On the margins of the Quad Summit on May 24, Mr. Modi and Mr. Kishida met for bilateral talks on “tight cooperation” to encourage efforts to realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” as well as collaboration in areas such as defense, clean energy, and investment.

The leaders “addressed the situation in Sri Lanka and confirmed that they will work with each other in light of the current economic crisis and deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the nation,” according to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to a statement, they also “shared the idea of working together to evolve the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework into an inclusive framework that will provide tangible advantages to the region.”

Sri Lanka was not mentioned by the Ministry of External Affairs. “The two presidents discussed current global and regional events in depth. They reiterated their commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific area, noting convergences in their different approaches to the Indo-Pacific,” according to a statement released on May 24.

Japan’s announcement that it will work with India to help Sri Lanka is significant because it comes just days after Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe proposed that Quad members — the US, India, Japan, and Australia — take the lead in forming a foreign aid consortium to help the country, which is experiencing its worst economic crisis since independence. Since January of this year, India has provided around $3.5 billion in assistance in the form of loan deferments and credit lines for vital imports.

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Sri Lanka raised the price of gasoline by 24.3% and diesel by 38.4% on Tuesday, a record increase in fuel costs amidst the country’s greatest economic crisis due to a lack of foreign exchange reserves.

With the second increase in fuel prices since April 19, the most commonly used Octane 92 petrol will now cost 420 rupees (USD 1.17) and diesel 400 rupees (USD 1.11) per liter, both at an all-time high.

Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, the state fuel entity, decided to hike the price of Octane 92 petrol by 24.3 percent, or 82 rupees, and diesel by 38.4 percent, or 111 rupees per liter (CPC).

“Fuel Price will be revised from 3 am today. Fuel pricing formula that was approved by the Cabinet was applied to revise the prices,” Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara said on Twitter.

“Price revision includes all costs incurred in importing, unloading, distribution to the stations, and taxes.

“The Cabinet also approved the revision of transportation and other service charges accordingly. The formula will be applied every fortnight or monthly,” he said.

The increase came as the public endured long lines at fuel stations affected by shortages.

The retail costs of petroleum have also been raised by Lanka IOC, the Sri Lankan arm of India’s oil behemoth Indian Oil Corporation.

“We’ve upped our prices to meet the CPC,” LIOC CEO Manoj Gupta told PTI.

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The new Ministers are from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and its partners, the SLFP and the EPDP, a Tamil minority party in the north.

Mr. Rajapaksa has reshuffled his Cabinet five times since public demands for his resignation began, including forcing the resignation of his elder brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Ministers will serve in Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s interim Cabinet, which was formed to deal with the ongoing economic crisis.

Douglas Devananda, Minister of Fisheries; Keheliya Rambukwella, Minister of Health and Water Supply; Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Industries; and Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Agriculture, Wildlife and Wildlife Conservation, and the Economy were among the new Ministers sworn in. The next news source tweeted.

Vidura Wickramanayaka was named Minister of Buddhasasana, Religion, and Culture, while Naseer Ahamed was given the Environment Ministry position.

Bandula Gunawardana has been assigned the ministries of Transportation and Highways as well as Mass Media. Minister of Irrigation Roshan Ranasinghe has been appointed. He will also be in charge of the Sports and Youth Ministry.

President Rajapaksa enlarged his Cabinet on Friday to include nine new ministers, including those from the opposition, in a bid to maintain stability in the debt-ridden island nation, plunged in its worst economic crisis since independence.

After more than a week since the President appointed new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the ministers were sworn in. After his predecessor — the President’s brother Mahinda Rajapaksa — resigned in the aftermath of violent attacks by his supporters on peaceful anti-government protesters, Rajapaksa reappointed Wickremesinghe, a five-time former Sri Lankan prime minister.

His resignation resulted in the dissolution of the Cabinet, which created an administrative vacuum.

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The governor of the central bank of the South Asian nation declared the country to be in “pre-emptive default.”

Two of the world’s largest credit rating agencies confirmed Sri Lanka has defaulted later on Thursday.

When governments are unable to satisfy some or all of their debt payments to creditors, defaults occur.

It can undermine a country’s investor reputation, making it more difficult for it to borrow money on foreign markets, further eroding confidence in its currency and economy.

