May 13, 2026 - IndiaVerve

NIA arrests Hizbul Mujahideen-linked narco-terror accused after extradition from Portugal

May 13, 2026 by India Verve Desk

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday arrested alleged narco-terror operative Iqbal Singh alias Shera after successfully securing his extradition from Portugal in connection with a Hizbul Mujahideen-linked terror financing case.

According to the agency, Shera was brought to India following sustained diplomatic and legal efforts and was taken into custody by an NIA team at Delhi airport upon his arrival from Portugal, where he had allegedly been hiding since 2020.

In a detailed post on X, the NIA described the extradition as a significant breakthrough in its crackdown on Pakistan-backed narco-terror and cross-border terror networks.

Shera was wanted in the case registered as RC-23/2020/NIA/DLI, related to a Hizbul Mujahideen narco-terror module. A non-bailable warrant had been issued against him in October 2020, while an Interpol notice for his arrest had been active since June 2021.

Investigators alleged that Shera played a key role in running an India-based narco-terror network involved in smuggling heroin from Pakistan into Punjab.

A resident of Amritsar, Punjab, Shera is accused of coordinating the trafficking and distribution of narcotics and routing the proceeds through hawala channels to Hizbul Mujahideen operatives based in Pakistan and Kashmir to support terror activities.

According to the NIA, he had also formed a Punjab-based gang involved in heroin trafficking, collection of drug proceeds, and transfer of funds to terror handlers and operatives linked to the Pakistan-based terror network.

The agency further alleged that Shera maintained close links with Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen operatives and played a central role in sustaining the anti-India narco-terror conspiracy.

The case was initially registered by Punjab Police after the arrest of Hizbul Mujahideen overground worker Hilal Ahmed Shergojri.

Police had recovered Rs 29 lakh in alleged drug proceeds from Hilal, who was described as a close aide of deceased Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Ahmed Naikoo.

Subsequent investigations also led to the recovery of another Rs 32 lakh allegedly linked to narco-terror funding from various Punjab-based members of the network.

The NIA said efforts are continuing to dismantle the wider module and investigate the case further.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat says return of sacred antiquities restores India’s civilisational memory

May 13, 2026 by India Verve Desk

New Delhi: Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Wednesday said the return of three sacred antiquities from the US marks the restoration of India’s civilisational memory and reflects the Centre’s commitment to reclaiming stolen cultural heritage.

Addressing a press conference at the National Museum in New Delhi, the minister described the repatriation of the historic bronzes from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art as a major milestone in India’s ongoing efforts to bring back looted artefacts and strengthen ethical museum practices globally.

The repatriated antiquities include a Chola-period Shiva Nataraja dating back to around 990 CE, a 12th-century Somaskanda sculpture depicting Shiva and Uma, and a 16th-century Vijayanagara-period bronze sculpture of Saint Sundarar with Paravai, according to an official statement.

According to the government, the sacred temple bronzes originally belonged to temples in Tamil Nadu and were illegally removed from India during the mid-20th century before being housed abroad.

Shekhawat said antiquities are not merely artistic objects but symbols of India’s spiritual traditions, historical continuity, and cultural identity. He added that illicit trafficking had deprived the country of several priceless treasures over the decades.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) traced the artefacts to their original temple sites through detailed provenance research using archival records, historical photographs, and field documentation from the 1950s and 1960s.

Officials said the findings helped facilitate coordinated discussions involving the Ministry of Culture, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Embassy of India in the US.

The Shiva Nataraja sculpture was identified as belonging to the Sri Bhava Aushadesvara Temple in Thanjavur district and had been photographed there in 1957.

The Saint Sundarar with Paravai bronze was photographed in 1956 at a Shiva temple in Veerasolapuram village, while the Somaskanda sculpture was photographed in 1959 at the Visvanatha Temple in Alattur village in Tamil Nadu.

The Somaskanda and Saint Sundarar with Paravai bronzes arrived in New Delhi on May 12, 2026. The Shiva Nataraja will be repatriated after its scheduled display in the exhibition titled “The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas.”

As part of a goodwill arrangement, the Government of India has agreed to a three-year loan agreement for the Shiva Nataraja sculpture from 2025 to 2028 to allow global audiences to understand its historical journey from origin to repatriation.

The minister also said India has successfully brought back 666 antiquities from different countries, including 653 since 2014, through diplomatic, legal, and institutional efforts involving the Ministry of Culture, ASI, Indian missions abroad, and enforcement agencies.

