Excise Policy Case Highlights: Supreme Court to hear Arvind Kejriwal’s case tomorrow

The live blog session has concluded. For more news, views and updates, stay tuned with Moneycontrol.com.

“Anguished by the loss of lives due to a mishap at a factory in Sivakasi. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray that those who have been injured recover at the earliest,” posts PM Modi on X, after 9 people die in Tamil Nadu following explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit.

Eight people were injured, two of them severely, in an explosion on Thursday at a scrap dealer's shop in the Raipur area of the city, police said.

The blast occurred when a partially exploded mortar shell went off, Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajai Singh said.

An Air India Express spokesperson said on May 9, "We are pleased with the progress we made at the conciliation meeting and welcome our cabin crew colleagues back at work.

"This will help us swiftly restore our flight schedule and fulfil our commitments to our guests.

"We sincerely apologise to those inconvenienced by these unintended disruptions. It is not in keeping with our usual service standards, and we will review it internally to ensure accountability.

"As we gradually bring our operations back to normalcy, we urge our guests booked to fly with us to check their flight status before heading to the airport. If their flight is cancelled, or delayed beyond 3 hours, they may opt for a full refund or reschedule to a later date without any fees on Tia on WhatsApp (+91 6360012345) or on airindiaexpress.com.”

Pauri Garhwal DM Ashish Chauhan says, “Because of bad weather conditions, air operation to douse the fire was called off. For future dry spells and chances of such conditions arising again, a 50-member NDRF team has been deployed and stationed here. We will take their help in any such emergency of forest fire.”

Death toll in Tamil Nadu fire incident rises to 9. An explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit near Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district started a blaze earlier today.

To promote ease of doing business for issuance of non-convertible securities, Sebi on Thursday proposed removing the requirement to disclose the PAN and personal address of issuers' promoters in the offer document along with other relaxations in disclosure guidelines.

The current regulatory framework of Sebi's (Issue and Listing of Non-Convertible Securities) rules or NCS norms mandates disclosure of complete profile of promoters of the issuer in the offer document, which includes disclosure of PAN, personal address among others.

Efforts are underway to douse a fire that broke out at a BSNL office in Patna, Bihar, earlier today. More details are awaited.

Air India Express reaches an agreement with the crew members after addressing all their concerns.

Both the crew and management members have agreed to restore normal airline operations.

After a meeting was held between Air India Express Union and company management today, an employee and cabin crew member said in the presence of the Chief Labor Commissioner, “All unhappy cabin crew members are ready to join the office with immediate effect and the management is ready…”

The termination of 25 crew members of Air India Express has also been overturned.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s case has been listed for hearing in the Supreme Court tomorrow, i.e., May 10. However, the cause-list does not mention if they will pronounce an order on his interim bail plea.

BRS leader K Kavitha on May 9 moves Delhi High Court seeking bail in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

Recently, the trial court had refused to grant bail to her in both cases (ED and CBI). The Delhi HC will hear her bail plea tomorrow.

The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has caught a woman official of the Maharashtra Directorate of Archaeology and Museums while taking a bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh in Nashik, and registered a case against the department's director "for showing his consent to accept his share of the bribe".

In a statement, the ACB said it nabbed the directorate's assistant director Aarti Mrunal Aale, a resident of Nashik, taking the bribe amount on May 7, and filed a case against the department's director Tejas Madan Garge, who resides in Mumbai and is now absconding. (PTI)

A fire broke out in Ram Katha Kunj in Ramsevak Puram of Ayodhya today; no casualties were reported in the incident

"A temporary structure belonging to a construction company caught fire after a sub-standard cylinder exploded. Fire Services doused the fire. There were no casualties in the incident," Mahendra Pratap Singh, CO-Fire, Ayodhya said.

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on May 9 met with his United Kingdom counterpart Tim Barrow for the India-UK Strategic Dialogue.

During the meeting, the two NSAs held discussions on technology and security initiative, which will be a major bilateral mechanism to strengthen cooperation in critical and emerging technologies between two countries. They also discussed bilateral issues and regional and global matters of mutual interest.

Jammu and Kashmir Police on May 9 made announcements while passing through the streets of Srinagar asking the general public to not affiliate with Yasin Malik's banned organisation JKLF. The Delhi High Court has declared the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front as an 'unlawful' association.

Commenting on Nepal's new currency note issue, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterates EAM Dr S Jaishankar's remarks that unilateral action will not change the reality on the ground.