“Our position is very clear, we said that unless they come to the restructure [of our obligations], we will not be able to pay,” central bank governor P Nandalal Weerasinghe said on Thursday when asked if the country was now in default.

Sri Lanka is attempting to restructure loans to foreign creditors totaling more than $50 billion to make repayment more affordable.

The pandemic and rising energy prices have hurt the country’s economy, but some argue the current problem was caused by the previous government.

Medicines, fuel, and other essentials are in short supply due to a persistent shortage of foreign money and rising inflation.

Prof Moore claimed that the previous administration borrowed money for infrastructure projects and then “insisted in this very macho attitude” on repaying rising debts rather than negotiating with creditors to restructure them.

The country has already begun bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and must restructure its debt deals with creditors. According to an IMF spokesman, ongoing talks on a new loan package are likely to wrap up on Tuesday.

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President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s decision to restrict all chemical fertilizers in April last year dramatically reduced output, and while the government has now lifted the embargo, no significant imports have yet occurred.

“While there may not be time to obtain fertilizer for this Yala (May-August) season, steps are being taken to ensure adequate stocks for the Maha (September-March) season,” Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in a message on Twitter late on Thursday.

“I sincerely urge everyone to accept the gravity of the … situation,” he added.

Sri Lanka is facing a dire shortage of foreign exchange, fuel, and medicines, and economic activity has slowed to a crawl.

“There is no point in talking about how hard life is,” said A.P.D. Sumanavathi, a 60-year-old woman selling fruit and vegetables in the Pettah market in Colombo, the commercial capital, on Friday. “I can’t predict how things will be in two months, at this rate we might not even be here.

Nearby, a long queue had formed in front of a shop selling cooking gas cylinders, the prices of which have soared.

“Only about 200 cylinders were delivered, even though there were about 500 people,” said Mohammad Shazly, a part-time chauffeur who said he was standing in the line for the third day to be able to cook food for a family of five.

“Without gas, without kerosene oil, we can’t do anything,” he said. “Last option what? Without food we are going to die. That will happen hundred percent.”

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On Tuesday, the government of embattled Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa won two important victories in Parliament: its candidate for Deputy Speaker was elected, and it defeated an Opposition attempt to hasten a debate on a censure motion accusing him of causing the island nation’s worst economic crisis.

In a profoundly divided Parliament, a no-confidence resolution introduced by opposition Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M A Sumanthiran to condemn President Rajapaksa was defeated 119-68, despite countrywide protests demanding his resignation due to the people’s suffering.

The Opposition hoped to illustrate how countrywide calls for President Rajapaksa’s resignation are represented in the country’s 225-member legislature with the no-confidence resolution.

Hours earlier, Ajith Rajapaksha, a legislator from the ruling SLPP, was elected Deputy Speaker of the country’s Parliament, which met for the first time since the resignation of former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and the swearing-in of the new Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Rajapaksha, 48, of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Party (SLPP), was elected in Parliament after a secret ballot.

He won 109 votes, while Rohini Kavirathna of the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya received 78 votes.

Rajapaksha is not related to the ruling Rajapaksa family, yet they both hail from the Hambantota district.

Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, the Speaker of the House, said 23 votes were rejected.

Ranjith Siyamabalapitiya, the deputy speaker, resigned twice in a month this year, leaving the position empty.

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In a speech to the nation on Thursday, Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was appointed Prime Minister on Thursday, said the government urgently required $75 million in foreign money to pay for crucial imports.

“At the moment, we only have petrol stocks for a single day. The next couple of months will be the most difficult ones of our lives,” he said.

“We must prepare ourselves to make some sacrifices and face the challenges of this period.”

He noted that two supplies of gasoline and two shipments of diesel utilizing an Indian credit line could give assistance in the coming days, but that the country is also short on 14 key medicines.

Sri Lanka now has a $6.8 billion (2.4 trillion Sri Lankan rupees) budget deficit, accounting for 13% of GDP.

The problem sparked significant protests against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his family, culminating in his elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa’s resignation as Prime Minister last week after clashes between government supporters and demonstrators killed nine people and injured 300 more.

In his address on Thursday, he vowed to “build a nation without queues for kerosene, gas, and fuel … a nation with plentiful resources.”

