Photograph (L-R): Shakuntala Devi, Neha

New Delhi: The Times Internet Half Marathon saw a strong participation from female athletes, highlighting speed, determination and emerging talent in the Under-29 10km category.Leading the category was 22-year-old Shakuntala Devi, who took first place with a chip time of 42:31. Having been involved with racing for the past five years, she credits her brother for introducing her to the sport and shaping her initial journey. Shakuntala has represented at the national level, and after achieving a placing in her first marathon, she was encouraged to continue running long distances. Since then, he has shown steady progress, constantly improving his performances.The second place went to 18-year-old Neha, who clocked a chip time of 44:22. Having started running two years ago, Neha became involved in sports from an early age, initially playing cricket and handball before moving on to marathons. Speaking about her outlook, she shared a dynamic perspective, saying that she does not set fixed goals and prefers to focus on the present, taking opportunities as they come. He also described the Times Internet Half Marathon as a memorable experience.Third place went to 26-year-old Sweta Sah, who clocked a chip time of 44:22, giving her a competitive edge in the category. Running for the past three years, she balances her profession as a physiotherapist with consistent training. For Sah, running is an exercise in discipline and progress, and she is now preparing to run longer distances, focusing on marathon running.The Under-29 Women’s category reflected a mix of budding talent and rising ambition, with runners at different stages of their journey coming together on a common platform.As the race began, it became clear that beyond time and situation, the event celebrated intention and evolution, where each runner offered a story, and each finish line marked the beginning of something else.

उत्तर प्रदेश के कई जिलों में बुधवार को आई तेज आंधी और बारिश ने भारी तबाही मचाई. उत्तर प्रदेश के अलग-अलग हिस्सों में दीवार गिरने, पेड़ टूटने और बिजली गिरने जैसी घटनाओं में कुल 18 लोगों की मौत हो गई. सबसे ज्यादा असर अवध क्षेत्र में देखने को मिला, जहां 13 लोगों की जान चली गई. कई जगहों पर लोग घायल भी हुए हैं. तेज हवाओं और बारिश के कारण जनजीवन पूरी तरह प्रभावित हो गया. प्रशासन और राहत टीमें स्थिति को संभालने में जुटी हुई हैं.

सर्वाधिक नुकसान अवध क्षेत्र में
आंधी और बारिश का सबसे ज्यादा असर अवध क्षेत्र में देखने को मिला. सुल्तानपुर में 7 लोगों की मौत हो गई, जबकि अमेठी और अयोध्या में 3-3 लोगों की मौत हो गई. पूर्वांचल के जिलों में 5 लोगों की मौत की भी खबर है. इस दौरान कई लोग घायल भी हो गए, जिन्हें इलाज के लिए अस्पताल में भर्ती कराया गया है.

लखनऊ में बिजली और यातायात प्रभावित
तेज आंधी और बारिश के कारण राजधानी लखनऊ में बिजली व्यवस्था बुरी तरह प्रभावित हुई. 100 से ज्यादा बिजली के खंभे गिर गये और कई जगहों पर तार टूट गये. पेड़ गिरने से सड़कों पर यातायात बाधित हो गया. उत्तर और पूर्वोत्तर रेलवे के लखनऊ मंडल की कई ट्रेनें देरी से चल रही हैं. लखनऊ के अलावा अमेठी,रायबरेली,सीतापुर में भी तेज बारिश के साथ ओले गिरे।

मौसम विभाग ने जारी किया अलर्ट
आंचलिक मौसम विज्ञान केंद्र, लखनऊ के वैज्ञानिक अतुल कुमार सिंह के मुताबिक यह बदलाव मध्य क्षोभमंडल में बने चक्रवाती परिसंचरण के कारण हुआ है, जो उत्तरी पाकिस्तान और जम्मू-कश्मीर के आसपास सक्रिय है। अगले 24 घंटे तक ऐसा ही मौसम बने रहने की संभावना है. कई जिलों में वज्रपात और आकाशीय बिजली को लेकर अलर्ट जारी किया गया है.

तेज हवाओं और बारिश का असर
कई जिलों में तेज हवाएं और बारिश दर्ज की गई. वाराणसी में हवा की गति 109 किमी प्रति घंटा और अयोध्या में 87 किमी प्रति घंटा रही. गोरखपुर में 19.2 मिमी, प्रयागराज में 11.2 मिमी, वाराणसी में 9 मिमी और अमेठी और आज़मगढ़ में 5 मिमी वर्षा दर्ज की गई.

