Rahul proposes INDIA bloc visit to injured Bihar student protesters
While there was broad consensus on the proposal, the bloc is yet to finalise the date and composition of the delegation, sources said. NEW DELHI: As the deadlock in Parliament continues over the NEET row, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday proposed that leaders of the INDIA bloc jointly visit students in Bihar who were allegedly assaulted during recent protests, sources said. The proposal was discussed at an INDIA bloc meeting, where leaders agreed that such a visit should take place during the ongoing Monsoon Session to keep the issue at the centre of the Opposition’s campaign both inside and outside Parliament. While there was broad consensus on the proposal, the bloc is yet to finalise the date and composition of the delegation, sources added. Last week, Gandhi attacked the Modi government over allegations that AK-47 rifles were used against protesting students in Bihar and demanded action against those responsible for the alleged attacks. According to leaders present at the meeting, the Opposition believes the alleged police crackdown on students should remain one of its principal political issues both inside and outside Parliament. The proposal comes a day after the venue provider in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, revoked permission for Gandhi’s Chhatron Ki Goonj event, scheduled for Saturday, citing an Allahabad High Court order. However, Gandhi said that no matter how hard the BJP government tries, it cannot stop him from raising students’ voices. Ask Me Anything In another outreach to Gen Z, Gandhi on Thursday launched an “Ask Me Anything” session on Instagram, inviting students to interact with him directly. Sharing a link to the initiative on X, Gandhi wrote, “Students, Gen-Z — I’m here to listen. Ask me anything on Instagram, and I’ll answer as many questions as I can.” On Wednesday, Gandhi met a group of students who had protested last month, demanding the resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the paper leak issue, and who allegedly faced police excesses on July 20. Preetha Nair Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Why are transgenders building a PM Modi temple in Bihar?
A proposal to build a temple dedicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been approved by Bihar’s State Transgender Welfare Board. The board described the Transgender law passed by the PM Modi-led government as a milestone that gave the community institutional representation in the state. The Bihar State Transgender Welfare Board has approved a proposal to build a temple dedicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the move is meant to honour him for giving the transgender community “respect and rights”. According to the news agency PTI, the proposal to build the temple was moved by the board member Ranjan Singh during the maiden meeting of the board under the Bihar Social Welfare Department. The proposal reportedly received unanimous support. Singh, who moved the proposal, said that the idea was brought by the fact that the transgender community in Bihar does not have a temple of its own and described the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, passed by the PM Modi-led government as a milestone that gave the community institutional representation in the stat The temple proposal is less about religion than recognition. Members of the Bihar State Transgender Welfare Board say Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the first national leader who gave the community legal recognition and a formal place in governance. For the board, the temple is therefore a symbolic expression of gratitude rather than simply a place of worship. Its members see the proposal as an acknowledgement of what they consider the Centre’s role in bringing transgender rights into India’s legal and policy framework. WHAT CHANGED AFTER THE 2019 ACT? The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, was the first central legislation dedicated to protecting the rights of transgender persons in India. Enacted by the central government, the law prohibits discrimination against transgender people in education, employment, healthcare, housing and access to public services. It also provides for the issuance of identity certificates, directs governments to frame welfare measures and calls for the establishment of institutional mechanisms to safeguard the community’s rights. The law also paved the way for the creation of bodies such as the National Council for Transgender Persons and prompted states to set up their own welfare mechanisms. In Bihar, the state government constituted the Bihar State Transgender Welfare Board in August last year under the Social Welfare Department to work towards the community’s social development and empowerment. It was this board that approved the proposal to build a temple dedicated to PM Modi, with its members describing the law as a milestone that gave the community greater institutional recognition. THE PROPOSAL TO BUILD TEMPLE FACES