Everything You Need To Know About The Relationship Trend Grey Divorce

Recently, the internet has titled a new trend, which it is calling “grey divorce”. As it is possibly news to many, grey divorce is a term that refers to separation between couples who have spent a long term relationship together. It is also being used to describe couples above the age of 50 who separate. These couples are also called “silver splitter". The grey divorces also termed as silver splitters, occur in couples who have together for 20,30 or even 40 years. From kids moving out to partners changing their need and desires, there are many reasons spouses are ending their marriage later in life. 

As per research by NIH, the relationship trend of grey divorce has been on the rise in past few years. These couples have spent many years together, either being married or in a partnership. In Indian celebrity circles, the term after actress Urmila Matondkar reportedly seperated from her husband Mohsin Mir after eight years of marriage. Many other celebrity couples have also decided to call it quits in their middle age or senior years and after being in long term relationships. Here's a list of all the popular celebrities who fall under the phenomenon of grey divorce.  

(Also Read: On Ranbir Kapoor's Birthday, Alia Bhatt Offers A Glimpse Of Raha's Adorable Bond With Father)

1. Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik 

Former Indian Tennis star Sania Mirza married Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik back in 2010 and got divorced earlier this year. The news came after Shoaib's third marriage with actress Sana Javed. Their divorce is an example of grey divorce as the couple separated after being together for almost 14 years of marriage.  

2. Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khan 

Another couple who falls under the grey divorce phenomenon is Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khan. Malaika Arora got married to Arbaaz Khan back in 1997. After being together for almost 19 years, the couple parted ways in 2017.  

3. Seema Sajdeh and Sohail Khan 

Not only Arbaaz Khan, but his brother Sohail Khan and ex-wife Seema Sajdeh also falls under the phenomenon of grey divorce. The couple was married for almost two decades and officially ended their marriage in 2022.   

4. Hrithik Roshan and Susanne Khan 

Hrithik Roshan and Susanne Khan are another couple who had a grey divorce. The couple got married in 2000 and divorced in 2014 after 14 years of togetherness. However, the couple remain on amicable terms to co-parent their children.  

5. Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan 

Actor Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao is another couple who fell prey to grey divorce. The couple announced their divorce in July 2021 after being married to each other for more than 15 years.

(Also Read: Saif Ali Khan's Key Parenting Tip Is "Spending Quality Time" With His Children)

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56 Years After Air Force Plane Crash Over Rohtang Pass, 4 More Bodies Found

More than 56 years after an ill-fated AN-12 aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed over the Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh, the bodies of four more victims were recovered, marking a significant success in one of India's longest-running search operations.

Army officials said the bodies were found by a joint team comprising personnel from the Dogra Scouts of the Indian Army and Tiranga Mountain Rescue.

The twin-engine turboprop transport aircraft, carrying 102 people, had gone missing on February 7, 1968 while flying from Chandigarh to Leh.

"In an extraordinary development, the ongoing search and rescue mission to recover the remains of personnel from the AN-12 aircraft, which crashed on Rohtang Pass in 1968, has achieved significant breakthroughs," said an official.

For decades, the wreckage and remains of the victims remained lost in the icy terrain.

It was only in 2003 when mountaineers from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering discovered the wreckage, sparking multiple expeditions over the years by the Indian Army, especially the Dogra Scouts.

The Dogra Scouts have been at the forefront of search missions in 2005, 2006, 2013, and 2019.

Only five bodies of the victims were recovered by 2019 in view of the treacherous conditions and unforgiving terrain of the crash site, according to officials.

The Chandra Bhaga Mountain Expedition has now recovered four more bodies, bringing renewed hope to the families of the victims and the nation, they said.

The three out of four bodies are of Malkhan Singh, Sepoy Narayan Singh and Craftsman Thomas Charan, the officials said.

The documents recovered from the remaining body have not conclusively identified the individual. However, the details of their relatives were found, the officials said.

Charan hailed from Elanthoor, Pathanamthitta district in Kerala. His mother Eleama, has been informed of the recovery, they said.

Malkhan Singh's identity was confirmed with the help of documents obtained from official records.

Sepoy Singh, who worked in the Army Medical Corps, was identified through official documents. Singh hailed from the village of Kolpadi, Chamoli Tehsil in Garhwal, Uttarakhand, the officials said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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56 Years After Air Force Plane Crash Over Rohtang Pass, 4 More Bodies Found

More than 56 years after an ill-fated AN-12 aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed over the Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh, the bodies of four more victims were recovered, marking a significant success in one of India's longest-running search operations.

Army officials said the bodies were found by a joint team comprising personnel from the Dogra Scouts of the Indian Army and Tiranga Mountain Rescue.

The twin-engine turboprop transport aircraft, carrying 102 people, had gone missing on February 7, 1968 while flying from Chandigarh to Leh.

"In an extraordinary development, the ongoing search and rescue mission to recover the remains of personnel from the AN-12 aircraft, which crashed on Rohtang Pass in 1968, has achieved significant breakthroughs," said an official.

For decades, the wreckage and remains of the victims remained lost in the icy terrain.

It was only in 2003 when mountaineers from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering discovered the wreckage, sparking multiple expeditions over the years by the Indian Army, especially the Dogra Scouts.

The Dogra Scouts have been at the forefront of search missions in 2005, 2006, 2013, and 2019.

Only five bodies of the victims were recovered by 2019 in view of the treacherous conditions and unforgiving terrain of the crash site, according to officials.

The Chandra Bhaga Mountain Expedition has now recovered four more bodies, bringing renewed hope to the families of the victims and the nation, they said.

The three out of four bodies are of Malkhan Singh, Sepoy Narayan Singh and Craftsman Thomas Charan, the officials said.

The documents recovered from the remaining body have not conclusively identified the individual. However, the details of their relatives were found, the officials said.

Charan hailed from Elanthoor, Pathanamthitta district in Kerala. His mother Eleama, has been informed of the recovery, they said.

Malkhan Singh's identity was confirmed with the help of documents obtained from official records.

Sepoy Singh, who worked in the Army Medical Corps, was identified through official documents. Singh hailed from the village of Kolpadi, Chamoli Tehsil in Garhwal, Uttarakhand, the officials said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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As Hezbollah Recovers Nasrallah's Body, Israeli Strikes Kill 105 In Lebanon

1. Lebanon claimed fresh Israeli strikes killed 105 people and injured 359 others on Sunday after Israel said it had kept up its bombardment of Hezbollah targets.
2. Lebanon's health ministry said there had been deadly air raids near the main southern city of Sidon, while dozens more had died in the east, in the south, and in and around Beirut.
3. Four people were also killed in an Israeli strike on Beirut on Monday, the first attack on the city itself since the Iran-backed Hezbollah engaged in cross-border fire with Israel after Hamas attacked Israeli towns on October 7 last year, triggering war in Gaza.
4. France on Sunday said a second French national had been killed in Lebanon after a woman died following a south Lebanon blast on Monday. 
5. The announcement came as French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot arrived in Lebanon, the first high-level foreign diplomat to visit since the Israeli attacks intensified.
6. Lebanon has said more than 1,000 people have been killed and 6,000 injured since Israel increased the frequency of attacks against Hezbollah members two weeks ago.
7. According to Reuters, the body of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has been recovered from the site of an Israeli air attack on Beirut and is "intact".
8. His body had no "direct" wounds and it appeared the cause of death was "blunt trauma from the force of the blast", Reuters reported.
9. Israel's military said the air strike that killed Nasrallah had "eliminated" another 20 Hezbollah members after earlier strikes killed top leaders Fuad Shukr and Ibrahim Aqil.
10. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to keep up the assault on Lebanon, saying he wants to make Israel's northern areas secure again for residents who have been forced to flee due to Hezbollah attacks. 

