children, education, government, health, sports

Maharashtra Sports Minister Manikrao Kokate Advocates NCC Training In Schools To Foster Discipline, Leadership And Fitness

2025 年 10 月 7 日 admin Leave a comment

**Maharashtra Sports Minister Advocates for NCC Training at School Level to Promote Discipline and Leadership**

*Mumbai:* Maharashtra Sports Minister Adv. Manikrao Kokate has directed that National Cadet Corps (NCC) training should be implemented at the school level to instill discipline, physical fitness, and leadership qualities among students.

### Promoting Patriotism, Sports, and Discipline

Speaking at a meeting on NCC, Scouts, and Guides held at the state ministry today, Minister Kokate emphasized that early exposure to such training would strengthen patriotism, discipline, and interest in sports among students.

School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse suggested submitting a proposal to the central government to initiate NCC training at the school level.

### Officers and Stakeholders Present

The meeting was attended by Commissioner Sheetal Teli, Director of Teachers Rahul Rekhawar, NCC Captain J. George, Assistant Director Milind Dixit, Deputy Director of Education Dr. Vandana Vahul, and Under Secretary of the School Education Department Aniruddha Kulkarni.

### Teacher Training and Sports Development

Minister Kokate stated that with the support of ex-servicemen, NCC students, and sports teachers, school teachers should be trained in sports and physical fitness activities.

He emphasized that compulsory sports training at an early age would foster physical fitness, self-discipline, and critical thinking.

Additionally, the Minister suggested developing strategies to encourage participation in international competitions like the Olympics and increasing the number of sports teachers.

Special incentives could be offered to outstanding athletes when recruiting them as teachers.

### Benefits of NCC and Scouts Programs

NCC training, he noted, is an effective tool to develop leadership skills, character, a spirit of service, and sportsmanship. It also prepares a disciplined youth force that can assist during national emergencies.

Through Scouts and Guides programs, students from rural, urban, and tribal areas are taught tolerance and ethical values.

### Current NCC Enrollment

According to information shared during the meeting, in the 2023-24 academic year, a total of 100,884 students were enrolled in NCC programs across schools and colleges in Maharashtra. This includes 61,328 students in the junior division and 39,502 in the senior division.

—

*For details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai and surrounding regions, visit:* [https://budgetproperties.in/](https://budgetproperties.in/)
https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/maharashtra-sports-minister-manikrao-kokate-advocates-ncc-training-in-schools-to-foster-discipline-leadership-and-fitness

disaster, government, india, politics

PM Modi Announces ₹2 Lakh Ex-Gratia For Families Of Himachal Bus Accident Victims – VIDEO

2025 年 10 月 7 日 admin Leave a comment

New Delhi: At least 18 passengers were killed when a private bus they were travelling in was hit by a landslide in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district on Tuesday, officials said. The tragic incident occurred in the Bhalughat area of the Jhandutta Assembly segment, amid intermittent rainfall that the region has been experiencing since Monday.

The bus, carrying around 35 passengers and travelling from Marotan to Ghumarwin, was struck when a mountain suddenly gave way and crashed down onto the vehicle. Eyewitnesses reported that the chances of survival for the passengers were bleak. Rescue operations are currently underway, with state officials and machinery deployed to clear debris and search for missing passengers. So far, 18 bodies have been recovered from the mangled remains of the bus.

The Bilaspur district is notable as the home district of BJP national President J.P. Nadda.

In response to the accident, President Droupadi Murmu expressed her condolences to the victims and their families. She also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured. The President wrote on X, “The news of the deaths of several people in a bus accident caused by a landslide in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, is extremely tragic. I express my condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and pray for the speedy recovery of those who have been injured.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his sympathies to the affected families. Announcing ex-gratia payments from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF), he stated that Rs. 2 lakh would be given to the next of kin of each deceased, while the injured would receive Rs. 50,000. The PMO posted on X, “Saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000.”

Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed his condolences and informed that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams had reached the site and were engaged in rescue operations. On X, he said, “I am deeply saddened by the bus accident caused by a landslide in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. NDRF teams have reached the incident site and are engaged in rescue operations. I express my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this accident. At the same time, I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu expressed grief over the incident and extended his condolences to the bereaved families.

(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/pm-modi-announces-2-lakh-ex-gratia-for-families-of-himachal-bus-accident-victims-video

business, communication, electronics, finance, technology

PhonePe’s new SmartPOD smart speaker supports card payments too

2025 年 10 月 7 日 admin Leave a comment

**PhonePe’s New SmartPOD Smart Speaker Supports Card Payments Too**

*By Dwaipayan Roy | Oct 07, 2025, 08:03 PM*

PhonePe, a leading player in the digital payments space, has unveiled its next-generation SmartSpeaker, called SmartPOD, at the Global Fintech Fest 2025. This innovative device marks a significant step toward integrating card payments with UPI-based solutions, specifically targeting small merchants.

Designed and manufactured in India, the SmartPOD combines the functionalities of a Point-of-Sale (POS) device and a smart speaker into one compact unit, aiming to simplify digital payments for small businesses.

**Catering to Merchant Needs**

Small businesses in India primarily accept UPI payments but often miss out on sales due to the high costs and complexity of card acceptance solutions. The SmartPOD addresses this gap by offering an affordable way for smaller merchants to accept all forms of digital payments.

Yuvraj Singh Shekhawat, PhonePe’s Chief Business Officer, explained, “It’s an ideal upgrade for smaller merchants who want to accept all forms of digital payments in an affordable way and helps them tap opportunities to expand and grow their business.”

**Enhanced Device Specifications**

Building upon the popular SmartSpeaker 2.0, the SmartPOD retains features such as celebrity voice confirmations, 4G connectivity, and fast charging. It also introduces a dual-display setup — one screen for the customer and another for the merchant — ensuring transparent transaction processes.

The device supports card payments across major networks including Visa, Mastercard, RuPay, and American Express, with NFC tap and EMV chip capabilities, making it versatile and user-friendly.

**Strategic Vision and Availability**

PhonePe emphasizes that the SmartPOD aligns with its broader mission to provide affordable digital payment devices to merchants of all sizes. The company also reassures that its existing hardware solutions will remain available, enabling businesses to choose options that best suit their operational requirements.

As of March 31, 2025, PhonePe boasts over 61 crore registered users and a merchant network encompassing 4.4 crore outlets across India, underscoring its significant footprint in the digital payments ecosystem.

With the launch of SmartPOD, PhonePe continues to empower merchants, especially small businesses, to embrace comprehensive digital payment methods seamlessly and affordably.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/phonepe-launches-smartpod-a-smart-speaker-with-card-payment-capabilities/story

disaster, government, india, politics

PM Modi Announces ₹2 Lakh Ex-Gratia For Families Of Himachal Bus Accident Victims – VIDEO

2025 年 10 月 7 日 admin Leave a comment

New Delhi: At least 18 passengers lost their lives when a private bus they were traveling in was struck by a landslide in Himachal Pradesh’s Bilaspur district on Tuesday. The tragic incident occurred in the Bhalughat area within the Jhandutta Assembly segment, amid intermittent rainfall since Monday.

The bus, carrying around 35 passengers, was en route from Marotan to Ghumarwin when the landslide hit. Eyewitnesses reported that a mountain came crashing down onto the bus, leaving little chance of survival for those inside. Rescue teams have recovered 18 bodies so far from the mangled remains of the vehicle. State officials and heavy machinery have been deployed to clear the debris and continue searching for any missing passengers.

Bilaspur is notably the home district of BJP National President J.P. Nadda.

In response to the tragedy, several top leaders expressed their condolences and offered support to the victims and their families.

President Droupadi Murmu took to X to express her sorrow, stating, “The news of the deaths of several people in a bus accident caused by a landslide in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, is extremely tragic. I express my condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and pray for the speedy recovery of those who have been injured.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared his condolences on X, announcing an ex-gratia payment from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). He said, “Saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. My thoughts are with the affected people and their families during this difficult time. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000.”

