VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html ‘I have seen abusive directors, but Aditya Dhar was so chilled’: Gaurav Gera heaps praise on ‘Dhurandhar’ filmmaker A blend of simplicity, legacy, and chess Asian stocks today: Stocks ease but set for weekly gains amid optimism on war de-escalation In the latest in a series of mysterious drive-by shootings at high-profile terror ideologues and commanders in Pakistan, Lashkar-eTaiba (LeT) co-founder Amir Hamza (67) was shot by unidentified gunmen in Lahore on Thursday. This marks the second assassination attempt on Hamza, a USdesignated terrorist, over the past year; he had survived a shooting in May 2025.The attack was reminiscent of a sequence in Bollywood blockbuster ‘Dhurandhar 2’ depicting the killing of Zahoor Mistry in Karachi by motorcycle-borne assailants. Hamza had stepped out of the office of News 24 (Pakistan) following a TV appearance along with Judge Nazir Ahmad Ghazi when two bikers, presumably locals aware of the area’s layout, fired multiple shots at his car near a bus stop before fleeing. Hamza was rushed to hospital with a gunshot injury to his shoulder.In the early 2000s, Hamza had been entrusted with setting up bases in India. He was among the terrorists allegedly involved in the 2005 attack on Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru.The attack, which comes amidst top Lashkar commanders announcing, through video messages, revenge for the destruction of their Muridke camp during last year’s Operation Sindoor, follows multiple killings of LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists in recent times.LeT’s political wing PMML strongly condemned the attack, saying it reflected a failure of Pakistan govt. A letter seeking security was signed by LeT commander Saifullah Kasuri, Hafiz Talha Saeed, Hafiz Abdul Rauf, among others. They added that Hamza had brought together individuals from different schools of thought on a single platform, Tehreek-e-Hurmat-e-Rasool.Hamza was declared a global terrorist by US in 2012. The top LeT ideologue is referred to as ‘Afghan Mujahideen’ and is close to Hafiz Saeed and Abdul Rehman Makki, who had appointed him to Lashkar’s central committee.According to the US treasury department, Hamza actively maintained Lashkar’s relations with other groups under the guidance of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed. In 2018, Saeed asked him to form another outfit named Jaish-e-Manqafa in the wake of the ban on Lashkar and Jamat-ud-Dawah.About the AuthorRaj Shekhar JhaRaj Shekhar Jha is a journalist for the Times of India with over a decade of experience in reporting on national security, terrorism, crime and prisons.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Pakistan’s Role Discussed’: Shashi Tharoor On Foreign Secretary Briefing On West Asia Conflict‘I Am Warning Govt’: AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi Says Delimitation Could Become ‘Permanent Wound’’Never Be Forgiven’: PM Modi Dares Opposition On Women Quota Bill, Priyanka Gandhi Questions Timing‘Won’t Reduce South’s Share’: Amit Shah Clarifies On Delimitation, Calls Oppn Claims ‘Misleading’Hal’s Light Utility Helicopter Explained: Specs, Altitude Edge And Why It Matters‘PM Modi Only Flag Bearer Of Feminism’: Kangana Ranaut Targets Congress Over Women Quota Bill In Lok SabhaPM Modi, French President Macron Stress Urgent Need To Restore Hormuz Safety During Phone Call’If Chanakya Were Alive…’: Priyanka Gandhi’s Swipe At Amit Shah Over Delimitation, Women QuotaNo More Russian Oil Waiver: What The US Decision Means For India’s Energy Needs Amid West Asia CrisisAustria’s Chancellor Calls India Key Partner, Pushes India-EU Trade Deal Amid Global Turmoil123PhotostoriesViswanathan Anand’s Chennai home: A blend of simplicity, legacy, and chessExclusive – Kiku Sharda opens up about his kids’ reaction to his female roles, Sunil Grover’s talent, and his bond with Kapil Sharma5 Japanese food rituals that could fix your eating habits instantlyWhy your heirloom Kanjeevaram saree feels so different from a modern silk shirtStep inside Chris Gayle’s ₹20 crore lavish Jamaica mansion with private nightclub, infinity pools and unbelievable ocean views!