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La Liga Live: Atletico Frustrate Real Madrid In 1st Half | ATM 0:0 RMA

Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid LIVE Updates, La Liga 2024-25: The LaLia match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid is 0-0 in the first-half at Civitas Metropolitano. Real Madrid are without Kylian Mbappe for this after the France captain picked up an injury midweek against Deportivo Alaves. Mbappe, who arrived on free contract in the summer, has scored five league goals already this season. In his absence, the onus will be on Vinicius Jr, who is the top contender to win this year's Ballon d'Or. Atletico, on the other hand, have given starts to both Alexander Sorloth and big money signing Julian Alvarez at the top. Englishman Conor Gallagher is another summer arrival who starts for Diego Simeone's men.

Here are the Live Updates of Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid, La Liga 2024-25 match -

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France Submits Final Price Offer To India For 26 Rafale Marine Jet Deal

France has submitted the final price offer to India for the 26 Rafale Marine Jet deal just ahead of the scheduled visit of Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to the country.

Defence sources told ANI that the best and final price offer has been submitted to the Indian authorities by the French side for the project and a significant price reduction has been given after tough negotiations in the proposed contract.

India and France are negotiating the deal for buying 26 Rafale Marine jets which are going to be deployed on the INS Vikrant aircraft carrier and different bases.

The two sides had also held negotiations last week when a French team was in the national capital for finalizing the discussions with India.

The deal is scheduled to be taken up for discussion during the India-France Strategic Dialogue where the Indian NSA is scheduled to meet his French counterparts from tomorrow in Paris.

The deal is important for the Indian Navy as it is looking at strengthening its maritime strike capability.

India has also approved deviations in the letter of request, which is the tender document equivalent in government-to-government deals, like the integration of the indigenous Uttam radar in the jets for the Indian Navy.

Sources said that the integration would have taken a longer time of around eight years along with a high price to be paid to the French side for doing so.

India had also asked France for integration of indigenous weapons on the plane. This includes the Astra beyond visual range missiles along with the Rudram anti-radiation missiles.

The sources added that the price for the deal has been based on the agreements over rate it inflation to be taken into account and would be using the previous deal for 36 Rafale fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force as the basis.

Some of the Indian Air Force requirements have also been incorporated in the naval deal which will include around 40 drop tanks and a small number of work stations for the planes.

The Indian side is also going to get more number of long-range air-to-air Meteor missiles and with the anti-ship weaponry in this project planned to be concluded before the end of this financial year.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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6 Killed As Bus Collides With Truck In Madhya Pradesh

At least six people were killed while nearly 20 others were injured in a collision between a bus and a truck in the Maihar district of Madhya Pradesh, police said.

The accident took place near the Nadan Dehat police station, about 25 km from the district headquarters.

According to the police, the bus, which was going to Nagpur from Prayagraj, collided with the parked stone-laden dumper truck parked on the roadside around 11 p.m. on Saturday.

Superintendent of Police, Maihar, Sudhir Agrawal, said that among those injured, the condition of six people was said to be critical and they were referred to Satna for further treatment.

He also added that the remaining injured individuals are receiving treatment in hospitals in Maihar and Amarpatan.

Agrawal said that senior officials reached the spot soon after receiving information about the accident and launched a rescue operation. Further details are awaited.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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'Ring Of Fire' Solar Eclipse: Timing, Visibility In India And Other Details

The annular solar eclipse of 2024 is set to occur on October 2, Wednesday. According to Space.com, during this astronomical phenomenon, the Moon will appear smaller than the Sun, leaving a bright ring of sunlight visible around the darkened centre. This celestial spectacle, also known as the "Ring of Fire," will be visible for over six hours, starting at 9:13 PM IST and ending at 3:17 PM IST the next day. During the peak, the Moon will create the "ring of fire" effect for viewers within the path of annularity. 

Is the annular solar eclipse visible from India? 

This celestial event will be visible across parts of the Pacific Ocean, southern Chile and southern Argentina. However, skywatchers in India will be disappointed. Due to the timing of the eclipse occurring at night, it will not be observable from the country.

Consequently, the Sutak Kaal period, a time of observation traditionally followed during eclipses, will not be applicable in India.

This event provides an opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts and skywatchers to prepare for a captivating astronomical event. Remember, proper safety precautions are crucial when viewing a solar eclipse directly.

What is a 'ring of fire' solar eclipse?

According to NASA, this event occurs when the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun, but appears too small to completely cover the Sun's surface - resulting in what appears as a ring of fire in the sky. 

The Moon revolves around the Earth in an elliptical orbit, so at two points each month, it is farthest (apogee) and closest (perigee) to Earth, making the Moon appear slightly smaller and slightly larger than average in our sky.

What is a solar eclipse? 

According to NASA, Solar eclipses occur when the Sun, the Moon, and Earth line up, either fully or partially. Depending on how they align, eclipses provide a unique, exciting view of either the Sun or the Moon.

A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth that either fully or partially blocks the Sun's light in some areas. This only happens occasionally, because the Moon doesn't orbit in the exact same plane as the Sun and Earth do. The time when they are aligned is known as eclipse season, which happens twice a year.

It is to be noted that it is never safe to look directly at the Sun. But those who want to witness it, should use certified eclipse glasses, or make a cardboard pinhole projector.

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Apple Trader Runs Pablo Escobar-esque Drug Op, Evades Cops For Years

The orders for the drug were generated through WhatsApp, supplies were initiated and delivery made; but the delivery person and the final receiver never saw each other. In fact, people in the demand and supply chains operated like unrelated units.

Shahi Mahatma aka Shashi Negi, an apple trader in the upper Shimla region, ran an interstate 'chitta' (adulterated heroin) racket for five to six years, avoiding enforcement agencies by ensuring the dots were always so wide apart that they could not be connected to reach him. Negi remained the only common link between the demand and supply chain in his 'chitta'.

But he ran out of luck on September 20, a day after the police made this year's biggest haul of drugs in Shimla - 465 grams of 'chitta' from Kharapathar.

"Links of the accused Mudasir Ahmed Mochi, a resident of Bhatpura village in Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir (who was arrested on September 19) were established with Shahi Mahatma alias Shashi Negi and the kingpin was arrested," SP Shimla Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi told PTI on Saturday. 

Mr Gandhi said Negi and his 40 associates were supplying drugs in Rohru, Jubbal-Kotkhai and Theog areas of Upper Shimla under the garb of his apple business, and he had links with Nigerian drug gangs in New Delhi, gangs in Haryana and people in Kashmir.

Explaining the modus operandi of Negi's gang, Mr Gandhi said he made sure the drugs being delivered changed hands four times before getting to their destination. He had hired different sets of unrelated people for bringing in demand, supplying drugs and receiving payments.

He himself never used to come in direct contact with any of the partners, Mr Gandhi said.

The demand for drugs was generated in WhatsApp groups and, after verification of the drug user, it was sent to Negi, who had another team to supply the drugs.

At the time of the final handover too, the delivery person would keep the drug in an isolated place and share a video with the buyer, who would pick it up from there, Mr Gandhi said.

As for the money, it reached Negi's Dhan Laxmi account in Solan after travelling through various bank accounts, police said. And the people whose accounts were used during these transactions never knew it was drug money.

A fund flow of Rs 2.5-3 crores was detected in the bank accounts of the accused in the past 15 months, the police said.

Before the arrest of Negi, the police had already registered five FIRs under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act against nine persons who were part of the drug racket, police said, adding that, so far, 25 associates of the gang have been arrested. 

The social integrated intelligence network system involving local residents as informers helped in the registration of 650 cases and arrest of 1,100 drug peddlers, including 205 interstate dealers, in Shimla district in the past 18 months, said Mr Gandhi.

For impact assessment, police will increase intensive patrolling and the reach of social networking. Education institutions and large public places will be kept under surveillance to prevent such drug peddlers, he added. 

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Video: Chinese Woman's Reaction To Indian Population In Canada Goes Viral

A video of a Chinese woman expressing shock at the significant number of Indians present in Canada is going viral on social media. In the video, shared on X (formerly Twitter), the woman says that she is recording the clip from a location where individuals take their driving license test in Canada. She also says that people who were unaware of her location would think she was in India. "This is terrible," she remarks in the video, drawing mixed reactions from social media users.

