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Watch: PM Modi leaves for Seychelles for National Day golden jubilee
Watch: PM Modi leaves for Seychelles for National Day golden jubilee
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Watch: PM Modi leaves for Seychelles for National Day golden jubilee
3 min readJun 24, 2026 01:56 PM IST The incident took place on February 9 aboard a Singapore Airlines flight from Bangkok to Singapore. (Pic for representational purpose only)An Indian national, identified as 35-year-old Akash Tiwari, has been sentenced to six months in prison in Singapore after pleading guilty to molesting and harassing a cabin crew member on a Singapore Airlines flight, The Independent reported. Incident on Bangkok-Singapore flight The incident took place on February 9 aboard a Singapore Airlines flight from Bangkok to Singapore. According to court proceedings cited by The Independent, Tiwari and his four friends were seen laughing whenever a female flight attendant walked past them during the journey.Court documents showed that before take-off, when the crew member approached the group to confirm meal preferences, Tiwari allegedly stretched out his arm and brushed against her leg. His friends reportedly laughed following the incident. The flight attendant informed the chief stewardess about the incident and was reassigned to another aisle. However, while collecting meal trays later in the flight, Tiwari allegedly used his elbow to touch the crew member’s back, prompting her to report the matter again. When confronted by the crew member and a senior colleague, Tiwari denied wrongdoing. Deputy Public Prosecutor Lynda told the court that the victim was upset and repeatedly instructed him not to touch her. Instead of apologising, he allegedly smirked, further distressing the woman, the report said. Passenger accused of threatening behaviour As the aircraft prepared for landing, Tiwari allegedly followed the crew member into the galley area and stood extremely close to her. Despite repeated warnings to stay away, he continued approaching her and eventually cornered her in the confined space, prosecutors told the court, according to The Independent. The victim became visibly distressed, shouted at him to stop following her and later sought help from her supervisor. The incident was subsequently reported to the aircraft captain and airport authorities upon arrival at Singapore’s Changi Airport, leading to a police investigation.Story continues below this ad Conviction and sentence Tiwari pleaded guilty to one count of molestation and one count of harassment. A Singapore court sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment on Monday. According to the South China Morning Post, he was also ordered to compensate the victim about S$1,270 (around US$982). The case comes weeks after another Indian national, aged 20, was jailed for three weeks in Singapore for molesting a cabin crew member on a separate Singapore Airlines flight, according to The Independent. The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assi
30% of pedestrian deaths are on national highways: Govt report The Times of India
National Testing Agency to conduct NEET-UG re-examination in India and abroad this afternoon News On AIR
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests What’s the ongoing story: For the second time in less than 48 hours, India Friday summoned the US charge d’affaires (CDA) and lodged a “strong protest” over the series of attacks by US naval forces on commercial vessels carrying Indian mariners in the Gulf of Oman. Key Points to Ponder: — How is the global shipping industry being impacted due to the war? — What are the challenges of seafarers in war torn regions? — Maritime security and the safety of seafarers are a major concern in the Strait of Hormuz area. Elaborate. — What are shadow fleets? — What do you understand about the Indian flag ship? — Why did the US attack the commercial oil thanker? — What are the challenges in reaching a peace deal between Iran and the USA? — What are the steps needed to be taken by countries like India to ensure maritime security in these regions? Key Takeaways: — On Thursday, the government confirmed the death of three Indian seafarers, reported missing a day earlier from MT Settebello after it was attacked — of the 24 Indians on board, 21 were rescued. — The MEA, which usually doesn’t use the word “summoning” for calling in foreign diplomats, said in a statement: “The US Charge d’Affaires, Mr Jason Meeks, was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs today…” — The war in West Asia, triggered by the US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28 and the subsequent naval blockade near the Strait of Hormuz, have jeopardised Indian lives and livelihoods, apart from the economic impact. — Since Indian seafarers are part of the global shipping industry, they have become casualties in the ongoing conflict. At least 13 Indians have been killed since the start of the war, and one remains missing. — The strait is the key channel through which 20 percent of the global energy supply passes in large carriers. Qatar, UAE, Kuwait have all been negatively impacted by the closure of the strait, and that has led to a global rise in prices of oil and gas, and impacted the supply of LPG to India and other countries. Do You Know: — The United States and Iran are expected to sign a memorandum as early as Sunday, likely in Geneva, that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and halt fighting across multiple fronts in the Gulf, according to Reuters sources familiar with the negotiations. — As the war continues, and ships continue to find themselves stranded near the Strait of Hormuz, industry stakeholders are warning of the increasing risk of “abandonments” — when shipowners cease all support to their crew and ships. — Indians, who make up about 15% of the world’s seafarer workforce — the second biggest share by nationality — top the list of “abandoned seafarers”. — Indian seafarers top abandonment lists owing to a mix of socioeconomic pressures, systemic flaws in recruitment, and a surge in fraudulent practices, says Bahri. — In India, the Directorate General of Shipping is responsible for verifying the credentials of ships, their owners and recruitment and placement agencies. But the shipping community alleges that lax regulatory oversight is behind issues such as abandonment. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍War in West Asia spotlights a growing risk for Indian seafarers: Abandonment 📍US, Iran may sign Geneva memorandum by Sunday as Hormuz reopening nears Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: Why is maritime security vital to protect India’s sea trade? Discuss maritime and coastal security challenges and the way forward. (UPSC CSE 2025) EXPLAINED How trust underpins India’s ties with France Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies-II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affectin
Salim Kumar | Photo Credit: VIPIN CHANDRAN National award-winning actor Salim Kumar was admitted to a private hospital in Kochi, Kerala, on Saturday (June 6, 2026) and is currently on ventilator support, hospital authorities said.The actor experienced health issues and was rushed to the hospital in the morning, officials said.Hospital authorities said further details regarding his health condition would be disclosed later.Salim Kumar, who won the National Film Award for Best Actor in 2010, had undergone a liver transplant a few years ago.Associated with drama and mimicry before entering films, he began his film career in 1997 and is known for portraying a wide range of comedy and character roles in Malayalam cinema.He has won the Kerala State Film Award on four occasions.During the recent Kerala Assembly elections, he openly supported the Congress-led UDF, appearing alongside its leaders on several occasions and criticising the LDF leadership. Published - June 06, 2026 12:54 pm IST
4 min readChandigarhJun 4, 2026 04:55 PM IST A 20-year-old Indian national has been arrested in Florida for allegedly attempting to collect nearly $5,00,000 worth of gold from an elderly woman who was targeted in an elaborate phishing and impersonation scam involving fake federal agents. The accused, Gurpinder Singh, is being held without bond in the county jail, with an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detainer noted due to his immigration status.According to the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Gurpinder Singh, a resident of French Camp, California, was arrested on June 1 during an FBI-assisted sting operation after authorities uncovered a plot to defraud a Gainesville woman of gold bars valued at $4,97,229. Investigators said the victim was first contacted through an email purporting to be from Amazon regarding a problem with her bank account. After calling a phone number provided in the message, she was allegedly told by individuals posing as government officials that her identity and Social Security number had been compromised. One of the callers, who identified himself as a Federal Trade Commission agent, allegedly instructed the woman to convert her assets into gold bars for “safekeeping”. Acting on those instructions, she purchased more than $1,01,000 worth of gold and handed it over to a man posing as a Treasury Department agent at a gas station in Orange Lake. The scammers later demanded that she purchase an additional $4,00,000 worth of gold, claiming it was necessary to fully secure her assets and obtain a new Social Security number. Federal investigators became aware of the scheme and coordinated a controlled operation with the victim and the local police. The woman sent photographs of gold bars worth $4,97,229 to the suspects and arranged a handover on June 1 near SW Archer Road in Gainesville.Story continues below this ad Authorities said undercover officers observed a black Kia parked near the meeting location with Singh inside. Investigators alleged that Singh was monitoring the victim’s vehicle while speaking on the phone, a behaviour consistent with that of a courier in such fraud operations. Gurpinder Singh (Photo Credit: Special Arrangement)Singh was subsequently arrested at a Chevron gas station on SW Archer Road. Officials said he identified himself using an Indian passport and a California driver’s licence and admitted that he had recently flown from California to Florida. He has been charged with grand theft and is being held without bond in the Alachua County Jail. Authorities have also lodged an immigration detainer against him. Series of prosecutions The case is the latest in a series of prosecutions linked to “gold bar” scams that have proliferated across the United States in recent years. In February this year, Missouri resident Sital Singh was sentenced to four years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy that stole more than $9 million from elderly victims across 10 states. Prosecutors said victims were persuaded through fake tech-support and government-impersonation calls to purchase gold bars, which were then collected by couriers.Story continues below this ad US authorities have spent several years dismantling large-scale fraud operations allegedly run from call centres in India. In one of the biggest crackdowns, federal investigators charged dozens of people linked to IRS and immigration impersonation scams that targeted thousands of Americans and generated millions of dollars in losses. Several cases involved US-based associates who allegedly collected money, laundered proceeds, or facilitated transfers on behalf of overseas operators.
