The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FDA) has cancelled 16 drug licences and suspended eight others as authorities step up action against an alleged counterfeit medicine network in the state. The action follows a raid conducted on August 18 at an allegedly unauthorised facility near Kurubarakeranahalli in Bidadi. Officials said medicines, expired drugs, packaging material and equipment were recovered during the operation, with the total value of the seized material estimated at around ₹5.05 crore.
According to officials, the investigation began after the FDA's Drug Enforcement Wing received information about the facility. Investigators suspect that lower-cost medicines sourced from outside Karnataka were being repackaged and relabelled as higher-value medicines. The raid reportedly resulted in the seizure of thousands of medicine vials, along with expired stocks and equipment allegedly used in the repackaging process. Authorities are examining the seized products to determine their composition, quality, sterility and potency.
The FDA has also widened its investigation to pharmacies, wholesalers and other businesses that may have handled the suspected medicines. Officials have cancelled the licences of several establishments and suspended eight others as part of the ongoing probe. Authorities have blocked the identified medicine batches on the FDA portal and sent samples to government laboratories for testing. The laboratory results are expected to help investigators determine whether the medicines contained the ingredients stated on their labels and met prescribed quality standards.
A criminal case has been registered under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. A Special Investigation Team is also examining the suspected supply chain to establish the source of the medicines and identify those involved in their alleged manufacture, repackaging, storage and distribution. Karnataka authorities have indicated that the investigation may extend beyond the state if links to an interstate supply network are established.
The case has also prompted scrutiny of medicine distribution channels, particularly because some of the products under investigation are injectable medicines. Authorities have advised consumers to buy medicines only from licensed pharmacies and retain purchase bills so that products can be traced if concerns arise. The investigation remains underway, with further action expected after laboratory reports and supply-chain inquiries are completed.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from deccan herald.
Indian Navy warships INS Sahyadri and INS Kulish have arrived at Subic Bay in the Philippines to take part in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Joint Cooperation Activity (JCA), marking another engagement between India and maritime forces from the Indo-Pacific region. The activity is being co-hosted by Japan and the Philippines and brings together ASEAN member states and partner countries for maritime cooperation and professional exchanges.
The participating forces are expected to conduct a range of activities aimed at improving interoperability, strengthening coordination and developing a better understanding of maritime operations among regional partners. INS Sahyadri is a Shivalik-class stealth multi-role frigate, while INS Kulish is a Kora-class corvette. Their participation reflects the Indian Navy’s continued engagement with regional maritime forces through multilateral exercises and cooperative activities.
The deployment is also in line with India’s Act East Policy and its broader MAHASAGAR vision, which focuses on strengthening partnerships and maritime cooperation across the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific. India and the Philippines have also expanded their defence relationship in recent years, with maritime security emerging as an important area of bilateral cooperation. The presence of the Indian warships at Subic Bay provides an opportunity for personnel from both navies to further strengthen professional ties.
The ADMM-Plus framework provides ASEAN countries and partner nations with a platform to work together on practical defence and security issues. Maritime engagements such as the current activity are intended to build operational familiarity and strengthen cooperation among participating forces. The arrival of Sahyadri and Kulish in the Philippines underscores India's continued naval outreach in the region and its participation in multilateral efforts aimed at enhancing maritime cooperation and security.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from IndianNavy.
A home is more than its rooms, amenities and design. While these elements create the physical foundation of a residence, the people who live there and the experiences they share are what gradually turn a development into a community. For Prateek Group, this idea is reflected in its approach to residential living, where architecture, craftsmanship, nature, lifestyle and community engagement come together to create experiences that go beyond a physical address.
This philosophy is reflected through Life at Prateek, an initiative built around the belief that the relationship between a developer and its residents can continue well beyond the delivery of a home. Through cultural events, wellness programmes, environmental activities and social gatherings, the initiative creates opportunities for residents to participate, interact and build memories together. The approach places equal importance on how people experience a residential environment and the spaces themselves. Instead of viewing shared areas simply as facilities within a project, the idea is to make them part of everyday community life, where residents can meet, celebrate occasions and develop a stronger connection with their surroundings.
Community experiences form an important part of this approach. Life at Prateek brings residents together through festivals, cultural programmes, national celebrations, wellness sessions and social events. Celebrations such as Lohri Carnival 2026, the Christmas Mela at Prateek Grand City, Independence Day programmes and Togetherness at Prateek Stylome have provided residents with opportunities to gather in common spaces and celebrate together.
