<p>Thomas Crooks, the failed assassin of Donald Trump, was aware that he was being tracked by law enforcement, which knew about his movements at least 100 minutes before he pulled the trigger on July 13, according to text messages analysed in a report by the New York Times.</p>

<p>In a detailed investigative report on Sunda (July 28)&nbsp;the New York Times said that the failed assassin was always a step ahead of law enforcement agencies.</p>

<p>NYT reporters analysed the timestamps of videos, photos, and relevant text messages to reach this conclusion. If the report is accurate, it means that the presence of Crooks in the area was known to law enforcement much in advance than earlier reported.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Trump assassination attempt: What the text messages say</h2>

<p>The series of text messages among the local cops started nearly an hour and a half before the former US president took the stage in Butler, Pennsylvania to address a rally of supporters.<br />
<br />
One police countersniper - different from the Secret Service countersniper who eventually shot and killed Crooks- texted: “Guys I am out. Be safe.” This was sent at the end of his shift, to&nbsp;two other local counter snipers who were still in the area.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/president-donaldduck-elon-musk-claims-google-biased-against-trump-interfering-in-us-elections-745191">President Donald...Duck?: Elon Musk claims Google biased against Trump, interfering in US Elections</a></strong></p>

<p>The same countersniper noticed Crooks and again texted his colleagues about "a young man with long stringy hair sitting on a picnic table near the warehouse" of AG International. That's the building from the roof of which Crooks eventually fired the shots at Trump. The report said that the description in the text matched the appearance of Crooks.</p>

<p>The local cop wrote that the person "would have seen" him come out with his rifle and “knows you guys are up there,” as per the NYT report.</p>

<p>This happened nearly 100 minutes before Crooks pulled the trigger.</p>

<p>The report said another countersniper snapped photos of Crooks, which were shared in a group chat of the officers, with one saying they should inform the Secret Service.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Trump vows to make US 'Crypto capital'</strong></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The exact text went: “Kid learning [sic] around the building we are in. AGR [AGR International building] I believe it is. I did see him with a range finder looking towards the stage. FYI. If you wanna notify SS [Secret Service] snipers to look out. I lost sight of him.”</p>

<p>The text messages and other documents were provided by Beaver County Emergency Services Unit to Republican Senator Charles E Grassley of Iowa, who passed them on to NYT.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report also said that Crooks had "scoped out the rally site" one day before the Secret Service, using a drone.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It has been reported that Crooks' online searches prior to the shooting revealed he wanted to know how far away the shooter Lee Harvey Oswald was from John F Kennedy when he assassinated the US president in 1969. He also searched for the Trump rally details and registered for it. Other searches included US President Joe Biden, depression disorder.</p>

<p>Eventually, a Secret Service sniper killed Crooks but only after his bullet managed to graze the ear of the Republican presidential candidate.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Thomas Crooks, the failed assassin of Donald Trump, was aware that he was being tracked by law enforcement, which knew about his movements at least 100 minutes before he pulled the trigger on July 13, according to text messages analysed in a report by the New York Times.

Thomas Crooks, the failed assassin of Donald Trump, was aware that he was being tracked by law enforcement, which knew about his movements at least 100 minutes before he pulled the trigger on July 13, according to text messages analysed in a report by the New York Times. In a detailed investigative report on Sunda (July 28) the New York Times said that the failed assassin was always a step ahead of law enforcement agencies. NYT reporters analysed the timestamps of videos, photos, and relevant text messages to reach this conclusion. If the report is accurate, it means that the presence of Crooks in the area was known to law enforcement much in advance than earlier reported. Trump assassination attempt: What the text messages say The series of text messages among the local cops started nearly an hour and a half before the former US president took the stage in Butler, Pennsylvania to address a rally of supporters. One police countersniper - different from the Secret Service countersniper who eventually shot and killed Crooks- texted: “Guys I am out. Be safe.” This was sent at the end of his shift, to two other local counter snipers who were still in the area. Also read | President Donald...Duck?: Elon Musk claims Google biased against Trump, interfering in US Elections The same countersniper noticed Crooks and again texted his colleagues about "a young man with long stringy hair sitting on a picnic table near the warehouse" of AG International. That's the building from the roof of which Crooks eventually fired the shots at Trump. The report said that the description in the text matched the appearance of Crooks. The local cop wrote that the person "would have seen" him come out with his rifle and “knows you guys are up there,” as per the NYT report. This happened nearly 100 minutes before Crooks pulled the trigger. The report said another countersniper snapped photos of Crooks, which were shared in a group chat of the officers, with one saying they should inform the Secret Service. Also watch | Trump vows to make US 'Crypto capital' × The exact text went: “Kid learning [sic] around the building we are in. AGR [AGR International building] I believe it is. I did see him with a range finder looking towards the stage. FYI. If you wanna notify SS [Secret Service] snipers to look out. I lost sight of him.” The text messages and other documents were provided by Beaver County Emergency Services Unit to Republican Senator Charles E Grassley of Iowa, who passed them on to NYT. The report also said that Crooks had "scoped out the rally site" one day before the Secret Service, using a drone. It has been reported that Crooks' online searches prior to the shooting revealed he wanted to know how far away the shooter Lee Harvey Oswald was from John F Kennedy when he assassinated the US president in 1969. He also searched for the Trump rally details and registered for it. Other searches included US President Joe Biden, depression disorder. Eventually, a Secret Service sniper killed Crooks but only after his bullet managed to graze the ear of the Republican presidential candidate. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump shooter Thomas Crooks was spotted by cops nearly 100 minutes before shooting: Report

<p>Japan is strictly implementing laws on electric rolling suitcases&nbsp;used by tourists, in its latest attempt to fight overtourism as the Asian country faces a massive growth in visitors.</p>

<p>Already under&nbsp;Japanese law, users will have to show safety documents to be able to 'drive' these suitcases, but many tourists are unaware of such regulations. The law defines electric suitcases as “motorised vehicles that can be ridden on roads only with the required safety equipment and a driving licence.”</p>

<p>While the motorised suitcases have been popularised by celebrities like Paris Hilton and Shilpa Shetty, the luggage-on-the-go has been subject of safety concerns recently. In June, a woman from China allegedly drove such a suitcase on a sidewalk, Kyodo news agency reported. An Indonesian kid rode such a suitcase in a busy Dotonbori shopping district, causing commotion in July.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/autonews/japans-honda-to-close-china-plant-stop-production-at-second-factory-744164">Japan's Honda to close China plant, stop production at second factory</a></strong></p>

<p>Kyodo reported that two Japanese airports have already banned the use of such suitcases in their premises.</p>

<p>Japanese police have asked retailers to warn about the laws regulating their use before they make the purchase.</p>

<h2><b>What is a rideable suitcase?</b></h2>

<p><br />
The rolling suitcases have become ubiquitous in Japanese airports and elsewhere in Asia. These usually have three or four wheels attached to moped-like frames and handles, with advanced models even featuring navigation panels. Looking similar to toy bikes used by children, these electric suitcases are powered by lithium-ion batteries.</p>

<p>Users can 'ride' the bags just by sitting on them and navigating the handle.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Japan vs overtourism: Blocking Fuji, introducing dual pricing</h2>

<p>The ongoing crackdown on rideable luggage&nbsp;is the latest in Japan's attempts to curtail overtourism and the nuisances associated with it.</p>

<p>Just a few months ago, it blocked the view of Mount Fuji with a giant&nbsp;black barrier. This was because the popular instagram photo site became a hotspot for tourists who often exhibited rowdy behaviour.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Japan signs security treaty with US, South Korea</strong></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The barrier, made with a meshed wire &nbsp;2.5 metres&nbsp;high and 20 metres long, was erected in May.</p>

<p>Another move being mooted is differential pricing for tourists. With this, Japan will charge foreign tourists more for certain items under a two-tier system.</p>

<p>The price difference is as high as 1,100 Yen in some restaurants, according to Asia News Network, which noted that the depreciation of the Japanese currency has made several items incredibly cheap for foreign visitors.</p>

<h2><strong>A record tourism inflow to Japan</strong></h2>

<p>The moves come amid a massive tourism boom in Japan that broke records this year. In the first half of 2024, Japan saw 17.78 million tourists, according to its&nbsp;tourism agency. The weakening of Yen has helped drive these numbers. Currently, the tourism inflow has crossed pre-Covid pandemic levels, according to a report in Reuters.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Japan is strictly implementing laws on electric rolling suitcases used by tourists, in its latest attempt to fight overtourism as the Asian country faces a massive growth in visitors.

