JJust when it seemed the BJP was finally getting ready to elect a President, the needle moved backward again, with the imperative of first finding a new Vice President for the country coming to the fore. Never mind that it has been more than a year since the tenure of current Chairman Jagat Prakash Nadda ended – this is after an extension of one and a half years from the original retirement date of January 20, 2023. The election of the Vice President is to be held on September 9, after which there will probably be a cabinet reshuffle and of course, the Bihar elections.

IIt was the middle of May, the time when the extreme heat of summer dries up all sources of bounty. Then the Bhagwant Mann led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab launched the Land Pooling Policy (LPP), 2025. It was a wonderful idea: dividing 65,533 acres of land together for industrial and residential projects. However, in retrospect, one should have anticipated that, in a state where land is scarce and its symbolic and material value immense, the move would generate enough heat to upset the government. The inevitable reversal took only a few months.

New Delhi: Two Indian nationals have been killed and another missing in an attack on merchant ships carrying them amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Wednesday. Several Indians have also suffered injuries in the Gulf region, the ministry said, adding that consular officials are coordinating medical aid and assistance.External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at an inter-ministerial briefing on recent developments in West Asia that the government is actively monitoring the situation and providing assistance to the affected citizens.

He said, “There are reports of some casualties. We have two Indian nationals that we have lost, and one is missing. These three Indian nationals are dead or missing. This happened while they were on merchant ships that came under attack. Some Indians who were injured in the GCC region are being treated. Our Consulate is in touch with them.”He also confirmed that the Indian national who was reported injured in Dubai today is undergoing treatment and consular staff are in close contact.“Today, this morning, you may have seen reports that an Indian national has been injured in Dubai. This gentleman, our Consulate is in touch with him. He is also undergoing treatment in the hospital, and we are in regular touch with him to ensure his well-being and well-being.”Amid growing concerns over the safety of Indian nationals in the conflict-affected area, the Ministry of External Affairs has activated a dedicated control room to resolve queries and provide assistance.“At the Ministry of External Affairs, we have initiated a control which is working. We have been receiving a lot of phone calls regarding Indian nationals and their welfare and we are guiding the callers,” the spokesperson said.There is a large expatriate population in the Indian Gulf and the Middle East, many of whom work on merchant ships or in areas of regional instability.The Ministry of External Affairs said it would continue to coordinate with Indian missions in the region to ensure the safety and return of affected citizens, if necessary.

IIt is quite a tradition for the Bengali imagination to create catchy limerick-like slogans rhyming native words with English. But the latest one that is flooding social media timelines is going to stick around for a long time – even in its cheery goofiness, it has given rise to an entire zeitgeist, at least within the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). “Akasheya batase positive energy / Naam ta mone achhe na: Abhishek Banerjee,” it goes. Yes, the air seems filled with positive energy, and party loyalists owe a lot of it to Mamata Banerjee’s 37-year-old nephew, the anointed successor. Generally cool with the media, he becomes very sharp when he allows himself to speak occasionally, and uses sharp sarcasm when speaking from the opposition benches in the Lok Sabha, where he now faces a young and very audible TMC contingent. He also knows how to keep an aura around himself. The glamor of a scion is not inherited for free, but the aura of hard-earned authority of a man who fought and won in the toxic dust-filled battlefields of Bengal. He says that some of them were also internal to TMC.

More than just a race, the event represents the growing running culture across the capital. Participants from different age groups and professions, students, corporate professionals, families and experienced runners, come together with a common goal: to run, challenge themselves and celebrate an active lifestyle. With structured race categories designed for both beginners and experienced runners, the marathon ensures everyone has a place at the starting line.

A marathon was created for every runner

One of the defining features of the Times Internet Delhi Half Marathon is its inclusive structure. The event, scheduled for March 29, 2026, offers four race categories, making participation accessible regardless of experience level. register now.The main event is the 21.1K Half Marathon, a timed race designed for serious runners who have trained for endurance and long-distance performance. Completing a half marathon requires preparation, discipline, and mental resilience, making it the ultimate challenge for many participants.For runners looking for a competitive but slightly shorter challenge, the 10K Timed Run offers a perfect middle ground. It allows participants to test their speed and stamina while experiencing the excitement of race-day competition.The 5K Timed Run opens the event to those who are new to structured running but still want to experience the thrill of a professionally managed race. It has become one of the most popular categories for young runners and individuals starting their fitness journey.Finally, the 2K Fun Run is designed for beginners, families, and children. This category turns the marathon into a community event where participation and enjoyment are prioritized over competition.Together, these categories ensure that the marathon remains accessible to everyone from first-time runners to experienced athletes.