BACKLASH While the Bihar State Transgender Welfare Board has credited the central government for bringing legal recognition to the community, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, has also faced criticism from transgender rights activists across the country. Several organisations had opposed the law, arguing that its process for obtaining a transgender identity certificate placed unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles in the path of self-identification. Others criticised the absence of provisions for reservations in education and public employment, saying the legislation fell short of addressing the community’s long-standing demand for affirmative action. The differing reactions highlight that the transgender community is not monolithic. While the Bihar board sees the 2019 law as a milestone worthy of symbolic recognition, many activists continue to argue that the fight for equal rights and representation remains unfinished. For now, the temple remains a proposal. The Bihar State Transgender Welfare Board has approved the plan, but construction can begin only after the state government allots land and the necessary administrative approvals are in place. The proposal was unanimously backed by the board’s members during its maiden meeting, according to PTI. If it moves forward, the temple would be one of the rare instances in India of a place of worship being dedicated to a sitting Prime Minister. Written By: Gaurika Gulati Courtesy : India Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/indiatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Bihar Transgender Welfare Board approves proposal to build temple in honour of PM Modi
Board member Rajan Singh said the state government will bear all expenses for the construction of the temple. PATNA: Bihar State Transgender Welfare Board has approved a proposal to build a temple in honour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of his efforts to give respect and rights to the community. A decision to this effect was taken on Wednesday in the Board’s first meeting, held at the social welfare department in the Old Secretariat. The Board works under the state social welfare department. Board member Rajan Singh, who presented the proposal during the meeting, said that the transgender community wanted to express its gratitude to Prime Minister Modi by constructing a temple dedicated to him. He said that the temple would be built in Patna and the construction work would start after the state government identifies the land for the purpose. The state government will bear all expenses for the construction of the temple, he added. Singh said the transgender community in Bihar did not have a temple of its own, adding that the proposal was unanimously supported by the members and approved by the Board. Referring to the Board’s first meeting, Singh said it was the inaugural session following the implementation of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, which provided the transgender community with institutional representation within the state secretariat. The Bihar State Transgender Welfare Board (Bihar Rajya Kinnar Kalyan Board) is a 28-member state panel under the Social Welfare Department, formed in August 2025 to protect community rights and drive social empowerment. Ramashankar Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Lalu Yadav’s son Tej Pratap Yadav arrested in Patna NEET protest case, sent to 14-day judicial custody
PATNA: Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) national president Tej Pratap Yadav on Sunday was sent to 14-day judicial custody in connection with a case registered over a protest at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan during demonstrations against the alleged NEET-UG paper leak. His lawyer, Jagannath Singh, alleged irregularities in the arrest process and said a bail plea could be moved on Monday. “An FIR was filed on July 26, whereas the arrest took place on the July 25, at 7:30 pm, from the city centre mall. I just submitted an application to the judge for his release. He told me to process the bail demand on Monday. I reached Naubatpur police station at 10:30 am. There were 2 SPs there. I asked them the reason behind his arrest. His family members don’t even know that he was under arrest since 7.30 pm. We still haven’t gotten the copy of the FIR,” Singh told reporters. Yadav was detained by Bihar Police on Saturday after joining students protesting over the alleged NEET paper leak during a Bihar Bandh in Patna. Reacting to the arrest, JJD’s Bankipur by-election candidate Veena Manvi questioned the timing of the police action and alleged that party leaders had faced repeated “torture” since the start of the election campaign. “I don’t want to say anything. We’ve been tortured since the 13th. First, they (police) picked me on nomination day, then they picked him today. It seems like the entire Bankipur district is now dependent on the Janshakti Janata Dal. What’s wrong if we protest a little?