Mumbai: Hrithik Roshan may just have stolen the spotlight at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/aishwarya-abhishek-dazzle-at-karans-birthday-party/20220526.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(71, 123, 196);">Karan Johar's 50th birthday bash</a>. Duggu arrived at the party with Saba Azad, walking hand-in-hand. The couple also posed for the shutterbugs gathered outside the party venue. In a video that went viral, Hrithik is seen introducing Saba to the guests. While Saba dazzled in a black cut-out dress, Hrithik looked dapper in a black suit. Sussanne Khan, Hrithik's former wife, was also at the party, escorted by her boyfriend Arslan Goni.Rumours about Hrithik and Saba began after they were spotted leaving a restaurant in Mumbai in February. Later, Saba joined Hrithik's family for several family get-togethers.The actors have neither confirmed nor denied their relationship though their public appearances speak volumes.—ANI

Hrithik Roshan may just have stolen the spotlight at Karan Johar's 50th birthday bash. Duggu arrived at the party with Saba Azad, walking hand-in-hand.

Hrithik-Saba Make Relationship OFFICIAL

New Delhi: India has a difficult relationship with China but it is 'perfectly capable' of managing it, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday, rejecting the European construct that New Delhi's position on Ukraine could impact global support to it if its problems with Beijing increases. Jaishankar asserted that there was no correlation between India's position on Ukraine and its issues with China, adding the 'Chinese don't need a precedent somewhere else in the world on how to engage us, or not engage us or be difficult with us, or not be difficult with us'.In an interactive session at a conference in the Slovakian capital Bratislava, Jaishankar said Europe has to grow out of the mindset that its problems are the world's problems but the world's problems are not Europe's problems.The strong comments by Jaishankar came amid persistent efforts by the European countries to convince India to take a tougher position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine with the argument that New Delhi could face increasing challenges from China in the future. "In terms of the connection you are making, we have a difficult relationship with China and we are perfectly capable of managing it. If I get global understanding and support, obviously it is of help to me," Jaishankar said. "But this idea that I do a transaction -- I come in one conflict because it will help me in conflict two -- that's not how the world works. A lot of our problems in China have nothing to do with Ukraine and have nothing to do with Russia. They pre-date it," he said.Jaishankar was asked why he thinks anyone will help New Delhi in case of a problem with China after it did not help others on Ukraine."Somewhere Europe has to grow out of the mindset that Europe's problems are the world's problems but the world's problems are not Europe's problems. That if it is you, it's yours, if it is me it is ours. I see reflections of that," he said.Asked about the US and China axes and which one India will prefer, the external affairs ministers said it was not necessary for India to join any axis."I don't think it's necessary for me to join this axis or not, and if I am not joining this, I must be with the other one. I don't accept that," he said.He said is India has one-fifth of the world population, it is the fifth or sixth-largest economy, and it is entitled to have its own side, weigh its own interests and take positions based on its interests.Jaishankar said a linkage is being made between China and India and what is happening in Ukraine."China and India happened way before anything happened in Ukraine. The Chinese do not need a precedent somewhere else on how to engage us or not engage us or be difficult with us or not be difficult with us," he said."I see this as frankly a not very clever argument, a very self-serving one. India will choose after weighing the situation," he said.Jaishankar said Europe was also silent on many developments in Asia."If I were to take Europe collectively which has been singularly silent on many things which were happening, for example in Asia, you could ask why would anybody in Asia trust Europe on anything at all," he said.Jaishankar said India condemned the killings in Bucha in Ukraine and favoured an investigation into it as well."First of all you are mischaracterising our position, for example when Bucha happened, we condemned Bucha and we actually asked for an investigation into Bucha," he said in reply to a question."In terms of what is happening with the Ukraine conflict, our position is very clear that we favour an immediate cessation of hostilities. It's not that we have ignored it unless you call phone calls to (Vladimir) Putin and (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy as ignoring something," he added.Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made phone calls to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and Russian President Putin on the crisis.On China, Jaishankar said India is going through a particularly difficult patch in its relationship with China.In a reference to the eastern Ladakh row, he said, "We had differences in the past but we've never had a situation...after 1962, where agreements on not bringing forces to the border have been disregarded.""A very large number of forces have been brought to the border, we have had a clash, people have died and this happened...two years ago," he said.He said it is a 'useful reminder' to Europe that there were other things happening in the rest of the world to which Europe perhaps doesn't pay enough attention.Jaishankar said the conflict in Ukraine is creating a huge fuel crisis, food crisis, and fertiliser crisis, triggering inflation in low-income societies."Ukraine is a major concern because of the interconnected nature of the world," he said.Jaishankar said the conflict in Ukraine has to end, a set of people have to engage the players and there must be a collective interest to find resolution, adding that 'people will need us'. Asked whether India is sitting on the fence on key global matters, he said: "I don't think we're sitting on the fence just because I don't agree with you."He said India has been part of addressing all big challenges like climate change, green technology and combating terrorism.He said a lot is happening outside Europe and that the world can't be as Euro-centric as in the past.—PTI

India has a difficult relationship with China but it is 'perfectly capable' of managing it, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday, rejecting the European construct that New Delhi's position on Ukraine could impact global support to it if its problems with Beijing increases.

Grow out of that mindset: Jaishankar's earful to Europe

India has a difficult relationship with China but it is 'perfectly capable' of managing it, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday, rejecting the European construct that New Delhi's position on Ukraine could impact global support to it if its problems with Beijing increases.



Ayodhya: A student of class 12 was arrested by Uttar Pradesh Police in Ayodhya on Sunday for allegedly murdering his teacher. According to Police, the arrested boy was in a love relationship with the deceased. "A class 12 boy was arrested for murdering his teacher. He was identified in CCTV footage and his t-shirt was used to nab him," said AP Singh, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Ayodhya."The arrested boy was in a relationship with the victim teacher. He wanted to get out of the relationship as he was scared of getting exposed. The teacher used to threaten him by making insulting revelations about him. That is why, he murdered her," added the official.The investigation is underway. Further details are awaited.&nbsp;—ANI

A student of class 12 was arrested by Uttar Pradesh Police in Ayodhya on Sunday for allegedly murdering his teacher.

