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India’s AI revolution accelerates as Reliance and Adani invest billions in data centres, sovereign computing, green energy and AI infrastructure India’s AI Revolution Reliance and Adani Push the Country Toward the Intelligence Era India is entering a new phase of its technology journey as artificial intelligence moves from being primarily a software-industry technology to becoming a major infrastructure, energy, computing and business priority. The growing involvement of large Indian conglomerates, particularly Reliance Industries and the Adani Group, is adding significant private-sector capital to the country’s AI infrastructure ambitions. The development comes as India is simultaneously expanding government-backed AI computing capacity, domestic foundation models and semiconductor capabilities. In August 2026, the government said the IndiaAI Mission had expanded shared computing capacity to more than 45,000 GPUs, while indigenous foundation-model development was also progressing. Reliance and Adani Enter India’s AI Infrastructure Race For years, India was recognised as a major software and IT-services market, but much of the underlying AI computing infrastructure was concentrated outside the country. That equation is changing. Reliance is building AI computing infrastructure through its Reliance Intelligence initiative, while the Adani Group has announced an ambitious programme combining renewable energy and hyperscale data centres. These investments could influence several parts of the technology ecosystem, including: AI data centres GPU computing Cloud infrastructure Renewable-energy generation AI model development Edge computing Enterprise AI AI services for startups Robotics and industrial automation Data localisation and sovereign computing The result could be a shift from India being primarily an AI user and software-services provider toward becoming a larger builder of AI infrastructure. The “Jio Effect 2.0”: Making AI More Accessible Reliance is positioning its AI strategy around an idea similar to the transformation that took place in India's telecommunications industry after Jio's entry. The company has argued that AI should become affordable and widely accessible rather than remaining a technology available mainly to large corporations. At the India AI Impact Summit, Mukesh Ambani said Jio's objective was to connect India to the “intelligence era” and reduce the cost of access to AI in a way comparable to the reduction in the cost of mobile data. The potential target market is enormous. AI services could increasingly be used by: Farmers: crop analysis, weather information, market intelligence, agricultural advisory tools and automation. Students: personalised learning, tutoring, language translation and educational content. Small businesses: accounting, customer support, advertising, inventory management and business analytics. Kirana stores: inventory forecasting, digital marketing, customer management and local-language business tools. Hospitals: administrative automation, medical documentation and AI-assisted workflows, subject to applicable medical and privacy safeguards. Schools: educational content generation, administrative systems and language-learning applications. This does not mean every application will automatically become inexpensive or universally available. Cost, connectivity, computing capacity, regulation and the quality of AI systems will remain important factors. Reliance’s ₹10 Lakh Crore AI Commitment One of the biggest announcements came from Reliance. Mukesh Ambani announced that Jio and Reliance would invest ₹10 lakh crore over seven years, beginning in 2026, toward India's AI and intelligence infrastructure. That figure is substantially larger than the ₹1 lakh crore figure sometimes circulated online. The investment plan is intended to cover a broad AI infrastructure ecosystem rather than simply building a consumer chatbot. Reliance has described the programme as including: Gigawatt-scale AI data centres Sovereign computing infrastructure Nationwide edge computing AI services Connectivity infrastructure Green-energy integration AI computing for enterprises and developers The scale of the proposed investment highlights how computing infrastructure is becoming as strategically important as telecommunications infrastructure. Jamnagar Becomes an AI Infrastructure Centre One of the most important locations in Reliance's strategy is Jamnagar, Gujarat. Reliance says it has already begun developing multi-gigawatt AI-ready data-centre infrastructure in Jamnagar. The company's latest disclosures say the first 120 MW of its sovereign AI infrastructure is targeted for commissioning by the end of 2026. Reliance says this initial deployment will use advanced NVIDIA GB300 GPUs and that its computing capacity is designed to scale significantly. The significance of Jamnagar goes beyond computing. AI data centres require enormous quantities of electricity. By combining computing infrastructure with renewable-energy generation, Reliance is attempting to create an integrated energy-and-compute model. Reliance says the Jamnagar AI infrastructure will be powered by clean energy from its renewable-energy platform in Kutch. Meta Partnership Adds Global Dimension Reliance's Jamnagar plans have also attracted major international technology interest. In June 2026, Meta and Reliance announced an agreement for an AI-enabled data centre in Jamnagar. Meta said the facility will initially have 168 MW of capacity, which Meta plans to lease, with options to scale. The facility is intended to be supported by renewable energy and desalinated seawater cooling. The partnership is significant because it connects India's expanding data-centre infrastructure with the computing requirements of a global technology company. Reliance has also expanded its partnership with Google Cloud to develop AI-focused cloud infrastructure in Jamnagar. Together, these developments demonstrate that India's AI infrastructure is attracting both domestic investment and international technology partnerships. Adani’s $100 Billion AI Infrastructure Plan The Adani Group has also announced a major AI infrastructure programme. In February 2026, Adani announced a US$100 billion direct investment by 2035 to develop renewable-energy-powered, hyperscale AI-ready data centres. This is another figure that is