In the video, the woman shows what she called a candid picture of the people waiting for the driver's license test. "This is terrible. I am surrounded by Indians in Canada. I will take a video for you to see. I am at this driving license test place," she states.

Watch the video below: 

A Chinese woman is shocked by the amount of Indians in Canada.

Canada is becoming less Canadian by the day. Everyone is noticing it. pic.twitter.com/dyXIGFrwcO

— iamyesyouareno (@iamyesyouareno) September 25, 2024

The clip was shared on X just a few days back. Since then, it has accumulated more than 2.8 million views. The post garnered mixed reactions from users, with many pointing out that the woman herself was an immigrant in Canada. 

"I went to Vancouver a few years ago, and straight up like 40% of the population is Chinese immigrants, so maybe she should go home too," wrote one user. "This is so ironic though because there are way more Chinese here," said another. 

"A foreigner of shocked by the amount of foreigners," wrote a third user. "Was in Canada a few months ago and can confirm, although the remaining white Canadians are still very nice people, but maybe they're too nice for their own good," expressed a fourth. 

Also Read | Smashed TV, Broken Bottles: Nanital Homestay Owner Shares Horrifying Experience With Delhi-NCR Guests

"Canada's identity has been evolving for centuries, with waves of immigrants from all over the world. Whether it was Europeans, Asians, or others, that diversity is what makes Canada what it is today," commented a fifth user. 

Meanwhile, the video comes amid a time when migrants have been blamed for societal problems including a lack of affordable housing and a ramped-up cost of living in Canada. It also surfaced online days after Canada announced to further reduce the number of study permits it will grant to foreign students and also tightened its foreign worker rules. 

"We're granting 35% fewer international student permits this year. And next year, that number's going down by another 10%," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on X earlier this month. "Immigration is an advantage for our economy - but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down," he added.

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Hezbollah Chief Was Israel Strike's Target In Latest Lebanon Attack: Report

Leading Israeli television networks reported that Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was the target of a massive Israeli air strike in a Beirut suburb on Friday.

"Target of the strike: Nasrallah. The IDF (Israeli military) is checking whether the secretary-general of Hezbollah was in the building in the heart of Dahiyeh (that was hit)," Channel 12 reported.

Public broadcaster Kan 11 said: "Target of the strike in Dahiyeh - Nasrallah." 

Contacted by AFP, the Israeli military said: "We are not commenting on this."

The left-leaning Haaretz newspaper also reported that Nasrallah was the target.

"Israel targets Hezbollah chief Nasrallah in massive Beirut strike," read a headline in Haaretz's online edition.
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Who Is Ankush Sachdeva, Youngest On Hurun's U-35 Indian Entrepreneur List

Ankush Sachdeva, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of the Indian social media platform ShareChat is the youngest entrepreneur to be featured in the inaugural edition of '2024 Hurun India Under35s'- a list of 150 exceptional Indian entrepreneurs who are 35 years old or younger. 

A graduate of IIT Kanpur, Mr Sachdeva founded ShareChat in 2015 along with two other founders- Bhanu Pratap Singh and Farid Ahsan. He did his B.Tech in computer science and engineering from IIT Kanpur in 2015. While studying there, he also interned at Microsoft in 2014 before proceeding to develop ShareChat. 

This is not the first accolade to Mr Sachdeva's name. Earlier, he was also featured in Forbes' 30 under 30 Asia list in 2018 along with Bhanu Pratap Singh and Farid Ahsan. 

ShareChat is a social media platform designed to cater the Indian audience specifically. On the app, one can watch and share trending videos. The app also allows you to connect with other people over chat rooms and can be used in 15 Indian languages. 

ShareChat today has over 500 million downloads on Google Play Store alone. However, success didn't come easy to Mr Sachdeva and his two co-founders. The trio started experimenting with different ventures together while studying in IIT Kanpur. It reportedly took them 17 tries to achieve success with ShareChat. 

Mr Sachdeva also built Moj, a short videos platform which was supposedly India's answer to TikTok, now banned in our country. Moj has over a hundred million downloads on Google Play Store. 

Starting out as co-founder and Chief Product Officer of ShareChat, Mr Sachdeva took over as the firm's CEO in 2017 and led the company to become a unicorn. 

Hurun's Under35 list also includes Parita Parekh of Toddle and Isha Ambani of Reliance Retail who are the youngest women entrepreneurs on the list. They are both 32. 
 

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Ashok Gehlot's Ex-Aide Blames Him For Phone Tapping During 2020 Crisis

In a development that could land former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot in trouble, his ex-officer on special duty (OSD) Lokesh Sharma has held him responsible for phone tapping during the political crisis in the state in 2020.

He said Mr Gehlot should be interrogated in this regard.

Delhi Police questioned Mr Sharma on Wednesday in connection with the phone-tapping case lodged on a complaint by Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

After the questioning, Mr Sharma said he submitted a seven-page written statement, describing the sequence of events on July 16, 2020, when he got a pen drive containing call recordings from the then chief minister for circulating to the media.

He said Mr Gehlot could tell how he got the call recordings and whether the call interceptions were done legally or not.

Mr Sharma's claim this time has marked a shift from his previous stand that he had got three audio clips from social media and forwarded those to media houses.

Mr Sharma was called for questioning at Delhi Police's Crime Branch office at Rohini. He reached there around 11 am, officials said.

Mr Sharma, in April this year, had publicly alleged that an audio clip of a purported telephonic conversation between Mr Shekhawat and some Congress leaders on "toppling" the then Congress government in Rajasthan in 2020 was given to him by the former chief minister himself.

Today, he mentioned this in the written statement.

"I have stated that the then chief minister had called me at the chief minister's residence and gave me a pen drive. He directed me to circulate the content of the pen drive to newspapers.

"I went home, transferred the files from the pen drive to my laptop and from laptop to my phone, then circulated them to media houses as directed," he told PTI.

He said the crime branch should now summon Ashok Gehlot for questioning to know the rest of the details.

"The next course of investigation should involve Ashok Gehlot," he said.

Mr Sharma said that he was not involved in the call interceptions.

"It was done on the directions of the then chief minister. Now he can disclose further details, how the interception was done, and whether it was legal or illegal," he said.

Mr Sharma claimed that phones of several Congress MLAs, from both camps of Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, were intercepted at the directions of the chief minister during the political crisis and he used to get a transcription of each call.

He said the then chief secretary, DGP, home secretary and principal secretary to the chief minister were all aware of the developments related to phone tapping.

The phone-tapping controversy erupted in July 2020 during a political crisis when the Congress was in power in Rajasthan.

The crisis was the result of a rebellion by the then deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and 18 other Congress leaders against the leadership of Mr Gehlot.

During the crisis, clips of alleged telephonic conversations between Mr Shekhawat and Congress leaders surfaced, following which Mr Gehlot had alleged that Mr Shekhawat was behind the attempted toppling of his government.

Mr Sharma had circulated the clips purportedly containing conversations about the plan. 

In March 2021, Delhi Police registered an FIR against Mr Sharma on charges of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and unlawfully intercepting telephonic conversations on a complaint by Mr Shekhawat.

This is Mr Sharma's sixth appearance before the Crime Branch for questioning. He was last quizzed by Crime Branch officials on October 10, 2023. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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It Seems 'Kalyug' Has Arrived: High Court On Elderly Couple's Alimony Battle

Faced with a couple aged between 75 and 80 years fighting a legal battle against each other for alimony, the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday made a strong observation, saying it seemed that 'kalyug' (the age of darkness in Hinduism) has arrived. 

Hearing a petition by the husband, Munesh Kumar Gupta of Aligarh, against a family court order in favour of his wife, Justice Saurabh Shyam Shamshery said the legal contest was a matter of concern and also tried to give advice to the couple. 

Mr Gupta's wife had demanded alimony from him and the family court had ruled in her favour. The man challenged the order and, issuing a notice to the wife, the high court said it hoped that they would come to an agreement by the next date of hearing. 
 

