Patna, July 6 (IANS) Amid the intense political showdown over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, the Election Commission (EC) is understood to have given relaxation in submitting certificates and documents for enrolling themselves in the electoral rolls.The Press Information Bureau (PIB), the government’s nodal agency for disseminating information, said on Sunday that the people of the poll-bound state will now have to just fill in the form provided by Booth Level Officers (BLO) and attach one supporting document.Earlier, the rules mandated that every individual attach at least 11 documents, pertaining to their birth, residence and other details and submit them before the poll body for securing a name in the voters’ list.According to PIB’s Bihar unit, the user can also scan the QR code provided by the BLOs and fill out the form online.Meanwhile, the poll panel completed its first phase of the process with ease and in accordance with the stipulated guidelines.It also stated that there has been no change in the instructions, and they remain the same, as stated earlier.”The initial phase of SIR, during which Enumeration forms were to be printed and distributed, is almost complete with the forms having been made available to all the electors who were available,” the EC said in a detailed press note on Sunday.It said that the SIR is being conducted as per the guidelines, and the draft electoral rolls will be issued on August 1, 2025, containing the names of persons whose enumeration forms have been received.The EC statement further read: “As of today, 1,69,49,208 Enumeration Forms, i.e. 21.46 per cent of the total of 7,89,69,844 (nearly 7.90 crore) electors in Bihar who are enrolled as on June 24, 2025, have been received. In the last 24 hours, i.e. from 6.00 PM yesterday, 65,32,663 Enumeration Forms have been collected. There are still 19 days to go for the last date for submission of forms.”Notably, 77,895 BLOs are going house-to-house to help the electors fill out their Enumeration Forms and collect them. The BLOs are also taking live pictures of the electors and uploading them on the portal.Besides a vast network of BLOs, a total of 1,54,977 Booth Level Agents (BLAs), appointed by various political parties, are also providing active support in the SIR process.–IANSmr/vd

London, July 6 (IANS) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova advanced to her second Wimbledon quarterfinal with a hard-fought 7-6(3), 6-4 win over Britain’s Sonay Kartal in a dramatic contest marred by a controversial line-calling malfunction. The match lasted two hours and two minutes and tested both Pavlyuchenkova’s resilience and composure.In a tense first set, with the score tied at 4-4, Pavlyuchenkova appeared to win a game point when Kartal’s backhand landed visibly long. However, a failure in the electronic line-calling system—later blamed on operator error—meant the point was replayed instead of awarded to the Russian. Kartal capitalized on the confusion, breaking serve and earning a set point in the following game as per WTA.But the veteran Pavlyuchenkova responded with calm authority. She saved set point, broke back, and then cruised through the tiebreak, showcasing her trademark power and experience. The World No. 50, who was diagnosed with Lyme disease in February and has since been on a determined comeback trail, kept up her level in the second set with a flurry of highlight-reel shots— including a left-handed forehand winner and a deft lob.Although Kartal showed grit by briefly breaking back, Pavlyuchenkova recaptured the lead at 3-2 and never looked back. She sealed the victory on her first match point with a blistering forehand down the line—her 36th winner of the match, far outpacing Kartal’s 14.The win marks Pavlyuchenkova’s 10th Grand Slam quarterfinal and second this season, her first time reaching that milestone in a single year since 2011. With an 8-1 record on grass this season and a semifinal run in Eastbourne already under her belt, she’s in top form heading into a clash against either Amanda Anisimova or Linda Noskova for a place in the semifinals.–IANSaaa/

Los Angeles, July 6 (IANS) Hollywood actress Brooke Shields has changed her parenting style. The actress has said that she has become “more lenient” with her daughters.