important to report accurately. The announcement was US$100 billion, rather than ₹1 lakh crore. Adani said the investment could catalyse an additional US$150 billion across areas including server manufacturing, advanced electrical infrastructure, sovereign cloud platforms and supporting industries. The company therefore estimates that the broader AI infrastructure ecosystem could reach approximately US$250 billion over the decade. Adani's strategy links three major requirements of the AI economy: Energy + Computing + Data Centres This model reflects a growing reality of generative AI: advanced AI systems require enormous amounts of electricity and specialised computing infrastructure. Adani’s Data-Centre Expansion Adani's AI infrastructure programme builds on its existing data-centre business. The company said its AdaniConneX platform had a 2 GW national data-centre platform, with an expansion path toward 5 GW. It has also announced partnerships involving Google and other technology companies for large-scale AI infrastructure. The company has previously announced major data-centre plans in states including Maharashtra. In 2024, Adani announced a proposed ₹50,000 crore investment for 1 GW of hyperscale data-centre infrastructure in Maharashtra, with the planned infrastructure designed to use renewable energy. Sovereign AI: Why India Wants Its Own Compute The concept of sovereign AI is becoming increasingly important. Artificial intelligence requires more than software. Large AI models require: GPUs Data centres Electricity High-speed networks Cloud platforms Storage Semiconductor technology Skilled engineers Data If these capabilities are heavily dependent on overseas infrastructure, countries can face strategic and economic vulnerabilities. India's government has therefore been pursuing domestic AI computing and foundation models through the IndiaAI Mission. The government said in 2026 that its strategy was intended to strengthen technological self-reliance across computing infrastructure, foundation models, semiconductors and advanced research. The private-sector investments by Reliance and Adani add another layer to this effort. Edge Computing: Bringing AI Closer to Users Another major part of the AI infrastructure race is edge computing. Traditional cloud computing often sends data to centralised data centres for processing. Depending on the location and application, that can introduce delays. Edge computing moves some processing closer to the user or device. For example, an AI application operating through a mobile network could potentially process certain tasks at computing infrastructure located much closer to the user. This can be particularly important for applications involving: Autonomous machines Industrial automation Smart factories Connected vehicles Real-time translation Video analytics Gaming Healthcare systems Retail technology Smart-city infrastructure Reliance has specifically included a nationwide edge-computing layer integrated with its network in its AI strategy. The practical objective is to reduce latency and improve the responsiveness of AI services. Green Energy Becomes Critical for AI AI's computing requirements create another major challenge: electricity consumption. Training and operating advanced AI models can require large quantities of power, while hyperscale data centres operate continuously. This is why renewable energy has become an important part of India's AI infrastructure plans. Reliance says its Jamnagar AI infrastructure will use clean energy from its renewable-energy ecosystem in Kutch. Adani is also positioning renewable power as a central component of its AI data-centre strategy. Its announced US$100 billion programme specifically focuses on renewable-energy-powered AI-ready data centres. The combination of renewable energy and data centres could therefore become one of the defining characteristics of India's AI infrastructure expansion. What It Could Mean for Indian Businesses The development could create opportunities beyond the biggest technology companies. Indian startups could gain access to greater domestic computing capacity. Small and medium-sized businesses could increasingly use AI for: Customer service Marketing Sales Accounting Human resources Software development Translation Data analysis Cybersecurity Business forecasting Manufacturing companies could use AI alongside robotics and industrial automation. Banks and financial companies could deploy AI for customer service, fraud detection and internal operations while complying with financial regulations. The healthcare sector could use AI for administrative and analytical workloads, although medical applications require appropriate professional oversight. AI and the Future of Jobs The expansion of AI will also create a significant workforce challenge. Some repetitive tasks could increasingly be automated, while demand grows for workers who can operate, supervise and integrate AI systems. The impact is therefore unlikely to be limited to technology companies. AI literacy could become increasingly important for employees in: Finance Education Healthcare Manufacturing Retail Agriculture Transportation Media Marketing Government services Rather than treating AI only as a specialist technology, businesses and workers may increasingly need to understand how AI tools affect everyday workflows. From AI to Robotics and Automation The next stage of the technology cycle could extend beyond software. AI systems are increasingly being combined with robotics, sensors, industrial machinery and autonomous systems. This could lead to wider adoption of: Warehouse robots Agricultural robots Manufacturing automation AI-powered inspection systems Autonomous machines Delivery systems Smart industrial equipment However, the pace of adoption will depend on costs, safety standards, regulation, reliability and the availability of skilled workers. India’s AI Opportunity Comes With Challenges Large investments alone will not guarantee an AI transformation. India will also need to address several challenges. 1. Electricity Demand AI data centres require reliable and large-scale electricity supplies. 2. Water and Cooling Data centres generate significant heat and require sophisticated cooling systems. Water use and environmental impact will therefore require careful management. 3. Semiconductor Supply Advanced AI infrastructure depends heavily on specialised chips and global semiconductor supply chains. 