The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the Azad Samaj Party (ASP) have announced a political alliance ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, naming ASP chief Chandra Shekhar Azad as their chief ministerial candidate. The announcement was made by AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi during a press conference in Lucknow on Thursday.
The two parties have named their new alliance the Samajik Parivartan Morcha (SPM). Announcing the partnership, Owaisi described it as a strong political formation based on political and intellectual understanding. He formally introduced Azad as the alliance's chief ministerial face and said both parties were committed to working together in the upcoming electoral battle. The leaders also announced plans to organise a rally on November 26. The alliance has expressed its intention to contest all 403 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh in the 2027 Assembly elections. A political party or coalition must secure at least 202 seats to form a government in the state.
The AIMIM-ASP partnership is significant because of its potential to consolidate support among Muslim and Dalit communities. Muslims constitute approximately 20% of Uttar Pradesh's population, while Dalits account for nearly 21%. By joining forces, the two parties hope to strengthen their political presence among these sections and create an alternative platform centred on social justice and representation.
The announcement also adds another dimension to the opposition's political calculations in Uttar Pradesh. The Samajwadi Party and Congress have traditionally sought support among several of the same voter groups, and the emergence of the new alliance could influence the distribution of opposition votes in the state.
Explaining the purpose of the partnership, Owaisi said the alliance aimed to prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from returning to power in Uttar Pradesh for a third consecutive term. Chandra Shekhar Azad also criticised successive governments, alleging that their promises of poverty reduction, social equality and protection for disadvantaged communities had not translated into meaningful improvements.
Azad argued that despite changes in political leadership, large sections of the Bahujan community continued to face economic hardship, caste-based discrimination and a lack of access to basic facilities. He said the Samajik Parivartan Morcha was not merely another opposition grouping but a platform intended to bring together marginalised, deprived, oppressed and exploited communities.
He further indicated that the alliance would seek to expand its political base by encouraging more people from disadvantaged sections of society to join the movement. The leadership believes that a broader social coalition could help strengthen its presence across different parts of Uttar Pradesh. The newly formed alliance has also invited the Samajwadi Party and Congress to join its efforts against the BJP government. Owaisi and Azad said opposition parties interested in working towards this objective would be welcome. The invitation comes as the Samajwadi Party and Congress continue preparing their respective strategies and seat-sharing arrangements for the 2027 elections.
The electoral performance of AIMIM and ASP in the previous Assembly elections highlights the challenges ahead. In 2022, AIMIM contested 95 seats but failed to win any, securing approximately 0.49% of the vote share. The Azad Samaj Party also failed to secure a seat despite contesting more than 100 constituencies, receiving around 0.13% of the votes. The Samajwadi Party won 111 of the 347 seats it contested, recording a vote share of 43.82%. The Congress, which fielded candidates in 399 constituencies, managed to win only two seats with 2.33% of the total votes.
With the next Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections approaching in 2027, the AIMIM-ASP alliance will face the task of converting its political announcement into an effective statewide organisation. Its performance will depend on its ability to build grassroots support, select candidates and attract voters beyond its existing political base. By naming Chandra Shekhar Azad as its chief ministerial candidate and announcing plans to contest all 403 seats, the Samajik Parivartan Morcha has outlined an ambitious electoral strategy. Its emergence is likely to become an important development in the evolving political contest in Uttar Pradesh.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.
In a joint operation involving security forces, Baramulla Police apprehended a man and seized two hand grenades from the Baderkoot forest area of Tangmarg in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. According to a police statement, the accused has been identified as Ghulam Jeelani Reshi, a resident of Baderkote village in Tangmarg. The operation was carried out by Baramulla Police in coordination with CICT Ftr BSF (112/06 Bn), 2RR and CRPF's 176 Battalion during an Area Domination Patrol (ADP) in the forest region.
During the operation, security personnel recovered one hand grenade from the possession of Reshi. Acting on information provided by him, the forces subsequently located and seized another hand grenade that had been hidden in the forest. Police have registered a case at Tangmarg Police Station, and an investigation has been initiated to determine the origin of the explosives, their intended purpose and whether the accused has any wider connections, the statement said.
