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Over 20 Chinese warships and 160 planes spotted around Taiwan as China tries to intimidate its neighbour

OpIndia Staff
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Over 20 Chinese warships and 160 planes spotted around Taiwan as China tries to intimidate its neighbour

On 16th September, China Navy launched its largest-even manoeuvres with an aircraft carrier in the western Pacific around Taiwan. As per reports, the exercise was conducted to flex military muscle to push back against the US and its allies.

As per a Financial Times report, two Asian security officials said that China’s Shandong, which is the second largest aircraft carrier, was on course to converge with over 20 other Chinese warships. The exercise took place in the waters between Taiwan, the Philippines and the US Pacific territory of Guam.

Su Tzu-yun, an analyst at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, a defence-ministry-backed think-tank in Taipei, said, “This is by far the largest number of ships we have seen training with any Chinese carrier so far. They are expressing their displeasure with the various military exercises that have been underway in their periphery.”

The defence ministry of Taiwan counted 20 PLA warships in the waters around the country on the morning of September 12. Though the ministry did not provide more details on the matter, there was an announcement on 11th September that Shandong had sailed through Bashi Channel which separates Taiwan from the Philippines. Japan also reported eight PLA naval vessels into the Pacific via the Miyako Strait, which is located south of Okinawa. Japan spotted six missile destroyers and two frigates in those waters.

Since 2021, the Liaoning and the Shandong have conducted several training missions in the Western Pacific. However, those missions had smaller groups of ships. Mostly, there were four destroyers or frigates with one support ship in those missions. However, this time, China’s Navy conducted a much larger mission.

As per Ian Ellis, founder of IEJ Media, over 20 ships were deployed by China, a new single-day record. Over 160 planes were also detected by the agencies. Three Surface Action Groups reportedly participated in the drills.

China’s government or the Navy did not announce the drills. Reportedly, the drills stimulated a blockade in the region.

Furthermore, Ian said in one of the posts on X (formerly Twitter) that China violated the Air Defence Identifier Zone as 161 Chinese warplanes were detected around Taiwan, and 86 of them reportedly crossed into Taiwan’s air defence Zone.

Notably, China’s action appeared to be a response to a series of US-led military exercises in four locations around China. At least two dozen nations participated in those exercises. In August, Japan, Australia and the Philippines conducted a naval drill led by the US. Later, the US also conducted a bilateral sail with a Philippines’ ship and a joint coast guard operation with Thailand.

In September first week, South Korea, Canada, and the US participated in a drill on the anniversary of a Korean war battle. Later, the US and South Korea conducted a joint sail in the Yellow Sea. A week before China’s naval mission, the US, Japan and Canada operated in the East China Sea. Later, a US destroyer and a Canadian frigate sailed through the Taiwan Strait.

A joint drill led by the US and Indonesia with 19 nations was underway while China was conducting its mission in the nearby waters.

Free bus rides, subsidised electricity, ₹2500 dole for women each month: Congress party announces freebies ahead of Telangana Vidhan Sabha elections

OpIndia Staff
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Free bus rides, subsidised electricity, ₹2500 dole for women each month: Congress party announces freebies ahead of Telangana Vidhan Sabha elections

With an eye to ace the Telangana Vidhan Sabha elections, which are scheduled to be held later this year, the Congress party announced a plethora of freebies and cash handouts to entice the voters.

On Sunday (September 17), Congress President Malikarjun Kharge said that the party would provide ₹12000 to farm workers annually, and ₹15000 per acre per year to tenant and landholding farmers.

Congress also claimed to provide ₹500 per quintal extra for paddy, besides the Minimum Support Price (MSP), under ‘Rythu Bharosa’ scheme. Party leader Sonia Gandhi also announced ₹2500 monthly dole for women under the ‘Mahalakshmi scheme’.

In line with its poll promises in Karnataka, the grand-old party also announced free rides for women in Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRC) buses and free electricity for up to 200 units.