Wickremesinghe has yet to name key cabinet members, notably the finance minister, who will negotiate with the International Monetary Fund for desperately needed financial assistance.

Ali Sabry, the former Finance Minister, had undertaken talks with the international lender before resigning with Mahinda Rajapaksa last week.

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On Thursday, Wickremesinghe, 73, was sworn in as Sri Lanka’s 26th prime minister, with the goal of restoring stability to the country’s debt-ridden economy and ending political unrest. Wickremesinghe expressed his desire for a closer partnership and thanked Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi for his country’s economic help.

After taking the oath, he made his remarks during a religious ritual conducted here Friday night. Since January of this year, India has pledged more than USD 3 billion to debt-ridden Sri Lanka in the form of loans, credit lines, and credit swaps.

India said on Thursday that it looks forward to working with the new Sri Lankan government, which was created through democratic processes, and that New Delhi’s commitment to the island’s people will remain unchanged.

The country has been without a government since Monday when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s elder brother and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa quit after violence erupted following his supporters’ attack on anti-government protestors.

The attack sparked widespread violence against Rajapaksa supporters, with nine people killed and over 200 more injured. Wickremesinghe stated that his attention was only on the economic issue. “I want to solve this situation so that people may get gasoline, fuel, and power,” Wickremesinghe stated.

“I will do the job that I have undertaken to do. I will prove the majority when it comes to that. [Referring to the island-wide protests, Wickremesinghe said the main protest near president Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s secretariat for over a month now would be allowed to continue] I will talk to them (protesters) if they are willing,” he said.

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“I will give the opportunity for the new government and new PM to start a new program to take the country forward,” he said in a televised address. He also added that once stability is assured, he will discuss his executive powers.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa had earlier prolonged a countrywide curfew till Thursday morning after government supporters attacked protesters camped up in downtown Colombo for weeks calling for his removal. Mr. Rajapaksa’s opponents then stormed and burned down some of the ruling party’s parliamentarians’ homes, forcing crucial family members to flee.

His brother Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned as prime minister, resulting in the dissolution of the cabinet and the absence of a government to negotiate with the International Monetary Fund and creditors over the $8.6 billion debt due this year. A deal is required to help the administration stabilize the country’s finances and provide basic supplies to the island nation’s 22 million residents.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa refuses to resign, and the opposition has turned down his offers of a unity government in exchange for constitutional changes that would limit the president’s authority.

“He needs to give the country a timeframe on what will happen,” Jehan Perera, executive director at the National Peace Council in Colombo, said of the president. “This is one way he can redeem himself as a statesman before things get worse.”

Mr. Rajapaksa has given the military powers under the emergency to hold people without a warrant for 24 hours and examine their private property.

As Sri Lanka further plunges into chaos, its economic crisis worsens. The International Monetary Fund has not yet passed a decision regarding Sri Lanka’s request for a bailout.

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After violence left at least eight people dead since Monday, the Ministry of Defense instructed troops to shoot anyone spotted damaging state property or assaulting authorities on Tuesday, however it is unclear if all of the deaths were directly tied to the protests. The violence has left more than 200 people injured.

The 22-million-strong country is undergoing a terrible economic crisis, with prices of daily products skyrocketing and widespread power outages lasting weeks. Thousands of anti-government protestors have taken to the streets since March, calling for the government’s resignation.

On Tuesday, the country’s former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was rescued by the military in a pre-dawn operation hours after he resigned following confrontations between pro-and anti-government protestors. A senior security source told CNN that the military was deployed after demonstrators attempted to break into the prime minister’s ‘Temple Trees’ private residential compound twice overnight.

His resignation came after live television footage on Monday showed government supporters wielding sticks hitting demonstrators and tearing down and burning their tents across the capital. According to witnesses interviewed by CNN, dozens of homes were set on fire across the country as a result of the unrest.

Until Thursday, a national curfew has been imposed.

However, it is unclear whether the curfew and the resignation of the prime minister will be enough to keep the country’s increasingly combustible situation under control.

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Since March, the island has been rocked by social unrest, with protests becoming violent at times as discontent grows over the government’s apparent mishandling of Sri Lanka’s greatest economic crisis since its 1948 declaration of independence from Britain.

The police announced a statewide curfew Monday as violence erupted in the capital city of Colombo between supporters of the ruling party and anti-government activists. Shortly before Rajapaksa announced his resignation, the limits were announced.

