Tushar Mehta Reappointed As Solicitor General Of India For 3 Years

Senior advocate Tushar Mehta was re-appointed as the Solicitor General of India on Friday for a term of three years.

Mr Mehta was appointed as Solicitor General on October 10, 2018 and since then he had been granted extension twice.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, besides Mr Mehta, six Additional Solicitors General for the Supreme Court were also re-appointed for a period of three years.

Six ASGs who were re-appointed for the top court are Vikramjit Banerjee, K M Nataraj, Balbir Singh, S V Raju, N Venkataraman and Aishwarya Bhati.

The names of Additional Solicitors General Madhavi Goradia Divan and Sanjay Jain, whose tenure came to end on Friday, did not feature in the list of re-appointed law officers.

Additional Solicitor General Jayant K Sud, whose tenure came to end on Thursday, also did not feature in the list.

Additional Solicitors General Chetan Sharma for Delhi High Court, Satya Pal Jain for Punjab and Haryana High Court, Devang Girish Vyas for Gujarat High Court and Krishna Nandan Singh for Patna High Court were also re-appointed for a period of three years.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Why Railways Won't Make Public Its Report On Odisha Train Accident

The Railways will not make public the CRS probe report on the Balasore triple train accident to ensure that there is no "influence or interference" on the CBI's ongoing investigation in the case, senior officials told PTI on Friday.

While there has been no official confirmation, some sources told PTI the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) informed in its report that the accident occurred due to human error on the part of on-duty officials in the Signalling and Telecom Department as well as the Traffic Department.

The officials failed to follow the standard operating procedure in place for train operations, according to the sources.

"We will not be disclosing anything on the CRS report as another independent CBI inquiry is underway. This is to ensure that this report does not in any way influence or interfere with the other report. We will take cognisance of both the reports and make an overall evaluation of the incident and then take whatever steps necessary," a senior official told PTI.

South Eastern Circle CRS AM Chowdhary, who was investigating the accident, submitted his report to the Railway Board on Thursday.

On Friday, top board officials refused to comment on the report with many claiming that they have not even read the document.

Usually such reports are accessible to top officials, mainly to follow through on course corrections recommended by the CRS.

Officials recalled that while the CRS usually files an interim report before the final one within a week of any accident, this time it has submitted one report.

The sources said officials have been directed to plug any leaks on the report.

The Railways has already transferred out five top officials of the South Eastern Railway under whose jurisdiction the accident occurred.

Three trains collided in Odisha's Balasore district on June 2, claiming 293 lives and injuring over 1,000 people. The Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express entered the passing loop instead of the main line near the Bahanaga Bazar station at full speed and collided with a stationary goods train.

On the adjoining line, the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express collided with the derailed coaches of the Coromandel Express, leading to some of its bogies jumping tracks.

Apart from a CRS probe, the CBI is also investigating the accident.

An initial probe had suggested signalling interference, either by negligence or intent, as the probable cause of the accident.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Savarkar To Be Part Of Madhya Pradesh School Syllabus: Shivraj Chouhan

Lessons on Hindutva ideologue late VD Savarkar will be taught in Madhya Pradesh schools, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Thursday.

Chief Minister Chouhan said Savarkar served double life sentences in the infamous Cellular Jail in the Andamans and such were the rigours that he came to know about the incarceration of his brother (Ganesh Savarkar) "years later".

"Even today if you go to Cellular Jail, you will know how he lived there. Lessons on someone who dedicated his entire life to the nation will be taught in schools," he told reporters in Morena.

Earlier in the day, MP school education minister Inder Singh Parmar said lessons on Savarkar will be included in the school syllabus as part of the National Education Policy (NEP).

Mr Parmar also alleged that the Congress, which ruled the country for a major part after Independence, ignored many revolutionaries while concentrating on glorifying just one family.

"As part of the NEP, the life of Bhagwan Parshuram, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Subhash Chandra Bose and Veer Savarkar and (teachings of) Gita will be included (in the syllabus) as part of India's knowledge tradition so that people get to know about their contribution," Mr Parmar told PTI.

Criticising the move, Madhya Pradesh Congress media cell chairperson KK Mishra termed it as a political one ahead of year-end Assembly polls.

He said the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state was seeking to divert the attention of people from core problems like inflation and unemployment.

KK Mishra also said a lesson from 'Savarkar Samagra', in which the Hindutva ideologue advocated cow rearing and not cow worship, must also be included.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Wagner still recruiting despite mutiny BBC finds

The BBC called more than a dozen Russian recruitment centres and was told it's business as usual.

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Netanyahu drops key part of Israel judicial overhaul plans

The PM says he will no longer seek to give parliament the power to overturn Supreme Court rulings.

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Drugs and guns seized from extreme-right Austrian biker gangs

Six people are in custody after hundreds of weapons and Nazi memorabilia was seized in raids.

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Inside Virgin Atlantic's rocket plane to space

The 90-minute mission had paying passengers - from the Italian Air Force - for the first time.

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French HR murders: Gabriel Fortin sentenced to life in prison

Garbriel Fortin will spend up to 22 years in prison for the murder of three employment managers.

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Supertech Owner RK Arora Main Person Behind Diverting Funds: Probe Agency

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday alleged RK Arora, owner of real estate company Supertech, was the group's main controlling person who decided to "divert" investors and homebuyers money worth crores of rupees to various shell companies.

Ram Kishor Arora was arrested under the anti-money laundering law on Tuesday. Earlier on Wednesday, he was sent to Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody till July 10 by the court of Duty Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala.

"The arrest is made in connection with the investigation being done against the Supertech Group for diverting, siphoning off and misappropriating funds of investors and customers," the ED said in a statement.

The money laundering case, filed under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), stems from as many as 26 FIRs registered by Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh police against Supertech Limited and its group companies on allegations of cheating 670 homebuyers to the tune of Rs 164 crore.

"Huge amounts of money running into hundreds of crores (of rupees) were siphoned off through Supertech Group and they failed to adhere to their agreed obligations to provide the possession of flats to customers on time," the ED said.

It claimed that the Supertech Group "siphoned off Rs 440 crore received from customers and homebuyers for purchasing land in Gurugram in 2013-14 at highly inflated prices while their already promised projects in Noida were not completed."

A new project was launched on this newly acquired land and further advance was collected from hundreds of homebuyers and loans were taken from banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFC) which also became NPA (non-performing assets) and were declared "fraud" by banks, it alleged.

"Similarly, Rs 154 crore was misappropriated by Supertech for acquiring land in (the name of) another shell company in the same time period. Also, Rs 40 crore was siphoned off to another shell company and land was purchased in its name in Delhi," the ED said.

The agency said the company and its promoters diverted the funds to shell companies instead of completing its projects, which remain incomplete till date (2023).

"During this period, Ram Kishor Arora, the promoter of Supertech, was the main controlling and decision-making authority for Supertech Group and decided to divert the investors' money to various shell companies," it alleged.

It said the "custodial interrogation" of RK Arora was necessary for investigation as he was "avoiding" questions and giving "misleading" replies.

Supertech Limited, which was formed in 1988, has so far delivered around 80,000 apartments, mainly in Delhi-NCR. The company is currently developing around 25 projects across NCR. It is yet to give possession to more than 20,000 customers.

The company has been in crisis since last year.

In August 2022, Supertech suffered a huge setback when its nearly 100-metre-tall twin towers -- Apex and Ceyane -- located on the Noida Expressway were demolished following a Supreme Court order after it found that their construction within Emerald Court premises was in violation of norms.

More than 3,700 kg of explosives were used to demolish the two towers.

Due to the demolition of the twin towers, RK Arora had said, the company incurred a loss of about Rs 500 crore, including construction and interest costs.

The company suffered another blow in March last year when the Delhi bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) ordered insolvency proceedings against it over a petition filed by the Union Bank of India for non-payment of dues of around Rs 432 crore.

Arora challenged this order before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), which ordered insolvency proceedings against one of the housing projects of Supertech Limited and not the entire company.

The NCLAT also directed the constitution of the Committee of Creditors for the Eco Village II project located in Greater Noida (West).

The company recently got permission from the Supreme Court to arrange around Rs 1,600 crore from institutional investors to complete 18 ongoing housing projects across Delhi-NCR under the main firm Supertech Limited, RK Arora said earlier this month.

Apart from these 18 projects, there are some housing projects under different companies of the Supertech Group.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Watch: Remains of Titan sub brought ashore

Parts of the tourist sub that imploded on a dive to the Titanic have been lifted out of the water at St John's.

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Shree Cement Denies Reports Of Large-Scale Tax Evasion

Leading cement manufacturer Shree Cement, being surveyed by income tax authorities, has dismissed allegations that the company has been found to have carried out large-scale tax evasion.

The company has issued a statement saying it has collaborated with and provided all support to tax authorities.

It also dismissed media reports about the quantum of tax evasion allegedly found by the income tax department after going through their records.

The company has been facing searches at its factories in Beawar, Raas and Jaipur.

"We also would like to reiterate our strong record on corporate governance and playing our role as a responsible corporate citizen. The allegations made by the media are speculative and we would refrain from making any comments," it said.

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Eid in Sudan: 'I couldn't sleep because of the sounds of the gunfire'

Although both sides announced a ceasefire, fighting continues on one of Islam's holiest days.

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Odisha Ex-MLA Gets Life Sentence For Killing Wife

The special court of Additional District Judge (ADJ-III), Bhubaneswar, on Tuesday sentenced former Odisha MLA Ramamurthy Gomanga to life imprisonment for murdering his wife Sashirekha in 1995.

Ramamurthy Gomango was convicted on June 24 under Section 302 (murder) and 201 (destroying evidence) of IPC.

