BJP Gets New State Chiefs, Moves Closer To Elect New National President

The BJP on Monday moved towards rolling out the exercise to have a new national president as the party elected chiefs in some states and is set to announce more on Tuesday that will put the requisite number of state heads at the helm for it to pick the replacement of J P Nadda.

The BJP's constitution requires the election of its presidents in at least 19 out of its 37 organisational states before the process to elect its national president begins, and the ruling party is set to cross the threshold on Tuesday.

V P Ramalingam and K Beichhua were elected BJP presidents of Puducherry and Mizoram respectively on Monday, while single nomination for the post was filed in states like Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, making their election a mere formality on Tuesday.

The BJP has now new state presidents, including some who were reelected, in 16 states, a figure that will rise on Tuesday. Some big states like Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh may also follow in the next few days.

The BJP has picked seasoned organisational men but with low public profile in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in Ramchander Rao and P V N Madhav respectively.

Maharashtra BJP working president and four-term MLA Ravindra Chavan is set to be elected president in place of Chandrashekhar Bawankule, a Cabinet minister in the BJP-led government in the state, while incumbent Uttarakhand president and Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt is set to begin a new term.

The development has brightened the prospect for the BJP to elect its new national president to replace Mr Nadda, a Cabinet minister in the Modi government, in July.

Rao's choice, however, triggered a furious reaction from fiery Hindutva leader and MLA T Raja Singh, who resigned from the BJP. The elevation of Rao, a relatively low profile in the Telangana organisation riven with factionalism, is being seen as a balancing act and also a reward to old organisation hands.

The BJP's decision to replace its Lok Sabha MP Daggubati Purandeswari as its Andhra president with a seasoned organisation man is driven by its leadership's wish to build the organisation in a state where it is an ally of the ruling TDP but remains a minor electoral player.

Purandeswari, the daughter of towering Andhra leader N T Rama Rao and sister-in-law of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, enjoys a certain stature due to her family background and long stint in politics during which she served as a Union minister in the UPA government when she was in the Congress.

However, BJP sources said a thorough organisation leader like Madhav can be more helpful in building its organisation.

While Rao is a Brahmin, Madhav is from the Backward Classes, giving the party a toe hold in a community outside the ones that form the bulwark of all major political players in the state.

In Uttarakhand, the party, having made a Thakur leader in Pushkar Singh Dhami as the chief minister, has opted for a Brahmin face in Bhatt as its president. Chavan is a Maratha, a powerful community in Maharashtra.

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

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BJP Gets New State Chiefs, Moves Closer To Elect New National President

The BJP on Monday moved towards rolling out the exercise to have a new national president as the party elected chiefs in some states and is set to announce more on Tuesday that will put the requisite number of state heads at the helm for it to pick the replacement of J P Nadda.

The BJP's constitution requires the election of its presidents in at least 19 out of its 37 organisational states before the process to elect its national president begins, and the ruling party is set to cross the threshold on Tuesday.

V P Ramalingam and K Beichhua were elected BJP presidents of Puducherry and Mizoram respectively on Monday, while single nomination for the post was filed in states like Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, making their election a mere formality on Tuesday.

The BJP has now new state presidents, including some who were reelected, in 16 states, a figure that will rise on Tuesday. Some big states like Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh may also follow in the next few days.

The BJP has picked seasoned organisational men but with low public profile in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in Ramchander Rao and P V N Madhav respectively.

Maharashtra BJP working president and four-term MLA Ravindra Chavan is set to be elected president in place of Chandrashekhar Bawankule, a Cabinet minister in the BJP-led government in the state, while incumbent Uttarakhand president and Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt is set to begin a new term.

The development has brightened the prospect for the BJP to elect its new national president to replace Mr Nadda, a Cabinet minister in the Modi government, in July.

Rao's choice, however, triggered a furious reaction from fiery Hindutva leader and MLA T Raja Singh, who resigned from the BJP. The elevation of Rao, a relatively low profile in the Telangana organisation riven with factionalism, is being seen as a balancing act and also a reward to old organisation hands.

The BJP's decision to replace its Lok Sabha MP Daggubati Purandeswari as its Andhra president with a seasoned organisation man is driven by its leadership's wish to build the organisation in a state where it is an ally of the ruling TDP but remains a minor electoral player.

Purandeswari, the daughter of towering Andhra leader N T Rama Rao and sister-in-law of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, enjoys a certain stature due to her family background and long stint in politics during which she served as a Union minister in the UPA government when she was in the Congress.

However, BJP sources said a thorough organisation leader like Madhav can be more helpful in building its organisation.

While Rao is a Brahmin, Madhav is from the Backward Classes, giving the party a toe hold in a community outside the ones that form the bulwark of all major political players in the state.

In Uttarakhand, the party, having made a Thakur leader in Pushkar Singh Dhami as the chief minister, has opted for a Brahmin face in Bhatt as its president. Chavan is a Maratha, a powerful community in Maharashtra.

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

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"Break Their Legs": Odisha Cop's Order Viral. "Out Of Context," He Says

A senior police officer's very specific instruction to police personnel guarding a barbed wire barricade outside Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's house during a protest by Congress party workers has gone viral on social media.

The Congress workers came to protest against what they called crowd mismanagement and negligence after three people were killed and 50 were injured in a stampede in Puri on Sunday.

The incident happened near Puri's Shree Gundicha temple during a ceremony linked to the ongoing Rath Yatra festival.

A large police force was posted outside the chief minister's house in anticipation of the protest by the Congress workers.

One of the officers who oversaw the deployment was Bhubaneswar Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) Narasingha Bhol.

In the video that went viral, Mr Bhol walked to the last barricade among a row of barricades and gave instructions to police personnel standing there.

His index finger pointing towards a circular barbed wire that went in a loop around the barricade, the ACP said, "If anybody reaches here, break their leg. Don't catch them, just break their legs. We are standing there [some distance away] to catch them. Whoever breaks a leg, come to me and take a reward."

"Yes, sir, yes, sir," the policemen behind the last barricade responded to the instruction given by the Indian Police Service (IPS) officer.

After the video went viral on social media, Mr Bhol told NDTV on phone that his comment was taken out of context.

"There is a place, time and context in everything. Where was it happening, when was it happening... If you see the video, I told the personnel that 'we are there to arrest them'," Mr Bhol said, referring to a spot some distance away from the barricade. "Before reaching the spot where I was standing, there were two barricades. The order was to detain unruly protesters at the first barricade itself. However, if somebody breached the two barricades and went beyond them, then that person has already broken the law. He is part of an unlawful assembly."

The police officer added, "We are free to apply maximum force to stop unlawful assembly."

The Odisha government has launched an administrative investigation into the Puri stampede. State Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said Development Commissioner Anu Garg will submit a report to the chief minister within 30 days.

"The state government will take stern action against those responsible for the tragic incident," the law minister said.

Puri's Chief District Medical Officer Kishore Satapathy told news agency PTI that all injured people were discharged from a government health facility by 8 pm on Sunday.

With inputs from Dev Kumar

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"Like Absolute Butter": Trump On How US Struck Iran's Fordow Nuclear Site

Bombs dropped by American B-2 Stealth Fighter aircraft went through Iran's heavily-guarded Fordow nuclear facility "like butter", US President Donald Trump said.

Speaking to Fox News, Trump said, "They were trying to seal up the entrance to where the bomb would most likely go in and they did that. They were working on that and the bomb went through it like it was butter, like it was absolute butter."

He added that the June 22 strikes, called Operation Midnight Hammer, on Iran's three nuclear facilities - Fordow, Natanz and Ifsahan - "obliterated" the country's nuclear program. Fordow was known as the country's most secretive and heavily protected site, hidden beneath a mountain and designed to resist airstrikes and foreign interference.

Trump said that the bunker-buster bomb strikes reduced Fordow to "just thousands of tons of rock". He went on to insist that highly-enriched uranium was not moved from the site before the attack, a claim made by Israeli officials to The New York Times.

"I think first it was very hard to do. It's very dangerous to do. It's very heavy, very, very heavy. It's a very hard thing to do. Plus, we didn't give much notice because they didn't know we were coming until just then," he said.

Operation Midnight Hammer came as the Iran-Israel conflict continued to escalate, with the two countries continuing strikes against each other since June 13. The US claimed it had given Tehran an ultimatum to stop enriching uranium, the failure of which led to the strikes, that used high-end weaponry, including the dreaded GBU-57 bunker busters and Tomahawk cruise missiles.

