Watch: Air India crash report, sanctions on India, Syria ceasefire & more
A cockpit recording of the dialogue between the two pilots of the Air India flight that crashed last month indicates the captain cut the flow of fuel to the plane's engines, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.
Nonetheless, investigators 'still have to dig into all the factors' and rule out other possible contributing factors which would take time, said aviation expert John Nance. Most air crashes are caused by multiple factors, and under international rules, a final report is expected within a year of an accident.
Land-for-jobs scam: Lalu Yadav moves Supreme Court to stay trial court proceedings
Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav has moved the Supreme Court against an order dismissing his plea seeking a stay on the trial court proceedings over the CBI's land-for-jobs case.
On May 29, the Delhi High Court said there was no compelling reason to stay the proceedings. The High Court issued notice to the CBI on Mr. Yadav's plea for quashing of the CBI FIR and posted the hearing on August 12.
India can secure oil even if Russian imports sanctioned, says Oil Minister Puri
India is confident of meeting its oil needs from alternative sources if Russian supplies are hit by secondary sanctions, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Thursday.
India should be able to deal with any problems with Russian imports by seeking supplies from other countries, Mr. Puri said. He noted there are many new suppliers coming into the market, such as Guyana, and there is supply from existing producers such as Brazil and Canada.
Nearly 3,000 Myanmar refugees return to their villages from Mizoram
'Nearly 3,000 refugees from Myanmar, who recently crossed the International Border and took shelter in India, have returned to their villages in the neighbouring country,' a senior police officer said on Thursday.
The State Government is planning to collect biometric and demographic details of Myanmar refugees in July-end for identification purposes. The Myanmar refugees are mostly from the Chin community, who share ethnic ties with the Mizos.
Syrian government and Druze minority leaders announce a new ceasefire
Syrian government officials and leaders in the Druze religious minority announced a renewed ceasefire on Wednesday after days of clashes that have threatened to unravel the country's postwar political transition and drawn military intervention by powerful neighbour Israel.
The violence appeared to be the most serious threat yet to efforts by Syria's new rulers to consolidate control of the country after a rebel offensive led by Islamist insurgent groups ousted longtime despotic leader Bashar Assad in December, ending a nearly 14-year civil war.
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Business Standard
10 minutes ago
- Business Standard
SC bench to hear Presidential reference on timelines for bills on July 22
In a five-page reference, President Murmu posed 14 questions to the Supreme Court and sought to know its opinion on the powers of governors and the President Press Trust of India New Delhi A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court is scheduled to consider on July 22 the Presidential reference on whether timelines could be imposed by judicial orders for the exercise of discretion by the President while dealing with bills passed by state assemblies. According to the cause list posted on the apex court website, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, PS Narasimha and Atul S Chandurkar will be hearing the matter. In May, President Droupadi Murmu exercised her powers under Article 143(1) and posed 14 crucial questions to the Supreme Court over its April 8 verdict that fixed timelines for governors and the President to act on bills passed by state assemblies. Article 143 (1) of the Constitution deals with the power of President to consult the Supreme Court "if at any time it appears to the President that a question of law or fact has arisen, or is likely to arise, which is of such a nature and of such public importance that it is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court upon it, he may refer the question to that Court for consideration and the Court may, after such hearing as it thinks fit, report to the President its opinion thereon". The April 8 verdict, passed in a matter over the powers of the governor in dealing with bills questioned by the Tamil Nadu government, for the first time prescribed that the President should decide on the bills reserved for her consideration by the governor within three months from the date on which such reference is received. In a five-page reference, President Murmu posed 14 questions to the Supreme Court and sought to know its opinion on the powers of governors and the President under Articles 200 and 201 in dealing with bills passed by the state legislature. Article 200 deals with situations with regard to the passage of bills by the state assembly and subsequent options available to the governor on grant of assent or withholding of assent or sending the bill to the President for reconsideration. Article 201 deals with the bills reserved for the President's consideration by the governor. The Centre has resorted to the presidential reference instead of seeking a review of the verdict, which has evoked sharp reactions in the political spectrum. The rules prescribe that the review petitions be heard by the same set of judges in the apex court in chambers, while presidential references are heard and considered by a five-judge Constitution bench. The apex court, however, may choose to refuse to answer any or all of the questions raised in the reference. Article 200, the reference underlined, which prescribes powers of the governor to be followed while assenting to bills, withholding assent to bills and reserving a bill for the President's consideration, does not stipulate any time frame upon the governor to exercise constitutional options. The President said that similarly, Article 201, which prescribes the powers of the President and the