4. Skilled Workforce India will need engineers, researchers, data scientists, AI infrastructure specialists and technicians. 5. Data Protection As more AI applications process personal and business information, privacy and data-protection requirements will become increasingly important. 6. Cybersecurity Large AI infrastructure platforms will become valuable targets for cyberattacks, making security a critical component of national and corporate infrastructure. 7. Responsible AI AI systems can produce inaccurate or biased outputs. High-impact applications will require appropriate testing, human oversight and accountability. India’s AI Competition Is Becoming an Infrastructure Race India's AI development is increasingly moving beyond the question of which company has the best AI model. The larger competition is becoming about who can build the infrastructure required to run AI at national scale. That includes: Compute → Data Centres → Energy → Networks → Chips → Models → Applications → Users Reliance is attempting to connect its telecommunications, energy and digital businesses to this emerging ecosystem. Adani is combining its energy, infrastructure and data-centre capabilities with an ambitious AI infrastructure programme. At the same time, India's government is expanding public AI computing capacity and supporting indigenous AI models. The Intelligence Era India's AI transformation is therefore developing on several fronts at once. The government is building national AI capacity. Reliance is investing in sovereign compute, edge infrastructure and AI services. Adani is investing in renewable-energy-powered data centres. Global technology companies such as Meta and Google are partnering with Indian companies to expand AI infrastructure. For Indian citizens and businesses, the most visible effect may eventually be simpler: AI becoming available through everyday applications at lower cost and with greater local-language support. The next few years will determine how quickly that infrastructure becomes useful at mass scale. India's AI story is no longer limited to software engineers in technology hubs. It is increasingly becoming a story about energy, computing, telecommunications, infrastructure, businesses, education, employment and everyday consumers. The transition from the internet era to what Reliance calls the “intelligence era” has begun — and the infrastructure being built today could shape India's technology economy for decades. Source note: Investment and infrastructure figures in this article have been cross-checked against Reliance, Adani, Meta and Government of India material. Figures and plans are company/government announcements and should not be interpreted as guarantees of future completion or economic outcomes.

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Gold sank near 4% to $4,130 on Monday as US 10-year yields hit a post-2007 high and the dollar firmed. Analyst Praveen Singh says rallies are selling chances. Gold prices are facing severe downside pressure, and any bounce should be treated as a chance to sell, according to Praveen Singh, Head of Currencies and Commodities at Mirae Asset ShareKhan. The metal slid to $4,130 on Monday night, carrying a daily loss of close to 4%, after touching $4,111 earlier in the session - its weakest level since August 5. The latest drop extends a run of losses. In the week that ended September 25, spot gold shed 2% to close at $4,286, weighed down by climbing US Treasury yields, a stronger dollar and firm oil prices. Singh links the current weakness to a sharp jump in real yields, a firmer greenback, strong US economic figures and a Federal Reserve that has stayed hawkish since its latest policy meeting. Much of the selling was tied to the standoff between Washington and Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump turned down Iran's proposal for a seven-day window that would have paved the way toward a phased agreement to reopen the waterway. Gold pared some losses after CNN reported that Trump was willing to consider sanctions relief for Iran on nuclear matters, but the lack of firm detail kept buyers cautious. Iranian officials played down the odds of a breakthrough, saying a deal with the United States was unlikely before the November midterm elections and that an escalation after November 3 was highly probable. Qatari mediators were expected to meet with both sides on Monday or Tuesday, and Trump indicated talks could restart during the week. Yields and the dollar squeeze the metal The move in the bond market was the main driver behind gold's decline. Two-year Treasury yields spiked to a fresh cycle high of 4.95% on September 28 - the highest since May 30, 2024 - before easing to 4.93%, still up 1.64% on the day. Ten-year yields reached 5.27%, a level last seen in the middle of 2007, and hovered around 5.25%. Thirty-year yields climbed more than 1% to 5.56%, the highest since May 2024. The US Dollar Index added to the pressure, trading 0.20% higher at 101.15 as yields pushed up. Over the week ending September 25 the index rose 0.7% and settled at 100.97 on Friday, its strongest weekly finish since July 24. Rate expectations have swung firmly hawkish. Markets now price a 68% chance that the Fed raises rates at its October 28 meeting, and traders see the central bank tightening twice by January 2027 and close to four times over a year. Monday's sole US release, the Dallas Fed manufacturing activity index for September, came in at 9.8, beating the 7.8 estimate but down from a prior reading of 11.60. Oil steady, ETF demand holds firm Crude oil recovered from Friday's 2.13% fall, rising on Monday amid uncertainty over Hormuz before giving back intraday gains on the CNN report. Brent futures traded around $104.77, little changed, after an intraday peak of $108.83; the contract had closed the prior week at $104.45, up 0.6%. Saudi Arabia has restored most flows through its East-West pipeline, which was hit by drone attacks earlier in the month. About 3.5 million barrels per day now move through the line, against a nameplate capacity of 7 mbpd, of which 5 mbpd is earmarked for export. Despite the price slide, investor demand for gold-backed funds has stayed resilient. Total known global ETF holdings have climbed to 100.80 million ounces, up 58 tonnes so far this year and well above the cycle low of 96.16 million