Category: India

India won’t withdraw WTO complaints against US tariffs unless resolved, as intense trade talks begin in New Delhi to finalize a bilateral deal.

India will not withdraw its World Trade Organization complaints against US tariffs on steel, aluminium and automobiles unless the dispute is resolved even as negotiating teams from both sides began intensive talks in New Delhi on Thursday to finalise an early bilateral trade deal, according to people familiar with the matter.

A team led by assistant US trade representative Brendan Lynch arrived in Delhi late on Wednesday for discussions with a ministry of commerce team that began on Thursday. The talks are scheduled for two days of engagements as both countries work toward an announcement on an early portion of the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), potentially this month itself.

The negotiations come against a critical July 9 deadline when an additional 16% reciprocal tariff on Indian goods is set to take effect, adding urgency to the bilateral talks.

According to two officials aware of the matter, the parallel dispute at the World Trade Organisation is expected to not interfere with the BTA negotiations and India expects the issues to be resolved through mutually agreed solutions (MAS) mechanism, as was done for seven other disputes in June and September 2023.

“India is unlikely to withdraw its complaints against the US for illegally imposing safeguard tariffs on Indian steel, aluminium and automobiles at the World Trade Organisation,” said one of these people, asking not to be named.

“It is hoped that this matter will be resolved amicably under MAS as the trade negotiation is all about greater market access for both parties,” he added

The stance reflects India’s determination to challenge what it views as violations of multilateral trade rules while stressing on the need to get the BTA done. In a notice to the World Trade Organisation, India indicated it would respond to the metals tariffs by proportionately suspending concessions given to American imports. Washington rejected the notice on May 9.

The controversy around the steel, aluminium and automobile and auto components tariffs stems from the Trump administration’s decision on February 10 to impose 25% levies on these imports effective from March 12, forcing India to approach the World Trade Organisation on May 9. The matter escalated when the Trump administration doubled tariffs on the metals to 50% effective from June 4, citing national security.

Besides metals, the US on March 26 raised tariffs on imports of passenger vehicles, light trucks and certain automobile parts from India to 25%. The deadline for India’s one-month notice to the US on the steel and aluminium issue ends on June 8, after which it would be free to retaliate.

In its latest notice dated June 2 regarding automobile tariffs, New Delhi again sought resolution before potential retaliation after a month.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/wto-dispute-remains-amid-us-trade-talks-101749149327329.html

The killing of Sudhakar, a member of the Maoists’ Central Committee, comes a fortnight after CPI (Maoist) general secretary Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju (70) was neutralised by security forces in the Bastar region, dealing a severe blow to the banned outfit.

Bijapur: Senior Maoist leader Narasimha Chalam alias Sudhakar, who had a bounty of Rs 40 lakh on his head, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Thursday, police said, days after the elusive chief of CPI (Maoist) Basavaraju was gunned down.

The killing of Sudhakar, a member of the Maoists’ Central Committee, comes a fortnight after CPI (Maoist) general secretary Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju (70) was neutralised by security forces in the Bastar region, dealing a severe blow to the banned outfit.

Originally hailing from Andhra Pradesh, the 67-year-old Sudhakar was involved in indoctrination and radicalization of youth and also responsible for numerous Naxal attacks in Chhattisgarh, resulting in the death of civilians and security personnel, police said.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo said Sudhakar and several others Naxalites were neutralised in the operation, though he did not give numbers.

Braving difficult terrain and inhospitable conditions, security personnel have been taking forward the campaign to eliminate Naxalism towards a historic success, Sai added.

The latest exchange of fire broke out in the forest of Indravati national park area when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation based on inputs about the presence of senior cadres, Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P told PTI.

The Special Task Force, District Reserve Guard, both units of the Chhattisgarh police, and CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (an elite unit of CRPF) were involved in the operation that was launched on Wednesday, he said.

“The offensive was launched based on inputs about the presence of Maoist leader Sudhakar, Telangana State Committee member Bandi Prakash, Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee (DKSZC) member Pappa Rao and few others. The body of a senior Maoist cadre along with an AK-47 rifle was recovered from the spot,” he said.

“The deceased was later identified as Sudhakar, also known as Anand, Chanti Balakrishna, Ramaraju, Aravind and Somanna. He was a resident of Pragadavaram village in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. He was a member of the Central Committee, the topmost governing body of the outlawed CPI (Maoist). He was also in-charge of RePOS (Revolutionary Political School) and Central Regional Bureau (CRB),” he said.

Sudhakar, who was responsible for various violent incidents that resulted in the death of numerous innocent tribal civilians and security personnel, was, as in-charge of the Maoist ideological training school (RePOS), involved in misleading and radicalizing youths with violent and anti-national ideologies, Sundarraj said.

“His death marks a major success for security forces and is a significant blow to the Maoist leadership, particularly in Dandakaranya region (that covers south Chhattisgarh and border areas of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha). His neutralization will cause considerable setback to the already weakening Maoist organization,” he asserted.

Search operations were underway to track down other Maoist cadres who might have fled the spot and to recover additional material evidence, he said, adding that number of casualties and recoveries will be shared once the operation concludes.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/chhattisgarh/big-success-in-fight-against-naxalism-top-ultra-sudhakar-gunned-down-in-chhattisgarhs-bijapur-3573258

Instagram influencer Sukhmeet Kaur posted a video showing multiple almost-finished Zepto cafe tubs. Ants can be spotted between the leftover noodles in the tub.

An Instagram influencer has claimed that she received insect-infested Maggi that she ordered from Zepto Cafe. Instagram influencer Sukhmeet Kaur posted a video showing multiple almost-finished Zepto cafe tubs. Ants can be spotted between the leftover noodles in the tub.

“Reality of 10 mins from Zepto cafe,” was the text written on the video. “This is disgusting. However, I’m shocked to see their cafe still operating with deceptive offers like ‘Buy 1 get 1 free’ – serving food with insects is unacceptable! They’re prioritizing fast delivery over hygiene and health.” Kaur’s caption read.

Mumbai-Mumbai based influencer’spost also drew reactions from netizens on Instagram. One of the users said, I think it’s your mistake because it’s bowl get finished and in last the last ants seen . It’s mean that you put it any where and ants gone into it. Clearly there is no fault of zepto.” (sic)

Another user said, “Extra taste kaha hai ye toh yaha hai.”(sic) Another user made a comment claiming they fell ill after consuming food ordered from Zepto cafe. “I swear two days back i had veg puff and suffered gastrointestinal problem and motions and its still gng bad never ordering anything from there ever again.”

The Madras High Court recently observed that while same-sex marriage has not been legalised in India, that does not mean that people from the LGBTQIA+ community do not form families [MA v. Superintendent of Police, Vellore and ors].

A Bench of Justices GR Swaminiathan and V Lakshminarayanan acknowledged that in the case of Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty Vs Union of India, the Supreme Court refused to hold that LGBTQIA+ couples have a fundamental right to marry.

However, marriage is not the only way to form a family, the High Court observed.

“While Supriyo @ Supriya Chakraborty Vs Union of India (2023 INSC 920)may not have legalised marriage between same sex couples, they can very well form a family. Marriage is not the sole mode to found a family. The concept of ‘chosen family’ is now well settled and acknowledged in LGBTQIA+ jurisprudence,” it said.

The Court also pointed out that a single-judge of the High Court, Justice N Anand Venkatesh, had also called for taking steps to recognise civil unions between LGBTQAI+ partners,

The division bench made these observations while coming to the rescue of a lesbian couple who were made to part after one of the partners (detenue) was forcibly detained by her family.

The detenue’s partner (petitioner) moved the High Court for relief after the police declined to come to the couple’s aid. Rather, the police forced the detenue to go with her parents, who were accused of then beating her up and forcing her to undergo certain ‘rituals’ to make her ‘normal.’

The detenue’s mother claimed that her daughter was a drug addict who was led astray by the petitioner. The Court interacted with the detenue and debunked her mother’s claim.

“It would be unfair to accuse her (detenue) of any kind of addiction …She made it clear that she wants to go with the petitioner. She confirmed the allegation that she is being detained against her will by her natal family. It appeared that she was forcibly taken to her home and beaten,” the Court noted.

The Court went on to observe that the detenue’s mother was ‘no Leila Seth’, while recounting how Justice Leila Seth once wrote a heartfelt note to express support and acceptance for her son, author Vikram Seth.

The Court noted that in the present case, the petitioner was understandably hesitant to even disclose that she was in a relationship with the detenue.

“We can understand the hesitation on her part. Our Society is still conservative … Not every parent is like Justice Leila Seth. She could acknowledge and accept her son’s sexual orientation … Unfortunately, Leila Seth J did not live to see the decriminalisation of homosexuality through the historic judgment in Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India ((2018) 1 SCC 791). The mother of the detenue is no Leila Seth,” it said.

The Court went on to observe that sexual orientation is one of the most basic aspects of self-determination, dignity and freedom.

“It is an integral part of personal autonomy and self-expression and falls within the realm of personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India,” it said.

It also questioned the use of the word “queer” to describe LGBTQ+ persons.

“We feel a certain discomfort in employing the expression ‘queer.’ Any standard dictionary defines this word as meaning ‘strange or odd.’ Queering one’s pitch means spoiling the show. To a homosexual individual, his/ her/ their sexual orientation must be perfectly natural and normal. There is nothing strange or odd about such inclinations. Why then should they be called as queer?” the Court asked.

The Court eventually ruled that the detenue is entitled to unite with her lesbian partner and that she cannot be detained by her family against her will.

Source: https://www.barandbench.com/news/same-sex-marriage-not-legal-but-lgbtq-couples-can-make-families-madras-high-court

The IIAS, a global non-profit organisation, is a federation of 31 member countries, 20 national sections and 15 academic research centres jointly collaborating for scientific research on public administration.

In a first, India has won the presidency of the Belgium-based International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS), an official statement said on Wednesday.

The IIAS, a global non-profit organisation, is a federation of 31 member countries, 20 national sections and 15 academic research centres jointly collaborating for scientific research on public administration.

The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) has represented India as a member state of the IIAS since 1998.

For the 2025-2028 presidency of IIAS, Prime Minister Narendra Modi nominated the Indian candidacy of DARPG Secretary V Srinivas in November 2024.

The hearings for the IIAS presidency were held in February 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

Four nations — India, South Africa, Austria and Bahrain — submitted their nominations for the IIAS presidency for the period 2025-2028 and participated in the hearings before the Council of Administration of IIAS, which were held on the sidelines of the Annual IIAS Conference 2025.

Following the hearings, the candidacy of India, South Africa and Austria was forwarded to the General Body of IIAS for the next round by the Council of Administration, according to the statement issued by the Personnel Ministry.

South Africa withdrew its candidacy in May 2025.

The election was held between India and Austria on June 3. Of 141 votes polled, India got 87 votes (61.7 per cent of total), and Austria registered 54 votes, the statement said, adding that “India’s candidacy received widespread support from across the membership”.

This is the first time in the 100 years history of IIAS that the election to the post of president was held by ballot process and it is the first time that India has secured the “historic mandate” for the presidency of the IIAS, the statement said.

In his acceptance speech delivered via video conferencing on Tuesday, Srinivas said the country’s presidency will be an inclusive one which will seek to bridge the north-south divide.

“India’s administration works under the policy ‘maximum governance – minimum government’ under which we pursue next-generation administrative reforms using technology to bring citizens and government closer. Contemporary administrative theory has documented this transformation with a focus on a digitally empowered citizen and a digitally transformed institution,” he said.

Srinivas said India had outlined its vision for “Resource Rich, Publications Rich, Digitally Agile IIAS” which will seek to integrate the best practices of digital public infrastructure to transform governance models.

“The Indian presidency of the IIAS will strive for harmonious and futuristic governance models and improvements in the implementation of public policy. It will be an inclusive presidency with a focus on unity which emerges from our Gandhian values, which will seek to bridge the north-south divide,” he added.

The IIAS congratulated India and DARPG Secretary Srinivas on getting elected as the global organisation’s president.

“Your role as a member of the IIAS Council of Administration, including as Deputy Chair of the Finance Committee, has been marked by your vision, commitment, and capable leadership. Your victory, with a significant margin of 62% to 38% against Austria’s state member representative, Dr Alexander Balthazar, is a testament to the respect and trust you command within the international governance community,” read a letter written by IIAS Director General Sofiane Sahraoui to Srinivas.

Sahraoui said the election underscores the global recognition of India’s growing prominence in international governance circles.

“Your instrumental role as the host of the 2025 IIAS International Conference, organized at the Bharat Mandapam on behalf of the Government of India, showcased India’s commitment to fostering international collaboration in public administration and governance.

“We are confident that, with your exceptional expertise and visionary leadership, you will steer IIAS to new heights during your tenure. Your presidency will undoubtedly enhance the Institute’s global impact and further strengthen its mission of advancing administrative sciences and governance worldwide,” the letter said.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-wins-presidency-of-international-institute-of-administrative-sciences-8589287

Police officials suspect the detainees are part of a Chakma outfit with past ties to a movement that wanted a separate state out of Bangladesh.

Tripura Police on Tuesday night detained 13 injured members of a Bangladesh-based group, including two women, from a rented house near Agartala. The detainees, suspected to be part of a Chakma community organisation active in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, will be pushed back to Bangladesh soon, officials told news agency IANS.

According to preliminary reports, the group crossed the international border illegally through Raishyabari in Dhalai district following a violent clash with a rival outfit in Bangladesh’s Panchari region last week. Several members have visible injuries, with bandages on their legs and arms.

Senior police officials interrogated the group throughout Wednesday before handing them over to the Mobile Task Force (MTF), which later transferred them to the Border Security Force (BSF). A joint repatriation effort is expected soon.

The armed clash they fled from is believed to be part of the long-running tensions in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, a region historically affected by ethnic insurgency. The Shanti Bahini insurgency, driven by the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS), ended formally with a peace accord signed with the Bangladesh government in 1997.

The PCJSS, formed in 1972 under Manabendra Narayan Larma, initially pushed for autonomy for the indigenous Jumma peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Their demands included a separate legislative body for the Chittagong Hill Tracts, constitutional protection for tribal customs, and preservation of traditional leadership.

Although the group officially sought autonomy within Bangladesh, elements of its armed wing, the Shanti Bahini, reportedly pursued full sovereignty. Larma had also protested the Bangladesh Constitution’s draft, calling for complete separation.

The insurgency waged by the Shanti Bahini ended with the 1997 CHT Peace Accord, which granted limited autonomy and led to the group’s disarmament. The PCJSS has since operated as a political party, demanding full implementation of the agreement.

However, reports of sporadic violence and tension have persisted, particularly following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government in August 2024.

Since then, there have been multiple allegations of attacks on indigenous communities in the CHT by security forces and illegal settlers. Many Chakmas continue to live under fear of reprisal and political marginalisation.

The Chakma people, predominantly Buddhist, are native to the CHT in southeast Bangladesh, as well as Myanmar’s Chin and Arakan regions, and several northeastern Indian states.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/bangladeshi-rebels-demanding-separate-state-detained-by-tripura-police-ws-kl-9369104.html

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) found multiple safety violations in the operations of Turkish Airlines during inspections at four airports from May 29 to June 2.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) found multiple safety violations in the operations of Turkish Airlines during surprise inspections of passenger and cargo flights in Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru airports from May 29 to June 2, 2025.

According to an official statement by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the DGCA conducted a Safety Oversight and Ramp inspections under international aviation rules, where it found multiple safety violations.

Among these lapses was marshaller competency in Bengaluru. According to the Ministry, the marshaller, who guided aircraft on the ground, lacked proper authorisation and a valid competency card for marshalling functions.

Another serious breach was when the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) was found unavailable during the arrival of the aircraft, and the arrival procedure was carried out by a technician instead, which went against aviation safety regulations.

A cargo carrying dangerous goods, including explosives, was transported by Turkish Airlines without the required permission from the DGCA, nor was it mentioned in the documents.

The aviation regulator also raised violations in ground handling, saying there was no Service Level Agreement (SLA) was in place between Turkish Airlines and its Ground Handling Agent (GHA).

Equipment such as ladders, step ladders, trolleys, and Ground Power Units (GPUs) lacked proper accountability and monitoring at Hyderabad and Bengaluru, where Globe Ground India was providing ground services without a formal handover from Celebi Aviation, which provides services at nine major Indian airports.

Turkish Airlines has been directed to address these findings promptly and ensure full compliance with Convention on International Civil Aviation (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices as well as DGCA regulations.

Following Turkey’s support for Pakistan after the Pahalgam terrorist attack on 22 April, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) revoked the security clearance of Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd on 15 May, citing national security concerns.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/dgca-flags-multiple-safety-violations-after-surprise-inspection-of-turkish-airlines-ws-kl-9369049.html

Almost a week after the notification, on June 4, 2025, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted on his X account, “Bharatiya Railways will soon start using e-Aadhaar authentication to book Tatkal tickets.”

New Delhi, Jun 4 (PTI) The Railway Ministry has authorised the Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS) to authenticate a passenger’s Aadhaar ID to establish his or her identity.
A Gazette notification dated May 27, 2025, said, “The Ministry of Railways, Railway Board, hereby notifies that the Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS) be allowed to perform Aadhaar authentication, on a voluntary basis, to establish the identity of ticket-checking staff, crew members and passengers, using Yes/No or eKYC authentication facility.”
Almost a week after the notification, on June 4, 2025, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted on his X account, “Bharatiya Railways will soon start using e-Aadhaar authentication to book Tatkal tickets.”

“This will help genuine users get confirmed tickets during needed,” Viashnaw added.

Railway officials say that at present, IRCTC does get Aadhaar authentication done through a third party, but after the Gazette notification, it will be much easier and faster to get the authentication done.
“Ticket-checking staff and crew members have also been brought under its ambit for official purposes,” the official added.
The Ministry also issued a press statement in which it said that currently, there are more than 130 million active subscribers on the IRCTC website, of which only 12 million are Aadhaar-verified.
“IRCTC has decided to conduct special verification for all accounts that are not authenticated with Aadhaar. Accounts found to be suspicious will be closed. The railways aim to ensure that genuine passengers receive all types of Tatkal tickets,” it said.
“Account holders who link their accounts with Aadhaar will get priority booking during the first 10 minutes of Tatkal ticket sales. Even authorized IRCTC agents are not allowed to book tickets within the first 10 minutes of the Tatkal window opening. Therefore, it has become necessary to verify your IRCTC account through Aadhaar,” it added.
The Ministry said that the Railways is planning to make the Tatkal ticketing process more robust by making some of the rules more stringent like only Aadhaar-verified accounts will be allowed to book online Tatkal tickets, and Aadhaar-based OTP authentication shall also be required for booking.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/booking-tatkal-tickets-to-get-easier-as-railways-to-roll-out-e-aadhaar-authentication-soon-announces-ashwini-vaishnaw-article-151792025

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) carried out a Safety Oversight and Ramp (SOFA/RAMP) inspection of Turkish Airlines’ passenger and cargo flights at airports in Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru between May 29 and June 2, according to a statement from India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Civil aviation authorities have directed Turkish Airlines to ensure “full compliance” with international and national aviation safety standards, following a safety and ramp inspection of the airline’s operations in several Indian cities.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) carried out a Safety Oversight and Ramp (SOFA/RAMP) inspection of Turkish Airlines’ passenger and cargo flights at airports in Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru between May 29 and June 2, according to a statement from India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The inspection was conducted under Article 16 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation to assess adherence to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices and DGCA regulations.

“Turkish Airlines has been directed to address these findings promptly and ensure full compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices as well as DGCA regulations,” the ministry said.

The inspection revealed several operational lapses. At Bengaluru airport, the marshaller assigned to guide aircraft on the tarmac lacked valid authorisation and a competency card for marshalling duties. Additionally, a technician, rather than a certified maintenance engineer, handled arrival procedures, a responsibility that falls under Airworks, the airline’s authorised engineering service provider.
The inspection also found that cargo classified as dangerous goods did not have the required permissions from DGCA for the transportation of explosives to, from, or over India. These permissions were neither attached nor referenced in the Dangerous Goods Declaration.
Authorities also noted the absence of a Service Level Agreement (SLA) between Turkish Airlines and its Ground Handling Agent. In Hyderabad and Bengaluru, where Globe Ground India provided ground handling services, equipment such as step ladders, trolleys, and ground power units were reportedly lacking accountability and oversight. These services were being provided without a formal handover from the previous handler, Celebi Aviation.

The scrutiny comes amid a series of diplomatic developments between India and Turkiye, including the recent revocation of security clearance for Celebi Aviation and the directive to IndiGo to end its leasing agreement with Turkish Airlines within three months.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/explosives-without-clearance-turkish-airlines-under-dgca-scanner-after-surprise-checks-article-151791864

YouTuber Jasbir Singh knew Haryana-based content creator Jyoti Malhotra and had toured Pakistan with her as well. Malhotra was arrested for her alleged links with Pakistani officials.

YouTuber Jasbir Singh has been arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan by Punjab’s Special Operations Cell, Mohali. This comes amid a heavy crackdown on anti-terror activities and those involved in this. The State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) in Mohali worked swiftly on intelligence inputs and found a critical espionage network linked to Jasbir Singh, a resident of Village Mahlan, Rupnagar in Punjab.
Singh operates a YouTube channel with the name “Jaan Mahal” and has been found associated with PIO Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, part of a terror-backed espionage network. Singh also maintained close contact with Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra (arrested for spying) and Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a Pakistani national and expelled Pak High Commission official.

Jyoti Malhotra is also seen in the video touring with the group that Jasbir is travelling with in Pakistan. After Jyoti’s arrest, Singh allegedly tried to erase all traces of his communications with the PIOs and other officials.

Investigations have revealed that Jasbir attended the Pakistan National Day event in #Delhi on Danish’s invitation, where he met Pakistani Army officials and vloggers. He travelled to Pakistan on three occasions (2020, 2021, 2024), and his electronic devices contained multiple Pakistan-based numbers, now under detailed forensic scrutiny.

AfterJyoti Malhotra’s arrest, Jasbir attempted to erase all traces of his communications with these PIOs to avoid detection. An FIR has been registered at SSOC, Mohali. In one of the videos, Singh is seen with alleged Pakistani handlers during his visit to Lahore and other areas in Pakistan.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/youtuber-jasbir-singh-jaan-mahal-arrested-pakistan-spying-toured-with-jyoti-malhotra-video-article-151786841

Expressing condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the deadly stampede outside Chinnaswami stadium, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “The mishap in Bengaluru is absolutely heartrending. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that those who are injured have a speedy recovery.”

