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Nancy Guthrie Update: Police release latest information on suspect’s motive; ‘Another strike likely’

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Nancy Guthrie Update: Police release latest information on suspect’s motive; ‘Another strike likely’

search Nancy Guthrie The disappearance is now entering its sixth week, and authorities are warning those behind her disappearance may strike again.

The Sheriff warns Nancy Guthrie that her kidnappers may strike again. (Handout from NBC/Today/Reuters)
The Sheriff warns Nancy Guthrie that her kidnappers may strike again. (Handout from NBC/Today/Reuters)

In an interview with NBC News, Chris Nanos shared new details about the ongoing search. Nancy Investigators are still trying to determine what happened to Savannah Guthrie’s mother after she disappeared from her Tucson home on Feb. 1.

Sheriff warns suspect of possible attack again

Nanos told NBC’s Liz Kreutz in an interview that investigators believe Nancy may have been targeted. However, he warned that authorities could not completely rule out the possibility that the suspect would “definitely” commit another crime.

“A criminal mind is a criminal mind,” the Arizona police chief told NBC’s Liz Kreutz.

“We believe we know why he did it, we believe it was targeted, but we’re not 100 percent sure,” Nanos continued. “So it’s silly to tell people, ‘Don’t worry. You’re not his target.’ You probably are.” “

However, the sheriff did not explain why investigators believe the suspect might strike again or provide more details about other theories surrounding Nancy’s disappearance.

Also read: Nancy Guthrie case: Nearly 30% of Americans feel unsafe after Savannah Guthrie’s mother’s kidnapping

DNA evidence may lead to suspect

Despite all the uncertainty, authorities hope forensic evidence will help move the case forward. Nanos said investigators are taking a closer look at the “mixed” DNA found in Nancy’s home. Officials believe the evidence may eventually lead them to the suspect.

Nanos earlier addressed the possibility of Nancy being specifically targeted in another interview that aired on the Today Show on February 18.

“I think this guy had a target for whatever reason and he made it difficult, but I also had some very tough investigators,” Nanos said.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and FBI have not publicly released the suspect’s name. Authorities have not confirmed whether Nancy is alive or dead.

Also read: Nancy Guthrie: Legal expert unravels all key evidence in kidnapping case; ‘They don’t add up’

So far, at least three people have been questioned and later released, and authorities say they are not suspected of any crime.

Meanwhile, Savannah Guthrie and her family are offering a $1 million reward to anyone with information that can help “bring her home.” Officials said the investigation remains ongoing as the search for Nancy continues.

Indian-born real estate developer Rishi Kapoor is accused of defrauding $85 million in the purchase of a 68-foot luxury yacht in Miami

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Indian-born real estate developer Rishi Kapoor is accused of defrauding $85 million in the purchase of a 68-foot luxury yacht in Miami

Indian-born real estate developer Rishi Kapoor is accused of defrauding $85 million in the purchase of a 68-foot luxury yacht in Miami

An Indian-American real estate developer in Miami has been charged in federal court with an $85 million fraud scheme that was used to finance a luxury yacht and a lavish lifestyle.Rishi Kapoor, 41, was indicted in Florida on multiple criminal charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, bank fraud, tax evasion, failure to file a tax return and conspiracy to defraud the United States. Miami prosecutors unveiled the indictment earlier this month.Kapoor was arrested at a Fort Lauderdale hotel on March 6 and appeared before a magistrate. Prosecutors told the court he was a flight risk and the judge denied his request for bail.Federal prosecutors in Florida said Kapoor raised about $85 million from investors through his company, Location Ventures, promising to build luxury apartments in South Florida. Most projects in areas such as Coconut Grove, Miami Beach, Coral Gables and Fort Lauderdale were never built. Instead, Kapoor diverted investors’ funds for his own personal use as CEO. He reportedly used the money to buy a 68-foot luxury yacht and help pay for a home in Coral Gables’ Cocoplum neighborhood, one of the wealthiest areas. Kapoor is also accused of failing to pay millions of dollars in payroll taxes. He reportedly collected taxes from Location Ventures employees’ salaries but kept about $2 million for himself instead of turning the money over to the IRS.Court documents allege that Kapoor misled banks to obtain funds for a yacht and other personal expenses. Officials allege that he told investors he had invested about $13 million of his own money, but in fact he only invested about half that amount.He also “defrauded escrow agents to secure the release of pre-construction apartment deposits and then misappropriated those funds for personal expenses unrelated to the development,” prosecutors said. “As a result, the Coconut Grove and Miami Beach condo projects were never built,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.If convicted, Kapoor now faces decades in federal prison. Bank fraud alone carries a potential prison sentence of up to 30 years. Prosecutors also said they planned to seize luxury assets linked to the alleged scheme, including yachts, Rolex Daytona watches and platinum rings, in an effort to compensate investors.The case follows a separate civil enforcement action by the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2024, in which Kapoor agreed to pay damages but did not admit wrongdoing in connection with another alleged fraud scheme.

