Category: India

Sonam Raghuvanshi was arrested for allegedly killing her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, when the newly married couple were on their honeymoon in Meghalaya. What started as a probe to find the couple, who went missing on May 23, turned into a murder investigation when Raja’s body was found in a gorge on June 2. The search continued for Sonam.

A week later, the woman, who was missing, “surrendered” to the cops in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur, which unravelled many chilling details in the case. Speaking to NDTV, UP Police’s Additional Director General (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash made several revelations regarding the case, including Sonam’s claim that “She was drugged and brought to Ghazipur” to present herself as the victim.

Mr Yash said, “Sonam presented herself as a victim before the police, claiming she was drugged and brought to Ghazipur. She informed her family about this, knowing the police would eventually reach her. Around 3 am on Monday, she told her family that she was at a dhaba on the Ghazipur-Varanasi road. Her family immediately contacted the Madhya Pradesh police, who informed the local police, leading to Sonam’s arrest. She was sent for a medical checkup and then to a One-Stop Centre. The Meghalaya police are now interrogating her and completing legal formalities.”

‘She Is A Very Poor Planner’

The investigation, which stretched for two weeks from May 23, reached a climax when she was caught in Ghazipur. Meghalaya cops believe she was in an extramarital affair that led to Raja’s murder. She orchestrated the murder in connivance with her boyfriend, Raj Kushwaha, and surrendered under pressure on June 8, according to them. Both were later arrested.

Mr Yash said, “Sonam is a poor planner. She lacked knowledge of police procedures and thought she could escape by posing as a victim, but she failed. The Meghalaya police have done excellent work and are currently handling the case. If they seek assistance, we will provide it.”

Uttar Pradesh has not joined the probe, and the case is being investigated by Meghalaya Police. The senior UP police officer said the woman, now a prime suspect in the case, came to Ghazipur alone, adding that “CCTV footage and other evidence are being examined, and the truth will soon emerge.”

“This case is unique due to the extensive planning to avoid detection by taking the body to Meghalaya and dumping it in an inaccessible location. However, the plan failed,” he added.

Raj Kushwaha, Sonam’s alleged boyfriend, is also a suspect in the case. The victim’s family said Raj was Sonam’s employee, and they would speak on the phone a lot, claimed Vipul Raghuvanshi, Raja Raghuvanshi’s brother. “I’ve never seen Raj Kushwaha; I’ve just heard his name,” he told ANI.

While he didn’t accuse Sonam directly of the murder, he said she could be involved in the murder if Raj Kushwaha was involved.

The police official, Superintendent of Police (SP) Vivek Syiem, who cracked the case, in an exclusive conversation with NDTV, described how the police tracked her down.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sonam-claimed-she-was-drugged-brought-to-up-top-cop-on-meghalaya-honeymoon-murder-8628308?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

As Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to make history by becoming the second Indian to fly into space, nearly four decades after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma did in 1984, the Chief of the Air Staff and Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel wish him and the Axiom-4 crew the best.

Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh spoke to Group Captain Shukla through a video call and wished him luck for a “safe and successful trip” to space.

In a picture shared on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Singh can be seen speaking to Mr Shukla, through a big screen. Sharing the photo on social media, the Indian Air Force (IAF) wrote, “As Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla prepares to embark on Axiom-4 space mission tomorrow, Chief of the Air Staff and all Air Warriors of IAF wish him and the entire crew of Axiom-4 all the best for a safe and successful trip to the International Space Station. This will add a new chapter to the Indian Space Odyssey.”

“Touch the sky with glory!” said IAF.

India will take its cosmic leap of faith on June 11 when Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will lift off for the International Space Station for the Axiom-4 mission aboard the SpaceX rocket and Crew Dragon.

As a mission pilot, Group Captain Shukla will fly with three other astronauts — Dr Peggy Whitson from the United States as mission commander, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, both serving as mission specialists — as part of the Indo-US mission.

The spacecraft will now lift off at 8:00 am ET (5:30 pm IST) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida after it was postponed by a day due to bad weather.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/touch-the-sky-with-glory-air-forces-big-shout-out-to-shubhanshu-shukla-8630201#pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

Delhi baked in extreme heat on Monday (June 10, 2025) as the real-feel temperature – or heat index – shot up to a scorching 48.9°C, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing an orange alert for the next two days, warning people to stay cautious and take steps to protect themselves from the ongoing heatwave.

The actual maximum temperature in the city touched 43.4°C on Monday, 3.4° higher than the seasonal average.

The minimum temperature settled at 27.6°C while humidity levels fluctuated between 48 and 25 per cent, making the weather feel even hotter.

According to the IMD, very hot weather will persist in Delhi until at least June 12.

The daytime temperature is expected to hover around the 44°C mark, while the nights will also be warm at around 28 degrees Celsius, the IMD said.

Strong surface winds of 20-30 kmph are expected over the next two days but they are unlikely to bring much relief.

The IMD has confirmed that heatwave conditions have settled over the Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi subdivision, with cities like Hisar, Sirsa, Rohtak and Ayanagar (Delhi) reporting temperatures close to the 45°C mark.

Monday marked the second consecutive day of heatwave conditions in the region, including Delhi, the IMD said.

Delhi is also experiencing warm nights with the temperature remaining high even after sunset. This can make it harder for people to cool down besides increasing the risk of heat-related illness, especially for the elderly, children, and those with health issues.

There may be some relief starting June 12 with the IMD forecasting light rainfall and thunderstorms in parts of Delhi, along with gusty winds between 30 and 40 kmph.

While the rain may not be heavy, it could bring about short-term relief from the excessive heat, the weather office said.

The humidity levels may increase after rain, which can make the weather feel uncomfortable, officials warned.

Source : https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/delhi-temperature-shoots-to-49c-orange-alert-issued-amid-heatwave/article69677297.ece

Doctors from the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) reportedly set a 24-hour deadline for state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane to personally apologise to the senior doctor whose suspension he ordered in public view.

Rane had allegedly berated Rudresh Kuttikar, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Goa Medical College and Hospital on June 7.

According to news agency ANI, Kuttikar has demanded that Rane must issue a public apology “immediately” in the same casualty department, where the minister allegedly humiliated the senior doctor during an inspection.

What had happed exactly

A massive protest broke out at Goa Medical College (GMC) on Monday as doctors, Heads of Departments, interns, and medical students united in anger against Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, demanding a public apology and an end to VIP culture in hospitals.

The protests came after an incident in which Health Minister Rane used harsh language against Dr Rudresh Kuttikar during a visit to GMC. The Health Minister was accused of humiliating and disrespecting a senior doctor, Dr Rudresh Kuttikar, during an inspection.

Kuttikar informed that the incident escalated after someone’s relative, who came asking for a B12 injection in the emergency department, was invited to visit the outpatient department (OPD) instead.

“The incident on June 7 was when someone’s relative came asking for a B12 injection. It was not an emergency injection. We said you have to go to the OPD,” the CMO was quoted by ANI as saying.

The protest saw widespread participation from medical professionals across departments.

