New Delhi, June 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday lauded the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) for conducting the successful flight tests of RudraM-II Air-to-Surface Missile from an airborne platform.

Source: IANS

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Ahmedabad, June 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Investigators probing one of India’s largest recent maritime cocaine seizures have uncovered concealed electronic tracking devices embedded within the narcotics consignment, a development that Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) officials say points to the involvement of a sophisticated international drug trafficking network.

The latest breakthrough came during the sampling and seizure process of the cocaine under Section 52A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in the presence of a judicial magistrate.

According to ATS officials, four Apple AirTags and two Garmin GPS devices were found hidden inside the brick-shaped packets of cocaine.

Investigators believe the devices were used by the supplier to monitor the consignment's movement during its journey.

The discovery forms part of the ongoing investigation, which relates to the seizure of nearly 119 kg of cocaine off the Mundra coast in Gujarat’s Kutch district.

The seizure originated from a joint operation carried out by the Gujarat ATS and the Indian Coast Guard in the early hours of May 26.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the agencies intercepted suspicious activity involving the cargo vessel 'MV Europe' near Mundra’s outer anchorage area. During the operation, several bags were allegedly thrown overboard from the vessel.

Five floating bags were subsequently recovered and found to contain 115 packets of cocaine weighing approximately 118.977 kg.

The contraband has been valued at around Rs 1,150 crore in the international market. Investigators have alleged that the cocaine originated in Brazil and was being transported through international maritime routes before reaching Indian waters.

ATS officials have previously stated that intelligence suggested approximately 150 kg of cocaine had been concealed aboard the vessel and was to be transferred off the Gujarat coast.

According to the ATS, Tanzanian national Juma Nasir Omar, a crew member aboard the vessel, was arrested during the operation.

During questioning, he allegedly told investigators that the cocaine had been hidden in the ship’s motor room in November 2025 on the instructions of handlers linked to an international trafficking network.

Another Tanzanian crew member, Ngingite Nassoro Jumanne, allegedly jumped into the sea during the operation and remains untraced.

The ATS has also detained two suspected receivers of the consignment from Delhi with the assistance of local police. Investigators are examining the role of all the accused and their alleged links to international narcotics syndicates.

Officials said forensic analysis of the recovered AirTags and GPS devices is underway.

Data extracted from the trackers is expected to assist investigators in reconstructing the shipment's route, identifying locations where it was handled, and uncovering additional individuals involved in the trafficking chain. The investigation remains ongoing.

Source: IANS

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Gandhinagar, June 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Gujarat Police on Tuesday established a Public Relations Centre at Police Bhavan in Gandhinagar to provide a single-window mechanism for citizens seeking redressal of complaints and representations, with officials saying the initiative is aimed at improving transparency, accountability and public trust in the police system.

The centre was launched under the guidance of Director General of Police (DGP) K. L. N. Rao and is tasked with receiving complaints, applications and public grievances, coordinating with police units across the state and ensuring that matters are addressed within a defined timeframe.

Rao visited the facility to review its functioning and said the initiative was intended to strengthen the connection between citizens and the police administration.

“The Public Relations Office is not merely a centre for receiving citizens’ applications. It is an effective medium for reflecting the Gujarat Police’s spirit of ‘Security, Service and Trust’. Our priority is that every ordinary and poor person who walks up the steps of this office should return with hope and satisfaction of justice,” he said.

He added that district-level police authorities had been instructed to accord priority to applications received through the Public Relations Office and work towards their swift resolution.

According to officials, the centre was introduced to address a common problem faced by citizens who previously had to visit multiple offices to pursue their grievances.

Under the new system, all complaints are channelled through a single point of contact and processed in a structured manner. The procedure begins with the registration of visitors’ details at the reception desk.

Citizens are provided with an environment designed to facilitate a comfortable and stress-free hearing of their concerns. Senior officers then meet applicants in person, listen to their representations and record the details of their cases.

All complaints and representations received through the centre are formally registered and forwarded to the relevant district or city police unit, or to the concerned branch, for appropriate action.

Field units are required to submit reports within a stipulated period, following which the matter is examined and placed before senior officers for further review and decision-making.

The centre also operates a two-tier feedback mechanism. Detailed feedback forms are collected both at the office and district levels to assess service delivery, while applicants are contacted by telephone and informed about developments in their cases.

Officials said that since operations began in February, most of the complaints received by the centre have been resolved promptly and accurately.

One case highlighted by the department involved Bhavnagar resident Jigarbhai Bhatt, who approached the Office seeking assistance.

Following prompt follow-up by the office and support from Police Inspector Palak Patel and Police Sub-Inspector M. J. Patel, the applicant was facilitated a meeting with IPS officer Amita Vanani.

The accused in the case was subsequently arrested, and the grievance was resolved.

Another applicant, Nareshbhai Dulera from Sanand, described the service as “a ray of hope for justice for ordinary people” and called it “an excellent initiative launched in the public interest”.

Police officials said the Public Relations Centre is intended not only as a complaint-receiving facility but also as a mechanism to strengthen communication and trust between citizens and law enforcement authorities.

The initiative seeks to ensure that complaints are handled through a transparent process, while enabling applicants to track the progress of their cases and receive regular updates from the police administration.

Source: IANS

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Seoul, June 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) South Korea's National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac met with visiting US Under Secretary of State Allison Hooker on Tuesday, welcoming the launch of follow-up negotiations on an agreement reached by their countries' leaders last year.

"We hope that two days of productive talks will help accelerate progress on the matter," Cheong Wa Dae said in a press release.

"Both sides reaffirmed the ROK-US alliance as a central pillar of peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific, and pledged to maintain close dialogue and cooperation on regional developments, including on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East," it added, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The two are also believed to have discussed a range of pending issues, including Seoul's push to secure greater authority to enrich uranium, to reprocess spent nuclear fuel for peaceful uses, and to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

The talks could also cover the allies' plan to transfer wartime operational control of South Korean troops from Washington to Seoul.

Leading a US delegation, Hooker arrived in South Korea on Monday as the allies are set to begin follow-up talks on an agreement reached by President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in October on Seoul's plan to build nuclear-powered submarines.

The two sides are expected to discuss uranium reprocessing Wednesday.

Meanwhile, South Korea and the United States launched new high-profile talks on Tuesday to discuss the implementation of security agreements reached by their leaders, including Seoul's push to acquire nuclear-powered conventionally armed submarines.

The first day of the two-day inaugural talks focused on security-related provisions laid out in a bilateral joint fact sheet issued following a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump in October, according to the South Korean foreign ministry.

"The meeting carries significance in that long-delayed security consultations have finally begun and are back on track," foreign ministry spokesperson Park Il said at a press briefing.

"Cooperation and partnership between South Korea and the US in the nuclear sector will help deepen and broaden the bilateral alliance," he added, stressing the government's commitment to fully implementing the agreed-upon issues.

On the first day of the talks, the two sides reportedly focused on issues related to Seoul's push to build nuclear-powered submarines, which has been prohibited under a bilateral nuclear pact between Seoul and Washington.

On Wednesday, they are expected to focus their discussions on other security issues, such as Seoul's uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing capabilities, which are largely needed to supply fuel for its envisioned nuclear-powered submarines.

Other agenda items for the new security talks include the expansion of shipbuilding cooperation between South Korea and the US.

The joint fact sheet, published in November, outlines a range of commitments by both sides, including cooperation in the nuclear sector and other security-related issues, as well as Seoul's pledge to invest USD 350 billion in the US in exchange for a reduced US tariff rate.

First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo led the South Korean delegation, which included officials from the presidential office, as well as the defence, science and industry ministries.

The US delegation was led by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker and included Ivan Kanapathy, senior director for Asia at the National Security Council (NSC), Matthew Napoli, deputy administrator for defence nuclear nonproliferation at the National Nuclear Security Administration, and other officials from the Department of Energy and related agencies.

Source: IANS

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Jammu, June 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) A youth has been arrested from Jammu's Makwal village, near the International Border, for allegedly spying for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) after falling prey to a honeytrap.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Jammu, Joginder Singh, said that whether it is the Pakistan Army, ISI or the entire ecosystem, "their efforts have always been to disrupt peace in Jammu and Kashmir."

"They use social media and other tools to push our youths towards drugs; honey-trap and radicalise them," he told IANS.

He pointed out that boundaries between nations do not matter in the world of social media. "Therefore, the online platforms are an easy access (to influence the youth)," he said.

Singh added that some of the youth, even if their number is as low as 0.01 per cent, fall prey to such antics.

However, he said that security agencies are constantly monitoring such activities. "We are identifying them and keeping an eye on them. We trace them (influenced youths) and try to counsel them to mend their ways."

He added that further investigation is underway to identify the other people in the network.

The accused's mother said that though her son spent a lot of time on mobile phones, she did not know how he came under Pakistan's influence or how he allegedly passed sensitive information to them.

In a similar case, Punjab Police had arrested a man from Pathankot town on charges of spying for Pakistan-based handlers, officials said on May 22.

During questioning, the accused, Baljit Singh, revealed that the entire operation was being directed by a handler operating from Dubai. For espionage, he was given Rs 40,000.

This was the third trans-border espionage module busted by the police in less than a month.

Baljit Singh, a resident of Chakk Dhariwal village, had installed a CCTV camera at a shop located along the National Highway 44 to keep tabs on the movement of the army and paramilitary forces, and was transmitting the live feed to Pakistan-based handlers, a police official said.

During questioning, the accused confessed to the crime and said he installed an internet-based CCTV camera in January.

Source: IANS

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Srinagar, June 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Due to crucial runway maintenance and repair works, the Srinagar International Airport in Jammu and Kashmir will remain closed for flight operations for 15 days beginning October 1, officials said on Tuesday.

Since the suspension of flight operations from October 1 will coincide with the Durga Puja holidays, local tourism could suffer huge losses due to the closure of the international airport.

The Valley traditionally witnesses a massive influx of tourists from West Bengal during this period, and travel operators fear the closure will lead to widespread cancellations and heavy financial losses.

According to airport officials, a phased maintenance schedule will begin ahead of the total shutdown. Starting in July, airport operations will be closed for two days (Monday and Tuesday) every week.

This will culminate in the full 15-day closure from October 1 to October 15. The runway repairs are essential for operational safety, the officials said, adding that flight restrictions have already been in place since April 6 following a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Indian Air Force.

The ongoing engineering work has already drastically shrunk the airport’s operational window, and flights currently operate only between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., a significant reduction from the previous schedule of 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

With the October closure looming, hospitality and travel stakeholders are urging authorities to reconsider the timeline, saying that cutting off air connectivity during one of the busiest domestic tourism seasons of the year could devastate the local economy.

The Srinagar International Airport carries an average passenger traffic load of nearly 4,000 per day.