Eleven people died and several others were injured in the stampede. The injured were taken to Bowring Hospital for treatment. The incident, took place in the afternoon hours, as a sea of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans swarmed the stadium to take part in celebrations marking the franchise’s first-ever Indian Premier League (IPL) title win.

In his first media reaction after the stampede, Shivkumar said, “I have spoken to the Police Commissioner and everyone. I will also go to the hospital later. I do not want to disturb the doctors who are taking care of the patients.”

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/absolutely-heartrending-pm-modi-mourns-the-death-of-11-rcb-fans-killed-in-stampede 

Ayodhya is set to host a significant religious ceremony on June 5 with the scheduled Pran Pratishtha of idols at the Ram Janmabhoomi complex. The rituals will include Vedic chants, havan, and formal consecration led by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is expected to participate in the proceedings.

Ayodhya is set to host a significant religious ceremony on June 5 with the scheduled Pran Pratishtha of idols at the Ram Janmabhoomi complex. The rituals will include Vedic chants, havan, and formal consecration led by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is expected to participate in the proceedings.

The day also marks his 53rd birthday and the traditional Trayodashi observance commemorating the birth of the Saryu River, both of which will be acknowledged through coordinated events across the city. District authorities have mobilized heavy security arrangements in anticipation of high footfall, with visitors expected from across the country and abroad.

Development projects valued at over Rs 32,000 crore have reshaped the city’s urban and religious infrastructure in recent years. These include improved transport connectivity and upgraded public amenities, which now serve the tourism and pilgrimage circuits alike.

Organizers state that the Pran Pratishtha ceremony will commence at 11 a.m. Multiple temple complexes and riverfront ghats, including Ram Ki Paidi and Aarti Ghat, will also host spiritual and cultural programs. The Saryu Jayanti celebrations will run in parallel, with contributions from several social and religious organizations.

Religious leaders and civic associations have highlighted Ayodhya’s changing profile. While some credited political figures for their roles, others focused on how increased infrastructure has generated economic activity.

The CM will also participate in an event marking the anniversary of the Ayodhya Municipal Corporation’s current term. Despite the confluence of events, state officials have maintained that security, crowd management, and logistical arrangements are in place for an orderly observance.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/up-news-ayodhya-to-host-grand-pran-pratishtha-ceremony-at-ram-janmabhoomi-on-june-5-cm-yogi-adityanath-to-participate

The flood situation in Manipur worsened on Tuesday as the number of people affected surged to over 1.64 lakh following days of relentless rainfall that caused multiple rivers to overflow and breach embankments across the state.

Authorities reported that 643 localities across the state have been submerged, and 35,143 houses have sustained damage. Agricultural loss has also been significant, with 82.79 hectares of farmland currently underwater.

According to official sources, at least 1,64,879 people have been impacted by the disaster, marking a steep increase from the 56,000 affected as of Monday.

Officials confirmed that at least 3,917 people have been evacuated in the ongoing rescue efforts and 77 relief camps have been set up to accommodate displaced residents.

On Tuesday, the body of a 57-year-old man who was swept away by floodwaters was recovered in Imphal West district by rescue volunteers, confirming the first death amid the ongoing crisis.

Although rainfall in the state was recorded as “light to moderate” on Tuesday, floodwaters continued to inundate several parts of Imphal East district for the fourth consecutive day. The flood has also triggered 102 landslides across various regions of the state over the past four days.

The situation has severely disrupted public utilities, particularly in Imphal East, where power supply remains cut off in many areas. The Kongba sub-power station has been placed under emergency shutdown due to flooding, leading to widespread outages. Additionally, residents are grappling with an acute shortage of drinking water.

Government offices, including the office of the Deputy Commissioner and the Imphal East Police Station, have also been impacted by the floods, further complicating coordination efforts.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/houses-damaged-farms-submerged-as-floods-batter-manipur-over-lakh-affected-2735882-2025-06-05

Three Indians who were travelling to Iran and went missing last month have been rescued by Tehran police.

Three Indian men, who had gone missing in May while they were travelling to Iran, have been rescued by Tehran police, a government source said.

The family of all three men, belonging to Punjab, had alleged kidnapping. The Indian Embassy in Iran took over the matter with the Iranian authorities after the issue was raised by the grieving families. The embassy requested the authorities to take up the matter on an urgent basis, and ensure their safety.

The mother of one of the men had alleged that they had been abducted there since May 1, and the kidnappers had demanded ransom to release them.

The announcement of the UK-India Defence Partnership in Feb 2025 “represents an important next step for bilateral defence ties, focusing on next-generation weapons in the critical area of air defence”

Britain is developing the bilateral defence relationship with India, including in the Indian Ocean region, in view of the latter’s role on the global stage, according to the UK government’s radical defence overhaul to meet new challenges and threats.

The UK’s Strategic Defence Review 2025, unveiled late on Monday, sets out the growing threats faced by Britain, including from China, which the report said is “increasingly leveraging its economic, technological, and military capabilities” to establish dominance in the Indo-Pacific and erode US influence.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has pledged the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, commissioned the defence review soon after he was elected last July in order to formulate a plan for the next 10 years.

“Recognising the role that India plays on the global stage, the UK continues to develop the bilateral defence relationship across a range of shared interests, including in the Indian Ocean region and through capability cooperation,” the report said in its section on the UK’s global partners.

The announcement of the UK-India Defence Partnership in February 2025 “represents an important next step for bilateral defence cooperation, focusing on next-generation weapons in the critical area of air defence”.

Defence and security cooperation is one of the five pillars of the India-UK 2030 Vision that was finalised in May 2021 and envisages the two countries working together to strengthen efforts to tackle cyber, space, crime and terrorist threats and develop a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific. The 2030 Vision also envisages enhanced maritime cooperation and joint exercises, and defence industry collaboration to develop new capabilities and technologies.

The UK’s defence review made a passing mention of the relationship with Pakistan, describing it as “historic” and “with a shared focus on security objectives”.

The defence review acknowledged the challenge posed to Britain by China, saying that it is “increasingly leveraging its economic, technological, and military capabilities, seeking to establish dominance in the Indo-Pacific, erode US influence, and put pressure on the rules-based international order”.

China has “embarked on large-scale, extraordinarily rapid military modernisation”, including a “vast increase in advanced platforms and weapons systems, such as space warfare capabilities”, an unprecedented diversification and growth of its conventional and nuclear missile forces, with missiles that can reach the UK and Europe, and more types and “greater numbers of nuclear weapons than ever before, with its arsenal expected to double to 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030”.

In the context of the Indo-Pacific region, the defence review said that “growing Chinese assertiveness is a key driver of regional and global instability”. China’s military exercises around Taiwan “risk dangerous escalation in the Taiwan Strait”, while its “aggressive actions are fuelling tension in the South China Sea”.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/uk-defence-review-acknowledges-india-s-role-on-global-stage-and-indian-ocean-101748928574557.html

This Bengaluru house is calming space full of life and personal touches, from the plants that line every corner to the sunlight streaming in through windows.

What can ₹12,000 get you in Bengaluru’s rental market? For one man living in Kasturi Nagar, it means a penthouse on the fourth floor transformed into an “urban jungle”, with more than 500 plants, an ancient fossil, and a peaceful vibe that feels far removed from the city’s chaos.

The house was recently featured on the Instagram page @whatsuptenant_rentomojo, which shares unique homes and rental stories from Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR and Mumbai.

In the video, the tenant gives viewers a tour of his 1BHK rental, where green creepers crawl along balconies, lemongrass and hibiscus bloom, and handmade aquariums and terrariums sit alongside a 60-million-year-old fossil.

“I’ve tried to keep it as natural as possible inside as well,” he says, adding that he painted the door and some walls himself.

The result is a calming space full of life and personal touches, from the plants that line every corner to the sunlight streaming in through open windows. The video has since gone viral, with many calling it a refreshing break from Bengaluru’s concrete jungle.

As per their Instagram bio, WhatsUpTenant Rentomojo aims to spotlight unique house stories, society tours, and more from across major Indian cities. They also invite users to DM them to share their own rental experiences.

The result is a calming space full of life and personal touches, from the plants that line every corner to the sunlight streaming in through open windows. The video has since gone viral, with many calling it a refreshing break from Bengaluru’s concrete jungle.

As per their Instagram bio, WhatsUpTenant Rentomojo aims to spotlight unique house stories, society tours, and more from across major Indian cities. They also invite users to DM them to share their own rental experiences.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/bengaluru-man-transforms-rs-12-000-1-bhk-into-lush-green-haven-with-500-plants-and-fossils-101748938793704.html

The video is seen creatively advertising digital momo service for those who want to eat mouth-watering dumplings but are also aiming to have a toned and healthy body.

Craving for street foods like momos, pizza, or golgappe but you’re also on a strict diet? A Delhi-based eatery has got your back. The popular food joint, Game Of Momos, has come up with a quirky solution — digital momo services. In a recently surfaced video that’s taking the internet by storm, a man is seen creatively advertising this new-age offering, promising instant satisfaction for those who want to eat the mouth-watering dumplings but are also aiming to have a toned and healthy body.

The viral video, seemingly made for fun, was shared on Instagram for Momo lovers. It featured the man sitting with two plates of momo while holding up a photo of another man.

In the video, he says, “Hi guys, hum digital momos service provide karte hain. Jaise ki aapke gym trainer aapko junk food khaane ke liye mana karte honge, ya ghar mein gharwale mana karte hain. But aapki cravings momos ke liye irresistible hain toh aap humein apni photo bhej dijiye, aur hum aapko momo digitally khila denge (Hi guys, we are providing digital momo service. In case your gym trainer or family members ask you to avoid junk food, but you can’t control your cravings, just send us your photo, and we’ll feed you momos digitally).”

This isn’t it. He even illustrates it with an example of a man who wanted to eat steamed and Afghani momo. The user said, “Inhone (pointing to the picture of a man he was holding) humein ek steam momo aur Afghani momo khilane ki request ki thi, ye lo hum inhe khila rahe hain. (This person had requested us to feed him steamed and Afghani momo digitally, and here we are doing it.)”

While the ‘digital momo’ service may raise eyebrows, it has appeared to be a great solution for those on the internet who want to have the delicious dumplings without compromising their health. In no time, the post went immensely viral, and social media users couldn’t help themselves from commenting on the humorous post. They took to the comments section and filled it with quirky replies.

“Bhaiya ek tandoori digital momo service chahiye,” a fan wrote.

An individual stated, “Would have surely ordered. But I had momos yesterday.”

“How much does the monthly subscription cost?” questioned a user.

Another humorously quipped, “Kisi ko digital USA ghumna ho to mujhe DM kare.”

“I need this only. Hahahaha love it,” said a user.

Another comment read, “No more breaking your diet now.”

The digital service reportedly started during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Though millions of devotees took a holy dip at the Sangam, a unique business emerged for those who were unable to attend in person. An entrepreneur offering a ‘digital snan’ (holy dip) service for a fee of Rs 1,100 went viral.

Source: https://www.news18.com/viral/after-digital-snan-in-prayagraj-this-delhi-mans-digital-momo-service-is-viral-ws-l-aa-9366026.html

Errol Musk, father of Elon Musk, is set to visit Ayodhya’s Ram temple on June 4 and may be accorded state guest status by the Uttar Pradesh government.

Errol Musk, father of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, is scheduled to visit the Ram temple in Ayodhya on June 4, officials confirmed. The Uttar Pradesh government is likely to extend him the status of a state guest for the occasion. As per a report, an official said that visiting Ram temple “is part of his (Errol Musk’s) itinerary”.
Senior officials deployed in Ayodhya are working in coordination with the temple trust to facilitate a smooth ‘darshan’ for Musk during his visit. “We would check if the protocol accorded to the state guest will be extended to Musk during the visit,” said a senior government officer in Ayodhya.
The state guest protocol typically includes an escort vehicle with security personnel and the appointment of liaison officers—such as a sub-divisional magistrate or deputy police superintendent—to receive the guest at the airport and accompany them around the city.

Bhopal: On a day intended to spotlight party’s rebuilding, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi brief visit to Bhopal took a dramatic turn — this time, not for his words, but for what he wore. During his visit to Bhopal, the Leader of Opposition paid tribute to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by laying flowers at her statue – without removing his footwear. This gesture, seen by some as a mark of disrespect, fueled a heated debate, overshadowing the very narrative of party unity.
Rahul Gandhi’s act evoked reactions from the Madhya Pradesh unit of the BJP. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said, “Rahul Gandhi did not remove his shoes while paying tribute to his grandmother, Indira Gandhi. It didn’t quite sit right. This goes against our cultural values. He should be a little more mindful of such things.”
Rahul Gandhi is set to attend various programmes in the city as a part of the Congress’s ‘Sangathan Srajan Abhiyan’ (Organisation Rejuvenation Campaign).

According to the program schedule, Rahul Gandhi will chair a meeting of the Political Affairs Committee at the state Congress office and discuss the political situation of the state with the senior state leadership.

Thereafter, he will have interact with MPs and MLAs and hold discussions on Sangathan Srijan with representatives. Additionally, the Congress MP will also attend a special meeting with newly appointed observers by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in each district of the state.
Furthermore, Rahul Gandhi will participate in a meeting of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) delegates, which includes representatives from AICC, state congress, district congress presidents and block presidents at Ravindra Bhavan Auditorium in the city.
Earlier, Madhya Pradesh Congress Chief Jitu Patwari called Gandhi the hero of the caste census and called it an important day in the history of Indian politics.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/tribute-or-disrespect-rahul-gandhi-slammed-for-wearing-shoes-at-indira-gandhi-statue-in-bhopal-article-151781642

UK MP Bob Blackman on Tuesday called for global solidarity with India following the Pahalgam terror attack, emphasising how Pakistan was operating as a “failed state”. Expresing condolences for the victims, he highlighted India’s strong response to terrorism in the aftermath through its Operation Sindoor and questioned who really was in charge of Pakistan—democracy or its military generals.
Speaking to ANI, Bob Blackman said, “We had a meeting with senior delegation from India, from all parts of India…from all parties which is important. They gave us briefing on the situation with a terrible attack in Pahalgam. Everyone from the UK expresses their condolences and support for the people of India who have suffered this terrorist outrage.”
“India’s response to that was by hitting terrorist bases and sending a very strong message to Pakistan that if it continues to escalate the conflict, then India will strike back. But India would actually want peace and tranquility between the two neighbouring countries,” he added.

Blackman asserted that it was important to stand together with India and ensure cooperation not only in trade but in security and defence cooperation as well. “We heard quite rightly the question mark of money that is sent to Pakistan – what is it used for? Is it being used for buying Chinese weapons to enable terrorists to attack India. Special aid funding going to Pakistan, should be going for the eradication of polio and other infectious diseases that benefit the people of Pakistan,” he said.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/whos-in-chargedemocracy-or-generals-uk-mp-tears-into-pakistan-urges-world-to-stand-with-india-article-151783236

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said that the military will release the data about losses incurred by Pakistan during Operation Sindoor in the future.

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Tuesday reflected upon Operation Sindoor and said that the Indian armed forces will share the specific data of losses incurred by Pakistan in the near future.

He said that data about the number of Pakistani aircraft and radars destroyed will be put out after assessment soon.

The consecration of the deities would take place on Thursday and the rituals would come to an end in the afternoon. The entry to the first floor of the Ram Temple would be restricted during these days.

The rituals for the second ‘pran pratishtha’ (consecration) ceremonies at eight temples within the Ram Temple complex began on Tuesday morning with ‘Ganesh pujan’ (worshipping Lord Ganesha).

A ‘Kalash yatra’ (devotees walking carrying pitchers filled with sacred Saryu water) was undertaken on Monday during which began from the eastern bank of the Saryu river and ended at the ‘Yagyashala’ (a place where Yajna is performed after traversing through important places in the temple town.

The sacred water will be used in the three day long rituals which culminate on Thursday with ‘puja’, ’bhog’ and ‘Aarti’.

According to the officials of Shree Ramjanmabhumi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which oversees the construction of the Ram Temple, consecration ceremonies would take place at eight temples within the Ram Temple complex.

The Ram Temple has been decorated with colourful lighting on this occasion.

The Trust office bearers said that during the first consecration ceremony on January 22 last year Lord Rama was consecrated in his child form. ‘’Now Lord Rama will be consecrated as a King in the second consecration,’’ they said.

Lord Rama’s court would be on the first floor of the Ram Temple and the idols of his brother Laxman, Bharat Shatrughna and Lord Hanuman would also be there.

According to the sources, Ayodhya has been put on high alert and commandoes of Ant Terroist Sqaud have been deployed.

The consecration of the deities would take place on Thursday and the rituals would come to an end in the afternoon. The entry to the first floor of the Ram Temple would be restricted during these days.

As many as 108 Vedic scholars from across the country were conducting the rituals led by Pandit Jaiprakash from Varanasi.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/uttar-pradesh/rituals-for-second-pran-pratishtha-ceremonies-begin-in-ayodhya-3569279

The new menu, unveiled on Tuesday, includes beloved dishes such as egg biryani, pulav, dal payasam, soya dry curry, and nutri laddus.

Pathanamthitta (Kerala): When little Shanku’s wish for biryani instead of the usual “upma” at his village anganwadi went viral three months ago, it caught the eye of Kerala Health Minister Veena George.

Now, thanks to that simple request, the state has overhauled the food menu in childcare centres across Kerala, offering children a wider variety of tasty and nutritious meals.

The new menu, unveiled on Tuesday, includes beloved dishes such as egg biryani, pulav, dal payasam, soya dry curry, and nutri laddus.

These dishes will replace the long-standing, more basic fare, bringing joy and better nutrition to thousands of children.

Unveiling a revised menu for anganwadi children, Minister George said it is the first time that a unified menu is being implemented for state-run childcare centres.

The new menu offers more delicious, diverse, and nutritious meals, aiming to improve children’s health by reducing sugar and salt intake while increasing protein-rich content, she said.

George, who also serves as the Minister for Women and Child Development, announced the changes during the state-level Praveshanotsavam (reopening ceremony) of anganwadis held here.

The revised menu covers supplementary nutrition–including breakfast, lunch, and general feeding.

Children will also receive traditional snacks such as kozhukkatta and ilayada, along with nutrient-rich options like wheat crumb pulav, raita, and chickpea curry on specific days. Milk and eggs, previously provided twice a week, will now be served three times a week, she added.

The new menu also includes details about ingredients and nutritional values for each dish, the statement said.

In February this year, George had promised to revise the menu after a video of Shanku, a young boy from Alappuzha, requesting biriyani and chicken fry instead of upma at his anganwadi went viral on social media.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/kerala/kerala-toddlers-wish-for-biryani-comes-true-as-state-revamps-anganwadi-menu-3569773

Social media platforms are buzzing with speculations that ₹500 currency notes will be phased out by March 2026. The rumour, sparked by a YouTube video and a tweet, has led to confusion and concern among the masses. However, no such announcement has been made as of now.
The fact-checking unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has stepped in to clarify the situation. In an X post, PIB confirmed that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has not made any such announcement, and that ₹500 notes remain legal tender.
“Is the ₹500 note set to be phased out by 2026? 🤔A #YouTube video on the YT Channel ‘CAPITAL TV’ (capitaltvind) falsely claims that the RBI will discontinue the circulation of ₹500 notes by March 2026,’ the PIB Fact-Check posted on X.

It said, “✔️@RBI has made NO such announcement. ✔️₹500 notes have NOT been discontinued and remain legal tender.🚨 Don’t fall for such misinformation. Always verify news from official sources before believing or sharing it!”

Further, a man, claiming to be a Chartered Accountant (CA), had also said that the RBI has instructed all banks to stop dispensing Rs 500 banknotes from ATMs by September 30. He claimed that the final aim is to reduce the “circulation of Rs 500 banknotes from all bank ATMs by 75% initially, and then by 90% by March 31, 2026.” “Going forward, ATMs will only dispense Rs 200 and Rs 100 notes,” he had said.

The bench hearing the case said the legislative action undertaken by the State was an exercise of its legitimate power under the Constitution

The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea challenging the Chhattisgarh Auxiliary Armed Police Force Act, 2011, holding that its enactment by the state legislature does not amount to contempt of the court’s previous order that outlawed the controversial Salwa Judum militia.

While refusing to strike down the 2011 legislation, the top court, however, made it unequivocally clear that it is the constitutional duty of both the Centre and the Chhattisgarh government to ensure peace and rehabilitation for the people affected by violence in the region.

“We note that it is duty of the State of Chhattisgarh as well as the Union of India to take adequate steps for bringing about peace and rehabilitation to the residents of State of Chhattisgarh who have been affected by the violence from whatever quarter it may have arisen,” a bench of justices BV Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma stated in its May 15 order, released recently.

The bench noted that though the earlier order dated July 5, 2011 in the Nandini Sundar Vs State of Chhattisgarh case had directed the state to desist from using Special Police Officers (SPOs) in anti-Naxal operations, the 2011 Act did not violate or override that ruling, nor could the enactment of a law be equated to contempt of court.

“Any law made by the Parliament or a State legislature cannot be held to be an act of contempt of a Court, including this Court, for simply making the law…The passing of an enactment subsequent to the order of this Court by the legislature of the State of Chhattisgarh cannot, in our view, be said to be an act of contempt of the order passed by this Court,” held the bench.

The bench added that the legislative action undertaken by the State was an exercise of its legitimate power under the Constitution. “Every State Legislature has plenary powers to pass an enactment and so long as the said enactment has not been declared to be ultra vires the Constitution or, in any way, null and void by a Constitutional Court, the said enactment would have the force of law,” it said.

Led by senior advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan, the petitioners — sociologist Nandini Sundar, historian Ramachandra Guha, former bureaucrat EAS Sarma, had argued that the enactment of the 2011 law was in contempt of the apex court’s July 2011 judgment, which held that the practice of appointing tribal youth as SPOs and arming them to fight Maoists was unconstitutional. They contended that the new law merely gave legislative backing to an arrangement that had already been struck down by the court.

However, the court noted that while the earlier directions in the Nandini Sundar judgment prohibited the use of SPOs for counter-insurgency operations and ordered disbanding of armed vigilante groups like Salwa Judum, the enactment of a new law by the state legislature could not, by itself, be equated to contempt.

