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India, Cyprus Upgrade Ties To A Strategic Partnership

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India, Cyprus Upgrade Ties To A Strategic Partnership
NEW DELHI, May 22: India and Cyprus on Friday elevated their ties to a strategic partnership and set up a joint task force to facilitate deeper cooperation in sectors such as infrastructure and shipping as Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides for wide-ranging talks.
The two leaders also deliberated on the West Asia crisis as well as the Ukraine conflict, with PM Modi saying New Delhi supports all efforts for an early end to the hostilities.
“Over the past decade, investment from Cyprus to India has nearly doubled. Trust between the two countries has increased, and with the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, numerous new possibilities have emerged,” Modi said in his media statement.
Taking advantage of this, we are targeting to double this investment again in the next five years, he said.
“And to realise this resolve, today we are elevating our trusted relationship to a strategic partnership,” he added.
The prime minister also noted that the friendship between India and Cyprus is both “strong and futuristic” as he elaborated on various aspects of his talks with Christodoulides.

“We also discussed global issues. Whether it is Ukraine or West Asia, we will continue to support efforts for the early end of the conflict and for peace,” Modi said.
“We are also unanimous on the view that reform of global institutions is urgent and important for resolving the growing global challenges,” he said.
The prime minister said the two countries also decided to expand cooperation in areas of maritime security and counter-terrorism.
In his remarks, Christodoulides said India and Cyprus decided to set up a joint task force for cooperation in key sectors such as infrastructure and shipping.
Christodoulides kick-started his three-day visit to India on Wednesday. (AGENCIES)

SC Grants Bail To Accused In UAPA Case Over Recruitment Of ‘Hybrid’ Terrorists

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SC Grants Bail To Accused In UAPA Case Over Recruitment Of ‘Hybrid’ Terrorists

The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Suhail Ahmad Thokar, who was arrested in a UAPA case for allegedly conspiring with proscribed terrorist groups to recruit “hybrid” terrorists, radicalise youth and execute acts of terrorism following the repeal of Article 370 of the Constitution.
The Centre had on August 5, 2019 abrogated the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, which bestowed a special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.


A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi passed the order while hearing Thokar’s plea challenging a September 2023 order of the Delhi High Court which had denied him bail in the case probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
He was arrested in the case on October 20, 2021.
The top court granted him bail while considering the period already spent by him in custody and also that conclusion of trial in the matter would take some time.
It directed that Thokar be enlarged on bail subject to furnishing the bail bond to the satisfaction of the special NIA court at Delhi.
Thokar had earlier moved the high court challenging a January 2023 order of the trial court denying him bail in the case lodged under various provisions of the erstwhile Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

The prosecution had alleged that an FIR was registered subsequent upon the receipt of intelligence regarding the incubation of a larger conspiracy in the Kashmir valley and the conspiracy was orchestrated by proscribed terrorist groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.
The prosection had alleged that Thokar played an active role in providing refuge to the members of the terrorist organisations and their associates.
During the arguments before the high court, his counsel had argued that there existed a conspicuous absence of material evidence implicating him in any criminal conspiracy with the alleged terrorist outfits and nothing incriminating was recovered from his possession.

Opposing his submissions, the NIA’s counsel had argued in the high court that the prosecution was clearly able to establish that Thokar played an active role in arranging logistical support for terrorists in the Kashmir valley. (Agencies)

City & Local Guides

Centre Extends NCB Chief Anurag Garg’s Tenure Till July Next Year

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Centre Extends NCB Chief Anurag Garg’s Tenure Till July Next Year
The Centre has extended the tenure of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) chief Anurag Garg till July next year, according to a Personnel Ministry order.
Garg, a 1993 batch Indian Police Service officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre, was appointed Director General of the NCB in September 2024.
His tenure was to end on May 23 this year.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved extension in Garg’s deputation tenure as DG, NCB, beyond May 23, 2026, up to July 31, 2027, that is the date of his superannuation, said the order dated May 21.
The NCB recently busted several drug trafficking syndicates and made the country’s first-ever seizure of Captagon, the so-called “Jihadi Drug”.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on May 16 announced the busting of an international drug syndicate involved in the trafficking of Captagon with a seizure of 227 kg of the “jihadi drug” valued at Rs 182 crore.
Captagon is the street name historically linked to fenethylline, a synthetic stimulant developed in the 1960s, which earned the sobriquet of the “jihadi drug” due to repeated allegations and intelligence inputs linking its abuse and trafficking with extremist and conflict-zone networks operating in parts of West Asia, sources said.

