#werindia

Several Democratic lawmakers in the United States say they are worried about the direction of the ongoing conflict with Iran. Their concerns grew after attending a closed-door briefing from officials in the administration of Donald Trump.

After the meeting, some senators said they still do not clearly understand why the United States entered the war, what the main goal is, or how long the conflict could continue.

The issue is now widely discussed in latest politics news.

Senators Say There Is No Clear Plan

Some Democrats said the briefing left them frustrated.

Chris Murphy said the discussion did not explain the plan for the war in a clear way. According to him, the government should have first asked Congress for approval before starting the military action.

Another senator, Richard Blumenthal, also said the situation is confusing. He pointed out that officials sometimes say the war could end soon, but at other times suggest it may continue longer.

Because of this, he said many lawmakers feel uncertain about where things are heading.

Concerns About Cost and Possible Troops

Some Democrats also raised questions about the cost of the war and what it could mean for American soldiers.

Elizabeth Warren said the country could end up spending huge amounts of money on the conflict while many people at home are still dealing with serious issues like healthcare.

There are also worries that the United States might send ground troops into Iran if the situation gets worse.

Blumenthal said the public deserves to know the risks involved and how the conflict could affect American forces.

Democrats Want Public Hearings

Since the briefing was private, senators cannot share many details with the public. Because of that, some Democrats are asking for public hearings so people can better understand what is happening.

A group of lawmakers has also asked for an investigation into reports of a strike on a girls’ school in southern Iran that reportedly killed many civilians.

They say Congress should have a stronger say when the country enters a war.

Republicans Mostly Support the Military Action

Republicans, who hold a small majority in the Senate, have mostly supported the military campaign.

Some of them say the strikes are needed to reduce Iran’s military power and protect the United States and its allies.

Still, a few Republicans have raised concerns. Rand Paul questioned the changing reasons being given for the war and said military action should always be the last option.

Debate Over Who Decides on War

The conflict has also reopened an old debate in Washington about who should decide when the country goes to war.

Under US law, the president can send troops into action for a limited time without approval from Congress. After that, lawmakers are expected to decide whether the operation should continue.

For many Democrats, the current situation shows why Congress should play a bigger role in decisions about war.

A highly anticipated showcase meant to shine a spotlight on India’s growing role in artificial intelligence took an awkward turn this week. At the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Galgotias University found itself at the centre of controversy after a robotic dog displayed at its exhibition stall was quickly identified online as a commercially available Chinese model, not an original innovation from the university.

The incident has made its way into top news headlines India and is drawing criticism from social media users, political figures, and tech observers alike.

What Sparked the Controversy

During the summit, an assistant professor from Galgotias University introduced the robot as “Orion,” saying it had been developed by the university’s Centre of Excellence. Within hours, people online pointed out that the robot was in fact the Unitree Go2, a model produced by the Chinese robotics firm Unitree and sold commercially. The video of the introduction went viral and sparked widespread online ridicule.

The situation soon spilled over into political commentary and memes, which fuelled broader debate about transparency at a flagship event built to promote innovation.

Clarifications, Philosophy, and Backtracking

In response to the backlash, Galgotias University issued a series of statements to explain its side of the story. Initially, the university maintained it had never claimed to have built the robot itself and described the device as part of its research resources meant for students to interact with and learn from, not as a proprietary invention.

One representative even offered a cryptic explanation suggesting misunderstandings and misinterpretations were at play, what some described as more philosophy than a straight answer.

Later, the university issued a clarification saying the professor involved was “ill-informed” about the robot’s origin and that the institution had not intended to mislead anyone. While this statement acknowledged the confusion, it steered clear of a direct, unqualified apology.

Summit Organisers Respond

Organisers of the India AI Impact Summit took the misrepresentation seriously. Government sources said the university was asked to vacate its stall at the event following the controversy. Power to the Galgotias pavilion was reportedly cut off as authorities underscored that only genuine innovations should be showcased at such a prominent gathering.

Though the university later denied receiving an official eviction notice in some statements, the backlash was clear and swift.

A Summit of Big Ideas and Unexpected Headlines

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 was designed to bring global leaders, tech experts, and innovators together to push forward conversations about artificial intelligence’s future. But instead, this robodog controversy, and the way it was handled has become one of the most talked-about takeaways so far.

While Galgotias University has issued clarifications and placed blame on misunderstandings, many observers are still waiting for a straightforward apology and accountability.

