Probe Agency ED Attaches Assets Worth Rs 124 Crore Of Chennai-Based Firm

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday said it has attached 78 immovable and 16 movable properties worth Rs 124 crores in the possession of various persons and entities linked to the Chennai-based Surana Group of Companies under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The action is in connection with the three cases of bank fraud involving Rs 3,986 crore of principal outstanding amount to the public sector banks, said the ED.

Earlier, on August 2022, ED had attached 75 immovable properties, including 67 windmills valued at Rs 113.32 crore in total, of Chennai-based Surana Group of Companies, under the provisions of the Money Laundering Act.

The agency initiated a money laundering investigation on the basis of three FIRs by the Central Bureau of Investigation, BF and SB, Bengaluru registered against M/s Surana Industries Limited and others, M/s Surana Power Limited and Others, and M/s Surana Corporation Limited and others.

Based on the investigations conducted, 67 windmills with land valued at Rs 51.69 crore and various immovable properties valued at Rs 61.63 crore of Shri Ramlal Jain, who allegedly put the proceeds of crime into his regular business, were provisionally attached under the provisions of PMLA. The combined value of the windmills and immovable properties was estimated at Rs 113.32 crore.

ED stated that its investigations revealed that these three companies of Surana Group defrauded the banks by floating a web of shell companies wherein they appointed its employees/ relatives as Directors/ Proprietors/ Partners and indulged in paper transactions with them without actual movement of goods, the credit capital of the banks was round-tripped/ layered to the personal accounts of the promoters of the company by projecting the bank funds as unsecured loans from their associate shell companies and same funds were subsequently infused in the leading group companies as part of the promoters' contribution to enhance the DP limits.

The probe revealed further that the Surana Group has companies in the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands in the name of dummy directors and siphoned off money to be parked in these firms.

For this purpose, ED said they established four companies in Singapore and exported goods to them and the money received from them was written off in the book of accounts in India. Further, a portion of the diverted funds was used to purchase movable/immovable properties in the names of various benami persons/ companies, the agency informed further.

These actions of the promoters/officials of the Surana Group led to the accounts becoming irregular, ultimately resulting in the accounts turning into NPAs, ED said.

Based on the investigations conducted, Shri Dinesh Chand Surana, MD of M/s Surana Industries Limited and M/s Surana Power Ltd, Shri Vijay Raj Surana, MD of M/s Surana Corporation Limited, and two dummy directors of shell companies -- P Anand and I Prabhakaran -- were arrested on July 12. The principal session judge in Chennai remanded them to judicial custody.

Further Investigation is underway in the matter.

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India, China Agree To Hold Next Round Of Military Talks Soon Over Ladakh

India and China on Wednesday held in-person diplomatic talks here and discussed proposals for disengagement in the remaining friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh in a "frank and open manner".

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said restoration of peace and tranquillity will create conditions for normalising bilateral relations and to this objective both sides agreed to hold the next round of military talks at an early date.

The meeting took place under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC).

"The two sides reviewed the situation along the LAC in Western Sector of India-China border areas and discussed proposals for disengagement in remaining areas in a frank and open manner," the MEA said.

"Restoration of peace and tranquillity will create conditions for normalising bilateral relations," it said.

"In order to achieve this objective, in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and protocols, they agreed to hold the next (19th) round of Senior Commander's meeting at an early date," the MEA said in a statement.

It said the two sides agreed to continue discussions through military and diplomatic channels.

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Probe Agency Grills Jharkhand MLA Pradeep Yadav In Money Laundering Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday interrogated Congress MLA Pradeep Yadav as part of its investigation into a money laundering case, officials said.

The agency on Tuesday had conducted searches at a dozen locations in Jharkhand linked to Pradeep Yadav, a five-time legislator from the Poraiyahat seat and deputy leader of the Congress in the assembly, they said.

After the questioning, the MLA said he will soon approach the court over the ED action. He claimed the ED found nothing objectionable in its raids so far.

Pradeep Yadav alleged that the BJP was using central agencies to target the opposition leaders.

Fifty-seven-year-old Pradeep Yadav and another MLA's premises were raided by the Income Tax Department last year as part of a tax evasion probe against some business groups engaged in coal trading and transportation, extraction of iron ore and production of sponge iron in Jharkhand.

The money laundering investigation stems from this tax case, officials added. 

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EU, US To Ready AI Code Of Conduct "Within Weeks"

The European Union and United States said Wednesday they expect to draft a voluntary code of conduct on artificial intelligence "within weeks" with the hope that fellow democracies will sign on.

After talks with EU officials in Sweden, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the Western partners felt the "fierce urgency" to act following the emergence of the technology, in which China has been a growing force.

The voluntary code "would be open to all like-minded countries," Mr Blinken told reporters.

"There's almost always a gap when new technologies emerge," Anotony Blinken said, with "the time it takes for governments and institutions to figure out how to legislate or regulate."

European Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager added that a draft would be put forward "within weeks."

"We think it's really important that citizens can see that democracies can deliver," she said.

She voiced hope "to do that in the broadest possible circle -- with our friends in Canada, in the UK, in Japan, in India, bringing as many onboard as possible."

Sam Altman, whose firm OpenAI created the popular AI-driven ChatGPT bot, took part in the talks of the Trade and Technology Council between the EU and the United States, this year hosted in the northern Swedish city of Lulea.

The forum was set up in 2021 to ease trade friction after the turbulent presidency of Donald Trump but has since set its sights largely on artificial intelligence.

In a joint statement, the two sides called AI a "transformative technology with great promise for our people, offering opportunities to increase prosperity and equity."

"But in order to seize the opportunities it presents, we must mitigate its risks," it said.

"The European Union and the United States reaffirm their commitment to a risk-based approach to AI to advance trustworthy and responsible AI technologies."

It said that experts from the two sides would work on "cooperation on AI standards and tools for trustworthy AI and risk management."

The EU has been moving forward on the world's first regulations on AI which would ban biometric surveillance and ensure human control, although the rules would not enter into force before 2025 at the earliest.

China has also discussed regulations but Western powers fear that Beijing, with its growing prowess in the field and willingness to export to fellow authoritarian countries, could set global standards without Western unity.

The United States has made no serious effort to regulate AI despite rising calls, including by some in the tech industry.

Technology leaders, including Mr Altman, in a joint statement Tuesday warned that AI put the world at risk without regulation.

"Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war," they wrote.

ChatGPT burst into the spotlight late last year as it demonstrated an ability to generate essays, poems and conversations through minimal input.

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Telangana Chief Minister KCR Inaugurates 'Brahmin Sadan'

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday formally inaugurated Telangana Brahmin Sadan built for the welfare of the Brahmin community.

KCR participated in Chandiyagam, Sudarshanayagam and Vastupuja programmes on the premises of the building, an official release said.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said the state government allocated Rs 100 crore funds to 'Brahman Parishad' every year and various welfare schemes are being implemented with these funds.

"Telangana government is working with humane approach to support poorer sections. Many of the Brahmins are poor. The government felt it is its responsibility to support them," he said.

The BEST (Brahmin Empowerment Scheme of Telangana State) is being implemented for the livelihood of poor Brahmins under which the government is providing a maximum grant of Rs 5 lakh as investment assistance. The government has spent Rs 150 crore for this till now from 2014, it added.

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NATO Upbeat On Sweden Bid As US Urges Turkey To Say Yes

NATO's chief voiced guarded optimism Tuesday on welcoming Sweden to the alliance as the United States pressed holdout Turkey to drop its objections, two days after President Tayyip Recep Erdogan won re-election.

Sweden and Finland last year reversed decades of hesitation and formally applied to join NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine, which had unsuccessfully sought to enter the alliance whose members promise to defend one another.

But decisions must be unanimous and Turkey has used its leverage to push the two countries over the presence of Kurdish militants, letting Finland join NATO in April but still blocking Sweden.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said it was "within reach" for Sweden to join in time for the July 11-12 NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.

"There are no guarantees but it's absolutely possible to reach a solution and enable the decision on full membership for Sweden by then," Stoltenberg told reporters in Oslo on the eve of a NATO foreign ministers' meeting to prepare for the summit.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, visiting Sweden on his way to Oslo, said the Swedish government had addressed Turkish concerns.

"The time is now to finalise Sweden's accession," Blinken told a news conference with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in the northern Swedish city of Lulea.

"We urge both Turkey and Hungary -- which also has not yet ratified -- to ratify the accession as quickly as possible," Blinken said.

"There is no reason for any further time. Sweden is ready now."

Blinken said the United States wanted the process to be "completed in the weeks ahead" but stopped short of saying if he was certain it would be finished by the summit.

- New Turkish anger -

Erdogan, Turkey's leader for two decades, won another five-year term on Sunday after a campaign in which he vowed to stand up to the West.

He has accused Sweden, with its generous asylum policies, of being a haven for "terrorists", especially members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) that is outlawed by Ankara.

Despite the rising hopes of accession, Sweden once again drew Turkish ire on Tuesday as Turkey deplored an "unacceptable" protest by activists in Sweden aimed at Ankara.

The pro-Kurdish Rojava Committee of Sweden posted an anti-Erdogan video on social networks on Monday showing a PKK flag being projected onto the Swedish parliament, the latest of several similar provocations by the group.

Stoltenberg said he was in "constant contact" with Turkish authorities to try to lift the final obstacles to Sweden's accession.