UP: Boy Arrested For Murdering Teacher In Ayodhya

Washington [US]: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has raised questions over the "merits" of the US-Pakistan relationship and said that Washington's ties with Islamabad have not served the "American interest". "It's a relationship that has neither ended up serving Pakistan well nor serving the American interests," Jaishankar said at an event organized by the Indian American community in Washington on Sunday.
The remarks were made when the Indian minister was questioned by the audience on US action on F-16 fighter jets with Pakistan. Just weeks ago, for the first time since 2018, US State Department approved a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Government of Pakistan for the sustainability of the Pakistan Air Force F-16 fleet and equipment at the cost of USD 450 million.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh promptly conveyed to US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin India's concerns over Washington's decision to provide a sustenance package for Pakistan's F-16 fleet. "It's really for the United States today to reflect on the merits of this relationship and what they get by it," Jaishankar asserted.
"For someone to say I am doing this because it is all counter-terrorism content and so when you are talking of an aircraft like a capability of an F-16 where everybody knows, you know where they are deployed and their use. You are not fooling anybody by saying these things," Jaishankar noted. "If I were to speak to an American policy-maker, I would really make the case (that) look what you are doing," Jaishankar strongly asserted. Jaishankar on Saturday concluded the high-level United Nations General Assembly debate in New York and is scheduled to spend the next three days in Washington. The minister is scheduled to meet with his American counterpart Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and other top officials of the Biden administration.
—ANI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has raised questions over the "merits" of the US-Pakistan relationship and said that Washington's ties with Islamabad have not served the "American interest".

"You're not fooling anybody..."Jaishankar responds to US F-16 package for Pakistan

Fatehpur,UP (The Hawk): The death of a young man in this district of Uttar Pradesh on Monday is being investigated as a suicide after a failed romantic relationship.The 23-year-old man's suicide note hinted at a failed romantic relationship.According to Inspector (Colonelganj) Ram Mohan Rai, a suicide note was found at the scene and turned over to the authorities. “Initial investigations revealed a failed love affair drove the youth to end his life”.The police have notified the affected family members and located the weapon used in the crime.A postmortem will be performed on the body.(Inputs from Agencies)

The death of a young man in this district of Uttar Pradesh on Monday is being investigated as a suicide after a failed romantic relationship.

UP youth commits suicide after failed relationship

Aligarh (The Hawk): A 24-year-old Army jawan who had returned home to celebrate Diwali was allegedly shot dead near Aligarh by his lover's husband and seven others.
Bikan Kumar and his uncle were driving to Aligarh when they were attacked with sticks and sharp objects by eight men who then shot the jawan dead.
The incident occurred in Rasoolpur village, which is located within the Tappal police jurisdiction.
Janata Singh, Bikan Kumar's father, stated, "My son and one of the accused's wife were dating. Vijaypal, his brother Bablu, and six other members of their family murdered him."
Under IPC section 302, a case has been filed at the Tappal police station (murder). According to police, three people have been arrested so far, with Vijaypal still at large.
Kalanidhi Naithani, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), stated, "Vijaypal murdered the man over a relationship with the latter's wife. Three people have been arrested out of the eight people who have been booked."
Premveer Singh, the deceased's brother, stated, "Bikan Kumar joined the Indian Army in 2017 and was assigned to Hoshiarpur. When he and my uncle left the house, some villagers attacked his car and shot him in the head. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead."
(Inputs from Agencies)

A 24-year-old Army jawan who had returned home to celebrate Diwali was allegedly shot dead near Aligarh by his lover's husband and seven others.

Army soldier fatally shot in Uttar Pradesh over a romantic relationship; three held