“2,500 per month financial assistance will be given to women in Telangana under the Mahalakshmi scheme, gas cylinders at ₹500, and free travel for women in TSRC buses across the state, to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Telangana we are announcing 6 guarantees and we are committed to fulfill each one of them,” Sonia Gandhi was heard saying.

The Congress party also vowed to provide LPG cylinders at ₹500 and ₹5 lakh under ‘Indiraamma Indulu’ housing scheme. Earlier in July this year, Congress scion Rahul Gandhi announced that the party would provide ₹4000 monthly handouts to senior citizens under the ‘Cheyutha pension’ scheme if it is elected to power in Telangana.

Congress Minister admits ‘freebies’ will affect infrastructure development in Karnataka

In June this year, Karnataka Minister of Small-Scale Industries and Public Enterprises Sharanabasappa Darshanapur admitted that the guarantee schemes announced by the Congress party would take a direct toll on the infrastructure development within the state. 

The Congress Minister stated that infrastructure development in the state would be affected to some extent during the first year of the Congress government in office. He claimed that this would happen because of the guarantee schemes launched by the Siddaramaiah government.

The minister pointed out that there will be a financial burden of Rs 40,000 crore to Rs 50,000 crore on the exchequer due to these guarantee schemes.  Darshanapur said, “We need more than ₹50,000 crores annually for the implementation of our five guarantees. This may affect the development works to some extent.”

The Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCC&I) announced a “bandh” on June 22. This decision came as a response to the sudden increase in electricity prices implemented by the electricity supply companies (ESCOMs).

Congo government dismisses reports of military coup against President Denis Nguesso

OpIndia Staff
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Congo government dismisses reports of military coup against President Denis Nguesso

On Sunday, September 17, the Congolese government rubbished the reports of a coup attempt against President Denis Nguesso. Government spokesperson Teri Lezen Manqala denied rumours of a state coup saying that everything is calm.

Social media was rife with rumours of a coup in the African nation at a time when its President had arrived in New York to attend the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Congo’s information minister Thierry Moungalla took to X, formerly Twitter, to deny the local media reports saying, “URGENT – Fanciful information suggests serious events that are underway at #Brazzaville . The Government denies this fake news. We reassure public opinion about the calm that reigns and invite people to calmly go about their activities. #ComGouvCg.”

The reports said that the identities of the coup plotters were unknown but suggested that the presidential guard commander had a role to play.

Rumours circulating on social media claimed that the military was taking control of strategic locations in Brazzaville, the capital of Congo. Brazzaville is located on the bank of the Congo River opposite Kinshasa, the capital of the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Reports say that speculation about a coup in Congo has been rife since August after the military took over in Gabon following the victory of the ousted President Ali Bongo.

Congo President Nguesso, 79, had announced his arrival in New York on Sunday (17 September). He said, “My stay in the city is also an opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations and promote the summit of the three tropical forest basins to be held next month in Brazzaville.”

Nguesso won a fourth consecutive term in March 2021 with 88.57 per cent votes. He first assumed power in 1979 after a coup in 1977. He ran a one-party regime until 1992 when he lost the country’s first multi-party polls but returned to power in 1997.

Ever since, Nguesso, nicknamed “The Emperor”, has remained the President. He has been accused of fraud by the Opposition. In 2015, he made a constitutional reform allowing him to run for a new mandate in 2016.

US military’s $150 million F-35 jet is flying without a pilot somewhere, govt asks for help from the public to help locate it

OpIndia Staff
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US military’s $150 million F-35 jet is flying without a pilot somewhere, govt asks for help from the public to help locate it

On 17 September, United States military officials sought help from the public to find an F-35 fighter jet. When the pilot ejected, the military lost track of the fighter jet somewhere over South Carolina, but the plane continued flying on autopilot. The fighter jet that has gone missing is worth USD 150 million.

A Marine Corps pilot ejected the F-35B Lightning II Jet over North Charleston on the afternoon of 17th September after a mishap. The search for the missing fighter jet has focused on two lakes located north of North Charleston.