The majority of tourist arrivals presently take place through flight operations and through the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. Although train services are presently operational from the rest of the country to Jammu railway station and from Jammu railway station to the Valley, tourists are still not taking the railways to reach the Valley and prefer the air route.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) The decision by the ISI to pick up Shahzad Bhatti, once a social media influencer, was a strategic move. Bhatti runs a massive network online through which he recruits people mainly from India to be part of terror networks. Picking Bhatti was a well thought out move by the ISI.

Bhatti does not just handle operations for the ISI when it comes to carrying out terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and other parts of North India. He also oversees recruitments for the Khalistan movement in Punjab.

The Pakistani spy agency capitalised on his huge fan following on social media. Moreover, he is a master at his game and he knows how to manage propaganda and messaging online, owing to years of experience, an official said.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that Bhatti was a test case and it worked wonders for the ISI. Now the ISI is looking for such influencers from various parts of the world with the intention of targeting potential Indian recruits.

The experiment which the ISI tried in India to hire influencers worked briefly, but the operation failed. India undertook a massive drive to identify such ISI-funded influencers post 'Operation Sindoor'.

The likes of Jyoti Malhotra were among other influencers who were arrested during the drive carried out by the Indian agencies. Another official said that with the help of these social media stars, the ISI is not only looking to recruit people. The messaging is what the Pakistan spy agency is interested in.

This drive comes at a time when the Indian Intelligence agencies have warned about a big propaganda drive that is anti-India in nature, that Pakistan wants to undertake. The official added that the ISI has a special cell that handles such networks.

These centres operate from three locations in Pakistan. The ISI has set up a call centre in Jhelum which is not just used to honey trap Indians, but also to set up social media influencers by offering them huge sums of money.

The other centres are in Islamabad and Lahore. The main centre however is located in Karachi, where the ISI runs its Unit 412.

An official said that post 'Operation Sindoor', the Pakistanis are unwilling to take big risks. It has understood the importance of fake narratives and propaganda against the Indian state.

The aim is to spread false messages against India. The primary target, however, is the Union government and its policies. The other main target is the Indian armed forces, which executed 'Operation Sindoor' that resulted in not just a loss of face for Pakistan, but also the destruction of major terror infrastructure in the country.

The social media influencers are being targeted in many parts of the world. The modus operandi is to keep scanning for profiles that are pro-Pakistan and anti-India.

These persons tend to bite the bait sooner and with the lure of money and more followers, they are more than willing to undertake the task for the ISI, an official said.

The script that each of them is being provided is the one that Bhatti followed, post his recruitment by the ISI. He hails from Pakistan’s Punjab province and tells people he is a businessman, commentator on the social media and social worker.

In reality, Bhatti has been involved in cases of theft and rape. In 2015 he fled to Dubai and ventured into the dairy business. He was, however, picked by the ISI through one Farooq Khokar.

The ISI identified his social media skills and hence decided to rope him in. He began a channel online called ‘333.’ On this channel, he created videos on relations between India and Pakistan. He also would discuss religious issues on his channels.

He gained in popularity and to the outside world, he appeared to be just another influencer online. In reality, these channels were being used to spread anti-India propaganda and carry out large scale recruitments for terror groups.

Officials say that the idea is to identify vulnerable Indian youth through the social media. Conversations are initiated with these individuals through private chats, following which the recruitment takes place, the official said.

This is the same script that the ISI has been giving to potential influencer recruits. Officials warn that this network can get very big in the months to come as the ISI is using all its resources to setting up this module.

Influencers from across the world would be part of this network and the intention is to have a very large reach in India, the official also added.

Source: IANS

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Agartala, June 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Tripura on June 4-5 to assess the preparedness of the Border Security Force (BSF) and other agencies in dealing with a range of challenges along the India-Bangladesh border, officials said here on Tuesday.

A senior official said that after chairing the 73rd Plenary Session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in Meghalaya capital Shillong on June 4, HM Shah will arrive in Agartala on Thursday evening (June 4). “During his stay in Tripura, the Home Minister will hold a high-level meeting with officials of the BSF and other security agencies to review issues related to the India-Bangladesh border. Prior to the meeting, he will visit selected border locations in West Tripura district to personally assess the prevailing situation,” the official said.

During his visit to the Bangladesh frontier, HM Shah is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for certain infrastructure projects, participate in a tree plantation drive, and attend a Sainik Sammelan.

The Home Minister is also slated to lay the foundation stone and attend the Bhumi Pujan ceremony for a hotel project that will be developed jointly by the Tripura government and a private organisation.

The Tripura government, the BSF, and the West Tripura district administration are engaged in extensive preparations for the Home Minister’s two-day visit to the state.

Tripura, which shares an 856-km-long international border with Bangladesh and is surrounded on three sides by the neighbouring country, remains highly sensitive and vulnerable to issues such as illegal migration, cross-border smuggling, illicit trade, and other trans-border crimes. Except for around 21 km of difficult terrain, most of the international border has been fenced to curb smuggling, illegal infiltration, trans-border crimes, and the movement of other inimical elements.

A senior BSF official said that vigilance and domination along the International Border have been significantly intensified since unrest erupted in Bangladesh during June-July 2024, particularly following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government on August 5, 2024.

Meanwhile, while addressing the BSF Investiture Ceremony and Rustamji Memorial Lecture in New Delhi last month, HM Shah announced that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government would establish an impregnable border security grid over the next year under the ‘Smart Border Project’, incorporating drones, radars, advanced surveillance cameras, and other cutting-edge technologies.

He also emphasised that the governments of Tripura, Assam, and West Bengal are committed to preventing illegal infiltration and that the BSF must work in close coordination with the respective state governments to strengthen border management.

The Home Minister further directed BSF formations in Tripura, Assam, and West Bengal to coordinate closely with district administrations, police stations, panchayats, and revenue officials to effectively prevent infiltration and enhance border security.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Special Cell of the Delhi Police busted a major terror module being run by the Dawood Ibrahim syndicate. The terror module was planning on carrying out attacks in Delhi and Mumbai, said the police following the arrests of the eight people. During the questioning of the accused, one interesting point that came up is that Clifton Road in Karachi continues to remain a safe house of notorious underworld don, Dawood Ibrahim.

The accused told the police that they mainly interacted with a key aide of Dawood Ibrahim Muddasar Hussain Sayyed, alias Munna Jhingada.

An official said that the very fact that the operation was being handled from Clifton Road area makes it clear that Dawood Ibrahim is residing out there.

This is his most well-known address and the ISI keeps him there are it is his safest bet.

Dawood has many other addresses in Pakistan, but for major operations, he operates from Karachi as this is the safest place for him to be in Pakistan.

The official said that Dawood has five addresses, all in Karachi. While the main one is at Clifton, near the Saudi Mosque in Karachi, the others are the Defence Housing Authority, the Noorbad area and the 617 CP Berar Society. In fact he has two addresses in Clifton itself, the official explained.

Another official said the probe into the busting of the recent module reveals that all Dawood’s close aides reside around him. The drug operations or terror modules being set up are all monitored from the Clifton area, near the Saudi Mosque in Karachi, the official further explained.

Post 'Operation Sindoor', there were reports about Dawood Ibrahim being shifted out. An Intelligence Bureau official said that he was moved around the five addresses briefly to avoid being hit by the Indian armed forces.

However, once the heat was down, he was back at his Clifton address, the official added.

Officials also say that the location is strategic and also safe. It is the ISI's regional directorate in Karachi which oversees his protection.

Although the ISI’s national headquarter is based in Islamabad, Karachi houses a massive ISI Regional Directorate (Field Office).

The probe by the Delhi Police also revealed that several ISI officials were part of the planning. They would regularly meet with Jhingada and give him instructions on how to go about the attacks in India.

Investigators have found that the primary targets of the module were Delhi and Mumbai. They were planning on carrying out attacks in other cities depending on the success of the first wave of attacks, investigations have found.

Jhingada established the command centre near Dawood’s residence. This centre was being fully monitored by the ISI officials. They not only ensured that operations ran smoothly, but also heavily guarded the premises, an official said.

The accused persons said that Jhingada along with his associates monitored every aspect, right from recruitment to procurement of arms.

The Dawood Syndicate had earmarked Rs 20 lakh for the module after the successful completion of the project.

Officials say that they were not being treated as run of the mill terror operatives. This was more of a hit job that the ISI wanted to undertake and this explains why the agency wanted the underworld to be involved.

The probe further revealed that the ISI even ensured that the weapons reach India safely.

Jhingada, with the help of the ISI operatives, managed to drop off hand grenades in Gurdaspur Punjab.

The Delhi Police had seized a large cache of weapons and hand grenades during their operation. The idea was to hurl grenades at important locations, the probe found.

Such an operation is not only easy to execute, but it is also cost effective, an official said.

The accused persons had even asked about their exit plan once the attacks were executed. Jhingada assured them a safe passage into Nepal, following which they would be flown to Dubai.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, June 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) Amid several negativities tagged with them during the 15 years of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress regime in West Bengal from 2011 to 2026, Kolkata Police have started undergoing a series of reforms under the new Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP rule in the state, distinctively to revive the force’s past glory as the “Scotland Yard of the East”.

During the last 15 years, there have been several instances where the image of Kolkata Police (previously Calcutta Police) got tarnished, the most prominent of which was the shoddy handling of the investigation into the R.G. Kar rape and murder case.

Already, the new BJP government had ordered reopening of the R.G. Kar files after suspending three IPS officers then linked to the city police, including the erstwhile city police commissioner, Vineet Kumar Goyal.

The city police also came under strong criticism for intelligence failure to identify the miscreants involved in a malicious poster at the residence of Calcutta High Court judge Justice Rajasekhar Mantha in 2023, following a series of judgments by the latter that went against the previous Mamata Banerjee regime.

Finally, the city police authorities, during the last 15 years, had been accused of sending plain-dress cops to the residence and offices of the ardent critics of the previous Trinamool Congress regime and threatening them.

At the same time, the physical fitness factor of a section of the cops with bloated tummies and excess body fat became a matter of ridicule.

Now, to shed all such negative tags and regain its past glory as the “Scotland Yard of the East”, the Kolkata Police have started undergoing a series of reforms with strict disciplinary guidelines since the new West Bengal cabinet under the state’s ninth Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, took charge on May 9.

Kolkata Police in the past have been credited with several “World’s first” moves like the introduction of “criminal forensics” and the establishment of the “world’s first fingerprint bureau”. The reason why the city police was often referred to as the “Scotland Yard of the East” was because of a well-structured “Detective Department” mastering crime detection.

The most important reform undertaken by the city police is reintroducing the “code for police uniforms” reportedly to stop the rampant misuse of plain-dress cops for political motives.