Dr. Alon Ben-Meir*
Given that Israel and Hamas collaborate both publicly and tacitly on multiple fronts, one would think they would finally realize that they are stuck and neither can escape the other. It’s time for both to come to terms with their inescapable reality and seek a long-term solution to their conflict
Righting the Wrong
New York (The Hawk): In the search for a solution to the Israel-Hamas conflict, one has to look at their reality and identify the elements that sustain their conflict, and those that maintain their wide range of cooperation regardless of their adversarial relationship. The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) calls for Israel’s destruction and Israel considers Hamas to be a terrorist organization that must be isolated and remain under siege. While both sides ‘appear’ to speak out of conviction against the other, they also recognize that they are stuck together. And regardless of their public pronouncements to the contrary, they privately admit that neither can rid itself of the other. The absurdity of their relationship is that although they know that the status quo cannot be sustained indefinitely, they make little effort, if any, to change the trajectory of their conflict.
Since Hamas took over Gaza in 2007, Israel and Hamas fought four wars and scores of violent incidents in between without either achieving any lasting gains. In fact, to the contrary, Israel repeatedly suffered economic disruptions as a result of the intermittent violence and wars while the Palestinians suffered from extensive destruction, thousands of deaths, and tens of thousands more who will continue to endure years of despair and devastation from the aftermath of these violent encounters.
The struggle between them continues because Hamas wants to safeguard its political standing in the eyes of its public by exhibiting confrontational militancy and resistance against Israel both in its public pronouncements and actions, cementing its role in the forefront of the struggle against the occupation and the blockade. Israel, on the other hand, strictly maintains its blockade and control of people and goods over the two crossings to and from Gaza and, when necessary, uses military force to subdue any major violent provocations by invading Gaza and “mown the lawn” to keep Hamas at bay.
Meanwhile, in spite of their failure to gain over the years enduringly tangible benefits, Hamas still refuses to renounce violence against Israel and continues to build its weapons arsenal (mostly rockets). Conversely, Israel readies itself for the next round of hostilities, but each time fails to change the dynamic of the conflict in its favor. The irony here is that while this state of affairs is on full display, they continue to transact directly but tacitly with one another or through Egypt. They negotiate specific security or economic measures following a conflagration and reach new agreements on various conflicting issues that inadvertently arise as a result of their absurd confrontational reality.
The absurdity of the Israel-Hamas relationship is three-fold. The irony of the first aspect is that Israel itself created Hamas, which has been confirmed by many top Israeli military and civilian officials over a number of years. Former Brig. Gen. Yitzhak Segev, who was the Israeli military governor in Gaza in the early 1980s, told a New York Times reporter that he had helped finance Hamas as a “counterweight” to the secularists and leftists of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Fatah party, led by Yasser Arafat, stating “The Israeli Government gave me a budget and the military government gives to the mosques.” And among many others, Avner Cohen, a former Israeli religious affairs official who worked in Gaza for more than two decades, told the Wall Street Journal in 2009 that “Hamas, to my great regret, is Israel’s creation.”
The Israeli military’s thinking at the time was that it would greatly benefit Israel if the religiously-committed Hamas and socialist PLO were to continue to be occupied fighting each other rather than fighting Israel. To be sure, Israel helped turn a gang of Palestinian Islamists in the late 1970s into a relatively major force. For most Israelis this fact is either unknown or readily dismissed as a conspiracy theory. Little did Israeli leaders at the time (Rabin and Shamir) know that Hamas would become Israel’s implacable foe.
The second part of the absurd Israel-Hamas relationship is that while Israel officially refuses to negotiate with any terrorist organization and certainly not assist one in any way, it finds itself in a different bind when it comes to Hamas. Other than occasionally slowing or suspending traffic through the two Israeli-controlled crossings (Erez, for people, and Kerem Shalom for goods) because of violent incidents, Israel has no choice but to allow the supplies of foodstuff, building materials, medical equipment, oil, and gas to pass through to Gaza. In addition, Israel transfers funds to Hamas from various donors, in particular Qatar, while allowing up to 17,000 Palestinians laborers from Gaza to work in Israel on a daily basis to ease the dire economic hardship that most Palestinians in the Strip continue to endure.
The third aspect is that although both sides know that they are stuck and must live with one another indefinitely, they still refuse to accept the other’s irrevocable existence. In speaking to scores of Israelis and Palestinians on the continuing precarious situation between the two sides, I found little consensus about the nature of any likely solution. There was a general agreement however, that neither can rid itself of the other.&nbsp;
The question is, since they must face and interact regularly on so many levels, why not seek a permanent solution to the conflict, given their reality today?
The answer is that there are many other elements at play in the conflict which make it extremely difficult to resolve, including historic narratives, religious connections, psychology, and emotional states, the mitigation of which are prerequisites to finding a solution. Although all Palestinians share the same historical perspective, feelings, mindset, and beliefs, Hamas’ extremism and fanaticism as they relate to all of these elements makes it harder and more intricate to ameliorate.
Hamas, like most Palestinians, believe in the right of the Palestinians to the historic land of their ancestors, demanding a Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine (encompassing Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel), going further than other Palestinians in insisting that such a state be Islamic. Although for Hamas it is still inconceivable to relinquish much of what they consider historic Palestine, deep inside, they also know that it will be impossible to ever recover all of it. The most they can hope for is the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders which they have offered on a number of occasions, encompassing the West Bank with some land swaps, and all of Gaza.
As an organization rooted in Islam, Hamas has a strong religious connection to the land. Its charter declares its belief that “the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future Muslim generations until Judgment Day,” and they point to al-Aqsa Mosque in fanatic terms as their undisputed evidence to their holy connection.
More than 70 years of gory conflict that exacted heavy human and material resources, suffering, and dislocation left a profound, indelible psychological anguish and resistance that still haunts all Palestinians, particularly Gazans. Regardless of Hamas’ intransigence and missed opportunities throughout the years, the Gaza blockade further deepens their psychological trauma and offers a constant reminder of their miserable state of affairs for which they blame Israel.
Finally, the emotional component overshadows any logical discourse. Hamas resides at the helm of a Palestinian population in Gaza that feels emotionally distraught and exhausted with a deepening sense of hopelessness. They are struggling day in and day out to make ends meet without much relief in sight. Their emotional resistance to the blockade instigates hatred against Israel and a strong desire for revenge that leaves little room for understanding and coming to terms with Israel’s reality.
Even after the most thorough examination of the above four points, however cogently they explain Hamas’ intransigence, one conclusion remains inescapable: Nothing will change the need to come to terms with Israel. In the final analysis Hamas must still find a way to reconcile itself with Israel’s existence because neither Hamas nor Israel can wish the other away—not now, not in ten years, nor at any time in the foreseeable future.
To that end, I must ask every member of Hamas’ leadership to look in the mirror and ask himself the question and answer it faithfully: under what conditions and circumstances, and how, when, and by what means will Hamas be in a position to destroy Israel? If they are true to themselves, the answer will be never.
Perhaps it is time to be abundantly bold and clear. If Israel ever faces a clear and present existential threat, it will unleash all of its military might to obliterate completely and unmercifully the source of the threat which will spell the end of Hamas or any other of Israel’s sworn foes.
Every political leader in Israel too must ask a similar question, will there be a circumstance under which Israel can completely rid itself of Hamas? The answer here will also be categorically NO. Thus, notwithstanding their deep animosity and wishful thinking to destroy each other, they are stuck with one another and there is no point in waiting for the day when either can score a unilateral and permanent victory. That day will not come, the dynamic of the conflict will not change dramatically, and the likelihood of repeated violent eruptions is omnipresent. Regardless of who will form the next Israeli government, be that Netanyahu or Lapid, the public discourse on this issue ought to begin.
In August, Hamas demonstrated restraint by not joining Islamic Jihad’s rocket attack on Israel, which ended in the humiliation of Islamic Jihad as a result of Israel’s retaliation. Hamas has also shown that the interest of the people they govern comes first, and refrained from joining the recent violent disturbances in the West Bank. This may not seem especially notable; nevertheless, these occurrences offer an opportunity for both Israel and Hamas to build on them.
In the short term, Israel should reciprocate by increasing the number of Palestinian workers from Gaza who can work in Israel from the current number of 20,000 to potentially 30,000 as was reported by Qatari envoy to Gaza Mohammad al-Emadi, who regularly meets with Israeli and Palestinian officials, and expedite, whenever possible, the transfer of funds and transport of goods to Gaza. Moreover, Israel should make it easier for those Palestinians who need urgent medical care to receive it in Israel, as well as making it easier for Palestinian students to leave Gaza for university.
Hamas, on the other hand, should not provoke Israel and must continue to gradually moderate its acrimonious public narrative against Israel and rein in Islamic Jihad and prevent them from provoking Israel. Neither side will lose face by cooperating at this level and progressively expanding their cooperation without too much fanfare.
For the long term, Hamas should renew its call for a 15–20-year ceasefire (Hudna) and tacitly agree with Israel that during this period it will focus on nation-building rather than procuring more arms and rockets to prepare for the next round of hostilities, while distancing itself from Iran. Both Israel and Hamas should develop a credible and mutually acceptable verification mechanism to that effect. Indeed, the idea behind a long-term ceasefire is to provide the building blocks for reaching a permanent peace agreement based on a two-state solution to be negotiated in conjunction with or separate from the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. In any case, a long-term ceasefire remains a critical first step towards that end.
For Hamas to signal its willingness to cease all hostilities is not capitulation—it is the moral and most beneficial thing to do for its people. The same goes for Israel; the notion that many Israelis hold that Hamas is simply irredeemable, is drivel. The same was said about the PLO. Israel has nothing to lose by signaling too that it is open for dialogue with the objective of reaching an interim agreement.
I must appeal to Hamas’ leadership to think about the plight of its people. Their suffering will not end until the blockade is finally lifted. Rather than training another generation of warriors for hopeless fights, sacrificing themselves for an illusionary goal of destroying Israel, Hamas has an obligation to carefully consider their future and aspiration for a new dawn and a new beginning which they badly crave and richly deserve, and take pride in their achievements, if only given the opportunity.