‘Are we eating all our mangoes’: Why despite being the largest producer of mangoes, India is able to export just 1 percentGold vs lab-grown diamonds: What should you really buy this Akshaya Tritiya?Top 5 posh residential areas in Gurugram for premium living7 local and comforting dishes to try in MangaloreWeekend binge list on OTT: From ‘Euphoria Season 3’ to ‘Do Deewane Seher Mein’123Hot PicksIran warWipro buyback planPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingNashik TCSTrump-Modi callSouth Delimitation ImpactAmit ShahPriyanka GandhiUK Flea Treatment RulesAlex ManningerCody RhodesCharlie Kirk ControversyTiger Woods Namit Malhotra calls Ranbir Kapoor the ‘finest actor of our generation’; says, ‘No one better to portray Lord Rama’ Reverse male pattern baldness: Home remedies for hair regrowth in balding men Inside Google’s stake worth $100 billion in Elon Musk’s SpaceX ANI image BENGALURU: Earth’s orbit is turning into a high-speed traffic grid and Indian satellites are swerving to stay safe. More than 1.5 lakh close approach alerts were issued for Indian space assets in 2025, exposing mounting collision risks in an increasingly crowded sky.Data from Indian Space Situational Assessment Report 2025 shows about 1.6 lakh alerts globally, many generated by the US Space Command’s Combined Space Operations Center. Each alert flags a potential nearmiss — a sign of how tightly packed orbital paths have become. Behind record-breaking launches lies mounting operational pressure.A surge in satellite constellations, often deployed in clusters exceeding 100 objects in a single day, has shrunk reaction windows and complicated tracking.For Isro, that has meant constant vigilance. Indian missions carried out 18 collision avoidance manoeuvres (CAM) during the year — 14 in low Earth orbit and four in geosynchronous orbit — to steer clear of danger. “All manoeuvre plans, including CAMs, were subjected to close-approach risk analysis to rule out potential close approach with neighbouring space objects within a few days of the manoeuvres; 82 manoeuvre plans were revised to avoid post-manoeuvre close approaches with other space objects for LEO satellites, and two were revised to avoid post-manoeuvre conjunctions for GEO satellites,” the report found.Deep-space missions faced similar constraints. Chandrayaan-2 orbiter executed 16 orbit manoeuvres, with plans altered twice to avoid risks.Globally, 315 successful launches in 2025 placed 4,651 objects in orbit — far higher than 254 launches in 2024 and 212 in 2023. Of these, 4,198 are operational satellites. While 1,911 objects re-entered the atmosphere, the total population in orbit continues to grow. A tipping point looms. Active satellites could outnumber debris within this decade, raising stakes for coordination as more objects move through narrow corridors at high speeds.About the AuthorChethan KumarChethan Kumar is a Senior Assistant Editor with the Times of India. Aside from specialising in Space & Science, he has reported extensively on varied topics, with special focus on defence, policy and data stories. He has covered multiple elections, too. As a young democracy grows out of adolescence, Chethan feels, there are reels of tales emerging which need to be captured. To do this, he alternates between the mundane goings-on of the Common Man and the wonder-filled worlds of scientists and scamsters, politicians and soldiers. In a career spanning nearly 18 years, he has reported from multiple datelines — Houston, Florida, Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Sriharikota (AP), NH-1 (J&K Highway), New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Raichur, Bhatkal, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, to name a few — but is based out of Bengaluru, India’s science capital that also hosts the ISRO HQ.