In a bid to ensure efficiency, the Kolkata Police recently issued an order barring their personnel at all levels from performing official duties in plain dress henceforth, with exceptions for those attached to certain specialised departments. The departments that have been given exemptions include the Detective Department, the Special Branch, the Enforcement Branch, the Special Task Force, and the Cybercrime Division, considering that being in plain dress is an integral part of the duties they perform.

In case any officer or staff attached to departments other than those that do not come under such restrictions are required to go on official duty without a uniform, the personnel concerned will have to seek prior permission from higher authorities.

The officers and staff, barring those five departments, will have to be in uniform while going for raids or arrests or law and order maintenance duties or any other official duty.

Meanwhile, the state government also brought back sidelined senior IPS officers during the Trinamool Congress government tenure to reaffirm people's trust in the police force. Two IPS officers, Damayanti Sen and K. Jayaraman, who are widely regarded as honest officers, were appointed as member secretaries of two separate commissions.

The panels, headed by retired High Court judges, will investigate allegations of 'institutional corruption' and 'crimes against women' that took place during the Trinamool government's 15-year rule.

CM Suvendu Adhikari has given a message of changing the face of the police during a recent administrative meeting in Diamond Harbour. The Chief Minister said that just as specialised police forces are seen in different parts of different countries, the same should be done in this state. He also emphasised modernising the police force. Along with this, the Chief Minister also gave a message to the police personnel to stay fit.

CM Adhikari said that the police personnel should pay attention to physical fitness and strength. Along with this, he said that the number of police personnel in different parts of the state will be increased by 20,000 in the next six months to one year.

At the same time, CM Adhikari also announced the dismantling of the West Bengal Police Welfare Board, which was reportedly run during the previous Trinamool Congress regime by former Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Santanu Sinha Biswas, who is currently in Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody over his alleged involvement in money laundering-cum-illegal land grabbing syndicate cases.

Incidentally, the Chief Minister’s announcement came after the decision of the new state government to terminate the two-year service extension granted to Sinha Biswas following his arrest by ED officials. Sinha Biswas, considered an extremely close confidant of former CM Mamata Banerjee, was one of the two coordinators of the said welfare board.

Source: IANS

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Hyderabad, June 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Telangana Police have denied permission for Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan’s ‘Telangana Nava Nirmana Sankalpa Sabha’, planned to be held on the occasion of Telangana Formation Day in Hyderabad on Tuesday, citing a ‘substantial threat’ to the law-and-order situation.

CH. Srinivas, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Serilingampally Zone, Cyberabad Commissionerate, communicated to Talluri Ram, General Secretary of Jana Sena Party, on Monday that the request for permission to conduct the proposed meeting was rejected to ensure law and order, public peace, and tranquillity.

The Jana Sena, headed by actor-politician Pawan Kalyan, had sought permission for a meeting at Sandhya Convention, Gachibowli, on June 2 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., with an expected participation of about 2,000 persons.

The DCP stated that following recent alleged remarks by Prof. K. Nageshwar on the Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister’s meeting with the Union Home Minister and subsequent registration of criminal cases against Prof. Nageshwar in Andhra Pradesh, tensions and animosities escalated across Telangana.

He added that recent public statements by certain political leaders from Andhra Pradesh, including Jana Sena, on the matter involving Prof. Nageshwar had hurt the sentiments of the people of Telangana, triggering backlash, counter-protests, and opposition from student bodies and activist groups.

“Given that the proposed meeting coincides with the 12th Telangana Formation Day, there is a high vulnerability of protests, demonstrations, and severe disruptions to vehicular traffic. Under these conditions, holding the above-said meeting is not conducive to maintaining public peace, as it poses a substantial threat to the law-and-order situation in the jurisdiction of Cyberabad Commissionerate,” reads the communication.

The DCP also noted that verification with the management of the proposed venue revealed that no designated parking facility exists.

Meanwhile, Jana Sena said the reasons cited for rejecting permission raised more questions than they answered and appeared more like excuses than genuine concerns. In a statement posted on X, the party asked: “How did the baseless remarks of an analyst and the counterarguments made against those baseless remarks suddenly become a threat to law and order across Telangana? Isn’t that a lame excuse to stop the event?”

The party further said: “So, making baseless allegations is acceptable, but responding to them supposedly triggers tensions? Neither Jana Sena nor Pawan Kalyan garu dragged Telangana into this issue. The real question is: who brought regional sentiments into the debate and why? Why hasn’t the Telangana Government taken any action against those who actually triggered regional sentiments in this discussion? They remained silent then. Why?”

“It is unfortunate that the Telangana Government appears to have acted hastily, citing vague law-and-order concerns and parking issues, while the intention to stop the event had already been conveyed through selective narratives and half-cut videos promoted by certain ministers,” it added.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday raised the issue of the activities of Indian insurgent groups operating in the Southeast Asian nation during the bilateral talks with Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing in New Delhi.

Addressing reporters following the meeting between the two leaders, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that the visiting President reaffirmed Myanmar’s commitment to addressing these concerns and assured New Delhi that necessary steps would be taken to prevent such a group from posing a threat to India’s security.

"There is the very important question of the activities of Indian insurgent groups in Myanmar close to our borders. And this is something, again, that the Prime Minister raised with the President, and the President once again reiterated his assurance that Myanmar was sensitive to these concerns and again would do everything necessary to ensure that there was action against these, and these did not become a cause of threat against the security of India," Misri stated.

Addressing questions on Myanmar's internal stability, Misri highlighted ongoing hostilities between the military and ethnic armed groups in the Southeast Asian nation while underlining the efforts by Myanmar authorities to foster dialogue among different stakeholders to build a broader national consensus.

"The other aspect of internal security is obviously the effort by the Myanmar state to bring all the ethnic armed organisations and groups onto a single platform to advance the peace process. This is essentially an effort to see how the current structure of governance or the system of government that Myanmar has, what kinds of changes might be needed in that so that something is crafted around which there is broad national consensus and then move forward on that basis,” he added.

Highlighting the broader regional significance for peace and stability in Myanmar, Misri said that developments in the country have implications not only for India's security and connectivity interests but also for the cohesion of ASEAN, of which Myanmar is an important member.

“And this is something in which we have-- we obviously have an interest because, as I have said, you know, stability and peace in Myanmar are obviously a major interest for India. It is not just for the security of the northeast and the safety and security of people living along the 1643 kilometre long border that we have with them but also for our interests, such as connectivity to Southeast Asia. And obviously security and stability in Myanmar are also important for the coherence of ASEAN as a whole as well, because Myanmar is an important and large country within the ASEAN framework as well," he stated.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) India and Myanmar on Monday discussed the growing threat posed by cyber scam networks operating along Myanmar's border regions, with New Delhi emphasising that the issue is not merely a bilateral security concern but also requires greater regional cooperation.

The issue was raised during the bilateral talks held at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing.

Addressing reporters following the meeting between the two leaders, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that India and Myanmar have been cooperating closely to tackle the issue of cyber scam compounds, leading to the repatriation of over 2,400 Indian citizens over the past 18 months from the Southeast Asian country, while efforts are underway to secure the return of around 150 others.

“This is something which we have been cooperating with Myanmar on over a period of time. Over the course of the last year and a half, we have been able to repatriate 2,411 Indian citizens from cyber scam compounds in Myanmar, especially in the bordering regions in southeast Myanmar. As of now, from the latest counts, we have possibly slightly over 150-odd Indian citizens that we know of, about whom we have reports, who are still stuck in some of these cyber scam compounds. We are in touch with the Myanmar government to try and repatriate the remaining people as well,” Misri stated.

“And it's important to note that, you know, while the Indian nationals remain trapped there, they are usually trafficked there through a third country. And that just underlines the need for not just more bilateral cooperation related to this issue, which is also a security issue between the two countries, but also underlines the need for greater regional cooperation on this matter in this particular region. This was raised today as well, and we have raised it in several other bilateral forums between the two countries,” he added.

During the meeting, both PM Modi and President Aung Hlaing agreed to further deepen the bilateral ties between both neighbouring nations across several sectors.

PM Modi also reiterated India's readiness to support peace and dialogue in Myanmar, including by sharing federal governance and economic growth experiences.

"PM Narendra held wide-ranging discussions with President U Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar on further deepening India-Myanmar bilateral ties. Anchored in the enduring historic and people-to-people relationship, both sides agreed to advance the India-Myanmar partnership for peace, progress and prosperity and to further collaborate in areas of trade, investment, connectivity, development partnership, capacity building, security and border management," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.

Source: IANS

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Imphal, June 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Senior IPS officer Mukesh Singh, who assumed charge as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Manipur on Monday, underscored the importance of strengthening coordination with sister law-enforcement agencies and maintaining impartiality, neutrality and professionalism in serving the public.

Addressing senior police officials after taking over charge, Singh stressed that effective collaboration among security and law-enforcement agencies, coupled with fair and unbiased policing, would be crucial for ensuring peace, security and public confidence in the state.

Following a ceremonial reception, the DGP held a brief introductory meeting with senior police officers at the Police Headquarters (PHQ) at Mantripukhri in Imphal.

“He discussed key policing priorities and emphasised professionalism, adherence to the Constitution of India and the rule of law, coordination with sister agencies, and impartiality and neutrality in the discharge of duties towards the public. Senior officers of Manipur Police were present on the occasion,” a police official said.

Earlier, upon his arrival at the Police Headquarters, Mukesh Singh was accorded a guard of honour by personnel of the Manipur Police.

An Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territories) cadre, Mukesh Singh succeeded DGP Rajiv Singh, marking a significant leadership transition in the state police force at a time when efforts are underway to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur.

Before his transfer to Manipur, Mukesh Singh served as the Director General of Police of Ladakh, a position he assumed on January 15, 2026.

Rajiv Singh, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the Tripura cadre, was appointed Secretary (Security) in the Cabinet Secretariat on May 21. Prior to taking charge as Manipur’s police chief, Rajiv Singh served as Additional Director General of Police in Tripura and later as Inspector General (Operations) at the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) headquarters in New Delhi.

Rajiv Singh took over as the head of the Manipur Police during one of the most turbulent periods in the state's recent history following the outbreak of ethnic violence on May 3, 2023. The violence erupted after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ organised in the hill districts by tribal organisations protesting the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

His successor, Mukesh Singh is a B.Tech graduate in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi and joined the IPS in 1996. During his career, he held several sensitive assignments in Jammu and Kashmir, serving as Superintendent of Police in Reasi, Pulwama, Poonch and Jammu during periods marked by heightened militancy and insurgency-related operations.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved Mukesh Singh’s transfer to Manipur on inter-cadre deputation for a period of three years.

The ethnic conflict in Manipur has so far claimed at least 260 lives, displaced thousands of people and severely disrupted normal life across both the hill and valley districts.

