Jaishankar, Puri pay tributes to victims of Kanishka bombing on 39th anniv of terror attack

Jaishankar,-Hardeep-Puri-pay-tributes-for-Kanishka-bombing

New Delhi, June 23 2024-

Union Ministers S. Jaishankar and Hardeep Singh Puri paid homage on Sunday to the over 300 victims of the Air India ‘Kanishka’ flight bombing, commemorating the 39th anniversary of the terrorist attack.

In a post on X, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar expressed his condolences, stating, “Today marks the 39th anniversary of one of the worst acts of terrorism in history. Pay my homage to the memory of the 329 victims of AI 182 ‘Kanishka’ who were killed on this day in 1985. My thoughts are with their families. The anniversary is a reminder why terrorism should never be tolerated.”

Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, also took to X, sharing images of his tribute.

He remarked, “My homage to 329 victims of Air India ‘Kanishka’ Flight 182. This dastardly bombing on 23 June 1985 remains one of the most reprehensible acts of terror committed against India.”

Puri further condemned the ideology behind such attacks, stating, “Actions anchored in such extremism have no place in a sane & civilised world. Unfortunately, the systems & mindsets that condoned Kanishka bombing & subsequent acts of terrorism continue to find forces & sympathisers violating international norms & commitments to combat violent extremism & terrorism.”

The Air India Flight 182, en route from Montreal to New Delhi, exploded 45 minutes before it was scheduled to land at Heathrow Airport, London, on June 23, 1985.

All 329 people on board, mostly Canadians of Indian descent, lost their lives.

The bombing was attributed to Sikh militants, believed to be retaliating against ‘Operation Bluestar,’ a 1984 Indian Army operation aimed at removing terrorists holed up inside the Golden Temple with arms and ammunition. (Agency)

Dying terrorism in J&K has made our neighbour desperate: Lt Guv Sinha

Jammu, June 23 2024-

J&K Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha said on Sunday that terrorism is on its last leg and this has made the exporter of terrorism, our neighbouring country, desperate.

LG Sinha was addressing recruits of the 16th batch of Basic Recruitment Training Course (BRTC) at the subsidiary police training centre in Reasi District of Jammu division where he said, “J&K Police has always shown a high level of professional excellence under extremely challenging circumstances.

“Since several decades, this elite police force is working with dedication to preserve the integrity and security of our country.”

Without naming Pakistan, the LG said, “The police force has kept the wheels of J&K’s progress moving. Terrorism is breathing its last and this has made the exporter of terrorism, our neighbouring country, desperate.”

“The recent terror acts are sign of our enemy’s desperation. Our aim is complete elimination of terrorism. We must hunt down the terrorists, their aides and harbourers,” he stressed.

The LG took salute at an impressive parade of the recruits at the training centre. (Agency)

DJ Ganesh to perform for 1,000 guests at Sonakshi-Zaheer’s reception; party on till 4 a.m.

Mumbai, June 23 2024-

The post-wedding party of actors Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal will be a star-studded affair, with DJ Ganesh performing at the lavish reception.

In a viral video, we can see DJ Ganesh (Ranganathan) opening up about performing at the reception that will be held at the upper-crust Mumbai restaurant, Bastian, on Linking Road, Bandra West.

The restaurant, owned by Shilpa Shetty, is now helmed by the formerly New York-based Michelin-starred celebrity chef, Suvir Saran.

DJ Ganesh, who has been at the turntable since 1998, says in the clip: “Think there’s 1,000 people invited. So, I think full-on Bollywood mix-off till 4 in the morning.”

His music goes with the flow, ranging from retro to hip-hop, commercial, and lounge, but at the wedding party, it is most likely to be Bollywood. Of course, the big question is, which number will make Sonakshi break into a dance?

Sonakshi and Zaheer, the man she lovingly describes as her ‘personal psycho’, have been dating for the past seven years. Salman Khan, a friend of Zaheer’s family who gave Sonakshi her Bollywood break in the action-comedy ‘Dabbang’ (2010), played Cupid.

Zaheer, too, made his debut with ‘Notebook’, a Salman Khan film where he was cast opposite another newbie, Pranutan Bahl, the daughter of actor Mohnish Bahl, and granddaughter of Nutan.

It is said that Salman introduced Sonakshi to Zaheer on the sets of ‘Notebook’ in 2017. Zaheer’s father, Iqbal Ratansi, who has well-established jewellery and real estate businesses, is a childhood friend of Salman Khan.