While Trump said a day after that Tehran's nuclear program has been set back by decades, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi says Iran likely will be able to begin to produce enriched uranium "in a matter of months".

In Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" program, Trump also said US trade talks with Canada will be stopped "until such time as they drop certain taxes".

He went on to say that a group of buyers had been found for TikTok, which faces a looming ban in the United States due to its China ties, adding he could name the purchasers in two weeks. "Very wealthy people. It's a group of wealthy people," the president said, without revealing more except to say he would make their identities known "in about two weeks."

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"Like Absolute Butter": Trump On How US Struck Iran's Fordow Nuclear Site

Bombs dropped by American B-2 Stealth Fighter aircraft went through Iran's heavily-guarded Fordow nuclear facility "like butter", US President Donald Trump said.

Speaking to Fox News, Trump said, "They were trying to seal up the entrance to where the bomb would most likely go in and they did that. They were working on that and the bomb went through it like it was butter, like it was absolute butter."

He added that the June 22 strikes, called Operation Midnight Hammer, on Iran's three nuclear facilities - Fordow, Natanz and Ifsahan - "obliterated" the country's nuclear program. Fordow was known as the country's most secretive and heavily protected site, hidden beneath a mountain and designed to resist airstrikes and foreign interference.

Trump said that the bunker-buster bomb strikes reduced Fordow to "just thousands of tons of rock". He went on to insist that highly-enriched uranium was not moved from the site before the attack, a claim made by Israeli officials to The New York Times.

"I think first it was very hard to do. It's very dangerous to do. It's very heavy, very, very heavy. It's a very hard thing to do. Plus, we didn't give much notice because they didn't know we were coming until just then," he said.

Operation Midnight Hammer came as the Iran-Israel conflict continued to escalate, with the two countries continuing strikes against each other since June 13. The US claimed it had given Tehran an ultimatum to stop enriching uranium, the failure of which led to the strikes, that used high-end weaponry, including the dreaded GBU-57 bunker busters and Tomahawk cruise missiles.

While Trump said a day after that Tehran's nuclear program has been set back by decades, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi says Iran likely will be able to begin to produce enriched uranium "in a matter of months".

In Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" program, Trump also said US trade talks with Canada will be stopped "until such time as they drop certain taxes".

He went on to say that a group of buyers had been found for TikTok, which faces a looming ban in the United States due to its China ties, adding he could name the purchasers in two weeks. "Very wealthy people. It's a group of wealthy people," the president said, without revealing more except to say he would make their identities known "in about two weeks."

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'Shielding Criminals?' Trinamool Raps MP Over Rape Remark, He Claps Back

The Trinamool Congress, facing a relentless attack from the BJP over the links of the main accused in the Kolkata law student rape case to its student wing, found itself sinking deeper into a quagmire on Saturday after one of its own MPs decided to train his guns on the party and asked whether it was supporting leaders who are shielding criminals. 

Barely had the Trinamool Congress begun recovering after distancing itself from Monojit Mishra, the main accused in Wednesday's rape of the student at the South Calcutta Law College, when its MP Kalyan Banerjee's comments gave the opposition ammunition to launch a renewed offensive against it on Saturday. 

The party censured him, but Mr Banerjee decided not to back down and go on the warpath instead.

In remarks seen as an attempt to downplay the seriousness of the crime and deflect accountability, Mr Banerjee had said, "What can be done if a friend rapes his friend? Will the police be in schools? This was done by students to another student. Who will protect her (the survivor)? Who does all this criminality and molestation? Some men do it. So, who should women fight against? Women should fight against these perverted men," he said on Saturday.  
 
"I am saying the same thing again and again. Whoever has done it must be arrested immediately. But if a friend rapes a friend, how can that be corruption? The condition of safety and security is the same everywhere.  As long as the mindset of men remains this way, these incidents will keep occurring," he added.

MLA Madan Mitra deepened the wound when he appeared to blame the survivor herself.

"If the girl had not gone there, this incident would not have happened. If she had told someone where she was going, taken a couple of friends with her, it would not have happened. The people who committed the crime took advantage of the situation," Mr Mitra said. 

Facing backlash, the Trinamool Congress condemned both the MP and MLA's remarks and attempted to distance itself from them.

"The remarks made by MP Kalyan Banerjee and MLA Madan Mitra concerning the heinous crime at South Calcutta Law College were made in their personal capacities. The party unequivocally disassociates itself from their statements and strongly condemns the same. These views do not reflect the position of the party in any manner whatsoever," the party said in a statement. 

"Our stance remains resolute; we have zero tolerance for crimes against women and demand the strictest possible punishment for all those involved in this heinous crime," it added. 

Misogyny in India cuts across party lines. What differentiates @AITCofficial is that we condemn these disgusting comments no matter who makes them. https://t.co/2AQ59fQK4w

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) June 28, 2025

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra also shared the statement on X and said that while misogyny cuts across party lines, what makes the Trinamool Congress different is that it condemns "disgusting comments no matter who makes them".

Guns Blazing

Mr Banerjee responded on Saturday evening and, mincing no words, hit out at his own party, appearing to accuse it of backing leaders who shield criminals. 

"I completely disagree with the post made by @AITCofficial  on X. Are they indirectly supporting the leaders who are shielding these criminals? Mere academic statements won't bring any real change unless immediate action is taken against those leaders directly responsible. What's even more unfortunate is that some of the leaders who emerged after 2011 are themselves under question in such crimes," the MP wrote on X.

Mr Banerjee also said some in the party lacked the "moral and intellectual alignment" to understand what he had said.

I completely disagree with the post made by @AITCofficial on X. Are they indirectly supporting the leaders who are shielding these criminals? Mere academic statements won't bring any real change unless immediate action is taken against those leaders directly responsible. What's…

— Kalyan Banerjee (@KBanerjee_AITC) June 28, 2025

"I also wish to clearly distance myself from those who are encouraging or protecting these criminals. To truly understand the intent behind my words and statements, a certain level of moral and intellectual alignment is required - which, unfortunately, seems to be missing," he sneered. 

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'Shielding Criminals?' Trinamool Raps MP Over Rape Remark, He Claps Back

The Trinamool Congress, facing a relentless attack from the BJP over the links of the main accused in the Kolkata law student rape case to its student wing, found itself sinking deeper into a quagmire on Saturday after one of its own MPs decided to train his guns on the party and asked whether it was supporting leaders who are shielding criminals. 

Barely had the Trinamool Congress begun recovering after distancing itself from Monojit Mishra, the main accused in Wednesday's rape of the student at the South Calcutta Law College, when its MP Kalyan Banerjee's comments gave the opposition ammunition to launch a renewed offensive against it on Saturday. 

The party censured him, but Mr Banerjee decided not to back down and go on the warpath instead.

In remarks seen as an attempt to downplay the seriousness of the crime and deflect accountability, Mr Banerjee had said, "What can be done if a friend rapes his friend? Will the police be in schools? This was done by students to another student. Who will protect her (the survivor)? Who does all this criminality and molestation? Some men do it. So, who should women fight against? Women should fight against these perverted men," he said on Saturday.  
 
"I am saying the same thing again and again. Whoever has done it must be arrested immediately. But if a friend rapes a friend, how can that be corruption? The condition of safety and security is the same everywhere.  As long as the mindset of men remains this way, these incidents will keep occurring," he added.

MLA Madan Mitra deepened the wound when he appeared to blame the survivor herself.

"If the girl had not gone there, this incident would not have happened. If she had told someone where she was going, taken a couple of friends with her, it would not have happened. The people who committed the crime took advantage of the situation," Mr Mitra said. 

Facing backlash, the Trinamool Congress condemned both the MP and MLA's remarks and attempted to distance itself from them.

"The remarks made by MP Kalyan Banerjee and MLA Madan Mitra concerning the heinous crime at South Calcutta Law College were made in their personal capacities. The party unequivocally disassociates itself from their statements and strongly condemns the same. These views do not reflect the position of the party in any manner whatsoever," the party said in a statement. 

"Our stance remains resolute; we have zero tolerance for crimes against women and demand the strictest possible punishment for all those involved in this heinous crime," it added. 

Misogyny in India cuts across party lines. What differentiates @AITCofficial is that we condemn these disgusting comments no matter who makes them. https://t.co/2AQ59fQK4w

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) June 28, 2025

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra also shared the statement on X and said that while misogyny cuts across party lines, what makes the Trinamool Congress different is that it condemns "disgusting comments no matter who makes them".

Guns Blazing

Mr Banerjee responded on Saturday evening and, mincing no words, hit out at his own party, appearing to accuse it of backing leaders who shield criminals. 