RSS plans to scale up Shakha, expand outreach to mark centenary

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RSS plans to scale up Shakha, expand outreach to mark centenary

RSS 计划扩大 Shakha 规模，扩大宣传范围以纪念一百周年

RSS plans to scale up Shakha, expand outreach to mark centenary anniversary (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: Kuomintang (RSS) will focus on expanding its ‘shakhas’ and strengthening public outreach programs during its centenary year, the group said as it is promoting organizational growth and wider social engagement as part of its centenary plans.Addressing a press conference in Panipat Samarkar on Friday, RSS joint general secretary CR Mukund said “special emphasis” is being placed on the expansion of saha and outreach to society as the organization celebrates its centenary, news agency PTI reported.The remarks came as RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale inaugurated the Sangh’s top decision-making body, the three-day Bharatiya Janata Party Sabha (ABPS), in Samalkha, Haryana.

Follow Shaka’s growth and social involvement

Mukund said the Sangh’s centenary plan had “two main aspects” – scaling up the organization through the growth of Shaka, and a simultaneous effort to engage society, build harmony and mobilize people for “social transformation and public awakening”.He said the RSS has reached over 100 million households through its ‘grihasampark’ (mass contact) scheme and reached over 300,000 villages across the country.As part of this outreach, Mukund said the organization has also seen a positive impact on what he termed “sabbhav gosti” and “pramukh nagrik gostis”, PTI reported.

Kerala Outreach Prominent

Highlighting the outreach work in Kerala, Mukund said RSS volunteers visited homes of all classes, including Muslim, Christian and even those with communist leanings.“In Kerala, more than 55,000 Muslim families and 54,000 Christian families are covered by public outreach programmes,” he said.“We received a warm welcome wherever we went. Our ‘swayamsevaks’ reached 55,000 Muslim families and 54,000 Christian families,” Mukund added, noting that the Sangh also extended the initiative to tribal areas.

Hindu Sammelans, youth gatherings and social harmony programs

This year marks the centenary of the RSS and the ABPS meeting is expected to discuss in detail the major activities planned for the celebrations. These include ‘grihasampark’, Hindu Sammelans, Youth Conference, Gathering of Eminent Citizens and Social Harmony Conference.Mukund said Hindu Sammelans events have been held at more than 36,000 locations across the country, with more events planned in urban centres, rural areas and remote areas.He also said the Sangh was working to engage prominent citizens from different areas as community leaders and work with local leaders, heads of spiritual organizations and heads of religious centers at the block level to promote harmony and social reform.

Panch Parivartan and wider issues

Mukund also spoke about the ‘panch parivartan’ initiative of the RSS, which focuses on social harmony, maintenance of family values, environmental protection, self-reliance and compliance with legal, civil and constitutional obligations.“Our goal is to review and implement positive initiatives together to achieve necessary social reforms. Specifically, the Sangh identified five changes. He said five key themes represent the changes needed in society today, PTI reported.On wider issues, Mukund said the situation in Naxal-affected areas was gradually returning to normalcy thanks to the government’s efforts, while “political stability is on the horizon” in Manipur and ongoing dialogue between communities was bearing fruit.He also said that the Sangh hoped that the Bangladesh government would take necessary measures to protect the rights and interests of local Hindus. Asked about the conflict in West Asia, Mukund said the crisis should end soon, adding that this is “what we and the Indian society believe in”.

Important meeting is taking place in Samalha

RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar earlier said that the three-day ABPS meeting will review the activities of the RSS during 2025-26 and take stock of major initiatives taken across districts, PTI reported.A total of 1,487 karyakarta attended the meeting, including elected representatives and key officials from across the country, as well as presidents, general secretaries and organizational secretaries of 32 affiliated organizations. Bharatiya Janata Party chief Nitin Nabin and senior officials of the Sangh sisterhood are also expected to attend.

