Some of the talented Agniveers, who are trained as a part of their induction into the armed forces, can get very good remuneration, Krystal Integrated Services' chief executive Sanjay Dighe told PTI.

 Firms like Krystal can be a "good bridge" between the exiting Agniveers and the corporate sector looking for right candidates to protect premises in which high amounts have been invested, he said. Stating that the Agniveers will be gainfully employed if they transition into the private sector, Dighe said there is high demand for such talent and added, "They do not have to sit idle even for a week." 

 Moreover, the Agniveers will also be able to get other advantages like being with families and may not be migrating anywhere at all, the CEO of the company, promoted by BJP leader Prasad Lad, said. 

 The company, which started as a security provider at office and residential complexes 24 years ago, currently employs over 5,800 security personnel, Dighe said, adding that the number could be higher because in some cases a facility manager also double up as a security person. 

 Dighe said the company has hired a senior army officer with an experience of handling the Agniveers scheme during his stint with the Indian Army. Seeking to convey career opportunities, Dighe said that in some cases, security guards working for the company earn better than back office personnel working for call centres. 

 Dighe said the company is aiming to accelerate its revenue growth to up to 30 per cent per year between FY25-FY28, up from the 23 per cent that it has had in the last three years. It will focus on using more technology in its processes, and newer areas like waste and sewerage management in cities, he said. With the apex court judgement speaking out against manual scavenging, there is more need to use technology and automation in getting the same work done, which can be a good business opportunity, he said.

 On May 19, two IT professionals were killed in Kalyani Nagar area here after their motorcycle was hit by a speeding Porsche car allegedly driven by the minor in an inebriated condition. 

The case caused a national uproar after JJB member L N Danwade granted bail to the accused on very lenient terms, including writing a 300-word essay on road safety. 

 Later, a committee was formed by the Women and Child Development (WCD) Department of the Maharashtra government to probe the conduct of two JJB members in connection with the bail given to the minor accused. In its report, the panel talked about the "procedural lapses", "misconduct" and "non-compliance of norms" of the JJB members. 

 As part of its probe, the committee appointed by the WCD department had recorded the statement of the two JJB members. "In its report, the committee recommended action against the two JJB members for the procedural lapses. 

Based on the report findings, they (JJB members) were issued a show-cause notice which sought their replies. But as their replies were not satisfactory, we wrote to the state government and proposed a disciplinary action against both the members," a WCD official requesting anonymity said. Earlier this month, the 17-year-old minor accused submitted a 300-word essay on road safety complying with the bail conditions of the JJB. PTI

 The ten Indian K9 (canine) teams will undertake sniffing and patrolling duties at various venues that will hold events for the Paris Olympics. They have been given a special 10-week training for this first-ever kind of collaboration of canine squads between the Indian and the French government, a security officer told PTI. 

 The teams along with their handlers are drawn from the central armed police forces (CAPFs) like the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) force apart from the federal contingency commando force National Security Guard (NSG) and the Assam Rifles. 

 The dogs are from the ferocious-looking Belgian Malinois breed which undertake infantry patrol and anti-sabotage sniffer tasks to detect bombs, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and trouble makers in various internal security theatres of the country like anti-Naxal operations and counter-terrorist operations, he said.

 After Khedkar's case of misusing power and privileges came to fore, social media is abuzz with claims and counter-claims on use of fake certificates by serving Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) officers among others.

 Social media users have shared names, pictures and other details of a few IAS and IPS officers, claiming they used bogus certificates to claim benefits available for those belonging to Other Backward Class (non-creamy layer) and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). 

 "This is a serious malaise in the system. Anyone found doing this has not only deprived a deserving candidate, but engaged in a willing criminal conspiracy. They are not juvenile delinquents to be let off with a warning," Chopra told PTI.

 He said apart from dismissal and recovery of training costs and salary paid so far, "they must serve their sentence" so that a loud and clear signal is given to all concerned. 

"A deeper investigation into whoever helped them in the process should be undertaken and all those involved in this subterfuge should be punished as per the provisions of law," said Chopra, a 1985 batch IAS (retired) officer of the West Bengal cadre. 

 He served as the Director of Mussoorie-based Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) from January 1, 2019 and March 31, 2021. Claiming that certain EWS and OBC category candidates could not secure selection despite getting good ranks in the civil services examination, certain social media users have also raised questions over the verification process being followed for checking the authenticity of reservation and disability quotas. 