Blinken played down any connection between Sweden's membership and a potential US sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, though President Joe Biden appeared to draw a link in remarks to reporters after a congratulatory call to Erdogan.

"These are distinct issues. Both, though, are vital in our judgement to European security," Blinken said.

The Biden administration earlier this year indicated its support for a $20 billion F-16 package for Turkey including 40 new jets and upgrades on 79 existing planes.

But Congress looks likely to block the sale, with Bob Menendez, the powerful chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, voicing alarm that Erdogan would use the advanced war planes to intimidate or even attack fellow NATO ally Greece.

Sweden and Finland, while close defence partners of the West, had officially remained non-aligned militarily out of fear of angering their giant neighbour Russia.

Kristersson told Blinken that Lulea, where US and European officials will meet Wednesday on trade and technology issues, was a six-and-a-half-hour drive from the border with Russia.

"Filling the territorial gap in the North will be one of Sweden's many security contributions to NATO when we join the alliance," Kristersson said.

Hungary, whose hard-right government has tense relations with much of the European Union, has also refused to give its blessing to Sweden, though it is largely seen as following Turkey's lead.

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UN Nuclear Watchdog Asks Russia, Ukraine To Protect Zaporizhzhia Plant

U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi on Tuesday asked Ukraine and Russia to respect five principles to safeguard Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, suggesting he had not secured their agreement on protecting the facility.

Grossi has been trying for months to establish an agreement to reduce the risk of a catastrophic nuclear accident from military activity like shelling at Europe's biggest nuclear power plant, which is in Ukraine and has been occupied by Russia for more than a year.

His five principles included that there should be no attack on or from the plant and that it not be used as a base for heavy weapons such as multiple rocket launchers, artillery systems and munitions, and tanks or for military personnel that could be used for an attack from the plant.

In a briefing to the U.N. Security Council, Grossi also called for off-site power to the plant to remain available and secure; for all its essential systems to be protected from attacks or acts of sabotage; and for no action to be taken that undermines these principles.

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"I Am A Common Man," Says Rahul Gandhi As He Arrives In US' San Francisco

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrived here on Tuesday for a three-city US tour during which he will interact with the Indian expatriates and meet American lawmakers.

He was received at the airport by Indian Overseas Congress chairperson Sam Pitroda and other members of the IOC. Rahul Gandhi had to wait for two hours at the airport for the immigration clearance, party sources said.

While he was waiting in the queue, several people who were travelling with him in the same flight clicked selfies with him.

When people asked him why he was standing in the queue, Rahul Gandhi replied, "I am a common man. I like it. I am no longer an MP." Starting with San Francisco where he is scheduled to interact with students at the prestigious Stanford University, Rahul Gandhi will address a press conference and have meetings with lawmakers and think tanks in Washington DC.

The 52-year-old Congress leader is also likely to address Indian Americans and interact with Wall Street executives and university students during his week-long tour of the USA. He is slated to conclude his trip with a public gathering in New York on June 4. The interaction would take place at the Javits Center in New York.

Last week, Indian Overseas Congress chairperson Sam Pitroda said Rahul Gandhi's visit is aimed at promoting shared values and a vision of "real democracy".

"The purpose of his (Gandhi's) trip is to connect, interact and begin a new conversation with various individuals, institutions and media, including the Indian diaspora that is growing in numbers in the United States and abroad to promote the shared values and vision of the real democracy with a focus on freedom, inclusion, sustainability, justice, peace and opportunities world over," Sam Pitroda said in a statement.

Rahul Gandhi received a new ordinary passport on Sunday, two days after a Delhi court gave its clearance.

The former Congress president, who had applied for an ordinary passport after surrendering the old diplomatic passport issued to him when he was a member of parliament, is set to travel to San Francisco in the United States on Monday evening on a three-city tour.

Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as an MP in March following his conviction and two-year sentence by a Gujarat court in a defamation case over his Modi surname remark. 

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Day Before Retirement, Special Protection Group Chief Re-Hired On Contract Basis

The Special Protection Group Director was re-employed by the Centre today for one year on a contract basis, just a day before he was to retire.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday, Arun Kumar Sinha (a 1987 batch IPS officer) was re-employed as Director, SPG for one year.

"This was done according to rules. An IPS can only be given an extension for six months and if one needs to be given an extension beyond that, then the SPG rules need to be amended. So to bypass that Mr Sinha was re-employed on a contractual basis," explained a senior home ministry official.

"The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet has approved the re-employment of Mr Sinha on a contract basis for a period of one year beyond the date of his superannuation (May 31) or until further orders, whichever is earlier," stated the DoPT order.

Earlier last week, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notified a fresh set of rules for the SPG empowering the Centre to frame standard operating procedures (SOPs) to be followed by the state Governments, Army, local and civic authority to aid the SPG in performing its duties.

The rules also provide that the IPS officer appointed to the post of Director should not be less than the Additional Director General (ADG) rank. The latest decision assumes significance in the backdrop of the fact that on several occasions SPG was headed by an Inspector General rank officer and ADG rank officer as no specific rule was notified.

As per the MHA officials, the security of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was breached many a time recently in many states and that's why rules have been changed by the government.

"Ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections, these changes are crucial," stated an official adding that PM would be visiting the entire country for the election campaign and that includes opposition-ruled states like Punjab, West Bengal, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and many more," they said.

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"Unruly Passengers A Problem": Air India CEO After Crew Member Assaulted

There have been multiple incidents of unruly passenger behaviour, including abusing and assaulting of cabin crew, onboard planes in recent months. In various cases, the aviation regulator DGCA has also taken action against airlines for certain lapses in reporting and not taking appropriate measures with respect to such incidents.

In an incident of unruly passenger behaviour, a male passenger onboard an Air India flight from Goa to Delhi on Monday physically assaulted a crew member.

Campbell Wilson, who is the CEO and Managing Director of Air India, said that unruly passengers are an international industry problem and that such incidents continue to happen.

"As an airline, we needed to and have taken a firm line on unruly behaviour onboard aircraft... there is a level of behaviour that we expect from people when they fly. Also, imparting that same message to the crew when supporting them," Mr Wilson told PTI in an interview in the national capital on Monday.

While stressing that the airline has taken a much more active role in taking action when people are unruly, he also acknowledged that "unfortunately, the incidents (of unruly behaviour) continue to happen".

"When they happen, we take action and hopefully in the process, we remind people of what the standard is and we remind people of consequences when the standard is not met," he said.

According to him, every airline always has to deal with such issues.

Under DGCA rules, unruly passenger behaviour can be classified into three levels.

Unruly behaviour such as physical gestures, verbal harassment and unruly inebriation are classified as Level 1 while physically abusive behaviour like pushing, kicking or sexual harassment are classified as Level 2.

Life-threatening behaviour such as damage to aircraft operating systems, physical violence like choking and murderous assault are considered as Level 3.

Depending on the level of unruly behaviour, an internal committee set up by the airline concerned can decide on the duration for which an unruly passenger can be banned from flying.

Earlier this year, Air India faced action from DGCA for lapses in reporting incidents of unruly passenger behaviour onboard aircraft.

On January 24, the watchdog imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on Air India for not reporting two incidents of unruly passenger behaviour onboard a Paris-Delhi flight on December 6, 2022.

On that flight, one drunk passenger was caught smoking in the lavatory and not adhering to the crew instructions, and another passenger allegedly relieved himself on a vacant seat and blanket of a fellow female passenger when she went to the lavatory. These incidents were not immediately reported to the regulator.

On January 20, DGCA slapped a penalty of Rs 30 lakh on Air India as well as suspended the licence of the pilot-in-command of the New York-Delhi flight in which a person allegedly urinated on a female co-passenger.

In the incident that happened on November 26, 2022, the watchdog also slapped a fine of Rs 3 lakh on Air India's Director of in-flight services for failing to discharge her duties.

On February 6, the civil aviation ministry told the Rajya Sabha that a total of 63 passengers were placed on the 'No Fly List' list in 2022.

A total of 143 passengers have been put on the list since 2017, as per the data provided by the ministry in February.

These passengers were placed on the list as recommended by airlines' internal committees set up as per the DGCA's Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) pertaining to the handling of unruly/disruptive passengers.

The CAR was notified in September 2017, as a measure to deal with the issue related to the handling of unruly/disruptive passengers.

It provides measures to pre-empt such incidents by way of the training flight crew, cabin crew and ground staff in soft skills to deal with unruly passengers besides how to detect, diffuse and prevent a critical situation.

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21-Year-Old Indian-Origin Student Shot Dead In US: Report

 A 21-year-old Indian-origin student was shot dead in Philadelphia, Khaleej Times reported on Monday.

The deceased student was identified as Jude Chacko. He was shot by unidentified assailants while he was returning from work on Sunday (local time), Khaleej Times reported further.

"The victim's parents migrated to the US around 30 years ago from Kerela's Kollam district," according to the report.

Jude Chacko was a student who also worked part-time. He was attacked by two men during a robbery attempt.

This is the second such incident reported this year in which an Indian-origin student was targetted and killed in the US.

Earlier, a 24-year-old student from Andhra Pradesh was shot dead at a fuel station in the US on April 21, 2023, the Columbus Division of Police had said.

The victim, identified as Saiesh Veera, was working at a petrol station in Ohio. He was shot dead by unknown assailants while on the job, police said.

