New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday arrested former West Bengal minister and TMC leader Sujit Bose in the municipality recruitment scam.Days after TMC’s defeat in West Bengal, the ED questioned senior party leader Sujit Bose in connection with its probe into the municipality recruitment ‘scam’ case.Bose is accused of illegally recommending 150 candidates for various posts under the South Dumdum Municipality in exchange for financial benefits. Before the arrest, the ED traced the direct proceeds of crime in the form of flats acquired by him in return for providing municipality jobs to various persons. Additionally, the anti-money laundering agency also detected huge amounts of cash deposited in bank accounts under his control. The former TMC minister will be produced in the special court on Tuesday morning.Former fire minister Bose, who had lost in his stronghold Bidhannagar, was directed by the court to join the investigation.While CM Mamata Banerjee’s terms were marked by a series of alleged scams, one that stands out is the transaction of money related to recruitment in municipalities, ED sources told TOI, which had grown close to her nephew and Diamond Harbor MP Abhishek Banerjee, who is seen as Mamata’s presumptive successor, who was widely known as the CM-invader until the BJP’s landslide. Trinamool Congress’s ambition to prolong its rule has not been buried. Several money laundering cases being investigated by the ED, including that of political consultancy firm I-PAC in the coal smuggling ‘scam’, are set to return from Delhi to Kolkata.The investigation was stalled because ED officials in Kolkata were allegedly being “intimidated” and several accused refused to cooperate despite repeated summons. Sources said the ED may resume questioning of the accused including Abhishek, his wife Rujira, former DGP Rajeev Kumar, former Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma, then DCP Priyabrata Roy besides I-PAC chief Prateek Jain, from whose premises Mamata had taken files seized by the agency during the January 8 search operation in the presence of her police officers.

Former minister Mahesh Joshi and his associate Sanjay Badaya appeared in the ACB court of Jaipur on Monday.

Former minister Mahesh Joshi and his associate Sanjay Badaya appeared in the ACB court of Jaipur on Monday.

Former minister Mahesh Joshi and his associate Sanjay Badaya appeared in the ACB court of Jaipur on Monday.

Former minister Mahesh Joshi and his associate Sanjay Badaya appeared in the ACB court of Jaipur on Monday.

Former minister Mahesh Joshi and his associate Sanjay Badaya appeared in the ACB court of Jaipur on Monday.

Jaipur: Rajasthan Anti Corruption Bureau has arrested Sanjay Bhatya, a close aide of former PHED Minister Mahesh Joshi. Delhi Airport In the early hours of Monday in connection with the alleged Rs 900 crore Jal Jeevan Mission scam. acb director general Govind Gupta Confirmed the arrest.Badhaya was returning from Thailand after attending a wedding when immigration officials alerted the ACB. He was taken into custody at around 2 am. The agency had issued a lookout notice against the accused and was searching for Joshi since his arrest on May 7.“He is suspected to be one of the masterminds behind the scam and has acted as a middleman in financial transactions, transfers, postings and tender-related activities. Badhaya had close links not only with Joshi but also with retired IAS officer Subodh Aggarwal, who was arrested in the same case on April 9 and is currently in jail,” said an ACB official.Badhaya was arrested earlier Enforcement Directorate Got bail from the Supreme Court on July 16, 2024 and later on December 17, 2024.Investigators alleged that Badhaya, who worked in an insurance company and was expected to earn around Rs 7 lakh annually by 2022, amassed substantial wealth during the period of the alleged scam. The ED investigation found that Badhaya and his wife were linked to a real estate firm that were allegedly involved in large financial transactions and attempts to encroach on Jaipur Development Authority land by using forged documents. If found guilty under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the accused can be jailed for up to 10 years.Joshi and Badhaya were produced in the ACB court in Jaipur on Monday. The agency sought police remand of three days for Joshi and five days for Badhaya. However, the court sent Joshi to judicial custody and granted three-day police remand for Badhaya.Outside the court, Joshi alleged that the investigation was being conducted due to political pressure. “Justice will be done. I have nothing to hide or disclose,” he told reporters. Joshi also objected to the lookout circular issued against Badhaya and said that Badhaya had traveled abroad after taking permission from the court.