 The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the civil services examination annually in three stages-- preliminary, main and interview -- to select officers of the IAS, Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and IPS among others. 

 Chopra also suggested use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) besides tougher checks while issuing OBC and disability quota certificates among others. To a question involving Khedkar, who is accused of manipulating disability and OBC certificates, Chopra said the Centre's single-member fact finding committee should look deeper into the whole matter. 

 "There are three aspects to this whole issue. The issue of misconduct by her during her training-cum-attachment in Pune is being dealt with by the state government concerned. She has been transferred from there. Though the transfer is not a punishment, her alleged conduct is being looked into," Chopra said.

Pic: President Droupadi Murmu confers the Shaurya Chakra upon Major Mustafa Bohara, 252 Army Aviation Squadron, posthumously. It was recieved by Major Mustafa's mother Fatema Bohara and father Zakiuddin Bohara.

 According to police, the victims hailing from Pudukottai district were proceeding to Samayapuram Mariamman temple when the accident took place. The van heading to Tiruchirappalli mowed them down at Valambakudi village, 30 km from Thanjavur, early this morning. 

 One woman who sustained injuries has been admitted to Thanjavur government medical college hospital. A case was registered and investigation is on, they said. 

Expressing grief over the incident, Chief Minister M K Stalin also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the victims. In a statement, he also announced Rs one lakh to the woman undergoing treatment. PTI

IAS Puja Khedkar, who secured an All India rank of 821 in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams, has been allegedly abused for abusing her authority.

The complaint against her father, Dilip Khedkar, was made a few months ago.After Puja Khedkar's issue has come to the fore, the complainant has approached Pune ACB again. Action has been initiated on the complaint.

ACB SP Atul Tambe said that a detailed report of the investigation has been drafted and has been sent to the HQ for further action. He said that the name of the complainant cannot be disclosed as it is confidential.

"There was a complaint against Dilip Khedkar with ACB a few months ago. We have drafted a detailed report of our investigation and complaint. It has been sent to the HQ for further action. The name of the complainant cannot be disclosed as it is confidential," Tambe said.

Earlier, Pune RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar raised questions about Khedkar's appointment, alleging that she did not fall under the OBC non-creamy layer as her father had assets worth Rs 40 crore.

"As per the rules, only those who come under the OBC non-creme layer category whose parents are under Rs 8 lakh per annum of income, but their income shows that it is Rs 40 crore. Her parents contested the recent Lok Sabha polls and all the property details are there in the affidavit," he said.

Kumbar also claimed that based on the election affidavits filed by Dilip Khedkar in the Lok Sabha elections, the total assets amount to Rs 40 crore.

 "Her father, Dilip Khedkar, in his Lok Sabha polls affidavit showed a conservative estimated wealth of Rs 40 crores and an annual income of Rs 49 lakh. The information is in the public domain. Based on the election affidavit filed by her father in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the total assets of Khedkar's father amount to Rs. 40 crore," he claimed.

 "The Congress party has been constantly raising the issue that the gap between the rich and the poor is increasing in the country," he said. Citing the media report, Ramesh pointed out that the monthly consumption expenditure of the poorest 5 per cent of the country's population in rural areas is just Rs 1,373, while the monthly consumption expenditure of the top 5 per cent rich in urban areas is Rs 20,824. "This is new data. But no matter what data you look at, all show evidence of a growing gap between the rich and the poor," Ramesh said in a post in Hindi on X. 

 He claimed that more than 40 per cent of the wealth created in the country from 2012 to 2021 has gone to just 1 per cent of the population. "About 64 per cent of the total Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the country comes from the poor, lower middle class and middle class," he said. 

 "Over the past ten years, most of the public assets and resources have been sold to one or two companies economists have pointed out that growing monopolies in the economy have led to inflation," Ramesh said. 

"Today, 21 billionaires together have more wealth than 70 crore Indians," he claimed. The Congress has been attacking the government over issues such as rising inequalities, inflation and unemployment, alleging that its policies are responsible for it. PTI

 He gave this information in a post on X. Mumbai Metro Line 3, also known as Mumbai Metro Aqua Line or Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Line, is a 33.5 km underground route that will connect south Mumbai to the city's western suburbs and is expected to reduce the burden on the suburban locals. 

