National News
As BJP crosses majority mark in Delhi, Omar takes a veiled dig at AAP, Congress

New Delhi, Feb 8: In a veiled jibe at INDIA bloc allies AAP and Congress after early trends indicated the BJP had crossed the halfway mark in the Delhi Assembly elections, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday quipped that the two opposition parties should fight some more and finish each other off.
Taking to social media platform X, the National Conference leader shared a GIF which said: “Aur lado, jee bhar ke lado, samapt kar do ek dusre ko (Fight…fight to your heart’s content, finish each other off)”.
The Congress and the AAP which fought the Lok Sabha elections unitedly under the INDIA bloc chose to go it alone in the Delhi Assembly polls and did not hesitate to attack each other to the extent of dubbing each other as BJP’s “B-team”.
Last month, when the Congress and AAP announced they would go solo in the Delhi polls, the NC leader said there was no clarity about the INDIA bloc or its leadership and that it should be withdrawn if it was just formed for the general elections.
NC, a key constituent of the INDIA bloc largely remained “neutral” for the Delhi elections, unlike other allies Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP) who are openly vouching and rallying support for the AAP.
The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said he cannot say anything about the AAP and Congress’ decision as he has nothing to do with the Delhi polls.
He had also expressed disappointment over zero clarity on INDIA bloc leadership, the lack of no meetings and its very existence.
Earlier, Abdullah called for a “strategy shift” in the INDIA bloc in a time-bound manner, failing which the purpose of the alliance will be defeated.
“If we continue on this path of division, it won’t bode well for the future of the INDIA Bloc,” he said.
After the initial rounds of counting, trends indicate the BJP crossed the majority mark leading on 42 seats, and the AAP on 28.
Business
Colgate-Palmolive India’s Q2 profit falls 17 pc, revenue slips over 6 pc

Mumbai, Oct 23: Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited on Thursday reported a 17 per cent drop in its net profit for the second quarter of the current financial year (Q2 FY26).
The company’s profit stood at Rs 327.50 crore for the quarter ended September 2025, compared to Rs 395.05 crore in the same period last financial year (Q2 FY25), according to its stock exchange filing.
Revenue also fell 6.15 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 1,519.50 crore, down from Rs 1,619.11 crore in the previous fiscal.
Operating income or EBITDA declined 6 per cent to Rs 465.43 crore, while the EBITDA margin was almost unchanged at 30.6 per cent, compared to 30.7 per cent last financial year.
Prabha Narasimhan, Managing Director and CEO of Colgate-Palmolive India, said the quarter’s performance reflected a temporary impact from disruptions among distributors and retailers due to the GST rate revision.
She added that the company has worked with its partners to ensure consumers benefit from the lower prices that took effect after the tax change.
“Despite the short-term challenges, we remain focused on our long-term strategic goals and will continue to invest in our brands,” Narasimhan said.
Alongside the results, the company announced a first interim dividend of Rs 24 per share for the financial year 2025–26, amounting to a total payout of Rs 652.8 crore.
The record date for the dividend has been set as November 3, and the payment will be made on or before November 19, according to the company’s exchange filing.
Colgate-Palmolive (India)’s quarterly results were released after market hours. On Thursday, its shares closed 1.16 per cent higher at Rs 2,286.90 on the NSE.
However, the stock has fallen 31.35 per cent over the past year and 14.69 per cent so far in 2025.
Crime
BSF apprehends minor with 11 gold biscuits along India-Bangladesh border

Kolkata, Oct 23: The Border Security Force (BSF) has apprehended a minor boy with 11 gold biscuits along the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB) in the North 24-Parganas district of West Bengal.
The incident has brought to light how smugglers are now using minors as couriers to evade arrest.
“Troops of the 143 Bn BSF, South Bengal Frontier, deployed at the Bithari Border Outpost, had received intelligence inputs of an attempt to smuggle gold in their area of jurisdiction. During checks, they came across an Indian minor carrying a briefcase. During a search, a black packet with the 11 gold biscuits were found in his possession,” a senior BSF official said.
According to an official, the weight of the seized gold is 1,286.17 grams. It is valued at around Rs 1.64 crore.
During questioning, the boy said that he is a resident of Daharkanda village in the Swarupnagar police station area of North 24-Parganas. He also said that he had been sent by his mother to deliver the packet to a designated point.
The boy has been handed over to concerned authorities, along with the gold, for further legal processing. A search has been launched for the boy’s mother and others involved in the racket.
“This recovery once again underscores the alertness, professionalism, and commitment of BSF troops in curbing cross-border smuggling along the India–Bangladesh border, despite attempts by criminal networks to exploit minors for such illegal activities,” the official said.
While stating that the BSF personnel are fully capable of preventing all kinds of illegal activities along the border, he urged the border population to report any information regarding gold smuggling or other crimes to ensure peace in the area.
“They can call the Seema Sathi Helpline Number 14419 or send a WhatsApp text or voice message to 9903472227. Those providing credible information would be suitably rewarded and their identities kept confidential,” he said.
National News
ECI wraps up two-day conference of CEOs; focusses on poll preparedness in Assam, TN, Kerala, Puducherry, Bengal

New Delhi, Oct 23: The Election Commission of India’s (ECI’s) two-day conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) at the India International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi concluded on Thursday, the poll panel said, adding, that it also interacted one-on-one with the CEOs of poll-bound States/UT of Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and West Bengal.
The conference was presided over by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in the presence of Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.
The primary focus of the session was to assess the readiness of all State and Union Territory CEO offices for the crucial SIR exercise that ensures accuracy and inclusiveness in India’s voter lists.
This conference follows up on a similar preparedness review held on September 10 this year, where all States and UTs presented detailed data on electors, qualifying dates, and the current status of electoral rolls as per the last completed revision.
According to the poll panel, CEOs of the States/UTs from across the country attended this crucial Conference.
“The Commission directed the CEOs to finalise their preparations for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in their respective States/UTs,” the poll panel said in its press note.
Notably, after the presentations by senior officers of the Commission on the SIR process, queries raised by the CEOs were also clarified.
“The Commission assessed the progress made on the directions previously issued to the CEOs to map the current electors with the voters as per the last SIR in the State/UT,” it said.
The poll panel also interacted one-to-one with the CEOs of poll-bound States/UT of Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and West Bengal.
Earlier, the ECI also reviewed the status of appointment and training of field-level officials including District Election Officers (DEOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), Assistant EROs (AEROs), Booth Level Officers (BLOs), and Booth Level Agents (BLAs).
The conference aimed to standardise processes, strengthen coordination across states, and ensure that every eligible citizen is duly enrolled ahead of the next election cycle.
-
Crime3 years ago
Class 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra1 year ago
Mumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Maharashtra1 year ago
Mumbai To Go Toll-Free Tonight! Maharashtra Govt Announces Complete Toll Waiver For Light Motor Vehicles At All 5 Entry Points Of City
-
Maharashtra1 year ago
False photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
National News1 year ago
Ministry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
Maharashtra11 months ago
Maharashtra Elections 2024: Mumbai Metro & BEST Services Extended Till Midnight On Voting Day
-
National News1 year ago
J&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface
-
Crime1 year ago
Baba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Unable To Get Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Due To Home Ministry Order, Says Report