By Dr. Gyan Pathak On the morning of September 30, 2026, Delhi witnessed display of a series of hoardings, unclaimed by any organization but believed to have been put on behalf of the BJP, that targeted leaders of opposition before INDIA bloc meeting, and claiming rift among their leaders. BJP separately criticised Leader of Opposition […]
By K Raveendran The controversy surrounding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has moved beyond another confrontation between the government and the Opposition. What is now at stake is whether the Election Commission of India can continue to command the presumption of institutional neutrality on which the credibility of elections ultimately rests. The latest developments have […]
By Dr. Gyan Pathak The proposed INDIA bloc meet — scheduled on September 30, 2026 in New Delhi against the Chief Election Commissioner’s (CEC’s) ‘illegal’ and ‘unauthorised’ actions as recorded by the two fellow Election Commissioners (ECs) — aims at not only taking a unified stand on demand of removal of the CEC and initiating […]
By Arun Srivastava CEC Gyanesh Gupta on September 26, in the eye of the biggest-ever electoral scandal to rock the country, covertly confessed to have committed the criminal misdemeanour of massive voter deletions and electoral manipulation, at the full member meet of the Election Commission of India. As a temporary reprieve, he used the full […]
By Nitya Chakraborty Brazil is scheduled to hold its much-awaited presidential elections on October 4 this year. The incumbent leftist President Inacio Lula da Silva of the Workers Party is facing off the far-right candidate, Flabio Bolsonaro, in a tightly contested poll. Latest opinion polls give Lula a slight edge. If no one gets over […]
India’s youth-led Cockroach Janta Party has set Saturday as the deadline for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign, warning that it will begin nationwide protests on October 2 if he remains in office.
Founder Abhijeet Dipke said the movement would start its campaign in Mumbai on Gandhi Jayanti and then take demonstrations to cities across the country. The ultimatum follows allegations of serious internal disagreements within the Election Commission over decisions affecting electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision.
“If Gyanesh Kumar does not resign by tomorrow, CJP will begin its nationwide protest from Mumbai on 2 October, and take it to cities across India,” Dipke said on Friday. The organisation had initially given Kumar 48 hours to step down and threatened an indefinite sit-in in New Delhi if its demand was ignored.
The CJP has also launched an “Election Commission Thik Karo” campaign and called for the SIR process to be halted. Its leaders have demanded an independent investigation into electoral-roll decisions and questioned whether safeguards governing voter registration, deletion and data management were properly observed.
The dispute intensified after information emerged that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had formally raised objections at least 14 times over 10 months to decisions and orders concerning electoral rolls. The objections reportedly covered registration of new voters, deletion and restoration of names, changes to Form 6 and control of the technology used to maintain voter data.
Some objections concerned decisions that Sandhu and Joshi said had been taken or communicated without their knowledge. The two commissioners also raised concerns about centralising access to electoral-roll systems in New Delhi and, in separate communications, approached the Cabinet Secretary over changes affecting oversight of the commission’s technology infrastructure.
The Election Commission has rejected suggestions that the exchanges demonstrate improper decision-making. It said differing views and observations were a normal part of institutional deliberation and maintained that its final decisions, including those governing the SIR, were unanimous and legally valid.
The commission said it functions under Article 324 of the Constitution, statutory rules and established conventions. Officials have maintained that questions raised while proposals or orders are being considered should not be equated with dissent from final decisions approved by the three-member body.
Opposition parties have nevertheless seized on the disclosures to renew accusations that the electoral-roll revision has been conducted unfairly. Congress organised marches towards election offices in several state capitals on Friday, demanding Kumar’s removal and an independent examination of decisions taken during the revision.
The opposition has alleged that names have been removed from voter lists without adequate safeguards while some additions have lacked sufficient verification, claims the Election Commission disputes. The Bharatiya Janata Party has defended the commission and rejected allegations that the institution has been manipulated to favour the governing party.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said internal deliberations demonstrated that the commission was functioning democratically. He said the final SIR decisions had been reached unanimously by all three commissioners and argued that disagreements during deliberations did not establish that the constitutional body was operating under one person’s control.