In an era when artificial islands are usually associated with luxury developments, airports or tourism projects, Poland created an island for an entirely different purpose. Emerging from the waters of the Szczecin Lagoon near Świnoujście, the artificial island known as Wispa Jana Zabawi-Wroblewskiego was created using sand dredged from a major shipping project. But instead of converting the new land into a commercial area, the authorities closed it to the public and turned it into a protected sanctuary for birds and wildlife. Today, scientists are watching as nature slowly reclaims the barren island, turning it into one of the Baltic region’s most unusual conservation experiments.

How the island was created to protect life and wildlife

The island was formed during the deepening of the Szczecin–Świnoujście Shipping Channel, a major infrastructure project designed to allow large cargo ships to travel more easily between the Baltic Sea and the port of Szczecin. As engineers excavated the lagoon floor, they removed millions of cubic meters of sand and sediment from the waterway.Rather than dispose of the material elsewhere, Polish authorities used it to build a new artificial island in the Szczecin Lagoon. The island was completed in 2021 and covers approximately 180 hectares, spanning approximately 1.2 kilometers at its widest points.What makes this island unusual is that it was never intended for tourism or development. Public access was restricted almost immediately after construction as the area was to serve as a protected habitat for rare water birds and delicate wetland ecosystems.

Environmental experts saw the project as an opportunity to address some of the ecological disruption caused by dredging. Over time, the sandy terrain and shallow waters surrounding the island began to attract gulls, terns and migratory birds looking for undisturbed places to nest.Instead of roads, hotels or marinas, the island was deliberately left largely untouched so that wildlife could gradually establish itself.

A real-time ecological experiment

Scientists monitoring the island have described it as a rare example of ecosystem formation occurring almost from scratch. When the project was completed, the island consisted mostly of open sand and sediment. Since then, populations of plants, insects and birds have gradually begun to inhabit the area through a natural process called ecological succession.Researchers are particularly interested in how quickly birds adapt to newly created habitats in the Baltic region, where coastal ecosystems have long been transformed by industry, shipping and urban expansion.Since humans are largely absent from the island, scientists have a rare opportunity to observe how wildlife react when given protected space to evolve naturally.

Naming controversy around the island

The island also became the center of a local naming controversy. During a public vote, many residents supported the name “Brisna”, a historical Slavic name associated with the area. However, Polish authorities later officially named the island after Jan “Zabawa” Wroblewski, a participant in the Warsaw Uprising during World War II.Although the official name remains Wyspa Jana Zabawy-Wroblewskiego, many local and regional media outlets still continue to use Brysna unofficially.

Transforming infrastructure into conservation

The project is increasingly being seen as an example of how large infrastructure developments can incorporate environmental protection rather than simply reshaping landscapes for industrial purposes. While dredging operations often raise concerns about habitat destruction and ecological damage, Poland’s artificial island demonstrates how that impact can be redirected into conservation initiatives.Today, the island is closed to tourists and largely untouched by human activity. What began as a practical solution for excess dredged sand has evolved into a growing refuge for wildlife, where birds flocked long before any human visitors were allowed to set foot on the shore.

Liverpool unveil permanent Diogo Jota and Andre Silva memorial at Anfield

Liverpool FC have unveiled images of a permanent memorial dedicated to late forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva following the brothers’ deaths in a car crash last July. The memorial, called “Forever 20”, will be installed outside Anfield on 97 Avenue, the same area where thousands of supporters gathered after the tragedy to leave flowers, scarves, banners, cards and personal tributes. Jota and Andre Silva died in a crash in the Spanish province of Zamora on July 3, 2025, while the Liverpool forward was traveling back to Merseyside ahead of pre-season training. The Portugal international had married his long-term partner Rut Cardoso just days before the crash. Andre Silva, 25, was a professional footballer himself and played for Portuguese second division team FC Penafiel.

