"No Scope For Change": Chief Minister After Haryana BJP List Upsets Leaders

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini today made it clear there will be no change in the candidates' list announced by the BJP for the assembly election scheduled on October 5.

The Chief Minister's comment comes after the BJP announced its first list of 67 candidates, following which the party faced protests from minister Ranjit Singh Chautala and MLA Lakshman Dass Napa, who were not given tickets. Both have resigned.

Mr Saini said everyone should put to rest any speculation about tweaks in the candidates' list. He said everyone wants a ticket, but the "lotus" can be given to only one person.

"It is natural for ticket-seekers to get angry. But they will be persuaded," the Chief Minister said at a party meeting in Rohtak.

Haryana Energy and Jails Minister Ranjit Chautala, 79, son of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal, said he took a decision after a meeting with his supporters and will now enter the contest as an iIndependent.

Former minister Karan Dev Kamboj also stepped down as the state BJP's Other Backward Classes (OBC) Morcha chief after he did not get a ticket.

Despite Mr Saini's attempt to downplay the events, former minister Savitri Jindal, who had quit the Congress and joined the BJP in March, days after her son and industrialist Naveen Jindal had also joined the BJP, said she will fight from Hisar, even as an independent.

After quitting the party, Mr Napa met former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda at his house in Delhi, and later joined the Congress.

"No one has left the party... Karan Dev Kamboj and Lakshman Napa are our senior leaders... we will make them understand," Mr Saini said.

The BJP is aiming for a hat-trick in Haryana, but faces a tough challenge from a resurgent Congress which is looking to cash in on the anti-incumbency factor.

Mr Saini is the BJP's chief ministerial face for the assembly polls. The counting of votes for the elections to the 90-member assembly will take place on October 8.

In Gurugram, after Mukesh Sharma was announced as BJP candidate, party leader and aspirant Naveen Goyal revolted and resigned. Mr Goyal, state convener of the BJP's business cell and head of its environment protection department, has now decided to contest as an independent.

Along with him, more than 150 party officials and workers announced they are leaving the party.

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Case Against ITLF Leader Over Alleged Conspiracy To Start Manipur Violence

A police case has been filed against a key member of a Kuki group that's leading the call for a separate administration carved out of Manipur over allegations that he conspired to start large-scale violence on May 3, 2023.

The first information report filed by a resident in the state capital Imphal against Ginza Vualzong, the spokesperson of the Churachandpur-based Kuki group Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), alleged Mr Vualzong on April 23, 2023 announced his plan to start a "war against the State".

"... His instigations and provocations have culminated into the large scale violence which immediately erupted on May 3, 2023 by the violent rioters who started burning forest offices/beats since April 28, 2023 and Meitei villages since the early hours on May 3, 2023," the FIR stated.

The FIR stated that before ethnic clashes began in the first week of May 2023, Mr Vualzong on April 23, 2023 in a post on social media and a website about the Kuki tribes announced "it's better to demand a Union Territory or join Mizoram."

"... We must fight the Meitei hegemony once and for all. Since after this issue, another will come up... We will never be happy with the Meiteis. Those who love Meiteis should go to Imphal," Mr Vualzong said in the post, according to the FIR filed under at least 11 sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

"... He is the brain behind the ITLF for anti-national activities. The accused person being the media and publicity secretary of the ITLF has issued many releases and notifications, openly instigating the public especially the Kuki-Zo and village volunteers against the Meiteis, state government and the central government," the FIR stated.

Mr Vualzong was "present at the burning site of the so-called Anglo-Kuki War Memorial Gate on May 3", an incident which was "taken by the Kukis as the igniting point of the violence," the FIR stated.

NDTV has seen a copy of the FIR. Mr Vualzong has not yet given a statement on the police case.

BJP MLA vs MLA Over Call To Ban ITLF

The FIR comes three days after an MLA of the ruling BJP in Manipur called for banning the ITLF for allegedly taking financial aid to buy lethal drones, bombs and ammunition. "... I seek for the organisation namely ITLF to be declared as a banned organisation," BJP MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh, who is from the valley-dominant Meitei community and son-in-law of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, had said.