It added that the petitioners must mount an appropriate legal challenge if they sought to assail the validity of the 2011 law because the “interpretative power of a constitutional court does not contemplate a situation of declaring exercise of legislative functions and passing of an enactment as an instance of a contempt of a court.”

The region has witnessed a decades-old Maoist insurgency, marked by frequent clashes between security forces and armed rebels, and has claimed thousands of lives over the years, including those of civilians, security personnel, and insurgents.

The present litigation arises out of the Supreme Court’s landmark 2011 judgment that had declared the use of tribal civilians as SPOs to combat Maoist insurgency as unconstitutional and violative of human rights. The top court had categorically banned the use of SPOs, many of them minors, and ordered disbanding of private militias like Salwa Judum and Koya Commandos, terming their activities as “unconstitutional”. In that order, the apex court directed the immediate cessation of using SPOs in any form of counter-insurgency operations, withdrawal of all firearms issued to SPOs, prosecution of those responsible for criminal acts committed under the aegis of Salwa Judum and NHRC and CBI probes into grave human rights violations, including alleged arson and killings in some identified districts in Chhattisgarh.

However, soon after the 2011 verdict, the state government enacted the Chhattisgarh Auxiliary Armed Police Force Act, purportedly to legitimise the appointment of locals in auxiliary armed forces, prompting fresh litigation and a contempt plea by the petitioners, who argued that the enactment was an “attempt to nullify” the Supreme Court’s binding directions and that the state’s move to reintroduce civilian combatants under a new statutory garb amounted to willful disobedience. They also flagged non-compliance with the court’s directive to rehabilitate former SPOs, prosecute members of Salwa Judum for past atrocities, and investigate attacks on activists such as Swami Agnivesh, who was assaulted in 2011 while trying to visit affected villages.

Rejecting these arguments, the bench held that enacting a law is a legislative act and must be challenged accordingly, not via contempt jurisdiction. It also took note of the Centre’s and Chhattisgarh government’s submission that they had complied with the directions issued in 2011 and had filed the requisite compliance reports.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/when-i-founded-rcb-what-vijay-mallya-said-about-virat-kohli-chris-gayle-ab-de-villers-after-ipl-win-101748996688917.html

The Prime Minister also pointed to the emergence of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) as a sunrise sector, highlighting that India is accelerating efforts to become a global hub for aircraft maintenance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday invited global companies to invest in the country’s fast-growing aviation sector, citing a streamlined regulatory framework, ease of compliance, and a simplified tax structure.

The Prime Minister also pointed to the emergence of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) as a sunrise sector, highlighting that India is accelerating efforts to become a global hub for aircraft maintenance.

He was addressing the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) 81st Annual General Meeting (AGM) and the plenary session of the World Air Transport Summit (WATS).

He noted that in 2014, India had 96 MRO facilities, which has now increased to 154, while 100 per cent FDI under the automatic route, GST reduction, and tax rationalisation measures have given fresh momentum to the MRO sector.

Prime Minister Modi further outlined India’s goal to establish a USD 4 billion MRO hub by 2030, reinforcing the nation’s aviation growth strategy.

“The new Indian Aircraft Act aligns aviation laws with global best practices, ensuring a streamlined regulatory framework, ease of compliance, and a simplified tax structure, presenting a significant investment opportunity for major international aviation companies,” Prime Minister Modi said.

The last IATA AGM in India was held 42 years ago in 1983. It brings together more than 1,600 participants, including top global aviation industry leaders, government officials and international media representatives.

The Prime Minister highlighted the transformative changes the country has undergone in the last four decades, stating that today’s India is more confident than ever.

He also underscored India’s role in the global aviation ecosystem, not only as a vast market but also as a symbol of policy leadership, innovation, and inclusive development.

“Today, India is emerging as a global leader in space-aviation convergence,” he said, adding that the civil aviation sector has witnessed historic advancements over the past decade, which are well recognised.

He outlined three foundational pillars driving India’s aviation sector — a vast market, not merely a collection of consumers but a reflection of India’s aspirational society; a strong demographic and talent pool — where young innovators are pioneering breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, robotics, and clean energy; and an open and supportive policy ecosystem, enabling industrial growth.

“India has become the third-largest domestic aviation market in the world,” he said.

He emphasised the success of the UDAN scheme and termed it a golden chapter in Indian civil aviation history.

Prime Minister Modi stated that under this initiative, over 15 million passengers have benefitted from affordable air travel, enabling many citizens to fly for the first time.

India’s airlines continue to achieve double-digit growth, with 240 million passengers flying annually, surpassing the total population of most countries worldwide, he noted.

Prime Minister Modi said the projection is that by 2030, this number is expected to reach 500 million passengers.

He also noted that 3.5 million metric tonnes of cargo are transported by air annually in India, and this volume is set to increase to 10 million metric tonnes by the end of this decade.

The Prime Minister also said the country had 74 operational airports in 2014, which has now expanded to 162.

Prime Minister Modi further remarked that Indian carriers have placed orders for over 2,000 new aircraft, signalling rapid growth in the sector.

“India’s airports now have an annual handling capacity of 500 million passengers and (the country) is among the few nations setting new standards in user experience through technology,” he said, adding that equal priority is being given to safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

He also highlighted India’s transition towards sustainable aviation fuels, investment in green technologies, and efforts to reduce carbon footprint.

Underlining that consistent reforms have been a key driver of India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector, Prime Minister Modi stressed India’s commitment to becoming a global manufacturing hub, with strategic initiatives supporting this vision.

He further said mission manufacturing was announced in this year’s budget, reinforcing India’s focus on industrial growth.

Prime Minister Modi stressed that India should not be viewed merely as an aviation market but as a value-chain leader. From design to delivery, India is becoming an integral part of the global aviation supply chain.

The Prime Minister stated that India consistently supports Open Skies and Global Connectivity and reaffirmed India’s endorsement of the principles of the Chicago Convention, advocating for a more connected and accessible aviation network.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modi-invites-global-companies-to-invest-in-indias-fast-growing-aviation-sector-8570990

Groups of tourists, especially from states like Maharashtra and Gujarat, are reaching the famous tourist resorts of Gulmarg and Pahalgam, infusing hopes of a gradual turnaround in the sector.

The tourism sector in Kashmir has started the long journey to normalcy as tourists, though in smaller numbers, are returning to the valley after the Pahalgam terror attack dealt a big blow to the industry.

Groups of tourists, especially from states like Maharashtra and Gujarat, are reaching the famous tourist resorts of Gulmarg and Pahalgam, infusing hopes of a gradual turnaround in the sector.

Though in marginal numbers, tourist arrivals have led to some sort of activity in the sector, which was considered almost dead in the days following the April 22 attack in Baisaran meadows of Pahalgam in which 25 tourists and a local were killed.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is leading from the forefront and is actively involved in the efforts to restore faith in the valley’s tourism potential.

The chief minister has been visiting famous tourist spots, taking his administration there, engaging with the stakeholders and interacting with tourists.

Mr Abdullah recently chaired two back-to-back meetings,” one of his council of ministers and another of the senior officers of the government,” at Pahalgam and Gulmarg, respectively, to negate the perception of fear in the valley.

The Pahalgam attack had led to mass cancellations of bookings. Following the attack, tourists left the valley in droves, leaving trips midway, while confirmed bookings were also cancelled and there was a lack of interest in visiting Kashmir.

But now the clouds of fear are making way for the sunshine of positivity as queries about bookings are on the rise day by day.

“People have started coming back. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s meetings and visits (to Pahalgam and Gulmarg) have sent a positive message that the destinations are open. It has led to improvement in tourism,” Asif Burza, a hotelier with properties in Srinagar, Pahalgam and Gulmarg, said.

He said after cancellations in bookings, tourists were now doing re-bookings.

“People are showing interest again, they are not giving up on Kashmir. They want to come back…sending a message that the incidents that happened are not going to stop us,” Burza said.

He said several delegations were coming to Kashmir and many companies had approached them for holding their board and other meetings in Pahalgam — taking a cue from the chief minister.

The hotelier said fear is giving way to optimism, and expressed hope of a turnaround sooner than later.

Afsa Malik, a tourist from Gandhinagar, Gujarat, said she sees no fear in Kashmir and appealed to people across the country to visit the valley.

“This is the first time we have been to Kashmir. There is no atmosphere of fear, there is security. There are security forces deployed everywhere. Everyone should come here,” she told PTI.

Malik, who is in the valley with her family in a group of 17 people, said Kashmir is a beautiful place and their experience so far has been really good.

“We have been in Kashmir for few days and are enjoying a lot. We have been to Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, and Srinagar…visited Dal Lake. We appeal to everyone to come here,” she added.

Another tourist from Gujarat, Mohammad Aftab, said the atmosphere in the Kashmir valley is unlike the perception about the place right now.

“We are enjoying the beauty. This is unparalleled and we had not seen anything like this before. We have come here with our little children, a group of seven families. The atmosphere is much better than what we had heard. We are feeling like we had seen nothing before this,” Aftab said.

“We did not feel any fear, there is security and the locals are giving us so much love and warmth. Hotels have good facilities. The beauty is unmatched,” he added.

Aftab said they had some fear before they arrived in the valley, but the videos put up by other tourists gave them courage.

“We want to tell everyone that such things (Pahalgam attack) will not happen again in (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi’s rule. We want everyone to come here,” the tourist said.

There is a collaborative effort from the local and national tour operators, especially from Maharashtra and Gujarat, to promote Kashmir as a safe and secure destination.

A group of tour operators from Maharashtra are on a familiarisation tour to the valley to dispel the negative perception and to attract tourists. The efforts are leading to a change in perception and hope of a turnaround.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/1-month-after-pahalgam-attack-tourism-in-kashmir-starts-journey-to-normalcy-8571567

The second phase of the consecration ceremony at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya will begin on Tuesday, officials said.

As a precursor to the ‘pran pratishtha’, a grand sacred procession was flagged off from the banks of the Saryu River on Monday, they said.

Police and administration officials have placed Ayodhya on high alert ahead of the event. Commandos from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) along with armoured vehicles have been deployed around the temple complex, which has been declared a red zone. Surveillance will continue round-the-clock in three shifts.

According to an official statement, the upcoming rituals will include the consecration of idols in the Ram Darbar on the temple’s first floor and in six other temples within the complex walls. The main ceremonies will culminate on June 5, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Ganga Dussehra.

The Kalash Yatra began on Monday evening from the Saryu Ghat and proceeded through Veena Chowk, Ram Path, Singar Haat and Rang Mahal Barrier before reaching the temple premises.

On June 3 and 4, rituals including fire offerings accompanied by the chanting of 1,975 mantras, recitation of the Ram Raksha Stotra, Hanuman Chalisa and other devotional hymns will be held from 6.30 am to 6.30 pm. The main consecration of the idols of Lord Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Lord Hanuman along with six other temples will take place on June 5.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to attend four key events, including the main consecration ceremony, the Saryu Trayodashi Utsav, the birthday celebrations of trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, and an event on the World Environment Day.

Champat Rai, secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, issued a statement urging the public not to visit Ayodhya solely based on news of the rituals. No public invitations have been issued for June 3 to 5.

Rai clarified that while the temple remains open for ‘darshan’ of Ram Lalla, the first-floor Ram Darbar and nearby temples are still under construction and are not open to devotees.

District Magistrate Nikhil Tikaram Funde said extensive arrangements — including shaded waiting areas, drinking water, sanitation and ORS sachets — have been made for visitors at both the Ram Mandir and Hanumangarhi. Emergency hospital beds have also been reserved across the district.

Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Grover said multiple site inspections have been conducted and security has been fortified at all levels, both inside and outside the temple. Personnel from the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) and Special Task Force (STF) are also deployed to ensure the smooth conduct of the event.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/2nd-phase-of-ayodhya-ram-temples-consecration-to-start-from-june-3-8571930

A Rajasthan man, who was inspired by the Bollywood thriller ‘Drishyam’, allegedly killed an elderly woman, burnt her body and dumped the remains in a lake,

A Rajasthan man, who was inspired by the Bollywood thriller ‘Drishyam’, allegedly killed an elderly woman, burnt her body and dumped the remains in a lake, believing he could evade arrest if the police couldn’t recover the body.

The accused, Ramesh Lohar, a Class 5 dropout with a fascination for thrillers and true crime shows like Crime Patrol, told police he killed 70-year-old Chandi Bai with the intent to steal her jewellery, according to Udaipur Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Manish Kumar.

Chandi Bai, a member of the Dholi caste, was playing drums at an event on January 9 when the accused noticed her wearing heavy silver and gold jewellery, the ASP said.

On February 22, Ramesh lured Chandi Bai into his van by offering her Rs 1,100 to perform at a function. He drove around for hours with his phone switched off to avoid being tracked. Later that night, he took her to a secluded spot and repeatedly struck her on the head with a screwdriver, ASP Kumar said.

After the murder, the accused removed her jewellery, turned off her mobile phone, and discarded both the phone and her bag in a nearby forested area, the officer added.

Ramesh then drove to a dumping yard, where he covered the body with debris and set it on fire to destroy any evidence.

The following morning, he returned to collect the remains and disposed of them in a lake. Believing that, like in the film Drishyam, he could avoid being caught if the body wasn’t found, he tried to erase all traces of the crime, the ASP said.

However, it was not a foolproof crime as police found small pieces of the woman’s skull in the dumping yard.

During a forensic analysis, bloodstains and human hair were also found in Ramesh’s van. The hair samples were later matched to those collected from Chandi Bai’s bed, ASP Kumar said.

The case unfolded over two months after Chandi Bai’s family reported her missing.

Concerned by the lack of progress, Chandi Bai’s relatives approached senior officials and expressed apprehension that she might have been murdered. An FIR was registered and the investigation was handed over to the ASP.

During the investigation, some people claimed that they saw Chandi Bai being picked up by a silver-coloured van on February 22. Upon further inquiry, investigators found that the van belonged to Ramesh, a local artificial jewellery seller with a criminal record.

“Ramesh was brought in for questioning and initially, he denied any involvement. Technical analysis of Chandi Bai’s call records revealed that the two were at the same location on the day of her disappearance,” the officer said.

Police also found that Ramesh had a “history of criminal behaviour”, including a rape case that landed him in judicial custody.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/inspired-by-drishyam-rajasthan-man-kills-elderly-woman-dumps-remains-in-lake-9365153.html

In 2018, India signed a USD 5.43 billion deal with Russia for five squadrons of the S-400 Triumf missile system, of which three have been delivered and two still remain pending.

Russia will deliver two more units of the S-400 air defence system to India by 2025-2026. Notably, the S-400 was used during the recent Operation Sindoor launched by India in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Roman Babushkin, Russian Deputy Chief of Mission in India, said that the S-400 performed very efficiently during the military action between India and Pakistan, also giving a hint on expanding bilateral cooperation with India in air defence and anti-drone systems.

“We heard that the S-400 performed very efficiently during the recent clashes between India and Pakistan. We have a long history of collaboration. The air defence systems, according to what we are experiencing, the situation in Europe and here, this is one of the promising topics of our partnership in defence preparation in general,” Babushkin told PTI Videos.

He also confirmed that the contract for the remaining two S-400 units is likely to be delivered by 2025-26.

Notably, in 2018, India signed a USD 5.43 billion deal with Russia for five squadrons of the S-400 Triumf missile system. While three squadrons have already been delivered, two still remain pending.

Speaking further on the expansion of defence collaboration, Babushkin said, “We are open to promotion of this partnership for the discussion of the expansion of dialogue on air defence systems.”

Responding to a query about the likely delivery schedule of the remaining S-400 missile systems, he stated, “The exact dates are not yet finalised, but it can happen anytime soon. We expect this month.”

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/india-to-receive-two-more-s-400-units-by-2025-26-russia-9365190.html

Usha Vance said that her son was in love with the cart of Mangoes available at PM’s house. “…our son was just so taken by everything and then taken by the entire cart of mangoes that was available for him to eat…”

US Second lady Usha Vance shared the experience her kids had when they recently visited India and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Usha Vance, who is the of US Vice President JD Vance said her children’s first trip to India was quiet memorable as they have come back with memories of a lifetime. She said the kids talk all the time about their visit, meeting with PM Modi and the gifts they got.
Speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum in Washington, DC, Usha Vance said that when her children saw PM Narendra Modi, they put him in the category of grandfather and enjoyed with him.
“Meeting the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), that was really very special. My kids saw him – they were sort of sleep deprived in Paris, and they saw an Indian man with a white beard and white hair, and they just put him in the grandfather category immediately…” she said.

“They are very into him; they just love him, and he really cemented his status by giving our five-year-old a birthday present that day…,” the US Second Lady added

She said that her son was in love with the cart of Mangoes available at PM’s house. “…our son was just so taken by everything and then taken by the entire cart of mangoes that was available for him to eat that he announced to the Prime Minister that he thought he could maybe live there,” she added.
“Our children talk about it all the time. They’ve been all over the place and had wonderful opportunities to see the world, but this was really special to them…”Usha Vance further said.

She also talked about the puppet show the family enjoyed during the visit. Praising the stories of Ramayana depicted during the show, she said it was “huge hit” for her children.

“There was a puppet show that was a particular highlight with sort of puppeteering from all over the country, including from Andhra Pradesh, where my family is from. There were bits from the Ramayana, there were sort of comedic bits with animals, and it was a huge hit,” she said.

My kids have been trying to recreate a home with construction paper,” she added.
She called the India-US ties “very personal” for her, adding that the present time gives a “great opportunity” to boost the relationship between the two countries.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/us-second-lady-usha-vance-on-kids-maiden-india-trip-love-for-pm-narendra-modi-mangoes-puppets-article-151778491
 

A quiet Sunday night in Samouli village turned into a scene from a nightmare when more than 50 snakes began pouring out of farmer’s courtyard. What began as a single sighting of a 1.5-foot serpent soon escalated into a full-blown invasion, with the slithering creatures emerging relentlessly from beneath a concrete ramp near the house.

A quiet Sunday night in Samouli village turned into a scene from a nightmare when more than 50 snakes began pouring out of farmer’s courtyard. What began as a single sighting of a 1.5-foot serpent soon escalated into a full-blown invasion, with the slithering creatures emerging relentlessly from beneath a concrete ramp near the house.

By 9 PM, the terrified villagers had killed and buried 52 snakes in a hastily dug pit. “They kept coming like a living flood,” recounted Mahfooz, farmer in whose house ordeal took place, “We called the forest department repeatedly, but no one came to help us.”

The absence of officials forced sleep deprived villagers to maintain an all night vigil, armed with sticks and lanterns. Local authorities later claimed they never received any distress calls, a statement that sparked outrage among residents who insist they made multiple attempts to alert them.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/uttar-pradesh-horror-over-50-snakes-emerge-from-farmers-courtyard-in-samouli-village-villagers-kill-and-bury-them

An IndiGo aircraft suffered damage after being hit by a vulture at an altitude of around 4,000 feet on Monday and was forced to make an emergency landing.

An IndiGo aircraft suffered a bird hit and made an emergency landing at Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Airport on Monday. The IndiGo aircraft was hit by a vulture at an altitude of around 4,000 feet, reported PTI, citing officials.
Around 175 passengers had a close shave after the incident. All the passengers and crew members are safe while the aircraft Airbus 320 suffered damage, the official said.

“An IndiGo flight suffered a bird hit near Ranchi. It was approximately 10 to 12 nautical miles away from here at an altitude of 3,000 to 4,000 feet when the incident occurred. The IndiGo flight was coming from Patna to Ranchi, and the pilot had to make an emergency landing here,” Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi, Director R R Maurya told PTI.

He said all the passengers are safe, but the “aircraft suffered a dent after being hit by a vulture. Engineers are assessing the damage,” he said. The incident occurred at 1.14 pm, the report said.

The airline is yet to release a statement on the same.
Earlier on Sunday, an IndiGo aircraft, heading to Delhi from Raipur, was forced to circle in the air for a while. Due to dust storm, the pilot aborted landing last minute on Sunday evening and circled in the air for a while. It later landed safely at the Delhi airport.

Last month, a Srinagar-bound Indigo flight from Delhi with more than 220 people on board hit turbulence midair due to inclement weather, prompting the pilot to report the “emergency” to air traffic control at Srinagar. “Indigo flight 6E2142 enroute Delhi to Srinagar experienced bad weather (hail storm), emergency reported by Pilot to ATC SXR (Srinagar),” an official of the Airport Authority of India said.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/indigo-bird-hit-aircraft-hit-by-vulture-makes-emergency-landing-at-ranchi-airport-article-151775145

Wajahat Khan, the complainant in the case that led to Panoli’s arrest, has reportedly gone missing. His father, Saadat Khan, in an interview with Aaj Tak, India Today’s sister channel, claimed that his son had not been seen since Sunday night.

The man who filed a police complaint based on which social media influencer and law student Sharmistha Panoli was arrested in Gurugram,has allegedly gone missing. The father of Wajahat Khan, the complainant, has claimed that he had not been seen since last (Sunday) night and that the family had been receiving threatening phone calls ever since Panoli’s arrest.

Sharmistha Panoli’s arrest by the Kolkata Police sparked an outrage on Sunday, with several BJP leaders calling for her release. She was arrested over a video in which she used abusive language and made communal remarks criticising Muslim Bollywood celebrities for remaining silent on Operation Sindoor.

Wajahat Khan, the complainant in the case that led to Panoli’s arrest, received threatening calls following Panoli’s arrest, his family claimed. “My son is innocent and secular. He cannot insult Hinduism. We have been receiving threats since Sharmistha’s arrest,” his father Saadat Khan said in an interview with Aaj Tak, India Today’s sister channel.

While responding to a question about a complaint filed against his son for allegedly insulting the Hindu religion, Saadat Khan said that his son’s profile may have been hacked.

According to him, Wajahat was deeply disturbed by the flood of abusive and threatening calls he had received in the past few days, accusing him of ruining Panoli’s life. Saadat Khan also said that he too received similar threatening calls and was verbally abused.

This development comes even as the Kolkata Police has received a formal complaint against Wajahat Khan. The complaint, filed by the Shree Ram Swabhiman Parishad, accuses Wajahat Khan of making derogatory and inflammatory remarks against the Hindu community on social media platforms.

The letter, addressed to the Officer-in-Charge of Garden Reach Police Station and dated June 2, urges the police to register an FIR against Khan under sections including 196(1)(a), 299, 352, 353(1)(c) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and sections 66A and 67 of the IT Act.