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Sri Lanka's Newly Elected President Dissolves Parliament, Calls Snap Polls

Sri Lanka's newly appointed President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Tuesday signed the special gazette notification ordering the dissolution of parliament, officials said.

The dissolution will be effective from midnight Tuesday and the election will be held on November 14.

Dissanayake in the run-up to Saturday's presidential election said he would immediately dissolve parliament to order a snap poll.

The last parliament was convened in August 2020. The dissolution has come 11 months ahead of schedule. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Companies Must Take Fresh Approvals To Import Laptops To India From Jan 1

India on Tuesday said companies will have to seek fresh approvals to import laptops and tablets starting from January 1 and guidelines to do so will be issued shortly.

India launched an "import management system" in November 2023, which required companies to register with the government the quantity and value of their laptop and tablet imports.

The government said at the time the data would be used for monitoring imports. The system, due to expire this month, has been extended until year-end.

"Importers would be required to apply for fresh authorisations for the period from 01.01.2025 subject to detailed guidance to be provided shortly," said a government notification issued on Tuesday.

India announced the new system for laptops, tablets, personal computers and servers after it rolled back an earlier plan to impose a licensing regime, requiring the likes of Apple, Dell and HP to obtain licences for shipments of imported laptops and tablets.

The laptop licensing policy, seen as a trade restriction, was reversed after criticism from industry and Washington.

The policy was part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to boost local manufacturing and ensure a trusted supply chain, as India remains reliant on imports for such electronics.

Reuters reported in March that India reversed the laptop licensing policy after lobbying by US officials who remained concerned about New Delhi's compliance with WTO obligations and new rules it may issue.

"India's repeated delay in implementing laptop import restrictions, likely influenced by U.S. concerns, needs to end," said Ajay Srivastava, founder of Global Trade Research Initiative, a Delhi-based basked think-tank.

India's laptop and personal computer imports between April to July stood at $1.7 billion, according to the government data.

Under a federal subsidy scheme for local production of laptops, tablets and personal computers, India last year approved applications from companies including Dell.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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PM Meets Zelensky In New York, Reaffirms Support For Peaceful Resolution

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York on Monday.

This was the second meeting between the two leaders in about a month. PM Modi had visited Ukraine on August 23 and reiterated India's willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate an early return of peace in the Ukraine conflict.

PM Modi had visited Ukraine at the invitation of President Zelenskyy in first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in the year 1992.

A joint statement issued following PM Modi's visit to Ukraine had said that both Leaders expressed mutual interest in working towards elevating bilateral relations from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic partnership in the future.

They reaffirmed their commitment to further developing bilateral ties for the benefit of the peoples of both countries based on mutual trust, respect, and openness.

The statement had said that PM Modi and President Zelenskyy reiterated their readiness for further cooperation in upholding principles of international law, including the UN Charter, such as respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. They agreed on the desirability of closer bilateral dialogue in this regard.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in New York, US

(Source: ANI/DD News) pic.twitter.com/z7mUwxZpvy

— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2024

"The Indian side reiterated its principled position and focus on peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, as a part of which, India has attended the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, in June 2024. The Ukrainian side welcomed such participation by India and highlighted the importance of high-level Indian participation in the next Peace Summit," the statement had said.

"Prime Minister Modi reiterated the need for sincere and practical engagement between all stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that will have broad acceptability and contribute towards early restoration of peace. He reiterated India's willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate an early return of peace," it added.

Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in conflict for over two years.

A joint statement issued by Quad leaders after their meeting hosted by US President Joe Biden on September 21 said that they stand for adherence to international law and respect for principles of the UN Charter, including territorial integrity, sovereignty of all states, and peaceful resolution of disputes.
"We express our deepest concern over the war raging in Ukraine including the terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences. Each of us has visited Ukraine since the war began, and seen this first-hand; we reiterate the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in line with international law, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. We also note the negative impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, especially for developing and least developed countries," the statement said.

" In the context of this war, we share the view that the use, or threat of use, of nuclear weapons is unacceptable. We underscore the importance of upholding international law, and in line with the UN Charter, reiterate that all states must refrain from the threat of or use of force against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state," it added.

President Biden hosted Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, PM Modi, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the Quad Leaders' Summit on Saturday in his home town Wilmington, Delaware.
PM Modi is on a three-day visit to the United States, during which he had bilateral meetings with several leaders, including President Biden.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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PM Modi Meets Ukraine President Zelensky In New York

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York on Monday.

This was the second meeting between the two leaders in about a month. PM Modi had visited Ukraine on August 23 and reiterated India's willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate an early return of peace in the Ukraine conflict.

PM Modi had visited Ukraine at the invitation of President Zelenskyy in first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in the year 1992.

A joint statement issued following PM Modi's visit to Ukraine had said that both Leaders expressed mutual interest in working towards elevating bilateral relations from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic partnership in the future.

They reaffirmed their commitment to further developing bilateral ties for the benefit of the peoples of both countries based on mutual trust, respect, and openness.

The statement had said that PM Modi and President Zelenskyy reiterated their readiness for further cooperation in upholding principles of international law, including the UN Charter, such as respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. They agreed on the desirability of closer bilateral dialogue in this regard.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in New York, US

(Source: ANI/DD News) pic.twitter.com/z7mUwxZpvy

— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2024

"The Indian side reiterated its principled position and focus on peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, as a part of which, India has attended the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, in June 2024. The Ukrainian side welcomed such participation by India and highlighted the importance of high-level Indian participation in the next Peace Summit," the statement had said.

"Prime Minister Modi reiterated the need for sincere and practical engagement between all stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that will have broad acceptability and contribute towards early restoration of peace. He reiterated India's willingness to contribute in all possible ways to facilitate an early return of peace," it added.

Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in conflict for over two years.

A joint statement issued by Quad leaders after their meeting hosted by US President Joe Biden on September 21 said that they stand for adherence to international law and respect for principles of the UN Charter, including territorial integrity, sovereignty of all states, and peaceful resolution of disputes.
"We express our deepest concern over the war raging in Ukraine including the terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences. Each of us has visited Ukraine since the war began, and seen this first-hand; we reiterate the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in line with international law, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. We also note the negative impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, especially for developing and least developed countries," the statement said.

" In the context of this war, we share the view that the use, or threat of use, of nuclear weapons is unacceptable. We underscore the importance of upholding international law, and in line with the UN Charter, reiterate that all states must refrain from the threat of or use of force against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state," it added.

President Biden hosted Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, PM Modi, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the Quad Leaders' Summit on Saturday in his home town Wilmington, Delaware.
PM Modi is on a three-day visit to the United States, during which he had bilateral meetings with several leaders, including President Biden.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Global Action Must Match Global Ambition": PM Modi At UN Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at the United Nations Summit of the Future on Monday, said alongside terrorism, new areas of conflict are emerging and it is high time that "global action must match global ambition".

Pointing out that terrorism continues to be a serious threat to global peace and security, PM Modi said on the other hand, "cyber, maritime and space are emerging as new areas of conflict".

"On all these issues, I will stress that global action must match global ambition," he added.

Talking of growing global concern over dangers from new and evolving technologies, especially artificial intelligence, PM Modi said, "There is a need for balanced regulation at a global level, for the safe and responsible use of technology."

According to the Wilmington Declaration - made two days ago at the Quad meet -- leaders of the US, Australia, Japan and India announced their intention to enhance cybersecurity partnership.

"In the face of a deteriorating security environment in the cyber domain, Quad countries intend to enhance our cybersecurity partnership to address common threats posed by state-sponsored actors, cybercriminals, and other non-state malicious actors. Our countries commit to taking concrete steps to increase our collective network defense and advance technical capabilities through greater threat information sharing and capacity building," read the joint declaration.

The leaders, in their declaration, had unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism.