A huge earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale struck near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday. Soon after, tsunami waves hit the coasts of Japan’s Hokkaido island and Russia’s Kuril Islands, causing evacuations and warnings across several countries.

Waves Reach Japan and Russia

Japan’s weather agency said the first wave, about 30 cm high, reached Nemuro on Hokkaido’s east coast. In Russia, the town of Severo-Kurilsk also saw water levels rise after the tsunami hit. Officials said all residents in that area were safely moved to higher ground.

Russia’s emergency services confirmed parts of Severo-Kurilsk were flooded, but no injuries or deaths have been reported yet.

Evacuations and Warnings Around the Pacific

Japan has asked more than 900,000 people in 133 towns and cities along the coast to leave their homes and move to safer areas. Workers at the Fukushima nuclear plant were also evacuated as a safety measure.

In the United States, warnings were issued for the coasts of California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and Alaska. In Hawaii’s capital, Honolulu, sirens went off, and people were told to leave coastal areas quickly. Officials in Los Angeles also warned residents to stay off beaches and move away from marinas and harbors. Waves were expected to reach parts of California around 1 a.m. local time.

Ecuador in South America is also at risk, with U.S. officials warning of waves possibly reaching over 3 meters high on its coast.

U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media, urging people in Hawaii, Alaska, and along the Pacific coast to stay safe and follow updates. He also mentioned Japan was in the path of the tsunami.

No Risk to India or Indian Ocean

India’s ocean services agency confirmed that there is no tsunami threat to India or the Indian Ocean due to this earthquake.

Train services in parts of Japan have been suspended. The Japanese government has called for immediate evacuation in areas at risk. Officials warned that more tsunami waves could follow, and some might be stronger than the first.

In Hawaii, ships were told to leave the ports, and emergency services are keeping watch. The Indian Consulate in San Francisco has also advised Indian citizens in affected U.S. areas to stay alert and avoid coastal zones.

More Earthquakes Possible

After the big earthquake, at least six smaller ones have shaken the area near Kamchatka. Experts say more aftershocks, possibly as strong as 7.5, could happen in the next few days.

The Son of a Hamas co-founder has posted on X (formerly Twitter) asking Israel to kill all the Hamas leaders including his father if the organization fails to release the hostages. The son of Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef, Mosab Hassan Yousef, has said that Israel must give a time frame to Hamas to release the hostages. Failing to do so, Israel must kill all the leaders of the Hamas organization, including his father.

Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef spent 21 months in jail and was released in July. He was held under administrative detention.

Mosab posted a 10-minute video on X in which he was recorded saying, “Israel cannot continue like this…Hamas must have a timeframe – a month or two or six months – to return the hostages and if they don’t return the hostages within the time frame, Israel must execute top Hamas leaders in prison, especially the mass murderers.”

“When I say execute top leaders, I mean no exceptions, that includes my father,” he continued. “I made a mistake, 10 or 15 years ago when I saved his life many times…He was supposed to die for his actions. I saved his life. Things did not change, things got worse.”

He added that he permits Israel to execute all Hamas leaders in the jail. “If this is what Hamas wants, the release of those mass murderers, then in my opinion this is the head of the snake,” Mosab commented referring to Israeli prison.

Released in 1998, Satya was one of its kind film that is yet remembered for its storyline, amazing cast, and the acting skills of every actor who was a part of it. Recalling working in the movie, Manoj Bajpayee says it was a complete game changer for his Bollywood career. He said he is indebted to both RGV as well as the film for giving him an amazing start. “I didn’t have a career when I did Satya. I was just getting some small roles here and there, and surviving in the city. Satya has given me a career. My career came in full shape after this film,” says Bajpayee. Manoj portrayed the character of Bhikkhu Matre in the movie.

Bajpayee further disclosed that it was the film’s director who got him the role in Satya. He said, “I was taken to Ramu by Kannan Iyer. When Ramu came to know I played Maan Singh in Bandit Queen, he jumped and said I loved you in that film and I always wanted to give you work in my films, but please don’t do Daud. But, I was insistent on doing the film Daud because it was giving me money and a role. Although it was a small role, but I didn’t mind it, because beggars can’t be choosers,” continuing, “If I look back, so many dialogues of Satya became so popular that they are famous even now. Topmost being, ‘Mumbai ka king kaun?’ I am not an actor who believed in dialogue-baazi, but I was just living in the character.”