"Mumbai's first underground metro (Aqua Line) is starting from July 24, which will give new impetus to the speed of the city," Tawde said in his post. Last month, Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) successfully completed the trials of rolling stock for the underground Mumbai Metro Line 3.

 In his post, Tawde also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given a guarantee to make the life of Mumbaikars easier and this is going to be fulfilled through the Metro Line 3. 

Ashwini Bhide, managing director of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL), a joint venture between the Union government and the Maharashtra government, could not be reached for her comment, and a spokesperson of the MMRCL did not respond to the calls. 

The Metro Line 3 project is funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the total project cost, revised to Rs 37,276 crore as approved by the Union government in February this year, includes a JICA loan of Rs 21,280 crore. PTI

Chidambaram shot to nationwide fame after Manjummel Boys, mounted on a reported budget of Rs 20 crore, became the first Malayalam film to cross the Rs 200 crore-mark at the box office and also emerged as one of the highest grossing Indian films of 2024. 

Srishti Behl, Phantom Studios CEO, said they are delighted to have Chidambaram on board. 

Chidambaram, who made his debut with the 2021 Malayalam movie Jan.E.Man, said he is excited to take a step forward into Hindi mainstream cinema. 

"Although Manjummel Boys will always remain special, I am honoured and excited to collaborate with Phantom Studios for my first Hindi feature film. It's an opportunity to explore new narratives and reach out to a wider audience, while staying true to the essence of storytelling that defines my work," the filmmaker added. 

Details about his Hindi directorial debut are scarce. 

Based on a true incident and produced by Parava Films, Manjummel Boys revolves around a group of friends from a small town called Manjummel near Kochi who decide to have a vacation in Kodaikanal. 

The film hit the theatres on February 22 in Kerala and Tamil Nadu and received widespread acclaim from audience and critics. It is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

 According to it, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members and others it interacted with said they did not approve of the party's move of joining hands with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). It added that the unrest among the party cadre was just the "tip of the iceberg".

 It also said that coordination and the importance given to party workers in decision-making and governance helped the BJP sweep the Lok Sabha polls in Madhya Pradesh. In the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP's seat tally in Maharashtra came down to nine from 23. 

Its ally Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena won seven seats, while another Mahayuti constituent - Ajit Pawar's NCP could just bag one. The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP) and Congress, performed better by together winning 30 out of the 48 seats. 

The weekly, Vivek, linked to the BJP's ideological fountainhead Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has published an article based on an informal survey of over 200 people from Mumbai, Konkan, and western Maharashtra. 

It states the reasons behind the BJP's loss in the Lok Sabha elections. "Almost every person who is either in the BJP or affiliated to organisations (Sangh Parivar) cited that he does not approve of BJP allying with the NCP (led by Ajit Pawar). Before writing this piece, we interacted with more than 200 industrialists, traders, doctors, professors and teachers. The unrest among the party cadre because the BJP allied with the NCP is the tip of the iceberg," it said. 

The BJP's alliance with Shiv Sena was always perceived as natural because of the common thread of Hindutva, irrespective of some minor complaints against each other. 

People accepted the then MVA minister Eknath Shinde's rebellion against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, which brought down the government. The BJP later supported Shinde, and the MLAs backed him in forming the government, making him the state chief minister, the article said.

 The heavy rains caused landslides, property damage, water logging of roads and flooding of acres of farmland with the Central Water Commission (CWC) issuing a warning about a dangerous rise in levels of various rivers in the southern state. 

 The IMD sounded orange alerts in Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts for the day. It also issued a yellow alert in the remaining six districts of the state for the day.

At Sharad Pawar's residence in Pune, the former NCP's Pimpri-Chinchwad unit chief, Ajit Gavhane, was among the leaders who joined his faction.

Three other senior leaders of the NCP's Pimpri-Chinchwad unit--Rahul Bhosale, Pankaj Bhalekar, and Yash Sane--who quit the party on Tuesday also joined the founder's camp.

In reaction to this, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) working president Supriya Sule said that Sharad Pawar has been working for development in Maharashtra and at the Centre for the last 60 years, and even people from the opposition look at him with great hope.

"I think many people in the party have different experiences. We have always ensured that our ideology of development remains strong. Pawar sahab (Sharad Pawar) has been continuously working for development in Maharashtra and at the Centre for the last 60 years. 

