Speaking at the event, Modi said he first visited New Zealand around 25–30 years ago, long before becoming part of any government. During that visit, he was gifted three items—a scarf, a cap and a pair of gloves.

“I brought all three items back to India. I used the scarf many times and have preserved it even today. In fact, I have brought the same scarf with me to this programme,” the Prime Minister said.

Highlighting India’s approach to international partnerships, Modi said the country values the spirit of public welfare over the size of a nation’s population.

“For us, it is not the population of a country that matters, but the spirit of public welfare. We have learned a great deal from New Zealand and continue to do so,” he said.

Following the community event in Auckland, Prime Minister Modi departed for India, concluding his visit to New Zealand.

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The sanctions target several individuals and entities, including Dubai-based Iranian banker and businessman Ali Ansari, who has already been sanctioned by the United Kingdom for allegedly providing financial support to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

According to the US Treasury, Ansari is a key financier for Iran’s current leadership and is accused of building a vast overseas business and real estate empire using misappropriated public funds. The department alleges that the network was used to benefit himself, influential figures within the Iranian government and the IRGC.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has also sanctioned several Iranian exchange houses accused of processing billions of dollars in transactions on behalf of sanctioned Iranian banks. US authorities allege these institutions used a complex network of shell companies to conceal illicit financial activities and evade international sanctions.

The latest sanctions come after heightened tensions in the Gulf following a series of attacks on commercial shipping. According to the US, Iran recently targeted commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Washington to expand economic pressure on Tehran.

The announcement follows a week of military escalation in the region. Reports said Iran allegedly opened fire on commercial tankers linked to Qatar and Saudi Arabia, after which the United States carried out strikes on Iranian targets. Iran later responded by targeting US military installations in Gulf countries, further escalating tensions between the two nations.

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The incident occurred aboard a flight travelling from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany, while the aircraft was cruising at an altitude of around 30,000 feet over North Macedonia.

According to passengers, a 61-year-old Serbian tourist seated next to the damaged window had his head and shoulders forced outside the aircraft after the window broke. His wife immediately grabbed his legs, while nearby passengers rushed to help pull him back into the cabin. His seat belt reportedly prevented him from being completely ejected.

A female passenger told local media that most people were asleep when they heard a loud bang similar to a tyre bursting, followed by screams. Oxygen masks automatically deployed as the cabin rapidly depressurised, and passengers noticed a strong smell inside the aircraft.

Ryanair confirmed that the passenger sustained injuries resembling burns and was taken to hospital after landing. The airline said he is in stable condition.

Greek media reported that the window may have been damaged by debris from an engine component, although authorities have not officially confirmed the cause.

Following the incident, the aircraft returned to Thessaloniki, where it landed safely. Ryanair said all passengers were safely evacuated to the terminal, and alternative arrangements were made to transport them to Memmingen. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

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According to a release issued by the US Attorney’s Office, 63-year-old Guramrit Sidhu, of Brampton, Ontario, was sentenced by US District Judge John A. Kronstadt. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also confirmed the sentencing in connection with the narcotics trafficking case.

Sidhu pleaded guilty on March 26 to one count of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise and has remained in federal custody since October 2024.

According to his plea agreement, Sidhu led a drug trafficking organisation between September 2020 and February 2023 that transported illegal narcotics from the United States into Canada for distribution.

Between September 13 and October 24, 2022, Sidhu coordinated eight separate drug shipments involving approximately 523 kilograms of methamphetamine and 347 kilograms of cocaine, all of which were seized by law enforcement agencies.

Authorities estimated the wholesale value of the seized drugs at between $15 million and $17 million. Investigators said Sidhu arranged for the drugs to be purchased in the United States and transported into Canada using long-haul semi-trucks for further distribution.

The investigation also found that Sidhu supplied couriers with telephone numbers and serial numbers from currency notes to be used as identification “tokens” during deliveries. After the shipments reached Canada, Sidhu and his associates allegedly collected the drugs from various locations for further distribution.

Sidhu is the eighth defendant in the case to plead guilty. Several other accused have also admitted their roles and have received federal prison sentences ranging from 27 months to 108 months.

The investigation was carried out by the FBI, Los Angeles Police Department, LA IMPACT Task Force, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), US Customs and Border Protection, and law enforcement authorities in Mexico. The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) also provided significant assistance, while the US Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs worked with Canadian authorities to secure Sidhu’s arrest and extradition to the United States in October 2024.

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The name retained the top spot in the annual rankings, reflecting its continued popularity among parents across the two countries.

Among baby girls, Olivia remained the most popular name, continuing its long run at the top of the rankings.

The latest data highlights ongoing naming trends across England and Wales, with Muhammad maintaining its position as the country’s most commonly chosen boys’ name for a third year in a row.

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The accused, Avinash Narne (30), a native of Telangana, was arrested after a nearly nine-month investigation. He is currently in custody and has been charged with first-degree murder. Authorities have set his bail at $5 million (approximately ₹47 crore). If convicted, he could face life imprisonment.

Avinash married Rajita Sabbineni (27) in an arranged marriage on June 5, 2025. About five months later, on October 27, 2025, he called emergency services claiming that his wife had locked herself inside the bathroom and was not responding.

When police forced open the bathroom door, Rajita was found dead. Avinash told investigators that he had been away from home for around 40 minutes and discovered her inside the bathroom after returning.

However, investigators examined the apartment’s smart lock and security system data, which reportedly showed that no one entered or left the apartment during the period Avinash claimed to be away, ruling out the involvement of an intruder.

A post-mortem examination concluded that Rajita died due to strangulation, prompting police to treat the case as a homicide.