Amid the ongoing Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, the Defence Ministry is going to take up Rs 10,000 crore proposal to buy three sophisticated spy planes to help Indian Air Force get a clear air-to-ground picture to carry out precision strikes against enemy ground targets like radar stations, air defence units and other mobile objects.

The Rs 10,000 crore project for the Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (I-STAR) is expected to be taken up for clearance at a high-level defence ministry meeting scheduled to be held in the fourth week of June, defence officials told ANI.

The ISTAR provides air-to-ground surveillance to the forces to help them in carrying out precision strikes.

The spy aircraft project being developed by the Defence Research and Development includes the acquisition of three aircraft through an open tender from foreign manufacturers, including Boeing and Bombardier.

The onboard systems on the aircraft would be completely indigenous, as the DRDO’s Centre for Airborne Systems has already successfully developed them, they said.

The systems have already been proven and developed by the CABS and they will just have to be integrated with the three aircraft which would be acquired and modified for the purpose, they said.

The development of an ISTAR system would also add India to a select club of nations with such a capability, including the US, UK, Israel and a few others.

ISTAR thus provides dynamic and time-sensitive targeting capability and contributes significantly to meeting the nation’s security goals.

It will aid in limiting the scale and complexity of undetected hostile threats. It has multi-spectral surveillance capability to detect, locate and monitor irregular forces.

The I-STAR system shall be for carrying out intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting by day and night from stand-off ranges.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/iaf-to-get-rs-10-000-crore-indigenous-i-star-spy-planes-report-8619320

Raids are underway at his official residence, from where Rs 47 lakh cash has already been recovered

The Odisha Vigilance Department on Sunday caught an IAS officer allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from a businessman, an official release said.

Raids are underway at his official residence, from where Rs 47 lakh cash has already been recovered, it said.

“The IAS officer, who is posted as sub-collector, Dharamgarh in Kalahandi district, has been caught red handed while demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 10 lakh from a local businessman, as an instalment of the overall demand of Rs 20 lakh bribe…,” the department said in the release.

The accused officer, in his mid-30s, “called the complainant to his official government residence at Dharamgarh, received the bribe amount… and kept the same inside his table drawer”, it said.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/ias-officer-caught-while-accepting-rs-10-lakh-bribe-in-odisha-9375166.html

He claimed that he wouldn’t have engaged in the act if he had known that the sindoor can be only applied by the husband and that it has a deep significance in marriage.

Kerala-based travel vlogger Maheen Shajahan has come under fire on social media after posting a video of himself visiting a Hindu temple with a few foreign women and applying sindoor (vermilion) to their foreheads—a gesture that drew criticism.

In response to the backlash, Shajahan issued a clarification, stating that his actions were not meant to offend. Speaking to Brut India, he explained, “I was very aware that married people put this (sindoor), but I wasn’t aware that this was such an important thing and no other person can put it.”

“I try to respect all religions…”

He claimed that he wouldn’t have engaged in the act if he had known that the sindoor can be only applied by the husband and that it has a deep significance in marriage.

“I wouldn’t have done that, cause I’m a traveller and I try to respect all religions even though I don’t believe in religion,” he said. He also pointed out that none of the women featured in the video objected to the act at the time.

The video, originally shared on Shajahan’s Instagram handle, shows him entering a temple in Kerala with a group of foreign women. He applies sindoor on their foreheads, a practice traditionally reserved for married Hindu women. The gesture quickly sparked a wave of criticism online, with many calling it disrespectful and culturally inappropriate.

In the caption of the video, the vlogger wrote: “Muslim boy in Kerala Temple; In Kerala, faith isn’t a barrier – it’s a bridge. As a Muslim visiting a Hindu temple with my foreign friends, I felt nothing but warmth, welcome, and peace. Here, in this lush corner of India, religious harmony isn’t just an idea – it’s lived every day. We respect. We celebrate. We share. Different paths, one love.”

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/viral/i-wasnt-aware-kerala-vlogger-clarifies-after-his-sindoor-video-from-local-temple-triggers-outrage

Hearing a petition by Uday Pratap Singh, whose wife allegedly died in the chaos, the bench of Justices S.D. Singh and Sandeep Jain criticized authorities for failing to provide autopsy reports or clear documentation about her death.

The Allahabad High Court has demanded accountability from the Uttar Pradesh government regarding deaths and injuries during this year’s Kumbh Mela stampede, emphasizing the state’s constitutional duty to ensure public safety at mass gatherings. Hearing a petition by Uday Pratap Singh, whose wife allegedly died in the chaos, the bench of Justices S.D. Singh and Sandeep Jain criticized authorities for failing to provide autopsy reports or clear documentation about her death.

The court ordered the state to submit comprehensive records including date-wise casualty lists from all hospitals involved, current status of compensation claims, and doctor-attested details of each deceased individual. Officials revealed during proceedings that 305 beds across government and private facilities had been reserved for the event, with two authorized centers handling postmortems.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/kumbh-mela-stampede-allahabad-hc-slams-up-govt-over-lapses-delayed-compensation

In a major step towards strengthening defence cooperation, India and Mongolia have commenced the 17th edition of their joint military exercise, Nomadic Elephant 2025, in Ulaanbaatar, focusing on counter-terror operations and UN-mandated missions.

In a major boost to bilateral defence ties, the 17th edition of the India-Mongolia joint military exercise Nomadic Elephant 2025 is currently underway at the Special Forces Training Centre in Ulaanbaatar. The exercise marks a significant step forward in enhancing military cooperation between the two nations.
Focused on conducting counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain, the drill is being held under the framework of a United Nations mandate. The joint training aims to enhance interoperability and operational synergy between the Indian Army and the Mongolian Armed Forces.
Sources say the participating contingents are engaged in a series of tactical drills, including precision sniping, urban warfare strategies, and high-altitude combat simulations. Special emphasis is being placed on sharing best practices and refining joint operational capabilities in complex environments.

Top defence officials highlight that the exercise underscores the growing strategic partnership between India and Mongolia. Both nations are not only working closely to improve tactical coordination but also focusing on real-world peacekeeping scenarios—mirroring operations often carried out under UN mandates.

Apart from military coordination, the exercise is also fostering strong cultural ties. Troops from both countries have been participating in cultural exchange programmes, showcasing traditional dances, music, and cuisine—a move that has further deepened mutual respect and friendship between the forces.
Military experts believe such joint exercises are crucial in preparing troops for contemporary security challenges and humanitarian missions across the globe. The ongoing drills are expected to yield vital lessons for future joint operations and reinforce the commitment of both nations to global peace and regional stability.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/india-mongolia-strengthen-defence-ties-with-high-altitude-military-exercise-nomadic-elephant-2025-article-151813051

SpaceX has rolled out its Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft in preparation for the launch. The mission is scheduled to lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, carrying Shubhanshu Shukla and three others to the ISS.

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to fly into space as part of the Axiom Space, Ax-4, mission, marking a significant moment for India’s space programme. It is likely to dock at the International Space Station (ISS) on June 11 at about 10 pm IST, after a journey that is likely to be 28 hours long.
The Ax-4 mission will “realize the return” to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, with each nation’s first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years, stated the official page of the mission. It said that while Ax-4 marks these countries’ second human spaceflight mission in history, it will be the first time all three nations will execute a mission on board the International Space Station.

