An Indian-origin immigration lawyer has objected to the use of the word ‘alien’ for non-US citizens and asked whether Melania Trump is also an alien.

Indian-origin immigration lawyer Rahul Reddy opposed the official use of the word ‘alien’ in the US language to refer to non-US citizens and said that although the term is legal, it is dehumanizing and the White House should not use the term.Reddy said the term in immigration law refers to anyone who is not a US citizen, including a green card holder who has been paying taxes for 30 years. But when the White House says “aliens walk among us,” it becomes propaganda because they limit what it means to illegal immigrants.“These are people who followed the rules, stood in lines and earned their place. When the government packages that neutral legal term with fear, secrecy, invasion and threat, the message is clear: People who are here legally are being portrayed as something less than human,” Reddy asked, asking whether Melania Trump, who was born in Slovenia, is also a foreigner.“Melania Trump was born in Slovenia, immigrated to the United States, and became a naturalized U.S. citizen. President Trump’s first wife, Ivana, was born in Czechoslovakia and was also naturalized. Her mother was born in Scotland. Her grandfather was born in Germany. Immigration is not a distant issue in the president’s life. It is his own family story. If legal immigrants are outsiders who “don’t belong here,” The president’s own family history is an immigrant story, too,” Reddy said.Pointing out the danger posed by the official use of such a word, Reddy said the US has every right to enforce its immigration laws but can do so without losing humanity.“The real danger of this language is that it no longer targets the undocumented. It spreads. It creates suspicion toward accents, foreign names, immigrant backgrounds, or foreign-born spouses. Lawful permanent residents, visa holders, students, naturalized citizens, and their American children all get caught in the crossfire. I see it firsthand in my own practice: People with legitimate status, legitimate work permits, and legitimate futures in this country are made to feel like intruders by their own government. Is. When the White House demonizes “aliens,” it is law-abiding immigrant families who pay the price,” Reddy said.