The police had also released the picture of the suspect and asked for help in identifying the accused.

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US Says China Declined Request To Meet Its Defence Chief In Singapore

Beijing has declined a US invitation for a meeting in Singapore between Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu, the Pentagon said Monday.

"Overnight, the PRC informed the US that they have declined our early May invitation for Secretary Austin to meet with PRC Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu in Singapore this week," Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said in a statement, refering to the People's Republic of China.

"The PRC's concerning unwillingness to engage in meaningful military-to-military discussions will not diminish (the Defense Department's) commitment to seeking open lines of communication with the People's Liberation Army," Ryder said.

A senior US defense official described the declined invitation as "just the latest in a litany of excuses," saying that since 2021, China has "declined or failed to respond to over a dozen requests from the Department of Defense for key leader engagements, multiple requests for standing dialogues, and nearly ten working-level engagements."

Li was sanctioned by the US government in 2018 for buying Russian weapons, but the Pentagon says that does not prevent Austin from conducting official business with him.

Austin is due to travel to Singapore later this week to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, a defense summit where he met Li's predecessor Wei Fenghe last June.

Austin and Wei met again in Cambodia later in 2022, but tensions between Washington and Beijing soared this year over issues including Taiwan and an alleged Chinese spy balloon that was shot down by a US warplane after traversing the country.

Austin and other US officials have been working to shore up alliances and partnerships in Asia as part of efforts to counter increasingly assertive moves by Beijing, but there have also been tentative signs that the two sides were working to lower the temperature.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi in Vienna earlier this month, and President Joe Biden recently said ties between Washington and Beijing should thaw "very shortly," citing the spy balloon incident as a factor that had boosted tensions.

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Tangkhul Folk Singer Guru Rewben Mashangva's Appeal For Peace In Manipur

Tangkhul folk singer Guru Rewben Mashangva has appealed to all the communities and the authorities in Manipur to work for bringing peace and normalcy in the state quickly.

Mr Mashangva, who was awarded the Padma Shri in 2021, said the law and order problem in Manipur has exhausted people physically, mentally and economically and the state needs to return to normalcy soon.

"I am an artist. And I talk only in that capacity, as a common citizen among you. The situation in Manipur is not good. The communities of Manipur that have been living together like different colourful flowers in a single garden have been destroyed economically, physically and mentally," Mr Mashangva said in a video statement.

"I hope to see peace when all the communities come together. I have heard people talk about religion in the current crisis. I don't agree with that. This crisis has got nothing to do with religion. It is also not a fight between the Meiteis and the Kukis. They may have their demands, of course. But they should come to peace," he said.

He underlined two areas that he feels people should work to achieve unitedly. First is saving the forests and second is fighting drugs use.

"I belong to the hills. I come from the hills of Ukhrul. The hills are dry. There is no water to drink. Why? Because we have been cutting trees, not saving the forests. How is the next generation going to get water? What future are we leaving them with? Let us all save the forests," said Mr Mashangva, known for reviving musical tradition of the Tangkhul and using traditional musical instruments in his songs.

"Secondly, the war on drugs. I have been part of the campaign. Drugs destroy generations after generations, even if it gives some money. Please stop poppy cultivation in the hills. To everyone in the northeast, to the people of India, and to all my fans, I request you all to fight against drugs. I have written songs on this subject. I don't know who listens at all," he said.

"I request the authorities to help bring peace quickly. Schools are shut, economic activities have stopped. People who don't earn regular salary, what will they eat? I wish everyone comes for talks and brings peace as soon as possible. All of us need to live together," the folk singer said.

The ethnic violence between the Meiteis, who live in and around Imphal valley, and the Kuki tribe, who are settled in the hills, over the Meiteis' demand to be included under the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category has claimed over 80 lives since clashed started on May 3.

Home Minister Amit Shah reached Manipur tonight. Army chief General Manoj Pande also went to the state on a two-day visit to review the security situation.

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"Strictest Punishment Should Be Given": BJP Leader On Delhi Murder Case

BJP MP Hans Raj Hans on Monday termed the brutal killing of a minor girl in northwest Delhi "very painful" and said youth sometimes get "carried away by emotions" and act like "fools".

The 16-year-old girl was stabbed multiple times and then bludgeoned with a stone by a youth on Sunday. The accused, identified as Sahil (20), was arrested by the police from Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh on Monday.

Mr Hans who, along with local BJP leaders, met the family of the victim, said the "strictest" punishment should be given to the guilty in the murder of the girl in the Shahabad Dairy area of his northwest Delhi constituency.

He said it was a "very painful" incident that came to his knowledge on Sunday night and since then he was in touch with the police for quick action to arrest the accused.

However, while talking about the present young generation, Mr Hans told PTI, "It was unfortunate. Youth sometimes get carried away by emotions...they act like fools sometimes." Mr Hans, who is a Sufi singer called love as "pious", noting that it turns into a crime when mixed with "hate".

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva described the murder of the minor girl as a case of "love jihad" and demanded its trial in a fast-track court.

Police said that the accused and the victim were allegedly in a "relationship" that had turned sour and the two had a fight on Saturday.

A purported CCTV footage of the gruesome killing that splashed on tv channels and social media handles sent shockwaves among people. In a shocking display of public apathy, people can be seen passing by, with some bystanders staring in alarm, but not doing anything to stop the brutal attack.

The accused is seen walking away from the victim in a casual manner only to turn back and again hit her with a slab before leaving the site.

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Mumbai School Coach Gets 5 Years In Jail For Sexually Assaulting Students

A special POCSO court in Mumbai on Monday sentenced a municipal school sports coach to five years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting minor girls during training sessions and when they had gone on a trip.

Special Judge S C Jadhav held the "lagori" coach guilty under section 10 (aggravated sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code for molestation.

Besides sentencing him to five years of rigorous imprisonment, the court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the convict.

Lagori is a traditional sport that is primarily played with two teams and a tower of flat stones or wooden blocks.

As per the prosecution, the informant (one of the targeted girls) was a student of Std IX of a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) school where the man had been appointed as a lagori coach for students between Std VII and Std IX.

The coach had selected 15 girls from the BMC school to play lagori. He also used to call the girls for practice from 9 am to 12.30 pm on Sundays at Mumbai's Lalbaug area.

The informant never attended the practice on Sunday as her parents did not allow her to take part in the sessions. The coach also used to tell the girls that he would teach them sports like wrestling and kabaddi.

In July 2016, while teaching wrestling, the coach touched one of the girls inappropriately, the court was told.

Later that year, the coach with 14 students from the school and two girls from his club went to Alibaug near Mumbai for a lagori tournament.

During their stay at a resort there, he touched the girls inappropriately on multiple occasions, said the prosecution.

In one of the incidents, when the girls were playing in a water pool, when the coach asked them to come out. Despite the girls being in their wet clothes, he told them to stand. He talked with girls while staring at them and making them feel awkward, the informant said.

Once it was raining while they were going to board a bus and the coach took the informant and another girl under his umbrella and put his hand on the shoulder of the informant and started rubbing it.

The informant did not like his touch and she rushed to the bus, said the prosecution.

On the bus too, the coach touched the girls inappropriately, the court was told.

On their return, the informant narrated the incident to her parents and they approached the police.

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Video: Drone Scans For Threats As Army Evacuates Civilians In Manipur

The Indian Army today undertook a civilian evacuation mission under challenging conditions in violence-hit Manipur.

In a tweet, the army's Spear Corps posted visuals of the evacuation mission taken from unmanned ariel vehicles (UAVs) in Manipur's Kakching district.

In one such footage, a long line of military trucks with civilians travelling in them are seen passing through the narrow streets of a village. The UAV keeps monitoring their movement and scanning ahead for potential threats.

Manipur has been seeing constant gunfights in many areas at the same time. The army's mission to evacuate citizens today has not been without dangers.

"Army and Assam Rifles undertake rescue operations in Kakching district in Manipur. UAVs, mine-protected vehicles, QRTs (quick response teams) tasked to ensure safe move of 2,000 civilians from Serou to Pangaltabi in vehicles. 328 civilians moved from Sugnu to Sajik Tampak," the Spear Corps tweeted.

In another tweet, the army posted visuals of people cheering along a road as the convoy with the evacuated civilians reached a town.

"Everyone is safe, everyone is safe. We have got everyone," a man is heard saying in the video amid the clapping and cheering.

Army & Assam Rifles undertake rescue operations in Kakching distt #Manipur. UAVs, Mine Protected Vehicles, QRTs tasked to ensure safe move of 2000 civilians from Serou to Pangaltabi in vehicles. 328 civilians moved from Sugnu to Sajik Tampak(1/2)#ManipurRescue@adgpi pic.twitter.com/ygMlQ7uGS5

— SpearCorps.IndianArmy (@Spearcorps) May 29, 2023

Since the start of the law and order problem in Manipur on May 3, the Indian Army has been using UAVs to keep an eye on sensitive areas as the authorities work to restore normalcy.

Commandos of the Manipur Police had also engaged insurgents for nearly 10 hours yesterday in several areas of Manipur. Chief Minister N Biren Singh told reporters they have got reports that "40 terrorists" have been shot dead.

Manipur has been without internet for nearly a month.

The ethnic violence between the Meiteis, who live in and around Imphal valley, and the Kuki tribe, who are settled in the hills, over the Meiteis' demand to be included under the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category has claimed over 80 lives since clashed started on May 3.