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Never Be Forgiven’: PM Modi Dares Opposition On Women Quota Bill, Priyanka Gandhi Questions Timing‘Won’t Reduce South’s Share’: Amit Shah Clarifies On Delimitation, Calls Oppn Claims ‘Misleading’Hal’s Light Utility Helicopter Explained: Specs, Altitude Edge And Why It Matters‘PM Modi Only Flag Bearer Of Feminism’: Kangana Ranaut Targets Congress Over Women Quota Bill In Lok SabhaPM Modi, French President Macron Stress Urgent Need To Restore Hormuz Safety During Phone Call’If Chanakya Were Alive…’: Priyanka Gandhi’s Swipe At Amit Shah Over Delimitation, Women QuotaNo More Russian Oil Waiver: What The US Decision Means For India’s Energy Needs Amid West Asia CrisisAustria’s Chancellor Calls India Key Partner, Pushes India-EU Trade Deal Amid Global TurmoilLok Sabha Erupts As Sawant Names Sengar, Brij Bhushan; Dubey Hits Back With Aaditya Thackeray Claim‘Not A Backdoor Exercise’: Tejasvi Surya Counters Opposition On Delimitation, Flags Representation Risks123Photostories8 rare baby boy names that start with the letter ‘K’Exclusive – Kiku Sharda opens up about his kids’ reaction to his female roles, Sunil Grover’s talent, and his bond with Kapil Sharma5 Japanese food rituals that could fix your eating habits instantlyWhy your heirloom Kanjeevaram saree feels so different from a modern silk shirt8 most unusual monkeys in the world: From capuchins to mandrillsStep inside Chris Gayle’s ₹20 crore lavish Jamaica mansion with private nightclub, infinity pools and unbelievable ocean views!‘Are we eating all our mangoes’: Why despite being the largest producer of mangoes, India is able to export just 1 percentGold vs lab-grown diamonds: What should you really buy this Akshaya Tritiya?Top 5 posh residential areas in Gurugram for premium living7 local and comforting dishes to try in Mangalore123Hot PicksIran warWipro buyback planPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingTCS NashikTrump-Modi callSouth Delimitation ImpactAmit ShahPriyanka GandhiUK Flea Treatment RulesAlex ManningerCody RhodesCharlie Kirk ControversyTiger Woods Stock market today (April 17, 2026): Nifty50 opens above 24,200; BSE Sensex up around 100 points D4vd arrested: Lawyers claim singer is innocent; say ‘he did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez’ NASA confirms: 4.6 billion-year-old Asteroid Apophis to enter satellite zone; know when and should we be concerned ‘Not a major scandal’: Uncle of accused in TCS Nashik case says ‘scripted conspiracy by Bajrang Dal’ Bengal polls: Why SIR is validation for Kalimpong residents | India News IPL 2026: Out-of-form KKR take on in-form GT; Prasidh Krishna poses big threat | Cricket News IPL 2026 Match Today, GT vs KKR: Predicted playing XI, head-to-head, pitch report and Ahmedabad weather report | Cricket News NEET UG 2026 scribe window opens for PwBD candidates: Check direct link to complete registrations here ‘Bhooth Bangla’ box office: Akshay Kumar starrer earns Rs 3.5 crore in paid previews, eyes strong Rs 15 crore opening World Public Transport Day: Dubai just revealed world’s first air-taxi station near Dubai International Airport (DBX); promises faster, traffic-free travel across the city ‘We can do what we want’: Trump claims US on course for victory over ‘smart, tough’ Iran Amid the recurring debate over whether northern states could gain at the expense of the South in any future Lok Sabha expansion, the historical record tells a more complicated story. Between 1951 and 1977, when parliamentary seats were periodically reallocated after Census exercises, both the Hindi belt and the southern states saw their share of Lok Sabha seats decline. But the Hindi belt’s share fell by far more — 3.1 percentage points, against a 1.2-point decline for the South.The main reason was not a gain for the South over the North, or vice versa, but the growing representation of Union Territories and the rising share of western and eastern states. The comparison also needs to be read with caution: India’s map looked very different in 1951, before the linguistic reorganisation of states. By 1956, states were more or less in their present form, but several UTs either had little or no Lok Sabha representation at the time. Taken together, the data shows that changes in parliamentary representation were shaped not just by the North-South balance, but also by state reorganisation, UT representation, and the evolving federal map of India.