According to the national police, anti-government protestors attacked buses transporting local officials who traveled to Colombo on Monday morning for a meeting with the Prime Minister.

According to the Colombo National Hospital, at least 151 persons were admitted to the hospital as a result of the protestors’ violence.

Rajapaksa’s office issued a statement announcing the 76-year-old senior politician’s retirement.

“A few moments ago, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa sent his letter of resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa,” the statement said.

“Multiple stakeholders have indicated the best solution to the present crisis is the formation of an interim all-party government,” the letter said.

“Therefore, I have tendered my resignation so the next steps can be taken in accordance with the Constitution.”

His resignation came on the heels of a day of tumult and violence that culminated in authorities imposing a nationwide curfew.

Hundreds of supporters of the ruling party gathered outside the prime minister’s official residence before marching to an anti-government demonstration venue near the presidential office.

According to a Reuters witness, police had erected a line on the main road leading to the spot ahead of time but did little to dissuade pro-government protestors from advancing.

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While Rajapaksa is still hesitant to stand aside, CNN-News18 has learned that following his visit to Anuradhapura, he realized the magnitude of animosity directed at him. When the prime minister visited Anuradhapura on Sunday morning, demonstrators booed him and called for him to quit.

In the midst of the uncertainty, Rajapaksa has invited supporters to come to his official residence, Temple Trees, on Monday to urge him not to resign. Sources say he will take advantage of the chance to announce his resignation.

They went on to say that imposing the Emergency was causing local and international backlash, prompting the political maneuver.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Mahinda Rajapaksa’s younger brother, announced a state of emergency on Friday at midnight, the second in just over a month.

After stores shuttered and public transportation was suspended Friday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa invoked the severe rules to “maintain public order,” according to a spokeswoman for the South Asian island nation’s 22 million residents.

According to reports, the 72-year-old president has been pressing Mahinda Rajapaksa to retire for a few weeks in order to form an all-party interim government.

The main opposition SJB party has stated that it will not participate in any national administration until and until the president accepts responsibility for mismanagement and corruption.

Sri Lanka’s economic crisis began when the coronavirus outbreak decimated tourism and remittance revenues.

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Protesters who obstruct roads will be arrested under a state of emergency. Sri Lanka’s parliament must pass the proposal within 14 days.

Since March, the country has been rocked by civil unrest, with rallies turning violent at times as discontent grows over the government’s perceived mishandling of the country’s economic problems.

On Friday, police fired tear gas at protesters near the country’s parliament in the national capital of Colombo.

The state of emergency drew criticism from some, with opposition leader Sajith Premadasa saying the measure “runs counter to seeking any solution to the crisis.”

On April 1, Rajapaksa imposed a state of emergency, but it was revoked after five days.

Protesters have called for Rajapaksa’s resignation, citing soaring food, fuel, and other basic needs as the government runs out of cash. Many people have been forced to stand in the scorching heat for hours to fill their gas tanks or acquire food and medicine.

Sri Lanka’s Finance Minister Ali Sabry stated this week that the country’s financial reserves are nearly depleted. The country has requested emergency funding from the International Monetary Fund which has not yet approved any loan. The country is trying to survive with humanitarian aid. India is among the contributors of essential goods to the country supplying hundreds of millions worth of goods.

Millions of workers were on strike today, with all but one scheduled train service canceled, thanks to the country’s trade union movement. Private buses were taken off the road, while factory workers marched outside their workplaces and black flags were hung across the country in protest of the administration.

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Antibiotics, some painkillers, and heart medication are among the items that have been marked up by 40%.

Sri Lankans have resorted to taking short courses of medicine or seeking supplies from outside the country.

The government claims that it has no choice but to raise the price of pharmaceuticals.

It comes as part of a package of steps designed to help reduce the loss of foreign exchange reserves in the midst of a devastating financial crisis.

Import restrictions or bans on some critical products, such as meals and medications, were among the measures.

“This is not something that the government is doing willingly,” Nalaka Godahewa, Sri Lanka’s minister for mass media said.

He said that the government had no choice because of the rupee’s depreciation and the fact that most medicine is imported by the private sector, else there would be a severe shortage.

Health care providers are concerned that a lack of medicine is causing patients to buy less than the required amount.

