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India needs a comprehensive cybercrime law: SC Judge at RGU

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August 30, 2025

India needs a comprehensive cybercrime law: SC Judge at RGU

Guwahati, Aug 30: In a historic event, one of the largest gavels in India has been unveiled today at the Assam Royal Global University (RGU) by Justice Sandeep Mehta, Judge of the Supreme Court of India.

Justice Ashutosh Kumar, Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court, conveyed his congratulatory message and words of appreciation through a voice note on the unveiling of the gavel at RGU, as he could not attend the occasion in person.

The monumental gavel, crafted with remarkable precision by the students of the Department of Fine Arts at RGU, measures 22 feet in length, with an 8-foot hammer and a base circumference of 11 feet 7 inches. Beyond its record-setting scale, the gavel stands as a powerful symbol of law, fairness, and equity—the principles that uphold the foundation of the nation’s legal system.

Justice Mehta unveiled this masterpiece in the presence of Dr. A. K. Pansari, Chancellor; A. K. Modi, Pro-Chancellor; and Prof. A. K. Buragohain, Vice Chancellor of RGU, and other distinguished delegates, faculty members and thousands of students.

Chief Guest Justice Sandeep Mehta delivered an insightful address on “Digital Arrest and Privacy Rights: Navigating Law Enforcement in the Era of Surveillance”, followed by an interactive session with the law students of RGU.

Speaking before an audience of distinguished guests and students, Justice Mehta highlighted that fraudsters are increasingly resorting to digital arrests, cybercrime, and scams fuelled by artificial intelligence, making digital scams one of the most insidious crimes of the present era. Stressing the urgency of the situation, he emphasized that it is high time for the media and all stakeholders to actively create awareness.

Justice Mehta underlined that cybercrime transcends borders and cannot be countered by legislation alone; public awareness and outreach on how to prevent digital arrests are equally crucial. He further stated that the judiciary’s paramount responsibility is to protect citizens, and international cooperation is vital to combat cross-border cybercrime.

“We need a comprehensive cybercrime law. The largest gavel at RGU stands as an epitome of justice,” he remarked. To commemorate his visit, Justice Mehta also took part in a plantation drive on the university campus.

In his voice message on this historic occasion of the inauguration of the gavel, Justice Ashutosh Kumar, Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court said, “Every student who sees this gavel on campus will be inspired to think of law not just as a career, but as a commitment. Whether you choose the courtroom or classroom or public service, let this gavel remind you that fairness, integrity and courage must guide your path. I congratulate Royal Global University on this unique initiative, let the gavel stand as a symbol of the university’s vision to create global excellence rooted in the values of justice”.

The ceremony was graced by eminent dignitaries, including Debojit Saikia, Advocate General of Assam and Secretary of BCCI; Raktim Duarah, Registrar General of Gauhati High Court; Nayan Shankar Baruah, Registrar (Admin) Gauhati High Court; Nirod Sarma, Joint Registrar, Gauhati High Court; Angshuman Bora, Senior Advocate, Gauhati High Court, among others.

Aaranyak announces Grassroots Conservation Awards 2025

NATIONAL

From Our Correspondent

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August 30, 2025

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Aaranyak announces Grassroots Conservation Awards 2025

Guwahati, August 30: Premier research-driven and people-oriented biodiversity
conservation organization of the region Aaranyak (www.aaranyak.org) has announced Grassroots Conservation Awards 2025 as part of the organisation’s year-long celebration of its 35th Anniversary.
A five-member Jury comprising eminent personalities from diverse professional fields,
has brainstormed to select awardees in two categories – Individual and Group,
according to the Convenor of Grassroots Awards Sub-committee, Dr Dipankar Lahkar,
Senior Conservation Biologist and an Assistant Director in Aaranyak.
The award consists of cash prize and a citation for each of the awardees while
individuals marked by the Jury for Special Mention will be felicitated on the day of
presentation of the awards in a function to be held on September 9, 2025
Individual Category Awards
1. Grassroots Conservation Award in memory of Late Meherun Nessa has
been conferred on Lakhan Teron from Kamrup (Metro) district of Assam.
Dhrabajyoti Kalita, from Nalbari District of Assam has been selected for felicitation as
Jury’s Special Mention under this award.