Japan is strictly implementing laws on electric rolling suitcases used by tourists, in its latest attempt to fight overtourism as the Asian country faces a massive growth in visitors. Already under Japanese law, users will have to show safety documents to be able to 'drive' these suitcases, but many tourists are unaware of such regulations. The law defines electric suitcases as “motorised vehicles that can be ridden on roads only with the required safety equipment and a driving licence.” While the motorised suitcases have been popularised by celebrities like Paris Hilton and Shilpa Shetty, the luggage-on-the-go has been subject of safety concerns recently. In June, a woman from China allegedly drove such a suitcase on a sidewalk, Kyodo news agency reported. An Indonesian kid rode such a suitcase in a busy Dotonbori shopping district, causing commotion in July. Also read | Japan's Honda to close China plant, stop production at second factory Kyodo reported that two Japanese airports have already banned the use of such suitcases in their premises. Japanese police have asked retailers to warn about the laws regulating their use before they make the purchase. What is a rideable suitcase? The rolling suitcases have become ubiquitous in Japanese airports and elsewhere in Asia. These usually have three or four wheels attached to moped-like frames and handles, with advanced models even featuring navigation panels. Looking similar to toy bikes used by children, these electric suitcases are powered by lithium-ion batteries. Users can 'ride' the bags just by sitting on them and navigating the handle. Japan vs overtourism: Blocking Fuji, introducing dual pricing The ongoing crackdown on rideable luggage is the latest in Japan's attempts to curtail overtourism and the nuisances associated with it. Just a few months ago, it blocked the view of Mount Fuji with a giant black barrier. This was because the popular instagram photo site became a hotspot for tourists who often exhibited rowdy behaviour. Also watch | Japan signs security treaty with US, South Korea × The barrier, made with a meshed wire 2.5 metres high and 20 metres long, was erected in May. Another move being mooted is differential pricing for tourists. With this, Japan will charge foreign tourists more for certain items under a two-tier system. The price difference is as high as 1,100 Yen in some restaurants, according to Asia News Network, which noted that the depreciation of the Japanese currency has made several items incredibly cheap for foreign visitors. A record tourism inflow to Japan The moves come amid a massive tourism boom in Japan that broke records this year. In the first half of 2024, Japan saw 17.78 million tourists, according to its tourism agency. The weakening of Yen has helped drive these numbers. Currently, the tourism inflow has crossed pre-Covid pandemic levels, according to a report in Reuters. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan has had enough of these moped-style electric suitcases used by tourists and is cracking down

<p>Delta Aquariids, the annual meteor showers that light up the sky from July to August, will peak on Tuesday (Jul&nbsp;30). The celestial event in which two meteor showers - Delta Aquariids and Presteids - become clearly visible in the sky and eventually come together has been going on since July and will end in August.</p>

<h2>What is the best time to watch Delta Aquariid meteor shower?</h2>

<p>This year, the whole meteor shower phenomenon runs from around July 18 to August 21.</p>

<p>The Delta Aquariid meteor shower has been happening through late July but is expected to peak at 15:16 UTC on Tuesday (Jul&nbsp;30). The most visible period for this is mid-evening to early morning. The best time to watch is before the moon rises. The Delta Aquariid meteor shower will eventually converge with the Perseids meteor shower in August.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/fleeting-meteors-auroras-feature-in-a-mesmerising-timelapse-video-shot-by-iss-astronaut-744706">Fleeting meteors, auroras feature in a mesmerising timelapse video shot by ISS astronaut</a></strong></p>

<p>At its peak, the Delta Aquariids meteor shower can reveal up to 20 meteors if the sky is dark and not cloudy, and not affected by moonlight.</p>

<p>It is most visible in the southern hemisphere, including the southern US. In the UK, the shooting stars will be most visible post-midnight on Tuesday, with the best visibility expected an hour or two after midnight.</p>

<h2>What is a meteor shower? Origins of Delta Acuariids meteor&nbsp;</h2>

<p>A meteor shower happens when dust particles left behind comets pass over the earth. These are very small particles and gases that produce light when vapourise in the atmosphere.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;NASA's rover uncovers startling finds on Mars</strong></p>

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<p>The Delta Aquariids, which gained its name from Aquarius, shooting stars are believed to have originated from the comet 96P/Machholz though it is not fully established.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Up to 20 'shooting stars' can be seen per hour at the peak of Delta Aquariids.</p>

<h2><strong>How to watch?</strong></h2>

<p>In places where it's likely to be visible, the best way to watch a meteor shower is through the naked eye, and not telescopes. But one has to 'practice' looking into the dark sky, as the eye takes up to 10 minutes to get adjusted to it. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Delta Aquariids, the annual meteor showers that light up the sky from July to August, will peak on Tuesday (Jul 30). The celestial event in which two meteor showers - Delta Aquariids and Presteids - become clearly visible in the sky and eventually come together has been going on since July and will end in August.

Delta Aquariids, the annual meteor showers that light up the sky from July to August, will peak on Tuesday (Jul 30). The celestial event in which two meteor showers - Delta Aquariids and Presteids - become clearly visible in the sky and eventually come together has been going on since July and will end in August. What is the best time to watch Delta Aquariid meteor shower? This year, the whole meteor shower phenomenon runs from around July 18 to August 21. The Delta Aquariid meteor shower has been happening through late July but is expected to peak at 15:16 UTC on Tuesday (Jul 30). The most visible period for this is mid-evening to early morning. The best time to watch is before the moon rises. The Delta Aquariid meteor shower will eventually converge with the Perseids meteor shower in August. Also read | Fleeting meteors, auroras feature in a mesmerising timelapse video shot by ISS astronaut At its peak, the Delta Aquariids meteor shower can reveal up to 20 meteors if the sky is dark and not cloudy, and not affected by moonlight. It is most visible in the southern hemisphere, including the southern US. In the UK, the shooting stars will be most visible post-midnight on Tuesday, with the best visibility expected an hour or two after midnight. What is a meteor shower? Origins of Delta Acuariids meteor A meteor shower happens when dust particles left behind comets pass over the earth. These are very small particles and gases that produce light when vapourise in the atmosphere. Also watch | NASA's rover uncovers startling finds on Mars × The Delta Aquariids, which gained its name from Aquarius, shooting stars are believed to have originated from the comet 96P/Machholz though it is not fully established. Up to 20 'shooting stars' can be seen per hour at the peak of Delta Aquariids. How to watch? In places where it's likely to be visible, the best way to watch a meteor shower is through the naked eye, and not telescopes. But one has to 'practice' looking into the dark sky, as the eye takes up to 10 minutes to get adjusted to it. (With inputs from agencies)

Delta Aquariids meteor shower to peak this week. How, when and where to watch celestial event

<p><em><strong>Trigger warning: Some readers may find the details of this report disturbing. Discretion is advised.&nbsp;</strong></em></p>

<p>Women and girls as young as nine were raped by Sudan's RSF, which is engaged in conflict with Sudan Armed Forces, also engaged in sexual violence, since the conflict broke out in 2023, according to a report by Human Rights Watch.</p>

<p>Both RSF or Rapid Support Forces and SAF&nbsp;engaged in rape, gang rape, and other forms of sexual violence of girls and women aged up to 60. RSF appears to have been the worst perpetrators when compared to SAF, according to the HRW report released on Sunday (July 28).</p>

<p>HRW was able to document at least 262 survivors of sexual violence since the conflict broke out.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-report-exposes-extreme-levels-of-child-abuse-in-armed-conflicts-especially-in-gaza-and-sudan-730923">UN report exposes 'extreme levels' of child abuse in armed conflicts, especially in Gaza and Sudan</a></strong></p>

<p>According to survivors, many were gang-raped by up to four RSF fighters, in some cases, in front of family members.</p>

<p>"RSF members sexually assaulted women and girls in front of their family members," said the report, particularly noting a case where a mother and her four daughters were raped "repeatedly for days" in front of their father and brothers after putting them under house arrest.</p>

<p>The rights group cited a lawyer who received “reports of rape of six girls, one girl aged 9 years old” and a psychologist who said out of over&nbsp;25 survivor cases he recorded, “at least 80 per cent were aged between 12 and 18."</p>

<p>Men and boys have also been victims of sexual violence, it said.</p>

<p>The conflict-related sexual violence in the impoverished African country was recorded by the rights group from interviews with healthcare professionals, psychiatrists and other care providers&nbsp;in the capital of Khartoum Bahri and Omdurman cities.</p>

<h2>Forced child marriages</h2>

<p>"Women and girls have also been subjected to forced marriage and child marriage," the rights body said in the report, which was compiled&nbsp;based on interviews conducted between September 2023 and February 2024.</p>

<p>The HRW report claimed that RSF forced some women and children into marriage in Khartoum.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;UN calls for immediate ceasefire and international efforts in Sudan</strong></p>

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<p>Some relatives agreed to such marriages for financial reasons, or in the hope that they would not be raped outside of marriage.</p>

<h3>Sudan conflict</h3>

<p>RSF is&nbsp;an independent military group&nbsp;engaged in conflict with SAF since April 2023. The conflict broke out as a result of rivalry between two military chiefs who together ousted a civilian transitional government in 2021:&nbsp;General Abdelfattah al-Burhan who leads SAF and Gen&nbsp;Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the RSF leader.</p>

<p>Al-Burhan and Dagalo led the coup against the civilian government of Abdalla Hamdok in October 2021.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Trigger warning: Some readers may find the details of this report disturbing. Discretion is advised. Women and girls as young as nine were raped by Sudan's RSF, which is engaged in conflict with Sudan Armed Forces, also engaged in sexual violence, since the conflict broke out in 2023, according to a report by Human Rights Watch.