These decisions were taken in the cabinet meeting held here under the chairmanship of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Cabinet on Saturday approved a roadmap to end the decades-old contract employment system and also paved the way for regularization of over 65,000 employees in 51 government departments.In another important decision, the Cabinet gave retrospective approval to the reconstitution of the Cabinet Sub-Committee comprising Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Cabinet Ministers Aman Arora and Baljit Kaur to examine the issues related to pending arrears of revised pay, pension, leave encashment and dearness allowance.These decisions were taken in the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant here. Value.Addressing the media after the meeting, Mann said that the Punjab Cabinet has taken a historic decision that we will end the contractual system in the state.He said, by eliminating the role of private contractors in government employment and creating a direct employer-employee relationship between the state and workers, the government has moved towards providing job security, respect and a clear path to permanent service for thousands of employees who have spent years serving Punjab without regular status.Sharing details, the Chief Minister’s Office said it has approved repeal of the Punjab Adhoc, Contract, Daily Wages, Temporary, Work Charged and Outsourced Employees Welfare Act, 2016.It also approved the Punjab State Outsourced Personnel (Alteration in Contractual Appointment) Bill, 2026 and the Punjab Contract Personnel (Absorption against Sanctioned Vacancies) Bill, 2026.“When we would go and meet people, we would hear from employees recruited through contractual and outsourcing systems and they would complain about their exploitation,” Mann said, adding that they would get all kinds of facilities at par with other government employees.He said, “We will send an ordinance in this regard to the Punjab Governor for approval. It (this bill) will be introduced in the state assembly.”Mann said, “More than 65,000 contractual workers of Punjab have given the best years of their lives in the service of the state. With this decision, Punjab has returned to them what is their rightful right.”Under the Punjab State Outsourced Personnel (Alteration of Contractual Appointment) Bill, 2026, outsourced Group C and Group D employees, who have completed five years of continuous service, will become contractual employees of the government. He said employees whose daily duties involve danger – such as fire service personnel, PSPCL linemen, sewer workers, sanitation workers of urban local bodies, waste management workers and field grievance staff – will be eligible for the next step after three years instead of five.He said that direct state employment would be provided after five years of continuous outsourced service.Thereafter, after completing 10 years of contractual service, the employees will be considered for absorption against regular sanctioned posts, as proposed under the Punjab Contract Personnel (Absorption against Sanctioned Vacancies) Bill, 2026.Highlighting the scale of the initiative, Mann said, “A total of 65,048 outsourced employees across 51 departments are covered under the ambit of this reform and more than 26,000 employees will be among the first beneficiaries.” He further announced that employees performing duties involving risk to life and health will get faster consideration under the policy.The reform will cover 15,753 power sector employees, including grievance redressal staff, PESCO staff, meter readers and nodal center staff; 8,436 employees of local government departments – mainly sanitation workers; 8,373 workers in sugar mills, co-operative institutions including Spinfed and Markfed; 7,704 employees in school education; 4,746 employees in the transport department; and 1,472 outsourced fire personnel, the CMO office said.Besides, 2,688 employees of health and family welfare, 1,575 employees of water supply and sanitation, 1,533 employees of agriculture, 1,311 employees of prisons, 1,251 employees of technical education, 1,570 employees of PWD (B&R), 1,322 employees of general administration and 1,231 employees of medical education departments will also benefit from the reform.Salaries will be deposited directly into the bank accounts of employees without any agency cut or commission. Employees will get statutory maternity benefits and 10 days casual leave every calendar year. They will also be covered under the biometric attendance system, Mann said.There will be transparency and protection from arbitrary action; He said that no employee will be removed without recording the reason in writing and without giving an opportunity of being heard.The implementation process will start within 45 days of Cabinet approval and eligible categories will be notified in phases by the Departments of Personnel and Finance.In another decision, the Cabinet sub-committee will consider payment of arrears arising from revised pay and pension benefits between January 1, 2016, and June 30, 2021, besides examining the DA and dearness relief arrears pending from July 1, 2021, to March 31, 2024.The committee will also study issues related to DA and dearness relief for various categories of employees and pensioners.To ensure speedy disposal of corruption cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, the Cabinet approved the setting up of seven special special courts across Punjab.Three courts will be set up in SAS Nagar, while one court each will be set up in Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Amritsar and Patiala. The Cabinet also approved the creation of 63 posts of support staff as well as seven posts of Additional District and Sessions Judges for the functioning of these courts.Speaking about BJP leader Amarinder Singh questioning his party’s decision to appoint Kewal Dhillon as Punjab BJP president, Mann said it is an internal matter of the saffron party.Mann said, “But Dhillon was considered close to Amarinder Singh. When Dhillon was a candidate from Sangrur for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections (from Congress at that time), Amarinder Singh had held rallies in his favor. Today he is saying that Dhillon is not capable.” PTI

Patna: : To curb illegal mining and unauthorized mineral transportation, the Department of Mines and Geology is set to launch a new digital monitoring and enforcement system soon, officials said.Under this, mine inspectors in the districts will be equipped with handheld digital devices. These tools will allow inspectors to check vehicles on the spot, verify documents, issue digital challans and collect fines instantly. He said they can verify the vehicle’s registration number, mineral quantity, transport challan, permits and other papers in real time.If documents are invalid or rules are violated, challan will be issued immediately without any paperwork. Additionally, drones will be used to keep an eye on illegal sand mining being carried out across the state, he said.According to official sources in the Mines and Geology Department, this step will help in controlling illegal mining, overloading and transportation without invoice. This will make enforcement swift, transparent and accountable and will reduce the need for offenders to visit government offices to pay fines.The department will specifically target vehicles carrying minerals in excess of the permitted limit or without valid invoices. Such violations result in revenue loss and violate mining rules. The digital system will be able to enable immediate identification and action, an official said.Vikash Kumar Paswan, assistant director, Department of Mines and Geology (HQ), said, “The scheme is in its initial stage. We are studying various high-tech and latest technologies being used by other states to implement it.” Bihar. The department is also planning to have its own drones to keep an eye on illegal mining.The entire system will be connected to the online monitoring network. Senior officials at the headquarters will get real-time data on inspections, challans issued and fines collected in each district, thereby strengthening monitoring.To ensure smooth implementation, the department will provide special training to officials and mine inspectors on device operation, data entry, online reporting and fine collection. Technical assistance and resources will also be made available in the districts.After implementation, the department is planning a statewide special inspection drive to send a strong message against illegal mining and transportation. The government hopes that the technology-based system will improve control over illegal activities and boost revenue collection through digital records and transparency.