A BJP MLA from the Kuki tribes, Paolienlal Haokip, defending the ITLF as a "respected civil society organisation" had written to Home Minister Amit Shah condemning Imo Singh's statement. Mr Haokip also asked the Union Home Minister to have the purported audio tapes linked to Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh investigated under the Supreme Court's watch. Mr Haokip was among the 10 Kuki MLAs who wrote to the Centre seeking for a separate administration, just days after May 3, 2023.

The Kuki tribes have alleged the purported audio tapes - which the Biren Singh government calls "doctored" - proved the Chief Minister set the Manipur crisis into motion.

The latest FIR against the ITLF member, however, alleged the Manipur violence was planned by Mr Vualzong and groups such as the ITLF.

Kuki civil society organisations, the 10 MLAs, and nearly a dozen Kuki-Zo insurgent groups that have signed the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement (a ceasefire of sorts, yet to be renewed) - all of them have been demanding nothing less than a separate administration, bringing them together on a common platform - the Kuki MLAs want what the members of the Kuki armed groups under the SoO agreement want, and their civil society groups also want what the MLAs and the SoO agreement signatories want.

The SoO groups have been in talks for a separate administration - a political settlement - for many years before May 2023, and so the claim by some Kuki leaders that the violence led to their call to break away from Manipur was a lie, since the intention for separation was always there, two leaders in the Manipur government had told NDTV, requesting anonymity.

There are many villages of the Kuki tribes in the hills surrounding the Meitei-dominated valley. The clashes between the Meitei community and the nearly two dozen tribes known as Kukis - a term given by the British in colonial times - who are dominant in some hill areas of Manipur, has killed over 220 people and internally displaced nearly 50,000.

The general category Meiteis want to be included under the Scheduled Tribes category, while the Kukis who share ethnic ties with people in neighbouring Myanmar's Chin State and Mizoram want a separate administration carved out of Manipur, citing discrimination and unequal share of resources and power with the Meiteis.

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Covid Funds Misappropriated, Files Missing: Fresh "Scam" In Karnataka

The MUDA scam that had been occupying headlines in Karnataka has been pushed aside by a new scam - alleged misappropriation of funds to the tune of crores meant to fight Covid during the BJP rule in the state led by then Chief Minister BS Yeddiyurappa - raising allegations of tit-for-tat scams. A preliminary report on the matter by Justice John Michael  D'Cunha was discussed by the cabinet today, which apparently mentioned many other irregularities.

Of these, sources said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made three crucial observations at the meeting. 

He said the judge has made very serious observations about hundreds of crores of rupees being misappropriated. The report has also said that there are many files missing that weren't placed before him despite his repeated requests, sources said.  

The overall spending during Covid in the state was to the tune of Rs 13,000 crore. While no figure was mentioned officially, sources indicated that around Rs 1000 crore was siphoned off.

The report is expected to be finalized within the next six months and can even be tabled during the winter session of parliament. The government has extended the tenure of the committee by six months, so it can submit the final report.

Sources said the 1000-page multiple-volume interim report will now be analysed by officers and submitted to the government in less than a month.  

Asked about the scam versus scam allegations, Law and parliamentary affairs minister HK Patil said it is "unfortunate" that whenever an important report comes it is termed eye for an eye. 

"MUDA is less than two months old. The Cunha committee was appointed a year back. How can you bring that analogy here? It was an administrative measure". 

The Cunha report is seen as a boon to the Congress and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, whom the BJP has been trying to corer over the MUDA scam. Mr Siddaramaiah has gone to court challenging the Governor's clearance to prosecute him in the matter.

The alleged scam is linked to irregularities in land allocation by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority or MUDA. There have been allegations that the allocation of compensatory land parcels to BM Parvathi, Siddaramaiah's wife, far exceeds the value of the land given in exchange.

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'Best Teacher Award' To Karnataka Principal Withheld Over "Anti-Hijab" Stand

The Karnataka government has withheld its decision to give the best teacher award to a principal of a government college over his alleged anti-hijab stand during the headscarf row in the state two years ago, sources in the Education Department said on Thursday.