Source: IANS

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Canberra/New Delhi, June 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) India and Australia on Monday discussed advancements in bilateral maritime security cooperation and efforts to finalise the Joint Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap.

During the second India–Australia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue held in New Delhi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, agreed to progress the collaborative maritime domain awareness activities by maritime patrol aircraft and explore opportunities to enhance undersea domain awareness, a joint statement issued after the meeting detailed.

Welcoming the "significant progress" in the bilateral relationship and enhanced consultation and cooperation since the inaugural Defence Ministers’ Dialogue in October 2025, both ministers advanced the long-term vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese for collaboration between the two countries to enhance collective strength, not only contributing to both countries' security but also making an important contribution to regional peace and security.

"Ministers agreed to progress the collaborative maritime domain awareness activities by maritime patrol aircraft and explore opportunities to enhance undersea domain awareness. Ministers encouraged further cooperation between the Indian Coast Guard and Australia’s Maritime Border Command," read the joint statement.

"Ministers affirmed the importance of enhancing cooperation with regional partners to help maintain a free, open, peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Ministers underscored the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight, and their strong support for unimpeded trade in the region and other lawful uses of the sea consistent with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)," it added.

It mentioned that India and Australia, as co-leads of the IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association) Working Group on Maritime Safety and Security (WGMSS), look forward to jointly hosting a Search and Rescue (SAR) and tabletop Exercise at Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), Chennai later this month to strengthen maritime safety and security cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

"Ministers undertook to explore arrangements to enhance procedural interoperability for exercises and operations, building on the 2020 Mutual Logistics Support Arrangement. They also agreed to continue aircraft deployment from each other’s territories to build operational familiarity."

Both ministers also announced that India and Australia would begin developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the Provision of Defence Articles and Defence Services as the next step in deepening defence industrial collaboration.

"Ministers underscored the strategic importance of defence industrial collaboration and engagement. They welcomed Australia’s first defence trade mission to India and the Australia-India Defence Industry Roundtable, both in October 2025, as reflecting growth in the bilateral defence industry relationship. Ministers agreed to explore further exchanges including through the Joint Working Group on Defence Industry, Research, and Materiel," the statement detailed.

Both countries are also exploring future defence science and technology research cooperation in new technology areas like sensor technologies. Marles invited India to participate in the 2026 Australian Defence Science, Technology, and Research Summit.

"Ministers appreciated the growing engagement between their armies, navies and air forces. Ministers looked forward to India’s enhanced participation in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2027. They welcomed Australia’s participation in India’s Exercise Milan in February 2026, and India’s participation in Australia’s Exercise Kakadu in March 2026. Ministers looked forward to their countries’ participation in each other’s multinational air exercises in 2026, including operationalising the bilateral Implementing Arrangement on Air-to-Air Refuelling at Exercise Pitch Black."

Welcoming the expansion of military cooperation into new areas, Singh and Marles noted the evolution of army Exercise Austrahind this year to focus on amphibious combat and littoral manoeuvre. Australia welcomed India’s inaugural participation in Operation Render Safe 2026 while India welcomed Australia’s invitation for participation in submarine rescue exercise Black Carillon.

Acknowledging the importance of secure bilateral communications at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels, the two ministers said that they are looking forward to the inaugural Joint Staff Talks later this year.

"In the context of cooperation on training, Ministers encouraged their officials to finalise arrangements for deployment of an Indian visiting instructor at the Australian Defence College in 2028-2029, to strengthen professional military engagement, knowledge exchange, and strategic alignment."

Both ministers also welcomed the growing strategic convergence between India, Australia, Japan and the United States in the Indo-Pacific and reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing collaboration on maritime domain awareness to increase interoperability among the partners.

"Ministers expressed strong support for the Quad Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Collaboration (IPMSC) initiative, to be implemented initially in the Indian Ocean Region as well as through subject matter expert exchanges and tabletop exercises. They welcomed India's operationalisation of the Indian Ocean Region programme of the Quad Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) through the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region in Gurugram. Ministers agreed to work to develop a Common Operational Picture (COP) across the Indo-Pacific by drawing upon the existing IPMDA efforts," the joint statement concluded.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Indian government on Monday debunked false claims circulating on social media and warned about an AI-generated deepfake video of Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, being shared by Pakistani propaganda accounts to mislead the public.

The fact-checking unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) highlighted that Pakistani propaganda accounts are using AI to falsely attribute statements about India funding the Taliban.

"Pakistani propaganda accounts are circulating a digitally-manipulated video falsely claiming that Indian Army chief, General Upendra Dwivedi, made remarks regarding India's engagement with the Taliban," the PIB fact-check said in a statement.

"This claim is fake. Indian Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi did NOT make any such statement. The viral clip has been digitally-manipulated to falsely attribute remarks to the Chief of the Army Staff," it added.

The manipulated clip alters original footage from a recent press conference held by the Chief of the Army Staff, where he said that 'Operation Sindoor' remains ongoing and that all three Services of the Indian Armed Forces are maintaining a high level of preparedness for any future contingency, including what he described as 'Operation Sindoor 2.0', if the situation demands.

Addressing a press conference after the Passing Out Parade (POP) of the 150th Course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune on Saturday, General Dwivedi said that while hostilities have currently ceased, the Armed Forces continue to remain vigilant and prepared.

"Operation Sindoor is still continuing. There is a temporary cessation of hostilities. Therefore, the Indian Army, along with all three Services, is preparing well for 'Operation Sindoor 2.0', if it takes place. Presently, we are focussed on enhancing synergy among the three Services. We are also equipping ourselves for the next generation of warfare," he had said.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Pakistan has unleashed a lethal combination comprising Dawood Ibrahim aide, Munna Jhingada and ISI asset Shahzad Bhatti to carry out coordinated attacks in India.

On Saturday, the Special Cell of the Delhi police busted a Dawood-backed module and arrested nine people.

Investigations reveal that the ISI has been pushing the underworld hard to carry out attacks in India.

In a bid to do so, the network that the D-Syndicate already has in India has come in handy to carry out terror operations.

While Mudassar Hussain Sayyed, alias Munna Jhingada was handling the module, Bhatti was in charge of recruitments and planning.

An official said that the ISI wants to recreate what it did in 1993. It roped in the Dawood module to carry out the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts. The entire operation, which included smuggling arms, deciding targets, logistics and execution was carried out by the underworld.

The ISI, on its part, helped with the funding and also the training ahead of the blasts. Post the 1993 blasts, the ISI largely kept the underworld in India away from executing terror attacks. The underworld was only used to fund terror groups in Pakistan with the money that it made from narcotics trade.

Another official said that Pakistan now wants to repeat the same tactics and is writing a pretty similar script that it had in 1993.

The underworld has a much better network and its members are often regarded as criminals and not terrorists.

A similar modus operandi was busted a few years back, when the Indian agencies picked up information about Dawood being told to recruit sharpshooters. The aim was to target scores of Hindu leaders in Gujarat and other parts of the country.

Officials who are probing the case, say that post the 1993 operation, the module that was busted on Saturday was probably the biggest in which the underworld and terrorists came together.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that the ISI has been strategically using its assets to carry out attacks in India.

Jhingada is familiar with India and he has been one of the most strategic assets for Dawood Ibrahim. He is originally a resident of Jogeshwari in Mumbai and had been arrested in Thailand after he made an attempt to kill Chhota Rajan.

He had served in a Thailand jail for 10 years. When India made the extradition request, Pakistan went all out in the legal battle claiming that he is their citizen.

Jhingada had entered Thailand on a Pakistani passport and this is what helped Islamabad get a ruling in their favour.

During his time in jail he had met with one Lama Aung Kami, a resident of Nepal. Kami (66) was one of the nine members arrested by the Delhi police on Saturday. He was tasked with coordinating the logistics and finances.

An official said that in addition to the problem that the D-Syndicate is posing to national security, the menace that is being created by Bhatti is immense. He has blended in with the underworld and both work seamlessly on recruiting and planning attacks on Indian soil.

Bhatti has been using the social media extensively to propagate hate against India. It is his primary recruitment tool and he has managed to target several youngsters in India to be part of the underworld-terror module.

The combination is a lethal one and getting the two together only shows how desperate the ISI is to wreak havoc in India.

For now, both the Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Tayiba are on the backfoot. In addition to reeling from the losses thanks to 'Operation Sindoor', there is also a major trust deficit between these groups and the establishment in Pakistan.

Officials say that this has led to the ISI looking to rope in the underworld to carry out attacks in India.

The official warned that the underworld will look to step up activities and also create many more modules. Part of the plan would be to identify local gangsters and other youth. On their radar would be religious places, railway stations and important people, the official also added.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, June 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Security analysts are pointing towards a new and emerging trend whereby terror groups are not directly involved in acts of terror. Almost all modules that have been busted in recent months do not have any direct involvement of major terror groups such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Al-Qaeda, Islamic State, or the Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Each of these modules is either affiliated with or inspired by, and this is a deliberate Pakistani ploy to keep the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) heat away. Moreover, the terror groups mentioned are all designated by the United States, the United Nations and India. Such a designation makes it easier for security agencies to track their networks.

Moreover, being designated a terror group also calls for international-level cooperation when it comes to dealing with their activities. An official explained that Pakistan is using the same strategy when it comes to dealing with groups which are calling for a separate Khalistan nation.

The ISI has been using the gangster network and has deliberately kept the direct involvement of groups such as the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). The BKI is a designated terror group, and its networks are easier to track when compared to those run by the gangsters, the official added.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that it is a well-known fact that Pakistan funds all these terror groups. On the one hand, it needs to keep terror activities against India alive and on the other, Islamabad cannot afford to come under the radar of international agencies such as the FATF. The monitoring agency is closely watching how funds are being used in Pakistan.

Pakistan has been placed in the Grey List in the past, and with a lot of difficulty, managed to come out of it. Another official said that getting back into the list would have a devastating consequence for Pakistan. Given the state of its economy and the events that are unfolding around the globe, coming under the FATF radar would mean a complete collapse for Pakistan, the official added.

Pakistan watchers say that there is also immense pressure from countries such as China, which has invested heavily in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Project (CPEC). China would not take it kindly if Pakistan returned to the Grey List. The Chinese are already breathing down the neck of the Pakistanis as they have failed to provide security guarantees. Beijing has faced huge losses due to attacks on its projects.

Security officials note that, while there are many practicalities for Pakistan, the fact remains that the ISI and army would never allow terror attacks against India to stop. It has to keep the pot boiling and would do anything and everything to ensure India is on the boil. The ISI has been tapping its resources in India to help set up modules.