The new Rs 100 currency notes display a map of Nepal that include Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani – all of which are disputed territories that both nations stake claim to.

“Discussions are happening between India and Canada. We have been telling them that you are giving political space to separatists, extremists and people who advocate violence. We have asked them to extradite several people. We have also conveyed our concerns regarding our diplomats being threatened and not being allowed to carry out their functions.”

On Russia's statement on meddling by the West in elections in India, MEA spox says, "We have made a statement on the allegations that we will not allow any (meddling)… ”

Eight people have died in an explosion that took place at a firecracker manufacturing unit near Sivakasi in Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu, Virudhunagar Collector Jeyaselan informed on May 9.

“Want to keep cash reserves at an optimum level,” say government sources. “Will take a call on more bond buybacks; Recent bond buyback aimed at saving on interest cost,” they add.

India is looking at slightly bettered revised fiscal deficit aim of 5.8℅ for FY24 in absolute terms, government sources said, adding there has been no slowdown in expenditure so far due to Model code of conduct being in place in view of ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

The sources added that the government is not too worried about the impact of sudden outflows due to global bond inclusion from June and is prepared for any volatility in global oil prices.

The sources further said, “Do not see any direct impact on Budget on oil price fluctuations. Do not see any risk of oil price spike as of now.”

Six Naxalites carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 36 lakh on their heads surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Thursday, an official said.

Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan identified the six as Dudhi Pojja and his wife Dudhi Pojje, Ayate Korsa alias Jayakka, Kawasi Muda, Karam Naranna alias Bhuma and Madkam Sukka alias Rainu.

ED's affidavit in Arvind Kejrwial's interim bail plea further says, “No politician has been granted bail to campaign so far, even though he is not a contesting candidate. Even a contesting candidate is not granted interim bail for his own campaigning if he is in custody.”

ED says in its affidavit that the grant of interim bail merely for political campaigning would militate against and will be discriminatory to the rule of equality as work/business/profession or activity of every citizen is equally important to him or her.

There is absolutely no principle that justifies giving a differential treatment to a politician for campaigning over a farmer or a businessman who wishes to pursue his vocation, the ED adds.

Enforcement Directorate files affidavit in Supreme Court opposing interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

ED says politicians can claim no special status higher than that of an ordinary citizen and are as much liable to be arrested and detained for committing offenses as any other citizen.

“We have submitted before the Governor all the developments that have taken place in this case till now. We requested him to urge Central government to conduct a fair inquiry into this case. Where is the investigation going? Why have they arrested Revanna?...Where are the victims? Congress is saying there are more than 2900 victims, but where are they?....”, asks Kumaraswamy

Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE) has made a landmark achievement by developing liquid Ramjet fuel for advanced air-breathing engine. This fuel has been tested successfully at Ramjet Test bed at Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) on May 8. BPCL and Mineral Oil Corporation are industry partners in this development, DRDO informs

SBI Chairman Dinesh Khara says, “We are already in the process of hiring around 11,000 to 12,000 employees in FY25. Out of these, 2,600 would be provision officers and around 8,428 would be associates.

The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court has ruled that Muslims cannot claim the rights of a live-in relationship as Islam does not allow live-in relationship for a married man.

The Lucknow bench of Justice AR Masoodi and Justice AK Srivastava said this while hearing the writ petition of Sneha Devi and Mohammad Shadab Khan, residents of Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh.

The petitioners claim that they are in a live-in relationship but the woman's family had filed an FIR against Shadab alleging that he kidnapped their daughter and married her.

SBI Chairman Dinesh Khara says, “We invest well in terms of technology and we will continue to invest. Our investments are much more than the industry average.”

He adds, “We are quite open to fundraising through equity, AT-1. We would raise a substantial amount through AT-1.”

“This is your first visit to India in your current capacity. It provides an opportunity to discuss our relationship and chart out future directions. As close and proximate neighbours, the development of our ties is obviously based on mutual interests and reciprocal sensitivity. I hope that our meeting today will enable us to strengthen the convergence of our perspectives in various domains.”

-- We will be able to maintain a credit growth trajectory of 15-16 percent that we had in FY24.

-- Deposit growth would be around 13-14 percent.

-- Corporate growth will be seen from conventional industries, EVs, semiconductors, batteries.

We have done some assessment but it is premature to comment and we will be reaching out to RBI with our views.

