INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2026 1 A We e kl y N e w s p a p e r Fe a tu r i ng N ew s an d Tren d s f ro m the In d ian Sub- Co n tin en t Pub li s hed From the U S Ca pi ta l Web Site: WWW.Indiathisweek.us Volume 35 No. 21 Washington DC. Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800; 301-445-1868 E-Mail: indiathisweekads@gmail.com Friday May 22, 2026 UDF storms back to power in Keralam: VD Satheesan sworn in as CM, ends decade of LDF rule Thiruvananthapuram (Keralam) [India], May 18 (ANI): Marking a historic political shift in the state, Congress leader VD Satheesan was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Keralam on Monday. The ceremony officially brings the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) back to power after a tenyear hiatus, following their landslide victory in the 2026 Assembly elections. Keralam Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office to Satheesan and his 20-member Cabinet. The ceremony saw a massive turnout of top political heavyweights, signalling the national significance of the UDF’s victory. The event was attended by: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, MP Priyanka Gandhi, and General Secretary KC Venugopal.It included Congress Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers like Siddaramaiah (Karnataka), alongside Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, Revanth Reddy (Telangana), and Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu (Himachal Pradesh).Former Keralam CM Pinarayi Vijayan, former Assembly Speaker AN Shamsheer, Keralam BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar, and CPI leader Binoy Viswam also attended the swearing-in ceremony.Alongside Satheesan, a 20-member Cabinet took the oath. DRDO completes development trials of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile-V3 in Air-to-Ground & Air-to-Air modes New Delhi [In- ited, Hyderabad - for the dia], May 20 (ANI): Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed the final deliverable configuration development trials of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3 in Air-to-Ground and Airto-Air modes at DRDO test range near Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. The trials were carried out using an integrated Ground Control System (GCS) to command and control the ULPGM weapon system. The GCS features state-of-the-art technologies to automate readiness and launch operations. DRDO has partnered with two production agencies - Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad and Adani Defence Systems & Technologies Lim- Remember: development and production of the missiles. The system has been integrated on UAVs developed by Newspace Research and Technologies, Bengaluru, for current trials. The ULPGM missile has been developed by Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad, as the nodal lab along with other DRDO laboratories, namely Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) Hyderabad, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune. The missile has been produced entirely through the Indian defence ecosystem involving a large number of MSMEs and other industries. The trials confirmed a fully mature “Teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success.” – Unknown. domestic supply chain, equipped for immediate serial mass production. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has complimented DRDO, PSUs, Defence cum Production Partners and industry for the successful development trials of ULPGM-V3 in Air-to-Ground mode for anti-tank role and Air-to-Air modes for Drone, Helicopter and other airborne targets. He termed it a strategic milestone achieved towards Aatmanirbharta in Defence. Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Samir V Kamat congratulated all the teams associated with the trials for the commendable achievement. (ANI) Satheesan noted that government formation was completed in under 24 hours, the fastest in Kerala’s history, while carefully managing regional and social demographics.”We have discussed with the coalition partners… and within 24 hours, we have completed the entire process,” Satheesan said. “We have to consider the social and regional balance and the representation of women and Dalit representation… We have included two members from the SC, and women’s representation has been ensured.” His 20-member Cabinet was also sworn in, including senior Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan and KPCC chief Sunny Joseph, along with Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leaders PK Kunhalikutty, PK Basheer, N Samsudheen, KM Shaji and VE Abdul Gafoor. Other ministers, including Mons Joseph, Shibu Baby John, Anoop Jacob, CP John, AP Anil Kumar, T Siddique, PC Vishnunath, Roji M John, Bindu Krishna, M Liju, KA Thulasi and O J Janeesh, also took the oath. Satheesan had announced that senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan will serve as Speaker of the Assembly, while Shanimol Usman SATHEESAN SEE PAGE 4 US State Secretary Marco Rubio to visit India from May 23 to 26 Washington DC [US], May 20 (ANI): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit India from May 23-26, during which he will travel to Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur and New Delhi, according to an official release from the US Department of State. The White House release stated that Rubio will discuss