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Large parts of San Francisco were plunged into darkness on Saturday following a major power outage that disrupted daily life across the city and brought traffic to a near standstill. Nearly one-third of the city, home to over 800,000 residents, was affected as electricity cuts stretched from morning well into the day.
Several neighbourhoods remained without power for hours, forcing residents to navigate unlit streets. Some were even seen celebrating birthdays outdoors amid the blackout, highlighting the scale and duration of the disruption. Public transport services were hit, businesses were forced to shut down during a peak holiday shopping period, and normally busy commercial zones fell unusually quiet.
The outage severely impacted road traffic. With traffic signals offline, congestion worsened across multiple intersections. Autonomous robotaxis were seen stalled or blocking roads, compounding gridlock and nearly causing accidents, according to videos circulating on social media. Drivers reported long delays while attempting to cross the city, with some lanes obstructed by immobilised self-driving vehicles.
Waymo, the company operating autonomous robotaxis in the city, said its priority was rider safety and ensuring emergency personnel could move freely while the situation was being addressed.
City authorities urged residents to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary, warning that several traffic signals remained non-functional. Police officers and traffic personnel were deployed to manually manage key intersections as weather conditions worsened with fog and incoming rain.
The city&rsquo;s mayor confirmed that the blackout was caused by a fire at a substation and said it was unclear when full power restoration would be completed. An emergency operations centre was activated to monitor the situation and coordinate response efforts.
Officials said approximately 130,000 customers were affected at the peak of the outage. A city-wide outage map showed the western parts of San Francisco were hit the hardest, including areas such as Richmond, Sunset, Presidio, and Golden Gate Park.
By late evening, a majority of customers had their electricity restored, though authorities continued to monitor remaining affected zones as recovery efforts progressed.

John Mleczko, left, and Julia Cooke, both of San Mateo, sit on a bench with their friend

Power outage halts traffic, stalls self-driving cars, disrupts daily life

San Francisco plunged into blackout chaos

Elon Musk&rsquo;s latest project reportedly centres on Ani, a 3D animated AI chatbot designed by his artificial intelligence company, xAI. 
According to reports, Musk personally oversaw the development and design of the &ldquo;racy&rdquo; chatbot, which has drawn attention for its adult-oriented features.
Described by xAI&rsquo;s Grok as an &ldquo;AI companion feature,&rdquo; Ani is a &ldquo;3D animated, anime-inspired character resembling Misa Amane from Death Note.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The chatbot reportedly includes an affection system, voice and visual customization options, accessibility features, and an NSFW mode, raising concerns about its potential exposure to young users.
Ani&rsquo;s creation is reportedly part of Musk&rsquo;s broader effort to make xAI&rsquo;s Grok &ldquo;the world&rsquo;s most popular AI.&rdquo; 
On Grok&rsquo;s iOS app, Ani introduces herself with the tagline, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m your little sweet delight.&rdquo;
A company lawyer, Lily Lim, stated that the new avatar required biometric data from employees to train Ani to &ldquo;act and appear like human beings during conversations.&rdquo; 
Employees allegedly worked as &ldquo;AI tutors,&rdquo; providing their faces and voices for training after signing a license granting xAI perpetual, worldwide rights to use their likeness and voice.
This effort, internally known as Project Skippy, reportedly led to concerns among staff. 
One employee feared her face could be used in deepfakes if the company sold the data, while another raised issues about opting out of participation.
In response, a project leader reportedly said: &ldquo;If you have any concerns with regards to the project, you&rsquo;re welcome to reach out to any of the [points of contact] listed on the second slide.&rdquo;
A week later, employees were informed in a notice titled &ldquo;AI Tutor&rsquo;s Role in Advancing xAI&rsquo;s Mission&rdquo; that their participation would include &ldquo;recording audio or participating in video sessions.&rdquo; 
Ani, the avatar Musk had personally promoted, was officially launched in mid-July.

Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Ani virtual avatar design

Musk’s xAI stirs debate with ‘racy’ chatbot Ani featuring NSFW companion mode

Elon Musk’s XAI Creates ‘Racy’ AI Chatbot Ani

E-commerce giant Amazon is set to lay off nearly 30,000 corporate employees, marking its largest round of job cuts since 2022. The layoffs, expected to begin Tuesday, come as the company recalibrates after pandemic-era overhiring and leans into artificial intelligence&ndash;driven efficiencies, according to people familiar with internal discussions.
The figure represents about 10% of Amazon&rsquo;s 350,000 corporate staff, though it&rsquo;s a fraction of the company&rsquo;s global 1.55 million employees. The restructuring will reportedly affect several divisions, including human resources (People Experience and Technology), operations, devices and services, and even Amazon Web Services (AWS). Managers were briefed on Monday and trained on how to deliver the news, with email notifications expected to begin Tuesday morning.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has been leading what insiders describe as an &ldquo;efficiency overhaul,&rdquo; aimed at reducing bureaucratic layers and streamlining processes. Earlier this year, he launched an anonymous feedback line that drew over 1,500 responses, resulting in more than 450 internal process changes.
Jassy had hinted in June that the company&rsquo;s increasing reliance on AI tools would likely lead to workforce reductions, particularly in repetitive and administrative roles.&nbsp;
&ldquo;This latest move signals that Amazon is likely realizing enough AI-driven productivity gains within corporate teams to support a substantial reduction in force,&rdquo; said&nbsp;Sky Canaves, an eMarketer analyst.
The cuts follow a failed attempt to nudge attrition through Amazon&rsquo;s return-to-office mandate, one of the strictest in Big Tech, requiring five in-office days per week. Employees who did not comply or lived far from corporate hubs are reportedly being classified as having &ldquo;voluntarily quit,&rdquo; forfeiting severance pay. While Amazon continues to slash corporate jobs, it remains bullish about the holiday season, planning to hire 250,000 seasonal workers, mirroring the last two years.
The company&rsquo;s most profitable arm, AWS, reported second-quarter sales of $30.9 billion, reflecting a 17.5% growth rate,&nbsp;significantly lower than Microsoft Azure&rsquo;s 39% and Google Cloud&rsquo;s 32%. Analysts estimate third-quarter sales could touch $32 billion, a slight deceleration.
Despite the layoffs, Amazon shares rose 1.2% to $226.97 on Monday ahead of its third-quarter earnings report due Thursday. The tech giant&rsquo;s continued restructuring underscores how AI transformation, post-pandemic recalibration, and internal efficiency drives are reshaping Silicon Valley&rsquo;s employment landscape.