ounces reached on July 20. Holdings sit just 3.74 tonnes below the cycle peak of 100.92 million ounces recorded before the start of the Iran conflict. Speculators, however, have turned more cautious. CFTC data for the week ending September 22 showed money managers cutting bullish gold bets by 5,726 contracts to 131,334 lots, the least optimistic stance in eight weeks. Long-only positions dropped 6,530 lots to 139,307, while short-only bets fell 804 lots to 7,973 - the lowest in roughly 20 months. Elsewhere, Chinese President Xi Jinping's three-day state visit to the United States wrapped up on September 25 with little progress on artificial intelligence, geopolitics or technology. The two countries agreed to extend their trade truce by two months to January 10, 2027, and to cut tariffs on about $30 billion of goods each way. China's industrial profits rose 4.2% year-on-year in August, a sharp slowdown from July's 11.2% gain. With gold having broken below the key support band of $4,185 to $4,200, Singh warns the metal remains vulnerable to further losses. A packed data calendar lies ahead, including US consumer confidence and JOLTS job openings, ADP employment and the PCE price index, ISM manufacturing and the September nonfarm payrolls report due October 2. gold price outlook, gold price prediction, US Treasury yields, US Dollar Index, Praveen Singh Mirae Asset ShareKhan, Federal Reserve rate hike, Strait of Hormuz, gold ETF holdings

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Indian benchmarks fell over 0.8% on Tuesday as Brent crossed $107, the rupee hit a two-month low past 96, and foreign investors kept selling. India's headline share indices fell for a second straight day on Tuesday, sliding more than 0.8% as costlier crude, climbing bond yields and persistent foreign selling kept buyers on the sidelines. The drop followed a steep sell-off on Monday. By about 10:25 AM, the Nifty50 stood at 22,586.60, lower by 194 points or 0.85%. The BSE Sensex traded at 72,138.99, down 633 points or 0.87%. Within minutes of the opening bell, close to Rs 4 lakh crore was wiped from the combined value of BSE-listed firms, pulling the total market capitalisation down to Rs 474 lakh crore. Bajaj Finance ranked among the heaviest drags on the Sensex, shedding roughly 2%. The weakness reached beyond large caps, with both the Nifty Midcap 100 and the Nifty Smallcap 100 easing about 0.8% each. The pullback mirrored a grim mood overseas. On Wall Street, the previous session closed deep in the red: the Nasdaq gave up more than 0.9% and the S&P 500 lost around 0.8%. Asian trading offered no relief, as Japan's Nikkei slipped over 1% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng, South Korea's Kospi and other regional gauges each shed close to 1%. Crude and the Middle East keep investors on edge Events in the Middle East remained the dominant worry. US President Donald Trump rejected claims that he had dangled sanctions relief and access to frozen Iranian assets before Tehran in exchange for steps on its nuclear programme. On Monday, officials from both Washington and Iran held separate rounds of talks through mediators, part of a renewed push to end a conflict now in its seventh month. Energy prices tracked the tension higher. Brent crude futures pushed above $107 a barrel, while WTI futures crossed $94. The advance is a particular problem for India, a large net importer of energy, because pricier oil widens the import bill and strains the currency. Rupee slips past 96 as yields climb The rupee bore the brunt of that pressure, sinking beyond the 96-per-dollar level to a two-month low of 96.1450. Traders linked the weakness directly to the sustained rise in oil prices and the risk it poses to the economy. Government bond yields, meanwhile, extended their climb to fresh multi-year highs, an added weight on stocks. When fixed-income returns rise, debt becomes a more attractive parking spot for money, drawing funds away from equities. Foreign investors keep pulling out Overseas funds stayed on the sell side. According to provisional NSE figures, foreign institutional investors offloaded Indian shares worth more than Rs 5,353 crore on Monday. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments, noted that foreign portfolio flows had turned negative at the start of the month after two straight months of inflows in July and August. That reversal has been sustained. Vijayakumar said total equity outflows through the exchanges had reached Rs 25,682 crore so far this month through the previous week. Foreign investors have ended up as net sellers in 15 of the 19 sessions traded this month. Tuesday's session carried an extra source of turbulence: it marked the monthly expiry of Nifty futures and options contracts, a day that routinely brings sharper swings. Attention now turns to the Reserve Bank of India, whose Monetary Policy Committee meets next week from October 5 to October 7. Markets are positioning for an interest rate increase, in step with a wider global move toward tighter policy. The expectation comes on the heels of the US Federal Reserve's rate hike earlier this month, its first since 2023. Sensex crash, Nifty50, Brent crude oil, rupee two-month low, FII outflows, RBI MPC meeting, bond yields, Dalal Street

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El Pollo Loco will debut in Queens by mid-2027, part of 15 planned New York-area sites as CEO Liz Williams pushes to build a national chicken chain. El Pollo Loco plans to open its first restaurant in New York City in mid-2027, with the debut location set for Queens. The move marks the California-rooted chain's push beyond its Southwestern base and into one of the country's largest urban markets. The company said on Tuesday it had finalized three development agreements covering 15 restaurants across the New York area over the next five years. CEO Liz Williams is steering the brand toward becoming a national chicken chain, starting on the East Coast before circling back toward the West. The brand traces its start to Mexico in 1975 and opened its first American location in Los Angeles. Most of its outlets remain clustered in California, but the chain now runs more than 500 restaurants in 10 states. It built its reputation on bone-in grilled chicken, and the menu has since widened. Williams acknowledged the challenge of entering competitive territory while shoppers guard