"We have faith in Pawar sahab's ideology, and at the same time, many people in the opposition also look towards him with great hopes, which is why people are joining him," Sule said, speaking to ANI on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Ajit Gavhane said that he, along with some other party workers who have also resigned from their posts, will be seeking blessings from NCP founder Sharad Pawar.

"I resigned yesterday, and today all the ex-corporators will be holding a meeting and strategizing our next moves. We will also take the blessing of Sharad Pawar," Gavhane said, speaking to ANI on Wednesday.

The Nationalist Congress Party split last year when Ajit Pawar led some MLAs and joined the ruling Eknath Shinde Sena and BJP government.

Gavhane claimed that the development work done by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation was different from that done by both Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar.

"If you look at Pimpri-Chinchwad, both Ajit dada and Pawar sahab had contributed to its development. But since 2017, the Bharatiya Janata Party has been ruling PPMC (Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation). The development work here was done in the wrong way, especially if you look at other constituencies. There was rampant corruption here, and the sitting MLA is responsible for it," Gavhane said.

 The incident took place on Tuesday morning and the situation was later brought under control, an official from Sahar police station said. With their applications and documents in hand, the jobseekers assembled at gate no. 5 near the Sahar cargo complex after they came to know about the vacancy for the loader's post at the airport, he said. 

 As the situation went out of hand, the applicants were asked to submit their resumes, applications and other documents and then leave the spot. Later, the airport authorities decided to call 200 applicants for interview, the official said. 

 All the applicants were freshers and most of them had just passed Class 12. "No untoward incident was reported and the situation was later brought under control," the official said. PTI

These cars were attached and in possession of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in a money laundering case linked to the Rs 200 crores extortion case.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma in a recent judgement dismissed the petition moved by Leena Maria Paulose, wife of Sukesh challenging the order permitting the sale of the cars.

The High Court has directed the ED to keep the entire amount generated from the sale of the cars in question in an 'interest bearing' fixed deposit.

"Vehicles are inherently subject to natural decay and depreciation over a period of time, which significantly impacts their value and functionality. With the passage of time, vehicles undergo wear and tear," Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma said.

"Further, storing a vehicle in a container warehouse, as in the present case, for a long period of time results in decay since if a car is left stationary for years, several issues can compromise its condition. Environmental factors such as weather conditions also contribute to this decay, causing issues such as rust and corrosion," the High Court said in a judgement passed on July 12.

"Rust, in particular, can severely damage a vehicle's structure and all other components," Justice Sharma said.

The bench said that the mechanical components of a vehicle also suffer from decay, requiring frequent and expensive maintenance to keep the vehicle operational, especially in the present case, where the vehicles involved are 26 high-end luxury cars such as Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Range Rover, etc.

The upkeep and maintenance of the same is also expensive. In container warehouses, the care and protection cars require, from environmental onslaughts and decay due to rusting, cannot be ensured, the bench added.

The depreciation of vehicles is also a well-recognized phenomenon in the automobile industry. From the moment a car is driven out of the showroom, its value begins to decrease. This depreciation accelerates with each passing year, and the resale value drops substantially. After some years, most vehicles lose a significant part of their original value, making them less economically viable to maintain or sell.

The High Court said that therefore, there is no merit in the argument that the sale of seized vehicles in this case is against the mandate of Section 8(6) of PMLA. Needless to say, as per Section 8(6), if the accused persons, in this case, are found not guilty of the offence of money laundering, they would be entitled to receive the amount generated from selling the movable property i.e. cars in the present case, which the Directorate of Enforcement is obliged to keep deposited in the nearest Government Treasury or branch of the State Bank of India or its subsidiaries or in any nationalised bank in fixed deposit.

The incident occurred on Tuesday night when the boy came out of his house and a dog dragged him to some distance and later some strays bit him resulting in injuries, they said. The boy was initially rushed to a private hospital and from there referred to a state-run hospital where he died last night, a police official at Jawahar Nagar police station said. 

 Based on a complaint from the boy's parents a case was registered. The family hails from Siddipet district and had shifted to Jawahar Nagar two months ago. PTI

The Indian warship was carrying out operational turnaround in the area from where it was directed on July 15 to carry out search and rescue missions. 

The warship had located the capsizing oil tanker on July 16 morning, say Defence Sources.

Thirteen Indians are among the 16-member crew of a Comoros-flagged oil tanker that went missing after it capsized off the coast of Oman, the country's maritime authority said.

