Paigaam (2025)

18/07/2025

A lighthearted concert moment took an unexpected turn at Coldplay's recent performance at Gillette Stadium in Boston, when the venue's “Kiss Cam” spotlighted two senior executives from the tech firm Astronomer — CEO Andy Byron and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot — in an apparent embrace.

The pair, seen standing closely and wrapped in each other's arms on the jumbotron, appeared visibly startled as the camera focused on them.

They quickly moved apart and attempted to shield their faces.

The moment caught the attention of Coldplay's Chris Martin, who jokingly remarked to the crowd, “Oh look at these two... either they’re having an affair or they’re very shy,” drawing laughter from the audience.

However, what began as an offhand comment soon ignited a firestorm on social media.

TikTok, Reddit, and Twitter users circulated clips of the encounter, with reactions ranging from amused to outraged. Several commenters criticised the apparent indiscretion, especially in light of Byron’s marital status.

"Sorry for the wife but glad they're being exposed and embarrassed," one user wrote.

Others questioned the judgment of appearing together at a public event.

Beyond personal speculation, the incident has spurred broader discussions about workplace conduct and the blurring of personal and professional boundaries, particularly at high levels of corporate leadership.

Kristin Cabot, who joined Astronomer as Chief People Officer in November 2024, described her position in a recent interview as aligning “people strategy to the business strategy.”

Astronomer is known for developing Astro, a data orchestration platform powered by Apache Airflow.

As of now, neither Astronomer nor the individuals involved have released a statement regarding the incident.

18/07/2025

The cremation of Fauja Singh, the legendary marathon runner who passed away at the age of 114, will take place on Sunday at 12 pm in Beas village, his birthplace.

According to his family, Singh had expressed a wish for his final rites to be conducted in his native village.

Harvinder Singh, Fauja Singh's son, told The Tribune, "My sister has already arrived, and my brother will reach today. The cremation will be held thereafter. The family is devastated."

He further added that the family of the accused had also visited him. "They came to see me yesterday and offered their condolences. They said the accused panicked after the incident, which is why he fled the scene," Harvinder said.

In one of his past interviews with media, Fauja Singh had shared that he remained active by walking daily within his village. "I avoid going on the roads as it can be dangerous, so I stay within the village," he had said.

He was struck by a car while walking toward a local dhaba in the village.

18/07/2025

Leader of Opposition (LOP) Rahul Gandhi on Friday came in support of his brother-in-law Robert Vadra after Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a fresh chargesheet against him, alleging it was continuation of the witch-hunt by the BJP government for the last 10 years.

"My brother-in-law has been hounded by this government for the last 10 years. This latest chargesheet is a continuation of that witch hunt. I stand with Robert, Priyanka and their children as they face yet another onslaught of malicious, politically motivated slander and harassment," Congress leader Rahul posted on X.

"I know that they are all brave enough to withstand any kind of persecution and they will continue to do so with dignity. The truth will eventually prevail," he added.

The ED yesterday on July 17 filed a chargesheet against Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi's husband in connection with a money laundering case related to a 3.53-acre land deal in Shikohpur village in Gurugram, Haryana, in 2008.

This is the first time any probe agency has filed a prosecution complaint against Vadra, who is booked under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). He was questioned by the ED for three consecutive days in April.

18/07/2025

The Supreme Court was on Friday informed that the ex*****on of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who is on death row for murder in Yemen, has been stayed.

Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, told a Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that “efforts are on” in the matter.

The top law officer said the government wants Priya to come back safely.

“They (government) are taking good care of whatever is possible,” the Bench observed.

The counsel appearing for the petitioner said they have to first get pardon and then the issue of “blood money” would come.

The petitioner informed the court that the ex*****on has been postponed.

The Bench posted the matter for further hearing on August 14.

The apex court was hearing a plea seeking a direction to the Centre to use diplomatic channels to save Priya, 38, facing ex*****on in Yemen.

The ex*****on was earlier scheduled for July 16.

Priya, a nurse from Palakkad district of Kerala, was convicted of murdering her Yemeni business partner in 2017. She was sentenced to death in 2020, and her final appeal was rejected in 2023.

She is currently imprisoned in a jail in Sana’a, the capital of Yemen.

18/07/2025

More than 45 schools across Delhi received bomb threats on Friday, triggering panic among the students and their parents.

The Delhi Police and other quick-response authorities have launched search and evacuation operations, an official said.

This is the fourth such day this week when schools in the capital received bomb threats.

Police, along with bomb disposal and dog squads, and fire department personnel rushed to different schools to initiate the evacuation process.