energy security, trade and defence cooperation during meetings with senior Indian officials. Before he visits India, Rubio will travel to Helsingborg in Sweden on May 22 to attend the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting.the US Secretary of State will discuss the need for increased defence investment and greater burden-sharing within the alliance during the meeting. Rubio is also expected to meet his counterparts from the Arctic Seven nations to discuss shared economic and security interests in the Arctic region and the strengthened posture in the High North. The release further stated that Rubio will hold bilateral meetings with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Helsingborg, Sweden, May 22 to attend the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting where he will discuss the need for increased defense investment and greater burden sharing in the Alliance. He will meet his counterparts from the Arctic Seven nations to discuss our shared economic and security interests in the Arctic and our strengthened posture in the High North. He will also have bilateral meetings with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte,” the release said. The official release from the US Department of State said, “From Sweden, Secretary Rubio will travel to India from May 23-26, where he will visit Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur, and New Delhi. The Secretary will discuss energy security, trade, and defense cooperation during meetings with senior Indian officials.” (ANI)
INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2026 US Justice Department moves to dismiss alleged criminal fraud charges against Gautam, Sagar Adani: Report Washington, DC [US], May 19 (ANI): The United States Department of Justice has moved to permanently dismiss all alleged criminal fraud charges against billionaire Gautam Adani and his nephew, Sagar Adani, reported Reuters. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had earlier alleged that Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and others orchestrated an alleged USD 250 million-plus bribery scheme between 2020 and 2024 to secure solar energy contracts in India. On April 8, the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York had accepted a plea filed by the counsels for Gautam and Sagar Adani for a pre-motion conference to dismiss the case. The decision to drop the high-profile case comes after the Adani Group has reportedly pledged to in- vest USD 10 billion into the United States. Federal prosecutors filed the request in the court, effectively ending the yearslong prosecution. In the court filing, federal prosecutors asked the judge to permanently dismiss the charges. Quoting proscecutors the Wall Street Journal reported, “The Department of Justice has reviewed this case and has decided, in its prosecutorial discretion, not to devote further resources to these criminal charges against individual defendants.”However, at the time of filing of this report there was no formal statement on the dropping of charges by the Adani Group. Earlier, the U.S. SEC had settled the civil lawsuit against Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, subject to court approval. According to media reports, Court documents show that Gautam Adani agreed to pay civil penalties of $6 million, while his nephew Sagar Adani, agreed to pay $12 million. The proposed settlement doesn’t include an admission of guilt, said news reports. In their plea before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York the counsels for Gautam and Sagar Adani had filed for a pre-motion conference to dismiss the case. The counsels for Gautam and Sagar Adani informed that they intended to seek to dismiss the US SEC’s complaint. In the letter, the Defendants briefly set out their grounds for dismissal of SEC’s complaint, including that the court concerned lacks personal jurisdiction over the Defendants and the claims against them, the SEC’s claims are imper- missibly extraterritorial, the alleged misstatements by the Defendants are too vague and general for any reasonable investor to rely upon as a guarantee of any concrete fact or outcome, making them in-actionable, and the Defendants’ lack of involvement in the transaction bars the SEC’s claims against them. According to the counsels, in September 2021, AGEL conducted a USD 750 million bond offering pursuant to SEC Rule 144A and SEC Regulation S, which are registration exemptions for private resales to qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) and non-US sales. AGEL sold these bonds outside the US through an agreement to non-US underwriters, who then resold the Notes to QIBs. A fraction of those resales is alleged to have been made to “investors in the United States”. 