Ramakrishna BG, principal of Government Pre-University College at Kundapura in Udupi district, was supposed to receive the honour on Teachers' Day, but the decision was kept on hold after the Congress government drew criticism from some activists of the Muslim community, the sources said.

"The reason behind the anger against the teacher is his alleged stand during the hijab row," a department official said. "The government had earlier announced his name but now it has been withheld," a source said.

Ramakrishna was not available for comment.

Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa clarified that the award is only withheld and not cancelled.

"There was a government order regarding the issues those days it had happened. At that time the behaviour of the teacher was in question. That is the information I got after announcing the award. So I have told the department to check that and get back to me. So, till that it is only withheld. It has not been cancelled," the minister told PTI.

On whether the decision was taken based on the allegations, he said people will say allegation and controversy, but his department does not look at it that way.

"... But it's my duty to check that and take the next step," Bangarappa said.

Explaining further, the minister said, "If he was wrong I would have immediately cancelled. If he is right then I would have already given. When something is in question it is my duty to check that, which I am going to do. That is what I have told my officers to do." He asked people not to politicise this issue.

BJP MLA from Mangalore City North constituency Y Bharath Shetty slammed the government, saying that it insulted a teacher by succumbing to the "pressure created by jihadi elements".

"The Congress government in Karnataka has done a very shameful thing by withdrawing the best state level teacher award to Ramakrishna BG. The state government had announced the award after following the checklist and found him eligible for the award," Shetty said.

"The main reason behind withdrawing the award is that the jihadi elements, organisations like SDPI and PFI tweeted that this teacher should not be given this award because during the hijab issue he had stopped the students wearing hijab from entering the college," he said.

The MLA said Ramakrishna had only followed the then official order, being a government employee. "It is very insulting for the teaching community that you announce an award, and then you take it back because some jihadi elements are forcing you to do so."

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This Navy SEAL, Mathematician, Harvard Doctor Will Now Be A NASA Astronaut

Lieutenant Commander Jonny Kim has a resume that would make Asian parents swell with pride. At 40, he is already a decorated Navy SEAL, a Harvard-trained physician, and now, a NASA astronaut preparing for his next great adventure – space. 

The Los Angeles native joined NASA in 2017 and will be launched into space aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft in March 2025. On his mission, accompanied by two Russian cosmonauts, he will spend nearly eight months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), conducting critical scientific investigations and preparing the station for future missions.

Mr Kim's journey to the stars is as impressive as his other accomplishments. He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of San Diego before graduating from Harvard Medical School. He served as an emergency room intern at Massachusetts General Hospital. 

But his medical career came after a decade of service as a Navy SEAL. He is also a dual-designated naval aviator and flight surgeon. 

In NASA, Mr Kim has played several roles, including that of lead operations officer for Expedition 65 and the T-38 operations liaison, within the organisation. Now, he is set to take on his most challenging role yet – living and working in space.

Mr Kim's mission comes when NASA is grappling with unforeseen challenges. Two other astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, remain stranded on the ISS due to malfunctions in the Boeing Starliner spacecraft.

The issues, caused by helium leaks that were more extensive than previously believed, have forced NASA to delay their return to Earth until a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule can bring them home in February next year. 

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113/1 In 6 Overs: Australia Shatter World Record En Route To Massive Win

113 in just 6 overs - If it is Australia, anything is possible. On Wednesday, in a T20I against Scotland, Australia launched an all-out attacks to chase down a 155-run target in just 9.4 overs. Australia scored 113/1 in the Powerplay - most by a team in T20I. Travis Head scored 73 in the Powerplay - highest by a batter in the Powerplay. "It has been a nice period for the last couple of years, really enjoying the environment and a few of us that have been around for a while and also loving the atmosphere with quite a few youngsters coming in," Head said after the win. 