trump He’s back on his game as the Iran peace deal eludes himDonald Trump got furious. Here he was working tirelessly to make America great again and stop Iran from building a nuclear bomb. And there were all these judges and other busy people putting spokes in the wheel.Yet amid tough peace talks with Iran, POTUS claimed a major victory, not against Tehran, but in his Republican civil war with the four-term senator defeated by Trump-backed Republicans in a primary runoff in Texas.In addition to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who defeated Senator John Cornyn, at least eight other Trump-backed challengers have ousted longtime Republican lawmakers who had endorsed him.The results indicated he was still the boss of the Republican Party, even as his poll numbers continued to decline with the broader electorate, much to Trump’s surprise. Calling opposition Democrats “Dumocrats”, he declared, “I’ll have some nice, big, beautiful rallies for Ken. Texas, it’ll be fun!”With Iran hard-liners taking a tough stance as far as the peace deal is concerned, Trump deferred a ‘final decision’ after a two-hour meeting with top aides in the Situation Room. The proposed agreement would extend the ceasefire for another 60 days while the US and Iran negotiate a plan to remove Iran’s enriched uranium.Earlier, Trump drew his own red lines, demanding, “Iran must agree that they will never possess a nuclear weapon or a bomb. The Strait of Hormuz must be immediately open to unrestricted shipping traffic in both directions, with no tolls.”And while expressing indifference to the fallout from the Iran war, rising gas prices or political pressures ahead of the November midterms, Trump remained focused on the things that matter to him — like the big beautiful ballroom.He criticized Congress and judges for obstructing his ballroom, when a judge blocked above-ground construction on the project until Congress authorized it and Senate Republicans rejected a plan to fund its security.In a legal filing posted on Truth Social, he argued that “the President cannot safely conduct the business of the United States without a ballroom”.Meanwhile, House Democrats announced a bill to stop Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch, nicknamed ‘Arc de Trump’, near Arlington National Cemetery.A federal judge in Virginia temporarily blocked the Justice Department’s $1.776 billion ‘anti-weapon’ fund to compensate its supporters allegedly targeted by the previous administration.Trump’s decision to paint the reflecting pool “American flag blue” has also gone under legal challenge. But there are no challenges yet to the construction work underway on the White House lawn for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) arena, which will host a cage match on June 14 to commemorate Uncle Sam’s 250th anniversary and Trump’s 80th birthday.And a flattering cabinet is always ready to satisfy his whims and fancies. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant announced that his department has designed a $250 bill featuring Trump in hopes of passing legislation stalled in Congress.If passed and signed into law by Trump, it would mark an extraordinary recognition for a sitting American leader as such an honor is usually reserved for the dead and departed.Meanwhile, the Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into author E. Jean Carroll, who won a $5 million civil judgment after accusing Trump of sexual assault and defamation.Trump himself re-filed his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over reporting on his alleged affair with Jeffrey Epstein, after a judge threw out an earlier version due to legal deficiencies.But Bruce Springsteen, an American singer, songwriter and musician nicknamed “The Boss”, used a concert in Washington to speak out against Trump. At one point, he led the crowd in chanting “ICE OUT”, encouraging the audience to make their voices heard all the way to the White House.Springsteen, whom Trump has labeled a “total loser spewing hate” and called for a boycott of his shows, also announced a star-studded protest festival for the Washington, DC area a month before the midterm elections.However, Trump reacted with fury as a federal judge ordered his name removed from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.Angry against the judge’s decision, Trump threatened to withdraw his leadership from the institution he had headed after becoming President.Until he was “free to do what I do better than anyone else,” he had “no interest in continuing a frustrating journey into ‘Never Never Land,'” he posted.In a sharp satire of 580 words, Trump called the judge appointed by ‘Barack Hussein Obama’ careless. He portrayed the performing arts center as a dilapidated structure that only he could restore.Trump, referring to himself in the third person, wrote, “Unfortunately, Judge Cooper and the radical left would rather see it die than see President Trump turn it into something everyone can be proud of.”“So, based on the fact that radical left Democrats care more about opposing your favorite president, ME, than saving a dying performing arts center, … we are going to work with Congress to transfer this failing institution back to them.”He complained, “There has never been a President of the United States who has been treated more unfairly by the courts than I have been, but that’s OK, I’ll continue to do what’s supposed to be a great job for the wonderful people of our country.”Earlier, after his third scheduled medical checkup in 13 months before his 80th birthday, where “everything checked out perfectly”, he posted a photo of himself examining the White House pillars and declared, “The only president who knows how to fix the White House.”I wish he had even threatened to give it all up. Critics say it will actually work ‘just right’!(by arrangement with US market)

