Northern Cyprus | 22 Aug 2026

Turkish Cypriot health authorities have asked fertility patients with donor-related concerns to come forward after an investigation raised fears that at least 30 children, most of them British, may have been conceived using sperm or eggs from donors other than those selected by their parents.

The appeal marks the latest development in the Northern Cyprus IVF donor investigation, which began after families reported discrepancies between donor profiles provided by clinics and genetic ancestry indicated by commercial DNA tests.

Northern Cyprus IVF Donor Investigation Widens

The investigation initially covered seven children but expanded after more families reported similar experiences. Fifteen of the 30 cases have been linked to treatment at the now-closed Dogus IVF Centre.

Parents said they selected anonymous donors using information about medical history, appearance, education, personality and interests. They now question whether the requested genetic material was used during treatment.

Commercial DNA tests have been conducted involving 11 of the children. The reported results indicated ancestry connected to Turkey or neighbouring regions in cases where parents said they had selected Western European donors, strengthening concerns about possible donor substitutions.

Laura Bridgens, founder of Donor Conceived UK, said the allegations raised serious questions about children’s access to accurate information about their biological and medical backgrounds.

“These reports are deeply concerning. It is a fundamental human right of a person conceived by a donor to know the truth about their origins.”

— Laura Bridgens, founder of Donor Conceived UK

Danish Donor Case Raises Traceability Questions

One mother, identified as Rachel, underwent treatment at Dogus in 2012 after selecting an anonymous Danish sperm donor listed by Cryos International under the pseudonym “Ditto”.

Rachel said the treatment package cost approximately €4,000 and that clinic coordinators told her sperm from the selected donor would be ordered. She later became concerned after failing to receive documentation confirming its use.

DNA testing conducted years later indicated that Rachel was the biological mother of her 13-year-old son, Jonah, but that the selected Danish donor was not his biological father. The results instead indicated Turkish and southern European ancestry.

Cryos International subsequently told investigators that it had no record of supplying sperm to Dogus. The company said it had blacklisted the clinic in 2016 following an earlier case involving a suspected failure to order sperm selected by a patient.

Clinic Rejects Allegations and Disputes Timeline

Dr Firdevs Uğuz Tip, who treated several patients at Dogus and later became the responsible physician at Miracle IVF Centre, has denied misleading patients or committing wrongdoing.

Miracle IVF described the reporting concerning the centre and Dr Tip as “incomplete, one-sided and misleading”. It said no patient-specific records or authorised documentation had been presented to establish personal or institutional responsibility.

The centre also stressed that Dogus and Miracle IVF are separate legal entities. It said Dr Tip worked at Dogus as an obstetrician and gynaecologist between 2009 and 2015, while Miracle IVF was licensed and began operating on 18 April 2019.

Miracle IVF said an inspection of the patient files examined by Turkish Cypriot health authorities found no deficiency or breach of legislation. It added that no final official decision had established wrongdoing by the centre or Dr Tip in relation to activities conducted after Miracle opened.

Dr Sevket Alpturk, identified as Dogus’s owner and responsible director, and former patient coordinator Julie Hodson did not respond to questions reported by the BBC. No competent authority has issued a final finding assigning responsibility for the alleged donor discrepancies.

Health Authorities Invite Families to Submit Evidence

Turkish Cypriot health authorities said their investigation remained under way and invited local and international patients to contact them if they suspected that their chosen donor was not used or if DNA results conflicted with information supplied by a clinic.

Officials said submissions would be handled under confidentiality and personal-data rules. The investigation is expected to examine donor traceability, patient consent, medical records and whether other families may have been affected.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated its Cyprus travel advice on 14 August 2026, warning that fertility treatment in the north carries risks because clinics are not regulated in the same way as those in Britain.

Northern Cyprus is recognised as an independent state only by Turkey, and European Union law does not apply there. The UK’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has no powers over overseas clinics and advises patients to examine local regulation, donor screening, record-keeping and legal remedies before travelling for treatment.

Moscow | 25 Aug 2026

A US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III landed at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport on Tuesday after flying from Riga, but neither its mission nor details of any passengers or cargo had been publicly confirmed.

• C-17’s route from Riga to Moscow
• Kremlin says it has no information
• Purpose of rare flight remains unconfirmed

US Air Force C-17’s Route from Riga to Moscow

Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 identified the aircraft as a Boeing C-17A Globemaster III with serial number 07-7181 and the call sign RCH4555.

Tracking data showed the aircraft leaving Riga at approximately 8.50 am Moscow time and reaching Vnukovo shortly after 10 am. It had arrived in the Latvian capital on 23 August after departing from the Camp Springs area in Maryland, where Joint Base Andrews is located.

Joint Base Andrews supports US government and senior-official air transport. However, the aircraft’s earlier presence there does not establish that a senior official travelled aboard the Moscow-bound flight.

Kremlin Says It Has No Information About the Aircraft

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that he had no information about the US military transport aircraft’s arrival, according to Interfax.

“No, I do not have such information.”

— Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman

Peskov also said that no meeting with representatives of the US administration was scheduled at the Kremlin during the week beginning 24 August.

No public explanation from US authorities about the flight’s purpose, occupants or cargo was available at the time of publication. Reuters said it could not independently establish whether the aircraft was carrying passengers or freight.

Purpose of Rare US Military Flight Remains Unconfirmed

The C-17 is a strategic transport aircraft designed to move troops, equipment and cargo over long distances. It can also support tactical airlift, medical evacuation and humanitarian missions, according to the US Air Force.

The aircraft’s capabilities alone do not indicate the nature of Tuesday’s mission. Claims circulating online about diplomatic talks or the presence of senior US officials had not been supported by official evidence.

Direct US military flights to Russia have been uncommon amid strained relations between Washington and Moscow. Reuters reported that the previous direct flight by a US-registered aircraft from Europe to Russia took place in January, when US envoys Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner travelled to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin concerning the war in Ukraine.

Until either government releases further information, the reason for the C-17’s arrival at Vnukovo remains undisclosed.

Kharge and Rahul Gandhi Urge Modi to Scrap Caste Census Questionnaire

New Delhi | 25 Aug 2026

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withdraw the existing caste census questionnaire, warning that its proposed format could produce fragmented and inaccurate data.

In a joint letter dated 20 August and made public on Tuesday, the leaders called for a revised questionnaire based on a standardised caste list prepared after consultations with political parties, experts and the public.

Why Congress Opposes the Caste Census Questionnaire

Kharge and Gandhi said the government had chosen an open-ended format under which the caste name provided by each respondent would be recorded. They argued that this method could classify members of the same community under multiple names, sub-castes, spellings and linguistic variations.

Data Quality Concerns

Kharge and Gandhi’s Objection

“Your government has opted for an open-ended question format to record caste details in the census, which is misleading.”

— Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, in their joint letter to the prime minister

The Congress leaders said variations in caste names could divide one community across thousands of entries, preventing an accurate assessment of its population and socio-economic position.

They maintained that unreliable data could affect decisions concerning education, employment, welfare programmes and social justice policies. They also argued that the absence of the term “Backward Class” from the notified questions could prevent the exercise from establishing the total Other Backward Classes population.

Leaders Propose a Standardised Caste List

Kharge and Gandhi proposed using a standardised drop-down list of castes instead of allowing unrestricted entries. They said a comparable system was already used to enumerate Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Proposal Based on Government Lists

The leaders said the proposed list could be compiled from existing official records, including government lists of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes and information maintained by the Anthropological Survey of India.

They cited the caste surveys conducted in Telangana and Bihar as practical examples. Copies of the caste lists used for the Telangana Caste Survey 2024 and Bihar Caste Survey 2022 were enclosed with their letter.

The letter asked the government to consult political parties, specialists and members of the public before finalising a replacement questionnaire intended to produce comparable data across states and regions.

Census 2027 Questionnaire and Timeline

The Registrar General of India notified 40 questions for the Population Enumeration phase of Census 2027 on 14 August. The schedule includes separate entries concerning Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe status and caste identity, alongside questions on demographic, educational, economic, migration and disability-related information.

The Union government decided on 30 April 2025 to include comprehensive caste enumeration in Census 2027. The exercise will be India’s first national census since Independence to enumerate castes beyond the continuing collection of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe data.

Population enumeration in Ladakh and designated snow-bound areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand is scheduled from 1 to 30 September 2026, with 1 October 2026 as the reference date. The reference date for the rest of India is 1 March 2027.

Government Response Awaited

Congress Position

Jairam Ramesh

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said: The communication was the third letter sent by the Congress leadership to the prime minister on caste enumeration. He said earlier letters sent in 2023 and on 5 May 2025 had not received replies.

No response from the Union government to the latest letter had been announced at the time of publication. The notified questionnaire therefore remains in place ahead of the Population Enumeration exercise in the designated snow-bound regions.

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#CasteCensus #Census2027 #RahulGandhi #MallikarjunKharge #NarendraModi

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s two-wicket Duleep Trophy spell contributed to East Zone’s innings-and-210-run victory over North East Zone in their quarter-final at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 2 in Bengaluru.

The 15-year-old East Zone vice-captain returned figures of 2 for 11 from three overs on 25 August 2026. East Zone dismissed North East Zone for 111 and 146 after scoring 467, completing the match inside three days and securing a place in the semi-finals. The completed scorecard confirmed the result.

Sooryavanshi, bowling slow left-arm orthodox, removed Kishan Lyngdoh and Imliwati Lemtur within four deliveries during North East Zone’s second innings.

Lyngdoh attempted to attack a flighted delivery but miscued his shot towards point. Sooryavanshi then delivered a quicker ball to Lemtur, who edged it to wicketkeeper and East Zone captain Ishan Kishan.

The two wickets reduced North East Zone to 79 for seven after they had been asked to follow on. The BCCI published footage of Sooryavanshi’s two-wicket over.

Brief Innings with the Bat

Sooryavanshi had earlier opened East Zone’s innings and scored eight runs from six balls. He struck two successive fours before Bishworjit Singh Konthoujam dismissed him.