It is about time for Israel to face the reality of Hamas and address the consequences of its own creation. Contrariwise, Hamas must accept Israel’s reality however objectionable that might be, simply because they have no other choice.
*Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is a retired professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU. He taught courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies for over 20 years.

In the search for a solution to the Israel-Hamas conflict, one has to look at their reality and identify the elements that sustain their conflict, and those that maintain their wide range of cooperation regardless of their adversarial relationship. 

The Absurdity Of The Israel-Hamas Relationship

New Delhi (The Hawk): On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the condition of the bilateral strategic relationship, covering areas like key and emerging technologies and artificial intelligence.
In their encounter, which took place on the fringes of the G-20 summit in this Indonesian city, the two presidents also spoke about recent global and regional developments, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
It is known that the crisis in Ukraine and its effects came up in the conversation.
According to the MEA, the two leaders underlined their delight with the tight collaboration between the US and India in new groups like Quad and I2U2.
On the sidelines of the G-20 Leaders' Summit in Bali today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with President Joseph R. Biden, the MEA reported.
According to a statement, "They reviewed the ongoing strengthening of the India-US strategic partnership, including cooperation in future-focused industries including critical and emerging technologies, advanced computing, artificial intelligence, etc."
The MEA reported that the two leaders spoke about recent regional and international issues.
"President Biden was congratulated by Prime Minister Modi for continuing to support the development of the US-India alliance. During India's G-20 Presidency, he expressed optimism that the two nations would continue to work closely together "It read.
While Israel, the US, and the United Arab Emirates make up the I2U2, the Quad is made up of India, the US, Australia, and Japan.
India is currently a member of the G20 Troika, which also includes Indonesia, Italy, and the incoming G20 presidency.
The invitation to attend the conference came from Indonesian President Joko Widodo. The G-20 is currently being chaired by Indonesia.
(Inputs from Agencies)

On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the condition of the bilateral strategic relationship, covering areas like key and emerging technologies and artificial intelligence.