The controversy has given the CJP another national issue around which to mobilise young supporters. The organisation describes itself as a youth pressure group rather than a registered political party and emerged this year from an online protest campaign after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant used the words “cockroaches” and “parasites” while criticising a section of unemployed young people during a court hearing.
Its campaign subsequently expanded into street mobilisation over examination irregularities, education and public services. The group’s leaders have also organised inspections of government schools and used social media to highlight complaints about staffing and infrastructure.
President Donald Trump has moved to cancel $810 million in spending authorised by Congress, invoking a disputed budget mechanism days before the federal fiscal year ends. The White House announced the package on Friday, saying the administration was using a “pocket rescission” to eliminate unspent money across 11 funding accounts at seven departments and agencies. The largest reduction is $567 million from Health and Human Services programmes […]
By Ashok Nilakantan Ayers NEW YORK: September 24, 2026, the third day of the high-level General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly, turned the UN podium into something of a geopolitical courtroom on Thursday, with Iran’s war with the United States and Israel, Gaza, terrorism, sovereignty and the credibility of the international system crowding […]
A federal judge has temporarily restored White House access to journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico, finding that President Donald Trump’s ban on the three news organisations was likely unconstitutional. US District Judge Timothy J. Kelly issued a temporary restraining order early Thursday directing senior administration officials to immediately return and reinstate the outlets’ White House hard-pass credentials. The order blocks enforcement of the ban for […]
By Dr. Gyan Pathak Two Election Commissioners of India, out of three, have put on record their objections against certain decisions of the Election Commission under the leadership of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar Gupta, and labeled them even ‘illegal’ and ‘unauthorised.’ An Indian Express investigation has found that objections were raised at least […]
By K Raveendran The Supreme Court’s hearing on Vande Mataram has exposed the question at the centre of the Modi government’s new law: when does honouring a national symbol become an obligation to voice beliefs a citizen does not hold? The court has given no final answer. Its decision to examine the consequences of refusing […]
Stars from Korea, Japan and Hong Kong Perform at the Moon-Met Indigenous Voices Concert, Opening a Season of Sustainable Tourism
HUALIEN, TAIWAN – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 September 2026 – Hualien, a destination on Taiwan’s east coast known internationally for its mountain and ocean scenery, will host its major annual music event, the 2026 Hualien Moon-Met Indigenous Voices Concert, on September 26 and 27. This year’s performers include NIEL, lead vocalist of the popular Korean boy band TEEN TOP; Aisa Senda, a Ryukyuan singer from Okinawa, Japan; Sheron Tan, an Indigenous singer from Sabah, Malaysia; and William So, Hong Kong’s “King of Love Songs.” Spanning K-pop, Austronesian culture and Mandopop, the concert will be held at Hualien’s well-known Dongdamen Square and reflects Hualien’s long-standing openness to diverse cultures.
Hear Hualien over the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday: the Moon-Met Indigenous Voices Concert will be held at Dongdamen Square on the evenings of September 26 and 27. (Photo courtesy of the Hualien Indigenous Peoples Department)
A Gift from Nature: Hualien’s Mountains, Coastline and Indigenous Culture
With the towering gorges of Taroko National Park, the blue Pacific coastline and a pleasant climate throughout the year, Hualien has long been a first choice for international travelers exploring Taiwan’s natural scenery. In addition to its natural landscapes, Hualien has a rich Taiwanese Indigenous cultural heritage. This year’s concert is combined with an Indigenous-themed market, allowing visitors from abroad to explore the mountains, coastline and Indigenous communities during the day, then walk in the moonlight in the evening, sample local night market food and try Indigenous handicrafts, with music and nature as the backdrop.
A Full Second Half of the Year: A Different Theme Each Month
As autumn sets in, Hualien is presenting a series of international themed events in the second half of the year, inviting travelers from around the world to experience Hualien in every season:
September – Moon-Met Indigenous Voices Concert: Artists from Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan come together for an international concert celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.