24-year-old Telangana student killed in US road accident near Chicago Nalgonda (Telangana) [India], May 18 (ANI): A 24-year-old Indian student pursuing her Master of Science (MS) degree in the United States was killed in a road accident on Saturday night, family members said. The deceased, identified as Navya, hailed from Chervugattu village in the Narketpalli Mandal of Telangana‘s Nalgonda district. According to her family, the incident occurred when a speeding car collided with the vehicle while she was on her way home from a part-time job. The family members further revealed that they learned about the tragic mishap through Navya’s friends in the US.”Navya, 24, went to America two years ago to pursue her MS. We learned about the incident from her friends. They said she died after a speeding car hit their vehicle while she was going to a part-time job. We have informed Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, and officials are coordinating with the US Embassy,” said a family member of the deceased. Navya was killed in a two-vehicle crash near Chicago in the United States. The accident took place on Interstate 65 in Crown Point, Indiana, late Saturday night, as reported by a US media house, quoting Indiana State Police.According to the police, the crash occurred around 11:15 pm on the northbound I-65, about a mile south of the Crown Point exit. Responding troopers found a car blocking the centre and right lanes, while a red minivan had veered into a ditch on the right side of the roadway. The Indian Consulate General in Chicago confirmed the death of an Indian student, identified as Navya Gadusu, and expressed heartfelt condolences.”We are deeply saddened by the tragic passing away of Indian student Navya Gadusu in a road accident near Chicago. Our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends during this difficult time. The Consulate is in touch with the family of the deceased. We are also in touch with friends and members of the community who are assisting those injured in the accident,” the consulate said.Three other people were injured in the accident. Preliminary investigation revealed that the minivan, carrying seven adults, was travelling in the right lane at an extremely slow speed of around 10 to 15 mph while following another vehicle experiencing mechanical problems. Police said the driver of the car failed to realise how slowly the minivan was moving and attempted to swerve left to avoid a collision. However, the car struck the left side of the minivan, forcing it off the roadway and into a ditch. The vehicle with mechanical issues was not involved in the crash, the US media house reported. Further investigation revealed that the minivan had only two front seats, while the remaining five occupants were seated on boxes of mangos without seat belts, police said. Several occupants sustained serious injuries in the collision. Four people were initially taken to local hospitals before being transferred to hospitals in the Chicago area for further treatment. (ANI) AGEL was not a party to these transactions, the lawyers said in the letter to the court. The defendants said that the Court lacks personal jurisdiction over defendants and the claims against them should be dismissed under Rule 12(b) (2). The claims according to the lawyers “involve Indian Defendants, an Indian issuer, securities not registered with the SEC and not traded on U.S. exchanges, and underlying conduct alleged to have occurred exclusively in India.” The counsels said, the SEC has not alleged underwriters who purchased the bonds from AGEL were US institutions as they were not, or that the Subscription Agreement underlying the purchases was governed by US law as it wasn’t. During this process, Gautam Adani was represented by Counsel Robert J Giuffra Jr. who is part of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. Doctors advice people to avoid stepping out during peak afternoon hours as temperature soars above 44°C in Delhi New Delhi [India], May 20 (ANI): As intense heatwave conditions continued to grip several parts of north India, doctors and weather officials on Wednesday urged people to take precautions against heat-related illnesses, with temperatures soaring above 44 degrees Celsius in Delhi and Rajasthan. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi recorded a temperature of 44.4 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, while parts of Rajasthan witnessed temperatures crossing 46 degrees Celsius.Speaking to ANI, Chairperson of the Department of Internal Medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Dr Atul Kakar, said hospitals were witnessing a rise in patients suffering from heat-related conditions.” The temperature is rising. In Delhi, it is between 45 and 47 degrees, so many patients are coming to us. They present with fever, headache, body aches, tiredness, and lethargy. These are all symptoms of heat exhaustion,” Kakar said. He added that dehydration and heat stroke were also becoming increasingly common during the ongoing heatwave. “In addition, many patients come with dehydration, and in extreme cases, heat stroke can occur. So these are the three heat-related conditions,” he said. Kakar advised people to avoid stepping out during peak afternoon hours and to remain hydrated. “To prevent them, at least keep yourself covered, especially if you are going out in the sun between 12 and 3 pm. Keep taking fluids such as ORS, water, lassi, or lemon water with salt,” he said.He further cautioned that children, elderly people, and those suffering from kidney or heart-related ailments were more vulnerable to heat-related complications. Meanwhile, Jaipur Meteorological Centre Director Radheshyam Sharma said Rajasthan was likely to continue experiencing severe heatwave conditions over the coming days.”Over the past 2-3 days, there has been a rise in both day and night temperatures.