Monument inspired by the iconic festival of Jota

Liverpool confirmed that the sculpture was designed as a celebration of the brothers’ life and relationship, as well as reflecting the emotional connection supporters formed with Jota during his time at the club. In an official statement, Liverpool said the memorial “celebrates their lives, their bond and the love and respect felt by family, teammates and supporters around the world.” At the center of the installation is a flowing heart sculpture inspired by Jota’s iconic goal celebration. The abstract design also reveals the numbers 20 and 30 from different viewing angles, representing the shirt numbers worn by Jota and André Silva during their careers. The memorial also includes the lyrics of Jota’s famous chant, which Liverpool supporters still sing during the 20th minute of matches at Anfield. Liverpool explained: “At its center is a flowing heart sculpture in acknowledgment of Diogo’s iconic goal celebration, while when viewed from different angles it also reveals the numbers 20 and 30, which adorn the backs of the brothers’ playing shirts.

LFC released images of the permanent memorial in honor of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva / Image: Liverpool FC

“It will also include the lyrics of Jota’s famous song which Liverpool fans love so much, and which they still sing in the 20th minute of every game.”

Tributes made by fans became permanently incorporated into the sculpture.

One of the most personal aspects of the memorial is the inclusion of physical tributes left by supporters outside Anfield following the brothers’ deaths. Liverpool confirmed that many of the scarves, flowers, artwork, banners and cards left by bereaved fans have been recycled and incorporated directly into the memorial’s stone plinth.

Portugal supporters hold up shirts with the number of late Portuguese player Diogo Jota during the World Cup 2026 Group F qualifying football match between Portugal and Armenia in Porto, Portugal on Sunday, November 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Vieira)

The statue will stand on a Granby Rock-faced stone base with laser-engraved dedications to both brothers. Liverpool said: “The club will provide further updates on when the statue will be officially unveiled, but can confirm that it will be placed on 97 Avenue, where thousands of physical tributes – including flowers, scarves, works of art, cards, banners and opposition jerseys – were placed to create a poignant tribute area in the immediate aftermath of his loss. “It will stand on a Granby rock-faced stone plinth, laser-engraved with dedications to both brothers, and the plinth itself includes many of the physical tributes that were left at Enfield. “This unique recycling process ensures that the voices and emotions shared by fans at that time become a permanent and permanent part of this memorial.”

From left: Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen, head coach (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

Personal references beyond football career

Liverpool also revealed that the memorial would also include small personal references to Jota’s life away from football. Among those details is a game controller resting on a plinth, a nod to Jota’s well-known love of gaming and eSports outside of his professional career. The club said: “It will also include personal references that reflect Diogo’s life beyond football, including a game controller detail resting on the plinth, and will serve as a permanent symbol of love, unity and remembrance, and a place where everyone can reflect, remember and pay their respects.” Liverpool have not yet confirmed an official unveiling date for the memorial, but have said that more details will be announced in the future.

Jota’s Liverpool legacy is still deeply felt

Jota joined Liverpool from Wolverhampton Wanderers FC in 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club. During his time on Merseyside, he helped Liverpool win the Premier League, the FA Cup and two League Cups. Since his death, tributes to the Portuguese forward have continued throughout the season, with supporters, players and visiting fans regularly stopping outside Anfield to pay their respects to him before matches.