"We are committed to international cooperation and will work with our regional partners in a comprehensive and sustained manner to strengthen their capability to prevent, detect and respond to threats posed by terrorism and violent extremism, including threats posed by the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes, consistent with international law," the statement had added.

"When we are discussing the global future, we must accord the highest priority to a human-centric approach while prioritising sustainable development," PM Modi also said. 

"We must also ensure human welfare, food and health security," he added, declaring India was ready to share her experience in poverty eradication and bridging the digital divide.

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Maharashtra Government Vs Opposition Over Shooting Of Badlapur Rape Accused

The death of Akshay Shinde -- the man accused of raping two four-year-olds in Badlapur -- in police firing this evening is snowballing into a controversy ahead of the assembly elections in Maharashtra. Shinde was killed in retaliatory firing after he snatched the gun of a constable and opened fire on the police while being transferred from the Taloja jail to the Thane police station, the police said. The Opposition had questioned how a handcuffed man could snatch a gun, and alleged that it could have been an "encounter". 

"Earlier, the Opposition parties demanded that Akshay Shinde be hanged," said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. "Now, they are taking his side and questioning the integrity of Maharashtra police. Such act of the opposition leaders is condemnable and unfortunate," he added, explaining that the police shot him in self defence.

Asked about the Opposition's allegation that the accused was killed to gain political sympathy, Mr Shinde said these parties are rattled by the success of his government's Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme.

"The Opposition raises questions on every issue," said Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio.  "They (the opposition) had wanted him to be hanged. It is wrong to say such things when the police tried to save lives," he added, while seconding the chain of events described by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. 

The Opposition had lost no time in attacking the ruling coalition after the death of the Shinde, who allegedly raped two nursery school students in the washroom of the Badlapur school, triggering outrage in the state.  

Leader of Opposition in the assembly Vijay Wadettiwar questioned if it was an attempt to "destroy evidence". 

"Were Akshay Shinde's hands not tied by the police during the transit? How could he reach for the gun, and how come the police were so careless?" he said. There is no action against the "BJP-linked" school management but an arrested accused is shot dead in suspicious circumstances, he said. "We have no trust in Badlapur police," he added, calling for a judicial probe. 

Veteran leader Sharad Pawar, who leads his faction of the Nationalist Congress Party, targeted the state home ministry. In a vernacular post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: "The laxity shown by the Home Department in transferring the main accused in this incident is questionable. It seems that the government has become weak".

Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare equated the incident with the gunning down of four rape accused in Telangana in 2019. "There too the police claimed it was done in self-defence. However, due to the deaths, the truth never came out. The same will be the case with the Badlapur sexual assault. Was Akshay Shinde killed as he was hiding something more sinister? Why is the school management still on the run," she said.

"It shows the state home minister's inability to handle critical cases," she said, demanding that Mr Fadnavis shed some light on these questions. 

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"Have Very Ambitious Goals To Achieve In 3rd Term": PM Modi In New York

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that he has set very ambitious goals in his third term to make the country a developed nation and asserted that India today is a land of opportunities.

"After going through this tough election process, this long election system, something unprecedented happened in India (this year). What happened... "Abkibaar Modi Sarkaar," PM Modi said in his address to thousands of Indian Americans in New York.

"For the first time in 60 years, the people of India have given a mandate which has great significance. During my third term, I have very ambitious goals to achieve. We have to move forward with three times the strength," he said.

PM Modi said he has dedicated his life for good governance and for a prosperous India. Observing that destiny brought him to politics, he said he had never thought of becoming a chief minister or prime minister. Over the last 10 years, people have seen this model of governance and thus have voted him to power for a third term, he added.

The prime minister was addressing a packed Nassau Veterans Coliseum with more than 13,000 Indian Americans. While the majority of them were from the New York and New Jersey area, Indian Americans came in from 40 States, organisers said. Sixty charter buses were used for transportation purposes.

Applauding the role of Indian Americans in strengthening the relationship between India and the US, he called them as India's brand ambassadors. Referring to a Sanskrit shloka that "it is those who make sacrifices reap benefits", the prime minister said wherever the Indian diaspora lives, they contribute to the societal and national development in every field.

In his remarks, the prime minister touched upon the celebration of democracy across the world, in particular in India and the US.

"While the elections in India are over, it's under process in the United States. The elections that were just held in India were the biggest elections so far in human history. When we see the scale of India's democracy, we are even more proud," he said.

PM Modi applauded the role of Indian Americans in making the country and community proud.

"Just yesterday, President Biden took me to his home in Delaware. His affection, his warmth, it was a moment that touched my heart. This respect is for the 140 billion Indians. This respect is for you, for your achievements, for the hundreds and thousands of Indians living here," he said and called Indian Americans as India's brand ambassador.

He also referred to the recently concluded T-20 World Cup in the United States.

India, he said, is now aspiring to be the third largest economy of the world from the fifth position. "Today, people of India, he said, are full of self-confidence, they have resolve and determination to achieve their goal," he said, adding development in India has now become a people's movement.

"Every Indian has confidence in India, its achievements. India today is a land of opportunities. It's no longer waiting for opportunities. It is now creating opportunities," he said, adding that in just a decade 250 million people have been lifted out of poverty.

"This was possible because we changed our old way of thinking. We changed our approach. We empowered the poor," he told the Indian Americans. It is this new middle class, which is accelerating the development of India, he said.

An entertaining cultural performance was the main highlight of the event before the prime minister arrived. The Echoes of India - A Journey Through Art and Tradition, showcased 382 nationally and internationally known artists. Prominent among them including Grammy award nominee Chandrika Tandon, STAR Voice of India winner and superstar Aishwarya Majumdar, Instagram's Dancing Dad Ricky Pond, and singing sensation Rex DSouuza, in a seamless experience of India's cultural diversity.

There were unique performances by 117 artists, impressing and entertaining attendees as they enter the coliseum. Organisers said more than 30 classical, folk, modern and fusion performances will pay homage to the rich and diverse cultures of India.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"His Warmth Touched My Heart": PM Modi On Joe Biden's Hospitality

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his heartfelt gratitude to United States President Joe Biden for his warm hospitality during a visit to his home in Delaware, stating that it "touched my heart."

Addressing the Indian community at Nassau Coliseum in New York, PM Modi emphasised that the honour bestowed upon him is not just his own, but also belongs to 1.4 billion Indians and the millions of Indians living abroad

"I salute you all, the Indian diaspora. Wherever I go in the world, I hear praise for the Indian community from every leader. Yesterday, President Biden took me to his home in Delaware, and his warmth and hospitality touched my heart. This honour belongs to 1.4 billion Indians, it's your honour, your achievement, and the honour of the millions of Indians living here. I express my gratitude to President Biden and to all of you," said PM Modi.

Further, PM Modi also spoke on India's general elections held earlier this year and stated that "the recent elections in India were the largest in human history."

"Friends, 2024 is a crucial year for the world. On one hand, there's conflict and tension between nations, while on the other hand, many countries are celebrating democracy. India and the US stand together in this celebration of democracy, with elections happening in America and having taken place in India. The recent elections in India were the largest in human history. Just imagine, more voters than the total population of America, and even more than the entire population of Europe. So many people cast their votes in India," said PM Modi.

Prime Minister Modi is on a three-day visit to the US from September 21-23. As PM Modi entered the Nassau Coliseum in New York, Long Island today, he greeted the Indian community, with 'Bharat Mata ki Jai

PM Modi arrived in New York in the second leg of his three-day visit to the United States.

On Saturday, PM Modi took part in the Quad Summit and held bilateral meetings with US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Quad has emerged as a key group of like-minded countries to work for peace, progress and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Watch: Indian Community's Big Welcome For PM Modi As He Lands In US

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived to an enthusiastic welcome in Philadelphia as he kicked off his three-day visit to the United States, on Saturday.

A large number of people from the Indian community in the US had gathered at the Philadelphia International Airport to give a warm welcome to PM Modi.

An energetic welcome in Philadelphia! Our diaspora's blessings are greatly cherished. pic.twitter.com/vwIc9dB2yv

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 21, 2024

The Prime Minister interacted with the Indian community on his arrival as people jostled to get a selfie with him.