"I completely disagree with the post made by @AITCofficial  on X. Are they indirectly supporting the leaders who are shielding these criminals? Mere academic statements won't bring any real change unless immediate action is taken against those leaders directly responsible. What's even more unfortunate is that some of the leaders who emerged after 2011 are themselves under question in such crimes," the MP wrote on X.

Mr Banerjee also said some in the party lacked the "moral and intellectual alignment" to understand what he had said.

I completely disagree with the post made by @AITCofficial on X. Are they indirectly supporting the leaders who are shielding these criminals? Mere academic statements won't bring any real change unless immediate action is taken against those leaders directly responsible. What's…

— Kalyan Banerjee (@KBanerjee_AITC) June 28, 2025

"I also wish to clearly distance myself from those who are encouraging or protecting these criminals. To truly understand the intent behind my words and statements, a certain level of moral and intellectual alignment is required - which, unfortunately, seems to be missing," he sneered. 

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Indian Man Seeks Reddit's Advice After Failing To Find US Job Post-Master's

An Indian man recently turned to Reddit for advice after struggling to find a job in the US post-Master's, and is now considering returning to India. In his post, titled "Not able to get a job in USA and flying back to India," the user, who goes by the handle @Belly_fat_, shared that he spent over three years working in India before taking a sabbatical in 2023 to pursue a Master's degree in the US. "I completed my degree in 1.5 years, and have been job hunting for the past 6 months-but haven't had any success due to the tough market," he wrote. 

Now, with a saturated job market and visa constraints, the user said he is considering returning to India and rejoining his former employer. However, he said that even that option seems uncertain. "The new bench policy-where employees on bench for more than 35 days may be let go-has made me anxious. With the current high bench count, I'm worried I might not get a project in time, and risk losing that job too," he said. 

Not able to get a job in USA and flying back to India
byu/Belly_fat_ indevelopersIndia

Concluding his post, the Redditor wrote, "It feels like I might end up losing both-my US dream and my position at (the) company. I'm really confused and would appreciate any guidance or suggestions."

The post has gone viral. In the comments section, while some users shared that they are facing challenges, others offered advice.

"I'm a UCLA grad and am jobless as well man. Completely relate," wrote one user. 

"Understand your point. Same here, had a verbal offer rescinded. Interviewed for top tech firms only to be blown away by the sheer level of questions being asked now," said another.  

"Man! Im trying to find job in Canada as well its been 1 year since I've got my work permit. I'm afraid now after reading your post," shared a third user. 

Also Read | IIM Alumnus Posts About Cardiac Scare, Redditors Slam Him For "Hospital Selfie"

Offering advice, another said, "Take any project that comes your way instead of thinking, 'I have a US degree and this work is beneath me.'" Another echoed the sentiment: "Second this. You do it by taking less than Market Price and improve your portfolio."

"Stay in the U.S dude, just hang in there a little while longer," suggested one user. 

"It's only 6 months. If you don't have much financial issue. Try until you can legally. Just don't overstay," commented another. 

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/emPFdbA

Indian Man Seeks Reddit's Advice After Failing To Find US Job Post-Master's

An Indian man recently turned to Reddit for advice after struggling to find a job in the US post-Master's, and is now considering returning to India. In his post, titled "Not able to get a job in USA and flying back to India," the user, who goes by the handle @Belly_fat_, shared that he spent over three years working in India before taking a sabbatical in 2023 to pursue a Master's degree in the US. "I completed my degree in 1.5 years, and have been job hunting for the past 6 months-but haven't had any success due to the tough market," he wrote. 

Now, with a saturated job market and visa constraints, the user said he is considering returning to India and rejoining his former employer. However, he said that even that option seems uncertain. "The new bench policy-where employees on bench for more than 35 days may be let go-has made me anxious. With the current high bench count, I'm worried I might not get a project in time, and risk losing that job too," he said. 

Not able to get a job in USA and flying back to India
byu/Belly_fat_ indevelopersIndia

Concluding his post, the Redditor wrote, "It feels like I might end up losing both-my US dream and my position at (the) company. I'm really confused and would appreciate any guidance or suggestions."

The post has gone viral. In the comments section, while some users shared that they are facing challenges, others offered advice.

"I'm a UCLA grad and am jobless as well man. Completely relate," wrote one user. 

"Understand your point. Same here, had a verbal offer rescinded. Interviewed for top tech firms only to be blown away by the sheer level of questions being asked now," said another.  

"Man! Im trying to find job in Canada as well its been 1 year since I've got my work permit. I'm afraid now after reading your post," shared a third user. 

Also Read | IIM Alumnus Posts About Cardiac Scare, Redditors Slam Him For "Hospital Selfie"

Offering advice, another said, "Take any project that comes your way instead of thinking, 'I have a US degree and this work is beneath me.'" Another echoed the sentiment: "Second this. You do it by taking less than Market Price and improve your portfolio."

"Stay in the U.S dude, just hang in there a little while longer," suggested one user. 

"It's only 6 months. If you don't have much financial issue. Try until you can legally. Just don't overstay," commented another. 

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/emPFdbA

Gurugram Man Falls Asleep While Driving, Rams Law Student, Arrested

A Gurugram-based civil engineer was arrested for ramming into two men, including a law student, after he fell asleep while behind the wheel. The law student died in the accident, while his friend was critically injured.

The incident, a CCTV video of which has gone viral, occurred on June 24 when the student Harsh and his friend Moksh had reached the Chanchal Dhaba, situated along the Delhi-Jaipur highway, by motorcycle at 3 am.

"The dhaba was crowded, so we were waiting for our turn. Meanwhile, Harsh met an old friend Abhishek, and they stood near the service lane's railing to chat," said Moksh.

The speeding Skoda car ran into Harsh and Abhishek, who were thrown 10 meters away by the impact. While some people chased the car, the driver sped away.

Harsh and Abhishek were rushed to the hospital, where the former was declared dead and the latter was treated for serious injuries.

The police scanned CCTV footage of the area to find the driver, who was later identified as a 31-year-old Mohit, who works as a civil engineer in a private company. Gurugram Police spokesperson Sandeep said that during Mohit's interrogation, it came to light that Mohit was returning from work and had fallen asleep while driving, which led to the accident.

The incident comes days after a man from Noida died allegedly after the driver of the cab he had booked fell asleep and the car rammed a stationary tempo. Rakesh Arora, 59, was heading to the airport to catch a flight to Bengaluru for a business meeting when the accident occurred.

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Out To Party, Bengaluru Woman Falls From 13th Floor Of Building

A young woman, out to party with friends, fell to her death from the 13th floor of an under-construction building in Bengaluru. 

Officials said the woman had gone to the building, under the jurisdiction of Parappana Agrahara police station, with a group of friends on Wednesday night. "They were partying and the woman fell into a shaft, where a lift was supposed to be installed in the future," an official said. 

While some reports suggested that she was shooting a reel, the official said no such recording was recovered from her phone.

All angles are being investigated but the police, so far, believe that the woman fell accidentally. An unnatural death report has been registered. 
 

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/SUbzoDK

Out To Party, Bengaluru Woman Falls From 13th Floor Of Building

A young woman, out to party with friends, fell to her death from the 13th floor of an under-construction building in Bengaluru. 

Officials said the woman had gone to the building, under the jurisdiction of Parappana Agrahara police station, with a group of friends on Wednesday night. "They were partying and the woman fell into a shaft, where a lift was supposed to be installed in the future," an official said. 

While some reports suggested that she was shooting a reel, the official said no such recording was recovered from her phone.

All angles are being investigated but the police, so far, believe that the woman fell accidentally. An unnatural death report has been registered. 
 

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Rs 540 Crore Of 'Drug Money' Laundered By Akali Leader, Says Probe Agency

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Wednesday arrested senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia for allegedly laundering more than Rs 540 crore of "drug money".

Former minister Bikram Singh Majithia's arrest came after a vigilance team conducted a raid at his residence in Amritsar.

The bureau claimed preliminary investigations revealed that more than Rs 540 crore of "drug money" has been laundered through several channels allegedly facilitated by Majithia.

A spokesperson of the bureau said in a statement that assets, both movable and immovable, in the names of Majithia and his wife Ganieve Kaur Majithia increased substantially, for which no legitimate sources of income were provided.

Majithia, who is the brother-in-law of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, is already facing a probe in a 2021 drugs case.