“This historic mission underscores how Axiom Space is redefining the pathway to low-Earth orbit and elevating national space programs globally,” it added.

Manipur is experiencing renewed violence following the arrest of the leader of an ethnic group, Arambai Tenggol, leading to mass protests where demonstrators burned vehicles and threatened self-immolation. The authorities have suspended internet services in five districts and imposed curfews to manage the unrest.

The northeastern state is witnessing a fresh round of violence that erupted after the arrest of a leader of an ethnic group, Arambai Tenggol. Angry protesters marched to the streets, burnt tyres, vehicles and even tried to self-immolate themselves by pouring petrol on their heads. The authorities havesuspended internet, VPN and messaging services in five districts and imposed prohibitory orders as well. In the Bishnupur district, a total curfew has been imposed by the District Magistrate.
Ravaged by floods, the violence has further deteriorated the condition of the state, which has been witnessing incidents of violence for the past two years. Earlier this year, in February, the President’s rule was imposed in the state following the resignation of then-CM N Biren Singh.

Now, visuals coming from the state show burnt cars, buses, furniture and bikes hours after the violence rocked Manipur. In one of the videos doing the rounds, some youth were seen pouring petrol on their heads, threatening to self-immolate.

The violence broke out Saturday night as the news of Arambai Tenggol’s arrest spread. Locals gathered at different places, burnt vehicles and held protests to build pressure on authorities to free Tenggol.

As a precaution, prohibitory orders have been clamped in Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching districts. Officials said the protesters also clashed with security forces at different places in Imphal on Saturday night. A mob also set a bus on fire at Khurai Lamlong in Imphal East district, they added.

The personnel of the security forces fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters who were present in front of Kangla Gate, nearly 200 metres away from the Raj Bhavan. Meanwhile, the security along the roads leading to the Raj Bhavan has been strengthened with additional deployment of central forces.
“Violent protests broke out after the arrest of a leader of Arambai Tenggol. Three people have been injured in the clash with agitators and personnel. All preventive measures are in place,” a police officer said, quoted PTI.

Protesters also gheraoed the Imphal airport gate at Tulihal after the arrest of the Arambai Tenggol leader, and blocked a thoroughfare to prevent any possible attempt to take the arrested leader outside of the state.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/manipur-tense-protesters-pour-petrol-on-head-burn-vehicles-curfew-meitei-arambai-tenggol-arrest-article-151813910

Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the overwhelming cause of deaths among men and women in India, with urban areas witnessing a slightly higher number of such fatalities than rural areas, according to a report.

Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the overwhelming cause of deaths among men and women in India, with urban areas witnessing a slightly higher number of such fatalities than rural areas, according to a report.

The Cause of death in India 2019-21 report released by Sample Registration System (SRS) recently states that nearly 30.2 per cent of all non-communicable diseases deaths were due to heart related ailments. At a distant second were respiratory infections (9.2 per cent).

Respiratory diseases (6.1per cent), malignant and other neoplasm (6.0 per cent), fever of unknown origin (5.5 per cent), digestive diseases (4.7 per cent), diabetes mellitus (3.7 per cent), unintentional injuries: other than motor vehicle accidents (3.3 per cent) and unintentional injuries: motor vehicle accidents (2.9 per cent) come next in the list.

Nearly 32.0 per cent of male and 27.7 per cent of female deaths were due to cardiovascular diseases. Death due to heart ailment is the leading cause in all regions, with the highest proportion in the north (34.2 per cent) and lowest in central (22.5 per cent) India.

The report prepared by the Registrar General & Census Commissioner of Union Ministry of Home Affairs states the main aim of the exercise is to record statistics on most probable causes of death.

“Understanding the root causes of mortality is crucial for evaluating the public health implications of particular health concerns and formulating effective approaches to lower death rates. Accurate data on the types and frequencies of causes of death is crucial for policymakers to prioritise health initiatives appropriately,” says the report.

The report also states that non-communicable diseases are the leading causes of death in the country, constituting 54.9% of all deaths. Communicable, maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions constitute another 23.9% of deaths. The government claims that compared to 2018-20, the non-communicable and communicable mortality rate has come down by nearly 2%.

Child mortality

The report also highlights high mortality among infants within 29 days of birth. Highest number of deaths in this category occur due to prematurity and low birth weight, followed by birth asphyxia and birth trauma, pneumonia, sepsis, diarrhoeal disease and others.

In the 15-29 age group, motor vehicle accidents are resulting in higher deaths, especially male, followed by suicide, unintentional injuries, cardiovascular disease, digestive disease, tuberculosis, fever of unknown origin and respiratory infections among others.

The report notes that death in early age is decreasing and mortality is shifting to higher age groups. “It shows the impact of proper health facilities, which is suggestive that proper prevention programmes and healthcare facilities can certainly result in improving the situation,” it says.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/cardiovascular-diseases-top-cause-of-deaths-in-india-report-3576866

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Monday said that three accused from Madhya Pradesh have been arrested. He added that a woman has “surrendered”.

Three suspects from Madhya Pradesh have been arrested and one woman has surrendered in connection with the killing of Raja Raghuvanshi, a tourist who went missing with his wife during their honeymoon in Meghalaya last month.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma announced the arrests in a post on X, saying a major breakthrough had been made within a week. “Three assailants who are from Madhya Pradesh have been arrested, female has surrendered and operation still on to catch one more assailant,” Sangma wrote. “Well done Meghalaya Police,” he added.

Raja Raghuvanshi, 29, and his wife Sonam Raghuvanshi, 25, had gone missing on May 23, just hours after checking out of a homestay in Nongriat village, East Khasi Hills. They had arrived in the state on May 20, days after their wedding on May 11. Raja’s body was recovered on June 2 from a deep gorge near a waterfall in Sohra, about 20 kilometres from where the couple was last seen.

A gold ring and chain were missing from the body, with the authorities suspecting foul play. A bloodstained machete was recovered near the scene a day later. Other personal items, including a woman’s shirt, medicine strip, smartwatch, and part of a mobile phone screen, were also found in the area.

The couple had reportedly parked their rented scooter at Mawlakhiat village before trekking down to visit the iconic living root bridges in Nongriat. The scooter was found abandoned on May 24 along the road between Shillong and Sohra.
The search for Sonam Raghuvanshi continues, but adverse terrain, heavy rain, and poor visibility have hampered efforts. Despite this, authorities say they are continuing operations to locate her.
Meanwhile, Sonam’s brother-in-law, Govind, who is in Shillong assisting with the search, accused officials of treating the case as if she were already dead.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/indore-couple-missing-case-three-assailants-from-mp-arrested-woman-accomplice-gives-in-says-meghalaya-cm-article-151816599

The viral video showcases an astonishing railway crossover scene where three “Vande Bharat trains” navigate an X-shaped junction with curved tracks.

A stunning animated video showing three high-speed trains seamlessly crossing each other at a railway junction has gone viral on social media, sparking fascination and debate. The video, widely circulated with patriotic captions, claims to showcase India’s advanced railway infrastructure, crediting Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. However, what many viewers may not realize is that this is not real footage but a 3D animation. The trains featured are not actual Vande Bharat trains, but realistic 3D models created for visual impact.