2. Grassroots Conservation Award in memory of Late Ananta Borah has been
conferred on Arup Shandilya from Kamrup (Metro) district of Assam.
Mridupaban Phukan from Tinsukia district and Pramod Kalita, Kamrup (Metro) district
of Assam have been selected for felicitation as Jury’s Special Mention under this
award

3. Grassroots Conservation Award in memory of Late Salina Sultana has been
conferred jointly to Pranjal Talukdar from Baksa District and Tunu Basumatary from
Kokrajhar District of Assam.
Rajesh Dutta Baruah from Nalbari district and Parineeta Singh from Kamrup (Metro)
district of Assam have been selected for felicitation as Jury’s Special Mention under
this award,

Group Category Awards
Grassroots Conservation Award in memory of Late Bipul Das has been conferred
on Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary (KNCTS), Nagaland.
Dhansiri Shikaridanga JFMC from Udalguri district and Kumbhi Kagaz from Kamrup
(Metro) district of Assam have been selected for felicitation as Jury’s Special Mention
under this award.
The Jury members included Dr Jaideep Baruah, Director of Assam Science Technology
and Environment Council (ASTEC); Narayan Mahanta, Conservator (Retired) of Forest,
Government of Assam; eminent media professional Pranay Bordoloi; acclaimed
conservation scientist and Executive Director of Aaranyak Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar
and another reputed conservation scientist and a Director in Aaranyak Dr M Firoz
Ahmed.
The Convenor of the Award Sub-Committee of Aaranyak, Dr Dipankar Lahkar and
member Pranab Goswami, Senior Public Relations Officer, have coordinated the
process of the selection of awardees along with rest of the members of the sub-
committee under the guidance of the observer from 35th Anniversary Celebration Core
Committee Dr Bibhuti Prasad Lahkar.

After successful Japan visit, PM Modi emplanes for China to attend SCO Summit

Agencies

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August 30, 2025

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After successful Japan visit, PM Modi emplanes for China to attend SCO Summit

Tokyo, Aug 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday embarked on his China visit to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, which begins on Sunday, following a successful two-day visit to Japan.

The SCO summit is being held in China from August 31-September 1. This will be PM Modi’s first visit to China in the last seven years and the first since the Galwan Valley faceoff between the soldiers of the two countries at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in June 2020.

Earlier, before heading out for his two-nation visit, PM Modi, in his departure statement, had said, “I will travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Tianjin, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping.

India is an active and constructive member of the SCO. During our Presidency, we have introduced new ideas and initiated collaboration in the fields of innovation, health and cultural exchanges.”

He said that India “remains committed to working with the SCO members to address shared challenges and deepen regional cooperation.” “I also look forward to meeting President Xi Jinping, President Putin and other leaders on the sidelines of the Summit,” PM Modi stated.

Both leaders had held a meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Russia’s Kazan in 2024. The breakthrough in bilateral talks was made possible after India and China reached an agreement on patrolling along the nearly 3,500-km LAC to end the four-year-long border confrontation.

The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation established in Shanghai on June 15, 2001. The SCO member states are: China, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus. The SCO has two observer states – Afghanistan and Mongolia and 14 dialogue partners, including Turkey, Kuwait, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, and Nepal. Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, the Maldives, Myanmar and the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, in Japan, PM Modi held a series of high-level meetings with the Southeast Asian nation’s leadership and also attended the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. He met the governors of Japan’s 16 prefectures, highlighting the potential of collaboration between Japanese prefectures and Indian states by leveraging new initiatives and forging partnerships.

He also called for them to participate in “India’s growth story.” Earlier in the day, PM Modi arrived in Sendai in Japan’s Miyagi Prefecture, where he travelled aboard the iconic Shinkansen (bullet train) alongside Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba.

In Sendai, the two leaders visited Tokyo Electron Miyagi Ltd (TEL Miyagi), a leading Japanese company in the semiconductor sector. “I visited Prime Minister Ishiba and Tokyo Electron’s factory. I inspected the training room and the Production Innovation Lab, and also exchanged opinions with the company’s executives,” PM Modi shared in a post on X. “Semiconductors are important field in India-Japan cooperation.