Rajasthan Royals (AP Photo)

New Delhi: As the dust has settled on the IPL 2026 playoffs and the focus turns to Sunday’s grand finale, one name continues to be in the news in the cricket world – Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

Rajasthan Royals Kishore may have bowed out of the tournament after losing to Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2, but he has walked out of the tournament with his reputation boosted, his stock on the rise and praise from fans and experts alike. At just 15 years old, Suryavanshi was not just the breakout star of the season; He was definitely the face of IPL 2026.The campaign for Rajasthan Royals ended one step short of the final. Yet considering the ups and downs of their season, reaching Qualifier 2 is a commendable achievement. RR showed resilience, overcame a mid-season slump and unearthed a generational talent that could shape their future for years to come.That season of SuryavanshiEvery IPL season produces some memorable stories. IPL 2026 was in the name of Suryavanshi.The teenage opening batsman finished the season with 776 runs in 16 matches at an average of 48.50 and a strike rate of 237.30. He scored a century and five fifties, redefining the boundaries of fearless batting.Even with GT openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan having one more game to play, Suryavanshi entered the final weekend as the tournament’s leading run-scorer.What made his numbers even more remarkable was the way he scored. Bowlers arrived with plans and field placements, but few got answers. The youngster attacked pace and spin with equal confidence and often changed the course of the match inside the powerplay.His season-defining performance came in the playoffs. Firstly, in the Eliminator, he played a breathtaking inning of 97 runs in 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad, which is one of the most destructive innings in IPL history. Then, when Rajasthan needed another miracle in Qualifier 2, he played a brilliant inning of 96 runs in 47 balls against Gujarat Titans.Both of them emphasized one thing: Suryavanshi is working at a level rarely seen in someone so young.Strong Start, Dramatic Fall, Euphoric RecoveryRR’s campaign can be divided into three distinct phases.The Royals started like genuine title contenders, winning their first four matches and quickly established themselves among the league leaders. Their aggressive batting approach and superior bowling attack made them one of the most balanced teams in the competition.However, the momentum did not last.A disastrous streak of six defeats in eight matches pushed them to the brink of elimination. At one point it seemed that RR would waste their excellent start and miss the playoffs completely.The most disappointing aspect was that even exceptional individual performances were not enough. During this difficult phase, Suryavanshi scored a brilliant century in 36 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad, but in the end he had to face defeat.With two matches remaining, Rajasthan needed to win both the matches to keep their playoff hopes alive.The pressure was immense, but the Royals responded. Suryavanshi scored an inning of 93 against Lucknow Super Giants before the team achieved another important win over Mumbai Indians. Although Kishore failed in that competition, jofra archer Stepped up with a match-winning all-round performance to secure RR’s place in the playoffs.They ultimately finished fourth with eight wins from 14 league matches.Playoff run showed the character of the RoyalsQualifying for the playoffs was an achievement in itself, considering RR found themselves in the middle of the tournament. But the Royals’ work was not done yet.They demolished Sunrisers Hyderabad in the eliminator, largely powered by another Suryavanshi masterclass. This victory demonstrated the team’s fighting spirit and ability to perform under pressure.Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans was perhaps the perfect summary of RR’s season. Suryavanshi played another exceptional innings, but GT’s superior depth and experience ultimately proved decisive.Despite posting a record target, RR could not stop the strong opening pair of Gill and Sudarshan, whose record partnership took GT to the final.The defeat was disappointing, but it also highlighted how close Rajasthan Royals are to becoming a championship-winning team.Positives: Foundations of a title contenderrise of suryavanshiThe biggest positive side is obvious. Finding a player capable of scoring 776 runs at a strike rate above 230 changes the fortunes of a franchise. RR now have one of the most exciting talents in world cricket and can build their batting unit around him.Archer’s influenceJofra Archer did what Rajasthan needed from its leadership. This fast bowler took 25 wickets in 16 matches at an average of 22.36. Beyond the wickets, he provided leadership, breakthroughs at crucial moments and valuable contributions down the order. His performance was crucial in keeping RR competitive throughout the season.jurel stabilityDhruv Jurel quietly enjoyed an excellent campaign. The wicketkeeper-batsman scored 515 runs in 16 matches at an average of 36.79 and a strike rate of 154.65, which included six half-centuries. His ability to steady the innings and accelerate when required made him an important member of the batting unit.never give up attitudeMany teams would have folded midway through the season after losing six out of eight matches. Rajasthan did not. They fought back, qualifying for the playoffs and advancing to Qualifier 2. This flexibility will be useful to them moving forward.Negative: Areas that need attentionJaiswal’s inconsistent seasonYashasvi Jaiswal Produced flashes of talent but never reached the heights that were expected of him. His 427 runs in 16 matches were respectable, but RR wanted more consistency from a player capable of dominating attacks.weak middle and lower orderThe biggest weakness in RR’s campaign was the lack of consistent contributions beyond the top order. Donovan Ferreira scored 317 runs Riyan Parag 309 and managed Ravindra Jadeja Added 266 runs. Furthermore, Rajasthan received very little batting support. Often, the side became too dependent on Suryavanshi and Jurel.Archer lacks support in bowlingArcher took a lot of the burden of bowling. Brijesh Sharma and Nandre Berger took 14 wickets each, while Ravi Bishnoi and Jadeja finished with 11 and 10 wickets respectively. Those numbers are useful but not enough for a side targeting the title. RR lacked a second strike bowler who was capable of sharing the workload with Archer consistently.What next for Rajasthan Royals?Despite the sadness of missing the final, Rajasthan Royals should look at IPL 2026 as a step forward.The priority ahead of next season will be to strengthen the middle order and find another wicket-taking fast bowler to partner Archer. Greater batting depth will reduce the reliance on Suryavanshi, while a strong pace attack will make the bowling unit more dangerous in pressure situations.Most importantly, RR have discovered a player around whom an era can be built.The Royals may not have reached the pinnacle, but IPL 2026 will be remembered as the season because the 15-year-old phenomenon captured the imagination of cricket fans everywhere. If RR can overcome some key weaknesses, Suryavanshi’s remarkable rise could form the foundation of a title-winning campaign in 2027.