Entertainment and family-oriented activities add another layer to these experiences. Live music can create relaxed settings for residents to spend time together, while puppet shows and storytelling sessions for children introduce creativity and learning into the residential environment. Flea markets similarly offer residents an opportunity to explore, interact and meet neighbours outside their usual routines. Over time, these small encounters can help make a residential community feel more familiar and connected.
Nature is another important part of this community experience. At Prateek Grand City, the Harit Ghar initiative encouraged residents to explore vertical and balcony gardening, helping families bring more greenery into their homes. The workshops combined environmental awareness with practical participation, giving residents ideas that could be continued after the programme ended. This approach reflects a broader understanding of how nature can become part of everyday residential life. Rather than being limited to landscaped areas around buildings, greenery can become something residents actively engage with and experience within their own homes.
The Group's project planning also places emphasis on nature-oriented and wellness spaces. At Prateek Canary in Sector 150, Noida, the published plans include landscaped areas, an outdoor reading space, a yoga and meditation lawn and a wellness garden. Such features demonstrate how residential planning can incorporate spaces for recreation, relaxation, reflection and interaction alongside the homes themselves.
The connection between residential design and nature also relates to the concept of biophilia, which describes the natural human inclination to connect with the living world. By incorporating greenery and nature-led spaces into everyday surroundings, residential environments can create a closer relationship between the built environment and nature. In this context, landscaping becomes more than a visual feature and can contribute to the overall experience of living.
Community wellbeing extends beyond recreation and lifestyle activities. As part of its CSR initiatives, Prateek Group, through Prateek Foundation Aakar, organised a COVID-19 vaccination camp at Prateek Edifice in June 2021. The initiative included residents, society staff, Group employees and third-party workers, bringing healthcare support directly into the community. The Group has also organised health camps involving residents, security personnel and workers. Such efforts reflect a wider view of community wellbeing, recognising the different groups of people who contribute to the functioning of a residential environment.
Wellness activities have also encouraged residents to participate collectively. Yoga Day sessions at Prateek Grand City provided residents with an opportunity to come together around health and movement. When combined with gardening activities and other community programmes, such initiatives make personal wellbeing part of the broader community experience. The idea of belonging is not limited to residential spaces. It can also be seen in workplace activities. During its Navratri celebrations, Prateek Group documented an office dandiya evening where employees came together for music and festivities. Such occasions give colleagues an opportunity to interact outside their usual professional responsibilities and add a social dimension to workplace culture.
The underlying idea remains similar: spaces become more meaningful when people have opportunities to share experiences within them. Whether it is an office or a residential development, collective participation can help create a stronger sense of identity and familiarity. Cultural celebrations are particularly relevant in residential communities because they bring together people from different backgrounds, regions and traditions. Events can provide residents with an opportunity to share their own customs while experiencing those of others.
The Uttarayani Mahotsav at Prateek Grand City, where women and children from the community participated in folk performances, is one example of how cultural activities can bring different generations together. Festivals, music programmes, storytelling sessions and national celebrations can create a regular rhythm of participation, helping neighbours become more familiar with one another over time. This is where community living takes on a meaning beyond the physical development. Repeated interactions, shared celebrations and everyday experiences can help residents develop relationships and memories associated with the place they call home.
For Prateek Group, the experience of a home therefore extends beyond possession. It is also shaped by the environment residents encounter every day, the activities they participate in, the people they meet and the memories they create. Thoughtful design and craftsmanship remain central, but they are complemented by nature, greenery, wellness and opportunities for social interaction. Community responsibility is another part of this broader approach. Regular safety drills across Prateek societies encourage residents to participate in preparedness exercises and become familiar with emergency procedures and response protocols. Such activities highlight the importance of awareness and collective responsibility in maintaining a safe and well-connected community.