► The 1951 election was held before the linguistic reorganisation of states, so state boundaries were very different from today’s ► After the 1956 reorganisation, states were broadly in their present form, but several Union Territories still had little or no Lok Sabha representation ► The fall in share was driven partly by the growing representation of UTs and by gains by western and eastern states ► Even in 1977, the last election in this analysis since Lok Sabha seats have not been reallocated after that, Daman & Diu did not exist as a separate UT ► This comparison tracks share of total Lok Sabha seats, not voter population per Member of Parliament or constituency size ►For 1951 and 1957, the figures refer to seats, not constituencies, because some constituencies then elected two membersEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Never Be Forgiven’: PM Modi Dares Opposition On Women Quota Bill, Priyanka Gandhi Questions Timing‘Won’t Reduce South’s Share’: Amit Shah Clarifies On Delimitation, Calls Oppn Claims ‘Misleading’Hal’s Light Utility Helicopter Explained: Specs, Altitude Edge And Why It Matters‘PM Modi Only Flag Bearer Of Feminism’: Kangana Ranaut Targets Congress Over Women Quota Bill In Lok SabhaPM Modi, French President Macron Stress Urgent Need To Restore Hormuz Safety During Phone Call’If Chanakya Were Alive…’: Priyanka Gandhi’s Swipe At Amit Shah Over Delimitation, Women QuotaNo More Russian Oil Waiver: What The US Decision Means For India’s Energy Needs Amid West Asia CrisisAustria’s Chancellor Calls India Key Partner, Pushes India-EU Trade Deal Amid Global TurmoilLok Sabha Erupts As Sawant Names Sengar, Brij Bhushan; Dubey Hits Back With Aaditya Thackeray Claim‘Not A Backdoor Exercise’: Tejasvi Surya Counters Opposition On Delimitation, Flags Representation Risks123Photostories8 rare baby boy names that start with the letter ‘K’Exclusive – Kiku Sharda opens up about his kids’ reaction to his female roles, Sunil Grover’s talent, and his bond with Kapil Sharma5 Japanese food rituals that could fix your eating habits instantly5 Signs of high emotional intelligence that instantly set you apart from others5 things couples do before calling it quitsWhy your heirloom Kanjeevaram saree feels so different from a modern silk shirt8 most unusual monkeys in the world: From capuchins to mandrillsStep inside Chris Gayle’s ₹20 crore lavish Jamaica mansion with private nightclub, infinity pools and unbelievable ocean views!‘Are we eating all our mangoes’: Why despite being the largest producer of mangoes, India is able to export just 1 percentGold vs lab-grown diamonds: What should you really buy this Akshaya Tritiya?123Hot PicksIran warWipro buyback planPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingTCS NashikTrump-Modi callSouth Delimitation ImpactAmit ShahPriyanka GandhiUK Flea Treatment RulesAlex ManningerCody RhodesCharlie Kirk ControversyTiger Woods ‘India’s loss, not Iyer’s’: Ashwin endorses Shreyas Iyer as next T20I captain HSSC CET result 2026 released at hssc.gov.in: Direct link to download scorecards here After Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan,’ Rajinikanth’s ‘Jailer 2’ faces leak scare; makers issue strict warning and legal action against piracy The invisible strain: How tight bends are killing your EV charging cable | Just weeks before big Siri launch, Apple may send away dozens of its engineers for a multiweek bootcamp Clavicular story takes dark turn after overdose as early hospital exit and PR support loss raise serious questions How interplay of caste, geography decides winners in Tamil Nadu | India News Apr 17, 2026, 08:47 IST Christina Applegate hospitalised in Los Angeles amid ongoing battle with multiple sclerosis | How to fix sour idli batter instantly with simple kitchen hacks | ‘Broke down in tears’: Artemis II crew recall ‘otherworldly’ experience of their trip to the Moon | “You lied about it”: Candace Owens explodes at JD Vance in jaw-dropping rant over Iran school strike controversy Representative image NEW DELHI: While the Lok Sabha debated three Bills, including a Constitutional amendment Bill, to enable the rollout of women’s reservation in the 2029 general election, the law ministry on Thursday notified April 16, 2026 as the date on which the provisions of the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act 2023 — popularly called the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam — shall come into force.Sources in the government said the commencement of the 2023 Act was notified as it was a “technical” requirement for seeking further amendments to the very constitutional provisions it had inserted/amended.The Lok Sabha is currently debating three Bills, including the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026 that seeks to amend Article 330A, 332A and 334A inserted through