Trigger warning: Some readers may find the details of this report disturbing. Discretion is advised. Women and girls as young as nine were raped by Sudan's RSF, which is engaged in conflict with Sudan Armed Forces, also engaged in sexual violence, since the conflict broke out in 2023, according to a report by Human Rights Watch. Both RSF or Rapid Support Forces and SAF engaged in rape, gang rape, and other forms of sexual violence of girls and women aged up to 60. RSF appears to have been the worst perpetrators when compared to SAF, according to the HRW report released on Sunday (July 28). HRW was able to document at least 262 survivors of sexual violence since the conflict broke out. Also read | UN report exposes 'extreme levels' of child abuse in armed conflicts, especially in Gaza and Sudan According to survivors, many were gang-raped by up to four RSF fighters, in some cases, in front of family members. "RSF members sexually assaulted women and girls in front of their family members," said the report, particularly noting a case where a mother and her four daughters were raped "repeatedly for days" in front of their father and brothers after putting them under house arrest. The rights group cited a lawyer who received “reports of rape of six girls, one girl aged 9 years old” and a psychologist who said out of over 25 survivor cases he recorded, “at least 80 per cent were aged between 12 and 18." Men and boys have also been victims of sexual violence, it said. The conflict-related sexual violence in the impoverished African country was recorded by the rights group from interviews with healthcare professionals, psychiatrists and other care providers in the capital of Khartoum Bahri and Omdurman cities. Forced child marriages "Women and girls have also been subjected to forced marriage and child marriage," the rights body said in the report, which was compiled based on interviews conducted between September 2023 and February 2024. The HRW report claimed that RSF forced some women and children into marriage in Khartoum. Also watch | UN calls for immediate ceasefire and international efforts in Sudan × Some relatives agreed to such marriages for financial reasons, or in the hope that they would not be raped outside of marriage. Sudan conflict RSF is an independent military group engaged in conflict with SAF since April 2023. The conflict broke out as a result of rivalry between two military chiefs who together ousted a civilian transitional government in 2021: General Abdelfattah al-Burhan who leads SAF and Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the RSF leader. Al-Burhan and Dagalo led the coup against the civilian government of Abdalla Hamdok in October 2021. (With inputs from agencies)

Shocking cases of rape in Sudan: Children as young as nine were raped, says rights group report

<p>Sri Lanka will hold presidential election on September 21 and current incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to contest as an independent. This is the first election since the turbulent years of economic instability, nationwide protests, and ouster of the Rajapaksa clan's government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here are the main things you should know about the Sri Lanka presidential elections:</p>

<h2><strong>Sri Lanka Presidential Election 2024: Dates</strong></h2>

<p>The presidential election will be held on September 21, according to Sri Lanka's election commission. Nominations will be accepted on August 15 as per a government gazette notification.</p>

<h2><strong>Ranil Wickeremesinghe to contest as independent</strong></h2>

<p>The incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is the leader of the United National Party,&nbsp;will contest the election as an independent candidate. A bond has been placed for this, as per reports on Friday (July 26).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-sri-lanka-looking-at-trading-in-national-currencies-sri-lankan-minister-balasuriya-740385">India, Sri Lanka looking at trading in national currencies: Sri Lankan Minister Balasuriya</a></strong></p>

<h2>Who are the other possible candidates in Sri Lanaka presidential election?</h2>

<p>Opposition leader Sajit Premadasa of Samagi Jana Balawegaya alliance is considered the main rival for Wickeremesinghe. Sajit is the son of former president Ranasinghe Premadasa.</p>

<p>The other possible candidate is Anura Kumara Dissanayake&nbsp;of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. His Marxist-Leninist Communist party saw a revival in fortunes during the protests caused by the economic collapse in the country.</p>

<h2>Elections happening for first time since economic turmoil</h2>

<p>The last presidential elections were in 2019, which was won by Gotabaya Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka People's Front. Gotabaya appointed his brother, former president&nbsp;Mahinda Rajapaksa, as prime minister. Soon the economic crisis and Covid pandemic followed, and the Rajapaksa clan became deeply unpopular, also because they had installed family members in key ministerial posts.</p>

<h2>Sri Lanka's economic crisis and protests. What had really happened?</h2>

<p>Sri Lanka's economic woes started after a foreign exchange crisis, exacerbated by the Covid pandemic of 2020. The tourism sector, one of its mainstays for foreign exchange, was hit badly after the Islamic State terror attacks of 2019. That's when the pandemic also hit.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Sri Lanka to hold Presidential elections in Septemeber, five-week part of campaign released</strong></p>

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<p>Massive inflation followed, making essential items like&nbsp;food, petrol, cooking gas and medicinces costlier. There was shortages and long lines at the fuel pumps for weeks, and frequent and long power blackouts. This led to massive protests. The anger was directed at the then president Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa. Gotabaya, who left the country amid public anger, resigned in 2022. Wickremesinghe, who had been made&nbsp;prime minister amid the protests, was appointed as president in a vote in parliament, as per provisions of Sri Lanka's constitution.</p>

<p>Eventually, the government declared bankruptcy in 2022, suspending loan repayments to the tune of $83 billion.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Elections a litmus test for financial reforms of Wickremesinghe</strong></h2>

<p>Currently the nation is going through a debt restructuring process. It managed to get a four-year bailout from International Monetary Fund in March 2023 and is engaged in financial reforms.</p>

<p>A seasoned statesman and politician, Wickremesinghe, 75, had been prime minister for five times. Since assuming charge as president, Wickremesinghe renegotiated the debts to the tune of $10 billion owed to India, France, Japan and China and entered into debt restructuring agreements. This will enable Sri Lanka to defer loan instalment payments to them till 2028. Concessions have been given to the loans too, until 2043.</p>

<p>The country's economy is slowly emerging out of the doldrums, but the price it is paying through financial reforms is hurting many in the country, for instance over increase in power bills, and tax hikes for salaried individuals and businesses. The vote will decide on whether the people are standing with Wickremesinghe on the economic reforms.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How is Sri Lanka presidential election held?</h2>

<p>Presidents are chosen throgh direct franchise in Sri Lanka. In theory, Sri Lanka has a 'ranked voting' system whereby voters can mark their preferecne for candidates. But in practice, only one candidate is marked in the ballot.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Sri Lanka will hold presidential election on September 21 and current incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to contest as an independent. This is the first election since the turbulent years of economic instability, nationwide protests, and ouster of the Rajapaksa clan's government.

Sri Lanka will hold presidential election on September 21 and current incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to contest as an independent. This is the first election since the turbulent years of economic instability, nationwide protests, and ouster of the Rajapaksa clan's government. Here are the main things you should know about the Sri Lanka presidential elections: Sri Lanka Presidential Election 2024: Dates The presidential election will be held on September 21, according to Sri Lanka's election commission. Nominations will be accepted on August 15 as per a government gazette notification. Ranil Wickeremesinghe to contest as independent The incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is the leader of the United National Party, will contest the election as an independent candidate. A bond has been placed for this, as per reports on Friday (July 26). Also read | India, Sri Lanka looking at trading in national currencies: Sri Lankan Minister Balasuriya Who are the other possible candidates in Sri Lanaka presidential election? Opposition leader Sajit Premadasa of Samagi Jana Balawegaya alliance is considered the main rival for Wickeremesinghe. Sajit is the son of former president Ranasinghe Premadasa. The other possible candidate is Anura Kumara Dissanayake of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. His Marxist-Leninist Communist party saw a revival in fortunes during the protests caused by the economic collapse in the country. Elections happening for first time since economic turmoil The last presidential elections were in 2019, which was won by Gotabaya Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka People's Front. Gotabaya appointed his brother, former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, as prime minister. Soon the economic crisis and Covid pandemic followed, and the Rajapaksa clan became deeply unpopular, also because they had installed family members in key ministerial posts. Sri Lanka's economic crisis and protests. What had really happened? Sri Lanka's economic woes started after a foreign exchange crisis, exacerbated by the Covid pandemic of 2020. The tourism sector, one of its mainstays for foreign exchange, was hit badly after the Islamic State terror attacks of 2019. That's when the pandemic also hit. Also watch | Sri Lanka to hold Presidential elections in Septemeber, five-week part of campaign released × Massive inflation followed, making essential items like food, petrol, cooking gas and medicinces costlier. There was shortages and long lines at the fuel pumps for weeks, and frequent and long power blackouts. This led to massive protests. The anger was directed at the then president Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa. Gotabaya, who left the country amid public anger, resigned in 2022. Wickremesinghe, who had been made prime minister amid the protests, was appointed as president in a vote in parliament, as per provisions of Sri Lanka's constitution. Eventually, the government declared bankruptcy in 2022, suspending loan repayments to the tune of $83 billion. Elections a litmus test for financial reforms of Wickremesinghe Currently the nation is going through a debt restructuring process. It managed to get a four-year bailout from International Monetary Fund in March 2023 and is engaged in financial reforms. A seasoned statesman and politician, Wickremesinghe, 75, had been prime minister for five times. Since assuming charge as president, Wickremesinghe renegotiated the debts to the tune of $10 billion owed to India, France, Japan and China and entered into debt restructuring agreements. This will enable Sri Lanka to defer loan instalment payments to them till 2028. Concessions have been given to the loans too, until 2043. The country's economy is slowly emerging out of the doldrums, but the price it is paying through financial reforms is hurting many in the country, for instance over increase in power bills, and tax hikes for salaried individuals and businesses. The vote will decide on whether the people are standing with Wickremesinghe on the economic reforms. How is Sri Lanka presidential election held? Presidents are chosen throgh direct franchise in Sri Lanka. In theory, Sri Lanka has a 'ranked voting' system whereby voters can mark their preferecne for candidates. But in practice, only one candidate is marked in the ballot. (With inputs from agencies)