Sonakshi, now better-known for playing Faridan Bai, the main antagonist in ‘Heeramandi’, and Zaheer have starred together in the critically panned 2022 film ‘Double XL’, where he plays a London-based TV line producer, Zorawar Rahmani.

The ‘Heeramandi’ star’s next film is the horror comedy ‘Kakuda’, which also features Riteish Deshmukh and Saqib Saleem in the lead roles. (Agency)

T20 World Cup: Would’ve batted first vs India, but captain & coach did otherwise, reveals Shakib

North Sound (Antigua), June 23 2024-

After suffering a 50-run defeat to India in their Super Eights match of 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, veteran left-arm spin all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan said he would have preferred to see Bangladesh electing to bat first, instead of captain Najmul Hossain Shanto deciding to bowl.

“Personally if you ask me in the Caribbean it’s one or two games – when England chased that 180. Other than that batting first has been the trend for most of the teams and they have been very successful. So, if you look at the stats, ideally you would have batted first, but maybe the captain and coach thought otherwise,” said Shakib in the post-match press conference.

Asked on whether his viewpoint was taken in by the team management, Shakib replied he wasn’t. “No, I don’t have any part or role in this. These are not the issues of experience or seniority. When there is a leader, a captain, it’s his decision. If we would do well, the credit would go to the captain. If we did bad, we question the decision of the coach and captain. It’s normal. It seems very reasonable to me.

“But that’s how it goes. It’s how the game is played. If you could see that we took two wickets in the first two overs, then you would think that it was a good decision. Since there were no wickets in the first two overs, naturally we thought that it would be better if we were batting first in this wicket.

“We thought that we could restrict them in a reasonable way so that there is a score in our head and we know how we should go about when we bat. So maybe that’s the reason we decided to field first,” he elaborated.

Bangladesh also made another confusing call when they opted to open the bowling with Shakib and off-spinner Mahedi Hasan, instead of giving the ball to fast-bowler Mustafizur Rahman, who had a better match-up considering India openers Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have a weakness against left-arm pacers.

“Well, that’s difficult for me to explain. It’s the coach and captain’s decision. They make the decision who to bowl, when to bowl. So, it’s hard for me to explain. But from what I can understand, we thought that the wicket would be a little slower.

“It looked a little drier, maybe at the start of the game. So that’s why they thought that there might be some help for the spinners. So that’s why I think the captain decided to go with the spinners,” said Shakib.

Despite playing on a fresh pitch at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, chasing 197 was always going to be an uphill task for a middling Bangladesh batting line-up, who ended up at 146/8 and didn’t show attacking intent needed in acing tough targets. Shakib had no qualms in saying Bangladesh’s batting show left him disappointed.

“We have a 50 percent win rate in this World Cup but if we had fought against India and Australia the way we fought against South Africa, we could have called it a good World Cup campaign. We are short of runs as a batting unit. We made 140 in the last game, 146 here.

“We should have done better since we had a target in front of us. We couldn’t even show it to people that we were trying (to chase the target). I don’t think the confidence was there. We have lacked in this area throughout the World Cup. You have to bring your A-game against teams like Australia and India.

“I think we lacked in skill and strength. We couldn’t do the basics for longer periods to create pressure. Throughout this World Cup, I don’t think we justified ourselves as a batting unit. We are capable of scoring big runs. We were well short of par scores like 175-185 in the last two games, both played on good wickets.

“Maybe India scored 20 more runs but we have to show the intent from the start of the innings, and I don’t think it was there. We don’t really do well when we play on flat wickets that produce 180-200 runs. We play better on wickets that produce 130-150 runs. That’s what we are familiar with. Apart from one game in BPL this year, our local batters haven’t really chased big runs. It remains our weakness,” he concluded. (Agency)

Punjab Police, Central Agencies bust nexus being operated by USA-based Sarwan singh; 3 held, 6 pistols seized

Chandigarh, June 22, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)

Amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Amritsar Rural Police in a close coordination with Central Agencies have busted Narcotics and Organised Crime nexus backed by USA-based smuggler Sarwan Singh alias Bhola Havelian with the arrest of its three operatives from Ajnala, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Saturday.