He further informed that 657 art objects of Indian origin were recently handed over by US law enforcement agencies to the Embassy of India in the US. Arrangements are currently being made for their transportation and verification by ASI experts.

The press conference was attended by Vivek Aggarwal, senior officials of the Ministry of Culture, the National Museum, and the ASI, along with members of the media and distinguished guests.

The event underlined India’s continuing efforts to restore and preserve its stolen cultural heritage through international cooperation and institutional support.

CM Mohan Charan Majhi backs PM Modi’s austerity call

May 13, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday announced a series of austerity measures in response to the oil crisis triggered by the ongoing situation in West Asia.

In a statement shared by the Chief Minister’s Office, the chief minister welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for austerity and said the state government would prioritise national interest during the challenging global situation.

As part of the initiative, Majhi immediately reduced the number of vehicles in his personal security convoy by half. In a post on X, he also appealed to people across Odisha to adopt measures aimed at conserving fuel and practising financial restraint.

The CM urged citizens to make greater use of public transport instead of personal vehicles. He also advised people to avoid unnecessary fuel consumption and use vehicles only when essential.

In addition, Majhi appealed to citizens to avoid unnecessary foreign travel and refrain from purchasing gold in view of the prevailing economic and geopolitical uncertainty linked to the West Asia crisis.

The statement stressed that collective discipline and responsible public behaviour were necessary to safeguard the nation’s economic stability during adverse circumstances.

Meanwhile, Majhi also highlighted the rapid transformation and expansion of the state’s railway infrastructure, with the approval of the new Puri–Koraput Express emerging as a major milestone in regional connectivity.

According to the state government, the new train service is expected to strengthen links between coastal, western, and southern Odisha, while improving travel for passengers, pilgrims, and tourists.

The Puri–Koraput Express will operate three days a week and run through key districts, including Sambalpur, before reaching Koraput.

Train number 18407 will depart from Puri on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, while train number 18408 will depart from Koraput on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

The train will halt at 19 stations, including Khordha Road, Bhubaneswar, Naraj-Marathapur, Dhenkanal, Talcher Road, Angul, Boinda, Rhedakhol, Sambalpur, Bargarh Road, Balangir, Titlagarh, Kesinga, Muniguda, Rayagada, Tikiri, Lakshmipur Road, Kakirigumma, and Damanjodi.

Majhi thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for supporting railway infrastructure growth and connectivity projects across the state.

Union Cabinet approves Rs 37,500 crore coal gasification scheme

May 13, 2026 by India Verve Desk

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved a Rs 37,500 crore scheme to promote surface coal and lignite gasification projects, aimed at strengthening India’s energy security and reducing dependence on imports of key products.

The scheme seeks to accelerate the country’s coal gasification programme and support the national target of gasifying 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030.

According to an official statement, the financial incentive will support new coal and lignite gasification projects for the production of syngas and downstream products. The initiative is expected to facilitate the gasification of nearly 75 million tonnes of coal and lignite.

The Centre said incentives under the scheme would be capped at 20% of the plant and machinery cost. Financial support for a single project has been capped at Rs 5,000 crore, while the limit for a single entity group across all projects has been fixed at Rs 12,000 crore.

The government also announced the extension of coal linkage tenure up to 30 years under the “Production of Syngas leading to Coal Gasification” sub-sector in the Non-Regulated Sector linkage auction framework.

The Centre said the scheme is expected to mobilise investments worth Rs 2.5 lakh crore to Rs 3 lakh crore and generate around 50,000 direct and indirect jobs across coal-bearing regions.

India currently holds around 401 billion tonnes of coal reserves and nearly 47 billion tonnes of lignite reserves. The government said coal gasification would help reduce imports of LNG, methanol, ammonia, urea, and coking coal.

In another key decision, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved an increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 Kharif crops for the 2026-27 marketing season.

The highest increase in MSP was announced for sunflower seed at Rs 622 per quintal, followed by cotton at Rs 557 per quintal, nigerseed at Rs 515 per quintal, and sesamum at Rs 500 per quintal.

Separately, the Union Cabinet also approved the extension of the lease period of the Airports Authority of India land leased to MIHAN India Limited beyond August 6, 2039.

The move will enable MIHAN India Limited to license GMR Nagpur International Airport Limited to operate Nagpur Airport for 30 years from the commercial operation date.