October – Indigenous Culture and K-Pop Crossover Festival: Continuing the momentum, October brings a crossover concert that combines traditional Taiwanese Indigenous culture with Korean pop music (K-pop), bringing together striking visuals and sound.
November – Hualien Pacific Hot Spring Festival: With winter approaching, the Hot Spring Festival in November invites visitors to enjoy Hualien’s high-quality natural hot springs and relax in a mountain setting for a restorative break.
December – Hualien Pacific Tourism Festival (New Year’s Eve Concert): The final major event of the year, Hualien’s New Year’s Eve celebration attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually and is an excellent opportunity for international travelers to experience New Year’s Eve in Taiwan.
An Ideal Destination for International Travelers: Countdown Celebrations and Relaxing Travel
In addition to well-developed tourism facilities and abundant natural and cultural resources, Hualien offers subsidy programs specifically for international travelers, and its range of themed events in the second half of the year provides an excellent opportunity to experience Taiwanese culture in depth. The New Year’s Eve celebration in December is particularly well suited to travelers planning a year-end holiday abroad, offering the chance to welcome the new year amid Hualien’s mountain and ocean scenery and festive atmosphere.
Hualien warmly invites travelers from around the world to take advantage of the peak travel season in the second half of the year and plan a trip to experience its natural scenery, rich culture and international performances.
By Ashok Nilakakntan Ayers WASHINGTON: The confrontation between Donald Trump and the American press has entered a new phase. What began on Friday as a presidential declaration against three news organizations — CNN, MS NOW and Politico — became a physical ban on Saturday, when reporters from the three organizations were stopped at the White […]
By Ashok Nilakantan Ayers NEW YORK: After months of courtroom confrontation, political pressure, Hollywood lobbying and increasingly tense negotiations, Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery have finally found a settlement with California and 11 other states that removes the biggest obstacle to their proposed $110 billion merger. It is not quite the closing of the […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai has begun 10 days of official mourning following the death of Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Chairman of Dubai Police and Public Security and the younger brother of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The Court of Sheikh Mohammed announced Sheikh Ahmed’s death on Monday morning, September 21, […]
The European Union has urged the United States to reconsider its decision to deny visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian officials seeking to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York, intensifying diplomatic pressure on Washington before the gathering. Anouar El Anouni, a spokesman for the European External Action Service, said on Saturday that the bloc regretted the extension of the visa denial […]
Kerala Tourism has stepped up its outreach to Gulf travellers at Arabian Travel Market 2026 in Dubai, using the four-day trade fair to present the state’s backwaters, wellness products, culture, nature and adventure experiences to buyers and industry partners.
Tourism Minister P. C. Vishnunadh visited the Kerala pavilion at the Dubai World Trade Centre and met UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri as the state sought to deepen engagement with one of its most important overseas visitor markets. He was accompanied by Tourism Secretary Biju K.
Vishnunadh said the Middle East remained significant for Kerala because of the state’s longstanding links with the UAE and the region’s importance to its tourism economy. He said Arabian Travel Market provided an opportunity for tourism businesses to understand changing demand, identify emerging opportunities and present packages designed for Gulf travellers.
Kerala Tourism said 26,255 visitors from the UAE travelled to the state in 2025, underlining the market’s value as it looks to expand international arrivals and strengthen demand beyond peak seasons.
The state’s 69-square-metre pavilion, carrying the theme “Green Peace – Yalla Kerala”, used imagery of hill stations and green landscapes alongside displays promoting established and emerging tourism products. The presentation placed emphasis on Kerala as a year-round destination, with Ayurveda and wellness, beaches, backwaters, cultural experiences and adventure travel forming key parts of the pitch.
Vishnunadh also met Sudhir Sreedharan, senior vice-president of flydubai, and officials of the Dubai Police Authority during his visit. The meetings came as Kerala Tourism used the event not only for destination promotion but also for business networking with airlines, tour operators and travel-sector partners.
