PM Modi to inaugurate, lay foundation of key infra projects in Kanpur on Friday
A key highlight of PM's Kanpur visit will be the inauguration and laying of the foundation stone for five units of Khurja, Obra, and Jawaharpur Thermal Power Plants. All the power projects will significantly spruce up the power infrastructure in the state.
The PM is expected to address a public rally at Chandrashekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology (CSA) ground. In preparation for the Prime Minister's visit, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conducted an on-site inspection, on Wednesday, and reviewed the venue's readiness with senior officials.
Another highlight of PM's visit will be inauguration of a crucial section of Kanpur Metro Rail Project. The newly-completed stretch from Chunniganj Metro Station to Kanpur Central Metro Station, constructed at a cost of over Rs 2,120 crore, comprises 14 planned stations including five newly-built underground stations.
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First Post
13 minutes ago
- First Post
How a diamond pendant led to South Korea's former first lady's imprisonment
On Tuesday, a Seoul court ordered the arrest of Kim Keon-hee, wife of ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, over charges, including Deutsch Motors stock manipulation, illegal political funding, and accepting luxury gifts such as a $43,000 (Rs 37.68 lakh) pendant. She denies all charges South Korea's former first lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of impeached former president Yoon Suk Yeol, arrives at a court to attend a hearing to review her arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors, in Seoul, South Korea, August 12, 2025. Pool Photo via AP The simultaneous imprisonment of both a former president and his spouse marks rare chapter in South Korea's political history. Kim Keon-hee, the 52-year-old wife of ousted president Yoon Suk-yeol, was formally arrested after a late-night ruling by the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday. The court authorised the special prosecutor's request for an arrest warrant, citing 'concerns about evidence destruction' as the justification for placing her in detention. The arrest follows a sweeping set of investigations initiated by liberal President Lee Jae-yung shortly after his election in June. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These inquiries target alleged misconduct during Yoon's presidency, which ended abruptly in April when he was removed from office by the Constitutional Court after his impeachment. Yoon's downfall stemmed from his short-lived attempt to impose martial law in December last year — a decision that not only collapsed within hours but also triggered political outrage and set off a series of legal troubles for both him and his wife. While Yoon's imprisonment is linked to charges of insurrection and abuse of power, Kim faces multiple criminal accusations spanning bribery, stock manipulation, and unlawful political influence. She now occupies a cell in Seoul's Nambu Detention Centre, while her husband remains in custody at Seoul Detention Centre. How it came to Kim Keon-hee being arrested On the day of the ruling, Kim arrived at the court dressed in a black suit. She bowed to reporters gathered outside but did not respond to questions. Inside the courtroom, the proceedings lasted over four hours as prosecutors presented evidence and argued that she posed a serious risk of destroying documents or interfering with witnesses. Judge Jeong Jae-wook accepted these arguments, noting that the potential for evidence tampering warranted her detention. The decision followed earlier questioning by investigators, including a seven-hour interrogation session the previous week. Kim did speak briefly to journalists after that earlier questioning, offering a general apology for 'causing public concern' but adding that she saw herself as 'someone insignificant.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD South Korea's former first lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of impeached former president Yoon Suk Yeol, arrives at a court to attend a hearing to review her arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors at the Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, August 12, 2025. Pool via Reuters Kim expressed discontent about the scope of the charges, telling the judge she was 'upset that even issues from before my marriage keep being brought up.' Her legal representatives have consistently denied all charges, labelling many of the allegations as unfounded. Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the People Power Party, stated on YTN radio, 'I would like to express that I hope the special prosecutor's investigation proceeds normally and fairly in accordance with the law and regulations.' The charges against Kim Keon-hee: Explained Allegations of stock manipulation One of the most serious allegations against Kim involves claims that she participated in a stock price manipulation scheme tied to Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealership in South Korea. Prosecutors allege that between 2009 and 2012, Kim conspired with others to artificially raise the company's share prices, generating profits of more than 800 million won (£428,000). These accusations are not new — rumours and media reports about her potential involvement in financial irregularities had circulated during Yoon's presidency, but formal legal action was repeatedly blocked while he was in office. Yoon had dismissed calls for an investigation as political attacks from opponents. The new administration has reopened the case, and prosecutors believe they now have sufficient evidence to press charges. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Claims of unlawful political influence Another significant charge is that Kim and her husband exerted improper pressure on the conservative People Power Party to secure the nomination of a specific candidate during a 2022 legislative by-election. This effort was allegedly coordinated at the request of political broker Myung Tae-kyun. Myung himself faces accusations of running manipulated opinion surveys for Yoon during the presidential primaries — surveys that may have bolstered Yoon's chances of winning the nomination. Prosecutors say these free polling services, valued at over 270 million won, amounted to illegal political funding. The allegation links Kim directly to a broader network of political interference that investigators claim compromised the fairness of party candidate selection processes. Bribery and luxury gifts Prosecutors also accuse Kim of accepting high-value gifts from various sources in exchange for providing favourable treatment in business or political matters. Among the items under scrutiny is Van Cleef & Arpels' Snowflake Pendant (18 karat white gold with brilliant-cut diamonds) reportedly worth over 60 million won ($43,000), which Kim wore while accompanying Yoon to a Nato summit in 2022. The pendant was not declared in the couple's legally required financial disclosure. According to the prosecution, it was supplied by a domestic construction company seeking to secure advantages. The company's chairman is alleged to have purchased the item, and investigators are examining whether its gifting was connected to the appointment of the chairman's son-in-law as chief of staff to then-Prime Minister Han Duck-soo shortly before the summit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Kim has rejected the claim, telling prosecutors that the necklace was 'a fake bought 20 years ago in Hong Kong.' The prosecution, however, maintains that the piece is genuine. In addition to the pendant, Kim is accused of receiving two Chanel handbags worth a combined 20 million won (£10,700) and a diamond necklace from members of the Unification Church. Investigators allege these gifts were arranged through a shaman intermediary and tied to the church's interest in development projects in Cambodia. Other corruption-linked investigations Earlier on the day of her arrest, one of her close associates was detained after returning from Vietnam. Prosecutors suspect this individual used their connection to Kim to obtain millions of dollars in investment for a financially struggling company. Investigators have also conducted raids on multiple business premises, including a construction firm believed to be linked to some of the luxury gifts. In one instance, they are investigating whether a $43,000 necklace worn by Kim on a European trip in 2022 was connected to political favours. Kim has maintained that the jewellery was not authentic. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What next for Kim Keon-hee & Yoon Suk-yeol? Kim's arrest comes as part of a trio of major special prosecutor cases approved by President Lee Jae Myung in June. The first involves Yoon's martial law declaration in December 2024, which lasted only a few hours before being overturned by lawmakers who broke through a military blockade to hold an emergency vote. The second focuses on the allegations against Kim. The third examines the drowning of a marine during a flood rescue in 2023, which critics allege Yoon's administration attempted to cover up. Yoon's martial law decision was made during escalating disputes with liberal lawmakers, whom he described as 'anti-state' actors obstructing his agenda. Some of his opponents have argued that his drastic action may have been partly influenced by growing scrutiny of his wife's alleged misconduct. Following the failed martial law attempt, Yoon was impeached on December 14, 2024, and formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April 2025. After a brief release in March, he was rearrested in July and now faces trial on rebellion and other charges. He has consistently refused to attend hearings or answer prosecutors' questions, including those concerning Kim's activities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While the country has a history of prosecuting former leaders, the incarceration of both a former president and a former first lady at the same time is without precedent. Kim's career before entering politics was in the arts sector, where she ran an exhibition company. During Yoon's presidency, she was seen by some observers as an influential figure behind the scenes. However, her time as first lady was marked by controversies, including the 'Dior bag scandal' — a separate incident that prosecutors are now revisiting. In recent months, her academic credentials also came under fire, with both her master's and doctoral degrees revoked following findings of plagiarism. Under South Korean law, prosecutors can detain Kim for up to 20 days before formally filing charges. During this period, investigators are expected to conduct further interrogations and review additional evidence. If indicted, she could face multiple years in prison if found guilty on charges ranging from financial crimes to bribery and political interference. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The special prosecutor's team, led by Min Joong-ki, has pledged to conduct a thorough inquiry in accordance with the law. Also Watch: With inputs from agencies
India Today
13 minutes ago
- India Today
MK Stalin calls Trump's 50% tariff ‘hegemonic conspiracy', urges PM Modi to oppose