Incremental provisions will not be significant. We will be able to absorb and if this becomes a reality, we will be looking at repricing the loan.

-- SBI Chairman Dinesh Khara says credit growth has been robust across all segments.

-- RAM crossed Rs 20 trillion in FY24, Corporate segment healthy growth at 16 percent year on year growth.

-- GNPA lowest in 10 years at 2.24 percent.

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a strong message of determination during the Victory Day parade in Moscow on Thursday, stating that Russia would strive to avoid global confrontation while firmly asserting its sovereignty.

Addressing a crowd of thousands, including troops, officials, veterans, and guests gathered to commemorate the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, Putin emphasized the readiness of Russia's strategic nuclear forces.

Putin expressed concern over the distortion of historical truths surrounding World War II, affirming Russia's respect for the contributions of its allies during the conflict. He criticized the West for exacerbating conflicts worldwide and warned against the consequences of such ambitions.

A woman from Sandeshkhali, whose rape accusations against Trinamool Congress members had caused uproar in the rural area of Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, reversed her stance on Wednesday. She asserted that she had not been assaulted and instead accused local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members of pressuring her into signing a blank paper and filing a false complaint with the police, according to The Times of India.

The woman lodged a new complaint at the Sandeshkhali police station, citing threats and social isolation stemming from her decision to retract the alleged false rape accusation.

Following the termination of approximately 30 crew members last night, the Chief Labour Commissioner has summoned a meeting with the Air India Express union and CEO today.

Mutual fund inflows in equity funds witnessed a decline of 16.42 percent to Rs 18,917.08 crore in April, primarily attributed to reduced investments in large-cap funds, as per data released by the Association of Mutual Funds of India (AMFI) on May 9.

However, small-cap funds observed a turnaround with inflows of Rs 2,208.70 crore in April, rebounding from minor net outflows in March.

Despite the dip, equity fund inflows have remained positive for the 38th consecutive month. In March, open-ended equity mutual funds experienced a 16 percent decline in inflows to Rs 22,633 crore. Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) inflows stood at Rs 20,371 crore, showing a marginal increase from Rs 19,271 crore in the previous month.

On the other hand, debt funds saw a notable shift, transitioning from net outflows of Rs 1.98 lakh crore in March to net investments of Rs 1.90 lakh crore in April.

Air India Express said 85 flights stand cancelled as of May 9 as flight operations were disrupted by cabin crew taking sick leave this week.

The airline said it is operating 292 flights and Air India will support by operating on 20 routes.

"Taking appropriate steps against certain individuals whose actions have caused grave inconvenience to guests," said the airline.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman shed light on the government's focus on urban development, noting the emergence of mega cities and the establishment of new ones, including the development of Amrit cities and those with populations exceeding a million. She emphasized the significance of urban rejuvenation as a well-funded government program.

Additionally, Sitharaman called upon financial regulators to promote ethical practices within the fintech sector. She urged them to encourage positive contributions to the nation through ethical and proper conduct, rather than seeking windfalls through unethical means. Her statements reflect the government's commitment to fostering sustainable urban growth and ensuring integrity within the financial services industry.

Furthermore, Sitharaman outlined efforts to streamline business regulations to improve the ease of doing business, noting healthy competition among states. She expressed determination to extend these reforms to the grassroots level, despite obstacles from certain states. Sitharaman urged voters to consider the broader national and state interests, rather than the concerns of a single family or dynasty, emphasizing the significance of their votes in shaping India's future trajectory.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasized the importance of a collaborative approach, involving all stakeholders, to address the developmental needs of Jharkhand. She stressed the necessity of consulting the Adivasi community to understand their perspectives on growth and highlighted Prime Minister Modi's initiatives for vulnerable groups, citing guidance from President Murmu. Sitharaman underscored the need for tailored solutions for the Adivasis, rejecting a one-size-fits-all approach.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says, "The rent seeking practice in Jharkhand needs to stop. Everyone is saying ED, CBI is going after opposition. But sadly I have to say cash is being found behind walls, under the ground in Jharkhand. This should not be the fate of the state. Doing business is not stealing. Those who create wealth and give people jobs is good for the state."

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says, "We need good representation in Jharkhand. Modi government will be formed again for a third term. India's economy will reach third place from fifth place in around a year, as per PM's announcement. For this we need Jharkhand's contribution and to achieve this I would say vote for the wellbeing of the country and to ensure corruption-free governance. We do not want Jungle Raaj in Jharkhand."