There is also a major push when it comes to literature aimed at radicalising the youth. The official explained that any terror group formed in India will have Pakistan’s blessings, but the direct involvement would be missing. The decision to use gangsters for the Khalistan battle and the Dawood network for terror attacks in the rest of the country is all part of the ISI’s tactic to avoid being confronted about its direct role.

Officials say that India would increasingly have to deal with such modules. These modules would not be linked to just one terror group. There would be terror groups which could follow the ideology of the Jaish-e-Mohammad or Islamic State, or Al-Qaeda. One would also get to see modules that take inspiration from multiple terror groups.

The police have busted a group which was inspired by Al-Qaeda and the Jaish-e-Mohammed. This makes it very hard for investigators to nail the trail. It would make the probe an extremely challenging one, and at times it could hit a dead end owing to the confusion, the official added.

Another official explained that if a terror attack is carried out, for example, by the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed and the same is claimed by them, investigators would at least have a lead to begin with. The attack style, the networks, and the funding trails are all present in the various dossiers prepared by the agencies for many years. These new modules do not follow the strategy and style of the terror groups that they are inspired by. Hence, the start of such investigations will always remain a challenge, the official also added.

Source: IANS

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Kyiv, June 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that there is not enough anti-ballistic missile production in the US.

"There is not enough anti-ballistic missile production in the United States, and this could lead to a crisis in different parts of the world. Russia is ramping up its internal production of ballistic missiles," Zelensky wrote on Sunday on social media platform X.

He mentioned that he also sent a letter to the White House and to the US Congress.

"As many as 60–65 anti-ballistic missiles per month, compared to current challenges, is nothing. It is no secret, and Russia knows this. We need to expand the production. I asked the previous US administration, and I am asking today's administration to give Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot missiles," Zelensky added.

"We can increase the production of Patriot missiles. This will help us. This will help the Middle East and any other country that the United States decides to help. Until we produce a European anti-ballistic system, we will need support from the United States," the Ukrainian President highlighted, sharing his conversation from an interview.

He said that Ukraine is trying to intercept all Russian drones, even when some of them are going in the direction of other countries, like Romania, Moldova, Poland, or the Baltic states.

"I think that we need to find a diplomatic way – to sit down and talk – before next winter. But this depends on internal pressure on Putin from his society as well as American and European sanctions pressure on Russia," Zelensky noted, saying that Russia started to lose the initiative on the battlefield in December 2025.

He also raised questions about who would represent Europe in the negotiations.

"There is an E3 format – the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. I don't know if this is the best format, but I think these countries could be negotiators from Europe. We also have reliable Nordic partners. Turkey always wanted to be a mediator, and we had some successes in bringing back our POWs (prisoners of war) with their help," he added.

Source: IANS

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Guwahati, June 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) continued its sustained efforts towards ensuring passenger safety, preventing unlawful activities and safeguarding railway premises through a series of successful operations conducted across the zone, officials said on Sunday.

NFR’s Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said during anti-crime drives and surveillance operations conducted on May 25, 2026, RPF personnel achieved significant success in detecting unlawful transportation of liquor and narcotic substances.

He several consignments of unclaimed liquor bottles were recovered from trains and railway stations under Alipurduar, Katihar and Dalkhola areas.

In separate operations conducted at Agartala railway station, RPF teams recovered over 16 kg of ganja and handed over the seized items to the concerned authorities for further legal action.

On the same day, RPF personnel also apprehended offenders involved in unlawful activities including ticketing irregularities and theft-related offences at railway premises.

Rescue operations were simultaneously carried out at Rangapara and New Bongaigaon railway stations, where minors were rescued and safely handed over to Child Welfare Committees for proper care and rehabilitation.

As part of its humanitarian initiatives on May 26, RPF teams rescued several minors from Guwahati, Silchar, New Bongaigaon and Dibrugarh railway stations and ensured their safe custody through coordination with Child Welfare Committees and child assistance agencies.

In another important initiative carried out on May 26, RPF personnel along with railway engineering officials conducted an eviction drive at the Amingaon Eco Park area to remove unauthorized encroachments from railway land, ensuring operational safety and security.

Northeast Frontier Railway remains committed towards ensuring a safe, secure and passenger-friendly railway environment through continuous vigilance, coordinated operations and public safety initiatives undertaken by the Railway Protection Force.

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), headquartered at Maligaon near Guwahati, operates across the Northeastern states as well as in seven districts of West Bengal and five districts of north Bihar.

Source: IANS

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Kathmandu, June 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified that Prime Minister Balendra Shah's remarks regarding the South Asian country also encroaching on Indian territory were related to "cross-border occupation" and encroachment in the no-man's land along the border with India.

Prime Minister Shah on Sunday triggered a political storm after claiming, during his first-ever appearance to answer lawmakers' questions in Parliament, that Nepal had also encroached on Indian territory despite Nepal's consistent complaints about Indian encroachment.

Opposition political parties, foreign affairs experts, and border analysts heavily criticised Prime Minister Shah for the remarks, saying they undermined Nepal's long-standing position on the border dispute with India and weakened Nepal's stance in future negotiations with India on border issues.

In a statement issued on Sunday evening, the Nepali government said the Prime Minister's comments were connected to technical studies conducted in border areas where citizens of one country have been using or occupying land that technically falls within the territory of the other country.

"The matter mentioned by the Prime Minister in Parliament was primarily related to encroachment in the no-man's land area and cross-border occupation," the statement said.

The Ministry noted that due to the "Fixed Boundary Principle" adopted in river boundary areas, situations have emerged in some places where Nepali citizens cultivate or reside on land technically located on the Indian side, while Indian citizens use land falling within Nepal's territory.

The Foreign Ministry reiterated that Nepal's official position regarding disputed border areas, including Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani, remains unchanged and that unresolved border issues would be addressed through diplomatic dialogue and mutual understanding with India.

According to the Ministry, technical committees and border mechanisms of the two countries are currently engaged in repairing border pillars, addressing encroachment in the no-man's land, and collecting records of cross-border occupation in mapped areas along the frontier.

Nepal and India share a long and open border, much of which was defined by the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli. However, mapping remains incomplete in areas such as Susta and Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh-Kalapani.

A long-running border dispute has remained one of the key irritants in bilateral relations.

Though Nepal has consistently complained about Indian encroachment on Nepali land, Prime Minister Shah's remarks appeared to suggest that encroachment has taken place from both sides. In fact, there is no known instance of India formally accusing Nepal of encroaching on Indian territory.

"After becoming Prime Minister, I came to know that not only has India encroached on Nepal's land, but Nepal has also encroached on India's land in multiple places," Prime Minister Shah said earlier in Parliament.

"Both sides should sit down and look into the matter."

However, he did not disclose any details about where Nepal had allegedly encroached on Indian land.

Leaders from opposition parties immediately demanded clarification on where Nepal had encroached on Indian territory. Some lawmakers even asked Speaker D.P. Aryal to remove the Prime Minister's remarks from Parliament's official record.

Replying to a separate question regarding the India-China agreement to allow Indian pilgrims to travel to Kailash Mansarovar through the disputed Lipulekh area, the Prime Minister said Nepal had already sent an official diplomatic note to India and received a response.

Shah said disputes over Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani would be resolved through diplomatic dialogue. He also shared some details about India's response.

"The response states that both governments will form teams comprising historians, surveyors and experts familiar with the territory and seek a resolution through table talks," PM Shah said.

He added that Nepal had also engaged in diplomatic discussions with China and the United Kingdom regarding the border dispute with India.

It is probably the first time Nepal has openly admitted holding talks with the UK regarding the Nepal–India border dispute.

“We have spoken not only with India and China but also with the UK government. Our view is that the UK should also take an interest, as the issue dates back to the period when the British controlled India," PM Shah said.

Source: IANS

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Singapore, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh held a meeting with House Armed Services Committee Member Pat Harrigan, who led a bipartisan US Congressional Delegation (CODEL), in Singapore on Sunday, with discussions held on regional security, expanding defence cooperation, and advancing shared strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific.

In a post on social media platform X, the Ministry of Defence's Directorate of Public Relations, said, "Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh held productive discussions with Member, House Armed Services Committee Pat Harrigan, who led a bipartisan US Congressional Delegation (CODEL)."

"The interaction reaffirmed the strength of the India–US defence partnership, with exchanges on regional security, expanding defence cooperation, and advancing shared strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific," it added.

Rajesh Kumar Singh is currently on an official visit to Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue.

During the Dialogue, the decision-makers from across the Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, the Middle East and beyond to gather together to discuss the most pressing regional security issues and share policy responses

Earlier on Sunday, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh held a meeting with Defence Ministers of New Zealand and Singapore on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, with discussions focussed on strengthening bilateral ties, enhancing maritime cooperation, advancing information-sharing mechanisms.

Sharing details regarding the meeting, the Ministry of Defence said, "The engagements focused on strengthening bilateral defence ties, enhancing maritime cooperation, advancing information-sharing mechanisms, and reaffirming a shared commitment to a secure, stable and inclusive Indo-Pacific."

On Saturday, Rajesh Kumar Singh met Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Istana reception hosted on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, with talks focused on further strengthening bilateral strategic ties and advancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest, according to the statement released by the Ministry of Defence.

Singh also met Sweden's State Secretary to the Minister of Defence, Peter Sandwall, discussing avenues to strengthen defence cooperation and expand collaboration in areas including technology and innovation between the two nations.

“Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh interacted with State Secretary to the Minister of Defence, Sweden Peter Sandwall. Discussions focused on strengthening India-Sweden defence engagement and exploring opportunities for enhanced bilateral defence cooperation, including in the domain of defence technology and innovation," the Ministry of Defence said.

Singh held talks with the Netherlands' Chief of Defence General Onno Eichelsheim, where the two sides discussed ways to deepen bilateral defence ties, including military exchange programmes and joint training events.

Rajesh Kumar Singh also interacted with Belen Martinez Carbonell, Secretary General of the European External Action Service, and Lieutenant General Enrico Barduani, Deputy Chair of the European Union Military Committee (DCEUMC).

According to the Ministry of Defence, the meeting advanced strategic dialogue between India and the European Union, with discussions centred on shared security interests and avenues for deepening defence and strategic cooperation.

Continuing his bilateral engagement, Singh also held talks with Netherland’s Defence Minister, Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius, exploring ways to deepen military cooperation and expand collaboration in the defence industrial sector, underscoring the evolving strategic partnership between the two countries

Sharing the details of the meeting on X, Ministry of Defence's Directorate of Public Relations said: “Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh interacted with Defence Minister, Netherlands Dilan Yeşilgoz-Zegerius. The discussions focused on enhancing bilateral Defence cooperation, strengthening military-to-military ties, and exploring opportunities for defence industrial collaboration, reflecting the growing strategic partnership between India and the Netherlands."