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INDIA THIS WEEK Swiss International Airlines to launch nonstop Bengaluru-Zurich flights from October Bengaluru (Kar- airlines’ latest destination on every flight - combined nataka) [India], May 19 (ANI): Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) on Tuesday announced the launch of new nonstop flights between Bengaluru and Zurich, further enhancing connectivity between Switzerland and India’s leading technology and innovation hubs, a release said. The new service will operate five times weekly beginning in October 2026, offering customers seamless access between southern India and SWISS’ global hub in Zurich, with onward connections across Europe and North America through the Lufthansa Group network. The new eastbound LX 140 service will depart from Zurich daily (except Mondays and Wednesdays) at 13:20 and arrive in Bengaluru some nine hours later at 02:55 the following day. The westbound LX 141 service will leave Bengaluru daily (except Tuesdays and Thursdays) at 04:50 and arrive in Zurich at 10:50 the same day, the release said.Bengaluru becomes Swiss in India and reflects the airline’s continued focus on expanding its presence in strategically important growth markets. The new route is designed to meet strong demand from business travellers, the technology sector, premium leisure customers, and the growing Indian diaspora across Europe and beyond, it said. According to Kevin Markette, Lufthansa Group Senior Director Regional Sales South Asia, “India remains a strategically important market for the Lufthansa Group, and we are delighted to welcome Swiss International Air Lines to Bengaluru, one of the world’s leading technology and innovation hubs. As our third Lufthansa Group gateway from the city, alongside Frankfurt and Munich, this new SWISS service significantly enhances connectivity for travellers from southern India.” Markette further added that, “Customers can now enjoy a truly premium Swiss travel experience - including First Class (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 19 (ANI): An eyewitness in the death case of Deepika Nagar on Tuesday recounted the moments after the young woman was found lying on the ground outside her residence in Jalpura village, stating that he had not seen her face before the incident and never heard anything negative about the accused Hrithik. Deepika died under suspicious circumstances following a fall from the rooftop of her in-laws’ house, barely oneand-a-half years after her marriage, police said on Monday.Speaking to ANI, eyewitness Gulzar Chaudhary said he rushed out after hearing a loud sound around 12:30 am. “I was inside my house when I heard a sound. I ran outside... I saw the woman from the house across the street, Hrithik’s wife, lying on the ground. I went over, lifted her up, and just then, Hrithik came running down from upstairs, shouting,” Chaudhary said. He added that the taken to the hospital in a neighbour’s vehicle. “We put her in Manoj Pradhan’s car. This happened around 12.30 AM. Her face was turned toward the ground. It was touching the ground,” he said.Chaudhary further stated that the family largely kept to themselves and that he had never witnessed any disputes. “She lived modestly. She would always leave the house with her face veiled by a ‘ghoonghat’. We never heard of any fights or arguments between them. Nor did we hear anything negative about Hrithik. He is a good young man as well,” he said. Meanwhile, following the release of the post-mortem report, Deepika’s family alleged that she had been assaulted before being thrown from the rooftop. Her father, Sanjay Nagar, claimed injury marks were found on her body. “In the post-mortem report, it is stated that there are injury marks on the body... She was assaulted before being with seamless access to Europe and North America via our Zurich hub.” Customers travelling on this new route will enjoy SWISS’ award-winning onboard service across First, Business and Economy Class, including premium lounges, high-quality Swiss cuisine, and effortless onward connections through Zurich Airport. As highlighted by Girish Nair, Chief Operating Officer of Bangalore International Airport Limited said, “The introduction of SWISS’ direct BLR-ZRH service is a strong validation of the market maturity and long-term potential that Bengaluru continues to demonstrate. This non-stop link meets surging corporate and leisure demand, connecting India’s Silicon Valley with a premier global financial capital.” Nair added, “Supported by BLR Airport’s domestic network spanning 78 destinations, the new service will also enable efficient single-ticket transfers for passengers across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India.” Deepika dowry case: Eyewitness recounts final moments before victim’s death, says “neverGreater heardNoida of any disputes between couple” woman was immediately thrown off the roof,” he told ANI. The victim’s uncle, Vishesh Nagar, also questioned the circumstances surrounding the incident and alleged that the family had later learned about pending criminal cases against the victim’s fatherin-law. Deepika’s mother and sister further alleged that she had been facing harassment over dowry demands, including pressure for a car.Police said Deepika’s husband, Hrithik, and father-in-law, Manoj, remain in custody following their arrest by Ecotech-3 police. Authorities are also verifying allegations related to illegal land encroachment and criminal cases against the father-in-law. (ANI) FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2026 West Bengal Govt notifies 66 classes under