Baramulla Police reiterated its commitment to maintaining peace and security in the region while appreciating the coordinated efforts of the participating security agencies. In a separate incident in Kishtwar district, the bodies of two missing Special Police Officers (SPOs) were recovered early Thursday, a day after they disappeared from the remote Dachhan area.
The deceased personnel were identified as Babi Chand, 57, and Rashpal Kumar, 45. Both were attached to the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the local police and posted at Kiyar village in Dachhan. Officials said the two officers went missing on Wednesday while travelling from their camp towards an Army post in Dharna-Marwah. Their bodies were recovered on Thursday morning. The disappearance of their service weapons, which were not found along with the bodies, has raised suspicions of a possible militant connection. Further details about the circumstances surrounding their deaths are awaited.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
US Vice President JD Vance has claimed that illegal immigration has declined significantly since Donald Trump returned to the White House, stating that more than three million migrants have left the United States under the administration's immigration crackdown. Vance highlighted the figures while defending Trump's border policies, pointing to a sharp decline in migrant apprehensions and a reduction in the number of migrants being released into the country's interior after being detained at the border.
In a post on X, Vance said US Border Patrol recorded 98,708 apprehensions along the southwest border during the 2026 fiscal year. He compared this with the Biden administration's highest monthly apprehension figure of 249,740, arguing that the latest numbers reflected a major change in border enforcement. "Turns out all we needed was a new President!" Vance wrote, crediting Trump's policies for the decline.
The vice president also claimed that Border Patrol recorded zero releases of apprehended migrants into the US interior during FY2026. The administration has repeatedly highlighted its decision to end the previous practice commonly referred to as 'catch and release' as a key part of its immigration strategy. According to figures promoted by the Trump administration, more than three million migrants have departed the country since January 2025. The departures reportedly include individuals who were deported as well as those who left voluntarily.
The administration has also pointed to increased deportation operations and initiatives such as Project Homecoming, which encourages undocumented migrants to leave the country voluntarily by offering assistance with travel arrangements and financial incentives to eligible participants. However, independent researchers have questioned the accuracy and methodology behind the administration's overall departure figure.
The Migration Policy Institute (MPI), in an analysis published in October 2026, estimated that approximately 980,000 deportations took place between January 20, 2025, and July 31, 2026. Its estimates of total departures among migrants who had lived in the United States for at least a year ranged between 790,000 and 1.9 million. The institute said publicly available information was insufficient to independently verify the administration's claim that more than three million migrants had left the country. It also highlighted difficulties in tracking voluntary departures and the possibility of overlapping figures in government calculations.
The decline in border apprehensions has nevertheless become a central argument for the Trump administration as it seeks to demonstrate the impact of its tougher immigration policies. Trump made border security and mass deportations major promises during his election campaign. Since taking office, his administration has introduced stricter enforcement measures, expanded deportation operations and tightened restrictions on unauthorised entry. The latest claims from Vance are likely to further fuel the debate over the effectiveness of Trump's immigration crackdown, with the administration presenting the figures as evidence of progress while independent assessments continue to examine the scale of migrant departures.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from AFP.
The Indian Armed Forces are set to clarify marriage-related rules for Agniveers, with personnel allowed to marry after completing their initial four-year service tenure. The clarification comes as the military prepares an outreach programme to explain revised service conditions and future career opportunities to the first batch of Agniveers nearing the end of their engagement.
Under the existing rules, Agniveers are required to remain unmarried during their four-year engagement period. However, after completing the initial tenure, they will be free to marry, including those who continue serving under the revised arrangement. The outreach initiative by the Army, Navy and Indian Air Force will focus on addressing questions surrounding the revised Agnipath framework, particularly among personnel who are eligible for an additional two years of service.
The marriage-related clarification is expected to provide greater certainty to young recruits who entered the armed forces under the scheme and are now approaching the end of their initial engagement. The development follows the government's decision to introduce changes to the Agnipath recruitment scheme, including an additional two-year service opportunity for eligible Agniveers who are not selected for permanent enrolment after their initial four-year tenure.
Under the revised arrangement, 25 per cent of Agniveers will continue to be considered for regular enrolment based on merit and organisational requirements. Those who are not selected will have the option of undertaking an additional two-year engagement, subject to their willingness and the recommendations of the armed forces.
