US EXTENDS HUGE SUPPORT TO STRONG AND DEMOCRATIC INDIA

Over China crisis, US senators have called for supporting strong & democratic India

Washington (PTI): As the US focuses on the Indo-Pacific, in particular the Quad, the Biden administration needs to address India's ties with Russia and its "downward trend of democratic values and institutions", said a report by the Democratic Party of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee.

The report has called for supporting a strong and democratic India.

Senate Foreign Affairs Chairman Senator Robert Menendez said the US needs to approach the Indo-Pacific with a well-resourced, whole-of-government approach that synchronizes the military-security elements with diplomatic, economic, and civil society elements to ensure the greatest chance of success.

The "Strategic Alignment: The Imperative of Resourcing the IndoPacific Strategy", a Majority Staff Report, was released by Menendez.

"I believe that Presi- dent Biden's Indo-Pacific Strategy, released one year ago, adopts this whole-of-government approach. If fully equipped with the tools that it needs to be successful, this strategy will underpin the United States' leadership in the most consequential and dynamic region of the world in the 21st century," he said.

The report said the

‘VISIT ASSAM’: CHIEF MINISTER SARMA AFTER LEONARDO DICAPRIO’S POST

Guwahati: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma extended an invitation to Hollywood legend Leonardo DiCaprio to visit Kaziranga National Park, famed for its one-horned rhinos, after the actor lauded the state government for its efforts to stop poaching of the animal. In an Instagram post, DiCaprio wrote the efforts of the Assam government that started in 2021 met success the next year when no rhinos were poached in National Park.

MAOIST WITH `15 LAKH BOUNTY SURRENDERS

New Delhi (ANI): A Maoist carrying a reward of Rs 15 lakh on his head & who was involved in several violent crimes, surrendered before the CRPF and police on Friday. The Maoist was identified as Abhyas Bhiyan aka Prem Bhuiyan who was a Regional Committee Member of CPI.

Biden administration was correct not to make its Indo-Pacific strategy solely about competition with the People's Republic of China. But to succeed, it has to grapple with the realities of this competition for the US and the challenges it poses for its regional allies and partners, it said. In its seventh & last recommendation, the Major Staff

What’s in a name, says Congress

First India Bureau

CBI NABS 3 PUBLIC SERVANTS IN 2 CASES OF BRIBERY

New Delhi (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday arrested three public servants in two separate cases of bribery. A Senior Auditor identified as Neeraj Kumar Kaushal working in the office of Principal Controller of Defence Accounts, Pensions, Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for bribery of Rs 20,000, according to a CBI statement.

OVER 21 STUDENTS FALL SICK DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATION, 7 HOSPITALISED

Mainpuri: Over 21 students fell ill and seven other students were hospitalised after drinking contaminated water at Government Engineering College in Uttar Pradesh’s Mainpuri. The matter came to light when district health officials learnt that a large number of students in the district were admitted to a hospital. Officials said it was found that at least 21 students pursuing Engineering courses in a Government Engineering College were admitted to a hospital since February 9.

LITHIUM RESERVES FOUND IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR

New Delhi: The Union Government on Thursday said that 5.9 million tonnes of lithium reserves have been found for the first time in the country in Jammu and Kashmir. Lithium is a non-ferrous metal and is one of the key components in EV batteries.

LIQUOR WORTH `1.12 CR BEING SENT TO GUJARAT SEIZED

Shajapur: Madhya Pradesh police have seized a truck carrying liquor worth more than Rs 1 crore to dry state Gujarat from Haryana, an official said today. The police had received inputs that a consignment of liquor was being sent to Bihar, another dry state, through MP. Accordingly, they intercepted a truck and found it to be laden with automobile spare parts.

ACTION TAKEN AGAINST MINORS RIDING TWO-WHEELERS, 91 VEHICLES SEIZED of

Ghaziabad: The traffic police during a drive against minors riding two-wheelers in the city has registered FIRs against their parents and vehicle owners in various police stations. The police has also seized 91 such vehicles in the last week. Among the FIRs, 12 have been lodged in Kavinagar police station, 8 in Nandgram, 10 in Kotwali, 4 in Vijay Nagar and 13 in Sahibabad, among others. Additional DCP Traffic Ramanand Kushwaha held a meeting with the staff before starting the drive.

Indo-Pacific

Report calls for supporting a strong and democratic India.

"Even as the administration rightly treats India as an important partner, it will need to address very real complications of India's continued ties with, & dependence on, Russia for defence equipment and its downward trend of democratic values and institution," it said.

UN PRAISES ‘DELHI DECLARATION’ IN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM

United Nations: UN Security Council members have hailed the significance of the "Delhi Declaration" adopted at a special meeting of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee in India last year, saying it offers a "solid basis" to counter the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes and symbolises the Council's "shared determination" to address the challenge. The 15-nation Council, under the Presidency of Malta for the month of February, on Thursday held a meeting on 'Threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts' during which the 16th report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da'esh) to international peace and security and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat. On October 28-29 last year, the Security Council CounterTerrorism Committee (CTC), chaired by India in 2022, organised the Special Meeting in New Delhi and Mumbai on the overarching theme of "Countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes".

New Delhi: Asking who in India uses their maternal grandfather’s surname, Congress on Friday hit out at PM Narendra Modi for his remarks on Gandhis not using Nehru name and said he doesn’t have the basic understanding of Indian culture.

“Only god can save the country,” AICC general secretary Randeep Surjewala told reporters a day after Modi, in a speech in the Rajya Sabha, asked why the Gandhis were ashamed of using the Nehru surname.

“Someone who is sitting on such a responsible position does not know or understand the culture of India. You can ask any person who uses maternal grandfather’s surname?” Surjewala told a press conference at the party headquarters in the presence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. “If he does not even have this basic understanding of India’s culture, then only God can save this country,” Surjewala said.

—Representational Image