OBC category, grants 7% quota in jobs and services Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], May 19 (ANI): The BJP-led West Bengal government on Tuesday notified 66 communities under the Other Backwards Classes (OBC) category, including several Muslim communities, making them eligible for 7 per cent reservation in government jobs and services. The new notification comes just days after the Suvendu Adhikari-led government cancelled the existing OBC list in the state.The notification, issued by the Backwards Classes Welfare Department on Monday, follows a Calcutta High Court Division Bench order dated May 20, 2024. The court had set aside 2010 and 2012 notifications through which 66 castes were included in the State List of OBCs for reservation benefits under Articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution.According to the notification, the High Court had directed that the reservation already enjoyed by these classes should not be disturbed and that reservation for OBCs in the state should be restricted to 7 per cent for the 66 classes affected. The list includes communities such as Kapali, Baishya Kapali, Kurmi, Sutradhar, Karmakar, Kumbhakar, Swarnakar, Teli, Napit, Yogi, Goala, Gope, Ahir, Yadav, Moira, Modak, Barujibi, Satchasi and Malakar, among others.It also included Muslim communities such as Hajjam (Muslim), Chowduli (Muslim), Pahadia Muslim and Jolah (Ansari-Momin).Meanwhile, the West Bengal government also increased the upper age limit for recruitment to state government posts by five years. The state cabinet has taken this decision, fulfilling the BJP’s poll promise for age relaxation in recruitment.The Finance Department has formally notified the revised age limits, which came into effect on May 11. According to a press note from the Chief Secretary’s Office, for recruitment through the Public Service Commission, West Bengal, the maximum age will now be 41 years for Group ‘A’ posts, 44 years for Group B’ posts, and 45 years for Group ‘C’ and Group ‘D’ posts. In cases where the existing prescribed upper age limit for any post is already higher, that higher limit will continue to apply. For other appointments, including recruitment by state statutory bodies, government companies, and local authorities covered under the West Bengal Regulation of Recruitment in State Statutory Bodies, Government Companies and Local Authorities Act, 1999, the upper age limit has been fixed uniformly at 45 years. (ANI) Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], May 20 (ANI): As Class 10 board examination results are declared, Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Rajmohan on Wednesday announced an overall pass percentage of 94.31 per cent, an increase of 0.51 percentage points compared to last year.He was addressing a press conference at the Anna Centenary Library in Kotturpuram, Chennai. According to the minister, a total of 8,79,643 students appeared for the examination, including 4,35,247 girls and 4,35,396 boys, and a total of 8,21,105 students passed the examination with an overall pass percentage of 94.31 per cent. Girls outperformed boys in the results, recording a pass percentage of 96.6 per cent, while boys registered a pass percentage of 92.15 per cent. The pass percentage of girls was higher by 4.32 percentage points. Of the total 12,467 schools in Tamil Nadu, Rajmohan said 5,171 schools achieved a 100 per cent pass result, including 1,931 government schools. The overall pass percentage of government schools stood at 91.86 per cent, while private schools recorded a pass percentage of 98.14 per cent.Among districts, Pudukkottai recorded the highest pass percentage at 97.57 per cent, followed closely by Sivagangai at 97.54 per cent. Thanjavur recorded 97.41 per cent, Tiruchirappalli 97.31 per cent and Kanyakumari 97.30 per cent. The minister said government schools in Sivagangai district performed exceptionally well, recording a pass percentage of 97.4 per cent.A total of 13,292 physically challenged students appeared for the examinations, of whom 11,416 passed, registering a success rate of 85.88 per cent.The minister further informed that 370 prisoners had appeared for the examination, out of which 354 passed, taking the pass percentage to 95 per cent. Addressing concerns over school dropouts, Rajmohan said the government’s schemes would focus on ensuring that no student discontinues education. Tamil Nadu Class 10 pass percentage reaches 94.31%; girls outperform boys, says TN Education Minister Rajmohan
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INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2026 Supreme Court refuses to modify order removing stray dogs from public places; directs animal birth control centres in every district New Delhi [India], May 19 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to modify its November 2025 order directing the removal of stray dogs from public institutions such as hospitals, schools, colleges, bus stations and railway stations, while stressing that citizens have a right to live without the threat of dog attacks. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria observed that the right to life with dignity includes the right to live freely without the fear of harm from dog bite incidents and said the state “cannot remain a passive spectator.” “The court cannot remain oblivious to harsh ground realities where children, international travellers, and old-age people have fallen victim to dog bite incidents. Constitution doesn’t envisage a society where children and elderly people are to survive on the mercy and physical strength,” the bench observed.The apex court directed that all states shall take necessary steps to strengthen and implement the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) framework rules. It also directed states to ensure the establishment of at least one fully functional Animal Birth Control (ABC) centre in every district. The court further said, having regard to the population density of each State district, the authorities shall take necessary steps to expand Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres. In addition, the Supreme Court directed The Poetic Pen INDIA THIS WEEK- May 22, 2026 Team Player By Rajan George If there is a common cause For which you wish to fight, Striving alone may not suffice, But with a team, you gain new height. the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to address the issue of stray cattle on national highways in a time-bound manner and establish a monitoring and coordination framework. The bench also directed the deployment of depreciated transport vehicles to manage stray cattle.To monitor compliance, the Supreme Court directed all High Courts to register suo motu cases in continuing mandamus proceedings. The Supreme Court directed, “Chief Secretaries of States shall file compliance before August 7 before the jurisdic- tional High Court, and the Union government shall also do the same, directs the Supreme Court.”The apex court further directed High Courts to submit a consolidated compliance report before it by November 17, while stating that the matter would remain closed before the Supreme Court except for receiving compliance reports. Earlier on November 7, the three-judge bench, while taking into consideration the “alarming rise of dog bite incidents”, ordered all states and Union Territories (UTs) to ensure the removal of all stray dogs from every educational INDIA THIS WEEK A single stick alone may break, But a bundle bound secure Cannot be broken easily, No matter the force applied. Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 www.indiathisweek.online Standing together for the good Will draw the interest of others too; They will join the fight with you If they believe your cause is true. Views expressed in this paper are those of the individual writers and not necessarily of India This Week. India This Week accepts no liability for the errors in advertisements or in any of its reports. For remedial actions any errors should be brought to the attention of the editor by the information provided below. Yet in such a noble pursuit, If there is a black sheep within Who seeks to boast of greater morals And treats the group with disdain, He should be removed at once, For he may be the hidden rot That slowly poisons all the group And tears apart the cause they sought. Principles are built on truth, Which stands objective, firm, and fair; But one who clings to selfish ideals Portends disaster loud and clear. He may be a foe disguised, Pretending oneness with the team, While working from within to crush The very cause they strive to achieve. A true team player sacrifices self, Endures pain, hardship, loss, and strain; He blends his purpose with the team, Seeking not glory, but success attained. India This Week is published every Friday by ADV Solutions Inc, Publisher: Chief Editor: Contributing Editors: Dr. Babu Stephen Rajan George Saju Mathew Isaac George Asst. Editors: Manu Jacob Sherena Panjikkaran Special Business Correspondent Elisha B. Pulivarti Business Coordinators Rajan C. George Jithu Johny Panjikkaran Dr. Renuka Misra, Special Correspondent: Geeta Goindi Community Coordinator: Prof. Vinod Goel India Office Manesh Krishna Columnists: Anadi Naik World Religions Dr. Sam Prasad Jillella Photo Journalist: Mathew Karmel, System Admn. & Maintenance: Rajan C. George Layout & Graphics: Prinston Samuel, Business Affairs: Mrs. Molly George CALL US • 301-445-0200 • 301-917-4800 e-Mails: Advertisements: indiathisweekads@gmail.com Press Releases: indiathisweekpress@yahoo.com Web: www.indiathisweek.online institution, hospital, public sports complexes, bus stands, railway stations, etc. It said all these institutions and places must be fenced properly to prevent the entry of stray dogs. The bench ordered that the stray dogs should not be released to the same spot from which they were picked up. It had also said that permitting their return would “frustrate the very purpose” of securing such premises and addressing public safety concerns.”It will be the responsibility of the concerned local government institutions to pick up stray dogs from such institutions/areas, and shift them to designated dog shelters after vaccination and sterilisation in accordance with the Animal Birth Control Rules,” the apex court had ordered.The apex court order had come on a suo moto cognisance it took of the menace of stray dogs across the country. (ANI) “Before polls BJP said there would be no hike in prices, but rates increased after polls”: Congress’ Madhusudan Reddy Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], May 20 (ANI): Congress MLA G Madhusudan Reddy on Wednesday criticised the recent fuel price hike, alleging that the BJP had assured people before elections that prices would not be increased. Speaking to ANI here, Reddy said the hike was