#WATCH | Philadelphia, US | PM Narendra Modi interacted with the members of the Indian diaspora outside Philadelphia airport pic.twitter.com/wahJYVZ5PS

— ANI (@ANI) September 21, 2024

"Landed in Philadelphia. Today's programme will be focused on the Quad Summit and the bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden. I am sure the discussions throughout the day will contribute to making our planet better and addressing key global challenges," PM Modi posted on X after his arrival.

Landed in Philadelphia. Today's programme will be focused on the Quad Summit and the bilateral meeting with @POTUS @JoeBiden. I am sure the discussions throughout the day will contribute to making our planet better and addressing key global challenges. pic.twitter.com/BeWTU46UPe

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 21, 2024

Hundreds had also gathered at the hotel where PM Modi will be putting up during his stay in Delaware.

Irrespective of the long flight, PM Modi and the travelling Indian delegation will have no time to get over the jetlag considering the busy schedule lined up for the day, immediately after their arrival.

The Prime Minister will be holding bilateral discussions with President Biden and other leaders of the Quad grouping, including Australian PM Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan.

Some key Indo-Pacific Economic Framework-related agreements and an India-US Drug Framework related MoU are expected to be signed following PM Modi's meeting with Biden. A bilateral fact sheet will also be released after the bilateral discussions between the two leaders.

The all-important sixth Quad Leaders' Summit - fourth in-person - is scheduled at around 4 PM EST (around 1.30 AM, India time on Sunday) at Archmere Academy, where Biden attended High school.

After the plenary session, the Quad leaders will gather together for the unveiling of Cancer Moonshot event, a signature initiative that aims at implementing innovative strategies to prevent, detect, treat, and alleviate the impact of cancer on patients and their families.

It is for the first time that Biden will also be hosting foreign leaders in Wilmington as President - including an "intimate leaders' dinner" at his private home following the Moonshot event - which the White House believes is "a reflection of his deep personal relationships with each of the Quad Leaders", and the importance of the Quad to all countries.

"I look forward to joining my colleagues President Biden, Prime Minister Albanese and Prime Minister Kishida for the Quad Summit. The forum has emerged as a key group of like-minded countries to work for peace, progress and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. My meeting with President Biden will allow us to review and identify new pathways to further deepen India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership for the benefit of our people and the global good," said PM Modi before his departure, on Saturday.

Quad - a diplomatic partnership between India, the United States, Australia and Japan - remains committed to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient.

The Quad countries account for 1.9 billion combined population, 44 per cent of two-way merchandise trade across the Indo-Pacific region, US $34.8 trillion combined GDP and hold 30 per cent of Global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) stock.

Having swapped its turn with the US due to scheduling issues, India will now be hosting the 2025 Quad Summit as the relationship between the partner nations continues to expand both strategically and economically.

From Wilmington, Prime Minister Modi will travel to New York where he will address a community rally at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island on Sunday which is expected to be attended by more than 16,000 people.

"The Indian community has distinguished itself in the USA, making a positive impact across diverse sectors. It's always a delight to interact with them. At around 9:30 PM India time on Sunday, 22nd September, I will address the Modi and US programme in New York City. Let's celebrate the bonds that connect our nations!" said PM Modi after his arrival in the United States.

The Prime Minister will also be attending a Business Roundtable with CEOs of leading US companies in the cutting-edge areas of Artificial Intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, and biotechnology besides holding bilateral meetings with several other world leaders during his stay in New York.

On Monday (September 23), PM Modi will address the Summit of the Future in the UN General Assembly that will bring together world leaders with the objective of enhancing multilateral cooperation and tackling the most pressing global challenges.

An outcome document Pact for the Future, along with annexes on the global digital compact and a declaration for future generations, are expected to be adopted by the world leaders during the event.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Joe Biden Welcomes PM Modi With A Hug, India-US Bilateral Talks Begin

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today arrived in Philadelphia for his three-day US Visit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden ahead of the Quad Leaders' Summit today. 

US President Biden has opted for his hometown of Wilmington - around 170 kilometres from Washington - to host the farewell summit for Quad leaders. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Philadelphia today. He then headed to US President Joe Biden's hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, where the two leaders are holding bilateral discussions. 

PM Modi is also likely to hold bilateral discussions with some other world leaders on the sidelines of the UN summit. 

Here are the LIVE updates on Prime Minister Modi's US visit:

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Suspected Trump Assassination Plotter Has Criminal History

The erratic life of a struggling roofing contractor suspected of trying to shoot Donald Trump swerved from bounced checks to a weapon felony conviction and a quixotic plan to help Ukraine fight Russia's invasion, before culminating in what appears to be a foiled assassination plot.

Ryan Routh, 58, was charged with two gun-related crimes in a federal court in Florida on Monday, a day after he was spotted with a rifle hiding in shrubbery on the property line of Trump's golf course. More charges are expected.

Officials have not cited any possible motives.

Routh mocked President Joe Biden on social media and suggested in a 2023 self-published book that he voted for Trump in 2016. But he then wrote that backing Trump was a "terrible mistake" and at various points described the former president as a "fool," a "buffoon," and an "idiot."

Addressing Iran, Routh wrote that "you are free to assassinate Trump" for the former president's decision to withdraw the United States from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018.

In his 291-page book "Ukraine's Unwinnable War," Routh argued that democracy needed defending around the world and the United States had its own "catastrophe" on Jan 6, 2021, "perpetrated by Donald Trump and his undemocratic posse."

Court records showed Routh has a long history of breaking traffic laws, not paying his taxes on time and writing bad checks. But it was in 2002 that he lost his right to own a gun when he pleaded guilty to a felony in North Carolina for possessing an illegal explosive device in April.

Months after his arrest in that case while released on a bond, Routh fled from a traffic stop by a police officer near his home in Greensboro, North Carolina, and barricaded himself inside his roofing business for several hours before police were able to arrest him for having a concealed handgun without a permit, according to court records and a 2002 news article by the Greensboro News & Record.

A few days later, Routh pleaded guilty to possession of what court records described as a "binary explosive with a 10-inch detonation cord and a blasting cap," which is defined in North Carolina law as a weapon of mass destruction and is a felony punishable by up to 59 months in prison, according to the county district attorney's office and the Guilford County Superior Court clerk's office. He was sentenced to probation.

Eight years later, he again pleaded guilty to felonies after he was charged with possession of stolen goods: a blowtorch, a pull-cart and a power cord, according to the district attorney's office. As the owner of several roofing companies, he has been repeatedly sued by people accusing him of not paying his bills.

The FBI said on Monday that it received a tip in 2019 that Routh was a felon in possession of a firearm - prohibited by federal law - but that the person who made that tip would later not confirm the information during an interview with agents.

The FBI relayed the tip to local authorities in Hawaii, where Routh moved in 2018 after decades in North Carolina.

POSTS ON UKRAINE, DEMOCRACY

Reuters found profiles on X, Facebook and LinkedIn for a Ryan Routh, and public access to the Facebook and X profiles was removed hours after the shooting.

The three accounts bearing Routh's name showed he supported Ukraine in its war against Russia.

On April 21, Routh directed an X message to Elon Musk, writing: "I would like to buy a rocket from you. I wish to load it with a warhead for Putins Black sea mansion bunker to end him. Can you give me a price please."

The New York Times reported it had interviewed Routh in 2023 for an article about Americans who were volunteering to help the Ukraine war effort. Routh told the Times he traveled to Ukraine, spent several months there in 2022 and was trying to recruit Afghan soldiers who fled the Taliban to fight in Ukraine.

One current and another former U.S. volunteer serving with the foreign legion of Ukraine's army said they recalled Routh and believed that he spent time in the western Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk. Both of them said he exhibited odd behavior.

Routh was blocked from the "Volunteers for Ukraine" chat group on Signal last year and blacklisted, after appearing "delusional" with promises to bring foreign volunteer recruits to the country despite having no military background, said a former U.S. volunteer with the legion, who asked not to be named.