So far, bomb threats have been received at Maxfort Junior School and Guru Nanak School in Pitampura; six schools in Dwarka — St Thomas School, GD Goenka School, DIS Edge School, Modern International School, Dwarka International School and La Petite Montessori; Richmond School and Doon Public School in Paschim Vihar; six schools in Rohini — MRG School in Sector 3, Delhi Public School, Sovereign Public School and Heritage Public School in Sector 24, Delhi International Public School in Sector 9, Abhinav Public School in Sector 3 and The Heritage School; Summerfield International School in South Delhi.

Others include Bharti Public School in Swasthya Vihar, Hamdard Public School in Sangam Vihar, St. Xavier's Senior Secondary School in Raj Niwas Marg, North Delhi Public School in Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi Public School in Vikas Puri, Mira Nursery School in Janakpuri, Prudence School, The Indian School in Sadiq Nagar, Delhi Public School on Mathura Road, Mater Dei School in Tilak Lane.

Delhi Jain Public School in Palam, Junior Delhi School, Delhi Public School in R K Puram, East of Kailash and Vasant Vihar, The British School in Chanakyapuri, Delhi City School in Bawana, Faith Academy in Prasad Nagar, Amity International School in Saket, Cambridge Foundation School in Rajouri Garden, Big Feather International School, Kulachi Hansraj Model School in Ashok Vihar also received bomb threats.

Former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has slammed the BJP over the matter.

"More than 20 schools have received bomb threats today! Think of the trauma that children, parents and teachers would be going through...

"The BJP controls all 4-engines of governance in Delhi, and is yet not able to provide any safety or security to our children! Shocking!" she said in a post on X.

On Thursday, multiple security agencies conducted mock drills at 10 locations to assess their readiness for any emergency. PTI

18/07/2025

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted fresh searches at the premises of former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel as part of an alleged liquor scam linked to a money-laundering investigation against his son Chaitanya Baghel on Friday, official sources said.

Baghel’s home in Bhilai town of Durg district, which the father-son duo share, was raided by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) following receipt of fresh evidence in the case, they said.

Sources said the search action was against Chaitanya Baghel, who is being investigated in the liquor scam case.

A heavy posse of police personnel was seen outside the house, even as some party supporters gathered.

The federal probe agency conducted similar raids against Chaitanya Baghel on March 10.

Bhupesh Baghel, a senior Congress leader, posted a message on X saying the ED has come to his home on the last day of the Assembly session when the issue of trees being felled for a coal mine project of the Adani group in Tamnar tehsil of Raigarh district was to be raised.

“Today is the last day of the state legislative (monsoon) session. The issue of trees being felled for Adani in Tamnar was scheduled to be raised (in the House). Saheb has sent ED to Bhilai Niwas,” the message posted by his office said.

The senior Baghel, earlier this month, visited the tehsil and extended support to local villagers who have been protesting against tree felling for a coal mine project in the area.

The mine is allotted to Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (MAHAGENCO), which has contracted the MDO (mine developer cm operator) to the Adani group.

The ED earlier claimed that Chaitanya Baghel was suspected to be the “recipient” of the proceeds from the alleged liquor scam.

It has been said that the “scam” resulted in a “massive loss” to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of a liquor syndicate with over Rs 2,100 crore.

In this case, the ED, in January, arrested former minister and Congress leader Kawasi Lakhma, besides Anwar Dhebar, the elder brother of Raipur Mayor and Congress leader Aijaz Dhebar, former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officer Arunpati Tripathi and some others as part of this investigation.

The alleged liquor scam in the central Indian state, as per the ED, was orchestrated between 2019 and 2022 when Chhattisgarh was governed by the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government.

Assets worth about Rs 205 crore of various accused have been attached by the agency as part of this investigation so far.

In 2024, the Supreme Court quashed the ED’s first ECIR (FIR) in this case, which was based on a complaint from the Income Tax Department. The federal agency later filed a fresh case after it asked the Chhattisgarh EOW/ACB to file a fresh FIR against the accused based on material shared by the anti-money laundering agency.

The EOW/ACB registered the FIR on January 17 last year, about a month after the BJP defeated the incumbent Congress government in the 2023 assembly polls, and named 70 individuals and companies, including former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma, former chief secretary Vivek Dhand and others.

According to the ED, the alleged commission generated through the illegal sale of liquor was shared “as per the directions from the highest political executives of the state.”

18/07/2025

The Department of Local Government has issued strict directives to regulate the construction of high-rise buildings around the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar.