against the public and that the Congress strongly opposed the move.”Before polls, the BJP had said there would be no hike in the prices. But as soon as the polls got over, prices hiked... this hike is against the public, and Congress strongly opposes it,” he said.The remarks came after petrol and diesel prices were increased across the country on Tuesday. In Delhi, petrol prices rose by 87 paise, climbing from Rs 97.77 to Rs 98.64 per litre, while diesel prices increased by 91 paise, moving from Rs 90.67 to Rs 91.58 per litre. Mumbai witnessed a hike of 91 paise in petrol prices, taking it to Rs 107.59 per litre, while diesel prices increased by 94 paise to Rs 94.08 per litre.In Chennai, petrol prices rose by 82 paise to Rs 104.49 per litre, while diesel prices surged by 86 paise to Rs 96.11 per litre. Kolkata recorded a 96-paise increase in petrol prices, pushing rates to Rs 109.70 per litre, while diesel prices rose by 94 paise to Rs 96.07 per litre. This marks the second fuel price increase in less than a week. Earlier, the Centre had increased petrol and diesel prices by Rs 3 per litre each on May 15.The hikes come amid rising global crude oil prices linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime trade route. Brent crude prices have remained above USD 100 per barrel following tensions arising from the US-Israel-Iran conflict that began earlier this year. (ANI) Remember: “In the Beginning was the Word, The Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made, that was made” JOHN 1:1-3
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INDIA THIS WEEK FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2026 “SHANTI Act Has Opened Door for New Day”: Nuclear Energy Institute Chief on India-US Civil Nuclear Ties NEW DELHI, May 18 (ANI): Maria Korsnick, President and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), said the recently enacted SHANTI Act in India has “opened the door now for a new day” in India-US civil nuclear cooperation, calling it a major step forward for global clean energy collaboration. The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Act, 2025, replaces the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010, opening India’s civil nuclear sector to private participation for the first time since independence. Speaking to ANI, Korsnick said the ongoing executive trade mission hosted jointly by NEI and the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) offers an important opportunity for American companies to better understand India’s clean energy roadmap and the evolving role of private industry under the new legislation. Reflecting on the 2005 India-US civil nuclear agreement, Korsnick said unresolved liability concerns had stalled commercial progress for nearly two decades. “Back in 2005, it was a step forward, but that nuclear liability was not resolved and so for 20 years, we really haven’t made significant steps forward,” she said. “The SHANTI Act has opened the door now for a new day.” Korsnick also noted that nuclear technology has advanced significantly since the original agreement was signed. “It wasn’t just the large reactors, which we had in 2005. Yes, it’ll still be large reactors, but large, medium, small, light water, advanced reactors, all different shapes and sizes,” she said. Highlighting long-term clean energy goals, Korsnick said nuclear power will play a critical role globally and expressed interest in deeper partnerships between American and Indian companies. “I think long-term clean energy goals are going to be very dependent on nuclear and I think the US commercial sector would love to partner with Indian companies, not only to build here in India, but to partner with companies to also invest in the United States and maybe together build elsewhere in the world,” she said. “This is really a long-term strategic relationship that is being built,” she added. Korsnick also stressed the broader geopolitical importance of India’s energy decisions. “You have a very large population here in India and what you do and the choices that you make, I think, are very important really to the whole world,” she said. “And by you going with clean, reliable nuclear energy, this is a very significant step forward for the Indo-Pacific region, for us to work together,” she added, describing the partnership as a “win-win.” Speaking on energy security, Korsnick said nuclear power provides stability amid global ge- opolitical uncertainty and volatile fossil fuel supply chains.“That’s really the magic for nuclear, right, is that it brings you that energy security. You pack the energy in the core, it’s there for several years. It gives you that security that you’re going to have that electricity from the nuclear power and you don’t have the supply disruption concerns that you might have from other sources,” she explained. She added that energy security also contributes directly to national security. “In the world with changing geopolitics, I think everyone is interested in energy security and national security,” she said. Korsnick emphasized that bilateral discussions extend beyond reactor construction to the broader nuclear ecosystem, including manufacturing, workforce development, research, fuel supply chains, and operations. “When you think about nuclear, many people just think about reactors and reactor technology. It’s so much more than Washington DC [US], May 19 (ANI): The US State Department has approved