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday described the United States' recent 50 per cent tariff on India as a 'hegemonic conspiracy' and called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to register a strong at an event commemorating late Cuban leader Fidel Castro, whom he described as a 'protector of his country and its people,' Stalin said such conspiracies do not always involve 50 per cent tax imposed by the US on India is one such conspiracy. The BJP ruling at the Centre should strongly oppose this. The Central BJP government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should provide a transparent response,' he said. Stalin questioned why President Donald Trump unilaterally imposed the tariff just before the sixth round of Indo-US trade talks, after five rounds had already taken place. 'Capitalist conspiracy does not rise from war alone. The US imposing a 50 per cent tariff on India is also the same,' he also criticised Modi's silence over Trump's repeated claim that he prevented an India-Pakistan war during Operation Sindoor.'While the opposition raises the matter in both Houses of Parliament, PM Modi has not given any answer. This is his weakness,' Stalin US had last week imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods as a penalty for New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil. With this, along with the earlier 25 per cent levy effective from August 7, the total tariff on most Indian goods has reached 50 per cent, barring a small exemption list.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
India Today
20 minutes ago
- India Today
Tackling stray dogs is as simple as ABC. Court's impractical order misses it
On August 11, the Supreme Court of India dropped what was meant to be a bold ruling: remove stray dogs from the streets of Delhi-NCR, sterilise and shelter them permanently. The stated aim? To protect children and the elderly from rabies and dog bites. Noble, yes—but the ruling is neither practical nor the deal: Delhi authorities were instructed to pick up thousands of strays within just eight weeks—setting up shelters with sterilisation, immunisation, care, and CCTV monitoring, while forbidding the return of any dog to the reality bites back—hard. Delhi's stray dog population is estimated to be between 5,00,000 and 10 lakh. Yet the court cited just 5,000 dogs for immediate action—how was that number decided? It seems utterly arbitrary. There's a staggering mismatch between the scale of the problem and the resources PRICE TAG OF IGNORANCE Let's be blunt: housing hundreds of thousands of dogs isn't just expensive—it's outrageously impractical. Animal welfare advocate Maneka Gandhi laid it out clearly: building 3,000 shelters with drainage, kitchens, water supply, and staff could cost around Rs 15,000 crore. That's not just a big number—it's fantasy-level budgeting. India simply doesn't have that kind of funding sitting DON'T STAY PUTHere's where logic wags its tail. Dogs don't respect jurisdictional boundaries. The court overlooked something obvious: strays will keep wandering in—from neighboring villages, Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad—laughing in the face of state borders. You can't fence in logic with a court ABC (Animal Birth Control) method, which sterilises and returns dogs to their original location, isn't sentimental—it's scientific. It acknowledges that existing dogs keep new ones out. The court claimed, 're-releasing sterilised dogs back to the same place that's absolutely absurd.' Yet their alternative ignores basic dog behavior: clear an area of dogs, and it will soon be repopulated—by other dogs, or by species like cats and OUTBREAKS LURK INSIDE SHELTERSHere's another unpleasant truth the ruling glosses over: shelters are breeding grounds for disease. Crowded, stressed dogs in confinement? That's a perfect recipe for kennel cough, parvovirus, skin infections—and yes, rabies can spread rapidly if vaccination and hygiene protocols slip even slightly. The court's plan doesn't appear to guarantee robust, sustainable disease-control measures across thousands of animals—a ticking time bomb waiting to ABC LOGIC—SHORT AND SHARPIn a nutshell, ABC makes sense: sterilise, vaccinate, and return. It's humane, cost-effective, scientifically supported, and legally upheld under the ABC Rules, reaffirmed as recently as May 2024. It doesn't pretend you can remove every stray. It gradually reduces the population, builds herd immunity, and respects animal behavior—without expensive shelters or unrealistic deadlines. The court's disdain for this method is deeply ORDER ISN'T LEGALLY SOUND—PRECEDENT MATTERSadvertisementHere's another kicker: the August 11 order not only contradicts the ABC Rules but also overrides a May 2024 Supreme Court ruling that reaffirmed those rules after 16 years of deliberation. There's also a previous consensus from a three-judge bench directing sterilisation, vaccination, and return. A two-judge bench cannot simply override that. Legally shaky and constitutionally questionable, this new order lacks the weight of precedent. It's a serious misstep that needs PLAIN TERMSFinancially absurd: Tens of thousands of crores for impossible flawed: Dogs will return; shelters spread inferior: Ignores proven ABC dubious: Contradicts a three-judge bench ruling and the ABC its core, the court's August 11 ruling shows determination—but it's misdirected, unsustainable, and ultimately cruel to both animals and society. It treats strays as problems to be locked away, not living beings with needs and need a smarter, more compassionate plan: scale up ABC, run community-based vaccination drives, partner with feeders, and increase public awareness. Strengthen legal frameworks—don't bulldoze them. The streets don't need fewer dogs—they need better when you catapult a ruling from sentiment to sentence, you must remember: the leash of logic must be stronger than the chain of emotion. Otherwise, everyone ends up losing.- EndsTune InMust Watch