During the raid, the vigilance team from Mohali faced protests by Majithia and his wife Ganieve Kaur, an Akali MLA, who accused the officers of barging into their house in Green Avenue on Wednesday morning.

Sukhbir Badal, his wife and former Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, and many senior Akali leaders also lashed out at the AAP government in Punjab over the raid at Majithia's residence, calling it a "political vendetta".

A similar raid was conducted at the couple's Chandigarh residence as well, sources said.

Stating that a disproportionate assets case has been registered against her husband, Ganieve Kaur told reporters in Amritsar, "We will continue to fight. People will stand with Majithia." The raid was led by Swarandeep Singh, AIG, Flying Squad, Vigilance Bureau, Mohali, who was reinstated last month after a suspension.

Singh is also the complainant in the FIR registered against Majithia at 4:40 am on Wednesday.

The fresh FIR stems from an ongoing investigation being conducted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Punjab Police into the 2021 drug case registered against Majithia.

In March, the SIT claimed that it found "suspicious financial transactions" in firms linked to Majithia and his family.

The SIT also expanded its investigation to scrutinise financial transactions abroad, it said in March.

The vigilance spokesperson said the probe by the SIT and the bureau revealed "massive laundering of drug money facilitated by Majithia amounting to more than Rs 540 crore".

It included huge unaccounted cash worth Rs 161 crore deposited in bank accounts of companies controlled by Majithia, channelisation of Rs 141 crore through suspected foreign entities, excess deposition of Rs 236 crore without disclosure or explanation in company financial statements, and acquisition of movable and immovable assets by Majithia without any legitimate source of income, the spokesperson said.

The SIT probe indicated that drug money was funnelled into Saraya Industries, which is run by Majithia and his family members, he added.

So far, Rs 540 crore of "drug money" has been tracked as having been generated illegally by using the influence of Majithia as a public servant (MLA), holding a Cabinet post in the erstwhile Punjab government, the spokesperson said.

The bureau seized more than 30 mobile phones, five laptops, three iPads, two desktops, several diaries, property-related documents, and documents related to Saraya Industries during the raid, sources said.

According to the FIR, Majithia accumulated vast wealth, properties and business interests in his name and in the names of his family members, which appear to be grossly disproportionate to his legitimate sources of income.

As the news of the raid spread on social media, Akali leaders and supporters headed towards Majithia's residence and raised slogans against the Bhagwant Mann government.

However, a heavy police force was deployed on the road leading to Majithia's house, with no one allowed to pass the barricades.

As a team of officers entered Majithia's house, Ganieve Kaur asked them, "What is happening? I want to know what is going on... How did you barge into my house without my knowledge?" Majithia also said that the vigilance officers "barged" into his house, "terrorising" his children.

The former minister could be heard arguing with a DSP-rank vigilance officer, expressing his dismay over the manner in which they entered his house.

"You have forced your way through. This is not the way. Do not come and threaten people at my house... You are barging into my house," Majithia told the vigilance team.

Majithia also questioned why the officers were not in uniform, to which one of them replied that vigilance officers remain in civil dress.

Majithia was even seen interrupting the DSP-rank officer when he asked about the identity of a man standing in a room, telling him that he won't get affected by the government's "highhandedness".

In response, the officer asked Majithia not to lecture him as he sought the Akali leader's cooperation.

The officer also objected to Majithia filming the raid.

In a video, Majithia lashed out at the Mann government, alleging that the AAP was resorting to such tactics to suppress the voice of the opposition leaders.

Claiming that the vigilance department lodged a fresh FIR on Tuesday night, Majithia said, "They forcefully entered my house. If an FIR has been lodged, we are submitted to the law. If they wanted to register an FIR in a DA (disproportionate assets) case, they could have given a notice. It is very clear that they (AAP) are rattled." Majithia also claimed a vigilance team led by an SSP conducted the raid.

"Bhagwant Mann ji, understand this... No matter how many FIRs you register, I will not be afraid nor your government can suppress my voice," Majithia said.

"I have always talked about the issues facing Punjab and will continue to do so," he added.

Before being taken into custody, Majithia met his two children and wife.

An SIT of Punjab Police is already probing a 2021 drugs case against Majithia, in which the Akali leader has been summoned and questioned many times.

Majithia was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act on December 20, 2021, when a Congress government was in power in Punjab, led by Charanjit Singh Channi.

The Akali leader spent more than five months in Patiala jail before walking out of prison in August 2022 after the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted him bail.

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

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No Suit In White House, Zelensky Goes Formal For Latest Trump Meet

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has returned his wardrobe since a disastrous Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump in February, switching his typical khaki military-style tee-shirts and long-sleeved tops for more formal, but still rugged, black suit-style jackets and shirts.

The media-savvy leader had wanted to show solidarity with the troops fighting Russia on the frontline. But he was chided by a US reporter for not wearing a suit at the White House event, which descended into a shouting match over whether he was showing sufficient gratitude for U.S. wartime support.

Since then, Zelensky has worked to rebuild relations with Washington, whose military help Kyiv still badly needs, even though the U.S. president has shown no sign of resuming the donations of weaponry that his predecessor Joe Biden, had instituted.

When Zelenski met Trump at Pope Francis's funeral in Rome in April, he wore a heavy black field jacket and black shirt buttoned to the collar, with no tie.

He sported a similar look when meeting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Monday, and again at the dinner hosted on Tuesday by the Dutch king that preceded Wednesday's NATO summit in The Hague.

Although he was not invited to the meeting itself, he met with Trump afterwards, with an agenda including a wish-list of arms purchases.

The subtle switch, stopping short of a white shirt or tie, has captured attention on social media and from the Ukrainian edition of ELLE magazine, which on Wednesday described his changed look as "visual diplomacy of a new kind".

The negative focus on Zelenskiy's attire at the White House was widely criticised by Ukrainians, who have largely rallied around their leader since Moscow's February 2022 invasion.

A communications adviser for the president's office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

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

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Bodies Of 259 Air India Crash Victims Have Been Identified: Officials

All the bodies from the Air India Boeing Dreamliner crash in Ahmedabad have been recovered and several of the are still undergoing DNA matching, sources have said. Officials of the health department said all the bodies have now been recovered and so far, 253 bodies have been identified through DNA and six by facial recognition. 

Since the flight to London crashed on June 12, there had been no official announcement about the total number of deaths. The authorities have said a figure could be arrived at only after the DNA matching took place.

256 bodies have been handed over to families so far. The DNA identification of the remaining bodies is still in progress.  

The Boeing Dreamliner bound for London had started losing height and crashed seconds after the take-off, landing on residential campus of BJ Medical College in Meghani Nagar, located .just outside the airport perimeter. Only one passenger out of the 242 on board -- a British-Indian man seated in 11A -- had survived. 

It is not yet known what caused the crash. The black box of the aircraft is being examined. 

Asked about media reports suggesting the black box is damaged and could be sent abroad for data extraction, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu called it "speculation". "The black box is very much in India, and it is currently being investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau or AAIB," he said. 

Air India has responded to the crash with a slew of safety and prevention measures that includes cutting down on the use of its wide-body planes for international flights by 15 per cent. The cuts will be implemented between now and 20 June and will continue thereafter until at least mid-July.
 

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Iran Says Used Same Number Of Bombs As US: A Hint At De-escalation?

Iran has attacked United States Air Force bases in Qatar with 'the same number of bombs the US used in attacking' its nuclear facilities, the West Asian country said late Monday, in a statement seen Tehran as telling Washington, D.C. it is willing to stand down after this attack.

No casualties have been reported from the missile strike, an American official told news agency AFP, acknowledging "short-range and medium-range ballistic" weapons had been fired by Iran.

Tehran's statement came shortly after its top security body confirmed it had launched a "devastating and powerful missile attack" on the Al-Udeid air base, which it said was removed from urban centres and "does not pose any threat to our friendly and brotherly country".

The Supreme National Security Council's statement has been seen as a message - that the attack is only retaliation for the US dropping 'bunker buster' bombs on the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant - a heavily protected Iranian nuclear facility buried beneath a mountain.

"In response to the US' aggressive and insolent action against Iran's nuclear sites and facilities, a few hours ago the powerful armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran struck the US air base in Al-Udeid, Qatar," the Council said, "... the number of missiles used was the same as the number of bombs that the US had used in attacking Iran's nuclear facilities".

The US deployed its B-2 'Spirit' bombers to drop between five and six GBU-57 'bunker busters' on three Iranian nuclear facilities. The B-2 is the only warplanes capable of carrying the GBU-57.