The viral clip portrays a remarkable scene where three trains approach a large, X-shaped railway junction, each taking a looping track and crossing paths with flawless synchronisation. The sequence appears to show a feat of rail engineering — no delays, no halts, just a graceful dance of trains crossing each other in what looks like perfect harmony.

The video has been shared widely on platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). A popular tweet accompanying the video reads: “3 Vande Bharat trains crossing each other, not possible in any other country. We’re proud of our Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw ji.”

However, a closer inspection reveals that this video is entirely computer-generated. The trains depicted are not actual Vande Bharat trains, but rather 3D models. The smooth textures, exaggerated rail layout, and perfectly looped paths are characteristic of high-quality animation, not real-world engineering. The junction itself is an idealised design, not one currently found in India or elsewhere.

Posted on June 6, the video on X has already racked up more than 2.1 million views and attracted numerous comments. A user questioned, “Is this AI?” while another remarked, “Did no one catch the sarcasm?” Someone else joked, “That was a close call—what kind of science is this?” Another comment read, “Even in India, this isn’t possible, brother.”

During Operation Sindoor, IAF fighters, S-400 system and missiles downed six Pakistani aircrafts and destroyed four radars.

Even as national security planners and military chiefs celebrated one month of Operation Sindoor on Saturday evening, HT has learned that the Defence Ministry has given the green signal to the three services to replenish their inventory with longer-range loitering ammunition, artillery shells, kamikaze drones, and beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles that out-range the Chinese missiles used by Pakistan during the four-day high-intensity skirmish.

According to people familiar with the matter – and based on action taken reports and damage assessments undertaken by the three services – there is digital evidence to conclude that the Indian Air Force (IAF) fighters, surface-to-air missile batteries, and S-400 air defence system downed four Pakistani Chinese-made fighter jets and two large aircraft (possibly one C-130J and one SAAB 2000 airborne early warning system) during Operation Sindoor.

There are also indications, the sources added, that two F-16 fighter aircraft may have been partly damaged during the IAF’s missile assault on 11 airbases, including those at Sargodha, Rafiqui, Jacobabad, and Nur Khan (Chaklala, Rawalpindi). The reports indicate that India’s Rafale fighters, S-400 missile systems, and M777 howitzers acquitted themselves well during the four-day conflict, with the Russian air defence system taking down three enemy aircraft.

They also show that India destroyed one Chinese LY-80 fire radar, two AN/TPQ-43 US-made automatic tracking radars, and one fire unit of the Chinese HQ-9 radar at Chaklala during the retaliatory strike on May 10. Intelligence inputs now suggest that Pakistan has four HQ-9 (the Chinese equivalent of the Russian S-300 air defence radar systems), instead of the two originally estimated by national security planners.

The Pakistanis used the Chinese version of the PL-15 air-to-air missile, which has a range of 180 km. There are also inputs that the Pakistanis, by mixing two fire units of the 250 km-range HQ-9 air defence system with two other 150 km-range systems at Chaklala and Malir Cantonment near Karachi, respectively, may have tried to catch the Indian Air Force by surprise.

The action taken reports also show that the IAF fired 19 BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles at Pakistani airbases, along with nearly an equal number of French SCALP subsonic cruise missiles. In turn, the Pakistanis fired CM-400 AKG air-launched supersonic missiles at Indian airbases using Chinese JF-17 fighters, but these failed to cause any damage.

The Turkish-built YIHA loitering ammunition, which Pakistan fired in large numbers, was either jammed by the Indian electronic warfare suite, missed its targets, or was taken down by India’s robust air defence system. Even the FATAH-1 rockets fired by Pakistan were either off the mark or intercepted by Indian air defence systems.

HT has learned that there is now adequate evidence that India’s first counter-terror strike on May 7 was a success. Markaz-e-Taiba (the LeT headquarters at Muridke) was hit by four to five Crystal Maze missiles, which leave a small entry point but inflict heavy internal damage. The Jaish-e-Mohammed facility at Markaz-e-Subhan Allah was hit by six SCALP missiles launched from Rafale fighters and was totally destroyed through a pinpoint strike using bunker-busting techniques.

Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/19-brahmos-crystal-maze-missiles-details-of-how-india-brought-pakistan-to-its-knees-during-operation-sindoor-101749345012318.html

Nearly two dozen paintings by one of the world’s most celebrated modern artists – once part of a record-breaking art deal – are set to hit the auction block for the first time next week.

On 12 June, 25 rare MF Husain paintings will go under the hammer at an art gallery in Mumbai city, more than two decades after he painted them.

This will be the first public glimpse of the paintings, locked away in bank vaults since 2008 after authorities seized them from a prominent businessman over an alleged loan default.

“It’s like the paintings have come full circle,” says Dadiba Pundole, director of Pundole Art Gallery, where the auction is set to be held.

Husain used the gallery as his studio for many of these works, part of an ambitious 100-painting series he never finished. Often called the “Picasso of India,” he was one of the country’s most celebrated – and controversial – artists. His works have fetched millions, but his bold themes often drew criticism. He died in 2011, aged 95.

Titled MF Husain: An Artist’s Vision of the XX Century, the 25 paintings at Pundole’a gallery offer a glimpse into his take on a transformative century shaped by leaps in technology, politics, and culture. Pundole has estimated that the auction could fetch up to $29m (£21m).

This comes months after another Husain painting, Untitled (Gram Yatra), sold for an unprecedented $13.8m at a Christie’s auction in New York, becoming the most expensive Indian artwork to be auctioned.

The oil-on-canvas masterpiece had adorned the walls of a Norwegian hospital for almost five decades, forgotten by the art world, until the auction house was alerted about its presence in 2013.

The latest paintings to be auctioned seem to follow a similar trajectory.

Husain began working on them in the early 2000s, with great excitement and vigour, recalls Pundole.

“When he was painting, nothing could disturb him. It didn’t matter what was happening around him,” he adds.

In 2004, Husain sold 25 paintings to a Mumbai businessman as the first instalment of a billion-rupee deal.

Kishore Singh, author of MF Husain: The Journey of a Legend, wrote about this agreement in the Indian Express newspaper.

“He [Husain] wasn’t jealous of fellow artists, but he was competitive,” Singh writes, noting that Husain struck the deal soon after Tyeb Mehta’s Kali [an Indian goddess] set a new record for India’s most expensive painting in 2002, selling for 15 million rupees.

Husain struck a billion rupees deal with businessman Guru Swarup Srivastava for this series of paintings. Media dubbed it “India’s biggest art deal,” catapulting the little-known Srivastava into overnight fame as a celebrity collector.

But two years later, India’s top crime agency, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), began investigating Srivastava’s business, alleging he and associates had misused a loan from a government-backed agricultural body.

The CBI alleged Srivastava diverted the funds into real estate, mutual funds, and Husain paintings. He and his company deny all charges; the case remains in court.

In 2008, a tribunal allowed the government-backed agricultural body to seize one billion rupees in assets from Srivastava, including the 25 Husain paintings.