procedure to be followed while assenting to bills or withholding assent therefrom, does not stipulate any time frame or procedure to be followed by the President for the exercise of constitutional options under Article 201 of the Constitution. President Murmu also questioned the exercise of plenary power under Article 142 of the Constitution by the Supreme Court to make the bill re-presented to the Tamil Nadu Governor, as deemed to have been passed. "Whereas the concept of a deemed assent of the President and the Governor is alien to the constitutional scheme and fundamentally circumscribes the power of the President and the Governor," the reference of May 13 said. President Murmu said the contours and scope of provisions in Article 142 of the Constitution in context of issues which are occupied by either constitutional provisions or statutory provisions also require an opinion of the Supreme Court of India. "It appears to me that the following questions of the law have arisen and are of such nature and of such public importance that it is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court of India thereon," President Murmu said while posing 14 questions to the apex court for its opinion. The SC verdict has set a timeline for all governors to act on the bills passed by the state assemblies and ruled that the governor does not possess any discretion in the exercise of functions under Article 200 of the Constitution in respect to any bill presented to them and must mandatorily abide by the advice tendered by the council of ministers. It had said that state governments can directly approach the Supreme Court if the President withholds assent on a bill sent by a governor for consideration. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, which passed the verdict, said that reserving a bill on grounds such as "personal dissatisfaction of Governor, political expediency or any other extraneous or irrelevant considerations" was strictly impermissible by the Constitution and would be liable to be set aside forthwith on that ground alone. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hans India
40 minutes ago
- Hans India
Syrian interim leader calls for unity as nationwide ceasefire takes effect
Damascus: Syrian interim leader Ahmad al-Sharaa on Saturday blamed retaliatory attacks by "outlawed" armed groups in the province of Sweida and Israeli airstrikes for pushing the country into a dangerous stage, calling for national unity and reconciliation in the war-torn country. In a televised address, al-Sharaa said the withdrawal of state forces from parts of the southern province of Sweida created a security vacuum that allowed local armed Druze factions to launch revenge attacks against Bedouin groups. These assaults, he said, were accompanied by grave human rights violations and prompted other tribal groups to mobilise in defence of their besieged kin, Xinhua news agency reported. He accused Israel of reigniting tensions by carrying out "blatant airstrikes" in southern Syria and against government facilities in Damascus, warning that such actions had "pushed the country into a dangerous stage that threatens its stability." Al-Sharaa also criticised the view of "narrow interests" of certain individuals in Sweida and condemned the use of the province by internal and external forces as a platform for regional conflicts. "This only deepens the crisis and does not serve the interests of Syrians," he said. Addressing the broader political context, the Syrian leader praised the recent US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Syria and Israel, announced at dawn Saturday, calling it a "vital step toward ending the bloodshed." He expressed gratitude for Washington's support and welcomed the roles played by Arab countries and Turkey in facilitating the truce. The Syrian authorities on Saturday declared an immediate and comprehensive nationwide ceasefire. In a statement issued Saturday morning, the Syrian authorities said the truce aimed to preserve national unity and ensure the safety of civilians amid "critical circumstances," describing the move as a national and humanitarian obligation. The authorities called on all parties to cease hostilities and ensure the safe delivery of humanitarian aid. It vowed to restore state control of the Sweida province, facilitate the return of displaced civilians, and re-establish law and order, warning that any violation of the ceasefire would be treated as a breach of national sovereignty, subject to legal consequences. The announcement came just hours after US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack revealed the truce on X, stating that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syrian interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa had agreed to a cessation of hostilities, brokered by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The deal is also backed by regional players, including Turkey, Jordan and Syria's other neighbours. The ceasefire deal followed six days of fierce sectarian clashes in Sweida, which left hundreds dead and triggered fears of a broader regional escalation. In the televised address, al-Sharaa reiterated the government's commitment to protecting all minorities and prosecuting all violators regardless of affiliation. "We disavow all crimes and violations committed, whether from within or outside Sweida," he added. Al-Sharaa concluded by affirming Syria's unity and sovereignty: "Syria is not a testing ground for partition projects, secession or sectarian incitement. It is time we return to a national foundation capable of building a stable future."
Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
Putin Military SHATTERS Ukrainian Defences; Russia UNLEASHES Hellfire With Record 300 Drones
Russian forces thwarted Ukraine's attack bid on Moscow. Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said Russia's air defenses destroyed more than a dozen incoming Ukrainian drones approaching the capital overnight on July 19. This was the second attempt by Ukraine to target Moscow. Watch this video to know more. Read More