their spending. "Being a 50-year-old brand, people have seen it over the years and have always had that curiosity, but we have our work cut out," she said. Since taking the helm, Williams has led a turnaround built on updated restaurants and a broader menu that adds quicker options such as wraps and chicken tenders. The chain has now posted three consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth. "In the current quarter, we've expanded margins, and the business model is healthy overall," she said. "The brand has gotten even stronger and healthier." Growth has accelerated under her watch. When Williams started in March 2024, the company operated in only six states. It added nine restaurants last year and now expects to open 18 to 20 by the end of 2026. The market has responded. El Pollo Loco shares have gained 44% over the past year, outpacing the S&P 500, which rose more than 15% in the same stretch. A crowded chicken market The expansion arrives during a difficult period for the restaurant sector. Beef costs have climbed for burger and taco chains, and diners eating out less often to save money have sharpened competition among restaurants. Chicken has become a particular battleground. McDonald's and Taco Bell, where Williams once worked, have broadened their chicken lineups after studying consumer demand. Fast-growing rivals range from the newer Dave's Hot Chicken to Southern brands such as Zaxby's and Raising Cane's. In 2024, El Pollo Loco ranked as the eighth-largest chicken chain in the United States by sales, holding a 2.1% market share, according to Barclays. Williams argued that its grilled chicken and Mexican-inspired flavors set it apart. "Everyone is talking about wanting to eat a little better and really thinking through their choices," she said. "Everyone loves fried chicken ... However, in terms of what you're able to eat every single day, grilled chicken is just a better option." Leadership changes The growth plans coincide with new hires in the executive ranks. In a regulatory filing on Friday, the company said Damon Thomas would join as chief operating officer, arriving from Shake Shack. Tara Hinkle was recently named chief development officer. She came aboard in July after roles at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Taco Bell and Starbucks. El Pollo Loco, El Pollo Loco New York, Liz Williams, grilled chicken chain, Queens restaurant, chicken chain expansion, restaurant industry, El Pollo Loco stock

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Delhi has banned strikes on DTC and Cluster bus services for six months under ESMA, easing a driver walkout that began September 16 over pay. The Delhi government has banned strikes and protests tied to Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and Cluster bus services for six months, easing a driver walkout that had cut bus operations across the capital since September 16. The order gives some respite to passengers who struggled with thinned-out services for close to two weeks. To impose the ban, the government invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), classifying DTC and Cluster buses as essential transport through an official notification. A senior official said the restriction will stay in place for six months. The notification pointed to the repeated breakdown in bus services and the hardship caused to the public as grounds for acting in the public interest. The walkout began on September 16 when drivers hired through private agencies for DTC stopped work, pressing for better pay and social security cover. Union representatives said contractual drivers earn far less than permanent DTC staff. According to them, these drivers are paid Rs 747 a day, while the union is seeking a minimum daily wage of Rs 2,000. Manoj Sharma, general secretary of the DTC Karamchari Ekta Union, said the protest had weakened after the notification, but none of the drivers' demands had been met. He said the union is now working out its next steps. The drivers maintain that their central asks - higher wages along with medical and social security benefits - remain unresolved. The stoppage also hit private concessionaires that run DTC buses, with union members reporting a driver shortage during the strike. To keep buses on the road, DTC sent about 300 of its own drivers to work with the private operators. Many of those drivers had earlier been placed on non-driving assignments at various sites. Some had been helping the Transport Department with pollution checks, while others handled office work at DTC depots. As the concessionaires ran short of staff, these drivers were pulled off those tasks and put behind the wheel, union members said. The ban applies broadly, covering permanent employees as well as contractual and outsourced workers and staff hired by private concessionaires. All are now barred from striking or joining agitations linked to the two bus services. Delhi's public bus network runs a fleet of roughly 6,600 vehicles. That total includes close to 4,900 electric buses and about 1,750 CNG buses operated under DTC. DTC bus strike, Delhi bus services, ESMA Delhi, DTC drivers wages, Cluster buses Delhi, Essential Services Maintenance Act, DTC Karamchari Ekta Union, Delhi transport

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Dali Koumbe The Mauritanian Village Where Blindness and Quranic Learning Shape a Unique Community MAURITANIA, WEST AFRICA — In a remote part of southeastern Mauritania lies a village that has attracted attention for an unusual combination of circumstances: a high prevalence of inherited blindness and a strong tradition of Quranic education. Known as Dali Koumbé, and also referred to in academic research as Dali Gimba, the isolated community is located about 60 kilometres from the town of Timbedra in southeastern Mauritania. Reports and research have documented generations of residents affected by blindness, while Quran memorisation remains an important part of community life. A Village Known for Generations of Blindness Dali Koumbé has long been associated with hereditary blindness. A 2015 report described the village as having a population of around 2,000 at the time and reported widespread congenital blindness among residents. Other reports have given considerably smaller population figures, illustrating how estimates have varied over time. A 2019 report by Al Ain News described the village