Author: sureshzmc07

Studying in Canada is a dream for many. One of the prestigious universities in Canada is the University of Toronto, which currently holds the 25th position in the QS World University Rankings 2025 for top global universities. Founded in 1827, the University of Toronto has evolved into Canada’s leading institution, producing around 560,000 graduates, according to QS World Rankings.The university also provides several scholarships for both national and international students. Today, we will focus on the ‘National Scholarship’ of the University of Toronto.

What is the National Scholarship of the University of Toronto?

The National Scholarship rewards original, creative, and committed Canadian secondary school students who have demonstrated superior academic achievement, innovative thinking, and exceptional accomplishments in various contexts. Approximately 15 students are selected as National Scholars (winners) each year.

What is the eligibility criteria for the National Scholarship of the University of Toronto?

According to the official website of the university, the following eligibility criteria must be met for the National Scholarship:

What is the award value of the National Scholarship of the University of Toronto?

The National Scholarship covers tuition, incidental, and residence fees for a maximum of four years of study. Those who are finalists but do not receive the National Scholar designation will receive Arbor Scholarships, which provide $7,500 in the first year and $1,500 annually for the next three years of undergraduate education. This scholarship is exclusively available to students attending the University of Toronto.

What is the application process for the National Scholarship of the University of Toronto?

According to the official website of the university, nominees must submit an online application form to be considered for the National Scholarship (nominees are not automatically considered for the scholarship). Nominees will then receive an email containing the link to the application form.
This year, the deadline for nominees to apply for the National Scholarship is October 17, 2024. National Book Award nominees will receive an email with instructions on how to apply for the National Scholarship program. The deadline for schools to submit a Book Award nomination is October 10, 2024.
For more information, students can visit the official website of the University of Toronto or click on this link.

NEW DELHI: Vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday raised concerns about the “structured and planned” rise of religious conversions in India, describing it as a “dangerous indication” that could reshape the country’s political landscape.
Speaking at an event in Jaipur, Dhankhar stressed upon the threat posed by organised religious conversions, particularly targeting vulnerable tribal communities, and urged immediate action to counter these efforts.
“Sanatan Dharma never spreads poison,” the Vice President remarked, emphasising the need to preserve the nation’s cultural and spiritual values. He expressed concern over “sugar-coated philosophies” being used to lure individuals, especially from marginalised sections of society, into religious conversion.
“This issue affects our tribal people more. I firmly believe that we are witnessing very painfully religious conversions in a structured manner as a policy and this is antithetical to our values and constitutional premises. There is an urgent need to work at a fast pace to neutralise such sinister forces. We will have to be alert. You cannot guess the number of people who are active today to divide India,” Dhankhar said.

Dhankhar further warned that these efforts were being carried out systematically, “in an institutional and planned manner,” and posed a threat to national unity. “There is an urgent need to work at a fast pace to neutralise such sinister forces. We must remain vigilant. The number of people active today to divide India is beyond estimation,” he added.
Without naming anyone specifically, Dhankhar appeared to criticise a former minister and senior lawyer for allegedly promoting anti-India narratives. Referring to this individual, he said, “When something happens in a neighbouring country, a person who once held a constitutional position, served as a minister in the central government, and is a senior lawyer, propagates the narrative that it could happen in India too” (“Padosi desh mein kuch hota hai aur ek vyakti jo samvaidhanik padd par rha, kendra mein mantri rha, vakalat ke peshe mein varishth adhivakta hai ekk narative chalata hai ki yeh Bharat mein bhi ho sakta hai“).

WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden on Thursday announced an $8 billion “surge” in “security assistance” to Ukraine, including supply of a glide bomb that will enhance Kyiv’s strike capability against Russia. Moscow has warned that use of missiles that can strike deep into Russia could trigger nuclear retaliation.
The White House announcement of the military aid, which came ahead of Zelenskyy‘s meeting with Biden and Kamala Harris in Washington, drew a furious response from the MAGA leadership and its rank and file, which is accusing the Ukrainian leader of bilking American taxpayers and leading the US into a world war.
MAGA supremo Donald Trump denounced Zelenskyy as the “greatest salesman in history” saying at a rally that “every time he comes into the country, he walks away with $60 billion,” while arguing the US is stuck in the Ukraine-Russia war and will not be able to get out unless he becomes president.
“Biden and Kamala ­got us into this war in Ukraine, and now they can’t get us out. I think that we’re stuck in that war unless I’m president. I’ll get it done. I’ll get it negotiated, I’ll get out. We gotta get out. Biden says, ‘We will not leave until we win.’ What happens if they win?” Trump, who is seen as a Russian stooge by Washington’s establishment traditionalists, said at a rally.
“Zelenskyy’s only strategy for victory is to embroil us in World War III. And VP Harris is all for it,” Trump’s surrogate Robert Kennedy Jr tweeted, as MAGA principals raged at the Ukrainian leader being flown to Pennsylvania on a US military plane to visit a munitions factory, and subsequently making remarks critical of Trump’s running mate JD Vance, which MAGA surrogates claimed is tantamount to election interference.
While many MAGA associates are transparently pro-Russia, Kamala Harris too is openly playing for the votes of 800,000 Polish-Americans in Pennsylvania, a battleground state. Poland is Ukraine’s neighbor and fears Russia.
Domestic politics aside, apprehension that the world could stumble into a nuclear war is coursing through geo-political circles after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow will revise its nuclear doctrine to respond with nuclear weapons to any attack carried out with conventional weapons that creates “a critical threat to our sovereignty.”
Russia would treat “aggression against Russia by any nonnuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state” as a “joint attack on the Russian Federation,” Putin said in remarks that experts said significantly lowered Moscow’s nuclear threshold, putting Ukraine, UK, and even US in its crosshairs.
There is growing concern that the supply of increasingly sophisticated weapons by the US and its allies to Ukraine, including long range ballistic missiles, may be crossing a red line that Moscow is warning about with increasing urgency. Following the long-range Storm Shadow cruise missile Britain has supplied to Ukraine, Biden’s package announced Thursday includes a glide bomb formally called the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW).
Ukraine is pressing US and Britain for use of these weapons to strike deep into Russia, which Moscow has indicated will change the dynamics of the war and its response. While US officials have indicated Biden will not immediately green light its use, London and Washington are said to be reviewing Kyiv’s request.

Have you ever wondered what your child’s zodiac sign says about their personality? It’s fascinating to think that their star sign could give you some insight into their quirks, habits, and even the way they approach life! Let’s take a playful journey into how kids reflect their zodiac traits and what makes them tick according to the stars.
If your child is an Aries, buckle up! These little fireballs are full of energy and can be fiercely independent from a young age.Don’t be surprised if they insist on doing everything on their own, from tying their shoes to leading a group of friends in a game. They’re natural-born leaders, and patience might not be their strongest suit. But their courage? Unmatched.
Then there’s Taurus, the sign of stability. These kiddos love routine, and once they’ve set their mind on something, there’s no budging them. Whether it’s their favorite toy or bedtime story, Taurus kids are known for their stubborn streak. But this same trait makes them incredibly loyal and reliable—just don’t try to rush them!
Gemini kids are the chatterboxes of the zodiac, constantly curious and always asking, “Why?” They thrive on learning and discovering new things, often jumping from one activity to the next. If your little one is a Gemini, expect lots of questions and an eagerness to explore the world around them. They’re like little sponges, soaking up everything they see and hear.
Cancers are the emotional nurturers, and even at a young age, they have a deep sense of empathy. If you have a Cancer child, you might notice how in tune they are with the feelings of others, always offering hugs and comfort. They value their home life and often seek security in their surroundings, making them the ultimate cuddle-buddies.
And don’t forget about Leo! These little lions love the spotlight and enjoy being the center of attention. They’re creative, expressive, and aren’t afraid to show off their talents, whether it’s a spontaneous performance or a drawing they’ve been working on. Leos love praise, so be ready to shower them with compliments.
The stars offer a fun way to better understand your child’s unique personality. Whether they’re a fiery Aries or a sensitive Cancer, each zodiac sign brings its own set of traits that make parenting an exciting adventure!