(Source: California Post)

An Iranian heiress has been accused of keeping millions of dollars of her estate from her husband in a $200 million divorce battle, according to new California court filings.Setreh “Star” Brall is the daughter of a late real estate tycoon who is said to have ties to the former Shah of Iran. She is accused of transferring control of her company, Star Pacific Properties, shortly after her separation from her husband, UCLA doctor Ryan Aronin.Court documents obtained by California Post claim Brall handed over control of the business to his brother, Sean Brall, in October 2024. Her husband said this was done to limit her access to marital assets.Ryan Aronin alleges that the asset management firm was valued at approximately $15 million and was taken out of his wife’s direct control after the couple separated, which he says occurred in March 2022. But Bral says they parted ways in April 2024.“Setareh took deliberate action to reduce his income on paper and restrict his access to funds,” the documents said. It added that his brother reportedly has “no ownership interest” in the company.Star Pacific Properties owns and operates two commercial buildings in the Los Angeles area, with tenants including Starbucks, Panda Express and 7-Eleven. These generate substantial annual revenue.The controversy is primarily about the SYB Family Trust, which Aronin says is worth about $200 million and comes from Setreh Bral’s family.Aronin alleges that his estranged wife has attempted to remove herself from the trust to reduce her reported income and avoid financial claims in the divorce.“She voluntarily relinquished responsibility for the administration of the SYB Family Trusts, possibly in an effort to remove herself from control over discretionary trust distributions,” court documents said.They also claim that Bral continues to benefit from trust-related rental income. He cited an example in which he allegedly advertised a property for lease in April 2026 for approximately $4,950 per month.According to the New York Post, the social media post shows Brall marketing a luxury two-bedroom apartment in West Los Angeles, writing: “Hello, I’m Setreh and something you need to know about me is that I need a good tenant.”Court filings describe a lavish lifestyle during the marriage, including attending high-profile Los Angeles events and residence in a $6 million Beverly Hills home funded by a family trust. The couple married in 2014 and have two children.The case also includes allegations of hostile exchanges between the couple, including a message in which Brill allegedly wrote, “People treat their dogs better than you treat me,” as well as claims of surveillance footage showing her throwing her husband’s clothes off the balcony.Aronin claims Brall’s personal wealth is no less than $19 million, with potential annual income from trust investments in excess of $700,000.

New Delhi: India recorded 57,670 environment and pollution-related crimes in 2024, showing a 16.4% decline in the number of such crimes (68,994) reported in 2023, says the latest Crime in India report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) of the Home Ministry.However, more than 80% (46,333 cases) of environment and pollution-related crimes relate to just one offense – violation of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) – which bans advertising and regulates trade, commerce, production, supply and distribution of such products.Of the 53,682 people arrested, 42,235 were charged under COTPA. In most cases, a fine – environmental compensation – was imposed upon conviction for violation of various green laws.The number of crimes under the Noise Pollution Act stood at the second position (8,639), while the number of crimes under the Forest Act and Forest Conservation Act stood at the third (1,425) respectively. About 98% of all environmental and pollution crimes, combined, fall under these three headings.Under the noise pollution law, Rajasthan contributed to more than 95% of such cases in 2024 – the data reflects the state’s proactive approach towards filing complaints on violations involving the use of high-decibel sound systems (loudspeakers, DJ systems, etc.) during religious events and wedding processions/ceremonies.The NCRB report shows that the highest number of environment and pollution-related cases (26,475) were reported in Tamil Nadu in 2024, followed by Rajasthan (10,824), Kerala (9,143), Maharashtra (6,735) and Karnataka (1,214).Incidentally, the Union Territory of Delhi, which faces an air pollution crisis during winters every year due to multiple violations of various nature, did not register a single case under the Air Pollution Control Act, 1981, while neighboring Haryana, Punjab and UP did not register a single case under this head in 2024 despite facing hundreds of cases of stubble burning contributing to air pollution during winters.Overall, 18 cases were reported under air and water pollution control laws from all states and union territories in 2024, of which 50% (9) cases were reported from Tamil Nadu alone.Violations under the Environment (Protection) Act; Wildlife Protection Act; and National Green Tribunal Act are the other three major ones that feature in the list with 754, 497 and 4 cases being reported respectively.