 Speaking exclusively to ANI, Ajay said that Swami Avimukteshwaranand's statements regarding the disappearance of gold in Kedarnath Dham are very unfortunate. He urged the Shankaracharya to present the facts. 

 "The statement made by Swami Avimukteshwaranand regarding the disappearance of gold in Kedarnath Dham is very unfortunate, and I would like to request him, and also challenge him, to bring out the facts," Ajay said. 

 Ajendra Ajay added that instead of making statements, Swami Avimukteshwaranand should approach the competent authority and demand an inquiry, or he can go to the Supreme Court or High Court and file a petition if he has evidence. 

 "He should go before the competent authority and demand an inquiry, and if he doesn't trust them, he should go to the Supreme Court or High Court, file a petition, and ask for an inquiry if he has evidence," Ajay stated. 

 The Temple Committee Chairman further mentioned that the Shankaracharya doesn't have the right to harm the dignity of Kedarnath Dham. He suggested that if Swami Avimukteshwaranand is acting to further a political agenda, it is very unfortunate.

 "He doesn't have the right to hurt the dignity of Kedarnath Dham or create controversy over it. If he is doing this just to protest, create controversies, and further the agenda of Congress, it is very unfortunate," Ajay added. 

 On Monday, July 15, Swami Avimukteshwaranand alleged that 228 kg of gold was missing from Kedarnath.

 "There is a gold scam in Kedarnath; why is that issue not raised? After doing a scam there, now Kedarnath will be built in Delhi? And then there will be another scam. 228 kg of gold is missing from Kedarnath; no inquiry has started. Who is responsible for this?" Swami Avimukteshwaranand said. 

The Shankaracharya further claimed that demands for an investigation into this issue had been raised with the Commissioner, but he didn't investigate the case properly. -- ANI

 The 50-year-old man was booked for the offence of insulting the modesty of a woman by word or gesture under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), an officer of Bekal police station said. 

 "The offence is bailable. He was arrested on Tuesday and released on station bail," the officer said.

 The man was arrested and booked based on a complaint by a woman travelling on the same bus. The woman told media that she was travelling on the bus with her daughter when the man, sitting in a nearby seat began exhibiting his private parts. She claimed that when the man saw that they had noticed what he was doing, even then he did not stop. She also recorded a video of the incident which was subsequently aired on TV channels. 

 This is not the first such incident in the state. Similar incidents of men exhibiting nudity in buses were reported from the state last year. PTI

 In the video Gandhi shared on Tuesday evening, several people were seen purportedly sharing their day-to-day struggles. They spoke about inflation and poverty and how things were better during the earlier Congress regime. 

 The Congress MP said that everyone in the country has to bear the brunt of inflation, unemployment and the government's negligent approach. 

 "Today in India, everyone from daily wage labourers to government employees are in dire straits--some due to inflation, unemployment, and some due to government negligence," Rahul Gandhi said. 

 Assuring people that he will raise their issues in Parliament as well as during protests, Rahul Gandhi said, "I will raise my voice for everyone's rights and provide justice--from the streets to the Parliament." 

 Earlier this month, Rahul Gandhi attacked the BJP-led central government after meeting railway loco pilots at New Delhi Railway Station who complained about "long working hours" and "inadequate facilities" during duty. Criticising PM Modi, Gandhi asserted that the life of loco pilots had completely "derailed" under BJP's regime and called them "Railways Ka Agniveer". 

On Sunday, he also posted a message along with a video on his social media handle X where he was spotted interacting with railway functionaries. In the post, he wrote that the loco pilots are forced to work more than 14 hours a day and are deprived of small basic necessities like urinals in a locomotive. He conveyed that loco pilots have to work in harsh conditions. 

 Furthermore, Gandhi claimed that the "non-movement" workers of Railways are getting whole benefits from the allocated budget to Railways. As seen in a video earlier, the loco pilots alleged that their human rights were being violated and they demanded a normal 8-9 hours working shift instead of 16 hours shift, fulfilment of basic facilities like urinal and AC in locomotives and only two-night shifts in consecutive order.

 Haley, 52, unsuccessfully challenged Trump, 78, for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination and spent months sparring with the former president. 

 But last week, she instructed her 97 delegates to vote for Trump at the convention as she called for unity in the party. "I'll start by making one thing perfectly clear. Donald Trump has my strong endorsement," Haley said in her address to the Republican National Convention here in this city which is hosting the once-in-four-year convention which has nominated Trump as its presidential candidate. 