… What crime did he commit? If the national flag was shown once among the children, was that a crime? And even if there was a crime in your opinion, they should have taken him away right then and there. But what’s the point in picking him up when he was having family time in the evening, going shopping? I also do not know the reason behind this.” Before being taken into custody, Yadav expressed support for the protesting students and urged the government to address their demands. “The children’s demands are legitimate. The government must fulfil their demands, and we stand firmly with them. I am ready to lay down my life for the students and youth,” he told reporters. His arrest came after violence erupted in Patna during a statewide Bihar Bandh called by several opposition parties and social organisations over the alleged NEET paper leak and recent police action against student protesters. A traffic police booth was allegedly vandalised during the protest, while clashes broke out between protesters and police. Stone-pelting was reported and police fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. The demonstrations were held across Bihar, with students demanding reforms in the education system and action over alleged irregularities in the examination process. Protesters also demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and vandalised police vehicles in Patna, prompting heavy police deployment. Pradhan has since stepped down following nationwide student protests over the alleged NEET paper leak. Announcing his resignation, Pradhan said he had submitted it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the interest of students and to ensure that the ongoing protests over examination irregularities were not exploited by “anti-national forces.” Following his resignation, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi was given additional charge of the Ministry of Education after President Droupadi Murmu accepted Pradhan’s resignation from the Union Council of Ministers. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human ri
Main accused in Maharashtra TET paper leak arrested from Bihar
Earlier, the SIT arrested Suman Kumari Gupta, wife of the alleged mastermind Bijendra Gupta, from Patna after call records and financial transactions reportedly linked her to him. Nearly a month after the Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) 2026 was postponed over a question paper leak, police have arrested the alleged mastermind, Bijendra Gupta, who was living under a false identity in Bihar. Gupta, who was arrested by Bhiwandi Police from Bihar, was brought to Pune Airport, from where he will be taken to Bhiwandi, ANI reported. Gupta allegedly has been linked to multiple paper leak cases. He has allegedly been involved in leaks related to the 2023 Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC) examination, the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination and the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) examination. Gupta’s arrest comes after Maharashtra Police earlier arrested three other accused — Kapil Dahiya, Mithun Singh and Sonu Singh, from Bihar and Punjab, in connection with the case. The TET 2026 examination was postponed on June 27, a day before it was scheduled to be conducted, after police in Maharashtra’s Thane district detected that a portion of the question paper had been leaked and arrested three persons. Investigators have since found that the alleged racket extended across Delhi, Agra, Bihar and Haryana. Earlier, the SIT arrested Suman Kumari Gupta, wife of the alleged mastermind Bijendra Gupta, from Patna after call records and financial transactions reportedly linked her to him. Initial probe found that the confidential question papers were allegedly sourced directly from Mahim Patran Pvt. Ltd, a private printing press located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The TET paper leak came close on the heels of the national controversy triggered by the NEET-UG paper leak, raising fresh concerns over the integrity of competitive Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Chirag Paswan’s LJP(R) To Contest Punjab Assembly Elections In 2027; Eyes Dalit Votes
Patna: Union Minister of Food Processing Industries and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan has announced that his party will contest the Punjab Assembly elections expected to be held early next year. Wearing a kesariya (saffron) colour Sikh turban, the Union Minister made this announcement on Sunday evening after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. “Our party will enter the Punjab Assembly polls with full preparations to register its strong presence. We have launched the election preparation at the pious land of Punjab after taking blessings at the Golden Temple. We have taken a vow to serve the people of the state and strengthen our organisation,” Chirag, accompanied by his mother Reena Paswan, said. The Union Minister asserted that the LJP(R) would expedite the expansion of its network across the northern state, increase the activity of its workers and intensify