In recent years, India has made significant progress in this field, and many young people are now getting involved. I hope to continue this momentum in the future as well,” he added.

IANS

Semiconductor sector important in India-Japan cooperation: PM Modi

Agencies

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August 30, 2025

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Semiconductor sector important in India-Japan cooperation: PM Modi

Tokyo, Aug 30: Semiconductor is an important sector in the cooperation between India and Japan, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. Calling the semiconductor sector, a “strategic domain”, PM Modi, who is on an official visit to Japan, said that India “has made significant progress in this field”.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi arrived in Sendai in Japan’s Miyagi Prefecture, where he travelled aboard the iconic Shinkansen (bullet train) alongside Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba. In Sendai, the two leaders visited Tokyo Electron Miyagi Ltd (TEL Miyagi), a leading Japanese company in the semiconductor sector.

“I visited Prime Minister Ishiba and Tokyo Electron’s factory. I inspected the training room and the Production Innovation Lab, and also exchanged opinions with the company’s executives,” PM Modi shared in a post on social media platform X.

“Semiconductors important field in India-Japan cooperation. In recent years, India has made significant progress in this field, and many young people are now getting involved. I hope to continue this momentum in the future as well,” he added.

According to a statement shared by the PMO, PM Modi conveyed his appreciation to PM Ishiba for joining him in this visit and “reaffirmed India’s readiness to work closely with Japan in this strategic domain”.

“The Prime Minister was briefed about TEL’s role in the global semiconductor value chain, its advanced manufacturing capabilities, and its ongoing and planned collaborations with India. The factory visit gave the leaders a practical understanding of the opportunities that exist between the two countries to forge collaboration in the field of semiconductor supply chain, fabrication, and testing,” the PMO said.

The visit to Sendai also highlighted the complementarity between India’s growing semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem and Japan’s strengths in advanced semiconductor equipment and technology.

“Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in this sector, building on the Memorandum of Cooperation on the Japan-India Semiconductor Supply Chain Partnership as well as ongoing partnerships under the India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership and Economic Security Dialogue,” the PMO said.

The joint visit also underscored the shared vision of India and Japan to develop robust, resilient, and trusted semiconductor supply chains. PM Modi also met with the governors of 16 Japanese prefectures in Tokyo and underlined the transformative potential of inter-regional partnerships in areas ranging from trade and innovation to startups and emerging technologies.

PM Modi is on a two-day visit to Japan, from August 29-30, at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister HE Shigeru Ishiba. This marks PM Modi’s eighth visit to Japan. PM Modi last visited the country in May 2023.

IANS

Maoists kill another ‘Shikshadoot’ in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region

Agencies

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August 30, 2025

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Maoists kill another ‘Shikshadoot’ in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region

Raipur, Aug 30: In another chilling case of violence, Maoists have killed another ‘Shikshadoot’ identified as Kallu Tati in strike-torn Bastar division of Chhattisgarh. ‘Shikshadoots’ are local education volunteers in Chhattisgarh.

The latest victim, Tati, is the ninth ‘Shikshadoot’ victim of Maoists in the recent past. He was brutally murdered, marking yet another grim chapter in a series of killings that have sown widespread panic among communities striving to rebuild education in remote, conflict-ridden areas.

The incident occurred on Friday evening at around 9 p.m. when Tati, a dedicated Shikshadoot posted at Nendra school in the highly Naxal-affected Gangalore region, was returning home after a day of teaching children. Ambushed en route, he was kidnapped by Maoists and executed later that night.

His body was callously discarded, discovered by locals the following day, police officials said. A total of six ‘Shikshadoots’ in Bijapur and three in Sukma have been killed so far in Chhattisgarh. Tati, a resident of nearby Todka village, had been instrumental in educating young minds in one of Bastar’s most vulnerable zones, where access to formal schooling remains precarious due to ongoing Maoist activities.

This murder comes on the heels of a similar attack in neighbouring Sukma district, underscoring a disturbing pattern. ‘Shikshadoots’, often young locals stepping up to fill educational voids, have become prime targets for Maoists seeking to disrupt government initiatives aimed at normalising life in these interiors.

Authorities report that since the gradual reopening of schools previously shuttered by insurgent activities, a total of nine ‘Shikshadoots’ have fallen victim to such targeted killings. Of these, five occurred in Bijapur, while four were in Sukma, highlighting the districts as hotspots of this renewed aggression.