Home Minister Amit Shah expressed his grief and informed that rescue operations are underway. On X, he wrote, “I am deeply saddened by the bus accident caused by a landslide in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. NDRF teams have reached the incident site and are engaged in rescue operations. I express my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this accident. At the same time, I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.”

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu also conveyed his condolences and grief over the incident, extending support to the bereaved families.

As rescue and relief efforts continue, authorities urge caution in the region due to ongoing heavy rainfall and the risk of further landslides.

*Note: Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ’s editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/pm-modi-announces-2-lakh-ex-gratia-for-families-of-himachal-bus-accident-victims-video

commerce, crime, law enforcement, security, technology

Mumbai Police Crime Branch Unit-8 Bust Interstate E-Commerce Barcode Fraud Racket, Seize ₹45 Lakh Goods; 3 Accused Arrested

2025 年 10 月 7 日 admin Leave a comment

**Mumbai Police Bust Interstate Fraud Racket Involving Barcode Swapping on E-Commerce Deliveries**

Mumbai: The Mumbai Police Crime Branch Unit-8 has successfully busted an interstate fraud racket that was duping e-commerce companies by cleverly swapping barcodes on delivery boxes.

**Accused Details**
The accused have been identified as:
– Pankajkumar Hariram Jindal (32), a farmer from Kasba Survachain, Sirsa, Haryana
– Vijaykumar Mahendrasing Saharan (32), a driver from Rampura, Post Thana, Taluka Hansi, District Hisar, Haryana
– Shamsher Singh Raghuveer Alan (32), a farmer from Rampura, Post Thana, Taluka Hansi, Hisar, Haryana
– Sumantkumar Dauram Sahu (29), a driver and delivery worker from Ranbod, Ward No. 8, Taluka Nawagarh, Bemetara, Chhattisgarh

**Modus Operandi of the Gang**
According to police sources, the gang operated in collusion with delivery personnel to manipulate the delivery process. They would place multiple online orders for both expensive and inexpensive items. The criminals removed the barcode sticker from the costly product and pasted it onto the cheaper item.

Later, when the delivery arrived, they would refuse to accept the expensive item, claiming it was an “incorrect order.” As a result, the e-commerce platform would issue a refund for the costly product. Meanwhile, the fraudsters retained the expensive item, effectively pocketing the refund amount.

This tactic caused huge financial losses to various e-commerce companies.

**Trap and Arrests**
Acting on a tip-off, the Crime Branch team laid a trap in Borivali on October 6 and caught three accused red-handed swapping barcodes inside a delivery tempo.

Investigation revealed that two of the accused are residents of Haryana, while the third is from Chhattisgarh.

**Seizure and Custody**
Police seized goods worth ₹45 lakh from the accused, including electronic items valued at ₹34 lakh. Additionally, a Tata tempo worth ₹7 lakh and a Hyundai car valued at ₹4 lakh were confiscated.

All three accused were produced in court and subsequently remanded to police custody until October 13. The Mumbai Police are continuing their investigation to identify other gang members and insiders within the delivery chain who may be involved in this scam.

—

*For exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai and surrounding regions, visit: [https://budgetproperties.in/](https://budgetproperties.in/)*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-police-crime-branch-unit-8-bust-interstate-e-commerce-barcode-fraud-racket-seize-45-lakh-goods-3-accused-arrested

business, communication, electronics, finance, technology

PhonePe’s new SmartPOD smart speaker supports card payments too

2025 年 10 月 7 日 admin Leave a comment

**PhonePe’s New SmartPOD Smart Speaker Supports Card Payments Too**

*By Dwaipayan Roy | October 7, 2025, 8:03 PM*

PhonePe, a leading name in the digital payments space, has launched its next-generation SmartSpeaker, called the SmartPOD. Unveiled at the Global Fintech Fest 2025, the SmartPOD marks a significant advancement by integrating card payments alongside UPI-based solutions specifically designed for small merchants.