Gripped in nostalgia, Manoj Bajpayee talked about the memories he made during the shooting of the movie, Manoj says, “We really didn’t know how it’s all going to turn out. The enthusiasm was that we were going to make something we always wanted to, with so much freedom to perform. We were improvising every day, because we were given that freedom by the writers and directors to create and deliberate together.”

Satya completed 25 years yesterday and it has been a good 25 years of the impression that it made on the Bollywood industry.

The cold conditions in Turkey and Syria are making the already tough situation worse. The rescuers are finding it tough to find people under the debris because of the cold conditions. More than 7800 people have been recorded to date after an unprecedented earthquake shook the earth and flattened hundreds of buildings in the countries.

The international aid is arriving from several countries as the distressed countries continue to find more people from the debris. The aftershocks are still shaking the earth and people are living under threat.

However, there is news of extraordinary rescues as well. The rescuers found a newborn baby from under the debris with his umbilical cord attached to the mother while his mother layer dead next to him.

"We heard a voice while we were digging," Khalil al-Suwadi, a relative, told a leading media house.

"We cleared the dust and found the baby with the umbilical cord (intact) so we cut it and my cousin took her to the  hospital."

The earthquake shook the country on Monday night when people were fast asleep in their homes. Thousands of structures were flattened and the damage is still being counted by the officials. The epicenter of the quake was between the Turkish cities of Gaziantep and Kahramanmaras where the most devastation has been recorded.

People are still unable to find their relatives and are crying for help even after the country and several other countries are sending their best teams to the distressed zone. "I can't get my brother back from the ruins. I can't get my nephew back. Look around here. There is no state official here, for God's sake," said Ali Sagiroglu in the Turkish city of Kahramanmaras.

"For two days we haven't seen the state around here... Children are freezing from the cold," he added.

Lawyer Shobha Gupta on Wednesday stated on behalf of Bilkis Bano after 11 convicts serving life imprisonment for the post-Godhra Bilkis Bano gang-rape and murder of seven members of her family walked out of Godhra sub-jail. The decision was passed after the government’s remission policy. The lawyer said that the decision has shaken Bilkis’s faith in the Indian justice system.

Bano has urged the Gujarat government to ‘undo the harm’ and return her the right “right to live without fear and in peace”.

 #BilkisBano’s statement - “Today, I can say only this - how can justice for any woman end like this? I trusted the highest courts in our land. I trusted the system”. “Give me back my right to live without fear and in peace. Please ensure that my family and I are kept safe.”

"The release of these convicts has taken from me my peace and shaken my faith in justice. My sorrow and my wavering faith are not for myself alone but for every woman who is struggling for justice in courts," Bano made another statement.

"I was bereft of words. I am still numb. Today, I can say only this - how can justice for any woman end like this? I trusted the highest courts in our land. I trusted the system, and I was learning slowly to live with my trauma," she added.

"No one enquired about my safety and well-being, before taking such a big and unjust decision. I appeal to the Gujarat Government, please undo this harm. Give me back my right to live without fear and in peace. Please ensure that my family and I are kept safe," said Bano who was seven months with a child at the time she was raped and 7 members of her family were killed.

Two stations present at Mungeshpur in northwest Delhi and Najafgarh in southwest Delhi reported a temperature of 49.2 and 49.1 degrees Celsius respectively.

This year, an intense heatwave scorched part of north India on Sunday with places present in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh recording 49 degrees Celsius and more than that. Apart from that the heavy rainfall across Kerala and a red alert are announced by weather forecast by five districts.

At Safdarjung, the temperature has been recorded 45.6 degrees which is the maximum of this season. The Banda district in Uttar Pradesh’s Bundelkhand region has recorded a maximum day temperature of 49 degrees Celsius which is the highest in the state.

According to the IMD, Churu, and Pilani in Rajasthan has reported a maximum temperature of 47.9 and 47.7 degrees Celsius respectively followed by temperature in Ganganagar and Jhansi recorded as 47.6 and Hisar at 47.2.

According to the weather office, it has been said that the maximum temperature has been above 5.1 degrees the normal in the several places which include Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Uttarakhand, Bihar, and Punjab. Almost the entire north idea is facing the recorded rise in temperature.

As per the reports by the weather office, it has been expected that there will be an influence of a western disturbance, dust storm, and thunderstorm in several northern parts of India including some parts of the Punjab and Haryana this Monday while it has also been expected that there will be a mild dust storm in the several parts of the Haryana, Punjab, west Uttar Pradesh and also in Delhi NCR.