While on leave in the west from battle in Ukraine, he and fellow volunteers tried their best to avoid Routh and others who made such grand promises, the volunteer told Reuters.

The International Legion, where many foreign fighters in Ukraine serve, said it had no links with Routh.

MOCKING BIDEN

On X in 2020, Routh expressed support for Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and mocked Biden as "sleepy Joe."

Earlier this year, Routh tagged Biden in a post on X: "@POTUS Your campaign should be called something like KADAF. Keep America democratic and free. Trumps should be MASA ...make Americans slaves again master. DEMOCRACY is on the ballot and we cannot lose."

North Carolina voting records showed no party affiliation for Routh, though he did vote in this year's Democratic Party primary.

A former neighbor of Routh in Greensboro, North Carolina, Kim Mungo, said he was known to occasionally shoot weapons outside his home on holidays, though not in a threatening manner.

She occasionally cooked in his home and said, "He was cool to me."

Mungo, 53, who said she lived next to Routh for about a decade, said he had moved away several years ago. But he reappeared in May and was cleaning out the house, apparently intending to sell it.

"I ain't seen him in a while," Mungo said. "I don't know what his mindset was."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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First Time In 92 Years: Jaiswal Achieves Another Sensational Feat In Tests

Indian cricket team batter Yashasvi Jaiswal has been extremely impressive in his fairly short Test career and he added a massive feat to his name during Day 2 of the first Test match against Bangladesh in Chennai on Friday. After scoring 56 in the first innings, Jaiswal failed to score big in the second innings as he was dismissed for 10 but that did not stop him from becoming the first Indian batter to achieve a huge milestone. After his first 10 matches, Jaiswal has scored 1094 runs - the most by any Indian batter ever. Jaiswal is the first Indian batter to score more than 1000 runs in the first 10 matches with the record previously belonging to Sunil Gavaskar (978 runs).

Overall, Don Bradman holds the record as he scored 1446 runs in his first 10 matches.

Most runs scored by a batter after first 10 Tests

1446 runs - Don Bradman (Australia)

1125 runs - Everton Weekes (West Indies)

1102 runs - George Headley (West Indies)

1094 runs - Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)

1088 runs - Mark Taylor (Australia)

India reached 81 for three at stumps in second innings to extend their overall lead to 308 runs against Bangladesh on the second day of the opening Test on Friday.

Shubman Gill (33 not out) and Rishabh Pant (12 not out) were at the crease when the stumps were drawn for the day.

Bangladesh were all out for a paltry 149 in their first innings, giving the hosts a massive first-innings lead of 227 runs.

In reply to India's first-innings total of 376, Bangladesh could survive just 47.1 overs.

Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah (4/50) was the most successful bowler for India.

Earlier, India resumed the day on 339/6 and lost all four wickets for the addition of just 37 runs.

Ravichandran Ashwin's incredible knock ended on 113, adding 11 runs to his overnight total, while Ravindra Jadeja fell for 86.

For Bangladesh, Hasan Mahmud completed his five-wicket haul (5/83) while Taskin Ahmed chipped in with three scalps.

(With PTI inputs)

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Tamim Brings Up Virat's Sledging 'History' With BAN Star. Shastri Responds

Virat Kohli's 'sledging history' with Mushfiqur Rahim came a point of discussion on commentary during Day 2 of the first Test match between India and Bangladesh in Chennai on Friday. When Mushfiqur came out to bat in the first innings, former Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal said on commentary that he expects something interesting considering his 'history' with Virat. It referred to Mushfiqur's comments that Virat earlier sledged him on the field. Former India coach Ravi Shastri was in the commentary box with Tamim and did not miss the opportunity to take a cheeky dig.

“Mushfiqur Rahim is batting, Virat Kohli is in the slips. Watch out now. Keep an eye on them. They have quite the history,” Tamim said.

Reacting to Iqbal's comments, Shastri asked, “What history?”

The ex-Bangladesh skipper replied - “Oh, you know, Ravi. You know what history I am talking about.”

Earlier, Mushfiqur said that Kohli tends to say things to him when he comes out to bat against India.

“Whenever I play against him, he always tries to sledge me every time I go in to bat because he is a really competitive guy and he doesn't want to lose any cricket match. I really love that rivalry with him and the challenge that comes with facing him and India,” Rahim explained.

India took command of the first Test against Bangladesh as they extended their lead to 308 after fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah helped bundle out the visitors for 149 on Friday.

The hosts were 81-3 at stumps in their second innings on day two in Chennai. Shubman Gill, on 33, and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, on 12, were batting at close of play.

Taskin Ahmed took down skipper Rohit Sharma for five and fellow pace bowler Nahid Rana had left-handed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal caught behind for 10.

Spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz trapped Virat Kohli lbw for 17. Ultra edge technology showed a spike on the bat's inside edge, which even Kohli did not notice.

Bangladesh were dismissed in the final session with former skipper Shakib Al Hasan top-scoring on 32 in their reply to India's first-innings total of 376.

The hosts did not enforce the follow-on, deciding instead to build on their lead of 227.

(With AFP inputs)

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What Lankan President, Seeking Re-Election, Said About India: 5 Key Quotes

1. "India and Sri Lanka have to have a close economic relationship. The vision statement that Prime Minister Modi and I had issued mentions this," Mr Wickremesinghe, who is seeking another term as President, told NDTV.
2. Speaking further about areas of shared investment and development, Mr Wickremesinghe said, "India has a huge demand of renewable energy, as do we. That is an area we seek to strengthen ties. When the Singapore-India pipeline (via Andaman and Nicobar Islands) is complete, we too can look for opportunity in it."
3. Other significant area that he said Sri Lanka aims partner with India for is to enhance port infrastructure and to get more tourists from India. "We want to encourage more investments from India and more tourists from India. We are working together with India on infrastructure projects like the Trincomalee Harbour," he said.
4. Speaking about the social and cultural ties shared by the two countries, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said, "that has been happening for thousands of years". He also said that the two nations share very strong people-to-people ties and that it is the people's mutual regard and appreciation that is the bedrock of India-Sri Lanka relations. "There will always be some groups who may make anti-India remarks, what needs to be done is to minimise it. As far as the India-Sri Lanka friendship is concerned, it is decided by the people and they have already decided it. So, let's further strengthen (the bond)."
5. India's economy has "taken off", the Sri Lankan President told NDTV, adding that Sri Lanka would also like to benefit from it, after all India is "just 20 miles away" and the two nations have shared deep cultural and historical ties. Mr Wickremesinghe further said that "Sri Lanka will deal with China as well to fulfill its national objectives, but at the same time, we will always keep India's interests in mind."

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Sri Lanka Elections: A Look At The 5 Key Candidates And What They Stand For

Sri Lanka, which is slowly recovering from its worst-ever economic crisis, will vote to elect the next President on Saturday. The cash-strapped island nation is currently being led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is seeking a re-election to continue with bold reforms to help revive the economy.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, 75, is seeking a fresh mandate after claiming credit for stabilising the economy and bringing an end to months of food, fuel and medicine shortages.

In 2022, when Ranil Wickremesinghe took charge as President, Sri Lanka was dealing with civil unrest spurred by the economic crisis. There were protests across the nation which led to thousands storming the Presidential palace which was then occupied by Mr Wickremesinghe's predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the country. Mr Wickremesinghe took charge and restored calm and helped revived the economy by taking some tough decisions.

The 2024 election is key to deciding the future of reforms in the economically fragile nation.

Speaking with NDTV, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Thursday that his vision for future ties with India holds a stronger economic relationship. "We want to encourage more investments from India and more tourists from India. We are working together with India on infrastructure projects like the Trincomalee Harbour," he said.