“The situation is bad. Sometimes antibiotics are prescribed for five days. Now my customers are saying give me the antibiotics only for two or three days. How will it work?” Ruchira Hewawasam, who runs a pharmacy in Colombo, said.

Some fear that even for those willing and able to pay higher prices, some medication is in short supply.

“The crisis we are facing in the pharmaceutical sector is unprecedented. The sharp increase in medicine prices will take its toll,” Azam Jaward, Vice President of Sri Lanka Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry said.

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Last week White House expressed its “disappointment” with India and described the country as somewhat “shaky”. Days before his trip to India, Boris Johnson spoke about how he wanted to discuss their differences with India in the Ukraine War.

This week, however, both the western countries changed their tune. White House spoke about “a deep connection between our people” and “shared values.”

India however, did not change their stance regarding Ukraine. The country continues to purchase Russian oil and notably abstained from the UN condemnation of Russia.

The Asian country has taught the west a masterclass in international diplomacy according to Harsh V. Pant, a professor in international relations at King’s College London.

India has a major advantage, it is vital to both Russia and the United States. Both US and India are increasingly wary of the growing economic and military power of China. India is a country the US could not afford not to partner with at this time. Also, India has a dispute with China regarding their borders.

This is one factor why the west is very vocal about China not taking sides and yet silently criticizing India. For now, both India and China seem to have the same opinion regarding the war in Ukraine.

Russia and India have been long known to share deep ties as many times, as Russia has come to the aid of the country. This is among many reasons why India refused to stand against Russia.

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Food inflation remains at 29.5% which means that current prices of goods will increase. Diesel has also risen by 64.2%. This increase in prices has triggered a massive protest across the country asking the president to resign.

Last week, the Sri Lankan government asked for a bailout fund from the International Monetary Fund. IMF however cited its external debt being too “unstable” and it needs to be “reconstructed”. Among the countries, they owe money to is China which has announced they are willing to provide humanitarian support but did not discuss the default of the debt or any granted extensions.

“When IMF determines that a country’s debt is not sustainable, the country needs to take steps to restore debt sustainability prior to IMF lending,” Country Director Masahiro Nozaki said. “ Approval of an IMF-supported program for Sri Lanka would require adequate assurances that debt sustainability  will be restored.”

The country already announced that they will default on their foreign debts as their cash reserves will be used for essential needs.

As the protests grows, an incident of a police shooting occurred during one of the protests resulting in deaths and injuries. This has sparked more people to rise up and join the protest.

While IMF negotiations are ongoing, India has pledged to support Sri Lanka in terms of essentials and oil supply. Both countries acknowledged this announcement and pledged to work with each other to revive Sri Lanka’s ailing economy.

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The protest was fueled by the economic collapse of the country. Rising fuel costs along with food and power shortages cause massive protests. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that the shooting will be thoroughly investigated.

Currently, Sri Lanka entered talks with the IMF for a bail-out fund.

“The IMF has commended on the steps already taken by the Finance Minister to mitigate the financial situation in Sri Lanka. IMF has assured their fullest support to Sri Lanka and a positive response has also been received to expedite the process to strengthen the support extended towards Sri Lanka,” the ministry said.

The bail-out fund negotiations are at an early stage with IFM recommending “adequate assurances” are needed to approve the fund.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka seeks support from India and China while waiting for the bail-out fund from IMF.

China responded to the request for “emergency humanitarian assistance” but remained silent on the debt rescheduling request. Sri Lanka is about to default on its payments with the Asian economic giant.

India will provide an additional $500 million in financial assistance to Sri Lanka for it to buy fuel, Sri Lanka’s foreign minister told reporters on Wednesday, adding Bangladesh was also willing to postpone a $450 million in swap repayments. “Assistance by the IMF will take about six months to come to us and it will come in tranches,” Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G. L. Peiris said. “During the intervening period, we need to find funds to keep our people supplied with essentials.”

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Sri Lanka’s finance ministry announced the suspension of foreign debt payments as it plans to secure a loan from IMF to meet the $7 billion debt payments this year. This is the first time the country has defaulted on its payment since its independence in 1948.