the possible sale of support services and related equipment for Apache attack helicopters and M777 ultra-light Howitzers to India in deals worth more than USD 428 million.The proposed sale for Apache helicopters is estimated at USD 198.2 million and includes AH64E Apache sustainment support services, and longterm sustainment support for M777A2 Ultra-Light Howitzers is worth around USD 230 millionThe principal contractors for the Apache support package will be Boeing and Lockheed Martin, the State Department said. BAE Systems serves as the principal contractor for the Howitzers’ support. The State Department said that India has requested to buy AH-64E Apache sustainment support services; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; technical data and publications; personnel training; and other related elements of logistics and program support. For the Howitzers, the US said that non-major defence equipment items will be included: ancillary items; spares; repair and return; training; technical assistance; field service representative; depot capability; and other related elements of logistics and program support. “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to strengthen the U.S.-Indian strategic relationship and to improve the security of a major defence partner, which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions,” US State Department said. The State Department said that the sale will improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defence, and deter regional threats.Highlighting India’s military capabilities, they said, “India will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”Earlier on April 9, the Indian Army on Thursday demonstrated the combat strength of its latest attack helicopter, the Boeing AH64 Apache, during a live firing exercise ‘Brahmastra’ at the Pokhran Firing Range. The demonstration by the army underlined its growing focus on high-precision, network-centric warfare. The Apaches carried out precision strikes using AGM-114 Hellfire mis- siles, rockets and onboard gun systems, hitting designated targets with accuracy in a simulated battlefield environment.The exercise aimed to test both operational readiness and coordination between pilots and ground crews. The Boeing AH64 Apache is among the most advanced multi-role combat helicopters in the world.It is equipped with a 30 mm chain gun, can carry Hellfire anti-tank missiles and Hydra rockets, and features advanced targeting systems such as the Longbow radar and night-vision sensors. The Indian Army’s latest attack choppers also have the ability to operate in all-weather conditions, including at night. (ANI) US approves Apache helicopter, M777 support deal for India that. It’s manufacturing. It’s supply chain. It’s fuel. It’s the people that are going to be operating and engaging in designing these things,” she said. “It’s really a conversation on the whole value chain for nuclear,” she added. Highlighting the importance of private-sector participation, Korsnick said India and the United States share a similar vision of government and industry collaboration. “It’s not just about government. It’s about government working with the private sector. That is a direction I believe India would like to go, and that’s how it already is in the United States,” she said. Earlier, the US industry delegation held discussions with Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh regarding opportunities for private investment and industry collaboration in India’s nuclear sector. During the meeting, Singh said India and the US share a strong future-oriented partnership and noted that the US-India TRUST Initiative has created new opportunities for collaboration in critical and emerging technologies. The TRUST initiative focuses on trusted technology partnerships, resilient supply chains, and innovation ecosystems. Linking the initiative to India’s long-term clean energy goals under the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, Singh said India plans to expand its nuclear power capacity from 8.8 GW to 100 GW by 2047 through a phased expansion strategy. The minister said the SHANTI Act serves as the key policy framework to enable greater private-sector participation, including foreign investment. He added that the implementation framework under the legislation is currently being finalized by the government. Singh also highlighted India’s plans to develop Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), supported by an allocation of nearly Rs 20,000 crore. He said there is strong potential for India-US collaboration in areas such as micro-reactors, AI-enabled nuclear safety systems, scientific computing, and nuclear energy modeling. The discussions also reviewed progress on initiatives including the proposed Westinghouse AP1000 project at Kovvada, cooperation under the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Energy Working Group, hydrogen production, and integrated energy systems. The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to expanding practical, industry-led cooperation in clean energy, nuclear technology, advanced manufacturing, and innovation-focused sectors. Senior officials participating in the discussions included Department of Science and Technology Secretary Rajesh S. Gokhale, along with representatives from the Department of Atomic Energy and US industry organizations. (ANI)
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