Search operation launched after bomb threat (ANI image)
NEW DELHI: Security agencies on Thursday launched an extensive search operation in Rajasthan’s Ajmer after the district administration received a bomb threat email. The email claimed that RDX-based explosives had been planted at the Ajmer Sharif dargah, the district collectorate and the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu. It also warned that the bombs would be triggered in connection with the arrival of Russian President Vladimir Putin, police said.According to officials, the threatening email was received at the Ajmer collectorate around noon. It claimed that four RDX-based improvised explosive devices (IEDs) had been planted at the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, the collectorate premises and the Kudankulam atomic plant. The letter also warned that the bombs would detonate upon the arrival of President Putin, news agency PTI reported. Superintendent of Police Vandita Rana said all departments were immediately alerted after the threat mail surfaced. “An email threatening to bomb the Ajmer dargah and the collectorate was received. Following this, the premises were evacuated and checked thoroughly,” she said.She added that the dargah complex was also cleared and a detailed search operation is underway. “So far, no suspicious object has been found,” Rana said.Teams of the Crime Investigation Department (CID), Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), dog squads and bomb disposal units have been deployed at the affected locations. Security personnel from four police stations, along with additional forces, are conducting systematic checks using metal detectors as part of the operation.Entry into the Ajmer Sharif dargah has been temporarily halted, leading to large crowds gathering outside the main gates. The entire area around the shrine has been cordoned off and all incoming visitors have been stopped until the search is completed.Senior officials, including three civic body commissioners and station house officers from nine police stations, have been stationed at the site to supervise the operation. Police said a probe has been initiated to trace the source of the threatening email.
Something concrete and unarguable has emerged from the diplomatic turbulence generated by Donald Trump’s attempts to end the war in Ukraine.
The war in Ukraine has become Europe’s war – in fact, it is unlikely to be America’s problem for long.
The Trump administration’s 20-something-point peace plan, as shepherded by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, is going nowhere.
Image: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the European Union leaders’ summit in Brussels, Belgium. Pic: Reuters
When presented with the proposal on Tuesday, a Russian negotiator said President Putin made, “no secret of our critical and even negative attitude toward a number of elements.”
But the words of the Russian leader himself are more instructive. In a belligerent speech made on the same day, he threatened to “cut Ukraine off from the sea entirely” in retaliation to a series of attacks on Russian-linked oil tankers.
This is not a man thinking about doing a deal. Putin is the obvious obstacle.
None of which will have come as any surprise to leaders in Europe and the UK, who did what they typically do when the situation looks grim.
Image: Servicemen of the 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Pic: Reuters
Britain, France, Ireland, Germany and others have been issuing lofty declarations of the “we’ll support Ukraine as long as it takes,” variety.
But this time it is different. European leaders are going to have to treat Ukraine like the emergency it is – or face the consequences.
Presently, they occupy a position that many see as absurd.
Europe, including Britain, bankroll the Ukrainian government. Funding which was split down the middle with the Biden administration has been assumed by Europe in full. Furthermore, the Europeans pay for all American weaponry through a NATO facility called PURL.
Image: Firefighters put out a fire after a drone hit a multi-storey residential building during Russia’s night drone attack in Kyiv. Pic: AP
Thus, Europe has got skin in the game – they are paying the bills. But where are they sitting at the negotiation table?
They are not there at all. The Russians do not want them, and the US does not seem particularly keen. When US secretary of state Marco Rubio met a Ukrainian delegation to discuss the peace plan in Geneva, he said he did not know anything about European counter-proposals
“It’s extraordinary that Europe is picking up the bill but struggles to make itself heard,” says Marc De Vore, of St Andrews University. “It shows the lack of vision, coordination and leadership across the continent.”
The former foreign minister of Lithuania, Gabrielius Landsbergis, is utterly exasperated by Europe’s ineffectiveness.
Image: Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner meet with Ukrainian defence chief Rustem Umerov and his delegation in Florida. Pic: Reuters
“If you are a European leader asking your team to book you on the next flight to Washington to go talk to daddy, please don’t. Not without a plan, not cap in hand, not humiliating us all in front of the cameras at the Oval Office.
“Europe is our continent, our future is decided here, not there. We aren’t poor, we have options, we can finally decide to assist Ukraine to the full extent…”
This frustration is shared by the Ukrainians, who have begun to use a different word to describe this relationship – betrayal.
Inna Sovsun is an MP in the Ukrainian parliament. Her husband, a combat medic, is serving at the front.
Image: Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy awards a Ukrainian service member, as he visits a frontline position, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Pic: Reuters
“People on the frontline feel really disappointed with the whole situation, and it does feel like betrayal.