In February this year, a court cleared the way for the paintings to be auctioned to recover part of the loan. And so, after years locked away in bank vaults, the 25 paintings are finally stepping into the spotlight.

In a 2018 interview to author and journalist Tara Kaushal, Srivastava spoke about his stalled deal with the artist.

“I had planned to pay Husain for the rest of the paintings by selling the first 25. But legal complications meant that, when Husain called me in 2008 saying the paintings were ready in London and Paris, and to pick them up at the agreed price, my funds were not ready. He understood,” he said.

Asked why Husain had chosen to sell his paintings to a person who almost nobody knew in India’s elite art circles, Pundole says, “He didn’t care. As long as his paintings were sold.”

There’s no way to know how Husain felt about the failed deal or his unfinished 20th Century series – but the episode remains a striking footnote in his bold, eventful career.

The 25 paintings in this series, vibrant acrylics on canvas, showcase Husain’s bold style while reflecting key 20th-century events and social attitudes.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy62zn0nxgo

A Chinese university’s job posting requiring a PhD for a canteen manager has gone viral. Southeast University is offering a ₹20.8 lakh annual salary for the role, which includes administrative and food safety duties. The listing has ignited debate on credential inflation and the value of academic qualifications in China’s tightening job market.

A university in Nanjing, China, has stirred controversy after posting a canteen manager job that requires a PhD—a qualification many felt was excessive for the role.

The listing, put up by Southeast University, a top institution in China, appeared on its official website and quickly went viral. According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), among the requirements for the position is overseeing canteen activities, guaranteeing food safety, controlling contractors, doing administrative tasks, and monitoring food-making procedures.

But it was not the job description that left people surprised—it was the qualifications.

Apart from a doctoral degree, candidates need to be well-versed in English, familiar with office software, and ideally possess a degree in food, nutrition, or culinary arts. The advertisement also stated that membership in the Communist Party would be an added benefit.

The job pays a salary of 180,000 yuan (approximately ₹20.8 lakh) every year. But the social media in China was filled with outrage and criticism asking why one would require such a sophisticated academic degree for a job that appears to be mostly managerial.

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/education/job-post-requiring-phd-for-canteen-manager-at-chinese-university-goes-viral-offers-208-lakh-salary

PM Narendra Modi had attended all five previous summits of the G7 grouping.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday confirmed that he will attend the G7 summit in Canada this month. Canadian PM Mark Carney extended an invitation to the Indian Prime Minister during their first phone conversation, which he accepted. The G7 comprises the US, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Canada and Japan. Canada is holding the current presidency of the G7 and is hosting the summit in that capacity. PM Modi had attended all five previous summits of the grouping.
PM Modi accepted the invitation that came over a week before the summit of the influential grouping kicks off. The summit will be held in Canada’s Alberta province from June 15 to 17.
The phone call was initiated by the Canadian side, clearly signalling Ottawa’s intent to repair the ties with New Delhi that nosedived during Justin Trudeau’s tenure.

A postgraduate doctor’s mysterious death inside his parked car in a forest near Kodaikanal has raised many questions.

A young doctor pursuing his postgraduate medical degree was found dead inside his car near the hill town of Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu. According to reports, Dr Joshua Samraj died by suicide after administering intravenous fluids to himself and was believed to be in debt.
As per an NDTV report, Dr Samraj was pursuing his MD (Doctor of Medicine) in Salem while working at a hospital in Madurai. His car was discovered parked for three days in a remote forested area in Poomparai near Kodaikanal, which led local residents to alert the police.
Authorities recovered a suicide note from the vehicle. “The doctor has apologised to his family in the suicide note, but has neither blamed anyone nor given any reason. His family has said he was depressed because of an issue in a relationship,” the police said.

Investigators also revealed that Dr Samraj was reportedly in debt, though the exact cause remains unclear. Amid social media speculation that the doctor had lost money in online gaming, police clarified, “We have not found any such detail in his suicide note, nor do his parents say so. We are investigating.”

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/mystery-surrounds-tamil-nadu-doctor-joshua-samraj-death-iv-fluids-a-suicide-note-and-a-parked-car-article-151812503

For now, only a limited number of devotees will be allowed to visit the Ram Darbar, and entry will be regulated through passes, which will be issued free of cost.

The Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya continues to draw attention withe devotees thronging the religious site with the consecration of the Ram Dabar on the first floor of the temple.

Meanwhile, Ram Temple Construction Committee chairman Nripendra Mishra has revealed that a total of 45 kilogram of pure gold has been used in the construction of the grand temple. He said the estimated value of the gold, excluding taxes, is around Rs 50 crore. Gold has been used extensively in the doors on the ground floor of the temple and the throne of Lord Ram.

Additional goldwork is still underway in the Sheshavatar Temple, also part of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple complex.

Public Access Restricted To Ram Darbar
Following the consecration of the Ram Darbar, Mishra said arrangements are being made for controlled public access to the sacred space.

The consecration of the Ram Darbar on June 5 marked a spiritual milestone, however, public access to the newly consecrated first-floor sanctum will initially be restricted. Due to ongoing works and soaring summer temperatures, entry will be permitted only via free passes issued to a limited number of devotees.

As the Ram Darbar is 20-feet-high and requires devotees to climb about 40 steps, there are limited arrangements for going up, and the lift’s construction will take time.

“A lift is being constructed for elderly devotees, but it will take time to complete. Devotees will have to wait to visit the Ram Darbar due to unfavourable conditions and after the rainy season, public visits may be possible,” Ram Temple Trust Secretary Champat Rai said.

Mandir Construction To Be Completed By Dec 2025
While the main structure of the Ram Temple has been completed, other parts of the temple complex, including the museum, auditorium, and guest house, are still under construction. These are expected to be completed by December 2025.

The final task will be to hoist the flag on the temple’s peak, likely in October or November, once the weather is favourable. Until then, minor works will be completed.

Consecration Of Ram Darbar
On Thursday the consecration ceremony of seven idols was completed at the temple.

The idols installed on the first floor above the sanctum sanctorum include Ram Darbar in the middle, a Shivalinga in the north eastern corner, a Ganapati idol in the southeastern corner, Hanuman idol in the middle of the southern side, Surya in the south western corner, Bhagwati in the north western corner, and Annapurna Mata in the middle of the northern side.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/45-kg-gold-worth-rs-50-crore-used-in-ayodhya-ram-temples-doors-throne-9373997.html

Despite only having an MBBS degree, Sharma had been performing serious cardiac procedures, including surgeries, which he was not qualified to do. Several patients reportedly experienced complications, and some died after treatment, according to police.

An MBBS-qualified doctor allegedly posed as a cardiologist and performed more than 50 heart procedures over eight months at a government hospital in Faridabad. The doctor, identified as Dr Pankaj Mohan Sharma, is accused of using the registration number of a licensed cardiologist with the same name to carry out surgeries at the heart care centre in Badshah Khan Civil Hospital, reports PTI.
Police said the case came to light when a patient contacted the real cardiologist, prompting an internal inquiry. Despite only having an MBBS degree, Sharma had been performing serious cardiac procedures, including surgeries, which he was not qualified to do. Several patients reportedly experienced complications, and some died after treatment, according to police.
Sharma was hired by Mediterina Hospital, which runs the heart centre under a public-private partnership, in July 2024. He worked there until February 2025. During that time, police said he used a forged stamp and falsely claimed to have a DNB in Cardiology. He also allegedly used another doctor’s registration number 2456 instead of his own MBBS number , 28482.