Modi and Biden meet in Bali to discuss their relationships

Washington: US Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer on Sunday (local time) highlighted India-US bilateral relations developing into a "global strategic partnership", based on shared democratic values and increasing convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and global issues.
Speaking at a lunch reception to celebrate the festive season at India House, Washington, he said, "2022 is a highly accomplished year and having an even bigger year to come is really emblematic of how this relationship has proceeded for decades now. We at the White House, the entire administration certainly President Biden see this as among the most consequential relationships with the United States anywhere in the world, but also almost uniquely one of the relationships that still retains some of the greatest potentials to continue to evolve and strengthen and improve. We are deeply committed to doing just that."
Finer further said that 2022 was a huge year in US-India relations and have an even bigger year in 2023.
"We have the Quad Summit, we have India's G20 presidency that we are looking forward to including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have 2+2 Quad ministerial taking place, we will be relaunching the CEO dialogue, we will be launching a critical and emerging technology dialogue early in 2023," said Finer.
He said that the India-US is one of the relationships that still retains some of the greatest potentials to continue to evolve, strengthen and improve over time, adding that the US is deeply committed to doing just that. "Looking around the world, when US and Biden look for partners that can truly help move forward a global agenda, India and PM Modi is very high on that list. We are really excited about what is to come in this relationship, and we are committed to moving it forward," said the Deputy NSA.
US President Joe Biden and PM Modi have held two in-person bilateral meetings during which they reaffirmed their commitment to a resilient, rules-based international order that safeguards sovereignty and territorial integrity, upholds democratic values, and promotes peace and prosperity for all.
"It (India-US relations) is a two-way street and this is a very symbiotic relationship..." As PM Modi said, "Much of the India that we dream of, lies ahead of us". It is only a journey we've started, we look towards our friends like the US to join us in our journey ahead," said Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India's Ambassador to the US.
Both leaders have also participated in multiple engagements of the Quad Leaders mechanism with Japan and Australia.
The United States supports India's emergence as a leading global power and a vital partner in efforts to safeguard the Indo-Pacific as a region of peace, stability, and growing prosperity. The strong people-to-people ties between our countries, reflected in the four million-strong Indian American diaspora and vibrant educational exchange between the two countries, are a tremendous source of strength for the strategic partnership. The 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between the US Secretaries of State and Defence and their Indian counterparts is the premier recurring dialogue mechanism between the United States and India. The United States hosted the fourth 2+2 Dialogue in April 2022. In addition to the 2+2 Dialogue, the United States and India cooperated in dozens of bilateral dialogues and working groups, which span all aspects of human endeavour, from space and health cooperation to energy and high technology trade.
"It's easy to see why that is the case. At a time that can be extremely difficult to forge a bipartisan consensus in Washington on anything, there is a strong bipartisan consensus in support of the US-India relationship and has been for decades and a high degree of continuity from one administration to the next. There is obviously an increasing alignment of our interests, both geopolitically and as two world-leading democracies," said Finer.
India and the United States cooperate closely with multilateral organizations, including the United Nations, G-20, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization.
The United States welcomed India joining the UN Security Council in 2021 for a two-year term and supports a reformed UN Security Council that includes India as a permanent member.
India is an ASEAN dialogue partner, an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development partner, and an observer of the Organization of American States.
Together with Australia and Japan, the United States and India convene as the Quad to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific and provide tangible benefits to the region.
In June of 2022, the Quad countries concluded recruitment for the inaugural Quad Fellows, an opportunity for 100 students, 25 each from Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, to pursue a master's or doctoral studies in STEM in the United States.
India is also one of twelve countries partnering with the United States on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) to make our economies more connected, resilient, clean, and fair.
India is a member of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), at which the United States is a dialogue partner. In 2021, the United States joined the International Solar Alliance headquartered in India, and in 2022 the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power became Co-chair of the Governing Council of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) where India is a permanent co-chair. —ANI

US Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer on Sunday (local time) highlighted India-US bilateral relations developing into a "global strategic partnership", based on shared democratic values and increasing convergence of interests on bilateral, regional and global issues.

US-India 'Among The Most Consequential Relationships,' Says Deputy NSA Jon Finer

Washington: The relationship between India and the US is the "defining partnership" for the 21st century, America’s former Ambassador to the nation Richard Verma has said lawmakers and asked the Senate to confirm the next envoy to New Delhi at the earliest.
Verma was a major proponent of improving Indo-US relations and was crucial in getting the civil nuclear agreement passed by Congress. He was sworn in as the US Ambassador to India in 2014, becoming the first ever Indian-American to occupy the position. He served as the US Ambassador to India from 2014 until 2017.
“I continue to believe this is the defining partnership for this century. The relationship is so consequential in so many ways, and having a senior official on the ground that represents the president makes a big difference,” Verma told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during his confirmation hearing for Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources.—Inputs from Agencies

The relationship between India and the US is the "defining partnership" for the 21st century, America’s former Ambassador to the nation Richard Verma has said lawmakers and asked the Senate to confirm the next envoy to New Delhi at the earliest

India-US relationship ‘defining partnership’ for this century: Richard Verma

Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has observed that it is difficult for a woman to live alone after a live-in relationship comes to an end, as Indian society at large does not accept and recognise such relationships.
The court was hearing a bail application of a man who was arrested for not fulfiling his promise to marry the woman, his live-in partner.
While granting bail to the man, Justice Siddharth noted that the woman in a live-in relationship is left with no option but to lodge a case against her live-in partner in such a situation.
"This is one case where the disastrous consequences of live-in relationship have come on the scene. It is difficult for a woman to live alone after breaking of live-in relationship. The Indian society at large does not recognise such relationship as acceptable. The woman, therefore, is left with no option but to lodge first information report against her live-in partner, like in present case," the order said.
As per the prosecution, the couple were in a live-in relationship for over a year. The woman was earlier married to another man, with whom she had two sons.
Later, she became pregnant on account of sexual relations she had with the accused during the live-in relationship. However, the accused refused to marry her.
The woman alleged that the accused then sent obscene photographs of her to her ex-husband, after which he also refused to live with her.
Thereafter, she lodged a complaint based on which an FIR under Sections 376 (rape) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered against the accused.
The counsel or the accused submitted that the woman is a major and she willingly entered a live-in relationship with the accused. She was capable in understanding the consequence of such relationship and there is no allegation that the relationship started with the promise of marriage, he added. It was further argued that the accused, who has been falsely implicated in this case, has been in jail since November 22 last year and has no criminal history to his credit. Given the nature of the offence, the evidence, complicity of the accused, submissions of the counsel for the parties, the one-sided investigation by the police and other grounds, the court granted bail to the man.
The accused Aditya had rejected the allegations and had submitted to the court that the complainant woman is an adult who had entered into a consensual relationship knowing the consequences of such a relationship. He had also rejected the allegation of the false promise of marriage saying he had never made any such promise.
The woman in the case has two children with her husband. —IANS

The Allahabad High Court has observed that it is difficult for a woman to live alone after a live-in relationship comes to an end, as Indian society at large does not accept and recognise such relationships.

