Coimbatore:

The Future Media Journalists Welfare Association (FMJWA) was inaugurated at Jenneys Residency in a grand manner. The event was presided over by Perur Adheenam Thiruperundhiru Santhalinga Marudachala Adigalar.Swamiji graced the event and emphasized the social responsibility of the media fraternity.

The function was organised by FMJWA National President Mr. S. Balaji. Honorary President Mr. M. Suresh graced the dais. Ms. S. Kavitha, National Deputy General Secretary outlined the role and responsibilities of FMJWA, and Dr. S. Selva Ganesh Ji, President of Bharatiya Hindu Parivar, delivered the welcome address.

Delivering the keynote address, Mr. S.R. Sekar, Tamil Nadu State Treasurer of the Bharatiya Janata Party, appreciated the formation of an organized body dedicated to journalists’ welfare, stating that such institutions are the need of the hour to safeguard media professionals and uphold ethical journalism.

The event witnessed participation from several senior office bearers, including Mr. G. Nagendran (State President, Andaman & Nicobar Islands), Mr. Veera Vijayan (Tamil Nadu State Vice President), Mr. Thirumalaichamy (State Treasurer),Mr. Balasubramanian(Organization Secretary) , Mr. Murugesan (Coimbatore District President), Mr. Amalraj (Virudhunagar District President), and Mr. Gunasekaran (Karur District President), 

Prominent Political Leaders, Industrialists, Quarry and Crusher Association owners, Engineering Association Representatives, Private School Management members, and over 100 Advocates, Journalists, and Media Professionals across Tamil Nadu participated in the inaugural ceremony. Identity cards were distributed to registered members of the association.

Addressing the gathering, National President Mr. S. Balaji reiterated the association’s vision with the slogan,

“Let us join hands… protect freedom of expression… our actions will define our identity.”

He assured that FMJWA would work continuously to protect journalists’ rights, safety and welfare.

The event was coordinated by Professor Moorthy, Vice President of the association.

Special invitees included retired DSP Ramachandran, Mr. Senthilkumar (Partner, Mayil Mark), Mr. Thirumalai M. Ravi (President, Coimbatore District Grill Manufacturers Welfare Association), Mr. Deva Kumar (President, Chinnavedampatti Industrial Association), Mr. Jayakumar (Codia Park), Mr. S. Ragunathan Subbiah (President, Coimbatore Handicraft Gold Jewellery Manufacturers Association), Mr. Rajkumar (Director, Home Zone), Mr. Zakir Hussain (Owner, Optical Palace), Mr. Manivannan (Correspondent, RBM School), Mr. Logu (Secretary, Coimbatore Consumer Voice), Mr. Rajadurai (State Secretary, CRIC Organisation), Mr. Umabathi (Owner, Coimbatore Biryani), Mr. Sivaram (Owner, Breze Software), and Dr. Thamaraiselvan, Homeopathy Physician, Ex Coimbatore Criminal Bar Association President Advocate Sivasamitamilan etc..

The inaugural event marked a significant milestone in strengthening unity, welfare, and professional integrity within the media community.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday outlined **four broad priorities—resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability—**that will guide India’s BRICS 2026 Chairship, saying these principles will shape the agenda of the 18th BRICS Summit.

Speaking at the launch of the BRICS 2026 logo and official website, Jaishankar said the priorities would provide a coherent framework across the grouping’s three foundational pillars—political and security, economic and financial, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

“Under the resilience pillar, we will endeavour to build structural and institutional strengths capable of weathering global shocks,” the External Affairs Minister said. “India intends to work with BRICS partners to build resilience in agriculture, health, disaster risk reduction, energy and supply chains, including through cooperative frameworks that enhance collective preparedness and response.”

Highlighting innovation as a key driver of global economic growth, Jaishankar said leveraging new and emerging technologies was essential to addressing socio-economic challenges, particularly in developing countries.

“The deployment of new and emerging technologies is crucial to tackling socio-economic challenges while maintaining a people-centric approach. Enhanced cooperation in areas such as start-ups, MSMEs and emerging technologies can meaningfully contribute to building a more equitable world,” he said.