New Delhi: The weather in Delhi was at its peak in the month of May, May was the hottest in two years, while the air quality this month was also recorded as the cleanest in almost five years.According to the data, the average maximum temperature of the city in May was 39.7 degrees Celsius, while the average minimum temperature was 25.8 degrees Celsius. The last warmest May was in 2024, when the average maximum and minimum temperatures reached 41.7 °C and 26.5 °C, respectively.The weather patterns kept changing in the capital throughout the month. Experts said frequent western disturbances and associated weather systems triggered pre-monsoon activity, leading to low temperatures during the first half of May. As these systems weakened, temperatures rose rapidly and heat wave conditions developed in parts of Delhi before another round of strong pre-monsoon activity returned towards the end of the month.As quoted by PTI, Skymet Weather’s Mahesh Palawat attributed the month’s fluctuating weather to a combination of western disturbances and cyclonic circulation induced over Rajasthan and adjoining areas and moisture-laden winds from the Bay of Bengal.Heat wave conditions were recorded between 18 and 21 May, with maximum temperatures crossing 46 degrees Celsius in some parts of the city.Nights in Delhi also remained unusually hot, with the minimum temperature reaching 32.8 degrees Celsius on May 26 and 31.9 degrees Celsius on May 21, among the highest night temperatures recorded in the city in the last 14 years, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).The IMD defines heatwave as a situation where the maximum temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius and is 4.5 to 6.4 degrees Celsius above normal.A hot night is declared when the maximum temperature is 40 degrees Celsius or more and the minimum temperature is also 4.5 to 6.4 degrees Celsius above normal.Delhi received 17.61 mm rainfall during the month. Palawat noted that thunderstorms, rain and strong winds intensified in late May, causing widespread weather activity across the capital and providing relief from the scorching heat of the past few days.Rain and strong winds also helped improve the air quality. Despite high temperatures, Delhi recorded the cleanest air quality in May in nearly five years.An analysis by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) showed that the capital’s average AQI as of May 29 was 161, the lowest for the month since 2021, when it was 144.Experts said rain and intermittent strong winds played a significant role in spreading the pollutants. While the dust brought from Rajasthan gave rise to several dust storm events and affected the air quality, local intense rainfall helped flush out particulate matter and improve the overall air quality across the city.The data showed that between May 1 and May 29, Delhi recorded three satisfactory days, 20 moderate days and six poor days, with no very poor or severe air quality days. In comparison, May 2021 recorded six satisfactory days, 22 moderate days and three poor days, with the average AQI at 144. The average AQI was 170 in May 2025 and 223 in May 2024.On May 30, Delhi recorded a satisfactory AQI of 85 after widespread rainfall and strong winds. This was the cleanest air quality day in May since 2023 and the fourth satisfactory air quality day this month.Looking ahead, Palawat said no heat wave conditions are expected during the first week of June. However, temperatures are expected to rise gradually from June 1 as the current spell of rain activity will weaken and move away from the region.