its mass public contact programme. He added that all preparations for the polls would be completed at a swift pace. “We will go to the people with the issues of public service, development, and social justice. The LJP(R) will carve out a strong identity with the help of the people of Punjab and the hardwork of the party workers,” he added. The LJP(R) is a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) governments at the Centre and in Bihar. It has a strong support base among the Scheduled Castes (SC) in the eastern state. Its founder, former Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan, was an eminent Dalit leader and the party has excelled as a progressive organisation under the leadership of his son Chirag Paswan. Chirag also visited the Jallianwala Bagh to pay floral tributes to the martyrs’ memorial there, Dera Sachkhand Ballan, which is a Ravidasia or Ramdasia Dera, Bhagwan Valmiki memorial and Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar at Jalandhar. While travelling from Amritsar to Jalandhar, the LJP(R) chief stopped his convoy after noticing an injured young woman lying on the roadside near Dera Sachkhand Ballan. He immediately instructed his team to shift the injured woman to a hospital in his vehicle and ensured that she received prompt medical attention. The LJP(R) president’s visits indicate that he is seeking to woo the SC voters in Punjab. The state has around 32 percent Dalit population, the highest proportion among all the states in the country. Punjab has 39 Dalit castes, among which the Mazhabi Sikhs, Ravidasias or Ramdasias, Ad-Dharmis, and Valmikis account for about 84 percent. A majority of the SC population in the state is predominantly rural. Its highest concentration is in the Doaba region – the land between the Beas and Sutlej rivers. Incidentally, Chirag has strong personal links also with Punjab. His mother Reena (maiden name Reena Sharma) hails from Amritsar. Then an airhostess, Reena married Ram Vilas in 1982 as his second wife. Chirag Paswan is also known to have several relatives and friends in Punjab. His personal security detail includes several bodyguards from there. By Dev Raj Courtesy : ETV Bharat Note: This news is originally published on https:/etvbharat.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Following the High Court’s reprimand, Bihar Police took major action: 7, including 5 officers, arrested in the case of a Dalit youth missing for 10 months.
Following the Patna High Court’s strictness, Bhojpur Police took major action, with Excise Department officials facing serious charges of custodial death and concealment of evidence. New Delhi: Following the Patna High Court’s strictness, the police have taken a major step in the case of a Dalit youth missing for 10 months in Bhojpur district, Bihar. A total of seven people, including two Excise (Excise) Department officials and three Home Guards, have been arrested in this sensational case. Court and Judiciary Bhojpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Raj confirmed that six of the seven arrested accused have been sent to judicial custody, while one has been taken on police remand. The arrested officers include Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) Dheeraj Kumar and Raj Kumar. In addition to these, Home Guards Dharmendra Paswan, Umesh Kumar Yadav, and Raju Kumar Singh have also been arrested. Along with these five government employees, two private drivers, Surendra Kumar Singh and Vikas Kumar, have also been arrested. The entire case is related to the disappearance of Sanoj Kumar, a 31-year-old Dalit youth. In August 2025, the Excise Department conducted a raid in Dharhara Musahar Toli near Bihiya in Bhojpur district in connection with a liquor case. The family alleges that Sanoj has been missing since he was taken into custody on August 13, 2025. The Excise Department has consistently claimed that the youth escaped from their custody, but the family has made serious allegations of murder and destruction of evidence in police custody. The High Court took a tough stand while hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Sanoj’s father, Gauri Shankar Ram. Citing the July 2 order before a division bench of Justices Rajiv Ranjan Prasad and Kumar Manish, the Bhojpur Superintendent of Police made a shocking revelation. Law Enforcement The Superintendent of Police informed the court that interrogation of the arrested excise department personnel revealed contradictory versions of the incident. The investigation revealed that Sanoj was manhandled while in custody, and that a private driver driving the excise department vehicle had pulled him upwards by putting a towel around his neck. Excise officials also relied on CCTV footage to support their theory of Sanoj’s escape in court. They claimed that the young man escaped by opening the rear door of the vehicle. However, after reviewing the footage, the Patna High Court, in its oral observation, stated that the vehicle was a fully enclosed Bolero. The court clarified that escaping by jumping out without