The 60-year-old film star has Rowan, 22, and Grier, 19, with her husband Chris Henchy, and Brooke admits that her parenting style has evolved over the years, reports ‘Female First UK’.During an appearance on Today with Jenna and Friends, the actress said, “Holiday plans have sort of all been overtaken by my daughters’ friends. So they’re all coming to our house. And what’s been interesting this time is that there’s boyfriend situations, and there’s only so many beds. And it’s a discussion”.As per ‘Female First UK’, the actress shared that she’s adopted a more relaxed approach with her youngest daughter.She also confessed to being more lenient in her parenting style than Chris, 61. The actress, who has been married to Chris since 2001, said, “I’m usually the tougher one, but for some reason, because they all want to be there, there’s something that just makes me feel like, ‘Well, at least they all want to be together’. If they can be respectful and certain things can be where they’re supposed to be. I don’t know. It’s weird. I just cannot believe that I’m the person who’s more lenient when I didn’t even lose my virginity until I was 22. I was in a locked box”.Last year, meanwhile, Brooke revealed that she was still adjusting to life as an “empty nester”. The actress joked about having mixed feelings when her daughters returned home from college over the festive season.During an appearance on ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’, she quipped, “I’m an empty nester. Then, they came home for Christmas. It was great, and then, I couldn’t wait for them to leave”.She recalled feeling “so sad” when her kids left home to go to college.–IANSaa/

Guwahati/Itanagar, July 6 (IANS) In a focused effort to strengthen connections with rural communities and…

New Delhi, July 6 (IANS) The All India Football Federation (AIFF) have announced a reward of USD 50,000 for the Senior Indian Women’s National Team (WNT) following their outstanding performance in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers held in Thailand.The Blue Tigresses delivered a flawless campaign — winning all four matches in convincing fashion. India recorded emphatic victories over Mongolia (13-0), Timor-Leste (4-0), and Iraq (5-0), before capping off the group stage with a crucial 2-1 win against higher-ranked hosts Thailand.In recent years, the AIFF, in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), has undertaken several initiatives to strengthen the grassroots and youth structures in women’s football. One such initiative is the ASMITA Women’s Football Leagues, which witnessed the successful conduct of 155 leagues across the country from 2023 to 2025 at the U13, U15, and U17 levels. The 2023–24 edition saw participation from 6,305 junior players, a number that rose to 8,658 in 2024–25.As a result of such efforts, the number of registered women footballers in India has seen a 232% increase over the past year, as per AIFF. “Looking ahead, the AIFF remains fully committed to ensuring the best possible preparation for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in Australia in March 2026. The Federation will work closely with all stakeholders to facilitate extended training camps and secure high-quality international exposure for the team.“The aim for the Federation is not only to make the players physically and mentally fit through training, but also to make them ready to rub shoulders against the best in Asia. Opportunities for the AIFF to arrange quality opponents to play preparatory matches are also being looked at,” read the statement by the football governing body.The team’s preparation for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers included a 53-day national camp, during which the squad not only engaged in local practice matches in Bengaluru but also competed in two FIFA Women’s International Friendlies against Uzbekistan, who also qualified for the continental tournament.–IANSaaa/

Chandigarh, July 6 (IANS) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday said a crucial meeting regarding the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) issue would be held in New Delhi on July 9.

“Positive aspects will be considered unanimously at the meeting, and since Haryana shares a brotherly bond with Punjab, we hope a solution will emerge through communication,” said the Chief Minister. He said a large-scale plan to build a jungle safari in Haryana is in progress and will be implemented soon. He recently visited the Vantara Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, where injured or abandoned animals and birds are rescued and treated. The centre also works to protect and preserve endangered species. The Chief Minister said he has requested Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to help establish a Disneyland amusement park in the NCR region. A 500-acre land has already been identified for the project, which is expected to become a major tourist attraction. Chief Minister Saini said the government is committed to public service and working with dedication, following the footsteps of Syama Prasad Mookerjee. The Chief Minister paid floral tribute to Mookerjee on his 125th birth anniversary in New Delhi. On this occasion, he also planted a sapling under the Prime Minister’s initiative ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign and also encouraged people to plant trees in the name of great personalities to help protect the environment. BJP state President Mohan Lal Badoli was also present and paid tributes to Mookerjee and planted a sapling. Interacting with the media after the event, Chief Minister Saini said that Syama Prasad Mookerjee, a strong nationalist, founder of the Jana Sangh, and a freedom fighter, always worked in the interest of the nation. “We must follow the path shown by him and contribute to building a developed India. Mookerjee always prioritised service to society and worked for the welfare of the underprivileged, which is why he is remembered as a true well-wisher of the poor,” he added. –IANS vg/dan