“The challenge is much bigger than which village will be controlled by whom in Donbas. It is about, what does the future of civilisation look like? Does Russia’s barbaric version win? If you are not willing to fight for that, those values aren’t worth much, are they?”
Unsurprisingly perhaps, analysts and others are sketching out what Ukraine would look like if forced to capitulate. The idea here, is that Europe will not like what it sees.
Picture an unstable nation on Europe’s border with a proxy-Russian leader – or different groups battling for control. The population is restive, with many thousands of men both conditioned and traumatised by war. Millions of refugees seek shelter in Europe.
Image: A service member of the 125th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade with a Kalashnikov tank machine gun. Pic: Reuters
Economists have tried to put a figure on such scenarios, with one group estimating costs to Europe approaching €3tn euros in additional defence and refugee-related spending if Ukraine is seriously weakened.
For the Europeans, a test of their resolve is already at hand. The EU must agree on a plan to seize up to €210bn euros in frozen Russian assets as a means of funding the cash-strapped government in Kyiv.
The issue is legally contentious, with countries like Belgium, where much of the money is held, fretting about liability. But the Ukrainians see it as a simple question of commitment.
“Given what is at stake, there just has to be stronger political will. That is what is difficult for us to grasp. (They) say all those good things, the right things, but that doesn’t really matter much,” says Ms Sovsun.
A review into the rising demand for mental health, ADHD and autism services has been launched by the health secretary.
The independent review will look at rates of diagnosis, and the support offered to people.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the issue needs to be looked at through a “strictly clinical lens” after he claimed in March that there had been an “overdiagnosis” of mental health conditions, with “too many people being written off”.
Mental health conditions are being more commonly reported among the working-age population, figures analysed by the Institute for Fiscal Studies found.
More than half of the increase in 16 to 64-year-olds claiming disability benefits since the pandemic is due to more claims relating to mental health or behavioural conditions.
A total of 1.3 million people claim disability benefits – 44% of all claimants – primarily for mental health or behavioural conditions, the analysis shows.
The review will be led by leading clinical psychologist Professor Peter Fonagy, the national clinical adviser on children and young people’s mental health, who will work with academics, doctors, epidemiological experts, charities and parents.
He will look at what is driving the rising demand for services, and inequalities in accessing support.
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8:11
Govt orders review into ADHD rise
The Department of Health said 13 times more people were waiting for an autism assessment in September 2025 compared with April 2019.
There is £688m in extra funding going towards hiring 8,500 more mental health workers so the NHS can expand on talking therapies and increase the number of mental health emergency departments.
Mr Streeting said: “I know from personal experience how devastating it can be for people who face poor mental health, have ADHD or autism, and can’t get a diagnosis or the right support.
“I also know, from speaking to clinicians, how the diagnosis of these conditions is sharply rising.
“We must look at this through a strictly clinical lens to get an evidence-based understanding of what we know, what we don’t know, and what these patterns tell us about our mental health system, autism and ADHD services.
“That’s the only way we can ensure everyone gets timely access to accurate diagnosis and effective support.”
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ADHD is changing the world of work
Prof Fonagy said: “This review will only be worthwhile if it is built on solid ground. We will examine the evidence with care to understand, in a grounded way, what is driving rising demand.
“My aim is to test assumptions rigorously, and listen closely to those most affected, so that our recommendations are both honest and genuinely useful.”
The Seamless Tube Manufacturers’ Association of India (STMAI) on Thursday urged the government to introduce a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme covering at least 10 per cent of exports of their products, ahead of the Union Budget. STMAI President Shiv Kumar Singhal also urged stricter measures to curb illegal imports of seamless pipes, which are affecting domestic producers. The association represents India’s manufacturers of seamless pipes and tubes.Singhal called for raising the customs duty on such imports from the current 10 per cent to 20 per cent in the upcoming annual budget to safeguard the domestic industry.
After India’s 8.2% GDP Jump, Piyush Goyal Credits Reforms And Predicts Strong, Sustained Expansion
He added that these concerns were discussed during a meeting with the steel ministry, and the association is hopeful that they will be addressed in the forthcoming budget.Such incentives would boost India’s export growth in the sector, noting that domestic manufacturers produce high-quality seamless pipes for local use while actively exploring international markets. India is emerging as a key player in the global seamless pipe market, exporting 172,000 tonnes of seamless steel pipes worth USD 606 million in 2023. These pipes, classified under HS code 7304, primarily serve the oil and gas, engineering, and infrastructure sectors, with major export destinations including the United States, Italy, Canada, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates.Meanwhile, imports of seamless pipes and tubes from China more than doubled in FY25, reaching 4.97 lakh metric tonnes, according to STMAI. In comparison, the country had imported 2.44 lakh metric tonnes from China in the previous financial year, as cited by The Economic Times. The minimum import price of seamless pipes is Rs 85,000 per tonne, while Chinese pipes are being sold in the Indian market in small quantities at Rs 70,000 per tonne. This large-scale dumping has led to the under-utilisation of domestic manufacturing capacity.