opening the rear door was impossible. Given the sensitivity of the case, the court directed adequate security for key witnesses. The police informed the court that two other individuals detained with Sanoj were afraid to speak the truth. The court also recorded the statement of Sanoj’s father, Gauri Shankar Ram, in which he stated that several people were pressuring him to hush up the case. The court directed the police to conduct an impartial investigation into these allegations. In the previous two hearings, the High Court had raised serious questions about the investigation’s conduct. On June 30, the court recorded that on the day of the raid, Sanoj had called his father at 6:35 and 6:43 pm to inform him that he had been apprehended by excise department officials. Investigators also discovered that the last tower location of one of Sanoj’s mobile phones was at the Jagdishpur Excise Police Station. South Asians and Expatriates The court expressed strong displeasure that excise officials handed over the mobile phone to the police the next day but did not send it for forensic examination. On June 24, the court remarked that despite being identified as suspects 10 months earlier, no seven members of the team had been questioned or arrested. The High Court has warned that if the investigation continues to be slow, the case may be handed over to an independent agency. The next hearing in the case will be held on July 7, where the Bhojpur police will have to present a further investigation report to the court. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Rajgir Dalit Massacre: CPI-ML demands High Court investigation, punishment for the guilty, jobs and compensation for the victims’ families; warning of nationwide agitation
CPI-ML has attacked the government over the mob lynching of two Dalit youths in Rajgir, Nalanda district, and the police action against villagers demanding a degree college in Nagarnausa. Party leaders questioned the administration at a press conference on Wednesday after meeting with the families of the victims and affected people. The press conference was addressed by CPI-ML MP Sudama Prasad, MLA Sandeep Saurabh, former MLA Manoj Manzil, and former MLA Gopal Ravidas. They demanded an investigation into the Rajgir massacre by a sitting High Court judge, severe punishment for the culprits through a speedy trial, and compensation and government jobs for the victims’ families. Government failing to control crime MP Sudama Prasad alleged that crime is continuously increasing in Bihar and the government has completely failed to control it. He said that “encounter raj” prevails in the state, while criminals are carrying out crimes with impunity. Prasad questioned the government’s silence on the mob lynching of two Dalit youths in Rajgir. He demanded that the case be investigated under the supervision of a sitting High Court judge and that the culprits be punished with rigor by conducting a speedy trial. He also demanded compensation of ₹50 lakh each for the families of the deceased and a government job for one family member. Sudama Prasad also alleged that instead of taking action against criminals, the government is targeting the poor, laborers, Dalits, and those raising legitimate demands. Police entered homes and assaulted people in Nagarnausa Paliganj MLA Sandeep Saurabh said that while the Chief Minister constantly talks about taking strict action against criminals, incidents of murder, rape, and other crimes are continuing unabated in the state. He alleged that the administration brutally treated students and villagers protesting for a degree college in Nagarnausa. Police entered homes and beat people, breaking down the doors of approximately 300 houses, and arresting several people and sending them to jail. Saurabh claimed that even minor girls were assaulted during the operation. He demanded the immediate suspension of the local police station in-charge, action against the guilty officers, the unconditional release of the 39 arrested individuals, and the withdrawal of all cases. He said that a degree college should be established in the Nagarnausa block headquarters, as this has been a long-standing demand of local youth. The DM and SP should be held accountable. Former MLA Gopal Ravidas said that incidents of mob lynching are continuously increasing in the state, which is extremely worrying. He held the Nalanda district administration responsible for the Rajgir incident and demanded that the DM and SP be held accountable. He demanded that the district administration be held accountable for the entire matter and that an impartial investigation be conducted into the allegations against the chief priest of the Jhunukia Baba complex. A spectacle in the name of encounters Former MLA Manoj Manzil said that crime has reached its peak in the state. Incidents of atrocities against Dalits, women, and vulnerable groups are on the rise. He alleged that the police are attempting to suppress many cases instead of providing justice. Manoj Manzil said that a “spectacle in the name of encounters” is being staged, while crime and insecurity persist on the ground. CPI-ML leaders warned that if the government does not seriously consider their demands, the party will consider launching a statewide movement. Courtesy; Hindi News