In its biggest layoff since 2022, Amazon plans to trim 10% of its corporate workforce

Amazon to Cut 30,000 Jobs Amid AI Shift

OpenAI has unveiled Atlas, a new AI-powered web browser that directly integrates ChatGPT into its interface &mdash; aiming to transform how users explore and interact with the internet. 
The browser allows users to summarise content, personalise results, and engage with web pages seamlessly, potentially bypassing Google altogether.
Previously, ChatGPT operated as a separate site that users accessed through existing browsers. 
With Atlas, the chatbot becomes a built-in feature. 
Users can ask questions, generate summaries, or even perform actions such as ordering ingredients while reading a recipe &mdash; all within the same window.
This marks OpenAI&rsquo;s first fully-fledged browser. 
Earlier this year, the company launched Operator, a browser-based agent to automate online tasks like form-filling. 
However, Atlas aims to revolutionise web navigation itself.
&ldquo;We think that AI represents a rare, once-a-decade opportunity to rethink what a browser can be,&rdquo; said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
When users open a webpage in Atlas, an &ldquo;Ask ChatGPT&rdquo; sidebar appears, offering instant summaries or explanations. 
The browser competes directly with Google&rsquo;s AI-infused Chrome, Microsoft&rsquo;s Edge Copilot mode, and Perplexity&rsquo;s Comet browser &mdash; each vying for dominance in the rapidly evolving AI-browser landscape.
The move also highlights OpenAI&rsquo;s ambition to expand beyond its 800 million weekly ChatGPT users and to create new revenue streams. 
Altman recently announced that OpenAI would allow more diverse content, including erotica, as part of its effort to &ldquo;treat adult users like adults.&rdquo;
By launching its own browser, OpenAI also gains a direct connection to users, rather than depending on platforms like Google or Microsoft. 
With user consent, Atlas can use browsing history to deliver more tailored responses and recommendations.
Following the announcement, Google&rsquo;s shares dipped slightly amid investor concerns that Atlas could threaten Google&rsquo;s dominance in search and browser markets.
Atlas initially launches on macOS, with versions for Windows, iOS, and Android coming soon. 
The browser will be available to all users, including those on the free tier.
In early testing by The Telegraph, Atlas&rsquo;s AI summaries appeared slower to load at times, even for paid ChatGPT Plus accounts. 
Overall page load times were slightly behind Safari and Chrome.
Google, meanwhile, remains the global browser leader, commanding 71.9% market share as of September, according to StatCounter. 
A recent court ruling also ensured that Google would not have to sell its Chrome browser.
Ironically, Atlas mirrors what Google did more than a decade ago with Chrome &mdash; creating a browser tightly linked to its core AI service to reduce reliance on competitors.
In a separate development, an open letter released Wednesday called for a ban on developing superintelligent AI. 
It was signed by more than 700 notable figures, including AI pioneers Yoshua Bengio and Geoffrey Hinton, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Pope adviser Paolo Benanti, former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan.

OpenAI Atlas browser interface with ChatGPT

OpenAI launches Atlas browser with ChatGPT to challenge Google’s dominance

OpenAI Launches Atlas Browser To Rival Google

Tesla, the electric vehicle company led by billionaire Elon Musk, is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging discriminatory hiring practices that favour H1-B visa holders over American citizens.
The lawsuit, filed in a San Francisco federal court, claims that Tesla has violated federal civil rights law by showing a &ldquo;systematic preference&rdquo; for foreign workers on H1-B visas. It alleges that the company hires visa holders at lower wages while disproportionately firing U.S. citizens compared to their foreign counterparts.
According to the plaintiffs, this hiring pattern has created an uneven playing field, disadvantaging American workers in Tesla&rsquo;s workforce. The suit argues that the practice not only undermines employment opportunities for citizens but also constitutes unlawful discrimination.
Tesla has not yet issued an official statement in response to the lawsuit.