Trump suffers dramatic meltdown after KC-135 crash; Hegseth makes new demands on Iran’s top leader

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Trump suffers dramatic meltdown after KC-135 crash; Hegseth makes new demands on Iran’s top leader

The Daily Beast on Friday called President Donald Trump’s late-night social media posts a “twisted meltdown.” The 79-year-old confirmed all six crew members of a ship KC-135 military tanker People who crashed in Iraq have died. The incident is under investigation. U.S. Central Command said the crash was not believed to be the result of enemy or friendly fire.

Donald Trump gestures while speaking at a Women's Month history event in the East Room of the White House (AFP)
Donald Trump gestures while speaking at a Women’s Month history event in the East Room of the White House (AFP)

In a post on The Truth Society, Trump said the United States was “totally destroying the terrorist regime in Iran,” further adding that it was a “tremendous honor” to “kill” members of the Iranian regime.

follow: US-Iran war live updates: US warns of ‘biggest strike’; Iranian president joins protest march

“We have unmatched firepower, unlimited ammunition and plenty of time – look what will happen to these crazy scumbags today,” Trump warned.

“For 47 years, they have been killing innocent people around the world, and now, I, as the 47th President of the United States of America, am killing them. What an honor to be able to do that!”

At around 00:33 a.m. local time on Friday, Trump claimed: “The Iranian navy is gone, their air force no longer exists, missiles, drones and everything else are being destroyed, and their leaders have disappeared from the face of the earth.”

Trump triggered by media reports

The Daily Beast further reported that Trump appeared to be triggered by reports on the “rising costs of conflict.” His government has also come under scrutiny over U.S. involvement in a strike at an all-girls primary school in Minapur. The matter remains under investigation.

Trump even lashed out at the New York Times after reporter Sean MacLeish asked Trump about the strike on Tuesday.

Read more: Iran’s president and supreme leader march in Tehran as bombs fall: ‘Trump doesn’t understand us’ | Video

“You just suggested that Iran somehow got its hands on a tomahawk and bombed its own elementary school on the first day of the war,” McCleish told Trump.

“But you’re the only one in the government who says that. Even your defense secretary, standing over your shoulder on your plane on Saturday, wouldn’t say that when asked. Why are you the only one who says that?”

Trump angrily responded: “I just don’t know enough about it. I think it’s something that I’ve been told is being investigated.”

“We are completely destroying the terrorist regime in Iran militarily, economically and otherwise, and yet if you read the New York Times that failed, you would mistakenly believe that we are not winning,” Trump said on The Truth Society.

Pete Hegseth makes new claims about Iran’s supreme leader

Meanwhile, Iran’s new supreme leader, Moytaba Khamenei, was “injured and possibly disfigured,” Defense Minister Pete Hegseth said on Friday. He confirmed reports that Ali Khamenei’s son was injured on the first day of clashes.

“Iran’s leadership is not in better shape, desperate and in hiding. They have gone underground, cowering. That’s what rats do. We know the new so-called less supreme leader is injured and probably disfigured,” Hegseth told reporters.

Why Meghan Markle split from Netflix — insider reveals split details

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Why Meghan Markle split from Netflix — insider reveals split details

Why Meghan Markle split from Netflix — insider reveals split details

As questions mount about the future of the Sussex brand and what it means for Prince Harry, industry insiders have weighed in on Meghan Markle’s recent split from Netflix. Last week it was announced that Meghan’s brand would be operating independently, just 11 months after her brand was partnered with Netflix. Since then, there have been conflicting reports as to why the collaboration ended, with both sides offering different explanations, according to Express .The source also seemed to suggest that Meghan felt “hindered” by Netflix and was relieved to be on her own. However, a source in Los Angeles told the Daily Mail that Netflix was “not happy” with the performance of “As Ever.”Speaking about other shows on the streaming service, they added: “It doesn’t quite match up with Squidward or Stranger Things or Bridgerton as much as they hoped.”Communications guru and PR expert Mayah Riaz now told The Mirror: “It’s really interesting because when you see two very different narratives surrounding the same split, it’s usually a sign that both parties are trying to manage the optics. In a high-profile partnership like this, perception is almost as important as the deal itself. Netflix will naturally want to position this decision as strategic, and Meghan’s team will certainly want to see it as her taking control of her brand, rather than being thrown out.”“From a PR perspective, Sussex brands have always relied heavily on momentum and narrative. Looking back to the early years, there was a strong global curiosity about them. Now we’re seeing a shift where both the public and the platforms are asking a simpler question: What is the actual product?”Speaking about the Sussexes as a couple and as a brand, she added: “I personally think the bigger issue for the Sussexes is that the element of intrigue that once surrounded them is not as strong as it once was. This is important because attention is currency, and attention spans can change quickly.“To keep their brands strong, these projects need to be bigger than the headlines. One thing is for sure, though: In the world of celebrity PR, when both parties are eager to explain a breakup, it means the story behind the scenes is more complicated than either version of the story suggests.”