Major Melanie Salinas said that at around 2 PM, the pilot parachuted safely, after which he was taken to the hospital. The pilot’s name has not been released to the media by the military. Senior Master Sergeant Heather Stanton at Joint Base Charleston said that based on the location and trajectory of the missing fighter jet, the search had been focused around Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion. Stanton added that the search operation was started with a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division helicopter after bad weather cleared the area.

Local Congresswoman Nancy Mace expressed shock over the reports and questioned how the military could lose a fighter jet. She said, “How in the hell do you lose an F-35? How is there not a tracking device, and we’re asking the public to what, find a jet and turn it in?”

It is unclear under what circumstances the pilot ejected the fighter jet.

Libya flood: UN revises death toll, says at least 3,958 persons have died, over 9000 still missing

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Libya flood: UN revises death toll, says at least 3,958 persons have died, over 9000 still missing

The United Nations has amended the previous death toll from Libya floods, stating that at least 3,958 people have died instead of 11,300 as was earlier reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), CNN reported. 
According to the revised report updated on Sunday morning from the OCHA, the UN has now pegged the toll at 3,958, citing the World Health Organization (WHO). 

As per the updated report, over 9000 people are still missing, according to CNN. However, the OCHA, in its previous report, said at least 11,300 people died in Derna due to devastating flooding, citing the Libyan Red Crescent figures for Saturday’s report, according to CNN. 

Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, told CNN on Sunday, “We’re going with figures just verified by WHO.”
However, earlier, the Libyan Red Crescent Society told CNN that it never released the high death figure tolls to the UN from the flooding in Derna.  

On why the UN cited the death toll incorrectly, Haq said, “In a lot of different tragedies we end up revising our numbers. So that’s just what’s happening here.”

He added, “Standard procedure is we work with different parties trying to make sure our numbers are cross-checked. Whenever we do these revisions it’s because our numbers are being cross-checked.”

The deputy spokesperson said the death toll figures are fluid and “can go upward or downward.” 

Moreover, on Derna’s seafront, where the aftermath of the disaster is evident, rescue teams were working tirelessly to clear the way for further relief efforts. A helicopter scanned the sea for bodies, and diggers strove to remove obstacles obstructing rescue operations.

In Derna, which has an estimated population of at least 120,000, entire districts were swept away or buried in brown mud after two dams south of the city broke, releasing torrents of floodwater down a usually dry riverbed.

The UN’s humanitarian affairs office said it had initiated an appeal for USD 71 million to aid those affected by the disaster. The World Health Organization has also taken action, flying in emergency aid to reach nearly 2,50,000 people in eastern Libya, providing essential medicines, surgery supplies, and body bags.

Saudi Arabia and Russia have contributed aid flights, including mobile hospitals, while an Italian naval ship arrived in Derna with supplies such as tents, blankets, water pumps, and tractors.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Chhattisgarh Dy CM TS Singhdeo apologises for praising Modi govt, Kharge orders leaders not to praise PM Modi ‘unnecessarily’

OpIndia Staff
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Chhattisgarh Dy CM TS Singhdeo apologises for praising Modi govt, Kharge orders leaders not to praise PM Modi ‘unnecessarily’

The Congress is reportedly miffed over Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister TS Singhdeo’s praise for the Modi government at the Centre. Singhdeo, while sharing the stage with the Prime Minister at an event in Raigarh on 14 September showered praises on the Central government.

“You have come here today to give something. You have given a lot of things to Chhattisgarh, and I trust that in the future too, you will keep providing us with more,” the deputy CM said.

He added, “We have always worked under the guidance of the Central government, and I do not want to miss out on saying that, in my experience, I did not feel any partiality… In the state, when we asked for something from the Central government, they… never denied help. And I believe that going forward, the state and Centre will work together in all the fields to take our country and state forward.”

Prime Minister Modi bowed his head with joined hands signalling gratitude and also shook hands with him later. A clipping of the same went viral across X, formerly Twitter.