Singh also met with his Australian counterpart, Meghan Quinn, where the two sides reviewed the progress of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discussed upcoming high-level engagements. Both sides also explored opportunities to enhance defence cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Catholic bishops, comprising three archbishops, four bishops, and a cardinal, from Pakistan visited the Vatican to submit their reports in different departments and meet Pope Leo XIV. Catholic Bishops' Conference of Pakistan President Bishop Samson Shukardin of Hyderabad, highlighted the challenges faced by Christians in Pakistan, a report has said.

He spoke about the misuse of blasphemy laws, systematic discrimination, and the increasing number of forced conversions and marriages that target young Christian girls in Pakistan, according to a report in International Christian Concern.

Samson Shukardin stressed that Christians in Pakistan were not receiving equal rights.

He said that many Christians in Pakistan face constant social and systemic discrimination in their daily lives.

During the meeting, the bishops invited Pope Leo XIV to visit Pakistan. The Vatican has not released an official travel announcement. However, Pope Leo expressed his interest in the request, assuring the delegation of his desire to visit Pakistan in the future, according to a report in International Christian Concern.

Last week, minority rights organisations requested Pakistan's federal government to introduce constitutional reforms with a goal to strengthen protection for religious minorities, women and children as part of the proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment Bill, a report has said.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, leaders of the Minorities Alliance Pakistan (MAP) and allied groups presented a reform package that calls for introducing changes to constitutional provisions linked to political representation, religious freedom, and child protection, a report in Eurasia Review mentioned.

During the event, MAP chairman Akmal Bhatti said Pakistan could not function as a pluralistic democracy as constitutional provisions restricted non-Muslims from taking the offices of President and Prime Minister and minority communities did not have direct democratic representation.

Bhatti, according to the report, said that proposed reforms were aimed to ensure equality before the law and equal opportunities for everyone in Pakistan.

He added that constitutional and legal structures should protect children from forced religious conversion and child marriage.

The proposals presented by the MAP call for banning the religious conversion of people aged below 18 years until free and informed consent is recorded before a judicial magistrate.

Bhatti demanded amendments to Articles 51 and 106 to introduce direct elections for seats reserved for non-Muslims and women in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies.

Akmal Bhatti urged Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms to hold talks with minority communities, legal experts, and civil society organisations before preparing the final amendment package.

Source: IANS

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Islamabad, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) A genocide watchdog has issued an alert for genocide monitoring in Pakistan amid the growing rate of human rights violations, a report said.

The organisation Genocide Watch called for genocide monitoring in Pakistan in a report it issued earlier this month, which said that Pakistan is now at stage 3 of genocide (discrimination).

"Because discrimination against women and minorities is deeply embedded in society, and violence against them is both widespread and tolerated, Genocide Watch considers Pakistan to be at Stage 3: Discrimination and Stage 5: Organisation. Deepening divisions along religious, gender, and political lines, reinforced by restrictive laws, censorship, and weak protections, place the country at Stage 6: Polarisation. The continued targeting of vulnerable groups through violence, persecution, and displacement further reflects elements of Stage 9: Persecution," the report noted.

"These stages refer to the developments or circumstances that cause, incite, or bring about the deliberate destruction of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group," said Turkish journalist Uzay Bulut, writing for American media outlet PJ Media.

The targets of this discrimination are religious minorities (Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Shia, Ahmadiyya), political opposition, women, and gays.

Women face the most severe consequences as they face acid attacks, forced and child marriages, rape, trafficking, forced conversion and domestic abuse.

With the Lahore High Court ruling that marriages after puberty are valid under Islamic law in 2025, girls marriage remains widespread in Pakistan, with millions married before the age of 18.

Pakistan ranked last in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Index.

According to the Genocide Watch report, journalists, activists, and academics face censorship, violence, threats, arrests, and murder, which are perpetrated by the Pakistani government and contribute to growing self-censorship and restricted public discourse.

"Non-Muslims in Pakistan survive in a tyrannical environment. Christians comprise just 1.8 per cent of the population and are particularly marginalised," said Bulut.

"As a minority in Pakistan, Christians are exposed to many challenges, which range from everyday discrimination to threats of deadly violence," he added.

"Genocide never just happens," says Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT).

"There is always a set of circumstances which occur or which are created to build the climate in which genocide can take place."

The Genocide Watch recommended that the European Union (EU) use GSP+ review procedures to pressure Pakistan on limitedly enacted reforms in religious freedom, freedom of expression, and women's rights.

It also recommended that the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights consider Pakistan as "a country of special concern" because of its concerning record of human rights abuses against ethnic and religious minorities.

Source: IANS

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Washington, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Arcadia's former Mayor pleaded guilty to being an illegal agent of China in the US, local media reported.

As per the court filings, Eileen Wang (56) was charged in April and agreed to plead guilty to accusations that she was asked by the Chinese government to promote propaganda in the US from 2020-2022.

Wang was elected to the City Council in 2022 and assumed the position of Mayor, a post that rotates among the Council members, Los Angeles Times reported.

In April, she resigned as Mayor after the plea agreement was unsealed.

Arcadia officials and Wang's lawyers said the actions mentioned by federal authorities were taken before Eileen Wang assumed office. She appeared in court in Los Angeles to enter her plea. Wang faces up to 10 years in prison when she will be sentenced in October.

From late 2020 to 2022, Wang and her former fiance, Yaoning "Mike" Sun used to run a website called US News Center that branded itself as a news source for Chinese Americans, according to Wang's plea agreement.

Wang and Sun used to comply with orders issued by Chinese government officials, sharing requested articles and sharing screenshots to Chinese authorities, showing how many people viewed the stories, as per the plea agreement.

Earlier this year, Sun was sentenced to four years in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges that accused him of secretly working for China.

In 2021, Wang received a message from a government official about 'China's stance on the Xinjiang issue'.

At the time, news reports highlighted Chinese government's incarceration, persecution and "re-education" of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang province, Los Angeles Times reported.

As per the plea agreement, the message from the Chinese government official said, "There is no genocide in Xinjiang; there is no such thing as 'forced labour' in any production activity, including cotton production. Spreading such rumour is to defame China, destroy Xinjiang's safety and stability."

After receiving the message, Wang posted the article on her website and shared the link of her article with the Chinese government official, as per the court filing.

According to prosecutors, Wang edited articles after receiving requests from officials, Los Angeles Times reported.

In a statement, Wang's lawyers, Jason Liang and Brian Sun, said that Wang had pleaded guilty to the federal charge, however, "her posting of articles in no way should be construed as an inherently nefarious act."

The lawyers said that Wang not registering as a foreign agent should not "be equated with spying or engaging in acts of espionage on behalf of a foreign country".

Meanwhile, an American journalist and political commentator who worked for several Chinese state media outlets has been charged in the US with acting as an unregistered agent for China, according to federal court documents unsealed in Virginia.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Thomas Weir Pauken II, also known as "Tom McGregor", worked under the direction of individuals linked to China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) and sought to cultivate sources in the United States, including a person pursuing a role in the Trump administration.

The affidavit, filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, said Pauken had been working "at the direction and control" of individuals connected to People's Republic of China (PRC) since at least 2019.

FBI Special Agent Timothy J. Healy wrote that Pauken's alleged handler, identified only as "Cathy", assigned him tasks that included meeting potential human sources, delivering communication devices, collecting information and sending reports back to China.

According to the affidavit, Pauken admitted during voluntary interviews that his work with "Cathy" and others "was part of a conspiracy to obtain classified information from the United States government".

The case was first detailed by Politico, which reported that Pauken allegedly told the FBI he was "80 per cent sure" an associate connected to the incoming Trump administration would eventually provide classified information to China.

The Hill later reported that Pauken was accused of providing phones, laptops and encrypted communications tools to facilitate contact between US-based individuals and his Chinese handlers.

Court filings noted that Pauken moved to China around 2010 and worked for China Radio International, China Central Television, China Global Television Network and later in a news agency, which is the "official state news agency of the PRC".

Investigators said Pauken met a Chinese woman known as "Cathy" around 2017 after being introduced by a man described as one of Chinese President Xi Jinping's speechwriters.

The affidavit said that "Cathy" primarily communicated with Pauken through WeChat, Signal and Telegram.

FBI alleged that Pauken travelled repeatedly between China and the US between 2019 and 2025, with trips allegedly financed by his Chinese contacts.

Prosecutors said he received $100,000 for reports and assignments, federal prosecutors alleged.

Source: IANS

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Singapore, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) South Korea has discussed a Japan-proposed bilateral military logistics support pact with Tokyo, although Seoul maintained its reservations over the matter, Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back said on Sunday.

Ahn made the remarks to the press at a defence forum in Singapore, a day after he had bilateral talks with Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.

"There were discussions regarding (a potential) Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA)," the South Korean Defence Minister told reporters at the Shangri-La Dialogue, referring to an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement.

He declined to give further details, Yonhap news agency reported.

"As this is a matter that requires understanding and persuasion from the people of both countries, we still believe that we should remain cautious," he said.

It marked the first time that a Seoul official acknowledged that an ACSA was among the agenda items discussed between the Defence authorities of the two countries.

An ACSA is a bilateral pact between the US and its allies on facilitating the sharing of logistics, supplies and services, such as food, fuel and transportation, during contingencies.

Tokyo has been seeking to sign a bilateral ACSA with Seoul between their militaries as a way to enhance bilateral military coordination and also trilaterally with the US, their mutual ally, and help provide a framework for stronger deterrence against North Korean threats and China's assertiveness.

But Seoul has been cautious about the issue largely due to concerns that it could potentially allow Japan's Self-Defence Forces to engage in operations on the Korean Peninsula, as well as in consideration of its ties with Beijing.

Thorny wartime history issues stemming from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea are also cited as a factor behind Seoul's guarded approach to the matter.

"An ACSA is premature at this stage, and we are not reviewing the matter," a Defence Ministry official noted.

Asked about US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's call on Saturday for a "balanced" approach to the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON), Ahn said he views it as part of the US' "positive assessment" of Seoul's readiness and capabilities required for the transition.

"As we have various responsibilities to stably manage our combined defense posture (after the OPCON transfer), I believe it was an assessment of our capabilities and our level of preparedness," he said.

During a plenary session on Saturday, Hegseth called for "finding a balance" in the OPCON transfer in ways that the roles the US military has played for decades on the Korean Peninsula are "honoured".

His remarks drew attention amid growing concerns over what appears to be differing views between Seoul and Washington over when and how the transition should proceed.

Seoul is seeking to retake the wartime OPCON from the US before the Lee Jae Myung government's five-year term ends in 2030.

But US Forces Korea Commander General Xavier Brunson has mentioned the first quarter of 2029 as a potential timeline.

The allies have yet to announce a target year for the OPCON transfer.