Home Minister Amit Shah reached Manipur tonight. Army chief General Manoj Pande also went to the state on a two-day visit to review the security situation.

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Actor Hugh Grant Wins Bid To Take Sun Publisher To Trial

British actor Hugh Grant on Friday won a court bid to bring to trial his claim against the UK publisher of The Sun newspaper for unlawfully gathering information.

Grant, 62, alleges journalists and private investigators working for News Group Newspapers (NGN) targeted him and attended a hearing last month in which his lawyer argued the claims should go to trial.

NGN denies the allegations and sought to have the claim, and a similar action brought by Prince Harry, thrown out, saying they had filed too late.

But High Court judge Timothy Fancourt ruled that the "Love Actually" star's claim could proceed to trial, except for claims relating to phone hacking.

"It was only on seeing invoices disclosed in NGN's generic disclosure in 2021 that Mr Grant believed that private investigators had been instructed by The Sun to target him in various ways, particularly in 2011," said the judge.

In a statement released by his lawyers, Grant said: "I am pleased that my case will be allowed to go to trial, which is what I have always wanted -- because it is necessary that the truth comes out about the activities of The Sun.

"As my case makes clear, the allegations go far wider and deeper than voicemail interception."

The trial is due to take place next January.

A ruling on whether Prince Harry's claim can proceed is expected at a later date.

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Rain, Dust Storm Predicted In Delhi In "Next 2 Hours": Weather Office

Rain along with dust storms is expected to hit parts of Delhi-NCR in the next two hours, the India Meteorological Department predicted Sunday night.

"Dust storm/Thunderstorm with rain and gusty winds speed of 40-60 Km/h would occur over and adjoining areas of few places of Delhi, NCR ( Bahadurgarh, Gurugram) Hansi, Meham, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Farukhnagar, Nuh (Haryana) during next 2 hours," tweeted India Meteorological Department in its latest bulletin.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Sunday said light to moderate spells of rain coupled with thunderstorms and gusty winds are very likely to occur in Delhi in the next 24 hours.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday shared the latest satellite and Radar images which shows the possibility of moderate to intense spells of rain accompanied by thunderstorms over some parts of Rajasthan and adjoining areas of Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat Region and adjoining Madhya Pradesh.

"Latest satellite and Radar images shows the possibility of moderate to intense spells of rain accompanied with thunderstorms/lightning/gusty winds/Squall activity over some parts of Rajasthan and adjoining areas of Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat Region and adjoining Madhya Pradesh," IMD tweeted.

"Light to moderate isolated thunderstorms/lightning/gusty winds activity over Himachal Pradesh, southeast Uttar Pradesh, south Odisha-north coastal Andhra Pradesh-south Chhattisgarh, Gangetic west Bengal, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu and adjoining south interior Karnataka and north Interior Karnataka, Vidarbha, Telangana and Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands during night time," IMD further said.

Earlier on May 27, parts of Delhi-NCR witnessed heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds. The sudden change in weather brought respite from the hot weather conditions prevailing over North India.

IMD on Saturday issued an orange alert for Haryana, North-East Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and said that there is a possibility of thunderstorms in Delhi for the next 3-4 days.

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Siddaramaiah's "Need For New Parliament" Query Amid Wrestlers' Detention

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah questioned the need for a new Parliament building after protesting wrestlers were detained by the police on Sunday for demanding justice.

Security personnel stopped and detained protesting wrestlers as they try to march towards the new Parliament building from their site of protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

In a tweet, the Karnataka Chief Minister said, "What's the need for the new Parliament building if it can't give justice to the Wrestlers who are protesting? It is unfortunate to know that few wrestlers have been detained for demanding justice. We as humans and Indians should stand with them and voice their concerns. They had made Indians proud by winning medals for us and we should make them feel proud to be Indians!!"

The ongoing wrestler protest in the national capital has taken a new toll as star grappler Bajrang Punia said the Mahila Mahapanchayat will definitely take place in front of the new Parliament building which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Several ace grapplers including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshee Mallik have been protesting at the Jantar Mantar accusing the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment and demanding his arrest.

Wrestlers were trying to march towards the new Parliament as they want to hold a women's Maha Panchayat in front of the new Parliament.

"Democracy is being killed in the country, no one is getting the justice they deserve," Bajrang Punia told reporters ahead of the protesting wrestlers' march towards the new Parliament building.

Mr Punia said, "Many people are very cooperative with us but there are few police officials who are misbehaving with us, they are not allowing our family members to go inside."

Asked about whether the Mahapanchayat will take place or not, the 29-year-old wrestler said, "Mahapanchayat will definitely take place. We have given a letter to seek permission. Police are just making a fool out of us and are constantly keeping us under pressure."

Without naming Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Punia said, "The one, who is accused of offences, is roaming freely. He banters about changing the law, defaming POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act controlling the government, no harm is done to that person, whereas, those who are peacefully protesting are getting ill-treated."

Further attacking WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, Bajrang Punia said, "He is only doing politics, he wants to change the POCSO Act."

Bajrang Punia stated that about 2,500 persons have been detained by police.

"Police are camping at the home of our coaches, players, and leaders of Kisan Union and Khap Panchayat. Whether it be Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, or Rajasthan," he said.

"I request to the government and to the police department to release our people who have been detained because we want to establish this as a peaceful protest and carry it on in the same manner. We are protesting for the self-respect of our sister and daughter, we are not protesting for any political motive," the Olympic Bronze medalist added.

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"No Central Discrimination Against Bengal": BJP State Chief

West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar on Sunday asserted that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's "pet phrase" of central discrimination against the eastern state was wrong as facts and figures show the opposite.

Mr Majumdar, while presenting the nine-year "report card" of the BJP government at the Centre, said that from constructing roads to providing water connection to households, the Narendra Modi government has always helped the state.

Sukanta Majumda claimed that even though the faulty land policy of the TMC government prevented land acquisition for highway expansion, the Centre never plugged the fund flow for building new highways in the state.

"Take the example of the slow pace of widening of National Highway 34. While it takes only five hours to reach Lucknow from Delhi, it takes around a whole day to reach Balurghat from Kolkata. Why is it so? There is no central discrimination in this," he said.

Majumdar said he wants the state to be known as a place of job-givers and not job-seekers.

"There is only one fully functional airport in the state. Andal has very few flights and the Centre has sanctioned Rs 1,884 crore for the expansion of Bagdogra airport," he said.

Mr Majumdar said the state government never acknowledged the Centre's help in developing medical colleges in the state, including AIIMS, Kalyani.

He, however, praised the state for cooperating with the Centre in child immunisation.

BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said, "Our efforts in presenting our rich ancient history are shown as saffronisation effort in some quarters and this perception should change."

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Man Smuggles Diamonds In Underwear, Arrested At Mangaluru Airport

Diamonds worth Rs 1.69 crore have been seized from a Dubai-bound passenger during pre-embarkation security check at the Mangaluru International Airport (MIA), a customs release said on Sunday.

The CISF personnel intercepted the passenger on Thursday and retrieved two pouches concealed in his underpants on suspicion that they contained precious stones.

The passenger, hailing from Kasaragod in Kerala, was handed over by the CISF to the Customs officers at the airport for further investigation.

The two pouches were found to contain 13 small packets with diamonds of different sizes totally weighing 306.21 carat and were valued at Rs 1.69 crore.

The passenger was arrested and produced before the jurisdictional magistrate who remanded him to judicial custody. Further investigations are in progress, the release said.

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Andhra's Revenue Hit Due To Jagan Reddy's "Destructive Rule": Chandrababu Naidu

Former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday took a swipe at Jagan Mohan Reddy government in the state and said that the state revenue has been affected badly during the "destructive rule" of the current regime.

"The revenue of Andhra Pradesh was once much higher than Telangana but now it has fallen so low. From day one, the Jagan Reddy Government has been functioning with the sole aim of destroying the State," Naidu said while participating in the debate on the resolution on the welfare of the poverty-stricken forward classes moved in the ongoing Mahanadu.

He further called upon the intellectuals to ponder over how the state is adversely hit in this "psycho and Tuglaq rule".

Pointing out that in 2019 the revenue of Andhra Pradesh was Rs 66786 crore while that of Telangana was Rs 69620 crore, the TDP national president said that by 2022-23 the Andhra Pradesh revenue was Rs 94916 crore and the Telangana revenue grew to Rs 1321175 crore.

"This means the revenue of Telangana is Rs 37,259 crore more than Andhra Pradesh," he added.

He further said that the revenue in Telangana is 40 per cent higher than in Andhra Pradesh and this is because of the development of the state during the TDP regime.

"The revenue through registrations wing was Rs 5427 crore in Andhra Pradesh during 2018-19 while in Telangana it was Rs 5344 crore and in 2022-23 the revenue through the same department was Rs 8022 crore as against Rs 14228 crore in Telangana. In the sales tax too, the Andhra Pradesh revenue in 2018-19 was Rs 21914 crore while that of Telangana Rs 20290 crore and by 2022-23 the revenue through sales tax in Andhra Pradesh was Rs 18,004 crore as against Rs 29,604 crore in Telangana," he added.

The TDP leader further said that the Madigas and Dudekula communities in Andhra Pradesh have separate demands.

"From this platform, I am assuring all the communities that justice will certainly be done to them as per their population ratio," the TDP supremo said.