**Designed for Small Businesses**

The SmartPOD is designed and manufactured in India, combining the functionalities of a Point-of-Sale (POS) device and a smart speaker into one compact unit. This device caters to the growing demand among small businesses that primarily accept UPI payments but often miss out on sales due to the lack of affordable card acceptance options.

Yuvraj Singh Shekhawat, PhonePe’s Chief Business Officer, commented, “It’s an ideal upgrade for smaller merchants who want to accept all forms of digital payments in an affordable way and helps them tap opportunities to expand and grow their business.”

**Advanced Features and Specifications**

Building on the foundation of the SmartSpeaker 2.0, the SmartPOD retains popular features such as celebrity voice confirmations, 4G connectivity, and fast charging. It also introduces a dual-display setup—one screen for customers and another for merchants—to enable transparent and seamless transactions.

Importantly, the SmartPOD supports card payments from all major networks including Visa, Mastercard, RuPay, and American Express. It supports modern payment technologies like NFC tap and EMV chip, broadening the payment options available to merchants.

**Strategic Vision and Availability**

PhonePe emphasizes that the launch of SmartPOD aligns with its broader vision to provide affordable and accessible digital payment devices to merchants of all sizes. The company also confirmed that all its existing hardware solutions will remain available, allowing businesses to choose devices that best suit their operational requirements.

As of March 31, 2025, PhonePe boasts over 610 million registered users and an extensive merchant network comprising 44 million outlets across India, underscoring its dominant position in the digital payments ecosystem.

—

With the introduction of SmartPOD, PhonePe continues to empower small merchants by offering versatile and cost-effective payment solutions, further driving digital payment adoption across the country.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/phonepe-launches-smartpod-a-smart-speaker-with-card-payment-capabilities/story

banking, business, economy, finance, interest rates

HDFC Bank cuts MCLR: How much could your EMIs drop?

2025 年 10 月 7 日 admin Leave a comment

**HDFC Bank Cuts MCLR: How Much Could Your EMIs Drop?**
*By Mudit Dube | Oct 07, 2025, 04:30 PM*

HDFC Bank has announced a reduction in its Marginal Cost of Funds-based Lending Rates (MCLR), a move set to benefit borrowers with loans linked to this benchmark. The bank has cut the MCLR by up to 15 basis points (bps) for certain loan tenures. (For reference, one basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point.)

**Revised MCLR Rates**

Following the revision, HDFC Bank’s MCLR rates now range between 8.45% and 8.65%, depending on the loan tenure. Here are the details of the rate cuts:

– **Overnight MCLR:** Reduced by 10 bps from 8.55% to 8.45%
– **One-Month MCLR:** Reduced by 15 bps from 8.55% to 8.40%
– **Three-Month MCLR:** Reduced by 15 bps from 8.60% to 8.45%
– **Six-Month MCLR:** Reduced by 10 bps from 8.65% to 8.55%
– **One-Year MCLR:** Reduced by 10 bps from 8.65% to 8.55%

**What is MCLR?**

MCLR stands for Marginal Cost of Funds-based Lending Rate. It is the minimum interest rate that a bank is required to charge on loans. This rate determines the baseline interest applicable to various loans and generally remains fixed for borrowers until updated as per the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) guidelines.

The RBI introduced MCLR in 2016 to improve the transmission of monetary policy changes into lending rates effectively, making the lending process more transparent and responsive to economic shifts.

**How Will This Affect Your EMIs?**

With the reduction in MCLR, borrowers with loans linked to these rates can expect a decrease in their Equated Monthly Installments (EMIs). The exact drop in EMIs will depend on the remaining loan tenure and the outstanding principal amount. However, even a small cut in interest rates can lead to noticeable savings over time.

—

Stay tuned for more updates on how this rate revision impacts your loans and financial planning.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/hdfc-bank-slashes-mclr-by-up-to-15-bps/story

business, economy, finance, inflation, stock market

Benign September inflation perks up Philippine stocks

2025 年 10 月 7 日 admin Leave a comment

MANILA, Philippines — Investors were quick to take advantage of lower priced stocks on Tuesday, with the local bourse lighting up green after the inflation rate turned out to be lower than expected.