Sri Lanka presidential election on Sep 21: Ranil Wickremesinghe to fight as independent. What we know

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (July 26) carried out the first blast of the Shinkun La tunnel in the Union Territory of Ladakh, which when completed will be the world's highest tunnel. The blast was carried out through a remote switch by Modi on Kargil Vijay Diwas, the day when India won the Kargil war against Pakistan in 1999.&nbsp;It was held at a ceremony in Drass, after an address by the Indian PM to mark the Kargil victory day.</p>

<p>In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi wrote: "The Shinkun La Tunnel is a pioneering infrastructure project which will boost connectivity to Leh and enhance tourism as well as commerce".</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The Shinkun La Tunnel is a pioneering infrastructure project which will boost connectivity to Leh and enhance tourism as well as commerce! <a href="https://t.co/7whyWjliMP">pic.twitter.com/7whyWjliMP</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1816751975616110999?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Here are the top unique features of the tunnel:</p>

<h2><strong>What are the unique features of the Shinkun La tunnel?</strong></h2>

<p>Shinkun La is a twin tube tunnel which&nbsp;when completed will run 4.1 kilometres in length. It is expected to provide all-weather transport connectivity between the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Ladakh.<br />
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The twin tube tunnel will have cross-passages at every 500 metres. The tunnel will cut down travelling time by around 30 minutes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/kargil-vijay-diwas-pakistan-using-terrorism-proxy-war-to-stay-relevant-says-pm-modi-744403"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Kargil Vijay Diwas: 'Pakistan using terrorism, proxy war to stay relevant', says PM Modi</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>World's highest tunnel</strong></h2>

<p>The tunnel will be located at an elevation of 4,800 metres, which will make it the world's highest. Being built by the Border Roads Organisation, the tunnel will enable commuting in an area that usually is buried under snow of up to 20 feet for around five months every year during harsh winter.</p>

<h2><strong>Shinkun La: A strategic tunnel during wartime</strong></h2>

<p>In case of a war in future, the tunnel can be used by the&nbsp;Indian armed forces for quick transport of personnel, armaments&nbsp;and material. It is a region where India has had border clashes with China, as well as Pakistan.</p>

<h2><strong>A boost for Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh</strong></h2>

<p>The tunnel is also expected to add to the infrastructure development of Ladakh and help in its economy. It will also help in tourist inflow to both Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kargil-vijay-diwas-tells-us-sacrifices-made-for-the-nation-are-immortal-indian-pm-modi-744295"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;On Kargil Vijay Diwas, Indian PM Modi calls Pakistan 'patrons of terrorism'; defends Agnipath scheme</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Navigating a tough terrain</strong></h2>

<p>Ladakh, nestled in the Himalayan mountain region, is one of the toughest terrains in India. India has been building several projects that will prepare the region for war time, and provide it much-needed infrastructure development. Border area development is one of the key priorities&nbsp;of the Modi government, which has been building roads, bridges and tunnels in the region.&nbsp;<br />
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<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (July 26) carried out the first blast of the Shinkun La tunnel in the Union Territory of Ladakh, which when completed will be the world's highest tunnel.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (July 26) carried out the first blast of the Shinkun La tunnel in the Union Territory of Ladakh, which when completed will be the world's highest tunnel. The blast was carried out through a remote switch by Modi on Kargil Vijay Diwas, the day when India won the Kargil war against Pakistan in 1999. It was held at a ceremony in Drass, after an address by the Indian PM to mark the Kargil victory day. In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi wrote: "The Shinkun La Tunnel is a pioneering infrastructure project which will boost connectivity to Leh and enhance tourism as well as commerce". The Shinkun La Tunnel is a pioneering infrastructure project which will boost connectivity to Leh and enhance tourism as well as commerce! pic.twitter.com/7whyWjliMP — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 26, 2024 × Here are the top unique features of the tunnel: What are the unique features of the Shinkun La tunnel? Shinkun La is a twin tube tunnel which when completed will run 4.1 kilometres in length. It is expected to provide all-weather transport connectivity between the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Ladakh. The twin tube tunnel will have cross-passages at every 500 metres. The tunnel will cut down travelling time by around 30 minutes. Watch | Kargil Vijay Diwas: 'Pakistan using terrorism, proxy war to stay relevant', says PM Modi × World's highest tunnel The tunnel will be located at an elevation of 4,800 metres, which will make it the world's highest. Being built by the Border Roads Organisation, the tunnel will enable commuting in an area that usually is buried under snow of up to 20 feet for around five months every year during harsh winter. Shinkun La: A strategic tunnel during wartime In case of a war in future, the tunnel can be used by the Indian armed forces for quick transport of personnel, armaments and material. It is a region where India has had border clashes with China, as well as Pakistan. A boost for Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh The tunnel is also expected to add to the infrastructure development of Ladakh and help in its economy. It will also help in tourist inflow to both Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh. Also read | On Kargil Vijay Diwas, Indian PM Modi calls Pakistan 'patrons of terrorism'; defends Agnipath scheme Navigating a tough terrain Ladakh, nestled in the Himalayan mountain region, is one of the toughest terrains in India. India has been building several projects that will prepare the region for war time, and provide it much-needed infrastructure development. Border area development is one of the key priorities of the Modi government, which has been building roads, bridges and tunnels in the region. (With inputs from agencies)

Shinkun La tunnel: Indian PM Modi makes 'first blast' of world's highest tunnel in Ladakh - Top features

<p>Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is facing online criticism after appearing to cry during a visit to a metro station damaged in recent anti-quota protests by student. She is being accused of shedding crocodile tears for shattered glass and other destruction caused by the protest, and not for scores of students who died when her security forces used excessive force to quell the agitation. At least&nbsp;150 people died in the protests, according to reports.</p>

<h2><strong>Why did Bangladesh PM Sheik Hasina cry?</strong></h2>

<p>PM Hasina appeared to cry and wipe her tears with tissue paper when visiting the metro station in Mirpur on Thursday (July 25).</p>

<p>A traffic control facility and ticket machines at the station were damaged in the protests, led mainly by students who are protesting quotas in high-paying government jobs.&nbsp;Protesters had gone on a rampage at some metro stations after services were suspended on 18 July.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-stuns-china-in-bangladesh-wins-right-to-operate-terminal-of-mongla-port-743490">India stuns China in Bangladesh, wins rights to operate terminal of Mongla port</a></strong></p>

<p>"What kind of mentality leads them to destroy facilities that make people's lives easier? I cannot accept the destruction of this transport facility made with modern technology," Hasina was quoted as saying in the Bangladeshi newspaper The Business Standard.</p>

<p>"The countrymen must stand against those who destroyed the development by the government and judge the perpetrators themselves," she said.</p>

<h2><strong>How did the internet react to Hasina wiping tears?</strong></h2>

<p>The BBC quoted journalist Zulkarnian Saer as saying that while Hasina had time to visit the train station, she did not visit families of students who were shot dead.<br />
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His comments came even as videos were posted on the social platform X, including one appearing to show a mother crying over the dead body of her son in a hospital bed, who was reportedly clubbed to death by security forces.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Bangladesh: From economic tiger to wounded nation</strong></p>

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<p>"Bangladesh's PM #SheikhHasina crying "crocodile tears" while visiting &nbsp;a metro train station that was destroyed during anti-government protests," journalist Salman Ali Awan wrote on X, along with hashtags #Crocodiletears and #DictatorHasina. "At leat 150 people have been killed as a result brutal crack down by #AwamiLeague govt [sic]," he wrote.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Crocodiletears?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Crocodiletears</a><br />
Bangladesh's PM <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SheikhHasina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SheikhHasina</a> crying "crocodile tears" while visiting a metro train station that was destroyed during anti-government protests.<br />
At leat 150 people have been killed as a result brutal crack down by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AwamiLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AwamiLeague</a> govt.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DictatorHasina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DictatorHasina</a> <a href="https://t.co/0VragjyIxo">pic.twitter.com/0VragjyIxo</a></p>
— Salman Ali Awan (@salmanaliawan) <a href="https://twitter.com/salmanaliawan/status/1816747486016385240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What are the Bangladesh protests about?</strong></h2>