"My understanding is that (the Secretary) meant to call for working together to align our efforts and energy (to move it forward)," Ahn said.

Source: IANS

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Beijing, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Five persons died and one other was injured when a collapse occurred during illegal mining activities in Huize County of China's Yunnan Province on Sunday, officials said.

The incident took place at around 4:30 a.m. in Baiwu village of Nagu Town in Huize County, according to local authorities.

Emergency response, public security, firefighting, health and natural resources departments from the city of Qujing and Huize County launched rescue operations, pulling out all six trapped individuals and taking them to the hospital for treatment, Xinhua news agency reported.

Five of the rescued people succumbed to their injuries. The other survivor is now in stable condition and out of life-threatening danger.

An investigation into the cause of the collapse is underway.

Earlier in May, a coal mine accident in north China's Shanxi Province left 82 dead.

A gas explosion hit the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County at 7:29 p.m. on May 22, when more than 200 people were down the shaft, according to the county's emergency management bureau.

A total of 123 people received treatment at hospitals, including two who were in critical condition and two in serious condition, while 119 others sustained minor injuries.

Multiple rescue teams took turns going down the mining shaft.

The investigation team said it will thoroughly ascertain the cause of the accident, clarify the responsibilities of local authorities, industry regulators and the enterprise involved, and mete out strict penalties in accordance with laws and regulations.

Deadly accidents are common in China's coal mining industry, due to which safety standards have been tightened in recent years, but accidents still occur.

Earlier in 2025, three people were trapped following a coal mine accident in Shaanxi Province. The accident occurred when part of an underground tunnel collapsed in Zhenping County, in the city of Ankang. Eight workers were carrying out rectification work at the site when the collapse happened, with five of them managing to escape safely.

Source: IANS

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Kathmandu, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) The first address by Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Sunday triggered a political storm as he claimed that the South Asian country has also encroached on Indian territory.

Prime Minister Shah, who had unusually avoided addressing the Nepal Parliament in the past despite frequent calls from the opposition parties, answered the questions of lawmakers himself.

He made the remarks when he was quizzed about India's alleged encroachment of the disputed region of Limpiyadhura, Lipulek and Kalapani region. Both Nepal and India claim sovereignity over these areas though the region is effectively under Indian control for decades.

"After becoming Prime Minister, I came to know that not only has India encroached on Nepal's land, but Nepal has also encroached on India's land in multiple places," Prime Minister Shah said.

"Both sides should sit down and look into the matter."

He, however, did not disclose any details about where Nepal encroached upon Indian land. And leaders from opposition parties immediately demanded answers on where Nepal encroached Indian lands. Some lawmakers called speaker DP Aryal to remove the Prime Minister's remarks from Parliament's record.

Border dispute has been one of the key irritants in bilateral relations. Nepal had already sent an official diplomatic note to India and received a response.

Replying to a separate question over India-China agreement to send Indian pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar through the disputed Lipulek area, Prime Minister Shah said Nepal had already sent an official diplomatic note to India and received a response.

Shah said the disputes over Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani would be resolved through diplomatic dialogue. He also gave some details about Indian response.

"The response states that both governments will form teams comprising historians, surveyors and experts familiar with the territory and seek a resolution through table talks," the Nepal PM added.

He said that Nepal had also engaged in diplomatic discussions with China and the United Kingdom regarding the border dispute with India.

It is probably the first time Nepal openly admitted it has held talks with the UK regarding the Nepal-India border dispute.

"We have spoken not only with India and China but also with the UK government. Our view is that the UK should also take an interest, as the issue dates back to the period when British India left the region," Shah added.

His controversial remark has come before Rabi Lamichhane, President of ruling Rastryiya Swatantra Party ( RSP) of Nepal is scheduled to visit India on June 1-2.

The proposed visit of Prime Minister Shah has however been uncertain.

Source: IANS

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Moscow, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are inspecting the impact site of a Ukrainian drone at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), local media reported on Sunday.

"IAEA experts are inspecting the damage caused by the Ukrainian drone strike on Unit 6 of the Zaporizhzhya NPP on May 30," Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's Permanent Representative to the International Organisations in Vienna, wrote on Facebook, Russia’s state-owned Tass news agency reported.

During the inspection, the team saw damage to a metal access hatch located several levels up in the building, as well as a few pieces of debris and burned optical fiber remains on the ground. The team’s observations are consistent with the impact of a drone, the IAEA wrote on social media platform X.

"During the walk down, the team was told to shelter after hearing the sound of drones nearby and gunfire to repel them. The team was still able to confirm with their measuring equipment that radiation levels at the site remain normal," the nuclear watchdog highlighted on X.

The IAEA has also requested access to the inside of the building -- noting that it is located immediately next to reactor unit 6 -- for further examination.

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said the strike was a serious incident that endangered key nuclear safety principles.

Attacks on nuclear sites are unacceptable and must stop in order to prevent the very real risk of a nuclear accident that would benefit no one, Grossi added, noted the post on X.

"This afternoon, a Ukrainian combat drone struck the turbine building of Unit 6, causing a subsequent detonation. The explosion did not damage the main equipment, but it did create a hole in the turbine wall. It's noteworthy that the drone was controlled via fiber optics. This completely rules out the possibility of an accidental impact," said Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev on Saturday.

According to Likhachev, this attack marks the first targeted attack on a nuclear power plant's core equipment in the history of the international community.

–IANS

ksk/khz

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) India's development journey isn't solely about our own progress but linked to the advancement of the wider world, particularly about the countries of the Global South, said Pabitra Margherita, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs while greeting the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) on its 44th foundation day.

Pabitra Margherita commended the evidence-based policy research, undertaken by the economic think-tank over the past four decades and hailed its commitment and contribution in advancing the voice of the Global South.

Delivering the Foundation Day address on Saturday, the MoS congratulated the RIS on completing 44 years of service as a leading policy think-tank and highlighted its pivotal role in generating evidence-based policy inputs and knowledge products that have contributed to informed policymaking and strengthen the voice of developing countries in global forums.

Referring to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he underscored that India's development journey was just about its own growth and progress but is intrinsically linked to the advancement of the wider world, particularly the Global South nations.

He was also joined by many distinguished policymakers, diplomats, scholars, former members of the institution and the Research Advisory Council, in reflecting on the institution's enduring contribution to policy research and international development cooperation.

Professor Ramesh Chand, former NITI Aayog member, reminisced about his long association with RIS and reflected on its formative years.

He said that the role of think-tanks has expanded considerably over the decades in response to emerging global challenges and increasing policy complexities.

He commended RIS for continuously widening the scope of its research agenda and adapting to the rapidly evolving global environment.

Aparna Ray, Joint Secretary (Policy Planning and Research) in the Ministry of External Affairs, lauded RIS for its valuable contribution to international policy negotiations and its sustained support to the countries of the Global South.

She highlighted the institution's role in advancing key concepts and policy frameworks centred on inclusivity, equity, South-South cooperation, and sustainable development, which have become increasingly important in contemporary global governance discussions.

Speaking on the occasion, Seshadri Chari, RIS Governing Council member, noted that RIS has emerged as an increasingly influential policy think-tank at a time when the global landscape has undergone profound transformations.

He emphasised the institution's growing relevance in addressing contemporary development challenges and contributing to strategic policy discourse.

Earlier, Professor Sachin Kumar Sharma, RIS Director General, traced the institution's journey since its establishment in 1983.

He noted that RIS was founded to address the need for a dedicated policy research institution capable of equipping developing countries with analytical inputs to navigate the complexities of international economic and political negotiations.

Reflecting on the institution's four-decade journey, Professor Sharma said that RIS has become even more relevant in an era marked by the fragmentation of multilateral institutions, growing geopolitical uncertainties, and increasingly complex global challenges.

He reaffirmed RIS's commitment to generating high-quality policy research and advancing the developmental aspirations of the Global South.

As part of the 44th Foundation Day celebrations, RIS also organised a conference on "Strengthening India–Africa Partnership for Agricultural Transformation" in collaboration with DAKSHIN – Global South Centre of Excellence at RIS and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).

The conference brought together noted policymakers, researchers, development practitioners, industry representatives, and agricultural experts from across the world to deliberate on sustainable farming systems, climate-resilient agriculture, digital public infrastructure, agri-start-up ecosystems, and pathways for strengthening India–Africa cooperation in agricultural transformation.

Through a series of technical sessions and a high-level panel discussion, participants exchanged experiences and best practices aimed at fostering inclusive, sustainable, and technology-driven agricultural development across Africa and the Global South.

The Foundation Day celebrations provided an opportunity to reflect on RIS's contributions over the past four decades and its continuing role in shaping policy discourse on development, economic cooperation, and global governance.

Source: IANS

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Singapore, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has called on America's allies in the Indo-Pacific region to increase defence spending and strengthen military preparedness to counter China's growing influence and military expansion, according to a report.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth stressed that maintaining regional stability would require stronger deterrence, deeper security cooperation and greater contributions from US allies.

According to a report by Modern Diplomacy, Hegseth urged partner nations to move beyond discussions and focus on tangible military capabilities, saying that the region needs more resources such as ships, submarines and defence systems rather than merely holding security conferences.

He emphasised the importance of building a strong network of allies capable of deterring aggression and preserving the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.

Hegseth said the US expects its allies to raise defence spending to around 3.5 per cent of GDP, while Washington itself is investing nearly $1.5 trillion in military capabilities.

He added that a stronger collective defence posture is essential in the face of evolving security challenges across the region.

The US Defence Secretary also reiterated President Donald Trump's position that wealthy allies should take greater responsibility for their own defence costs.

He declared that the era of American defence subsidies for prosperous nations is coming to an end and stressed that allies must contribute more actively to collective security arrangements.

Highlighting the need for action over rhetoric, Hegseth suggested that the Indo-Pacific requires more military assets and operational capabilities rather than simply more dialogue.

He noted that regional partners are seeking stability and said the US must demonstrate "strength and disciplined leadership" to maintain peace and security.

Despite expressing concern over China's military buildup, Hegseth acknowledged that communication between Washington and Beijing has improved in recent months.

He pointed to increased military-to-military engagement, saying such channels are helping manage tensions even though the broader US-China relationship remains complex.

Chinese delegate Zhou Bo welcomed what he described as a more measured tone in Hegseth's remarks compared with previous years suggesting that previous diplomatic engagement had helped keep communication channels open and reduce the risk of misunderstandings between the two powers.

Hegseth also praised the contributions of several US allies, particularly Japan, for strengthening defence cooperation and enhancing military readiness alongside Washington.

On the Middle East, he said the US remains prepared to resume military strikes on Iran if diplomatic efforts fail, while maintaining that Washington has the capacity to focus simultaneously on both Asian and Middle Eastern security priorities.