Apart from life imprisonment, special court judge Sashmita Padhi also slapped the former MLA from Gunupur with Rs 60,000 fine under various sections, said government pleader Rashmi Ranjan Brahma.

Ramamurthy Gomango was convicted based on the statements of 11 witnesses and 15 documents pertaining to the case.

According to the prosecution, Sashirekha's half-burnt body was recovered from the bathroom of Gomanga's official quarters here on August 29, 1995.

Though initially an unnatural death case was registered at Kharavel Nagar Police Station in Bhubaneswar, later a murder case was lodged as the probe indicated towards her killing.

Ramamurthy Gomango was elected to the Assembly from Gunupur constituency on a Janata Dal ticket in 1995. He joined the BJP in 2000. He was re-elected from the seat on a BJP ticket in 2000, but lost to his Congress rival Hema Gomango in the 2004 elections.

Later, he quit the BJP after the BJD snapped ties with the saffron party in 2009. He joined the BJD, but quit the regional party as he was denied a ticket in 2014. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Kramatorsk: Russian missile strike hits restaurants in Ukrainian city

Emergency services are at the scene but the number of casualties is so far unknown, the governor says.

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Wagner's network in Africa faces uncertain future

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Rs 60000 Crore Needed For 5 Poll Guarantees: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said a total of Rs 59,000 crore to Rs 60,000 crore is required annually, for the implementation of Congress' five poll 'guarantees'.

He said, the fresh budget of the new Congress government, which he will be presenting on July 7, is likely to be of the size Rs 3,35,000 crore.

The Chief Minister, who also holds the finance portfolio, was speaking after inaugurating the training camp organised for the newly elected MLAs of the 16th Legislative Assembly.

"The first budget after independence was twenty one crore three lakh rupees, today it is about three lakh nine thousand crore rupees. I will be presenting a new budget on July 7 it may be (of the size) three lakh thirty to thirty five thousand crore rupees," Mr Siddaramaiah said.

Addressing the newly elected legislators, he said, "the present budget is around three lakh nine thousand eight hundred and ninety six crore rupees, as I'm implementing five guarantees, I will have to provide rupees forty thousand crore for it, for the remaining period. A total of fifty nine thousand to sixty thousand crore rupees is required for five guarantees." Noting that the previous BJP government had presented a budget in February by taking a vote on account for four months, the Chief Minister said, the budget he will be presenting on July 7 will come into force from August 1.

Urging the legislators to try to learn and understand budgets, he also asked them to learn about taxation, stating the rich should be taxed, not the poor.

The five guarantees are: up to 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), 10 kg of free rice to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya), Rs 3,000 every month for unemployed graduates and Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders, both in the age group of 18-25 (YuvaNidhi), and free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti).

While the government has already launched the scheme which will provide free travel for women in public transport buses, the other four schemes are in various stages of implementation, and the timeline has already been fixed for their rollout.

Speaker of the Assembly U T Khader, Chairman of Legislative Council Basavaraja Horatti, Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, Assembly Secretary M K Vishalakshi were present at the inaugural of the training.

The Legislature Session is scheduled from July 3 to 14.

Suggesting that MLAs and MPs should understand the "meaning" of budget, the Chief Minister said, "in the 12th century, 'Kayakayogi' Basavanna spoke about budget. 'Kayaka' and 'Dasoha' are the key factors of the budget. Kayaka means production, Dasoha means sharing." He explained that the value of the budget is just understanding where the production is and to whom we distribute it in the society.

The Assembly is the temple of democracy, Mr Siddaramaiah said, as he called upon legislators to raise people's problems effectively in the Lower House and develop a mindset to seek solutions.

Those who do not read and understand the Constitution cannot become good legislators and parliamentarians, he said, "So read the Constitution and understand its basic principles and objectives." "We made the rules of the House ourselves. He said that if you read and understand it properly, people's problems can be brought before the house in a proper manner....We cannot make laws contrary to the Constitution. Therefore, reading the constitution is essential," he said.

Out of 224 MLAs, 70 have entered the Legislative Assembly for the first time. Former MP and former Union Minister KH Muniyappa (now minister in state government), former Minister and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy are among them.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Horse airlifted to safety from deep Italian pit

The dramatic moment a horse stranded down a four metre-deep Italian pit is hauled free by helicopter.

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Ros Atkins on... five impacts of the Wagner mutiny

The BBC’s Analysis Editor Ros Atkins looks at what the consequences are of the failed Wagner mutiny.

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Gauhati High Court Stays Wrestling Federation Elections Again

The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) elections, delayed several times, were stalled yet again with the Gauhati High Court on Sunday staying the July 11 polls on a petition filed by the Assam Wrestling Association.

The Assam Wrestling Association, in its petition filed against the WFI, IOA ad-hoc panel and the Sports Ministry, said though it was entitled to be an affiliated member of the WFI, it was not granted recognition.

The state unit claimed that the then WFI Executive Committee had made recommendation for its affiliation at the Federations' General Council in Gonda, on November 15, 2014 but it was denied recognition.

The IOA ad-hoc panel had fixed June 25 as the last date for receiving the names for the electoral college while the elections were fixed for July 11.

The petitioner contended that unless their body is affiliated to the WFI, and they can nominate their representative to the electoral college, the election process should be stalled.

The court directed the respondents -- WFI ad-hoc body and the Sports Ministry -- that till the next date is fixed for hearing they should not proceed with the elections of the Executive Committee of the WFI.

The court has fixed July 17 as the next date for hearing.

"Really? So were they sleeping when WFI held elections in 2015 and 2019. Why have they approached the Court now. Can't you guys smell that something is fishy here. Someone is trying to influence the WFI elections. It's clear," said an official from the previous WFI set-up.

"Actually, Assam was only an associate member without voting rights. If it had a problem with that, why they did not make an effort to reach out to the court in 2015 itself," the official added.

Assam Wrestling Association (AWA) said in its petition that they were "actively involved" in promoting wrestling in the state and had organised various national and state-level tournaments at the "behest" of the WFI.

The state association said in its plea that despite "several efforts" it did not get recognition.

AWA said that unless they don't get affiliation from the parent body, they would not be able to nominate their representative to the electoral college for the upcoming elections.

The state of Assam will be deprived of its representative to take part in the election of the executive committee of the WFI and its wrestlers will be deprived of participation in national tournaments, the petition said.

The WFI, before being suspended by the Sports Ministry, had set May 7 as the election date. Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, after his meeting with protesting wrestlers, had said that WFI elections will be held by June 30.

The IOA then announced that elections will be held on July 4 but the Returning Officer set July 6 as the new date.

However, after five disaffiliated state bodies staked claim to be eligible for voting, the Returning Officer yet again delayed the elections by five days, setting July 11 as the poll date.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"My Visit Will Add Renewed Vigour To India-Egypt Relations": PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called his two-day State visit to Egypt a "historic one", stating that it will add renewed vigour to the relations between India and Egypt and will benefit the people of the two nations.

Concluding his first State visit to the US and Egypt, PM Modi emplaned for India on Sunday.

PM Modi took to his Twitter handle to share glimpses of his first visit to Egypt. The video shows his arrival to the African country, meeting his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and interacting with members of the Indian diaspora.

Sharing the video on Twitter, PM Modi tagged the clip with a message stating, "My visit to Egypt was a historic one. It will add renewed vigour to India-Egypt relations and will benefit the people of our nations. I thank President @AlsisiOfficial, the Government and the people of Egypt for their affection."

My visit to Egypt was a historic one. It will add renewed vigour to India-Egypt relations and will benefit the people of our nations. I thank President @AlsisiOfficial, the Government and the people of Egypt for their affection. pic.twitter.com/tpoTK3inxH

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2023

PM Modi also thanked his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly for accompanying him to the Pyramids in Egypt. He tweeted, "I thank PM Mostafa Madbouly for accompanying me to the Pyramids. We had a rich discussion on the cultural histories of our nations and how to deepen these linkages in the times to come."

He also thanked the Egyptian government and people for conferring him with the 'Order of the Nile', the country's highest state honour. He stated that the honour bestowed upon him indicates the "warmth and affection" that Egypt has towards India and the people of the country.

Earlier in the day, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi conferred PM Modi with the country's highest state honour. It was the 13th state honour of its kind to have been conferred on him.

In the past nine years, PM Modi has received many international awards including Companion of the Order of Logohu, Companion of the Order of Fiji and Ebakl Award by the Republic of Palau, among others.

On Sunday, PM Modi held a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi during which they signed an agreement to elevate the bilateral relationship to a "Strategic Partnership". The two leaders discussed ways to further deepen the partnership between the two nations, including trade, investment, defence, security, renewable energy, cultural and people-to-people ties.

Sharing details regarding the meeting, Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Twitter stated, "PM @narendramodiheld a productive meeting with President @AlsisiOfficial in Cairo on 25 June 2023 The leaders discussed ways to further deepen the partnership between the two countries, including in trade & investment, defence & security, renewable energy, cultural and people to people ties. An agreement to elevate the bilateral relationship to a "Strategic Partnership" was signed by the leaders. Three MoUs in the fields of Agriculture, Archaeology & Antiquities and Competition Law were also signed."

Earlier in the day, PM Modi visited the Al-Hakim Mosque in Cairo. After visiting the Al-Hakim Mosque, PM Modi went to Heliopolis War Cemetery and paid tribute to the Indian soldiers who made supreme sacrifices during the First World War.

On Saturday, PM Modi held a roundtable meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Madbouly in Cairo. He also met thought leaders in Egypt as a part of his two-day visit to the Arab nation. PM Modi on Saturday arrived in Cairo for a two-day State visit to Egypt.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Rollercoaster accident in Sweden leaves one dead

Nine others were injured when the ride at a Stockholm amusement park partly derailed, witnesses say.

