Latest News
Ukrainians are offered free gun lessons by Czechs
Olha Dembitska only struck the target once out of the first four bullets she fired from an AK-47 assault rifle. The 22-year-old Ukrainian woman said, “It’s quite challenging the first time.” At a shooting range in the Czech Republic, the target this time was a human body shape. The next time, it may be for real in Ukraine, with one of the Russian forces invading her country as the target.
Dembitska is among at least 130 men and women who’ve already received free training to learn how to combat the attacker in the Czech Republic. “If they need me,” she replied, “I might go back to Ukraine.” Before the conflict in their nation, almost none of the participants had ever handled a firearm.
Since Russia’s horrific onslaught, Ukrainians from all across the nation have been flocking to Brno, the Czech Republic’s second-largest city, to take classes on how to safely handle lethal firearms while inflicting damage on their adversaries.
Aside from learning to shoot, the classes teach students the fundamentals of firearms, battlefield mobility, and first aid, which can save lives if they are mobilised by their troubled homeland or come home as volunteers to join the Ukrainian army. Everyone is fired up.
About the circumstances in her homeland, Dembitska stated, “It’s dreadful.” She receives her news via social media and phone talks with a friend who lives in Kherson, a city in Ukraine’s south that was occupied by Russian soldiers during the invasion’s early phases.
“She is completely honest with me. Humanitarian assistance has not been provided to them. What the Russian troops are doing is a nightmare, and I’m sick of it.” “Our contribution to the support for Ukrainians,” said Michal Ratajsky, the proprietor of CS Solutions, a security firm based on the outskirts of Brno, roughly 200 kilometres southeast of Prague.
“We see it as a morale boost in this scenario, an attempt to demonstrate we’re with them and will do all we can at the time,” Ratajsky said. “That was the driving force behind our efforts.” His firm supplies the rest, including expert instructors, guns, and the shooting range, thanks to a crowd-funding effort.
The three-hour programme, according to Ratajsky, won’t make miracles, but it should be enough to introduce the Ukrainians to new, unfamiliar abilities. “We know we’re not going to turn them into soldiers in three hours,” he added. “We attempt to do the most for them in the shortest amount of time possible, with an emphasis on their safety.” Some of the students have returned for further sessions. Some have travelled from Austria’s neighbouring city of Vienna. According to Ratajsky, several people used the path on their journey back to Ukraine from Western Europe. He stated that the Ukrainian people are unified in their outrage at Russian aggression and are resolved to put a stop to it.
“They take it too seriously and want to do anything about it,” he said, adding that while artillery and missiles account for around 80% of soldier deaths in a battle like the one in Ukraine, a feeling of self-preservation and understanding of first aid may be more valuable for survival than shooting.
“We’re well aware of the boundaries of what we can prepare them for,” Ratajsky added.
Yehor Nechyporenko, 38, who’d already gone 260 km from Mlada Boleslav to Brno for the second time, said he is assisting Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic but wants to be prepared to return home and fight. He remarked of the instruction, “It’s incredibly helpful for me.” “I think it’s fantastic.” Because I did not serve in the military, I must master such skills.” The Russians, according to Nechyporenko, have little prospect of seizing the nation as a whole. He predicted that the conflict will be ended in a few months. “And if it appears that we are losing, we will all return home.”
Ganesh mandal uses Ganeshotsav to spread awareness against addiction.
The Awareness
The Shivchhaya Mitra Mandal, popularly known as Navi Mumbaicha Raja, is using this year’s Ganeshotsav to promote a drug-free and healthy lifestyle. The mandal’s 56th Ganeshotsav is being organised at the CIDCO ground near ICL School in Sector 21, Turbhe. The celebrations began on September 14.
A major focus of this year’s festival is an anti-addiction campaign carrying the message “Say No to Drugs”. Through posters, banners and cut-outs, the mandal will create awareness about the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco, gutkha, drugs, gambling and other addictive habits. The campaign promotes the message that a moment of pleasure can lead to lifelong problems, while staying away from addiction can lead to a happier life.
The festival will also include bhajans, spiritual programmes, blood donation and health camps, Annadan, Atharvashirsh recitation, Satyanarayan Mahapuja and felicitation of achievers. The mandal is also supporting tribal students from Wada and Mokhada in pursuing higher education after Classes 10 and 12.