India’s LPG crisis: How countries are coping with supply disruptions caused by Iran war and Hormuz crisis

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India’s LPG crisis: How countries are coping with supply disruptions caused by Iran war and Hormuz crisis

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Shortage: Long queues continue to form outside LPG refilling stations and reservation centers as concerns over LPG shortages mount due to the ongoing Middle East conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran.Iran has blocked the strategic Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for the Feb. 28 conflict triggered by a U.S.-Israeli attack, raising concerns about fuel supply disruptions. The body of water is a critical chokepoint and accounts for about a fifth of the world’s oil supply.

LPG shortage amid West Asia war, opposition labels ’emergency’, slams Modi govt

Despite government assurances that there will be no shortages, these assurances have done little to calm public concerns. The issue has also resonated in parliament, with opposition parties accusing the government of downplaying the seriousness of the situation.

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Do you think panic buying is exacerbating the LPG supply problem?

Here’s how different states are dealing with LPG supply issues:delhiThe Delhi government has assured people that supplies of LPG, petrol, diesel and PNG are normal and urged them not to panic buy or hoard.A statement from the office of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said authorities are conducting strict checks to curb black marketing and hoarding of LPG cylinders.“The Ministry of Food, Supplies and Consumer Affairs has deployed field officers to facilitate hassle-free booking and ensure compliance. Enforcement teams are conducting stringent inspections to curb black marketing and hoarding. We are maintaining strict vigilance to prevent diversion of household LPG cylinders for commercial purposes in restaurants and eateries,” the statement said.The government also informed people that the minimum interval for LPG refueling booking has been revised from 21 days to 25 days.“Despite this modification, consumers will receive refills on average two to three days from the date of booking. To streamline the process, the government is encouraging the use of digital platforms for bookings,” the statement added.MaharashtraThe Maharashtra government has directed oil companies to immediately fix technical glitches in LPG booking apps and missed call services to ensure residents can easily book gas cylinders.The state government further announced that control rooms will be set up at all levels promptly and WhatsApp facilities will be provided for complaint handling.However, public institutions will be prioritized for uninterrupted supply of LPG cylinders in view of the upcoming festive season.The government also directed authorities to seek assistance from local representatives and village committee members to prevent citizens from panicking.It also said that the responsibility of providing necessary protection to vehicles transporting LPG as well as gas agencies has been entrusted to the Police Department.uttar pradeshChief Minister Yogi Adityanath convened a review meeting and assured the public that there is no shortage of diesel, petrol and cooking gas in the state.The Chief Minister was informed that the supply system was functioning smoothly.After the meeting, Adityanath posted onHe also suggested the use of alternative fuels by communicating with hotels, hospitals, Dharamshala, hotels and various commercial establishments.According to the Chief Minister’s Office, police personnel will be deployed at LPG distribution centers to help maintain order.KarnatakaKarnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the state government will discuss LPG shortage in the cabinet meeting.“There are some issues with gas supply; there is no access to gas. This creates problems for everyone. People have to have all the facilities they need for food. We don’t know what will happen in the coming days,” he told reporters.Shivakumar urged the Center to take immediate action to resolve the issue, otherwise farmers in Karnataka will have to use firewood as an alternative.Meanwhile, the Karnataka Hotels Association has called for reallocation of some commercial LPG cylinders for commercial purposes to ensure that kitchens across Bengaluru continue to function smoothly.biharIn state capital Patna, District Magistrate Thiyagarajan SM said the administrative agency was working proactively to ensure that domestic LPG consumers do not face any inconvenience.“Any form of laxity, negligence or irregularity will not be tolerated. We have also issued instructions to immediately register an FIR and arrest the agency or individual concerned if a complaint of black marketing, hoarding or high-price sales is received,” he said.According to the district administration, bookings and deliveries are made through missed calls, SMS/IVRS, WhatsApp and OTP-based systems.The government has also issued a hotline number (0612-2219810) for seamless distribution and monitoring of LPG cylinder supply. The hotline will be open daily from 9am to 6pm to accept public complaints.Leaves for Block Supply Officers and Assistant District Supply Officers have been canceled till next order.The district administration has also set up 28 Quick Response Teams (QRT) to promptly resolve complaints related to supply of LPG cylinders.tamil naduChief Minister Stalin urged the public not to panic and ensure that the country has adequate fuel reserves.“The Tamil Nadu government will extend its full support to the Center in meeting any challenges posed by the international situation,” Stalin was quoted as saying in an official statement.He stressed that he had chaired a high-level review meeting and written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and concerned Union ministers on the shortage of cooking gas cylinders.The Tamil Nadu Petroleum Merchants Association also clarified that there is no shortage of petrol or diesel anywhere in the state. About 7,000 gas pumps across the state are regularly receiving fuel supplies, according to the agency.TelanganaCivil Supplies Minister N Uttam Reddy announced that the state government will meet representatives of oil marketing companies on Friday.He added that there has been no problem in the supply of LPG cylinders in the country so far.“In Telangana, domestic supply is 86 per cent and commercial supply is 14 per cent. So far, there is no problem with 86 per cent domestic supply. We have noticed some issues with commercial supply,” Reddy told reporters.Chief Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao will also attend the meeting.Hyderabad Hotels Association president Ashok Reddy said hotels are trying to control the situation by utilizing existing stocks, while some others are using wood as fuel.(Institutional investment)