Tesla headquarters faces lawsuit over hiring practices

Tesla sued in US court for allegedly favoring H1-B visa holders over American workers

Tesla Faces Lawsuit Over Preference for H1-B Visa

In a breakthrough in the ongoing crackdown against drug trafficking, the Hanumangarh Police in Rajasthan have seized 268.6 grams of heroin (commonly known as chitta) valued at approximately ₹1 crore in the international market. &nbsp;
The operation, carried out by Sangaria Police, led to the arrest of a drug smuggler from Punjab.
A district-wide campaign is being carried out to combat drug smuggling, illegal weapons, gambling, betting, and other unlawful activities. 
The recent action is part of this intensified drive.&nbsp;
"All officers have been instructed to take strict action in their respective jurisdictions to prevent drug smuggling, illegal narcotics, illegal weapons, gambling, betting, illegal businesses and property-related crimes in the district. This action is part of this comprehensive campaign," said SP.
The Sangaria Police team made the arrest while patrolling in the Rohi Indragarh area. Acting on suspicion, they apprehended a man identified as Sanju Kumar alias Sanjay Nayak (22), son of Mahendra, a resident of Satirwala village under Khuikheda Police Station, Fazilka district, Punjab. 
Upon search, 268.6 grams of heroin were recovered from his possession.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police Janesh Tanwar and Circle Officer Karn Singh, and led by SHO Amar Singh.&nbsp;
A case has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of the NDPS Act at Sangaria Police Station. 
Further investigation is being conducted by Tibbi Police Station SHO Hansraj Luna.
Sub Inspector Pramod Singh, along with Constables Mandeep Singh, Manoj Kumar, Ravindra Kumar, and Driver Constable Deendayal, played key roles in the operation.&nbsp;
Constables Saheb Ram and Devkaran from the District Special Team Hanumangarh also contributed significantly to the success of the raid.&nbsp;
&mdash;IANS

Rajasthan Police seize heroin worth ₹1 crore

Heroin worth ₹1 crore seized by Rajasthan Police in swift action

Rajasthan Police Seize Heroin Worth ₹1 Crore

The UN Security Council (UNSC) adopted a resolution to strengthen mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of international disputes.&nbsp;
Resolution 2788, adopted unanimously by the 15-member council, urges all UN member states to utilize effectively the mechanisms as outlined in Article 33 of the UN Charter, including negotiation, inquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice, Xinhua news agency reported.
The resolution expresses the UNSC's readiness to utilize the mechanism of investigation provided in Article 34 of the UN Charter, which gives it the power to investigate any dispute or any situation that might lead to international friction to determine whether the continuance of the dispute is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security.
Resolution 2788 reaffirms the UNSC's role to recommend appropriate procedures or methods of adjustment for the peaceful settlement of disputes, and calls on member states to take necessary measures for the effective implementation of UNSC resolutions for the peaceful settlement of disputes.
The settlement encourages the UN secretary-general to ensure that the United Nations can lead and support mediation and preventive diplomacy efforts, encourages the secretary-general to continue to use his good offices, and calls on member states to support and cooperate with the secretary-general in this regard.
The decision urges regional and subregional organizations to enhance their efforts for the peaceful settlement of disputes, consistent with the UN Charter and relevant UNSC resolutions, and encourages member states to support the role of regional and subregional organizations in this regard. 
It calls for the strengthening of cooperation between these organizations and the United Nations.
The resolution requests the secretary-general to provide, one year following its adoption, concrete recommendations for further strengthening the mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes.
&mdash;IANS

UNSC calls for peaceful resolution of disputes

UNSC resolution urges dialogue to resolve global conflicts peacefully

UNSC Adopts Resolution On Peaceful Disputes

The United States brought to the Security Council President Donald Trump&rsquo;s claim of having resolved the India-Pakistan conflict in May, but New Delhi reaffirmed that it was resolved bilaterally.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Acting US Representative Dorothy Shea listed on Tuesday the conflict between India and Pakistan following the terrorist massacre in Pahalgam by The Resistance Front as one of those de-escalated by &ldquo;US leadership&rdquo; in the last three months, repeating an assertion Trump has made often.
&ldquo;The United States, under President Trump&rsquo;s leadership, played an important role in encouraging the parties to reach these resolutions, which we applaud and support&rdquo;, she said.
India&rsquo;s Permanent Representative P Harish said firmly that it was &ldquo;directly concluded&rdquo; at Pakistan&rsquo;s request to India.
Operation Sindoor &ldquo;on achieving its primary objectives, a cessation of military activities was directly concluded at the request of Pakistan&rdquo;, he said.
Harish said that Operation Sindoor, launched in retaliation for the massacre of 26 people by The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Tayiba based in and backed by Pakistan, &ldquo;was focused, measured, and non-escalatory in nature&rdquo;.
The operation was motivated by the Council statement on &ldquo;the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors&rdquo; of the Pahalgam attack accountable, and it targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, he said.
Shea and Harish were speaking at the Security Council open debate on &ldquo;Multilateralism and Peaceful Settlement of Disputes&rdquo; presided over by Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
&ldquo;I stopped the war between Pakistan and India&rdquo;, Trump has said repeatedly, an assertion echoed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio
Trump has asserted that the India-Pakistan conflict &ldquo;would have been a nuclear war within another week, the way that was going&rdquo;.
He claimed that he stopped it by telling the leaders of the two neighbours that unless they stopped the conflict, there would be no trade deal.
PM Modi directly told Trump during a phone call last month that there was no mediation or a quid pro quo for a trade deal between New Delhi and Washington over stopping the conflict with Pakistan, according to the External Affairs Ministry.
&ldquo;Prime Minister Modi clearly conveyed to President Trump that at no point during this entire sequence of events was there any discussion, at any level, on an India-US Trade Deal, or any proposal for a mediation by the U.S. between India and Pakistan&rdquo;, the ministry said.
Pakistan&rsquo;s Director General of Military Operations, Major General Kashif Abdullah, directly called his Indian counterpart, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, to ask for a ceasefire, according to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
The other two conflicts Shea said Trump had de-escalated were those between Israel and Iran, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
Last week, Rubio announced that the US has designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a global terrorist organisation, demonstrating "enforcing President Trump&rsquo;s call for justice for the Pahalgam attack&rdquo;.
&mdash;IANS