During the investigation, police also uncovered evidence that Avinash had allegedly been in a long-term relationship with a woman in India even after entering into the arranged marriage. According to investigators, the woman had attended the couple’s wedding, and the two remained in regular contact afterward.

Police said Avinash spoke to his girlfriend at least four times on the day of the alleged murder. During questioning, he also admitted that he sent her a photograph of Rajita’s body the following day.

Investigators further recovered text messages exchanged between the couple, in which Rajita had repeatedly complained that drinks prepared by her husband tasted unusually bitter. On the day of her death, she reportedly messaged that a smoothie made by Avinash tasted like medicine and cough syrup.

When officers initially arrived at the residence, Avinash claimed that his wife had been unwell and suggested she may have collapsed in the bathroom after consuming cough syrup.

Police spent several months examining digital records, call logs and forensic evidence before re-interviewing Avinash in July 2026, after which he was arrested on charges of first-degree murder.

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The remarks were made by RCMP Deputy Commissioner Lisa Moreland, hours after US authorities accused jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his associate Satinderjit Singh alias Goldy Brar of ordering Nijjar’s murder.

The statement came following Operation Hard Ball, a joint law enforcement operation involving agencies from the United States, Canada and Europe, which led to the arrest of 24 people allegedly linked to three India-based organised crime groups, including the Bishnoi gang. The accused face charges related to Nijjar’s murder conspiracy and other cross-border organised crime offences.

Speaking to CBC News, Moreland said investigators had not found any evidence connecting Indian government officials to Nijjar’s killing.

Responding to questions about Trudeau’s earlier allegations, she said the organised crime investigation and the charges filed so far contained no evidence implicating Indian government officials in the case.

Moreland also stated that the Government of India had cooperated with the investigation.

The case had triggered a major diplomatic dispute after Justin Trudeau alleged, weeks after Nijjar’s killing outside a gurdwara in British Columbia, that Indian government agents were involved in the assassination. India has consistently rejected those allegations.

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According to federal indictments unsealed in Los Angeles as part of Operation Hard Ball, a Punjab Police officer identified as Gurinderjit Singh allegedly worked with members of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria organised crime group to falsely implicate rivals in murder cases and extort money from victims.

The allegations are detailed in documents released by the US Department of Justice, which stated that corruption at the local level in Punjab allegedly enabled transnational criminal networks to operate across multiple countries.

As per the indictment, in April 2026, Gurlal Singh, a 22-year-old Indian national living illegally in Stockton, California, and an alleged member of the Bhagwanpuria syndicate, shared the details of a victim with Gurinderjit Singh. Investigators believe Gurinderjit Singh was serving as a Station House Officer (SHO) in Punjab at the time.

US authorities allege that the officer assisted the syndicate by using his official position to target individuals with fabricated criminal accusations while facilitating extortion activities.

The allegations form part of Operation Hard Ball, a coordinated law enforcement operation involving agencies from the United States, Canada and Europe, targeting transnational organised crime networks linked to India.

The claims are based on US federal court indictments. There has been no official response from the Punjab Police or Gurinderjit Singh regarding the allegations at the time of publication.

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Goldy Brar is also one of the main accused in the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. He has been declared a most wanted criminal by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Punjab Police, both of which have already announced separate cash rewards for information about him.

In a post on X, the FBI said Brar is wanted for his alleged role in the Lawrence Bishnoi organised crime group, which investigators say is involved in violent criminal activities across the United States and Canada. The agency has added Brar to its Most Wanted fugitives list.

According to the FBI, a federal arrest warrant was issued against Brar on July 1 by the US District Court for the Central District of California. He faces charges including RICO conspiracy, conspiracy and attempted interference with commerce by extortion, and conspiracy to distribute and possess controlled substances. Investigators say Brar has links to Canada, India, Mexico, and the California cities of Sacramento and Fresno.

The reward announcement follows Operation Hard Ball, a coordinated operation involving law enforcement agencies from the United States, Canada and Europe. The operation led to 24 arrests and charges against 37 individuals allegedly linked to three India-based organised crime syndicates.

US investigators allege that Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar ordered the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead outside a Sikh gurdwara in Surrey on June 18, 2023. The case triggered a major diplomatic dispute between India and Canada, after Ottawa alleged the involvement of Indian government agents in the killing, an allegation that New Delhi has repeatedly denied.

The indictment also links Brar to multiple extortion cases in Los Angeles and Thousand Oaks, as well as the 2023 shooting outside the Vancouver residence of a prominent Indian actor-singer. Authorities say Brar remains absconding and is one of 10 fugitives still wanted in the case.

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During a recent interview, Diljit was asked about the difficulties performers encounter while applying for American visas. Responding in his signature humorous style, he joked that if he ever faced any visa trouble, “Ivanka Trump will sort it out.”

The light-hearted comment was a playful reference to Ivanka Trump, daughter of US President Donald Trump, and their previous social media interaction that had gone viral.

The two had earlier made headlines after Diljit shared a photoshopped image showing himself with the Trump family during their visit to India. Ivanka had responded to the edited picture in good humour, and the exchange received widespread attention on social media.

Following his latest remark, the interview clip quickly went viral, with fans praising Diljit’s comic timing and effortless humour. Many described it as “peak Dosanjhwala humour,” appreciating the way he turned a serious topic into a memorable and entertaining moment.

Known for his humble personality and quick wit, Diljit continues to entertain audiences not only through his music and films but also with his candid interviews and humorous social media interactions.

His latest viral quip once again highlights why he remains one of the most loved and relatable entertainers among fans worldwide.

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