The complaint alleges that Khan made offensive remarks using terms such as “rapist cultures” and “urine drinkers” to describe Hindus. It further states that Khan used vulgar and sexually explicit language targeting Hindu deities and mocked Hindu religious traditions and temples and festivals.

The letter accuses Khan of spreading content aimed at inciting communal tensions, disrupting public peace, and promoting enmity between religious groups. It urges immediate action to prevent further unrest.

A case has been registered against Khan in Assam over his alleged post. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that a police team from the state would visit West Bengal and seek help in bringing Wajahat Khan to justice.

Sharmistha Panoli was arrested late Friday night, May 30 in Gurugram and brought to Kolkata, where she was presented before a magistrate and sent to 14-day judicial custody. Her arrest followed a complaint lodged at the Garden Reach Police Station on May 15.

The video posted by her that caused the controversy was later deleted, and Panoli issued a public apology.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sharmishtha-panoli-case-man-who-filed-complaint-against-instagram-influencer-missing-claims-his-father-2734585-2025-06-02

Raja Raghuwanshi and his wife Sonam had gone missing on May 23 in Sohra (also known as Cherrapunji) in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district after going there for their honeymoon.

Indore Couple Missing In Meghalaya: The body of a man from Indore in Madhya Pradesh who had gone missing along with his wife in Meghalaya recently was found on Monday, while search for his wife continues, reported PTI.
Raja Raghuwanshi and his wife Sonam had gone missing on May 23 in Sohra (also known as Cherrapunji) in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district after going there for their honeymoon. On Monday, the body of the man was found in a decomposed state, while the search for wife is still on.
“Meghalaya police recovered a body on Monday which was identified as that of Raja Raghuwanshi by his brother Vipin Raghuwanshi. The time and other details of the death will be had after we get the post mortem report. The police have not got any clue so far of Sonam Raghuwanshi,” Indore Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Prevention Branch) Rajesh Kumar Tripathi told PTI.

According to PTI, rescue teams using drones spotted a decomposed body, and it was recovered from a spot located on a steep gorge in Sohra.

The man’s family runs a transport business. The couple got married here on May 11 and left for Meghalaya on May 20. As per reports, they hired a two-wheeler and visited the scenic Sohra area before their disappearance. The couple was last seen in the Sohra area, and their hired two-wheeler was found 15 km away from Sohra town.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/indore-couple-missing-in-meghalaya-mans-decomposed-body-found-search-for-wife-continues-article-151776007

Altogether 1,678 tourists, stuck in north Sikkim’s Lachung and Chungthang towns following rain-triggered landslides there, were evacuated on Monday, and more than 100 others are still stranded in Lachen, DGP Akshay Sachdeva said.

The evacuation of stranded tourists began after the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) restored road connectivity to Lachung in Mangan district.

Sachdeva said that 1,678 tourists stranded in Lachung and Chungthang towns for several days left for Gangtok via Phidang near Dzongu town by 284 vehicles and 16 motorcycles.

The director general of police, who personally received the tourists at Phidang, said Mangan District Collector Anant Jain and Superintendent of Police (SP) Sonam Detchu Bhutia led the convoy to ensure a safe departure of the visitors, he said.

“The convoy of vehicles, carrying tourists, comprising 737 men, 561 women and 380 children, crossed via Theng Check Post and arrived in Phdang before heading for the state capital,” an official said.

The Sikkim DGP said that efforts are underway to evacuate more than 100 tourists stranded in Lachen.

Sachdeva said he enquired about the well-being of the tourists who were on their way to Gangtok. Many of them thanked the district administration for its support in north Sikkim.

The tourists expressed gratitude to the Sikkim government and all the agencies involved in the evacuation process, the official said.

Incessant rainfall since May 29 triggered landslides in several parts of Mangan district, causing partial damage to bridges in Phidang and Sangkalang and disrupting road connectivity for several days.

The district administration had pleaded for help from BRO and other agencies, which swung into action to restore the road network to resume vehicular movement.

The BRO teams cleared debris, reconstructed damaged stretches and the dangerous breach near the suspension bridge at Phidang for one-way vehicular connectivity towards Lachung to pave the way for the evacuation of stranded tourists via the Lachung-Chungthang-Shipgyere-Sanklang-Dikchu road, another official said.

With rainfall exceeding 130 mm, major damage occurred along the routes to key tourist destinations, including Lachen, Lachung, Gurudongmar, the Valley of Flowers and Zero Point.

The disaster caused the formation of breaches at multiple locations, damage to bridges and large-scale landslides across vital road stretches, including the Dikchu–Sanklang -Shipgyere road, Chungthang-Lachen-Zeema and Chungthang-Lachung roads.

These routes, which serve as essential links toward Lachen and Lachung, were left completely cut off.

Further, two crucial bailey bridges along the Lachen axis got washed away.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/sikkim/1678-tourists-evacuated-from-sikkims-lachung-chungthang-over-100-still-stranded-in-lachen-dgp-3567946

A viral video that captured a jaw-dropping escape looked like a scene straight out of Mission: Impossible — only it starred a man in Vietnam instead of Tom Cruise, hanging off a bridge to avoid a crashing bike.

The clip, now widely shared on X (formerly Twitter), shows three men riding a two-wheeler at high speed as they approach a narrow bridge. Just as they reach the crossing, a van appears from the opposite side.

In a split-second reaction to avoid a collision, the bike ends up plunging straight into a stream below.

But in a movie-like moment, one of the pillion riders pulls off an extraordinary escape. The third rider jumps off just in time and grabs onto the iron railing along the bridge. He manages to hold on, avoiding the mishap as the bike and the other two riders plunge into the water.

Yes, he quite narrowly avoided what could have been a serious fall into the stream.

Shocked viewers online couldn’t believe their eyes. They praised the Vietnamese man’s quick reflexes, which saved him from falling into the stream and left him hanging from the bridge mid-air. The internet also hailed him as a professional stuntman.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/viral/mission-impossible-moment-as-triple-riding-bike-falls-into-roadside-stream-in-vietnam-1-pillion-manages-to-jump-seconds-before-mishap 

Acting on specific intelligence, Customs officers intercepted a passenger who arrived in Mumbai by Flight No. TG317 on May 31 from Thailand.

In a significant operation, Customs officers at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, on Sunday, booked a case involving the seizure of live and deceased wildlife species listed under various wildlife protection laws.

An Indian national has been arrested in connection with the case.

Acting on specific intelligence, Customs officers intercepted a passenger who arrived in Mumbai by Flight No. TG317 on 31 May from Thailand.

During the examination, the passenger displayed signs of nervousness, prompting a detailed inspection of the baggage.

The inspection led to the recovery of Spider Tailed Horned Viper, Asian Leaf Turtle and Indonesian Pit Viper.

* Spider Tailed Horned Viper (Pseudocerastes urarachnoides) – 3 live specimens, listed under Appendix-II of CITES and Schedule IV of the newly amended Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

* Asian Leaf Turtle (Cyclemys dentata) – live specimens, listed under Appendix-II of CITES and Schedule IV of the newly amended Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/man-arrested-at-mumbai-airport-for-carrying-venomous-snakes-from-thailand-3566645

The wedding is slated for November 18 this year. It will be a traditional affair at the Hotel Taj in Varanasi. Invitations are expected to be extended to prominent personalities from the world of cricket, Bollywood, business, and politics.

India cricketer Rinku Singh will get engaged to Samajwadi Party MP Priya Saroj on June 8 in Lucknow, politician’s father Toofani Saroj confirmed on Sunday.

The wedding is slated for November 18 this year. It will be a traditional affair at the Hotel Taj in Varanasi. Invitations are expected to be extended to prominent personalities from the world of cricket, Bollywood, business, and politics.

Rinku, 27, has played 2 ODIs and 33 T20Is for India in last couple of years and is an important member of IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders. The 26-year-old Priya is a first time MP from Jaunpur’s Machhlishahr constituency.

Toofani, a two-time former Samajwadi Party MP informed that the “engagement ceremony will be an intimate affair, attended by close family members, friends, and relatives”.

The marriage was fixed with mutual consent after both families met in Aligarh.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/rinku-singh-to-get-engaged-to-samajwadi-party-mp-priya-saroj-on-june-8-3566596

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured of every possible help to the flood-hit areas. He has spoken to the Chief Ministers of Assam, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh and the Governor of Manipur.

At least 34 people have died in floods and landslides in the northeastern states — Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and others — over the last three days.

The Air Force and the Assam Rifles were called in for the flood rescue operations today.

More than 1,200 tourists have been stranded in north Sikkim.Evacuation was scheduled for Sunday, but fresh landslides came in the way. Eight tourists who went missing on May 29 after their vehicle plunged into the Teesta River at Munshithang, ae yet to be traced.

In Meghalaya, 10 districts have been affected by flash floods and landslides. More than 10,000 people have been affected by flash floods in Tripura.

In Assam, 764 villages across 19 districts have been hit in flash floods, affecting 3.6 lakh people. With two more deaths today, the toll of flood and landslides in Assam have gone up to 10.

The Bramhaputra river is flowing above the danger mark in Dibrugarh, Neematighat amid other places. Five other rivers are flowing above the danger levels.

More than 10,000 people have been moved to relief camps.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured of every possible help to the flood-hit areas. He has spoken to the Chief Ministers of Assam, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh and the Governor of Manipur.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/34-dead-in-flood-landslides-in-northeast-19-districts-hit-in-assam-8563764

Actress and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut on Sunday urged for the release of 22-year-old influencer Sharmishta Panoli, who was remanded to judicial custody by a court in Kolkata, a day after West Bengal Police arrested her from her Gurugram in Haryana.

“Harassing someone in the name of law and order is not good. When someone has apologised and deleted the post, but putting her in prison, torturing her, ending her career and raising questions on her character is very wrong. This should not happen with any daughter,” Kangana told ANI.

Further, she said, “I urge the West Bengal government not to try to make the state into North Korea. Everyone has democratic rights. She has apologised for her indecent remarks. She had said everything in general and today’s generation uses such language very normally- both in English and in Hindi. She should be released soon because she is a very young woman. She has her whole career and life ahead of her…”

North Korea is ruled by a dictator Kim Jong Un.

Kolkata Police arrested Panoli from Haryana’s Gurugram on Friday night. She is a law student in Pune, Maharashtra. On Saturday, Panoli was produced before the Alipore Court in Kolkata, which remanded her in judicial custody for 14 days.

According to the Kolkata Police, several attempts were made to serve legal notices to Panoli and her family, but the attempts were unsuccessful because Panoli and her family absconded.

Subsequently, an arrest warrant was issued by the court, based on which she was arrested from Gurugram on Friday.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/harassing-in-name-of-law-order-is-not-good-kangana-ranaut-takes-n-korea-jibe-seeks-release-of-influencer-sharmishta-panoli-8563731

The famous Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala is set to witness a rare consecration ritual after 270 years, an official said.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam (Grand Consecration) will take place next week following the recent completion of long-overdue renovation work at this ancient temple.

The objective of the ritual is to reinforce spiritual energy and reawaken the sanctity of the shrine, according to temple authorities.

Such a comprehensive renovation and the accompanying rituals are being held at the centuries-old shrine after a gap of over 270 years, and it is unlikely to occur again in the next several decades, temple manager B Sreekumar said here.

The ‘Maha Kumbhabhishekam’ ritual will be held at the temple complex on June 8, he said.

Various rituals, including the consecration of newly built ‘thazhikakudams’ (three above the sanctum sanctorum and one above the Ottakkal Mandapam), the reinstallation of the Vishwaksena idol, and the ‘Ashtabandha Kalasam’ at the Thiruvambady Sree Krishna Temple (located within the main shrine complex), will be held as part of the event, Sreekumar said.

“The renovation has been carried out as per the directive of the Supreme Court-appointed expert panel in 2017. Though the work began soon after, it could not progress much further due to the COVID situation,” he told PTI.

Later, various renovation works were completed in a phased manner from 2021 onwards, he said.

“The comprehensive renovation and the related rituals are being held at the shrine after centuries. It is a rare opportunity for devotees of Lord Padmanabha across the world to witness these rituals after all these years,” he said.

He also said that steps are being taken by the temple management to ensure the smooth conduct of the sacred rituals, in adherence to the shrine’s centuries-old traditions.

Various rituals, including Acharya Varanam, Prasada Shuddhi, Dhara, Kalasam, and others, will be held at the shrine in the coming days leading up to the “Maha Kumbhabhishekam” on June 8, temple sources added.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/padmanabhaswamy-temple-to-hold-grand-consecration-after-270-years-8563444

Indian police have arrested scores of people for “sympathising” with Pakistan, a month after the worst conflict between the arch-rivals for decades, a top government official said on Sunday (Jun 1).

The arrests took place in the northeastern state of Assam, where Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said “81 anti-nationals are now behind bars for sympathising with Pak”.

Sarma, from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist ruling party, said in a statement “our systems are constantly tracking anti-national posts on social media and taking actions”.

One of the persons was arrested after he posted a Pakistani flag on his Instagram, Assam police told AFP.

Every day for over 20 years, a Kerala teacher showed up to the school on time, not because he took the bus or drove a flashy car, but by swimming across a river.
Abdul Malik, dubbed the “Tube Master”, has swum across the Kadalundi River each morning to get to the Muslim Lower Primary School in Padinjattumuri, Mallapuram.
The devout mathematics teacher has a daily commute of about 15–20 minutes each side.

Malik uses a rubber tube, which has earned him his nickname, for the journey to and back from the school.

According to Project Nightfall, the teacher carries his clothes, books, and lunch in a sealed plastic bag that he holds above the water’s surface for the swim.
“After reaching the other side, he dries off, changes behind a rock, and walks the remaining distance to the Muslim Lower Primary School where he teaches. He repeats the same routine in reverse when the school day ends,” reads the article.
“Over the years, Malik has dealt with strong currents, heavy monsoon rains, and even the occasional snake or floating debris. But he has never let fear or discomfort stop him.”
The teacher has a clear purpose, and that is to show up for his students, no matter what. Even after all these years and challenges, the river could never come between him and being there for his students.

But why swim?

Back in 1994, his only other choice was to take three buses and travel 12 kilometres, all for a three-hour commute one way.
Years of persuasion by locals failed to talk him out of swimming, even boats. Malik says taking a boat is inefficient and impractical, given the river’s fluctuating water levels.

It wasn’t until he became principal that the teacher started taking the longer route again, even so only occasionally.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/viral/kerala-teacher-dubbed-tube-master-has-swum-every-day-to-school-for-20-years-article-151769431

During the raids, NIA teams seized several electronic gadgets, sensitive financial documents, and other incriminating materials. These are being examined as part of the agency’s ongoing probe into an espionage network allegedly operated by Pakistan-based handlers as part of an anti-India terror conspiracy.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday carried out searches at 15 locations across eight states in connection with a Pakistan-linked espionage case. The searches were conducted at the premises of individuals suspected to be linked with Pakistan Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) in Delhi, Maharashtra (Mumbai), Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Assam and West Bengal.
During the raids, NIA teams seized several electronic gadgets, sensitive financial documents, and other incriminating materials. These are being examined as part of the agency’s ongoing probe into an espionage network allegedly operated by Pakistan-based handlers as part of an anti-India terror conspiracy.

According to the NIA, the individuals targeted in the raids had established connections with Pakistani operatives and were acting as financial conduits to carry out espionage activities in India.

The investigation is linked to a case registered by the NIA on May 20 (RC-12/2025/NIA/DLI), following the arrest of an individual accused of leaking sensitive national security information to PIOs since 2023. The accused had allegedly received funds through various channels within India in exchange for classified information.

The NIA has registered the case under sections 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), 147 (waging war or attempting to wage war or abetting to wag against govt of India), 148 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 (conspiracy to commit Section 147), sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, it said in a release.
Earlier, on May 26, the NIA had arrested CRPF personnel, identified as Moti Ram Jat, in connection with the same espionage case.

“The accused was actively involved in espionage activity and had been sharing classified information related to national security with Pakistan Intelligence Officers (PIOs) since 2023. The agency has further found that the was receiving funds from the PIOs through various conduits,” the NIA said in a statement.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/nia-big-crackdown-on-pakistan-spy-network-raids-across-8-states-key-evidence-seized-article-151764073

The Delhi High Court has passed an order protecting the personality and publicity rights of Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, founder of Isha Foundation, and restrained various rogue websites and unknown entities from misusing his personality traits through the use of Artificial Intelligence in any medium or platform.
Justice Saurabh Banerjee passed an ex-parte interim order, saying the balance of convenience is tilting towards the grant of relief in favour of the plaintiff — Sadhguru.
The court passed a ‘dynamic+’ injunction in favour of Sadhguru, a form of injunctive relief which is being granted by courts in similar matters in recent years, primarily to protect parties like the plaintiffs herein against rapidly developing online infringement platforms.

“Therefore, the position of law apparent therefrom, which has since developed with the passage of time, clearly reflects that the rights of a plaintiff, cannot be rendered otiose in this world of rapidly developing technology and for that, enforcement of intellectual property rights on any social platform, including but not limited to, the internet as well alongwith the real world, ought to be visible and effective,” the court said.

The court passed the ad interim injunction order in favour of Sadhguru in his suit seeking protection of his personality rights being infringed by various rogue websites and unknown entities.
It said Sadhguru has acquired uniqueness pertaining to his personality qua his voice, name, signature, image, likeness, vocal, articulation style and his unique attire, looks or appearance.
Justice Banerjee said Sadhguru’s personality rights are quite unique, and the impugned contents were not only utilising his personality rights but the defendants had gone a step further and employed modern-day technology to modify his images, voice, likeness, and videos for commercial gains.
“If allowed to continue in the manner it will soon spread like a pandemic with wide uncontrollable repercussions, especially, since it is a social media platform(s) herein happen to be the internet portal(s). If not stopped, the chances that (wrong) message will spread like wild fire with hardly any water left to douse it,” the court added.
The court ordered the suspension of accounts and the takedown of YouTube channels that exclusively pertain to content infringing upon Sadhguru’s personality rights and directed that their basic subscriber information be disclosed.
The court directed the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to issue notifications or directions to social media platforms to block or suspend various websites, social media accounts, and channels of infringing Sadhguru’s exclusive rights.
It said with the immense degree of freedom enjoyed by developers and innovators globally today, especially those intellectual property right holders like Sadhguru, are prone to or may be exposed or vulnerable to the actions of the ‘rogue websites’, more so, if such right holders are not accorded proper protection from them.
“This so-called dangerous edge has become even sharper with the fast-paced evolution of certain ‘hydra-headed’ websites, which, even if blocked/ deleted, have the incredible potential to resurface in multitudes as alphanumeric or mirror websites, with only minor, mechanical changes.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/delhi-high-court-passes-order-protecting-sadhgurus-personality-rights-article-151769254

The demonstrations, the Army said, were a showcase of advanced technologies developed under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Calling the trials a significant step in the Indian Army’s roadmap for a ‘Decade of Transformation’.

The Indian Army conducted extensive trials of next-generation defence technologies, aiming “Capacity Development Demonstrations” at crucial locations across the country, including the Pokhran Field Firing Ranges, Babina Field Firing Ranges, and Joshimath.
This includes dedicated Air Defence equipment demonstrations that would be held in Agra and Gopalpur. These field trials are being conducted under near-combat conditions, integrating electronic warfare simulations to assess the performance of cutting-edge defence systems rigorously, the Army said in an official release.
It added that the Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivediearlier visited Babina Field Firing Ranges on May 27, and reviewed the ongoing demonstrations.

The demonstrations, the Army said, were a showcase of advanced technologies developed under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Calling the trials a significant step of the Indian Army’s roadmap for a ‘Decade of Transformation’.

These are designed, the Army said, to ensure rapid absorption of emerging technologies to meet evolving battlefield requirements.
A large number of defence industry partners are taking part in the demonstration, reflecting the increasing synergy between the Indian Army and domestic manufacturers,” it added.

The Indian Army should have continued to hit Pakistan for two more days and the government should not have agreed to a ceasefire, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor said, adding that it was a good opportunity for the country to push its advantage further.
He said Pakistan calling for a ceasefire means the Armed Forceswere on the right path. “I’m thinking, if Pakistan wanted a ceasefire, that means our army was doing a good job, we were defeating Pakistan,” he said.
“It must have been out of fear that Pakistan wanted a ceasefire. So if Pakistan wanted a ceasefire, why did we agree to it? The Army should have let it go on for two more days,” Kishor said during a press conference in East Champaran on Saturday, reported ANI.

The political strategist-turned-politician also praised External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and called him “very educated and sensible.”

“Regarding the issue of the ceasefire, our country’s EAM Jaishankar is a very educated and sensible person. I have great respect for him. I read his statement where he said the ceasefire was done at Pakistan’s initiative,” he was quoted as saying by ANI..
Kishor said the situation on the ground suggested that India’s military was in control.
“That’s exactly what our army personnel are saying, what the citizens of this country are saying, that during the fight, we had them on the back foot, sirens were going off, people were hiding, Pakistan was on the defensive, begging for a ceasefire,” he said,
He then referred to EAM Jaishankar’s comments in which he had said that the negotiations were made directly by the militaries of the two countries.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/prashant-kishor-india-should-not-have-agreed-to-ceasefire-pakistan-was-begging-watch-article-151768956

Bar Council of India Chairman, Senior Advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Manan Kumar Mishra has condemned the arrest of 22-year-old law student and social media influencer Sharmishta Panoli, calling it a “blatant assault on freedom of expression” and “an absolute failure of justice.”

In a press statement issued on June 1, Mishra demanded her immediate release and accused the West Bengal government and Kolkata Police of politically motivated and selective action.

Panoli was arrested on May 30 by Kolkata Police for a now-deleted video in which she criticised Bollywood actors for remaining silent on “Operation Sindoor”—India’s military response to the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. The video, which drew backlash, included abusive language and remarks deemed derogatory towards Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. She later issued an unconditional apology and deleted the post.

Despite this, multiple FIRs were registered in Kolkata under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges related to promoting enmity, outraging religious sentiments, and inciting public mischief. According to police, Panoli failed to respond to legal notices, leading to her arrest from Gurugram on the basis of a court-issued warrant. She was produced before the Alipore Court and remanded to 14-day judicial custody until June 13.