India denies US mediation in Pakistan conflict

India denies US role in Pakistan talks, reaffirms no third-party mediation stance

India Denies US Mediation In Pak Conflict

With $2 trillion flowing into global clean energy last year, the energy transition is "unstoppable," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, noting that the figure was $800 billion more than fossil fuels and up almost 70% in 10 years.&nbsp;
New data from the International Renewable Energy Agency shows that solar photovoltaic, not so long ago four times the cost of fossil fuels, is now 41% cheaper and offshore wind 53% cheaper, Guterres said on Tuesday in a special address on climate action titled "A Moment of Opportunity: Supercharging the Clean Energy Age," which was delivered alongside a new UN technical report drawing on global energy and finance bodies.
Over 90% of new renewables worldwide produced electricity for less than the cheapest new fossil fuel alternative, he said.
"This is not just a shift in power. This is a shift in possibility," the UN chief pointed out.
According to Guterres, the carbon emissions saved by solar and wind globally are almost equivalent to what the whole European Union produces in a year.&nbsp;
"But this transformation is fundamentally about energy security and people's security. It's about smart economics," delivering decent jobs and public health, and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, he said.
The report shows how far the world has come in the decade since the Paris Agreement sparked a clean energy revolution, and highlights the vast benefits and actions needed to accelerate a just transition globally.
While the energy transition is unstoppable, the transition is not yet fast enough or fair enough, said the UN chief.
"Meanwhile, the climate crisis is laying waste to lives and livelihoods," Guterres warned.
He mapped out six "opportunity areas" to speed the transition: ambitious national climate plans, modern grids and storage, meeting soaring demand sustainably, a just transition for workers and communities, supercharging the energy transition with trade and investment, and mobilising finance to emerging markets, Xinhua news agency reported.
"This is our moment of opportunity," said Guterres, urging reform of global finance, stronger multilateral development banks and debt relief, including debt-for-climate swaps.
"The fossil fuel age is flailing and failing. We are in the dawn of a new energy era," he said.
&mdash;IANS

UN chief promotes unstoppable global clean energy transition

UN chief says $2T clean energy surge proves transition is unstoppable, urges faster action

UN Chief: Clean Energy Transition Unstoppable

Microsoft is laying off 4% of its workforce, or around 9,000 employees, in yet another round of job cuts this year, reports said on Wednesday.&nbsp;
According to The Seattle Times, employees in Microsoft&rsquo;s Xbox division, known as Microsoft Gaming, are being hit hard by these layoffs.
&ldquo;To position Gaming for enduring success and allow us to focus on strategic growth areas, we will end or decrease work in certain areas of the business and follow Microsoft&rsquo;s lead in removing layers of management to increase agility and effectiveness,&rdquo; said Xbox leader Phil Spencer in a message to the team.
The fresh job cuts come less than two months after Microsoft announced it was laying off more than 6,000 employees, followed by an additional 305 reductions in early June.&nbsp;
Microsoft laid off 1,900 Activision Blizzard and Xbox employees in January 2024, followed by several game studio closures and job losses in May, and 1,000 job losses from its HoloLens and Azure cloud teams in June.&nbsp;
Microsoft also laid off 650 more Xbox employees in September, as part of a restructuring related to the company&rsquo;s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, reports The Verge.
According to Xbox boss Phil Spencer, &ldquo;these changes come at a time when we have more players, games, and gaming hours than ever before&rdquo;.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Our platform, hardware, and game roadmap have never looked stronger. The success we&rsquo;re seeing currently is based on tough decisions we&rsquo;ve made previously. We must make choices now for continued success in future years and a key part of that strategy is the discipline to prioritize the strongest opportunities,&rdquo; he told employees.&nbsp;
&ldquo;We will protect what is thriving and concentrate effort on areas with the greatest potential, while delivering on the expectations the company has for our business. This focused approach means we can deliver exceptional games and experiences for players for generations to come,&rdquo; Spencer added.
&mdash;IANS
(Except for the headline, this article has&nbsp;not been edited by the Benefit News&nbsp;editorial team and is published directly&nbsp;from the IANS news feed.)