as being around 60 kilometres from Timbedra and reported that more than half of the children were born without sight. The same report cited local and medical observations concerning a hereditary condition affecting several generations of the community. Researchers have also studied Dali Gimba as a community in which blindness has a significant social and cultural role. Anthropologist Saquib Usman's research at the University of Michigan examined how blindness and sight are understood within the village and surrounding region. Quran Memorisation Has a Special Place One of the most remarkable aspects of the village is its tradition of Quranic education. Academic research conducted in Dali Gimba documents groups of children gathering to memorise and recite portions of the Quran. The research describes Quranic study taking place at different times of the day, including early morning, afternoon, after sunset and late into the night. The same research says that Dali Gimba developed a reputation as a place for Quranic study partly because blind instructors were considered particularly strong listeners and examiners. Their memorisation abilities and knowledge of the Quran were highly respected within the community. This is an important distinction: blindness did not prevent members of the community from participating in religious education. In some cases, the skills developed through listening and memorisation became an important part of their role as teachers. Learning Without Sight For Quran students, memorisation depends heavily on repeated listening, recitation and correction. In Dali Gimba, these practices became particularly significant because blind teachers could rely on their exceptional auditory memory and familiarity with recitation. The academic account describes children repeatedly reading and reciting their daily portions from writing tablets, with Quranic learning continuing for several years during childhood. The tradition demonstrates how education can adapt to the circumstances of a community. Rather than treating blindness as an absolute barrier to learning, the village developed an educational culture in which listening, memorisation and oral transmission were especially important. A Community Living With a Serious Health Challenge Behind the inspirational stories, however, Dali Koumbé also faces serious social and medical challenges. Reports have described limited access to healthcare, education and other essential services. Residents have sought greater medical assistance and facilities, particularly because of the number of people affected by blindness. A 2019 report cited medical opinions linking the condition affecting many residents to hereditary genetic factors. It also discussed retinal disorders as one possible explanation for some cases. These medical explanations are important because the precise cause of the condition should not be reduced to folklore or religious interpretation without scientific evidence. Faith, Acceptance and Community Life Stories circulating online about Dali Koumbé often focus on the spiritual perspective of its blind residents. Some videos portray villagers as deeply content with their circumstances and emphasize their faith, Quran memorisation and hope of meeting their Creator. These themes reflect the religious interpretation presented in such material, but individual statements from videos should be attributed to the speakers rather than presented as independently established facts. What can be documented is that Quranic education has historically played a significant role in the community and that blind Quran teachers have held respected positions in the local educational tradition. More Than a Story About Blindness Dali Koumbé's story is therefore more complicated than the description of a "village of blind people." It is a story about education, faith, inherited disease, adaptation and community resilience. Residents have had to develop ways of navigating daily life in an environment where many people cannot see. At the same time, Quranic memorisation has provided an important educational and cultural tradition. The village's experience also raises broader questions about access to healthcare and education for remote communities affected by inherited conditions. What Dali Koumbé Teaches the Outside World The story of Dali Koumbé has attracted international attention partly because it challenges common assumptions about disability. Blindness can create enormous practical difficulties, particularly where medical services are limited. Yet the experience of the community also shows that people can develop alternative skills and social systems around their circumstances. For generations of Quran students, listening and memorisation became central educational tools. Blind teachers became valued for their ability to listen carefully and evaluate recitation. The result is a community where physical limitations and religious education have become closely intertwined. A Story of Faith, Education and Resilience Dali Koumbé remains one of the more unusual communities documented in Mauritania. Its history combines a serious hereditary health problem with a strong tradition of Quranic learning. The village should not simply be viewed as a curiosity or a "mystery." Its story involves real families, medical challenges, educational traditions and the everyday efforts of people adapting to circumstances that have shaped their community for generations. For those who encounter the story through social media videos, the most important lesson may not be about blindness itself. It is about how education, faith, community support and human adaptability can continue even in extremely difficult circumstances. Location: Dali Koumbé / Dali Gimba, southeastern Mauritania, West AfricaNearest reported town: TimbedraCountry: MauritaniaRegion: Sahel / Sahara region of West AfricaNotable feature: High prevalence of hereditary blindness and a documented tradition of Quranic education and memorisation. Sources and verification This article is based on published reporting and academic research concerning Dali Gimba/Dali Koumbé. The University of Michigan's research documentation records Quranic schooling and the role of blind Quran instructors in the community. Contemporary reporting has separately documented the village's hereditary blindness, healthcare challenges and residents' efforts to obtain assistance.

