Afternoon briefing: Pro-Khalistan graffiti in Dharamshala; Kejriwal on ED's Sanjay Singh raid; and all the latest news
A shortlist of the biggest headlines, recommended stories, and a special collection of news items you should check out.
Pro-Khalistan graffiti was discovered on a government office's exterior walls in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. Local police swiftly covered the anti-India slogan with white paint and initiated an investigation to identify the culprits. This incident occurred just days before the start of cricket World Cup matches in Dharamshala. A similar occurrence took place on September 27 when pro-Khalistan graffiti appeared on Delhi's Kashmiri Gate flyover, prompting Delhi Police to file a case. Sikh separatist activities have gained momentum recently, partly due to unsubstantiated allegations connecting India to the murder of designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil, straining India-Canada relations. India has strongly denied these claims, demanding evidence and suspending visa services for Canadian nationals, while urging Canada to repatriate 41 diplomats by October 10. Dig Deeper
More on Khalistan issue: Sikh restaurant owner’s car shot, vandalised by alleged Khalistan supporters in London. Dig Deeper
A brief history of the Khalistan movement’s emergence in Canada 45 years ago. Dig Deeper
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday reacted to the ED raids at the premises of AAP MP Sanjay Singh in connection with the alleged liquor scam and said like the previous scams at hundreds of places, this raid too will yield nothing. “Yesterday journalists were raided, today Sanjay Singh, tomorrow you may get raided. These are the desperate attempts of a party which is certain of its defeat in 2024. More such raids will happen as the elections come nearer,” Kejriwal said. "They have been talking about these scams for the last year. Not a single paisa has been recovered anywhere and they say thousands of raids have taken place. I have said this before also. They accused us of classroom ghotala, paani ghotala, sharab ghotala. But they did not find anything so far, This probe into the so-called liquor scam has been going on for the past year. Elections are coming. They think they are going to lose," Kejriwal said. Dig Deeper
More on the issue: ‘AAP means Aur Adhik Paap’, BJP's counteroffensive amid ED's Sanjay Singh raid. Dig Deeper
‘He questioned PM Modi, Adani’, AAP reacts to ED's raid on Sanjay Singh. Dig Deeper
The Latest News
Glacial lake outburst in north Sikkim: 30 including 23 Army personnal missing; six bridges washed away. Dig Deeper
BJP hoardings in Delhi call for Kejriwal's resignation amid ED raids on AAP MP Sanjay Singh. Dig Deeper
Over 100 students in Gwalior fall sick after eating paneer; food poisoning suspected. Dig Deeper
India News
NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha, HR head sent to 7-day police remand after sweeping raids. Dig Deeper
No new cases of Nipah virus detected in India since September, confirms WHO. Dig Deeper
Rouse Avenue Court grants bail to Lalu Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav in alleged job scam. Dig Deeper
Global Matters
On talks with India, Canada says, 'Diplomatic conversations best in private'. Dig
Deeper
Donald Trump new US House Speaker? Republicans expected to nominate him as McCarthy's replacement. Dig Deeper
4 injured in shooting at Morgan State University in Baltimore, shooter still at large. Dig Deeper
Sports Goings
India has achieved its highest-ever medal tally at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, surpassing its previous record of 70 medals in Jakarta 2018. With 71 medals and counting, India's remarkable performance includes 16 gold, 26 silver, and 29 bronze medals. A historic bronze in race walking and a gold in compound archery contributed to this achievement. The shooting and athletics teams have been significant contributors, earning 22 and 23 medals, respectively. Several events, including the javelin throw finals, offer more opportunities for India to increase its medal count. With a strong showing in multiple disciplines still to come, India is on the verge of surpassing 90 medals at the Asian Games. Dig Deeper
Entertainment Focus
Filmmaker Karan Johar is set to return with Season 8 of "Koffee With Karan," and a promo for the show humorously acknowledges past trolling and criticism. The promo features Karan in a pink sweatshirt, quietly sipping coffee, when his conscience, represented as "Kconscience," arrives to question him about the chat show's past seasons. Kconscience humorously criticizes the show as "thanda (cold)" and "meh (boring)" while mocking Karan for nepotism jokes and asking young guests about their sex lives. Karan, in the promo, acknowledges the feedback and declares his intention to invite newlyweds and cricketers, signaling a fresh direction for the show. Dig Deeper
Lifestlye and Health
In today's fast-paced world, stress has become inevitable, impacting our mental health as we juggle daily responsibilities with less time for relaxation and rejuvenation. Sleep problems have also become widespread, further affecting well-being and contributing to various chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular ailments. Ayurveda, an ancient medicinal practice, offers traditional remedies that have stood the test of time. In this segment of Ancient Wisdom, we explore the incredible benefits of Ashwagandha, a herb renowned in Ayurveda for its ability to combat stress, alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms, and improve mental health. Beyond its mental health benefits, Ashwagandha has been used to boost physical and mental strength, aid growth in children, treat conditions like rheumatism and insomnia, and promote overall well-being for centuries. Dig Deeper