Microsoft announces global layoffs affecting 9,000 employees

Microsoft to lay off 9,000 employees worldwide amid restructuring and cost-cutting efforts

Microsoft To Lay Off 9,000 Employees Globally

Gujarat Congress Internal Dispute: The countdown to the 2027 Gujarat Assembly election has already begun. The 2029 Lok Sabha election is not far away either. The Congress high command is making claims of a change of power in Gujarat. Rahul Gandhi is talking about rebuilding the Gujarat Congress from the ground up. There is talk of removing the &lsquo;lame horses&rsquo; and putting the &lsquo;race horses&rsquo; on the field. But looking at the current state of the Gujarat Congress, one question cannot be avoided: before entering the race, will the Congress even be able to get its own team to stand in one line? Before declaring war against the BJP, the Congress is caught in a political battle within its own house. The question is bitter, but necessary: if a party cannot create unity within its own organisation, how does it expect to take on the BJP&rsquo;s formidable organisational machinery in Gujarat?
Leaders Changed, But Why Didn&rsquo;t the Problem? Keeping the 2027 Assembly and 2029 Lok Sabha elections in mind, the Congress has begun making changes to its Gujarat organisation. The high command wanted to remove the old and inactive structure and bring forward leaders with the ability to fight elections. But when a party repeatedly needs to change its state in-charge, the question becomes bigger than the capability of the individual holding the post. Mukul Wasnik was replaced by Randeep Singh Surjewala as Gujarat Congress in-charge. With the new in-charge came expectations of a new direction, a new strategy and greater discipline within the organisation. Yet, barely had Surjewala taken charge when a controversy erupted within Banaskantha Congress over the organisational structure. That is where the Congress&rsquo;s real trouble begins.
A Symptom of Congress&rsquo;s Organisational Illness Banaskantha is not an ordinary constituency. It is the only Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat that the Congress won in the 2024 general election. That makes it the biggest symbol of political hope for the Congress in Gujarat. So when differences emerge over organisational posts and responsibilities in precisely this constituency, when questions are raised over decisions taken by the state leadership, and when the district organisation itself becomes a subject of controversy, this cannot simply be dismissed as a &lsquo;local dispute&rsquo;. It is a symptom of the Congress&rsquo;s organisational illness. And if this illness continues until 2027, the BJP will be the direct beneficiary. The Congress needs to understand one basic reality: elections are not won through posters, press conferences and speeches by big leaders. Elections are won at the booth. The BJP&rsquo;s organisational machinery is active right down to the booth level. To challenge it, the Congress needs a strong network of workers, clearly defined responsibilities and a united district-level organisation. But here, the very formation of the district organisation is becoming a source of controversy. So where exactly will the Congress find the strength to challenge the BJP at the booth level?
&lsquo;Race Horses&rsquo; or Obstacles in Each Other&rsquo;s Way? Rahul Gandhi talks about identifying the &lsquo;lame horses&rsquo; in Gujarat and bringing the &lsquo;race horses&rsquo; to the forefront. It sounds attractive. But politics does not work that way. Simply choosing good horses does not guarantee victory in a race. The horses must run together rather than pull each other down. The direction of the race must be clear. And the coaching staff cannot be fighting among themselves. Only then can a team win. The Gujarat Congress&rsquo;s problem may not simply be about &lsquo;which leader should be promoted&rsquo;. The real problem is whether the leaders who are brought forward will actually work together. Mukul Wasnik is gone. Randeep Singh Surjewala has arrived. The state in-charge has changed. But if factionalism remains unchanged, internal power struggles remain unchanged, coordination between the district and state organisations remains weak, and organisational decisions themselves continue to trigger controversy, then what exactly is the Congress talking about when it talks of change? Changing faces will not change the Congress&rsquo;s fortunes. Its working style must change. Leadership accountability must be fixed. Factionalism must be brought under control. And above all, the party worker must be given confidence that the Congress is genuinely one team. Because if the Congress wants to fight the BJP, it must first stop its own leaders from fighting each other.
When Will the Political Infighting Within Gujarat Congress End? The biggest illusion for the Congress in the 2027 election would be to assume that public anger against the BJP will automatically translate into Congress votes. Politics does not work that simply. Reaching voters requires sustained ground-level work. It requires a booth-level organisation. It requires coordination among local leaders. It requires worker morale. And above all, it requires leadership running in one direction until election day. If even one of these five links is weak, the entire electoral calculation can collapse. For the Congress, this is no longer the time for experiments. It is the time for decisions. How many state in-charges will be changed? How many meetings will be held? How many times will the organisational structure be reshuffled? The question is no longer who the next Gujarat Congress in-charge will be. The real question is: when will the political infighting within the Gujarat Congress finally end? If every new in-charge is going to inherit the same old disputes, factionalism and internal resentment, then how can a new Congress emerge simply because a new face has arrived?
Will &lsquo;Race Horses&rsquo; Remain Just Another Political Slogan? If the Congress wants to win Gujarat, it must first win within its own organisation. It must win the trust of its workers. It must win the confidence of its district organisations. It must bring its leaders onto one platform. Otherwise, the Congress will lose its internal battle before its fight against the BJP has even begun. And then the talk of &lsquo;race horses&rsquo; will remain nothing more than another political slogan. The Congress has very little time left in the race for power in 2027. If it wants to take on the BJP, it must first stop its own leaders from fighting each other. Because power in Gujarat will not be won through statements from the Gandhi family. It will be won through organisational strength on the ground. The final question is simple: Is the Congress preparing to defeat the BJP, or is it still calculating whom it needs to defeat inside its own house? Want to win Gujarat? Then first, win the Gujarat Congress.

Congress has set its sights on defeating the BJP in Gujarat. But there’s a bigger battle brewing inside its own house.