India’s Gyaneshwari Yadav bags bronze at Asian Weightlifting Championships 2026

May 13, 2026 by India Verve Desk

New Delhi: India’s Gyaneshwari Yadav on Wednesday produced an impressive performance to win a bronze medal in the women’s 53kg category at the 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships.

Competing against some of Asia’s top lifters, Gyaneshwari finished with a personal best total of 194kg to secure a podium finish in the event held in Gandhinagar.

The Indian lifter began strongly in the snatch segment, lifting a personal best 88kg to claim silver in that discipline. She followed it up with a 106kg effort in clean and jerk, which earned her bronze in the segment and helped her seal third place overall, according to reports.

China’s Zhao Jinlan dominated the competition with a total lift of 216kg to win the gold medal, while Vietnam’s Nguyen Hoai Huong took silver with an overall lift of 195kg.

Gyaneshwari’s medal-winning display marked a significant achievement for India at the continental championship, with the weightlifter delivering one of her strongest performances on the international stage.

Minister Swain reviews world skill center, pushes for expansion of industry-focused skilling

May 13, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Industries, Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain on Wednesday reviewed the progress and future roadmap of the World Skill Center (WSC) in the capital city and stressed the need to expand industry-linked skilling programmes and introduce new specialised technical courses.

During the review meeting, the minister said the World Skill Center has laid a strong foundation for advanced skill development in Odisha and called for wider utilisation of its infrastructure, stronger industry partnerships and greater coordination among educational institutions across the State.

“Our focus is to prepare Odisha’s youth not only for domestic employment opportunities but also for global platforms like WorldSkills,” Swain said during the meeting.

He also directed officials to increase student intake, expand short-term industry-oriented courses and introduce specialised technical programmes such as underwater welding and pipe welding.

Officials informed the Minister that the World Skill Center has emerged as a flagship institution in Odisha’s skill development sector and has trained more than 9,000 youths since its inception. The institution has achieved a placement rate of over 99 per cent, with 251 candidates securing overseas jobs in reputed companies such as Tata Group, Hitachi and Wipro, among others.

The Center has also trained over 4,000 faculty members through its ‘Training of Trainers’ programme and established Centres of Excellence in advanced sectors including Advanced Welding, Industrial Automation and Smart Manufacturing.

Swain further emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among government institutions, private Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and polytechnics to strengthen the State’s skilling ecosystem and improve employment opportunities for youth.

Skill Development and Technical Education Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Bhupendra Singh Poonia, World Skill Center CEO Rashmi Ranjan Mohapatra, COO Pinaki Pattnaik, Principal Dr Subhanga Kishore Das and other senior officials attended the meeting.

Deputy CM Pravati Parida blesses 38 newlywed couples under MKBY in Keonjhar

May 13, 2026 by IndiaVerve Staff

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Wednesday attended the district-level Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana (MKBY) programme in Keonjhar, where she blessed 38 newlywed couples and reviewed a range of women and child welfare initiatives along with key development projects in the district.

The event, organised by the Department of Women and Child Development at the Shankarpur Sports Complex, was attended by Keonjhar MP Ananta Nayak, Telkoi MLA and District Planning Committee Chairman Dr Fakir Mohan Naik, Collector Vishal Singh, DFO Dhanaraj HD, Additional District Magistrates Mandardhar Mahalik and Dr Priyanka Marandi, among others.

During her visit, Parida also chaired a review meeting at the Darbar Hall of the Collectorate to assess the progress of various developmental and welfare programmes being implemented in the district.

The Deputy Chief Minister reviewed infrastructure facilities at Anganwadi centres, including construction of dedicated buildings, drinking water supply, electricity connections and toilet facilities. She also assessed the implementation of nutrition monitoring initiatives and the distribution system being carried out through the Face Recognition System.

The review meeting further focused on the implementation of the Subhadra Yojana, including field-level verification of applications, as well as schemes such as Mission Shakti, Samarthya, Shakti Sadan and Palana Crèche services.

Officials also discussed awareness campaigns being conducted to make the district free from child marriage. Parida stressed the need for effective utilisation of District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds for women and child development programmes and highlighted the importance of rehabilitation and educational support for children living in child care institutions.

The Deputy Chief Minister also reviewed development and beautification works at major tourist destinations in Keonjhar, including Maa Tarini Temple, Sanaghagara, Badaghagara and Khandadhar. She assessed facilities such as parking, pathways and toilets at these locations.