race day energy

As the first light spreads across Delhi, runners gather at the stadium, tying their shoe laces, adjusting race bibs, and warming up with thousands of fellow participants. The atmosphere combines excitement with anticipation.Professional race management, clearly timed categories, and organized on-ground support helps create a seamless race experience for participants. This structure allows runners to focus solely on their performance while enjoying the sense of community that comes with large sporting events.As the race begins, the streets of the city become a shared stage of determination and celebration. Runners pace themselves through the course, while supporters, volunteers and fellow participants contribute to the electric atmosphere that defines marathon events.

more than just a race

Times Internet Delhi Half Marathon reflects a sea change in fitness culture in urban India. In recent years, structured running programs have grown rapidly, encouraging people to adopt healthy lifestyles and participate in community fitness activities.For many participants, the journey begins long before race day. Registering for a marathon often becomes the motivation needed to create a routine around running, training, and personal fitness goals. From morning runs to weekend training sessions, the preparation process becomes part of everyday life.Events like Delhi Half Marathon provide the platform that transforms individual fitness goals into shared experiences. By bringing together thousands of runners in a professionally organized environment, the event reinforces the idea that fitness is not just an individual endeavor, it is a collective movement.On March 29, 2026, the streets of Delhi will once again be filled with runners, each step representing commitment, grit and the shared spirit of the city. Registrations are openChoose your race category and reserve your place.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 75 on September 17, exactly a year into his historic third consecutive term – a feat unmatched since the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. India Today takes a look at the making of ‘Brand Modi’, one of the defining political stories of contemporary India

New Delhi: Air India Express’ Boeing 737 Max aircraft carrying 138 people had to make a hard landing in Phuket on Wednesday. The plane, which had taken off from Hyderabad, reportedly bounced once after hard landing and then on second contact with the runway, with both the nose wheels separating. It then got stuck on the runway and the airport was closed to flights until its only runway became available again after necessary checks.Fortunately no one on board the plane was injured. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is in touch with Thai aviation authorities. The plane has been grounded and the airline will send its engineers to repair it. “The aircraft (VT-BWQ) operating Flight IX 938 (Hyderabad-Phuket) was involved in a suspected hard landing with bounce while landing on Runway 09, Phuket. Passengers were deboarded on the runway and taken to the terminal building. The aircraft was towed to the bay. On March 8, 2026, both nose wheels were replaced as routine maintenance. Investigation followed by consultation with Thailand Aviation Investigation Authorities The incident will be handled by the appropriate authority, Thailand being the state,” said a senior DGCA official.An AI Express spokesperson said: “We confirm that our Hyderabad-Phuket flight on March 11 experienced an issue with the nose wheel at Phuket Airport. The crew followed all standard protocols, and guests were deplaned. We thank our guests, Phuket airport authorities and all stakeholders for their cooperation.” The flight with 132 passengers and six crew members had taken off from Hyderabad at 6.23 am and landed at 11.25 am (all times local). A senior B737 captain said: “This is clearly a case of hard landing, with damage to the nose wheel on the second touch down. The best thing would have been for the plane to take off again after bouncing. However only investigation can reveal what really happened. It is also possible that there is a problem with the front wheel of the aircraft. The pilots must have tried their best to make a safe landing.”Experienced pilots say Phuket’s runways have a pronounced slope followed by a downward slope, which can lead to a “winding effect”. Flare perception is the visual and sensory process of sensing altitude, speed, and rate of closure, usually within 15–30 feet of the ground, for a smooth, near-zero vertical speed transition from a descending approach to touchdown. This involves shifting focus from the end of the runway to the sides to use peripheral vision to sense altitude and “ground rush”. One pilot said, “Phuket is a difficult place to land if the winds are strong and thermal on a hot afternoon, which they usually are.”

heyOn the afternoon of September 29, as families flocked to packed Durga Puja pandals in Patna, election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor presented a different kind of scene. Calling a press conference, he waved a dossier in front of journalists making fresh allegations against some senior leaders of the ruling Janata Dal (United)-BJP government in Bihar. Kishor’s target was five senior figures: veteran JD(U) minister Ashok Chaudhary, and deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary, health minister Mangal Pandey, state unit chief Dilip Jaiswal and BJP West Champaran MP Sanjay Jaiswal. Each allegation, new and old, was accompanied by its own set of legal notices, threats of lawsuits and pledges to publish more documents so that the dispute quickly became both a legal contest and a media spectacle.