Congress Wants to Defeat BJP in Gujarat, But Who Will Save Congress From Itself?

Gujarat High Court Launches Study Circle for Advocates: In a major initiative to strengthen the professional skills and legal knowledge of young advocates, the High Court of Gujarat, in collaboration with the Gujarat State Judicial Academy (GSJA), has announced the launch of a Study Circle (Symposium/Workshop) for Advocates Practicing before the High Court of Gujarat with up to 10 years of practice. The programme will be conducted at the Lecture Hall of the Gujarat State Judicial Academy, High Court Campus, Ahmedabad.
Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal Announces Study Circle The initiative was announced by Gujarat High Court Chief Justice and Patron-in-Chief of the Gujarat State Judicial Academy, Justice Sunita Agarwal, after the Flag Hoisting Ceremony held at the High Court Lawns on August 15. The announcement was made in the presence of Justice Bhargav D. Karia, Judge of the Gujarat High Court and President of GSJA, members of the Board of Governors of GSJA, other High Court judges, Senior Advocates and members of the Bar.
Focus on Legal Education and Professional Skills The new Study Circle is being introduced as a continuous legal learning and professional development programme for young members of the Bar. The initiative aims to enhance advocates&rsquo; understanding of legal principles, legal research, drafting and advocacy skills through direct interaction with Senior Advocates and subject experts. The programme is also expected to strengthen academic engagement between the Bench and the Bar and provide advocates with an opportunity to discuss important and evolving legal issues.
Justice Sunita Agarwal Highlights Importance of Continuous Learning Addressing the gathering, Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal highlighted the indispensable role of advocates in the administration of justice. She emphasized that continuous legal education has become increasingly important in an era of rapidly evolving jurisprudence. The Chief Justice also stressed that effective advocacy and strong legal research are essential components of a robust justice delivery system. She appreciated the efforts of the Gujarat State Judicial Academy in conceptualizing and developing the Study Circle programme.
Three Key Legal Modules in First Phase The first phase of the Study Circle will feature three major academic modules covering important areas of High Court practice. Module I will focus on the expanding contours of maintainability in writ jurisdiction under Article 226, an important area of constitutional and administrative law practice. Module II will cover the basic principles of Administrative Law and Second Appeals under Section 100 of the CPC, with particular emphasis on the Doctrine of Substantial Question of Law. Module III will focus on Criminal Law Jurisdiction, particularly the inherent powers of High Courts under Section 482 of the CrPC and Section 528 of the BNSS, including their scope, limitations and principles of judicial discipline.
Study Circle to Be Held Fortnightly The Study Circle is proposed to be conducted on a fortnightly basis, providing advocates with regular opportunities for legal learning and professional interaction. Future sessions will cover a wide range of subjects, including Constitutional Law, Writ Jurisdiction, Arbitration and Conciliation Law, Commercial Law, Public Interest Litigation, Service Law, Taxation Law, Admiralty Jurisdiction, Legal Ethics and Drafting Skills. The programme will also address contemporary legal issues that are particularly relevant to advocates practicing before the Gujarat High Court.
Registration to Begin Soon Registration for the Study Circle (Symposium/Workshop Series) for Advocates Practicing in the High Court of Gujarat &ndash; Series of Academic Modules 2026 will begin shortly through the official website of the Gujarat State Judicial Academy. The programme is specifically intended for advocates practicing before the Gujarat High Court who have up to 10 years of professional practice.
Registration Fee The registration fee for the Study Circle has been fixed at ₹100 per programme, which will be paid by each participating advocate. The workshops will be conducted at the Lecture Hall of the Gujarat State Judicial Academy, High Court Campus, Ahmedabad. Advocates attending the workshops will also receive Certificates of Participation.
Major Step Towards Strengthening Justice Delivery The Gujarat High Court and Gujarat State Judicial Academy's new Study Circle is being viewed as a significant step towards professional excellence and development of the legal fraternity. By bringing young advocates, Senior Advocates and legal experts together for regular academic discussions, the initiative aims to improve legal knowledge, research and advocacy skills while strengthening the Bench-Bar relationship. The broader objective is to contribute towards a more effective and efficient justice delivery system in Gujarat.

Study Circle Launched for Advocates With Up to 10 Years of Practice

Gujarat High Court Big Move

A chilling video of the accused in the Indore MBA student murder case has sparked outrage after he was seen smiling and appearing unconcerned when questioned about the crime.
The accused, Piyush Dhanotia, was arrested for allegedly raping and murdering his 25-year-old classmate in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Police said he strangled the woman on February 10 inside his rented accommodation and later locked the room before fleeing. Her partially decomposed body was discovered days later after residents complained of a foul smell.
However, what has intensified public anger is the accused&rsquo;s demeanour. In a video that surfaced online, Dhanotia is seen smiling when reporters ask him why he committed the crime. When pressed for answers, he responded dismissively, saying that what had happened had already happened and that he would speak at the right time. Throughout the interaction, he showed no visible sign of regret.
Police officials said he admitted during interrogation that he forced the woman into sexual acts and killed her when she resisted, though he has reportedly changed his version multiple times. Investigators are also examining allegations that he circulated objectionable videos of the victim in their college WhatsApp group.
The victim&rsquo;s father has accused the accused of blackmailing his daughter with obscene images and attempting to extort money.
As the investigation continues, the accused&rsquo;s apparent lack of remorse captured on camera has become a focal point of the case, drawing sharp reactions both online and offline.
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Video shows MBA student murder accused laughing amid probe