Tough For Woman After Live-In Relationships End: Allahabad HC

New Delhi: The central government has told the Supreme Court that living together as partners and having sexual relationship by same sex individuals, which is decriminalised now, is not comparable with the Indian family unit -- a husband, a wife, and children born out of the union -- while opposing pleas seeking recognition of same-sex marriage.
It stressed that same-sex marriage is not in conformity with societal morality and Indian ethos.
In an affidavit, the central government said the notion of marriage itself necessarily and inevitably presupposes a union between two persons of the opposite sex. This definition is socially, culturally, and legally ingrained into the very idea and concept of marriage and ought not to be disturbed or diluted by judicial interpretation, it added.
The affidavit said the institution of marriage and the family are important social institutions in India that provide for the security, support and companionship of the members of our society and bear an important role in the rearing of children and their mental and psychological upbringing also.
The Centre stressed that despite the decriminalization of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, the petitioners cannot claim a fundamental right for same-sex marriage to be recognised under the laws of the country. The affidavit said that considerations of societal morality are relevant in considering the validity of the legislature and further, that it is for the legislature to judge and enforce such societal morality and public acceptance based upon Indian ethos.
The Centre said that marriage between a biological man and a biological woman takes place either under the personal laws or codified laws namely, the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, the Christian Marriage Act, 1872, the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936 or the Special Marriage Act, 1954 or the Foreign Marriage Act, 1969.
"It is submitted that the legislative understanding of marriage in the Indian statutory and personal law regime is very specific viz. marriage between a biological man and a biological woman only," it said.
The parties entering into marriage creates an institution having its own public significance as it is a social institution from which several rights and liabilities flow, it added.
"Seeking declaration for solemnisation/registration of marriage has more ramifications than simple legal recognition. Family issues are far beyond mere recognition and registration of marriage between persons belonging to the same gender. Living together as partners and having sexual relationship by same sex individuals (which is decriminalised now) is not comparable with the Indian family unit concept of a husband, a wife and children which necessarily presuppose a biological man as a 'husband', a biological woman as a 'wife' and the children born out of the union between the two -- who are reared by the biological man as father and the biological woman as mother," said the affidavit.
The Centre's response came on a batch of petitions challenging certain provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act, Foreign Marriage Act and the Special Marriage Act and other marriage laws as unconstitutional on the ground that they deny same sex couples the right to marry or alternatively to read these provisions broadly so as to include same sex marriage.
The Centre said amongst Hindus, it is a sacrament, a holy union for performance of reciprocal duties between a man and a woman and in Muslims, it is a contract but again is envisaged only between a biological man and a biological woman. It will, therefore, not be permissible to pray for a writ of the apex court to change the entire legislative policy of the country deeply embedded in religious and societal norms, it added.
The Centre emphasized that in any society, conduct of the parties and their inter se relationship is always governed and circumscribed by personal laws, codified laws or in some cases even customary laws/religious laws. The jurisprudence of any nation, be it by way of codified law or otherwise, evolves based upon societal values, beliefs, cultural history and other factors and in case of issues concerned personal relationships like marriage, divorce, adoption, maintenance, etc., either the codified law or the personal law occupies the field, it added.
"It is submitted that registration of marriage of same sex persons also results in violation of existing personal as well as codified law provisions -- such as 'degrees of prohibited relationship'; 'conditions of marriage'; 'ceremonial and ritual requirements' under personal laws governing the individuals," it said.
The affidavit said that any recognition over and above the conventional relationship of marriage between a man and woman, would cause irreconcilable violence to the language of the statute.
"It is submitted that the question is not whether relationships in the nature of the ones pleaded by the petitioner can be fitted in the present legal framework. Rather the question is that when the Legislative intent, with regard to limiting the legal recognition of marriage and the benefits associated with such legal recognition, are limited to heterosexual couples, it is impermissible for the Hon'ble Court to override the same," it said.
—IANS

 The central government has told the Supreme Court that living together as partners and having sexual relationship by same sex individuals, which is decriminalised now, is not comparable with the Indian family unit -- a husband, a wife, and children born out of the union -- while opposing pleas seeking recognition of same-sex marriage.

Not In Conformity With Societal Morality, Indian Ethos: Centre In SC On Same-Sex Marriage

Mumbai: A Mumbai Special CBI Court on Friday acquitted actor Sooraj Pancholi in the sensational Jiah Khan death case, in which he was charged with abetment to suicide.

The verdict came almost 10 years after Jiah, 25 was found dead in her Mumbai flat in Sagar Sangeet apartments, Juhu, around midnight on June 3, 2013.

Days later, Sooraj -- son of veteran actor couple Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab -- was arrested and charged with abetment to suicide.

An American citizen, Jiah was stated to be in a relationship with Sooraj who was then trying to make his mark in Bollywood.

She apparently left a note, which pointed the needle of suspicion towards Sooraj, who was later arrested in connection with her death.

In a major shocker for Bollywood, Sooraj was booked under IPC Section 306 for allegedly abetting Jiah's suicide, a week after Jiah ended her life.

Subsequently, the case was handed over to the CBI after repeated pleas by Jiah's mother Rabia Khan and directives of the Bombay High Court on 3 July, 2014.

In her note, Jiah had narrated her ordeal, intimate relationship, physical abuse, mental and physical torture she suffered allegedly at the hands of Sooraj.

The prosecution in the case had examined 22 witnesses, including Jiah's mother Rabia, while Advocate Prashant Patil appeared for Sooraj. IANS

Mumbai Special CBI Court acquitted actor Sooraj Pancholi of aiding Jiah Khan's suicide.

Actor Sooraj Pancholi acquitted in Jiah Khan suicide case

A Mumbai Special CBI Court on Friday acquitted actor Sooraj Pancholi in the sensational Jiah Khan death case, in which he was charged with abetment to suicide.