Addressing questions regarding Taiwan, Hegseth avoided directly commenting on reports that the US is considering a substantial new arms package for the island.

However, he reiterated that there has been no change in US policy toward Taiwan and said that decisions regarding arms sales ultimately rest with President Trump.

On Saturday Hegseth called for finding a "balance" in the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) to South Korea in a manner that respects the longstanding role played by US forces on the Korean Peninsula.

Hegseth made the remarks at the defence forum in Singapore amid growing concerns over what appear to be differing views between Seoul and Washington regarding the timing and framework of the transition, Yonhap news agency reported.

"I think we have to find the balance of where our military plans and the responsibilities that US uniformed members have had for decades now (are) honoured, as we phase over to wartime OPCON transfer for South Korea, which we welcome the fact that they want that," he said during a session of the Asia Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Hegseth reiterated his positive view on Seoul's strong will to retake the wartime OPCON, calling it a "breath of fresh air" that an ally wants to regain control "more quickly".

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) When Union Home Minister Amit Shah set out to review and secure India's international borders, it may have appeared to be a routine exercise. After all, border security falls squarely within the Home Ministry's responsibilities. But there is something different about this exercise.

In nearly eight decades of Independence, India has rarely witnessed a government pursue border security with such intensity and political focus. Previous governments spoke about strengthening national security. The Modi government is attempting something far more expansive. It wants to identify infiltration networks, check illegal encroachments, plug loopholes in the system and address what it sees as the long-term consequences of unchecked illegal migration across India's borders.

That is why this mission deserves attention.

As the Modi government enters its thirteenth year in office, it is taking decisions that affect not only external security but also internal stability. For decades, infiltration from across India's borders, particularly from Bangladesh and Pakistan, remained a subject of political debate but rarely received sustained administrative attention.

Today, the issue can no longer be ignored. The situation has reached a point where the government believes that illegal infiltrators are not only compromising national security but also placing pressure on public resources. They are taking away employment opportunities from local youth and, most worryingly, contributing to a demographic shift.

What makes the present debate unusual is the emphasis on demography. Never before has a government at the Centre spoken so openly about demographic change as a matter of national concern. For decades, such discussions remained confined to academic studies, census reports and occasional political speeches. Today, they are part of mainstream political discourse. It is perhaps for the first time in independent India's history that attempts to alter demographic balances are being discussed and treated as a matter of national concern.

Census data shows that Hindus constituted about 84 per cent of India's population in 1951, while Muslims accounted for 9.8 per cent. By 2011, the Hindu share had declined to around 79.8 per cent, while the Muslim share had risen to 14.2 per cent.

The debate over demography cannot be separated from the legacy of Partition. The creation of Pakistan was justified on the basis of religion, but millions of Muslims chose to remain in India and became equal citizens of the new Republic.

Over the decades, concerns have periodically surfaced over demographic changes in certain regions, particularly along India's eastern border. These changes cannot be viewed in isolation from illegal immigration from neighbouring countries. The Muslim population growth rate remains higher than that of Hindus and several other communities. This stands in sharp contrast to Pakistan and Bangladesh, where the share of religious minorities has steadily declined over the decades.

Different political groups draw different conclusions from these figures. But they have undoubtedly become a major reference point in discussions on demography and migration.

Addressing the Narendra Mohan Memorial Lecture in October 2025 on the theme of 'Infiltration, Demographic Change and Democracy', Amit Shah said that demographic shifts in several border regions were linked not only to fertility rates but also to decades of illegal infiltration from neighbouring countries.

West Bengal has emerged as the most prominent example in this debate. Recent reports and investigations relating to undocumented Bangladeshi migrants, forged identity documents and alleged infiltration networks have intensified political scrutiny.

BJP leaders have accused the Trinamool Congress of facilitating such networks for electoral gain. They argue that resistance to complete border fencing under the Mamata Banerjee government must be viewed in this context. According to this argument, gaps in enforcement created conditions in which infiltration networks could flourish and eventually become part of a larger vote-bank ecosystem.

Questions are now being asked that were rarely asked with such urgency before. How did illegal entrants obtain documentation? Who enabled them? How widespread are these networks? And why were corrective measures delayed for so long?

Similar concerns have been raised in Assam and other parts of the Northeast. Amit Shah has previously pointed to Census trends in Assam and argued that demographic changes in several districts cannot be understood without taking infiltration into account.

He has noted that the decadal growth rate of the Muslim population in Assam, according to the 2011 Census, stood at 29.6 per cent and argued that such growth could not be explained without considering illegal immigration. He has made similar observations about districts in West Bengal and about demographic changes affecting tribal populations in parts of Jharkhand.

These developments have revived long-standing concerns that were often dismissed or treated as secondary in public discourse. For decades, infiltration was treated primarily as a law-and-order issue. The Modi government is treating it as a demographic, political and national security issue as well.

That shift explains the Centre's decision to constitute a High-Level Committee to study demographic changes arising from illegal immigration and other abnormal factors. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of a Demography Mission in 2025 reflected the government's intention to place the issue at the heart of policymaking.

As the Modi government enters its thirteenth year in office with a historic win in West Bengal, the political ground is shifting beneath the feet of parties that relied on identity-based vote-bank calculations.

For the BJP, border security is no longer merely an administrative responsibility. It has become part of a larger political project. The slogan of "detect, delete and deport" has moved from campaign rhetoric to government policy.

Whether this approach delivers the results remains to be seen. But it is increasingly finding resonance among a large section of the population who believe that infiltration, demography and national security can no longer be discussed separately.

For decades, the issue of infiltration surfaced periodically in political debates and then faded from public attention. Today, it occupies the centre of national discourse. Whether the Modi government's approach ultimately succeeds or faces resistance, one thing is clear: border security is no longer being discussed only in terms of fences and checkpoints. It is now tied to questions of identity, representation, resources and the future character of regions along India's frontiers. After years of silence, the country is having a conversation it avoided for far too long.

(Deepika Bhan can be contacted at deepika.b@ians.in)

Source: IANS

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Bhubaneswar, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Odisha Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati has appointed IPS officer Ananya Awasthi as the Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Governor, making her the first woman officer to serve in the prestigious position.

According to an official statement, a formal induction ceremony was held at Lok Bhavan on Sunday, where Governor Kambhampati welcomed Awasthi to her new assignment as the Police ADC. Senior officials of the Governor’s Secretariat were present on the occasion.

It is pertinent here to mention that prior to her appointment, Awasthi was serving as the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Urban Police District, Cuttack. As the first woman to serve as ADC to the Governor of Odisha, her appointment marks a significant milestone for the participation of women in public service.

The 2022-batch IPS officer succeeds fellow IPS officer Kuldeep Meena, who previously served as the Police ADC to the Governor. During a recent reshuffle carried out by the state government, Meena, a 2021-batch IPS officer, has been appointed as the Superintendent of Police of Boudh district.

Notably, the Governor of Odisha is assisted by two Aides-de-Camp -- one from the Indian Navy and the other from the Odisha Police.

While Ananya Awasthi will serve as the Police ADC, Lieutenant Harshit Deo of the Indian Navy will continue as the Naval ADC to the Governor.

The ADC plays an important role in assisting the Governor during official engagements, ceremonial functions, and other protocol-related duties.

Meanwhile, Awasthi’s appointment as the first woman ADC to the Governor of Odisha is being viewed as a landmark achievement in the state’s public service landscape.

The historic posting underscores the increasing role of women in leadership and ceremonial positions within the police and administrative framework. It also reflects the state’s commitment to promoting gender inclusivity and creating opportunities for women to excel in responsibilities and positions of high trust, discipline, and prestige.

Source: IANS

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Srinagar, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Three persons were apprehended on Sunday while they were trying to cross the Line of Control (LoC) into Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

Officials said the Army nabbed the three persons as they tried to cross the LoC in Kashmir.

All three persons are hailing from the Sopore area of Baramulla district. They were trying to exfiltrate into PoK from the Hathlanga-Nambla axis during the intervening night of Saturday-Sunday, the officials said.

The trio arrested have been identified as Adil Hussain Dar, resident of Sopore; Ishfaq Ahmad, a resident of Sopore and Jaffar Ahmad, a resident of Sopore. Of these, Dar is a suspended TA (Territorial Army)-161 personnel, said officials.

Sources said the trio was in contact with some handlers based in Pakistan occupied Kashmir.

All three are currently in custody and are being questioned by security agencies.

More details are awaited.

In another incident, the Army unit apprehended a PoK resident who had crossed the LoC into Kashmir in the Silikote area of the Uri sector.

The apprehended person, Zeeshan Mir, a resident of Muzaffarabad, claimed he had crossed the LoC to meet his girlfriend who lives in Tileai in the sector.

Both Mir and the girl are being questioned by security forces, the officials said, adding further details were awaited.

Jammu and Kashmir has a 740-km-long LoC situated in Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora districts of the Valley and in Poonch, Rajouri and partly in Jammu district of Jammu division.

The Army is guarding the LoC in J&K against infiltration, exfiltration, drug smuggling and drone activity initiated from across the border.

Drones are used by terrorist outfits in PoK to drop payloads of arms, ammunition, cash and drugs into the Indian side of the border. These payloads are picked up by the overground workers (OGWs) of terrorist outfits and passed on to the terrorists to sustain terrorism in the union territory.

High-tech anti-drone equipment is being used by the Army to check the menace of drones.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, May 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles will co-chair the second India-Australia Defence Ministers' Dialogue in New Delhi on Monday, with talks focused on strengthening defence and security cooperation.

During the meeting, the two ministers will review the progress in bilateral defence cooperation and identify new avenues for collaboration.

The discussions will focus on strengthening defence and security cooperation, enhancing military interoperability, industry collaboration, including co-development and co-production opportunities, and regional and global security developments of mutual interest, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Defence.

The meeting is expected to further strengthen defence ties, enhance strategic trust and cooperation, promote stability and security in the Indo-Pacific region and identify new areas of collaboration in defence and security.

"The visit of Mr Richard Marles follows the inaugural Dialogue held in Australia in October 2025 and reflects the growing momentum in the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Australia is a key partner in India’s vision of a free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific. The visit underscores the growing depth and maturity of the India-Australia defence partnership," the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

Highlighting that the first Australia–India Defence Ministers’ Dialogue was held in Australia last October, the Australian Defence Ministry stated on Thursday that the meeting showcases unprecedented progress in the bilateral defence partnership and a shared ambition to enhance cooperation.

Marles stated that he is looking forward to meeting Rajnath Singh.

"Australia and India are top-tier security partners. I look forward to meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to further strengthen our defence partnership following the strong progress we made during his visit to Australia last year," Marles was quoted as saying in a statement released by the Australian Defence Ministry ahead of the visit.

Source: IANS

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