The roots of this conflict trace back to the ‘Salwa Judum’ era, a controversial anti-Naxalite campaign in the mid-2000s that polarised the region. During their peak dominance, Maoists systematically demolished school buildings in controlled territories, forcing many institutions to relocate. As security forces regained ground and the situation stabilised somewhat, the Chhattisgarh government prioritised reviving education by reopening these facilities.

In areas lacking permanent teachers, community-driven Shikshadoots emerged as lifelines, imparting basic literacy and fostering hope amid adversity. However, this progress has provoked backlash from Maoists, who view these educators as symbols of state infiltration.

“The killings are an attempt to instil fear and derail development,” said police sources in Bijapur, speaking on condition of anonymity. Locals, already grappling with the crossfire between security forces and insurgents, now live in heightened dread. Villages like Nendra and Todka, nestled in dense forests, have seen school attendance plummet as parents weigh the risks of sending children to class. The recent spate of murders has prompted calls for enhanced protection for Shikshadoots.

Advocacy groups urge the government to deploy more security personnel around schools and provide these volunteers with better support, including insurance and training in conflict zones. Meanwhile, security operations against Maoists have intensified, with raids yielding arms caches but failing to curb the targeted assassinations.

IANS

India prevents global crisis by purchasing Russian oil, keeps markets stable

Agencies

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August 30, 2025

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India prevents global crisis by purchasing Russian oil, keeps markets stable

New Delhi, Aug 30: As allegations fly thick and fast over India extending a financial lifeline to Russia and becoming a laundering hub, the reality is that by purchasing Russian energy, New Delhi has prevented a global crisis by keeping global markets stable and inflation under control for itself and for the world.

Russia supplies nearly 10 per cent of world oil. If India stopped buying, crude could hit $200 a barrel. By keeping oil flowing, India stabilised markets and helped global citizens. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and others have already praised India’s role towards this.

India is not using US dollars from trade to buy Russian oil as purchases are routed through traders in third countries and settled in currencies like AED. At no point did the US government ask India to stop buying. India’s trade is fully legitimate and within G7 and EU price-cap rules. There is no black market either.

Russian oil is not sanctioned like Iranian or Venezuelan oil. It is sold under a price-cap system designed by the West to prevent profiteering. If the US wanted to ban Russian oil, it would have sanctioned it. It did not because it needs Russian oil in the market. India also cut fuel prices for its citizens even as global oil spiked to $137 a barrel. State-run oil firms took losses of Rs 21,000 crore, while government taxed exports to prevent profiteering.

India’s imports prevented a global spike and cushioned inflation for everyone. The country has been the world’s 4th-largest refiner for decades. Refining crude and exporting fuels is how the global system works. After banning Russian crude, Europe itself relied on Indian diesel and jet fuel. That is stabilisation, not laundering.

Moreover, about 70 per cent of refined fuels stay in India to meet domestic demand. One Reliance refinery is export-focused since 2006, long before this war. Exports of refined fuels have actually declined as domestic use has risen. Crude and products are fungible, they follow market flows. The trade deficit argument is hollow too.

The US runs far larger deficits with China, the EU and Mexico. India’s $50 billion deficit is small in comparison. Meanwhile India buys billions in US aircraft, LNG, defence equipment and technology. Is India freeloading on US defence? The answer is no as India is co-producing jet engines with GE, buying MQ-9 drones, and deepening QUAD and Indo-Pacific defence ties.

India is the only major power actively countering China militarily in Asia. That is a direct strategic gain for the US. Peace cannot come from scapegoating. India has called for diplomacy at the UN. Meanwhile Europe still buys Russian gas and the US still imports Russian uranium. India acted responsibly, followed global frameworks, and prevented prices from spiralling. The truth is: India did not bankroll Russia. Scapegoating India may serve politics, but it does not serve facts.

IANS

Defence Minister says warships will be built in India; showcases Modi govt’s push for ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’

Agencies

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August 30, 2025

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Defence Minister says warships will be built in India; showcases Modi govt’s push for ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’

New Delhi, Aug 30: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday announced that India’s warships will be manufactured domestically, reinforcing the Modi government’s push towards an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India)’ to enhance the nation’s military strength and global standing amid ongoing economic and geopolitical challenges.