Former meta tech expert Hemant Pandey says returning to India after spending eight years in the US was the best decision.

Former meta tech expert Hemant Pandey, who decided to return to India after living in the US for eight years, reflected on his life decision and said both he and his wife are happier in India because of the social circle. In a podcast with career coach Pritesh Jagani, Pandey said that he decided to leave the US because he did not like the H-1B restrictions, and although there is a huge pay gap between the US and India, Pandey said that he would always choose India, not any other country like Canada or any European country. Pandey said the US is best for a career as one can earn and save huge amounts of money here, but the second priority would be India – although he said he misses the blue skies and blue oceans.Pandey said that he started creating content in addition to his tech job in the US, but he was not allowed to monetize his content because he was H-1B, which was one of the reasons for his leaving the US.

How much money does an NRI need to come back to India?

Pandey said he came to America in 2016 to pursue a master’s in computer science. His first job was at Tesla. He was lucky enough to be selected in the H-1B lottery on his first try but was fired from Tesla. He found another job where he was also selected for an H-1B visa and the company was also processing his green card application.In December 2024, Pandey moved back to India and worked remotely for META for a few months. Then he took a break from his career, went on a holiday and has now been working for LinkedIn out of Bengaluru for the last few months.On the ‘return to India’ fund, Pandey said it would depend on individual cases whether their parents are in India or not, whether they have children or not, but one should not chase a figure and focus on a fixed amount. Pandey said that even a corpus of Rs 5 crore will not be enough for some NRIs if they have children who need to go to international schools in India, or who are planning to buy villas in India. Pandey said that he had a figure in mind and after reaching the figure he went back to India. Without disclosing the figure, Pandey said he set aside the money to buy property in a Tier 1 city in India. Also, neither he nor his wife were about to retire, so the corpus fund was in addition to their Indian income.Pandey said earning one-third of the US income in India is enough money to consider if NRIs are planning to come back to India.Pandey said that instead of chasing a fixed amount, NRIs who are planning to move back to India should decide on a date when they should take the step because this part is difficult.

life in india vs usa

Hemant said that life in America seems boring because people there do not know their neighbors. The work culture is such that unlike India, colleagues do not hang out after office. People are doing the same thing every day, which leaves a lot of room for self-improvement, introspection, etc. In India, life is hectic, but there is home help, 10-minute delivery, which saves a lot of time, which is otherwise spent in reaching office. But he is happy because he will not have to apply for a visa to meet his parents.