<p>The protests were led by college students earlier this month against reservation in government jobs. The main bone of contention was a 30 per cent quota in top public jobs for relatives of those who took part in Bangladesh's independence struggle from Pakistan in 1971.</p>

<p>On July 21, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh set aside most of the quotas and ruled that 93 per cent of jobs be filled on merit.</p>

<p>The protests have since subsided but some students are demanding justice for those killed, and release of their leaders, for which they vowed to continue the agitation.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is facing online criticism after appearing to cry during a visit to a metro station damaged in recent anti-quota protests by student.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is facing online criticism after appearing to cry during a visit to a metro station damaged in recent anti-quota protests by student. She is being accused of shedding crocodile tears for shattered glass and other destruction caused by the protest, and not for scores of students who died when her security forces used excessive force to quell the agitation. At least 150 people died in the protests, according to reports. Why did Bangladesh PM Sheik Hasina cry? PM Hasina appeared to cry and wipe her tears with tissue paper when visiting the metro station in Mirpur on Thursday (July 25). A traffic control facility and ticket machines at the station were damaged in the protests, led mainly by students who are protesting quotas in high-paying government jobs. Protesters had gone on a rampage at some metro stations after services were suspended on 18 July. Also read | India stuns China in Bangladesh, wins rights to operate terminal of Mongla port "What kind of mentality leads them to destroy facilities that make people's lives easier? I cannot accept the destruction of this transport facility made with modern technology," Hasina was quoted as saying in the Bangladeshi newspaper The Business Standard. "The countrymen must stand against those who destroyed the development by the government and judge the perpetrators themselves," she said. How did the internet react to Hasina wiping tears? The BBC quoted journalist Zulkarnian Saer as saying that while Hasina had time to visit the train station, she did not visit families of students who were shot dead. His comments came even as videos were posted on the social platform X, including one appearing to show a mother crying over the dead body of her son in a hospital bed, who was reportedly clubbed to death by security forces. Also watch | Bangladesh: From economic tiger to wounded nation × "Bangladesh's PM #SheikhHasina crying "crocodile tears" while visiting a metro train station that was destroyed during anti-government protests," journalist Salman Ali Awan wrote on X, along with hashtags #Crocodiletears and #DictatorHasina. "At leat 150 people have been killed as a result brutal crack down by #AwamiLeague govt [sic]," he wrote. #Crocodiletears Bangladesh's PM #SheikhHasina crying "crocodile tears" while visiting a metro train station that was destroyed during anti-government protests. At leat 150 people have been killed as a result brutal crack down by #AwamiLeague govt.#DictatorHasina pic.twitter.com/0VragjyIxo — Salman Ali Awan (@salmanaliawan) July 26, 2024 × What are the Bangladesh protests about? The protests were led by college students earlier this month against reservation in government jobs. The main bone of contention was a 30 per cent quota in top public jobs for relatives of those who took part in Bangladesh's independence struggle from Pakistan in 1971. On July 21, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh set aside most of the quotas and ruled that 93 per cent of jobs be filled on merit. The protests have since subsided but some students are demanding justice for those killed, and release of their leaders, for which they vowed to continue the agitation. (With inputs from agencies)

'Crocodile tears': Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina 'cries' at metro station damaged in protest, slammed online

<p>Rupert Murdoch, the patriarch of News Corp and Fox and one of the most important media barons for the US conservative establishment, is engaged in a till-now secret legal battle&nbsp;on the future of his empire that has his children pitted against each other in what looks similar to the family squabbles in the hit web series <em>Succession</em>. First reported by the New York Times, the battle has all the elements of a riveting family drama.</p>

<p>According to the NYT report that cited court documents, the 93-year-old owner of properties like Fox News, New York Post and Wall Street Journal wants to keep his media business "as a conservative force" after his death. For this, he wants to keep his eldest son Lachlan firmly in control, &nbsp;but three of his other children are giving him the push-back.</p>

<p>Murdoch's News Corp owns Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post as well as a string of newspapers and TV channels in Australia, Britain and elsewhere.</p>

<p>Fox News has been the lone star in a largely left or left-of-centre-leaning American media landscape.</p>

<h2>What is the cause of Rupert Murdoch's legal battle involving his children?</h2>

<p>At the heart of the battle is Project Harmony, Murdoch's &nbsp;move to change an 'irrevocable' trust established by him over two decades ago with the intention of avoiding family squabbles over the company's direction once he is dead.</p>

<p>What he reportedly wants is to keep his eldest son Lachlan Murdoch- who he had formally named his successor in 2018- in charge of the future course of the company's TV and print assets.</p>

<p><strong>Video:&nbsp;</strong><a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/videos/rupert-murdoch-ties-the-knot-for-the-fifth-time-728354" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/videos/rupert-murdoch-ties-the-knot-for-the-fifth-time-728354&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjwvvLiz8GHAxVVS2wGHVwAAyIQFnoECAYQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw1ilQ-jhBSO01UCdrx4Nu1H&amp;arm=e" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/rupert-murdoch-ties-the-knot-for-the-fifth-time-728354" target="_blank"><b>Rupert Murdoch</b>&nbsp;ties the knot for the fifth time</a></p>

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<p>As of now, as written in the trust, the family business will be given to his four older children- Lachlan, James, Elisabeth and Prudence- after Murdoch's demise. But as per court documents, he feels the conservative editorial stance of his properties can be ensured only if Lachlan is given full powers without interference from his siblings, some of whom have moderate stance.</p>

<p>In its current form, the trust gives an equal voice to all his four children in the company's future direction.</p>

<p>James, Murdoch's second son and his sisters Elisabeth and Prudence- who is his eldest child from his first marriage- are seen as moderate voices. According to the NYT report, the three "were caught completely off-guard by their father’s effort to rewrite what was supposed to be an inviolable trust and have united to stop him."</p>

<p>The three&nbsp;children accuse Murdoch of 'disenfranchising' them by violating the "equal governance provision" in the terms of the trust, said the NYT report.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Murdoch met separately with Elisabeth and Prudence in London after filing the petition to change the trust's terms hoping to win their support, a person familiar with the developments told NYT. "They were furious. Elisabeth responded to the possibility with a string of expletives," the report said, citing the source.</p>

<p>Murdoch went ahead with the move anyway, which James, Elisabeth and Prudence tried to block, but in vain.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/rupert-murdoch-steps-down-as-fox-chairman-after-seven-decade-career-638290" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/rupert-murdoch-steps-down-as-fox-chairman-after-seven-decade-career-638290&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjwvvLiz8GHAxVVS2wGHVwAAyIQFnoECAEQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw3ALLz-Kf9nXVYiMQpA420R&amp;arm=e" dir="ltr" href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/rupert-murdoch-steps-down-as-fox-chairman-after-seven-decade-career-638290&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjwvvLiz8GHAxVVS2wGHVwAAyIQFnoECAEQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw3ALLz-Kf9nXVYiMQpA420R&amp;arm=e" target="_blank"><b>Rupert Murdoch</b>, 93, steps down as Fox chairman</a></p>

<p>With Lachlan on his side, Murdoch is probably winning the fight. The NYT report said&nbsp;the probate commissioner in Reno, Nevada ruled that Murdoch can amend the trust "if he is able to show he is acting in good faith" and for the benefit of his heirs.</p>

<p>The court noted the patriarch was concerned that the “lack of consensus” among his children “would impact the strategic direction" at his companies, which would "also involve a likely reorientation of editorial policy and content.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ruling said Murdoch intended to “consolidate decision-making power in Lachlan’s hands and give him permanent, exclusive control” over the company.</p>

<p>That court's decision will now go into a trial stage in September, the paper reported.</p>

<p>Murdoch is represented by Adam Streisand, who in the past handled estate battles of Michael Jackson and Britney Spears.</p>

<p>The battle assumes significance in an election season as Republican candidate and former president Donald Trump is seen in polls as the frontrunner for the presidential elections due in November. Fox News has been the favoured microphone of Trump, in spite of his occasional fracas with it.</p>

<p>Murdoch thinks that the conservative editorial line of his publications is what gives them commercial value in the marketplace, which he wants to preserve in the larger interest of his successors.</p>

<h2>Murdoch's marriages and his squabbling children</h2>

<p>The latest court battle is in fact part of the ongoing saga of sibling rivalries and daddy&nbsp;issues in the Murdoch family, part of which may have inspired the series <em>Succession</em>. It got only further complicated by step-family dynamics, Murdoch having married five times.<br />
<br />
Before Lachlan was formally named heir, James and Elisabeth had battled each other as well as Lachlan and their father. After Lachlan took charge, James left the company to lead an investment firm in 2019. Elisabeth Murdoch runs Sister, a movie studio.</p>

<p>Prudence is Murdoch’s oldest offspring from his first marriage to Patricia Booker. Lachlan, Elisabeth and James are his children from his second marriage to Anna Murdoch Mann.</p>

<p>Murdoch married for the fifth time this June, to Elena Zhukova. None of his older children attended the wedding, except for Lachlan.</p>

<p><strong>Also read</strong>:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-lachlan-murdoc-five-things-to-know-about-the-inheritor-of-rupert-murdochs-media-empire-638469">Who is Lachlan Murdoch? Five things to know about the inheritor of Rupert Murdoch's media empire</a></p>

<p>That marriage came years after his much-publicised divorce from his third wife, the Chinese origin Wendi Deng. He has two daughters with Wendi: Chloe and Grace.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Murdoch's fourth&nbsp;marriage was to Jerry Hall, but they didn't have any children together.</p>

<h2>About the Murdoch Trust</h2>

<p>The trust was created around the time of&nbsp;Murdoch’s divorce from his second wife, Anna Murdoch Mann, before he married Wendi in 1999.</p>

<p>The trust is basically a holding company of the family's shares in Murdoch companies like Fox News, Fox Broadcast Network and News Corp. His four older children as well as Chloe and Grace have equal shares, but the last two do not have voting rights.</p>

<p>The voting system at present is such that Murdoch will basically have veto power, meaning he cannot be outvoted, while&nbsp;Lachlan, James, Elisabeth and Prudence have a single vote each. Essentially what Murdoch wants to achieve through the legal proceedings is to give Lachlan the same voting power as himself, meaning he should not be outvoted in future.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Rupert Murdoch, the patriarch of News Corp and Fox and one of the most important media barons for the US conservative establishment, is engaged in a till-now secret legal battle on the future of his empire that has his children pitted against each other in what looks similar to the family squabbles in the hit web series Succession.