The rupee pulled back from its weakest-ever level on Thursday, ending the day at 89.96 against the US dollar, a gain of 19 paise, as a softer dollar index and reports of the Reserve Bank of India’s intervention helped steady the currency. Traders said the US dollar lost ground after ADP non-farm payroll numbers came in far below expectations, providing some support to the rupee after a volatile start, as per news agency PTI.The currency had opened on the back foot at 90.36, weighed down by persistent foreign investor selling, firmer crude oil and delays in announcing the India–US trade deal. It then slipped further to a new all-time low of 90.43 before recovering later. This came a day after the rupee breached the 90-per-dollar mark for the first time, closing at 90.15 on Wednesday.As per PTI, chief economic adviser V Anantha Nageswaran said on Wednesday that the rupee’s fall was not feeding into higher inflation or hurting exports, though he noted that weaker currency levels can lift outward shipments while pushing up the cost of imports. Import-heavy sectors such as electronics, petroleum, and gems and jewellery may feel the strain of higher input costs, he added.Traders said the currency continues to face pressure from foreign fund outflows and uncertainty surrounding the stalled trade negotiations with the United States. On Wednesday, foreign institutional investors sold Rs 3,206.92 crore worth of equities, according to exchange data.Market participants also flagged elevated crude prices as a headwind. Brent crude was last trading 0.22% higher at $62.81 per barrel in futures trade. Meanwhile, the dollar index—which tracks the greenback against six major currencies—eased 0.01% to 98.84, helping the rupee move off its lows.Anuj Choudhary of Mirae Asset ShareKhan said the rupee may “trade with a negative bias” due to continued selling by FIIs and weakness in domestic markets. However, he added that a subdued dollar following disappointing US jobs data and rising expectations of a December Federal Reserve rate cut could help cushion the currency. “Any further intervention by the central bank may also support the rupee,” he said, projecting a USD–INR range of 89.65 to 90.50.India’s GDP growth has surprised on the upside, and the HSBC India Services PMI climbed to 59.8 in November on strong demand. Markets are now looking to the RBI’s monetary policy announcement on Friday, where Governor Sanjay Malhotra’s rate-setting panel will weigh falling inflation, solid growth, a weaker rupee and global tensions.Equity markets were firm on Thursday, with the Sensex rising 158.51 points to 85,265.32 and the Nifty up 47.75 points at 26,033.75.Trade on Wednesday showed how sharply the rupee has been moving. It had opened at 89.96, hit an intra-day record low of 90.15, and recovered to 90.02 by early afternoon. Traders said nationalised banks were seen buying dollars at higher levels, possibly on behalf of the RBI, while delays in India–US trade talks and heavy foreign outflows kept the rupee under pressure, as per PTI.
The presidents of DR Congo (left) and Rwanda are to sign the deal in Washington
The leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are set to sign a peace deal aimed at ending the long-running conflict in the region at a summit hosted by US President Donald Trump in Washington.
Ahead of the summit, there has been an escalation in fighting in resource-rich eastern DR Congo between government forces and rebels believed to be backed by Rwanda.
DR Congo’s army accused its rivals of attempting to “sabotage” the peace process, but the M23 rebels said the army had launched an offensive in breach of a ceasefire.
At the start of the year, the M23 seized large parts of eastern DR Congo in an offensive that saw thousands killed and many more forced from their homes.
DR Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame have frequently exchanged insults in recent years, each accusing the other of starting the conflict.
Trump got the two countries’ foreign ministers to sign a peace accord in June, hailing it as a “glorious triumph”.
Tshisekedi and Kagame will now endorse it, with several other African and Arab leaders – including those of Burundi and Qatar – expected to attend the signing ceremony.
The M23 will not be present – it is in talks with DR Congo’s government in a parallel peace process led by Qatar.
The Trump administration has spearheaded talks between DR Congo and Rwanda, hoping that resolving the differences between the two neighbours will pave the way for the US to increase investments in the resource-rich region.
Despite the fanfare and the presence of the two leaders in Washington, some analysts are sceptical about whether the deal will lead to lasting peace.