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman rebuts claims of neglect towards Jharkhand, highlighting significant allocations made in the FY25 interim Budget. A record-breaking allocation of Rs 7234 crore solely for railway projects in Jharkhand signifies a substantial increase compared to previous years. Under the leadership of PM Modi, Jharkhand achieved notable milestones, including 100 percent railway electrification by November 2023 and the redevelopment of 57 railway stations. Moreover, the development of the Varanasi-Ranchi-Kolkata Green Field Corridor and the approval of Rs 30575 crores for 1000 kms of national highway corridors demonstrate the government's commitment to infrastructure development in the state.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman underscores the strategic importance of minerals for Jharkhand, emphasising a shift towards mineral-based manufacturing rather than dependency on raw materials. With 40 percent of the nation's aggregate mineral deposit located in Jharkhand, including significant reserves of coal, iron, cobalt, copper, and bauxite, Sitharaman advocates for investment and manufacturing activities to be centered in the state. This approach aims to add value to the abundant mineral resources within Jharkhand, fostering economic growth and development within the region.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlights a shift in agricultural dynamics as fertiliser production units move from Gujarat to Jharkhand, suggesting a pivotal role for the latter in shaping evolving agricultural practices.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says, "In the Budget we have articulated the aim to make eastern states the engines of growth for Viksit Bharat. And, in order to make that happen, we need to restore the main mother industries in these states, restore large fertiliser industries in the states."

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasises the necessity for reform in states like Jharkhand, rich in potential but marred by corruption. She stressed the urgency for comprehensive changes, including improved electricity infrastructure, enhanced road connectivity, reduced reliance on mineral resources, and initiatives to transform the state into a manufacturing hub.

During her address on 'Eastern India: Engine of Growth for Developed India', Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted the issue of youth talent in Jharkhand being underutilised. She pointed out that young individuals often feel compelled to seek opportunities outside the state due to prevalent issues such as lawlessness, widespread corruption, unfavorable business conditions, and the tendency to view wealth creation as a means of rent-seeking within the state.

Prachi, also a member of the Women's 4*400 meter relay team, expressed her gratitude towards the government, Sports Authority of India, and Athletics Federation of India, stating, "We have qualified for the Olympics, and we are very happy. I want to thank the government, Sports Authority of India, and Athletics Federation of India for taking us to Bahamas a month early to adapt to the situation since there is a time difference of 8-9 hours."

Rajiv Arokia, a member of India's Men's 4*400 meter relay team, conveyed his joy, saying, "We are all very happy. We will face tough competition ahead. We are satisfied with our performance in the qualifiers, but we have to improve our timing. We are trying our best to secure a medal in the Olympics."

Following their qualification for the Paris Olympics 2024, Rupal Chaudhary, a member of India's Women's 4*400 meter relay team, expressed her elation, stating, "It is a great feeling to qualify for the Olympics. We are all very proud. In the beginning of the qualifiers, I was quite nervous, but everything went well. We are now focused on performing better in the Olympics."

Jyothika Sri Dandi, another member of the Women's 4*400 meter relay team, shared her excitement, saying, "We are very happy that both the Men's and Women's teams have qualified for the Olympics. I am delighted to be a part of the team."

The first flight carrying 320 Hajj pilgrims is set to depart from Srinagar airport. Expressing his joy, one of the pilgrims remarked, "I can't describe my happiness. It is greater than any joy in life. Allah has summoned me. My prayer is to seek Allah's blessings for everyone. It is now more convenient as we can depart directly from Srinagar without having to go to Delhi."

An Indian student, identified as Rupesh Chandra Chintakindi, has been reported missing in Chicago since May 2. The Consulate General of India in Chicago has confirmed its involvement in the search efforts, stating that it is in contact with local authorities and the Indian diaspora to locate or reestablish contact with Chintakindi.

In a statement posted on X, the Consulate General expressed deep concern over Chintakindi's disappearance, urging the public to assist in locating him. Meanwhile, the Chicago police have also issued a statement, urging individuals to provide any information they may have regarding Chintakindi's whereabouts. According to the police statement, he was last seen in the 4300 block of N Sheridan Road.

Efforts to locate Rupesh Chandra Chintakindi are ongoing, with both Indian authorities and local law enforcement agencies actively involved in the search operation.

Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport has announced a temporary halt in operations on both of its runways on Thursday. The closure of the primary runway (09/27) and the secondary runway (14/32) is scheduled from 11 am to 5 pm. This decision has been made to facilitate maintenance and repair work in preparation for the upcoming monsoon season.

Mumbai experiences heavy rainfall from mid-June to mid-September, and the airport authorities aim to ensure the resilience of the runways to handle adverse weather conditions. In a statement issued by the Adani Group, which operates the airport, it was highlighted that a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued to inform aviation stakeholders about the temporary closure.

Delhi experienced a slight improvement in air quality on Thursday as easterly winds swept through the city, aiding in settling dust particles suspended in the air. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 185 (moderate) at 9 am, marking a significant decrease of 40 AQI points from Wednesday's reading of 225 (poor).

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted the continuation of strong easterly winds, reaching speeds of up to 30 kilometers per hour on Thursday. Additionally, there are indications of a western disturbance beginning to influence Delhi-NCR by Friday, potentially resulting in light rainfall. Furthermore, IMD suggests the possibility of light rain persisting over the weekend, with forecasts for Saturday and Sunday also indicating chances of precipitation.

The death toll resulting from severe rains that inundated Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state in recent days has climbed to 100, according to local civil defense authorities on Wednesday. Additionally, 128 individuals remain unaccounted for in the aftermath of the catastrophic flooding.

The relentless storms have triggered widespread floods, demolishing bridges and structures, transforming streets into torrents, and displacing over 163,000 residents in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil's southernmost state bordering Uruguay and Argentina. On Tuesday, Brazil's national center for natural disasters issued a warning stating that the southern region of the state was at "high risk" of further flooding on Wednesday.

While the forecast indicated a resumption of rainfall, it was not expected to be substantial in terms of volume. However, with water levels already elevated in many areas and the soil saturated, the potential for additional flooding remained significant.

Meteorological agency MetSul cautioned in a statement that the region could face more "very large" floods of "serious proportions" in the coming days. The situation continues to be monitored closely as authorities work to manage the aftermath of the disaster and provide assistance to affected communities.

The weather department has predicted light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and squally winds across North-East India until the 11th of this month. These weather patterns are expected to affect West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha over the next four days. Similarly, in South India, rainfall with thunderstorms is forecasted for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, and Karnataka until the 12th of this month.

For West and Central India, the IMD anticipates scattered rainfall accompanied by gusty winds in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh until the 12th of this month.

Overall, the IMD predicts no significant change in maximum temperatures across the rest of the country.

Meanwhile, in Delhi, the IMD has forecasted strong surface winds during the day, with the maximum temperature expected to hover around 39 degrees Celsius in the national capital.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a forecast indicating that a fresh spell of heat wave conditions will persist over Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh until tomorrow.

According to the IMD, coastal Gujarat is expected to experience hot and humid weather over the next five days, while Kerala and Mahe will continue to face similar conditions until tomorrow.

Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda announced on Thursday that the central bank will closely monitor the recent depreciation of the yen in determining monetary policy.

Addressing parliament, Ueda highlighted concerns regarding sharp and unilateral declines in the yen, emphasizing their adverse impact on the economy. He stated that such developments make it challenging for companies to establish business strategies.

In a press conference held on Thursday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol affirmed Seoul's commitment to fostering strong ties with Ukraine alongside maintaining a "smooth relationship" with Russia. However, he ruled out direct shipments of weapons to Kyiv.

President Yoon addressed concerns over potential discord with Moscow due to alleged arms deals with North Korea, stating that despite existing disagreements, South Korea remains dedicated to pursuing economic cooperation and common interests with Russia. He emphasized that it is the country's "firm stance" not to provide lethal weapons to nations engaged in conflicts.

The Israeli army reported that the Kerem Shalom crossing, a crucial conduit for Gaza aid operations, came under rocket fire on Wednesday, resulting in a "light injury" to one soldier.

According to a military statement, eight rocket launches originating from the Rafah area targeted the vicinity of Kerem Shalom. The incident resulted in an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldier sustaining minor injuries.

Following the attack, the Israeli army announced the reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing on Wednesday morning. The crossing had been closed for three days following a previous Hamas rocket attack on Sunday, which claimed the lives of four soldiers. Another rocket launch targeted the crossing on Monday, prompting its closure.