Those arrested have been identified as Karanjit Singh of Khalra in Tarn Taran, Akash Seth alias Raghu and Sukhdeep Singh, both residents of Raja Sansi in Amritsar.

Police teams have also recovered six pistols— including five .30 bore Star pistols and one 9mm Glock— along with six live cartridges and 10 magazines, 200 grams heroin and one electronic weighing machine from their possession.

Notably, Bhola Havelian, who is carrying Rs 2 lakh reward on his arrest, is a brother of infamous drug smuggler Ranjeet alias Cheeta and is wanted in a 532-kg Heroin haul case, in which the latter was arrested in May 2020.

Ranjit Cheeta was the mastermind behind the smuggling of 532 packets of heroin which were seized by Customs department at ICP Attari in July 2019 and is being investigated by the NIA.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said following intel inputs that associates of Sarwan Singh have retrieved the weapon consignment and they are going to deliver it to someone, Police teams from CIA Staff conducted a special police checking in the jurisdiction of Ajnala, and arrested trio accused persons and recovered six pistols along with 10 magazines from their possession.

Later, Police teams on the disclosure of Akash alias Raghu has also recovered 200 grams heroin, six live cartridges and electronic weighing machine from the location pinpointed by him, he added.

The DGP said that as per preliminary investigations, the accused person was directly in touch with USA-based smuggler Sarwan Singh and was supplying weapons and heroin. Further investigations are going on to establish backward and forward linkages in this case, he added.

Sharing more details, SSP Amritsar Rural Satinder Singh probe has also revealed that Akash alias Raghu’s cousin Sanjam alias Mathi of Ajnala— presently lodged in Amritsar Jail— introduced him introduced with Bhola Havelian. “We will bring Sanjam on production warrant for further revelations,” he added.

He said that Police teams are tracing the financial trails of the accused persons to unravel the entire nexus and more arrests are expected in this case.

A case FIR no. 122 dated 22-6-2024 has been registered under section 25 of the Arms Act and sections 21 and 29 also added in the FIR, registered at Police Station Ajnala.

Big Boss OTT 3: I’ll miss Salman Khan, but Anil Kapoor has got his own vibe, says Mannara Chopra

Mumbai, June 22 2024-

Mannara Chopra, who impressed fans with her time on ‘Bigg Boss 17’, said she will miss Salman Khan in ‘Bigg Boss OTT 3’ although new host Anil Kapoor has got his own vibe.

Talking about Anil Kapoor replacing Salman Khan as the host of ‘Bigg Boss OTT 3’, Mannara said, “I will miss Salman Khan who has always been my mentor. Even when I was coming out of the House on the final day, he gave me such amazing tips. I will definitely miss Salman Khan, but we cannot deny the fact that Anil Kapoor has got his own vibe.”

‘Bigg Boss OTT 3’ kicked off on Friday with Mannara going live for the opening episode.

“I am looking forward to Anil Kapoor as the host. He is looking terrific, especially the way he is interacting with all the contestants and welcoming them in his own ‘Jhakass’ style… I have all the respect for him,” she said.

When asked if she would appear in the new season, Mannara said, “Bigg Boss is one platform which got me closer to everyone. Whenever they need me, I will always be there.”

“My new song is coming out on June 27 and I am hoping to collaborate on something with the Bigg Boss,” she Mannara, who has acted in films like ‘Prema Geema Jantha Nai’, ‘Zid’, ‘Thikka’, ‘Rogue’, and ‘Sita’.

‘Bigg Boss OTT 3’ airs on Jio Cinema Premium. (Agency)

J&K: Sangaldan-Reasi rail link to become operational by month end

Jammu, June 22 2024-

The Sangaldan-Reasi rail link in Jammu and Kashmir is expected to be flagged off by the end of June, officials said on Saturday.

Officials said that the final inspection of the Sangaldan-Reasi section of USBRL, including the world’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab River, will be conducted later this month.

“Regular train service will start by the end of this month or in the first week of July from Baramulla to Reasi. Only a 17 km long section from Reasi to Katra remains to be made operational, which will be done within six months,” an official said.

A trial run of the MEMU train (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) was conducted recently on the newly-constructed electrified line section (Reasi-Sangaldan), covering a route length of 46 km on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramula Rail Link (USBRL) project, at a speed of 40 kmph.