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Ex-Odisha MLA Ramamurthy Gomango Convicted In Wife's Murder

Former Odisha MLA Ramamurthy Gomango was convicted on Saturday by a special court of the murder of his wife, which happened 27 years ago.

The special MP/MLA court in Bhubaneswar held Gomango guilty under IPC Section 302 (murder) on the basis of the statements of 11 witnesses and 15 documents.

He was also found guilty of destroying evidence under IPC Section 201.

The sentence will be pronounced on Tuesday, public prosecutor Rashmi Ranjan Brahma told reporters.

The half-burnt body of Sashirekha Gomango was found in the bathroom of the MLA's official residence in Bhubaneswar on September 28, 1995. She was pregnant at the time of her death, according to the police.

Initially, a case of unnatural death was registered at the Kharvelnagar police station, and it was later converted into a murder case.

Gomango had claimed that his wife died by suicide.

He was first elected to the assembly in 1990 from the Gunupur seat in Rayagada district on a Janata Dal ticket. He was re-elected from the same seat in 2000 on a BJP ticket. However, in 2004, he lost to his nearest Congress rival, Hema Gamang.

He quit the BJP shortly after the BJD snapped ties with it in 2009. He again went back to the BJP in 2014.

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Greece ignored offer to monitor migrant boat says EU border agency

Officials are said to have ignored an offer to send a plane to monitor the boat that later sank.

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"Litti Chokha Malda Mangoes" Served At Big Opposition Meet In Patna

Opposition leaders gathered in Patna on Friday for serious discussions about unitedly taking on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, but also devoured Bihar's famous litti chokha and "Malda mangoes" to sweeten ties.

The opposition meeting went on for a good four hours, including lunch, which the leaders enjoyed together.

At a post-meeting press conference, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, "Nitish (Kumar) ji has treated us to all the dishes of Bihar at lunch, from litti chokha to special gulab jamuns."

Another opposition leader said, "It was a wonderful spread of Bihar's cuisine with litti chokha being everyone's favourite. There were also special gulab jamuns and Malda mangoes, popular in this part of the country, that we relished."

The meeting was hosted by Kumar at his 1, Aney Marg residence.

The opposition parties resolved to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. At a joint press conference, the leaders of the parties said they would fight the election on a common agenda and with state-wise strategies, setting aside their differences with a flexible approach.

The plan of action is expected to be formulated at another meeting to be chaired by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, tentatively on July 10 or 12, in Shimla.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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All five people on missing Titan sub are dead - Coast Guard

OceanGate, the company which operates the submersible, says they were "true explorers".

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US Coast Guard confirms Titan sub pressure loss

The US Coast Guard says condolences have been sent to the families of the passengers.

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"No Space For Discrimination In India": PM Modi To US Media Question

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said India and the US have "overwhelming respect" for each other because "we are democracies and it is in US and India's DNAs to expand democratic institutions".

Asked about the rights of religious minorities by a US reporter, PM Modi said "Regardless of caste, creed, religion, gender, there's absolutely no space for discrimination".

There is no democracy in absence of human rights, he added.

Regarding a query about free speech, PM Modi said, "I am surprised at what you said. People don't say it- we are a democracy. Democracy is in our DNA. We live democracy. And it is in our constitution".

His government, he said, "Can deliver and when we deliver there is no discrimination on caste, creed, religion" and quoted the motto of "Sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas (development for all and trust from all)".

"Everyone has access to amenities," he added, irrespective of religion, caste, age or geography.

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Nitish Kumar Calls On Arvind Kejriwal In Patna Ahead Of Big Opposition Meet

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday called on his Delhi and Punjab counterparts, Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann respectively, who are here to attend a crucial opposition meeting.

Nitish Kumar, the JD(U) supreme leader, drove to the city hotel where Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party founder, is putting up with other AAP colleagues.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chaddha shared pictures, on Twitter, of the meeting that took place shortly after the visitors returned from Takht Harmandir Patna Sahib, a Sikh shrine built at the site where Guru Gobind Singh was born.

It is always a pleasure to meet with @NitishKumar ji.

He called on @ArvindKejriwal ji in Patna, ahead of the meeting of like-minded parties tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/g5qCb7XCQg

— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) June 22, 2023

Meanwhile, Mr Kumar, who is in his 70s, seemed busy playing the perfect host as he travelled around the city meeting visitors like West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, CPI general secretary D Raja and CPI(ML) Liberation's Dipankar.

Other attendees like Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh Yadav, Hemant Soren and Farooq Abdullah are expected to arrive Friday morning for the meeting to be held at Kumar's residence around noon.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Louis Tomlinson concert-goers pelted in Colorado hail storm

Around 90 people were treated for non-life-threatening injuries and the concert near Denver was cancelled.

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Paris building in flames after huge explosion

Police say a number of people are in a critical condition after the incident in the French capital.

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Angry Over Family Court Proceedings Kerala Man Damages Judge's Car

A family court judge's vehicle was badly damaged near Thiruvalla on Wednesday by a litigant who was unhappy with the way the marital dispute between him and his wife was being adjudicated, police said.

The 55-year-old man got angry during the proceedings and after coming out from the court, took out his rage on the judge's car that was parked inside the Thiruvalla court complex in Kerala.

The litigant smashed all the windows of the car, with the windscreen barely left attached to the vehicle.

There were dents all over the body of the car too, according to visuals of it shown on TV channels.

An officer of Thiruvalla police station said the accused was taken into custody and an FIR was lodged against him for disrupting court work, intimidation and damaging public property.

"The accused, who was arguing his side on his own in the row with his wife, was claiming that he was not getting natural justice from the court. It is his wife who has filed a divorce plea in the court.

"He was alleging that his wife's lawyer and the judge were working together against him and that his side was not being heard properly," the officer said.

The officer said that initially the case between the couple was being adjudicated in a court in Pathanamthitta back in 2017, but the man later moved the Kerala High Court to get it transferred claiming he has no faith in that court.

"Thereafter, the cases between the couple were transferred to family court here this year," the officer said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Border Police Officer's Son Shoots Dead Constable At Delhi Camp

A 36-year-old constable posted at the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) camp in south-west Delhi's Chhawla area was killed on Wednesday allegedly after being shot by the son of an officer residing on the same campus of the border guarding force, official sources said.

The incident was reported from the family quarters of the camp around 1 pm.

It was found that the constable, Bhoop Singh Meena, was shot dead in the house of an ITBP officer of 2IC rank by the son of the officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) M Harsha Vardhan said.

A case under section 302 (murder) of the IPC and Arms Act has been registered at Chhawla police station. Forensic teams have collected pieces of evidence from the site, the DCP said.

The accused -- identified as Digvijay, 32, -- has been arrested, he said.

The DCP said the private licensed weapon is in the name of the officer and the accused is unemployed.

"We suspect five rounds were fired. The motive is under investigation," the DCP said.

ITBP officials said the constable Meena worked as a cook and was posted on the Chhawla campus.

He is survived by his wife and two young children, they said.

The officials of the border force said the exact reason that led to the firing was not known immediately even as a court of inquiry (CoI) has been ordered by the central force.

They said the private weapon used by the accused was in the name of his father, ITBP second-in-command rank officer Lok Pal Singh.

The ITBP, an about 90,000 personnel strong force, is primarily deployed to guard the 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China apart from rendering a variety of duties in the internal security domain of the country.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Palestinian killed as Israeli settlers attack town after deadly shooting

The rampage in the occupied West Bank comes a day after Palestinian gunmen shot dead four Israelis.

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War of words over Ukrainian POWs handed to Hungary

Ukraine says three of the 11 men are now free but the two countries are still at loggerheads.

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2 Coaches Of Express Train Derail In Bengal's North Dinajpur District

Two bogies of an express train got decoupled in West Bengal's North Dinajpur district on Tuesday evening, railway officials said.

However, there were no reports of any injury, officials said.

The incident took place around 4:30 pm when two coaches of the Jammu-bound Lohit Express got decoupled near Dalkhola, around 450 km from state capital Kolkata.

"The detachment between coach B1 (10th from the engine) and B2 (11th from the engine) happened at 4.30pm near Dalkhola. The coaches were reattached and services resumed at 4.55pm. There are no reports of any injury," a railway official said.

The official said the down Lohit Express was on its way to Jammu Tawai from Guwahati.

Nearly 300 people were killed and more than 1,200 injured in a train accident at Bahanaga Bazar in Odisha's Balasore district earlier this month.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Case Against Gurugram Beauty Parlour Owner For Damaging Customer's Ear

 In compliance of a city court order, the Gurugram Police has booked a beauty parlour owner for allegedly conducting a "surgery-like procedure" that resulted in partial damage to her customer's ear in 2022.

Pooja, a resident of Kadipur Industrial area, had also accused parlour owner Jyoti Narula for treating her right ear loop for a piercing infection for three months with her personal prescription.

The complainant stated that Narula is also engaged in services such as ear and nose piercing. She was doing the work of her right ear loop closure for about three months through some of her personal prescriptions. But about a year ago, the lower part of her right ear was "completely destroyed due to the wrong treatment".

"The accused initially agreed to pay my Rs 1.5 lakh for the ear surgery but later backed off and even started threats. When her procedure failed to fix the issue, I approached a doctor who performed a surgery to prevent the infection from spreading. A medical examination report stated that my right ear pinna was missing," the complaint read.

She alleged that when she file a police complaint, no action was taken even if she had provided her medical report. Finally, she filed a complaint to the Chief Minister's Grievance committee and police commissioner in June 2022, according to the complaint.