Prayagraj, July 6 (IANS) Rajya Sabha MP and senior Congress leader Pramod Tiwari on Sunday said that lies are being spread by pasting Rahul Gandhi’s picture on sanitary pads. He said that the fake video posted on social media reflects the poor thinking of the BJP.A controversy erupted in poll-bound Bihar after a photograph of Rahul Gandhi was seen featuring prominently on sanitary pad packets, being distributed under the Congress party’s Priyadarshini Udaan Yojana, aimed at raising menstrual hygiene awareness among women in the state.The Congress launched the initiative as part of a larger campaign for women voters in the state.In a special conversation with IANS, the Congress MP Tiwari said, “The government has failed on the safety and health of women, so the Congress distributed sanitary pads with its limited resources. But the BJP is spreading lies on social media by putting a fake photo of Rahul Gandhi on these pads; there was no photo on the pad.Tiwari called it a shameful, disgusting and cheap act, which reflects the mentality of BJP supporters.”Cornering the government on the voter list controversy that started before the Bihar Assembly elections, he said that if someone has an Aadhaar card and is residing in an area, then his name should be added to the voter list. But the Election Commission is also rejecting the Aadhaar card, and citizens are being asked for their ‘horoscopes’. The Bharatiya Janata Party itself had said in Parliament that the Aadhaar card is proof of Indianness, so why is the same proof not valid now?Tiwari also spoke on the arrest of Nirav Modi’s brother, Nehal Modi. He said that when the investigations of CBI and ED were going on, on whose orders were such criminals allowed to flee abroad?Reminding of the old promises, the Congress leader stated that PM Modi had said that Dawood Ibrahim would be brought to India in six months. Now I want to ask, where is Dawood? What happened to terrorists like Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed and Dawood Ibrahim? Can the BJP government give any details of the action taken against them?The Congress MP also talked about Operation Sindoor. He said, “During ‘Operation Sindoor’ carried out by the Indian Air Force, the Foreign Minister informed Pakistan that we would attack terrorist hideouts. The result was that the attack was only on terrorist hideouts, and all the terrorists moved away from there. The hard work of our brave soldiers did not have the full effect. After all, the government should tell where the terrorists were killed, how many were killed, and what their names are. Where is the list of the terrorists who were killed?”He further said that this is a direct compromise with national security, and the government should decide its accountability.–IANSuk

New Delhi, July 6 (IANS) Amid the swirling allegations of systemic conspiracy to deprive a large section of people of voting rights in Bihar, the Chief Election Commissioner sought to set the records straight on Sunday, as he stated that the current voter ID cards remain a ‘source of concern’ for all parties across the political spectrum.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar shed light on the marathon meetings conducted with parties as well as political representatives in the past four months and informed that all shared a common opinion that electoral rolls are ‘not up to the mark’, thereby prompting the poll body to go for a major overhaul.“During the past 4 months, all 4,123 EROs, all 775 DEOs and all 36 CEOs have held nearly 5,000 meetings with 28,000 political party representatives. ECI has also invited all Recognised political parties for interaction. No one was satisfied with the current status of electoral rolls for one reason or the other,” said Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.The CEC’s disclosures on intensive revision of electoral rolls assume significance as it comes in the wake of vociferous protests by the Opposition parties, as the latter claimed that their charges are being ignored and neglected by the Election Commission.On Saturday, the CEC said that the poll panel is regularly holding discussions and dialogue with the political parties to address their concerns.Notably, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) – a rigorous exercise by the ECI to roll out ‘fresh’ electoral rolls in Bihar has come under intense scrutiny and criticism from the Opposition parties.According to EC’s guidelines on SIR, about 4.96 crore voters – comprising 60 per cent of the electorate, who were listed in electoral rolls before 2003, don’t have to be part of the exercise, which means that they won’t have to deposit any supporting documents to establish their date or place of birth.However, the rest 40 per cent of the population, comprising about Rs 3 crore, will have to provide supporting documents as ‘evidence’ to establish their date or place of birth.–IANSmr/dan