People walk with umbrellas during the rain that lashed in Kochi, Kerala. File | Photo Credit: H.Vibhu With conditions favourable for the Southwest monsoon to further advance, the IMD had issued a heavy rainfall warning for over 15 districts in the western and southern parts of Tamil Nadu.Read | Monsoon ‘likely to set in’ over Kerala around June 4: IMDThe southwest monsoon is expected to onset over Kerala around June 4, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had said. Typically, the monsoon arrives in Kerala around June 1, marking the beginning of the southwest monsoon season (June- September).Also Read | 2026 to be driest in 11 years. How badly can a deficient monsoon hit crop output?The IMD had earlier said the monsoon onset over Kerala would take place on May 26. However, it was delayed, and the department stated on May 29 that the onset could occur the following week. The IMD stated that India is expected to see 90% of the long-period average (LPA) this year.Follow the live for more updates:June 04, 2026 08:20 Monsoon 2026: How to track clouds through IMD’s INSAT satellite imagery? Here’s how you can track the monsoonKerala Monsoon 2026: How to track clouds through IMD INSAT 3D-S satellite imageryKerala Monsoon 2026: Check how to track the clouds through IMD's INSAT 3D-S satellite imagery.June 04, 2026 07:26 Kerala monsoon onset: Why southwest monsoon arrival matters for India Kerala monsoon onset: Why southwest monsoon arrival matters for IndiaKerala monsoon onset on June 4, 2026: As heavy rains trigger IMD alerts, the Kerala monsoon onset is proven vital for India's agriculture and economy.June 04, 2026 07:23 Ahead of monsoon, Palghar district administration organises seminar on lightning safety The Palghar district administration has launched an awareness drive on lightning safety ahead of the monsoon after 27 people lost their lives in lightning strikes in the district between 2014 and 2025, a senior official said.District Disaster Management Officer Vivekanand Kadam said a seminar on understanding lightning and preventing related fatalities was organised by the district disaster management department under the guidance of District Collector Indurani Jakhar and other senior officials.Addressing participants, Mr. Kadam said the programme was aimed at educating citizens and frontline government personnel about the risks associated with lightning strikes.PTIJune 04, 2026 07:09 Monsoon rain lashed Kochi on Thursday morningWhatsApp Image 2026-06-04 at 06.52.53.jpegPhoto credit: H.VibhuJune 04, 2026 06:56 Kerala takes up monsoon preparedness activities Pre-monsoon preparedness activities are being taken up in the State in a coordinated manner and all planned activities are on schedule, Minister for Local Self-Governments K.M. Shaji said in the Assembly on Tuesday (June 2, 2026). Read more Published - June 04, 2026 06:56 am IST
Trump to impose tariffs on dozens of nations, citing claims of forced labor The Washington Post How Trump is justifying new tariffs vox.com Trump is quietly rebuilding his tariff engine CNN Trump administration floats tariffs on 60 trading partners — including China, U.K., EU — after forced labor probes CBS News Trump Proposes New Levies of at Least 10% to Rebuild Tariff Wall Bloomberg.com
India National Team arrives in Sri Lanka for white ball series tour News On AIR
A member of National Students' Union of India (NSUI) during a protest against the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) over discrepancies and technical glitches in the On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, at Indira Bhawan, in New Delhi, Thursday (May 28, 2026) | Photo Credit: PTI The controversy surrounding the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) Online Screening and Marking (OSM) system for Class XII answer-sheet evaluation has once again brought Telangana into focus, with academics drawing parallels to the State’s 2019 Intermediate examination results fiasco.At the centre of the latest debate is Coempt Edu Tech, the firm that handled the online evaluation platform used by CBSE. The company is headed by V.S.N. Raju, who was the CEO of Globarena Technologies, the agency involved in the digitised Intermediate examination process in Telangana that came under scrutiny following the 2019 results controversy.The controversies and the accusations related to both issues are the same – that the technology was not tested for its trustworthiness before being implemented. Now lakhs of students have lost faith in the system. Coempt Edu Tech new name of Globarena TechnologiesThe CBSE’s OSM system has faced criticism from students, parents and teachers across the country, with complaints emerging on social media regarding portal crashing, students receiving blurred answer sheet scans and technical glitches during the evaluation process. Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, posted on social media recalling how Coempt Edu Tech was the new name of Globarena Technologies involved in the Intermediate marks fiasco in Telangana. “Why was there no background check of the firm despite its controversial past.”Though the CEO, V.S.N. Raju, claimed extensive dry runs of the OSM platform before being adopted, the reports proved otherwise. Reports that the CBSE teams also warned of adopting the technology in a hurry and without adequate testing were also highlighted by Mr. Rahul Gandhi, who sought accountability from the Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.Telangana’s Intermediate results crisis in 2019The controversy, however, revived memories of Telangana’s Intermediate results crisis in 2019, when irregularities in result processing triggered widespread protests across the State. More than 9 lakh students appeared for the examinations, and the initially declared marks showing thousands of students either failing or being absent led to public outrage. Back then, several students ended lives.Following the controversy, the Telangana government constituted a three-member expert committee comprising G.T. Venkateswar Rao, then Managing Director of Telangana State Technology Services (TSTS), A. Vassan and Nishanth Dongari of IIT Hyderabad.One of the committee members, who wants to be anonymous with his comments now, recalled that the software was not tested enough to be adopted for such a large and sensitive system leading to the problems.The committee’s report concluded that errors had occurred due to both human mistakes and inadequacies in the design and implementation of the software application used for result processing. It observed that the technical agency had not completed the required application modules within the timelines specified in the work order and expressed dissatisfaction with the overall work experience of Globarena Technologies.Based on the findings, the government accepted several recommendations, including changes to result-processing mechanisms and consideration of action against those responsible. The Commissioner of Education at that time, Janardhan Reddy, revealed the same to the media after receiving the report.The issue had also generated significant political controversy. In 2019, then Telangana Congress Committee working president A. Revanth Reddy, who is the Chief Minister now, alleged that the company enjoyed close links with influential political figures, including then IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao and demanded a
The Chennai campus of the National Forensic Sciences University has invited applications for admissions to undergraduate, postgraduate, and diploma programmes for the academic year 2026-27.The eligibility for B.Sc Criminology and Forensic Science programme is at least 55% marks (50% or equivalent for SC/ST/Persons with Disability) in Science stream (Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Mathematics) in higher secondary examination.For M.Sc Cyber Security, students should have graduated in Computer Science and Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Electronics, BCA or related disciplines from recognised universities with at least 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/Persons with Disabilities). Similarly, for M.Sc Forensic Science, students should have a Bachelor’s degree in Science, Forensic Science, Medicine, Engineering, Pharmacy, Dentistry, or AYUSH disciplines with at least 55% marks (50% or equivalent for SC/ST/Persons with Disabilities).The last date for registration of applications is June 10. Candidates may register online at https://nfsuadm.samarth.edu.in/index.php/registration/user-new/register. Published - May 28, 2026 12:24 am IST