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Thursday halted the counting of votes of DUSU elections, which are scheduled on Friday, till all the defacement material, including posters, hoarding and graffiti, is removed and public property is restored. A bench of Chief Justice-designate Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said the election process may proceed but the counting of votes will not take place till the court is satisfied that defacement of property has been removed.The counting of votes was to be held on Saturday.
“This court directs that the elections process may proceed yet no counting of votes shall take place either on Delhi University (Students’ Union) elections or on college elections till this court is satisfied that posters, hoardings, graffiti, spray paints are removed and public property is restored,” the bench said.
It directed the varsity to file a fresh status report and to ensure that EVMs and ballot boxes, to be used in the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections, are kept secured in a safe place till further orders.
The court also directed the Delhi University (DU) to pay the expenses incurred by the civic authorities, including MCD and Delhi Metro, in removing the defacement and added that the varsity may recover the amount from the candidates thereafter.
It pulled up the varsity and its officials for their failure to discipline the candidates and supervise the election process.
“This is your failure. It has happened because of lack of supervision by DU. You have to pay for this. Civic agencies cannot pay for this. You are not monitoring anything. You are not able to have a system in place. You never came to court saying my orders are being breached. It is the private people who have come and brought this to our knowledge.
“DU was merrily going along with what was happening. It is not taking a stand, which is very unfortunate… You are allowing the standards to fall,” it said, asking the varsity to send a clear message to the candidates and to exercise the power vested in it.
The court said the DU vice chancellor must have put some robust system in place but he has done nothing. It wondered how these candidates can use a cavalcade of un-numbered luxurious cars in campaigning.
It said the varsity, where lakhs of students are studying, is not able to deal with the 21 candidates and added that the problem was “lack of will and lack of courage”.
“These 21 students are bringing a bad name to the entire university. How can you allow this to happen? You have to exercise your powers, you don’t have to be scared of anyone,” the bench said and listed the matter for further proceedings on October 21.
The court was hearing a plea seeking action against the prospective DUSU candidates and student outfits involved in damaging, defacing, soiling or destroying the beauty of public walls.
Petitioner Prashant Manchanda, a practising advocate, said the erring candidates and their parties be directed to remove the defacement and refurbish the areas and further take efforts for beautification of the destroyed portions.
He also placed photographs before the bench to show that the candidates and their supporters have allegedly destroyed public property across all quarters of Delhi and were using luxurious cars causing traffic problems and unwarranted discomfort to commuters.
The court also heard another plea by a group of students studying at DU. The petitioners, represented by advocate Govind Jee, highlighted the alleged nuisance, disruptions and other activities like defacement of public property under the guise of DUSU elections.
During the hearing, the counsel for the DU submitted that out of the three options suggested by the court on Wednesday, counting of votes can be withheld.
He said a meeting was held yesterday by the authorities and was attended by 16 of 21 candidates.
He said the candidates were asked to file affidavits to remove the posters and graffiti on public walls and properties.
The petitioners, however, urged the court to cancel the elections till the time the defacement is cleaned.
The court had suggested that the university should defer the elections, scheduled for September 27, or disqualify the candidates and start nomination afresh or should allow polling but not declare the results till all defacement is removed.
Coming down heavily on the varsity, the bench said if the authorities don’t know how to discipline students then who else will know this?
“These are all people who are pursuing higher academics, and this is what is happening in these colleges. You have all the power. You can say he is no longer my student. That’s the end of it. What will he contest? What will he win? You don’t know how to handle them,” it said.
The court said the university is a moral authority and when the court can pass orders why can’t the varsity do it.
“Because you lack the courage, you lack the moral authority. It is a dirty job, you make enemies every day. That’s what we are supposed to do, and that’s what you’re supposed to do. But if you’re failing in your duty, what can we do? You don’t want to exercise the power with you. We exercise the power that we have,” it said.
Justice Manmohan said, “We don’t have any extra power. You also have the same power. Your power is far more than us. You know how to discipline a student. You can’t deal with 21 students. And these 21 students are bringing a bad name to the entire university. How can this be? This is your responsibility. You will bear the cost for this. You are not performing. You don’t want others to perform also.”

NEW DELHI: Pune Police have filed additional charges of destruction of evidence, forgery, and offenses under the Prevention of Corruption Act against the 17-year-old juvenile involved in the fatal Kalyani Nagar Porsche crash. A supplementary final report detailing these charges was submitted before the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) on Thursday, an official confirmed.
The initial report, which charged the teenager with ‘culpable homicide not amounting to murder’ under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), was filed in June.
The fresh charges come in connection with the May 19 incident, when the teenager, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, crashed a Porsche into a motorbike, killing two young IT professionals, Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta, at Kalyani Nagar in the early hours of the morning.
“The supplementary report has been filed, adding charges under IPC sections 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 213, 214 (screening offenders), and multiple sections related to forgery including 466, 467, 468, and 471,” a crime branch official said.
The Prevention of Corruption Act has also been invoked, with the police alleging that the juvenile, in collusion with his parents, doctors from Sassoon Hospital, and middlemen, attempted to swap blood samples to conceal his intoxication at the time of the crash.
According to the police, there was an effort to replace the juvenile’s blood samples to obscure evidence that he had been driving under the influence. Additionally, technical data about the car’s speed at the time of the incident, along with witness statements, have been included to support the newly added charges. The supplementary report was submitted by Assistant Commissioner of Police Ganesh Ingale, with Special Public Prosecutor Shishir Hiray representing the case.
Following a high court order, the teen’s parents, two doctors from Sassoon General Hospital, and five others, including middlemen, remain in judicial custody.
The juvenile had initially been granted bail with relatively lenient conditions, such as writing an essay on road safety and spending time with traffic police to understand traffic rules which caused an uproar.

The Congress spends most of its time infighting, tells lies to grab power and remains distant from public issues, Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed on Thursday while asserting the people have decided to give another chance to the BJP to serve Haryana.

Interacting with Haryana BJP workers through the NaMo app as part of the party’s ”Mera Booth, Sabse Mazboot” programme, he discussed fieldwork at the booth level for the October 5 assembly polls and told them to make utmost effort to win each booth.