BJP leaders also shared the same criticising Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel for accusing the Centre of allegedly not implementing schemes in the state while his deputy claimed otherwise.

Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel has upped his ante against the BJP with elections approaching. He often blames the Centre for not allotting the money or implementing schemes in the state.

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) was reportedly perturbed at the heaps of praises bestowed upon the Prime Minister by their senior leader ahead of the Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections.

Explaining his statement at the event, TS Singhdeo told The Indian Express that he said such words keeping in mind the dignity of the Prime Minister. “There is a tradition of hospitality in our state. Things were said at a government forum keeping in mind the dignity of the Prime Minister. I did not want to get involved in allegations and counter-allegations on the platform. My statement was only related to the demands of my department.”

A Congress spokesperson reportedly said that Singhdeo was merely being respectful to the PM’s chair. Chhattisgarh Congress’ media cell in-charge Sushil Anand Shukla said, “Singh Deo-ji was sharing the stage with the PM and hence he was being diplomatic.”

Mallikarjun Kharge displeased with TS Singhdeo, say reports

The senior Congress leader was, however, pulled up by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge at the CWC meeting expressing his disappointment. The deputy CM was prompted to issue an apology for his praises for the PM.

This came after TS Singhdeo had reportedly already apologised to the Congress in-charge for Chhattisgarh Kumari Selja after she pointed out the mistake to him.

A leader present at the meeting reportedly said, “He (Kharge) told Singh Deo that his apology will not undo the mistake. He asked Singh Deo and all other CWC members to be careful and not praise the PM unnecessarily.”

“Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge then told him that despite being sorry, the damage had been done. As a deputy Chief Minister and a senior member, people would take his words seriously,” the leader reportedly added.

The Congress also cited the example of Singdeo in order to caution other leaders.

Furthermore, the Chhattisgarh deputy CM took to X issuing a public apology the next day. “There has always been a tradition of hospitality in our state and the entire country. At an official forum, some things were said keeping in mind the dignity of the Prime Minister. I did not want to get involved in the politics of allegations and counter-allegations through the platform. And, my statement was only related to the demands of my department,” TS Singhdeo wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

But the Congress had already gotten into damage control mode. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said that Singhdeo was only following “protocol”. He said that the deputy CM had not brought up any divisive issue or made a political statement.

Jairam Ramesh added that Singhdeo’s conduct was “unlike the Prime Minister who abused the Congress from every government function”.

This comes after TS Singhdeo was made deputy Chief Minister in the Baghel government in June to prevent the two leaders from sparring with state elections approaching fast.

Keep your advice at Pappu’s home: Former Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria shuts down pro-Congress troll

OpIndia Staff
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Keep your advice at Pappu’s home: Former Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria shuts down pro-Congress troll

On Monday (September 18), former Pakistani Hindu cricketer Danish Kaneria slammed a pro-Congress troll after the latter mocked him for wishing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday.

“From Kabul to Kamrup, from Gilgit to Rameshwaram, we are one. But what can i do if Pidis will not understand,” Kaneria tweeted. He further added, “So, keep your advice at Pappu’s home.”

Screengrab of the tweet by Danish Kaneria

On Sunday (September 16), the former Pakistani Hindu cricketer shared his greetings on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 73rd birthday.

While posting a picture of PM Modi, he wrote, “Birthday greetings to the guardian of Bharat, Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi. PM Modi has proved that India can lead the world. Today, the entire world is talking about “वसुधैव कुटुंबकम्”। I pray to Lord Ram for his good health and success.”

Soon after, he was attacked by Congress trolls on social media. X user ‘Dr Nimo Yadav’ mocked Kaneria for supposedly interfering in the personal matter of India.

“Don’t interfere in our personal matter. @DanishKaneria61, we don’t want any Pakistani to say a single word about our beloved PM,” the pro-Congress troll tweeted.

Screengrab of the tweet by pro-Congress troll

Kaneria did not mince any words and lambasted the troll for not understanding the ethos of Bharat and the Sanatan Dharma. The ex-cricketer emphasised that it is hard for ‘piddis’ and ‘pappu’ fans to comprehend his message.