India To Launch ‘Smart Border’ Project Along Pak, B’Desh Borders To Curb Infiltration: Amit Shah

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India To Launch ‘Smart Border’ Project Along Pak, B’Desh Borders To Curb Infiltration: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the government will launch a “smart border” project in the next year to make the 6,000 km fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh impenetrable and ensure that the “conspiracy” to change the demography of the areas is defeated.
Delivering the annual Rustamji Memorial lecture hosted by the Border Security Force (BSF) here, the minister also reiterated that the government will find each and every infiltrator from the country and send them outside India.
K F Rustamji was the first director general of the BSF after it was raised in 1965.
“I want to assure BSF troops that we will launch this smart border project in the 60th year of its raising and we will make the Pakistan and Bangladesh borders impenetrable,” Shah said.
The Modi government, Shah added, has decided to create a “strong security grid” along the Pakistan and Bangladesh fronts in the next one year. The “smart border” will be aided by technology, drones, radars and smart cameras which will help create an impenetrable border, he told the gathering.
The minister also urged BSF troops to ensure that the conspiracy to artificially change the demography of India is defeated. He said current state governments in Tripura, West Bengal and Assam — all led by the BJP — believe in the policy that there should no infiltration from across Indian borders. His ministry, Shah added, will soon hold a meeting with the chief ministers of these states on the subject of border security.

The minister added that a high-powered demography mission declared earlier will be announced soon by the Union government. (Agencies)

Two Students Killed As Bus Overturns On Amritsar-Pathankot National Highway

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Two Students Killed As Bus Overturns On Amritsar-Pathankot National Highway
A private bus overturned on the Amritsar-Pathankot national highway on Friday, leaving two students dead and five injured, police said.
The deceased, both aged around 23, hailed from Jammu, Station House Officer Rajwant Kaur said.
The deceased were students of a college in Punjab, she said, adding that around 10 students were among the passengers travelling in the bus.
“Five injured, including three who sustained head injuries, were shifted to a hospital in Gurdaspur,” the officer said.
The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained. (Agencies)

‘Had A Fruitful Meeting With Council Of Ministers,’ Says PM Modi

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‘Had A Fruitful Meeting With Council Of Ministers,’ Says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he had a fruitful meeting with his council of ministers where they exchanged perspectives and best practices to boost ‘Ease of Living’ and ‘Ease of Doing Business’.
Modi said the meeting on Thursday evening also discussed how to further reforms to realise the shared dream of a developed India.
“Had a fruitful meeting of the Council of Ministers yesterday. We exchanged perspectives and best practices relating to boosting ‘Ease of Living, ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and how to further reforms in order to realise our shared dream of a Viksit Bharat,” Modi said in a post on X.
The meeting, which lasted for over four hours, was attended by all cabinet ministers, ministers of state (independent charge), and ministers of state.
This was the first meeting of the council this year.
The prime minister had earlier asserted that his government’s “Reform Express” has delivered systemic transformation and benefited the citizens in a significant way.
Sources said the prime minister told his council of ministers to set 2047 as the target year to make India a fully developed nation.

He told the ministers that their aim and objective should always be to bring comfort to people’s lives and “ease of living”.
Modi said that there should not be any interference in the people’s lives in any way, the sources said.
The prime minister told the ministers to take all possible steps so that people get maximum benefits from the government welfare programmes, they said.
He said this is the time to look forward, not dwell on what was done in the past.

Modi noted that while the government has been in power since 2014, the focus in 2026 must be on future goals and achievements.
He advised ministers to remain focused on governance and delivery, the sources said.
The prime minister stressed that there should be no pendency in government work.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar gave a presentation on the latest visit of Modi to the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy.
A total of nine secretaries gave presentations on the initiatives and performance of their ministries and departments.

The council of ministers meeting comes after the BJP’s massive success in the recently held assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam, returning to power in Puducherry again. (Agencies)




EC Announces Rajya Sabha Polls For 24 Seats On June 18

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EC Announces Rajya Sabha Polls For 24 Seats On June 18
The Election Commission on Friday announced polls for 24 Rajya Sabha seats on June 18.
In a statement, the EC said the elections for the Rajya Sabha seats will be held in 10 states where the incumbents are retiring on different dates beginning June 21 to July 19. The Rajya Sabha elections will be held in four seats each in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Karnataka, three seats each in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, two seats in Jharkhand and one seat each in Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.

The last date for filing nominations is June 8. (Agencies)

LG Sinha Lays Foundation Stone Of Akshaya Patra’s Centralised Mid-Day Meal Kitchen In Katra

