 "Rescue personnel stand next to the wreckage of an Air India aircraft, bound for London's Gatwick Airport, which crashed during take-off from an airport in Ahmedabad, on June 12. Reuters")
India is still reeling from the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. At least 256 are feared dead, and there has been one miracle survivor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the city today.
In other news, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is set to meet Nato head Mark Rutte today in Stockholm. Meanwhile, a court will begin trial for 15 individuals, including former Conservative MP Craig Williams, in connection to gambling offences during the national election last year.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is set to visit Sweden today to hold bilateral meetings with several leaders. In India, a special task force is likely to begin functioning today to fight communal violence.
Here is all that is set to take place throughout the day.
PM Modi to visit Ahmedabad today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Ahmedabad today, expected to arrive at 8:30 am. During his visit, the PM will inspect the Air India crash site and visit the Civil Hospital, where the injured are receiving treatment.
Home Minister Amit Shah rushed to the city yesterday. He said the temperature from the burning fuel was so high that there was simply no chance to save anyone. He spoke to the media hours after visiting the aircraft crash site and the hospital where the victims are admitted.
Swedish PM to meet Nato head Mark Rutte
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will host Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte for a bilateral meeting in Stockholm. The high-level engagement will be followed by a joint press conference.
According to reports, discussions are expected to focus on strengthening Nato’s collective deterrence and defence capabilities, particularly in light of the evolving security landscape in Europe. Both leaders will likely address Sweden’s contributions to the Alliance, which include plans to further increase defence spending and an offer to lead a new Nato battlegroup to be established in Finland.
The meeting comes at a crucial time, with Sweden having recently become a full member of Nato in March 2024.
Tory figures face court over election date betting scandal
The first court hearing in connection with charges related to the UK general election betting scandal will take place today. Fifteen individuals, including former Conservative MP Craig Williams and Welsh Senedd member Russell George, are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
The Gambling Commission launched an investigation in June 2024 into these alleged “cheating” offences under Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005. The charges suggest that individuals with insider knowledge placed bets on the timing of the 2024 general election before the date was publicly announced by then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. While political betting is legal in the UK, using insider information for such wagers is a criminal offence. The UK’s gambling regulator filed a chargesheet against the individuals on April 16 this year.
The scandal cast a significant shadow over the Conservative Party’s election campaign and has prompted renewed debate about the ethics of political betting and the need for stricter regulations. If found guilty, those charged could face fines or prison sentences of up to two years.
Vietnamese Prime Minister set to visit Sweden
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will meet Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson along with members of the Swedish Royal Family today. Pham Minh Chinh is on a two-day visit to Sweden and has been present in the country since Wednesday (June 11).
The visit, marking the first by a Vietnamese Prime Minister to Sweden in six years, is a significant event aimed at injecting new momentum into the bilateral relationship between the two nations. Discussions with the Swedish PM will likely cover deepening collaboration in key areas such as politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, environmental issues and climate change response.
Karnataka’s Special Task Force to likely begin
The special task force formed to tackle communal violence will begin from June 13. Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara is likely to launch the task force. According to an itinerary of the district minister, the special action force will be inaugurated at the Mangaluru Police Commissioner’s office.
According to a Deccan Herald report, the force will have three companies or units, which will be set up in DK, Shimoga and Udupi districts. The government order issued on May 28 stated that 248 officers, including a senior DIGP, will be a part of this force.
These officers have been allotted by the Anti-Naxal Force.
With inputs from agencies