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At 'Jashan-e-Inquilab' in Ludhiana, CM Bhagwant Mann tied Bhagat Singh's legacy to AAP's record ahead of Punjab's 2027 Assembly elections The Aam Aadmi Party has turned its governance message in Punjab into a broader political campaign, using the legacy of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh to rally youth, assert Punjab's identity and defend its record in office. The sharpest sign came in Ludhiana, where the AAP government held 'Jashan-e-Inquilab' at Punjab Agricultural University to mark Bhagat Singh's birth anniversary. The event drew a large gathering of young people and mixed music, theatre and cultural performances with an extended political address by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Mann used the occasion to promote his government's work and to draw a direct line between the martyr's ideals and the state administration. Mann tied Bhagat Singh's legacy to his government's claims on education, healthcare, jobs, electricity, irrigation, women's welfare and the protection of Punjab's water. He contrasted his administration with earlier governments, accusing them of ignoring the ideals and sacrifices of the martyrs. The Chief Minister pointed to several projects as proof of the government's commitment to preserving Bhagat Singh's memory. These included the naming of the Mohali airport after the revolutionary, a 30-foot statue at Nishan-e-Inquilab Plaza and a ₹52-crore heritage complex at Khatkar Kalan. Mann linked these efforts to his pitch for a more equal, educated and welfare-focused Punjab. The anniversary allowed the party to fold together the themes it has been pushing at its events, including youth mobilisation, the anti-drug campaign, education, sports, water and development. By attaching these to Punjab's emotional connection with its most iconic revolutionary, the commemoration became less a conventional memorial function and more a political rally. With the 2027 Assembly elections approaching, AAP's messaging in the state is increasingly taking the shape of an organised campaign that pairs its governance claims with a wider narrative about Punjab's identity and future. AAP Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, Bhagat Singh, Jashan-e-Inquilab, Punjab 2027 elections, Khatkar Kalan, Punjab water, Ludhiana

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Woot is selling the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro TKL wireless gaming keyboard for $130, down from $219.99, with optical switches and 200-hour battery Woot is selling the Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro TKL for $130, a price that undercuts the keyboard's regular $219.99 by nearly half. The discount lands the wireless model at roughly 40 percent below its usual cost. The DeathStalker V2 Pro TKL targets competitive players. It connects over a 2.4GHz wireless link tuned for low latency and uses low-profile linear optical switches, which register keystrokes with a lighter, quicker press than standard mechanical switches. The tenkeyless design removes the number pad, freeing up room on the desk for wider mouse movements. Razer rates the battery at up to 200 hours when the RGB lighting is turned off. Running the lights at half brightness cuts that figure to about 50 hours. Players who prefer a cable, or who want to pair the board with additional devices, can also connect it through USB-C or Bluetooth. The keyboard supports Snap Tap, Razer's name for Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Directions, or SOCD. The feature lets a player flip instantly between two keys, a trick often used for strafing in first-person shooters. Its usefulness comes with a caveat: Valve has prohibited the technique in Counter-Strike 2. Other deals worth a look The remastered edition of The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt has just arrived, and several stores are marking it down. Against a $49.99 list price, PC players can pick it up for $24.99 on Steam, GOG, and Epic Games, with reductions also offered on the Xbox and PlayStation versions. The remaster brings visual improvements, changes to progression and skills, and both expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. Best Buy has cut the third-generation Amazon Fire TV Cube to $89.99, a little more than half its typical $199.99 price. The square streaming box handles 4K video with Dolby Vision and HDR, plays Dolby Atmos audio, and takes hands-free Alexa commands. Amazon says its processor is twice as fast as the one in the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, making it a capable choice for Xbox Cloud Gaming. Costco members can buy the Fellow Stagg EKG electric kettle for $99.99, $30 off its standard price. The gooseneck kettle is known for precise temperature settings and fast heating. Razer DeathStalker V2 Pro TKL, gaming keyboard deal, wireless gaming keyboard, Woot Razer sale, optical switches, Snap Tap SOCD, TKL keyboard, Counter-Strike 2

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The NIA arrested six men in Assam's Barpeta district and searched 16 sites across three states in the Imam Mahmuder Kafila terror investigation. The National Investigation Agency detained six men in Assam's Barpeta district on Tuesday and combed through 10 premises in the state as it pursues an alleged plot involving cross-border militancy and recruitment, a senior police officer said. The raids were part of a wider sweep that took investigators to 16 addresses in Assam, West Bengal and Kerala. The case centres on a group called Imam Mahmuder Kafila (IMK), which the NIA regards as a splinter faction of the outlawed Bangladeshi outfit Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). Police named the six people held in Barpeta as Mustafizur Rahman and Yakub Ali, both of Barpeta Road; Rakibul Islam of Howly; and Zakir Hussain, Chandbar Ali and Faruk Abdullah from the Sarbhog area. The agency had not released a formal statement on the detentions by the time the arrests were reported. Officers went through the homes of several of those taken into custody along with other locations, according to police. The operation began in the early hours in more than one instance. Families describe pre-dawn raids At Faruk Abdullah's house, relatives said a team arrived at about 2am and conducted a search. His father recounted that officials took away two mobile phones and inspected identity papers, among them Aadhaar and PAN cards. He said Abdullah, a graduate, has spent close to five years employed at a computer shop and is married. The father added that his son is the household's sole breadwinner and that the family was given no reason for his arrest. Rakibul Islam's relatives said they were first told he had been brought to a police station, only to discover afterwards that he had been formally detained. They said Islam had earned a living selling chicken in Arunachal Pradesh before coming back home roughly a year ago, and had been without work since his return. The agency also examined Mustafizur Rahman's residence at Azad Nagar in Barpeta Road and took his phone, his relatives said. According to the family, a team arrived around 5am on Tuesday and departed at 8.15am, seizing the device and detaining Rahman. A second arrest for Rahman Rahman, who