State

Lucknow:The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed between India and the European Union is set to unlock vast economic opportunities for Uttar Pradesh, significantly strengthening exports, investments, and employment generation across the state. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the agreement provides Indian exporters easier access to the European Union’s 27 countries and a consumer base of nearly 450 million people. Experts believe the agreement is particularly crucial for labour-intensive states like Uttar Pradesh, where millions of artisans, farmers, small manufacturers, and MSMEs form the backbone of the economy. Under the FTA, tariffs on several products will be reduced or eliminated, making UP-made goods more affordable and competitive in European markets. Big Ga...

Prayagraj:The Kinnar Akhada has expelled actress Mamta Kulkarni from its fold following her controversial remarks related to Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand. The decision was announced by Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, the head of the Kinnar Akhada, who stated that questioning or insulting any religious tradition is unacceptable. Clarifying the Akhada’s stand, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi said she does not wish to take sides in the Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand controversy. “I am neither calling anyone right nor wrong,” she said. “However, I felt deeply hurt by the incident in which the traditional hair tuft (choti) of young Brahmin students was pulled during the fair. No one has the right to insult or question another’s religious traditions.” She further stated tha...

Mathura: In a serious security lapse, five adolescent girls escaped under suspicious circumstances from the Government Girls Protection Home located in Chaitanya Vihar, Vrindavan, late Monday night, triggering alarm among district authorities and the police. The girls, aged between 14 and 17 years, reportedly covered themselves with blankets and walked out through the main gate, as captured in CCTV footage. Of the five, two girls have safely reached their homes, while a search operation is underway to trace the remaining three missing girls. According to shelter home in-charge Gayatri Mishra, the girls went missing between 10:30 pm and 11:00 pm. The escapees have been identified as Divya (resident of Chauthaiya, Mahavan), Priyanka (Bahad Garhi, Nauhjheel), Arayna (Multani Bada, Pahar...

Lucknow: King George’s Medical University (KGMU) has issued a clarification amid growing political and social controversy over notices served for the removal of certain shrines within its campus. The university administration has categorically stated that no notice has been issued to the Shahmina Shah Dargah or the Haji Harmain shrine, and has urged people not to spread misinformation. KGMU recently sent notices to four to five shrines located within its campus, seeking responses within 15 days. Following this, political reactions emerged, with the Samajwadi Party and several Muslim religious leaders expressing concern. Demands to change the name of KGMU were also raised, further intensifying the debate. Addressing the issue, KGMU spokesperson Dr. K.K. Singh clarified that reports cl...