Pooja then moved the court on May 29 this year, and the court of Anil Kumar Yadav, judicial magistrate first class, directed the police to register a case. F Following the order of the court, an FIR was registered against the beauty parlour owner Narula under section 338 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code at the New Colony police station on Saturday.

"In compliance of the court order, an FIR has been registered and we are probing into the matter. Action will be taken as per the law," a senior police officer said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Kerala Man Sentenced To 135 Years In Jail For Raping Minor Cousin

A Kerala court on Monday sentenced a man to a cumulative of 135 years imprisonment for repeatedly raping and impregnating his minor cousin two years ago.

Haripad Fast Track Special Court (FTSC) Judge Saji Kumar sentenced the 24-year-old man to various sentences, under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, IPC, Information Technology Act, and Juvenile Justice Act, for a total of 135 years, public prosecutor Raghu K said.

However, as the sentences have to be served concurrently and the highest of them was 20 years, the convict will be serving 20 years in prison, the prosecutor said.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5.1 lakh on the convict and directed the District Legal Services Authority to provide a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the survivor who was 15 years old at the time of the incident, the prosecutor said.

According to the prosecution, the convict was the victim's father's elder brother's son and used to take her to her school and bring her back home to her maternal grandmother.

Making use of this proximity and also by recording a video of the victim while she was bathing, he established intimate relations with her and got her pregnant, the prosecutor said.

The victim gave birth to a child who is in the care of the Child Welfare Committee, the lawyer said. 

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Man 43 Arrested Over Hoax Bomb Call At Hyderabad's Income Tax Offices

A 43-year-old man who allegedly made a phone call last week claiming that bombs were planted in three Income Tax (I-T) offices in the city and demanded Rs 1 crore to not detonate the purported explosives has been arrested, police said on Monday.

Police conducted searches at the I-T offices on June 12 and concluded it to be a hoax call.

The accused, Jaini Radhakrishna, who made the bomb threat, was apprehended at Hayathnagar here on Sunday, a release from Hyderabad Police said.

During the inquiry, the accused revealed that he had planned to create panic among the Income Tax Department authorities and demand money from them (through this act) so that he could clear his financial debts and also lead a lavish life, it said.

As per his plan, the accused dialled '100' informing the police control room that he had planted bombs in three secret places in the Income Tax offices and demanded Rs 1 crore to not set them off, the release said.

Cases were registered in three police stations and during the course of the investigation, the police nabbed the accused on June 18, police added. 

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Myanmar: Young Burmese confront dashed dreams in exile

Young Burmese who once hoped for a freer country have now fled their homes in fear.

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Want To Do Constructive Work: Team Uddhav Leader On Joining Shinde Faction

Manisha Kayande, who has joined Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction after being ousted from the post of Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson earlier, said that she wanted to do some constructive work and therefore joined the party.

She joined the Sena faction in the presence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday evening.

"I wanted to do some constructive work that's why I joined the Shiv Sena. It's the first time in the history of Shiv Sena that a woman has been made a secretary of the party I'm very happy," she said after joining the Shinde faction.

Manisha Kayande was dismissed from the post of Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson on Sunday.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Shinde said Manisha Kayande has the intention of doing great work.

"Manisha Kayande has the intention of doing a great job, I have welcomed her and also given her the post of secretary in Shiv Sena and I hope she will work for woman empowerment," he added.

Ms Kayande was appointed as the spokesperson of Shiv Sena in 2016.

She is a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Canadian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins to equal Ayrton Senna victories total

Red Bull's Max Verstappen equals Ayrton Senna's career total of 41 victories with a dominant win at the Canadian Grand Prix.

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"In India's Free Market When Demand..": P Chidambaram On Rising Airfares

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday took a swipe at the government over rising airfares, saying that in free markets, when demand increases, supply will increase, but in India's free market, when demand increases, prices will increase.

The Congress has been attacking the government, demanding concrete action over rising airfares.

In a tweet, Mr Chidambaram said, "Delhi-Chennai Business Class air tickets on Vistara and Air India have been set at a 'reasonable' price of Rs 6300 and Rs 5700 respectively. Oops, sorry, they are set at a 'very reasonable' Rs 63,000 and Rs 57,000 respectively." 

I have the prices for Economy class too

On the SAME day and on the SAME route, the prices are 28,000 (AI) and 12,000 (VISTARA)

As usual, the bhakts have missed the central issue

The issue is not who travels in what class. The issue is, why are fares rising practically every…

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) June 18, 2023

"In free markets, when demand increases, supply will increase. In India's free market, when demand increases, prices will increase," he said.

Airlines will expand their routes, curtail flights on old routes and jack up prices, the former finance minister said.

"India will be the Vishwaguru to the world on monopolistic capitalism," he said.

In another tweet, after many criticised him for quoting business class fares, Mr Chidambaram said, "I have the prices for Economy class too. On the SAME day and on the SAME route, the prices are 28,000 (AI) and 12,000 (VISTARA)." 

"As usual, the bhakts have missed the central issue. The issue is not who travels in what class. The issue is, why are fares rising practically every week? And why is AI charging Rs 28,000 and Vistara charging 12,000 on the same day and on the same route?" This is what a monopoly or a duopoly does, he said.

"In a free market, there must be competition. The more intense the competition, the better it will be," Mr Chidambaram said.

In recent weeks, there has been a surge in airfares on certain routes, mainly due to a capacity crunch and suspension of operations by crisis-hit Go First.

Against this backdrop, concerns have been expressed in various quarters, and the Civil Aviation Ministry on June 6 asked airlines to devise a mechanism to ensure reasonable pricing of air tickets.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Complete Ganga Expressway By December 2024: Yogi Adityanath To Officials

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday reviewed the progress of under-construction and new expressway projects and the development of the Industrial Corridor and Defense Corridor in the state and necessary guidelines to officials in a high-level meeting held on Sunday, an official statement informed.

According to the statement, CM Adityanath instructed officials to complete Ganga Expressway by December 2024, adding that an industrial cluster will be developed along the Ganga Expressway. The CM directed the officials to decide on the location.

"Under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, in the last five and a half years, unprecedented work has been done in the field of road infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh. Till 2017, there were only 2 expressways in this state, today there are 6 expressways. National Highways have also almost doubled as compared to 5 years back. There has been an expected improvement in border area connectivity. Better connectivity is the most important medium to accelerate development," the release quoted CM Adityanath as saying.

The CM informed that in new India, new Uttar Pradesh is getting a new identity as 'Express Pradesh'. "Purvanchal and Bundelkhand Expressways have already been dedicated to the nation whereas Ganga Expressway and Gorakhpur Link Expressway are currently being constructed," he said.

The CM Yogi further said it is necessary to connect the Bundelkhand Expressway, which has become the lifeline of Bundelkhand, with Jhansi and Chitrakoot. 

"The budget has also been provisioned for Chitrakoot Link Expressway and Jhansi Link Expressway. Both these new expressways will accelerate the progress of Bundelkhand," the statement added.

According to the preliminary study, the Chitrakoot Link Expressway will be around 20 km long, while the length of the Jhansi Link Expressway will be around 125-135 km.

"For the construction of both the new expressways, the process of purchasing the land should be started as soon as possible after preparing a detailed report after duly studying it. Quality of work and timeliness of the project should be ensured," the CM said.

He added that saplings should be planted on both sides of all expressways on the occasion of Van Mahotsav this year, adding that the availability of plants will be made by the Forest Department.

"The process of development of industrial clusters should be expedited on both sides of Purvanchal and Bundelkhand Expressways. It may be ensured that the IMLC location is within a distance of a maximum of 3 km from the interchange. The land for the cluster should be identified and acquired immediately as per the rules. There will be no shortage of funds for this," the CM said.

He said that the land required for Ganga Expressway connecting Meerut to Prayagraj has been acquired.

"The target should be to make this expressway available to the general public by December 2024, so that devotees from all over the country and the world can take advantage during Prayagraj Kumbh in 2025. A place should be identified for developing an industrial cluster along the Ganga Expressway," he added.

The CM said the progress of the construction of the Gorakhpur Link Expressway is satisfactory, adding that it will become a medium of excellent connectivity for Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Azamgarh and Ambedkar Nagar districts. 

"The construction of the Gorakhpur Link Expressway should be completed in a time-bound manner," he said.

He informed that big defence product manufacturing companies of the country and the world are investing in Uttar Pradesh Defense Industrial, which is playing a leading role in making the country a hub of defence production.

"So far, more than Rs 21,000 crores have been invested in the Defense Corridor. Big companies are setting up their units in the corridor, including Bramhos Aerospace, Aeroloy Technology in the Lucknow node, Bharat Dynamics Limited in the Jhansi node, Adani Defense System in the Kanpur node, and Emitech Electronics and Anchor Research Limited in the Aligarh node," he said.

"Take immediate decisions regarding new proposals. Do not keep any proposal pending," Yogi instructed officials," the statement said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Will It Adversely Impact Hindus?" Uddhav Thackeray On Uniform Civil Code

Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said the Uniform Civil Code for all citizens is welcome but wondered if its implementation would affect Hindus adversely.

Mr Thackeray also took potshots at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the state-level plenary of Shiv Sena (UBT) office-bearers held here, the first since the split in Shiv Sena last year.

"We welcome the Uniform Civil Code for all but would it adversely affect Hindus? If they (BJP) could not implement the ban on cow slaughter in the entire country, how can the UCC be implemented?" he asked.