The current crisis triggered protests across the nation to oust President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. As a result, Sri Lanka’s entire cabinet aside from the President and his brother, the Prime Minister resigned. Earlier this month, he fired his brother and Minister of Finance, Basil Rajapaksa. He invited the opposition to vote on a replacement but was declined. He largely said that the reason for the ailing economy was the pandemic.

While the country enters a negotiation with the IMF for a bail-out fund, Sri Lanka is seeking help from India. India Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held several meetings with Sri Lankan government. Aside from the request for aid, Sri Lanka also asked India to reach out to friendly countries to extend a line of credit.

Currently, India has already provided a line of credit amounting to 2.4 billion dollars to the ailing nation. This came in the form of food, fuel, medicine, currency swap, and deferment of payment at the Asian Clearing Union.

Sri Lanka’s fall began at the onset of the pandemic when its tourism sector could not produce any income. It has then continuously spiraled out of control and resulted in a massive economic crisis.

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The state court released a statement saying hijabs are not an “essential religious practice in Islamic faith” and dismissed a set of petitions filed by Muslim students denied entry to classrooms in multiple schools and colleges across the state.

The court added that uniform requirements are “reasonable restriction, constitutionally permissible and which the students cannot object to.”

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai appealed for the people to calm down after the ruling. Many fear that it could spark a large protest.

“I request everybody to follow the high court order and maintain peace and order,” Bommai told reporters Tuesday. “And allow the children to do their education as usual.”

The controversy began when a small number of students protested outside their school. They were not allowed to wear their hijabs in class. Many have since joined the group which has been met by their classmates wearing saffron scarves. The initial protest regarding the uniform has blown into chants related to religion.

The dispute was seen as a symbol of deepening religious tensions in the state, where authorities ordered the closure of all high schools and colleges for several days to discourage protests in early February. Rallies in the state’s capital, Bengaluru, were also banned outside educational institutions for two weeks.

Scores of women from other Indian cities, including the capital Delhi, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, also took to the streets in support of the Muslim girls.

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It is a known risk among nuclear-armed neighbors that accidents or miscalculations could occur. The neighbors have been involved in three wars. Mostly it is centered on the much-disputed Kashmir territory. This is the first of its kind in years, raising a question of safety mechanisms.

Indian Ministry of Defense released an official statement after the accidental launch. “On 9 March 2022, in the course of routine maintenance, a technical malfunction led to the accidental firing of a missile.”

“It is learned that the missile landed in an area of Pakistan. While the incident is deeply regrettable, it is also a matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident.”

The ministry said the government had “taken a serious view and ordered a high-level Court of Enquiry.”

Pakistan reported that the missile was unarmed and has crashed on the country’s eastern city of Mian Channu. It is located about 500 kilometers (310 miles) from the capital, Islamabad.

Pakistan also issued a warning to India. “Be mindful of the unpleasant consequences of such negligence and take effective measures to avoid the recurrence of such violations in future.”

Ayesha Siddiqa tweeted “India-Pak should be talking about risk mitigation”.

“Both states have remained confident about control of nuclear weapons but what if such accidents happen again & with more serious consequences?”

Although no official identification was given, Pakistani officials suspected it was a BrahMos missile. This is a nuclear-capable, land-attack cruise missile jointly developed by Russia and India.

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Mr. Raj Karan Kumar, 49, an Indian national from a village named ‘ Khamuaah Bhatt’, Gorakhpur, India has been residing in Thailand for years.

5 months ago, Mr. Kumar was unfortunately hit by paralysis and was helpless. He had no one around him to take him to the hospital.

It was the Ratchaburi police station who showed up and fought to get him immediately admitted to the Ratchaburi local hospital. Mr. Kumar have been bed-ridden for quite some time by then and the hospital had to discharge him as the hospital deemed that further treatment could be done at home.

At that time, Mr. Kumar’s stars are not in his favor, his health started to deteriorate as his family in India was unaware of his condition and his friends in Thailand could not reach him or backed out from taking the responsibility.

It was again the Ratchaburi police station which stood by Mr. Kumar but yet didn’t know how to take it forward from there. The police station then contacted a young aspiring social worker and a representative of Indo Thai news and Jai Shri Ram Foundation, Mr. Jimmy Mishra.