बांदा सबसे गर्म जिला रहा
इतनी बारिश के बावजूद बांदा सबसे गर्म जिला रहा, जहां तापमान 45.8 डिग्री सेल्सियस दर्ज किया गया. वहीं, लखनऊ में पेड़ गिरने से 400 से ज्यादा गांवों और कस्बों में 3 से 7 घंटे तक बिजली गुल रही.

Photographer (L-R): Krishna Pal, Rajesh, Mohit Sharma

New Delhi: The Times Internet Half Marathon brought together emerging talent, showcasing speed, ambition and promising athletic journeys in the under-29 10-kilometre category.had to secure the top spot Krishnapal28, who clocked an impressive chip time of 34:00. Having started his running journey in 2019, Pal shared that his interest in the sport was sparked after reading about marathons in a newspaper. What started as curiosity soon turned into commitment and has been going on ever since.Currently working with Tata Power Services, Pal said the support from his organization has played a vital role in pursuing his passion. Looking ahead, his aim is to represent India at the Olympics. Reflecting on the event he said that despite participating in many marathons, this edition was an excellent experience.was ranked second by RajeshJoe finished with a chip time of 35:40, only a minute behind the leader. Despite missing out on the top spot by a narrow margin, Rajesh remained optimistic, saying his focus is on improvement and he sees each race as a step forward. He said that while it might not have been his day, the experience was both positive and inspiring.went to third place Mohit Sharma21, who clocked a chip time of 36:19. Sharma, who started running during his school days four years ago, initially took up the sport out of interest. It was only after his speed was noticed that he began to take it more seriously. He qualified for national level competitions in school and is now focused on progressing to the national level. The Under-29 category sees a mix of raw talent and growing ambition, with runners at different stages of their journey coming together on a common platform.As the race took off across the capital, the category highlighted not only the performances but also the aspirations of the next generation of athletes, with each step bringing them closer to their goals.

Saudi Arabia executes Iraqi men after conviction in drug smuggling case on northern border / Image: File

saudi arabia Several Iraqi citizens convicted of attempting to smuggle narcotics into the kingdom through the northern border area have been hanged, according to an official statement issued by the Saudi Interior Ministry on Wednesday, April 30.The ministry said the accused were hanged after being arrested by Saudi security officials, investigated by prosecutors and later convicted by special courts on drug trafficking charges. The sentence was later upheld by the Saudi Court of Appeal. Supreme Court before a royal order authorized the execution. The ministry did not immediately disclose the exact method of execution in its public statement, in line with standard Saudi practice.According to Saudi state media and regional reports, the case is linked to cross-border drug smuggling involving the kingdom. IraqSpecifically through the Northern Frontier Province, the location of the Arar border crossing, which is one of the main land gateways between Saudi Arabia and Iraq.The Saudi Interior Ministry has identified the killed Iraqi citizens as individuals guilty of trafficking banned drugs into Saudi territory. Arabic media reports said the men were found guilty of transporting illegal drugs through border routes used by organized trafficking networks operating throughout the region. Authorities did not publicly release full operational details of the seizure, including the quantity or exact type of narcotics involved.In its statement, the interior ministry stressed that Saudi Arabia “will continue to strike hard” against anyone attempting to target the kingdom’s youth and society through drug trafficking. The ministry said the kingdom would impose “harsh legal penalties” against smugglers and smugglers under Saudi law.

Saudi Arabia’s anti-drug action

The executions are the latest in a sweeping anti-drug campaign launched by Saudi authorities amid growing concerns over drug trafficking along the Gulf borders. Saudi Arabia has sharply increased arrests, seizures and executions in drug trafficking cases over the past two years, particularly involving amphetamine pills, captagon and hashish shipments entering from neighboring countries.Saudi authorities have repeatedly linked organized drug trafficking to regional criminal networks operating through Iraq, Syria and Jordan. The Interior Ministry and the Directorate General of Narcotics Control have announced several large-scale interceptions in recent months, involving millions of Captagon pills hidden inside trucks, food shipments and industrial cargo entering the state.Earlier in April 2026, Saudi Arabia executed seven people in one day on separate drug trafficking convictions linked to amphetamine trafficking operations, according to announcements by the official Saudi Press Agency. Many of those hanged were foreign nationals.Human rights organizations that monitor the use of the death penalty in Saudi Arabia say the number of executions in the kingdom has increased significantly since 2021. Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have reported increased use of the death penalty in narcotics-related cases after a brief lull during prior reform announcements made by Saudi authorities.Rights groups estimate that dozens of foreign nationals have been executed on drug charges in Saudi Arabia in the last year alone, including citizens of Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Iraq.

