Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay flagged off the "Start Run, Stop Drugs" anti drug awareness marathon at Chennai's Marina Beach on Friday, marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. In a first for a sitting Chief Minister of the State, Vijay ran the entire 6 km route alongside participants, reinforcing the government's commitment to promoting a drug free Tamil Nadu through active public engagement.

The marathon was organised by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and witnessed the participation of Ministers, Members of Parliament, Members of the Legislative Assembly, senior IAS and IPS officers, government officials, sportspersons, students, youth, NCC cadets, volunteers and thousands of members of the public.

Before flagging off the marathon, the Chief Minister administered an anti drug pledge, urging participants to stay away from narcotics, create awareness among family and friends about the harmful effects of drug abuse and support those working towards recovery. He also signed the campaign commitment board with the message, "Sports Edu, Drugs Vidu," encouraging young people to embrace sports as a positive way of life.

The awareness initiative formed part of a statewide campaign, with similar anti drug runs and mini marathons organised across districts in Tamil Nadu. The event highlighted the government's focus on youth empowerment, healthy living and collective efforts to eliminate substance abuse from society.

As destinations increasingly promote wellness tourism and responsible travel, initiatives that encourage healthy living and community participation align closely with the hospitality industry's vision of creating safer, healthier, and more welcoming environments for guests and local communities. The anti drug awareness marathon led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay reflects the growing emphasis on public wellness, with sports and fitness serving as powerful tools to inspire positive social change.

World St. at Worldmark, Aerocity, New Delhi, has expanded its retail landscape with the addition of eight leading brands, including Mokobara, NYKAA LUXE, Da Milano, Giva, Forest Essentials, Himalaya Opticals and Bentley. The latest additions further strengthen World St.'s positioning as a vibrant retail, lifestyle and social destination within one of Delhi-NCR's premier business districts.

Designed as "The Social Spine of Worldmark," World St. offers a walkable destination where retail, dining and leisure come together in a lively open-street environment. The newly opened stores enhance its curated lifestyle ecosystem by introducing premium travel products, luxury beauty and skincare, leather accessories, jewellery, eyewear and luxury automobiles.

A key highlight of the expansion is Bentley's new flagship showroom at 4 Worldmark, launched in partnership with the BIRD Group. Serving customers across Delhi-NCR, the showroom showcases Bentley's luxury vehicle lineup, including the Bentayga, Flying Spur and Continental GT, further enhancing Worldmark's premium automotive offering.

Spread across nearly half a kilometre through 4, 5 and 6 Worldmark and covering approximately 2,60,000 sq. ft. of gross leasable area, World St. features pedestrian-friendly streets, alfresco dining spaces, landscaped courtyards, public art installations and thoughtfully designed social spaces. The destination seamlessly blends work, leisure and hospitality while offering an extensive mix of cafés, restaurants, bars and lifestyle outlets.

Commenting on the expansion, S. K. Sayal, MD & CEO, Bharti Real Estate, said, "World St. has evolved into one of Delhi-NCR's most vibrant lifestyle destinations, bringing together dining, retail, entertainment, and community experiences in a unique open-street environment. The addition of these retail brands further strengthens our retail offering and reflects the growing appeal of World St. among both consumers and marquee brands. As World St. continues to evolve as the Social Spine of Worldmark, our focus remains on curating experiences that encourage people to spend more time, engage more deeply, and enjoy the best of lifestyle, retail, and hospitality in one integrated ecosystem."

The retail destination is set to expand further with the upcoming openings of Le Marche, Geetanjali Salon and Looks Salon. Complementing its growing retail portfolio is a strong dining lineup featuring brands such as India's first Olive Garden, P.F. Chang's and Magnolia Bakery, reinforcing World St.'s reputation as one of Delhi-NCR's leading destinations for shopping, dining and lifestyle experiences.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has clarified that an Indian passport serves as a travel document and should not be treated as a document that independently establishes citizenship.

Speaking on June 24, 2026, a senior MEA official explained that while a passport confirms a person's nationality when travelling abroad, it is not considered a citizenship document in the legal sense. The clarification came in response to questions regarding whether a passport could be used to challenge exclusion from voter lists during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted in several States.

The official stated that the primary purpose of a passport is to facilitate international travel and transit through foreign countries. As a result, it should not be equated with documents that are specifically used to establish citizenship rights.

Another senior MEA official highlighted that Indian passports are issued only after extensive verification procedures. The process involves thorough checks and relies on supporting documents provided by various government agencies, including Aadhaar and PAN records, to ensure that only eligible applicants receive passports.

The clarification was made during discussions around Passport Seva Divas, observed on June 24. On the occasion, officials also outlined the government's efforts to strengthen passport services and expand international mobility opportunities for Indian citizens.

According to the MEA, Indian passport holders currently enjoy visa-free access to 27 countries, while 47 countries offer visas on arrival and 66 countries provide e-visa facilities. Officials also revealed that around 10 percent of Indian passport holders now possess chip-enabled e-passports.

The ministry further highlighted the expansion of passport services across the country. India currently has 545 Passport Seva Kendras, with the network covering nearly every Lok Sabha constituency. In addition, support centres for distressed Indian women have been established in several Gulf countries and Singapore, with plans to expand such services to more locations.

The government is also preparing to host the Human Resource Mobility Forum in New Delhi from June 30 to July 1. The event will focus on creating secure overseas employment opportunities for Indians in countries such as Italy, Germany, Japan, Russia and Denmark, while promoting ethical migration practices and raising awareness about fraudulent recruitment channels.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, marking Passport Seva Divas, reaffirmed the government's commitment to making passport services faster, more transparent and more accessible. He noted that the expansion of Passport Seva Kendras and the rollout of e-passports have helped simplify travel and improve access to global opportunities for Indian citizens.

The clarification has also renewed public discussions around citizenship documentation. With different government-issued documents serving different legal and administrative purposes, many citizens continue to seek clearer and more accessible guidance on what constitutes valid proof of citizenship in various situations.