President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia had seized Ukraine’s Mariupol

HT Daily News Wrap

President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia had seized Ukraine’s Mariupol, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will announce a number of commercial agreements as part of a 'new era' in bilateral trade and investment ties, The Assam Police arrested Dalit leader and Independent lawmaker Jignesh Mevani from Gujarat’s Palanpur and other top news in today's bulletin.
Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the Centre is working on a national database related to internal security covering bomb blasts, terror funding, fake currency, narcotics, hawala, arms smuggling, and terrorism. He said the database will help the central agencies and police in states and union territories in investigations. Shah, who was speaking at an event to mark the 13th foundation day of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), said the database on terrorism will go a long way in helping investigations and securing convictions of terror accused. He added NIA, the central anti-terror probe agency, National Intelligence Grid, and the Intelligence Bureau were working on this. “Any data, if it is maintained in silos, is of no use, but if it is shared with each other and is analysed properly, it will be very helpful.” Shah lauded NIA for its investigation and its conviction rate in terror-related cases over the last 13 years. NIA, which was formed in 2009 in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, has a conviction rate of 93% in its cases. It has investigated over 400 cases since 2009 and filed charge sheets in at least 349 of them. President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia had seized Ukraine’s Mariupol even as his defence minister said more than 2,000 troops remain holed up in an industrial complex in the strategic southern port city. “Taking control of such an important centre in the South as Mariupol is a success,” Putin said in a televised meeting Thursday with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Mariupol would be the biggest city yet taken by Russia in its two-month invasion and is key to asserting control over the Donbas region and linking it by land with Crimea. But after more than a month of laying siege to the city and facing the prospect of a longer and deadlier standoff, Putin ordered Shoigu to call off the storm of the Azovstal steel works to save the lives of Russian troops. “Seal that industrial area off so that even a fly can’t get through,” he said, calling on the remaining Ukrainian troops at the plant to surrender. Russia’s announcement of victory came a day after the Ukrainian marine brigade commander defending Azovstal warned that his forces were heavily outnumbered and “we are probably facing our last days, if not hours” in the city that’s been largely destroyed by Russian bombardment. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will announce a number of commercial agreements as part of a ‘new era’ in bilateral trade and investment ties during his visit to India, news agency PTI reported the UK High Commission as saying Thursday shortly before he landed in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad. The High Commission said UK and Indian businesses would confirm 1 billion GBP in new investments and export deals – from software engineering to health – that will create nearly 11,000 jobs in the United Kingdom. The investments will include a R&D centre for electric buses in the UK. It will also include Indian firm Bharat Forge and electric truck manufacturer Tevva Motors expanding and creating 500 new jobs, as well as Indian software firm Mastek investing 79 million GBP to create 1,600 jobs in the UK over three years. “Negotiating teams will hold their third round of formal talks in India next week,” the High Commission statement said. “As I arrive in India today, I see vast possibilities for what our two great nations can achieve together. From next-generation 5G telecoms and AI to new partnerships in health research and renewable energy – the UK and India are leading the world,” Johnson was quoted as saying in the statement. The Supreme Court on Thursday extended the status quo until further orders on the razing of buildings in violence-hit Jahangirpuri area of the national capital, and said it would take a serious view of the demolition that was carried out even after its order was communicated to the NDMC mayor. A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai issued notice to the Centre and others on the plea filed by the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind that claimed that buildings of Muslim riots accused were razed. “Status quo to be maintained till further order…List after two weeks and pleadings to be completed till then,” the court said. “We will take a serious view of the demolition which was carried out even after Supreme Court orders, even after NDMC Mayor was informed. We will take that up later,” the bench said. At the outset, senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, said this matter raises far-reaching questions of constitutional and national importance.The bench asked, “What is national importance in this matter? It is only pertaining to an area.” Dave replied that this is going on everywhere wherever riots are taking place. Is it an instrument of state policy to engage in fake encounters and now bulldozers, he asked. The Assam Police late on Wednesday arrested Dalit leader and Independent lawmaker Jignesh Mevani from Gujarat’s Palanpur in connection with a case filed against him in the north-eastern state’s Kokrajhar over an “offensive” tweet about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. People aware of the matter said a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against Mevani under Indian Penal Code’s sections related to criminal conspiracy (120B), injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class (295A), promoting enmity between two communities (153A), intentional insult to provoke breach of the peace (504), criminal intimidation (506) and the Information Technology Act. The FIR was registered on the basis of a complaint Bodoland Territorial Region executive member and Bharatiya Janata Party functionary Arup Dey filed against Mevani, who represents Vadgam in Gujarat assembly, on April 18. It said the tweet referred to Modi and added he “worships and considers [Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin] ‘Godse’ as God” while asking the Prime Minister to appeal for peace and harmony in Gujarat’s communal violence-hit Himmatnagar, Khambhat, and Veraval during his visit to the state on April 20.