Beijing, July 6 (IANS) China will take relevant measures against medical devices imported from the European Union (EU) through government procurement projects in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, the Ministry of Finance said on Sunday. When a purchaser buys medical devices with a budget of over 45 million yuan (about 6.29 million U.S. dollars), if it is indeed necessary to purchase imported products — after going through relevant legal procedures — the participation of EU enterprises (excluding EU-funded enterprises in China) should be excluded, the ministry said.For non-EU enterprises participating in government procurement projects, the proportion of medical devices imported from the EU that they provide should not exceed 50 per cent of the procurement’s total contract amount.The above measures do not apply to procurement projects that can only be met by medical devices imported from the EU, according to the ministry.This notice will come into effect on July 6, 2025. For procurement projects that have already announced winning bids or transaction results before July 6, the above measures don’t apply herein and government procurement contracts may continue to be signed, the ministry said.A spokesperson for China’s commerce ministry commented on the issue on Sunday, noting that the European Commission introduced measures on June 20, 2025, which restrict Chinese enterprises and products from participating in the EU’s public procurement of medical devices and continue to set up barriers for Chinese firms in public procurement, reported Xinhua news agency.The spokesperson said that China had repeatedly expressed through bilateral dialogue its willingness to resolve differences with the EU via such dialogue, and through consultation and bilateral government procurement arrangements.Regrettably, despite China’s goodwill and sincerity, the EU has insisted on taking restrictive measures to build new protectionist barriers, the spokesperson noted.”Therefore, China has no choice but to take reciprocal restrictive measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and maintain a fair competition environment,” said the spokesperson.The ministry emphasised that China’s measures only apply to medical device products imported from the EU, and those produced by EU-funded enterprises in China are unaffected.–IANSint/bpd/dan

Gaza, July 6 (IANS) At least 43 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, the Civil Defense in Gaza said. Israeli warplanes attacked two homes in the al-Nasr and Sheikh Radwan neighbourhoods in Gaza City, according to eyewitnesses.Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for the Civil Defense, told Xinhua that 25 people, including children and women, were killed, and several others were wounded in the two airstrikes.Basal added that four Palestinians were killed in an Israeli shelling of a residential house in the al-Tuffah neighbourhood in eastern Gaza City, while three others were killed in an Israeli attack on a tent sheltering displaced persons in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, reported Xinhua news agency.Ten people were also killed in separate Israeli airstrikes on tents housing displaced Palestinians in the Al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis, according to Basal.Meanwhile, Basal said that a Palestinian was killed and some others were wounded by Israeli army gunfire in the Al-Shakoush area, northwest of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.In addition to the airstrikes and gunfire, Israeli artillery shelled the eastern and southern outskirts of Gaza City, Jabalia, and Khan Younis, amid clashes with armed Palestinian factions, according to local sources.The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Sunday that IDF troops continued their operations both above and below ground against the “terrorist organizations” in the Gaza Strip.According to the IDF, the attacks targeted command and control structures, storage facilities, tunnel shafts, weapons, launchers, and an unspecified number of militants in Khan Younis, Rafah, Gaza City and Jabalia.Since Israel resumed its military campaign in Gaza on March 18, at least 6,860 Palestinians have been killed and 24,220 others injured, bringing the overall death toll in Gaza since the conflict began in October 2023 to 57,418, with a total of 136,261 people injured, according to data released on Sunday by health authorities in Gaza.–IANSint/bpd/dan