Saudi-Iraq border security concerns

Saudi Arabia’s Northern Border Province has become one of the kingdom’s most sensitive security areas due to its proximity to Iraq and broader regional instability. The Arar Crossing serves as an important commercial and religious transit route connecting Saudi Arabia with Iraq, especially during the pilgrimage season.Saudi security officials say criminal trafficking groups are increasingly taking advantage of remote desert areas and cross-border smuggling routes to transport drugs into the Gulf. Iraqi officials have also acknowledged the growing regional drug problem, particularly involving methamphetamine and Captagon trafficking networks that have expanded following years of conflict and instability throughout the region.In several recent statements, Saudi officials have argued that drug trafficking poses a direct threat to national security and social stability. The Ministry of the Interior has frequently described drug trafficking as an attempt to “target the state’s youth” and undermine public security.The state’s anti-narcotics operations are coordinated through multiple agencies, including the Ministry of the Interior, border guards, customs officials, and the General Directorate of Narcotics Control. Saudi authorities regularly publish videos and photographs of intercepted shipments as part of public awareness campaigns warning against drug trafficking.

Human rights criticize Saudi executions

The latest executions have again drawn criticism from international rights organizations, which oppose the use of the death penalty for drug-related crimes. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International argue that international law limits the death penalty to “the most serious crimes”, generally understood to include intentional murder, and say that drug crimes should not qualify for execution.Rights groups have also raised concerns over past Saudi cases involving foreign nationals, including access to legal representation, interpreter services and allegations of forced confessions.However, Saudi Arabia maintains that all defendants receive full judicial review under the kingdom’s legal system before sentences are imposed. Saudi officials stress that harsher penalties are necessary to stop organized trafficking operations and protect society from the spread of narcotics.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Thursday reserved its order on Congress leader Pawan Kheda’s anticipatory bail plea, with Kheda telling the court that “it is not necessary to humiliate Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma by arresting him” in the passport controversy case involving his wife.During the hearing, Kheda told the court that the allegations against him are a matter of hearing. He further said, “Some of the sections imposed against me are bailable, others do not require arrest.”Khera also said that if he does not get anticipatory bail in the case registered against him in Assam, “then the purpose of pre-arrest bail is defeated.”The bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar reserved its decision after hearing the arguments of both the sides.Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Kheda, said there was no need for custodial interrogation in the case and reiterated that the arrest was unnecessary.Opposing the plea, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Assam government, told the court that Khera had shown “fake” and “tampered with” copies of the passport of the chief minister’s wife. He also alleged that Kheda was absconding and spreading the video, while adding that the claims of multiple citizenship were false.The case stems from allegations made by Kheda in relation to Riniki Bhuiyan Sharma, following which criminal complaints were filed against him at the Guwahati Crime Branch under the provisions of the Indian Justice Code.Khera has challenged the April 24 order of the Gauhati High Court, which had refused to grant him anticipatory bail.Earlier, the Telangana High Court had granted him seven days transit anticipatory bail. However, Assam Police moved the top court against Rahat, following which the Supreme Court stayed the transit bail and directed Khera to approach the Gauhati High Court.It is expected that the apex court will now pronounce its order on Khera’s anticipatory bail plea at an appropriate time.

प्रदेश कांग्रेस प्रभारी कुमारी शैलजा छह मई से गढ़वाल क्षेत्र का दौरा करेंगी। पांच दिवसीय दौरे के दौरान वह पौड़ी, रुद्रप्रयाग, चमोली और टिहरी जिलों में कार्यकर्ताओं के साथ बैठकें करेंगी और पार्टी कार्यक्रम और रणनीति पर चर्चा करेंगी।