In his statement, Mishra accused the West Bengal government and Kolkata Police of “excessive, selective, and politically motivated” action. He alleged a systemic bias where individuals from particular communities are targeted, while those responsible for serious acts of violence or hate speech are ignored or protected.

“History bears witness to the atrocities and violence perpetrated against specific groups in West Bengal, often with the complicity or direct involvement of government entities and political actors,” Mishra said. He cited the Marichjhanpi massacre of Hindu refugees, the Nandigram violence, and the Murshidabad riots as examples of such state complicity, alleging that in many cases, perpetrators enjoyed impunity.

He further criticised the state’s opposition to Operation Sindoor and argued that Panoli’s arrest reflected double standards: “It is deeply troubling that the same government that opposed Operation Sindoor… now seeks to silence a young law student for questioning such similar double standards.”

Mishra said it was “unconscionable” to brand the “mere wrong choice of words” as blasphemous and described Panoli’s arrest as scapegoating. “True democracy demands impartiality, restraint, and the equal protection of rights—not selective outrage and vendetta,” he said.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/latest-legal-news/bci-chairman-manan-kumar-mishra-condemns-arrest-of-law-student-sharmishta-panoli

An IndiGo flight from Raipur to Delhi was forced to abo rt landing on Sunday evening due to a severe dust storm and turbulent weather conditions in the national capital.

Flight 6E 6313 was about to touch down at the Indira Gandhi International Airport when gusty winds and a dust storm hit Delhi-NCR, prompting the pilot to abort the landing and circle in the air until conditions improved.

A video recorded by a passenger inside the aircraft surfaced on social media, capturing the moment of turbulence as the plane shook mid-air.

The aircraft eventually landed safely at Delhi airport after it was cleared by the Air Traffic Control (ATC) to land.

According to the pilot’s announcement, the wind speed was up to 80 km per hour, as he discontinued the approach and climbed back till the weather cleared.

SUDDEN CHANGE IN DELHI WEATHER

Earlier today, strong winds swept across Delhi-NCR, accompanied by a dust storm and heavy rain on Sunday evening after the residents grappled with a hot afternoon.

The downpour lowered the mercury, resulting in a significant drop in temperatures – by up to 14 degrees Celsius in various parts of Delhi – offering residents a brief but welcome respite from the sultry heat.

At Safdarjung, the temperature plummeted by 14 degrees – from 37 degrees Celsius at 3.30 pm to 23 degrees Celsius by 5.30 pm.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/delhi-dust-storm-forces-indigo-pilot-to-abort-landing-video-captures-turbulence-2734099-2025-06-01

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan also reflected on losses, stressing that Indian forces rectified some “tactical mistakes” and came back to hit Pakistan hard.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan refuted Pakistan’s claims that it had shot down six Indian fighter jets during the four-day military confrontation post-Operation Sindoor, adding that India had rectified “tactical errors” quickly and the focus should be on the lessons learned, not the number of aircraft lost.

Speaking to Bloomberg TV at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, General Anil Chauhan dismissed Pakistan’s claim that it downed six Indian jets as “absolutely incorrect,” but declined to give specific figures regarding aircraft losses during the conflict that erupted on May 7 — the worst military escalation between India and Pakistan in over 50 years.

“What is important is not the jet being down, but why they were down. What mistakes were made — that is important. Numbers are not,” he said.

General Anil Chauhan said India had identified and corrected its tactical errors within two days and resumed long-range operations with precision targeting.

“The good part is that we are able to understand the tactical mistake which we made, remedy it, rectify it, and then implement it again after two days and flew all our jets again, targeting at long range,” General Chauhan said.

General Anil Chauhan Slams Shehbaz Sharif’s Claims On Indian Jets

General Anil Chauhan also pushed back against Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s assertion that his country had shot down six Indian jets. He criticized the performance of Pakistan’s imported weapon systems, including Chinese-supplied air defenses, saying they “didn’t work.”

He added that India had successfully executed precision strikes deep inside Pakistani territory- up to 300 kilometers- on airfields protected by dense air defenses.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/the-good-part-is-cds-chauhan-hints-at-jet-loss-in-op-sindoor-says-india-came-back-stronger-9361458.html

In the wake of the Pakistani shelling, questions are resurfacing over the fate of previously sanctioned bunkers.

The air is silent in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, but it is not peace. A valley that once rang with prayer and children’s laughter stands as a remnant of Pakistani shelling. In Kasbah, Shahpur and Kirni villages, close to the Line of Control (LoC), bunkers have become the only true currency of safety.

In the wake of the Pakistani shelling, questions are resurfacing over the fate of previously sanctioned bunkers. Despite the central government having allocated over Rs 400 crore in recent years for the construction of bunkers to safeguard border residents, many villagers say the promised shelters remain either incomplete or missing. Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent announcement to undertake large-scale bunker construction has offered a glimmer of hope to communities long exposed to cross-border hostilities.

In the weeks following Pakistan’s artillery shelling in May, described by Mr Shah as the worst since Independence, the civilian population of Poonch has taken refuge not in faith, but in concrete shelters.

The villages of Kasbah, Shahpur and Kirni lie just 500 metres from the Pakistani village also named Kirni. These settlements have borne the brunt of intense shelling in recent months. Every family here has a story of loss and of nights spent in bunkers.

When NDTV’s crew arrived at the “Zero Line,” they were greeted not with demands for education, water, or roads, but a single plea repeated by villagers: “Humein bunker chahiye” (We need a bunker).

In any other part of India, such a demand would be surreal. In Poonch, it is as basic as asking for food or shelter.

Mr Shah recently announced a major government push to construct new bunkers in Jammu and Kashmir’s border districts. More than Rs 400 crore have already been spent since 2018, resulting in the construction of over 9,500 bunkers. Poonch MLA Ajaz Ahmed Jan, however, feels that more need to be built.

“We need a permanent solution. We have been raising this issue since Independence. From 1947 to 2025, the need for permanent bunkers has been voiced repeatedly. Yet here we are, with just four bunkers in a village of 6,000 people,” Mr Jan said, speaking to NDTV from inside one of the few functioning bunkers in Kirni, which ironically, was constructed on the side where Pakistani shells land when it should have been on the reverse slope.

Jan said the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had ordered an audit of bunker construction five months ago after repeated complaints, but the district administration has yet to submit a report.

Mr Jan produced a letter from the Chief Minister’s Office dated November 22 last year, addressed to the Deputy Commissioner, demanding action. “Till date, no work has been done. The letter was acknowledged. That’s all.”

A 70-year-old resident, speaking with NDTV, recalled, “From 1965 till today, there have been bullets and shelling on this border. Home Minister says people had to flee only after 1947. But we have been living under the shadow of bullets all our lives.”

In one of the bunkers, there’s no electricity. Water has to be carried from 300 metres away. The space, built to accommodate five people, regularly holds more than fifteen when shelling begins.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/operation-sindoor-jammu-and-kashmir-6-000-people-4-bunkers-ndtv-ground-report-from-j-ks-poonch-8554042

Dr V Narayanan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), shared insights on the Axiom 4 mission and its significance for India’s human spaceflight ambitions.

India’s Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to travel to space aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon as part of a crew that will include Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary for the June 8 Axiom Mission 4. Dr V Narayanan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), shared insights on the Axiom 4 mission and its significance for India’s human spaceflight ambitions.

“Right now, the training of the Gaganyatri is in its final phase. I would say everything is complete, and we are waiting for the mission to happen,” said Dr Narayanan.

When asked about the safety of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and the Crew Dragon capsule, Dr. Narayanan expressed confidence in the system. “The answer is yes. Based on my knowledge of the launcher and these modules, they have undergone sufficient experimentation and flight testing. Enough Falcon 9 launches have happened. I am fully confident. I think it’s the right thing. But, as with any rocket or space program, even after everything is done, we have to wait for D-Day for the final result.”

The Axiom 4 mission is a significant milestone for India, marking its participation in a private spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS). Dr Narayanan highlighted the benefits of this mission for India’s space program.

“August 15, 2018, was a historic day for India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the human spaceflight programme – the Gaganyaan programme. Until then, India had experience in launching rockets and satellites. But when it comes to human spaceflight, the human interface is critical, and we had very limited experience. Why do I say limited? Because we had never done it before. Of course, in 1984, Rakesh Sharma went to space and returned. Today, he is actively involved with us in the review process and has shared his experiences and the challenges he faced. We are learning a lot from him. With that in mind, I truly salute our Honourable Prime Minister Modi for his vision – why not send one of our Gaganyatris to the International Space Station? It was his vision.”

Dr Narayanan emphasised the importance of the Axiom 4 mission for building experience and confidence.

“I will tell you what the benefits are. First, the Gaganyatri is undergoing a rigorous set of training sessions, so he is becoming more confident. Second, he will fly with other experienced astronauts – Americans and others. Third, he will be part of a team conducting nine experiments, some with his fellow astronauts. He will also handle mission-related management systems. This will give him valuable experience. And when he returns, he will be more confident,” he said.

When asked about the cost of the mission, Dr Narayanan defended the expenditure.

“Let’s not reduce it to something like a bus ticket. Think about a bus ticket – I want to tell you, I travel often to Delhi these days. When I first flew in an aeroplane, it was an exciting moment. In 1947, when India gained independence, we used bullock carts and walked on foot in my village. We used to walk 10 kilometres to the temple. Then, when a bus finally came to our village, you can’t imagine the excitement – not just mine, the entire village’s. So this moment is like that. Is it worth it? Absolutely. It is fully justified. We will gain confidence, and we will gain valuable experience. The Gaganyaatri will feel comfortable, and the outcome will be truly useful for the Gaganyaan programme,” he said.

Dr. Narayanan elaborated on how the Axiom 4 mission will contribute to the success of Gaganyaan.

“First, the Gaganyatri is undergoing full training. Second, he will work with different colleagues. He’ll conduct experiments with others, not alone. In the space station, he’ll be active alongside them. So, number one: psychological preparedness. Number two: technical understanding. Number three: managerial awareness. So technical, managerial, psychological, and physical readiness – everything will be developed. And once he returns, all of this knowledge will be disseminated,” the ISRO chief said.

On the selection of Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, Dr Narayanan expressed full confidence.

“I have 100% confidence in the 20,000 employees of the Department of Space. I have full confidence in him as well. Whether it’s Shuklaji or another Gaganyatri, I’m happy. But we have chosen someone younger, and I interact with him regularly. He is highly knowledgeable, competent, and dynamic. I am fully satisfied with the selection,” he said.

Dr Narayanan also spoke about the standby astronaut, Group Captain Prashant Nair.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/axiom-4-isro-shubhanshu-shukla-space-future-begins-now-isro-chief-on-indian-astronauts-spaceflight-8554292

“We are appalled at the attempt by Pakistan to misuse the forum and to bring in unwarranted references to issues which do not fall within the purview of the forum. We strongly condemned such an attempt,” Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh said.

India has said that Pakistan should stop blaming it for the breach of the Indus Water Treaty, as the unrelenting cross-border terrorism from its soil is interfering with the treaty’s implementation. Addressing the plenary session of the first UN conference on glaciers in Tajikistan’s Dushanbe on Friday, Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh said that Pakistan itself was violating the treaty through terrorism.
“We are appalled at the attempt by Pakistan to misuse the forum and to bring in unwarranted references to issues which do not fall within the purview of the forum. We strongly condemned such an attempt,” he said.
Singh said it is an undeniable fact that there have been fundamental changes in circumstances since the Indus Waters Treaty was signed, which requires a reassessment of the treaty’s obligations.

These changes include technological advancements, demographic changes, climate change and the ongoing threat of cross-border terrorism, he said.

The minister said that the treaty’s preamble states it was concluded in the spirit of goodwill and friendship, and that honouring the treaty in good faith is essential.
“However, the unrelenting cross border terrorism from Pakistan interferes with an ability to exploit the treaty as per its provisions.
“Pakistan, which itself is in violation of the treaty, should desist from putting the blame of the breach of the treaty on India,” he said.
At the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said his country would not allow India to cross the red line by holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and endangering millions of lives for narrow political gains.
“India’s unilateral and illegal decision to hold in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty, which governs the sharing of the Indus Basin’s water, is deeply regrettable,” Pakistani newspaper Dawn quoted Sharif as saying.
Following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people, India announced the suspension of the treaty as part of several punitive measures against Pakistan. The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan with the World Bank as a signatory, governs the sharing of the Indus River system’s waters between the two countries.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/india-blames-pakistans-terror-links-for-indus-waters-treaty-troubles-at-un-summit-article-151762860

In a major financial scam, the Enforcement Directorate’s prosecution complaint (PC) revealed how approximately Rs 4.35 crore, invested through fake pharmaceutical and financial advisory shell companies, was allegedly used to establish Torres Jewelry, a fraudulent firm involved in a Rs 177 crore scam.

In a major financial scam, the Enforcement Directorate’s prosecution complaint (PC) revealed how approximately Rs 4.35 crore, invested through fake pharmaceutical and financial advisory shell companies, was allegedly used to establish Torres Jewelry, a fraudulent firm involved in a Rs 177 crore scam. The investigation has unearthed a vast network of shell firms, dummy investors, and bogus investments linked to an absconding Ukrainian national.

The case exposes how a relatively small initial investment was leveraged to orchestrate a massive financial fraud, highlighting the sophisticated modus operandi behind cross-border money laundering.

According to the ED’s findings, At the core of the scam is Lallan Jamedar Singh, who allegedly controlled two key shell companies M/s Astrozen Pharma Pvt Ltd and M/s Prisah Advisory Pvt Ltd. which illicit funds were funneled into M/s Platinum Hern Pvt Ltd, the front company behind Torres Jewelry’s fraudulent operations.

According to the ED PC, Singh acted as a frontman for Oleksandr Zapichenko alias Alex, laundering Rs 45 lakh via M/s Astrozen Pharma Pvt Ltd, and Rs 3.9 crore via M/s Prisah Advisory Pvt Ltd by routing the funds as investments into M/s Platinum Hern Pvt Ltd. This company served as the front entity behind the fraudulent operations of Torres Jewelry. The funds were layered through bogus investments across multiple levels to conceal their true origin.

These funds were layered through bogus investments to mask their origins, enabling the setup of six showrooms across Mumbai, including prime locations in Mira-Bhayandar and Navi Mumbai. The ED further revealed that the funds were also spent on renting commercial spaces, purchasing artificial jewelry, gemstones, and luxury items such as Toyota cars, iPhones, and laptops. These items were often distributed through “lucky draws” to create an illusion of a legitimate and attractive business.

The complaint further alleges that Singh facilitated the conversion of cryptocurrency (USDT) sent by Zapichenko into Indian rupees, integrating the illicit proceeds into the formal economy under Torres Jewelry’s cover. Singh has reportedly admitted during interrogation that he provided accommodation entries using multiple entities under his control. The prosecution complaint names Singh, the shell companies, and several other co-accused already in custody.

The ED has also named Tausif Riyaz, CEO of Platinum Hern Pvt Ltd, and Chartered Accountant Abhishek Gupta as active accused participants in the scam.

Riyaz, allegedly appointed as CEO by the Ukrainian accused, was actively involved in the company’s formation and financial operations. He was also found carrying cash for Lallan Singh, further strengthening the investigative agencies’ case and linking key players to the financial misappropriation.

According to the ED’s complaint, Tausif Riyaz played an active and central role in the company’s day-to-day operations, including facilitating its incorporation alongside foreign nationals. He was directly involved in financial dealings, receiving cash commissions and payments disguised as loans with TDS deductions indicating they were actually commissions. He also facilitated the cash conversion of digital assets through third-party intermediaries. These actions reflect his deep involvement in both the operational and financial aspects of the company, including potentially illicit transactions and proceeds of crime.

According to the ED prosecution complaint (PC), Chartered accountant Abhishek Gupta has also been booked in the case for his active role in concealing the fraud. Gupta not only helped register Platinum Hern Pvt Ltd with the Registrar of Companies on April 7, 2023, but also remained in constant contact with both the arrested and absconding accused. As the statutory auditor, he failed to report glaring financial irregularities and continued to aid the laundering process, a serious breach of professional conduct, as per ED findings.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/torres-jewelry-scam-435-crore-shell-firm-investment-sparked-177-crore-scam

An 11-year-old girl presented a portrait depicting Operation Sindoor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his public meeting held here on Friday to inaugurate developmental projects worth Rs 47,600 crore.

While speaking at the Chandra Shekhar Azad University ground, Modi noticed that a girl, Class 7 student Shivanya Tiwari, was holding up a portrait at the gathering. He remarked from the stage, “This girl has made a painting to be presented here, SPG people can take it.” The PM instructed the security personnel to collect the artwork and asked the girl to write her name and address, promising to send her a letter.

A similar gesture followed when Modi spotted another girl holding a painting and a boy, later identified as seven-year-old Love Dubey, enthusiastically waving at him. “You’ll get tired and your shoulders will hurt,” Modi said affectionately, asking the child to lower his hands.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/prime-minister-narendra-modi-accepts-operation-sindoor-portrait-from-class-7-girl-in-kanpur-8549374

Ankita Bhandari, a resident of Uttarakhand’s Pauri Garhwal district, had joined Vanantra Resort in Yamkeshwar as a receptionist in August 2022. Less than a month into her job, she was dead.

The report of a missing 19-year-old receptionist at a remote Uttarakhand resort came in as just another entry in a local police station on September 18, 2022. Within days, however, the matter escalated far beyond a routine search for a young woman. The teenager’s body was pulled from a canal near Rishikesh, and three men, including the resort’s owner, were arrested.

What followed was a sequence of events that drew national attention, sparked political fallout, and exposed disturbing details about the accused and their circle of crime.

A Night In Yamkeshwar

Ankita Bhandari, a resident of Dobh-Srikot village in Uttarakhand’s Pauri Garhwal district, had joined Vanantra Resort in Yamkeshwar as a receptionist in August 2022. Less than a month into her job, she was dead. According to the police, on the night of September 18 that year, an altercation occurred between Ankita and her employer, Pulkit Arya, the son of a senior BJP leader, along with his two staff members, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta.

Following a heated confrontation, Ankita was allegedly forced into a vehicle and later pushed into the fast-flowing Cheela canal, a man-made irrigation channel known for its dangerous currents.

Arya and his aides then returned to the resort, located around 10 km from Rishikesh, then filed a missing person complaint himself.

Loopholes And Delayed Action

The initial investigation into Ankita’s disappearance was marred by confusion. The Vanantra Resort is located in a semi-rural area outside the jurisdiction of regular police. Responsibility fell upon a revenue police officer or a “patwari”, whose authority and investigative capacity were limited.

The lapse delayed crucial early actions. It wasn’t until three days later, under public pressure and mounting suspicions from Ankita’s family and friends, that the case was transferred to the regular police. By then, public anger had grown.

State Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Kumar admitted the absence of immediate police action may have cost the investigation precious time.  “The area where this resort, Vanantra, is located doesn’t fall under regular police. We have a system of patwari (land revenue official) registering FIRs in such areas. He did register a ‘missing person’ FIR, filed by the resort owner himself,” he said.

Friends Raise Alarm

Ankita’s disappearance first became known to her close friend Pushp, who recounted that she had called him on the night of September 18. According to their conversation, she had been pressured by resort management to provide what were euphemistically referred to as “special services” to guests, an allegation that later became central to the motive behind the murder.

That night, after 8:30 pm, Ankita’s phone became unreachable. Pushp attempted to contact Pulkit Arya directly. Arya responded that Ankita had retired to her room. The next morning, Arya’s phone, too, was switched off. Later, other staff members gave contradictory answers. The manager said Ankita was in the gym. The chef said he hadn’t seen her.

Sensing something was seriously wrong, Pushp and Ankita’s family contacted police again, this time urging them to treat it as a potential crime. When the police finally intervened, events moved quickly.

Body Recovered, Protests Begin

On September 24, six days after she was last seen, Ankita’s body was retrieved from the Cheela canal. The post-mortem, conducted at AIIMS Rishikesh, confirmed drowning as the cause of death. But it also revealed multiple injuries-blunt force trauma consistent with physical assault. Her viscera samples, tested for signs of sexual assault, returned negative results.

Public outrage boiled over. Locals attacked the police vehicle transporting the accused, breaking windows and attempting to pull them out. In Bhogpur, villagers vandalised the resort, accusing the administration of shielding the accused due to Arya’s political connections. Overnight, authorities bulldozed the resort, declaring it illegal.

Political Repercussions

Pulkit Arya’s father, Vinod Arya, was a senior member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttarakhand. Following the revelations, he was expelled from the party. Still, he publicly defended his son, referring to him as a “simple boy” who wouldn’t commit such a crime. “Seedha sadha balak hai (he is a simple boy). He is only concerned about his work. I want justice for both my son Pulkit and Ankita Bhandari, ” Mr Arya said, drawing sharp criticism.

Vinod Arya himself was later named in another case by his former driver, who accused him of physical assault and attempted sodomy.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that the case would be tried in a fast-track court. The state government also appointed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by senior IPS officer Renuka Devi. A compensation of Rs 25 lakh was announced for Ankita’s family.

The Body, The Funeral, and Questions

Ankita’s mother later alleged that the family had been tricked into staying away from her funeral. In a video that surfaced weeks later, Ankita’s mother is seen inside a hospital, claiming she had been forcibly taken there under the pretext of being allowed to see her daughter’s body. She claimed she was given intravenous fluids against her will and not permitted to attend the cremation.

“They took my husband along forcibly, but didn’t take me. They brought me here from the forest where I live, saying I will see my daughter,” the mother could be heard complaining in the video.

“Doctors then put me in a wheelchair. I asked why was it needed but they took me to a hospital. They then forcibly put me on intravenous sugar solution and started recording a video,” she said.

She said four or five people had come to her and said they would take her to the cremation site. “I said I am her mother, I won’t do anything until I see her. I said I won’t budge until you show me my daughter. I wasn’t unwell at all. They tricked me into coming here. I was sitting at the civic body’s office. This is just for show, they have betrayed us,” she said.

Audio Clips

Perhaps the most damning evidence against Pulkit Arya came in the form of two audio recordings between him and Ankita’s close friend, Pushp. In the two audio clips, Arya can be heard attempting to manipulate Ankita’s friend Pushp, even suggesting she was “probably with him.”

In the first audio clip, Pushp can be heard asking Pulkit, “Last night, why did she [the victim] take your phone?” To that, Pulkit replied, “Her phone had run out of battery and there was no need for me to keep my phone for the night. So I gave it to her when she asked for it.”