After completing the extended tenure, these personnel will also have an opportunity to be considered for regular enrolment, subject to the prescribed selection process. The marriage policy has emerged as an important issue because Agniveers generally join the military between the ages of 17.5 and 21. The requirement to remain unmarried throughout the initial engagement has been a significant personal consideration for recruits planning their future.
With the introduction of the extended service arrangement, the armed forces are also examining other aspects of service conditions, including leave entitlements and related benefits. These matters are expected to form part of the broader communication exercise aimed at ensuring personnel understand the changes. The Agnipath scheme was introduced in 2022 to recruit young personnel into the Army, Navy and Air Force for a four-year period. It was designed to create a younger military workforce while providing recruits with military training and experience.
The latest changes are aimed at providing greater flexibility and additional career opportunities to Agniveers while addressing concerns associated with the original recruitment structure. The military's outreach programme is expected to help the first batch understand the revised provisions, including marriage eligibility, extended service options and the process for regular enrolment.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.
Russian and Ukrainian negotiators have agreed in principle to a major prisoner exchange following two days of US-mediated peace talks in Abu Dhabi. However, significant disagreements over territorial claims and security arrangements continue to prevent a broader breakthrough. The proposed exchange, described by US envoy Jared Kushner as the largest humanitarian prisoner release of the war, is expected to see both countries finalise the number of detainees involved. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also called the planned exchange significant.
Despite some progress, Russia continues to demand that Ukraine surrender the remaining parts of the eastern Donbas region, a condition Kyiv has firmly rejected. Kushner and fellow US envoy Steve Witkoff are scheduled to travel to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin before holding further discussions with Zelenskyy in Ireland. Washington is also pushing for greater European involvement in future negotiations. Fighting has continued despite diplomatic efforts. Ukraine reported Russian strikes on electricity infrastructure and a marketplace in the Odesa region, while Russian authorities reported a deadly Ukrainian drone attack in the Belgorod region.
Both sides acknowledged that the Abu Dhabi discussions had been challenging but expressed willingness to continue negotiations. Ukrainian officials also stressed that Europe must have a place at the negotiating table. Russia currently controls around one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, while disputes over Donbas, NATO's role and postwar security guarantees remain major obstacles. Although the prisoner exchange offers a positive humanitarian development, the absence of agreement on territorial and security issues highlights the challenges facing US-led efforts to end the war.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Business Standard.
With midnight launches, blockbuster sales and billions of views on TikTok, romantasy has emerged as one of the publishing industry's biggest commercial success stories.
Yet, despite its enormous popularity, the genre—which blends fantasy with female-focused romantic and erotic themes—continues to face criticism and dismissal from mainstream literary circles.
Guardian Australia's lifestyle editor, Alyx Gorman, joins Taylah Strano to explore the worldwide rise of romantasy and the controversy surrounding the latest novel by bestselling author Sarah J. Maas.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardain.
The United Nations climate summit is set to begin in Turkey on Monday, with Australia taking charge of negotiations for the first time. Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen faces the challenging task of building consensus among nearly 190 countries on stronger climate action, as global efforts remain off track to meet the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C warming target.
In an interview with Guardian Australia's climate and environment editor, Adam Morton, Bowen addressed questions surrounding the Labor government's climate credibility, particularly given Australia's substantial fossil fuel export industry. He also outlined Australia's commitment to representing the concerns and priorities of its Pacific neighbours during COP31.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
We’re revisiting the Guardian’s long-read archives, bringing back standout stories from previous years, accompanied by fresh introductions from their original authors. This week’s pick, originally published in 2023: Just a year earlier, Germany’s Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck was among the country’s most popular public figures. But a tabloid-fuelled backlash changed the political mood, leaving him with the challenge of winning public support all over again.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from The Guardain.
As Americans head to the polls, Jonathan Freedland joins Atlantic humour columnist Alexandra Petri to look back at the standout moments of the midterm campaign. Their discussion covers memorable political advertisements, unexpected endorsements, campaign missteps and embarrassing blunders, as voters cast their ballots and the first indications of winners and losers begin to emerge.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