Six tourism businesses from Kerala joined the pavilion as co-exhibitors: Kairali – The Ayurvedic Healing Village in Palakkad, The Elephant Court in Thekkady, Somatheeram Ayurveda Group, Intersight Tours and Travels, Santamonica Tours and Travels, and Gateway Malabar Holidays. Their participation gave buyers access to accommodation, wellness and tour products directly from operators.
Arabian Travel Market 2026, held from September 14 to 17, brought together tourism authorities, airlines, hospitality companies, tour operators and other travel businesses from the Middle East and overseas markets. Organisers positioned the 33rd edition as a platform for commercial partnerships, destination marketing and discussion of travel trends.
The UAE used ATM to launch “Visit UAE”, its first unified federal tourism identity, bringing the seven emirates under a single national tourism platform. Abdulla bin Touq said the initiative was intended to present the country as an integrated destination and support stronger cooperation across tourism.
Kerala’s Gulf-focused campaign extended beyond the exhibition floor. At a Kerala travel meet in Dubai built around the same “Green Peace – Yalla Kerala” theme, officials and private-sector participants held business-to-business meetings with UAE-based buyers.
Tourism Secretary Biju K presented Kerala’s destination portfolio and invited travel-industry representatives to Kerala Travel Mart 2026, while the state highlighted its appeal across leisure, wellness, culture and nature-based travel. The engagement was designed to convert destination visibility into business links with tour operators and distributors serving Gulf customers.
Kerala has been placing greater emphasis on the Arab market because demand from the region often overlaps with the state’s monsoon and shoulder seasons, when Ayurveda, wellness and nature-based travel can help spread visitor flows more evenly through the year.
That approach also reflects growing competition among destinations for Gulf travellers, who have access to extensive direct and one-stop air connectivity through Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and other regional hubs. Kerala’s strategy at the fair focused on product differentiation rather than a single tourism segment, combining established attractions with experiential offerings.
The Maldives also maintained a presence at the Dubai event, with 165 industry representatives from 74 tourism companies participating alongside official tourism bodies. Its delegation used the fair to pursue airline partnerships and destination marketing agreements aimed at improving connectivity and widening market reach.
OpenAI has asked a federal judge in California to dismiss lawsuits brought by survivors and families affected by the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting, arguing that British Columbia is the appropriate forum for claims arising from the February attack. Motions filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California invoke the doctrine of forum non conveniens, which allows a court to decline a case when […]
By Arun Srivastava It would be politically naive to look at the decision of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee to stay out of the Nandigram by-poll purely as a calculated move to avoid a trap set by her opponents. Yet another significant move Mamata has made is of a tactical outreach by offering the Nandigram […]
A US federal judge has ordered Elon Musk’s X Corp and SpaceXAI to disclose any agreement behind their resolution of antitrust claims against Apple, even as the companies press ahead with the same lawsuit against OpenAI. Judge Mark Pittman of the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas directed X and SpaceXAI to provide the court with any agreement or combination of agreements with Apple […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 September 2026 – Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, John Lee, today (September 16) announced his fifth Policy Address, putting forward a series of measures to create development opportunities and enhance the well-being of the people.
“This year marks the opening year of the National 15th Five-Year Plan. In the thick of accelerating global changes not seen in a century, the vibrant momentum driven by our country’s robust strength, enormous market and high-quality development presents Hong Kong with boundless opportunities. We will better develop our economy and boost social well-being, starting a bright new chapter for Hong Kong,” Mr Lee said.
Entitled “A Strategic Vision for a Bright New Era, Driving Reform and Boosting Development, Unleashing Opportunities and Enhancing Livelihood”, the Policy Address takes the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) (Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan) as its blueprint, and proposes numerous key measures focusing on five major development opportunities to advance high-quality development.
