India

Taking to Twitter, Kharge said: "India and Australia have several commonalities, which serve as a foundation for closer cooperation and multifaceted interaction. Our strategic partnership has grown in strength and in importance. Australia’s High Commissioner to India Barry O'Farrell met me, as we discussed ways to deepen the relationship between the two countries."

He also attached pictures from the meeting.

Sharing the details of his meeting with the German Ambassador, Kharge said: "India was amongst the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with the Federal Republic of Germany. Today, Germany is amongst India’s most valued partners, both bilaterally and in the global context.

"Met Dr. Philipp Ackermann, Ambassador of Germany in India, and deliberated upon the deepening strategic partnership between the two countries founded upon common democratic principles and marked by a high degree of trust and mutual respect."

--IANS

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In a tweet, Kharge said: "India and Australia have several commonalities, which serve as a foundation for closer cooperation and multifaceted interaction. Our strategic partnership has grown in strength and in importance. Australia’s High Commissioner to India Barry O'Farrell met me, as we discussed ways to deepen the relationship between the two countries."

He also attached the pictures from the meeting.

According to party leaders, Germany's Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann is also to meet Kharge later in the day.

--IANS

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Man held at IGI airport with six bullets New Delhi, June 29 (IANS) Delhi Police have detained a 43-year-old man for allegedly carrying six live cartridges in his luggage at IGI airport, an official said on Thursday. The man identified as Amrish Bishnoi, a resident of Ghaziabad, is doing work of transport in Uttar Pradesh and was travelling from Delhi to Dubai from IGI Airport on an Emirates flight on June 27 (Tuesday_. According to police, during screening of luggage after check-in six live cartridges were found in his luggage. “He was not in possession of valid documents for carrying live ammunition in aircraft, but he was having an all India license of pistol from the UP government. A case under section 25 Arms act has been registered at IGI police station,” said the official IANS ssh/

Chowdhury is an MLA from the Algapur Assembly seat in Hailakandi.

Ataur Rahman Laskar, a member of the BJP minority cell, alleged that he was attacked by the MLA and three other persons while he was returning home on Tuesday.

After the incident, Laskar filed a complaint at the Panchgram Police Station against four people, including the MLA.

Chowdhury was detained by the police on Wednesday afternoon, and he was later taken into custody after two hours of interrogation.

According the the FIR, Chowdhury and a group of others stopped Laskar’s car near Dhaleswar Point at around 11.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

The complainant said: "They tried to drag me out, broke the windows in my car, and once tried to stab me to death with knives. I took refuge in the Katakhal police outpost after managing to escape somehow.”

Laskar even claimed that Chowdhury and the others attacked him inside the police station as well.

"The police officials saved me from them and they fled seeing the police."

The police said that the four accused have been charged with violating sections of the IPC, including 148 (assembling or rioting with lethal weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly), 427 (causing damage to property), 353 (assaulting on-duty public official), and 307 (attempt to murder).

Hailakandi SP Leena Doley confirmed Chowdhury's arrest and added that a search operation is underway to nab the three others.

The AIUDF MLA was produced before a court on Wednesday evening and the Magistrate issued an order to send him to judicial custody.

However, on emergency medical grounds, he was taken to a local hospital.

Earlier, Chowdhury was charged with raping a woman, and on June 17, he appeared before a Hailakandi district court.

He was however, granted bail.

--IANS

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Ever since the ethnic violence broke out in the state on May 3, the Congress has been questioning the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.

The Congress has also been demanding the removal of Manipur Chief Minister N. Niren Singh for "failing miserably" to control the situation in the northeastern state.

--IANSaks/shb/

This comes days after 15 opposition parties met in Patna. Shah will address the rally in the district's Gandhi Maidan.

The Munger Lok Sabha constituency, from where Lalan Singh is the sitting MP, comprises six Assembly constituencies. The BJP has a special focus on Munger as Lalan Singh is extremely critical about PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.

BJP, in the past eight Lok Sabha elections has failed to win this seat. For the last two to three terms, the seat was given to alliance partners. Last time in 2019, Lalan Singh of JD(U) won the seat and reached Lok Sabha.

This time, the BJP wants to give a tough challenge to Singh, and hence is looking for a strong candidate. It has reportedly contacted two Bahubalis of Munger to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha poll against Lalan Singh, but they turned down the calls.

Now, there is a buzz that Giriraj Singh, the Union minister in Narendra Modi government, who is the sitting MP from Begusarai or Rakesh Sinha may contest against Lalan Singh from Munger.