Emphasising cooperation and sustainability, the minister said India would work closely with BRICS partners to advance climate action and promote clean energy and sustainable development pathways.

“India will work to advance climate action, promote clean energy, and support sustainable development in a manner that is fair and sensitive,” he added.

Logo, Website Unveiled

Jaishankar said the newly unveiled BRICS 2026 logo reflects India’s vision for its chairship by blending tradition and modernity.

“The petals incorporate the colours of all BRICS member countries, symbolising unity in diversity and a shared sense of purpose. The logo conveys that BRICS draws strength from the collective contributions of its members while respecting their distinct identities,” he said.

The BRICS India website, launched alongside the logo, will serve as a central platform for information on meetings, initiatives and outcomes during India’s chairship, and is expected to enhance transparency, engagement and timely dissemination of information among member countries and global stakeholders.

About BRICS

The acronym BRIC was coined in 2001 by Goldman Sachs in its Global Economics paper titled ‘The World Needs Better Economic BRICs’, which projected that Brazil, Russia, India and China would emerge as major global economic powers.

In 2010, the grouping expanded to BRICS with the inclusion of South Africa, which formally joined at the 3rd BRICS Summit in Sanya in 2011.

The bloc expanded further in 2024, with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the UAE becoming full members on January 1. Indonesia joined as a full member in January 2025, while Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan were inducted as BRICS partner countries.

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 Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on Tuesday said that the security situation along the Western Front and in Jammu and Kashmir has remained “sensitive but firmly under control” since May 10, following India’s launch of Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terror outfits deep inside Pakistani territory.

Addressing a press conference, the Army chief said there were clear indicators of positive change in Jammu and Kashmir, with terrorist recruitment in 2025 being almost non-existent.

“Since May 10, the situation along the Western Front and J&K remains sensitive but firmly under control. In 2025, 31 terrorists have been eliminated, of which 65 per cent were of Pakistani origin, including the three perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack neutralised during Operation Mahadev. Active local terrorists are now in single digits,” General Dwivedi said.

He added that only two local recruitments had been recorded this year, underscoring a significant decline in terrorist mobilisation.

“Terrorist recruitment is almost non-existent. Clear indicators of positive change include robust development activity, revival of tourism, and the peaceful conduct of the Sri Amarnath Yatra, which witnessed participation of over four lakh pilgrims, exceeding the five-year average. The theme of ‘terrorism to tourism’ is gradually taking shape,” he said.

Northeast and Myanmar Situation

General Dwivedi said a multi-agency security grid comprising the Assam Rifles, the Army and the Ministry of Home Affairs has been put in place to insulate the Northeast from spillover effects of developments in Myanmar.

“In response to turbulence in Myanmar, a comprehensive security grid is working to prevent spillover effects into the Northeast. With the successful conduct of phase two elections in Myanmar, we should now be able to engage more effectively,” he said.

Northern Front Stable, Vigil Required

On the Northern Front, the Army chief said the situation remains stable but requires constant vigilance.

“Apex-level interactions, renewed contact and confidence-building measures are contributing to gradual normalisation. This has enabled activities such as grazing, hydrotherapy camps and other engagements along the Northern Borders,” he said.

He added that India’s deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) remains balanced and robust, alongside ongoing infrastructure and capability enhancement through a whole-of-government approach.

Manipur, HADR Operations

General Dwivedi said the situation in Manipur has witnessed marked improvement due to neutral, transparent and decisive action by security forces and proactive government measures.

“The peaceful conduct of the Durand Cup, resumption of cultural festivals and the renewal of Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements with Kuki insurgent groups in September 2025 have been key markers of stability,” he said.

Highlighting the Army’s role in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), the chief said forces operated across two neighbouring countries and 10 Indian states, rescuing over 30,000 people.

“In several border states, the Army responded even before formal requests were received. These actions reaffirm our role as the natural first responder during HADR crises,” he said, recalling the daring rescue of CRPF personnel during the Punjab floods in Pathankot.