IPL 2026: KKR make big move, bring in T20 World Cup stars to speed up attack

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IPL 2026: KKR make big move, bring in T20 World Cup stars to speed up attack

IPL 2026: KKR completes big move, ropes Blessing Muzarabani to step up attack
Blessings from Zimbabwe Muzarabani (AP/PTI)

Kolkata Knight Riders add Zimbabwean fast bowler Blessings to Muzarabani They will participate in the upcoming 2026 Indian Premier League season.The team confirmed the signing on Friday as they look to bolster their attacking rhythm ahead of the new season. Muzarabani is a tall right-arm fast bowler at 6 feet 8 inches who is known for his steep bounces and picking up wickets at crucial stages of the innings.The Zimbabwe international brings a wealth of experience in T20 cricket. In over 80 T20 internationals, he took 90 wickets at an average of around 21 and his best bowling figures were 3 for 8. His performances in international cricket and various franchise leagues have made him one of Zimbabwe’s leading fast bowlers in the format.Muzarabani also performed well in the recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The pacer finished among the top four wicket-takers in the tournament, taking 13 wickets in just six games and played a key role in helping Zimbabwe reach the Super Eight stage.The Zimbabwe pacer is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata on March 17 and is ready to join the team ahead of the match.Kolkata Knight Riders Riders – First 4 matches of Indian Premier League 2026:

date match site time
March 29 Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders mumbai 7:30pm
April 2 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad historical results calcutta 7:30pm
April 6 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab calcutta 7:30pm
April 9 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Supergiants calcutta 7:30pm

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‘Certainly not conducive to peace’: Zelensky says easing US oil sanctions on Russian oil could cost Moscow $10bn in war costs

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‘Certainly not conducive to peace’: Zelensky says easing US oil sanctions on Russian oil could cost Moscow $10bn in war costs

“当然无助于和平”：泽伦斯基表示美国放松对俄罗斯石油制裁可能会给莫斯科带来100亿美元的战争费用

File photo: Ukrainian President Zelensky (Photo source: Associated Press)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that the United States’ decision to temporarily ease sanctions on Russian oil sales could bring Moscow about $10 billion in additional revenue, warning that the move would directly undermine efforts to end Ukraine’s war.According to Agence France-Presse, Zelensky and French President Macron said at a press conference in Paris that “this concession from the United States alone will provide Russia with approximately $10 billion in war funds. This will certainly not help peace.”Zelensky’s comments came after Washington announced a 30-day license to allow countries to buy Russian oil and petroleum products that have been stranded at sea, a measure the United States said was aimed at cooling global energy prices that have soared after the Iran war.

Zelensky and Macron oppose U.S. move

Macron backed Kiev’s concerns, saying Russia would be “wrong” if it thought conflict in the Middle East would reduce international pressure on Moscow.“Today, Russia may have thought that a war with Iran would give it some breathing room. That would be wrong,” Macron told a joint news conference.He added that G7 leaders had made clear earlier this week that higher oil prices “should under no circumstances lead us to reconsider our sanctions policy against Russia.”The French leader’s comments reflected growing unease in Europe that a temporary lifting of sanctions could strengthen Russian President Vladimir Putin at a time when oil prices are rising due to the crisis in the Middle East.