Together, cultural programmes, wellness initiatives, environmental activities, CSR efforts and resident participation give substance to the idea behind Life at Prateek. They represent an approach in which residential spaces are considered not only in terms of their physical features but also in terms of the experiences they enable. Buildings provide the setting for everyday life, but people give those spaces their identity. The relationships residents develop, the celebrations they share and the experiences they create together can transform a collection of homes into a community. For Prateek Group, this represents a broader vision of fine living—one that brings together thoughtful spaces, nature, wellbeing, meaningful experiences and a lasting sense of belonging.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
Kerala Higher Education Minister Roji M John has dismissed reports that student politics has been banned at Kerala University, saying no such decision has been taken. The minister said the document being cited in reports is only a draft set of proposed regulations and has not been approved by the university or the government.
The controversy began after a draft of the Kerala University Students’ Code of Conduct Regulations 2026 surfaced, with several provisions reportedly seeking to regulate political activities on university campuses and affiliated colleges. The proposed rules have triggered concern among student organisations and political groups over provisions dealing with protests, demonstrations, slogans, posters, graffiti, fundraising and other political activities on campus.
John said the draft is still under consideration and will go through the appropriate process before any final decision is made. He also said student organisations would have an opportunity to present their views during the consultation process. The minister maintained that the government does not support preventing students from participating in democratic and political activities. He noted that student politics has historically played a role in Kerala’s public life, with several political leaders beginning their careers through student organisations.
The preparation of the draft is understood to be connected with earlier directions from the Kerala High Court concerning campus discipline and the need for universities to frame appropriate guidelines for student activities. Kerala University Vice-Chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal has also indicated that the circulating document should not be treated as a final set of university regulations. The university's proposed code remains under discussion. Any restrictions that ultimately become part of the regulations would depend on the outcome of the university's formal review and approval process.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.
A 22-year-old IIT Bombay student, Sahil Ravindra Wakode, died by suicide in his hostel room on September 18, hours after he was allegedly caught using a mobile phone and ChatGPT during a mid-semester examination. Wakode, a second-year BTech student in Energy Science and Engineering, was reportedly found hanging from a ceiling fan in Hostel 4. IIT Bombay said he had been counselled after the examination and that no disciplinary action had been initiated against him. His family later alleged caste-based discrimination and institutional harassment. Based on their complaint, police registered a case under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Professor Suryanarayana Doolla, who was invigilating the examination, was named as an accused. The investigation has now been transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch. No arrests have been reported so far. IIT Bombay has denied receiving any earlier caste-discrimination complaint from Wakode. The institute also apologised for its earlier statements about the circumstances surrounding his death, saying the matter remains under investigation. The incident has triggered student protests, with demonstrators demanding accountability and institutional reforms. Students have submitted an 18-point charter, including calls for an independent investigation. IIT Bombay Director Professor Shireesh Kedare has said he will resign but must follow the required institutional process. Wakode's death is the third reported student suicide on the campus in seven months.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Business Standard.
As AI leaders worldwide call for a more measured pace of development, what could a potential slowdown mean for companies such as Plaud, which is expanding its presence in Singapore? Could tighter controls or a shift in the global AI landscape affect the company’s growth plans in the country? Daniel Martin explores these questions in a conversation with Megumi Yoshinaga, Head of APAC Marketing at Plaud.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
Oil markets are coming under renewed strain after attacks disrupted Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, an important alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz. With Brent and WTI crude prices climbing above US$100 per barrel and fuel costs continuing to rise, concerns are growing over the resilience of global oil supplies. Susan Ng speaks with Jaime Brito, Executive Director of Refining and Oil Markets at Dow Jones Energy, about the potential impact of a prolonged disruption on Singapore and wider Asian markets.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
Singaporean rap pioneer and entertainer Sheikh Haikel looks back on his decades-long journey in the entertainment industry, recalling key moments that defined his career and discussing the legacy he wants to leave behind. After being diagnosed with stage four colon cancer, Haikel also shares how deeply moved he has been by the support from fans, friends and fellow artists across the region. In this interview with Hairianto Diman and Elakeyaa Selvaraji, he speaks candidly about his career, personal journey and recent health battle.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.
Donald Trump has organised a major political convention aimed at energising Republican supporters ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. However, several Republican officials seeking re-election have chosen not to attend, instead focusing on campaigning in their home states and districts. Their absence raises questions about whether some Republicans are concerned that Trump’s current political standing and unpopularity could hurt their own chances at the polls. The discussion examines the growing tensions within the party as candidates weigh their loyalty to Trump against their own electoral prospects. This week, Jenna Amatulli hosts the discussion with Guardian US politics correspondent Rachel Leingang.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