Authorities launched an investigation after complaints were filed, including one on April 11 by advocate and social activist Sanjay Gupta, who accused Sharma of using fake documents to claim additional qualifications.

The real Dr Pankaj Mohan, whose registration Sharma allegedly used, filed a formal complaint with the Indian Medical Association and sent Sharma a legal notice in January.
Hospital officials have not confirmed how many patients were treated or operated on by Sharma. However, family members of some patients have come forward raising concerns. One of them, Raja Ram from Palwal district, alleged that his father died a day after undergoing a stent procedure performed by Sharma on January 10.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/faridabad-shocker-mbbs-doctor-performed-50-cardiac-surgeries-using-anothers-license-article-151811588

The criminal, identified as Abhishek alias ‘Shooter’, livestreamed the entire incident on social media, before he was rescued by firefighters and subsequently arrested by police.

A dramatic arrest unfolded in Ahmedabad as a wanted criminal tried to escape police by climbing onto a fifth-floor ledge and threatening to jump. The accused, identified as Abhishek alias ‘Shooter’, even livestreamed the incident on social media, demanding that police back off. In a video captured by a police officer, Abhishek declared that he would rather choose death than surrender to the authorities.

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch had received a tip-off about Abhishek’s presence at his residence in Shivam Awas. When officers arrived and knocked on the door, which was locked from inside, he refused to open it. Instead, he attempted to flee through the kitchen window and stood on a narrow ledge, drawing a crowd below.

As tensions escalated, emergency responders and firefighters were called to the spot. After a prolonged standoff, they managed to rescue him safely. Abhishek was then taken into custody. Police said further investigation is underway to probe his criminal links.

After several tense minutes, the police forced open the door to find Abhishek standing precariously on the ledge of the fifth floor, livestreaming the incident on social media via his mobile phone. He also threatened to jump, which put the police on high alert.

In a separate video recorded by a Crime Branch officer, as the officers tried to persuade Abhishek to surrender, he was heard saying, “I know how you will treat me. It’s going to be really bad. It’s better that I die than surrender to you.” Despite their repeated assurances that he would be treated fairly and with dignity, Abhishek remained unyielding.

The Crime Branch promptly contacted the fire department, urging them to arrive quickly to assist in the rescue. After a prolonged and delicate three-hour negotiation, firefighters successfully rescued Abhishek from the ledge and handed him over to the police, who immediately took him into custody.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/ahmedabad/story/criminal-abhishek-shooter-climbs-ledge-evade-cops-in-ahmedabad-arrested-after-rescue-2737314-2025-06-07

The Manipur government has suspended internet and mobile data services across five valley districts including Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching for five days starting 11:45 pm on Saturday, citing law and order concerns.

Curfew has been imposed and internet services suspended in several areas across five valley districts of Manipur after tensions and protests erupted on Saturday night following the arrest of a leader of the Meitei outfit, Arambai Tenggol.

The incident has been for five days, citing law and order concerns, affecting districts including Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching districts.

According to an official notification issued by Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Home) N Ashok Kumar, the move was prompted by fears that anti-social elements could misuse social media platforms to spread hate messages, provocative images, and videos, potentially disrupting public order.

“In view of the prevailing law and order situation, especially in Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur districts, there is apprehension that some anti-social elements might use social media extensively for transmission of images, hate speech and hate video messages to incite the passion of the public,” the order stated.

“The order is being passed ex-parte in view of the emergent situation,” it read further.

The directive warned that any individual found violating the order would face legal consequences.

The decision came after widespread protests erupted in Imphal East and Imphal West on Saturday night following the arrest of a leader of the Meitei group Arambai Tenggol.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/manipur-internet-suspended-five-districts-meitei-outfit-leader-arrest-2737436-2025-06-08

India was led by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla along with a high-level Parliamentary Delegation, the official statement observed.

Representatives of the Parliaments of 10 member countries, including India, participated in the annual meeting of the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum held in Brasilia on June 4-5, 2025. India was led by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla along with a high-level Parliamentary Delegation, the official statement observed.

The statement noted that the Parliaments of 10 BRICS countries strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attacks and agreed to cooperate on a ‘zero tolerance’ policy against terrorism. Notably, the next conference will take place in India and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has been appointed as the Chairperson.

According to the official statement, this year, the 10 member countries participating in the BRICS Parliamentary Forum were India, Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. Representatives of these countries’ Parliaments actively participated in the Conference and played a significant role in drafting the joint declaration.

Notably, after several rounds of intense discussions and deliberations during the conference, broad consensus was reached on key topics such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), global trade and economy, inter-parliamentary cooperation, global peace, and security.

As per the statement, the perspectives presented by India on various issues were appreciated by all countries and were unanimously included in the final joint declaration. In particular, India’s decisive stance on terrorism was taken seriously. India strongly condemned terrorist attacks and emphatically called for adopting a “zero tolerance” policy against terrorism.

Significantly, the joint declaration strongly condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India, and it was agreed that the Parliaments of all BRICS countries would work together united against terrorism. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla emphasised joint efforts on cutting off financial assistance to terrorist organisations, sharing intelligence, preventing misuse of modern technologies, and cooperating in investigation and judicial processes.

India’s policy and leadership were specially commended, and the BRICS Parliaments recognised that the active participation of all nations is essential to maintain global peace and security. At the conference, Om Birla effectively presented India’s clear and strong role on various topics — especially global cooperation against terrorism, a just and balanced global order, participation in technological innovations, and democratic exchanges.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/10-brics-nations-condemn-pahalgam-attack-back-zero-tolerance-on-terror-8607196

Vijay Mallya hinted at the possibility of returning to India but only if he is promised a fair trial.

Vijay Mallya is back in the spotlight. Recently, the 69-year-old appeared in a podcast where he opened up about his journey from the rise and fall of Kingfisher Airlines to becoming the owner of the IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He also addressed the financial allegations against him for the first time in years, hinted at the possibility of returning to India but only if he is promised a fair trial.

“If I am assured, absolutely I will. I will think about it seriously,” Mallya said on the podcast hosted by YouTuber Raj Shamani.

During the discussion, Mallya shared his concerns about India’s legal system, especially around how people are treated while awaiting trial. “There are other people the government of India is targeting for extradition from the UK… where the High Court of Appeal has found Indian detention conditions violative of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR),” he said.

Referring to what he sees as prolonged detention without due process, he said, “They just lock you up and throw away the key.”

The interview, which is over four hours long, has triggered a wave of reactions online. Some were impressed with how open Mallya was, while others questioned the sudden buzz around him.

One user commented, “Raj Shamani’s pod with Vijay Mallya is top notch. Like a cinema. Full of emotions, arguments and counter-arguments… Also, my prejudices about Raj Shamani cluttered a lot.”