runs a clothing shop in Barpeta Road, had already been through the justice system this year. His family said the Assam Police Special Task Force (STF) picked him up on March 14 in a matter linked to suspected jihadi activity. He was granted bail after spending about three months in Guwahati Central Jail. Relatives said that earlier detention stemmed from a social media group discovered on his phone. The latest action builds on a case the NIA inherited from state investigators. In December last year, the Assam STF led a multi-state drive that resulted in the arrest of 11 people during searches in Assam, Tripura and West Bengal. The central agency subsequently took charge of the matter. In June this year, the NIA filed a chargesheet against those 11 suspected JMB operatives. The agency said the accused had worked to spread the extremist doctrine of IMK, the JMB offshoot at the heart of the current probe. The chargesheet was submitted to the NIA special court in Guwahati under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The fresh detentions in Barpeta extend that line of inquiry, with investigators focusing on how the network allegedly operated across state lines and beyond the border. The seized phones and documents are expected to feed into the ongoing examination of the group's contacts and activities. NIA Assam arrests, Imam Mahmuder Kafila, Barpeta terror probe, JMB India, cross-border terror conspiracy, UAPA NIA chargesheet, Assam radicalisation network

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Police in Vijayawada traced a woman's dismembered body to a butcher after relatives recognised a tattoo on her hand. Two men detained. A tattoo on a woman's hand became the breakthrough that allowed police in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, to identify a victim whose dismembered body was recovered from a canal, and to trace the killing to a local butcher, officers said. The victim was named as Kalyani, and a man called Shafi has been detained over her death. The body was first discovered in pieces in the Ibrahimpatnam area. Unable to identify the remains, police shared the details on social media. Relatives of Kalyani spotted the tattoo on her hand, recognised her, and came forward to officers, giving investigators the identification they needed. That lead pointed police toward Shafi, who runs a small mutton shop in Bhavanipuram. Investigators found that he and Kalyani had known each other well and had clashed repeatedly over money. An earlier row involving Kalyani's son had further soured relations between them, police said. According to the investigation, Shafi brought Kalyani to his home in Bhavanipuram on September 17. Another argument over money broke out, and police allege that Shafi attacked her with a knife and cut her throat. Officers suspect he then severed the body into nine parts. They allege that a shop worker named Guruvulu helped move the remains, which were dumped in the Cooling Canal in the Gollapudi area. Both Shafi and Guruvulu have been detained and are being questioned. Investigators are still working to establish the precise motive, the separate roles played by the two men, and exactly how the remains were carried and disposed of. The case echoes a recent killing in Bengaluru, where a 32-year-old man from Odisha, Sagar Chandra Rawat, was arrested over the death of his wife, Anusuya. Police said the couple argued over finances on August 11, after which he allegedly assaulted and strangled her, causing her death by suffocation. Her highly decomposed body was found at a vacant plot in MS Nagar near Sampigehalli, and Rawat was held more than three weeks later. Vijayawada murder, Andhra Pradesh crime, tattoo identification, Cooling Canal body, Bhavanipuram butcher, Kalyani murder case, Ibrahimpatnam, Gollapudi

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India's Nifty index recorded its weakest September derivatives series in 25 years, while gold prices eased and Tata group stocks declined. India's benchmark Nifty index closed out its weakest September series in 25 years, marking the worst performance for the month in a quarter of a century of trading. The stretch capped a difficult period for equity investors on the National Stock Exchange. The slide was broad. Tata group stocks were among the decliners, adding to pressure across the market during the series. At the same time, gold - often a refuge when equities wobble - lost ground, easing back after a strong run. The combination of a sinking headline index and softer gold left investors with few places to hide. A September series this weak has no parallel over the past 25 years, underscoring how sharply sentiment turned during the month. Tata stocks, spread across sectors from steel and autos to technology and consumer goods, carry heavy weight in Indian portfolios. Their decline during the series contributed to the wider drop and drew attention given the group's prominence on the exchange. Gold's retreat stood out because the metal is typically bought as a hedge when share prices fall. Its pullback during the same stretch signalled that the usual pattern of money rotating from stocks into bullion did not hold this time. Taken together, the three moves - a record-poor Nifty series, falling Tata shares and a slipping gold price - defined the close of September for Indian markets. The month now enters the record books as the worst September series the Nifty has seen in 25 years. Nifty September series, Indian stock market, Tata stocks, gold prices, NSE Nifty, Indian equities, F&O expiry, market decline

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Hundreds of protesters have pitched tents in central Madrid to demand action on housing costs and evictions, with demonstrations spreading to Barcelona. Hundreds of protesters have pitched tent encampments in central Madrid to demand that the government act on soaring housing costs and rising evictions. The demonstrations have since spread to Barcelona, widening the reach of the campaign. The protesters used the camps to press two linked demands: relief from housing costs that they say have climbed out of reach, and stronger protection for people facing eviction. By occupying central public space with tents, they turned the shortage of affordable homes into a visible, physical presence in the heart of the capital. Spain is confronting a severe shortfall in housing supply. The country currently faces a deficit of 750,000 homes, a gap between the number of homes available and the number people need. The central bank has warned that the situation is set to deteriorate. It cautioned that the shortage could exceed one million homes by 2028 if current trends continue, pointing to a widening gap in the years ahead rather than a problem that is easing. The move of the protests from Madrid to Barcelona signals that frustration over housing is not confined to a single city. The encampments have brought demonstrators into direct, sustained contact with the streets of two of Spain's largest urban centres, keeping the demands for government action in public view. Madrid housing protest, Spain housing crisis, tent encampment Madrid, Barcelona protests, Spain home shortage, evictions Spain, Bank of Spain housing deficit

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