Indore Murder Accused Smiles on Camera

Galgotias University has landed in controversy after showcasing a robotic dog at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 that was widely believed to be developed by its students. The robot, however, was later identified as a commercially available product made by Chinese robotics firm Unitree Robotics.
The backlash began after a video from the summit went viral, in which a university professor introduced the robot dog, named &ldquo;Orion,&rdquo; and referred to it as being developed at the institution&rsquo;s Centre of Excellence. Social media users were quick to point out that the machine closely resembled Unitree&rsquo;s quadruped robots, which are already available globally for research and industrial use.
Unitree is known for manufacturing advanced four-legged robots designed for tasks such as inspection, obstacle navigation and research applications. Its products are often compared to models developed by global robotics players.
Following the uproar, the Greater Noida-based university issued a clarification stating that it never claimed to have built the robot. It maintained that the robodog was purchased as part of its AI investment initiatives and is being used as a research and learning tool for students. Another faculty member present at the summit reiterated that the display had been misinterpreted and that there was no attempt to conceal the original manufacturer&rsquo;s branding.
Despite the clarification, sources familiar with the developments said the university was asked to vacate its pavilion at the summit amid mounting criticism. The institution, however, denied receiving any formal directive from the organisers or the ministry.
Notably, the robotic dog was removed from display shortly after the controversy escalated online.

Robodog row sparks backlash at India AI Impact Summit 2026

Galgotias Asked to Exit AI Summit

Actor Sidharth Malhotra is mourning the loss of his father, Sunil Malhotra, who passed away recently. The actor shared the news with an emotional message on social media. His wife, Kiara Advani, has now also paid a heartfelt tribute to her father-in-law.
On Wednesday, Kiara took to Instagram to share pictures from her wedding reception, where she and Sidharth were seen smiling alongside his parents. In a deeply personal note, she remembered Sunil Malhotra as a warm, generous, and steady presence in the family. She reflected on how he welcomed her with open arms and unconditional love, describing his kindness, wisdom, and unwavering devotion to his family.
Kiara wrote that his stories, laughter, and quiet strength would remain with her forever. She added that his legacy of integrity and gentleness lives on through his children and grandchildren. Concluding her message, she expressed that he would always be loved and remembered.
The couple is currently in Delhi with their family during this difficult period. Members of the film industry extended their condolences online. Jacqueline Fernandez offered prayers, while Karan Johar and Manish Malhotra shared messages of support.
On the professional front, Sidharth will next appear in Vvan: Force of The Forest, directed by Arunabh Kumar and Deepak Mishra and produced by Balaji Motion Pictures. The film also stars Tamannaah Bhatia and is slated for release later this year.
Kiara, meanwhile, awaits the release of Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups, directed by Geetu Mohandas. The film features Yash, Nayanthara, Tara Sutaria, Huma Qureshi, and Rukmini Vasanth in key roles. The film is expected to release on March 19, alongside Dhurandhar 2, directed by Aditya Dhar.

Actor pens heartfelt note after Sunil Malhotra’s passing

Kiara Mourns Sidharth’s Father

Days after 23-year-old Sahil Dhaneshra lost his life in a fatal SUV crash in Delhi&rsquo;s Dwarka, the father of the 17-year-old accused has expressed regret over the incident, stating that his family is &ldquo;deeply grief-stricken.&rdquo; He also confirmed that the Scorpio SUV involved in the accident is part of his commercial transport business.
The crash occurred around 11:50 am on February 3 near Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management in Sector 11, Dwarka. According to police, the SUV rammed into a Yamaha R15 motorcycle, killing Sahil on the spot. The vehicle then struck a parked Swift Dzire, injuring cab driver Ajit Singh.
Post-mortem findings revealed that Sahil sustained a fractured skull, multiple rib fractures, and an elbow injury due to the high-impact collision.
The minor driver was detained at the scene and booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for rash driving, negligence causing death, and endangering life. He was later presented before the Juvenile Justice Board and sent to an observation home. On February 10, he was granted interim bail to appear for his Class 10 board examinations.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police registered a separate case against the boy&rsquo;s father under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which holds guardians or vehicle owners accountable when a minor commits a traffic offence.
Speaking to the media after being questioned, the father said he was not in the city at the time of the accident and was unaware that his son had taken the vehicle. He stated that the family has cooperated with investigators and provided all necessary documents.
Sahil&rsquo;s mother alleged that her son was killed by a &ldquo;reckless teen&rdquo; just minutes away from his workplace. The 23-year-old, who worked part-time at an insurance firm, had plans to pursue higher studies in the United Kingdom later this year.