Another said, “So my generation has now seen demonetisation, Covid, lockdown, India-Pak war, RCB winning the IPL, Covid coming back and Vijay Mallya on a podcast.”

Someone pointed out, “Which is the PR agency that is employed by Vijay Mallya? Suddenly, for a week, there is so much content around him on this app.”

“Everyone is making a comeback in 2025, including even Vijay Mallya,” a person remarked while another added, “Vijay Mallya on Raj Shamani was not on my 2025 list. 4 hours long.”

“Vijay Mallya has done a podcast. First time he’s facing any media since leaving India. Four hours eighteen minutes podcast. WHAT THE HELL I think man has opened up and spoke everything that he felt was unsafe to speak so far,” an individual said.

Source: https://www.news18.com/viral/netizens-cant-keep-calm-over-mallyas-return-to-india-buzz-covid-pak-war-to-this-podcast-ws-l-aa-aa-aa-9371581.html

The evacuation was carried out in four helicopter sorties using MI-02, MI-39, and MI-49 helicopters, with landings and departures coordinated from Pakyong Greenfield Airport. The airlift rescued 63 tourists and 17 local residents who had been stranded for days due to road blockages and continuous rain.

In a determined effort to rescue those stranded in the flood-affected region of Chaten, North Sikkim, the state government on Friday completed a critical round of air evacuations. Braving adverse weather conditions and challenging terrain, helicopters lifted 80 individuals to safety, marking a successful conclusion to the day’s operations.
The evacuation was carried out in four helicopter sorties using MI-02, MI-39, and MI-49 helicopters, with landings and departures coordinated from Pakyong Greenfield Airport. The airlift rescued 63 tourists and 17 local residents who had been stranded for days due to road blockages and continuous rain.
In the second round of the day’s rescue, 44 people were brought to safety from Chaten, including 17 locals. Each sortie was executed with precision under the close supervision of state authorities, prioritizing the safety and well-being of all passengers.

To ensure a smooth continuation of their journey, the state government arranged Sikkim Nationalised Transport (SNT) buses for the evacuees from the airport to Gangtok.

With this operation, all stranded tourists have now been successfully evacuated from Chaten. The administration has officially called off evacuation sorties for the day.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/sikkim-after-being-stranded-days-63-tourists-rescued-from-landslide-hit-chaten-by-air-article-151805638

The highest railway bridge of the world has opened in India. Located in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, the bridge is expected to significantly boost tourism and economic activity in the region, especially benefiting pilgrimage sites like Vaishno Devi and destinations across the Kashmir Valley.

According to the SIT report, Bhole Baba Dairy was operating behind two suppliers – AR Dairy and Vaishnavi Dairy. They provided ghee to the TTD.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chief has submitted a report stating that the ghee used in preparing laddus for the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) was adulterated and not pure. According to the SIT report, Bhole Baba Dairy was operating behind two suppliers – AR Dairy and Vaishnavi Dairy. They provided ghee to the TTD. Investigators found that Bhole Baba Dairy lacked the infrastructure to produce milk or ghee. Local farmers informed the SIT that they never supplied milk to the dairy.
The report stated that the adulterated ghee was manufactured using palm oil and chemicals, raising serious concerns about food safety.
Following these findings, the TTD has blacklisted Bhole Baba Dairy.

During court proceedings, the SIT counsel opposed bail for the accused, arguing they are financially well-off and wield significant influence, which could pose a threat to witnesses.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/adulterated-ghee-supplied-to-ttd-sit-report-indicts-bhole-baba-dairy-article-151803771

The 29-year-old was identified by a “Raja” tattoo on his right hand. His body bore injuries consistent with foul play. Police recovered a bloodstained weapon and Raja’s belongings scattered around the site, including missing gold jewellery and his wallet—raising strong suspicion of a robbery-cum-murder.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) continues relentless efforts in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills as the search for missing tourist Sonam Raghuvanshi stretches into its third week. Mounting evidence suggests her husband Raja Raghuvanshi’s murder may be tied to a local dispute that spiralled into violence.
A highly trained NDRF unit joined the multi-agency search in Sohra earlier this week, working alongside the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Meghalaya Police, and Special Operations Teams in increasingly treacherous terrain. Their mission has taken on a new urgency after Raja’s body was discovered in a deep gorge on Monday, nearly 20 kilometers from Nongriat village, where the couple last stayed on May 22.
The 29-year-old was identified by a “Raja” tattoo on his right hand. His body bore injuries consistent with foul play. Police recovered a bloodstained weapon and Raja’s belongings scattered around the site, including missing gold jewelry and his wallet—raising strong suspicion of a robbery-cum-murder.

“We are using drones, mountaineers, and special police units to speed up the search,” confirmed East Khasi Hills SP Vivek Syiem, emphasizing the scale of coordination now underway.

But the weather has proven a formidable adversary. Torrential rain over the past three days nearly 500 mm, equal to Mysore’s annual rainfall has triggered landslides and flash floods, halting operations and claiming at least six lives in the region. Visibility in the Sohra area dropped dangerously low on Thursday, forcing teams to temporarily suspend the search.
The couple from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, checked out of their Nongriat homestay on May 23, planning to explore the iconic living root bridges. They parked their rented scooter at Mawlakhiat and descended 3,000 steps into the gorge, after which they were never seen again.
A special investigation team (SIT) has been formed, and police have officially registered a murder case. Among the critical evidence collected from the area are a white women’s shirt, broken mobile phone parts, medicine strips, a smartwatch, and other personal items offering hope for clues to Sonam’s fate.
Meanwhile, Sonam’s family clings to hope. Her brother Govind made an emotional appeal, urging authorities to intensify efforts: “We believe Sonam is alive. We request the Chief Minister to accelerate the search.”

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/meghalaya-honeymoon-tragedy-desperate-search-for-missing-tourist-sonam-raghuvanshi-enters-third-week-article-151804814

In a major breakthrough, Zeeshan Akhtar alias Jassi Purewal, the alleged mastermind behind the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique, has reportedly been arrested by the Surrey Police in Canada. However, it remains unclear which specific case led to his arrest.

In a major breakthrough, Zeeshan Akhtar alias Jassi Purewal, the alleged mastermind behind the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique, has reportedly been arrested by the Surrey Police in Canada. However, it remains unclear which specific case led to his arrest. A senior officer from the Mumbai Crime Branch stated that no official confirmation has been received yet from their end, and they are currently seeking details from central agencies.

Baba Siddique was shot dead outside his son Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Mumbai on the night of October 12, 2024. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang had claimed responsibility for the killing, stating that Siddique was targeted due to his close ties with Bollywood actor Salman Khan.

Subsequent investigations revealed that the murder was orchestrated by Zeeshan Akhtar, a native of Jalandhar, who was present at the crime scene when the shooting occurred. Akhtar fled India shortly after the murder, allegedly with the help of Pakistani underworld figure Shehzad Bhatti, a key member of the Farooq Khokhar gang.

In a surprising turn, the Lawrence gang later disowned Akhtar, distancing themselves from him and even threatening to eliminate him. Following his escape, Zeeshan Akhtar released a video at the beginning of 2025, admitting to being wanted in connection with the murder of Baba Siddique and other criminal cases in India. In the video, Akhtar credited Shehzad Bhatti for aiding him, referring to him as a “big brother.”