Trump will deliver his acceptance speech on Thursday. Haley, who was the only Republican leader to have seriously challenged Trump during the primaries, told thousands of delegates and party leaders that Trump is the best bet for the country and that the Republicans are united to defeat incumbent President Joe Biden. 

"Let us join together as a party. Let us come together as a people -- as one country strong and proud. Let us show our children and the world that even on our worst day, we are blessed to live in America," said the former South Carolina governor and the US Ambassador to the United Nations. 

Haley used her speech to defend the former president's foreign policy record and speak directly to voters who disagree with him on certain issues. "There are some Americans who don't agree with Donald Trump 100% of the time, she said. My message to them is simple: You don't have to agree with Trump 100% of the time to vote for him. Our country is at a critical moment. We have a choice to make. For more than a year, I said a vote for Joe Biden is a vote for President Kamala Harris. After seeing the debate, everyone knows it's true," Haley said. "If we have four more years of Biden . . . or a single day of Harris . . . our country will be badly worse off. For the sake of our nation, we have to go with Donald Trump," Haley said. 

 Trump was present at the convention centre when she spoke. Trump and his running mate Senator J D Vance gave a standing ovation to Haley when she started her speech and endorsed him. "Our foreign enemies win when they see Americans hate each other. They see that today, whether it's on college campuses or in a field in Butler, Pennsylvania. But we can conquer those fears with strength and unity," she said. 

Taking to his X handle, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Tuesday that he is moving the headquarters of both SpaceX and the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to Texas, citing several criticisms he has of California and doing business in San Francisco, Los Angeles Times reported.

Pointing to a new state law that bans teachers from telling families about student gender identity changes, Musk tweeted that he is moving the headquarters of SpaceX from Hawthorne to the company's launch test site in Texas.

The move would be a blow to Southern California, where SpaceX has helped to anchor a burgeoning space economy.

'This is the final straw,' posted Musk shortly after noon. 'Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies, SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas.'

The law the SpaceX founder cited was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday after a contentious battle between conservative school boards concerned about parental rights and LGBTQ+ activists worried about vulnerable youths.

Shortly after his post about moving SpaceX, Musk posted that he would also move X, formerly known as Twitter, from San Francisco to Austin, saying that he has 'had enough of dodging gangs of violent drug addicts just to get in and out of the building'.

The announcement is the latest salvo in Musk's long-running feud with California and comes nearly three years after he announced the move of Tesla's headquarters to Austin from Palo Alto, citing the high cost of housing and long commutes for employees.   -- ANI

The body of former Sikkim minister R C Poudyal was found in a canal near Siliguri in West Bengal nine days after he went missing, police said on Wednesday.

The body of Poudyal, 80, was found floating in the Teesta Canal at Fulbari on Tuesday, they said.

"Prima facie, it is suspected that the body might have been brought down by the Teesta river from upstream. The identification was made through the watch and the clothes he was wearing," a police officer said.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted to search for the veteran politician after he went missing on July 7 from his hometown of Chota Singtam in Pakyong district, police said.

"The investigation into the death will continue," the officer said.

Poudyal was the deputy speaker in the first Sikkim assembly and later became the state's forest minister.

He was considered a pivotal figure in the Himalayan state's political landscape during the late '70s and '80s, founding the Rising Sun Party.

He was also known for his profound understanding of Sikkim's cultural and social dynamics.

"I am deeply saddened by the sudden demise of the Late Shri RC Poudyal Jyu, a statesman and distinguished senior political leader who had served the Sikkim Government in various capacities, including as a minister, and was the leader of the Jhulke Gham Party," Chief Minister P S Tamang said.   -- PTI

Security forces and terrorists exchanged fire twice briefly within a span of four hours in a forest area in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district, officials said on Wednesday.

They said the firing was first reported at Kalaan Bhata at 10.45 pm on Tuesday and then near Panchan Bhata at 2 am during the ongoing anti-terrorist operation in the Desa forest area, where four Army personnel were killed in the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.

There are no reports of any casualties in the latest exchanges of fire.

Taking advantage of the darkness, difficult terrain and thick foliage, the terrorists managed to slip away, the officials said.

Troops of Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police had launched a joint cordon and search operation at Dhari Gote Urarbagi in the Desa forest belt, some 55 km from Doda town, late on Monday evening following information about the presence of terrorists.