A person carrying a child injured in an accident (Picture Credit: AP)

At least 22 people, including 10 children and five women, were killed and about 36 others injured when a truck carrying Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan overturned on a highway in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, officials said.The accident occurred in Laghman province on the main highway connecting Kabul with Nangarhar province.According to provincial health director Aminullah Sharif, the truck fell into a ditch after the driver allegedly fell asleep, news agency AP reported.Abdul Malik Niazai, a spokesman for the Laghman governorate, said the injured were transferred to hospitals in neighboring Nangarhar province for treatment.Most of the victims were women and children.

Refugees returning from Pakistan

The travelers were among thousands of Afghans returning from Pakistan, which began a crackdown on undocumented migrants in 2023 and has since deported many Afghans or pressured them to leave.Iran has also intensified the expulsion of Afghan migrants.Millions of Afghans have returned from the two neighboring countries in recent years, including many who were born in Pakistan and lived and worked there for decades.The accident occurred on the road connecting Jalalabad and Kabul. Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said he was “deeply saddened” by the tragedy and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.Data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration showed that about 447,400 Afghans have returned from Pakistan since the beginning of this year.Traffic accidents are common in Afghanistan, where poor road conditions, weak enforcement of rules, and dangerous driving practices often contribute to fatal accidents.In a separate incident, a car veered off the road and fell into a river in Nuristan province on Friday night, injuring the driver and missing four passengers, according to local officials.Rescue teams were continuing the search operation on Saturday also.The latest tragedy comes months after a bus carrying Afghan migrants returning from Iran collided with two other vehicles in western Afghanistan in August, killing 78 people, including 19 children.

New Delhi: TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee And opposition parties opened a front against this decision BJP After TMC General Secretary on Saturday Abhishek Banerjee The attack was reportedly carried out during his visit to Sonarpur in West Bengal to meet families affected by post-poll violence.These comments came after stones, shoes and eggs were thrown at the TMC MP by unidentified people who allegedly tried to attack him by raising slogans of “thief, thief” during his visit.Before reacting to the incident Chief Minister of West Bengal While sharing the video of the attack on his nephew Abhishek Banerjee, he made a scathing attack on BJP and wrote, ‘Rulers have become murderers – Shame on you BJP.’In the video of the incident, Banerjee is seen being taken away by security personnel wearing a police helmet and her shirt is seen torn in the scuffle.The TMC leader had gone to meet the family of slain party worker Sanju Karmakar and other families who, according to the party, were targeted after the assembly election results.

‘BJP supported miscreants carried out a dangerous attack’

Trinamool Congress BJP was also accused of being behind the attack. “Stick to his word, Abhishek Banerjee refuses to abandon Sanju Karmakar’s grieving family,” the party said in a post on Twitter.The party said, “Even after the horrific attack by the BJP-backed miscreants in Bengal, our National General Secretary decided not to back down. Instead, he stood by the family devastated by the unimaginable harm caused by the alleged BJP-backed goons.”“This is the difference between politics driven by compassion and politics driven by hatred,” it said.Taking aim at Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, TMC said, “Today’s events have once again exposed the kind of politics you preside over, which is rooted in intimidation, violence and vengeance.”

‘Take immediate action’: Kharge

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge strongly condemned the incident and said the attack on Abhishek is unacceptable.“I strongly condemn the shocking attack on MP Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur as he went to meet families affected by post-poll violence in the state,” Kharge posted on Twitter.“The deliberate lack of adequate police protection for a prominent opposition leader speaks volumes about the BJP’s politics of vengeance and harassment. The West Bengal government and the Central government should ensure security for all opposition leaders and take immediate steps to stop such attacks. Political differences can never justify violence of any kind.”

‘The arrangements point towards a bigger conspiracy’

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav Also criticized BJP calling the incident a conspiracy.He said, “By carrying out a deadly attack on prominent Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee in Bengal, the anarchist BJP government of Bengal has proved that the BJP is incapable of doing anything other than hateful, negative, violent politics.”“The absence of police presence even in such a sensitive environment points towards a bigger conspiracy. Highly condemnable!” Yadav added.