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CPI(M) Says Centre Trying To Suffocate Kerala With "Fiscal Ban"

The ruling CPI(M) on Saturday said the Union government's decision to cut down the borrowing limit of Kerala by half was an "attempt to suffocate the state" by any means necessary.

The CPI(M) state secretariat said the BJP-led Centre has been torpedoing Kerala's development initiatives by interfering in its financial matters.

The secretariat also urged civil society organisations to raise protests against the "fiscal ban" imposed on Kerala.

The Left party said the Union government had earlier given the permission to borrow Rs 32,442 crore but the borrowing limit has now been reduced to Rs 15,390 crore.

Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal had on Friday said the central government has put the borrowing limit to Rs 15,390 crore, which is half of what Kerala is entitled to borrow.

"The Union government does not even accept the legislation on fiscal responsibilities. They have not yet revealed the reason behind the slashing of the borrowing limit," the statement said.

The CPI(M) said that for the past seven years, the Centre has been conducting "research on" methods to harass the Kerala government.

The BJP-led government at the Centre has refused to honour the Constitution or democratic values, it said.

"The state government has been implementing welfare measures for the people of Kerala despite the financial crunches caused due to the policies of the Union government. They wanted to hamper the development and growth of the state," the party said.

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Delhi Court Summons Manish Sisodia On June 2 In Liquor Policy Case

The Rouse Avenue court on Saturday took cognizance of the supplementary charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation against former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and others in the Excise policy case.

The court after taking cognisance issued a summons to Manish Sisodia and three other accused persons for June 2.

It is alleged that Manish Sisodia formulated and implemented the Excise policy in a way to facilitate monopolisation and cartelization of the liquor trade in Delhi.

Special judge MK Nagpal took cognizance of the supplementary charge filed against Manish Sisodia, Arjun Pandey, Butchi Babu and Amandeep Dhal.

The court had reserved the order on the cognizance of the supplementary charge sheet on May 19.

This supplementary charge sheet was filed on April 25 in connection with the Delhi liquor policy alleged scam case.

This supplementary charge sheet has been filed under sections of the Prevention of Corruption (POC) Act and criminal conspiracy, cheating and Disappearance of evidence under IPC.

Manish Sisodia was arrested in this case on February 26 by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

While filing the chargesheet CBI informed the court that sanction under Section 19 of the PC Act to prosecute Manish Sisodia has been taken and is enclosed with the supplementary chargesheet.

CBI had stated that then Excise Commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna's name is also mentioned in the chargesheet in column 12 as a suspect in the chargesheet.

This chargesheet is accompanied by a list of witnesses as well as documents and articles.

Further, this chargesheet is accompanied by a DVD containing the chargesheet as well as statements of witnesses and RUD. One hash value certificate with respect to the DVD is also filed on record with the supplementary chargesheet.

The CBI case is related to alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD).

It is claimed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that former deputy CM Manish Sisodia that he admitted to destroying two phones which he was using before July 2022.

The two handsets which were used prior to July 22, 2022, have been admittedly destroyed by accused Manish Sisodia as confirmed by him in his response to Notice under section 91 CrPC", the agency has alleged.

The CBI had said that the investigation has revealed that during the period from January 1, 2020, to August 19, 2022, accused Manish Sisodia used three mobile handsets.

The last handset which was used by him was seized during the searches in the case.

The main charge sheet has already been filed by the CBI.

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"He Talks Bad About...": Union Minister On Rahul Gandhi's US Visit

As Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is all set to visit the USA at the end of this month, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Saturday took a jibe at the former Wayanad MP saying he visits abroad 60-times in a year and every time "tears down" the country.

"I usually don't comment on Rahul Gandhi because I scratch my head to try to understand why he is saying what he is saying. When PM Modi travels abroad, he speaks about our country's achievements and earns respect for India. This man (Rahul Gandhi) goes abroad 60 times a year. On every visit, he tears down India and our institutions. He talks bad about our democracy, about EVMs, the justice system, media, and everything," the Minister said.

He further slammed the Congress leader and said that only Rahul Gandhi has a problem with Indian democracy.

As per the sources, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who was scheduled to fly to the United States for 10 days on May 31 has rescheduled his tour and will now embark on his journey on May 28.

Rahul Gandhi will attend a program at Stanford University and meet the Indian expatriates on May 29-30.

He was earlier scheduled to embark on a 10-day visit to the USA beginning on May 31.

Rahul Gandhi dominated the headlines as he returned from London after giving speeches at Cambridge University, critical of the government and throwing light on Indian democracy.

In March 2023, Rahul Gandhi delivered a speech at Cambridge University, at a convention organized by the Association of Journalists in London, and finally during an in-conversation session at the Chatham House think tank in London.

"Everybody knows and it's been in the news a lot that Indian democracy is under pressure and under attack. I am an Opposition leader in India, we are navigating that (Opposition) space," Rahul Gandhi said at Cambridge University in the UK.

"The institutional framework which is required for a democratic Parliament, free press, the judiciary, just the idea of mobilization, moving around all are getting constrained. So, we are facing an attack on the basic structure of Indian democracy," he had added.

The remarks by the Congress MP gave fresh ammunition to the ruling BJP, who demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi.

Several of his statements in the UK stoked controversy in India. BJP intensified its attack on Rahul Gandhi with party chief JP Nadda alleging he is a "permanent part of the anti-India toolkit".

The BJP leader demanded an apology from the former Wayanad MP.

The second leg of the Budget session of Parliament witnessed deadlock.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wanted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to apologize for remarks that he made in London about democracy in India; the Congress insisted on the constitution of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe allegations of dubious financial transactions and dishonest business practices against the Adani Group of companies.

On April 11, Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from his position as a Member of Parliament after his conviction in a defamation case. He was disqualified in accordance with Article 102(1)(e) of the Indian Constitution read with Section 8 of the Representation of People Act, 1951.

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"Cleared Hurdles In Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project": E Shinde

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday said his administration has removed all obstacles that held up the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project during the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

E Shinde made this statement during the meeting of the Niti Ayog Governing Council here.

"My government has removed all obstacles from the ambitious national scheme, Ahmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train, which were pending in the last government's tenure," E Shinde said.

He said the Shiv Sena-BJP government had also resolved the Aarey land dispute for the Metro Car Shed and mobilised the Metro projects.  "A 337-km-long metro network is being developed in Mumbai, Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Thane which is a network bigger than in Europe," E Shinde said.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad semi-high speed railway, popularly known as the bullet train, is a showpiece project of the Modi government. It had run into delays during the MVA government led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray owing to problems in land acquisition for the project.

Uddhav Thackeray had criticised the high-profile project, and questioned its benefits.

The chief minister said the state was making great strides in improving transportation infrastructure such as the Mumbai-Nagpur expressway, Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway and the Virar-Alibaug Multi-modal corridor.

"I am pleased to inform you that the state has made significant progress in implementing the Gati Shakti Master Plan," E Shinde said.

He said under this plan, the state has created an institutional setup in line with the Centre with three tiers -- Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS), Network Planning Group (NPG) and Technical Support Unit (TSU).

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Over 9,000 Afghans File Asylum Applications In EU In A Month: Report

The European Census Bureau has reported that over the past month, more than 9,000 Afghan citizens have applied for asylum applications in the EU member states, a record-high number of asylum applications by any single country, according to Khaama Press.

According to the European Census Bureau, asylum interests in the EU member states at the beginning of the current year have increased by 40 per cent compared to last year.

While releasing the monthly report on Thursday, the European Census Bureau said that 76,500 people have submitted asylum applications to the EU in February alone, indicating a 40 per cent increase compared to that of last year.

The EU has added that based on the available statistics, the number of initial asylum requests in February last year was 54,370.

It is reported that Syrians and Afghans are the largest groups of asylum seekers in the EU member states over the past years.

The statistics indicated that 77 per cent of the asylum application have been recorded in Spain, Germany, France and Italy respectively. Germany alone received more than 25,000 applications in February, making it the largest number of asylum requests in the country, as per Khaama Press.

According to European Union statistics, among the new asylum seekers, 2,745 are unaccompanied minors of which 1,025 were Afghan citizens.

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Imran Khan Calls For Immediate Talks With Pak Government Amid Row: Report

Former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Friday appealed for immediate talks with state officials. This comes as pressure mounts on him amid a crackdown on his top aides and supporters that saw thousands arrested as well as many leaving his party, Pakistan based The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

The clampdown started earlier this month when Imran's supporters were involved in violent protests following his brief arrest on May 9.

"I would like to appeal for talks because what is currently happening is not a solution," Imran said in a live talk streamed on YouTube, warning that the country was headed towards anarchy, as per The Express Tribune.

The political unrest worsened as Pakistan faced its worst economic crisis in decades. Inflation was at record highs, economic growth was anaemic, and there were fears that the country could default on external debts unless the International Monetary Fund unlocked delayed disbursements.

Meanwhile, three Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders on Thursday announced quitting the Imran Khan-led party. With this, a huge list of leaders have deserted the party following the May 9 riots, Geo News reported.

Maleeka Bokhari in a press conference in Islamabad, said: "I condemn the events that transpired on May 9. For every Pakistani, the events that took place on May 9 are very painful."

Announcing her "dissociation" from the party, Bokhari said she wasn't under duress and "no one forced me into making this decision".

Cheema in a a separate press conference, said he and his wife could not continue with the Khan-led party due to the violence that ensued after the PTI chief's arrest.