The US has not, so far, responded to the attack or Iran's statement. However, President Donald Trump has been rushed to the 'Situation Room' and is monitoring the Iranian retaliation.

However, Iran's neighbours have condemned the attack.

Saudi Arabia has slammed the "unjustified" attack on Qatar and offered Doha its full support, while Kuwait has said it is temporarily closing its airspace as a "precautionary measure".

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Iran Attacks US Air Base: What We Know So Far

1. Tehran said that with the strikes, it has sent out a clear message to the White House that "Iran will not leave its territorial integrity, sovereignty and national security unanswered under any circumstances." 
2. Iran's Supreme National Security Council said the number of missiles used in this operation was equal to the number of bombs the United States used in its assault on Iran's nuclear facilities.
3. The US has confirmed the airbase in Qatar was targeted by the missile attack, with a military official telling Reuters that no Iranian attack was detected at any other US military base.
4. The targeted base was also located far from urban areas and residential zones in Qatar, ensuring minimal risk to civilians, it insisted.
5. Qatar has said that there were no casualties from the attack on the US military base, adding it reserves the right to respond following the Iranian attack. It said its air defences had intercepted missiles directed at the airbase.
6. The Qatari Foreign Ministry has condemned the attack as a clear breach of Qatar's sovereignty, airspace, and international law.
7. Iran, however, claimed that the operation posed "no threat whatsoever to our friendly and brotherly country Qatar or its people".
8. Iran had issued threats to retaliate against the United States after US bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-busters on Iranian underground nuclear sites at the weekend, joining Israel's air war against Tehran, and President Donald Trump mooted the possibility of the Iranian government being toppled.
9. Shortly before Iran launched missiles at the base, Qatar announced it had closed its airspace temporarily to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. Iran said it coordinated its strikes, prompting the airspace closure, as per reports.
10. Al Udeid airbase is the largest US military installation in the Middle East, situated across the Gulf from Iran.

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Atomic Agency Veteran Warns of Global Nuclear Risk After US Attack On Iran

In a significant escalation of geopolitical tensions, the US launched a targeted military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, raising global concerns about the potential fallout and future implications. The attack, which focused on three key sites at Natanz, Isfahan and most importantly the Fordow enrichment facility, has prompted widespread speculation about the extent of the damage and the possibility of radiation leaks affecting nearby populations and neighbouring countries.

In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Peter Rickwood, former press officer of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna and founder of Atomic Reporters, shared his insights on the situation.

Mr Rickwood emphasised that the full impact of the attack would take time to assess, particularly due to the underground nature of the facilities. He noted that without direct inspections of the vaults and centrifuge areas, it would be difficult to determine the actual damage.

Importantly, Mr Rickwood pointed out that Iran had recently declared the removal of nuclear material from Fordow and other enrichment sites, raising questions about their current location and status.

Mr Rickwood expressed concern over the IAEA's ability to perform its verification duties in a conflict zone. The absence of inspectors means there is no way to confirm whether the nuclear material is being further enriched, potentially to weapons-grade levels. This uncertainty adds to the complexity of the situation and underscores the need for transparency and international oversight.

Seven B-2 Spirit bombers were used to attack Fordow nuclear enrichment site in Iran

Satellite images of the attack have surfaced, but Mr Rickwood cautioned that these only reveal surface-level damage. He likened the scenario to a mine disaster, where the true extent of destruction lies beneath the surface. While acknowledging the military precision of the operation, he questioned whether the bombs penetrated deep enough to destroy the enrichment equipment and whether any of it had been removed prior to the strike.

The implications of the attack extend beyond immediate physical damage. Iran's status as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is now under scrutiny. Mr Rickwood warned that Iran might consider withdrawing from the NPT, following the precedent set by North Korea in 2003. Such a move would eliminate the legal framework for inspecting Iran's nuclear facilities, further reducing global visibility into its nuclear activities.

Mr Rickwood has a sombre reflection on the broader consequences of the attack. He expressed fear that the world is entering a highly risky and vulnerable phase, where diplomatic channels are strained and the potential for nuclear proliferation is heightened. The situation calls for careful monitoring, renewed diplomatic efforts, and a recommitment to international treaties that promote peace and security.

Mr Rickwood stressed on the urgent need for global cooperation and vigilance in the face of escalating nuclear tensions. As the international community grapples with the aftermath of the attack, the role of watchdog organisations like the IAEA becomes even more critical in ensuring accountability and preventing further destabilisation.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/SCWaVYt

Video Of Indian Tourists Dancing In Thailand Goes Viral, Internet Reacts

A video of a group of Indian tourists dancing in Thailand is going viral on social media. The clip, shared on X, shows a group of Indian tourists dancing with great energy at Safari World, a zoo in Bangkok. The audience appears to be mostly Indian, though a few onlookers from other countries can be spotted in the background. They appear surprised and a bit upset. The video has an overlay text saying, "When you visit Thailand to see Thai people but...Indians everywhere." 

Sharing the video on X, user @baldwhiner wrote, "Dear desi tourists abroad WE BEG YOU ... if you weren't a singer, dancer, stand-up comic or wildlife whisperer back home ... this is not the time to start let's not make the whole planet suffer 2nd-hand embarrassment on our behalf."

Watch the video below: 

dear desi tourists abroad

WE BEG YOU 🙏🏼…
if you weren't a singer, dancer, stand-up comic or wildlife whisperer back home …
this is not the time to start
let's not make the whole planet suffer 2nd-hand embarrassment on our behalf pic.twitter.com/7bvFn8ulF7

— JΛYΣƧΉ  (@baldwhiner) June 20, 2025

The video has gone viral, accumulating more than 549,000 views. It has sparked mixed reactions online, with many criticising the tourists for their behaviour. 

"Our behavior will ensure that even the 2nd and fellow 3rd world countries will stop issuing visa on arrival," wrote one user. 

"Embarrassing, I wouldn't mind if they had rhythm and could show some good moves..but those pot belly dancing in the group must be banned," commented another. 

"This is because fellow Indians have been praising this mediocrity back home. It wouldn't  happen if we start calling a pot a pot," expressed a third user. 

Also Read | Blind Man Accuses IndiGo Staff At Mumbai Airport Of Humiliating Him And His Mother, Airline Reacts

However, some users defended the tourists. One user said, "How about you chill out. There is nothing embarrassing about it more than what you make yourself believe." 

"The song is playing in the background. You never know if they were encouraged to do this. During our Vietnam Cruise, we were encouraged to dance and sing, and so were Japanese and philipino people as well. It was well organised. Background context: it was a party," commented another. 

"They gave them the stage and space to enjoy, so they are enjoying. Tourists go out to enjoy, to let their hair loose, away from judging known circle. Just be yourself and let others be themselves. If they are breaking rules, let them face the music. They are not kids of ur school," said one user. 

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/7qFGPeW

Sirens, Bodies, 450 Km-Evacuation Route: What Indian Students Saw In Iran

With an Indian flag clutched tightly in one hand and a dazed look in her eyes, Mizban stepped out of the airport visibly anxious and overwhelmed. "We saw dead bodies. Heard blasts. Saw airstrikes," she muttered, avoiding eye contact as she tried to make sense of the safety around her. "From Tehran to Qom to Mashhad, we were always on the move since the Iran-Israel conflict escalated. I'm just grateful to be home. If we're called back by my university, we'll have to decide carefully."

Not far from her stood Zubeda, a single mother from Srinagar, holding a faded photograph of her son, a medical student in Tehran. "I only spoke to him once or twice during the crisis. He hid his fear to keep me strong. I want him to become a doctor, but not at the cost of living through war," she said, while scanning every face stepping through the arrival gate at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday evening, as Mahan Air flight IRM071A touched down with 256 Indian students, most of them from the Kashmir Valley, who had been stranded in Iran since the country began trading missile strikes with Israel on June 13.

This marks the third chartered evacuation flight under India's ongoing mission Operation Sindhu, launched to bring back citizens caught in the crossfire of escalating tensions in Iran, particularly around Tehran after Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Operation Rising Lion.

As part of Operation Sindhu, a total of three charter flights - two from Iran's Mashhad and one from Turkmenistan's Ashgabat - have successfully brought back 827 Indian nationals so far, including over 300 students, though the final count is still being verified. A fourth evacuation flight is scheduled to arrive in Delhi at 11:30 pm on Saturday, expected to push the total number of returnees past the 1,000 mark.