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LG Sinha Lays Foundation Stone Of Akshaya Patra’s Centralised Mid-Day Meal Kitchen In Katra
The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today laid the foundation stone of Akshaya Patra’s centralized kitchen facility in Katra. Once operational, this facility will provide 5000 nutritious meals to school children every day. On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor also spoke about Akshaya Patra’s future projects in Union Territory of Jammu Kashmir including upcoming kitchen facility in Jammu.
“I urged stronger collaboration between Government and Social Organisations to empower younger generation. We must ensure that school children receive balanced, nourishing meals. Every child deserves access to healthy food and we need to make sure no child is left behind,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor spoke on legacy in ordinary life emphasising that it rests on 3 questions – what are we creating, what are we preserving, and what will we hand over to future generations? He said we must add another question to that list: what are we feeding our children? He further observed that nutrition of our young generation will shape our future.
The Lieutenant Governor stated that a hungry child cannot learn, and a school that cannot feed its children cannot honestly create equal opportunities for progress. He said that decades of global research and their outcomes have shown that nutrition and education are not separate things; education rests on the foundation of good nutrition.
“Children who eat balanced, nutritious meals concentrate better, retain information more effectively, and participate more actively in class. Protein, vitamins, and a balanced diet supply the basic energy for thinking and understanding of a child. I want every school in Jammu Kashmir to remember, when we provide nutritious meals in schools, we are not merely filling stomachs but we are shaping future thinking.
The next generation is not just our future but they are the living expression of the dream and aspiration we wish to build as a nation. Their education, health, and confidence are a shared pledge and a collective responsibility of society. The values, knowledge, and faith we instill in children today will shape Jammu Kashmir’s and India’s decades to come,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor applauded self-less service of Akshay Patra, which is among the world’s largest NGOs in the school meal sector, currently serving over 20 lakh children across 16 states and 3 UTs.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor also served the meal to the school students.
Bharatarshabha Dasa, National President & Trustee, The Akshaya Patra Foundation; Baldev Raj Sharma, Member of Legislative Assembly, Mata Vaishno Devi; Kuldeep Raj Dubey, Member of Legislative Assembly from Reasi; Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor; Ram Niwas Sharma, Commissioner/Secretary School Education Department; Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Kashmir; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Shiv Kumar Sharma, DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range; Kumar Abhishek, Deputy Commissioner, Reasi; Uday C. Rege from Savita Oil Technologies; senior officials, members of Akshaya Patra Foundation and students in large number attended the ceremony

Pulwama Mastermind Hamza Burhan Killed By Unknown Gunmen In PoJK

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Pulwama Mastermind Hamza Burhan Killed By Unknown Gunmen In PoJK
Hamza Burhan, one of the alleged masterminds behind the Pulwama attack, was reportedly killed by unidentified gunmen in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
Burhan, was shot multiple times. According to sources, Burhan died following the attack carried out by the unidentified assailants in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan.
Burhan was designated a terrorist by the Centre in 2022. In an official notification, the government had said: “Arjumand Gulzar Dar alias Hamza Burhan alias Doctor, aged 23 years, is a resident of Kharbatpora, Ratnipora, Pulwama, and one of the associate members of Al Badr, a terrorist outfit designated under the UAPA.”
The Pulwama terror attack took place in 2019, when Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist Adeel Ahmed Dar rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a convoy of security personnel on the Jammu-Srinagar highway at Lethpora in Pulwama district, Jammu and Kashmir. The bombing killed 40 CRPF personnel.

J&K Congress Leader Says India Facing Diplomatic Isolation, Accuses Modi Of Theatrics

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J&K Congress Leader Says India Facing Diplomatic Isolation, Accuses Modi Of Theatrics
Congress leader Tariq Hameed Karra on Thursday said the country is facing a “diplomatic isolation” under Narendra Modi’s leadership and accused him indulging in “jingoism and theatrics” on global platforms.
Karra said Rajiv Gandhi was regarded across the world as one of the architects of modern India and had sacrificed his life to preserve the unity and integrity of the nation.
The former prime minister was assassinated on this day in 1991 in Tamil Nadu’s Sriperumbudur. “The point is that because of Modi ji, internal policies and the economic policies of this government, problems are increasing. Because of their external policies, the support we once had in the world is gradually diminishing. Now blocs are also being formed, and decisions are being taken regarding us as well,” Karra told reporters here. on the sidelines of an event held to commemorate Rajiv Gandhi.
Referring to remarks made by Rahul Gandhi criticising the centre’s policies, Karra said that warnings about the deteriorating situation had been ignored earlier as well.
“The basic meaning of this is that India is facing diplomatic isolation. Rahul ji also said one more thing — that there is still time to save this situation and stop this decline,” he said.
The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president said the government must revise its policies to make them people-friendly. “Stop looking at India only through the lens of two or four individuals, and instead frame policies keeping all 140 crore Indians in mind,” he said.
On the former prime minister, he said, “Rajiv Gandhi embraced martyrdom to keep the country united just as Indira Gandhi sacrificed her life for the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.” He said the foundations of modern India were laid by Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Abul Kalam Azad under the guidance of Mahatma Gandhi, who united different princely states and regions into one nation.
Karra said that Rajiv Gandhi played a key role in resolving internal issues democratically, including those related to Punjab and the North East. “Today, we are seeing that the North East has opened up to China, and settlements are coming up there. Yet the prime minister makes statements like ‘let any Indian come, whoever may come’. Such blatant falsehood does not suit a prime minister, and the dignity of the office demands maturity,” he said.
Karra said that during the pandemic, people were asked to bang utensils, and now, amid international conflicts, citizens were being advised to consume less fuel and oil. “The kind of jingoism and theatrics displayed before the world makes Indians bow their heads in shame, irrespective of ideological differences,” he said. (Agencies)
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