The Law Commission recently said it has decided to look at the need for a UCC afresh and seek the views of stakeholders, which include the members of the public and religious organisations.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Assam MLA Surrenders Before Court In Rape Case Gets Bail

Assam MLA Nijam Uddin Choudhury surrendered before a court in Hailakandi district on Saturday in a rape case and was granted bail.

Choudhury surrendered before the Hailakandi district and session's judge after the court issued an arrest warrant against him on Friday.

A rape case was filed in 2018 by a woman, in which Choudhury, the AIUDF legislator of Algapur, is a co-accused.

"The court granted his bail application," Public Prosecutor Manika Roy said.

The legislator had failed to appear before the court despite repeated summons, leading to the issuance of the arrest warrant.

Choudhury was first elected from Algapur in 2016 and retained the seat in the 2021 Assembly polls.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Man Claims He Got No Aid After Home Acquired For Coal Mine Dies By Suicide

A man allegedly died by suicide in Chhattisgarh's Korba district after claiming in a video that his property had been acquired for a coal mine but he had neither got money or a job as compensation, a police official said on Saturday.

The land on which his house was built was acquired by the South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) and all efforts in the past six months to get compensation or a job were in vain, Dilharan Patel said in the video some time before ending his life.

Patel, a resident of Chandra Nagar Jatraj village, was hospitalised on June 13 after he consumed poison and he died on Saturday morning, Kusmunda police station in charge Krishna Kumar Verma said.

"A preliminary probe has revealed that SECL had given his son a job in a private firm. Further investigations as to why he took this extreme step is underway. For now, an accidental death report has been registered," Verma added.

SECL public relations officer Sanish Chandra said Patel was occupying government land and therefore, as per the rules laid down by the Union government and Coal India Limited's Resettlement and Rehabilitation Policy, he was not eligible for a job in the state-run entity.

"However, the victim's son Mukesh Patel was provided a job in a surface miner company working for SECL. Patel's house was surveyed and compensation of Rs 2.50 lakh was decided. The process had been completed and very soon he would have got the money," Chandra said.

SECL is a subsidiary of CIL and operates 41 mines in Chhattisgarh and 26 in Madhya Pradesh.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Ukraine war must end South African President Ramaphosa tells Putin

Cyril Ramaphosa and other African leaders met the Ukrainian and Russian presidents in their peace bid.

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Daniel Ellsberg: Pentagon Papers whistleblower dies aged 92

His 1971 leak exposed lies about the Vietnam War and saw him dubbed "the most dangerous man in America".

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Six in critical condition 15 dead after Canada highway crash

The deadly crash is "one of the worst tragedies" ever seen in the province of Manitoba, an official said.

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5 Jaish Terrorists Linked To Circus Worker's Killing Arrested In J&K

Five Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists were arrested from Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir in connection with the killing of a circus worker last month, police said on Friday.

Deepak Kumar, 27, a resident of Udhampur district, was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne militants from a close range when he had gone to the market to buy milk on the night of May 29. He worked at a circus in the Janglat Mandi area in the south Kashmir district.

The prime accused in the case received weapon training through WhatsApp video calls from his handler, police said.

Addressing a press conference in Anantnag, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), South Kashmir Range, Rayees Mohammad Bhat said the terrorists belong to Kashmir Freedom Fighters (KFF) -- an offshoot of proscribed terror outfit JeM.

"Investigations and searches were launched after the incident. During the investigations, we got some technical leads and some clues. In the meantime, we zeroed in on some suspects and they were interrogated," Mr Bhat said.

He said the investigations pointed at two people, Sehran Bashir Nadaf and Ubaid Nazir Laigroo, both residents of Anantnag town who had gone missing.

"We launched a massive search operation to nab them. Based on technical and human intelligence, we were ultimately able to arrest these two accused after which the whole conspiracy was revealed," he said.

Apart from Nadaf and Laigroo, three others -- Umer Amin Thoker, Huzaif Shabir Bhat and Nasir Farooq Shah -- have been arrested, the DIG said.

So far, one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, 40 AK-47 rounds, two pistols, two pistol magazines, seven pistol rounds and empty cartridges each, three hand grenades, seven mobile phones and a scooter have been seized. Further leads are being followed, he said.

Mr Bhat said this group of terrorists had been working in south Kashmir for some time.

"We expect more arrests and further revelations. This a classic example of a hybrid terrorist module," he said.

Meanwhile, in a statement, police said prime accused Nadaf had been trained by a terrorist handler identified with the alias Khalid Kamran, via WhatsApp video calls regarding the usage of weaponry.

They had been instructed to find and attack minority community soft targets and instructed about the mode of recce and other details, police said.

The entire conspiracy of how weapons were sourced, passed on and routed to the actual trigger puller and how to maintain communication discipline as well as how to cover tracks and hide evidence has been uncovered, it said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Ukraine war: Putin confirms first nuclear weapons moved to Belarus

Russia's leader says the move is to remind anyone "thinking of inflicting a strategic defeat on us".

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Bike Taxi Ban: Drivers Write To Delhi Lt Governor Citing Livelihood Threat

A section of bike taxi drivers has sought Delhi LG V K Saxena's intervention in helping them stave off a Delhi government ban which proscribed them from plying on city roads in absence of a policy.

The Delhi government had earlier in the week banned app-based taxi services such as Rapido and Uber in view of absence of a policy for plying of bike taxis on city roads.

In a memorandum they handed over to LG's office, the drivers said the Delhi government was adamant on banning their services.

"We will face difficulties in meeting household expenses, getting our children educated and getting our parents treated," read the memorandum.

The Supreme Court had on Monday stayed a Delhi High Court order that essentially allowed Rapido and Uber to operate in the national capital by asking the Delhi government not to take any coercive action against them till a new policy was formulated.

A vacation bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Rajesh Bindal at Supreme Court granted liberty to the two aggregators to request urgent hearing of their pleas by the Delhi HC.

Transport Commissioner Ashish Kundra said the government will write to aggregators and also appeal to them through the media to comply with the Supreme Court order or face action.

The bench, which stayed the May 26 order of the Delhi HC, also recorded the Delhi government counsel's submission that the final policy will be notified before July-end.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Greece boat disaster: People are waiting for any piece of good news

Relatives are desperately searching for those believed to have been on a migrant boat that sank on 14 June.

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Roads of Ayodhya will resemble Delhi's iconic Rajpath in coming months: UP CM Yogi

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday presented ambitious development plans for Ayodhya with ongoing projects worth a staggering Rs 32 thousand crores and said no other city in the country could match the scale of the development initiatives undertaken in Ayodhya.

Chief Minister Yogi further stated that "Ayodhya holds a special place in the hearts of millions of people, and even those who were not fortunate enough to be born here desire the opportunity. The people have a strong sense of Lord Ram's presence in their lives, and the construction of the temple will be a manifestation of their devotion and belief."

Mr Adityanath said that initially there would be difficulties during the development work, but to achieve the big goal, one has to face obstacles.

Chief Minister Yogi expressed his vision for the roads of Ayodhya, stating that within the next four to six months, they will resemble the iconic Rajpath in Delhi. The road going from behind Hanuman Garhi near Sugriva Fort to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi is going to be a glorious path in the form of the Bhakti Path. Previously, there were no such wide roads, but now there are ongoing projects to construct Panchkosi, 14 Kosi, Chaurasikosi, new bypass, ring roads, and flyovers. The development programs of hospitals, and education centers are being expanded.

He also added that the aim is to transform Ayodhya into one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

"Under PM Modi's leadership, Ayodhya, Mathura-Vrindavan, Prayagraj, Shravasti, Naimish Tirtha, Kashi, and Kushinagar are being developed. There is no dearth of money for development. For us, Janata Janardan and the state are families. We have stopped looting public money and sign that money is investing that money in development," Yogi Adityanath said.

One of the key milestones is the installation of Ramlala, the idol of Lord Ram, in his own temple after a wait of 500 years. This historic event is scheduled for January and will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, enhancing Yogi Ayodhya's significance on a global scale.

In addition, the government has also announced plans to develop Ayodhya as a major tourist destination, with the construction of a grand Ram Temple and other infrastructural developments. The main railway station is undergoing extensive development, while railway projects in Surya Kund and Bharatkund are set to commence soon. Ayodhya is also planned to get its very own international airport, expected to be completed within this year. This is expected to boost the local economy and create employment opportunities for the people of Ayodhya.

Chief Minister Yogi addressed a public meeting organized at Yogiraj Bharat ji's Taposthali Nandigram, Bharatkund on Thursday on the occasion of the completion of nine years of the Modi government. He also extended his wishes for the continued success of PM Modi's tenure, hoping that India would continue to benefit from his guidance and leadership.

Mr Adityanath expressed that Ayodhya has become a city that every major city aspires to connect with. Ayodhya has transformed into the new Ayodhya. Chief Minister Yogi set a target of lighting 21 lakh lamps during the upcoming Deepotsav. He called for the lighting of lamps in every household of Ayodhya, in addition to the Ghats, Math-Temples, Suryakund, and Bharat Kund. The preparations for this should commence from now itself, as it sets the stage for the arrival of Lord Ram in his home next year.

Further, the Mr Adityanath highlighted the growing reputation of India on the global stage and the improved security situation under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. He urged the people to participate in the upcoming Yoga Mahotsav, which is scheduled for June 21.

Mr Adityanath Yogi stated that "Under the leadership of PM Modi, New India has gained global recognition and respect. The successful leadership of PM Modi will continue to receive the blessings of the people, leading India to become the world's third-largest economy. This will raise the per capita income and enhance overall connectivity across the nation."

He further emphasized the transformation of improved infrastructure in Ayodhya, made possible by the government's efforts. In the past, the city road and rail networks were poor. However, due to recent development, the journey from Gorakhpur and Lucknow to Ayodhya, which previously took five to six hours, can now be completed in just one hour.