A DR Congo researcher with the South Africa-based Institute for Security Studies think-tank, Bram Verelst, told the BBC that there was “currently no ceasefire in place, and the M23 rebellion continues to expand and consolidate its control”.
“The signing ceremony is unlikely to alter this situation, though there is some small hope it could increase accountability on Congolese and Rwandan leaders to honour their commitments,” he said.
The M23 seized key cities in eastern DR Congo earlier this year, including Goma and Bukavu.
In a statement, DR Congo army spokesman Gen Sylvain Ekenge said the rebels had launched a fresh offensive on Tuesday on villages in the South Kivu province.
The villages are about 75km (47 miles) from Uvira city, which lies on the border with Burundi, and has been the headquarters of the South Kivu regional government since the rebels seized Bukavu.
For its part, the M23 said the DR Congo army had launched an air and ground assault against its positions, and this was done in cahoots with Burundian forces.
Burundi has not commented on the allegation. It has several thousand troops in eastern DR Congo to support the embattled army.
AFP via Getty Images
The main trading hub in eastern DR Congo, Goma, has been under rebel control since January
Rwanda says it has adopted “defensive measures” in eastern DR Congo because of the threat posed by the FDLR militia group, which includes fighters who carried out the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Kagame insists on the disarmament of the group, while DR Congo demands the withdrawal of Rwandan troops as a condition for peace.
The deal to be signed says both of these should happen.
However, several peace deals going back to the 1990s have failed after Rwanda accused previous Congolese government of failing to disarm the FDLR, and this remains one of the main stumbling blocks in current efforts to end the conflict.
DR Congo’s government has also demanded that the M23 gives up the territory it has seized, something it has so far refused to do in the Qatar-brokered talks.
Qatar and the US are co-ordinating their mediation efforts. Qatar has strong ties with Rwanda, while the US is seen to be closer to DR Congo.
The US State Department said in 2023 that DR Congo had an estimated $25trn (£21.2trn) in mineral reserves.
This includes cobalt, copper, lithium, manganese and tantalum – key ingredients needed to make the electronic components used in computers, electric vehicles, mobile phones, wind turbines and military hardware.
“We’re getting, for the United States, a lot of the mineral rights from the Congo as part of it,” Trump said, ahead of the deal signed in June.
Prof Jason Stearns, a Canada-based political scientist who specialises in the region, told the BBC that the US has been pushing for an economic agreement that could see DR Congo and Rwanda co-operate on hydro-electric power, mining and infrastructure development.
“The logic is that it will provide the peace dividend,” he said.
However, DR Congo has made it clear that while it would sign the agreement, it would not “advance on that deal until Rwandan troops have withdrawn from eastern DR Congo”, Prof Stearns added.
A MAJOR probe has been launched into mental health diagnoses as disability benefit claims soar.
Wes Streeting today ordered an inquiry into the rise of autism, ADHD and conditions such as depression, now the most common reasons for claiming handouts.
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Health Secretary Wes Streeting has launched a probe in to the “overdiagnosis” of mental health conditionsCredit: Alamy
Experts will also examine whether social media is fuelling the bloated welfare bill by driving depression and anxiety in youngsters.
An eye-watering 4.4 million Brits of working age claim disability or incapacity benefit – up 1.2 million since 2019.
The Health Secretary will look at whether feelings of stress are being “over pathologised” and if “overdiagnosis” has led to too many being “written off”.
Shocking stats show 8.9 million people in England are now on antidepressants, up from 6.9 million a decade ago.
And in a major warning for public finances, the number of 16 to 34-year-olds off work with long-term sickness rose by 76 per cent between 2019 and 2024.
Mr Streeting said: “I know from personal experience how devastating it can be for people who face poor mental health, have ADHD or autism and can’t get a diagnosis or the right support.
“I also know, from speaking to clinicians, how the diagnosis of these conditions is sharply rising.
“We must look at this through a strictly clinical lens to get an evidence-based understanding of what we know, what we don’t know, and what these patterns tell us about our mental health system, autism and ADHD services.”
He added: “That’s the only way we can ensure everyone gets timely access to accurate diagnosis and effective support.”
The review, led by clinical psychologist Peter Fonagy, will make recommendations for improving NHS mental health services and getting people care before they hit crisis point.
More than half a million people are now on ADHD waiting lists, with around 800,000 having been diagnosed with the condition.
Professor Fonagy said: “We will examine the evidence with care — from research, from people with lived experience, and from clinicians working at the frontline of mental health, autism and ADHD services — to understand, in a grounded way, what is driving rising demand.
“We owe it to children and families, young people and adults to provide government with advice that is proportionate, evidence-based and capable of improving people’s lives.”