Acting on the instructions of the Local Government Minister, Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar, the Department of Local Government has formally communicated to the Municipal Corporation of Amritsar to take immediate steps to control and monitor the rising construction near the holy shrine.

In an official letter addressed to the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation, the department expressed concern over the ongoing construction of high-end buildings around the shrine, stating that these structures are obstructing the clear visual prominence of the Golden Temple, which holds not only spiritual supremacy but also heritage and architectural importance.

Krishan Gopal, Under Secretary of Local Government, emphasised that Darbar Sahib is not just a religious site for Sikhs but a revered location for people globally.

“Considering its spiritual, aesthetic, and historical value, strict action must be taken against any violation of existing construction norms in the vicinity,” the letter stated.

The municipal authorities have been directed to regulate ongoing and future construction in the surrounding area. If any existing rules are being violated, strict action, including demolition or sealing of unauthorized structures, should be initiated against the violators. The authorities have been asked to submit a compliance report within a week, detailing the steps taken to address the issue.

It may be recalled that earlier in March this year, a controversy had erupted over a multi-story building under construction near the Golden Temple. The building, aimed at providing modern accommodation to Sikh Jathedars and priests, faced criticism from religious scholars and heritage conservationists who raised concerns that its height might exceed that of the Akal Takht Sahib, overshadowing the temporal seat of Sikhism.

The building was being constructed by Kar Seva Bhuri wale for the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. The work on the top stories had been stopped since March.

18/07/2025

India on Friday welcomed the US designating Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) proxy The Resistance Front (TRF), which claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack, as a global terrorist outfit.

"We acknowledge and appreciate the leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio in this regard," the Ministry of External Affairs said.

India has consistently emphasised the need for global cooperation in the fight against terrorism and the dismantling of terror infrastructure.

The MEA said, "Designation of TRF is a timely and important step reflecting the deep cooperation between India and the United States on counter-terrorism."

“India remains committed to a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and will continue to work closely with its international partners to ensure that terrorist organisations and their proxies are held accountable,” it said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar described Washington's decision on The Resistance Front as a "strong affirmation" of India-US counter-terrorism cooperation.

18/07/2025

Agreeing to India’s assertions on identifying perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack, the US has designated the Pakistan-based The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).

TRF, a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) front and proxy, had claimed responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam attack which killed 26 civilians, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday.

“The Department of State is adding The Resistance Front (TRF) as a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT),” Rubio said.

“TRF and other associated aliases have been added to LeT’s designation as a FTO and SDGT pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, respectively. The Department of State has also reviewed and maintained the FTO designation of LeT,” he said.

The action against the TRF comes after sustained pressure from India. In mid-May, just days after Operation Sindoor, an Indian delegation met top officials of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and gave details of the TRF.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of State in his statement said that “the Pahalgam attack was the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks conducted by LeT. TRF has also claimed responsibility for several attacks against Indian security forces, including most recently in 2024”.

Rubio said the action taken by the Department of State “demonstrates the Donald Trump Administration’s commitment to protecting our national security interests, countering terrorism, and enforcing President Trump’s call for justice for the Pahalgam attack”.

India on Friday welcomed the United States Department of State designating TRF as a global terrorist outfit.

"We acknowledge and appreciate the leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio in this regard," the Ministry of External Affairs said.

18/07/2025

Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court has moved the Supreme Court challenging an in-house committee report that indicted him for recovery of unaccounted cash at his official residence in Delhi during a fire incident on March 14 when he was a judge of the Delhi High Court.

In its May 4 report, the committee comprising Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Anu Sivaraman of the Karnataka High Court indicted Justice Varma for recovery of a huge stash of cash in the storeroom of his official residence in New Delhi. The then CJI Sanjiv Justice Khanna on May 8 wrote to the President and the Prime Minister recommending Justice Khanna’s removal.

Filed days before the July 21 commencement of the Monsoon Session of Parliament during which the Government is likely to move a motion to remove him from office, Justice Varma’s petition has urged the top court to declare that Justice Khanna’s recommendation for his removal was unconstitutional.

Justice Varma also challenged the in-house procedure on inquiry into complaints against judges, contending it created a parallel extra-constitutional mechanism that went against the law which exclusively vested the power for removal of high court judges in Parliament. The in-house procedure did not have the safeguards as provided under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, he submitted.

The invocation of in-house procedure against him was improper and invalid since it was done without any formal complaint, Justice Varma said, alleging that “unprecedented” public disclosure of the allegations by a press release issued by the top court subjected him to a media trial.