The BCCI’s official squad announcement listed Sooryavanshi as vice-captain under Ishan Kishan for the 2026–27 tournament.

East Zone Build a Match-Winning Total

East Zone recovered from 138 for five to compile 467 in 112.5 overs, largely through centuries from Sudip Kumar Gharami and Shahbaz Ahmed.

Gharami scored 146 from 185 balls, hitting 25 fours and one six. He shared a 150-run sixth-wicket partnership with Shahbaz, who went on to make a career-best 167 from 244 deliveries, including 17 fours and four sixes. Kumar Kushagra contributed 55.

North East Zone Collapse in First Innings

North East Zone reached 72 for two before losing their final eight wickets for 39 runs and being dismissed for 111.

Abhijit Sarkar led East Zone’s attack with 5 for 20 from 9.5 overs, while Shahbaz took 3 for 20. The 356-run deficit prompted East Zone to enforce the follow-on.

Anukul Roy Completes the Innings Victory

North East Zone offered limited resistance in their second innings before being dismissed for 146 in 50 overs.

Pheiroijam Jotin made 39, Akash Kumar Choudhary scored 27 and Lyngdoh contributed 25. Anukul Roy claimed 5 for 37 from 15 overs, while Sooryavanshi’s 2 for 11 accelerated the collapse.

Shahbaz added one second-innings wicket to his first-innings haul and was named Player of the Match for his 167 and four wickets. East Zone’s innings-and-210-run victory secured their semi-final qualification.

“Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provides Double Delight. Picks up 2 wickets in the over.”

— BCCI Domestic, official domestic cricket account

East Zone Face Central Zone in Semi-final

East Zone will face defending champions Central Zone in the first semi-final at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru from 30 August to 2 September 2026.

The tournament final will be played at Chennai’s M. A. Chidambaram Stadium from 6 to 10 September. The BCCI shifted the final to Chennai to allow spectators to attend the match.

PATNA — Police used water cannons and detained several job aspirants in central Patna on Tuesday, August 25, after protesters broke through barricades during a march over Bihar’s recruitment examinations.

The pre-announced procession began at Gandhi Maidan, with demonstrators seeking to reach the high-security administrative zone and gherao the Bihar Chief Minister’s residence. The confrontation intensified at Dak Bungalow Crossing as protesters pushed past barricades and police attempted to stop their advance.

Several demonstrators were subsequently taken into custody. No official figure for the number of detainees or any confirmed injuries was immediately released. PTI reported that additional security personnel, including Central Reserve Police Force and Rapid Action Force units, had been deployed at major intersections.

March Stopped at Dak Bungalow Crossing

Aspirants associated with the Bihar Public Service Commission’s Teacher Recruitment Examination, or TRE-4, joined students raising broader concerns about recruitment tests conducted across the state.

Police had erected barricades at major junctions after student organisations announced plans to march from Gandhi Maidan. The procession reached Dak Bungalow Crossing, where protesters jostled with security personnel before breaching the barricades.

Water cannons were deployed as police tried to disperse the crowd and prevent it from entering restricted areas. Visuals from the protest showed demonstrators continuing to raise slogans after the police action.

The march disrupted movement through parts of central Patna, where security had been tightened in anticipation of the demonstration.

TRE-4 Format Remains a Central Dispute

The protesters’ principal demands include conducting TRE-4 through a single-stage examination and removing negative marking from the proposed selection process.

Aspirants have argued that the proposed format could place candidates at a disadvantage and have sought greater transparency in teacher recruitment. Students have also raised concerns about examinations conducted by the Bihar Staff Selection Commission and demanded fair opportunities for Hindi-medium candidates.

Another group participating in the march demanded the cancellation of the 70th BPSC examination, citing alleged irregularities and paper leaks. These allegations remain contested and have not resulted in the examination being cancelled.

The demonstration brought several recruitment-related grievances under a single campaign, extending beyond TRE-4 to concerns over the transparency, structure and administration of competitive examinations in Bihar.

Talks Fail to Resolve Key Demands

Student groups had been demonstrating at Patna’s Gardanibagh protest site before Tuesday’s march. Meetings between their representatives and government officials reportedly produced agreement on some issues, but failed to resolve the central demands concerning a single-stage TRE-4 examination and negative marking.

The groups proceeded with the march after those discussions ended without a settlement on the disputed examination format. UNI reported that protesters were also seeking a “One Candidate, One Result” policy and stronger safeguards against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.

Bihar Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari said the government had addressed most of the students’ concerns and remained open to further dialogue. He urged representatives of the protesting groups to continue discussions with the administration.

The government had not announced any change to the TRE-4 examination structure by the time of publication. The protest groups, meanwhile, continued to demand a formal decision on their principal concerns rather than verbal assurances.

The confrontation has intensified pressure on the state administration to resolve the dispute before the next stage of the recruitment process. It has also renewed scrutiny of how Bihar’s major competitive examinations are designed, conducted and monitored.