Former Bihar Congress chief blames his removal for party’s dismal performance in state assembly polls
The former Union minister’s remarks at an event in Delhi on Tuesday are being seen as a criticism of the party leadership at both the central and state levels. PATNA: Former Bihar Congress chief and Rajya Sabha MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh has asserted that his removal as the party’s Bihar unit president before the last Assembly election led to the Congress’ poor performance in the polls. In the 2025 Assembly election, the Congress won only six of the 61 seats it contested. The former Union minister’s remarks at an event in Delhi on Tuesday are being seen as a criticism of the party leadership at both the central and state levels. “I was removed from the post of state president before the elections, and the party had to bear the consequences,” he said, raising questions over the leadership’s decision. Singh, who is considered close to RJD chief Lalu Prasad, also took a swipe at the current AICC in-charge of Bihar, Krishna Allavaru, without naming him directly. He also openly objected to the functioning of co-in-charge Shahnawaz Alam, who was present at the event. “Such people were made in-charge who have nothing to do with politics and have no knowledge of it. When these people came to Bihar, the first thing they did was to remove me from the post of state president,” Singh said. He maintained that the Congress’ performance in the Assembly election would have been better had he remained the state president. “We had succeeded in getting four MPs elected (three Lok Sabha members and one Rajya Sabha member in 2024) when I was holding the post of state party president,” he said. He further said, “This time, 40 per cent of the elected MLAs in Bihar are from upper-caste communities, and 27 MLAs belong to the Bhumihar caste. I belong to the same caste. I had asked Rahul Gandhi what should now be done in Bihar.” Akhilesh was replaced by Rajesh Kumar, a Scheduled Caste legislator from Aurangabad district. Kumar also lost his seat in the last election. He had earlier been elected as MLA from Kutumba in Aurangabad district. Rajesh Kumar had accompanied Rahul Gandhi during his Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar ahead of the Assembly polls. Ramashankar Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Horror killing: Sister strangled to death; brother was angry over her eloping and marrying a Dalit boy.
When the husband was released from jail, he released a video demanding the arrest of his wife’s killers, prompting the police to launch an investigation. The girl’s brother was taken into custody and questioned, leading to the discovery of the murder. Reported by: In the Siwaipatti police station area of Muzaffarpur, a girl’s love marriage with a Dalit boy proved costly. Her brother Abhishek Kumar strangled her to death. When the police took the accused into custody and interrogated him, he confessed to the crime and explained the reason for the murder. The police arrested the accused brother and his accomplice and sent them to jail. Love Marriage with a Dalit Man The woman’s brother, Abhishek Kumar Yadav, told the police that his sister was in love with a Dalit man and had eloped with him and married him, leaving him deeply hurt and angry. When the man went to jail and the court sent the woman to her aunt’s house, the woman’s mother persuaded her to return home on Holi. Then, her brother, along with other relatives and associates, strangled the woman to death. The body was then cremated. The girl ran away from home in January. Gauri Shankar Kumar (22), son of Raju Ram, a resident of Ghansaut village, had been in a relationship with Sujata Kumari, a resident of Kodaria Gosaipur, since 2020. The girl was studying at her maternal uncle’s house in Ghansaut village. It was there that Sujata met Gauri Shankar and they would communicate. On January 18, 2026, they ran away from home. The girl’s family filed a police report. Gauri Shankar arrested from Haryana Gauri Shankar and Sujata got married at their friend’s house in Samastipur. On January 20, they moved to Haryana and began living there. Police arrested them on February 11 and brought them to Bihar on February 12. After presenting them in court, the man was sent to jail, and the girl was sent to her aunt’s house. After being released from jail, Gauri Shankar spoke to Sujata for the last time on the phone. After that, when he couldn’t hear from her, he went to the police and filed a complaint. When his complaint was not heard, he released a video and threatened suicide. Subsequently, the police became active, detained the woman’s brother, and began questioning him. The police uncovered the murder. Mani Bhushan Sharma, Correspondent, Muzaffarpur Edited by : Upendra Singh, Bihar Courtesy : Hindi News