Highlighting the scale of indigenous effort, Defence Minister Singh, speaking at the NDTV Defence Summit 2025, noted that nearly 75 per cent of the new warships were designed locally, a development he said would significantly bolster India’s strategic autonomy. The statement comes days after the commissioning of two indigenously-built Nilgiri-class stealth frigates, INS Himgiri and INS Udaygiri.

These advanced warships feature significant upgrades in weapon and sensor systems and are equipped to undertake a wide spectrum of maritime operations. Defence Minister Singh’s remarks also follow the conclusion of ‘Operation Sindoor’, India’s military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists.

The attack was carried out by terrorists linked to ‘The Resistance Front’ — an offshoot of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. India retaliated with precision strikes on terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.

A notable aspect of ‘Operation Sindoor’ was the deployment of indigenously-developed air defence system modules, which successfully shielded both civilian and military infrastructure from a barrage of Pakistani missiles and drones. Defence Minister Singh said the entire world had witnessed India’s growing Defence capabilities.

“The way our forces, with indigenous equipment, carried out precise strikes on their targets shows no mission can succeed without a vision, long-term preparation, and coordination,” he said. He stressed that the operation was not just a short-term conflict but a reflection of long-term strategy. “Operation Sindoor may seem like just a few days’ war, and a story of India’s victory and Pakistan’s defeat, but behind it lay years of strategic preparation and a long role of Defence preparedness,” Defence Minister Singh said.

The Defence Minister also highlighted the economic benefits of advancing indigenous Defence production, citing the rapid growth in arms exports. “In 2014, our Defence export was less than Rs 700 crore. Today, it has increased to nearly Rs 24,000 crore, reaching a record level.

This shows that India is no longer just a buyer; it is becoming an exporter,” he said. Emphasising that the focus on domestic Defence manufacturing would not only safeguard the country but also strengthen its global stature, Singh remarked, “This very approach will keep us secure in the times to come and also secure us a leading position among the world’s emerging powers.”

IANS

PSG Get Tough CL Draw; Real Madrid to Face Liverpool

SPORTS

Agencies

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August 30, 2025

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PSG Get Tough CL Draw; Real Madrid to Face Liverpool

UCL DRAW

Monaco, Aug 29: Paris Saint-Germain was handed a tough start to the defense of its Champions League title when the draw was made Thursday with no opponent from any of the lower-ranked nations.
PSG was drawn against Bayern Munich and Barcelona from the pot of top-ranked teams, while Tottenham came from the pot of third-seeded teams in a repeat of their tight Super Cup game two weeks ago.
And the French champion was paired with arguably the two toughest opponents from the lowest-ranked teams: Newcastle and Athletic Bilbao.
Bayer Leverkusen, Atalanta and Portuguese champion Sporting Lisbon complete the title holder’s slate of eight games in the 36-team league phase.
“It’s always difficult,” said PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, whose team stumbled to 15th place in the single-standings league last season before surging to its first Champions League title. “We forgot last season, we think about this season.”

Madrid and Liverpool again

Real Madrid also got a challenging draw, including a long-haul trip to play Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan – 6,420 kilometers (4,000 miles) from the Spanish capital, which is the furthest east the Champions League has ever gone.
Record 15-time champion Madrid got two English opponents from the pot of highest-ranked teams.
Madrid will host Manchester City, which it beat in the knockout playoffs last season, and return to Liverpool after losing 2-0 at Anfield in the league phase last year.
Madrid also will face Juventus in a repeat of its 2017 final win, and two French opponents, Marseille and Monaco – where superstar forward Kylian Mbappe started his career.
Liverpool fans will welcome Trent Alexander-Arnold back to Anfield with Madrid which he joined in June, and have away trips to the vibrant stadiums of Inter Milan, Eintracht Frankfurt, Marseille and Galatasaray.
“That is, I am sure, a fixture that the whole world will be looking at,” Liverpool coach Arne Slot said about another Madrid challenge.

