Multiple cases of gang rape of teenage girls and boys are being reported from different parts of Pakistan, involving not just miscreants but also police officers who have been found guilty of gang-raping, raping and sexually assaulting minors.

In the latest horrific case, a police officer, along with his friend, gang-raped a teenage student who had gone to the police station to plead early release of her father.

The tragic incident occurred in Punjab province's Kot Momin city, where local police officers had arrested the father of a minor in a fake case. The police officer advised the teenager, studying in Class 10, to come to the Kot Momin police station and prove her father's innocence.

As per details in the First Investigation Report (FIR), the girl said that she was kidnapped in a car by the Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) along with his friend while on her way to the police station. She was taken to a house in Nazimabad area of Kot Momin city and gang-raped at gunpoint.

Later, as her medical condition became worse, the girl was dumped in front of her aunt's house at 2 am.

The increasing number of suicides, especially among women, is becoming a significant social issue. Modern life, with its relentless pressure, is driving more individuals to the brink, with causes ranging from family discord to business stress and work pressure. Recent incidents in Uttar Pradesh highlight the gravity of this trend.

On September 22, a woman consumed poison in Prayagraj. She was admitted to a private hospital but could not survive. Her daughter and son had also taken their lives a few days ago.

Earlier on August 12, a married woman ended her life by hanging herself in Aligarh. The family alleged that she was not allowed to make reels for Instagram and she was also harassed for dowry.

Similarly, on September 4, three women in separate incidents died by suicide for three different reasons in Meerut.

Leading automaker Maruti Suzuki India on Tuesday said it sold 184,727 vehicles in the month of August, up from 181,343 units sold in the same month last year.

The figure included domestic sales of 148,061 units, sales to other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of 8,938 units and exports of 27,728 units, the automaker said in a statement.

In the six months of current fiscal (April-September), Maruti Suzuki India sold 1,063,418 units, up from 1,050,085 in the same period last fiscal.

The export figure for the first six months of FY25 was 148,276 units, up from 132,542 units in the last fiscal for the same period.

The Bombay High Court upheld the death penalty awarded to a Kolhapur man who brutally killed his mother and then ate her organs, in a diabolic crime that came to light in 2017, here on Tuesday.

Terming it a ‘rarest of rare case’, a division bench comprising Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Prithviraj Chavan pronounced their ruling before the open court where the convict-appellant Sunil Kuchkoravi was produced in a video conference.

“This is a rarest of rare cases wherein the appellant (Kuchkoravi) not only killed his mother but removed her organs like heart, brain, etc and was about to cook the same on a stove. This is cannibalism. Thus, we have upheld your death sentence, as awarded to you by the Sessions Court,” the court said, confirming the verdict of the lower court.

Enraged after being denied money to buy liquor, Kuchkoravi had murdered his 63-year-old mother, Yellama R. Kuchkorav on August 28, 2017, and was planning to indulge in more brutality on her body when a kid from the neighbourhood saw him standing near her bloodied body.

Thailand's manufacturing sector maintained its upturn in September but expanded at a slower rate due to lower increases in output and new orders, a survey showed on Tuesday.

The Southeast Asian country's manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) was recorded at 50.4 last month, easing from 52.0 in August, signalling an overall improvement in manufacturing sector performance and marking the slowest growth in four months, according to S&P Global.

A PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion in the manufacturing sector, while a reading below 50 reflects contraction,news agency reported.

Afghan power company, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat, has inked three memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with domestic companies to produce 240 megawatts of electricity, the company said in a statement.

The MoUs were signed at a ceremony in the capital Kabul, attended by acting Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, government officials, and representatives of private companies, the statement said,news agency reported.

Based on the signed MoUs, two companies will produce 100 megawatts of solar energy electricity each and one will produce 40 megawatts of electricity from coal in the capital, it said.

Afghanistan has been facing a power shortage. It imports most of its electricity from neighbouring countries including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran.