"I took over as President when the country was in utter chaos and no one thought we could stabilise this fast. But I knew from experience that we could go ahead provided we had the support of the International Monetary Fund and our creditors," the President said, adding that "I have ensured we come back to normalcy. Law and order is functioning, democracy is functioning and although we have stabilised the economy, now we have to decide our path. Are we going to get into the same old ways or are we working towards (building) a strong export economy? I have asked for a mandate to go ahead."

However, Mr Wickremesinghe faces a tough electoral battle from two contenders. In total, President Wickremesinghe is among 38 candidates contesting Sri Lanka's presidential election.

This year's election is dominated by two major alliances, the SJB (Samagi Jana Balawegaya) and the NPP (National People's Power), apart from various smaller parties and independent candidates.

Here are the 5 main contenders in the 2024 Sri Lanka Elections:

• RANIL WICKREMESINGHE

75-year-old Ranil Wickremesinghe is a lawyer who has served as prime minister for a record six times. His party holds only one seat in parliament and will need to drum up support from key parties to bolster his chances.

As the leader of the United National Party or UNP, he took office in July 2022 after widespread protests unleashed by the debilitating financial crisis forced his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee Sri Lanka and later resign.

The Sri Lankan Parliament elected Ranil Wickremesinghe to serve out the rest of the five-year term of Mr Rajapaksa, who took office in 2019.

Ranil Wickremesinghe's re-election bid failed to get formal backing from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), the party with the most seats in the 225-member parliament, but the support of more than 90 lawmakers puts him in strong position. He is contesting as an independent candidate.

• SAJITH PREMADASA

The 57 year-old Opposition leader and son of former President Ranasinghe Premadasa, he leads the Samagi Jana Balawegaya or SJB that separated from Mr Wickremesinghe's UNP in 2020.

His centrist, more left-leaning party has called for changes to the $2.9 billion bailout programme with the International Monetary Fund and outlined plans to adjust some targets, such as changing taxes to reduce the cost of living.

Premadasa favours a mix of interventionist and free-market economic policies.

• ANURA KUMARA DISSANAYAKE

The 55-year-old leader, who holds just three seats in parliament, stands for tough anti-corruption measures and pro-poor policies have given a popular boost to his candidacy.

He will contest under the National People's Power or NPP coalition, which includes his Marxist-leaning party People's Liberation Front or PLF. His party has traditionally backed stronger state intervention and more closed market economic policies.

A pre-election opinion survey showed Mr Dissanayake was leading in voting preferences at 36%, followed by Mr Premadasa and Mr Wickremesinghe at third.

• NAMAL RAJAPAKSA

The 38-year-old leader is a scion of the powerful Rajapaksa family that produced two presidents - his father Mahinda and uncle Gotabaya - Namal is a surprise entrant, as the candidate of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna or SLPP, founded by another uncle, Basil.

He faces the daunting task of keeping the party unified to counter Mr Wickremesinghe's chances of winning.

• NUWAN BOPAGE

40-year-old Nuwan Bopage is the presidential candidate of the Peoples' Struggle Alliance or PSA. He hopes to tap into the remnants of the massive people's uprising that deposed Gotabaya Rajapaksa two years ago.

He has taken a strong anti-corruption stance, backs more pro-poor policies and opposes Sri Lanka's alignment with the IMF programme.
 

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Ammunition From India Diverted To Ukraine? What Government Said

Dismissing a report by news agency Reuters claiming that ammunition sold by Indian manufacturers has been diverted to Ukraine by European customers and New Delhi did not stop the trade, the Ministry of External Affairs has termed it "inaccurate and mischievous". 

Answering questions on the report, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday, "We have seen the Reuters report. It is speculative and misleading. It implies violations by India, where none exist and, hence, is inaccurate and mischievous.

Emphasising that India has an impeccable track record of compliance with international obligations on the export of military and dual-use items, Mr Jaiswal added, "India has been carrying out its defence exports taking into account its international obligations on non-proliferation and based on its own robust legal and regulatory framework, which includes a holistic assessment of relevant criteria, including end-user obligations and certifications."

In its report, Reuters cited conversations with eleven Indian and European government and defence industry officials and an analysis of commercially available customs data to claim that artillery shells sold by Indian arms manufacturers had been diverted to Ukraine by European customers and the Indian government did not intervene to stop the trade despite protests from Moscow.

The report said the supply of munitions, which have helped Ukraine in the war against Russia, had been happening for over a year and the Kremlin had raised the issue with India at least twice, including in July, during a meeting between Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. 

It said Indian arms export regulations specify that weaponry can be used only by the declared purchaser and future sales to them can be stopped if there are unauthorised transfers. 

"Two Indian government and two defence industry sources told Reuters that Delhi produced only a very small amount of the ammunition being used by Ukraine, with one official estimating that it was under 1% of the total arms imported by Kyiv since the war. The news agency couldn't determine if the munitions were resold or donated to Kyiv by the European customers," the report said.

"Among the European countries sending Indian munitions to Ukraine are Italy and the Czech Republic, which is leading an initiative to supply Kyiv with artillery shells from outside the European Union, according to a Spanish and a senior Indian official, as well as a former top executive at Yantra India, a state-owned company whose munitions are being used by Ukraine," it added.

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Anti-Terror Watchdog Praises India, Says Faces Serious Threat From...

Terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has said India has achieved a high level of technical compliance with its recommendations and taken significant steps to implement measures to tackle illicit finance. In a report released on Thursday, the watchdog has also, however, said the country needs to improve its system as the economy continues to grow, pointing to a need for faster trials for money laundering and terrorist financing. 

India has been placed in the regular follow-up category, a distinction it shares with only four other G20 countries. 

The mutual evaluation report says a joint FATF-APG (Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering)-EAG (Eurasian group on combating money laundering and financing of terrorism)  assessment of India's measures to tackle illicit finance has concluded that India has implemented an anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CFT) framework which is achieving good results. The areas in which these results have been seen include risk understanding, access to beneficial ownership information and depriving criminals of their assets. 

The report says authorities in India make good use of financial intelligence and cooperate effectively, both domestically and internationally.

The evaluation noted that India is the largest country in the world by population and has the largest diaspora. It is also a lower-middle-income country with one of the world's fastest-growing economies, which is currently the fifth-largest economy in the world.  India's main money laundering risks, the report says, originate from illegal activities within the country - relating primarily to fraud, including cyber-enabled fraud, corruption and drug trafficking. 

India pursues money laundering cases related to fraud and forgery in line with predicate crime (a criminal act that is a component of a larger crime) risks to a large extent, the report says, but needs to do more for some other offences such as human trafficking and drug trafficking. The country, it said, needs to address the backlog of money laundering cases pending conclusion of court processes.

Terror Threats

The report says India faces serious terrorism and terrorist financing threats, including related to ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) or al-Qaeda active in and around Jammu and Kashmir. Praising India's emphasis on disruption and prevention and its ability to conduct complex financial investigations, the evaluation points to a need for focusing on concluding prosecutions and convicting and sanctioning terrorist financiers.

Another area pointed out by the report is a need to ensure that measures aimed at preventing the non-profit sector from being abused for terrorist financing are implemented in line with a risk-based approach, including by conducting outreach to such organisations.

Financial Inclusion

Appreciating India's steps towards financial inclusion, the report said the proportion of the population with bank accounts has more than doubled, due diligence for small accounts is taking place and reliance on digital payment systems has been encouraged. These efforts have supported financial transparency, contributing to efforts to tackle anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing. 

"Despite the size and institutional complexity of the Indian system, Indian authorities cooperate and coordinate effectively on matters dealing with illicit financial flows, including the use of financial intelligence. India also achieved positive results in international cooperation, asset recovery and implementing targeted financial sanctions for proliferation financing," the report states. 

Indian authorities also have a comprehensive understanding of the money laundering, terrorism and proliferation financing risks, it says, but also points to a need for sharing insights on them with stakeholders.

The report says there is a good understanding of risk and application of preventative measures in the financial sector, especially by commercial banks, but less so by some other smaller financial institutions.

"Following the assessment, India is placed in 'regular follow-up' and, in line with procedures, will report back to the Plenary in three years," the report says. 

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