Rupert Murdoch, the patriarch of News Corp and Fox and one of the most important media barons for the US conservative establishment, is engaged in a till-now secret legal battle on the future of his empire that has his children pitted against each other in what looks similar to the family squabbles in the hit web series Succession. First reported by the New York Times, the battle has all the elements of a riveting family drama. According to the NYT report that cited court documents, the 93-year-old owner of properties like Fox News, New York Post and Wall Street Journal wants to keep his media business "as a conservative force" after his death. For this, he wants to keep his eldest son Lachlan firmly in control, but three of his other children are giving him the push-back. Murdoch's News Corp owns Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post as well as a string of newspapers and TV channels in Australia, Britain and elsewhere. Fox News has been the lone star in a largely left or left-of-centre-leaning American media landscape. What is the cause of Rupert Murdoch's legal battle involving his children? At the heart of the battle is Project Harmony, Murdoch's move to change an 'irrevocable' trust established by him over two decades ago with the intention of avoiding family squabbles over the company's direction once he is dead. What he reportedly wants is to keep his eldest son Lachlan Murdoch- who he had formally named his successor in 2018- in charge of the future course of the company's TV and print assets. Video: Rupert Murdoch ties the knot for the fifth time × As of now, as written in the trust, the family business will be given to his four older children- Lachlan, James, Elisabeth and Prudence- after Murdoch's demise. But as per court documents, he feels the conservative editorial stance of his properties can be ensured only if Lachlan is given full powers without interference from his siblings, some of whom have moderate stance. In its current form, the trust gives an equal voice to all his four children in the company's future direction. James, Murdoch's second son and his sisters Elisabeth and Prudence- who is his eldest child from his first marriage- are seen as moderate voices. According to the NYT report, the three "were caught completely off-guard by their father’s effort to rewrite what was supposed to be an inviolable trust and have united to stop him." The three children accuse Murdoch of 'disenfranchising' them by violating the "equal governance provision" in the terms of the trust, said the NYT report. Murdoch met separately with Elisabeth and Prudence in London after filing the petition to change the trust's terms hoping to win their support, a person familiar with the developments told NYT. "They were furious. Elisabeth responded to the possibility with a string of expletives," the report said, citing the source. Murdoch went ahead with the move anyway, which James, Elisabeth and Prudence tried to block, but in vain. Also read: Rupert Murdoch, 93, steps down as Fox chairman With Lachlan on his side, Murdoch is probably winning the fight. The NYT report said the probate commissioner in Reno, Nevada ruled that Murdoch can amend the trust "if he is able to show he is acting in good faith" and for the benefit of his heirs. The court noted the patriarch was concerned that the “lack of consensus” among his children “would impact the strategic direction" at his companies, which would "also involve a likely reorientation of editorial policy and content.” The ruling said Murdoch intended to “consolidate decision-making power in Lachlan’s hands and give him permanent, exclusive control” over the company. That court's decision will now go into a trial stage in September, the paper reported. Murdoch is represented by Adam Streisand, who in the past handled estate battles of Michael Jackson and Britney Spears. The battle assumes significance in an election season as Republican candidate and former president Donald Trump is seen in polls as the frontrunner for the presidential elections due in November. Fox News has been the favoured microphone of Trump, in spite of his occasional fracas with it. Murdoch thinks that the conservative editorial line of his publications is what gives them commercial value in the marketplace, which he wants to preserve in the larger interest of his successors. Murdoch's marriages and his squabbling children The latest court battle is in fact part of the ongoing saga of sibling rivalries and daddy issues in the Murdoch family, part of which may have inspired the series Succession. It got only further complicated by step-family dynamics, Murdoch having married five times. Before Lachlan was formally named heir, James and Elisabeth had battled each other as well as Lachlan and their father. After Lachlan took charge, James left the company to lead an investment firm in 2019. Elisabeth Murdoch runs Sister, a movie studio. Prudence is Murdoch’s oldest offspring from his first marriage to Patricia Booker. Lachlan, Elisabeth and James are his children from his second marriage to Anna Murdoch Mann. Murdoch married for the fifth time this June, to Elena Zhukova. None of his older children attended the wedding, except for Lachlan. Also read: Who is Lachlan Murdoch? Five things to know about the inheritor of Rupert Murdoch's media empire That marriage came years after his much-publicised divorce from his third wife, the Chinese origin Wendi Deng. He has two daughters with Wendi: Chloe and Grace. Murdoch's fourth marriage was to Jerry Hall, but they didn't have any children together. About the Murdoch Trust The trust was created around the time of Murdoch’s divorce from his second wife, Anna Murdoch Mann, before he married Wendi in 1999. The trust is basically a holding company of the family's shares in Murdoch companies like Fox News, Fox Broadcast Network and News Corp. His four older children as well as Chloe and Grace have equal shares, but the last two do not have voting rights. The voting system at present is such that Murdoch will basically have veto power, meaning he cannot be outvoted, while Lachlan, James, Elisabeth and Prudence have a single vote each. Essentially what Murdoch wants to achieve through the legal proceedings is to give Lachlan the same voting power as himself, meaning he should not be outvoted in future. (With inputs from agencies)

Rupert Murdoch is in legal battle to change his trust terms, Lachlan pitted against James and sisters: Report

<p>July 25 is the birthday of Rosalind Franklin, the almost-forgotten woman scientist who was part of the team that unravelled the mysteries of human DNA, but she did not get&nbsp;deserved credit for it during her lifetime.<br />
<br />
Besides sequencing the DNA, short for Deoxyribonucleic acid which is the building block of life, Franklin was also behind a number of pioneering scientific discoveries and experiments spanning across biology, chemistry and physics.</p>

<h2>Who was Rosalind Franklin?</h2>

<p>Rosalind Franklin was a British scientist whose work with&nbsp;X-ray crystallography, along with James Watson and Francis Crick, helped in the understanding of DNA as well as RNA or ribonucleic acid. Her work also helped in the study of structures of viruses as well as natural materials like coal and graphite.</p>

<p>Born in 1920 into a wealthy and influential British-Jewish family, she studied at some of the most prestigious institutions in the country including Cambridge University.<br />
<br />
As written in her tombstone, her discoveries on viruses "remain of lasting benefit to mankind".</p>

<p>But her best-known work remains the imaging of DNA through X-ray diffraction imaging.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As reported in a profile by Nature magazine, she "worked across biology, chemistry and physics".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Besides studying coal and carbon, she was an expert on viruses affecting both humans and plants including tobacco mosaic virus and poliovirus. Her work in DNA sequencing eventually helped modern medical science in tracing deadly viruses including the one that caused the recent Covid pandemic.</p>

<h2><strong>A forgotten heroine</strong></h2>

<p>Science, like many other fields, was a male-dominated domain in the 20th century, which led to Franklin&nbsp;facing sexism, sidelining and gender bias. It had been reported that while she worked with Maurice Wilkins on the imaging of DNA at King's College London, the latter passed on her data with Watson and Crick without her permission. Eventually, much of the DNA discoveries were named after Watson and Crick as we know today.</p>

<p>Franklin, who died of ovarian cancer at the young age of 37 in 1958, was not recognised in line with her contributions to science during her lifetime.</p>

<p>But currently, she is considered a pioneer in molecular biology, physics and chemistry. There have been frequent calls to honour her posthumously with a Nobel Prize, but that is yet to happen.</p>

<p>She was among the trailblazers who made the fields of genetics and molecular biology what they are today.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


July 25 is the birthday of Rosalind Franklin, the almost-forgotten woman scientist who was part of the team that unravelled the mysteries of human DNA, but she did not get deserved credit for it during her lifetime.