Rematches and reunions

Bayern Munich will have rematches of two recent finals – at home to Chelsea where the German champion lost the 2012 title game on home turf, and away to PSG, which it beat in the 2020 final. Bayern also will go to Cyprus to face Pafos.
Manchester City will travel north of the Arctic Circle to face Bodo/Glimt of Norway, and host former fan favorite Kevin De Bruyne with his new club Napoli.
Inter Milan, which lost two of the last three finals, will host the top two teams in the Premier League last season, Liverpool and Arsenal. Inter beat Arsenal at the San Siro last season.
Kairat also will host Club Brugge, Olympiakos and Pafos.
The team also must travel four time zones west to play at Arsenal and Sporting Lisbon.
Bodo/Glimt also will host Juventus, Tottenham and Monaco Qarabag in Azerbaijan is another long-haul trip east to Baku for Chelsea, Eintracht, Ajax and Copenhagen.

League format

This is the second season of the league phase format with 36 teams playing eight different opponents on a weighted schedule through January, and ranked in a single-standings table.
Four newcomers to the main stage of the Champions League are: Bodo/Glimt, Kairat Almaty, Russian-owned Pafos and Belgian champion Union Saint-Gilloise.
Games in Bodo and Almaty shape to be the longest-ever trips for visiting teams, and their home games in January among the coldest in competition history. Bodo plays on a heated artificial turf field.
The computerized draw gave each team two opponents drawn from each of the four seeding pots.
Teams are seeded based on their ranking over five seasons of results in UEFA competitions.
Retired great Zlatan Ibrahimovic former Ballon d’Or winner Kaka picked each team out of its draw pot and pushed a button to reveal the slate of opponents.
Games start on Sept. 16 and the final league phase matchday is Jan. 28. On that Wednesday evening, all 36 teams play in 18 games kicking off at the same time.
The top eight teams in the final standings advance to the round of 16 in March. Joining them will be winners of eight knockout playoffs, featuring teams ranked ninth to 24th, scheduled in February. The bottom 12 teams are eliminated.

Prize money

UEFA has allocated 2.47 billion euros ($2.88 billion) in prize money for the 36 teams.
The lowest-ranked team, Kairat, is guaranteed at least 20 million euros ($23 million) from UEFA. High-ranked teams Real Madrid and PSG will get at least 60 million euros ($69 million). Teams earn more for each win and draw, then for advancing through the knockout rounds.
The title winner should receive about 150 million euros ($175 million) in prize money. (AP)

UCL clubs to travel from Arctic to Asia

SPORTS

Agencies

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August 30, 2025

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Monaco, Aug 29: Good luck Manchester City, Tottenham, Juventus and Monaco – one of them will have to travel north of the Arctic Circle in mid-January to play a Champions League game.
All four were drawn Thursday as away opponents for Norwegian champion Bodo/Glimt, whose 8,000-capacity Aspmyra stadium is located farther north than soccer’s top club competition has ever been.
And Real Madrid’s team of superstars is going farther east than the Champions League has ever been, to play at Kairat Almaty in Kazakshtan near its border with China.
That is a flight of about 6,420 kilometers (4,000 miles) across three time zones from the Spanish capital.
Thursday’s draw only paired teams with their opponents but did not determine the dates of any of the games, so it’s still unclear which teams will be making those trips in the middle of winter.
The temperature in Almaty, a city that once bid to host the Winter Olympics, can drop to minus-20 C (minus-4 F) in January.
Visitors to Bodo/Glimt could expect to bask in the relative heat of minus-7 C (19 F) in January. That is what greeted Maccabi Tel Aviv seven months ago in a Europa League game. The Israeli visitors lost 3-1 on Bodo/Glimt’s heated artificial turf.

New challenges

Bodo/Glimt and Almaty are both newcomers to the Champions League, and their locations present extra challenges after the competition schedule was changed from last season to include games in January. Though the weather could prove challenging in other months, too.
The 40,000 people living in coastal Bodo can get heavy snow in April – as they did when 10 centimeters (four inches) fell overnight when Lazio visited in the Europa League quarterfinals.
“So Lazio was saying, How are we going to play this game?’” Bodo/Glimt chairman Inge Henning Andersen said Thursday ahead of the Champions League draw. “Just shuffle the snow away. The heat is on. We don’t need to adjust anything playing in Bodo.” If snow does force a game to be postponed, the teams should try again the following afternoon, the Bodo official said.
Tottenham already visited Bodo for last season’s Europa League semifinal, though that was in May.