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/baba-siddique-murder-case-zeeshan-akhtar-alleged-mastermind-arrested-in-canada-mumbai-police-seek-official-confirmation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received an invitation from his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on Friday to attend the upcoming G7 summit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday confirmed his upcoming participation in the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, following an invitation from Canadian counterpart Mark Carney.

In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said, “Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister Mark J Carney of Canada. Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month.”

This will be the first official interaction between Modi and Carney since the latter assumed office after a decisive victory in Canada’s federal elections.

Chaotic celebrations turned into a full-blown tragedy in Bengaluru on Wednesday as 11 people, mostly youngsters, were killed in a stampede that broke out outside the Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium. with over 190 lives lost at religious gatherings, public events, and even railway stations.
Let’s take a look at the other major stampedes that have taken place in the country in the past year:
Chinnaswamy Stadium Stampede – Eleven people were killed and 33 others were injured after a stampede broke out outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where cricket fans had gathered to celebrate the maiden IPL victory of Royal Challengers Bengaluru. CM Siddaramaiah has announced a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

New Delhi Railway Station Stampede – On February 15, a stampede broke out at New Delhi Railway Station’s platforms 14 and 15. Eighteen people were killed and 15 injured, mostly pilgrims visiting Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.

Kumbh Stampede – During the Maha Kumbh, a stampede on January 29 at the Sangam area as millions as pilgrims were jostling for space to take a holy dip on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya resulted in the death of 30 people and injuries to 60.
Goa and Tirupati Stampede – In January this year, six people were killed and dozens more were injured at a stampede at the Lord Venkateswara Swamy temple in Tirumala Hills. The stampede broke out as hundreds of devotees jostled for tickets for the Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam. Later in May, at least six people died at a stampede at the annual festival of Sri Lairai Devi temple in Goa.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/5-stampedes-that-claimed-over-190-lives-in-less-than-a-year-from-hathras-to-bengaluru-article-151791901

A dedicated facility will be set up in Hyderabad, where key sections of the Rafale fuselage — including the front, central, rear fuselage and lateral shells — will be produced. The state-of-the-art plant will play a critical role in Dassault’s global supply chain for Rafale fighter jets.

In a major boost to India’s defence manufacturing sector, Dassault Aviation and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) have signed landmark agreements to produce the fuselage of the Rafale fighter aircraft in India. This marks the first time in history that major components of the advanced French-origin fighter jet will be manufactured outside France.
A dedicated facility will be set up in Hyderabad, where key sections of the Rafale fuselage — including the front, central, rear fuselage and lateral shells — will be produced. The state-of-the-art plant will play a critical role in Dassault’s global supply chain for Rafale fighter jets.
The production is expected to commence in FY2028, with the facility aiming to deliver up to two complete fuselages per month. Officials say this marks a significant milestone in India’s journey towards defence self-reliance and high-end aerospace manufacturing.

“This is a proud moment for India’s defence and aerospace sector. It represents a powerful endorsement of India’s capabilities and supports the vision of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’,” said a senior official involved in the agreement.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/india-to-manufacture-rafale-fuselage-for-the-first-time-dassault-tata-join-hands-article-151796172

Vijay Mallya addressed the Kingfisher Airlines crisis in a podcast, expressing regret for the unpaid salaries owed to thousands of employees. Although he acknowledged responsibility, he cited legal obstacles that prevented him from disbursing salaries.

Liquor baron Vijay Mallya has set the record straight on the rise and fall of the Kingfisher Airlines. In a recent podcast with Raj Shamani, Mallya was asked whether he had anything left to say to the thousands of unpaid employees that went through the Kingfisher Airlines crisis. It is believed that Kingfisher Airlines owes its former employees more than Rs 300 crore in dues.
When asked by Shamani, Mallya replied, “Apologetic? What do I apologise for? After putting Rs 3,000 crores of my own money into the business, I should apologise?”
He was then asked if he had an apology, not for anyone else, but only for the staff of Kingfisher Airlines. To this Vijay Mallya said, “I would say I am deeply sorry for what happened to them. I would say I am deeply sorry that some of them didn’t get paid their salaries. I have no excuses to offer.”

He explained further, “I take full responsibility, but for those who care to listen, there was money lying in the deposit with the Karnataka High Court. I specifically applied to court to pay their salaries, of Kingfisher Airlines staff. But the banks rejected it, and the courts rejected the permission. There was really nothing I could do beyond that.”

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/vijay-mallya-sets-record-straight-after-13-years-with-message-for-kingfisher-staff-money-was-there-but-article-151799006

A day after the stampede outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which claimed 11 lives, the Karnataka government suspended the city police commissioner and three other senior police officials.

Initiating a series of disciplinary actions, in a big move, the Siddaramaiah-led government decided to suspend Bengaluru police commissioner B Dayananda, along with an additional commissioner (West) Vikas Kumar, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Central Bengaluru, Shekar H Tekkannanavar and assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Balakrishna.

From 1981 to 2021, the number of vehicles in Delhi-NCR rose 21-fold, while road infrastructure only doubled, dangerous imbalance choking the city.

Delhi becomes unlivable for three months a year, noted G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, underlining the severe economic and health burden of air pollution.

Speaking at a high-level event (Urban Adda) on World Environment Day, he noted that air pollution is cutting life expectancy by 6.3 years and costing the economy Rs 100,000 crore annually – nearly 3% of India’s GDP.

Mr Kant laid out a clear and urgent roadmap for Delhi and other urban centres to tackle pollution head-on:

* Electrify all 2-and 3-wheelers within a year

* Mandate electric for all new taxis and convert current fleets within 24 months

* Ensure all school buses are electric or retrofitted in 2 years

* Shift all brick kilns to cleaner zigzag technology

* Install FGD and DSI units in all thermal power plants

* Adopt electric boilers in SMEs, powered by rooftop solar

“We must leapfrog to clean energy. Don’t waste time or money on legacy technologies. Go electric, go now,” he urged.

Backing this call, Rajesh Verma, Chairperson of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), revealed how Delhi’s infrastructure hasn’t kept up with the vehicle explosion.

From 1981 to 2021, the number of vehicles in Delhi-NCR rose 21-fold, while road infrastructure only doubled, dangerous imbalance choking the city.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/go-electric-go-now-message-from-g20-sherpa-amitabh-kant-to-tackle-pollution-8598158

According to police, the incident occurred on late Wednesday night when the girl, daughter of daily wage labourers, was sleeping under a metro station.

A three year old girl was allegedly raped and is said to be in a critical condition, police here said on Thursday.

According to police, the incident occurred on late Wednesday night when the girl, daughter of daily wage labourers, was sleeping under a metro station.

The accused took the girl away while her parents were sleeping and raped her at a secluded place, police said.

Following the report, senior officials, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Ashish Kumar Srivastav inspected the crime scene on Wednesday night itself. The girl was rushed to a hospital and was then referred to a higher medical centre for treatment. She is said to be in a critical condition, police sources said.

Source: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/3-year-old-girl-sleeping-under-metro-station-in-up-raped-cops-8598635

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