Mr. Mishra, a fellow Indian national had encountered similar situations in the past and knew what exactly needs to be done in this case. With Mr. Mishra’s courage and support from Indo Thai News and Jai Shri Ram Foundation, Mr. Kumar was admitted to the old age home where he was looked after by a dedicated staff and showed signs of improvement in his health.

Mr. Mishra quickly learned that the recovery could be even more swift if Mr. Kumar is close to his family members in India.

He immediately conferred with Indo Thai News and Jai Shri Ram Foundation with regards to Mr. Kumar’s reunion with his family. Meanwhile, the super cops of Ratchaburi assisted with the paperwork.

As everything was looking up for Mr. Kumar’s departures, a series of hiccups occurred as all the ones involved were unaware of the bumpy ride ahead. With all the documents in place, somehow the fit-to-fly certificate got missed and Mr. Kumar was taken off the flight to spend a few more days in the old age home until all the paperwork is in place.

As the saying goes “all is well that ends well”, it was not long enough till everything got figured out and Mr. Kumar left for his homeland to reunite with his family without further complications.

Mr. Kumar is now with his family in Delhi, India, and recovering pretty fast.

The story could not have a better ending. Humanity is still full of compassion and kindness. Mr. Kumar’s story has shown how complete strangers come together to help people in need. The relentless efforts of the Ratchaburi police department and the quick response of Jimmy Mishra have resulted in a miracle. Angels do exist in every human heart.

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Indian actor and activist Deep Sidhu dies in a car crash Tuesday, according to police officials. He was 37. He is known to back the country’s year-long farmer’s movement. Sonipat Police senior official Virender Singh announced the news. Sidhu’s car crashed into the rear end of a truck in the northern state of Haryana. He died on the spot, Singh said.

Born in Punjab state, Sidhu started his career as a model before landing a role in the film Ramta Jogi in 2015. He was a vocal supporter of India’s farmer’s movement. The movement saw tens of thousands of farmers camp for months on the outskirts of the capital Delhi. They were protesting against three laws implemented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government that they said could ruin their livelihood. In a rare retreat, Modi repealed the laws in November last year.

Sidhu’s role in the farmer’s movement was allegedly instigating violence during a Republic Day rally on January 26, 2021. He was arrested in February last year on suspicion of inciting protesters during the rally. He was granted bail after spending about 70 days in police custody.

Punjab’s Chief Minister Charanjit Channi said “My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family and fans.”

The Accident

The accident happened near Kharkhoda toll around 9:30 pm, the police said. Police were looking for the driver of the 22-tire truck that was parked on the expressway. What caused the accident is not yet known. It is also not yet clear whether the recovery of a liquor bottle has any connection with the incident. The photographs of the accident scene show Deep Sidhu’s vehicle badly mangled on the driver’s side. Deep Sidhu was accompanied by an NRI (non-resident Indian) friend, Reena Rai, who survived the accident. Police were questioning her to ascertain what led to the accident.

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#hijabrow has gained national headlines as religious tensions in the area increased. The dispute states that wearing a hijab is a fundamental right to religion guaranteed by the constitution. Twitter blew up yesterday as #hijabrow and #saffronscarf became the trending topic.

Many ahs posted comments regarding their support for either side. Among those that went viral is a Muslim girl seemingly trying to fend off boys wearing saffron scarves. Many expressed their support for the girl. They have sighted that wearing the hijab was her right. Another side of the coin shows the same girl in various photos seemingly preferring not to wear one.

The issue stems from the college’s uniform mandate. Many took to Twitter to express that the uniform is their way of expressing social equality. The schools said that the institutions encourage equality from caste, social-economic status, or religion. This is why they prefer a standard uniform.

Others sighted that Sheikhs are allowed to wear their turbans then Muslims should be allowed to wear their hijab and burkas. Another tweeter user said that if the hijab is their right, then the saffron scarf is ours.

Other sighted that many Muslim countries around are against wearing hijabs as it has become a symbol of women’s oppression.

In other institutions, their fellow students came to protest against the #hijabrow that at some point it became a chant of “Jai Shri Ram” and “Allahu Akbar”. Many also sighted that this should not stem from a war between religions.

Court Ruling

At a court ruling, the local court decided that “a larger bench” should decide on the case. The case is based on the student’s dispute that they should be allowed to wear their hijabs and burkas.

Social media has followed the trend as it continues to grow.

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