Seoul [South Korea], March 22 (ANI): South Korean Defence Minister Suh Wook is likely to visit India this week to hold high-level talks with defence Minister Rajnath Singh, sources told ANI.
South Korean media reported on Monday that Suh Wook is visiting the United Arab Emirates and India this week to expand exchanges.
“From Thursday to Saturday, Suh will visit India and meet with his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, to talk about working together on military technologies. Suh will take part in the opening ceremony of the Korea-India Friendship Park. The two countries agreed to build it in 2019,” the media outlet reported.
The likely visit from the South Korean defence minister follows US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin was on a three-day visit where he said that India is an increasingly important partner amid today’s rapidly shifting international dynamics adding that the ties between Washington and New Delhi are a “stronghold of a free and open Indo-Pacific region”.
India and South Korea had in December last year held consultations on issues related to bilateral cooperation and international issues of mutual interest including defence and security cooperation, Covid-19 response and coordination in multilateral forums.
Indo-Pacific region is largely viewed as an area comprising the Indian Ocean and the western and central Pacific Ocean, including the South China Sea.
China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea and its efforts to advance into the Indian Ocean are seen to have challenged the established rules-based system.
According to South Korean media, observers have speculated that Seoul and New Delhi could address the Quad alliance comprising the US, Australia, India and Japan, which had held its first virtual summit on March 12. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 22 (ANI): Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday announced that the legal age to consume alcohol in the national capital will be 21.
“The legal age to drink in Delhi will now be 21. There will be no government liquor stores in Delhi,” Sisodia said while addressing a press conference here.
“No new liquor shops will be opened in the national capital,” he added.
Earlier, the legal age to drink in Delhi’s restaurants and bars was 25.
The legal age to consume alcohol differs from state to state in India. (ANI)

Kochi (Kerala) [India], March 22 (ANI): Kochi National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Monday dismissed the bail petition of Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case.
She had filed the bail petition in the gold smuggling case registered by NIA.
The agency has named Swapna Suresh, Sarith PS, and KT Ramees as the prime accused in its charge sheet in the scam.
The Kerala gold smuggling case pertains to the smuggling of gold in the state through diplomatic channels. It had come to light after 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crore smuggled in a consignment camouflaged as diplomatic baggage was busted by the Customs in Thiruvananthapuram on July 5, 2019.
It is being probed by Enforcement Directorate (ED), National Investigative Agency (NIA) and Customs department.
During the probe of the Kerala gold smuggling case, the dollar smuggling case came to light. The case pertains to the smuggling of $1.9 lakh by UAE Consulate employee and Egyptian national Khalid Ali Shoukry through the Thiruvananthapuram airport in August 2019. (ANI)

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], March 22 (ANI): West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday released the party’s election manifesto ‘Banglar Disha’ for the upcoming assembly elections in the state.
Chowdhury launched the manifesto at the party’s state headquarters in Kolkata.
The release of Congress’ poll manifesto comes a day after Bharatiya Janata Party unveiled its ‘Sankalp Patra for Sonar Bangla’. BJP’s manifesto was released by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Kolkata on Sunday.
Notably, the Left Front, the alliance partner of Congress for the West Bengal polls had released its manifesto on Saturday. Following this, there is a lot of speculation going on in the political arena as there has been no unified manifesto of the alliance.
The ruling Trinamool Congress took the lead in launching it’s manifesto first.
Elections to the 294-member state Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2.
The state is likely to witness a triangular contest this time with TMC, Congress-Left alliance and BJP in the fray. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 22 (ANI): Defence Ministry on Monday signed a contract with Mahindra Defence Systems Ltd (MDSL) for buying 1,300 Light Specialist Vehicles for the Indian Army, at a cost of Rs 1,056 crore.
“The induction of vehicles is planned to be completed in four years. The Light Specialist Vehicle is a modern fighting vehicle and will be authorised to various fighting units for carriage of Medium Machine Guns, Automatic Grenade Launchers as well as Anti-tank Guided Missiles,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement.
The Light Specialist Vehicle is indigenously designed and developed by MDSL. These combat vehicles are extremely agile with all-round protection against small arms fire and will assist small independent detachments which are required to operate this weapon platform in the operational area.
This is a flagship project showcasing the indigenous manufacturing capabilities of the defence industry and will add another milestone to the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan’ and ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Government. (ANI)

By Siddharth Sharma
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 22 (ANI): Following former Commissioner of Police of Mumbai Param Bir Singh’s allegations of corruption against Anil Deshmukh causing a political storm in the state, National Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has come to the defence of the Home Minister.
While speaking on the Opposition’s demand of Deshmukh’s resignation, Pawar said: “It is clear that during the period about which the allegations were made, Anil Deshmukh was hospitalised. As this is clear, such demands hold no power.”
While Congress has discussed the issue at the internal level and has left the final decision to take by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to end the crisis, Incharge of Maharashtra HK Patil told ANI, “I have discussed with the CLP leader, senior ministers and PCC President and taken stock of the situation in Maharashtra.”
Balasaheb Thorat, CLP Leader and Ashok Chavan, former chief minister and PWD Minister — who are members of the core committee — will meet Thackeray to discuss the alleged letter written by Singh.
Deshmukh has also released a press statement, urging the Maharashtra Chief Minister to conduct a free and fair enquiry.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Pawar had said: “We will discuss the resignation as well. Whatever alternative comes, will see. Even resignation is one alternative. “
Further, the NCP has clarified that “it will be discussed and decided, but the final decision will be taken by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra”.
However, the core group of Maha Vikas Aghadi members will meet the Chief Minister on Monday evening and deliberate.
Singh on Saturday wrote a letter to Thackeray, alleging that Deshmukh had indulged in “malpractices” and asked suspended API Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crore every month. (ANI)