There is also a buzz that Vijay Kumar Sinha, who is an MLA from Lakhisarai Assembly constituency and present leader of opposition in the Bihar Assembly may be asked to fight against him.

Shah earlier came to Purnea and Nawada and addressed the rallies there. Lakhisarai is the third place where BJP is organising a rally to influence voters of 6 Assembly constituencies.

The BJP is trying to influence voters of other adjoining districts as well. Reacting to Shah's rally, Neeraj Kumar, the JD(U) MLC and chief spokesperson of the party said: "Amit Shah is a home minister of the country and he can go anywhere. I just want to say that don’t lie to the people of Bihar. When he came to Purnea, he said that an airport was built there.

"I want to ask him where is the airport in Purnea. Please issue the toll free number, I want to purchase an air ticket from that airport. When he went to Hisua in Nawada, he said that the thermal power plant was established. Where is the thermal power plant? One brick has not been set up here. Hence, I believe Amit Shah's rally has no value. It will not affect us."

"BJP is feeling uneasy after the grand success of the opposition meeting held in Patna on June 23. Hence, he is coming here. The people of Bihar know the moves of BJP," Kumar said.

--IANS

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In its forecast for Thursday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted cloudy sky and light to moderate rain with thundershowers throughout the day.

"Thunderstorm with light to moderate intensity rain would occur over and adjoining areas of isolated places of Delhi (Deramandi), NCR (Faridabad, Manesar, Ballabhgarh) Safidon, Jind, Panipat, Gohana, Rohtak, Mattanhail, Jhajjar, Farukhnagar, Kosali, Sohana, Rewari, Nuh (Haryana) Saharanpur, Deoband, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh), Bhiwari (Rajasthan)," the IMD said in a tweet at around 9 a.m.

"Light intensity rain/drizzle would occur over and adjoining areas of many places of Delhi , NCR (Loni Dehat, Hindon AF Station, Ghaziabad, Indirapuram, Chhapraula, Noida, Dadri, Greater Noida) Kandhla, Sakoti Tanda, Hastinapur, Chandpur, Daurala, Bagpat, Meerut, Khekra, Modinagar, Kithor, Amroha, Garhmukteshwar, Pilakhua, Hapur, Gulaoti, Siyana, Sikandrabad, Bulandshahar, Shikarpur, Pahasu (Uttar Pradesh) Tizara, Khairthal (Rajasthan) during next 2 hours," the Department said in another tweet.

Meanwhile, the maximum temperature is likely to hover around 35 degrees Celsius during the day.

The relative humidity at 8.30 a.m. was recorded at 100 per cent.

The weather department has also said that in the next three days, light to moderate rainfall will be fairly widespread to widespread across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana.

--IANS

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In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "Greetings on Eid-ul-Adha. May this day bring happiness and prosperity to everyone. May it also uphold the spirit of togetherness and harmony in our society. Eid Mubarak."

Kharge also took to Twitter and said, "The festival of Eid-al-Adha epitomises the noble values of sacrifice, trust and forgiveness. On this joyous occasion, let us all firmly resolve to strengthen the bonds of fraternity and build a peaceful, harmonious and progressive society. Eid Mubarak."

Rahul Gandhi also extended his wishes, and said, "Eid Mubarak. May this auspicious occasion bring peace, prosperity and happiness to all."

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "Hearty greetings on Eid. May this auspicious festival bring lot of happiness, blessings and peace in everyone's life."

Earlier in the day, hundreds of people in Delhi offered namaz at Jama Masjid. Eid-ul-Adha is also known as the festival of sacrifice and holds significant religious and cultural importance for Muslims. It falls on the 10th day of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar.

--IANS

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Large crowds were witnessed in the Muslim-dominated areas of Shimla, Chamba and Nahan towns.

The population of the Muslims in the hill state is less than two per cent of the total population of over 68 lakh.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu felicitated the people, particularly the Muslims on the auspicious occasion.

Extending greetings, the Chief Minister hoped this festival would further strengthen the bonds of peace, unity and brotherhood in the country.

He said the festival may spread the message of goodwill and go a long way in strengthening the unity and integrity of the country.

--IANS

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She further said that since the Arvind Kejriwal government came to power in Delhi, the budget allocated to these colleges had tripled.

"In the financial year 2023-24, an amount of Rs 400 crores has been allocated by the government. Out of this, the first quarter's allocation of Rs 100 crores is being released today," said Atishi.

"It is the vision of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to provide access to quality higher education to every child in Delhi. To ensure the same, the funds for these 12 colleges are being increased by the government every year," she added.

--IANS

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