July 25 is the birthday of Rosalind Franklin, the almost-forgotten woman scientist who was part of the team that unravelled the mysteries of human DNA, but she did not get deserved credit for it during her lifetime. Besides sequencing the DNA, short for Deoxyribonucleic acid which is the building block of life, Franklin was also behind a number of pioneering scientific discoveries and experiments spanning across biology, chemistry and physics. Who was Rosalind Franklin? Rosalind Franklin was a British scientist whose work with X-ray crystallography, along with James Watson and Francis Crick, helped in the understanding of DNA as well as RNA or ribonucleic acid. Her work also helped in the study of structures of viruses as well as natural materials like coal and graphite. Born in 1920 into a wealthy and influential British-Jewish family, she studied at some of the most prestigious institutions in the country including Cambridge University. As written in her tombstone, her discoveries on viruses "remain of lasting benefit to mankind". But her best-known work remains the imaging of DNA through X-ray diffraction imaging. As reported in a profile by Nature magazine, she "worked across biology, chemistry and physics". Besides studying coal and carbon, she was an expert on viruses affecting both humans and plants including tobacco mosaic virus and poliovirus. Her work in DNA sequencing eventually helped modern medical science in tracing deadly viruses including the one that caused the recent Covid pandemic. A forgotten heroine Science, like many other fields, was a male-dominated domain in the 20th century, which led to Franklin facing sexism, sidelining and gender bias. It had been reported that while she worked with Maurice Wilkins on the imaging of DNA at King's College London, the latter passed on her data with Watson and Crick without her permission. Eventually, much of the DNA discoveries were named after Watson and Crick as we know today. Franklin, who died of ovarian cancer at the young age of 37 in 1958, was not recognised in line with her contributions to science during her lifetime. But currently, she is considered a pioneer in molecular biology, physics and chemistry. There have been frequent calls to honour her posthumously with a Nobel Prize, but that is yet to happen. She was among the trailblazers who made the fields of genetics and molecular biology what they are today. (With inputs from agencies)

Rosalind Franklin birthday: Story of the forgotten heroine of science who helped sequence DNA

<p><strong>James Webb Telescope:</strong> As the voyage of James Webb Space Telescope continues, NASA said its premier space observatory has captured a direct image from one of the coldest exoplanets, Epsilon Indi Ab, which is 12 light years away from Earth.</p>

<p>The image snapped by JWST shows Epsilon Indi Ab in a mostly black area, with blue scale-like features in the central region. The exoplanet is the bright orange circle in the picture.</p>

<p>Epsilon Indi Ab is one of the coldest exoplanets observed to date, NASA said in a release.</p>

<p>Its &nbsp;temperature is estimated to be 2 degrees Celsius colder than any other imaged planet beyond the solar system</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/supermoon-treat-this-celestial-event-is-to-occur-for-first-time-this-year-on-this-date-heres-how-to-watch-744054">Supermoon treat! This celestial event is to occur for first time this year on this date. Here's how to watch</a></p>

<p>Six times larger than Jupiter, it orbits the K-type star Epsilon Indi A (Eps Ind A), which is as old as the Sun but cooler.</p>

<p>"The team observed Epsilon Indi Ab using the coronagraph on Webb’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument)," NASA said. So far only a handful of exoplanets were directly captured by observatories.</p>

<p>“This discovery is exciting because the planet is quite similar to Jupiter — it is a little warmer and is more massive, but is more similar to Jupiter than any other planet that has been imaged so far,” NASA quoted Elisabeth Matthews of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Germany as saying.</p>

<p>“Our prior observations of this system have been more indirect measurements of the star, which actually allowed us to see ahead of time that there was likely a giant planet in this system tugging on the star,” said team member Caroline Morley of the University of Texas at Austin. “That's why our team chose this system to observe first with Webb.”</p>

<p>Exoplanets captured in the past were hotter, as they are still radiating much of the energy from the time of their formation.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/massive-880ft-asteroid-to-come-dangerously-close-to-earth-this-week-743935">NASA warns of 880ft asteroid that will come dangerously close to Earth this week</a></p>

<p>As planets cool and contract over their lifetime, they become significantly fainter and therefore harder to image, NASA noted.</p>

<h2>What are cold planets?</h2>

<p>“Cold planets are very faint, and most of their emission is in the mid-infrared,” said Matthews.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Morely noted that fictional planets orbiting Epsilon Indi have been featured in Star Trek episodes, novels, and video games like Halo.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/worrying-phenomenon-in-antarcticas-ice-shelves-can-add-to-climate-woes-744002">Worrying phenomenon in Antarctica's ice shelves can add to climate woes</a></p>

<p>“It's exciting to actually see a planet there ourselves, and begin to measure its properties.”</p>

<p>Epsilon Indi Ab is the 12th closest exoplanet to Earth known to date and the closest planet more massive than Jupiter.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


James Webb Telescope: As the voyage of James Webb Space Telescope continues, NASA said its premier space observatory has captured a direct image from one of the coldest exoplanets, Epsilon Indi Ab, which is 12 light years away from Earth.

James Webb Telescope: As the voyage of James Webb Space Telescope continues, NASA said its premier space observatory has captured a direct image from one of the coldest exoplanets, Epsilon Indi Ab, which is 12 light years away from Earth. The image snapped by JWST shows Epsilon Indi Ab in a mostly black area, with blue scale-like features in the central region. The exoplanet is the bright orange circle in the picture. Epsilon Indi Ab is one of the coldest exoplanets observed to date, NASA said in a release. Its temperature is estimated to be 2 degrees Celsius colder than any other imaged planet beyond the solar system Also read: Supermoon treat! This celestial event is to occur for first time this year on this date. Here's how to watch Six times larger than Jupiter, it orbits the K-type star Epsilon Indi A (Eps Ind A), which is as old as the Sun but cooler. "The team observed Epsilon Indi Ab using the coronagraph on Webb’s MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument)," NASA said. So far only a handful of exoplanets were directly captured by observatories. “This discovery is exciting because the planet is quite similar to Jupiter — it is a little warmer and is more massive, but is more similar to Jupiter than any other planet that has been imaged so far,” NASA quoted Elisabeth Matthews of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Germany as saying. “Our prior observations of this system have been more indirect measurements of the star, which actually allowed us to see ahead of time that there was likely a giant planet in this system tugging on the star,” said team member Caroline Morley of the University of Texas at Austin. “That's why our team chose this system to observe first with Webb.” Exoplanets captured in the past were hotter, as they are still radiating much of the energy from the time of their formation. Also read: NASA warns of 880ft asteroid that will come dangerously close to Earth this week As planets cool and contract over their lifetime, they become significantly fainter and therefore harder to image, NASA noted. What are cold planets? “Cold planets are very faint, and most of their emission is in the mid-infrared,” said Matthews. Morely noted that fictional planets orbiting Epsilon Indi have been featured in Star Trek episodes, novels, and video games like Halo. Also read: Worrying phenomenon in Antarctica's ice shelves can add to climate woes “It's exciting to actually see a planet there ourselves, and begin to measure its properties.” Epsilon Indi Ab is the 12th closest exoplanet to Earth known to date and the closest planet more massive than Jupiter. (With inputs from agencies)

James Webb telescope captures one of the coldest exoplanets, 6 times the size of Jupiter, 12 light years away

<p><strong>Who is Dhruv Rathee?</strong>&nbsp;Dhruv, one of the most famous Indian YouTubers, has been summoned by an Indian court after a defamation case was filed against the influencer by a BJP leader. The case filed by Suresh Karamshi Nakhua alleges&nbsp;that Rathee called him a violent and abusive troll in a video posted by him. But who is Dhruv Rathee and why is he considered important?</p>

<h2>The YouTube journey of Dhruv Rathee</h2>

<p>Rathee is a 29-year-old Europe-based computer engineer and influencer. Apart from content creation, he teaches online courses on artificial intelligence apps like ChatGPT.</p>

<p>Rathee started his YouTube channel while studying for a computer science course in Germany. In the initial years, he mostly documented his travels, speaking mainly in Hindi.<br />
<br />
Later, he started explainer videos on a multitude of subjects ranging from science, technology, history and the business world. He used to comment occasionally on politically sensitive subjects, like during the farmers' protests of 2020 and the release of the controversial film <em>Kerala Story</em>.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-court-summons-youtuber-dhruv-rathee-in-defamation-case-filed-by-bjp-spokesperson-743744" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-court-summons-youtuber-dhruv-rathee-in-defamation-case-filed-by-bjp-spokesperson-743744&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjmufXK8MGHAxUDcGwGHZfSB_YQFnoECAUQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw0SmK4wteTCV4dWToubzzbN&amp;arm=e" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-court-summons-youtuber-dhruv-rathee-in-defamation-case-filed-by-bjp-spokesperson-743744" target="_blank">Delhi court summons YouTuber&nbsp;<b>Dhruv Rathee</b>&nbsp;in defamation case</a><br />
<br />
But closer to the general elections in India this year, his channel took a political pivot and started sharing videos explicitly critical of the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and its ideological font RSS or Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh.</p>