Danish Kaneria, who happens to be the second Hindu to play for the Pakistan cricket team, had been unabashed about his religious identity. Earlier, he expressed his wish to visit the majestic Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and seek blessings from the Lord.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urges China for ‘full access’ to solve origins of COVID-19

OpIndia Staff
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WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urges China for ‘full access’ to solve origins of COVID-19

The Chief of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has urged Beijing to grant ‘full access’ and offer more information on the origins of COVID-19, the Financial Times reported on Sunday (17 September). He also claimed that the world health body is ready to send a second team to probe the matter if Beijing allows it. 

Tedros said, “We’re pressing China to give full access, and we are asking countries to raise it during their bilateral meetings — [to urge Beijing] to cooperate. We have already asked in writing to give us information . . and also [are] willing to send a team if they allow us to do so.”

While scientists are in agreement that the world has moved past the acute phase of the pandemic, the global health body has urged nations to increase surveillance of the highly mutated BA.2.86 and other Omicron subvariants.

During the UN’s General Assembly in New York next week, World leaders, for the first time, will discuss pandemic preparedness at high-level meetings.

Speaking with Financial Times, Tedros said that he travelled to Beijing in order to convince Chinese President Xi Jinping in January 2020 to allow the first Covid-19 mission of WHO experts into the country. Back then, the mission was led by the health body’s Bruce Aylward. 

There were two prominent theories regarding the origin of Covid-19. There was hypotheses that either a zoonotic jump from animals to humans via Wuhan’s wet food markets or contagion stemming from an accidental leak from the city’s virology laboratory started the pandemic.

Initially, the market theory was accepted and propagated by governments, including the US govt. But now it is generally agreed by all that the virus leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. It is believed that the virus was leaked accidentally while researchers were conducting studies on it.

While speaking with the Financial Times, Tedros reiterated that all options still remain “on the table”.

He said, “Unless we get evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, we cannot just say this or that.” But he believes “we will get the answer. It’s a matter of time.”

Regarding his meeting with Xi, Tedros said, “I went and met the president. The officials below him were not willing to allow us to send a team. So I had to travel to convince him why it’s so important.”

The WHO has been accused of being submissive regarding China’s slow initial response and health experts criticise arguing that China’s slow and opaque response enabled global transmission rates to spread beyond its borders. 

However, Tedros rejected this and stated that the organisation collaborated with China as it took steps to limit the virus. He said the WHO then openly criticised Beijing when it did not allow the health body to effectively probe the origins of Covid-19.

In 2021, the WHO went back to China to undertake its first origins mission but it returned with an inconclusive and highly criticised report, citing Beijing’s lack of cooperation as a factor. 

Tedros said, “On the origin study, since they are not giving us full access, we started discussions in private and then when they refused to cooperate, we made it public.” 

He added, “If we know [the origin], then we can prevent the next one. So it’s science. It will not be morally correct if we don’t know what happened.” 

However, he claimed that the pandemic was politicised from the start. Four years after the first case was reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan, there are still no answers for “all those who have paid for this pandemic”, Tedros said the coronavirus crisis had made many governments realise the value of boosting their health systems’ resilience.

Chhattisgarh: 51-year-old Nabi Alam Khan trapped a 20-year-old Hindu girl and raped her several times, wife and son helped him by getting the girl aborted

OpIndia Staff
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Chhattisgarh: 51-year-old Nabi Alam Khan trapped a 20-year-old Hindu girl and raped her several times, wife and son helped him by getting the girl aborted

A heart-wrenching case of Love Jihad emerged from Chhattisgarh’s Raipur where a 51-year-old Nabi Alam Khan trapped a 20-year-old Hindu girl in Love Jihad, media reported on Saturday (16 September). As per reports, the middle-aged man, Nabi Alam lured the Hindu girl under the guise of extra salary, and later in the pretext of marriage, he raped the victim girl multiple times. 