Long-haul soccer

Regardless of the time of the year, there will be some extreme long-haul flights for some teams in this Champions League edition.
Madrid, the record 15-time champion of Europe, will be joined by Club Brugge, Olympiakos and Cypriot newcomer Pafos having to play Kairat in central Asia.
“It’s no problem, it’s football,” said Kairat general director Askar Yessimov, suggesting opponents should travel two days before the game.
Kairat’s players and fans, however, will make four of those return trips, not just one like their opponents. They had 11 hours flying time last week to face Celtic in Glasgow in the qualifying playoffs, Yessimov said.
The champion of Kazakhstan was drawn with away games at Inter Milan, Arsenal, Copenhagen and – furthest of all – Sporting Lisbon.
Almaty to Lisbon is about 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles), which should set a record in Europe’s marquee competition.
Kazakhstani teams have played in European competitions only since 2002 when it became a member of UEFA, and Astana played in the 2015-16 Champions League. The former Soviet Union republic had first joined the Asian Football Confederation in 1994.
Azerbaijan also is represented in this Champions League, with Qarabag due to play home games in Baku. That is about 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) from London for Chelsea and slightly shorter flights for Eintracht Frankfurt, Ajax and Copenhagen.
Qarabag’s players and fans have long trips west to Liverpool, Lisbon – to play Benfica – Athletic Bilbao and Napoli.

Western Europe dominates

The travel demands reflect how the Champions League is now a very western European affair concentrated on the richest clubs in the richest leagues.
With no teams from Ukraine, Croatia or Serbia among the 36 clubs in the league phase this season, the only other from a former Iron Curtain country is Slavia Prague. No eastern European team advanced to the 24-team knockout phase last season. (AP)

Messi drops possible retirement hint

SPORTS

Agencies

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August 30, 2025

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Buenos Aires, Aug 29: Lionel Messi has given his strongest hint yet that he will bid farewell to international football at next year’s FIFA World Cup.
Argentina, already assured of a place at the 2026 finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada, will host Venezuela on September 4 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires before completing qualifying away to Ecuador on September 9.
“It (the Venezuela clash) is going to be a very, very special match for me because it’s the last qualifying match,” the 38-year-old forward told reporters after leading Inter Miami into the Leagues Cup final.
Messi said his family will be present for the Venezuela game and acknowledged it could be his last opportunity to appear in front of home fans, reports Xinhua.
“I don’t know if there will be friendlies or more matches [after Venezuela], but it is a very special match, so my wife, my children, my parents, my siblings will be there with me,” he added.
The Albiceleste captain has signaled before that Argentina’s title defense in 2026 would mark the end of his international career. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star will be 40 when the next World Cup qualifiers begin in 2027.
South American football governing body CONMEBOL echoed his comments on Thursday, posting “the last dance is coming” alongside a picture of Messi in an Argentina shirt.
Messi, the winner of eight Ballon d’Or trophies, is Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player. His crowning moment came in December 2022 when he led the team to its third World Cup triumph in Qatar. (IANS)

India needs a comprehensive cybercrime law: SC Judge at RGU

Aaranyak announces Grassroots Conservation Awards 2025

After successful Japan visit, PM Modi emplanes for China to attend SCO Summit

Semiconductor sector important in India-Japan cooperation: PM Modi

Maoists kill another ‘Shikshadoot’ in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region

India prevents global crisis by purchasing Russian oil, keeps markets stable

Defence Minister says warships will be built in India; showcases Modi govt’s push for ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’

PSG Get Tough CL Draw; Real Madrid to Face Liverpool

UCL clubs to travel from Arctic to Asia

Messi drops possible retirement hint

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India needs a comprehensive cybercrime law: SC Judge at RGU

Aaranyak announces Grassroots Conservation Awards 2025

After successful Japan visit, PM Modi emplanes for China to attend SCO Summit

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India needs a comprehensive cybercrime law: SC Judge at RGU

Aaranyak announces Grassroots Conservation Awards 2025

After successful Japan visit, PM Modi emplanes for China to attend SCO Summit