Looking ahead, the construction of the airport in Ayodhya will further enhance connectivity.

After the airport is built, there will be an opportunity to refresh the memory of Tretayug. When Lord Shri Ram would have come to Ayodhya by Pushpak Viman after the victory of Lanka. Today, every resident of Ayodhya will get an opportunity to fly in the country and the world through air travel.

Mr Yogi Adityanath recognised the need of working together with the mayor of Ayodhya. He highlighted the effectiveness of a "double engine" government, wherein the BJP government works together to ensure comprehensive development and public welfare in municipal bodies. This strategy aims to eliminate discrimination and provide basic amenities and development plans to all, from villages to cities.

The Chief Minister said that Ayodhya is becoming the most prosperous city and district. He compared it to the ancient 'Tretayug' period, when Ramrajya, an ideal form of government, was accomplished. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, Ayodhya today not only embodies the spirit of Ramrajya but also inspires the entire nation.

He highlighted that just six years ago, there was hesitation in uttering the name of Ayodhya. However, under his government's steadfast commitment to the city's development, Ayodhya has witnessed remarkable progress and a renewed sense of pride.

He mentioned his recent visit to Surya Kund. He recalled that when he visited there 3-4 years back, it was in a dilapidated condition. But now, it has been transformed, which now serves as a testament to the vision of Ayodhya's development.

He also inquired about the current condition of Surya Kund from the people. He urged the public representatives to organize light and sound shows at 8 pm, allowing the residents to experience the mesmerizing beauty of the area. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of showcasing other sites associated with Lord Ram, such as Guptarghat, to the local community, especially women.

The Chief Minister emphasized that the once-deserted areas associated with Lord Ram's legacy are now shining brightly, symbolizing the transformation of Ayodhya.

He expressed his commitment to making Ayodhya the most beautiful city in the world and developing Bharatkund, similar to the success of Suryakund. The meditation place of Mahatma Bharat will be brought to life with mesmerizing light and sound displays. The pond will be beautified, and efforts will be made to rehabilitate the people residing in the vicinity.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work during a period marked by the successful leadership of PM Modi.

He emphasized the need for a development-oriented government that is committed to public welfare and preserves India's rich heritage.

Yogi Aditynath conveyed his pride in witnessing the realization of dreams under PM Modi's leadership. The construction of the grand temple of Ramlala in Ayodhya, the beautification projects in Mathura-Vrindavan, and the upcoming divine Kumbh in Prayagraj are all testaments to the progress being made.

He urged everyone to cooperate in order to advance India's growth.

He further said that "We all will work together on this. For a successful tenure of 9 years, every worker should go door-to-door to create light and once again in 2024, the BJP government will be formed at the centre under the leadership of PM Modi."

Minister-in-charge of Ayodhya Surya Pratap Shahi, Minister of State Satish Chandra Sharma, MP Lallu Singh, Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi, District Panchayat President Roli Singh, MLAs Vedprakash Gupta, Ramchandra Yadav, Dr Amit Singh Chauhan, State President of BJYM and MLC Pranshu in the public meeting Dutt Dwivedi, MLC Hariom Pandey, Padmasen Chowdhary, former MLA Gorakhnath Baba, BJP District President Sanjeev Singh, Metropolitan President Abhishek Mishra and others were present.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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India students facing Canada removal over fake documents get reprieve

A task force will conduct case-by-case analysis of those facing removal over fake admission letters.

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Delhi Likely To See Rain Thunderstorm Over The Next Few Days

Parts of Delhi, including Dwarka, received rainfall on Wednesday, despite there being no forecast for rains for the day. Delhiites are expected to get some relief from the punishing heat in the next few days with light rains and thundershowers in the offing, the weather office said.

The maximum temperature is expected to be between 36 degrees Celsius and 39 degrees Celsius till June 20, it said.

Delhi sweated under scorching heat on Wednesday with the maximum temperature settling at 40.9 degrees Celsius, one notch above the season's average, and the minimum temperature being recorded at 29.7 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal.

The humidity levels oscillated between 43 per cent and 57 per cent throughout the day.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast a partly cloudy sky for Thursday with the possibility of very light rain or thundershowers towards evening at one or two places.

The city is likely to receive light rains or thundershowers, accompanied by gusty winds, on June 18 and 19.

Gusty winds are expected to sweep through Delhi on Thursday with the maximum and minimum temperatures likely to settle around 39 and 30 degrees Celsius respectively.

The city would receive light rains Thursday and Friday under the influence of Cyclone Biparjoy which is gaining steam in the Arabian Sea, private forecasting agency Skymet Weather had said earlier this week.

However, in a fresh forecast, the IMD predicted thunderstorms with light to moderate intensity rain and gusty winds with speed of 30-40 kmph over and around areas such as Narela, Alipur, Dwarka, Delhi Cantt, India Gate, Akshardham, Palam, Safdarjung, Lodhi Road, Nehru Stadium, IGI Airport, Karawal Nagar, Dilshad Garden, Seemapuri, and parts of NCR like Loni Dehat, Hindon AF Station, Ghaziabad, the weather department said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Delhi BJP Alleges Rs 500 Crore 'Panic Button Scam' AAP Denies Charge

The Delhi BJP on Tuesday alleged a Rs 500 crore scam involving panic buttons installed by the transport department through vendors in private taxis and buses, a charge termed by the Kejriwal government as "baseless".

Addressing a press conference here, the leader of opposition in Delhi Assembly, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri claimed that around Rs 500 crore were charged from operators of taxis and buses in the name of panic buttons by Delhi government's transport department since 2019.

"However, the panic buttons are non-functional because there is no control centre to act on any distress faced by the passengers. This is one of the biggest scams in the name of women safety," he charged.

Mr Bidhuri said that a delegation of Delhi BJP led by its president Virendra Sachdeva will meet Lt Governor V K Saxena and demand a CBI probe into the "scam".

Also, the BJP MLAs will accompany taxi and bus operators and stage a demonstration at chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence, he said.

"We will request him to show everyone how panic buttons work. Not even a single woman has been helped due to the panic button so far because there is no control room to act upon any distress signal," Mr Bidhuri claimed.

The Kejriwal government should tell the people what happened to the Rs 500 crore it has collected in the name of panic buttons and women safety, he said.

Mr Bidhuri said Rs 9,000 for taxis and Rs 22,000 for buses were charged from their owners by the private vendors.

Later, the Delhi government said that the allegations made by Ramvir Bidhuri is completely "baseless".

"The safety and security of the passengers have always been the utmost priority for the Delhi government. We would like to clarify that all the necessary security measures are in place and are functioning effectively. One such measure is the installation of panic buttons in taxis and buses operating in Delhi," it said in a statement.

"These panic buttons, when pressed by passengers, immediately trigger an automated alarm that is received at the command and control centres located at Shastri Park and Kashmere Gate," said the government.

The dedicated centre, under DIMTS at Shastri Park, tracks autos, taxies and other public service vehicles fitted with AIS 140 Vehicle Location tracking devices and appropriate action is taken on any alerts received from the panic button. The team also works in providing the required information to the Delhi Police too, in cases as required, it said further.

Similarly, the command-and-control centre at Kashmere Gate has played an important role in ensuring safety of all passengers especially women travelling in the buses, it said.

In addition to these measures, SMS and email alerts are sent to the concerned authorities during emergencies, ensuring that all necessary actions are taken swiftly and efficiently, the statement added.

The Delhi government remains committed to the safety and security of its citizens and will continue to implement and enhance measures that ensure the well-being of the people, it said.

"We urge all citizens to utilize the panic buttons and other available safety features when necessary, and we encourage the public to report any concerns or suggestions to further improve the existing systems," it added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Donald Trump in Miami court on classified documents charges - in pictures

Donald Trump is in court today in Miami to face charges of mishandling classified documents.

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Arvind Kejriwal Says Delhi's Water Crisis To Be Resolved Within 2-3 Years

Delhi's water crisis will be resolved within the next two-three years as the government is taking radical steps to tackle the problem, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday.

In 2015, Delhi's water production stood at 850 million gallons per day (MGD). It has now increased to 1,000 MGD, he said at a press conference at the Delhi Secretariat.

Mr Kejriwal said he has set an ambitious target to further enhance Delhi's water production capacity to a range of 1,200-1,300 MGD.

Once this goal is achieved, Delhiites will no longer face water shortages, he added.

To accomplish this, the government plans to install tubewells in areas with high water-tables, enabling the extraction of water on a large scale. Additionally, an innovative approach will be adopted to recharge groundwater by rejuvenating lakes with treated sewage treatment plant (STP) water, the chief minister said.

The recharged water will undergo further treatment in reverse osmosis (RO) plants before being supplied to households, he said.

To ensure the highest standards of sewage treatment, all STPs in Delhi are currently undergoing comprehensive upgrades, aiming to mitigate pollution and promote responsible water resource management, the CM said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Canada police investigating China meddling claims

The RCMP said it has more than 100 files open on foreign interference into Canadian affairs.

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Overall Average Airfares On 10 Domestic Routes On Decline: Official Data

The overall average airfares on ten domestic routes, including Delhi-Srinagar, are on the decline, and the trend is likely to continue in the coming weeks also, according to an analysis based on data compiled by aviation regulator DGCA.

In recent weeks, there has been a surge in airfares on certain routes, mainly due to a capacity crunch and suspension of operations by crisis-hit Go First.

Against this backdrop, concerns have been expressed in various quarters, and the civil aviation ministry on June 6 asked airlines to devise a mechanism to ensure reasonable pricing of air tickets.