MUMBAI — In a staggering escalation of a long-standing grievance, a female Manager at the Central Bank of India has accused the institution of utilizing “orchestrated silence” as a tool of mental harassment. Pragati Srivastava, currently posted in the Cooch Behar Region, alleges she has been subjected to 43 months of willful neglect, during which 80 official representations regarding her service and benefits have gone entirely unacknowledged.

Systemic Harassment and Financial Starvation

Ms. Srivastava reports that she has not received her salary for over two years. This period includes six months of maternity benefits that were allegedly withheld during a high-risk pregnancy and a subsequent C-section delivery. The officer describes this as a direct violation of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, labeling the financial freeze an “inhuman, strategic tool” to target a female employee during her most vulnerable period.

A Pregnancy Under “Rigorous” Enquiry

The complaint outlines a harrowing timeline where a departmental enquiry was initiated and conducted throughout the entirety of Ms. Srivastava’s nine-month pregnancy.

Even while bedridden with severe typhoid in July 2025, she was allegedly forced to respond to bank correspondence within a 7-day window to avoid “consequences”.

Despite the enquiry concluding six months ago, the bank has reportedly failed to communicate any outcome, maintaining a state of “unlawful” uncertainty.

A request for sabbatical leave to care for her ailing two-year-old son was also declined, marking her as “Loss of Pay” and further compounding her financial distress.

Demands for Humanitarian Intervention

The officer is currently facing threats of termination if she does not report to Cooch Behar immediately. Ms. Srivastava argues that rejoining a post 1,000 km away from her native Varanasi is impossible as she is the primary caregiver and lactating mother of a five-month-old infant.

In her escalation to the General Manager of Human Capital Management, she is demanding:

Immediate credit of all pending salary and maternity pay.

Compassionate posting to Varanasi, as per bank policies for mothers with infants under two years.

Procedural closure regarding the pending enquiry that has remained in limbo since July 2025.

“Such orchestrated silence cannot be dismissed as procedural delay,” the grievance states, “it demonstrates a patriarchal mindset within management, where non-response is used as a tool of vengeance”.

 The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses from the Union Ministries of Law, Health and AYUSH on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a direction to declare AYUSH doctors as “Registered Medical Practitioners” under the law, on par with allopathic doctors.

The PIL also seeks the constitution of an expert committee to review and update the schedule of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, in line with present-day scientific developments.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of the submissions made by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, who appeared on behalf of the petitioner, law student Nitin Upadhyay, and issued notices to the concerned ministries.

During the hearing, the CJI remarked in a lighter vein upon learning that the petitioner was the advocate’s son. “Is he your son?” the Chief Justice asked, to which Upadhyay replied in the affirmative. “We thought he would get some gold medal, but he is filing PILs now. Why don’t you study now?” the Bench observed, before issuing notice.

The plea seeks a declaration that AYUSH doctors fall within the definition of “registered medical practitioner” under Section 2(cc) of the 1954 Act. The law aims to regulate advertisements of drugs and prohibit claims of remedies possessing “magic qualities.”

Section 3(d) of the Act imposes a prohibition on advertisements relating to certain diseases and conditions. According to the plea, AYUSH practitioners and other non-allopathic registered medical professionals are excluded from the exception provided under Section 14 of the Act, resulting in a blanket ban on their advertisements—even when the information is truthful and scientifically supported.

Filed through advocate Ashwani Kumar Dubey, the petition contends that the law, though enacted to protect the public from misleading advertisements, has become outdated and disproportionate. It argues that the complete ban restricts dissemination of genuine medical information and infringes upon the public’s right to information regarding diagnosis, prevention and treatment of serious diseases.

“The initial aim of the Act to curb harmful advertisements has devolved into a blanket prohibition on all genuine medical advertisements by non-allopathic doctors,” the plea stated.

The petitioner further argued that truthful, evidence-based and non-deceptive advertisements constitute legitimate communication to patients and consumers. The plea seeks directions to the Centre to constitute an expert committee to revise and update the schedule of the Act in accordance with contemporary scientific knowledge and medical practices.