the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth) Amendment) Act, 2023. The 2023 Constitution amendment Act had contemplated women’s reservation to become operative after the first delimitation undertaken on the basis of the relevant census after the commencement of the Act. However, the government, reasoning that the next census (Census 2027) and consequential delimitation will take considerable time and delay the participation of women in the polity, introduced on Thursday the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill to enable delimitation exercise to be undertaken on the basis of population figures of the latest published census, which is Census 2011.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 MediaVideos’Never Be Forgiven’: PM Modi Dares Opposition On Women Quota Bill, Priyanka Gandhi Questions Timing‘Won’t Reduce South’s Share’: Amit Shah Clarifies On Delimitation, Calls Oppn Claims ‘Misleading’Hal’s Light Utility Helicopter Explained: Specs, Altitude Edge And Why It Matters‘PM Modi Only Flag Bearer Of Feminism’: Kangana Ranaut Targets Congress Over Women Quota Bill In Lok SabhaPM Modi, French President Macron Stress Urgent Need To Restore Hormuz Safety During Phone Call’If Chanakya Were Alive…’: Priyanka Gandhi’s Swipe At Amit Shah Over Delimitation, Women QuotaNo More Russian Oil Waiver: What The US Decision Means For India’s Energy Needs Amid West Asia CrisisAustria’s Chancellor Calls India Key Partner, Pushes India-EU Trade Deal Amid Global TurmoilLok Sabha Erupts As Sawant Names Sengar, Brij Bhushan; Dubey Hits Back With Aaditya Thackeray Claim‘Not A Backdoor Exercise’: Tejasvi Surya Counters Opposition On Delimitation, Flags Representation Risks123Photostories8 rare baby boy names that start with the letter ‘K’Exclusive – Kiku Sharda opens up about his kids’ reaction to his female roles, Sunil Grover’s talent, and his bond with Kapil Sharma5 Japanese food rituals that could fix your eating habits instantlyWhy your heirloom Kanjeevaram saree feels so different from a modern silk shirt8 most unusual monkeys in the world: From capuchins to mandrillsStep inside Chris Gayle’s ₹20 crore lavish Jamaica mansion with private nightclub, infinity pools and unbelievable ocean views!‘Are we eating all our mangoes’: Why despite being the largest producer of mangoes, India is able to export just 1 percentGold vs lab-grown diamonds: What should you really buy this Akshaya Tritiya?Top 5 posh residential areas in Gurugram for premium living7 local and comforting dishes to try in Mangalore123Hot PicksIran warWipro buyback planPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingTCS NashikTrump-Modi callSouth Delimitation ImpactAmit ShahPriyanka GandhiUK Flea Treatment RulesAlex ManningerCody RhodesCharlie Kirk ControversyTiger Woods Apr 17, 2026, 08:07 IST Top stocks to buy today: Stock recommendations for April 17, 2026 – check list Karnataka SSLC result in third week of May, Higher Secondary on 25th May: Here’s what students need to know ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’ final trailer drops ahead of May release, Gives fans a look into the duo’s connection The secret ‘twist’ to keeping your curtains dust-free without constant washing | Oil prices today: Crude falls in early trade on hopes of easing Middle East conflict Russia hits Ukraine with missiles & drones, 17 dead ‘Targeting commercial shipping unacceptable’: India urges safe navigation through Strait of Hormuz at UN | India News China springs surprise with 5% growth Dwayne Johnson unveils new look at ‘Moana’ live-adaptation, reflects on his role as Maui; ‘An amazing experience’ OpenAI Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane is very angry with everyone blaming AI for ‘doomsday’, especially Americans and Europeans; says: They are … War brings US close to net crude exporter for first time since WWII Tamil Nadu polls: DMK bets on Senthilbalaji to breach ADMK’s western bastion | India News IPL 2026 | ‘Aaj hi kiya hai na sir, kal kaha’: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s funny exchange with Romi Bhinder goes viral – WATCH | Cricket News US cos wary of Trump’s fresh tariff plan under 301 ‘Street Fighter’ Trailer: Vidyut Jammwal makes Hollywood debut as Dhalsim in the Noah Centineo starrer | English Movie News Buy or sell: Stock recommendation by brokers for April 17, 2026