Pushp then told Pulkit, “So, she did have a phone last night. Yet, it’s surprising that she never contacted me. In fact, I called her thrice, but her phone was switched off.”

The investigators later suspected that Arya had hoped Ankita’s body would never be found. If she remained missing indefinitely, he may have anticipated that suspicion would naturally fall on Pushp, with whom Ankita had communicated frequently. Her phone, investigators believed then, was deliberately disposed of, either dumped in the canal or destroyed to hide evidence.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ankit-bhandari-refused-to-serve-vip-guests-then-she-was-dead-the-ankita-bhandari-murder-8545964#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

PM Modi’s remarks about the BrahMos missile came in response to Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif’s recent confirmation that Indian missiles had struck multiple targets in his country

A day after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif admitted that India’s BrahMos missiles hit their targets before Pakistan could respond on the morning of May 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted that the supersonic cruise missiles had left the neighbouring country sleepless.

In Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur to launch development projects worth nearly Rs 50,000 crore, PM Modi praised the Indian military for the success of Operation Sindoor, saying that India destroyed terror dens deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

“We entered their (terrorists) camps and destroyed the terror sites in Pakistan. Our Armed Forces showed such courage that the Pakistan Army ended up begging to stop the war,” said PM Modi, adding that BrahMos had given the Pakistan Army “sleepless nights”.

The Prime Minister’s remarks about the BrahMos missile came in response to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent confirmation that Indian missiles had struck multiple targets within Pakistan on the nights of May 9 and 10.

Speaking in Azerbaijan, Sharif acknowledged that the barrage—which included BrahMos missiles—caught the Pakistani military off-guard. He also revealed that Pakistan had been preparing a strike just before the Indian missiles hit.

Earlier this month, Sharif admitted that Indian missiles, including the BrahMos, had targeted key locations such as Pakistan’s Nur Khan air base and other strategic sites in the early hours of May 10.

These missile strikes were reportedly part of India’s Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory response launched against the drone and missile attacks by Pakistan on the night of May 7.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/brahmos-gave-sleepless-nights-to-pakistan-pm-modis-stern-reply-to-shehbaz-sharif-9360401.html

The man’s facial features, including the beard, were quite similar to Virat Kohli’s.

A man from Odisha has gained widespread attention online for his striking resemblance to Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli. A video captured at the Ananta Vasudev Temple in Bhubaneswar showed the person distributing prasad among pilgrims. After the footage went viral, it attracted reactions from many cricket fans. Kohli, who is now gearing up to play his fourth IPL final for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, believes in spirituality and often visits guru Premanand Maharaj’s ashram in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, with his wife Anushka Sharma. Fans were quick to connect the dots after the doppelganger of Kohli came to light.

A content creator met the man during his recent visit to the Ananta Vasudev Temple. The main purpose of the video was to highlight the “mega kitchen” of the temple and how many items they offer as prasad.

After showing the food, the vlogger started speaking to a man, supposedly in charge of Prasad distribution. As the camera panned towards him, viewers should have been left stunned by his appearance. His facial features, including the beard, were quite similar to Kohli’s.

The original video was shared on YouTube but later created buzz across other social media platforms as well. Many asked if artificial intelligence (AI) was used to modify the look of the man to create confusion. However, the most hilarious comments certainly came from Kohli fans.

“Bro finally became the pooja path type,” said one. Another quipped, “This is Virat Kohli when not playing cricket.” “So Kohli never left for the UK? Instead, he started serving the mandir?” read a sarcastic remark.

A person humorously asked, “What will happen to the match (IPL 2025 final) now?” “This is the bodybuilder version of Kohli,” claimed one. Another called the temple man the “Judwaa (twin brother) of Virat Kohli”. “He seems to have figured out what to do after retirement,” quipped a fan.

Source : https://www.news18.com/viral/watch-virat-kohlis-spiritual-twin-found-handing-out-prasad-in-odisha-ws-l-aa-aa-9360569.html

A highway worker said he had honked repeatedly to warn the car’s occupants and was seen asking if anyone was still inside after the landslide struck

A landslide on National Highway 707 in Shillai, Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, endangered the lives of four people, including a woman. The occupants managed to exit their car just in time, moments before large boulders rolled down the hillside.

The incident, which occurred amidst heavy rains on Friday, has been captured in a video. The footage shows a car stopping moments before the landslide, with three passengers hastily exiting and running to safety.

The video clearly shows large stones tumbling down the hillside. Just moments before the debris hits the spot, the car halts and three people — including a woman — are seen quickly exiting and running to safety. A National Highway employee present at the scene is heard saying he had been honking repeatedly to alert the occupants. He is also seen asking whether anyone else was still inside the vehicle.

The region witnessed about 77 mm of rain in Rajgarh on the same day, contributing to the landslide. Landslides are a recurring issue on this highway, exacerbated by ongoing road widening works.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/is-anyone-still-in-the-car-landslide-hits-himachal-highway-caught-on-camera-watch-ws-dkl-9360467.html

Earlier, the RBI had announced new regulations to combat rising financial fraud carried out through voice calls and SMS, directing all regulated entities to implement safeguards by March 31.

A voicemail claiming to be from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is doing the rounds on social media, warning recipients that their bank accounts will be blocked due to alleged fraudulent activity on their credit cards. The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) fact-checking unit issued an alert on social media, urging the public not to fall for the “hoax”. It said that such calls are not from the RBI or any official government agency.
“Beware! This is a scam,” the PIB Fact Check team posted on Friday, along with a reminder to verify suspicious messages, photos, or videos related to the central government.

The public has been advised to report any such suspicious content to PIB’s fact-checking team for verification, the government said. It also warned against sharing personal banking information over the phone and reminded citizens to remain cautious of unsolicited calls or messages related to financial matters.

Earlier, the RBI had announced new regulations to combat rising financial fraud carried out through voice calls and SMS, directing all regulated entities to implement safeguards by March 31.

Entities must monitor accounts linked to revoked numbers to prevent misuse for cyber fraud or as money mule accounts, the RBI had said. Moreover, institutions are required to align with TRAI’s communication rules, using approved number series, ‘1600xx’ for transactional calls and ‘140xx’ for promotional ones, to help customers distinguish between genuine and unsolicited messages.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/scam-alert-fake-rbi-voicemail-claims-credit-card-fraud-dont-fall-for-it-article-151756332

India achieved a diplomatic victory as Colombia retracted its previous statement expressing condolences to Pakistan following Indian military actions on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) after the Pahalgam terror attack.

In a significant diplomatic achievement for India, Colombia withdrew its earlier statement sympathising with Pakistan over alleged loss of lives following Indian strikes in response to the Pahalgam terror attack after an Indian delegation led by Shashi Tharoor exposed Islamabad.
During his visit to Colombia, a country in far-off South America, as part of a global outreach programme after Operation Sindoor, Tharoor had expressed dismay over the country’s stand.
“There is no equivalence possible between terrorists on the one hand and innocent civilians on the other. There is no equivalence between those who attack our country and those who defend their own country, and our only disappointment with the earlier statement by Colombia was that it seemed to have overlooked this difference,” Tharoor said after meeting MP Alejandro Toro, President of the Second Commission of the Chamber of Representatives.

“We’re very pleased to learn that that statement has been withdrawn as you’ve also mentioned, and we are also very pleased that you, as representatives of the people of Colombia, are determined to stand with us for our sovereignty, for peace in the world…” he added.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio in Bogota, said that “we are very confident with the explanation that we received today and the detailed information that we now have regarding the real situation, the conflict, and what happened in Kashmir, we can also continue the dialogue…”.

Earlier, Shashi Tharoor said, “We were a little disappointed in the reaction of the Colombian government, which apparently expressed heartfelt condolences on the loss of lives in Pakistan after the Indian strikes, rather than sympathising with the victims of terrorism…”
Tharoor is leading the delegation to Colombia as part of India’s global outreach to expose Pakistan’s support for cross-border terrorist activities and India’s policy of zero-tolerance for terrorism. Other members of the delegation include Tejasvu Surya (BJP), Bhubaneswar Kalita (BJP), Milind Deora (Shiv Sena), Shambhavi (LJP), GM Harish Balayogi (TDP) and former ambassador of India to US Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/big-diplomatic-win-colombia-withdraws-statement-on-pakistani-casualties-after-indias-objections-article-151759072

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Thursday barred Bollywood actor Arshad Hussain Warsi, his wife Maria Goretti Warsi and others from accessing the securities market for a period of one year, following their involvement in a coordinated ‘pump and dump’ scheme related to shares of Sadhna Broadcast Limited (SBL).

The regulator also barred 57 other entities and persons including Warsi’s brother Iqbal Warsi from the market for periods ranging from one to five years.

The order passed by SEBI Whole Time Member Ashwani Bhatia notes that Arshad Warsi, his brother Iqbal and Goretti were complicit in the market manipulation scheme orchestrated by the mastermind, Manish Mishra.

“It is noted that Arshad Hussain Warsi in his statement recorded before SEBI on June 27, 2023, stated that apart from placing trades in his own account, he was also trading from the accounts of his wife (Noticee 61) and brother (Noticee 62).” the order noted. It further observed, “I note from the screenshot of Whatsapp Chat dated July 13, 2022 between Arshad Warsi and Manish Mishra that the orders placed on the said date from the account of Arshad Warsi for purchase of 3,29,050 shares, from the account of Noticee 61(Maria Warsi) for purchase of 3,29,755 shares, and from the account of Noticee 62 (Iqbal Warsi) for purchase of 82,625 shares of SBL, at Rs. 12.08 per share, were under the express instructions of Manish Mishra.”

In March 2023, SEBI had passed an interim order in the matter barring Warsi, his wife and several others from the securities market. However, the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) later that month restricted the bar only to the scrip of SBL.

SEBI’s investigation covered the period from March 8, 2022 to November 30, 2022. The probe was initiated after complaints were received between July and September 2022 alleging stock price manipulation in Sadhna Broadcast shares, promoted by misleading YouTube videos and a large-scale paid marketing campaign.

The company, listed on BSE since January 2018, is engaged in the television and film media business. During the investigation period, the number of public shareholders rose sharply from 885 to 72,509, while promoter shareholding fell from 40.95% to 25.58%.

SEBI found that the manipulation scheme operated in two phases. First, coordinated trades among connected entities created artificial price and volume increases in the scrip. Second, promotional YouTube videos were uploaded, projecting the company as a turnaround story and making false claims such as acquisition by the Adani Group, possession of a 5G license and unrealistic price targets ranging from ₹76 to ₹340.

These videos were uploaded through five YouTube channels run by one Manish Mishra and promoted using Google Ads. WhatsApp chats showed Mishra giving trade instructions and coordinating with Arshad Warsi and others.

On July 13, 2022, trades from the accounts of Arshad Warsi (3,29,050 shares), Maria Goretti Warsi (3,29,755 shares), and Iqbal Hussain Warsi (82,625 shares) were executed at ₹12.08 per share under Mishra’s directions.

SEBI noted that the Warsis’ trading activity was limited to stocks manipulated by Mishra. WhatsApp conversations showed discussions about receiving funds and executing buy orders. The regulator rejected the argument that they were inexperienced investors or unaware of the fraud, citing consistent trading patterns, fund transfers and chat records.

The markets regulator found that the Warsis’ violated several provisions of the SEBI Act, 1992, as well as Regulations 3 and 4 of of the SEBI (Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices relating to Securities Market) [PFUTP] Regulations, 2003. The unlawful gains were calculated at ₹41.70 lakh for Arshad Warsi, ₹50.35 lakh for Maria Goretti and ₹12.61 lakh for Iqbal Warsi.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/sebi-bars-arshad-warsi-wife-from-securities-market-for-role-in-pump-and-dump-scheme

The Excise Department, Punjab, has seized around 80,000 litres of ethanol from two trucks during overnight raids in Bathinda, making eight arrests in a major crackdown on illicit liquor, state Finance and Excise Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said on Friday.

The trucks carrying ethanol bore Gujarat registration numbers indicating that the consignment originated from Gujarat, he said.

Additionally the department impounded two cars and an SUV linked to the case, Cheema said according to a statement.

Eight persons — four from Bathinda, two from Uttar Pradesh, and as many from Nepal — have been arrested and booked under stringent provisions of the law, which include the possibility of life imprisonment.

Both the Excise Department and the police are interrogating the accused, he added.

The minister said the quantity of ethanol seized could have been used to produce around 6,25,000 bottles of liquor, including 3,75,000 bottles of country-made liquor, or 1,10,000 bottles of sanitiser.

“If such a large quantity of liquor had been manufactured and distributed, it could have endangered thousands of lives,” Cheema said, calling the operation a significant achievement for the government.

He warned those involved in the manufacture or sale of illegal liquor to shut down operations immediately or face stringent legal action, including imprisonment.

The ethanol consignment was loaded at a factory in Dinanagar, Gurdaspur, and Excise officials are probing the intended destination and purpose, Cheema said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/punjab/80000-litres-of-ethanol-seized-in-bathinda-8-held-in-crackdown-on-illicit-liquor-punjab-govt-3564835

Claiming that she clearly knows what impact electrocution has on the body, the woman, arguing before the Madhya Pradesh High Court, stated that she disapproves of the prosecution’s theory of electrocution based on her scientific knowledge.

In a recent incident, a 60-year-old chemistry professor, who is sentenced to 20 years in jail over the charges of killing her husband, has challenged the forensic findings in the autopsy report, media reports said.

Claiming that she clearly knows what impact electrocution has on the body, the woman, arguing before the Madhya Pradesh High Court, stated that she disapproves of the prosecution’s theory of electrocution based on her scientific knowledge.

This was the woman’s reply when the court asked her about her views on the post-mortem findings accusing her of murdering your husband by electrocution.

The convict, Mamta Pathak, arguing her case before the HC bench Justices Vivek Agarwal and Devnarayan Mishra gave a detailed explanation on how a human body is affected when electric current interacts with tissues. She mentioned that it’s not possible to differentiate between ‘electric and thermal burn marks’ in an autopsy, and it can only be done only through a chemical analysis and not visually.

Pathak’s explanation on the case took the judge by surprise, leading him to find out that she was a chemistry professor. The video of this extraordinary court hearing has been making rounds on the internet.

Mamta Pathak was arrested on the charges of killing her husband, Neeraj Pathak, who was a retired govt doctor, by allegedly giving him electric shocks and giving him sleeping pills, several media reports said.

A TOI report quoting the prosecution said that Mamta’s husband was found dead in his house in Chhatarpur on April 29, 2021.

The report also added that Mamata lived separately from her husband but had returned to him a few months before his death. Though the couple started living together, they often had arguments over the suspicion of Neeraj having an affair.

On the day of the incident, Neeraj had called one of his relatives, stating that he had been tortured, was not given food, and was locked in the bathroom, the publication said.

A recording of their phone conversation was presented in the trial court, the report added. Further quoting the prosecution, the publication said that Neeraj was released by Mamta from the bathroom only when the relative contacted the police and the cops intervened. Neeraj had also suffered head injuries, and on the same night, died around 9 pm.

Authorities also mentioned that sleeping pills were recovered from her husband’s room during the investigation.

Mamta had gone to Jhansi for her dialysis the very next day, however, it could not be done due to the absence of her Covid certificate. She informed the police about her husband’s death after she returned from there at 9 pm.

A session court found her guilty of murder, based on circumstantial evidence and she was sentenced to a life term.

In her argument, Mamta mentioned that the house was safe from any kind of accident due to a short circuit as her husband had got his house insured, adding that there was no expert inspection in the house following her husband’s death.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/madhya-pradesh/chemistry-professor-accused-of-killing-husband-challenges-autopsy-report-hc-judges-surprised-by-her-knowledge-3564570

“The Indians”, Zakaria said, “consider the renaming of sundry things to be historically, legally and genetically an exclusive Indian foible.” He added, “We’ll hit where it hurts them most: we’ll hit back at renamings with renamings.”

Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir was yelling as if his uniform had caught fire. “What a despicable, hideous, abominable, vile thing to do!” he screamed, as he began the meeting on a heap of broken glass and shards of metal.

“Yes, sir, this rubbish flew in when the Indians blew up our Nur Khan airbase,” said Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik, a lackey of Munir. Lieutenant General Nauman Zakaria, another lackey, nodded so vigorously that it looked as if his head might fall off.

Munir yelled even louder. “I was referring to the renaming of Mysore Pak by the Indians.” Deep Throat—as I call my source—crouched behind the heap and watched.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif coughed to get attention. “May I have the permission to speak, sir?” he pleaded, sounding as if he had a fish bone stuck in his throat. “Yes, but for 10 seconds,” the army chief snapped.

“It’s regrettable that India has—” Sharif began. “Your time is up,” Munir bawled and turned to Zakaria, who raised a hand.

“The Indians”, Zakaria said, “consider the renaming of sundry things to be historically, legally and genetically an exclusive Indian foible.” He added, “We’ll hit where it hurts them most: we’ll hit back at renamings with renamings.”

Munir grunted. Malik’s face lit up. “The Kavita Didi Ka Indian Khana in Lahore”, he said, “serves vada pav and pav bhaji. Quite popular, sir. We must order the owner to rename them as Vada Pak and Pak Bhaji at once.”

“At once,” Munir commanded Sharif, who quickly picked up his phone and spoke into it.

“Munir boy,” said Masood Azhar, the chief of terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed, a special invitee, “we must find alternative names for Lahore and Kasur too. Wikipedia reveals that Lahore was founded by Prince Lava, the son of Lord Ram, and Kasur by his twin Kusha.”

After a nod from Munir, the Prime Minister picked up his phone again.

“Now about the so-called Mysore Pak,” said Masood Azhar with a wicked smile. “My boys have found a photograph to prove that Mysore Pak was originally invented in 1864 in Muridke, now in Pakistan, and called Muridke Pak. A chef in Mysore stole the recipe and named it Mysore Pak. We must move the International Court of Justice to restore our rights over it.”

“File a case,” Munir ordered Sharif. “But will Pakistan win the case at the World Court?” he asked, his face tensed up.

“Not to worry,” Masood Azhar said with a wink. “We surely will.”

Ministry of External Affairs,

Janpath, New Delhi

“Will India win the case?’ asked External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the emergency meeting he had summoned.

“Of course,” said Congress leader Shashi Tharoor with humongous confidence. He was a special invitee. “We surely will. The verdict will come any minute.’

“And how does a teeny-weeny, pea-sized country like Pakistan,” asked Jaishankar, “so shamelessly invade our renaming territory?” His mobile rang. He picked it up with the haste of a drowning man clutching a lifeguard ring. He hoped it was news of the verdict. It wasn’t.

Sandhya Kumari, the 18-year-old chief political editor of the Fata-Fat news channel, another special invitee, scowled prettily. “We can’t sit back and bite our nails,” she said. “We must go on. We must now rename Chomchom.”

“Chomchom?” exclaimed Asaduddin Owaisi of All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), yet another special invitee.

“Chomchom is a yummy Bengali sweet,” Kumari said, licking her lips. “But I have discovered that it’s also the name of the dog of the classmate of the daughter of the neighbour of the hairstylist of Munir.”

Owaisi sighed. “We must also find new names for Shahbaz in Navi Mumbai, Shahbaz Lane in Hyderabad and Shahbazpur in UP, etc.”

“To me”, Jaishankar said, “even Kachori sounds too much like Karachi . . .” His mobile rang. His face brightened as he heard the caller.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/vada-pav-will-now-be-vada-pak-in-pakistan-3563398

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday termed her government a ‘Nirmam Sarkar’ (cruel government) and another BJP heavyweight in West Bengal called for an operation on the line of ‘Operation Sindoor’ to oust her from power, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee dared the saffron party to advance the state polls and try its luck.

Mamata alleged that Modi and the BJP were politicising the ‘Operation Sindoor’, India’s May 7 military offensives against terrorist camps in Pakistan and areas under illegal occupation of Pakistan, although all the opposition parties, including her Trinamool Congress, stood by the Union Government against cross-border terror after the April 22 carnage in Jammu and Kashmir.

She also alleged that the prime minister had halted India’s military offensives against Pakistan after the intervention by the United States.

“As I am standing on the sacred land of ‘Sindoor Khela’, it is only right that we speak about a new resolve against terrorism, ‘Operation Sindoor’,” the prime minister said while addressing a rally at Alipurduar in West Bengal – a rally the BJP planned to add momentum to its preparations to pose a formidable challenge to the ruling Trinamool Congress in the state assembly elections in April-May next year.

Modi sought to draw a cultural link between ‘Operation Sindoor’ and the ‘Sindoor Khela’ ritual of Bengali Hindu women rubbing vermilion on the faces of each other on the last day of the annual Durga Puja festival.

“From this land of Bengal, I, on behalf of 140 crore Indians, declare that ‘Operation Sindoor’ is not over yet,” Modi said, adding that India would exact a heavy price on Pakistan in case of another terrorist attack.

Modi also targeted the TMC government in West Bengal. “Look at what happened in Murshidabad and Malda. These were clear examples of the government’s cruelty. In the name of appeasement, lawlessness was allowed to flourish. Hooligans had a free run, while the police stood by as mute spectators and did nothing,” he said, referring to the communal clashes triggered by the violence during protests against the new Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, in West Bengal.

“Today, West Bengal is grappling with a series of crises. People don’t want ‘nirmam sarkar’ (cruel government). They want change and good governance. That is why the people of (West) Bengal are saying they don’t want cruelty and corruption anymore,” the prime minister said.

With Modi on the podium, Sukanta Majumdar, the state BJP chief and a union minister, drew a parallel between the killing of 26 people, mostly tourists, at Baisaran near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir by a gang of Pakistani and Pakistan-trained terrorists on April 22 and the violence during the protest against the new law in Murshidabad and other places in West Bengal. “Thousands of BJP workers, the soldiers of Modi Ji, will also launch Operation Paschim Banga like the Operation Sindoor, oust the TMC from power and throw it in the Bay of Bengal,” said Majumdar.

Mamata reacted strongly, terming the statements of Modi and the other BJP leaders as “shocking” and “unfortunate”. “He (Modi) and his party leaders have suggested ‘Operation Bengal’ like Operation Sindoor at a time when the entire opposition is representing the country on the world stage (to espouse India’s resolute stance against terrorism sponsored by Pakistan),” she told journalists in Kolkata.

