Ontario wildfire smoke crossed into the US; scientists warn a warming climate could make such pollution more common Steven Spielberg’s 1989 divorce settlement reportedly reached around $100 million after just four years of marriage ‘Uncertainties’ rising: Xi Jinping calls for stronger China-Russia cooperation in meeting with Putin at SCO summit In 2024, Martin County voters approved a half-cent sales tax for conservation; two years later more than 2,000 acres are protected and eight more properties are being pursued Pisces Monthly Predictions for September 2026: Promising month ahead; opportunities in business and educational pursuits emerging 43km, multiple CCTV points, zero stops: Security gaps exposed in Delhi-NCR bus gang rape case Fog of flood: Nepal’s disaster raises a Himalayan question for China NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday shared a car ride with Russian President Vladimir Putin after their bilateral meeting in Bishkek on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit.PM Modi and Putin travelled to the opening ceremony of the VI World Nomad Games at Bishkek Arena, following their bilateral meeting.During the bilateral meeting, PM Modi called for an immediate end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and urged Putin to move from “endless war to the end of war.”PM Modi said that every day of war sets humanity back and that India, the land of Gandhi and Buddha, supports all efforts towards peace and will continue to do so.”We have been discussing the Ukraine issue. When we met previously, you briefed me in detail on all aspects of the matter. As you know, India supports all efforts towards peace and will continue to do so,” PM Modi said.Not the first timeThis was not the first time when PM Modi and Putin shared a car ride. Last year in China’s Tianjin, PM Modi and Putin shared a ride in the Russian President’s Aurus limousine as they left the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesPutin reportedly offered the ride to PM as he wanted them to travel together to the hotel venue of their bilateral meet. During the drive, they had a private conversation that lasted nearly an hour.According to ANI sources, the Russian leader waited for nearly 10 minutes so that Prime Minister Modi could join him.Additionally, PM Modi and Putin again “carpooled” together during the latter’s state visit to New Delhi. In December 2025, PM Modi broke protocol to receive Putin at Palam airport.The two leaders then “carpooled” to the prime minister’s residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg for a private dinner.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorRohitashwa RanjanRohitashwa Ranjan is a digital journalist with The Times of India, where he decodes Indian politics as a carefully staged production with scripts, subtext and everything behind. His stories track elections, party dynamics and the things that often are buried beneath the headlines. When not parsing vote shares or alliances, he is usually reading between the lines, where the real story tends to reside.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Dumped 40 KM Away In Delhi’: Teen Allegedly Gang-Raped In Empty Sleeper Bus, Two Accused ArrestedLVM3 Tech Transfer: Adani, Mahindra Among Firms Eyeing ISRO’s ‘Bahubali’ RocketPM Modi Meets Pezeshkian In Bishkek, Reiterates ‘Friendship With Iran’ Amid West Asia Conflict‘Babur’s Country Honoured Modi’: Owaisi Takes Dig At BJP, RSS As PM Gets Uzbekistan’s Top Award’One May Call Bharat Superpower But…’: RSS Chief Bhagwat’s ‘Vishwaguru’ Msg In Canada‘Islam Is Greater Than Other Dharams’: Karnataka Minister Sparks Row, BJP Calls Cong ‘Anti-Hindu’FIR Against Rahul Gandhi Under SC/ST Act For ‘Giving Caste Angle’ In Haldwani ‘Purification’ RowFor Every Rs 100 Laundered, Only Re 1 Is Recovered By Authorities: CJI Surya Kant At Cambridge‘Oldest Trick In RSS Playbook’: Owaisi Slams Mohan Bhagwat’s Hindu-Muslim Unity Call In New YorkWho Is Divya Mittal? IAS Officer’s Resignation After 13 Years Sparks Online Debate123PhotostoriesVaibhav Suryavanshi breaks all-time Duleep Trophy record as a teenager: Times the young cricketer has made historyThe glass-skin obsession: Can Indian skin really achieve that mirror-like glow?Personality test optical illusion: Only sharp-eyed people can find all the hidden deer in this image within 11 secondsTamannaah Bhatia just made Rs 2.43 lakh look like a personality trait in this Aisha Rao ivory ensembleNew OTT releases this week (August 31-September 6): ‘Gandhari’, ‘Dhamaal 4’, ‘The Gentlemen’ Season 2, ‘Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly’ and moreTravelling by train in India? 10 things you should never do on a journeySamantha Ruth Prabhu joins the polka-dot club, and maternity fashion just got a lot more funBigg Boss Malayalam: A look back at seven unforgettable seasonsSimple things that make you feel good without spending money, from taking a walk to reconnecting with people you loveMulank 1-9: What does your number hide best?123Hot PicksNepal floodMumbai port fireGandak riverMumbai milk priceDelhi rapeWeather tomorrowTN milk price hikeGATE 2027 registrationIndia GDP growthTop TrendingCanyon Flash FloodStuart BroadBabaz AzamNovak DjokovicUS Iran WarTravis Kelce BusinessKai CenatCoco GauffsNaomi OsakaLebron James Soori’s rise to stardom continues; ‘Mandaadi’ actor charges a massive salary for his new film with director Ravikumar Mumbai property registrations hit 14-year August high at 12,401 units | Nepal Flood Dog Tragedy: Nepal tragedy: Owners missing, dog refuses to leave flood-hit Trishuli home PM Modi and Vladimir Putin hug during their bilateral meeting in Bishkek NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where the two leaders discussed bilateral ties and key global developments.”Had extensive discussions with President Putin. Discussed the full range of