Latest news with #and
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Ganja worth ₹1.32 crore seized on Pune-Nashik highway; two arrested
In a crackdown on drug trafficking, the anti-narcotics cell of the Pimpri-Chinchwad police has seized a massive 264 kg of Ganja (Cannabis) from a tempo intercepted on the Pune-Nashik highway, and arrested two individuals in connection with the case. The incident was reported in the early hours of July 14. Assistant police inspector Swapnil Chavan and his team were patrolling when police hawaldar Javed Bagsiraj received a tipoff regarding a tempo ferrying Ganja. (REPRESENTATIVE PIC) Assistant police inspector Swapnil Chavan and his team were patrolling when police hawaldar Javed Bagsiraj received a tipoff regarding a tempo ferrying Ganja. Accordingly, a trap was laid at Alandi Phata on the Pune-Nashik highway and the police intercepted a suspicious-looking tempo only to find and seize 264 kg of Ganja valued at ₹13,211,300. The tempo was impounded and two persons were arrested on the spot. The duo has been identified as Ram Vyankat Pitale, 25, from Uruli Devachi; and Shreyas Pradip Chavan, 21, from Hadapsar. Preliminary interrogation has revealed that the duo was ferrying the Ganja from another state into Maharashtra and intended to distribute it across various locations in the state. Shashikant Mahavarkar, joint commissioner, Pimpri-Chinchwad police, said, 'We have seized Ganja worth ₹1.32 crore by arresting two individuals. This is one of the biggest actions against Ganja in Pimpri-Chinchwad. We are hoping more arrests will be made in this case. Considering further investigation, we cannot disclose certain things at this stage.' An FIR has been registered at the Chakan police station under sections 8(C), 20(B)(ii)(C), and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The accused have been remanded to police custody for further questioning.
Middle East
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Middle East
OPEN// FM praises Ghada Waly's role at UNODC
CAIRO, July 15 (MENA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty expressed his appreciation to Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Ghada Waly, for her efforts in supporting global crime prevention and for representing Egypt and the Arab world on the international stage. During their meeting on Tuesday, Abdelatty praised Waly's strong contributions in international forums, noting that her work positively reflects Egypt's standing within global institutions. For her part, Waly briefed the minister on the UN Cybercrime Convention adopted in December 2024, noting that the official signing ceremony will be held in Hanoi on October 25, 2025. She extended an invitation for Egypt to participate with a high-level delegation. She also highlighted Egypt's role as vice-chair of the treaty's drafting committee, and pointed to ongoing discussions on establishing a regional cybercrime training center in Egypt to serve African countries. Waly reviewed UNODC's cooperation with Egyptian authorities in combating illegal migration, citing joint efforts with the Ministries of Interior and Justice, the Administrative Control Authority, and the Public Prosecutor's Office. She added that several of these projects receive funding from the European Union. She further discussed UNODC's initiatives to combat antiquities trafficking and emphasized the importance of private sector engagement in safeguarding cultural heritage. Waly referenced a UK-funded program that provides technical support to countries confronting heritage crimes. Additionally, she confirmed that Egypt will host a regional expert group meeting on antiquities trafficking in October 2025 under the auspices of the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. (MENA) H A T/M S H
Otago Daily Times
8 hours ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Selwyn plans big increase in tree planting
Selwyn is considering a policy of 'replacing one tree with at least two' after Rolleston was shown to have one of the lowest numbers for a town in New Zealand. The policy was discussed at the Climate Change and Sustainability Subcommittee Meeting on July 9, a week after a study was released by the University of Canterbury's School of Forestry, led by Professor Justin Morgenroth and Dr Ning Ye. It showed Rolleston's tree canopy cover was 7.9%, ranking it 77 out of 78 cities and towns in the study. Other Canterbury towns didn't fare much better, with Christchurch – the Garden City - at 13.6% (57th), Kaiapoi at 11.8% (66th), Ashburton at 11.5% (69th), and Rangiora at 9.5% (74th). Picton was on top at 59% while Hāwera was below Rolleston at 7.5%. At the subcommittee meeting, Selwyn's people, culture, and capability executive director Steve Giblin,g said the council is 'looking for better direction around how we proactively manage trees, especially in a fast-paced growth district like ours'. The said trees play a key role 'in cooling through shade, providing habitat for biodiversity, and also managing storm water'. Rolleston and its other rapidly growing urban centres have seen trees and shelter belts removed to make way for subdivisions. Those developments have included new trees, but they take time to establish. The council want to improve how they plan and consider trees, both new and existing. It was noted that there are five trees being removed for the Lincoln town centre redevelopment, but 50 trees will be planted in their place, with special strata vaults to avoid root issues, which is something the policy will cover. Strategy team leader Ben Baird said the approach to developing a policy was to recognise the value of trees, 'especially in our infrastructure and our subdivision work'. 'Having a goal of replacing one [tree] with at least two, and kind of looking to improve our canopy cover.' The council consulted the community on trees last year and Baird summarised the feedback as people wanting to see more trees, the council needs to be doing more to maintain them, and removal should be a last resort. He said staff would present on the draft tree policy in August. Professor Morgenroth believes it's worth investing in trees. 'Research has shown that for every $1 invested in urban trees, trees will return $3.40 in benefits. 'The benefits include, but are not limited to, carbon sequestration/storage, air pollution removal, stormwater runoff mitigation, energy reduction (shade/shelter), and aesthetic value.' There are other unquantifiable benefits, such as human physical and mental health, as well as biodiversity, he said. 'Increasing canopy cover will require planting, but that will take time. 'Limiting the removal of existing healthy trees is also a means of increasing canopy cover through growth of existing trees, or at least not reducing cover. 'Tree protection regulation is limited in New Zealand to individual trees listed in district plans, so regulatory approaches - unless they are changed - for retaining existing trees aren't likely to make a large contribution to maintaining or increasing canopy cover.' By Jonathan Leask, Local Democracy Reporter