Parida directed officials to ensure timely completion of all developmental projects and emphasised the need for regular monitoring to improve service delivery for beneficiaries.

Air India cuts select international flights amid rising fuel costs, airspace restrictions

May 14, 2026May 13, 2026 by India Verve Desk

New Delhi: Air India on Wednesday announced the rationalisation of select international services between June and August 2026, citing continued airspace restrictions across certain regions and record-high jet fuel prices impacting overseas operations.

In a press release, the airline said the temporary adjustments are aimed at improving overall network stability and minimising last-minute inconvenience to passengers amid operational and commercial challenges.

The financially struggling airline will temporarily suspend operations on the Delhi–Chicago, Mumbai–New York, Delhi–Shanghai, Chennai–Singapore, Mumbai–Dhaka, and Delhi–Male routes until August as part of its network rationalisation plan.

Despite the changes, Air India said it will continue operating more than 1,200 international flights every month across five continents, maintaining a strong global network.

According to the airline, its international schedule during the period will include 33 weekly flights to North America, 47 weekly flights to Europe, 57 weekly flights to the UK, eight weekly flights to Australia, 158 weekly flights to the Far East, Southeast Asia, and SAARC regions, and seven weekly flights to Mauritius in Africa.

Air India also assured passengers that customers affected by cancellations will receive proactive support, including re-accommodation on alternative Air India flights, free date changes, or full refunds, depending on eligibility.

The airline added that passengers can continue to seek assistance through its 24×7 customer contact centre and digital support channels.

Leopard conservation event in Bhubaneswar to spotlight biodiversity under MoEFCC initiative

May 13, 2026 by India Verve Desk

Bhubaneswar: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) will organise a thematic event on leopard conservation and biodiversity in Bhubaneswar, as part of a nationwide series highlighting India’s big cat conservation efforts.

The Bhubaneswar programme will focus on leopard conservation and will be observed alongside the International Day for Biological Diversity. It aims to promote coexistence between humans and wildlife, especially in human-dominated landscapes where leopards are often found near settlements.

The initiative is part of a larger set of thematic events being conducted across India under the International Big Cat Alliance, which highlights conservation of the tiger, Asiatic lion, leopard, snow leopard, and cheetah, according to an official statement.

In Odisha, the event will showcase ongoing conservation measures, including conflict mitigation, rapid response systems, rescue and rehabilitation infrastructure, and awareness programmes for communities living close to forest areas. Capacity building for frontline forest staff and the use of technology for monitoring conflict-prone wildlife will also be highlighted.

Officials said Odisha’s biodiversity efforts, along with ecosystem restoration and community participation models, will be key focus areas during the Bhubaneswar event.

The programme is expected to underline the importance of coexistence strategies and strengthen public engagement in biodiversity conservation under national wildlife protection initiatives.

PV Sindhu, Kidambi Srikanth advance to pre-quarterfinals at Thailand Open 2026

May 13, 2026 by India Verve Desk

New Delhi: Indian shuttlers PV Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth made impressive starts to their campaigns at the Thailand Open on Wednesday after registering convincing victories in the opening round in Bangkok, Thailand.

Sixth-seeded Sindhu defeated Chinese Taipei’s Tung Ciou-Tong 21-9, 21-12 in straight games to storm into the pre-quarterfinals of the women’s singles event. The Indian ace dominated the match from the beginning and wrapped up the contest comfortably.

Srikanth pulled off a major upset by defeating Singapore’s former world champion and eighth seed Loh Kean Yew 21-14, 21-15 in the men’s singles opening round. Srikanth looked sharp throughout the match and controlled the rallies effectively to seal a straight-game victory, according to reports.

However, it was a mixed outing for the Indian contingent as Tharun Mannepalli suffered a 12-21, 16-21 defeat against Japan’s Koki Watanabe.

In women’s singles, young Indian shuttler Unnati Hooda put up a spirited fight against Thailand’s fourth seed Pornpawee Chochuwong before losing 21-11, 17-21, 16-21 in a hard-fought three-game encounter.

Asian Championships finalist Ayush Shetty also exited the tournament after going down to Japan’s sixth seed Kodai Naraoka 13-21, 21-17, 4-21 in the men’s singles competition.

The Thailand Open 2026 is being held in Bangkok as part of the BWF World Tour Super 500 circuit.