Justice Varma submitted that the committee’s proceedings violated principles of natural justice as the panel failed to notify him of its devised procedure and denied him opportunity to provide inputs on the evidence.

Accusing the panel of proceeding in a pre-determined fashion, Justice Varma said that even without finding any concrete evidence, it merely drew adverse inferences against him after reversing the burden of proof.

He contended that it was essential to determine who the money belonged to and how much was found. He alleged that CJI Khanna asked him to resign or seek voluntary retirement within an “unduly restricted timeline”, with a warning of initiating the process for his removal.

A fire broke out on March 14 at 11.35 pm at the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma—who was then a Delhi High Court Judge—in a storeroom stocked with stationery and domestic articles and two fire tenders reached the spot at 11.43 pm and doused the fire in 15 minutes. It was alleged that unaccounted burnt cash was recovered from the site.

An initial probe report submitted by Delhi High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya found substance in the allegations. The top court had made the report public and had also uploaded on its website the documents, including photos and video taken by the Delhi Police substantiating the allegations of the discovery of unaccounted currencies at Justice Varma’s residence. A video later surfaced showing bundles of cash burning in the fire.

The incident led to allegations of corruption against Justice Varma, who denied the accusations and alleged that it was a conspiracy to frame him. The CJI then initiated an in-house probe into the allegations and set up the three-member committee on March 22 to conduct the inquiry.

Following the allegations, Justice Varma was transferred back to his parent high court, i.e., the Allahabad High Court. However, judicial work has been temporarily taken away from him on instructions of the CJI.

18/07/2025

Srinagar: The Economic Offences Wing carried out searches at multiple locations in Srinagar and Budgam districts on Thursday in connection with a case against seven people, including two revenue department officials, for alleged corruption and cheating.

“Search warrants have been obtained from a court and searches are underway at seven locations in Srinagar and Budgam districts,” a spokesperson of the EOW, which was earlier known as the Crime Branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, said.

Giving details of the case, he said seven people, including then Balahama tehsildar Nusrat Aziz Lone and patwari Ashiq Ali were booked earlier this year for “fraudulently” making insertions in revenue records to benefit a private person.

The case against them was lodged following a written complaint, wherein it was alleged that the complainant had purchased a piece of land at Balhama from Mohammed Shafi Lone alias Shafi Cheeni and prepared three sale deeds.

The complainant had paid an amount or Rs 88.4 lakh to Shafi Cheeni and also given two kanals of land situated at Gooripora Rawalpora to the accused in exchange for the said land. This two-kanal land was subsequently sold off by the accused. It was also alleged that the sale deeds were taken back by the accused for updating records.

“However, after their return, it was found that insertions have been made in the sale deeds by changing Khasra numbers,” the EOW spokesperson said.

The complainant has also alleged that one Rayaz Ahmad Bhat has forcibly occupied 2.5 kanals of the land at Balhama.

On receiving the complaint, a verification process was initiated at the EOW police station in Srinagar and during the probe, it was prima facie substantiated that the accused had deceived the complainant and inserted wrong survey numbers in the sale deeds, in connivance with the revenue officers and officials concerned.

“During the investigation, it also surfaced that false mutations were inserted afterwards in the revenue records by the then Balhama tehsildar Nusrat Aziz and the then patwari Ashiq Ali illegally to confer undue benefit upon Riyaz Ahmad Bhat, who sold the land which did not belong to him,” the EOW spokesperson said.

18/07/2025

Honouring the memory of decorated fighter pilot Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, the Army has converted his official accommodation in Srinagar—used during the 1971 war with Pakistan—into a small museum.

Flying Officer Sekhon is the only Param Vir Chakra (PVC) awardee of the Indian Air Force. He was killed in action during the war, and the room he stayed in at Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar has now been preserved as a museum, featuring photographs of the flying ace and his uniform.

The Army shared details and images of the room on X on Thursday. The post read: “Indian Army pays a solemn tribute to his indomitable spirit by preserving his room as ‘PVC Abode’ — a museum dedicated to his legacy.”

“PVC Abode immortalises his heroism and continues to inspire generations of Indians with his story of raw courage, duty and devotion to the nation,” it added.

During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, Flying Officer Sekhon was on readiness duty when six Sabre jets of the Pakistan Air Force attacked Srinagar city and its airbase. A dramatic dogfight ensued at tree-top height, during which Sekhon shot down two Pakistani jets before being killed in action.

Today also marks the 80th birth anniversary of Flying Officer Sekhon, who was born on July 17, 1945, in Issewal village of Ludhiana, Punjab.

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