The Punjab Police’s Counter-Intelligence unit in Amritsar has busted a drug smuggling module and arrested two persons with 5 kg of heroin, officials said on Monday.

Preliminary investigation revealed links with a Pakistan-based smuggler and a foreign-based handler orchestrating cross-border consignments, DGP Gaurav Yadav said in a post on X.

An FIR has been registered at the State Special Operation Cell police station in Amritsar, and further investigations are underway to uncover the entire network, the DGP said. (Agencies)

An Air Canada Express aircraft arriving from Montreal was involved in a collision with a ground vehicle while landing at New York’s La Guardia Airport early Monday, according to flight tracking data from FlightRadar24, reported New York Post.

The incident prompted aviation authorities to halt operations at the busy airport, raising concerns over potential disruptions to flight schedules. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop for all incoming and outgoing flights at La Guardia, initially set to remain in effect until 0530 GMT (local time), as per an official notice.

The FAA indicated that the stoppage was due to an emergency situation but did not immediately provide detailed information about the nature or severity of the incident. The notice further suggested a “high probability” that the ground stop could be extended, depending on developments.

In a separate advisory issued to airmen, the FAA stated that the airport could remain closed until 1800 GMT, signalling the possibility of prolonged disruption at one of New York City’s key aviation hubs.

Details regarding the extent of the damage or any injuries were not immediately available. However, unverified videos circulating on social media appeared to show visible damage to the nose section of the aircraft.

Emergency response teams were expected to be deployed as part of standard protocol following such incidents, though no official confirmation had been issued at the time of reporting. The situation at the airport remained fluid, with authorities likely assessing safety conditions before allowing operations to resume.

Air Canada, the FAA, and the New York Fire Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment, leaving several aspects of the incident unclear.

La Guardia Airport, a major domestic gateway serving New York City, frequently handles high volumes of air traffic, making any disruption significant for both airlines and passengers. Aviation experts note that ground incidents, while relatively rare, can lead to cascading delays across the broader air traffic network.

Further updates are expected as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision and assess the operational impact on airport services. (Agencies)

Selfish interests and the desire for dominance were the root cause of conflicts in the world, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Friday, asserting that lasting peace can only be achieved through unity, discipline and adherence to dharma.

Addressing a gathering in Nagpur, Bhagwat said that for 2,000 years the world has experimented with various ideas to resolve conflicts with little success.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief was speaking at the gathering after laying the foundation stone for the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s office in the city.

Bhagwat said that India’s ancient wisdom teaches that “all are connected and one”, and called for a shift from conflict to harmony and cooperation.

He further noted that even modern science is gradually moving towards this understanding.

The RSS chief noted that selfish interests and the desire for dominance were the root cause of conflicts in the world, and said lasting peace can only be achieved through unity, discipline and adherence to dharma.

Highlighting the importance of conduct, Bhagwat said dharma cannot remain confined to scriptures, but must be reflected in people’s behaviour.

Discipline and adherence to moral values require sustained practice and often involve personal hardship, he said.

While India believes in humanity, others believe in the struggle for existence and survival of the fittest, he said, reiterating that the world needs harmony, not conflict

Indian-flagged tanker ‘Jag Laadki’, carrying around 80,886 metric tonnes (MT) of crude oil, arrived at Mundra Port in Gujarat on Wednesday amid the West Asia conflict, officials said.

A day earlier, LPG carrier ‘Nanda Devi’ arrived at Vadinar port in Gujarat’s Devbhumi Dwarka district, carrying 46,500 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) navigating through the Strait of Hormuz. On Monday, another vessel – ‘Shivalik’ – carrying LPG docked at Mundra Port.

Adani Ports, which operates Mundra Port, said in a statement that the crude oil carried by Jag Laadki was sourced from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and loaded at Fujairah Port there.

“Measuring 274.19 metres in length overall and 50.04 metres in beam, the tanker boasts a deadweight tonnage of approximately 164,716 tonnes and a gross tonnage of about 84,735 tonnes,” it said.

The tanker’s arrival at the Mundra Port underscores the facility’s critical role in handling substantial crude imports, it said.

“This delivery supports major refinery relies on such shipments to maintain operations and bolster India’s energy security during supply disruptions in the region,” Adani Ports added.

The port provided the safe berthing of the vessel and maritime coordination in safeguarding vital energy lifelines of India, it said.

Fujairah Port in UAE faced drone and missile attacks during the ongoing Israel-US and Iran war.

India imports about 88 per cent of its crude oil, 50 per cent of natural gas and 60 per cent of LPG needs. Before the US-Israel strikes on Iran on February 28 and Tehran’s retaliation, more than half of India’s crude imports, about 30 per cent of gas and 85-90 per cent of LPG imports came from Middle East countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The conflict has led to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the main transit route for Gulf energy supplies. While India has partly offset crude supply disruptions by sourcing oil from countries including Russia, gas supplies have been curtailed to industrial users and LPG availability to commercial establishments such as hotels and restaurants has been reduced. (Agencies)