Junaid, whose younger brother and sister were among the evacuees, recalled, "She called from random numbers when she could. We were extremely worried as there was an internet shutdown and so we lost communication.  The university buildings were close to bombed zones. My brother made it home yesterday, but we were terrified for my sister. She's just in her third semester at college."

Sumarah Rahman, another Kashmiri student, said, "We were terrified. Nights were filled with sirens and blasts. But now we're home. God willing, we'll go back when it's safe to finish our studies."

Ahabashi, a final-year student from Shasherf Bishti University, added, "Tehran changed overnight. The fear was real. If death had come, it would have come so far from home. But the Indian government stood by us, every detail was handled with care."

From Tehran to Qom to Mashhad: A Risky Escape

The rescued students had first been moved from Tehran to Qom, 150 kilometers to the south, before being taken to Mashhad, from where chartered flights began the homeward journey. Despite its closed airspace due to ongoing conflict with Israel, Iran made a rare exception to allow India's emergency evacuations.

India's Deputy Chief of Mission in Tehran, Mohammad Javad Hosseini, confirmed, "Iran has been aiding evacuations despite its own crisis. It's a gesture of goodwill." He noted that the evacuation has included pilgrims and medical students, many of whom were spread across universities and seminaries in the region.

The Jammu and Kashmir Students' Association issued a statement expressing gratitude. "We thank the Government of India for their relentless efforts and timely coordination with Iranian authorities. We remain committed to the safe evacuation of all remaining students, especially those from vulnerable and remote regions," the statement read.

While the relief was palpable, a sense of uncertainty lingered. Many students had traveled to Iran in pursuit of affordable medical education, a path often unavailable in India's highly competitive academic system. Their futures now hang in limbo. "I want my son to follow his dream," Zubeda said as she waited, "but I never want to feel this fear again."

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Watch: Ranthambore's Iconic Tigress' Final Walk Captured On Camera

Tigress Arrowhead (T-84), one of Ranthambore's most celebrated big cats, passed away at the age of 14, forest officials confirmed on Thursday. Her death came just hours after her daughter was relocated to another tiger reserve, marking an emotional end to a storied legacy in Indian wildlife history. The death of this beloved animal has devastated wildlife enthusiasts. Noted photographer Sachin Rai, who had closely followed her life since she was a cub, paid tribute with a poignant video capturing her final moments.

He shared a heart-wrenching account of Arrowhead's final moments. In an emotional Instagram post, he described watching her struggle to walk near Padam Talab on June 17, taking a few weak steps before collapsing under a tree, knowing instinctively that the end was near.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sachin Rai (@sachin_rai_photography)

"On the evening of June 17th, I witnessed what would likely be the last walk of the legendary tigress 'Arrowhead' at the banks of Padam Talab, a place she had ruled with grace and strength for many years. It was heartbreaking to see her struggle, attempting to rise and take a few feeble steps before collapsing again," he wrote.

"Each movement was a visible effort; even walking ten steps seemed an enormous task. Eventually, she reached a tree and lay beneath it. In that quiet moment, I knew in my heart that the end was near, just a matter of a day or two," he further mentioned.

"I have followed Arrowhead's journey since she was a tiny cub. From those early days to watching her grow into a powerful tigress who claimed her mother's territory, every chapter of her life was a testament to resilience."

Born to tigress Krishna (T-19) and the granddaughter of the legendary Machhli (T-16), Arrowhead was part of a famed tiger bloodline. She had been suffering from advanced bone cancer and had been under observation for weeks. Her passing symbolizes the end of an era for Ranthambore, where her lineage had long been a symbol of strength, beauty, and survival.

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Kim Jong Un Sends 6,000 More To Kursk After Massive Troop Losses In Russia

North Korea is set to send 6,000 personnel, including combat engineers and military workers, to assist in reconstruction efforts in Russia's Kursk region, according to Moscow's top security official. The announcement was made during Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu's visit to Pyongyang, marking his second meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this month, highlighting deepening ties between the two nations. 

"Chairman of the State Affairs of the DPRK Kim Jong Un has decided to send 1,000 sappers to Russia to clear mines on Russian territory, as well as 5,000 military construction workers to restore infrastructure destroyed by the occupiers," Shoigu said, according to Russian state media TASS.

According to Shoigu, Moscow and Pyongyang also plan to create memorials for the Korean soldiers who died while liberating the Kursk Region.

"The heads of our states have decided to perpetuate the feat of the soldiers of the Korean People's Army who took part in the fighting. Specifically, we are talking about the unveiling of memorials in Russia and the DPRK in memory of the Korean soldiers who fell in the battles for the liberation of the Russian territory. In this regard, during the visit, the construction of a memorial complex with a museum in Pyongyang with the participation of the Russian side was discussed," he added.

According to news agency TASS, Shoigu is visiting Pyongyang for the third time in nearly three months. He explained this frequency by a high pace of implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang. "First of all, it is related to the intensity of implementation of this agreement, which was actually signed a year ago," he stressed.

"The pace that has been set in the implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement, of course, requires constant attention and regular adjustments and decision-making at all levels."

According to Business Insider, Kim initially sent some 12,000 troops in the fall of 2024 to Kursk, the oblast where Ukraine entered in August of that year and seized up to 500 square miles of Russian soil.

Aided by Pyongyang's soldiers, the Kremlin's forces recaptured almost all of those gains by March 2025, effectively ousting Ukrainian forces from the region by late spring.

On June 15, the UK Defense Ministry said in an intelligence update that it estimated that more than 6,000 North Korean troops had been killed or wounded in Kursk.

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"Take Him Seriously, But Not Literally": Expert On Trump's India Approach

It's a question that's going to be asked repeatedly this year, especially in the context of what's been happening between India and US President Donald Trump over the last few days and the last few weeks. Mr Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all of it throwing up a big question - can India trust Mr Trump? The India-US relationship is a very strong one, and has always enjoyed a great deal of continuity.

But now there are questions over whether India needs to recalibrate and prepare for the next steps in the world of Mr Trump.

Dr Ashley J Tellis, the Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs and a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, is a voice that anyone who's important listens to in the world of international security, defence, and Asian strategic issues, a voice that is heard above all others by lawmakers, the leadership on issues of US-India relations, and zooming in to the whole Trump-PM Modi dynamic.

Mr Trump hosting Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir for lunch had become a huge talking point.

"I think it was the President's personal decision to host the lunch. I'm not quite sure there was a universal consensus within his own administration on the wisdom of doing this. But President Trump is, as we know, an eclectic personality. He fancies himself a peacemaker. He genuinely believes that during the most recent India-Pakistan crisis, his administration and he himself personally had a very important role to play in the making of the ceasefire. And so I think he saw the lunch with Field Marshal Munir as an opportunity to sort of build on what he believes he achieved," Dr Tellis told NDTV.

"And the reason why I think he invited the Prime Minister [Narendra Modi] was this hope, this fanciful hope that they could all three be at a table together. They could hash out all the outstanding issues and that he would come out at the end of it, burnishing his reputation as a peacemaker," he added.

Before the lunch, in a 35-minute phone call between Mr Trump and PM Modi, the Prime Minister is said to have very clearly stated that the ceasefire after Operation Sindoor was something that India had achieved by virtue of its military actions and it had nothing to do with trade deals or mediation and that India didn't need any mediation.

However, a short while thereafter, Mr Trump asserted again that the ceasefire was all because of him. On this matter, Dr Tellis told NDTV, "I think this is in many ways vintage President Trump. I think the Prime Minister made a very compelling argument and I think the diplomatic record will bear that out that a substantial element of the success of the ceasefire were the backchannel conversations between the Indian government through its military officials and the Pakistani government through Pakistani military officials. The US did play a role. Certainly, I think Secretary Rubio was a very, very useful interlocutor to both sides. But for us to claim credit that this was somehow magically our contribution, I think exaggerates our role."

"But you can't keep a good man down and you can't keep President Trump from his very strongly held beliefs about his own role in the matter. So I think even though the Prime Minister really attempted to walk him through the sequence of events, I'm not sure it is going to have a lasting impact," said Dr Tellis, who while on assignment to the US State Department was intimately involved in negotiating the civil nuclear agreement with India.

On how India should interpret Mr Trump's signalling, Dr Tellis said the US-India relationship is generally in a very good place and both should "avoid doing anything that makes the current scratchiness into a permanent feature of the relationship. I think that is not helpful either to India or the United States."

"Two, we have to recognise the eccentricities of President Trump's personality and his worldview. Take him seriously as they say, but not literally. Recognise that he does want to play the role of a peacemaker, even though the United States as a country at this moment is singularly not suited for playing that role," Dr Tellis said.

