NewsBytes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla who became the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla, who was part of the Axiom-4 commercial mission to the ISS from June 25-July 15, met the prime minister at his Lok Kalyan Marg residence. Modi welcomed Shukla, who was wearing an ISRO astronaut's jacket, with a warm hug and walked with him with his arm on the astronaut's shoulder. Shukla gifted the prime minister the mission patch of the Axiom-4 mission and the Indian tricolour that he had taken with him to the ISS. This Indian tricolour was fluttering in the background on the ISS when Shukla interacted with Modi on June 29. The Lucknow-born astronaut was also seen showing pictures he had taken from the ISS on a tablet computer to Prime Minister Modi. Shukla was part of the Axiom-4 private space mission that lifted off from Florida on June 25 and docked at the International Space Station on June 26. He returned to Earth on 15 July.

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear pleas over police reforms and the ad-hoc appointment of state police chiefs despite the 2006 judgement barring such appointments. A bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria would also consider an application of petitioner and former DGP Prakash Singh seeking to put a system in place in which a panel comprising chief minister, the leader of opposition and the chief justice of the high court select the director general of police (DGP).  “We will consider all the issues,” the CJI said and ordered the listing of pleas. The pleas, including a few contempt petitions, were listed before the top court and alleged non-compliance with its 2006 judgment, which mandates reforms in police administration to insulate the force from political interference. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for petitioner and former DGP Prakash Singh, urged the process for appointing DGPs should be made similar to that of the CBI director. He proposed the setting up of the three-member panel for appointments.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday he was ready to work to end the war with Russia ahead of talks with US President Donald Trump in Washington where he could face pressure to accept terms favorable to Moscow. "Russia can only be forced into peace through strength, and President Trump has that strength," Zelenskiy wrote on social media after meeting with the U.S. special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg. Zelenskiy is due to meet with Trump in the Oval Office, where he last received a dressing-down from Trump during a disastrous visit in February. Trump is now pressing for a quick end to Europe's deadliest war in 80 years, and Kyiv and its allies worry he could seek to force an agreement on Russia's terms after the president rolled out the red carpet for Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. Russian attacks overnight on Ukrainian cities killed at least 10 people, in what Zelenskiy called a "cynical" effort to undermine talks. European leaders are also flying to Washington to show solidarity with Ukraine and to press for strong security guarantees in any post-war settlement.

The iconic sword of famous Maratha general Raghuji Bhonsle I, recently acquired by the Maharashtra Government in an auction in London, was brought to Mumbai on Monday morning.  Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hailed the development as an effort to restore India's heritage.   The sword was transported by a flight at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport around 10 am and shifted to P L Deshpande Academy in Prabhadevi area for safekeeping, Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar said. A bike rally planned to escort the sword was cancelled due to heavy rains and traffic congestion. Addressing an event to mark the arrival of the sword, Fadnavis said the state was reconnecting with its history and legacy with the return of the sword.