By the closing bell, the benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) recovered by 1.39 percent or 83.51 points to end at 6,083.83. Likewise,

https://business.inquirer.net/551274/benign-september-inflation-perks-up-philippine-stocks

basketball, entertainment, japan, sports

B.League: Dwight Ramos, Ray Parks go off in separate wins

2025 年 10 月 7 日 admin Leave a comment

**Dwight Ramos Leads Levanga Hokkaido to First Win in 2025-26 B.League Season**

MANILA, Philippines—Dwight Ramos played a pivotal role as Levanga Hokkaido secured their first victory in the 2025-26 B.League season over the weekend.

Ramos exploded for 29 points, guiding Hokkaido to an 81-77 win over Nagoya on Sunday at the IG Arena. His versatile scoring and composure throughout the game were key factors in the team’s success.

In a recent tweet from Levanga Hokkaido, Ramos was hailed as the hero of the game:
“本日のヒーローは我らが #ドワイト・ラモス 🇵🇭✨終始多彩な得点と冷静さでチームを牽引し、本日29得点🤯
10/5(日) 名古屋戦 GAME2 見逃し配信📡”
(Translation: Today’s hero is our very own Dwight Ramos 🇵🇭✨ Leading the team with diverse scoring and calmness, scoring 29 points today.)

Fans can catch a replay of the game against Nagoya from October 5 (Sunday) here: [Watch replay](https://t.co/zFziWBpgsE).

READ: [B.League: Ex-NBA big man joins Dwight Ramos at Levanga](#)

Levanga Hokkaido supporters will surely look forward to more electrifying performances from Dwight Ramos as the season progresses.
https://sports.inquirer.net/643272/b-league-dwight-ramos-ray-parks-go-off-in-separate-wins

california, death, funerals, obituary, teen

D4vd’s alleged victim Celeste Rivas-Hernandez laid to rest

2025 年 10 月 7 日 admin Leave a comment

**D4vd’s Alleged Victim Celeste Rivas-Hernandez Laid to Rest**

*By Apoorva Rastogi | October 7, 2025, 3:49 PM*

The funeral service for 15-year-old Celeste Rivas-Hernandez was held on Monday at the Queen of Heaven Cemetery and Mortuary in Rowland Heights, California. This service followed the discovery of her body in the trunk of a Tesla registered to singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, on September 8.

The Los Angeles County Coroner confirmed that Rivas-Hernandez’s remains were released to her family on September 23.

### Family Confirmation and Community Vigil

Rivas-Hernandez’s family first spoke publicly about her death on September 18. A GoFundMe page created to help cover funeral expenses described her as “a beloved daughter, sister, cousin, and friend.”

On September 21, dozens gathered in Lake Elsinore for a candlelight vigil held in her memory, honoring the young teen and offering support to her grieving family and community.

### Ongoing Investigation

In mid-September, LAPD detectives executed a search warrant at a Hollywood Hills home linked to D4vd as part of the ongoing investigation into Rivas-Hernandez’s death. The Tesla involved was towed from Hollywood Hills to a secured lot in Los Angeles.

“We know that the Tesla had been parked at the location from which it was towed for several weeks, so it is very likely Celeste Rivas Hernandez had been dead for several weeks prior to her body being discovered,” LAPD Captain Scot M. Williams told PEOPLE.

### Legal Representation

In response to the investigation, D4vd has reportedly retained Blair Berk, a prominent criminal defense attorney known for representing high-profile clients such as Kanye West, Britney Spears, and Mel Gibson.

However, Berk’s legal team has clarified that his involvement does not imply that D4vd is a suspect in Rivas-Hernandez’s case.

As of now, “The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has not determined a cause or manner of her death,” Captain Williams added.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to uncover further details surrounding this tragic case.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/celeste-s-funeral-held-month-after-being-found-in-d4vd-s-car/story