To attract and retain high-calibre talent, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will expedite the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town to strengthen the city’s position as an international education hub. The HKSAR Government will also increase the research postgraduate places by around 30 per cent and the quota for government scholarships by 200, and establish five new major academies for training international talent: the International Clinical Trial Academy, Maritime Academy, Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy, Hong Kong Intellectual Property Academy and Hong Kong International Academy of Policing.
To promote industry development, the Policy Address proposes to accelerate development of an international gold trading market and to explore a proposal to provide tax concessions for qualifying activities within the gold and commodity trading ecosystem. The HKSAR Government will also announce details of the new Renminbi-denominated and physically settled gold futures contracts; explore the possibility of increasing the Exchange Fund’s gold holdings, and gradually transfer its physical gold holdings to designated vaults appointed by the Hong Kong Precious Metals Central Clearing Company Limited.
A number of policies are proposed to promote industry development, including introducing specialty insurance (e.g. commodity, commercial aerospace, etc.); injecting funding into the Artificial Intelligence Subsidy Scheme to support the development of the intelligent computing industry; accelerating the adoption of medical innovation and industry chain development to enable the public to benefit from better and newer drugs; and fostering a new economic landscape for the low-altitude and emerging industries, such as commercial aerospace.
The Government is developing six special industry parks, including the Loop Hong Kong Park, San Tin Technopole, Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park, Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster and Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen modern logistics cluster. Land is also earmarked for building an advanced construction industry park to increase investment opportunities for enterprises.
To attract enterprises to establish a foothold in Hong Kong, tax concessions will be granted on the basis of the value brought by enterprises, instead of solely considering the industry sector. The Government will introduce an amendment bill this year, providing preferential tax rates of 5 per cent, or half-rate, for selected enterprises operating in key sectors such as finance, advanced manufacturing, innovation and technology, as well as research and development, headquarters activities and logistics and supply chain management.
The HKSAR Government will fully support the work of the International Organization for Mediation headquartered in Hong Kong, and build a global capital of mediation. It will also drive the establishment of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law in Hong Kong, support the Judiciary to advance the development of the International Commercial Court, and establish the “Strategy Committee on Intellectual Property Trading Development” to assist the Government in formulating strategies and support measures for the promotion of intellectual property trading.
Regarding international co-operation, two United Nations (UN) organisations, the centre of excellence on global advanced manufacturing and the Office on Drugs and Crime’s GlobE Network Asia Pacific Regional Bureau, will establish their presence in Hong Kong respectively. Elsewhere, the new WestK Performing Arts Centre, scheduled to open next year, will feature four performance venues built to the highest international theatre standards, while Asian and international sports associations will be encouraged to establish a presence in Hong Kong.
“Today, Hong Kong is at a critical juncture in advancing from stability to prosperity. We are fully aware that formulating a comprehensive, strategic roadmap is integral to our long-term development. The Government has been persistent in mapping our way by driving development through reform. The primary goal of our policies is to enable economic development that can benefit the people of Hong Kong, and meet their aspirations for a better life,” Mr Lee said.
The US Senate failed to advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act on Tuesday, halting the cryptocurrency industry’s strongest attempt to secure a comprehensive federal market structure framework and pushing the regulatory burden back towards existing agencies. The cloture motion on the measure, H. R. 3633, was rejected 49-50, according to the Senate’s official roll call. Sixty votes were required to end debate on the motion to […]
Five alleged leaders of the Cape Town branch of the Black Axe network have appeared in a New Jersey federal court after being extradited from South Africa to face charges over internet fraud and money laundering schemes that prosecutors say targeted victims in the United States. Perry Osagiede, 57, Franklyn Edosa Osagiede, 42, Osariemen Eric Clement, 40, Collins Owhofasa Otughwor, 42, and Musa Mudashiru, 38, were extradited […]
A federal judge has stopped the Trump administration from imposing fixed limits on how long foreign students, exchange visitors and journalists may remain in the United States, blocking a major immigration rule one day before it was due to take effect. U. S. District Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV in Boston issued a preliminary injunction on Monday, September 14, finding that the Department of Homeland Security had […]
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