However, the victim’s harrowing experience didn’t end there as she was repeatedly physically abused and beaten by Nabi’s wife and son. It is further alleged that together the three of them forced the victim to undergo abortion.  

Narrating her ordeal, the victim raised these serious allegations and said, “In the name of marriage, he raped me and then he continued exploiting me. He used to torture, beat me, and even got me aborted.”

As per the victim’s complaint, the accused Nabi Alam Khan who works as a grill maker, trapped a 20-year-old Hindu girl in Love Jihad. The victim who is a resident of Durg, used to work in a beauty parlor in Raipur. In the wake of her job, she lives away from her family in a rented house. Last year, Nabi established contact with her and promised to employ her at a higher salary. Afterward, he continued to chat with the victim to develop her trust and later courted her to work with him for a higher salary. 

It is alleged that during the employment period, Nabi Alam Khan raped the victim girl. This started a vicious cycle of sexual assault and rape against the victim. However, when the victim protested against it, the accused Nabi Alam pacified the victim by giving false promises to marry her. He then got the girl shifted to a rented house where he regularly frequented and raped the victim on the false pretext of marriage. 

This continued for months and in the meantime he also changed the name of the Hindu girl to ‘Tarannum’ and would regularly refer to her by this name. However, when the victim got pregnant, he panicked and also started to physically assault her. By then, Nabi’s wife and son also started helping him. They started beating the girl and got her aborted. 

Even after the abortion, the girl remained under duress from Nabi’s family who regularly kept beating her. However, after repeated cycles of rape and torcher, the girl approached the police to file a complaint in this matter. 

According to media reports, the local police have confirmed that the accused Nabi Alam had saved the victim’s name in his mobile as ‘Tarannum’.

The police have arrested the accused and started an investigation into the matter under various sections of Love Jihad. They are investigating the case from every angle. 

Assam Congress chief Bhupen Borah to write to Singapore govt urging to withdraw Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship awarded to Himanta Biswa Sarma

OpIndia Staff
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Assam Congress chief Bhupen Borah to write to Singapore govt urging to withdraw Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship awarded to Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Congress chief Bhupen Borah is unhappy over the Singapore government’s decision to confer CM Himanta Biswa Sarma with the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship. The Congress leader is so angry over the development that he has decided to write to the Singapore government opposing the move, asking to revoke the decision.

Bhupen Borah has said that he will write to the Singapore government through its embassy in India, urging them to withdraw the Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship awarded to Himanta Biswa Sarma.

In a statement, Bhupen Borah said that Himanta Biswa Sarma is not suitable for such an honour. ‘Lee Kuan Yew, the Father of Singapore, was an exemplary statesman who demonstrated honesty, hardwork and civility all his life. On the other hand, Himanta Biswa Sarma exemplifies the opposite of everything that Lee Kuan Yew stood for,’ he said.

Borah argued that Himanta Biswa Sarma’s track record and actions stand in stark contrast to the principles upheld by Lee Kuan Yew, according to a report by India Today NE.

Bhupen Borah listed several reasons justifying his opposition to the fellowship to the Assam CM. He said that Himanta Biswa Sarma regularly makes highly communalised statements against minorities. Borah also added that the BJP govt led by Sarma has failed to provide basic services to citizens, and at the same time, the state’s debt is increasing.

It is notable that Bhupen Borah was in Hyderabad to attend the two-day CWC meeting that concluded today.

Earlier in the day the Chief Minister’s office had announced that Himanta Biswa Sarma has been bestowed with the renowned Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship by the Singapore govt. He has been conferred with the fellowship in recognition of his dedicated leadership in public works and development, and his immense role in championing the cause of development and international harmony, the statement said.

As part of the Fellowship, he has been extended the invitation to visit Singapore as a Lee Kuan Yew Fellow.

Founded in 1991, the Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellowship was launched as a tribute to Lee Kuan Yew, who was the founding Prime Minister of Singapore, for his contributions to the nation. The Patron of the Fellowship is the Prime Minister of Singapore.

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