Minor held in SUV crash; father booked under MV Act provisions

Dwarka Crash: Accused’s Father Apologises

The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday set aside a March 2025 judgment of the Allahabad High Court that had ruled that grabbing a minor girl&rsquo;s breasts and dragging her under a culvert did not amount to an attempt to rape. The apex court termed the ruling a &ldquo;patently erroneous&rdquo; application of criminal law principles.
A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and N.V. Anjaria, held that the high court had incorrectly reduced the charges from attempt to rape under Section 376 read with Section 511 of the IPC and Section 18 of the POCSO Act to lesser offences. The court restored the original summons issued by the Special POCSO Court in Kasganj, clarifying that its observations were prima facie and would not influence the trial&rsquo;s outcome.
Rejecting the high court&rsquo;s reasoning that the accused had merely &ldquo;prepared&rdquo; to commit rape, the Supreme Court reiterated the settled distinction between preparation and attempt, noting that an attempt begins when intent moves into execution. Based on the allegations, including forcibly taking the minor on a motorcycle, dragging her near a culvert, and fleeing only after she screamed, the Bench held that a prima facie case of attempt to rape was clearly made out.
The proceedings were initiated suo motu after senior advocate Shobha Gupta raised concerns over the high court&rsquo;s reasoning. The Supreme Court had earlier stayed the controversial observations and later the entire judgment.
Beyond correcting the legal error, the court addressed a broader concern about insensitivity in judicial handling of sexual offence cases. It requested the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal to constitute a five-member expert committee to frame guidelines aimed at fostering compassion and sensitivity in courts, especially in cases involving minors and vulnerable victims.
The committee, to be chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice Aniruddha Bose, has been directed to submit a report within three months. The guidelines are to be drafted in simple, accessible language and tailored to Indian realities to ensure they are understandable to victims and laypersons alike.

Top court restores rape attempt charge, seeks sensitivity guidelines

SC Sets Aside HC Order in POCSO Case

India&rsquo;s merchandise imports from Russia plunged by over 40% in January 2026, falling to about $2.86 billion from $4.81 billion a year earlier, official trade figures show, largely reflecting a steep reduction in crude oil purchases.
Crude oil typically accounts for roughly 80% of India&rsquo;s imports from Russia, and estimates suggest purchases of Russian crude last month were significantly lower than in previous years. Other goods imported from Russia include coal, fertilisers, iron, pulses, and precious stones, but these have not offset the slump in oil imports. The downturn in oil imports intensified after mid-2025, following punitive tariffs levied by the United States on Indian goods connected to purchases of Russian oil and ongoing diplomatic pressure. India&rsquo;s refiners, including some major private and state firms, have substantially reduced or halted buying Russian crude as they explore alternative sources.
In early February 2026, Washington eased the additional tariff on Indian products after New Delhi signalled a commitment to &ldquo;stop directly or indirectly importing&rdquo; Russian oil and to increase purchases of energy products from the United States, as well as broadening ties in global energy markets.
Analysts expect the shift in crude sourcing to continue, with Indian refiners eyeing other suppliers, including Middle Eastern and Venezuelan grades, as part of broader diversification strategies.

January sees 40% fall in Russia merchandise imports amid crude cutbacks

India’s Russia Imports Drop Sharply

A 27-year-old man has been arrested in Andhra Pradesh&rsquo;s Annamayya district for allegedly abducting and murdering a seven-year-old girl from his neighbourhood in Madanapalle town.
The child had been playing outside her home on Sunday evening when she went missing, sparking panic among her family and local residents. A missing complaint was filed the following morning, prompting an intensive search operation led by district police.
Investigators reviewed CCTV footage from across the town, which reportedly showed the suspect, a neighbour living opposite the victim&rsquo;s house, taking the child into his residence. Acting on this lead, police searched the house on Tuesday morning.
During the inspection, officers discovered the girl&rsquo;s body concealed inside a water storage drum within the premises. The accused was present at the house at the time and was immediately taken into custody.
Preliminary findings suggest the child was killed inside the residence on Sunday night, and her body was hidden thereafter. Authorities are probing whether sexual assault occurred before the murder, with confirmation pending post-mortem and forensic examination results.
Following the discovery, tensions escalated in the area. Residents and family members staged a protest on the Madanapalle highway, briefly preventing police from shifting the body to the government hospital for autopsy and demanding strict punishment for the accused.
Police have stated that all possible angles, including prior allegations of inappropriate behaviour by the suspect, are being examined as the investigation continues.

Child’s body found in drum; protest erupts in Madanapalle town

7-Year-Old Killed, Neighbour Arrested

The United States and Iran held their second round of indirect negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, as diplomatic efforts continue amid heightened regional tensions. While both sides indicated forward movement in discussions, parallel military developments have added complexity to the fragile engagement.
Reports suggest the US has significantly reinforced its military presence in the Middle East. Over 50 advanced fighter aircraft, including F-35, F-22 and F-16 jets, were reportedly repositioned to the region within a 24-hour window. The deployment follows Washington&rsquo;s decision to send a second aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to Middle Eastern waters, underscoring its strategic posture.
Despite the show of force, the Geneva discussions were described as substantive and focused. Iranian officials signalled that preliminary understandings were reached on broad guiding principles that could shape a future agreement. However, they cautioned that drafting and finalising any deal would take time.
On the American side, officials maintained that the talks unfolded largely as anticipated. Washington&rsquo;s core objective remains preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, a position repeatedly emphasised by senior US leadership.
Meanwhile, regional tensions persisted. Iran temporarily restricted navigation in parts of the Strait of Hormuz during a naval drill, highlighting the waterway&rsquo;s vulnerability. Additionally, US leaders suggested that differences remain over key conditions laid out by President Donald Trump.
As diplomacy continues, both nations appear to be balancing dialogue with deterrence, leaving the broader geopolitical landscape uncertain.

Second Geneva round shows progress as military moves raise stakes

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