Kuala Lumpur, Aug 7 (IANS) India have been drawn with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan in Group G of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026 Qualifiers, following the draw conducted at the AFC House here on Thursday.The draw saw 27 teams divided into eight groups – three of four teams each and five of three. They will contest the qualifiers in a single round-robin centralised league format from October 13 to 17.India will face Kyrgyzstan on October 13 and Uzbekistan on October 17 in Bishkek.The eigh…

New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) Women’s leadership is central to driving female development for Viksit Bharat, said Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi on Thursday.She said this while inaugurating the second edition of UN Women’s flagship capacity-building programme — SheLeads II: Workshop for Women Leaders, in New Delhi.“Women’s leadership is not just a matter of representation, it is central to driving women-led development for a Viksit Bharat,” Devi said.“Initia…

Mumbai, Aug 7 (IANS) Bollywood actor Kunal Kemmu has opened up about his debut track, “Loche,” revealing that the song comes from a very personal place in his life. Stepping into the world of music, the ‘Golmaal 3’ actor shared how the track reflects his own experiences and emotions, making the project both special and meaningful for him. Speaking about his new single, Kunal shared, “Loche is really a piece of my life — and I think a lot of others will see theirs in it too. It’s ab…

Mumbai, Aug 7 (IANS) Actor Ankit Siwach has opened up about his role in Farhan Akhtar’s upcoming project “120 Bahadur,” calling it a dream come true. He shared that being part of the film felt like a long-awaited manifestation, as he had envisioned playing such a role for years. The opportunity, he said, is both meaningful and deeply personal. Ankit, who was born and raised in Meerut Cantonment, shares a personal connection to the military, with several members of his family having served …

Mumbai, Aug 7 (IANS) Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez has opened up about the growing importance of mental health and self-care in today’s fast-paced world. Emphasising the need to prioritize mental well-being, the actress highlighted how small practices like meditation and mindfulness can make a big difference in managing daily stress. Speaking on the sidelines of an event in Bhopal, the ‘Kick’ actress pointed out that modern life comes with constant pressure.Jacqueline said, “Tod…

New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) India’s AI technology spending is projected to grow at an annualised rate of 38 per cent from 2023 to reach $10.4 billion in 2028, a report said on Thursday.Around 40 per cent of organisations in India have already implemented agentic AI, and close to 50 per cent are planning to use the technology within the next 12 months, IDC InfoBrief and UiPath said in a joint report.In 2025, AI investments are focused on building the foundational infrastructure required to power tr…

Kolkata, Aug 7 (IANS) Tensions between the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the West Bengal government are escalating on multiple fronts, with clear signs that the confrontation could intensify in the coming days.The immediate flashpoint is the ECI’s directive to West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant earlier this week, ordering the suspension of four election officers and the lodging of FIRs against them. The Commission found the officials guilty of irregularities in the addition of nam…

Mangaluru (Karnataka), Aug 7 (IANS) Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara has confirmed that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged mass grave case in the temple town of Dharmasthala in Mangaluru district has recovered a male skeleton and human bones from the marked burial sites, which have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Thursday, Home Minister Parameshwara stated, “The unknown complainant claimed that he had buried de…

Bengaluru, Aug 7 (IANS) The BJP on Thursday blamed the Siddaramaiah government for “failing” to resolve the urea crisis in the state, which has dampened the spirits of the farmers who were expecting a better yield due to a decent amount of rainfall. The situation has compelled farmers to struggle to save their crops, dashing their hopes of earning an income and reaping a good yield.Amid the crisis, the detection of 15 tonnes of urea being illegally transported to Kerala and the incidents of lath…

New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday issued the official notification for the conduct of the Vice-Presidential Election, 2025. Acting under the provisions of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952, the Commission announced the timeline for nominations, scrutiny, withdrawal of candidature, and polling — if required.The notification, dated August 7, has been published in the ‘Gazette of India’ and will also appear in ‘State Gazettes’ in t…