"I was there at the Corps Commander House myself. It saddened me to see what was happening there. The people who were involved in it should be punished," he said.

He said it is a party's failure if its workers are violent.

Former Pakistan Finance Minister Asad Umar has also stepped down as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)'s Secretary General. The announcement by Umar came shortly after he was released from the Adiala Jail, Pakistan based The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

Umar announced his decision during a press conference at National Press Club in Islamabad on Wednesday.

"Not possible for me to lead the party under these circumstances. I am resigning as Secretary General and core committee member of PTI," he said while addressing the press conference.

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5 Arrested Over Involvement In Fake Gold Smuggling From Assam: Cops

Police on Friday arrested five persons and recovered a fake gold statue of Jesus Christ, biscuit in two separate operations in Assam's Nagaon and Sonitpur districts, police said.

In the first operation, police conducted an operation at Namdoboka Pathar area under Doboka police station in Nagaon district and arrested three persons.

The police team recovered one fake gold statue of Jesus Christ weighing 1.700 kg in possession from them.

A police officer of Doboka police station said that they launched the operation based on secret information.

"We have recovered one fake gold statue of Jesus Christ and arrested three persons. The arrested have been identified as Aslam Talukdar, Zubair Hussain and Iqbal Hussain. Our investigation is on," the police officer said.

In a separate operation, Sonitpur district police arrested two persons and recovered a fake gold biscuit from the Tezpur Salanibari area.

The arrested persons were identified as Ikramul Hussain and Jamal Ali.

Further investigation is underway.

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India Likely To Witness "Below Normal" Rainfall In June

India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday said that the rainfall all over India in the month of June will remain 'below normal' levels adding that states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Odisha, and northern India will witness above normal temperatures.

While talking to ANI, RK Jenamani said,"In June, the rainfall all over India will be below 92 per cent, which is below normal. In states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Orissa, and northern India the temperature is likely to stay above normal, the probability that temperature will be above normal is 70-80 per cent."

Earlier today the IMD had said that monsoon is expected to make onset in Kerala on June 4 and that it will most likely be normal this year.

"We are expecting the monsoon to arrive in Kerala around June 4. Before June 1, we are not expecting the monsoon to arrive. Monsoon is most likely to be normal this year," IMD said.

IMD also said that as per the predictions that stand as of now northwest India will get below-normal rain this year.

"There is no cyclone probability in the Arabian Sea for next week. In northwest India, as of now, below normal rainfall will be there," IMD officials said.

Southwest monsoon normally sets in over Kerala on June 1 with a standard deviation of about 7 days. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has been issuing operational forecasts for the date of monsoon onset over Kerala from 2005 onwards.

Last year, the monsoon over Kerala occurred on May 29, two days after IMD's prediction on May 27. The operational forecasts of the date of monsoon onset over Kerala during the past 18 years (2005-2022) were proved to be correct except in 2015, the IMD said.

The southwest monsoon over the Indian mainland is marked by monsoon onset over Kerala and is an important indicator characterizing the transition from a hot and dry season to a rainy season.

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Lanka Minister Link To Fake Passport Of Chinese Man Sparks Row: Report

State Minister of Urban Development and Housing in Sri Lanka, Arundika Fernando, issued a letter on May 19, 2023, to the Immigration Emigration Controller General, requesting the release of the Chinese man who arrived with a fake passport. This incident has raised concerns about the level of corruption and disregard for law and order displayed by politicians who hold power over the country's public servants, True Ceylon reported.

In a shocking incident, an alleged Chinese investor managed to enter Sri Lanka using a fake Guinean passport, highlighting the extent of influence exerted by Chinese individuals over Sri Lankan politicians.

True Ceylon is a media house from Sri Lanka providing updates related to political news of the country.

Chinese individuals involved in development projects in Sri Lanka or in other countries have become adept at deceiving government officials, often relying on corrupt politicians to escape repercussions habitually by giving kickbacks, True Ceylon reported.

The letter sent by State Minister Fernando requested permission for Li Pan, holder of passport Bearing no: EA9528151 issued by the People's Republic of China, to enter Sri Lanka without any hindrance. The purpose of his visit was stated as investing funds in housing projects under the purview of the ministry.

Sri Lanka's undisclosed relationship with China involves secretive methods employed by the Chinese, including resorting to force and providing kickbacks to Sri Lankan officials, in order to achieve their objectives. China's Belt and Road Initiative is known for its aggressive approach, raising concerns about debt sustainability, lack of transparency, environmental impacts, and strategic motives, True Ceylon reported.

The initiative is often viewed as a means for China to expand its influence and gain geopolitical advantages in the regions where its projects are implemented.

On May 18, the Chinese investor and two companions arrived at Katunayake Airport on an Emirates Airlines flight from Dubai. The Chinese investor had presented a forged Guinean passport to the immigration officer, but the fraud was later discovered. Despite apprehending the Chinese national, immigration officials intended to deport him back to Dubai, True Ceylon reported.

However, he managed to contact State Minister Arundika Fernando, who promptly intervened by faxing a letter to the Controller General of Passport, requesting the release of the Chinese man and his companions. The government has claimed that appropriate action will be taken, but the individuals remain at large in Sri Lanka.

In another incident in March, Sri Lankan officials arrested over 30 Chinese nationals involved in online fraud based on an Interpol alert. These individuals had entered the country on tourist visas and had defrauded people for more than two months. The arrests were made in the Western province of Sri Lanka, True Ceylon reported.

Prior to arriving in Sri Lanka, the group had been involved in a global fraud operation, swindling approximately SLR 300 million from victims worldwide.

The Chinese Embassy responded to the fake passport incident, urging Chinese citizens visiting Sri Lanka to strictly abide by local laws and regulations while respecting religious and cultural customs.

The embassy acknowledged the reports and stated that an investigation was underway, without confirming or denying any involvement in securing the release of the Chinese man. The misuse of power by politicians in Sri Lanka, however, has drawn severe criticism.

The release of an investor engaged in housing projects who used a fake passport to enter Sri Lanka cannot be dismissed as a minor issue. There can be other fraudulent activities he can engage with, True Ceylon reported.

Many have questioned the Controller General's decision to release the individual with a forged passport, especially after a cabinet minister issued an order preventing deportation and blacklisting. This incident has raised concerns about influential individuals bypassing the law due to their connections in Sri Lanka.

While India has historical and cultural ties with Sri Lanka, its engagement with the country has not been as extensive as China's. China has been successful in attracting the Sri Lankan government for many projects, sidelining India, True Ceylon reported.

Factors such as political differences, regional rivalries, and differing priorities have influenced Sri Lanka's inclination towards China.

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"Imran Khan's Mental Stability Questionable": Pakistan Health Minister

Pakistan's Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel on Friday said that Imran Khan's "mental stability is questionable" and alleged that the former prime minister's urine sample showed evidence of toxic chemicals like alcohol and cocaine.

Addressing a press conference on the medical reports of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party chief issued after the collection of samples at the premier Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) here following his arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case on May 9.

"This is your prime minister about whom a five-member panel of senior doctors is saying that his mental stability is questionable. There was some inappropriate gesture," he said, adding that 70-year-old Imran Khan's medical report will be shown to the nation, as it was a "public document".

"The medical report is saying that when we talked to Imran for a long time, his actions were not that of a fit man," Dawn News quoted the minister as saying.

Mr Patel also alleged that the initial report of Imran Khan's urine sample revealed findings of toxic chemicals, "the likes of alcohol and cocaine".

The minister also claimed that there was no mention of any fracture on the leg in Imran Khan's medical reports while he "went around with a plaster on his leg for five to six months".

Imran Khan survived an assassination attempt on November 3 last year during a march against the federal government in Punjab province. He was shot in the shin and thigh on the right leg.

"Have you ever seen anyone having himself plastered for a wound on the skin or muscle?" Mr Patel asked.

The minister said he would write to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) disciplinary body on doctors "wrongly" declaring the cricketer-turned-politician's leg fractured.

While terming the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman a narcissist, Patel said the former prime minister "should be kept in a museum".

"Being a narcissist, he is insistent on his lies and calls them the truth. This narcissist has been inciting people and diverting the youth to the wrong path," he added.

Imran Khan's medical report was made public amid a crackdown on the PTI and its supporters for the violence that erupted across Pakistan following the arrest of Khan from the premises of the Islamabad High Court in a corruption case.

Official figures estimate the violence left more than 10 persons dead while the PTI claims more than 40 of its workers were killed and thousands injured in the May 9 mayhem.

The Pakistan government and the Army have termed the violence on May 9 as a "Black Day" in the history of Pakistan.

Some of the top leaders of PTI are in jail while some others have quit the party and public life.

Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and more than 600 leaders and former assembly members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party have been barred from leaving the country.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday the government was mulling a possible ban on Khan's PTI party following the attacks by his supporters on military installations after the former prime minister's arrest.

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Suspect Arrested After 4 Killed In Gun, Knife Attack In Japan: Official

Japanese police on Friday detained a suspect who had been holed up in a building after allegedly killing four people including two police officers in a gun and knife attack, an official told AFP.

The man was taken into custody outside the farm property near the city of Nakano in Nagano region, with police confirming a fourth fatality overnight -- an elderly woman who was found injured at the scene and later pronounced dead.

A police spokesman told AFP that the suspect had been detained at about 4:30 am.