‘Where is the police?’: TMC

TMC leader Derek O’Brien questioned why Abhishek’s security had reportedly been withdrawn and claimed that his life was in danger.“What is happening now in Bengal. Lok Sabha leader of the second largest opposition party @AITCofficial had gone to meet the family of a person killed by BJP in post-poll violence and beaten to death by some BJP supporters. Life in danger. Where is the police? Why was security removed on the day of counting? Let the Home Minister answer,” he posted on X.

BJP denied involvement

West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya denied the party’s involvement and said the incident could be the result of anger among local people who have been victims of “atrocities” over the years.“BJP is not involved in such activities. What happened is not expected in a democracy,” Bhattacharya told reporters.He said, “I will not be able to say why the police were not there; it is a matter of administration. I am from the party. What TMC has done to our party workers over so many years cannot be described. We still remember what they did to Rupa Ganguly, to our leaders in South 24 Parganas district. Today, because we are restrained, that is why TMC is still there.”Union Minister Sukant Majumdar said, “I condemn this incident.” I appeal to the public not to take law and order into their own hands… The people of Bengal are angry against TMC and Abhishek Banerjee… We need to make Bengal better… We need to make the politics of Bengal violence free…”“I appeal to the public to maintain peace and have faith in law and order,” he said.

‘They want to kill me’: Abhishek Banerjee

After the attack, Banerjee alleged that it was pre-planned and claimed that there was inadequate police presence. “Look what they did to me. This was pre-planned. There is no police in the area. They want to kill me,” he said while meeting the family of a dead victim of post-poll violence.He said, “I will not leave this place until the police send their forces and provide security to the victims’ families.”Local women gathered outside Abhishek’s residence carrying brooms and bamboo sticks and raised slogans against him.According to PTI, questioning his visit, a protestor said, “Why has he come here?” The person whose house he has come to meet is also a thief. It’s like one thief going to another thief.”Another woman asked, “Where was he (Abhishek) when the Nirbhaya incident happened? How many times did he go to meet Nirbhaya’s parents? We want answers from him.”Earlier in the day, Abhishek also met the family of another slain TMC worker Biswajit Patnaik in Beleghata. He wrote onHe said, “No family should have to endure such a loss. Yet, when I spoke to their loved ones, I saw not only grief but also a strong desire for justice. The BJP may try to protect its miscreants, but the truth cannot be buried forever.”

ridge: : Warning that the criminal law should not become a tool in failed personal relationships, the Orissa High Court has acquitted a 25-year-old man accused of raping a married woman.Quashing the sentence and 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment imposed by a fast-track court in Koraput district, Justice SK Panigrahi on May 22 said consensual relationships between adults cannot be turned over in a subsequent criminal trial in the absence of clear evidence of lack of consent. The judgment was uploaded online on 27 May. His lawyer Subodh Kumar Mohanty said that the man is currently lodged in Jeypore jail.According to the prosecution, when the married woman was alone at home, on the night of May 21, 2022, the 25-year-old man allegedly entered her house and sexually assaulted her. The Additional District and Sessions Judge (Fast Track) of the special court in Jaipur had convicted him under sections 376 (1) and 450 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on July 10, 2025.While considering a criminal appeal filed by the man the same year, the HC held that the evidence on record did not establish the absence of consent beyond reasonable doubt.Justice Panigrahi said, “Where a mature and married woman voluntarily consents to sexual intercourse and subsequently wishes to characterize it as the offense of rape, the allegations should be investigated with more care and caution.”The judge stated that “Mere consensual intimacy arising out of voluntary intercourse between adults cannot really be brought within the scope of the offense of rape unless the essential element of absence of free consent is prima facie established”.The HC held that Section 90 of the IPC, relating to consent obtained under fear or misconception, cannot be “mechanically invoked” without clear evidence. Describing the prosecution’s case as flawed, Justice Panigrahi said it had “clearly failed to establish, beyond the shadow of reasonable doubt, the fundamental elements of criminal intent and lack of consent”.“To allow every dysfunctional or strained relationship between consenting adults to subsequently result in a criminal trial for the offense of rape would be contrary to the true spirit, purpose and sanctity of the law relating to sexual offences,” the judgment said.Holding that the trial court improperly appreciated the evidence and came to a wrong conclusion, the HC quashed the conviction.