"And so I think it is useful for India to continue to emphasise that a third-party mediation is not required. That the two countries, India and Pakistan, are entirely capable of handling these matters on their own. And continue to engage the administration more widely beyond the President on a range of issues that currently are very important to both sides.

And I would focus on economics and in particular the trade negotiations, which have been going actually reasonably well. I would focus on putting together the building blocks for enhanced defence cooperation. And I would focus on how the two countries can work together in other parts of the world. Those are things that are of common interest, that's really the way forward, especially in these tumultuous times, when you cannot really rely on political personalities in a sense to deliver what is necessary for both sides," Dr Tellis told NDTV.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/7ocXhZ9

"Take Him Seriously, But Not Literally": Expert On Trump's India Approach

It's a question that's going to be asked repeatedly this year, especially in the context of what's been happening between India and US President Donald Trump over the last few days and the last few weeks. Mr Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all of it throwing up a big question - can India trust Mr Trump? The India-US relationship is a very strong one, and has always enjoyed a great deal of continuity.

But now there are questions over whether India needs to recalibrate and prepare for the next steps in the world of Mr Trump.

Dr Ashley J Tellis, the Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs and a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, is a voice that anyone who's important listens to in the world of international security, defence, and Asian strategic issues, a voice that is heard above all others by lawmakers, the leadership on issues of US-India relations, and zooming in to the whole Trump-PM Modi dynamic.

Mr Trump hosting Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir for lunch had become a huge talking point.

"I think it was the President's personal decision to host the lunch. I'm not quite sure there was a universal consensus within his own administration on the wisdom of doing this. But President Trump is, as we know, an eclectic personality. He fancies himself a peacemaker. He genuinely believes that during the most recent India-Pakistan crisis, his administration and he himself personally had a very important role to play in the making of the ceasefire. And so I think he saw the lunch with Field Marshal Munir as an opportunity to sort of build on what he believes he achieved," Dr Tellis told NDTV.

"And the reason why I think he invited the Prime Minister [Narendra Modi] was this hope, this fanciful hope that they could all three be at a table together. They could hash out all the outstanding issues and that he would come out at the end of it, burnishing his reputation as a peacemaker," he added.

Before the lunch, in a 35-minute phone call between Mr Trump and PM Modi, the Prime Minister is said to have very clearly stated that the ceasefire after Operation Sindoor was something that India had achieved by virtue of its military actions and it had nothing to do with trade deals or mediation and that India didn't need any mediation.

However, a short while thereafter, Mr Trump asserted again that the ceasefire was all because of him. On this matter, Dr Tellis told NDTV, "I think this is in many ways vintage President Trump. I think the Prime Minister made a very compelling argument and I think the diplomatic record will bear that out that a substantial element of the success of the ceasefire were the backchannel conversations between the Indian government through its military officials and the Pakistani government through Pakistani military officials. The US did play a role. Certainly, I think Secretary Rubio was a very, very useful interlocutor to both sides. But for us to claim credit that this was somehow magically our contribution, I think exaggerates our role."

"But you can't keep a good man down and you can't keep President Trump from his very strongly held beliefs about his own role in the matter. So I think even though the Prime Minister really attempted to walk him through the sequence of events, I'm not sure it is going to have a lasting impact," said Dr Tellis, who while on assignment to the US State Department was intimately involved in negotiating the civil nuclear agreement with India.

On how India should interpret Mr Trump's signalling, Dr Tellis said the US-India relationship is generally in a very good place and both should "avoid doing anything that makes the current scratchiness into a permanent feature of the relationship. I think that is not helpful either to India or the United States."

"Two, we have to recognise the eccentricities of President Trump's personality and his worldview. Take him seriously as they say, but not literally. Recognise that he does want to play the role of a peacemaker, even though the United States as a country at this moment is singularly not suited for playing that role," Dr Tellis said.

"And so I think it is useful for India to continue to emphasise that a third-party mediation is not required. That the two countries, India and Pakistan, are entirely capable of handling these matters on their own. And continue to engage the administration more widely beyond the President on a range of issues that currently are very important to both sides.

And I would focus on economics and in particular the trade negotiations, which have been going actually reasonably well. I would focus on putting together the building blocks for enhanced defence cooperation. And I would focus on how the two countries can work together in other parts of the world. Those are things that are of common interest, that's really the way forward, especially in these tumultuous times, when you cannot really rely on political personalities in a sense to deliver what is necessary for both sides," Dr Tellis told NDTV.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/7ocXhZ9

After Crash, Air India Cuts International Services On Wide-Body Planes By 15%

Air India has responded to the crash of its Ahmedabad-London Boeing Dreamliner aircraft with a  slew of safety and prevention measures that includes massive safety and cutting down on the use of its wide-body planes for international flights by 15 per cent. The cuts will be implemented between now and 20 June and will continue thereafter until at least mid-July.

In a statement today, the company said of their 33 Boeing 787-8/9 aircraft, the "Enhanced Safety Inspection" mandated by civil aviation watchdog DGCA have been completed on 26.  These, Air India said, have been "cleared for service, while inspection of the remainder will be complete in the coming days".

"As a matter of added precaution, Air India will also undertake enhanced safety checks on its Boeing 777 fleet," the carrier said.

There have been multiple cancellations of international flights in view of the "geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, night curfew in the airspaces of many countries in Europe and East Asia, the ongoing enhanced safety inspections, and also the necessary cautious approach being taken by the engineering staff and Air India pilots, the company said.

Over the last six days, 83 flights have been cancelled.

"Given the compounding circumstances that Air India is facing, to ensure stability of our operations, better efficiency and to minimise inconvenience to passengers, Air India has decided to reduce its international services on wide-body aircraft by 15 per cent for the next few weeks," the statement read.  

On June 12, an Air India Boeing 787-8 plane from Ahmedabad to London crashed soon after take-off, killing 241 people on board and more  than 30 on the ground. It had been the worst air crash in the country in decades.

"Air India remains in mourning on the tragic loss of 241 passengers and crew members aboard flight AI171. Our hearts are with the families, loved ones, and communities affected by the accident," the statement read.

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Political Storm In Punjab Over 'Intimate' Photos Of AAP Minister

A political storm is sweeping Punjab as Shiromani Akali Dal's Bikram Singh Majithia posted 'intimate' photos of state minister Ravjot Singh and a woman, demanding that he be sacked. Mr Singh has contended that the photos Mr Majithia posted are AI generated and featured his ex-wife. The minister has also said he would file a police case and sue for defamation. 

"Another minister of AAP government's act! The act of minister Ravjot... who played with the dignity of daughters and sisters. If there is even a little shame in the AAP Punjab government then immediately dismiss minister Ravjot and expel him from the party," reads a rough translation of his vernacular post on X, in which he tagged party chief Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. 

AAP's state unit chief Aman Arora stood by minister, accusing Akali Dal of stooping low to play dirty politics.

Ravjot Singh has contended that the Akalis attack on him was a "caste-based political conspiracy" and that the party has lost all limits of decency. It also exposes their "mindset towards women".

"This act not only attacks me personally but also insults the dignity of a woman, exposing their real mindset towards women in society. This is not just a personal attack-it is a caste-based and political conspiracy. The fact that this disgraceful act happened just two days before the Ludhiana by-election shows that the fear of a crushing defeat by AAP is forcing the opposition into such desperate and unethical actions," his post on Facebook read. 

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/mpik9Yl

Political Storm In Punjab Over 'Intimate' Photos Of AAP Minister

A political storm is sweeping Punjab as Shiromani Akali Dal's Bikram Singh Majithia posted 'intimate' photos of state minister Ravjot Singh and a woman, demanding that he be sacked. Mr Singh has contended that the photos Mr Majithia posted are AI generated and featured his ex-wife. The minister has also said he would file a police case and sue for defamation. 

"Another minister of AAP government's act! The act of minister Ravjot... who played with the dignity of daughters and sisters. If there is even a little shame in the AAP Punjab government then immediately dismiss minister Ravjot and expel him from the party," reads a rough translation of his vernacular post on X, in which he tagged party chief Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. 

AAP's state unit chief Aman Arora stood by minister, accusing Akali Dal of stooping low to play dirty politics.

Ravjot Singh has contended that the Akalis attack on him was a "caste-based political conspiracy" and that the party has lost all limits of decency. It also exposes their "mindset towards women".