Despite the challenging terrain and weather conditions, efforts are underway to track down and neutralise the militants who have links with the banned Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), the officials said.

The Army, along with para commandos and aerial support from drones and helicopters, is intensifying its search operation to eliminate the terrorists who have infiltrated from across the border and taken refuge in the forest area.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Army had said it had been conducting a series of joint and coordinated operations with the Jammu and Kashmir Police to eliminate foreign terrorists who had infiltrated from across the border and were moving in the upper reaches of Udhampur, Doda and Kishtwar districts in the Jammu region and thereafter to Kashmir.

'All formations of the Northern Command are committed to eliminating the scourge of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir for which the relentless operations will continue,' the Army had said.   -- PTI

Around 100 people who were allegedly not allowed to vote by Trinamool Congress workers in the recent elections in West Bengal met Governor C V Ananda Bose.

Led by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, they alleged that they were not allowed to vote during the by-elections and also during the Lok Sabha polls.

Bose interacted with them during the meeting on Tuesday and assured them of looking into the matter.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Bose at the Raj Bhavan, Adhikari said he would seek an appointment with President Draupadi Murmu and take these voters to her so that they can narrate about the 'atrocities they have been going through'.

"The president is the constitutional head of the country and should know what is going on in West Bengal. This cannot be allowed to continue. I will seek an appointment with her and take five of these people to meet her," he said.   -- PTI

The United States had received intelligence from a human source about an Iranian plot to kill Donald Trump weeks before the assassination attempt against the former US President on Saturday, according to national security officials.

This led to increased security measures for Trump.

Officials, however, said that there is no known connection between this Iranian plot and the 20-year-old who attempted to assassinate Trump on Saturday.

The US Secret Service and the Trump campaign were notified of the Iranian threat, and security was boosted as a result, as confirmed by a US national security official.

Trump and his former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, have faced threats from Tehran since the 2020 drone strike that killed Qassim Soleimani, the leader of Iran's Quds force, in Iraq.

Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the US Secret Service, said that it and other agencies were 'constantly receiving new potential threat information and taking action to adjust resources as needed'.

He added, "We cannot comment on any specific threat stream, other than to say that the Secret Service takes threats seriously and responds accordingly."

Adrienne Watson, a spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, said that US security officials had been 'tracking Iranian threats against former Trump administration officials for years'.

The Iranian mission at the United Nations dismissed the report as 'unsubstantiated and malicious', adding that Trump 'is a criminal who must be prosecuted and punished in a court of law'.   -- ANI

Of the 16 crew members on board, 13 were Indians and the other three were Sri Lankans. 

A massive search and rescue operation has been launched.

An Indian national was killed and another injured in a shooting incident at a mosque in Muscat city in Oman on Monday, according to a statement released by the Indian Embassy on Tuesday.

The Indian Embassy offered its condolences and all assistance to the families.

In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Muscat said, 'Following the shooting incident reported in Muscat city on 15 July, Foreign Ministry of Sultanate of Oman has informed that one Indian national has lost his life and another is injured. Embassy offers its sincere condolences and stands ready to offer all assistance to the families.'

At least six people have been killed and 28 others wounded in a shooting at a mosque in Oman in a rare act of violence in the Gulf nation, Al Jazeera reported.

The attack late on Monday took place in Wadi al-Kabir, a district east of the capital city Muscat, during a major religious event for Shia Muslims.

Video from the scene shows people fleeing near the Imam Ali Mosque, its minaret visible, as gunfire rings out, followed by a voice saying, "Oh God!"

Four Pakistanis and a policeman were among those killed and at least 28 other people were wounded, Pakistani and Omani authorities said, as per Al Jazeera.

Omani police said in a statement on Tuesday that three gunmen behind the attack were killed and police officers have 'concluded the procedures for dealing with the shooting', it said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

The US Embassy in Muscat issued a security alert following the shooting. 

'US citizens should remain vigilant, monitor local news, and heed the directions of local authorities,' the embassy wrote on X.

Such an attack is rare in Oman, a frequent regional mediator with a low crime rate. It comes during the Muslim day of Ashura, when Shia Muslims commemorate the seventh-century battlefield martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Muhammad.

Many Shia mark Ashura by performing a pilgrimage to Imam Hussein's shrine in the Iraqi city of Karbala.

Sunni Muslims commemorate the day through fasting.   -- ANI