It was a rare instance of violent crime in Japan, which has a low murder rate and some of the world's toughest gun laws.

The suspect hid for several hours in the house, which belonged to his father -- the speaker of the Nakano city assembly, the Kyodo news agency said.

He allegedly stabbed his victims with a large knife, before using a hunting rifle to shoot two policemen who responded to emergency calls.

Authorities had urged people to stay indoors in the semi-rural area of central Japan after the rampage started on Thursday afternoon.

The slain officers were identified as Yoshiki Tamai, 46, and Takuo Ikeuchi, 61.

Two women, including the suspect's mother, had escaped the house where the suspect was holed up, one at around 8:35 pm and the other soon after midnight.

- 'Help me' -

A witness told the NHK public broadcaster he had been working at a farm nearby when "a woman came running from the road saying, 'help me', and she fell down".

"Behind her came a man wearing camouflage and carrying a large knife, who stabbed her in the back," the 72-year-old witness said.

He said he called emergency services while neighbours tried to resuscitate the woman.

NHK, citing police, said the attacker then fired what appeared to be a shotgun at police officers who arrived at the scene.

The officers were inside a patrol car and the attacker placed the weapon against a window of the vehicle and fired twice, NHK reported.

There was no known motive for the attack.

Japan was left reeling in July last year when former prime minister Shinzo Abe was shot dead in broad daylight with an apparently homemade gun.

Abe's accused assassin, Tetsuya Yamagami, reportedly targeted the politician over his links to the Unification Church.

And last month, a man was arrested for allegedly hurling a pipe bomb-like explosive towards Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as he campaigned in the western city of Wakayama.

Kishida was unharmed and a man arrested on the scene will undergo a three-month psychiatric examination, a regional court said this week.

The suspect has reportedly remained tight-lipped about his motive for that failed attack.

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3 More Leaders Quit Imran Khan's Party In 24 Hours, Condemn May 9 Violence

Three Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, on Thursday announced quitting the Imran Khan-led party. With this, a huge list of leaders have deserted the party following the May 9 riots, Geo News reported.

Maleeka Bokhari in a press conference in Islamabad, said: "I condemn the events that transpired on May 9. For every Pakistani, the events that took place on May 9 are very painful."

Announcing her "dissociation" from the party, Bokhari said she wasn't under duress and "no one forced me into making this decision".

"As a lawyer, I want to play a positive role in Pakistan. I also want to spend time with my family," she said, according to Geo News.

Bokhari quit the party hours after her release from Adiala Jail, where she was sent after being arrested under Section 4 of the Maintenance of Public Order.

Bokhari in a presser, backed the authorities' decision to investigate the May 9 events and said the people behind the violent events should be punished.

"When a red line has been crossed, then action should be taken in line with the law," she added.

Cheema in a a separate press conference, said he and his wife could not continue with the Khan-led party due to the violence that ensued after the PTI chief's arrest.

"I was there at the Corps Commander House myself. It saddened me to see what was happening there. The people who were involved in it should be punished," he said.

He said it is a party's failure if its workers are violent.

"This career [..] is in our blood ... it was not an easy decision to leave politics. You serve the nation in politics, but not at the cost of armed forces ... not at the cost of people who protect the country," Cheema added, according to Geo News.

Former Pakistan Finance Minister Asad Umar has stepped down as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)'s Secretary General. The announcement by Umar came shortly after he was released from the Adiala Jail, Pakistan based The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

Umar announced his decision during a press conference at National Press Club in Islamabad on Wednesday.

"Not possible for me to lead the party under these circumstances. I am resigning as Secretary General and core committee member of PTI," he said while addressing the press conference.

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Gyanvapi Row: Court To Hear Petition Filed By Waqf Board Today

The Allahabad High Court will hear on Friday a petition filed by the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board and the Gyanvapi masjid management committee that has challenged the maintainability of a suit pending before a Varanasi court, seeking the restoration of a temple at the site of the mosque.

The petitioners have also challenged an April 8, 2021 order of the Varanasi court, directing the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a comprehensive survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex.

On November 28, 2022, Justice Prakash Padia had reserved his judgment in the matter after hearing both sides at length.

However, in its order dated May 24, Justice Padia said more clarifications were required from the counsel for the parties. Considering this, the matter was put up, along with other connected matters, for further hearing on Friday.

The high court had earlier reserved its judgment on the maintainability of the suit pending in the Varanasi court. Now, all connected matters on the suit's maintainability and the order for the ASI survey will be heard together by the court.

On April 8, 2021, the Varanasi court, while hearing a suit seeking the restoration of the temple at the Gyanvapi mosque site, had directed the ASI to conduct a comprehensive survey of the mosque complex.

Subsequently, the Varanasi court's order was challenged before the high court by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid (AIM), the Gyanvapi management committee and the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board.

On September 9, 2021, the high court stayed the Varanasi court's order. The stay order was extended from time to time during the hearing of the matter.

Hearing the petition filed by the AIM and the waqf board, Justice Padia reserved his judgment on November 28, 2022 and directed that the interim stay on the Varanasi court order asking the ASI to conduct a survey of the mosque complex will continue till the delivery of the judgment.

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South Korea Launches Homegrown Rocket After Delay

South Korea launched its homegrown Nuri rocket on Thursday, officials said, a day after it was forced to postpone due to a technical glitch just hours before lift-off.

It marks the third launch of the Nuri, which successfully put test satellites into orbit last year after a failed 2021 attempt saw the rocket's third-stage engine burn out too early.

Wednesday's launch was called off over a computer communication error which was resolved by Thursday, allowing the launch -- a key step forward for the country's burgeoning space programme -- to go ahead.

The three-stage rocket, more than 47 metres (155 feet) long and weighing 200 tonnes, soared into the sky from the Naro Space Center in South Korea's southern coastal region, leaving a huge trail of white smoke.

"Flight normal," said a female announcer on the official government livestream of the launch, as Nuri soared into the sky.

In previous tests, the rocket carried payloads mainly designed for verifying the performance of the launch vehicle.

This time, the rocket was topped with eight working satellites, including a "commercial-grade satellite", according to the science ministry.

Five minutes after the launch, the rocket reached an altitude of 300 kilometres and the second-stage separation was confirmed.

All eight satellites Nuri was carrying then successfully separated, according to the official livestream.

More than 200,000 viewers were watching the livestream of the launch on YouTube, with one commenting: "Fly high Nuri! Let's go to space!"

- Space race -

South Korea has laid out ambitious plans for outer space, including landing spacecraft on the Moon by 2032 and Mars by 2045.

In Asia, China, Japan and India all have advanced space programmes, and the South's nuclear-armed neighbour North Korea was the most recent entrant to the club of countries with their own satellite launch capability.

Ballistic missiles and space rockets use similar technology and Pyongyang claimed to have put a 300-kilogram satellite into orbit in 2012 in what Washington condemned as a disguised missile test.

The South Korean space programme has a mixed record -- its first two launches in 2009 and 2010, which in part used Russian technology, both ended in failure.

The second one exploded two minutes into the flight, with Seoul and Moscow blaming each other.

Eventually a 2013 launch succeeded, but still relied on a Russian-developed engine for its first stage.

Last June, South Korea became the seventh nation to have successfully launched a one-tonne payload on their own rockets.

The three-stage Nuri rocket has been a decade in development at a cost of two trillion won ($1.5 billion).

Its third launch was to put a domestically developed satellite with an observation mission into orbit.

The 180-kilogram NEXTSat 2 satellite, developed by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), is meant to be placed into orbit at an altitude of 550 kilometres, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute said.

The satellite has a small synthetic aperture radar that can capture high-resolution images regardless of weather conditions.

"With the success of the third launch, it signals that South Korea has a homegrown launch vehicle. I was watching with emotion," Lee Chang-hun, a professor of aerospace engineering at KAIST, told Yonhap TV.

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Kerala Is India's First Fully E-Governed State: Chief Minister P Vijayan

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday declared the southern state as India's first fully e-governed state where an entire range of government services have been digitised so that they can be provided to the citizens promptly and transparently.

The Chief Minister, after declaring the state as totally e-governed, said it would not only create a network of government offices and citizens, but would use technology for Kerala's development and empower the people by bridging the digital divide.

It would also fast track the journey towards a knowledge society and economy with total e-literacy, he said at the 'Total e-Governance Kerala' event held here.

"By the term governance what the present government means is total commitment to fulfil the promises it has made to the people. The government and governance are reaching out to the people more and more, he said.

"The service delivery has been made people-oriented and corruption-free and public utilities have become people-friendly. These transformative changes have been felt by people in the last seven years," the Chief Minister said.

The government will not stop and rest on its laurels and would focus on ensuring that services reach the masses instead of the people having to knock on the doors of departments for the same. "This can be ensured by leveraging new technology, and that is exactly what the government is focusing on," Mr Vijayan said.

One such "bold step" in that direction was making internet access a citizen's right by rolling out the KFON (Kerala Fibre Optic Network) project, he said and added that it would make access to the internet affordable or free of cost.

He also listed out the other government initiatives -- like a single-window portal called e-Sevanam for delivering as many as 900 services -- for ushering in e-governance which would soon be extended to taluk-level offices.

"In panchayats, delivery of as many as 250 services has been made online," the Chief Minister said.