The real foundation of human life is the relationships that man earns throughout his life. Some relationships are blood, some family and some social. Every relationship has its own definition, its own need, its own identity and its own importance. Some relationships are decided by God and some relationships we choose for ourselves. These relationships are the beacons of light that make our life easier. Alone even a tree seems helpless, then how can a person spend this life like mountains alone is When a person gets the support of his own, even this life full of thorns looks like a bed of flowers. Every happiness increases by sharing and every sorrow decreases by sharing. In our society, there are many relationships like mother-daughter, father-son, husband-wife, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, daughter-in-law and mother-in-law. If we talk about the present era, today the definition of these relationships is changing. The love, maturity, sweetness that used to exist in these relationships is gradually disappearing. Today, that love, immaturity has been replaced by hatred, deceit, suspicion, antagonism.&nbsp;
Today we are connected to the whole world through the internet but we are far away from our family and neighborhood. Today, every relationship is limited to advantages and disadvantages. The equation of joint families has changed now. Earlier families were joint. In the family, grandparents, uncles, aunts, aunts, uncles, parents, siblings etc. were seen in many relationships. All lived under the same roof with love. Their joys and sorrows used to be shared, but today the bond of joint families is breaking. Children of today's age They have been deprived of the love of grandparents, uncles, aunts, uncles and aunts. Today every relationship is fulfilled only with the word uncle-aunty. Just as the names of the relationships have changed, the love in these relationships has also flown somewhere. The current generation is moving away from moral values, the main reason for which is the breakup of joint families. Today, children do not get to see the respect of elders at home, nor the same love as before. This machine age has made man a machine too There is no room for emotions in S. It is often said that sons become sons, but parents never become mothers, but now when we see the murder of daughter by parents, the murder of son by father, the murder of father by son for the sake of property, the murder of brother by brother for the sake of land and money, etc. If we read the news, then these proverbs also seem to be false. It is true that today we are leading in the race for money, but we are losing relationships. Young sons are the right and left arms of the father, whose youth the father sees.You don't feel your old age but what a bad thing that today the same arms have reached the neck.&nbsp;
The closeness of relationships that was seen earlier is now gone. The love and respect that children used to have for their grandmothers, aunts, and uncles is now disappearing. If we look at our elders, we know how much affection and love they have for their relatives. There is a need to value every relationship, to fulfill every relationship, but if we talk about the young generation, fulfilling relationships is different.They don't even know what the person in front of them thinks in the relationship? The biggest impact of the decline in relationships is on our elderly generation due to which our elders have to spend their old age in old age homes. Our elders who saved us from sun and storms, I don't know how many times they fed us full of food while being hungry, who taught us to walk holding our fingers, always supported us when we fell, today we are at this stage of age when They need support if it happens, then our parents, our elders become a burden for us, thanks to whom we saw the world, because of whom we are today, who sacrificed millions of their lives for our happiness.&nbsp;
After all, how can the same parents be a burden to us? If we cannot respect our parents then how can we expect respect from the coming generation. After all, we will reap what we sow. Now, if we talk about the relationship between husband and wife, there was a time when it was considered as a partnership of seven births, but now it has become difficult to live with one birth. The sooner marriages are formed, the sooner they break up. The stress of maintaining relationships is now over. Soul ties are broken in moments. Due to the scourge of the materialistic age, the relationship between brothers and sisters has also been affected. The bond, mutual love in this relationship seems to be ending now. He has become an enemy of the brothers. Nanan-brother-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law etc. relationships in which both love and conflict were seen, today the definition of these relationships has changed.&nbsp;
Today We marry less brides and more brides. In the house, the marriage of the boy takes place later and the division takes place first. Earlier, this division was between brothers, but nowadays, if someone has a son, he also lives separately from his parents. Thus our elders are shedding tears of blood due to this decline in relationships. One of the major reasons for these distances in relationships is that our endurance has ended. Today money has become everything for us. Relationships are becoming blurred in the glare of money but Sama We have to change our thinking as soon as we live. Our real wealth is the loving relationships that we earn throughout our lives and it is our primary duty to preserve this wealth. Love in relationships, affection, sweetness, immaturity is its true definition and it is the duty of humanity to maintain it. May God have mercy and let the broken knot of relations be rejoined.

The real foundation of human life is the relationships that man earns throughout his life. Some relationships are blood, some family and some social

There should never be Burdens in a Relationship 

Prayagraj (UP): The Allahabad High Court, hearing an appeal by a man against the dismissal of his divorce petition by a family court, on Thursday observed that denying sex to a spouse for a long time without sufficient reason amounts to mental cruelty.

The high court said that it was evident from the record that, since long, the parties to the marriage had been living separately, and the wife had denied discharging the obligation of marital liability.

The couple had got married in 1979. After seven years, the wife's 'gauna' ceremony was performed and they started living as a couple.

According to the petitioner, his wife refused to fulfil her obligation of marital life and then she left for her parents' home.

The husband claimed that he made several attempts to convince her but the woman did not establish any physical relationship with him. The man was serving in the police department and had to reside at the place of his posting.

In July 1994, the couple got mutually separated before a panchayat after the man paid alimony of Rs 22,000 to his wife. She later married another man.

Then the husband approached a court seeking divorce on grounds of mental cruelty and desertion. However, the trial court refused to grant divorce on the grounds of cruelty.

Feeling aggrieved, he filed an appeal before the Allahabad High Court against the order of the family court which dismissed his divorce plea.

A bench of Justice Suneet Kumar and Justice Rajendra Kumar-IV, while granting the husband a decree of divorce, on Thursday said: "Undoubtedly, not allowing a spouse for a long time to have sexual intercourse with his or her partner, without sufficient reason, itself amounts to mental cruelty. Since there is no acceptable view in which a spouse can be compelled to resume life with the consort, nothing is given by trying to keep the parties tied forever to a marriage."

Terming the approach taken by the family court "hyper-technical", the bench said: "It is evident from the record that since long, the parties to the marriage have been living separately, according to plaintiff-appellant, defendant-respondent had no respect for marital bond, denied discharging obligation of marital liability. There has been a complete breakdown of their marriage." IANS

The Allahabad High Court, hearing an appeal by a man against the dismissal of his divorce petition by a family court, on Thursday observed that denying sex to a spouse for a long time without sufficient reason amounts to mental cruelty.

Denying sex to spouse is mental cruelty, says Allahabad HC

The Allahabad High Court, hearing an appeal by a man against the dismissal of his divorce petition by a family court, on Thursday observed that denying sex to a spouse for a long time without sufficient reason amounts to mental cruelty.