”A week remains for polling (in Haryana) and (you should) focus on every family in a polling booth,” he told party workers. Notably, there are 20,629 polling booths in Haryana.

Modi began his nearly hour-long interaction by mentioning his special connection with the people of Haryana, where he extensively worked for the party organisation in the 1990s, and expressed his gratitude to them.

Alleging the Congress has failed as an opposition in the past 10 years, the prime minister claimed its maximum time goes into infighting. Every child in Haryana is aware of the grand old party’s internal strife, he said.

These days, the Congress’ loudspeakers that were earlier making big claims have fallen weak, PM Modi said. ”Some are saying the Congress is becoming weak each day. During the past 10 years, the Congress has failed as opposition too.” ”The party remained far from people’s issues for 10 years… such people can never win the trust of the people of Haryana,” he said.

”But our strategy should not be to sit pretty on their internal strife. They are going to die their death, but we have to plant our flag deep by working harder than before,” Modi said.

Attacking the Congress further, he said, ”The entire basis of those who are fighting against us in the polls is lies. They repeatedly tell lies, their talks have no head and tail and they vitiate the atmosphere.” Modi claimed the Congress made tall promises to the people of Himachal Pradesh like they would ”lay roof made of gold for every house”.

But after coming to power in the state, development came to a standstill, the prime minister alleged, adding they talked of the old pension scheme but were now unable to pay salaries or carry out recruitments.

The Congress had promised to give Rs 1,500 to women who are waiting for it even after two years, he said.

Himachal Pradesh is an example of how they told lies to win elections and the people of Haryana need to be informed about it, the prime minister said at the interaction.

He alleged the Congress were experts in lying but wear the mask of ”Raja Harishchandra”. You will have to go door-to-door to expose them, Modi told the BJP workers.

One cannot imagine how many atrocities were committed against the Dalits during the Congress rule in Haryana, he said and asked the party workers to expose such incidents publicly.

”Haryana has for the first time got an OBC chief minister. They never made a chief minister from the backward classes. But the Congress will never say this,” Modi said.

He alleged the Congress was not able to accept that Modi and Nayab Singh Saini, both of who come from backward classes, became prime minister and Haryana’s chief minister, respectively.

Recounting the BJP government’s initiatives for farmers, the prime minister alleged that during the Congress rule in Haryana, the farmers got Rs 2 compensation cheques for crop damage.

It is the BJP government in Haryana which has been giving minimum support price on 24 crops, he said, adding the farmers should seek clarification from the Congress for their lies on the issue and tell them how much crops were being procured at MSP.

”We will have to tell the farmers and the Dalits that if there is any party which cares for their welfare, it is the BJP,” the prime minister said.

Accusing the Congress of indulging in a scam with funds for Dalits’ welfare in Karnataka, Modi alleged the party did not fulfil even a single promise in states where it is in power, be it Karnataka or Telangana.

Now they are talking big in Haryana, he said, adding, ”Spreading rumours and telling lies is in their blood”.

The Congress people live only for their family and that is their character, he said in response to a Haryana BJP worker’s feedback during the interaction.

”I have full belief that the BJP is forming the government with a big mandate. One voice is heard from every home ’Bharosa Dil Se, Bajpa Phir Se’.” ”We have to put all our might to win the polling booth. You have to break all records of voting,” he said.

Recalling that he had served in Haryana in the past as a BJP worker, Modi said, ”It is my full belief that the people of Haryana have decided to give one more chance to the BJP to serve as they are happy to have got a corruption-free government in which youths have got jobs purely on merit.” ”The people of Haryana are with us, their blessings are with us and victory is certain,” he said.

Referring to the Haryana BJP’s ”Mahra Haryana-Non-Stop Haryana” campaign, Modi said it has been inspired by mothers and sisters from the state.

Mukesh Saini from Jind district, who runs a tea stall, told Modi that Chief Minister Saini, who had stopped at his stall and prepared tea, was like his elder brother. To this Modi said, ”I have also been a chaiwala, so I am your brother too.” The prime minister told Mukesh to apprise first-time voters about the ”corruption and favouritism” that prevailed during the Congress rule when it was ”either it was ’dalal’ (middleman) or ’damad’ (bro ther-in-law)”.

Mukesh invited the PM to visit his tea stall in future and Modi assured him that he would definitely do so. ”Earlier, when I used to come to Haryana, I would sit on a scooter and go with anyone,” Modi recalled.

”I have very sweet memories of that time. I am a Haryanawala in a way” he said.

Modi outlined the key strategies to ensure success in the upcoming elections and asked the BJP workers to make the people understand how each family stands to benefit from the government schemes.

”It is not that we only have to campaign. That we have to, but we have to win voters’ hearts,” the prime minister said.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)