An analysis of airfares based on a select week-on-week comparison for a period till July 13 showed that the average ticket prices are on the decline.

The data has been compiled by the tariff monitoring unit of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The ten routes are Delhi-Srinagar, Srinagar-Delhi, Delhi-Leh, Leh-Delhi, Mumbai-Delhi, Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Pune, Pune-Delhi, Ahmedabad-Delhi and Delhi-Ahmedabad.

Sources at the ministry said the overall average airfares are on the decline in these routes, except that on the Mumbai-Delhi route.

The surge in airfares has been mainly witnessed on routes that were operated by Go First, which has not flown since May 3.

On June 5, during a meeting chaired by Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, airline representatives were asked to self-regulate fares, and also put in place a mechanism to ensure reasonable pricing of air tickets.

Airfares are deregulated in India.

A ministry official on Tuesday said there are no plans for regulating the fares and that introducing fare caps on various routes will lead to market distortion.

In a series of tweets on Monday, Scindia said fares have been reduced by up to 60 per cent and are likely to decline further on certain routes that had seen an increase in fares.

He also said DGCA is closely monitoring the situation.

"This is no ordinary situation for civil aviation. After two years of ZERO flights taking off due to COVID-19, the sector, GLOBALLY is now faced with tough supply chain challenges (also the primary reason for grounding of Go First fleet).

"And so, airlines are unable to induct aircraft immediately. However, we had foreseen the issue long back, and had pro-actively liberalised the wet lease policy," Scindia had said on Monday.

Wet lease policy refers to the leasing of aircraft by airlines wherein crew, among others, are provided by the lessors concerned. It is usually done as a short-term measure to address capacity constraints. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Maharashtra Govt Can Consider Reducing Number of 'Dry Days': Minister

Maharashtra excise minister Shambhuraj Desai on Tuesday hinted that the government is open to reducing the number of "dry days" when liquor sale is not allowed if such a demand is made by people.

A dry day is declared by the government when liquor sales and its service are prohibited.

National holidays such as Independence Day, and Republic Day as well as the birth and death anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi are counted among dry days.

Some festivals and religious days are also declared as dry days by the state government.

Responding to a query from reporters in Mumbai regarding the plans to reduce the number of dry days as it causes some inconvenience to liquor consumers, the minister said, “If people make a demand then we will consider it. But the demand has to come from the people.”

The minister did not elaborate.

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UP Girl, 17, Kidnapped, Gangraped For 5 Days In Uttarakhand, 3 Arrested

A 17-year-old girl was allegedly abducted here and gang-raped for five days after being fed intoxicants, police said on Monday. The girl was rescued from Kashipur in Uttarakhand, they said, adding the three accused persons were arrested.

On June 6, the girl was taking clothes to a tailor when the accused kidnapped her, Station House Officer of Mirganj police station Harendra Singh said.

A case of kidnapping was registered on the complaint of the brother of the victim and investigation started, he said.

Taking a serious note of the case since the victim and the accused belonged to different communities, Senior Superintendent of Police Prabhakar Chowdhary had directed the SHO to trace the girl.

Technical surveillance helped find the location of the girl at a place in Uttarakhand, Singh said.

The girl told the police that the three men raped her after taking her to different places. She also said she was drugged and threatened, they said.

The three accused were identified as Shah Alam (50), Irfan alias Babu (30) and Nadeem Qureshi (25), police said.

The SHO said on the basis of the victim's statement, IPC section related to gangrape and the POCSO Act were added to the FIR.

The main accused, Alam, told the police that he befriended the girl and abducted her, the SHO said.

According to the police, Alam has five criminal cases, including that of murder, registered against him.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Post-Mortem Report Of 2 Out Of 4 Tigers In UP Reserve Shows Head Injuries

Post-mortem reports of two out of four carcasses of tigers that have died in the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve within the last two months have revealed head injuries, a senior scientist said on Monday.

One of the tiger's head injuries suggested that it was attacked by a bigger animal, said Dr AM Pawde, principal scientist and in-charge, Centre for Wildlife at ICAR-IVRI, Bareilly.

"In the examination, it was found that the tiger weighed 210 kg. The right elbow joint was injured and twisted. It had injury marks on its head, and it seemed that it was crushed. There were some scratches on its body," Pawde told PTI.

"It seems that some bigger animal had attacked the tiger, and it could be an elephant or a rhinoceros. Scratch marks were found on the rear side of the waist (right side), which indicate that the animal was bigger (in size) than the tiger," he said. The tiger's liver was also damaged, he added.

The post-mortem examination of another tiger revealed that its head injury was old, Pawde said, adding the big cat's body, including its intestines and head were filled with worms.

"It was healthy, but succumbed to the injuries 4-5 day ago. It also had acute shortage of water in its body. Blood had accumulated in its lungs and liver," Pawde said.

"Evidence of a pointed-horn piercing into the liver has been found. The liver was enlarged, and it was not able to run. It is also possible that owing to intense heat, it had consumed toxic meat," Pawde added.

The post-mortem of the third tiger was not possible as it was completely decomposed, the principal scientist said, adding that research is being conducted on it.

The post-mortem examination of the fourth tiger was conducted by Dr Dayashankar in Lakhimpur Kheri. He had sent the tissues for test here, and they are being examined, Pawde said.

Earlier on Friday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed serious concern over the deaths of tigers in the tiger reserve and ordered a probe.

Four tigers have died since April 21 due to different reasons as stated by Dudhwa authorities. Taking cognisance of the casualties, Adityanath had directed the state forest minister, additional chief secretary, forest and other senior forest officials to visit Dudhwa National Park and carry out a thorough probe.

Adityanath has also sought a detailed report of the reasons behind the big cats' recent deaths, the official said.

On April 21, a two-year-old male tiger was found dead in the Dudhwa buffer zone. Officials said the young tiger might have eaten up some sharp bone leading to internal injuries causing stomach rupture, resulting in its death.

On May 31, a four-year-old male tiger died in the north Nighasan range of the Dudhwa buffer zone. Officials said its death was caused by a puncture wound in its trachea due to infighting.

On June 3, a two-year-old tigress died in a village in the Dudhwa buffer zone right under the eyes of forest officials and villagers. The tigress was reported to have its canines and paws damaged.

On Friday, the carcass of a six to seven-year-old male tiger was recovered from a pond in the Mailani range of Kishanpur sanctuary.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Punjab Police Goes 4x4: Isuzus, Scorpios To Be Added To Fleet

Punjab Police will get vehicles capable of high speeds as part of its new initiative of setting up a team dedicated towards road safety and effectively chasing criminals, officials said on Monday.

Inspector General of Police Sukhchain Singh Gill said 144 vehicles -- 116 Isuzus and 28 Mahindra Scorpios -- will be purchased, adding that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had given directions that the police vehicles should be such which can effectively chase criminals.

Addressing the media, Gill said the 'Sadak Surakhya Force' will be set up to prevent crime and road accidents. The state government has earmarked a sum of Rs 39.50 crore for it, he said.

Additional Director General of Police A S Rai has been appointed as the nodal officer of the force. The force will be equipped with modern equipment including body cameras, GPS fitted vehicles, breath analyzers, he said. There will be a special uniform of the force, he added.

Speaking on the police's action on drug smuggling in the past year, Gill said that 14,952 drug smugglers, including 2,132 big smugglers, have been arrested since July 5, last year. Police has registered 11,147 First Information Reports (FIRs) in this regard, he said.

Gill said police has also recovered 987.75 kilograms of heroin from carrying out cordon and search operations in drug-affected areas across the state.

Additionally, 147.5 kg of heroin was recovered from seaports of Gujarat and Maharashtra, taking the total effective recovery of heroin to 1,135.25 kg in 11 months, he said.

Apart from heroin, the IGP said police also recovered 731 kg opium, 840.76 kg ganja, 350.40 quintals of poppy husk, and 62.49 lakh tablets, capsules, injections, vials of pharma opioids from across the state, Gill said.

Rs 11.83 crores of cash has also been recovered from the possession of drug smugglers arrested in these 11 months, the officer said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Kerala Government Blames Centre Over Stray Dogs' Issue

Facing flak from various quarters over the death of an 11-year-old differently abled boy in a stray dog attack in Kannur district of the state, the Kerala government on Monday blamed central legislations for not being able to effectively deal with aggressive vagrant canines.

Terming the incident as "extremely unfortunate and painful", State Minister for Local Self-Governments MB Rajesh said certain provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules issued under it need to be relaxed for effectively dealing with the nuisance posed by stray canines.

He claimed that it was difficult to set up and run ABC centres as per the central norms as the rules stipulate that sterilisation should be done in an AC operation theatre, the dog should be treated there for four days and be released only after the wound is healed.

The minister, in a statement, further claimed that the government was taking all precautions and measures to prevent such tragic incidents and would also move the Supreme Court again seeking permission to kill stray dogs which pose a threat to human life.

He said when the state had sought such a permission from the court earlier, not only was it denied, but because of it a huge campaign was launched against Kerala at the national level.

The Supreme Court is hearing a batch of petitions on issues relating to orders passed by various civic bodies on the culling of stray dogs that have become a menace, especially in Kerala and Mumbai.

Some NGOs and individual petitioners have moved the apex court against the decisions of some high courts to allow municipal bodies to deal with the stray dog issue as per the rules.

The minister, in his statement, further said stray dog attacks were not confined to Kerala alone and were occurring in other states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh also.

Nevertheless, the state government's Local Self Government and Animal Husbandry departments were working together to vigorously carry out sterilisation and vaccination of stray dogs in the state, the minister said.