Cision Canada
13 hours ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Statement from Secretary of State Anna Gainey on World Youth Skills Day 2025 Français
GATINEAU, QC, July 15, 2025 /CNW/ - Secretary of State (Children and Youth), Anna Gainey, today issued the following statement to highlight World Youth Skills Day 2025: ''Today, we mark United Nation's World Youth Skills Day. Young Canadians grew up with technology and are helping redefine what it means to work with digital tools. Further developing digital skills and encouraging youth to learn skilled trades are key to building the workforce of tomorrow. Our initiatives help young people tackle the important challenges and shifts that technologies are bringing to an increasingly digitally focused labour market. Through the Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), post-secondary students receive hands-on work experience in their field of study. For example, projects supported by the Information and Communications Technology Council and Technation provide students with opportunities in tech-immersive roles such as cybersecurity, AI, health tech, digital technologies, agri-tech and more. Canada Summer Jobs provides youth between the ages of 15 and 30 years old with a range of job opportunities, including in digital fields. Your new government recognizes the importance of the development of high-demand skills such as digital skills and skilled trades. We will continue to invest in Canadians to build the strongest economy in the G7 and help Canada's youth gain the skills they need to get good jobs. Join me in wishing all a happy World Youth Skills Day!'' Job Bank SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada Contacts: For media enquiries, please contact: Aaron Rosenbaum, Communications Assistant, Office of the Secretary of State (Children and Youth), [email protected]; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democrats accuse Waltz of lying over Signalgate and berate him for not expressing regret
Democratic lawmakers laid into former national security adviser Mike Waltz on Tuesday over his role in the Signalgate messaging scandal — saying he lied about aspects of the leaked chats and castigating him for the fact that U.S. officials shared sensitive and potentially classified information on the app. 'I was hoping to hear from you that you had some sense of regret over sharing what was very sensitive, timely information about a military strike on a commercially available app that's not, as we both know, the appropriate way to share such critical information,' said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), speaking at the nomination for Waltz to become the Trump administration's ambassador to the United Nations. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) argued that Waltz had made false assertions about how a journalist was added to the chat, saying 'I've seen you not only fail to stand up, but lie.' Waltz, for his part, blamed the Biden administration for approving the use of the messaging app, saying that the app was 'not only authorized, it was recommended' by the Biden administration's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure agency. He said there was no classified military information discussed in any Signal chats he was part of. In March, The Atlantic reported its editor in chief was included in an unsecured Signal group chat with top Cabinet members — including Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth — to coordinate plans to launch air strikes against the Houthi militant group in Yemen. Trump administration officials have repeatedly denied that any classified information was shared in the chat. Democrats on congressional intelligence panels and former national security officials have insisted that the information in the chats would be considered highly classified and could have jeopardized U.S. fighter pilots if leaked in advance. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) noted that there are multiple investigations into the use of the app currently underway and said those probes haven't reached a conclusion about whether classified information was shared. He added that it was an 'amateurish move" to add a reporter to the chat. Following the Atlantic's disclosures, POLITICO reported that Waltz was known to use Signal regularly to set up chats to coordinate official work on national security issues. Coons pressed Waltz on the continued use of the app. 'It doesn't seem to me that the administration has taken any action to make sure this doesn't happen again. There's been no consequences, and yet the president continues to denounce those who leak information. We both know signal is not a secure way to convey classified information,' Coons said. Waltz was removed from his post as national security adviser in the wake of the Signal controversy, though Trump promptly nominated him to become U.N. ambassador. He has continued on the government payroll as an adviser in the interim. But the most pointed criticism came from Booker, who questioned Waltz's character given the way he handled both the chat and the aftermath. "What America expects from leaders, especially leaders who are tasked with our national security or could be tasked with the position which you're nominated for, is for people to stand up and just take responsibility, take accountability. But I heard you just blame Biden," Booker said. He added that Waltz 'denied' and 'deflected' when national security was compromised. Further, Booker said, Waltz 'degraded' a journalist. 'That's not leadership when you blame people that tell the truth,' said Booker. 'That's not leadership when you can't say the words, 'I made a mistake. I could have done better.'" Booker added that he would not be supporting Waltz's confirmation in part because of how he handled the controversy. "I cannot support your nomination. I think you've shown a failure of leadership at a time that America especially needs people of honor to stand up and show what leadership actually is,' Booker said. Amy Mackinnon contributed to this report.
