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India, Brazil, Germany and Japan call for a consolidated reform model reflecting the views of the UN majority and greater representation for under-represented regions New York, September 23. (SDNA) India, Brazil, Germany and Japan have renewed their joint effort to reform the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), arguing that the Council’s composition needs to better reflect the realities of the contemporary international system. Foreign Ministers of the four G4 countries met in New York on September 22 on the margins of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. The meeting was chaired by India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and German Foreign Minister Johann David Wadephul taking...

Banks Warn of Fraud, Data Exposure and Payment Risks as AI Takes a Bigger Role in Online Purchases New Delhi, September 23. (SDNA) — Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving beyond product searches and recommendations to playing a more active role in online shopping. AI-powered shopping agents can increasingly understand a consumer’s requirements, search for products, compare alternatives and, in some cases, assist in completing purchases. The growing use of such agentic commerce, however, is raising fresh concerns among major banks over financial fraud, misuse of personal information and uncertainty over who would be responsible if an AI-driven transaction goes wrong. According to a Reuters report, banks including NatWest, Bank of America, ING, Capital One, Commonwealth Bank of Australia...

Actor seeks Lord Ganesha’s blessings after winning Best Actor honour for Chandu Champion at the 72nd National Film Awards Mumbai, September 23 (SDNA): Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan marked a memorable moment in his career by visiting Mumbai’s iconic Lalbaugcha Raja soon after receiving the Best Actor honour at the 72nd National Film Awards for his performance in Chandu Champion. The actor offered prayers at the famous Ganesh shrine and placed his National Award at the feet of Lord Ganesha. A video of Kartik’s visit has surfaced on social media. Accompanied by security personnel, the actor was seen arriving at the pandal in traditional attire. He performed the customary prayers and sought blessings from Lord Ganesha before offering his prestigious award at the shrine. A Special Moment for Ka...

YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson highlights local U.S. initiatives after criticism over charity investment in cocoa-growing communities affected by child labour New Delhi, September 23. (SDNA)Popular YouTuber and philanthropist MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has responded to criticism surrounding a charity project in Ghana estimated to involve around $10 million in investment. The initiative focuses on communities dependent on cocoa farming, where child labour has remained a long-standing concern. The project drew attention on social media after some users questioned why such a large amount was being spent in Ghana instead of being directed toward poverty and social needs in MrBeast’s home city of Greenville, North Carolina. In response, MrBeast pointed to the charitable activities c...

Commercial-cum-Ticket Clerk, Junior Clerk, Accounts Clerk and Train Clerk posts included; selection to involve CBTs, skill test, document verification and medical examination New Delhi, September 23 (SDNA): Candidates who have completed Class 12 and are preparing for government jobs have a new recruitment opportunity in the Indian Railways. The Railway Recruitment Boards (RRBs) have issued a short notification for the NTPC Undergraduate Recruitment 2026, under which 1,688 vacancies are to be filled across various non-technical posts. The application process is expected to begin in October 2026, while the closing date is scheduled for November, according to the preliminary recruitment information. Candidates are advised to carefully check the detailed notification once released before submi...

Abhishek Jha, Anand Pushkar and Ghanshyam Rai Also Named; Polling for Eight Council Seats Scheduled for October 23 Patna, September 23, 2026 (SDNA): The Janata Dal (United) has announced four candidates for the upcoming Bihar Legislative Council elections, finalising its nominees for two Graduate and two Teachers’ constituencies. The party has once again nominated sitting MLC Neeraj Kumar from the Patna Graduates constituency. The announcement comes ahead of the biennial elections to eight seats in the Bihar Legislative Council. The Election Commission has scheduled polling for October 23, with counting to be held on October 27. Four Candidates Named According to the list released by JD(U), the party’s nominees are: Neeraj Kumar — Patna Graduates Abhishek Jha — Tirhut Graduates Anand Push...

Uttarakhand CM says initiative seeks to connect India’s traditional knowledge with contemporary education Haridwar, September 23 (SDNA) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday inaugurated the first Patanjali Ayurveda Gurukulam at Patanjali Wellness Yog Gram in Haridwar, marking the launch of an initiative aimed at taking the country’s traditional knowledge systems into the contemporary era. Following the inauguration, Dhami extended his greetings and best wishes to Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishna and the entire Patanjali family. The Chief Minister said Haridwar holds a special place in India’s spiritual, cultural and Sanatan traditions. According to him, the establishment of the Patanjali Ayurveda Gurukulam in the “Devbhoomi” represents an important effort to...

New Delhi, September 22 (SDNA): The Election Commission of India has announced the schedule for elections to 12 Rajya Sabha seats and 28 seats in the Legislative Councils of four states, setting October as the month for the two rounds of polling. According to the schedule, polling for the Rajya Sabha seats will take place on October 16. The exercise covers 10 biennial seats from Uttar Pradesh, one from Uttarakhand and one vacant seat from West Bengal, for which a bye-election will be held. The Commission has also announced biennial elections for 28 Legislative Council seats in Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. These elections, covering Graduates’ and Teachers’ constituencies, will be held on October 23. Rajya Sabha Polls on October 16 The Rajya Sabha elections will involve m...

Initiative to focus on health-insurance awareness, assistance for needy patients and district-level support networks Indore/Siliguri, September 23 (SDNA): The NIVRAHA FOUNDATION has announced plans to launch a nationwide ‘Arogya Bharat Abhiyan’ aimed at promoting health awareness and developing community-based support mechanisms for patients requiring financial assistance. Alongside the campaign, the foundation plans to undertake a free membership drive to expand public participation and strengthen its social network across cities and districts. The proposals were discussed during an online meeting of the foundation’s national executive committee chaired by National President Dr. Vinayak Ashok Luniya Jain. The meeting focused on health security, community assistance, local support systems ...

US President says Tehran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons; signals possibility of a new deal United Nations, New York, September 22 (SDNA) US President Donald Trump put Iran’s nuclear programme at the centre of his address to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, saying that his administration would not allow Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons. He also indicated that Washington could face a major decision between pursuing a new agreement with Iran and taking much tougher action if diplomacy fails. Trump said preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear-armed state had remained a key objective of his administration. He accused the Iranian government of supporting violence and instability across the Middle East and argued that Tehran had rejected proposals aimed at...