In support of his claim, Rajesh said 4,70,534 dogs were vaccinated from September 1 last year to June 11, 2023. It is to be noted that according to the figures given by him, only 32,061 (less than 15 per cent) of these were stray dogs.

Furthermore, according to the data cited by him only 79,859 stray dogs were sterilised from 2016 to August 31, 2022. Additionally, 9,767 canines were sterilised between September 1 last year and March 31, 2023, he said.

However, the Animal Husbandry department last year had said that according to the last census of stray dogs in the country conducted in 2019, the numbers in Kerala were close to three lakh.

Rajesh also said 19 ABC centres are functioning in the state and steps were being taken to set up 24 more.

"Measures were also taken to catch stray dogs and put them in shelters, but there was considerable local opposition to the establishment of stray dog shelters and ABC centres in many places," the minister said.

Last September, the state government had announced the vaccination drive and also its attempts to find locations for more ABC centres in the wake of 19 deaths due to dog bites in 2022 till August end.

The 11-year-old boy was found grievously injured in some bushes several hundred metres away from his home.

Nihal, who suffered from autism, was missing from 5 pm on Sunday and a search party, comprising relatives, locals and the police, later found him in a grievously injured manner and took him to the hospital but his life could not be saved.

Blaming the state government for the boy's death, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly V D Satheesan alleged laxity in implementing waste disposal measures and the ABC programme as well as in providing quality vaccines.

He alleged that the lack of proper waste disposal mechanisms and non-sterilisation of stray dogs for the last three years has led to an increase in their numbers.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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India Brings G20 Spotlight Back On Real Issues Of Global South: S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said India's G20 presidency succeeded in getting the focus of the grouping back on the issues faced by the global south without diminishing the seriousness of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its consequences.

Addressing a press conference after the G20 Development Ministers' Meeting here, Mr Jaishankar said the 'G20 Action Plan on Accelerating Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)' and 'G20 High Level Principles on Lifestyles for Sustainable Development' were unanimously approved at the meeting.

“Right now our focus is how do you address the pressing needs of the developing countries, the small island developing states, the least developed countries, those who are really teetering on the edge of an abyss,” Mr Jaishankar told reporters.

The minister said last year, it was understandable that the focus of the G20 was more on immediate issues pertaining to the conflict, but a narrative took root over time that the conflict and its repercussions should not obfuscate the real concerns and pain points of the global south.

He said there were countries who cannot afford food, running short of fuel and India's neighbours were among those who have suffered a lot in the last year. 

“We are in no way diminishing the seriousness of the conflict and its consequences. But the conflict was dealt with through an agreed understanding at Bali. That was an understanding of the leaders,” S Jaishankar said.

He said the meeting on Monday got the G20 to look at sustainable development growth and look at what was happening with the global south, think about financing for them, think of climate financing, look at the link between development and financing, look at women's issues, education, digital.

“These are the real issues of the world. In that sense yes, I think we got the spotlight on these issues,” Mr Jaishankar said.

An outcome document of the meeting said the development ministers agreed to the 14-points, barring the reference to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Russia dissociated itself from the status of the document as a common outcome because of references to para 10 and 11, which referred to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

China stated that the meeting outcome should not include any reference to the Ukraine crisis, the chair's summary of the proceedings stated.

Asked to comment on the Russian delegation's remarks at the meeting, Mr Jaishankar said "every delegation spoke for its interest and its outlook".

"Some countries may be closer to others, but I would not get into this 'who supported whom and who did not support'. I don't think that is helpful. I think the fairest description is 'everybody spoke for themselves'," the minister said.

"And my job as chair was to find the common elements and put it together and that is the document that is there before you," Mr Jaishankar said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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The women fighting Japan’s sexual violence stigma

Rina Gonoi was sexually assaulted when serving in Japan's army. She refused to stay silent.

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Ukraine counter-offensive: Kyiv says it has liberated villages in Donetsk region

The villages in the Donetsk region would represent the first major gains of Kyiv's new advance.

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"Ill-Informed, Undiscerning ": Jyotraditya Scindia vs Congress On Airfares

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia hit out at senior Congress leader KC Venugopal for his sharp remarks over "skyrocketing airfares", calling it "ill-informed" and shocking".

Lashing out at the BJP government, KC Venugopal had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that people wearing hawai chappals (slippers) can now travel in aeroplanes, sounds like a "cruel joke".

In a point-wise rebuttal, Mr Scindia said the Indian economy continues to stand as a beacon of hope at a time when the global economy continues to struggle.

In a series of tweets, the Congress leader had highlighted six points and questioned whether the government had any intervention planned to check airfares.

"These skyrocketing airfares are creating havoc among the middle class. The government's complete free pass to the airlines, coupled with their rampant privatisation spree, is responsible for the dire situation today. The @MoCA_GoI must confront some hard facts," tweeted KC Venugopal.

In his response, Mr Scindia said the government has advised airlines to self-regulate their fares.

"As former Minister of State for Civil Aviation, it is highly shocking that @kcvenugopalmp Ji has made such undiscerning & ill-informed remarks on the aviation sector. We have advised airlines to self-regulate their fares under a certain limit - the result of which is that prices have come down by 14%- 60% since 6th June 2023," Mr Scindia tweeted.

In another point flagged by the Congress leader, Mr Scindia said the sector has been truly democratised under the leadership of PM Modi.

Regarding Mr Venugopal's question on why the ministry allowed flight prices from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata to go out of control when the Balasore train tragedy took place, he said: "Again, I would like to update you that within 24 hours of the Odisha incident, an advisory was sent by MoCA to all airlines to monitor any abnormal surge in airfares to and from Bhubaneswar. In a separate high-level meet, airlines were advised to keep a tight check on the pricing of air tickets, especially in times of calamity".

"With Go First collapsing, and with SpiceJet barely flying any routes, why did the government have no strategy to correct this massive dip in the number of flights being flown?" Mr Venugopal had also asked.

Mr Scindia said, "A portion of the routes that were earlier being served by GoFirst have already been allotted to other airlines".
 
"Also, you have chosen to turn a blind eye to the immense growth that this sector has witnessed since 2014. Passenger count which stood at 122 million in 2014 is currently at 280 million - a jump of 130%! Under UDAN, we have operationalised 475 routes and flown over 116.06 Lakh passengers," he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Opposition's Nothing More Than A "Double-Barrel Government" Dig At PM

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Sunday made a pitch for opposition unity to counter the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, warning that failing to do so would jeopardise the future of governance in the country.

Kapil Sibal criticised the central government for its ordinance on control of services in Delhi, saying it was an attempt to nullify the Supreme Court order.

However, the Supreme court will undoubtedly overrule it soon, he added.

Noting that AAP's resounding victory in Delhi has unsettled the BJP, he said the saffron party is determined to hinder its functioning "at any cost".

Kapil Sibal questioned why the elections were held and an assembly and cabinet formed in Delhi if the elected government's decisions were not to be respected.

"This severely limits the autonomy and authority of the elected government, undermining the very essence of democratic governance. The Delhi government has rightly challenged this unconstitutional ordinance, and it is hoped that the Supreme Court will repeal it. Allowing the decisions of bureaucrats to supersede those of the elected government weakens the Legislative Assembly and renders it meaningless," he said.

Kapil Sibal was addressing the 'Maharally' organised by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) against the Centre's ordinance here.

He said the manner in which the Centre is operating leaves little room for the survival of any other government or party in a democracy.

"Narendra Modi's pursuit of a ''double-engine government'' is only aimed at eliminating opposition and centralising power in his hands. However, it is nothing more than a ''double-barrel'' government, with one barrel represented by the ED and the other by the CBI. As a responsible non-partisan parliamentarian, I stand before you today, recognising the urgency to unite the opposition against Narendra Modi's government. This is a fight for justice, and together, the opposition will defeat Modi in 2024," he said.

During the event, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the people of the country to join the "Insaaf Ke Sipaahi" campaign initiated by Kapil Sibal. He said the senior advocate is fighting a noble battle.

"I request everyone to become a part of it. The 140 crore people of the country need to come together and work for our great nation," he said.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh, while calling the ordinance "the pinnacle of dictatorship and tyranny", said it aims to dismantle democracy and diminish the power of the national capital.

Highlighting the achievements of the Kejriwal government, he asked, "For what crime is Kejriwal being punished today in Delhi? Is it because he is dedicated to providing quality education to children, constructing exemplary schools, ensuring free electricity, establishing mohalla clinics, organising pilgrimage tours for the elderly, and facilitating free bus travel for women?." Sanjay Singh also highlighted the first-ever instance in India's history when the First Lady of the United States expressed her desire to visit the schools built by Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia.

He said all non-BJP parties would join forces in the Rajya Sabha to defeat the contentious ordinance.

Addressing the gathering, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann referred to the BJP as "the Bharatiya Jugaad Party".

He said the rally was aimed at conveying to the people how their rights are being snatched away.

Bhagwant Mann said the people vote for their favourite leaders and expect good governance.

"However, the BJP refuses to let any government or party that does not align with its agenda even function. The BJP has mastered the art of ''jugaad'' politics. They buy MLAs from other parties, manipulate by-elections, and even resort to using the governors and lieutenant governors to impose their preferred chief minister upon the people," he said.

"This ''jugaad'' party sustains itself in power, not through the support of the people, but through conniving tactics." Mann said Delhi is the heart of the country and home to people from every state.

"If Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal is unable to exercise his authority, make decisions, and ensure efficient functioning due to bureaucratic hurdles put in by the Centre, it raises serious questions about the functionality of our entire system," he said.

AAP Delhi convenor Gopal Rai also highlighted the need for collective resistance against the Centre's ordinance. 

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