This was the first time that a full train crossed over the Chenab River bridge between Dugga and Bakkal stations. This bridge is the world’s highest railway bridge featuring a central span of 467 metres at an impressive height of 359 metres, which is higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

So far, 209 km out of the total 272 km of USBRL already stands commissioned. The phases include the 118 km Qazigund-Baramulla section commissioned in October 2009, the 18 km Banihal-Qazigund section commissioned in June 2013, the 25 km Udhampur-Katra section commissioned in July 2014, and the 48.1 km Banihal-Sangaldan stretch commissioned in February this year.

Once the Reasi-Katra section becomes operational, the Kashmir Valley will be connected by the rail link with the rest of the country.

Work on the project began in 1997 and it passes through some of the most difficult topography in the history of rail link laying projects in the world.

Once the USBRL becomes operational, it would not only be the realisation of the centuries-old dream of a rail link between the landlocked Valley and the rest of the country, but also an iconic marvel of engineering for which thousands of engineers, skilled and semi-skilled workforce spent decades. (Agency)

US-British coalition conducts 4 airstrikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah

Sanaa, June 23 2024-

The US-British coalition conducted four airstrikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah province, the media reported.

The strikes hit the Red Sea coastal district of Alluhayah, northwest of the province, the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV reported on Saturday, without providing further information.

The US-British coalition has not commented on the airstrikes yet, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier on Saturday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said it received a report of an incident 126 nautical miles east of Yemen’s Aden.

“The master of a merchant vessel reports explosions in the vicinity of the vessel. The crew are reported safe and the vessel is proceeding to its next port of call,” the agency said on its account on social media platform X, without providing further details.

On Friday, the US-British coalition said its forces had destroyed four drone boats and two drone aircraft launched by the Houthis to the Red Sea.

The Houthi group, which controls much of northern Yemen, began in November last year to launch anti-ship ballistic missiles and drones targeting what they said were Israeli-linked ships transiting the Red Sea, to show solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

In response, the US-British naval coalition stationed in the region has since January conducted air raids and missile strikes against Houthi targets to deter the group, prompting an expansion of Houthi attacks to include US and British commercial vessels and naval ships. (Agency)

A day before exam, NEET-PG postponed amid paper leaks row

New Delhi, June 22 2024-

The Centre on Saturday announced the postponement of NEET-PG, which was scheduled to be held on June 23, amid the recent allegations regarding the integrity of certain competitive examinations.

The fresh date of the examination will be notified at the earliest, the Union Health Ministry said.

“Taking into consideration, the recent incidents of allegations regarding the integrity of certain competitive examinations, Ministry of Health has decided to undertake a thorough assessment of the robustness of processes of NEET-PG Entrance Examination, conducted by National Board of Examination for medical students,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said that the decision has been taken in the “best interests of the students and to maintain the sanctity of examination process”. (Agency)

42 Palestinians killed by Israeli attacks on Gaza City

Gaza, June 23 2024-

At least 42 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on residential houses in two areas of Gaza City, according to Palestinian security and medical sources.

“About 18 were killed and dozens of others wounded in al-Shati refugee camp after the Israeli warplanes attacked a residential square,” Palestinian medical sources told Xinhua news agency on Saturday.

The medical sources noted that the number of victims was likely to increase as the civil defence teams were still trying to pull out the victims from the rubble, adding that the residential square had become “a huge amount of ruins”.

Palestinian security sources said that Israeli warplanes launched several raids on the al-Shati refugee camp, destroying seven inhabited homes, Xinhua news agency reported.

On Saturday, at least 24 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed during Israeli airstrikes on houses in the al-Tuffah neighbourhood in the northeast of Gaza City, the Hamas-run government media office said in a press statement.

The Israeli army said on Saturday in a press statement that its warplanes had attacked two Hamas military infrastructure sites in Gaza City.

According to the Times of Israel, the Israeli army targeted Raed Saad, a senior commander of Hamas in Gaza. So far, there has been no official Palestinian confirmation of his death.

Saad, identified as a chief of Hamas operations, was reportedly believed to have been at Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital during an Israeli raid in March, although he was not found there at the time.

Israel launched a large-scale war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, after Hamas carried out a military attack on Israeli towns near the Strip, killing about 1,200 and capturing around 250 others.

The health authorities in Gaza said in a press statement that as of Thursday, the Palestinian death toll from Israeli military operations has risen to 37,431 people, with 85,653 others wounded. (Agency)