Highest PowerPlay score in T20Is

1) Australia 113/1 vs Scotland, 2024

2) South Africa 102/0 vs West Indies, 2023

3) West Indies 98/4 vs Sri Lanka, 2021

4) West Indies 93/0 vs Ireland, 2020

Travis Head smashed 80 off 25 balls as Australia chased down Scotland's 154 to win Wednesday's T20 international in Edinburgh inside 10 overs. Opener Head blitzed five sixes and 12 fours as Australia set the highest-ever T20 international first powerplay score of 113/1 for the opening six overs. The tourists had lost a wicket without a run on the board as Jake Fraser-McGurk fell to a three-ball duck.

But Head and captain Mitchell Marsh bludgeoned the Scotland attack. Marsh smashed 30 off one over from Jack Jarvis, while Head reached his half century from just 17 balls. Both fell to Mark Watt in the seventh over but by then the damage had already been done.

Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis was able to pick up the baton as his quick-fire unbeaten 27 helped earn Australia a seven-wicket victory with 62 balls to spare.

Earlier, George Munsey top scored for Scotland with 28. Sean Abbott was the pick of the Australia bowlers with three for 39.

Scotland 154/9 in 20 overs (George Munsey 28; Sean Abbott 3-39) v Australia 156/3 in 9.4 overs (Travis Head 80, Mitchell Marsh 39; Mark Watt 2-13)

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Oceanographers Discover Undersea Mountain Taller Than Mount Olympus

Imagine stacking four skyscrapers the height of Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, on top of each other. That's almost the height of an underwater mountain recently discovered and mapped by oceanographers from the Schmidt Ocean Institute in California, the New York Post reported.

This massive seamount, located in the Pacific Ocean about 1,448 kilometres off the coast of Chile, rises 3,109 meters from the ocean floor. It's part of an underwater mountain range teeming with life, including sponge gardens, ancient corals, and rare marine species such as a previously unfilmed species of squid.

The discovery was made during a 28-day expedition led by the Schmidt Ocean Institute aboard the research vessel R/V Falkor (too). The team used a sonar system beneath the ship's hull to map the mountain in detail.

"Sound waves travel down, bounce off the surface, and return. By measuring the time it takes for the sound to return, we can create a detailed map of the seabed," explained Jyotika Virmani, the institute's executive director.

This discovery is significant because only about 26% of the seafloor has been mapped at this level of detail, even though the seafloor covers 71% of the Earth's surface.

Oceanographers estimate there are at least 100,000 seamounts around the world that are taller than 1,000 meters (3,280 feet). These underwater mountains provide crucial habitats for a wide range of species. The newly mapped seamount, which is taller than Mount Olympus in Greece (2,917 meters or 9,570 feet), but shorter than Japan's Mount Fuji (3,776 meters or 12,388 feet), is nearly four times the height of Burj Khalifa (830 meters or 2,723 feet).

Using an underwater robot, the team explored one of the mountain's ridges and discovered an area rich in marine biodiversity. Among their finds was a ghostly white octopus, nicknamed "Casper," marking the first time this deep-sea creature has been observed in the southern Pacific. The team also spotted two rare Bathyphysa siphonophores, which are sometimes referred to as "flying spaghetti monsters" due to their string-like appearance.

"The Casper octopus has never been captured, so it doesn't yet have a scientific name," Virmani noted.

Additionally, the team recorded the first-ever footage of a live Promachoteuthis squid, a species previously known only from a few collected specimens.

These discoveries were among the highlights of the research vessel's third expedition this year to the Nazca Ridge, an area in international waters. According to Virmani, this region could potentially become the world's first high seas marine protected area under a new UN treaty adopted in 2023.

"Across the three expeditions, we mapped and explored 25 seamounts, which is quite a number," Virmani said. "We've gathered significant data that could help make the case for protecting this region."

The previous expeditions in January and February led to the identification of 150 previously unknown species. During this latest expedition, an additional 20 potential new species were discovered.

Details of these newly discovered species will be shared with the Ocean Census, a global initiative aiming to identify 100,000 unknown species over the next decade. This effort is crucial for better understanding and protecting the deep-sea ecosystem.

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