"This act not only attacks me personally but also insults the dignity of a woman, exposing their real mindset towards women in society. This is not just a personal attack-it is a caste-based and political conspiracy. The fact that this disgraceful act happened just two days before the Ludhiana by-election shows that the fear of a crushing defeat by AAP is forcing the opposition into such desperate and unethical actions," his post on Facebook read. 

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/mpik9Yl

Akshay Kumar's Latest Update On Hera Pheri 3 Controversy With Paresh Rawal

Paresh Rawal's sudden exit from Hera Pheri 3 has been a big disappointment for the fans of the franchise. As much as fans would want him to reprise his role as Baburao, Paresh Rawal has even called his character "gale ka fanda", in an earlier conversation with The Lallantop.

Akshay Kumar is currently busy promoting his upcoming film Kannappa. He shared some new details on the ongoing controversy. He assured everyone that he believes everything will go well.

What's Happening

• Akshay Kumar revealed some new details about Hera Pheri 3, and the ongoing feud with Paresh Rawal.
• Akshay Kumar told Pinkvilla, "Whatever is happening is happening in front of you. Keeping my fingers crossed. I hope everything goes well. Everything will go well only. I know, for sure."

What Paresh Rawal's Public Withdrawl From Hera Pheri 3 Resulted In

Paresh Rawal's exit from the project led to Akshay Kumar's company Cape of Good Cinema suing him for Rs 25 crore, on the basis of first committing to the project and then leading to disrupting timelines and planning for his sudden decision to quit. As tensions led to a legal dispute, Paresh Rawal returned his signing amount for Hera Pheri 3, with interest.

Paresh Rawal On Not Wanting To Repeat Previous Mistakes

Paresh Rawal has mentioned several times in a series of interviews, that he was not happy with how Phir Hera Pheri (2006)  drifted away from the humour it was known for. This was one of the reasons why the actor had demanded a script before giving a nod to Hera Pheri 3.

Rawal finally decided to opt out of the project with no assurance and multiple producers wanting to claim control.

Akshay Kumar's Next

On the work front, Akshay Kumar is gearing up for his Telugu fantasy mythological saga Kannappa, where he will play the role of Lord Shiva. The Kesari 2 actor has a cameo appearance in the film along with Prabhas and Mohanlal. The film is set to release in theatres on June 27, 2025.

In A Nutshell

Amid promotions for his upcoming film Kannappa, Akshay Kumar shared some new details on the Hera Pheri 3 controversy with Paresh Rawal. He reiterated that he believes everything will go well.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/5W6XJvF

Karnataka Minister Denied Approval For US Trip, Says "Will Seek Explanation"

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge, denied clearance to visit the US to attend two events, said today that he would not comment on the issue for now and would seek an explanation once he is back in the country. 

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Kharge -- who is also the son of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge -- said: "I'm holding back on making any public statements for now. Once I'm back in Bengaluru, I will seek a clear explanation from the Government of India regarding this denial".

I'm holding back on making any public statements for now. Once I'm back in Bengaluru, I will seek a clear explanation from the Government of India regarding this denial. https://t.co/70QyioMeM8

— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) June 17, 2025

Mr Kharge was expected to lead delegations to the Boston Bio 2025 and this year's Design Automation Conference in San Francisco. 

He was in Paris where he attended a conference and the aeroshow, from where he was to leave for the US with his team. But his clearances didn't come through. 

Mr Kharge was expected to lead delegations to the Boston Bio 2025 and this year's Design Automation Conference in San Francisco. 

He was in Paris where he attended a conference and the aeroshow, from where he was to leave for the US with his team. But his clearances didn't come through and he is expected to return straight to India.

The "Design Automation Conference" which bills itself as the "The Global Event for Chips to Systems" is also crucial for Karnataka - Bengaluru being the country's IT capital - and Mr Kharge, who handles the state's IT ministry.

The BIO International Convention is one of the key events for biotechnology, and claims to represent the "full ecosystem of biotech with 20,000 industry leaders from across the globe".

It is not yet clear what proved to be the hitch in the clearance but the matter could snowball into the next political row between the BJP and the Congress, which rules the state.
 

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/n9vFyhP

Akshay Kumar's Latest Update On Hera Pheri 3 Controversy With Paresh Rawal

Paresh Rawal's sudden exit from Hera Pheri 3 has been a big disappointment for the fans of the franchise. As much as fans would want him to reprise his role as Baburao, Paresh Rawal has even called his character "gale ka fanda", in an earlier conversation with The Lallantop.

Akshay Kumar is currently busy promoting his upcoming film Kannappa. He shared some new details on the ongoing controversy. He assured everyone that he believes everything will go well.

What's Happening

• Akshay Kumar revealed some new details about Hera Pheri 3, and the ongoing feud with Paresh Rawal.
• Akshay Kumar told Pinkvilla, "Whatever is happening is happening in front of you. Keeping my fingers crossed. I hope everything goes well. Everything will go well only. I know, for sure."

What Paresh Rawal's Public Withdrawl From Hera Pheri 3 Resulted In

Paresh Rawal's exit from the project led to Akshay Kumar's company Cape of Good Cinema suing him for Rs 25 crore, on the basis of first committing to the project and then leading to disrupting timelines and planning for his sudden decision to quit. As tensions led to a legal dispute, Paresh Rawal returned his signing amount for Hera Pheri 3, with interest.

Paresh Rawal On Not Wanting To Repeat Previous Mistakes

Paresh Rawal has mentioned several times in a series of interviews, that he was not happy with how Phir Hera Pheri (2006)  drifted away from the humour it was known for. This was one of the reasons why the actor had demanded a script before giving a nod to Hera Pheri 3.

Rawal finally decided to opt out of the project with no assurance and multiple producers wanting to claim control.

Akshay Kumar's Next

On the work front, Akshay Kumar is gearing up for his Telugu fantasy mythological saga Kannappa, where he will play the role of Lord Shiva. The Kesari 2 actor has a cameo appearance in the film along with Prabhas and Mohanlal. The film is set to release in theatres on June 27, 2025.

In A Nutshell

Amid promotions for his upcoming film Kannappa, Akshay Kumar shared some new details on the Hera Pheri 3 controversy with Paresh Rawal. He reiterated that he believes everything will go well.

from NDTV News- Special https://ift.tt/5W6XJvF

What Pilot Of Delhi-Bound Air India Flight Said Before U-Turn To Hong Kong

A Hong Kong-Delhi Air India flight made a U-turn as a precautionary measure on Monday after nearly an hour of take-off. The captain of Flight AI315 suspected a technical issue and requested to land back at the Hong Kong International Airport.

An audio of the conversation between the pilot and the Air Traffic Control (ATC) was posted on the traffic control monitoring website LiveATC.net. The pilot told the ATC that "for technical reasons, sir, we would like to stay closer to Hong Kong, maybe we will come back to Hong Kong and sort out the problem," according to the audio clip.

"We don't want to continue further," the pilot is heard saying in the same audio clip.

????????????????????????????????

Air India 315 requested to stay closer to Hong Kong citing technical reasons before deciding to return to HKIA.

"We don't want to continue further".

???? via https://t.co/E8ftHE3i9y
????️ via @flightradar24 https://t.co/XJjqSO9Lll pic.twitter.com/qWq3iXuVRW

— Aaron Busch (@tripperhead) June 16, 2025

The AI315 took off from Hong Kong at about 12:20 pm, reached a height of 22,000 feet, and then began to drop, as per AirNav Radar.

The aircraft, a Boeing Dreamliner 787-8, returned to Hong Kong International Airport after requesting local standby at 1 pm (0500 GMT) and "landed safely at around 1:15 pm", according to Reuters.

"AI315 operating from Hong Kong to Delhi on 16 June 2025 air-returned to Hong Kong shortly after take-off due to a technical issue. The flight landed safely in Hong Kong and is undergoing checks as a matter of abundant precaution," Air India said in a statement.

Alternative arrangements have been planned to fly the passengers to their destination, Delhi, at the earliest, the airline added. "We are providing all necessary on-ground assistance to the passengers to minimise the inconvenience caused by this unforeseen disruption," it added.

The Delhi-bound Air India flight's U-turn came days after another Boeing Dreamliner 787-8 aircraft, carrying 242 people, crashed onto the doctors' hostel of a medical college in Ahmedabad. At least 274 people, including 241 of the 242 on board the London-bound flight were killed in what was the deadliest aviation disaster in India's history.

The Government of India has constituted a panel to probe the crash. The committee, with senior officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), and independent aviation safety experts, will investigate possible technical failures, maintenance records, and crew actions in the lead-up to the incident.

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