U.S. says exemptions are temporary, aimed at calming markets

The U.S. Treasury Department issued a 30-day license, valid until April 11, for the delivery and sale of Russian crude oil and petroleum products that had been shipped as of March 12.U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant said the short-term move was aimed at “stabilizing global energy markets” and “expanding the global reach of existing supplies” after oil prices soared above $100 a barrel following the Iran war.Washington said the move would not bring significant economic benefits to the Russian government, Reuters reported. Prior to this, the United States issued a waiver specifically for India on March 5, allowing India to purchase Russian oil that had been stranded at sea.The easing of sanctions comes as the United States and the International Energy Agency also move to release large amounts of emergency oil stockpiles to curb soaring oil prices.

Paris talks focus on pressure on Russia

Zelensky’s 12th visit to France since Russia’s full-scale invasion of France in 2022 is aimed at increasing pressure on Russia, especially against Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers used to transport oil in violation of sanctions.The Paris talks are also overshadowed by concerns that war in the Middle East has undermined U.S.-brokered peace talks between Kiev and Moscow.German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz also criticized the U.S. move on Friday, saying “relaxing sanctions now would be a mistake for whatever reason,” AFP reported.The Kremlin, meanwhile, said the Paris meeting would hinder the peace process and called attempts to pressure Russia “ridiculous.”

Wider war and new battlefield pressures

The debate over sanctions comes as the war in Ukraine continues to intensify. A Russian attack in eastern Ukraine on Friday killed three people on a bus near Kupiansk, where Russian troops were trying to regain ground.Zelenskiy’s visit comes amid new political friction in Europe, with Hungary blocking a key EU loan package of 90 billion euros for Ukraine and a new round of sanctions on Russia.The dispute is partly related to the damaged Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, and which Kyiv said was affected by a Russian attack earlier this year.The temporary U.S. oil exemption, announced against a backdrop of soaring global energy prices and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, thus opens up new fault lines between Washington and its European allies, even as Kyiv warns it could exacerbate a war the West says it wants to end.

“Some of the actions have been proven to be inappropriate”: Oppn proposes impeachment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar; 193 MPs sign notice

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“Some of the actions have been proven to be inappropriate”: Oppn proposes impeachment of CEC Gyanesh Kumar; 193 MPs sign notice

CEC Gyanesh Kumar (file photo)

New Delhi: The opposition on Friday filed notices in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. They claimed there had been “favoritism” in favor of a particular political party and cited six other “allegations”.“According to sources, the charges are also related to his handling of electoral roll revision, first in Bihar ahead of the assembly elections due in November 2025 and later in other states, some of which are poll-bound. He was also accused of “inappropriate conduct”.

Gyanesh Kumar under criticism: Opposition ousts Chief Election Commissioner after SIR controversy

The notification was spearheaded by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which governs West Bengal, where assembly elections are expected to be held in April-May. The notice was signed by members of the India Bloc party, the Congress-led national opposition, as well as MPs from the Aam Aadmi Party, although the party is no longer part of the alliance.

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Should the Chief Electoral Commissioner be removed from office if he is proven guilty of misconduct?

A total of 193 MPs signed the notification, including 130 from the Lok Sabha and 63 from the House of Federation. Under the rules, at least 100 members of the Lok Sabha must sign a notice seeking the removal of the Central Election Commission, while the required number in the House of Federation is 50.Kumar joined the Election Commission (ECI) in April 2024 and became a member of the Central Election Commission in February last year. Opposition parties have repeatedly accused Kumar of “helping” the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, especially over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which they claim could benefit the ruling party at the centre.Concerns have been raised specifically over the SIR exercise in West Bengal, with TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accusing the ECI of “deleting” genuine voters.The process of deleting CECThis is the first time a notice of impeachment has been filed against the CEC.Under Article 324(5) of the Constitution, the procedure for removing a poll chief is similar to that for removing a Supreme Court or High Court judge, meaning impeachment can only take place where misconduct or incapacity has been proven.Such motions can be made in either House of Parliament and must be passed by a special majority – a majority of all members of the House and a two-thirds majority of those present and voting.After the motion is passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate, a committee will be formed by the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Chairman of the House of Federation.The panel will consist of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) or a judge of the Supreme Court, the chief justice of one of the 25 high courts and a “distinguished jurist”.The CEC will also have the opportunity to speak before the committee.Impeachment discussions will begin once the committee submits its report.(with PTI input)

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