Indian cricket’s next generation of batting talent is quietly making waves, and star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has high hopes for two of the country’s brightest young stars — Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Both players impressed during India’s recent 2-0 Test sweep against Bangladesh, with Jaiswal finishing as the top run-scorer of the series, accumulating 189 runs at an average of 47.25, while Gill closely followed with 164 runs at an impressive average of 54.66, including a century in the first Test.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ashwin showered praise on the duo, emphasising their potential to become key players for India, especially in overseas conditions. "Look, I think Yashasvi Jaiswal is a special talent. He plays freely and willingly. He’s just started his international career, as is Shubman Gill. Both of them are still in the formative years of playing Test cricket, but I believe they will be the future pillars and overseas stars for Indian cricket," Ashwin said.

Jaiswal, who has already turned heads with his aggressive yet controlled approach, has quickly become a fan favourite. His ability to dominate bowlers with three fifties in the series showcased the kind of temperament that is vital in the longer format. Gill, who has cemented himself as a reliable opener, also delivered a strong performance with his century in the first Test, solidifying his growing reputation as a technically sound and adaptable batter.

Former England opener Ian Bell lavished high praise on India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant's stroke-making abilities and said that he would leave everything to watch him bat.

Pant, who has emerged as India's all-format player in recent years, returned to competitive cricket in the 2024 IPL. He went on to win the T20 World Cup with the Indian team in Barbados in June. Since making his international return, Pant has been an integral part of Men in Blue across formats.

"The player I enjoy watching the most is Rishabh Pant. I'm so pleased he is back. I love watching him. Some of his innings (against England) were incredible under pressure as well. When Rishabh comes out to bat, I would definitely sit down and stop everything else to watch him. He is certainly an entertainer which is great to watch,"

The veteran of 118 Tests, 161 ODIs and eight T20Is and more than 13,000 international runs, Bell picked Australian greats Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath as the toughest bowlers he faced during his career.

Leading credit ratings agencies on Tuesday highlighted the sustained strengthening of India Inc's credit quality, reflecting resilient domestic growth supported by the government's continued policy support.

Crisil Ratings upgraded 506 companies in the first half of the current fiscal compared to 184 downgrades, which is an upgrade-to-downgrade ratio of 2.75 from 1.79 times in the second half of last fiscal.

The annualised upgrade rate of 14.5 per cent outpaced the average of 11 per cent for the past decade, while the downgrade rate of 5.3 per cent was lower than the 10-year average of 6.5 per cent. Notably, the rating reaffirmation rate continued to be stable at 80 per cent.

“Rating upgrades continued to surpass downgrades, reflecting resilient domestic growth, supported by the government’s continued policy support towards infrastructure build, the revival of rural consumption demand and leaner corporate balance sheets,” said Subodh Rai, Managing Director, CRISIL Ratings.

A sacred Bhumi Poojan ceremony was recently held for the upcoming Satsang of Guru ji Shri Sudhanshu ji Maharaj at Rana Heritage, Sirhind. The ceremony marked the beginning of the preparations for the spiritual event, which will take place from 3rd to 6th October 2024. The pooja was conducted with deep devotion, blessing the land and setting a positive, divine energy for the Satsang.The Bhumi Poojan was attended by various members of the Vishav Jagriti Mission, alongside representatives from different NGOs and social organizations. The ceremony reflected the unity and shared purpose of all those working together for this meaningful event.Among those present at the ceremony were Dr. Raghubir Suri, Didar Singh Bhatti, Ajay Alipuria, Ashwani Garg, Pardeep Garg, Dr Hitender Suri, Parveen Garg, Jagdish Verma,Davinder Prashar, and Hari OM Verma. Their participation added to the spirit of devotion and commitment that the satsang aims to foster.The Satsang, led by Guru ji Shri Sudhanshu ji Maharaj, is expected to be a spiritually uplifting experience, offering teachings that inspire peace, love, and harmony. The organizing committee welcomes everyone to join this enlightening journey.