Around 8 to 10 lakh devotees are expected to visit the pandal during the 12-day festival. A Satyanarayan Katha and Bhandara will be organised on September 24, with food arrangements for around 10,000 devotees.
Civic body prepares 192 immersion sites to support a smooth and eco-friendly Ganeshotsav.
The Ponds
The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has made arrangements for the smooth and eco-friendly celebration of Ganeshotsav 2026, which will be held from September 14 to 25. To reduce crowding and help prevent water pollution, the civic body has set up 170 artificial immersion ponds across the city, along with 22 natural immersion sites.
More than 140 Ganesh mandals have applied online for permission to install pandals. The NMMC has introduced a single-window system to make the approval process easier by bringing permissions from different departments together. Across all 192 immersion sites, arrangements have been made for volunteers, CCTV surveillance, electricity and generators. Medical teams will be deployed at 22 major immersion sites, while lifeguards and fire brigade personnel will also be available.
The civic body has arranged rafts at natural immersion sites and separate facilities for wet and dry nirmalya. Dedicated vehicles will collect floral waste and transport it to the processing facility in Turbhe. Road repairs and tree pruning along idol arrival and immersion routes have also been completed.
The NMMC has appealed to citizens to use artificial immersion ponds and celebrate Ganeshotsav in an eco-friendly manner, helping protect the city’s water bodies.
Initiative encourages residents, institutions and businesses to take responsibility for spaces around their premises.
The Launch
The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has launched the Angan Adoption Scheme 2026 under the Sugandhi City Campaign, encouraging citizens to take responsibility for the cleanliness and upkeep of public spaces near their homes, shops and institutions.
The initiative was inaugurated by Maharashtra Forest Minister and Palghar Guardian Minister Ganesh Naik. During the programme, appreciation certificates were presented to individuals who had already come forward to adopt public spaces. A web portal for the campaign was also launched, along with a booklet explaining its objectives.
Mayor Sujata Patil, Deputy Mayor Dashrath Bhagat, former MP Sanjeev Naik, former MLA Sandeep Naik, House Leader Sagar Naik and other elected representatives and citizens attended the event. Addressing the gathering, Ganesh Naik said the initiative could help Navi Mumbai move towards becoming the cleanest city in the country. He stressed that cleanliness should not be limited to appearances, but should involve genuine public participation.
Deputy Mayor Dashrath Bhagat explained that the scheme focuses on three key elements—places, spaces and people. Residents, schools, colleges, hospitals, factories, shops and other institutions can adopt even small areas outside their premises, keep them clean and prevent garbage from being dumped there. The campaign promotes the message, “My courtyard, my responsibility,” and aims to turn cleanliness into a shared responsibility among Navi Mumbai’s citizens.
Navi Mumbaicha Raja Promotes Drug-Free Living
NMMC Sets Up 170 Artificial Immersion Ponds Across Navi Mumbai
Navi Mumbai Launches Angan Adoption Scheme to Keep Public Spaces Clean
Nidhi Razdan, fake Harvard professorship, and here is the explanation through her blog.
As the arrangement with Prashant Kishor falls through Rahul Gandhi has gone overseas again and is uncontactable
BSNL reveals all new 4G plans starting at ₹16
-
Fact Check6 years agoNidhi Razdan, fake Harvard professorship, and here is the explanation through her blog.
-
India4 years agoAs the arrangement with Prashant Kishor falls through Rahul Gandhi has gone overseas again and is uncontactable
-
Technology5 years agoBSNL reveals all new 4G plans starting at ₹16
-
Latest News5 years agoGovernment has spent ₹9,725 crores on Covid-19 vaccination drive so far
-
Latest News5 years agoTata wins Air India with ₹18,000 crore bid
-
Latest News5 years agoJharkhand government cuts Petrol price by massive ₹25 a litre but with a catch
-
Latest News5 years agoRaj Kundra Gave ₹25 Lakh Bribe to Mumbai Crime Branch to Avoid Arrest
-
Navi Mumbai5 years agoNavi Mumbai civic body raids and tests morning walkers, many found COVID positive