Civil Aviation authorities are reportedly investigating the matter to ascertain the cause behind the sudden incident. Meanwhile, reports suggest that the flight cancellations were primarily due to a shortage of Air India Express staff, as a section of them resorted to reporting sick in protest against alleged mismanagement within the Tata Group-owned airline.

Approximately 25 cabin crew members of Air India Express Airlines have been dismissed from their positions after failing to report to work, leading to widespread disruptions affecting thousands of passengers. Airline sources have informed ANI that the airline will soon issue a statement regarding the incident.

The disruption resulted in the cancellation of over 80 international and domestic flights operated by Air India Express. The chaos ensued after senior crew members of the airline collectively called in sick, prompting a mass 'sick leave' protest.

Starting Monday evening, numerous cabin crew members began reporting sick, leading to a shortage of staff and subsequent cancellation of "scores of flights" across various airports, including Kochi, Calicut, and Bangalore.

Against the backdrop of a diplomatic standoff, Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer landed in New Delhi on Wednesday for an official visit aimed at discussing bilateral ties between India and the Maldives.

The visit is set to entail discussions on various bilateral and regional issues, with an emphasis on bolstering the multifaceted relationship between the two countries.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed Zameer's arrival via Twitter, extending a warm welcome to the Maldivian FM. The tweet stated, "Warm welcome to FM @MoosaZameer of Maldives on his official visit to India. Discussions on bilateral & regional issues and seeking ways to provide impetus to our multifaceted relationship lie ahead."

According to a report by Canada-based global news outlet, one of the suspects in the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar has claimed in a social media video that he entered Canada on a study permit, which he obtained within a matter of days.

The accused, identified as Karan Brar, purportedly disclosed in a video posted online in 2019 that he applied for a student visa through EthicWorks Immigration Services, based in Bathinda, a city in the Indian state of Punjab. Global News cited a translation of Brar's Punjabi-language statement, in which he indicated receiving his study visa within a short timeframe.

The promotional video, along with a photograph of Brar, purportedly from Kotkapura, a city located north of Bathinda, was reportedly uploaded on EthicWorks' Facebook page.

The Biden administration is set to unveil a new proposal on Thursday aimed at expediting the asylum claims process for select migrants, signaling a potential shift towards tougher border policies under President Joe Biden's leadership.

The proposed rule targets migrants with criminal backgrounds or those who would likely be deemed ineligible for asylum in the United States. Sources familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the Department of Homeland Security's intention to announce the proposal.

Currently, migrants who arrive at the border and undergo an initial screening for "credible fear" — a key criterion for asylum — are permitted to proceed with the process, even if they have a criminal history or pose security concerns. Subsequently, a judge would assess the migrant's eligibility for asylum.

Senior Israeli officials have conveyed "deep frustration" with the United States following its decision to temporarily halt a shipment of ammunition destined for Israel, as reported by Axios.

The officials, who chose to remain unidentified, suggested that the pause in aid could potentially compromise ongoing hostage negotiations, according to the report.

The concerns were echoed by Israel's UN ambassador, Gilad Erdan, who described the delay in weapon deliveries as "very disappointing" and "frustrating" during an interview with Israel's Channel 12.

Erdan emphasized the inconsistency in US policy, stating, "President Joe Biden can't say he is our partner in the goal to destroy Hamas while on the other hand delay the means meant to destroy Hamas."

The decision to halt the shipment, which reportedly includes approximately 1,800 2,000-pound (900kg) bombs and 1,700 500-pound (225kg) bombs, was made amid US concerns that the weapons could be imminently used in an attack on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Tensions escalated in Amsterdam as pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with police officers while blocking one of the entrances to the University of Amsterdam. Erecting barricades, the demonstrators vowed to maintain their presence until the university severs all ties with Israel.

The protests echo similar demonstrations currently unfolding at prestigious institutions like Cambridge and Oxford in the UK, as well as in the United States, where approximately 2,500 arrests have been made.

Responding to the situation, the University of Amsterdam expressed security concerns and decided to enlist police assistance. Residents also voiced feeling unsafe amid the escalating confrontation.

As a result of the protest, classes at one of the university's historic buildings, the Oudemanhuispoort, were disrupted. The university administration appealed for the demonstrators to disperse and affirmed ongoing efforts to engage in dialogue and negotiate a resolution.

Good morning and welcome to the Moneycontrol LIVE news blog. Stay tuned for all the latest news and key developments across India and the world.