Sitapur: A woman was allegedly strangled to death in the Sadarpur area of Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh, police said on Thursday.
According to the Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Narendra Pratap Singh, the victim was identified as Janaki Dev.
ASP Singh said on the information of the villagers, the police officers reached the spot and started an investigation. "The incident took place in Saraiyan Patti village in the Sadarpur police station area. The victim had left her old home to light a lamp in her newly constructed home, which was built with funds allocated under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana," said the ASP. He informed further that as time ticked by and the woman did not return home, her relatives started looking for her.
After searching for a while, the woman was found dead by a road, at some distance from her home, informed ASP Kumar.
He added that the victim's body bore external injury marks, thereby indicating that her death may have been the fallout of a domestic issue.
"The victim had injury marks all over her body. We suspect that her death may have been the fallout of a domestic issue," he said.
The ASP added that further action will follow once a case of murder is registered in the matter. "We have taken custody of the victim's body and sent it for a post-mortem examination," the officer said. —ANI

A woman was allegedly strangled to death in the Sadarpur area of Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh, police said on Thursday

Woman Files Complaint Against Man For Developing Physical Relationship On Pretext Of Marriage

Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court rejected a writ petition brought by a lady who was married but living with another person, on the grounds that granting police protection to such a couple could indirectly endorse illicit relationships.
Justice Renu Agarwal, while dismissing the petition filed by Sunita and another, made it clear that the court was not against live-in relationships  but rather against illegal relationships.
“This court does not deem it proper to permit the parties to such illegality as tomorrow petitioners may convey that we have sanctified their illicit relations,” the court added.
The petitioner's counsel argued that Sunita, who is an adult, had voluntarily started a relationship with the second petitioner because her husband was allegedly torturing her.
They asked the police for protection, saying that the husband was a threat to their peaceful lives.
But the state's counsel disagreed and said that the court ought not to support this type of relationship.—Inputs from Agencies

The Allahabad High Court rejected a writ petition brought by a lady who was married but living with another person, on the grounds that granting police protection to such a couple could indirectly endorse illicit relationships

Allahabad HC denies protection to live-in couple

Mumbai: Actress Banita Sandhu, who is known for her work in the 'October' and 'Sardar Udham Singh', has made her relationship with Punjabi music artiste AP Dhillon official. The actress recently took to her Instagram to share an array of loved up pictures with the 'Brown Munde' hitmaker.    The photos show Banita and AP turning up the heat. In one picture, she's on a bed looking at him as he lounges on the floor. In another, things get racy as he helps zip up her dress.  In another frame, Banita can be seen posing for the camera while AP Dhillon can be seen standing behind her. The last frame features AP Dhillon and Banita with their back to the camera while they can be seen holding hands. Banita wrote in the caption, "with me" and dropped a heart emoji with it.  Rumours about AP Dhillon and Banita Sandhu started doing the rounds after they featured together in the singer's recent music video ‘With You’. Earlier, a picture of the two kissing also went viral on the Internet.  Banita made her Bollywood debut with the 2018 film which also starred Bollywood star Varun Dhawan. She made her foray in Tamil cinema with ‘Adithya Varma’.  Talking about AP Dhillon, the ‘Summer High’ hitmaker recently released his documentary ‘AP Dhillon: First of a Kind’, the premier of which was a starry affair as many Bollywood celebs including superstar Salman Khan attended the premiere of the series in Mumbai. —ISNS

Actress Banita Sandhu, who is known for her work in the 'October' and 'Sardar Udham Singh',

Banita Sandhu comes out officially on her relationship with AP Dhillon

Rae Bareli: A man, who caught his wife with her paramour, allegedly tortured her to death in Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli.  The accused Ram Vilas, 38, was arrested on Tuesday for the murder of his 35-year-old wife Mithlesh.  Ram Vilas told the police that he returned home on Monday night and found Mithlesh with a man in an objectionable condition. He then confronted Mithlesh, who identified the man as her lover, Laxmi Shankar, 30.  Enraged over this, Ram Vilas locked Laxmi Shankar in another room and gave electric shocks to Mithlesh. When she became unconscious, he thrashed her with a stick 30-40 times which led to her death, the accused told the police.  Later he attacked Laxmi Shankar but the latter managed to escape.  SHO, Deeh, Jitendra Kumar Singh, said neighbours heard loud cries for help from the home of Ram Vilas and informed the police.  “I went to Ram Vilas’ home and found his wife lying unconscious while Ram Vilas was holding a long wire and a welding rod and was seething with anger,” said a villager who informed the police.  Ram Vilas and Mithlesh had four children, aged four to eight. Ram, who works as a welder, told the police that he would work till late and added that, “Taking advantage of my absence, Mithlesh had started an affair with Laxmi Shankar.”
—IANS

A man, who caught his wife with her paramour, allegedly tortured her to death in Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli. The accused Ram Vilas, 38, was arrested on Tuesday for the murder of his 35-year-old wife Mithlesh.

UP man kills wife with electric shocks after finding her with paramour

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday greeted the countrymen on the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan.  "Best wishes to all the countrymen on the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan. The festival symbolizes the undying love of brother and sister," the President wrote on X (formerly) Twitter.  She also appealed to take a pledge to create a more secure environment for the women in the country.
Extending his greetings, the Vice President wrote on X, "Warm greetings on Raksha Bandhan! RakshaBandhan embodies the beautiful bond of love that binds brothers and sisters."  "On this auspicious occasion, let us resolve to stand by our ‘Nari Shakti’ as they commit to take Bharat to greater glory. May this festival add to the happiness in our lives," Dhankhar.  Taking to X, the Prime Minister wrote, "Happy Raksha Bandhan to all my family members.This auspicious festival dedicated to the unbreakable trust and immense love between sister and brother is a sacred reflection of our culture."  "I wish, this festival deepens the spirit of affection, harmony and harmony in everyone's life," he said.  Union Home Minister Amit Shah also took to X to extend his warm wishes to the countrymen.  "Hearty greetings to all the countrymen on Raksha Bandhan.May this auspicious symbolizing the unbreakable relationship and love of brother and sister bring happiness and prosperity in everyone's life," Shah said.
—IANS

President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday greeted the countrymen on the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

Prez Murmu, VP Dhankhar, PM Modi greet people on Raksha Bandhan

President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday greeted the countrymen on the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan.


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