Her heir apparent and the TMC general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, has joined one of the all-party delegations, which the BJP-led Union Government sent around the world to convey India’s policy of zero-tolerance against terrorism and to expose Pakistan’s role in supporting the menace.

“I challenge them (the BJP)…If they have the courage, they should hold elections in the state tomorrow. We are ready and West Bengal is ready…The people of West Bengal are with us,” she said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/west-bengal/modi-calls-tmc-govt-cruel-mamata-pm-him-for-politicising-op-sindoor-after-bjp-calls-for-ops-bengal-to-oust-her-3563495

Pathania, MLA from Udhampur East, has categorically denied the allegations, claiming the clip was “morphed” to malign him and said a police complaint has been filed by the party’s legal team.

Indian army personnel. (Image for representational purposes.) Credit: PTI File Photo

A video clip purportedly showing BJP MLA R S Pathania making disparaging remarks about the Indian Air Force (IAF) during a meeting on a land dispute has gone viral, sparking a political storm in Jammu and Kashmir.

Pathania, MLA from Udhampur East, has categorically denied the allegations, claiming the clip was “morphed” to malign him and said a police complaint has been filed by the party’s legal team.

The controversy erupted after a nine-second video clip surfaced on social media in which Pathania purportedly criticises the IAF’s role during Operation Sindoor, allegedly calling out their competence. The clip led to sharp reactions, including condemnation from the J-K Congress, which termed the remarks “disrespectful’ and demanded an apology.

“During Operation Sindoor, everyone remembers what happened at the Air Force station. Either it was the fault of the incompetent ones, or these people must have been asleep.

“We were not at fault. We had placed them here with great respect, as if on our eyelids,” Pathania is purportedly heard saying in the clip.

Reacting to the backlash, Pathania released a video statement, asserting, “I have not said anything against the armed forces. The clip is edited and morphed. Our legal team has taken action and filed an FIR against those responsible for spreading this misinformation.”

Pathania reaffirmed his support for the armed forces, stating, “Bharat Mata ki Jai. Armed Forces ki Jai. Indian Air Force ki Jai. We are proud of our forces.” BJP state president Sat Sharma backed Pathania, stating that his remarks were being misconstrued. “I have spoken to Pathania ji. An FIR has already been registered in this regard,” he told reporters.

However, Congress working president Raman Bhalla slammed the BJP for its silence. “We condemn it. Why is the top BJP leadership silent over such utterances against our armed forces? We demand stern action against all such leaders,” Bhalla said.

The row stems from a long-standing land dispute between the local residents and the IAF station near Udhampur. Notices were recently issued by the district administration and IAF regarding alleged unauthorised obstructions on a road leading to the station.

Addressing villagers at a protest meeting in Kaseeda village, Pathania accused the administration and the IAF of issuing arbitrary notices. “Just today, a notice under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has been issued. This is about unauthorised obstruction. The administration should understand the law or we will make them understand,” he said.

Pathania asserted that the land in question legally belongs to locals and was originally given in good faith for the national interest. “This road was acquired without any compensation. The government cannot take even an inch of land without due legal process,” he said.

He warned against any “illegal or unconstitutional steps” from the administration or the IAF. “We will respond not with bricks but with stones if forced. Stay within constitutional limits,” he said, while also emphasising that locals are patriotic and cooperative.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jammu-and-kashmir/jk-bjp-mla-denies-disrespecting-armed-forces-terms-viral-video-morphed-3563353

Notably these are the first official state-level film awards since Telangana’s formation, ending a prolonged hiatus that began after the last Nandi Awards were presented in the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh in 2011.

In an intriguing development, the Telangana government has selected ‘Icon Star’ Allu Arjun as the best actor for his role in Pushpa 2 for the state government’s Gaddar Telangana Film Awards (GTFA) for the year 2024. This recognition comes months after Arjun was arrested by Telangana police in connection with his alleged role in causing a stampede during his film’s screening, which resulted in a woman’s death.

The actor spent a night in jail in December last year, leading to significant backlash against the Revanth Reddy government from Arjun fans. At that time Tollywood actor Allu Arjun refuted claims that he acted irresponsibly during the screening of his Pushpa 2 movie at Sandhya Theatre, which resulted in a stampede that killed a woman on December 4 last year.

“I am truly honoured to receive the first Best Actor award for #Pushpa2 at the #GaddarTelanganaFilmAwards 2024. Heartfelt thanks to the Government of Telangana for this prestigious honour . All credit goes to my director Sukumar garu, my producers, and the entire Pushpa team. I dedicate this award to all my fans , your unwavering support continues to inspire me,” said Allu Arjun on X.

Notably these are the first official state-level film awards since Telangana’s formation, ending a prolonged hiatus that began after the last Nandi Awards were presented in the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh in 2011.

Nandi awards are now named as GFTA. The awards ceremony recognizes excellence in Telugu cinema within the newly formed state. Other notable winners include Nivetha Thomas, acclaimed singer Shreya Ghoshal, and the film Kalki 2898 AD, which received top honors at the state awards.

The jury, chaired by veteran actor Jayasudha, announced the complete list of winners on Thursday. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka recently announced that the government will present the Gaddar Telangana Film Awards on June 14, with the ceremony expected to take place at HITEX in Hyderabad.

Jayasudha said the jury received 1,248 nominations for the awards in 11 categories. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy last year announced that Nandi awards for excellence in Telugu cinema will be revived and renamed after revolutionary poet and balladeer Gaddar, who passed away in 2023.

Kalki 2898 AD has bagged the best feature film award while Pottel and Lucky Bhaskar were declared second and third best feature films respectively.

Nivetha Thomas has been adjudged as the best leading actress for ’35-Chinna Katha Kadu’. SJ Surya bagged the best supporting actor award for ‘Saripoda Sanivaram’ while Saranya Pradeep received the best supporting actress award for her performance in Ambajipeta Marrige Band.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/telangana/months-after-pushpa-2-stampede-row-telangana-picks-allu-arjun-as-best-actor-for-state-awards-3562986 

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has suspended its project director and site engineer following the collapse of a section of National Highway 66 at Kooriyad in Malappuram on May 19.

In addition, a committee was constituted on May 24 to inspect other potentially vulnerable locations with Reinforced Soil Walls and Slope Protection Works across 17 ongoing NH-66 projects in Kerala.

A three-member expert panel, led by a retired professor from IIT-Delhi, had earlier visited the collapse site on May 21 to assess the failure and suggest remedial measures. Preliminary findings indicated that the collapse occurred due to the foundation soil’s inability to bear the high embankment load.

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways stated that the contractor, KNR Constructions, had committed serious errors during construction. Investigations revealed that soil conditions were inadequately assessed and land reinforcement was neglected.

Based on these findings, KNR Constructions has been debarred from future bids for up to one year and fined ₹20 lakh. The company has also been directed to clear the debris and rebuild the damaged structure—a new flyover—at their own expense, estimated at around ₹80 crore.

Source : https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2025/05/29/nh-66-malappuram-collapse-nhai-project.html

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has admitted that its army was caught unawares on the intervening night of May 9-10 when India launched BrahMos missiles to strike key military bases, including the airport in Rawalpindi.

Speaking at an event in Azerbaijan, among the few nations to have sided with Pakistan, Sharif said the army, led by Asim Munir, had planned to attack India on May 10 after morning prayers. However, even before dawn, long-range supersonic BrahMos cruise missiles rained down on various provinces of Pakistan, the Prime Minister said.

Sharif said he was informed of the early morning attack by Munir, who has now been promoted to the rank of Field Marshal.

“On the night of May 9-10, we decided to respond in a measured fashion to Indian aggression. Our armed forces were prepared to act at 4.30 in the morning after Fajr prayers to teach a lesson. But before that hour even arrived, India once again launched a missile attack using BrahMos, targeting various provinces of Pakistan, including the airport in Rawalpindi,” Sharif said during his speech in Lachin.

The Prime Minister’s rare acknowledgement of India’s military response came in the presence of Asim Munir.

In fact, the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi was among the 11 military sites targeted by India in response to Pakistan launching drone and missile attacks on civilian areas along the western border.

The airbase, a stone’s throw away from the Pakistan Army Headquarters in Rawalpindi, houses top-of-the-line military aircraft such as Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Ilyushin Il-78 refuellers. Analysis of satellite imagery indicates damage to at least two military transport vehicles.

Apart from Nur Khan, India struck Pakistani military bases at Rafiqui, Murid, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Chunian. The air bases in Skardu, Bholari, Jacobabad and Sargodha also suffered extensive damage.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-hit-airbases-with-brahmos-missiles-before-pak-could-act-admits-shehbaz-sharif-2732562-2025-05-29

From the compiled digital evidence, authorities have identified at least 140 people allegedly engaged in the violence, including stone-pelting and firing. So far, 65 individuals have been detained for questioning, with 15 found to be directly involved in the assault.

Forensic analysis has confirmed that approximately 1,500 individuals were present during the violent mob attack on police in Nahal village on May 25, which resulted in the death of Constable Saurabh Deshwal. Investigators used mobile tower location data and recovered video footage from three CCTV systems installed in nearby homes to establish a clearer timeline and identify individuals involved.

From the compiled digital evidence, authorities have identified at least 140 people allegedly engaged in the violence, including stone-pelting and firing. So far, 65 individuals have been detained for questioning, with 15 found to be directly involved in the assault. Those arrested include Qadir alias Mantar, a known history-sheeter. His brother Adil has also been seen in footage physically attacking police personnel.

Investigators face ongoing challenges in pinpointing the exact weapon used in Constable Deshwal’s killing. Video footage recorded during the incident is hindered by poor visibility due to nighttime conditions, complicating efforts to match ballistic evidence with a specific firearm.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/uttar-pradesh/nahal-mob-attack-forensic-data-reveals-presence-of-1500-people-during-violence

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a native of Lucknow and officer in the Indian Air Force, will soon depart for the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA’s Axiom-4 mission. He becomes the second Indian to fly into space after Rakesh Sharma and the first to do so in over four decades. He has also been selected for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a native of Lucknow and officer in the Indian Air Force, will soon depart for the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA’s Axiom-4 mission. He becomes the second Indian to fly into space after Rakesh Sharma and the first to do so in over four decades. He has also been selected for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission.

Shukla’s early life and education took place in Lucknow. His father, Shambhu Dayal Shukla, expressed pride at his son’s achievement, stating that preparations for this mission began in 2019. “It’s a matter of honour for the country and state. He is fully prepared and confident,” he said, while thanking the Chief Minister and Prime Minister for their support.

Shukla’s mother, Asha Shukla, highlighted the role of her daughter-in-law, who supported him throughout. She added that the mission is especially emotional as they haven’t met him since March last year.

She recalled that Shukla never had this dream in childhood, his selection into NDA, then Air Force, then as a test pilot and eventually astronaut happened gradually and swiftly.

Born on October 10, 1985, Shukla joined the IAF in June 2006 and became Group Captain in March 2024. He has over 2,000 flying hours on aircraft like Su-30 MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32. He received astronaut training in 2019 at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, Russia.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/up-news-lucknows-group-captain-shubhanshu-shukla-to-fly-to-iss-with-nasas-axiom-4-mission-first-indian-in-space-after-40-years

Top intelligence sources said the presence of Pakistani politicians alongside Talha Saeed shows the country’s institutional support of terrorism

A video of UN-proscribed terrorist Talha Saeed – son of 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed – has emerged in which he is purportedly inciting violence against India, during a public rally at Lahore in the presence of the Pakistani politicians on stage.

The video clip from the rally, which was held on Wednesday (May 28), shows Talha Saeed welcoming the speaker of the Punjab assembly, Malik Ahmad Khan, on stage along with other politicians. Posters of Field Marshal Asim Munir can also be spotted, alongside those of Hafiz Saeed.

According to top intelligence sources, this shows Pakistan’s institutional support of terrorism. Under the guise of appreciating ‘Operation Bunyan al-Marsus’, when Pakistan tested its nuclear weapons, all the extremists are back together on the same stage, the sources said.

The intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that the presence of Talha shows that the extremists are celebrating the Pakistan Army under state sponsorship. He also named alleged Pahalgam attack mastermind Saifullah Khalid during the rally, they said.

They said India did not err by targeting terror infrastructure under Operation Sindoor in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Talha’s speech threatened to “choke India” over the abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), which is a lifeline for Pakistan’s agriculture.

“Today there is a message for India from Pakistan. We have won ‘Operation Bunyan al-Marsus’ and God should accept our presence here. I’m thankful to Malik Ahmad Khan, speaker of Punjab Assembly, Malik Rashid Khan and Saifullah Khalid for their presence here on stage. I also salute the people of Pakistan on behalf of my father Hafiz Saeed. I am here to tell you God loves those who do jihad,” he said during the rally.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/hafiz-saeed-son-talha-saeed-anti-india-rally-lahore-pakistan-ws-l-9358125.html

It was a marriage made in Manhattan — and it brought Wall Street to a full stop.

An extravagant Indian wedding parade, or baraat, turned the Financial District into a full-blown block party on Saturday, halting traffic and causing jaws to drop faster than a stock market crash.

Hundreds of people, decked in glittering sarees, sequinned lehengas and gold-embellished finery, gathered outside Cipriani Wall Street to watch the happy couple arrive and grooved to a pulsating blend of Bollywood beats and pop bangers spun by a live DJ.

“We shut down Wall Street for a 400-person Baraat,” DJ AJ @djmumbai wrote alongside a clip of the epic moment. “Who would’ve ever thought?!”

“Who are the bride and the groom? Must be billionaires,” one person commented.

Turns out, the mystery newlyweds weren’t Bollywood royalty — but they might as well be.

Thanks to a plethora of social media posts tagging them, the duo was identified as Varun Navani, CEO of enterprise AI platform Rolai, and Amanda Soll, a director of legal compliance and risk management, per their LinkedIn pages.

Their identities were confirmed by their wedding page on The Knot, which contained the details of their four-day wedding celebration.

The high-powered pair hail from Boston, Mass., but decided to tie the knot in the city that never sleeps.

The bride and groom didn’t just break the internet — they broke the bank.

According to city records viewed by The Post, the couple filed 28 permits for their big day, likely shelling out between $25,000 and $66,000 per location to shut down the Financial District.

The Mayor’s Office classifies street events — which take over curbs, sidewalks and roads — by size and impact, with “large” events requiring a full block closure and extensive setup, and “extra-large” events demanding even more space, permits and NYPD coordination.

The baraat — a time-honored tradition in Hindu and Muslim South Asian weddings — is essentially a pre-ceremony procession where the groom’s family and friends dance their way to the venue, often with dhol drums, music and more flair than a Broadway finale.

Traditionally, the groom arrives on horseback, following rituals like his sister feeding daal-channa (lentils) to the steed and sisters-in-law applying kaala teeka (a black dot) to the back of his neck to ward off the evil eye.

According to their Knot page, the lovefest kicked off Friday, May 23, with breakfast and afternoon tea at the Conrad hotel, followed by a lively sangeet — a pre-wedding bash full of music, dancing and revelry — at The Glasshouse.

Saturday brought more breakfast, brunch and tea at the Conrad before the main event: the baraat at 3:30 p.m., followed by a lavish reception at Cipriani Wall Street that kept guests partying from 5:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.

For the baraat, Navani arrived in a traditional ivory long coat, or sherwani, and layered pearl necklaces and stunned onlookers, who captured the dazzling scene of hundreds dancing down the historic street. The groom was also seen riding in a white vehicle down the street at one point and clapped with a megawatt grin as his crew hoisted him into the air.

Soll, the bride, stunned in a deep ruby lehenga by renowned Indian designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, adorned with ornate gold embellishments and matching glimmering jewelry. Her brunette tresses swept into an elegant updo with soft face-framing tendrils.

Her glam? A modern classic with kohl-rimmed, winged liner, glistening highlighter and rosy blush on her cheekbones and a minimal nude lip.

Even the groomsmen brought the fashion heat in coordinated pink-and-white ethnic attire, setting a festive tone for the scene that had bystanders wondering if they’d stumbled onto a movie set.

But wait — there’s more.

On Sunday, the pair hosted another round of breakfast and tea before exchanging vows again in an evening Jewish wedding at Cipriani and an after-party at Slate that lasted until 4 a.m.

Source : https://nypost.com/2025/05/29/lifestyle/indian-couples-extravagant-wedding-parade-shuts-down-wall-street-meet-the-bride-and-groom/

The audio clip features a conversation between the two government doctors from the time when Covid-19 was at its peak in 2021, and hospitals were crowded with patients

A purported audio clip of a Maharashtra government doctor instructing his colleague to kill a patient suffering from Covid-19 has surfaced on social media. The conversation between the two medical professionals is from the time when the pandemic was at its peak in 2021, and hospitals were crowded with patients and resources were scarce.

News18 could not access the audio clip. The police said they have registered an FIR in the matter. The purported conversation is between a senior doctor of a government hospital in Latur district and his colleague, officials said.

The police said the accused are Dr Shashikant Deshpande, who was then additional district surgeon at the Udgir Government Hospital in Latur, and Dr Shashikant Dange, who was posted at a Covid-19 care centre. The patient, Kausar Fatima, wife of Dayami Ajimoddin Gaussoddin (53), had later recovered from the disease.

In the conversation, Dr Deshpande is allegedly heard saying: “Don’t allow anyone to go inside, just kill that Dayami woman.” To this, Dr Dange responds cautiously, noting that oxygen support had already been reduced.

Based on a complaint by Gaussoddin, the police registered a case against Dr Deshpande on May 24 under legal provisions for deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings and other offences.

WHAT DOES THE FIR SAY?

In the FIR, the complainant said in 2021, during the pandemic, his wife Kausar Fatima (then aged 41), tested positive for Covid-19. She was admitted as an inpatient at the government hospital in Udgir on April 15, 2021, and Covid treatment was being provided in a building opposite an eye hospital on Nanded Road, under the management of the hospital. Dr Dange was treating Covid-19 patients at that centre.

The woman remained admitted there for 10 days. Around the seventh day of her admission, her husband was sitting beside Dr Dange while he was having lunch. At that moment, Dr Dange, who received a call from Dr Deshpande, placed the phone on speaker and continued the conversation regarding hospital matters.

During the call, Dr Deshpande enquired about bed availability. When Dr Dange informed him that there were no vacant beds, the man claimed that he distinctly heard Dr Deshpande saying: “Kill the Dayami patient. You’re used to dealing with such people.”

He also allegedly made a caste-based slur during the conversation, as per the man’s complaint. The man said he was shocked, but chose to remain silent at the time since his wife was still undergoing treatment. A few days later, his wife recovered and was discharged.

However, on May 2, 2025, the audio clip of the purported conversation surfaced on social media. The man said hearing the same disturbing remarks again deeply hurt him and offended his religious sentiments, especially the alleged use of derogatory caste-related comments, following which he lodged the police complaint.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/just-kill-that-woman-maharashtra-doctors-instructions-to-colleague-treating-covid-patient-ws-l-9358334.html

MEA Randhir Jaiswal made this statement after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had said he was “ready to talk” with India

India has laid down firm conditions for any future talks with Pakistan, saying dialogue can only take place once Islamabad hands over wanted terrorists and vacates Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

This response came after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently said he was “ready to talk” with India to resolve “longstanding issues.” Relations between the two neighbours have remained tense, especially after Operation Sindoor, which India launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India’s position on Pakistan has always been “clear and consistent.”

“We want to reiterate that terrorism and talks cannot go hand in hand,” Jaiswal said. “As far as terrorism is concerned, the discussion will be solely about Pakistan handing over to India the terrorists from the list provided to them several years ago.”

He further stated that any talks on Jammu and Kashmir will only happen when Pakistan begins the process of vacating PoK.

“For Jammu and Kashmir, any bilateral talks will only take place regarding the timeline and process for Pakistan to vacate PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir),” he added.

The MEA spokesman also made it clear that the Indus Waters Treaty will remain suspended till Pakistan “credibly and irrevocably” ends its support for cross-border terrorism.

“As far as the Indus Water Treaty is concerned, it will remain in abeyance till the time Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support to cross-border terrorism,” Jaiswal stated.

Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added, “terror and talks cannot go together, terror and trade cannot go together, and water and blood cannot flow together.”

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/indus-water-treaty-on-hold-till-pakistan-stops-supporting-cross-border-terrorism-mea-9358268.html

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed that there has been a lot of progress in the agriculture sector in the last decade, Modi said this success should reach the farmers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the ’Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ provides a unique opportunity for farmers across the country to clear their doubts and ask questions to agricultural scientists who visit their areas during the campaign.

Modi said this in a video message which was played at a programme held at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology and attended by Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, scientists, farmers and others.

Speaking on the ’Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan’ which was launched on May 29, the Prime Minister said that the farmers across 700 districts of the country, will get the opportunity to clear their doubts when preparing to start kharif crop cultivation after the onset of the Monsoon. He said over 2,000 teams of agricultural scientists and experts will visit villages (from May 29 to June 12) in a mission mode as part of his vision of “Lab to Land” and the concept of a developed India.

Modi said scientists and experts will visit villages and meet farmers with all data and information. “This campaign will certainly help farmers before beginning of the cultivation activities,” Modi said appealing to the scientists to take the campaign in a mission mode and help farmers in acquiring modern knowledge in agriculture.

“I would like to tell the scientists and other employees that this is a big mission before them. The challenge that you are taking is not just a government assignment. Please do it in a spirit of serving the nation. You have to satisfy the intellectual curiosity of farmers and also record their valuable suggestions,” Modi said, adding that the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan will open a new door of progress for Indian farmers.

Stating that there has been a lot of progress in the agriculture sector in the last decade, Modi said this success should reach the farmers working in the field. “We have worked on how to raise the income of farmers, strengthen the agricultural economy, increase food grain production, climate change challenges, cultivation in less water and modernise cultivation. These experiences should now reach farmers,” he said.

The PM also suggested that the farmers be made aware of solar panelling in their fields, bee farming under sweet revolution, the impact of chemical and pesticide use and convert agricultural wastes to wealth.

“The farmers should be informed on where and how to grow ’Sree Anna’ for better production, inclusion in Govardhan Yojana and others,” the Prime Minister said.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/pm-modi-asks-farmers-to-clear-doubts-with-scientists-during-viksit-krishi-sankalp-abhiyan-9358931.html

Sources said all ministries have been instructed to submit a detailed report of their achievements. This would include a review of the past year as well as the full eleven-year term

The Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will focus on another performance review as it completes 11 years in power and one year of Modi 3.0 on June 9. Sources said all ministries have been instructed to submit a detailed report of their achievements. This would include a review of the past year as well as the full eleven-year term.