the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. It is gladdening to see significant progress across various sectors in recent years. Focus areas for the India-Russia friendship remain energy, innovation, space, fertilisers and people-to-people linkages,” PM Modi said in a post on X.’Move from endless war to end of war’Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for an end to prolonged conflicts, saying that every day spent in war pushes humanity backwards, while steps towards peace bring renewed hope.”Every day spent in war sets humanity back, whereas every step taken towards peace fills humanity with new hope and enthusiasm. We must move away from endless war and an end to the war. This is essential for the well-being of humanity,” PM Modi said during his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bishkek.Referring to the Ukraine conflict, PM Modi said India had consistently discussed the issue with Putin and remained committed to supporting peace efforts. “We have consistently discussed the issue of Ukraine. When we met previously, you briefed me in detail on all aspects of the matter. As you know, India supports all efforts towards peace and will continue to do so,” he said.Calling for an early peaceful settlement, PM Modi said, “A peaceful resolution to all issues at the earliest is the call of humanity, and this is India’s message. The land of Gandhi and the land of Buddha share a single message- the path of peace. Today, I look forward to discussing these matters with you,” he added.PM Modi invites Putin for Brics SummitPM Modi invited Putin to New Delhi for the upcoming Brics Summit in September.”We are eager to welcome you to India for the Brics Summit in New Delhi this September,” PM Modi said, adding that Putin’s visit would “further strengthen India-Russia relations.”Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesPutin is scheduled to travel to New Delhi later this year for the summit.Putin thanked PM Modi for his role in maintaining India-Russia relations. “I’m very grateful to you for your personal attention to the Russia-India relationship,” the Russian president said.The two leaders reviewed cooperation across areas of the bilateral partnership and exchanged views on pressing international issues.PM Modi and Putin take car rideFollowing their bilateral meeting, PM Modi and Putin travelled together in the same car to the opening ceremony of the VI World Nomad Games at Bishkek Arena.The meeting comes months after the last India-Russia Annual Summit, held in New Delhi during Putin’s state visit on December 4-5, 2025. During that summit, the two countries adopted a joint statement and announced 21 outcomes, including 16 MoUs and agreements covering areas such as mobility, fertilisers, health, food safety, maritime cooperation, customs, commerce, academics and media.India and Russia have held 23 annual summits so far, alternately in the two countries. Their relationship was elevated to a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” in 2010.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.About the AuthorAastha JhaAastha Jha is a writer at The Times of India, covering politics. She also writes on business, global affairs, social issues, with a focus on policy, governance and their impact on everyday lives. Her work brings together reportage and analysis, tracking developments in India and abroad while examining the broader social and economic currents shaping public discourse.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosLVM3 Tech Transfer: Adani, Mahindra Among Firms Eyeing ISRO’s ‘Bahubali’ RocketPM Modi Meets Pezeshkian In Bishkek, Reiterates ‘Friendship With Iran’ Amid West Asia Conflict‘Babur’s Country Honoured Modi’: Owaisi Takes Dig At BJP, RSS As PM Gets Uzbekistan’s Top Award’One May Call Bharat Superpower But…’: RSS Chief Bhagwat’s ‘Vishwaguru’ Msg In Canada‘Islam Is Greater Than Other Dharams’: Karnataka Minister Sparks Row, BJP Calls Cong ‘Anti-Hindu’FIR Against Rahul Gandhi Under SC/ST Act For ‘Giving Caste Angle’ In Haldwani ‘Purification’ RowFor Every Rs 100 Laundered, Only Re 1 Is Recovered By Authorities: CJI Surya Kant At Cambridge‘Oldest Trick In RSS Playbook’: Owaisi Slams Mohan Bhagwat’s Hindu-Muslim Unity Call In New YorkWho Is Divya Mittal? IAS Officer’s Resignation After 13 Years Sparks Online DebateIndia, Uzbekistan Ink Long-Term Uranium Deal: How The Pact Boosts Delhi’s Nuclear Ambitions123PhotostoriesVaibhav Suryavanshi breaks all-time Duleep Trophy record as a teenager: Times the young cricketer has made historyThe glass-skin obsession: Can Indian skin really achieve that mirror-like glow?Personality test optical illusion: Only sharp-eyed people can find all the hidden deer in this image within 11 secondsTamannaah Bhatia just made Rs 2.43 lakh look like a personality trait in this Aisha Rao ivory ensembleNew OTT releases this week (August 31-September 6): ‘Gandhari’, ‘Dhamaal 4’, ‘The Gentlemen’ Season 2, ‘Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly’ and moreTravelling by train in India? 10 things you should never do on a journeySamantha Ruth Prabhu joins the polka-dot club, and maternity fashion just got a lot more funBigg Boss Malayalam: A look back at seven unforgettable seasonsSimple things that make you feel good without spending money, from taking a walk to reconnecting with people you loveMulank 1-9: What does your number hide best?123Hot PicksNepal floodMumbai port fireGandak riverMumbai milk priceDelhi rapeWeather tomorrowTN milk price hikeGATE 2027 registrationIndia GDP growthTop TrendingCanyon Flash FloodStuart BroadBabaz AzamNovak DjokovicUS Iran WarTravis Kelce BusinessKai CenatCoco GauffsNaomi OsakaLebron James Updated: Aug 31, 2026, 20:51 IST Aquarius Monthly Predictions for September 2026: Focus on health, income, and relationships is crucial Tensions escalate in Manipur as 2 villagers killed, another injured in gun attack in Kangpokpi