<p>He did a series of videos alleging that the Modi government was showing signs of dictatorship, an allegation that the opposition parties led by Rahul Gandhi's Congress lapped up during the election campaign.<br />
<br />
While Rathee himself operated mainly from Europe, his political videos gained traction across social media platforms in India. At least some of them were shown on big screens in several cities and towns. Besides the YouTube channel, during the election season this summer, Rathee also created a WhatsApp channel, directly addressing his millions of followers to vote against the incumbent government. He also made his presence felt in Facebook, Instagram and X.</p>

<p>Soon, Rathee started getting threats, as he claimed in his videos, and his critics challenged him to come to India. He did come to India during the elections and posted pictures from India Gate in the capital New Delhi.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-salman-khan-alleges-lawrence-bishnoi-carried-out-firing-outside-his-residence-743910">Salman Khan alleges Lawrence Bishnoi carried out firing outside his residence</a></p>

<p>Born and brought up in the north Indian state of Haryana, Rathee comes from a family of farmers and soldiers, while his father is an engineer.<br />
<br />
He married Juli Lbr, a German in 2021 after seven years of relationship, and is expecting a baby with her in September.</p>

<p>He has a separate travel vlog channel on YouTube.</p>

<h2>The court case of Dhruv Rathee</h2>

<p>The Saket Court in Indian capital Delhi issued the order to summon Rathee on July 19, on a complaint by Nakhua, who is a BJP spokesperson in the western city of Mumbai. The district judge Gunjan Gupta set August 6 as the date of hearing in the case.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/zeenat-aman-blasts-brands-for-giving-ludicrously-low-fees-i-am-more-than-a-designer-handbag-743642">Zeenat Aman blasts brands for giving 'ludicrously low fees': I am more than a designer handbag</a></p>

<p>Nakhua claimed in his petition that that Rathee “made bold and unsubstantiated claims” in one of his videos, which hurt his reputation.&nbsp; The complaint said that in the "cunningly crafted video, a deliberate campaign was made to besmirch his integrity and reputation while adding "baseless accusations and malicious connections are artfully insinuated."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Who is Dhruv Rathee? Dhruv, one of the most famous Indian YouTubers, has been summoned by an Indian court after a defamation case was filed against the influencer by a BJP leader.

Who is Dhruv Rathee? Dhruv, one of the most famous Indian YouTubers, has been summoned by an Indian court after a defamation case was filed against the influencer by a BJP leader. The case filed by Suresh Karamshi Nakhua alleges that Rathee called him a violent and abusive troll in a video posted by him. But who is Dhruv Rathee and why is he considered important? The YouTube journey of Dhruv Rathee Rathee is a 29-year-old Europe-based computer engineer and influencer. Apart from content creation, he teaches online courses on artificial intelligence apps like ChatGPT. Rathee started his YouTube channel while studying for a computer science course in Germany. In the initial years, he mostly documented his travels, speaking mainly in Hindi. Later, he started explainer videos on a multitude of subjects ranging from science, technology, history and the business world. He used to comment occasionally on politically sensitive subjects, like during the farmers' protests of 2020 and the release of the controversial film Kerala Story. Also read: Delhi court summons YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in defamation case But closer to the general elections in India this year, his channel took a political pivot and started sharing videos explicitly critical of the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and its ideological font RSS or Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh. He did a series of videos alleging that the Modi government was showing signs of dictatorship, an allegation that the opposition parties led by Rahul Gandhi's Congress lapped up during the election campaign. While Rathee himself operated mainly from Europe, his political videos gained traction across social media platforms in India. At least some of them were shown on big screens in several cities and towns. Besides the YouTube channel, during the election season this summer, Rathee also created a WhatsApp channel, directly addressing his millions of followers to vote against the incumbent government. He also made his presence felt in Facebook, Instagram and X. Soon, Rathee started getting threats, as he claimed in his videos, and his critics challenged him to come to India. He did come to India during the elections and posted pictures from India Gate in the capital New Delhi. Also read: Salman Khan alleges Lawrence Bishnoi carried out firing outside his residence Born and brought up in the north Indian state of Haryana, Rathee comes from a family of farmers and soldiers, while his father is an engineer. He married Juli Lbr, a German in 2021 after seven years of relationship, and is expecting a baby with her in September. He has a separate travel vlog channel on YouTube. The court case of Dhruv Rathee The Saket Court in Indian capital Delhi issued the order to summon Rathee on July 19, on a complaint by Nakhua, who is a BJP spokesperson in the western city of Mumbai. The district judge Gunjan Gupta set August 6 as the date of hearing in the case. Also read: Zeenat Aman blasts brands for giving 'ludicrously low fees': I am more than a designer handbag Nakhua claimed in his petition that that Rathee “made bold and unsubstantiated claims” in one of his videos, which hurt his reputation. The complaint said that in the "cunningly crafted video, a deliberate campaign was made to besmirch his integrity and reputation while adding "baseless accusations and malicious connections are artfully insinuated." (With inputs from agencies)

Who is Dhruv Rathee, the YouTuber summoned by India court in defamation case?

<p>In a cross-border love story gone awry, police in India have registered a case against an Indian woman who created fake documents in order to visit a man who she befriended over Instagram. The case was filed this week against a 23-year-old woman from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh who lives in the western city of Thane.</p>

<p>The whole incident happened between May 2023 and 2024, according to police.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The woman, identified as Sanam Khan, has been taken into custody, the Indian news agency ANI reported, but other reports said that arrests are yet to be made.</p>

<p>The woman, who is married, had gone to Pakistan last year with her two children and reportedly married&nbsp;her Instagram lover.&nbsp;She had initially gone on a one-month visa, and wanted to stay on for another six months, for which she filed an application with the Indian authorities. The application was rejected and at the same time, she came under lens of Indian security agencies.</p>

<p>It emerged that she had made a fake Aadhaar card (the Indian identity document) and&nbsp;a PAN card (used for taxation and identity purposes). She also forged the birth certificate and got a passport under a fake name.</p>

<p>She managed to pass police verification for passport using the forged documents and travelled to Pakistan in October last year, according to police.</p>

<p>She stayed in Pakistan for nearly two months and returned.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mother of two girls had gone to live in Thane with her mother, after suffering abuse from her husband. Khan told police she faked her identity as she was afraid of her husband's wrath.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The woman told police that she became friends with the Pakistani man over Instagram. The friendship progressed into love, and they decided to marry. For that, she&nbsp;visited the Pakistani man in Abbottabad city near Pakistani capital Islamabad.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas Plus: How did Pakistan's Seema Haider enter India?</strong></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>
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</div>

<p>Police are probing the nature of their relationship further.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Earlier, the Indian high commission had alerted central agencies about the woman when she applied for visa extension. The agencies started a probe and concluded that all documents she had used to get her passport were fake.</p>

<p>But the findings came only after she returned to India last November after her mother fell sick.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-leader-says-india-dreaming-of-becoming-superpower-we-are-begging-watch-716608">Pakistan leader says, ‘India dreaming of becoming superpower, while we are begging’: WATCH</a></strong></p>

<p>The police also booked a businessman from the city who helped the woman make forged documents.</p>

<p><br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In a cross-border love story gone awry, police in India have registered a case against an Indian woman who created fake documents in order to visit a man who she befriended over Instagram.

In a cross-border love story gone awry, police in India have registered a case against an Indian woman who created fake documents in order to visit a man who she befriended over Instagram. The case was filed this week against a 23-year-old woman from the northern state of Uttar Pradesh who lives in the western city of Thane. The whole incident happened between May 2023 and 2024, according to police. The woman, identified as Sanam Khan, has been taken into custody, the Indian news agency ANI reported, but other reports said that arrests are yet to be made. The woman, who is married, had gone to Pakistan last year with her two children and reportedly married her Instagram lover. She had initially gone on a one-month visa, and wanted to stay on for another six months, for which she filed an application with the Indian authorities. The application was rejected and at the same time, she came under lens of Indian security agencies. It emerged that she had made a fake Aadhaar card (the Indian identity document) and a PAN card (used for taxation and identity purposes). She also forged the birth certificate and got a passport under a fake name. She managed to pass police verification for passport using the forged documents and travelled to Pakistan in October last year, according to police. She stayed in Pakistan for nearly two months and returned. The mother of two girls had gone to live in Thane with her mother, after suffering abuse from her husband. Khan told police she faked her identity as she was afraid of her husband's wrath. The woman told police that she became friends with the Pakistani man over Instagram. The friendship progressed into love, and they decided to marry. For that, she visited the Pakistani man in Abbottabad city near Pakistani capital Islamabad. Also watch | Gravitas Plus: How did Pakistan's Seema Haider enter India? Police are probing the nature of their relationship further. Earlier, the Indian high commission had alerted central agencies about the woman when she applied for visa extension. The agencies started a probe and concluded that all documents she had used to get her passport were fake. But the findings came only after she returned to India last November after her mother fell sick. Also read | Pakistan leader says, ‘India dreaming of becoming superpower, while we are begging’: WATCH The police also booked a businessman from the city who helped the woman make forged documents. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian woman used fake passport to visit Pakistani lover she befriended on Instagram, case registered

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