These reports will be compiled and submitted to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, which will create a booklet highlighting the government’s achievements, sources said.

The government will also make an all-out effort to reach out to the people. The key outreach efforts, sources said, would include comparison between the past and present to showcase progress, promotion of achievements on social media by all ministries.

To spread the message, the government will also reach out through newspaper articles and media conferences.

The government will also hold special programmes on key dates. The schedule is:

• June 5: World Environment Day
• June 9: One year of Modi 3.0
• June 21: International Yoga Day
• June 25: 50 years since the Emergency

The complete blueprint was discussed in detail at yesterday’s cabinet meeting. BJP chief JP Nadda also held a video conference with all party MPs to outline the upcoming public engagement programmes.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/list-achievements-ministers-told-as-narendra-modi-government-completes-11-years-8540651

The Kerala government has declared the wreckage of the Liberian-flagged cargo ship, MSC ELSA-3, which sank 14.6 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala on May 24, a State-specific disaster.

Tinku Biswal, Principal Secretary of the State Disaster Management Department, stated that the shipwreck posed a potentially serious threat to Kerala’s coast, both environmentally, socially, and economically.

Ms. Biswal stated in the government order that the maritime incident had raised serious environmental concerns, including the potential for oil spills and drifting of debris, including cargo containers, in the littoral waters abutting Kerala’s 640 km coastline.

The order permits the State Disaster Management Authority to mobilise resources, including personnel and significant sums of money from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), for expeditious relief efforts.

The container ship, which had set course for Kochi from Vizhinjam, foundered after encountering heavy weather 38 km southwest of its port of call.

A perilous combination of heavy seas, possible hull leakage, mechanical failure and perhaps unbalanced cargo reportedly caused the ship to list heavily before capsizing and sinking. The Coast Guard rescued the ship’s crew, comprising up to 21 individuals from various nationalities, including Russia and the Philippines.

The Customs department verified the ship’s cargo manifesto. It said the sunk vessel threw 640 containers, including 12 containing hazardous incendiary material, overboard when it flipped over.

Thus far, at least 54 containers have washed ashore on the beaches of Kollam (43), Thiruvananthapuram (9), and Alappuzha (2). Nevertheless, flotsam from damaged containers battered by the high seas off Kerala’s coast could wash up on the southern beaches of Kerala.

Source : https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kerala-government-declares-kochi-shipwreck-a-state-disaster/article69633025.ece

Model Rachel Gupta announced on social media on Wednesday that she has resigned from her Miss Grand International 2024 title. However, a controversy ensued after the organisers claimed she had been officially terminated.

In a post on Instagram, Gupta, 21, claimed she had been subjected to a toxic environment and repeated unkept promises. According to her, the decision to step down was difficult but necessary.

“Being crowned was one of the most cherished dreams of my life, but the months following my crowning have been marked by broken promises, mistreatment, and a toxic environment I can no longer endure in silence,” she wrote.

Gupta said she would share her full side of the story in a video soon, adding in her caption: “The truth will come out very soon.”

“To all my supporters around the world: I’m truly sorry if this news has disappointed you. Please know this wasn’t an easy decision, but it was the right one for me,” she said.

While Gupta pointed to a toxic environment, the Miss Grand International (MGI) Organisation painted a different picture.

In a statement posted on social media, MGI confirmed that Gupta had been officially terminated from her position.

The organisation accused Gupta of failing to honour her duties, pursuing unauthorised external projects, and refusing to attend an official trip to Guatemala.

“The Miss Grand International Organisation hereby announces the termination of Miss Rachel Gupta’s title as Miss Grand International 2024, effective immediately,” the statement reads. They also asked that she return the crown to the MGI Head Office within 30 days.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/trending-news/story/rachel-gupta-resigns-miss-grand-international-2024-organisers-terminated-2731897-2025-05-28

Though China purportedly decided to fast-track the supply of J-35A stealth fighter jets to Pakistan in the wake of India’s “Operation Sindoor” targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan as well as in the areas illegally occupied by Pakistan, New Delhi is not keen to disturb its détente with Beijing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are likely to meet at Rio de Janeiro in early July, with New Delhi keen to continue the process of normalising its bilateral relations with Beijing, notwithstanding China’s support to Pakistan during the recent flare-up between India and its western neighbour.

Though China purportedly decided to fast-track the supply of J-35A stealth fighter jets to Pakistan in the wake of India’s “Operation Sindoor” targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan as well as in the areas illegally occupied by Pakistan, New Delhi is not keen to disturb its détente with Beijing.

Modi and Xi are expected to attend the 17th BRICS summit, which will be hosted by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil on July 6 and 7. The officials of India and China are exploring the possibility of a meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the summit, a source in New Delhi told DH.

If the meeting happens, it will be the second between Modi and Xi, after the talks between the two leaders on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS summit at Kazan in Russia on October 23 last year marked the beginning of a process to normalise the relations after more than four years that saw India-China relations hit a new low over the military stand-off along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh.

New Delhi has taken note of Beijing’s support to Islamabad after tension escalated between India and Pakistan in the wake of the April 22 killing of 26 people, mostly tourists, at Baisaran near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir.

Even before India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan as well as areas under illegal occupation of Pakistan, China vowed to support its “all-weather ally” Pakistan in “safeguarding its territorial integrity and sovereignty”.

Beijing also supported Islamabad’s call for an impartial probe into the April 22 carnage in J&K, although The Resistance Force, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Tayyiba based in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the latest terrorist strikes in India. New Delhi, however, rejected Islamabad’s call for a neutral and international probe, terming it just a delaying tactic.

Pakistan even fired PL-15 missiles made in China at targets in India during the May 7-10 cross-border flare-up between the two South Asian neighbours.

China also purportedly provided satellite support to Pakistan to choose targets in India and to neutralise India’s counterattacks.

India’s air defence systems, however, intercepted the missiles fired by the Pakistani Army.

New Delhi sent out a message to Beijing, with the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Randhir Jaiswal, recently stating that “mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual sensitivity” remained the basis of India-China relations.

A few days after New Delhi and Islamabad agreed to halt the four-day-long cross-border military offensives and counter-offensives on May 10, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar, in Beijing.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/modi-may-meet-xi-in-rio-de-janeiro-despite-chinas-military-support-for-pak-3561785

S Jaishankar also spoke about collaborations in other areas including the IMEEC or the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor and the solar alliance as well as working together in areas like disaster management.

Italy and India are on the same page on terror. Both sides believe in zero tolerance for those responsible for the deaths of 26 tourists in Pahalgam. And also, their supporters, said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
Speaking at the Italian national day function this evening, Jaishankar said Italy had expressed solidarity after Pahalgam and added that the top leadership of both countries were in touch and felt the same about resolutely fighting terrorists.

Jaishankar also spoke about collaborations in other areas including the IMEEC or the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor and the solar alliance as well as working together in areas like disaster management.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/italy-and-india-on-same-page-on-terror-s-jaishankar-article-151742042

While the other 871 junior doctors got postings as per the counselling process, three doctors – Aniket Mahata, Asfakulla Naiya, and Debashis Halder – were not given postings as they chose.

Three senior doctors, who have been the prominent faces of medics’ protest against the West Bengal government after the RG Kar Rape-Murder case, have been allegedly given ‘punishment’ postings, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led government being accused of witch-hunting, reported The Times of India.
As per rules, all post-graduate medical students, after finishing their course, must work for three years in government hospitals. Their job postings are decided based on a counselling process, and the hospitals are picked as per available positions. Like this year, the PG results were published on February 28, and the counselling process was completed on April 8. After the counselling, the candidates were made to sign an undertaking that the option they chose is final and will not ask for a change in future.
While the other 871 junior doctors got postings as per the counselling process, three doctors – Aniket Mahata, Asfakulla Naiya, and Debashis Halder – were not given postings as they chose, the report said.

Mahata picked RG Kar but was sent to Raiganj. Naiya chose Arambag but got Purulia instead. Haldar opted for Howrah District Hospital, but was posted at Gajol sub-divisional hospital, the report said.

“According to my ranking and the vacancy list, I opted for RG Kar during counselling. However, as per the final list, I have been posted to Raiganj Medical College, TOI quoted Mahata as saying. “This is vendetta,” he said.
Asfakulla Naiya said, “The reason is our participation in RG Kar protests. The move is also destroying the sanctity of the counselling process, introduced two years ago to make it transparent.”
The medics were part of the long-drawn struggle in Kolkata seeking justice for the postgraduate trainee doctor who was brutally raped and murderes at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata last year.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/rg-kar-doctors-face-of-kolkata-protest-get-punishment-postings-report-article-151736584

The Haryana government on Wednesday evening said the civil defence exercise – Operation Shield – scheduled for Thursday stood postponed following the Union Home Ministry’s directions.

After the government decided to carry out a civil defence exercise on Thursday in states and Union Territories adjoining the western border, Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab on Wednesday postponed the scheduled mock drill.

The Haryana government on Wednesday evening said the civil defence exercise – Operation Shield – scheduled for Thursday stood postponed following the Union Home Ministry’s directions.

“According to the instructions of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the Haryana Home Department announced the postponement of the comprehensive civil defence exercise, Operation Shield, which was scheduled to be conducted on Thursday,” an official statement said.

All the deputy commissioners and other stakeholders have been informed about this, the statement said.

The Chandigarh administration also announced postponement of the civil defence exercise.

A statement issued by the UT administration on Wednesday evening said, “As per the directions received from the Government of India, it is hereby informed that the civil defence exercise Operation Shield, which was planned for May 29, is hereby postponed due to administrative reasons. There will be no blackout or mock drill tomorrow.” Earlier in the day, the Haryana government issued a statement, which said a mock drill was scheduled to take place across all the 22 districts of the state between 5 pm and 9 pm on Thursday to strengthen emergency preparedness.

The mock drill has also been postponed in Rajasthan, where it was scheduled to be held across all the districts on Thursday, officials said.

According to an official statement, the civil defence exercise has been postponed due to administrative reasons and a new date will be announced soon.

Earlier, the civil defence department issued guidelines for conducting a blackout and mock drill in all the 41 districts of the state on Thursday evening.

The Punjab government, meanwhile, wrote to the Centre on Wednesday, proposing June 3 as the date for carrying out the mock drill, citing that their civil defence staff were undergoing training being conducted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

A senior Punjab Police officer said the Centre accepted the state government’s request for holding the drill on June 3.

The deputy commissioners in Punjab have been told that the civil defence exercise will take place in all districts on June 3.

Earlier, the Directorate General of Fire Service and Home Guards conveyed that the civil defence exercise – Operation Shield – will be carried out in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Chandigarh. Responding to the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalagam in which 26 people were killed, Operation Sindoor was carried out by India on May 7 through which the defence forces targeted terror camps at nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Later, some Pakistani military bases were also targeted by India in retaliatory action during four days of skirmishes with the neighbouring country between May 7 and 10.

Pakistani forces resorted to heavy shelling along the border and LoC in Jammu and Kashmir and also tried to attack some other places along the International Border in the western sector with drones and missiles.

The Directorate, which comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs, said during the first civil defence exercise held on May 7, critical gaps in the civil defence preparedness of the vulnerable areas of the country were observed.

Instructions to take necessary actions to suitably address the issues were issued on May 9.

Accordingly, emergency powers were invoked and funding arrangements through the State Disaster Response Force were also made.

To augment the civil defence preparedness against any hostile attack, Operation Shield has been planned in all the districts of states and UTs adjoining the western border.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/civil-defence-exercise-postponed-in-haryana-rajasthan-chandigarh-punjab-schedules-it-for-june-3-3561726

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently invoked Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s stance on PoK, revealing how it differed from Jawaharlal Nehru’s approach.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a recent rally, reignited the long-standing Kashmir debate by invoking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s position on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). PM Modi said the Nehru-led Congress government had ignored Patel’s call to continue the military offensive in 1947 until PoK was fully reclaimed.
“It was Sardar Patel’s wish that until PoK was taken back, the army should not stop. But Sardar Sahib’s words were not followed,” PM Modi said.
PM Modi’s remarks have drawn attention to Patel’s evolving stand on Kashmir and his divergence from Nehru’s approach.

Initially lukewarm on Kashmir, Patel’s stance changed after Pakistan accepted Junagadh’s accession in September 1947. “If Jinnah could take hold of a Hindu-majority State with a Muslim ruler, why should the Sardar not be interested in a Muslim-majority State with a Hindu ruler?” wrote Rajmohan Gandhi in ‘Patel: A Life’.

From that point on, Kashmir became a key priority for Patel alongside Junagadh and Hyderabad, which he likened to chess pieces — the Queen, the pawn, and the King.
The first major flashpoint between Nehru and Patel emerged during an October 26 meeting, when Mehr Chand Mahajan, Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, sought urgent troop deployment to halt Pakistan. Nehru reportedly told him to “go away”, but Patel stepped in, saying firmly, “Of course, Mahajan, you are not going to Pakistan”.
When Nehru, influenced by Lord Mountbatten, decided to take the issue to the United Nations, Patel opposed it but did not push back hard. “Kashmir was Jawaharlal’s baby by now and Vallabhbhai did not insist,” Gandhi noted.
Patel’s opposition was stark when Mountbatten proposed a peace visit to Lahore. “For the Prime Minister to go crawling to Jinnah when we are on the stronger side and in the right would never be forgiven by the people of India,” he warned. Nehru ultimately skipped the visit.
While Nehru sought an international resolution, Patel was in favour of pressing India’s military advantage. But he was often sidelined, especially on decisions like offering Kashmir special status or removing the Maharaja.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/sardar-patel-words-were-ignored-pm-narendra-modi-sharp-take-on-pok-and-kashmir-legacy-article-151736439

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi cited the terror financing going to terrorist outfits and urged for Pakistan to be added back to the FATF grey list.

Asaduddin Owaisi of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) said there are “clear evidence” of Pakistan’s involvement with terrorism.

Speaking at an interaction in Riyadh, Asaduddin Owaisi, who is a member of the all-party delegation led by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Baijayant Panda, pointed out the promotion of Pakistani Army chief Asim Munir as Field Marshal and how a US-designated terrorist was seen sitting beside him at a celebratory event. The AIMIM chief also referred to a photo to prove his point.

Pakistan should be put back on FATF grey list: Owaisi

Citing the need to control the terror funding to terrorist organisations, Owaisi urged that Pakistan should be put back on the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog.

“Pakistan must be brought back to the FATF grey list. That is where we will be able to control this terror financing of all these terrorist organisations. When this person (Asim Munir) was made a Field Marshal in Pakistan, a US-designated terrorist called Mohammad Ehsan was sitting right beside the Field Marshal. There are photographs of him shaking hands with this field marshal,” Owaisi said.

“There is clear evidence of Pakistan’s involvement,” he added. The AIMIM leader said that terror groups are prospering and being trained in Pakistan, and their aim is to destabilise India, to manufacture more Hindu-Muslim riots in the nation.

According to the specially designated nationals (SDN) list on the official website of the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), “Ahsan, Muhammad (aka Ehsan Muhammad, aka Ihsan Muhammad, aka Ullah Ehsan), Sialkot, Pakistan, Islamabad, born in 1970, alternatively in 1971, and again alternative year 1972, in Sialkot, is designated under the “Secondary sanctions risk, section 1(b) of Executive Order 13244, as amended by Executive Order 13886 (individual).” He is linked to the terrorist outfit ‘Lashkar-e-Taiba’.

Pakistan’s ‘lie’ about Sajid Mir

Meanwhile, Owaisi further backed his call to add Pakistan back to the FATF grey list and recalled that after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Indian investigators provided Islamabad with all the evidence, but still, they did not take any action.

“What made Pakistan move forward in this terrorist trial was when it was put on the FATF grey list,” Owaisi said.

He further exposed Pakistan’s lie about the Mumbai attacks’ key accused, Sajid Mir.

“One meeting was held in Germany, and India wanted one Sajid Mir to be indicted, but Pakistan said he’s dead… Pakistan came up to the Committee of FATF and said Sajid Mir is alive. Can you imagine the country which was saying he’s dead, suddenly, he’s alive?” Owaisi asked.

The AIMIM chief clarified and busted the rumour spread by the Pakistani government that Indian courts had allegedly convicted Mir for some 5-10 years, but the main culprits were still scot-free. “They were convicted for money laundering, not for terrorism,” he added.

The AIMIM chief added that Indian investigating agencies had recorded conversations between the 26/11 attacker and their handlers in Pakistan, providing it to Islamabad as evidence.

“The Indian legal system followed all the due process of law, and Ajmal Kasab was sentenced to death, and he revealed many things. Our agencies were capable enough to record the audio conversations in which the terrorist group, sitting in Pakistan, were having with terrorists who were killing Indians in five-star hotels, and those conversations they were clearly told them not to lose heart, kill as many Indians as you can, and you’ll go to Jannat. This was the conversation that was recorded,” Owaisi stated.

He further recalled that after the 2016 attack on the Indian Air Force’s Pathankot Airbase, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had gone to Pakistan uninvited and called on Islamabad to send its own team to India to get clear evidence and even then, nothing happened.

“Pathankot happened, after my Prime Minister went to Pakistan, uninvited, and I want to put it on record, I was the one who criticised him for going over there. Many opposition parties criticised why my Prime Minister went uninvited from Afghanistan to Nawaz Sharif’s place. Our air base was attacked, and we lost many personnel over there,” he said in Riyadh.

Owaisi added, “The Prime Minister said Pakistan wants proof; you (Pakistan) send your own team. Can you imagine any country inviting a neighbouring country’s spy agency? They were invited, they were given all the records, but nothing moved, nothing happened. If the question is – why don’t we speak to Pakistan, who do we speak to in Pakistan?”

Operation Sindoor global outreach

In addition to Owaisi, the Baijayant Panda-led delegation includes Nishikant Dubey (BJP), Phangnon Konyak (BJP), Rekha Sharma (BJP), Satnam Singh Sandhu, Ghulam Nabi Azad; and Ambassador Harsh Shringla.

These all-party delegation teams, the key part of India’s global outreach program on Operation Sindoor, are tasked with briefing the nation’s international country partners about New Delhi’s stance on terrorism and its fight against the same.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/in-riyadh-asaduddin-owaisi-targets-pakistan-army-chief-us-designated-terrorist-sitting-with-asim-munir-101748479363932.html

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to begin a four-state tour, from Uttar Pradesh to Sikkim, on Thursday, May 29.

PM Modi will start his two-day visit from Sikkim, where he will participate in the “Sikkim@50: Where Progress meets purpose and nature nurtures growth” programme at around 11 am.

Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate multiple development projects in Sikkim. Projects include a new 500-bedded District hospital worth over Rs 750 crore in Namchi district; Passenger Ropeway at Sangachoeling, Pelling in Gyalshing District; Statue of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji at Atal Amrit Udyan at Sangkhola in Gangtok District among others.

Later on the same day, he will visit West Bengal where he will lay the foundation stone of City Gas Distribution project in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts in Alipurduar at around 2:15 pm and then will go to Bihar. There, he will inaugurate the new terminal building of Patna Airport at around 5:45 PM.

The new terminal built at a cost of around Rs 1200 crore can handle 1 crore passengers per year. He will also lay the foundation stone of the new civil enclave of Bihta Airport worth over Rs 1410 crore. The Bihta airport will serve the town which is rapidly emerging as an educational hub near Patna, housing IIT Patna and the proposed NIT Patna campus.

The CGD project in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts, worth over Rs 1010 crore, aims to provide Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to more than 2.5 Lakh households, over 100 commercial establishments and industries besides providing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to vehicular traffic by establishing around 19 CNG stations in line with the Minimum Work Program (MWP) targets stipulated by the Government. It will provide convenient, reliable, environment-friendly and cost-effective fuel supply and create employment opportunities in the region.

Next day, on May 30, at around 11 am, he will inaugurate, lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 48,520 crore in Karakat, Bihar. He will also address a public function.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-modi-to-visit-sikkim-west-bengal-bihar-uttar-pradesh-on-may-29-30-whats-on-his-agenda/articleshow/121455246.cms

PM Modi urged state governments to make sure all eligible real estate projects are registered under the RERA Act

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday underlined the importance of strict compliance with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) provisions, saying it is essential for restoring trust in the housing market.

He made these remarks while reviewing three major infrastructure projects worth over Rs 62,000 crore during a PRAGATI meeting, the government’s ICT-based multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation.

According to a press release by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the Prime Minister reviewed projects spanning the sectors of road transport, power, and water resources across various states and union territories.

Emphasising their strategic importance, PM Modi called for coordinated efforts to overcome delays and ensure timely completion.

PM Modi highlighted that project delays not only lead to cost overruns but also deprive citizens of essential infrastructure and services. He urged all stakeholders to focus on efficiency and accountability, stating that timely delivery is crucial for achieving broader socio-economic development.

The Prime Minister also reviewed public grievances linked to RERA and stressed the need to improve both the quality and speed of grievance resolution to ensure fairness for homebuyers.

He urged state governments to make sure all eligible real estate projects are registered under the RERA Act, reaffirming that strict compliance with the law is vital for strengthening public confidence in the housing sector.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/pm-modi-flags-project-delays-urges-strict-rera-compliance-to-protect-homebuyers-ws-l-9357112.html

The Border Security Force (BSF) will soon get a makeover with a new digital camouflage pattern uniform for its jawans, officials have said.

The digital patterns – significantly harder to replicate – and the colour of the uniform have been finalised and the jawans are expected to be seen in the new combat wear within a year, the officials added.

In 2022, the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force had introduced digital camouflage uniforms for its respective forces.

Unlike the existing BSF uniform that is 50% cotton and 50% polyester, the new one will be 80% cotton, 19% polyester and 1% spandex, making it breathable and comfortable for the jawans across varied climates. The spandex material will ensure its stretchability and elasticity.

In terms of colour, the new uniform will be 50% khaki, 45% green and 5% brown, the officials said.

In the existing combat wear, the pattern was printed on the fabric. For the new ones, it will be sealed inside the fibre, ensuring it is fade resistant.

Officials said the force has worked on the new combat wear for one-and-a-half years. The BSF has also copyrighted the digital print of the uniform.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/border-security-force-prepares-for-makeover-with-digital-camouflage-pattern-uniform-8532173