Setting up the country's first digital university in the state and launch of the digital science park project worth Rs 1,500 crore were the other major steps taken by the government to bridge the digital divide and bring about total e-governance, he said.

Noting that the total e-governance declaration coincided with the second anniversary of the LDF government, Mr Vijayan said his administration has turned the occasion into an opportunity to unveil a series of pro-people projects including the 100-day programme, instead of seeing it as an occasion for just celebrations.

In his welcome address, State Chief Secretary V P Joy said with Kerala becoming the first complete e-governance state in the country, there won't be any delay in providing services to people from government departments and offices.

He said the changes resulting from the implementation of e-governance would reflect in all sections of society and it would be a decisive factor in social progress.

The delivery of all vital services has already been digitised, covering all key domains including health, education, land revenue, documentation of properties, public distribution system and social security payouts, a government statement said.

An exhibition featuring digitisation of service delivery by various government departments is going on at Kanakakunnu here and entry to the same, which is free for the public, would close on May 27, it said. 

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US Approves $285 Million Sale Of Air Defence System To Ukraine

The United States on Wednesday announced the approval of a $285 million sale of a NASAMS air defense system and related equipment to Ukraine as Kyiv seeks to boost protection against Russian strikes.

"Ukraine has an urgent need to increase its capabilities to defend against Russian missile strikes and aircraft," the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement. "Acquiring and effectively deploying this capability will enhance Ukraine's ability to defend its people and protect critical national infrastructure."

The agency also said the sale will support US foreign policy national security goals by "improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe."

The sale would not require any additional US government employees or contractors to be assigned to Ukraine, the statement added.

The State Department approved the sale, and the DSCA on Wednesday provided the required notification to Congress, which still needs to sign off on the transaction.

Countries including the United States that are supporting Ukraine in its battle against invading Russian forces have donated tens of billions of dollars of military equipment to Kyiv, but this transfer would be a sale.

Ukraine's air defenses have played a key role in protecting the country from strikes and preventing Moscow's forces from gaining control of the skies.

When Russia invaded in February 2022, Ukraine's air defenses largely consisted of Soviet-era planes and batteries.

They have since been significantly augmented by Kyiv's international supporters, who have donated a series of systems including NASAMS.

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"Extreme Hatred" For PM: BJP Slams Opposition Over New Parliament Building Row

What was the "locus standi" of Sonia Gandhi when she along with the then PM Manhoman Singh inaugurated legislative buildings in Manipur and Tamil Nadu, the BJP asked on Wednesday while countering the Congress' criticism over the inauguration of new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The BJP alleged that opposition parties were making it an issue because of their "extreme hatred" for Modi.

"Congress' hypocrisy knows no limits," BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla charged as he reminded the opposition party that former prime minister Indira Gandhi had inaugurated the Parliament House Annexe and her successor Rajiv Gandhi laid the foundation stone of the Parliament Library building in 1987.

Many opposition parties, including the Congress, have announced a boycott of the ceremony on May 28, demanding that President Droupadi Murmu and not PM Modi do the inauguration.

Accusing the government of "completely sidelining" President Murmu, 19 opposition parties have, in a statement, said they find no value in a new building when the "soul of democracy has been sucked out".

Mr Poonawalla alleged that the Congress had no problem when the then prime minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi inaugurated the Assembly building and complex in Manipur in 2011.

"PM Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi inaugurating the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly building complex is ok," he said on Twitter.

"What was locus (standi) of Sonia Gandhi at these inaugurations?" he asked.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had inaugurated the central hall in Bihar Legislature, Mr Poonawalla said on Twitter.

"In these five instances were the President, Governors insulted?" he said, calling the Congress "mother of hypocrisy".

Parties like the Shiromani Akali Dal, BJD and YSRC as well as the BJP's NDA allies have said they will participate in the event.

On the opposition parties calling the inauguration of the new Parliament building an insult to President Murmu, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia hit back and asked why they didn't support her when she was nominated as a candidate for the presidential polls.

"When a woman from the scheduled tribe community assumed the constitutional post of the President, why didn't Congress oust its leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for calling her Rashtrapatni," he also asked.

Mr Bhatia alleged that standing against "every positive work and historic moment" has become "the character" of the opposition parties as "they have an extreme hatred for Prime Minister Modi" who, he said, is taking India forward.

"Their motive is to violate the sanctity of Parliament, which the people of the county will not allow. More history will be scripted in the same temple of democracy (new Parliament building) and the country will progress," he added.

Mr Bhatia said it is unfortunate that instead of playing a positive role, the Opposition is changing the "goalpost".

"First they said this is Modi Mahal. It was not Modi Mahal. It was a unique initiative and a need…..Prime Minister Modi is such a leader that he fulfilled what the Congress and the then Speaker Meira Kumar dreamt of (a new Parliament building)," Mr Bhatia said.

The Congress, TMC, SP and AAP are among the parties that have announced a boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building.

Noting that it is a momentous occasion, the 19 parties in a joint statement said, "Despite our belief that the government is threatening democracy, and our disapproval of the autocratic manner in which the new Parliament was built, we were open to sinking our differences and marking this occasion." However, Prime Minister Modi's decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, "completely sidelining President Droupadi Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response," they said.

The DMK, Janata Dal (United), CPI-M, CPI, NCP, SS (UBT), RJD, IUML, JMM, NC, KC (M), RSP, VCK, MDMK and RLD are the other signatories of the joint statement.

Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said his party will also skip the ceremony.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma alleged that it was mere "drama" as these parties had never supported the project.

He also maintained that another reason for the boycott might be that the inauguration will be held on a day "associated with Veer Savarkar".

"The boycott is obvious. They had opposed the construction of the Parliament building in the first place," Mr Sarma told reporters in Guwahati.

The BJP leader claimed that the Opposition had never thought the construction of the new Parliament House would be completed so soon and it came to them like a "bouncer".

"So, just to save their face, they are enacting a drama of boycott. But the point remains that they never supported the project from day one... We never expected them to be in the function," he added.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi urged the parties to reconsider their decision to boycott the ceremony.

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Files Papers To Enter 2024 US Presidential Race

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis filed papers to launch his 2024 presidential campaign Wednesday, signalling 18 months of acrimony ahead as he and Donald Trump lock horns in what is expected to be an attritional contest for the Republican nomination.

DeSantis was considered a rising Republican star, but has been caught flat-footed by months of relentless attacks from the former president, who has surged into a commanding lead despite being engulfed in criminal investigations.

The 44-year-old governor filed his candidacy documentation with the Federal Election Commission hours ahead of his scheduled announcement in a livestreamed chat with billionaire Twitter owner Elon Musk on the social network's audio platform.

Pro-DeSantis political organization Never Back Down released a video to accompany the launch featuring the governor's November 2022 election victory speech, in which he vows that "Florida is where woke goes to die."

"We chose facts over fear. We chose education over indoctrination. We weathered the storm," he says.

"We fight the woke in the schools. We fight the woke in the corporations, we will never ever surrender to the woke mob. We will be courageous and we will never back down."

Musk teased the 6:00 pm (2200 GMT) Twitter Spaces event in remarks to a conference hosted by the Wall Street Journal, promising it would be live and unscripted, with "real time questions and answers."

The announcement comes at the start of a three-day retreat in Miami for some of DeSantis's wealthiest donors, who will be briefed on the campaign before the governor hits several early voting states next week.

- National profile -

Long viewed as the most viable challenger to twice-impeached Trump, DeSantis is better known than most of the hopefuls in the chasing pack for the Republican nomination -- but still lacks the frontrunner's national profile.

The launch format offers him a dual advantage -- giving him precious access to Musk's 140 million followers, many of whom are in Trump's base; and if he wins the nomination, the attention of a chunk of younger, less conservative voters he will likely need for a shot at the White House.

DeSantis has used his platform as Florida's chief executive to burnish his conservative credentials, signing off on some 80 new state laws this spring, many targeting "woke indoctrination" in schools and other public institutions.

They include a ban on the discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in schools, a block on funding for efforts to promote diversity at public universities and one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country.

Never Back Down, which has been acting as the governor's de facto campaign arm, has a ground operation in most of the early nominating states and is making plans to expand.

But the launch comes with DeSantis's ratings in decline as a number of policy missteps have prompted disquiet about his readiness to take on Trump.

He faces the daunting task of closing an enormous polling gap, with Trump posting leads of close to 40 percentage points, despite being indicted on felony financial charges and being found liable for sexual abuse in a New York civil trial.

- Jockeying for endorsements -

Behind the scenes, the Trump and DeSantis camps have been jostling to secure political endorsements from state lawmakers while, at the national level, Florida's congressional delegation has broken heavily for Trump.

Musk is a well-known DeSantis admirer, although he said Twitter would remain neutral on the nomination and that his hosting of the campaign launch should not be taken as an endorsement.

"I've said publicly that my preference, and I think the preference of most Americans, is... to have someone fairly normal in office," he said, without making any explicit criticism of Trump.

The former reality TV star was banned from Twitter after the 2021 assault on the US Capitol by his supporters, and has not posted since being reinstated in November.

He has been attacking DeSantis almost daily on his record, character and fitness for office, but responded to Wednesday's announcement with relative restraint -- simply posting favorable polling on his own online platform, Truth Social.

"Announcing on Twitter is perfect for Ron DeSantis. This way he doesn't have to interact with people and the media can't ask him any questions," a Trump aide said.

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