New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) The electoral data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI) shows a clear long-term rise in voter turnout and the number of votes polled across several states since the first elections after Independence. In West Bengal, voter turnout stood at around 40 per cent in the 1951 election and climbed steadily to a record 93.70 per cent in 2026, with total votes polled rising from 76.35 lakh to 6.40 crore. Puducherry, which began participating later, saw a voter turno…

Mumbai, Aug 18 (IANS) In a major move to curb deaths and disabilities caused by snakebites, the Maharashtra government on Tuesday declared snakebite a “Notified Disease” across the state. Under this new mandate issued by the state government, all public and private hospitals, medical colleges, and medical practitioners are now legally obligated to report every suspected, probable, or confirmed case of snakebite, as well as any resulting fatalities, to health authorities.State Public Health and F…

Mumbai, Aug 18 (IANS) Kajol likes to keep her Instagram family entertained with her funny and thought-provoking captions.Keeping up with the trend, Kajol shared a few photos of herself looking extremely beautiful in a yellow saree with a red border, paired with a red blouse. Her stunning ethnic look was completed with a big red bindi, jhumkas and a neat bun for her hair.However, what caught the attention was the interesting question Kajol asked in the caption.”When butterflies fall in love…do …

New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) Drug firm Shilpa Medicare Limited on Tuesday has initiated a voluntary recall of 27,923 vials of Pemetrexed Injection 100 mg/10 mL and 500 mg/50 mL (Pemetri RTU) in the United States due to atypical discolouration of the drug product.According to a stock exchange filing, the company initiated the recall on July 29, 2026, at the retail and hospital level. The recall covers four batches, comprising two batches of each strength. Of the total affected quantity, 9,489 are 50 …

Doha, Aug 18 (IANS) Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said Tuesday that ongoing regional efforts are focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and returning to the US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU).Speaking at a weekly media briefing, Ansari said the latest escalation included “the violation of the ceasefire and the tensions at the Strait of Hormuz,” adding that efforts are focused on ensuring a return to what was stipulated in the MoU.Al Ansari said Qatar is still awa…

New Delhi, Aug 18 (IANS) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday condoled the loss of lives in the deadly earthquake in Indonesia and noted that India remains committed to extend all possible assistance.“Indonesia has been hit by a major earthquake in which a large number of people have been killed and many others injured. Many more people have been rendered homeless. We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and convey our condolences for the precious lives lost. We also pray for the s…

Singapore, Aug 18 (IANS) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar arrived in Singapore on Tuesday ahead of the 4th India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR).“Great to welcome Hon’ble EAM S Jaishankar to Singapore for the 4th India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable ISMR! – HC Wong,” Singapore’s High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, stated on X.According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the fourth round of ISMR will be held in Singapore on August 20.It noted that, along wi…

Chandigarh, Aug 18 (IANS) Former Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu on Tuesday hit out at Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann after the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) investigation into alleged irregularities and the reported involvement of intermediaries linked to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). He said the revelations reported in findings of ED’s “61 instances of suspected wrongdoing in the Chief Minister’s Office” are extremely serious and raise fundamental questions about the functioning …

Chandigarh, Aug 18 (IANS) Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon has written to Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh L. Mandaviya, demanding the establishment of a sub-regional office of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) in Bathinda city. Dhillon forwarded a representation received from the ESIC Employees’ Union, Punjab Region, Chandigarh, to the Union Minister and extended his full support to the demand. He said there has been a long-standing need for an ESIC Sub-R…

Gandhinagar, Aug 18 (IANS) Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) Gyanendra Singh Malik has directed senior police officers across the state to reduce response times for Emergency Service ‘112’ and ensure citizens receive immediate assistance during emergencies. Malik issued the directions during a video conference review meeting on the prevailing law and order situation in the state, held with all police commissioners, range heads and district superintendents of police.The meeting was conduct…